Korea signs MOUs with 50 countries on nuclear safety regulation cooperation

A total of 50 countries in the Middle East and Africa recently signed memoranda of understanding with the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) for the establishment of a nuclear safety regulation system, the advancement of cooperation, and incubation of nuclear specialists.

KINS, a state-funded organization of technical experts on nuclear regulatory authority, said on September 24 that it signed MOUs with the 28 countries of the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA) and the 22 countries of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA) during the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference, which was held in Vienna, Austria.

Under the MOUs, the institute will provide its package for national nuclear safety networks, dubbed "Integrated Regulatory Infrastructure Support Service" (IRISS), to participating countries. The IRISS package contains specialized human resource education and training programs, IT-based nuclear safety regulation systems and experienced technical help in establishing an infrastructure for nuclear power safety control systems.

This helps Korea secure its place as a leading country in nuclear technology, like the United States, France and Japan. However, none of these nuclear-advanced countries has signed such a large number of MOUs with countries on nuclear safety regulation cooperation.

President of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety Yun Choul Ho (center left, first row) poses with representatives of the 50 countries that signed MOUs on nuclear safety regulation technology cooperation in Vienna, Austria. (Photo courtesy of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety)

The institute will provide support in conducting safety analysis of nuclear power plants, environmental impact assessments, and will providing training courses to member countries of the FNRBA and the AAEA starting late this year. It will also hold workshops in Africa and the Middle East.

The institute will also offer more than ten overseas training courses every year, along with graduate courses in international nuclear safety through the International Nuclear Safety School, which is run and housed by the institute in alliance with the IAEA.

Nuclear power is a key source of energy in many countries that lack other resources to supply the energy needs of their citizens. In 2009, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan selected Korea to lead the construction of nuclear power plants in their countries.

According to KINS staff, since the UAE chose Korea as its partner for the establishment of nuclear power plant last year, countries in Middle Eastern and African regions have shown strong interest in the economic efficiency of Korea's nuclear power technology and its management of nuclear safety regulation systems.  It also speaks positively of international perception of the safety of Korea's nuclear power plant technology, the staff said.

President of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety Yun Choul Ho (right) shakes hands with Shamsideen B. Elegba, the Director-General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, in Vienna, Austria. (Photo courtesy of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety)

The "KINS-KAIST International Nuclear Safety Master's Degree Program," which opened last year, also played a role in helping the institute conclude the latest MOUs.

In cooperation with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, the 1.5 year graduate course is designed to educate and train high-caliber human resources as nuclear safety experts. The program attracts approximately ten students a year, including enrollees from overseas.

The institute played key role in the establishment of an infrastructure for nuclear power management and education programs, along with other support programs. 

source:Korea.net

Andong fires up International Mask Dance Festival

The 13th Andong International Mask Dance Festival will be held from September 24 to October 3, bringing together mask dancers and entertainers from all over Korea and around the world.  One of the largest and most popular festivals in Korea, this two-week event is the premier festival of the season.

Mask dance is an essential and ancient part of Korean culture, and each area in Korea developed its own particular theme, style, and costume.  Normally, seeing all these different dances would require traveling all around the country, but the festival is one of the few opportunities to a dozen different local dances in the same place.  From the Unyul Lion Dance to the Songpa Sangdae Mask Dance, these highly entertaining and colorful dances will all be performed during the festival at the main stage in Andong’s Hahoe Village.

Just recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage site along with Gyeongju’s Yangdong Village, Hahoe Village is a stunning collection of traditional houses in a scenic area that has been continuously inhabited for 600 years.  With examples of houses for both the elite Yangban class and commoners, the area is a uniquely important architectural and cultural site.

Hahoe Village is also home to one of the most unique and important mask dances, the Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori.  This dance, dating back to the Goryo period, satirizes the lifestyles of the local elites and religious figures, and gives a humorous and vivid glimpse into rural lifestyles.  It is also the only indigenous Korean mask dance to be performed in articulated wooden masks.  Most mask dances use paper masks, which are burned after the performance, but in Hahoe the masks are used over and over again, and handed down through the generations.  The Hahoe Byeolsingut will be performed both on the village’s main stage.

The masks are also the subject of a curious legend.  According to tradition, a young man was told to carve the masks by a deity, who also commanded that he had to do so in complete solitude.  Accordingly the man sequestered himself far away from civilization, and had almost completed his task when a young maiden who loved him found his camp.  As soon as they laid eyes on each other, the young man died, leaving the last mask uncompleted.  To this day, the mask for the fool lacks a jaw.

International mask dance performance groups from China, Tibet, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, and Malaysia will also be at the festival, bringing a multinational flair to the events. The main festival ground in downtown Andong will play host to the dances from abroad, ensuring a chance for Koreans and visitors alike to enjoy the performances.

In addition to the mask dances, the festival also features some unique and stunning examples of traditional entertainment.  While Korean shaman ceremonies have mostly disappeared from daily life, there will be a major gut (shaman ceremony) held both at the main downtown venue and at a sacred tree in downtown, for a rare chance to witness this special ritual.  There will also be demonstrations of traditional chanting and singing, a funeral procession, and poetry composition contest.

The highlight of events downtown include the Notdaribapgi, a dance portraying a queen’s escape over the Nakdong River, and the Chajeonnori, where local men divide into teams that attack each other in an attempt to unseat the opposing captain, who rides an A-frame.

Weekends at Hahoe Village during the festival also include one of the most spectacular folk customs in Korea. Seonyujulbulnori is an absolutely unique event that involves floating lanterns, slow-burning flares strung across the Nakdong River, and bonfires being tossed over a cliff into the river as performers sing and recite classical poems. Performed on Saturday nights during the festival, this is one of the most mesmerizing and memorable events offered by any festival in Korea.

source:Korea.net

Korean team wins U-17 Women’s World Cup

(Photo: Yonhap News)

The Korean national team won the U-17 Women’s World Cup, held at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on September 26 (Korean time). This is the first such victory ever for a Korean team in any tournament organized by FIFA.

The Korean U-17 women’s team took first place after defeating their Japanese rivals in a penalty shootout, with a final score of 5-4. It was a close match, as both teams were tied 3-3 in an exhausting overtime match.

The U-17 Women’s World Cup, a soccer tournament for players under 17 years of age, is a biannual event held in even-numbered years. The first U-17 event was held in New Zealand in 2008, and was won by the North Koreans.

Forward Yeo Min-ji, 17, had an exceptional tournament, appearing in six matches to score eight goals and three assists, as well as winning the Golden Boot (top scorer) and the Golden Ball (MVP Award).

Yeo is also expected to receive an award for best goal, after scoring four goals in a row in the Nigeria match for a 6-5 win on September 17. The results will be determined by an online poll, which is open until September 30.

Yeo Min-ji, 17, raising the Golden Boot Award after the final U-17 tournament on Sunday, Sept. 26 (Korean time). (Photo: Yonhap News)

Kumi Yokoyama from Japan took both the Silver Ball and the Bronze Boot. Kim Kum-jong from North Korea, whose team took the fourth place, was awarded the Bronze Ball. Kyra Malinowski from Germany was awarded the Silver Boot and Dolores Gallardo from Spain received the Golden Glove. The German team received the FIFA Fair Play Award.

The team’s manager, Choi Duck-joo, was praised for his gentle leadership style, emphasizing fun over winning and helping players enjoy the game while building their skills.

The FIFA website posted an article on the Korean team’s win titled, “Taeguk Ladies strike Caribbean gold,” lauding their achievements. The article described the last game between Korea and Japan as a “thrilling final packed with goals and drama,” and named the long distance strike (about 23 meters) by Korean midfielder Lee Jung-eun as the goal of the day.

First introduced in the late 1800’s, soccer has seen increased popularity in Korea, but the country has yet to win a World Cup event until recently, and expectations were low for the U-17 Korean women’s team. 

The adult team participated in the 2003 Women’s World Cup held in the United States, and the U-20 Women’s team reached the World Cup level only once, in 2004.

The 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup brought much-needed attention to the game, which had languished since its establishment as a professional sport in the early 90’s. The revival also brought new energy, support, and assistance to the women’s leagues, which experienced rapid growth.

At the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) U-16 Women's Championship held in November of 2009, the South Korean team defeated Japan and North Korea in their respective matches, and showing a glimmer of their true potential.

This year, many of the same players from those matches two years ago took helped their team take third place at the U-20 Women’s World Cup Championship, held last month. The increasing competitiveness of the younger women’s teams bodes well for Korea’s future prospects in the sport. 

(Photo: Yonhap News) source:Korea.net

Korea Culture Center to host K-pop event in Argentina

K-pop lovers in Latin America are in for a treat.

The Korean Cultural Center of Latin America, which is based in Argentina, will hold a special K-pop contest at the 350-seat Samsung Studio in Buenos Aires on October 10 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Sponsored by Korea’s Samsung Corporation’s Argentinean offices and the Cultural Office of the Argentina, the event will be attended by Hallyu (Korean Wave) lovers from ten Latin American countries, including Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Chile and Paraguay.

This is the first K-pop contest to be held on such a large international scale.

A total of 281 performers from 92 teams applied to participate, including 32 teams and a total of 98 performers from Argentina, two teams and six people from Paraguay, 17 teams with 45 members from Mexico, 16 teams and a total of 64 participants from Chile, four teams for a total of 12 people from Columbia, five teams and 15 people from Venezuela, 11 teams and nearly 30 people Peru, one five-member team from Ecuador, three teams and 6 performers from the Dominican Republic, and one person from Costa Rica.

Argentina held two preliminary rounds before selecting its K-pop performers. Dance groups from other countries were required to submit sample videos of their performances for the screening process.

“We hope the upcoming show play a pivotal role in raising interest in Korean pop culture in the Central and Latin America region,” said Yi Chong-yul, director of the Korea Cultural Center in Argentina. “It’s important to open this function in Argentina, a country that will also participate in Korea’s G20 Financial Summit.”

The director added that he is also putting out all the stops in his efforts to promote Korea, and is in the process of asking Argentina’s Ms. Universe to be the promotional ambassador for K-pop.  The event is also being widely advertized on channels including CNN Spanish and through an Argentinean ad agency. “The Culture Office of Argentina selected our K-pop contest as an ‘interesting cultural festival (Declarado de Interses Cultural por la Secretaria de Cultura de la Nacion)’,” said Yi.

In the past, Argentina was considered one of the toughest places for the Korean Wave. However, thanks to entertaining programs launched by the Korea Culture Center, Korean singing groups like Super Junior, TVXQ, Girls’ Generation, and the Wonder Girls now have some 1,000 active K-pop fans in the country.

“From what I gather from K-pop fan club managers that exchange Korean entertainment news through YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, the number of fans may exceed 10,000 when including Brazil and other neighboring countries across South and Central America,” said Yi.

For more information on K-pop events in the region, please visit: Centro Cultural Coreano en America Latina
(http://argentina.korean-culture.org/welcome.do)

source:Korea.net

G20 Seoul Summit to seek currency policy compromise

SaKong Il, chairman of the Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit, said that the currency dispute between major countries be resolved through compromise at the G20 Seoul Summit.

"We are currently in the second stage of evaluation, in order to carry out the framework for strong, sustainable, and balanced growth which was launched at the Pittsburgh Summit," SaKong Il said in an international symposium hosted by the Korea Development Institute and the Brookings Institution in Seoul on September 28. "Throughout this stage, the currency issue will be under deep consideration and we hope we will be able to find some point of agreement," he added.

He also expressed that the countries involved with the currency issue should seek compromise through the G20 Seoul Summit, adding that the discussions were not only taking place at the summit on November 11, but that discussions were ongoing at the working-level. 

Paul Martin, former prime minister of Canada, also said that the G20 should be a global coordinating committee and to achieve this, every single agenda which relates to international concerns should be considered. Martin also said exchange rate discussions should be brought to the G20 summit table in Seoul next month, and should be discussed either officially or unofficially.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner expressed concern about the limited, slow revaluation of the Chinese yuan at the U.S. Senate banking committee meeting on Sept. 16, and emphasized that he would rally support for the exchange rate reforms and fair trade practices.

Meanwhile, Martin said that as Korea is the first host and chair from the Asian region, the G20 will enter a new stage in international society and play a crucial role in future.
source:Korea.net

Major Events of this Month

Major Events 

1. Hi Seoul Festival 2010 

http://english.hiseoulfest.org/2010/src/hsf/HSFIntroduction.asp  

Teams and individuals from 13 countries, including France, Australia and Spain will present spectacular shows under the theme of “Non-verbal Performances.” There will be a firework event on the eve of the festival on October 1. 

- Period : October 2 – October 10, 2010 
- Venue : All over the city of Seoul (mainly around Han River areas) 
- Theme : Non-verbal Performances 

2. 2010 Bucheon World Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo 

http://www.bucheonexpo.org/index_eng.php  

The Expo aims to provide its citizens with a variety of programs that are loaded with fun events that seamlessly blend traditional and modern art, as well as providing an educational juxtaposition of the Oriental and Western cultures. The programs include diverse traditional arts performances, exhibits of famous Korean and foreign artists, as well as public demonstration and experience programs. 

- Period : September 28 – October 12, 2010 
- Venue : Bucheon Visual Cultural Complex, Gyeonggi-do 
- Theme : Discovering the Future in Tradition 

I love traditional Korean rice cakes (called “tteok”). Some people eat rice cakes in the morning as a grab-and-go breakfast while some others eat them to lose weight as a dietary food. These days, there are so many new kinds of rice cake, made from some unusual ingredients with new techniques. I’d say the most appealing thing about rice cake is its texture, its soft chewiness. And thus, one of the most baffling things about tteok is that they lose its signature chewiness so fast. You buy some nice chunks of tteok in the evening on your way home from work, and the next morning you find them gone all hard and dry. Hard and dry, that’s not rice cake anymore. I bet you all have this sad experience. And here is some good news for you! A new technique has been developed that can make tteok that preserves its chewiness for a long, long time. No more hardened rice cake Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) developed a manufacture technique that prevents rice cake from going hard and dry. With this new recipe that involves no chemical processing or additive whatsoever, you can now enjoy the soft chewiness of rice cake for a long, long time. They call it “miracle” rice cakes since if you store them in the fridge, once defrozen they will restore their original chewy texture but completely. According to RDA, the soft, moist, chewy texture comes from beating rice cake a numerous number of times which produces microscopic, elaborate structures within. And RDA managed to convert this beating into an exacting, scientific process. In Korea, rice cake is a “must” item at special feasts like holidays, birthdays, kick-off ceremonies etc. And since rice cakes turn hard and dry so easily, tteok manufactures, when there is a large order, have to wake up at the break of dawn and start making rice cake right on the day it’s needed; they can’t do it earlier. That sure is a tough labor. Also, rice cake’s poor durability and difficult storage has been detaining vitalization of the tteok industry. But now with the new technique, things will start looking up, including increased rice consumption. Time for rice cake to go global Now that we’re striving for globalization of Korean food, rice cake can be one of the key items, especially with the new technique. Compared to bread, rice cake is healthier, more digestible, and can fill up your stomach. With the new technique, RDA announced that they’re expecting to generate1.3 trillion won worth of economic value. They plan to get the technique (which they named “cool tteok recipe”) patented soon and start putting it to practical use. Let’s look forward to days when rice cake will be more popular than bread!

I love traditional Korean rice cakes (called “tteok”). Some people eat rice cakes in the morning as a grab-and-go breakfast while some others eat them to lose weight as a dietary food. These days, there are so many new kinds of rice cake, made from some unusual ingredients with new techniques.

I’d say the most appealing thing about rice cake is its texture, its soft chewiness. And thus, one of the most baffling things about tteok is that they lose its signature chewiness so fast. You buy some nice chunks of tteok in the evening on your way home from work, and the next morning you find them gone all hard and dry. Hard and dry, that’s not rice cake anymore. I bet you all have this sad experience.

And here is some good news for you! A new technique has been developed that can make tteok that preserves its chewiness for a long, long time.

No more hardened rice cake

Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) developed a manufacture technique that prevents rice cake from going hard and dry. With this new recipe that involves no chemical processing or additive whatsoever, you can now enjoy the soft chewiness of rice cake for a long, long time. They call it “miracle” rice cakes since if you store them in the fridge, once defrozen they will restore their original chewy texture but completely.

  Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA).

RDA developed a manufacture technique that prevents rice cake from going hard and dry.>

According to RDA, the soft, moist, chewy texture comes from beating rice cake a numerous number of times which produces microscopic, elaborate structures within. And RDA managed to convert this beating into an exacting, scientific process.

In Korea, rice cake is a “must” item at special feasts like holidays, birthdays, kick-off ceremonies etc. And since rice cakes turn hard and dry so easily, tteok manufactures, when there is a large order, have to wake up at the break of dawn and start making rice cake right on the day it’s needed; they can’t do it earlier. That sure is a tough labor. Also, rice cake’s poor durability and difficult storage has been detaining vitalization of the tteok industry. But now with the new technique, things will start looking up, including increased rice consumption. 

Time for rice cake to go global

Now that we’re striving for globalization of Korean food, rice cake can be one of the key items, especially with the new technique. Compared to bread, rice cake is healthier, more digestible, and can fill up your stomach. With the new technique, RDA announced that they’re expecting to generate1.3 trillion won worth of economic value. They plan to get the technique (which they named “cool tteok recipe”) patented soon and start putting it to practical use.

Let’s look forward to days when rice cake will be more popular than bread!