Korea-made apps rock the global market

Korea-made apps rock the global market
Many of you would have used applications especially in this smartphone era. Aside from its domestic success, Korea-made apps are now stepping into the global market with its excellent technology. You would have seen those Korea-made apps are ranked the top-sellers in overseas app store. In short, app store is the open market that sells applications for iPhones and iPads. Surprisingly, there is one Korea-made app ranked the first top paid app in US. Do you know what it is? The name of the app is ‘Cartoon Wars’. It is an arcade war game that combines “Defence Genre” and “RTS”. To win the stage, you should capture the enemies’ castle by producing as many units as possible. ‘Jolla man’, which is a well-known cartoon figure in Korea, is the main character of the game. Well, there are still more apps that are rapidly growing in overseas market. Let’s go check out some hot apps!

“Best of Britain” Galaxy Tab App by Samsung


Samsung Electronics and British Tourist Authority signed at partnership for utilizing the mobile contents in order to promote the London 2012 Olympic Games. With the contract, Samsung Smartphone users will be able to easily download the tour information provided by the British Tourist Authority. With a Galaxy Tab, there is no need to worry about traveling to UK. It has all the information you need as a tourist, such as museum, historic site, accommodation, restaurant, etc. This app will be available for download a month from now when Galaxy Tab is released in Britain. Don’t be sad that you can’t just have this application named ‘Best of Britain’ right now. Once it comes out, it will not only introduce its innovative technology to all the countries of the world during and after the London Olympic, but also make you satisfaction.



Want to see hot apps? Here’s more.


This is an app named ‘Paladog’ which has been ranked the best selling app in Korea for 7 weeks since February. It is incredible when considering the popular app doesn’t last for more than two weeks. ‘Paladog’ received 9 out of 10 points by the UK mobile game webzine ‘Pocket Gamer‘, and awarded ‘Golden Award’ for the first among Korean apps. In addition, it achieved worldwide recognition, selected as an app of ‘What’s HOT’ and ‘NEW&NOTEWORTHY’. Have you already tried the ‘Paladog’ game? If you haven’t, just one download, you will soon be addicted to this strategic simulation game which is full of 20 kinds of magic items, other items increasing skill level, and so on.


This is an app named ‘Kakao Talk’ which is very popular among Koreans and even people in Middle East. It was already ranked No.1 among free iPhone apps in four Middle East countries. As you know, ‘Kakao Talk’ users can communicate each other for free. It is said that it gained popularity for not only its free of charge and convenient function but also its yellow logo which is the most favorite color in Middle East

Marketing Strategy of Korea-made apps for Global Market




‘Podo Tree’ is an app developing company established after ‘Kakao Talk’ by Kim Beom-su, the former CEO of NHN which is famous for a web search engine ‘Naver’ in Korea. You can get all these creative apps for only 0.99 dollar! Let’s take a look at one of it apps that was ranked No.1 in Top Paid Apps for iPad. Korea-made apps for Global Market

<’who?’, an app which was ranked in Top Paid Apps for iPad>(Photo : ZD Net Korea)



1. Super 0.99 Vocab 30k

This is an application that combined every existing material to study English. For this app, ‘Podo Tree’ invested 14 native speakers and foreigners, and developed all sources, such as entries, meanings, example sentences, native pronunciation by their own. They studied the learning pattern and tendency of questions in order to have better comprehension. Surprisingly, it costs only 0.99 dollar. ‘Super 0.99 Vocab is scheduled to be released from March in Korea, April in Japan, May in US. Besides, they are planning to host a ‘Word Challenge’ competition offering $100,000 in total prize with people all over the world.



2. Wizard of Oz

This is the first app that recreated the well-known novel written by L. Frank Baum for iPad. As the whole story is summarized and reconstituted into 80 frames of scene, you would feel as if you were watching a movie for one or two hours. While the picture books in the past used to add images to help understanding on the text, the ‘Wizard of Oz’ produced by ‘Podo Tree’ helps readers discover the new stories behind through reading the text and retouch the image. That is, you can go inside the new storyline if you find special items by dragging things to other place in the picture and slightly leaning the screen. Otherwise, the entire story will stick to the original version.



3. Cartoon Biography of Global Figures - Who?

This is an animated biography app whose concepts are just like the book series by Dasan Books Co.,Ltd. The book series have been very popular among Korean readers and once introduced overseas. In other words, this is the first cartoon app which contains 30 global figures for iPhone and iPad. In particular, to celebrate the launching of ‘Who’ series of iPhones and iPads, they are plaaning to combine every story including Steve Jobs, Barack Obama, and Kim Dae-Jung for 0.99 dollar.



4. 3D Toy - CUBE DOG

This is a toy app that users can enjoy playing with its own 3D character. Previously, users had to choose either one from several characters which were already made during the production stage. However, the ‘Cube Dog’ made it possible for users to have their own players by selecting each facial part from the samples, such as eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. The aim of this game is to make users enjoy its different characteristics. In fact, the game was supposed to be targeting the global market, those who are interested would have to wait until May when this will be released simultaneously all over the world.





Globalization prospects for Korea-made Apps




With a huge popularity of Smartphones including iPhone, the interests on app store, which is an application market, are growing rapidly among Koreans. In addition, many Korea-made applications were awarded in app developing contests overseas and that helps building a good reputation. It is expected that such a positive trend will have a good influence in vitalizing the domestic app store market. Also it is expected that much more people all over the world will use Korean apps in the near future.

Lost in the fragrance of flowers, Spring Flowers Festivals in Korea

For those thinking of a spring day out, then this might be what you would be looking for!

The unusually cold March has gone, and now we have warm sunlight telling that Spring is just around the corner. The field flowers are welcoming the spring which returned after a long absence. The fragrance of Spring is reaching at every corner including mountains, fields, and even center of the city.

Uiseong Cornlian cherry flower festival (Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk-do)


The ‘garlic’ town, Uiseong, is now busy preparing the upcoming spring festival. They will soon have the festival of Cornlian cherry flower whose yellow bud would remind you of a shy girl. Starting from the Ritual for a good harvest, the Night for the multicultural family, Singing contest, Walkathon, and other various events will be open from 26th March for a couple of weeks. Why don’t we go on a Spring trip to Uiseong surrounded by the scent of these yellow flowers? It will definitely be a wonderful memory that you can have with your family and your loving friends.



Period: 26 March 2011 (Sat)~ 10 April (Sun)

Location: Sansuyu Square Hwajeon-ri, Sagok-myeon, Uiseung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do



The Han River Spring Flower Festival (Yeongdeungpo, Seoul)


There is another festival for those who cannot afford to go out of Seoul. Office workers will be glad to hear this! There will be Spring Flower Festival in Yeoui-do from 8th April with the theme, “Harmony of Flowers, Nature, Human, and Arts”. You may find over 13 types of 87,359 spring flowers, such as azalea, forsythia, royal azalea, bridal wreath, including 1,641 trees of prunus yedoensis.


Why don’t you go for the Han River Yeouido Spring Flower Festival for the weekends?



Period: 8~ 19 April 2011

Location: Yeoui-do Park Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul



Azalea Art Festival at Mt. Goryeo (Ganghwa-gun, Incheon)



You might not know this Spring Flower Festival that recorded over 350,000 visitors last year including the people from capital area. Well, the name is “Azalea Art Festival at Mt. Goryeo”. This year as well, we will have this festival that we can enjoy not only azalea but also the historical culture and clean environment of Ganghwa. The festival contains art exhibition, photo exhibition, and small concert along with the trail, cooking Hwajeon which is a pan-fried sweet rice cake with flower petals, and street art performances, and other various programs. It will be held from 4th to 9th April for 9 days, but the culture event will be held for 4 days during weekends. If you want to be a guest of this nature’s purple feast, this festival will be perfect.

Period: 9~ 24 April 2011

Location: Mt. Goryeo Hajeom-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon


Shinan Tulip Festival (Shinan-gun Jeollanam-do)


Shinan, Jeollanam-do, which is well-known for its heavenly nature, was selected by domestic flower experts as a best area for planting tulips with its fertile soil, abundant amount of sunshine, and a lot of sea breeze. Since 2001, they have planted tulips in the nation’s largest area which occupied 10 hectares, and ready for the 4th Tulip Festival from 15 April. You will enjoy the various ceremonies from orchestra performance to Pungmul play, If you don’t want to miss it, do not hesitate!

Period: 15~24 April 2011

Location: Shinan Tulip Park, Imja-myeon Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do

If you have a chance to see those flowers signaling the arrival of Spring in everywhere but soon will be gone, this is the best time to see the blossoms. Let’s go!

Students from around the world promote Jeju through song

Students from Korea, China and Japan whom are studying in the United States gathered together to create a song to promote Jeju-do, Korea's largest island. The island is currently competing to be listed in the New Seven Wonders of Nature, an initiative led by the Swiss-based non-profit New7wonders Foundation.

The title of this song is “Our Precious Gem, Jeju,” and was composed by Jung Eun Kwon and with lyrics by Cheong Kim, both students at the Berklee College of Music. Vocals were provided by Jourdan Rystrom, Megumi Habuka, Erman Nuo, Jiyoon June Dong, Isaac Han, Ai Ichikawa, Sarang Lovie Oh, Genyong Jason Choi and Kina Lee.


The event was organized by the group MiYooMo, which brings together students studying abroad.

MiYooMo created a Jejudo promotional logo for smartphone users, which can be downloaded along with the song at www.miyoomo.com.

The leader of MiYooMo said that it’s crucial to promote Jeju to people all around the world in order to ensure its selection as one of the New Seven Wonders.

Source: Korea.net or http://korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&guid=54270

Traditional Korean Folk Dance Performances

Busan Cultural Foundation will hold the Traditional Folk Performance every Saturday and ‘Uri Garak, Uri Madang’ every Sunday from April 2 through October 23 at 3 p.m. (until 5 p.m.)

For the enjoyment of domestic and foreign tourists and Busan citizens alike, a variety of free traditional folk performances including intangible cultural assets of Nongak, Samulnori, Namsadang-nori, the traditional wedding ceremony, Dongnae Yaryu, Dongnae Crane Dance, and traditional dances are scheduled to be held.

In addition, a number of side events will also be held – including folk plays, grass weaving handicrafts, hoop rolling, neolttwigi (a jumping game enjoyed using a Korean-style seesaw), Jegichagi (a traditional Korean outdoor game), and the singing of folk songs – for the enjoyment of participants.

For more information, please contact the Busan Cultural Foundation at 051)744-7707


Source: Korea.net

In Korea this spring, indulge in the arts

Late March, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea unveiled the first in a series of annual exhibitions at its two locations in Gwacheon and Deoksugung Palace. Kim Chong Hak, renowned for his paintings of Seorak Mountain, is the subject of a retrospective at the museum’s Gwacheon Annex. Meanwhile the Deoksugung Annex is hosting a special exhibition of works drawn from the museum’s permanent collection cleverly juxtaposed with a sense of wit and an artistic twist.


Kim Chong Hak Retrospective at National Museum of Contemporary Art (Address: 313 Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do)

A major retrospective surveying the accomplishments of one of the most preeminent Korean artists, Kim Chong Hak (b. 1937), is currently on view at the National Museum of Contemporary Art. Their exhibition hall in Gwacheon brings together the thematic representations of his oeuvre, from early works influenced by the “art informel” movement to the artist’s famous flower paintings.

(left) Kim Chong Hak, No.2 (Forsythia and the Moon), 2006, acrylic on canvas, 112×145.5cm (right) Kim Chong Hak, Summer Stream, 2005, acrylic on canvas, 197×256cm (Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Contemporary Art)

Kim, who is best known for his flamboyant depiction of the seasons on Seorak Mountain, followed a different path than his fellow artists. At first, Kim made abstract art like most of his contemporaries, including Park Seo-bo, Youn Myeung-ro and Kim Tschang Yeul. However, in the late 70s, he started making colorful paintings with expressive brush strokes to show the beauty of nature.

According to Kim, he first discovered his real artistic calling in 1979, after leaving the city to live in relative seclusion on Seorak Mountain. During the press preview, he said that the wild flowers blooming in the mountains cured him of his sorrows and loneliness.

(left) Kim Chong Hak, Autumn Sunset, 1980, oil on canvas, 97×130cm (right) Kim Chong Hak, White Mountain, 2008, oil on canvas, 130×162cm (Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Contemporary Art)

Although his landscape paintings were criticized when abstract art and monochrome paintings flourished, he never abandoned his own style. The artist is now acknowledged to have had a profound impact on Korean contemporary art by providing an alternative to monochrome abstraction. Kim said that people can concentrate too much on ideology in abstract art, while there are infinite possibilities when drawing natural beauty.

The exhibit presents dozens of large scale paintings spanning a half century of Kim’s career, as well as rare portrait pieces and letters with drawings he exchanged with his children. Also among the 78 works on show is the artist’s woodcut print that won an award in 1966 at the 5th International Biennial Exhibition of Prints in Tokyo.


(left) Kang Un-gu, Painter Kim Chong Hak at his Studio in Mt. Seorak, 2008, photograph (Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Contemporary Art) (right) Kim Chong Hak, Faces, 1992, acrylic on paper (detailed view) (photographed by Hwang Dana)

The National Museum of Contemporary Art has organized a series of special exhibitions to focus on Korean art and artists, including the Kim Chong Hak retrospective. The exhibition runs through June 26. Admission is 3,000 won for adults and 1,500 won for youth. The museum is closed on Mondays.

“Abstract it!” at the Deoksugung Palace Annex of National Museum of Contemporary Art (Address: 5-1 Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul)

The National Museum of Contemporary Art is currently hosting a special exhibition titled “Abstract it!: A New Interpretation of the National Museum of Contemporary Art's Modern Art Works” at its Deoksugung Palace branch.

Hwang Yong-jin, Good Morning 0501, 2005, oil on plywood, neon, 122 x 244 cm (Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Contemporary Art)

This exhibition, organized in close collaboration with guest curator Yoo Jin-sang, aims to better represent the museum collection, using the eye of an external curator. While chronological factors and artistic styles usually help determine the main themes of previous exhibitions, “Abstract it!” brings a panoramic view of contemporary art and puts the audience at the center.

The exhibition offers viewers an opportunity to engage with art in a neutral setting where only the bare minimum of information needed to understand the pieces is given. The curator is intentionally leaving out related historical background information, including the labeling tags, to maximize visitors’ imagination and appreciation. Yoo hopes that audiences will simply enjoy discovering the “hidden” relationship among the works of art without chronological reference or relations attached to each work and dictating how the viewer should receive them.

Abstract it! A New Interpretation of the National Museum of Contemporary Art's Modern Art Works at Deoksugung Palace Annex (photographed by Hwang Dana)

The current exhibition, which gives a twist to the clichés of today’s art history, features a portfolio of publicly acclaimed domestic and international artists. Featured artists include renowned Korean artists Kim Tschang Yeul, Park Seo-bo, and Lee Ufan alongside international artists like Marcel Duchamp and Louise Bourgeois. The exhibition runs through May 10. Admission is 4,000 won for adults and the museum is closed on Mondays.

For more information, please call +82 (0)2 2188 6114, or visit the official website at: www.moca.go.kr/engN (Korean and English).

Source: Korea.net

India Won the IICC Cricket World Cup 2011

This is the historic moment for the Indians as well as for the Cricket lovers around the world. Well Cricket is different from Soccer but still there are millions of population who are dying on cricket too.
Well, today is saturday and the grand finale in the world of cricket between "India and Srilanka" although I wasn't so keen to watch as usual I jumped over the Hindu newspaper as we get in the evening here in Imphal. But my brothers and aunt got so excited over the match and started betting....I said wow.wow.wow but never pay attention on them...................
then I saw in the newspaper saying that "If india wins, players will gt Hyundai Verna"....

For me unlike other cricket fan I just joined my family in the T.V room cheering them while seeing their reaction I became so enthusiastic that I decided to have a look on the game having zero knowledge...I can the in the T.V screen the entire Indian t.v drama actors and actresses to the hot-shot film star like Super hero Aamir Khan and his wife along with Priety Zinta and the big tycoon like Mukesh and Nita ambani...oh my gosh for me seeing them is a big wow as I know them very well then the cricketers whom my family are dozing over.............

well I became more serious when the combo of Dhoni the Indian cricket captain and Yuvraj combo start batting of course as the match is getting over soon and I will get relief but when both Yuvi and Dhoni start hitting 4 and 6 I can't hold my breath...withing few minutes I became more interested as it goes well and I started counting the score and the balls suddenly the Indian captain Dhoni hits the 6 and won the match over Srilanka by 6 wicket....................

"A BIG AND HEARTY CONGRATULATION TO THE INDIAN CRICKET TEAM , THE COACHES AND OF-COURSE THE INDIAN PEOPLE WHO CHEER THE TEAM SO WELL"

When the spring of Korea is at the door : How about a bycycle ride ???

Fascinating Bicycle Trip

In spite of the landscapes you’ve seen many times while going to work, home, or other places on foot, by train or airplane, every time you will get a different impression according to which vehicle you are riding, and how you look at it. Of course, there is no need to tell that riding a bicycle is the perfect choice to enjoy this recent spring breeze. Then, how much do you know about the bicycle and how far have you traveled with it?

Get ready to leave into the warm spring sunlight, if you don’t want to miss the beautiful landscapes of Korea!

Pleasant playground for bicycle riders, Gwangnaru Bicycle Park



Have you been to Gwangnaru Bicycle Park? It is a new park which has many facilities including the 124,000㎡(1,335 square feet) wide of bicycle racing stadium, a bicycle experiencing park, a bicycle training place for children, and a rail bike place.

Especially, the racing stadium which placed the bumpy paths and other challenging obstacles is very popular among riders and manias who have special bicycles like Mountain bike (MTB) or Bicycle Motocross (BMX).

Besides, people can try about 80 kinds of unique bicycles such as the one riding on square wheels, the one moving aside, the one that moves when lying on it and the one that a couple can drive facing each other, which is the first ‘Bicycle experiencing place’ in Korea. ‘Rail bike’ that is drawing a huge popularity in Jeongseon in Gangwon-do, Gokseong in Jeollanam-do is also open to public.

Why don’t you have this exciting experience that will keep yourself out of the stuffy city!

Location: 483-8 Cheonho 2dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul

Holidays: every Monday

Available hours: 09:00~18:00, (Nov~Feb) 10:00~17:00, (May~August) 09:00~19:00

Contact/Info.: 02-120 / Night time: 02-3780-0777


Memoir on ‘Nostalgia’ bicycle paths in OkCheon

Bicycle riders on 200li(=49miles) long ‘nostalgia’ paths with full of forsythia in OkCheon

While passing through the ‘Nostalgia’ bicycle paths in Okcheon, visitors can enjoy not only the beautiful Daecheong Lake but also the spirit of the poetry town where the pioneer of Korea’s modern poet and the writer of ‘Nostalgia’, Jeong Ji-yong was born. Why don’t you give a wonderful day-off to yourself to get out of the repeated routine and soak up the beautiful scenery of the countryside and its friendly atmosphere?

Through the hiking course, ‘Nostalgia 100li(=24 miles)’, people can have a look at the overall shape of Korean peninsula from Mt. Dunjoo after visiting the birthplace of Jeong Ji-yong and the literary museum where people can still feel his spirit. It became very popular after being introduced by one of the famous TV programs in Korea, reality-variety show ‘1 night and 2 days’ show on the KBS2.

The length of the course is about 82km (=132 miles) long, and it takes approximately five hours and a half to complete it. It includes smooth paths for beginners and unpaved roads and forest roads which are the favorites of intermediate and advanced mountain bikers and manias.


Location: Okcheon-eub, Okcheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do

Contact/Info.: 043-730-3501~2 (Okcheon-gun Division of Culture and Tourism)



All About Bicycle, Sangju Bicycle Museum



▲ Unique Bicycles displayed in exhibit hall of Sangju Bicycle Museum

No worries for those who cannot ride a bicycle! Sangju Bicycle Museum will give you the satisfaction.

This museum, which focuses on bicycle for the first time in Korea, was established in Sangju which is famous for a number of bicycles and its citizens who enjoy riding them rather than cars on their way to school, work, home and even picnic.

In this museum, which is called ‘the heaven of bicycle’ and ‘a school of bicycle’, you can take a whole look at everything about bicycle including its history, design, and so on. It introduces the history of bicycles through its 60 bicycles displayed in the exhibit hall and you will definitely enjoy the various experiencing halls about bicycles, including the souvenir shop.

Sangju must be the wonderful place to remind you of all the happiness, heartbeat, other memories with lovers.

Location : Ilwon San 3-4, Donam-dong, Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Contact/Info.: 054-534-4973

Available Hour : Summer (April~ Oct) 09:00 ~ 18:00, Winter (Nov~March) 09:00 ~ 17:00

Holiday : every Monday (Tuesday applies when Monday is a National Holiday)

Jan 1, Luna New Years day, Chuseok (Thanksgiving day of Korea), and other closing

days by Sangju mayor

Why don’t we go on the bicycle trip to each and every corner of Korea on this coming Spring!

※ Photographs : Korea Tourism Organization