Top stars to promote G20 Seoul summit

The G20 preparation committee led by Chairman Sakong Il announced that figure skating champion Kim Yu-na, football superstar Park Ji-sung and actress Han Hyo-joo will be the official faces to work as goodwill ambassadors for the upcoming G20 Seoul Summit scheduled in November 2010.

The gold medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics(Kim Yu-na), the national football team captain(Park Ji-sung) who led South Korea to the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa and the protagonist(Han Hyo-joo) of popular drama "Dong Yi" (MBC) will promote Korea to the world as goodwill ambassadors and also help input the meaning of the summit to fellow Koreans. The summit is an international event where Korea will hopefully emerge as one of the leading countries in the world, they specifically choosed the two sports stars and the aspiring actress to promote the event.Kim Yu-na, who has become an international star after winning at the Winter Olympics, is enjoying her popularity in Korea as well. She has appeared in numerous commercials and television programs, and most recently announced her plans of competing at next year’s International Skating Union World Figure Skating Championships in Tokyo.Football star Park rose to stardom from the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup games and continued to wow fans with his skills as Korea’s first English Premier Leaguer with Manchester United. The national team’s captain was chosen as one of the best midfielders by FIFA.Actress Han made her debut in 2004 and appeared in many commercials before she had her big break with the drama "Brilliant Legacy" (SBS, 2009). She is currently starring in the historical drama "Dong Yi".

The Seoul summit is the fifth of its kind since it was initiated in November 2008 in Washington. The world’s 20 largest economies have joined together in a series of presidential and ministerial meetings to plan a fast recovery from the recent financial crisis.

Visit Nepal 2011 (Naturally Nepal Once Is Not Enough)

The most amazing and beautiful place of the world.

Saving the Earth with Electric Buses

Downsides of driving a car? Yes, there is the price of gas that never seems to skyrocket. But on a bigger scale, there are more fundamentally worrisome issues: Climate change and the drainage of natural resources, especially the fossil fuels. In respond to this environmental crisis, the international community has been taking actions. One of the measures widely initiated by the countries worldwide is reduction of carbon emissions. And naturally, the automobile industry is tightly linked with that. Ever heard of environment-friendly electric vehicles (EV)?Among the possible future environment-friendly vehicles, electric vehicles are taking the central stage. Many countries in the forefront of the automobile industry, including the U.S. and Japan, not to mention European countries, have declared their resolutions to manufacture 1 million electric vehicles. Since electric vehicles run on electric batteries and motors instead of the traditional fossil fuels, they are drawing particular attention and interest nowadays that the regulations on exhaust emissions are becoming increasingly strict. And Korea is not an exception in this “green growth” trend. Beginning this November, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will begin the operation of 15 environment-friendly electric buses which emit absolutely no air pollution. At the moment the buses are having pilot runs since last June 21 in the Namsan circular route.

Electric buses run purely on electricity. Since they have no gas exhaust outlet, they do not emit fine dust particles, smoke, or other air pollution agents, nor do they discharge greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide like diesel buses. They don’t even emit heat and gaseous particles that are emitted by CNG (compressed natural gas) buses. So no doubt they are considered as an environment-friendly means of public transportation for the future. And they are expected to create more pleasant road and living environment conditions.

How are their functions?

The new electric buses boast the world’s best recharging capabilities, taking only 20 minutes to recharge. The high capacity batteries enable the buses to run for 120 km after recharging once and reach a maximum speed of 100km/h. The main components of the electric buses such as the battery, motor, inverter etc. were all developed using Korean technology.

The 15 buses will begin operating in the Namsan circular route – one of the more challenging routes in downtown Seoul and an area frequented by tourists. The new buses will be yet another attraction in one of Seoul’s main hot spots, Namsan. The exterior of the buses were designed to blend with Namsan’s scenic natural environment. Also, different designs such as Haechi, Seoul’s official color, and the Seoul logo, give the buses a “Seoul identity.” The Seoul Metropolitan Government will start expanding the operation of these buses starting next year so that 3,800 buses – or the equivalent of half of Seoul’s bus fleet – will be electric buses by 2020. The remaining buses will be replaced by hybrid buses, thus completing the green revolution of Seoul’s public transportation system.If Seoul meets its goal by 2020, even when considering greenhouse gases emitted by the power plant producing electricity, more than 40 tons of greenhouse gases can be reduced per bus in a year, adding up to 140,000 tons every year by 2020. Also, 800 tons of nitrogen oxide and 350 tons of hydrocarbons emitted every year in the city will no longer be emitted.

By 2020, half of Seoul’s buses will be replaced by environment-friendly electric vehicles. And Seoul plans to build an electric car recharging infrastructure that is unparalleled by other cities to ensure the effective supply of electric vehicles.

All about Makgeolli

The milky, off-white color….the deep, slightly bitter, mouth-watering taste…and the sweet finishing flavor….Guess what it is?Yes, indeed, we are talking about “makgeolli” here, one of Korea’s representative traditional alcoholic beverages. In line with the recent makgeolli boom, the first web site devoted solely to makgeolli (http://www.jurojuro.com/) has been launched by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Korea Rice Foodstuffs Association. “Juro” here refers to the journey of finding makgeolli and other tasty food along the road. It can also mean the longish table for placing liquor glasses, and by extension, the talk, laughter, and mingling among people taking place over a bowl of makgeolli.

According to the Ministry of Food, this year’s makgeolli market is estimated to be around USD 550 million worth of scale. And 60% of the market nation-wide is dominated by a handful of major makgeolli manufactures, while for the capital region, as much as 70% is taken up by them. The fact is that smaller, lesser-known, local makgeolli companies are losing ground in the competition with the giant companies. In case of Gyeonggi-do area, for instance, all 40 companies but for mere two or three are facing a drop in sales ever since the makgeolli boom. So the Ministry of Food decided to open the above-mentioned web site to introduce and promote small and medium-sized makgeolli manufacturers that each have their own distinct color and flavor. The web site’s two main themes are makgeolli and makgeolli side-dishes. There is a “Navigation” section where you can search for various types of makgeolli either according to its region or characteristics, as well as view customer reviews and experts analyses. There is also the “Liquor Talk” section where the visitors of the web site engage in free chats. But I’d say the highlight of the site is the “makgeolli side-dishes” page, which introduces places that have the best dishes to go with makgeolli. Just by looking at the pictures of all kinds of “anjoo (dishes served with liquor),” your mouth will start watering!

There are around 700 makgeolli manufacturers throughout Korea, and as in the case of wine, each region boasts its own distinct flavor. On the web site, you can search for specific kinds of makgeolli that you want – whether it’s live makgeolli or sterilized makgeolli, or whether it’s made with Korean rice, exported rice, or flour etc. So you can pick and choose a makgeolli that just suits your taste.

Drinking makgeolli the right way?

Makgeolli tastes best when you stir it. Some people wait a while after pouring the liquor and just sip at the clear upper layer, saying it tastes crisp and clean that way, but then you’re missing out on the very gist of makgeolli. All the healthy parts – the yeast, lactic-acid bacteria, vitamin, fiber etc – are found in the sediment part that sinks to the bottom of your makgeolli bowl. So don’t forget to stir it!

The whiter makgeolli, the better?

Nope, that’s not true. The difference in color comes from different varieties of yeast. The Japanese-style rice yeast is closer to white in color, while wheat yeast, which is made in a typical Korean style, is somewhat yellowish in color. Rice yeast gives out a clear, simple taste and wheat yeast a richer and heavier taste. The choice is up to you.Another tip: Sterilized makgeolli was made to enjoy the scent so it is best to keep it at around 5–10 degrees Celsius. In contrast, draught (live) makgeolli is made to savor the refreshing feeling of a carbonated drink, and so needs to be kept around 0–5 degrees Celsius. Side dishes that go especially well with makgeolli? Among hundreds, I’d go for “jeon (Korean pancakes)” and “jokbal (pig’s feet)”!

The recent makgeolli boom is also in keeping with the Korean government’s efforts to globalize hansik (Korean cuisine) as well as to increase rice consumption.And I hope the newly launched web site “www.jurojuro.com” plays its part as a tool to spread makgeolli culture to people both at home and abroad!

Experience Oriental Medicine at Changdeokgung Palace

What must it feel like, receiving medical services from the Naeuiwon (court hospital), one of the three royal hospitals of the Joseon Dynasty? Well, feel it for yourself!The Changdeokgung Office of the Cultural Heritage Administration, in cooperation with the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, is offering various hands-on Oriental medicine programs at the Naeuiwon in Changdeokgung Palace.Naeuiwon, along with Jeonuigam and Hyeminseo, was the place where medical practitioners mixed medicine and provided medical services for the king and the rest of the royal family. The number of staff was around fifteen and the renowned court physician Heo Jun is said to have worked in Naeuiwon for 44 years.

The hands-on programs at Changdeokgung Palace are designed to help visitors learn more about the traditional medical practices of Korea that have long been revered for their effectiveness. Doctors affiliated with the “Association of Korean Oriental Medicine” offer visitors a variety of health services, even dressed in traditional medical attire.

Services and treatments offered include pulse examinations for health diagnosis (“jinmaek”), acupuncture (“chim”), and moxibustion (“tteum”). In order to ensure high-quality examination throughout the day, the number of patients seen each day will be limited to 40 on a first-come, first-served basis.

The program is equipped with several language volunteers who facilitate communication. You will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire on your physical conditions and have a counseling session prior to the examination.

Nicolas from Columbia commented, “It was a mysterious experience. It was like magic.” Lesanne from France who visited Korea to see her daughter said that after getting a “chim” treatment, it felt like the pain in her joints she had been experiencing after childbirth significantly improved.

Hands-on programs include the traditional wrapping/packaging of medicine (visitors can take it home with them as a souvenir), traditional medicine grinding, copying medical diagrams out of the Donguibogam (Korean medical book). Also, after participating in one of the programs or receiving treatment, visitors can relax on the wooden floor with a cup of traditional Korean medical tea. The programs are scheduled to run from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm every Thursday from May 20 to June 24, 2010 and from September 2 to October 28, 2010. Take this opportunity to experience the wonders of Korean medicine!

In Search of Korean Food, Food, Food!

What are the joys of travelling? Okay, there is beautiful scenery, meeting strangers in unfamiliar places, the relaxing train rides…but I’d say “food” definitely tops the list. When it comes to travelling around Korea, be sure to remember that each and every region of Korea boasts its own characteristic, specialty food.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) began its “Korea Gusuk Gusuk 2010 (Nook and Cranny of Korea 2010)” campaign. It’s a sequel to the 2006/2007’s “Where Is It Here?” campaign, and 2008’s “That Spot in That Movie & Drama,” and 2009’s “Live Learning for Children.”

The campaign features : “Boiled rice wrapped with lotus leaves” of Gyeonggi-do Gimpo region“Clam stew” of Jeollabuk-do Buan region“Boiled bamboo shoots” of Jeollanam-do Damyang region“Olchaengi guksu (noodles made from dried corn flour)” of Gangwon-do Jeongseon region“Heotjesabab (a type of bibimbap) of Gyeongsangbuk-do Andong region….among other numerous regional dishes of Korea. These advertisement videos will be aired seasonally in the S/S and F/W categories.

Visit KTO’s web café (http://cafe.naver.com/9suk9suk) to view unabridged versions of the videos and also to learn about promotional events!

Place Of Fantasy Or Mystery ..."Jeju (Cheju) Island"

Cheju island (Chejudo) known as a place of fantasy or mystery is the largest island in Korea and is located in the southwest sea of the Korean peninsula and is highlighted for its uniqueness. It is also known as the "Island of the Gods," which is popular vacation spot for Koreans and many Japanese.It remains one of the top honeymoon destinations for Korean newlyweds.

The size of Cheju is 73km from east to west, 41Km from north to south in the shape of an oval. The island has an area of 1,845km2 with a circuit road of 182km along the seashores. It has a convenient traffic situation thanks to the several transversal roads and many other small and large roads and its population is about 530,000. In the center of this island, there is Halla mountain (Halla-san) which was a volcano once rising 1,950m above the sea level.The island's mixture of volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, make it very similar to the Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. The island offers visitors a wide range of activities: hiking on Halla-san (South Korea's highest peak), catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, viewing majestic waterfalls, riding horses, or just lying around on the sandy beaches.

Besides tourism, Cheju's main industries are fishing and agriculture. Fresh fish, squid, octopus, sea cucumber, and various other creatures can be easily bought in markets, restaurants, and even right on the beach. Cheju's tropical weather and high preciptation are perfect for growing pineapples and tangerines. The island is also famouse for its Shitake mushrooms and cactus plants. Honey made from local flowers has a special taste.

To reach Jeju by plane there is several flights daily via Korean Air and Asiana from Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Jinju, Kunsan, Gwangju, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Ulsan, Yecheon, and Yeosu. As well we can reach there by boat from Busan, Yeosu, Mokp'o, Wando, Noktong, and Incheon.

A Best View, Sweet Relaxtion, Happy & Joy "N SEOUL TOWER"

Seoul Tower is a communication and observation tower located in Namsan Mountain at Seoul, a city of 10 million people. Which was built in 1969, and opened to the public in 1980 embracing the city giving memories and stories to people. Viewable from almost anywhere in Seoul, it serves as an excellent landmark. Built on a 262 meter peak in Namsan Park, the tower reaches to 480 meters above sea level. After the tower's original owner merged with the CJ Corporation, it was renamed the N Seoul Tower (official name CJ Seoul Tower).

Many people enjoy climbing up here for early morning exercise or for a romantic stroll after dark. As well people ride the Namsan cable car up the mountain.There is also revolving restaurant, rotates at a rate of one revolution in every 48 minutes. Seoul Tower also contains several other attractions for tourists. Several exhibit halls display pictures of old Seoul, local birds, and towers from other countries too. The interesting thing is that there is the fence filled with couple and friendship locks. There were thousands of cute locks covered in heartwarming messages written on them. It was a very interesting and fascinating view. After writing secret messages, every people throw out the keys which is supposed to signify everlasting friendship that will always be together just like the locks.
Seoul Tower is truly astonishing and beautiful at night. With the different colors of light flashing and music playing in the background, the scenery still remains clear and vivid.

To reach there we can use Circulating bus (Yellow Namsan circulating bus number 02)

1) Subway stations near the bus stop - Chungmuro Station (line 3 and 4) exit 1 (in front of Daehan Cinema), Dongguk Univ. Station (line 3) exit 6

2) Operating hours and intervals : every 5~8 minutes, 08:00 ~24:00

3) Fare : cash 550 won, transportation card 500 won (discounted for transfer)