Korea [2009 Vol. 6 No. 2]

Opening a communicative space between Korea and the world

ISSN: 2005-2162

Forest of Life Korea Seeds Indonesia

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february 2009

www.korea.net

CONTENTS

 

12 Publisher Yoo Jin-hwan Korean Culture and Information Service Chief Editor Ko Hye-ryun Editing & Printing JoongAng Daily Cover Photo Mangrove trees give hope to Tsunamidamaged Indonesia. Provided by KOICA

E-mail [email protected] Design JoongAng Daily

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from Korea and the Korean Culture and Information Service. The articles published in Korea do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. The publisher is not liable for errors or omissions. Letters to the editor should include the writer’s full name and address. Letters may be edited for clarity and/or space restrictions. If you want to receive a free copy of Korea or wish to cancel a subscription, please e-mail us. A downloadable PDF file of Korea and a map and glossary with common Korean words appearing in our text are available by clicking on the thumbnail of Korea on the homepage of www.korea.net.

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Cover Story Forest of Life: Korea Seeds Indonesia



Diplomacy • Forging New Friendships, Strengthening Old Alliances • Lee, Aso Focus on Finance

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Global Korea • IT Systems: Korea’s Next Big Export Hit? • ‘Contact Korea’ Hunting Foreign Talent for Local Firms • Volunteers Helping Migrants Settle into their New Homes

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Culture • A River Runs Through it • Musicals Get New Homes in 2009 • Triumph in Trieste

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Korean Literature Yi Mun-yol: Storyteller, Thinker, Heretic Korea through the Lens From Frozen Fish to Feathered Friends



Business & Technology • Incheon’s Bridge to Tomorrow • TV Goes High Tech • TV Goes on Diet • World Content Comes Online • Suntech: Clear View Behind

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Series: New Growth Engine Industries Limitless Power: The Sun is the Source



February 2009 VOL. 6 / NO. 2

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Travel • All Aboard for Luxury: ‘Sun Train’ is Rolled Out • Seoul: Asia’s No. 1 Destination

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Fashion Trend Tips for ‘09: The Seoul Collection



People • Kim Hong-bin: High Peaks, Iron Will • Shin Young-soo: Doctor to 1.8 Billion • Lee Seung-kyu: Record-breaking Surgeon

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Foreign Viewpoints Les Edwards: Endorsing Expatriate Lifestyle

Sports • Shin Swings into LPGA • Park Aims at FA Cup

February 2009 korea 5

Cover Story

Provided by The Korea Forest Service

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Forest of Life 6 korea February 2009

natural disaster takes away everything beloved objects, homes, lives. Around 8 a.m. on Dec. 26, 2004, a massive earthquake rocked the ocean floor off Sumatra, western Indonesia, triggering a deadly tsunami. Killer waves spread across Southeast Asia, hitting Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Burma (Myanmar) and Sri Lanka. About five million lost homes, and the death toll reached 170,000 in Indonesia alone. In the aftermath of the disaster, rescue forces and relief goods were mobilized from around the world. About $4 billion of international relief funds were provided to the United Nations by February 2005. The world slowly forgot the tragedy. Reconstruction was left in the hands of the victims. Korea, however, took a different approach. The country has decided to plant seeds in the mangrove forests in tsunami-damaged Aceh in northern Sumatra, a location close to the epicenter of the disaster. At the request of Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry and the National Development Planning Agency, the Korea Forest Service carried out rehabilitation of the mangrove forest for two years and six months from May 2006 to October 2008, using Korea’s forestation technology. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) funded the $1.8 million project; as a result, 550 hectares of mangrove forest were successfully restored. Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats. Mangrove forests are an important source of income for locals: They can be used as fish farms because they are natural habitats and spawning areas for aquatic animals. With its diverse uses, the mangrove is an important forestry resource in Indonesia, often nicknamed, “the tree of life.” Through this project, Korea was able to help Indonesia create “green jobs,” by not only rebuilding nature in the aftermath of the disaster but also easing unemployment. Korea’s international reputation in green circles has improved, as environmental groups have paid close attention to the success of the mangrove forest rehabilitation project; it has become a symbol of tsunami recovery. International organizations including the United Nations Forum on Forests, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the InternaFebruary 2009 korea 7

Cover Story

Cover Story

tional Tropical Timber Council all strongly recommend that mangrove forests be restored to rehabilitate the tsunami-stricken regions as a fast way of recovery. In Indonesia, the Korea Forest Service has moved beyond a simple forestation program. The building used as a project office during the recovery works was transformed into the Mangrove Information Center to promote Korean forestation technology and to educate locals. The information center was completed in April 2008. Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Malam Sambat Kaban and Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf attended the opening ceremony, reconfirming the friendship between Korea and Indonesia. Minister Kaban spoke about his deep appreciation for Korea’s efforts to aid recovery in the aftermath of the unprecedented natural disaster. The mangrove forest project is expected to be a stepping stone to further develop the two countries’ relations. “The two countries agreed to cooperate on various subjects of common interest, including Korea’s investment in Indonesia’s forestation projects, countermeasures for climate change, joint research on tropical forests and preservation efforts,” said Ha Young-je, thenminister of the Korea Forest Service, who attended the KoreaIndonesia Forest Forum in June 2008. Korean companies were able to secure a bridgehead to expand their forestation businesses into overseas markets. As of now, 13 companies including the National Forestry Cooperatives Federation and Korindo Group are planning overseas projects focused on industrial reforestation and forestation programs linked Ha Young-je to bio-energy and CerMinister of the Korea Forest Service tified Emission Reduc-

Provided by The Korea Forest Service

‘Forests do not only belong to the current generation... we have to preserve them.’

Locals planting mangrove trees in Aceh, Indonesia, as part of the Korean Forest Service’s project to rebuild the forest devastated by the 2004 tsunami.

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tions. “As a country which implemented successful forestation projects in the 20th century, it was a symbolic project to promote Korea’s forestation technology to the world,” said Ha, referring to Indonesia’s mangrove forest program. According to Ha, Korea’s technology and success in forestation programs are well known in the international community. “In 1982, the FAO already praised Korea as a rare case of success in greening after World War II,” Ha said. “In that report, the UN-led organization called Korea a model.” Noting that 64 percent of Korea is forested, Ha said his organization will also focus on domestic projects. Citing President Lee Myung-bak’s Liberation Day address on Aug. 15 of 2008, focusing on “low-carbon, green growth,” the Korea Forest Service plans to increase employment in forestation projects in order to foster healthy forests and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As of now, 34,500 people are employed in the forestry industry, but the service plans to raise the number of jobs to 136,700 by 2013. Ha said one planned project is “a carbon neutral village” using wood pellet boilers and recycling energy through combined heat and power generation. “By doing this, carbon will be recycled as energy, instead of being emitted into the air,” Ha said. “This is the easiest and quickest method to apply an environmentally friendly way of life to our real lives.” Ha said the Korea Forest Service is also planning to launch an international organization. “Korea has played a major role in rebuilding damaged forests in Asia,” Ha said. “The mangrove forest recovery in Indonesia is an example. We are currently building a 3,000-hecatar green belt in Mongolia. “We also plan to push forward a project to prevent expanding desertification in China’s Inner Mongolia in cooperation with SK Group, Korean Airlines and volunteers,” he said. “That region is the origin of yellow dust storms, so it is a very meaningful program.” Korea plans to utilize its network and skills by building an international organization, tentatively titled AFoCO, or Asia Forestry Cooperation Organization. The Foreign Ministry and the Blue House are actively supporting the plan, Ha said. “Forests do not only belong to the contemporary generation,” Ha said. “We have to use them well, but at the same time, we have to preserve them for the next generation.” He added, “Forests are something for which everyone’s effort is crucial.” February 2009 korea 9

Diplomacy

[JoongAng Ilbo]

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Forging New Friendships, Strengthening Old Alliances President Lee Myung-bak has prioritized diplomacy, and is pulling out all the stops to expand South Korea’s profile on the international stage.

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Hitting the Road: President Lee Myung-bak has made clear his determination to expand Korea’s diplomatic outreach

eoul is poised to expand its diplomatic reach to a far wider range of foreign countries than has been customary, both to cement its standing in the international community and to fuel its exportreliant economy. President Lee Myung-bak embodied his determination to achieve these goals throughout 2009 by flying to continents and countries rarely visited by South Korean leaders to meet with national leaders. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry is also expected to join the efforts by signing more free trade agreements with countries including Australia, Peru, New Zealand, Turkey and Colombia to provide new momentum for the ailing economy. “The Republic of Korea is not the marginal state it was in the latter part of the 19th century when it suffered the whims of international currents; nor is it the flickering candle that it was during the foreign exchange crisis,” Lee said in his New Year policy address on Jan.2. “The country is emerging as a responsible, leading nation, helping to create a new international order.” This does not mean turning away from key partners. South Korea’s diplomacy has long centered on the so-called “four superpowers,” - the United States, Japan, China and Russia and Lee, throughout the first year of his term, consistently reiterated the importance of maintaining close ties with them. This is particularly so of the United States and Japan, as relations with the two allies soured under the previous administration. “For some time, Korea-U.S. relations were less than desirable. Since my administration took over, however, the two countries have made agreements on the Visa Waiver Program as well as currency swap lines. Bilateral ties are being reborn as strategic alliances based on ever-more solid trust,” Lee said in the speech. He also stressed he would continue efforts to cement ties among Northeast Asia’s three players - China, Korea and Japan - after he successfully held the first leadership summit of the three countries in December. Also, relations with Russia, relatively inert, have received a boost. “The Republic has concluded an agreement with Russia providing for the installation of railways and gas pipelines running through

South Korea, North Korea and Russia,” he said. “A grand, historic project linking the Korean peninsula and the vast Siberian region is panning out.” A Blue House official said Lee is upgrading presidential diplomacy; his itinerary this year may include a trip to energy-rich Central Asia. “In 2008, Lee went abroad eight times, including seven trips concentrating on the four superpowers,” the official said. But this year, he will spend “more time visiting regions such as Europe, Southeast Asia and Central Asia,” in line with multilateral talks taking place in those areas, the official added. The most likely destinations under discussion are Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the first half of this year, followed by more trips to Thailand in February to attend the “ASEAN + Three” forum (Association of Southeast Asia Nations, plus China, Japan and South Korea) and to Singapore in November to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Europe is also part of Lee’s plans. In April, Lee is scheduled to attend the G-20 financial summit in the United Kingdom and the G-8 summit in Italy in July. A series of bilateral summits is planned on the sidelines of these talks. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry recently unveiled a plan to sign new free trade agreements with ever more countries to bolster the nation’s trade-reliant economy: Korea’s exports account for over 40 percent of GDP. The Foreign Ministry said in January that it would start FTA negotiations with Peru, Australia and New Zealand in the first half of 2009 and talks with Turkey and Colombia in the latter half. The ministry also said it would look into starting much-anticipated FTA negotiations with China, Japan and Russia. Seoul still faces the daunting task of getting congressional ratification of the contentious Korea-U.S. FTA bill and wrapping up KoreaEU FTA negotiations. The ministry’s goal this year is tackling these as soon as possible to open more passages for exporters. “We will complete FTA negotiations with the EU within the first quarter so that it can take effect on Jan. 1, 2010, and we will try to make an FTA with India ...to take effect by the end of 2009,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement in January. February 2009 korea 11

Diplomacy

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, left, talks with President Lee Myung-bak after their joint press conference on Jan. 12 in Seoul.

Lee, Aso Focus on Finance In their January summit in Seoul, the leaders of Japan and South Korea put aside historical disputes, instead prioritizing economic issues. 12 korea February 2009

[JoongAng Ilbo]

[YONHAP]

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idestepping politically volatile issues, President Lee Myungbak of South Korea and Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan agreed on Jan. 12 on economic cooperation measures, including a plan to encourage Japanese business investment in Korean industry. At a press conference after the meeting, Lee said Korea’s trade deficit with Japan was about $30 billion last year, pointing out that most of the amount is due to imports of parts and materials. “Now, the two countries have developed specific cooperation plans,” Lee said. “Four industrial complexes in Korea have been designated to specialize in the parts and materials industries, and about 20 Japanese companies sent letters of intent to invest in them by the end of last year. This project has momentum.” It is not the first time that Lee has emphasized the importance of Korea’s advancement in the two industries. When he addressed scientists and technical experts on Jan. 8 for the New Year, Lee pointed out the gap between Korea and Japan in the field, encouraging further development. In this summit, tailor-made for economic cooperation, Lee and Aso also agreed to collaborate before the G-20 financial summit in April to reform the financial world order. In addition to the promise to work together to overcome the ongoing financial crisis and sagging real economy, Japan agreed to support Korea’s participation in the Financial Stability Forum, an international organization consisting of major national financial authorities of the G7 countries and five additional advanced economies. Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore are the forum’s Asian members. Lee and Aso also agreed to resume negotiations for a free trade agreement

Korean President Lee Myung-bak, third from left, and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, third from right, walk while talking with business leaders on Jan. 11 in the Blue House, Seoul. From left: Tadashi Okamura, chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Fujio Miterai, chairman of the Japan Business Federation; President Lee; Prime Minister Aso; Cho Suk-rai, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries; and Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

and to continue expanding exchanges between the two countries. The leaders further agreed that a CEO forum for small and midsize companies from the two countries will be held this summer in Tokyo. The CEOs will build a network and exchange market and advanced technology information. Japanese business executives who accompanied Aso agreed on the project with Korea’s business community on Jan. 11. Moving on to political issues, Lee and Aso also reaffirmed their commitment to denuclearize the Korean peninsula within the framework of the sixparty talks. Joint participation in programs to rebuild Afghanistan was also discussed. “This was a project proposed by Prime Minister Aso, and the two countries will cooperate in programs to provide agri-

cultural assistance and vocational education in Afghanistan,” Blue House spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said. Conspicuously missing from the press conference was any talk about the volatile territorial issue of Dokdo and political issues related to the two nations’ intertwined history, particularly leftover controversies from the Second World War. Asked why the contentious issues were not addressed, the spokesman said, “There is no imperative pending issue right now, so there is no need to mention it,” he said.“There is no need to stir things up all the time.” “When a really unpleasant incident arises, we should sincerely share our thoughts and ideas.,” he added. “Nothing is impossible to resolve.” The Seoul summit was Lee and Aso’s fifth. February 2009 korea 13

Global Korea

IT Systems: Korea’s Next Big Export Hit? Be they postal systems, ticketing machines or traffic management solutions, government and industry are teaming up and promoting the country’s best-of-breed IT systems and infrastructures as global export items.

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Kazakhstan

The Kyrgyz Republic Mongolia

Newest export item: Korea’s IT solution systems

Azerbaijan Uzbekistan

India

China Thailand Brunei Indonesia

Kazakhstan: ITS postal service system — $40.4 million Azerbaijan: Intelligent Transport System — $76.5 million Mongolia: ITS system — $12 million Indonesia: National Crime Information Center — $25 million China: Automated Fare Collection system — $438.5 million China: ITS Automatic Fare Collection system — $26 million India: Automatic Fare Collection system — $20 million

Countries with MOUs with Korea Post for cooperation in postal services Thailand, Brunei, Mongolia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan

Semiconductors, automobiles, ships and mobile phones are currently the backbone of Korea’s export sector, but IT systems could be the next boom. Leading IT solution providers such as SK C&C, Samsung SDS and LG CNS reported substantial exports in 2008. SK C&C said in a release in December that its IT system exports increased by a staggering 1,694 percent last year over the previous year, winning the company $159 million worth of orders. Samsung SDS also achieved $150 million of orders, while LG CNS estimates it earned $169.2 million worth of orders in 2008. And although many believe that the Internet is killing mail, Korea’s postal IT service system was one of the best-selling items. SK C&C succeeded in winning a project to revamp Kazakhstan’s postal service in May 13, 2008. The project is worth about 55 billion won ($44 million). “With the aid of Korea Post, we won the project by persuading Kazakhstan that the country is in desperate need of beefing up its worn-out postal facilities,” said Joo Jeong-soo, vice president of SK C&C, in a press release.

“If governmental organizations roll up their sleeves to help local companies win orders, it is easy to win trust in foreign countries and sign contracts,” said Lee Jun-ho, another official of SK C&C. Korea Post was behind SK C&C’s expansion into Kazakhstan. Korea Post invites ministers and related officials of foreign postal institutions to Korea on a regular basis and shows them Korea’s well-developed IT technologies in the postal service areas. “When they visit Korea and see Korea’s postal service system, they keep saying ‘wonderful’ because every single letter and parcel is tracked across the nation through our IT system,” said Kim Sun-kang, an official of Korea Post. “In addition, we also communicate with mail delivery trucks on a real-time basis. By teaming up with Korea Expressway Corporation, we inform the trucks which expressway is crowded. We also let them know less crowded routes for faster delivery.” “People are also able to send their mails and parcels using their home computers,” Kim added. Korea Post started to support local IT solution providers win orders overseas in 2007, when it started organizing IT solution fairs and exhibitions.

The central government has injected a total of 1.25 trillion won to update the postal service system from 1985, fusing it with IT technologies. More than 15,000 personal digital assistants were given to mailmen so that they could report who received mails and parcels on a real-time basis to Korea Post’s headquarters. Since parcels and mail are automatically tracked, based on global positioning and bar code systems, citizens who sent mails and parcels can check whether their mail and parcels were delivered on time - or not - via the Internet. In addition, people can check where their parcels and mail are, and where they are heading. “Using automatic systems, 6,000 tons of parcels, 25,000 express letters and 30,000 ordinary letters are processed per hour at the Eastern Seoul Mail Center alone,” said Paik Sung-kab, an official at the mail center. Korea Post even launched an Internet service which enables citizens to find the locations of mail boxes. Since Korea has witnessed a decreasing number of letters due to the advent of e-mail, many mailboxes were removed. That’s why Korea Post stepped in with online help. In order to promote Korea’s cuttingedge postal service system, Korea Post February 2009 korea 15

Global Korea

How Korea’s cutting-edge postal service system works Classification

Shipping

Delivery

Each parcel and mail is classified using barcodes which contain sender information as well as destination information at mail centers

Parcels and mail head to their recipients and their location is automatically tracked over the Internet on a real-time basis

If parcels and mails are delivered, the sender can check who received them, when and where, via the Internet

established an Asia-Pacific Postal College in Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2007, where people from developing countries could be educated about IT technologies used in postal services. By providing related vocal training and hands-on experience, Korea Post managed to impress other countries. Through these promotional efforts, Korea Post has signed memoranda of understanding with many countries such as Thailand, Brunei, Mongolia, the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan to cooperate in the development of postal services. Korea Post is in talks with more than 20 countries - including Britain, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Algeria, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Guatemala and Cambodia - to export its postal service system. Korea Post also conducts feasibility studies for free for developing countries. The feasibility study is a kind of consult-

been invited to Korea over the past three years to learn Korea’s IT postal service technologies, while Korean employees of Korea Post were also dispatched overseas to share their expertise. For the first half of this year, Korea Post plans to use about 60 percent of its budget to boost the nation’s IT system exports. Meanwhile, SK C&C signed a contract with Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to export an Intelligent Transport System worth $76.5 million in May 2008. “We won the project due to the support of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and Korea’s excellent IT skills,” said Lee Kwang-yeop, an official of SK C&C. A group of officials from the land ministry visited Azerbaijan in January 2007 to support Korean companies bidding for the project. For the ITS project, SK C&C will install the latest IT system for the main roads of the capital city as well as roads between the city and its international airport. Using these systems, the license plates of passing cars can be recognized, allowing for the analysis of traffic volume and traffic congestion patterns. Variable message signs - like huge, electronic billboards - will be erected in highly populated places to inform citizens of traffic-related information, including which roads are jammed and news flashes about accidents. Bus management and bus information systems will be introduced; these sytems will deliver arrival times of busses through monitors and users’ mobile

Korea established an Asian Postal College in Bangkok. ing service to let the countries know which part of their postal services should be updated. From March to June 2007, Korea Post conducted a feasibility study for Indonesia, investing 90 million won. It ran three-month studies for Vietnam and Mongolia from September to November 2007, spending 190 million won. A total of 74 foreign employees of overseas postal service institutions have 16 korea February 2009

phones. In December last year, SK C&C also won a $12 million project to export its ITS system to Ulan Bator, the capital city of Mongolia. “We expect to win projects from nearby countries other than Azerbaijan and Mongolia,” Lee added. LG CNS wants to increase IT exports this year from 10 percent to 40 percent of its total output. “If we want to achieve sustainable growth, we should go overseas because the nation’s IT market accounts for only 1 or 2 percent out of the global IT market,” Shin Chae-chol, CEO of LG CNS told reporters at a press conference last year. According to Gartner, the U.S.based IT research firm, the nation’s IT market is estimated to be worth around 17 trillion won as of this year; the world’s IT market is valued at around 708 trillion won. For this reason, local IT solution companies are desperate to export their IT solutions to survive the upcoming recession. In 2006, LG CNS signed a contract with the Indonesian National Police Agency for a project to build a National Crime Information Center, worth about $25 million. Last year, the company also won a project to build up Automated Fare Collection systems throughout three Chinese subway lines. The AFC is similar to a system installed throughout Korean subway lines which improves passengers’ convenience by automating all ticketing and payment processes. LG CNS also aims to export its Intrusion Detection and e-government systems to Southeast Asian nations, and

Based on barcodes, express mail is automatically sorted out at the Eastern Seoul Mail Center, located in Jayangdong, Gwangjin District. Between 24,000 and 25,000 pieces of express mails are handled per hour.

[JoongAng Ilbo]

Posting Send parcels or mail at local post offices

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Global Korea

is preparing to export other IT systems that automate patent processes. The patent system is the world’s first Internet-based patent processing system. By teaming up with Korea Post, LG CNS also plans to export PostNet, an Internet service provided by Korea Post. Through PostNet, Koreans are able to send mail and parcels with a few clicks at home. Given that about 70 percent of PostNet software is made by Korean small and mid-sized software companies, if PostNet is exported, LG CNS expects the nation’s overall IT scene to be lifted by big export wins. LG CNS currently has seven overseas affiliates, including in the United States, Europe and China. It also has development centers in Beijing, China and Bangalore, India. Another development center in Qinyang, China, is scheduled to be completed by the first half of this year. Samsung SDS has signed contracts to export its Automatic Fare Collection system to Chinese cities such as Guangzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, and also signed a $26 million contract with Beijing in March 2008. The Automatic Fare Collection system is similar to the LG CNS system. In China, Samsung SDS has an approximately 46 percent share in the Automatic Fare Collection system market, and is installed in major subway lines in Beijing. Samsung SDS competed with the France-based Thales Group, the Japanbased Nippon Signal and 12 other world-famous IT solution companies to win the project. According to Samsung SDS, China’s market for Automatic Fare Collection systems is estimated at around $500 million over the next four years because it is hosting large-scale events such as the World Expo 2010, in Shanghai, and the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. 18 korea February 2009

Based on its strong performance in China, Samsung SDS wants to export its IT systems to other parts of the world including Thailand, Chinese citizens use an Automatic Fare Collection System Indonesia,Malaysia,India built up by Samsung SDS in Beijing, China last summer. and Turkey. In April 2008, Samsung SDS also won an order from Delhi, tries. India to establish an Automatic Fare E-government refers to online govCollection system - a project worth ernment service systems which enable approximately $20 million. citizens to get access to diverse services India’s Automatic Fare Collection and information provided by governsystem market has been dominated by ments using the Internet. French company Thales Group, but SK C&C, LG CNS, Samsung SDS Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. con- and other small and midsized IT comtacted Samsung SDS after some officials panies Pos Data, Hyundai Information of DMRC took a field trip to Guang- Technology and Ssangyong Informazhou, China and experienced the sys- tion and Communication Corp. are also tem established by Samsung SDS. eyeing overseas markets to export their “We’ll also bid for additional Auto- IT technologies in e-government. matic Fare Collection system projects in Korea’s technologies in the digital Indian cities such as Mumbai, Banga- forensic area are also surfacing as the lore, Hyderabad and Kolkata to win the next big thing in IT system exports. projects,” said Yoon Suk-ho, vice presiSince many people use digital devicdent of Samsung SDS. es such as mobile phones, laptops, perKorea’s e-government systems are sonal computers, USB sticks, digital winning rave reviews from other coun- cameras and MP3 players, digital gadtries, and brisk e-government-related gets are becoming increasingly used in exports are expected. crimes, new challenges are being met by According to the Ministry of Public a new breed of law enforcer. Administration and Security, a total of For instance, a man raped the wife 173 officials from 16 countries includ- of his co-worker in September last year. ing Guatemala, Egypt, Japan, India, After raping the woman, he took picMexico, Morocco, Congo, China and tures of her with his mobile phone but Afghanistan visited Korea to observe deleted all the pictures after realizing he and experience Korea’s e-government was a key suspect. A team of digital systems. forensic experts at the National Police’s “The U.S.-based Brookings Institu- Cyber Terror Response Center restored tion said Korea topped the list across the all the deleted pictures; on this evidence, world when it comes to e-government the rapist was arrested. for three consecutive years from 2006 to Digital forensic teams will be set up 2008,” said Seo Nam-gyo, an official of in police agencies nationwide by the end the public administration ministry. of this year. Korea was also ranked second in the Like other IT systems, digital foren2008 UN Global E-Government Survey. sic systems could become popular The survey was conducted in 189 coun- export items, industry experts say.

Provided by Samsung SDS

The world’s IT market is worth 708 trillion won.

‘Contact Korea’ Hunting Foreign Talent for Local Firms Trade agency seeking professionals worldwide for SMEs.

K

umsung Engineering and Construction (E & C), an eco-friendly hydraulic energy development company in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, has a new hire: Oleg Meshkov, an energy specialist from Russia. The company had been facing problems finding local experts to fill his role. Enter “Contact Korea” an online human resources program (www.contactkorea. go.kr) run by the Korea TradeInvestment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). KOTRA branches in Moscow, Kiev and Prague, where hydraulic power turbine technology is advanced, scoured local manpower pools with the help of research institutes and companies, eventually tracking down 14 prospective technicians to offer them a job interview for Kumsung E & C. Meshkov was the successful candidate. “Contact Korea,” launched in October 2008, has 30 Korea Business Centers in 26 countries, tasked with attracting and supporting professional human resources. KOTRA said that it would play an active role in seeking global talent for Korean firms to improve their competitiveness. More than a thousand foreign professionals in 12 areas such as architecture, manufacturing and the medical sector have registered. Small and Medium Enterprises in Korea (SMEs), who face difficulties in hiring local technicians, wel-

come the launch of the agency; the portal addresses their personnel recruitment issues without the expenses demanded by a headhunting agency. According to KOTRA, the program will be able to recruit many qualified professionals from overseas due to the closure of financial firms on Wall Street and ongoing restructuring at Japanese automakers - developments that are driving a wave of qualified manpower onto the job market. “When firms face crises, human resources are the safest and most guaranteed investment,” said KOTRA President Cho Hwan-eik. “Therefore, KOTRA aims to strengthen the nation’s competitiveness and secure economic growth engine by attracting professionals from overseas.” Small firms interested in securing competent foreign professionals can search a real-time online database of overseas personnel by registering on the portal. If a suitable professional is not available, an online request can be made. Once the online request is submitted, the Korea Business Centers help in seeking qualified personnel. However, the program does not offer nonskilled jobs. Membership registration, database search and on-line search requests are offered for free during the pilot operations of the site. Inquiries: Hong Yoo-jeong, Assistant Manager of Contact Korea, KOTRA (Tel:3497-1965)

February 2009 KOREA 19

Global Korea

Volunteers Helping Migrants Settle into their New Homes

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or centuries, Korea was a nation of a single ethnicity, but today there are over 1 million foreign nationals living in Korea - one for every 50 Koreans. The age of homogeneity, it seems, is coming to an end. Korean culture is rapidly changing due to the influx of foreign manpower, increasing numbers of migrants and a soaring birth rate of bi-racial children. In the midst of this cultural and ethnic shift, Korean volunteers are helping foreigners to adapt to this country and the government is also running a range of supportive programs for multi-cultural families. Two of these groups stand out.

‘I was really touched by the volunteers’ hospitality and their pure hearts,’ said Soon Ri, a Chinese migrant. ‘It is a great pleasure to meet nice Koreans and their culture.’

20 korea February 2009

“Korea is my second homeland. I want to improve my Korean language skills to do my work, including helping orphans and the handicapped.” Paul Mooney from Ireland is a student of the Korean language advanced class run by the KFVN(Korea Foundation Volunteer Network). The KFVN is organized by people in their 20s-50s from various walks of life. Mooney, who is married to a Korean, is a priest in the Anglican church. At the end of the year, he visited needy children to give presents in his Santa costume. KFVN is on the frontier of “civil diplomacy.” It operates 11 Korean classes for 200 foreigners, with 41 Korean volunteer teachers and aides. Thus far, they have taught over 1000 foreigners from 120 nations; their students include migrants, expatriates and even ambassadors. “I was really touched by the volunteers’ hospitality and their pure hearts.” said Soon Ri, a Chinese migrant, who attends KFNV ‘Experience Korean Culture’ class, which focuses on such things as Korean cuisine, taekwondo, traditional wedding ceremonies and archery. “It is a great pleasure to meet nice Koreans and their culture.” The classes were so popular that over 600 foreigners participated in 2008. It’s not easy to become a Korean member of this volunteer group. Prospective members must wait to join and must also take a related training course. There are various courses to upgrade the volunteers’ skills. “Volunteering requires a time commitment,” said Chun Sung-ok, the group’s chairwoman, adding that February 2009 korea 21

Culture

volunteers are often busy in their everyday lives. “Serving other people is serving ourselves.” Vietnamese national, Pham Thi Thu Thuy (24) has a Korean friend whom she looks forward to seeing every week. That friend is Kim In-ae, a member of “Dajeong” (“Close Friendship”) an Ewha Women’s University volunteer group which helps women migrants. This week, she learned how to ask a Korean home appliance service center to fix her broken washing machine. Pham Thi came to live in Korea in 2005 when she married a Korean through an international matchmaker. However, she didn’t have much chance to learn Korean as she had a baby soon after the marriage. Pham Thi’s Korean husband, Park Kyung-min, 46, is also most appreciative of the volunteers. “As my wife has improved her Korean, she has become more cheerful than before in her everyday life,” he 22 korea February 2009

By Kim Do-hun

Kim In-ae, left, a member of Dajeong, an Ewha Women’s University group that helps female migrants learn Korean, with Pham Thi Thu Thuy, one of her Vietnamese students.

said. The volunteer group was established in 2005 by eight Ewha students who shared a common interest: wanting to help people in need. The group, led by Kang Ji-hyun, a 27-year-old graduate student, agreed to focus help on those women who have been left unattended by other volunteer groups, specifically female migrants and multicultural families. Kang’s own personal experience during a stay in the United States five years ago for language training also influenced her choice. “I experienced some inhospitality there toward Asians like me who speak poor English,” said Kang. “That experience made me sympathize with migrants living in Korea.” Dajeong started with eight members and has now grown to nearly 60 volunteers. They currently teach Korean to 18 women migrants and their children from 12 international families living in the Seoul metropolitan area.

The group conducts not only Korean lessons, but also monthly outdoor activities. In May, Dajeong members organized a flea market on the Ewha campus for female migrants. In recognition of their positive contributions to society, Dajeong has been praised by various institutions, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Korean University Council for Social Service, KT&G Welfare, and SK Telecom. Dajeong members have now forged close friendships with their students. Besides language studies, they go shopping together and share each other’s ups and downs. However, it’s not all one-way; there are also benefits for the student volunteers. “I really enjoy teaching them Korean,” said Kim. “It seems to me that helping others is not about ‘service’ but understanding and learning from each other.”

Provided by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs

Global Korea

Before and After - The Geum River, as it is (below right) and an artists impression of how it will look

A River Runs Through it A new national initiative will rejuvenate Korea’s waterways.

K

orea’s four major rivers - the Han, Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan - will flow anew over the next four years, thanks to eco-friendly projects announced by the government late

last year. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially announced on Dec. 27 its plans to transform each of the rivers into a culturally rich area that will help boost regional economies as well as upgrade their abilities to prevent natural disasters such as floods and droughts. Some specific plans of the four-river refurbishment project include constructing bicycle paths, promoting tourism packages, renovating river banks and reservoirs, and building dams. The ministry expects the 14 trillion won ($10 billion) project to enhance the quality of river water, rehaFebruary 2009 korea 23

Culture

bilitate the environment, bring economic development and boost regional tourism. A pleasant new environment along riversides will create more leisure and cultural activities and attract more tourists. “Along with the river projects, we plan to create an environmentally friendly tourist infrastructure, including sections where visitors can view nature and cycle along bicycle paths,” said Culture Minister Yu In-chon, last year. The ministry is promulgating a policy slogan, “Korea: Full of life through culture.” The four-river project is one measure to bring to vigorous life culture and history, and forms part of the ministry’s “Green Culture Renaissance.” The government plans to publish traditional maps, re-discover cultural and historical resources and cooperate with universities to hold lectures on local environments and cultures. There are currently some 351 cultural assets along the four riversides, according to the Culture Ministry; the project will leverage these. By doing so, the government hopes to create jobs for those living in rural areas. In total, the project will create at least 18,000 jobs related to culture, sports and tourism. The government aims to maximize the project’s effects by linking it with regional festivals and such nationallevel projects as the 2011 World Athletics Championship in Daegu and the city renovation in Naju, Jeolla Province. Since the plans will be implemented

24 korea February 2009

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Top: Artists impression of Daehangno’s new dedicated musical theatre. Below: The new Woori Financial Art Hall.

Before and After #2 - The Yeongsan River as it is (left) and an artist’s impression of how it will look.

nationwide, the Culture Ministry promises balanced development. The four-river project will take place in seven regions through which the four rivers pass: Chungju (Han River); Daegu, Busan and Andong (Nakdong River); Yeongi (Geum River); and Naju and Hampyeong (Yeongsan River). In scenic Andong, the government is investing 38.6 billion won to redevelop regions along the Nakdong. The project includes constructing new walkways and bicycle trails along the banks. In Naju, some 36.4 billion won is being spent towards strengthening rainwater reservoirs to prevent floods, along with additional initiatives to protect the nearby ecosystem. The redevelopment project for the remaining five regions will start soon, including building the Yangpyeong Sonagi Town on the Han River, the Daecheong Lake Resort on the Geum River, a historical heritage complex beside the Yeongsan River and a cultural bikeway next to the Nakdong River. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the four-river redevelopment projects were held near the Nakdong in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, and Naju, South Jeolla Province, late last year. Speaking at the groundbreaking, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said that the development plan is necessary to overcome the current economic slowdown and to initiate an era of green growth.

Musicals Get New Homes in 2009

ooking back at last year’s Korean musical scene, early indications are disappointing. Since 2001, the industry has grown about 20 percent every year, but while detailed figures have yet to appear for ‘08, many experts believe the Korean musical sector either shrank or struggled to maintain the same level of productions as the previous year, at best. A number of foreign hit musicals failed to lure audiences, and while so-called “movicals,” or musicals based on film scripts, succeeded in drumming up some interest, they couldn’t offset losses. Good news, though, may be ahead. Korea’s musicals look set to benefit from major changes in infrastructure this year, as a series of exclusive theaters are set to open, adding to existing venues such as Charlotte Theater and Chungmu Art Hall. An exclusive theater for musicals will open in Daehangno, or ‘University Street’ in northeastern Seoul. This setting seems like a sound choice as Daehangno’s entertainment quarter has long been a favored destination for play-goers. The four-story building will consist of three auditoriums of different sizes: a 950-seat grand theater; a 480-seat theater; and a 280-seat theater. Slated to open in November, the new venue marks the advent of multiplexes for musicals, which have a positive precedent. The emergence of multiplexes, or multiplescreen cinemas in Korea about a decade ago reshaped the movie industry. The first show to open in the new Daehangno theater will be “High School Musical,” based on

the Emmy Award-winning Disney musical film, that has gained tremendous popularity in the United States since the release of its first installment in 2006. Thanks to its explosive American success, it has been staged outside the United States in Britain, Spain and Japan. Often described by critics as reminiscent of “Grease” or “Romeo & Juliet,” the feel-good hit tells the story of high school juniors plotting to win parts in their school musical. Another exclusive theater for musicals will be built in COEX Mall, the giant underground shopping mall in southern Seoul. Dubbed COEX Artium, the 800seat theater will open in May. This venue’s biggest strength is COEX’s high-volume foot traffic. On average, about 140,000 people pass through daily; on the weekends, some 250,000 visit. Its proximity to transport links notably Samseong Station (Line 2) - is another merit. PMC, the production company that staged “Nanta,” the hit non-verbal drumming performance, will operate the theater. It plans to introduce the musical “Brothers Were Brave” from May to July, the art circus “Rain” in July, “March of Youth” between August and October, and “Legally Blonde” in November. Yet another theater set to open this year is Woori Financial Art Hall. For the construction of the hall, the Weightlifting Gymnasium in Seoul’s Olympic Park will be transformed into a 1,260seat auditorium. With an orchestra pit, the hall will be suitable for multiple performing arts purposes. The makeover will be completed in February and after a two-month trial run, the hall will officially open in May. February 2009 korea 25

Culture

Provided by the organizer

T

Triumph in Trieste It was sung in Korean, but that didn’t stop Seoul Metropolitan’s ‘La Traviata’ from winning a rave reception in Verdi’s home theater.

26 korea February 2009

Seoul Metropolitan Opera performed “La Traviata” at the Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi in Triste, Italy in December to strong reviews.

he reviews, it seems, lived up to the hype: At the performance of “La Traviata” in Trieste, there were 10 curtain calls plus a five-minute standing ovation. The performers, however, were not Italian. In fact, they did not even sing in Italian. “We were about to leave, thinking that the round of applause would die down soon, but the theater manager came running to us and asked us to make another appearance,” said Park Se-won, director of Seoul Metropolitan Opera. The Seoul Metropolitan performed Verdi’s “La Traviata” at the Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi, the opera house in Trieste, Italy, that is named after the famed composer, on Dec 19 and 20. The opera was just as the troupe had performed it at the Seoul Arts Center in April, marking the first time that an all-Korean version of the opera - with Korean performers, directors and stage setting - had toured overseas. The show sold out both nights. It was only the second time a show has been fully booked at the 1300-seat opera house in 2008, after a youth opera program organized and presented by the opera house that summer. “Some Korean residents in Italy who came to buy tickets on the day of the performance had to return home because it was sold out,” Park said. “I think the fact that an Asian troupe was presenting its own version of a major Italian opera in Italy got people talking.” What is the secret behind the unexpected success? Of late, directors have transported the opera, which was written in the mid-19th century, into a 21st-century setting, switching the nobility and their retainers into pop and sports stars, for instance. The Seoul Metropolitan’s version, however, paid full homage to tradition: Park’s stage setting, music and costumes all scream classical Verdi. Giorgio Zanfagnin, director at the Italian opera theater, said the troupe’s classical interpretation plus the performers’ bel canto-style singing led to the explosive reception. “Opera singers in jeans riding motorcycles aren’t new anymore,” added Jeong Jun-ho, a music columnist. “The timing is perfect for the Seoul Met’s classical interpretations to shine in Europe.” The Seoul Metropolitan has been presenting Verdi’s works since 2007, while seeking audience feedback by distributing surveys after every performance to find out what patrons really want from opera today. “We will continue to research and reflect the voices of the audiences at home and abroad, and we hope to export more of our pieces abroad,” a spokesman for the opera company said. February 2009 korea 27

Korean Literature second series

Yi Mun-yol: Storyteller, Thinker, Heretic

Yi Mun-yol is Korea’s most famed living novelist. He has not achieved his reputation by dealing with easy issues.

28 korea February 2009

“Our Twisted Hero,” Lee re-imagines the reality of social injustice using elements of fable and allegory, tracing the ways in which people are shaped and governed by the dominant ideology. In another category of works, represented by “A Portrait of Youthful Days” and “You Will Never Return to Your Homeland,” Lee focuses on the internal or psychological landscape of characters who must cope with existential angst, loss of identity and collapse of community in post-war Korean society. Utilizing autobiographical materials, these works embrace ideological contemplation as well as romantic visions of childhood and youth. Yi Mun-yol has been honored with numerous literary prizes including the 1982 Dongin Literarary Prize, the 1983 Korean Literature Award, the 1984 Central Literature Award Grand Prize and the1999 Hoam Arts Prize.

Major works “Son of Man” (Saram-ui adeul, 1979); “Winter That Year” (Geuhae gyeoul, 1980); “Hail to the Emperor” (Hwangjereul wihayeo, 1982); “Geumsijo” (Geumsijo, 1983); “The Age of Heroes” (Yeongung sidae, 1984); “Our Twisted Hero” (Urideurui ilgeureojin yeongung, 1986), “Poet” (Si-in, 1991); “The Night Before, Or the Last Night of This Era” (Jeonya hogeun sidaeui majimak bam, 1998); “Change “ (Byeongyeong, 1999). Source: Korea Literature Translation Institute

February 2009 korea 29

[JoongAng Ilbo]

A

storyteller of exceptional wit and range, Yi Mun-yol is South Korea’s best-known living novelist. Born in Seoul in 1948, Yi grew up in Yeongyang, North Gyeongsang Province, where the family was forced to settle after his father defected to North Korea. Entering Seoul National University as a Korean Literature student, Lee joined a private college literary association where he began to nurture the dream of becoming a writer. He published his first novella, “Saehagok,” in 1979. From 1994 to 1997, Lee taught Korean Language and Literature at Sejong University; since 1999, he has served as the head of Buak Literary Center. Yi is, first and foremost, a consummate storyteller of tremendous talent and intellectual depth who can both entertain and enlighten his readers. In works such as “Hail to the Emperor,” “Until We Become Happy,” and

Korean Literature second series

Our Twisted Hero

This brilliantly conceived novel allegorizes the development and eventual downfall of an authoritarian state. The novel has particular resonance in the context of political turbulence throughout modern Korean history. Han Byeong-tae is a tenyear old boy whose family moves to the countryside following his father’s demotion. Entering a local elementary school, he quickly realizes that his class is in fact “ruled” by a bully named Eom Seok-dae who wields more power than

the weak-willed and indifferent teacher. The boys in the class take turns doing Han’s homework; they willingly give up their lunch money and help him to cheat on his exams. Although Han makes an attempt to defy the systematic corruption instituted by Eom, he soon realizes his own limits. Constantly harassed and ostracized by his classmates, Han finally gives up and joins Eom’s followers. Eom’s dictatorship is challenged by a new teacher who not only takes sincere interest

The Poet Based on the life of the legendary Korean poet Kim Pyong-yon, this novel charts the development of his artistic sensibility, the transformation of his desire for status and the will to acquire power in a society that has forced upon him the burden of his grandfather’s guilt. Yi traces the course of his hero’s destiny, filled with pain and marked by numerous deviations, from early childhood, through the various stages of his poetic career, until he finally walks out into the night leaving his son gazing after him. For most of his adult life, the poet’s head is covered with a sakkat: A large conical wicker hat that in earlier times Koreans wore to protect themselves from the sun and rain, but was also worn in mourning. It is that hat which gains him his nickname: Kim Sakkat. For him, the hat is more than a sign of mourning; it is a symbol of a self-imposed withdrawal from the light of the sun, a recognition that through no particular fault of his own he must forever bear the burden of an inherited guilt, an original sin. The life portrayed in this novel is not that of a mere fictitious character. The poet, Kim Pyong-yon, was born in Seoul in 1807; his family belonged to one of the most powerful branches of the Kim clan, the Kims of Changdong. Yet he lived as an outcast on the margins of society. When he died in 1863, he left behind a host of poems and legends that were for a long time transmitted orally. He was long remembered with affection as “the poet” even by people who knew no poems except his. 30 korea February 2009

in his students but also shows little tolerance for Eom’s bullying. Assisted by Han, the new teacher puts an end to Eom’s reign. Years later, Han sees Eom in handcuffs being taken away by police. Although he had been the only student who made any attempt to challenge Eom, Han cannot but feel ashamed for the helplessness he felt in the face of authoritarianism. Han’s shame embodies the helplessness and guilt that plagued intellectuals in the 1980’s as they failed to condemn authoritarian rule.

Extract

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erhaps we ought to begin this investigation into the deviations of his life by evoking the problem of memory. In his later years, summing up the whole course of his existence in a long lyric, he wrote the following lines: As my hair grew longer, my fortunes travelled a rough road: The family line in ruins, the blue sea a mulberry grove. Later readers have not usually considered those lines to be the transposition into poetry of any actual experience. At most they have assumed that they were inspired by some childhood event he learned about in his adult years, a pseudo-memory as it were, an analogy fabricated to harmonize with the presumed course of his life’s history. Such theories may satisfy those who prefer an entertaining folk-tale to the actual details of a man’s life. For them, it is unthinkable that he might have retained any actual memories of his family or origins before that fateful moment, so often chronicled, when he won first prize in a rural poetry contest

Son of Man This novel was the first work to bring Lee Mun-yeol critical recognition. An investigation into the question of god from an existentialist point of view, the novel won a wide readership among the younger generation. Yi received the 3rd Contemporary Artist Award for this novel which originally appeared as a novella in 1979 and expanded to a full-

at the age of nineteen. That way the legend could be given a dramatic and really effective starting-point. Unfortunately, the realities of life rarely if ever correspond to the demands of such fabulations. Generally received opinion notwithstanding, his memory actually stretched much further back into the past than is normally the case. In particular, even when his life was almost done, at the end when he was weary and alone, he could recall the events of a certain evening late in the year in which he turned four as vividly as if they were just then happening before his eyes: that fateful night when his life was fundamentally transformed, as if the blue sea had indeed suddenly been turned into a mulberry grove. He was only a child, of course, but during the last few days he had become vaguely aware of an extraordinary atmosphere brooding over the house. The servants who had until then filled their house with a constant presence seemed visibly to have diminished in number, while those who remained no longer worked but stood in corners endlessly whispering together. It was only an uncertain memory,

length novel in 1987. Nam, a police detective, is put in charge of a murder case. His investigation reveals that the murdered man, Min Yo-seop, was a seminary student who grew skeptical of the idea of a Christian God. Becoming a heretic, Min denounces Jesus Christ as a “false son of man,” and instead creates a new God, the “true son of man” resembling Nietzsche’s antiChrist. When he tries to return

but it seemed that sometimes words like “rebellion” and “his Lordship” could be heard emerging from the whispers. Among those days’ strange memories was one of his father, who normally remained in his quarters, lying down more often than sitting up, busily going about on visits solemnly dressed in formal attire. That day too his father listened to a message that a steward, rushing in from somewhere, had whispered, and then gone out without bothering to adjust his dress, walking with quick steps down the already darkening street. More than anything else, the sight of his father’s retreating figure made the atmosphere he sensed about the house seem darker and heavier, as if there was about to be a shattering explosion. That was why, although night had fallen, he did not go across to the room he shared with his elder brother in the outer quarters, but lingered on in the women’s rooms. No supper was brought in, but he stayed there beside his mother who was shivering slightly as she hugged and rocked his tiny newborn brother. He might have been rather more sensitive than other children but still he was only four.

to Christianity, he is murdered by Jo Dong-pal, his fanatic follower. Min’s dilemma, which is the central focus of the novel, is the conflict between heaven and earth, or between the eternal afterlife attained through morality and the life freed from moral restrictions and dictated by human wisdom. Through his spiritual suffering and intellectual inquiry, the novel provides a unique insight into the nature of salvation and human existence.

Inevitably, as the evening wore on, despite the ominous trembling he could feel through the hem of his mother’s skirts that he was grasping, he began to doze. It was almost as if he had invited sleep to come in an attempt to escape from the suffocating stillness that reigned in the house and the incomprehensible suspense, but that must have been an idea he introduced when he was older. His father returned just as he was about to give up the fight against sleep and stretch out with his head pillowed on his mother’s knees. A wave of cold air from outside clinging to his robes came billowing round the room, as his father addressed him curtly: “Go over to your room now, Pyoung-yon.” Translated by Chong-wha Chung and Brother Anthony of Taizé “The Poet” in foreign languages -Chinese: 诗人 (2005, 人民文学出版社) -Dutch: De dichter (1996, Meulenhoff) -English: The Poet (1986, Harvill Press) -French: Le poète (1996, Actes Sud) -Italian: Il poeta (1992, Giunti) -Spanish: El poeta (2000, Ediciones B) -Swedish: Poeten (2005, Tranan)

February 2009 korea 31

[JoongAng Ilbo]

[YONHAP]

Korea through the Lens

February’s Flavor — Farmers busy drying meju, or lumps of fermented beancurd, in the winter sun. Fermented and matured in a room built of yellow earth, meju is a basic ingredient of bean paste (doenjang), soy sauce (gangjang) and red pepper paste (gochujang) - the key flavours of Korean cuisine. Farmers sell the meju in February to customers who have pre-ordered. (Above)

Click Korea

This One’s for Grandpa — Staff in traditional attire demonstrate ancestral food offerings during a Lunar New Year ritual on Jan. 12 at the Namsan Hanok Village in Seoul. (Right)

[NEWSIS]

Ondol for Lions — Lions warm themselves on outdoor floor heaters similar in concept to Korea’s traditional ondol heated floors - at the Seoul Grand Park Zoo. Park officials also set up several floor heaters inside cages, allowing lower-ranked lions to get cosy. (Right)

Provided by the Seoul Grand Park

Ear Guard — Amid sub-zero temperatures, honor guards in traditional Korean costumes cover their ears with their hands in the middle of a performance rehearsal at the training ground of the Defense Ministry in Yongsan, Seoul. (Right, above)

Korea through the Lens

[YONHAP]

Flying Koreans — A South Korean martial art squad gives a taekwondo demonstration in front of India’s historic “Gateway of India” monument in Mumbai Jan. 6. Members of the “K-Tigers,” a South Korean taekwondo performance team, held the demonstration to promote the martial art in India.

No Business Like Snow Business — Culture Minister Yu In-chon, in red goggles, talks with officials of the International Ski Federation on Jan. 17 on a ski slope at Hyundai Sungwoo Resort in Gangwon Province, where the 2009 Snowboard World Championships were held from Jan. 14-24.

[JoongAng Ilbo]

[YONHAP]

[REUTERS]

Feathered Friends — Diplomats from African countries are introduced to birds from the continent at the opening of an exhibition hall for African animals on Jan. 7 in Everland, Gyeonggi Province. From left: Hoida Bashir, the wife of the Sudanese ambassador to Seoul; Ahmed Bourzaim, Moroccan ambassador to Seoul; Mohamed Abbas, Sudanese ambassador to Seoul; Helen R. M. Kagwanja, a management officer at the Kenyan Embassy; and Kouassi Amena Caterine, a secretary at the Cote d’Ivoire Embassy.

From Latvia with Love — Ivars Godmanis, the prime minister of Latvia, center, tours the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, central Seoul, on Jan. 18. Godmanis made a four-day visit to expand economic ties with South Korea.

Korea through the Lens

[JoongAng Ilbo]

[JoongAng Ilbo]

Frozen Fish — More than 130,000 tourists thronged to the 7th Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival held in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province. On Jan. 11, when the temperature marked minus 6.3 degrees Celsius (20.6 Fahrenheit), visitors drilled holes in a frozen stream to fish for mountain trout. Some brave souls even jumped into the icy flow to catch the fish bare-handed.

A Break from the Mundane — In early January, some 60 student monks - taking one bow after every three steps - proceed up the trail through a fir tree forest that leads from the front gate of Woljeong Temple to its main compound. They are all students in a class for short-term monks run by Woljeong Temple in Mount Odae, Gangwon Province. All had decided to begin the New Year by cultivating their minds at a Buddhist temple far removed from urban life. This year saw many more applicants for the class. The Venerable Dongan, in charge of the teachings, said, “Due to economic hardships, many people seem to need comfort.”

Business & Technology

Incheon’s Bridge to Tomorrow

T

he ongoing global economic slowdown is torturing the construction sector in Korea, with many companies in the growthgeared industry being examined as restructuring targets. However, there is one location that is immunizing local building contractors against such distress. In Incheon, the port city on the Yellow Sea that is also home to one of the world’s largest international airports, the cacophony of construction constantly reverberates. The city is transforming itself into an Asian hub with major infrastructure and other construction projects well underway. Chief among them is the Incheon Bridge. This project holds the potential to give this western coastal city - and eventually the entire Yellow Sea coast - a major boost. At 21.3 kilometers, it will be the world’s sixth-longest bridge, and the fifth-longest cable-stayed bridge. Having started construction in 2005, the bridge is already 88 percent complete, according to the consortium of seven local builders formed for this project, led by Samsung Engineering and Construction. The bridge is scheduled to open for use in October, or maybe earlier, if the current construction pace is main-

38 korea February 2009

tained, the Samsung joint venture said. Last December, the 800-meter (0.5-mile) segment between the bridge’s two main towers was craned into place, completing a 12.3 kilometer maritime section. The bridge, including the on-land sections, is aimed at improving the logistics of the nation by shortening the transportation distance between the airport, Korea’s main gateway to the world, and local cities. It will link Incheon International Airport on Yeongjong Island and New Songdo City, a looming international business district. The 2nd Gyeongin Expressway and the planned 3rd Gyeongin Expressway as well as the West Coast Expressway will also be connected with the bridge. The bridge is central to the nation’s plan to use the Incheon Free Economic Zone, comprised of the Songdo, Yeongjong and Cheongna districts, as a main pillar of its Northeast Asian logistics hub ambitions. The resources devoted to the bridge are tremendous. The total cost is 2.09 trillion won ($1.53 billion). According to Samsung JV, more than 200,000 people have been mobilized for the project each year since construction began. The number of pieces of heavy machinery used on the site on a daily

basis has reached 100,000, including 27,500 large cranes and 52,000 tugboats. The total length of steel rebar used is 127,000 meters, enough for 7,500 apartment units. Technical breakthroughs and cutting-edge construction techniques are putting the bridge at the center of attention. Each of the two main towers of the bridge is 238.5 meters high - equivelent to the height of the landmark 63-story building in Yeouido, Seoul - and are far higher than any other sea bridges in Korea. The whole bridge is designed to resist natural disasters, including 72-meter-per-second typhoons and earthquakes measuring seven on the Richter scale. Intrigued by the huge project, media, both at home and abroad, have scrambled to cover the bridge. EBS, a state-sponsored education broadcaster, filmed a documentary of the project and aired it on the first day of the New Year. The BBC and National Geographic are among the foreign media who have covered the construction. Koreans hope the project will brighten their future. Whether that hope matches reality will be discovered after the bridge opens in the fall.

[JoongAng Ilbo]

With the world’s sixth-longest bridge soon to open on the Yellow Sea, the nation’s Asian hub ambitions are taking their final shape.

February 2009 korea 39

Business & Technology

Provided by the KT

TV Goes High Tech IPTV is set to change Korea’s viewing habits. Users learn how to order video-on-demand services at KT’s IPTV center in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul.

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emember when the television set was referred to as the “idiot box?” Things are about to change. Television in Korea has come a long way since the launch of black-and-white services in 1956. With IPTV (Internet protocol television) service starting this year, residents will be able to come home any time of day and watch TV shows they missed with just a few clicks on their remote control. Watching television will now be like watching a movie on DVD, in which viewers can fast forward or rewind to whichever part of the show they are watching. These functions are all possible with IPTV’s VOD, or Video-ondemand, service. IPTV is a system in which TV and high-speed Internet services converge via a set-top box. Thus, instead of the contents being delivered through broadcast or cable, the viewer receives programs through a broadband connection. In short, IPTV functions both as TV and Internet. The first company to offer full IPTV services (including VOD) was KT, the biggest landline operator in Korea, in November last year. KT was the first to strike deals with the country’s three major broadcasting stations - KBS, MBC and SBS - granting the company permission to retransmit TV programs 40 korea February 2009

through IPTV operators. Starting from this month however, SK Broadband and LG Dacom joined KT in providing full IPTV services. Last December, the two also finalized deals with the three networks to retransmit their programs. Broadcasters had originally refused to provide contents to IPTV providers as they see IPTV as a threat to advertising revenues: With the new system, viewers can skip ads. However, the government, one of the biggest supporters of IPTV, prodded the networks to share their content with the operators. To further develop IPTV in Korea, the government has announced that it plans to invest 12.2 billion won ($8.8 million) over the next three years. Seoul estimates this new business will create 36,000 jobs as well as profits of up to 8.9 trillion won by the end of 2013. The key advantage of IPTV is its interactivity. Besides being able to watch TV programs they’ve missed through VOD services, subscribers can shop on home shopping channels by clicking their remotes instead of calling. And shopping doesn’t stop on home shopping channels. If a viewer sees certain items worn by actors and actresses in TV dramas or shows, they can - on select channels - purchase the items or see information about the products, including price and size. Also for some

channels and programs, the viewer can buy the background music of certain shows. One sector that government and IPTV providers expect will make huge strides through the new system is education. All three IPTV operators provide a variety of educational content, including live, interactive lectures from instructors. This means that, for example, a teenager who wants to listen to a lecture by a popular English lecturer in Seoul’s Gangnam district can do so just by turning on the TV. Interactive features, such as microphones through which students can pose questions to lecturers, are also enabled. The service is expected to be especially beneficial for children who reside in remote regions, and so don’t have easy access to high-quality private education. The Korea Communications Commission reported to the central government that it plans to spend 15 billion won this year to upgrade high-speed Internet infrastructures at around 3,000 schools nationwide in order for the schools to be able to access educational content through IPTV. It also said that an additional 4 billion won will be invested to develop further educational content with highquality instructors.

Samsung’s LED TV: slimmer than a cellphone.

[JoongAng Ilbo]

.

TV Goes on Diet

W

hen the world’s thinnest LED television was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), North America’s largest technology tradeshow, held last month in Las Vegas, it proved that Korean companies have moved ahead of the competition in the sector: The 6.5 millimeter thin screen was developed by Samsung Electronics. Samsung’s latest triumph overturns the Korean tech company’s previous record of an 8.9 millimeter thin set, showcased at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), one of the world’s oldest consumer electronics tradeshows, in Berlin last August. In less than six months, Samsung Electronics managed to shave more than 2 millimeters off its LED television. The result? A Samsung TV is slimmer than the average mobile phone, which is around 10 millimeters thick. The breakthrough has not only increased the level of tech-

nology and the joy of entertainment, but also makes for better decor than previous bulky apparatuses. Noh Seung-man, with Samsung Electronics’ public relations team, said that with the development of the ultra-thin LED television, Korea now has the advantage over Japanese electronics manufacturer Sony, whose LED televisions are 9.9 millimeters thick. Samsung’s new LED television adopts the Auto Motion Plus 240Hz technology that delivers smoother images. Wide Color ControlPro, provides diverse and rich colors, while intelligent power-saving devices reduce energy spending. In addition to the Plasma Display Panel (PDP) and the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) markets, fierce competition among global manufacturers of LED television sets is now expected to increase in intensity. Samsung now plans to increase the range of ultra slim LED television models its offers. February 2009 korea 41

Business & Technology

Hidden Champions

Suntech: Clear View Behind

[YONHAP]

A Inside the new National Digital Library

K

In May, Korea’s new National Digital Library opens.

42 korea February 2009

Side Mirror Heater 60 percent of new cars worldwide carry a pair.

[JoongAng Daily]

World Content Comes Online

orea’s National Digital Library, which was completed in late December, will open to the public in May. The 38,014 square-meter building, with three stories above ground and five below, is located in the complex of the National Library of Korea in Seochodong, southern Seoul. It started test services in January. The National Digital Library goes beyond existing electronic libraries, which provide certain documents and data online. The new library aims to be a kind of “digital hub,” which searches and links all documents and data on the World Wide Web and enables library users to access them. Its portal (address: www.dibrary.net) will be connected with the world’s major libraries, such as the Library of Congress in the United States, and major Web databases for arts, science and business to provide 100 million contents. The digital library also aims to collect 2.7 million additional documents per year. The documents and data will include government policy documents and statistics scattered in various Web sites, so that those who are interested in such information can access the data in one place - the National Digital Library’s portal - instead of searching throughout cyberspace. Moreover, the National Digital Library will provide a User-Generated Content Studio, where people can shoot and edit digital movies, a Digital Meeting Room with a high-tech conference system, and a showroom of threedimensional electronic books and others.

midsize enterprise like Suntech may not be a front-ofmind brand, but the Korean firm is the world’s leading manufacturer of side mirror electronic heaters. In December, the largely unknown company won an export award given by the Korea International Trade Association. Six out of ten new cars in the world are equipped with Suntech’s side mirror electronic heaters, which get rid of winter frost and dew on the mirror surface. Some of the world’s leading car brands, including Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Fiat, Porsche, GM and Toyota mount the company’s mirror heaters on their vehicles, according to Suntech. Suntech, founded in 1993, was the first Korean firm to develop side mirror heaters and to compete with foreign manufacturers. In 1998, Suntech started aiming overseas and gradually increased its global market share with its price competitive products. Suntech’s competitors in Britain and the United States could not compete and closed their side mirror heater businesses. Suntech’s domestic market share is 80 percent while its global market share is 60 percent as of 2008, the company said. It exported $37.1 million worth of products between July 2007 and June 2008, which is a 28 percent rise from a year earlier. The company also developed hydrophilic side mirrors, which are designed to prevent water drops from being formed on the mirror surface.

It uses “nano-coating technology” for the mirror so that water drops spread thinly instead of lumping together. Sales Manager Kang Hong-shik said Suntech is the third company in the world, behind firms in Japan and Germany, to develop hydrophilic side mirrors. Local automakers had been using imported hydrophilic side mirrors until two years ago, but now Suntech holds 100 percent of the Korean hydrophilic side mirror market. “We are about to sign export contracts with foreign auto manufacturers and may start exporting hydrophilic side mirrors this year,” Kang said. The company aims to expand its market in an effort to overcome the current economic downturn. The fact that existing markets in developed nations are shrinking was also factored into Suntech’s decision to make inroads into new markets. “We will start exporting to India, Russia and Thailand this year, where markets have been growing rapidly,” said Kang. The company is close to signing a contract with Indian customers, he added. Suntech has been gradually expanding its overseas presence. It opened a factory on the outskirts of Shanghai in 2002 and established another Chinese factory in Jiangin City in southwest China in 2004. It has an overseas subsidiary in the United States. “We had to deal with the specific needs of U.S. customers in a timely manner,” Kang said. “So we decided to establish a U.S. subsidiary because of the time difference between Korea and the United States.”

February 2009 korea 43

Limitless Power: The Sun is the Source

New Growth Engine Industries

03

44 korea February 2009

work Convention on Climate Change was established in 1992, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and the 2007 Bali Road Map and other international measures have been introduced to control greenhouse gas emissions. Moves are being made to make it compulsory for both developed and developing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2013. Using 225 million tons of oil equivalent per year, Korea’s energy consumption is about the 10th largest in the world, and in 2007 the value of the country’s energy imports came in at $94.5 billion, equivalent to 10 percent of its GDP. The country is dependent on imported sources for 97 percent of its energy requirements, and petroleum accounts for 45 percent of the country’s primary energy source. Early Stages By contrast, the measures aimed at solving the energy problem, such as developing overseas resources, improving energy efficiency and developing alternative energy sources remain in their early stages. As of 2007, self-developed energy sources only accounted for 4.2 percent of the total, while energy produced from renewable sources accounted for a mere 2.3 percent of the total in 2006. As such, Korea has a high consumption energy structure dependent on imported fossil fuels. This makes it difficult for the country to react to changes in the energy market, and leaves it vulnerable to the social and industrial impact of changes in inter-

national oil prices. Korea emits 590 million tons of greenhouse gases, equivalent to 3.3 percent of the amount produced by the 38 nations with obligations to reduce emissions. The country’s greenhouse gas emissions are growing at the world’s fastest rate and its amount produced is the 10th largest in the world. Under such circumstances, depletion of energy resources and climate changes are becoming problems that need addressing and important factors that will decide the future of the nation’s economy. Also, as the world’s energy- and environment-related markets rapidly grow, it is time for the country to develop new engines for economic growth. Renewable energy sources are at the center of such trends, with particular attention being directed towards solar power as a core technology. The sun is a limitless and clean source of power. The energy the earth’s surface receives from the sun in one hour is equivalent to the world’s annual energy consumption and almost none of the greenhouse gas associated with fossil fuels is produced from solar power. Solar power generation is the technique of obtaining electricity directly from sunlight, at the core of which lie solar cells, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Early solar cells were used to generate power on spacecraft and their application to regular power generation began to receive attention after the oil shocks of the 1970s.

[YONHAP]

Special Series

Energy and the environment are important not only to us in the 21st century but also to future generations. The current energy problem arose following the emergence of fast-developing nations, such as the BRICs after 2002, coinciding with the surge in the world’s demand for natural resources and energy, resulting in soaring prices for materials and energy resources. At current rates, the world’s energy consumption is projected to increase by more than 60 percent by 2030. The world’s economic growth in the past century was fueled by cheap energy sources such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. However, these resources are running out. Petroleum is estimated to run out in 46 years, while the time until depletion of coal and natural gas is estimated at 174 years and 54 years, respectively. Even if newly discovered reserves are taken into account, such fuels cannot meet demand, and sustainable economic growth based on fossil fuels is considered unlikely. Furthermore, the increase in fossil fuel consumption brought on by economic growth has caused global warming, climate change and other environmental problems that have deteriorated to such levels as to have a direct impact on our everyday lives. In order to address such problems, enforcing limits on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions is becoming mandatory around the world. After the United Nations Frame-

Clean energy is no longer a dream - it is a necessity. Today, nations including Korea are seeking to harness the power of the sun.

February 2009 korea 45

Pros and cons of various solar cells Solar cell type

Special Series

New Growth Engine Industries

03

Conversion efficiency at present (%)

Production cost ($/W) (2007)

Production cost Advantages Disadvantages ($/W) (2010)

Silicon wafer Module: 15-20 2.77 1.60

Technology well mass producible, Stable material

Silicon thin film Module: 6-10 2.34 1.00

Active research into Low efficiency compared commercialization, to crystalline silicon, Relatively cheap, flexible and light

CIGS Thin film Module: 11 1.00 (Cell: 19.5)

High efficiency, stable material, light and flexible

Materials are scarce and relatively little experience in the field compared to a-Si

Dye-sensitized Module: 7 0.60 Low cost, and (Cell: 11) *(2015) flexibility allows large range of uses

Materials are unstable, commercialization technology is underdeveloped

As energy and environmental issues become global problems, solar cells have come to be considered as one of the most viable renewable energy technologies and countries including Germany, Japan and the United States have been at the fore of solar power R&D and commercialization efforts. On Sept. 22, the new administration published the plans to develop new growth industries that will power the country’s economy in five to 10 years in the future. The plans include the visions and strategies for 22 industries in six areas, including energy and environment, convergent industries and knowledgebased services. Solar cells are included in the energy and environment category. Solar cell production has increased by more than 40 percent each year for the past five years and in 2007 more than 4 gigawatts worth were produced and production is projected to reach 20 gigawatts worth in 2010. In terms of value, solar cell modules worth $15 billion were produced in 2007 which is expected to rise to $50 billion in 2010. If the current growth rate is maintained, the scale of the solar cell market is projected to overtake that of memory chips by 2015. According to the

46 korea February 2009

report “Solar Generation IV-2007” published by Greenpeace and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, by 2030, electricity from photovoltaics (PV) will be able to supply 10 percent of the world’s total electricity needs. The report says the total power of installed photovoltaic power systems will have risen to 1,272 gigawatts and the global market will have grown to $300 billion. Growing Competition Therefore, solar cells and PV power generation not only represent the means to secure a renewable source of energy and respond to climatic changes, but also new industries that fit into the government’s green growth strategies. As more people realize the importance of the markets for solar cells and PV power, the competition between countries and corporations is intensifying. China, Taiwan and other nations that did not have strong backgrounds in the area, as Germany and Japan did, have made intensive investments and achieved significant growth. At present, first generation solar cells - those made from crystalline silicon - account for about 90 percent of the market. However, prob-

Heavy, high production developed, cost: high, Inflexible, material shortage

lems with silicon supplies and conversion efficiency and the high production cost have prevented solar cells from being economically competitive and hampered the growth of the solar power industry. With the current technology, PV power generation is between three to 10 times more expensive than conventional power generation using fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. So, in order to overcome the limitations of the first generation solar cells and produce them more cheaply, research organizations and companies all over the world are trying to develop next-generation solar cells through technologies like thin film, dye-sensitization, quantum dots and nanotechnology. Thin film solar cells are produced from silicon or compound semiconductors. Since they are much thinner than crystalline silicon wafers - thin films are between 2 and 3 micrometers, compared to crystalline silicon wafers’ 250 to 300 micrometers they can be produced using only about 1 percent of the materials required for crystalline silicon wafer production. The production process is also more advantageous for mass production as the process allows large area solar cell modules to be

‘Solar cells not only represent the means to secure a renewable source of energy ... but also new industries that fit green growth.’

produced. As such, the production cost is expected to be dramatically lower with thin film solar cells. At present, the production cost of crystalline silicon solar cells is about $3.50 to $4 per watt but that of thin film solar cells is expected to drop as low as $0.75 per watt. In addition, because thin film solar cell production is very similar to that of semiconductors and displays, thin film solar cell production is well-suited to Korea, which has very strong capabilities in those areas. In 2007, 400 megawatts of thin film solar cells were produced, more than double the 181 megawatts produced in 2006, and accounted for 12 percent of the market; the market share in 2006 was 7 percent. Once the problem of being less efficient than crystalline silicon solar cells is solved, the market share is expected to rise further, topping 20 percent in 2012. At present, thin film solar cells are mainly being developed using silicon and copper indium gallium selenide compounds. Silicon thin film solar cells were first produced in single-layer form using amophorous silicon and mainly developed to power small products like radios, toys and watches instead of large scale power genera-

tion. Lately, however, silicon thin film solar cells produced in multijunction or hybrid forms for increased stability and efficiency have been used in power generation. The CIGS thin film solar cells have also gained attention for their use in space and for power generation, as they are a near match to crystalline silicon solar cells in terms of efficiency, 19.9 percent in conversion efficiency, and display a high resistance to high-energy particles in space. In addition to developing thin film solar cells to overcome the price problem of crystalline silicon solar cells, R&D activities for third-generation solar cells that can further reduce production costs and dramatically increase the conversion efficiency are also underway. Since the early 1990s, dye-sensitized solar cells produced from organic materials using the principles of photosynthesis have been developed. Since then research aimed at commercializing the technology and improving their conversion efficiency have been under way. Because dye-sensitized solar cells can be made transparent, it is expected that they can be used to produce windows that double as power gen-

erating mechanisms. Research institutions have been leading studies into producing solar cells with dramatically improved conversion efficiency using quantum dots and nanotechnology. National Projects In Japan, Europe, and the United States, research to replace crystalline silicon and develop solar cells that are competitive with power generation through fossil fuels is underway as a national project, and long-term national R&D plans ending in 2030 have been set out. The United States aims to reduce the cost of PV power generation to match that of conventional methods by 2015 through the Solar America Initiative program. To this end, the United States has been making extensive investments to develop low cost, high efficiency solar cells. Europe and Japan are carrying out research to achieve predetermined target efficiencies for different solar cell materials. Europe and Japan’s research efforts are also focused on reducing the production cost and improving the efficiency of solar cells. Reducing costs by scaling up the production facilities is also a key element in the research. In Korea, thin film solar cell

February 2009 korea 47

Changes in solar cell module production (Unit: megawatts) 5,000

Projections for crystalline silicon solar cell and thin film solar cell production (Unit: gigawatt) 3.4

40

4,279

35

2.6

4,000 30

2,536 1,815

2,000

1,256 1,000

401 202 287 0

Special Series

560

20

1.5

15 10

1.1

750 5

‘99 ‘00 ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07

0

0.2 2.4 ‘06

0.5 3.8 ‘07

6.3 ‘08

Source: Ministry of Knowledge Economy

03 New Growth Engine Industries

2.0

25

3,000

research has mainly been led by academia and research institutes, and commercialization of this technology is being carried out or considered by some private companies. However, Korea’s capabilities in the core areas of technology are only at 70 percent to 80 percent of those of other advanced countries. In particular, the country is far behind developed countries in terms of equipment and manufacturing processes. However, as those countries also need to carry out much further research, and Korea has strong capabilities in the semiconductor and display businesses, it is possible for the country to quickly catch up with them if efficient use of its human, technological and industrial resources can be coupled with focused investment. As the thin film solar cell market is growing and the technological barrier is very high, thin film solar cells could develop into an industry that matches the semiconductor and display industries, provided that Korea can use its technological capabilities to secure an advantageous market position quickly. With the exception of dye-sensitized solar cells, almost no research into third generation solar cells is being carried out in Korea.

48 korea February 2009

‘With solar cell R&D expected to pick up in the future ... steady investment to secure core technologies should be made.’

With solar cell R&D expected to pick up momentum in the future, and research into solar cells with ultra-high conversion efficiency produced with quantum dots or nanotechnology remaining in its early stages even overseas, steady investment in the area to secure core technologies should be made. Making it Possible Once thin film solar cells and third-generation solar cells make it possible to increase conversion efficiency and lower costs, solar power generation will become possible, which in turn will make it possible to dramatically lower the cost of generating electricity. In recent times, large scale solar power plants have been constructed around the world and PV power plants with larger than 10 megawatt capacities are also being installed in Korea. For solar power generation to really take off, PV plants’ capacities need to go beyond megawatts into the gigawatt range. However, for countries like Korea that are small and receive a relatively low intensity of sunlight, it is difficult to secure sufficient land to build gigawattcapacity PV power plants. For such reasons, feasibility studies for constructing large-scale PV

12.6 ‘09

21.3 ‘10

28.0 ‘11

33.6 ‘12

Source: Photon international

power plants in deserts have been underway for several years. Deserts account for one-third of the earth’s land surface and due to their large area and the high amount of solar radiation they receive, deserts are considered ideal landscapes for solar power plants. According to some reports, covering the Gobi Desert’s 1.3 million square kilometers with a 15 percent conversion rate, solar cell modules will generate 412 X 10 to the power of 18 (412 quintillion) joules of energy on an annual basis, which is equivalent to the energy contained in the primary energy sources supplied to the world in 2002. Constructing large scale PV power plants in deserts will not only produce energy but also help power agriculture in the area to produce food and support efforts to stop the desertification of surrounding areas and the reforestation of the desert itself. Although such a project would require the cooperation of China, Mongolia and other nations, such projects demand sustained attention as a potential consumer of locally produced solar cells and to increase the use of renewable energy sources in Korea. The government has set three tasks in its plans to develop thin film

solar cells and third-generation solar cells into a new economic growth engine. The first is to establish mass production facilities for solar cells; the second task is to develop the fundamental and commercial technologies; and the third task is to develop practical technologies by constructing and operating large scale PV power plants. The task of establishing a massproduction systems for thin film solar cells aims to increase the efficiency of the cells and develop materials, processes and related equipment with local technologies to lower the costs in industry-academia-research collaboration and to support the private sector in establishing mass production systems for thin film solar cells. For third-generation solar cells, state-run research institutions and university research institutions will work together, while research and corporate organizations will collaborate to commercialize the technology and establish cooperative relations with advanced research bodies from overseas. Feasibility studies for large scale solar power plants will be carried out and candidate regions will be selected, with aims to develop facilities and operating technologies suited for Korea.

Also, ways to increase international cooperation with China and Mongolia will be sought. By developing next-generation solar cells that can overcome the price and production cost problems of crystalline silicon solar cells and create a new growth engine industry, it is hoped that $26 billion in exports, $7.4 billion added value and 300,000 new jobs will be created by 2018. In addition, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 14.3 million tons and secure 4.5 million TOE of energy. The PV power business, including solar cells, is a wide ranging sector that spans from materials and modules to system construction. The industry will also have a great effect on energy-industry-environment by reducing imports through the development of materials, modules, equipment and power plant construction, while increasing exports and creating new industries. Therefore, the solar cell industry should be nurtured as the new growth engine that can replace the semiconductor and display industries, as it fits into the government’s vision of green growth that can contribute to achieving the vision of $40,000-GDP per capita.  By Song Jin-soo

Song Jin-soo Korea Institute of Energy Research Song Jin-soo is a principal researcher at the Korea Institute of Energy Research and the president of the Korea Society for New & Renewable Energy. Song received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Korea University and worked at the Argonne National Lab and at the University of Minnesota, United States. He is a member of IEEE, ISES, New York Academy of Sciences, WEC Solar Power Committee, IEA/PVPS Executive Committee, and IEC TC82. E-mail: [email protected]

February 2009 korea 49

Sports

Park Aims at FA Cup

P

[JoongAng Ilbo]

Korea’s latest female golf sensation is taking fame ‘one step at a time.’

L

PGA Tour, beware: Here comes Shin Ji-yai. The 20-year-old Korean phenom will become a fullfledged LPGA Tour member in the 2009 season. But unlike those who must pass through the grueling qualifying tournaments, Shin took a much shorter route: She won LPGA tournaments in 2008 to get her playing card. Last year, Shin became the first non-LPGA member to notch three tour victories in a season. Those three victories came in three different countries, the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom, where she became the youngest-ever champion of the Women’s British Open. Overall, Shin won 11 times worldwide last year, including seven victories on the Korea LPGA Tour. KLPGA players will likely be glad to see Shin plying her trade full-time Stateside, meaning it will be U.S.-based golfers who will have to fend off 50 korea February 2009

the youngster’s challenge. The timing of Shin’s emergence could hardly be better. The LPGA Tour lost a legend in Annika Sorenstam, who retired to start a family and focus on business ventures, but, as The New York Times reported, may be gaining a new star in Shin. While her English is not on the level of her game, Shin hasn’t shied away from giving interviews in English and has proven she can blend in with the crowd. After her Women’s British Open victory, one reporter gushed, “I think you are very charming, and your smile is very beautiful.” Entering her LPGA rookie season, Shin has already set a goal. “I’d like to win the Rookie of the Year honors,” she said. “A lot of people want me to become the best in the world right away but I think it’s still early. I will it take one step at a time.”

ark Ji-sung, the Korean midfielder who plays for reigning British Premier League champions Manchester United, is a goal-oriented athlete. It’s no surprise, then, that his goals for 2009 include, well, scoring more goals. “I’m quite happy with my performance but I need to score more goals,” he told U.K. sports channel Setanta in January. “I haven’t scored enough this season. One goal is not enough. “I can’t get 20, but maybe 10 goals would be good,” Park added. Even so, Park has been a valuable play maker on the pitch and has found himself in United’s regular starting lineup on a consistent basis. Last year, Man U won the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, and most recently, grabbed the FIFA Club World Cup trophy. In early January, Park was recognized for his deeds in 2008. He was named “Asian Player of the Year” at the inaugural Super Awards, presented by Abu Dhabi-based Super Magazine, and sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. “I am honored to win it,” Park said in a video message. “I hope to continue to do my best to help Asian football and footballers to progress.” There is more good news on the horizon for Park. His contract with United runs until June 2010 and the team coach Alex Ferguson recently told BBC that Park “will be offered a contract.” Ferguson also said, “Ji [Ji-sung] has been fantastic for us and is one of our most consistent players.” Park is aiming his boot at one particular goal this year. For all the championships and trophies he’s won with Man U, one thing is missing: The FA Cup, or the Football Association Cup, which is open to hundreds of clubs in England and Wales under the auspices of the sport’s governing body in England. Park has won the equivalent of the FA Cup with teams in Japan and the Netherlands. “We’ve never won the FA Cup since I’ve been here,” Park said. Man U has the won more FA Cups (11) than any other English team, but its last one was in 2004, the year before Park joined the team. “To win one in England, and at Wembley [England’s national football stadium] no less, would really be something” he said.

Man U’s Korean weapon hunts more goals in 2009.

[YONHAP]

Shin Swings into LPGA

February 2009 korea 51

Travel

Provided by Korail

Travel

All Aboard for Luxury: 52 korea February 2009

‘Sun Train’ is Rolled Out February 2009 korea 53

Travel

Travel

Above: A restaurant car inside Haerang Left: En-suite sleeper. Below: A train attendant in the lounge.

[JoongAng Ilbo]

D

Tour Information Haerang offers four package tours. “Haeoreum” is a twoday route which stops at Jikjisa Temple, Gyeongju, and Chuam. “Simile,” also a two-day trip, heads to Mokpo for a ferry ride, stops at Suncheon for sightseeing then proceeds to Namwon, the home of Chunhyang, heroine of a popular folk tale. “Channuri,” a three-day tour, takes in Gwangju, Busan, Gyeongju and Chuam for a sunrise. “Aura,” also a three-day tour, stops at Mokpo, Gyeongju and Chuam. All routes leave and return to Seoul Station. A package deal with a family room, which comes with a bunk bed and a private shower, is 797,000 won ($580) per person. A suite with a sofa and a tea table is 1,160,000 won per person. Free drinks, fruit and light snacks are available in the lounge, and the trip often includes live music performances. Information: Tel: (042) 609-4905; Web: www.korail.com 54 korea February 2009

ONGHAE – Soft music wafts out of a loudspeaker in the corner of my room as the train chugs into Chuam Station. I open the curtain, half awake. It’s a quarter past six, and it’s still dark outside. After a wake up call, our group gathers in the lounge in the center of the train for a quick coffee. We’re heading to see the sunrise, a ritual that many Koreans cherish as a sign of hope. The trip to Chuam is part of a three-day package deal organized by “Haerang,” an upscale sleeper train launched by the Korea Railroad in November. Haerang, meaning “Sun Train,” harks back to the days of the Orient Express, and promises travellers “a rail cruise.” The idea of the trip works exactly like a sea cruise. The train stops at major stations across the country. You tour the stop during the day, hop back aboard the train and move on to the next destination. The family room where I am staying is furnished with a bunk bed next to a private shower

(with luxurious amenities and a blow dryer), TV and a humidifier. The berths get plusher as you move further toward the back of the train. A suite comes complete with a sofa and a tea table facing the window, next to a king-sized bed. In a lounge next to the corridor of a sleeper section, guests munch on complimentary biscuits and fruits from the counter as they play with laptops, watch TV or enjoy the scenery blur by. At night, restaurants serve complimentary drinks and snacks, and live bands are invited on board to sing along with the guests. Haerang offers four package tours. “Aura,” the route I joined, leaves Seoul, stops at Mokpo for a ferry ride, heads to Gyeongju for a night tour, on to Chuam and then back to Seoul after a three-day tour. After a ferry ride in Mokpo and some brief sightseeing in Tongyeong, we head to Gyeongju, the highlight of the tour. The day tour is fully guided when you sign up for a package at Haerang. After getting off the train, the guests are escorted to February 2009 korea 55

Travel

Travel

Sun rises over ‘Candle Rock’ in Chuam, on the peninsula’s eastern coast.

[JoongAng Ilbo]

‘It’s certainly a new and convenient way to travel the country.’

A visit to Cheomseongdae, a famous granite observatory in Gyeongju, South Gyeongsang, proved one of the tour highlights. 56 korea February 2009

different sites by bus. The train arrives at Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. to 935 A.D), around early evening. The historic sites around Gyeongju are beautifully illuminated after sunset. After a traditional meal, we’re taken on “a moonlit tour,” which includes a trip to Cheomseongdae, Korea’s oldest observatory, the royal tombs and Anapji Pond, part of Silla’s palatial complex. The path along the Anapji Pond is a tranquil walk. A range of ancient royal vessels and articles, accidentally dropped into the water during banquets held in the outdoor pavilions surrounding the pond, have been discovered here.

Moving on, Cheomseongdae is the oldest observatory in Asia. It was built in 632 during the reign of Queen Seondeok, the first of three female rulers of the kingdom. It’s made of granite with a window in its tower. The train leaves Gyeongju around 9:30 p.m. In the lounge, a live folk singer is joined by a group of middle-aged women who seem more interested in belting out their own favorite songs than listening to other people’s music. “Originally we planned on going to Myanmar, but we came here instead,” says Gong Gyeong-ok, a passenger from Seoul who was joined by three friends who met through their husbands’ jobs. “It’s certainly a new and very convenient way to trav-

el the country.” Next morning we arrive at our key destination: The train pulls into a station overlooking the sandy beach of Chuam. The sunrise here became a major tourist attraction after featuring in the short film marking the end of daily television programing, in which the national anthem plays and scenic clips around the peninsula are shown. After watching the sunrise, we head to a nearby hot spring for a morning bath. On the way back to Seoul, the train makes a brief stop for a photo session at Chujeon Station, the highest in Korea, at 855 meters above sea level. By the time the train reaches the outskirts of Seoul, dusk is falling.

Seoul: Asia’s No. 1 Destination

P

eople in China, Japan and Thailand identified Seoul as the city they most wanted to visit among the world’s major capitals this year. In a survey by Nielson Korea, released recently as part of Seoul Metropolitan Government’s strategy on overseas marketing, about 13.9 percent of Chinese said Seoul was the city they wanted to visit the most. The result marked a clear difference from the same survey done in May, when Seoul was fourth (7.3 percent) in the rankings of preference among the world’s major cities. Paris, Tokyo and Sydney were the favorite cities according to Chinese who responded to the last survey. Thais voted Seoul their favorite in both sur-

veys. Japanese, who picked Honolulu as their most preferred location in May, voted Seoul this time. The change in Seoul’s global image is down to the city government’s expanded investment in overseas marketing, to the tune of around 4 billion won (S2.9 million) on TV, Internet, newspaper and bus ads last year “More people outside of Korea are expressing their interest to visit Seoul and we have seen positive results in the rate of increase,” said Kang Cheol-won an official at Seoul government’s PR department. “The city will continue investing in overseas marketing in the next three to four years to show significant results in the world tourism market.” February 2009 korea 57

Fashion

Lee Moon-hee

The Seoul Collection

The S/S Seoul Collection fashion show, held annually, sets the tone for women’s fashion for the upcoming year. The latest event featured 41 of the very best domestic designers and their trendy threads. If you want to strut ahead of the crowd and lead the fashionista pack in 2009, take note of the following tips.

1. Out with mini skirts, in with volume skirts: For the spring months, if you want to accentuate your feminine side, add a little volume to your outfit. Several designers including An Yoon-jung, Vack Yuun-zung and Lee Moon-hee showed protruding shoulder lines, puff sleeves and volume skirts. Tip: A glamorous silhouette can give off a lively, animated and feminine look but it’s tricky in that, if not pulled off right, it can also look heavy. Stick to toned-down colors such as white, black, blue and green. 58 korea February 2009

An Yoon-jung

Provided by the Seoul Fashion Center

Trend Tips for ‘09:

February 2009 korea 59

60 korea February 2009

Gee Choon-hee

Ha Sang-beg

7. Eco fashion and natural colors: A number of designers including Lee Young-hee used fabrics such as hemp along with natural dye colors. Tip: You don’t have to coordinate an entire outfit with traditionally dyed fabrics. Instead, try to match it with a simple white tee shirt or jeans.

Kim See-yang

6. Make full use of Versatile plaid for low-key or attention-grabbing looks: Plaid will be at the center of 2009 trends and was prominently featured at the latest S/S fashion show. While it was popular last year, the difference this year seems to be in the subtle plaid on silk or shiny fabric. Tip: If you decide to choose a shiny plaid top, match it with a dark-toned skirt.

8. The bold, ethnic look: It’s the revival of the 60s and 70s trend as the retro, ethnic one-piece look is making a comeback. Tip: Look for big patterns as they can make you look slimmer. You can also try colorful patterned mini dresses. 5. Add a little shine for a futuristic style: Maybe it’s a reaction to the retro trend, but many designers showed off futuristic lacy outfits at 2009 S/S. The difference is in the fabrics, which are shiny or sparkly. Tip: If the thought of wearing a shiny outfit does not do it for you, try on some beads or a simple white tee shirt with a shiny colored skirt.

9. Accessorizing with flowers is all the rage: That’s right, flower patterns were prominent last year as well, but what’s different this year is flowers are being used as accessories in corsages or headbands. Tip: Try to match the color of the outfit with the flower accessory. 10. Choose loose, one-piece dresses for masculine lines: Loose clothing which gives off a unisex image will continue to be popular this year. While loose tee shirts were in last year, this year’s variations will include suits and one-piece dresses. Tip: If not done right, loose shirts can make you look overweight. Add a loose belt as a styling tool to overcome this.

Lee Young-hee

2. Show some skin with “skin color” fabric: It’s not a bold prediction but an obvious one. Within two years, chiffon and lace as well as skin black and skin pink colors will be commonly seen. Vack Yuun-zung’s line featured light, see-through fabrics and An Yoon-jung’s work featured soft lines through polyester and silk-washed linen. Tip: Although you can’t go wrong with chiffon, it might be better to focus on color. Thin fabrics and laces along with black, pink and green see-throughs can enhance the soft silhouette feel.

Park Herin

Cho Sung-kyung

4. Black and white polka dots: For those who prefer black, grey, charcoal or other dark tones, designers are recommending polka-dot prints. Lee Moon-hee presented a white polkadot pattern on black, while Cho Sunggyung showed off a beige colored onepiece with black chiffon fabric with polka-dot patterns. Tip: An entire outfit with polka dots is a bit extreme; it’s better to add some polka dots to your wardrobe with accessories such as scarves and belts.

3. Zig-zag stripes: Stripes are back in this year - but not the regular stripes we’re used to seeing. Kim Young-joo showcased stripes adding a little glitter to the fabric. Shin Young-jae, on the other hand, added geometric and disco-inspired striped patterns to black and white fabrics. Tip: Stripes can get boring in a hurry, so try to add a little shine and glitter to the stripes, or wear uneven striped patterns.

Lee Bomi

Vack Yuun-zung

Provided by the Seoul Fashion Center

Shin Young-jae

Fashion

February 2009 korea 61

People

People

High Peaks, Iron Will A terrible accident that robbed him of his hands has only heightened his determination to climb.

K Kim Hong–bin

62 korea February 2009

im Hong-bin, a 44-year-old Korean mountaineer, became the first handicapped person in the world to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents after climbing Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica at 4,897 meters (16,066 feet), on Jan. 2. Kim was a confident climber in his mid-twenties when he reached the Himalayan summits of Mount Everest in 1989 and Mount Nanga Parbat in 1990. Then, in a 1991 attempt on Mount McKinley, disaster struck. He fell asleep from fatigue and was rescued 16 hours later. Frostbite claimed all of his fingers, leaving Kim with stumps. Kim returned to Korea after three months of treatment at a hospital in Alaska. The former athlete found it impossible to lead an everyday life without help from others. “I couldn’t even eat by myself,” Kim said. “I was tempted to take my own life several times.” However, with encouragement from his colleagues, Kim’s iron will reasserted itself: He got back on his feet and began training more rigorously than ever. “Since I cannot take advantage of climbing equipment such as ropes, sticks and ice axes, I have to build up my physical

strength,” he said. Kim made a successful comeback as a mountaineer on Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe (5,642 meters), in July 1997. Two months later, he added Mount McKinley, which had once disabled him, to his conquests. “I declared that I would conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents. People cheered me in my presence, but I know most were skeptical about my plan,” Kim said. Due to his handicap, Kim always needs help from fellow climbers or accompanying porters - even for such basic activities as putting on his socks, lacing up his hiking boots or unzipping his pants to relieve himself. Despite the extraordinary challenges he faced, however, Kim finally suc-

ceeded in conquering the highest mountains on all seven continents, including Mount McKinley (6,194 meters), Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa (5,895 meters), Mount Aconcagua in South America (6,959 meters), Mount McKinley in North America (6,194 meters), Mount Kosciuzsko in Oceania (2,228 meters), Mount Everest in Asia (8,848 meters) and most recently, Vinson Massif in Antartica. It took him 11 years to accomplish it all. “If the accident at Mount McKinley hadn’t happened, I would have remained an ordinary climber.” he said. “The hardship made me challenge the seemingly impossible. I overcame the handicap a mountain gave me by climbing mountains.” Kim has now set a new goal: conquering the world’s 14 8,000-meter peaks. He has already accomplished four - the second peak of Mount Gasherbrum in the Himalayas (8,053 meters), Mount Shisha Pangma’s South Wall (8,027 meters), Mount Everest (8,848 meters) and Mount Makalu (8,463 meters). “Even if I encounter difficulties in the course of advancing on my new goal, I will never give up!” he said. February 2009 korea 63

People [JoongAng Ilbo]

People

Record-breaking Surgeon

D Shin Young-soo Seoul National University Professor Shin Young-soo, takes over the regional director positionship of the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Area in February.

r. Lee Seung-kyu, a 60-yearold surgeon at Seoul’s Asan Medical Center and a worldrenowned specialist in liver transplantation, has established a new world record: 326 liver transplants in 2008. Lee and his surgical team, who pulled off 100 liver transplant surgeries in 1999, broke the 200 mark in 2004 and reached 320 cases in 2007. Last year, they surpassed their own record by performing 326 liver transplant operations. Their success rate is as high as 96 per-

cent. U.S. broadcaster ABC News reported on Dec. 23, 2008 that the new world record set by Lee’s team was made possible because of strong and dedicated teamwork centering around Lee. With an unusually strong familytype bond, they are known as “Lee’s Dream Tream.” Lee earned fame when he succeeded in Korea’s first living donor liver transplantation, or LDLT, on a child in 1994; LDLT on adults three years later; and a dual graft LDLT, which involves trans-

planting livers from two people to one person, for the first time in the world in 2000. While a liver transplant with living donors takes far more time and work than a transplant from a deceased donor, most liver transplants in Korea are still conducted with live donors due to a dearth of donated organs. A graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine, the topranking medical school in Korea, Lee has served at Asan Medical Center since 1989.

Doctor to 1.8 Billion

64 korea February 2009

office at Seoul National University, Korea’s top school where he earned his first degree in medical science, Shin went on to explain the importance of his new job. “Experts share a concern that, within 10 years, a number of epidemics will rage across the world. Something has to be done.” Shin is all set to do that something. Prior to the election for the position last year in September, Shin was an active, hands-on campaigner, visiting as many countries as he could, including small island nations such as Tuvalu. His mind is now brimming with plans for a guardian system that will cope with epidemics and global warming issues. A management expert, Shin first entered the medical field with the dream of becoming a doctor. At Seoul National University Medical School, however, he changed his mind, after volunteering in rural villages that lacked hospitals. “Watching people who suffer for lack of

money and lack of hospitals, I made up my mind to devote myself to the needy,” he said. That decision changed the course of his life; he went on to Yale University, where he became the first Korean expert in the area of medical management. After returning to Korea, he was appointed professor at Seoul National University in his 20s, where he led a reformist wave. He built Korea’s medical insurance system and started medical management classes at his alma mater. Such were his contributions that he is often called the “godfather” of the medical scene of Korea. Meanwhile, he kept close ties with the World Health Organization as his best friend, the late Lee Jong-wook, was the first Korean to head the agency. Is he pursuing the same path as his friend? “I just do my best wherever and whenever.,” he said with a smile. “That’s my job.”

Lee Seung-kyu [JoongAng Ilbo]

A

t the age of 66, Shin Youngsoo is about to open a new chapter of his life as he becomes doctor to 1.8 billion people. In February, this seasoned medical professor at Seoul National University is to start his term as the regional director of the Western Pacific area of the World Health Organization. After a formal confirmation at the organization’s board later this month, Shin is set to move to Manila, Philippines, where he is to lead a 1,000-member staff. As a regional director, Shin will handle 30 member countries, including China, Japan, Australia and of course Korea. The total population of this area reaches 1.8 billion. “The Western Pacific region has about one third of the world’s population, and it is home to a variety of diseases such as SARS and Avian Influenza,” Shin noted. “It is a huge responsibility to take care of the area.” From his

Dr. Lee Seung-kyu of Seoul’s Asan Medical Center set a world record in 2008 for 326 liver transplants. February 2009 korea 65

Foreign Viewpoints

B Endorsing Expatriate Lifestyle Having lived in Korea in two different periods, Les Edwards finds expatriate life today far more convenient than it once was.

Les Edwards is a New Zealander and advertizing executive who has spent fifteen years living in Korea while working for DDB Worldwide in Seoul over two periods, most recently since 1999 as Vice President at Lee & DDB Inc.. In 2006 Les was conferred Honorary Citizenship of Seoul by the Mayor and the Seoul Metropolitan Government for service to the international business community and the city of Seoul. He is Chairman of the NZ Chamber of Commerce in Korea and has actively served on a number of advisory groups counseling the central and local governments on foreign direct investment and lifestyle issues. 66 korea February 2009

ing a long-term foreign resident , my opinion of Korea has evolved over time from one of ambivalence to one of a real fan of the nation, the people and the lifestyle offered. As a relatively young middle manager in the advertising business in Australia, South Korea was far from my mind as midnight tolled in the new year 1991. My impressions of Korea were defined by the familiar theme music for the hit TV series, M.A.S.H. and then-fresh memories of Seoul successfully hosting the XXIV Olympiad just three years previously, despite worldwide concerns about democracy (or lack of it), language and pollution. Out of the blue, an opportunity arose to live and work in Korea; an opportunity that lasted for the next five years. Life as an expatriate in those days was quite difficult as we were few and far between, Korea was fiercely proud of its homogeneity, and there were enormous differences in working and social habits, coupled with a distinct lack of Western foods and other home comforts. It could be said that our opinion of Korea at that time reflected the country’s ethos and the usually polluted sky above - introspective and grey. Leaving Korea in 1996 it was abundantly clear that the highly leveraged foibles of chaebol economics cast a heavy cloud over the country. That cloud burst in what is now commonly referred to as the “IMF financial crisis” of 1997. We gave it little thought; we never expected to return. But in light of changes Korea brought about by resolving the crisis, including looking outward to the world for finance and business partnerships, my company had restructured its business in Seoul and advised that things “had greatly changed for the better.” The change in the energy and attitude of the people and the vibe of the city and country was indeed immediately apparent. Before, there had been an introspective approach to business and life; now there was an openness and ac-

ceptance by many of new and different ways of the world. We decided we liked this “new Korea.” Exactly three years after leaving in 1999, we returned. And ten years later we are still here. Survival for foreigners in Korea, from the point of view of finding the comforts of “home,” is so much easier these days. The numbers of Koreans who have studied and lived abroad, and who have now returned to work and live here, is large and growing every day. Many of these “returned Koreans” miss the foods, fashions and lifestyles enjoyed in London, New York and Sydney as much as we do, and the entrepreneurs among them are creating import businesses, shops and restaurants that bring more and more of our home comforts to Korea. The prevalent cuisine is of course Korean, which is delicious and a must to try. There is growing experimentation among Korean chefs, creating a fusion of Korean and Western foods and tastes that is terrifically appealing. For anyone heading for a new destination, a major concern is personal safety. There is a strong consensus among friends of many different nationalities that Korea has to be one of the safest places on the planet. Koreans are kind and honest, and their inherent honesty ans respect for others’ property, coupled with an improving caliber of international schools, makes Korea particularly enjoyable for us as parents with young children. Korea is constantly being rejuvenated with wonderful projects like the Cheonggye Stream and Seoul Forest developments, the ongoing renaissance of the Han River, and the high speed rail system that makes the majestic countryside and other cities easily accessible. Our opinion of Korea these days reflects the country’s ethos and the usually clear skies above - vibrant and bright. We love living in Korea, enjoying all it has to offer. There is so much more to this country than is, perhaps, perceived from afar.