New prime minister appointed in South Korea reshuffle

Kim Tae-ho (left) will be South Korea's youngest prime minister for almost 40 years if confirmed

South Korea's President, Lee Myung-bak, has replaced the prime minister and seven ministers in the biggest cabinet reshuffle since he took office in 2008.

His nominee to be prime minister, Kim Tae-ho, was once a provincial governor.

Chung Un-chan stepped down as prime minister after parliament rejected the government's plans for a new city.

The reshuffle also comes less than two weeks after Mr Lee's Grand National Party won parliamentary by-elections seen as a referendum on the president.

In June, the ruling party suffered a major defeat in local elections.

Sunday's shake-up was "aimed at solidifying the keynote of moderate pragmatism-oriented policy based on communication and integrity", presidential spokesman Hong Sang-pyo said.

In addition to nominating Mr Kim for the largely-ceremonial premiership, the president also named new ministers of education, culture, agriculture, health, labour, the knowledge economy and special affairs. The key ministers of foreign affairs, defence and unification were not affected.

Mr Kim, the 47-year-old former governor of South Gyeongsang province, will be South Korea's youngest prime minister for almost 40 years if parliament confirms his appointment.

The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says he has long been mentioned as a rising star and is credited with leading several successful development projects along South Gyeongsang's coast.

Halfway through his five-year term, it appears that President Lee is looking for new energy to try to get things done that have not yet been possible and to cement some of his successes, our correspondent adds.

source:bbc news

Though somewhat late to arrive to the party, iPhones have taken off in Korea with a vengeance. And as the iconic s

martphone has seen its sales soar, its applications, or apps, have become a local phenomenon too. Just as amateur app designers have reflected local needs and tastes around the world, Koreans are coming up with their own games and solutions - with intriguing, lucrative, results.

Kim Si-hyun, head of the Chinese Character Education Research Institute, is one of the most famous lecturers of Chinese in Korea. Every semester his lectures at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Dongguk University and Sookmyung Women's University draw more than a thousand students. Despite his common touch, however, Kim long shunned the digital lifestyle. Social media or mobile phones, he felt, only served to undermine human-to-human contact. But this lifelong Luddite recently transposed his conventional popularity into a more high-tech form, with the hugely successful "Kim Si-hyun's Chinese Dictionary for Everyday Living," which shot to No 3 in the Korean store for applications for Apple's iPhone. So why the big change?

The story began in February of this year when Kim, who didn't even own a mobile phone, was asked by his students to develop and app for their iPhones that would help with their studies. Kim gave it some thought, consulted with business partners and, overcoming his technophobia, decided to give it a go. Besides a Chinese dictionary containing 2,300 key characters, Kim built several other apps that offered help in studying for Chinese tests, then watched as his creations became an overnight success.

Apple's iPhone arrived in Korea on November 28, 2009. In the nine months since then, the handsets and apps have become a phenomenon. After joining the revolution late, Korea's App Store now offers some 6,500 apps (there are around 134,000 available in total).

In Korea, app development is no longer the exclusive domain of techies. From corporations and public agencies to teachers and restaurateurs, app makers are popping up in all walks of life. As for apps themselves, their influence is being felt in economics, industry, politics and culture. For Korea, "The Age of the Apps" has truly arrived. "Compared to just three months ago, the demand for new apps has tripled," says Yang Soo-yeol, research chief at Inpion Consulting, a web services company. "To meet this demand, we see more and more app developing companies and individuals appearing almost every day."

As wildly successful as it's been, Kim's Chinese app is just one of a flurry of hits designed by and for Koreans. Seoul Bus, designed by second-year high school student Yoo Joo-wan, became a smash hit by telling Seoulites exactly how long they'd have to wait for their bus, whichever stop they were at. Since its release last December, Seoul Bus has been downloaded 560,000 times.

Seoul Bus also served another, hugely important role: teaching civil servants the value of openness. When the app was first released, the governments of Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province - on whose date Seoul Bus relied to work- tried to have it banned, saying that Yoo required their express permission to use the information about the buses. The public made their objections known, arguing that the information in fact belonged to them. The governments soon relented, and an app sensation was born.

For many Koreans, it was inspiring to see a student preparing for Korea's notoriously tough university entrance exams find the time to create an app. The moral seemed to be that whoever you were, and whatever your background, you could develop and make money from these programs.

Another app that's been clocking up big sales is Facial Recognition Physiognomy. Tapping into the old belief in assessing people's character through their faces, this app lets users access facial shots saved in their photo album then breaks them down into five areas. From this, it divines insights into what the future holds for him or her. In a country where fortune telling remains a popular pastime, the physiognomy app has been a big hit.

As anyone who’s spent time in Korea will tell you, delivered food is a staple of the local diet. Little surprise, then, that apps have appeared to cater to this demand, too.

Apps like Delivery Box and People of Delivery provide locations and phone numbers for chicken places, pizzerias, and a host of other take-out eateries. The apps offer access to menus and coupons that are only available through online orders, and even keep tabs on how long it’s been since the order was placed. More than 30,000 establishments across the country have signed up with these “delivery apps,” and more are doing so every day.

While catering to specific local needs, apps such as Delivery Box are also creating brand new experiences and new business opportunities. This, in turn, is creating a self perpetuating cycle of profit: As more innovative apps appear, more people want to buy iPhones.

Within just two months of iPhones and apps going on sale in Korea, the amount of online data used by Koreans more than doubled. Today, Korea’s iPhone users log an average of 442 MB per month, 44 times higher than regular cell phone holders. This exponential growth has had a positive knock-on effect to the economy. In the first quarter of this year, there were 6,689 job notices in the mobile communication and software sectors, up 51 percent from the same period a year ago. Between December 2009 and February 2010, there were also 1,325 companies newly registered in the publication, video, broadcasting and optional service provision sectors, an increase of 39 percent year-on-year. This vast increase, of course, coincided with the introduction of iPhone and the App Store in Korea.

According to KT, the Korean telecommunication company that brought the iPhone to Korea, the mobile data market could jump by 4.5 trillion won (US$3.8 billion) over the next three years. The paid contents market could rise by 1.9 trillion won over the same period, KT estimated.

From a country that held out against the iPhone longer than most, its arrival has been nothing short of revolutionary. Korea may not have been an early adopter of apps, but it’s a major player now.
source:korea.net

India: South Korea home appliances shows "two competing show" – LCD TV

Electronic appliances manufacturing, led by South Korea, has become the BRICs (BRICs: Brazil, Russia, India and China) emerging markets of India, the country leader brand, disdain for American and Japanese counterparts appliances.

Recent years, the South Korean home appliance giant Gaoqing Premium marketing strategies, frequently attack the Indian market, the final "Hard work pays off," South Korean home appliance has not only achieved a "market first" market share targets, and successful set the "best brand" brand leader. South Korea and from the end of last month, led by India's economic association agreement (CEPA) negotiations, a compromise ending the latter view, Korea is expected in the future will not only be limited to home appliances, including
Mobile
, Steel, computers and appliances, including the Indian market will also be blowing, "Korean wave", in Korea industry to penetrate the Indian market will also Japan and other developed countries, British and American Manufacturing Industry in the emerging countries strategy for overseas markets, produce a series of repressive impact.

Samsung Electronics announced on October 5, Germany's GfK market research institute in India
TV
Market statistics report shows the first half of this year Samsung flat-panel TV sales, accounting for overall market share of 26%, firmly occupy the league title. The July market share Samsung TV is increased to 29%, indicating that the Indian TV market lead Yiqijuechen "absolute strength." Especially
LCD TV
, Samsung Electronics sales since 2006, sales continued to control the number of units "champion" the throne. Although, Panasonic,
Sony
, Sharp and other Japanese TV series have enhanced the BRICs (BRICs), after the BRICs (also known as Next11 Brick 11 countries including: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam 10 countries), Yuan Wang of the five countries (VISTA: Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey and Argentina) the emerging countries strategy for overseas markets by opening stores, distributors and government agencies to strengthen local public relations, human resources, etc. to the localization emerging market country to attack, but the Samsung LCD TV in India "double winners" of the record so far and even 1 to 2 years, no one can break.

Samsung Electronics Vice President Yin Fu-Gen (image display Division), said: "Samsung LCD TV market in India, the first half of the actual market share reached 39%, in July it reached 41%, while the second half of this year is expected to will be maintained at above 40%. the secret is that we derive the premium (high) Product marketing strategy firmly lock the Indian market high-end consumer habits. "Samsung Electronics since 2006, which stopped in the Indian market CRT TV and other low-end product sales, focus on LCD TVs and
Plasma TV
And other high-end product marketing. Holding high-dozen high-end line, just follow the Indian economic boom in recent years the level of consumption "upgrading can" trend; Samsung Electronics fashion colorful design, the use of feature-rich fashion, due to complex cultural trends in the consumption of local residents swept the Indian market.

9 16 LG Electronics announced the global launch for the first time, consumers living in the Middle East Islam that can read the Bible – "Koran" television. The 42-inch, 50-inch LCD TVs two, operating the menu screen at a glance the 114 mark, "the Koran" link icon, built-in recorder's 160GB hard drive is adequate to protect the audio to read the speed and quality, and easy operation standards The pronunciation is very suitable for devout Muslim audience to use. The company also announced that another will be launched in the Middle East in Arabic and car navigation products market in Nigeria, Africa's tribal language English subtitles television. It is learned that, through detailed consumer surveys to develop the local market characteristics, with the localization of LG Electronics products in overseas markets has become an important component of development strategy.

Korean Folklore Essay

Since its creation, the nation of Korea has used folklore to illuminate the history of Korea. It blends the complex history of the nation, its strong connection with nature and high value of spirituality to form models of morality for its citizens to base their actions on. In fact, the very history of Korea is based on the myth that celestial beings and inhabitants of Earth were brought together to form an ideal kingdom that became Korea. Unfortunately the true history of this nation is not nearly that ideal.

Korea was first inhabited when tribes form Central and Northern Asia stumbled onto the peninsula around 2333 B.C. From this time on the inhabitants of this land have been under constant pressure of war from other lands. After years of constant invasion the tribes living on the peninsula finally banded together to found the kingdom of Korea in the first century of A.D.

During the reign of the Silla Kingdom, around 700 A.D., cultural strides were made by building great palaces, pagoda and pleasure gardens all over the countryside. These beautiful displays of culture were so admired by surrounding nations, such as Japan, that they greatly influenced the culture of other nations as well. Korea remained quite prosperous until the 13th century when the Mongols invaded Korea and reduced all they had built to ashes. After years of occupation, the Mongol Empire eventually collapsed and the Choson dynasty began.

This peace was short lived though, and at the turn of the 16th century Japan and China had both invaded Korea. By the 17th century, the Chinese Mancho dynasty had completely taken over. After some time, Korea slowly began regaining its land and closed its self off completely to any outside influences until the early 20th century. Despite the best efforts of the Koreans, the Japanese managed to invade one more time, and continued causing trouble for Korea until the end of World War II. After the war the United States occupied the South of Korea while the USSR took over the North. Elections were held in the South of Korea to determine the fate of the country. The decision was that the South declared independence from the North, but this only lead to invasions from the North and constant battles between the two until 1953. By the end of these wars two million people were dead and the country was completely divided between the North and the South. The South bounced back and forth between a semi-democracy and a martial law until the 1980’s. The citizens disliked this constant upheaval, and began banning together in protest, causing the government to fear that a Civil War may begin. The people of South Korea demanded democratic elections, freedom of the press and the release of political prisoners. By there surprise, President Chun decided to give everything the people were asking for.

In 1998, Kim Dae-jung became the first non-conservative president in the 50-year history of South Korea’s independence. Dae-jung introduced economic and democratic reforms and also wanted to better South Koreans relations with the north. By keeping his promise in 2000, President Kim Dae-jung visited North Korea and shook the hand of the leader of the North, Kim Jong II. In October of the same year, Dae-jung was awarded the Nobel-Peace Prize.

After years of war and turmoil, Korea is finally able to focus on its rich culture and rebuild its strong agricultural lands that most Koreans depend on as a way of life. Korea’s mild climate and fertile soil makes their agriculture plentiful and has made rice their number one grain since the earliest history of the nation. Rice plays such an important role in Korean culture that it is often referenced in much for Korea’s folklore. For example, the classic tale of Two Brothers describes how two brothers attempt to better the other life by providing him with an extra bag of rice. Based on this tale, it is considered bad luck in Korea to throw out rice.

Farming is also a large part of Korean culture and has influenced many of its customs. The Koreans have kept their ritual of farming since the beginning of the empire by sowing the seeds in the Spring, taking care of the rice plants in the Summer, harvesting crops in the fall, and preserving cereals in the winter months. In most other cultures, farmers would plan their important agriculture dates around the sun’s orbit. In Korea, the position of the moon is much more important, for it marks the change of seasons and all important agriculture dates. The moon is not only used as a calendar for farming, but it is also used to illuminate the night skies.

The most festive day of the year in Korean culture is “Sol”, which is the Koreans New Years Day. What is different about this New Years celebration when compared to other cultures is that everyone becomes a year older on this day instead of one ones birthday. Korean’s would be so excited and full of anticipation the few day’s before sol that would stay awake all night to receive the New Year. This custom turned into a playful joke saying, “If you fall asleep, you will get your eyebrows turned white.”

On the morning of sol, all family members dress in their best clothes, which are called, “solbim (new clothes of sol)”, and gather at the eldest-son’s house for the ancestral ceremonies. This custom is so strong that if the eldest son lives in a far off rural area that a three day holiday if granted to allow Korean’s to reunite with there family and be able to spend time with them.

Rice cake soup called “Ttokkuk” is used for the ancestor worship ritual on New Years day. Before an altar, family members and all relatives pay homage to the deceased ancestors. After this ritual is over, they sit down and feast on the foods that were displayed during the ceremony.

Even though Sol only lasts for three days, festivals for the holiday last until “Taeborum”, which represents the first full moon of the New Year, since the moon plays such a large role in Korean belief system. Korean culture also uses the first full moon to foretell the years harvest outcome. During this period of festivities oral traditions have come about since folklore is often told during this time to depict the cultures love of nature and man and to teach important life lessons. This is also a time when custom plays a large role in the daily activities of Koreans. One of these customs is to crack nuts with your teeth, which is believed to make your teeth strong and healthy throughout the New Year. Folk games begin in the afternoon of the New Year, and go until Teaborum. Children fly kites, which is one of the most popular activities. In the last day of the celebrations, the string of the kite is cut and it disappears into the sky. The most thrilling game though is a tough-of-rope competition between all of the townspeople. This time of festivities is truly cherished by all Koreans and in 1985 Sol was considered a national legal holiday for all to celebrate their culture. Today in Korea, Sol is officially known as “Folklore Day”.

Another day that the Korean’s cherish culturally is Hansik. The word Hansik means “cold food” in Korean. This day falls on the 105th day after the solstice, which is the 5th of April. This time of the year is the beginning of spring, and the time when farmers start sowing their seeds and watering their rice patties. The custom of eating cold food on this day originated in China, but has long since become Korean culture. Today, Hansik is used to welcome the warm weather and prepare for the farming season. Like New Years, this day is also for worshiping the deceased ancestors of ones family. This happens in the morning of Hansik, and the family gathers together to visit and clean the tomb of there ancestors. This day is shared with Arbor Day, so public cemeteries are usually full and crowded with the family members planting trees and flowers around the tombs.

Another holiday that is almost as popular and perhaps more special than Sol is Ch’usok. Ch’usok means the harvest moon and it lands on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This day can be considered equivalent of America’s Thanksgiving. On this day, Koreans wake up early to perform their ancestral worship. The ritual starts with the family preparing food from the new crops, followed by visits to the tombs of their ancestors to again clean the tombs. The Koreans believe that the harvested crops are gifts and blessing from their ancestors, Ch’usok is the day they show their gratitude for these gifts. Many foods are prepared especially for Ch’usok. One custom that many Koreans have cherished since childhood is the making of Songp’yon with family members. Songp’yon is a crescent shaped rice cake made with many different spices for unique flavor. This holiday is usually blessed with mild weather, a bright full moon and lots of wonderful food made with the freshly harvested food with the new crops. As with cultural holidays, traditional games, music, and storytelling are combined to create a festive mood.

As you can see, while Korea has dealt with a long history of war an almost constant upheaval, it has also celebrated a rich history of enjoying life and celebrating ancestry and culture. Koreans, to this day, feel that it is necessary to relax and reflect on life and its many gifts in order to maintain sanity. Through folklore the people of Korea can be reminded of these values of reflection can apply them to life situations. All works of Korean folklore prove that there are no “accidents” in life, such as bad harvest, death of a loved one or even war. In the myths and tales weather characters survive the hardships they must endure or not is used to reflect how life is not merely accidental, but a series of lessons that can either be learned from, or that will lead to eventual lead to demise. Characters who do not remember to be appreciative of what their land and their ancestors have provided for them always find that their story ends with the ladder. By looking into the history and culture of Korea, with sad stories of war being overshadowed by widespread celebration of culture and history, it is plain to see that Koreans today still remember the lessons learned through folklore and have used them to from the rich culture they experience today.

The Great Battle of Hansan Festival Opens August 11th at Tongyeong

This historic festival commemorates Hansando Daecheop (the Great Battle of Hansan, 1592), one of the major battles won by Admiral Yi Sun-shin (1545-1598) during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Now in its 49th year, this year the Great Battle of Hansan Festival is scheduled to be held for five days from August 11th-15th at Munhwa Madang and Yi Sun-shin Park in Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.

On the first day of the festival, as a naval vessel docks at Tongyeong Port, a memorial ceremony will take place at Chungnyeolsa Temple (충렬사) to honor Admiral Lee Sun-shin, where the great leader’s ancestral tablet is enshrined. On the 12th, Gunjeom Ceremony, a naval parade, will be performed at Sebyeonggwan (세병관, one of the main offices of the three naval bases of the Joseon Dynasty) after which the Samdosuguntongjesa (삼도수군통제사, Three Major Naval Bases) Parade will wind along the downtown streets. On the 14th, a reenactment of the Great Battle of Hansan will take place at 18:00 off the shores of Hansando Island featuring ships shooting fire and lasers into the night sky.

A wide range of traditional performances such as Namhaean Byeolsingut, Tongyeong Tallori and Taekkyeon will be held along with other side events including ‘Making Geobukseon (Turtle Ship)’, and ‘Creating Your Own Najeonchilgi’ (mother-of-pearl craft).

*More Info

☞ Go to The Great Battle of Hansan Festival 2010
☞ Korea Travel Phone: +82-55-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chines

2010 Chuncheon Puppet Festival to present 180 performances by 80 teams from home and abroad

The 2010 Chuncheon Puppet Festival is held at major theaters in Chuncheon City from August 9th to 15th. During the festival period, a wide range of puppet shows will be presented by performers from home and abroad.

Marking its 22nd anniversary this year, the festival will feature 180 puppet plays and a wide range of side events by 50 performance teams, including professional puppeteers from Germany, France, Belgium, Japan and Russia. This year, a number of special guests will be taking the stage: The Fifth Wheel from Germany performing “Cabaret On Strings” (a traditional European musical marionette comedy); Kotofei from Russia performing “Nonsense” (an animal puppet show based on a children’s poem); and Butterflies & Company from Belgium performing “Oetsie Poetsie” (a show where two performers create a variety of sounds and rhythms using everyday items such as brooms, mops and vacuum cleaners).

A range of experience events will be held during the festival period as well. Barbara Scheel, a German psychiatrist, will present a therapy session using puppets titled ‘Puppet Therapy: Communicate to Open Your Mind.’ Yu Seong-Gyun from ‘Inhyeongin’, a puppet performers association in Korea, will be giving a lecture on puppet performance titled ‘Puppet Performance, the Key to communication and understanding’. A ticket for special performances and shows by overseas teams costs 10,000won; general tickets cost 7,000won. Those booking in advance may be rendered eligible to receive a 20% discount.

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☞ Period: August 9th (Mon) - 15th(Sun), 2010
☞ Venue: Chuncheon Puppet Theater in Chuncheon, Chuncheon Theatre Momjit, Chuncheon Youth Center
☞ For more information: +82-33-242-8450
☞ Korea Travel Phone: +82-33-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
☞ Ticket Reservation: 1544-1555 (Interpark Ticket Call Center)
☞ Performance schedule (Korean)
☞ Official website http://cocobau.cafe24.com/ (Korean)

Camp in the Korean mountains this summer

Hwayang Valley, Songnisan Mountain (Image: Korea Tourism Organization)

If you’re tired of the same old beaches and sand this summer, how about a camping up a mountain? Korea, 70 percent of whose land is covered with mountains, is certainly an ideal place to camp and hike. With clean air, fresh water and camping facilities conveniently maintained by the Korea National Park Service (KNPS) that is eager to bring in more visitors, what more can you ask for, for you and your family? Here are a few scenic places recommended by the national park service this summer.

Sogeumgang Valley in Odaesan Mountain, Gangwon-do (Gangwon Province), is often referred to as a miniature Geumgangsan Mountain (its name actually means that), one of the most scenic mountains in the country. Boasting its own grace, it was designated as scenic spot no. 1 in Korea in 1970.

Sogeumgang, Odaesan Mountain (Photo: Yonhap News)

The Gucheondong Valley (30 kilometers long) in Deogyusan Mountain is famous for its clear, fresh water surrounded by numerous rocky cliffs. Once there were 14 Buddhist temples gathered there, lived in by nearly 9,000 monks in total. Whenever it was meal time, the stream in the area turned white from all the rice rinsed in the water. That was how the border for Gucheondong Valley was set – according to the flow of the rice-rinsed water. Recently the national park set up an exploration route “the Old Road of Gucheondong” (5.9 kilometers) which is excellent for eco-tourism.

The entire length of Baemsagol Valley (9 kilometers) of Jirisan Mountain is formed of fantastically shaped cliffs. At the center sit many large flat rocks known as Neoreok-bawi that can hold over 100 people and 100 or more big and small waterfalls. Thanks to the gentle slopes that make it easy to hike around, the valley has long been one of the most popular mountaineering spots in Korea.

Of the many valleys in Chiaksan Mountain, Guryeong Valley (7 kilometers) is considered the people’s favorite, due to its long, smooth path lined with lush woods that give cool shade during summer. The clean water that flows from the mountainside (1,200 meters above sea-level) forms big and small waterfalls.

Gucheondong Valley, Deogyusan Mountain (Photo: Yonhap News)

The Hwayang Valley at Songnisan Mountain is especially rich in cool clean, water and is a perfect place to splash around for fun. Surrounded by rich forests filled with interesting bugs to watch and large, flat rocks to sit on, this is the place to go with kids.

For those living in Korea, try out the official website of the Korea National Park Service (http://english.knps.or.kr/), where you can make online reservations. To make a reservation, first click on the white ECO TOUR button on the top of the page. Then click on “National Park Reservation” where you’ll see icons linked to the available mountains in the area. Click on the “Facility Reservation” button at the top right of the icons page, and then “Shelter.” Shelter will present you with camp sites for the three mountains Seoraksan, Deogyusan and Jirisan.

Baemsagol Valley, Jirisan Mountain

If you’ve made up your mind about the mountains click “Reservation” and a window will pop up asking you to fill in your name and e-mail address. When that is completed, another page will come up with four menus – Notice, Reserving, My Reservations & Reserve Others. The Notice will provide a basic guide to reservations, Reserving will show you the vacancy status of camp sites. Since it is already the middle of the summer vacation, many of the rooms are likely to be filled up. Reserving Others is the menu that shows available spots in other mountains.

The final part of the reservation process will require you to write down your name, phone, cell phone, e-mail and the number of people, plus their ages and genders. You’re done after you complete the form and click on the “apply” button. Then confirm your status through the My Reservations Page.

Auto Camping Site

On the day, just show up with your ID card on the spot and you and your group will be admitted to the reserved camp site. To cancel your choice, return to My Reservation and simply click the cancel button. There may be few glitches to online reservations, so for further inquiries, refer to the e-mail address and phone number shown on the website. This online reservation service is currently provided only in Korean and English.

Meanwhile, the KNPS also rents tents. The price is 5,000–8,000 won per night, depending on the size of the tent. Auto-camping (car camping) is also available in 15 places, including Naewonsa Buddhist Temple on Jirisan Mountain.