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.
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.
2Detailed
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar met his counterparts from United States of America, Republic of Korea and Australia on the sidelines of G20 Labour Ministerial conference. They deliberated on the issues of mutual interest pertaining to labour and employment scenario, in these meetings held on September 11, 2014.
Meeting with the United States of America
US Secretary of Labour Shri Thomas Perez mentioned that the two largest and oldest democracies of the world have a number of things in common. He recalled that the MoU between the two countries, signed 3 years back, has been particularly successful in ensuring co-operation in the area of occupational safety. He expressed the view that the two countries can widen the scope of co-operation and work together in the field of skill development under the MoU. The US Secretary of Labour, while appreciating the efforts made by India in this direction, expressed his desire to learn from India`s experience on meeting the challenge of job creation and increasing labour force participation rate on such a large scale. He offered full cooperation to India in its skill development efforts.
Shri Tomar apprised the US Secretary of Labour about the efforts made by India for creating employment and increasing employability of India’s youth through skill development. He mentioned that under the new government, a new Skill Development Ministry has been created to focus on the task of skill development, and the government under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has started a Skill India program. Minister apprised the US Secretary that new ITIs are being opened up in underserved areas under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode. In order to create skills matching the needs of the industry, Ministry is entering into flexi-MoUs with industry and designing customized training courses.
Both sides agreed to take the MoU forward and scale up their level of co-operation in the field of labour in the coming days.
Meeting with Republic of Korea
Union Minister Shri Tomar had a bilateral meeting with Minister of Employment and Labour, Republic of Korea Shri Lee Ki-kweon. Korean Minister appreciated the initiatives of India in skill development, especially the need-based skill development program, details of which were shared by Shri Tomar in his G-20 address. Korea proposed to have a MoU in distance learning program and showed interest in need-based training initiated by India under flexi-MoU. Minister of Labour, Korea proposed that Hyundai can train youth who live or work around industrial locations of Hyundai in India, for enhancing their employability. Both ministers agreed for enhanced and sustained engagement at bilateral level.
Meeting with Australia
Shri Narendra Singh Tomar also met Minister of Employment, Australia Shri Eric Abetz on the sidelines of G-20 Ministerial Summit. Shri Abetz proposed signing of MoU between two countries for taking forward the cooperation on labour issues, especially to match the skill requirements of Australian industry. If a planned programme can be conceptualized to synchronise the skill requirements of Australian industry and the skill training in India, more Indians can come to Australia for work and it will be a win-win situation, he added.
MELBOURNE: As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Skill India' programme, India has reached out to the US, South Korea and Australia for securing their cooperation in skilling the youth for enhancing employment opportunities.
Labour Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met his counterparts of the three nations on the sidelines of the Labour and Employment Ministerial Conference of G20 nations here and deliberated various issues of mutual interest pertaining to labour and employment scenario.
As part of Modi's 'Skill India' programme, India has reached out to the US, South Korea and Australia for securing cooperation in skilling the youth. Appraising US Secretary of Labour Thomas Perez during his meeting about the 'Skill India' programme initiated by Prime Minister Modi, Tomar said that new ITIs are being opened up in unserved areas under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode.
He said that to create skills matching the needs of the industry, the ministry is entering into flexi-MoUs with industry and designing customised training courses and added that under the new government, a new Skill Ministry has been created to focus on the task of skill development.
Observing that MoU between the two countries signed three years back has been particularly successful in ensuring cooperation in the area of occupational safety, Perez said the two countries can widen the scope of cooperation and work together in the field of skill development under the MoU.
"Both sides agreed to take the MoU forward and scale up their level of cooperation in the field of labour in the coming days," a ministry press statement said.
Perez also expressed his desire to learn from India's experience on meeting the challenge of job creation and increasing labour force participation rate on such a large scale. He offered full cooperation to India in its skill development efforts, the statement said.
Perez said that that the two largest and oldest democracies of the world have a number of things in common.
Tomar also met Minister of Employment and Labour of South Korea Lee Ki-kweon who proposed to have an MoU with India in distance learning programme and showed interest in need-based training initiated by India under flexi-MoU.
"Minister of Labour, Korea proposed that Hyundai can train youth who live or work around industrial locations of Hyundai in India, for enhancing their employability. Both ministers agreed for enhanced and sustained engagement at bilateral level," the statement said.
Tomar also met Australian Minister of Employment Eric Abetz who proposed signing of MoU between the two countries for taking forward the cooperation on labour issues especially to match the skill requirements of Australian industry.
"If a planned programme can be conceptualised to synchronise the skill requirements of Australian industry and the skill training in India, more Indians can come to Australia for work and it will be a win-win situation," he added.
source:economic times
Korean boy band N-Sonic wowed K-pop fans in India. N-Sonic is the first ever K-pop band to visit India, where the globally popular K-pop or K-wave does not have a great hold over, compared with other markets. On last August 30, N-Sonic performed at “K-POP Festival 2014 India” in Delhi, India, which was cohosted by the Korea Culture Centre India (KCCI) and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). A couple of thousand K-pop fans thronged into the festival, completely filling up the seats at the venue. Hundreds of fans who could not make it for the concert were forced to wait the band outside. At the concert, N-Sonic enchanted concrete attendees with dazzling performances and great charisma, decorating the concert with its hit songs like “Pop Beyond,” “Run & Run,” and “Television.” Many leading local media outlets competed fiercely for covering the concert and interviewing the band members. Following the concert, it was slated to hold a fan signing event; unfortunately, it was concealed so as to insulate the crowds from an unexpected accident caused by them flocking into the band members at once.
Even N-Sonic members were surprised to see thousands of fans rush to the concert hall in India. (image: C2K Entertainment )
Director Kim Kum-pyung of KCCI said, “At first, I was worried about this first Hallyu event here in India, but it turned out to be more than successful. As incredible as it seems, thousands of people flocked into the concert and prestigious Indian media outlets vied for covering the first Hallyu event,” and added, “I can dare to say that I assure the success of K-pop in India, observing it through N-Sonic. Considering the number of its fans, I expect the boy band to become a key distributor for Hallyu.” CEO Cho Gi-hoon of C2K Entertainment said, “The N-Sonic members are missing Korean fans in the middle of their tight concert schedules in Hong Kong, China and India. They have been working on for their new album from the very day that they came back from the Asian tour concert. Please wait and see them come back to you soon, not later.” On coming back from the month-long concert tour, N-Sonic is stepping up efforts to make a new album, looking forward to performing on a Korean stage. source:koreabizwire.com
From September 19 to October 4, the third most populous city of South Korea — Incheon — will host athletes and officials participating in 439 events spanning 36 sports, as part of the 2014 Asian Games. Indian travel agencies say that they have already started noticing a spike in interest to visit the country, which until a few years ago, didn’t even figure on the bucket-list for most Indian tourists.
“In 2012, 11.1 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, making it the 20th most-visited country in the world. Lately, we have seen a spurt in queries with the Asian Games about to begin,” says Vikram Malhi, MD, Asia, Expedia, adding that bookings have risen by 10 to 15%.
For Indian tourists, South Korea remains a relatively lesser-explored destination with perceptions about language barriers and difficulty in getting a visa being the biggest deterrents. That mindset is changing now.
“The increase [in interest levels and subsequently booking has been around 10% year on year. For the Asiads, we have been getting enquiries from sports fans for athletics, tennis, football and boxing events,” says Karan Anand, head-relationships, Cox And Kings.
In terms of sightseeing, Seoul is the main tourist destination due to its multiple Unesco World Heritage Sites — Changdeokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. The Hwaseong Fortress is nearby too. It is also known for its street food, nightlife districts and serene Buddhist temples.
There’s a lot more to see beyond the capital, and the cities of Busan and Incheon.
“As a centre for marine tourism, South Korea enjoys rich off-shore locations — beach cities like Gyeongju to explore great culinary haunts and nightlife, and popular island destinations like Jeju. For those into history and culture, the country has locales with old-style dwellings as well as palaces dedicated to erstwhile ruling dynasties in the Ganghwa region. Andong Hahoe Folk Village offers a view into traditional Korean culture,” says Vicki Parris, national brand leader, India, Flight Shop.
SHOPPING
Koreans are quality conscious and even the flea markets there offer bargain buys with assured product shelf-life. The country is a popular shopping destination for electronics too. Shopaholics can explore districts like the Dongdaemun Market in Seoul. Similarly, BIFF Square in Busan is a street shopper’s delight. South Korea houses some of the biggest luxury brands in the world.
Cheongdam Fashion Street is a shopping destination for luxury purchases. “Gwangjang market in Seoul feels like it’s been frozen in time; food and fabrics are sold here. Doota is one of the largest fashion malls at Dongdaemun Market and is filled with domestic brands. The famous Namdaemun Market (in Seoul) specialises in cheap clothing and accessories. One can get everything here, from food and flowers to spectacles and seaweed,” says Vishal Suri, chief executive officer-tour operating, Kuoni India.
Jeju Island: Also known as the ‘Island Of The Gods’ (like Bali), it is a great place to cherish picturesque beauty. Udo is one of the most-visited spots here — its main attraction is a submarine excursion to two caves, including one to the Dongangyeonggul Cave. One can also vist the Cheonjiyeon Falls and Spirited Garden.
Seongsan Ilchulbong Sunrise Peak: Hydrovolcanic eruptions formed this majestic volcanic crater 5,000 years ago on Jeju Island. A Unesco World Heritage Site, it is best known for the magnificent view of the sun rising over it.
Andong Hahoe Folk Village: Head here to soak up Korean culture.
Manisan Mountain: Considered one of the most sacred mountains in South Korea, it is also a favourite haunt among trekkers.
Cheomseongdae: It is home to the oldest existing astronomical observatory in Asia.
Ulleungdo Island: Nicknamed ‘Mysterious Island’, it is a popular weekend getaway spot for locals. Curious rock formations, shore cliffs and numerous waterfalls adorn the island.
Gyeongju: An ancient capital of the Shilla Dynasty, it is often referred to as “a museum with no walls”. It is home to South Korea’s first nominated Unesco World Heritage site.
The Korean Demilitarised Zone: This strip of land runs across the Korean Peninsula. It acts as a buffer zone between North and South Korea.
source:hindustan times
For Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, this year’s Chuseok was just like any other day of work.
While most Koreans went to their hometowns to see relatives and friends, Chung was out of the country, visiting Hyundai Motor’s plants in India and Turkey to check whether the company’s production and sales strategy for its small cars is on the right track.
“Chung’s business trip to India and Turkey is to check the quality of their localized models following the strategic role changes of two plants,” the company said in a statement.
“The India plant, which was the forefront export base to Europe, has changed its role to focus on the domestic market, while the Turkey plant has reinforced its role as a European mini car production base.”
Hyundai has been implementing a two-track localized strategy centered on its plants in India and Turkey. Both make i10 and i20 city cars, but although the vehicles share the same body and design their sizes and various interior features differ. And according to Hyundai, the changes on the new i20 will make them even more distinct.
The world’s fifth-largest automaker said its plant in Chennai, India, stopped shipping to Europe about two months ago. The region used to be Hyundai Motor India’s largest market, with 40 percent of its exports shipped there.
“The best competitiveness comes from thorough localization,” said Chung, who left for India on Saturday. “We also need to secure emerging markets like the Middle East and Africa with the Indian and Turkish plants serving as an axis of localization.”
For the first part of his schedule, Chung visited the production line of the India plant on Sunday to check the quality of the new Elite i20, which began mass production just last month. It was his first time to India since 2010.
Chung said that the Chennai plant should focus on supplying a “market-dominating product” for India in order to expand Hyundai’s presence there.
“The Indian market recently started to recover,” said Chung. “The new i20 is the first product from the India plant with its changed role, and with a localized sales strategy we should secure a clear advantage in this market.”
Expecting economic growth from India’s large population, Hyundai set up a production base there in 1998, churning out models like the Santro, EON, i10 and i20, and becoming the country’s second-largest automaker.
The Indian passenger car market last year suffered a decline for the first time in 11 years because of expensive gas prices, and high interest and currency rates. According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, passenger car sales dropped 9.6 percent year-on-year to 1.8 million units.
But with the new Indian government extending consumption tax deductions until the end of this year, Hyundai expects that India’s entire auto market will grow by 2.7 percent.
Korea’s largest automaker has had success so far this year after selling 269,025 units in the first eight months, up 7.1 percent from a year ago - far above the industry average of 1.4 percent growth.
After India, Chung visited Hyundai’s Turkish plant in Izmit yesterday, emphasizing that the production base established there in 1997 has been given a more important role. It is now regarded as Hyundai’s forefront production base along with its plant in the Czech Republic.
The automaker invested more than $600 million to double the plant’s annual capacity to 200,000 units last year. The plant is set to roll out a new i20 localized for Europeans next month.
“In order to make the Turkish-made i20 lead the European market, we should put our best effort forward to have premium production quality,” Chung said.
The European-style i20 is scheduled to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show next month. Hyundai said that it will be more “luxurious” than the Indian-made i20. Hyundai is hoping for the new i20 to boost its sales in Europe. The automaker has been struggling in the continent, selling 219,617 vehicles in the first half, down 2.4 percent from a year ago according to European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association data.
“This year, both the plants in India and Turkey are expected to deliver performances better than our original annual goal,” the spokesman from Hyundai said.
“With exports from Korea struggling because of industrial action from the union, expanding sales from overseas will play an important to role in achieving the company’s global sales goal.”
For the first time Korean Cultural Centre India is organizing Korean language teachers training course. Those who are interested may contact the centre.
1. Period: 14th October 2014 (Tuesday) ~ 19th February 2015 (Thursday) 2. Time: Tues, Thurs (4pm~6pm), Saturday (2pm~5pm) 3. Venue: Korean Cultural Centre India 4. Fees: 15,000Rs. 5. Instructor Vyjayanti Raghavan (Dean of Korean Language Department, JNU) Vaishna Narang (Dean of Linguistic Department, JNU) Kim Do-young (Visiting Professor, University of Delhi) Lee Hyun-Kyung (Visiting Professor, JNU) Kwak Mira (Instructor recruited by Korea government, King Sejong Institute, Korean Cultural Centre India) 6. Eligibility Indian: Bachelor Degree with TOPIK more than level 4. Korean: Bachelor Degree with experienced of teaching Korean language, Bachelor Degree with experienced of Korean language teaching course. 7. Contents: - Korean Language, Linguistics, Korean Language education as a foreign language, Korean Culture, Korean Language teaching practice, etc. 8. Merits of the course - Will be certified by Korean Cultural Centre India. - Will be recruited to King Sejong Institute as a language Instructor or to a Korean company, etc.
▶Orientation Day/Time: 14th October 2014 (Tues) at 3pm. Venue: Auditorium, Korean Cultural Centre India.
A map made by the Japanese government that recognizes South Korea’s ownership of its easternmost islets of Dokdo was unveiled on Sunday, in a clear piece of evidence refuting Japan’s repeated claim to the territory.
The map indicates that Japan’s continued territorial claim to the Dokdo islets is wrongfully made as the Japanese government used the map to mark its own territory when it clinched a peace treaty with Allied forces in September 1951 following its defeat in World War II.
The Dokdo islets, which lie closer to South Korea than Japan in waters between the two countries, have been a thorny issue in the countries’ relations. South Korea keeps a small police detachment on the islets.
A map made by the Japanese government that recognizes South Korea’s ownership of its easternmost islets of Dokdo was unveiled on Sunday, in a clear piece of evidence refuting Japan’s repeated claim to the territory. (Yonhap)
Chung Tae-man, a researcher on Dokdo, recently unveiled a scanned file of the map, drawn by the Japanese government in August 1951, which clearly excludes Dokdo from Tokyo’s territory, according to the Northeast Asian History Foundation.
Conservative groups in Japan have insisted that the Dokdo islets were included as its territory on the map, but Japanese researchers have not yet revealed the document.
“Japan has claimed that its peace treaty with allied forces did not state that Dokdo is South Korean territory,” Chung said. “But the map shows that Japan and allied forces had recognized South Korea’s ownership of Dokdo at that time.”
Chung said that he found the scan of the map on a website operated by a conservative Japanese who said the map was obtained from Japan’s National Diet Library.
South Korea has denounced Japan’s repeated claim to Dokdo, calling it an “unjustifiable” move that will do nothing to help improve already chilly bilateral relations.
South Korea has rejected Japan’s claim as nonsense because the country regained its independence from Japanese colonial rule in 1945 and reclaimed sovereignty over its territories, including Dokdo and many other islands around the Korean Peninsula.
source:(Yonhap)
Since independence in 1947 Indians have looked mostly to
the West for economic inspiration. The country has sent millions of expats to
the US and Britain, and has developed ties with Western companies eager to tap
into the huge Indian market.
But things are changing.Already, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took office in May, has built a
strong relationship with Japan’s Shinzo Abe — riding a huge influx of interest
from the East Asian nation’s entrepreneurs and executives.
Andre Penner /
AP
Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has built a strong relationship with Japan’s Shinzo Abe —
riding a huge influx of interest from the East Asian nation’s entrepreneurs and
executiv
Despite a high-profile exodus of Western companies from India, a
GlobalPost analysis reveals that Japanese, Korean and Singaporean applications
for business visas have shot up in the last year. American and British
applications have remained flat.
Western firms have been cautious about India’s economic prospects since things slowed
down in 2012.
But figures released by the Indian government show that Asia’s economic
powerhouses are much more enthusiastic.
“Now I would say that about 50 to 55 percent of assignments come from
Asia"
In 2012, India issued a total of 26,869 business visas from its consulates in
Japan. In the first ten months of 2013 (the most recent available stats) the
number had jumped to 40,960, an 80 percent annualized increase.
There was a similar jump for South Korean business visas. A total of 18,044
visas were granted in 2012, and by October 2013, India had issued 20,985 visas
for the year. That’s an estimated 40 percent increase annually.
Singapore business visas also jumped by about 50 percent, from 15,871 in 2012
to 20,059 in the first ten months of 2013.
In contrast, business visas issued to American and British applicants
remained largely static. India handed out 55,629 business visas to Americans and
58,051 to Britons, and by October last year those figures looked likely to be
repeated for 2013.
DIVYAKANT
SOLANKI / EPA
Indian commuters
wait on an over-crowded platform to board a local train at a suburb railway
station in Mumbai, on July 10, 2014. Japanese brokerage Nomura said in a note
last month that Japan’s government is targeting high-speed rail and power
generation in India as areas for growth.
The people who help expats settle in India have noticed the growing number of
East Asian businesses. Komal Smriti, of Sterling Relocation, said around 80 percent of
her clients used to be from Europe or America.
“Now I would say that about 50 to 55 percent of assignments come from Asia,”
she said. “Primarily these are large manufacturing base companies that are
coming.”
Japanese brokerage Nomura said in a note in July that Japan’s government is targeting high-speed rail
and power generation as areas for growth. Many Asian companies are involved in
infrastructure developments between Delhi and Mumbai. Nomura predicted that if
Modi is successful in cutting red tape, investment could rise by up to 15
percent.
“When a Western company comes here, they might send four or five expatriates.
But when you deal with a Japanese or Korean company, the number of people coming
is three or four times more"
India signed a trade deal with Japan in 2011, and there are now
around 1,000 Japanese businesses operating in India, part of Delhi’s so-called
“Look East” strategy.
The new government in Delhi looks to be propelling the trend forward.
Modi and Abe appear to have good personal chemistry, having met and stayed in contact long
before either gained power. Both are wary of their larger, shared neighbor,
China.
Yet total trade has not risen in line with the growth in business ties so
far. In 2011-12, India’s trade with Japan was $18.3 billion. That grew only
slightly, to $18.5 billion, by 2012-13.
Although the rise in business visas is partly due to more Asian companies
investing in India, other factors also come into play, Sterling's Smriti
said.
PIB / AFP -
Getty Images
President and CEO of
Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation Ken Kebayashi (L) sits with Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi ahead of a meeting in New Delhi on July 29, 2014. India signed a
trade deal with Japan in 2011, and there are now around 1,000 Japanese
businesses operating in India, part of Delhi’s so-called “Look East”
strategy.
“When a Western company comes here, they might send four or five expatriates.
But when you deal with a Japanese or Korean company, the number of people coming
is three or four times more. They don’t just send the senior level management —
also the middle level management come out.”
Western firms are sending more short-term assignees instead, she said.
For Indians, dealing with people from East Asia is not as straightforward as
Westerners might believe.
Smriti said their requirements could be hard for relocation agencies to
fulfil. No Asian expat will take a property without a bath, she said, which
often involves re-plumbing the hot water system.
“Bathrooms are something they have very specific requirements for,” Smriti
said. “Some of the clients have spent a great deal of money on a toilet seat
cover. A padded one, or ones which are heated. They are not easy to get. We had
to search through all the hardware stores to find where we could get one.”
India’s frequent power outages are not borne lightly either. Most families
require both an oil-fueled electricity generator and a battery back-up.
“An assignee from the US or England would never say ‘Even though I have a
generator, I still need a Uninterruptible Power Supply unit,” Smriti said.
PARIVARTAN
SHARMA / Reuters
Tangled overhead
electric power cables are pictured at a residential area as children stand on
the roof of a house in Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi . India’s frequent
power outages are not borne lightly by expatriates. Most families require both
an oil-fueled electricity generator and a battery back-up.
Indian Ambassador Vishnu Prakash, left, and Ajay Kanwal,
president and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Korea and regional CEO of Northeast
Asia, pose for a photo at the Indian Embassy in Seoul, Thursday, after a news
briefing on a business seminar on infrastructure and manufacturing in India
slated for Aug. 29. / Korea
Times
Indian Ambassador Vishnu Prakash encouraged investors to search
for business opportunities in his country, calling India "a young, educated
nation" with a sufficient number of high-skilled workers to work with Korean
companies.
During a news conference at the Embassy of India
in Seoul Thursday, the envoy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been in
office since May, has pushed for silent but decisive reform to remove
bureaucracy and attract more foreign investors.
"The Indian
prime minister's message to the nation is less government and more governance,"
Prakash told reporters. "It's true that we have bureaucratic bottlenecks. These
bottlenecks, however, will be removed. The labor law has been
simplified."
The embassy invited reporters to the news
conference to preview what to expect during a business seminar slated for August
29 co-hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Standard Chartered Bank
Korea, the Korea Society and the Indian multinational corporation Mahindra
Group.
Approximately 100 Indian business executives from the
infrastructure and manufacturing sectors will participate to talk about the
investment environment of the country.
It will be the
biggest event the Indian Embassy has ever held in
Korea.
Ambassador Prakash gave one example illustrating the
strong will of the Modi government to remove barriers hindering foreign
investment to his country.
"Every industrial unit had to
file annual returns on labor, which used to be 80 pages in the past. It was
reduced to five pages. This is one example of the streamlined labor laws. Land
acquisition procedures also have been simplified. Compensation procedures have
been reviewed and deadlines are being introduced to make decisions to respond to
queries from investors."
He called India a young country,
saying two thirds of its population are 25 years old or
younger.
The envoy talked about India's business-friendly
environment when asked to answer concerns among some Korean investors who were
familiar with the delay of a POSCO steel plant construction project in the
southern region of Odisha.
The project was delayed for years
as local residents, in collaboration with environmentalists, opposed the related
land acquisition because of the project's potential impact on the region's
ecosystem.
Ambassador Prakash noted that, nevertheless, the
construction of the steel plant is almost complete and steel production will
start from November.
Ajay Kanwal, president and CEO of
Standard Chartered Bank Korea and regional CEO of Northeast Asia, noted that
India is a key destination for Korean investors, and the bank will provide full
support especially for medium-sized companies seeking investment in the
country.
Kanwal said specialists in the areas of financial
services, trade and commodities will provide technical assistance for Korean
investors pursuing business opportunities in India.
"Bankers
of Standard Chartered in India will handle all the process. What we really do
is, based on their experiences with us, we provide their history to the bank in
India so that it becomes very comfortable for them to operate there," he
said.
Kanwal said Standard Chartered Bank in India hired two
Korean staff members and they work full-time helping Korean investors solve any
problems they face.
Lee Joon-gyu (60 yrs) is a seasoned diplomat. Immediately after he completed his Masters in Law from Seoul National University, Korea, in February 1979, Joon-gyu passed his High Diplomatic Service Examination and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in his country. Thereafter, he has represented Korea at the United Nations, Malaysia, Japan, China and New Zealand. In August 2012 he assumed charge as his country's Ambassador to India. During his career he was also director, international trade, MOFA. As a diplomat, he is only too aware that his role is to strengthen diplomatic ties between South Korea and India, but also ensure that these are buttressed by cultural and business ties.And during the past decade, Korea has notched up some significant successes in India, even though it has seen some of its projects (Posco in Odisha is one example) plagued by delays.He agreed to an exclusive interview by R.N.Bhaskar, and given below are the edited excerpts:
It was heartening to see that one of the most sophisticated thermal power projects in India, set up by Tata Power at Mundra (Gujarat), opted for Korean (Doosan) turbines and generators. Do you expect Korea to play an increasingly successful role in the rest of India's power industry? Joon-gyu: In addition to what you correctly mentioned, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction also won a $520 million contract in 2012 to build the steam generator and boiler for the NTPC-Lara power plant at Chhattisgarh. Doosan is a globally well-known company for its expertise and performance in the power industry. KEPCO Plant Services & Engineering also recently won a $180 million order to operate and repair a thermal power plant in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, and plans to actively expand its business further. I expect Korean companies, including Doosan and KEPCO KPS, to contribute a great deal in developing electricity infrastructure and improving the power sector in India.
Do you think that the recent environmental clearances announced by the central government for Korean and other units will encourage more Korean companies to invest in India? It surely is a positive development. But we cannot be sure that with only that measure, delayed projects can now go on stream. Many other hurdles – including never-ending complaints and law-suits raised by various NGOs – still remain. My suggestion is that the success of mega projects like POSCO's would have a great positive impact. They should be monitored directly by the PMO (prime minister's office)
Some of the key industries/sectors that have been flagged as priority projects by the Indian government are shipbuilding and ports, airports, railways, and new cities. Which are the segments that you think Korea could be interested in? I think they are interested in almost all these segments. During the phone conversation with President Park (of Korea) in July this year, the Indian Prime Minister sought Korean investment in India's infrastructure projects. I believe that there is enormous scope for cooperation in all these areas. I am encouraging Korean companies to be more proactive in this sector. We have a proposal pending for building eight minesweepers for India in the defence and shipping sectors. We are waiting for the final green signal. We would like to build big Korean ships in India as well.
What are the things you think should be done to make Koreans more interested in India? I believe that strong economic reforms, infrastructure development and business friendly policies pursued by the new government have already spurred some positive effects. But they are not enough. Koreans want to see things really move. They want to see real outcomes. They want success stories in India. The manufacturing sector was the first major engine of growth for Korea during the 1970s and the 1980s helping Korea industrialise rapidly. The (new) Indian government's policy of boosting the manufacturing sector is quite right, and timely. Korean companies can play a substantial role in helping India achieve these goals. We are now concentrating on bringing Korean manufacturing SMEs (small & medium enterprises) into India. As I said before, they all are looking forward to hearing success stories of Korean majors in India. The more the success stories, the keener will be their desire to come to India.
In an unique way to symbolise the rapid rise in bilateral ties, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se today showed his counterpart Sushma Swaraj pictures showing the growth of a sacred Maha Bodhi sapling which was gifted to his country by India in March. In a meeting with Swaraj on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, the South Korean Foreign Minister brought photographs comparing the sapling that has grown four times that size in the last four months.
He told Swaraj that the sapling was 30 CMs tall when it was gifted but now it is 130 CMs in length. "He wanted to show this as a reflection and symbol of rapid growth in India-Korea relationship. This was a very interesting manner of symbolising the relationship," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said. He said a range of issues of bilateral interests were discussed.
South Korea has around 50 million Buddhist population and the sacred Bodhi Tree from India's Bodh Gaya was given to South Korea as a special gesture of friendship. South Korean President Park Geun-hye had visited India in January this year during which both the countries had decided to intensify cooperation in a range of key sectors including trade, investment and defence.
Nine pacts covering wide-ranging areas including cyber space cooperation were also signed between the two countries during the South Korean President's visit. The relationship between India and South Korea is on an upswing. Korean President Park Geun-Hye had congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his victory in the general elections and recalled with appreciation his association with Korea as chief minister of Gujarat. President Park invited the Prime Minister to pay an early visit to Korea, which was accepted by him.
& Run,” and “Television.”
Director Kim Kum-pyung of KCCI said, “At first, I was worried about this first Hallyu event here in India, but it turned out to be more than successful. As incredible as it seems, thousands of people flocked into the concert and prestigious Indian media outlets vied for covering the first Hallyu event,” and added, “I can dare to say that I assure the success of K-pop in India, observing it through N-Sonic. Considering the number of its fans, I expect the boy band to become a key distributor for Hallyu.”
Andre Penner /
AP
DIVYAKANT
SOLANKI / EPA
PIB / AFP -
Getty Images
PARIVARTAN
SHARMA / Reuters
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कोरियाई प्रायद्वीप पर उत्तर और दक्षिण कोरिया के संबंधों की वर्तमान स्थिति एक नए युग की भू-राजनीतिक प्रतिस्पर्धा का प्रतीक है। यह बदलाव वैश्...
(उत्तर कोरिया के राष्ट्रपति किम जोंग उन (बाएं से पहले) अपने सैन्य सलाहकारों के साथ सिगरेट पीते हुए) सीओल(दक्षिण कोरिया) -- उत्तर कोरि...