Park Jung-sook Gives Lecture on Korean Wave

TV personality Park Jung-sook, who is currently studying at the University of Columbia in the USA, will give a lecture at Waseda University in Japan on July 11.

Park's lecture will deal with international relations with a focus on the popularity of Korean culture overseas. The seminar will be attended by experts from Japan and other countries as well as former President Kim Young-sam.

Park says she will speak about the creation of an integrated cultural zone in Asia through Korean culture.

On June 30, Park made a presentation in Japan at a women's forum on ways to prepare for the issue of aging in society. Back in February, she presented at a forum on the popularity of Korean culture in Asia at Harvard University.

Actress wins fame through humility

Park Jin-hee, co-star of the hit television show "War of Money", which airs on SBS Wednesday and Thursday nights, said she is tired but not stressed out.

"Why should I feel stressed when the show is doing so well?" she asked.

The show revolves around a man who has huge debts and ends up enslaved to money. It has been enjoying an audience rating of 35 percent. The last show airs tonight. Park plays the role of a bank employee who later becomes the main character's love interest.

Park said recently she has been learning how to arrange flowers once a week on her day off. "The job of an actor is to bring out emotions", Park said. "And for that reason I felt like I was drying out emotionally".

Park said she started to attend the flower arranging class three weeks ago and it has helped rebuild her emotions. Even if she wasn't stressed out she could have become jealous, as she had to compete with acclaimed actor Park Shin-yang. In the beginning, Park Shin-yang's outstanding performance was praised by many critics and even with the show about to end his acting is considered the main factor for its high ratings.

Park Jin-hee is unconcerned. "The show is doing well because of Park Shin-yang's performances", she said. "The important thing is that the show is doing well. I am happy to play a supporting role in a hit, that's better than being the star of a flop".

Ms. Park said the frequency of her character's appearance is not her main concern.

"More important is the role my character has", Park said. "While every character in the show seems to be possessed and manipulated by money, my character is the only one with a conscience, so people like her".

Park isn't as flamboyant as many celebrities. She is more like the girl next door. She first appeared in a KBS show called "Start". The actress won much wider fame when she appeared in a horror flick, but major stardom eluded her.

Her name came into the public spotlight because of the amazing acting skills she displayed in a television show last year.

The show was about two women, one in her 20s and the other in her 40s, who accidentally switch souls.

"I believe I'm growing bit by bit", she said. "I thought I was doing my best in every show I was in, but now I see things I wasn't able to when I was a 20-year-old actress".

Although she is a public figure, Park says she never has any desire to be a flashy celebrity. Rather, she considers herself down-to-earth. She hardly has any celebrity friends, she never buys expensive name-brand clothes or accessories and she lives off an allowance, with every other penny she earns going to her parents.

"I have never been at the top, not really", Park said. "And maybe that's why I have never been sensitive to trends or Addicted to popularity".

She says although celebrities should be aware of their public image, she doesn't care about being famous.

"During breaks in filming I could go to a nearby shopping mall without having to hide myself behind hats and sunglasses", she said.

Park is considering retirement in five years.

"I want to retire but I feel afraid when I think of a life without acting", Park said. To subdue her fear Park said she is attending Yonsei University's graduate school of social welfare. "I want to work in a nursery for orphans after I retire", she added.

The actress said she has recently heard a lot of advice about what roles she should choose next, now that her talent has finally won wider recognition.

"The good thing about being recognized is that you have a wider selection of scenarios to choose from", she said.
Park has recently worked on several feature films and says she has never been busier.
She has just finished a movie that examines the divisions between North and South Korea. It will be released next month. Additionally, she has a role in a mystery film that takes place in a Korean palace. This is expected to be on screens in October.

"Sure I have had more failures than success", Park said. "But every time I hear such criticisms I want to say, 'Is that the last time I will act?' I have a lot more to show people and my view on life is that one should be true to the present".

Park confessed that she would like to play intense and devastating roles. She also wants to play a nasty villain, one whom the audience will struggle to understand.

By Kang Hye-ran JoongAng Ilbo
(excerpt from HanCinema)

Park Chan-ho Will Have Final Test

By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter

South Korean pitcher Park Chan-ho will start against the Omaha Royals Saturday (Sunday Korean time), which will be an important test for his return to the U.S. Major Leagues.

The 34-year-old is slated to pitch in his fifth and unscheduled outing with the Round Rock Express in Triple-A.

Though there are rumors that he will get called-up to the big leagues, the Daily Texan reported.

The newspaper said Round Rock media relations confirmed that Park is scheduled to start on Saturday against the Omaha Royals. After his start on Saturday, he will again be evaluated. Avery Holton, media relations director for the Express, said there's still a chance things could change between now and then.

Park's fate with the Astros will be determined after Saturday's game but speculation that he will be called up before then cannot be ruled out, either.

South Korea's first export to the big leagues is 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA with the Express.

In his recent three outings, he pitched 19 innings and allowed five runs, posting a 2.37 ERA.

As Houston will have a final game Sunday before the All-Star break, if Park is not called up by then, he will have to wait until June 13 when regular season play resumes.

ksw@koreatimes.co.kr

(original text)

Park Ji Yoon

(born 3 January 1982) is a Korean pop singer, actress, and model, who debuted as a Haetae CF model at age 13.

Height: 172 cm
Weight: 45 kg
First Scene on TV: Haetae CF model at age 13.
Debut album: 1997 Hanul-sek Gum (sky-blue coloured dream)
Education: Kyunghee University - Post Modern Music
Hobbies: Drawing manga, listening to music, collecting stickers
Speciality: Violin, Swimming, Taekwondo
Languages: Korean

Discography
Korean Albums

Year	Title	Release Date
1997	Vol.1 - Sky-blue coloured dream
1998	Vol.2 - Blue Angel
1999	Vol.3 - Age Ain't Nothing But A Number
2000	Vol.4 - A Coming-of-Age Ceremony	August 1
2002	Vol.5 - Man	January 11
2003	Vol.6 - Woo	February 27

Overseas Albums

Year	Title	Release Date
1999	Blue Angel	December 1
2000	True Love	January 1
2001	Park Ji Yoon 4 (Power CD)	March 16
2001	Forever Park Ji Yoon	June 12
2002	Man	February 5
2002	Park Ji Yoon + Man Special Edition #	April 25
2002	Greatest Hit-The Glorious Asia Year #	July 12
2003	Twenty One	April 10