Korean is said to be one of the fastest-growing languages in the world. Undoubtedly, Korean movies, dramas and K-pop have influenced the popularity of the language. Not many years ago, speaking a few words of Korean garnished undeserved praise from elderly Korean shop keepers, but those days are gone. Korean-speaking foreigners are often encountered in the streets, seen on TV or on YouTube. The number of Korean language schools are constantly increasing, and for those who cannot physically attend a language school, there are many programs online.But what was it like to learn Korean in the 1880s? Most of the early American missionaries hired Koreans to teach them the language — many of these early students did fairly well, while others, like Horace Allen, gave up quickly.In the summer of 1885, Henry Appenzeller, an American missionary, studied every day for five hours with his Korean tutor and used a French-Korean dictionary as his textbook. In a letter to his father, Appenzeller noted that he was acquiring “quite a knowledge of French” in his pursuit of learning Korean.

Appenzeller probably learned some Korean as he taught English to his students. In a letter to his friend, he wrote:“Educational work is acceptable, especially instruction in the English language. It is truly wonderful how the East takes to the English language. Everybody is anxious to learn it and proud when he knows but a few words. Even my houseboy who has picked up a few words prefers to receive his orders in it. I never saw the superiority of the glorious English over other languages as I do now and I believe she is destined to be the language of the world.”This desire to learn and practice English was often described in letters home or in contemporary books and newspaper articles. Sometimes these anecdotes were rather amusing such as the young Korean boys who pestered British sailors for cigarettes and tobacco. When they were refused, the young English scholars expressed their dissatisfaction with “volleys of British oaths.”As Appenzeller predicted, English became the “language of the world” — at least in Korea — but not without some 메이저 challenges.

Two weeks ago, I briefly told the story of my birthday gift battle with North Korean refugee Sharon Jang. She started it by sending almost $200 to me to celebrate my birthday a few years ago. When it was her birthday a few months later, I sent her almost $200. We have been sending that $200 to each other for a couple of years now, probably confusing any bankers wondering why neither one of us is claiming that $200. There is much more to the story with Sharon.On March 19, she visited the Freedom Speakers International office in Seoul’s Mapo District to sign a book contract. Just 12 days later, on March 31, FSI co-founder Lee Eun-koo published Sharon Jang’s memoir, “Girl with Black Makeup,” on Amazon. While it may not be a record, it is certainly unusual for an author to sign a contract merely 12 days before a book’s release.Sharon first began working on the book with us in 2018 but was sidetracked by personal circumstances, and then we got sidetracked trying to save FSI during COVID-19. We resumed work on the book again in 2022.No signed contract and not even a memorandum of understanding six years later? Authors should protect themselves at every step of the way during the book publishing process. In this case, because of our reciprocal relationships with North Korean refugees, FSI was in the role of both publisher and protector. During the process of writing the book, we explained to Sharon what we knew about book contracts in Korea and the United States so she could exercise her options. We discussed that we could work with her to prepare to publish her book with a larger publisher, but she rejected that option and said she wanted to publish the book with us.When Sharon visited our office Wednesday, I asked her why we had not signed a contract until mid-March. She was clear about the first reason: “I trust you and Eun-koo. FSI is always with me.”Sharon first joined FSI in early 2015. She has been a student in our English Empowerment Project, a public speaker, donor,

fundraiser, office staffer and now our third North Korean Refugee Author Fellow. Every interaction with her has fostered cooperation, deeper understanding and harmony.Like many North Korean refugees, Sharon bears scars from her experiences in North Korea, her escape to freedom and her adjustment to a new life. She has many reasons to be cynical and skeptical, yet she remains optimistic.When I asked Sharon to explain a bit more about not being concerned about the contract, she explained a second reason. Writing the book bolstered her self-confidence. It allowed her to reflect on her life, grow as a person and adopt a more positive outlook on life. “I reflected on my life. It fed my soul and made me a better person,” she shared. She hopes her experience can inspire others who may also be going through difficult times.In North Korea, Sharon was condemned to life as part of the “hostile” or “despised” class due to her grandfather being a South Korean soldier captured by North Korean forces near the end of the Korean War. Her parents were condemned to work in a coal mine because of their respective family social class, and Sharon suffered the same fate, assigned to work in the infamous Aoji Coal Mine.Voiceless and working long hours in a dangerous coal mine without consideration of her desires, the idea of writing a book was unthinkable when she was in North Korea. The North Korean government controls all publishing and would have severely punished her family even further for daring to express themselves independently.In freedom, she has the opportunity to tell her story. Some critics accuse North Korean refugees of hastily writing memoirs. Sharon escaped from North Korea in 2011 and arrived in South Korea in 2012. A dozen years doesn’t seem like she was in a hurry to complete a book.Jang Jin-sung, a former “psychological officer” for the North Korean regime and also an author, praised our engaging with North Korean refugees. He said we empower North Korean refugees who were “stripped of their identity at birth in North Korea.” He said, “An important aspect of adjustment is about helping people gain confidence in themselves as humans. That’s one reason that I tell people, including politicians and NGO leaders: There are many NGOs for helping North Korean refugees, but FSI is the best model for helping refugees practically and productively. Refugees can gain confidence in themselves as they adjust to living outside of North Korea, gaining the skill of speaking English that enables them to interact with anyone in the 슬롯게이밍 world.”

The political row over a special probe bill into a Marine’s death has intensified, as the opposition bloc is pressuring President Yoon Suk Yeol to accept the Assembly-approved bill. Meanwhile, the ruling side has described the attempt as being “politically motivated.”On Saturday, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and five other opposition parties — the Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), the Reform Party, the Justice Party, the Progressive Party and the Saemirae Party — held a joint press conference near the presidential office in Seoul to call on Yoon to accept a special counsel bill passed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly last week.

The bill aims to launch a sweeping investigation into officials at the presidential office, the Ministry of National Defense and the Marine Corps, to look into the death of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died last year during a search operation after floods, amid suspicions of political interference in order to downplay the responsibilities of ranking military officials.”Is it asking too much to ask for the truth on why a young Marine died during a search-and-rescue operation for flood victims and whether there was external pressure during the course of the investigation?” DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae said. “The president using his veto power will not hide the truth.”RKP leader Cho Kuk, known for his vocal criticism of Yoon, said, “People are demanding a special counsel probe right now.” According to recent public surveys, nearly 70 percent of the people support the special counsel probe.The first-term lawmaker-elects of the DPK 카지노사이트킹 staged a sit-in protest against the Yoon administration

Hyundai Motor Group has achieved a historic milestone of surpassing Volkswagen Group for the first time in quarterly operating profit, rising to become the world’s second-most-profitable carmaker, according to data and industry officials Sunday.Hyundai Motor Group’s three carmaking affiliates — Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis — achieved a combined operating profit of 6.98 trillion won ($5.08 billion) in the first quarter.This slightly exceeds that of Volkswagen Group, which had an operating profit of around 6.78 trillion won during the same period.Toyota maintained its lead with a considerable margin of more than 2 trillion won compared with the runner-up. But Hyundai Motor outdid Toyota in operating profit margin.The figure for Hyundai Motor Group came in at 10.4 percent, topping the list among global carmakers. That of Toyota reached 10 percent, followed by General Motors and Volkswagen Group, which had operating profit margins of 8.7 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively, during the same period.The latest achievement was driven by Hyundai Motor Group’s diversified vehicle lineups and expanded sales for its profitable luxury vehicles.

“The sales portions of the group’s SUV lineup and Genesis-brand vehicles have increased, helping rev up its sales growth,” said Kim Sung-rae, an analyst at Hanwha Investment & Securities.The carmaker will keep improving its profitability by developing new small hybrid vehicles and manufacturing more hybrid cars by transforming part of its electric vehicle (EV)-dedicated manufacturing facility in North America, according to Kim.The carmaker recently shared its plan to produce hybrid cars at its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia, which is scheduled to start operation in the fourth quarter of this year.The decision reflects the growing demand for hybrid vehicles as the global EV industry enters an early phase of chasm.The brokerage house revised Hyundai Motor’s target stock price to 290,000 won per share, maintaining its opinion of buying the shares.Other experts also shared optimistic outlooks on Hyundai Motor Group from a longer-term viewpoint, as the carmaker bets big on future mobility — such as EVs — and takes the technological lead in related sectors.“Hyundai Motor Group’s core strength lies in its complete vehicle portfolio — ranging from cars with internal combustion engines, EVs and even hydrogen-powered cars,” said Kim Pil-soo, an automotive technology professor at Daelim University College.“Hyundai Motor Group is de facto the only global carmaker that can mass-produce all of the vehicle segments at a decent level. In particular, Hyundai Motor’s technological prowess in EVs remains 온라인카지노 unmatched.”

The film “The Land of Happiness,” starring the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, will hit local theaters in August, the film’s distributor NEW confirmed.The period political movie is based on a real-life event, the assassination of former President Park Chung-hee in 1979. The story revolves around a man named Park Tae-joo (Lee), who is accused of the murder of the former president and put on trial for the assassination, and his lawyer Jung In-hoo (Jo Jung-suk), who fights to save Park from facing a death sentence.The film is directed by Choo Chang-min, whose previous works includes the 2012 smash-hit historical film “Masquerade” and the 2018 thriller film “Seven Years of Night.”

This is one of two films the late actor has finished filming before he passed away in December last year, along with the thriller “Project Silence,” whose release date is yet to be determined.Lee, who garnered the spotlight with the award-winning film “Parasite,” faced allegations of illegal drug use last October, which led him to undergo three rounds of police questioning. He tested negative for drugs but was found dead amid the investigation. A senior police officer in March admitted to leaking details of a drug investigation into the deceased actor including personal information about people connected to the case.His death stirred controversy with some questioning investigation procedures on whether the police invaded his privacy by making him stand at the press photo line before his questioning sessions. A group of people from the entertainment industry, including director Bong Joon-ho, released a statement calling for a probe into 스포츠토토존 the police’s handling of the investigation.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and Startup Junkie, a U.S.-based entrepreneurial support organization, signed a business agreement, Thursday, to bolster projects testing the viability of ideas, products, services and technologies within the tourism sector.Through this partnership, the focus will extend to addressing specific system requirements in hotels and tourism sectors of various countries. The goal is to identify and match Korean companies possessing technologies that cater to these demands.Startup Junkie will play a pivotal role in supporting testing and evaluation processes, ensuring the practical effectiveness of these technologies when implemented within the intricate operational processes of the overseas tourism industry.Established in 2011 by the Sam Walton family, the founders of U.S. retail giant Walmart, Startup Junkie has been dedicated to nurturing U.S. startups and fostering an enabling environment for their growth. This has involved conducting accelerations in technology and high-growth sectors, along with managing venture capital funds.It is recently focusing on expanding partnerships with tourism sectors such as hotels, convention centers and travel agencies across Asia.

Through the business agreement, both parties pledged to cooperate in information exchange for the global expansion of tourism companies. They will actively support overseas demonstrations of domestic tourism companies’ innovative technologies and services, aiming for global growth and impact.Additionally, a joint project focusing on digital transformation and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) aspects within the global tourism industry is on the agenda. This initiative can contribute to addressing issues like overtourism, which arises when destinations face an influx of visitors beyond sustainable levels”Indonesia will be our inaugural overseas country that will be supported with tourism technologies through this agreement,” said Kim Dong-il, executive vice president of the KTO.”The KTO will diligently pursue opportunities for business collaboration with government agencies and enterprises within the global tourism sector, aiming to establish a service export blueprint for our domestic tourism companies.”Since 2020, the KTO has supported over 110 startups in global expansion through the Tourism Global Challenge Program and support centers in Singapore and Tokyo. Its efforts paid off last year with a total of 80 impressive achievements, including establishing overseas subsidiaries, 메이저 forging partnerships and attracting investments.

GUNSAN, North Jeolla Province — Saemangeum is shaping itself as the country’s key industrial hub, taking advantage of its vast 397 million square meter-large landfilled region next to the West Sea to attract companies, harness renewable energies and build a new residential town for workers and families, according to Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency (SDIA), Thursday.The national industrial complex in the northern part of Saemangeum — a landfilled region two-thirds the size of Seoul on the country’s west coast with jurisdiction across North Jeolla Province’s Gunsan and Buan County — has finished allotting 90 percent of its entire lots to 49 companies. Twenty-eight of them have already begun running their factories, while the rest are currently building plants there.Since President Yoon Suk Yeol’s inauguration in May 2022, the industrial complex has attracted investments worth 10.1 trillion won ($7.4 billion). Prior to the Yoon administration, since the agency’s establishment in 2013, the complex had received investments totaling just 1.5 trillion won.In 2023 alone, a group of secondary battery companies and material-part-equipment developers announced they will invest 6.6 trillion won in the complex. LG Chem and SK on plan to invest 1.2 trillion won with their Chinese partners, while LS Group said it plans to invest 1.8 trillion won. Ronbay Korea New Energy Materials also said it will invest 1.2 trillion won.

The SDIA is still busy reclaiming land from the sea in the region. Companies that have an urgent need to move in are demanding the agency expedite the process, according to SDIA Administrator and Vice Minister Kim Kyung-ahn.”We’ve never expected Saemangeum would see such a rush of companies wanting to move in,” Kim said. Saemangeum will house companies in the rechargeable battery, car, food and MICE (meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions) industries.Doosan Fuel Cell, which completed a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) plant with a 50-megawatt capacity at the complex last July, is now producing SOFC samples using the plant’s fully automated, 250-meter-long assembly line until the scheduled start of mass production next April.”We looked at five national industrial complexes in the country, including those in Changwon, Yongin and Iksan, before deciding to build our latest SOFC plant in Saemangeum,” the company’s Global Chief Manufacturing Officer Bang Won-jo said. “We found Saemangeum most company-friendly as to conditions of site and incentives.”Kim meets with heads of companies, either already in the complex or planning to move in, on a regular basis to exchange opinions. On Wednesday, 11 companies to move in met Kim at SDIA’s office to file requests or complaints. A chemical and biotech company requested an additional rear entrance to its planned factory, while an energy materials developing firm asked if it can help with hiring locally. Kim gave promising answers to both of them.Kim is equipping the complex with all he can to cater to its companies, including power supply, social overhead capital and incentives. To facilitate future exports that will stringently monitor carbon footprints, particularly in Europe and the United States, the complex is working on supplying renewable energy sources to require the companies to minimize their carbon 슬롯놀이터 emissions.

A Pentagon spokesperson refused Thursday to comment on whether the United States wants Seoul to provide lethal arms support to Ukraine, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol reaffirmed his administration’s policy against any provision of offensive weapons to the war-torn country.Seoul has maintained a stance to offer humanitarian and non-lethal defense assistance to Ukraine, such as protective suits, demining equipment and other military supplies, though pressure has continued for arms support to the country.”I will let the Republic of Korea (ROK) speak for itself when it comes to what they feel comfortable with providing to support Ukraine,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told a press briefing, referring to South Korea by its official name.”The ROK is an incredible ally, and they certainly have provided non-lethal assistance to Ukraine and support the broader effort to deter and prevent Russian aggression in Ukraine,” he added.

He was responding to a question over whether Washington wants Seoul to provide 155-mm artillery rounds and other offensive weapons to Ukraine.Ryder said that Washington is thankful to any country that backs Ukraine.”We are just grateful for any nation that can contribute in some way to help send a clear signal to authoritarian regimes that invading your democratic, peaceful neighbor is not acceptable behavior,” he said.During a press conference on Thursday (Korea time), Yoon said South Korea is doing its best to provide humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Ukraine but stands by its policy of not providing offensive, lethal weapons to any nation in conflict.Ryder also responded to a question about Russia’s reported plan to conduct drills on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, and the possibility of related military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.”I’ve seen that reported in the press and I would just say again that it’s irresponsible, reckless saber-rattling,” he said. “That is dangerous given the current climate … international security 카지노사이트킹 environment.”

A new travel reality show featuring top singer Lee Hyo-ri and her mother is set to hit the air on May 26, according to cable channel JTBC, Thursday.Tentatively titled, “Mom, Will You Go on a Trip With Me?” the upcoming program is a road movie-style show depicting Lee’s first trip accompanied only by her mother.It will be set at two tourist attractions in Korea, which were included on her mother’s travel wish list. The exact locations have been kept under wraps.”A lot of mothers and daughters will find our program relatable as it portrays a close yet distant relationship of an ordinary mother and a daughter instead of highlighting Lee as a celebrity,” JTBC said in a statement, Thursday, adding that Lee’s mother is as witty as her daughter.

Producers Ma Geon-young and Park Sung-hwan, who were behind the success of “Hyori’s Homestay” series (2017-18) and “Camping Club” (2019), will take the helm of the new travel show.”Hyori’s Homestay” is a reality show set at the residence of Lee and her husband Lee Sang-soon on Jeju Island, which enjoyed top viewership ratings for providing therapeutic moments for people. “Camping Club” (2019) is another reality program starring the four members of the first-generation K-pop girl group Fin.K.L, including Lee.”I hope our program can motivate more daughters to take a trip with their mothers,” Ma said.Lee started her singing career as a Fin.K.L member in 1998 with the album “Blue Rain.” She went solo in 2003 and rose to stardom with the mega-hit “10 Minutes,” which recently resurfaced 카지노사이트 as a viral hit on various social media platforms including Instagram.

Kim Gunn, a first-term lawmaker-elect from the ruling People Power Party’s satellite People Future Party, emphasized the importance of the international community working together to unanimously condemn North Korea’s military provocations.

Kim, a seasoned diplomat who served as the special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration before earning a proportional representative seat in the 22nd National Assembly, said Pyongyang’s goal is to “routinize” its missile tests in an attempt to move on to bigger provocations.

“North Korea believes its continued violation of the U.N. Security Council Resolutions will trigger indifference in South Korea and the international community. However, we should work tirelessly with our allies and like-minded countries to send a strong message to North Korea that its provocative acts cannot be tolerated,” he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.

“Also, we should impose sanctions on North Korea’s illegal cyber activities, particularly those intended to finance its weapons and missile development.”

The lawmaker-elect expressed his intention to advance bills related to developing a sanctions clause and supporting the enhancement of subnational diplomacy in the Assembly, where he is expected to serve on the foreign affairs committee.

“Compared with other countries that have an applicable law when imposing sanctions, South Korea implements sanctions based on the guidelines held by relevant ministries,” he said. “While working as a career diplomat, I realized the importance of subnational diplomacy. I wish there is a framework, in which a central government can support diplomatic activities by local governments.”

Kim helped shape Yoon’s “audacious initiative” that laid out the foundation of the current administration’s approach to North Korea. Regarding criticism that it’s a failed strategy, given Pyongyang’s apparent escalation of bellicose rhetoric and activities, Kim expressed disappointment that North Korea refused to even come to the negotiating table.

“Critics misunderstand the characteristics of the audacious initiative. It is premised on the idea of a comprehensive, step-by-step denuclearization of North Korea and the normalization of inter-Korean relations in exchange for corresponding political and military measures such as providing diplomatic assistance for normalizing U.S.-North Korea bilateral relations in addition to economic assistance and infrastructure investment,” he explained.

“We should continue to move forward with the 3D principle, consisting of taking a holistic approach that ‘deters’ North Korea’s nuclear 스포츠토토존 threats, ‘dissuades’ Pyongyang’s nuclear development, and pursues ‘dialogue.’”