Latest news with #KoreanWar
The Star
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Gripping new Korean drama 'The Defects' that tackles a modern-day illegal adoption ring makes its way to Tonton
"The Defects," a new ENA drama based on the Kakao Webtoon of the same name, which has already recorded over 51 million views, is an action thriller depicting the desperate survival and revenge of children who were abandoned by their adoptive parents and barely survived at the brink of death. The dark and gripping new Korean drama that tackles a modern-day illegal adoption ring started airing on Tuesday (July 21) on Tonton. Starring talented actors such as Yum Jung-ah, Won Jina, Choi Young Jun and Kim Jin Young (DEX), this series promises a storyline full of drama, conflict, and questions that challenge human instincts. The drama's premise, an illegal adoption cartel where adoptive parents can buy children and even request refunds if not satisfied, already sparked buzz for its provocative subject matter. For the record, more than 140,000 children had been sent overseas by Seoul following the devastating 1950-53 Korean War. The drama also comes in for fans when the South Korean government announced recently that the country is set to end the decades-old practice of outsourcing adoptions to private agencies, after a damaging investigation concluded the country's government-endorsed foreign adoption programme violated the fundamental human rights of adoptees. South Korea will now introduce a 'newly restructured public adoption system, under which the state and local governments take full responsibility for the entire adoption process', South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare said. As for "The Defects", the series is an action thriller drama that tells the story of a group of children who are illegally purchased by their adoptive parents, and then trapped in the dark world of human trafficking. Behind this world, there is Kim Se-Hee (played by Yum Jung-ah), a renowned doctor and high-profile hospital director who also heads an illegal adoption syndicate run by Jung Hyeon (played by Kim Jin Young). The organisation offers a "guaranteed return," a cruel system that can eliminate these children simply because they do not meet the expectations of their adoptive parents. Then comes Kim A-Hyeon (played by Won Jina), one of the survivors who managed to escape. Now, she rises to lead other children to reclaim their persecuted future and avenge the betrayal of the past that continues to haunt them. This brave story is lifted from a popular webtoon that once sparked a phenomenon, with the original work receiving international recognition through the "Best Creative Award" in the Webtoon category at the International Content Market SPP 2017, an achievement that proves the strength of the narrative and the message it carries. "The Defects" also marks Kim Jin Young, better known as DEX's return to acting, and this time in a suspenseful thriller full of dark secrets. The actor, who is also a former special forces soldier and reality show star, DEX continues to expand his artistic talents, and his appearance this time is certainly highly anticipated. In a recent interview in Seoul, DEX said: "I like to focus intensely when I work, and the appealing part about acting is being able to deeply explore and lead a character," he said. "I approached it with a sense of guilt, wondering if I would be a flaw [among the cast]. I pulled out everything I could to work on this project." "The Defect" is an eight-episode show and for more information on the show, fans can follow Tonton on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram di @tontonmy.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Antiques Roadshow guests admit life-altering value of artwork doesn't 'change anything'
An Antiques Roadshow expert was on hand to give owners a "special" appraisal of two paintings but the couple barely reactd to the news. WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow. Antiques Roadshow guests candidly told an expert that the whopping sum for two paintings didn't "change anything" for them. Antiques Roadshow 's expert Charlotte Riordan was filming at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh when she was shown two simple yet striking paintings by Kim Tschang-yeul. The BBC expert began: "So I know that most of our production team has been praying that raindrops stay away today but I was delighted to see these two paintings of droplets of water. "So thank you very much for bringing them. Can you tell me how you came by the paintings?" The owner revealed: "My brother-in-law is French and his first cousin was married to Kim, the artist. We met them when we were first married back in 1974. "My sister said, 'You really want to see his paintings. They're pretty special.' I think we probably had no money at the time but we bought two because we loved them." Riordan then shared extensive background details about the artist, explaining: "Kim Tschang-yeul is Korean originally and was from unified Korea, as it was at the time. "In the north was where he was born. Sadly, he had to flee Korea during the Communist regime taking hold. "He actually served in the military during the Korean War. Went to New York and then eventually settled in Paris which is where he began painting his raindrops." She did point out there was a "little bit of water damage" to one of the canvases but shared that it was actually a wet canvas in his studio which inspired him to paint droplets. Riordan went on to comment: "I believe that's also not uncommon for the school of Korean artists that he came from. "A lot of them went in for this kind of very repetitious, obsessive kind of mark making, and it's seen as being a kind of result of the trauma of the war that they experienced, that this was a therapy. "This was something they used to get out of themselves, to erase traumatic memories. As we can see, the works are both signed and dated. We think 1974 in both cases which is just a couple of years after he discovered the raindrop. "So already by this stage, he was a complete virtuoso at creating this amazing three-dimensional effect." Tschang-yuel primarily created his art using oils on "Hessian-like canvases" alongside wood and sand which he had stuck to one of the two paintings to produce a "sharp relief". Riordan then delivered some tragic news, revealing that Tschang-yuel had passed away earlier that year at the age of 91. She remarked: "He had Parkinson's and was having to hold his hands steady by the end to paint these drops that he never stopped painting. "He's a very, very well-regarded artist in Korea, he's considered one of their pre-eminent artists and his career has thrived in America and France as well." When asked about the original cost of the paintings, the wife revealed: "We've talked about it and I can't imagine we paid more than £150 each at the time." The couple were in for a shock when the expert began her appraisal, stating: "This is exactly the kind of period that gets people particularly excited about his work." She then dropped the bombshell: "And I can say that individually, possibly the piece with the sand would be worth a bit more but they're probably worth at auction around £80,000 to £120,000 each in the current market. "Potentially even more for the sand piece," she added. The woman was visibly taken aback, exclaiming: "Wow." Her husband, grinning, confessed: "We actually thought you was going to say £2,000. "Nope. Bit more than that", Riordan responded, adding: "I'm so delighted to see them and it's been really special having this conversation with you." Despite the staggering valuation, the owner insisted that the value wouldn't change their feelings towards the paintings. "I love them and that's why we have them and the value doesn't actually change anything," the owner mused. "The only problem is that we have four children and I'm not sure we can cut them in half."
Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- General
- Korea Herald
Seoul to host UNC veterans, families to pay tribute to Korean War service
Veterans of the United Nations Command forces who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War and their families are to visit South Korea at the invitation of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the ministry said Wednesday. The visit, scheduled from Thursday to Monday, is part of a commemoration of the UN Forces Participation Day, observed annually on July 27. A total of 55 participants are attending, including six veterans, 21 bereaved family members and 26 leaders of veterans associations from the 15 countries that participated in the war under the UNC flag. Throughout the three-year conflict, more than 1.9 million personnel from 22 countries served under the UNC flag, providing combat, medical and logistical support. As part of the event, the South Korean government will posthumously award the country's highest military honor, the Order of Taegeuk Military Merit, to the late US veteran Fred McGee. Then a US Army Pfc. McGee served from January to November 1952 as a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Even after his squad withdrew, McGee remained behind to assist in evacuating the wounded and dead bodies, according to the ministry. His daughter Victoria Seacrest is visiting Korea on his behalf, as McGee passed away in 2020 at the age of 89. Among the veterans visiting is 97-year-old Harold Simlak, the oldest in the group. He served from April to December 1951 as a US Army private first class in the 1st Cavalry Division and fought in the Battle of Hill 328 near Waegwan-eup, North Gyeongsang Province. Other visiting veterans include two Americans: Malcolm Williamson, who served from December 1950 to October 1954 as a petty officer aboard the USS Thompson, and Roy Hakuo Yamashiroya, who served from March to July 1953 as a private first class in the 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division of the US Marine Corps. Also attending are Clifford Pearson from the United Kingdom, who served from March 1953 to August 1956 as a sergeant in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; Alphonse Martel from Canada, who served from November 1952 to November 1953 as a private in the Royal 22nd Regiment; and Estifanos Yimam from Ethiopia, who served in 1954 at guard posts along the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone. The ministry has also invited 94-year-old South Korean Lim Chang-soo, who sheltered US Army Master Sgt. Ralph Kilpatrick for 77 days after he was separated from his unit during a retreat from the Geumgang defensive line in Daejeon in 1950. Lim will be presented with a plaque of appreciation. 'The government and the people will always remember and honor the sacrifice and dedication of the heroes who risked their lives to defend the Republic of Korea,' said Veterans Minister Kang Jung-ai. 'Through a range of international veteran support programs, Korea will continue to strengthen its solidarity with the countries that contributed troops to the United Nations Command,' she added.
West Australian
11 hours ago
- General
- West Australian
Veterans and fallen of the ‘forgotten war' remembered at annual Korean War service memorial in Albany
Veterans and fallen of the 'forgotten war' remembered at annual Korean War service memorial in Albany
Korea Herald
14 hours ago
- General
- Korea Herald
From sponsored child to World Vision Korea chief
Cho Myung-hwan reflects on journey of hardship, perseverance and paying it forward World Vision Korea President Cho Myung-hwan fixes his bow tie ahead of an interview at The Korea Herald's office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on July 7. (Im Se-jun / The Korea Herald) For much of his career, Cho Myung-hwan, president of international humanitarian NGO World Vision Korea, stayed quiet about two facts from his early life: that he was once a sponsored child, and that he struggled in school. An emeritus professor at Konkuk University and a long-respected authority in HIV/AIDS research, Cho first shared both publicly at age 60, during a lecture attended by some 3,000 people. 'I wanted to tell how someone without exceptional talent could work hard, earn a Ph.D., and help others,' he said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. Now leading one of the world's largest aid organizations, Cho sees his life as living proof that even a small act of kindness — a modest donation or a few words of encouragement — can change the course of a child's future. "Sponsorship brings happiness to both the giver and the receiver," he said. "It can change one child's life and in turn, the world. I'm living proof." Sponsored child, unremarkable student Cho's is not a story of innate brilliance or rare opportunity, but of the quiet, powerful transformation that can happen when a child is told they matter. He was fortunate to have someone who did exactly that: Edna, his American sponsor, whom he affectionately calls his 'other mother.' From infancy, she sent powdered milk, toys, letters, and $15 a month. But more than anything, it was her unwavering encouragement that shaped his path. Even after the sponsorship officially ended at age 18, she continued writing and donating until her passing in 2001. 'She always asked in her letters what my dream was. When I replied that I wanted to be a firefighter, or a baseball player, when I was into baseball, she would write back, 'You'll be the best firefighter, the best baseball player in the world.'' Cho grew up in poverty, with his father having fled south during the Korean War. 'I still remember how I envied classmates for the sausage in their lunchboxes.' Though poverty often made hope feel like a luxury, Edna's support gave him something else. 'She let me grow without shame,' he said. 'She helped me believe that I have future.' Still, Cho said, he was an unremarkable student throughout school. When it came time to apply for university, a friend of his father who was then a professor at Konkuk University suggested he consider microbial engineering, a department that sometimes had unfilled seats. "He told me biotechnology would shape the future," despite it being an unpopular major at that time, Cho recalled. Cho said his journey to becoming a professor was, again, driven by sheer persistence. After completing his undergraduate studies at Konkuk University in Seoul, he went to the United States for graduate school, only to struggle with poor grades and eventually be expelled. It was an extremely difficult period, and having nowhere to go, he even studied on park benches, he recalled. Then, a professor introduced him to Charles Sterling at the University of Arizona, who accepted him into a Ph.D. program in HIV/AIDS research. Cho earned his doctorate and returned to Korea, later joining the faculty at his alma mater, Konkuk University. Calling himself the 'last-place Ph.D.,' he said that he just never gave up. At 49, Cho paused his academic career to study public policy at Harvard Kennedy School. 'I realized science alone wasn't enough,' he said. 'To help more people, you need policy, you need business.' Over the years, he served twice as president of the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific and worked on global health and development projects. World Vision delivers emergency supplies at an earthquake-stricken site in Republic of Haiti. (World Vision) Cho assumed his current role at World Vision in 2021. Founded in 1950 during the Korean War to support war orphans and widows by Korean pastor Han Kyung-jik and American journalist-pastor Bob Pierce, World Vision has grown into the world's largest international NGO, operating in about 100 countries. With an annual budget of approximately 4.2 trillion won ($3.09 billion), it has helped more than 200 million children over 75 years. Over the years, South Korea has also undergone transformation, from one of the world's poorest countries to now the 12th-largest economy and from aid recipient to "donor nation." "Now is the time to show the world a warmer, more compassionate Korea. World Vision aims to be part of that journey," Cho said. World Vision Korea recently expanded its focus to address the growing impact of climate change on vulnerable children. 'Climate change affects everyone, but for children in fragile regions, it's a matter of survival,' said Cho. 'While wealthier communities can adapt, children in poor areas suffer first and worst.' One example is the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration initiative to restore forests in Ethiopia. The project reforests degraded land, improves ecosystems, and helps communities build climate resilience — while offering carbon offset opportunities for global partners. The organization is also embracing new approaches to fundraising. On June 1, World Vision became the first NGO in Korea to accept cryptocurrency donations, partnering with Dunamu, the operator of the digital asset exchange Upbit. The group received 0.55 ether ($1,430) from a donor and sold it. Earlier this year, it received over 5 bitcoin and nearly 1 ether through the platform — equivalent to roughly 670 million won. Upbit matched up to 300 million won in donations. Looking ahead, the organization plans to experiment with fractionalizing artworks into NFTs, enabling donors to support causes by purchasing small digital shares. A child in Republic of Haiti smiles at a temporary shelter provided by World Vision. (World Vision) 'Dream until your dream comes true' Cho believes every life is precious and that no one is born without a purpose. "There was a time I felt useless," he said. "Poverty made me think I had no role in this world. But Edna's support helped me dream — and that brought me to where I am today." Now at World Vision, Cho sees his work as a way to finally give back the love and support he received from Edna and extend it to as many children as possible. 'Even helping just one more child live a better life, it matters.' "Sponsorship can help children live with joy and hope. I know, because I was one of them," he said. As the organization marks its 75th anniversary, Cho said the ultimate goal remains simple, yet bold: To create a world where organizations like World Vision are no longer needed. 'Our vision,' he said, 'is sponsorship that ends sponsorship.' rachelyj0213@
