A fight erupted in South Korean parliament over free school meals – via The Telegraph http://bit.ly/e6wOP2 #. “President Lee Myung-bak’s GNP party have objected to the bill, saying benefits should be limited to low-income families and expanded gradually.” [Read More]
Category: Tabloid (page 3)
Formula 1 accommodation
£150 a night for a love motel? That's what the Formula One teams are paying, says The Sun. http://bit.ly/b1rp6l # [Read More]
One version of the official Red Devils supporter outfits
You've got to like the ultra-short official Red Devil world cup supporter mini-dresses! http://bit.ly/aJNN9Z # [Read More]
60% of actresses have been offered benefits for sex
A report jointly conducted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Korean Women’s Development Institute interviewed 111 actresses and 240 actress-hopefuls between September and December of last year, says the Korea Times. The findings? More than 60 percent of the interviewees received at least one proposal to have sexual intercourse from influential figures … [Read More]
Korean marries his pillow
From the Metro: Lee Jin-gyu fell for his ‘dakimakura’ – a kind of large, huggable pillow from Japan, which has a picture of his favourite anime character, Fate Testarossa, on it. And married it. http://bit.ly/98lDK6 # “He is completely obsessed with this pillow and takes it everywhere,” said one friend. “They go out to the … [Read More]
Sole Searching in Korean funeral parlours
Kick a man when he’s down: steal his shoes from the funeral parlour. Sole searching in the JoongAng Daily http://bit.ly/adnzyI # [Read More]
Korea Ranked 8th ‘Most Sinful Country’
"Korea spends more money on pornography than any other country" according to BBC Focus magazine, and is the world’s eighth most sinful country. http://bit.ly/aonQhv # [Read More]
Pleasure Squad defector tells all
Dear Leader’s Pleasure Squad defector tells all: “His favourite delicacy contains the reproductive organ of sharks.” Interesting article from Sunny Lee in The National. Pleasure Squad candidates over 165cm tall are excluded because Kim Jong Il is short, says the defector [Read More]
Warming up for the first Korean Grand Prix
Warming up for the first Korean Grand Prix to be held in Jeollanamdo this Autumn: http://bit.ly/55QBp5. From JoongAng Ilbo [Read More]
The rough and tumble of Korean politics
A physical altercation leaves Democratic Party National Assemblyman Jeong Gi-yeong needing hospital treatment. Rep. Jeong, who is visually impaired, apparently fell over and hit his head. Source: Korea Beat [Read More]
In Peril in Pyongyang?
Great Daily Mail piece on the two Korean American journalists recently released by North Korea: http://bit.ly/13N7xN # Indeed, from the whole tawdry affair only one clear winner has emerged – an exuberant Bill Clinton – even if, according to an insider, ‘the joke in the White House was that the girls were safer in North … [Read More]
LKL 2008 Quiz of the year – the answers
The answers to the teasers posed just before the New Year. 1 Stressful times What does the current credit crunch and the most recent DPRK nuclear test have in common? a) the media blame them on an incompetent government who should have seen it coming and somehow prevented it b) they would both cause a … [Read More]
The Old Justice – the only Korean-owned pub in Central London?
In a corner of Bermondsey, right by the river, is one of many traditional East End boozers. Outside: picnic benches, barrels to put your pint glasses on, hanging baskets of flowers, and a view towards Tower Bridge (right). Inside, it’s cosy. High on the wall, a TV showing the footie (left). Oak paneled walls. In … [Read More]
Rent-a-loo
The Korean Toilet Association makes it into the news again. If you’re looking for an innovative public-hygiene-themed mini-break in Korea you could do worse than rent a toilet-shaped house for the night. All proceeds will go to support that splendid and worthwhile organisation. HT to Jim Hoare. Links: World’s first toilet house to be built … [Read More]
Another industry in which Korea leads the world
We all knew Korea had some world-beating industries: ships, chips, LCD screens. Add to that the manufacture of condoms, where three Korean companies – Unidus, Dongkuk Trading and Hankook Latex – account for 30% of the global market, according to the Chosun. Maybe there’s a big domestic demand – for example for high school field … [Read More]
Banish your Monday blues
Two little items to brighten your Monday. First, if ever you thought the TV in your particular country was trashy, just be thankful they haven’t plumbed the depths of “Racing Model Billiard Championship”. “This is a sport I really would like to see catch on,” comments the Party Pooper1. “Some geniuses over at the Xports … [Read More]