Thomas Keller, owner-chef of The French Laundry, says he is ‘just the middle person’In a world where the list of places you have dined are a barometer of your financial standing as well as good taste, it is not uncommon to find people who will fly across oceans for an exceptional dining experience. And of course, they will have made reservations months in advance, eagerly counting down the number of days, just like a school child crossing days off the calendar to his much awaited summer break.A

Yoon Yeo-kwon, former executive director at the Presidential Council for Future and Vision, took office on Tuesday as an executive director at the Asia Development Bank, according to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.There are 12 executive directors at ADB and Yoon will represent six member nations including Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. He will serve for two years.Yoon graduated from Seoul National University and passed the state-administered exam for mid-level officials in the 198

Samsung Electronics on Tuesday selected singer and actor Lee Seung-gi as a torchbearer for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. “He is a beloved star at home and abroad, so that is why he has been chosen as a flame bearer for the Olympics,” said Samsung Electronics, the official sponsor for the Olympic torch relay.The flame is scheduled to arrive in Britain on May 18 from Greece, travel around 1,000 U.K. cities, and arrive at the London Olympics Stadium on July 27 for the opening ceremony.Among the

Rhie Won-bok, a famous cartoonist and author, has been named a chair professor of Deoksung Women’s University, where he has taught visual design for 27 years, the school said Monday. Rhie’s tenure ended in February, but the school said they wanted Rhie to stay because of his contribution to the school, especially in promoting it globally through student and academic exchanges with schools overseas. “Professor Rhie has made a great contribution to the development of the university and its student

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) ― Actor Sean Penn is being honored by a group of Nobel laureates for his relief work in Haiti following the country’s devastating January 2010 earthquake.Penn is to receive the 2012 Peace Summit Award at the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. The event will be held in Chicago next month and is expected to draw such luminaries as Poland’s Lech Walesa and the Dalai Lama.Penn arrived shortly after Haiti’s quake and established an aid organization now known as J/P

BANGKOK (Reuters) ― Chaleo Yoovidhya, who rose from poverty to become one of the world’s richest men thanks to astute marketing of the “Red Bull” energy drink, has died in his native Thailand. Local media said he had died of natural causes in hospital in Bangkok on Saturday. His age was variously put at 89 or 90, although some sources gave his date of birth as Aug. 17, 1923, making him 88. Chaleo was ranked 205th on the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people, with a fortune it put at $5 bi

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) ― Richard Branson said Monday his venture to launch paying tourists into space has netted its 500th customer, and it’s none other than Ashton Kutcher.The British billionaire made the announcement on his blog, saying he gave the actor a quick call to congratulate him.“He is as thrilled as we are at the prospect of being among the first to cross the final frontier (and back!) with us and to experience the magic of space for himself,’’ Branson wrote.A representative for

This is a series introducing associations and clubs that expats can get involved in. This week, Expat Living spoke to Chris Green of Busan Volunteer. ― Ed.● Name of organization: Busan Volunteer.● Locations: Busan and South Gyeongsang province area, we also team up with Daegu Volunteer for events.● Number of members: Close to 900 Facebook friends, although of course it is hard to keep track who is still in Busan or not. There are about 20 that volunteer regularly either at the women’s shelter, o

Indians in Korea celebrated Holi, a Hindu spring festival in Busan. The event was organized in Busan at Haeundae beach on March 11. Indian, Korean and other nationalities participated in the event and enjoyed the festival with music, songs and food.One of the major festivals of India, Holi is celebrated on the day of the full moon in March.Indian expats have made a point of keeping the tradition of Holi alive in South Korea. Festivities include playing with colors, songs, and exchanging gifts an