Circles and Squares

Big Data Health in Korea: A Brave New Body?

May 21, 2012 by

This article suggests the new concept of “big-data based health IT services” in Korea. The potential for innovation is considerable as many in the United States and Europe would simply not tolerate this use of information. But in Korea, and in China, and elsewhere, it could well be a new model.

MK Business News

2012.05.21

SKT, KT venture into big data health IT business

Yoo Ki-yoon (aged 51) recently received a personalized healthcare plan based on genome analysis, which processes the patient’s medical and family history and offers relevant healthcare information. This comprehensive health IT service suggests which hospital to visit

What is advertising?

May 17, 2012 by

Deb Havens & Arthur Park of Grand Rapids, Michigan call for a Korean Cultural Center

May 17, 2012 by

I recently received a note from two individuals in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who have engaged in an in ambitious project to build a center for Korean culture in Grand Rapids that could serve as a hub for introducing Korea to Americans. Tragically, although Americans drive Hyundais and watch Samsungs, many know more about North Korean missiles than they do about Korean history and culture. The approach put forth is very innovative and inspired. Dr.Deborah Havens, a scholar who has taken a deep interest in Korean culture since her son Haight married an Korean woman (and she was blessed with three grandchildren with Korean roots), has teamed up with the Korean-American Professor Arthur K. J. Park to launch a new initiative for education about Korea in the United States. Professor Park has already started his own effort to introduce Korea to Americans through his Morning Crane Tea and Morning Earth Korea projects (including cultural tours to Korea).

Havens-Haight family — Deborah Haven’s family: Mrs. Haven’s mother is on the far left next to her mother-in-law. She is next to her husband David Charles Limbaugh who served in the Korean War. Their grandsons Brennan and Henry are in front, next to Henna and her daughter-in-law Jungson.

“외국학생의 한국어 능력 떨어지는 까닭” (서울신문)

May 16, 2012 by

서울신문

2012년 5월 16일

“외국학생의 한국어 능력 떨어지는 까닭”

임마누엘 페스트라이쉬

전 세계적으로 한국어 교육 열풍이 일고 있다. 한국 대학에서 한국어로 강의하는 수업을 듣는 외국인 학생들의 수도 상당히 늘어났다. 한국인들은 한국어를 배우려는 외국인들을 낯설어하면서도 상당히 잘해 주려고 한다. 그러나 애석하게도 그러한 친절함이 도리어 부정적인 결과를 가져오기도 한다. 가장 심각한 문제는 많은 외국학생이 고급 한국어를 구사할 정도로 배우지 못하고 있으며, 복잡한 내용의 표현이나 멋들어진 에세이를 쓰지 못한다. 이는 부분적으로 한국어 교재의 부재, 혹은 한국어 교육지침이 제대로 되어 있지 않기 때문이다. 그러나 더욱 큰 문제는 한국어를 배우려는 외국인들에 대한 한국인의 선입견에 있다.

Asia Institute Seminar with John Feffer (April, 2012)

May 15, 2012 by

Asia Institute Seminar

21^st April 2012

“Engaging North Korea”

Speaker

John Feffer

Author of

North Korea/South Korea: US Policy and the Korean Peninsula, Power Trip: US Unilateralism and Global Strategy After 9/11

& Crusade 2.0

Co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus

The Institute for Policy Studies

“Every Practitioner of International Relations Should Major in Literature” (essay)

May 14, 2012May 14, 2012 by

Emanuel Pastreich

“Every Practitioner of International Relations Should Major in Literature”

May 14, 2012

The Study of Literature and International Relations

There is a general assumption in the study of international relations that one should have a strong background in economics, development policy or the study of international relations if one wishes to play a significant role in diplomacy or security, whether that role is in government itself, or in the broad range of disciplines related to the global exchanges between NGOs, governments and corporations.

Well, as someone who did not take a single economics class as an undergraduate, and who did not start following international relations with any real seriousness until I was already a professor at University of Illinois, I feel a need to justify why I came to both write about international relations, and to be involved in a variety of activities related to international relations and

Political and Apolitical Reasons for Drinking Coffee in Korea

May 12, 2012 by

When I wrote the article about the “Café Revolution in Korea,” I did not go into a sufficient consideration of what is driving this craze for cafes. I would say that they make no economic sense. There seem to be cafes sprouting up on every corner and in the case of the road leading up the Kyung Hee University, I would go as far as to say that it is almost wall to wall coffee shops, many empty.

Asia Institute Seminar “Korea’s New Role as Global Development Partner”

May 12, 2012 by

Asia Institute Seminar

“Korea’s New Role as Global Development Partner”

May 25, 2012 (Friday)

6:30 PM

Speakers:

Peter M. Beck, Korea Representative for the Asia Foundation

Emanuel Pastreich, Director, The Asia Institute

Discussant:

Ki-Hwan Kim, Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Korea Development Institute

“The Critical New Role of the Traditional Hanok House” (essay by Emanuel Pastreich)

May 9, 2012 by

The Critical New Role of the Traditional Hanok House

Emanuel Pastreich

9 May 2012

At a time that Koreans are playing such a critical role in the most advanced fields of technology, biotechnology, electronics, new materials and nano technology, there is one field of technology in which Korea has been losing ground and that has potential to be a billion dollar industry with profound implications for Korea’s global standing.

That field of technology is the traditional skills of carpentry and design associated with the building of the traditional Korean hanok house (한옥). Although few youth would consider this field of technology from the past as interesting career in an age in which new fields of science are opening up, a strong argument can be made that a massive investment in the technology of the hanok house is exactly what Korea needs at this point in its economic development.

「ソンビ」を韓国の象徴に育てよう、日本の「サムライ」の様に

May 5, 2012 by

INCRUIT アジアnews+

「ソンビ」を韓国の象徴に育てよう、日本の「サムライ」の様に

(韓国経済新聞　２０１２年４月２０日)

イ・マンヨル慶煕大教授（訳注：本名は”Emanuel Pastreich”米国生まれ）

慶煕（キョンヒ）大教授・比較文学

国際社会でサムスンやLGのような主要ブランドは良く知られ、特に優秀な品質で定評がある。しかし、世界中の人々にとって韓国という国は相変らずよく分からない国に過ぎない。米国の人々は現代自動車を走らせサムスンテレビを見ながらも彼らが韓国と関連して新聞で見るのはソウルでおきることではなく、北朝鮮の長距離ロケット発射や北核問題程度だ。