Korea(2015.6.)

june 2015

밤 A Country that Never Sleeps

The 24-hour lifestyle that can’t be stopped Travel From Here to Peace, Paju

Special Issue Expo Milano 2015

contents

korea

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A Country that Never Sleeps

Food Gives Life

Is This Really Just a Rest Area?

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Sim Yong-sik, Traditional craftsman

I am A Creator

A Mother’s Heart

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Kim Eun-young, Master of Knots

President Plevneliev and Prime Minister Modi’s Visit to Korea

Secrets of the River

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From Here to Peace

Centers for a Creative Economy and Innovation

Gimbap, the Perfect Picnic Food

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Festival of Youth

The Next Generation of Displays

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Korean Pop in Latin America

Poet Yi Yuk-sa

Cover Story

PEOPLE 1

PEOPLE 2

TRAVEL

SPORTS

ENTERTAINMENT

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SPECIAL ISSUE

CURRENT KOREA

Summit Diplomacy

POLICY REVIEW

MY KOREA

MULTICULTURAL KOREA

NATURE

FLAVOR

CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

GREAT KOREANS

Publisher Park Young-goog, Korean Culture and Information Service Executive Producer Han Seong-rae E-mail webmaster @ korea.net Magazine Production The Book Company Editor-in-Chief Lee Min-jeong Production Supervisor Kim Min-kyung Copy Editor Gregory C. Eaves, Hwang Chi-young Creative Director Oh Seong-min Head Designer Kim Se-ryeong Photographers Moon Duk-gwan, Hong Ha-yan Printing Kumkang Printing Co,.Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from KOREA and the Korean Culture and Information Service.

If you want to receive a free copy of KOREA or wish to cancel a subscription, please e-mail us. A downloadable PDF of KOREA and a map and glossary with common Korean words appearing in our magazine are available by clicking on the thumbnail of KOREA at the website www.korea.net. Publication Registration No. : 11-1110073-000016-06

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CURRENT Cover Story KOREA

A Country that Never Sleeps The 24-hours lifestyle that can’t be stopped Written by Isaac Colson

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There are lots to do and see at Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Every fall, next to the Yeouido Hangang Park, the International Fireworks Festival is held.

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hen thinking of cities with great nightlife, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Las Vegas and others may come to mind. Each city’s nightlife has a slightly different flavor and atmosphere, and East Asian cities are no exception. Several cities in Korea offer especially interesting sights, tasty food and diverse nighttime activities. According to Traveler’s Digest, Busan and Seoul are both ranked in the top 10 cities for nightlife in Asia.The nation’s nightlife first exploded in January 1982, when the nationwide curfew imposed after WWII was finally lifted, and the emerging 24-hour lifestyle has gotten better and better ever since.

Things to See

Located at the southeastern tip of the pen-

insula, the port city of Busan’s nightlife has an abundance of sights to behold. Millions of visitors from Korea and abroad flock to Haeundae Beach during the summer. As night descends upon the beach, friends enjoy watching and launching fireworks into the sea, and families can be seen enjoying nighttime picnics of chicken or gimbap.

Also in Busan, Gwangalli Beach is more popular with younger people. Besides trying to pick up a date, visitors come to see Korea’s longest suspension bridge. The bridge is lit up spectacularly with more than 100,000 color-changing lights.

The Banpo Rainbow Bridge Fountain, spanning the Hangang River in Seoul, provides a similar experience. From April through October, night-owls make their

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way to the bridge to gaze upon the rainbow-colored jets of water dancing in sync to the music.To get a bird’s-eye view of the illuminated rainbow bridge, the Hangang River or the stunning Seoul skyline, there are a two popular options: the 63 City Building on Yeouido Island or the N Seoul Tower atop Namsan Mountain.The observatory in N Seoul Tower not only offers a breathtaking view of the metropolis, but is also one of Seoul’s most popular landmarks ever since it opened in 1980. Even the restrooms provide a view of the glittering city lights. As Yeouido Island sits in the middle of the river, 63 City provides a better view of the Hangang River’s nightscape. Both panoramic views are incredible and should not be missed.

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Yeouido Island is also host to the annual International Fireworks Festival every autumn. On the day of the festival, people can be seen trekking to the riverside, over the bridges and along the bicycle paths and roads hours before the event starts at 8 p.m. Most participants head to t h e H a n g a n g Pa r k . T h e c row d s a re immense and the festival is considered one of Seoul’s most spectacular fall events. For those who missed the festival or didn’t want to be squished like sardines, the fireworks can be seen, heard and even felt for kilometers around.

The fireworks are probably not visible in the country’s most internationally wellknown district, Gangnam, so visitors are recommended to catch a movie at CGV’s 24-hour movie theater. With big screens and clean and comfortable seats, many movie theaters are state-of-the-art, probably because people here watch so many films. Foreign films are usually shown in their original language with Korean subtitles displayed at the bottom of the screen, Movies can be enjoyed 24-hours a day at Gangnam’s CGV or Myeong-dong’s Megabox movie theater.

Enjoy tteokbokki, tempura and blood sausage until dawn at a bunsikjip (a snack restaurant).

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so if there is a movie you missed at home while traveling, you should make an effort to see it here. The Gangnam and Apgujeong areas are better known for their upscale clubs, great music and dancing until the sun rises. Celebrities frequent Apgujeong shops and clubs, so keep your eyes open.

Those not interested in dancing or celebrities should see the hilarious nonverbal dance and acrobatics show “Nanta”.

Performed at the Myeong-dong Nanta Theatre in the Unesco Building, it’s a comedy show that features acrobatics, magic tricks, pantomime and audience participation. The rhythmic performances are conducted by “chefs” using cutting boards, water canisters and kitchen knives: no actual instruments are used. The tradi-

Guests eat, play and relax at this 24-hour Jjimjilbang, Korean Spa.

tional beats will have you clapping and laughing for the whole performance. Running Saturday to Monday with the latest show starting at 8 p.m., “Nanta” is excitement that you can almost taste.

Things to Taste

After a long day of sightseeing and nighttime fun, grabbing some tasty treats is a must.Whether you want to go out or enjoy a more quiet night indoors watching soap operas with some friends, most eateries are operational 24-7, or at least late into the night, and most deliver. If fact, restaurants pride themselves on their fast delivery services. Finding restaurants that deliver is not difficult, and there are several smartphone apps that allow customers to order food: Yogiyo, Bae-dal Tong and Woowa Brothers, to name a few.The food ranges from hamburgers and pizza to an entire meal with numerous side dishes. The most popular delivery foods are fried chicken, pizza and Korea-style Chinese food.

If you don’t want to eat in, consider searching for the slightly elusive mobile food trucks. In 2014, the government loosened up its licensing laws to allow mobile

Korea is home to several cities that offer interesting sights, tasty food and diverse nighttime activities.

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food vendors, giving birth to the food truck. However, only certain public areas, mainly amusement parks, vacation spots and other open outdoor spaces, can be serviced by these trucks.This forces the trucks to remain largely stationary, but they offer some great eats if you happen to stumble upon one. The three most popular trucks are the Kimchi Bus, the 100 Food Truck and 2 Man Pizza.

If you can’t find any of these elusive trucks, but still crave some street food, pull up a stool at an outdoor food tent (pochangmacha) for some delicious stir-fried rice cake, vegetables and fish cakes in red chili paste sauce (tteokbokki). If that’s not doing it for you, try some fish cakes on a stick, or even some gr illed beef or pork with a sweetened soy sauce marinade.The owners are extremely kind and may even give some free food if you strike up a conversation with them, in Korean or even English.They usually open shortly before dusk near riversides, college districts and shopping areas.

In every season, in every city, these little tents are great places to beat nighttime hunger.

While Itaewon, Seoul’s traditionally foreigner-friendly neighborhood, has street food, it is famous for the international restaurants and bars lining its alleyways. The dining is top quality, and cuisines from around the world are available. English can be heard as much as Korean in Itaewon, which makes it a great place to get your feet wet when experiencing Seoul’s nightlife.To try a more “Korean” nightlife experience, the neighborhood around Hongik University, or “Hongdae,” is a great area, filled with cheap restaurants, bars and clubs.

Since Hongdae is basically a college town, the streets are always packed with goodnatured students, and drinks and food are usually inexpensive. It is also a great place to visit coffee shops and tearooms. In these artsy cafes, beverages can be pricey, but customers are actually paying for their seats and can stay as long as they like. For those who wish to drink something a bit stron-

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Myeong-dong Street at night is not to be missed. Š Sean Pavone

Every first Saturday of the month, Nonhyeon’s Platoon holds a free market.

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Lotte Giants fans grab a night game at the Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan.

ger, there are numerous bars in Hongdae that serve rice beer (makgeolli).

If you want to try Korea’s most popular alcohol, soju, Busan sells variations that are less-alcoholic and sweeter than other brands. People going for a macho image usually drink C1 soju, while others prefer the “Ye” series of soju. However, a wide variety of domestic and imported spirits can be found in most of the country’s pubs and bars. Busan, being next to the sea, is also known for its fresh seafood, as well as its seed hotcakes, pork soups and pan-fried green onion “pancakes” with seafood.

Things to Do and Buy

After filling your stomach, it is time to shop. Seoul’s Dongdaemun Market is a great place to satisfy even the worst shop-

All of the nighttime activities would not be available if it wasn’t for public transportation.

ping bug. Located between Dongdaemun Station and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, it has several different shopping venues open at night. The Open Market runs from 10 p.m. and its seemingly endless rows of yellow tents make it easy to find. Shoppers can purchase clothes, leather goods, glasses, shoes, bags and other acces-

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sories at heavily discounted prices. After midnight, the Wholesale Clothing Town opens for business. Retailers from around the country gather to sell clothing of all types. Shopping in Dongdaemun Market is an experience. The merchandize seems to acquire an almost magical quality under the shining lights.

Join over one million shoppers and visit Myeong-dong, one of the busiest shopping areas in Seoul, day in and day out.

Located in the center of the capital, it boasts countless shops and restaurants.

Besides two large department stores (Lotte and Shinsegae), several large shopping malls are always bustling with shoppers. Every domestic cosmetic brand has a flagship branch in Myeong-dong, so customers flock there from around the world to pur-

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chase makeup and cosmetics. There are around a thousand cosmetic shops and hundreds of skincare stores. Most sales associates can passably speak a few foreign languages, and many flyers and signs are written in multiple languages.

There are numerous spas called jjimjilbang, and they have several different functions. The weary traveler will feel stress melt away in the hot baths, or shocked back to life with a dip in the cold bath. One can also find many recreational facilities there, such as snack bars, fitness clubs, an Internet café and even a karaoke room. Heated rooms are great for sweating away worries and cares.These spas are a popular destination not only for families and friends, but for company workers on an office retreat.

For those who are in a new city and didn’t Tourist police are ready to help oversea tourists in Seoul, Busan, and Incheon etc.

make overnight accommodations, these spas are not only inexpensive, but offer rooms in which they can spend the night.

There aren’t any beds, but there are mats and pillows available in communal napping rooms. Lets face it: if you wanted a bed, you should have made a hotel reservation.

The cogs that keep the country moving

There is so much more that can be experienced: darts, billiards, pool, ping pong, bowling, screen golf, batting cages, singing, dancing, clubbing, live music and much more. Of course, none of these nighttime activities would be available if it weren’t for the country’s excellent public transportation system.The well-developed transportation grid makes the place ideal for visitors to enjoy the nightlife. Subways and buses don’t run entirely all night, but periodic late night buses are available in all cities and towns.Taxi fare are low and the drivers love to practice their English. In most major The heart of the city never grows dark with employees working hard into the night. © HONG IN-KEE 11

cities, there are both regular taxis and “deluxe” taxis, “deluxe” meaning that they’re more pricey, but also more available.

Mobile apps can be used to track bus and train arrivals, hail a cab or even have a guest driver come and drive your car home for you, with you in the passenger seat, after one-too-many drinks. In fact, all Korean cities and most towns with large populations have well-developed public transit systems. Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Incheon all have subway systems. The SeoulIncheon subway system, with over 300 stations, is among the world’s largest. Public transit generally costs less than half what it does in North Amer ica. Thanks to the expansive public transportation systems and an internationally-friendly wild range of nighttime experiences, it is no wonder that Korean cities rank so highly in terms of nighttime fun.

starry night at palaces Evening tours of the palaces have grown in popularity. Visiting a palace at night is a cooler and quieter experience than during the day.

The beautiful greens and oranges of the palace color schemes are in great contrast with the tall buildings that surround the grounds.

Twice a year, Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace remain open in the evening, from 7 to 10 p.m. Advance reservations aren’t required, but since admittances are limited, reservations are recommended. Tickets can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, or can be purchased on-site. If you’re in Seoul during this time, do not miss this great opportunity. The breathtaking night views of Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace are definitely not something you’d want to miss.

Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung Places The Cultural Heritage Administration is holding special night time tours of palaces in Seoul; four in all, one per season. The tours were already held for six days in winter and six days in spring. The palaces are planned to be open for 12 days in August, then again in Autumn, in October or November.

A surging crowd gathers in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

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interview

Starry Night, Fairy Tale World Jeong Jun-ho breathes new life into the industrial city of Ansan.

Interviewed by Kim Hyeon-tae

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nsan, Gyeonggi-do Province, is now one of the most popular hangout spots featured in Instagram photos.The Ansan Starlight Village was first sought after by young mothers as a great place to take their children to play, and it has slowly become a must-visit destination for all.

“I believe lights give people warmth and hope. I created Photo Land at the Ansan Starlight Village in the hopes of br ing ing f amilies, fr iends and lovers together with the warmth of lights,” says Jeong Jun-ho, the man behind the concept

of the theme park. He chose Van Gogh’s masterpiece “The Starry Night” as the theme for the starlight village during the day, because that is when parents visit the village with their children. For the night, he created a spectacular lights festival for friends and families to come and enjoy.

When they get off work, many fathers either go for a drink with their friends or coworkers, or just go home to sleep off their exhaustion. Too often, they do not spend enough time with their families.

Jeong tapped into this need for a place

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where the entire family could have a relaxing evening. At the Ansan Starlight Village, you can readily spot fathers posing together with their daughters for a photograph.

Hearts are filled with joy and happiness as families walk along the path decorated with colorful lights.

Of course, the Ansan Starlight Village is not the only place to see fairy lights. In fact, lights festivals are held throughout the year, across the country.The Ansan Starlight Village is unique in that it is open all year round. Since its grand opening in February 2015, some 100,000 visitors have come. In the warmer weather, it expects more than 2,500 people to visit ever y weekend, including non-Koreans.

Jeong says, “Theme parks should continue to offer new attractions to encourage visitors to keep coming back.” The Ansan StarlightVillage will maintain the Van Gogh theme only until November. In the winter, the village will host a Santa Claus-themed Christmas lights festival. Jeong plans to change the village’s theme two or three times every year. Soon enough, the Ansan Starlight Village will become an iconic theme park where visitors can get lost in a real-life fairy tale.

CURRENT people KOREA

Sim Yong-sik, Traditional craftsman Meet a craftsman of traditional lattice windows and doors.

Written by Kim Hyeon-tae Photographed by Moon Duk-gwan

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very weekend, the streets are busy with people in the Bukchon district of Seoul where numerous traditional houses still stand. Art galleries and studios welcome visitors who want to experience the long-standing traditions that the neighborhood represents. One of these belongs to master joiner Sim Yong-sik. His workshop, Cheongwon Sanbang, is a museum of traditional lattice windows and doors, a school for Sim’s apprentices and a home for the master and his wife.

From carpenter to master

Sim made the windows for the Korea Foundation Gallery at the British Museum in London. He also participated in the construction of Goam Seobang, a traditional house built in Paris to commemorate the painter Lee Ungno (1904-1989). Despite all these noteworthy achievements, at the end of the day, this renowned artisan is simply a loving grandfather to his threeyear-old grandson.

“People say I’m a master joiner, but I have just been a carpenter for a long time.

Decades of woodwork made me into a master,” says Sim with the sincerest modesty. He does not seem to put too much meaning into being a master, but his background may suggest that it was fate. Sim’s hometown of Yesan in Chungcheongnamdo Province is also home to Sudeoksa Temple, which is a central feature in the history of Buddhism in Korea. “I found everything at Sudeoksa Temple beautiful, but I especially remember standing in front

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of the windows’ lattice strips and the colorful designs on the buildings, completely lost in admiration of their beauty,” recalls Sim. In many ways, growing up in Yesan helped Sim to become a joiner. During middle school, he started working at a woodwork shop in his village. Soon afterward, he met his first teacher, Master Jo Chan-yeong, a master joiner and Chungcheongnam-do Intangible Cultural Property No. 18. Sim worked under him for some ten years and learned to make traditional lattice windows and doors. Sim was also taught by other noted experts, such as Lee Gwang-gyu and Choe Yeong-han, master artisans in carpentry and joinery, and Shin Yeong-hun, the first director of the Hanok Culture Institute.

In the construction of Korean traditional Hanok homes, master joiners are responsible for the detailed, more ornamental woodwork, while master carpenters build the framework and the main structure.Traditional joinery involves many different techniques, but most have been lost through the ages.The woodwork for doors and windows is one of the few crafts that

have been passed down. His specialty is floral design lattice doors (kkotsalmun), and he has made hundreds of lattice windows and doors, including octagonal windows (palgakchang) and smaller slit windows (nunkkopjaengichang). Since becoming a master joiner in 2006, Sim has repaired the doors and windows of the Injeongjeon Hall at Changdeokgung Palace, the Taewonjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bulguksa Temple and Songgwangsa Temple, just to name a few. His windows and doors are part of these buildings, but they also each have their own artistic value in and of themselves.

Sim’s traditional lattice windows and doors are part of Korean Traditional Hanok architecture, but they each carry artistic value themselves.

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Joy of teaching

Sim Yong-sik often travels around the country to find the best wood for his lattice strips. Precision is crucial since traditional joinery is about assembling wooden pieces together without nails. The ideal materials are pine or walnut wood that has been dried naturally for more than two years.

Sim planes and trims the wood, and then draws marks where he will cut out pieces, all with incredible precision. He adheres to traditional techniques at all times, but does take his chances sometimes on unconventional patterns.

As a master of a traditional craft, Sim faces new challenges: how to preserve and pass on the lattice technique. The newfound popularity of Hanok homes has brought more people into his workshop, and Sim keeps his doors open for everyone interested in order to promote his latticework. He plans to do his best to help visitors learn more about traditional windows and doors. “Tradition is not preserved in secret. It thrives when many people enjoy it, understand its importance and cherish its value,” says Sim with a sense of responsibility.

Sim not only keeps the traditional lattice craft alive, but also reinvents it by creating unique patterns of his own.

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PEOPLE

Kim Eun-young, Master of Knots A traditional knot artist brings an old craft back to life.

Written by Hong Hea-won Photographed by Lee jae-hee

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ime has nothing on the 73-year-old artist. Kim Eun-young, master artisan of traditional knots, has been making ornamental knots for 50 years. She fell in love with knot craft for its exquisite beauty the very first time she saw it. “I saw a three-pendant ornament that my grandmother had kept all her life. I was captivated by its singular beauty. I had no idea at the time that I would be making knots for 50 years,� says Kim. Epitome of ornamental art

Traditional knot-making is all about the handcraft. It requires dyed silk threads, which are then twisted together to form the base string. The strings are then tied into knots of different shapes, such as butterflies and flowers. For centuries, these knots adorned all manner of everyday objects, including clothing, musical instruments and home interiors. “Many people think that ornamental knots were mainly for women, but they were, in fact, a more important decorative accessory for men. Decorated silk strings to tie a robe around the waist were an essential

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herself to be strong and persistent. “The time I spend working on my craft is the most precious for me because it is when I get to focus solely on myself,” says Kim with a gentle smile.

Like many masters of traditional art, Kim’s challenge is to incorporate the traditional knots into modern life. She creates inventive items, including accessories, such as rings and bracelets, and home decor items, while continuing to reproduce traditional craftworks.

“I read historical records about Joseon royal banquets and realized how much mater ial there is for me to work on. I believe it is my role to recreate forgotten works that we only see in paintings in order to revive the beauty of our traditions,” says Kim. Her latest reproduction was the decorative string on royal stamps. She modeled it after the Deokjong Eobo, a royal seal from Joseon times, after it was returned to Korea in March 2015 after having been kept at the Seattle Art Museum since 1963.

Kim’s artwork is not simply about tying knots. It ties together the past and the present, tradition and modernity, art and life.

“While tying knots, I forget about the small things in life.The elegance and grace of silk threads have a simplistic beauty.”

part of a man’s attire, like neckties today.The knots were also used widely in royal ceremonies and rituals.They were vital to projecting the dignity of the king and to bringing splendor to an event,” says Kim, Seoul’s Intangible Cultural Property No. 13.

From dyeing silk threads to tying knots, the entire process is done solely by Kim’s two hands. This is why her knots have more vibrant colors and more delicate designs and shapes compared to machinemade knots. Most of Kim’s works are reproductions of ornamental items used at royal banquets during Joseon times (13921910), as seen in old paintings.

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It takes dozens of steps to create one ornamental piece.

Linking the past and the present

Kim’s enthusiasm for reproducing historical items derives from the rich cultural legacy of her family. Her father was poet Kim Kwang-kyun (1914-1993). She majored in applied arts at Ewha Womans University and graduated at the top of her class. She was planning to move overseas to continue her studies, but she then married her husband, Jeon Seong-u, a painter and owner of the Kansong Art Museum in northern Seoul, and decided to stay in Korea. Working on her craft while raising four children was a challenge, but she never stopped. She was able to keep the craft alive because she genuinely enjoyed the entire process. As she tied knots, she disciplined

Kim Eun-young’s knots are known especially for their extraordinary beauty.

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CURRENT TRAVEL KOREA

From Here to Peace Paju is a city of art and nature that embraces the legacy of the Korean War. Written by Kim Nae-on Photographed by Moon Duk-kwan

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aju’s Imjingak Park was established in 1972 to give consolation to homesick refugees who had fled North Korea during the Korean War (1950-1953). It represents the hope of future reunification. It rests on the banks of the Imjingang River, just south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Each year, the Imjingak Park hosts unification events, including the Peace Bicycle Tour and the 300-kilometer DMZ Peace and Unification Walkthrough. Twice a day from Tuesday to Friday, the DMZ Train runs from Imjingang Station to Dorasan Station, the closest train station to the inter-Korean

border. During the Chuseok and Seollal Lunar New Year’s Day holidays, people who are or iginally from North Korea come here to pray with yearning hearts, facing their homeland and their families left behind.

As a border city between the two Koreas, Paju is a symbol of the painful division and of the war itself. Since the Imjingak Pyeonghwa-Nur i Park opened in 2005, the city has embraced its past and reinvented itself as a place of reconciliation and har mony. In the past, Hwang Hui (1363-1452), a Joseon prime minister, and

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the respected Confucian scholarYulgokYi I (1536-1584) spent their later years in Paju and enjoyed the natural beauty of the area.

Today, Paju is a center of art, with galleries and book cafes welcoming visitors.

Byeokchoji Botanical Garden

Located in Paju’s Gwangtan-myeon, this 13-hectare garden is home to 1,420 species of plants. All year round, visitors can enjoy natural works of art in specialized gardens, including the Queen’s Garden, the Heaven’s Square and the Water Garden. Due to its lively, colorful vibe, many popular soap

Art installations adorn the Imjingak Pyeonghwa-Nuru Park.

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CURRENT KOREA

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operas were filmed here, including “Rooftop Prince,” “City Hunter” and “Personal Taste.” Samneung is another good place to visit if you love nature, especially in the autumn. Including a cluster of royal tombs and a UNESCO World Heritage site, its fall foliage is considered some of the most beautiful in Paju.

Imjingak Pyeonghwa-Nuri Park

Imjingak Park is located near the northern end of National Route No. 1, a road known as Unification Road, or Tongil-ro. No civilian from the South can get closer to the North than the end of this road. It is only seven kilometers from the Military Demarcation Line that divides the two Koreas.

Created in 2005, the peace-themed park is famous for Windy Hill, where thousands of colorful pinwheels spin. It’s popular among photographers for its small and large ponds, eye-catching art installations and unique cafes. An important historical element of this park is Freedom Bridge. It used to be a rail bridge for the train line connecting Seoul and Sinuiju, a town on the Amnokgang River in the northwestern corner of North Korea. The bridge was named by pr isoners of war who retur ned to the

South over the bridge at the end of the Korean War.At the closed bridge’s entrance, people attach prayer ribbons to the fence, wishing for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula.

Heyri Art Valley and Paju Book City

In 1997, local artists joined together to create a space where they could work and exhibit their art.The name of this community, Heyri, comes from a traditional farming song from Paju. Appropriate for a community of artists, the aesthetics and striking architecture are also major aspects of this

town. In fact, some of Korea’s best-known architects collaborated to create the village’s master plan, which har monizes buildings with the natural surroundings.

The plan restricts buildings to three-stories, limits the use of fences, walls or paint, and encourages the planting of native trees and wildflowers.

The aesthetics involved in creating an ideal space for work is also embodied at the Paju BookCity, where unique, eco-friendly buildings house the offices of mainstream publishers.They also usually sell discounted books directly from the ground floor of their buildings. Here, book cafes have walls

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What to Eat Odusan Makguksu (Tel : 031944-7022; 369-5, Yadong-dong, Paju, Gyeonggido Province) serves delicious buckwheat noodles (makguksu), noodles in chicken soup (dak-kalgulsu) and buckwheat and vegetable pancakes (memiljeon).

The restaurant has been featured in the hit comic strip “Sikgaek” by Heo Yeong-man. Yakseon Maeul (Tel : 031-948-3256; 132-16, Changman-ri, Gwangtanmyeon, Paju, Gyeonggi-do Province) is famous for its stamina-boosting dishes. The best dish here is chicken and seafood soup (haesintang), with broth made from 15 types of medicinal herbs.

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filled with books. It is a perfect place for bibliophiles to escape their busy life and to enjoy some quiet reading time.

1 - The DMZ Train runs to Dorasan Station in Paju.

2 - The Hwaseokjeong Pavilion sits in Paju.

3 - Prayer ribbons are tied to the fence at Imjingak Park by visitors wishing peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula.

Bangujeong and Hwaseokjeong

4 - Visitors walk along the Janasu Jumok Tunnel in Byeokchoji Botanical Garden.

5 - A public library at Paju BookCity.

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These traditional pavilions are excellent spots from which to view the Imjingang River, which flows from the Masingnyeong Range in eastern North Korea and into the Hangang River near Seoul. The Bangujeong is located in Munsan-eup and was built by Hwang Hui, a Joseon prime minister from 1431 to 1449. He spent the remainder of his life there after resigning from his post. Even after he died, the pavilion was maintained as a memor ial, but it was destroyed by fire during the Korean War. In 1962, it was restored by Hwang’s descendants.

The Hwaseokjeong is in Papyeongmyeon. Here, Joseon scholar Yulgok Yi I penned many poems in his later years. He wrote, in the poem titled “Hwaseokjeong,” that, “It is late autumn at the pavilion, and the thoughts of this poet continue endlessly. The waters of the river are as blue as the sky, and the leaves are as red as the sun.”

The Imjingang River flowing past the pavilion makes it even more exquisite.

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Where to Stay If you want to unwind in a completely silent environment, the Jijihyang Guesthouse in Paju Book City is the place for you.

Simple and unadorned, there are no TV sets in the guest suites. Instead, it has a library-like lobby on the ground floor where guests can come down at any time and read a book.

The Yonaluky Resort in the Heyri Art Valley is an ideal destination for art-lovers. Every room is decorated like an art gallery, each with its own theme. It also exhibits artwork and holds performances in the lounge and the lobby. Studio-style suites come with spa facilities, perfect for relaxing with a friend.

Getting There Going to Paju may seem slightly complex. At either Gongdeok or Seoul Station, take the Gyeongui subway line to Munsan Station in Paju.

After getting off the subway, take bus No. 58 and get off at the Imjingak stop. Check the departure times of the Gyeongui Line because they are scattered throughout the day. The total travel time is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Chicken and seafood soup (haesintang) .

Paju

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CURRENT SPORTS KOREA

Festival of Youth The upcoming 2015 Gwangju Universiade will have many highlights.

Written by Cheong Kyu-young

Gwangju launched a nationwide promotional tour on March 25, starting the 100-day countdown to the 28th Summer Universiade 2015.

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por tmanteau word made up of “university” and “Olympiad,” the Universiade is an international collegiate sporting event. Since athletes who win medals at the Universiade often become Olympic athletes, sports fans around the world tune in to watch these collegiate games to witness the birth of new stars.

Athletes who rose to fame after their breakthrough at the Universiade include retired sprinter Michael Johnson, swimmer Michael Phelps and former marathoner Hwang Yeong-jo. The 28th Summer Universiade, to be held from July 3 to 14 in and around Gwangju, will show us the potential stars of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Who will be the next star?

The Gwangju Universiade will serve as preview for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

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Team Korea consists of 525 athletes and officials across 21 sports, the biggest group Korea has ever fielded. The most notable names on the team are rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae, artistic gymnast Yang Hakseon and archer Gi Bo-bae, all of whom have been appointed ambassadors for the Gwangju Universiade.

Son Yeon-jae finished fifth at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the best finish ever by any Asian athlete in rhythmic gymnastics. At the 2013 Universiade in Kazan, Russia, Son earned a silver medal in the ball routine. She suffered an ankle injury during a competition in April, but she has received treatment and is already back training for

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these Universiade Games.

The upcoming Universiade is special for Yang Hak-seon because it will be hosted by his hometown. Yang earned Korea’s first Olympic gold in artistic gymnastics at the 2012 Olympics in London.

This year’s Universiade will be a test event on his way to fulfilling his dream of becoming the world’s first two-time Olympic champion in his sport.At the 2014 Incheon Asian Games,Yang tore his thigh muscle during practice and missed the gold. This year, he will be aiming for the gold in the men’s vault with his signature “Yang-2” move, while competing among fierce rivals such as North Korea’s Ri Se-gwang and Russia’s Denis Ablyazin.

Gi Bo-bae won two gold medals at the London Olympics. To join the national team for the Universiade, she had to pass the team tryouts, which are often more competitive than the international game itself due to Korea having a large pool of talented archers. Her major rivals at the Gwangju Universiade are other Korean archers, including Choe Mi-seon and Kang Chae-yeong.

The University of Kansas men’s basketball team is drawing considerable interest as it will represent the U.S. at the

Artistic gymnast Yang Hak-seon. © Yonhap News

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upcoming Universiade Games. Men’s basketball is one of the most popular sports at summer Universiades. The University of Kansas is a major powerhouse in men’s collegiate basketball in the U.S. It won eleven straight Big 12 Conference titles and three National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships. A team’s best athletes do not usually participate in the University Games, but the University of Kansas decided to send its best athletes to the Gwangju games after its shocking elimination in the preliminary round in the last Universiade held in Russia. It will be interesting to see whether they play against reigning champion Russia in the finals.

Other notable athletes participating at the Gwangju Universiade are New Zealander Lydia Ko, the youngest-ever golfer to reach No. 1 in the world rankings, Botswana’s top middle-distance runner Nijel Amos and rising Fijian runner Danielle Alakija.

North Korea will send a delegation of 108 athletes across eight sports.The biggest star on the team is artistic gymnast Hong Eun-jeong, who won gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and the 2014 Kazan Universiade.

Interesting local events

Renowned athletes will compete at the Gwangju Universiade, including the University of Kansas men’s basketball team.

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Over the duration of the Universiade Games, Gwangju will host festivals t h ro u g h o u t t h e c i t y, i n c l u d i n g t h e Gwangju Sajik World Folk Festival, the Gwangju Pop Festival and the Marching Festival. In keeping with the theme of youth, the Gwangju City Government will host the 2015 World Youth Festival, which is organized and run by young men and women.

A city bus tour will show tourists the best of Gwangju and the surrounding areas of Jeollanam-do Province. The tour will even invite a master of southern Korean cuisine so that tourists from all around the world can try traditional delicacies from the region.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Korean pop in Latin America Korean pop and hip-hop music ignites interest in all things Korean.

Written by Kim Nae-on

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very Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., groups of teens in Lima gather at the Parque Mariscal Ramón Castilla to practice their dance moves to hits like boy band EXO’s “Growl” and girl group 4Minute’s “What’s Your Name?”At the Arenales shopping mall, you can buy Korean pop music albums,T-shirts of popular artists and even Korean food.

The same thing happens in Mexico City.Teens get together at Korean bakeries downtown and talk about their new pop DVDs or T-shirts. They are specifically referred to as “Los K-popers.” On YouTube, there are hundreds of music videos of Korean singers with Spanish subtitles, and many videos have over a million views.

Changing entertainment industry

The popularity of Korean pop and hip-hop music is spreading throughout Latin America. Some 13,000 fans attended boy band Super Junior’s concert in Lima in April 2013. In November 2012, another boy band, Big Bang, performed in front of over 14,000 fans. Many Latin American pop fans have completely memorized the Korean lyrics of the songs they love, and they actually sang along in unison at the rock band F.T. Island’s concert in Santiago.

More and more Korean pop groups are going on concert tours around Latin America. Boy band NU’EST held successful concerts in Mexico, Peru, Chile and

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Brazil last year, and the boy band Boyfriend finished its tour of Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Bolivia in May. Boy band U-KISS is planning its Latin American tour for the second half of this year. According to a survey by the Dong-A Ilbo, a Seoul newspaper, in cooperation with JJS Media, Argentina had the fifth-highest number of requests in the world for Korean pop concerts.

The Korean pop craze in Latin America is changing the landscape of the region’s entertainment industry, which used to revolve around each country’s traditional music. Caracol TV in Colombia created a singing competition show titled “K-Pop Reality Show,” and Mexico’s Azteca started

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showing 90-second clips of pop singers in its entertainment news show “Venga la Alegria.”Korean singers have also inspired the creation of copycat groups. Colombia created a girl group called Warrior Angels, and a boy band called Champs was formed in Brazil. These groups, just like Korean pop stars, stage powerful performances with energetic dance movements.

Latin America’s love for Korean pop music has expanded to Korean soap operas, food and fashion. Peru’s Panamericana TV, for example, broadcasts about 20 different Korean soap operas. Eight out of every ten viewers reportedly request that more such shows be aired.

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Secrets to music’s popularity

Why is Korean pop music so popular in Latin America? According to the Time article in August 2013 titled “Forget Politics, Let’s Dance: Why K-pop is a Latin American Smash,” there is an “amalgamation of spectacular entertainment and relentless optimism,” that captivates teenagers there. In the article, Professor Patrick Messerlin, a French economist who has written an economic analysis of the Korean pop music industry, cited his research. He found that Korean performers represent Confucian values. He writes that, “K-pop performers deliver a sense of modesty and restraint and insist on working hard and

1 - B oy band Junior performs in front of some 12,000 fans in Chile on Apr. 25, 2013.

2 - P op fans gather for a flash mob in hopes of bringing Korean idol groups to Argentina.

3 - C hilean pop fan shout and sing along at a concert. © Yonhap News

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learning more during public appearances.”

He claims that this is something that readily appeals to young Central and South Americans who, he says, are living under difficult economic circumstances and who need to hope that they can fulfill their dreams by devoting themselves to what they love. Of course, the most obvious factor in many Korean pop groups’ popularity is the easy access people have to their songs, made possible by platforms such as YouTube.

In December 2013, NPR Music posted an article on its website in which it likened the intense fan frenzy for boy band Super Junior to Beatlemania. Latin America’s interest in Korean pop is having a positive effect on political and economic relations, too. Marisol Espinoza, first vice president of Peru, said in an interview with Yonhap News that, “K-pop is one of the things that makes Peruvians learn more about Korea,” hinting at the possibility of establishing better bilateral relations. The Korean pop music frenzy in Latin America has enor mous economic and cultural potential in that it will enhance young people’s understanding of other parts of the world.

Special Issue

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food gives life Korea promotes fermented foods and their benefits at expo milano 2015.

Written by Sean Lim

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n 2012, the world was abuzz over the oceans and their sustainability at the World Expo in the coastal city of Yeosu. Three years later, Expo Milano 2015 recently opened in Italy focusing on sustainable food for the planet.Through October, over 140 countries will show visitors how new technologies and policies will deliver food safely, efficiently and respectfully. Of course, the delectable dishes and cuisine on offer will please the palates of the estimated 20 million visitors to Milan.

World Expos, the Olympics and the

World Cup are three of the largest global events. They bring mankind together and are opportunities for every country to show its best side to the world. The first World Expo was held in 1851 in London’s Crystal Palace to showcase the Western world’s achievements in science and technology. Since then, expos have gotten evergrander.

Expo Milano: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life

In Milan, countries are showing their best

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interpretations of the theme, “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.” The Dominican Republic tackles extreme poverty and hunger at its pavilion, while the Czech Republic features its biochemistry and nano-technology achievements. Meanwhile, the United States has a 670-squaremeter vertical farm that will be harvested throughout the expo. Austria shipped in a mini-forest to highlight oxygen production.

For Korea, the emphasis of its nearly 4,000-square-meter moon jar-shaped

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1 - Exterior shot of Korea’s nearly 4,000-square-meter ‘Moon Jar’ Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015.

2 - ‘Symphony of Food’ is a multimedia exhibit that demonstrates Korean Cuisine’s oneness with health and nature.

3 - A Bibimbap set (mixed vegetables and rice) showcases the harmony of Korea Cuisine.

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pavilion is fermentation, which is most readily seen in the national dish, kimchi.

Fermentation does not only produce foods that are pungent, complex and soulful. It has afforded mankind a means to convert food and store it without applying energy ever since the Neolithic Age, roughly 10,000 B.C. to 3,250 B.C. For Koreans, kimchi is but one of an array of fermented foods that have provided sustenance from vegetables during the hard, bitter winters, and which produce dynamic flavors, from soy sauce to red pepper paste.

Korea’s earthenware jars: vessels of food security and taste

The famous Korean earthenware onggi pots, which sit in backyards and apartment balconies across the nation, are the essential vessels for fermenting food. Korea’s exhibits at Expo Milano 2015 are housed in a stunning building with the soft curves of an onggi pot and the cream color of Joseon traditional porcelain.The designers clearly aimed to strike a balance between humans and the environment and between East and West.

Upon entering, visitors get a wake-up call about how modern food practices are leading to obesity and to a depletion of natural resources. They then move on to a presentation of how Hansik, Korean traditional food, is based on harmony with nature, right down to the seasons, colors and ingredients.

In his greeting to visitors to the Korea pavilion, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jongdeok emphasizes how Korea’s deep connection to food and to life can be seen in the Korean word for family, sikgu, which is literally translated as,“mouth to feed.” As Korea has found a harmonious balance with nature to feed its citizens, it hopes to extend this food tradition across the global family as well.

Food magic: fermentation, storage and variety

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The key portion of the exhibit focuses on fermentation and storage. Respectively titled, “Science of Time: Fermentation,” and, “Wisdom of the Earth: Storage,” the connecting visual element is the large earthenware onggi jar. Observers get a full explanation of how the apparently magical process of fermentation creates an endless variety of food.They will also see how the unique earthenware vessels “breathe” and

1 - M odern interpretation of a traditional onggi, or earthenware vessel highlights the process of fermentation in Korean cuisine at the Korea Pavilion.

2 - T hirty red lacquer balwoo are part of the Korea Craft & Design Foundation’s exhibit.

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create the perfect conditions to ripen lifesustaining foods with nothing but the power of the sun, a few microbes and yeast.

In the final portion of the exhibit, guests will be asked to consider the future of food, their role in the Earth’s sustainability and how Hansik fits into tomorrow’s responsible food management. Immediately after viewing the exhibits, the guests can dine on some modern twists of Korean cuisine at the in-pavilion restaurant.

Choices fall into the categories of Harmony (bibimbap), Healing (braised short ribs) and Health (grilled pork skewers).

Operated by the CJ Group’s Bibigo restaurant chain, the offerings are designed to suit a non-Korean’s taste buds.

For Koreans, kimchi is but one of an array of fermented foods that have provided sustenance from vegetables during the hard, bitter winters

Expo Milano 2015: Korea’s Calendar of Events

Alongside the expo pavilion, there are also scheduled Korean traditional performances and celebrations. In May, visitors saw a Korean b-boy dance and percussion act.

On Korea Day, June 23rd, the Korean 2 National Dance Company will hold a spe-

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3 - A rtist Lee Young-soon’s exhibit of earthenware jars, woven out of paper ropes, on display at Milano Design week at Triennale Design Museum.

cial performance.Throughout the summer, Korean pop groups and fashion labels will be featured alongside traditional circus routines and fusion classical music concerts.

In October, be ready to feast your eyes and ears on the hit non-verbal rhythmic stage performance Bibap.

Milan Design Week: Korea’s subtle approach to crafts

Ahead of the opening of the Expo Milano 2015, Italians saw many Korean crafts on display during the Milan Design Week, held April 14-19 at the Triennale Design Museum.Though the event itself was held under the theme of , “Constancy and Change,” Korea presented 192 pieces of craftsmanship dubbed, “Simple, Calm and Subtle.”

The exhibit, organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation for the third straight year, aimed to show how the concept of the Korean spirit has manifested itself through the generations via art forms such as ceramics, metal presentations, textiles and paper crafts. Exhibition Director

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Park Ryu-sook of the Park RyuSook Gallery said the collection from 23 Korean artists showed the intersection between traditional and modern aesthetics.

Many pieces in the collection based their pieces on muted tones of cream, white, grey and brown. Strong punctuations of rich black, vibrant blues and deep reds, however, occasionally accented the master artisans’ pieces. Park Gangyong’s circular arrangement of red-pepper pastecolored bowls ranging from tiny to large captivated onlookers with its subtle and dramatic style. Kim Seol’s red lacquered bowl perched on a cut tree branch seemed to subtly ask, “Is the bowl resting as a nest on the branch? Or is the branch a hand holding the bowl?” Ceramist Lee Se-yong’s ten identical white porcelain bowls all positioned in a row showed the beauty of one piece standing out among the crowd.

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With its lid slightly ajar and showing the beautiful blue cheonghwa pattern on the inside, it displayed the potential beauty of the other bowls. Paper also showed its versatility with Lee Young-soon’s exhibit. Jars in various earthen tones were woven out of paper ropes to look like ceramics. As for metalwork, Lee Gyung-no’s silver-inlaid brazier captured an inner strength and majesty with its intricate patterns.

By participating in the prestigious event, Korea’s long tradition of painstaking craftsmanship has reached out to nonKorean audiences who may have never seen or been interested in Korean design before.The people of Milan and visitors to Italy who come for the Expo Milano 2015 still have much to anticipate from the world of Korean cuisine and arts and from the beauty of its rich heritage.

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CURRENT KOREA

I am A creator Video bloggers take over the Internet.

Written by Kim Nae-on

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ang Ji-yeong is a 24-year-old video blogger, or vlogger. She has been an avid player of video games since elementary school. While in high school in 2007, she started uploading videos of herself narrating her video games live. She uploaded her videos on Afreeca TV, a peer-to-peer (P2P) video streaming service. Yang’s raw, live commentary quickly gained popularity, and she became a star among video game players in their teens and 20s. On YouTube, where she is known by her user name YangDding,Yang has over 1.2 million subscribers. In 2013, she was one of 50 winners of the YouTube Music Awards.

Yang currently earns about KRW 40 million (approximately USD 36,500) per month from her channels. In Korean slang, vloggers who host live broadcasts on

Afreeca TV are also called “broadcast jockeys.” About her job,Yang says, “A broadcast jockey is a writer, a producer and an actor, all combined into one.”

Growing online content, production value

Great Library TV, or Dae Doseogwan TV, is another video game channel on YouTube.

Users can subscribe to YouTube channels that interest them and enjoy the videos.

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Its creator, Na Dong-hyeon, became famous for his video game commentaries that are completely free of inappropriate language. Besides computer games, Na also vlogs about music, traveling and cars.

Having over 950,000 subscribers, he earns some KRW 20 to 30 million per month (approximately USD 18,000 to 27,500). At a conference last year, Na spoke of vloggers

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2 Na Dong-hyeon of Great Library TV describes in his videos how he plays video games.

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2 YangDding’s Yang Ji-yeong explains in one video how to make pudding.

as being an important influence on society these days. “People have diverse interests and hobbies. Personal entertainment is not a fad. It will continue to develop in the future.”

Vloggers have enormous potential. Na Dong-hyeon announced on May 7 that he plans to establish his own company, DH Media, in order to hire professional producers and to nurture new vloggers by sharing his knowledge and experience, while creating more videos that cater to different age groups. Na’s dream of setting up his own company became a reality with an equity investment from the leading media company CJ E&M. Two years ago, CJ E&M started a multi-channel network (MCN) service to work with video platforms such as YouTube to offer assistance in programming, funding and digital rights management in exchange for a percentage of the ad revenue from the channel. This year, the company decided to expand its MCN service under a new name, DIA TV, an acronym for “Digital Influence & Artist TV.” It aims to discover new revenue

Vloggers create distinct, relatable videos, unlike anything typically seen on conventional media.

streams and help smaller vloggers advance onto the world stage.To this end, CJ E&M will seek partnerships with other video sharing websites such as Youku and Dailymotion.

Other video streaming platforms are joining the MCN bandwagon. Pandora TV, for instance, launched a mobile video platform, iAPP, to make it easier for vloggers to share their videos online.

Interactive entertainment

The videos created and uploaded by vloggers provide a different kind of content that

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viewers haven’t seen on conventional media.They are more specific, relatable and likeable.Viewers are no longer just at the receiving end of the information, either.

They browse vloggers’ channels and subscribe to those that interest them, whether they are about beauty products and fashion, video games or food and cooking.Yang Jiyeong of YangDding shared how she feels about her job, saying, “It feels like I have an awesome store at a great market called YouTube.” When she is not vlogging, Yang speaks at conferences to impart her knowledge to those who want to become vloggers themselves.

Anyone can vlog about his or her own interests. Na Dong-hyeon from Great Library TV believes that more and more people will take up vlogging, and that they will cover less explored subjects such as childcare, education and real estate.According to Na, whose vlogging hobby has tur ned into a full-time job, “You can become a successful vlogger as long as you consistently make interesting, informative videos.”

summit diplomacy

President Park Geun-hye and Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev shake hands after their joint press conference on May 14 in Seoul.

President Plevneliev and Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Korea Korea to forge ‘future-oriented comprehensive partnership’ with Bulgaria and to pursue ‘special strategic partnership’ with India excerted by korea.net

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korea-bulgaria summit

President Park Geun-hye held a summit meeting on May 14 with her Bulgarian counterpart, Rosen Plevneliev, currently in Korea on an official visit. They agreed to upgrade their existing bilateral relationship and to turn it into a “future-oriented comprehensive partnership.”

During the joint press conference at Cheong Wa Dae, President Park said, “This year marks the 25th year of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Bulgaria. President Plevneliev’s visit to Korea this year is of great meaning to the development of bilateral relations. Today, we discussed ways to enhance our traditional cooperative relationship and how to strengthen the partnership.”

President Park said, “We agreed that the two nations would strengthen cooperation on a wider scope of fields so that we can better benefit from each other’s merits, including renewable energy, defense and security, science and technology, information communications technology, agriculture and the environment, as well as education and the arts. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed today covering science and technology is a good example from which the two nations can get win-win results, benefitting from Bulgaria’s outstanding status in the basic sciences and Korea’s competitiveness in applied sciences.

President Park also said, “Both of our peace-loving nations agreed to cooperate on international peace and security, and to make shared efforts to help North Korea give up its nuclear weapons and become a responsible member of the international community.”

“Our two nations may also need to work together on regional peace and to give humanitarian support to regions suffering from disputes or damaged by terrorism,” she said.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev

said,“I am happy to be in Korea this year, as it marks the 25th year of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties. The bilateral relationship will further be strengthened with the ‘future-oriented comprehensive partnership’ agreement we signed here today. Korea is a priority to us among Asian nations, and we wish that the volume of bilateral trade would be further expanded.”

The Bulgarian president emphasized that the two nations can enhance economic cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, energy, transportation, logistics, vehicles, R&D, agriculture, food, outsourcing and

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tourism. He said, “We are pleased with Korea’s suggestion to cooperate on the areas of agriculture and food. There are opportunities for Korean companies to take part in energy and infrastructure projects in Bulgaria.”

He went on to say that, “We actively support policies carried out by President Park regarding the peaceful unification of Korea and in forging an enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula. I am very honored to be in Korea and feel quite close with the country.”

The Bulgarian president emphasized that the two nations can enhance economic cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, energy, transportation, logistics, vehicles, R&D, agriculture, food, outsourcing and tourism.

President Park Geun-hye and Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev sign a bilateral joint statement on May 14.

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President Park Geun-hye and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk side by side in the Daejeongwon Garden of Cheong Wa Dae during the official welcoming ceremony for his state visit on May 18, as honor guards line the red carpet. © Cheongwadae

indian prime minister visits korea

“The adoption of a joint statement to change the Korea-India relationship into a special strategic partnership is the result of the two governments’ will and effort,” said President Park Geun-hye and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their joint press conference on May 18. President Park held a summit meeting with Prime Minister Modi, who was paying a state visit t o Ko re a t h a t d ay. T h e t wo l e a d e r s upgraded their bilateral relationship to a, “special strategic partnership.” “Over the past 42 years, the Korea-India relationship has made significant progress,” said President Park. “In particular, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

(CEPA) between Korea and India took effect in 2010. It solidified the basis for our bilateral economic cooperation and contributed to an increase in the exchange of the arts and people.” “Today, Prime Minister Modi and I discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation on various issues to further deepen our existing relationship,” said President Park. “I am very glad that Prime Minister Modi and I were able to adopt a joint statement for the KoreanIndian ‘special strategic partnership,’ based on a dialogue that, starting today, will open a new era of our bilateral relationship.”

Concerning their special strategic partnership, President Park said, “The two nations agreed to strengthen bilateral partnership channels in a bid to systematically

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develop our bilateral cooperation on politics and security. We agreed to establish annual summit meetings and hold joint commissions every year led by the two foreign ministers.We also agreed to establish a joint vice ministerial level defense and foreign affairs dialogue using a ‘2+2’ format and to further strengthen regular consultations between the National Secur ity Councils of the two nations.We also agreed to actualize our bilateral cooperation on national defense and defense industry.”

The two nations agreed to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which took effect in 2010, and to start negotiations to amend it

by June 2016. With the signing of the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agree-

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ment, the two nations intend to further improve the business environment in each country. “Pr ime Minister Modi asked Korea to become a special strategic partner to pursue his ‘Make in India’ policy, which is designed to develop India’s manufacturing industries,” said President Park. “In response, I expressed my will to share Korea’s economic development experience, especially experiences in developing manufacturing industries, and to actively cooperate for the mutual development of both nations.”

Korea and India agreed to strengthen bilateral partnership channels in a bid to systematically develop their bilateral cooperation on politics and security.

President Park Geun-hye and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi put their hands together, politely acknowledging each other, after holding a joint press conference on May 18. © Cheongwadae

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In terms of exchanges in the arts, education and between people, cultural festivals will be held in both nations this year and next year.The two nations also agreed to jointly improve a monument in Ayodhya, India, dedicated to Queen Heo Hwang-ok (c. A.D. 100), also known as Queen Suriratna, who is linked to Korean history. For the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula, President Park said, “Prime Minister Modi and I expressed concern over the development of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. We had the common understanding that the North needs to fully comply with all of its international obligations, including under the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, and to fulfill its commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the SixParty Talks.”“I explained the South Korean government’s efforts to prepare for a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula, and Prime Minister Modi expressed his support,” the president added.

“India’s economy faces a turning point i n w h i c h n ew m o m e n t u m i s b e i n g formed,” said Prime Minister Modi. “We are now focusing on building infrastructure and trying to establish world-class manufacturing industries. Korea can become an essential partner in that effort.” “Today’s agreements reflect an earnest stance for a new frame of our bilateral relationship,” said Prime Minister Modi. “Korea is the second country with which India agreed to establish a joint defense and foreign affairs dialogue using the ‘2+2’ format.” “I believe Korean companies have the ability to succeed in India,” said Prime Minister Modi.

“We intend to establish cooperation channels to help and encourage Korean companies to invest and do businesses in India. I also asked President Park to encourage Korean companies to take part in newlydeveloping industries in India. I asked for investment in the defense and shipbuilding industries, including defense equipment and LNG containerships.”

POLICY REVIEW

Centers for a Creative Economy and Innovation Regional centers that promote new businesses and innovation are reaping their rewards. excerted from weekly gonggam

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romoting new, innovative businesses is one of the primary goals of the Korean government for 2015, with the goal of revitalizing the economy. With this in mind, on the first anniversary of her inauguration on February 25, 2014, President Park Geun-hye announced her Three Year Plan for Economic Innovation. Establishing “Centers for a Creative Economy and Innovation” (CCEI) is part of this plan.The

central and local governments will work alongside conglomerates to create an ideal environment that supports innovation.This will help small- and medium-sized companies develop their ideas and grow their businesses. According to the plan, each province and major city will have its own center in cooperation with one conglomerate. Starting with the Daegu CCEI, ten centers have been opened thus far. The

College entrepreneurs show off the products they made with 3-D printers at the Daejeon CCEI. © Yonhap News

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central government plans to launch seven more during the first half of 2015.

Helping startups

The Daegu CCEI opened in September 2014 in cooperation with the Samsung Group. The center’s goal is to transform Daegu into a Silicon Valley by offering comprehensive support for startups in one place. A leading project is the “Creative Lab

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Accelerator Program.” Samsung selects some 40 startups through twice-a-year competitions and helps them develop their technologies and make inroads into overseas markets.These startups are in electronics, engineering, insurance and textiles.

They are given office space at the center and technical assistance from Samsung.

Each startup receives an initial funding of KRW 20 million (approximately USD 18,000) and an additional funding of up to KRW 500 million (approximately USD 450,000), as well as professional mentoring and evaluation over the duration of the project.

The Daejeon CCEI opened in October 2014 with a focus on maximizing capacities in information and communications technology (ICT) and energy. Supported by the SK Group, the center is already achieving considerable feats by attracting foreign investment and creating jobs. It is currently home to ten venture firms selected through the “Dream Venture Star Competition.” After its launch, the Daejeon CCEI and the SK Group created the SK-KNET fund of up to KRW 30 billion (approximately USD 28 million) to support venture firms incubating at the center. As of late March, the firms had attracted some KRW 4.6 billion (approximately USD 4 million), essential for the early stages of starting a business. The number of workers at the ten firms has risen from 41 to 58. During the incubation process, some companies have seen their projects come to fruition. The company THE-S, which develops three-dimensional scanners and cameras, has released a new product, theVUE1. Also, automatic video editing systems provider MJV kicked off its services on videofactory.net.Tegway, which develops a device that can be recharged by body heat using thermo elements, won a Netexplo award this year, which is given by UNESCO for the world’s top ten innovations that could materially improve quality of life. Companies such as Nike and GDF Suez have contacted Tegway to utilize its

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Startups at the Gyeongsangbuk-do CCEI show off some of their new projects.

The government’s new Centers for a Creative Economy and Innovation will help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into new products.

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technology to make wearable thermoelectric generators for their products and services.

Carbon cluster and smart factories

The Jeollabuk-do CCEI, which opened in November 2014, has given office space to four entrepreneurs free-of-charge. The entrepreneurs were selected through a competition organized by the government of Jeollabuk-do and the Hyosung Group.

The Jeollabuk-do CCEI is primarily concerned with developing the carbon industry since Hyosung established a carbon fiber plant in the city of Jeonju, Jeollabukdo, in 2013. Hyosung independently developed carbon fibers in 2011, and it has been mass-producing them since 2013. Today, the company offers technical assistance and financial support to startups in the province that make products using carbon fiber.

The term “smart factory” refers to a fully automated assembly line based on manufacturing execution systems (MES) and the Internet of Things (IoT). It is the focus of the Gyeongsangbuk-do CCEI. Samsung and the Gyeongsangbuk-do Center aim to help small manufacturing businesses by automating and digitizing their industrial processes, while modernizing aged industrial facilities across the province. INTOPS, a manufacturer and distributor of mobile products and appliances that was selected for the smart factory project, expects a 30 percent growth in productivity upon the installation of Samsung’s smart factory system. In collaboration with the Gyeongsangbuk-do CCEI, Samsung will develop some 400 smart factories.

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

The Gwangju CCEI carries out two different projects at two facilities. It concentrates on research into hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at one facility and at the other, the introduction of the creative industr ies to improve the livelihoods of local residents.

Hyundai Motor Company is working in Gwangju to transform the city into a mecca for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, dubbed as the, “ultimate eco-friendly cars,” with zero emissions. Hyundai Motor and its sister company, Kia Motors Corporation, have g iven about 1,000 of their unused patents to local entrepreneurs who want to open automotive startups at the center.

The second project helps some 90,000 small merchants, which account for about

The Gwangju CCEI has a ‘creative zone,’ where anyone can come to work together or to relax.

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8 5 % o f a l l bu s i n e s s e s i n t h e c i t y o f Gwangju, by introducing the creative industries into traditional markets. The Gwangju CCEI will help revitalize these markets by supporting online and mobile marketing, and by developing marketing strategies in connection with local galleries and theatres that display traditional art and host folk music performances.

Shared growth

At the Chungcheongbuk-do CCEI, the LG Group is giving its patents to small companies free of charge in an effort to help them find new business opportunities.

Some 27,000 LG patents and some 1,600 patents from government research institutions will be offered to seek balanced growth between conglomerates and small,

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At the Gyeongsangnam-do CCEI, President Park Geun-hye listens to explanations from high school student inventors about their new creations. © Yonhap News

local companies. At the IP Support Zone inside the center, companies can also receive consultation from patent experts and use the open patents in countless fields, including electronics, biotechnology, chemicals, beauty and telecommunications.

Thanks to this patent-sharing project, parts manufacturer Im-Tech gained access to 51 patents for wireless charging, antennas and the development of new wireless charging technologies. Optical coating company Seil Hi-tech plans to develop a reflective panel using LG’s patented Backlight Unit Panel technologies.

17 more centers in 2015

The Gangwon CCEI is moving to make its industries, such as tourism and agriculture, more competitive based on the use of big data and crowdsourcing.

At the Gyeongsangnam-do CCEI, the Doosan Group, a heavy industry conglomerate and a leading desalination company,

will develop IT solutions for managing water resources and turning seawater into freshwater.

The Busan CCEI focuses on three key industries: retail, film and the IoT. It hopes to transform the city even more so into a bustling business hub.

Teaming up with telecommunications carrier KT, the Gyeonggi CCEI works on nurturing promising firms in emerging IT sectors, such as mobile games and finance technology.

These centers of research and innovation are about shifting the paradigm of economic growth by using the creativity of the people. They help talented individuals with business ideas make their ideas come true by providing a place to work and an opportunity to communicate with each other and to work together. This year, the central government hopes to produce successful business models to further develop platforms to help innovative startups.

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Developing innovative capabilities in Saudi Arabia SK Telecom, the Daejeon CCEI’s corporate partner, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) for strategic cooperation on the creative industries on March 4 in Riyadh.

“An official from the Saudi Telecom Company wanted to benchmark the Daejeon Center after seeing SK offer its support to small businesses,” said an official from the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. SK Telecom expects the partnership to serve as a vehicle where not only the two companies, but also venture companies from both countries, can work together to develop new technologies and innovative solutions, thus opening new opportunities for growth in both markets. Moreover, SK Telecom and the STC have also agreed to share technological expertise and marketing knowhow in many different areas to strengthen their business presence, not only in Saudi Arabia, but also in other overseas markets. SK Telecom will share its products and marketing capabilities in the areas of “smart cities,” digital healthcare and “smart learning.” The Ministry hopes that SK Telecom’s cooperation with the STC will help the company’s exports and have a positive effect on other conglomerates that are participating at other CCEIs.

Creative Technology

The Next Generation of Displays Flat, black rectangular screens are a thing of the past. Behold the future of displays!

Written by CHeong Kyu-young

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amsung Electronics and LG Electronics, though fierce rivals, have maintained a firm grip on the global display market since 2004, together accounting for some 46% of the global market in 2013 alone. In the fastgrowing market for ultra-high definition (UHD) TVs, Samsung and LG have a combined market share of over 54%, competing neck and neck for the No.1 spot every quarter.

These two companies are enjoying

their lead today, but the electronics business changes fast and keeping the top spot takes hard work.They will certainly face daunting challenges from other competitors in the coming years. For instance, display manufacturers such as BOE are investing heavily in new production lines. In order to retain their edge, both conglomerates are moving fast to predict changes in the market and to invest in promising technologies. Two main areas of focus are flexible

Samsung unveils its 85-inch bendable TV at the 2014 CES.

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displays and transparent displays.

Make it flexible

The giant screens in IMAX theaters are slightly curved to maximize the audience’s field of view and to offer a more immersive experience to the viewer. To bring the same effect into the living room, LG and Samsung each produce a curved screen for their larger models. Flexible displays take this one step further. Using a remote con-

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trol, viewers can adjust the angle of the curvature as they see fit. Both Samsung and LG unveiled flexible displays at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but they are not yet commercially available.

Flexible displays can also be used on smartphones. The first smartphone with a curved display was the Samsung Galaxy Round, which was launched in 2013. Samsung continued using curved displays for some of its later products, such as the Galaxy Note Edge and the Galaxy S6 Edge.

Critics point out that these curved-edge screens are not practical, but Samsung deserves praise for designing products that stand apart from other smartphones in an already saturated market. The company plans to continue down the creative path by launching a fully-foldable smartphone in 2016, using an ultra-thin organic lightemitting diode (OLED) for its screen.

LG has also been making smartphones with flexible displays, including the G4 and the G Flex ser ies. Looking toward the future, LG built a bendable display that can be wrapped around your wrist like a “slap watch.” In April, the invention was awarded a design patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Flexible displays have a bright future because they are integral to wearable devices, including smartwatches. In the

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coming years, we will continue to see flexible screens evolve in both design and functionality.

Window as a display

Imagine seeing outside your window a beach of white sand and cobalt-blue water or a green meadow instead of the dull apartment complex across the way. Transparent displays promise this in the near future.Window brightness can be adjusted to block sunlight or to protect your privacy without having to use curtains. However, transparent displays are still in development, as engineers try to improve transparency and brightness.

Samsung and LG are leading the way in this new technology. The whole idea of

transparent displays may sound too futuristic, but the market has great potential. Industry analysts project that transparent screens will account for nearly 40% of the total display market by 2030. Other notable manufacturers include smaller businesses such as Kiosk Korea and Samil CDS, which produce refrigerators with transparent screens and transparent advertising panels.

1 - A model demonstrates a prototype of LG’s transparent display.

2 - S amsung’s transparent refrigerator was developed in 2012 for home use, but it is more widely used commercially today.

3 - S amsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge utilizes flexible display technology.

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great koreans

Yi Won-rok to Prisoner 264

Yi Yuk-sa was born as Yi Won-rok on April 4, 1904, in Andong, Gyeongsangguk-do Province. A descendent of the prominent Confucian scholar Yi Hwang (1501-1570), Yi was raised according to the strictures of traditional discipline. He studied elementary Confucian morals under his grandfather at an early age, and in preparation for studying abroad, he mastered traditional Chinese characters by studying the teach-

ings of Confucius and Mencius.

Japan formally annexed Korea with the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1910 when Yi was only six years old. Many people chaffed under colonial rule and began resisting fervently.They organized clandestine organizations to fight colonialism within the country and established bases for an independence movement in China, Russia and the U.S. These movements culminated in the Korean Independence Movement of

M a rc h 1 , 1 9 1 9 , w h e n s t u d e n t s a n d common people alike joined independence leaders and staged large-scale street demonstrations across the country.

The consequences of the year’s events shaped Yi’s entire life. In 1924, at the age of 20, Yi left for Japan to go to university.

Instead of studying, he returned home the following year and joined the Uiyoldan together with his two brother s. The Uiyoldan was an association formed in

Poet Yi Yuk-sa Yi offered a light of hope in dark times.

Written by Kim Hyeon-tae Photographed by Yi Yuk-sa Literature Museum

Yi Yuk-sa gave copies of this photo of himself to friends before he left for Beijing in 1943.

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The Green Grapes July in my hometown is the season, When the green grapes ripen.

The vines are heavy with the clusters Of the saga of this village, Each and every grape is studded With the dreams of the faraway sky.

The blue ocean under the sky opens its heart, And, when a white sailboat is blown ashore.

My guest, dressed in blue hemp clothes, Will come see me, I will pick the grapes to welcome him, exhausted.

I won’t mind having my hands wet.

Boy, don’t forget the white linen Beside the silver plates on our table.

One of Yi Yuk-sa’s famous poem.

May 1919 in response to colonial repression of the independence movement. It soon had cells across Korea and parts of China and became a secret organization that opposed Japan in various ways, including assassinations and acts of sabotage.

After spending a few years in China as a student, Yi returned to Korea in 1927.

When members of the Uiyeoldan blew up the Daegu branch of the Bank of Choseon in autumn of that year, he was arrested and spent more than 18 months in prison. His pr isoner ID was “264,” which is pronounced in Korean as, “yi yuk sa.” During his time in prison,Yi realized the dire need f o r Ko re a n i n d e p e n d e n c e. H e t h e n assumed the name Yi Yuk-sa and devoted his life to independence for his country.

Yi was released from prison in 1929 at the age of 25, and the colonial regime con-

A bronze sculpture of Yi Yuk-sa sits outside the Yi Yuk-sa Literature Museum in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

tinued to monitor him since the Uiyoldan and its activities had been exposed. As a member of the Uiyeoldan,Yi had learned combat techniques and continued the struggle for independence. According to historical accounts,Yi was arrested 17 times and was often brutally tortured.

When he was in Beijing in 1943, Yi arranged for weapons to be smuggled into colonial Korea. He was arrested again when he returned to Seoul on the first anniversary of his mother’s death. He was then transferred to the military police attached to the Japanese Consulate General in Beijing, where he died on January 16, 1944.

Yi’s remains were later handed over to his family.

Poet and independence activist

Yi Yuk-sa was a poet only during the last

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decade of his short 39-year life. He wrote some 40 poems. Many were about his passion for independence, yearnings for his hometown and his loneliness as an activist.

Yi’s poems have clear lines and stanzas, possibly der iving from his knowledge of ancient poetry and his Confucian education. Some of his poems are bold and strong, while others are rich in lyricism.

Yi’s poems receive wide acclaim because they show his commitment to the cause.Whereas many people opted to turn their back on formal independence in the hope of having a more comfortable life and a better future for their children,Yi practiced what he preached. This is why Yi’s poems have come to represent a spirit of resistance.There is tragic beauty in Yi’s literature. It forcefully expresses his determination to give his life for his country.

My Korea

I

have been fortunate enough to travel frequently around Korea, often journeying to Seoul, Busan and Daegu. After arriving, I quickly became aware of how the transport system here distinguishes itself from those in other countries, including other East Asian countries. I do not drive or own a car, so I rely heavily on public transportation.

The bus network connects the whole country, so visitors can easily make their way anywhere they want to go. Buses run

frequently and have excellent customer service.The peninsula is crisscrossed by arterial roads and highways, which are dotted with rest areas. Similar to those in other countries, these rest areas provide basic amenities to help refresh exhausted travelers: bathrooms, gas stations, convenience stores and smoking areas. Rest areas are also full of eateries with very wide offerings.

If you are visiting Korea and plan to travel outside of Seoul, I urge you to stop

and have a substantial, delicious meal on the way to your final destination. There really is a great variety of food to choose from. Some common simple snacks are grilled potato wedges (gamja-gui), fishcakes (eomuk) or walnut cookie balls (hodu-gwaja).

Most rest stops have a food court, a dessert shop and clothing stores. Many food courts sell Western food, like pork cutlets, fried chicken or hamburgers, as well as meals with rice and noodles.While the rest areas

Is This Really Just a Rest Area?

There’s no way to only spend a short amount of time at these interesting highway rest stops.

Written by Jack Brooks Illustrated by Kim Dong-jin

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are extremely convenient, they are continuing to develop and already offer a wide range of shopping possibilities. If you are short on cash, for example, there are always ATMs close by.

Never a dull moment on the expressway

There is no time for boredom on the expressway. The rest areas provide a nice break and have developed into much more

than just restroom facilities and a place to stretch your legs. Maybe one day there will be a travel map dedicated to rest areas or a service like Trip Advisor will provide information on the best rest area eateries. Lotte Mart, a big-box retailer, has already opened a store at the Majang Rest Area on the Jungbu Expressway. This not only highlights the distinct contrast between European and other East Asian type rest areas and Korean ones, but also suggests that rest

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areas could flourish as extremely exciting tourist spots in their own right. They are becoming shopping centers, event venues and relaxing parks with nature and nice views. In fact, rest areas may offer the next great growth opportunity for large discount stores.

Korea’s rest areas are beaming and always bustling with activity, compared to those in other countries. The latter are often forlorn and uninviting.

multicultural KOREA

A Mother’s Heart Sano Noriko, a mother of three, leads a public safety volunteer group.

Written by Yoon Se-eun Photographed by Hong Ha-yan

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ano Noriko’s life in Korea started when she got married. Sano is now a public safety volunteer in her neighborhood in Goyang, in Gyeonggi-do Province. In response to the rising number of non-Korean residents, in May 2013 the Goyang Police Station established a public safety volunteer group for the city’s non-Korean residents, to better deal with issues and crimes involving them.

Women from Japan, the Philippines,Vietnam and Cambodia joined, and there are now 15 volunteers.

“The volunteers are all mothers.They decided to help out to protect their children from school violence, sexual assault and domestic violence. In addition to preventing crimes involving non-Korean residents, they help break down stereotypes about multicultural families,” says Sergeant Myung Yoon-jung of the Foreign Affairs Division of the Goyang Police Station.

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and traditions of their home countries.

“During the holidays, we visit multicultural families living in difficult situations and deliver gifts. I think they open up more easily when they see someone from their home country,” says Sano.

For families’ sake A multicultural mothers’ volunteer group improves public safety.

Sano Noriko patrols her neighborhood at night alongside police officers to help keep the streets safe.

Day in and day out

Before marriage, Sano was a nurse. She decided to devote her life to her family after becoming a mother of three. Today, volunteering is as important as her jobs as a wife and a mother. Her first role with the volunteer group was as an interpreter.Two years ago, she was appointed as leader of the group.

The volunteers here have many different job descriptions. At night, they patrol different neighborhoods alongside police officers and put up posters promoting public safety inside restaurants that are frequented by non-Korean residents. Whenever there is a case involving a non-Korean resident, the volunteers come to the police station to interpret. They also visit institutions for people with disabilities and teach children at orphanages about the lifestyles

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Sano Noriko genuinely enjoys volunteering for her community.

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The work at the public safety volunteer group has changed the volunteers over the past two years. Sergeant Myung says, “These mothers wanted to do something to serve their communities, and their participation in the public safety volunteer group has done just that.They have developed a sense of belonging here in Goyang and have boosted their self-confidence.”

“Ever since I started volunteering, I have been trying to take better care of my neighborhood, just as the police officers do.

I don’t hesitate to call the police if I see a child being assaulted on the side of the street. I think my volunteer work has helped me become a better mother to my children, and I want to continue volunteering as long as I can,” says Sano.The volunteers know very well that helping out in their communities also benefits their families, and that is exactly the reason Sano Noriko wants to keep volunteering in her neighborhood.

The Goyang Police Station launched another volunteer group in early 2015. It is a partnership between volunteer groups of Korean mothers with those of mothers from different countries. All the volunteers will combine their resources and work together to further improve safety conditions in their communities. The work of these warm-hearted mothers in Goyang will continue to make the city’s neighborhoods safer for everyone.

nature

Secrets of the River The timelessness of the Nakdonggang River Written by Isaac Colson

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“H

ave you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?”

This quote from Herman Hesse’s “Siddhartha” reveals the timelessness of the flowing river: the past, present and future ebb and flow into a single entity. The Nakdonggang River, flowing over 500 kilometers through five of the nine provinces of Korea, is no different. It was the lifeline of early Korean civilization. During the Korean War (1950-1953), it played an important role in the nation’s defense.

Today, the r iver’s pr istine beauty and diverse wildlife are widely enjoyed and will continue to be for many years to come.

The longest river in South Korea, the Nakdonggang River has provided water, food and means of transportation for millennia. Neolithic artifacts discovered near the river give evidence of its importance in prehistoric times. As polished stones gave way to metals and as the Korean Peninsula entered its Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.-A.D.668), the river received its name.

The Nakdonggang River literally means,“a river that runs east of the Gaya Confederacy.” Gaya (42-562) was not one of the three kingdoms and was actually annexed by the powerful Silla Kingdom in 562.

On June 25, 1950, at the beginning of the Korean War, the North Korean People’s Army marched into South Korea, and by August they were already battling on the banks of the Nakdonggang River. The

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river provided a natural defensive barrier that was part of the Busan Perimeter being held by U.N. troops. It was the final line of defense. The two main skirmishes around the river resulted in thousands of causalities. The Nakdonggang Battle Museum opened in 1979 to commemorate the battles and to honor those who fell defending the Busan Perimeter.

The river has received a facelift in the more recent past, adding weirs that run along its banks. Similar to the bike paths and parks along the Hangang River in Seoul, these multi-purpose public recreation spaces allow people to relax, contemplate the river’s past and to enjoy the riparian natural beauty. Teeming with plant and animal life, including several species of birds, the Nakdonggang River is not only an important ecosystem, but is visually stunning. A popular vantage point to view this artistry is Obangansan Mountain. From its slopes, the panoramic view of the river below is breathtaking. The Eulsukdo Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a safe area for migrating birds and a popular destination for bird enthusiasts from across the country.

Likewise, the Upo Wetlands are home to several rare and endangered birds, fishes and other water-dwelling animals.

Observing the present majesty of the river, exploring its rich history and preserving its beauty for future generations are the secrets to the timelessness of the Nakdonggang River.

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flavor

Gimbap, the Perfect Picnic Food Written by Yoon Se-eun Photographed by Moon Duk-gwan Cooked and Styled by Kim Ga-young (101 Recipe)

G

imbap is a common picnic food and a great snack. It’s easy to make and requires only a few simple ingredients. Everyone loves a bit of gimbap.

These seaweed rice rolls date back to Joseon times (1392-1910). People began to cultivate seaweed in the 17th century and then started wrapping rice and side dishes in the seaweed after it was dried.The styles of gimbap around today were developed in

the 20th century.

The general recipe for g imbap is simple. Lay a bamboo roller flat on the table. Place one sheet of seaweed on the roller. As thinly as possible, carefully spread r ice that has been seasoned with salt, pepper and sesame oil onto the sheet. Make sure to leave a short part at one edge of the seaweed sheet uncovered. On top of the rice, lay down vegetables, such as sautĂŠed

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spinach, pickled radishes or carrots sliced into sticks. Add beef, ham or eggs as you wish. Starting from the completely covered edge of the seaweed, roll the laden seaweed in the roller as if rolling up a sleeping bag.

Make sure not to crush the gimbap while still achieving a tight wrap.

A combination of rice, vegetables and meat, rolled and cut into bite-sized pieces, gimbap is the ideal healthy picnic lunch.

Now it’s really summer.

이제 정말 여름이네요. ije jeongmal yeoreumineyo.

How is the weather today? Mingming talks about the weather with her friend Minsu.

Let’s talk about weather in Korean.

Wow, the weather is great! It has really warmed up, right?

와, 날씨가 정말 좋아요. 많이 더워졌지요?

wa, nalssiga jeongmal joayo. mani deowojyeotjiyo? 밍밍

Yeah, now it’s really summer.

네, 이제 정말 여름이네요.

ne, ije jeongmal yeoreumineyo. 민수

That’s right. Since yesterday, the temperature has really risen.

맞아요. 어제부터 기온이 많이 높아졌어요

majayo. eojebuteo gioni mani nopajyeosseoyo.

밍밍

Today the sunshine is really bright.

오늘은 햇빛도 정말 강하네요.

oneureun haetbitdo jeongmal ganghaneyo. 민수

Let’s practice!

–아지다/어지다

Try to make conversation using the following vocabulary.

The pattern ‘–아지다/어지다’ is added to adjective stems to indicate a change of state or condition has occurred. ‘–아지다’ is used if the final vowel of the adjective stem ends in ‘ㅏ’ or ‘ㅗ’ and ‘–어지다’ is used for all other vowel endings.

따뜻하다 ttatteutada

덥다 deopda

쌀쌀하다 ssalssalhada

춥다 chupda

to be warm

to be hot

to be cool or chilly to be cold

봄 bom

여름 yeoreum

가을 gaeul

겨울 gyeoul

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

–네요 The pattern ‘–네요’ is added to verb or adjective stems to show that one is surprised or impressed.

Example A : 날씨가 정말 따뜻해졌어요. nalssiga jeongmal ttatteutaejyeosseoyo.

Pronunciation Liaison 1

Now it’s really summer. The temperature became higher.

The weather is really warm.

B : 이제 정말 봄이네요. ije jeongmal bomineyo.

이제 정말 여름이네요. 기온이 높아졌어요.

ije jeongmal yeoreumineyo. gioni nopajyeosseoyo.

Now it is really spring.

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