Soompi.com shows Hallyu where to go

Soompi.com is the world’s biggest English-language online community dedicated to Korean pop culture. It boasts some 1.4 million visitors daily. More importantly, 90 percent of its members are non-Koreans.

The website is widely regarded as a promising social network venture that has secured a solid user base on the strength of Korean cultural content. Softbank of Japan has already invested in Soompi.com and other investors are lining up amid the outlook that the website will emerge as a key gateway to Asian pop culture for English-speaking audiences.

Soompi.com CEO Joyce Kim, who lives in San Francisco, said in an interview that Hallyu is still in the early stages of growth internationally and the website would help foster its development online as “the central online activity hub for all fans of Hallyu and Asian pop.”

Joyce Kim

Lee says door for inter-Korean dialogue still open

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that the door for inter-Korean dialogue remains open but North Korea should first show its seriousness about the talks.

President Lee Myung-bak makes a New Year's address on Monday. (Yonhap News)

"I remind the North that the path toward peace is yet open. The door for dialogue is still open," Lee said in his New Year's address broadcast live.

Lee reiterated that should the North show sincerity, the South has "both the will and the plan to drastically enhance economic cooperation" in partnership with other nations.

He also called for the international community to make joint efforts to coax Pyongyang into giving up its nuclear program.

"It is imperative now more than ever for countries concerned to play a fair and responsible role," he said, apparently referring to the participating countries in the long-stalled six-way nuclear talks -- China, the U.S., Japan, Russia and the two Koreas.

The president stressed that unity is the best tool for national security.

"We should stand together as one on the issue of national security. We must not forget that the best possible security measure is a people united," he said.

Inter Milan clash awaits Seongnam

The year 2010 just keeps getting better and better for South Korean soccer and it could end on a real high if Seongnam Ilwha Chunma defeats European champion Inter Milan in the Club World Cup semifinal in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

It is a rare chance for a team from the K-League to mix with the best in the world and fans back in East Asia will be eagerly tuning in to see if the seven-time champions can shock one of the biggest names in soccer. If it happens, then a final is on the cards against either TP Mazembe of Congo and Brazil’s Internacional, no relation to the Italians.

Seongnam’s coach Shin Tae-yong thinks that the final is possible. Shin, just 40, led the team to the Asian Champions League title in November with a 3-1 win over Zob Ahan of Iran in Tokyo. That also granted access to the intercontinental competition behind held in United Arab Emirates.

On Saturday, Seongnam blew away local team Al Wahda with a 4-1 win. It was a fine display of clinical attacking soccer and served notice to the Italians, who won the European title with a victory over Bayern Munich back in May, that it will be a tough game in the fast-growing sporting city. Mauricio Molina, Sasa Ognenovski, Choi Sung-kuk and Cho Dong-keon were all on target for the K-League team.

President Lee seeks support for S.Korea-Malaysia ties on nuclear energy

KUALA LUMPUR (Yonhap News) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak assured Malaysia business leaders Friday that the two Asian nations have great potential for cooperation on nuclear energy as well as joint development of other green technologies.

"South Korea's experience in the construction and operation of nuclear power plants will be able to give substantial help to Malaysia's future energy plan," Lee said in a speech at a business forum held on the occasion of his two-day state visit here. It was attended by more than 300 business leaders from the two countries, including Syed Ali Alattas, head of the Malaysian Malay Chamber of Commerce, and his South Korean counterpart Sohn Kyung-shik.

Lee stressed the efficacy and safety of South Korean reactors, saying there have been no accidents during South Korea's operation of atomic power plants across the nation for 32 years. In addition, he said, the operation rate reaches the world's top level at 92 percent, despite relatively short construction periods.

South Korea, which produces 36 percent of its total energy demand at 20 nuclear power plants, has been emboldened by a $20-billion contract with the United Arab Emirates to build nuclear reactors there. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to be held as early as next month.

The president said South Korea and Malaysia also need to step up cooperation on green growth.

"We can create new business opportunities by combining Malaysia's affluent resources, including bio-energy and South Korea's superb green technologies," he said.

He added South Korea's advanced information-technology sector can be helpful as well in upgrading Malaysia's telecommunication and transportation networks.

In their summit earlier in the day, Lee and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak agreed to "further cooperate on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy" as stated in a 2009 accord between their relevant government agencies.

Optimus One sales hit 2m

LG Electronics, the world’s third-largest handset maker, announced Friday that the number of Optimus One smartphones supplied in the global market broke the 2 million mark as of Tuesday.

Launched on the local market on Oct. 3, the Optimus One became LG Electronics’ first million-seller smartphone on Nov. 17. 

LG Optimus One. (LG)

By region, North America is currently the largest market for the smartphone with about 1.3 million Optimus Ones having been supplied in the region through Metro PCS, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon Wireless. In addition, AT&T, the second-largest mobile service provider in the U.S., is scheduled to introduce the phone during the first quarter of 2011.

To date about 450,000 Optimus One smartphones have been supplied in Korea, making it the second largest market for the handset, followed by Europe with around 200,000 units. According to the company about 50,000 units have been sold in Commonwealth of Independent States and Asia.

However, with the handset set to be carried by large mobile service providers including Orange and Vodafone within the month, the company is hoping to expand its presence in the Asian and European markets. 

Outrage over leaked photos of singer

American singer and actress Christina Aguilera has been the center of attention after unidentified hackers illegally took and exposed a number of her topless photos to the public, the UsMagazine.com reported Wednesday.

According to the report, the 29-year-old celebrity is said to have cared for her risqué photos, which were not intended to be exposed to the public eyes. “The daredevil hacker broke into Aguilera’s personal stylist’s account, obtaining a series of her pictures,” her representative said. 


“Currently, we are keeping our eyes on the reactions of the hackers and the press who illegally obtained and bought these photos. That is absolutely forbidden.” 

In addition, Aguilera is said to have pledged to track down the hackers’ identities and, if possible, file suit against them.

Taken under Aguilera’s consent, the leaked semi-nude photos are believed to have been taken before she announced her divorce from her ex-husband Jordan Bratman, a renowned music marketer in the U.S.

K5, Sportage R win design awards

Kia Motors Corp. announced Friday that the K5 mid-sized sedan and the Sportage R sport utility vehicle won Good Design awards.

The K5 was given the prime minister’s award as well as the online consumers’ award. The Sorento R was given the Korea Institute of Design Promotion president’s award.