The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Korea Post news

Invitaion to Medical Award Presrntation & Dinner

This is a rather very short notice but as I considered that it pays to know a good doctor, better still, the president of a good hospital, I am forwarding this inviataion to Your Excellency any way just in case Your Excellency does not have a priory appointment and would wish to attend the above Ceremony. This is only for the Excellencies and no Spouses.

The leading Korean-language business daily, Hankuk Kyungju, and its sister TV, WAU TV, host a reception following the presentation ceremony of Awards to presidents of prestigious hospitals and pharmaceutical companies in Korea.

It would provide Your Excellency with a rare occasion to meet with the leading hospital presidents in person. The details are as follows:

Venue: Grand Ballroom 103, COEX Conventional Center, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Time/Date: 6:20 p.m. Friday December 13, 2013

Schedule of Event:-
6:20-6:30 p.m.: Coffee/tea for VIP guests
6:30-7:35 p.m.: Congratulatory remarks, presentation ceremony of awards to the presidents of the hospitals and pharmaceutical companies
7:35-8:35 p.m.: Dinner amidst music.
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'One of Seven Wonders of Winter' for a 22-day run

Hwacheon Mountain Trout Ice Festival opens Jan. 4

Named one of the 'even Wonders of Winter' by CNN and Lonely Planet, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival is probably the most famous winter event in Korea. During the month of January every year, more than 1,000,000 people swarm Hwacheon in Gangwon province hoping to catch mountain trout bare-hand or ice fishing.

Mayor Chung Gap-cheol invites the Ambassadors and families to attend of Festival on Thursday January 17, 2014 and The Korea Post is transmitting the Invitation of Mayor Chung to the Excellencies with a detailed schedule of the Festival. (Further details and photos are toward the end of this Headlines.)

▲Who said Hwacheon offers only ice-fishing? You can land mountain trouts also from the water standing on the river bank (top left). Koreans, expats, young and old, all enjoy various events of the Festival.
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At the KUK Cultural Foundation Building behind Ritz Carlton Hotel

KUP hosts Year-end Concert with famed World Vision

Children’s Choir of Korea

The Korea United Pharmaceutical Co. (KUP), hosts a Gala Year-end Dinner and Concert at the Cultural Foundation Building of the Company in Seoul (located behind the Ritz Carlton Hotel) on Dec. 26, 2013. It is presented by the famed World Vision of Korea Children’s Choir. Chairman Kang Duk-yung of the KUP invites the ambassadors and madams to the prestigious concert.
(See invitation and full details of the Concert at the end of this Article.)

 ▲Famed Sunmyung-hoe World Vision Children’s Choi of Korea presenting a performance overseas. They are presenting a year-end pre-Sentation at the Korea United Pharma Cultural Center in Gangnam behind the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Thursday 26 Dec. 2013 where

Ambassadors and Madams are invited. (Individual invitation to the Excellencies have already been faxed and email, but in case of our Transmission failures, please call 2298-1740/2 for re-transmission of the Invitation.)
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Dr. Sang-Ki Hahn's African wise-sayings:

While elephants fight, only grasses suffer.
- A African proverb(This is something like a Korean proverb: When the whales fight with each other, it is the shrimps that get their backs destroyed.)

When lions have gone, hyenas dance.
-A Kenyan proverb
(This, too, is similar to a Korean wise-saying: When tigers are gone, the hares are the king.)
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Humor from Korean-language economic dailies this morning:

Seoul Kyungje

There was this bonehead in a row boat in the middle of the desert rowing this boat.
In the middle of this desert there was a road. A man was driving down the road and saw the bonehead; he stopped his car got out and yelled, "You're the shame to all of our species!! If I could swim, I'd go out there and kick your ass!!!"

Hankuk Kyungje
Grandma's Breasts
She was a 90-year-old woman who was very despondent over the recent death of her husband.
The old widow decided that she would just kill herself and join him in death. Thinking that it would be best to get it over with quickly, she took out her husband’s old army pistol and made the decision to shoot herself in the heart.
Not wanting to miss this vital organ and become a vegetable, she called her doctor to inquire as to exactly where the heart would be.
“On a woman,” the doctor said, “your heart would be just below your left breast.”
Later that night, she was admitted to the hospital with a bullet wound to her left knee.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Pres. Park Responds to Opp. Lawmakers' Critical Remarks
President Park Geun-hye has responded to opposition lawmakers’ remarks calling for her to step down and alluding to the potential she could be assassinated. 

S. Korea to Build 3 More Aegis Destroyers
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has approved a plan to build three more Aegis destroyers to complement the three it already has.

No Signs Jang Song-thaek Physically Hurt: S. Korean Gov't
The government says it has not detected any signs Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek, has been physically hurt since being purged from power.

Ruling Party Aims to Disqualify Lawmakers for Remarks Against Pres.
The ruling Saenuri Party has filed a motion to disqualify two opposition lawmakers for demanding the president step down and alluding to the potential she could be assassinated.

S. Korea's Trade Surplus Tops $80Bln in ICT
South Korea's trade surplus in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector has hit a high of 81-point-nine billion U.S. dollars this year.

Korean Shares Fall amid Concerns of US Stiumlus Drawdown
Korean shares have closed lower amid concerns of the U.S. pulling back its stimulus measures.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
S. Korea's jobless rate drops in Nov. with job creation picking up
South Korea's jobless rate slightly dropped in November from a month earlier as job creation picked up speed, raising hopes that labor market conditions are improving, a government report showed Wednesday.

Korea's import prices fall for 15th month in Nov.
South Korea's import prices declined for the 15th straight month in November as oil prices fell and the local currency gained against the U.S. dollar, the central bank said Wednesday.

Hearing on Asiana crash rescheduled due to snowstorm
An investigative hearing on the cause of an Asiana Airlines passenger jet crash in late July has been rescheduled to open on Wednesday, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

S. Korea, U.S. hold talks on alliance issues
A senior South Korean defense official will visit here this week to discuss pending alliance issues, a diplomatic source said Tuesday.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

World leaders, South Africans honor Mandela
JOHANNESBURG ? World leaders and joyous, singing South Africans honored Nelson Mandela on Tuesday at a Soweto soccer st...

News ListN.K. strengthening reign of terror
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to strengthen his reign of terror for the time bein...

Interparty standoff mars National Assembly to last day of session
The fallout from opposition lawmakers’ attacks on President Park Geun-hye has continued to eng...

What our dreams say about us
Filmmaker Zhang Lu’s dreams often have scenery of Beijing and Seoul all mixed together, making...

Weapons watchdog receives Nobel Peace Prize

One found dead after rescue attempt near Jeju

26 percent of divorces involve elderly couples

Ministry approves eight new history textbooks

Ministry unveils steps to improve fine dust forecast

Assembly OKs property tax cut bill

Seoul okays plan for three more Aegis destroyers
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
North Korea may revert to brinkmanship
The public removal of his powerful uncle, Jang Song-thaek, won’t be the last purge by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, experts said Tuesday.

Rape occurs due to lenient punishment
Rape occurs due to the lenient punishment for the convicted rapists, survey showed Tuesday.

President chides 2 lawmakers  
President Park Geun-hye scolded two defiant opposition lawmakers at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. 

Contender calls Shinhan chief selection 'biased' 
Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Han Dong-woo is facing an unexpected challenge to his reappointme... 

Navy to get 3 more Aegis destroyers  
South Korea decided Tuesday to build three more Aegis destroyers. 

11 more reactors to be built as planned 
Seoul will gradually increase its dependence on nuclear power to 29 percent by 2035 for environmen... 

Assembly passes bills for property tax cuts  
The National Assembly approved bills to cut the tax burden for apartment buyers at its last plenar... 

Dust forecasts to be available everyday  
Starting Monday, Seoulites will be able to check the atmospheric concentration level of fine parti... 

'Gentleman' tops K-pop YouTube chart 
Korean rapper/singer Psy kept a relatively lower profile this year, but his “Gentleman” still rank... 

Same-sex couple seeks to gain legal status  
A same-sex couple is seeking to gain legal status for the first time here, asking the government n... 

Starbucks' expansion to be curbed 
Global food franchise brands, including Starbucks and McDonald’s, are expected to change their agg...
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Dong A (http://english.donga.com)

A young Kiwi Lydia Ko challenges No. 1 Park In-bee
Park In-bee, a Korean golf star, 25, closely saw Lydia Ko of New Zealand, 16, emerge to the top only in two tournaments since her professional debut. Park competed against Ko and Ryu So-yeon, 23, in the final third...

Lydia Ko, Park In-bee at Taiwan`s Swinging Skirts
Lydia Ko competes against Park In-bee (right) in the final round of Taiwan’s Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters on Sunday. Park complimented Ko, saying, “She showed composure and maturity beyond her age.” Ko said,...
Japanese professor rallies against anti-Korea protests
“I am opposed to Japanese conservative organizations’ anti-Korea demonstrations.” This happened in front of the monument marking the 40th anniversary of King Gojong from the Joseon Dynasty at a site near Kyobo...

More divorce among the elderly leads to more remarriage
While Korea’s overall divorce rate decreases every year, the divorce rate for elderly or middle-aged Koreans is increasing. In line with this, the remarriage rate for people aged over 50 is dramatically increasing. ...

Pres. Park: N. Korean reign of terror adds anxiety in inter-Korean ties
“North Korea is currently staging reign of terror by boldly conducting massive purging of officials to reinforce Kim Jong Un’s power,” President Park Geun-hye said on Tuesday, as she expressed concern over the...

China chases Korea in semiconductor and display
The Korea International Trade Association forecast that Korea’s exports of semiconductors will increase year on year by 6.8% to 60.75 billion dollars (about 63.7 trillion won) and its exports of displays by 5.2% to 36... -------------------------------------------
Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
China Says Jang Song-taek's Ouster an 'Internal Affair'
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday said the ouster and arrest of Jang Song-taek is "an internal affair." Beijing "hopes that the North will achieve national stability, economic development and happiness for its people," Hong Lei told reporters.

Jang Song-taek Crony 'Defects to China'
A senior North Korean official who oversaw eminence grise Jang Song-taek’s and leader Kim Jong-un's private coffers is believed to have fled to China. The official is rumored to have fled North Korea in September or October for reasons that remain unclear. It is unknown whether he sought asylum in China or is heading elsewhere.

N.Korea 'Forced American to Read Confession'
Merrill Newman, who was freed after 42 days' detention in North Korea on Saturday, says he was forced to read an apology that had been written for him. Asked by the Santa Cruz Sentinel on Sunday about the video clip that showed him reading the apology, he said, "Obviously, that's not my English."

Uruguay Set to Legalize Marijuana Trade
Uruguay's Senate is expected to pass a law on Tuesday making the South American country the world's first to legalize the production and sale of marijuana under state control.

Miley Cyrus Named MTV's Best Artist of 2013
Miley Cyrus, the pop star who caused a sensation with her raunchy performance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, was named best artist of 2013 by the cable TV network on Tuesday.

Weapons Watchdog Receives Nobel Peace Prize
The head of a watchdog group that is trying to rid the world of chemical weapons has accepted the Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in the Norwegian capital.

U.S. Ends Its Ownership Stake in General Motors
The United States has ended its ownership stake in General Motors, five years after bailing out the world's second-biggest automaker to keep it from collapsing.

World Leaders Pay Tribute to Mandela
Tens of thousands of South Africans gathered Tuesday to bid farewell to anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, a man loved around the globe for his long,
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Hankyoreh (http://english.hani.co.kr)
North Korea officially confirms purge of Jang Song-thaek
The reasons behind Jang Song-thaek’s ouster
Kim Jong-un’s uncle may have been ousted to further consolidate Kim’s power base
North Korea confirmed the ouster of Workers’ Party of Korea administrative department head Jang Song-thaek at an expanded meeting of the Political Bureau of the party’s central committee on Dec. 8.
“A written decision was adopted that relieved Mr. Jang of all duties and titles and expelled him from the party,” the announcement said.

With concerns over conflict, new ADIZ to take effect Dec. 15
The new South Korean air defense identification zone (KADIZ) - which has been expanded to include Ieo Island, which is administered by South Korea, and the Korean territories of Hong Island and Mara Island - will take effect on Dec. 15. While experts concede that Seoul’s decision to expand its ADIZ was a natural decision for a sovereign state, they have expressed concerns over possible conflict in the airspace above Ieo Island, where the ADIZs of South Korea, China, and Japan overlap.

Opposition politician says Pres. Park could be assassinated
Following Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Ha-na’s statement that she did not accept the results of last December’s presidential election, DP lawmaker and supreme council member Yang Seung-jo attacked President Park Geun-hye on Dec. 9, mentioning the assassination of her father and former president Park Chung-hee. In response, the Blue House and the Saenuri Party (NFP) launched a full-scale counterattack on the opposition party.

Obamacare Beyond the Website
By Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research　

The reasons behind Jang Song-thaek’s ouster
Kim Jong-un’s uncle may have been ousted to further consolidate Kim’s power base
North Korea confirmed the ouster of Workers’ Party of Korea administrative department head Jang Song-thaek at an expanded meeting of the Political Bureau of the party’s central committee on Dec. 8.

Paradox of human rights

Tragedy in Miryang
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Joong Ang (conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)
Korail dismisses workers for striking
Freight is hardest hit
In an escalating standoff between the state-run railway operator and its union, the Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) announced late Monday that it will dismiss a total of 4,356 union workers involved in the strike…

Old soldiers are purged in North
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to be weeding out his father’s generation of loyalists, a South Korean intelligence official said…

Assembly breaks through its logjam
The logjam at the National Assembly finally gave way yesterday on the final day of the 100-day regular session…

Real estate market may awake after taxes slashed
The air was heavy with pollution blown in from China. A realtor walked a client to her car parked near Garden Five in Songpa, southeastern Seoul, on Thursday…

Military costs talks in final round
Korea and the United States entered another round of talks yesterday over who will pay how much of the cost of keeping U.S. troops here…

Georgia, Korea try to forge closer relations
David Jalagania, Georgia’s deputy foreign minister, visited Korea on Monday for political consultations with his Korean counterpart Ha Tae-yeok…

History textbooks get final approval
The controversy surrounding ideological biases in eight history textbooks ended yesterday, with the Ministry of Education giving final approvals to the books revised…

Newman releases details of detention in the North
An 85-year-old 1950-53 Korean War veteran who was held captive in North Korea for more than a month for alleged “hostile acts” against the reclusive state said…

Plan to build three more Aegis destroyers is OKed
Korea’s military approved a plan yesterday to double the number of its Aegis destroyers from three to six in order to bolster Korea’s Navy…

Won hits second straight high for 2013
For the second straight day, the Korean won set a high for the year against the U.S. greenback, despite a warning from the government…

IT research report offers assessment for next year
KT economic research institute Digieco yesterday forecast that the Internet of Things (IoT) market will grow faster next year, along with high growth of affordable…

As economy sinks, divorces go up
Is there any relation between economic crises and divorce rates? A report by Statistics Korea yesterday found divorces started declining in 2004 after the country…

KCA analysis faults doctors for 70% of disputes
Seven of 10 surgery-related medical disputes are caused by doctors’ mistakes, according to the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) yesterday…
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Edaily (http://eng.edaily.co.kr/Stock/)
[US the closing price]The U.S. Dow Jones Index, -52.40p(-0.33%) slightly down.
The U.S. Dow Jones Index Closing (At 2013.12.10) The Dow closed at 15,973.13p, slightly down -52.40p(-0.3...

[Table]Exchange Rate Quotation
This is Exchange rate Quotation offered by Korea Exchange Bank. [table] Exchange Rate Quotation Offered by KEB ...
[Table]Exchange Rate Currency Crossrate
2013.12.11 08:10(Korean time), this is Currency Crossrate of major 12 countries. [table] FX Cross Currency ...

[Closed] Domestic rate of return of final bid closed. 3-year government bond up 1bp.
This is the rate of return of final bid. Quoted by Korea Financial Investment Association, domestic rate of return of final bid of 3-year government bond recorded at 2.99%, up ( 1bp) from yesterday. ...
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Maeil Kyungje (neutral-oriented conservative, economic/business): (http://news.mk.co.kr/english/)
S. Korea dragged into “4 lows”
The South Korean economy is seeing a slew of warning signs that were also observed during the ‘Japan’s lost two decades,’ warned Lee Bu-hyung, a senior researcher at the Hyundai Research Institute. In addition, Korea has been mired in “four lows” - low growth, low inflation, low birth rate and low employment, he said. The Korean economy has been on course to be similar to that of Japan in terms of diverse aspects including weaker growth potential...

Gov’t to loosen broadcasting regulations 
The South Korean government announced a ‘comprehensive initiative for the development of the broadcasting industry in the creative economy era’ that is designed to ease broadcasting regulations so as to offer a wider pool of channels for the public and encourage competition in the broadcasting industry.

Samsung Galaxy S3 hits 10 million sales mark
Samsung is showing its rapid speed in market penetration by selling more than 10 million Galaxy Note 3 in the global market. The device is referred to as phablet, which is a cross between a smartphone and a tablet computer.

S. Korea to be committed to eradicating ‘abnormality’
The South Korean government will launch an initiative to tackle wrongful systems and practices that have settled in the country.

NIS reform committee’s meeting indefinitely postponed on ruling party’s request
The National Assembly’s special committee meeting for reforming National Intelligence Service (NIS), which was originally scheduled Tuesday, has been canceled for two consecutive days.

Gov’t forecasts next year’s consumer price inflation at low to mid 2% range
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance projects South Korea’s consumer prices would grow in the low to mid-two percent next year.

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'One of Seven Wonders of Winter' for a 22-day run

Hwacheon Mountain Trout Ice Festival opens Jan. 4

Named one of the 'even Wonders of Winter' by CNN and Lonely Planet, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival is probably the most famous winter event in Korea. During the month of January every year, more than 1,000,000 people swarm Hwacheon in Gangwon province hoping to catch mountain trout bare-hand or ice fishing.(Mayor Chung Gap-cheol invites the ambassadors and families to attend the Festival on Friday 17, 2014.)

▲1.4 million persons reportedly visited Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival last year having their fill of the joys of the winter--ice-fishing mountain trouts and treating their eyes to the colorful lanterns of the angels at the Seondeung Candle Light Festival that takes place in the night.

▲Who said Hwacheon offers only ice-fishing? You can land mountain trouts also from the water standing on the river bank (top left). Koreans, expats, young and old, all enjoy various events of the Festival.

▲Left: Visitors pass through the colorfully lit ice tunnel. Right: You can also enjoy a 'sky ride' down the river.

Nestled between the town of Hwacheon and the mountains, the Hwacheon River is not only covered by a thick layer of ice, but also by thousands of festival participants.

The Hwacheon Mountain Trout Ice Festival will be taking place in Hwacheon County in Gangwon-do province on Jan. 4-26, 2014. This virtually untouched region is known as the first area in Korea that freezes over in winter, and the river is covered with a thick layer of ice.

Visitors can try out ice fishing, and those who are feeling brave can try to catch mountain trout with their bare hands. Along with fun activities and performances, there is also an exhibition of ice sculptures that usually take 20 weeks to prepare. Visitors can sample raw and grilled mountain trout, both of which are delicious.

A foreign visitor said: “Unlike some Korean festivals I have been to, there is a lot to do at this festival. You can ride an ATV or go kart on the ice, go sledding, ice skating, push a metal cart on the ice, or do some regular reel fishing.”

The events that are most popular are ice fishing and bare-handed fishing. For the ice fishing, you are provided with a hole in the ice and a bag for putting your catch for 10,000 won of which you get 10,000-won Love Gift, money you can spend around the festival grounds on food and souvenirs. “If you aren’t Korean, make sure to head to the foreigner only section. It is not only less crowded, but there is English-speaking help and you are given a free fishing pole,” said the foreign visitor.

When you get on the ice, pick a hole, let out enough line to get your lure to the bottom of the river. Then, quickly flick your wrist upwards and let it float back to the bottom. Some persistence is required, he stressed.

Hwacheon is considered a “clean region” where mountain trouts and otters live. Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is opened in every January under the slogan of “Unfrozen Hearts, Unforgettable Memories” at Hwacheon that has geographical features of the fastest ice freezing in the country because of cold valley wind and clean water.

This is a unique theme experience festival full with good shows and 40 or about various experience programs, such as ice sledding, snow sledding, snow sculpture and ice soccer, Sancheoneo experience programs combined with the image of Hwacheon that has clean natural environment with the first grade clean water in Bukhangang (river) for catching Sancheoneo by hand, Sancheoneo fishing on the ice to catch the fish easily and enjoy the fishing by everybody, breaking the ice with 40cm thickness and above and looking at Sancheoneo in the deep water for your exciting play available for experiencing at Hwacheon only and heart-warm memory in winter.

Winter Sancheoneo! Sancheoneo Fishing! To mention about ice fishing, you need to catch at least one Sancheoneo. It is an elegant fish underneath ice out of comparison to the other fishes due to moderate size and beautiful shape.

Sancheoneo is hard to catch as it is rare but everyone can catch one or two Sancheoneo at Hwacheon with somewhat good luck and knack since 32 or 3 tons of fresh Sancheoneo are being put just under the fishing place every day for visitors for Sancheoneo festival. It is just the reason why a child or young girl without fishing experience is indulged in Sancheoneo ice fishing. K
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At the KUK Cultural Foundation Building behind Ritz Carlton Hotel

KUP hosts Year-end Concert with famed

World Vision Children’s Choir of Korea

The Korea United Pharmaceutical Co. (KUP), hosts a Gala Year-end Dinner and Concert at the Cultural Foundation Building of the Company in Seoul (located behind the Ritz Carlton Hotel) on Dec. 26, 2013. It is presented by the famed World Vision of Korea Children’s Choir. Chairman Kang Duk-yung of the KUP invites the ambassadors and madams to the prestigious concert.

The repertoire consists of three parts, which include:

Part I:
Han-River Taryung (arr. Lee, Hyun Chul)
This is an arrangement of Korean folk song 'Han River Taryung' and winner of '2013 Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival' in Folk song category. Using Korean traditional musical techniques and colors, it demonstrates the beauty and prosperity of Han river. Also fan dance emphasizes its beauty.

About the World Vision Korea Children’s Choir
Throughout its 53-year history, various professional musicians in Korea and around the world compliment the Children’s Choir, praising the Choir as “Echoes of the Heaven.” The Choir’s achievement and quality have been proven by thousands of successful worldwide concerts.

About the Artistic Director Kim Hee-Churl
Hee Churl Kim studied choral conducting under worldly renowned conductor Hak Won Yoon in Chung-Ang University. In Georgia State University, he studied with Dr. John Heberlen, who was the president of ACDA. In 1993, Mr. Kim conducted Vancouver Chamber Choir in Eric Ericson Master Class as a representative of Asia in World Choral Symposium held in Canada. From 1995 to 1997, he joined Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus to sing with Robert Show, who was one of the best choral conductors in the world. He conducted Atlanta Korean Children's Choir and Atlanta Master Chorale, and he served as a president of Atlanta Korean Musician Association. From 1994 to 1997, while he was a visiting professor of Georgia Theological Seminary, he had served as a coordinator in 'Music and Worship Conference’ held by PCUSA. After returning to Korea in 1997, he had conducted many choirs, such as, World Vision Korea Children's Choir, Gwang-Myung City Women's Chorale, and Sung-Nam City Teacher's Choir. He also taught in Chung-Ang University. He also served as a board member of the Korean Church Music Association. Currently, he is the conductor of Gwacheon City Women's Choir, which is the only professional women's choir in Korea, had concert tours in Manila, Philippine by invitation of Philippine Madrigal Singers in 2004. Also, the choir was invited from Vancouver to celebrate the Winter Olympic Games in 2009. In 2004, he became an Artistic Director and Administrative Director of World Vision Korea Children's Choir. In 2009, he made a film called 'You and You' with World Vision Korea Children's Choir under director Je Hyun Park, who is one of the famous movie directors in Korea. As an artistic director, he has been hosting International Children's Choir Festival every three years by inviting the most prestige choirs from all around the world to help poor and devastated children in the world. As an opening concert of 2007 ICCF, he conducted a contemporary piece 'Gana and Dara' composed by In Sun Cho, worldly renown contemporary composer who served as a professor in Chung-Ang University. Mr. Kim made several CDs and DVDs, such as, 'Blessings', Songs of Love', 'Winter Sonata', and etc.

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November 27, 2013

Invitation to Gala Year-end Dinner and Concert

I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that Chairman Dr. and Mrs. Kang Duk-young of Korea United Pharmaceutical Co. cordially invite Your Excellency and Madam, together with other Ambassadors and Madams, to a Gala Year-end Dinner and Concert presented by the famed World Vision Children’s Choir of Korea at the Culture Foundation Building of the United Pharma in Seoul at 6:30 p.m. Thursday December 26, 2013. The repertoire includes a Christmas Carol by the famed World Vision Sunmyung-hoe Children’s Choir. The details are as follows:

Venue: Concert Hall of the Culture Foundation of the United Pharma Co., 616-12 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 3 blocks southward from the Grand Hannam Bridge (behind Ritz Carlton Hotel).

Time/Date: 6:30 p.m. Thursday December 26, 2013

Schedule of Event:-

6:30-7:30 p.m.: Dinner hosted by Chairman and Mrs. Kang at the Banquet Hall.
7:30-7:40 p.m.: View exhibits at the Art Gallery and Handicraft Exhibition Hall
7:40-9:00 p.m.: Grand Year-end Concert

Repertoire:-
Part I: ‘Han River Taryung,’ winner of 2013 Andre O. Veneration International Choral Festival (arr. Lee Hyun-Chul); ‘Surround Arirang’ (arr. Lee Sun-Taek); ‘Gagopa--Yearning for Home’ (arr. Lee Hyun-Chul).
Part II: ‘Gloriva’ (A. Vivaldi); ‘audate Dominum’ (W.A. Mozart); As dew in Aprile, this little babe’ (B. Britten).
Part III: ‘When I Sing’ (B. Henderson), ‘ Hamps-Elysees (M. Wilsh, M. Deighan); ‘OST Medely’ (arr. Shin Sang-woo); and ‘Blessing’ (arr. Lee Hyun-Chul)).
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Elder sister of famed ROK Army Lt. Cho Chang-Ho

Late Madam Cho Chang-soo decorated with

Order of Cultural Merit, Okgwan

The government of the Republic of Korea has decided to posthumously honour the late former Curator Madam Cho Chang-soo (1925-2009) of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in the United States with an Order of Cultural Merit, Okgwan. Madam Cho dedicated her entire life to the introduction of Korean history and culture to the general public in the US, thus promoting the American people’s understanding of the Korean history and culture. The presentation ceremony will take place at the National Palace Museum on Dec. 10, 2013.

Madam Cho also made great efforts for the return of Eobo (Official Seal) of Emperor Gojong and Emperor Sunjong of the Joseon Dynasty and a total of 93 other Korean cultural treasures and properties to Korea?through fund-raising and donations.

▲The late Madam Cho Chang-soo (left) and her son, General Manager Eric Swanson of Millennium Seoul Hilton

The late Madam Cho is the mother of General Manager Eric Swanson of the Millennium Seoul Hilton. She is also the elder sister of the widely known late Lieutenant Cho Chang-Ho who succeeded in escaping North Korea and returning to Seoul after 43 years of captivity in North Korea where he got silicosis from forced labor in coal mine pits where he had been sent because of his repeated attempts of escape to the South after his captivity during the Korean.

        ▲Madam Cho at her university graduation ceremony

Madam Cho studied at the universities in Japan and the US and worked as a curator at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum for 44 years from 1965 to 2009--playing an important role in various areas, including exhibitions, research work, publication and education. In 2007, she even succeeded in establishing a Korea Hall at the Smithsonian Museum.

    ▲Madam Cho (seated at center) with fellow workers at the Smithsonian Institute

There are a number of other recipients of the Cultural Orders, who include Director Lee Kang-bak of Gangneung Institute (Order of Cultural Merit, Eungwan) and Professor Yoon Sae-young of Korea University (Order of Cultural Merit, Bogwan).

 ▲The late Lt. Cho Chang-Ho.