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Kim Hyun-joong reconciles with ex-girlfriend

/ Yonhap K-pop star Kim Hyun-joong is rumored to have reconciled with his former girlfriend, who is pregnant, a magazine reports.According to Woman Sense’s March issue, the singer, 29, got back together with the woman, Miss Choi, 31.A friend told the magazine that Kim had sincerely apologized for assaulting Choi last year.The friend was also quoted as saying, “Kim Hyun-joong is worried about his upcoming enlistment in the army while both families are discussing marriage and the baby.”Last August Choi said Kim punched and kicked her, leaving bruises on her face, chest, arms and backside that required two weeks of medical treatment. Choi withdrew an assault charge after Kim apologized.

Feb 22, 2015
Kim Hyun-joong reconciles with ex-girlfriend

Video shows Americans trying to pronounce K-pop star names

A BuzzFeed video of Americans trying to pronounce K-pop stars’ names showed an "epic-fail."he video features a group of Americans trying to pronounce the "real" names of well-known Korean celebrities.Psy, or Park Jae-sang, proves difficult to pronounce, with participants offering a wide range of mispronunciations."I feel like everything’s a lie, knowing Psy isn’t his real name," a participant says in the video.K-pop star Ok Taec-yeon of male group 2PM's family name is also mispronounced as "Okay." Kim Jong-hyun, from male group Shinee, is mistaken for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, until the woman reminds herself that "this is South Korea.”Other stars included Rain or Jung Ji-hoon, Kim Hee-chul of Super Junior, Suzy or Bae Su-ji of Miss A, and G-Dragon or Kwon Ji-yong of Big Bang."My lips weren't able to move like they were supposed to," a male participant says after trying to pronounce all the names.

Feb 22, 2015
Video shows Americans trying to pronounce K-pop star names

NK leader mocked for strange hairdo

By Lee Ji-hyeNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un is being mocked for his unusual hairdo after appearing on state television Wednesday.Kim sported a hairstyle that some described as being inspired by DJ Pauly D from Jersey Shore, a U.S. MTV reality show. D took to Twitter and Instagram to dare followers to choose whose was best.Some responded that Pauly D should be collecting royalties from Kim. Others have also compared it to the hairdo Will Smith wore when he starred in the U.S. sitcom, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”A Twitter user was quoted as saying, “Has anyone seen Kim Jong-un’s new high speed, low drag eraser-head hairdo.”Online news outlet Vox also published a list of questions “raised” with Kim’s new hair.“Does his haircut sail majestically ever-upwards, unlike the North Korean Unha rocket that failed spectacularly after a launch in 2012, breaking up over the Sea of Japan?” or “Could Kim Jong-un’s new haircut carry a warhead?”Time magazine’s article on Kim’s new hair was titled, “Someo

Feb 22, 2015
NK leader mocked for strange hairdo

'Chewy' drinks become popular

/ Courtesy of Imok Communications  Following the Gong Cha craze, Korea’s food and drink producers have launched a variety of “chewy drinks.”According to industry insiders, consumers have taken a fancy to rather “unusual” drinks with a chewy texture.“Beverage makers have rolled out some unique products because consumers are looking for something fun and different as well as a great taste,” an insider said.Such chewy drinks include Minute Maid’s Mango and Peach Puree, Pulmuone’s Aloe and Basil Seeds, Chia Seeds and Dr. Chung’s Food’s Apple Mango Soymilk.

Feb 22, 2015
'Chewy' drinks become popular

Ki Sung-yueng and Han Hye-jin expecting baby

/ Korea Times fileA-list couple Ki Sung-yueng and Han Hye-jin will soon become parents.The actress’s management agency confirmed on Sunday that the couple were expecting their first baby without saying how many weeks pregnant the actress was.There has been speculation since Ki, 26, a midfielder for Swansea City, mimicked a thumb-sucking toddler after scoring during a 2014-2015 game against Manchester United.Ki and Han married in July, 2013 

Feb 22, 2015
Ki Sung-yueng and Han Hye-jin expecting baby

Korea to have most robots in world by 2016

/ YonhapKorea will have more robots than any other country by next year, research shows.According to research firm Spire Research and Consulting, Korea is expected to have the 201,700 robots, including industrial and non-industrial ones, by next year. It now ranks behind Japan and China.The robotics industry doubled last year from five years ago, with about 600 enterprises and 34,000 people involved in the sector. The government plans to invest about 7 trillion won ($6.3 billion) to promote the industry, the research said.

Feb 22, 2015
Korea to have most robots in world by 2016

'Detective K' leads theaters in New Year's Holiday

Oh Dal-su, left, and Kim Myung-min as Seo-pil and Kim Min in "Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island" / YonhapKorean film “Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island” led cinema ticket sales during the Lunar New Year holiday season.The Korean Film Commission on Saturday released a tally showing the film drew some 1.2 million recording the highest 34.9 percent of the overall ticket sales in Korean theaters during the holiday. It has attracted over 2.4 million since it opened on Feb. 11.Directed by Kim Sok-yun, the film is set in 1795 of Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The film follows the kingdom's top detective Kim Min (Kim Myung-min) and his faithful sidekick Seo-pil (Oh Dal-su) as they investigate and attempt to dismantle a counterfeiting ring. 

Feb 21, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan

Singer captures alleged hit-and-run driver

In Ho-jin, member of vocal group Sweet Sorrow, and his manager capture an alleged hit-and-run driver. / Screen capture from YouTubeBy Lee Min-hyungA member of vocal group Sweet Sorrow has caught an alleged hit-and-run driver near Seocho Station in southern Seoul.In Ho-jin, 40, and his manager witnessed the accident and chased the runaway car about 1 a.m. Thursday.The driver, surnamed Kwon, allegedly hit a couple in their 50s.When Kwon stopped at a light, In’s manager drove their car in front of Kwon’s. In reported Kwon to police.“We thought we might miss the driver,” In said. “We chased him because hit-and-run accidents are often left unresolved.”Police alleged Kwon was driving while intoxicated.Kwon allegedly told police he thought he had hit a garbage bag.He has been charged with dangerous driving.The victims have head and leg injuries but are not in a critical condition.

Feb 20, 2015
Singer captures alleged hit-and-run driver

Gwangju gets more expensive

Customers visit Namdaemun Market, the nation's oldest traditional market, in downtown Seoul, Sunday, as the Lunar New Year, or Seollal, is around the corner. /Yonhap By Lee Min-hyungThe cost of living in Gwangju had its biggest yearly rise in 2014, data shows.The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.3 percent in the city compared with 2013, the highest increase among the 16 biggest cities and provinces in the nation, Statistics Korea said Friday.Seoul and Incheon were next with 1.2 percent. The average increase was 0.8 percent.The CPI was introduced in 1998 and measures of the price of 142 daily necessities, including food.Statistics Korea also released house price data for 2014.Seoul house prices posted a 2.8 percent on-year rise, the biggest in the nation. The average increase was 2.3 percent.Daegu, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and South Chungcheong Province had rises of 2.5 percent.

Feb 20, 2015
Gwangju gets more expensive

PM pledges to improve S-N ties

Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo, left, pays a courtesy call to Lee Hee-ho, the widow of President Kim Dae-jung, at the Kim Dae-jung Presidential Library and Museum in western Seoul, Thursday. / YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungNew Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo has promised to help President Park Geun-hye improve inter-Korean ties.Lee made the pledge on Thursday when he paid a courtesy call to Lee Hee-ho, the widow of President Kim Dae-jung.“President Kim laid the foundation for thawing inter-Korean relations, holding the first inter-Korean summit in 2000,” Lee said at the Kim Dae-jung Presidential Library and Museum in western Seoul. “But I am worried about the bilateral ties that have recently been strained.”He said he would do his best to prepare for the former first lady’s Pyongyang visit, scheduled for May, asking her to assume several roles to improve relations.Lee Hee-ho has devoted herself to offering humanitarian help to starving North Korean children.PM Lee then made a courtesy visit to former President Chun Doo-hwan and former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil.

Feb 20, 2015
PM pledges to improve S-N ties
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