World cup coming soon.

Cup runneth over for bars, theaters
June 08, 2010
Workers of Kyobo Life Insurance, wearing red shirts, cheer for Korea’s national World Cup football team yesterday at the intersection of Gwanghwamun, central Seoul. Korea plays Greece this Saturday in a preliminary match of the World Cup in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Question No. 1: Who’s going to win? Question No. 2: Where are you going to watch the match? In the comfort of your own home, or one of the myriad establishments competing to lure in footballs fans?The streets of Hongdae are plastered with ads offering World Cup freebies. One joint is giving patrons free tequila starting from 30 minutes before the game to its conclusion, while a popular dance club will be letting people in for free until 9 p.m. on game days.Lotte Cinema and CJ’s CGV will show the games on theater screens and tickets are selling out.“Game screenings have been held at CGV ever since the 2002 World Cup, but what’s different this time is that we are planning to show games in 3-D,” said Kim Dae-hee, a spokesperson for CGV. “We don’t think that many people have bought 3-D TVs for their homes to watch the games, so we are looking to bring the experience to them.”CGV is also offering complimentary red T-shirts to those who buy popcorn combos on game day.Lotte Cinema said 75,000 people have reserved tickets for the screenings and the company is “looking to make other theaters available because of the massive overflow,” said Lotte public relations official You Jina.University students who failed to get tickets need not fear, because major schools in Seoul are planning campus screenings.“Word of the event is spreading among students and so are the expectations,” said Lee Woo-sik, a member of the student council at Korea University in Seoul. “We’re looking at getting 1,000 students for an outdoor screening on the 17th.” Yonsei University is opting for a less raucous screening in an auditorium on campus, although the school’s cheerleaders are planning to vamp up, said Yang Su-jin from the student council.Whatever the venue, hopes are running high for the upcoming match. “I am hoping Korea does well,” said Kim Jung-yoon, a student, “since this is only the beginning of the Cup.”

When holding 2002World cup in Korea and Japan, I was too young to enjoy 'real world cup'. I look forward to cheering the Korean Team on the streets. But, unfortunately, final exams are near at hand.

Election day!

DP basks in election victory; GNP grapples with debacle
2010-06-03 18:42

The elections were seen as a mid-term evaluation of the Lee administration’s performance and as crucial since it could remap the political landscape ahead of the 2012 presidential vote.
The GNP secured two seats in the hotly-contested Seoul metropolitan area -- one for Seoul mayor and the other for Gyeonggi governor. It won four other posts in their traditional strongholds of Busan, Daegu, Ulsan and North Gyeongsang Province.
Oh Se-hoon of the GNP won reelection as Seoul mayor against Han Myeong-sook of the DP by a narrow margin of only a 0.6 percentage point.
The GNP failed to gain any seats in the relatively politically neutral Chungcheong region, showing the strong sentiment of the voters against the ruling camp pushing to revise the Sejong city plan that calls for relocating about a dozen government agencies to Yeongi and Gongju in South Chungcheong Province.
Out of the total 228 electoral districts picking lower-level administrative chiefs, the DP scored victories in 92 districts while the GNP secured 82 posts. Independent candidates won 36 posts while the LFP and the minority Democratic Labor Party garnered 17 posts and three posts, respectively.
The DP swept the borough chief elections in Seoul. It secured 21 out of the total 25 posts while the GNP won only four.
By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldm.com)

Social networking services, such as Twitter, may have played an instrumental role in producing a surprise victory for the opposition in the local elections on Wednesday, according to election observers and IT industry analysts.Voter turnout in the election at 54.5 percent was the highest in 15 years, and analysts said that the surge was due to Twitter messages exchanged among young voters who flocked to the polls after being urged to do so by friends and celebrities.Star novelist Lee Oi-soo, who has some 167,000 followers of his Twitter account, tweeted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday saying, “If you give up your right to vote, it is as worthless as trash.” Actress Park Jin-hee and singer Kim Hee-cheol also sent messages and pictures on their Twitter accounts to encourage people to vote.Song In-hyeok, a 34-year-old office worker, sent similar messages to around 30 acquaintances. “As I saw those texts, I felt a sense of responsibility and felt that I should join in, too,” he said.Figures show that voter turnout rose notably as the day progressed and votes for the opposition Democratic Party increased significantly in the afternoon hours.Election experts say this is very reminiscent of the 2002 presidential election when Roh Moo-hyun had a landslide victory over conservative Lee Hoi-chang. Roh’s victory is seen as partly due to Internet support from young liberal voters. “Ruling party candidates gained the most votes in the morning hours, while the opposition party candidates got the majority of the votes in the afternoon hours,” said an official who took part in the exit polls.According to New York-based Internet market researcher eMarketer, two-thirds of all Internet users in U.S. will be using social networking Web sites by 2014, increasing the potential that social media will not only be a venue for networking but also forming public opinion.

Although I couldn;'t vote, but conclution of the off-year election is interesting! Some people said that lame-duck phenomenon will be getting worse from now on.

"Poetry" won the prize at te Cannes film festival!

Korean film "Poetry" won the best screen play prize at the Cannes film festival on Sunday, news reports said.

South Korean director Lee Chang-dong poses after winning the Best Screenplay award for his film "Poetry" during the photocall of the closing ceremony at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2010 in Cannes. (AP-Yonhap News)The film, directed by Lee Chang-dong, tells a story of an old lady who finds happiness in learning of poetry for the first time in her life while a harsh reality forces her to suffer guilt and fear, Yonhap News said.The film “Ha Ha Ha” by South Korean director Hong Sang-soo won the top prize at the Cannes film festival sidebar competition, Un Certain Regard, on Sunday. The movie is about a trip down memory lane with a filmmaker and a movie critic sharing memories about their separate trips to Tongyoung, South Gyeongsang Province. South Korean top actors and actresses including Kim Sang-gyung, Yu Jun-sang, Moon So-ri, Ye Ji-won and Youn Yuh-jung starred in the film, receiving no compensation. Hong has a reputation of making movies in such a way.“I hope this prize can help many friends who made the movie together. I am going to keep on making movies, in the same way I used to make them,” said Hong after winning the prize. Actor Yu Jun-sang and actress Ye Ji-won were by his side at the festival.
(claire@heraldm.com)

I'm really proud of Korean film recognized as the best movie in the world. I haven't know the director, Yi Chang do, but It turn out that he had directed film "millyang", the actor Jun- do yun plays the heroine. I'm not sure the movie is my taste, or I'll try watching that movie someday.

Tension between North and South Korea is rapidly reaching flashpoint.

Seoul to redefine NK as main enemy
N. Korean leader orders military to prepare for warBy Na Jeong-juStaff reporterPresident Lee Myung-bak indicated Tuesday that South Korea will re-designate North Korea as the "main enemy" in its defense white paper, a concept it dropped six years ago amid a push for inter-Korean reconciliation."For the past decade, we have lived without the concept of a main enemy. We have focused on potential threats outside the Korean Peninsula, but ignored the direct threats from North Korea," Lee said at a meeting with his security advisors at Cheong Wa Dae.Lee's remarks came after reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had ordered his military to prepare for a possible full-scale war on the peninsula.The South Korean Ministry of National Defense has begun working-level discussions to revive the notion of a main enemy, according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye.In an article posted on its website, the North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity, a Seoul-based anti-Pyongyang organization, said the North's military has strengthened combat readiness on direct orders from Kim after Seoul blamed the reclusive state last Thursday for a torpedo attack on the warship Cheonan in March."North Korea is holding massive rallies around the country to denounce South Korea and the United States," the article said. "All participants, even civilians, must wear military uniforms."It said the North boosted surveillance at its borders with China and South Korea, noting that it acquired the information from its stringers operating there.A South Korean military spokesman doubted the authenticity of the report, but said North Korea could resort to extreme military options.The allegations came amid the growing possibility of armed conflict between the two Koreas.In an address to the nation Monday, President Lee vowed a stern military response to any further provocative acts by North Korea and demanded an apology for the torpedo attack and punishment of those responsible.South Korea shut all sea lanes to North Korean ships and suspended inter-Korean trade and exchange programs.Seoul said the 1,200-ton frigate Cheonan sank after being attacked by a North Korean submarine in South Korean waters. However, the North has denied its involvement in the sinking.

North and South, the two countries are on the brink of war, but it still hasn't hit me yet...Why did North korea attack Cheonanham? Their behavior was absolutely disgraceful. Meanwhile, the two countries have maintained friendly relationship each other. Of course, South Korea helped them a lot one sidely. What an ingrate! How could they do this to ethnic group race, South Korea? I agree that we called North Korea goverment to book for this attranction. But on the other hand, If war breaks out, there may be so many loses on the Korean peninsula....I'm not sure what is appropriate solution.

The last preRoh's anniversary.

Family, friends, politicians mark Roh’s anniversary

May 24, 2010
[뉴시스]GIMHAE - Despite rainy and chilly weather, ceremonies to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun attracted his supporters, government officials and politicians across the country yesterday.The former president killed himself on May 23, 2009 by jumping off a cliff in his hometown of Bongha village weeks after prosecutors began an investigation into allegations that he and his family received at least $5 million from Park Yeon-cha, former chairman of Taekwang Industrial and a longtime patron for Roh.A memorial next to Roh’s tomb in Bongha village began at 1:30 p.m., and it attracted over 15,000 visitors, including Grand National Party floor leader Kim Moo-sung, Democratic Labor Party head Kang Ki-kab and Public Administration and Security Minister Maeng Hyung-kyu. The ceremony was presided over by popular comedian Kim Jae-dong.A video clip on Roh’s legacy was played and a memorial poem and memorial addresses were read by former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan and poet Do Jong-hwan. “I can’t help but grieve for what happened just a year ago,” said Roh Geon-ho, son of the late former president, who spoke for Roh’s family. “But I’m asking you [my father] to forget about the tragedy that happened a year ago and remember the path you traversed and wanted to pursue. I also want to thank you people who share the grief and sadness with us.” The ceremony that lasted for one hour and 40 minutes and concluded after some 100 visitors set 523 butterflies free. Roh’s tomb site was opened to the public and visitors placed flowers on it. Over 15,000 granite stones surround Roh’s tomb and each stone has an engraved message on its face. Kim Gyeong-su, Roh’s former secretary, is director general of the Bongha Foundation, which organized the memorial. He said over 30,000 people visited Bongha village. “So many people came to Bongha village today,” said Han Myeong-sook, a former prime minister who is running for Seoul mayor for the June 2 local elections. “I want to achieve his unfulfilled dream by winning the local election.”A concert to remember Roh was held in Seoul Plaza in central Seoul from 6 p.m. yesterday and attracted 5,000 visitors. The event was broadcast live to Busan University, where residents gathered. Police estimated over 3,000 visitors paid their respects at a temporary mourning altar set up in front of Daehanmun of Deoksu Palace near the Seoul’s City Hall. By Hwang Sun-yoon, Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]

Why is the weather cold these day?

Cold, wet weather kills beekeepers’ buzziness
April 28, 2010
This year’s unusually cold and rainy spring is causing a major headache for the local agriculture industry from growers of fruits and vegetables to bee farmers.The government may soon offer assistance to bee farms since a large number of the insects have frozen to death.This follows a government plan announced last week to offer 340 billion won ($305.8 million) in aid to local fruit and vegetable farmers whose crops were damaged. The number of bees currently being raised at 38,000 bee farms in Korea amounted to only 30 percent against the same period last year, according to a joint survey by the local beekeepers’ association and the state-run Rural Development Association.About 40,000 bees are generally raised at each artificial beehive, but the number is less than 15,000 this year, said one official at the Agriculture Ministry.“Many worker bees have died, leaving small larvae uncared-for, and the queen bees are not producing as many eggs as before,” said Choi Kyu-chil, head of the Korea Beekeeping Association. Local beekeepers usually raise bees from early February to early April and take the beehives to southern regions of the Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces, where the pollen-rich acacia flowers bloom each spring.The season’s honey collection generally makes up most of the beekeepers’ income for the year. “We’re considering an option to offer financial assistance up to 10 million won for each farm, once the scale of the damage is determined,” said the ministry official. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the nation’s average rainfall from February to April 20 amounted to 223.4 millimeters (8.8 inches), up 37 percent from the same period last year, while the number of rainy days was 29.7 days, up nearly 50 percent from a year earlier.

Today in Korea, "Academic inflation"

Are Koreans too educated?

Survey says Korea is suffering effects of ‘academic inflation’ April 28, 2010
Last year, 81.9 percent of high school graduates in Korea went on to university. Although that might seem like a positive element of Korean society, experts say that the high percentage of graduates is contributing to an increasingly serious problem they call “academic inflation.” According to a recent survey by the Korean Educational Development Institute, nine out of every 10 respondents said that Korea is suffering from academic inflation. The KEDI survey, conducted from late last month to May 10, includes responses from 660 KEDI members including college students and professors. When asked about the probable cause for this phenomenon, most of the people who were surveyed, 67.3 percent, said that the reason was Korean society’s excessive emphasis on one’s educational background, alluding to the possibility that people are more concerned about the social status that a job brings them than they are with the salary the position would bring. Only 6.3 percent said that the main reason for academic inflation is salary differences related to educational background. When asked in which circumstances the country’s academic inflation is most serious, 38.4 percent answered “when I see many unemployed people who possess a master’s or doctoral degree,” while 29.18 percent said that it is when they see people with academic degrees who apply for jobs that don’t match their educational backgrounds. A majority of respondents agreed that academic inflation is causing harm to society. The most commonly cited negative social implications caused by academic inflation was wasting money on education, with 48.8 percent of responses, while 22.7 percent answered, “depletion of the labor force due to the prolonged length of time spent before settling on a job.”Given the fact that last year in Korea there were over 3 million college students and more than 10,000 people with doctoral degrees, 85 percent of respondents said that the proportion of the population that is educated is too great.On average, the respondents defined a “satisfactory job” as one that pays 1.5 times or more than the average salary with between 18 and 50 hours of work per week.Meanwhile, some respondents were concerned about emphasizing the negative aspects of academic inflation. Around 30 percent said that an educated workforce is the foundation of a strong economy and that one’s academic background cannot be ignored.By Lee Won-jean [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]

Polish president killed in plane crash

A plane carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski and a group of the ruling elite crashed in the Russian city of Smolensk on Saturday, killing all 96 people on board.
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and his wife were on board the plane that crashed in the western Russian city of Smolensk on Saturday. (Photo credit Yonhap news agency) Russian officials said there were no survivors on the Soviet-era Tupolev, which was taking the president, his wife and staff to events marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police.

National Bank President Slawomir Skrzypek and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer were also on the plane, the Polish Foreign Ministry said.
“We still cannot fully understand the scope of this tragedy and what it means for us in the future. Nothing like this has ever happened in Poland,” Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman, Piotr Paszkowski, said.
“We can assume with great certainty that all persons on board have been killed,” he added.
“The Polish presidential plane did not make it to the runway while landing. Tentative findings indicate that it hit the treetops and fell apart,” regional governor Sergei Anufriev said on state news channel Rossiya-24.
The plane crashed in thick fog about 2 km from the airport in the western Russian region of Smolensk.
Reports speculate that pilot error was a possible reason for the plane crash. A spokesman for the Smolensk local government told news agencies, “The pilot was advised to land in Minsk, but decided to land in Smolensk.”
Meanwhile, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev offered condolences to Poland and vowed a thorough probe of the crash. (From news reports)

Toyota recalls

Toyota recalls nearly 13,000 of its cars in Korea

Floor mat problems, similar to those reported in the U.S., are the cause for the recall
April 07, 2010
Toyota Korea’s President Hisao Nakabayashi apologizes for the recall of thousands of Toyota and Lexus models in Korea at a news conference yesterday. Toyota Korea apologized yesterday for ordering a recall of nearly 13,000 Toyota and Lexus brand cars sold in Korea due to fears about the sudden acceleration of the vehicles when the floor mat interferes with the operation of the gas pedal.The decision came nearly two months after Toyota recalled 8.5 million cars, mainly in the United States, for similar safety problems, which dealt a blow to Toyota’s image. Toyota Korea and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said the local subsidiary of Japan-based Toyota Motor Corp. intends to recall 12,984 vehicles.The recall includes the Lexus ES350 produced between November 2005 and January 2010 and Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid made between February 2009 and January 2010, all of which were produced in Japan. The vehicles made after January are equipped with different mats and are therefore considered safe, the company said. In addition, 684 vehicles imported into the country by individual buyers are included in the recall. “I hereby express my sincere apology for causing concerns and inconvenience to customers in relation to the recall,” said Toyota Korea President Hisao Nakabayashi at a press conference at the Westin Chosun Hotel in central Seoul.The company said there is a possibility that old floor mats used for the ES350 can slip forward and cause the gas pedal to stick, causing a sudden acceleration.However, there have been no accidents reported in Korea in relation to the defect and the chance of such incidents is very low, the company said. “The recall is to ease safety fears among consumers over potential problems,” Nakabayashi said. Because of structural similarities between the ES350 and Camry models, the latter is also subject to recall. Beginning April 19, Toyota dealers will replace old floor mats and shorten gas pedals by two centimeters (0.78 inch).The old mats were produced in Korea and have never been exported. Toyota also will install from September a brake override system, which prevents acceleration caused when the brake and gas pedals are pressed at the same time. Toyota Korea had previously said that the rubber mats used in the U.S. models that were recalled earlier were different from those used for vehicles sold in Korea and consequently believed that its cars sold here did not suffer similar problems. Toyota said it found the subsequent problem with the floor mats on its own. But ministry officials claim that the Korea Transportation Safety Authority’s research center first discovered the problem and notified Toyota Korea at a meeting in early March. The company later acknowledged the problem and decided on the recall, according to a manager at the authority, who declined to be named.