Premier surcoreano se entrevista con el presidente de Paraguay

El primer ministro de Corea del Sur, Kim Hwang Sik, que actualmente se encuentra de gira por América Latina, mantuvo un encuentro con el presidente de Paraguay, Fernando Lugo. 

En la reunión, el alto cargo surcoreano felicitó al mandatario paraguayo por el bicentenario de la independencia del país latinoamericano. Asimismo, deseó la pronta suscripción de un convenio bilateral contra la doble tributación y la firma de un tratado de libre comercio con el Mercosur, del que Paraguay es Estado miembro. 

El presidente paraguayo, por su parte, indicó que su país necesita construir 800.000 casas adicionales para garantizar una provisión estable en el mercado inmobiliario. En esta línea, deseó poder contar con la participación de Corea del Sur en los proyectos de edificación de viviendas, llevados a cabo mayoritariamente por China y Taiwán. 

Asimismo, Kim y Lugo coincidieron en desarrollar las relaciones de amistad y cooperación entre Corea del Sur y Paraguay. Para ello, acordaron celebrar un festival cultural conjunto en 2012, con ocasión al quincuagésimo aniversario del establecimiento de relaciones diplomáticas bilaterales. 

Coreanos tienen interés en invertir en aeropuertos, dice ministro Alegre

Inversores coreanos están interesados en los aeropuertos internacionales paraguayos, informó ayer el ministro de Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones, Efraín Alegre. Fue tras la audiencia que mantuvo el presidente Fernando Lugo con el primer ministro coreano.

1 Foto El vicecanciller Lara Castro y la embajadora coreana firman el acuerdo ante la mirada de Lugo y el primer ministro.

Alegre declaró ayer a la mañana en Palacio de López que el grupo que maneja el aeropuerto internacional de Incheon, de Seúl, tiene interés en la concesión de los aeropuertos internacionales paraguayos.

Incheon, inaugurado en el 2001, es el mayor aeropuerto de Corea del Sur y, según el ministro Alegre, fue elegido en los últimos cinco años como la mejor estación aérea internacional de todo el mundo.

El ministro reveló el interés coreano en el marco de la visita oficial de un primer ministro coreano en Paraguay, Hwang Sik Kim, quien fue recibido por el presidente Fernando Lugo en la sede gubernativa.

Firma de acuerdo
Paraguay y Corea del Sur firmaron ayer el acuerdo marco sobre otorgamiento de asistencia, que tiene por objeto llevar a cabo programas específicos de asistencia y cooperación a ser ejecutados por la Agencia de Cooperación Internacional de Corea (Koica).

Suscribieron el documento por Paraguay el ministro sustituto de Relaciones Exteriores, Jorge Lara Castro, y por Corea, la embajadora residente en Paraguay, Dong-won Park, ante la presencia de Lugo y el primer ministro coreano, el vicepresidente Federico Franco y el titular de la Comisión Permanente del Congreso paraguayo, Salustiano Salinas, entre otras autoridades.

Más inversión
En el discurso de rigor, Lara Castro solicitó al Gobierno coreano colaborar para traer más inversión y aumentar el intercambio comercial bilateral entre los dos países. Mencionó las ventajas impositivas de invertir en nuestro país en comparación con los tres restantes socios plenos del Mercosur (Argentina, Brasil y Uruguay).

Destacó el aumento del 200% de la cooperación coreana al Paraguay, que en el 2010 cerró con US$ 12 millones. Dijo que Paraguay se ubica en el quinto país que recibe la ayuda coreana y la primera en América Latina.

Paz en la península
Al finalizar su discurso, el ministro sustituto deseó que Corea del Sur y Corea del Norte alcancen la paz en la península.

Lara Castro pidió a los coreanos que ayuden a Paraguay para lograr la seguridad alimentaria y alcanzar la autosustentabilidad agraria como lo hace Corea del Sur. Tras el acto, Lugo ofreció una recepción al mediodía a la delegación coreana en Mburuvicha Róga.

También visitará al presidente Mujica
MONTEVIDEO (EFE). El primer ministro de Corea del Sur, Kim Hwang-sik, llegará el martes a Uruguay en la visita de más alto rango a la nación suramericana desde el inicio de las relaciones  bilaterales en 1964 con el objetivo de “reforzar los lazos, fundamentalmente económicos” .    

La visita de Kim, que se prolongará durante tres días, es también una respuesta a la que el vicepresidente uruguayo, Danilo Astori, realizó a Corea del Sur el pasado mes de noviembre, según confirmaron a Efe fuentes diplomáticas del país asiático.    

Esta visita es la última parada de Kim en una gira que también le llevó por Brasil, donde participó en la toma de posesión de la presidenta Dilma Rousseff, y tendrá su plato fuerte el miércoles 5 cuando el político se reúna con el presidente José Mujica en la residencia presidencial de Anchorena. Allí, ambos mandatarios tratarán temas como la posible apertura del mercado coreano para la carne uruguaya y las negociaciones para crear un tratado de libre comercio (TLC) entre Corea del Sur y el Mercosur.    

“El tema de la carne está muy caliente y seguro que será parte fundamental del diálogo. En cuanto al TLC, nosotros tenemos interés en él, pues ya tenemos uno con varios países de la región, como Chile y Perú, y negociamos con México y Colombia. Por eso tenemos mucho interés en el Mercosur y creemos que algo así dará beneficios a ambas partes”, dijeron las mismas fuentes.    

En los últimos años, Uruguay ha trabajado mucho para lograr la apertura del mercado coreano.

Sugieren prever las alianzas estratégicas entre los sectores
En caso de materializarse un acuerdo de libre comercio entre el bloque Mercosur y Corea del Sur, se debe prever alianzas estratégicas sectoriales de empresarios e industriales a fin de lograr la necesaria liberalización e integración comercial, dijo la economista Zulma Espínola, titular de la Escuela de Economía de la Universidad Católica de Asunción (UCA). Además, se debería insistir en transferencias tecnológicas para el empresario paraguayo, dijo la catedrática que realizó estudios económicos sobre Corea.    
    
Agregó que Corea del Sur es un país con vasta experiencia porque ya tiene firmados varios acuerdos de libre comercio, manteniendo a la fecha un total de ALC con 45 países. Con Chile se tiene un ALC ratificado en el 2004 y que ha posibilitado una baja en el déficit comercial bilateral a favor de Chile. Por otro lado, también se inició con Perú, mientras que con Bolivia y Ecuador tiene acuerdos y tratados de cooperación económica.    

El aprovechamiento debe fundamentarse en el largo lazo de amistad bilateral entre ambas naciones, expresó en otro momento. Se puede seguir el modelo de tratado chileno-coreano, en el que  no solo se acuerdan los pactos de comercio de bienes y servicios, sino se complementan con escenarios propicios para inversión coreana en el territorio y otros aspectos de cooperación económica, tales como la liberalización arancelaria y otros beneficios propios del comercio internacional. Propiciar un escenario en territorio paraguayo para el inversionista coreano debe ser un puntal que Paraguay debe incluir en los borradores de libre comercio. Paraguay debe aprovechar al máximo la presidencia pro témpore para impulsar el plan, concluyó.

Korea’s Ancient Capitals

The present is an accumulative total of the past. So, if you want to really know about the present of a country, you need to delve deep into its age-long history.

And learning about its past capitals – the central locations for the country’s politics and culture – will be a very helpful and significant approach.

The cities of Gyeongju, Gongju, Buyeo and Iksan were designated as the ancient capitals of Korea in accordance with the Special Act on the Preservation of Ancient Capitals decree enacted in March 2005.

For a city to become a capital, it must be some place that is well-suited for residence; a strategic location against foreign invasions; and an all-around convenient spot for overseeing the country. That’s why capitals are usually located near a big river, surrounded by mountains, and furnished with a broad expanse of fertile planes.

Gyeongju, Gongju, Buyeo and Iksan 

 The Baekje Kingdom (18 BCE – 660 CE), one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla, controlled some colonies in China and most of the western Korean Peninsula at its peak in the 4th century and was a significant regional sea power.

In the 5th century, Baekje retreated under the southward military threat of Goguryeo, and in 475 its capital moved to Ungjin (present-day Gongju). Gongju is home to numerous historic sites including Gongsanseong Fortress, Magoksa Five-story Stone Pagoda, and Seokjang-ri Old Stone Age Ruins.

In 538, King Seong moved the capital to Sabi (present-day Buyeo County), home to significant relics such as the five-storied stone pagoda of Jeongnimsa Temple site and Banwollu Tower.

 
 
 

Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 BC-935 AD) which ruled most of the Korean Peninsula between the 7th and 9th centuries. A vast number of archaeological sites and cultural properties from this period remain in the city. Among such historical treasures, Seokguram grotto, Bulguksa temple, Gyeongju Historic Areas and Yangdong Folk Village are designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The many major historical sites have helped Gyeongju to become one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea.

A Map of Korea’s Ancient Capitals 

The Cultural Heritage Administration recently published a map of Korea’s ancient capitals in English as a tourist guide to important historical sites in Korea.

The “Ancient Capitals Tour” map is designed to be easy to carry and use. The map provides information on the history, geography, folklore, and contemporary situation of the four ancient capitals in South Korea: Gyeongju, Gongju, Buyeo and Iksan.  

 

 

The map also provides useful tourist information, including guides to accommodations and public transportation. Maps will be distributed free of charge at cultural centers and tourism agencies.

Growing Coffee on Jeju Island

Love for coffee is getting pandemic these days. You can find a coffee shop in every block of a sizable office district. Some people go so far as buying espresso machines and other coffee gadgets to furnish in their own homes. (Well, being one of those crazy coffee lovers myself, I am just being envious.)

Coffee is a highly sensitive plant, requiring specific growing conditions. It grows in subtropical regions where the temperature stays above 10 degrees Celsius even during winter. That’s why farming coffee has been mostly considered out of the question in Korea.

Well, Ms. Roh Jin-Yi doesn’t accept that.

 

north to 25 degrees south of the equator>
 

Korea’s First Coffee Farmer

The first coffee farmer in Korea, Ms. Roh has invested all her money and energy in farming coffee in a 400-pyeong (1 pyeong equals 3.3 square meters) green house in Jeju City since early 2008.

Despite the unfavorable conditions, even Jeju being too cold, Ms. Roh has been persistent in realizing her dream of cultivating coffee. And she has succeeded to reap enough coffee for about 10% of Jeju citizens to sample taste.

And last October, Ms. Roh even held the first Jeju Coffee Festival in her own coffee plantation. At the festival, there was coffee tasting, coffee drinking competitions, hands-on experience of roasting coffee beans and hand-dripping. 

 
   

 

Hard Work, But I Love It

Ms. Roh is currently growing some 25,000 coffee trees in a 5,600 square meters plantation. And it is no easy job looking after those highly sensitive plants. They have to be watered twice a day (at the break of dawn and around sunset) for 3, 4 hours. A storm hits, and the fragile plants get all knocked out of their pots, and Ms. Roh has to spend many sleepless days harnessing them back in. They also need to get nutrition shots at regular, designated times.

Roh says she does not expect coffee farming to become a profitable business.

“It’s costly to keep the green house warm and it takes 3 to 5 years from germination to harvest. But I’m doing this not because I want to make money, but because I like it,” says the coffee farmer. And adds, “If I make money later, I would like to build a coffee museum,” expressing her ultimate ambition.

Many cheers and well wishes to her dream!

Lugo se reunirá con Primer Ministro coreano la semana entrante

http://www.abc.com.py/nota/lugo-se-reunira-con-primer-ministro-coreano-la-semana-entrante/

The Times 50 Best Inventions of 2010

The Paris Motor Show, one of the world’s four major auto shows, was held from October 2 to 17, 2010 at the Paris Expo. If the Geneva Motor Show in March introduces newly launched cars of the year, then the Paris Motor Show in the autumn showcases models that are to be launched the year after.

The theme of the Paris Motors Show 2010 was “eco-friendly.” Eco-friendly has now become such a preval!ent trend worldwide, especially with the EU’s reinforcement of regulations regarding carbon emissions control.

Eco-friendly vehicle invented by KAIST

The Online Electric Vehicle (dubbed OLEV) manufactured by the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology (KAIST) was included in the 50 Best Inventions of 2010 published by The Times, along with Apple’s iPad, Google’s Driverless Car, Sony’s Alpha A55 Camera and others. Also included was the English-Teaching Robot invented by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

In the OLEV are embedded electric power strips that provide electromagnetic power to the vehicle, wirelessly, charging an onboard battery and powering the bus’s electric motor.

The Times introduced the OLEV as an advanced green growth technology that could speed up the commercialization of electric cars and also as the world’s one and only online electric vehicle.

The system’s creators at the KAIST say, “The technology not only eliminates pollution, but also alleviates the problems usually associated with hybrid vehicles such as heavy batteries, lengthy charging and limited range.”

Korean technology opens up a new horizon

The OLEV has been on a test operation since last March at the Seoul Amusement Park. It was also presented during the G20 Seoul Summit in November in front of COEX, garnering outstanding reviews. Furthermore, the vehicle is scheduled to be featured next month in the TV program “Into the Future” of Discovery channel.

The OLEV received mixed reviews in the early stage of its development. Although it is an innovative technology that was meant to pursue both green growth and economic profit, some voiced the car’s low practicality as the cost of planting electric power strips under the pavements would be quite steep. Nonetheless, its inclusion in The Times list is without a doubt a distinct acknowledgement of its potential.

The English-Teaching Robot

The other Korean item that made in the Times list is the English-Teaching Robot nick-named “Mero,” developed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

The robots can move in any direction and can follow human facial expression!s. They are not only effective teachers, but the students also enjoy interacting with their new, fun, and cool school “staff.”

While the robots are used primarily in support roles for real human teachers, the Time Magazine called them a “job terminator,” saying they could potentially replace the native speakers currently employed in Korean schools.

Although there remain issues of economic feasibility as well as ethics, both inventions indicate excellent capacity of Korean universities as future leaders of world science and technology.

Foreign Journalists Visit Jeju Olle Road

Twenty Seoul-based foreign journalists on last November 19 and 20 visited the Jeju Olle Road as part of their Jeju Press Tour program sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
 

Traditional Jeju Culture and Haenyeo (sea women)

The twenty foreign journalists, though still somewhat fatigued from the intense reporting they had for the G20 Seoul Summit, participated in the Jeju tour with great zeal and curiosity, especially for the much talked about Olle Road and Jeju haenyeo.

On the first day of their tour, Jeju greeted the journalists with an unusually clear, azure sky and a picture-perfect coast line.

At the center of attention in the tour was, of course, the haenyeo – Jeju’s sea women. A journalist for Tokyo Newspaper expressed his special interest for Jeju haenyeo, saying although Japan also has something like sea women he had never seen the Jeju haenyeo. As four, five haenyeo dove into the sea and began their “sea-picking” routine, the group of visitors all flocked to the water in excitement to take photos.

Haenyeo dive into 20m deep into the ocean and collect sea products, holding their breath for as long as two minutes. Holding breath is hard enough; but doing that in the middle of cold sea water, swimming AND collecting things? What an amazing feat! 

As one of the haenyeo, a 76-year-old sea veteran, pulled out of the water and showed a “domchi” which is a very rare catch, a big applause erupted among the journalists. The elderly haenyeo has been sea-picking since the age of 15.

But sadly, what used to amount to 15,000 Jeju haenyeo has now plummeted to a mere 5,600. And most of them are in their sixties and seventies. Those in their thirties are just a handful now, less than a dozen.

pulled out of the water and showed a 'domchi'>

Perfect Harmony of the Sea and the Cliffs

The foreign journalists were once again amazed and awed by the beauty of Seongsan Ilchulbong, a peak that rose from under the sea in a volcanic eruption over 100,000 years ago.

Seongsan Ilchulbong is located on the eastern end of Jeju Island and there is a huge crater at its top. With the 99 sharp rocks surrounding the crater, it looks like a gigantic crown. While the southeast and north sides are cliffs, the northwest side is a grassy hill, forming a truly distinctive ambience.

The journalists concluded their first day with a visit to Chyeonjiyeon Waterfall, and their second day was finally the much anticipated Olle Road.

The Olle walking path opened its first route in 2007 and is now furnished with 22 routes of 357km. In the local Jeju dialect, “Olle” was originally used to refer to the narrow path between the street and one’s doorstep. The hiking trail was founded by Myung-Sook Suh who was inspired upon hearing from a certain English tourist that he had healed his hurt soul walking the Jeju roads.

The route the journalists trod that day was Route 10 which is a course a little more taxing than a leisurely walk. You will be able to enjoy a scenic view of cliffs and the ocean. This particular route was declared as “Jeju Olle-Switzerland Friendship Road” last April upon establishing an MOU with the Swiss tourism administration. After the good amount of exercise followed, of course, a sumptuous meal composed of just-caught Jeju sea food and makgeolli.

At the end of the delightful tour, the journalists expressed their wish for having more nature-oriented tourist spots like the Jeju Olle Road. Although they may be somewhat less convenient than those equipped with first-rate technology and amenities, sometimes what we want these days are places that are preserved as they originally were – somewhere we can rest and heal our jaded souls.