The Times 50 Best Inventions of 2010 - Click here for detail

The Online Electric Vehicle (dubbed OLEV) manufactured by the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology (KAIST) was included in the 50 Best Inventions of 2010 published by The Times, along with Apple’s iPad, Google’s Driverless Car, Sony’s Alpha A55 Camera and others. Also included was the English-Teaching Robot invented by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). The Times introduced the OLEV as an advanced green growth technology that could speed up the commercialization of electric cars. As for the robots, they can effectively teach young students how to pronounce English words; they can move in any direction, follow human facial expressions, and students actually enjoy interacting with this “cool” new staff. Read more about it!

Foreign Journalists Visit Jeju Island Click here for detail

20 Seoul-based foreign journalists on last November 19 and 20 visited Jeju Island as part of their press tour program sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. They had their first impressive encounter with Jeju haenyeo (sea women) who dive 20m deep into the ocean and collect sea products, holding their breath for as long as two minutes. The journalists also walked the famous Jeju Olle Road which exhibits a scenic view of cliffs and the sea. And of course, can’t forget the sumptuous meal composed of just-caught Jeju sea food and makgeolli. Read more about their Jeju trip!

Korean Grafted Cactus Fascinates the World - Click here for detail

The Rural Development Administration (RDA) exhibited its newly developed grafted cactus at the horticulture fair held last November 11. The Korean grafted cactus has been garnering excellent reviews from the worldwide horticulture market with its annual volume of export exceeding USD 2 million to over 30 countries. Contrary to the usual association of cactus (some thorny, misshapen, rough-looking plant standing under the scorching sun in the desert), Korean cactus comes in numerous splash colors (red, pink, yellow, orange etc) and sizes (a cute little cauliflower-like thing the size of your fist). Read more about it.

Korea on the Road to First Class - click here for detail

Chairwoman Lee Bae-Yong of the Presidential Council on Nation Branding gave a lecture on the subject of Korea’s nation branding for the KBS program “The Road to First Class.” Lee emphasized that Korea’s astounding growth in the 20th century was possible only because it was backed up by the country’s such timeless virtues as perseverance, cooperative and pacifist inclination, modesty, warmhearted regards for life and nature, harmony and sharing. Lee also stressed the importance of promoting historic and cultural heritages in raising Korea’s global status. Read more about it.

 

Korea’s Women of the Sea ("Haenyeo") Click here for detail

"Haenyeo" (the sea women) are female divers in the Korean province of Jeju. What used to amount to as many as 15,000 haenyeo in 1970 has now plummeted to a mere third of that number; and most of them are over seventy years of age, meaning that haenyeo are fast disappearing. Nowadays, instead of the strenuous lifestyle as a haenyeo, many Jeju women are turning elsewhere for other possibilities of living. In light of this sad reality, The LA Times published a feature article on Korean haenyeo, including interviews with the youngest haenyeo in Korea (33-year-old Ms. Kim) who has chosen the harsh path so that the precious tradition could be preserved.

Cycling at the National Parks of Korea

The Korea National Park Service announced that they are going to add four more cycling courses to the existing four, so operating a total eight routes.

In the cycling programs offered at the Hallyeohaesang National Park and the Deogyusan National Park, you can rent bicycles for free at the respective park offices.

The Korea National Park Service is planning to create extra cycling courses of 20km at the four parks including Seoraksan, Naejangsan, Jirisan and Woraksan
Choose a Course that Is Right for Your Capacity

When cycling, it is important to choose a course that fits your strength and skills, and also to be mindful of safety instructions.

For example, if you are on a downhill road, you shouldn’t exceed 10km/h by applying hand brakes. As is common sense, you must wear a helmet as well as restrain from using mobile phones or ear plugs to listen to music. And also, should the unfortunate situation happens where on a downhill you’ve lost control of your bicycle, then you should rather let go of the handles instead of holding tight on to them, which is usually the instinct.

Remember, abiding safety rules aren’t only about your own safety; it’s as much about other cyclists and hikers’ who are near you.

If you are one of those who aren’t really into the taxing, energy-consuming hiking business, then you might want to consider trying a cycling program at the national parks!

WSK 10 Winner Bloggers of the 3rd Batch

Congratulations!

World Students in Korea 10 Winner Bloggers of the 3rd Batch

	Nationality	Last Name	First Name	Address of Blog	Email
Best Blogger	Indonesia	Hidayat	Febiansyah	http://havban.wordpress.com	havban@gmail.com
Outstanding Bloggers	Cambodia	Lavorn	Vy	http://vylavorn.wordpress.com	vylavorn@yahoo.com
	Indonesia	Saftira	Angga	http://saftira-in-orea.blogspot.com/	asuhandi77@gmail.com
	Paraguay	Ruiz Medina	Alexi Luis	http://alexiruiz.blogspot.com/	alexiluis90@gmail.com
Notable Bloggers	China	Wang	Chaopeng	http://blog.sina.com.cn/wcp	choppywang@nate.com
	India	Kumar	Sanjay	http://sanjaykumarjnu.blogspot.com/	sanjaykorean2007@gmail.com
	Indonesia	Maruf	Hasrul	http://hasrule.blogdetik.com	hasrule@hotmail.com
	Iraqi Kurdistan	Hamad	Tawfiq	http://kurdistankorea.blogspot.com/	tofiq.rahman@gmail.com
	Pakistan	Zeeshan	Muhammad	http://pak-korea-culture.blogspot.com	zee_1002000@yahoo.com
	Uzbekistan	Kim	Alla	http://ru.hedgehog.doira.uz/default.aspx	KimAlyusha@yahoo.com

WSK - Nominated Members of the 4th Batch

 Congratulations!World Students in Korea - Members of the 4th Batch

	Nationality	Last Name	First Name	Address of Blog	Email
1	Afghanistan	Rahmanzai	Sami	http://afghankoreafriendship.blogspot .com/	srahmanzai@gmail.com
2	Azerbaijan	Safarov	Javanshir	http://kyungheess.blogspot.com/	cavansirsafarov@gmail.com
3	Bangladesh	Mostafa	Md. Alam	http://www.bangla-endeavour.blogspot.com	anywher.bd@gmail.com
4	Bangladesh	Nurunnabi	MD	http://managescholarship.blogspot.com	MNURUNNABI@GMAIL.COM
5	Cambodia	Heang	Vanny	www.heangvanny.blogspot.com	vannyheang@yahoo.com
6	Cambodia	Sovath	Ngin	http://sovathngin.blogspot.com/	sovath89@yahoo.com
7	Cameroon	Tandia	Vernasius	http://tvtandia.blogspot.com/	tvtandia@gmail.com
8	Canada	Rhim	Issac	www.issacrhim.blogspot.com	issacrhim@gmail.com
9	China	Liu	Miao	http://blog.sina.com.cn/korealiving	liumiao@live.co.kr
10	China	양	소	http://01071341968ing.blogbus.com/	duncaness@hotmail.com
11	China	공	멍쉬	http://mongwook88.blog.me/	mongwook@hotmail.com
12	China	Xu	Chao	http://hi.baidu.com/icyia	sara-xuchao@hotmail.com
13	China	Li	Ling	http://hi.baidu.com/15lynn/home	aqling@naver.com
14	Costa Rica	Molina	Elias	www.desdeSeul.com	elias@desdeseul.com
15	El Salvador	Guzman Gonzalez	Rodrigo Alberto	http://morphoenix.blogspot.com/	Morpheusmega2501@hotmail.com
16	Finland	Kamppila	Tuomas	http://sogang2010.blogspot.com	tuomas.kamppila@gmail.com
17	France	Leconte	Adrien	http://www.adrienkoreanlife.blogspot .com/	aleconte82@gmail.com
18	Germany	Bessey	Donata	http://kimchizumfruehstueck.blogspot .com/	donata.bessey@web.de
19	Guatemala	Florian	Lilian	http://journeyofthousandmilesandmore. blogspot.com/	lilanflosa06@hotmail.com
20	Hungary	Urban	Alexandra Eszter	http://ilnyomtongjon.blogspot.com	atarimae@gmail.com
21	India	Devaraj	Vasanthan	http://vasanth86.wordpress.com/	dvsdrdp@gmail.com
22	Indonesia	Jato	Sangalian	http://eavesdroponme.wordpress.com/	ksjato@gmail.com
23	Indonesia	Melani	Ai	http://kaist.wordpress.com/	ai_melani@kaist.ac.kr
24	Indonesia	Tanesia	Cindy	http://myiyagi.wordpress.com	cindytanesia@gmail.com
25	Indonesia	Jaya	Syahnada	http://syahjayasyaifullah.wordpress.com	jaya_syaifullah@yahoo.com
26	Japan	Shibata	Mika	http://ameblo.jp/cocolulu712	loveacqqz@hotmail.net
27	Khmer	Yim	Bean	http://beanyim.wordpress.com	yim_bean@yahoo.com
28	Malaysia	Razin	Bilqis	http://bilqis.typepad.com	bilqis@hanmail.net
29	Malaysia	Tan	Kyle Jin Soon	http://hislittlemoments.blogspot.com/	kyle_tan89@hotmail.com
30	Mexico	Luna Covarrubias	Andrea	http://mexicanaencorea.tumblr.com/	andrealuna.co@gmail.com
31	Moldova	Covaliova	Irina	http://krmdi.blogspot.com	9irina.kiv@live.com
32	Myanmar	-	Phyu Phyu Aung	http://image1-image.blogspot.com/	sudajangee@gmail.com
33	Nepal	Gautam	Dinesh	http://kornep.blogspot.com/	gautamdi@gmail.com
34	Netherlands	Mevius	Daan	http://daanbeyondthehorizon.waarbenjij .nu/	daanmevius@hotmail.com
35	Norway	Istad	Felicia Karlsen	http://feliciainkorea.blogspot.com	feliciaki@hotmail.com
36	Pakistan	Younus	Arjumand	http://arjumand-atif.blogspot.com/	arjumandms@kaist.ac.kr
37	Philippines	Sarito	Christine Mae	http://pinaystoryteller.wordpress.com	cmsarito_upv@yahoo.com
38	Philippines	Evangelista	Mark James	www.mjse.multiply.com	markjames1988@yahoo.com.ph
39	Poland	Zygadlo	Dominika	http://dominiquezet.blogspot.com/	dominika.zygadlo@yahoo.com
40	Romania	Aldescu	Georgeta	http://romanian-in-southkorea.skyrock.com/	georgia_aldescu@yahoo.com
41	Russia	Vernidub	Roman	http://romainkorea.blogspot.com/	romainkorea@yahoo.com
42	Russia/Latvia	Guzanov	Denis	www.cyworld.com/dzejdaris	dzejdaris@naver.com
43	Senegal	KA	Ousmane	http://ouseka.blogspot.com/	guely1979@yahoo.fr
44	Singapore	Kew	XingQian Belinda	http://metal4plastic.blogspot.com	rockband_211@hotmail.com
45	Spain	Lopez	Veronica	http://pistaxinthemoket.blogspot.com	Veronica.Lopez@campus.uab.es
46	Tajikistan	Djumankulov	Alibek	http://cholsooexperience.wordpress .com	djumankulov@gmail.com
47	Tunisia	Trabelsi	Lassaad	http://trabelsi-16.page4.me	trabelsi_lassaad@yahoo.fr
48	Turkey	Zora	Esra	http://zorakizorro.blogspot.com/	esrazora@hotmail.com
49	USA	Moore	Richard	www.RickinKorea.com	ram.powers@gmail.com
50	USA	Weiner	Ann	http://peachesofapathy.tumblr.com/	ann.weiner88@gmail.com
51	USA	Wyrostek	Brian	http://brian-in-korea.blogspot.com/	wyromaster@gmail.com
52	Uzbekistan	Lim	Yelena	http://eyesinkorea.blogspot.com/	lim.yelena@gmail.com
53	Uzbekistan	Ibragimova	Eleonora	http://ibragimova.posterous.com/	ellacino@gmail.com
54	Vietnam	라	티홍번	http://vn.360plus.yahoo.com/lahongvan 1981/	lahongvan@hotmail.com