South Korea appoints SRK as goodwill ambassador

 

 

The South Korean government had to pursue Khan for over two months before he agreed to officially accept the offer.

 

RELATED

 

NEW DELHI: Shah Rukh Khan is the new poster boy for South Korea — not its conglomerates, but the nation. The Bollywood superstar has just been appointed goodwill ambassador for South Korea.

So you know South Korea only as the land of Samsung and Hyundai? The King Khan could introduce you to Kukkiwon, the world famous taekwondo academy, Psy of Gangnam Style fame and K-pop, the mouthwatering Korean barbeque. To South Koreans, the actor could teach their first cricket team a thing or two about the business of the game — maybe organize the first match between Kolkata Knight Riders and the Koreans. And, perhaps, open Bollywood to a new part of the world.

Khan as a public diplomat and an ambassador of India’s soft power is not hard to imagine. But only if the man can tear himself away from tinsel town to walk the talk. The South Korean government had to pursue Khan for over two months before he agreed to officially accept the offer. They ideally want him to visit South Korea before the maiden visit of their president Park Geun-hye.

The president will make her visit to India in January, where New Delhi and Seoul are expected to upgrade their relations for closer ties at the political and strategic levels. India and South Korea have signed a civil nuclear agreement, but operationalizing that is still a while away. India too has to clear the path for the biggest FDI into this country: Posco that is held up by environmental hurdles in Odisha.

But there is a greater demand, for a greater understanding between people of both countries. But Khan’s superstar status means he has a tiny window of opportunity to play diplomat in real life.

In recent times, India and Malaysia, working at revamping relations, also had a Shah Rukh Khan moment. The Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, on his first visit to India, requested for the actor’s presence at the formal dinner with the prime minister. Unfortunately, even Manmohan Singh’s office could not get Khan to be present at the dinner, which was the beginning of a new relationship between India and Malaysia.

Interestingly, in December 2008, he received the title of ‘Datuk’ — often equated with the British knighthood — from the Governor of Malaysia’s southern Malacca state, Mohamad Khalil Yaacob.

Clearly, Korea will need a great deal of patience with Khan. In these gloomy days, India needs all the ambassadors it can get.

Source:Times of India 

2014 GLOBAL KOREA SCHOLRSHIP FIRST TIME EVER, FOR UNDERGRADUATE TO INDIAN STUDENTS

Korean National Institute for International Education(NIIED) has announced the plan for recruiting Global Korea Scholarship program for undergraduate degree in Korea.

Interested applicants are instructed to apply for the program following the directions of the attached instruction manual no later than October 31, 2013.
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Source: mofa.go.kr

Samsung SDI in Vietnam Recruitment

 

Samsung SDI in Vietnam is currently internationalizing battery manufacturing company. Become the face of this rapidly growing corporation. 

 

1.    Job description

-          Position : R&D, Engineering and Management in SDI Vietnam

※      SDI in Vietnam Address : Bac ninh province, Yen Phong I district.

 

2.    No. of Positions : 0

 

3.    Quailifications

-          Graduated or graduates from B.A., M.A from university

-          Intermediate or high English skill,  preference to speak Korean

-          Electronic, Electrical, Mechanical engineering or Liberal arts

 

4.    Takeaways

-          Internship in Korea for 3 months

-          In accordance with regulations in SDI Vietnam

 

5.    Date and how to apply

-           14 Oct(Mon) 00:00 ~ 20 Oct(Sun) 23:59

-          Please send your English or Korean resume by e-mail (nicejob.sdiv@samsung.com)

 

6.    Guidelines for Applicants

-          Resume → GSAT (test) → interview → health check-up → Entry

※      Resume results    : 25 Oct(Fri)

※      GSAT / interview   : 2 Nov (Sat)

※      After this          : announcement individually

 

7.    Required Documents

-          Resume with photo

[강원포럼]역사를 잊었는가?

유성선 강원대 교수, 시민교육센터 전임교수

장면1. “조선노동당의 당면 목적은 공화국 북반부에서 사회주의 강성대국을 건설하며, 전국적 범위에서 민족해방 민주주의 혁명의 과업을 수행하는 데 있으며 최종목적은 온 사회를 주체사상화하여 인민대중의 자주성을 완전히 실현하는 데 있다.”-북한조선노동당 규약서문. 장면2. “국가안보는 물리적 공격으로부터 국가의 국민과 영토를 보호하는 것이다.”-아모스 조르단(Amos A. Jordan). 장면3. “자신들이 알지도 못하는 나라, 만난 적도 없는 사람들을 지키기 위해 부름에 응한 우리의 아들과 딸들을 기린다.”- 미국 워싱턴 한국전 참전 기념비. 국가정보원이 경기동부연합의 지하조직 RO(Revolutionary Organization·혁명조직) 조직원 등으로부터 확보한 3대 강령의 핵심 키워드는 `주체사상'이다. 주체사상을 지도 이념으로 남한사회를 변혁하고, 남한사회의 자주·민주·통일 실현을 위해 주체사상을 심화·보급·전파한다는 게 강령의 골자이자 조직의 존재 이유다. 이 3대 강령 중 남한사회의 자주·민주·통일 강령을 주의깊게 살펴야 한다. 우리 학생들이 일부 교육의 잘못으로 6·25남침·북침의 개념을 혼동하듯 북한의 인민민주주의혁명 수행에도 이 대남 전략의 3대 투쟁과제가 우리의 민주주의 통일과제와 흡사하다. 먼저 북한과 종북세력들이 주창하는 자주는 미군 철수에 있다. 민주의 구호는 대한민국 정권타도에 있다. 통일은 연방제 통일이다. 따라서 이들이 앵무새처럼 반복하는 민족해방은 주한민군 철수와 남한민족해방이요. 인민민주주의혁명은 남한정권 타도와 인민정권 수립에 있다. 결국 경기동부연합의 지하조직 RO 조직원 등으로부터 확보한 3대 강령의 핵심 키워드는 `주체사상'으로 북한조선노동당 규약서문과 판박이다. 주체사상을 지도 이념으로 남한사회를 변혁하고, 남한사회의 자주·민주·통일 실현을 위해 주체사상을 심화·보급·전파한다는 게 강령의 골자이자 조직의 존재 이유이기 때문이다. 미공개 녹취록에 따르면 이석기 의원은 5월 12일 토론 마무리 발언에서 “존재가 보이지 않는데 엄청난 무기가 있어서 도처에서 동시 다발로 전국적으로 그런 세력이 전쟁을 한다면 그 새로운 전쟁에 대한 새로운 승리를, 새로운 세상을 갖추자”고 주장하고 있다. 이를테면 `보안 사항'임을 전제한 뒤 “A라는 철탑이 있다고 하자. 그 철탑을 파괴하는 것이 군사적으로 굉장히 중요하다”고 발언하고 있다. 이는 더 나아가면 이석기 의원 발언 자체가 통신·철도·유류저장고 등의 국가 기간시설 파괴 계획에 구체적인 지침이 됐을 것으로 추정된다. 이석기 의원의 “민족의 분열을 막기 위해 하루라도 빨리 평화를 실현하자는 취지였다”는 해명은 핑계에 지나지 않는다. 6·25전쟁은 북한 김일성이 대한민국 공산화를 위해 일으킨 남침전쟁이다. 개전 35일 만에 마산, 대구, 포항 및 제주도를 제외한 대한민국이 국가존망의 위기 속에 있었다. 막대한 인명피해는 물론이고 국토는 잿더미로 변했다. 이러한 결과는 이석기 의원과 같은 종복주의자 및 남파간첩인 남로당이 이미 암약하고 있었기 때문이다. 그나마 선열들의 생명을 건 전투와 우방국의 전투지원 16개국, 의료지원 5개국, 물자지원 32개국이 있었기 때문에 자유민주주의의 소중한 가치를 회복할 수 있었다. 20~30년 만에 피와 땀으로 일궈온 대한민국을 또다시 잿더미를 만들 수는 없다. 당시 맥아더 장군이 오죽하면 대한민국이 재건되려면 향후 100년이 걸릴 것이라고 한탄했겠는가!

Musical instruments return home after 120 years

In 1893, ten musicians from Korea navigated to the United States on a special mission of King Gojong (1852-1919), the 26th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). They played the music of Joseon and received the spotlight in the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition where 37 countries participated. To promote Joseon as an independent country in the world and differentiate the nation from its neighbors China and Japan, the musicians donated their musical instruments to the United States before returning home.

At the opening ceremony for the “Returned after 120 years: Joseon instruments in the U.S.” exhibition on September 30, Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong points at the piri double reeds on display (photo: Jeon Han).

Over a century has passed since then and these instruments, currently owned by the Peabody Essex Museum in Boston, will return to Korea for a special exhibition titled “Returned after 120 years: Joseon instruments in U.S. (unofficial translation)”

The exhibition, jointly held by the National Museum of Korea and the National Gugak Center, will show eight of the donated instruments -- dangbipa (four-stringed instrument with a circular resonator and a bent neck), piri (cylindrical double-reed bamboo oboe), geomungo (six-stringed zither), janggu (hourglass-shaped drum), daegeum (large flute), yanggeum (dulcimer), and saenghwang (free-reed mouth organ made with 17 bamboo pipes).

The janggu drum, played by Joseon-era court musicians, has dragon head cleats (photo: Jeon Han).

The instruments on display hold historical significance in Korean music. The dangbipa is known to be the oldest existing Korean musical instrument. Two piris are also special as they are the only ones with their mouthpieces intact.

The tuning buckles of the janggu drum, which was on display at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, have retained their colors after over a century (photo: Jeon Han).

The exhibition will also show photos and records of Joseon’s participation and its pavilion at the Chicago expo, including music-themed paintings by Joseon artists like Kim Hong-do (1745-1806) and other relics related to gugak (traditional Korean music) such as scores and uigwe (royal protocols of the Joseon Dynasty).

The exhibition will be held for two months starting on October 1 and offers free admission. The museum is closed every Monday. More information about the exhibition is available at the homepage of the museum serviced in nine languages: http://www.museum.go.kr/main/index/index002.jsp

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr

From left: daegeum, saenghwang, piri (photos courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Janggu (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Dangbipa (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Yanggeum (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Geomungo (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Novelist of 70's Korean youth culture dies

Korean Choi In-ho (1945-2013) is not new for those who love Korean films and TV dramas as well as novels. Passing away at the age of 68, the writer is known as a leader of the youth culture of the 1970s.

He initially began his literary career in 1963 when he was a second-grade high-schooler by becoming the youngest writer to win at an annual literary contest held by the Hankook Ilbo, with a short novel titled Into the Hall of the Wall, which took the Korean literary circle by surprise. Later, he wrote vigorously and produced many novels.

Choi won the Rookie of the Year Award with his novel Another Man's Room in 1972. A year later, his novel The Stars Heavenly Home sold more than 1 million copies for the first time in the history of Korean literature, which made him a best-seller writer. This novel was later made into a film and also became a box office hit. In another novel written in the same year, The March of Fools, he wrote about the dreams and loves of Korean college students in the face of social pressures, which created a big sensation among Korean youths at that time. It was also filmed under the same title and became commercially successful, symbolizing an icon of romance in the 1970s.

 

Polish translation of Masquerade (left), French version of Deep Blue Night (images courtesy of Literature Translation Institute of Korea)

Other popular books of his such as Deep Blue Night, Whale Hunting, and Wanderer in Winter all won popularity among the Korean public and were adapted as films, all of which became box office hits. His novels were also made in TV dramas which won high ratings from Korean viewers. Among his works, The Merchant of Joseon (Sangdo in Korean) and Emperor of the Sea (also known as Haeshin in Korean) were dramatized and aired by MBC and KBS in 2001 and 2004, respectively, which won popularity not only among Koreans but also viewers across the globe, including India, Europe, and the Middle East.

 

Japanese versions of Another Man's Room (left) and Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land (images courtesy of Literature Translation Institute of Korea)

His novels which were translated into English, Japanese, Polish, and French include Deep Blue Night, Another Man's Room, Tower of Ants, Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land, and Masquerade.

On September 27, the Korean government awarded Choi the Eungwan Order of Culture Merit, the second highest artistic recognition, for his contribution to Korean literature and Korean popular culture.

- See more at: http://english.president.go.kr/tours/visitor/visitor_view.php?uno=8374&board_no=E10&search_key=&search_value=&search_cate_code=&cur_page_no=1#sthash.WL2YBEfZ.dpuf

source:korea.net

October, Month of Culture: full of arts & cultural events

“Cultural enrichment” has been proclaimed as one of the four policy priority areas of Park Geun-hye’s administration. The cultural enrichment initiative aims to raise the level of happiness of individual citizens by offering them the chance to become a producer and a consumer of culture.

This month, celebrating the Month of Culture, over 1,200 cultural programs have been prepared nationwide.

During Culture Week (October 16- 20), which is centered around Culture Day, October 19, the third Saturday of October, a diverse range of participatory and interactive events are being planned at Culture Station Seoul 284, in the old Seoul Station building. It’s titled “I am an Artist. This is Cultural Village.”

Promotional poster for the Month of Culture campaign

As part of the events, clubs, associations, dance troupes, theatre groups and other assorted “cultural societies” from across the nation will join together at Culture Station Seoul 284 to jointly celebrate the month of culture. There will be theatre performances in venues as small as just one pyeong, roughly 3.3 square meters. There will be art displays and musical performances. There will even be a phone booth book-exchange, where people bring their own books to exchange for others.

A festival to promote cultural values: community interaction, sympathy, sharing and consideration

A diverse range of cultural programs has been planned. Clubs, associations and art groups from across the nation will gather on October 12 at the Bundang Jandi Madang, in Bundang, and on October 19 at Culture Station Seoul 284, in Seoul, to celebrate Culture Month with competitions, displays and performances. A culture and arts festival specifically featuring disabled artists will be organized from October 1 to 15 at Seoul Square, in front of City Hall. It will remind us all that everyone in society should have access to culture, regardless of superficial differences. In addition, events focused on the elderly, who are about to start the second chapter of their life, will be held on October 16 at Cultural Station Seoul 284. Immigrants who are likely to form multi-cultural families and other non-Korean members of our community will be featured on October 16 and 17 at Cultural Station Seoul 284. An orchestra of adolescents will perform on October 20 at Deoksugung Palace, near City Hall.

Values and charms of Korean tradition to be shared

Gugak Performance at Noon will be held at Seoul Square, in front of City Hall, from October 16 through 18, in an effort to share Korea’s traditional musical delights. With the slogan, “Spirit, Youth, Tradition,” events will showcase performances of sajachum (lion-masked dance), Gaksori Noreum (a singing beggar), samulnori (traditional percussion music) and other folk instruments such as janggu and other drums. There will be free lunch for pasersby, as well.

There are also events planned around both language and fashion. In celebration of Hangeul Day, October 9, recently re-proclaimed as a public holiday, a Hangeul Culture Party will be held from October 7 to 13 at Gwanghwamun Square. The Culture Colored with Hanbok event on October 17 at Cultural Station Seoul 284, at Seoul Station, will introduce visitors to the beauty of Korea’s traditional clothing.

More information about the Month of Culture and Culture Week events is available at the official website (www.munhwamon.org) (only in Korean), or from the organizing committee itself (02 723 5057).
source: korea.net