The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Thursday March 30, 2017
Your Excellency:
Here are The Korea Post notices and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea today:
Very Respectfully Yours
/s/
Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
Korea Post Media
Invitation:
Now there are only 10 days left to the tour of the Gaya Culture Festival on Sunday April 9, 2017 organized by The Korea Post!
Ambassadors and Madam are invited to the famed 2017 Grand Gaya Culture Festival of the Gimhae City on Sunday April 9, 2017.
As the suzerain state of six Gaya Kingdoms and royal capital of Geumgwan-Gaya founded in 42 A.D., Gimhae is the cradle of the Gaya culture. These small ancient states include Ara Gaya, Goryeong Gaya, Dae Gaya, Seongsan Gaya, Bihwa Gaya and Geumgwan Gaya, which formed a confederation dominated by Geumgwan Gaya. With a 500-year long history, Gaya Kingdoms created ingenious and brilliant pottery and ironware culture based on affluent iron products and outstanding iron-making technology. Taking geographical advantages, these Gaya Kingdoms actively traded with China, Japan and Nakrang as the center of international trade in Northeast Asia. Active international marine trade and exchange of these ancient states with foreign countries can be well explained by the international marriage between King Suro, the founding king of Geumgwan-Gaya, and Princess Heo Hwang-ok of Ayodhya Kingdom in India. (Scroll down to the bottom for more information and invitation.)
Royal procession of King Suro of the Gaya Kingdom
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Special notice!
There is what is known as Yubi Tongsin (literally, Rumor Mill News), which is confidentially circulated among the prestigious news media editors in Korea. As former Cultural Editor of The Korea Herald and Publisher of The Korea Post media, Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post duly has real-time access to this confidential news sources.
Any Excellency wishing to share this ‘Rumor Mill News,’ please send his/her private (confidential) email address to: edt@koreapost.com to the attention of the Publisher.
Publisher Lee will share the confidential news with the Excellencies interested in learning the ‘true’ situations developing in Korea.
After all, the ‘rumor news’ shared among them have been proven to be over 90% true and genuine!
Chairman Lee’s cell phone number is 010-5201-1740 which could be used for direct conversation
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What’s ticking in Korea today? Here is a quick roundup of important news stories from the major Korean news media today:
Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
U.S. should give N. Korea early warning against nuclear proliferation
The United States should consider giving North Korea an early warning against transferring nuclear weapons material or technology beyond its borders, a former chief nuclear negotiator with Pyongyang said Wednesday."Among developments we need to be most concerned about in terms of probability of occurrence and magnitude of impact, is the transfer by North Korea of nuclear weapons materials or technology to another state or terrorist group," said Robert Gallucci, who negotiated a 1994 nuclear freeze deal with the North, during a Senate hearing.
Court to hold hearing on arrest of ex-President Park in corruption probe
A Seoul court will hold a hearing Thursday to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for former President Park Geun-hye over a string of corruption allegations that removed her from office. The former president will attend the review at the Seoul Central District Court around 10:30 a.m. The result is likely to come out late at night. State prosecutors filed the request on Monday to detain Park on charges of bribery, abuse of authority, coercion and leaking government secrets, citing the graveness of the alleged crimes and the possibility of the destruction of evidence.
Prosecution, defiant ex-leader gear up for fierce court battle
A grueling legal battle is expected to unfold at a court review on Thursday of an arrest warrant for ousted leader Park Geun-hye, who has vowed to fight all charges that led to her downfall earlier this month. Park plans to attend the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court starting at 10:30 a.m. The prosecution requested the arrest warrant on Monday on multiple charges, including bribery, coercion, abuse of power and the leak of state secrets presumably in 13 cases implicating her close friend and scores of aides. She has denied any wrongdoing.
Corporate debt sales surge to 13.8 tln won in Feb.
South Korean companies issued bonds worth 13.8 trillion won (US$12.4 billion) last month, up 72.8 percent from a month earlier, data showed Thursday, as they capitalized on record-low interest rates. Sales of debts by non-financial firms more than doubled to 4.9 trillion won last month from a month earlier, according to the data by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). Sales of debts by financial firms also shot up 35.9 percent on month to 7.5 trillion won last month, the FSS data showed.
House committee swiftly passes legislation imposing tougher sanctions on N. Korea
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a set of bipartisan measures on North Korea on Wednesday, including legislation calling for imposing harsher sanctions on Pyongyang and relisting the regime as a state sponsor of terrorism. Also approved by the committee was a resolution that urges China to halt a series of punitive measures taken in retaliation against South Korea for its decision to host the U.S. THAAD missile defense system and denounces North Korea's missile development.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Moon scores victory in An’s home turf
Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea claimed a victory in the party’s second primary race Wednesday, taking him one step closer to becoming a candidate in the presidential election slated for May 9. The former party chief won 47.8 percent of the primary votes in the second round of four planned regional primaries for the Daejeon-Chungcheong region, beating his rival South Chungcheong Province Gov. An Hee-jung in the latter’s home ground.
Sim, a fierce woman with soft image
As rare as it is for a progressive party member to grab much attention as a presidential candidate, Rep. Sim Sang-jeung has followed an unusual career path for a woman in Korea. The only female candidate in this year’s early presidential race and the mother of a 24-year-old son, Sim graduated from the elite Seoul National University, but devoted herself to labor activism. Instead of choosing a high-paying job at a conglomerate, she chose to work at a clothing factory at Guro industrial complex in 1983 and worked to establish labor groups inside factories.
NK inches closer to testing nukes
North Korea might have dispatched a fresh batch of devices needed to initiate a nuclear test and analyze data from the explosion, a US think tank said Wednesday, fueling speculation that the communist regime has inched closer to conducting another nuclear test. Analysis of commercial satellite imagery at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site by 38 North, a blog run by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, showed three to four vehicles or trailers at the entrance to the North Portal, where the communist state carried out four rounds of nuclear tests.
Underdog vows to finish race
Overshadowed by the two establishment camps -- conservatives and moderate liberals -- progressive leftists have rarely been a major player in Korea’s history of presidential elections, with their approval ratings hovering around 5 percent. For the progressive left’s flag-bearer Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, however, the upcoming May 9 election is about more than just victory or a turnover of power.
Despite a relatively low chance of winning, Sim is committed to freshening the political climate by emboldening reform-minded voters and harnessing society’s zeal for responsible, more trustworthy politics.
Stepping closer to living in a smart home
Today, everything seems to be smart. We see a flood of new smart home devices coming out from global and small tech players. Software giants Google and Amazon are competitively unveiling advanced voice-activated speakers while hardware behemoths Samsung, LG, GE and Philips are churning out the newest smart appliances and electronics. Small tech players are also showing off various smart gadgets such as bulbs, cameras, locks and lighting.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr )
Samsung unveils Galaxy S8
Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8, Wednesday (local time), as it seeks to redeem itself after the Galaxy Note 7 recall fiasco. The new handset delivers new design innovations, represented by a bezel-less infinity display, while also offering cutting-edge technology, including its digital assistant Bixby. The Seoul-based tech giant held an S8 "unpacked event" at New York's Lincoln Center. The Galaxy S8 will be available starting April 21 and will be offered in a rich color palette ― Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue and Maple Gold.
N. Korea may conduct 6th nuke test next month
North Korea is likely to conduct another nuclear test next month as signs abound that its preparations have entered their final stage, according to military officials and experts Wednesday. The test could possibly come around the summit between the U.S. and China scheduled for early April or the 105th anniversary of founder Kim Il-sung's birthday, April 15, they said. U.S.-based North Korea monitoring website, 38 North, said Tuesday that commercial satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, taken March 25 showed the continued presence of three to four vehicles or equipment trailers at the North Portal, an entrance to the underground site.
Park Geun-hye desperate to avoid arrest
Former President Park Geun-hye will defend herself in a court hearing today in a desperate move to avoid arrest. During the session scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court, Park will explain why she should not be detained to Judge Kang Bu-young, who will review the validity of the arrest warrant requested by the prosecution. Park, who has been expelled from office through impeachment, faces 13 charges, including bribery and abuse of authority during her four years as the nation's leader.
Moon secures second victory in Chungcheong
Moon Jae-in, the former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), claimed another victory in the party's second primary in the Chungcheong region, Wednesday, receiving a further boost for the nomination in the May 9 presidential election. Moon won 47.8 percent of the total votes, leading runner-up An Hee-jung who garnered 36.7 percent. Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung came in third with 15.3 percent and Goyang Mayor Choi Sung posted a distant fourth with support of 0.2 percent.
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DongA Ilbo (http://english.donga.com)
Thae Yong-ho: ‘The Accusation’ presents vivid descriptions of N.K. society
“The images of North Korea described in the book were so vivid that when I was walking outside my home after reading the book, I could hardly figure out whether I was walking along a street in Seoul or Pyongyang.” Thae Yong-ho, former North Korean deputy ambassador to the U.K., made the remarks saying that the images depicted in the book were the same as what he experienced in North Korea in person. The book is “The Accusation” (published by Dasan Books) written by Bandi, who is nicknamed "(Alexander) Solzhenitsyn in North Korea."
Anyone becomes a model-photographer at DDP
Anyone can become a fashion model or a photographer. The dream is never impossible at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) where it currently is holding the "Hera Seoul Fashion Week" until April 1. When this reporter visited on Wednesday, DDP was an entirely "different world." While the main event was focused on fashion shows prepared by designers, there were many attractions around the venue which caught the eyes of the visitors.
U.S. House leader picks N. Korea, Iran, Russia and IS as four greatest threats
The tension between the U.S. and North Korea is reaching its peak. U.S. House leader Paul Ryan on Monday (local time) picked North Korea, Iran, Russia and Islamic State as the biggest threats to U.S. national security at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington. AIPAC is a pro-Israel lobby group in the U.S. “The IS remains a threat to U.S. Forces in foreign lands and encourages terrorist attacks to its supporters,” Ryan said. “North Korea never stops its tests for nuclear and long-range missiles and displays its hostility and anti-America attitude.”
Afraid to breathe the polluted air due to fine dust particles from China
Many areas in South Korea were covered by deadly fine dust particles for five days since March 17. The Seoul metropolitan area was particularly more polluted by thick fine dust. The concentration of tiny dust particles in the Seoul metropolitan area on the weekend of March 18 and 19 was slightly below the level to implement the government’s emergency measures for reduction in pollutants. Such measures, including the two-day alternative driving and temporary suspension of construction work, are to be introduced if the concentration of pollutants reaches a certain point.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Park to Attend Arrest Warrant Hearing
Ex-President Park Geun-hye will attend a court hearing to review an arrest warrant on Thursday, her lawyers told prosecutors on Tuesday. Park is expected to show up at 10:30 a.m. to state her case in court. She has been charged with bribery, abuse of power, extortion and leaking government secrets. Korea has allowed a suspect to state his or her case on an arrest warrant since 1997. Prosecutors believe they have submitted ample evidence that could lead to Park's detention and plan to stress that independent counsel Park Young-soo's probe of the Cheong Wa Dae scandal already revealed clear violations of the law.
Korea Could Fall Further Behind Japan Again
The economic gap between Korea and Japan may widen again, according to Hyundai Research Institute on Monday. The institute said Korea's potential economic growth rate continues to decline while Japan's is inching up. The gap has been narrowing gradually since the 1980s. In 1980, Japan accounted for 9.8 percent of global GDP compared to Korea's 0.6 percent, but by 2016 that narrowed to 6.3 percent for Japan and 1.9 percent for Korea. And the difference in per-capita GDP stood at only US$9,671, compared to a $30,196 difference in 1995.
Prices of Imported Meat, Seafood Products Soar
The prices of imported meat and seafood is rising fast, according to the Korea Customs Service on Tuesday. Imported squid, scallops and cutlass fish all saw their prices rise 21, 84 and 20 percent, respectively, in February compared to the same month last year. The price of imported pork has also been shooting up for the past five months, with a 14 percent increase last month. The rise is due to a decline in volume of imported seafood and to the change in the per-unit price of pork.
2 in 3 Companies to Boost Facilities Investment This Year
Two out of three manufacturers in Korea plan to boost facilities investment this year, according to a Bank of Korea survey of 271 companies out Monday. Some 66.7 percent of manufacturers want to boost facilities investment and the rest plan to reduce it. In the petrochemical and refining industry, 81.4 percent will bolster investment this year, followed by the IT sector (74.3 percent). The proportion is relatively low among steelmakers (63.2 percent) and car manufacturers (62.3 percent).
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HanKyoRehShinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Mom-and-pop businesses pass the $448.5 billion debt threshold
Loans to mom-and-pop business owners reached a record high of over US$466 billion in late 2017, passing the 500 trillion won (US$448.5 billion) threshold for the first time ever, statistics show.
The number is also around 40 trillion won (US$35.9 billion) higher than the official figure announced recently by the Bank of Korea. The rate of increase for self-employed business loans - some of which actually go to corporations, due to skewing of current statistics - is significantly outpacing that of household debt. The risks of default on the mom-and-pop business loans are growing as more and more people shunned by the job market due to the economic downturn are opting to survive by starting their own business, while commercial interest rates continue to rise.
Samsung has only followed through on two of five promised reform measures
One month has passed since Samsung Group announced its five measures for reforming management at the end of February, following the indictment of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Among these five measures, Samsung has closed the Future Strategy Office (FSO) and removed Samsung Electronics President Park Sang-jin (chairman of the Korea Equestrian Foundation). But there are still no indications that it is allowing its subsidiaries to manage themselves or shutting down its government liaison departments.
Government threatens to release conscientious objectors’ personal info online
On Feb. 23, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) sent a notice to 23-year-old Park Sang-wook informing him that his personal details were to be made public as a military service evader. Park’s failure to report to the training center on his reported enlistment date of Dec. 26 was defined by the MMA as “evasion of active military service.” Barring special grounds, the notice informed him, his name, age, address, and other personal details would be published online at the end of the year.
Gangwon Province’s Legoland theme park plan beset by flaws and complications
A Gangwon Province project to build a Legoland theme park on Chuncheon’s Jung Island is facing multiple threats. “LL Development and the Doosan Consortium, which are carrying out the Legoland project, are currently in final negotiations on the contract,” the province reported on Mar. 28. While the original plan was to finish the contract by February and start construction this month, now both the contract and the construction are looking uncertain.
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JoongAngIlbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)
Park volunteers to attend arrest warrant hearing today
Former President Park Geun-hye will appear in her own defense in a courtroom today as prosecutors ask to arrest her for allegedly receiving bribes and abusing the power of the presidency. The prosecution said Tuesday Park’s lawyers informed it that Park will attend a warrant hearing scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in the Seoul Central District Court. A ruling on the arrest is expected to be made late tonight or early Friday morning.
Sixth nuclear test imminent, says Seoul
Another North Korean nuclear test is imminent, with preparations likely to wrap up this week, intelligence authorities in Seoul said Wednesday. The test, North Korea’s sixth, could be conducted as early as next week “We have intelligence that North Korea may conduct its sixth nuclear test in the first week of April and are in the process of confirming this,” said a South Korean military intelligence source who requested anonymity. “We have determined that North Korea is expected to finish all preparations for a nuclear test by March 31.”
Sewol walls were made of fabric, notes pilot’s letter
The pilot of the Sewol ferry, which sank on April 16, 2014, wrote a letter to a pastor seven months after the tragedy in which he detailed how water must have flooded the vessel very quickly because a part of an extension of the hull above the waterline was not made out of steel but plastic or fabric. “[The wall] in this area was made out of tent material, and when the ferry was tilted to one side, a lot of water must have flooded in through this area,” the helmsman, or pilot, Oh Yeong-seok, wrote in his letter. “I apologize to the relatives of the dead and I promise to live my life with a penitent heart.”
CEO of cash-strapped DSME forgoes salary
The chief executive of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, the Korean shipyard whose continuous liquidity issues are putting it on the brink of insolvency, has decided to give up 100 percent of his salary and called on employees to follow his cost-cutting example in a drastic move to show creditors the company’s determination to survive. “Outsiders say we are turning away from taking responsibility while asking creditors to share the burden,” said Jung Sung-leep, CEO of DSME. “We must take a voluntary step and before asking employees to sacrifice, I will first return the entire amount of my salary.”
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The KyungHyangShinmoon(http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Possibility of Destroying Evidence and Fairness with Accomplices, Factors to Determine Arrest Warrant for Park Geun-hye
On March 30, former President Park Geun-hye will appear in court for a review of her arrest warrant, which the prosecutors requested on charges of bribery. The arrest of the former president will be determined by the court's judgment after a review of the possibility of Park destroying evidence and of the gravity of her crime. On March 28, one prosecutor said, "Former President Park's attorney notified us that she would be present for the warrant review." If Park appears as scheduled, she will become the first former president to undergo a warrant review.
Incompetent Oceans Ministry and the Fiasco Over Bone Fragments from the Sewol
Workers discovered a bone fragment while salvaging the Sewol, stirring hopes of discovering the remains of the missing victims, but it turned out to be the bones of an animal. Initially, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries held an emergency press briefing and announced that it was likely to be the remains of a missing victim, but later changed their statement announcing that the discovered fragments were from an animal.
Honam Chose a Definite Change of Government: Turning Back from “Vetoing Moon”
On March 27, Moon Jae-in won a landslide victory in the Honam region, the first stop in the Minjoo Party of Korea's primaries for the presidential election and also the site of the biggest match. Thus Moon's argument that he is "the trend" is now expected to gain momentum. It is also likely for Moon to be confirmed as the party's presidential candidate without having to undergo a second vote when the party announces the results of the first primary on April 3.
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The Korea Economic Daily (http://english.hankyung.com/)
Hyundai Rotem to Develop Wireless Control Technology for 500 Meter Plus-long Freight Trains
Hyundai Rotem has decided to develop a wireless control technology for double-decker freight trains with a length of more than 500 meters. Hyundai Rotem announced on March 28 that it signed an agreement with Korea Railroad Corp. and the Korea Railroad Research Institute to jointly develop the wireless double head control technology. Double head refers to a technology of towing train cars by more than two engine locomotives. The double-decker freight train refers to the ones with a length of more than 500 meters that have more than 35 cars.
Japanese Gov't Actively Helps Small Family Firm Continuity...Korean Gov't Obsessed with Preventing Wealth Succession
The Japanese government will revise estate tax rules in ways for small- and medium-sized enterprises to make it easy to hand over wealth to next-generation leaders. This, intended to reduce the burden of small business owners who are reluctant to succeed ownership to their children due to worries over succession dispute, is the first of such moves by the government in 40 years. This is a far cry from Korea in which the lawmakers are trying to make it harder for small entrepreneurs to bequeath their wealth to their sons and daughters.
Competition to Build Skyscapers Rages on in Asia...Lotte World Tower Set to Join the Race
Oshiage in Tokyo's Sumida Ward used to be one of the less developed areas in the city, with nothing notable except the rolling stock depot and subway station. But the district's landscape changed for good in May 2012 when Tokyo Skytree whose height is 634 meters opened its door to the general public. The area now boasts the daily foot traffic of more than several hundreds of thousands from fewer than 10,000 before the skyscraper.
Korea Slides in the "Entrepreneurial State" Ranking for Two Straight Years
A research report showed that Korea's status as an entrepreneurial state is deteriorating. Social sentiment is negative on the entrepreneurial spirit and the inefficient government regulations and intervention considered being a drag on the business. On March 28, the Korea International Trade Association held the "2017 KITA Global Conference" under the theme of "Entrepreneurial State, the Path to the Revitalization of the Korean Economy."
No. of Jan. Births Hits Historic Low
The number of newborn babies and marriages in January this year has hit a record-low level. According to a report "January 2017 Population Trend" published by the National Statistical Office on March 28, the total number of newborns in the month was 35,100, down 11.1 percent (4,400) from the same period last year. This is the lowest level since 2000 in terms of January newborn numbers. The figure has been on a downward spiral for 14 consecutive months since December 2015 in terms of year-on-year number.
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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)
Bone fragments retrieved from Sewol ferry inspected to be animal origin
All kinds of emotions crossed over South Korean people as bone fragments, which were suspected of the remains of nine missing victims, were found Tuesday on the deck of a transport vessel carrying the Sewol ferry that sank three years ago taking lives of more than 300 people. Sadly, as people were relieved that at least one of the victims has finally found his or her way home, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced a shocking result of an on-site forensic inspection late Tuesday night, that the bone fragments are not from the victims but they were from an animal, possibly from a pig.
SK hynix joins bid to buy Toshiba's memory business
South Korea's major chipmaker SK hynix Inc. decided to join the preliminary bid to purchase the memory chip business of Japan's Toshiba Corp., industry sources said Wednesday. SK hynix is estimated to have suggested more than 10 trillion won (US$8.9 billion) for the deal. The South Korean company said it cannot comment on any details on the deal, including whether it actually aims to buy the memory business.
S. Korea sends replacement peacekeeping troops to Lebanon
Hundreds of South Korean troops headed to Lebanon on Wednesday to join the U.N.-led peacekeeping operations, the Army said. South Korea has stationed the Dongmyeong Unit there since 2007 as part of the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Dongmyeong means light from east. As South Korea's longest-serving military unit abroad, Dongmyeong is tasked with surveillance and patrol operations in the Tyre region as well as medical services for local soldiers and residents.
S. Korea's manufacturing sentiment up for April
South Korean manufacturers' business sentiment for next month improved slightly as local companies expect a steady improvement in exports, data by the central bank showed Wednesday. The business survey index (BSI) of manufacturing firms came to 82 in April, up from 81 in March, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). A reading over 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists, while a reading below the benchmark means the opposite.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
SK Innovation halts production of EV battery from Chinese JV
South Korea’s SK Innovation Co. has stopped producing battery packs for electric vehicles from its joint-venture factory in China from early this year due to reduced orders from China’s shunning of Korean batteries in existing and new EVs eligible for government subsidies. SK Innovation is the second largest shareholder in Beijing BESK Technology Co., a joint venture set up in late 2013 with China’s state-run Beijing Automotive Industries Holdings and Beijing Electronics, with a 40 percent stake.
Korea’s ‘18 fiscal spending to focus on social security and 4th industrial revolution
Hiring increases, readiness towards the transition to the fourth industrial revolution, low birth rate, and income inequalities will be the focus of South Korea’s fiscal spending for next year, according to the 2018 budget outline. The government on Tuesday approved the 2018 budget outline that proposes spending of 420 trillion won ($377.2 billion), compared with this year`s 400.5 trillion won.
The budget outline that may require rework after a new administration is formed following May 9 presidential election proposes enhanced social security for low-income and senior and disabled citizens as a part of efforts to address widening wealth gap.
Korea’s Jeil Holdings, owner of Harim chicken, set for June IPO at Kosdaq
South Korea’s Jeil Holdings, a holding company of the nation’s household poultry name Harim, has embarked on administrative steps to go public through offering of 500 billion won worth ($449 million) in new shares on the secondary Kosdaq market in June, according to the Korea Exchange on Tuesday. As it takes about 46 days for authorities to review the papers, Jeil Holdings is expected to complete its listing by June this year.
DSME chief pleads to employee commitment for cost-cutting efforts
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) chief executive pledged not to receive a cent to plead employees to join in the pain-sharing commitment to reduce labor cost by 25 percent in return for a new bailout that would require additional multimillion-dollar tax funds and losses from lenders and investors. Creditors ask more of us beyond the thorough execution of earlier self-rescue plans. We must vow not to strike and take collective action and willingly cut salaries,” Jung Sung-leep, told employees through internal broadcasting.
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To preserve the local culture as an outstanding world cultural asset
Gimhae City hosts a gala Gaya Culture Festival on April9
Invites Ambassadors and Madams to grace the Opening Ceremony on April 9, 2017
As the suzerain state of six Gaya Kingdoms and royal capital of Geumgwan-Gaya founded in 42 A.D., Gimhae is the cradle of the Gaya culture. These small ancient states include Ara Gaya, Goryeong Gaya, Dae Gaya, Seongsan Gaya, Bihwa Gaya and Geumgwan Gaya, which formed a confederation dominated by Geumgwan Gaya. With a 500-year long history, Gaya Kingdoms created ingenious and brilliant pottery and ironware culture based on affluent iron products and outstanding iron-making technology. Taking geographical advantages, these Gaya Kingdoms actively traded with China, Japan and Nakrang as the center of international trade in Northeast Asia. Active international marine trade and exchange of these ancient states with foreign countries can be well explained by the international marriage between King Suro, the founding king of Geumgwan-Gaya, and Princess Heo Hwang-ok of Ayodhya Kingdom in India.
Royal procession of King Suro of the Gaya Kingdom.
In an effort to preserve the Gaya culture as one of world cultural heritages and widely publicize excellence of the ancient culture, the Gimhae City government has been hosting the annual Gaya Culture Festival since 1962 on the occasion of the memorial service for King Suro in spring. As ever, the municipal government will host the 41st Gaya Culture Festival for 5 days from April 7th to 11th, 2017 to include the memorial service for the King set to be held on the last day of the Festival. With the concept of ‘Gaya in the World and United Gimhae’, the Festival will be highlighted by the ‘tug-of-war’ game and ‘procession parade of King Suro’.
Different teams of the Gaya farmers’ bands are reading to present demonstrations.
Colorful programs will be provided during the Festival at the Daeseong-dong Ancient Tombs, Gimhae National Museum and Tomb of King Suro. In addition to the tug-of-war game and king’s procession parade, programs will include folk art performances, experiences of ancient ironworks, voyage routes sailed by King Suro and Princess Heo Hwang-ok, excavation of historical relics and riding on rare horses, as well as art installation events, performance of martial arts on horseback, wish lamps with Gaya patterns, and multi-cultural social gatherings of youths. Among others, visitors will have an exotic experience of boarding a traditional Indian boat ‘Dhoni’ by sailing the voyage routes taken by King Suro and Queen Heo.
A tug of war joined by hundreds of citizens.
In connection with the Festival, a number of other events will also be held simultaneously, including a local foods fair, international conference on Gaya history, contest of native foods, and folk arts festival of Gyeongsangnam-do region. The regional folk arts festival will include performances of intangible cultural property holders and performances of traditional art troupes from sister cities in Korea and other countries.
Gimhae Stone Fight is now a favorite game of merriment.
To help visitors have more enjoyable and exciting experiences, the festival organizing committee will deploy advanced information and communication technology installations in the venue. Using their smart phones or tablet PCs, visitors and tourists can get access to detailed information, statistical data, publicity materials and results of survey on the Festival by searching its QR code at information centers. It will also introduce an augmented reality (AR) game ‘Royal Capital of Gaya GO’, similar to ‘PokeMon Go’ game. If any visitors find out various historical treasures or relics through the game, they will be rewarded with due gifts.
Grand Rite of Chaste Woman Chunhyang offered to King Suro of the Garak State and his Queen Heo
The 40th Gaya Culture Festival held in April last year attracted as many as over 1.45 million visitors from Korea and other countries, and the Festival in this year is expected to attract even more visitors thanks to addition of varied new programs. The Gimhae City government seeks to register these cultural heritages as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritages.
Night view of the Old Tombs in Daeseong-dong Village and the Daeseong History Museum. A grand opening ceremony is held at a special stage at the Daeseong-dong Tumuli.
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INVITATION
Your Excellency and Madam are cordially invited to the 2017 Grand Gaya Culture Festival on Sunday April 9
Your Excellency and Madarm are cordially invited to the above festival.
For details of the Festival, please visit: http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3007.
It is a bit far, but a deluxe KTX Train travel is much more comfortable than bus ride. Here is the schedule:
0845 hours: Meet at the Seoul Railroad Station VIP Room, 3rd Floor of the Main Building.
0905-1147 hours: Move by Deluxe KTX train from Seoul to Gimhae.
1200-1230 hours: Move to the Ice Square Hotel for luncheon.
1230-1400 hours: Attend welcome ceremony, presentation of Plaques of Appreciation.
1400-1430 hours: Watch mounted Gaya Warrior performances, have personal experience in horse-riding.
1510-1700 hours: Join the Gimhae Tug-of-War match.
1700-1800 hours: Watch traditional Korean music-dance performances based on Intangible National Cultural Properties
1800-2040 hours: Move from Gimhae back to the Seoul Railroad Station.
(A slight change could occur to the schedule depending on the traffic situation of the day.)