Actor Kim Joo-hyuk, 45, died as the result of a car crash Monday afternoon at around 6:30 p.m. in Samseong-dong, Seoul, police said.
Kim’s Mercedes-Benz SUV was driving down Yeongdong Daero when it crashed into Hyundai Grandeur near an I-Park apartment complex in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. Kim’s car then crashed into the wall of an apartment block and flipped down the stairs.
The Grandeur driver said Kim seemed to be in pain, grabbing his chest, after the SUV crashed into his car from the rear, adding that the car then swerved into the apartment wall. Police confirmed that smoke was coming out of Kim’s car, but there was no fire.
Firefighters extricated Kim from the vehicle at around 5:07 p.m. and took him to Konkuk University Medical Center. Kim died at the hospital at around 6:30 p.m. It has been reported that Kim’s residence in Cheongdam-dong, is only three minutes by car from the site of the accident. Police are investigating the exact cause.
Kim most recently played a reporter in the miniseries “Argon” in September. The second son of the late actor Kim Mu-saeng, he debuted in 1998 in the SBS drama “Letters Written on a Cloudy Day.” Kim also starred in Hong Sang-soo’s “Yourself and Yours” (2016) and Kim Sung-hoon’s “Confidential Assignment” (2017).
Screengrab: Yonhap News TV
The actor also gained popularity through the travel reality programme “2 Days & 1 Night,” where he once revealed that he had served as a driver during his mandatory military service.
On Friday, Kim won an award for best supporting actor at the Seoul Awards for his appearance in “Confidential Assignment.”
In December 2016 the actor said that he was in a relationship with actress Lee Yu-young.
Media reports said Lee was shooting SBS’ variety show “Running Man” in Busan at the time of the accident, and the shooting was halted when the news broke.
A representative of Kim’s agency Namoo Actors said it was currently confirming details of the incident.
SINGAPORE: Changi Airport’s Terminal 4, which opened on Tuesday (Oct 31), welcomed its first flight as Cathay Pacific Airways CX659 from Hong Kong landed at 5.25am.
Passengers who were on the flight were given a variety of mementos upon disembarking from the plane, including orchids, goodie bags, plush toys and balloon sculptures.
Each passenger received on arrival a goodie bag containing a plush toy, fan, cardholder and a tote bag.
Mdm Rameza, a passenger on the flight, said: “It was very good. There were live performances and goodies, and operations were very smooth.”
Another passenger Mohammed Hossenbux, 51, said: “The whole process was very efficient. It only took me 15 minutes to walk from the plane exit to get out of here (arrival hall).”
The new terminal features start-to-end self-service systems, allowing travellers to check in, deposit their baggage and even go through immigration via automated systems.
At T4’s automated boarding gate, passengers scan their boarding pass and authenticate their identity by taking a photo. (Photo: Loke Kok Fai)
At 225,000 sqm, Terminal 4 is only about half the size of Terminal 3, making it Changi Airport’s smallest terminal. But once fully operational, it will be expected to handle 16 million passengers a year – about 70 per cent of T3’s handling capacity.
Along with Cathay Pacific Airways, Korean Air also commenced operations at the new terminal on Tuesday. This will be followed by Cebu Pacific and Spring Airlines on Nov 2, and AirAsia and Vietnam Airlines on Nov 7.
SINGAPORE: Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in Singapore on Monday (Oct 30) to kick off a four-day visit to Singapore.
The heir to the British throne and Camilla are on an 11-day trip that will include stops in Malaysia and India, aimed at cementing relations ahead of a meeting of Commonwealth states next year.
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla met Singapore athletes who were taking part in the Queen’s Baton Relay, which travels around the world ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Britain’s Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla attend the handover of the Queen’s Commonwealth Baton. (Photo: AFP)
The pair spoke to athletes and Prince Charles was pictured posing with them while carrying the Queen’s Baton.
Prince Charles posing for a photograph with Singaporean athletes. (Photo: AFP)
The Queen’s Baton – the Commonwealth Games’ equivalent to the Olympic torch – is part of the tournament’s tradition to celebrate diversity.
The pair was also seen entering Yamazaki, a Japanese restaurant and bar along Fullerton Road, in a video posted by the restaurant.
On Tuesday, Charles and Camilla will receive a ceremonial welcome at the presidential palace, and meet President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
They will lay a wreath at the city’s Cenotaph, which honours soldiers who died during World War I and II, and will have an orchid named after them.
In the evening the couple will be honoured with a state banquet.
Singapore’s foreign ministry said the visit “reaffirms the historic and long-standing relationship between Singapore and the United Kingdom”.
After ending their trip to Singapore on Thursday, the couple will kick off a week-long trip to Malaysia. They will visit Kuala Lumpur and meet with tribespeople on Borneo island before heading to Penang’s George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Charles and Camilla will end their tour with a visit to India, where they will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Commonwealth Summit will take place in Britain in April next year, with leaders from more than 50 countries expected to attend.
SINGAPORE — Former army regulars who had served in the same unit as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will tell you that he did not set himself apart from his army mates, and morale was always high around him.
Mr Tan Seng Poh, 65, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, remembered that after training one night, Mr Lee dismissed his security officer, and was relaxing with the other servicemen in T-shirts and shorts. When they rallied him to go for supper, he was “very game”.
“He said, ‘Come, let’s go’,” Mr Tan recalled. That night, they had mutton soup and mee siam.
PM Lee’s favourite late-night snack was mutton soup at the old Chong Pang Village in Sembawang.
Mr Tan was speaking to the media at a dinner to celebrate 50 years of National Service on Monday (Oct 30). He and retired Lieutenant Colonel Choy Kin Chong, 66, was in the artillery formation with Mr Lee between 1973 and 1984.
Mr Choy remembered that when the men were carrying out menial chores such as grass-cutting, Mr Lee would stay with them in comradeship.
Humble and disciplined as a soldier, not once did Mr Lee ride on his position as the son of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, they said. “He didn’t say that because he’s so and so, he didn’t have to do (certain duties). He behaved very normally,” Mr Tan said.
Mr Lau Peck Woh, 63, a retired Senior Warrant Officer, remembered how Mr Lee noticed one time that some of his men’s shoes were gaping at the toes. It turned out that they had missed a quarterly kit exchange because they had to go for a scheduled exercise. He then informed the quartermaster in charge of supplies, and within a week, the men had new shoes.
Mr Tan also recounted that when Mr Lee was a junior officer, he had written a programme to compute the angle to fire a gun. Before that, the men had to tediously calculate these details manually. “PM said that was… so primitive. So he started to think that something could be done,” he said.
Above: (L-R) Vikneswaran and his father, P. Silvakumaran at the Float @ Marina Bay on 30th Oct 2017. Photo by Najeer Yusof/TODAY
Talking to reporters as well about their memories of NS were Mr P Silvakumaran, 50, and his son Vikneswaran, 21.
Having followed his father’s footsteps, Mr Vikneswaran is serving his NS in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), as an instructor in the National Service Training Institute. His father trained the construction brigade about three decades ago.
In two weeks’ time, Mr Vikneswaran will complete his full-time NS and will then further his studies in mechanical engineering. During his stint at SCDF, he holds on to the advice that his father gave: To be punctual, self-disciplined and to control his temper.
“When (my father) used to go for reservist, he would tell me about the training,” Mr Vikeswaran said. “I am happy that I can continue his legacy.”
SINGAPORE: It was the soup kambing at Chong Pang Village that 65-year-old retired Lieutenant Colonel Tan Seng Poh remembers as being the best in Singapore.
He also remembers having it for supper on many occasions with his army buddies in the wee hours of the morning, after completing their training for the day.
But he had no inkling then that one particular army buddy, who he bonded with over the mutton soup dish, would one day become the Prime Minister of Singapore.
Mr Tan, who served in the Singapore Artillery, was in the same artillery formation as Mr Lee Hsien Loong. In 1975, the two also served together in the same unit.
“It was very impromptu,” said Mr Tan. “After showering after training, I would pop into his room to chit chat, and sometimes, if we were hungry, we would go out to Chong Pang Village to eat the soup kambing.”
“He loves soup kambing, and this was the best. I remember we were all in shorts and our PT kit, and it was a very relaxed mood. We showed him which stall to eat, and he enjoyed it very much,” he recalled.
On Monday (Oct 30), the former commander of the Artillery Training Institute got the chance to meet and reminisce with Mr Lee at the NS50 dinner reception held at the Marina Bay floating platform. The reception, which caps a year of events to mark 50 years of National Service, was attended by about 1,500 guests.
“I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS HEARTY LAUGHTER”
Even though it was known that Mr Lee was the son of Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, he behaved “like one of us”, said Mr Tan.
“He extended his friendship to us as fellow gunners, and he was very comfortable with us,” he added. “I will always remember his hearty laughter. It always made us feel very comfortable with him.”
And despite having gone their separate ways, Mr Tan said the Prime Minister is still “very much the same”.
“The last time I saw him was at a dinner two years ago,” he recalled. “He walked up to me specially and called out to me.”
“He made every effort to remember names, and even after many years, he can still call you by your name,” he told Channel NewsAsia. “That speaks quite a fair bit about him.”
Mr Tan Seng Poh and his wife meeting the Prime Minister at an SG50 dinner in 2015. (Photo courtesy of Tan Seng Poh)
Mr Choy Kin Chong, another retired lieutenant colonel who was also in the Singapore Artillery, has similar memories of the Prime Minister.
“After I left the army, on one or two occasions when I met him, he used to tell the guys there that ‘KC was my army buddy’”, he said.
“All of us officers, we consider each other buddies. And even now, I can walk up to him and say: ‘PM, my army buddy’”.
In his time in the army, the 66-year-old served as a defence attache overseas, and said he had “several touchpoints” with Mr Lee. For one, they were both in the Officer Cadet School together, and when Mr Lee was commanding officer of the 23rd Singapore Artillery (SA) battalion, he had handed over the unit to Mr Choy.
Like Mr Tan, he also has fond memories of Mr Lee – in particular, his leadership by example.
“At that time, recruits were asked to cut grass and we would normally give them about an hour to do it,” he said. “Most of the officers would have gone to the mess to have a drink, but he stayed on throughout with the recruits.”
“When I was taking over from him at 23SA, he also handed me his personal lantern, which had an FM radio as part of the system,” Mr Choy added. “He went, please have this, I don’t need it anymore.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have it anymore, otherwise it would have gone to the army museum!”
BUDDIES FOR LIFE
Both Mr Tan and Mr Choy cite the strong esprit de corps and camaraderie of the men as a catalyst in forging lifelong friendships in the army.
“The artillery was the oldest arm in the Singapore army, so we had a very strong identity right from the get-go,” said Mr Tan. “This has not diminished over time.”
“I will always remember, once a gunner, always a gunner.”
He added that the shared experiences of training and army life has made them a “brotherhood”, and till today, the gunners try to keep in touch.
Mr Choy, in particular, said he started a regular gathering called the Gunners RV, where everyone meets at the artillery headquarters in Khatib camp to keep in touch and renew friendships. This happens about once a quarter.
“I easily have about 20 to 30 of my own group of buddies who I’m closer to,” he said. “Some of us go fishing together or we have golf games.”
He said that some years ago, Mr Lee had come back to join them for the gathering. And now, he plans to invite the Prime Minister to join them again. “But we have not invited him yet, so we will probably have to sound out the artillery chief to make the move!”
In his speech at the dinner, Mr Lee said National Service has become a national institution and a rite of passage for Singaporean males, regardless of race religion or social background.
“NS is where boys grow up to become men, forging bonds that last for life, through blood, sweat and tears,” said Mr Lee. “That is why years after ORD, many of us still make time to meet up with our NS buddies and feel joyful when we bump into old comrades.”
“And tonight, I am happy to be meeting some of my old artillery comrades as we say – once a gunner, always a gunner!”
SINGAPORE: An injured otter with a deep cut on its back was found swimming in a canal in Pasir Ris Park on Monday (Oct 30) by a park visitor.
Photos posted by Mr Abel Yeo in OtterWatch, a Facebook group for otter enthusiasts, show a pink wound running across the young pup’s back and down its sides.
Mr Yeo described the wound as “deep” but said that it “did not seem infected”.
It is believed that a thick wire had caused the injury on the otter’s back. (Photo: Facebook/Abel Yeo)
It is believed that a thick wire had got entangled around the otter’s body, according to the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES).
“The wire got embedded in the skin of the otter. We are not sure how this happened,” Kalai Vanan, deputy chief executive of ACRES told Channel NewsAsia.
Despite the injury, Mr Yeo said that the otter was swimming and eating well.
However, Mr Yeo felt that the otter needs help soon as he had already learned about the injured pup a week ago through OtterWatch.
“I did feel sad seeing the otter and I was hoping that something could be done and thought that immediate action needed to be taken,” Mr Yeo told Channel NewsAsia, adding that he contacted OtterWatch and the National Parks Board immediately.
ACRES said that they were alerted to the injured otter about a week ago. Since then, ACRES has been looking into rescue methods to find the pup for a closer inspection and to hand it over to Wildlife Reserves Singapore for treatment.
With new information from Mr Yeo, OtterWatch and ACRES are now on the look out for the hurt animal.
Foul play has not been ruled out yet, according to ACRES.
“We are aware of illegal poaching activities where poachers leave noose snares and other traps to trap wild animals like wild boars and monitor lizards so we can’t rule out foul play yet,” said Mr Kalai.
While injured otters are rare in Singapore, adapting to the urban environment can pose a threat to the otters, especially as they deal with fishing lines from illegal fishing, illegal traps and snares, added Mr Kalai.
Members of the public are urged to take a photo, note the location and forward the information to OtterWatch or ACRES if they spot an injured otter.
SINGAPORE: The Marina Bay floating platform will be redeveloped into a permanent space that commemorates National Service (NS), announced Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (Oct 30).
It will be renamed NS Square, and will serve as the primary venue for the National Day Parade.
“We will extend the platform to open up a larger and more accessible space, and increase the current seating capacity so that more Singaporeans can join in the parade,” said Mr Lee at a dinner reception held at the floating platform to mark 50 years of National Service.
“Its permanence and prominence in Marina Bay will reflect the central role National Service plays in our lives.”
The Prime Minister added that below the grandstand, there will be a “purpose-built” gallery to showcase Singapore’s NS journey and highlight the contributions of generations of National Servicemen.
“I hope the gallery will inspire future generations of NSmen to take over the torch with pride,” said Mr Lee.
The platform, also known as The Float @ Marina Bay, was built in 2007 as a temporary stage while the National Stadium was being reconstructed.
Apart from hosting National Day parades, Mr Lee said that the revamped floating platform could also be used for regular community events like arts performances, weekend markets and the River Hongbao celebration during Chinese New Year.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO NSMEN PAST AND PRESENT
The appreciation dinner on Monday is the culmination of year-long events to mark 50 years of NS.
Mr Lee noted that since 1967, more than one million Singaporeans have served NS in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and in the Home Team.
“Your contributions and sacrifices have enabled Singaporeans to enjoy decades of peace, and a safe and secure home.
“We have had the good fortune not to fight a war in the last 50 years, but that is not just a matter of luck. Our deterrence is credible, and it has worked,” Mr Lee said. “The SAF is taken seriously, it is well-trained, well-equipped and technologically up to date.”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the NS50 dinner reception held at the Marina Bay floating platform.
As for the Home Team, Mr Lee noted that the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) have continued to keep Singaporeans safe from threats.
“The terrorist threat is a grave one, but our security forces are vigilant and prepared to deal with an attack when it comes,” he said. “And without NSFs and NSmen who serve willingly, take their training seriously, and perform operational duties day after day, the SAF, SPF and SCDF would not exist.”
Singapore is much better defended now than when it started out 50 years ago, Mr Lee said, adding that because of the peace and security here, businesses are prepared to invest for the long term, and that Singaporeans and foreigners alike are happy to work and raise their families here.
He added, however, that educating the new generation on the importance of NS remains critical, especially as “the younger generations have only ever known stability and peace”.
“We will always be a small country, and National Service will always be the cornerstone of our defence,” Mr Lee told the audience.
“Even as we continue to ask this commitment of our young men, we must rally behind them as a society, support them and express our appreciation for their service.”
SINGAPORE: Authorities are investigating after a bed and personal items like shoes and plastic bags were found in a drain along the Kranji Expressway (KJE).
“PUB is aware of the possible human dwellings in the drain along KJE,” a PUB spokesperson told Channel NewsAsia.
Photos posted online on Sunday (Oct 29) showed a bed with a pillow placed inside a narrow drain. Shoes were hanging from the bed frame and rubbish was seen littered on the floor.
Water agency PUB said it has referred the matter to the police and the items have been removed.
Area along KJE where a bed and personal items were found in a drain. (Photo: Facebook/SG Kay Poh)
The drain is near West Spring Secondary School, pictures posted on social media showed.
According to PUB, members of the public are not allowed to enter drains for their personal safety.
“Heavy rainfall in upstream locations will cause sudden and rapid water flow into the drain. This will pose a serious danger to those in the drain,” PUB explained.
PUB will take action against those caught entering waterways without prior approval. Those caught may be fined up to S$3,000.
SINGAPORE – Singapore has banned two Muslim foreign preachers from entering the city-state because their views bred intolerance and were a risk to its social harmony, the government said on Monday.
The decision to block Ismail Menk, identified by local media as a Zimbabwean and Haslin bin Baharim as a Malaysian, is the latest move by the Singaporean authorities to put a curb on individuals from spreading divisive views.
Menk has preached Muslims are not allowed to greet people of other faiths on their religious festivals, Singapore’s home affairs ministry said in a statement.
It accused Baharim of holding views that promote discord between Muslims and non-Muslims, whom he described as ‘deviant.’ “(Their views) are unacceptable in the context of Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society,” the ministry said.
Reuters was not in a position to reach out to the pair.
Singapore is predominantly Chinese, many of whom follow Buddhism and Taoism but 14 per cent of the population is Muslim and nearly 19 per cent Christian.
Authorities in the city-state, an outpost of stability in a region where religious tension is not uncommon, are sensitive to public remarks they deem might adversely affect religious and social harmony.
Over the past few years, Singapore increased its level of surveillance for Islamist radicalism as concern grew about the spread of Islamic State in the region.
Menk and Baharim planned to conduct religious sessions on a ship departing from Singapore next month after their applications for short-term work passes to preach in Singapore were turned down, the government said.
“They will not be allowed to get around the ban by preaching instead on cruise ships which operate to and from Singapore,” the home ministry said.
Last month, authorities said they rejected applications for two foreign Christian preachers to speak in Singapore as they had made “denigrating and inflammatory comments of other religions.”
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