There are many names that hit newspaper headlines in 2007.
Some of them were praised for their achievements and success and enjoyed sudden fame while others were criticized for their wrongdoings and even faced severe punishment.
Reflecting the year of 2007, The Korea Times selected the people who stood out due to their fame or those who fell from grace.
Ko San, 31, former engineer of Samsung Group's research lab, and Yi So-yeon, 29, graduate from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, were designated as the first Korean astronauts in September.
Ko is scheduled to journey into outer space from April 8 to 19, next year. The former engineer will be the first Korean astronaut, should he remain in top physical condition. Yi is also undergoing training with Ko as backup. The first Korean spaceman will conduct a total of 18 experiments at the International Space Station.
2) Leader of the Nation's Stock Investment Boom
The Korean peninsula was inundated with stock investment a frenzy during this year. Park Hyun-joo, the Mirae Asset chairman, initiated the craze. Park made a name for himself by fostering the company into one of the leading financial investment companies in Asia within a decade.
According to a fund evaluation firm, this year's winner of the best performing fund investing in domestic equities goes to the "Discovery Equity Fund" managed by Mirae Asset investments. The fund recorded returns of 58.63 percent, outdoing other competitors' performances.
3) Kumho Asiana Group Chairman
To Kumho Asiana Group, this year can be translated into a milestone moment gearing up its overseas expansion of its businesses. Park Sam-koo, chairman of the firm, put all his efforts during the year toward managing a string of mergers and acquisitions and strenuous overseas expansion. The conglomerate established a number of overseas branches including in China, Vietnam and Saipan. Recently, the conglomerate unveiled its ambitious goal of 25 trillion won in sales next year, up 18 percent from an estimated 21.1 trillion won in sales for this year. Investment for upgrading facilities and research and development will reach 2.92 trillion won, up 28.3 percent from 2.27 trillion won for 2007.
4) All Girl Band Wonder Girls
The Wonder Girls, comprised of five teenage girls, blew fresh wind into the troubled K-pop industry this year. Produced by K-pop star Park Jin-young, also known as JYP, Wonder Girls emerged into the limelight after its song "Tell Me" hit TV screens.
Along with the song, their adorable performance largely contributed to generate numerous user created content in which the young and old imitated their easy-to-follow dance moves. The five-girl pop group is expected to perform in the U.S. for the first time next year. They will make a guest appearance at Park's concerts to be held in February in New York and Los Angels.
The year 2007 presented comedian Shim Hyung-rae, 49, with the great honor of being an influential film director in the Korean movie industry. The fantasy-action film "D-War", directed by Shim was widely released in August here, drawing more than 13 million moviegoers.
It also cultivated an all time box-office record among Korean movies released in the U.S film market. Thanks to the movie's success at home and abroad, the comedian-turned-director was named as "Man of the Year for 2007" by the Korean Magazine Association in October. Shim announced he would produce the sequel "D-War 2" to be release in 2009.
Fall from Grace
1) Hanwha Chairman
Hanwha Group chairman Kim Seung-youn was proved a "dedicated father" this year, risking imprisonment on behalf of his trouble-making child. His revenge attack on bar workers brought about a disturbing collusion between the police and the local conglomerate.
Kim and his security guards beat bar workers who had a scuffle with his second son in March. The tycoon persuaded the police looking into the case to stop the investigation by utilizing his social status. But Kim's cover-up attempt was foiled after the case went public through local media outlets. Kim was indicted together with high-ranking police officials who had strived to conceal the case. He was recently sentenced to an 18-month jail term, which was suspended for three years.
2) "Sugar Daddy" Scandal
Triggered by Shin Jeong-ah, 35, former assistant professor at Dongguk University, the diploma forgery scandal hit the nation in the months since July. Beginning with Shin, a number of prominent figures including entertainers, broadcasters and even academics were found to have faked their qualifications.
Former senior presidential aide Byeon Yang-kyoon, who was later found to be Shin's lover, was indicted with physical detention together with Shin on various charges including embezzlement and influence peddling. A series of bogus-credential cases motivated Koreans to reflect on whether society places too much emphasis on educational background rather than an individual's actual ability.
3) Redrafted "Psy"
K-pop singer Park Jae-sang, 30, widely known by his stage name "Psy", won the "prestige" of being a serviceman twice this year. He was under investigation between May and August by the prosecution on suspicion of dodging military service. Following the probe, the prosecution said it had secured evidence proving he did not abide by working regulations imposed on those who work at a private firm for two years instead of the obligatory military service for males aged over 20.
The prosecution found he had participated in private activities during regular work hours. The Seoul Administration Court ruled on Dec. 12 that the entertainer must be redrafted, rejecting a lawsuit filed by Psy against the Military Manpower Administration in August. He re-joined the army on Dec. 17.
4) Former Tax Agency Head
Jeon Goon-pyo, former chief of the National Tax Service, left a significant scar in his two-decade-long career as well as the nation's tax service. He was indicted with physical detention in November on charges of receiving a bribe of worth 60 million won from Chung Sang-gon, former Busan Regional Tax Office head, in return for giving him a promotion.
He was also charged for attempting to cover up the bribery by sending Chung a message through the incumbent Busan tax office head in order to ask him to recant his testimony about the money after Chung's arrest in August. Jeon became the first incumbent top tax official to appear before prosecutors since the tax office was separated from the Ministry of Finance and Economy in 1966.
5) K-pop Star Ivy
For K-pop star Park Eun-hye, 25, widely known by her stage name "Ivy", the year 2007 must be one that she really wants to erase from her memory. After enjoying several months of newfound fame, the singer disappeared from TV screens right after she became a victim of physical abuse, committed by her former boyfriend in early November.
The prosecution said he slapped Ivy five times while she was driving to a coffee shop in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul, on Oct. 3. Her ex-boyfriend was indicted with physical detention for blackmailing the singer and her management agency by threatening to publicize their sex tapes. The Seoul Central District Court Wednesday sentenced the ex-boyfriend to a one-year prison term suspended for two years.
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