Kim Jong-nam, the pudgy eldest son of dictator Kim Jong-il, has been in the news lately for being passed over for the role of next dear leader of North Korea.

A Japanese television reporter caught up with him strolling on the streets of China. They asked him about his “braza,” which, of course, refers to his brother Kim Jong-un, and Jong-nam replied in European-accented English, “[Dad] likes him.” (video of interview inside…)

That was President Obama talking tougher on North Korea over the weekend, firming up his stance against the totalitarian regime’s own provocative actions over the past two weeks. (more…)

The pop dance troupe Pussycat Dolls were in town for the first time on Saturday, appearing at Olympic Park in Southern Seoul. [Korea Times]

[source: Youtube]

Evidently tired of being picked out easily by authorities (warning: extreme tatoo’age) and of the brutish stereotype portrayed in pop culture, the criminal underworld has begun an “image-is-everything” makeover. Seoul Metropolitan Police have rounded up one such organized crime group operating in Itaewon which has been selecting its members using strict appearance-based standards. They evaluated for such factors as good looks, tall height, and unblemished skin. This is a departure from the past when new candidates only needed to be good with a stick and actually be really, really tough. Now, in an effort to be all Disney, they’re basically looking for Super Junior with the ability to be trained. (read more…)

[Life imitating art? 상사부일체]

In advance of Dental Day, which is June 9, actors from the English musical “Teeth” pose alongside some kids to promote dental health. But judging by the looks of toothbrush guy, dental health and mental health are mutually exclusive.

[photo: Korea Times]

In a surprise move, the Seoul Metropolitan Police have removed the buses that barricaded the lawn in front of City Hall. After sealing off the public space for fear of protests following the Roh Moo Hyun funeral last week, the police relented after a week of criticism from civic groups, activists, lawyers, and we think, angry kids who wanted to splash in the fountain. And in a completely related move, the police resumed their regularly scheduled activities. (HT to Roboseyo at Sparkle)

[source: Korea Times]

This review would sound just like a rant against a random incident that happened to me while I was buying tacos at the grand opening of Cusco’s Taco Papa, located near Hapjeong Station (line no.2). But then again, considering the adjusshi instigating the incident is the owner’s father and he was sitting with his buddies out on the stoop harassing take-out customers for hours, it might be pertinent information. Hence, the title. They can only do better from the first day, right? (more…)

A Ph.D candidate from George Mason University, Curtis Melvin has infiltrated the reclusive, impenetrable mystery that is North Korea and is revealing secrets previously known only by spies and Kim Jong-il himself. (read the rest…)

[Rachel Maddow MSNBC]

Microsoft unveiled its new search engine Bing on Tuesday night in a promotional event at the Seattle Space Needle. Bing is being billed as the next step forward in search. Its “decision engine” helps users filter out the clutter by collating information in a formatted form (as opposed to just listing links), and this, Microsoft believes, is going to help them take a larger share of the search market. (read more…)