Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
Clear Winds 3
MARCH
ISSN: 2005-2162
www.korea.net
March 2009
CONTENTS VOL. 7 / NO. 3
6 18 53 54 62
Opening a communicative space
between Korea and the world
Publisher
Yoo Jin-hwan
Korean Culture and
Information Service
06
Cover Story
• A Full First Year for President
• From Green to Gold
34 Korean Literature
• Ko-un: Poet of Tragedy and Hope 51
Sports
• New Kids on the Diamond
• Pyeongchang Tries Again
Chief Editor
Ko Hye-ryun
• Art and Seoul
38 Korea through the Lens
• Good Fortune and Magic Pups
• 3rd Time Lucky?
Clear Winds 3
MARCH
Editing & Printing
JoongAng Daily 18 Diplomacy
• US Will Not Sideline Seoul: Clinton
42 Business & Technology 54 Travel
• In Village of Apricots, March is Winter’s End
ISSN: 2005-2162
www.korea.net
60
Spring has come in webmaster@korea.net • Another World-first for Samsung
Fashion
20
the village of apricots.
Photo by YONHAP Design Global Korea • Asiana Named ‘Airline of the Year’ • Traditional Threads for 21st Century
JoongAng Daily
• The Seoul Global Village Center
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form without permission from Korea
and the Korean Culture and Information Service.
• Lobbying for Change with City’s Backing
• EV Boyz Rappin’ on Korea 46 Series: Mobile Industry
• A New Pillar for the Economy 62
People
• Tenor’s Miracle Come-back
• Expats to Follow Monk’s Foosteps
The articles published in Korea do not necessarily rep- • Sport Unites Foreign Moms
50 Hidden Champion
resent the views of the publisher. The publisher is not
liable for errors or omissions. • China Loves ‘Angel Donor’
Letters to the editor should include the writer’s full name
and address. Letters may be edited for clarity and/or
space restrictions.
26
Culture
• Global Singing Stars Converge on Korea
• Klimt in Korea
• Samkwang: The Face of Hi-fi
66 Foreign Viewpoints
• Yuji Hosaka: The Need for Speed
If you want to receive a free copy of Korea or wish to
cancel a subscription, please e-mail us. • Breathing New Life into Buddha
A downloadable PDF file of Korea and a map and glos-
sary with common Korean words appearing in our text • Prima Ballerina Returns
are available by clicking on the thumbnail of Korea on
the homepage of www.korea.net.
발간등록번호: 11-1110073-000016-06
[JoongAng Ilbo]
ne year ago, a crowd of more than 50,000 gathered
in front of the National Assembly building to
watch as Korea’s first businessman-turned-presi-
A Full First Year for President dent took the oath of office. Feb. 25, 2009 marks
the first anniversary of Lee Myung-bak’s inaugura-
tion, and sees Lee tackling the aftermath of the global financial crisis
with reform at home and diplomatic cooperation abroad.
Businessman-turned-president Lee Myung-bak has extended the nation’s On his first day as president, Lee began his diplomacy as a global
leader. He met with delegates from the United States, China, Russia
diplomatic outreach, while wrestling with the global financial crisis. and Japan after the inauguration to strengthen Korea’s ties with the
four giants. On his second day in the Blue House, Lee had meetings
with visiting foreign heads of state from Cambodia, Mongolia and President Lee on-site at the
Uzbekistan. epi-center of the Sichuan
In March, Lee made his first presidential visit to China. During earthquake.
[JoongAng Ilbo]
normally is not easy to build on momentum for coop- mies’ roles in coping with the global cial system. Korea will host the G-20
eration, but the economic crisis ironically provided us economic crisis. financial ministers’ meeting in 2010,
with an opportunity to come together.” “Korea will play a big role in the and Brazil, Britain and South Korea
At the meeting, leaders of the three nations agreed efforts to establish new financial struc- form the current Troika, a management President Lee in discussion with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.
A
mid the global economic crisis, are environmental issues
destined to drop to the bottom of the priority list? “Abso-
lutely not!” says the Korean government. Seoul recently
unveiled a range of “Green New Deal” programs to gen-
erate jobs in the faltering economy, with large-scale gov-
ernment spending in eco-friendly businesses, including the develop-
ment of renewable energy and green cars.
Both the Korean government and Korea, Inc., have been making
efforts to secure eco-friendly growth engines in recent years, due to
the instability of global fossil fuel prices and the tightening of envi-
ronmental regulations in Europe and North America amid concerns
about global warming. These efforts have become more visible since
President Lee Myung-bak revealed his vision of “low-carbon, green
growth” for the nation’s economic development during the next
decade, in a Liberation Day speech on Aug 15, 2008.
Lee repeatedly stressed his agenda, at the 10th international con-
ference of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The so-called “envi-
ronmental Olympics” was held in Changwon, South Gyeongsang in
October, 2008, to address environmental issues ranging from conser-
vation of wetlands to climate change. In the conference, Achim Stein-
er, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme,
said that countries should resist the temptation to put the economy
before the environment in the current difficult times, adding that
Korea’s “low-carbon, green growth” agenda is very meaningful.
As Steiner pointed out, economic difficulties tend to tempt the
government and businesses to put environmental issues on the back
burner. But experts say that the current financial crisis could provide
a good chance for Korea to reform its energy production and con-
sumption structure to be greener. The Green New Deal is one of the
key efforts to seize this opportunity.
Among “Green New Deal” programs, the highest visibility proj-
ect for ordinary people will be the construction of a bicycle path
around the entire nation. The Ministry of Public Administration and
[JoongAng Ilbo]
Security said in January it will spend 1.24 trillion won (US$1.23 bil-
lion) on establishing the 3,114-kilometer (1,935-mile), three-meter-
wide path exclusively for bikes by 2018.
The nationwide path will start from the Haengju Bridge in Seoul
Employees of a recycling company work and continue on to Mokpo, South Jeolla via a road along the west
with cast-away mobile phones. Copper, coast. It will continue to run along the south and east coastlines. The
silver and even gold can be retrieved from path will then head along the demilitarized zone and return to its
“dead” cell phones. starting point at the Haengju Bridge The administration hopes that
the untouched ecosystem around the demilitarized zone and the
views along the coastline will attract not only domestic but also for-
eign tourists.
A more fundamental Green New Deal project is continued
make use of the winds blowing in from unveiled an ambitious plan to help the nation become
the sea. The plan was unveiled after “one of the world’s top four countries in green car pro-
the local government signed an duction” in his Liberation Day speech.
agreement with Hyundai Heavy Hyundai Motor plans to commercialize small
Industries, the world’s biggest ship- Avante hybrids that use electricity and liquefied
builder, to invest 105.7 billion won petroleum gas this July, a first among local automak-
in the wind power system manufac- ers.
turing plant in Gunsan County in the Some ask why Hyundai is starting with an LPG-
province. electric hybrid instead of the gas-electric hybrids that
The Ministry of Knowledge Econo- are common worldwide. “With Japan’s Toyota domi-
my said in December it will pour 111.5 nating petrol-electric hybrid technologies, Hyundai In line with governmental and industrial green
[JoongAng Ilbo]
trillion won over the next two decades has no choice but to begin with an LPG-electric hybrid,” projects, private citizens - and even an entire village -
into developing renewable energy tech- said Jung Jin-sung, chairman of the Korea LPG Asso- are today creating solar-powered homes.
nology including solar cells for photo- ciation. “Because Korea has more LPG-fueled cars
voltaic power generation and wind farm than any other country, it has also developed tech-
equipment. nologies in LPG engines. This will help in the develop-
It also said it will invest 19.5 trillion
won on its “IT/Energy New Deal” proj-
ment of LPG-electric hybrids.”
Korea has 2.3 million vehicles with LPG engines,
such as production-cost reductions.
These potential incentives, it hopes, will
Companies to recycle scrap iron. The company said 1 ton of scrap
metal can be recycled more than 40 times. One ton of
ects this year. Among them are the accounting for 13.6 percent of total vehicles, the high- lure companies into buying into the including steel is now as useful as 10 tons thanks to recycling, the
spread of energy-efficient LED illumi- est percentage in the world. Green New Deal. company said. Hyundai Steel recycles 1,100 tons of
nation; the provision of 12,000 “green Hyundai Motor also wants to commercialize a Since 2006, Daesung Group has
Samsung and scrap metal every year.
homes,” which use mainly renewable Bike paths hydrogen fuel cell car by 2012. The automaker con- been recycling methane gas produced in Hyundai are Even old-fashioned coal has new possibilities. The
energy such as hydrogen fuel cell power ducted a test run of a Tucson hydrogen fuel cell SUV garbage dumping sites. government plans to develop a non-polluting coal that
for heating and lighting; and investment
around the nation
across the United States in August. As part of Korea’s Taegu Energy Environment Corp., pioneering could be used in producing synthetic oil, which will
new recycling
Demilitarized Zone Goseong
in state-run energy companies’ facili- effort to develop hydrogen fuel cell cars, GS Caltex an affiliate of Daesung Group, has replace 80 million barrels of oil - equivalent to 8 per-
ties. Ganghwa Corp. the nation’s second-biggest refiner, opened the refined methane gas collected from a cent of the country’s annual oil consumption. Some 22
But experts warn that the govern-
Haengju Bridge
Han River
first hydrogen fuel station in Seoul for fuel-cell cars in garbage dumping site near Dalseong technologies. trillion won will be invested over the next five years in
ment needs to carefully choose which Pyeongtaek a test operation in 2007. county in Daegu. The company gener- the project.
Nakdong River
green businesses to boost. And local companies are also developing parts for ated revenue of 6 billion won that same It is not just government and industry: grass-root
“As for expansion of power genera- Geum River green cars actively. Helped by such efforts, LG Chem, year. changes are also taking place. Green activist Lee Dae-
Pohang
tion through photovoltaic power plants in January, was selected by General Motors as the sole Daesung Group is also planning to chul, 65, designed and completed a “Zero Energy
Yeongsan River
and wind farms, the essential technolo- supplier of lithium-ion battery cells for the U.S. auto convert bio-methane gas produced House” in early January at the foot of a scenic moun-
gy needed for these facilities is domi- Mokpo Haeundae giant’s Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle, which will be from sewage treatment plants into a tain near Hongcheon, a town in Gangwon Province.
nated by advanced countries,” said Kim commercialized next year. usable resource. The home’s heating and water-heating systems require
Jeong-in, professor of industrial eco- The West Coast path The recycling and renewable industry is gaining The value of manure from livestock no energy source beyond the rays of the sun.
nomics at Chung-Ang University. (548 kilometers) momentum as the new Lee Myung-bak administra- is likely to surge as green businesses Located on a sunny spot, the wooden house is
The South Coast path
“Accordingly, the expansion would not (1,652 kilometers) tion has set the “Green New Deal,” as one of the coun- expand. wrapped in insulating materials. It features gigantic
lead to a great increase in employment The East Coast path try’s top priorities. In 2008, Daewoo Engineering and windows installed on the southern wall and the roof.
(634 kilometers)
and other economic effects.” The DMZ path
The government will be injecting a total of 2.8 tril- Construction completed Korea’s first The solar power generator in the garden collects the
“On the other hand, the improve- (280 kilometers) lion won by 2012 into renewable and recyclable energy bio-gas power plant in Asan, South sun’s rays during the daytime to produce warm water
ment of energy efficiency in buildings The paths along development. Chungcheong. The plant uses the meth- and maintain the optimal temperature inside the
the Four Major Rivers
can be a very good project,” he contin- (1,297 kilometers in total) The government plans to spend 1.12 trillion won ane gas collected from food garbage, house.
ued. “The work for building reform on facilities converting trash into fuels and bio-gas, as livestock manure and sewage sludge to Lee may embody a rare private effort at energy
projects has great spillover effects into well as 280 billion won on establishing the basic foun- produce electricity and hot water. self-sufficiency, but he is not alone. A whole village in
different industries, as it can be applied dation for biomass production and 1.4 trillion won on Samsung Electronics said it has been North Jeolla Province relies solely on solar energy.
to the whole building. Accordingly, such livestock manure energy facilities and dump sites. saving 21 billion won every year in Deungryong Village in Buan County may look like a
projects create jobs in the short term. The recycling and energy-renewing industry is a energy cost thanks to its business that typical rural community, but the small town has
The United Nations Energy Program rapidly growing market with huge potential. In Korea, converts waste into energy. Since 1998, recently been thrust into the limelight after the resi-
said improving the energy efficiency of The world’s biggest tidal 75 percent of renewable energy comes from trash. the company been running the Asan dents installed what they call a “civil power generator”
buildings as well as green car develop- power plant under construc- The potential of the recycling market has no Recycling Center, which recycles met- that runs on sun rays. A generator may evoke the
ment are the most effective eco-friendly tion in Sihwa Lake in Ansan boundaries. Various materials can be utilized in recy- als. Reportedly, 5 grams of gold can be image of a highly refined industrial facility, but the one
projects for creating jobs.” city, Gyeonggi province. The cling including mobile phones, electronic appliances retrieved from 1 ton of gold ore. But in the town gathers energy from village houses - each
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, sea is on the right, the lake and even used tires. They are turned into energy or from the same amount of used mobile of which is topped with a large-sized solar battery.
Korea’s biggest auto conglomerate, has on the left. recycled into other usable goods. phone material, 150 grams of gold can Even in mid-winter, each household pays only around
been speeding up plans to commercial- Provided by The government believes such projects could gen- be recovered. 1,000 won per month in electricity charges.
ize eco-friendly cars since President Lee the Korea Water Resources Corp. erate advanced technology and produce added value Hyundai Steel boasts of technology By Moon So-young, Lee Ho-jeong, Seo Ji-eun
I
t was during Korea’s 17th presidential inauguration ceremony
last year that President Lee Myung-bak signalled the dawn of a
new era of cultural prosperity. In his speech, he said:
“Korea is a nation of culture with an extensive history ... We
must develop our competitiveness in our content industry,
thereby laying the foundation of a nation strong in cultural activi-
ties.... Through culture, we are able to enjoy life and to communicate
10-minute distance Samcheong-dong
on foot with each other and advance together. The new administration will
Gyeongbok
Palace do its best to bring the power of our culture into full bloom in this
5-minute distance The National Museum globalized setting of the 21st century.”
on foot of Contemporary Art
He has been as good as his word. Lee and his administration have
Sejong Center for Insa-dong come up with various policies over the past year that will help estab-
the Performing Arts
KT Arts Hall lish culture as a key mode of modern living.
Kumho
Seoul Museum of History Arts Hall Kyobo Book Store Sa-choom Theater Among the many plans to develop a nation rich in cultural
resources and activities, the most recent policy plan was announced
Nanta Theater Ilmin Museum of Art Jump Theater in January by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Seoul stated that
Chongdong Theater Cecile Theater City Hall will promote the creation of a cultural district in the city
Ewha 100th Memorial Theater Cheonggye Stream center called the “Sejong Belt,” a similar concept to New York’s Broad-
The Ballerina Who Fell In Love
with a B-boy Theater Deoksu way and London’s West End.
Palace The city government decided to develop areas in central Seoul
Seoul Museum of Art
Sejong Belt including Gwanghwamun, Jongno and the Jung District into a cul-
tural hub and will support numerous performing centers like the
10-minute distance Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Kumho Arts Hall, Chong-
on foot dong Theater, KT Arts Hall and other small theaters for non-verbal
[JoongAng Ilbo]
shows.
“It’s a plan to make the city more attractive and to provide oppor-
tunities for both Koreans and foreigners to appreciate diverse per-
forming arts,” said Lee Chung-seung, the head of the Sejong Center
(Above) The Sejong Center for the Performing in January. He was making a speech at the opening ceremony of the
Arts is central to a plan to create a Broadway- Sejong Belt project. Some 400 culture and arts related figures were
style theatrical hub in downtown Seoul. (Below) present.
Hit non-verbal show ‘Nanta’ (‘Cookin’’). Among them was Choi Yoon-yeop, the head of Show B-boy, the
company that produces the non-verbal hip hop show, “The Ballerina
Art and Seoul Who Fell in Love with a B-boy.” The show mixes break-dance, or
street-dance, with ballet. It has attracted 700,000 theater-goers since
the show first hit the stage in 2005.
“Musical theaters located close to each other will begin coopera-
With the ‘Korean Wave’ a global phenomena, a range of programs aim tive marketing - promoting tourism packages, giving discounts - to
attract more tourists to the area,” Choi said, while noting that even
to further raise the status of Seoul’s cultural content industry. though Korea currently has considerable cultural content to share
with the world - as shown by the success of the “Korean Wave” - there
hasn’t been a firm policy to help develop and export it abroad.
too, can aim for a similar goal.” and arts and crafts.
He is now hoping to take his show to Broadway. Two months ago at the former DSC
Meanwhile, “The Ballerina Who Fell in Love with a B-boy” will auditorium, Yu In-chon, the Minister of
[JoongAng Ilbo]
be performed in Shanghai this month. He is sure the show will be a Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the
big hit given all the support it has received. national museum will be expanded in a
While hoping to establish Asia’s cultural hub, Kang Bong-jin, a bid to promote fine arts and to increase
spokesperson for the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, said that cultural opportunities for all citizens. President Lee (second from left) delivers his New Year’s greetings to cultural figures on Jan
the Sejong Belt project is different from the Daehangno area in Jong- As the former site of the DSC was 15 at the old site of the Defense Security Command - soon to be National Museum of Con-
no, central Seoul, an area known as the city’s theatrical heart. historically significant during the Joseon temporary Art.
“The Sejong Belt plan mostly promotes non-verbal performanc- (1392-1910) era - it’s where the Gyu-
es,” Kang said, noting that non-verbal performances are more suit- janggak, the palace library and the
able for tourists and expatriates to understand. They eliminate lan- Sogyeokseo, the national Taoist temple its many hanok, or traditional Korean cottages - that
guage barriers, which are one of the biggest obstacles for non-Koreans were located - many art figures are excit-
Former covers Sagan-dong, Sogyeok-dong, Samcheong-dong
when watching a local performance. ed about how to combine history and military bases and Tongui-dong and is surrounded by Gyeongbok,
Jeong Young-gwang, a Korean B-boy who appears in “The Bal- arts together. The site is also connected Changdeok and Changgyeong Palaces.
lerina Who Fell in Love with a B-boy” reckons that since the show to Gyeongbok Palace by an underpass. and old rail To kick-start the plan to develop the city’s heart
doesn’t involve any words, audiences - especially foreign ones - seem The plan to set up a national muse- into a cultural hub, government is already rolling out
to be more charmed and moved by the dance moves. um of art in central Seoul was brought stations are the programs.
“I’ve heard from many foreign audiences that we have re-import-
ed hip hop into a style of our own, since hip hop is originally from
up in 1995 by a group of artists. And
with recent years having been prosper-
now being The government organized three cultural activities
in the latter half of last year at the old Seoul Station
the United States,” Jeong said. “The show is unique to our own Kore- ous ones in the local arts market and turned into art building in central Seoul - a fashion show, a photo
an style and that’s what foreigners are looking for.” with growing public interest in the art exhibition and a contemporary art exhibition.
In addition to the city government’s Sejong Belt project, a new world, the 14-year-long aspiration has at spaces. But why at the old and often-overlooked Seoul Sta-
city landmark will open July in the middle downtown: Gwanghwa- last borne fruit. tion building?
mun Square. “The new national art museum in “It has history,” said Kim Nam-jin, who organized
“The square will appeal to many foreigners, as there are many Seoul will hold world-class exhibitions the Seoul International Photo Festival, a photo exhibi-
galleries and exhibition halls nearby,” said Kang, from the Sejong and serve as a leading cultural hub in tion that ended last Jan. 15. The exhibition, titled,
Center. Currently, there are some 20 art centers and museums includ- Northeast Asia,” Yu noted. “The nation- “Humanscape,” displayed some 350 photographs by 50
ing Kumho Museum of Art, Art Seonje and some 80 galleries near al museum will provide a creative spot artists from all over the world.
Gwanghwamun. for exchanging aesthetic ideas.” The old Seoul Station building was built in 1925 by
Adding to the artsy atmosphere in central Seoul, the Ministry of The government plans to identify the Japanese during their rule. Though the building
Culture, Sports and Tourism also announced a plan to renovate the the roles of various national museums shares a sad - perhaps resented - history, the architec-
old site of the Republic of Korea Defense Security Command, or of art, and then gradually increase the tural design - which features unusually high ceilings -
DSC, in Sogyeokdong in central Seoul, into a National Museum of number of museums according to genre still offers a charming spot for exhibitions to take place.
Contemporary Art in Seoul, a new branch of the National Museum and function. It wasn’t until recently that the government decided to
of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. Meanwhile, the National Museum make use of this near-forgotten landmark. For five
The government bought the old site for 113.5 billion won (US$80 of Modern Art, an annex at Deoksu Pal- years, the building was surplus-to-requirements, left
million). This year, a total of 20 billion won is set to be spent on ace, central Seoul, will continue to oper- in the shade by the high-tech new Seoul Station, built
museum renovation in Seoul; the program is expected to be finished ate under its current name. All three in 2003 for the KTX bullet train. It was only in 2008
by 2012. museums will conduct extensive that the government started holding cultural dis-
The main national museum was built in 1969 on the grounds of research as well as exhibitions of mod- plays.
Gyeongbok Palace, with a mission to contribute to the spreading of ern Korean works of art. Seoul City Hall and the Culture Ministry have
[JoongAng Ilbo]
arts culture through its exhibitions. The museum moved into its new After the renovation, the govern- jointly decided to transform the building into a mixed-
buildings in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi in 1986 and its Deoksu Palace ment hopes to create an art valley along use cultural spot by the end of 2010.
museum annex in 1998. Display collections include modern Korean the Bukchon area - a district known for By Lee Eun-joo
S
peaking in Seoul on Feb. 20,
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said that South Korea
would not be side-lined by any
negotiations Washington undertakes
with Pyongyang.
“We maintain our joint resolve to
work together,” said Clinton, on a five-
day tour of Asia that marks her first
overseas trip since the Barack Obama
administration took office. “North
Korea is not going to get a different rela-
tionship with the U.S. while insulting
and refusing dialog with South Korea.”
The former first lady, who was also
visiting Japan, China and Indonesia,
stayed in Seoul for less than 24 hours,
but while in the capital, met Foreign
[YONHAP]
Minister Yu Myung-hwan for talks and
had lunch with President Lee Myung-
bak. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with President Lee Myung-bak.
She also found time to visit Seoul’s
Ewha Womans’ University and speak to Clinton and Yu also said they that with President Lee - known to be pas-
a number of female lawmakers. their nations would coordinate closely sionately interested in the Korean-
The high-profile visit helped clear to fight climate change, the looming American alliance - who does not cus-
up some lingering questions that have global economic recession, and piracy tomarily meet ministerial-level visitors.
arisen over bilateral diplomatic issues. in the waters off Somalia. And she was guarded, not by the
There has been concern among And the two foreign ministers made American secret service, but by Korea’s
some pundits in Seoul that Washington clear that they would work together to presidential security service.
US Secretary of State Hillary might open up a bilateral dialog channel secure ratification of the pending Long interested in women’s issues,
Clinton made clear that with Pyongyang - something President Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. The Clinton made a point of visiting Ewha
[JoongAng Ilbo]
Seoul will not be sidelined in Obama has hinted at. That issue had FTA, which covers a number of sensi- Woman’s University - the world’s largest
North Korean policy. also fanned speculation that the current tive trade issues, has been agreed upon, higher academic institution for females.
six-party North Korean de-nucleariza- but still awaits ratification in both coun- Ewha has signed a friendship agreement
tion talks would lose momentum. tries’ legislatures. with Clinton’s alma mater, Wellesley
Clinton refuted any such possibili- “So we will draw together, upon our College. While there, she gave a speech
ties. partnership, to address a wide range of about her political career to some 2,000
[JoongAng Daily]
providing a space where Koreans and
foreigners can mingle.
[JoongAng Daily]
EV Boyz find themselves who came to Korea in 1999. quite popular, being frequently invited
celebrities after YouTube hit. Multicultural moms The IMV was established in Jeonju to friendly matches in and outside North
and Jinan, both in North Jeolla, in April Jeolla at least once a month.
bond through sport. 2006, and was the first team of its kind IMV also plans to host various cul-
in the country. It was the brainchild of tural events engaging multicultural
“K
imchi, kimchi, it is good for tainment business back home. They their ordinary life in Geumchon, a small The IMV was getting ready for a came up with the idea when a local the participants will not only play vol-
you and me…” have been in Korea for about two years town near English Village in Paju where friendly match against its local counter- peculiarity - the large number of foreign leyball, but also enjoy various events, for
It is hardly a typical on average now. the group usually hangs out. It features part, the Korean Mothers’ Volleyball women married to Korean men who example, making bibimbap together,
scene, even on video: Three foreign The group is named after the place Korean foods like kimchi and bibimbap team, on the day. The foreign team live across the region - came to Seo’s which will engage international couples
boys rapping and dancing to an incur- where they live and work in Korea - - and their local drinking den. played a solid game in a united body, but attention. and multicultural family members,” Seo
ably catchy ditty that pokes affectionate Gyeonggi English Village (EV) Paju The video has became the talk of the still lost by 0 to 2. The drive continued in other parts said.
fun at items including kimchi and local Camp, an English-language theme park town, registering more than 120,000 However, the players were not dis- of North Jeolla to produce similar teams “Many events such as concerts, sem-
lagers. Meet the EV Boyz. located in the city of Paju in Gyeonggi clicks after it was uploaded on YouTube spirited: Afterwards, they actively par- in Jangsu County in November 2006 inars and trips are also in the lineup to
“This is a video about how it is for Province. in March last year and was awarded the ticipated in a game of yut (a traditional and in Gimje City last October. As a help more expat mothers better adjust
westerners to live and work in a small English Village, a faux English town second prize by the Ministry of Culture, Korean board game with wooden sticks) result, a total of four IMV teams are now to their lives in Korea.,” Seo added.
with a pub, a Georgian city hall and even Sports and Tourism out of all the user- as well as an amateur singing contest active in North Jeolla, with a member- By Park Sun-young
a miniature Stonehenge inside its walls, created content made in 2008. It has also
‘Edutainers’ find is a unique facility created by the Gyeo- appeared on national broadcaster KBS’
underground hit with nggi provincial government to provide prime-time news program.
local people opportunities to practice The song was written by Zonts, who
rap video. English in a variety of everyday contexts has more background in music, and was
while immersing themselves in English- designed initially for performance at
F
eaturing popera diva Sarah Brightman,
famous rock bands Oasis and X-Japan, and
jazz masters Five Peace Band and Fourplay,
the list of foreign musical talent visiting in the
first half of 2009 proves that Korea is - at last - square-
ly on the international concert circuit.
Although the recession has forced people to tight-
en their purse strings, fans are expected to turn up and
shell out for concerts - especially when those concerts
offer chances to hear and see famed foreign musicians
who they’ve been awaiting for years.
With such a star-studded guest list, the local music
Clockwise from left: Sarah scene is expected to be pretty loud in the first six
months.
Brightman; Oasis, Travis,
Rock Blooms in Spring
Jason Mraz and X-Japan. All A number of celebrated foreign rock bands will
make their high-profile entry to the country with the
are scheduled to hit Korea in onset of spring in March and April.
The first musician in the lineup is Scottish pop-
the first six months of the year. rock band Travis who dazzled Korean rock lovers at
the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival last year. The
band was astonished by the reception they received in
I
just one empty spot in the lineup: Band member Hide died in also be coming to Seoul for the first time on March 29.
1998. According to Sony Music Entertainment Korea, the Jason Mraz, who released his third album “We Sing, We t’s about time, art experts paintings exhibited in Seoul.
concert’s organizer, tickets that went into the first round of Dance, We Steal Things” last year, will be giving a concert in say, referring to the Gustav Klimt - a member of the
sales on Feb. 3 are selling rapidly. In their latest press release, Korea, as well. Mraz, a Grammy-nominated American singer/ Klimt (1862-1918) exhibi- Vienna Secession movement -
Sony announced that they had sold 99 percent of regular seats songwriter has performed with famous artists such as the tion at the Hangaram Exhi- produced brilliant and fanciful
in just three days. But the organizer also cautioned against Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, the Dave Matthews Band, James bition Hall in Seoul Arts Center, paintings and drawings, concen-
fraudsters riding on the band’s popularity. Blunt, Gavin DeGraw and Alanis Morissette. Many of his lyr- southern Seoul. trating mainly on the female
“Although we have not yet even started to issue tickets, ics are based on powerful yet delicate observations, as seen in The exhibition, running form.
there are some posters online alleging that they have some his previous hit songs like “Live High,” “If It Kills Me” and “A from January to May 15, claims Several of his major works on
good seats at the concert and if people are interested, they Beautiful Mess,” among others. to be Asia’s first and largest col- display are “Judith I” (1901), an
will send them to applicants at a cheaper price,” said Lee Mraz visited Korea twice last year expressing his special lection solely dedicated to the oil painting of a Viennese femme
Se-hwan from Sony. affection for the country where he has a large fan base: Korea Austrian Art Nouveau painter. fatale; “Adam and Eve” (1917);
Meanwhile, another Japanese visual rocker “Gackt” is the first stop on his 2009 World Tour. “Gustav Klimt in Korea and “Baby” (1917-1918), thought
will perform in Korea in April, though the exact date has By Kim Hyung-eun 2009” includes some 110 oil to be the artist’s last work.
paintings, drawings, murals and Though Klimt’s more
installations. famous works like “The Kiss”
“You will get a full picture of (1907-1908) or “Portrait of
who Klimt was,” said Agnes Adele Bloch-Bauer I” (1907)
Foreign Musicians’ Concert Schedule Husslein-Arco, the director of couldn’t make it to Seoul from
the Austrian Belvedere Gallery, Vienna, sections from the
Artist Genre Date Place Contact Information during an interview on Jan 31. “Beethoven Frieze” mural are
Husslein-Arco was in town here.
Jason Mraz Pop Feb. 21 Olympic Hall, Olympic Park 02-563-0595
accompanying some represen- The Beethoven Frieze was
Nicotine Punk rock Feb. 28 Hongik University SangSang Madang Live Hall 02-749-7516 tative pieces by Klimt from her painted by 21 members of the
Travis Brit-pop Mar. 1 Olympic Hall, Olympic Park 02-3443-9969 gallery in Vienna. Secession movement group,
The Austrian gallery con- including Klimt, for display at
Brad Mehldau Trio Jazz Mar. 4 Seoul Arts Center Concert Hal 02-720-3933 tributed more than 30 paintings the 14th Vienna Secessionist
Sarah Brightman Popera Mar. 13,14,16,20 Various cities, venues 02-3141-3488 by Klimt - some of which have exhibition in 1902 in Vienna.
rarely been displayed in previ- The work is a celebration of
Yuhki Kuramoto Jazz Mar. 14 Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall 02-751-9606~10
ous exhibitions. Works by or the German composer includ-
X-Japan Visual rock Mar. 21, 29 Gynmasium Stadium, Olympic Park 02-783-0114 related to Klimt were also con- ing installations, painting, craft
John Legend R&B Soul Mar. 29 Olympic Hall, Olympic Park 02-3141-3488
tributed by private collectors work and music.
and galleries, including The A movable copy of the mural,
Oasis Brit-pop April 1 Gymnasium Station, Olympic Park 02-3444-9969 National Gallery of Art in courtesy of the Austrian govern-
Joshua Redman Jazz April 26 Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall 02-2005-0114 Washington, D.C. and the Gal- ment, is on display here.
lery Saint Etienne in New York. The exhibition has already
Fourplay Jazz April 28, 29 LG Art Center 02-720-8500
Husslein-Arco said that no received favorable feedback from
other country in Asia would be Klimt fans in Korea and art
able to see the wide range of experts. By Lee Eun-joo Judith I by Gustav Klimt
[JoongAng Ilbo]
of the prayer hall in Sangdoseonwon
Temple
W
hen it comes to Buddhist temples, a dong, Seoul, near a forest of high-rise apartment complexes, pattern when seen from afar but are clearly Buddhas when
particular set of stereotyped images lies the temple. It stands four floors high and has one story seen close up. The lanterns hanging from the ceilings are also
tends to appear in the mind’s eye. below ground. As soon as one crosses the threshold, the tem- artworks in their own right as they are made from hanji (Kore-
First there are those ferocious ple’s unique style is revealed. The sermon hall is located in the an traditional paper.)
into Buddha
This is the scenery the public is accustomed to at color between silver and lead. The skill of the sculptor is enhance their own temples’ image.
temples. The similarity between temples has also led noticeable in the detailed clothing and long, thin fingers. Its Commonly heard comments are that the new approach is
to complaints that temples only display the past, as form, and the the atmosphere radiating from it due to the “fresh,” and that it was about time that someone broke from
what stands for today’s Buddhist culture appears to material, make it very modern looking. Moreover, its outline the past and brought forward creative change.Kim Jong-mu,
A Seoul temple is taking a new have changed little over the centuries. differs from conventional figures that tend to have a rather an official working at the temple, says that young monks from
approach to Buddhist design. This is what makes the Sangdoseonwon Temple
stand out. The temple has embarked on a journey to
imposing nature.
Much of this new look is down to the duralumin used to
other temples visit Sangdoseonwon frequently. “At this very
moment there are several temples benchmarking our design,”
create a new Buddhist culture that is creative and sculpt the figure, explains senior monk Misan (who like most said Kim. The temple welcomes all visitors and lets them roam
reflective of today’s aesthetics. Visitors to the temple monks, uses only one name). “Overall we used the Buddha freely around the temple to take pictures of the building and
will see a blend of the old and new breathing together. figure at Seokguram Grotto as a basic model,” Misan, said, the interior.
Here, the future design of Korea’s Buddhist culture is referring to Korea’s most famed classical Buddhist sculpture. “I hope we can become a stepping stone in changing the
being born and bred. In addition, 450 small Buddha statutes decorating the wall architectural culture of temples within the cityscape,” says
Located behind Soongsil University in Sangdo behind the large Buddha are displayed so that they depict a Misan. By Brian Lee
30 korea March 2009 March 2009 korea 31
Culture
T
he queen will return.
Local ballet patrons are agog over the recent news that
Korean ballerina Kim Ji-young will be returning to her
homeland in August.Kim, 31, a soloist with the Dutch
National Ballet, is known for a world-class technique that is at once
dynamic, powerful and lively, yet as graceful and elegant as ballet
can be.
Ballet sources believe that Kim is following in the practice
shoes of Kang Sue-jin, who joined the Stuttgart Ballet, Germany’s
first major ballet company, in 1986. Kang and the German troupe
performed John Cranko’s production of “Romeo and Juliet” in
Seoul last November, garnering huge attention from the media and
the public, while enrapturing Koreans with the beauty of the per-
formance and the performer.
Now, observers of the dance scene note, is the perfect time for
Kim to come back to her homeland, to take her place as the role
model for the next generation of local ballerinas.
A key player in Kim’s decision to come back is Choi Tae-ji, the
director of the Korea National Ballet Company. Choi had been the
young ballerina’s biggest supporter when she decided to fly to Rus-
sia to study while she was barely in her mid teens, as well as when
she became the youngest ballerina ever to get accepted by the
Korea National Ballet Company. “She opened my eyes to ballet,”
said Kim of Choi.
Choi believes that the return of the star is crucial to reinvigorate
a Korean ballet scene that has been suffering from stagnation
recently. But her return could sacrifice overseas fame.
“Ji-young has solidified her position in the Dutch ballet scene.,
and other circumstances look more upbeat in the Netherlands
than in Korea,” said Choi. “I feel very grateful that she’s made a bold
Ko Un:
Poet of Tragedy and Hope
K
Major works o Un (1933 - ), a Buddhist monk portraits of the many different lives that com-
“God, the Last Village of Language” turned poet and pro-democracy prise the tumultuous history of modern
(“Sin, Eoneochoehu-eui Maeul,” 1967) activist, was born in Gunsan, Jeol- Korea.
“Going to Munui Village” labuk-do. His formal education was The transformations that Ko’s poetry have
(“Munui Ma-eul-e Gaseo,” 1974), interrupted by the outbreak of the Korean War, undergone are intimately related to his response
“Early Morning Road” and Ko Un joined a monastic order in 1952 as to changes occurring in contemporary Korean
(“Saebyeok Gil,” 1978) the head disciple of Seon (Zen) Master Hyo- society. At the same time, in more recent works
“Ten Thousand Lives” bong. For the next ten years until he left the of both poetry and prose, notably in a series of
(“Maninbo,” 1986) order, Ko Un traveled the country, immersing “Zen Poems” as well as in the novels “Avatam-
“Mt. Baekdu” himself in self-discipline and spiritual cultiva- saka Sutra” and “Seon” (“Zen”), he has tackled
(“Baekdusan,” 1987) tion. Ko began to write poetry during this specifically Buddhist themes far more openly
“The Song of Tomorrow” period, but it was not until the mid-1970s that than ever before, although he refuses to be
(“Naeil-ui Norae,” 1992) he emerged from the Nihilism and self-hate labeled a “Buddhist writer.”
“South and North” afflicting his early poems and transformed A prolific author of more than 130 volumes
(“Nam-gwa Buk, “ 2000) himself into a passionate voice against social of poetry and essays, Ko has also been politi-
“Young Wanderer” injustice. In works such as “Going to Munui cally active, serving as a central committee
(“Eorin Nageune,” 1974) Village,” “Climbing a Mountain,” and “Early member of the National Association for
“Shattered Name” Morning Road,” Ko tackled contemporary Reclaiming Democracy, the president of the
(“Sansani Buseojin Ireum,”1977) political issues, be they the division of Korea or Association of Writers for National Literature,
“Wandering Man” the abuses of the military dictatorship, and and as chairman of the People’s Arts Associa-
(“Ttoedoneun Saram,” 1978) expressed a fierce determination to overcome tion for Korean Artists. He was a Yenching
“Avatamsaka Sutra” Korea’s tragic history. Institute research fellow at Harvard University
(“Hwa-eom-gyeong,” 1991) Ko’s strong faith in the power of history led and a visiting professor at the University of
“A Boy” him to lengthier, grander schemes later in his California at Berkeley. Ko’s poetry has been
(“Eotteon Sonyeon,” 1984) career, two examples of which are the ongoing translated into more than ten languages includ-
series of poems “Ten Thousand Lives” (20 vol- ing German, French and Japanese. His awards
umes since 1986) and the epic poem “Mt. include the 1974 Korean Literature Award, the
Source: Korea Literature Translation Institute Baekdu” (7 volumes since 1987). In lyrical lan- 1988 Manhae Prize for Literature, and the 1991
guage, “Ten Thousand Lives” brings together JungAng Grand Prize for Culture.
Poems
That Old Woman Paddy-field Flowers
She knew many tales. In the plains round P’yongtaek children used to laugh Forty thousand years ago, in prehistoric times,
Living in a grass-roofed hut, girls used to sing. when one by one
where millipedes used to drop from the rotting thatch. In that hallucination people had moved from caves
Falling raindrops were part of her family. in the freshly planted paddy-fields to live in huts,
Hard times were her element. there were baby rice plants if a father was killed while hunting
Cholera a bright yellow-green. his sons
or other common diseases never came to her. Now it’s sunlight. would bring him home on their backs
Poverty Water. then hang the body from a tree
and bad spirits disliked her. The daytime moon was one of her family. After a final weeding the rice ripens. and spread flowers on the ground beneath.
When the nation was brought low, moonlit nights shone bright From being in the Republic of Korea Forty thousand years later
under the Japanese the field became part of the Chosun People’s Republic in Chinan, North Cholla Province,
and later, after Korea was divided, then the Republic of Korea a four-year-old child whose father had died in the war,
she had only to drink a gulp of water then the Chosun People’s Republic once a grave had covered his remains
and she forgot a host of tales. then the Republic of Korea again. spread flowers there.
Once, Onnyon from the village opposite came by after gathering herbs After American jets had flown over, the plains were silent. Behind him, his mother wept.
and said, When you die Don’t be sad. A few wild crysanthemums.
we’ll make the memorial offerings for you. Your descendants have not lost touch with these plains.
I don’t need offerings, she said, In scorching heat the rice is ripening.
and laughed, a rare event. On the banks of the fields, homeless dogs are coupling.
If she had no teeth
she still had gums. - Poems from Ten Thousand Lives, Volume 17
[JoongAng Ilbo]
Her gums’ laughter was all there was. Translated by Brother Anthony and Lee Sang-Wha
[NEWSIS]
[NEWSIS]
[NEWSIS]
(Right)
Korea through the Lens
Mounds of Meju — Residents in Gangjin, South Jeolla, store fermented soybean cakes,
meju, in jars to make soy sauce and soybean paste on Feb. 4, the first day of spring. The villag-
[YONHAP]
Crazy Skiers — Costumed skiers take to the slopes of Phoenix Park in Pyeongchang, Gang-
won on Feb. 15. It was the seventh year the event was held.
So Long — The fourth batch of Dongmyeong Unit soldiers bid farewell to their sons and
daughters at a ceremony held in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, to mark their dispatch to Leba-
non on a United Nations Peacekeeping mission.
[JoongAng Ilbo]
[YONHAP]
Business &
Business & Technology
Technology
M
onths after Incheon Bridge by drilling into the hard surface of the Immersed Tunnel
made headlines for the sea bed. Immersed tunneling is a cut-
Immersion equipment
completion of the over- ting-edge methodology that sinks con- (Precisely controlled using computer)
seas section of what will crete boxes assembled on land into the
Moving to immersion
be the world’s sixth-longest bridge, sea, links them to each other using water Weight: 45,000 tons site by towing vessels
another Korean bridge is coming into pressure, then buries them under the
the global spotlight. sea floor.
Geoga Bridge, which will cross the It sounds difficult - and it is.
sea for 8.2-kilometers between Busan The construction site is 48 meters
Port and Geoje Island in South Gyeong- deep. There are no workers on the site. 180m only when the wave height is 0.4 meters
sang Province, is in its fifth year of con- Dependent only upon a Global Posi- Maximum depth or lower.
(40m)
struction. tioning System (GPS), the constructing 9.75m According to Ku Im-sik, the head
26.5m
The bridge, being constructed by company connects concrete tunnel box- manager of the bridge construction
Daewoo Engineering and Construc- es, which are 180 meters long and weigh Tunnel sunk by filling it with water.
project at Daewoo Engineering and
tion, is poised to be a Korean landmark, 45,000 tons in total, under the sea. Sections fixed. Water drawn out. Construction, the bridge is on target for
not just for its size but for its practicality. Only a 2-centimeter margin of error Total length of immersed tunnel: 3.7 kilometers five world records.
It will cut traveling time between the is tolerable. (Between Gadeok Island and Jungjuk Island) Considering the engineering tech-
city and the island from three and a half Weather conditions are another niques being used, this is not odd. Ku said it is also the world’s first tun-
hours to 40 minutes. variable. Construction work is possible Ku proudly explains each of the five nel to be built on a frail sea-bed which is
If completed as scheduled next year, world records the bridge is poised to composed of a considerable portion of
it will enter the Guinness Book of Noksan Industrial Complex set. mud flats.
JinHae Busan
Records, setting as many as five world “First of all, the length of each of the Another record, he said, is that it is
Gadeok Island
records in bridge construction. tunnel tunnel blocks (boxes) to be assembled the first tunnel to be built in a wind-
Immersemdeters)
The records are all related to the (3.7 kilo under the sea is 180 meters long,” he tossed open sea, not an enclosed bay or
method of construction known as said. “These are the world’s longest in a harbor as is usually the case.
“immersed tunneling.” Je Island
bridge made by immersed tunneling.” Lastly, he said, the bridge is the first
Under the plan, the bridge will The second record, he said, is the bridge to be built making use of the
Provided by the company
Samsung Electronics has rolled out its Asiana Named ‘Airline of Year’
seventh world-first chip in a decade.
A
Samsung Electronics’ 40-nanometer DDR2 dynamic random access memory. siana Airlines became the ating routes between Korea, Japan and “Although last year we saw a deficit
first Korean carrier to China is decreasing steadily and Asi- due to the won’s depreciation against
receive the “Airline of the ana’s role in this area will grow stron- the dollar as well as high oil prices, we
Year” award from the pres- ger as a result, “ he said. expect to step into the black again this
tigious magazine Air Transport World “With the Korea-U.S. visa waiver, year,” Yoon said. Asiana Airlines based
last month. agreement, we expect visitors to the their business plans for this year on a
The award is considered one of the U.S. to increase twofold in the next $60 per barrel mark for crude oil and
premier prizes in aviation. three years,” Yoon said. 1,200 won per dollar mark for the
Yoon Young-doo, Asiana’s new “In step with this increase, we are country’s currency.
I
Air Transport’s
n yet another world-first, Samsung based world No. 2, Hynix, produce first DRAM products seven times over airline routes should be less restric- surrounding the local aviation indus- “Airline of the Year”
Electronics has developed DDR2 chips with 50-nanometer technology. the past 10 years. tive. try recently, with high oil prices and award winners
dynamic random access memory Japan-based Elpida Memory will The 40-nanometer DDR2 DRAM “Although by sales, Korean Air is the Korean currency’s depreciation,
using 40-nanometer technology, start to produce 50-nanometer DRAM comes two years and five months after the leader, in terms of service, safety Asiana Airlines has been active in Year Airlines
the Seoul-based technology giant said chips within the first half of this year Samsung developed a 50-nanometer and financial policies, Asiana is at the improving its passenger service. 2009 Asiana Airlines
on February 4 in a release. and U.S.-based Micron Technology still DRAM in September 2006. forefront, “ said Yoon, addressing jour- The company announced this year 2008 Singapore Airlines
A nanometer is one-billionth of a produces 60-nanometer chips. Unlike flash memories, which store nalists in central Seoul’s Lotte Hotel on that it has invested a total of $70 mil- 2007 All Nippon Airways
meter, and 40 nanometers is the equiva- The situation is worse for Taiwan- information even when power is turned Jan. 29. lion in upgrading a variety of its air- 2006 Cathay Pacific Airways
lent of one-3000th of a hair. based chipmakers. Powerchip and Pro- off, DRAM memory stores a great Yoon, who was appointed president craft cabins. 2005 Air France
“With 40-nanometer technology, MOS do not even produce 60-nanome- amount of data but loses data when last December, said data provided by Service improvements include big- 2004 Qantas Airways Limited
we can enhance production up to 60 ter chips. Germany-based Qimonda power is turned off. the International Air Transport Asso- ger, more comfortable first-class seats 2003 Southwest Airlines
percent compared with using 50-nano- went bankrupt last month due to the DRAM chips are often used by IT ciation forecast that this year passenger and individual monitors in economy 2002 Japan Airlines
meter technology,” said Samsung, the tough market conditions in the indus- industries which are in need of storing flight demand and cargo flight demand class seats in select aircraft. 2001 Continental Airlines
world’s top chipmaker, in a release. try. a huge amount of data, such as subscrib- will decrease 3 percent and 5 percent The company’s goal for this year is 2000 Lufthansa
For chip makers, developing higher This gives Samsung a head start on er information. respectively, compared to 2008. around 4.5 trillion won ($3.3 billion) in Source: Air Transport World
DRAM density means they can cut pro- its rivals and industry officials say it will By Sung So-young Demand for smaller airlines oper- sales.
duction costs and lead market trends by take two years for other chipmakers to
providing the latest DRAM semicon- catch up.
ductors at higher prices. Since chips are Along with enhanced productivity,
Samsung Electronics’
produced from a wafer, the smaller the 40-nanometer DRAM chip con- chip history by developing
chips are, the more chips are produced sumes up to 30 percent less electricity the world’s first DRAM
out of one wafer. compared to its 50-nanometer counter- products QW
“In the world’s chip market, the most part.
Year Nanometer
important thing is timing,” said an However, tough times continue in
industry official. “Success depends on the industry: Nobody knows when the 2000 150 Asiana expects visitors to the U.S. to
how much quicker than your rivals you world chip market will rally. 2001 100 increase two-fold in three years.
can develop the newest chip product, “It’s hard to forecast when the mar- 2002 90
because nobody wants to purchase low- ket will rebound,” said Brian Park, an 2004 80
capacity chips even if their prices are analyst with Prudential Investment and Flight attendants serve passengers in first class on an Asiana Airlines flight. The
2005 60
rock-bottom.” Securities. “When the financial crisis airline company received the “Airline of the Year” award from Air Transport
2006 50
In that sense, Samsung’s develop- eases, the market will see a turn- World for its superior in-flight service. The company said it has spent $70 mil-
ment of 40-nanometer technology is around.” 2009 40 lion on upgrading passenger service since 2006. Provided by the company
1,000
803
969
Number of subscribers
(Unit: billion)
5
4.09
800 4
3.11
600 3
400 2
200 1
0 0
Special 2007 2012 2007 2012
Series
Source : Yankee Group. “Global mobile forecast” June 2008
04
T
New Growth Engine Industries
he introduction of cellular 90 percent, forcing operators to pay market has begun to open but the efficiently so the cost of the mobile new growth engine is not just a hope ing the cellular network to a new
communications in everyday more marketing expenses in order to expansion of the market is still less industry has been heavier than that but a fact resulting from environ- architecture could be a great chance
life has changed lifestyles maintain their subscribers. For sys- than expected. of its competitors. This is also related mental change and technological for the mobile industry, especially
throughout the world. Now tem makers, the market situation is For Korean operators, finding a to the technological issue: The core evolution. If the mobile industry in for system vendors. Fortunately,
more than 3 billion people use their even worse than for handset makers. new business opportunity in the components’ dependency on foreign Korea takes a chance and follows up Korean system vendors have initiat-
own mobile phones in communica- Nationwide coverage for mobile ser- overseas service market seems a companies. The core components, on changes in trends and leads in ed change by developing data-ori-
tions, business and emergency calls. vices is already complete and opera- good way of overcoming difficulties such as baseband MODEM and RF advanced technology, it can act as a ented systems like “WiBro,” so they
The mobile industry, including- tors hesitate to deploy more advanced within the domestic market. How- transceivers are mainly supplied by new growth engine for the Korean can become leaders in the next gen-
operators, system makers and hand- systems to enhance services. In the ever, the barriers in the overseas foreign companies such as Qual- economy. eration systems business.
set makers, has grown so fast that the overseas market, Korean handset market are too high to overcome. comm and TI, so the set makers do The first change is the usage pat-
total market volume now exceeds $1 makers have done well enough to not have control over the compo- tern shift of mobile service subscrib- New Standards, New
trillion. rank fifth in market share. Samsung Sustained Growth to nents and sets they produce. ers. Traditionally, the major mobile Technologies, New Players
The Korean mobile industry also Electronics has been ranked second Overcome Crisis In spite of all the difficulties, the service has been voice communica- The trend change toward the
has benefited from the worldwide and LG Electronics fourth. The total The Korean mobile industry is Korean mobile industry plays an tions. Even though third generation expansion of data service requires an
growth of the business. Samsung and market share of Korean handset confronted with the difficult task of important role in the Korean econo- mobile services such as WCDMA evolution in technology to provide
LG Electronics are ranked among makers approaches 25 percent and sustaining growth. Even though the my. The expectations and possibili- and cdma2000 1x EV-DO aimed to bandwidth efficiency in the cellular
the top five in worldwide handset continuously increases, but still difficulties seem to come from mar- ties of the industry are still high. promote data communications in network. Because data service
market share. Mobile operators in needs to increase its share to over- ket saturation, there are other hid- Therefore, investment in mobile the cellular network, the usage pat- requires more traffic capacity in the
Korea have enjoyed rapid growth of come Nokia, the No. 1 manufactur- den reasons. communications should be rein- tern of mobile subscribers remains same bandwidth, evolution is essen-
subscribers. Now almost all Korean er. The first is a technological issue: forced to strengthen the competi- unchanged. tial for moving into data services.
people subscribe to mobile services. On the other hand, system mak- The Korean mobile industry has tiveness of the mobile industry. Still the major mobile service is The evolution from the current cel-
The industry has contributed to the ers could not enter the worldwide tried to secure intellectual property Through investment, the tech- voice communication and data ser- lular standard requires a new stan-
Korean economy in this way and system market easily. The leading rights (IPR) conforming to world nological gap should be filled and vice occupies only a small portion of dard of development to implement
been a major growth engine so far. system makers, such as Ericsson, standards, such as CDMA and Korea’s ecosystem should be rebuilt. the mobile business. However, the the evolved techniques in formal
Its contribution to the Korean GDP Huawei and Nortel have already WCDMA but the result has not been Investment should also be made to situation seems to be changing with words. ITU-R initiated the move-
was almost 7 percent in 2007. taken the whole market with techno- enough to secure independence support the base of mobile commu- the introduction of an affordable ment to generate a new cellular stan-
logical and price competitiveness. from leading companies such as nications, such as education, tests mobile data service and various data dard and several standardization
Stagnating Growth and Korean system vendors are strug- Nokia, Qualcomm, Ericsson, etc. and support for industry activities. applications. If the data service for bodies including 3GPP and
Structural Weaknesses gling to enter the worldwide market The second one is cost and is related Through investment, mobile com- the cellular network becomes a major IEEE802.16 are already moving to
Even though the mobile industry but the situation is getting worse. To to the technology issue: The ecosys- munications could be a new growth mobile service, the third generation generate the new standard. ITU-R
has grown continuously, the growth open a new system market, Korean tem for a mobile system consists of engine for the Korean economy. cellular network should be upgraded calls the new standard “IMT-Ad-
rate has slowed year by year. This system vendors have invested in a the component manufacturer, set to a more data-efficient architecture vanced” and the first version of the
slowdown is a great threat to the new technology called Mobile maker, system vendor and the ser- From Voice to Data because the current network is effi- standard will be finalized by 2011.
Korean mobile industry. The cellular Wimax, which Koreans call “WiBro.” vice provider, but the ecosystem Putting investment into mobile cient for voice service and carries the The Korean mobile industry is
penetration ratio in Korea exceeds With WiBro, a small segment of members have not been connected communications and making it a overhead for data services. Upgrad- also trying to incorporate their
04
New Growth Engine Industries
research results into the standard so traditionally strong players, like do in technology development. environment in terms of laws and government can do to improve those companies and research institutes
they can obtain effective IPRs. Nokia, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson. The urgent thing is to prepare business regulations. situations, but we still need to coop- would be around 10 percent.
Traditional mobile service uses However, openness in handset man- IMT-Advanced standardization, The mobile business will com- erate in order to improve. To make the mobile industry a
only cellular technologies, but recent ufacturing and the rapid growth of because the IPRs related to the bine with many different fields such For small- and medium-sized main pillar of the Korean economy,
trends have introduced other access the high-end handset market could worldwide mobile standard are the as biomedicine, education, military enterprises, entering the world mar- those in industry and the govern-
technologies, such as Wireless Local be a new opportunity for Korean basic factor in competitiveness. applications, construction, etc. ket is even harder. They lack brand ment should make concerted efforts
Area Network and Wireless Personal manufacturers because they are tra- ITU-R has already began the Therefore, raising skilled engi- power, information on the foreign under a grand vision.
Area Network in mobile service. ditionally strong in the high-end standardization process and the 3rd neers is not only important for the market, and experts to help them By Ahn Jae-min
Fixed Mobile Convergence and handset market. Generation Partnership Project mobile business itself but also for the undertake worldwide business. To
Fixed Mobile Substitution could be With the trend of convergence (3GPP) and the IEEE802.16 Work- new combined business areas. The break through, the government
seen as combinations of several tech- and the gravity shift in the market, ing Group are preparing their own test bed could offer the opportunity should support them by giving them
niques and cause a blurring of the Korean handset makers have a specifications for IMT-Advanced to to verify a new service, system and an official service to connect them to
boundaries between landline com- chance to lead the market. match the time-line guided by ITU- handset before they reach the mass foreign market players.
munication services and wireless/ R, at the beginning of 2011. Through market, thus enriching quality. In some sense, the service opera-
mobile services. Turning Crisis into IPRs the industry can negotiate with Laws and regulations, if not tors could be a helping hand for
Those kinds of combined tech- Opportunity foreign companies for cross-licens- properly operated, could become a SMEs because an operator’s opera-
nologies and related services could Because the market is saturated, ing and lead the industry. The next barrier to a new business. Due to the tions abroad may require the coop-
extend the coverage of the mobile the Korean mobile industry is hav- thing is to look for next-generation business convergence trend, tradi- eration of various companies, like
industry and could be a new busi- ing difficulty maintaining growth. technologies beyond IMTAd- tional laws and regulations are not system vendors, application provid-
ness opportunity for mobile opera- However, new opportunities are cre- vanced. proper for new businesses. There- ers, etc.
tors. Also, the combined service ated amid changes in usage patterns, Mobile technology evolves con- fore we must look at current laws and Ahn Jae-min
should require new types of con- mobile standards, convergence in tinuously and we could expect the regulations to improve them for a Concerted Efforts Professor of Chungnam National University
verged terminals and new forms of technologies, handsets and systems, next step beyond IMT-Advanced. new age of business convergence. We have discussed the current
systems. Convergence in mobile plus the gravity shift in the handset Therefore, we need to look at the Korea’s domestic market is rela- situation of the Korean mobile • Ahn Jae-min is a professor of informa-
communications could therefore market. Now it’s time for Korea to possibilities for the next step. The tively small compared to that of industry and what we should do to tion and communication engineering at
offer new opportunities for the grab its chance and develop the other technology development developed countries. make mobile communications a new Chungnam National University in Dae-
mobile industry. capability to lead the world. would be focused on strengthening Even the service market is small growth engine for Korea’s economy. jeon, South Chungcheong Province. He
For handset makers, a new kind To seize this chance, the first the competitiveness of component and already saturated. To become a If we are successful, we can become received a Ph. D. in electrical and elec-
of converged terminal business has thing Korea should do is develop technology. Baseband MODEM, RF global player, exporting products the No. 1 mobile country. tronics engineering at KAIST in Daejeon.
become a reality. technologies that can drive Korea components, and multimedia com- and services is not an option but Korea’s share of the world hand- His main research fields include MODEM
Apple’s iPhone has already and help maintain the lead. Technol- ponents are all keys to enhancing mandatory. Mobile operators are set market would approach 35 per- algorithm development, channel coding,
entered the market and Google has ogy development is a basic factor in competitiveness. Technology devel- trying to become worldwide players, cent, and the mobile industry’s con- and wireless mobile communication sys-
the Android. The market competi- empowering the industry. From the opment requires highly skilled engi- but they have had difficulties in cul- tribution to the nation’s GDP is tem engineering.
tion has become keener through the component development to stan- neers and a test bed. Also, new tural barriers, raising capital expens- expected to be around 10 percent. • Email: jmahn@cnu.ac.kr, jmahn@iita.
entrance of new competitors and the dard IPR, there is plenty of work to mobile services require a proper es, etc. There may be few things the The standard IPRs owned by Korean re.kr
Hidden
Champions
Samkwang:
The Face of Hi-fi
[JoongAng Ilbo]
f you are listening to your hi-fi competitors’.
as you read this, there is a good The recently strengthening yen
chance the music is reaching has significantly improved Samk-
your ears via a Samkwang Elec- wang’s bottom line as the company
tronics product - for Samkwang is the depends on the Japanese market for
world’s No. 1 maker of speaker grilles. nearly 90 percent of sales: Samkwang
Samkwang Electronics’ speaker
grille was selected as one of the 127
“World’s Best Products” compiled by
supplies speaker grilles to Japanese
electronics manufacturers including
Sony, Sharp, Toshiba and Pioneer.
New Kids on the Diamond
the Ministry of Knowledge Economy The result? As it is paid in yen by
last year. The ministry, which created its Japanese buyers, the company has Will World Baseball Classic Team Win Same Success as in ‘06?
W
the list based on 2007 data, has been been enjoying a foreign exchange
drawing up similar lists since 2001. windfall. hen Korea’s national baseball team jogs onto tive baseball since early 2008. The right-hander with a sub-
Samkwang’s global share in the Samkwang first entered the Japa- the diamond for the second World Baseball marine delivery, Kim was named to the provisional roster
speaker grille market was 36 percent nese market in 2005, exporting 3.5 Classic in March, it will have an entirely differ- and joined the team for training camp in Hawaii in mid-
in 2007. In that year, it produced $57 billion won ($2.5 million) to the ent starting lineup from the one at the inaugu- February.
million worth of the products; 2008 country the same year. Samkwang has ral WBC in 2006. Questions have emerged as to whether Kim would be in
data are not out yet. not yet released last year’s sales fig- Three years ago, that team reached the semifinals. Built game shape to pitch for Korea. But team manager Kim In-sik
A speaker grille is the “face” of ures, but Chung said the company on solid pitching, timely hitting and flawless defense, Korea said he isn’t worried.
consumer and industrial loudspeak- shipped an estimated 20 billion won’s was the darling of the tournament with unrelated Kims, Lees “If Kim weren’t ready, he would have told us already,” the
ers, and consists of either a hard or worth of speaker grilles to Japan in and Parks dominating the roster. manager said. “He has been working with a personal trainer
soft screen mounted directly over the 2008 - nearly seven times more than But this year’s team will be without both the Philadelphia in Los Angeles and he should be just fine.”
Speaker Grille face of the speaker. Speaker grilles 2005’s amount. And the number of Phillies pitcher Park Chan-ho and the Yomiuri Giants slug- The lineup is expected to miss Lee Seung-yeop, who has
Samkwang has been able to make televisions look more sophisti- Japanese buyers is continuing to ger Lee Seung-yeop. Both played key roles and were named hit a clutch of homers for Korea in international events. But
turn the won’s fall into a gain. cated, and also help the speaker deliv- increase. to the tournament All-Star team in 2006. in his absence, Cleveland Indians’ Choo Shin-soo will be a
er more precise sound. The company has a factory in Even so, Korea is hoping it can attain similar success force in the middle of the lineup from the left side of the
Recent economic circumstances Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, with 100 with the overhauled lineup. plate.
have been proving favorable for the employees on the assembly line. It Despite the above changes, Korea retains the core group Choo had a breakout season for the Indians in 2008, hit-
company: “It is not a crisis, but an succeeded in developing a 0.3-milli- of players that won the nation’s first baseball Olympic gold ting .309 with 14 home runs and 66 runs, batted in as the
opportunity!” said Samkwang man- meter-thick grille in 2006, a technol- medal in Beijing last summer. team’s everyday outfielder in the second half of the season.
ager Chung Seung-ki. ogy only Panasonic (formerly known A pair of left-handed starters, Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Flanking Choo in the lineup will be the reigning KBO
The Japanese currency’s yen value as Matsushita) owned at that time. Kwang-hyun, will anchor the pitching staff. Both are former home run king Kim Tae-kyun, and his good friend Lee Dae-
Courtesy of Samkwang
rose almost 90 percent last year With that success under its belt, MVPs in the Korea Baseball Organization - Ryu in 2006 and ho, who provided punch for Korea in Beijing. Speedsters Lee
against the won, to over 1,550 won Samkwang was able to win a range of Kim in 2008 - and both excelled in the pressure cooker that Jong-woo and Lee Yong-kyu will look to get on base before
per 100 yen, making Samkwang’s Japanese customers such as Sony and was the Olympics in Beijing. the sluggers.
products more affordable than many Sharp. By Limb Jae-un One intriguing name on the pitching staff is Kim Byung- Korea opens the WBC against Taiwan on March 6 in
hyun, a former major leaguer who has been out of competi- Tokyo. By Yoo Jee-ho
W
Rifle: 50 meter bore rifle ith the world “I’d heard there were many Koreans living in Vancouver,
Target: When hit, the black Target measurements
Scope colored targets flip to white (diameter) Prone (45 mm) championships but I didn’t expect such huge cheering,” she said. “The city will
Gunsight cover .22 LR indicating a successful hit. just around the feel like home to me at the Winter Olympics next year.”
bullets
Gunsight corner, Korean Kim needed at least 127.76 in free skating to become the
Ammunition magazine
Standing (115 mm)
figure skating starlet Kim Yu-na first female skater to reach 200 under the new International
is coming off a resounding vic- Skating Union’s judging system. At November’s Cup of China
1 tory at February’s Four Conti- on the ISU Grand Prix circuit, Kim had 128.11 free skating
nents Championships in Van- points. But Kim said she wasn’t thinking about history.
Biathlon: A combination of cross-country skiing and shooting (50 m bore rifle).
Depending on the event, a participant has to ski 7.5 to 20 kilometers on their Nordic skis couver. Kim scored 72.24 points “To be honest, I tried to forget about my short program
[JoongAng Ilbo]
and shoot targets along the course. in short program - the highest score,” she said. “My focus would solely be on today.”
Ski: Both classic and free style cross-country styles are permitted. Most participants tend mark of all-time - and ended Kim is the early favorite for the worlds this year. In the past
to use the free style.
with 189.07 points total, to beat two World Championships, she battled nagging hip and back
Shooting: Consists of prone and standing Canadian Joannie Rochette by injuries, but this year, Kim said she’s never felt better physi-
shooting. Competitors must shoot five
Yeongdong successive targets at each shooting line. prone
nearly six points. cally.
Hoenggye IC
Expressway Kim’s archrival, Mao Asada of Japan, bounced back from Defending world champion Asada struggled mightily in
East Sea a sloppy short program to finish in third overall. Vancouver. The Japanese media have reported that Asada
Seoul Golf course standing
Biathlon venue But the event clearly belonged to 18-year-old Kim, who sustained a knee injury in January and wasn’t at 100 percent.
Alpensia Resort
Pyeongchang won her first Four Continents in her first try. With the World “I still have problems to conquer, so I will try harder at the
Yong Pyong Donghae
Expressway
Championships coming in Los Angeles in March, Kim, who worlds,” Asada said.
Resort Cross-country course has taken bronze in the previous two worlds, is hoping third Kim however, is confident. She said before the Four Con-
time will be lucky. tinents that she isn’t worried about other skaters - including
course She is certainly in top form. The teenager was almost Asada.
An flawless in short program and despite some miscues on “”I know everyone wants to pit me against Asada, but I’d
aeri
al v jumps in free skating, Kim was one happy camper, saying rather not worry about others,” Kim said. “As I’ve always done,
iew Biathlon course
of A Biathlon course she fed off the enthusiastic Korean contingent in the stands I’d like to stay focused on my own performance.”
lpen This course has been approved by the International Biathlon Union as an elite course
sia in Vancouver. By Yoo Jee-ho
Res suitable for top flight international events. Lights have been installed in preparation
ort for night games due to the time difference with Europe. The total length of the
52 korea March 2009 course is 14.8 kilometers. March 2009 korea 53
Travel
Travel
‘The apricot flower was admired not only for its beauty,
but also for its ability to blossom during the chilly early spring.’
labor to purchase apricot and chestnut she suggested. “The sour flavor and the
trees. Hong Ssang-ri, Kim’s daughter- health benefits of apricots make them a Gwangyang Treats
in-law, was greatly taken with the beau- good choice.” If you’re thinking of visiting Maehwa
ty of the apricot flowers during the The growing number of apricot Village in time for the Gwangyang
spring, and the health benefits of apri- trees and the firm hold they have gained Maehwa Festival, apricots are a given
cots. She planted more and more apricot over the village in recent years can also but barbeque is also a must. Obviously,
trees over the years. be seen in the growth of the festival. For you will try an assortment of variations
“Hong’s farm was the first in the vil- the first three to four years of the festi- of apricot dishes, including apricot red
lage to grow apricots and as she val, it was organized by the farmers of pepper paste as well as variations of
increased the number of trees on her the village, but as its popularity increased, pickled apricot side dishes. While apri-
land, she fell in love with the bright Gwangyang City began to play a larger cot has many health benefits, you’ll
beautiful colors of the flowers during role in organizing things. It is now one also want to check out some regional
the spring,” said Seo. “As she gained of the biggest regional festivals in South dishes.
success in harvesting apricots, others Jeolla Province. While Gwangyang is known as the
in the village followed her lead.” “It is often considered the eighth Visitors at the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival place to get your grilled jeono (giz-
The Cheongmaesil Farm, which is largest festival in our province but there booths. Provided by Gwangyang City zard shad) fix during the autumn, an-
approximately 30 football fields in size are currently talks about the Ministry of other regional specialty is Gwangyang
and which contains over 10,000 apricot Culture, Sports and Tourism lending a istration. “The apricot flower was bulgogi. This sweet-flavored bulgogi,
trees, produces various apricot products hand next year to commemorate admired for not only its beauty but its or marinated beef, is grilled over oak
including apricot extract and apricot Maecheon Hwang Hyeon in time for the ability to blossom during the chilly ear- wood charcoal, which provides a dis-
red pepper paste. It also sells soy bean 100th year anniversary of his passing,” ly spring.” tinct aroma.
paste, pickled side dishes, chocolates said Seo. That move would give it status The Seomjin River, which adds to Bulgogi is one of the most widely rec-
and cosmetics. You may imagine how as a national festival. the scenic beauty of Maehwa Village, is ognized Korean dishes and although
hectic things get around the farm when Maecheon Hwang Hyeon was a a major waterway that flows from south- not indigenous to the region, the se-
the time to harvest the maesil, or green famed poet during the late Joseon Peri- easternern North Jeolla Province, down cret to its preparation lies in the man-
apricots, arrives in June. od (1392 - 1910) who took his own life into the northeast part of South Jeolla ner in which the meat is grilled.
In order to accommodate its vast in 1910 upon learning the Japanese had Province and thence into the Korea The practice of using a marinating for-
need for apricots, over 2,200 hangari or annexed his country. Strait. mula specific to the region, and oak
ceramic jars can be found on the grounds The symbol of spring is also one of According to Seo, English speaking trees to fire up the grill was started
of the farm or buried in nearby hills. the four most prominently used sym- Gwangyang City staff members will be during the Joseon Dynasty.
“Our red pepper paste has a hint of bols in Joseon artworks. Apricot blos- on hand at the festival this year to pro-
sweet and sour flavor that is distinctly soms became prominent in paintings vide information and translation for
different from regular red pepper sometime during the mid- to late-Joseon foreign visitors.
pastes,” said Lee Mi-gyeong, a staffer at Period. Aristocrats would often admire The best way to get to Maehwa Vil-
Provided by Korea Tourism Organization
the farm. “Our products are also all- apricot blossoms over drinks and hold lage from Seoul is to take an express bus
natural, meaning no additives or preser- poetry reading sessions. from the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to
vatives have been added.” “Apricot blossoms, along with Gwangyang Bus Terminal.
She particularly recommended apri- orchid, mum flower and bamboo are Organizers will also be running a
cots pickled in sugar for about a year in often referred to as the ‘four gentlemen’ range of shuttle buses from the Gwang-
ceramic jars. of traditional art,” said Park Su-hee of yang Bus Terminal to Maehwa Village
Mount Baekun Yoohyangrim trail “They can be added to salads or the Movable Cultural Properties divi- on the weekends over which the festival
eaten as a side dish when eating meat,” sion of the Cultural Properties Admin- runs. By Jason Kim
Traditional
Threads for
the 21st Century
From clothing to cosmetic cases , from headgear to handbags,
U
Bae Yeong-jin’s self-appointed mission is to add updated Korean elements
to fashion products, leading to a globally acceptable design aesthetic. nless it is updated, there are many aspects of design. For instance, the traditional
Provided by Bae Yeong-jin limits to achieving the glo- rabbit fur waistcoat, called baeja, used by Korean
balization of hanbok, or mothers for centuries, is modified into a sporty vest
Korean traditional cloth- that goes well with blue jeans. The designer has woven
ing, says a leading dress designer. peony flowers and butterfly motifs with little beads
“We need to modernize hanbok so into both sides of these colorful vests, and extended
its design suits the tastes of New Yorkers their length to reach the hips, while preserving the fur
while retaining the unique qualities of on the shoulder line, adding both vibrancy and sophis-
traditional hanbok,” said designer Bae tication. She has also converted the jobaewi - a winter
Yeong-jin, 52. Ms. Bae declares that she hat with earflaps that was traditionally worn by Korean
is in search of the crossroads between women - into turban-style headgear. The difficult-to-
New York fashion and hanbok design in adjust shirt ribbon, or otgoreum, has been altered into
order to foster the clothing/textile a knotted button.
industry, which is highly value-added. Mother-of-pearl, in floral designs, is incorporated
She was chosen as curator of the into handbags and shoes to produce an exceptional
Clothing Section at the 2009 Gwangju ‘Clothing and innovative charm. Ms. Bae’s designs are also
Biennale (Sept. 18 - Nov. 4), an event expressed in the vials and containers of cosmetic com-
which aims to reinterpret Korean cul- design is an panies that seek delicate beauty, and her evening dress-
ture from a modern viewpoint. With
that background in mind, Ms. Bae is
area that can es, that feature the sexy and elegant lining of hanbok,
are a favorite among foreign diplomats in Korea.
immersed in experimenting with prac- add infinite Ms. Bae’s practical use of hanbok first won its place
tical, modern hanbok designs. in the spotlight ten years ago in 1999 when Queen
Ms. Bae aspires to spread the unique- value.’ Elizabeth II came to Korea and visited her store. The
ness and excellence of Korean clothing beautiful hanbok worn by actors and actresses in the
design to the world and hopes that popular television drama “Palace,” which aired in
Korea can be recognized as a leading 2006, were the works of Ms. Bae.
nation in the top-end clothing/textile Her flagship store in Sagan-dong, Jongro district,
industry. Her modern reinterpretations situated next to Gyeongbok palace, is called “Coser,”
of hanbok, have received favorable (“to weave” in Spanish) and is a much sought-out des-
responses from her overseas boutiques tination among foreign dignitaries and visitors want-
in Manhattan’s 37th street and in Fort ing to learn more about Korean clothing Ms. Bae’s
Lee, NJ. design experiments and vision can also be on found
She is renowned for her use of mate- her website, http://www.cosercollection.com.
rials such as ramie fabric - which brings “Clothing design is an area that can create infinite
out the elegant lining of hanbok - quilt- value, a goose that lays the golden egg, so to speak,” she
ing and mother-of-pearl. These are used says. “It is a sad to say that although Korea is leading
not only in her clothing lines, but also in in other industries, we do not have a single global fash-
handbags, shoes, and bedding so as to ion brand.” Perhaps Ms. Bae’s design experiments will
fully promote “Korean” qualities in Bae Yeong-jin realize this dream. By Choi Ji-ho
O
nce upon a time, in the city After the surgery, his voice was small University, and a world-renowned spe-
of Daegu, North Gyeong- and husky; specific words were difficult cialist in vocal cord reconstruction.
sang Province, there lived to form because small muscles control- On hearing the news, Bae’s close
a little boy named Bae Jae- ling his vocal functions and nerves had Japanese friend, Totaro Wajima, a music
chul. Jae-chul loved to sing. been cut. producer, arranged for Dr. Isshiki to
While in elementary school, he Then came the devastating news. operate in April 2006. Many fans, upon
Bae Jae-chul
decided to become an opera singer after “The German doctor said ‘Let’s say learning the news about Bae, sprang
winning a popular children’s singing that there is a sprinter who uses two legs into action and raised funds.
contest on television. After graduating to run 100-meter race,’” Bae recalled. After operating, Dr. Isshiki guaran-
as a voice major in Seoul, he flew to “When you sing, you will be using only teed Bae that he would be able to com-
Italy in 1994, graduated at the top of his one leg to complete the same course.” municate but stressed that he might not
class from the Conservatorio Giuseppe Bae had no hesitation. “My instant reach the level for opera singing
Verdi Milan in 1998 and launched into response to the doctor’s words was, “That was a challenge both for me
a career as a tenor. Word about his per- ‘Well if I can still use one leg in the race, and Dr. Isshiki,” Bae said. “He had never
formances spread, and he began to win I can finish it eventually, even if I can’t operated on a tenor before.”
acclaim on European stages. Music crit- run as fast as a sprinter with two legs.” With careful training, his voice
ics praised him as “one of the greatest He asked the doctor for options. The gradually returned. In Dec. 2008, three
Asian tenors of the century.” doctor said the only chance to restore years after the surgery, he held his first
Then, in September 2005, the fairy- his vocal cords was Dr. Nobuhiko Isshi- recital for Japanese fans in Tokyo.
tale ended. ki, a professor emeritus at Japan’s Kyoto “I could hear some start crying when
While performing in Verdi’s I started my first song,” he said.
“Don Carlo” in a theater in When the concert ended, there
Sabriken, Germany, Korea’s lead- was a standing ovation.
ing tenor felt something odd in “It’s a miracle!” said Dr. Isshi-
his throat. He was subsequently ki, who attended the concert.
diagnosed with thyroid cancer. With his vocal range only 70
“When I first heard that I had percent of what is once was, Bae
cancer, I thought I could go back is concentrating on gospel, but is
on stage about three months after confident that he will recover his
surgery, as thyroid cancer is not previous glories.
Provided by Bae Jae-chul
‘Angel Donor’
Min-kyu, Jang’s manager, said although he can-
not reveal the exact figure of Jang’s donations,
he estimates that it has reached 10 billion won
so far.
K
Jang, who started out as an actor and singer
orean singer and actress Jang Na-ra, in Korea in 2001, moved to China in 2005.
[JoongAng Ilbo]
28, donated 8 billion won ($5.8mil- After successfully attracting a large fan base
lion) worth of clothing to earthquake there, she has received praise for her work in
victims in Sichuan Province in China both singing and acting. She won the “Most
Expatriates gather in Gyeongju to celebrate the inauguration of Korea’s first pilgrimage tour trek. on Jan. 19. The province suffered a devastating Popular Singer” award at the China Golden
earthquake last May last year, which claimed Disc Awards in 2005, and has appeared on tele-
more than 69,000 lives. vision dramas in China.
Monk’s Footsteps
darkness, he was overcome with thirst. Scrab- donated 100,000 duck feather parka coats to Jang is this year starting a comeback in
bling around on the cave floor, he found what Jang’s charitable organization “Jang Na-ra’s Korea, taking the main role in the upcoming
he thought to be a gourd filled with cool water Aeshim Donation.’’ Jang immediately decided film, “Sky and Sea,” - her second movie role
and drank deeply. In the morning light, he to donate them to residents of the earthquake- since 2003’s “Oh! Happy Day.”
I
found that the thirst-quenching liquid was, in hit area in a bid to help survivors stay warm in The movie will hit theaters this year.
n a trek billed as a “21st-century version of fact, filthy rainwater swarming with maggots the freezing winter. By Kim Mi-ju
‘The Canterbury Tales,’” an intrepid group that had collected in a rotting skull. He fell to In the delivery ceremony, Jang said she was
of expatriates are planning a pilgrimage in his knees and vomited. Then he experienced delighted to visit Sichuan and provide the
the footsteps of famed Buddhist thinker deep enlightenment: He realized that truth is clothing to the quake victims. “I feel honored
Wonhyo (617-686). created by the mind. and proud to help victims,” she said. “I’m hop-
Participants will journey along the routes Wonhyo abandoned his trip to China and ing that they will feel warmth in their hearts
that Wonhyo traveled on his path to enlight- returned home to study and teach. with these duck feather parkas.”
enment. The first pilgrimage project launched According to Tony MacGregor, a Canadi- Jang went to a makeshift center for the aged
in Korea, it is sponsored by the Korea Tourism an expatriate who first suggested the idea, the in a suburb of provincial capital Chengdu and
Organization and the Ministry of Culture, project will include elements of Geoffrey delivered some clothes herself.
Sports and Tourism. Chaucer’s 14th century “Canterbury Tales,” a Jang, nicknamed “The Angel Donor” by
The three-year period set for the project collection of stories told by Christian pilgrims fans, established her charitable organization in
includes designing the exact route, developing to amuse each other during their journey to Jinan, Shandong Province, China, in 2007 to
details and setting up a Web site. England’s Canterbury Cathedral. help young leukemia patients who could not
Wonhyo’s Trek: Around 25 people from eight countries “We plan to write about our experiences afford medical treatment. The city of Jinan -
The tentative trekking route gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the and entertain each other with stories and pro- across the Yellow Sea from Korea - recently
for the Wonhyo Pilgrimage
Project.
project in Gyeongju, South Gyeongsang Prov- duce a kind of 21st-century version of ‘The appointed her an honorary citizen and honor-
ince. The pilgrimage will start in Gyeongju Canterbury Tales,”’ said MacGregor. “Chau- ary publicity ambassador of the city; the first
and end in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. cer’s tales open a window on life in 14th-cen- Korean celebrity to receive the title.
East Sea Wonhyo, one of Korea’s most beloved and tury Europe...we hope ‘In Wonhyo’s Footsteps,’ “Aeshim Donation was originally launched
Icheon unconventional monks, who lived in the will be equally entertaining and also offer to help young leukemia patients, but will
then-Silla Kingdom, renounced the formal future readers a glimpse of life today,” he said. expand to reach out to more young children in
Chungju
Pyeongtaek religious life to teach ordinary people. He was Organizers hope the pilgrims will be accom- China,” she said. “Children suffering from
Sangju known to carry a gourd, dancing and singing panied by a scholar of Wonhyo from the Jogye heart-related diseases or those from poverty-
Yellow Sea Gumi around the country, encouraging people to Order, who will give brief talks on Wonhyo stricken rural areas will benefit.”
Gyeongju chant and recite the Buddha’s name. He called each evening during the pilgrimage. Jang learned to help out the needy from her
[JoongAng Ilbo]
South Korea
himself “Ooae-Gursah” (“Unhindered Practi- It is also hoped that a specialist in “The mother, who was deeply involved in charity
tioner”). His greatness, however, stems from Canterbury Tales” will lecture to the pil- works. Jang said she “...hopes to see more peo-
an experience while heading for China to grims. By Moon Gwang-lip ple involved in charity work.” Jang Na-ra
I
have been living in Seoul for more This is a high-speed, door-to-door deliv-
than 20 years. During my time in ery courier service run by motor-cyclists
Korea, many things have changed who pride themselves on delivering
and many things have been devel- goods and documents within an hour -
oped. These changes seem to embody even within such an enormous and con-
the characteristic speediness that de- gested city as Seoul.
fines much of modern Korean culture. The public transportation system in
The most impressive thing that I have the capital is another good example of
experienced while living in Korea is Ko- the speediness at the heart of so much
reans’ generosity to help others with a Korean culture.
warm heart. They tend to consider oth- The Seoul transportation network is
ers very carefully and take immediate an integrated one, which enables Seou-
action when help is needed. However, lites to transfer from buses to subways,
Koreans are very fast and good at not and from subways to buses, without
for Speed
One of the most significant strides introduction of the transportation card
that Korea has taken is the introduction - so called “T-money”- reduces trans-
of online public service systems, which portation costs. It is favorably regarded
are provided by all public organizations as a systematic facilitation which consid-
‘Expatriates living in Korea in Korea. I was also amazed to see Ko- ers people’s convenience and their very
rean public organizations rapidly facili- Korean need for speed. This integrated
can enjoy the quickness and tate electronic administrative systems to transportation system in Seoul does not
convenience that characterizes provide citizens with convenient public exist in other countries, and is one of
Korean culture.’ services. which Koreans should be proud. Ex-
To give an example: Family registra- patriates living in Korea can enjoy the
tion certificates can be issued through quickness and convenience that charac-
home computers. In addition, the issued terizes Korean culture.
certificate can be printed at any district Another service worth noting is
office in Korea without going to their the so-called “replacement driving ser-
own registered district office. These vice.” This is a service in which replace-
computerized public service systems ment drivers, summoned by telephone,
greatly improve the efficiency of Korean drive home those persons who have
public services. Many advanced coun- overindulged in their evening tipple in
tries envy Korea its computerized public the latters’ own cars (for drunken driv-
service system. ing is as illegal in Korea as it is in other
Koreans can also benefit from on- countries.) There is one drawback to
line banking systems which are now this otherwise admirable practice: The
available everywhere across the nation. replacement drivers are not covered by
Yuji Hosaka, is Japan-born. He graduated Online banking systems here are much the drivers’ insurance in the case of an
from Tokyo University in 1979 and came to more sophisticated than those of Japan. accident. This means that if an accident
Seoul in 1988 to study political science at Unlike Korea, Japanese bank account occurs, the car owners - who are more
Korea University where he received a Ph.D. holders can only undertake their bank- or less drunk - face difficulty in getting
degree in 2000. He was naturalized as a ing business at the same bank branch compensation because the procedures
Korean citizen in 2003. He is currently pro- where they have opened their bank ac- for claiming payments are complicated.
fessor of the College of General Education counts. Elsewhere, only limited banking To sum up, the Korean character
at Sejong University and is also head of the services are available to them. is focused on the pursuit of speed to
Dokdo Comprehensive Research Center at One of the best examples of Kore- achieve goals - but sometimes safety
Sejong University. ans’ speedy culture is “Quick Service.” can be of secondary importance.