South Korea - The Korea Times

Singer Chae Yeon not shy about claiming No. 2 spot in China

/ Korea Times fileKorean singer Lee Chae-yeon, whose stage name is Chae Yeon, told a television talk show on Monday, that her popularity in China was second only to Jun Ji-hyun, the hallyu megastar from the SBS drama “My Love from the Star,” which rocked the mainland this year. A host on the KBS “Hello” show said “most Koreans thought Jun was the number one hallyu star in China, but in fact Chae was the most popular.  Chae, 35, made light of the remark, first denying it but then saying, “I’m trailing close behind her.”On another recent talk show, Chae said her popularity in China was based on her “cute” image rather than the sexy image that mostly appealed to Koreans. Chae recently made headlines with a “selfie” showing plenty of cleavage. 

Dec 16, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

Singer Chae Yeon not shy about claiming No. 2 spot in China

Don't stop the music

Dec 16, 2014

'Panty burglar' caught in Seoul

A man who was caught allegedly robbing a house while wearing women’s panties has been identified and apprehended, Seoul police said Monday. The incident occurred some three months ago. The 63-year-old man, identified only as Hwang, was allegedly ransacking a house when the owner walked in. Hwang escaped, but not before getting his pants and panties caught on the window as he was jumping out.  Police took hair and fluid samples in the underwear to identify the man and arrested him last Wednesday. The man claimed he wore the women’s underwear because of a traditional superstition, Gangseo-gu district police said. 

Dec 15, 2014By Kim Jae-heun

Human Rights Watch warns gov't on 'memogate'

Tatsuya Kato, former Seoul bureau chief for the Sankei Shimbun, arrives at the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul, Monday. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe government should stop using criminal defamation laws to “silence the media,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday, referring to actions taken against six Segye Ilbo reporters and Japanese journalist Tatsuya Kato.“The South Korean government should stop bringing criminal defamation charges against journalists for simply doing their jobs, and pledge to reform laws to end criminalization of defamation,” said the organization’s Asia deputy director Phil Robertson. Cheong Wa Dae officials have filed lawsuits against reporters and staff members at the Segye Ilbo, after the newspaper broke a story about a presidential document that was leaked to the media. The memoranda reportedly said President Park Geun-hye’s former aide Jeong Yun-hoe ― who holds no official government post ― meddled in state affairs y holding regular meetings with presidential secretaries. Meanwhile, pros

Dec 15, 2014By Kim Jae-heun

Human Rights Watch warns gov't on 'memogate'

With a cane

Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Seok-rae, assisted by his secretaries, walks with a cane into the Seoul Central District Court, Monday, to attend a hearing on embezzlement charges against him. The 79-year-old was indicted in January on charges of embezzling 800 billion won in company funds and of setting up offshore accounts to evade taxes. / Yonhap

Dec 15, 2014

SHINee, Girls' Generation stars promote UNICEF

Minho Yoona Popular singers Minho from SHINee and Yoona from Girls’ Generation have become official models for UNI Heroes, a fund-raising branch of global children’s rights and emergency relief organization UNICEF. A video of the singers sponsoring the foundation was released online recently. The singers urged viewers to take an interest in children and endorse the foundation.   “Save the children’s lives and become kind heroes,” Minho, 24, and Yoona, 25, said at the end of the two-minute video. SHINee is touring Japan, and has so far played shows across 20 cities including Tokyo and Osaka, attracting more than 200,000 fans.  Girls’ Generation recently drew 50,000 people to a concert in Japan, showing that the group’s fame was still intact, even without ousted member Jessica.  

Dec 15, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

SHINee, Girls' Generation stars promote UNICEF

MMA fighter Song Ga-yeon falls in second career match

Satomi Takano is applying pressure on top of Song Ga-yeon. / YonhapFemale mixed martial artist Song Ga-yeon, 20, lost to Japan’s Satomi Takano in the first round of a Road FC fight at Olympic Park in eastern Seoul, Sunday.  Takano, 24, was aggressive from the start, overwhelming Song with punches before taking her down. The match ended just 4:29 minutes into the first round, denying Song her second win in a row.  After the initial takedown, Song managed to balance herself and land some punches. But Takano took the Korean down again, and pinned her arm behind her back.  The struggle continued for some time, with Song trying to escape the hold. But Satomi continued to apply pressure, eventually claiming the submission.Song, a former ring girl, has captured the country’s attention with her journey to become a fighter. She has appeared as a cast member on the SBS reality show "Roommate," on which she has discussed her dream to fight professionally. The match was Song’s second professional fight after her first in August, in which she clinched a TKO v

Dec 15, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

MMA fighter Song Ga-yeon falls in second career match

Back to December

Dec 15, 2014

'Pro-NK' professor

Shin Eun-mi, a music professor being investigated for her alleged sympathy toward North Korea, meets reporters before entering the Seoul MetropolitanPolice Agency for questioning, Sunday. She allegedly made pro-North Korea remarks during forums since 2011. Prosecutors have banned her from leaving the country. / Yonhap

Dec 14, 2014

Labor strife in Ssangyong

Two Ssangyong Motor union members protest atop a 70-meter chimney at the company’s plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. They say they will not come down until management agrees to reinstate 153 laid-off workers. The union is protesting against a recent Supreme Court ruling that a mass layoff by the company in 2009 was lawful. / Yonhap