67,890,000,000,000
Can you count this number?

67,890,000,000,000
= Around 70 trillion won (12.7 billion dollars)

The amount of international aid Korea received for 50 years :1945 – 1999

However, Korea overcame its difficult times and joined the world’s top 10 economic superpowers.
In 2000, Korea left its status as an OECD beneficiary.
In 2009, Korea joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee, which provides more than 90% of international aid.

The whole country was devoted to economic development. Within half century, Korea transformed itself from an aid beneficiary to a donor. In 1950, the Korean War devastated the country. Over a half of the population was injured or killed. A total of 21 countries, including America, Britain, Ethiopia, the Philippines, and Turkey, offered help. They volunteered to provide medical and military assistance.  In less than 50 years, Korea recovered from the devastation.

Now, Koreans are helping other countries that suffer from war. In 1993, Korea accepted the UN’s request to send a PKO (Peace-Keeping Operation). It sent its peacekeeping troops to 15 countries, including Lebanon, Haiti, and Somalia.

In 2010, Haiti was struck by a deadly earthquake. To help the people of Haiti, Korea sent a peacekeeping unit named Danbi. Korea has never forgotten the help they received in their difficult times. They now return the favor by assisting in medical care, IT education, drinking water supplies, and road reconstruction.

“Ten years from now, I want to go to Korea and help the disabled and orphans.”
- Peterson Magido (16, Haiti refugee town resident)

The Korean Danbi Unit received a UN medal, the highest honor given to UN peacekeeping forces.
Korea has now officially become an international aid donor. In 1960, Korea suffered from the aftermath of Japanese colonial rule and the subsequent war. 

Most major infrastructure was completely destroyed. Korea was one of the poorest countries with little technology and capital.

In December of 1963, Jang Chung Gymnasium was opened. It was Korea’s first indoor athletics facility.
The Gymnasium came to existence thanks to the assistance of the Philippines.

At the time, many countries provided help to Korea to build infrastructure like hospitals.
In the 1960s, Korea needed the aid of its global neighbors.

However, today, around 50 years later
Korea provides help to other countries in the world.
Koreans are teaching about their advanced technology to help developing countries stand on their own.

Koreans are building schools for underprivileged children in poor countries. Koreans are also helping to build bridges, roads and hospitals in poor towns across the world. Korea is now an aid donor that provides help to countries in need. 

About 50 years ago Korea was a poverty-ridden country. Many people suffered from malnutrition and starvation.

“Barley Hump”
It refers to the period between May and June, when the fall harvest runs out but the barley is not yet ripe. Many Koreans in the past had to endure hunger during this period.However, around 50 years later, in 2011, they presented a miraculous change in Busan, Korea. 

Busan hosted the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, the world’s largest conference on aid.  Korea is now helping its global neighbors who suffer from starvation. To help ease their suffering in the long run, Koreans share their agricultural technology, along with food aid.

Now, Korea is one of the international aid donors, who provide help to people in need. Within only a half century, Korea was transformed from a beneficiary to an aid donor! Korea is the first country in the world to make the successful transformation from one of the poorest to an aid donor. 

This miracle provides hope to many developing countries that suffer from economic crises. Around 50 years ago, no one could imagine that Korea could pull through. However, Koreans never gave up their dream. They strove to achieve their dream.

“Korea’s success is not only due to international aid, but Korean people’s diligence and creativity.”
– Kathleen Stephens, Former US Ambassador to Korea

Korea has taken the next step after becoming a successful country. Korea has the second highest number of international volunteers after the U.S. Korea is a country of hope to the people of the world. Young Koreans are making the future of Korea. They are not dreaming of Korea as the world’s leading economic superpower. They are dreaming of Korea as the world’s most inspiring country.

10 years. 20 years.

The world will hear the voices of new emerging countries.

“We overcame hardships, thanks to our Korean friends.”
“Now we have also become an aid donor.”

VANK is educating young Koreans, who will bring hope to the world. The population of Korea,
Only 1% of the world’s total population. However, this 1% of people will bring hope and change to the world. The 7 billion people of the world will see positive changes and miracles in the world.

We are proud Koreans. We will create miracles for the world.

According the 2007-2008 report on the world information technology ranking released by the World Economy Forum, the Republic of Korea came into the 9th place among 127 countries of the world. It is already a well-known fact that Korea is the IT power in the world. People from all over the world use cell phones made by Korean companies and the world’s famous IT companies are scrambling for launching their new products in Korea. But are you aware of the fact that Hangeul plays an important role in this IT-oriented era?

In IT era, rapid and exact data-processing is important. Hangeul ideally corresponds to this. Therefore, Hangeul is appraised as the most suitable alphabet for the digital age. When Hangeul is used on a computer, its efficiency is incomparable to other languages. Its character system, consisting of consonant(s) and vowel(s) are bound to make one letter and when typing letters, consonant(s) and vowel(s) are entered alternately, displaying rhythmical sense and boosting its efficiency.

Furthermore, differentiated from Chinese characters and Japanese Kana which deal with data with the help of other characters like Roman alphabets, Hangeul is faster in processing information since it directly deals with data with only 24 alphabets. This strong point of Hangeul became even stronger in mobile apparatuses where intense efficiency is needed. The representative Hangeul entering system, Cheonjiin system can manage all vowels only with 3 vowel keys (ㆍ , ㅡ , l ) and the stroke-adding principle of Hangeul, that makes ‘ㄲ’, ‘ㅋ’ on a basis of ‘ㄱ’, enables 3 consonants to be entered using only one key. This Hangeul entering system is about 35% faster in entering one letter, compared to entering one English letter. 

Koreans are blessed to have Hangeul in the IT era. They are taking full advantage of the merits that Hangeul brings to places such as workplaces, schools and other places even now, painting a rosy picture for Korean IT business in future.

Beauty of Hangeul in Culture and Art

At the Pret-A-Porter fashion show in Paris, February 2006, a famous Korean designer Yi Sangbong laid out his works on Hangeul motif and attracted attention in the fashion scene. The designer thought Hangeul as the Korean beauty and applied it to his works’ motif. Though this was not the first time Hangeul became a theme in culture and art, Hangeul started to lure more attention in these areas as the value of Hangeul as a design commenced to shine its idiosyncrasy. The advent of calligraphy penetrated into our lives, offering us opportunities to become familiar with the language we use everyday. Calligraphy refers to the beautiful font, which conveys the beauty of Hangeul to the general public the most intimately through movie titles, posters, music albums, book covers and ad designs. Typography, the printing type design, as well as calligraphy are the means to express the beauty of Hangeul in printing.

The aforementioned fashion scene cannot be missed. On every Hangeul Day, a Hangeul t-shirt design competition is held and beautiful garments with Hangeul prints are introduced, drawing people’s attention and being loved by many. A design corporation that has been producing quality fashion accessories with Hangeul patterns such as neckties, scarves and belts for more than 10 years, got a space in a famous domestic department store and is competing with the world famous brand products. Hangeul is also expressed in dancing, used as a motif in modern dance works, praised at home and abroad. Furthermore, it is expressed in other art fields like installations, ceramic art, sculptures, Western paintings and prints and is earning a good reputation. 

Now, the value of Hangeul is also gaining recognition for its beauty beyond its amazing linguistic functions. Designers and artists in various fields are continuously studying and experimenting the potentialities of Hangeul in culture and art scene. At this very moment, the beauty of Hangeul is evolving.

 

Hangeul, the culture contents

In the mid-1990s, as Korean television soap operas were exported to many Asian countries including China and Japan, Asians commenced to show their interest in Korean culture. The term ‘Hallyu’ or the Korean wave, was first used when the Chinese reporters depicted it as the enthusiasm for Korean pop culture in China and now, the preference of Korean culture to the foreigners is penetrating into other sectors such as Korean products and the Korean language.

 

The foreigners’ enthusiasm for the Korean language can be surely confirmed by taking a look at the development of increase in the number of applicants for TOPIK, Test of Proficiency in Korean. The first TOPIK was held for the 2,692 applicants at 14 spots in 4 countries in the year of 1997 and for total 31,230 applicants at 73 spots in about 28 countries in the 10th TOPIK, 2006. 

 

The management organizations for testing decided to hold the annual test twice a year from 2007, according to the rapid increase of the number of applicants. 

 

The foreigners’ enthusiasm for the Korean language can be surely confirmed by an increase in the number of applicants for Test of Proficiency in Korean or TOPIK. The first TOPIK taken by 2,692 applicants at 14 places in 4 countries was held in 1997. The figure rose to 31,230 applicants taking the exam at 73 places in about 28 countries in the 10th TOPIK in 2006. The increase led the TOPIK organization to hold the test twice a year from 2007. 

 

Now, let’s take a look at the Hangeul fever by countries. China where the term ‘Hallyu’ was first used is ranked first in the number of applicants for TOPIK, Chinese government-run educational broadcasting station, CETV started to broadcast in Korean as a foreign language educational program following English. Junior and senior students in high schools as well as universities in China offered Korean lectures. Japan is also heated with the Korean language fervor. Japanese educational authorities included Korean in college entrance examination and more than 300 universities in Japan opened Korean lecture. Korean wave in Mongolia cannot be missed.

 

In Ulan Bator, the capital city of Mongolia, ‘Hangeul Day Festival in Mongolia’ was held in success in October, 2006 with more than 1,500 participants. The Department of Korean language was officially established in the National University of Mongolia. Later, Korean lectures were provided in Mongolia National University of Foreign Languages and University of Ulan Bator. In addition, the interest in Korea raised by the Korean pop culture is spreading vigorously in Asian countries including Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand. The popularity of learning Korean started for the purpose of understanding Korean movies and soap operas and to sing along the Korean pop songs has now become a cultural icon for the Asians trying to make a foray into Korean companies and understand the Korean culture. 

 

Even if preference towards a nation’s culture has led to the interest in language, the Korean language has not received as much spotlight as the Chinese characters and Japanese Kana regardless of its linguistic excellence. 

 

Thus, Korean should know Hangeul in depth and adopt correct linguistic knowledge to promote Hangeul worldwide.

 

 

As Korean society became modernized, Korean residential areas as well became westernized. However, traditionally, “bang” for Korean is not similar as “bang” for Westerner, which is used separately bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Before, “bang” was complex place used as its necessity. Koreans slept in “bang”, they ate, hosted guests and even read book or played games in “bang”. Therefore, because of the variety of “bang” usage, it is remembered as natural and friendly place.

Now, let’s discover briefly about Korea’s bang trio.

PC bang

First, PC bang (Internet cafe) first appeared in mid 1990s and it contributed in Korean game industries and IT industries. During the 2002 World Cup, foreigners were greatly surprised at the PC bang which consisted high speed internet service. Also, Noraebang(Korean karaoke), who likes to sing, is favored by many despite constant changes in Korean society. Koreans go to Noraebang with family, friends, and colleagues to spend time. However, of all bang culture in Korea, Jjimjilbang is the best one. Jjimjilbang is combination of unique Korean public bath system and jjimjil Service (western sauna). Recently, it became variety and complex place that not only offers bath and Jjimjil service, but also food, massage, health club, PC bang and Noraebang service. Koreans go to Jjimjilbang with friends, lovers, and family to use different services and relax. Some foreigners misunderstand that men and women take shower together naked.

Yangmeori

However, it is separated by different sexes when take bath and they use borrowed clothes when they experience variety services together. When you go to Jjimjilbang, you can see the transformation of the towel. Koreans call this ‘Yangmeori’, which is towel you wear in head which is shaped of sheep.

Nobody knows when and who started this. However, you can see people regardless of age or sex wear Yangmeori and eat roasted eggs roasted in elvan in most Jjimjilbangs.

Hallyu rose after one of the biggest Hallyu area, Japan’s NHK, broadcasted ‘Winter Sonata’(겨울연가) in 2004. This drama created nicknames ‘Sama’(樣) and ‘Hime’(姬) e ntrusted to main characters in dramas. ‘Sama’ means deference.

Since then, the English soccer star, David Beckham was the only foreigner to gain nickname ‘Sama’.
Also, Korean traditional drama ‘Dae Jang Geum(대장금)’, which the broadcasted from 2003 September to 2004 August, is a major Hallyu drama. It recorded ratings over 50% in Korea. ‘Dae Jang Geum’ was aired in all over the Asia including China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Iran. It gained lots of spotlights from all over the world.

Hallyu, which started with dramas, enlarged with music, movies, and games. Korean singer, BoA, gained first place on the Japanese Oricon chart. Another singer, Rain, was the first Asian artist to perform at the New York Madison Square Garden. Now, interest in Korean culture due to dramas and music is helping the increase in Korean auto mobiles, cell phones, and more. Also, affection and interest toward Korean language, Korean foods and culture is expanding.

Drama Winter Sonata

Then, why do Chinese, Japanese, Thai and more people around the world get enthusiastic about Hallyu? We can surmise from the characteristics of Korean dramas. Koreans call themselves people with lots of ‘Jeong’ (정), which is Korean typical way of opening hearts. Jeong is the Korean word for innate emotion. From old times, Korean families and friends help each other if one is troubled, giving hospitality to travelers, and share everything

The first European to introduce Korea to Europe was the Dutch sailor, Hendrik Hamel. He introduces Jeong of Korea in Hamel drift story “Treats from an idolater was more humane than any treat I received from the Catholics.” Also, the Japanese actor, Kuroda Fukumi said “the Korean value that captured Japanese was Jeong, and it entered Japanese society with Jeong. So, it triggered Hallyu.”

Hallyu’s main character is not its culture or product. At the center of Hallyu, there is Korean who has true Jeong that loves another. I hope all of you can meet the hero of Hallyu, “Korean people” and feel the real Hallyu.

‘Ppalli Ppalli’ (Hurry Hurry) is one of the most heard Korean Phrases when foreigners visit Korea. ‘Hurry Hurry’ is typical characteristic of Korea. Koreans prefer everything done fast. Therefore, Korean society changes quickly. Alvin Toffler, a widely noted futurologist from America, commented that Koreans “Hurry Hurry” society became a useful competitive personality in a world that emphasizes speed and time.

Then, how does a “Hurry Hurry” society concretely appear in Korean life?