The Korean daily media headlines and humor

They are also invited to toll the Peace Bell of the World which was made with the expended bullets and shells donated by many countries of the world where there have been conflicts as a token of expression of hopes for peace in the world.

Nestled between the town of Hwacheon and the mountains, the Hwacheon River is not only covered by a thick layer of ice, but also by thousands of festival participants.
Ambassadors and families are invited to attend the Festival on Friday January 17, 2014.

▲'Ice breaker'

▲Left: Amb. Murad Ali of Pakistan 'shakes hands with' former Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo who had visited the Peace Dam and Peace Bell. Right: Visiting foreign VIP guests do the same with one of the Nobel prize winners who had visited the venue.

▲Ambassadors and madams toll the Peace Bell in supplication for the peace of the world.

▲From left: Ambassadors Andonov of Bulgaria and Ali Nafti of Tunisia. novelist Lee Oisoo, Minister Counsellor Branko Marjanac of Serbia, Chairman Lee KS of The Korea Post, Mrs. Lee KS, Prof. Suh Bo-Hyuk of Seoul National University and Prof. Lee Na-mi of Myongji University in Seoul.

Ambassadors and senior diplomats are invited with their spouses and families to attend the Festival on Thursday January 17, 2014. Individual invitation has already been transmitted to the Ambassadors and the senior diplomats. In the event of our transmission failure, please contact Ms. Kim Jeong-mi at Tel 2298-1740/2, 010-3388-1682 or edt@koreapost.com. English-speaking callers please contact David Chung at the same number and email address.
(Further details and photos are at the end of this Headlines.)

This morning we have the wonderful Facebook share of His Excellency former Ambassador Mustafa Kamal of Bangladesh in Seoul:

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Dr. Sang-Ki Hahn's African wise-sayings:

If you cannot build a house, be content to live in a hut.
-A Congolese proverb

It is the person who first goes into the water that knows how deep it is.
-A Nigerian proverb

No one can predict what will happen tomorrow morning.
-A Kenyan & Tanzanian proverb

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Humor from Korean-language economic dailies this morning:

Seoul Kyungje

A bunch of lawyers were sitting around the office playing poker.
"I win!" said Johnson, at which point Henderson threw down his cards.
"That's it! I've had it! Johnson is cheating!!!"
"How can you tell?" Phillips asked. "Those aren't the cards I dealt him!"

Hankuk Kyungje
Sense of Homor
Some thieves bring a conscious sense of humor to their work.
A Costa Rica chicken thief left this note around a rooster’s neck: “I was made a widow at 2 A.M.”
Boston burglars stole $5,000 from a safe and before leaving took a motto from the wall and hung it on the safe. It read: SMILE.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

'No Response from N. Korea on Proposal for Family Reunion Talks'
The Unification Ministry says North Korea has yet to respond to Seoul’s request for talks to arrange inter-Korean family reunions.

S. Korea, US Reaffirm Importance of Alliance
South Korea and the U.S. have shared the view that maintaining their alliance is crucial in deterring North Korea from making provocations.

Korean Firms to Show Off Tech at 2014 Consumer Electronics Show
Anchor: Samsung, LG Electronics and dozens of smaller Korean companies are in Las Vegas this week to show off their products and talk business with other tech firms at the world's largest electronics fair.

Park Urges Public Corporations to Join Reform Drive
President Park Geun-hye has urged South Korea’s ailing public corporations and other state-run agencies to join her drive to reform their sector.

Samsung Electronics' Operating Profit Falls in Q4
Samsung Electronics’ operating profit slipped in the fourth quarter last year after a record-high third quarter.

Gov't Denies Reports About Leaving US Forces North of Han River

Trade Volume of Domestic Bonds Hits Record High in 2013

S. Korea Reclaims 18th Century Buddhist Painting

Seoul to Deal Separately with Family Reunions, Geumgang Tours
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

Kerry highlights NK threats, Yun raises regional history issues
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his American counterpart, John Kerry, agreed Tuesday that the allies will deal sternly with any future North Korean provocations.

N. Korea to hold key parliamentary meeting on March 9
North Korea will hold a major parliamentary election in March, the country's state news agency announced Wednesday.

S. Korea's IT industry seen to fare best this year
South Korea's information and technology (IT) industry is expected to enjoy a boom this year, with business conditions for six other sectors including autos also likely to slightly improve, a report said Wednesday.

Rodman trip brings Kenneth Bae back into spotlight
The Obama administration assured media Tuesday that it is still endeavoring to secure the release of Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American man detained in North Korea.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

Samsung, LG showcase first bendable TVs
LAS VEGAS ― Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, the world’s top two TV makers, heralded the dawn of a truly flexib...

Kerry highlights N.K. threats, Yun raises regional history issues
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his American counterpart, John Kerry, agreed Tue...

History textbook row escalates as political parties enter fray
A local high school announced Tuesday that it is overturning an earlier decision to use a contr...

Boy band singer’s father, grandparents found dead
Police officials announced on Tuesday that they are currently investigating the deaths of the f...

N. Korea to hold key parliamentary meeti...

800 new American troops to stay in Korea...

China hails Park's remarks calling for e...

Hopes high for pope’s visit to Korea

Overseas orders for Korea's industrial p...

U.S. strengthening military presence on ...

Seoul shares edge up on shipbuilders’ g...

Prosecution seeks arrest warrants for To...

Gearing up for Seollal

Pathway out of poverty narrows for Korea...

Ahn calls for end of party nominations i...

South Korea, U.S. resume talks on nuclea...

SNU introduces new enterprise major

Subway crime rate increases sharply

‘Varyd’ designs help label stand out
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

`My three children died'
COCA, Ecuador - For the last two decades since the start of litigation, the victims of toxic oil waste in the Ecuadorian Amazon region have received little support. Their own government and Chevron have continuously shifted resp... Justice for Amazon

Like father, like daughter
President Park Geun-hye is apparently following in her father Park Chung-hee’s footsteps in her governing style, observers said Tuesday. In her first New Year press conference Monday, Park disclosed a three-year project aimed at...

Strong won hurts Samsung Electronics' profits  
Samsung Electronics posted a lower-than-expected operating profit in the fourth quarter due to the... 

Doctors poised to walk out 
Doctors are poised to stage a strike. Members of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), a doctors’ ... 

LS to delist JS Cable to take responsibility for scandal  
LS Group, a cable-to-power systems conglomerate, will delist JS Cable to take responsibility for a... 

US infantry battalion to be deployed north of Seoul  
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) plans to deploy a mechanized infantry battalion north of Seoul this year,... 

'Go' improves cerebral function  
Playing “Go,” a board game created in China more than 2,500 years ago, improves cerebral function,... 

Sangsan rejects Kyohak's textbook  
Sangsan High School in North Jeolla Province abandoned its selection of Kyohak Publishing’s Korean...

Tripartite row looms large over rules on local elections  
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo joined a battle between rival parties over how to revise rules for the local el... 

Seoul to separate family reunions from tours to Mt. Geumgang  
Seoul on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to separating the issue of resuming inter-Korean family... 

Air Force Academy keeps ban on first-year cadets' dating 
The Air Force Academy rejected Tuesday a National Human Rights Commission’s call to allow first-ye...   
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Dong A (http://english.donga.com)

N. Korea earns hard currency at Ankor Wat relics in Cambodia
A culture and history museum that North Korea constructed at Ankor Wat in Cambodia, a world-famous tourist attraction by investing 15 million U.S. dollars will reportedly be launched soon. Quoting the Phnom Penh...

N. Korea invests US$ 15 mln in overseas construction project
A general view of Grand Panorama Museum (top) that has been constructed in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which is home to the Angkor Wat relics, and exhibits on display in the museum. The North will reportedly donate the museum...

Korea faces serious brain drain
According to the annual Brain Drain Index published by Switzerland’s IMD management school, Korea is a country suffering one of the worst brain drains. Of particular concern is that an increasing number of highly...

Seoul, Washington agree to further develop military capabilities
Seoul and Washington agreed on the importance of maintaining a robust combined defense of the Korean peninsula as a strong deterrent against provocations from North Korea. Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John...
Unnoticed winter sports comes into spotlight in Sochi

Rodman visits N. Korea for a friendly game despite death threats

Unscripted news conference of White House

Consistency matters for resource development in foreign countries

Seoul, Washington agree to further develop military capabilities
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)

70% of Elderly Don't Want to Live with Their Children
Seven out of 10 elderly Koreans do not wish to live with their children, and a growing number are paying their own way without relying on their offspring. This reflects a trend whereby more elderly Koreans remain socially active and refuse to become dependent on others.

Corporate Credit Risk Soars to 4-Year High
The credit risk of major conglomerates soared to a four-year high during the fourth quarter of last year. According to the Bank of Korea on Monday, the credit risk index for big businesses came in at 16. The last time the index soared to that level was at the height of the global financial crisis in 2009.

Warmer Weather Brings Thick Haze
Warmer temperatures were expected to continue on Tuesday, but a thick haze blankets the Seoul metropolitan area. The National Institute of Environmental Research said that the concentration of fine particles in the Seoul metropolitan area will rise to 81-120㎍/㎥ on Tuesday.

70% of Elderly Don't Want to Live with Their Children
Seven out of 10 elderly Koreans do not wish to live with their children, and a growing number are paying their own way without relying on their offspring. This reflects a trend...

Germany's Merkel Fractures Pelvis in Skiing Accident
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has fractured her pelvis in a cross-country skiing accident and is walking with the help of crutches, forcing her to call off some foreign visits...

Injured Vonn Says She Will Miss Sochi Games

Polar Vortex Triggers Record Cold in Much of U.S.

China to Allow First Privately-Owned Banks

Pope Set to Name Cardinals Who Reflect His Vision
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Hankyoreh (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Park’s first press conference lacks feeling and vision
She says compromise is not communication and sticks to her own bullish way
On Jan. 6, President Park Geun-hye held a press conference for domestic and foreign reporters, her first since taking office. At the press conference, she explained her plan for running the country in the second year of her presidency.
Park made her intentions to stimulate the economy clear, as a large part of her comments was dedicated to economic issues. But overall, instead of presenting a new message or plan, Park basically reiterated her standard positions.

In first press conference, Pres. Park calls reunification “the jackpot”
President Park Geun-hye expressed her “welcome” of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s recent proposal for improved inter-Korean relations, during a New Year’s press conference on Jan. 6, calling reunification “the jackpot.”
But her positions on reunification and message of welcome remained vague, with many obstacles remaining to any concrete ways of dealing with North Korean denuclearization and other practical issues.

Divided family reunions could depend on resuming tourism at Mt. Keumgang
There are questions over whether reunions for families divided by the Korean War, which were delayed in 2013, can soon be held after President Park Geun-hye proposed holding the reunions to North Korea at the New Year press conference on Jan. 6.

Documents confirm government’s intention to privatize Korail
Internal Korail documents confirm that the ultimate aim of establishing the new Suseo KTX subsidiary would lead to railway privatization.
A final report on an organizational plan to prepare for the operation of Suseo KTX, obtained by the Hankyoreh on Jan. 6, showed that privatization was the goal of establishing the subsidiary and introducing a competitive system.
The report outlines the goal of “introducing competition into the public sector by having management authority for the Suseo-Mokpo and Suseo-Busan high-speed rail project (scheduled to open in 2015) administered by a Korail investment company,”

Homeplus workers hinting at general strike over “0.5-hour contracts”
“Just how many pieces are they going to carve our contract hours into?”
Irregular workers at super-supermarket Homeplus are turning up the pressure as they call for an end to “0.5-hour contracts.”
Many workers handling sales, checkout, and distribution for the stores are hinting at the possibility of a general strike. They claim that the system of 7.5-hour daily work schedules forces them into a disadvantage in wages, benefits, and general working conditions.

4 big Korean movies hit theaters for Lunar New Year
Cine 21 reporter As one of the two main holidays of the year along with the Korean Thanksgiving ‘Chuseok,’ the Korean Lunar New Year holiday is one the most lucrative times for theaters. Last year’s box office hits raked in a whopping 12.8 million admissions for Miracle ...
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Joong Ang (conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)

Samsung’s profit falls 6%
Cash-cow mobile business loses steam, strong won also hurts
Samsung Electronics posted its first profit decline in nine quarters, with slowing growth in sales of smartphones and tablets in developed countries, an overly strong local currency and higher marketing costs compared to arch-rival Apple. Disappointment in the earnings of Samsung Electronics…

New Year reunions request received by the North
South Korea has proposed to conduct official talks with North Korea about reunions of war-separated families after plans to hold them last year fell apart…

Gov’t to begin developing own fighter jets
The South Korean government will develop its own indigenous fighter jets starting this year to replace the aging KF-16s by 2023…

Priests’ group holds another Mass, criticize election result
A progressive Catholic association yesterday once again condemned the Park Geun-hye government during an emergency Mass, urging the president to resign…

Yun to talk North Korea, Japan with U.S. officials
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se is scheduled to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tomorrow in Washington, where he is expected to coordinate…

Abe seeks to explain his intentions
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated yesterday at his New Year’s press conference that he wants to explain his intent for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine…

Center helps disabled find work
Kim Joo-hyeon is known for his great smile. The 21-year-old has been working as a guide and greeter at Lotte World…

Infectious diseases increase: Report
In the wake of global warming, the number of people infected with tropical diseases transmitted by mites or mosquitoes has nearly doubled over a three-year period…

Drunk’s car flips onto KTX tracks
Five KTX bullet trains were delayed yesterday morning after a speeding car flew off an overpass in Daegu, flipped and fell 10 meters (32.8 feet) onto the railroad…

Park’s three-year plan faces persistent risks
The economic agenda of President Park Geun-hye at the start of her second year in office was clear: reform bad business habits…

KCCI chief urges hard work in 2014
Park Yong-maan, head of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, yesterday called for companies to work hard to get the economy back on track this year…

Samsung driving toward auto navigation market
Samsung Electronics, which sells almost one of every three smartphones, wants to parlay that technology into automotive navigation and entertainment systems…

Emerging nations drive the economics of vaccines
SEATTLE - Vaccines work wonders. They prevent disease and are relatively cheap and easy to deliver. Yet millions of children do not get them…
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Edaily (http://eng.edaily.co.kr/Stock/)

[US the closing price]The U.S. Dow Jones Index, 105.84p( 0.64%) slightly up.
The U.S. Dow Jones Index Closing (At 2014.01.07) The Dow closed at 16,530.94p, slightly up 105.84p( 0.64%...

[Closed] Domestic rate of return of final bid closed. 3-year government bond up 0bp.
This is the rate of return of final bid. Quoted by Korea Financial Investment Association, domestic rate of return of final bid of 3-year government bond recorded at 2.86%, up (0bp) from yesterday. ...

[Table]Exchange Rate Quotation
This is Exchange rate Quotation offered by Korea Exchange Bank. [table] Exchange Rate Quotation Offered by KEB ...

[Table]Exchange Rate Currency Crossrate
2014.01.08 08:10(Korean time), this is Currency Crossrate of major 12 countries. [table] FX Cross Currency ...
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Maeil Kyungje (neutral-oriented conservative, economic/business): (http://news.mk.co.kr/english/)

70% of S. Korea, Japan CEOs say Northeast Asia frictions derail management: poll
Escalating conflicts in Northeast Asia are producing negative impact on corporations in three countries South Korea, China and Japan, according to a recent survey.75 percent of Japanese companies’ CEOs who participated in the poll said the frictions have already negatively affected their management, or would likely do so. 71 percent of Korean counterparts felt the diplomatic dispute could have an adverse impact on their management as well.Over half o...

Earnings shock: Samsung Elec Q4 profit down 18% qoq
Samsung Electronics reported an earnings shock for the fourth quarter (Q4) of last year as its operating profit fell a steep 18.31 percent quarter-on-quarter (qoq) to 8.3 trillion won ($7.7 billion).

Shinsegae to invest $2.4bn, hire 170,000 in next decade
Shinsegae group will invest two to three trillion won annually for the next 10 years, starting with 2.6 trillion won ($2.4 billion) this year, and hire more than 10,000 new employees every year.

70% of S. Korea, Japan CEOs say Northeast Asia frictions derail management: poll
Escalating conflicts in Northeast Asia are producing negative impact on corporations in three countries South Korea, China and Japan, according to a recent survey.

16th MK’s Best Trader Prize goes to Korea Investment & Securities
Korea Investment & Securities (CEO, Yoo Sang-ho) was awarded the best trader prize at the 16th Maeil Business Newspaper Trader Prize. Korea Investment & Securities won the best prize for three times over the last four years at the 13th and 14th ceremonies.

S. Korea to establish IT support center in Singapore
Choi Moon-ki, South Korea’s Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning noted Tuesday, “we plan to set up an overseas IT support center in Singapore this year.”

5 S. Korean carmakers under scrutiny over price-fixing
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) was confirmed to have started investigation into price-rigging of South Korea’s five automakers Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, GM Korea, Renault Samsung Motors and Ssangyong Motor late last month.

One of Seven Wonders of Winter' for a 22-day run

Hwacheon Mountain Trout Ice Festival opens Jan. 4

Named one of the 'even Wonders of Winter' by CNN and Lonely Planet, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival is probably the most famous winter event in Korea. During the month of January every year, more than 1,000,000 people swarm Hwacheon in Gangwon province hoping to catch mountain trout bare-hand or ice fishing.
(Mayor Chung Gap-cheol invites the ambassadors and families to attend the Festival on Friday 17, 2014.)

▲1.4 million persons reportedly visited Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival last year having their fill of the joys of the winter--ice-fishing mountain trouts and treating their eyes to the colorful lanterns of the angels at the Seondeung Candle Light Festival that takes place in the night.

▲Who said Hwacheon offers only ice-fishing? You can land mountain trouts also from the water standing on the river bank (top left). Koreans, expats, young and old, all enjoy various events of the Festival.

▲Left: Visitors pass through the colorfully lit ice tunnel. Right: You can also enjoy a 'sky ride' down the river.

The 2014 Mountain Trout Festival and Winter Ice-Snow Fantasia (one of the 'Seven Winter Wonders of the World') start on Jan. 4, 2014 at the Hwacheon County of Gangwon Province some 79.3 miles northeast of Seoul.

So called by CNN and Lonely Planet, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival this year is expected to draw an estimated 1.5 million Korean and internatioal visitors.

Recently designated by the Central Government bas the 'Best Festival of the Republic of Korea,' the Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival offers visitors a rare chance of catching mountain trouts through ice holes and bare-hand.

This year, the organizers expected that the 'fishermen' from around the world, as well as from within Korea, will be able to catch many more trouts than in any previous year as the river is literally 'full of trouts.'

The organizers also have a special VIP package which offers the important Korean and international visitors with an opportunity to rice an 'Ice Breaker' steel boat from the town of Hwacheon to the famous Peace Dam cutting through the thick-frozen surface of the scenic Paroho Lake.

The VIP guests are also offered an opportunity to toll the Peace Bell of the World, shake hands with the Nobel Laurates (former President Mikhail Gorbachev of Russia, the late former President Kim Dae-jung, Rigoberta Menchu Tum of Guatemala, Jose Ramos Horta of Indonesia,  Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, Dalai Lama of Tibet, Elizateth Willians of the United Kingdom, Desmond Mpilo Tutu of Soouth Africa, and the noted figures of many other countries of the world), and a visit to the 'Water Museum of the Republic of Korea managed by K-Water.

They are also invited to toll the Peace Bell of the World which was made with the expended bullets and shells donated by many countries of the world where there have been conflicts as a token of expression of hopes for peace in the world.

Nestled between the town of Hwacheon and the mountains, the Hwacheon River is not only covered by a thick layer of ice, but also by thousands of festival participants.

The Hwacheon Mountain Trout Ice Festival will be taking place in Hwacheon County in Gangwon-do province on Jan. 4-26, 2014. This virtually untouched region is known as the first area in Korea that freezes over in winter, and the river is covered with a thick layer of ice.

Visitors can try out ice fishing, and those who are feeling brave can try to catch mountain trout with their bare hands. Along with fun activities and performances, there is also an exhibition of ice sculptures that usually take 20 weeks to prepare. Visitors can sample raw and grilled mountain trout, both of which are delicious.

A foreign visitor said: “Unlike some Korean festivals I have been to, there is a lot to do at this festival. You can ride an ATV or go kart on the ice, go sledding, ice skating, push a metal cart on the ice, or do some regular reel fishing.”

The events that are most popular are ice fishing and bare-handed fishing. For the ice fishing, you are provided with a hole in the ice and a bag for putting your catch for 10,000 won of which you get 10,000-won Love Gift, money you can spend around the festival grounds on food and souvenirs. “If you aren’t Korean, make sure to head to the foreigner only section. It is not only less crowded, but there is English-speaking help and you are given a free fishing pole,” said the foreign visitor.

When you get on the ice, pick a hole, let out enough line to get your lure to the bottom of the river. Then, quickly flick your wrist upwards and let it float back to the bottom. Some persistence is required, he stressed.

Hwacheon is considered a “clean region” where mountain trouts and otters live. Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is opened in every January under the slogan of “Unfrozen Hearts, Unforgettable Memories” at Hwacheon that has geographical features of the fastest ice freezing in the country because of cold valley wind and clean water.

This is a unique theme experience festival full with good shows and 40 or about various experience programs, such as ice sledding, snow sledding, snow sculpture and ice soccer, Sancheoneo experience programs combined with the image of Hwacheon that has clean natural environment with the first grade clean water in Bukhangang (river) for catching Sancheoneo by hand, Sancheoneo fishing on the ice to catch the fish easily and enjoy the fishing by everybody, breaking the ice with 40cm thickness and above and looking at Sancheoneo in the deep water for your exciting play available for experiencing at Hwacheon only and heart-warm memory in winter.

Winter Sancheoneo! Sancheoneo Fishing! To mention about ice fishing, you need to catch at least one Sancheoneo. It is an elegant fish underneath ice out of comparison to the other fishes due to moderate size and beautiful shape.

Sancheoneo is hard to catch as it is rare but everyone can catch one or two Sancheoneo at Hwacheon with somewhat good luck and knack since 32 or 3 tons of fresh Sancheoneo are being put just under the fishing place every day for visitors for Sancheoneo festival. It is just the reason why a child or young girl without fishing experience is indulged in Sancheoneo ice fishing.

A recent poster introducing some of the events at the Hwacheon Mountain Trout
Festival on January 4-26, 2014. Ambassadors and senior diplomats are invited with
Their spouses and families to attend the Festival on Thursday January 17, 2014.
Individual invitation has already been transmitted to the Ambassadors and the senior
Diplomats. In the event of our transmission failure, please contact Ms. Kim Jeong-mi

At Tel 2298-1740/2, 010-3388-1682 or edt@koreapost.com. English-speaking callers
Please call David Chung at the same number and email address.-------------------------------------------