Hope You A Happy Lunar New Year

Sol - Korean Lunar New Year

By Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, AAV Contributing Editor

Korean Lunar New Year, or Sol, is the first day of the first month of the new lunar year, and it marks the first day of spring.  It is celebrated with family, food, drums, and gongs. Many Korean communities celebrate both the Gregorian New Year’s Day on January 1st as well as the Lunar New Year.

Koreans try to return home to celebrate Sol with their families. They wake up early on the morning of the new year, put on their new or best traditional clothes called hanbok, and kneel and bow to their ancestors and elders (sebae). Family members exchange good wishes and gifts. Then they sit down to a breakfast of rice cake soup or ttok kuk, which is a thick beef broth with thinly sliced white rice cakes topped with green onions and bright garnishes. Some people substitute ttok mandu guk, which is ttok kuk with mandu dumplings instead. Tradition says that one cannot become a year older without eating ttok kuk on New Year’s Day.

On the fifteenth day of the new month, the day of the first full moon, the New Year is ushered in with a ritual called Jishin Balpgi, which literally means "Stepping on the Spirit of the Earth." It is a traditional folk festival that grew out of many collective village activities from over 4300 years ago that ritually cleansed the village and chased away evil spirits. The purpose of the festival is to usher in peace, health, and prosperity for the New Year, and give people a chance to renew personal and community ties.

The National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) describes it: "During the Jishin Balpgi festival, a group of Poongmul (Korean drums) players called the Durepae, first travels around the village playing on the Jang-go (hourglass-shaped drum), Buk (the drum),Kwenggari (small gong) and Jing (large gong). This is followed by visits to private dwellings to wish residents peace and good fortunes for the new year through a mixture of drumming, dance and chants which everyone is encouraged to join in. In return, the hosts offer rice cakes and wine to the group and make a general donation that is used for the betterment of the entire village. In the evening, all the people gather at the Madang (the center of the village), to revel under the first full moon of the lunar New Year. As the villagers eat, drink and play games together, they reaffirm their common bond."

Another part of the Jishin Balpgi festival is the hosting of competitions with neighboring villages of traditional games like tug of war, stone fights, and mock fights with torches. Tradition says that the winning village will be blessed with a bountiful harvest. This custom may have originated when neighboring farming villages shared a water source and had to determine priority for drawing water for the fields.

In America, Korean communities in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and others will host celebrations of Jishin Balpgi.

Korea Aims to Join Top 5 Countries in Renewable Energy Sector

The Korean government recently revealed a plan to become one of top five countries in renewable energy sector by 2015 as part of the government's policy vision of "low carbon, green growth."

As part of the green growth policy, Korea aims to transform the country's existing fossil fuel-based, environment-threatening economic growth structure into a clean energy-based one.

Currently, the international renewable energy market has had an average annual growth rate of 28 percent. The international renewable energy market recorded $162 billion in 2009. The Korean government predicts it will grow more than $1 trillion in 2020, equal to the current volume of the worldwide automobile industry.

The Ministry of Knowledge Economy announced a set of renewable energy development strategies and blueprint to become one of leading countries in renewable energy sector in October last year. According to the plan, the ministry will invest a total of 40 trillion won by 2015 to become one of top five countries in the renewable energy sector. According to the government's forecast, Korea's renewable energy industry will become one of Korea’s leading industries, worth $40 billion in 2015, up from $4.6 billion in 2009.

Korea's renewable energy industry has developed rapidly in recent years, with the government contributing nearly two trillion won over the last three years, with the government budget for the sector exceeding one trillion won for the first time ever in 2011.

* Seoul to invest in solar, wind energy 

According to research by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Korea had a total of 146 renewable energy enterprises as of 2009. Among them, 79.5 percent are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and 53 firms are start-ups, contributing to job creation.
The Korean government's renewable energy development strategy is focused on incubating solar energy, wind energy and fuel cell industries. 

The government plans to nurture the solar energy sector into a leading industry, just as they have nurtured the semiconductor industry. The government will concentrate on developing core technology, parts and materials at lower prices to make up for a late start in the secotr.

Korea also aims to become one of leading countries in wind power industry, backed by the country's world-leading shipbuilding and plant industries. The country supports the localization of core parts and materials so firms can focus on the large-scale marine wind power businesses.

* Seoul aims to achieve co-growth among SMEs and large firms

The Korean government plans to inject 20 billion won to build up to five test-beds to develop the solar and wind power industries by the end of 2011. It also plans to build 100-megawatt marine wind power complexes in Buan and Yeonggwang in Jeolla Province by 2013. Additionally, it aims to incubate up to 50 promising enterprises in order to achieve its goal of $100 million worth of exports in renewable energy industry by 2015.

To successfully become one of the top five countries in the renewable energy industry, Korea needs to develop core original technologies to dominate the global market. 

For this reason, the government will select ten core original technologies and invest 1.5 trillion won in them by 2015. To further strengthen the development of core parts and materials for the sector, the government will increase the volume of its support by more than 50 percent by 2012 from its current level.

Korean Ginseng

Written & Posted by: Bashdar H. Jalal

Seoul-Korea

Ginseng is known as a medical plant with strong power. Although it grows up in different countries in the world, but it is widely planted in Korea, where it's climate and soil produce the global finest ginseng. A ginseng plant usually grows up to be 60cm tall together with the short stem. The root looks like Chinese bellflower with a single stalk growing out of the stem. However, when the ginseng flowers blossom in April, and become reddish fruit. It will be easy to distinguish with the other ginseng grown in other parts of the world. In addition, the Korean -gown ginseng is specially called "Goryeo ginseng" called after the ancient dynasty of Goryeo in Korean history.

Ginseng usually grows up in the wild, deep in the mountains, is known as Sansam (mountain ginseng). Goryeo ginseng’s reputation began with the Sansam. In the old days, people had a spiritual endeavor for those dwelling in the nation's mountainous region. Even today, there are those who are looking for such kind of plant (Goryeo Ginseng) in the deep valleys for the mystical plant. However. There are many different territories for growing up the wild ginseng, but the most important place is Geguryeo territory in which known as a ginseng monopoly area. In addition to, the number of the ginseng customers and users are dramatically increased in modern Korea now a day due to changing the way cultivations and trading techniques to the world.

At the mean time, ginseng is widely cultivated in different parts of the world in which depends on the type of soil and climate, because it is known as a sensitive plant. So, the type of ginsengs is different from place to place based on the shape, quality as well as size. However, ginseng becomes as an important plant for various purposes such as medical treatment for treating several disease and giving power to human being. Therefore, Korean ginseng has wide customers in the entire world due to its long history and quality.

Traditional Korean Cloth "Hanbok"

A walk down almost any street in Korea will reveal that today's Korean wardrobe ranges from jeans and casual fashions to tailored suits and chic designer creations. However, of all the outfits one is likely to see, the most striking is without a doubt the hanbok, the traditional costume worn by Koreans of all ages, particularly on traditional holidays and when attending social affairs with a traditional Korean theme. The hanbok is characterized by its simple lines and the fact that it has no pockets. The women's hanbok comprises a wrap-around skirt and a bolero-like jacket. It is often called chimajeogori, chima being the Korean word for skirt and jeogori the word for jacket. The men's hanbok consists of a short jacket and pants, called baji, that are roomy and bound at the ankles. Both ensembles may be topped by a long coat of a similar cut called durumagi. The traditional-style hanbok worn today are patterned after the ones worn during the Confucian-oriented Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Yangban, a hereditary aristocratic class based on scholarship and official position rather than on wealth, wore brightly colored hanbok of plain and patterned silk in cold weather and of closely woven ramie cloth or other high-grade, light-weight materials in warm weather. Commoners, on the other hand, were restricted by law as well as finances to bleached hemp and cotton and could only wear white and sometimes pale pink, light green, gray and charcoal.  Young women wore red chima and yellow jeogori prior to marriage and red chima and green jeogori after the wedding when bowing to their parents-in-law and when paying respect to them upon returning from the honeymoon. Today, however, women usually wear pink hanbok for engagement ceremonies, Western-style wedding dresses and the traditional red skirt and green jacket after the wedding when greeting their in-laws after the honeymoon. On other occasions, they wear hanbok of almost any color and fabric including embroidered, hand-painted, or gold-stamped silk, but white is worn mostly by old people and used for mourning clothes. Yangban women wore wrap-around skirts 12 pok (a width of cloth) wide and wrapped them on the left side whereas commoners were prohibited from wearing chima of more than 10 or 11 pok and were required to wrap them on the right. Under the hanbok, women generally wore, and most still do, a pair of long bloomers, a long, one-piece slip worn somewhat like a high-waisted, one-piece dress, and a jacket-like piece a little smaller than the jeogori. The fullness of the chima allows the wearing of any number of undergarments, a big plus given Korea's cold winters, and also makes it wearable during pregnancy. Nowadays skirts of two and a half widths of cloth are generally worn; however, today's cloth is about twice as wide as in ancient times. Most of today's chima have shoulder straps for ease in wearing. For proper appearance the chima should be pulled tight so that it presses the breasts flat and the slit should be just under the shoulder blade. The left side of the chima should be held when walking to keep it from flapping open and revealing the undergarments. Old women often hold the left side up beside the left breast. Most jeogori have a snap or small tie ribbons on the inside to hold it closed. The long ribbons of the jacket are tied to form the otgoreum, a bow that is different from the butterfly-like bow of the West. The otgoreum is very important for it is one of three things by which the beauty and quality of a hanbok is judged. The other two are the curve of the sleeves and the way the git, a band of fabric that trims the collar and front of the jeogori, is terminated. The ends of the git are generally squared off. A removable white collar called dongjeong is placed over the git. As hanbok have no pockets, women and men both carried all types of purses, or jumeoni. These were basically of two major types: a round one and a pleated, somewhat triangular one, both closed with a drawstring. These were embellished with elaborate knots and tassels that varied a ccording to the status and gender of the bearer.  Although some of the basic elements of today's hanbok and its accessories were probably worn at a very early date, the two-piece costume of today did not begin to evolve until the Three Kingdoms period (57 B.C.-A.D. 668), when the kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla dominated the Korean Peninsula. This is clearly evident in the paintings that adorn the walls of fourth to sixth century Goguryeo tombs. The murals feature men and women dressed in long, narrow-sleeved jackets with the left side pulled over the right, trousers and boot-like footwear. Such garments were probably inspired by the harsh northern climate and terrain and a nomadic lifestyle centered on horse riding. Also, owing to geopolitical factors, it is likely that they were influenced by Chinese styles of dress. Baekje and Silla had similar costumes. Silk mandarin robes introduced from neighboring Tang China were adopted for wear by royalty and officials in 648 by Silla, the kingdom that eventually unified the peninsula in 668. The robes were worn over the native costume. Noble women began to wear full-length skirt-trousers and wide-sleeved, hip-length jackets belted at the waist, and noblemen, roomy trousers bound in at the ankles and a narrower, tunic-style jacket cuffed at the wrist and belted at the waist. In 935, Silla was replaced by a new dynasty called Goryeo, from which the name "Korea" is derived. Buddhism, which Silla had already made the national religion, flourished along with printing and the arts, especially celadon ceramics. During the Goryeo Dynasty, the chima was shortened and it was hiked up above the waist and tied at the chest with a long, wide ribbon, which has remained the fashion ever since. The jeogori was also shortened and its sleeves were curved slightly. At the same time, women began to wear their hair in plaits on top of their heads and men began shaving their heads except for a patch in the middle. In the 15th century, women began to wear full, pleated skirts that completely concealed the lines of the body and long jeogori. With time, however, the jeogori was gradually shortened until it just covered the breasts, making it necessary to reduce the fullness of the chima so that it could be extended almost to the armpits, this remains the fashion today. Today's designers are increasingly seeking inspiration in the hanbok and other costumes of their ancestors to create fashions with a uniquely Korean flair that can meet the demands of today's lifestyles. They are incorporating the lines and cut of the hanbok and other ancient clothes and accessories in their designs and employing traditional fabrics such as hemp and ramie. In fact, many department stores now have boutiques specializing in such clothes and shops specializing in a new generation of hanbok for everyday wear are springing up nationwide. Without a doubt, the hanbok, with its roots stretching back many centuries, will continue to grace the streets of Korea for many years to come.

Letter by Iraqi girl to Korean Zaytun troops

World's Healthiest Foods: Kimchi (Korea)

Koreans eat so much of this super-spicy condiment (40 pounds of it per person each year) that natives say “kimchi” instead of “cheese” when getting their pictures taken. The reddish fermented cabbage (and sometimes radish) dish—made with a mix of garlic, salt, vinegar, chile peppers, and other spices—is served at every meal, either alone or mixed with rice or noodles. And it’s part of a high-fiber, low-fat diet that has kept obesity at bay in Korea. Kimchi also is used in everything from soups to pancakes, and as a topping on pizza and burgers.

Why to try it: Kimchi (or kimchee) is loaded with vitamins A, B, and C, but its biggest benefit may be in its “healthy bacteria” called lactobacilli, found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt. This good bacteria helps with digestion, plus it seems to help stop and even prevent yeast infections, according to a recent study. And more good news: Some studies show fermented cabbage has compounds that may prevent the growth of cancer.

What to do with it: There’s no need to make your own; just pick it up in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or an Asian market for around $4 per 32-ounce jar (Sunja’s is one popular brand). You can wake up your morning by scrambling eggs with kimchi, diced tomatoes, and mushrooms. Use it as a wrap filling or to top a baked potato. Or try Spicy Beef and Kimchi Stew, which won our test kitchen’s top rating.

Korean Kurdish Commencement Relationship

   

If we talk about Kurdish Korean relationship, we should not forget the name of Zaytun Diviesion of Republic of Korea (ROK) in which settled in Iraqi Kurdistan Region in 2004. Korean Army had successfully participated in the Operation of Iraqi freedom led by US army in 2003. They were estimated as the thired top military forces after US and British military forces.

Korean Army had settled its military forces named "Zaytun Division" based on the true motto "We are Friends" in the Capital City of Erbil in 2003. In addition, we might take into consideration that Zaytun Division become the first channel to establish Kurdish Korean relationship in the federal region of Kurdistan. However, they built their military base close to Erbil International Airport for near to 2,800 troops in which reconstruction experts among them in the early Septeember, 2004.

Therefore, they started to their humaniterian missions in term of reconstrauction peasce process in the region. So, their military base had contained into different unites and each one kept eye on the speacial mission to serve Kurdish local people and regional government too. However, the most important unit was vocational training course to the local youth people for teaching them in the speacial aspect such as, beakery, driving heavy vechiles, fixing electric materials as well as mechanic issues for proving them bright future.

In addition, the mission of the Korean army was quiet different with the rest US coalition forces, because they deeply concentrated on the rural and village area in their mission sechdual. So, they started to establish a number of schools and hopitals as well as providing clean water and fixing water pipe lines for the villagers who are living around the city of Erbil. At the same time, they coul d support the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in the reconstruction process. Therefore, it is easy for you to find a school and hospital whinch made by Korean Army in Erbil.

On the other hand, they provided their traditional and culture during their missions as called "Green Angel Operation". However, Green Angel process was an operation in which Korean Army visit to the local villages for providing the villagers medical service, food and clean water. At the mean time, they introduced their culture and food as a main part of their mission.

Finally, such kind of Korean Warm heart led to build a strong relationship between Kurdish and Korean Nations in which become a channel to attract the Korean companies to open their branches and make investment in the Region.

Written & Posted by

Bashdar H. Jalal

KDISchool for Public Policy & Managment

Seoul, Korea.

Korean Air Commercial - New Uniform -

Winning hearts and minds in Iraqi Kurdistan

Posted by George Mathews, NBC News Producer

Laughing children and smiling soldiers welcomed grateful members of the local community to the opening of a brand-new school -- the scene was the very essence of the how the Iraqi reconstruction program was supposed to look according to its proponents three years ago.

However, the children are Kurds, the soldiers are South Korean and the community is in the north of Iraq, far from the car bombings and sectarian violence plaguing much of the rest of the country.

A young Kurdish girl shows off her face-paint of the South Korean flag. (Steve Lomanoco / NBC News).

The 2,200 members of the Zaytun Division of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army have spent the last two years conducting what they call "civil-military operations" out of Irbil, in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

Our first indication of how different things are up north was when we were put aboard an un-armored bus for the trip from Irbil's airport to the Zaytun Base.

Our second indication was the greeting on the bus.

"In Baghdad, we understand you hear a lot of explosions," said a smiling Lt. Lee, a ROK Army officer. "All you hear in Irbil is the sound of smiles and children."

i New school celebration 
Since being in Irbil, the Zaytun Division has staffed a hospital that has treated over 40,000 local patients, built a vocational training center that's produced over 1,000 graduates, established a Kurdish literacy program, and built schools and clinics around the region. Our Zaytun Division hosts took us to the opening of a girls middle and high school in downtown Irbil, again in an un-armored bus.

The most striking aspect of the school was how completely normal it looked -- it could have been Walt Whitman Middle School in Anytown, USA. Although there were hundred's of ROK soldiers present, their focus was on setting up face-painting and kite-building booths, not on providing the layers of perimeter security you would find at a similar event in Baghdad.

Tae Kwon Do demonstration was part of the South Korean troops’ elaborate demonstration to celebrate the opening of a new school in Irbil. (Steve Lomanoco/NBC News)

The conclusion of the event was an elaborate, and distinctly Korean, demonstration for  the hundreds of children, many in brightly-colored, traditional Kurdish clothing, and adults who had turned for the school's opening.

The demonstration included a performance by the Zaytan Division band, which belted out such hits as "Tequila," an exhibition by the division's Precision Rifle Team, a truly impressive display by the Tae Kwon Do team, and traditional Korean music and dance.

A huge banner posted above the performance area seemed to perfectly capture this strange experience for those of us who have spent most of our time in the much more violent parts of the Iraq: "ROK ZAYTUN (HEART) KURDISH."

Troops from the Zaytun Division of the Republic of Korea (ROK) celebrate the opening of a new girls school in Irbil, in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. (Steve Lomanoco/NBC News)

Shakira of Kurdistan Dashni Murad

Kurdish football prospers in new Iraq

With a backdrop of the dusty red mountains that were once the hiding place of Kurdish guerrillas fighting for freedom, the players of Suleimaniya Sports Club train in preparation for the new season.

Suleimaniya's players train for the start of the season

It is a sign of how far Kurds have come that this team and its players can even contemplate competing in Iraq's top league.
For decades, the region of Northern Iraq known as Iraqi Kurdistan was neglected not just in sports but in every aspect of life.
However, since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, Kurdish soccer has blossomed.

Bloody past

It is estimated that more than over 100,000 Kurds were killed under Saddam Hussein's orders during the 1980s. The former Iraqi leader is currently facing trial for these atrocities on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Only miles from where the players train is the site of a chemical weapons attack, where thousands of Kurds died in the space of a few hours.
Iraqi Kurdistan has been self-governed since 1991 after the first Gulf War.
It is little known to outsiders that while much of the country is engulfed in violence and is close to civil war, Iraqi Kurdistan is enjoying relative peace and stability.

Kurdish football has blossomed since the fall of Saddam's regime

It is the same with the football. In the rest of the country football is at a standstill, it is now the Kurdish clubs and players which are leading the way in Iraq.
The irony of this is not lost on the general manager of Suleimaniya Sports Club, Hiwa Masuf.
"During the rule of Saddam Hussein we lived constantly in fear. There was no freedom for the Kurds, in all walks of life. It was extremely difficult for Kurdish football players," says Masuf.
"They were marginalised. No-one received regular training and of course there were no successful Kurdish footballers or clubs. They were not allowed to play for the Iraq national side.
"But that has all changed. Clubs in Kurdistan are thriving. We have many sides in Iraq's top league. We can play football here in peace but it's extremely difficult for teams in other parts of Iraq," he says.

Good days

Alongside the national championship, Kurdistan has its own league and cup competitions which are popular with local supporters.
There is now also an Iraqi Kurdistan team. Although it is not formally recognised and can not compete in international tournaments like the World Cup, the team is hoping to participate in an event in 2007 to play against other non-FIFA affiliated teams such as Greenland, Tibet and Northern Cyprus.

The day Iraqi Kurdistan is playing in an Asian Cup or a World Cup would be a day of real pride for all Kurds. After all we've been through, I hope that dream is realised some day soon  Karwan Salih, Kurdish footballer

The captain of Suleimaniya, Karwan Salih plays for both Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan. He says that it would be a dream come true if a Kurdish team could one day play on the global stage.
"It was my ambition to play for Iraq but that does not compare with how strongly I feel for Iraqi Kurdistan. When I play for Kurdistan, I am not just playing for a country but for a whole race," says Salih.
"I hope one day we can be recognised as a footballing country of our own so that we can play in international tournaments around the world.
"The day Iraqi Kurdistan is playing in an Asian Cup or a World Cup would be a day of real pride for all Kurds. After all we've been through, I hope that dream is realised some day soon."


Outside help


In the region's capital Irbil, moves are being made to push Kurdish football further ahead.
The Kurdistan Football Association (KFA) may only be a few years old but they are courting the assistance of the outside world to develop its game.

Watching football is a popular pastime in Iraqi Kurdistan

The Kurdistan Cup final was held in the city's stadium in late November between two local sides Ararat and Handren. It was sponsored by the South Korean military which are stationed nearby.
The Koreans helped with the organisation and also provided prizes - a mountain of electronic appliances such as flat screen TVs and digital cameras - for the winners.
Ararat won the match thanks to a penalty shoot-out after a scoreless draw.
The head of the KFA, Safin Kanabi, says that what they need above all was foreign expertise.
"What we really need is information from the outside world. By that I mean the knowledge of football people from places like Europe, where the game and its skills are developed," Kanabi says.
"We need training for our coaches, referees, doctors and administrators. Our players need interaction with players from abroad, so that they can see how better footballers play.
"We ask other countries to take an interest in football in Iraqi Kurdistan, to come here and give us the help we need."