Sunday, December 18, 2011

Samsung Vs. Apple

Samsung Electronics filed a lawsuit against Apple just fifteen hours after Apple released the new iPhone 4s. Samsung took a quick legal move in courts of France and Italy after being on the defensive as European courts have banned the sale of its products over design-related patent rights, and this represents Samsung's aggressive approach by ensuing legal battle with Apple. Also, both Samsung and Apple are struggling over patent rights relating to the two firms' smartphone and tablet products.


Samsung was holding passive response in the legal dispute with Apple until recently because Apple is a major buyer of Samsung's memory chips and displays. Sony took up 4.4% of Samsung Electronics' sales in 2010 whereas Apple followed close behind at 4%. In the first half of 2011, Apple bought $7.8 billion of Samsung supplies and outpaced Sony's $6 billion. Although this business relations seem to satisfy all the companies, Samsung is worried about the fast growing advancement of Apple, so it's taking a more intense legal dispute.

The suit Samsung filed on patent rights is issued on WCDMA or Wideband Code Division Multiple Accessthe. It is the third generation mobile communications technology, and Samsung explained how Apple violated two patents on the WCDMA communication standard. Banning on the sale of Apple smartphones is requested and Samsung complained to the local courts that the patents in the question involve a key technology indispensable to smartphones. Alos, Samsung declared that Apple took enough free ride on Samsung's patent rights and that it will consider filling suits in more countries and in South Korea.

Conversely, Apple's lawsuit against Samsung is concerned with the product design. Samsung's move is expected to have wider repercussions as the case involves the key 3G network technology WCDMA. Samsung can always redesign and launch a new phone, but without owning patents on the 3G network, manufacturing smartphones is not possible.


As this lawsuit goes on, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died due to his severe illness. Jobs had connections with all three generation of the Samsung leadership: Samsung founder Lee Byungchul, Samsung Chairman Lee Kunhee, and his son Lee Jaeyong. Samsung paid sincere condolences but tried to maintain Jobs' death unrelated to the legal dispute.

Source:
"Samsung-Apple Legal Battle." KBS World (9 Oct. 2011). Http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news
/news_hotissue_detail.htm?No=30727. Web.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

South Korea Provides $5.6 Million to Aid North Korea


The South Korean government decided to send $5.65 million through the United Nations Children's Fund also known as UNICEF to aid children in North Korea. South Koreans helped the vulnerable North before in 2009 when inter-Korean relations became strained and donated more than $20.9 million since then, but they are sending food supplies and medical care once again to vaccinate infants, children, and pregnant women. More than 1.46 million people in North Korea are expected to benefit from this fund, and food supply including nutritional supplements will help 270-thousand North Korean to stay healthy.


Because North Korea significantly lack on the medical care for children, the South Korean government also decided to grant 2.66 billion won from the South-North Cooperation Fund to build a emergency medical facility inside the inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex in the North that was previously agreed-upon.

The South Korean government and the Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik are working hard to improve their relation with the North Korea. Former Unification Ministersrather rather took a hard-line approach toward North Korea, but the new minister decided to offer money and medicine to North Koreans as a means to improve inter-Korean ties. Minister Yu visited U.S. last month, and he told Ban Kimoon, UN secretary-General,  that the South Korean government will consider providing humanitarian support to North Korea through UN agencies, and recently, the government approved the resumption of South Korean aid to North Korea through the World Health Organization.

Source:
Kim, In-Kyoung. "S. Korea to Provide $5.6Mln to Aid NK Children." KBS World Radio News (5 Dec. 2011). KBS World. Web. <http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_IK_detail.htm?lang=e&id=IK&No=86496¤t_page=>.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Sericulture in Korea

Sericulture or silk production has a long and interesting history. For more than two thousand years the Chinese kept the secret on silk production to themselve and the process of making silk was unknown to most people. It was the most zealously guarded secret in history. Howeveer, sericulture finally reached Korea around 200BC, when waves of Chinese immigrant arrive there.

Silk production is a lengthy process and it demands constant close attention. Period in which the moth is hatched and the diet on which the silkworm should needs to be in good condition in order to produce high quality silk. The eggs must be kept at a warm temperature of 65 degrees F and gradually increased to 77 degrees at which point they hatch. After the eggs hatch, the baby worms feed on fresh mulberry leaves until they grow big. The silkworms eat until they have stored up enough energy to enter the cocoon stage. In order to build their cocoons, the worms produce a jelly-like substance in their silk glands that hardens when it comes into contact with air. Silkworms normally spend three or four days spinning cocoon around themselves until they become puffy, white balls. After nine days in a warm, dry place, the cocoons are ready to be unwound. First they are steamed or baked to kill the worms, or pupas. The cocoons are then dipped into hot water to loosen the tightly woven filaments. These filmants are unwound onto a spool. Each cocoon is made up of a filament between 600 and 900 meters long. Between five and eight of these super-fine filaments are twisted together to make one thread. Then, the silk threads are woven into cloth or used for embroidery work. Clothes made from silk are not only beautiful and lifhtweight but also warm in cool weather and cool in hot weather.



Reeling silk and spinning were always considered household duties for women, while weaving and embroidery were carried out in workshops as well as the home. In every silk-producing province, the daughters, mothers, and grandmothers of every family devoted a large part of the day for six months in a year to the feeding, tending, and supervision of silkworms and to the unraveling, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and embroidering of silk.


The silk used in clothing is significant in Korean culture. Tradition Korean ceremonial dress uses draping folds of silk fabric for the skirt. The dress snitches at the waist with a wide sash. The top fits to the torso with long billowing sleeves and large, open cuffs. The most distinctive aspect of the skirt is the back portion that folds over the sash midway up the back. These elaborate gowns were created almost completely of silk. Both color and cut of the silk gives a clue to the person's status.


Also, many Korean paintings display landscapes using long, fluid strokes on silk canvas. Silk absorbs the paint readily, so it won't smear after application. Silk is very smooth, and when processed, makes a flat canvas that does not disrupt the fluidity of the brushstrokes. Paintings depicting the Korean countryside were especially popular during the Choson period from 1392 to 1910. Genre paintings paying homage to everyday people performing day-to-day tasks leave a visual record of Korea's history on silk. Another popular subjecy is the "Four Gracious Plants," or the four plants that represent each season: plum blossoms, chrysanthemums, wild orchids, and bamboo.

Source:
"History of Sericulture." Insects.org. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.insects.org/ced1/seric.html>.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

The Art of Ancient Trade 2 - Buddhism

Buddhism in Korea is one of results of widespread trade that was popular among Asian countries. Buddhism originated in India and it first spread to Southeast Asia and to countries bordring western China. In 372 AD, Buddhism finally arrived at the Korean Peninsula.

The abundance of Buddhist relics can be studied through various Korean ancient arts. Buddhist sculptures and other related artifacts explain a lot about integration of Buddhism in local history. Similar characteristics can be found among religious artifacts from China and Southeast Asia, demonstrating a certain level of cultural exchange. The most famous represented example is the 7th century Pensive Bodhisattva (National Treasure No. 83) and it clearly shows the foreign influence on Korean designs. Compared to Auguste Rodin's The Thinker, the statue is very similar in its contemplative pose: legs half-crossed and a lowered head accented by a distinct hand gesture on its cheek.


Thought the crown on the sculture's head is not found on works from India and China. The sculpture has a crown that consists of three half-disks. The three disks are connected in a circle, and the design is relatively simple.The crown is unique for bodhisattva statues, but it is believed to be modeled after crowns worn by kings and princesses. The figure's eyes are half-closed and it is slightly smiling which gives an aura of sublime contemplation. When it was scrutinized, the inner corners of the eyes revealed a trait known as the "Mongolian eye." This originated in India, and it spread to many Asian countries.
The making of Bodhisattva statues began during 3rd and 4th century and was developed in the Bandhara region of India. In the 5th century, it spread to China along with the religion's dissemination through Central Asia. In the late 6th century, the sculpture style came to Korea. As monks traveled to spread the teachings of Buddhism, cultural items and ideas were transferred between countries. Heo Hyeongwook, a curator at Gyeongju National Museum in Korea explains, "It would have been common for monks to bring their personal belongings to other countries, where exchanges would occur."

Source:
"Talking Past: The Art of Ancient Trade." Korea.net. Web. 10 Dec. 2011. <http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=57134>.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Art of Ancient Trade 1

Although Korea is often called as the "Hermit Kingdom," Korea's rich trade history enabled the exchange of cultural customs and technology. From the ancient days of the Three Kingdoms period to the most recent Choson Dynasty, traders explored the depths of the world beyond Korea's borders.

The oldest artifacts as early as 5th century portray the history of trade between the peninsula and the outside world. Korea was not only greatly affected by its surrounding countries by land and sea but it also served as a conduit to others. The peninsula had access to a variety of trade routes, opening the country to boundless new cultures and helping shape the Korean's economy.
Trilateral trade among China, Japan, and Choson dynasty grew bigger during the 18th century. Korea (Choson) exported  large amounts of wild ginseng and China's Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) exported silk and the Japanese traded mostly silver. The evidence of abundant overseas trade can be seen on ancient documents from the time, and the scholar Lee Junghwan's Taengniji explains, "The richest men in Choson are all merchants who do overseas trade."


Before China's Qing Dynasty, China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was active in literary exchanges. In 1450, Choson scholars including Jeong Inji and Seong Sammun often exchanged handwritten poems with the Ming Dynasty. For example, in Treasure No. 1404, it is evident that trade embraced new thought and opinion as well as helping open Korea to the rest of the world.


Source:
"Talking Past: The Art of Ancient Trade." Korea.net. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. <http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=57134>.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Mugunghwa as the National Flower

Korea's national flower is mugunghwa (rose of Sharon). Mugunghwa is a deciduous flowering shrub species belonging to the family Malyacease. Its Latin name is Hibiscus syriacus. Native to India and East Asia, this species is found in India, China, and Korea (south of South Pyeongan and Gangwon Provinces). Mugunghwa blooms in late summer, generally from July to September and mugunghwa bushes can grow to 2 to 3 meters in height. A mugunghwa shrub bears many sturdy branches, which are smooth, hard, and fibrous. The egg-shaped, deeply-lobed leaves can grow to 4 to 10 centimeters long.

Mugunghwa is so abundant in Korea tht during ancient times the Korean people called the country "the land of mugunhwa." The first reference to mugunghwa and Korea is discovered in an ancient Chinese geographical document presumed to date back to the second century or earlier. The abundance of mugunghwa in Korea is frequently mentioned in Chinese and Korean literature.


Mugunghwa has not been designated by law as Korea's national flower, but it has represented the Korean people since the olden days. Also, the refrain of Korea's national anthem, officially adopted in 1948, following Korea's independence in 1945, begins with "splendid rivers and mountains covered with mugunghwa," which ensured mugughwa's status as the national flower. Emblems of the legislative, judicial and administrative branches all feature mugunghwa, and the tip of the flagpole is mandated to be shaped like a mugunghwa blossom.
This beautiful, yet unassuming flower properly symbolizes the Korean people's disposition. Compared to other flowering trees, mugunghwa is highly resistant to diseases, indicating Korean's resilience. The repeated blossoming also symbolizes the Korean people's indomitable spirit. Young mugunghwa shoots are edible, and its flower petals and fruits are used as ingredients for medicine or tea. Mugunghwa, with many versatile uses for mankind, certainly represents the ideal of humanitarianism.

Source:
"Korea's National Flower - "Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon)." About Korea. Web. 6 Dec. 2011. <http://www.koreaaward.com/kor/288>.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Short History of Aegukga

Korea's national anthem is "Aegukga," which means "the song of the love for the country." There was no official national anthem, but the words of Aegukga were sung to the tune of the Scottish folk song Ault Lang Syne after Japan colonized Korea in 1910. Composer Ahn Eak-tai wrote a new melody for the lyrics in 1936. But Ahn's new composition was not considered the official national anthem tune before 1948. Instead, people continued to sing the old "Aegukga" to the Auld Lang Syne.


"Aegukga" was officially designated Korea's national anthem when the Korean government was founded in 1948 and the name "Aegukga," which used to be a blanket term for all patriotic songs, remained the official title for the national anthem. The lyrics were kept as they were. Although the lyricist of Aegukga still unknown, some speculate it to be Yun Chi ho, Ahn Chang ho, or Min Yeong hwan.



English translation of Aegukga (1st verse):
"Until that day when Mt. Baekdu's worn away and the East sea's waters run dry,
God (sky) protect and preserve out country!

Roses of Sharon and Three thousand Li of splendid rivers and mountains full;
Great Korean people, To the Great Korean way stay always true!"

They lyrics are solemn in expression, describing the dark reality of Japanese colonial rule, and Korean's work to overcome the sorrow of losing their country. But instead of wallowing in the sadness, the lyrics speak of Korea's beauty and the Korean peopel's hope of gaining independence from Japan and bringing prosperity.

Source:
"Aegukga." EconomicExpert.com. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. <http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Aegukga.htm>.
"Aegukga-Korean National Anthem - YouTube." YouTube. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_b8VRACjzU>.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Tree with Deep Roots – Best Historical Drama of 2011

I have been watching this Korean drama for the past three weeks: Tree with Deep Roots. This drama is based on Lee Jeong Myeong's novel, "Deep-rooted Tree," and it has just released on September 2011. It is portrayed during the reign of King Sejong in 1418-1450. The main role played by Han Seok Gyu really brings forth the historical figure as the king of Choson with other great actors and actresses.

In this drama, King Sejong (Han Seok Gyu) is puzzled when few of his intelligent councils are murdered right before he was about to announce his creation of the Korean words, Hangeul, which will only belong to his country. Upon calling forward Kang Chae Yun (Jang Hyuk) to investigate the cases, he finds out that it may be something much worse than what he can imagine of and his trusted court lady, So Yi (Shin Se Kyung) seems to hold the key to the mysterious murders.

Kang Chae Yun was originally born into a nobleman family until an incident demoted his family to the slave class, but through determination and investigation skills, he manages to become the first investigation officer from the slave class. While throwing aside his hatred ad prejudice towards Sejong who has caused his family tragedy and his father's death, Kang Chae Yun gets closer to the root of the truth as he investigates these cases. He finds himself entangled in a massive conspiracy behind the serial killings when he was personally entrusted with the cases by his enemy King Sejong who promised to reinstate his family status if he solves the murder cases, which involves a group of genius that are willing to risk their lives towards overthrowing the king's thrown.

Although this story is based on real historical events- King Sejong and his invention of Hangeul- there is some fiction. For example, Kang Chae Yun and So Yi do not seem to be real historical figures and this specific case of murders didn't happen during the reign of King Sejong. But, I thought the story was very fascinating because it got me interested in Choson Dynasty and what kind of person King Sejong was.


Source:
"Deep Rooted Tree." Wikipedia. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_With
_Deep_Roots>.