South Korea - The Korea Times

/ Courtesy of ABC-MartBy Rachel LeeAfter years of “peacocking” in seven-inch heels, it seems that people no longer want to try too hard to look good.According to industry insiders, the local shoe market has gone “normal” along with the normcore trend. Normcore is a unisex fashion trend that took hold last year, involving garments that are unpretentious and average looking.“Low heel, comfortable shoes have become increasingly popular here from last year,” ABC-Mart marketing manager Lee Ha-yeon said. ABC-Mart is a Japanese shoe retailer. Such shoes include slip-on, “unlogoed,” bulky New Balance and Asics sneakers. The color palette is black and white, the company says. “We are planning to show some trendy designs that will satisfy our consumer needs,” Lee said.

Feb 3, 2015

Will 'The One' win over China?

The One / Korea Times fileKorean singer Jeong Soon-won, who goes by the name The One, is joining the Chinese version of Korea’s hit reality music show “I Am a Singer,” reports said. Chinese news outlets said the 41-year-old singer will join the program, which begins its season in February. Kim Eun-seong, a member of Chinese idol boy band Zhi Shang Li He, will be the singer’s “manager” during the show. Korea’s Asia Today described Jeong as a “vocal trainer in SM Entertainment who taught Korean idol bands including Super Junior, TVXQ and Tae-yeon from Girls’ Generation.” Jeong debuted in 2002 with his first album “The Last Gift, The One!” He catapulted to stardom in 2012 by winning the Korean version of I Am a Singer. China’s Hunan TV bought the rights to I Am a Singer in 2012.  

Feb 3, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan

Inauguration of submarine command

Sailors salute during a ceremony to inaugurate the Submarine Force Command at a naval port in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday. South Korea launched its first submarine command composed of 13 subs to strengthen its underwater capabilities and combat readiness against North Korea./ Courtesy of Navy

Feb 2, 2015

Railway protest

Councilors of the municipal governments of Gwangju and South and North Jeolla Provinces protest against the government’s plan to have a high-speed railway line link Osong and Gwangju run via Seodaejeon Station at the government complex building in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

Feb 2, 2015

No smoking in school zone

A smoking warden stands in front of the entrance to an elementary school in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul, Monday. The Sonpa District Office implemented a comprehensive smoking ban within a 50-meter radius of elementary schools in the district. Violators are subject to a 100,000 won ($98) fine./ Yonhap

Feb 2, 2015

Man rams girlfriend with car after breakup

A man in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, was caught on video Saturday hitting his ex-girlfriend with his car after she broke up with him.Footage from a closed-circuit television camera shows the woman standing in front of a white car. The man, who was driving a black car, rams into the first car, which in turn hits the woman.The impact sent the woman through the wall of the stationary store she was standing next to.The driver of the second car, surnamed Choi, allegedly committed the crime out of anger because the woman broke up with him, according to the Pohang Nambu Police Station.Even after the impact, Choi got out of his car and punched the woman.The woman is reportedly not in critical condition, but has been hospitalized for treatment.The man reportedly waited for the woman in front of her house, after failing to reach her.On Sunday, police issued an arrest warrant for Choi on charges of attempted murder.

Feb 2, 2015

Man rams girlfriend with car after breakup

Koreans' new obsession: hair

/ Courtesy of Mise en sceneBy Rachel LeeKorean women have long been obsessed with having flawless skin. It seems they have found a new obsession: silky hair. They are care about their hair the way they think about skin.According to Amore Pacific, the country’s leading cosmetics maker, the popularity of hair care products is on the rise. Hair serum, in particular, has been a huge hit in the market. Sales of Perfect Serum by its hair care brand Mise en scene increased by 130.5 percent last month on a year-on-year basis.“The serum has become the best-selling product at the country’s drug stores, thanks to many benefits that the product gives,” a Mise en scene spokeswoman said.Perfect Serum, which contains royal jelly, argan oil and rose water, is designed to repair and strengthen damaged hair to restore its suppleness.A few drops of the serum are applied on towel-dried hair, before the hair is allowed to dry normally. The serum is said to form a thin protective layer over the hair. It’s especially good for dry, frizzy hair that breaks easily or that has und

Feb 2, 2015

MMA celebrity Seo Doo-won falls in tense match

Choi Mu-gyeom, left, and Seo Doo-won during Sunday match at Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul / Screen capture from AfreecaTVCelebrity and mixed martial arts fighter (MMA) Seo Doo-won, 33, on Sunday failed to steal the featherweight belt from current number one Choi Mu-gyeom, 27. Seo, who built fame as a mentor and judge on the MMA-themed reality show “Crying Fist,” fell to a 10-8 record with the loss. Choi improved to 6-3.   Commentators dubbed the match at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul as one of the best fights in recent memory. The match ended in a tie, forcing an extra round.  Seo, measuring 175 centimeters in height, spent most of his time trying to pin his opponent to the fence.  Choi, at 177 centimeters, circled the octagon throwing low kicks, knee kicks and punches at Seo. Judges voted 2-1 in favor of Choi. 

Feb 2, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan

MMA celebrity Seo Doo-won falls in tense match

Uzbekistan criticized for `martial arts' football

An Uzbekistani player delivers an acrobatic kick to the head of Korean player Kang Sang-woo during the 2015 King's Cup match in Bangkok on Sunday./ Screen capture fron YouTube By Lee Min-hyung Video footage of an Uzbekistan’s U-22 football player landing a flurry of punches on his South Korean opponent during a match in Thailand, Sunday, has angered netizens here.The incident occurred in the second half of a match at the 2015 King’s Cup in Bankok, when Uzbekistan’s Tohirjon Shamshitdinov delivered a three-punch combo to the head of Sim Sang-min.The video surpassed the 100,000-viewer mark on YouTube in less than a day.Another Uzbek player earlier delivered an acrobatic kick to the head of Kang Sang-woo to catch a ball in air.Both Uzbek players were given a red card for their conduct.The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Monday that it had sent a letter of complaint to the organizing committee of the King’s Cup.“The Korean national team was shocked over the Uzbek players’ violence,” a KFA official said. “We sent the com

Feb 2, 2015

Others

Others

Say You, Say Me

Shoe trend: Normcore

Will 'The One' win over China?

Inauguration of submarine command

Railway protest

No smoking in school zone

Man rams girlfriend with car after breakup

Koreans' new obsession: hair

MMA celebrity Seo Doo-won falls in tense match

Uzbekistan criticized for `martial arts' football

Most Read in South Korea