South Koreans, attempting to improve their singing abilities, belt out a tune during a one-day...

South Koreans, attempting to improve their singing abilities, belt out a tune during a one-day clinic at a department store in Seoul January 7, as their singing coach Lee Byung-won (R) supervises their efforts. Such unorthodox techniques as singing with a bucket on their heads and singing while upside down are among the methods used by voice teacher Lee Byung-won in his Eumchi Clinic. Designed to improve the performance of those lacking vocal talent so that they, too, may participate in the all-important Korean social past time of karaoke, Kim invented these techniques in order to turn even the most tone deaf student into a performer who has the ability to sing at least one complete song in key. In Korea one's popularity, even to the extent of gaining a job promotion or attracting a lover, is often judged by the ability to sing.