Korean Students say "Namaste" in JNU

Amid the growing partnership between India and Korea, a group of students from the Hindi Department of Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS) visited JNU to learn Hindi and about Indian Culture. The Centre for Korean Studies (CKS), School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University organizes basic courses on Hindi Language and Indian Culture for the Korean students every year.


Group of students from the Hindi Department of Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS) visited JNU to learn Hindi and about Indian Culture.

The basic level course aims at catering to the needs of those students who have had very little exposure to Hindi in Korea. The course the helps the students speak Hindi confidently and communicate effectively. The students are introduced with the basic sound system, syntactic structure and vocabulary of Hindi. They are taught about Indian culture through audio-visual aids.

They also get to learn the informal Hindi. The overall focus of the program is to impart conversational skills. Since they are mostly at the beginners level and for short period, the medium of instruction adopted is through Hindi and both. They are offered 5 courses on Basic structure of Hindi & Composition,Reading Ability,Audio-Video, Oral Expressions and Indian Culture and Society. The teaching faculty are the language experts who have vast experience of teaching Hindi. During the course students also learn Yoga by a trained yoga teacher.

 

 

 

The students are taught courses on Hindi language and Indian Culture using innovative methods. The focus is laid on making the contents interesting and ensuring that the teaching-learning process is not too mechanical.

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During the valedictory function held on Thursday at JNU the students sang Hindi songs and recited Hindi poems. They said they were amused to see India's cultural diversity and fond of Indian food. They were keen to see as many Hindi movies as possible before going back to Korea.Prof. VaishnaNarang, the Dean of School of Language, Literature and Culture studies welcomed the students and emphasized the need for more such programs to foster the cultural relationship between the two countries. Dr. Ravikesh, the program director said "we are delighted to receive such bright students and impart with them true colors of Indian culture and ethos. They get an opportunity to experience India in and outside class.

Yoga class is one such popular activity among them. They are true cultural ambassadors of India in Korea.In fact, BUFS has also decided to provide scholarships to 5 of our students to study in Korea for one semester and get the first hand experience." Prof. VyjayantiRaghavan, the Chairperson of the Centre, on this occasion,concluded that such program also provide an opportunity to our students to interact with the Korean students and improve their Korean skills.With popularity of both the languages getting higher,  it is going to be a good time for the Korean learners at JNU and Hindi learners at BUFS.

 

source:Indiatoday

HHI signs submarine deal in India

Hyundai Heavy Industries’ dockyard in Ulsan. Korea’s largest shipbuilder has set goal of collecting 22.9 billion dollars worth of orders this year. Provided by the company

The world’s largest shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), has established an agreement to build submarines for India as part of a 40-year program to strengthen the nation’s naval forces.

The financially struggling company said it signed an MoU with Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) last week stating that the Korean shipbuilder will work with the Indian company to build six submarines that the nation’s navy is preparing to order.

“Since HSL wants to be a part of the submarine manufacturing project by the navy, they asked us for help,” said a spokesman for HHI. “Because they are the largest shipbuilder in their country, the possibility that they will win the order is big.”

If HSL wins the contract, HHI will dispatch a work force to give technical support that the company needs to build the submarines while HSL will take charge of manufacturing the vessels. The Indian government will spend about $9.72 billion (10.47 trillion won).

In an interview with Indian media, HSL said, “HHI will help us build submarines as they are the biggest shipbuilder in the world and have some of the best high-end equipment and techniques. Since India has a 40-year submarine construction program, this will be a win-win situation for both of us.”

This is some of the best recent news for HHI, which has been struggling to make a profit as its number of orders decreases. The company expects that the project with HSL could help it grow in India in the future. The country is considered a big market for Korean companies in the defense industry. The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade said last year that India will become Korea’s second-largest export market in defense after the United States. According to the industry, the amount of weapons imported by India increased an average of 29.3 percent from 2009 to 2013.

Another Korean firm, Kokam, a lithium polymer battery manufacturer, is also seeking technical cooperation with HSL.

“It looks like India will invest about $76.9 billion in the next five years to replace their decrepit military devices and weapons,” said a spokesman for the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade. “Since Korean submarines, radars and howitzers have good price competitiveness in the market, this will be a good business opportunity for us.”

The institute said India’s recent expansion of its military force is a matter of survival, especially after China has been aggressively strengthening its navy recently to expand its influences in the Indian Ocean, a transport route for about 80 percent of the world’s oil.

Last year, China sent two submarines to run a combat simulation in the Indian Ocean, saying it was necessary to protect the nation’s businesses from pirates.

According to military sources last year, China has a total of 52 submarines in operation, three of which are nuclear powered. India, however, has 14 submarines and only one is nuclear powered, which it borrowed from Russia in 2012. About half of the 14 submarines were built in the 1980s, according to the industry.

source: KOREA JOONGANG DAILY

한국인 대상 ICCR 장학 프로그램

인도문화교류위원회(ICCR)는 한국의 우수 학생 2인에게 장학금을 지급한다. 본 장학 프로그램은 2015년 인도대학에서 공부를 희망하는 한국인 학부생, 대학원생 및 연구원을 대상으로 진행된다. 인도문화교류위원회(ICCR)는 선발된 학생들에게 학비, 생활비 등의 경비를 지원한다. 2 장학 프로그램에 대한 세부내용 및 지원서는 서울 인도문화원 홈페이지(http://indoculture.org/)에서 확인할 수 있다. 대학 및 기관에 대한 자세한 정보는 ICCR 홈페이지(http://www.iccrindia.net/GCSS_Scholarship_Letter.pdf)에서 확인 가능하다.    3. 지원자는 신청서 6부를 2015년 1월 21일까지 주한인도대사관에 제출해야 한다.  2015년 1월 23일에 영어 시험과 면접이 진행된다.      2014년 12월 31일  서울   자료: 주한인도대사관

In Seoul, Tagore's lamp is still lit by a Korean poetess and author

Kim Yang-shik’s eyes sparkled behind those stylish glasses while talking about the letter she received from Shantiniketan’s Visva-Bharati university earlier this year. The university, according to her, had finally in principle given the green signal to her opening a Korea Bhawan in the town synonymous with Rabindranath Tagore. It was “no answer, no answer, no answer” for years, she said. Tagore, of course, has been Kim’s “mentor” and her “spirit”. “Through Tagore’s poetry, I saw the world,” she told me while we sat chatting in the Indian Art Museum in a trendy Seoul neighourhood. Kim heads both the museum and the Tagore Society of Korea; she set up the society in 1981 following years of reading Tagore’s works and translating some including the Gitanjali from English to Korean. Her elder brother urged her to read Tagore, handing her copy of The Crescent Moon; there was no looking back after that, only turning more pages. She did her MA in Indian philosophy, eventually becoming a poet and essayist herself, and devoted time to translating Tagore. Currently, Kim is translating Tagore’s entire collection of poetry.  “Around 20 percent is left. I have been translating the poems for years,” Kim said, carefully wrapping her 30-year-old favourite embroidered Kashmiri shawl around her shoulders. Tagore never visited South Korea. But four lines he uttered about the country calling it the “lamp of the east” still remains lit in hearts like that of Kim’s. The city has Tagore statue in an university area as well. Tagore isn’t her only passion in life; India is a huge part of it. She’s travelled to India 30 times since 1975 and, over the years, collected Indian nearly 2000 artefacts – ranging from wood and stone carvings, musical instruments, paintings, furniture, fabric and handicraft – from across the country. The artefacts are displayed twice a year for a few months at the Museum, the curator, Kim Kyu-Won said. Kim also sponsors a scholarship at the Korean language course at JNU. She took me downstairs for a quick cup of coffee before rushing off for a meeting with lawyers and a visit to the National Museum of Korea. Looking at the chic, young Korean girls at the café, she grinned: “Very busy, these girls. Quick coffee after lunch”. At a sprightly 83, the Padma Shri awardee, Kim Yang-shik isn’t doing too badly either, I’d say. Source:Embassy of India,Seoul

ICCR Scholarships for Korean nationals

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is offering two scholarships to meritorious Korean students for the academic year 2015-16 to pursue Undergraduate, Postgraduate or Research studies in various disciplines in India. All expenses, including tuition fee, living allowance, etc. of the selected students will be borne by ICCR. 2 Detailed information about the scholarship programme, application process and form, is available at the Indian Cultural Centre, Seoul’s website -http://indoculture.org/. Further information about the University/ Institute or academic course of interest, is available at ICCR’s website - http://www.iccrindia.net/GCSS_Scholarship_Letter.pdf 3.       The last date for receipt of applications (in six copies) at the Embassy of India, Seoul is 21 January 2015. The English proficiency examination and interview would be conducted on 23 January 2015. Seoul 31 December 2014   Source:Embassy of India,Seoul

Republic of Korea leaders visit India to learn about the HIV epidemic and response

A high-level delegation of parliamentary and private sector leaders from the Republic of Korea visited India from 10 to 15 September to learn about the impact that HIV has on communities and how the country is responding to the AIDS epidemic.
The delegation was led by the recently formed Korean Women against AIDS (KOWA) organization, which works through women parliamentarians and senior business leaders to advocate for greater engagement in the Republic of Korea for ending the AIDS epidemic in Asia, Africa and across the globe.
While in New Delhi, the group met with Indian parliamentarians and visited the HIV Vaccine Translational Research Laboratory. As part of the fact-finding mission, the group also visited nongovernmental organizations providing counselling, care and support services to women and children living with HIV, as well as the K. B. Bhabha Hospital in Mumbai, which has a prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission centre. The leaders spoke with women living with HIV, learning how antiretroviral treatment can prevent babies from being born with HIV and keep their mothers alive.
While India has the largest HIV epidemic in Asia, with an estimated 2.1 million people living with HIV in 2013, the country has made significant progress. New HIV infections have dropped by 19% since 2005, about a third (36%) of people living with HIV are receiving life-saving treatment and AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 38% since 2005.

The mission came to India at the suggestion of UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, who, during a recent visit to the Republic of Korea, encouraged KOWA members to experience the AIDS response first-hand.

source:unaids.org

Fall Foliage Destinations in the City

Every fall, sightseers flock to Korea's beautiful rural destinations to enjoy the fiery colors of autumn. For some Seoul residents, however, traveling to other regions in the autumn season is out of reach. The following sites are known as the best places to see rich fall foliage in the city. They offer a place for peaceful walks among colorful leaves that are also located near popular tourist sites. A Romantic Stroll along Deoksugung Palace's Stone Wall Road Also known as ‘Jeongdong-gil road,’ Deoksugung Doldam-gil (Deoksugung Stone Wall Road) is the road along Deoksugung Palace’s stone wall and is a popular place for romantic strolls. In the fall, yellow ginkgo leaves add to the romantic ambience. This elegant road is about 900 meters long and stretches from Deoksugung Palace by Seoul City Hall to Chongdong Theater. There are numerous cultural sites and traditional and modern structures along the way that make the trip all the more worthwhile. The first place to visit is the Seoul Museum of Art. The leaves of a 500-year-old maple tree in the garden are rich in color. Sit down in the quiet, cozy garden and enjoy the sunlight, or visit one of the exhibitions in the gallery. Then, move on to Chongdong Theater (venue for traditional Korean stage performances) and Kyunghyang Art Hill (venue for contemporary performances such as Fanta-Stick and KIM JIN KYU Original Drawing Show). You can select a performance to suit the autumn mood. Other famous tourist attractions nearby include the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung and the royal palaces including Deoksugung Palace and Gyeonghuigung Palace. The location is also popular for its proximity to Myeong-dong and Namdaemun Market. More Info ☞ Location: 5-1, Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul ☞ Directions: City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1–Exit 2 or Line 2–Exit 12) / Turn left upon exiting and walk straight for 30 meters ☞ Nearby Attractions: Deoksugung Palace National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung Seoul Museum of Art Gyeonghuigung Palace Chongdong Theater ☞ Regular performances at Kyunghyang Art Hill: Fanta-Stick KIM JIN KYU Original Drawing Show ☞ Related Article: Deoksugung-gil and Nokhwa Street A Cultural Walk along the Streets of Samcheong-dong The unique stone wall road that runs beside the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace is called Samcheongdong-gil Road. The site is highly recommended in the fall, as many enjoy passing through the gates of the palace, visiting the National Folk Museum of Korea, and going for a scenic walk along the road. The ginkgo trees paint the area with striking yellow hues, and sightseers can travel down the path through the autumn atmosphere. Also called Gallery Road, this street is dotted with small galleries, restaurants and shops selling paintings and accessories. Visitors can stop in during their leisurely walk on the way to their final destination of Samcheong Park. This park was a filming location for My Lovely Samsoon and Doctor Gang and is also ideal for leisurely walks. It is believed that if you go there with a special someone, you are sure to one day get married. Take a stroll through Samcheong Park, and/or consider making it the site of a romantic marriage proposal. More Info ☞ Location: Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul ☞ Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 1 / Walk straight for 150m and turn right into the Jongno Culture Center alley. ☞ Nearby Attractions: Samcheongdong-gil Road National Folk Museum of Korea Gyeongbokgung Palace Samcheong Park The Street in front of the Cheongwadae (Blue House) Cheongwadae Sarangchae Bukchon Hanok Village Bukchon Art Museum Owl Art & Craft Museum Namsan Mountain: Experience Seoul from a Different Perspective The routes that stretch from Namdaemun Market to Namsan Library and the path from Namsan Library down to Grand Hyatt Seoul offer a landscape rich in autumn colors, notably lined with dense forest areas on each side. As you walk along the road, you can look down at the houses sitting on the hill below and see Seoul from another perspective. As you walk up from Namdaemun Market to Namsan Mountain, you will also find a number of notable sites such as the Goethe-Institut Korea, Namsan Library, and Namsan Botanical Garden. Take the walking path from Namsan Library to the mountain for about 10 minutes, and you will arrive at the popular N Seoul Tower. The N Seoul Tower observatory is a must-visit attraction for a unique view of fall foliage in Seoul. The observatory has a glass façade and offers a panoramic view of the city. As the sun sets, sit at the café with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the dramatic cityscape from the tower. More Info ☞ Location: Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul ☞ Directions: Chungmuro Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 4 / Take Yellow Bus 02 and get off at N Seoul Tower (Travel time: 20minutes / Fare: 950 won / First Bus: 07:00, Last Bus 23:30) ☞ Nearby Attractions N Seoul Tower Namsan Botanical Garden Goethe-Institut Korea Namdaemun Market Namsangol Hanok Village The Korea House Jangchungdong Jokbal Street Myeong-dong ☞ Related Articles: N Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain - A Must-See Landmark of Seoul Take a walk down ‘Seoul-gil,’ pathways full of living, breathing history!-Bukchon Hanok-gil Night View of Seoul: N Seoul Tower Path lined with Redwood Trees, Metasequoia at Haneul (Sky) Park World Cup Park is made up of five parks: Haneul Park, Pyeonghwa (Peace) Park, Noeul (Sunset) Park, Nanjicheon Park, and Nanji Hangang Park. Haneul Park derives its name, which means ‘sky’ in Korean, from its status as the park with the highest elevation in the area. To get to the top you must first climb 290 steps or take the hiking trail. The top of the park offers impressive views of the city. The redwood tree path at Haneul Park is about 900 meters long. This popular path is lined with tall redwood trees and the path is in harmony with the thick groves and trees in the park. To reach the path, take the road to the left of the stairway that leads to the park. Walk straight and then follow the road to the right until you reach the information center. Pass the information center to arrive at the unpaved redwood lined path. In autumn every year, the Seoul Eulalia Festival is held at the top of the park to highlight the magnificent field of reeds. Walk among the reeds that move with the wind like silver waves to feel autumn at its fullest. More Info ☞ Location: Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul ☞ Directions: World Cup Stadium Station (Seoul Subway Line 6), Exit 1 / Walk for about 20 minutes toward Haneul Park and cross the bridge. Once you arrive at the stairs, turn left and go straight till you get to the Redwood Tree Path. ☞ World Cup Park Website: http://worldcuppark.seoul.go.kr (Korean) ☞ Nearby Attractions: World Cup Park Nanji Hangang Park Seoul World Cup Stadium 600-year old Bugaksan Mountain Fortress Wall Photo courtesy of the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation The Fortress Wall of Bugaksan Mountain is a popular tourist destination in Seoul and one of the best trails in the city. The road is surrounded by a scenic natural landscape and is visited by people of every age and gender. The hiking trail was closed to the public in 1968, and was finally reopened in 2006. Since then, it has become a major tourist site with more than 200,000 visitors a year. It is a popular trail course in every season because of the old fortress road and the view of Seoul over the fortress. Sightseers can enjoy a view of Seoul and autumn foliage on both sides of the trail. When visiting the fortress wall, make sure to bring proper identification (resident registration card, Korean driver's license, or passport) as this area is under military control. Note that photos can only be taken where officially permitted. More Info ☞ Location: Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul ☞ Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2 / Take Bus 02 and get off at Waryong Park. Walk for about 10 minutes to get to Waryong Park and walk along the fortress wall from there. After 20 minutes of walking, if you pass the Malbawi Information Center (+82-2-765-0297~8 (Korean, English)), the trail starts. ☞ Operating Hours: March to October (09:00–16:00) / November to February (10:00–15:00) ☞ Website: http://www.bukak.or.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) ☞ Nearby Attractions: Bugaksan Mountain Daelim Museum Cheongwadae Sarangchae Buam-dong From Seoul Forest to Gwangjingyo Bridge, overlooking the Hangang River Cloud Bridge in Seoul Forest, which boasts beautiful autumn scenery, takes you to the Hangang riverside area. Walk along the road on the upper side of the river, and you will reach Ttukseom Hangang Park under Cheongdamdaegyo Bridge. Ttukseom Hangang Park is a large riverside park spanning 11.5 kilometers in length. The park features various facilities including a music fountain and swimming pools. The music fountain behind the park plaza spouts jets of water 15 meters high, and the water dances along with the music. When you reach Gwangjingyo Bridge, make sure to go up the bridge. Along both sides of the street you will find wide sidewalks. Midway on the bridge, there are observatories and gardens where you can rest while taking in the view of the Hangang River. Located under the bridge is a café called Riverview 8th Avenue. The name derives from the fact that the café is located on the eighth pillar of the bridge. The cafe is also popular among fans of Korean dramas as it is one of the filming locations of Iris. Tourism Information * Seoul Forest Location: Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul Directions: Seoul Forest Station (Bundang Line, Exit 3) or Ttukseom Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, Exit 8) / Turn left at the intersection. It is a 15-minute walk from the station. Website: http://parks.seoul.go.kr/eng/ (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) * Ttukseom Hangang Park Location: Jayangdong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul Directions: Ttukseom Resort Station (Seoul Subway Line 7), Exit 2,3 / 2 minute-walk from the station. Website: http://hangang.seoul.go.kr (Korean) * Riverview 8th Avenue Location: Cheonho-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul Directions: Gwangnaru Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit2 or Cheonho Station (Seoul Subway Line 8), Exit2 / 15-minute walk from the station Website: http://www.riverview8.co.kr (Korean) ☞ Nearby Attractions: Waterworks Museum Children's Grand Park A Leisurely Walk through Nakseongdae's Garosu-gil Road Just outside of Nakseongdae Station (Seoul Subway Line 2) is a one-kilometer-long road to Nakseongdae (Shrine of Goryeo General Kang Kam-chan). Named Garosu-gil, the road is covered with yellow ginkgo leaves and crimson maple leaves in the fall. Nakseongdae Park is big, but it is relatively lesser known so it is a good spot for a stroll outdoors. Inside, there is a shrine called Anguksa with small flower trees around the cozy and quaint crossroad. The road to the left of Seoul Science Park nearby leads to top-tier Seoul National University. Nestled in Gwanaksan Mountain, Seoul National University is renowned for its beautiful campus. The road between the dormitory and the art museum is notably lined with a wide variety of trees and flowers. Museum of Art, Seoul National University, which was designed by world-renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, is also a must-visit site. The road from the main gate of Seoul National University to Seoul National University Subway Station also offers scenic views of Gwanaksan Mountain. More Info ☞ Location: Bongcheon-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul ☞ Directions: Nakseongdae Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 4 / 20m from the station ☞ Nearby Attractions: Seoul National University, Museum of Art Seoul National University Nakseongdae Park Seoul Science Park Embracing Nature at Seoul Grand Park's 'Forest Bath' Photo courtesy of Seoul Grand ParkSeoul Grand Park Forest Park is a narrow path that takes visitors up and down the park’s trails. “Forest bathing” is the act of taking a leisurely walk in the woods while breathing in the aromatic scent of trees and nature. The trail’s entrance points are found in two areas: one behind the Forest Exhibition Center (to the right side of the main entrance of the Seoul Zoo in Seoul Grand Park), and the other behind the Australian Pavilion. For both starting points, the trail goes back to the main entrance of the Seoul Zoo in Seoul Grand Park. Within the zoo, the path is divided into five sections by type of tree, which includes groves of acacia, chestnuts, and pine trees. Visitors will enjoy 11 different themes such as ‘forest with nature,’ ‘forest for meditation,’ and ‘forest for rest.’ Walking through the forest bathing area takes as little as 50 minutes or as long as 2.5 hours. More Info ☞ Location: Makgye-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do ☞ Directions: Seoul Grand Park Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 2 / Walk for about 20 minutes toward Seoul Grand Park Zoo till you get to the entrance of the forest bathing area (as the area is inside the zoo, admission will be charged). ☞ Website: http://grandpark.seoul.go.kr/Eng/html/main/main.jsp (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) ☞ Nearby Attractions: Seoul Zoo in Seoul Grand Park Cheonggyesan Mountain Seoul Land Hobby In World National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art ☞ Related article: Best Spring-time Destinations ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) source:visitkorea.or.kr