Antony to go on two-day visit to South Korea

Defence cooperation between India and South Korea is poised to receive a major boost when Defence Minister A.K. Antony Thursday goes on a two-day visit to Seoul.

This is the first visit of an Indian defence minister to South Korea and is at theinvitation of his counterpart, Kim Tae-young.

“The visit is part of India’s Look East Policy and a wide range of issues including defence cooperation for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and bilateral cooperation in research and development for manufacture of military equipment will figure prominently during the discussions between Antony and the top leadership of South Korea,” a defence ministry statement said.

Antony will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Vice Admiral R.K. Dhowan, Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik, Prahlada and Sundaram Krishna.

The Indian delegation will also visit some of South Koreas defence establishments.

Antony’s visit has been planned as a follow-up of the joint declaration issued during the state visit of South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak to New Delhi in January when it was decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership.

The foundation for the India-South Korea defence relations was laid in 2005 when the two countries signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in defence, industry and logistics. Yet another MoU on cooperation between the Coast Guards of the two countries was signed in March 2006.

India had played a major role at the conclusion of the Korean war in 1953 when it deployed a brigade of troops to the UN peacekeeping mission that supervised the armistice that brought the conflict to an end.

source:prokerala news

한국·인도 ‘전략적 동반자 관계’ 격상

이명박 대통령과 만모한 싱 인도 총리는 25일 양국관계를 ‘장기적 협력동반자 관계’에서 ‘전략적 동반자 관계’로 격상하기로 합의했다. 두 정상은 또 지난해 121억달러 수준이던 양국 교역액을 2014년까지 300억달러로 확대키로 했다.

이명박 대통령이 25일(현지시간) 인도 뉴델리의 총리 집무실에서 만모한 싱 인도 총리와의 한·인도 정상회담에 앞서 악수하고 있다.

인도를 국빈방문중인 이 대통령과 싱 총리는 이날 오후 인도 뉴델리 총리실에서 정상회담을 열고 정치·안보, 경제·통상 등 5개 분야의 협력 방안을 담은 공동성명을 채택했다.

두 정상은 양국관계 격상에 맞춰 정치·안보협력체제 구축을 위해 외교차관을 수석대표로 하는 외교안보대화를 신설, 올해 내로 1차 회의를 개최키로 합의했다. 올 상반기 방산군수공동위원회 개최 등 양국간 국방·군수 분야 협력도 강화하기로 했다.

‘전략적 동반자 관계’는 단순한 협력과 평화의 모색을 넘어 국제문제와 대외전략까지 함께 논의하는 단계로 교역량의 증가와 관계 심화가 필수적이다. 한국이 전략적 관계를 맺은 국가는 미국, 중국, 러시아 등에 이어 13번째이고 인도는 한국과 9번째로 전략적 관계를 구축했다.

두 정상은 또 이달 초 발효된 한·인도 포괄적경제협력협정(CEPA)을 계기로 양국 무역·투자 확대를 위해 노력하기로 합의했다. 이를 위해 이중과세방지협정 개정, 한국 시중은행의 인도 지점 개설, 항공편 증설을 위한 항공협정 개정 등 환경 개선을 위한 정부 차원의 협력과 지원도 강화해 나가기로 했다.

두 정상은 특히 원자력협력협정 체결을 위한 협상을 개시하기로 합의했다. 이 대통령은 회담에서 “한국 최초의 원자력발전소를 책임지고 건설한 경험이 있다”면서 “한국 원전의 안정성과 우수성을 자신한다”고 말했다. 싱 총리는 이에 “원전협정 체결의 필요성에 공감한다”고 답했다. 인도는 안정적 에너지 확보 차원에서 2032년까지 원전 40기 건설을 목표로 하고 있다.

정상회담 후 싱 총리는 인도의 시성 타고르의 ‘동방의 등불’이란 시를 인용하며 “한국의 빛은 21세기 동아시아 시대에 한층 더 빛날 것”이라고 밝혔다. 이 대통령은 “한국과 인도는 더 큰 아시아, 더 큰 시장을 만들어 낼 수 있을 것”이라고 말했다.

한편 이 대통령은 인도 방문 이틀째인 이날 정상회담을 비롯해 총 10개의 일정을 소화했다. 양국 경제인들과 오찬을 함께하며 기업간 교류를 강조했으며, 인도의 여야 대표들을 잇달아 만나 관계 발전을 위한 정치권의 지원을 당부했다. 이 대통령은 앞서 인도의 정신적 지도자인 마하트마 간디 추모공원을 찾아 헌화했다.

자료:경향 뉴스

Busan City to improve procedures for purchasing and issuing transportation cards for children

A transportation card for children incorporating the transfer discount system has been in existence since 2006 but there have been complaints about the inconvenience experienced when purchasing and issuing the card. Therefore, from September 1, the procedure will be improved to make it more convenient.

According to the new procedure, the transportation card for children can be purchased at any Busan Bank, charging station or general shop. In addition, a used children’s card can now be passed down to younger siblings.

To use the card, registration is required by presentation of some valid form of identification, showing the names and birth dates of children, along with the transportation card, at any Busan Bank. If an expired and unregistered children’s card is used, the youth fare will automatically be charged. Use of the transportation card by anyone other than children will incur a fine equal to 30 times the original fare.

The transportation card for children is only for children aged between 6 and 12. When the children reach 13, they will automatically be charged the youth fare. Some 94,000 transportation cards for children were produced in 2009 and they were used about 9 million times a year.

source:Korea.net

some must visit places and practices showing Korean Culture

Dancheong, decorative paintings on a building at Gyeongbuk Palace

Lotus lantern festivaas hanbok (한복) (known as joseonot in the (DPRK) has been worn since ancient times. The hanbok consists of a shirt (jeogori) and a skirt (baji). The traditional hat is called gwanmo and special meaning is attached to this piece of clothing.

Darye, Korean tea ceremony

Daeboreum

Yut board game

Seoukguram Grotto

A frontal view of the west gate and watch tower.

G20 Seoul Summit to offer blueprint for global finance

The G20 Seoul Summit, the biggest annual forum on economic cooperation in the world today, will reveal a new blueprint for the future of global finance this coming November in Seoul, Korea.

Specific details for implementation of sustainable and balanced growth

More specific details will be unveiled to realize a framework for sustainable and balanced growth at the upcoming meeting in Seoul. Officials have already agreed to work together on general policy related to budget, finance, currency and industry based on the results of the previous meeting held in Toronto, Canada.

The basic principle concluded in Toronto was a need for developing nations to reduce their budgets by half by 2013, while emerging nations need to strengthen their social safety nets and increase currency exchange flexibility. The meeting in Seoul will come up with more specific measures to address these and a range of other issues of importance.

In order to strengthen the soundness of bank regulations, a process already begun at the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), the G20 leaders agreed to set up a new global standard for capital and liquidity at the Seoul meeting. They will also discuss reform measures for international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Other issues Korea is pursuing as part of the main agenda include the establishment of the Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN) and addressing development issues, known as the “Korea initiatives.”

A global approach to GFSN is a way to prevent future crisis from spreading from one nation to another. The development agenda has already discussed how multilateral development banks like the World Bank can contribute to food security, developing human resources, fostering private-oriented growth, aiding infrastructure, and developing an environmentally friendly “green” economy. The November meeting will add more specifics to these agendas.

Korea to bridge the gap between developed and developing nations

The G20 Seoul Summit is expected to be a historic moment for Korea to prove itself one of the major decision makers of the future global economy. The G20 stands as the world largest international gathering to discuss the global economy, and Korea’s contributions have helped it become a major policy maker for global regulations.

Korea’s biggest asset lies in its rapid economic growth and ability to recover quickly from financial crisis. Based on its experiences transforming from one of the world’s poorest nations to a developed nation, Korea wishes to use its unique background to help bridge the differences between developed and developing nations.

source:Korea.net

Korea ranked 19th in 2008 UN trade report

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said on Aug. 29 that Korea ranked 19th in the UN trade report issued in 2008, with 52 Korean products listed as important export items worldwide.

KITA's latest finding is based on its analysis of the "Personal Computer-Trade Analysis System" report of the United Nations.

According to their analysis, Korea placed 19th with 52 top-selling Korean products in 2008, similar to its ranking the previous year, with the same number of products available globally.

In terms of top selling products, 16 out of 52 Korean products listed in the UN trade report in 2007 were replaced by another 16 export items the following year.

The new 16 best-selling Korean products listed in UN trade report in 2008 include flat-rolled steel products, marine propulsion engines, and parts and materials for batteries and optical filters.

Meanwhile, China topped in the UN report with 1,210 products in 2008, up from 830 in 2004. Among the listed products, the number of China's high-tech products grew from 50 in 2004 to 81 in 2008. Germany ranked second, with 860 products, followed by the United States with 587 items, Italy with 288 items, and Japan with 213 items in the 2008 report.

"The report showed that developing countries seem to be competing in medium and high technology product items, after outstripping industrialized countries in low-tech, light industry sectors," according to KITA .

KITA also urged Korea to focus on expanding its international market share of high-tech products in order to increase exports

source:Korea.net

Stories of the Month

Major Events

1. Incheon International Digital Art Festival (INDAF) 2010

http://www.indaf.org/

The festival will present new aesthetics of digital media art from cutting-edge international and Korean digital artists. There will be digital arts competitions, conferences, exhibitions, interactive displays etc.

- Period : September 1 – 30, 2010
- Venue : Tomorrow City, Songdo, Incheon

2. Media City Seoul 2010

http://www.mediacityseoul.org/2010/

As one of the three major art biennials in Korea alongside the Gwangju Biennale and Busan Biennale, it is the 6th Seoul International Biennale of Media Art. Under the theme "Trust," the biennale will present a wide spectrum of art works created through the inspiring fusion of media technology and contemporary arts.

- Period : September 7 – November 17, 2010
- Venue : SeMA (Seoul Museum of Art), Gyeonghigung etc.