Is Kim Jong Un Preparing to Become North Korea’s Economic Reformer?
Time

When young Kim Jong Un stood before the assembled throngs in Pyongyang on April 15, insisting that come hell or high water he would persist with his father’s “military first” policies — even in the wake of a humiliating failed missile launch — the young dictator uttered one sentence that was mostly ignored in the speech’s aftermath: “It is the party’s steadfast determination to ensure that the people will never have to tighten their belt again, and make sure they enjoy the riches and affluence of socialism to their heart’s content.”

Talking about “the affluence of socialism” in today’s North Korea is, of course, ludicrous. The economy “Lil’ Kim” inherited from his father is a disaster. Marcus Noland, the deputy director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, D.C., and a close North Korea watcher, estimates that per capita income today is “lower than it was 20 years ago and by some reckonings is only now attaining the level it achieved in the 1970s.” He further notes that since a disastrous currency reform three years ago, inflation for basic goods like rice and coal has been running at about 100%, and on the black market, the North Korean currency has fallen by about the same amount. Aping his father’s economic policies, in other words, would be about the stupidest thing Kim could do.

Kim Jong-il calls for peace with South Korea in ‘will’
The Telegraph (U.K.)

Extracts from Mr Kim’s final testament have reportedly been obtained by two think tanks in South Korea, highlighting his requested future legacy for the state as his son Kim Jong-un takes over at the helm.

The late Mr Kim requests North Korea to renounce war with its longstanding opponent South Korea, according to extracts obtained and made public by the Sejong Institute, a South Korean think-tank. However, the alleged will also urges North Korea to wait in its pursuit of peace until a new leader comes to power in Seoul, with a reunification deemed impossible under the current regime of President Lee Myung-bak.

The gulag behind the goose-steps
The Economist

Looking down on members of a 1.1m-strong army that applauded his every remark, Kim Jong Un giggled with delight during the centenary on April 15th of the birth of his late grandfather, Kim Il Sung. The contrast with his unsmiling father, Kim Jong Il, who died in December, could not have been clearer.

Unlike his father, the mop-haired Mr Kim spoke directly to the nation, in a resonant voice that masked the monotony of his message. His regime invited international television crews to film the festivities. Unexpectedly, it admitted that a mission to put a satellite into orbit in honour of his grandfather had failed. It all made for good television, and some commentators claimed to detect signals from the young ruler of a new openness in the regime.

In South Dallas, Blacks and Koreans Are at it Again, and a Girl’s Scholarship is in the Crossfire
Dallas Observer

Korean American and African American community groups were at it again in Dallas, this time over  a squabble in connection with a local scholarship.

Dorothy Nam Never Runs Out of Energy
Chosun Ilbo

Dorothy Nam, host of the EBS radio talk show “Star English,” helps listeners learn English with appearances of English-speaking celebrities, telling their life stories and sharing tips for improving English. Her outgoing and cheerful character makes the show both fun and easy to approach.

Her professional credentials are backed by the many English education programs she has hosted. She already demonstrated her skills with her previous music show on Arirang FM “Evening Groove,” which she hosted live for six years. “I started hosting ‘Star English’ last summer,” Nam said. “The timing was perfect for me. I’m in my early 40s now and I have a lot of experiences that I’d like to share.” She said she finds guests for her current show by tapping into her long list of contacts.

Councilmember Valerie Ervin Recognizes Korean American Day
Patch.com (Takoma Park, Md.)

Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin (D-District 5) will join leaders of the Korean community and Maryland State Delegate Susan Lee Friday to officially celebrate the passage of a key amendment to Montgomery’s Special Days of Commemoration law.

It is an amendment that has officially designated Jan. 13 as Korean American Day. It’s reflective of the first Korean immigrants who arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in 1903.

The Walking Dead Panel Teases Season 3; Steven Yeun on Post-Apocalyptic Preparedness
AMC TV

Comic Book Resources reports that Steven Yeun isn’t sure how well he’d do in a real zombie apocalypse: “I was raised on the rough and tumble streets of Troy, Michigan… I know how to order a really solid plate of spaghetti — I think I’d be… helpful.”

Korea Gets Two Shots at Palme d’Or
The Wall Street Journal

South Korea scored big at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, with two films chosen to compete for the famed Palme d’Or at next month’s 65th annual celebration on the French Riviera. But compared with recent years, Asia was largely underrepresented in the official selection, which features a strong American presence.

On Thursday the festival announced its lineup, which includes director Hong Sang-soo’s “In Another Country” and “The Taste of Money” from director Im Sang-soo. Mr. Hong’s feature “Hahaha” won the Prix Un Certain Regard at Cannes two years ago.

Into the Next Stage: Korean Americans 20 Years After the Riots
The Rafu Shimpo

With the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles riots almost upon us, I’ve done several interviews with various outlets interested in hearing my recollections of the time and perspective on how Korean Americans were impacted by it (a documentary, directed by Christine Choy of “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” fame, is scheduled to air April 29 on the Korean Broadcasting System).

It’s ironic: The “last straw” that made me vow to form MANAA (Media Action Network for Asian Americans) in 1991 was the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I had been incensed that, rather than shedding any new light on the subject, the media had mostly rehashed old news, opened up old wounds, and renewed racial animosity toward Japan and therefore, Japanese Americans. By doing these new interviews, I was risking inflaming racial tensions once again between Asian Americans and African Americans.

But as an outsider, I believe I gave support to Korean Americans and spoke about issues that still plague Asian Americans in general like being misunderstood, being stereotyped, and not speaking up for ourselves.

Meeting Harold: A Q&A with John Cho
Yale Daily News

Q. Can you describe your experiences as an Asian-American actor in the entertainment industry, where Asian-Americans are typically underrepresented?

A. It’s really a change. Asians are looking to conquer the entertainment industry in a way that Asians have excelled in so many of the other professions. And now I notice them a lot. And you know Asians are over-represented on the studio side and executive side. So it’s really progressed a lot in the last 15 years since I started acting, but I’m very encouraged by it, and I hope the trend continues upward.

South Korea’s Favorite Wedding Rumor Resurfaces
The Wall Street Journal

For years, rumors occasionally surfaced in South Korea and Russia about a romance between a South Korean man and the daughter of Russian President-turned-Prime-Minister-turned-back-to-President Vladimir Putin. On Friday, they hit a fever pitch when a news agency reported the couple would be married next month. The news became the top story on South Korean web sites during the afternoon.

Korean Man Denies He Is to Wed Putin’s Daughter
Chosun Ilbo

A Korean man said to be about to marry Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s daughter on Friday denied the reports. “I’ve known Katya [Putin] for more than 10 years, but I have no marriage plans. I’m only 26 so it’s a bit too early for me to be thinking about marriage,” the man, whose surname is Yoon, told the Chosun Ilbo.

“Reports of an impending marriage are false.”

Q&A with Anthony Kim: Using data to help teachers make better decisions
The Hechinger Report

Anthony Kim is the CEO of Education Elements Inc., a California-based for-profit technology company that helps schools shop for and use educational software. He’s a behind-the-scenes leader in the blended-learning movement, where students learn from both computers and teachers. Before founding Education Elements at the end of 2010, Kim started the online virtual school, Provost Systems, which he ultimately sold to EdisonLearning.

Salt Lake Bees: Hank Conger says jump from high school to minors a difficult one
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Ut.)

Life in the minors: a seemingly tangled web of league transactions, long road trips, and the goal of making it to the big leagues.

It’s a boy’s childhood dream, and though exciting, it’s a life that not many truly understand. Salt Lake Bees’ Hank Conger said the journey can be “grinding and monotonous.” Especially when you are young, on the road, and playing every single day. The 24-year old, who went 3-for-4 at bat and scored one run in Wednesday’s 6-4 victory over Las Vegas, is well aware of both the hardships and thrills that accompany the following of those boyhood dreams.

From fans to food to free time: foreign K-League players adapt to Korean life on and off the field
Yonhap News Agency

When Bas van den Brink arrived in South Korea last year to join the K-League, the Dutchman was still recovering slowly from an ankle injury. His new club, Busan IPark, wanted to show him to the fans quickly. The defender, who came from the more laid-back environs of the Australian league, apparently returned to action too soon and did not impress. Soon, his contract was canceled and he returned down under.

It was a sharp lesson in adapting to a new culture, one quite different in Korea, according to foreign players.

Since becoming a K-League player, Derek Asamoah, 30, a Ghanaian international now with K-league’s Pohang Steelers, trains harder and more often than ever before. He acknowledges that he is prepared to train and play even when he is not at his optimal condition because in Korea, players often go that extra yard for the team.

‘Chocolate Rain’ the song for Kang
Montgomery Advertiser (Alabama)

Biscuits outfielder Kyeong Kang quickly took the lead for unusual intro music this season when he strolled to the plate to the tune of a viral internet video. “Chocolate Rain,” a 5-year-old song that has almost 79 million views on YouTube, isn’t one of Kang’s favorites. He doesn’t like it at all.

“I don’t know who picked it,” Kang said. “Somebody else did.”

The song first introduced Kang last year at high-Class A Charlotte, Biscuits first baseman Mike Sheridan said. Kang’s teammates substitute “Kyeong Kang” every time the song uses “chocolate rain.”

“We’re all big fans of it,” said Sheridan, who said he’s innocent of putting it on this year’s list. “I think it relaxes him at the plate and makes him hit better.”

Kang stuck with it — blame baseball superstition — after getting a hit and an RBI in his first start with it.

World-renowned pianist set to perform at church in Harding Township
Observer-Tribune (Chester, N.J.)

World-renowned concert pianist, and Harding Township resident Min Kwon, will give area residents a taste of her impressive piano-playing skills.

“A Rising Star Concert,” a piano recital, will be presented by Kwon and her graduate students at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, 2 Lee’s Hill Rd.

Kwon is a concert pianist and associate professor of music at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. She is also a member of the church.

Son’s Parties and Privilege Aggravate Fall of Elite Chinese Family
New York Times

Although Communist Party insiders say it was Bo Xilai’s populist reign in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing that ultimately brought him down, Bo Guagua’s high living clearly irritated party leaders, who named the son, a 24-year-old student at Harvard, in the official statement describing the reasons for his father’s fall from power.

One former government employee with party ties said the leadership tolerated a certain level of corruption among top officials or their relatives as long as it was kept out of public view. He said Mr. Bo’s collegiate antics, splashed across the Internet, were emblematic of an ambitious, cocksure family who often ignored the party’s conservative standards of public behavior.

South Korean bullfighting is for bulls only
Reuters via Yahoo News

There is no blood, nor much gore. No matador, either, or even his colorful cloak. In South Korea, bull fights bull.

Mass shooting at spa shocks Ga. Korean community
AP via Boston.com

A man gunned down along with his wife and other family members at an Atlanta area spa he co-owned was a prominent member of Atlanta’s community of roughly 100,000 Korean-Americans, according to friends left confused and concerned about what happened.

And although they have yet to identify the victims, friends of the spa co-owner were mourning the loss of him and others.

“He had great people skills,” said Travis Kim, the president of the Korean-American Association of Greater Atlanta. “He had a calm personality, so in various situations, he would give me a lot of ideas. When I was going through some rather difficult situations, he was there to give me advice and I’m grateful.”

North Korea and US talk for first time since Kim Jong-il’s death
Christian Science Monitor

The US and North Korea entered a new round of exploratory talks Thursday in Beijing amid flickering hopes that they would lead at long last to six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program.

As Glyn Davies, the new US envoy to North Korea, sat down with his highly experienced counterpart, Kim Kye-gwan, a basic question was how or whether North Korean policy has changed since the death in December of North Korea’s longtime leader, Kim Jong-il.

Mr. Davies entered the talks saying it was a “positive sign” and “a good thing” that North Korea wanted the talks so soon after the transition from Kim Jong-il to his son, Kim Jong-un.

Kogi BBQ Founder Roy Choi to Pen Memoir about L.A. Food
Hollywood Reporter

Roy Choi, the co-founder of L.A.’s popular Kogi BBQ trucks has signed to write Spaghetti Junction: Riding Shotgun with an L.A. Chef. The book will be one of the first three titles released on Anthony Bourdain’s new imprint at Ecco Books. Publication is scheduled for 2013.

American Idol’s Heejun Han: 5 Things You Don’t Know About the Top 24 Singer
US Weekly

He first wowed the American Idol judges with Michael Bolton’s “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” in Pittsburgh, and now Korean American contestant Heejun Han will compete for viewer votes as part of Idol’s coveted top 24.

Here, Us Weekly uncovers five fun facts about the 22-year-old breakout star.

1. He’s singing for the kids! Working with children who have special needs, New York City-based Han says his young charges inspired him to audition. “I want to prove to them that if you really, really want something and believe in it, you can be something,” he has said.

Book Talk: A tale of love and loss, sisters and secrets
Reuters

Korean-American Janie’s family has lost a daughter in each generation, her grandmother says. So when her younger sister Hannah suddenly vanishes, Janie sets out to track her down through a labyrinth of family secrets and difficult history.

“Forgotten Country,” Catherine Chung’s debut novel, weaves Korean folklore and a host of linked and opposing pairs — Korea and the United States, North and South Korea, American-born children and their immigrant parents, two very different sisters — into a spare, haunting tale of loss, yearning and discovery.

Chung spoke with Reuters about writing, how her university mathematics major may have influenced her work, and her book, which goes on sale March 1 and has been praised by the likes of award-winning author Chang-rae Lee.

Another Korea Wave: New Books in U.S.
Wall Street Journal

But Korea is getting quite a bit of attention in the U.S. in a different medium – books.

Three important and substantively different books about the Korean peninsula are landing in American (and European, and some Asian) bookstores at nearly the same time – a trendlet, at least, if not a “wave.”

The book getting the most attention at the moment is “The Orphan Master’s Son” by Adam Johnson, a fiction writer and creative writing teacher at Stanford. It’s on prominent display in many U.S. book stores this month and has puzzled and delighted readers and reviewers with a mix of narrative styles and timeframes as it tells a betrayal tale set in North Korea.

Seoul Food: Treating Your Idol to Lunch Is the True Test of Fandom
Wall Street Journal

Fans of pop stars send their idols all sorts of crazy stuff. In South Korea, the true measure of a fan’s devotion is sending lunch to the stars.

On a recent Saturday here in Seoul, members of A Pink, a seven-member girl group, worked their way through beautifully crafted lunch boxes featuring egg salad with tomatoes, basil and toasted breadcrumbs, rice wrapped in seasoned lettuce, and beef-and-vegetable-skewers, all paid for by a fan.

“We enjoyed it so much and we were so moved by all the efforts that must’ve been put into these lunches,” said Jung Eun-ji, a 17-year-old member of the group, one of the newest on the Korean pop scene. “There were even our pictures decorated on the outside of the lunch boxes.”

Korean Police Flinging Angry Birds at School Violence
Kotaku

Yesterday, Feb. 21, the Korean National Police Agency and Rovio Entertainment announced the use of the Angry Birds franchise as an ambassador in the campaign to prevent school violence in Korea. The police are hoping to take advantage of the familiarity that young students have of the Angry Birds imagery, which will be used at prevention and public relation centers.

The Korean godfather of charcoal-roasted coffee
CNNGo

Meet the man exporting his aromatic beans from Heyri Art Village to all over the world

The Diamond Shamrock Protest May Be Canceled Due to Lack of Interest. ‘Bout Time.
Dallas Observer

Greg Howard of the Dallas Observer reports that the mini-boycott and protest of a Korean-owned gas station in South Dallas has gone out with a whimper.

Kim Jong-Il’s 70th birthday celebrated with a splash in the North Korean media
Washington Post

In North Korea, the death of Kim Jong-Il doesn’t make his 70th birthday any less special. The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s official newspaper, made the importance of today’s date exceedingly clear.

“Let’s add lustre to Kim Jong-Il’s undying revolutionary exploits,” the headline read.

Kim Jong Un Gets Thumbs Up from North Koreans in Japan
Time.com

When Kim Jong Un was declared heir apparent of North Korea in December, Choe Kwan Ik was probably one of the few people in Tokyo who knew who the kid was. As Bill Powell writes in this week’s story “Meet Kim Jong Un,” (available here for subscribers) what we don’t know about the 29-year-old leader of the world’s most unpredictable state is a lot. And though Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons are only 800 miles away from Japan, most Tokyoites hear as little about life in the Hermit Kingdom as anyone else. A trickle of information has flowed in from the books written by Kim Jong Il’s former sushi chef, but otherwise Japan, like the rest of world, must rely on the scraps of propaganda from North Korea’s official news agency, like today’s mournful tribute to the recently deceased leader’s birthday.

School reformer urges California to change teacher tenure rules
Los Angeles Times

Former District of Columbia schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee urged a Los Angeles audience of educators and parents to pressure state leaders to change teacher tenure and seniority rules.

Her appearance Wednesday night before an enthusiastic crowd of about 600 marked the third of four appearances statewide for Rhee, who is attempting to build a base of influence in California.

Rhee’s 1-year-old organization, StudentsFirst, has worked in other states with governors and powerful legislators but not in California, even though her organization is based in Sacramento.

In her remarks and a question-and-answer session, Rhee took on “last in, first out” rules that govern teacher layoffs. She characterized this approach as “incredibly detrimental to students and schools,” because gifted, less-experienced teachers are put out of work while less effective teachers with more seniority get to keep their jobs.

New York Mag’s Fashion Editor On Her Fave NYC Hotels
Huffington Post

Jenny Kang is the practically the poster child for New York street style — she is the Fashion Editor for New York Magazine, after all.

The Chicago native, who has described her style as “preppy sportswear with punches of fun,” knows how to pick out ideal spots to cool her heels between shows. We asked Kang to dish on her favorite hotels, and of course, her favorite designers.

Right now she’s loving Proenza Schouler, Miu Miu and Givenchy, but is most looking forward to the Marc Jacobs show this NYFW. “The way he presents his collection is always innovative, almost like fashion theater,” says Kang.

Gideon Yu Promoted to President of NFL’s 49ers
Bloomberg

The San Francisco 49ers promoted Gideon Yu to president and co-owner.

Yu was a general partner at Khosla Ventures, a venture capital company based in Menlo Park, California, until joining the 49ers as chief strategy officer last April. Yu, previously chief financial officer at Facebook Inc. and YouTube LLC, has focused in the past year on securing funding for the 49ers’ proposed new $1 billion stadium in Santa Clara, California.

“He’s both a visionary and the ‘go-to’ guy who can lead us through the enormous opportunities ahead, such as the stadium construction, expansion of our brand and its businesses and positioning the franchise for the future,” Chief Executive Officer Jed York said in a team release.

Sang Yoon on braising
Los Angeles Times

Sang Yoon shares how to make beef daube, stew with braised beef cheeks. Yoon is the chef-owner of beer-and-burger mecca Father’s Office, with locations in Santa Monica and Culver City. He also recently opened the restaurant Lukshon in Culver City, turning out his take on the cuisines of Southeast Asia and China.

IACP Announces 2012 Food Writing Finalists
Eater.com

The International Association of Culinary Professionals nominated Korean American chef Debbie Lee in the “International” category for her new cookbook, “Seoultown Kitchen.”

Do You Think the ‘Koreatown’ Stigma Still Exists in Annandale?
Patch.com (Annandale, Va.)

In fact, some residents of the D.C. metro area refer to Annandale as “Koreatown,” in part due to Annandale’s relatively dense Korean population (compared to the rest of Fairfax County) and the large number of Korean businesses. The stereotype has divided Annandale residents—something The Washington Post addressed back in 2005.

Fresh from ‘The Voice,’ Dia Frampton is out with her debut solo album
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What kind of reaction did you get from Meg & Dia fans [about appearing on The Voice]?

There was a lot of mixed reactions. There was a lot of “That’s really awesome, good for you.” There was a lot of “Why are you doing that? You’re already rich and famous.” That was kind of funny to me because I was working for minimum wage at a coffee/cupcake place in New York, and I was like, “Just because someone is on MTV for a hot second does not mean they are successful.” At the time, Meg & Dia, we almost had to jump off the last tour because we didn’t have enough money for gas to get to the next city. So it’s a little frustrating to have people be unsupportive of that, because of how hard I’ve been trying in the past. I don’t know, when it comes to these vocal competitions, I look at it like people didn’t think it was fair that it was people who had experience. In my opinion, I just feel, who deserves it more — the girl who is just out of high school and just kind of auditioned because she liked singing, or someone like Vicci who has been trying and put out five records and has been working her [behind] off for years? That just proves that they really sacrificed a lot to try to do what they wanted to do.

MLB doesn’t approve Orioles’ signing of Kim
Baltimore Sun

Major League Baseball has ruled it will not approve the Orioles’ contract with 17-year-old South Korean Kim Seong-min, a move that caused much controversy in the pitcher’s home country.

The action comes five days after the Orioles apologized for an “unintentional breach of protocol” in signing Kim, regarded as the country’s top left-handed high school pitcher.

Orioles’ Kim Seong-min situation far from over
Baltimore Sun

The circus revolving around the Orioles’ signing of 17-year-old South Korean pitcher Kim Seong-min is far from over.

First are the semantics. As reported yesterday, an industry source confirmed to me last night that Kim’s contract is not voided, but that it has not been approved.

That’s a big difference. The Orioles can approach the situation with Kim again. Yonhap News Agency reported that the contract will be on hold for the next 30 days. Yonhap also reported that the KBO was told by MLB that the Orioles will receive an undisclosed fine.

The Mentalist’s Tim Kang aka Kimball Cho Talks About The Summer-Cho Moment, Hot & Heavy Scenes and Game of Thrones
TV Equals (blog)

What’s been the funniest moment so far this season during ‘The Mentalist’ production?

Tim Kang: During production we have moments, especially with the character that I play where the Cho veneer is lost. You play this really stoic, serious guy all the time and sometimes you just can’t keep a straight face. I’m looking at Owain or Simon [Baker] dead in the eye and I just burst out laughing. That’s happened on maybe two or three occasions. I’m pretty good at staying in character, but yeah, this season it’s happened about two or three times and it gets to be pretty funny. Everyone in the crew, everyone around us, they all have a good laugh, like, ‘I broke you. I got you.’

Twitter, Weibo Spread Rumors of North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un’s Assassination
Reuters

Did social media just prematurely kill off the leader of North Korea?

Rumors that Kim Jong-un, the country’s supreme leader, has been assassinated just months after he took power originated on Chinese microblogging service Weibo and have now spread all over Twitter.

Others are reporting that Jong-un, believed to be 28 years old, may be on the run rather than dead, but both reports claim that some kind of coup is taking place.

South Korea Lawmakers Make First Trip to Gaeseong Complex Since Kim Death
Bloomberg

Eight lawmakers toured factories and met representatives of South Korean businesses in the Gaeseong Industrial Park six miles (10 kilometers) north of the border that opened in 2005. More than 50,000 North Koreans employed by 123 South Korean companies at the facility produced a record $400 million in goods last year, according to ministry figures.
Park Joo Sun, head of a parliamentary committee on inter- Korea relations, said after returning that business owners told the delegation the complex needs 23,000 additional North Korean workers to meet growing demand.
“We hope that our visit can be a catalyst for increased activity in Gaeseong,” Park said at a press conference in the South Korean border city of Paju.

Mobile phones in North Korea: Some North Koreans get better connected
The Economist

North Korean mobile-phone users spend an average of $13.90 a month on calls and text messages, and they tend to pay in hard currency. According to a foreign diplomat, many customers turn up at Koryolink shops with bundles of euro notes. There are even incentives for paying in euros, such as free off-peak calls. This provides foreign currency for a government that craves it.

Mobile-phone customers obtain the hard currency from the informal private trading on which many North Koreans depend. Such business is forbidden, but the government has failed to feed its people, forcing it to turn a blind eye to some capitalist practices. Many insiders benefit: Pyongyang’s “golden couples” consist of a government-official husband and an entrepreneur wife.

From Korea to Minnesota and back: Kelly Fern shares her remarkable double-adoption story
Twin Cities Daily Planet

The more you learn about Kelly Fern, the more you want to know. Not only does she tell a moving personal story of being adopted from Korea at age five, she reveals that on the flight to America, her identity was accidentally switched with that of another young adoptee—a circumstance that ultimately resulted in her family adopting three Korean girls, not just the two sisters they’d expected. Further, Fern herself had a child who she gave up for adoption. In the space of less than a year, Fern recently reconnected with both her biological family in Korea and her biological daughter in Minnesota.

For He Is the Lin Beneath Our Wings
Wall Street Journal

Jeremy Lin sort of makes me feel sorry for the New York Rangers. This is not a slight of Lin, a genuinely compelling story who has captivated this town. But the Rangers have spent not days or weeks but years assembling a talented hockey club, and are currently rocking the NHL’s Eastern Conference. They have a genuine shot to make a lot of noise in the postseason.

But all of a sudden, in the space of 72 hours or so, the Rangers have been ushered to sports Siberia by a previously little-known point guard who has started a total of two games for the Knicks. A former backup to the backup point guard whom the Knicks actually demoted to the D-league a few weeks ago. A point guard who plays for a team that is 11-15, just frightful percentage fragments ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Top Chef’s Ed: What’s the Point of Last Chance Kitchen?
TVguide.com

Edward Lee would like to point out that he technically was in the final four of Top Chef — for a few hours. But then Beverly, having won Last Chance Kitchen, returned to the game and out-cooked him for a spot in the actual final four. “It is what it is. I don’t hold a grudge. She won fair and square,” Ed tells TVGuide.com. “I shouldn’t have used the smoked oysters, so it was all on me.” Still, the Louisville-based chef is none too pleased with the second-chance secret competition for eliminated cheftestants.

Korean American hopeful Heejun Han moves on to the next round of ‘American Idol’
AllKpop

The February 8th episode of ‘American Idol’ featured the contestants auditioning on ‘Hollywood Week’, and Han won the judges’ votes by singing Michael Bolton‘s “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You“.

Although he looked quite nervous to perform after the confident and suave Johnny Keyser who won the heart of judge Jennifer Lopez (J.Lo), Heejun shook off his jitters and started his song. He did gain some confidence after J.Lo whispered “I love him,” to Steven Tyler in the middle of his performance.

When he sang the lyrics, “When all that I’ve been livin’ for is gone,” he even mustered up the courage to point to J.Lo, who remarked that his performance brought her to tears.

North Korean Ex-Propagandist Song Byeok To Show New Satirical Artwork In U.S. (PHOTOS)
Huffington Post

Byeok’s world changed completely in the late 1990s when famine struck North Korea, killing his father, mother, and sister. He wandered alone and hungry through a country he once loved, and was later tortured by the government he once idolized. At this point, he began a journey to discover a life outside of DPRK. Byeok, now in his 40s, has devoted his life to using his artistic skills to promote freedom through satirizing Kim Jong Il and the legacy of his reign.

Matthew Morrison, Daniel Dae Kim to guest co-host ‘Live! with Kelly’
Digital Spy

Hawaii Five-O and former Lost star Dae Kim will join Ripa to interview Two and a Half Men actor Jon Cryer and Dancing with the Stars professional Derek Hough on the February 20 episode.

Daniel Henney in ‘Shanghai Calling’ Trailer
Angry Asian Man

Here’s the freshly dropped new trailer for Shanghai Calling, the upcoming indie feature film debut from writer/director Daniel Hsia. It’s a romantic comedy, starring Daniel Henney, about American “expats” living and working in Shanghai. I think it looks pretty promising. Check it out: here.

North Korea’s super-size hotel is set to open — 23 years behind schedule
The Washington Post

“It was the hotel with the iconic crane,” said Simon Cockerell, an executive at Beijing-based Koryo Tours, which leads tourist trips to North Korea. “It dominated the skyline.”

Sometime this spring, though, according to the Yonhap news agency in Seoul, the Ryugyong Hotel will partially open — 23 years behind schedule. Initially, it might serve as an office complex, not a hotel, but eventually, travel agents say, the Ryugyong will open for tourists.

Krys Lee on Drifting House
wnyc.org

Krys Lee talks about her collection of short stories, Drifting House. Her stories illuminate the Korean immigrant experience—from children escaping famine in North Korea to recent arrivals in America, whose lives play out in cramped apartments and Koreatown strip malls.

As Buzz Fades, Singing Show Winds Down
The Wall Street Journal

One of South Korea’s biggest TV shows, “I Am a Singer,” comes to the end of an 11-month run this week, partly because its buzz has faded and viewing rates are sluggish.

For those who aren’t familiar with the program, here’s how it works: Seven professional singers perform and are ranked by an audience of 500. The singer with the lowest combined score after two rounds is replaced by a new contestant. And those who survive seven rounds – 14 contests in all – exit the show and are called “honorary graduates.”

Roving Robotic Scarecrows Battle Airport Birds
CNNGo

“They were originally commissioned by the military to prevent bird strikes at military airports,” said Yi Jongmin, head of public relations at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI).

The robotics lab at KAERI spearheaded the development — officially dubbed “Airport Birdstrike Prevention System” — in conjunction with weapons manufacturer LIG Nex1.

Bird strikes remain one of the top problems for airlines and airports around the world.

American Musician with a Passion for Korean
Chosun Ilbo

Michael Elliott was a composition student at California Institute of the Arts when he first came into contact with Koreans. He collaborated with several Korean animators, producing scores for their short films. Since he had been interested in languages from a young age, largely due to the influence of his grandfather, who is fluent in Spanish, he had dreamed of learning a new language but was too wrapped up in his music to do much of anything else. Working with the Koreans at CalArts, however, he started to learn a few phrases and this quickly blossomed into a hobby and then an obsession.

A Korean reporter’s perspective on the Orioles and Kim Seong-Min (update)
Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN)

One thing Kim believes is unlikely to happen is the Orioles signing of the pitcher to be overturned or voided in any way. He fully expects the left-hander to be an Oriole when this flap is over.

“I think the contract will go through. I believe the player already left the country and for now, I think it’s safe to say that Kim will be the property of the Orioles’ organization,” Kim said.

Kim feels what is at issue here is that the Orioles, reportedly according to the KBO, failed to first contact MLB, which was then to contact the KBO commissioner to get clearance for Baltimore to negotiate with the player. According to KBO rules, once MLB makes the contact, the KBO must respond within four business days.

“That is a process that all transactions must go through,” Kim said. “The Orioles, for whatever reason, they did not go through the steps. They contacted and signed the player directly. That seems to be the main issue with KBO. I think KBO feels somewhat disrespected.”

Korean baseball’s governing body bans Orioles scouts in wake of Kim signing
Baltimore Sun

This week, the Korean Baseball Association, the nation’s governing body for baseball, banned Orioles scouts from KBA-sanctioned games, which include the national high school and college tournaments that serve as a treasure trove for scouts seeking the country’s top players. The KBA added that the same penalty will fall on major league teams that contact amateur players before their senior seasons.

The KBA also suspended Kim from playing and coaching in Korea indefinitely for making contact with a pro team before his final year of high school.

China ‘protecting Kim Jong-nam’
The Telegraph (U.K.)

Kim Jong-nam, the oldest son of North Korea’s late leader, is being protected by China as a fallback option if the regime of his half-brother, Kim Jong-un, collapses.

Meet the Western Members of the Kim Jong Il Fan Club
Time.com

The day before Kim Jong Il’s funeral last month, George Hadjipateras, 36, put on a black suit and tie and drove to the North Korean embassy in west London. Beneath a portrait of the Dear Leader, the office clerk laid a floral tribute, red carnations arranged in the shape of a star. He shook the hand of the first secretary lengthily as he pressed upon him that Kim was “a shining light, not just for his people, but for revolutionaries worldwide.”

“I mentioned to him I had lost my own father in September, and so this was doubly tragic for me,” Hadjipateras says. “My voice broke a bit then.” He had been closely monitoring Kim’s health since his 2008 stroke, and was blindsided by the death. “It’s tragic; he should have been getting better,” he told TIME. “I was as upset as the English were when the Queen Mother died.”

First look: Obama is a fan of Macy’s new style star
USA Today

On-the-rise designer Doo-Ri Chung is not a household name — yet.

But the Korean-American designer will get a shot at noteriety when she unveils her doo.ri capsule collection for Macy’s Feb. 15.

Chung stepped into the mainstream fashion spotlight in October when Michelle Obama wore a one-shouldered doo.ri stunner to the White House state dinner honoring South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. Hollywood stars, including Jessica Chastain, Kristen Stewart and Jessica Alba, also are fond of her frocks.

REVIEW: For Ellen
Variety via Chicago Tribune

With a directorial voice as consistent as that of any current American independent filmmaker, So Yong Kim takes what could have been routine story elements and transforms them into something deeply sad and touching in “For Ellen.” As a struggling rocker making a last-ditch attempt to gain shared custody of his daughter, Paul Dano delivers a beautifully wrought performance in a different key from any of his previous roles. The patient pace and generally forlorn tone makes this a tough sell Stateside, though Berlin screenings will attract much Euro bidding.

Bill Kim opening Belly Q, an Asian barbecue restaurant, in the West Loop
Time Out Chicago

The Michael Jordan-backed Cornerstone Restaurant Group tapped Chicago chef Bill Kim to head a new Asian barbecue concept restaurant.

The connection between Kim (the former Charlie Trotter’s chef de cuisine who set the trend of chefs going downscale when he left Le Lan to open and subsequently ) and Cornerstone (which operates, among other restaurants, Michael Jordan’s Steak House and WAVE) stemmed, per the press release, from “a chance conversation.”

S. Korean ex-spy’s asylum confirmed in U.S.
Yonhap News

A U.S. court has upheld a 2008 ruling to grant political asylum to a former South Korean intelligence agent who claims to face threats from both South and North Korea, sources here said Tuesday.

Best Kimchi In a Jar: Granny Choe’s Version Comes With A Ninja Pepper Bonus
LA Weekly

Of the Big Questions in life, we’ve long wondered why a really good store-bought kimchi is so hard to find. Until, that is, we stumbled upon Granny Choe’s Kimchi at our local market. It’s the best store-bought kimchi we’ve ever tasted, even better, it happens to be made by a small local (Moorpark) company.

WED's Links: Asian Ams grab Obama’s attention, Jenna Ushkowitz, SK's 1st Chemical Castration Pedophile; Uglydoll Makers http://t.co/w9gRr0sH

Tuesday's Links: North Korea (again), K-Pop, Author Krys Lee, Man charged with slapping loud kid in theater http://t.co/DhC62HjN

The Ten Most Fashionable Asian-Americans In NYC http://t.co/oTE8EJCN

Just a reminder, the SMTOWN live streaming K-pop concert is going on ... right now! http://t.co/JywXQ91F

I uploaded a @YouTube video http://t.co/NnQFpSdq SMTOWN World Tour - EXO, SHINEE, f(x) Performance P.2