Dropwort ( or Komprek in my dailect) Delicacies

 Dropwort Delicacies  : Acombination of Manipuir and Korean taste

Recently I have come across that Hanjae Village in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, of South Korea is famous for producing dropwort, a perennial herb with a range of health benefits. Every spring, the village is bustling with people from all over the country who head there to sample the plant, known in Korean as "minari."

Just like in my home state Manipur we called this particular herb   "Komprek". We eat Dropwort or Komprek either in fry, raw or in boiled form. Once I have encountered at Seoul , it was in a resturant called "Phada Sarang or Sea Lover". It was a simple boiled fish curry with dropwort. I was so amazed to taste it. All of sudden it make me feel like home .

In Korea localite knew dropwort as a vegetable that helps restore people's appetite and wards off fatigue in spring. Even though it is usually grown in marsh-like environments -- its name literally translates as "plant from water" . Specially in Cheongdo it is cultivated in soil, which is more labor-intensive. For 50 days, farmers must water the soil overnight and drain it by day.

Unlike the conventional method of cutting the stems two or three times in the early stages of sprouting, farmers here only make one cut. This complicated nurturing process pays off later as it results in a more crunchy texture, bitter flavor and long-lasting sweet aftertaste.

The popularity of the herb in Cheongdo has led to a special local treat as locals cook it together with pork belly, which eliminates the odor of the meat while making it taste more succulent.

Dropwort also helps reduce cholesterol, cleanse the blood and enhance liver functions, while its detoxifying properties help remove harmful heavy metals from the blood. The dropwort flavor becomes stronger as the meat is chewed, giving it a bittersweet aftertaste.

Drinks and pancakes using dropwort extract are also worth a try. The former can be enjoyed in a range of guises and can even be diluted in drinks, while the latter serves as a great side dish to alcoholic beverages. Dropwort is now in season, making this a perfect time to head to Cheongdo to detoxify.

Changing wisdom on wisdom teeth

 

By Yoon Ja-young

Wisdom teeth have been regarded as useless, if not bothersome, as people generally think they only cause cavities and pain. According to dentists, however, the tooth can work as good substitute for a dental implant usually made of titanium.

The wisdom tooth usually appears at around 20 years of age. It is called “Sarangni,” or love tooth in Korea, meaning that the tooth appears when people are around the age to know about love. They are often angled forward, causing pain. According to a research by Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel, an anthropologist at the University of Kent in England, it has to do with evolution. Our ancestors used to have longer jawbones as they ate raw and unprocessed, hard items. As people came to have cooked and softer food, however, our jawbones became shorter, not enough to accommodate the many teeth we previously needed.

Wisdom teeth are usually taken out, over concerns about cavities or gum disease, especially when the tooth is angled. In an era where many people lose teeth due to sweets, however, these wisdom teeth can be useful, according to research by Prof. Kook Yoon-ah at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Prof. Lee Won at Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, Prof. Kim Seong-hun at Kyunghee University and Prof. Chung Kyu-rhim at Ajou University.

For patients whose first molar is missing, they moved the second molar into the space, and the third molar, or wisdom tooth, into the space of the second molar. When they examined 1,179 patients who visited hospitals from 2010 to 2012, 66 had wisdom teeth that could be used as substitutes. Among them, 36 got successful treatment.

The left photo shows the first molar of a patient is missing. In the right photo, the second molar and the wisdom tooth were used to fill in for the missing first molar, instead of using implant. / Courtesy of Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital

Currently, dental implants made of titanium are the most common treatment for missing teeth, but by using their own wisdom tooth, patients can expect a better prognosis while lowering the cost — to about one third of the dental implant. The research team showed that even angled wisdom teeth can be used to replace the molar.

“Patients who have the first molar missing have the risk of losing the second molar as well as the second tooth can tilt into the empty space. Hence, it is recommended that you visit a dental clinic soon in order to keep the remaining teeth healthy,” Prof. Kook said. “The method using wisdom teeth is more effective in treatment while the cost is lower, as you use your own tooth,” he added.

The research was published in the February edition of the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics.

Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2013/06/319_137909.html

 

Sunday Brings the Year's Biggest Full Moon

This year's biggest full moon will rise at 7:37 p.m. on tonight i.e sunday and become fully visible 55 minutes later at 8:32 p.m., according to the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute said .

The reason the moon looks bigger is that it revolves around the earth in an elliptic orbit, and this is the closest it will come this year while being full.

The distance between the earth and the moon will be only 357,205 km, some 30,000 km shorter than the average distance.

The distance will be longest or 403,187 km at 6:28 p.m. on Dec. 17.

The difference in size between the perigee and apogee full moons is about 13 percent. The exact moonrise times in each region can be found on the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute website (kasi.re.kr).

 

New York's Met to Show Shilla Treasures

 

Over 100 artifacts from the Shilla Kingdom will be on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for four months from late October this year.

The museum has a dedicated 180 sq. m Korean gallery on the second floor but will allocate a 650 sq. m hall on the first floor for the exhibition. The hall is next to the Greek and Roman galleries, the most visited galleries in the museum.

It is the first show of Shilla-era artifacts in the West and also the first time a Korea-themed show is being mounted at the hall.

Above: A Shilla-era gold crown and a seated golden statue of Buddha. Below: Visitors attend the briefing session for an exhibition of artifacts from the Shilla Kingdom opening in October at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. /Newsis

Visitors will see artifacts from the ancient Korean kingdom that were created between 400 and 800 A.D., on loan from the National Museum of Korea and the Gyeongju National Museum. They include some 20 objects that are designated national treasures.

The show will screen a video featuring UNESCO World Heritage sites in Korea, including the Seokguram Grotto in Gyeongju, the kingdom's ancient capital.

Source: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/06/05/2013060501301.html

 

Idol Groups Go Out of Fashion as Water Park Models

 

With their striking looks and enviable physiques, idol singers have proven a natural choice to promote water parks across the nation. But that is changing as the park operators look to other TV personalities and models with a friendly image that people can relate to.

Caribbean Bay in Yongin, Gyeonggy Province is now finalizing the details of a contract with a TV celebrity in his 40s who looks decidedly unfit to promote its facilities.

"We thought that choosing stars who come across as the kind of friend you'd like to hang out and have fun with is more in line with current trends, rather than just going for a girl band or a star with a great body," said a staffer from the park.

Girls' Generation and 2PM are pictured in a 2010 advertisement for Caribbean Bay. /Courtesy of Caribbean Bay

As others follow suit, popular idol groups such as Girls' Generation, f(x), 2PM, miss A, T-ara and Secret -- all of which modeled for water parks until recently -- have all been replaced this year. Sistar is a notable service, Ocean World choosing the girl group to promote it recently.

Some industry insiders say such moves reflect the weakening power idol stars wield in the local pop music industry.

"These days, people prefer stars who feel more like the guy or girl next door, rather than those with dazzling looks," an advertising director said. As such, idol stars may lose much of their charm in the market, he added.
Source: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/06/14/2013061400882.html

 

The Last Days of Kim Jong-il

The Last Days of Kim Jong-il

Bruce E. Bechtol, Jr.

Potomac Books

221 pages

Given Pyongyang’s bluster since its young leader Kim Jong-un took power, it’s easy to forget the mercurial ways of his late father Kim Jong-il. According to respected American expert Bruce Bechtol, however, it is essential for the international community to review the details of his final years to better understand the Kim dynasty.

The former senior analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency contends that Kim, who died in 2011, used foreign and domestic policies in his final years to exacerbate multifaceted threats so that the family regime could survive after his death. These included, he says, not only its conventional threats but also its efforts at proliferation involving Middle Eastern states such as Iran and Syria as well as non-state actors that engage in terror.

The book is unique in its analysis of the late Kim Jong-il era from a security perspective and touches on the issue of the North’s conventional forces, which are often overshadowed by attention to its nuclear program.

Bechtol, an associate professor of political science at Angelo State University in Texas, also analyzes the North’s strategy near the disputed Northern Limit Line, its nuclear intentions and the succession process to paint a compelling picture of Kim’s final years and the future of the Kim Jong-un regime.

Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2013/06/142_137520.html

 

Again 5 Korean Universities Make Top 20 in Asian Rankings

 

Five Korean universities made it to this year's top 20 in the Asian University Rankings, which is compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds and the Chosun Ilbo.

Seoul National University came fourth in Asia, ahead of Beijing University in fifth and the University of Tokyo in ninth.

This is the fifth year the rankings have been released, and Korean universities' have consistently improved their standing.

This year's rankings evaluated 457 universities in 16 countries. It is the first time that five Korean universities were placed in the top 20. In 2009, three were included, and four in 2010 to 2012.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) ranked sixth and seventh, and Yonsei University and Korea University came in 16th and 19th.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was once again at the top, the same as last year, and National University of Singapore and University of Hong Kong shared second place. The Chinese University of Hong Kong shared seventh place with POSTECH, and Kyoto University was 10th.

Ben Sowter of QS said that the improvement of Korea's top universities over the last several years along with that of Chinese universities has been "a topic of conversation around the world."

The average ranking of SNU, KAIST, POSTECH, Yonsei University, and Korea University taken together was 18th in Asia in 2009 but it jumped to 10th this year.

While the global ranking of top Korean universities is soaring, the number of those in 100th to 200th place is dwindling. There were 44 Korean universities in the top 200 in 2009 but only 33 this year. The competitiveness of mid- to upper-middle ranked universities is evidently falling against those in other Asian countries.

Source: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/06/12/2013061201667.html

 

Galaxy S4 receives rave reviews , now Samsung unveils core 5G technology

We all know that how The Korean Giant Samsung is wooing Indian gadget lovers and the latest series of Galaxy S4 is something people were looking for and now everyone is overwhlemed . This new gadget has received solid reviews from American and British IT media too.

The smartphone was named the “Editor’s Choice” by U.S.-based IT media Cnet, scoring nine out of 10 and recommended for “anyone looking for a big-screen, do-everything smartphone.”

Samsung’s signature features for its phones ― a removable battery and the best hardware specifications ― were praised, though the perpetual jab over using cheap plastic was also made.

Cnet’s compatriot Mashable lauded it as “the best Android phone ever” and praised the larger screen than its predecessor and its camera’s photo quality.

U.K.-based Tech Radar was in agreement over the “stunning screen” that is larger although the phone’s size has not increased much from its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy S4 and  HTC

Samsung Electronics employees try out its new data transmission echnology in a 5G network environment at a lab in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Recently, Samsung Electronics announced that they developed technology which allows data transmission on fifth-generation (5G) networks for the first time in the world.

The world’s largest electronics maker by revenue said that its new wireless technology successfully sent and received data at a two-kilometer distance at a download speed of 1 gigabyte per second at 28 gigahertz wavelength, by which users can download an entire movie in less than a second.

The company plans to commercialize the 5G networks by 2020 and expects its most recent achievement to speed up an international standardization for the next-generation wireless system.

It also emphasized that this is the world’s first successful data transmission at super high frequency. Super high frequency refers to a waveband of over 6 gigahertz which allows heavier transfers compared to lower frequencies.

Samsung said it is most likely that 5G networks will likely use super high frequencies due to the current shortages coupled with the need to achieve faster transmissions.

3G networks are currently the most widely used systems globally, with an ongoing migration towards 4G, or long-term evolution (LTE) networks. LTE network boasts a download speed of 100 megabyte per second, and there are currently over 20 million LTE users in Korea.

Samsung’s early announcement of its 5G technology is seen as an attempt to cement its reputation as a forceful network equipment maker. The technology giant is currently competing with Swedish company Ericsson and Cisco of the U.S. in network equipment business.

The global competition to commercialize 5G networks is intensifying following China’s formation of the IMT-2020 Promotion Group, charged with the task of facilitating the development of the new network. The European Union has also announced that it will invest the equivalent of 72 billion won this year on the wireless system.

Ericsson and NTT Docomo of Japan and China’s Huawei have all previously revealed test results for 5G development.

The International Telecommunication Union held a conference in January to discuss what bandwidth to standardize for the next-generation network.

Sources: The Korea Times

 

Samsung vows to deliver new values

From The Korea Times News/

By Kim Yoo-chul

Lee Kun-hee Samsung Electronics Chairman

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee has instructed his executives and employees to be more creative and produce more shared growth in order to solidify the firm’s position as a global leader.

“We have successfully transitioned our focus from quantity to quality over the past 20 years. We should now move beyond quality to deliver new levels of value and management standards in our products, services and businesses,” Lee said in a statement to The Korea Times, Friday.

Lee’s statement came as the electronics giant’s new management scheme known as the “Frankfurt Declaration” marked its 20th anniversary, Friday.

On June 7, 1993, the chairman presented the new management plan, focusing on improving quality and creating a new corporate culture to transform Samsung into a global player.

In a message sent to all Samsung employees across the globe, Lee said, “Samsung must create an environment of ingenuity, where autonomy and creativity abound, in an organization that is not afraid to fail and is ready to tackle new challenges. Let us be open-minded and bring together our creative abilities.”

Lee stressed that the company has made remarkable growth over the past decades but should not become conceited because there are new challenges ahead.

“Now, thanks to your dedication and passion, we stand tall as a leading global company,” Lee said.

He pointed out that Samsung rid itself of old perceptions, habits and dismissed any practices that ran against the times.

“We then started to gain competitive strength by shifting our focus to quality over quantity in all our thoughts and actions.”

“Barriers no longer exist between individuals, organizations or companies. We live in an era that encourages active competition and collaboration. As we move forward, we must resist complacency and thoughts of being good enough because these will prevent us from becoming better,” he said.

The chairman continued; “Samsung’s New Management must start anew to reach loftier goals and ideals.”

“In today's world, corporate social responsibility is more important than ever. As a result, society's expectations towards Samsung have also grown. Let us heighten our responsibilities to foster a brighter future by coexisting in harmony with the communities surrounding us. This is the new beginning for Samsung’s New Management.”

Samsung Electronics will hold its global strategy meeting for the second half of this year from June 24 to June 25 at its main technology compound in Suwon and Giheung, where its key memory chip-producing lines are located.

The company said that all Samsung executives both at home and abroad will attend the meeting. Samsung Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun, who entirely handles the company’s component business, will lead the parts-related issue.

Co-CEO Yoon Boo-keun will lead a discussion regarding strategies for home appliances, while another co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun will discuss issues on how to tackle uncertainties in a bid to keep the growth momentum in Samsung’s handset business, it said.

Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2013/06/133_137091.html 

 

Korea and India's 40th year of diplomatic ties part 1.

This year both India and Korea marked as 40th anniversary in their relationship. India's cultural ties go back two millennia to the visit of Indian Princess Suriratna from Ayodhya who went to Korea in A.D. 48, married King Kim Suro and became Queen Heo Hwang-ok. Some 5 million Kims, including the wife of ex President Lee Myung-bak, in this country of 50 million, trace their ancestry to the royal couple.

There are striking cultural similarities between our countries and societies including filial piety, role and stature of the eldest male member of family, respect for age, and an emphasis on education. In the North East region of India is considered as the epicentre of Korean cultural wave called "Hallyu" in India.

India-South Korea relations date back many centuries to the time when the princess of Ayodhya married Kim Suro, the King of Gaya. Their descendants are still known to visit Ayodhya every year to pay homage to their ancestral maternal roots.

Buddhism, which originated in India, reached Korea through China and remains a dominant religion on the Peninsula. Currently, the most prominent links are going through numerous academic exchanges between India and South Korea as well as from bothe the government side also.

The Korean Foundation provides scholarships to Indian students who wish to study the sciences and humanities in South Korea. Also, Korean language courses are taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University and The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad.

In addition to these cultural and social exchanges, strides have also been made in economic, trade and diplomatic ties. This article will look at the developments in Indo-South Korean linkages that have developed thus far, and their future potential.Pre Modern Relationship: South Korea and India, though geographically far apart, have shared close historic and emotional bonds. In a poem written when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule, Rabindranath Tagore referred to South Korea as the "lamp of the East."

Historian are viewed that this cordial relationship between the two countries extends back to 48AD, when Queen Suro, or Princess Heo Hwang-ok, traveled from the kingdom of Ayodhya in North India to Korea. According to the Samguk Yusa, the princess had a dream about a heavenly king who was awaiting heaven's anointed ride. After Princess Heo had the dream, she asked her parents, the king and queen, for permission to set out and seek the man, which the king and queen urged with the belief that god orchestrated the whole fate. Upon approval, she set out on a boat, carrying gold, silver, a tea plant, and a stone which calmed the waters.

Archeologists discovered a stone with two fish kissing each other, a symbol of the Gaya kingdom that is unique to the Mishra royal family in Ayodhya, India. This royal link provides further evidence that there was an active commercial engagement between India and Korea since the queen's arrival to Korea. The city of Gimhae, where the princess landed in South Korea, now has a pact with the Ayodhya administration in Uttar Pradesh, which even donated a site there for a monument of Queen Hur-Hwang-ok.

In the ancient time Buddhism was the bedrock of relationship between the Korea and India. Buddhism was introduced to Korea in the second half of fourth century and Koguryo was the first among the three kingdoms of Korea, which received Buddhism. During the reign of Kim Sosurim (371-384), Buddhism was officially recognized in Korea. Supposedly, Buddhism reached from India to Korea via China. However, there are some speculations which try to explore the possibility that Buddhism reached to Korea directly from India.

Even if Buddhism reached Korea directly from India before its official route via China, more or less it was in a dormant form and there is hardly any evidence that it got any reference in the Korean cultural and social life. Without going into the debate of source of Korean Buddhism, it is safe to say that spread of Buddhism in Korea during the era of three kingdoms led to increase in interactions of two countries afterwards.

Global interest  as well as in India also Korean culture is beginning to embrace more traditional aspects as we already experience the technological products of Korea. With the popularity of Korean Company like LG, Samsung , Hundai, Lotte and now the soft sleek Galaxy series reigning , there is a growing demand for Korean culture now in India .

 

More to come up in the next write up of this series as here in India the government is trying also trying to do something special in relation of the 40th anniversary of India Korea relation. And I am also making a small documentary on the North East region of India and the korean cultural impact.

A spcial report from The Korea Times : Vertical integration will give Samsung Galaxies

Vertical integration will give Samsung Galaxies

Radio City Hall in New York is crowded with visitors during a Samsung Electronics’ event to launch its Galaxy S4 in March. This is the first time that Samsung chose New York as the place to unveil a flagship product. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Fitch Ratings expects smartphones to enhance profits

Alvin Lim, director of corporate ratings at Fitch Ratings

By Kim Yoo-chul / source The Korea Times

Samsung Electronics is expected to solidify its leadership in the global technology industry by capitalizing on better profitability and more cash generation, according to a global credit ratings agency, Monday.

“We expect Samsung to continue to enhance its profit and cash generation in the medium-term mainly led by smartphones. In addition, improving industry conditions for semiconductors and display panels are also positive compared with 2012,” said Alvin Lim, director of corporate ratings at Fitch Ratings, in an interview with The Korea Times, Monday.

The credit rating agency stressed Samsung has demonstrated its undisputed ability to develop market-leading products in a number of categories through sizable investment in research and capital expenditure, helping it widen gaps with its rivals.

The U.S.-based firm identified “connectivity” as the main theme of the global information and technology (IT) industry over the medium term as the industry has strived to provide an eco-system in which general consumes can seamlessly experience content and information through various devices under an integrated platform.

A Samsung researcher checks out its EyeCAN device, a pointing device or mouse-replacement for people that are physically-handicapped. The device is a glasses-mounted solution that precisely tracks eye movements, allowing the user to move the pointer accurately.

The agency headquartered both in New York and London said that the firm’s effort to develop the so-called smart watch is a good example showing that it is taking a lead in connectivity.

“Vertical integration with strong component businesses such as semiconductors and display panels, has allowed efficient and timely development of advanced products, most notably the Galaxy smartphone series,” the director said.

Samsung has yet to prove its “creative” innovation, which means the creation of a new product or a market segment that hasn’t existed before, according to Fitch.

However, Lim admitted Samsung has room to become a “true innovator” considering the company’s strength in its robust cash generation.

“Despite prowess in manufacturing technology, Samsung’s success story has been largely based on excellence in innovating to improve products already on the market. In that regard, Samsung still has room for improvement to be labeled as a true innovator, although if we review all of the global consumer technology successes of the last decade, the overwhelming majority would be developments based on existing products,” the director said.

Fitch praised Samsung’s proven ability to generate more cash and the agency attributed that strength to Samsung’s strong position in the mobile handset segment along with other businesses, which provide diversification.

“Samsung’s success enabled it to generate large amounts of cash _ 2012 cash flow from operations was $35 billion _ which it is using to invest in research projects. This investment should enable Samsung to remain at the leading edge of technology for all of its major business units, which in turn should result in high margins and strong cash flow compared with its regional competitors,” it said.

Over-reliance on Google Android software, heavy reliance on its handset division and the inability to create a whole-new product category based on software were cited as the main weaknesses that Samsung should improve on.

“Samsung does not enjoy the same level of competitiveness when it comes to software technology, or possess the ability to create a new product category, both of which have been core strengths of some of other leading companies such as Apple,” it said.

Samsung Electronics is the world’s top manufacturer of TVs and is also the top supplier in display panels and semiconductors. Lim said it’s worth noting that the company’s handset division accounted for 74 percent of the entire operating profit during the first three months of this year.

Lim said this reliance could become a weakness should Samsung Electronics lose its position in the market. He noted that Apple’s possible launch of low-end iPhones, if it materializes, will erode some of Samsung’s market position in emerging markets. “Samsung’s over-reliance on the Android platform due to the lack of a competitive operating system of its own clearly reflects this relative weakness. This maybe a threat should competitors catch up in hardware technology or should industry hardware competence reach a common level and product differentiation is driven by competition in software offerings,” the agency said.

Lim said the agency, which rates Samsung at A plus with an outlook of “stable,” the highest among Fitch’s Asia-Pacific portfolio of rated technology firms, says it’s highly unlikely that Fitch would upgrade Samsung Electronics in the medium term.

“Despite its strong performance, we believe that Samsung’s significant exposure to macro-economic cycles, volatility risk and reliance on relatively fickle, fast-moving, investment-intensive markets is inconsistent with an AA category rating and therefore we are unlikely to upgrade Samsung in the medium term.”

Lim continued; “Samsung’s A+ rating is clearly supported by its technological leadership, dominant market positions, and some diversification offered by non-handset businesses. But the volatility inherent in its core operations, the cyclicality of its semiconductor and display panel businesses, as well as the rapidly changing fortunes of global handset manufacturers, remains a significant risk that is not commensurate with an AA category rating.”

On a related note, he also confirmed that it won’t rate Samsung’s biggest smartphone rival Apple above A+.

Samsung has been quick to boost spending on large scale marketing campaigns impressed by the raised brand awareness, making it possible to become a marketing-driven firm. But Lim disagreed.

“We do not believe the company will become a marketing-driven firm shifting its strategic focus away from product competitiveness. We agree that the marketing is an integral part of operations to manage global market share but it will not be effective without leading products.”

He added the agency has acknowledged that Samsung’s marketing strategy transformed the brand over the last five years. “The fall of Nokia, Blackberry and the Japanese consumer technology giants illustrates that strong brands can struggle if they fail to develop technology-leading, desirable products.”

The impact of the ongoing legal battle with Apple on Samsung should be “short-lived” as the Cupertino-based outfit is already cutting its orders for components to be used in i-devices from Samsung.

“Fitch hasn’t seen any significant negative impact on Samsung’s financial profile as its internal demand has grown steadily. Apple will continue to source some application processors from Samsung to ensure adequate quality and stable supply. Samsung should be able to allocate more capacity to meet increasing internal demand, which should mitigate the impact of lower sales to Apple,” Lim said.

Mentioning a recent study by InterBrand that ranked Samsung as one of the “global top 10” corporate brand, Lim said Samsung’s brand recognition has significantly improved in the past couple of years in both developed and emerging markets due to a clear marketing message.

“We also believe that its heated battle against Apple for the smartphone leadership position, including the legal disputes, has helped consumers become more aware of Samsung products’ features. Its surge in the global smartphone market share as the largest seller, along with its leading position in other major businesses, demonstrates its strong brand power across regions,” he said.

“Samsung may close the gap with its rivals but technology companies’ brand value can be volatile and very dependent on possessing market-leading products.”

Samsung’s brand value last year was estimated at $33 billion by InterBrand, which is still behind other technology majors. Apple was the top with $77 billion, followed by IBM, Google, Microsoft and Intel at $76 billion, $70 billion, $58 billion and $40 billion.

 

These is nothing like a Smart Phone for making us quicker

Smartphone App Useful Study Aid for Language Learners

The moment we hear the word Smartphones we goes gaga over these gadget. Because now a days smartphones make it possible to watch videos anywhere, but there are still certain limitations to watching videos on smartphones or tablet PCs since different devices can require different formats although its quite handy and easy to carry anwehre. As a result a range of apps have been developed that can support a different video formats, including ReplayerHD Pro.

A large number of apps are already available in Apple's App Store that enable videos to play on smartphones or smart pads, but ReplayerHD Pro stands out with several unique features.

First of all, the function of supporting subtitles is easy to use. Users can simply tap on the subtitles on the screen to change the color of the font, and drag them to a place they want them to appear.

Another function is sets certain portions of a video to be replayed. This is especially useful for those who wish to learn English by watching Anglophone TV dramas or Hollywood films. Users can create the setting by touching the start and end points they want to repeat. They can also use a dictation function to dictate certain dialogue and compare it with the subtitles.

Users can also select their favorite scenes or lines and e-mail them to other people or upload them on Twitter or Facebook. The creators apparently had language students in mind when they developed this app, and ReplayerHD Pro makes life a lot easier for them because they increasingly use mobile devices for their study.

Now we understand how it is useful and making us easy to learn many new things from such gadgets.


 

Fresh Anchovy Dishes and Festivals Put Namhae into Tourism Radar

 

At this time of the year, fishermen in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, of South Korea  are busy catching anchovies, a regional specialty. To coincide with the fishing season, a festival is held in the picturesque southern port of Mijo, and it drew some 650,000 visitors from across the country last weekend according to the source said.

As the fishing boats slowly returned to the shore, seagulls hovered above, hinting at the generous catches of the day that lay entangled on their glistening decks. As soon as the boats docked at the wharf, the anchovies were taken to a wholesale market nearby which lies beside the festival venue.

Visitors gobbled up the salted anchovies and anchovy sashimi on sale, while others were afforded the chance to catch fish using their bare hands and sample roasted anchovies for free. They also got a closer look at fishermen sorting the day's catch by shaking their nets, which sent the anchovies soaring into the air for some interesting photo opportunities.

Locals enjoy raw and cooked anchovies in a variety of recipes. One popular delicacy is the fresh variety mixed with vinegar, red pepper paste and dropwort, which erases the pungent smell of the fish and replaces it with a mouth-watering dressing.

The anchovies are generally boiled and dried on deck immediately after they are drawn from the water to maintain their fresh taste, meaning that only the dried kind can usually be enjoyed on land. The bones are known for their crunchy texture and release a savory taste when chewed.

The festival is growing in popularity, with this year's visitors up 67 percent from last year, and it has now established itself as one of the area's top events. Although it has already wrapped up, visitors to the area can still enjoy "must-eat" anchovies at the port until June so don'tmiss this wonderful opportunity enjoy with your family or love one.

 

Korean Cup Noodles and Cuisine are touring around the world

Korean Cuisine Getting Trendy at Upscale New York Eateries

Korean food is gaining popularity among restaurants in New York, a city known for setting culinary trends. Visitors to upscale restaurants in Manhattan now can find kimchi, bulgogi (seasoned grilled beef) and bibimbap (rice with assorted vegetables) on the menu -- dishes that used to be only available in the city's Koreatown.

The Mercer Kitchen in SoHo, downtown Manhattan, is a magnet for hungry hipsters. Its offerings include Schaller & Weber hotdogs accompanied with kimchi and mustard sauce. Another high-end restaurant in the Big Apple, Michael's in Midtown West, recently added the Korean-style bulgogi taco to its menu.

The Michelin star restaurant Annisa in West Village serves Korean yukhoe (steak tartare) juiced with pear, as well as grilled mackerel with gochujang (red pepper paste). Also, Gilt in the Palace Hotel is serving a variety of garnishes using kimchi.

Baum+Whiteman, a restaurant consulting company based in New York, included Korean food in its 2012 report on food and dining trends. Kimchi, bulgogi, galbi (grilled beef ribs) and bibimbap have entered the American lexicon, the report said.

Kimchi appears to have become a familiar word there. It used to entail some explanations, such as "Korean-style fermented Napa cabbage." But now in most cases, menus show only the word "kimchi." Bon Appetit magazine picked gochujang as one of the food trends that will take off this year.

Online searches also testify to the growing popularity of Korean food. According to Google, the number of searches for "kimchi" soared 96.1 percent in the U.S. this year, compared to three years ago, while those for "Korean BBQ" and "bibimbap" rose 75.4 percent and 194.1 percent, respectively.

"Korean restaurants, which are usually owned by immigrants, have served cheap, plentiful dishes for resident or visiting Koreans," said Prof. Park Jin-bae at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Now, Korean food is raising its image through localization and sophistication, he added.

Korean Cup Noodles a Hit in Swiss Alps

Food manufacturer Nongshim said on Wednesday that its instant cup noodle, Shin Ramyeon Black, will go on sale from June inside the Sphinx observatory at Jungfraujoch, a tourist hot spot in the Swiss Alps that is dubbed the "roof of Europe."

It is a new addition to the company's instant noodle range, which has been selling at the observatory's cafeteria since 1999.

The Swiss owner of the eatery asked Nongshim to supply the new product as a number of visitors have been asking whether it sells the noodle currently being promoted by rapper Psy, the firm said.

Meanwhile, trains traveling to the mountain station atop Jungfraujoch will carry the latest ads for Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S4 smartphone and NX300 camera until the end of this year.

"Since last year, all trains to and from Jungfraujoch have been featuring our ads," Samsung said. "These have been updated to feature the latest models."

Source: The Chosun Ilbo
 

Another Hallyu Factor : The North East veiwers of India are gaga over the South Korean KBS TV drama "Queen of the Office,"

'A Microcosm of Society'

 

The KBS TV drama "Queen of the Office," now showing in most of the Asian household , is getting high viewer ratings with its sympathetic portrayal of the lives of salaried workers as well as the difference between the permanent and the contract workers.

 

 

Actress Kim Hye-soo, who is playing the role of "Miss Kim," said, "She's not the just the larger-than-life character you usually see in soaps, who has extraordinary skills that make anything possible." in  The chosun Ilbo Newspaper.

"The plot also deals with heavier issues like discrimination, unfairness or inequality in the workplace, but it portrays them with a sense of levity, even in a sarcastic way, and delivers subtle messages about work and life within the rigid framework of a hierarchical work environment."

 

 

In general, this drama deals with ordinary office workers and their lives, but in fact it holds lessons for all of us, and every episode tell us something which appeal and draw us toward this particular channel to fall in love. See how the Korean dramas are so tactfully monopolizing to make us addiction. This is another great side of Hally which is not ready to fade but grow high and higher.