‘Sisters over Flowers’ to showcase actresses’ feminine charm

Cable channel tvN’s newest reality program, “Sisters over Flowers,” part of the series “Backpacking Project, Part 2,” is slated to air for the first time on Friday night at 10 p.m. The program will have a much different vibe from “Grandpas over Flowers,” which followed the antics of four veteran actors backpacking throughout Europe and Taiwan. “‘Sisters over Flowers’ is going to be completely different from ‘Grandpas over Flowers,’” head producer of the series Nah Young-suk said at a press confe

TelevisionNov. 27, 2013

Nouveau speakeasies in vogue

 Try inviting a friend over for a tipple at Hopscotch, and you may end up waiting as said pal gets lost. Tucked away on a small backstreet with no written sign or obvious door, this retro gastropub is more than hard to find, it is deliberately incognito. “We didn’t want the public to know about it,” said Hopscotch chef and co-owner David Cho. The whole set-up might read anti-social to the extreme not to mention bad for business, yet, as Cho so charmingly puts it, “People want to find the small h

FoodNov. 27, 2013

For Riedel, wine appreciation is all in the glass

The year was 1973. Claus Riedel ― the late, former head of Riedel Glas Austria ― saw his dreams for glasses custom-tailored for specific wine styles reach full, global fruition with the launch of the brand’s Sommelier series.Many have since etched that moment as pivotal in how oenophiles perceived the vessel’s role in the proper enjoyment of wine. From that moment on, Riedel’s Austrian crystal glasses have spawned an ongoing debate about the true effectiveness of such wares, designed solely for

FoodNov. 27, 2013

Korea opens agricultural research center in Peru

The Rural Development Administration of Korea opened an agricultural research center of the Korea Project on International Agriculture in Lima, Peru, Tuesday.The state-run agricultural research institute said the center would provide technical cooperation for a range of activities, from agricultural development projects to the training of Peruvian researchers. The opening of the center also commemorates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.The administration has set

PeopleNov. 27, 2013

Korea vows corruption fight

Korea introduced its toughest-ever legislation against corruption involving public officials to an international conference Tuesday. Lee Sung-bo, chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, also pledged that Korea would play an active role in promoting global cooperation to build a more transparent society. He is currently leading the Korean delegation to the fifth conference of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Panama City, which runs from Monday to Friday.“Co

PeopleNov. 27, 2013

Drawbridge restored in Busan after 47 years

Yeongdo Bridge in Busan has returned to its original form as a drawbridge, 47 years after its deck stopped moving. The Busan Metropolitan City Government on Wednesday held a ceremony to mark the restoration of the bascule bridge.The bridge was built in 1934 to connect the mainland and Yeongdo Island, the first such bridge in the city’s history. It was also Korea’s first bascule bridge with a single moveable section. The bridge is said to have been built by Japanese colonial occupiers to transpor

PeopleNov. 27, 2013

[Photo News] KT&G relief aid to Philippines

PeopleNov. 27, 2013

Korean adoptee flyers Seoul in hope of finding birth parents

A Korean adoptee looking for her birth parents has turned to flyers in Seoul after poor record-keeping and language issues have limited her search.Sarah Ishida, 29, returned to Korea in 2012, but after several visits to the places where she was found and looked after, and to Korean organizations that help with birth family searches, she has been unable to discover much in her search.Ishida has been told that an 18-year-old woman surnamed Ham found her in Changsin-dong, Seoul, shortly after she w

Expat LivingNov. 26, 2013

Visa woes frustrate foreign business owners

Running a successful small business is never easy. But as a foreigner navigating the complex web of immigration law, that challenge can seem all the more daunting. Some foreign businesspeople complain of unclear visa rules and requirements and seemingly arbitrary decision-making.A decision by the local immigration office last month signaled the end of the 3-year-old clothing business of one French citizen.“They asked me to sign this approval thing and I said no. I refused. I said, ‘Can I have a

Expat LivingNov. 26, 2013

[Photo News] Korean-American friendship

PeopleNov. 26, 2013

Rain joins Bruce Willis for upcoming Hollywood film

Fresh off his comeback performance at this year’s Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong on Friday, officials at Cube Entertainment announced that Rain will also be making an on-screen comeback with his next Hollywood project. Rain will star alongside actors Jason Patric, John Cusack and rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as well as action movie superstar Bruce Willis in the upcoming American action flick, “The Prince.” The new action thriller will be directed by Brian A. Miller, with Rain playing Wi

PeopleNov. 26, 2013

Asiana Airlines supplies equipment to Chinese school

Asiana Airlines, the nation’s second-largest flag carrier, established a sister relationship with Yucai Primary School in Guilin, China, on Tuesday, the company announced.Asiana supplied the school with 11 computers, four sets of multipurpose educational equipment, two pianos and 500 books, in addition to providing a special vocational lecture for students who dream of becoming flight attendants, the company stated.At the ceremony were Asiana Airlines CEO Yoon Young-doo, Guilin deputy mayor Wu J

PeopleNov. 26, 2013