KOREA BULLETIN

KOREA BULLETIN
July 2012
The official publication of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea
I am delighted that the Philippines and
Korea continue to deepen and broaden their
political, economic, and cultural relations.
The second quarter of the year has indeed
produced significant outcomes in our bilateral partnership.
Last April, the Philippines stood united
with the international community in supporting the Korean government’s endeavor
to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, condemning a series of provocations of
North Korea, including its failed missile launch. The Philippines
also issued a statement urging North Korea to abide by the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and abandon its existing
weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile program.
Furthermore, our trade and investment relations continue to
advance. Korea remains supportive of the Philippine government’s goal of improving the business environment in the country. In particular, the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) project,
which the Korean government has been pursuing in developing
countries, provides a valuable opportunity to examine the best
practices and review existing contract systems in participating
countries. Held last May in Manila, the EoDB Workshop identified key areas by which the Philippines can work on in order to
improve its contracting system and thereby, attract more foreign
investors and promote economic growth.
In addition to the developments in our diplomatic and economic ties, I am also delighted about the achievements of our two
countries in the aspect of our cultural relations. The Korean Cultural Center (KCC), which is celebrating the First Anniversary of
its establishment this July, has made considerable contributions
in fostering greater cultural exchanges in the areas of arts and literature. In the forthcoming months, I am confident that the KCC
will provide greater opportunities for interaction between our two
peoples and encourage an even deeper appreciation for Korean
culture.
Last but not least, I am hopeful that the launch of the Korea
Tourism Organization last May will further promote Korea in the
Philippines and connect our two peoples more closely together.
Thank you very much.
Korea Tourism
Organization
inaugurates
Manila Office
To reinforce the collaboration for tourism exchange, the
Korea Tourism Organization
(KTO) launched its Manila office last May 30 at the Sofitel
Plaza Hotel.
“In recent years, our two
countries enjoyed a very dynamic people-to-people exchange. Last year, almost one
million Koreans visited the
Philippines, ranking first and
contributing the largest tourist
arrivals by nationality.” Ambassador Hye Min LEE said in
his speech. “At the same time,
more Filipinos became interested to learn and visit Korea,
with Filipino visitors to Korea reaching over 300,000 in
2011.”
KTO also held the Travel
Mart with 17 local and international airlines in participation as well as representatives
of travel agencies from Korea.
Charm Lee, President of
KTO, was in the country to
witness the event.
The launch of KTO Manila is hoped to bring encourage more Filipinos to travel to Korea. Leading the inauguration were Ambassador Hye Min LEE (fourth from left), DOT Usec Daniel Corpuz (third from left) and
KTO President Charm Lee.
“As I have been hearing,
the Korean wave is currently
very popular in the Philippines. I feel that this is the very
right time to install our branch
office here in the Philippines
and promote Korean culture
and tourism.” Charm LEE
said.
Also in attendance were
Philippine Tourism Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz, Korean
Tourism Ambassador Jungil Choi, Tourism Promotions
Board head Domingo Ramon
Enerio III and Travel Agents
Association President Aileen
Clemente.
CONTENTS
Korea Tourism Organization inaugurates Manila Office
Korea sponsors ASEAN Conference on ECCD
Workshop on Ease of Doing Business held
Korea Copyright Commission opens in Manila to
protect culture contents
KOICA Signs Agreement for Davao Training Center
Yeosu Expo opens, focuses on marine conservation
Incheon to host 2014 Asian Games
KCC turns one, inaugurates ceramic exhibit
Annual filmfest to feature seven family-themed hits
KOREA BULLETIN
1
Korea sponsors
ASEAN Conference on ECCD
As part of its goal to become the world’s standard in
social welfare and development, the Philippines through
the Department of Social
Welfare and Development
(DSWD) hosted an ASEAN
Conference on Early Childhood Care and Development
(ECCD) last July 10 to 12 at
the Diamond Hotel.
The conference gathered
various policy makers and program implementers involved
in ECCD from government
and recognized non-government agencies in the Asian
Region.
The event was aimed to
create a comprehensive ECCD
system that will ensure the
respect, promotion and fulfillment of children’s rights.
About 30 participants from
the ASEAN-member countries
– Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam attended the conference.
DSWD Secretary Dinky
Soliman led the opening ceremonies.
“There is a growing awareness that early childhood care
and development (ECCD) is
an important element in nurturing physical and intellectual
capacity as well as social interaction of children.” The speech
of Ambassador Hye Min LEE
read. “I believe that this Seminar is a pertinent platform by
which we can share our best
practices and develop policy
framework that is conducive
to sustaining their well-being.”
During the three-day conference, participants shared
and exchanged good practices
on ECCD, especially focusing
on building systems, policies,
frameworks, and governance.
The activity was also geared at
enhancing the understanding,
knowledge and capacities of
participants as critical actors in
building an integrated ECCD
system.
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Workshop on APEC-Ease of Doing
Business on Enforcing Contracts
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) together
with the Ministry of Justice
of the Republic of Korea held
the workshop on APEC-Ease
of Doing Business Workshop
on Enforcing Contracts at the
Manila Hotel last May 4.
“This gathering of legal
experts and government officials is a meaningful event
to increase our awareness and
to explore ways to advance
current practice of enforcing contract process in the
Philippines.”Ambassador Hye
Min LEE said in his speech. “I
believe that this workshop will
provide us a valuable opportunity to share our best practices
and also review the current
contract system in the Philip-
Korea Copyright Commission opens
in Manila to protect culture contents
The Korea Copyright
Commission inaugurated its
Philippine office last May 10,
its fourth satellite copyright
office in Asia following the offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and
Thailand.
The Copyright Commission is expected to promote
Korean arts and culture in the
Philippines and improve the
overall protection of its cultural contents in the world’s
expanding market. The Commission will also assist the
Philippine government in its
campaign for protection of
copyright.
Ambassador Hye Min LEE
highlights the contribution
that the promotion of copyright has made to the flourishing culture industry of Korea.
“The cultural industry of
Korea has experienced exceptional achievements brought
by the fast growing popularity of Hallyu or the Korean
Wave across the world. One
of the main reasons for our
success comes from our copyright protection system. The
KOREA BULLETIN
pines.”
In attendance were Hon.
Bernalito Fernandez of the
Supreme Court, Hon. Laura
del Rosario of DFA, Hon. Jose
Vicente Salazar of Department
of Justice, Hon. Guillermo
Luz, Chairman of the National
Competitiveness
Council,
Dean Custodio Parlade of the
Philippine Dispute Resolution
Center Inc., Director Yungsang Kim of the Ministry of
Justice, and Atty. Sang Kil
Park of Kim and Chang Law.
Korean government has recognized the importance of
establishing mechanisms that
will strengthen the protection
of Korean artists. With good
copyright protection system,
artists will be even more motivated to come up with creative
and sensational productions.”
Ambassador LEE said.
In his remarks, Chairman Byong-han YU stated
that “as the Internet and digital technology advances, we
need multilateral efforts and
cooperation beyond borders
in terms of the distribution
and use of copyrights and the
measures against piracy.” In
attendance were Mr. Hyun
Rae Jo, Director of Copyright
Division of the Ministry of
Culture, Sports and Tourism,
Mr. Seong-hwan Jang, manager of the International Cooperation Team of the Korea
Copyright Commission, Atty.
Antonio Santo, Director of the
National Library of the Philippines and Atty. Ricardo Blancaflor, Director-General of the
Intellectual Property Office of
the Philippines.
The Korea International
Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), represented by Resident Representative Kim Jinoh and Secretary
Emmanuel Joel Villanueva,
respectively, signed the agreement for the Phase II Project
of Upgrading and Enhancement of Training Programs of
the Regional Training Center
– Korea Philippines Vocational Training Center (KPVTC)
in Davao City last June 10.
The RTC-KPVTC Davao,
a well-known TESDA managed
vocational
training
center, will provide an integrated training provision to
respond to the agri-mechanization thrust and manpower
requirements of Davao and
KOICA Signs Agreement for Phase
II of Davao Training Center
Mindanao Region promoting
a value proposition of KORPHIL--Key
Organizational
Response for the achievement
of Productive and Healthy
Yeosu Expo opens, focuses on
marine conservation
Yeosu Expo 2012 opened last May 12 following a great global anticipation to the first marine-themed exposition in history.
Korea, also a host to the recently-concluded Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, is now holding the three-month long exposition
with more than a hundred countries in participation.
The exposition, which hit its four millionth visitor last July
18, is envisioned to bring humanity back on a sustainable track
through ocean and coasts conservation.
The Expo will also be tackling global measures to address
the protection of the endangered marine and coastal environment of the Earth and its ecosystems, with calls for international
cooperation to the participating countries.
The Republic of the Philippines had a special cultural performance last July 22 they performed ‘Iisang Bangka Tayo’ (We
are in the same boat).
Apart from the regular cultural shows from the participanting countries, other attractions include the Big-O Show, and the
seven thematic pavilions namely the Theme Pavilion, the Korea
Incheon to host 2014
Asian Games
The 2014 Asian Games will be held in
Incheon, Korea from September 19 to October 4, 2014 with 437 events in the line-up of
36 sports and disciplines. The official slogan
of the 2014 Asiad, unveiled in September
16, 2010, is “Diversity Shines Here,” highlighting the significance of Asia’s diversity
in history, cultures and religions.
The official emblem, known as the three
seal siblings, were unveiled on November 4,
2010. Known as Barame, Chumuro and Vichuon, these three seals represent the wind,
Industries and Liberating employment.
Korea will provide a US
$3,000,000 grant to fund the
renovation of existing center
facilities and construction of
a new building, to include two
incubation centers, a multipurpose hall and a Korean
Language center. The grant
will also cover the provision
of equipment, training of Filipino officials and staff in Korea, and dispatch of Korean
experts for the transfer of operational skills at the Center.
“The Phase II Project of
KorPhil Vocational Training
Center that will rise is Korea’s
way of continuously helping
replicate our success in socioeconomic development in the
Philippines,” said KOICA
Resident Representative Kim
Jinoh during the ceremony
held at the TESDA Office in
Taguig City on July 10.
The project will be implemented from 2012-2014.
Photo courtesy of http://2012expo.wordpress.com
Pavilion, Climate and Environment Pavilion, Marine and Industry Technology Pavilion, Marine Civilization and City Pavilion,
the DSME Marine Robot Pavilion and the Aquarium.
Yeosu 2012 will entirely be focused on seeking co-existence
and common prosperity between the ocean, its coasts and humanity in the light of global warming and environment degradation.
dance and light in the Korean language and was patterned after
the theme of the main venue. The seal, with the prototype taken
from Baengnyeong Island, was chosen as a symbol of the future
peace between South and North Korea.
There are 28 Olympic sports to be featured in the 2014
Asian Games. These sports will also be part of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Apart from this, eight non-Olympic sports will
be played, including baseball, ten-pin bowling, cricket, kabaddi,
karate, sepak takraw, squash and wushu.
This is the third time that the Republic of Korea is hosting
the Asian Games, the first two being Seoul in 1986 and Busan
in 2002.
The Asian Games began in 1949, succeeding the Far Eastern Championship Games held in Manila, the Philippines, in 1913 and the West
Asian Games held in New Delhi, India, in 1934.
KOREA BULLETIN
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KCC turns one, opens ceramic
exhibit to highlight Korean heritage
In celebration of its first year anniversary, the Korean Cultural Center together with the Korea Ceramic Foundation (KOCEF)
launched the ‘Living Ceramics: The Modern Touch of Korean
Heritage’ last July 13 with 15 Korean artists in participation.
The exhibit is hoped to introduce to the Filipinos the celebrated Korean ceramic tradition, which has been infused with
modern touches and techniques throughout the history of Korea’s heritage and ceramic culture. The exhibit is also geared towards putting the Korean traditional dining customs on the map
of the cultural awareness of the Filipinos.
This exhibit is envisioned to be an important watershed for
the emergence of new art forms and it is also expected to serve
as a momentum for the continued cultural exchange and friendship between the Philippines and Korea.
The exhibit will run until October 12.
In attendance were Minister and Consul General of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea Hon. Kyong Ho MIN, President
of KOCEF Hon. Young Kun Song and Chairman of the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts Hon. Felipe de Leon, Jr.
KOCEF is an established international entity for the promotion and development of the artistic endeavors related to ceramic
art. It is the leading cultural institution for ceramics, with the
distinction of having started the biggest gathering of ceramic artists around the world through the foundation of Gyeonggi World
Ceramic Biennale.
Annual filmfest to feature seven
family-themed hits
The Korean Cultural Center will be featuring seven familythemed top-grossing films on its annual Korean Film Festival
to be held on September 18 to 30 and October 3 to 7 in Manila,
Baguio and Cebu.
The Manila leg is scheduled on September 18 to 23 at SM
Megamall, while Baguio will be on September 26 to 30 at SM
Baguio. SM Cebu, on the other hand, will be hosting the Visayan
leg on October 3 to 7.
The films are Jeon Woo Chi (전우치), Spellbound (오싹한
연애), Bunt (날아라 허동구), A Barefoot Dream (맨발의 꿈),
Late Blossom (그대를 사랑합니다), Arahan (아라한 장풍 대
작전) and Highway Star (복면달호).
The film ‘Jeon Woo Chi’ tells the story of the eponymous
playful apprentice who gets imprisoned in a scroll, having been
wrongfully accused for murder. He gets freed 500 years later as
a last resort to bring back the order into the world.
An unusual mix of horror and romance, ‘Spellbound’ focuses
on the love story between road magician Jo-goo and the muse
for his overnight success, Yu-ri. Yu-ri is haunted by ghosts and
Jo-goo, who falls in love with her, has to rise above his fears to
save the two of them.
‘Bunt’, on the other hand, deals with the mentally-challenged
Dong-ku who suddenly finds himself without ‘use’ upon the arrival of water purifiers. In an attempt to use his only capabilty,
Dong-ku finds himself joining the baseball team.
The sports drama ‘A Barefoot Dream’ is a story of a former
soccer prospect who heads to his dreams, the International Youth
Soccer Championship, albeit with numerous almost-failures of
detours.
Also in the list is the drama ‘Late Blossom,’ a heartwarming film on the lives of the two couples living not far apart from
each other. It follows the two couples’ respective struggles on
life and love.
‘Arahan’ follows the story of the honest yet clumsy rookie
policeman Sang-hwan and the martial arts specialist Eui Jin. Together they fight the evil Heuk-woon whose greed wreaks havoc
to mankind.
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Capping off the list is the the musical-comedy ‘Highway
Star’ which tells the story of Dal-Ho and his dream. Dal-Ho
wants to become a famous rock singer, but was forced to play
trot to make ends meet. He later gets the chance to release an
album but belatedly realized that he has to sing trot instead of
rock’n roll. His shame drives him to hide his face but his voice
and his mysteriousnesscatapult him to unprecendented success.
This year’s film festival has expanded its reach to include
Baguio in the line-up. Admission is free and is on a first-come,
first-served basis.
KOREA BULLETIN