North Korea Recruits Hackers at School
Al Jazeera
Two defectors: a former hacker and a hacking teacher say North Korea is shoring up its cyber-warfare units to battle its southern rival as well as the United States.
Following an expedited two-year program at university, students are sent to China or Russia for about one year to solidify their knowledge of hacking and and other technical skills. After the overseas training, they are placed in various warfare units to serve as “cyber-warriors”, Kim said.
The publication said the cyber-warfare unit had its agency status upgraded last year which prompted a boost in hackers from 500 to approximately 3,000.
These “cyberwarriors” are provided with the best environment, and if they graduate with top grades, their parents in the provinces are given the opportunity to live in Pyongyang, Kim said, citing verified information from his former students who are still operating as hackers in the North.
Photo via Al Jazeera
Korea’s Food Identity Crisis
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star‘s food editor published a long piece on the country’s food “quandary” as the government seeks to promote global popularity on the scale of China and Japan.
“There’s a disconnect between what the Korean government is trying to promote and what people are eating at home.”
Photo via Toronto Star
‘Secrets of New York’ host Kelly Choi likes digging deep into forgotten stories of the city
New York Daily News
Kelly Choi is hosting a new show on NYC TV called Secrets of New York, which uses archival photos and vintage footage to tell stories about New York City that you might have forgotten about.
Choi may be best-known for her work in the food arena, first as host of “Eat Out New York” on NYC and Bravo’s “Top Chef.” On “Secrets,” though, Choi conveys a mysterious image by wearing black, thanks to help from designer Natalia Danilova.
“I’m imparting that information in an intriguing way,” she says. “I purposely wear a deep red lipstick. I appreciate the visual aspect. Whatever works to get me in the mood for that, I’m open to.”
Photo via NY Daily News
Norristown eyed as potential location for South Korean university (video)
The Times Herald (Pa.)
South Korea’s Dongseo University is considering opening up an annex campus in Pennsylvania.
Congressman Jim Gerlach and Montgomery County Commissioners Joe Hoeffel and Bruce Castor were among those who convened on Monday afternoon to show their support for an East Coast annex of the major private university in South Korea that provides education in a wide spectrum of majors including IT, Film & Image, Design, Engineering and Communication.
Tumblr Founder Loves Kim Jong Il Blog
CNN
The founder of the popular publishing tool was profiled by CNN and mentioned that one of his favorite blogs is Kim Jong Il Looking at Things. It’s exactly what you would expect. Pretty hilarious, actually.
‘Maria the Korean Bride’ married 50 times in every State
International Business Times
Performance artist Maria Yoon staged mock weddings in all 50 states.
Yoon says on her homepage that the Maria the Korean Bride project was designed to bring attention to the social pressure and ostracism that she has endured as a first generation Korean-American unmarried woman. Though it began as a way to rebel against the marriage expectations of her parents, the project has evolved over 8 years to challenge and explore the definition of marriage in the U.S.
Bangkok’s Lucrative Hangover: Sex, Drugs and Popular Sequels
Time.com
The movie has reportedly angered and embarrassed Bangkok foreign residents like myself, and it’s true that the plot makes my adopted city look seedy and life threatening. Our three American heroes, Stu, Phil and Alan, wake in a grim Bangkok hotel to discover that they have lost the teenage brother of the Thai woman Stu is about to marry. To find him, and save the wedding, the groggy trio must retrace their steps through a night of epic debauchery. Helping them is that monkey, who before long is mock-fellating an elderly Buddhist monk.
James Sun Brings New App to Big Appetites
Northwest Asian Weekly
Former ‘Apprentice’ contestant James Sun is set to launch a new restaurant app for Seattle called Pirq. The app will debut in mid-July, according to the article.
It will give consumers discounts ranging from 20 to 50 percent off at such restaurants as 13 Coins, Cupcake Royale, Sip at the Wine Bar Restaurant, Red Mango, and Desert Fire.
“We decided for strategic reasons to make sure the app is perfect and also, that we hit it from the right angle. To do all of that, we’re launching in mid-July,” said Pirq CEO James Sun.
He hopes more first-generation Asian American restaurant owners will use Pirq to attract smartphone users to their businesses.
Richard Gere visits Buddhist temple in South Korea
Associated Press | Korea Herald
The practicing Buddhist visited a temple in Seoul where he received gifts of prayer beads, ceremonial clothing and incense burners.
[Gere] said Tuesday at Jogye Temple that he appreciates Korean Buddhism’s traditions and wants them to stay strong.
Gere is in Seoul promoting an exhibition of photographs of Tibet and India taken by the Hollywood actor and other photographers.
Photo via AP
