Latest news with #Song
Korea Herald
15 hours ago
- Health
- Korea Herald
How Koreans keep kids' heads fashionably round
In Korea, when a baby sleeps soundly, whether lying flat or with their head turned to one side, parents don't just admire the peaceful sight. They have a task at hand: gently repositioning the baby's head from side to side during sleep. It's a small but deliberate effort to prevent flat head syndrome and encourage a well-rounded head shape. While flat head syndrome is a real condition caused by constant pressure on the back or side of a baby's head, South Korean parents often have additional concerns. They believe the shape of the head forms the foundation of the face and that a flat head can interfere with the development of the baby's facial features. Since a baby's skull is still soft and developing, many Korean parents see infancy as a crucial window to shape a round, gently protruding back of the head, commonly called "jjanggu head," believing it will lead to a smaller, more sculpted face later in life. 'Jjanggu,' although best known as the Korean name for the popular Japanese animated character Shin-chan, is also a Korean word defined in dictionaries as a head shape characterized by a prominent forehead or occipital area. To prevent flat head, many parents make a habit of regularly alternating their baby's sleeping position from one side to the other. Some position their newborns to sleep on their sides or even on their stomachs, to avoid putting pressure on the back of the baby's head. There are even side-sleeping pillows on the market designed for newborns to lie on their side and wrap their little arms around the cushion. But many pediatricians in Korea and other countries strongly warn against putting babies to sleep on their stomachs or sides, as it has been directly linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There have been numerous cases of infants dying while sleeping face-down. Just last year, a baby at a daycare center in Daegu died during a nap after being placed in a prone position following lunch. Some parents, unwilling to choose between safety and aesthetics, turn to head-shaping pillows featuring a dip in the middle. They are advertised as softly cradling the baby's head and preventing flattening. However, a local pediatrician surnamed Song says that those pillows are a product of Korea's beauty-obsessed parenting culture, calling them a form of "misleading marketing." "In most cases, a baby's head shape naturally corrects itself with growth. Sleeping face-down can block a baby's airway or interfere with body temperature regulation, so it requires special caution," he said. Next time you see a 'jjanggu' pillow online while shopping for a baby shower gift in Korea, remember that it's not about the anime character but about "K-beauty" starting in infancy. Instagram에서 이 게시물 보기 The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드(@thekoreaherald)님의 공유 게시물
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Health
- Korea Herald
K-parenting 101: Baby's head sculpted in sleep
In Korea, when a baby sleeps soundly, whether lying flat or with their head turned to one side, parents don't just admire the peaceful sight. They have a task at hand: gently repositioning the baby's head from side to side during sleep. It's a small but deliberate effort to prevent flat head syndrome and encourage a well-rounded head shape. While flat head syndrome is a real condition caused by constant pressure on the back or side of a baby's head, South Korean parents often have additional concerns. They believe the shape of the head forms the foundation of the face and that a flat head can interfere with the development of the baby's facial features. Since a baby's skull is still soft and developing, many Korean parents see infancy as a crucial window to shape a round, gently protruding back of the head, commonly called "jjanggu head," believing it will lead to a smaller, more sculpted face later in life. 'Jjanggu,' although best known as the Korean name for the popular Japanese animated character Shin-chan, is also a Korean word defined in dictionaries as a head shape characterized by a prominent forehead or occipital area. To prevent flat head, many parents make a habit of regularly alternating their baby's sleeping position from one side to the other. Some position their newborns to sleep on their sides or even on their stomachs, to avoid putting pressure on the back of the baby's head. There are even side-sleeping pillows on the market designed for newborns to lie on their side and wrap their little arms around the cushion. But many pediatricians in Korea and other countries strongly warn against putting babies to sleep on their stomachs or sides, as it has been directly linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There have been numerous cases of infants dying while sleeping face-down. Just last year, a baby at a daycare center in Daegu died during a nap after being placed in a prone position following lunch. Some parents, unwilling to choose between safety and aesthetics, turn to head-shaping pillows featuring a dip in the middle. They are advertised as softly cradling the baby's head and preventing flattening. However, a local pediatrician surnamed Song says that those pillows are a product of Korea's beauty-obsessed parenting culture, calling them a form of "misleading marketing." "In most cases, a baby's head shape naturally corrects itself with growth. Sleeping face-down can block a baby's airway or interfere with body temperature regulation, so it requires special caution," he said. Next time you see a 'jjanggu' pillow online while shopping for a baby shower gift in Korea, remember that it's not about the anime character but about "K-beauty" starting in infancy.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Song Young-kyu's drunk driving scandal rocks Korean entertainment industry; tip-off leads to arrest
Actor Song Young-kyu thought he could keep his June 19th drunk driving incident under wraps, but the news finally broke on July 25th. According to Yonhap News reports, this veteran actor was caught driving 5 kilometers in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% - well above Korea's license revocation threshold. A concerned citizen's tip-off led to his arrest, but instead of coming clean immediately, Song chose to stay mum about the the "ignorance is bliss" approach that lasted exactly one month too long. Drunk Driving Scandal Here's what makes this scandal particularly devastating. In Korean context, drunk driving isn't just a legal issue in the entertainment industry, it's career suicide. Unlike Western entertainment, where celebrities often bounce back from DUI incidents, Korean society maintains an incredibly strict moral standard for public figures. The Korean entertainment industry operates on a concept called "clean image" (깨끗한 이미지), where celebrities are expected to be role models. Drunk driving violates this social contract in multiple ways: it shows disregard for public safety, demonstrates poor judgment, and, worst of all, it breaks the trust between celebrity and fan. In Korea, where parasocial relationships between stars and fans run deeper than anywhere else in the world, this betrayal feels personal. Previous cases paint a grim picture: actors like Kim Sae-ron saw their careers virtually destroyed after drunk driving incidents, with major brands dropping endorsements and production companies blacklisting them. The industry's zero-tolerance approach means that, unlike tax evasion or even some assault cases, drunk driving often results in permanent career damage. Three-Project Nightmare Scenario Song Young-kyu's timing couldn't have been worse. He was simultaneously working on three different projects: the theatrical production "Shakespeare in Love," the ENA drama "I Shopping," and the SBS drama "Try" which had already premiered on Netflix. The theatrical production faced an immediate crisis since you can't exactly hit pause on a live performance. "I Shopping" opted for damage control by editing his scenes to the absolute minimum, while "Try" faced the worst situation - having already premiered globally on Netflix with multiple language subtitles, making last-minute changes virtually impossible. The financial implications are staggering. The Cultural Weight of Silence In Korean society, where collective responsibility and nunchi (social awareness) are fundamental values, Song Young-kyu's month-long silence can feel like a betrayal. The actor's excuse - using a designated driver but deciding to drive himself after meeting an acquaintance - sounds painfully familiar to Korean audiences who've heard similar justifications countless times. What This Means for Korean Entertainment's Future This incident highlights how interconnected modern entertainment has become. In today's world where content goes global instantly and actors juggle multiple projects, one person's poor decision can create international ripple effects. The case serves as a stark reminder that the old strategy of "keep quiet and hope it goes away" is not just ineffective in the digital age - it's potentially industry-ending. For Song Young-kyu, who's been a steady industry presence since his 1994 debut as a child musical actor, this represents a potential career crossroads. The Korean entertainment industry and its unforgiving audience are now watching to see if rehabilitation is possible, though history suggests the odds are heavily stacked against him.
The Star
6 days ago
- General
- The Star
Rare close-ups signal China's J-35 stealth jets ready for Fujian carrier
Rare close-up images of two PLA Navy J-35 stealth fighters flying in close formation have surfaced online, giving the clearest view yet of China's next-generation carrier-based aircraft. A military observer said the markings and flight characteristics offered the strongest evidence yet that the J-35 had entered production and was approaching operational readiness for deployment aboard China's latest aircraft carrier. Unlike previously circulated ground-based photos, the latest images appear to be air-to-air studies in tight formation. Their clearly visible identification marks suggest the fifth-generation fighter jets have entered initial production, according to former People's Liberation Army instructor Song Zhongping. The images, which first began circulating on China's X-like Weibo at the weekend, show the jets bearing clear 'Chinese navy' markings on their fuselages and 'Flying Shark' insignia on their tails – the strongest visual indication yet of formal naval integration. These markings, along with the official serial numbers '0011' and '0012', suggested the fighters were part of a low-rate initial production run, Song said. 'The Flying Shark insignia confirms the J-35 has joined the navy's carrier aviation force,' he said. 'It indicates the aircraft may have been in active service and is building combat and logistical support capabilities.' Though the latest photos provide the clearest view, the J-35 itself is not an unfamiliar aircraft. Earlier prototypes have been spotted flying alongside J-15 carrier-based and J-20 stealth fighters, as well as early-warning aircraft, during rehearsals for a September 3 military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Earlier this month, a programme by state broadcaster CCTV featuring the J-15T at its production facility clearly showed at least two 'green-primed' J-35 airframes in the background. The green primer layer is a coating used during the aircraft manufacturing process, before final painting and outfitting. The airframes were not blurred – in a departure from a technique frequently used by the PLA to prevent inadvertent exposure of advanced military technologies. Earlier state media reports have also implied that the J-35 is operating in tandem with the J-15T fighter in a high-low capability pairing, moving towards a balanced carrier-based combat system. The J-35 is expected to undergo extensive land-based training as well before being fully deployed aboard China's newest and most advanced carrier. There are widespread expectations that the J-35 will become the main fighter jet aboard the Fujian, China's first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults designed to launch heavier aircraft with higher payloads. The warship has undergone eight sea trials and is expected to enter service before the end of the year. Military observers commenting on the latest J-35 photos on social media noted that neither aircraft featured traditional nose-mounted airspeed probes or 'pitot tubes'. This typically indicated that the model had successfully completed its prototype and testing phases, and had entered formal production. However, Song said that was not always a definitive indicator. 'Modern airspeed systems no longer require traditional external pitot tubes [for testing]. Sensors can now be embedded internally, improving the fighter's stealth capabilities and aerodynamic efficiency.' He also downplayed online speculation about the significance of the two J-35s flying side by side, saying: 'Flying two aircraft – a lead and a wingman – is the most basic tactical formation. It's standard procedure.' The emergence of the high-definition images of fully painted operational J-35 models marks a significant step forward for the PLA's naval fighter programme. It places China alongside the United States as the only countries operating two distinct fifth-generation stealth fighters, with at least one variant capable of carrier-based operations. For China they are the J-20 land-based and J-35 carrier-capable jets, while the US has the land-based F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II multirole fighters including the carrier-capable F-35C. The carrier-based J-35 and the land-based J-35A for the PLA Air Force both stem from the earlier FC-31 demonstrator but have evolved into specialised platforms that significantly enhance China's military aviation capabilities. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Tatler Asia
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
‘Materialists' is Celine Song's tactful deconstruction of modern love
In the Materialists universe, Dating is less about connection than optimisation. It is self-improvement turned into a corporate strategy. Song doesn't condemn it outright; instead, she lays it bare, letting the implications speak for themselves. It makes the audience realise that maybe, the marriage plot of Jane Austen or Thomas Hardy—a handful of prized cows and a generous dowry—never totally left in the advent of sexual freedom. Instead, replaced with something sterile yet, in a way, indirect. The film's tension builds toward a disturbing turn, one that underscores Song's assertion that the objectification baked into modern dating doesn't come without consequences. Beneath the polished surface, Materialists reveals something rough and familiar: the pressure to become the most valuable version of oneself. 'You're not an asset—you're a person,' the film suggests. But in a world where value is quantified in income, height or charm, that idea is harder to internalise than it should be. Despite moments of wit and warmth, this is no feel-good romance. It's a film about performance and the personas we put on to survive dating in an age of metrics. Still, it avoids total cynicism. Johnson brings a steely charisma to Lucy, allowing vulnerability to surface, especially in her scenes with John. In those moments, all the spreadsheets and scorecards fall away. What's left is messy, unresolved and human.
