G20 Outreach V

Seoul G20 Business Summit

South Korea will be holding a meeting of global business leaders on November 10 and 11 in Seoul prior to the G20 Seoul Summit. Around 80 chief executives of global companies from G20 member nations and 20 business leaders from non-member countries are expected to participate. Four major issues will be addressed – trade and investment, green growth, finance, and corporate social responsibility – to achieve sustainable and balanced growth. The results of the discussions will be reported and recommended to the Seoul G20 summit.

To visit the official web site of the Seoul G20 Business Summit :
http://seoulg20businesssummit.org/en/

What Is Sherpa?

A Sherpa is the President or Prime Minister’s personal representative responsible for negotiating possible agreements at international events such as the G8 and G20, which reduces the amount of time and resources required at the negotiations of the heads of state at the final summit. The Sherpa is usually a senior diplomat, civil servant or in some cases, politician.

The name is derived from the Sherpa people who serve as guides and porters in the Himalaya Mountains, a metaphor indicating that the Sherpa clears the way for a head of state at a major summit.

The last G20 Sherpa meeting was held in Seoul from July 19 to 22 this year.

To view the list of the G20 Sherpas :
http://www.sherpatimes.com/resources/62-resources/252-list-of-g20-sherpa.html

Hanbok Fashion Show to Celebrate the G20

The G20 Hanbok Fashion Show will be held on November 12 at the Changdeokgung Palace for spouses of G20 national leaders to enjoy the delicate and sophisticated beauty of Korea’s national costume. Korea’s most acclaimed Hanbok designers will present some of their newest designs at the show along with some classic pieces. The show is organized and supported by Kim Yoon-ok, the First Lady of the Republic of Korea.

To view the related article :
http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=50976


Check this out!

To view some G20 economy/finance-related statistics, visit the following web site (Korea Statistical Information Service) :
http://kosis.kr/nsportal/bulletin/html/index_eng.html#

G20 Seoul Summit Special
To be continued in the next issue...

G20 Seoul Summit Special IV

The Schedule of the G20 Seoul Summit

How Do G20 Summits Proceed?

Unlike other international summits such as APEC and ASEM which include social mingling among participants and other ceremonial functions, G20 summits are thoroughly business-oriented. For example, the following was President Lee Myung-bak’s schedule for the London Summit held on April 2 and 3 of 2008.

Day 1 (April 2)
09:30 (Korea time): Departing from Korea
14:30 (London time, onwards): Arriving in London
15:30~16:00: Check-in
17:30~
- Summit with the then UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown
- Reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace
(*Invitees composed only of heads of state and ministerial-level entourage)
- Working Dinner
23:00: Retiring

Day 2 (April 3)
07:30~15:00
- Working Breakfast
- Morning Summit
- Working Luncheon
- Finalizing communiqué (official report)
16:00~
- Dialogue/dinner with Korean expatriates in the UK

Day 3 (April 4)
- Breakfast with UK-based Korean business men
- Summit with President Hu Jintao of China and Prime Minister Aso of Japan
- Luncheon with UK finance leaders
- Heading for the airport to return to Korea


Official Events and Schedule of the Seoul Summit

The rough schedule of the G20 Seoul Summit slated for November 11 and 12 is as follows :

Nov 11 (Thur)
- Welcome Reception
- Working Dinner of the Heads of State

Nov 12 (Fri)
- Morning Summit
- Working Luncheon of the Heads of State
- Evening Summit
- Press Conference

To view official events of the Seoul Summit :
http://www.seoulsummit.kr/eng/goPage.g20?menu_seq=G20MENU00060&return_url=TOP01_SUB04


G20 Gyeongju Meeting Held on Oct. 21-23

The Schedule of the G20 Seoul Summit

The G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors was held on October 21-23 in Gyeongju, South Korea. The gathering was designed to review and coordinate key agendas for the upcoming G20 Seoul Summit. At the summit, currency issues sparked strong interest. Korea, as chair, played an active role in mediating conflicts among member nations. Meeting attendees agreed to implement market-determined exchange rate policies and refrain from competitive devaluation of currencies to tackle trade imbalances.

To read related articles :
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE69M02T20101027
http://g20.korea.net/html/news/newsview.asp?view_idx=50821&view_ck=main

To read the official Gyeongju Communiqué :
http://www.g20.org/Documents/201010_communique_gyeongju.pdf


G20 Cultural Events and Global Gatherings

During the two-day summit period, a variety of cultural events will be held for diplomatic delegations and representatives from international organizations as well as for global tourists, including: Jongmyojereak (a royal ancestral rite, a UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage) performed by the National Center for the Korean Traditional Performing Arts ; the special exhibition “Masterpieces of Goryeo Buddhist Painting” at the National Museum of Korea ; lectures on world literature, art exhibitions and film screenings organized by the National Library of Korea.

To learn more about it :
http://www.korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&guid=50668


Check this out !

"Shared Growth Beyond Crisis"

To view an introductory video clip on the G20 Seoul Summit :
http://www.koreabrand.net/kr/pcnb/pcnb_news_view.do?SEQ=303


G20 Seoul Summit Special
To be continued in the next issue...

G20 Seoul Summit Special III

The Agenda of the G20 Seoul Summit

Follow-up Agenda

The G20 Seoul Summit, above all, will focus on following up on previous G20 commitments which include :

* Safeguarding the ongoing recovery and restoring fiscal sustainability
* Ensuring strong, sustainable, and balanced global growth
* Building a stronger international financial regulatory system
* Modernizing international financial institutions

To read more in-depth, click the following link :
http://www.seoulsummit.kr/eng/goPage.g20?return_url=TOP01_SUB03_01

New Agenda

In addition to delivering on previous G20 commitments, Korea as the G20 president for 2010, will also bring new perspectives and new issues to the G20, with a view to addressing the needs of the emerging and developing world as part of the effort to support sustainable growth globally.

* Global Financial Safety Net System

Korea is advocating strengthening global financial safety nets to assist countries to deal with capital volatility. Without reliable financial safety nets, many emerging and developing countries have had to rely on self-insurance, giving them greater impetus to accumulate large foreign reserves.

* Development Issues

Korea is also interested in fostering renewed discussions on development issues. The G20 leaders collectively recognized that narrowing the development gap and reducing poverty are integral to the broader objectives to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth, as well as to ensure a more robust and resilient global economy. Korea will act as a bridge between the advanced, emerging and developing worlds by fully engaging all relevant stakeholders, with a focus on the development needs of low income countries.

To read more in-depth, click the following link :
http://www.seoulsummit.kr/eng/goPage.g20?return_url=TOP01_SUB03_02

Did you know? 1

The seating plan is not revealed until the last minute

The Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit will not unveil the seating plan until right before the event, because countries lobby for the order of protocol and seating. The general protocol follows the order of heads of state, heads of government, and representatives from international organizations. Within each group, the order of inauguration and year of an organization’s foundation will be considered.

For the full article, click the following link :
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2010101296388

Did you know? 2

Korean cars to carry international leaders for the summit

When they visit Seoul for next month’s G20 Seoul Summit, the international leaders will ride in Equus limousines manufactured by Hyundai-Kia Motors. The car is equipped with a bullet-proof security system and an automatic break alert system, with emergency lights that turn on automatically if the breaks are activated abruptly. The summit will require a total of 240 official vehicles to transport G20 leaders.

For the full article, click the following link :
http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=50697

Check this out !

Connect to the G20 Seoul Summit with your Mobile Phones :
http://m.seoulsummit.kr/


G20 Seoul Summit Special
To be continued in the next issue..

G20 Seoul Summit Special II

Introduction to the G20 Seoul Summit
What does the hosting of the G20 Seoul Summit mean to Korea?

For a very long time, Korea has never been given a chance to establish international structures or frameworks. It had a challenging time just acquiring a membership to international organizations such as to the UN and the OECD. But with the hosting of the G20 Seoul Summit coming November, Korea has now opened a new diplomatic horizon for itself. Korea can now add its own voice to the global economic order as a rule-setter, not as a mere rule-follower; has moved from the periphery to the center of the global stage.

To read more in depth about it, click the following link :
http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=45396

To view an introductory video clip on the G20 Seoul Summit, click the following link :
http://www.koreabrand.net/kr/pcnb/pcnb_news_view.do?SEQ=300


Congratulatory messages from international leaders

"Korea’s history qualifies it for a leadership role in this changing global economy. Korea is one of the world’s great development success stories successfully advancing from a receiver of development assistance to a provider. Korea is ensuring that the voices of those outside the G20 are heard."

To view the full message of Robert B. Zoellick, World Bank Group President :
http://www.seoulsummit.kr/e_popup/pop_seoul_01.html

"The Korean Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit has brought together a formidable team, uniting the best talent in each policy field. Korea’s own development story and its rapid recovery from the mid-1990s Asian financial crisis are also remarkable, and serve to help and inspire us all."

To view the full message of Angel Gurria, OECD Secretary-General :
http://www.seoulsummit.kr/e_popup/pop_seoul_02.html

"The Government of Korea is exercising strong and effective leadership as the Chair of the G20 at this important stage. A key milestone for much of the financial reform agenda is the Seoul G20 Summit in November. Working in close co-operation, I am confident that the G20 and the FSB will be able in 2010 to put in place the basis for a much stronger and more resilient financial system for the future."

To view the full message of Mario Draghi, FSB (Financial Stability Board) Chief :
http://www.seoulsummit.kr/e_popup/pop_seoul_03.html

Time to show some global etiquette

The G20 Seoul Summit is an international meeting of great prestige where the world economic leaders will convene. Accordingly, Korea will need to exhibit some especially well-cultivated etiquette and decorum for the many foreign visitors who will carry memories of Korea back to their own homes.

Some of the things we could do can be :

* Have a friendly, smiling face
* Lower your voice in public places
* Say “Excuse me” and “Sorry”
* Have good table & driving manners
* Keep public restrooms clean
* Don’t litter in the streets
* Don’t force drinking at social get-togethers
* Reign in your “ppali ppali” (quick quick) tendencies


Check this out !

View video clips on global citizenship produced by the Council in partnership with private companies :
http://www.koreabrand.net/en/wow/wow_globalkorea.do?CATE_CD=0077

G20 Seoul Summit Special
To be continued in the next issue...

G20 Seoul Summit Special I

About the G20 (Group of 20)

From the G7 to the G20

The G20 was formally established at the G7 Finance Ministers’ meeting on 26 September 1999. The emergence of the G20 stemmed from the changing economic reality – a response both to the financial crises of the late 1990s and to a growing recognition that key emerging countries were not adequately included in the core of global economic discussion and governance.

So, the original G7 (composed of the US, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and Italy) grew to the G20. At the third G20 summit held in Pittsburgh on September 24-25, 2009, the G20 was designated as the premier forum for international economic cooperation. Today, the G20 represents two thirds of the world’s population and nearly 88% of the world’s economy.

For a more detailed story, click the following link :

http://www.seoulsummit.kr/eng/goPage.g20?menu_seq=G20MENU00061&return_url=TOP02_SUB01

Who are the G20 and their heads of state?

The G20 includes 19 countries and the European Union.

* G7 : US, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy
* 4 Asian Countries : Republic of Korea, China, India, Indonesia
* 3 Latin American Countries : Argentina, Brazil, Mexico
* 4 European Countries : Russia, Turkey, Australia, the EU Chair
* South Africa and Saudi Arabia

To view details of the G20 countries including their leaders, click the following link :
http://g20.korea.net/html/g20/members.asp


Who else will participate in the Seoul Summit in addition to the G20?

Korea will invite 5 non-member countries and 7 international organizations to the G20 Seoul Summit (scheduled for November 11-12) that have close relationships with the agendas of the summit.

The 5 non-members are Malawi, Vietnam, Spain, Singapore and Ethiopia, and the 7 international organizations include the United Nations, International Labor Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Trade Organization, and the Financial Stability Board.

Non-G20 member countries have been invited to previous G20 summits in order to enhance the effectiveness and representativeness of the meeting.


Check this out !

Flickr G20 Seoul Summit Photo Stream :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/g20seoulsummit

G20 Seoul Summit Special

Cristo Rei Statue- DILI

Sunrise over the Cristo Rei Statue - a statue of Jesus much like the ones in Brazil and Portugal (East Timor is a former Portuguese colony). you can see the statue's distant silhouette on the leftmost peak of the peninsula - there!
This shot was taken from the beach in front of my House..

The Fascinating World of Hangul Calligraphy

Are you familiar with calligraphy?

There is a growing interest for hangul (the Korean alphabet) not only as a set of alphabets but also as an artistic theme. Known for its highly scientific and pragmatic nature, now hangul is being re-discovered as calligraphy (the art of fancy lettering) as well as

applied as a fashion component.

In calligraphy, letters transform into something unique, one-of-a kind, and creative that reflects the emotions of the particular theme that the words denote. Used in the poster for “Festival” (a film directed by Gwon-Taek Lim), hangul calligraphy is now used everywhere, far and wide, from movie posters, book jackets, record covers, to product advertisements etc.

Calligraphy on the Web

Calligraphy is gaining popularity in the online world as well. Breaking away from the uniform Microsoft fonts, web users are now turning to more original letterings and do not hesitate to make a purchase for calligraphies to use for their blogs and homepages. It is estimated that annual volume of font purchase is over KRW 10 billion.

Cyworld, the widespread web site that offers mini homepages, sell 20,000 fonts daily, and introduces new fonts everyday that are customized to meet users particular wants and demands. Fonts that apply the handwritings of celebrities such as Yuna Kim are particularly appealing to the customers.

People Love Hangul-themed Fashion

"Lie Sang-Bong, a fashion designer known for his hanguel-theme works"

"Ceramics designed with the theme of Hanguel"

Lie Sang-Bong is one of the most well-known Korean fashion designers who is especially acclaimed and recognized for his hangul-themed works. His range of work includes not only clothes, but accessories, electronics, and home appliances as well. Lie incorporates hangul usually written vertically, aptly conveying traditional Korean flavor at the same time as keeping it modern and suave.

Hangul-themed design is gaining further vitality with the efforts of Dong-Eui University in Busan, which established “Han Fashion Center” in 2006 with the support from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

The Han Fashion Center launched its own brand called “Hooga” and undertakes various activities such as exporting design carpets abroad and supporting some 130 local companies that lack design capacities. The center aims to create design products that capture the characteristic beauty of hangul – the harmony between its lineal and curved lines.

Hangul, created by King Sejong, is now being re-created in the hands of designers.

As you may have noticed, last October 9 was Hangul Day in Korea. It was a day for us to ponder the value and beauty of the great Korean alphabet, especially in these times where there is an unbridled deluge of foreign languages, ugly slangs and obscure jargons in our everyday communication.

Major events http://eventdaum.daum.net/ribbonevent_20100915/

Benefits of Red Ginseng

Autumn is here now in full swing. As the saying goes, you can see “the sky getting higher and horses getting plump.”
In these crisp, pleasant days, are you one of those people who feel always sleepy and somewhat lethargic, dozing in the bus and missing your stop?

If you are, then I’d like to introduce you to a certain health food: Red ginseng.

"A study found out that red ginseng helps boost your immune system"

Red Ginseng Prevents Swine Flu

When the H1N1 swine flu virus swept the nation last year, the sales of ginseng and red ginseng skyrocketed as well. People believed there is nothing more effective than Korean ginseng in increasing immunity against flus. Not totally ungrounded, but still there hadn’t been sufficient scientific study to back up such an argument.

" 15 versus 42 cases"

Now, more about ginseng has been unveiled at the 10th International Symposium on Ginseng held on September 15. The results of a research on the effectiveness of ginseng in preventing H1N1 were announced. According to the study, the group who took ginseng along with vaccination had a 40% higher survival rate than the group who took only vaccination. Red ginseng, in particular, was found to boost up defense against not only H1N1 but seasonal flus as well.

An experiment was conducted with 227 participants at three medical offices in Milan, Italy. Half of them were given ginseng at a dosage of 100mg daily, the other half placebo. The results showed a significant decline in the frequency of colds and flus in the treated group compared to the placebo group (15 versus 42 cases).


Red Ginseng Also Reduces Fatigue and Prevents Cancer

Other benefits of red ginseng include reducing fatigue, improving blood circulation, and getting rid of fat and cholesterol.

"2010 Punggi Ginseng Festival held from Oct. 1 through 6 in Yeongju"

Red ginseng also helps quench thirst, especially for diabetics who urinate a lot to get rid of the extra sugar in their blood. Also, red ginseng is good for enhancing your stamina in general. Those who often catch cold and never have enough energy might as well give it a try!

The size of the domestic red ginseng market, currently, is about KRW 1 trillion. And with the increasing consumer demand, it is expected to further grow, as much as six-folds within a few years. In addition, as an increasing number of foreigners are taking interest in the benefits of red ginseng, there is to be a lot more export and branching out into global markets.

Well, it seems like red ginseng is all that is good! Why not brace up ourselves against the vicious seasonal flus with some help from red ginseng? ;)

Major events http://eventdaum.daum.net/ribbonevent_20100915/

아산시 한마당 체육대회를 다녀와서/Hanmadang Asan City Athletics

Hanmadang Asan City Athletics

For more pictures

View all

Get your own

View all

Get your own

Trip to the 안면도/Anmyeondo beach!

Located 30km away from Taean, Anmyeondo Island is the sixth biggest island in Korea where a bridge constructed in 1970 (extending 200m) connects the island with Taean-gun. The peninsula connected with Nammyeon, was isolated during the Joseon Dynasty by cutting off access between Changgi-ri in Anmyeon-eup and Shinon-ri in Nammyeon for the convenience of tax transportation. The island's coast is lined with some 14 beaches as well as abundant pine trees which are symbols of Anmyeon-eup. The island also owns Anmyeondo Natural Forest forests such as the Mogamju Forest.

For more information www.anmyondo.com/ (Korean only)

View all

Get your own