Taiwanese actor Barbie Hsu dies of pneumonia at 48

Taiwanese actor and singer Barbie Hsu, the wife of South Korean singer Koo Jun-yup, has died of pneumonia at the age of 48, her sister confirmed to local media on Monday. "During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister, Barbie, has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza," Dee Hsu, her sister, said in a statement shared by the actor's management. In 2022, Hsu married Koo, with whom she had rekindled a relationship after 23 years.

Feb. 3, 2025

Woman who helped those in need for 20 years dies, donates organs to 4

The family of a 67-year-old woman, who dedicated much of her life to volunteer work, respected her wishes by donating her organs and tissues to those in medical need after her death, the state-run organ donation agency said Tuesday. Jang Song-gu died on Nov. 6 after falling critically ill five days earlier, according to the Korea Organ Donation Agency. Shortly after she passed away at the Keimyung University Donsan Medical Center, her liver, right kidney, right eye and left eye were donated to f

Dec. 10, 2024

At Rotary, time-tested mission charts new path

The stereotype of Rotary International as just another elite social club quickly dissolves upon meeting its leadership. In Seoul this week for a leadership training summit, the organization‘s presidents — past, present and future — spoke with lively conviction about transforming lives through servic

Nov. 26, 2024

Lay Buddhist group donates children’s clothing to Laos

The Lay Buddhist Association of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the country’s largest Buddhist sect, donated 1,000 outfits to preschool girls in Laos on Thursday. “Starting with Laos, we will continue our efforts to assist other Buddhist countries,” said Jung Won-ju, president of the association, during a ceremony held at the headquarters of Daewoo E&C in Seoul. Jung is the chairman of Daewoo E&C and Herald Media Group. Alounkone Boulommavong, deputy chief of missio

Nov. 14, 2024

Songwriter tied to pro-democracy movement posthumously awarded

Kim Min-ki, a singer-songwriter best known for the once-banned 1971 hit “Morning Dew,” was posthumously given the Woodang Award for promoting national unity and the arts. “His music laid the groundwork that brought the country together. Kim was a humble creator, musician and director, and while leading a theater company, he helped foster singers and actors,” said Lee Jong-chan, president of the Woodang Education and Culture Foundation, at a ceremony Wednesday in Seoul. Th

Nov. 13, 2024

Woman donates organs to 7 after dying of heart failure

The organs of a woman who died after suffering cardiac arrest have been donated to help seven individuals, the state-run organ donation agency said Wednesday. Lee Mi-jeong, who passed away last month at the age of 37, left her heart, lungs, liver, both kidneys and both eyes to be transplanted, according to the Korea Organ Donation Agency. She suffered critical cardiac arrest in July, which left her brain dead. The bereaved family of Lee said they saw organ donation as a way of keeping a part o

Nov. 13, 2024