News &   Announcements  (Spring Semester, 2001)

Application for the 2002 Spring Semester

On June 13, I have been told Dr. Nak Whan Paik, Founder, Chairman of the Board and Honorary President, was promised to donate a large sum of money to the Institute to encourage success of the program.  He decided to contribute 10,000,000 won, almost 10,000 US dollars from his own private fortune.  This contribution will help us to provide more service and allow us to accept more students.

On May 18, Mr. Yang, Yun-keun, CEO of Seorin Machines, donated 1,000,000 won (approximately 1,000 USD) to the Institute.  Mr Yang learned this Institute from Dr. Cha, In-jun, Inje University Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Advisory Board, and decided to support our Program. 

This Thursday, June 14, we will have the first graduation ceremony for the participating students on 6 PM.  It will be in the meeting room on the Main Building 14th floor.  It is the first one of the kind. The sponsors, advisory board members, teachers, and students are encouraged to join and a party will be followed in English Town.  You can see the map of the campus at the "Institute Profile" section.

On May 26, the students have been in Kyungju, the Capital of the Shilla Dynasty.  Kyungju had been the capital of the kingdom for a thousand years, and it is one of the most historical city in the world.

First, we dropped by Bulkuk-sa which is the one of the biggest temple of the days as the name suggest, The Temple of the Kingdom of Buddha. We appreciated the architecture of the buildings and the contrast of the two famous pagodas, Dabo-tap and Sukka-tap.  Next, we visited Anapji, Garden of the Crown Prince's Palace, where we walked around the lake and enjoyed the landscape.  In Daeneung-won, Garden of the Great Tombs, we could find many big tombs of the size of a big building. There, we also saw Chomsung-dae, the world oldest observatory, and Keyrim, a woods of two thousand years old and the birth Place of the ancestor of Kyungju Kim clan and the Kings of the Shilla Dymasty.

I have posted some of the pictures and movie clips of the trip. Although the trip was an enjoyable and educational one, regretably, only two of the five participating students were joined.  I hope most of the students join next time and enjoy rare opportunity to learn the Korean heritage.

The University is celebrating annual festival from May 23 to 25.  Today, May 24, I happen to drop by several exhibitions and notice some of calligraphic works done by the participating students, Any, Bonnie, Leah, Sara and Jodi. They have done heck of jobs in their writings since their works look as good as those of other Korean students.

On May 9, 2001, there was a ceremony for the IIIHR name plate binding at the Building C.  Many people of the University including the Chairman of the Board of Directors and other important figures were joined to celebrate the event.                     

Bonnie's parents are visiting the University.  They are having good time with bonnie and other students.  Today (May 7, 2001), the Montoyas have a meeting with the teachers during lunch time at the main dorm diner.

Yesterday, May 1, 2001, was a Buddha's Birthday, a National Holiday.  To the people who belive in Buddha, it's a kind of Christmas. In Seoul, Buddhists used to hold huge downtown Lotus Lantern Parade (yundeung-hangyul, ¿¬µîÇà·Ä) which, I believe, could be some experience.  I have been Eunha-sa in Sina-san and taken some pictures.  There, you can find many types of lotus lanterns, called yundeung (¿¬µî), used to pray for everything including family fortune. The figures in the picture also include Sina (½Å¾î), a sacred fish, and Mokdan (¸ñ´Ü) flower.

We will have a trip to the historical sites. If you have further question, you may contact Director Kim or Professor Chang.

                  Title: In situ education for Korean history and experiencing Buddhist temple.
                  Place: Buyu and Kongju of old Backje Kingdom and Youngpyung-Sa temple.
                  Time: April 21-22, 2001 (1 night, 2 days)
                  Participants: Program students, Director, Secretary, Program Teachers

Professor Lee Soon-yong from Department of Pediatrics of the Inje Medical School contributed some money to IIIHR and the following is the comment written by Director Kim.

    We have received a big donation from Dr. Lee Soon-yong , Professor of Pediatrics and former president of Pusan Paik Hospital. I was told that he realised how wonderful program for the Korean adoptees we had in the Inje University after watching the documentaries of KBS and MBC aired some weeks ago and decided to donate almost 900 US dollars.
    With support of those donators, I belive that the program will be productive, fruitful and eventually successful. Please call him and say 'Thank you for your support'(His phone:051-894-3421)

IIIHR office will be moved to the Room # 514 of Building C on Monday (April 16, 2001).  The office will maintain old office phone number.

Application for the 2001 fall semester must be done by April 27.

This week, the 25th annual Karak Festival (Karak Munwhaje, °¡¶ô¹®È­Á¦, Karak is another expression of Kaya) is going on in this city, I believe it could be a very interesting experience for the participants of the Program.  The festival is similar to the County Fair of the US, but it is mixed with traditional and contemporary arts of the region.   Starting on King Suro's Memorial Day as the memorial service of the late King Suro, founder of the old regional Kingdom Kaya, and mixed with other regional festivals, it now becomes one of the major events revisiting Kaya Culture.  

This year's festival continues from April 7 to 10 (Sunday-Tuesday) around the City. Although some of the programs have gone already, many events are still going on and coming.  Today (April 9) You may see the contests for the Korean Traditional Music of Farmers and Playing Kayakum (one of the Korean traditional string instruments originated from this region, sure its name is KAYAkum). Tomorrow (April 10)  a traditional Korean Theatrical Performance (madangguk, ¸¶´ç±Ø) and a contest for Singing of the Korean Traditional Poem (Sijo, ½ÃÁ¶) will be held. You can see schedules and details of the festival at http://garakfestival.com/main.htm.

If you check out a street along Kimhae National Museum, you may meet many of the on-going events including lots of eating and drinking places and cultural exhibitions such as regional pottery products, Korean traditional paperworks and Kayakum experiencing among others. There you can see what a Korean festival is used to be and how the ordinary Koreans entertain themselves.

A new student joined
On March 28, 2001, Sara Jaros from Minneapolis, the last one of the group, joined our program. You can see her profile and pictures on the "Participant" page and here.

A Note from Any
MBC will air a 30min documentary film on Wednesday 28 th of March 2001 at 7:25 pm. Please remember "THIS WEDNESDAY".

Professor Doo-su Choi of International Business Administration and Trade, also Vice President of Student Affairs, contributed some money to IIIHR.  He expressed deep concern about our program and participating students.  He is also Head of the Inje University Tennis Club for Faculty and Staff where Director Kim is an active member.

These are some of representative flowers in Korea telling us a new spring is coming. Maewha is the first harbinger of spring among them.  You can see those flowers anywhere on the campus or in town.  

The Second staff meeting of iiihr is scheduled to be held on the 29th of March as follows:

       Time:  20:30, March 29 (Thursday)
       Place: Editor's room of Inje Newspaper
                 (3rd floor of Student Union Building) 

Director Kim urges faculty members not to miss the meeting and wants to have confirmation from each member.  

On March 20, 2001, there were articles on Pusan Ilbo (Pusan Daily News) regarding IIIHR and its programs and Any, Bonnie and Leah. You can see the articles just click the line below. Although they are in Korean language, there are some pictures.
http://www.pusanilbo.com/news2000/myeon/2001/0320/myeon011.html

On March 17, another participating student, Joellen Riggs, from New York joined our program. You can see the profile and pictures of Joellen on the "Participant" page.

On March 8, the participating students met the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and other important figures of Inje University who played very important roles for the establishment and functioning of the IIIHR.

On March 1, the participants had a brief tour of the City of Kimhae.  They had been Eunhasa of SinAsan, Kimhae National Museum, and down town.  They also tried Galbitang, a traditional Korean food.

On March 2, the participants had an orientation meeting with faculties and steps in a ET room.  There were a brief introduction and a lunch party.  They also received textbooks and some handouts.

On March 2, the participants met a sponsor from Seoul.  Being 82 years old, the lady traveled 300 miles alone to see the participants and also brought some gifts donated by other sponsor.  The students were so happy to see the small gift items.  

On March 2, the participants also met home stay host families at the meeting room of the English Town.

The card, called 00777 card, on the right is for international telephone call at the pay phone.  I believe the card is one of the cheapest way to make an international call, and it may cost you \280/min (approximately a quarter/min) to call United States.  You can get the card at the post office in the building A in front of the ET building.