A New Era of Innovation Begins
Korea’s Creative Economy uses ingenuity and entrepreneurship to rewrite the book on economic development
KOREA, April 2014: [2014 VOL.10 No.04]
See all list of KOREA magazine at http://www.korea.net/Resources/Publications/KOREA-Magazines
2. contentsapril 2014 | korea vol.10 NO.4
14 PEOPLE
Cartoonist Yoon Tae-ho
Gochujang master Kim Jongkuk
18 TRAVEL
Gyeongju
22 SPORTS
Korean Martial Art Gets a Proper
Home
24 ENTERTAINMENT
A World Tunes In
26 Special Issue
A Beautiful, Tearful Reunion
04 cover story
A New Era of Innovation Begins
Korea’s Creative Economy uses
ingenuity and entrepreneurship to rewrite
the book on economic development
28 CURRENT KOREA
Foodie Nation
30 SUMMIT DIPLOMACY
Bolstering Nuclear Security and
Inter-Korean Cooperation
34 Policy Review
Unification Bonanza
38 CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
Korea Jumps into the 3D Printer Race
40 Global Korea
An Ancient Gem Shines Again
04
18 26
38
22
Publisher Won Yong-gi, Korean Culture and Information Service | Executive Producer Suh Jeong-sun | E-mail webmaster@korea.net | Magazine Production Seoul Selection |
Editor-in-Chief Robert Koehler | Staff Writer Felix Im | Producer Shin Yesol | Production Supervisor Lee Jin-hyuk | Editorial Advisors Choi Byeong-guk | Copy Editors Gregory C. Eaves, David
Carruth, Hwang Chi-young | Creative Director Jung Hyun-young | Head Designer Yu Hye-ju | Photography Ryu Seunghoo, Robert Koehler, RAUM Studio | Printing Pyung Hwa Dang Printing Co., Ltd. |
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the thumbnail of KOREA on the homepage of www.korea.net. 발간등록번호 11-1110073-000016-06
42 Great Korean
Choe Mu-seon
44 MY KOREA
The Exemplar of Convenience
46 MULTICULTURAL KOREA
Policeman Ju Ji Gang
48 Tales From Korea
The King Has Donkey Ears!
50 FLAVOR
Dak Galbi
3. 4 5
cover story
A New Era of
Innovation Begins
cover story
Korea’s Creative Economy uses ingenuity and entrepreneurship
to rewrite the book on economic development
Written by Kim Bo-eun
“F
or the seventh year, Korea has been
unable to transcend an annual per
capita income of USD 20,000.
This signifies that the Korean economy’s current
means of growth has reached its limit. In order
to transcend this limit, we need to change our
paradigm. I believe we should find the answer in a
‘creative economy.’ We are living in an era where
a single individual’s creativity and imagination
provides hundreds and thousands of livelihoods.”
With this statement, President Park Geun-hye
brought forth an ambitious three-year plan to
achieve sustainable growth and make the leap to
become a truly advanced economy. The “creative
economy” initiative, as the plan is called, aims
to revolutionize the Korean economy by fusing
information and communication technologies to
not only create new businesses and opportunities,
but also to innovate existing, traditional industries.
It’s a paradigm Seoul hopes goes global—as
President Park said at the APEC Summit in
Indonesia in October last year, “[I]nnovation is
4. 6 7
cover story
ICT and Future Planning, said in an interview,
“The creative economy innovation centers are
regional ‘bastions of innovation’ and ‘start-up
hubs’ (founded) to carry out a number of roles,
such as activating entrepreneurship by efficiently
bringing together regional resources, boosting
corporate competition and opening global
markets to products and services.”
The centers will serve as a platform for
entrepreneurs-to-be, investors and mentors to
interact and share information. They will also
link Seoul with provincial areas and aid small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) in expanding abroad
together with conglomerates. The government
will utilize global companies’ market know-
how, networks and platforms to support the
entire process of startup training, technology
development, business model development and
providing consulting and funds. It will also foster
angel investors in the provinces and cooperate
with domestic and global accelerators to support
the growth of startups.
The government is also striving to foster the
entrepreneurial spirit amongst Korean youth
through its “biz-cool program,” to be conducted
at 5 percent of elementary, middle and high
schools by 2017. It will also increase the number
of universities specializing in entrepreneurship
from the current 23 to 40 by 2017. These
schools provide entrepreneurship training, offer
opportunities to build product prototypes, and
teach about commercialization. It will also devise
a KRW 15 billion “venture for Korea” program
that provides talented youth the opportunity
to intern at promising venture companies. The
government will also provide up to KRW 100
million in funds when they start a business.
Existing business incubators will undergo
streamlining as well. The 277 existing incubators
will be restructured so that well-performing ones
can receive more government funding and grow
further. They will receive increased support,
including investment and links to broader
networks.
Emulating the Israeli Example
As a small open country with a leading startup
infrastructure, Israel has captured the attention
of Korean policymakers. In particular, the
government has focused its attention on Israel’s
Yozma Fund, created in 1993 by the Israeli
government and the private sector in order to
the one and only source for achieving sustainable
growth in the world economy.”
Creating a Virtuous Cycle for Investment
Funds
Korea has long been famous for its world-beating
Internet speeds, bandwidth and penetration
rates. Now the country will create a first-rate
ecosystem for venture companies to match its
IT infrastructure. The government is taking
measures to ease the joint surety system—
which imputes the obligation to repay debts to
other parties such as family members, relatives
or employees when the principal borrower
defaults—for promising entrepreneurs, with the
aim of making a transition from the collateral,
security-based financial environment to one
based on investment and financing through
building a technology evaluation system for
startups.
The government is also increasing the pool of
angel investors, wealthy individuals who provide
capital for startup businesses, often in return for
equity. In addition to promoting networking
between angel investors and providing matching
funds for angel investments, the government will
also increase tax deductions for angel investments.
For the next three years, it will exempt 100
percent for investments worth up to KRW 1.5
billion, and also provide angel investors with
notable investment records which give them
priority in policy funding.
Fostering an Entrepreneurial Spirit
To further promote a startup-friendly eco-
system, the government announced it would
pour KRW 4 trillion into the system over the
next three years. In accordance with an initiative
launched in June 2013, it crafted a customized
funding plan for startups, following up with the
“creative economy town,” an online platform to
facilitate and boost entrepreneurship.
Earlier this year, the government devised a plan
to build “creative economy innovation centers,”
offline versions of the online platform, in 17
provinces and metropolitan areas nationwide.
Lee Woo-jin, an official handling creative
industry projects at the Ministry of Science,
Office of a Yeouido securities firm.
Yeouido is the chief financial center of Korea.
Students and startup hopefuls listen to an
explanation about a photo-based SNS service at
D.Camp, the startup research center of the Banks
Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs.
5. 8 9
cover story
1. President Park asks about
a remote control with a
speaker, invented by a high
school student to help elderly
people watch TV, at Creative
Korea 2013.
2. A Dutch coffee maker
decorated with LED lights at
the Venture-Startup Festival
2013.
3. Thanks to the creative
industries, Korea’s
benchmark KOSPI continues
to grow.
support technology startups. The fund has served as the
basis for the country’s professionally managed venture
capital market and the development of “Silicon Wadi,”
the country’s concentrated area of high-tech industries.
Modeled on the United States’ Silicon Valley, the
fund consists of venture capitalists and angel investors,
and has helped a large number of its portfolio firms
go public on major stock exchanges in the U.S. and
Europe. It has also played a role in positioning its
portfolio companies for acquisition or investment by
leading corporations around the world. At a forum in
Seoul on March 7, Israeli venture capital firm Magma
VP co-founder Yahal Zilka said that in Israel, the role
of the government in activating startup investment has
been very important. Thanks to government sharing
the investment risk, private capital could invest more
boldly, he said.
Seoul aims to create a Korean version of the
Yozma Fund by attracting investment in domestic
firms seeking listings on foreign stock exchanges or
MAs with foreign companies. It will build a KRW
200 billion fund by providing KRW 60 billion of
government money and attracting foreign investment.
The government has also announced its commitment
to expand the domestic MA market, aiming to grow
the local market by some 75 percent to some KRW
70 trillion by 2017. An active MA environment has
been emphasized as a necessary condition for venture
companies to flourish, since it provides investors with
the prospect of a return on their investments. In an
address last month, Strategy and Finance Minister
Hyun Oh-seok said the lackluster MA market limits
companies from restructuring themselves to focus on
their core competencies and also makes it difficult for
investors to recollect their investments in venture firms,
and subsequently limits those companies’ opportunities
for growth through MAs.
“In order to achieve a dynamic, innovative economy,
we need to create an environment where startup and
venture companies can grow into small and medium-
sized firms and ultimately global corporations,” said
Hyun. “This can only happen when there are active
corporate MA activities.”
Identifying New Industries and Markets
Another part of vamping up the domestic
economy is nurturing new convergence-
based industries by applying information and
communications technology (ICT) to traditional
industries. Such measures are expected to boost
productivity and added value, as well as foster
related service industries to create more quality
jobs for the nation’s youth.
To see this in action, one needs only to
venture to one of Seoul’s large traditional
markets. Not long ago, these bustling outdoor
markets were on the verge of extinction as
merchants found it difficult to compete with the
conveniences of major supermarkets. Korean
IT firms, however, are providing solutions that
allow these pieces of Seoul’s commercial and
cultural life to keep going strong. Last year, for
instance, mobile operator SK Telecom provided
touchscreen tablets to merchants at Junggok
Jeil Market that not only function as electronic
cash registers, but also help merchants more
efficiently manage inventories and promote
their wares. This, in turn, has led to a big boost
in sales. SK Telecom has also provided market
merchants with credit card scanners.
To promote developments such as these, the
government has crafted a “creative economy
vitamin project” to designate science or ICT-
related businesses with significant socio-
economic ripple effects. The project will
formulate new tasks to upgrade existing
industries every year. For example, in the case
of agriculture, forestry and marine products, the
tasks could center on utilizing ICT to prevent
agricultural disasters or using intelligent robots
to protect water resources.
The government will also focus on finding
and fostering new sources of growth, such as the
Internet of Everything (IoE), cloud computing
1 2
3
6. 10 11
cover story
11
and big data. IoE, for instance, adds connectivity
and “smart” capacity to each and every device—
from cooking utensils to your car—in order to
boost its functionality. To promote these sectors,
the government is establishing partnerships
with global companies to work together on
producing IoE-based, sensor-equipped objects
and networks such as smart cars and homes.
The government also plans to apply cloud
computing in the public sector as early as 2015
by creating an open platform through public-
private cooperation. Korea’s intelligent use
of cloud computing is already drawing praise
from the international community. In a report
issued in December 2013, the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) cited Korea’s National Total
Operating Platform System as an exemplary
example of cloud computing in the public
sector.
Boosting RD, Attracting Foreign Talent
The government has announced it will boost
RD investment to 5 percent of the nation’s
GDP by 2017. The plan for greater RD
investment covers both the government and
private sector. The government will continue to
increase its budget for RD investment to reach
KRW 20 trillion in 2017, from the current
KRW 17.7 trillion. It will also encourage private
sector RD by establishing a policy support
center in the coming months and make concrete
plans to activate private RD investment by the
end of the year.
The government also plans to widen the
nation’s talent pool by attracting foreign scholars
and researchers. The plan is to bring 300 of the
top 1 percent of scientists from around the globe
to Korea by 2017. To do this, it will create the
Korea Research Fellowship, which will bring
in foreign talent, including overseas Koreans,
and foster them here. Scholarships and research
funds will be provided for those coming for
master’s degrees and PhDs, and a wide range of
incentives such as airfare, living expenses and
research funds, as well as positions in domestic
institutions, will be provided for researchers.
“A creative economy encompasses all fields
ranging from culture to music to broadcasting.
All industries can become new growth engines
through convergence with ICT. Convergence is
the new economic paradigm,” said Min Seung-
oh, vice president of Ericsson Korea, the local
office of the Sweden-based telecommunications
provider.
“A number of efforts need to be made
collectively. The government needs to ease
regulations and the private sector needs to play
a role in building infrastructure and finding
and fostering new growth engines. Both need
to fully utilize ideas, talent and capital in doing
this.”
Promoting and Protecting Intellectual
Property Rights
It is also important to encourage innovation
along with the promotion and protection of
intellectual property rights. The government
will step up crackdowns on counterfeit
products, revise patent laws and provide support
for domestic companies going through overseas
disputes over intellectual property rights.
In particular, it will shorten the screening
process for intellectual property rights, improve
screening quality, strengthen the compensation
system for damages related to intellectual
property rights and bolster protection through
amending legislation related to technology
leaks. Those who leak confidential business
information will be criminally punished.
In order to promote creative activity,
Pangyo Techno Valley, a high-tech
cluster located just south of Seoul
7. I
f there’s a person who knows something about the creative economy,
it’s Gangneung Yeongdong College president Jung Changduk. He’s been
trumpeting the importance of creativity in boosting national competitiveness
since the late 1990s, when he traveled the world and saw what Korea was up
against. Now, as chairman of the Science, ICT and Future Institute, he’s sharing
his insight with an administration determined to make creativity the focus of its
economic policy.
Jung explains that the creativity economy is all about mixing the right
ingredients. “Like the way we need gochujang and bean sprouts when we
make bibimbap, the creative economy requires elements,” he says. “The basic
factors of the creative economy include science and technology, information
technology and creative ideas. These basic elements mix, or converge, like
bibimbap ingredients.” These elements can converge with the arts, with existing
industries or with new high-tech industries.
This, in turn, creates economic value, of which, explains Jung, there are four
kinds. “The first is creating jobs. The second is creating new engines of growth.
The third is venture startups. The fourth is added value,” he says. To illustrate, he
takes the example of packaged tofu. “Tofu didn't sell well in markets, but then
came vacuum packaging, an advanced technology that's a basic element. It was
linked with an existing industry, supermarkets. In so doing, added value was
created and a new industry appeared.”
Another example—albeit one yet to be realized—is intelligent cars. “As soon
as Psy gets in his car, information technology—to which a creative idea has
been added—makes it so that his music automatically comes on,” Jung says.
“An existing industry, the car industry, has been linked with IT to produce a new
industry, personalized cars. This is the creative economy in action.”
One of the most successful examples of the creative economy at work has
been Seoul’s Junggok Jeil Market, the so-called “smart market.” Prior to the
adoption of IT, merchants had a very difficult time, but not anymore. Jung
explains: “When the market converged with a basic element, IT, an app was
made and people used smartphones and the Internet to boost sales from five
items a day to 20.”
Creating New Engines of Growth
Korea’s not the only country trying to establish a creative economy. Nations
like Israel and Singapore are experimenting with creative economies of their
own. There are differences, however. “The emphasis overseas has been existing
industries,” says Jung. “They cultivate key talent, which is added to existing
industries to create new occupational clusters. We try to create industries that
are completely new to create jobs and added value.”
Take, for instance, the example
of screen golf, where players use
real clubs and balls but shoot
against a picture of a course
projected onto a screen, with
sensors to detect how far and
in which direction the ball goes.
Jung explains, “This is totally a
product of the creative economy.
It's a completely new idea
produced by converging Korea's
advanced IT, GPS information and
advanced technology.”
Science, ICT and Future
Institute’s Jung Changduk
stresses the importance of
convergence
Interview by Robert Koehler
A Prophet of
Creativity
the government will expand the “patent
box” system to mid-sized firms, which will
provide corporate tax exemptions on income
streams from technology transfers. It will
make a “creative fund” where the private
and public sector can collectively invest in
the commercialization of creative ideas. The
government plans to put in some KRW 150
billion by 2015, and expects some KRW 350
billion to come from the private sector. It will
also establish a database on technology transfer
cases and an overall information network on
technology commercialization by the end of the
year.
Fostering New Green Energy Industries and
Markets
The government is also taking measures to
deal with domestic energy demands and to
respond to global climate change. It will ease
regulations to encourage new energy industry
business models to be created, as well as promote
investment in them.
It will map out business models for each of the
eight new energy industries and provide policy
support packages. The eight industries are those
of new renewable energy, electric automobiles,
carbon capture and storage (CCS), smart grids,
energy storage means, energy management
systems, intelligent demand response and energy
saving companies (ESCo).
Along the same lines, the government will
create a “green energy town” in order to
deal with energy-related and environmental
problems. These towns will be built at
incineration plants and landfill sites where green
technologies will be applied to transform them
into new sites of renewable power. Each of the
related ministries will cooperate to provide
packages that suit each of the projects. For
example, the environment ministry will focus
on waste recycling, the trade ministry on new
and renewable energy and the culture ministry
on tourism resources. Task forces consisting of
experts and related ministry officials, as well as
local authorities and resident groups, will work
together on these issues. A pilot project will start
running this year of a green energy town. The
Office for Government Policy Coordination
will serve as the control center, and related
ministries will work with local authorities to
make a concrete profit model. The overall plan
for the green energy town will be made by the
end of this year, and implementation will start
next year.
cover story
1312
Event to mark the handing
over of an electric car
for the fourth Smart Grid
Day at the International
Convention Center Jeju,
November 2013.
8. 14 15
seemingly banal subject, Yoon
crafts a captivating tale filled
with suspense, every little
victory or defeat rife with
personal glory or despair.
“Nobody is complete,
nobody is perfect. That’s why
we strive,” Yoon explains
the title. “You don’t need car
crashes and murder to create
suspense. Every moment of
our lives is filled with a sense
of drama or struggle.”
On top of interviewing countless salary men and
corporate executives to increase his story’s believability,
Yoon took advantage of the instant communication with
readers offered by webtoons’ online format. He read
every single comment left by readers to gather ideas for
improving his work for the following month’s edition.
“One of the biggest advantages, or disadvantages, of
webtoons is that you can connect directly to your readers,
see everything they have to say.”
A Lifer
Although the popularity of Misaeng has catapulted Yoon’s
popularity recently, leading to his invitation to the 2014
London Book Fair’s Market Focus: Spotlight on Korea
seminar from April 8 to 10, he is no newcomer to the field.
Even before his smash hit Moss, a crime-thriller which was
also made into a film, he’d already released several comics,
both in print and online.
Yoon has been drawing and creating his entire life.
Growing up in a poor family that moved around a lot
meant having few friends, leaving drawing as his sole
companion. Intent on using his talent and passion to make
a living, Yoon set out for Seoul upon graduating from high
school to attend a school for comic book artists. Barely
able to afford tuition, Yoon spent three months homeless,
sleeping in public spaces and eating a single meal of instant
noodles every day.
“The only baths I got were the water I splashed on
myself in public bathrooms,” he recalls.
Yoon was lucky, though, for coincidence awarded him
the opportunity to work under comic book legend Huh
Young-man. Working in Huh’s workshop doing grunt
work and drawing backgrounds, Yoon eventually got
himself off the streets and started training himself, drawing
every day according to a strict personal schedule. Finally,
after being rejected nine times, he published his first comic
Emergency Landing in 1993, but Yoon didn’t let vanity get
in his way.
“I took one look at the final product and realized that I
was focusing only on drawings. The story was an absolute
mess,” Yoon exclaims. For the following two years, he
copied movie and television scripts verbatim, wrote
personal journals and did everything possible to improve
his storytelling ability, doing almost nothing else.
Two decades, three awards, a hit film, and countless
drawings later, he’s still practicing: working on technique,
researching topics and constantly observing everything and
everyone around him.
“I hate making the same thing twice. I don’t like
stagnation.”
C
omic book artist Yoon Tae-ho doesn’t have any
hobbies. Every hobby he’s ever attempted has just
ended up being work. When he bought a bicycle
for fun, he ended up cycling over 80 kilometers and
consuming half a day every time he got on. When Yoon
takes pictures, he snaps around 10,000 shots over several
hours, a testament to his observant and fastidious nature.
“After a while, I just realized that the best way to relax is
to simply do nothing: space out in front of the television,”
Yoon says.
Daily Drama
While such an intense nature may be physically
exhausting, in Yoon's case it has certainly reaped its
rewards. His webtoon, an online comic book, Misaeng,
a series about daily corporate life, sold over 600,000
copies, with over 400 million total views online. Literally
meaning “one who is not yet living,” or “incomplete life,”
Misaeng delves into the lives of those in the corporate
grind, with the main character comparing every challenge
in his life to the Korean board game of baduk. Taking a
People
Webtoon and comic book artist Yoon Tae-ho can't relax
Written by Felix Im
Motivated by
Imperfection
1. Book version of the crime thriller Moss
2. Protagonist of Misaeng
3. Copy of Misaeng
1
2
3
9. 16 17
Gochujang is made by several different people all over
the country using the same ingredients, but each batch
of gochujang varies according to the climate of each area.
“Sunchang gochujang makers also differentiate themselves
by using special meju (fermented soybeans) made with rice
in addition to beans, while most people use ordinary meju
made with just beans,” Kim elaborates.
No Shortcuts
Making traditional gochujang takes all year. Kim explains,
“In spring, we prepare malted barley. In summer, we make
gochujang meju, then buy ground red chilies to make red
chili powder. When winter comes, we finally make the
gochujang.” Kim’s traditional method requires six months
for fermentation, as opposed to modernized factories
that condense the process to only three days. Traditional
gochujang uses meju, malted barley and red chili powder.
Sunchang gochujang is made using only local chilies, beans
and Korean salts, assisting local farmers.
Even though most Korean people eat food with gochujang
every day, much of it is produced through modern
methods, which means many young people do not know
what real gochujang tastes like. Kim recalls a child on a
school trip to Sunchang who loved his gochujang. “Taking
one’s time and following the simple steps carefully are
difficult. Few people can do this anymore because they are
too busy with their everyday lives. But even children can
recognize delicious gochujang. You do not have to teach
them. People experience and discover it on their own. “
To Kim, making traditional gochujang is about more
than just making sauce. He also feels a duty to preserve
the old ways. He didn’t start his craft until the Sunchang
Traditional Gochujang Village was built in 1997. Until
then, his mother and wife made gochujang in private stocks
for his family, but after moving to Sunchang, he decided to
help his old mother and explore how Sunchang continues
its traditions.
Harmony of Taste and Health
Kim says that the most difficult thing is finding people
to work with. “If you use machines, you can make your
product quickly and easily, but the taste is not as good as
real gochujang.” Traditional Sunchang gochujang makers do
not use preservatives, so consumers must take good care
when storing their product. This can make it difficult
Gochujang master Kim Jongkuk preserves
a beautiful culinary tradition
Written by Shin Eun-jung
The Real Taste
of Korea
People
to market. Kim explains that Sunchang Traditional
Gochujang Village tried tapping into overseas markets by
exporting their product, but local distributors didn’t know
how to market it.
One of the key problems is storage. Real gochujang made
the traditional way needs to be stored in traditional onggi.
“Onggi allows the gochujang to breathe,” Kim explains.
Onggi jars also allow gochujang to ferment from late winter
to autumn. Even in summer, gochujang, bean paste and
soy sauce do not go bad if stored the traditional way.
To maintain his supply, Kim buys old onggi from rural
households. When the elderly residents pass away, they
often leave unwanted onggi which later generations have
no use for. “Finding good onggi helps to make tasty sauce
because each individual onggi creates its own taste.”
As the interview nears its end, Kim reflects on what
gochujang means to him. “Traditionally, healthiness is at
the heart of Korean food. When Korean people eat, they
do not think only about taste. They consider the harmony
between each dish and how the food affects their body. So
we can say our food is a kind of medicine. Ultimately, I
want to preserve this principle with my gochujang.”
I
n front of the traditional gochujang (red chili paste)
maker Kim Jongkuk’s garden, there are many onggi
(Korean earthenware) jars containing gochujang, bean
paste and Korean soy sauce. The well-preserved onggi show
the owner’s care and dedication.
When asked what is so special about the gochujang of the
southwestern town of Sunchang, Kim fills with pride and
answers, “Clean water from the Seomjingang River, the
weather all year round that’s prime for fermentation, and
lastly, a woman’s touch.” Although a man, Kim recognizes
that the heart and soul of Sunchang’s craft have been
preserved by its women.
1.Meju, or fermented soybeans, used to make gochujang
2.Gochujang in an onggi, or clay jar
1
2
10. 18 19
Gyeongju
Experiencing the glories of a golden age
Written by Robert Koehler
Travel
G
yeongju is frequently called an “outdoor
museum,” and for very good reason. As the
ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.–
A.D. 935), the town and its environs are dotted with
temples, shrines, palaces and ruins from the golden age
of Korean classical civilization. To properly explore it,
you’d need to set aside weeks if not months, but a weekend
should be sufficient to take in the highlights.
A Golden Age
According to legend, Gyeongju was founded in 57 B.C. by
Bak Hyeokgeose, the first king of Silla. Like its European
contemporary, the Roman Empire, Silla grew from a
small, remote city-state into a mighty kingdom. Through
skilled diplomacy and martial brilliance, Silla defeated rival
kingdoms and even the forces of Tang China to bring most
of the Korean Peninsula under its control by A.D. 676.
As the fortunes of Silla rose, so did those of its capital,
Gyeongju. At its height, the city was home to one million,
making it one of the greatest cities of Late Antiquity. Tales
of its grand palaces made their way along the Silk Road to
China and beyond.
Unfortunately, Silla’s—and Gyeongju’s—glory was
not to last. As the kingdom entered its later period, local
aristocrats grew in power and uprisings grew frequent. By
the late 10th century, the provinces were in open revolt.
The many Silla era tombs of Daereungwon Park
11. 20 21
Travel
Ssambap—rice and meat wrapped in lettuce
leaves—is a local specialty. You can find a
number of ssambap restaurants at the south
entrance of Daereungwon. If you’re in a party of
two or more, Dosol Maeul (T. 054-748-9232)
is worth a try. Specializing in Korean traditional
meals (jeongsik), the restaurant is in an old
Korean home, mixing taste with atmosphere.
You’ll love their mountains of side dishes.
Bomun Lake is home to many luxury hotels,
including the Hilton, Hyundai and Commodore.
The Millennium Palace Resort Spa (Ragung),
meanwhile, is a sumptuous hanok hotel near
Bomun Lake with upscale Korean cuisine and
private outdoor hot tubs attached to each room.
(T. 054-778-2100).
KTX trains to Gyeongju depart from Seoul
Station (travel time: 2 hours). From Gyeongju’s
KTX station, take a bus to Gyeongju City Bus
Terminal.
Jejudo
Seoul
Gyeongju
Mt. Namsan Bomun Lake
A bit off the beaten path is Mt. Namsan (494 meters), a low-
lying massif overlooking the town. In the days of Silla, the peak
was covered with temples, hermitages and works of Buddhist art.
Even today, the slopes are dotted with ancient pagodas, Buddhist
statuaries and dramatic cliff carvings. The pine forests on the lower
slopes are some of Korea’s most famous.
A more modern destination is the scenic Bomun Lake area,
a popular recreation area east of town. It is most famous for its
cherry blossoms in early April. The lake is also home to most of
Gyeongju’s upscale hotels.
In 927, a rebel army sacked Gyeongju, killing the king.
The last king of Silla abdicated in 935 in favor of King
Taejo, the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty. Under Goryeo,
the city continued to prosper, but in the 13th century, an
invading Mongol army sacked Gyeongju again, destroying
many of its monuments. It was a disaster from which the
city never quite recovered.
Gardens and Tombs
Many of Gyeongju’s best known historic sites are located
in the southern part of town. The most recognizable sites
are the Silla mound tombs, or tumuli, of which there are
over 200 strewn about town. Daereungwon (Tumuli Park)
has about 23 tombs, including the famed Cheonmachong
(“Horse of Heaven Tomb”), the tomb of an unknown 5th
century Silla king.
Near the park is Cheomseongdae, Asia’s oldest surviving
astrological observatory, and the ruins of Banwolseong
Palace, a lovely spot in spring when the surrounding fields
of canola flowers bloom. Just beyond that is the site of
the East Palace and Wolji Pond, an ancient royal pleasure
garden. When lit up in the early evening, the pond
becomes one of Korea’s most photogenic night scenes.
Just across from the East Palace is Gyeongju National
Museum, arguably Korea’s finest museum outside of Seoul.
Bulguksa and Seokguram Grotto
The gems of Silla civilization are nestled on Mt.
Tohamsan, a sacred peak overlooking the East Sea. Here
you’ll find Bulguksa Temple, an awe-inspiring eighth-
century Buddhist monastery, and the Seokguram Grotto, a
rotunda housing one of the most beautiful Buddhist statues
in East Asia.
Founded in 774, Bulguksa is a masterpiece of Korean
traditional architecture that makes sublime use of the
surrounding landscape through a series of stone and earth
terraces. It is home to six National Treasures, most notably
the two giant stone pagodas in the courtyard.
Built around the same time as the temple, the Seokguram
Grotto occupies an artificial cave overlooking the East Sea.
Under a stone dome sits a 3.5 meter-high stone Buddha
wearing a sublime smile. The sunrises from this location
are some of the most beautiful in the land. It is said the
Buddha overlooks the watery grave of King Munmu of
Silla (r. 661–681), who was buried in a tomb under the
waves of the East Sea.
1. The main courtyard of Bulguksa Temple, with its famous stone pagodas
2. The sublime Buddha of the Seokguram Grotto
3. The Cheomseongdae Observatory
4. Cherry blossoms at Bomun Lake
5. A Silla golden crown at the Gyeongju National Museum
1
4 5
2 3
12. The newly opened Taekwondowon elevates Muju as a taekwondo mecca
Written by Kim Tong-hyung
Korean Martial Art
Gets a Proper Home
2322
K
oreans take great pride in their heritage of
taekwondo, the country’s homegrown martial
art, practiced in every corner of the planet and
entrenched in Olympic competition. Now, after years of
preparation, the sport will finally get its own 21st-century
home.
The Muju Taekwondowon, which will officially open in
Muju, Jeollabuk-do, on April 24, is a massive complex of
state-of-the-art competition venues and various culture and
leisure facilities, built on 2.3 million square meters of land.
State of the Martial Art
Hugged by the beautiful hills of Mt. Baegunsan, the park
is the result of a four-year investment of about USD 232
million, aimed at boosting tourism and improving the
training and competition experience for both amateur
enthusiasts and top athletes.
The architectural trophy here is the cupcake-shaped
T1 Stadium, an ultra-modern arena with a capacity of
4,500, claimed to be the world’s first taekwondo-specific
competition venue. The stadium is supported by training
centers, accommodation facilities and performance arts
venues. There is also a museum devoted to taekwondo and
traditional martial arts, a sports science research center and
convention facilities for business travelers.
Collaborative Efforts
Municipal authorities are currently working with the
Korea Tourism Organization and taekwondo organizations
in different countries to promote the Taekwondowon and
develop tourism programs around it.
The construction of the complex was completed in July
last year. The Taekwondo Promotion Foundation (TPF),
which manages the Taekwondowon, has been holding
trial events to test the operations of the main facilities,
such as the T1 Stadium.
The foundation is currently seeking private donations to
build a ceremony hall, which it will call the Taekwonjeon
(“Taekwon Hall”), and a separate training hall for higher
level practitioners, called the Myeongingwan (“Masters’
Hall”). Longer-term plans include hosting privately owned
hotels and spas.
sports
Municipal authorities are also in talks with the Seoul-
based World Taekwondo Headquarters (Kukkiwon) and
the World Taekwondo Federation over the possibility of
moving their headquarters to the Taekwondowon.
“We are confident that the Taekwondowon will help
further spread taekwondo as a global, Olympic sport,”
said Yoo Jin-hwan, the TPF’s secretary general. “While
taekwondo has grown as a global sport, it has always lacked
world-class facilities and systems. The Taekwondowon fills
that need as a place where people can learn and experience
taekwondo in a way that wasn’t possible before.”
Taekwondo is believed to be practiced by around
70 million people in more than 200 countries. The
International Olympic Committee’s decision last year to
include taekwondo among its 25 “core” Olympic sports,
which secured its status for the 2020 Summer Games,
was welcomed by sports officials here as they look to
cement taekwondo’s status as one of the world’s most
popular martial arts. The TPF has bold ambitions for the
Taekwondowon, which it claims will be for taekwondo
what the Shaolin Temple is for kung fu.
This is music to the ears of Jeollabuk-do officials who
are desperate to develop the region’s tourism sector. The
famous Chinese monastery is a significant business asset
that attracts millions of visitors every year, requiring its
head monk to double as a CEO. If the Taekwondowon
manages to match even a fraction of that interest, it would
be an important boost to the local economy.
Something for Everyone
The government first announced plans for the
Taekwondowon in 2004 and picked Muju as the location
of what it pictured as a regional hub for culture and
tourism. The TPF was established the following year as the
organization to manage the facilities. Construction began
in 2010.
The finished Taekwondowon is an impressive
combination of cutting-edge architecture and technology.
The T1 Stadium, inspired by the taegeuk mark in the center
of the Korean national flag, is an eco-friendly building
with its swirling, solar panel-covered roof designed to
collect rainwater and generate electricity from sunlight.
The T1 Stadium will also house a 450-seat performance
venue in the under-ground level beneath its competition
arena. Located behind the stadium is the four-story
museum where more than 5,000 items related to the
history of taekwondo and other Korean martial arts
are displayed. The U-shaped training center provides
state-of-the-art training and lodging facilities that can
accommodate 1,400 people at once. The taekwondo
experience center, located next to the training center, is
perhaps the most accessible facility for people not familiar
with taekwondo, where they can learn basic skills through
a variety of light-hearted programs and even simulate
combat with famous athletes through video games.
With the help of IT companies such as KT, the TPF
has established a one-stop system where people can
easily reserve and pay for matches or accommodation
from anywhere and on any device. Radio frequency
identification (RFID) technologies will be used to track
the movement of people and vehicles. Power consumption
at each facility will be controlled through an Internet
monitoring system that will help managers save energy and
reduce costs.
The architecturally spectacular
Muju Taekwondowon
1. Foreigners learning Taekwondo 2. Muju Taekwondowon from above
1 2
13. 24 25
EntertainmentEntertainment
created intense competition, forcing producers to adapt.
Sophisticated broadcasters are also tailoring their wares
to a global audience, featuring more foreign faces in their
broadcasting and localizing hit Korean TV shows for
overseas markets.
A Changing Landscape
Access to Korean media from abroad is now simpler
than ever. Formerly, fans of Korean dramas or television
shows relied heavily on unofficial websites and illegal
downloads—that or local releases of dramas usually dubbed
into their local language. For fans that prefer to watch the
original Korean versions with subtitles, they had to wait
a few weeks or even months for the DVDs to be released,
always after the dramas or movies finished airing in Korea.
Seeing as there is now demand for Korean cultural
products on a global scale, Korean broadcasting companies,
such as the government-owned Korean Broadcasting
System (KBS) and the international cable channel Arirang
TV, operated by the Korea International Broadcasting
Foundation, began operations on a global scale in 2003 and
1996, respectively. Other television channels, such as Seoul
Broadcasting System (SBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting
Corporation (MBC), on the other hand, have become
available through satellite television and several cable
service providers in different countries. Programs are now
aired in real time or with very minimal delay, and some
have subtitles in English, Japanese, simplified Chinese and
other languages, like Arabic and Vietnamese.
What’s happening is that many viewers who tune into
Korean channels originally to watch just one drama or
music broadcast develop a further interest in Korean
culture, and end up watching more programming to feed
that interest.
“I learned a couple of cool phrases used in Korean
dramas I watched on KBS,” shares Dianne Ng on the show
Pit-A-Pat Korean, a 10-minute show that teaches Korean
through popular soap operas and songs.
From TV to Net
The way in which viewers approach media has changed
tremendously. People spend more time on their computers
or on their phones now than they do in front of their
televisions. To cater to such a growing network of global
online viewers, Korean broadcasters now allow viewers
access to programs online. Viewers can also watch old
episodes and see exclusive clips from the companies’ official
YouTube channels.
Aside from the online streaming services provided
by KBS and Arirang, websites such as Viki, a video site
supported by SK Planet, a subsidiary of SK Telecom, offers
Korean dramas and movies subtitled by fans themselves. A
number of mobile applications have also been developed to
cater to viewers on the go.
With advancements in technology and the Internet,
the future of the entertainment market is only expected
to have a growing reach in the coming years. Korean
entertainment is no longer a product exclusive to Koreans.
Korean producers challenge the world with globally popular
entertainment and variety programs
Written by Paola Belle Ebora
A World Tunes In
1. Hallyu television content is introduced at
Forum Brasil TV, Latin America’s largest
broadcast content market.
2. Visitors look around the booths at the 23rd
Korea International Broadcasting, Audio
Lighting Equipment Show.
O
n Feb. 27, crowds of fans camped out overnight
at Sydney International Airport in hopes of
catching a glimpse of the cast of the hugely
popular Korean variety show Running Man, which had just
finished shooting in Australia. Thousands had flocked to
Melbourne’s Federation Square, where the filming took
place. This wasn’t a one-off event. Whenever the show
goes abroad, it’s met with throngs of local fans.
That a Korean variety show could have such a global
impact illustrates just how far Korea’s entertainment
industry has come. Top creative talent, world-class
infrastructure and sophisticated market tastes are coming
together to produce some of the world’s most dynamic TV
programming.
Korean Wave: Not Just Dramas Anymore
When the Korean Wave began in the early 2000s, it was
dramas that led the way. Melodramatic tearjerkers like
Winter Sonata and historical dramas like Jewel in the Palace
won over large bodies of fans throughout Asia. Actors such
as Bae Yong Joon and Lee Young Ae became household
names in Japan, China and elsewhere.
While dramas continued to do well beyond Korea’s
shores, other TV genres gained few fans overseas. In the
Korea Times, Chung Ah-young notes, “Just a few years
ago, cast members, including Yoo Jae-suk of Korean top-
rated variety show Infinite Challenge, were not noticed by
the Japanese audience when they shot the program in the
heart of Tokyo.”
That is certainly not the case now. Variety shows like
Running Man and We Got Married enjoy legions of overseas
fans. The latter has enjoyed so much success in China
that broadcaster MBC spawned a global version featuring
actors and entertainers from Korea, China and Japan.
Korean audition programs like I Am a Singer and Superstar
K are also hits overseas, both in their Korean and localized
versions.
Korea’s cutting edge production technology and its
increasingly globalized writing, production and acting
talent have contributed mightily to this success. As in
other countries like the United States, the proliferation
of terrestrial, cable, satellite and Internet channels has
1
2
CEO Hwang Hee-man explains Sonbadak TV, a broadcast channel designed for smart mobile devices
14. 26 27
Special Issue
O
n Feb. 25, a landmark reunion of families
separated by the Korean War, the first in
three years, was brought to a conclusion. A
boat departed from North Korea’s Mt. Geumgangsan for
the South Korean port of Sokcho, carrying with it the
South Korean participants. At a farewell meeting held
that morning at North Korea’s Geumgangsan Hotel, tears
flowed as families that had been separated for six decades
bid each other yet another farewell, with no guarantee of
ever meeting again. No doubt, for them, three days and two
nights was not nearly enough time.
Held in two rounds between Feb. 20 and 25, this latest
reunion of separated families was the first in three years and
four months. Subjected to the unpredictable nature of inter-
1. Separated families celebrate their reunion during lunch at the Geumgangsan Hotel on the second day of reunions.
2. South Korean Na Bok-seop looks at photos with the North Korean sons of his brother Na Yun-seop at a group reunion event at the Geumgangsan Hotel.
96-year-old Kim Seong-yun (right), the oldest member of the South Korean delegation, hugs her
sister Seong-nyeo (left), who lives in the North, at a group reunion event at the Geumgangsan Hotel.
Long awaited meeting of separated families gives relatives divided by
war a precious chance to see loved ones
Written by Felix Im
A Beautiful, Tearful
Reunion
Korean relations, these reunions are growing more urgent
due to the advanced age of many separated family members.
Efforts are currently underway to normalize meetings to
give hopefuls a better chance of seeing their loved ones once
again.
Normalized Reunions Needed
Some 437 South Koreans and 266 North Koreans
participated in this latest round of reunions, which were
a long time in coming. The most recent reunion was held
in 2010. Plans for a reunion to be held in late 2013 were
canceled by North Korea. In this round, agreed upon
during inter-Korean Red Cross talks in early February,
participants spent a total of 11 hours together during both
individual and group reunions.
In the South, participants in these reunions are chosen
through a computer-generated lottery. There are some
72,000 people on the waiting list. Only 0.13 percent of
applicants make it onto the final list, a sad situation when
one considers the advanced age of many of the hopefuls.
Over 80 percent of participants in this round were over
80 years old. Applicants face a nearly 50 percent chance of
dying before a reunion takes place. Last year alone, 3,800
applicants died. In the latest reunion, just 12 participants—
both South and North—were reunited parents and
children, and due to dementia, some didn’t even recognize
one another. One participant was so sickly he needed to be
carried in a stretcher.
Seoul is working to normalize these reunions. On March
1, President Park Geun-hye proposed regular reunions of
separated families, saying, “The members of these families
are now elderly, and not much time remains for them.
Reunions must no longer be isolated special events.” A few
days later, she called on North Korea to allow the exchange
of letters and video conferencing between separated
families. On March 6, the Unification Ministry proposed
Red Cross talks to normalize family gatherings. North
Korea has yet to respond to South Korea’s overtures.
A Cold War Tragedy
When Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule
in 1945, the peninsula was divided into two zones of
occupation—the Americans in the south and the Soviets
in the north. As the Cold War set in, the division became
permanent, with the south becoming pro-Western South
Korea and the north becoming North Korea. Even before
the Korean War, many fled south to escape oppression.
During the war, countless refugees flooded the South, often
leaving family members behind. When the war ended
with an armistice, all contact between the peoples of the
two Koreas ceased. As a result, families were separated
permanently.
In 2000, a warming of inter-Korean ties led to a historic
series of separated family reunions. Between 2000 and 2010,
18 meetings and seven video conference reunions were
held. The North Korean shelling of Yeonpyeongdo Island
in November of 2013, however, led to a suspension of the
reunion program.
1 2
16. 30 31
SUMMIT DIPLOMACY
Bolstering Nuclear Security
and Inter-Korean
Cooperation
President Park discusses nuclear security and Korean
reunification during visits to the Netherlands and Germany
Written by Lee Kye-hyun
I
n late March, President Park Geun-hye visited the
Netherlands to attend the Nuclear Security Summit,
followed by a state visit to Germany. It was Park’s
second overseas trip this year, following her trip to India
and Switzerland in January.
Nuclear Security Summit
President Park visited The Hague for the third Nuclear
Security Summit (NSS) on March 24 and 25.
The Nuclear Security Summit is the world’s largest
security-related multilateral summit, with participation
from the leaders of 53 nations, along with representatives
from four international organizations: the UN, the IAEA,
the EU and Interpol. This meeting verified achievements
made by the international community during the previous
two summits, in Washington, D.C. in 2010 and in
Seoul in 2013, to reduce the threat of nuclear terrorism.
Leaders discussed plans for international cooperation on
continuously strengthening nuclear security.
Participants adopted the Hague Communiqué, which
included measures to prevent terrorism using nuclear
weapons or radiation.
As the leader of a previous host nation, President Park
gave an address at the opening ceremony on March 24. In
it, she stressed the joint responsibility of nations to prevent
nuclear terrorism, a serious challenge to international
peace and security. She also presented a development plan
for the international nuclear security regime under the
vision of a “world without nuclear weapons.”
“To realize a world without nuclear weapons, we need
the collective wisdom of strengthening nuclear security in
parallel with nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament
and nuclear safety,” she said. “I believe that as long as North
Korea remains a nuclear challenge, a world without nuclear
weapons will not come. And so it has been my long-held
conviction that the journey toward a world without nuclear
weapons should start from the Korean Peninsula.”
Under the Nuclear Security Summit process, countries
work to improve their nuclear security on the basis of
the Washington Work Plan, which contains numerous
measures and action points. In Seoul, a number of additional
action points were formulated and set down in the Seoul
Communiqué. The NSS process is ongoing, and since 2009
has required world leaders and diplomats to devote extra
attention to the issue of nuclear security.
President Park held a couple of important bilateral and
trilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security
Summit. On March 23, she sat down with Chinese
President Xi Jinping to discuss the North Korean nuclear
issue and the possibility of concluding a Korea—China free
trade agreement. On March 25, she met with US President
Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The three leaders stressed the importance of trilateral
cooperation on the North Korean nuclear weapons issue.
Meanwhile, Park also met with Dutch Prime Minister
Mark Rutte on March 24. The two discussed ways to
expand substantive cooperation in the energy, science,
technology, agriculture and nuclear sectors. She also
attended a luncheon hosted by King Willem-Alexander of
the Netherlands.
1. World leaders, including President Park Geun-hye (center of front row,
in green), pose for photo on the last day of the Nuclear Security Summit.
2. President Park speaks at the opening session of the Nuclear Security
Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.
3. Tripartite summit between President Park of Korea, President Barack
Obama of the United States and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan on
the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit
1
2
3
17. 32 33
SUMMIT DIPLOMACY
Visit to Germany
Upon the conclusion of her visit to the Netherlands,
President Park proceeded to Berlin on March 26 to
begin a four-day state visit to Germany. The visit was an
important opportunity to expand and deepen the friendly
ties that exist between Korea and Germany, a core nation
of the European Union and Europe’s largest economy.
The Korean side also wanted to learn from the German
reunification and integration experience in order to create
a basis for Korea’s own reunification.
She began the visit with a luncheon with German
President Joachim Gauck. She then met with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel. During her meeting with
Chancellor Merkel, President Park discussed plans to
promote substantive bilateral cooperation on trade,
investment, industry, small and medium-sized businesses,
science, job training and the arts. They also held intensive
discussions about the situation on the Korean Peninsula,
including reunification and the issue of North Korean
nuclear arms. During the joint press conference that
followed, President Park said, “Korea and Germany share
a special bond, having shared the painful experience of
national separation during the Cold War. Germany is a
model of peaceful reunification for Korea, as the country
not only reunited but also achieved social integrity.”
In Berlin, President Park also met with former East and
West German officials who were involved in the German
reunification process and visited the Berlin Wall, the
symbol of German reunification. President Park has shown
much interest in Germany’s reunification experience. At an
international gathering in early March, she said, “I think
the thing that made German reunification possible was the
constant preparation and courageous decisions by leaders.
In Korea, too, we must prepare gradually from now so that
when the historical chance for reunification comes, we
don’t miss it.”
The trip held additional significance for President Park.
Exactly 50 years ago, her father, the late President Park
Chung-hee, made a landmark state visit to Germany,
where he saw first-hand Germany’s rapid rise from the
ashes of war. Upon his return from Germany, he remarked,
“I found that the Miracle on the Rhine was not a miracle,
but the inevitable result and achievement of the efforts of
the German people.”
Dresden Doctrine
After her visit to Berlin, she moved on to the city of
Dresden, one of eastern Germany’s leading centers of
business and science. She is the first Korean president to
visit the former East German city and capital of Saxony.
At the Dresden University of Technology, President Park
delivered a speech proposing that wide-ranging exchanges
between South and North Korea would be a first step to
bolster trust and to prepare for Korean reunification. “What
we need is not one-off or promotional events, but the kind
of interaction and cooperation that enables ordinary South
Koreans and North Koreans to recover a sense of common
identity as they help each other out,” she said. Her
proposals call for Seoul to increase humanitarian aid to the
North, such as healthcare programs for pregnant women
and infants, before expanding economic cooperation on
larger-scale projects, such as infrastructure development.
She also called for the regularization of family reunions
and an increase in non-political exchanges. She repeated
her proposal to establish an international peace park along
the DMZ and proposed linking the railway systems of the
two Koreas to Russia’s Trans-Siberia Railway. If North
Korea gives up its nuclear arms program, she said, Seoul
would actively help Pyongyang receive international
development funds. The South would also be willing to
help establish a Northeast Asia Development Bank with
neighboring countries to assist the North with economic
development.
After Dresden, President Park made a short visit to
Frankfurt, a major European financial center and home to
major Korean corporations and Korean expatriates. There
she met with Korean residents, including former Korean
miners and nurses who went to Germany in the 1960s,
and attended a dinner hosted by the minister-president of
Hesse, Volker Bouffier.
To further strengthen economic ties and to learn more
about the German experience, President Park brought
with her an economic delegation of 105 people. This
was the largest such delegation to accompany a president
on an overseas trip. Some 71 members of the delegation
represented small and medium-sized businesses. The
representatives attended meetings jointly hosted by the
government and major Korean and German economic
groups, and networked with German government officials
and business leaders.
1. Summit meeting between President Park and
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
2. President Park visits the East Side Gallery, part of
the old Berlin Wall.
3. President Park proposes wide-ranging exchanges
between South and North Korea at the Dresden
University of Technology in Dresden, Germany.
1
2
3
18. 34 35
Unification Bonanza
Korea gears up to realize the dream of national reunification
Written by Bae Ji-sook
A
fter being divided for 61 years, the most desired
goal of all for the two Koreas seems to be none
other than unification.
From the tragedies of war-torn families to the more
realistic business opportunities to come, when President
Park Geun-hye claimed Korean unification to be a
“bonanza,” the necessity for unification became clearer
than ever. To do this, she is pushing a range of initiatives
to build trust while simultaneously maintaining a strong
defense posture.
Built on Trust
In 2013, Park made visits to nine countries and took
part in six multilateral summits, where she accumulated
international support for her campaign to build trust
with Pyongyang and promote peace and cooperation in
Northeast Asia.
At the same time, she pursued humanitarian cooperation,
efforts that led this past February to the first cross-border
reunions of separated families in more than three years.
Thus, President Park was able to maintain security on the
peninsula despite menacing rhetoric and provocations from
Pyongyang, including a third atomic test in February of
2013.
Also, in several surveys, including one conducted by the
international research firm Gallup Korea to mark her first
anniversary as president, Park’s efforts in foreign relations
and reform earned her high marks among the public. Her
“peninsula trust-building” initiative was the strongest factor.
During her first year in Cheong Wa Dae, Park
was driven to build a more normalized state-to-state
relationship with North Korea. This eventually helped
reopen the joint industrial complex in Kaeseong, which
had been closed by Pyongyang since April 2013. It is clear
that she is revving up her “trust politik,” engaging North
Korea and moving toward reconciliation.
Building the Future
On March 11, the presidential office said that the
administration is putting together its “preparatory
committee for unification” proclaimed by the president
at a nationally televised economic address. Mapping out
a blueprint to best become one nation with the northern
neighbor, Park explained that the committee was inspired
by Germany, a nation that successfully carried out its
unification through careful planning one step at a time.
“If we are going to realize genuine peace on the Korean
Peninsula and make a quantum jump for the Republic of
Korea, it is necessary to make preparations for unification
that will open up a new era on the Korean Peninsula,” she
said.
“I will do my best to lay the cornerstone and realize
unification without failure,” she added. Park announced
that the committee will be under direct control of the
president, who will issue systematic and constructive
directions for unification.
The committee is still in its very early stages, and details
have yet to be worked out, but experts are hoping that it
will be a working body to cover all the issues, including
diplomatic, defense, economic, social and cultural affairs,
that need to be assessed in order to successfully unify
the two countries. In a later conversation with cabinet
members, President Park said anyone, including NGOs,
private organizations, politicians and public officials, are
welcome on the committee. “Even foreign NGOs can
contribute,” she said. “Any person well-informed of the
issue at hand.” This means that the committee will be
more than just an advisory body or an ombudsman.
Economic Ties
In August 2013, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
said that the government is considering taking part
in the development of the Rajin-Sonbong and
Hwanggeumpyeong economic zones. It was a move that’s
part of her “Eurasia Initiative,” which was revived during
Park’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in
November last year. The Eurasia Initiative calls for ties
among the Eurasian countries through road and railway
Policy Review
Visitors use binoculars to view North Korean territory at the unification observation post near the border village of Panmunjeom,
which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War.
Participants release doves during a
rally for the peaceful unification of
the Korean Peninsula at the Imjingak
Pavilion near the DMZ in Paju,
Gyeonggi-do.
19. 36 37
Policy Review
connections to build a new “Silk Road Express” running
from South Korea to Europe via North Korea, Russia and
China.
At the summit, the two countries signed a memorandum
of understanding for South Korean businesses to participate
in the Rajin-Hassan project, established by North Korea
and Russia in 2008 to renovate the 54-kilometer Rajin-
Hassan railway. Russia plans to use the rail-connected port
as a key export point, while South Korean firms can ship
exports first to Rajin for them to then be transported as far
as Europe via Russian railways. Through the deals, South
Korean business groups, including POSCO, Hyundai
Merchant Marine and KORAIL, could participate in the
rail and port renovation project by acquiring a stake in
RasonKonTrans, a Russian-North Korean joint venture.
In a softer approach, the government said it will kick off
the construction of a peace park in the Demilitarized Zone
(DMZ). The DMZ, a four-kilometer-wide buffer zone
separating the two Koreas, is under the joint-jurisdiction
of U.N. forces and North Korea. President Park said
last year that a peace park in the “legacy of division and
confrontation” will help the two Koreas surmount mistrust
and confrontation.
“By making the DMZ a peace zone, I hope we will
remove memories of war and threats of provocation that
are left in peoples’ consciousness and take on a new start
to make the Korean Peninsula a place of trust, harmony
and cooperation,” she said in her special address to mark
Korean Liberation Day on August 15.
Currently, the DMZ’s surrounding areas, such as Paju
in Gyeonggi-do as well as Cheorwon and Goseong
in Gangwon-do, are in a bid to host the park. The
Unification Ministry assumes KRW 250 billion will be
needed for the park’s construction between now and 2016,
and the project recently gained the National Assembly’s
approval for its budget.
“Now is the time for the DMZ to be turned into a
‘Detente Making Zone,’” Kim Jae-hong, a researcher
at the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, wrote in his
column for the Kookbang Ilbo, a newspaper.
Economic Bonanza
It has been over two months since President Park defined
South-North Korea unification as a “bonanza” at the
Davos Forum in Switzerland in January. Now there is one
real question: Is unification a real bonanza? Yes, definitely,
experts say.
Businessmen are already gearing up to take a seat in
the biggest project they have ever faced. The Federation
of Korean Industries, a lobby group for Korea’s large
corporations, held a seminar on March 11 about the
potential economic effects of a unified Korea.
At the meeting Hong Sun-jik, director of the Hyundai
Research Institute, said a unified Korea would have a
USD 3.28 trillion gross domestic product by 2030, with
a population of 74 million. In 2040, GDP would jump to
USD 4.95 trillion and finally to USD 6.5 trillion in 2050,
he predicted. By then, the size of Korea’s economy would
surpass that of the U.K. and Germany, ranking eighth
worldwide.
“If we achieve unification in 2015, our GDP per capita
will dip to USD 22,000, but will eventually rise to USD
86,000 by 2050,” he said.
Hong acknowledged that there will be some social
confusion and hardships in the beginning, but that the
economic benefit will outshine them all in the long term.
“Most of all, we will be able to secure vast mineral
resources in the North. They will replace USD 15.3 billion
worth of imports because the amount of minerals buried
in the North is 24.3 times more valuable than those in the
South,” he said.
Professor Lim Eul-chul at Kyungnam University said
that unification would revive the construction industry
once again. The establishment of an economic free zone
and other complexes would produce a net worth of up
to KRW 60 trillion after unification, and South Korean
companies would be able to participate in the construction
process, he said. “Any way you look at it, it is a great
opportunity,” he said.
Fog covers the Imjingang River in the early morning hours as the Korean army's 28th Division guards the
west-central part of the DMZ in 2013, the 60th anniversary of the armistice that halted the Korean War.
North Korean workers at
the Kaesong Industrial
Complex. The Park
administration is pushing
for more international
involvement in Kaesong,
a symbol of inter-Korean
economic cooperation.
President Park gives introductory remarks at a meeting of unification-related
ministries at the Defense Ministry headquarters on March 6.
20. 38 39
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
I
n February 2013, when U.S. President Barack Obama
highlighted 3D printing as technology that could
create more high-tech jobs in the United States, the
budding field of 3D printing got a boost. Obama’s message
during the State of the Union address was regarded as
a strong public endorsement for a technology that had
been germinating since the 1980s and has only become
commercially available since the 2010s. In addition to the
United States and other nations, Korea is gearing up to
sharpen its competitive edge in developing 3D printing
technology, expected to be one of the most promising and
profitable sectors in the 21st century.
3D printing, aka “additive manufacturing,” refers to
the creation of three-dimensional objects from computer-
created digital models using an additive process. Successive
layers of materials are laid down in different shapes. The
printers follow the shape of the models by stacking layer
upon layer of material to make a real-world, solid object.
The Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and
Technology (KICET) announced Feb. 13 that it had
succeeded in developing ceramic hybrid 3D printing
technology which, it said, can be utilized to develop
ultra-speed wireless communication modules and flexible
devices.
The institute is applying the new technology to the
low-noise amplifiers needed for wireless communication
transponders and PAMs, or power amp modules. It expects
that the technology will be utilized with flexible devices in
the future, as it is possible to develop flexible ceramic films
by making use of ceramic hybrid 3D printing technology.
“When the new technology is applied, ceramics will be
unbreakable and will become highly flexible. We will be
able to produce various censors and circuits in a flexible
form,” Dr. Kim Jong-hui of KICET told the the Electronic
Times, adding that, “KICET plans to expand applications
for ceramic materials to include this new technology.”
Diverse Applications
Meanwhile, on Feb. 18 the 3D Fusion Industry Association
(3DFIA) appointed its new chairman, Kim Chang-ryong,
head of the RD Center at Samsung Electronics Digital
Media Communications (DMC). In his inaugural address,
Kim said, “Although the 3D market is not as easy as it
seems, both at home and abroad, I will do my best to
protect the rights of the member companies and create
more markets.”
The 3DFIA outlined its top priorities this year: promote
confidence amongst member companies and support
marketing through 3D certification procedures; establish a
comprehensive domestic cooperation system for a tripartite
committee of industries, academic circles and research
institutes; and facilitate joint overseas marketing activities
for identifying any global trends.
On Feb. 12, a semiconductor device firm, STi, released
a 3D printer product at Semicon Korea 2014, the nation’s
biggest semiconductor products exposition. It demonstrated
the company’s earnest debut in the 3D printing business.
STi has reportedly agreed with Samsung to cooperate on
the development of 3D technology, though the two firms
are declining to comment officially.
Experts say that 3D printing technology can be applied
to a variety of industrial fields, including aerospace,
military, civil engineering, dental and medical industries,
bio-tech industries such as human tissue replacement,
fashion, footwear, jewelry and many others. In November
last year, Solid Concepts of Texas shocked the world by
printing a metal pistol and, according to international
press, successfully firing 12 rounds.
Experts say that 3D printing will develop further in
mass-production and the mainstream market because 3D
printers can enable consumers to avoid costs associated
with purchasing common household items. 3D printing
consulting firm Wohlers Associates predicted that the
worldwide 3D printing market will reach USD 3.7 billion
by 2015 and USD 6.5 billion by 2019.
A Korea Polytechnic University team shows off a popular
3D printer at the Student Entrepreneurial Expo at Dongguk
University, Seoul, September 2013.
Korea Jumps into the
3D Printer Race
Domestic firms gear up to develop additive manufacturing technology
Written by Sohn Tae-soo
Visitors look at a 3D printer at the
2013 Korea Science Creativity Festival
at KINTEX, July 2013.
22. 42 43
Great Korean
Pioneer of military science brought Korea into
the Gunpowder Age
Written by Felix Im
Choe Mu-seon
Born to Change the World
The details of his upbringing are unclear, but historical
records indicate that Choe was born in what is now
Gyeongsangbuk-do. His father was a civil administrator
whose main duty was to allocate and transport supplies to
officials throughout the area. It is said that Choe acquired
an early interest in civil affairs by watching his father
work. He also demonstrated an acute interest in military
tactics from an early age, and had a highly organized mind
that made him an apt planner.
Upon growing up Choe acquired civil office and
immediately expressed an interest in arms development.
He was often met with ridicule and resentment, however.
Although Choe stressed the importance of Goryeo
producing its own gunpowder, other officials thought it
was unnecessary to make what they could already import
from the Chinese. They also thought gunpowder was of
no more use than for fireworks and entertainment.
Ignoring Common Ignorance
Choe, however, quickly realized that gunpowder could be
utilized for weaponry, which Goyreo desperately needed
at the time. Busy quarreling amongst themselves for status
and power, bureaucrats repeatedly failed to protect their
people from the Japanese pirates that often raided and
plundered lands bordering the southern seas. Undeterred
by official resistance and determined to protect his people,
Choe continued to study gunpowder and its manufacturing
process. He often traveled to the Chinese border, where he
gathered as much information about gunpowder as possible
from passing merchants.
After years of private experimentation, he finally
succeeded in independent production and took his results
to the royal court. King U (1365–1389) was so impressed
that he gave Choe his own department for manufacturing
and developing gunpowder and firearms. Choe was not
only the first person to produce gunpowder in Korea,
but developed a variety of cannons that were exclusive to
Goryeo. He was convinced that a wide range of artillery
would be absolutely necessary for the nation’s protection.
When he asked higher officials for permission to test his
artillery, however, bureaucrats mocked him again. It wasn’t
until the Japanese invaded Jinpo in Jeollanam-do in 1380
with hundreds of ships that they finally realized the extent
of Choe’s wisdom.
Time to Shine
The Royal Court immediately endowed Choe with
military rank and permission to test his new artillery on
the invading Japanese pirates, who were numerous and
fierce. Fortunately, they were also unaware of Goryeo’s
firearms advancements, and thus had prepared no strategy
to combat long-range cannons. Consequently, the Japanese
ships approached Korean shores in a single cluster, which
made it easy for Choe and his cannons to destroy them.
Surviving pirates swam to shore, where they were quickly
disposed of by awaiting infantry. The battle was won;
Choe was a hero. After the Battle of Jinpo, piracy gradually
dispersed, and Goryeo fishermen could sail in peace.
Before he died, Choe left a manual detailing his
knowledge to his son, Choe Hae-san. Through the efforts
of Hae-san, Choe’s methods continued to be utilized and
developed well into the Joseon era (1392–1910). Korean
cannons later proved essential in the victories of Admiral
Yi Sun-sin during the Imjin War, when Japanese forces
invaded Korea again.
Monument marking the Battle of Jinpo at the mouth of the Geumgang River. In 1380,
warships led by Choe Mu-seon and Na Se used naval cannons to defeat a raid by
Japanese pirates, sinking about 500 warships in the process. It was the world's first
battle featuring naval cannon.
1
The hwacha, a mobile
rocket launcher
developed during
the Joseon Dynasty.
It is a descendant of
the rocket system
developed earlier by
Choe Mu-seon.
2
A re-enactment of the
Battle of Jinpo. when
cannons designed by
Choe Mu-seon were
used to defeat raiding
Japanese pirates.
1 2
I
t’s a common misconception that gun powder in Asia
was only used by the Chinese for fireworks prior to its
utilization by Westerners for modern firearms. Not only
is this inaccurate, but gunpowder was widely used by the
Korean military long before the invention of modern muskets.
A Korean military scientist and strategist named Choe Mu-
seon (1325–1395) single-handedly introduced gunpowder
to the people of Goryeo (918–1392) and developed firearms
exclusively for the protection of his people.
23. 45
MY KOREA
and convenience stores. Scan your card as you get on and
off the subway or bus, and the card will automatically
calculate the fare and enable free transfers between the
two. While the price of many things in Seoul have caught
up to or even surpassed those in other first-tier cities across
the globe, public transport remains an incredible bargain,
with base fares starting at only KRW 1,050.
Subway Wonders
Admittedly, you lose certain things when you’re no longer
driving a silver 1989 Toyota station wagon to get around,
as I once did. The efficiency and amenities offered by the
Seoul subway, however, make that a very small sacrifice.
What you can’t do in your hatchback but can do on Line
1 is completely avoid rush hour traffic. You can also take
advantage of the subway’s free 4G LTE and Wi-Fi to
check your e-mail, surf the web and watch TV. Thanks
to Korea’s peerless mobile infrastructure, you can make
phone calls too, even when you’re 20 meters underground
and beneath a river.
It’s also largely thanks to Seoul’s ever-expanding and
ever-improving public transportation system that the
city has seen major progress in its environment in recent
decades. City buses now run on compressed natural
gas. The subway carries over 2.5 billion riders annually,
meaning that much less pollution created by car exhaust.
The subway has also recently introduced special bike-
friendly cars on weekends so that cyclists can travel with
their bikes to their favorite cycling spots.
For both residents and visitors, though, perhaps the best
aspect of Seoul’s exhaustive public transportation system is
simply how accessible it makes the city, dispelling any need
for a car. Seoul’s sheer size can at first be overwhelming,
but its buses and subway trains make getting from point A
to point B easy, providing endless opportunities to explore
its myriad neighborhoods; to not worry about the journey
and to just enjoy the destination.
The Exemplar of Convenience
Seoul’s public transportation system is a joy to use
Written by Charles Usher
Illustrated by kim yoon-myong
44
T
o best appreciate a good public transportation
system, it may be that you have to grow up in a
town without one. I did. Or at least, I thought
I did up until high school, when I learned that my small
Midwestern city of 26,000 people actually had a bus
system, which tells you pretty much all you need to know
about its usefulness.
Enormous Scope, Simple Convenience
Unlike my hometown, Seoul is one of the largest and
most densely populated metropolises in the world,
with over 10 million people jammed into 605 square
kilometers. To keep a city like that functioning, a public
transportation system, and a good one, is a necessity, and
the Korean capital has come up with one of the world’s
best. Its subway system alone runs over hundreds of
kilometers of track, encompasses nearly 500 stations, and
links three provinces to the capital. The airport railroad
takes passengers from Incheon International Airport, on
an island off the peninsula’s west coast, to Seoul Station,
downtown, in under an hour. Its buses reach every corner
of the city, often traveling in bus-only lanes, avoiding the
worst of Seoul’s notorious rush hours.
Using Seoul’s public transportation is as easy as it is
convenient. On buses, all stops are announced in both
Korean and English. On the subway, station names and
many signs are provided in Japanese and Chinese as well.
To take the bus or subway, single tickets can be purchased
with cash, but far better are the T-Money transport cards,
which can be bought and topped up at subway stations
24. 46 47
MULTICULTURAL KOREA
T
he walkie-talkie attached to the right shoulder
of police officer Ju Ji Gang’s light gray uniform
crackles. In something that looks like a reflex
developed by occupation, Ju’s hand is quick on it,
turning the volume down as he straightens the stiff fabric
of his jacket while standing up from his chair behind
the light brown partition dividing the desks from the
entrance of Ingye Police Station in Suwon, 30 kilometers
south of Seoul.
Unexpected Occupation
When Ju left Sumatra to go study at university in Jakarta
as a young man, he had no idea that this was where life
would take him. One day, he met on campus a young
woman on exchange from Korea, and in 1995 they
returned to her homeland together. Today they have
three children, the youngest in primary school and the
oldest in university.
“I never thought I’d become a police officer,” says Ju
and looks around at the little police station that now is
his everyday life. The interior is simple: the partition
dividing the desks and the visitors, some benches and
tables along the wall, and some book shelves, all in a
brown color scheme.
Upon arrival in Korea in 1995, Ju started to study
Korean. Having mastered the language, Ju started
working for a company and in 2000, he obtained Korean
citizenship. After seven years in the company, he and one
of his colleagues quit at the same time. The colleague
became a police officer and Ju often helped him by
interpreting.
“I started to think that it was attractive, something that
I could also do,” he remembers.
Not long after, Ju passed the police exam for people
with special language skills. There are only 20-30 people
that are selected every year, and Ju was among them.
“I’m on my sixth year as a police officer now,” Ju says,
peering toward the dusty afternoon light trickling in
through the narrow windows placed high up along the
walls of the station.
It’s been only four months since he was transferred
to Ingye Police Station after having spent five years in
Gimhae in Gyeongsangnam-do, where he was working
on tasks related to foreigners in the National Police
Agency’s Foreign Affair Department. All together, there
are only four officers with a non-Korean background.
One is from the Philippines, one from Vietnam, one
from Cambodia and then Ju from Indonesia.
Impassioned to Help
Most Indonesians in Korea are working for construction
sites or factories.
“They are living very tough and difficult lives,” he
says.
Ju sees it as his mission to support these people, in his
professional as well as in his private life.
“I try to help them as much as possible,” he says.
Even though many foreign workers are living tough
lives in Korea, and there are still many prejudices against
them, Ju is proud of what Korea is doing to help.
“There are many things in place for foreigners here,”
he says, “It’s the best among Asian countries.”
Suddenly, the station is filled with police officers, all
in the same light gray uniform. Ju joins them, and they
are all talking and laughing together. Since Ju became
a police officer, he has become somewhat of a public
figure. Everybody wants to hear the story about the
Indonesian who came to Korea for love and became a
police officer.
“Just look up my name in Naver,” he says, “I’ve been
interviewed by all the big newspapers.”
Ju Ji Gang helps international residents at an
international support center in Korea.
Suwon’s Finest
from Sumatra
Policeman Ju Ji Gang from Indonesia is keeping Suwon safe
Written by Ida Kymmer
25. O
nce upon a time in ancient Silla, there lived
King Gyeongmun (r. 861—875), the kingdom’s
48th king. On top of living in tumultuous
times, full of turmoil and rebellion, King Gyeongmun
had another vexing problem. According to legend, he had
hideously large ears. Much like King Midas of Phrygia,
who was punished by the Greek god Apollo with donkey
ears, King Gyeongmun never failed to wear some form of
crown or hat to cover his abnormal hearing organs. Unlike
King Midas, however, King Gyeongmun had no magic
touch that turned things to gold. Moreover, his donkey
ears were not the result of some divine curse, but simply
developed one day out of the blue. King Gyeongmun was
horrified. He was dumbfounded. Nobody could know.
Don’t You Tell a Single Tree!
King Gyeongmun was apparently great at keeping secrets,
for nobody knew about his resemblance to a donkey, not
even his queen. In fact, the only person who ever saw King
Gyeongmun without either his hat or crown was the royal
crown maker, who by professional necessity occasionally
measured the King’s head. Whether it was out of fear or
respect, the crown maker knew better than to go around
telling people what he knew. Even the trustworthy crown
maker, however, wasn’t completely free of the gossip
instinct. Upon nearing his death, the tortured crown
maker realized he simply couldn’t take his secret with him
to the grave. His sealed lips must be opened at least once
before meeting his maker. “Oh, I must tell somebody,” he
thought.
49
Unable to contain it any longer, the crown maker fled
deep into a bamboo forest near a serene temple and shouted
into the trees, “The King has donkey ears!” Satisfied at
last, the crown maker was able to return home and die
in peace. The bamboo trees, however, couldn’t contain
themselves either, and every time the wind blew through
the forest, they echoed the words, “The King has donkey
ears...the King has donkey ears,” a sound that carried
quite far, informing nearly the entire kingdom of King
Gyeongmun’s medical secret. Infuriated and embarrassed,
King Gyeongmun ordered that the entire bamboo forest be
cut down and eradicated. However, every time the wind
blew it carried the same words everywhere it went: “the
King has donkey ears...the King has donkey ears...” Perhaps
it is such a wind that has brought this story to us across so
many generations.
Tales From Korea
Even bamboo trees can't keep secrets
Written by Felix Im
Illustrated by Shim Soo-keun
The King Has
Donkey Ears!
48
Royal Animal Ears
Although King Gyeongmun is a real historical figure, this
story is obviously folklore. Details are described in the
Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, a
collection of folklore, legends and historical anecdotes from
the 1200s about the three ancient kingdoms of Goguryeo,
Silla and Baekje. This is an interesting coincidence, as King
Gyeongmun’s tale demonstrates remarkable similarity to
that of King Midas, whose barber uttered his secret into a
hole in the ground, from which reeds eventually sprang up
and whispered, “the King has the ears of an ass!” Similar
tales exist in other countries’ folklore, often the donkey’s
ears changing into the ears of a lamb or goat, which brings
up the question: What is it about animal ears that makes us
want to put them on our unfortunate kings?
26. 50
Flavor
Written by Shin Yesol
Dak Galbi
T
he pleasant lakeside city of Chuncheon is famous for its beautiful natural
surroundings and dak galbi, one of Korea’s most popular dishes.
Dak galbi got its start in 1960 when a Chuncheon restaurateur began grilling
chicken instead of pork. The dish caught on and now can be found throughout Korea.
To prepare dak galbi, chunks of chicken meat are pan fried in a tangy red-pepper sauce
with vegetables, sweet potatoes and rice cakes. Noodles are sometimes added as well.
After the meat is consumed, a bowl of rice is often fried in the leftover sauce.
Chuncheon is still the place to enjoy this spicy favorite. Try the restaurants in
Myeong-dong’s Dak Galbi Alley.
28. Readers’ Comments
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←Very useful useful Not useful at all→
2014
April
29. I’ll take this hat.
Korea has many traditional markets, or sijang. A sijang usually
has many interesting things and delicious food. Have you ever
gone to a sijang? Let’s buy something in Korean in the sijang!
무엇을 드릴까요? mueoseul deurilkkayo?
이 ___________ 얼마예요? i ___________ eolmayeyo?
____________원이에요. ___________woniyeyo.
이 ___________ 주세요. i ___________ juseyo.
A
B
A
B
The number system
(Sino-Korean system)It's KRW 12,000.
0312,000원이에요.
manicheonwoniyeyo.
이 모자 주세요.
i moja juseyo.04
I'll take it.
-(으)세요
‘-(으)세요’ means“please do...”when
speaking to the second person(s).
‘-으세요’ is attached to the verb
stem ending in a consonant, and
‘-세요’ is attached to the verb stem
ending in a vowel.
There are two number systems
in Korean. One is a purely Korean
number system, which is used for
smaller, more common numbers.
We also have the Sino-Korean
system, which is used most
commonly for larger numbers. This
system begins with “일, 이, 삼.”
basic
form
honorific
form
(informal)
오다 oda
To come or arrive
오세요
oseyo
주다 juda
To give
주세요
juseyo
입다 ipda
To wear (clothing: shirts,
pants, coats, etc.)
입으세요
ibeuseyo
신다 sinda
To wear (footwear: shoes,
socks, boots, skates, etc.)
신으세요
sineuseyo
1 일 il 8 팔 pal
2 이 i 9 구 gu
3 삼 sam 10 십 sip
4 사 sa 100 백 baek
5 오 o 1000 천 cheon
6 육 yuk 10000 만 man
7 칠 chil
이 모자는 얼마예요?
i mojaneun
eolmayeyo?
02
How much is this hat?
How may I help you?
01
무엇을 드릴까요?
mueoseul deurilkkayo?
Let’s practice! 위의 대화와 같이 물건을 사 봅시다.
모자
moja
12,000
목도리
mokdori
24,500
장갑
janggap
35,000
가방
gabang
98,000