‘Human network key to nation’s future’

Kwon stresses importance of utilizing overseas Korean communities

Whether a nation can succeed in this era of globalization will hinge greatly on how it utilizes its network of people spread across the globe, said Overseas Koreans Foundation chairman Kwon Young-kon Tuesday.

“Human infrastructure is the very crux, which will determine whether a nation will advance further in the future or regress. In terms of economy, culture and politics, the network of overseas Koreans will play a critical role (for national advancement),” Kwon told The Korea Herald.

Since February, the state-run institution has been carrying out a three-yearproject worth some 16 billion won ($14 million) to establish the “Global KoreanNetwork” to ensure smooth communication and cooperation among an estimated 7 million overseas Koreans in 176 countries. 

“Overcoming the limits of time and space, the GKN will help bring together overseas Koreans and help their communication in cyberspace. For the project, we have been establishing a database of overseas Koreans categorized by their professions,” said Kwon.

“The website (www.korean.net), which offers service in Japanese, Chinese, Russian and Spanish, is to provide information on numerous things ranging from military service to medical and immigration issues. It will also be a crucial venue where people in political, economic, scientific and artistic sectors freely communicate with one another.”

Kwon Young-kon

The 64-year-old chairman, who began heading the foundation for a three-year term in August 2008, has recently been busy preparing for the World Korean Business Convention, one of the foundation’s biggest annual events. 

The 9th convention, where 3,500 people from home and abroad are expected to participate, will take place from Oct. 19-21 in Daegu under the slogan of “the Heart of Korean Economy, Hansang (Korean businessmen).” 

“We annually hold the convention in provincial regions with a view to helpinglocal middle and small-sized enterprises with difficulties to advance in overseas markets get business opportunities. The convention is sort of a marketplace where Koreans and overseas Koreans do business and exchange information,” said Kwon.

A major task of this year’s convention in the city, famed for its textile industry, is to discuss the possibility of forging an international business belt for the clothing industry with Korean businesspersons from South American countries such as Chile, Argentina and Brazil, as will as Los Angeles and China, Kwon said.

Another task will be to bring together overseas Korean businesspeople engaged in the beauty industry for black people who have successfully carved out a large global market share.

“We will seek to globalize clothing and beauty products through the network of overseas Koreans. Although we may not yield any visible result through the convention, but we will discuss our joint efforts to link overseas Koreans in the industries,” said Kwon. 

During the convention, more than a dozen agreements on business cooperation among associations of overseas Koreans and provincial governments will be signed, which will help bolster the local economy, said Kwon. 

To follow up on the developments following the annual offline convention, the foundation opened an online information center for overseas Korean businesspeople (www.hansang.net) in June, which offers detailed information on thousands of Koreans, who have participated in the annual conventions since the first convention was held in 2002.

“After the three-day convention ended, we had nothing to follow up on the developments. So, we have established the center to offer information that Korean businesspeople need. We have been trying hard to make the center more efficient for them,” said Kwon.

The Overseas Koreans Foundation whose annual budget is around 40 billion won was established by the government in October 1997 to support overseas Koreans. 

The foundation mainly focuses on educating overseas Koreans to help them understand their ethnic identity. Currently, it has subsidized the operation of some 2,000 Korean language teaching institutions in some 110 countries. 

It has also run programs to train Korean language teachers for the institutions. Under its scholarship program which covers tuitions, flight tickets and living costs, some 70 overseas Koreans have been invited to study at top-tier Korean universities. 

“We have concentrated on identity education and Korean language teaching. Without knowing the language, they can hardly learn their motherland’s culture and history. When they don’t know it, they are just biological Koreans. Our goal is to help them understand their roots,” said Kwon.


source:Korea Herald

27,567 Vietnamese workers apply for jobs in RoK

The Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) in coordination with the Republic of Korea (RoK) Human Resources Development Agency will hold Korean language tests on October 17 for 27,567 Vietnamese workers applying for jobs in the country.

Applicants, who want to work in the RoK under the EPS programme, must pass the Korean language tests.
The exams will be held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh and Da Nang. The RoK is keen to recruit 5,000 workers in production, 2,000 in construction, 1,000 in the agricultural sector and 2,000 workers in fisheries.
Lee Myung-Hee, the General Director of the EPS Centre Vietnam, said that the questions will be kept secure in diplomatic bags and sent to the RoK embassy in Vietnam.
All test results will be sealed and sent to the RoK through the embassy, said Mr. Lee.
He emphasised that the RoK will arrange the staff to monitor the test, including 56 staff from the RoK Human Resources Development Agency, 380 teachers from universities, colleges and vocational training centres nationwide, 100 staff from Vietnam’s MoLISA and 80 volunteers from the RoK’s embassy and organisations working in Vietnam.
This is the 7^th time the RoK has held a recruitment test in Vietnam.

source:vovnews.v

Taiwan to host Korean studies congress

Some 400 scholars specializing in Korean studies will gather at the World Congress of Korean Studies to be held in Taipei, Taiwan, from Oct. 25 to 28.

The Academy of Korean Studies said that the congress, the largest of its kind, is expected to raise awareness about Korean studies abroad, particularly in China and Taiwan. 

Under the theme of “Korean Studies for the Advancement of Global Civilization,” some 180 academic theses from 25 countries will be presented.

“I was surprised to learn that the Chinese Culture University in Taipei, Taiwan, is eager to teach Korean studies. The university has some 10 full-time professors in the Korean studies department alone. The number of professors is a lot for one department, especially for Korean studies, something unusual in other parts of the world,” Kim Jung-bae, president of the academy, said.

Fourteen sessions will deal with Korean history, art, language, politics and society during the event, while panels from various countries will freely discuss issues such as “The Relations Between Korea and China and Korea and Taiwan” and “Korean Language Education in China and Taiwan.”

“There are more achievements in Korean studies abroad than we think. For example, a professor at the Chinese Culture University has developed an innovative learning method for the Korean language that helps not only foreigners but also Korean children who begin to learn the Korean language. We should admire their contribution to the development of Korean studies. So our institution will further strengthen academic ties with them,” said Kim.

The university has offered to cooperate in developing the Korean language, and translations of Korean works including dramas and literature, the president said. 

Brian Yecies from the University of Wollongong, Australia; Elisabeth Chabanol from the French School of Asian Studies; and Pavel Leshakov from Moscow State University will take part in the event.


source:Korea Times

Drama about the life of Queen Seon Deok to air in Hungary

A Korean historical drama, “Queen Seon Deok,” will air during prime time in Hungary, starting from October 15. Previously, another historical drama about the life of a royal chef and doctor, “Daejanggeum (Jewel in the Palace),” found success in Hungary, and helped create demand for new dramas.

According to the Hungarian branch of KOTRA (Korea Trade Promotion and Investment Center), the state-run MTV channel will broadcast the 65-episode Korean drama “Queen Seon Deok,” at 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Queen Seon Deok first aired in Korea in 2009, and is a dramatization of the life of Queen Seon Deok, who ruled the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. – A.D. 935) from 632 to 647.

The decision to air Queen Seon Deok was likely influenced by the unexpected success of Daejanggeum, a moving story about a royal chef and doctor during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) that aired in 2008. Despite being shown in the morning, rather than the more desirable evening hours, Daejanggeum attracted an average of 220,000 to 360,000 viewers per episode. It soon moved to prime time, and was re-shown twice to satisfy the demands of local fans.

The broadcast rights to Queen Seon Deok cost approximately 65 million US dollars, and local branches of Korean businesses, such as Samsung Electronics, pitched in to sponsor the program.

“Hungary, where many Korean businesses have found success, is one of the key regions where we would like to promote Korean culture,” said Korean Ambassador to Hungary, Suh Chung-Ha.
source:Korea.net

Meet Seoul Design Fair in 2012

Curtain falls on Seoul Design Fair 2010

The 21-day design festival has come to a close. The “Seoul Design Fair 2010,” held under the theme “Design for Everyone,” took place from Sept. 17 to Oct. 7 in the city’s four design clusters: the Jamsil Sports Stadium, Mapo and Hongdae, Guro Digital Complex, Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Park.

This year’s festival highlighted a wider range of programs than ever before, while the design market enjoyed greater sales. Both developments served to help invigorate the design industry, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said.

Seoul Design Market boosts sales by about 300 million won

This year’s fair recorded an unprecedented number of participants from the areas of business, universities and designers. About 243 companies and brands took part in this year’s event, representing a 53 percent jump in participants compared to a year ago.

The “Seoul International Design Competition” this year received 2,475 applicants, a two-fold increase compared to last year, while the “University Research Exhibition” attracted the participation of 47 universities from all over the world, 22 more schools than last year.

Another development in this year’s program was the boost in the market-style exhibition, allowing for the active sales and purchases of featured works. The market-style exhibitions – “Seoul Design Market,” “Domestic-Foreign Design Industrial Exhibition,” and “Green Garden Panorama” – recorded an average daily revenue of 20 million won, a 280 percent surge from a year ago.

The “Seoul Design Market,” in particular, achieved about 300 million won in sales, more than a two-fold increase from a year ago. Such achievement is “significant” considering the products sold cost less than 10,000 won, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said.

Along with the shopping opportunities, the “Design Seoul International Conference” provided the opportunity to exchange and explore such subject matters as economics, sharing, and future between the 15 guest speakers and the 926 audience members. Diverse discussion topics, including “Future Design Trends,” “Social Responsibilities of Design,” and “Rediscovery of East Asian Design,” all served as an invaluable platform for insight for the public audience. Some of the major speakers of the conference were Chris Luebkeman from the United States, Stefano Giovannoni from Italy, and Kim Suk-chul from Korea.

Seoul Design Fair to take place biannually

Exhibitions featuring Korean and Asian designs also enjoyed popularity. The “Korea-China-Japan Lifestyle Exhibition” introduced designs for vacant spaces, small dining tables, and books under the theme “Conversation Space of a Family.” The miniature model of Namdaemun by Shin Eung-soo garnered serious interest from foreign visitors, organizers noted.

The educational and hands-on approach programs, including the “design dream tree” class and the idea imagination experience booth, were popular with families with young children. The “Imaginary Children’s Garden,” a permanent venue established in an annexed sports stadium, also elicited an ecstatic response because it features an exercise facility and rides that can be enjoyed by both parents and children alike.

With the knowledge that public awareness of Seoul Design Fair has grown, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to hold the Seoul Design Fair as a biannual event. The government said the next fair would take place at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Park, to be completed in 2012.

source:Korea.net

National Museum to hold opening ceremony for 'Korea in Motion' Festival

The Korea Tourism Organization (President Charm Lee) is going to open the 2010 ‘Korea in Motion’ Festival from October 16, 2010 to October 31, 2010. This festival, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will offer from non-verbal performances like “Nanta” to musicals to traditional Korean performances, which are going to be held at several spots in Seoul including the Plaza of the National Museum of Korea.

The opening ceremony of the Festival will be on October, 16 at the National Museum of Korea with actress Lee, Ha nei, who is going to host the ceremony. It will feature various performances by Korean pop entertainers such as BoA and B-Boys, and a musical Gala show.

For more information about the 2010 ‘Korea in Motion’ Festival, please click the link below.

http://www.koreainmotion.com/en/main.aspx

Reservations are recommended for your convenience.

http://www.koreainmotion.com/en/event/opening_01.asp

Performances at the National Museum of Korea

Program	Date	Location	Major Events
2010 Korea in Motion Opening Ceremony	Sat. Oct. 16 18:30	Plaza at the NMK	Lee, Ha nei (Show host) BOA Non-verbal performance (ZEMITA, Drawing Show, Fanta-Stick) Musical (Sopyonje)
2010 Korea in Motion Open Stage	Sun. Oct. 17 13:00	Plaza at the NMK	Drum Cat, MISO…etc.
2010 Korea in Motion Open Stage	Sun. Oct. 24 13:00	Plaza at the NMK	RETURN, Drawing Show, ZEMITA…etc.

* Each Festival program at the National Museum of Korea is free of charge

and all who wish are welcome to attend. 

Source:Korea.net

Job Festival to be held in Indonesia during Korea Week

□ The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL, Minister Bahk Jaewan) is to hold a Job Festival in the Senayan Stadium in Jakarta on Oct.14 (Thu.). The event is expected to bring Koreans and Indonesians closer together in the field of employment.

□ The Job Festival takes place on the 4th day of the Korea Week in which international and cultural events are held with a theme of employment and labor. The festival will provide employment opportunities to Indonesian and Korean workers by linking them to Korean companies in Indonesia, focusing on projects that can actually benefit both employer and worker.

□ The Festival is organized by MOEL, together with 3 public employment and labor agencies; the Human Resources Development Service of Korea(HRD Korea) : the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA): and the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training(KRIVET). Six events are planned; Renewal of MOU on Employment Permit System(EPS), Job Fair, EPS seminar, Display and Donation of industrial accident prevention equipment, MOU signing, and Seminar on Vocational Training.

□ The Opening Ceremony will be held on Oct.14. and attended by a MOEL deputy minister for employment policy, a secretary general of the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration(MOMT), a Korean ambassador to Indonesia, and heads of public employment and labor agencies.

□ As Korea and Indonesia both have long enjoyed excellent human resources, the Job Festival is expected to serve as an opportunity to facilitate the two countries' exchanges of experiences and further develop cooperative relations in the field of employment and labor.

«The Job Fair»
□ Organized by HRD Korea and participated by 24 renowned Korean companies in Jakarta, including Samsung Electronics, the Job Fair serves as a meeting ground for Indonesia-based Korean companies, and job seekers of both countries to have recruitment opportunities.

○ The Job Fair is wide open to Indonesian workers who want to work for Korean companies and returnees who have worked in Korea under EPS. On-site interviews are arranged for Korean students studying in Indonesia, Korean-Indonesians, and Koreans who seek overseas jobs.

□ The event is supported by the Korean Embassy in Indonesia, Indonesian MOMT, Korean Shoes Industry Association, Korean Garment Industry Association, Inni-Bz Group, and KOTRA.

□ Admission is free. Job seekers who want to participate in the event can get recruits information from a job board at the entrance, select companies they want to apply, fill out a resume which is available at an information desk, and have an on-site interview.

○ Interviews are done in the order of arrival. If there are too many applicants, they may be asked to wait in turn. If on-site interviews for all applicants are not available due to time constraints, submitted resumes will be delivered to the company they apply after the event.

□ For further information, please contact the Job Fair Secretariats in Seoul (82-2-3271-9435, 9469) and in Jakarta (HRD Korea EPS Center Tel : 21-527-2612).

□ To submit a resume, please contact the number or e-mail below.
  ○ Tel : 21-527-2612, Fax : 21-527-2613
  ○ E-mail : apple957@hanmail.net, stonekw@hanmail.net

□ Information on the Job Fair
 ○ http://eps.hrdkorea.or.kr/e9(notice)
 ○ http://www.indoweb.co.kr(banner)
 ○ http://www.koreaindonesiaweek

* Government press release (October 12)