[Korea.net News, Nation, November 27 2007] Gov't out to develop the east coast in earnest
Korea’s relatively rural east coast is to be reborn as a center for high-tech clusters and tourist attractions.
With the Nov. 22 passage of the Special Law for the Coastal Area Development, the east coast’s Gangwon-do Province, the Gyeongsang provinces and Ulsan Metropolitan City can begin long-waited development projects in earnest with about 94 trillion won in support from Seoul, local government officials said Monday (Nov. 26).
The four local governments submitted a package of coastal area development plans totaling 93.82 trillion won to the central government in 2005.
Experts predict that the projects will generate a 140 trillion won worth economic effect and 1.3 million new jobs by the time of completion in 2020.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Bloomberg.com: Worldwide
Bloomberg.com: Worldwide: "Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun said he will appoint an independent investigator to probe bribery allegations against Samsung Group, escalating a corruption scandal that has engulfed the nation's largest industrial group. "
[Korea.net News, Government Press Releases, November 21 2007] Ministry Trains Global Leaders in Educational ICT in Hands with the World Bank
"ICT for Education Leaders: From Vision to Reality," a new course offering on ICT and Education, took place on November 12~16, 2007 in Seoul, Korea, under the co-host of the Korean Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development and the World Bank Institute.
Organized by the Korean Education Research and Information Service(KERIS), with partnership support from InfoDev and UNESCO-Bangkok, the new initiative brought together around 40 mid-level government officials and educational experts from 23 developing countries, to explore how a country’s education system and policies can be enriched through the application of advanced information and communications technologies.
The special course came as an effort to help policy makers identify the imperatives that traditional education systems are facing, by raising awareness and understanding about the essential elements of effective ICT integration. For the participants, the course also offered venue to co-address the issue of the worldwide digital divide, and develop partnerships towards bridging the different speed sand levels of knowledge and information development.
"ICT for Education Leaders: From Vision to Reality," a new course offering on ICT and Education, took place on November 12~16, 2007 in Seoul, Korea, under the co-host of the Korean Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development and the World Bank Institute.
Organized by the Korean Education Research and Information Service(KERIS), with partnership support from InfoDev and UNESCO-Bangkok, the new initiative brought together around 40 mid-level government officials and educational experts from 23 developing countries, to explore how a country’s education system and policies can be enriched through the application of advanced information and communications technologies.
The special course came as an effort to help policy makers identify the imperatives that traditional education systems are facing, by raising awareness and understanding about the essential elements of effective ICT integration. For the participants, the course also offered venue to co-address the issue of the worldwide digital divide, and develop partnerships towards bridging the different speed sand levels of knowledge and information development.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] LG Electronics Improves Dual Format Optical Drive
LG Electronics on Monday unveiled an upgraded version of its Super Multi Blue Drive, a dual format stand-alone Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD player and writer. LG is the only company that makes drives that can read and write both of the competing format. The improved Super Multi Blue Drive boasts 6X recording speed, which is 30 percent faster than existing Blu-ray writers.
LG Electronics introduced is first dual format player in March. That machine could write to Blu-ray and HD DVD discs at 4X speed and cost around W900,000 (US$1=W929). The company expects the upgraded drive will sell well, thanks to a price that is below W500,000, much cheaper than the former drive.
"The Super Multi Blue drive can store 10 DVD movies and reproduce high-definition video clips from footage recorded by HD camcorders or digital cameras," LG Electronics said. "The Super Multi Blue drive also allows high-definition images and high quality audio since it can store uncompressed audio."
LG Electronics on Monday unveiled an upgraded version of its Super Multi Blue Drive, a dual format stand-alone Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD player and writer. LG is the only company that makes drives that can read and write both of the competing format. The improved Super Multi Blue Drive boasts 6X recording speed, which is 30 percent faster than existing Blu-ray writers.
LG Electronics introduced is first dual format player in March. That machine could write to Blu-ray and HD DVD discs at 4X speed and cost around W900,000 (US$1=W929). The company expects the upgraded drive will sell well, thanks to a price that is below W500,000, much cheaper than the former drive.
"The Super Multi Blue drive can store 10 DVD movies and reproduce high-definition video clips from footage recorded by HD camcorders or digital cameras," LG Electronics said. "The Super Multi Blue drive also allows high-definition images and high quality audio since it can store uncompressed audio."
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] Samsung to Merge 2 Screen Units
Samsung Corning Precision Glass said Monday that it has decided to merge with Samsung Corning, a maker of cathode-ray tube (CRT) glass. The decision comes as Samsung Corning suffers a serious business downturn due to the depressed CRT TV market.
Once considered a blue chip, the CRT glass maker has undergone massive restructuring. Decreasing demand for CRT TVs worldwide and poor business performance prompted it to shut down production lines in plants in Gumi, Suwon and Germany.
Samsung Corning Precision Glass, which makes glass substrates for liquid crystal display panels, plans to foster Samsung Corning's display parts and materials business as a core unit along with its existing LCD glass substrates business. The CRT glass business will be operated from overseas offices in markets with strong price competitiveness, such as China and Malaysia.
Samsung Corning Precision Glass said Monday that it has decided to merge with Samsung Corning, a maker of cathode-ray tube (CRT) glass. The decision comes as Samsung Corning suffers a serious business downturn due to the depressed CRT TV market.
Once considered a blue chip, the CRT glass maker has undergone massive restructuring. Decreasing demand for CRT TVs worldwide and poor business performance prompted it to shut down production lines in plants in Gumi, Suwon and Germany.
Samsung Corning Precision Glass, which makes glass substrates for liquid crystal display panels, plans to foster Samsung Corning's display parts and materials business as a core unit along with its existing LCD glass substrates business. The CRT glass business will be operated from overseas offices in markets with strong price competitiveness, such as China and Malaysia.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] Samsung to Merge 2 Screen Units
Samsung Corning Precision Glass said Monday that it has decided to merge with Samsung Corning, a maker of cathode-ray tube (CRT) glass. The decision comes as Samsung Corning suffers a serious business downturn due to the depressed CRT TV market.
Once considered a blue chip, the CRT glass maker has undergone massive restructuring. Decreasing demand for CRT TVs worldwide and poor business performance prompted it to shut down production lines in plants in Gumi, Suwon and Germany.
Samsung Corning Precision Glass, which makes glass substrates for liquid crystal display panels, plans to foster Samsung Corning's display parts and materials business as a core unit along with its existing LCD glass substrates business. The CRT glass business will be operated from overseas offices in markets with strong price competitiveness, such as China and Malaysia.
Samsung Corning Precision Glass said Monday that it has decided to merge with Samsung Corning, a maker of cathode-ray tube (CRT) glass. The decision comes as Samsung Corning suffers a serious business downturn due to the depressed CRT TV market.
Once considered a blue chip, the CRT glass maker has undergone massive restructuring. Decreasing demand for CRT TVs worldwide and poor business performance prompted it to shut down production lines in plants in Gumi, Suwon and Germany.
Samsung Corning Precision Glass, which makes glass substrates for liquid crystal display panels, plans to foster Samsung Corning's display parts and materials business as a core unit along with its existing LCD glass substrates business. The CRT glass business will be operated from overseas offices in markets with strong price competitiveness, such as China and Malaysia.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] 3G Mobile Technology Is Catching On
Audi Korea staffer Lee Yun-kyung, who often travels overseas on business, has bought a 3G mobile phone because it’s easy to sign up for the roaming service. The service is not wide open, but it also allows subscribers to send text messages and make video calls from Europe to Korea, a marked improvement from 2G phones that permitted voice calls only.
The market for 3G mobile communication is emerging, as closely watched as new “killer applications” in the early 2000s. A “killer application” is such a big hit product or service that it sweeps all other rivals aside and reorganizes the market. Then, mobile operators around the world poured some trillions into spectrum auctions. Korea, with SK Telecom, KT and LG Telecom, was no exception, but the fever fizzled out when the dotcom bubble burst. Several years on, now armed with improved technology, the telecoms are stepping up 3G service marketing again to find a breakthrough from the saturated 2G market.
◆ European 3G
◆ Fierce Competition
Keywords
Audi Korea staffer Lee Yun-kyung, who often travels overseas on business, has bought a 3G mobile phone because it’s easy to sign up for the roaming service. The service is not wide open, but it also allows subscribers to send text messages and make video calls from Europe to Korea, a marked improvement from 2G phones that permitted voice calls only.
The market for 3G mobile communication is emerging, as closely watched as new “killer applications” in the early 2000s. A “killer application” is such a big hit product or service that it sweeps all other rivals aside and reorganizes the market. Then, mobile operators around the world poured some trillions into spectrum auctions. Korea, with SK Telecom, KT and LG Telecom, was no exception, but the fever fizzled out when the dotcom bubble burst. Several years on, now armed with improved technology, the telecoms are stepping up 3G service marketing again to find a breakthrough from the saturated 2G market.
◆ European 3G
◆ Fierce Competition
Keywords
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] New Buildings Must Provide Satellite TV
Add Satellite TV to the growing list of perks drawing house hunters to newly built apartment complexes.
The Information and Communication Ministry said that starting Monday new apartment buildings will be required to install a communal satellite dish to be shared by all residents.
With such a master dish in place, residents will get to enjoy satellite TV broadcasts without having to set up their own dish. It also means they will also gain free access to digital broadcasting.
Add Satellite TV to the growing list of perks drawing house hunters to newly built apartment complexes.
The Information and Communication Ministry said that starting Monday new apartment buildings will be required to install a communal satellite dish to be shared by all residents.
With such a master dish in place, residents will get to enjoy satellite TV broadcasts without having to set up their own dish. It also means they will also gain free access to digital broadcasting.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] Yeosu Wins World Expo Bid
The port city of Yeosu has been selected to host the 2012 World Expo, beating Morocco’s Tangier. The Paris-based International Exhibitions Bureau announced Yeosu as the host city of the 2012 event at its 142nd general assembly on Tuesday morning. The Korean city won 77 votes from 140 IBE members and the Moroccan city 63.
The port city of Yeosu has been selected to host the 2012 World Expo, beating Morocco’s Tangier. The Paris-based International Exhibitions Bureau announced Yeosu as the host city of the 2012 event at its 142nd general assembly on Tuesday morning. The Korean city won 77 votes from 140 IBE members and the Moroccan city 63.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 26 2007] Hynix to Mass Produce 54-nano DRAM in 2008
Hynix Semiconductor said Sunday that it plans to start mass producing 54-nano DRAM chips in the second half of next year.
The plan follows the memory chip maker's certification from Intel of the U.S. for 1-Gb DDR2 DRAM it developed using the 54-nano processing technology.
The 54-nano process is expected to raise productivity by 40 percent compared to the current 66-nano process.
Hynix Semiconductor said Sunday that it plans to start mass producing 54-nano DRAM chips in the second half of next year.
The plan follows the memory chip maker's certification from Intel of the U.S. for 1-Gb DDR2 DRAM it developed using the 54-nano processing technology.
The 54-nano process is expected to raise productivity by 40 percent compared to the current 66-nano process.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 23 2007] Kookmin Bank Introduces Movie-Playing Credit Card
Kookmin Bank and Samsung SDI have developed a multimedia credit card and holder that allows users to watch video clips and check on their transaction histories.
Kookmin Bank on Thursday introduced the multimedia credit card with an embedded flash memory chip and its special case with an AMOLED display.
The case, which is 6 cm wide by 10 cm long and 1 cm thick, is a portable media player, using the AMOLED display to show multimedia content such as video clips and photos. Users can also search information stored on the card's memory chip to look up their transaction records, browse their banking histories and even check their credit card bonus points.
Kookmin Bank and Samsung SDI have developed a multimedia credit card and holder that allows users to watch video clips and check on their transaction histories.
Kookmin Bank on Thursday introduced the multimedia credit card with an embedded flash memory chip and its special case with an AMOLED display.
The case, which is 6 cm wide by 10 cm long and 1 cm thick, is a portable media player, using the AMOLED display to show multimedia content such as video clips and photos. Users can also search information stored on the card's memory chip to look up their transaction records, browse their banking histories and even check their credit card bonus points.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 23 2007] SK Challenges Auto Retailers with Gray-Market Imports
SK Group's advance into Korea's auto retailing industry could cause a major shift in a market that is compartmentalized between homemade and imported brands. SK Networks announced on Thursday that it will deal five foreign auto brands -- Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Lexus and Toyota -- at its new imports-only stores in Seoul and Gyeongi Province.
The full impact of SK's move into the market is yet to be felt. While SK is confident that providing a diversity of imported cars at affordable prices will bring about significant changes in the market, domestic carmakers and import companies are skeptical, questioning just how deep an effect the company will make. But Kang Cheol-gu, director of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, said SK's move will benefit Korean drivers. "It's ultimately good news for consumers as they will enjoy either lower prices or better service driven by the heightened competition among companies," Kang said.
SK Group's advance into Korea's auto retailing industry could cause a major shift in a market that is compartmentalized between homemade and imported brands. SK Networks announced on Thursday that it will deal five foreign auto brands -- Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Lexus and Toyota -- at its new imports-only stores in Seoul and Gyeongi Province.
The full impact of SK's move into the market is yet to be felt. While SK is confident that providing a diversity of imported cars at affordable prices will bring about significant changes in the market, domestic carmakers and import companies are skeptical, questioning just how deep an effect the company will make. But Kang Cheol-gu, director of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, said SK's move will benefit Korean drivers. "It's ultimately good news for consumers as they will enjoy either lower prices or better service driven by the heightened competition among companies," Kang said.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 23 2007] Samsung Plans W2 Tril. Expansion for LCD Line
Samsung Electronics has decided to make an investment to expand its eighth-generation production line, called 8-1 line, at its liquid crystal display plant in Tangjeong, South Chungcheong Province.
Korea's largest electronics maker said Thursday that it will spend W2 trillion (US$1=W933) to carry out the second phase of expansion for the 8-1 line, with a view to beginning operation in the third quarter of next year. The first phase of the line is a joint investment by Samsung and Japan's Sony through a joint venture called S-LCD Corp. Sony will not participate in the second phase.
Samsung Electronics has decided to make an investment to expand its eighth-generation production line, called 8-1 line, at its liquid crystal display plant in Tangjeong, South Chungcheong Province.
Korea's largest electronics maker said Thursday that it will spend W2 trillion (US$1=W933) to carry out the second phase of expansion for the 8-1 line, with a view to beginning operation in the third quarter of next year. The first phase of the line is a joint investment by Samsung and Japan's Sony through a joint venture called S-LCD Corp. Sony will not participate in the second phase.
Monday, November 26, 2007
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 23 2007] More Info on Sex Offenders Available Next Year
The Government Youth Commission announced Wednesday that the Juvenile Sex Protection Act will be modified to improve the protection of children from sex crimes.
...
However, starting Feb. 4 caretakers of children such as parents and teachers will be able to easily access offenders' personal data through the local police station and online through the Youth Commission's website.
...
For instance in the U.S., the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act signed by the president last year organizes all sex offenders into three categories in which the highest-level offenders must register and update their address every three months.
The Government Youth Commission announced Wednesday that the Juvenile Sex Protection Act will be modified to improve the protection of children from sex crimes.
...
However, starting Feb. 4 caretakers of children such as parents and teachers will be able to easily access offenders' personal data through the local police station and online through the Youth Commission's website.
...
For instance in the U.S., the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act signed by the president last year organizes all sex offenders into three categories in which the highest-level offenders must register and update their address every three months.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 22 2007] Weather Forecasters in Influence Peddling Scandal
Officials in the Korea Meteorological Administration are accused of improper relationships with equipment suppliers. Some KMA staffers allegedly helped certain suppliers win contracts to provide equipment to government agencies in return for an executive position with the companies after they retire from the KMA. One former KMA staffer who hacked into the computer network of his former employer to steal a massive amount of weather forecast information has been arrested.
Officials in the Korea Meteorological Administration are accused of improper relationships with equipment suppliers. Some KMA staffers allegedly helped certain suppliers win contracts to provide equipment to government agencies in return for an executive position with the companies after they retire from the KMA. One former KMA staffer who hacked into the computer network of his former employer to steal a massive amount of weather forecast information has been arrested.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 22 2007] Former TV Anchor Sues Website Over Divorce Report
Former KBS anchor No Hyung-jung and her husband Chung Dae-sun on Wednesday filed a law suit against a news website that incorrectly reported that the couple had divorced. They are seeking W500 million in damages (US$1=W929).
On Friday the couple filed libel charges against the same website.
"The couple is suing the head of the news website, the chief editor and the reporter who wrote the article for W500 million in damages," said ACE Law Group, which represents the couple.
Former KBS anchor No Hyung-jung and her husband Chung Dae-sun on Wednesday filed a law suit against a news website that incorrectly reported that the couple had divorced. They are seeking W500 million in damages (US$1=W929).
On Friday the couple filed libel charges against the same website.
"The couple is suing the head of the news website, the chief editor and the reporter who wrote the article for W500 million in damages," said ACE Law Group, which represents the couple.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 22 2007] Song Hye-gyo Poised for U.S. Debut
The popular Korean actress Song Hye-gyo is to make her U.S. debut with a leading role in independent film “Fetish.” The movie, which will be shot in New York, is a thriller about a woman with psychic abilities. Song will star opposite Austrian actor Arno Frisch who featured in "Funny Games.”
...
The film is to be directed by Korean filmmaker Sohn Soo-pum. The New York University graduate is a laureate of the 2002 Student Academy Awards and was invited to the Cannes Film Festival that same year. With this movie, Sohn will present a story about oriental sorcery staged in New York. It will be released next year. Song left for New York on Wednesday for a month-long shoot.
The popular Korean actress Song Hye-gyo is to make her U.S. debut with a leading role in independent film “Fetish.” The movie, which will be shot in New York, is a thriller about a woman with psychic abilities. Song will star opposite Austrian actor Arno Frisch who featured in "Funny Games.”
...
The film is to be directed by Korean filmmaker Sohn Soo-pum. The New York University graduate is a laureate of the 2002 Student Academy Awards and was invited to the Cannes Film Festival that same year. With this movie, Sohn will present a story about oriental sorcery staged in New York. It will be released next year. Song left for New York on Wednesday for a month-long shoot.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 22 2007] Way Cleared for IPTV
A special committee of the National Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill on Internet Protocol Television, clearing the way for the new media service in Korea. IPTV enables viewers to search information for items they see on TV and even buy them without interrupting the program they are watching. Seong Jang-hyun, a manager with the KT Media division preparing for the launch of the service, said a full IPTV is possible in the first half of next year.
KT and Hanaro Telecom are already operating the MegaTV and HanaTV services, an early stage of IPTV.
This reporter visited the KT Media building at Yeouido in Seoul on Wednesday morning to experience the IPTV test service. When KT staff pushed buttons on a remote control, the online Chosun Ilbo appeared on TV. The service also enables viewers to search articles. For example, if a viewer types the word “restaurant” into the remote, all relevant articles that contain search term are displayed on the TV. People can trade stocks in real time, just as they can on their computers.
Then there are weather forecasts specifically for the region where the viewers live -- or a stadium of golf club they want to visit -- unlike existing forecasts that cover only major cities. The service figures out where a viewer lives through the IP number. HanaTV, which was launched ahead of MegaTV, already provides 70,000 programs to call up, and over 700,000 subscribers can enjoy each program at a time. Currently, the monthly subscription fee is W13,000 (US$1=W929) for HanaTV and W10,000 for MegaTV. When the full IPTV service starts, the subscription fee is likely to rise, but the full service will provide a greater variety of programs as well as live terrestrial programs plus more additional services.
A special committee of the National Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill on Internet Protocol Television, clearing the way for the new media service in Korea. IPTV enables viewers to search information for items they see on TV and even buy them without interrupting the program they are watching. Seong Jang-hyun, a manager with the KT Media division preparing for the launch of the service, said a full IPTV is possible in the first half of next year.
KT and Hanaro Telecom are already operating the MegaTV and HanaTV services, an early stage of IPTV.
This reporter visited the KT Media building at Yeouido in Seoul on Wednesday morning to experience the IPTV test service. When KT staff pushed buttons on a remote control, the online Chosun Ilbo appeared on TV. The service also enables viewers to search articles. For example, if a viewer types the word “restaurant” into the remote, all relevant articles that contain search term are displayed on the TV. People can trade stocks in real time, just as they can on their computers.
Then there are weather forecasts specifically for the region where the viewers live -- or a stadium of golf club they want to visit -- unlike existing forecasts that cover only major cities. The service figures out where a viewer lives through the IP number. HanaTV, which was launched ahead of MegaTV, already provides 70,000 programs to call up, and over 700,000 subscribers can enjoy each program at a time. Currently, the monthly subscription fee is W13,000 (US$1=W929) for HanaTV and W10,000 for MegaTV. When the full IPTV service starts, the subscription fee is likely to rise, but the full service will provide a greater variety of programs as well as live terrestrial programs plus more additional services.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] LG's U.S. Subsidiary Proves Golden Goose After All
LG Electronic’s U.S. subsidiary Zenith, which has been held up as an example of a failed takeover for a decade, is now earning handsome profits for its parent company in Korea. In 1995, LG Electronics acquired the TV maker for US$500 million to advance into the North American market. But Zenith initially proved a drag for LG because the electronic manufacturer went into the red, losing out in competition with Japanese firms.
Now the tide has turned. According to a senior LG Electronics executive, Zenith is now making handsome profits on the back of the digital TV boom in North America. Zenith owns a source technology dubbed VSB which is essential for making digital TVs in North America, and manufacturers must pay US$5 per TV to Zenith for using the technology.
LG Electronic’s U.S. subsidiary Zenith, which has been held up as an example of a failed takeover for a decade, is now earning handsome profits for its parent company in Korea. In 1995, LG Electronics acquired the TV maker for US$500 million to advance into the North American market. But Zenith initially proved a drag for LG because the electronic manufacturer went into the red, losing out in competition with Japanese firms.
Now the tide has turned. According to a senior LG Electronics executive, Zenith is now making handsome profits on the back of the digital TV boom in North America. Zenith owns a source technology dubbed VSB which is essential for making digital TVs in North America, and manufacturers must pay US$5 per TV to Zenith for using the technology.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] Road Map Details Plan for Korean Space Exploration
Korea plans to launch a satellite to orbit the moon in 2020 and a probe to explore the moon's surface in 2025. The Ministry of Science and Technology said Tuesday that it adopted a road map for space development at a space development working committee meeting.
Established under the Space Development Promotion Act, the committee, which is under the National Space Committee, is responsible for the deliberation and decision of activities to carry out the government space development plan.
Korea plans to launch a satellite to orbit the moon in 2020 and a probe to explore the moon's surface in 2025. The Ministry of Science and Technology said Tuesday that it adopted a road map for space development at a space development working committee meeting.
Established under the Space Development Promotion Act, the committee, which is under the National Space Committee, is responsible for the deliberation and decision of activities to carry out the government space development plan.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] ETS Improves Korea's TOEFL Services
Educational Testing Service, the U.S. non-profit organization that administers the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), has added many new test locations and will provide online practice tests for Koreans next year.
Paul Ramsey, the senior vice president of the company's global division, told the Chosun Ilbo on Friday that ETS next year will provide online learning programs such as TPO (TOEFL Practice Online) which offers questions from real tests for Korean test takers, who account for 20 percent of global TOEFL takers.
Educational Testing Service, the U.S. non-profit organization that administers the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), has added many new test locations and will provide online practice tests for Koreans next year.
Paul Ramsey, the senior vice president of the company's global division, told the Chosun Ilbo on Friday that ETS next year will provide online learning programs such as TPO (TOEFL Practice Online) which offers questions from real tests for Korean test takers, who account for 20 percent of global TOEFL takers.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] A Grueling 'Seven Days' for Kim Yun-jin
“Seven Days,” starring “Lost” star Kim Yun-jin is getting an explosive response. With a fast-paced storyline and a complicated plot, the movie released on Nov. 14 appeals especially to movie fans in their 20s. Overseas markets have also shown interest: at the American Film Market recently, U.S. production firm Summit Entertainment, the maker of popular movies such as “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005) and “Vanilla Sky” (2001) snapped up the right to a remake for US$1 million. It plans to spend $30 million on the Hollywood version.
“Seven Days,” starring “Lost” star Kim Yun-jin is getting an explosive response. With a fast-paced storyline and a complicated plot, the movie released on Nov. 14 appeals especially to movie fans in their 20s. Overseas markets have also shown interest: at the American Film Market recently, U.S. production firm Summit Entertainment, the maker of popular movies such as “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005) and “Vanilla Sky” (2001) snapped up the right to a remake for US$1 million. It plans to spend $30 million on the Hollywood version.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] Poisoning Ivy
Ivy is a singer who on the strength of her hit song "Sonata of Temptation" came into the spotlight as the sexiest female pop idol since Lee Hyo-lee. Not long ago, Ivy found herself embroiled in a scandal after she reported her former boyfriend of several years to police. According to the victim's testimony and the arrest warrant, the boyfriend threatened to release a "scandalous" video clip, beat her up and extorted money from her. The man is now behind bars.
Now everything is in the hands of law enforcement authorities, so the Ivy case can be shut, right? Not quite -- on the Internet, the case is still pending. Last week Ivy failed to show up at an awards ceremony hosted by a cable TV station. More precisely, she couldn't attend the ceremony because she still fears the negative attention of netizens and online media outlets.
...
You may understand by now how female celebrities should behave from this point on. They should never part with their boyfriends. They should never meet other men even if they don't like their current boyfriends. They should never report their old boyfriends to police for hitting them or threatening to release a video. It's as if our female celebrities are walking on tightropes, chased by blackmailers carrying knives, with netizens and yellow journalists waiting for them to fall into a pot of boiling water below.
Ivy is a singer who on the strength of her hit song "Sonata of Temptation" came into the spotlight as the sexiest female pop idol since Lee Hyo-lee. Not long ago, Ivy found herself embroiled in a scandal after she reported her former boyfriend of several years to police. According to the victim's testimony and the arrest warrant, the boyfriend threatened to release a "scandalous" video clip, beat her up and extorted money from her. The man is now behind bars.
Now everything is in the hands of law enforcement authorities, so the Ivy case can be shut, right? Not quite -- on the Internet, the case is still pending. Last week Ivy failed to show up at an awards ceremony hosted by a cable TV station. More precisely, she couldn't attend the ceremony because she still fears the negative attention of netizens and online media outlets.
...
You may understand by now how female celebrities should behave from this point on. They should never part with their boyfriends. They should never meet other men even if they don't like their current boyfriends. They should never report their old boyfriends to police for hitting them or threatening to release a video. It's as if our female celebrities are walking on tightropes, chased by blackmailers carrying knives, with netizens and yellow journalists waiting for them to fall into a pot of boiling water below.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 20 2007] Korean Game Firms Failing in China
Korean online game companies operating in China are being driven out of the market they once dominated because of unsuccessful products and a failure to adapt to the local business environment.
According to the Korean Embassy in China on Monday, the Chinese online game industry has grown to 10 billion yuan in revenues, but Korean game makers have been quickly losing ground.
Korean game makers once prevailed over the vast market but their market share has dwindled to around just 10 percent. Even their business patterns have changed. Now Korean game makers develop new products in Korea and export them to China through Korean-Chinese joint venture companies.
Korean online game companies operating in China are being driven out of the market they once dominated because of unsuccessful products and a failure to adapt to the local business environment.
According to the Korean Embassy in China on Monday, the Chinese online game industry has grown to 10 billion yuan in revenues, but Korean game makers have been quickly losing ground.
Korean game makers once prevailed over the vast market but their market share has dwindled to around just 10 percent. Even their business patterns have changed. Now Korean game makers develop new products in Korea and export them to China through Korean-Chinese joint venture companies.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 20 2007] Int'l Press Watchdog Renews Censure of S.Korea
The International Press Institute has again called on President Roh Moo-hyun and his government to withdraw draconian new media policies which restrict media access to government agencies. The request, this year’s fourth by the media watchdog, came in a sternly worded letter on Monday. The IPI is an international gathering of journalists, editors and media executives from 120 countries around the world.
In the letter, the IPI said, “The IPI Board seriously considered placing South Korea back on the IPI Watch List, a list of countries in which press freedom has rapidly deteriorated. However, the IPI Board decided to wait until after the upcoming presidential elections in your country,” since “all major presidential candidates have promised to remove ‘the nails’ hammered into the press rooms by your government.” The letter was referring to a drive to merge the pressrooms at government agencies into a handful “media centers” and restrict press access to officials.
The International Press Institute has again called on President Roh Moo-hyun and his government to withdraw draconian new media policies which restrict media access to government agencies. The request, this year’s fourth by the media watchdog, came in a sternly worded letter on Monday. The IPI is an international gathering of journalists, editors and media executives from 120 countries around the world.
In the letter, the IPI said, “The IPI Board seriously considered placing South Korea back on the IPI Watch List, a list of countries in which press freedom has rapidly deteriorated. However, the IPI Board decided to wait until after the upcoming presidential elections in your country,” since “all major presidential candidates have promised to remove ‘the nails’ hammered into the press rooms by your government.” The letter was referring to a drive to merge the pressrooms at government agencies into a handful “media centers” and restrict press access to officials.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 20 2007] Samsung, LG on List of Preferred Firms of Korean Parents
The Daishin Securities Research Center announced seven companies that parents hope their children will work for at a research forum on Monday. The companies include Samsung Corp., Hyundai Steel, Doosan Infracore, Korea Air, NHN, LG.Phillips LCD and LG. All these companies boast great potential for future growth and highly satisfied workers.
"If you want to know which companies will remain competitive in the future, think about companies that you would like your children to work at," the center’s director Koo Hee-jin said. "The seven companies have not only business models that will enable their sales and operating profits to grow over 15 percent annually for the next three years, but also governance structure that can ensure management transparency."
The Daishin Securities Research Center announced seven companies that parents hope their children will work for at a research forum on Monday. The companies include Samsung Corp., Hyundai Steel, Doosan Infracore, Korea Air, NHN, LG.Phillips LCD and LG. All these companies boast great potential for future growth and highly satisfied workers.
"If you want to know which companies will remain competitive in the future, think about companies that you would like your children to work at," the center’s director Koo Hee-jin said. "The seven companies have not only business models that will enable their sales and operating profits to grow over 15 percent annually for the next three years, but also governance structure that can ensure management transparency."
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 20 2007] NYT Reports on Korea's Boot Camp for Cyberspace Addicts
Korea may be the most wired country in the world in terms of Internet access but a leading U.S. daily says that has come at a price -- cyberspace addiction.
The New York Times reports that Korea is operating a boot camp as a rehab center to help Internet junkies kick their potentially deadly habit, which the paper says is possibly the first in the world.
The paper says Internet addiction has become a national issue in recent years as some users died of exhaustion after playing online games for days on end.
It describes how some kids skip school to stay online and describes the phenomenon as ''a shockingly self-destructive behavior in a country that's intensely competitive.''
Korea may be the most wired country in the world in terms of Internet access but a leading U.S. daily says that has come at a price -- cyberspace addiction.
The New York Times reports that Korea is operating a boot camp as a rehab center to help Internet junkies kick their potentially deadly habit, which the paper says is possibly the first in the world.
The paper says Internet addiction has become a national issue in recent years as some users died of exhaustion after playing online games for days on end.
It describes how some kids skip school to stay online and describes the phenomenon as ''a shockingly self-destructive behavior in a country that's intensely competitive.''
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 19 2007] WiBro Frequency Named 4G World Standard
The 2.3 GHz frequency used by the Korea-developed WiBro technology was selected as the world's standard frequency spectrum for 4G mobile telecommunications at the World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday. This means that Korean IT equipment makers will not have to produce separate WiBro devices for domestic consumption and export.
Developed jointly by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Samsung Electronics, KT and SK Telecom, WiBro is a wireless broadband Internet technology that enables high-speed transmissions of high-capacity data while on the move.
The technology was chosen as a 3G mobile standard at the radio assembly of the International Telecommunication Union last month, and will be developed into the 4G mobile standard.
The 2.3 GHz frequency used by the Korea-developed WiBro technology was selected as the world's standard frequency spectrum for 4G mobile telecommunications at the World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday. This means that Korean IT equipment makers will not have to produce separate WiBro devices for domestic consumption and export.
Developed jointly by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Samsung Electronics, KT and SK Telecom, WiBro is a wireless broadband Internet technology that enables high-speed transmissions of high-capacity data while on the move.
The technology was chosen as a 3G mobile standard at the radio assembly of the International Telecommunication Union last month, and will be developed into the 4G mobile standard.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 16 2007] Seo Tai-ji Fans Celebrate His 15 Years in Showbiz
“It cheers me up to see you again, my idol Seo Tai-ji. I feel I can start again thanks to you. You greatly influenced my life when I was a teenager.”
“Dear Tai-ji. I come here again. I wish I could live here. I really miss you.”
Fans of Seo Tai-ji, the legendary Korean pop idol, left messages to him at the SEO TAI JI 15th Anniversary Zone at COEX mall in Samseong-dong, Seoul. It opened on Nov. 3 to commemorate, as the name suggests, the 15th anniversary of his debut. Seotaiji Company, the entertainment firm the singer set up, says the number of visitors topped 40,000 as of late last week, prompting the exhibition to be extended by six days to Nov. 18. Seo, who earned his nickname “Culture president” with his groundbreaking music in 1990s, has come back center stage.
“It cheers me up to see you again, my idol Seo Tai-ji. I feel I can start again thanks to you. You greatly influenced my life when I was a teenager.”
“Dear Tai-ji. I come here again. I wish I could live here. I really miss you.”
Fans of Seo Tai-ji, the legendary Korean pop idol, left messages to him at the SEO TAI JI 15th Anniversary Zone at COEX mall in Samseong-dong, Seoul. It opened on Nov. 3 to commemorate, as the name suggests, the 15th anniversary of his debut. Seotaiji Company, the entertainment firm the singer set up, says the number of visitors topped 40,000 as of late last week, prompting the exhibition to be extended by six days to Nov. 18. Seo, who earned his nickname “Culture president” with his groundbreaking music in 1990s, has come back center stage.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 16 2007] Seo Tai-ji Fans Celebrate His 15 Years in Showbiz
“It cheers me up to see you again, my idol Seo Tai-ji. I feel I can start again thanks to you. You greatly influenced my life when I was a teenager.”
“Dear Tai-ji. I come here again. I wish I could live here. I really miss you.”
Fans of Seo Tai-ji, the legendary Korean pop idol, left messages to him at the SEO TAI JI 15th Anniversary Zone at COEX mall in Samseong-dong, Seoul. It opened on Nov. 3 to commemorate, as the name suggests, the 15th anniversary of his debut. Seotaiji Company, the entertainment firm the singer set up, says the number of visitors topped 40,000 as of late last week, prompting the exhibition to be extended by six days to Nov. 18. Seo, who earned his nickname “Culture president” with his groundbreaking music in 1990s, has come back center stage.
“It cheers me up to see you again, my idol Seo Tai-ji. I feel I can start again thanks to you. You greatly influenced my life when I was a teenager.”
“Dear Tai-ji. I come here again. I wish I could live here. I really miss you.”
Fans of Seo Tai-ji, the legendary Korean pop idol, left messages to him at the SEO TAI JI 15th Anniversary Zone at COEX mall in Samseong-dong, Seoul. It opened on Nov. 3 to commemorate, as the name suggests, the 15th anniversary of his debut. Seotaiji Company, the entertainment firm the singer set up, says the number of visitors topped 40,000 as of late last week, prompting the exhibition to be extended by six days to Nov. 18. Seo, who earned his nickname “Culture president” with his groundbreaking music in 1990s, has come back center stage.
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