Global Community

Recalling Park Chung-hee Era Confrontations

Retired American Journalist Talks About Experiences of 1960-70s in Korea The days were long in 1960s and '70s Korea as hardline dictator Park Chung-hee dragged his countrymen by the boot cuffs in the ultimately successful quest for rapid economic growth. Watching it unfold was journalist and foreigner John Stickler, 72, first as The Korea Times night editor, then as a CBS News radio correspondent. In addition to the repressive practices wrought by the ruthless Park dictatorship, there was also the prospect of the then far graver and much more potent threat posed by the communist North, led at that time by Kim Il-sung. So when the latest flashpoint between the two Koreas involving the clash between the countries' respective navies reached Stickler, currently working on a book project related to Korea, in the comforts of his Murrieta, Calif., home last week, he could perhaps have been forgiven if memories of his time here started to flood back. But in an interview on Tuesday, he told how he initially lived almost oblivious to the brutality of the Park regime ― until he s

British to Celebrate National Curry Week

By Bryan Kay Staff Reporter Korea has undergone a bona fide Indian food explosion over the last few years, with restaurants now spread out across Seoul and the other major population centers around the country. Looking for a country to replicate? Some might say look no further than the British, a people who perhaps more than any other have embraced the exoticism its variety of flavors bring. Next week sees the European country celebrate National Curry Week ― running from this Sunday through Nov. 28 ― which has the dual aims of raising awareness about the cuisine and raising cash for charity. Weekend and even weeknights for many in the U.K. equal curry and a pint of lager, and the rise in popularity of the sub-continent's fare has even seen it termed the country's "unofficial national food." Here in Korea, the rise in popularity of Indian cuisine has been rapid. According to Seoul-based food critic and expat Brit Andrew Salmon, that is due to three main reasons: Firstly, it is similar to Korean food, he said, in that it bears strong flavors and involves a communal meth

Female Rugby Players Get Naked to Raise Funds

"It's not something that comes naturally," said a slightly bashful Fiona Cutler as she spoke to The Korea Times about this year's edition of her rugby team's naked calendar. Seoul Sisters Rugby Club, a women's rugby outfit predominantly made up of expats, are preparing to unveil the naughty collection on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Itaewon bar Berlin. Designed to produce much-needed financial assistance for the team, it also proved to be a pleasurable ― if a tad-bit-nervous ― experience, said Cutler. Inspired by the popular Playboy calendar, the result features the team members in naked poses without exposing their modest regions. "It was an opportunity to get a nice shot of ourselves to be proud of," said the 28-year-old Kiwi. "It was quite a new experience for me. We took everything off." Members of the team stripped for the calendar early last month with two professional photographers, the third year in succession they've undertaken the affair. "The idea had never crossed my mind before," said American Amanda Joyce, who took part for the second time.

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Korean War Vet’s Daughter Makes Emotional 1st Visit to Battle Scene

By Bryan Kay Staff Reporter The daughter of a British Korean War hero made an emotional first visit to the scene where her father led a daring assault against Chinese forces during the conflict. Inspired by a book written by Seoul-based British author Andrew Salmon, Bridget Temple made her way to the site of the ``Battle of the Imjin River,'' where Guy Temple, faced with Chinese soldiers who outnumbered the British almost seven-to-one, spearheaded an ambush that eventually forced the British into a retreat and saw him taken prisoner. It was while reading ``To the Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea 1951''that she finally decided to come to the Far East to see the place where her father fought and won the Military Cross, a British award given for gallantry and meritorious service. Arriving last Friday, Temple took a guided tour around the scene with Salmon, who remarked earlier this year during the launch for his book that it is a largely forgotten tragedy in the annals of British military history. As well as touring the site of the battle, s

Foreigners Struggle to Sign Up for Lacrosse As KLA Proves Elusive

By Bryan Kay Staff Reporter A Korea Lacrosse Association (KLA) bid to recruit non-Korean players appears to be floundering as aspirants struggle to get in touch. The KLA has been advertising in a popular expat urban magazine in recent months in an effort to attract foreign participants. But it is being claimed attempts to reach the organization in order to sign up have proven fruitless. One foreign aspirant who contacted the KLA in order to find out how to get involved was told to contact the organization by e-mail in order to receive precise information. But after being told by telephone that practices were held every Sunday either in Seoul or Suwon, and being asked to send an e-mail in order to receive more detailed information, the KLA failed to get back to him. The Korea Times has made repeated attempts to get in touch with the KLA by telephone and e-mail over the last two months in order to arrange an interview about its attempts to reach out to the foreign community. KLA President Park Won-jae said he would be pleased to discuss the organization and its e

UK Embassy to Hold 2 Charity Events

The British embassy in Seoul will be the venue for two charity events designed to raise cash for national and international causes next week. The charities of choice are the BBC's Children in Need and local group Myongdo Services, which looks after people with disabilities. The proceeds are to be divided equally. Taking place Nov. 19 and 20 at the embassy's Broughton Club, the first event will feature a mock casino from which the cash generated will be pooled for the two causes. The second will involve a Children in Need quiz. Tickets for Nov. 19 will be 50,000 won, with those for the event the following day 15,000 won. The tickets must be registered beforehand due to security measures being taken by the British embassy. To register or for further information concerning the event, contact cinseoul@gmail.com. community@koreatimes.co.kr

AustCham Organizes Rugby Contest

The inauguration of rugby sevens into the Olypmics calls for celebration, and that is exactly what AustCham Korea has planned. This Saturday, the local branch of AustCham, the Australian Chamber of Commerce, is holding a celebratory Rugby 10s tournament. Rugby sevens was last month announced as an Olympic sport for the 2016 event being hosted by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The tournament, known as the Invitational Rugby 10s, will take place at the main campus of Yonsei University's rugby ground, located in Sinchon, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be nine teams in the tournament, both local and expat. Fans, families and friends are encouraged to attend. Admission is free. For more information, contact exec@austchamkorea.org. community@koreatimes.co.kr