Ahn Eak-tai Statue Planned in Budapest

Andrea Szego, president of the Korea-Hungary Society / Courtesy of Diplomacy & Trade Magazine

By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter

Greek philosopher Plato said a creative idea can't be completed alone; it has to be combined with a means of application to fulfill the creativeness. 

Andrea Szego, president of the Korea-Hungary Society, keeps the quotation in full practice as she prepares for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Korea-Hungary diplomatic relations this year, partly by erecting a statue of Ahn Eak-tai, a Korean source of national pride, who composed the national anthem of South Korea while on campus at Eotvos College in Budapest, where he boarded. 

``Ahn studied at Liszt Music Academy and stayed at the dormitory of Eotvos College," Szego said, correcting some news reports that omitted the fact that he studied at the Liszt Music Academy. 

But it wasn't him just boarding there. She said it was a ``prestigious" school where multiple brilliant students were selected and got together. 

Born in 1906 during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula, the music prodigy traveled abroad to study, and Hungary was one of his choices. Between 1938 and 1941, Ahn was in Hungary under Professor Zoltan Kodaly with a scholarship from the Hungarian government. 

Records of his study in Hungary were first revealed to the public in 2006 by former Korean Ambassador to Hungary Eom Seock-jeong.

What Szego has in mind is a bronze statue in the front garden of the dormitory to ``absolutely take everything close to the minds'' of Koreans who will visit Hungary and of Hungarians who hardly know about the composer. 

The statue will have Ahn's autograph in Korean, an introductory statement and a list of sponsors in Hungarian, Korean and English. 

She would like to have an embedded sound system which would play Ahn's Symphonic Fantasia Korea, a formal name of the national anthem, when visitors press a button. 

The application of her idea is a bit of challenge, as it involves money.

She said her project is falling short on funds, consuming her time and energy lately. Yet it won't make her steer away from the idea. ``Whenever there is a good idea, money follows,'' she said. 

Plus, support from incumbent Korean Ambassador to Hungary Suh Chung-ha helps sustain her enthusiasm. 

With the estimation process under way, she hopes to get the statue ready by 2010. 

Szego made herself visit the Eotvos College in January this year, conducting her own investigation of Ahn's boarding at the dormitory. 

She said she was surprised how little was preserved from his accommodation there. ``They didn't seem to know him or the significance of his work.'' 

She had enough faith to convince the school authorities, and made them add his name to the list of honorary students. When she left the college, she had in her hands copies of official documents concerning Ahn, a program of his cello recital and photos of the school campus, some of which she shared during an interview. 

She couldn't have been more excited when talking about the college.

``It's not just an ordinary school where Ahn studied. Only top students were selected and allowed to stay and study there,'' she said. Getting an invitation to lecture there is of the highest honor for scientists and novelists, she added. 

Szego is staying in Seoul on the Korea Foundation Scholarship program and engrossed in learning Korean at Sogang University in Seoul.

``The president of the Hungary-Korea Society has to know Korean. Language is one of the most important mediators between cultures and nations,'' she said as motivation. 

She has been chairing the association since its foundation in 2002. Filling in for the absence of a Korean Chamber of Commerce in Hungary, the association carries out related, she said, promoting economic ties and covering the political and cultural sectors. 

Language training remains a priority of her life in Korea, yet the preparation for the 20th anniversary celebration adds complexity to her busy schedule. 

June 9 will be a big day for Szego. Along with the statue project, the association will host an important conference on future perspectives on the Hungary-Korea relationship. 

The conference will be the most comprehensive ― yet candid ― venue for dialogue discussing a broad aspect of bilateral relationships, she said.

Adding flavor to the conference is the premier of ``Bibimbap music.''

With the idea of ``everyone contributes one element," the president asked Lee Gum-seop, a Korean composer, to compose it, a combination of Oriental and Western influences. ``It's the perfect music to be played,'' she said.








Commemorating Ahn Eak-tai: Andrea Szego, second from right, president of the Korea-Hungary Society, along with other guests, unveils the base for a statue of the late Korean composer Ahn Eak-tae in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday. Szego conceived the idea of erecting the statue as part of the 20th anniversary of Korea-Hungary diplomatic relations. Ahn studied in Budapest between 1938 and 1941. Seoul Metropolitan Government has donated money for the statue. From left are Suh Chung-ha, Korean ambassador to Hungary; Oh Se-hoon, mayor of Seoul; Szego; and Arpad Gogl, a Hungarian Parliament member. 


source:Korea Times

Ahn Eak-tai Statue Planned in Budapest

Andrea Szego, president of the Korea-Hungary Society / Courtesy of Diplomacy & Trade Magazine

By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter

Greek philosopher Plato said a creative idea can't be completed alone; it has to be combined with a means of application to fulfill the creativeness. 

Andrea Szego, president of the Korea-Hungary Society, keeps the quotation in full practice as she prepares for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Korea-Hungary diplomatic relations this year, partly by erecting a statue of Ahn Eak-tai, a Korean source of national pride, who composed the national anthem of South Korea while on campus at Eotvos College in Budapest, where he boarded. 

``Ahn studied at Liszt Music Academy and stayed at the dormitory of Eotvos College," Szego said, correcting some news reports that omitted the fact that he studied at the Liszt Music Academy. 

But it wasn't him just boarding there. She said it was a ``prestigious" school where multiple brilliant students were selected and got together. 

Born in 1906 during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula, the music prodigy traveled abroad to study, and Hungary was one of his choices. Between 1938 and 1941, Ahn was in Hungary under Professor Zoltan Kodaly with a scholarship from the Hungarian government. 

Records of his study in Hungary were first revealed to the public in 2006 by former Korean Ambassador to Hungary Eom Seock-jeong.

What Szego has in mind is a bronze statue in the front garden of the dormitory to ``absolutely take everything close to the minds'' of Koreans who will visit Hungary and of Hungarians who hardly know about the composer. 

The statue will have Ahn's autograph in Korean, an introductory statement and a list of sponsors in Hungarian, Korean and English. 

She would like to have an embedded sound system which would play Ahn's Symphonic Fantasia Korea, a formal name of the national anthem, when visitors press a button. 

The application of her idea is a bit of challenge, as it involves money.

She said her project is falling short on funds, consuming her time and energy lately. Yet it won't make her steer away from the idea. ``Whenever there is a good idea, money follows,'' she said. 

Plus, support from incumbent Korean Ambassador to Hungary Suh Chung-ha helps sustain her enthusiasm. 

With the estimation process under way, she hopes to get the statue ready by 2010. 

Szego made herself visit the Eotvos College in January this year, conducting her own investigation of Ahn's boarding at the dormitory. 

She said she was surprised how little was preserved from his accommodation there. ``They didn't seem to know him or the significance of his work.'' 

She had enough faith to convince the school authorities, and made them add his name to the list of honorary students. When she left the college, she had in her hands copies of official documents concerning Ahn, a program of his cello recital and photos of the school campus, some of which she shared during an interview. 

She couldn't have been more excited when talking about the college.

``It's not just an ordinary school where Ahn studied. Only top students were selected and allowed to stay and study there,'' she said. Getting an invitation to lecture there is of the highest honor for scientists and novelists, she added. 

Szego is staying in Seoul on the Korea Foundation Scholarship program and engrossed in learning Korean at Sogang University in Seoul.

``The president of the Hungary-Korea Society has to know Korean. Language is one of the most important mediators between cultures and nations,'' she said as motivation. 

She has been chairing the association since its foundation in 2002. Filling in for the absence of a Korean Chamber of Commerce in Hungary, the association carries out related, she said, promoting economic ties and covering the political and cultural sectors. 

Language training remains a priority of her life in Korea, yet the preparation for the 20th anniversary celebration adds complexity to her busy schedule. 

June 9 will be a big day for Szego. Along with the statue project, the association will host an important conference on future perspectives on the Hungary-Korea relationship. 

The conference will be the most comprehensive ― yet candid ― venue for dialogue discussing a broad aspect of bilateral relationships, she said.

Adding flavor to the conference is the premier of ``Bibimbap music.''

With the idea of ``everyone contributes one element," the president asked Lee Gum-seop, a Korean composer, to compose it, a combination of Oriental and Western influences. ``It's the perfect music to be played,'' she said.


source:Korea Times

Dokdo:Lets know about this island

Dokdo's Names

Dokdo's names must be considered in relation to Ulleungdo that has been mentioned in various historical records since early years of Korea.

Ulleungdo's Usanguk, a small empire of the native people, was conquered by Silla in the early 6th Century (512 B.C.). In Samguksagi's
Sillabongi, we find the record that "Usanguk was conquered by Silla in June" in the 13th year of the reign of King Jijeung.
As Ulleungdo became the official name of Ulleungdo, Dokdo, a small attachment to Ulleungdo, was named Usando.

Sejong Sillok Jirij's Uljin-hyeon of Gangwon-do section, which was written in 1432 (14th year of the reign of Joseon King Sejong), clearly states that there were two islands - Mureung and Usan - in the East Sea. It writes, "Usan and Mureung are situated to the east of Uljin-hyeon.", published in 1531 (26th year of the reign of Joseon King Jungjong), also states, "Usando and Ulleungdo are in the middle of the sea directly to the east of Uljin-hyeon," in the Uljing-hyeon of Gangwon-do section to confirm the texts of Sejong Sillok Jiriji. In the Joseon Dynasty, Dokdo was called Sambongdo, Usando, or Gajido. The map of Korean Empire in Vol. 1, which was used to educate secondary school students in modern schools in 1899 (3rd year of the reign of Joseon King Gojong), marked Dokdo as Usan next to Ulleungdo. King Gojong announced Ordinance No. 41 in 1900 to have Ulleungdo, instead of Uljin-hyeon of Gangwon-do, administer Dokdo.

The name Dokdo was first used in 1906 by Governor Heung Taek Shim of Ulleung. Dokdo was attached to Gyeongsangbuk-do in 1914 and has been a part of Gyeongsangbuk-do ever since. Although Dokdo is written as '獨島' in Chinese letters, it does not mean 'lonely island.' The early settlers from Jeolla-do pronounced Dolseom as Dokseom.
Dokseom was later converted to '獨島' in Chinese writing. Seokdo is pronounced as Dokseom or Dolseom when translated into Korean. Even today, the people of Ulleungdo call Dokdo as Dokseom or Dolseom

In Japan, Dokdo was called Matsushima in the Meiji Administration. Since Japan plundered Korea in 1905, Dokdo has been called Dakeshima. The West named Dokdo after the ship that first found it. In 1849, a French whaling boat called Liancourt discovered Dokdo and named it Liancourt Rocks. In 1885, English Hornet registered it as 'Hornet Rocks.'

History of Dokdo

King Jijeung of Silla conquered Usanguk in the 13th year of his reign - Samguksagi.

Yong Bok Ahn received verification from the Dokugawa Administration of Japan that Ulleungdo and Dokdo are Joseon’s territories - Sukjong Sillok

King Gojong declared Ordinance No. 41 to change the name of Ulleungdo to Uldo, appointed a governor, instead of local administrator, and assigned Uldo to administer Dokdo.

Japan named Dokdo as Dakeshima and declared Shimane Notice No. 40 to absorb Dokdo into Japanese territories. (Korea lost national rights to Japan in November 1905 with the Eulsa Treaty.)

Ulleungdo and Dokdo were transferred from Gangwon-do to Gyeongsang-do in terms of jurisdiction.

The GHQ (General Headquarters Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers) declared SCAPIN No. 677 to exclude Dokdo from Japanese territories

Dokdo Royal Guards organized ? Dokdo Security (Chief Sun Chil Hong led 32 members.)

National Police Agency took over security of Dokdo

First resident moved to Dokdo (Jong Duk Choi - San 67 Dodong-ri Ulleung-eup)

Designated as National Cultural Heritage - Natural Monument No. 336 (Dokdo Seaweed Habitat)

New Korea-Japan Agreement on Fisheries signed

National Cultural Heritage Administration changed title of Dokdo’s designation as Natural Monument No. 336 (Dokdo Seaweed Habitat → Dokdo Natural Protection Zone)

April 7 - Dokdo’s administration name and lot numbers changed: Dodong-ri to Dokdo-ri (Seodo-1, Dongdo-2) * Lot numbers: San 42-76 Dodong-ri → San 1-37 Dokdo-ri

January 1 - The Ministry of Information and Communication assigned postal code ‘799-805’ to Dokdo

March 24 - 11 lots, including expedition path, released to the public (Dongdo) & Admission Permit System → Admission Registration System; September 21 - lot numbers changed from San 1 through 37 to 1 through 96

G-20 major economies and S.korea

The Group of Twenty (G-20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors was established in 1999 to bring together systemically important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy. The inaugural meeting of the G-20 took place in Berlin, on December 15-16, 1999, hosted by German and Canadian finance ministers.

The G-20 was created as a response both to the financial crises of the late 1990s and to a growing recognition that key emerging-market countries were not adequately included in the core of global economic discussion and governance. Prior to the G-20 creation, similar groupings to promote dialogue and analysis had been established at the initiative of the G-7. The G-22 met at Washington D.C. in April and October 1998. Its aim was to involve non-G-7 countries in the resolution of global aspects of the financial crisis then affecting emerging-market countries. Two subsequent meetings comprising a larger group of participants (G-33) held in March and April 1999 discussed reforms of the global economy and the international financial system. The proposals made by the G-22 and the G-33 to reduce the world economy's susceptibility to crises showed the potential benefits of a regular international consultative forum embracing the emerging-market countries. Such a regular dialogue with a constant set of partners was institutionalized by the creation of the G-20 in 1999.

G-20 leaders will gather once a year for a routine summit starting 2011. In the interim year of 2010, Canada and South Korea will host two rounds in June and November respectively. South Korea assumes the forum chairmanship next year.

“Follow-up measures from Pittsburgh within the G-20 will fall primarily to South Korea as the chair and host of G-20 meetings during 2010,” according to Scott Snyder, director of the Center for U.S.-Korea Policy of the Asia Foundation, on his organization’s Web site. “This development will mark a significant symbolic turning point in global governance, as South Korea will be the first non-G-8 country to hold those responsibilities since the G-20 has emerged as a venue for addressing global financial issues at the leadership level. It also places the burden of proof on South Korea to show that an expanded forum beyond the G-8 can provide effective global leadership in response to the crisis.”

A senior Lee administration official said Korea’s hosting of the G-20 in November next year would be a breakthrough in the country’s diplomatic history.

“Lee’s leadership in past G-20 summits in Washington and London has been largely praised,” the official said. “The president made clear his position against trade protectionism, initiating ‘standstill’ pledges among the participants at the Washington G-20 summit not to erect any new trade and investment barriers. This has been seen as one of the most significant achievements of the forum.”

Shortly after the Washington summit last year, South Korea launched aggressive diplomatic efforts to host a G-20 summit. Lee ordered a task force to be established and appointed Sakong Il, then his special economic advisor, to head the G-20 Summit Coordinating Committee.

Membership

The G-20 is made up of the finance ministers and central bank governors of 19 countries:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Brazil
• Canada
• China
• France
• Germany
• India
• Indonesia
• Italy
• Japan
• Mexico
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• Republic of Korea
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

The European Union, who is represented by the rotating Council presidency and the European Central Bank, is the 20th member of the G-20. To ensure global economic fora and institutions work together, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the President of the World Bank, plus the chairs of the International Monetary and Financial Committee and Development Committee of the IMF and World Bank, also participate in G-20 meetings on an ex-officio basis. The G-20 thus brings together important industrial and emerging-market countries from all regions of the world. Together, member countries represent around 90 per cent of global gross national product, 80 per cent of world trade (including EU intra-trade) as well as two-thirds of the world's population. The G-20's economic weight and broad membership gives it a high degree of legitimacy and influence over the management of the global economy and financial system

Some Public Information about Korea: Forest in a Nut Shell

Korea's forests used to cover up to two-thirds of the entire nation, however, due to indiscriminate lumbering during the Japanese colonization and bombings of the Korean war, as well as uncontrolled usages for fuel and logs in the early 1960's, most of the forests became devastated. 
after the 1960s, the government initiated stringent afforestation programs, such as erosion control,

• reforestation, prevention of wild fire, and insect pest control, successfully turning naked mountains into green forests and increasing forest stocks to cover 63.46m3/ha('00) from only 10.40m3/ha('70).

• Recently, however, parts of the forests were appropriated to public facility sites and industrial complexes and as a consequence, the ratio of forest to total land area decreased by 2.5 percent, from 67.1 percent ('70) to 64.6 percent ('00).

• Until recently, conifers used to cover more than 40 percent of Korea's entire forest lands, but that trend is changing to show higher coverage of broad-leaf trees and mixed trees.

• By the end of 2000, of the entire 6.422 million ha of forest lands in Korea, national forests covered 1.433 million ha, or 22.3 percent, forests owned by local governments 492 thousand ha, or 7.7 percent, and private forests 70 percent.

• Production, Import & Export of Forestry Products



The government began updating statistics on forestry products in 1910 and the surveyed list soon expanded to meet the diversified usages of forest resources. In the future, it is expected to expand further as the development of new technologies becomes available, making the utilization of various forestry products possible.

The export of forestry products peaked in 1990 and since then declined.

• The main reason for such decline is the weakened price competitiveness of Korean wood products, as Korea's lumber industries moved their business units abroad to Indonesia and Malaysia, major lumber producing countries, for lumber processing and export. as for stone products, most are imported from China en mass.

• The import of major forestry products, such as wood, wood materials, and stone products, reached the peak between 1995~1996, when the domestic economy picked up, and then plummeted after the 1998 foreign currency crisis. It is, however, recovering encouraged by the sign of improvements in the domestic economy.

• Forest Fires
• In the 1990s, the success of the government's reforestation policy which transformed naked hills into thick forests, lost its gloss to a degree due to the increasing number of forest fires and damages brought about by the surge of mountain visitors and hikers.

• In 2000, due to frequent abnormally dry weathers, there were increased cases of disastrous forest fires. Now, efforts are being made to secure modern, state-of-the-art fire extinguishing equipments such as helicopters, and to establish advanced fire control system such as GPS systems.