January 10, 2014

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, January 10, 2014

  

Good morning, Excellency!
Here are The Korea Post news, African proverbs, humor from Korean-language economic dailies, and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media this morning:
/s/
        
Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
Korea Post Media
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The Korea Post news

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

Hwacheon Mountain Trout Ice Festival opens Jan. 4 

Ambassadors and families are invited to attend the Festival on

Thursday January 17, 2014.

(Further details and photos are toward the end of this Headlines.)

Ambassadors, madams and other members of the Diplomatic Corps pose for the camera on board the 'Ice breaker' that carried the visitors to the Peace Dam and Peace Bell via the Paro-ho 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.
Ambassadors and families are invited to attend the Festival on Friday January 17, 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 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:

Abuse is mere wind.
-A Ghanaian proverb

The almighty will not let the bush foul know the place where the cattle egrets wash their wings.
-A Nigerian proverb

If the yam does not grow well, we should not blame yam alone; it is also much due to soil.
-A Ghanaian proverb

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Humor from Korean-language economic dailies this morning:

Seoul Kyungje

John was recently hired at the office. His first task was to go out for coffee.
Eager to prove his worth to his new bosses, he grabbed a large thermos and hurried to the nearby coffee shop.
He held up the thermos so that the counterman could view it, and he asked, "Is this big enough to hold six cups of coffee?"
The counterman looked at the thermos and replied, "Yes. It looks like about six cups to me."
"Oh good!" He sighed in relief. "Give me three regular, one black, and two decaf."

Hankuk Kyungje
Difference between Boys and Girls
Little Johnny came home from school with a note from his teacher saying that Johnny was having trouble telling the difference between boys and girls, and would his mother please sit down and have a talk with Johnny about this.
So Johnny’s mother takes him quietly upstairs to her bedroom, and closes the door. “First, Johnny, I want you to take off my blouse,” she said, so Johnny unbuttons her blouse and takes it off.
“O.K., now take off my skirt,” and he takes off her skirt.
“Now take off my bra,” which he does.
“And now, Johnny, take off my panties.”
His mother then says, “Johnny, now you know how different we are from each other!”

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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

N. Korea Refuses to Hold Inter-Korean Family Reunions
North Korea has rejected South Korea's proposal for inter-Korean family reunions.

Pres. Park Vows to to Improve Biz Environment for Foreigners
President Park Geun-hye says the government will continue its strong efforts to improve the business environment for foreign investors in South Korea.

S. Korean Bobsledders Take Gold, Silver at North America's Cup
South Korean bobsledders boosted their international profile on Wednesday with first and second place finishes at a competition in Lake Placid, New York.

Central Bank Freezes Key Rate at 2.5% for 8th Month
The Bank of Korea has frozen the benchmark interest rate at two-and-a-half percent.

Criticism Builds in US over Dennis Rodman's Trips to N. Korea
Anchor: Criticism is growing over former American basketball star Dennis Rodman’s continued trips to North Korea. The sister of detained Korean American Kenneth Bae has denounced Rodman for siding with the North over her brother’s captivity. Our Bae Joo-yon has more.

Gov't Extends Tuition Support to Families with 3 or More Kids
The government is offering college tuition support from this year for the third child on in South Korean families.

System to Offer Science, Security Students Commissioned Military Service
The government will introduce a system that allows university students majoring in science and technology or security experts to use their expertise in the military.

Ex-Assembly Secretary General Calls for Special Law on Dokdo
Former National Assembly Secretary-General Kwon Oh-eul has made a petition to enact a special law supporting the residents of Korea’s Dokdo islets.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

N. Korea rejects S. Korea's offer of holding family reunions
North Korea on Thursday rejected South Korea's proposal to hold reunions of families separated after the Korean War, but hinted that reunions may take place in "a good season."

Seoul, Washington make little headway in defense burden talk
South Korea and the United States on Thursday failed to reach a final deal on how to share the cost of keeping American troops here due to differences on the size of Seoul's contribution.

Rodman, ex-NBA players appear to enjoy skiing in N. Korea
BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- Eccentric former U.S. basketball star Dennis Rodman and some former NBA players are believed to have enjoyed skiing in North Korea, a day after holding an exhibition match for leader Kim Jong-un's birthday, an American tourist who returned from Pyongyang after watching the game said Thursday.

S. Korea, U.S. to conduct annual military drills in late Feb.
South Korea and the United States will start their annual military drills next month, military officials said Thursday, despite North Korea's rejection of family reunions citing the planned exercises.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

Korea boosts incentives to lure global firms
Korea will offer strong incentives to potential foreign investors in a bid to attract more foreign direct investment. Th...

News ListRodman under fire for N.K. trip
Retired U.S. basketball star Dennis Rodman has drawn the ire of human rights activists and some...

BOK chief says economic uncertainties dwindled
The head of the nation’s central bank expressed optimism about Korea’s future economic condit...

Kim Hyun-joong returns as yet another comic book hero
Hallyu star Kim Hyun-joong’s long-awaited comeback to the small screen in the title role of KB...

Ideology dominates textbook dispute
The dispute over a local history textbook is turning into an ideological war as lawmakers locked horns ov...

Pacifist constitution
Last year, two U.S. experts on international security suggested Japanese Prime Minister Shin...

Watertight alliance
After talks with his South Korean counterpart Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sa...

Nuclear materials security index by country
North Korea is least capable of keeping nuclear materials secure among the 25 countries that possess the largest amounts of nuclear materials, a report concluded. According to the U.S.-based

European Central Bank leaves rates uncha...

Minutes show Fed split on QE3 taper

North Korea snubs Seoul’s proposal for ...

China has world’s most outbound tourist...

Korea shivers on coldest day of season

Lawyer accuses spy agency of psychologic...

Brokers insist on naked checkups of pros...

Arrest warrant sought for ex-KT CEO

Prime minister’s move to reshuffle offi...

New address system

Park to make state visits to India, Swit...

Wearable micro camera used in TOEIC chea...

U.S. tries to end school discipline disc...

Train carrying oil derails in Canada

Actress’ slaying puts Venezuelan leader...-------------------------------------------
The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

Audi repair shop faces residents' grievances
A large Audi Korea repair shop now under construction is triggering opposition from area residents with environmental concerns. Residents of Naegok-dong, southern Seoul, recently filed an online petition with the Seoul Metropoli

Sen. McCain calls Rodman 'idiot' for his NK outreach
The U.S. Republican Senator John McCain called Dennis Rodman an “idiot,” an American news channel said, Wednesday.

More benefits for foreign R&D centers  
Korea will give bigger tax benefits and improve the atmosphere of uncertainty in the nation’s busi... 

North Korea rejects family reunion talks  
North Korea rejected South Korea’s proposal to hold talks for reunions of families separated by th... 

Central bank predicts 3.8% growth for 2014  
The central bank said in its economic outlook report, Thursday, that it expects the economy to rec... 

Park to visit India, Switzerland   President Park Geun-hye will pay state visits to India and Switzerland next week to attend summit ... 

New CHA chief aims to restore faith in cultural heritage management 
The failed restoration of the No.1 National Treasure Sungnyemun Gate (also known as Namdaemun) has... 

'Tteokguk' promoted overseas 
CJ Foodville is promoting the country’s traditional rice cake soup, or “tteokguk,” eaten on New Ye... 

Koreans join campaign to preserve girl statue  
More Korean nationals across the world are joining an online petition to protect a bronze statue s... 

New spin put on medical privatization  
The government’s plan to allow hospitals to set up for-profit subsidiaries is pitting the ruling a... 

Calls grow for talks over constitutional revision  
Despite opposition from President Park Geun-hye, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and oth... 

Another school drops Kyohak history book  
Cheongsong High School in North Gyeongsang Province has withdrawn its earlier decision to select K... 

N. Korea categorized as 'nuclear-armed' nation  
North Korea made the list of “nuclear-armed” nations, a non-profit organization said in a report W...    
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Dong A (http://english.donga.com)

Textbook wars hit rural high school students hard
Cheongsong Girls’ High School is a small school in a rural area in North Gyeongsang Province. With only two classes per grade and 140 students in total, the school produced 47 graduates last year. Parents are mostly...

`Don’t pressure schools for textbooks`
Citizens United for Better Society, a civic group, holds a press conference at Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul on Thursday. The civic group criticized organization that put pressure on high schools, which adopted a...

President Park pitches Korea to foreign investors
“I confidently recommend Korea as one of the most promising investment destinations.” President Park Geun-hye invited the heads of foreign companies in Korea on Thursday and pitched Korea. It is the second time that...

Men`s short track speed skating team gears up for Olympics 
Korea`s men`s short track speed skating is getting an unkind treatment. With the Sochi Winter Olympics less than a month away, the national men`s short track team has become a sidekick.

N. Korea rejects S. Korea`s offer to hold family reunions
North Korea on Thursday rejected South Korea`s proposal to hold reunions of families separated during the Korean War. The North`s rejection came via a written notice three days after South Korean President Park Geun-hye called for a resumption of the reunions around the Lunar New Year`s Day. This must be a heartbreaking news to the families in pain of separation.

Helping restore historic relics
The construction of the Aswan Dam in Egypt put the country`s historic Abu Simbel temples on the brinks of being under water in the 1960s. The international community went to the rescue to save the relics of Ramesses II.

China's leader Xi moves to solidify his power

Textbook wars hit rural high school students hard

'Don’t pressure schools for textbooks'

President Park pitches Korea to foreign investors 
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)

Former Sex Slaves Mark 22nd Anniversary of Protests
Former sex slaves marked 22 years of weekly protests in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday. The women were forced to serve as prostitutes for Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Coach Signals He Wants Park Chu-young, Park Ji-sung for World Cup
Arsenal's Park Chu-young may be heading to the Brazil World Cup after all despite his recent struggles at the English Premier League club, according to national team manager Hong Myung-bo.

Budget Carriers Now Dominate Jeju Flights
Low-cost carriers accounted for over 50 percent of domestic flights on routes to Jeju Island for the first time last year. Korea Airport Corporation said on Wednesday that a total of 18.23 million passengers travel the routes, with 53.7 percent or 9.79 million passengers flying on the five budget airlines.

Computers May Predict Bestsellers
Computers may soon predict which fiction books may become bestsellers. Scientists at Stony Brook University in New York say they have developed a computer program that was 84...

Thailand Braces for Protests Ahead of February Election
The Thai government led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is pressing ahead with nationwide elections on Feb. 2, despite a boycott by the main opposition Democrat Party....

Rodman Apologizes for Rant, Heads to N.Korean Ski Resort
Retired U.S. basketball star Dennis Rodman visited a North Korean ski resort on Thursday with dictator Kim Jong-un as a statement was issued on the former player's behalf...

Brazil Airline Azul Promises to Cap World Cup Fares

China Defends New Fishing Rules in Disputed Waters

To quickly soak dried seaweed before cooking 
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Hankyoreh (http://english.hani.co.kr)

S. Korea and US discuss new framework for dealing with North Korea
Early concerns that new series of meetings could risk provoking N. Korea and disrupt efforts to resume the six-party talks

By Park Hyun, Washington correspondent
On Jan. 7, South Korea and the US decided to irregularly have meetings among high-level to assess the situation in North Korea. The meetings are intended to provide a forum to intensely deliberate the situation in the North following the execution of Jang Song-thaek and to take preemptive action according to developments on the Korean peninsula. With reports suggesting that measures to speed up change in North Korea will also be discussed in these meetings, there is expected to be considerable controversy.

Ministry attempts to discredit opponents of distorted history textbooks
Controversy is flaring over the Ministry of Education’s use of the term “external pressures” to label civic groups’ criticisms of schools that selected a conservative-leaning Korean history textbook.
Critics are also accusing the ministry of bias for failing to investigate pressures from principals and other administrators for the selection of the textbook published by Kyohak Publishing.

“Textbook war” ending in miserable defeat for conservatives
A decade-long battle by right wingers over history textbooks is being thwarted by sensible citizens, with a less than 1% selection rate for a Korean history textbook developed by conservative scholars and published by Kyohak. The so-called “textbook wars” are shaping into a miserable defeat for conservatives. The battle started in 2003 when the publishing company Kumsung’s contemporary Korean history textbook was labeled “leftist”.

Even the last school cancels textbook selection
Lee Yong-soo, a former comfort woman victim who now lives in Daegu, leaves Chungsong Girls’ High School in Chungsong County, North Gyeongsang Province after receiving a promise ...

Train ticket war starts for Lunar New Year
Crowds of people wait in line for early sales of train tickets to destinations including North Gyeongsang and North Chungcheong provinces for the Lunar New Year holiday (Jan. 31...

22nd anniversary of weekly comfort women protests
Former comfort women victims Gil Won-ok (left) and Kim Bok-dong blow out candles on a cake to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of when the weekly Wednesday protests seeking a re...

S. Korea and US discuss new framework for dealing with North Korea
By Park Hyun, Washington correspondent On Jan. 7, South Korea and the US decided to irregularly have meetings among high-level to assess the situation in North Korea. The meet...
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Joong Ang (conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)

Gov’t lures company headquarters, R&D centers
The government will offer an enhanced package of incentives for foreign investors setting up global headquarters or research and development centers in Korea, President Park Geun-hye promised at a luncheon yesterday with executives of foreign corporations based here and chambers of commerce representing different countries…

North declines reunions offer
North Korea rebuffed South Korea’s proposal to hold reunions of war-torn families before the Lunar New Year, but it added that the meetings might be possible…

Donation King gives $20M to Kaist
Chung Moon-soulWhen entrepreneur Chung Moon-soul donated 30 billion won ($28.2 million) to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in 2001…

Kyohak losing battle to public’s ire
Surviving former “comfort women,” who were sexually enslaved by the Japanese army during World War II, and families of independence activists during…

Prosecutors apply to detain ex-KT chairman
Lee Suk-chaeThe Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday requested a pre-trial detention warrant for former KT Chairman Lee Suk-chae for allegedly…

Japan’s Abe continues to take nationalist steps
Despite mounting criticism over his controversial visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the country’s ruling party have made no moves…

Trio sells dubious tonic despite risks
Investigators from the Seoul city government are seeking arrest warrants for three men found to have manipulated the nutritional claims of a health tonic they were selling…

BOK leaves estimate, rate unchanged
The central bank kept its projection for this year’s economic growth unchanged from October at 3.8 percent, while forecasting next year’s growth at 4 percent…

Ministry details plan to lure R&D centers, HQs
The government will actively work to attract multinational businesses to build headquarters and R&D centers in Korea by easing regulations and increasing incentives this year…

Gov’t reports use of thrifty phones soars
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said yesterday the number of altteul, or thrifty, phones in use nearly doubled in a year to 2.48 million as of Dec. 31…

Expert likes the ‘unloved’ Asia markets
Khiem T. Do Although global investors view the Asia equity market as a glass “half empty,” Khiem T. Do, head of the Asian multi-asset division of Hong Kong-based…

Wanted: nannies from Philippines
Mrs. Jeong, a 38-year-old working mother, decided to hire a Philippine woman last year to work as a live-in housekeeper at her home in Yongsan District, central Seoul.…

Cultural complex to take place of oil reserve
The Seoul city government announced yesterday that it will transform an abandoned oil reserve base in Mapo District into a public cultural complex…
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Edaily (http://eng.edaily.co.kr/Stock/)

[US the closing price]The U.S. Dow Jones Index, -17.98p(-0.11%) slightly down.
The U.S. Dow Jones Index Closing (At 2014.01.09) The Dow closed at 16,444.76p, slightly down -17.98p(-0.1...

[Closed] Domestic rate of return of final bid closed. 3-year government bond up 4bp.
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 2.89%, up ( 4bp) 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
2014.01.10 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/)

Resort complex cluster to be built in Yeongjong Island
The South Korean government is pressing ahead with the plan to allow for establishment of multiple resort complexes covering foreigner-only casinos in Yeongjong Island in Incheon. The plan envisions a Singapore-style cluster in Korea which accommodates two large-scale resort complexes. The five overseas resort complex operators are said to have officially delivered intentions to establish foreigner-only casinos in Yeongjong Island to the government. T..

Park makes pitch to foreign biz leaders for investment in S. Korea
President Park Geun-hye pledged to make South Korea the best country to do business in a meeting with the leaders of foreign businesses operating in the country Thursday. Park said she would realize this by aggressively pushing her three-year economic innovation plan based on public sector reform, creative economy and boosting domestic consumption.

N. Korea refuses reunion of separated families on Lunar New Year
North Korea rejected President Park Geun-hye’s offer to arrange a reunion of separated families on Lunar New Year, which was made in the recent new year press conference.

SMBs’ CEOs evaluate Park’s 1-year SMB policy: poll
South Korea’s CEOs of small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) awarded 76 scores out of 100 to President Park Geun-hye’s SMB policy for the past year, showing they are quite content with her policy. The CEOs picked ‘improving conglomerates’ unfair trade practices’ as her policy’s achievement, and ‘supporting small merchants’ as the policy’s failure.

Poll: 64% of holding companies would boost investment if regulations are relaxed
Six out of 10 South Korean holding companies said they would expand investment if regulations on their stake ownership and debt to equity ratio are loosened, according to a survey. The results came from the Korea Chamber of Commerce Industry’s poll on 114 holding companies - 30 large conglomerates plus 84 small and mid-sized businesses - except for financial holding companies Thursday.

S. Korea big 3 shipbuilders raise 2014 order targets
South Korea’s leading shipbuilders, which were awarded target-beating contracts last year, have upgraded this year’s targets by 5 to 15 percent for aggressive business operation.

Controversial publisher history textbook barely adopted
Almost no South Korean schools in the first semester this year will use the Korean history textbook published by a local publishing firm Kyohaksa which triggered controversy for containing pro-Japanese statements, fallacy and biased historical perspectives in the book.


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.)

▲'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.

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.
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