Park Jin-young to remarry next month

Entertainment mogul Park Jin-young revealed Monday that he has gotten engaged to his girlfriend, who is nine years his junior. Park, who is a singer and music producer as well as CEO of JYP Entertainment, made the announcement online through social media. He said that his girlfriend, who is not a celebrity, was the woman who inspired him to write his hit love ballad single “You’re the One,” which was released last year.  “Although this woman is nine years younger than I and she just lives a norm

PeopleSept. 17, 2013

Passenger of crashed flight donates compensation money

A Korean passenger of Asiana Airlines flight 214, which crashed on its final approach to San Francisco International Airport on July 6, has donated all of the compensation money paid to him to a child welfare center.Choi Jong-lip, 55, president of Auros Technology in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, gave the 25 million won ($23,000) in compensation he received from the airline to the Hwaseong Hope Regional Children’s Center on Monday. “I am really pleased that I am the first to donate Asiana Airline

PeopleSept. 17, 2013

Burberry, Tom Ford headline London Fashion Week

Soft, lacey pastel confections at Burberry Prorsum, wacky florals at Christopher Kane, sparkly party dresses at Tom Ford: London Fashion Week was in full swing Monday, with a huge diversity of new spring looks from a parade of big names all jostling for buyers‘ attention.Luxury British label Burberry packed in the biggest crowds with its runway show, which featured a collection of ultra-feminine pastel outfits, sheer pencil dresses and light cashmere coats. Designer Christopher Bailey said it w

Arts & DesignSept. 17, 2013

SNSD wows 12,000 fans in first Jakarta solo concert

The hallyu starlets of Girls’ Generation recently wrapped up their first solo concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of the ladies’ “Girls’ Generation World Tour ~ Girls & Peace.” The performance took place at the Mata Elang International Stadium at Ancol Dreamland on Saturday night, attracting around 12,000 fans in a sold-out crowd, according to representatives of the group’s entertainment agency S.M. Entertainment. Girls’ Generation performed 25 songs including “Gee,” “Tell Me Your Wish,” “Oh!

PeopleSept. 16, 2013

Ex-envoy to Laos named ambassador for Seoul city

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that it appointed former Ambassador to Laos Lee Gun-tae, 56, as the 15th ambassador for international relations. Lee graduated from the department of French literature at Seoul National University, and joined the Foreign Ministry in 1980. He served as vice consul general in Houston, an aide to the chief trade negotiator, director-general for regional trade and ambassador to Laos.He will provide advice and suggestions to the city government on its int

PeopleSept. 16, 2013

Swedish king, 40 years on throne, invites all to dance

STOCKHOLM (AFP) ― Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrated 40 years as monarch Sunday in true Scandinavian egalitarian style by inviting everyone to come and dance at the royal palace.“I invite everybody to a music and dance party in the inner courtyard of the royal palace,” the 67-year-old said according to national Swedish radio.“And everybody is welcome. Bring your dancing shoes. Cheers!”The king showed the way by asking his spouse for the past 37 years, German-born Queen Silvia, up for a dan

PeopleSept. 16, 2013

First English book on gayageum master Hwang published in U.K.

A book on the music world of Hwang Byung-ki, a master of “gayageum” and honorary professor of Ewha Womans University, has been published as part of a British university’s musicology series. It is the first book in English about an Asian composer who writes primarily for traditional instruments. The publisher, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, is the only higher education institution in Europe specializing in the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The gayageum

PeopleSept. 16, 2013

Comfort women advocacy group kicks off petition for U.N. action

An advocacy group for the women who were drafted by Japan as sex slaves for its soldiers during World War II started a petition on Monday in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, asking for the United Nations to take a step toward restoring their honor.The group of citizens living in Tongyeong and its adjacent city Geoje held a news conference in front of a monument memorializing the women euphemistically called “comfort women” by Japan to kick off the campaign, the third launched of its kind.Ki

PeopleSept. 16, 2013

Rare Buddha statue to be unveiled during Tripitaka Koreana Festival

A 1,200-year-old Buddha statue will be shown to the public for the first time during this year’s global Tripitaka festival, the event’s organizer said Monday.The Haeinsa Temple will unveil “Maaebul,” a 7.5-meter high Buddha statue engraved into a rock wall at Gayasan Mountain, for the 2013 Tripitaka Koreana Festival, which kicks off on Sept. 27 for a 45-day run, the Millennial Anniversary of the Tripitaka Koreana Organizing Committee said.The Maaebul is one of the country’s most well-preserved s

CultureSept. 16, 2013

Chinese tourists to hit record high during National Day holiday

A record number of Chinese tourists will arrive in Korea during the weeklong National Day holiday in the first week of October, the peak season for overseas travel for the Chinese. Around 150,000 Chinese tourists are expected to travel to Korea from Oct. 1-7, up 50 percent from the previous year, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.The forecast is based on the continued surge of Chinese visitors to Korea in recent months. In July and August, the number of Chinese tourists jumped by aroun

TravelSept. 16, 2013

Choi Ji-woo to play modern-day Mary Poppins

After a near two-year hiatus from Korean dramas, actress Choi Ji-woo returns this fall with a remake of the smash hit Japanese series “I’m Mita, Your Housekeeper.” Of her upcoming role as a quirky and seemingly cold housekeeper, the 38-year-old actress said, “I really wanted this role because it was completely different from previous heroines that I have played.” Slated to air this Monday, SBS’ “Suspicious Housekeeper” (working title) not only has high profile “Winter Sonata” star Choi on board,

TelevisionSept. 16, 2013

Winning the lead role of ‘Miss Saigon’

Chatty and bubbly in person, emerging New York-based musical singer Shin Hae-ji (Shawna Haeji Shin) reminds one of Glinda, the popular blond witch in “Wicked.”Yet the 27-year-old is playing a character that’s quite the opposite of Glinda in the U.S. next month. She is making her debut as Kim, the tragic heroine of the popular musical “Miss Saigon,” scheduled to premiere at the Paramount Theatre in Chicago on Oct. 30. After just starring in three shows ― “Rent a White Guy,” “Talent 101” and “King

PerformanceSept. 16, 2013

Korea Artist Prize winner adopts nature to describe sick society

Kong Sung-hun, winner of this year’s Korea Artist Prize, said he wanted to show a slice of life through his paintings. “I want to get away from the current art trend and reveal pieces of ordinary lives, including myself living in the present,” he said. The 48-year-old fine arts professor at Sungkyunkwan University received the award from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea on Sept. 10 for his series of paintings titled “Winter Journey.”The judge panels praised Kong for infu

CultureSept. 16, 2013

Miss America first of Indian heritage

The Miss America pageant has crowned its first winner of Indian heritage.Moments after winning the 2014 crown, 24-year-old Nina Davuluri described how delighted she is that the nearly century-old pageant sees beauty and talent of all kinds.“I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity,” she said in her first press conference after winning the crown in Atlantic City, New Jersey's Boardwalk Hall. “I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss Americ

PeopleSept. 16, 2013