5 things to know about South Korea's martial law shock

5 things to know about South Korea's martial law shock

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law on Tuesday night, and then just a few hours later lifted the order after widespread condemnation and protests -- and a vote by lawmakers to rescind it.

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High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(6)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

There are yet pending issues to tackle in startup fever in Indonesia. Poor IT infrastructures in non-urban areas, shortage of high-skilled workforces and widespread financial illiteracy have taken roots in many parts of the nation. This is where digital cooperation between Korea and Indonesia can take a meaningful step forward. 

What Korea has experienced in the last 20 years in becoming a global digital leader can be valuable asset to the Indonesian journey heading for the digital society. Beginning with promising fields including the fintech and the education, now is the right time for young startups in both countries to join hands with each other and hit the digital road hard.

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(1)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes

It was back in 2013 when I first tapped into Indonesia. Since then, I sometimes stayed in the country over several months, sometimes purchased round trip flight tickets between Seoul and Jakarta twice a month. It all has severed me a precious opportunity to come closer with the 'Country of Equator'. 

As my horizon on Indonesia got broadened, the country came to me with diverse attractions. Coffee, called 'kopi' in the local language is one of the charming characteristics. Though somewhat unfamiliar to most Korean people, Indonesia is the 3rd largest producer of coffee globally after Brazil and Vietnam.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(8)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

What Korea has experienced in the last 20 years in becoming a global digital leader can be valuable asset to the Indonesian journey heading for the digital society. 

Beginning with promising fields including the fintech and the education, now is the right time for young startups in both countries to join hands with each other and hit the digital road hard.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(3)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

Consequently, as many as 11 unicorns, privately held startup companies valued at over $1 billion, have emerged from various industries such as the mobility, the e-payment and the online game.

It is Singapore and Indonesia which has been spotlighted the most for the startup frenzy in Southeast Asia. The two countries have been in the forefront of the development of the digital economy in the region.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(4)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

Singapore has been recognized to incubate the advent of the digital era with its strong commitment to innovation while Indonesia has been viewed to beef up the digital fever based upon its presence as the most sizeable playground. 

The fact that 9 out of 11 unicorns in Southeast Asia are headquartered either in Singapore or in Indonesia proves the significance of the two countries in the ASEAN digital economy. It seems that Indonesia has caught eyes of the global investment experts more actively than Singapore in the regional competition of startup waves.

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(1)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes 

It was back in 2013 when I first tapped into Indonesia. Since then, I sometimes stayed in the country over several months, sometimes purchased round trip flight tickets between Seoul and Jakarta twice a month.

It all has severed me a precious opportunity to come closer with the 'Country of Equator'. As my horizon on Indonesia got broadened, the country came to me with diverse attractions. Coffee, called 'kopi' in the local language is one of the charming characteristics.

KAIST professor deserves 'Korea Engineering Award'(1)

A KAIST professor receives the 'Korea Engineering Award'

KAIST Professor Kang Suk-Joong of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has received the 'Korea Engineering Award' from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Korea Research Foundation. The award is given to those who have accomplished world-class research and results. 

The ceremony for the 'Korea Engineering Award' was held at the Seoul Press Center Press Club on the 22nd of December, 2010. Professor Kang has potentially redirected the direction of research in the field of the microstructure of materials by elucidating the fundamental principles behind how the microstructure of polycrystalline materials evolves. 

He applied the results of his findings in the manufacture of new materials and has made significant contributions to the Korean materials engineering industry.

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(1)

Introduction of Indonesian cafes along with local coffee culture

It was back in 2013 when I first tapped into Indonesia. Since then, I sometimes stayed in the country over several months, sometimes purchased round trip flight tickets between Seoul and Jakarta twice a month. 

It all has severed me a precious opportunity to come closer with the 'Country of Equator'. As my horizon on Indonesia got broadened, the country came to me with diverse attractions. Coffee, called 'kopi' in the local language is one of the charming characteristics. 

Though somewhat unfamiliar to most Korean people, Indonesia is the 3rd largest producer of coffee globally after Brazil and Vietnam. 

How I became interested in Southeast Asia(4)

Brief story of how I became interested in Southeast Asia including Indonesia

This role gave me an opportunity to be hired by QS Asia, an Asia-Pacific branch of QS. As a marketing and PR director for the Korean and Japanese market, I went back and forth between Singapore and Seoul in 2011~2012. 

In doing so, I could observe the situation of the contemporary higher education industry in Asia. Actually, this is when I was seriously linked to Southeast Asia first. The reason is that I stayed and worked in Singapore, the most-advanced country in the region.

It was Indonesia in which country I was involved after Singapore. Around the summer of 2013, I made up my mind to apply for a position at a newly-established company by my Indonesian friend and Korean friend in Bandung, Indonesia. 

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(1)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes

It was back in 2013 when I first tapped into Indonesia. Since then, I sometimes stayed in the country over several months, sometimes purchased round trip flight tickets between Seoul and Jakarta twice a month. 

It all has severed me a precious opportunity to come closer with the 'Country of Equator'. As my horizon on Indonesia got broadened, the country came to me with diverse attractions. Coffee, called 'kopi' in the local language is one of the charming characteristics. 

Though somewhat unfamiliar to most Korean people, Indonesia is the 3^rd largest producer of coffee globally after Brazil and Vietnam. My desire to truly explore the local coffee culture becomes stronger as my experience on Indonesia gets richer in both quantity and quality. 

Current duties for EWKLP application

Current duties for EWKLP(East-West Knowledge Leaders Program) application

Since late 2008, I have been mainly covering educational field. Schools and private institutions from elementary to adult level are all my coverage. Among them, I spent most of my time by visiting and meeting university personnel and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. 

Like most Asian countries, Korean people pay great attention to education. I have wrote articles on many issues, establishment of two international middle schools in Seoul(capital of South Korea), shortfalls of Korean MBAs and globalization of Korean universities, to name a few. 

I am also interviewing people with interesting stories or influential achievement in the educational circle in particular. My experience says that timely and touching people stories can give the nation hopes for better tomorrow. 

Recently, I covered two Korean professors at KAIST(Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) whose paper will be published in Marketing Science this year. They are highly regarded of doing excellent analysis on ‘Netizen Funding’ in the Korean film industry.

Broadening Global Horizon and Building Up Rich Friendship(1)

Broadening Global Horizon and Building Up Rich Friendship(1)

Before coming to Hawaii, in my application forms to JAIMS(Japan-America Institute of Management Science), rough expectation on EWKLP(East-West Knowledge Leaders Program) went like this: EWKLP will be of great significance to me. By studying various subjects of business, I can not only deepen my knowledge but also harmonize my experience, as a journalist, with theory.

That could explain why lessons from EWKLP will lead me to make more profound articles on business practices. I have little doubt that 3 months in Hawaii will absolutely help me realize my lifetime goal, contributing myself to my country. In this time of financial crisis, insightful articles can make people happy. It can change the world, too. State-of-the-art business cases will also give new ideas to business leaders in Korea with whom I have had firm relationship. Interviews with CEOs and corporate management convinced me that they are dying for new and practical business principles.

In addition, EWKLP will serve a good chance to promote Korea to foreign friends. In spite of strong economic size and potentials, Korea is one of the undervalued countries in the global stage. Some business sectors such as semi-conductor, shipping and automobile industry, Korean companies are leading the world. By actively introducing Korean companies and their success stories to classes, I want to let EWKLP participants know more about Korea.

At the same time, I will do my best to be more aware of neighboring countries. These may create new business opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region after EWKLP students go back to their home. Amongst the participant countries, it is also anticipated that improved image on Korea will enhance nation-level relationship.