KOREA 2018 THE REPUBLIC OF
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Advertorial
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS In 1995 a young South Korean man named Myung Jun Chung travelled to Denmark to get his Ph.D. in microbiology. Now, more than 20 years later the same man, now addressed as Dr. Chung, runs a successful business called Cell Biotech that benefits from the best of both worlds – Denmark, the country that gave him his Ph.D. and has a long history of working with probiotics and Korea, that for years has been renowned for believing in prevention instead of treatment and for its industriousness and technological knowhow. “Pay it forward” is a good old saying that applies to many things in life. For Dr. Chung, founder and owner of Cell Biotech, it means a little something extra.
Dr. Chung
When he completed his Ph.D. in Microbiology from The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and afterwards went back to South Korea with the knowledge to start his own business in microbiology he need never have looked back. But today he thinks of his successful business, Cell Biotech, as being a South Korean/Danish business and feels he owes a lot to our little country in the north. Unique double coating technology Cell Biotech might not be familiar to many people in Denmark but it is acknowledged in many other parts of the world as one of the leading manufacturers of so-called probiotic bacteria that are often sold as over-thecounter daily supplements. Unlike many competitors Cell Biotech manufactures their own probiotic bacteria from start to finish – all based on the knowledge that Dr. Chung gained in Denmark and the double coating technology that he invented after studying so far away from South Korea. The business is still run on the philosophy that one can harvest the best of both worlds and therefore Cell Biotech’s European
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headquarters is not based in London or Stockholm but in Copenhagen, where a handful of Danes are focusing on bringing Cell Biotech’s products out to the rest of Europe. For Dr. Chung still believes Denmark is a well-established country when it comes to biosciences and to doing business with the rest of the world. Continuing to explore the boundaries So far Cell Biotech has a line of probiotic food supplements under the brand name of Duolac. Duolac is sold in pharmacies in both Denmark, South Korea, France and Singapore. Furthermore, Cell Biotech sells the Probiotic skincare series LACTOClear that contains a special ingredient from the production of probiotic bacteria known to fight blemished skin whilst not harming the normal skin flora. But Dr. Chung isn’t done researching and both he and his laboratory in South Korea are on a constant look-out for new and undiscovered ways to work with probiotic bacteria and Cell Biotech will continue to benefit from the best of both worlds. Facts on Cell Biotech Int. - Founded in 2006, the company now has a total of 300 employees (10 in Denmark and 290 in South Korea) - In Denmark Cell Biotech International’s products can be found under the names Duolac and LACTOClear - Duolac is a probiotic supplement with a range for the whole family and can be found in most pharmacies: www.duolac.dk - LACTOClear is a skincare regimen applied to blemished skin containing the unique ingredient Lactopad that fight the P.acnes bacteria but does not conflict with other skin bacteria: www.lactoclear.dk
Dear readers and friends, In recent years there has been an eagerness in Korean society to learn from Denmark’s example in good governance, welfare and bringing about a happier society. But not everyone knows that the history between Korea and Denmark dates back more than a century and that Denmark has been a source of inspiration for Korea during the course of its rapid development. Relations between Korea and Denmark go back to 1902, when the ‘Friendship, Trade and Navigation Treaty’ was signed. However, soon thereafter Korea became a victim of Japan’s imperialist expansion, and bilateral relations did not progress much during the colonial period. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Denmark dispatched the hospital ship Jutlandia and over the course of 999 days and three expeditions treated 5,000 UN soldiers as well as 6,000 Korean civilians. After the war, Denmark, in collaboration with other Scandinavian countries, contributed to the establishment of the National Medical Center of Korea, by donating medical equipment and supplies on the Jutlandia. Even today this memory of Denmark providing assistance in a time of need is cherished among Koreans young and old alike, and the Korean Embassy in Denmark is helping to preserve this precious memory by showcasing uniforms and equipment donated by the Jutlandia veterans within the ‘Jutlandia Memorial Hall’ inside the Embassy. In the 1970s, when Korea was pursuing the “New Village Movement” for rural development, many Korean students came to Denmark to learn more about farming technology
and reforestation. This served as a catalyst for Korea to develop into an economic powerhouse, becoming one of the world’s biggest suppliers of IT products, automobiles, steel, and ships today. New green horizons In the 21st century relations between Korea and Denmark have expanded to encompass new horizons. In 2011, Korea and Denmark formed a Strategic Partnership and concluded the Green Growth Alliance, the first of its kind. On the occasion of Prime Minister Rasmussen’s official visit to Korea in 2016, the two countries adopted an “Action Plan” to implement various cooperation schemes in fields of peace and security, economy and trade, green growth, and culture during the period 2016 to 2019. Both governments are currently undertaking a midterm evaluation of the Action Plan, and I am pleased to note that both governments and the private sectors have made significant progress to achieve the goals outlined, through mutual high-level visits, increase in trade, exchange between universities and co-operation at the international fora, etc. Last year, Denmark launched the P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) to effective implement the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The first P4G Summit will be held in Copenhagen in October 2018, and as a founding member of the P4G and host country of the GGGI(Global Green Growth Institute) and the GCF(Green Climate Fund), Korea is fully with Denmark and stands ready to participate in global endeavours to combat climate change and make the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Beginning a new cycle In 2019, Korea and Denmark will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. In Confucian culture the number sixty is special, marking the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next. Based on the positive cooperation and active exchange that have taken place during the past 60 years, I hope that relations between our two countries will grow stronger to encompass fields more diverse in the next sixty years to come, thereby opening a new chapter in Korea-Denmark relations. On April 27, 2018 the leaders of South and North Korea shook hands for the first time in 11 years. It was a historical moment when Chairman Kim Jong-un crossed the military demarcation line and was received by President Moon Jae-in with a warm handshake. The two leaders signed and made public a milestone document “Panmunjeom Declaration for the Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula”. It contains tangible outcomes achieved through the Summit, such as 1. the development of inter-Korean relations in a sustainable manner, 2. the alleviation of military tensions and 3. the denuclearization and the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean peninsula. In addition, the two leaders were able to establish personal rapport and mutual trust between each other, which will be an important asset in developing inter-Korean relations in the coming years. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula at their second Summit on 26 May 2018. The next step will be the Summit between the US and North Korea scheduled in Singapore on June 12. The Korean Government will make efforts to utilise this historic opportunity to achieve complete denuclearization and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and work with international partners for the success of the US-North Korean Summit. Working for peace The strong support and close co-operation of the international community is necessary to realize our goal of attaining peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, the continued support of Denmark in Korea’s endeavours to establish denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula is more valuable than ever. I ask our readers and friends to extend support in this regard, and hope that you will enjoy reading this issue and learn more about Korea. Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Jai-chul Choi
Publisher: CPH POST • Editor: Hans Hermansen • Journalist: Stephen Gadd • Layout: CPH POST • Info: hans@cphpost.dk • Tel: +45 2420 2411 Cover photo: 2018 Inter-Korean Summit Official Website
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Denmark and Korea – allies and close friends
The Korean embassy hosts an excellent museum dedicated to the Jutlandia
Cordial relations between the two countries go back a long way through history The first tangible official manifestation of the close ties between Denmark and Korea is the treaty for navigation and trade that was concluded between the two countries in 1902 that can be found in the Danish national archives. As fate would have it, Denmark became the last country to recognise Korean sovereignty before the country lost its independence to Japan in 1910. A few years prior to this, Denmark had been able to contribute communications technology to the emergent nation when Korea established its Imperial Department of Communication. JH Mühlensteth, a Danish telegraph engineer, was appointed to set up the Korean telegraph system. After the end of WWII in 1945, Korea became independent but territorial division shortly followed; the northern part was ruled by the Soviets, and the southern part was ruled primarily by the United States. Shortly afterwards, this partition became the modern states of North and South Korea. In 1950, North Korea invaded the South and started the Korean War, which would last 3 years.
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A helping hand At this point, Denmark enters the picture once again. As part of a UN humanitarian relief effort, the Danish government dispatched the hospital ship Jutlandia to the war zone. On board was a crew of around 630 comprising doctors, nurses, engineers and sailors. The ship was originally built for the East Asiatic Company for trade purposes but after it was decided to be sent to Korea, the Jutlandia was refitted with 4 operating theatres, 4 hospital wards with 356 beds, x-ray equipment, eye and dental clinics on board – as well as specialist laboratories and a pharmacy. During the conflict, the ship made three tours of duty. In all, Jutlandia served for a total of 999 days off the Korean shores and managed to treat around 5,000 UN soldiers and over 6,000 Korean civilians. To this day, the Korean people still acknowledge a debt of gratitude to Denmark and there is an excellent little museum situated in the Korean embassy in Hellerup dedicated to the Jutlandia, with ship models, reconstructions, memorabilia and personal accounts. The names of those who served on the ship are also recorded on large wall panels. The museum is open to the public at certain times but a
reservation is necessary prior to visiting. Contact: jutlandiahall@gmail.com Diplomatic relations and royal visits Hostilities ceased in 1953 and diplomatic relations were formally re-established between the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Denmark on 11 March 1959. The Danish ambassador in Japan, T Busck-Nielsen, was also appointed acting ambassador to Korea. In 1972, the Republic of Korea opened an embassy in Copenhagen and in1978, Ole Philipson became the first Danish ambassador accredited solely to Korea. Commercial relations also became closer, with the bilateral trade volume reaching 2.2 billion dollars in 2017. A number of members of the Danish royal family have visited Korea, Prince Henrik being the first in 1994, followed by Prince Joachim in 2002. In the same year, President Kim Daejung reciprocated by visiting Denmark on the occasion of the ASEM IV summit held in Copenhagen in October 2002. In October 2007 there was a state visit to Korea by Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik. In addition to the royal family, a business delegation accompanied them, with repre-
The second P4G Status Meeting held at the residence of the Korean ambassador on February 27, 2018
sentatives from the fields of design, energy and the environment. In May 2012, Crown Prince Frederik made his first official visit to Korea, and has visited Korea more than ten times since in his capacity as a member of the IOC in preparations for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. The Korea-Denmark Strategic Partnership A summit meeting held in Seoul on 25 October 2016 provided the perfect backdrop to launch a joint action plan for the two countries. The leaders of Korea and Denmark committed the two countries to joint objectives for bilateral co-operation and initiated joint activities between Korea and Denmark. The objectives cover various areas such as co-operation in the political and security sphere, economic and trade co-operation, the Green Growth Alliance, social and cultural co-operation and co-operation at local government level. Green initiatives Both Korea and Denmark are committed to working together when it comes to environmental issues. In 2010 Denmark hosted the COP 15 meeting and established the Global Green Growth Forum (3GF). At the same time, Korea formed the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the purpose
of which was to assist green growth projects for developing countries. Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen was chair of the organisation from 2012-2014. The two countries decided to work even more closely together and in 2012 concluded a bilateral Green Growth Alliance (GGA). Under the auspices of the GGA, there have been a number of high-level meetings between Denmark and Korea. The sixth meeting was held in Seoul in October 2016 and included a large Danish delegation visiting the country headed by Prime Minster Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The seventh Green Growth Alliance meeting was held in Copenhagen in November 2017. The focus of that meeting was the circular economy and how this can be a driver for growth and sustainable development. On the agenda was the role of the state in accelerating the transition towards a circular economy and the role of companies in leading the transition and contributing to sustainable development goals. State of Green – the P4G partnership P4G is a new Danish international initiative supported by countries, businesses, international organisations, academia and civil society to combat the effects of global warming. It is a collaboration between the partner countries Chile, Columbia, Denmark, Ethiopia,
Kenya, Mexico, South Korea, and Vietnam. In addition, organisations such as the World Resources Institute, C40 Cities, Global Green Growth Institute and State of Green are also participating in the initiative. The P4G initiative aims at engaging private companies and governments in public-private partnerships with the purpose of attaining the UN’s 17 development goals and implementing the Paris Climate Agreement. The first P4G summit is to be held in Copenhagen from 19-20 October 2018. A bright future Green co-operation is also expanding into other areas, such as green energy, green ships and e-navigation. Academic exchanges between the two countries are already taking place, including projects to develop new types of fuel cells and batteries, green buildings, joint research into enhanced energy efficiency, etc. Denmark is also an acknowledged leader in the field of wind energy, with companies such as Vestas being in the forefront when it comes to innovation. So the future for Danish/Korean co-operation seems bright. Although they are geographically far apart, they share many of the same ideals and values and both are committed to peace and stability and the global society as a whole.
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Peace and prosperity on the horizon for the whole Korean peninsula
A declaration of friendship. Chairman Kim Jong-un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea. Photo 2018 Inter-Korean Summit Official Website
Relationships between the two parts of Korea have never been better and the cordial atmosphere seems set to continue From an extremely auspicious beginning in February, the year 2018 has seen several major diplomatic breakthroughs in the sometimes tempestuous relationship between the two parts of Korea. If things continue in this way, there seems to be every reason for optimism. Technically, South and North Korea are still officially at war as no peace treaty has been signed to officially end the Korean War that ended in 1953. However, on 27 April 2018 it was announ-
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ced that South and North Korea had agreed to talks to end the 65-year-old conflict. As if that wasn’t enough, through the Panmunjoem Declaration, the two countries have also committed themselves to the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Olympic diplomacy The thaw started in earnest in February, when the Republic of Korea hosted the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. Despite tense relations between the two countries as a result of the nuclear and missile tests carried out by the North in 2017, both teams took part in the opening ceremony
under a single flag, and a united team was fielded for the women’s ice hockey competition. In addition to the athletes, North Korea sent an unprecedented high-level delegation headed by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un, President Kim Yong-nam, and also included performers such as the Samjiyon Orchestra. The delegation passed on an invitation to President Moon to visit North Korea. Major summits After the games, events moved swiftly. In March it was agreed to hold an inter-Korean summit at Panmunjoem on April 27. The day after South Korea’s National
Security Adviser Mr Chung Euiyong and Director of the National Intelligence Service Mr Suh Hoon travelled to the United States to debrief President Trump about the upcoming Panmunjoem summit. With them, they had an invitation from the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a meeting with President Trump. Trump immediately responded and later it was announced that a North Korea-United States summit would take place in Singapore in June. This historic occasion will be the first time a sitting US President meets the leader of North Korea.
Panmunjoem Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula The full text of the ground-breaking Panmunjoem Declaration follows below:
“During this momentous period of historical transformation on the Korean Peninsula, reflecting the enduring aspiration of the Korean people for peace, prosperity and unification, President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea and Chairman Kim Jong-un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea held an Inter-Korean Summit Meeting at the ’Peace House’ at Panmunjoem on April 27, 2018. The two leaders solemnly declared before the 80 million Korean people and the whole world that there will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and thus a new era of peace has begun. The two leaders, sharing the firm commitment to bring a swift end to the Cold War relic of longstanding division and confrontation, to boldly approach a new era of national reconciliation, peace and prosperity, and to improve and cultivate inter-Korean relations in a more active manner, declared at this historic site of Panmunjoem as follows: 1. South and North Korea will reconnect the blood relations of the people and bring forward the future of co-prosperity and unification led by Koreans by facilitating comprehensive and groundbreaking advancement in inter-Korean relations. Improving and cultivating inter-Korean relations is the prevalent desire of the whole nation and the urgent calling of the times that cannot be held back any further. • South and North Korea affirmed the principle of determining the destiny of the Korean nation on their own accord and agreed to bring forth the watershed moment for the improvement of inter-Korean relations by fully implementing all existing agreements and declarations adopted between the two sides thus far. • South and North Korea agreed to hold dialogue and negotiations in various fields including at high level, and to take active measures for the implementations of the agreements reached at the Summit. • South and North Korea agreed to establish a joint liaison office with resident representatives of both sides in the Kaesong region in order to facilitate close consultation between the authorities as well as smooth exchanges and cooperation between the peoples. • South and North Korea agreed to encourage more active cooperation, exchanges, visits and contacts at all levels in order to rejuvenate the sense of national reconciliation and unity. Between South and North, two sides will encourage the atmosphere of amity and cooperation by actively staging various joint events on the dates that hold special meaning for both South and North Korea, such as June 15, in which participants from all levels, including central and local governments, parliaments, political parties and civil organizations, will be involved. On the international front, two sides agreed to demonstrate their collective wisdom, talents and solidarity by jointly participating in international sports events such as the 2018 Asian Games. • South and North Korea agreed to endeavor to swiftly resolve the humanitarian issues that resulted from the division of the nation, and to convene the Inter-Korean Red Cross Meeting to discuss and solve various issues including the reunion of separated families. In this vein, South and North Korea agreed to proceed with reunion programs for the separated families on the occasion of the National Liberation Day of August 15 this year. • South and North Korea agreed to actively implement the projects previously agreed in the 2007 October 4 Declaration, in order to promote balanced economic growth and co-prosperity of the nation. As a first step, the two sides agreed to adopt practical steps towards the connection and modernization of the railways and roads on the eastern transportation corridor as well as between Seoul and Sinuiju for their utilization. 2. South and North Korea will make joint efforts to alleviate the acute military tension and practically eliminate the danger of war on the Korean Peninsula. • South and North Korea agreed to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain, including land, air and sea, that are the source of military tension and conflict. In this vein, the two sides agreed to transform the demilitarized zone into a peace zone in a genuine sense by ceasing as of May 1 this year all hostile acts and eliminating their means, including broadcasting through loudspeakers and distribution of leaflets, in the areas along the Military Demarcation Line. South and North Korea agreed to devise a practical scheme to turn the areas around the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea into a maritime peace zone in • order to prevent accidental military clashes and guarantee safe fishing activities. • South and North Korea agreed to take various military measures to ensure mutual cooperation, exchanges, visits and contacts. The two sides agreed to hold frequent meetings between military authorities, including the Defense Ministers Meeting, in order to immediately discuss and solve military issues that arise between them. In this regard, the two sides agreed to first convene military talks at the rank of general in May. 3. South and North Korea will actively cooperate to establish a permanent and solid peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. Bringing an end to the current unnatural state of armistice and establishing a robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula is a historical mission that must not be delayed any further. • South and North Korea reaffirmed the Non-Aggression Agreement that precludes the use of force in any form against each other, and agreed to strictly adhere to this Agreement. South and North Korea agreed to carry out disarmament in a phased manner, as military tension is alleviated and substantial progress is made in military • confidence-building. • During this year that marks the 65th anniversary of the Armistice, South and North Korea agreed to actively pursue trilateral meetings involving the two Koreas and the United States, or quadrilateral meetings involving the two Koreas, the United States and China with a view to declaring an end to the War and establishing a permanent and solid peace regime. South and North Korea confirmed the common goal of realizing, through complete denuclearization, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, South and North Ko• rea shared the view that the measures being initiated by North Korea are very meaningful and crucial for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and agreed to carry out their respective roles and responsibilities in this regard. South and North Korea agreed to actively seek the support and cooperation of the international community for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The two leaders agreed, through regular meetings and direct telephone conversations, to hold frequent and candid discussions on issues vital to the nation, to strengthen mutual trust and to jointly endeavor to strengthen the positive momentum towards continuous advancement of inter-Korean relations as well as peace, prosperity and unification of the Korean Peninsula. In this context, President Moon Jae-in agreed to visit Pyongyang this fall. April 27, 2018 Done in Panmunjoem (signed) Moon Jae-in, President, The Republic of Korea (signed) Kim Jong-un, Chairman, State Affairs Commission, The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
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Korea – a major industrial and economic power
Booths at Yongsan Electronics Market, the beating heart of hardware in the center of Seoul, South Korea.
By Robert Eyfjord Known as the Land of the Morning Calm for its mesmerizing landscapes, Korea is also recognized for being among the most technologically advanced countries in the world With a population of 50 million, statistics show that 78.5 percent of Koreans use smartphones. The number is significantly higher when surveying a younger age group – a staggering 97.7 percent of Koreans between the ages of 18 and 24 constantly have a smartphone in their hand. It can easily be justified, however, as smartphones in Korea serve as more than just a platform for 10-second snaps and emoji-filled messages. Actual TV channels are streamed through smartphones, and they are also utilized to pay for public transport fares and for shopping at supermarkets through numerous innovative apps. Whilst Korea’s tech savviness is indisputable, the nation ranks as the world’s 11th largest economy, and the fourth largest in Asia. It has an abundantly rich history amalgamated with a captivating culture and delicious cuisine. Tech and cutting-edge electronics For some time now, Korea has been famous for its traditional ’old-style’ industries such as shipbuilding, cars, petro-chemicals, con8
struction and engineering. There is also a sizeable tourist sector as well. In recent decades, however, Korea has developed into a global place of interest for its prolific tech start-ups and cutting-edge electronics products. In the latest report published by World’s Top Exports (WTEx), Korea’s top five exports in 2017 were electrical equipment, machinery, vehicles, ships and petrochemical products, including refined oil. The sale of electrical and electronic equipment alone was valued at $163.1 billion dollars, which accounted for 28.4 percent of the country’s exports. To further place emphasis on Korea’s growing industrial economic power, it is worth mentioning that the country holds several tech-related records. For example, Korea is the proprietor of the world’s first virtual store and Korea also hosts World Cyber Games, the largest video game competition in the world. These impressive feats can be attributed to the hard-working, dedicated mentality of the Korean people. Not only does the nation have an extremely high education level with 63 percent of the population completing a college degree, but studies from their Ministry of Strategy and Finance also show that Koreans work 44.6 hours per week on average. A good example of the ’new breed’ of Korean tech industry is Cell Biotech. Located in Korea and Denmark, the company comprises a group of more than 300 microorganism
specialists and is exclusively focused on probiotics, which are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health and especially for the digestive system. The company has developed and patented a revolutionary dual coating technology that provides a ’one stop solution’ in the development of probiotic products. Cell Biotech exports to over 40 countries worldwide and is committed to investing more than 5 percent of its profits (around 22 million dollars last year) in R&D in order to stay on the cutting edge. Denmark and Korea – mutual interests Denmark and Korea have had almost 60 years of diplomatic relations. When the Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen met with his Korean counterpart in 2016, he stated that “Denmark and South Korea have a mutual interest in expanding our already strong partnership – politically, commercially and on an official level.” This message was reaffirmed on the occasion of a telephone conversation between the leaders of both countries in June 2017. In Copenhagen, it is nearly impossible to stroll down the busy city streets without catching sight of a Korean invention. Whether it is a Samsung mobile phone, a Hyundai or a Kia rolling by, one cannot help but appreciate the Korean prowess that is rapidly proliferating around the globe.
The world’s largest shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries
The World Cyber Games held in 2015
Customers experiencing virtual reality on Samsung products. Photo news.samsung.com
Korean cars on display at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Photo Kianewscenter.com
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Let yourself get swept up in the Korean Wave
N Seoul Tower located on Mt. Namsan offers great panoramic views of the city, and has been a symbol of Seoul since it first opened to the public in 1980
By Tess Westbrook Denmark is embracing a new trend. A Korean wave is hitting, with influences in food, music, TV and language being seen more and more Denmark and South Korea have had strong diplomatic ties since 1959. Denmark also assisted Korea by providing a hospital ship during the Korean War and more recently, there have been high-level visits by Danish prime ministers and also a royal visit by Queen Margrethe II. Conversely, over the years Denmark has welcomed many visitors – both official and on a more private level – from South Korea. Currently around 20,000 Koreans are visiting Denmark annually, and this number has been increasing in recent years. There is even a Nordic Club in Seoul for Danes living in Korea, so there are plenty of connections to both societies. Dance to the beat of K-Pop For many Danes, K-pop was the catalyst that sparked their interest in Korea. It was ’Gangnam Style’ that did it – the world-wide viral sensation that exploded in 2012. However, it appears that this was only the start of K-pop for Western audiences. For those who don’t know, K-Pop is a genre of Korean music that revolves around slick 10
music videos, polished dance moves and synthesised vocals. Boy bands appear to be the most popular, with groups such as BTS, SHINee and Big Bang even breaking into the European charts. The death of prominent K-Pop band member Kim Jong-hyun in 2017 came as a huge shock to fans all over the world. The outpouring of grief in Denmark demonstrated how large the K-Pop fan base was in Denmark. A memorial ceremony was held and letters, pictures and flowers were placed around the wall of the Korean embassy in Copenhagen by K-Pop fans in Denmark. Talking to the CPH Post, Admin Mini Muh, a fan of the group, said that she began to listen to K-Pop back in 2010 and has seen the fandom grow hugely through the years. “Jonghyun’s death had a big impact on me and the rest of the K-Pop fan base. For me personally it was tough,” said Muh. “SHINee was the first K-Pop group I got to know, and that was all the way back in 2010.” Muh added that the fans of K-Pop are also closely linked to anime, as well as fans of the Korean TV dramas. A rich history and natural beauty Danes may be surprised to hear that many of the main tourist attractions in South Korea are similar to places they know and love here in
Copenhagen. Tourists can enjoy the changing of the royal guards at Gyeongbokgung Palace as well as admire the opulent building. N Seoul Tower provides breathtaking views of Seoul, with an opportunity to prove your love forever with a love lock wall – not dissimilar to the Parisian one. If you think you’ll miss Tivoli, then Lotte World is there to help as the world’s largest indoor theme park. With 7.3 million visitors a year this attraction alone is worth the 12 hour flight! Other historical attractions that can be visited from the capital are Bukchon Hanok village, a traditional village, or the war memorial of Korea. Natural beauty can be found in abundance in Korea as well, with a wide range of National Parks to visit. Enjoying life like the Danes Danish people should feel right at home with the Korean drinking culture, which includes going out for a drink in large social groups and regularly clinking glasses. As well as this, the Koreans have strong feelings of national pride and their flag can be seen everywhere throughout the country. This particularly manifests itself when it comes to sporting events – sound familiar?
K-Pop band member Kim Jong-hyun’s death in 2017 came as a huge shock to fans all over the world
A memorial ceremony was held and letters, pictures and flowers were placed around the wall of the Korean embassy in Copenhagen
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MIKTA – a powerful partnership in a fast-changing world
The first gathering of the MIKTA ambassadors in Copenhagen on 9 May 2018
In 2013, five countries came together to set up a cross-regional partnership with the aim of supporting effective global governance The acronym MIKTA is made up from the initial letters of five countries – Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia. The organisation was created in 2013 and is a partnership for the foreign ministers of the respective countries. All the member countries are democracies with G20 economies having similar levels of GDP, and the organisation is based on cross-regional values and a number of mutual similarities. An informal platform One of the things that makes MIKTA unique is that it is an informal consultative platform rather than a formal organisation. There is space for dialogue and innovative diplomacy to address current global issues. Information-sharing is also vital to the partnership. The organisation has agreed to work together on a number of issues including international energy governance and energy access, counter-terrorism and security, UN Peacekeeping Operations, trade and the eco12
nomy, gender equality, good governance and sustainable development. For example, MIKTA has issued joint statements on issues as diverse as the terrorist attack in Turkey, climate change, the Ebola outbreak, the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, and the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
in MIKTA. This may involve co-operating on commitments made within those organisations or, on occasion, committing to additional goals or standards. It also provides an opportunity for these middle powers to engage in dialogue independently of larger economic powers.
A bridging role In its mission statement, the partnership says that “MIKTA will also play a bridging role between developed and developing countries to promote global governance and complement the efforts of regionalism.” The group also pledges itself to “helping each other to better communicate with regional bodies and increase the connectivity of regional networks” as well as serving as a bridgehead for fostering various forms of co-operation. In today’s rapidly changing world a partnership such as MIKTA can show greater flexibility than more rigidly structured bodies. That enables it to react faster to global challenges. As all MIKTA members are also members of broader international organisations, such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization and G20, issues relevant to those forums can form the topics of consultation
A new co-ordinator Indonesia began its co-ordinatorship of MIKTA when it held the 4th senior officials’ meeting in Yogyakarta on 24-25 January 2018. Taking “Fostering creative economy and contributing to global peace” as its theme, Indonesia aims to highlight the role of the creative economy as one of the economic growth’s sources. A MIKTA ambassadors’ luncheon, hosted by the Indonesian ambassador, was held in Copenhagen on 9 May 2018. At the meeting, the MIKTA ambassadors explored measures to strengthen co-operation between the embassies as well as ways to enhance MIKTA’s visibility in Denmark. As well as this, the ambassadors discussed MIKTA pilot projects for 2018, such as hosting a joint seminar on renewable energy and joint cultural festivals.
A lasting Olympic legacy of friendship
The opening ceremony was a spectacular affair
Many South Koreans now cherish the PyeongChang Olympics for laying the groundwork for peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula The Winter Olympics held from February 9-25 this year in PyeongChang will go down in history for reasons other than purely sporting ones. In an unexpected but welcome gestures as the games began, the South Korean and North Korean athletes walked in the opening ceremony as a joint team. As if that was not enough, a joint women’s ice hockey team played and a squad of North Korean cheerleaders enthralled audiences around the world. Broadcast to more than 200 countries worldwide, the spectacular opening ceremony was held at the 35,000-seater PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 9 and the games were officially opened by President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in. The ceremony’s message centred on peace, passion, harmony, and convergence and musicians, dancers, choirs and other performers all worked together to emphasise the message. The games themselves featured 102 events in 15 sports, making it the first Winter Olym-
pics to surpass 100 medal events. Four new disciplines in existing sports were introduced, including big air snowboarding, mixed doubles curling, mass start speed skating, and mixed team alpine skiing. At the end of the day, Norway came out top
in the medal rankings with at total of 39 – 14 of them being gold. The host nation came in 7th, with a total of 17 medals, including golds in skeleton, short track speed skating and speed skating.
One of the disciplines South Korea won a gold medal in was speed skating
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Korea in Denmark: Kimchi Festival, cultural connections and a world-class trio
Kimchi Festival 2017. Photo by Hasse Ferrold
By Tess Westbrook South Korea’s influence in Denmark reaches far beyond just music. Upcoming events in Copenhagen emphasise a growing interest in Korean food, culture and more Korean Klubben One of the manifestations of Korea in Denmark is actually a club. CPH Post contacted Anne Mee Kalvig, the president of the Korean Klubben which is Denmark’s Korean adoptee organisation, and asked her about Korean culture in Denmark. “Korean culture is not very well known in Denmark and even Korean restaurants can almost only be found in Copenhagen,” said Kalvig. But apart from food, what of other aspects of Korean culture? Based in Aarhus, Kalvig described how they have a Korean language class “hosted by a sweet elderly Korean couple”. “They have gone from having mostly Korean adoptees as students to the students mostly having discovered an interest in Korea through either music, television or both – without having any other natural connection to the country.” The University of Copenhagen now offers a course of Korean Studies which includes history, culture, society and language, further mirroring this increased interest. Kimchi Festival If you are looking to get involved in Korean culture, you could hop on the bandwagon 14
with many Danes by starting with the fermenting trend. Kalvig mentioned how this trend sparked the first interest in Kimchi – a fermented vegetable and root dish – in Denmark. From here, the interest in Korean food grew and a Kimchi Festival has taken place in the city for the last five years. The festival for this year will be held in Torvehallerne from June 15-17. Attendees are not only Korean adoptees but people completely new to the culture who want to get a taste of it. With the benefit of previous success behind them, this year’s festival will include free samples, quizzes, performances and cultural events. Sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Denmark, the festival will allow both newcomers and people familiar with the culture to come together. As well as this, the Korean restaurant Kopan is just beginning its summer opening in Torvehallerne. This is a good place to start with the Korean food scene. Helena, who works at Kopan, revealed that she came over from Korea three years ago and had seen a sharp increase in interest in Korean culture. She first noticed the Kimchi trend, when Neighbourhood, a local pizza restaurant in Copenhagen, started serving a Kimchi pizza. After that, the trend took off. Her bosses, the founders of Kopan, combine their food truck with a social media brand and a Korean travel agency. The aim of this is to strengthen the bond between Korea and
Denmark. They also offer Kimchi classes for those who really want to get stuck in! Helena finally remarked that she felt people from Korea wanted to come to Denmark, as everyone seemed happy here. The happiest country in the world must have something going for it, right? Danish/Korean musical masters Described by the Washington Post as “clearly occupying a lofty perch in today’s musical scene,” Trio Con Brio consists of a Danish pianist and two Korean sisters. One of the group agreed that there has been “an increasing interest in Korea in Denmark,” although it has not had a great deal of affect on their music. They did feel, though, that Korea has been more prominent in people’s minds – a lot of people are interested in K-pop, travelling to Korea and the language. There are, of course, dividends from the thawing political situation. And a Danish contribution One of the most famous Danish pop songs was written about the Korean War and more specifically, the dispatching of the hospital ship Jutlandia to Korea on its humanitarian mission. Kim Larsen released the song ’Jutlandia’ in 1986 and it is still widely known and liked. In 2013, it was even number two on KODA’s list of the most frequently performed live songs.
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