cry cry ! T-ara !

Top Ecotourism Destinations Announced

The organizing committee for the 2012 World Conservation Congress, the four-yearly global conference on nature conservation, has designated 25 nature sites in Korea as top ecotourism destinations.

Already top destinations in Korea, the 25 sites including the Danyang Palgyeong (Eight Scenic Wonders of Danyang), which includes Dodamsambong Peaks and Seokmun, as well as Gosu Cave, the Sobaeksan National Park hiking trail in Yeongju, Daraengi Village in Namhae, the Demilitarized Zone and Imjingang River in Paju, and Eulsukdo Island at the estuary of Nakdonggang River in Busan will represent Korea's ecotourism destinations at the 2012 World Conservation Congress.

Meanwhile, the World Conservation Congress has been organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 1948. The 2012 World Conservation Congress is set to take place in Jeju from September 6th through the 12th.

World Students in Korea (WSK) - Recruiting the 6th Batch !

The Presidential Council on Nation Branding (PCNB) is recruiting the 6th batch of members for the program “World Students in Korea.”

“World Students in Korea” aims to provide international students in Korea with opportunities to experience Korea in a more organized, diverse, and involved manner and to promote cultural exchanges between Korea and the students’ home countries through the blogs (web logs) run by the member students.

The 1st batch was launched in July 2009. Members participate in a variety of activities including camps, field trips, workshops, performances and other events.

1. Number of members sought : Fifty (50)

2. Application Period : Nov 21(Mon) – Dec11 (Sun) 2011

3. Eligibility
- International students (i.e. those who are currently enrolled in an educational institution(s) in Korea)
- Those who own and run a blog (* Those who do not have a blog are requested to open one prior to applying)
- Those who are interested in Korea’s industries and culture
- Priority for selection will be given to those who speak Korean

4. Tenure
Jan 2012 – June 2012 (6 months)

5. Tasks
- Open and run an individual blog upon which students are to post contents (articles, photos, videos, etc.) related to Korea
- Attend various workshops, field trips, and events hosted by the Council

6. Benefits
- Upon evaluation by the Council at the end of the tenure, students who have shown distinguished on- and offline activities will receive awards (e.g. A round trip flight ticket to home country for Grand Prize winner)
- A small gift will be provided for the students who have shown excellent activities upon evaluation by the Council at the end of the month.
- Opportunities to attend diverse cultural events and performances related to Korea, or those hosted by the Council
- Media coverage (TV programs, interviews with newspapers, magazines etc.) regarding WSK activities and Korea

7. How to Apply
Via the Council’s official web site. Click the following link:
http://www.koreabrand.net/html/en/embeddedform_6.html

8. Inquiries

Ms. Jung-A Lee
Culture, Tourism & Global Citizenship Bureau
Presidential Council on Nation Branding
brand@koreabrand.go.kr

Ms. Jin-Sook Lee
International Cooperation Bureau
Presidential Council on Nation Branding
milkyway@koreabrand.go.kr

*** For further information on the Presidential Council on Nation Branding, visit http://www.koreabrand.net


World Students in Korea (WSK)
제 6기 멤버 모집


대통령직속 기구인 국가브랜드위원회가 World Students in Korea 제 6기 멤버들을 모집합니다.

World Students in Korea는 한국에서 유학하고 있는 외국인 학생들에게 한국을 보다 다양하고 심도 있게 경험할 수 있는 기회의 장을 제공하며, 학생들이 운영하는 블로그를 통하여 한국과 학생들 자국 간의 관계를 더욱 돈독히 하는 데 목적을 두고 있는 프로그램입니다.

2009년 7월 제 1기가 선발되었고, 그간 캠프, 문화탐방, 공연관람, 워크숍, 간담회 등 다양한 체험과 활동이 있었습니다.

대한민국의 온라인 홍보대사로 활약하게 될 WSK 제 6기 모집에 외국인 유학생들의 많은 지원 바랍니다.

1. 모집 인원 : 50명

2. 모집 기간 : 2011년 11월 21일(월) – 12월 11일(일)

3. 지원 자격
- 외국인 유학생 (즉, 한국의 교육기관에 적을 두고 있는 외국인)
- 블로그 운영자 (* 미개설자의 경우 신청전까지 블로그 개설필수)
- 한국어 구사 가능자 우선
- 한국의 문화 및 산업에 관심을 가지고 있는 사람

4. 활동 기간 : 2012년 1월 – 2012년 6월 (6개월)

5. 활 동
- 국가브랜드위원회 주최 캠프, 문화행사, 워크숍 등 참여
- 개인 블로그에 한국 관련 소식 소개

6. 특 전
- 활동기간 말 위원회 측에서 평가를 실시해 우수한 활동을 보인 학생들에게 소정의 상품을 수여 (대상: 모국으로의 왕복 항공권)
- 활동기간 중 매 월말 평가를 통해 우수한 활동을 보인 학생에게 소정의 상품 수여
- 한국과 관련된 다양한 문화행사, 공연, 전시회 등에 참가 우선권 부여
- WSK 활동 및 한국에 대한 방송/신문 인터뷰 및 출연

7. 지원 접수
국가브랜드위원회 공식 웹사이트를 통한 직접 온라인 접수. 아래의 링크를 클릭하세요.
http://www.koreabrand.net/html/en/embeddedform_6.html

8. 문의 사항

이정아 과장
국가브랜드위원회 문화시민국
brand@koreabrand.go.kr

이진숙 사무관
국가브랜드위원회 대외협력국
milkyway@koreabrand.go.kr

*** 국가브랜드위원회 공식 웹사이트: www.koreabrand.net

ថាក់ស៊ីន ណែនាំ យីងឡាក់ យកគំរូផែនការ ការពារគ្រោះ ទឹកជំនន់ តាមកូរ៉េខាងត្បួង

យោងតាម ព័ត៌មាន AFP នៅថ្ងៃ ពុធ ទី ២៣ ខែ វិច្ឆិកា នេះឲ្យដឹងថា អតីតនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ថៃ លោក ថាក់ស៊ីន ស៊ីណាវ៉ាត្រា បានធ្វើដំណើរ ទៅប្រទេសកូរ៉េ ខាងត្បូង ទស្សនៈកិច្ចគម្រោងទំនប់ការពារទឹកទន្លេ របស់កូរ៉េខាងត្បូងមានតម្លៃ ១៩ពាន់លានដុល្លារសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ហើយលោកថាក់ស៊ីន នឹងនាំយកគម្រោងនេះ មកអនុវត្តន៍ ដើម្បីការពារ និង ដោះស្រាយគ្រោះមហន្តរាយ ទឹកជំនន់នៅប្រទេសថៃ។

លោក កូយង ស៊ុក មន្រ្តីក្រសួងដែនដីកូរ៉េខាងត្បួង បានឲ្យដឹងថា ការធ្វើដំណើរមកប្រទេសកូរ៉េ លើកនេះ ជាដំណើរទស្សនៈកិច្ចផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន ចាប់ពីថ្ងៃ ២១-២៤ ខែ វិច្ឆិកា ដែលក្នុងនោះលោក ថាក់ស៊ីនបានទៅទស្សនា គម្រោងប្រឡាយទឹក ទំនប់ទឹក និង តំបន់ទស្សនីយ៍ភាព ៤ កន្លែងសំខាន់របស់កូរ៉េខាងត្បូងផងដែរ។

ក្រៅពីនេះ លោក ថាក់ស៊ីន បានធ្វើបទសម្ភាសន៍ជាមួយសារព័ត៌មានកូរ៉េខាងត្បូង ឈូស៊ុន អ៊ីលបូថា លោកនឹងនាំយកលទ្ធផល នៃដំណើរទស្សនៈកិច្ចកូរ៉េខាងត្បូង លើកនេះ ប្រាប់និង ណែនាំដល់ នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីថៃ យីងឡាក់ ស៊ីណាវ៉ាត្រា ដែលជាប្អូនស្រីបង្កើត របស់លោកឲ្យបានជ្រាប ផងដែរ។

លោក ថាក់ស៊ីន ក៏បានអះអាងផងដែរថា លោកធ្លាក់មានផែនការការពារគ្រោះរាំងស្ងូត កាលដែលសម័យលោកជានាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីថៃ តែត្រូវបានផ្តូលរំលំដោយរដ្ឋ ប្រហារ កាលឆ្នាំ ២០០៦ ហើយផែនការនេះក៏បានរលាយផងដែរ៕

Korea Pass

Korea Pass is a prepaid tourism card designed by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).

KOREA PASS cards are available in denominations of 50,000, 100,000, 300,000 and 500,000won. KOREA PASS cards are also available with an optional transportation function, the balance of which is separate from that of the main, prepaid service of the card. The transportation credit on these cards must be recharged separately from the main credit. In the case of KOREA PASS BUSAN, the design of cards differs according to where they are bought and the amount of prepaid balance on the card. Cards with a prepaid balance of 50,000won are red, while those with a prepaid balance of more than 50,000 won are blue. * For more information, please call (02) 1330 24-hour Travel Info Service.

SNSD -way to go (Accident)

Applications for Ganhwa Seon (Zen) Now Available

Dongguk University International Seon (Zen) Center is now accepting applications for the next Ganhwa Seon session, scheduled to run from January 12th through the 19th, 2012. Ganhwa Seon is a meditation practice for ridding oneself of any adverse conditions, defined by torpor, distraction and doubt, and concentrating on strengthening his core. Participation is open to the first 60 people who submit their application forms by email between November 1st and December 31st, 2011.

More Info

☞ Event period: January 12-19, 2012
☞ Venue: Daegak Dharma Hall (Dongguk Univ. International Seon Center)
☞ Seats for Practice: 60 (first-come, first-served)
☞ Sign-up period: November 1-December 31, 2011
☞ Application: Send your Application Form to dongguk0411@dongguk.edu
☞ Participation fee: Free
☞ Event Schedule
January 12, 2012 - 08:30 Orientation / 09:30 Opening Dharma Talk
January 19, 2012 - 14:00 Closing Dharma Talk
* Sunim (Seon Master) will give a daily dharma talk once or twice each day.
* Participants may practice Ganhwa Seon freely for the rest of each day.
* Daily Ganhwa Seon session will run from 09:00 to 20:00.

Source : Visit Korea

ក្រសួងទេសចរណ៍ ប្រឡងជ្រើសរើស មគ្គុទ្ទេសក៍ ទេសចរណ៍ និយាយ ភាសាកូរ៉េឆ្នើម ចំនួន៥នាក់

2011 Melon Music Awards !

Korean Air Internship Result Delay !

Dear All,

Thank you for applying for Korean Air Global Internship.

We would like to apologize that the document (application) screening will be delayed.

Due to high number of students applying for the internship, lot more than expected,

we are looking into all options to provide more opportunities for interviews.

Thanks to your hot support we will take more time to expand the candidates that

can visit us for the interview. It will likely be early next week. We will let you know again.

For reference,

1) Planned Internship period (not finalized yet)

: January 16^th, 2012 to February 10^th, 2012 (4 weeks)

2) Planned location : Seoul , nearby GIMPO AIRPORT (Korean Air Headquarters)

We do not provide place to stay. It will be up to the Interns

to find a place if you are not from SEOUL .

(Same rules were sent out to previous Internship Program)

PLEASE ADVISE US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU CANNOT PARTICIPATE DUE TO PERIOD OR

LOCATION SO WE CAN PROVIDE OTHER STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES.

Thank you once again for your high interest and apologies for the late screening.

We will advise you again with details. Thank you.

Free K-pop Concert Ticket Giveaway

Free K-pop Concert Ticket Giveaway

Are you a K-Pop fan who lives in Korea? Then this is the event for you! The KTO will be holding a FREE concert mini-series this December (2011) in anticipation of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games. Come see top stars like 2AM, B2ST, Miss A & more at the beautiful Yongpyong Resort in Gangwon-do. Call the 1330 tt Call Center now for your chance to win 2 free K-pop concert tickets!

● Concert Details
◈ Date: December 2nd (Fri.) – December 4th (Sun.), 2011
◈ Place: Gangwon-do, Yongpyong Resort, Yongpyong Dome
(Free shuttle bus between Seoul and Yongpyong Resort).
◈ Concert Dates & Line-up:

Concert Details

Date & Time	Dec. 2 (Fri.) 19:00 - 21:00	Dec. 3 (Sat.) 19:00 - 21:00	Dec. 4 (Sun.) 19:00 - 21:00
Place	Yongpyong Resort	Yongyong Resort	Yongyong Resort
Line-up	2AM U-kiss After School Leader’s	G.NA BEAST 4minutes My Name Kim Kyujong (SS501)	Miss A ZE:A Sistah Davichi B1A4

* Schedule and line-up subject to change.

● Event Details
◈ Eligibility: Foreign nationals living in Korea
◈ Period: November 14th (Mon.) – November 27th (Sun.), 2011
◈ Tickets: 50 winners (2 tickets each) will be selected for each concert date (150 winners total)
* Tickets will be distributed onsite.
◈ Winners Announcement: November 29 (Tues.) 2011, 11:00am (Korean time).
** Winners will be notified by SMS (mobile text messaging)


● How to enter:

1. 1. Call the tt call center at 02-1330
2. 2. Leave your name, gender, nationality, phone number, & date you wish to attend the concert
   

No Oil Country Sells Oil!

Ship is the main export of Korea. It is natural that Koreans are proud of their ship, saying that it is the best in the world. Well, then what is the second leading export? It’s Oil. People say that Korea has no oil, but it has petroleum companies which sell half of their products abroad.

No Oil Nation Exports Oil!

(Source: EBN Industry News)

The type of the oil that Korea imports from other oil-producing countries is crude oil. The crude oil is used to make a large number of other fuels and ingredients of consumer products. Firstly put crude oil into big tank and boil up. Crude oil becomes gas and it goes up through the chimney. The substances of low boiling point and low molecular weight go up easily but the others don’t.

If the crude oil substance gets frozen, we can get liquid substance. We call this ‘fractional distillation’. The main ingredient of crude oil is hydrocarbon but it has some impurities in it. When impurities are removed, other substances are eliminated, too. This is the process to gain refined oil. Korea exports this refined oil all over the world.

The refined oil influences the export of petroleum products, such as semiconductor, mobile phone, LCD and automobiles. Korea Custom Service shows that Korea sold out petroleum products amount of 29.5 billion dollars at the first half year. This figure is up 70 % compared to last year. The number one is ship amount of 36.1 billion dollars.

The official of Korea Custom Service says that despite rising oil prices and export prices, domestic refineries have continued to develop technology and expand target market. And finally they were able to see the fruit of their efforts. Their investments for advanced facilities played an important role in increasing exports. Advanced facilities make value added products such as gasoline or diesel out of Bunker C oil of low price and poor quality.

< Export in the first half year > (Source: Edaily)

Korea is well known for this ship technology. Korea created something out of nothing. Domestic refineries have steadily invested in advanced facilities on a large scale. Petroleum products from the process are now the main export items.

Increasing Oil Exports

It is a trend for domestic refineries to increase the export portion to earn stable profits. Fortunately when crude oil price rises, oil product price is to rise. Unlike other industry impact of soaring price of raw materials is less. The official says refineries make a profit which is second to none.

< Quarterly Trend of Oil Export > (Source: Herald Economy)

The official of Korea Custom Service says the export volume increased largely due to the rising export price, value added technology, diversification of products and expansion of target market. Many years have passed to become oil export nation from non oil nation. However we have to be prepared for oil exhaustion.

Girls' Generation's gift to Cambodian Girl !

2011 DMZ Tracking Festival

Surprise Event for Travelers to Korea!

Korea Tourism Organization is giving away 3,000 Korea Pass cards on a first-come, first-served basis to international visitors arriving in Korea between November 7th and December 15th, 2011.

The Korea Pass cards, each worth 20,000 won, can be used anywhere except for transportation and at Shinsegae and Hyundai Department Stores, E-Mart and Homeplus.

The travelers must bring a copy of their online application, airplane ticket and passport to the Tourist Information Center in order to receive the free gift.

Korean Air Internship !

Korean Air – Global Internship

© Title : Korean Air Internship Program for Foreign Students
The KOREAN AIR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM is providing opportunities for foreign students currently studying in Korea. The main purpose for the internship is to find students with passion and sincerity to become a global leader.

Interns completing with good performance will be offered a Korean Air position within their own country or overseas station, The specific qualifications are as follows.



1. Application Acceptance Period : Deadline (November 7th, 18:00)
: From October 24th, 2011 to November 7th, 2011 18:00

2. Internship Department : Departments in International Passenger/Cargo Network

3. Origin Country: (11 Countries)
: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

4. Qualification Standard
¦ Class of August 2012 or February 2013 (Including graduates)
¦ Foreign Student Visa (D-2) or Visa that are suitable for internship participation
¦ English Speaking Required, Test score holders preferred as follows
* TOEIC (Over 750) or TEPS (Over 630) or IBT (Over 87)
* Test scores after October 2009 are only effective
¦ Korean Bilingual will be reviewed with preference

5. Application Process
m Visit Korean Air Recruiting Website (http://recruit.koreanair.co.kr) and fill out the required forms as listed
m Detail Menu : KOREAN - 세부메뉴: KOREAN – 입사지원/확인 – 지원서작성
(Basic Korean will be required)

6. Recruitment Process
¦ Application registration " Application screening " Company & English/Korean Test
- English : Speaking Test, Korean : Translation Test

7. Internship Program
m Period : 4 weeks in Early 2012 (January ~ February)
m Program : Basic understanding of Airline industry and working in Passenger/Cargo

8. Required Documents (Must bring for interview)
¦ Tran (Grades) from current school X ONE COPY
¦ Certificate of graduation (or soon to be graduate) X ONE COPY
¦ English test scores listed below (after October, 2009) X ONE COPY
* TOEIC (over 750) or TEPS (over 630) or IBT (over 87)
* Only for those who have such scores
¦ Certificate of any other license X ONE COPY
* Only for those who have such certificates
¦ Foreign Registration Card and Passport/Visa X ONE COPY
* Original and copy are both needed for cross check

9. Reference
¦ Results of the application screening will be announced on November 17th. (Thursday)
¦ Required documents are only for candidates passing the application screening.
¦ Required documents will only be used for Internship purpose and will not be returned.
¦ The Internship will be provided with lunch and daily salary (KRW 50,000)
¦ The following schedule can be adjusted based on the Company schedule.
¦ For inquires, please contact Korean Air HR Department as follows,
- NAME : Manager (Mr. RHEE, June Young)
- EMAIL : juneyrhee@koreanair.com

ប្រធាន Google អំពាវនាវឲ្យ កូរ៉េខាង ត្បូង​ ធ្វើកំណែទម្រង់​ ប្រព័ន្ធអ៊ីនធឺណែត

ប្រធានក្រុមហ៊ុន Google លោក អេរីច ស្គេមីដត៍ នៅថ្ងៃអង្គារ ទី៨ ខែវិច្ឆិកា បានសម្តែងការ កោតសរសើរចំពោះការរីកចំរើនផ្នែកឧស្សាហកម្ម បច្ចេកវិទ្យាព័ត៌មាន របស់ប្រទេសកូរ៉េខាងត្បូង ប៉ុន្តែលោកសូមអំពាវនាវ ទៅដល់ប្រទេសនេះ ឲ្យធ្វើកំណែទម្រង់នៃការ ប្រើប្រាស់ប្រព័ន្ធអ៊ីនធឺណែត ដើម្បីភាពងាយក្នុងការប្រើប្រាស់។

តាមព័ត៌មានពី គេហទំព័រ Channel News Asia បានឲ្យដឹងនៅថ្ងៃ ទី០៨ ខែវិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ ថា លោក អេរីច បានបង្ហាញចេញនូវទស្សនៈផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន ក្នុងនាមក្រុមហ៊ុន Google ថាកំណែទម្រង់ទៅលើការប្រើប្រាស់ប្រព័ន្ធអ៊ីធឺណែត នៅប្រទេសកូរ៉េនេះ គួរតែមានភាពបើកទូលាយ និងទំនើបជាងមុន ហើយប្រការនេះវាត្រូវការការពិនិត្យបន្ថែមទៀត នូវនយោបាយផ្លូវច្បាប់ពី បណ្តាប្រទេសផ្សេងៗ។

គួរបញ្ជាក់ថា ប្រទេសកូរ៉េខាងត្បូង ជាប្រទេសដែលមានសក្តានុពល មួយក្នុងចំណោមបណ្តា ប្រទេសនានានៅលើពិភពលោក ដែល ៩៥ភាគរយនៃប្រជាជនរបស់ប្រទេសនេះប្រើប្រាស់ អ៊ីនធឺណែត ហើយកូរ៉េខាងត្បូងនេះ ក៏ស្ថិតនៅក្នុងចំណោមប្រទេសដែលមានល្បឿន អ៊ីនធឺណែត Download លឿនជាង គេនៅលើពិភពលោកផងដែរ នេះបើយោងតាម ការ បញ្ជាក់ពីការសិក្សាដែល បានមកពីបណ្តាញនានា របស់ Pando ។

ប៉ុន្តែអ្វីដែលជាបញ្ហាចំពោះ ប្រទេសនេះ គឺអ្នកប្រើប្រាស់ទាំងអស់ត្រូវតែ ធ្វើទៅតាមច្បាប់ដែល តម្រូវឲ្យដាក់ឈ្មោះពិតនៅពេលដែលចង់ បង្ហោះព័ត៌មានអ្វីមួយនោះ។

គួរបញ្ជាក់ថាកាលពី ឆ្នាំ២០០៩ ក្រុមហ៊ុន Google បានបដិសេធចំពោះសំណើរបស់ប្រទេសកូរ៉េខាងត្បូង ដែល តម្រូវឲ្យអ្នកប្រើប្រាស់ ទាំងអស់បញ្ចូលនូវឈ្មោះពិតរបស់ខ្លួន ពេលដែលចង់បង្ហោះវីដេអូ របស់ពួកគេ ចូលទៅក្នុងគេហទំព័រកំសាន្ត Youtube៕

Essay Contest

The Embassy of Ireland in Korea is sponsoring an Essay Contest.
What: Essay about Korea & Ireland, minimum of 1,500 words
When: Deadline to submit is November 30
Prizes: Airline ticket to Ireland, chance to study in Ireland, Irish homestay, cash, cultural prizes
More Information: http://www.embassyofireland.or.kr/home/index.aspx?id=81828

2PM Asia Tour 2011

Meet 2PM in KL !

Be My Baby, New song from Wonder Girl !

Makgeolli !

Wanna test Makgeolli? Let's go ! here is the event ! :)

Makgeolli

What's Makgeolli?

Makgeolli, also known as Makkoli or Makuly(takju) (and referred to in English as "Korean rice wine"), is an alcoholic beverage native to Korea. It is made from a mixture of wheat and rice which gives it a milky, off-white color, and sweetness. It is made by fermenting a mixture of boiled rice, wheat and water, and is about 6–8% alcohol by volume. Most makgeolli contains rice these days; however a few brands contain wheat instead of rice. It was originally quite popular among farmers, earning it the name nongju (농주 / 農酒), which means "farmer liquor". However, it has recently started to become more popular in cities, especially with the younger generations. Dongdongju (동동주) is a drink very similar to makgeolli, and both are commonly imbibed alongside Korean "pancakes" called pajeon (파전) or bindaetteok (빈대떡).

World Leader in Research of Stem Cells

Recently, the International Stem Cell symposium was held in Korea. The stem cell research of Korea has drawn the attention worldwide. If the stem cell treatment can be developed successfully, we human can overcome a lot of diseases.

World’s First Stem Cell Treatment will be Released within the Year

The prominent “Stars” of the stem cell area visited Seoul last month. The third international stem cell symposium was held on September 29 in Seoul for two days. The world famous 25 researchers participated at the symposium including Dr. Nishigawa Shinichi who developed IPS for the first time in the world. The recent news on the stem cell development by the life engineering company in Korea and its world’s 4th approval of medical test drew a big attention in the academic world.

(Source: Donga Ilbo)

The experts expect that the 'mesenchymal stem cells' treatment would be available first for commercial use. The mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells obtained by bone marrow, fat and so on. A leader of business application group of cord blood stem cells in Seoul National University says that mesenchymal stem cells are safe because the immune rejection response, which attacks organs or cells that transplanted, is less and also it can be made into the cells we want. A company in Korea developed the medicine for arthritis and acute myocardial infarction and completed the third clinical trials for human last January and July. The medicine would be the first stem cell treatment in the world if it passes Korea food & drug administration’s assessment and be released within this year.

Kim Dong Uk, the business application research group leader, said that the first generation treatment was adult stem cells and the second generation treatment would be the stem cells divided into various tissues. He expected that more research would be done for the second generation treatment. Embryonic stem cell and iPS are regarded as the second generation treatments. The embryonic stem cell is derived from the embryo formed by combination of sperm and egg. IPS, which is reverted from somatic cells, is a stem cell quite similar to embryonic stem cell. Embryonic stem cell and IPS can be divided and formed into a variety of organs.

< Researchers in the 3rd international stem cell symposium > (Source: Donga Ilbo)

Kim said that Zeron, US life engineering company, started a trial using embryonic stem cells for the first time in the world and within five to ten years embryonic stem cell treatment would come out. However, there would be controversy for the time being because the treatment has ethical issues.

< Healing process with stem cell treatment > (Source: MoneyToday)

Tasks Still Remained

Meanwhile, IPS found in 2006 doesn’t have ethical issues but the research is insufficient. Natalie Dewit, director of Korea Pateur research center, expected that IPS would go into clinical trial phase late 2010s. The thing that IPS is randomly divided has to be solved in order to get the cells we want. Kim Gwang Su, a director of stem cell research center, said that the technology dividing IPS into brain cell has a big progress but for some other cells, there is still a long way to go. “The research is in progress.” He added.

Experts expect that IPS would be firstly applied to the experimental animals. The findings, which measure the medical efficiency converting iPS of the schizophrene into the nerve cells, were reported in Nature last 14th. Stem cells, which are developed from IPS obtained by patients, have the same conditions as human cells so they can be measured more accurately for new medicine.

Many people will be free of diseases once the stem cell treatment is developed. There are still many patients waiting for the positive results. Let’s hope for the success of stem cell research.

Let's go for Apples !

Red apple is very luscious enough to make everyone eager to have one bite. Perhaps it might be natural that the witch of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs chose the apple to fascinate the snow white.

(Picture: FlickrⓒMuffet)

Well, thanks to the technological development, we can see apples at any season of the year. There are some people who don’t even remember which is the apple season. What do you think it is the season? The answer is “Autumn” that sunshine paints all the fields gold and apples red. Shall we go for some apples with family? Pick out the apples and enjoy the local attractions.

(Picture: Flickrⓒedenpictures)

By the way, did you know there is an event that let you pick those delicious apples? You can have hands on experience from the end of October near Mt.Sobaeck, Yeongju. You can buy the apples you pick at a discount, too. All the apples will be harvested by the early November, which means it’s better to reserve the event as soon as possible. If you bring your children, they will learn the value of labor.

Moreover, Yeongju has more wonderful attractions to visit other than the apples. It has many cultural legacies around Mt.Sobaek such as Buseok temple, Sosu shrine, Seonbi village and Jukryoung old road. There are many things for families to do in Yeongju.

Especially, Buseok temple is one of ten greatest Buddhist temples in Korea. It has five national treasures and six national valuables including Murayangsujeon. You may want to lean on the pillar of Murayangsujeon. There is another attraction called Sosu Seowon which is the first Confucius educational institutes named by the King. Many leaders of Joseon were the students of this Seowon. It has a lot of precious materials and documents as well.

Now, let’s take a walk along the national treasures. It is the old road of Jukryoung which is 696 meters high from the sea level located between the second Younhwa peak and Dosol peak. The road was used for 2000 years but it was abandoned for tens of years because of the advancement of transportation system. However, the Yeongju city government restored the road of 2.5 kilometers from Hibangsa station to Jukryoung jumak in 1999. Take a walk along the old road and take a breath of forest with your family, looking at autumn foliage. Are you ready ?

Pick Munkyoung Apples and Enjoy festival!

Munkyung is one of the best places for planting apples because the location and the climate are just perfect. Grown in the limestone soil of Mt.Sobaek, apples become very hard and sweet. Although the very wide daily temperature range, and the low temperature at night, plants control their own nutrients, so that they are very sweet, juicy, colorful and aromatic. In addition, Munkyeong apples are very popular for its wonderful climate, rich soil and clean natural environment.

(Picture: FlickrⓒWxMom)

There will be an apple festival around Munkyeong provincial park until the end of month. The title of the event is “Munkyeong apple festival beloved by Snow White”. It sounds like they already have all the delicious and pretty apples to fascinate us.

Once you enjoyed the Picking Apples program and festival, we strongly recommend you the trip to Munkyoung Sae Jae.

Munkyoung Sae Jae is Jo Ryoung mountain ridge used for TV drama shooting spot. It is so steep that there is a word saying “Even birds cannot fly over the mountain”. There are electric cars specially made for children and seniors, which shows the efforts of Munkyoung city government to clean the Mother Nature. Munkyoung Sae Jae Park provides tourists with various things to see. It’s good to walk along the road of old time’s national examination which was chosen as one of 100 beautiful roads in Korea. You can enjoy hiking barefoot there because yellow soil starts from entrance gate to the peak. Children are likely to smile with tickling the soles of their feet. Moreover, there are many other things to enjoy such as a tower of wish, old tavern, and waterfalls. Munkyoung has something that your family would love.

Pick Yesan Apples and Enjoy Festival!

Grown first in 1923, Yesan apples have been well known for hardness and juice produced by the fall sunshine and daily temperature range in rich soil. A variety of apples such as Shinano sweet and Fuji are grown in Yesan. Apple pick-out is available from late September to middle of November. Yesan apple pick-out program attracts many people because it is major producer and located near Seoul metropolitan area.

(Picture: FlickrⓒBryan Maleszyk)

Plus, the Apple Wine festival is held in early November every year. Can you imagine the taste of apple wine? I’ll tell you one thing. Yesan apples are very fresh. You can make it on your own and taste it, too.

Why don’t you refresh yourself in nature forest and pick out some apples in Yesan? Opened in 2007, Bongsusan natural forest has a variety of accommodation for rest. Natural and artificial forests are harmonizing together and many wild life species are existing. Besides, beautiful scenery with Yedang resevior will attracts your mind.

The Hiking course in forest is various from one hour to three-hour course. Hiking course is not tough so it is easy to walk on. You can smell the pine trees with the forest bathing. There are many amusement sites such as houses, children’s park, square and the hand-on hall. These are the rest places for families and group tourists. In addition, tourist can travel Deoksan spa, Sudeok temple, Chungeui temple and a house of Kim Jeong Hee near the forest. What a travel!

(Picture: FlickrⓒAdam E. Cole)

Take a fresh air, have a delicious food and experience a variety of culture on this coming weekend.

Be a friend of 2PM and missA

Such a nice interative movie ! really like it ! Check it out, guy ! you will be a friend of 2PM and missA !

Annyeong !