Latest News
| Dokdo conflict causes tourist cancellations, Jeju office of Korea Seed & Variety Service, Intl. recognition for cloning breakthrough | |||||
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| Writer : | G. Nikitas Brountas | Date : | 2012-08-21 | Hit : | 360 |
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Dokdo conflict causes tourist cancellations As the conflict over the Dokdo islets continues between South Korea and Japan, tourists from the neighboring country have begun cancelling their trips to Jeju. Representatives from the local tourism industry say about 10% of Japanese who had made plans to visit Jeju canceled their package tour reservations because of the escalation in the dispute over the islets. Experts say more cancellations are likely if the disagreement continues, and that it will eventually have a discernible impact on the local tourism industry. In related news, the Korea Tourism Organization says that it has started making plans to deal with the current state of affairs and that it is having its offices in Japan remain vigilant in keeping tabs on the situation.
Jeju office of Korea Seed , Variety Service The Korea Seed and Variety Service will open a Jeju office. The Ministry of Public Administration and Security approved the proposal for the branch that had been submitted by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The agency will open in a rented building in Seogwipo next year. It will become the ninth branch of the service, which is dedicated to cultivating new plant varieties on a trial basis as part of efforts to get them registered. The local office will also produce and distribute high-quality plant varieties.
Intl. recognition for cloning breakthrough A research team led by Jeju National University Professor (박세필) Park Se-pill introduced a more efficient way of cloning cows, and the somatic cell nuclear transfer method has received international recognition. The team and Mirae Biotech say they used the new technology to clone one cow, and they determined that SCNT more than doubles the efficiency of animal cloning. This is the first time researchers have been able to discover the gene expression pattern of cloned eggs, and the results of the study were published in the August issue of an online version of a globally-known academic journal. SCNT is an example of micro manipulation in which scientists remove the nucleus of a somatic cell without dyeing eggs. The technique was used to clone a black breeding cow indigenous to Jeju two years ago.
Turning to Arirang now, four months remain until Korean voters select the country's next president, and on Monday, the ruling party gave the nod to Park Geun-hye, daughter of late President Park Chung-hee, as its choice on December's ballot. This makes Park the first female presidential candidate to represent a major party. Here's Arirang's political correspondent (이지윤) Lee Ji-yoon with more on the nomination.
Staying with Arirang for one more story, recent data shows that among Korean youths, the trend towards starting one's own business instead of joining a major company is stronger than ever. Arirang's Connie Lee has more. [Growing number of start-ups in Korea] **CG IN** In 2006, there were only about 12-thousand start-ups in Korea, but by 2010 there were more than 24-thousand. **CG OUT** [Interview] Kim Jae-hong (Josh) / Co-founder/CEO, AdByMe 27-year-old Kim Jae-hong, also known as Josh amongst his peers, has a social advertising star t-up, and he is part of a growing number of young entrepreneurs, especially in the IT world,... who decide against joining major Korean companies in favor of starting their own businesses. [Interview] Kim Jae-hong (Josh) / Co-founder/CEO, AdByMe Experts say that the catalyst for the rising number of start-ups in Korea has been inspiration from the success stories out of Silicon Valley. (Stand-up) Connie Lee David Lee, one of the co-founders of Seoul Space...the first Silicon Valley-inspired incubator in the nation,... says that there is great potential for the next Mark Zuckerberg to emerge from Korea. [INTERVIEW] David Lee / Co-founder, Seoul Space [Camera] Yi Kyung-ho
Connie Lee, Arirang News.
A lot of people head to beaches or mountain valleys to beat the summer heat, but Mother Nature also offers other, arguably cooler, escapes. Jack Quin explains in this report. This is Natural Monument # 236, Hallim Lava Tubes. The sweltering heat starts in the early morning these days, but from the entrance of Hyupjae cave, a chilly wind is blowing. A mother covers her baby with a cloth. The cave is colder then she expected. Once inside the cave, people stop sweating and are instantly cooled. Children entering the cave for the first time are posing for a picture and adults are also excited. < Interview : Seo Ae-yeon, Lee Min-ho> '(정구물)Jeonggumul' cave located in the (금능)Keumneung Stone Park is a hidden vacation spot with icy spring water. Looking at the icy water flowing inside the cave makes visitors cooler, dipping their feet in cold water makes the summer heat disappear. < Interview : Kim Hong-chan, Kim Do-hoon> The average summer temperature of these caves is 17 - 18 degrees Celsius, making them a perfect place to avoid the plus 30 degrees Celsius temperatures outside. Hyupjae Cave and Ssangyong Cave are lava tubes, so there are interesting things to see like stalactite and stalagmites. Jeju's caves are now the new cool thing to do for hot summer vacationers. Jack Quin KCTV.
Olympic athlete meets with governor A soccer player originally from Jeju who now plays for England's Sunderland AFC met Governor Woo Keun-min Monday. (지동원) Ji Dong-won was also part of the national team at the London Olympics when it brought home the bronze medal. The governor said he was proud of Ji for winning the medal as a Jeju native, and he asked the athlete to set a good example for others. Ji scored the first goal in the quarter-final and played a key role in getting the Korean team to the semi-finals. He plans to leave Jeju August 25th after enjoying a vacation with his family at his home on (추자) Chuja Island.
The application and registration period begins Wednesday for the College Scholastic Aptitude Test for the 2013 academic year. The Jeju Provincial Office of Education will accept applications from August 22nd to September 6th. High school seniors and graduates can apply at their current or former schools. Anyone with a high school equivalency certificate or who graduated from a school elsewhere in the country can apply through the educational office. Jeju students who are preparing for the test in the capital region will be able to submit their applications at the Seoul (성동) Seongdong District Office of Education from August 31st through September 6th.
Members of the National Assembly's Knowledge Economy Committee will arrive in Jeju Thursday for a two-day stay to study the island's smart grid and renewable energy industries. Sixteen people are making the trip, including committee chair (강창일) Kang Chang-il, members from the ruling and opposition parties, and the Minister of Knowledge Economy, (홍석우) Hong Seok-woo. While here, they will tour renewable energy and smart grid complexes and then hold a policy forum to determine how to secure growth engines for future energy projects in Jeju. Chairman Kang says he thinks the visit will be a chance to find ways to boost and expand the local renewable energy and smart grid sectors, which are widely thought to become leading industries in the future.
National Assembly committee to visit Jeju Members of the National Assembly's Knowledge Economy Committee will arrive in Jeju Thursday for a two-day stay to study the island's smart grid and renewable energy industries. Sixteen people are making the trip, including committee chair (강창일) Kang Chang-il, members from the ruling and opposition parties, and the Minister of Knowledge Economy, (홍석우) Hong Seok-woo. While here, they will tour renewable energy and smart grid complexes and then hold a policy forum to determine how to secure growth engines for future energy projects in Jeju. Chairman Kang says he thinks the visit will be a chance to find ways to boost and expand the local renewable energy and smart grid sectors, which are widely thought to become leading industries in the future.
Now, in order to save energy and money, as well as increase reliability and transparency, a smart grid uses digital technology to deliver electricity from generating facilities to consumers. Proponents claim this type of network helps address energy independence, climate change, and emergency electrical supply issues. It is essentially a more efficient routing of power, which helps to respond to changing conditions. Members of the National Assembly's Knowledge Economy Committee will soon arrive on the island to learn more about Jeju's smart grid.
Title - Musical 'Sumbisori' Details - Stories of Jeju female sea divers Date - Through September 25 Location - Halla Art Hall
Title - 'Treasure Island, Jeju's Life and Nature' Detail - Local nature photos Date - Through October 19 Location - Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum
▶ As part of the Lotus Flower Festival, art by (강명순) Kang Myung-soon is on display at (법화) Beophwa Temple.
Details - 30+ works by Kang Myung-soon Date - Through August 27 Location - Beophwa Temple
▶ Jeju Stone Park is displaying photographs by (신상범) Shin Sang-beom through September 15th.
Details - 4 seasons of 'oreum' Date - Through September 15 Location - Jeju Stone Park
▶ As part of a series of exhibitions introducing young artists, Yeon Gallery is displaying works by (오문섭) Oh Moon-seop through Friday.
Details - 'Human Nature: Desire and Introspection' Date - Through August 24 Location - Yeon Gallery
▶ The Jeju Design Association is presenting t-shirt banners promoting the upcoming World Conservation Congress.
Details - Jeju Design Association Date - Through September 15 Location - Halla Arboretum |
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| Links | http://www.kctvjeju.com/a/201208/120821n5.asx | ||||
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