Rise of 'snack culture'

Passengers watch their smart devices as they wait for the train a subway station in Seoul, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul Web-based cartoons, dramas dominate digital users' pastime By Baek Byung-yeul To respond to the needs of busy digital users on the go, media content providers are releasing more cartoons, dramas and novels short enough to be viewed in under 10 minutes on mobile devices. The local press calls this phenomenon "snack culture," a Konglish term referring to media content that are as accessible and fast as your regular snacks. "My smartphone helps me endure the tedious commute as I can enjoy a wide range of media content," said Kim, who declined to give his full name, on a train headed to City Hall Station in Seoul, Tuesday. Kim commutes to work by subway, and it usually takes about 70 minutes door-to-door. Among the different kinds of media content, Kim is addicted to "webtoons" or free online comic strips. Kim said he has enjoyed various webtoons, ranging from the country's biggest portal Naver's (www.naver.com) sleeper hit "Sound of Mind" to "Misaeng," another hugely popular work provided by Daum (www.daum.net), one of the country's top portals. Cartoonist Yoon Tae-ho's "Misaeng" "The greatest advantage of Internet cartoons is that many of them are free. They are also funny, so I cannot stop reading them," Kim added. The figure shows the growing popularity of webtoons ― the number of daily viewers of Naver's webtoons averages more than 6.2 million, according to the company. The rise of webtoons, which have been regarded as part of a sub culture, has enabled them to be assimilated into mainstream. "Misaeng," depicting the precarious lives of Korean office employees at a cut-throat trading company has had more than 600 million hits, and will be adapted to a TV drama. Web-based drama series are also vastly popular genre of snack culture. Each episode runs for about 10 minutes. Naver's drama series "Aftermath" A notable success is "Aftermath," launched by Naver last January. The thriller, starring popular boy pop band ZE:A's Kim Dong-jun as a protagonist, is based on the Internet cartoon of the same title, and has garnered more than 3 million viewers with 11 episodes. "Podcasts" or Internet radio shows have also been emerging as another snack culture. Park So-young, an office employee living in Seoul, said she listens to podcasts when commuting to work for "self-improvement." "There are slew of inspirational podcasts. Also, I can catch up on domestic and foreign current events on politics and become more cultured through history podcasts," Park said. Park's favorite show is "Morning News Paper Briefing." Emceed by Kim Yong-min, a political pundit and producer of Internet-based liberal news media company Kukmin TV, the 30-minute-long radio show, summarizes top news of major newspapers. It airs everyday from Monday to Friday. The show is currently ranked fourth in the top 1,000 category of Podbbang, (www.podbbang.com), one of the popular podcast providers. "Some may say that the show is left-leaning, but I think it is a necessary alternative in today's media environment," she added. The government recently issued a report analyzing the snack culture boom, defining it "one of the noticeable social phenomenon in 2014." "The so-called snack culture is a result of digital users' desire to view cultural content briefly on the go rather than making time for cultural activity," the report said. "It shows creating cultural content is no longer the exclusive property of certain experts." According to local advertising company HS AD's recent survey of 1,000 people, Koreans use their mobile devices about 3.34 hours on average while they spend about three hours watching TV and about 48 minutes using personal computers. Koreans don't read much anymore. The average daily reading time of Korea last year was 23.5 minutes, the lowest ever, according to a survey of 2,000 adults conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. source:koreatimes

Unified Silla Room at National Museum renovated

The National Museum of Korea (NMK) in Yongsan, Seoul, has recently renovated its permanent display of items from the Unified Silla Kingdom (676-935). Adding new artifacts and reflecting the results of recent academic research, the renovated exhibition now focuses on the two main cultural pillars of Silla times: noble Buddhism and regional influence.

Unified Silla was founded in 676 when the two kingdoms of Goguryeo and Baekje lost in battle to Silla. The kingdom maintained its power for more than 200 years until the foundation of the Goryeo Dynasty in 918. The unification of the three kingdoms is a significant moment in Korean history, in that all three different languages, cultures, life styles and customs existent on the peninsula were brought together, integrated and came under the control of a single system.

Formed by the integration of the Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla kingdoms, the Unified Silla kingdom consisted of nine ju, or provinces.

The Iron Buddha from Bowonsa Temple is one of the most significant and representative Buddhist sculptures from the Unified Silla era. The Iron Buddha was on display at a special exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the U.S. in 2013. (photo courtesy of the NMK)

Buddhist beliefs among the people of Unified Silla are reflected in the arts, especially in the styles of Buddha statues. In addition to the unique Silla style, artistic elements from the Goguryeo and Baekje peoples, as well as from the Tang Dynasty in China, were integrated together to create the beautiful uniqueness.

One of the most representative Buddha statues from the period sits in the Seokguram Grotto at Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang Province). The use of gilt bronze, however, gradually declined with the use of iron on the rise. In particular, the Iron Buddha from Bowonsa Temple is highly recognized, along with the statue in the Seokguram Grotto. The Iron Buddha recently made a brief visit to the U.S. for a special exhibition held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It will now be on display at the NMK in its renovated Unified Silla exhibition room.

A variety of artifacts on display were excavated from the Anapji Pond, part of the palace complex in Gyeongju, and from the adjacent castle. They include ceramics, pottery and metal works, all imported from Tang China, giving us a peek into the active cultural exchange that went on between Unified Silla and the Tang Dynasty. On display in the new exhibit are green-glazed pottery items comparable to the similar Dangsamchae items from Tang China.

The displays in the newly opened Unified Silla room offer a lot to see and learn about the unified kingdom. There is a candle stick from Inyongsa Temple, a piece of pottery from Ingaksa Temple and incense burners from Mireuksa Temple in Malheul-ri, Changnyeong-gun County. There is also on display a sariho, a gold-plated silver bowl with a pattern of two birds on the surface. It will be shown to the public for the first time in this new exhibit, after having undergone a lengthy restoration.

Another noticeable change in the Unified Silla room is the installation of touch-screen magnifying glasses. Visitors will be able to study the patterns engraved onto each artifact more closely using the adjacent monitors. The room is also designed with more color and subtler elements that will help people focus more on the displays.

An incense burner excavated at Mireuksa Temple in Iksan. (photo courtesy of the NMK)

The sariho, a gold-plated silver bowl with a pattern of two birds on the surface, offers visitors a look into the luxurious and cultured lifestyle of Unified Silla royalty. (photo courtesy of the NMK)

The newly renovated Unified Silla room has on display burial mound figurines excavated at Yonggang-dong, Gyeongju. (photo courtesy of the NMK)

source:korea.net

Onggi, traditional earthenware vessel in Korea

Steps to making traditional Korean pottery

Usually, the kiln will be fired for two to three days, or about 45 hours. For the first 15 hours, the fire slowly heats up the kiln and dries any moisture that's inside. The temperature is then increased to about 1,200 degrees Celsius, the melting point of the glaze, and continues thus for about 30 additional hours.

The pine logs, changsol, are used to fuel the fire.

(Left) Dissolve the clay in water in order to remove any foreign objects; (right) Mix the clay in water to remove any contaminants.

Treatment of the Clay

The most important element in the production of pottery or earthenware is the clay itself. This is called jeomto or jil in Korean. High-quality clay has a brownish tint because of the high iron content and is also very sticky. The first step in making pottery is to treat the clay.

Drench the newly dug up clay and allow it to get wet evenly.

Second, rinse the clay in water to remove any foreign substances. A strainer is used to remove any stones, sand, tree roots or grass. Let it dry until it is ready to knead. In Korean, this process is called subi.

After treating the clay, mix it and form it into bricks. If the condition of the clay is fine, with few contaminants, you can skip the previous step.

(Left) Sift out any contaminants with a strainer; (right) Remove and dry the filtered clay-water slurry.

(Left) As the clay dries, begin to form it into bricks; (right) Hammer and beat the clay into shape.

(Left) After kneading, cut the clay into hand-held sized pieces; (middle) Pile the broken clay in place; (right) Pound the clay with a mallet to soften the clay.

Step three involves the removing of any contaminants with a so-called mud knife, peeling the clay into 20 or 30 millimeter strips to catch any foreign objects that weren't caught in the strainer. This process is called ggaeggijil in Korean. It will make the clay softer because it takes the air out of the clay. The density of the clay is also increased. After this, form the clay into round chunks about 40 centimeters in diameter. These roundish bricks are called jilmoongchi.

(Left) Cover the clay bricks with clean dirt to prevent them from sticking; (middle) Again, remove any contaminants by slicing the clay bricks with a so-called mud knife; (right) Lump the clay into large, round clods.

(Left) Spread clean dirt on the clods to prevent them from sticking; (right) Dampen and flatten the clods.

(Left) Mix the clay with the mallets; (right) During this process, the clay gets softer and more dense.

In step four, mix the chucks of clay together using the mallets. Traditionally, clean dirt is spread on the ground as the bricks are lined up, in order to prevent them from sticking. Today, however, a piece of hemp or cotton is sometimes used in place of the clean dirt. The mallets for kneading are varied in size, according to use, and pounding or kneading the clay should be done with consistency.

(Left) After kneading, cut the clay into manageable bricks; (right) Turn the clay and lift it from the bottom.

(Left) Pound the clay to make it square; (right) Form the clay into a strip.

(Left) Strips of clay are used to form the final pottery urns; (right) Roll the strips of clay to form strips.

After kneading, cut the clay into manageable bricks and stack them to the side. Cover the stacked bricks with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out.

(Left) Form the clay into long rolls; (middle) The clay is formed into long rolls so as to better form the final pottery works; (right) Form the clay into long, thin rolls, to be used in the final pottery process.

Step six is the last step before shaping. Form the clay into round rolls, about 120 centimeters long and four centimeters thick. These are the final clay pieces that will be used to form the pottery.


(Source: korea.net/ Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korea) 

Korean novels in English: Yi Mun-yol’s ‘The Golden Phoenix’

The English version of Yi Mun-yol’s short story “The Golden Phoenix”

It’s safe to say that the influence novelist Yi Mun-yol has had on Korean literature could not be more far-reaching.

The writer joins the ranks of the few novelists who have had many of their works translated and published in numerous languages, including, of course, English, but also French, Italian, Dutch, Chinese and Greek, reaching a worldwide audience.

More than fifty of his novels, whether full-length or short, have now been published for such global readers.

Among them is “The Golden Phoenix,” a 1981 short story. The novel was published in English in 1999, part of a collection of seven short stories, “The Golden Phoenix: Seven Contemporary Korean Short Stories.”

The story frankly discusses the ultimate objective and essence of art, using the conflict and friendship between traditional calligrapher Seokdam and his young pupil Gojuk.

Gojuk is a parentless child, with his father dead and his heartless mother having fled with another man. He has no choice but to live at his uncle’s home. However, as the uncle has to seek asylum in a foreign country, the poor boy is left with the uncle’s old friend Seokdam, who is a calligrapher.

Seokdam wouldn’t have Gojuk under his wing as a pupil since he thinks the way the boy does calligraphy, despite his talented skills, runs against his view of art.

Seokdam’s refusal to teach the youngster puts the two into somewhat of a love-hate relationship. Silently, though, Gojuk starts to polish his calligraphy skills. Unable to turn a blind eye to Gojuk’s natural talent for the art, Seokdam finally accepts the boy, who, however, chooses to leave him in a show of defiance.

As he lives all by himself and keeps doing the art, people start to notice Gojuk’s modern, artistic talent, gaining him sudden fame across the country.

One day, Gojuk feels a sudden sense of emptiness as he thinks that most of his youth has gone nowhere and that all the effort he put into the art has been futile. He then decides to return to his teacher.

“If one can see a golden phoenix rising from his calligraphic works just once in a lifetime, his life has 'got there,’ for sure.” Seokdam repeatedly tells this to Gojuk, but he doesn’t understand it at all.

Gojuk replies, saying, “Even if you can write with one stroke of a brush and see such a golden phoenix soaring from your piece, what’s the use of it?”

Novelist Yi Mun-yol (photo: Yonhap News)

In response, the teacher says that, “That’s the acme of perfection that any calligrapher is eager to reach, even if only once in a lifetime."

Despite the answer, Gojuk sticks to such a defense and drives the teacher to the end of his patience. Seokdam bursts into anger, throwing an ink stone at him and that’s the last the pair see of each other.

Gojuk leaves Seokdam again, determined that he will never come back. Not caring at all about what happens to the stock of calligraphic work he created over the years, he falls into a promiscuous, dissipated life full of women and alcohol.

After some years, however, Gojuk reaches a point where he feels sick and tired of his out-of-control life. He decides to go back to Seokdam. Before that, however, he heads to a temple at Odaesan Mountain to purify his soul from all unclean things.

There, he happens to see an old, faded mural, a work of art featuring a golden phoenix: a bird with golden wings, a hawk-like head and a human body from the neck down. Then he sees the bird come to life and fly high. He now realizes what the teacher really meant when he talked about the bird.

When he comes back to Seokdam, it’s too late. The teacher has already passed away. In despair, Gojuk gathers all his work and starts to assess each piece. Among the many creations, there’s nothing with which he is satisfied. He realizes that his art is still far from perfect and, more specifically, he is at a point where he can see the golden phoenix.

Gojuk burns all of his work. At that moment, he sees a giant golden phoenix soar from the flames. That night, he breathes his last, and he, too, passes away.

Born in 1948 in Yeongyang-gun County, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang Province), Yi Mun-yol dropped out of university in 1970 when he was enrolled in the Korean language education program at the College of Education of Seoul National University.

Yi served as a journalist for the Daegu Maeil newspaper until 1977 when he made his literary debut. Now, he serves as a chair professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

His major works include full-length novels, such as “The Son of Man” (1979) and “Our Twisted Hero” (1987), as well as collections of short stories, including “The Shadow of Darkness” (1980).

The English-language collection of which this is a part features six other novels: Yun Hu-myong’s “The Girl from the Wind-Whipped House” (1982); Yi Mun-ku’s “The Sunset over My Hometown” (1972); Kim Yong-hyon’s “The Mural” (1994); Choi Yun’s “The Flower with Thirteen Fragrances” (1995); O Chong-hi’s “The Monument Intersection” (1983); and, lastly, Yoon Heung-gil’s “The Rainy Spell” (1978).
source:korea.net

Have a flair for foreign languages? Watch new doors open up for you

Our trade links are expanding across the world and several multi-national companies have simultaneously set up base in India over the last decade. With these advancements the requirement for people with skills in foreign language is increasing rapidly. Fluency in French, German, Russian, Mandarin and more recently Japanese, Spanish and Korean are in great demand. A career in foreign languages also promises a great opportunity to travel the world over and be paid for it too. So if you have a keen interest in learning an additional language and a strong command over existing ones you can make a career out of mastering foreign languages.

CHOOSE RIGHT LANGUAGE FIRST

Popularity or better career prospects in a foreign language are linked with the international and economic ties with a particular country. Aptitude for a language is important while deciding on a language. Universities such as Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University conduct entrance exams at the undergraduate level to gauge the aptitude of potential students.

STARTING OUT

Certificate, diploma and degree courses are offered by various universities like the Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Mumbai University. Courses are also available at private institutes such as Max Mueller Bhavan, Alliance Francaise and Instituto Hispania. These focus more on the spoken and written part of the language , while universities focus on literature, linguistics and translations , as well. On the other hand, most private institutes participate in exchange programmes to enhance the understanding of the language.

CAREER PROSPECTS

"With globalization, the avenues for anyone who knows a foreign language are only growing. The industry has opened up and the European Union also offers a lot of opportunities. MNCs also engage in import and export and hence prefer professionals who know an extra language," said Meher Bhoot, associate professor, department of German , Mumbai University. Careers in foreign languages can include working as interpreters, at international insurance companies, at consulates, knowledge process outsourcing and multi-national companies.

REMUNERATION

Professionals in the industry say that the remuneration that follows from learning foreign languages is very promising. "As teachers one can charge between Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 depending on the institute. At private companies or consulates, students can expect to start out at Rs 30,000 every month," said Bhoot. Once established, interpreters can charge anywhere between Rs 1000 an hour to Rs 25,000 a day. Working out of home and translating matter can even earn you between 60 paise to Rs 5 per word.
source:times of India

이제는 다문화 시대“다문화강사로서 자신감 생겼어요

``글로벌+로컬(글로컬)' 상호 지향의 하모니'를 주제로 2주간 6회에 걸쳐 진행된 2014 하이원 다문화강사 중부권 소양교육이 8일 수료식을 갖고 42명의 강사를 배출했다. 이번 교육은 강원일보 사회복지법인 함께사는 강원세상(이사장:이희종 강원일보사장)과 하이원리조트, 도가 주최하고 (사)강원한국학연구원(원장:유성선)이 주관한 가운데 진행됐다. 강의 기간 한국의 다문화 상황과 다양한 한국어 표현 및 문화소통을 위한 대화법 등의 프로그램들은 다문화가정이 적응할 수 있도록 돕는 도우미로서의 역량을 갖추도록 했다. 또 강원한국학 연구원 전산담당 강사진들은 실생활에서 필요한 다양한 컴퓨터 활용기법을 전수해 호응을 얻었다. 배세은(여·26·원주시·베트남명:프엉 티빗튀)씨는 “한국과 이웃나라의 문화를 자세히 이해할 수 있는 기회가 돼 감사하며 강사역할을 잘 할 수 있다는 자신감이 생겼다”고 말했다. 함병식 함께사는 강원세상 사무국장은 “다문화 가정의 자녀들이 자부심을 가질 수 있도록 하는 데에도 큰 의미가 있다”고 말했다. 자료: (사)강원한국학연구원

결혼이주여성 다문화 강사로 활동한다

이제는 다문화 시대]“강의기법 열심히 배워 다양한 문화 전파할게요” 2014년 하이원과 함께하는 다문화강사 소양교육이 28일부터 시작됐다. 이번 교육은 강원도에 거주하게 될 결혼이주여성들이 빠른 시일 내에 지역에 적응하도록 하기 위해 이들의 교육을 담당하게 될 강사들을 대상으로 진행된다. 강원일보 사회복지법인 함께사는 강원세상과 하이원리조트, 도가 공동으로 주최하고 (사)강원한국학연구원이 주관하는 이번 교육은 홍천종합사회복지관에서 양구 속초 인제 홍천 춘천 횡성 등 중부권 결혼이주여성 신청자 55명을 대상으로 2주간 총 6회에 걸쳐 진행된다. 내용은 다문화강사의 역할과 의미, 한국어 표현과 연습, 교육현장에서의 강의기법, 표정·자세 연출 및 제스처 연습 등이다. 또 29일부터는 정선군다문화가족지원센터에서 폐광권역인 영월과 정선, 삼척, 태백지역에서 모두 31명의 결혼이주여성이 참여한다. 이들도 한국의 다문화 상황과 사회통합, PPT 활용 및 교안 작성법 등을 교육받으며, 모두 5회차에 걸쳐 교육현장에서의 강의기법과 스피치, 엑셀 등 컴퓨터 활용법 등의 교육도 이루어진다. 사회복지법인 함께사는 강원세상 관계자는 “도내 각급 교육기관과 다양한 문화·복지시설에서 활동할 수 있는 강사의 기본적인 소양을 갖추는 소중한 기회가 될 것”이라고 말했다.

source: Kangwon Research Institute of Korean Studies(강원한국학연구원)

이제는 다문화 시대]“결혼이주여성의 든든한 선생님 될게요

◇하이원과 함께하는 다문화강사 폐광권 소양교육 수료식이 9일 정선다문화가족지원센터에서 열려 31명의 수료생을 배출했다.

2014년 하이원과 함께하는 다문화강사 폐광권 소양교육이 지난달 29일부터 2주일 동안 총 6회에 걸친 일정을 모두 끝내고 31명의 수료생을 배출했다. 강원일보 사회복지법인 함께사는 강원세상과 하이원리조트, 도가 공동주최하고 (사)강원한국학연구원이 주관하는 이번 소양교육에는 폐광권역인 영월과 정선, 삼척, 태백지역에서 모두 31명의 결혼이주여성이 참여해 다문화강사로서 갖춰야 할 소양을 쌓는 계기를 마련했다. 특히 한국의 다문화 상황과 문화소통을 위한 다양한 대화법 등 다문화가정이 한국문화에 적응할 수 있도록 돕는 도우미로서의 역량을 갖추도록 했다. 또 엑셀 및 PPT 활용, 교안 작성법 등 다양한 컴퓨터 활용기법은 다문화강사의 역할을 수행하는 데 큰 도움이 될 전망이다. 스미리티(여·25·정선군 북평면·네팔)씨는 “필리핀, 베트남, 중국 등 다른 나라의 문화까지 이해하고 한국문화에 대해 더 자세히 이해하는 기회가 됐다”며 “배운 지식을 다른 다문화가정에 알릴 수 있다는 자신감도 생겼다”고 말했다. source: Kangwon Research Institute of Korean Studies(강원한국학연구원)

How India can adopt Korea model to boost manufacturing

 The Indian economy bears a striking resemblance to the South Korean economy of 1970s and a few vital steps to boost manufacturing should set the country on a high-growth path, a report by Goldman Sachs concludes.
“Over the 1970s and 80s, Korea improved its growth environment significantly, especially its micro environment, leading to a 14-fold increase in manufacturing output in 20 years,” analysts in economics research report write in the report titled ‘How India can become the next Korea’.
“If India were to emulate the Korean model and grow manufacturing at the same rate as Korea’s in the 1970s and 80s, we calculate it could add 1.4 percentage points to its GDP growth annually for the next decade.”
The Korea model was based on a single-minded focus by the government on developing export-led manufacturing, they write.
“This was encouraged by cheap land and infrastructure through industrial parks, reducing red tape and the cost of doing business, tax benefits and flexible labor laws for manufacturing firms, and cheaper power to industry than to consumers.”
India versus Korea
In the early 70s, the manufacturing sector’s share in India’s gross domestic product stood at 14 percent and stays at the around the same number even today.
While Korea’s output as a share of GDP grew from less than 10 percent then to over 30 percent today.
How do various conditions that are vital for success of manufacturing activity stack up for India today compared to the Korea of 1970s?
“We thought that there might have been initial conditions that were favorable to Korea. To our surprise, we found that the scores were fairly similar,” analysts write.
According to Goldman Sachs Growth Environment Scores, both countries are similar to each other in the different timeframes.
“India’s per capita income currently (about USD 4,000 in purchasing power parity terms) is similar to that of Korea in the early 1970s, in purchasing power parity terms,” the analysts point out.
Macroeconomic conditions including openness to trade and investment were quite similar. The micro environment was also similar, while in human capital, Korea was considerably weaker than India currently but macroeconomic stability is where India scores much lower than Korea.
“From the early 1970s, Korea made rapid gains in its growth environment scores. The biggest improvements were in the microeconomic environment, though it also made further progress on human capital and on the macroeconomic front.”
What did Korea do?
“In Korea, the push for manufacturing was driven by the government, especially in the 1960s. With a strong leadership, the government focused on removing bottlenecks and incentivizing manufacturing,” the report says.
“There was a realization that Korea was labor abundant but deficient in capital, so the focus was on labor-intensive manufacturing. There was an early recognition that export-led manufacturing could lead to rapid increases in productivity, and there could be increasing returns to scale due to a much larger export market. This government focus on export-led industrial growth as the main economic objective was critical in our view.”
In India, thus far, the single-minded focus on export-led manufacturing growth is missing.
“The agriculture and services sectors, which have been relatively lightly taxed and often the recipients of large government subsidies, have been preferred over industry,” the report says.
What should India do?
The report lays out a seven-point agenda that the Indian government should pursue to boost its manufacturing growth, similar to how Korea did in the 1970s.
1. Government focus on manufacturing as primary objective
The Korean government emphasized labor-intensive, export-led manufacturing as the key objective of economic policy starting from the 1960s in order to increase productivity and use its abundant resource, labor. The sectors that drove manufacturing growth were labor intensive – textiles, garments, wood etc.
2. Low fiscal deficit
This needs to be the starting point for greater macro stability, and to reduce crowding out of the private sector. It also provides space for government spending on infrastructure.
3. Develop effective industrial parks
If the government provided infrastructure, land were made available to industry at below market prices, there are strict conditions on usage of land for industrial purposes only, greater labor flexibility, favorable tax treatment, and single-window clearance for all permits, as Korea did in its industrial parks, then it could allow for agglomeration benefits and economies of scale.
4. Reduce cost of doing business
This involves cutting bureaucratic red tape to reduce the number of permits and administrative costs to setting up a business, construction approvals, getting electricity, and enforcing contracts. Korea significantly improved its business climate in the 1970s and 80s.
5. Flexible labor laws
Korean policy was focused on job creation and training, rather than protecting those who are employed. Activities of labor unions were restricted, and minimum wage legislation not adopted till 1988.
6. Tax policy to encourage industry
Korea provided tax benefits to encourage capital accumulation; incentives were provided to exporters and foreign direct investment, and exemptions granted to interest income on deposits and government bonds. Real estate taxation was strengthened to discourage real estate speculation by manufacturing companies.
7. Subsidize power for industry

Korea made power available to industry at lower rates compared to consumers. In India, the opposite is currently the case.

source:moneycontrol.com

유학생 정책개발·도정홍보 추진

▲ 외국인 유학생 강원도 명예홍보대사 위촉식이 13일 도청에서 이주익 국제협력실장과 강원대 중국유학생회의 후펑을 비롯한 유학생 11명이 참석한 가운데 열렸다. 이재용

강원도는 외국인 대학생 11명을 ‘강원도 명예홍보대사’로 위촉했다고 13일 밝혔다.

외국인 대학생 명예 홍보대사 위촉은 글로벌 인재양성을 위한 대학간 교류 확대로 외국인 유학생 수가 점차 증가함에 따라 이들에 대한 정책개발 및 도정홍보 필요성이 높아지면서 실시하게 됐다.

이번에 강원도 명예 홍보대사로 위촉된 유학생들은 강원대 중국유학생회의 후펑을 비롯한 유학생회 11명이다.

학교별로는 강원대 8명, 한림대 3명이며 국가별로는 중국 5명, 몽골 2명, 베트남·인도·네팔·미국 각각 1명씩이다.

이들 유학생들은 강원도정에 반영 될 수 있는 정책과 유학생활에서 느끼는 불편한 사항 등을 도와 함께 해결해 나갈 방침이다.

도는 앞으로 외국인 대학생 홍보대사를 학교별·나라별로 확대해 나갈 계획이다.

안은복

< 저작권자 © 강원도민일보 무단전재 및 재배포금지 >

Indian Prime Minister condoles loss of young lives in Korean ferry disaster

Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh has expressed deep shock and pain at the ferry tragedy in the Republic of Korea (Korea) on 16th April 2014, which has led to the loss of many young lives.   In his letter to the President of South Korea Madame Park Geun-hye, PM Singh conveyed the solemn and heartfelt condolences, of the Government and the people of India, to the bereaved families and expressed full support for the Korean Government’s rescue efforts.  India stood with the people of Korea in their hour of great national tragedy, he said, praying that those who had lost their dear ones, had the strength to bear their loss. Seoul 22 April 2014 Source: Embassy of India, Seoul

Scholarships for Koreans to study Hindi in India

The Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Agra under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India has announced Scholarships for the academic year 2014-15 to candidates from the Republic of Korea for the study of Hindi at its institute located at Agra (India) from 1st August 2014 - 30th April 2015.
The applications from interested students who have studied Hindi for at least one year and aged between 21-35 years may please be forwarded to Indian Cultural Centre, Seoul by 28th April 2014.


For further information, please contact-

Tel: (02) 794257 Ext.100
Fax: 02)795-4258
E-mail: iccseoul@gmail.com

India eases visa rule for Korean tourists

Indian Ambassador to Korea Vishnu Prakash, right, listens to Lee Ock-soon, professor of Yonsei University, as Lee answered reporters’s questions during a news conference at the embassy in Seoul, Thursday. / Korea Times

By Kang Hyun-kyung

India will implement a visa-on-arrival program for Korean tourists from Tuesday to encourage more Koreans to travel to the country, said Indian Ambassador to Korea Vishnu Prakash on Thursday.

During a press meeting at the embassy, the envoy said that it is a unilateral measure taken by the Indian government.

“At the moment this is our decision to show our gesture of goodwill to the Korean government,” he said.

The move is expected to make Koreans travel India easier as they don’t need to wait two or three days to get a tourist visa after submitting their applications to the Indian Embassy in Seoul.

India’s visa on arrival for Koreans was rare, given that visa decisions are usually reciprocal and the two sides adopt such a measure after agreeing to implement it together.

Ambassador Prakash stressed that India’s unilateral decision reflects strong Korea-India relations, calling on the Korean government to consider taking a similar measure.

Last year, 112,000 Koreans travelled to India.

Prakash expressed hope that the figure will rise once the new visa rule is implemented from Tuesday.

The Indian Embassy invited several Korean journalists to the embassy to present the activities of the newly-launched Institute of Indian Studies led by Professor Lee Ock-soon of Yonsei University.

Ambassador Prakash, Lee, Park Hyun-chae, professor of Chonnam National University Graduate School of Business based in Gwangju City, and several embassy staff joined the get together with the media.

Lee, who earned her doctoral degree in Indian history from an Indian university, said that she and the Indian Embassy decided to organize a press meeting as there are lots of misconceptions about India due to “misleading” media reports.

She argued that the media portrayed India as a dangerous country to travel after a couple of gang rape incidents occurred last year.

“The way the media handles such cases is misleading because they focused on sexual attack cases in India while staying mum on other positive images of the country,” Lee, president of the Institute of Indian Studies based in Seoul, said.

source:koreatimes

Samsung case: Korea could invoke Bipa for arbitration

South Korea is considering invoking provisions under the bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement (Bipa) against India for the hit on Samsung Electronics' investments, following a Supreme Court order asking its chairman, Lee Kun-hee, to appear within six weeks before a Ghaziabad trial court in a pending payment case.

This comes even as Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma expressed apprehension the apex court's decision might adversely affect India's investment climate.

Sources told Business Standard the Korean embassy here had taken up the matter with the foreign ministry of that country. Currently, Korean ambassador Lee Joon-Gye is in his home country.

Under the India-South Korea Bipa, a party can drag the other to international arbitration if its investments are threatened.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court had directed Lee Kun-hee to appear before a Ghaziabad court in a $1.4-million cheating case filed against him.

The Centre believes it is Samsung India that is "to be blamed, as it did not foresee it coming and mishandled the case", says a senior official, adding the apex court order had given an option through which an exemption could be sought from Lee's personal appearance.

The government is verifying the credentials of JCE Consultancy, complainant in the case. Initial investigations have revealed the company isn't registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and doesn't have its sales tax number registered.

"The case has zero merit. The government is fully behind them. JCE Consultancy is a fraud company and is tactfully misusing the Indian judicial system," said an official directly handing the case on behalf of the Indian government.

source:business standard

Researcher's Association for the Study of Korea organizes two-day seminar to boost India-Korea relations

A two day international Seminar on the theme "Deepening India - Korea Relations: Towards a sustainable future" was held in New Delhi on Friday.

The event was jointly organized by Researcher's Association for the Study of Korea (RASK) and Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) at the Convention Center of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and was sponsored by the KOREA FOUNDATION

This year 42 participants from 11 different universities and organizations presented their papers on various issues. The seminar commenced with the inaugural session.  A welcome speech was given by the President of RASK Ottojit Kshetrimayum which was followed by opening remarks given by Dr. Jitender Uttam, Asstt., Prof. CEAS, JNU. The Introductory speech was given by Prof. Kim Do-young, he pointed out that RASK born in 2007 for the past 6 years have been providing a platform for organizational and academic goal of encouraging researchers for their profound studies on Korea.

The Chairperson of CEAS, JNU Dr. Varaprasad Shekher delivered the inaugural address and congratulated RASK on it's achievements.

A Book entitled "Growing Synergy between India and Korea" edited by Prof. Sushila Narsimha and Prof. Kim Do-young was also released by Lee Joon gyu, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea. Some of the best papers during the last year seminar which marked the 40th anniversary of India-Korea diplomatic relations are included in this volume.

The seminar concluded with the Vote of thanks given by Jojin john, the joint secretary of RASK. He thanked the organizing committee, chairpersons and participants who helped to make the conference a success and hoped that RASK has achieved its initial role of sharing and learning and learning from sharing.

With the aim of tapping the potential of the growing India-Korea relations and the related job prospects, a diverse group of enthusiastic researchers and budding entrepreneurs from several premier academic and professional institutions in Delhi had set up the RASK in 2006

source: India Today

Korean Lawmakers to Visit India to Discuss Ssangyong Motor’s Workers

Ssangyong Motor CEO Lee Yoo-il (right) poses with CFO Bharat Doshi of Mahindra And Mahindra Group (center) and Pawan Goenka (right), president of the automotive and farm sector of the Indian company, at a press conference in Seoul on March 15.

11 November 2013

The opposition parties’ lawmakers from the Environmental and Labor Committee of the National Assembly of Korea will visit the headquarters of India’s Mahindra and Mahindra Group to discuss ways to rehire workers laid off by Ssangyong Motor.
According to parliamentary sources on November 10, the main opposition Democratic Party’s two lawmakers Hong Young-pyo and Eun Soo-mi and minor Progressive Justice Party lawmaker Sim Sang-jung will go to India to meet with the Indian conglomerate’s top management late on November 11 (Indian time).
The three lawmakers and a director from Korea’s labor ministry will have talks at the Indian company’s headquarters with Chairman Anand Mahindra and President Pawan Goenka, who is responsible for its automotive and farm equipment operations.
Lawmaker Hong said, “We hope that legal action taken by Ssangyong Motor against union member workers can be resolved in a mutually acceptable manner through talks with the top management,” adding that discussions will also be made about reinstating the workers laid off during the strikes.
Lawmaker Shim also said, “Ssangyong Motor President Lee Yoo-il hinted in an interview conducted last month that the Indian carmaker should keep its promises about the reinstatement of some workers,” adding, “It is our hope that the Indian conglomerate keeps the promises it made.”
The Mahindra Group took over Ssangyong Motor in early 2011, and since then the faltering Korean company has become South Korea’s fourth-largest carmaker, beating Renault Samsung Motors.

source:business korea

India, Japan and South Korea - Asia’s new security trifecta

South Korean President Park Geun Hye with Indian Prime Minister

Winter is India’s diplomatic high season, with the cool, sunny weather forming an ideal backdrop for pageantry, photo ops at the Taj Mahal or Delhi’s Red Fort and bilateral deal-making. But this winter has been particularly impressive, with leaders from Japan and South Korea visiting to advance the cause of security cooperation in Asia.

The first to arrive was South Korean President Park Geun Hye. Despite a strong economic foundation, the bilateral relationship has long lacked a meaningful security dimension. But China’s recent assertiveness — including its unilateral declaration last November of a new Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), which overlaps about 3,000 sq km of South Korea’s own ADIZ, in the Sea of Japan — has encouraged Ms Park to shore up her country’s security ties with India.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s unpredictable and often provocative policies represent an additional impetus for improved ties — as do China’s increasingly visible plans to weaken South Korea’s alliance with the US.

Not surprisingly, the discussions during Ms Park’s four-day visit focused on grand strategy, and included detailed talks on maritime security and naval shipbuilding.

Nuclear energy also featured prominently on the agenda, owing to both countries’ dependence on energy imported through dangerous sea lanes. In 2008, South Korea, as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), supported the waiver granting India access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel from other countries — both of which it had been denied since becoming a nuclear-weapons power in 1974.

Indeed, India’s nuclear tests are what initially spurred the NSG’s formation. South Korea’s support of India’s civilian nuclear ambitions earned it high praise in India and helped to advance bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation.

 CEMENTING INDIA-JAPAN TIES KEY FOR REGION

 

This budding strategic partnership is undoubtedly important. But when it comes to the regional balance of power, India’s deepening ties with Japan are even more consequential.

source:todayonline.com

जेएनयू में कोरियन लैंग्‍वेज एजुकेटर्स सेमिनार का आयोजन

जेएनयू में सेमिनार

भारत में कोरियाई भाषा के विकास और इस ओर आगे की योजनाओं पर चर्चा के लिए हाल ही 'इंटरनेशनल कोरियन लैंग्‍वेज एजुकेटर्स सेमिनार' का आयोजन किया गया. इस दो दिवसीय आयोजन में कई इंटरनेशनल स्‍कॉलर्स ने अपने विचार साझा किए और प्रेजेंटेशन दिए. कोरिया फाउंडेशन और सिओल नेशनल यूनिवर्सिटी द्वारा प्रायोजित इस सेमिनार का आयोजन जवाहर लाल नेहरू यूनिवर्सिटी के कन्‍वेंशन सेंटर में 21 और 22 फरवरी को किया गया. कोरियन लैंग्‍वेज एजुकेटर्स इन इंडिया (एकेएलईआई) द्वारा अयोजित इस सेमिनार का थीम भारत में कोरियाई भाषा की शिक्षा के लिए सामरिक दृष्टिकोण था.
जेएनयू में कोरियन स्‍टडीज सेंटर की चेयरपर्सन और एकेएलईआई की को-प्रेसिडेंट प्रो. वैजयंती राघवन ने इस अवसर पर अतिथियों का स्‍वागत किया. जबकि एकेएलईआई के प्रेसिडेंट और डीयू में ईस्‍ट एशियन स्‍टडीज विभाग के प्रो. किम डो-यंग ने प्रारंभिक भाषण दिया.
जेएनयू में स्‍कूल ऑफ लैंग्‍वेज लिटरेचर एंड कल्‍चर स्‍टडीज के डीन प्रो. एमए इसलाहि ने एसोसिएशन द्वारा किए जा रहे कार्यों की प्रशंसा की. इस अवसर पर उन्‍होंने विदेशी भाषा की महत्ता पर भी अपने विचार रखे. रिपब्‍िलक ऑफ कोरिया दूतावास के मंत्री तई-इन-चुंग ने सेमिनार आयोजन के लिए आयोजनकर्ताओं को बधाई दी. अपने भाषण में उन्‍होंने कोरियाई भाषा के महत्‍व, इतिहास, संस्‍कृति के साथ ही लोगों में इस भाषा के लिए बढ़ रही जिज्ञासा और बढ़ते ज्ञान की भी चर्चा की.
इस अवसर पर कोरियन कल्‍चर सेंटर के डायरेक्‍टर किम कुम-पी युंग ने कहा कि बीते वर्षों में कोरियाई भाषा के छात्रों की संख्‍या में वृद्धि हुई है. वहीं, सिओल नेशनल यूनिवर्सिटी के प्रो. किम जोंग शेओल ने अपने की-नोट एड्रेस में कोरियाई प्री-मॉर्डन नॉवेल और विदेशी भाषा के रूप में कोरियाई भाषा के शिक्षण पर विचार रखे.

और भी... http://aajtak.intoday.in/story/educators-meet-to-discuss-strategies-for-korean-language-education-in-india--1-755769.html

Ancient petroglyphs captivate archeologists

Numerous ancient rock engravings of whales and whaling still remain in the southeast area of the Korea Peninsula, attracting archeologists from around the world. It has been suggested that they are the first pieces of evidence showing the prehistoric origins of whaling. These petroglyphs are found in Bangudae in the upper reaches of the Taehwagang River near Ulsan in Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang Province). Nearly 300 figures showing land and sea animals, as well as whale-hunting scenes, are found engraved into the wall over an area spanning 10 meters by 3 meters.

The name Bangudae comes from the Korean ban, the word for a carapace or a shell, gu, meaning a turtle, and dae, a structure or a site, as in a carving site; the rock formation itself is said to resemble the back of a turtle.

The petroglyphs of Bangudae recently came under the spotlight with the February edition of Current World Archaeology, a U.K.-based magazine devoted to archaeological finds. Based on his visit to Bangudae, archeologist professor Brian Fagan published a three-page article, “Discovering a Lost World,” in which he relates his observations about the engravings.

He concluded his article by saying, “The Bangudae engravings remind us of the remarkable skills of such ancient whale hunters, who attacked the world’s largest beasts with the simplest of weapons, relying on their knowledge of their prey and acute observational skills, as well as complex, now forgotten, rituals that provided powerful validation for the chase.”

The petroglyphs of Bangudae, engravings of around 300 figures, are a prehistoric cultural asset from the Neolithic Age, showing that the people who lived here mainly fished and hunted for a living. Being one of the rarer examples of prehistoric art, the engravings have attracted the attention of both the archeology and arts scenes. (photo: Yonhap News)

The petroglyphs of Bangudae were discovered in 1971. The figures engraved on the rock wall include humans, various types of animals—whales, turtles, deer, tigers, birds and pigs—and weapons, including a bow and a spear. Researchers believe that the engravings were completed over several centuries, from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Among these are 58 engravings of whales and whaling that have attracted the most attention. The petroglyphs show a diverse range of whales, including one that’s bearing a calf. Researchers believe them to symbolize an active hunting culture, prosperity and abundance. Along with the figures, whale hunting skills are shown in the ancient works of art, too.

Until the discovery of Bangudae, it was believed that whaling began in Norway in around 4,000 B.C., according to the rock carvings in the Norwegian town of Alta. However, in 2004, the BBC reported that, “Stone Age people may have started hunting whales as early as 6,000 B.C., new evidence from South Korea suggests.” This grabbed the attention of media and archeologists from across the globe.

The figures of animals can be seen in highlights of the petroglyphs of Bangudae.

Since their discovery, the petroglyphs of Bangudae have been considered an important resource that gives a peek into the values, ideas and religions of mankind from a time before recorded history began. Oceanographer Daniel Robineau, in his book, “Une Histoire de la chasse a la baleine,” or, “A History of Whale Hunting,” published in 2007, said that the first whale hunting began in Korea, as shown in the petroglyphs.

French archaeologist and film maker Marc Azéma said the Korean petroglyphs could have possibly been the inspiration for his concept of a movie in his book, "La Prehistoire du cinema,” or, “Cinema in Prehistoric Times.” In 2013, the rock carvings stepped into the spotlight again when the French journal Archeologie described the art work as a moving object, such as a movie or cartoon.

The February edition of Current World Archeology introduces the petroglyphs of Bangudae.

Director Lee Sang-mog of the Ulsan Petroglyph Museum said that there have been a number of requests to use the carvings over recent years. “A growing number of researchers and scholars seem to be studying the petroglyphs from a variety of perspectives, whether it be looking into the mythologies surrounding the artwork or whether it be its artistic merits.
source:korea.net 

Korean literature in English #9

The Library of Korean Literature series is a collection of ten Korean novels published in English in the U.S. last year. (photo courtesy of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea)

The ninth volume of the ten-part Library of Korean Literature is Park Wan-suh’s (1931-2011) “Lonesome You.”

This work was published in 2000 and is a collection of ten short stories, including “Withered Flower,” “Psychedelic Butterfly” and “That Girl’s House.”

“Psychedelic Butterfly” tells the story of an elderly woman who has endured all kinds of suffering as a widow and as a mother of three children. The gray-haired woman feels uneasy staying at either her son’s or daughter’s house. She ends up being diagnosed with dementia, which, sadly, brings her more peace and freedom than being with her children, as the disease clears up all the memories of her ordeal.

“Withered Flower” presents a love affair that sparked between a widow, who soon turns 60, and a middle-aged man while traveling on a bus.

The seventh story in the collection, “Thorn Inside Petals,” is told in the first person. The narrator subtly denounces the indifference and ignorance of the daughter-in-law toward her older sister. She also reminisces about an elderly French immigrant who worked as a dress maker. She later found out that what the French woman was really making for a living was burial clothes for upscale clients.

In these stories, the writer is believed to have tried to bring to light the later-life of the elderly and, also, immigrants, full of loneliness.

“Lonesome You” penned by Park Wan-suh was published in English last year.

The title story, “Lonesome You,” too, is centered on an elderly couple. The husband’s shabby looks, which have given in to the irresistible forces of time, are straightforwardly shown as seen in the wife’s eyes.

The “you” who is described as being lonesome in the title is none other than the husband sitting next to the wife. The last scene shows the wife rubbing her husband’s shins, covered with the stains of age, disclosing her “acceptance at growing old” and the “sympathy” that has stirred up inside her for her husband.

The following is what the writer says in the preface of the collection, which she published at the age of 67:

“Don’t pity the elderly, as they feel that the world is still worth living in. I didn’t write this to make you feel that way, but that is true because I, one of them, still feel like I enjoy my life.

I don’t think that life is always sweet. It can be bitter sometimes. It is only the wisdom of age that can tell the taste of bitterness, and I accept getting old. That is what I cannot hide, no matter how hard I try…”

Writer Park Wan-suh (photo courtesy of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea)

Park Wan-suh was born in 1931 in Gaepung-gun, Gyeonggi-do, currently in North Korea. Park entered Seoul National University in 1950, but the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-53) cut her studies short. In 1970, at the age of 40, the writer made her relatively late literary debut with “The Naked Tree,” her first full-length novel about the Korean War and the tragic division of the country.

She continued to create numerous works that have long been considered a new chapter in Korean literature. They are usually themed on the division of Korea or on women who try to shape their identity.

Her works include the novels “Warm Was The Winter That Year” and “Mother’s Garden,” as well as novels that portray the materialism prevalent among the middle-class, such as “A Reeling Afternoon” and “Identical Apartments.”

Park’s work also targets the difficulties facing women, as told in “The Woman Standing” and “The Dreaming Incubator.”

Source:Korea.net 

대우건설 대학생홍보대사 11기 모집

 

 

 

 

 

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) 2014

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) 2014 to Study in any field including Engineering, Medical, Arts and Others in South Korea.

Do apply in here. See the procedure and how to apply by opening and downloading the files on the links given below

There are two ways to go for it:-

  1) University Selection.
  2) Embassy Selection

For University selection, they will select in March and recommend you to NIIED in April, Therefore, see the universities openings for March

 

About Embassy procedure, you can read in documents

http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/en/main.do

(Open the first or second link in notice section of the page opened)

OR

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B12bxk__lvHJTlRiR0x3aVlLZkE&usp=drive_web

http://home.jtbc.joins.com/Vod/VodView.aspx?epis_id=EP10010233&prog_id=PR10010037&vod_file_id=VO10014974&vod_service=1&ref=3




http://home.jtbc.joins.com/Vod/VodView.aspx?prog_id=PR10010037&menu_id=PM10010195&epis_id=EP10010345

Yes, Its me exploring the different aspects of Korean Culture in a much more meaningful way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President holds series of talks in India

President Park Geun-hye, now on her four-day state visit to India, held a series of talks with the Lok Sabha’s, the lower house of parliament’s, Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on January 16.

They exchanged their in-depth opinions on how to enhance bilateral cooperation and deal with a wide range of issues on the Korean Peninsula and worldwide.

The meetings came just after President Park had a summit with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and signed an array of agreements with her counterpart.

President Park Geun-hye (second from left) holds talks with the lower house of parliament’s Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj (right) during Park’s state visit to India on January 16. (Photo: Cheong Wa Dae)

During the talks with Sushma Swaraj, President Park said, “Here, I saw, in person, how far India has come. This country has strong potential for economic growth.” Stressing that Korea’s strong point is its manufacturing industry while India’s is in IT services, the president emphasized that the two economies have complementary economic structures and that therein lies high potential for a further expansion of bilateral cooperation across many fields.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader said that she was deeply impressed by Park’s visit to her nation, pointing out that this visit takes place less than one year after the president took office.

Swaraj also said, “I have strong confidence that her diplomatic efforts with India are sure to succeed during her term, with still another four years to go.”

“Even if my Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian People’s Party) comes into power in the next election, we would respect every single word from those many agreements signed by the Korean and Indian governments at this time,” she stressed.

President Park Geun-hye (left) shakes hands with the lower house of parliament’s Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj during the January 16 talks in India. (Photo: Cheong Wa Dae)

President Park expressed her deepest gratitude to the Indian government for its swift action of releasing a statement and sending stern messages condemning North Korea’s long-range missile tests in 2012 and its nuclear test in February 2013. She called for India’s continuous support and cooperation for her government’s policies on the North.

The president went on to say that the North’s highly developed nuclear weapons are posing a huge threat to world peace, as well as to the peninsula. In response, the Indian opposition leader sympathized with Koreans for their pain and worries caused by ceaseless provocative actions by the North.

Following the meeting, President Park also had talks with Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari. She told the Indian vice president that she is so happy to see that many Indians have a keen interest in Korean culture and K-pop, adding, “It is, eventually, ‘culture’ that bridges the hearts of people from different cultures.”

President Park Geun-hye (fourth from left) holds talks with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari (right, center). (Photo: Cheong Wa Dae)

“Few countries worldwide have their own movie industry that keeps on going so well. In that sense, both Korea and India have been quite good at it. India’s high-quality movies, food and even yoga have been growing in popularity in Korea,” she added.

In addition, the Korean president called for the world to shift to a new paradigm so as to tackle problems underlying the world economy, such as low growth, high unemployment and income inequality.

As she explained Korea’s strategy for developing the creative industries, the president said that there is quite a lot of room for cooperation between the two nations to develop such creative industries. Her call for the new paradigm was met with strong support from the Indian vice president.

President Park Geun-hye (left) shakes hands with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari during the January 16 talks in India. (Photo: Cheong Wa Dae)

 

source:korea.net

Culture ties Korea, India together

“Korea and India have many things in common in terms of history and culture and even both countries’ Independence Day falls on the same day, August 15. Let’s expand cultural exchanges and further solidify the cultural ties between our two countries.”

So said President Park Geun-hye as she inaugurated the Korean Handicraft Exhibition at the Red Fort, a fortified former palace located in the center of Delhi, India, on January 17 during her four-day state visit to India.

There, the president voiced the importance of “communication through culture.”

President Park Geun-hye (center) participates in a tape-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Korean Handicraft Exhibition at the Red Fort in Delhi, India, on January 17. (Photo: Jeon Han)

The Red Fort, a 254 acre palace founded in 1648 by the 5th Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1657), is one of India’s most important cultural treasures and was even designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007.

According to Cheong Wa Dae, President Park visited the Indian historical site, also known as a symbol of the nation’s independence from British rule in 1947, to pay her respects to and to show her interest in Indian culture. It was a step to enhance the two countries’ cultural ties as well.

Held in the Quarter Guard Gallery in the Red Fort, the handicraft exhibition showcased 49 art works by 22 Korean traditional and modern craftsmen. Korea’s artistic crafts were shared with the Indian visitors, including Kim Jeong-ok’s moon-shaped white porcelain jars, Kwon Young-jin’s lacquered boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Han Seong-jae’s birch-made speakers and An Min-sik’s silver pots.

President Park Geun-hye (third from right) appreciates craftwork by macramé artist Noh Mi-ja (left) at the Korean Handicraft Exhibition at the Red Fort in Delhi, India, on January 17. (Photo: Jeon Han)

Tara Gandhi (center), the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, puts a handcrafted bracelet around the wrist of President Park Geun-hye (right) at the Korean Handicraft Exhibition at the Red Fort in Delhi, India, on January 17. (Photo: Jeon Han)

The show was attended by more than 40 people representing the culture and arts field from both Korea and India. Among the participants included Tara Gandhi, the president of the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) director general Pravin Srivastava, the Indian vice minister of culture and famous Korean craft artist Seo Young-hee.

Participating knotting and macramé artist Noh Mi-ja presented Tara Gandhi with a handcrafted bracelet while demonstrating how to do macramé, a form of textile-making using knots.

Noh said that her hope is that the already existing friendship between Korea and India will further be tied together like the knots of her handicrafts. In response, Gandhi said in Korean, “It’s so beautiful,” and put another one of her bracelets around President Park’s wrist.

President Park Geun-hye (right) admires an array of works by Korean craftsmen at the Korean Handicraft Exhibition at the Red Fort in Delhi, India, on January 17. (Photo: Jeon Han)

Meanwhile, the first-ever Korean language audio guide for the Red Fort was inaugurated on the very day of Park’s visit.

“I’ve heard that there are a growing number of Korean tourists visiting this site. This audio service will definitely help them get a better understanding about Indian culture,” President Park hoped.

President Park Geun-hye is led to the Diwan-i-Am, the Hall of Audience, at the Red Fort in Delhi, India, on January 17. (Photo: Jeon Han)

President Park Geun-hye (second from right) listens to the guide’s explanation as she admires the red sandstone pillars inside the Red Fort in Delhi, India, on January 17. (Photo: Jeon Han)

source:korea.net