KOREA NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY SPECIAL FEATURE
KOREA NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY SPECIAL FEATURE VientianeTimes VientianeTimes October 3, 2006 11 10 October 3, 2006
Best Wishes
TO THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
AND ALL KOREAN PEOPLE OCTOBER 3, 2006
894-26 Ban Phakhao, Saythany District Vientiane Lao P.D.R Tel: (856-21) 711175-8 Fax: (856-21) 710036
www.hotelcosmolao.com ON the occasion of Korean National
Foundation Day (Gae Chon Jol), I would like to thank the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for the friendship they have shared with Koreans over the past decade.
The Republic of Korea and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have a short history of diplomatic ties; the 10th anniversary of bilateral relations was celebrated just last year. However, there have been many activities in that time, as if to compensate for the lost years.
Through various personal, cultural, social, and economic exchanges, both bilaterally as well as under the ASEAN dialogue framework, the two countries have come to understand each other more fully.
In Laos, Korea has begun to expand its ODA projects through the KOICA grant programme and EDCF loan projects. KOICA grants reached roughly 4.6 million dollars in 2006, while the first loan project of around 23 million dollars is now under way in Luang Prabang for the construction of a new campus for the Souphanouvong University.
Bilateral trade and investment is still small, compared to other Asian neighbors, but it is steadily increasing. The recent conclusion of the ASEAN-Korea FTA and Asia Pacific Trade Agreement will provide a further boost to trade and investment between Korea and Laos.
I sincerely hope that our bilateral cooperation will deepen our close relationship in political, social, economic, and cultural areas. I would also take this opportunity to convey my deepest gratitude for the support of the Lao government toward Korea’s undaunted endeavor for peace and prosperity in our peninsula as well as in East Asia.
Remarks by H.E.
Mr. Chung Soonsuk Ambassador of the
Republic of Korea to Lao PDR
The Republic of Korea and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have a short history of diplomatic ties; the 10th anniversary of bilateral relations was celebrated just last year.
However, there have been many activities in that time, as if to compensate for the lost years.
Understanding each other through official and cultural exchanges
The two countries have come closer to each other through high-level state visits. From the Lao side, former Prime Minister Bounyang Vorachit visited Korea in 2002, and Samane Vignaket, former President of the National Assembly, visited Korea in December 2005.
On the Korean side, Korean President Roh Moo Hyun visited the Lao PDR on the occasion of the ASEAN+3 Summit in November 2004, and Foreign Minister Ban Kimoon again visited Laos on the occasion of the ASEAN PMC in July 2005. Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong also visited Vientiane in September 2005 for the ASEAN AEM meeting.
Not only high-level officials, but also government officials of various ministries and agencies and growing numbers of Lao people visit Korea these days. This year, a total of 600 Lao people visited Korea, and the number is expected to increase further.
Increasing numbers of Koreans also visit Laos as tourists, to seek business opportunities, and for other friendly activities.
As an ASEAN dialogue partner, Korea has had the opportunity to build closer relations with the Lao PDR through various exchange programmes and joint activities.
Korea also closely cooperates with Laos under the ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, Korea) framework, which was first established in 1997.
One example is the recently shown Lao film at the 2006 East Asian Film Festival in Korea this September.
Fifteen youths from Laos also visited Korea for the Youth Camp 2006 held in Korea.
Korea- Lao Relations
<<KOICA Activities in Laos 2006>>
Unit:USD thousand
Classification Description Budget
Invitation of Trainees 70 persons 424 Dispatch of experts 2 persons 76
Volunteer 102 persons 2,060
Feasibility study
Repair of Riverbank and Construction of Riverside
Park along the Mekong River in Vientiane, Laos
800
Project
Hosted Intranet and Communication Development of MOFA
1,200
Total 4,560
About Korea…
After recovering from its complete devastation in the Korean War in 1950~1953, Korea has grown rapidly to become 12th largest economy in the world.
There are many different reasons for Korea’s rapid economic development:
strong government leadership, well-educated and devoted people, a strong drive for export-oriented industry and merit-based rewards to boost competition, overseas loans and assistance in the early years to set us off on the development path, and so on. Perhaps all these factors combined, with some good luck, has been the answer to Korea’s development challenge.
<<Korea in the World : Major Index and Ranks >>
Index Value Rank
GDP(Gross National Production) , 2005
$787.5 billion 12
Per capital GDP, 2005 $16,291 29
Export, 2005 $284.419 billion 12
Import, 2005 $261.238 billion 13
Trade Dependence, 2005 69.3% 9
Foreign Currency Reserves,2005 Dec. $201.391 billion 4 Economic Growth Rate, 2005 4.0% 7 Steel Production, 2005 4,782 tons 5 Ship Building, 2005 10,237,000 CG/T 1 Automobile Production, 2005 3,699,000 cars 5 Semiconductor Sale, 2005 $31 billion 1 Rice Production, 2005 6,435,000 tons 13 Internet Users, 2004 66% of population 3 Human Development Index, 2003 0.901 28 Primary Energy Consumption, 2005 224.6 million TOE 10 Per cap. Energy Consumption, 2005 4,650.7 kg 16 Total Population, 2006 48.487 million 25 Source: Korean Statistics Bureau
“Korean Wave” Entertainment
Korean dramas, films, songs and other pop art and culture are loved by Korea’s Asian neighbors. Beginning with Winter Sonata, that became a hit in Japan, Korean dramas like Dae Jang Geum have stolen the hearts of many Asian men and women.
What represents Contemporary Korea? “Korean Wave,” “Kimchi” and “IT” are a few answers.
On behalf of the faculty, staff and students, Wishing you all the best
on the National Foundation Day of the Republic of Korea,
October 3, 2006
NI Domestic Cooperation for mutual benefit
KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) began its activities in the Lao PDR in 1991, and a total of 10 million dollars has been provided until 2005. In 2005 alone, 2.7 million dollars were granted. In 2006, the budget has increased to 4.6 million dollars. KOICA’s activities in Laos are expected to increase further next year, in areas such as infrastructure, rural development and education.
Other than the grant projects, Korea has also begun the first EDCF loan project for the construction of a new campus for the Souphanouvong University in Luang Pravang. The 23 million dollar loan for the ‘Luang Prabang National University Project’ is going smoothly, to be completed for new students in fall next year. Several Korean universities are also cooperating with Lao educational experts to compose textbooks and curriculums for the faculties in business administration, tourism, agriculture and education.
Korean investors have come to set up businesses in diverse areas, from restaurants and hotels to the manufacturing of textiles, shoes, automobiles, and machine parts. Even though large-scale investment is still in its initial stages, Laos with its abundant natural resources has potential that Korean companies cannot miss.
Very recently, the Korean company SK Engineering and Construction signed an MOU in consortium with Western Power Corporation and the Lao government to undertake a feasibility study for the Hydro-electric power plant in Xepian- Xenamnoy in southern Laos.
Bilateral trade is still at a trivial level, compared to Korea’s trade volume with other ASEAN member countries, but it is steadily increasing as demands for forestry and agricultural products from Korea grow. The recent conclusion of the ASEAN-Korea FTA and Asia Pacific Trade Agreement will provide a further boost to trade relations between Korea and Laos.
LaoŒKorean College
Where Your Better Future Begins
Korea’s High-tech Industry
<<Korea’s Top 5 Export Products>>
Korean Food : Kimchi
The most famous Korean dish is none other than kimchi. Ever since the beginning of agriculture, humans have enjoyed vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals. Even during the cold Korean winter, when cultivation was practically impossible, our ancestors found ways to preserve food and vegetables. Koreans developed kimchi around the 7th century. Kimchi’s basic ingredients are salted vegetables, garlic, ginger, green onions, raddishes, chilies, and fish sauce, which are mixed and fermented through lactic acid production at low temperatures. The number of varieties of kimchi has expanded as different ingredients and methods were developed according to different seasons and provinces, or differences in tastes and family traditions. Kimchi now comes in hundreds of different forms!!
The Korean Seasons
Korea has four distinct seasons with their own unique colors. In October, the trees wear their most beautiful colors of red, orange, green and purple, with the transparent azure blue in the sky above.
Visit Korea in this time of year for a natural spectacle.
HUBO and BoA
The Albert HUBO symbolises Korea’s scientific advancement.
Built by KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and first introduced at APEC Summit in 2005, Hubo can impersonate various facial expressions using independent movements of eyes and lips with 35 joints in its head. By using a remote network, it is also possible to access the Albert HUBO from an external computer. BoA, the popular singer and Korean idol leading the Korean Wave in Asia, poses in the picture above next to Albert.
Samsung Electronics announced on Septeber 11, 2006, that it developed a new super chip with enough capacity to store 36,000 high-resolution photographs or 40 movie files. The world’s first 32 gigabit NAND flash memory chip based on a 40- nanometer processing technology can be used in digital cameras and music players, among other applications.
Pantech Group, the number two mobile phone manufacturer in South Korea, announced on September 6, 2006 the launch of the IM-U140 handset, a satellite digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) handset that provides users with a genuinely unique mobile phone experience via its innovative display screen design. DMB leads Koreans into the next generation of broadcasting services.
Hyundae automobiles, made in India, wait to be loaded for export.
WiBro is a communication technology whereby high-speed wireless Internet is possible on the move up at transmission speeds of up to 50Mbps. KT and SK Telecom, Korea’s two main fixed-line and wireless operators, started signing up WiBro subscribers on June 30, 2006 in designated areas of Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
Top 5
Products Value, unit($, billion)
1 Semiconductor 29.98 2 Automobile 29.59 3 Mobile phone 27.49 4 Ship building 17.72 5 Petro-chemical products 15.36
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PAN MOTOR ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.(Manufacture Electric Transformer) PANCO COOLING CO., LTD.
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LAO SABAI TRAVEL CO., LTD.(Tour) ISSARA INTERNATIONAL LAO. LTD.
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