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Web-only Exclusives
November 30, 2000

From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War
A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix

From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead
Bad news for the Philippines - and some others

From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies
Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights?

Asiaweek Time Asia Now Asiaweek story

PEOPLE

By Alexandra A. Seno

The Tables Turn in South Korea


AS VICE CHAIRMAN OF the Sammi Group, Suh Sang Rok ate a lot of fancy meals. "I would have breakfast meetings, luncheons, dinners; 99% of my food was at fine restaurants," he says. But that is in the past. These days, he is serving the meals. Suh, 61, recently became a trainee waiter at downtown Seoul's Hotel Lotte. Under the weight of billions of dollars in debt, steel-maker Sammi, South Korea's 26th largest conglomerate, went down in March 1997 as one of the first major corporate busts in the now-bankruptcy-prone country. "I feel very guilty," he told Asiaweek. "It was partly my fault. We borrowed too much. People like me caused the country's economic crisis. I cannot apply for a similar high-level job again." In his new occupation -- which pays about $400 a month -- Suh polishes silverware, pours wine and pushes the dessert cart (ironically made of stainless steel from Sammi). He also washes dishes. Don't feel sorry for him though. He says he knows exactly what he is doing and why. One day, perhaps when the economy recovers, he plans to use his new-found skills to open his own restaurant.

Rubenesque Ruby Too Risqué for Asia?

When Ruby took shape in London last year, she was a reminder to women that you don't have to have a body like a chopstick to feel good about yourself. But her creators, The Body Shop, failed to factor in Asian sensitivities. Ruby has now run into problems in both Malaysia and Hong Kong. In Kuala Lumpur, the normally naked doll has been dressed in tights and a singlet. In the SAR, she has been banned altogether from subway stations. The transit company said she was "offensive" and not suitable for its trackside billboards. (Never mind that every other poster seems to feature a skinny woman in her underwear.) Undaunted, The Body Shop is taking to the road. From April 20, larger-than-life images of Ruby will grace the sides ofHong Kong's double-decked buses.

Actress-Model Strikes a Chord in China

Open any women's magazine in China these days and you are likely to see a photograph of Qu Ying. She is everywhere, advertising clothes, makeup -- and herself, of course. "I am tired of doing interviews and photo sessions, but I admit it's also fun," she says. And lucrative. As one of China's top models, Beijing-based Qu earns $2,500 a day. The star started out as an actress, making it big in the local 1996 box-office hit, Take It Easy. But she knew her 1.75-meter frame limited the kind of roles she could get. She switched to modeling -- and was an instant hit. Says the editor of Xian's Love magazine: "She looks modern, tough yet still sweet. That fascinates readers." They also like the way she sounds. Her first pop album, Don't Be Excited, has sold 200,000 copies in China since its release last month. Qu, 26, starts her next record later this year.


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AsiaNow


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