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mistyred
post Nov 19 2007, 09:22 AM
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November 19, 2007

Tinseltown

(IMG:http://joongangdaily.joins.com/_data/photo/2007/11/18222023.jpg)

With a little more than a month until Christmas, customers admire Christmas decorations yesterday at the main branch of Shinsegae Department Store in central Seoul.

[YONHAP]
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mistyred
post Nov 19 2007, 10:19 AM
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NOVEMBER 19, 2007 03:11

Christmas Mood

(IMG:http://english.donga.com/data/20071119/photo/2007111927708.jpg)

“Has Christmas come yet?” With a cold wave sweeping the country, a colorful Christmas tree is attracting customers at the Shinsegae Department store, Chungmuro, in Jung-gu, Seoul, yesterday.
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mistyred
post Nov 21 2007, 09:51 AM
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November 21, 2007

Holiday cheer

(IMG:http://joongangdaily.joins.com/_data/photo/2007/11/20225825.jpg)

Wives of diplomats from about 20 countries and Korean volunteers pack gift bags yesterday at the headquarters of the National Red Cross of Korea. The bags will be distributed to poor neighborhoods at the end of the year. [YONHAP]
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mistyred
post Nov 27 2007, 02:55 PM
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NOVEMBER 27, 2007 06:17

Christmas China Set

(IMG:http://english.donga.com/data/20071127/photo/2007112794638.jpg)

Hankook Chinaware put its new Christmas edition china set on display at the Cheonggye Exhibit in Shinseol-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on November 26. Plates, frames, lamps, and other wares are being sold at prices ranging from 20,000 to 70,000 won.
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mistyred
post Nov 27 2007, 05:18 PM
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Christmas Comes A Little Early At Seoul’s Theme Parks

Christmas Comes A Little Early At Seoul’s Theme Parks

The season’s first snowfall fell quietly over Seoul on November 19th. The streets and buildings are now adorned in brightly glowing Christmas lights and the trees are embellished with various forms of impressive light work. Major department stores are already decorated with Christmas fixtures, quick to set the mood of merriment for the holiday season. Yet, with all the surrounding merriment, it is still rather early to feel the genuine spirit of Christmas. Is there anyway to satisfy this restlessness?

Korea’s three main theme parks, Everland, Lotte World, and Seoul Land, have already started their Christmas celebrations. Planning has been underway since mid-November to meet the demands of enthusiasts. Come enjoy the magical celebration of the Christmas festivities that some call “the theme parks’ greatest holiday of the four seasons”.

”Happy Christmas Festival” – Snow falls from Lotte World’s Glass Dome.

(IMG:http://english.tour2korea.com/images/column/07xmas/theme_07xmas01.jpg)

Lotte World, after a significant restoration project in 2007 totaling 9 billion won, has already begun their Christmas festivities as of November 10th. The month-and-a-half long ‘Happy Christmas Festival’, will run through to December 25 and features a magical parade with artificial snow falling from inside its glass dome. Over fifty snow fans were installed to spray artificial snow during the event. The fans will operate from 2:00pm~7:00pm, while 2 million Christmas light bulbs illuminate the front entrance and nearby walkways, transforming the park into a cozy wonderland. In addition to the wonderful display, the fully ornamented medieval European-like buildings are also harmoniously decorated with trees that light up the night.
Every Saturday and Sunday at 1:00pm and 7:00pm, 50 performers in Santa costumes enter an ice rink to perform an ice show along with a chorus of Christmas carols.

→ Directions to Lotte World and other additional information
→ Lotte World – Reopened after Six Months of Renovation

500 Christmas Trees Light Up in Everland’s Magic Garden “Christmas Holiday Fantasy

(IMG:http://english.tour2korea.com/images/column/07xmas/theme_07xmas02.jpg)

Everland proudly presents its “Christmas Holiday Fantasy” event that will run from November 9 to December 25 this year. The 4.5 million-pyeong (approx. 14,895,000 sq. meters) land of Everland, boasting an animal zoo, amusement park, tobogganing field, and botanical garden will be decorated under the theme of ‘Romantic Christmas’ this holiday season.

Featuring 500 glowing Christmas trees in the Magic Garden ties in with their holiday theme, combining the elements of romance and magic together beautifully.
Real fir trees were used in putting together the Christmas tree forest, with a grand Christmas tree at the heart of the Magic Garden, impressively decorated and standing 16 meters tall. In order to fully take in the beauty of the Magic Garden, it is best to visit at night. The magically displayed lighting ceremony is followed by a spectacular multimedia show, “Magic in the Sky”. Another sight that should not be missed is the 200-meter Christmas tunnel located near the front entrance to the theme park.

Keeping up with the Christmas decorations of the Magic Garden, a 28-member ‘Caroling Choir’, boasting 11 floats, and 109 performers comes together to produce a ‘Christmas Parade’ and a musical called the ‘New Carol Fantasy’. All in all, Everland grandly displays the joyfulness of Christmas with a great variety of events and sights to see at their “Christmas Holiday Fantasy”.

→ Directions to Everland and other additional information.

Meet the Snowmen of the World at Seoul Land “Christmas Snow Factory”

(IMG:http://english.tour2korea.com/images/column/07xmas/theme_07xmas03.jpg)


Seoul Land opened their ‘Christmas Snow Factory’ on November 17 at the beautifully constructed Santa Claus Village. More than 30 magically sculpted snowmen, put together from participants from 10 different countries, are on display.

As an added bonus, a 20-meter “Magic Tunnel”, located near the front entrance, takes visitors to a place where numerous performances can be seen. A 3-meter tall snow crystal located at the east entrance creates a magical illusion of a snow-covered village. Visitors will also get swept away with Seoul Land’s “Fantastic Christmas Musical”, falling in tune with Anderson’s fairy tales, and the “Las Vegas Mega Magic Show”, starring a magician from Las Vegas accompanied by beautifully dressed assistants in Santa costumes. Seoul Land innovatively presents a joyful Christmas for all visitors one month before Christmas.

→ Directions to Seoul Land and other additional information.
Photographs provided by: Seoul Land, Everland, and Lotte World
Article written by Reporter Hong, Mi-Kyung

Date 11/27/2007
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mistyred
post Dec 3 2007, 09:54 AM
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December 03, 2007

Hey, hey, ho, ho

(IMG:http://joongangdaily.joins.com/_data/photo/2007/12/02224608.jpg)

About 200 college students from Busan and South Gyeongsang Province gather yesterday in Busan to launch a group of Santa Claus volunteers. They plan to visit needy children on Dec. 23 to present gifts and sing Christmas carols. [NEWSIS]
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mistyred
post Dec 4 2007, 10:00 AM
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DECEMBER 04, 2007 04:15

“A Cake or Tree?”

(IMG:http://english.donga.com/data/20071204/photo/2007120439508.jpg)

A huge Christmas tree 3m high and 4m wide in the shape of a cake has been lighted up in the Ritz-Carton Hotel lobby Monday, attracting viewers.
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mistyred
post Dec 5 2007, 09:54 AM
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(IMG:http://file.chosunonline.com//article/2007/12/04/321904190848119227.jpg)

Amore Pacific staff dressed in green Santa Claus outfits help customers hang wish notes on a Christmas tree at an event to promote the release of a new green tea product in Myeong-dong, Seoul on Tuesday. /Newsis
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mistyred
post Dec 5 2007, 10:59 AM
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DECEMBER 05, 2007 08:26

Rings and Watches for Christmas Presents

(IMG:http://english.donga.com/data/20071205/photo/2007120564658.jpg)

The Lotte Department in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul has started selling rings and watches for couples Tuesday, which are highly popular presents for Christmas. Rings decorated with white gold and chemical diamonds were displayed in profusion last year; however, there are more products with diamonds and colored jewels this year, according to the department.
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mistyred
post Dec 6 2007, 08:29 AM
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December 06, 2007

Swimming Santa

(IMG:http://joongangdaily.joins.com/_data/photo/2007/12/05213246.jpg)

Kids at the Busan Aquarium catch a glimpse of a scuba-diving Santa Claus yesterday. The aquarium has installed an underwater Santa Claus village for the holiday season. [NEWSIS]
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mistyred
post Dec 7 2007, 10:41 AM
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DECEMBER 07, 2007 05:25

Skating with Santa Claus

(IMG:http://english.donga.com/data/20071207/photo/2007120715858.jpg)

Children at the ice rink in Lotte World, Jamsil, Seoul, are skating with employees clad as Santa Claus and animal characters on December 6. Lotte World has scheduled various events at the ice rink throughout the month until December 25.
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mistyred
post Dec 10 2007, 01:31 PM
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Update : Dec 10, 2007 KST 14:15

Christmas Seal

(IMG:http://english.kbs.co.kr/ICSFiles/artimage/2007/12/10/c_nws_zom/z_071210_l01.jpg)

Christmas seals, which were introduced to Korea in 1932 to raise money for tuberculosis, are now seeking revival. In this Internet era, various types of new Christmas seals, including stickers or letter paper for reducing electronic waves from mobile phones, are becoming popular, instead of traditional “off-line seals” attachable to Christmas or New Year’s cards.

Christmas Seals

Christmas seals are adhesive labels placed on envelopes during the Christmas season to raise funds and awareness for tuberculosis programs. They were issued for the first time in Denmark back in 1904. Einar Holboll, a Danish postal clerk, developed the idea of a seal on envelopes during Christmas to raise money for tuberculosis. The plan was approved by the Postmaster and the King of Denmark. The Christmas seals have spread worldwide and play a great role in eliminating tuberculosis. And the seals have become a symbol of "love and sharing."

Christmas Seals in Korea

The Christmas seals movement began in Korea back in 1932 at the initiative of Canadian missionary Sherwood Hall. Hall was born to a missionary couple in Seoul. After graduating from a medical school in Canada, Hall returned to Korea to help those suffering from tuberculosis. He established a nursing home for TB patients in Haeju, Hwanghae Province, in 1928 and issued seals nine times between 1932 and 1940. The issue of seals, however, discontinued as Hall was extradited on a false charge of espionage on the outbreak of the Pacific War. The issue of Christmas seals was resumed with the establishment of the Korea National Tuberculosis Association in 1953. The seals have since been issued annually on October 1.

Setback for Christmas Seals

Traditionally, Christmas seals have been sold to students. Each student had to buy a certain number of Christmas seals in Korea. There was no problem with sales in the past, but the Christmas seals have become almost useless as letter correspondences have reduced sharply due to the development of the Internet, mobile phones, and other communication technologies. Therefore, the compulsory purchase has caused complaints, Christmas seals lost popularity, and actual sales have continuously reduced.

Trends of Christmas Seal Sales(unit: 100 million won)

Year 2003 2004 2005 2006
Sales 65 64 62 61

Christmas Seals, based on New Concept

The United States, Canada, and other countries have diversified the fund-raising system by developing shirts, caps, stationery items, etc. bearing tuberculosis symbols. South Korea, an IT giant, has tried to diversify the system by developing Christmas seals based on a new concept. A sticker for cutting electronic waves is one example. The Korea National Tuberculosis Association is making stickers to reduce electronic waves. The stickers are attachable to mobile phones in the form of a Christmas seal, and have been selling for 3,000 won a piece since October (online shopping mall http://loveseal.knta.or.kr). In cooperation with SKT and KTF, major telecom companies of Korea, the association also began to offer downloading services such as mobile phone wallpaper. The so-called “e-mail seals” will also be put on the market. When an e-mail message is sent on Christmas seal paper at the Internet portal site "Daum" from December 13 through 28, the site will donate 20 won per e-mail to the association.
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mistyred
post Dec 12 2007, 10:31 AM
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Christmas season comes with carol albums

Christmas season is upon us, and the season for joy and merrymaking wouldn't be the same without carols and other popular Christmas songs.

Carols never fail to lift one's spirits, creating the perfect ambiance of cheer during the religious-yet-commercial holiday season. This probably is why there are so many carol albums coming out every December, although most of them cannot survive one year.

This year is no exception, as singers of varying genres, as well as actors and comedians, have come up with their own version of carol albums. Among them is Paul Potts, winner of "Britain's Got Talent," who touched the hearts of millions since his win on U.K. television's hot new talent show earlier this year with his rich, powerful and mesmerizing voice and even more touching and inspiring life story.

During the final round of the contest, watched by 13.5 million viewers, he stunned the show's judges and audiences alike with the hauntingly beautiful rendition of Puccini's "Nessun Dorma." Among the judges was Simon Cowell, the notoriously frank judge on Fox TV's "American Idol."

The sensational winning of the 37-year-old British man propelled him to international stardom. Potts, who used to travel around to sell mobile phones even during the holiday season is now traveling all around the world to promote his first album "One Chance," which has sold more than 2 million copies so far, and its special Christmas edition released on Dec. 4.

The new edition, in addition to the existing classical, pop and Broadway hit repertoires including "Time to Say Goodbye," "Cavatina," "Caruso," "Music of the Night" and "Nessun Dorma," has religious Christmas songs such as "O Holy Night," "Panis Angelicus" and "Silent Night" on its second CD. The album became the hottest-selling Western pop music CD here, beating new albums from Britney Spears, Craig David and the Eagles on several charts.

For those who prefer contemporary Christmas songs presented by pop stars, compilation albums such as "Christmas Hits" and "Essential Christmas" will be the ultimate Christmas presents.

Sony BMG's "Christmas Hits" features 58 all-time Christmas favorites, including Wham's "Last Christmas," Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You," Il Divo's "O Holy Night," Britney Spears' "My Only Wish (This Year)" and many more. Universal Records' "Essential Christmas," on the other hand, is a collection of 60 Christmas music pieces performed not only by such pop greats as Elton John ("Step into Christmas"), Michael Jackson ("Little Christmas Tree") and James Brown ("Merry Christmas Baby"), but also by world's top-notch classical ensembles like the Berlin Philharmonic.

If you expect something to dance to even from Christmas music, "Christmas with Boney M," a sought-after item for Boney M. collectors, will be your answer.

The popular disco group, which was phenomenally successful during the '70s and '80s, initially released the album originally titled "Christmas Album" in 1981, which became a huge hit both here and abroad. It contains 19 Christmas songs including the reggae version of "White Christmas," "Feliz Navidad (meaning "Merry Christmas" in Spanish)," Christmas song written in 1970 by Jose Feliciano, "Jingle Bells" and more.

While there are far fewer new carol albums by Korean pop musicians compared to previous years, a group of popular comedians have released a carol album titled "Jeulgeoun Christmas (Fun Christmas)," for which eight comedy stars of KBS's comedy variety "Gag Concert" did their parts.

Yoo Se-yoon, who has become a star through his overly cocky rolls in various skits, sings "Silent Night" for the first track of the album, while Kim Dae-hee and Jang Dong-min, the father-son duo in the popular sketch "Daehwaga pilyohae (We need to talk)," present a comic version of "You Better Not Cry" together.

By Lee Yong-sung

(danlee@heraldm.com)
2007.12.12
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mistyred
post Dec 13 2007, 08:28 AM
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December 13, 2007

Christmas cheers

(IMG:http://joongangdaily.joins.com/_data/photo/2007/12/12235218.jpg)

A giant Christmas tree, 6 meters high and 5 meters wide and made of 3,000 beer bottles, attracts passersby on Piano Street in Gwanchul-dong in central Seoul. Heineken Korea, a Korean branch of the Dutch brewery, created the tree from recycled bottles. The company said the tree will be on display until New Year’s Day. [YONHAP]
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mistyred
post Dec 13 2007, 09:30 AM
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12-12-2007 18:26

Cakes ― New Centerpiece of Christmas

By Jane Han
Staff Reporter


People walking around with a box of cake has become part of an ordinary scene sketching the Christmas season in Korea. Suddenly but subtly, the baked good has marked its place as the centerpiece of the local year-end holiday celebration.

(IMG:http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/news/071212_p10_cakes1.jpg) (IMG:http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/news/071212_p10_cakes2.jpg) Traditional Christmas cake

But, although the relatively new ``tradition'' might seem natural for the younger generation, elders come to ask, ``Since when did we eat cake on Christmas?'' as ``dduk'' (rice cake) has long been the common treat for special celebrations.

The trend began in 1988, says Crown Bakery, the country's longest-running and leading bakery franchise that has operated here for five decades.

``Cake-eating culture slowly started spreading in Korea through overseas travelers and students who returned after studying abroad,'' said Kim Ji-won, a company spokeswoman, adding that the local history of the sweet desert is not as long as people may think.

Before local bakeries started mass-producing these treats, she explained that the baked good entered consumer markets through military bases.

``Those cakes were very fancy with layers of icing and people loved it,'' Kim said, crediting the American style influence on domestic bakeries.

In 1999, Crown Bakery, followed by other competitors, put out new, multi-layered cakes to add richness to the taste, as aggressive Christmas marketing also kicked off coincidentally.

Linking the image of Christmas and cake through print ads and commercials, consumers more commonly related the two together, Kim said.

And as free giveaway marketing, affordable pricing and market competition fueled the fresh industry, it didn't take long for the dough and icing treat to settle in as a holiday favorite.

Seasonal sales are so strong that top bakeries attribute 10 to 20 percent of its annual sales just to the Christmas season.

Last year, Paris Baguette, the nation's No. 1 bakery chain, sold 17,000 boxes of cake over a three-day period just before Christmas, while the No. 2 and 3 players ― Crown and Tous Les Jours ― also sold similar amounts.

Although local consumers have adopted the Western Christmas tradition of cake eating, the cake itself seems to be quite different.

Originating in 16th century England, the treat was first eaten as a sort of porridge on Christmas Eve. Later other ingredients were added ― such as butter, wheat flour, eggs and fruits ― eventually becoming a fruitcake covered with marzipan.

Still today, Christmas cakes usually refer to fruitcakes, but here, spongy white bread dressed with whipped cream icing make up the general group.

``Koreans don't like overly sweet goods, so bakeries are constantly trying to adjust the flavor to meet consumer demand,'' said Kim.

And she agreed that the new trend has taken root, and even the slow economy doesn't stop shoppers from buying a cake.

``Priced around 15,000 won to 18,000 won on average, cakes really make a fun, tasty and cheap way to celebrate with family and friends,'' she said.

jhan@koreatimes.co.kr
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mistyred
post Dec 13 2007, 09:36 AM
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12-12-2007 19:45

(IMG:http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/news/071212_p10_epn3.jpg)

Xmas Tableware: Shoppers appreciate colorful tableware for Christmas, at Shinsegae Department Store in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. Each is priced between 10,000 won to 100,000 won.

/Korea Times
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mistyred
post Dec 14 2007, 08:48 AM
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Updated Dec.14,2007 08:08 KST

Seoul Dreaming of a Blue Christmas

By this time every year, major landmarks in downtown Seoul like City Hall and Gwanghwamun are decorated with bright Christmas lights. But this year, instead of the traditional red and yellow, all is bathed in the soft blue of light-emitting diodes (LED). Take the Galleria Department Store in Apgujeong-dong, for instance. Its top-end brand house West, known for its 4,330 glass disk-covered unique exterior, spent around W300 million (US$1=W925) to place special LEDs on all the glass disks, which were then connected to the computer system to emit blue Christmas illumination.

(IMG:http://english.chosun.com/media/photo/news/200712/200712140010_01.jpg)

Christmas lights at Lotte Department Store’s Avenuel in Myeongdong, Seoul.

Myeongdong’s Lotte Department Store bloc also turned blue. It used LEDs on all of its buildings including the Young Plaza, Avenuel, and the main store, spending about W1 billion. Young Plaza, in particular, is breathtaking as the entire glass wall is covered in blue.

But Korea’s lighting experts are most impressed by Shinsegae Department Sore’s main branch. The store took its inspiration from Lyon Cathedral in France, transporting some 300,000 ice-white LEDs from the European country. But though the LEDs are nominally white, they look blue with the color temperature as high as 5,000 to 6,000 kelvin. The Chosun Hotel in Sogong-dong also installed blue lights on its exterior, and the Imperial Palace Hotel in Nonhyeon-dong encircled all the trees with blue light bulbs.

(IMG:http://english.chosun.com/media/photo/news/200712/200712140010_02.jpg)

Shinsegae Department Sore’s main branch in Chungmuro, Seoul.

LEDs cost five to six times more on average than filament bulbs, but the extra money is what’s making Seoul nights look special. It is estimated that LEDs account for 30 percent of this year’s whole lighting market or some W600 billion.

Christmas lights went up faster this year. Last year, the lights came on in December, but this year most buildings have turned on their lights at the beginning or middle of the November. They also started their lighting at 4-5 p.m., about two hours earlier than last year. Hotels keep their lights on for eight to 10 hours, and department stores for three to five.

The shift from filament bulbs to LED not only means much brighter lights but also a big cut on electricity. While LEDs are expensive to buy, they only use half of the electricity and can be used semi-permanently. “Our main building uses 300,000 LEDs that cost only W30,000 for five hours of lighting every day,” says a Shinsegae insider. The Chosun Hotel turns on around 1 million bulbs for 10 hours and pays only W127,000 a day.

(englishnews@chosun.com )
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mistyred
post Dec 14 2007, 11:13 AM
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DECEMBER 14, 2007 03:13

Christmas Festival at Incheon Airport

(IMG:http://english.donga.com/data/20071214/photo/2007121460128.jpg)

On December 13, Incheon Airport held a Christmas parade of fairy tale character dolls ahead of the “Air Star Winter Sale Festival,” a discount event that will last until January 25, 2008. At the tax-free zone in the exit corner, tourists are having fun taking photos with character dolls.
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mistyred
post Dec 18 2007, 04:45 PM
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007 16:41:44

Buddhist Leader Sends Christmas Message

The Venerable Jigwan of the Jogye Buddhist Order has delivered a Christmas message celebrating the birth of Baby Jesus.

The leader of the nation’s largest Buddhist order said Tuesday that Jesus came to bring harmony through love and giving. The Venerable Jigwan expressed his wish that Christmas will give hope to those suffering.

Meanwhile, the Jogye order's main temple in Seoul displayed a banner celebrating Christmas, a practice adopted eight years ago to seek harmony between different religions.

Reported by KBS WORLD Radio
Contact the KBS News: englishweb@kbs.co.kr
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mistyred
post Dec 19 2007, 10:39 AM
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12-18-2007 19:03

Ideas for Nifty Christmas Gifts

By Lee Hyo-won, Kwon Mee-yoo, Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporters


Christmas and the year-end are drawing near. For those who haven't had the time to do some shopping yet, here are some gift ideas ― utilitarian products with that personal touch

(IMG:http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/img/art/0712/071218_p14_1.jpg)

Skin Products

Skin products to fight off the nippy weather are a must during the winter. Although hand creams and such aren't that fancy, you can use them everyday, and there are a host of products specially released for the year-end season.

The Body Shop offers various Christmas special gift sets at relatively low prices. There is the limited edition Rich Plum set, which includes a velvety plum-scented soap, shower gel and body lotion, marked down from 21,800 won to 14,900 won. Cranberries are synonymous with sumptuous Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners and the brand offers a line of Cranberry-scented products each winter season, such as the body lotion and shower gel set (250 mililiters each, 31,000 won).

At the lower end of the price range are products from the Face Shop, which you can find almost anywhere. Although there are seasonal gift sets available, it might be pleasant to make your own batch combining nutty and zesty items. Some popular ones are Almond & Sesame Oil Rich Hand & Foot Treatment (6,500 won) and Fruit Ball Hand Cream (4,400 won), which come in an adorable case in the shape of its fruity flavor of lemon or apple.

Another idea is a nice fragrance. Unisex fragrances such the Body Shop's Zinzibar Eau de Toilette (30 milliliters, 15,000 won) has a warm and exotic scent that's perfect for the cold weather and comes in a red bottle that is fitting for Christmas.

If you're looking for something more classic, luxurious Christmas collections by Acqua di Parma might satisfy refined tastes ― or noses. Stars like Audrey Hepburn were avid fans of elegant Italian brand. The Colonia Hat Box (135,000 won) includes a 100-milliliter bottle of Colonia Eau de Toilette, Acqua di Parma's signature unisex fragrance, along with a bath and shower gel (75 milliliters) and body cream.

If you're looking for something more classic, luxurious Christmas collections by Acqua di Parma might satisfy refined tastes ― or noses. Stars like Audrey Hepburn were avid fans of the elegant Italian brand. The Colonia Hat Box (135,000 won) includes a 100-ml bottle of Colonia Eau de Toilette, Acqua di Parma's signature unisex fragrance, along with a bath. shower gel (75 ml) and body cream.

For gentlemen, Collezione Barbiere Shaving Set (225,000 won) includes Colonia Eau de Cologne (100 milliliters), shaving gel can and after-shave balm is the ultimate solution to masculine grooming needs.

(IMG:http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/img/art/0712/071218_p14_2.jpg)

DVD Sets

DVD sets to please the couch potatoes.It doesn't take much to make a warm, relaxing evening. Settling down on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate and a warm blanket to tune into your favorite TV show might just do the trick.

Just in time for the winter holiday, Paramount offers a super-sized Christmas DVD package of the hit series ``Sex and the City.'' Shaped like a shoebox ― hinting at Carrie's (Sarah Jessica Parker) ``shoe fetish'' ― the set includes all of seasons 1-6 of the sexy New York story. Offered at the special price of 99,000 won (18 discs). In stores Dec. 21.

Warner Home Video Korea has released boxed DVD sets of popular American sitcoms: season 6 of the long-running family show ``Full House'' starring the Olsen twins (40,700 won); season 8 of the Emmy Award-winning medical drama ``ER'' (66,000 won); and season 8 of the funny sport columnist story ``Everybody Loves Raymond'' (45,700 won).

All available in a variety of languages and subtitles, including English and Korean. Note that the region code is 3 (Asia) and may not be compatible with DVD players set to a different region code.

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iPod Accessories

For music lovers, there is no better gift than something that will spice up their personal music devices. A sturdy case or various accessories will ensure the owner listens to their music in style.

If a friend or family member is interested in high fashion, Ferragamo might just do the trick. Ferragamo offers iPod lovers elegant leather cases complete with leather straps. They come in five different colors and will surely provide a luxurious touch.

Those looking for more simple, less pricey cases can choose from a variety of selections at Internet Web sites as well. ``10x10''(www.10x10.co.kr) and ``babosarang'' (www.babosarang.co.kr) offer colorful cases that range from 9,900 won to 30,000 won. They come in stripes, cartoons, animal prints and famous art works. They also have a range of special headphones, speakers and stickers, which can be used to personalize iPods.

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Planners for 2008

For the meticulous and schedule oriented person, a planner is a necessity. Korea Leadership Center presents a time management system created by Hyrum Smith, Franklin Planner. This system is known for getting rid of ``floating pieces of paper,'' keeping all personal records in one place.

Basically, the Planner comprises of a ring binder and specially designed loose-leaf pages. Binders range from basic synthetic leather costing 20,000 won to designer-collaborated works of more than 200,000 won. Korean poet Yoon Dong-ju's ``Prologue'' embossed on cowhide, designed by celebrated designer Lie Sang-bong, is a perfect Christmas gift for someone special (210,000-290,000 won).

A favored notebook of Picasso, Matisse and Hemingway ― Moleskine, released 2008 diaries as well. Moleskine diaries are available in hard cover, soft cover or a special edition red cover. Planners range from daily diaries, weekly diaries to weekly planners, from pocket to extra large size. The red cover twin set consists of a weekly diary and a plain notebook (26,400 won). ``Le Petit Prince'' diary by 7321 Design comes with D.I.Y. stamps. The cover of the planner has an illustration of the little prince standing on his asteroid B-612 and houses monthly, weekly, daily pages with free notes.

hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr
meeyou@koreatimes.co.kr
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
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Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 9th February 2010 - 11:52 AM