Best Festivals 2006: Experience Korean Culture.

A total of 700 big and small festivals will be held in various venues across South Korea this year and it may not be easy to choose which one to attend. The government's designation of ``best’’ or ``good’’ festivals may help those who want to experience Korean culture.
Andong International Mask Dance Festival

The Andong International Mask Dance Festival is scheduled to be held for 10 days, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 8, in Andong and Hahoe Village. The theme of this year's festival, the tenth of its kind, is ``stylishness and excitement of yangban.’’ Yangban refers to Korea's ruling elite, especially during the Choson Kingdom (1392-1910).

In old times, direct criticism of the yangban was strictly forbidden, so the lower classes satirized them while wearing masks, and the performances developed into various mask dances in different regions. Among the mask dances still performed today are Hahoe Mask Dance, Unyul Mask Dance, Pukchong Sajanorum, Pongsan Mask Dance, Tongnae Yaryu, Suyong Yaryu, Kasan Ogwangdae,
Kangnyong Mask Dance, Songpa Sandaenori, Yangju Pyolsandaenori, Tongyong Ogwangdae, Kosong Ogwangdae, and the Kangnung Mask Drama. All these mask dances, designated as important intangible cultural assets, are performed at the Andong Festival, along with famous mask dances of other nations.
Visitors will have an opportunity to learn how to perform mask dances of the world and make masks. Various folk events are also to be held, including the Chajon Nori in which about 5,000 people will participate.

For more information, call 054-840-6398 or visit the Web site at
www.maskdance.com.

I'll introduce other festivals later.

Naked Truth - Reflect but Don't Despair

Seoul National University's first report on Prof. Hwang Woo-suk's stem cell controversy was no longer surprising but nonetheless horrible. The bioengineer fabricated his 2005 paper in the journal Science by inflating the number of cloned cells from two to 11. Even the two are undergoing DNA tests to ascertain whether there were any patient-specific cloned cells as he claimed. As the New York Times said, we Koreans have reconfirmed one thing: If it seems too good to be true, then it probably isn't.

It was good, though, that SNU's interim announcement excluded all subjective judgments and was faithful to the facts. Further investigations may reveal more truths about the one-time national hero, whose ambition has caught up with his ability. So even the investigating team had to admit Hwang has committed "grave misdeeds that damaged the foundation of science." Many people, even if they are not Hwang's erstwhile fans, would like to cry for no more, but the probes must go on.

Hwang said he would continue to "serve as a commoner," which is completely up to him. He may probably retain some followers and even meet new employers, who respect his "source technology."

Left behind is the general public, who has shown signs of mass hypochondria with the development of this scandal. The only consolation is they might have learned not to become overly emotional for good or bad reasons. They only have to watch reality more straightly and calmly. It is time for Korea to introduce an objective agency that supervises the authenticity of scientific achievements, like the Office of Integrity in the United States. This would help prevent the whole nation from swinging wildly in response to untested scientific claims. The ongoing turmoil should serve as an occasion for reflection and fresh resolve, not despair.

SNU Investigation.

Hwang Woo-suk's Pioneer Research Enters Critical Stage.

The eyes of the international science community are now riveted on Korea as Seoul National University decided to conduct its own investigation into the controversial stem cells created by Professor Hwang Woo-suk. The investigation, which Hwang himself requested, will be focused on his paper, which was published in the prominent U.S. journal "Science" early this year.

The importance of the investigation is beyond description because of the impact of its results not merely on Hwang's pioneer stem cell research, but also on Korea's national image. If the results are found to dispute the authenticity of the stem cells concerned, it will deal a devastating blow to Hwang's project and make the nation the laughing stock of the international community.

Despite such a grave consequence, Hwang has no choice but to have his breakthrough achievement verified in light of the growing suspicion both at home and abroad since MBC TV raised questions about it. Younger professors at SNU submitted their formal petition last week, calling on their school to conduct its own probe into Hwang's bombshell experiments. The University of Pittsburgh is investigating Hwang's creation of stem cells from cloned human embryos on a request from its faculty member Gerald Schatten, Hwang's former colleague. It is generally expected that SNU will jointly conduct the investigation with the U.S. school.

The suspicion centers on the authenticity of the stem cells which Hwang reported were created from human embryos cloned with the body cells of 11 patients in 2004, attracting attention from around the world. In particular, many medical scholars and scientists here suspect that the actual number of stem cells created by Hwang is no more than two instead of the 11 claimed by him. Their suspicion is further buttressed by an Internet news outlet's report on Sunday that a researcher, who was originally on Hwang's team but is now working at the University of Pittsburgh, told the cable news channel YTN that Hwang instructed him to make more pictures of two stem cells. YTN didn't reveal the information in reporting an interview with him. In the interview, the researcher said that MBC producers in charge of its investigative programs tried to force him to make confessions rejecting Hwang's achievement. Hwang, who resumed his research on Monday, is also suspected of fabricating the images of DNA finger printings of the stem cells.

But Hwang's research team denied all allegations against his achievement which gave hopes to those who are suffering from currently untreatable disorders. In consideration of the grave nature of the issue, all of us, especially the press, should wait calmly until SNU finishes its investigation.

Media and Scientist

The hottest issue in Korea is that Stem Cells of Dr. Hwang is real or not. This became an issue by one media, MBC in Korea. MBC initiated suspicion about his dissertation and made a program. But, violating journalistic ethics in the course of collecting information aimed at disputing the authenticity of Professor Hwang Woosuk’s creation of the world’s first cloned human embryos made antipathy.

In its prime-time news program, MBC acknowledged that their producers in charge of the investigative program “PD Notebook” coerced two researchers, who were originally on Hwang’s team but are now dispatched to the University of Pittsburgh, to give unfavorable information on Hwang’s breakthrough achievement in 2004.

The two researchers, who were sent to the American University to join Professor Gerald Schatten, a former colleague of Hwang, in September, said that MBC producers tried to force them to yield to their claims that Hwang’s paper on cloning human embryos, which was published in the prominent journal “Science” early this year, was fake. They disclosed that the producers said they had secured evidence proving the fabrication of Hwang’s paper, and Hwang would be investigated by the prosecution. The researchers also said they told them that they were going to “kill” Hwang but no others would be harmed.

Well...What is right jouralitic ethic?

This is the 1st part of this story.....

To be continued...

Park Shines Again in United Victory

Park Ji-sung of Manchester United displayed one of the best performances with the Premiership side, also setting up a goal in his fourth full-game appearance as Manchester beat West Ham 2-1 in London, Sunday.
It was his first full game appearance since the Oct. 22 match against Tottenham Hotspur. The energetic midfielder made his first assist record in 58 days, after setting up two goals against Fulham on Oct. 1.
With the victory, United moved up to second place with a record of eight wins, two losses and three draws for 27 points, 10 behind the leader Chelsea.
Park, 24, set up his club’s equalizer by Wayne Rooney two minutes into the second half. As a poorly cleared ball deflected back onto the West Ham box, Park snatched it to feed Rooney, who turned it to a strong low drive past West Ham goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

I believe that Park will make miracle again in German World Cup, 2006

Warriors ATTACKED!!!

On a chilly Saturday evening in November, South Korea and Sweden played out an exciting 2-2 draw at Seoul's World Cup Stadium, though the visitors were the more relieved of the two teams to hear the final whistle after spending much of the game on the back foot.
The Taeguk Warriors attacked the Europeans in an aggressive, high-paced and energetic performance that was compared by the Swedish coach Lars Lagerback to the heady summer of 2002.

I saw this game through the internet. But i felt like being in the stadium..Our national team is getting better and stronger. I'm stll seeing the hope for next World Cup. The time that i will be crazy at soccer is coming.

To be RED DEVILS again...haha

Diving Catch!!!

Media look under a closed gate as they attempt to gain images of terror suspects as they arrive at Sydney's Central Court Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005. Police in Australia arrested 17 terror suspects, including a radical Muslim cleric accused of masterminding a cell dedicated to "violent jihad," in a string of raids in the early hours of Tuesday and said they had foiled a catastrophic terror attack. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Well.. this situation happened the next street of my apartment..
On the way back home, i saw many police-men and women on the street.
Look at those camera people... they are great!!
But, The greatest man is MARK BAKER who took this photo. He took picture of camera people on the ground instead of doing like them..great..