March 28-April 3, 2014
PHILIPPINES
THE PLACE TO BE THIS SUMMER Beaches, Historical Spots, Food: some of the reasons why this country of more than 7,000 islands is worth exploring
Contents March 28-April 3, 2014
❖ Travel
❖ Weekly Briefing
❖ Business
Philippines... the place to be this summer
The mystery of MH370
Grape expectations
Contents March 28-April 3, 2014
❖ Business Taking the bitcoin bull by the horns
❖ Politics
❖ Business
❖ Life
Rich wives, wealthy daughters
Spotlight on the problem of The democratic bogus passports farce of North Korea
Contents March 28-April 3, 2014
❖ Politics
❖ Entertainment
Datebook
The unforgiven
King Khan still reigns
Happenings around Asia
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WEEKLY BRIEFING
March 28-April 3, 2014
On March 8, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur at 40 minutes past midnight. It was scheduled to arrive in Beijing at 6:30am. It never did and on March 24, the airline and the Malaysian government announced that new data indicate the flight ended in the remote part of Indian Ocean.
“
Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none on board survived." —SMS sent by Malaysia Airlines on the night of March 24 to MH370 families
AFP PHOTOS
The case of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370
WEEKLY BRIEFING
March 28-April 3, 2014
“It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean."—Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in a press conference on March 24
"The Malaysian government, return my beloved ones!"—several family members at the Lido Hotel shortly after Najib's press conference
“Words just cannot describe how I feel tonight. But I promise you, especially the families of all the passengers, that the search continues,”— Malaysian Defence Minister and Acting Transport Minister Hishamuddin Hussein tweets on March 24
“I don't know what to say, what to think. I feel so lost, so blank. I'm just so tired. Goodnight, daddy.”— Tweet of Maira Elizabeth Nari (@Gorgxous_), daughter of Andrew Nari, chief steward of MH370
"It can't be true. No debris of the plane was found."—another relative
“This has been an unprecedented event requiring an unprecedented response. The investigation still underway may yet prove to be even longer and more complex than it has been since March 8th.”—Md Nor Md Yusof, MAS chairman "We do not know why, and we do not know how this terrible tragedy happened. But as the Malaysia Airlines family, we are all praying for the passengers and crew of Flight MH370."—Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, MAS Group CEO
March 28-April 3, 2014
BUSINESS
As domestic winemakers corner more of China’s market, foreign brands are still fine-tuning their sales strategies
AFP
Grape Expectations
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
TODD BALAZOVIC China Daily BEIJING
T
aking a measured sip of a vintage Bordeaux, Libin Gao swirls the dark liquid in his mouth, pausing to reflect before scratching down a few notes on the form beside him. It's a Saturday afternoon in Beijing and class is in session. For Gao and 12 other students occupying Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting's packed 8th floor classroom it's a chance to make Chinese wine history. Gao, a member of the pilot programme that teaches Level-three Wine Spirit Education Trust Certification in Mandarin, will, on successful completion of the course, become one of the highest-ranked wine experts in China.
As regional manager for Joyvio, Lenovo's food and agriculture venture, Gao knows that getting an international certification would give him an upper hand in one of China's most lucrative industries. "In the Chinese market right now, much of the focus is on the packaging of wine. I want to be a part of the movement that will shift the focus from packaging to what's actually in the bottle," Gao says, during a five-minute breather from the eight-hour class. For Gao, the course is a chance to gain a competitive edge. But for wine producers, changing the way Chinese perceive and drink wine is a necessity for an industry that is undergoing tumultuous change.
Spending power
In the past five years China has had a ravenous thirst for wine, fuelled by the middle class flexing
their spending power and a shift in drinking habits from beer and baijiu (white spirits) to purportedly more healthy red wines. Sales of imported wine grew from US$1.29 billion in 2008 to $5.49 billion last year, experiencing annual growth rates as high as 50 per cent, according to a report published by Vinexpo, a leading French wine fair operator. In 2013, China was the largest market of red wines globally, overtaking France and Italy where the quantity imbibed has been falling. Chinese people drank more than 1.86 billion bottles last year, the report said. However, during the past five years, wine sales have also polarised in China, with purchases of either high-end or low-price wines dominating sales figures, says Edward Ragg, co-founder of Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting, a leading independent wine consulting
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
company in China. "Traditionally, there hasn't been a real market for middle-priced wines," he says. Ragg, who helped found Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting in 2007, has been assisting foreign wine producers and educating drinkers in China. "China was, and still is for the most part, a market where sellers can name their price," he says. "If you, as a wine importer, were more likely to sell a 100 yuan ($16) bottle for 200 yuan, and the buyer was more eager to buy the more expensive product, why wouldn't you?" He says while the past five years have seen a boom in wine sales, growth is slowing as bulk purchases by state and corporate clients dry up, with producers emphasising more high-quality, lowpriced wines. "There are a lot of people who got on the bandwagon selling wine
during the early boom years and they're realising that China is not the massive wine market in the way people think it is," Ragg says. Recent austerity measures to curb gift-giving and spending at official banquets have shrunk large orders of fine wines, with sales growth slowing from 18 per cent in 2012 to just over 5 per cent in 2013. With an overabundance of upmarket wines and distributors eager to find buyers, sales of top-end wines in China have hit a plateau, with prices of some of the most expensive brands dropping, in some cases by more than 50 per cent. In 2013, the price of a 2008 Lafite wine tumbled 53.4 per cent to 7,230 yuan ($1,180), and the price of a 2004 Lafite wine fell to 2,850 yuan from 4,900 yuan. The shift has seen dozens of distributors, who once catered solely to the fine wine market, go
bankrupt, with stocks of highpriced wines remaining buried in warehouses. "The top end of the market has pretty much become flat," says Nikki Palun from De Bortoli Wines, Australia's fifth-largest exporter of wine. "Most of the businesses that focused on the government and corporate channels have gone bankrupt or are saddled with excess inventories." She says as a result, many producers have had to promote sales of entry-level, lower-price wines. "To stay afloat in the wine industry in China, you have to target those people who are using their own money to buy wine. As a result the prices have dropped." China's wine drinkers have traditionally stuck to domestic brands. More than 80 per cent of the wines drunk in China are domestically produced, with im-
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
ports hovering between 15 and 20 per cent in the past five years. The biggest advantage Chinese vineyards have is in understanding how to effectively establish operations and market to Chinese clients, says Judy Leissner, owner of Grace Vineyard, the only family-owned boutique winery in China. "An obvious advantage that a domestic producer has is the understanding of the local market. This is something that foreign producers can expect to gain only over years," she says. "Domestic producers also understand better how to operate in China, for example how to set up a winery, which department to deal with, how to deal with the growers and government, and what incentives are available." Set up in 1997, Grace Vineyard has won several international awards and is one of a handful of Chinese vineyards pushing the
envelope to get Chinese wineries global recognition. Leissner says the relatively low number of Chinese wine producers catering to high domestic demand has given Chinese producers an edge when marketing made-in-China wines. "It's easier to market a made-inChina wine because there is still far less competition. Bordeaux itself has more than 10,000 wineries. China as a whole has fewer than 1,000. It's easier to stand out as a Chinese winery in China," she says. Despite ample success in the past five years, she says Chinese wineries have also felt the pressure from government austerity measures. Last year marked the first time since 2003 operations did not turn over double-digit growth, Leissner says. Shrinking demand for premium wines has created an opportunity for Chinese drinkers to get
access to quality foreign wines at low prices. Competing with lowpriced and often less-sophisticated Chinese wines is an environment where taste, rather than packaging, is the primary selling point. "Traditionally, people in China have looked to wine to give a sense of status. It's all about projecting this image," says Jim Boyce, author of Beijing-based wine blog, Grape Wall of China. He says this has changed with government measures to deter lavish gifts. "In the past decade, taste has been a minor reason for people buying wine in China. "Now sellers have to find customers who actually want their wine because they like it. I think we're moving into an era when consumers have a lot more power. "By bringing the drinkers forward it's creating a healthier market. It's creating a market where
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
people will buy wine based on taste and value rather than price, a famous name or because the buyer has a big budget to spend." The gradual move away from premium wines with a well-established name has opened doors for smaller foreign wine producers, who are willing to cater to changing Chinese tastes. Despite sluggish sales for China's mid-level wines, Helene Le Ponty moved to Beijing from her small village in Bordeaux hoping to find a niche for her family's wines. Opening Le Ponty Wine's first international office in Beijing in 2012, the fourth-generation owner of the 105-year-old Fronsac-based chateau says she wants to avoid traditional distribution channels to market directly to China's wine drinkers. "When I first arrived here, everyone was telling me that there wouldn't be a market for my wine. They said you have to be either very cheap or very expensive," she
says. "I thought to myself there is an interest in mid-level wines. People are just over-pricing them." With low-end wines starting at 100 yuan and the higher-end going for up to 1,200 yuan, Le Ponty has so far found high demand for her wines. Last year she sold roughly 24,000 bottles in China, 33 per cent of the 72,000 bottles Le Ponty Chateau produces every year. Pushing to make her product more identifiable to Chi-
nese drinkers, the chateau has translated the names of its wines on offer in China, transforming French names such as Grand Renouil, the name of the river near Le Ponty's vineyard, into Mandarin-friendly Ge Hua Lu, roughly translated as "a heavenly drink". Le Ponty says for a small brand, targeting a specific city, rather than trying to go national immediately, has been the foundation of her success. "The problem with China is that to be a national brand is almost impossible because of cost. Only a few brands can do it. To be a local brand, even in the city of Beijing with 20 million people, if you're a small winery you just cannot serve the city," she says. "This is such a large country and you only need a small slice of people to care about your brand to make it viable." ÂŹ
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
AFP
Taking the bitcoin bull by the horns Singapore is the first country to propose new rules on exchanges and vendors of virtual currency
March 28-April 3, 2014
AFP
A BITCOIN DISPENSING MACHINE IS SEEN AT A SHOPPING MALL IN SINGAPORE
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
MELISSA TAN The Straits Times Singapore
S
ingapore's regulator last week proposed new rules on exchanges and vendors of virtual currencies, becoming one of the first in the world to do so. The planned rules will apply to bitcoin, the virtual currency du jour. It will also apply to intermediaries of all virtual currencies, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said. This will affect businesses that buy and sell virtual currencies or that let people exchange virtual currencies, such as the bitcoin, for legal tender like Singapore dollars. These firms will now have to verify the identities of their customers and report suspicious transactions to the police. The MAS said the move was a pre-emptive one, aimed at thwarting potential money laun-
dering and terrorist financing. Since the bitcoin allows people to transfer digital money between one another anonymously, it is ripe for exploitation for these financing crimes. MAS will put up its proposals for public consultation soon, and plans to turn them into law within the next 12 months. The move to impose some kind of regulatory structure is a good first step for Singapore to maintain its edge as a financial centre in the digital age. But how it proceeds will determine whether the country stays in the lead.
Understanding bitcoin
First, some background on the bitcoin, which is a kind of digital cash that people can use to buy and sell things. Bitcoins can be sent anonymously at low cost over the Internet, without using a middleman
such as a bank, which may charge high fees. It has not yet achieved mainstream acceptance, partly due to the relative novelty of the concept and the volatility of bitcoin prices. The technology for the bitcoin surfaced in 2009. Bitcoins are created—“mined”, in industry lingo —by a vast network of computers linked via the Internet. Unlike fiat currencies that are controlled by central banks and backed by their reserves, there is no one authority behind the bitcoin. Instead, “miners” earn bitcoins by carrying out complex mathematical calculations on sophisticated computers. The code for bitcoin caps the number of bitcoins in existence at 21 million. The value of a bitcoin is determined entirely by what people are willing to pay for it and has fluctuated wildly since its inception. The price of one bitcoin spiked to US$1,242 last November—
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
making it briefly pricier than an ounce of gold—before dropping to around US$630 as of last week. Other virtual currencies include litecoin and linden dollars, but bitcoin is by far the most widely used. It is accepted at online retailers such as Overstock. com, Zynga and OkCupid, and even at the University of Cumbria in Britain, which now takes bitcoins as payment for school fees. Some experts predict they will become commonplace in two years. Singapore’s tech-savvy entrepreneur community has embraced the technology, with local firms setting up some of Asia’s first bitcoin machines here last month. Singaporeans can now buy bitcoins off the street from at least six vending machines. A machine that pays cash in return for bitcoins is expected to be launched this month. A series of recent high-profile meltdowns has thrown the tech-
nology’s jagged edges into sharp relief. Last month, the world’s biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy after claiming hackers had stolen a staggering US$480 million worth of the bitcoins it stored. A Canadian bitcoin bank called Flexcoin shuttered this month, saying it had lost about $600,000 worth to hackers.
Rules of the game
Incidents such as these have jolted regulators into figuring out an approach to bitcoins and other virtual currencies. But because virtual currencies are a fairly new phenomenon, they are still shrouded in uncertainty. The main problem for regulators is pinning down what the bitcoin really is because this affects which rules apply. Should it be treated as a currency, since it can be used as a medi-
um of exchange? Or is it best regarded as a commodity, given its speculative and volatile nature? Industry players say the lack of a central authority backing the bitcoin means it cannot be regulated like a real currency. Greg Unsworth, who heads technology, media and telecommunications at PricewaterhouseCoopers, suggests that the bitcoin be regulated as a “hybrid” since it has attributes of both a currency and a commodity. “Right now it’s being used more as an investment and speculation... But as it’s used more, it could start to look more like (legal) tender. Any regulation should address its different roles.” Another option is to ban transactions in bitcoin altogether. Japan has declared that the bitcoin is not a currency and banks in Japan cannot open bitcoin deposit accounts. China’s central bank has barred financial insti-
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
tutions from handling bitcoin transactions, while Taiwan has banned bitcoin ATMs. In contrast, New York’s top financial services regulator asked prospective virtual currency exchange operators to submit formal applications last week, as a first step towards regulation. It plans to put up proposed rules by the end of June. The United States’ commodities derivatives watchdog also said it was studying whether the bitcoin fell under its purview.
Ahead of the pack
Singapore could move ahead of New York if it puts up proposed rules for consultation before New York does. Its approach is highly targeted, in that it is sharply focused on cutting the risks of virtual currencies being used to filter money for terrorism and money laundering activities.
This is why it targets exchanges, which are companies where you can buy and sell virtual currencies. A money- laundering outfit could for example use ill-gotten gains to purchase bitcoins, and then sell them again, for legitimate money. MAS wants to make it mandatory for exchanges to verify the identities of people who use their services. The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore also levies goods and services tax (GST) on the sale of bitcoins, which it treats as a service for tax purposes. But those interested in transacting in bitcoins must understand that MAS rules do not offer them any consumer protection. MAS has repeatedly said it will not recognise virtual currencies as legal tender or as securities. It warns users of the “significant risks associated with virtual currency transactions”. MAS has made clear that its new regulations do not extend to the “safety
and soundness” of virtual currency intermediaries. This means consumers use bitcoins at their own risk. The value of bitcoins is not regulated and could plunge to a fraction of what you paid for it. And if you spend thousands of dollars buying bitcoins from a company and it goes bust, chances are you will get neither bitcoins nor the money back. Some experts such as lawyerturned-tech entrepreneur Aidil Zulkifli think MAS’ proposed rules strike the right note in targeting infrastructure providers such as bitcoin exchanges as these promote liquidity and movement in the market. Bitcoin entrepreneurs themselves are divided on the importance of regulation. Norma Sit, who runs bitcoin vending machine provider Numoni, said her company already self-regulates, for instance, by capping a customer’s daily and monthly transactions.
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
“These checks are similar to what payment systems might have to spot irregularities and unusual activities,” Sit said. Luv Khemani, who runs an exchange called FYB-SG, fears regulation will “drive up costs for me, end users and taxpayers for no benefit to anyone”. Onerous rules could also drive firms offshore or underground, and raise “artificial barriers to entry, leading to cartels and stagnation in innovation”, he said. David Moskowitz, who runs Singapore-based bitcoin broker Coin Republic, said bitcoin companies here already provide strong security as a way of differentiating themselves from rivals. “A free market is able to handle the changing bitcoin landscape better than regulations can,” he argues. “Financial privacy is an important right... Simply because someone wants to be able to freely
move money from one place to another, we should not put them into the same category as drug dealers or terrorists.” Some bitcoin bosses favour regulation. Zann Kwan, director of bitcoin vending machine provider Bitcoin Exchange, said light rules would likely widen the acceptance of bitcoins, while hasty, heavy regulation could “erode the momentum of this exciting trend”. “Singapore could potentially play a big role on the global stage” if it were to introduce a sound regulatory framework, she said. But most experts agree on one thing: Regulating bitcoin exchanges to reduce the risk of them being exploited for money-laundering and terrorism- financing activities is just the first step. As bitcoin usage spreads, there will be a need to extend regulations to cover consumer use, said Jonathan Kok, a partner at law
firm RHTLaw Taylor Wessing. MAS could have chosen to ban bitcoin use outright or left it to market forces to decide its fate. But as a nimble tech and finance hub, it chose to take the bitcoin bull by its horns. Its move to introduce a regulatory framework moves it ahead of the pack in both innovation and regulation. Continuing to keep an open mind about virtual currencies while remaining vigilant about systemic risks to the financial system would help it stay that way. But as Rajesh Sreenivasan, a technology lawyer at Rajah and Tann, warned, rules must be flexible and adapt to fast-changing tech realities. “It’s still early days. Exchanges seem to be the hot thing today, but they could become redundant in future. The bitcoin could be the flavour today but not tomorrow, and we need to be ready for that.” ¬
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
Rich Wives, Wealthy Daughters M SPECIAL REPORT TEAM The Korea Herald Seoul
ore and more women are becoming rich, but they still remain a minority in the world of the super rich despite their improving status and active participation in society. According to the 2014 World’s Billionaires list recently unveiled by Forbes, in which the 1,645 super-wealthy were ranked, a total of 172 women made the list, up 25 per cent from a year earlier but constituting a mere 10 per cent of the world’s mega-rich. Yet, most of the women inherited their fortune from a parent or husband. Only 32 female billionaires, or 1.9 per cent of the total, built their own fortune, UK daily The Guardian reported. It might take another generation for self-made super rich women to rise to the top. The situation in South Korea does not look to be very different. Women of various ages from their early 20s to their 70s took the top slots on the ranking of the richest women, but all of them were born into a wealthy family or had an affluent husband. About half of them were involved in managing a company.
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
Chairwomen born to be rich Lee Myung-hee, chairwoman of Korean retail powerhouse Shinsegae Group and sister of Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee, was the richest woman in Korea as of March 7. Chairwoman Lee holds stocks worth 1.57 trillion won (US$1.5 billion), with 380 billion won of Shinsegae Group. She also owns 17.3 per cent of Emart, the country’s biggest discount store chain, a stake valued at around 1.18 trillion won. The youngest daughter of the late founder of Samsung Group, Lee Byung-chull, is not involved in managing Shinsegae Group, leaving her billionaire son Chung Yong-jin in charge. Chung’s stake in Shinsegae, however, stands at 880 billion won, far lower than his mother’s. Lee Hwa-kyung, vice chairwoman of Orion Confectionary, the nation’s No. 1 snack maker, is another female billionaire; she owns a stake estimated at 786 billion won in the company.
Lee, the second daughter of the late founder of DongYang Group, resigned from her post as vice chairwoman after her husband and chairman of the confectionary manufacturer was sentenced to three years in prison for embezzlement last November. Hyun Jeong-eun, chairwoman of Hyundai Group, has a 116 billion won mainly stake in Korea’s second-largest shipping company, Hyundai Merchant Marine, and affiliates Hyundai Global and Hyundai Logistics, at 30 billion won each. Hyun made a dramatic turn, going from a housewife to head of Hyundai Group after the suicide of her husband Chung Mong-hun, a son of late Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung. Hyun’s mother and elder sister of ruling Saenuri Party Rep. Kim Moosung, Kim Moon-hee, who heads Yongmoon educational institution, owns a stake in Hyundai Group worth 46 billion won.
Chairmen’s wives hidden behind the veil
Hong Ra-hee, Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee’s wife and director of the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, retains a stake worth over 1.45 trillion won in the global tech giant. Hong’s wealth soared along with the value of Samsung Electronics, which increased tenfold. Hong does not participate in running the company, but she plays a crucial role in boosting Samsung’s soft power by briskly carrying out a variety of projects in the fields of culture, art and philanthropy, unlike other chairmen’s somewhat “quiet wives”. Kim Young-shik, wife of LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo, holds stocks valued at over 414 billion won, mostly in the LG holding company. Her fortune is noticeable, considering that she maintains a low profile out of the public eye. The relatively young Yoo Junghyun, in her 40s, is married to
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
Kim Jung-ju, chairman of Korea’s top online gaming company Nexon, and owns stocks worth 370 billion won, making her the second-biggest stakeholder in NXC, the de-facto holding company of Nexon.
Super rich daughters
Among a slew of female chaebol scions, Samsung Group owner Lee Kunhee’s two daughters-Lee Boo-jin, head of Samsung-affiliated Hotel Shilla, and Lee Seo-hyun, head of the fashion division of Samsung Everland-hold the highest value of stocks compared with other business tycoons’ daughters. The daughters own equal stakes in IT services provider Samsung SDS and theme park Samsung Everland, Samsung Group’s de-facto holding company, which is valued at 538 billion won. However, their stakes may be undervalued as the stock is unlisted. The actual value of their stakes is likely to have increased since the two companies merged related affiliates as part of Samsung’s large-scale restructuring. Two daughters-the elder Cho Hee-
kyung and the younger Cho Heewon-of Cho Yang-rai, chairman of Hankook Tire, South Korea's largest tire maker, own stocks worth 230 billion won and 270 billion won, respectively. The elder has a stake in Hankook Tire, and the younger in Hankook Tire Worldwide, valued at more than 200 billion won. The youngest super rich female is Suh Min-jung, daughter of leading cosmetic company AmorePacific’s chairman Suh Kyung-bae. Her stocks are estimated at over 96 billion won, a whopping amount for someone in her early 20s. Other wealthy billionaires include Cho Hyun-ah, an executive vice president of Korean Air, and Cho Hyun-min, a senior vice president of Korean Air, the daughters of Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Hanjin Group, Korea’s largest shipping conglomerate. The two Chos, who are training to manage their father’s companies and emerge as “new icons” of the group, are
known to each hold stocks worth about 30 billion won.
Sisters expanding clout in business
It is not only wives and daughters of a handful of chairmen who can amass a fortune and become billionaires. Chairmen’s sisters are also broadening their presence in the business world. One of them is Chey Ki-won, the youngest sister of SK Group chairman Chey-Tae won. She heads SK’s corporate philanthropy foundation, SK Happiness, and owns stocks worth 800 billion won, mostly in computer services provider SK C&C, one of the SK Group’s holding companies. Chey Ki-won is drawing a great deal of attention as the future of the nation’s third-largest conglomerate remains uncertain with the chairman Chey and vice chairman Chey Jae-won of SK Group recently sentenced to four-year and three-year-and-six-month jail
BUSINESS
March 28-April 3, 2014
#1 Lee Myung-hee
#2 Hong Ra-hee
1.57 trillion won 1.45 trillion won ($1.46 billion) ($1.35 billion) ∫ Chairwoman of ∫ Director of the Leeum, Shinsegae Group Samsung Museum of Art ∫ Emart 1.18 trillion won ∫ Samsung Electronics ($1.1 billion) chairman Lee Kun hee’swife ∫ Shinsegae 381 billion won ∫ Samsung Electronics ($355 million) 1.45 trillion won ($1.35 billion)
terms, respectively, on charges of embezzlement. Shin Young-ja, the elder sister of Lotte Group’s chairman Shin Dong-bin and head of Lotte
#3 Lee Boo-jin
#4 Lee Seo-hyun
537.5 billion won ($500.8 million) ∫ Head of Hotel Shilla ∫ The eldest daughter of Samsung Electronics | chairman Lee Kun-hee ∫ Samsung Everland 450 billion won ($419.3 million) Samsung SDS 83 billion won ($77.3 million)
537.5 billion won ($500.8 million) ∫ Head of fashion division in Samsung Everland ∫ Second daughter of Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee ∫ Samsung Everland 450 billion won ($419.3 million) Samsung SDS 83 billionwon ($77.3 million)
Welfare Foundation, retains a stake worth 270 billion won. Unlike other super rich women, Shin holds a considerable amount in flagship operations of the
country’s fifth-largest conglomerate, including Lotte Shopping, Lotte Confectionery and Lotte Chilsung Beverage—Intern Reporter Ock Hyun-ju Contributed to this Article. ¬
March 28-April 3, 2014
LIFE
SPOTLIGHT On the problem of bogus passports Regardless of how the mystery of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 ends, it has already left a mark on global aviation security
JEREMY AU YONG The Straits Times Singapore
LIFE
March 28-April 3, 2014
AFP
S
ecurity experts in the United States—a country which put in place some of the most stringent airport checks after the Sept 11, 2001— say that airports all around the world will now likely review how they process passports to ferret out bogus ones. "I think the fact that two people were able to board this airplane with stolen passports— even if they have nothing to do with the crashed airplane—underscores a vulnerability," said Brian Michael Jenkins, a former member of then President Bill Clinton's White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security who is now senior adviser to the president of the policy think-tank Rand Corporation. "Governments are going to be reviewing those procedures to ensure that people are boarding flights with a valid passport." And if terrorism turns out to
STUDENTS STAND NEXT TO A GIANT MURAL FEATURING MISSING MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT MH370 DISPLAYED ON THE GROUNDS OF THEIR SCHOOL IN MANILA'S FINANCIAL DISTRICT OF MAKATI.
be a key factor in the MH370 incident, there may well be a halt to the recent shift towards screening passengers based on risk from a one-size-fits-all
approach. For passengers, that might mean recent changes to improve convenience for frequent fliers—like an express airport security lane—are rolled back.
LIFE
March 28-April 3, 2014
The presence on board the missing plane of two passengers travelling on stolen passports has been a key source of speculation about foul play on the flight. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is now checking the fingerprints of the two passengers provided by the Malaysians against its database of criminals. Recent Interpol reports, however, suggest that passengers travelling on stolen passports are not entirely uncommon. The global police agency estimates that last year, over 1 billion passengers got on flights without having their passports screened against its database of more than 40 million stolen or lost travel documents. Of the passengers that were screened, some 60,000 were found to have been using stolen passports. Experts say, though, that tightening controls may be more complex than just making all immi-
gration agents query the database. "Checking every single passenger against a list of millions of stolen passports, just the sheer volume of it, inevitably there are going to be errors. If you are going to check, then you have to have a way of resolving the discrepancy. That's going to slow things down, people are going to miss flights and it will cause irritation," said Jenkins. If anything, countries have been moving towards loosening immigration controls rather than tightening them. This is in part a response to passengers' increasing impatience over intrusive procedures and also a move by airports to focus resources on passengers deemed to be of the highest risk. In January, the European Commission started to allow passengers to take on board larger bottles of liquids purchased from duty-free stores outside the European Union, with an eye on com-
pletely lifting restrictions in 2016. The ban on large containers of liquids and gels was put in place in 2006 after British authorities uncovered a plot to bomb transatlantic flights with liquid explosives hidden in soft drink bottles. In the US, the Transportation Security Administration recently launched a Pre-Check programme that allows pre-approved passengers to skip many screening inconveniences like removing shoes or taking a laptop out of a bag. In December, the Federal Communications Commission said it was going to consider lifting the ban on in-flight mobile phone use. A passenger flying cross-country in the US would have phone signal for much of his journey. "I think we are seeing a little bit of a disturbing trend," said Jeffrey Price, an airport security coordinator trainer for the American Association of Airport Executives.
LIFE
March 28-April 3, 2014
AFP
"We're kind of doing what we always do where the further away we get from tragedy, the more we forget that it happens and the more we forget why we do the things we do." Price, who also owns aviation management consulting firm Leading Strategies, added that the real impact on security will depend on the precise circumstances surrounding the fate of the Malaysia Airlines jet. Douglas Laird, a former secret service agent who is now president of aviation security firm Laird and Associates, echoes these sentiments. "If this aircraft was brought down by a bomb, what was the explosive, were chemicals combined on the airplane to make the explosive or did they come aboard the airliner with the explosive already made," he said. He said, however, that every airline incident inevitably leads to reviews that seek to stop the same mistake from happening. He recounted, for example, how
A JOURNALIST HOLDING UP PICTURES OF THE TWO PASSENGERS WHO BOARDED THE ILL-FATED MH370 USING FAKE PASSPORTS.
a presidential commission proposed more stringent screening of checked-in bags after Trans World Airlines flight 800 blew up in 1996, even though the cause was ultimately deemed to be mechanical failure. "I would hope some good comes out of it and that we de-
cide how to do things better. It might be a better way of screening passengers, it might be a better way of screening luggage, but (what is) more important to me is we need to get a handle on stolen and fraudulent passports."
LIFE
March 28-April 3, 2014
NIRMAL GHOSH The Straits Times Bangkok
A Sri Lankan Tamil guerilla army tries to build a submarine in Phuket. An Indian mafia don, with a bullet wound inflicted by a rival gang in a shooting in Bangkok, climbs out of the window of his hospital room using ropes and bed sheets, and is spirited away to Cambodia in a waiting van. Alleged operatives of a Middle Eastern militant group stumble out of a house, wounded and bleeding, after a massive explosion on a quiet afternoon in a middle class enclave in Bangkok. The incidents point to Thailand as a hive of international criminal activity—and it is. Well known for its laissez faire culture and pliable
wards tourists. It is a free-forall. The organisations come here because they are banned in other countries. The Russian mafia is active in Pattaya and Phuket. The police only react when the top brass tells them to. Otherwise they close an eye, or are themselves involved." Fake identity cards of all descriptions—from driving licences to press cards to accreditation cards for a whole range of vocations from air crew to students—are available openly on Khao San Road, Bangkok's backpacker hub. A Singapore driving licence costs just 800 baht (US$25). At first glance, the fake IDs seem like harmless fun. But they are good enough to work—and can be used to build an identity. A former Interpol officer, now involved in training enforcement agencies, told The Straits Times he showed a fake Myanmar driving licence obtained in Thailand to a
THE STRAITS TIMES
Thailand a haven for criminals and fugitives
TRANSNATIONAL CRIME DATABASE AT PATTAYA IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.
police, Thailand is "a haven for criminals and fugitives", said an intelligence and security analyst who asked not to be named. He added: "And as for passport fraud, a lot of people 'lose' their passports; I have to say the probability of having your passport stolen in Thailand is high. There are criminal syndicates working to fleece foreigners. "Thailand is inexpensive, and there is an open-door policy to-
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March 28-April 3, 2014
traffic policeman in Yangon—who pronounced it the real thing. Counterfeiting rackets go beyond ID cards. Thailand has a thriving fake passport racket. In 2010, Pakistani Muhammad Ather "Tony" Butt, who ran a passport forgery ring in the country for 10 years, was arrested in Thailand. One of the rooms in his Bangkok flat was like a "factory" with high-definition scanners and printers and hundreds of passports, photos and visa stamps, said the Thai investigator who led the bust, Tinawut Slilapat. Tinawut told the media at the time that Butt chose Thailand as a base because "it is easy to enter and leave and, more importantly, some officials don't regard passport forgery as a serious offence". "Their attitude is, they are dealing only with foreign passports, but not Thai, so why should (they) worry." Tinawaut could not be contacted for this article. But a Thai official who works with the country's National Security Council,
who asked not to be named, said: "We are aware of it. Even if Thailand is not the target, this creates problems for Thailand." In January 2012, Thai police seized several tonnes of urea fertiliser and ammonia nitrate that can be used to make bombs and arrested Atris Hussein, who had dual Lebanese and Swedish nationality. As a major air transport hub, Bangkok also offers easy transit for contraband. Indian intelligence agencies have detected fake rupees printed in Pakistan and routed through Bangkok and Dhaka in Bangladesh to Kathmandu in Nepal. From there, it is moved across the porous land border into India. From January 2010 to June 2013, Indian enforcement agencies seized about US$17 million worth of fake rupees. Thailand's turning into a hub for international crime "began in the 1970s, when Black September (a Palestinian group) took hostages at the Israeli Embassy in Bang-
kok", recalls security expert professor Panitan Wattanayagorn of Chulalongkorn University. In subsequent cases in Thailand, including aircraft hijacks, groups involved were often found to have networks in Bangkok, he said. "Today, this has become more intense because there is more connectivity, there are more tourists, there is more openness. "But the government is working with almost 20 countries on this, there is a United States Federal Bureau of Investigation centre here, and from time to time there are special operations." While Panitan acknowledged corruption among local police, he said Thailand's Special Branch and intelligence were "very good on the ground". "They keep a close watch all the time. The world knows already that Thailand is a hub for this sort of thing, and the National Security Council has formally listed transnational crime as an area of concern."
LIFE
March 28-April 3, 2014
Revealing Thailand’s ‘underground railroad’
The woman in Grand Horizon, a travel agency in Phuket, raised her hand and said "No, no, no" as I walked in. But by then I was already inside. "You have to understand, it is not our fault," she said repeatedly, her eyes darting nervously to the glass doors. She wore a hijab, carefully torn jeans and hazel-coloured contact lenses. She refused to give her name. Another woman sitting at the counter, also in a hijab and coloured contact lenses, did not move, but just looked resigned and smiled at me. Several police agencies in Pattaya have been sifting through the facts and the speculation to piece together the trail that began when an Austrian and an Italian had their passports stolen in Phuket. The thefts occurred over the last two years.
IRANIAN NATIONAL, ALI REZA HASHEM, WHO APPARENTLY ONCE OWNED A RESTAURANT IN PATTAYA AND NOW LIVES IN HIS NATIVE IRAN, MADE THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT RESERVATIONS THROUGH THIS TRAVEL AGENCY FOR THE TWO PASSENGERS WHO USED FAKE PASSPORTS TO FLY FROM KUALA LUMPUR TO BEIJING AND ON TO EUROPE.
The use of the stolen passports to buy tickets on the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH370—for two Iranian men, including a 19-year-old who was flying to Frankfurt where his mother was waiting for him—has shone a harsh light on Thailand as a hub for stolen, fake and altered passports, and an illegal migration route. It has been a laborious investigation, hampered by a blizzard of rumour and speculation. What is known now is that an Iranian national, Ali Reza Hashem, who apparently once owned a restaurant in Pattaya and now lives in his native Iran, made the original flight reservations for the two, who were routed to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and on to Europe.
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March 28-April 3, 2014
Ali Reza Hashem still has friends and connections in Pattaya. Reports citing official records say he last entered Thailand on June 11, 2013, and left on December 1 that year—just three months ago. Once the reservations were made online, on China Southern Airlines which had a code share with MH370, a friend of Ali in Pattaya, identified in reports as Hashem Saheb Gharani Golestani, also an Iranian, apparently paid for the two tickets from Grand Horizon. Grand Horizon is not accredited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and thus did not issue the tickets. Instead it asked an accredited travel agency, Six Stars, to issue them. This is quite routine for non-accredited agencies. Neither of the agencies saw anything amiss when they saw the photocopies of the two passengers' passports. The woman in Grand Horizon said Ali was well known to the
agency, but insisted she had never seen him herself. He often e-mailed ticket requests, she said, as she saw me out and locked the door behind me, shutting out another journalist trying to get in. The agency is in a Middle Eastern quarter of Pattaya, a city of less than half a million people, but swollen by between 7 and 9 million tourists annually. Egyptian and Moroccan sheesha restaurants, Arabic boutiques, Indian restaurants are cheek by jowl with tour agencies and massage parlours. Pattaya's crammed beaches and its central police station reflect the international traffic in this city— and what can go wrong. Volunteer police officers from other countries are part of the staff at the police station. A few kilometres away at the immigration office, a Turkish man who speaks three languages helps officers at the Transnational Crime Data Centre communicate with foreigners.
Police have been to see Golestani in Pattaya, and through him have tried to contact Ali, who has not responded, says Pattaya police chief Colonel Supachai Puikaekham. The authorities in Thailand, Malaysia and at Interpol have concluded that while terrorism cannot be entirely ruled out, the evidence thus far on the stolen passport issue points to illegal migration. Still, the episode has lifted the lid on the "underground railroad" —a term once used to describe the slave trade and persisting now to describe modern illegal migration. In many cases, tourists who need money even sell their passports and then report them as stolen. Thailand does not have its own database of lost and stolen passports, but is now mulling setting one up. It has been a wake-up call and drawn unwanted international attention—something Thai authorities are always wary of.
LIFE
March 28-April 3, 2014
‘Made in Khao San’ IDs
to the man, this time set slightly back from the street, at a discreet table with two stools. He was a Thai man, in a blue shirt and with glasses. There was an air of edginess from the start. "What country?" he asked me. I told him I was Indian and he looked incredulous. But then he produced a large album—the kind used to hold business cards —for me to flip through.
THE STRAITS TIMES
Khao San Road, crammed with budget tourists from across the world, has long been a backpacker hub for Southeast Asia. The streets are lined with restaurants, guest houses, travel agents and shops selling cheap cotton clothes and souvenirs. Police lounge at either end of the 200m street, keeping an eye on things. Itinerant Indian "fortune tellers" and Nepali tattoo touts lurk and accost passersby. "You have a very lucky face," one Indian "fortune teller" told me. Normally, the handful of vendors making fake identity cards is quite visible. On Wednesday though, I had to hunt for one. I asked a Nepali boy who was try‘MADE IN KHAO SAN’ SINGAPORE DRIVING LICENSE (SCROLL ing to find customers for a LEFT) LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL (SCROLL RIGHT), tattoo shop, and he took me EXCEPT FOR THE LACK OF HOLOGRAM IMAGE.
In it were well over 100 samples of identity cards, from driving licenses to student passes to airline crew passes and many others. There was even an Interpol ID card and a Singapore IC. When I expressed surprise at the Interpol card he immediately gave a start and said "Are you Interpol? Are you Interpol?" but I laughed it off. I chose a Singapore driving license and a Qatar Airways crew card. They cost 800 baht (US$24.72) each, he informed me, and would take an hour and a half to make. I gave him a couple of passport photographs I had brought for the occasion, and he said that for the airline card, he could alter the photograph to have me in a suit and tie. I asked him quietly if he knew anyone who could make a passport, and he said he did
LIFE
March 28-April 3, 2014
THE STRAITS TIMES
‘MADE IN KHAO SAN’ SINGAPORE DRIVING LICENSE (SCROLL LEFT) LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL (SCROLL RIGHT), EXCEPT FOR THE LACK OF HOLOGRAM IMAGE.
LIFE
March 28-April 3, 2014
not. I asked whether he made Thai IDs and he said: "I don't do Thai." This was something a law enforcement source had told me— the fake ID peddlers don't ever make Thai IDs, which is why the police leave them alone. It is also probable that they pay the police, my source said— entirely believable given the environment and the trade they are in. When I arrived at the appointed hour, the man asked me again "Are you police?" I laughed and shook my head. Then he asked where I lived and what I was doing in Bangkok. He seemed satisfied by what I told him. Then a young South Asian man who seemed to be helping him appeared and pressed a folded piece of paper into my hand. Inside were the cards. In my hands were a spanking new Singapore driving licence, and a Qatar Airways crew card. The only difference from the real
VISITORS TO BANGKOK'S KHAO SAN ROAD CAN BUY ANYTHING FROM STREET FOOD TO SOUVENIRS TO FAKE IDS.
Singapore licence was the absence of the holograms. The fake ID vendors do not seem to be able to make cards with holograms. Yet, on the face of it, the cards were startlingly realistic.
"If any enforcement officer just takes a quick look, or Googles these documents to compare them, they are unlikely to spot any problem," said my enforcement source. ¬
March 28-April 3, 2014
NORTH KOREAN ELECTORATES AFTER CASTING THEIR VOTES IN THE ELECTION OF DEPUTIES TO THE 13TH SUPREME PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY AT A POLLING STATION.
AFP
The Democratic farce of North Korea
POLITICS
POLITICS
March 28-April 3, 2014
AFP
MARTIN VENGADESAN The Star Petaling Jaya
C
itizens of the the People's Democratic Republic of Korea have dutifully gone to the polls and voted for the government. In overwhelming numbers. Let's not be too impressed, though. The choice was stark, vote for Kim Jong-un and company or not vote for his party and run the risk of being “exposed” as a traitor. By all accounts this means a swift execution or a lifetime of hard labour in brutal prison camps. What most of the world takes for granted, even under many other iron-fisted regimes—a protest vote for the opposition—is simply not an option in North Korea for there is no opposition.
NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS DANCING AFTER CASTING THEIR VOTES IN THE ELECTION OF DEPUTIES TO THE 13TH SUPREME PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY ON MARCH 9, 2014.
Voting is compulsory and there is only one state-approved candidate to vote for. And so, as it has done for every election since 1948, the party of Kim Jong-un and his ancestors/predecessors has bagged 100 per cent of the vote. Technically Kim’s Workers Party is the dominant one in a coalition government called the
Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland. There are also a couple of smaller puppet parties and a few independents. But basically all real power is concentrated in the hands of the emperor and his acolytes, in the name of a workers’ paradise. Hard as it is to believe, it was not always thus.
March 28-April 3, 2014
POLITICS
NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG-UN CASTING HIS BALLOT IN THE ELECTION OF A DEPUTY TO THE SUPREME PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY ON MARCH 9.
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March 28-April 3, 2014
After the end of World War II and Korea’s liberation by the Allied powers, Kim Il-sung had to fight for supremacy with other factions in the North. Korea’s Communists at the time included some from the South, those who had formed anti-Japanese resistance in the North, and others trained by the Chinese and by the Soviets. Far from the obvious choice at first, Kim Il-sung succeeded in outmanoeuvring his rivals by the late 1940s and disposed of them in a round of purges a decade later. By that time his all-powerful cult of personality was well established. One of the quirkier experiences I had growing up was at the International School of Bangkok. For three months in 1989, I sat in between a North Korean and a South Korean at study hall. Oddly enough the North Korean Hong was a bubbly fellow while Kim the South Korean was
taciturn and paranoid. For two months I was in the rather awkward position of talking to each of them in turn. Hong was eager to find out about the outside world, but he didn’t really tell me much about life in Kim Il-sung’s Korea. He did expose me to an interesting point of view when I tried to tell him about religion, and he called it superstition, and I tried to debate the difference between the two, and couldn’t really provide an adequate explanation to him. Kim on the other hand was quietly driven but very anxious that his words not be overheard by his countryman. The ice in this mini Cold War finally thawed when Kim brought in a Korean-English dictionary and Hong just couldn’t fight his own curiosity. Within minutes he was practically leaning over my desk and when he posed a question to Kim,
the latter stared in shock into space for a few seconds before he decided to talk. They started conversing haltingly and then a bit more animatedly, while I stepped back, feeling like I’d done my bit for world peace. It didn't last long though, as both left school during the summer holidays. The world has taken divergent paths since then. South Korea racing ahead economically and even socially with horror movies and Gangnam styles (although I can’t always tell which is which). It’s hard to tell how true reports are of North Korea being one big concentration camp, but there are little signs to indicate otherwise. Perhaps one day, the people of North Korea can go to the polls and deliver a result which shows that perfection doesn’t always mean 100 per cent. ¬
POLITICS
March 28-April 3, 2014
Despite a thick dossier of formal apologies made by Japan over the decades, many of its war victims—particularly Koreans—believe the country has not apologised enough
AFP PHOTOS
THE UNFORGIVEN
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March 28-April 3, 2014
H
KIM MYONG-SIK The Korea Herald Seoul EVERT ELZINGA/AFP
JAPANESE PM SHINZO ABE DURING HIS VISIT TO THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE IN AMSTERDAM ON MARCH 23, 2014.
ere in Korea and other countries of East Asia that suffered from Japanese imperialist aggression, people often ask why the Japanese do not learn from the German model of historical contrition, best exemplified by Willy Brandt’s “Warsaw Genuflection” in 1970. The answer, I believe, lies in the psychological differences between the two peoples, rooted in their religious cultures. For Germans, their basically Christian faith requires repentance—for any guilt, sin or crime committed individually or collectively—as the single condition for salvation. In everyday prayers, they confess their wrongdoings to be forgiven by their god and thus earn a degree of moral cleansing. The Japanese culture, as I understand it, does not have such a process of thinking. Contrition—the admission
of guilt—should only be answered by death, often self-inflicted. This may sound a little too simplistic but it can explain why the East Asian victims are unsatisfied with the many “apologies” made by Japanese officials and regret the absence of real atonement. The Japanese Foreign Ministry has a dossier of formal apologies from as many as 50 occasions, stretching from Emperor Hirohito’s statement to Gen. MacArthur in 1945 to former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s as late as October 2013. Still, 82 per cent of Koreans believe Japan has not properly apologised, according to a recent survey. Shinzo Abe, who began his second term as prime minister in December 2012, has become by far the most hated Japanese head of government for Kore-
March 28-April 3, 2014
POLITICS
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP
SOUTH KOREAN ACTIVISTS WEAR THE MASKS OF SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE (2ND L) AND JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHINZO ABE (L) DURING AN ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST IN SEOUL ON MARCH 21, 2014.
March 28-April 3, 2014
POLITICS
TORU YAMANAKA/AFP
JAPANESE WOMEN HOLD PORTRAITS OF CHINESE, PHILIPPINE, SOUTH KOREAN AND TAIWANESE FORMER COMFORT WOMEN WHO WERE SEX SLAVES FOR JAPANESE SOLDIERS DURING WORLD WAR II, AT A PROTEST HELD IN FRONT OF THE JAPANESE PARLIAMENT IN TOKYO IN JUNE 2007.
POLITICS
March 28-April 3, 2014
ans in recent decades. He set a breathtaking pace, alerting and angering his Korean and Chinese neighbours with one nationalistic move after another. He made a strong push for the revision of the 1947 “Peace Constitution” to abrogate the no-war clause. He visited the Yasukuni Shrine and asserted that the war criminals enshrined there committed no crimes under Japanese laws. During the past few years no particularly grave or violent ethnic incident has happened in either country. The March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami raised a wave of sympathy, prompting people from all walks of life to send relief goods to the disaster zone. However, Japanese politicians’ sudden initiatives on the Dokdo Islets, with some lawmakers attempting to land on Ulleungdo Island near Dokdo, quickly changed the mood.
Then South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited Dokdo in August 2012, becoming the first Korean head of state to do so, and remarked that Japanese Emperor Akihito should first issue an official apology to Koreans if he wanted to visit the country. The reasons why the president performed these abrupt acts near the end of his tenure were not clear, but he raised an uproar in Japan, while some of his compatriots said he was out of line. When Park Geun-hye succeeded him, largely helped by her father’s legacy as the founder of industrialised Korea, she knew that Park Chung-hee’s affinity toward Japan had better be swept under the carpet. Since her inauguration last year, she has remained inflexible with Tokyo as Abe has escalated his nationalist drive. Only when Abe took a small step back two weeks ago, vowing to honour
earlier government pronouncements on past history, including Yohei Kono’s statement on the “comfort women”, Park said it was “fortunate”. And Tokyo “welcomed” her reaction. Politics and politicians cannot bring the two peoples any closer. Since diplomatic normalisation in 1965, 20 years after liberation at the end of World War II, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges have steadily moved ahead, but historical issues have gone from bad to worse because of nationalist appeals and agitation in the political sector on both sides. Heated controversies have included the issue of history textbooks, the semantics of apologies, wartime sex slavery and now the constitutional amendment scheme. While we Koreans are fed up by the Japanese evasiveness regarding historical responsibility,
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March 28-April 3, 2014
Japanese intellectuals complain that no words can satisfy Koreans, Taiwanese and Chinese. In the media space, perhaps the most radical analysis has been made by Katsuhiro Kuroda, a columnist for the Japanese right-wing newspaper Sankei who claims to have been branded anti-Korean in Seoul and pro-Korean in Tokyo. The 40-year specialist on Korea believes that the root of Koreans’ antipathy toward Japan lies in their frustration with having been passively liberated from Japanese rule without the chance to remove the colonisers through their own independence war, unlike the Vietnamese, Indonesians and Indians. There is no other way for Koreans to resolve their anti-Japanese sentiment than fighting a war with Japan and winning it, he argues. There may be some other pes-
simists here who would agree with the 74-year-old Kuroda, even if they would not accept his categorisation of the disputes over the Dokdo Islets, “comfort women” and East Sea as part of an unending war in the minds of Koreans. Then is there really no future between the two neighbours? Remedial steps are suggested by respected thinkers who find great value in the common ideological identity of the two countries, both of which believe in liberal democracy and the free market. Lee Sang-woo, director of the New Asia Research Institute, proposed that “a multi-tiered complex system” be applied to the relationship. A “value alliance” is desirable between the two neighbours to pursue economic, cultural and security interests on separate spheres of cooperation. The global community in the
21st century operates through a multi-tiered complex system that does not allow for interference across different planes, he observes. Yes, our neighbourly relations will have a future as long as some restaurants in Myeong-dong and Insa-dong are half filled with Japanese patrons regardless of Shinzo Abe’s politics or the weak yen, and as long as there are conscientious voices reprimanding anti-Korean demonstrators in the streets of downtown Tokyo and Osaka. These are aspects of the multi-tiered system. Anyway, history will advance undisturbed by nationalist-populist noises, without Kuroda’s “war”. Kim Myong-sik, a former editorial writer for The Korea Herald, has served as head of the Korea Overseas Information Service.¬
ENTERTAINMENT
March 28-April 3, 2014
King Khan still reigns Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan shares insight into his craft, his stardom and the industry he has dedicated his life to SHARMILA GANESAN The Star Petaling Jaya
I
t was wholly unexpected that the man who styles himself as King Khan and the Baadshah (Emperor) of Bollywood would turn out to be one of the most self-effacing and down-to-earth celebrities I’ve ever met; yet there he was, Shah Rukh Khan in the flesh, apologising for taking a phone call during our interview and promising to stay back longer to make up for it. With various reports calling him everything from “over-confident” to “caustic”, I have to admit I approached the interview with a certain amount of trepida-
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March 28-April 3, 2014
tion—I was worried about the Bollywood superstar being a difficult interviewee, yes, but more truthfully, the die-hard fan in me was hesitant to have her illusions of the star shattered beyond repair. Fortunately, I not only came away from the interview with my obsession intact, but also with a newfound respect for the man and his ability to make those he meets feel welcome—from remembering their names to giving them his full attention during conversations.
Face of Bollywood
“Personally, I feel the kind of role I should play for Bollywood is to create an international appreciation of it; not just as a fad, not just as kitsch, but as a (legitimate industry). After all, India has a 100-year-old cinema industry, one of the oldest in the world,” says Shah Rukh, who was in Kuala Lumpur recently for his Temptation Reloaded concert.
There are arguably few others with his kind of clout. Often dubbed one of the biggest movie stars in the world, 48-year-old Shah Rukh’s global fanbase numbers reach well into the hundreds of millions. Besides acting, he also produces, hosts television programmes and co-owns an Indian cricket team. His work in Indian cinema has garnered him numerous accolades, including 14 Filmfare Awards, a Padma Shri from the Indian government (the country’s fourth highest civilian award), and the Order Of Arts And Letters from the French government. Perhaps more significantly, he is the leading man in some of Hindi cinema’s biggest hits, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Devdas and Kal Ho Naa Ho—13 of his movies have grossed over 53.8 million ringgit (US$1.15 million) world-
wide, making him one of the most successful Indian film stars of all time. Best known for reinventing the role of the romantic hero in Bollywood, the dimpled actor is also the enduring heartthrob of a whole generation of moviegoers, creating iconic lover-boy roles that any Bollywood fan would recognise (one need only mention the names “Raj” or “Rahul” to
March 28-April 3, 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT
March 28-April 3, 2014
bring to mind his most memorable characters). Yet, Shah Rukh has a diverse portfolio of roles, having dabbled in genres as varied as comedy, thrillers and period pieces, and has to his name a selection of critically-acclaimed films that have gathered much praise for his acting, such as Dil Se, Swades, Chak De! India, and My Name Is Khan (MNIK). Asked if there was a specific kind of character he’d like to play, Shah Rukh says he prefers to let the process happen on its own. “I used to think I had to plan it, and that if I got a certain kind of role then I should essay it in a certain way, but there’s a huge change from the script to what happens on celluloid. So I’ve realised, after working for 25 years, that it’s nicer to let it remain organic.” People, he adds, always come first for him.
“When deciding on my next role, I always look at working with people I enjoy first, rather than the script. So sometimes I end up doing a film where the script may not be the main appeal, but the people are, and I enjoy that. “I have many dreams as an actor, but I think just following them will be a little selfish. I have a company, people that work with me and people that want to make a film. Apart from that, there is a whole section of the audience that want to be entertained more than to think seriously, while there is the other segment that likes to think seriously, so I have to keep that balance. It is difficult at times, so I let things be organic, and hope that will work out for everyone,” he explains. With three confirmed projects in the pipeline over the next two years, Shah Rukh certainly has plenty to keep him busy. Follow-
ing the masala comedy Chennai Express last year, 2014 will see the release of Happy New Year (HNY), a multi-star production directed by his longtime friend Farah Khan (who also helmed his Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om). Following that is Fan, with upand-coming director Maneesh Sharma, which supposedly casts Shah Rukh in the role of a diehard fan. “I believe everything I am is because of my fans, and this film is the point of view of a fan: how it could be, should be, may be. It’s intriguing, like a thriller, and I’ve not done something like that in a while,” says Shah Rukh. “And then, after Chennai Express and HNY, I feel that as an actor, I need to do something more internalised, so there’s this film called Raees (a crime drama slated to be released in 2015). That’s how I decide and work. I
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March 28-April 3, 2014
choose the few projects I like, and tell the people working with me, these are the things I want to do, and you guys decide which we start first.”
Serious business
Surprisingly, Shah Rukh shares that he finds it more challenging to take on the broad, larger-thanlife characters as compared to the more complex, introspective ones. Roles like those in Chak De! India (where he plays a disgraced former sportsman) and MNIK (a character with Asperger’s Syndrome), he points out, are closer to reality and therefore can be put together by observing and being inspired by people in real life. “Those in-your-face, populist roles, however, like in Chennai Express, are very difficult to do, because there’s no base for
it, you’re creating it from zero. It’s a free-flowing thing you do, and you don’t know what shape it will take; it may turn out awful or fantastic, but you can’t revisit it once it’s done.” As to whether his stardom affects the kinds of roles he takes, Shah Rukh is remarkably nonchalant. “I think these discussions are from the periphery. Let me be honest, if you’re a true actor, which I’d like to believe I am, I don’t talk much about acting. “What I do in the form of art, there’s no point in discussing it, saying the actor in me wants this or that. To me nothing comes in the way of my art, whether it is stardom or failure. “People assume I don’t take acting seriously because I don’t talk too seriously about it, but I’m from theatre, I’m a very serious actor. I just don’t want you
to know my seriousness, I want you to simply enjoy. “It’s like your mother’s cooking, you never know what she puts into it, you just eat it and say ‘Wow!’. I take acting with a great amount of piety, I’m religious about it. To me, acting is what I was made for.” ¬
TRAVEL
March 28-April 3, 2014
PHILIPPINES
THE PLACE TO BE THIS SUMMER Beaches, Historical Spots, Food—these are some of the reasons why this country of more than 7,000 islands is worth exploring FEATURES DESK Philippine Daily Inquirer Manila
PHILIPPINW DAILY INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
CORON , PALAWAN
TRAVEL
March 28-April 3, 2014
It is always great to be in this country that fuses together urban sophistication, impressive skylines, gorgeous beaches and the friendliest people on this side of the world, and it’s hard not to look forward to staying there at its finest—during the summer.
Yes, the Philippines boasts of some of the most exciting prospects for the summer, that's from March to the end of May. So before you book that trip to the Maldives or Ibiza, here are a few good reasons to make you spend the summer holidays in the Philippines. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
CORREGIDOR
You can go back in time
Well, it doesn’t literally mean going back in time, but the Philippines is home to some of the most historic spots in the world! Corregidor Island, for one, is guaranteed to transport you back into the Second World War with its perfectly maintained Malinta Tunnel and Pacific War Memorial, among others. But if that’s not up your alley, fear not—there are many other options to satisfy your craving for exciting history. There’s also Mactan Island to check out Magellan’s Cross, or Fort Santiago to be a witness to the heroics of the Filipinos during the Spanish era.
TRAVEL
March 28-April 3, 2014
BORACAY
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March 28-April 3, 2014
BORACAY
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March 28-April 3, 2014
PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARASIGAN
WHALESHARK OF OSLOB , CEBU
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March 28-April 3, 2014
SIARGAO
You can finally catch that perfect wave Even Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers can attest to this—the Philippines boasts of some of the best surf spots in the world. Be sure
to check out Siargao island for a thrilling adventure that will surely be the talk of the town for whole of the summer. CNN agrees too—the Cloud Nine
surfing hotspot on Siargao is among their Top 50 Best Surf Spots in the World. Now why would you want to miss out on that?
TRAVEL
March 28-April 3, 2014
The food (Oh yes, the food)
From the sisig (a meat or fish dish seasoned with lemon or vinegar and seasoned with salt, pepper and other spices) of Pampanga in Luzon to the lechon (roast pig) of Cebu, there is no end to the culinary feast that the Philippines can bring. The Philippines is home to a wide range of quality dishes—both local and international fare. Whether it’s a frosty glass of halo-halo by the beach that you’re craving for, or a sumptuous lechon dinner at the heart of the city, or a quick 2-piece chicken meal from Jollibee, the Philippines has it —and so much more.
scenic destinations in the country, exciting Boracay island for the partygoers and socialisers and beautiful Palawan for some of the most exotic and solitary beaches in the Philippines. Local travel website tripmoba.com has some enticing travel packages for many of the country’s top beach destinations, and it’s so simple to use—a few clicks and you’re in for a summer holiday you won’t ever forget.
The list never ends
In the Philippines, you'll never run out of things to do— whether going on a hike up Mt. Pinatubo, riding horses in Baguio or partying the night away around The Fort or Capitol Commons. The country offers a widely extensive list of things to do, making it the perfect summer destination for families, colleagues and friends.
It has some of the best beaches
The summer is the perfect time to hit the beaches around the Philippines—and there are just so many to choose from. There’s the gorgeous Bohol for one of the most
LECHON
HALO-HALO
TRAVEL
March 28-April 3, 2014
WHALE SHARKS OF OSLOB, CEBU PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARASIGAN
There’s always something to do for everyone You don’t have to worry about mom getting bored or your youngest brother getting restless this summer—there are so many things to do across many different age groups, and now that it’s summer, there’s even more time to do it. Tripmoba. com has a wide range of flights, ho-
tels and experience packages that cater to many different ages and interests, and all it takes is a click of a button. The up-and-coming Filipino website is so efficient that it’ll take just a few minutes to get your dream destination started.
The Philippines is a melting pot of diversity—among people, cultures and natural wonders, and this summer, the country is set to take the centre stage and show the world why it really is more fun in the Philippines.¬
March 28-April 3, 2014
¬ Singapore International Coin Fair 2014 Are you into coin collection? If you are, then you should not miss the Singapore International Coin Fair 2014. It is one of Asia’s most prestigious coin and banknote events, attracting more than 9,000 visitors yearly.
When: March 28-30; Friday: 10am-6pm; Saturday: 10am-6:30pm; Sunday: 10am-5pm Where: Level 1, Hall A Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre Tel. No.: (65) 6547 5586
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March 28-April 3, 2014
¬ Singapore Yiruma Live in Singapore 2014 In Singapore for the first time, Yiruma (Lee Ru-ma), the internationally renowned pianist composer from South Korea is holding a one-night-only concern. Among Yiruma’s most popular pieces are “River Flows in You,” “Kiss the Rain,” and “May Be”.
When: April 15; 8pm-9:30pm Where: The Star Performing Arts Centre 1 Vista Exchange Green, #04-01, Singapore Info: (65) 6348 5555
DATEBOOK
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DATEBOOK
March 28-April 3, 2014
ÂŹ Bangkok 2014 FTISLAND 6th Anniversary Concert (FTHX) Four One One Entertainment brings Korean pop/rock band FTIsland back to Bangkok for its 6th anniversary concert. The band debuted in 2007 and was among the trailblazers in K-pop's batch of young and good-looking rockers who also appear on TV variety and drama shows. Thailand is an important place in the group's history as they held their first overseas concert in Bangkok on April 12, 2008. They have previously performed in Bangkok in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
When: March 29, 6pm Where: Bitec Hall, Bangkok Tickets: www.thaiticketmajor.com
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March 28-April 3, 2014
ÂŹ Manila Dog Whisperer in Manila Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan is holding a training demonstration in Manila. He will also be available for a question and answer session with his audience.
When : April 29; 7:30 p.m. Where: Eastwood Central Plaza
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DATEBOOK
March 28-April 3, 2014
¬ Manila The 1975 Live at Manila’s Ayala Malls Music Management International and Ayala Malls are bringing to Manila British alternative/indie rock band The 1975. The Manchester-based four-man band is composed of Matthew Healy (vocal, guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums) and Ross MacDonald (bass). The bank has released four EPs: Facedown, Sex, Music for Cars and IV.
When: March 27-29
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March 28-April 3, 2014
DATEBOOK
ÂŹ Malaysia International Air Balloon Festival The colourful hot air balloon comes back to Malaysia's Federal Territory of Putrajaya for the sixth year running. A fun-filled event for the whole family, this year's festival will see a fascinating line-up of international balloonists, along with a variety of other events.
When: March 27-30 Where: Presinct 2, Putrajaya Info: www.myballoonfiesta.com
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March 28-April 3, 2014
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March 28-April 3, 2014
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March 28-April 3, 2014
¬ Thailand Songkran People come from all over the world to celebrate Thailand's New Year's Day—a not-to-be-missed event popularly known as a day to splash water at other people indiscriminately. Traditionally, Thais commemorate this significant day by cleaning their houses and performing rituals at temples.
When: April 13-15
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ASIAN CITY GUIDE Asia News Network
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A guide to leading cities in Asia
THIS WEEK IN
BEIJING BANGKOK MANILA HONG KOKG SEOUL TOKYO SAPPORO TAIPEI SHANGHAI
TAIPEI
HIGHLIGHTS
What's on
Shopping
Eateries
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
¬ Taipei Pet Show Where: Taipei World Trade Center, Nangang Exhibition Hall What: The annual Taipei Pet Show is where you can hundreds of cute dogs, cats and other less seen pets. Meet furry friends at the pet fashion show, the pet “Olympics” and the pet talent contest. Pet lovers can also shop for food and accessories amongst the 600 booths.
¬ Cooking class at Jodie's Kitchen Where: Jodie’s Kitchen What: Learn how to cook delicious Taiwanese, Chinese and Thai dishes with experienced chef and cookery teacher, Jodie Tsao. All classes take place at Jodie’s cooking school near central Taipei.
NT$4,000 for one student, NT$7,000 for two students, NT$9,000 for three students, and NT$11,000 for four students.
NT$200 for adults / NT$100 for students and senior citizens.
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
TAIPEI
What’s on
¬ Monday Night Yoga with the EWCP Where: EWCP, Near the Technology Building MRT station. What: Renew and relax in the Hatha Yoga class taught by certified and experienced teachers. Classes are for all levels of practice and include a combination of traditional asanas (yoga postures), pranayama (breathing practices) and relaxation.
NT$ 300 per class
¬ Experience Japanese nostalgia at the Hot Springs Museum Where: Hot Springs Museum What: The original Japanese public bath is now the site of the Hot Springs Museum. It is a lovely Japanese-European building built in 1913 and has a strong Japanese nostalgia feeling quite common in Taiwan. Not to be missed are the large tatami room on the first floor and the pool on the ground floor. Free admission
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
TAIPEI
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
¬ Indoor shrimp fishing Where: Fishes The Shrimp Field What: Rent a rod with bait by the hour and sit around the cement pools full of big shrimps. The farm also has a restaurant where you can BBQ your shrimps after you catch them. Dishes on the side are served.
NT$500 for two hours with a rod and bait.
¬ Morning Tai Chi Where: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial What: Wake up at sunrise to take part in a gathering of Tai Chi aficionados near the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial. You can also climb 89 steps to the bronze statue of Chiang Kai Shek, learn about his life, or stroll around the gardens before catching a show at the Taiwan National Concert Hall. Free admission
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
¬ Live Music Where: Good Cho’s What: Good Cho’s, a 60-year-old former military village, is now a trendy bagel café, gallery and a lifestyle store. Dig into the fresh bagels and homemade yoghurt there and enjoy the live music performances. They also host a weekly outdoor flea market and an annual Simple Life music and art festival. Free admission
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
TAIPEI
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
¬ Art Exhibitions Where: Treasure Hill Artist Village What: Once a veterans' village, the Treasure Hill Artist Village is now home to 14 studios for an “Artists-in-Residence” program, with regular outdoor and indoor shows and exhibitions. Free admission
¬ Taroko Gorge Tour Where: Taroko Gorge What: The second largest national park in Taiwan, Taroko is famous for its spectacular cliffs and marble canyons. The Eternal Spring Shrine, Tunnel of Nine Turns, and Tiansiang Lodge are among the most photographed sights. Don’t miss the sunset at Chi Hsing Beach, too.
NT$5,900 for adult (above 12) / NT$4,000 for child (between 2 and 12)
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
What’s on
TAIPEI
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Shopping
¬ Taipei 101 (台北101) The 509-metre Taipei 101 used to be the world’s tallest building when it was completed. The bamboo-shaped skyscraper is still one of the most famous high-rise buildings in the world and definitely Taiwan’s most famous landmark. Located in Xinyi district, it stands in Taipei’s most prestigious shopping area full of upscale shopping malls with branded goods.
Address: 45, Shifu Rd, Taipei
¬ Ximending (西門町) Ximending is located next to the long-gone West Gate or Ximen. This is Taipei’s most trendy area today and the city’s biggest pedestrian area, always attracting young people. A place full of pubs, clubs, trendy shops, themed cafes and whacky restaurants, where you can eat snacks, shop or watch street performances. Spend an afternoon and evening here, meet friends, and dive in the crowds.
Address: Wanhua District, near Ximen MRT Station
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Shopping
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Shopping
TAIPEI
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Shopping
¬ Zhongshan North Road (中山北路) Tree-lined Zhonshan North Road is one of Taipei’s most prestigious shopping hubs. The high—end stores in the area include Louis Vuitton, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent. If you want to splurge, this is definitely the place to be in Taipei.
Address: Section 2, Zhongshan North Road Taipei City
¬ Shin Kong Mitsukoshi (新光三越) Headquartered in Tokyo Japan, the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store is the biggest department store in western Taipei. It sells a range of high-end brands and houses an entire floor dedicated to food.
Address: No. 66, Sec. 1, Chunghsiao West Road
¬ Miramar Entertainment Park
(美麗華百樂園)
The Miramar Entertainment Park is a new-age shopping and entertainment complex aimed at offering a full-day shopping and entertainment experience to visitors. The most striking feature of this park is a 95-metre high, 70-metre diameter Ferris wheel that lights up the Taipei skyline.
Address: No. 20, Jingye 3rd Rd (Jiannan Road TRTS Station)
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Shopping
¬ Jianguo Holiday Flower Market & Jade Market (建國假日玉花市) On every weekend and holiday, the Jianguo Holiday Flower Market, located under the overpass of Section 3, Xinyi Rd and Jianguo S. Rd, is packed with gardening lovers. Besides flowers and plants, the busy market also sells gardening instruments and seeds. Next to the flower market is the Holiday Jade Market which offers a wide selection of jade goods. Be it a bracelet or a Buddhist charm, the market will surely have what you are looking for.
Address: under the elevated Jianguo Expressway (between Renai and Xinyi Roads)
¬ Hope Market (希望廣場) Here you can find food products made by small local producers, such as Taiwanese teas, sauces, sweets and wines. One of the best farmers markets in Taipei, don’t forget to pick up some local fresh produce here, including a good range of organically grown fruits and vegetables.
Address: 49 Bade Road, Taipei City
¬ NOVA (NOVA資訊廣場) Located right across the street from Taipei Main Station is a mega complex known as NOVA. This multifloor shopping centre focuses on all sorts of technology and gadgets— smartphone, the newest PC, you name it! A giant store comprising small stores, you can find all sorts of consumer electronics, accessories, and small components.
Address: 2 Guanqian Rd., (near corner of Zhongxiao West Rd), Taipei City
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Shopping
¬ Red House (西門紅樓) ¬ Dihua Street (迪化街) A walk through the Dihua Street area gives you a feel of Taipei city’s past. The old-town market has scores of shops selling a variety of traditional goods such as Chinese medicines and herbs, temple icons and incense, spices and dried food, colourful bolts of cloth, and bamboo and wooden crafts. It is a fascinating patch of the past.
Address: Sec. 1, Dihua St., Datong District, Taipei City
This Japanese-era cinema opened in 1908 and now plays host to art exhibits, a tea house, a 200-seat theatre and the Red House Boutique Area. The complex is home to independent small shops run by creative artists. You can find products ranging from t-shirts and accessories to knick knacks.
Address: Chengdu Road, Ximending Wanhua District, Taipei City
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Eateries
¬ Braised pork rice
¬ Beef noodles Beef noodle soup is one of the most popular dishes in Taiwan. Tender chunks of beef are stewed in a hot and spicy beef broth. In Taiwan, beef noodle soup can mean everything from stewed beef, beef broth, pickled vegetables, green onion and noodles to the plain beef soup noodles, which include just noodles and broth, but no meat. When soy sauce is added to the dish, it is known as braised beef noodles.
A Taiwanese saying goes, “Where there is a wisp of smoke from the kitchen chimney, there will be lurou fan (braised pork rice).” Lurou fan is synonymous with Taiwan. A good bowl of lurou fan has finely chopped pork belly, slow-cooked in soy sauce with five spices. There should be an ample amount of fat, in which lies the magic. A little sweet, a little salty, the braised pork rice is comfort food perfected.
Recommended Restaurant: Lin Dong Fang (林東芳) Address: 274 Bade Rd, Section 2, Jhongshan District, Taipei City台
北市八德路二段274號 Telephone: (02) 2752-2556
Recommended restaurant: Jin Feng Lu Rou Fan (金峰滷肉飯) Address: 10 Roosevelt Rd, Section 1, Jhongjheng District, Taipei City 台北市羅斯福路1段10 號之1 Telephone: (02) 2396-0808
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Eateries
¬ Danzai noodles
¬ Oyster omelette Sea-fresh oysters are an important ingredient in this popular snack, available at just about every night market in Taiwan. The oysters are coated in potato starch and tapioca. Eggs and vegetables are added to the mixture, fried over a high flame. A sweet and sour sauce further adds to the addictive delicious taste. The delicacy was voted best snack to represent the island in a poll of 1,000 Taiwanese by Global Views Monthly in 2007. Recommended Restaurant: Lai’s Egg Oyster Omelet (賴記雞蛋蚵仔煎), Address: Ningxia Road Night Market, Datong district大同區寧夏夜市 Telephone: (02) 2558-6177
Oil noodles and bean sprouts are the main ingredients in this Tainan specialty dish. Unlike other types of noodles which are often served in big bowls, danzai noodles have long been regarded as a snack, and are always served in small portions. The yellow noodles are smooth and Chewy, and the broth, brewed with fresh shrimp heads and shells, appears as clear as tea infusion and has a fresh, sweet flavour. The noodles are usually served with a piece of marinated pork, a shrimp or a marinated boiled egg. A braised minced pork garnish sprinkled on the dish adds an extra flavour.
Recommended Restaurant : To Hsiao Yueh (度小月) Address: No 12, Alley 8, Lane 216, Sec 4, Chung Hsiao East Rd.,
忠孝東路四段216巷8弄12號 Telephone: (02) 2773-1244
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Eateries
¬ Pearl milk tea
¬ Pineapple Cake The pineapple cake is a famous pastry from Taiwan. Traditionally, the little square cookie-like pastry is filled with real pineapple. The pineapple’s sweet and sour flavour mingles perfectly with the loose, soft outer skin. You get a buttery taste when you bite into them, and the inside is soft, chewy. The pastry not only tastes great, but is usually wrapped nicely and packed in boxes as gifts.
Also known as “Bubble milk tea”, pearl milk tea originates from Taichung and is a delightful mixture of black tea, milk, and sago pearls. The combination of fragrant tea and chewy sago has made this beverage popular not only in Taiwan but in other countries as well. In many Chinatowns across the world, you can find this refreshing beverage.
Recommended Restaurant: Chun Shui Tang (春水堂) Address: No 4, Alley 180, Guangfu South Rd, Taipei, Taiwan
台北市大安區光復 南路180巷4號 Telephone: (02) 8773-4501
Recommended Restaurant: Vigor Kobo (維格餅家) Address: No. 05 Hengyang Rd., Zhongzhen, New Taipei City 台北市中正區衡陽路105號 Telephone: (02) 2370-1306
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Eateries
¬ Steamed Sandwich Steamed sandwiches (guabao) were originally eaten during employee dinner parties held on the 16th day of the 12th lunar month, but today they can be enjoyed at night markets throughout the year. The sandwiches resemble a kind of hamburger made with a soft white bun. The bun is stuffed with meltin-your-mouth pork and garnished with pickled vegetables, peanut powder and cilantro, creating a nose-pleasing and tasty combination.
Recommended restaurant: Lan Jia Gua Bao (藍家割包) Address: No. 3 Alley 8 , Lane 316, Sec 3, Roosevelt Rd,Zhongzen District, 3rd portion,
台北市羅斯福路三段 316巷8弄3號 Telephone: (02) 2368-2060 (02) 2368-1165
¬ Coffin Board: This Tainan specialty often turns peoples’ heads for its very unusual name. The sandwich has a thick slice of toast filled with a mixture of chicken meat and liver, shrimp, carrots, potatoes, and milk. The filling is then covered with another piece of toast and cut into four pieces. The coffin board tastes best when served hot.
Recommended restaurant: Jiang Jia Coffin Board (蔣家棺材板) Address: No. 1, Alley 8, Bo Ping Road, Yonghe district, New Taipei city 新北市永
和區保平路18巷1之1號 Telephone: 0915-566132
TAIPEI
ASIAN CITY GUIDE
Eateries
¬ Iron Egg ¬ Stinky Tofu Stinky tofu is best known for its strong smell, and it’s widely believed that “the stronger the smell, the tastier the results”. While many people are put off by the smell, those who take the plunge are usually won over by this distinctively yummy treat. Stinky tofu is made of large squares of fermented tofu fried in oil and then cut into four smaller pieces and served with a garnish of pickled cabbage. The crispy skin of the tofu and the soft inside are the charms of this dish.
It’s called the “iron egg” because this mini egg is tough as nails. With a rubbery consistency, these chewy eggs, dyed black from long-braising in soy sauce, are a highly addictive delicacy in Taiwan. Often made from quail eggs, the little balls are cooked for hours in soy sauce, then air-dried. The whole process is repeated over several days until the protein becomes tough and acquires the desired amount of chew.
Recommended restaurant: Seaside A-Po (海邊阿婆) Address: 151-1, Jhongjheng Road, Tamshui 新北市
淡水區中正路151-1號 Recommended restaurant: Ming Feng Stinky Tofu (名豐手工臭豆腐) Address: No.19, Lane 59, Sec. 2, Anhe Rd, Taipei City 台北市安和路二段59 巷19 號 Telephone: (02) 2705-3326
Telephone: (02) 2621-1560