A Country that Never Sleeps 밤

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www.korea.nejune 2015

A Country that Never Sleeps

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

Special Issue Expo Milano 2015

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contents

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Cover Story

A Country that Never Sleeps

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SPeCIAL ISSue

Food Gives Life

44

MY KOReA

Is This Really Just a Rest Area?

14

PeOPLe 1

Sim Yong-sik, Traditional Craftsman

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CuRRenT KOReA

I am A Creator

46

MuLTICuLTuRAL KOReA

A Mother’s Heart

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PeOPLe 2

Kim Eun-young, Master of Knots

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SuMMIT DIPLOMACY

President Plevneliev and Prime Minister Modi’s Visit to Korea

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nATuRe

Secrets of the River

18

TRAVeL

From Here to Peace

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POLICY ReVIeW

Centers for a Creative Economy and Innovation

50FLAVOR

Gimbap, the Perfect Picnic Food

22

SPORTS

Festival of Youth

40

CReATIVe TeCHnOLOGY

The Next Generation of Displays

24

enTeRTAInMenT

Korean Pop in Latin America

42

GReAT KOReAnS

Poet Yi Yuk-sa

Publisher Park Young-goog, Korean Culture and Information Service Executive Producer Han Seong-rae E-mail [email protected]

Magazine Production The Book Company Editor-in-Chief Lee Min-jeong Production Supervisor Kim Min-kyung Copy Editor Gregory C. Eaves, Hwang Chi-young Creative Director Oh Seong-min Head Designer Kim Se-ryeong Photographers Moon Duk-gwan, Hong Ha-yan Printing Kumkang Printing Co,.Ltd

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

korea / June 2015

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CURRENT KOREACover Story korea / june

A Country that Never Sleeps

The 24-hours lifestyle that can’t be stopped

WrITTEn BY Isaac colson

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Yeouido Island is also host to the annual International Fireworks Festival every autumn. On the day of the festival, people can be seen trekking to the river- side, over the bridges and along the bicycle paths and roads hours before the event starts at 8 p.m. Most participants head to the Hangang Park. The crowds are immense and the festival is considered one of Seoul’s most spectacular fall events. For those who missed the festival or didn’t want to be squished like sardines, the fireworks can be seen, heard and even felt for kilometers around.

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

W

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

THingS To SEE

Located at the southeastern tip of the pen-

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

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

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

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

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

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

Performed at the Myeong-dong Nanta Theatre in the Unesco Building, it’s a comedy show that features acrobatics, magic tricks, pantomime and audience participation. The rhythmic performances are conducted by “chefs” using cutting boards, water canisters and kitchen knives:

no actual instruments are used. The tradi-

Every fall, next to the Yeouido Hangang Park, the International Fireworks Festival is held. Movies can be enjoyed 24-hours a day at Gangnam’s CGV or Myeong-dong’s Megabox movie theater.

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

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

THingS To TaSTE

After a long day of sightseeing and nighttime fun, grabbing some tasty treats is a must. Whether you want to go out or enjoy a more quiet night indoors watching soap operas with some friends, most eateries are operational 24-7, or at least late into the night, and most deliver. If fact, restaurants pride themselves on their fast delivery ser- vices. Finding restaurants that deliver is not difficult, and there are several smartphone apps that allow customers to order food:

Yogiyo, Bae-dal Tong and Woowa Brothers, to name a few. The food ranges from ham- burgers and pizza to an entire meal with numerous side dishes. The most popular delivery foods are fried chicken, pizza and Korea-style Chinese food.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Myeong-dong Street at night is not to be missed. © Sean Pavone Guests eat, play and relax at this 24-hour Jjimjilbang, Korean Spa.

Korea is home to

several cities that offer interesting sights,

tasty food and diverse

nighttime activities.

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Tourist police are ready to help oversea tourists in Seoul, Busan, and Incheon etc.

The heart of the city never grows dark with employees working hard into the night. © HOnG In-KEE

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

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

For those who are in a new city and didn’t

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

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

THingS To Do anD Buy

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

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

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

THE CogS THaT kEEP THE CounTry Moving

There is so much more that can be experi- enced: darts, billiards, pool, ping pong, bowling, screen golf, batting cages, singing, dancing, clubbing, live music and much more. Of course, none of these nighttime activities would be available if it weren’t for the country’s excellent public transportation system. The well-developed transportation grid makes the place ideal for visitors to enjoy the nightlife. Subways and buses don’t run entirely all night, but periodic late night buses are available in all cities and towns. Taxi fare are low and the drivers love to practice their English. In most major sories at heavily discounted prices. After

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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interview

Starry Night,

Fairy tale World

Jeong Jun-ho breathes new life into the industrial city of Ansan.

InTErVIEWED BY KIm Hyeon-tae

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

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

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

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

Jeong tapped into this need for a place

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

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

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

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

starry night at palaces

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

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

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

gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung Places

The Cultural Heritage Administration is holding special night time tours of palaces in Seoul;

four in all, one per season. The tours were already held for six days in winter and six days in spring. The palaces are planned to be open for 12 days in August, then again in Autumn, in October or november.

cities, there are both regular taxis and

“deluxe” taxis, “deluxe” meaning that they’re more pricey, but also more available.

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

A surging crowd gathers in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

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CURRENT KOREA

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

FroM CarPEnTEr To MaSTEr

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

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

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

Sim yong-sik, traditional Craftsman

Meet a craftsman of traditional lattice windows and doors.

WrITTEn BY KIm Hyeon-tae PHOTOGrAPHED BY moon DuK-Gwan

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

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

Joy oF TEaCHing

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

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

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

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

of the windows’ lattice strips and the colorful designs on the buildings, completely lost in admiration of their beauty,” recalls Sim.

In many ways, growing up in Yesan helped Sim to become a joiner. During middle school, he started working at a woodwork shop in his village. Soon after- ward, he met his first teacher, Master Jo Chan-yeong, a master joiner and Chun- gcheongnam-do Intangible Cultural Prop- erty No. 18. Sim worked under him for some ten years and learned to make traditional lattice windows and doors. Sim was also taught by other noted experts, such as Lee Gwang-gyu and Choe Yeong-han, master artisans in carpentry and joinery, and Shin Yeong-hun, the first director of the Hanok Culture Institute.

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

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Kim eun-young, Master of Knots

A traditional knot artist brings an old craft back to life.

WrITTEn BY HonG Hea-won PHOTOGrAPHED BY lee jae-Hee

T

ime has nothing on the 73-year-old artist. Kim Eun-young, master artisan of traditional knots, has been making ornamental knots for 50 years. She fell in love with knot craft for its exquisite beauty the very first time she saw it.

“I saw a three-pendant ornament that my grandmother had kept all her life. I was captivated by its singular beauty. I had no idea at the time that I would be making knots for 50 years,” says Kim.

EPiToME oF ornaMEnTal arT Traditional knot-making is all about the handcraft. It requires dyed silk threads, which are then twisted together to form the base string. The strings are then tied into knots of different shapes, such as but- terflies and flowers. For centuries, these knots adorned all manner of everyday objects, including clothing, musical instruments and home interiors.

“Many people think that ornamental knots were mainly for women, but they were, in fact, a more important decorative accessory for men. Decorated silk strings to tie a robe around the waist were an essential

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

From dyeing silk threads to tying knots, the entire process is done solely by Kim’s two hands. This is why her knots have more vibrant colors and more delicate designs and shapes compared to machine- made knots. Most of Kim’s works are reproductions of ornamental items used at royal banquets during Joseon times (1392- 1910), as seen in old paintings.

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

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

It takes dozens of steps to create one ornamental piece.

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

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

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

“I read historical records about Joseon royal banquets and realized how much material there is for me to work on. I believe it is my role to recreate forgotten works that we only see in paintings in order to revive the beauty of our traditions,” says Kim.

Her latest reproduction was the decorative string on royal stamps. She modeled it after the Deokjong Eobo, a royal seal from Joseon times, after it was returned to Korea in March 2015 after having been kept at the Seattle Art Museum since 1963.

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

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CURRENT KOREAtrAvel korea / june

From Here to peace

Paju is a city of art and nature that embraces the legacy of the Korean War.

WrITTEn BY KIm nae-on PHOTOGrAPHED BY moon DuK-Kwan

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

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

As a border city between the two Koreas, Paju is a symbol of the painful divi- sion and of the war itself. Since the Imjin- gak Pyeonghwa-Nuri Park opened in 2005, the city has embraced its past and reinvented itself as a place of reconciliation and harmony. In the past, Hwang Hui (1363-1452), a Joseon prime minister, and

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

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

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

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Art installations adorn the Imjingak Pyeonghwa-Nuru Park.

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WHaT To EaT Odusan Makguksu (Tel : 031- 944-7022; 369-5, Yadong-dong, Paju, Gyeonggi- do Province) serves delicious buckwheat noodles (makguksu), noodles in chicken soup (dak-kalgulsu) and buckwheat and vegetable pancakes (memiljeon).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HEyri arT vallEy anD PaJu Book CiTy

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

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

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

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

Chicken and seafood soup (haesintang) .

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

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

The Hwaseokjeong is in Papyeong- myeon. Here, Joseon scholar Yulgok Yi I penned many poems in his later years. He wrote, in the poem titled “Hwaseokjeong,”

that, “It is late autumn at the pavilion, and the thoughts of this poet continue end- lessly. The waters of the river are as blue as the sky, and the leaves are as red as the sun.”

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

Paju

Busan Seoul

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

2 - The Hwaseokjeong Pavilion sits in Paju.

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

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

5 - A public library at Paju BookCity.

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CURRENT KOREA

A

portmanteau word made up of

“university” and “Olympiad,” the Uni- versiade is an international collegiate sport- ing event. Since athletes who win medals at the Universiade often become Olympic athletes, sports fans around the world tune in to watch these collegiate games to wit- ness the birth of new stars.

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

WHo Will BE THE nExT STar?

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

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

these Universiade Games.

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

This year’s Universiade will be a test event on his way to fulfilling his dream of becoming the world’s first two-time Olympic champion in his sport. At the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, Yang tore his thigh muscle during practice and missed the gold. This year, he will be aiming for the gold in the men’s vault with his signature “Yang-2”

move, while competing among fierce rivals such as North Korea’s Ri Se-gwang and Russia’s Denis Ablyazin.

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

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

The Gwangju

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

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

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

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

inTErESTing loCal EvEnTS

Over the duration of the Universiade Games, Gwangju will host festivals throughout the city, including the Gwangju Sajik World Folk Festival, the Gwangju Pop Festival and the Marching Festival. In keeping with the theme of youth, the Gwangju City Government will host the 2015 World Youth Festival, which is organized and run by young men and women.

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

SportS

The upcoming 2015 Gwangju Universiade will have many highlights.

Festival of youth

WrITTEn BY cHeonG Kyu-younG

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

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

Artistic gymnast Yang Hak-seon. © Yonhap news

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E

very Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., groups of teens in Lima gather at the Parque Mariscal Ramón Castilla to practice their dance moves to hits like boy band EXO’s “Growl” and girl group 4Minute’s

“What’s Your Name?”At the Arenales shopping mall, you can buy Korean pop music albums, T-shirts of popular artists and even Korean food.

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

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

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

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

Korean pop in latin America

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

WrITTEn BY KIm nae-on

CHanging EnTErTainMEnT inDuSTry

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

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

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

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

learning more during public appearances.”

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

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

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

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

3 - Chilean pop fan shout and sing along at a concert. © Yonhap news

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SpeCIAl ISSue

Food gives life

Korea promotes fermented foods and their benefits at Expo Milano 2015.

WrITTEn BY sean lIm

I

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

World Expos, the Olympics and the

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

ExPo Milano: FEEDing THE PlanET, EnErgy For liFE

In Milan, countries are showing their best

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

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

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

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

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

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

FooD MagiC: FErMEnTaTion, SToragE anD variETy

The key portion of the exhibit focuses on fermentation and storage. Respectively titled, “Science of Time: Fermentation,”

and, “Wisdom of the Earth: Storage,” the connecting visual element is the large earthenware onggi jar. Observers get a full explanation of how the apparently magical process of fermentation creates an endless variety of food. They will also see how the unique earthenware vessels “breathe” and

1 - Exterior shot of Korea’s nearly

4,000-square-meter ‘Moon Jar’ Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015.

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

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

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korEa’S EarTHEnWarE JarS:

vESSElS oF FooD SECuriTy anD TaSTE

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

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korea / June

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

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

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

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

ExPo Milano 2015: korEa’S CalEnDar oF EvEnTS

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

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

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

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

Milan DESign WEEk: korEa’S SuBTlE aPProaCH To CraFTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 - Thirty red lacquer balwoo are part of the Korea Craft & Design Foundation’s exhibit.

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

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For Koreans, kimchi is but one of an array of fermented foods that have provided sustenance from

vegetables during the hard, bitter winters

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CURRENT KOREA

Vloggers create distinct, relatable

videos, unlike anything typically seen on

conventional media.

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

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

Y

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

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

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

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

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

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

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I am A creator

Video bloggers take over the Internet.

WrITTEn BY KIm nae-on

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

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

inTEraCTivE EnTErTainMEnT The videos created and uploaded by vloggers provide a different kind of content that Afreeca TV are also called “broadcast jock-

eys.” About her job, Yang says, “A broadcast jockey is a writer, a producer and an actor, all combined into one.”

groWing onlinE ConTEnT, ProDuCTion valuE

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

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

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

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

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

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korea / June SuMMIt dIploMACy

president plevneliev and

prime Minister Modi’s visit to Korea

Korea to forge ‘future-oriented comprehensive partnership’ with Bulgaria and to pursue ‘special strategic partnership’ with India

ExCErTED BY Korea.net

korEa-Bulgaria SuMMiT

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

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

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

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

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

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev

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

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

The Bulgarian president emphasized that the two nations can enhance economic cooperation in the areas of infrastructure,

energy, transportation, logistics, vehicles, R&D, agriculture, food, outsourcing and tourism.

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

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

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

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

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inDian PriME MiniSTEr viSiTS korEa

“The adoption of a joint statement to change the Korea-India relationship into a special strategic partnership is the result of the two governments’ will and effort,” said President Park Geun-hye and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their joint press conference on May 18. President Park held a summit meeting with Prime Minister Modi, who was paying a state visit to Korea that day. The two leader s upgraded their bilateral relationship to a,

“special strategic partnership.” “Over the past 42 years, the Korea-India relationship has made significant progress,” said Presi- dent Park. “In particular, the Comprehen- sive Economic Partnership Agreement

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

Korea and India agreed to

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

In terms of exchanges in the arts, education and between people, cultural festivals will be held in both nations this year and next year. The two nations also agreed to jointly improve a monument in Ayod- hya, India, dedicated to Queen Heo Hwang-ok (c. A.D. 100), also known as Queen Suriratna, who is linked to Korean history. For the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula, President Park said,

“Prime Minister Modi and I expressed concern over the development of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic mis- siles. We had the common understanding that the North needs to fully comply with all of its international obligations, including under the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, and to fulfill its commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six- Party Talks.” “I explained the South Korean government’s efforts to prepare for a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula, and Prime Minister Modi expressed his support,” the president added.

“India’s economy faces a turning point in which new momentum is being formed,” said Prime Minister Modi. “We are now focusing on building infrastructure and trying to establish world-class manufacturing industries. Korea can become an essential partner in that effort.” “Today’s agreements reflect an earnest stance for a new frame of our bilateral relationship,”

said Prime Minister Modi. “Korea is the second country with which India agreed to establish a joint defense and foreign affairs dialogue using the ‘2+2’ format.” “I believe Korean companies have the ability to suc- ceed in India,” said Prime Minister Modi.

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

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

(CEPA) between Korea and India took effect in 2010. It solidified the basis for our bilateral economic cooperation and con- tributed to an increase in the exchange of the arts and people.” “Today, Prime Minis- ter Modi and I discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation on various issues to further deepen our existing relationship,”

said President Park. “I am very glad that Prime Minister Modi and I were able to adopt a joint statement for the Korean- Indian ‘special strategic partnership,’ based on a dialogue that, starting today, will open a new era of our bilateral relationship.”

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

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

The two nations agreed to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which took effect in 2010, and to start negotiations to amend it by June 2016. With the signing of the

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