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The official publication of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea On February 25, the world witnessed a historic moment in Korea with the inauguration of Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea, as the first female Korean president. The successful result of our electoral process has once again proven the support of Korea and the Korean people for democratic values and principles. For the first quarter of the year, significant visits were made by Korean officials to the Philippines. Korean dignitaries, headed by Inspector General Yang Kun of the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea, participated at the 46th Governing Board Meeting of the Asia Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions held on February 17-21 in Manila along with the representatives of 46 member countries. The event, which was attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III himself, ensured the commitment of the Philippines and Korea in promoting excellence, transparency, and professionalism in public auditing. In recent months, we have also witnessed the belligerence and series of provocations from North Korea. While we consider these provocations seriously, the Korean government will remain resolute in maintaining the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. I extend my gratitude to the Philippine government and the peace-loving members of the international community for their solidarity. In the aspect of trade and investment, I am delighted by the fact that our partnership continues to show significant growth and rich possibilities. Surpassing the trade volume achieved in 2011, our bilateral trade volume for 2012 exceeded US$11 billion, with Korea’s exports to the Philippines reaching US$8.2 billion and imports reaching US$3.3 billion. Korea is the fifth trading partner and the fourth largest source of foreign investment of the Philippines. With the recent investment grade status of the Philippines, I am optimistic it will further attract and boost the confidence of more Korean investors to invest in the Philippines. Furthermore, our development cooperation remains a considerable component of our partnership. In February, the National Bull Farm and Semen Processing Center in Nueva Ecija was inaugurated. This new facility will augment the competitiveness of the domestic livestock sector and establish cooperative enterprises that will contribute to the improvement of the lives of Filipino farmers in the said province. I believe these developments are tangible results of our close collaboration that we intend to deepen through the years. Lastly, I am hopeful that the vibrant cultural activities initiated at the start of the year will bridge our two peoples and cultures more closely together. I am positive that the Korean Cultural Center and other organizations will provide the Filipinos with more opportunities to learn and understand Korean art and tradition. Maraming salamat po.
April 2013
Ambassador LEE leads Yuldong wreath laying ceremony
Ambassador LEE Hyuk led the wreath laying ceremony in commemoration of the 62nd anniversary of the Battle of Yuldong last April 23 at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio. The Battle of Yuldong was fought during April 22 and 23, 1951 between the 10th Battalion Combat Team (BCT) of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) and the 44th Division of the Chinese People’s Army. “The sacrifices of PEFTOK and the triumph in Yuldong remind us of the price we have to pay to preserve the values we cherish and the democracy we love.” Ambassador LEE said in his message, “The Korean people cannot thank you enough for the contributions you made in making possible a free and prosperous Korea that we are fortunate to live in now.” The ceremony was graced by the presence of Administrator Ernesto Carolina of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Lieutenant General Noel Coballes, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Colonel Paterno Viloria of the PEFTOK Veterans Association Incorporated, Mr. LEE Jang Il, President of the United Korean Community Association in the Philippines and Mr. UM Ick Ho, President of the Philippine Department of the Korean Veterans Association.
CONTENTS Ambassador LEE leads Yuldong wreath laying ceremony Korea, PHL inaugurates Nueva Ecija livestock facility KOICA, Dong Yang University and Cavite launch Electronic Medical Record System Project Korea Board of Audit and Inspection General Inspector attends auditors’ meet Understanding symbolism in Korean Folk Painting Summer exhibit to highlight Contemporary Art of PHL, Korea PARK Geun-hye: First Woman President Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013
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Korea, PHL inaugurates Nueva Ecija livestock facility The Republic of Korea reaffirmed its commitment in helping enhance livestock sector performance in the Philippines during the February 11 inauguration ceremony of the US$3 M National Bull Farm and Semen Processing Center in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija. The ceremony was attended by Korean Ambassador LEE Hyuk, Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Resident Representative Mr. KIM Jinoh and Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) Executive Director Dr. Libertado Cruz. The project aims to strengthen and sustain PCC’s genetic improvement program for the water buffalo
commonly known as the carabao. This will directly benefit 1,000 farmers and their families while 82,000 artificial insemination (AI) services will be delivered across the country. As an important economic tool for millions of Filipino farmers, the conservation, propagation and promotion of carabaos translate to better nutrition, higher levels of income and improved general well-being of rural farming families. In his message, Ambassador LEE noted that the partnership between the Philippines and Korea on livestock research and development demonstrates the latter’s commitment in helping uplift the lives of Filipino farmers. “This undertaking also envisions the establishment of buffalobased cooperative enterprises.
KOICA, Dong Yang University and Cavite launch Electronic Medical Record System Project The Korea International Cooperation Agency together with the Provincial Government of Cavite and Dong Yang University in Korea held the Inception Ceremony for the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) System Project on March 20, 2013 at the Cavite Provincial Capitol, Trece Martires City. In attendance were the newly-designated KOICA Resident Representative General Inspector YANG Kun of the Board of Audit and Inspection of the Republic of Korea was in Manila to join several other government head auditors from other countries at the 46th Governing Board (GB) Meeting of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) held last February 17 to 21, 2013 . The Commission on Audit
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SONG Minhyeon, Cavite Governor Juanito Victor Remulla, Jr., and Dong Yang University Vice-President HWANG Jong Kyu. Expected to be fully operational at the start of 2014, the project shall automate the various functions of the Korea-Philippines Friendship Hospital and the General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital, two tertiary hospitals in Cavite managed by the
Indeed, our collaboration on the utilization of innovative livestock technologies is a positive development that will surely enhance the competitiveness of the domestic livestock sector,” he said. Ambassador LEE also mentioned the Korean government’s firm commitment in the full development of a sustainable agricultural sector in the country. “Korea is dedicated to
strengthening its contribution in support of the Philippine Government’s vision for a more competitive and technology-based agriculture laid down in its Development Plan for the period of 2011 to 2016. In view of the anticipated benefits from this project, I am optimistic that poverty incidence will be reduced and food security will be improved,” he said. The project is being implemented by KOICA, DA and the PCC.
Provincial Government. The EMR project shall also cover the automation of the Cavite Collaboration Center for Public Health (C3PH), a public health facility established through a $3 million grant from the South Korean government. To establish the EMR system, KOICA dispatched a team of experts from Dong Yang University to work with local counterparts during the whole process, from the identification of the most suitable EMR solution to the pilot operation of the system. In his message, KOICA Resident Representative
SONG emphasized the importance of EMR. He said that based on a medical report, the use of EMR technology helps save the life of patients by reducing the possibility of medical errors due to lost or missing paperwork. The establishment of the EMR System serves as a follow-up project to the Korea-Philippines Friendship Project Phases I and II, which established the KoreaPhilippines Friendship Hospital in Trece Martires City, Cavite in 2002 and the Medical Arts Building of the hospital in 2008.
Korea Board of Audit and Inspection General Inspector attends auditors’ meet (COA) of the Philippines hosted the said event, with COA Chairperson Maria Gracia Pulido Tan joining her counterparts from India, Japan, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey. The auditors discussed
international audit standards, transparecy and other pressing issues in international audit. Also in attendance were the Director General of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Development Initiative (IDI) as well as delegates from Brunei
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Darussalam. President Benigno Aquino III welcomed the delegates at the Malacañang Palace last February 18. ASOSAI is an international organization composed of the Supreme Audit Institutions of 46 member countries in Asia, in promotion of professionalism, mutual support and understanding.
Arts & Culture
Understanding symbolism in Korean Folk Painting
The minhwa or the Korean Folk Painting is a work of art deeply embedded in the cultural consciousness of the people from which it came from, with the history of the times from whence it was born rooted within the colors, strokes and the symbols of the figures. To fully understand its role in history, and its current status in the art landscape in Korea, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines and the Association of Korean Folk Painting Artists launched the exhibit Minhwa: The Meaning of Symbols in Folk Painting last March 8, featuring eight
Korean artists whose works highlight the importance of minhwa or folk painting in the Korean socio-historical landscape. In the late 70s, the Korean people had started to take interest in minhwa and its significance in the latter part of the Joseon period.
“The brush strokes, the use of ink and water, and the pursuit of themes centered mostly on nature and the development of the Korean society makes minhwa one of the most interesting traditional Korean paintings.” Ambassador Hyuk LEE said of the masterpieces from his home turf. “When you look at minhwa more closely, essential elements of the culture and ethos of Korea, such as color and complexity, are evident. But when you look at it from a distance, you will also observe unity and harmony binding these elements together.” Minhwa or folk paintings became popular between 17th to 19th centuries and are generally characterized as works by wandering or anonymous artists without any formal training in that particular field of art. These were created due to the desire and the need of the commoners for pictures they could identify their lifestyles with at the time when the Korean society was segre-
gated into classes. In the same light, the economic prosperity in the latter half of the Joseon Period has led to the exponential increase of demand for folk paintings. Luxury was not simply limited to the elite and the commoners eventually followed suit. Such social situation had given rise to the popularity of minhwa, which suited the tastes of the commoners as professional works of art required a higher form of art education and learning in general. In attendance were Ambassador LEE Hyuk, Maricel Diaz, head of the International Affairs Office of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as well as the eight participating artists namely KIM Sang Cheol, LEE Mun Song, LEE Jung Dong, EOM Jae Kwon, SONG Chang Soo, YOUN In Soo, KEUM Goang Bok and NOH Yong Sik who flew in from Korea. The exhibit ran until April 30.
Summer exhibit to highlight the best of the Contemporary Art of PHL, Korea The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines will be highlighting contemporary artworks of noted Filipino and Korean artists in its upcoming exhibit ‘A Midsummer Night’s Reunion’. The exhibit, set to open on May 17, is aimed to further enhance the cultural relations between Korea and the Philippines through the annual arts exchange exhibit. Included in the roster are both the established and up and coming Filipino artists. Participating are National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “Bencab” Cabrera, Jr., the father of installation art in the Philippines Luis ‘Junyee’ Yee, Jr. (through Galleria Duemila), imaginative figurist Nemesio Miranda, Jr., Raul Isidro, Ephraim Samson, Fil Delacruz, Geraldine Javier, Mark Orozco
Justiniani, Michael Alvin Adrao and Alfredo Esquillo, Jr. The works from Korea include those by HWANG Sung-joon, PARK Gye-hoon, OH Seung-min, JEONG Hyejeong, CHOI Uk, LEE Dongjae, HONG Kyeong-tak, CHOI Sung-du, YOO Bong-sang and
HONG Da-seul. The Korean artworks were sourced from the Korean Art Bank, which was established under the auspices of the National Museum of Contemporary Art of Korea in support of their artists through purchases of outstanding pieces of con-
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temporary artwork. The exhibit will be featuring the various trends and influences in the art of Korea and the Philippines. It will also highlight the best of both the contemporary Philippine and Korean art, given that the art history of Korea and the Philippines are vastly different. It will run until July 31. Last year, the Korean Cultural Center opened its first arts exchange exhibit with spring as its theme to signify the importance of new meetings. In Korea, spring stands for new meetings and friendships.
CONTEMPORARY ART is defined as any art from produced from the period of the 50s up until the present time.
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First woman president of Korea PARK Geun-hye, 61 and unmarried, made history when she was elected as the 11th president of the Republic of Korea. She is the first female president of Korea, inaugurated last February 25, following a 51.55% victory in the December 2012 presidential elections. President PARK, fielded by the Saenuri Party for the presidential race, was born to former President PARK Chung-hee and YUK Young-soo in 1951. “The new Administration will usher in a new era of hope premised on economic revival, happiness for the people, and cultural renaissance.” President PARK said in her inauguration
In 2009, at the 61st International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) meeting, it was agreed upon that Suncheon would host the 2013 expo. Today, garden expos are not just an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of gardens and enjoy them, but they also serve as a venue to discuss issues that the international community can solve together. To preserve the Suncheon Bay just the way it is, to create an ecological strip from Suncheon Bay all the way to the heart of Suncheon, and to build a world-class ecological city in Suncheon, we are hosting the 2013 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo for the first time in Korea. The 2013 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo is another way of saving Suncheon Bay. Green expos are very different from other expos that are centered on buildings and structures. The trees and flowers that are planted for garden expos grow more lush as time goes by and become that much more valuable. The city is converted into an environmentally friendly place, which results in Suncheon being turned into a place with ecological cultural space for everyone. The garden expo venue is five kilom-
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Korea’s first woman President, PARK Geun-hye, is serving the 18th presidential term.
speech, vowing to reproduce the Miracle on the Han River the second time, in reference to the post-war economic growth of Korea. She also addressed the nuclear threat from North Korea, urging them to “abandon its nuclear ambitions without delay and embark on the path to peace and shared development” stressing that her administration will work towards a harmonious unification of the two Koreas. “The era of happiness that I envision is one that simultaneously unlocks an era of happiness on the whole Korean Peninsula while also contributing to ushering in an era of happiness throughout the
global community.” She said. She also served as a lawmaker of the National Assembly from 1998 to December 2012. “I humbly ask all of you to pool your strength, wherever you may be, not only for your own individual interests but also for the common good.” She stressed in her inauguration speech. President PARK holds a BS Electronic Engineering degree from Sogang University, and has Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in the field of Science, from Pukyong National University in Busan and Sogang University for Politics.
ECO Belt People and nature also require a respectful amount of space. We must find a way to protect man from natural disasters and protect nature from the violence of man. To overcome the dilemma that comes from the mutually exclusive nature of development and conservation, the city of Suncheon learned that both humans and nature needed space that would not be violated by the other. Thus an eco belt that consists of a city area, transfer area, buffer area, and nature preserve, was built to restore the Suncheon Bay wetland (nature preserve) and to use the Expo grounds (transfer area) for tourism and ecological education.
eters away from the Suncheon Bay and will serve as a 1.11 square meter buffer zone between the nature preserve and the burgeoning downtown. The garden expo site will
go on to serve as an eco belt that protects the birds and mudflat marine life. Through the Garden Expo, we are showing the world that we are no longer a country that re-
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claims wetlands. We are making a statement that it is up to all of us to preserve nature, so that we can pass Suncheon Bay down to future generations.