Major Events

1. Korea Art Summer Festival (KASF) 2010

http://www.kasf.co.kr

An annual art fair where over 250 artists in genres spanning across painting, traditional Korean art, sculpture, installation art, craft, gather together and interact with visitors.

- Period : July 28 – August 1, 2010
- Venue : Seoul Trade Exhibition Center (SETEC)

2. Sacheon International Percussion Festival 2010

http://www.sacheonpercussion.org

There will be astounding performances by world-class traditional and contemporary percussion artists as well as various exhibitions and workshops.

- Period : July 28 – August 1, 2010
- Venue : Sacheon Art & Culture Center, Sacheon City, Gyeonggsangnam-do


Activities & Announcements

1. Invitation to the Premiere of "Thank You, Master KIM (Intangible Asset No. 82)"

Thank You, Master KIM tells the story of a respected Australian jazz drummer and his search for an elusive South Korean shaman and grandmaster musician. It is a road movie, a philosophical encounter, a showcase of fascinating musicians rarely heard outside of Korea and a tribute to the universal language of music.

- Date & Time : August 11 (Wed) 14:00
- Venue : National Assembly Family Theatre (Gookhwe Gajok Geukjang), Yeouido, Seoul
- Program :
14:00-14:15 Korean traditional "East Coast Peculiar Exorcism's Ceremony" performance
14:20-15:30 Premiere of "Thank You, Master KIM"

Those students who wish to attend the premiere, please contact the following person:
Ms. Soo-Bin Jo
070-7019-0373
oscal@indieplug.net

The “Ethernet” Technology

Have you heard of the term “Ethernet?” Not Internet, mind you, but Ethernet. Well, I suppose it’s not exactly in our everyday vocab list.

Ethernet, stemming from the physical concept of the “ether,” refers to the computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs). In simpler words, it is a system where multiple computers scattered far and wide can form a network and share information. This system is widely used in the banking or trading industry that operates hundreds of branch stores.

Traditionally, the Ethernet market has been dominated by advanced countries such as the US, Japan, and Germany. But recently, Korean industrial Ethernet technology has been adopted as an international standard, marking a milestone for advancing into the world market.

Let’s learn a bit about this Korean Ethernet technology.

Faster and Easier to Fix

According to the Ministry of Knowledge Economy of Korea, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) approved of 5 RAPIEnet (Real-time Automation Protocols for Industrial Ethernet) technologies developed by Korea’s LS Industrial Systems. They passed the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS), which means that it is almost at its last step in becoming the international standard (IS).

LS Industrial Systems has developed RAPIEnet as a new industrial communications bus for use with its PLC (Power Line Communication) systems. The company says that in so doing the design has avoided the complications of hubs and switches and the accompanying excessive cabling required by established Ethernet technology.

RAPIEnet, while still compatible with the preexistent Ethernet standards, transmits data at a 1 GB-per-second speed and in case of a communications failure can repair the error 30 times as faster. It can be utilized in a variety of fields operated by automation systems such as semi-conductor and automobile manufacturing, or nuclear energy development.

Korea, the Forerunner of the Industrial Automation Technology

RAPIEnet is the fruit of the collaborative efforts between LS Industrial Systems and Hanyang University – corporation and academia. The volume of tangible and intangible profit generated by this technology’s approval as an international standard is incredibly huge. It laid the groundwork for Korea to advance into the global market of USD 10 billion’s scale. Also, the domestic market, worth of KRW 150 billion, which has so far been dominated by the USA, Germany, and Japan, is expected to be finally claimed back by the Korean technology.

It is also important to note the significance of the collaborative R&D efforts between corporations and schools, backed up by the government support. Korea will surely continue its endeavors to generate world-acknowledged brand-new technologies.

Spend the Summer at the Royal Palace

An event titled “Spending the Summer at the Royal Palace” is being held from July 24 through August 31 at Changgyeonggung Palace. Let me introduce it to you.

Upon entering the palace you will be able to see a banner in front of euhgoo (a stream flowing from a royal place) that traverses the palace.

The clear stream euhgoo flows along Geumcheon path with pleasant, gurgling sounds, and you can take a rest in the shades drawn by the lush trees planted along the path. The path is also adorned with a variety of aquatic plants such as lotuses and water lilies as well as twenty-some photographs.

<Euhgoo flowing along Geumcheon path>

You can spot friends, lovers, families here and there, as well as foreigners visiting Korea. There are kids on a field-trip with the assignment to observe water lilies and hyacinths. There are members of a photography club on an outing. The various aquatic plants with their beautiful features and purifying qualities grab people’s attention for a long time.

On the first day of the event, water lettuces known for their pollutant-fighting, purifying capacity were given out as a souvenir.

In the olden times, there were purported to be 8 ways of fighting the heat of the summer. According to Jeong Yak-Yong, a leading Korean philosopher in the late Joseon Dynasty, the 8 ways were :

1) Playing Baduk sitting on a cool bamboo mat
2) Practicing archery on a platform of pine trees
3) Playing the traditional Korean game of Tuho (throwing arrows into a jar)
4) Riding swings in the shade of a zelkova tree
5) Listening to the cry of cicadas in the forest
6) Writing poems on a rainy day
7) Washing feet in the moonlit night

How about trying a little vacation at Changgyeonggung palace, hmm?
Give it a try!

South Korea launches energy savings project in Chicago

Owners of some of Chicago's skyscrapers are hoping to tap into new technology that — by dimming lights or lowering water temperature on a massive scale — would dramatically cut energy usage and save millions of dollars.
The $25 million technology project is being bankrolled by the Republic of Korea, which has agreed to install energy-saving equipment in up to 14 Chicago buildings during the next few months at a cost of between $10 million and $20 million. The remaining money is pledged to Illinois colleges for research and development related to smart-grid technology.
Officials from Illinois and South Korea on Wednesday signed an agreement for the project at the Aon Center, one of the buildings being considered for the pilot project.

The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, which represents most of Chicago's downtown buildings said if the project were expanded to the entire downtown, the energy savings would be enough to shutter a coal-fired power plant. The project promises to position Illinois as a leader in smart-grid development, research and development, and related jobs.
South Korea has invested billions in the technology. It is wiring homes and buildings on its island of Jeju as a demonstration project that involves about 6,000 homes. They are being supplied with home appliances, TVs, electric vehicles and even wind mills that communicate with the electrical grid. South Korea plans to expand the smart grid to the entire country by 2030.
In Chicago, people working in the skyscrapers in the pilot might not notice the automated tweaks. The technology enables buildings to communicate back and forth with operators of the electric grid, drawing down power during peak demand hours that reap payments for "returning" energy to the constantly fluctuating power market, said Michael Cornicelli, executive vice president of BOMA/Chicago, whose members represent most of Chicago's office buildings.
"This has been done on a very limited basis in campuslike settings or individual office buildings, but not to this scale," he said.
Between four and 14 buildings will be selected for the project, Cornicelli said, mostly commercial office buildings but also large residential buildings. South Korean engineers are expected to complete their evaluation of 20 buildings whose owners have volunteered for the project this month. Except for the Aon Center, Cornicelli did not identify the buildings being considered.

source:Chicago Tribune

4 times more Filipino students in Korea than in 2005

MANILA, Philippines—The number of Filipino students in South Korea has quadrupled to about 400 this year from 108 in June 2005, Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Luis T. Cruz said in a news release, quoting data from the Korean Immigration Service.
"South Korea is our top source of foreign students, retirees, and tourists. It is no wonder that mutual awareness between our peoples is high. This knowledge has naturally led to situations that allow the transfer of ideas and sharing of experiences in both the school setting and beyond," Cruz said.
“The growing community of Filipino students in the country is making an impact on both academic and social landscapes as Filipino students gain prominence in schools for their cultural and scholarly contributions,” he said.
Most of the Filipino students in South Korea are beneficiaries of both short-term and long-term international scholarship programs and belong to diverse fields such as international relations, business, and the sciences. The Catholic University of Korea alone has accepted around 50 Filipino students pursuing higher education since it launched an international program in 2009.
In 2005, a group of less than 10 students from the Seoul National University started a group called Pinoy Iskolars in Korea (Piko) to provide a support system and serve as a forum for its members.
Today, Piko has more than 100 student-members from different schools and provinces throughout South Korea. These students are often tapped to take part in multicultural activities as Korean schools intensify their push for global curriculums and encourage the entry of foreign students.
"Naiimbitahan ang mga estudyante para magsalita tungkol sa Pilipinas (Students are invited to talk about the Philippines)," said Regina Arquiza, a student from the Ehwa Womans University and Piko president for two years.
She said Filipino students were also often called upon to take part in cultural festivals where they play Filipino music, perform traditional dances, and prepare Filipino food.
While actively participating in embassy-initiated activities, Piko is also able to provide invaluable networking opportunities for its members.
"Kapag may kailangan, nagtutulungan kami, lalo na yung mga seniors (If there’s a need, we help each other out, especially the seniors)," Arquiza said.
The group also offers information on available scholarship programs for people interested in studying in South Korea.
A common challenge faced by the students is the language barrier.
"Isang criticism sa mga Pilipino ay hindi daw tayo kasing-galing ng mga Japanese o Chinese sa Korean (One criticism against Filipinos is that we’re not as fluent in Korean as the Japanese or the Chinese)," she explained, adding that Filipinos make up for it by establishing a reputation for being adept in English.
Nevertheless, the Korean academic system helps students further develop discipline and dedication.
"You have no choice but to be competitive," Arquiza claimed, praising the Korean students' propensity for hard work and skillful time management. "Pagbalik ng estudyante sa Pilipinas, dala-dala iyon (A student returning to the Philippines will bring that home)," she said.
Several schools offer competitive scholarship programs on a regular basis and in varying fields. For example, the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology has a continuing program dedicated for graduate studies in finance for government employees.
The embassy advises interested applicants to periodically visit the websites of Korean schools to check for announcements and the detailed eligibility and documentary requirements. Some schools even accept online applications.
Apart from the students, the embassy also works closely with Korea-based Filipino educators, many of whom are on short-term faculty exchange programs.
The Resource Persons Group, an association of Filipino professors in South Korea, has undertaken several activities that included the publication of a weekly column in a Korean newspaper. They also give the embassy important policy inputs.
"People-to-people exchange between the Philippines and South Korea is continuously expanding," Cruz said.
"It is my hope that our students, once they complete their study here, are able to return to the Philippines and apply the skills and knowledge they would have acquired from a country like South Korea—a country that has become a cultural hub and an economic powerhouse in a span of only one generation," he added.

[East Sea(10)] Usage of ‘East Sea’ in scientific, reference literature

Portion of the copy of the di Plano Carpini map of 1434. Maereum Orientale (EastSea) is clearly visible near the upper right portion of the land masses.

This is the 10th in a series of contributions and interview articles exploring standardization issues of the geographic names -- the “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan.” Various views on the geographic name of the sea body between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese archipelago will be presented in the hopes of raising awareness of the controversy. -- Ed.Norman Cherkis became involved in East Sea/Sea of Japan issues in 1995. Among his responsibilities is as a consultant to the Korean Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration regarding Korean seafloor toponyms in the East Sea. He is a vocal advocate for the adoption of usage of “East Sea” as an alternate name for Sea of Japan, and has published a number of papers on the subject, including a reference list of almost 700 papers that have been published in non-Korean journals.He is also involved in finding an international settlement to ensure that Dokdo is permanently recognized worldwide as South Korean territory. He was a participant and discussant in the recent International Dokdo Symposium in Washington D.C. He is an active member of the Advisory Committee on Undersea Features of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names and a long-standing member of the Subcommittee on Undersea Feature Names of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans, both of which deal with seafloor toponyms.Cherkis has more than 45 years of experience in the field of marine geosciences. His specialty is seafloor mapping (bathymetry), and his work has included compilation of new, state-of-the-knowledge bathymetric charts in the regions of the East/Japan Sea, Arctic and sub-Arctic Oceans and seas, Persian Gulf, Eastern Mediterranean Sea, North and South Atlantic Oceans, Eastern and Central Pacific Ocean and the Southern Ocean. He was the principal investigator on 22 major marine geoscience programs and a participant on 16 other programs. For the past 11 years, he has operated his own business, Five Oceans Consultants, Ltd., providing consulting services and expertise to public-, private-, non-profit- and academic-sector organizations around the world.Background:Maritime toponyms refer to large and small bodies of water and to undersea features. Surface regions i.e., “seas” and “oceans,” have been delineated and boundaries have been published in the International Hydrographic Bureau publication, S-23, of which the last edition was published in 1953. Some of the names have been used for hundreds and sometimes thousands of years as in the case of the “East Sea.” The present-day international maritime community, including most governmental agencies however, has been using the term, “Sea of Japan,” exclusively for that body of water for most of the last 100 years or so. A new edition of publication S-23 has been planned for the past 20 years, but because of disagreements between certain members of the IHO, no final text has been distributed, and until the disagreeing parties resolve their differences, the publication of a revised S-23 is impossible. The reason for using the Sea of Japan term is mainly because Imperial Japan aggressively annexed Korea in the early 20th century, and for the next 40 years, Japan embarked on a campaign to systematically remove all vestiges of Korean heritage, including the Korean language.This practice continued until the end of the World War II in 1945. After cessation of hostilities, the Korean nation was reestablished in the company of nations of the world and the Korean language was likewise resurrected. Underscoring the importance of the sea’s name is the new South Korean national anthem which has, as its first two words, “Dong Hae …” which translates to “East Sea“ in English. The use of the toponym, “East Sea” or, in Korean, “Dong Hae” can be traced back at least two millennia. At that time, ancient China dominated the region and used the term East Sea to indicate that direction from their eastern coastline. The Chinese documents that eluded destruction during informational “purges” of several Chinese emperors over the past 2,000 years are now housed in great historical libraries mostly located in China and Korea. In South Korea, a reference to Dong Hae appears on a stele to King Gwanggaeto and dates to the year 414 of the Common Era.The name East Sea was established for at least 1,000 years before Japan was even known to exist to the Western World. The first Western reference to the East Sea is attributed to a world map created in the 13th century, outlining the travels of Giovanni di Plano Carpini in eastern and Central Asia between 1245- 1247, C.E. That map is unfortunately lost, but a copy from ca.1434 is known to exist, and it presently resides at Yale University.

Moving toward the 21st century we must pause, because in March 1969, the National Geographic Society -- an international geography and map publisher of great regard throughout the world -- published a map of Korea on page 308 of an article that shows the name, East Sea used as an alternate name for the Sea of Japan.

Presently, all major producers of family, school and scholarly atlases, e.g., the Times Atlas, Rand-McNally World Atlas, Langenscheidt Publishers Atlas, Collins World Atlas, National Geographic World Atlas, et al., all give equal importance to the body of water called the East Sea and/or the Sea of Japan.

East Sea/Sea of Japan toponyms

East Sea/Sea of Japan toponyms discussed here deal mainly with features completely outside of the territorial limits of the nations that border the region, i.e., beyond 12 nautical miles from the shores of Korea, Japan and Russia.Early 20th century maps note the existence of the Korea/Tsushima Strait, that body of water that separates Korea and Japan and though which a branch of the oceanographically important Kuroshio Current flows northward. The Strait contains a historically Japanese island, Tsushima, hence it was given the name, Tsushima Strait a bit over 100 years ago, during the beginning of the colonial annexation period. However, a significant number of Western publications, dating from the middle 1850s, show it as Korea Strait, or the equivalent in other Indo European tongues, e.g., as ”detroit de Coreé“ in French. Some of these maps also refer to the East Sea as “La Mer du Coreé,” or “Sea of Korea.” No organization dedicated standardization of maritime geographic terminology body, e.g., the IHB, existed at the time.Tsushima Basin is a name applied to a more-or less-circular depression in the southwestern-most East Sea/Sea of Japan. According to IHO/IOC publication B-6 guidelines, “The first choice of a specific term, where feasible, should be one associated with a geographical feature: e.g., Aleutian Ridge, Aleutian Trench …” The nearest geographical feature to this depression is Ulleung-do (Ulleung Island), and therefore, according to the IHO/IOC principles for naming undersea features, should be called Ulleung Basin because the basin is immediately adjacent to Ulleung-do. However, since the name Tsushima Basin has been previously used in the scientific and geographic literature, and almost exclusively between 1910 and 1970 due to political events that will not again revisited. Tsushima Basin should be retained as a variant name within gazetteers, or used concurrently with Ulleung Basin, as can be seen in the appended reference list.During the 20th meeting of the GEBCO Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names (GEBCO-SCUFN) in Monaco in June of 2007, the recently-formed Korean Committee on Undersea Feature Names (K-CUF) submitted ten names for approval by the Sub-Committee. Those names are Anyongbok Seamount, Gangwon Plateau, Hupo Bank, Igyuwon Seamount, Kimmu Seamount, Onnuri Basin, Saenal Basin, Ulleung Plateau, Usan Escarpment and Usan Trough. Most of these features were recently discovered in the East Sea/Sea of Japan by Korean research ships. (fig. 3). All of these features were approved by unanimous vote of the GEBCO Sub-Committee and were placed in the GEBCO Gazetteer of Undersea Feature Names (IHO-IOC Publication, B-8).
Locations of undersea toponyms. (After: Ocean Atlas of Korea East Sea;

NORI, Republic of Korea, 2007)At the 21st meeting of GEBCO-SCUFN in mid-May, 2008, at which time the Korean Committee on Undersea Feature Names (K-CUFN) proposed eight new undersea feature names, four of which are in the East Sea: Jugam Ridge, Ulsan Seachannel, Usan Ridge and Wangdol Reef. All of the names were approved by the GEBCO-SCUFN committee and added to the GEBCO gazetteer.Statistics:In 2006, an extensive literature search of non-Korean-language publications was initiated to locate print media articles that support the Korean position that alternate names and dual usage of the term, “East Sea” can be and have been used within the science community. At the time of this writing, 694 papers have been located in published literature and governmental sources which contain East Sea/Sea of Japan toponyms. For relevance in this paper only, the subaerial toponyms have been limited to the following: East Sea/Sea of Japan.Of the 694 papers, 519 contain the toponym, East Sea, in either the title or in the text. Further, of the entire list of 580 references, 309 contain the names of non-Korean authors, many of whom are from Japan.

KU to run 'Korea University Studies' course

KU to run 'Korea University Studies' course

Korea University (KU) reminds people of “Minjok Godae” and “makgeolli” among other things. “Minjok Godae” means “people’s Korea University” and makgeolli is the milky traditional Korean alcoholic drink that has been loved by everyday folk for hundreds of years. The words compose the key elements that conjure up the brand image of KU, the nation’s first university established by Koreans. They may sound a bit outdated but they are the reasons that make its students and graduates proud of their alma mater. It’s also the base on which the school hopes to attain globalization. “I believe all globalization efforts should start from our own tradition. What’s truly Korean can become truly global. Knowing ourselves is very important before pursuing globalization,” KU President Lee Ki-su said in an interview at his office in Seoul. Under his leadership, the school has taken a leap forward in globalization — forming a lot of alliances with top universities and academic organizations around the world, attracting more students from diverse countries, and expanding lectures taught in English. As its globalization drive finds its groove, Lee is moving to give students the opportunity to do some soul-searching regarding their own school. Lee said the school will establish a course for “Korea University Studies” to teach students all about the school, beginning next semester. “Our students must learn about their own school and its founding spirit of ‘save the nation with education,’” Lee said. “Korea University’s frontier spirit has been embodied in various initiatives for more than a hundred years — from fighting for the nation’s independence to its contribution to democratization and industrialization. Some Korean history professors and I will teach students about Korea University’s spirit and culture.” In addition, Lee said the school will pay greater attention to supporting and promoting Korean studies at foreign universities. The school has provided assistance to the Korea Foundation to establish courses for Korean language or Korean studies at universities abroad. It has maintained a close relationship with Tubingen University in Germany. Lee said the school will expand ties with Waseda University of Japan and Peking University to form a “tripartite academic alliance” on Korean and Asian studies. “Korea University will continue to make efforts to promote Korean and Asian studies and foster exchanges with other schools around the world,” Lee said. He said that the G20 summit, to be held in Seoul in November, will also be a good opportunity for schools belonging to the member nations to strengthen exchanges. “Korea University as well as other schools are planning diverse programs ahead of the G20 summit. I hope it will expand to something like a ‘G20 University summit,’” Lee said.

source:Korea Times

Sacheon International Percussion Festival, Thur – Sun, 29 Jul- 1 Aug 2010, Gyeongsangnam-do

The International Percussion Festival mainly led by professor Choi Jong-shil, the pioneer of Samulnori, is the nation’s first festival devoted to the percussion instrument and its musicians. This 4-day festival will be held to promote the excellence of Samcheonpo Korean farm music with 12 episodes, which was designated as Intangible Asset No. 11 and the Hanryo Maritime culture.

During the festival period, the Percussion Instrument Festival will also be held with the participation of world famous percussionists from the US, Taiwan, Japan, France and Brazil.

The Percussion Instrument Exhibition will display 1,000 kinds of musical instruments. What’s more, there will be a World Percussion Musical Academic Convention, a National Percussion Musical Contest, and a Percussion Musical Experience.

Date: Thursday-Sunday, 29 July- 1 August, 2010
Venue: All around the Sacheon City and Samcheonpo Bridge Memorial Park, Gyeongsangnam-do
Getting there: Seoul Nambu Terminal (stop 341) → Use the express bus headed towards Samcheonpo (first bus comes at 9:30am, and last bus comes at 8:00pm / travel time: 4hrs) → Samcheonpo Terminal → Take a taxi to Samcheonpo Bridge Park (comes out to about ￦3,000)
Info: 055-835-6493~7

Please visit: http://www.sacheonpercussion.org

Aqua Festival, 28 Jul - 1 Aug 2010, Jeollanam-do, Korea

This event, which will take place around Tamjin-gang River and its ecological park and nearby dam, will allow wooden boat rides, or a wooden raft or rope boat, which is tied to the shore. Other fun activities include fishing with bare hands, playing at the ice pool, making pottery, riding on an ox cart or rodeo.

Date: 28 July- 1 August 2010

Venue:Tamjingang River, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do

Admission: Free. Note that some events/activities may charge a fee.

Info: 061-860-0224, 0380, 061-863-7071(Weekends) (Korean only) or KTO's 02-1330 (English, Chinese, Japanese). Event website in Korean only.

Getting there: It takes more than two hours to get from Yongsan Station to Gwangju by KTX. Transfer to bus heading to Jangheung.

AustCham - LOHAS Working Luncheon, Fri 30 July 2010, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Seoul

AustCham is organizing Working Luncheon on 30th of July with Adam Horler, President LOHAS Asia Pacific will present "LOHASians emerging fast - market trends and opportunities in Korea".

LOHAS, the acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability, describes a market segment focused on health and fitness, the environment, personal development, sustainable living, and social justice. Products range from natural and organic products, integrated health care, sustainable buildings and furniture, eco tourism, and alternative transport and energy. Join this intimate, open discussion style presentation to hear the latest LOHAS research on Asian markets. What opportunities could there be for your business?

Date: Friday 30 July 2010

Time: 11:45 registration for 12:00 noon lunch

Cost: Set lunch menu
W45,000 members / W55,000 non-members

RSVP by 10AM Wednesday 28 July via AustCham website or email mary-jane@lohas-asia.org (limited 20)

Bucheon Intl Performance Art Festival, 30 July-1 Aug 2010, Bucheon

Date: Friday 30 July to Sunday 01 August
Times: Friday from 3 PM to Sunday 6PM

Venue: Bucheon Station Even Hall (www.bucheon.go.kr)

Info: websites in Korean only - try KTO's 02-1330 number for details

Programme includes visual performances by 4 International Artists Community artists:
Hong O-Bong (Bucheon)-visual performance (July 30th)
Dara Sheahan (Ireland)-music performance (July 31st)
Eric Scott Nelson (USA)-visual performance (August 1st)
Anthony Ragucci (USA)-visual performance (August 1st)

Performers:
Friday 30th July:
1. Pak Mi-Roo(Seoul)-music performance
2. Ji Chi-kwon(Bucheon)-music performance
3. Midori Kadokura(Japan)-visual performance
4. OMAYUMI(Japan)-visual performance
5. Mok Chiu-Yu(Hongkong)-visual drama performance
6. Gang Seng-Suk(Seoul)-visual performance
7. Bea Hee-kweon(Seoul)-visual performance
8. Hong O-Bong(Bucheon)-visual performance (IAC ARTIST)

Saturday 31st July:
1. Catherine Khounlivong(France)-music performance
2. Dara Sheahan(Ireland)-music performance (IAC ARTIST)
3. Myvanwy Birds(Ireland)-music performance
4. Tim Koelling(UAS)-music performance
5. Greg James Hanford(U.K.)-music performance
6. Azhaar(Australia)-dance performance
7. G.T. Arpe(USA)-music performance
8. Shim Yeong-Chol(Seoul)-visual performance

Sunday 1st August:
1. Teruyuki Tanaka(Japan)-visual performance
2. Nopawan Sirivejkul(Thailand)-visual performance
3. Eric Scott(USA)-visual performance (IAC ARTIST)
4. Waldemar Tatarzuk(Poland)-visual performance
5. Anthony Ragucci(USA)-visual performance (IAC ARTIST)
6. Yoon Myeong-Kuk(Goryeong)-visual performance
7. Do Ji-Ho(Gimcheon)-visual performance

Please visit: http://blog.naver.com/hongobong

Aqua Festival, 28 Jul - 1 Aug 2010, Jeollanam-do, Korea

This event, which will take place around Tamjin-gang River and its ecological park and nearby dam, will allow wooden boat rides, or a wooden raft or rope boat, which is tied to the shore. Other fun activities include fishing with bare hands, playing at the ice pool, making pottery, riding on an ox cart or rodeo.

Date: 28 July- 1 August 2010

Venue:Tamjingang River, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do

Admission: Free. Note that some events/activities may charge a fee.

Info: 061-860-0224, 0380, 061-863-7071(Weekends) (Korean only) or KTO's 02-1330 (English, Chinese, Japanese). Event website in Korean only.

Getting there: It takes more than two hours to get from Yongsan Station to Gwangju by KTX. Transfer to bus heading to Jangheung.

Please visit: http://www.jhwater.kr

U.S. teens learn Korean in program

U.S. teenagers are taking part in an intensive Korean language course in a classroom.

This is not out of the norm at Sogang University’s Korean Language Education Center, but these students, all of whom are 15-18 years old, are here as part of a special program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.

Each student had their own unique reason for coming to Korea and joining the National Security Language Initiative for Youth.

“I started watching Korean dramas and listening to Korean music and I got tired of watching them with subtitles,” said Zaneh Williams from Maryland.

“This is a chance to see the world on my own and have a bit more independence,” said Gabrielle Hanley from Virginia.

The students study Korean for four hours in the afternoon, with a strict “no English” policy.

Learning Korean is “fun, but really intensive. We learned reading and writing in about a week,” said Gabrielle.

But she said understanding Korean vocabulary and sentences is the hardest part.

Even students in the beginner classes have already mastered Hangeul, the Korean alphabet.

These students are not only here for Korean, but also to learn the culture.

“We’re partnered up with university students around Seoul to take a group of us out to different places,” said Gabrielle.

U.S. teenagers attend a Korean language course at Sogang University’s Korean Language Education Center in Seoul. Yonhap News

The students also live with host families to help speed up their progress with the language and culture.

“The host families have really been taking care of us.”

“Hanging out with the kids (host sisters) a lot, they’ve shown me real Korean life. We do a lot of fun stuff together. I really like how they value the family, and family togetherness,” she said.

The students had to compete against 1,500 other applicants for 600 spots. They were chosen based on academic performance, essays and interviews.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity. (The government) never told us that they would be giving us a full stipend. You don’t get this opportunity too often,” said Zaneh.

The students are encouraged to continue their studies in Korean after the program, and that is what some students plan on doing.

Zaneh plans to study Korean when she starts her college career. When asked what she will do with her knowledge, she said “either work for the government, or I plan to go to law school and be an international lawyer.”

Before coming to Korea, the students answered a questionnaire to help match them up with host families. The host families are all volunteers.

The NSLI-Y, originally started by the George W. Bush administration, offered students a chance to study Chinese and Arabic during summer sessions in China and Arabic-speaking countries. In 2009 after Barack Obama took office as U.S. president, the program expanded to include Hindi, Korean, Persian (Farsi), Russian and Turkish. And now, students may study for up to a year. These languages are not traditionally taught in the U.S school system. The languages were chosen based on the political importance and number of people speaking the language, among other things.

During the NSLI-Y’s first year, 2006, it funded only 46 students. Now, the 2009 program has increased its participants to 390 students, more than the previous three years combined.

The purpose of the program, as described in a grant proposal, is to increase mutual understanding, strengthen ties and develop friendly peaceful relations between the people of the U.S. and other countries. Through it, the U.S. government wishes to prepare these students to become global world leaders.

source:Korea Herld

concert calendar

“Summer IS+land”: K-pop artists SG Wannabe, MC Mong, Min Kyung-hoon, Shin Jung-hwan and Maybe will hold a concert welcoming the heat of summer at the Yonsei Culture and Art Center on July 24. Each singer will not only have his/her own stage, but also perform with other artists to mix it up. Tickets cost 55,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555.

“Danny Jung, 11 am”: The first Korean saxophonist to be listed on the Billboard chart, Danny Jung will look to bring his cool and breezy renditions of both local and international pop songs popular with to the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex on July 29. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Jung has worked with many Korean celebrities such as soprano Sumi Jo and a legendary rock star Seo Tai-ji. Tickets cost 15,000 won. For more information, call 1577-7766. 　

“Hoyoung 2 Ocean”: Taking on a concept of the summer season, pop star and former G.O.D. member Son Ho-young will stage a solo show under the theme of “vacation” at the KT&G Sangsang Art Hall in Seoul from July 8-25. Tickets cost 77,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3404-4314 or visit www.sangsangarthall.com.

“Stevie Wonder Live in Seoul”: Fifteen years after his first show in Korea, “Eighth Wonder of the World,” Motown legend Stevie Wonder will be in Seoul next month to call on his Korean fans and tell them he loves them once again. As part of Hyundai Card’s large scale concert series, the multi-Grammy Award winning hit-maker will stage his latest show at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena for a one-night only performance on Aug. 10.
Tickets for the upcoming concert range from 196,000 won to 77,000 won. For more information on tickets, visit www.privia.hyundaicard.com, www.ticketlink.co.kr, or www.ticket.interpark.com.

“Smashing Pumpkins Live in Seoul”: Ten years since the band’s first concert in 2000 on the eve of their subsequent split -- alternative rockers Smashing Pumpkins will be back in Seoul next month to perform songs off their latest release, “Teargarden by Kaleidyscope Vol. 1: Songs for a Sailor,” part of an epic 44-track project set to be spread out to 11 four-track records. Gone will be the original members James Iha, D’Arcy Wretzky, Melissa Auf Der Maur and Jimmy Chamberlain when frontman and songwriter Billy Corgan comes to Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena Aug. 14 with an all new line-up. Tickets for the concert are set from 88,000 won to 99,000 won. For more information, visit www.ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.

source:Korea Herald

Korean cuisine to beat the summer heat

The scorching heat and oppressive humidity of a Korean summer makes people sweat a lot and saps them of energy.

To preserve one's vigor and prevent the heat wave from causing exhaustion of both body and soul, Koreans choose either of two ways:

One is to fight against the heat by consuming something cold while the other is to beat it at its own game by having something even hotter.

Either way, Koreans eat some special foods to effectively escape the sweltering summer sizzle.

* Samgyetang

Despite the scorching heat, Koreans are not afraid to queue up in a long line in front of samgyetang restaurants on the three Boknal Days, the hottest days of summer, in order to have the popular Korean ginseng-chicken soup. This is the most popular dish that Koreans have in mid-summer in order to fortify their health against the heat. It has been recorded that traditionally Koreans have eaten some special health foods in summer. Donguibogam, or "Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine," which was listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World in 2009, said people should preserve their energy in order to mitigate the scorching heat in summer from damaging their health, especially on the three Boknal Days.

The main ingredients of samgyetang -- chicken, ginseng, glutinous rice, garlic and jujubes -- all have medicinal effects to help digestion and improve the intestinal operation. Chicken has a slightly sweet flavor, warms one's body and is good for stamina. Traditionally, Koreans believed chicken was the best medicinal ingredient to invigorate one's body and ward off evil spirits, because it heralds the beginning of the dawn. This traditional belief made samgyetang even more popular. Ginseng is also known to have warm properties, protects the energy of the intestines, calms people's minds, improves eyesight and reconstitutes poor health.

But samgyetang is also rich in protein and known as a high calorie food. So this dish may not be good for those who have warmer body constitutions, unless they are lacking energy. This dish is best eaten when it is served with vegetables and fruits as side dishes, since samgyetang is low in vitamin C and fiber.

* Naengmyeon

But those who prefer something cooler or don't believe in fighting fire with fire may choose to have a bowl of cold noodles in chilled broth with big ice cubes, cooling their tired bodies and minds. For them, naengmyeon - literally meaning cold noodle - is the favorite summer menu item that whets their appetites and boosts energy. (Left: Mulnaengmyeon)

This dish, consisting of thin noodles, a tangy iced broth, julienned vegetables, half a boiled egg and sliced beef, was originally a North Korean delicacy made of potatoes and buckwheat and consumed mainly in the winter time when people did not have enough food. But it has been widely enjoyed throughout the country after the Korean War (1950-1953), when many refugees brought their local delicacies south with them. Naengmyeon is often selected as one of Koreans' favorite summer dishes these days.

There are two kinds of cold noodles -- Pyongyang naengmyeon and Hamheung naengmyeon -- and both are famous for their uniqueness. The main ingredient for Pyongyang naengmyeon is thin noodles made of buckwheat and it is known for the clean taste of its broth without spiciness. Hamheung naengmyeon consists of thin noodles made of both potato and sweet potato starch and is famous for the hot and thick sauce made of various seasonings and chili powder.

Pyongyang naengmyeon is good for those who love a light and clean flavor with a hint of mustard and vinegar, while Hamheung naengmyeon is good for those who love sweet and spicy food. People who love Hamheung naengmyeon can choose one of three varieties depending on their preferences: bibimnaengmyeon (mixed noodles with chili sauce), mulnaengmyeon and hoenaengmyeon. Mulnaengmyeon is for those who love a cool and clean flavored soup, yet stronger than Pyongyang naengmyeon.

Bibimnaengmyeon is for those who love sweet and hot flavor. Hoenaengmyeon is a good choice for seafood lovers, since it is served with a few slices of marinated raw fish. Traditionally, the fish served with hoenaengmyeon was caught in the East Sea, where both cold and warm currents meet, due to the geographical features of the Korean Peninsula.

* Kongguksu

Naengmyeon is not the only kind of cold noodle you can have in summer in Korea. Another variety is kongguksu, or soybean noodle. This dish consists of noodles made of flour in a soymilk-based broth. Soybeans are regarded as "meat from the land" since it is high in protein and essential amino acids. Known as a particularly hardy plant, beans were used as a substitute for rice when people lacked food, according to old records such as Joseon Wangjosillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 1997. Kongguksu became a popular summer dish for commoners instead of other energy foods like samgyetang, since it was not easy for them to get chickens or other costly ingredients.

This dish is in the spotlight these days for its nutritional value and good effects on health. People love this noodle dish mainly for the thick and slightly salty flavor of the soybean milk broth.

* Bingsu

To cap off a good meal, a proper dessert is needed. In the midst of a hot summer, Korean food lovers get excited over a popular dessert menu item – bingsu, or shaved ice dessert. Often compared to an iced flower blooming in summer, pat-bingsu, literally meaning red bean and ice, is one of the most popular summer desserts for people of all ages, which heralds the beginning of the hot season. (Right: People eating patbingsu, Yonhap News)

The ingredients of patbingsu -- shaved ice, sweetened red beans, milk, various fruits, jellies and small pieces of glutinous rice cake -- offer cool satisfaction and a moment of sweetness which samgyetang can never give. The pleasure of mixing shaved ice and various toppings and then sharing the bowl with loved ones helps create joyful memories.

Other bingsu variations like green tea, yogurt and coffee are also popular these days.

Bingsu was initially sold by street vendors, but you can now enjoy it at every cafeteria, fast-food restaurants, convenience stores and bakery.

source:Korea.net

More foreigners study Korean academically

It has become quite common to find foreign nationals learning Korean as a hobby thanks to the huge popularity of Korean stars and television dramas overseas. Even television shows like “Misuda,” where a panel of Korean-speaking foreign nationals discuss Korea, have become familiar to most Koreans.

But it seems like more non-Koreans are studying Korean academically nowadays. Rather than attending private language academies, many choose to go to graduate schools to get a Korean literature & language masters or doctoral degree.

In fact, the number of such students has been growing sharply over the past few years to the point where some are saying that the number of foreign Korean literature & language students is similar to locals.

Experts explain that such a phenomenon has resulted from the increasing number of foreign nationals who desire to become Korean language specialists. This is thanks to the extra attention the country and its culture have been receiving from abroad.

“The international status of the Korean language has been elevated as the demand for studying the language more deeply has grown among foreign nationals. Some of them now choose to study even academic fields like traditional Korean literature,” Sungkyunkwan University Korean language professor Kwon In-han said.

Students at the Yonsei Korean Language Institute participate in a writing contest. More foreign nationals are studying the language academically these days, and attending graduate schools. (The Korea Herald)

Students gathering at the Korean literature & language departments of local universities vary largely in their nationalities.

Whereas in the past, the Chinese and Japanese comprised most of the foreign students, those from other countries including Uzbekistan, Myanmar and the United States have also been growing in numbers.

A recent incident Yonsei University Korean language professor Kang Hyoun-hwa experienced illustrates the trend.

Kang was surprised to see the long list of students for her contrastive linguistics course for the spring semester.

“It was the first time that I actually had to divide a graduate course into multiple classes. I even felt quite puzzled at first looking at the students of various races and nationalities,” she said.

The growing number of foreign graduate school students is not only the case for Yonsei University. The number of foreign graduate school students at Yonsei University; Korea University; Sogang University; Sungkyunkwan University; Hanyang University and Seoul National University was 237, which accounted for over 30 percent of the total.

Most of these students who select the Korean language or Korean language education as their major intend to work as Korean language professors, instructors or trade experts in their home countries after graduation.

The Korean government has played a big role in drawing foreign students to local universities. It has been offering scholarship programs like the “Study Korea Project” to promote Korean language and culture abroad.

The number of Korean language students coming to the country on the Korean Government Scholarship Program has increased by more than five times over the past nine years. The number increased from 7 in 2000, 20 in 2006 to 38 in 2008, according to the National Institute for International Education.

Meanwhile, professors and academics evaluate such a trend positively, saying that it would help boost Korean language studies in general.

“Due to the growing number of foreign students who study it, Korean has now become an international language. Thus we now need to be able to make Korean grammar and vocabulary ― which we often consider ‘natural’ ― more logically understandable for them,” Kwon said.

Kwon also said due to the increasing number of non-Koreans studying Korean-language education, the field has now become recognized as an independent discipline, with a considerable amount of papers and research published. Until now, it has been considered a branch of Korean literature studies.

source:Korea Herald

Kim Yu-na performing to 'Meditation from Thais'

'Study Korea' emerges as new national brand

Korea is emerging as the "land of opportunity" for many foreign students. The number of foreign students enrolled in Korean universities stood at 75,000 as of 2009, up by 19 percent year on year. This is a four-fold increase from a mere 17,000 in 2004 when the government began keeping records. Korea can expect many positive effects from attracting foreign students including the cultivation of excellent human resources overseas, creation of economic value added and nurturing of Korea-friendly leaders of foreign countries. Korea, the 15th largest economy in the world, joined the Development Assistance Committee last year, making it the first country in the world to turn itself from a recipient to a donor of assistance, and it is being recognized by the World Nuclear Association as the world's fifth largest exporter of nuclear power plants. On top of that, Korea has shown the fastest recovery from the global financial crisis among OECD countries and has recently been selected to host and chair the 5th G20 Summit, verifying its elevated national status. The G20 meeting is scheduled for November. Considering such an improvement in Korea's standing, it is no wonder that more and more foreign students are turning their eyes to Korea as the destination for their studies. They see the driving force behind the remarkable growth of Korea, a country with a small land and scarce natural resources, as its outstanding human resources. This has been attributable to the combination of national human resource management skills and the educational zeal of Korean parents for their children. It is clear that the education in Korea has been drawing attention from the international community to the extent that President Obama praised it many times while emphasizing the importance of educational reform in the United States. Against this backdrop, topics to be addressed in depth at this time are the overall review of foreign student policies, implementation of these policies and relevant future plans. Study Korea Project The government turned its attention to the policies for foreign students starting in 2001, when it came up with the comprehensive measures to attract foreign students. This marked a significant move for the government as it was the first government-level policy for foreign students in Korea. However, it was in 2004 when the government started to implement those policies on foreign students in earnest with the launch of the Study Korea Project. The initial goal was to attract 50,000 foreign students to Korea by 2010 with a view to position Korea as the education hub of Northeast Asia through the proactive development and utilization of foreign human resources. Subsequently, the concrete action plan (April 2005) and improvement measures (December 2005) for the Study Korea Project were devised. The number of foreign students studying in Korea soared to around 50,000 in 2007, reaching the target number of students for 2010 earlier than originally planned. Accordingly, the target number was adjusted upward, and the outline for attracting foreign students was redesigned, which ultimately led to the formulation of the Development Plan for the Study Korea Project in 2008. The government set a new goal to attract up to 100,000 foreign students by 2012 by undertaking policy tasks such as accommodating more foreign students into dormitories and extending medical insurance support for foreign students, as well as helping them locate employment opportunities. from quantity to quality The number of foreign students studying in Korea jumped from 49,270 in 2007 to 75,000 in 2009 with the number expected to reach 80,000 in 2010, bolstered by government's bolder policies to bring in foreign students riding on the wave of ever-rising Korea's position in the international community. However, despite the influx of foreign students, questions have been raised on whether excellent foreign students come to Korea to study or whether they are successfully adapting to the study environments in Korea to achieve their goals. In order to address these matters, the government restricted the issuance of visas or issued a corrective order for universities that had poor management or support for foreign students in 2009. In addition, the government announced the plan, Improved Support and Management for Foreign Students in an effort to attract competent foreign students and build the capacity of universities of Korea, and redesigned the Korean Government Scholarship Program into the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) that could be compared to the Fulbright Grant Program of the United States. Such efforts marked the shift of focus in Korea’s national policies on foreign students from the quantitative expansion to the qualitative improvement. Global Korea Scholarship Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is one of the flagship scholarship programs of the government. For 2010 alone, up to KRW 51.5 billion won was allocated to support 2,100 new scholarship students under the GKS. The program was designed to combine the two existing programs, the Korean Government Scholarship program and the Government Scholarship for Korean Students' Overseas Studies, and to provide new support programs (financial support for excellent non-scholarship students, study programs for incumbent leaders, etc.) for foreigners who want to study in Korea. GKS is being recognized as the representative scholarship policy of Korea for several reasons: First, GKS integrated various existing scholarship programs and its scope will continue to be expanded. Moreover, the government has an organization manage GKS so as to provide practical benefits for foreign students studying in Korea. GKS encompasses not only long-term degree courses (Korean government scholarship program) but also short-term exchange or training programs (for excellent exchange students or non-scholarship students, etc.) as well as study programs for incumbent leaders including high-ranking public officials and professors from overseas countries. Second, GKS selects outstanding foreign students through recommendations from overseas Korean missions or universities. Under the GKS program, the government has a council of universities provide counseling and mentoring services for the grantees to make sure that they complete their study successfully in Korea. Third, GKS includes a supportive program for the grantees which lasts after they go back to their home countries. This program is mainly about building a global human network, forging alumni associations by each nationality of the grantees and providing grantees with up-to-date information on Korea. In doing so, GKS is offering the grantees enhanced post-scholarship support. GKS is expected to contribute not only to the cultivation and utilization of quality human resources overseas by inviting outstanding foreign scholarship students to Korea but also to the establishment of a Korea-friendly global human network down the road. Living environments for foreign students The most important factor considered by foreign students in determining the destination of their studies is the environment of the country's universities. In an effort to enhance the capabilities of Korean universities in line with the launch of the Study Korea Project, the government has continued to provide support in opening English-only lectures and Korean language courses in universities from 2005 to 2009. Thirteen universities were selected as the beneficiaries of the support in 2005, nine in 2006, eight in 2007, 27 in 2008 and 14 in 2009. This turns out to have been very helpful to the foreign students who lack Korean language proficiency or those who are proficient in English. It helped to attract foreign students from diverse nationalities. In addition, the "Manual for Administrative Management of Overseas Students Studying in Korea for Degree or Language Study" is expected to further expedite the administrative work related to foreign students, considering that it requires universities to designate at least one employee to manage over 50 foreign students and newly establish an organization to deal with over 200 foreign students. Furthermore, the Manual specifies the rule to give priority to foreign students in terms of dorm room assignment to help reduce their economic burden. study programs in Korea The government has also taken steps to promote study programs in Korea. The 'Study in Korea Fairs' are held in eight to ten cities annually in Korea, and Korean universities participate in international education fairs in other countries to attract more overseas students. The government launched the webpage (www.studyinkorea.go.kr) in December 2002 to provide information on studying in Korea and to promote Korea as one of the most sought-after countries for foreign students. The website has constantly been upgraded since its opening. For instance, the information on the website was offered only in Korean and English in its initial stage, but now content including information on universities is offered in eleven languages including English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic and French. It was estimated that a total of over 350,000 people across the world have accessed the website. The government plans to further diversify the places where the Study in Korea Fair is held and to improve the website to enable foreign students to have easier access to the information on studying in Korea. Korean language and culture Currently the size of population using Korean language ranks 13th in the world, and the Korean wave, which refers to the trend of the growing popularity of Korean culture in overseas countries, is spreading beyond Asia to reach the Middle East, Europe and Africa. There is no doubt that the increasing use of the Korean language and the Korean wave contributed to improving the brand value of the study programs in Korea. For this reason, the government is supporting the establishment of the departments of Korean studies or language in overseas universities and operation of Korean language classes in 628 primary and secondary schools in 15 countries as part of efforts to increase the use of Korean language in the world. Particular focus is being placed on nurturing quality teachers as well as developing textbooks and a standard curriculum for education of Korean language in overseas countries. The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) was developed as a barometer in foreigners' proficiency of the Korean language. The number of foreigners taking the TOPIK rose recently from 2,274 in four countries in 1997 to a whopping 170,507 in 36 countries in 2009. This is expected to increase thanks to the expansion of the use of Korean language and the Korean wave. Change in the direction of policies on foreign students: to attract excellent foreign students and diversify their nationalities In today's globalized era of limitless competition, securing outstanding human resources is a key to sustaining the national growth and to acquiring the competitive edge. In this context, it is time for Korea to overhaul its policies on studying in Korea with the goal of attracting excellent foreign students and diversifying the nationalities of incoming students to Korea. The government plans to achieve this goal by creating a milieu favorable for foreign students to study, which will help further enhance the status of Korea in the global community. future prospects Compared to Japan or Australia that have gone through trials and errors in their investment in programs for foreign students over the past twenty years, Korea has put forth the policies for foreign students in a shorter span of time. Korea has made the remarkable achievement in less than 10 years. Thus far, Korea managed to position itself as the hub of Northeast Asia in nurturing the next-generation of leaders in countries across the globe. By the time foreign students finishing their studies in Korea, assume leadership positions in their respective countries, however, Korea will be able to take the central role on the global stage in education. Program for foreign students ▪ The global Korea Scholarship GKS, Korean government's flagship scholarship program, by integrating the Government Scholarship Program and the Government Scholarship for Korean Students' Overseas Studies and by providing new programs such as financial support for excellent non-scholarship students, study programs for incumbent leaders, etc. ▪ To Improving the study & living environments in Korea, support is being provided for Korean language courses, English-only lectures and dormitories for foreign students, and inconveniences in terms of visa or insurance are being removed. ▪ Korea Promotes study programs in Korea, education fairs in Korea and in overseas countries are utilized, and the online system (www.studyinkorea.go.kr) is operated to provide guidance on studying in Korea ▪ The government supports the establishment of Korean studies departments in overseas universities, the development of textbooks and teachers in that field and theutilization of TOPIK.

Source:Korea Times