A Five-Day Market in Jeju

 We can figure out culture and customs in traditional markets. I’d like to introduce you a five-day market in Jeju island which presents its own culture and customs.

A five-day market opens five days in a row per month, however, just 40 and 50 years ago, it was nothing but a normal market crowded with people. As time goes by, the market has modernized, but unfortunately nine markets remained so far.

A Five-Day Market in Jeju, History and Tradition

<Maeil Olleh market in Seogypo> (Source: Jeju Sori)

It is not clear from when the five-day market started in Jeju. Academic circles estimate the market started at front yard of Gwandeokjeon in 1910. According to the record, it opened every second and seventh day in lunar calendar. Many items such as crops, clothes and daily necessity were sold or bartered for.

Jeju five-day market has been a driving force to Jeju people and contributed to regional economic growth. The natives say that the biggest markets were the ones that opened near Tapdong and Yongdam. Also, it is said that many people were competitive to get a nice place to sell their items.

(Source: Jeju Sori)

The market is not only for selling and buying products but for communicating with people in town. Every market has its own characteristics. For example, some deal with seafood, others deal with farm products. Currently, it has been modernized and improved for consumers, and delivery and customer call service became common as well. It also has a quality guarantee service. They even provide the arcade for children, stroller, and cart to young mothers to make them feel comfortable while shopping.

Transformed into Cultural Tourism Market

<10,000 won Cuisine Event held in five-day market in Seogypo> (Source: E2news)

Now, the five-day market became very popular with other tourist attractions in Jeju, such as ‘Olleh’ roads. As an effort to boost the economy, Seogypo market changed its name into ‘Olleh’, after then, even people from other local markets visit there for benchmarking.

Actually, Seogypo market was in depression but the atmosphere has been revived since it connected the tour business with the sixth course of Olleh. Moreover, promotion effect has been doubled after the Small and Medium Business Administration and Market Promotion Center chose the market as one of the “50 traditional markets to go”.

According to Jeju government, the number of visitors per day increased 8,000 from 6,000. Daily sale went up to 80 million won, increasing by 20 million won. Jeju seller association has already registered Maeil Olleh market as the trademark. With this effort, over 2,000 Olleh hikers visited to the market, which is twice as higher than that of last year.

More than 1,000 government officials and merchants have visited to benchmark Olleh market from all across the country. More Olleh hikers have come to Dongmun market as it became the 18th course of Olleh. Hanlim maeil market is connected to 14th course of Olleh, and Daejung five-day market is connected to 11th course of Olleh. Seogypo Maeil market is designated as the cultural tourism market of the year 2010 and 2011. Seomun market will soon plan to develop other Olleh courses.

(Source : Newsis)

Meanwhile, a person concerned to the market said that DID (Digital Information Display) will be installed in sixth course of Olleh in order to provide information of food, products, hot sale events in Jeju to all visitors. They expect many of them will come to markets as well.

So, if you want to feel 100% of the culture and custom of Jeju, this is the best season. Don’t forget to bring camera!

International Literacy Day held in India

September 8 is International Literacy Day. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on November 17, 1965, and celebrated for the first time in 1966. International Literacy Day aims to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities, and societies. For this year’s International Literacy Day, the focus was on the link between literacy and peace, and a ceremony took place in New Delhi, India.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil of India hands out prizes at the International Literacy Day ceremony on September 8 (Photo: Yonhap News).

During the ceremony in New Delhi, UNESCO gave out the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize to projects in Burundi and Mexico. The Literacy Prize was created by the Korean government in 1989 to honor the outstanding contribution made to literacy by Sejong the Great (1397 - 1418/1450) who created Hangul, the Korean alphabet. This prize rewards the activities of governments, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that display merit and achieve particularly effective results in promoting literacy. In the past 20 years, a total of 38 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prizes have been awarded to countries such as India, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria.

One of the two recipients of the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize this year is the National Literacy Service in Burundi, for its innovative approach in linking functional literacy to daily life issues and topics related to peace and tolerance, as well as for its overall impact. This service also provided educational opportunities such as how to work efficiently.

The second recipient of the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize is the National Institute for the Education of Adults of Mexico, for its bilingual literacy program, Bilingual Literacy for Life. This program is recognized for its impact in reducing the rate of illiteracy among indigenous populations, especially among women, and also for improving the ability of indigenous people to exercise their rights. In 2007, a total of 944 people participated in this program, but since then the program has had more than 50,000 participants annually.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to invite the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize recipients to Korea to commemorate the 565th Hangul Proclamation Day. They will stay in Korea for five days and four nights and will attend the 565th Hangul Proclamation Day Festival, an international literacy conference, and various other programs to experience Korean traditional culture.
source:Korea.net

Main Events of this month in korea

Main Events
1. Gwangju Design Biennale 2011
http://www.gb.or.kr 
- Period : Sept. 2nd(Fri)~ Oct. 23rd(Sun), 2011. (52days)
- Venue : Gwangju Biennale Hall and all around the city of Gwangju
2. Round & Round, Hangawi(Harvest Full Moon) Multicultural Festival
http://www.nfm.go.kr 
- Period : Sept. 3rd(Sat)~ 13th(Tue), 2011. (11 days)
- Venue : National Folk Museum of Korea, Seoul

Asia Exchange Association, the Cradle of Global Leader

Asia Exchange Association, the Cradle of Global Leader

Asia is becoming the leader of 21st century. But barriers caused by different languages, religions and also the controversial issues in history still remain, making it hard to draw cooperation among countries. So we need young leaders to bring them all together. Where and how can we find them? Asia Exchange Association may have an answer to that matter.

The Youth Opening the Future

AEA(Asia Exchange Association), registered in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a nonprofit organization. It was established in March 2005 to build the Asian network through education volunteer, and academic and cultural interchange by young people. Since it's establishment, AEA has cooperated with government organizations, institutions and schools for better future on a variety of interchange programs in economy, society, culture and academy

(Source: AEA)

To start with dispatching volunteers to Cambodia, AEA sends out short-term volunteers every twice a year. AEA provides useful and novel education programs such as building libraries, making shoe closets, teaching languages, globalization and sanitization, and lastly art, sports and culture exchange so that young Asian people can understand each other and have awareness of how to behave as world citizens.

(Source: AEA)

Every school vacation, from January to February and from July to August, AEA dispatches students under 24 for volunteering for 11 days. Each team is made of 16 members and any Korean students under 24 can join.

The dispatched volunteers should have a sense of humanity and passion rather than the fluent English as they go to the isolated villages for computer and reading class, introducting Korean culture and history, cultural performance. After reviewing applications and interview, AEA sorts out volunteers and train them for one month. After they complete the mission and come back to Korea, they have to go through a briefing session. Finally, AEA grants the certificates to every one of them.

What is International Legislation Support Program?

AEA puts an effort to get Asian countries more cooperative to each other. International Legislation Support program was made through the efforts. The Legal disputes happen very often as Korean companies go abroad more often than ever and their investment increases as well. That's why we need the firm and stable legal system.

AEA tries to improve the informationalized legal level of developing countries by exporting legal systems and culture, and supporting them to build the trial regulation, legislation, and manual. In other words, International Legislation Support program will go beyond the export of Korean legal system and exchange among lawers from both sides, and finally promote mutual friendship each other..

(Source:AEA)

There are four effects which are expected in International Legislation Support program. The export of Korean legal system will begin with more exchanges of international lawyers. Eventually, it will promote partnership among countries and help Korean companies and people to do a business.

Many Korean children dreams of being a global leader like UN Secretary General Ban ki moon. Isn't it because he gives the whole Asian children confidence that they can do it whatever they want. Let's be prepared for the dream to become a world leader beyond Asia.

Make a better life! Wave of Saemaeul Movement in Africa

Make a better life! Wave of Saemaeul Movement in Africa

Korea is the first country which has transitioned from an aid recipient to a donor to join OECD. Especially in Southeast Asia and Africa, many countries want to learn the experience, and Saemaeul Movement is considered a good example.

Saemaeul Movement which contributed to the rapid economic growth and rural development of Korea in 1970s, is now adapted by Asian and African countries. It was initiated by Gyeongsangbuk-do. As a move of globalization, it increased the range of activity by building Saemaeul halls, schools, wells and even moral education. Let’s take a look.

(Source: Hankkook Ilbo)

Song of Hope

Saemaeul Movement had its first anniversary last 22^nd of April. Saemaeul movement, the nation developing project, became so successful that leaders from Asia and Africa came to visit Saemaeul Movement center in Bundang, Seongnam city. Fifty thousand of civil servants and local leaders from 84 countries have already visited so far. Saemaeul Movement is becoming globalized.

Saemaeul globalizing project fist started in 2004. Saemaeul hall in Vietnam and Jakarta Indonesia, health center in Cambodia, and Wells in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are the outcomes of the project. 254 college students have participated in Saemaeul international volunteer project since 2007 and this summer again, 100 students are volunteering in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Philippines. In addition, Gyeongsangbuk-do and KOICA co-conducted a medical project, an environmental project and a profitable project. Environmental program is to improve kitchens, washrooms, pavements, village roads. Profitable program is to teach how to farm and make reservoirs.

(Source: Chosun Ilbo)

Global Saemaeul forum was held in Gyeongju from 19^th to 20^th April. There were a lot of discussions on direction for globalization of Saemaeul movement and also Hallyu. It became more responsible for helping the underdeveloped countries to develop themselves.

More and more people have participated in Saemaeul Movement worldwide. Back in 2003, even during the civil war in Nepal, Saemaeul Movement contributed to increase the income and literacy by mechanizing farm and exporting vegetables.

In addition, Cambodia which is hot every season increased the income per person five times higher than usual, rising from eighty to 400 dollars since they learned vinyl greenhouse technology of Korea, which is convenient to control the temperature and humidity. The key point of Saemaeul Movement is to bring up sense of independence. It is not only supporting the skills and resources but also helping them develop their capability to increase income by growing crops.

Saemaeul Movement Emerging as National Brand

More than 90 percent of poor people of underdeveloped countries live in rural area. Saemaeul Movement is successful in countries that need help most. The most important project of Saemaeul Movement in Africa is dispatching leaders of Saemaeul Movement. Gyeongsangbuk-do sent volunteers to Africa for ODA project since Korea became a member of DAC under OECD in 2009.

(Source: Segye Ilbo)

The Saemaeul leader volunteering group consists of six members in each of five teams, and 30 of them are working to eliminate the poverty in Rwanda for nearly a year. Struggling against the heat, they plant Saemaeul spirits which are described as diligence, self-reliance and cooperation into the local people. Unlike the other countries which used to leave after building one or two village halls, Korea planted confidence and belief in their mind like “We can do it” with its own project, Saemaeul.

Korean government decided to start Saemaeul Movement in Rwanda and Laos as ODA (Official Development Assistance) to get rid of poverty and support self-growth. The Rwandan official said that Gyeongsangbuk-do will be in charge of Rwanda, and Saemaeul Center will be in charged of Laos to make a synergy like a complete product.

Review of the History of Saemaeul Movement

In Congo, it is easy to find people wearing shirts with a logo, “Saemaeul Movement”. The pronunciation ‘Saemaeul Movement’ is familiar with locals. Some villages have flags of it in every house. Saemaeul Movement started in 1970s for a better life in Korea and 30 years later it’s bring new hopes to Africa.

(Source: Segye Ilbo)

However, it is important to change the mind and attitude of people and eventually help them develop the whole village, not by simply increasing the income. In other words, it is more important to encourage them to achieve the economic development on their own by building up software such as policies and systems away from one-sided aid. But the task is how to get rid of the old image that Saemaeul Movement is a low level standard project driven by the government. Also the careful consideration on how to properly localize the Saemaeul Movement to each country is very essential. Once again, we hope that Korea would play a major role in poverty elimination and enhancing the nation’s prestige.