Download - Korea IT Times

December 2010 | Vol. 78 

 

Cover Story 

Precise and Accurate Surgery with Robodoc 26p 

Korea’s Top 10 Technologies in 2010 

Power of Software in the Era 

of Smart Technology 

North Korea’s Application Software 

Development Centre - Pyongyang 

How has Korea Achieved 

High-level Informatization So Rapidly? 

Tablet Wars/Year of the Tablet 

Galaxy Tab vs. Apple iPad 

U.S. $10.00 / KOR.₩12,000 

12 

ISSN 1739-2950 

13th floor, iStation B/D, 561-31 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (133-890) 

Government registration No. Seoul-Ra-10914 Tel: (82-2)3459-0671 Fax: (82-2)3459-0656 

www.koreaittimes.com 

Song Eun-kyoo, General Director 

of Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital

제36회 국가품질경영대회 

The 36th National Quality Management Convention 

품질강국 세계중심 대한민국! 

세계경제를 주도하는 역동적인 힘 속에는 지속적인 품질경영으로 기업의 가치를 향상시키고, 

국가경쟁력 강화에 공헌해 온 「2010년 국가품질상 수상기업」들이 있습니다. 

품질경영상 (제조/중소) 

우리산업(주) 

품질경영상 (제조/중소) 

(주)코모스 

6시그마혁신상 

동부제철(주) 

설비관리상 

한국남동발전(주) 

품질경영상 (교육) 

서강대학교 

6시그마혁신상 

LS전선(주) 

생산혁신상 

아주산업(주) 

※ 본 광고는 ‘2010 국가품질상’을 수상한 기업들이 

지속적인 품질경영 활동의 의지를 표현하고자 

공동으로 마련한 광고입니다. 

고객만족상 

(주)호텔롯데 롯데월드 

녹색경영상 

한국바스프(주) 여수공장 

국가품질상이란? 

품질경영 혁신 활동에 탁월한 경영성과를 창출하여 국가 산업경쟁력 향상에 

크게 기여한 공로자와 우수기업 및 단체에게 수여하는 정부 포상제도입니다. 

대한민국을 대표하는 포상제도로 1975년 제정되어 올해 36회째를 맞이하며 

매년 11월 품질의 달에 국가품질경영대회에서 시상합니다. 

● 주최 : 지식경제부 

● 후원 : 교육과학기술부 행정안전부 환경부 국토해양부 중소기업청 특허청 

● 주관 : 한국표준협회

ISSN 1739-2950 

December 2010 | Vol. 78 

Chairman | Han Kon-ju 

Publisher 

Kim Tae-sub, Dr. Cho Sung-kap 

President 

Chung Youn-soo (Monica) 

Lim Se-jong 

Special Advisor 

Dr. Shin Kook-hwan, Dr. Yang Seung-taik 

Dr. Kim Hak-su, Dr. Youn Hwa-Jin 

Dr. Park Ho-gun, Dr. Kim Wan-soon 

Advisor 

Cha Joo-hak, Lee Sung-man, 

Lim Kyung-hee 

Editor In Chief 

Monica Chung 

Supplement Director 

Kim Joo-hyung 

Copy Editor 

Jennifer Thayer 

Managing Editor Chun Go-eun (clair) 

Staff Writer Lee Kyong-hwan 

Assistant Editor Nick Antolini 

Staff Reporters 

Yeon Choul-woong, Kim Yearim, Natasha Willhite 

Lee Kyung-min, Daniel Ko, Song Kyu-yeol, 

Lee Si-young, Yoon Yo-tam, Steve Kwak, 

Kim Sun-hong, Park Se-jin, James Lee 

Realtime News Team 

Oh Hae-young, Lee Chung-moo 

Jeon Kyung-sook, Koo Won-hum, Sam Roe 

Columnists 

Choi Sung, Ko Ki-wan 

Kim Kyung-nam, Moon Kim, Park Se-jin 

Lee Edward, Lee Jun-young 

Freelance Reporter 

Matthew Weigand, Tim Alper 

Photographer 

Shin Sung-won 

Marketing Manager 

Kim Jae-hwan 

Knowledge Information Team 

Chung Young-tae, Cho Hee-sang 

Business Manager 

Kim Chang-ho 

Circulation Manager 

Park Mi-jung 

Administration Manager Kim Si-hwan 

Sales Manager 

Yoon Jong-jin 

Publication Team Manager Ko Yeon-sang 

Financial Auditor 

Choi Eun-kyung 

Financial Secretory 

Cho Hye-kyung 

Correspondents 

N.America 

Illinois | Steve Kwak, Yoon Yo-tam 

Boston | Kim Sun-hong 

New York | Park Sejin, Kim In-sik 

Wasington D.C. | Lee Jun-young, David J.Ahlgren 

San Fransicso | Seth Hutchinson 

Europe 

Germany | Agnieszka Wykowska 

France | Mario Mongilardi 

United Kingdom | lgor Verner 

Southeast Asia | Lee Jin-bok 

Far East | Kim Moon-soo 

China | Cathy Ding 

Oceania | You In-kyung 

SW Asia | Akram Koultakji 

M.East | Chris Christodoulou 

Magazine Design | Kim Seung-o 

 

 

Precise and Accurate Surgery with Robodoc 26p 

Korea’s Top 10 Technologies in 2010 



North Korea’s Application Software 

Development Centre - Pyongyang 

How Has Korea Achieved 

High-level Informatization So Rapidly? 

Tablet Wars/Year of the Tablet 

Galaxy Tab vs. Apple iPad 

13th floor, iStation B/D, 561-31 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (133-890) 

Government registration No. Seoul-Ra-10914 Tel: (82-2)3459-0671 Fax: (82-2)3459-0656 

www.koreaittimes.com 

C o n t e n t s 

Analysis 

12 Consequences of an Intense National 

Sport 

14 Apple iPad vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 

Debate 

16 Is the Advanced Cell Phone Actually 

Better? 

17 Readers : Kindle or iPad? 

Editorial 

18 "A Serious Escalation" 

Telecommunications 2010 

20 Evaluation of IT 2010 

 

 

Technology 

22 Korea's Top 10 Technologies in 2010 

Cover Story 

25 Taking the Robot Industry to New 

Heights 

27 Precise and Accurate Surgery With 

Robodoc 

Currently, Chonnam University Hwasun 

Hospital uses navigational methods and 

Robodoc when performing nearthrosis 

surgery and MIS. Just like those used in a 

car, surgical navigation helps to find the 

best possible path or direction for a more 

precise and accurate operation. 

Among the only three commercial surgical 

robots approved by the FDA, Robodoc is 

owned by a Korean company, Curexo 

(http://www.curexo.com), and is the only 

nearthrosis surgery robot in the world. 

As the General Director of Chonnam 

National University Hwasun Hospital and 

the 2012 president of CAOS International, 

Dr. Song Eun-kyoo has been planning to 

promote the advantage and effects of computer 

based surgery in order to further improve 

orthopedics. Dr. Song expressed this 

by stating “I believe such efforts will contribute 

to Korean orthopedics. During my 

one-year tenure in 2012, I will do my best to 

improve this field in Korea." 

Opinion 

29 Power of Software in the Era 


30 North Korea’s IT Application 

Software Development Center - 

Pyongyang 

Business 

32 Samsung's "Turningpoint" 

Software | World Best Software 

34 5 Consortiums Selected 

for World Best Software Project 

Interview 

36 How has Korea Achieved High-level 

Informatization So Rapidly? 

Overseas Sales/Distribution Agents (Reference: www.koreaittimes.com) | Korea IT Times Guide. Published by Korea IT Times Tel: (82-2)3459-0664/0621/0678/0671 | Fax: (82-2)3459-0656 

13th floor, iStation Building, 561-31 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (133-050) | http://www.koreaittimes.com | E-mail: info@koreaittimes.com | Under the pertinent 

registration No. RA-09536 on Oct.2, 2003 | Advertising Tel: (82-2)3459-0671 / 0678 Fax: (82-2)3459-0656 Subscription & Circulation Tel: (82-2)3459-0678/0671 | Subscription Rate by Air Mail 

| Newsstand in South Korea: US$ 10.00(12,000 won)per copy | Within South Korea: US$110.00 (132,000won) per year (12 issues) | Asia: US$ 150.00 per year (12 issues) | N.America, Europe 

and Middle East: US$ 200.0 per year (12 issues) | Africa, Central and South America and South Pacific: US$ 225.00 per year (12 issues)

RFID/USN 

39 RFID/USN Korea 2010 Presents 

the Mobile RFID 

48 RFID/USN Takes Smart Life 

to New Heights 

84 Korea Aims to Take 20% of the 

Global RFID/USN Market Share by 

2018 

Academia 

40 Daegu Cyber University Supports 

IT Education for Developing 

Countries as Part of the G20 Agenda 

u-health 

42 A New Paradime of Medical System 

Speech 

44 Inevitable Transformation 

into a Smart Society 

46 Changing the Development Paradigm 

of Information Communication 

Forum 

50 Lecture at IPAK Breakfast Meeting: 

The Future of Mobile, Web or App? 

Event | Seoul Motor Show 2011 

52 Seoul Motor Show 2011 Sneak 

Preview 

Top of the Line in SME 

54 32-inch Full HD LCD SME Products 

on a Roll 

56 Drivers on the Road with Full Time 

Witness 

58 CCTV or Guard Dog, That is the 

Question 

SME 

60 SMBA Opens Its Arms to the World 

62 New Idea Goods 

Events | Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea 

76 The Living Ocean and Coast, Expo 

2012 Yeosu Korea 

Events Sketch 

78 AECF 2010 Discusses Asia's Role 

in the Global Crisis Recovery Period 

86 RFID/USN Korea 2010 Shows 

Market Expansion 

88 G20 Seoul Summit 2010 

90 2010 The Night of Robot Industry 

Trade 

80 Korea to Become G7 by 2015 

81 Muslim Market Emerges 

as a New Global Target 

Quality Management 

82 KSA Holds the 36th National Quality 

Management Contest 

Column 

91 Seoul Public Transportation: One of 

the Best in the World 

96 Green Light for Sustainability Starts 

from Education 

Leisure 

92 Tourists and Skiers Coming to The 

Korea’s Most Friendly High 1 Ski 

Resort 

How to... 

94 Taming the E-mail Beast 

www.koreaittimes.com 11

Analysis 

Consequences of an Intense 

National Sport 

We have heard stories or even had firsthand 

encounters with addiction to various 

entities, and no one can downplay the devastating 

effects computer game addiction 

has on users. Being fixated on the Internet 

and online games has already become a 

social problem in South Korea, the most 

wired country in the world. It is often referred 

to as "electronic narcotics" which in 

some cases could be far more severe than 

addictions to tobacco, alcohol or even 

drugs. While addiction is typically associated 

with substances, such as drugs or alcohol, 

doctors recognize addictive behaviors 

in gaming as well. In a WebMD feature 

on the definition of addiction, psychiatrist 

Michael Brody, MD. set forth the 

following criteria: 

Internet Cafe, an online heaven 

12 KOREA IT TIMES | December 2010 

1. The person needs more and more of a 

substance or behavior to keep him/ 

her going. 

2. If the person does not get more of the 

substance or behavior, he/she becomes 

irritable and miserable. 

Compulsive gaming meets these criteria, 

they become angry, violent, or depressed 

and South Korea has seen its share 

of incident after incident of tragic events 

that occur where technology, specifically 

video games and computer games are the 

stimulus. One incident took place in 

Busan when a 15-year-old middle school 

student strangled his mother to death in a 

fit of anger during an argument over him 

playing games and then took his own life; 

he was addicted to a violent combat, first 

person shooter (FPS) game when this took 

place. Another incident was when a 32- 

year-old man died at an Internet cafe after 

playing computer games for five days 

straight with little food and few breaks. 

Another shocking incident was when a 

middle school girl was caught selling sex 

to make money for online games. These 

tragedies are only a few, but illustrate how 

destructive their game addictions were. 

These cases were not the first of its kind 

in the nation. A man in his 20's killed his 

mother who scolded him for doing nothing 

but play Internet games. A month later 

a couple let their three-month-old daughter 

starve to death by feeding the baby only 

once or twice a day, while being too preoccupied 

with raising a virtual child (character) 

in a role-playing game. Sadly, the unemployed 

parents seemed to have put 

their cyber child ahead of their reality. 

Needless to say, technology has contributed 

to the nation making its way out 

from under the wings of other hegemonic 

powers from all corners of the world, to 

becoming the fourth strongest economy in 

Asia, but it can't be without consequence. 

IT has taken South Korea to great levels 

and admiration for its standard of living 

and economic resilience should be realized, 

but is too much too fast a good thing? 

An insurmountable amount of emphasis 

is put on IT nationwide, and why not, 

it has done wonders for the nation over the 

years, making the nation recognizable for 

all its IT glory. However, the addiction 

should no longer be considered as just a 

personal problem, in a country as wired as

Analysis 

Korea, anyone is susceptible to cyber addiction. Cyber game addiction 

not only destroys the players, but also brings about terrible 

consequences for their families and society as the above cases illustrate. 

Keith Bakker, director of Smith & Jones Addiction 

Consultants said in an interview with CBSNEWS.com that, 

"With addiction, the person is trying to change the way they feel 

by taking something outside of themselves. The [cocaine] addict 

learns, 'I don't like the way I feel, I take a line of cocaine.' For 

gamers, it's the fantasy world that makes them feel better." 

Too much gaming may seem relatively harmless compared 

with the dangers of a drug overdose, but Bakker says video game 

addiction can ruin lives. Children who play four to five hours per 

day have no time for socializing, doing homework, or playing 

sports, he says, "That takes away from normal social development. 

You can get a 21-year-old with the emotional intelligence 

of a 12-year-old. He's never learned to talk to girls. He's never 

learned to play a sport." From what I understand there are remedies 

for any kind of addiction for patrons willing to accept them, 

but it seems that prevention is the best policy for tackling the 

byproduct of advanced information and telecommunication (IT) 

technologies. However, it is easier said than done. Right after the 

starvation of the baby girl, the government came up with anti-addiction 

measures, including software programs to limit users' access 

time to online networks. It has also decided to offer educational 

programs and counseling services to 10 million people, including 

school children, over the next three years. 

Yet, such measures are not sufficient enough to help prevent individuals 

from becoming victims of cyberspace and virtual reality 

games. South Korea's status as the world's most wired nation 

gives them the technical wherewithal to fuel their addiction. 

According to the National Information Society Agency, the number 

of addicts to online games is estimated at 1.9 million, or 8.5% 

of the total Internet users. Minors show a much higher addiction 

rate of 12.8%. The country boasts the fastest and most developed 

broadband network on the planet, and more than 90% of homes 

have high-speed internet connections. A lot of online activities are 

popular in South Korea due to the fact that the country possesses 

the world's fastest Internet connections. Combine that with 

roughly 23,000 PC Bangs (online sanctuaries where, for a small 

hourly fee, the real world gives way to a virtual one that some enter 

only to find they are unable to leave) and you have a driving 

force behind a gaming industry worth an estimated USD $2.5 billion 

and involves nearly 30 million people. That's perfect for playing 

online games which a lot of South Korean kids do. There's a 

growing fear of South Korean children becoming addicted to the 

Net. As a result of these misfortunes due to video game addiction, 

the Korean government implemented a ban on the amount of 

time one can play certain games continuously and as for children 

under the age of 18, PC Bang operators are not allowed to permit 

them to play games between the hours of midnight and 9am. 

Some critics say that imposing a curfew on video games, they are 

attacking a symptom, not the root of the problem. They point out 

that Koreans work by far the most among the 30 countries in the 

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an 

international body which consists of the world's richest countries. 

In addition to that, parents often pressure their children to study 

at intensive hagwons late into the night, which is another factor, 

experts say, which creates stress and has contributed to the country's 

gaming addiction problem. 

Some teenagers have been exploiting loopholes to play games 

which are restricted to adults and manipulate their way around 

curfews by signing up using their parent registration number. To 

better enforce its midnight gaming ban, the government may start 

fining parents who's ID numbers are being used by their children. 

Still with many gamers clamoring over the release of new games, 

government officials may soon get inundated as they try to put 

some restraints on the this intense national sport. 

Gaming Detox 

Computers have become integral to everyday life, as well as 

many jobs, so compulsive gamers can't just look the other way 

when they see a PC. Treatment for this type of addiction is similar 

to the way one would detox from other addictions, like food addiction, 

food is everywhere, you must learn to live 'with' it. 

Because video game addicts can't avoid computers, they have to 

learn to use them responsibly. Bakker says that means no gaming. 

As for limiting game time to an hour a day, he compares that to 

"an alcoholic saying he's only going to drink beer." Bakker says 

the toughest part of treating video game addicts is that "it's a little 

bit more difficult to show somebody they're in trouble. Nobody's 

ever been put in jail for being under the influence of [a game]." 

The key, he says, is to show gamers they are powerless over 

their addiction, and then teach them "real-life excitement as opposed 

to online excitement." 

Jennifer Thayer/ info@koreaittimes.com 

“By reading the 

Korea IT Times, you are 

already becoming a more 

successful business person.” 


Analysis 

Apple iPad vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 


Many experience the same dilemma when trying to update their latest technology 

needs. Since the Samsung Galaxy Tab was introduced this month, the 

options for slick, thin, and highly portable computing devices has grown passed 

just the Apple iPad. However, there are distinct differences between these two 

that could greatly impact user experience. It is not as simple as a change in 

memory capacity or any of the basic specifications. 

First, the most obvious difference is the size of the iPad and the Galaxy Tab. 

The Galaxy Tab is slightly smaller than the iPad; the Tab has a mere 7 inch display 

screen and the iPad has a whopping 10 inch display. If looking for a system 

that is on-the-go and small enough to fit into a pocket, the Samsung's Galaxy 

Tab is an obvious pick. Although, a larger display would be preferred by those 

who watch movies, so the iPad would be the best pick in this respect. 

For the picture and video-creating lovers, there is no question that the Galaxy 

Tab is the right choice. Equipped with two cameras, facing forward and backward, 

the user is able to engage in video chatting and also take pictures using either 

of the cameras. Unfortunately, the iPad is not equipped with a camera, so 

for those who need to have a camera, the Galaxy Tab is a must. 

Ever have the urge to multi-task? The Galaxy Tab gives the user the ability to 

run multiple programs simultaneously with its Android operating system that 

gives access to large amount of apps. However, it is rumored that this significantly 

slows down the speed. Right now, the iPad is not capable of this, but 

Apple has promised to make an upgrade in software to accommodate its users' 

demands. Although the Galaxy Tab has this ability, most technology lovers enjoy 

the software on the iPad more. 

The competition between Samsung and Apple is high; the availability of features 

and the reduction in price will be a result as new versions come out. Give 

these companies advice by submitting suggestions to us. Which product has the 

most potential and which are you more likely to buy? 

Comparing 

Samsung Galaxy Tab and 

Apple iPad Specifications 

Processors 

Both devices run on similar processors due to being based on the same family 

of chipsets. There is no winner or loser when it comes to the processor. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab boasts the 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 Hummingbird along 

with the PowerVR SGX 540 graphics processing unit, the same processor used 

in the smartphone Galaxy S. Similarly, Apple is using the same processor found

Analysis 

in its iPhone 4: 1 GHz A4 processor, a single Cortex A8 core coupled 

with a PowerVR SGX 535 GPU. 

Memory 

Both Apple and Samsung have introduced different models to 

help suit everyone's memory needs. Apple carries three models 

while Samsung only offers two. Apple bases its models on memory 

sizes of 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB. Samsung carries the two 

lower levels of memory as Apple; however, it currently does not 

offer the 64 GB. An important note: the Galaxy Tab features an 

internal flash memory slot that can expand the storage by 16 GB 

or even 32 GB. Basically, the Galaxy Tab has just as much potential 

as the iPad and is more than likely to keep at a lower price 

since the built-in memory proves to be more expensive than 

microSD card. 

Internet 

What one tablet lacks when it comes to internet experience, the 

other boasts. Yet, it seems that both have not fully recognized 

what makes the experience the 'best' for users. Samsung's Galaxy 

Tab uses Adobe Flash 10.1 which Apple's iPad lacks. It is obvious 

that most sites run on Flash which helps give the Samsung an accurate 

display of websites. However, the Adobe Flash slows 

down the loading speed enough to significantly change the user's 

experience from good to bad. Apple's focus for the iPad appears 

to be the speed. It does well in this aspect by clearly displaying a 

smooth performance and responding quickly to the user's touch. 

However, not having the Adobe Flash definitely places it at a disadvantage 

when it comes to accessing most websites. 

Battery 

The battery life that gets a thumbs up is definitely the iPad, 

which keeps a running time for up to 10 hours. Although the differences 

in batteries are not clear, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is only 

capable of running for up to 7 hours. The iPad carries non-removable 

lithium-polymer battery as the Galaxy Tab contains a 

4000 mAh battery. 

Natasha Willhite/ info@koreaittimes.com 


Debate 

Is the Advanced Cell Phone 

Actually Better? 

Convenient and Instant 

For many people, there is no rush to 

grab their phone when it rings. Typically, 

the sound is just an alert for an incoming 

text message. If busy with other things, it 

is easy to simply ignore the text message 

until there is a spare moment to read and 

respond. No longer do we need to look at 

our caller ID and dread what is waiting for 

us on the other side. With text messages, 

all of the information is usually listed in 

the first text. Corresponding back and 

forth is easier with fewer interruptions or 

distractions we may experience while on 

the phone with someone. The time and 

place for texting or mobile browsing is not 

limited like with phone conversations. 

How often do we see a person in a quiet 

place pull out his or her phone to speak on 

it? It is common courtesy to cause as little 

inconvenience to others as possible, so the 

best option seems to be through voiceless 

means: text messaging or emailing via mobile 

web. It is also easier to use text messaging 

in loud environments. It is natural 

for people to ignore a phone call when in a 

loud place because it is obvious that the 

person will not hear what is said. Instead, 

texting this person explaining the situation 

and asking what he or she was going to 

say is more reasonable. There are no more 

headaches of trying to find a location in 

which you can hear each other. The conversation 

is less strained because no one is 

screaming at one another to be heard. 

Demanding and Distracting 

It is not a secret that after someone 

sends a text, he or she is expecting the person 

to reply shortly. It is even to the point 

that if it exceeds about 10-15 minutes, the 

person will consider it rude or being ignored. 

Basically, there is a list of unwritten 

etiquette related to this type of correspondence 

that could drive a person insane! 

There are people who actually get offended 

by this inaction even without knowing 

the reason the person has not yet replied. 

Thus, text messaging or emailing through 

mobile browsers is demanding! Say 'good 

bye' to free-time. Say 'hello' to the tension 

between people that could be enough to 

kill any bit of happiness. 

Ever sit in a meeting or a classroom and 

hear annoying ringtones or vibrations? If 

that's not enough, many people will proceed 

by taking out their phones and start 

text messaging even during important moments. 

Although this person is not speaking 

out loud, it is just as distracting, especially 

for the people closest to him or her. 

Think about it, this may be the reason that 

many companies and schools are banning 

mobile phone use. Consequently many 

people may follow cell phone etiquette, 

but have issues following common courtesy. 

For the average person, cell phones 

can be distracting. Cell phone use can be 

addicting when you know that anything 

and everything is at the tip of your fingers. 

It is a way that we can get ourselves out of 

'boring' moments which consequently 

tend to be the most important. These are 

the moments when we find ourselves 

thinking, "I wish I listened to.." or "I wish 

I remember what he said." Everyone has 

these moments. 

Natasha Willhite/ natasha@koreaittimes.com 

16 KOREA IT TIMES | December 2010

Debate 

Readers : 

Kindle or iPad? 

Currently Apple is selling its iPad at the 

starting price of $499. As a small computing 

device, it has many features; however, 

it is cutting into the e-reading market 

through its iBooks feature. A popular e- 

reader, Amazon's Kindle, is known for its 

thin book-like appearance and simple features. 

It has a current affordable price starting 

at $139. This device takes the experience 

of reading and cuts down on the bulk 

of the book. Recent research by Change- 

Wave suggests, "A sizable 93 percent of 

Kindle owners are more likely to read 

books on their device, compared with 76 

percent of iPad owners." A competition 

that was not foreseen, these two devices 

marketed at separate target groups which 

over time have emerged. Another finding 

by this research shows that iPad owners 

are almost five times as likely to read other 

forms of writing as kindle users. This is another 

discovery that comes as no surprise 

to many. Kindle was first designed with 

books in mind while iPad is for more of 

the active people on-the-go. The real question 

remains, "Which is the better e-reader?" 

The answer, "It depends!" Each device's 

strengths vary by individual. After 

careful analysis, the list below reveals typical 

perceptions of strengths on both sides. 

iPad 

● Touch screen- life-like book experience 

with page flipping by the flick 

of a finger 

● Beautiful images and resolutionstriking 

color and definition 

● Words, pictures, audio, and video in 

one- a complete reading experience 

Kindle 

● No glare experience- just like a real 

book, it contains no LCD 

● Fabulous battery life- charge lasts 

for up to a month 

● Simplicity- no setup or software involved 

● Massive storage- like a small sized 

library consisting of 3,500 books 

● Free 3G network access, instant 

book delivery, and worry-free 

purchases with backup 

When it comes to reading, my preference is the Kindle. It contains all the features of 

e-readers such as dictionary, voice-over, page-orientation variety, and compatibility 

with PDF files just like the iPad. However, the book reading experience seems more 

life-like with its simple design and features. Like previously mentioned, it takes the bulk 

out of the book! 

Natasha Willhite/ info@koreaittimes.com 


Editorial 

"A Serious Escalation" 


N. Korea's attack on Yeongpyeong Island 

Seoul, November 24, 2010--In wake of 

North Korea's artillery bombardment of 

the South Korean island Yeonpyeong on 

Tuesday November 23, the nation is on 

edge. Analysts are referring to this situation 

as 'a pattern of aggressive actions' by 

the communist government when it feels 

under stress or threatened. 

The South Korean military went to "crisis 

status" and threatened military strikes 

to the North after they fired dozens of 

shells at the South Korean island, killing 

two South Korean soldiers and setting off 

an exchange of fire in one of the fiercest 

clashes between the two sides in decades. 

The South Korean Defense Ministry said 

that in addition to the two soldiers who 

were killed, 15 other soldiers and 3 civilians 

were wounded. 

The chief presidential spokesman, 

Hong Sang-pyo, commented that 

President Lee Myung-bak would assure "a 

strenuous retaliation" if there was any further 

provocation, as the government officials 

met with security-related ministers 

and senior aides in the underground situation 

room at the Blue House. 

The official North Korean news agency 

said in a brief statement on Tuesday night 

that the South "recklessly fired into our sea 

area." The attack on Yeonpyeong came as 

70,000 South Korean troops were beginning 

an annual nationwide military drill 

called 'Safeguarding the Nation'. The exercise 

has been harshly criticized by 

Pyongyang as "simulating an invasion of 

the North" and "a means to provoke a 

war." American officials said the South's 

military exercise had been announced well 

in advance, and should not have come as 

a surprise to the North. 

Yeonpyeong Island sits just two miles 

from the Northern Limit Line, the disputed 

sea border which the North does not 

recognize, and only eight miles from the 

coast of North Korea. A garrison of roughly 

1,000 South Korean marines and nearly 

1,600 civilians occupies the island; fishermen 

make up most of the civilians there. 

This incident instigated a fleeing response 

of over 200 residents by ferry or fishing 

boat from Yeonpyeong Island to the mainland 

town of Incheon, South Korean news 

media reported. 

Artillery conflicts between the two 

countries have not been unusual in recent 

years, but Pyongyang's attack on a civilian-populated 

target was different from 

previous moves. They usually take the 

form of military clashes in disputed waters 

around Yeonpyeong Island. North and 

South Korean warships have fought in 

these waters three times since 1999. The 

most recent clash came last November, 

when an exchange of fire damaged patrol 

vessels of both nations. 

Their already tense relations have worsened 

causing what John Swenson-Wright, 

an expert with the Royal Institute for 

International Affairs calls "a serious escalation." 

Although the North and South 

have clashed at sea before, most notably 

was the sinking of a South Korean warship, 

the Cheonan, which resulted in the 

death of 46 sailors in March 2010. If the 

sinking was the work of the North, it 

would be the most lethal military attack 

since the end of the Korean War in 1953. 

Choi Jin-wook, a North Korea expert at 

the Korea Institute for National 

Unification, a research institute in Seoul, 

linked the North's deliberate provocation 

against the South to food aid saying "It's a 

sign of North Korea's increasing frustration." 

He added "Washington has turned a 

deaf ear to Pyongyang and North Korea is 

saying, 'Look here. We're still alive. We 

can cause trouble. You can't ignore us.' " 

The North's immediate desperation has

Editorial 

Results of the November 23rd shelling 

caused them to escalate, attempting to 

take the South as hostage again. 

As a result of this aggravation, what will 

this latest "crisis status" do to the economy? 

Recently we have been seeing U.S. 

dollar rates decline, reaching closer and 

closer to being one-to-one (or as close as 

we can get) with the Korean won. 

Tuesday's attack came too late to affect the 

South Korean KOSPI stock market, but 

next day outcomes showed that the won 

took a beating, experiencing its biggest 

one-day drop in several months and 

touching a three-month low of KRW 

1,170/US$ at one point, from KRW 

1,126/US$ at the open. As for stocks, they 

declined after North Korea fired artillery 

at the South and Government bonds recovered 

from its initial losses. This is a 

blow to South Korea's otherwise booming 

economy, one that might have credit rating 

consequences. Shares on Wall Street 

have declined since November 23rd resulting 

in heightened uncertainty over the 

conflict in Korea in addition to the debt 

crisis in Europe which has sent investors 

fleeing for safer assets. Traders have been 

confronted with tensions on two continents. 

The "economic war room" South 

Korea's finance ministry set up is a 24- 

hour emergency financial monitoring system. 

Officials say they are scrutinizing 

Korean indexes and if there are any moves 

by credit rating companies and investors 

they will supply "ample" liquidity if needed 

to keep financial markets stable, and is 

prepared to act to counter "herd" behavior. 

Hopefully South Korea is conscious of the 

impact of conflict on its financial markets 

and its position as Asia's fourth-biggest 

economy. 

Lee Young Seong, a Seoul-based portfolio 

manager with Korea Investment Trust 

Management Co. said, "The shock is starting 

to fade so the impact may be limited." 

One can hope he is correct in stating this, 

he then added "foreign and institutional 

investors are seeing the plunge in stocks as 

an opportunity to buy." 

This sharp influx in currency (post the 

North Korean attack on the South) keeps 

the world market at bay once again, particularly 

for Korea as the Korean economy 

typically teeters on the status of the 

American economy. Fortunately, recent 

circumstances have prompted the central 

bank to announce that it would act to stabilize 

the markets if necessary. As a whole, 

when you combine tensions in Korea, 

debt worries in Europe, hedge fund investigations, 

and a weak housing report; 

there's a tremendous amount of bad news 

to absorb. That's not going to encourage a 

risky appetite for the populace. 






Telecommunications 2010 

Evaluation of IT 2010 

It was roughly the end of last year when Apple's iPhone was 

brought to the domestic market and fanned a smartphone craze, 

bringing about a new 'mobile revolution' to an industry hungry 

for something fresh. As the result, telecommunication firms started 

changing their growth engines from wireless/wired communications 

services to convergence and mobile businesses and developing 

bases for them. This mobile revolution is expected to 

earnestly bring about a new age of convergence. 

'All in' to escape stagnation 

The telecommunications industry, who is 'all in' to look for a 

new growth power following the wireless/wired communication 

market stagnation has concentrated on developing a new business 

model for this year. KT has aggressively searched for convergence 

services with other industries using telecommunication services 

as a basis. As a result they were able to secure 1,700 cases of 

proceedings in all areas of the 'smart 6' industry customer growth 

strategy. They are expected to easily achieve their sales goal of 3.6 

billion won in each area of industry, middle sized companies, 

public, building, space and green services. SK Telecom has 

earnestly started their new growth propellant 'Industry 

Productivity Enlargement' project. Currently over 30 IPE projects 

are in functional orbit, and there results are expected to be visible 

by the end of the year. SK Telecom is backing IPE projects in the 

education service platform, mobile office, middle mobile work solutions, 

healthcare service platforms, smartbranch, total marketing 

and M2M. LG U+ has set their goal to build the 

basis to start their 'ascension from telecommunication 

strategy'. They have proclaimed dominance 

over the wireless internet market through the 

world's largest ACN (AP Centric Network) infrastructure 

construction. They have begun plans to 

develop 100Mbps Wi-Fi infrastructure as well as 

4G Long Term Evolution prematurely. Due to the 

rapid growth of the smartphone market, telecommunication 

companies are firing up their mobile related 

businesses such as mobile office and smart 

work. KT, SK Telecom and LG U+ has changed 

their new growth engine to 'company management' 

and started an aggressive development of mobile 

business models such as mobile offices, smart walk 

and mobile advertisements and is achieving some 

degree of success. 

The smartphone age starts 

The smartphone craze was initiated by the iPhone and has infected 

over 6,000,000 smartphone subscribers. By the end of the 

year over 7,000,000 people are expected to switch over to smartphones 

while next year the number should increase to 

20,000,000. While the numbers of domestic smartphone users 

were smaller last year at 840,000, there was an eightfold growth 

to 6,260,000 last month. By company, the numbers were 

3,400,000 for SK Telecom, 2,400,000 KT and 460,000 for LG 

U+. Communication firms fought a fierce fight while releasing 

various smartphones in competition to affirm smartphone users 

who have a higher ARPU than conventional cell phones. 

In addition, as the smartphone craze was growing, communications 

firms expanded their wireless web to improve competitiveness. 

Currently KT has the most Wi-Fi zones with 42,000, 

10,000 and LG U+ has installed 5,000. In addition SK Telecom 

and KT has provided a free wireless information center without 

3G once the smartphone user presses the key at the door. 

The tablet PC market has been ardently distributed and also provided 

grounds for growth in the mobile industry. One industry official 

stated that "If this year was the year for developing new goals of 

convergence services and mobile business, next year will be the 

year of using them and escaping from growth stagnation." 

Chun Go-eun/ clairbear@koreaittimes.com 


Technology 

Korea's Top 10 Technologies in 2010 

James Cameron's 

movie Avatar 

brought a new era 

of 3D for our society 

In 2010, the whole world has been captivated by James Cameron's movie Avatar and various Apple divices such as the iPad and 

iPhone, which holds true for Korean industries as well. The 3D fever swept a variety of industries including movie, broadcasting, home 

appliances, construction and other convergence fields. The iPhone and iPad, too, have completely changed the industry and it is no 

longer simple to find conventional mobile phones. The Ministry of Knowledge Economy awarded Korea's top ten new technologies as 

selected by an expert panel, at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul, December 9th. 

Among the ten products and technologies that won awards were: Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S, winner of the technology grand 

prize; LG Electronics' Nano Full LED BLU technology; Korea Institute of Industrial Technology's eco-magnesium and eco-aluminum; 

Hyundai Motor's front-wheel 6-speed automatic transmission; 

Samsung Electronics' 30 nm-class 2GB DDR3 SDRAM; SK 

Chemical's environmentally-friendly heat-resistant high-transparency 

resin; Park Systems' XE-3DM; SKT's USIM/Micro-SD Card 

with built-in Zigbee; Samsung Engineering's Ecopro PFC reduction 

technology; and AMORE PACIFIC's oriental herbal products for 

hair loss prevention. 

Consumers show a keen interest in Samsung Galaxy S 

LG Electronics showcases its Nano Full LED TV at KES 2010 

Technology grand prize winner : Samsung 

Electronics 'Galaxy S' 

Samsung Electronics is charging at the global smartphone industry 

with the Galaxy S as their weapon of choice for smartphone and 

smartpad markets. Galaxy S adopted, for the first time in the world, 

the 4-inch Active-Matrix OLED with a built-in touch panel, providing 

optimum image quality even in the open air, as well as ultra-low 

energy CPU, which allows for multi-tasking, and 3D graphic card. 

In addition to the highly compatible OS and user-friendly Android 

platform, Galaxy S also boasts Bluetooth 3.0 and wireless LAN that 

has twice as high speed as typical LANs. Apart from the domestic 

market, consumers in the U.S., Europe, and Japan are also showing 

great response to the Galaxy S, which is expected to easily sell over 

10 million before long. 

Technology Gold Prize winner : LG Electronics 

'Nano Full LED BLU' 

Only 8.8mm in thickness, the Nano Full LED BLU won the gold 


Technology 

prize for its high contrast ratio and superb image quality. The Nano Full LED BLU obtains consistent lighting on its screen by converting 

the light from 1,440 light sources, in case of the 47-inch model, into over 10 million lights through a nano-silk screen. Also, the 

frame width was reduced to 12.5mm by placing LED over the entire surface. Such technologies are known to offer more realistic and 

lively images for the viewers. 

Hyundai Motor unveiled SantaFe with its 'front-wheel 6-speed automatic 

transmission' 

Technology Gold Prize winner : Hyundai Motor 

'front-wheel 6-speed automatic transmission' 

With growing concern for environmental issues including climate 

change, Hyundai Motor's small and light 6-speed auto gearbox, an 

essential part for the development of environmentally-friendly automobiles 

won the gold prize. The 6-speed automatic transmission has 

62 less components - hence, 12kg lighter and 41mm smaller - than 

the existing 5-speed transmission, with a special layout for this product 

developed by the company. Moreover, there is no need to 

change the automatic transmission fluid, and also no oil level gauge 

means less maintenance cost and higher fuel efficiency. 

Technology Gold Prize winner : KITECH 'eco-friendly new alloy' 

The Eco Mg and Eco Al developed by Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) succeeded in blocking greenhouse gases. 

Particularly, abandoning the use of SF6 in its manufacturing process and has allowed magnesium to be used as an eco-friendly material, 

since SF6 used to be regarded as one of the biggest problems of magnesium despite its outstanding mechanical property. Eco Mg 

and Eco Al can contribute to reducing the weight of automobiles, aircrafts, electronic devices, and even products used for leisure 

sports. 

Technology Silver Prize : The silver prize winners are as follows: 

Samsung Electronics '30 Nano Class 2Gb DDR3 DRAM': reduces energy consumption by 65 percent, in comparison 

to previous models, and provides optimum speed of 2.1Gbps. 

Samsung Engineering's Ecopro PFC reduction technology : contributes to tackling climate change by efficiently 

eliminating PFC, which has the highest global warming potential among six greenhouse gases announced by the UN and SF6. 

SK Chemical's environmentally-friendly High Performance PETG Resins : uses vegetable-based materials. 

Park Systems'XE-3DM (3-Dimensional AFM) : is an industrial automobile device used for accurately analyzing properties 

of high-tech devices of nanometer sizes such as CD (Critical Dimension), LER (Line Edge Roughness), and LWR (Line Width 

Roughness), etc. 

SKT's USIM/Micro-SD Card with built-in Zigbee : This is the world's first micro-SD/USIM Card with built-in Zigbee developed 

by the company. 

AMORE PACIFIC's research on oriental herbal material for hair loss prevention : The company adopted this 

state-of-art drug evaluation system to extract Thujaorientalis L, and proved its function for hair loss prevention, which was subsequently 

approved by KFDA. 

Yeon Choul-woong/ bruceyeon@koreaittimes.com 


Robotics | Cover Story 

Taking the Robot Industry 


It has been announced by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy 

(http://www.mke.go.kr/language/eng/index.jsp) that the 

government has initiated a promotional plan to intensively foster 

Korea's service robot industry by making cleaning robots and educational 

robots the focal point. A development plan has been designed 

to jack up Korea's global robot market share from the current 

10 percent to as much as 20 percent by 2018. 

As of now, Korea's robot industry is 2.5 years behind other developed 

nations in terms of technology. Therefore, the Ministry 

of Knowledge Economy has ambitiously announced the service 

robot industry promotional plan which consists of 10 tasks to support 

overseas market entry, upgrade robot technologies and discover 

sectors with a great growth potential. The Ministry of 

Knowledge Economy will pour KRW 30 billion in 2011 and 

handpick 10 key areas to speed up overseas market entry by 

Korean robot makers. The promotional plan also contains market-specific 

export strategies to boost robot exports, for instance, 

surveillance robots will be mainly developed and exported to the 

Middle East, robot maids for the elderly to the US and the EU, 

and cleaning robots to China and Southeast Asian nations. 

Meanwhile, to lead global standardization efforts, development 

of standards for the robot convergence sector will be carried 

through. In addition, to raising technological competitiveness, the 

Best 8 Project (under which promising robot products are picked 

to spur up the development of convergence technologies) will be 

implemented. Additionally, the six highest value-added strategic 

parts will be chosen to focus government support on locally producing 

them at an earlier date. Furthermore, the Korean robot industry's 

competitiveness will be ramped up by pushing for joint 

R&D projects with advanced research institutions in the US, 

Japan and Germany. To solidify the foundation of the robot sector's 

growth, systemic efforts to nurture robot experts will be 

made: so-called robot-meister high schools will be designated and 

more robot R&D centers will be built at universities. What's 

more, to spread knowledge on the use of robots, robot experience 

centers will be run on a continuing basis and best robot contests 

will be held. The reason why the Korean government is aggressively 

pressing ahead with the promotion of the service robot industry 

is because the global robot market, which has thus far revolved 

around robots designed for manufacturing, is gradually 

transitioning into a service robot-led one, realizing the urgency to 

thrash out a government-level robot promotional strategy. 

At the moment, the global robot market amounts to US $9.4 

billion, of which the service robot market takes up a third. 

Though the share of service robots is lower than that of robots 

used for manufacturing purposes, the service robot market is 

growing 38 percent annually. The service robot market is expected 

to reach US$ 85.5 billion in 2018, dwarfing the market for robots 

designed for manufacturing. 

Source : Ministry of knowledgy Economy 



Robodoc successfully performs live operation

Robotics | Cover Story 

Precise and Accurate Surgery 

With Robodoc 

Korea IT Times conducted interview with Dr. Song Eun-kyoo after the live surgery performance 

Q: How do you feel right now, after performing live surgery with the 

nearthrosis surgery robot, Robodoc? 

A: I am glad that the surgery was successful and I would like to thank everyone 

for their support. Also, I would like to add that the improved technology of 

Robodoc made it easier. 

Q: Tell us about how you predict the likely impact of commercial distribution 

of Robodoc on society as a whole. 

A: As you see, Robodoc is different from manual surgical operations. We reconstruct 

the patient's status using 3D imaging before the operation, which allows 

for a more accurate and precise surgery, as it consequently reduces error rates 

and illustrates a better prognosis. Additionally, the public's perception of the 

surgical method and means improved relative to two years ago. Although the 

pace of distribution is slow due to its massive size and expensive cost, I believe 

this technology will help to build a more ideal medical environment in terms of 

time and safety, as more hospitals start adopting Robodoc. 

Song Eun-kyoo, General Director of Chonnam National 

University Hwasun Hospital and 2012 president of CAOS 

International. 

Q: Could you share with us where you utilize computer surgery at 

Chonnam University Hospital? 

A: Currently, Chonnam University Hospital uses navigation and Robodoc for 

nearthrosis surgery and MIS. Just like those used in a car, surgical navigation 

also helps to find the right path for a more precise and accurate operation. In addition, 

all features of Robodc are automatic, for instance, as it cuts the bone on 

its own, making it applicable to different areas. 

Q: As the 2012 president of CAOS International, what plans do you have for the improvement of surgical operations? 

A: I am planning to promote the advantage and effects of computer surgery in order to improve orthopedics in general. Such efforts 

will also contribute to Korean orthopedics, I believe. During my one-year tenure in 2012, I will do my best to improve the image of 

Korean orthopedics. 

High accuracy and precision allows for no more than a one percent rate for re-operation 

You must have seen it on TV, the entire process of a robot performing surgical operations was broadcast live to many relevant officials 

and professionals who gathered at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital (http://www.cnuhh.com), in late November. 

'Live surgery' is a term which refers to operations for open viewing and this particular one required a lot of confidence from the surgeon 

in the operating room. Song Eun-kyoo (eksong@chonnam.ac.kr), General Director of Chonnam National University Hwasun 

Hospital, performed a 'live surgery' at the Hwasun Hospital on November 26th. 

Dr. Song was assisted by the nearthrosis operating robot, Robodoc, as he successfully performed an operation on a 77-year-old patient 

who was suffering from degenerative arthritis. The first and only nearthrosis operating robot, Robodoc displayed an impeccable 


Robotics | Coverstory 

performance with an improved user-friendly system which led to 

a massive applause offered by doctors present at the surgical 

demonstration from Korea and various other countries. "Good 

afternoon, everyone," said Dr. Song, entering the operating 

room, "This is a 77 year old female who has been complaining of 

right knee pain for one year," before he began the surgery, with 

his usual confidence, he explained to the audience that he will use 

a "preoperative planning system based on the laxity prediction 

technique" for the operation whose net results will be 5mm. 

While performing a minimally invasive surgery (MIS), which allows 

for a far smaller cut to the skin than typical surgery, Dr. 

Song could reduce the operation time by treating the patient by 

using the robot. By doing so, he demonstrated to the world how 

precise and accurate the operation can be with Robodoc. 

In the front line of such inspiring live surgery, Dr. Song is a 

renowned knee joint specialist who was selected for a medical 

documentary program that aired on EBS TV in August. He is also 

noted as the top robot-assisted nearthrosis surgeon in Korea. 

Moreover, he was appointed the 2012 President of the 

International Society for Computer Assisted Orthopedic Surgery 

(CAOS International), and has written more papers in the field 

than anyone else in Korea. Currently, there are only three surgery 

robots worldwide that are approved by the U.S. FDA and subsequently 

made for commercial purpose, and it was Dr. Song who 

consulted with the FDA for approval of Robodoc. 

Robodoc was another hero of this successful operation. 

Developed 18 years ago through collaborative efforts of IBM and 

the University of California, Davis, in the U.S. Its first successful 

nearthrosis surgery on a real person left a huge mark in the history 

of medicine. Currently, the number of nearthrosis surgeries performed 

by Robodoc is estimated to be 7,000 in Korea and 27,000 

worldwide. Robodoc's system consists of a workstation called 

Orthdoc, and Robodoc which has a robotic arm. Orthdoc reconstructs 

a CT image in 3D as it plans the operation, then proceeds 

with a simulated operation, based on which Robodoc later cuts 

the bone with great precision. A re-operation rate of less than one 

percent makes evident the precision and accuracy of the robot. 

Among the only three commercial surgical robots approved by 

the FDA, Robodoc is owned by a Korean company, Curexo 

(http://www.curexo.com/), and is the only nearthrosis surgery 

robot in the world. 

This was the second open nearthrosis surgery assisted by the 

robot; the first was also held at Chonnam University Hospital in 

2008 when Dr. Song introduced the robot surgery along with 

conventional manual operation. At the moment, Robodoc is taking 

part in the robot application division of Ministry of 

Knowledge Economy's Smart Project, the government's effort to 

produce Korean-made robots. 

The live surgery performed by Dr. Song and Robodoc this time 

bared huge significance, particularly when the government announced 

their determination to promote the development of the 

Korean robot industry for the global market. In particular, 

Robodoc, which has 24 patents under its belt, is expected to take 

lead in such a move, and Dr. Song Eun-Kyoo, 2012 President of 

CAOS International will also play a vital role in the development 

of Korean and global orthopedics as well as computer and robotassisted 

surgical operations. 

Kim Yearim/ yearim@koreaittimes.com 

You can get 

more information 

by visiting at 

http://www.curexo.com 

or 

www.robodoc.com 

and by contacting to 

Ms. Kayla Yoon, 

marketing PR manager 

of Curexo 

(noelle@curexo.com) 

Robodoc Successfully performs live operation 


Opinion 



By Ahn Hyun-ho/ ahnhh@mke.go.kr 

Ahn Hyun-ho, Vice Minister for Industry and 

Technology of Knowledge Economy 

The industrial buzzword of the year 

should be 'smart'. From mobile phones to 

automobiles, a wide range of machines became 

smarter and changed the business 

paradigm as the conventional concept of 

'hard work' is now replaced by creative 

and effective 'smart work' with the help of 

IT devices. 

The number of smartphone subscribers 

is expected to reach seven million this 

year, along with three million subscribers 

for IPTV, a previous version of smart TV, 

which signals the wide distribution of 

smart devices. Apart from the IT industry, 

major industries such as the automobile, 

machine, and shipbuilding industries are 

also jumping on the smart bandwagon. 

For instance, a smart car is equipped with 

dozens of electronic control units (ECU) 

and mobile devices. The key to competitiveness 

in the era of smart devices is the 

software. The power of smartphones, such 

as iPhone, is derived from their abundant 

supply of application software, and the 

success of ECUs that control a car lies in 

the software. Despite the meager three percent 

revenue share in the mobile phone 

market, iPhone boasts a surprising 37 percent 

of operating profit share, which 

shows the enormous added value that software 

brings. Particularly, the emergence of 

new developing countries, including 

China, make it more difficult to compete 

solely based on 'cost competitiveness'. In 

this situation, the software proves all the 

more important as it creates added value 

with which those developing countries 

cannot easily catch up. 

Although Korea's software industry has 

20 years of history, the limited size of the 

domestic market, due to problems like illegal 

copying and the industrial system controlled 

by a few companies impede its advance 

in the global market. Also, a decreasing 

pool of talent in the field is another 

factor that is putting the country's competitiveness 

at risk in the era of smart technology. 

For those reasons, the government has 

established strategies for the development 

of the software industry, actively promoting 

and restructuring the industry as well 

as increasing investment. The World's 

Best Software project, in particular, was 

set up to help Korea's smaller software developers 

grow and become global companies. 

Other examples of the government's 

efforts include SW Maestro school and 

training program for industry professionals. 

Fortunately, the environment is 

changing into more favorable conditions 

for such efforts. The success of iPhone 

opened the eyes of many CEOs of major 

corporations to the importance of software, 

and the development of SaaS 

(Software as a Service) technology, which 

makes illegal copying difficult, in addition 

to the growth of the mobile contents market 

creating new opportunities. 

Furthermore, success in the niche market 

boosted software exports, resulting in over 

one billion dollars for the first time in history. 

In order for Korea to become a software 

leader, we first need to build a system 

where companies can grow based on ample 

domestic demand and overseas expansion, 

talent and investment naturally flow 

into those developing companies, and also 

where investment in human and material 

resources, such growth does not only influence 

the software market, but also other 

related industries. 

Huge demand for embedded software 

and industry-specialized software make 

such systems highly plausible. I believe the 

software industry will grow much further 

with the government's continuous investment, 

consumers' awareness of intellectual 

property, and efficient infrastructure. 2011 

could well mark the beginning of such 

change. 


Opinion 

North Korea’s IT Application Software 

Development Center -- 

Pyongyang Information Centre (PIC) 

ByChoiSeong (sstar@nsu.ac.kr) 

Dr. Choi Seong, Professor of Computer Science at Namseoul University 

Inter-Korean relations have recently gone from bad to worse in 

the aftermath of the Cheonan torpedo attack and North Korea's 

recent artillery assault on Yeonpyong Island, November 23. A 

thick cloud of nuclear risk is hanging over the Korean peninsula. 

In addition, the thorny issue of disabling nuclear reactors between 

the US and the North makes it very difficult for us to fathom the 

future direction of the Six-Party talks. However, the fundamental 

framework of the Six-Party talks is expected to remain in place 

because a slew of consultations among the participating nations 

produced pledges, concessions and other sorts of agreements. In 

the end, I believe that the Six-Party talks could lead to a pickup in 

inter-Korean exchanges. I have been writing about North Korea's 

IT industry since the start of this year. In this installment, I would 

like to introduce North Korea's major information and communications 

institution. If the Choson Computer Centre (KCC) is 

called the centerpiece of North Korea's IT R&D, Pyongyang 

Information Centre (PIC) is the mecca of their software development. 

The PIC, founded on July 15, 1986, was jointly funded by 

the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and 

Jochongnyeon (the pro-Pyongyang federation of Korean residents 

in Japan). It is situated in Kyong-Heung dong near the 

Botong River in Pyongyang. 

The PIC was created as the Pyongyang Program Development 

Company and changed its name to Pyongyang Electronic 

Calculator Operator in October of 1988 and then again to 

Pyongyang Information Centre (PIC) in July of 1991. As of 

now, the best and the brightest of North Korea's IT talent is developing 

various kinds of programs and devices at the PIC: nearly 

300 IT professionals who graduated from the North's most 

prestigious universities such as Kim Il-sung University, Kim 

Chaek University of Technology and Pyongyang University of 

Science and Technology (PUST), are on the payroll of the PIC. 

On the overseas front, the PIC has its branches in China, Japan 

and Singapore, where PIC IT experts are working on software 

development, and has teamed up with foreign companies to 

jointly develop software programs and expedite technology 

transfers. The PIC, North Korea's major software developer, has 

been at the vanguard of these following areas: language information 

processing, machinery translation, document editing, global 

IMEs (Input Message Editor), computer-aided design (CAD), 

networks, database systems, fonts, multimedia, dynamic images, 

etc. For instance, the PIC's database development taskforce 

consists of about 40 IT experts who are all working on the development 

of information management systems for production 

lines, companies and other institutions. The PIC's publishing 

group has been engaged in various R&D projects from the development 

of Chang-Deok, a PC word processor, to DTP (desk top 

publishing) systems for Mac computers. Last but not least, the 

PIC's application software group is keen on CAD, virtual reality 

and the development of project management devices. The PIC 

has been developing a plethora of software products: embedded 

software, CAD, image processing, Korean-language information 

processing and systems, network management systems, multimedia 

dynamic images, etc. The PIC's 3D CAD has been widely 

employed by North Korean and foreign architectural design companies 

and more sophisticated versions of it are coming out. 

What's more, the PIC is ramping up its joint R&D efforts with 

overseas IT developers with a focus on the development of diverse 

image processing programs. Korean-language information 

processing and systems are about developing the technologies for 

character recognition, voice recognition, natural language processing 

and primary retrieval while the development of network 


Opinion 

PIC-created Software Programs 

Program Description 

Details 

Chang-Deok 

A software program for document editing and e-publishing. 

It works with various languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Russian, etc. 

Dangun 

A word processor that supports Korean, Japanese and Chinese. 

Over 200 calligraphic styles of Korean. 

It won the most esteemed award at the 11th National Software Program Competition 

A software store located 

in Pyeongyang, North Korea 

Yongma 

A spreadsheet calculation program for Windows 

Electronic 

Publishing System 

An electronic publishing system for Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese 

Recognition Automatic recognition program (the rate of recognition 97%) 

Gohyang 

Dul 

San-Ak 

A database management system (DBMS) 

A two-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) system 

A three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) system 

Intranet specifications 

for Pyeonyang information center 

Dam-Jing 

A machinery translation program for Korean and Japanese. 

It has 200,000 words in its memory. A 300 Kbite Korean text can be translated into 

Japanese in just three minutes. It costs roughly US $20 per unit. 

Body Type and Diet 

Typing School 

Samcheon-ri 

Pyongyang 

Chosen's History 

and Customs 

A health management system 

A fun-oriented, learn-to-type program (Korean and English) designed to teach children 

how to type faster on keyboards 

A Choson atlas program 

multimedia program designed for Pyongyang tours 

A multimedia program 

North Korea’s multi-languge 

input system, Dangun 

North Korea’s word processor, 

Chang Deok 

management systems includes fire walls, security solutions, encryption, 

e-commerce, IC cards, instant messenger programs, 

mobile game programs, etc. They are also working on the development 

of multimedia and dynamic images: technologies for producing 

3D materials, 2D cartoon production and the technology 

for adding accompaniments to images are being developed. The 

PIC's font development team has developed 300 Korean fonts 

and a myriad of calligraphic styles for imported mobile phones 

and dot fonts for PDAs. 

The PIC has thus far scaled up its IT exchanges with overseas 

information and technology companies as well as R&D institutions. 

A case in point is the North-South joint venture, HANA 

Program Center, which is located in Dandong-si in Liaoning, 

China and was jointly invested in May of 2001 by the PIC and 

North-South HANA Biz, a subsidiary of South Korea's Dasan 

Network. Another showpiece of the PIC's effort for joint R&D is 

the software development for fonts and Chinese character recognition 

in collaboration with Soltworks (an e-publishing software 

developer). On top of that, the PIC's IT exchanges with overseas 

institutions have been on the rise. 

As such, inter-Korean cooperation projects will serve as the driving 

force behind the PIC's IT exchanges with South Korea. To 

that end, non-military sanctions imposed on Pyongyang should 

be eased, such as the Wassenaar Arrangement (a multilateral export 

control regime (MECR) with 40 participating states) should 

be eased to move US - North Korea relations forward and the 

US's EAR (Export Administration Regulation) on the North 

should be scaled back. Above all, IT-initiated unification of the 

two Koreas should be preceded by pragmatic dialogues with the 

North and North Korea's efforts for reaching out to other nations. 

As of now, the North needs to draw up a future blueprint to embark 

on phased cooperation with the S. Korean government and 

companies in a bid to open its doors to the international community. 


Business 

Samsung's 

"Turningpoint" 

As Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung, mentioned several 

times before, "Samsung needs to become younger to compete in the 

21st century." Samsung is now all set to be younger. How so? First 

off, the prince of Samsung was promoted to the position of president, 

in addition to the Strategic Planning Office making a come 

back. Lastly, replacing a massive amount of heads of subsidiaries 

are ways for pushing the company to a newly younger direction. 

According to the firm, the company's promotion was about putting 

innovative new people who can realize Samsung's vision and create 

new drivers of growth. This exceptional reorganization is the chairman's 

intention to respond to the Information Technology market 

in a hurry as he leads the company to a software strong organization. 

Samsung is ready for new 


Business 

Son promoted 

to president 

Lee Jae-yong, 42, son of 

Samsung Group's Chairman Lee 

was officially promoted to president 

on December 3, 2010. It is a 

sign of Samsung's efforts to further 

progress in the succession plan 

which is considered to be part of 

Chairman Lee's vision of creating a 

younger Samsung leading the conglomerate 

by the next generation. 

Lee Jae-yong will continue to assume 

the chief operating officer 

(COO) position at Samsung 

Electronics. His current job as 

COO makes him responsible for 

the overall business of Samsung 

Electronics. However, the range of 

his role will expand across the 

group not limited to only Samsung 

Electronics. Rather, he will focus 

on strengthening strategic relationships 

with major customers in the world on behalf of Samsung 

Group. 

With this, Lee Boo-jin, 40 year old sister of Lee Jae-yong, was 

named president and CEO of Hotel Shilla, and president of 

Samsung Everland Inc. from the current position, senior vice 

president of Hotel Shilla and Everland. Also notable is the fact 

that Choi Gee-sung, president and chief executive officer of 

Samsung Electronics was promoted to vice chairman. Hereby, 

the two-top systems led by Mr. Choi and Lee will be leading the 

new Samsung in addition to Mr. Choi continuing his role as 

CEO. Mr. Choi joined Samsung in 1977 since then; he is known 

as a marketing expert. He increased Samsung's global market 

share by 5.1 percent from 2006 to 2008 to 16.7 percent, making it 

the world's second-largest handset maker. He is also credited with 

successfully becoming the world's No. 1 TV brand in 2006. Based 

on his career, he is ranked as a well fitter for ensuring the dominance 

of semiconductor and strengthening new business. 

Samsung's new plan for the future 

Samsung has launched the "Future Strategy Department" for 

preparing the next 60 years of Samsung. Kim Soon-taek, 

Samsung Electronics vice chairman, was appointed to take the 

lead. This is basically the re-establishment of the Strategic 

Planning Office (SPO) which handled the group's diversity operations. 

The Strategic Planning Office, in-house control tower, will 

be in charge of managing group-wide affairs and plays a central 

role for 'Samsung 100 years' focusing on searching for new 

growth engines. Also, preparing and management succession to 

Lee Jae-yong, recently promoted to president of Samsung 

Electronics 

Lee Jae-yong will be one of the important 

missions of the office. With 

Kim Soon-taek as the center, the office 

is composed of 6 teams from 

public relations to finance, economic 

diagnostics, and personnel management. 

To live down the scandal 

which took place back in the day, 

the office is now trying to make 

management more transparent. In 

April 2008, the office had to close 

due to its corruption scandal that 

led to the resignation of Chairman 

Lee. 

New business development 

and innovation 

Samsung C&T is ready for 

change on a new level. Lee Haksoo, 

who headed the strategic planning 

office, was named an advisor 

for Samsung C&T. As Chairman 

Lee and advisor Lee ordered aggressive 

management to Jung Yeon-Joo who is president and 

CEO of Samsung C&T, Samsung C&T will be working as an advancement 

guard with Samsung Electronics for spreading 

Samsung throughout the world. Samsung C&T's overseas orders 

for the first half of 2010 was KRW 4.763 trillion, more than double 

the 2009 figure. According to an official from the company, 

the future strategy of Samsung C&T is to make inroads into 

India, Latin America and Africa. Samsung C&T plans to achieve 

34.4 percent average annual revenue growth. 

Samsung will also concentrate on the semiconductor and components 

business. Jun Dong-Soo, vice president of memory marketing 

of Samsung Electronics was promoted to president. As 

Mr. Jun is recognized as the master of the memory business, the 

memory business is expected to expand the gap between competitors 

by concentrating on manufacturing products. Everyone 

knows that a wind of change is blowing through Samsung, the 

nation's biggest business conglomerate. There are high expectations 

for the New Samsung. By reflecting on these expectations, 

the group's shares rose from 2 percent to 4 percent. Samsung 

Electronics rose 4.1 percent, Samsung C&T 4.6 percent, Hotel 

Shilla 3.4 percent, Cheil Industries 2.2 percent. On this particular 

day, shares of Samsung Electronics and Cheil Industries reached 

an all-time high of KRW 894,000 from KRW 114,000 respectively. 

It seems like the transition is going smoothly at the moment, 

displaying much attention towards the new Samsung. 



Software | World Best Software 

5 Consortiums Selected 

for World Best Software Project 

The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has selected five consortiums 

to carry out the World Best Software (WBS) project, which 

will be implemented until early 2013. 

(http://www.mke.go.kr/language/eng/index) 

"The five consortiums are the KAI consortium, in charge of unmanned 

aircraft software; Infraware, for mobile software; 

AhnLab, for security software; Infinite, for imaging diagnosis 

software; and the smart card consortium, for transportation software," 

a ministry spokesman said. "The WBS project refers to a 

large-scale software R&D project propelled by the government to 

make Korea one of the world's best software powerhouses," he 

added. He explained that small and medium-sized enterprises 

(SMEs) will lead the WBS project with their developing software 

and large companies will actively support the commercialization 

of developed software. 

"At the same time, intellectual property rights will be given to 

software developers in order to prevent software companies from 

being placed under the influence of large companies," he said. 

The ministry announced the WBS project in seven fields 

February of this year and a total of 14 consortiums applied for the 

project. After screening their applications, the ministry finalized 

five consortiums to participate in five sectors at this time. It plans 

to finalize consortiums in the remaining two fields - hospital software 

and automobile software - by the end of this year after receiving 

more applications. 

the development process will become a good example for future 

software R&D projects." Commenting that the development of 

core software armed with global competitiveness is a prerequisite 

to improve the international competitive power of domestic manufacturing 

and service companies, the spokesman said, "The ministry 

is planning to propel a top-down project centering on major 

industrial demands." "In line with this, the ministry plans to expand 

the WBS project to such core software projects as mobile, 

energy, and national defense necessary for domestic key indus- 

Characteristics of selected consortiums 

for the WBS project 

"For active software development by SMEs, we selected consortiums 

led by them. As a result, 82.7 percent of the government's 

subsidies for the WBS project will go to SMEs, 14.8 percent 

to non-profit organizations, and 2.6 percent to large companies," 

he noted. Meanwhile, large companies will participate in 

the consortiums as a demand institution for successful commercialization 

of software developed by SMEs. The spokesman mentioned, 

"To speed up development of the world's best software, 

the ministry will designate a software engineering center to frequently 

check the process of all software development and implement 

quality management on already developed software." 

Cho Suk, Chief of the Growth Engine Department of the 

Ministry of Knowledge Economy said, "I think that not only task 

contents are selected this time, but also appraisal management of 


World Best Software | Software 

tries and advancement into foreign countries," he said. 

Details of the WBS projects propelled 

by consortiums 

The KAI consortium, consisting of seven companies, including 

Pixoneer, Young Poong Electronics, and Korea Aerospace 

Industries, will develop standard solutions and test beds for unmanned 

aircrafts. 

"The consortium, which will receive KRW 4.5 billion as a state 

subsidy, will develop common software solutions for both military 

and private unmanned aircrafts and prepare a test bed for the 

functioning of platforms and appraisal of safety," the spokesman 

said. He added, "As aircraft advanced countries are strategically 

using such technology from political and economic viewpoints 

and prohibiting technology transfers to foreign countries, Korea 

should develop such core software by its own ability." 

Among the software to be developed by the consortium are automatic 

flight controls, automatic pilot, unmanned software integrated 

management systems, integrated test systems, hardware in 

the loop simulation (HILS), and ground flight test inspection systems. 

The demand for unmanned crafts is expected to reach 220 

billion won during the five years from 2012 in Korea and 31 trillion 

won in the world, the ministry noted. The Infraware consortium, 

consisting of eight companies, including Infraware, 

Innoace, and SK Telecom, will develop an open-type web platform 

with a government subsidy of KRW 6 billion. "To provide a 

variety of services suitable to a convergence environment, the 

consortium will develop next-generation Web standard technologies, 

including HTML5, CSS3, Widget2.0, and XHR LeveI 2; 

middleware framework for the control of terminals and networks; 

UI to support multi-screen; graphic library technology; Web 

Sync, Web application framework technology for data and contents 

sharing; and authoring tools for the development of Web applications 

and library," he explained. 

"Through the development of such technology, the ministry 

plans to secure 12 percent of the domestic market share by 2012," 

he noted. The AhnLab consortium, comprising five companies, 

including Ahn Computer Virus Research Center and KISA, will 

develop a solution to detect and protect mobile malicious programs 

under the government's financial assistance of KRW 3 billion. 

"Owing to the growing worries which have arisen over new 

mobile security threats in the wake of a rapid increase in the supply 

of smartphones, the consortium needs to develop software 

technology to inspect, cure and supervise mobile malicious codes, 

and build an infrastructure to monitor and collect malicious code 

samples," he said. 

In Korea, the demand for smartphones is expected to soar from 

KRW 1.4 trillion in 2010 to KRW 4.7 trillion in 2015, and the demand 

for mobile security is likely to soar from KRW 4.8 billion to 

KRW 22.3 billion during the corresponding period. The Infinite 

consortium, consisting of 10 companies, including Infinite Health 

Care, Seoul University Hospital and KT, will develop intelligence-type 

imaging diagnostic and a therapy assistance system 

with the state aid of KRW 2.5 billion. "The consortium will develop 

an imaging diagnostics supporting system, which combines 

computer help diagnosis and a disease reading system by using 

advanced diagnostics equipment as CT, MRI and PET. Along 

with this, it will develop an integrated system for the cooperative 

diagnosis of enterprise-class hospitals," said the spokesman. 

The smart card consortium, comprised of nine firms, including 

Korea Smart Card and LG CNS, will develop AFC standard solutions 

with a government subsidy of KRW 2 billion. 

"The consortium will develop standard sizes for data disposal, 

application systems and data interface, as well as solutions linked 

with such global multimedia, including mobile phones, Paypass, 

and the RF-EMV card," he added. 

Kim Seung-o/ info@koreaittimes.com 


Interview 

How has Korea Achieved High-level 

Informatization So Rapidly? 

There are plenty of easy-to-use songwriting applications in cyber 

space," added Dr. Ahn. 

Dr. Ahn obtained a bachelor's degree in economics (1965) and 

a master's degree in public administration (1967) from Seoul 

National University -- he made his first step towards Korea's IT 

informatization sector by becoming a founding member of 

KIST's computing lab in 1968. Dr. Ahn is a member of Korea's 

first-generation of computer programmers and believes that historians 

need to learn about IT to add new chapters to history. 

Such beliefs have led to efforts toward ramping up Korea's level 

of informatization and a myriad of feats in IT development. 

When asked by foreign reporters about how Korea has so 

rapidly achieved such high-levels of informatization, he always 

responds with, "There is no royal road to informatization. To enhance 

the level of informitization in a nation, all the members of 

that nation, from the head of state down to grass roots should get 

familiar with IT. 

Dr. Ahn Moon-suk, former Chairman of the Presidential Special Committee 

on e-Government and Professor Emeritus of Korea University currently. 

When the world first saw Korea lay the groundwork for an e- 

government in 2002, former President Kim Dae-Jung said to Dr. 

Ahn Moon-suk, then Chairman of the Presidential Special 

Committee on e-Government said at a ceremony held at the Blue 

House, "There have been a handful of good days in my life, and 

today is indeed one of them." In the meeting between Korea IT 

Times and Dr. Ahn Moon-suk (ahnms@korea.ac.kr), Professor 

Emeritus of Public Administration at Korea University, who 

played a pivotal role in opening the way for Korea's IT informatization, 

Dr. Ahn unexpectedly gave us his essay books and collections 

of poems, talking voluntarily about his favorite poems, essays 

and music. "At the end of my lectures, I would ask students 

to write a poem. I know it may not be their cup of tea, but when I 

read their poems, I was surprised to find many that there were 

well-written. So I consolidated their poems into a book and published 

it. When I gave my students copies of the book, they loved 

it," said Dr. Ahn as he chuckled. "Writing poems is a good way 

for students to be freed from the loophole of old ways of thinking. 

In the near future, I will compose songs by using my poems. 

The foundation of informatization began 

at the end of the 1960s 

At the end of the 1960s, when Dr. Ahn started to work with 

KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology), there was 

only one computer manufactured by the Japanese company FA- 

COM. The computer was based on an assembler language which 

was difficult to learn and to use. KIST installed Korea's first mainframe 

computer, CDC 3300, one of the largest computers in Asia, 

setting a milestone in broadening Korea's computer user base. 

CDC 3300 has the ability to use high level computer languages 

like COBOL and FORTRAN which were easier to learn and use. 

Ministers rushed to visit KIST to receive lectures as President 

Park instructed his cabinet members to learn how to use computers 

for their work. With a favorable atmosphere, Dr. Ahn started 

to teach COBOL and FORTRAN at KIST, bearing in mind that 

the world's familiarity with computers would advance along with 

the dispersion of computer usage. Those who were taught 

COBOL and FORTRAN by Dr. Ahn disseminated their computer 

knowledge through providing lectures to others. During this 

process, Korea's computer user base was continuing to grow. 

"At that time, there was no computer center in the government. 

KIST provided necessary facilities and human resources to implement 

a computer using system in their facility. For example, for 

the budget office, government budget officials worked day and 


Interview 

night using abacuses to draw up budgets during that time. So I developed 

a computer program for budget formulation with the persons 

who were selected among the budget officers to receive my 

lectures on COBOL and FORTRAN. In the early 1970s, the 

computer program for budget formulation finally replaced abacuses," 

said Dr. Ahn. 

Building of the first data communication 

systems 

Development of Korea's first data communication system was 

also the work of Dr. Ahn. At that time, people had to print out 

documents at the computer center and travel to places where people 

worked to hand deliver documents. Dr. Ahn's team installed 

computer terminals that could read data and print output at the 

'remote' area of the budget office at the Economic Planning Board 

in Gwanhwamun, connecting to the KIST mainframe computer 

located in Hongneung. This was a historic event. Even President 

Park attended the opening ceremony. Korea succeeded in data 

networking regardless of the poor condition of the telephone line. 

Many useful programs like the property tax billing system was 

developed by local government officials who were selected and 

trained by Dr. Ahn's KIST team. Indeed, he pioneered computerization 

at local self-governing entities. 

Dr. Ahn said, "To go off on a tangent, local government officials 

were selected based on their IQ scores. Then, how did we select 

computer persons in addition to the IQ test? It may sound 

funny, but we preferentially picked those who were good at 

baduk, an ancient board game for two players. This is because we 

thought good baduk players were good at reading numbers and it 

would contribute to their knowledge of comprehending computer 

programs," he said laughing. In 1972, he was picked as a recipient 

of the US State Department's East West Center scholarship. He 

received a master's degree in computer science in 1974 and a doctorate 

in resource economics from the University of Hawaii in 

1977. His academic advisor was Professor Norman Abramson 

who invented the packet radio broadcasting concept. He then returned 

to Korea to spearhead the nation's push for e-government. 

When he returned to Korea, administrative procedures were very 

user-unfriendly: to export goods, exporters had to visit government 

offices where necessary documents were kept. 

Administrative costs were enormous. To ease the burden of exporters, 

Dr. Ahn, with the help of the Economic Planning Board, 

set up experimental computer networks in Chungcheongbuk-do 

to computerize the local government's work. It was similar to the 

current G4C information system we have these days. With the 

project, people could technically obtain official documents in remote 

areas. Dr. Ahn lamented, "Despite such efforts, there were 

so many regulations and red tape that prevented a nation-wide 

dispersion of the system: laws required copies of official documents 

to be stamped with the seal of the head of the municipality 

where the document was located. If that law had been revised at 

that time, Korea' e-government system would have been put in 

place much faster." 

CDC3300 shown from the above picture is the same model which has been installed in KIST as korea’s first mainframe computer. 


Interview 

Innovative informatization was achieved under 

the leadership of President Chun Doo-hwan 

In the 1980s, when President Chun Doo-hwan was in office, a 

tumultuous period in Korean history was taking place, the 

progress of innovative informatization was made faster than in 

any other era. To promote an informitization-oriented mindset, 

the subject matter of information systems theory and computerization 

theory were included in national exams such as the fifthranking 

civil servant exam. In addition, the National Computer 

Network Coordination Committee was set up in the Blue House 

and the chief of staff headed the committee to consolidate five national 

computer networks. Dr. Ahn said, "As of now, Korea's online 

banking system and integrated computer network systems 

are very convenient compared to those found in developed nations. 

Those who have experienced Korea's online banking system 

would find it inconvenient to use other nations' banking system, 

such as people having to wait in long lines to get services at 

banks." "From a historical point of view, the foundation for today's 

convenient, user-friendly banking system was laid under the 

leadership of former President Chun Doo-hwan. At that time, 

five national networks such as government administration, national 

defense, national security, education and finance were built 

to pave the way for today's advanced computer networking system" 

said Dr. Ahn. 

He continued, "The groundwork for the development of personal 

computers was also laid during the same period. To localize 

PC hardware, a Korean computer manufacturer developed the 

first PC based on the US's PC design. It proved to be unsuccessful 

due to inadequate tests. After that, the Korean government provided 

PC manufacturers with general information and encouraged 

them to develop PCs. When PC manufacturing companies 

presented their computers on the market, the Korean government 

picked the cream of the crop. In the end, some domestic companies 

succeeded in developing Korea's second-generation PCs." 

High-speed Internet connection projects were 

implemented in full swing when both President 

Kim Young-sam and President Kim Dae-jung 

led the nation 

In 1993, when President Kim Young-sam, the first civilian 

President of South Korea, held the reins of the Korean government, 

Dr. Ahn was a member of the Government Restructuring 

Committee and helped in efforts for creating the Ministry of 

Information and Communications; he worked towards building 

high-speed Internet networks across the nation. High-speed 

Internet network projects and national database projects were 

earnestly carried out in 1998 when Korea, under the leadership of 

President Kim Dae-jung, was in the grip of the 1997 Asian financial 

crisis. As part of national policy aimed at lifting Korea out of 

the 1997 Asian financial crisis, funds for unemployed youths increased 

by cutting wages for civil servants. The money was used 

for building various government databases. The databases turned 

out to be very useful in building the e-Government sector later on. 

Dr. Ahn said, "Credited with my IT achievements during the 

tenure of President Kim Dae-jung, I was invited to give a special 

lecture on 'how to successfully manage the government committee' 

at the transition committee meeting for President Roh Moo- 

Hyun. The Roh Moo-hyun administration expanded the original 

e-Government's 11 projects to 32 areas. Brown University ranked 

Korea as the winner of the e-Government evaluation. This year, 

the UN finally listed Korea as the top nation in the e-Government 

evaluation report. "It was rather unfortunate for Roh Moo-hun's 

administration to be negligent in software development policy" 

said Dr. Ahn who prepared the IPTV law as the chairman of the 

government digital convergence committee for the administration. 

Resurgence of the software industry, 

an opportunity is presenting itself 

"2010 is a year of contents and applications. What are the characteristics 

of this new era? They can be explained by referring to 

the term "prosumer". People develop their own computer programs 

and share them with others. We are entering a new era of 

e-Government in Korea. To take full advantage of this, the government 

should play an important role. The government has to 

create and maintain an adequate database for users who want to 

develop their own services. The government should have computer 

programming training centers. By doing so, we can jack up 

the level of informitization in Korea and facilitate the renaissance 

of Korea's software industry. This is what I call the concept of a 

next-generation e-government" said Dr. Ahn. He went on to say, 

"To that end, we need to create an environment where anyone 

who wishes to learn computer programming can easily have the 

opportunity for obtaining a computer education. It is just like in 

the early 1980s, elementary school students who were taught basic 

computer programs, created numerous programs. The general 

public's heated interest in software we are witnessing right now 

doesn't come often." Dr. Ahn, who is serving as Emeritus 

Professor of Public Administration at Korea University and the 

Chairman of the board of the Seoul Development Institute (SDI) 

-- he assumed the positions of Korea University vice president 

and chairman of the Korean Association for Policy Studies. In 

addition, he advised the Korean government by serving as 

Chairman of the Regulation Reform Committee, chairman of the 

Broadcasting & Communications Convergence Committee and 

chairman for presidential special committee on e-government. 

Credited with taking Korea's informatization and e-government 

to new heights, he was awarded an order of civil merit (Dongbaeg 

Medal) for his contribution to informatization and an order of 

public service merit (Blue Stripes) for his contribution to building 

e-government. 



Overview | RFID/USN 

RFID/USN Korea 2010 Presents 

the Mobile RFID 

Kim Shin-bae (third from left), Vice Chairman and CEO of SK C&C and Kim Seang-tae (second from left), President of NIA are thrilled by the pharmaceutical information 

service 

Snap! Click! A smartphone is aimed at a Starbucks sign on the 

street and its menu and history information is recieved. This year, 

RFID/USN Korea 2010 suggested that RFID/USN technology 

is already contributing to the lives of consumers' to secure their efficiency, 

health, safety, and happiness. A smartphone reads the 

barcode of Aspirin and informs the user of its expiration date, detects 

authentication of liquor by tracing its history, and receives 

complete milage information at the gas station after filling up. 

This is only a few highlights of RFID/USN Korea 2010, the 

world's biggest RFID/USN exhibition by far. 

"Consumers are no longer satisfyed with only IT-aid efficiency 

and productivity. What they are now seeking is a convergence between 

IT and industries, or the creation of the new market that 

has a direct impact on the growth of a company," Kim Shin-bae, 

CEO of SK Telecom and the Chairman of RFID/USN 

Association continued, "RFID/USN Korea 2010, in this sense, a 

sight where diverse industries like automobile, pharmaceuticals, 

steel, electronics, logistics, fashion, and energy converges with IT 

infrastructure to envision a new market." 

RFID/USN KOREA 2010, a bustling center of RFID/USN 

business all over the world, was held at COEX, Seoul on 

December 2nd. The 4-day event was hosted by the Ministry of 

Knowledge and Economy and Ministry of Public Administration 

and Security. The exhibition displayed how RFID/USN technology 

can be applied and converged with new technology products, 

solutions, u-City, and mobile RFID services in today's market. 

RFID USN 2010 had 4 themes: u-IT convergence, solutions, new 

technology and products, and international exhibitions. 

The RFID/USN KOREA 2010 Convention is the biggest and 

the most esteemed international RFID/USN convention with 

160 companies and organizations participating (360 booths) from 

USA, China, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong 

Kong. About 30,000 RFID/USN related parties travel to the exhibition 

from all over the globe. 



Academia 

Lee Young-sae, president 

of Daegu Cyber University 

Daegu Cyber University Supports 

IT Education for Developing Countries 

as Part of the G20 Agenda 

True Korean Wave, Daegu Cyber University 

It has already been a decade since Korea launched its first cyber 

university in 2001. In the era of knowledge and information, there 

are currently over 90,000 students studying at 19 cyber universities. 

Such phenomenal development was made possible by the efforts 

of numerous people involved, one of whom is the president 

of Daegu Cyber University, Lee Young-sae (president@dcu.ac.kr). 

Cyber University: official educational institution 

subject to higher education laws 

After launching Daegu Cyber University (DCU: http://www. 

dcu.ac.kr) in 2002, Lee Young-sae, President of DCU, noted as 

one of his most rewarding achievements during his tenure as the 

chairman of the Association of Korea Online Universities, ex- 


Academia 

plained that cyber universities became official educational institutions, 

like regular universities when they became subject to higher 

education laws. 

In fact, cyber universities were recognized only as institutions 

for continuing education in the beginning, which not only prevented 

them from establishing graduate schools, but resulted in 

discrimination in which the graduates were subjected to suffer despite 

having earned bachelor's degrees or diplomas. After the reform 

of higher education laws, Korean cyber universities have 

shown remarkable development as they can now compete on a 

level playing field with conventional universities. 

Today there are a total of 19 cyber universities in Korea: 12 in 

the metropolitan area and 7 in other provinces, and 17 of them 

are four-year universities and two are vocational colleges. In 

terms of the number of students, four of the cyber universities are 

teaching over 8,000 students and six universities enrolled over 

5,000. Nationwide, more than 90,000 students are studying 

through cyber universities and the number is gradually increasing. 

With the development of cyber universities in general, DCU 

has also achieved rapid growth. The option for specialization is 

what makes DCU especially competitive. From the modest number 

of 100 students enrolled in its first year, now the university has 

become an competent educational institution that produces 1,500 

graduates per year with its expertise in handicap education, counseling 

psychology, speech therapy, art therapy, play therapy, social 

welfare, etc. 

DCU is also focused on globalization, working on many projects 

to build advanced cyber educational systems in less developed 

countries. After signing a MOU with Thai Nguyen 

University in Vietnam, DCU is teaching 200 Vietnamese students 

who are conferred bachelor degrees issued by DCU President after 

completing required 4-year courses. This program called, 

"TUBA joint academic program," named after the initial Thai 

Nguyen University of Business Administration, is playing a leading 

role among cyber universities, benchmarked as a model of the 

cyber university's successful joint degree program with foreign 

schools. The university is also participating in the collaboration 

project of "Korea-Asian Cyber University" promoted by the 

Korean government and Asian countries like Vietnam, Laos, 

Cambodia, and Myanmar, as part of a collaboration project for 

cyber education signed by President Lee Myung Bak and 

ASEAN summits in 2009. 

President Lee explained, "Korea has already been a huge influence 

on Asian countries in the entertainment field via TV dramas 

and pop music. Also, in the education field, Korean cyber universities 

are leading the Korean wave. The advantage of cyber education 

is that it provides opportunity for economically disadvantaged 

countries in Asia to enjoy high levels of education at a low 

cost. For instance, in the case of Vietnam, people who graduate 

from Daegu cyber university and find a job at a Korean company 

in Vietnam are expected to earn, on average, three times more 

than those who graduate from a Vietnamese university, which explains 

why so many talented Vietnamese people opt to attend 

Daegu Cyber University." "When you look at the G20 Summit 

Projects," he added, "the main agenda includes the stabilization 

of the financial system, solution to exchange rate crisis, reform of 

IMF governance, and support for developing countries. In addition, 

developing countries can be best supported by building an 

IT infrastructure and providing educational opportunities which 

include cyber universities." 

If off-line university education was 

the 'cottage industry,' cyber university would 

be the 'automated machine industry" 

Alvin Toffler once said, "Lifelong learning is the virtue of future 

generations because through further education, more creative 

individuals can be nurtured." President Lee compared regular offline 

universities to a 'cottage industry' where only a limited number 

of students could be taught face to face, while cyber universities 

are more like the 'automated machine industry' in its educational 

system where virtually an unlimited number of students 

can be taught online at a much cheaper cost. 

President Lee said, "In order for cyber universities to parallel 

the machine industry, we need to put in more effort than regular 

universities to improve the quality of educational content. We are 

confident that the educational content provided at DCU is in line 

with global standards. Also, we have secured a remarkable faculty 

in order to improve the quality of education. Over the last few 

years, many professors competent in different fields such as social 

development studies and brain science, have joined us as well as 

internationally renowned scholars, whom conventional universities 

in general cannot afford to recruit, have also been hired for 

students studying at their home." 

During the interview, President Lee emphasized that it is beyond 

question that cyber education will create a new paradigm by 

networking the globe in this era of an information-based society. 

He also added that with the rapidly developing mobile environment 

where people can learn anytime and anywhere, now cyber 

universities are the most suitable educational system for the 21st 

century. He finished the interview with a big smile, saying anybody 

who would like to achieve their dreams through a high level 

of education can knock on the door of cyber universities. 







u-health 

A New Paradime of Medical System 

IT Embraces Health Insurance Review 

and Assessment Services 

Full-scale expansion of the DUR (Drug Utilization 

Review) service, an intelligent support system 

for prescription drugs 

The number of chronically ill patients has continued to grow in 

tandem with a rapidly aging population and changes in lifestyles. 

In particular, as the number of patients with more than two 

chronic illnesses goes up, patients often have to visit multiple 

medical institutions. The problem is that doctors and pharmacists, 

uninformed of the patient's previous medical history, might 

prescribe medicine the patient has already taken. As a result, the 

patient can end up taking excessive amounts of medication and 

be in danger of suffering from side effects overdosing. To address 

such issues, the Korean government and Health Insurance 

Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) have scaled up the DUR 

(Drug Utilization Review) system -- a prescription drug support 

service aimed at ensuring the safety of prescribed drugs-- since 

December of this year. Then, what is DUR (Drug Utilization 

Review)? What kind of impact will it have on our lives? 

Emergence of the DUR service 

as a new medical measure and 

the current situation of IT medical systems 

"The DUR service is a preventative safeguard against overlapping 

medication prescriptions and misuse of medications: realtime 

information related to the safety of medications pops up on 

PC monitors to prevent doctors and pharmacists from prescribing 

and dispensing medication inappropriately. For example, the patient's 

previous medical records and information on medication 

that should not be taken together is provided," said Kang Yoongoo, 

President of Health Insurance Review and Assessment 

Service (HIRA). "Doctors examine patients and issue prescriptions 

after they confirm whether problematic drugs were excluded 

with the help of the DUR system. Then, pharmacists take a second 

look at the prescription via the DUR system and dispense 

medications to a T. In other words, the DUR system is a real-time 

medical system which prevents the issuance of overlapping prescriptions. 

Therefore, the DUR system preempts the misuse of 

medication by providing information on whether the same drug 

was prescribed twice or whether certain drugs that are harmful to 

the patient were included in the prescription. At the moment, the 

DUR system can identify the drugs that should not be taken together, 

those harmful to children and pregnant women as well as 

over-prescribed drugs. In the future, the DUR system will get 

more sophisticated to screen out possible dangers at the stage of 

prescribing medications," added President Kang. Health 

Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) has put in 

place the DUR system since 2008. Since December of this year, 

prescriptions issued by different doctors which overlap have been 

examined by the DUR system. By March of next year, all the 

medical institutions and pharmacies in the nation will be 

equipped with the DUR system, and large general hospitals will 

fully employ the DUR program by December of next year owing 

to preparations for system setups. In short, the DUR system is a 

medical service that ensures safer issuing of prescriptions. 

Building of an advanced assessment system 

through IT 

On top of that, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment 

Service (HIRA) has been running an intelligent, scientific assessment 

system that is capable of handling nearly 1.3 billion cases of 

medical treatment information annually. President Kang said, 

"To enhance the accuracy and credibility of assessments, we 

adopted the DW system earlier than any other public institution 

to lead by example. HIRA is currently contemplating the adoption 

of "mobile offices", an IT trend brought on by the government-initiated 

smart work initiative. Also to that end, we are upgrading 

the current assessment system into a Web-based one. 

Leading smart medical culture by capitalizing 

on SNS and blogs 

By taking advantage of the vast amount of information on useful 

medical services, offered by HIRA, everyone can become a 

smart medical consumer. A case in point is HIRA's online magazine 

"Health Narae" (http://z.hira.or.kr/index.do), designed for 

smart medical consumers. "At http://z.hira.or.kr/index.do, information 

on cooking, travel, TV dramas and leisure is provided 

by each sector's best power bloggers. In particular, the Hospital 

Search Service of the Webzine is useful: if visitors type in obstetrics 

and gynecology, well-reviewed news reports related to pregnancy 

and infant rearing are recommended. It is a so-called intel- 


u-health 

ligent webzine. When pediatrics or obstetrics and gynecology are 

searched for through the Hospital Search Service, relevant reports 

show up to allow visitors to be better informed of health-related 

issues," said President Kang. What's more, health information 

posted on Health Narae can be re-posted on the visitor's Twitter 

and Facebook blogs. Also, mobile Health Narae 

www.mz.hira.or.kr is available. On the other hand, HIRA has recently 

launched a health information app service. HIRA's health 

information app service offers a wide range of information on 

over 60,000 hospitals and 20,000 pharmacies nationwide. In particular, 

as HIRA's health information app service exploits the 

augmented reality (AR) technology, when smartphone users 

view their surroundings especially nearby hospitals and pharmacies 

via the smartphone camera, they can be informed of distances, 

addresses, phone numbers, the number of doctors and patient 

rooms as well as medical services offered. HIRA's health information 

app service, a multifunctional hybrid app, also offers 

HIRA' s assessments of the clinic's rates of prescribing antibiotics, 

parenteral injections and Cesarean sections; acute myocardial infarction; 

and acute strokes. Thus, before housewives, children 

and elderly people see a doctor, they can put the information to 

good use. In addition, the DUR system helps patients check the 

safety of the drugs prescribed to them on their own. Furthermore, 

when those who suffer from chronic illnesses need immediate 

medical attention, they can send messages with information of 

their location to 911. 

Kang Yoon-goo, President of HIRA 

About Health Insurance Review 

and Assessment Service 

In July of 2000, HIRA was established as the Korea's only 

health insurance review and assessment institution, which is responsible 

for reviewing medical fees as well as evaluating the appropriateness 

of health care services provided to health insurance 

beneficiaries. HIRA has been engaged in medical service quality 

assessments, disclosing the result of assessments, development of 

medical service assessment criteria, provision of information on 

medical services to the public to protect the public's right to 

choose medical services, provision of services to check medical 

fees and development of government policy on health insurance. 

HIRA, armed with the world's largest medical information data 

base, electronically takes care of 1.3 billion medical bills annually 

via EDI (Electronic Data Interchange). They have acquired 

EDI International Patents from Japan, America and others. 

Additionally, HIRA has a secure medical IT infrastructure where 

40% of medical bills are reviewed through HIRA's intelligent program-based 

online assessments. Besides, HIRA' s AI (Artificial 

Intelligence) e-assessment which automatically conducts assessments 

of common diseases, speeds up the work process and cuts 

back on medical fees. The AI e-assessment substitutes for 150 

workers and saves KRW 33.1 billion. Lastly, President Kang 

mentioned, "HIRA's next-generation assessment system will go 

beyond the boundary of HIRA. We aim to share information and 

better communicate with customers by providing high-quality 

services in line with the ubiquitous era." 



Speech 

Inevitable Transformation 

into a Smart Society 

Korea Institute of Information 

and Telecommunication Facilities 

Engineering (ITFE) chose 'technology 

trend of disaster communication 

and emergency broadcasting systems" 

for the fall seminar, which 

was held November 25th, at Seoul 

Education Culture Hall. Experts 

from each relevant field gave a presentation 

on the country's disaster 

communication and emergency 

broadcasting policies as well as technology 

trends and response plans. 

At this Fall seminar, they reviewed 

the overall technological development, 

effective disaster prevention 

measures, and what is needed for 

further improvement of the system. 

Kim Seongman, Chairman of 

ITFE, remarked that the subject of 

the seminar seems particularly fitting 

after what happened in 

Yeonpyeongdo recently, emphasizing 

that, for effective disaster communication 

and emergency broadcasting systems, we need to be 

able to secure communication and broadcasting tools in any circumstance, 

and to also respond flexibly in a state of crisis. 

President of the National Information-Society Agency (NIA), 

Kim Seang-tae, was a special guest for the seminar, providing the 

audience with a lecture on smart society. "As a futurist," Mr. Kim 

explained, "I have met with a lot of global experts. The current 

change in our society is not just a matter of daily life, but it is actually 

marking a change of social paradigm into a new civilization." 

He said that the emergence of smart society is following 700 years 

of the agrarian society, 250 years of the industrial society, and 50 

years of the information society; and the rapid acceleration of 

such a trend led to the transformation of a contemporary social 

paradigm, thus, emergence of smart society." 

Smart technology 

and smart values that form a smart society 

Smart society changed knowledge and information-based technology 

into the one based on networking and cooperation, i.e., 


Kim Seang-tae, President of the National Information-Society 

Agency (NIS) 

smart technology, by which hard 

work turned into smart work and 

brought a change in management 

strategies in the form of convergence 

and mobile innovation, etc. What 

this means is that the society is looking 

for a more creative and open 

mind where central values of our society 

are shifting toward human dignity 

based on flexibility and originality. 

The major arguments of futurists 

can be largely classified into two categories: 

one that stress technology 

and another that focuses more on 

values. Rolf Jensen's Dream Society 

places emphasis on human values, 

whereas William Halal and Alvin 

Toffler predicted that the new human 

society will revolve around human-oriented 

technologies such as 

artificial intelligence and virtual reality. 

This is one of the examples 

where smart technology meets 

smart value, therefore, creating a smart society. 

Global issues are also prompting the need for a smart society, 

which could well provide solutions to challenge such as the global 

economic and financial crisis, unusually high unemployment 

rates, climate change, and terrorist threats, etc. 

Korea is no exception. As the country enters an aging society 

with a low birth rate, we need to prepare for a super-aged society 

by adopting a smart economy and a social safety net. A smart society 

can be an answer to Korea's current problems. For that reason, 

the government has been making efforts by building a wide 

range of information and communication infrastructure, and 

those efforts are recognized worldwide as South Korea ranks in 

the top spots of the UN's e-government survey. 

However, despite the top-level infrastructure, there is still plenty 

of room for improvement in terms of utilization of societal values 

created by information technology. At the moment, Korea is 

finding itself in a crucial transition from information society to 

smart society. Then, the question arises: how are we going to apply 

this change to solving real problems as ICT expands its influ-

Speech 

Korea Institute of Information and Telecommunication Facilities Engineering (ITFE) Fall Seminar 

ence on the society as a whole? After all, it is a very appropriate 

time for us to push towards a smart society through a topnotch 

electronic government and ICT. 

The structure of smart society 

Smart society is constructed in a way where smart work, which 

is comprised of smart life, government and business, is based on a 

smart infrastructure, and smart citizens, who play a pivotal role in 

actualizing the core values in creating a smart culture. 

The future-oriented smart infrastructure is built by converging 

conventional social overhead capital (SOC) with improved digital 

SOC, which then develops into a safety infrastructure that provides 

quick and convenient services in case unpredictable disaster 

takes place, by linking the network of various forms with relevant 

social sectors. Social infrastructure is vital in establishing such 

smart infrastructure, based on which precise laws and proper government 

policies mitigate the infinite competition and promote 

constructive cooperation of a smart society. However, smart 

work is the most important factor in achieving a smart society. In 

July, the President had already received reports on strategies to 

promote a smart working system. Smart work leads to a smart 

government with two-way communication, enabling individualbased 

services and real-time record management regardless of the 

location and time. 

Also, the social infrastructure will help to build a work environment 

where people can cooperate irrespective of place and time, 

and use creative capital to establish diverse and innovative ventures. 

All of these depend on what smart citizens accomplish 

within smart culture. We should now move towards a smart society, 

the global mega trend, from the current technology-based 

paradigm. Smart Korea will lead the global current of social 

change into a whole new future. 



Speech 

Changing the Development Paradigm 

of Information Communication 

The 170th round of the 'Ubiquitous Social Leader Forum' was 

held at the Grand Ballroom of the Millennium Seoul Hilton at 

7a.m. December 12, with over 50 participants including the forum's 

members and leaders from various sectors. With Choi 

Seong, Professor at Namseoul University as the host, the president 

and CEO of Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) Suh 

Jong- ryeol (simonsuh@kisa.or.kr) was invited as a special guest 

to discuss the 'Development and Paradigm of Information 

Communication' and conduct a question and answer session at 

the forum. The following is the summary of his presentation. 

Web 2.0 is on the front line 

in the development paradigm 

The first generation analog mobile phone based on voice communication 

- after the second generation digital and third generation 

of WCDMA - it is being developed into a 4G which offers a 

virtual environment for users. The development and evolution of 

communication network has brought changes to our overall 

lifestyle. Today's digital convergence is a result from the integration 

of cable and wireless communication of networks and broadcast, 

and all the online and offline domains creating new forms of 

products and services while advancing technology, service, and 

industries based on IT convergence, which are most well embodied 

by smartphones and IPTV. On the front line of such change in 

this paradigm is Web 2.0 - a platform through which to create a 

wide variety of new services by utilizing data gathered from people 

at large. Web 2.0 is therefore differentiated in that it allows 

and encourages people to share, participate, and have the ability 

to open up, unlike in the past where a handful companies exclusively 

controlled information as a tool for their leverage. 

Web 2.0 is currently expanding its domain to mobile 3.0 and 

IPTV 2.0 from the technological perspective, in addition to 

spreading to other sectors such as government and management. 

The paradigm innovator, Apple Inc. 

Few people would argue that Apple Inc., along with its leader 

Steve Jobs, is at the epicenter of the current transition of this social 

paradigm. After releasing iPod, the sensational MP3 player, 

in 2001, the company has been leading the convergence trend of 

device and contents, launching iTunes, media player applications 

in 2003, iPhone in 2007, and the App Store in 2008. 

Suh Jongryeol, president and CEO of Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) 

Presently, nearly 300,000 applications are registered at the App 

Store and the accumulated number of downloads exceeds a staggering 

seven billion. Apple has become a colossal influence on the 

overall electronic appliance and contents industries that range 

from electronic appliances to contents providers, by supporting 

the innovative 'open platform' App Store. Their success has led 

telecommunication companies that used to enjoy exclusive control 

of the value chain to now change their structure into an open 

market. In addition, since the release of the iPhone, the smartphone 

market has shown an average annual growth rate of 20 

percent - and its market share is expected to increase to 46.5 percent 

by 2013. Another ambitious project by Apple is the iPad, a 

device which has optimized various multimedia contents including 

music and games and is rapidly emerging as its own new platform. 

Many experts predict that the majority of existing newspapers 

and magazines will soon go online and that this device will 

not only add a new dimension to contents distribution, but it will 

also change the education and business industries. 

Google, sky is the limit 

With an enormous amount of data, Google, often noted as the 

world's top search engine, is expanding its business beyond advertisements. 

Recently the company's expansion of its business mod- 


Speech 

el, which now ranges from cloud-computing, new media, and an 

open platform, has made the global IT industry wonder just how 

big Google is going to build its empire. Part of Google's competitiveness 

comes from their possession of terminal platforms - 

Android OS and Chrome OS - as well as service platforms. The 

recently showcased Smart TV from Google provides interactive 

service through this optimized platform, setting a new standard 

for the broadcast system. 

Rising concerns for adverse effects 

of the high speed internet 

It is essential to discuss a matter relating to internet ethics and 

information protection, when talking about the current IT trends, 

as there are far too many cases of information leakage to ignored. 

In particular, the risk of exposing the personal data on the internet 

has increased with the accelerating development of social networks 

and the associated ability of the high-speed internet to disseminate 

information. Take Google's Street View for example, 

people can peek into other people's private life anytime through 

satellite images. Also, the rising number of smartphone users 

means a higher probability of the spreading of malicious codes. 

About 900 smartphone malicious codes have been reported, including 

TredDial that was found for the first time in Korea last 

April. 

Internet ethics and proper measures 

We promptly need to enhance laws and institutions to prevent 

such privacy violation and the spreading of malware. To do so, 

the Korean government should invest more in protecting privacy 

and safety, as they currently have a particularly low proportion of 

an information security budget to the total budget drawn for informatization. 

For instance, according to the U.S Office of 

Management and Budget, the U.S government spent 10.3 percent 

of their budget in the same category on information security in 

2009, whereas their Korean counterpart only put 5.5 percent for 

the same purpose that year, although the number rose to 8.2 percent 

in 2010. Other areas in need of reinforcement include human 

resources and technological reform. Service providers and IT 

product manufacturers must take into account the security issue 

from the design stage. The users' societal and philosophical approach 

to internet culture will also help improve Korea's IT environment. 

In the midst of dynamic change and development, 

KISA has continued to make efforts to become the global top ITexpert 

institution. By constantly learning and challenging, the organization 

will build credibility from the public, government, and 

corporations with its innovation and creativity. 

Monica Chung/ monica@koreaittimes.com 

The 170th round of the 'Ubiquitous Social Leader Forum' 


RFID/USN 

RFID/USN Takes Smart Life 


When Korea IT Times visited 

the Korea RFID/USN Center 

(www.ruc.or.kr) in 2008, President 

of the Center, Shin Sang-chul 

(ssc@ruc.or.kr), shared his ambition 

to produce as many RFID 

chips as there are grains of sand on 

the coast of Incheon. As of today, 

the RFID export rate is 130 billion 

won per year. Until last year, cost 

was a major hindering factor for allowing 

RFID from fully flourishing, 

but this has been taken care of. 

The current price of the RFID chip 

is 6-7 cents. Now progress is being 

made regarding the matter of privacy 

protection and information. 

"Within 2-3 years, the price is expected 

to drop further to 5 cents. 

The RFID business is already expanding 

from B2B to B2C. Mobile 

RFID chips and applications are blossoming and readers are 

portable. The Samsung Galaxy S smartphone is already designed 

to place the RFID reader at the back of the phone. With an antennae, 

the phone can receive 13.56 MHz WiFi service on demand. 

The next version of iPhone 4G will change the back cover from 

an iron plate to plastic, so that it can be used with the RFID tag 

reader. It is evident that RFID/USN will be the core technology 

of the Smart Era which buckles safety, efficiency, health, and happiness 

of its people," said Shin Sang-chul, President of the RFID 

USN Center (RUC). 

The rapid growth of RFID/USN technology is all credited to 

RUC. RUC has been in every step of RFID manufacturing for 

companies at any size. RUC's undying support has been covering 

various areas from manufacturing pilots to issuing certification of 

authentication at a low cost. About 3,000 companies come to 

RUC from home and abroad to be tested for certification of authentication. 

Japanese companies often come to RUC to gain 

global authentication. RUC has also been renting out the RFID 

manufacturing and testing equipments to SMEs at very affordable 

costs. All these brought a flood of RFID convergence to 

Korean industries and market. Shin Sang-chul, the President of 

the RFID/USN Center, states the trend of RFID/USN's capacity 


Shin Sang-chul, the President of the RFID/USN Center is passionately explaining Micro Processing 

and explains the Center's distinct role in future development. 

Smart Life and Smart Society via Mobile RFID 

Services 

Mobile RFID signifies mobile phones with a built-in RFID 

reader chip which works as a RFID reader. Due to this mobile 

RFID, companies can adopt a RFID system at a low cost. SK 

Telecom and KT announced that they would unveil RFID smartphones 

in the second half of this year. This means that full-blown 

RFID services will be provided through partnerships with discount 

stores, convenience stores, vending machines, movie theaters 

and theme parks. Once smartphone users put their RFIDequipped 

smartphones against tags attached to menus, they can 

choose an item, pay and receive it all at the same time. As such, 

mobile RFID will make our life smarter and vibrant. Through the 

application of the mobile RFID system, smart life and smart society 

can be realized. A case in point is Incheon International 

Airport's RFID logistics system (the first in the world): mobile 

RFID is utilized to manage Incheon International Airport's system 

for logistics and distribution information. By applying mobile 

RFID technology to all kinds of cargoes bound for other nations, 

Incheon International Airport has succeeded in appreciably cutting 

logistics costs and real-time-management. Hanmi

RFID/USN 

Pharmaceutical Co. is embracing RFID as well. It is working on 

a project to share real-time distribution information with raw material 

providers and other pharmaceutical companies via electronic 

tags attached to pharmaceutical production and raw materials. 

By doing so, automation of ordering raw materials and delivery 

will be achieved to efficiently manage the production process. 

2010 RFID/USN has Taken a Sharp Turn 

The RUC, based on RFID/USN -- MEMS-related cuttingedge 

infrastructure -- is offering both RFID/USN one-stop support 

services and MEMS foundry services. RFID/USN Total 

Support Office-- which provides professional technical support 

based on wide-ranging infrastructures, from R&D on 

RFID/USN to production of prototype products-- is focused on 

BMT (Benchmark Test) services that are RFID/USN application 

tests designed for the government, local self-governing entities 

and general companies. To make high-quality products and systems 

widely available and boost exports of domestic products, the 

RUC is working hard to be internationally certified as an official 

RFID/US-related testing institution and certifier. In addition, the 

MEMS Fab, which mass-produces MEMS based on the only 8- 

inch wafer in Korea, offers MEMS R&D and foundry (contract 

production) services and is developing technologies for a wide 

range of MEMS devices including pressure and acceleration sensors. 

Achievements in RFID/USN and MEMS 

The RFID/USN Center was founded in March of 2006, jointly 

invested by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the 

Incheon Metropolitan City, to promote RFID/USN and 

MEMS's sensor industry. In June of 2008, RFID/USN & 

MEMS sensor infrastructure was built in Songdo in the Incheon 

Free Economic Zone. Since then, the RUC has been providing 

related services. Since its inception, the RUC has continuously invested 

in various equipments to ultimately provide customized 

services. The RFID/USN Business Division has been officially 

recognized as Asia's first EPC global ATC testing institution for 

static/dynamic tests. In addition, in the environment and credibility 

category, the RUC has attained the KOLAS (Korea 

Laboratory Accreditation Scheme) accreditation. To get more 

parts of the RUC's business certified, the final stage of screening is 

underway. Through the ROU's test certification services, Korean 

companies can enhance the credibility of their RFID/USN products 

and have more opportunities for foreign market entry. The 

RUC believes that it will consequently spur up the Korean 

RFID/USN industry. 

In the MEMS field, the RUC has built a MEMS processing 

line that is based on an 8-inch wafer and earned ISO9001 (a quality 

management standard) and 14001 (an environment management 

standard), thereby offering high-quality products and services 

that live up to international standards. Based on the RUC's 

MEMS mass production facilities and custom-tailored services, 

the RUC has struck NDAs (non-disclosure agreement) with nearly 

57 companies: as of now, manufacturing and product development 

are underway with several products on track to be churned 

out in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the RUC has annually 

launched seminars and educational meetings on RFID/USN and 

MEMS, conducted surveys of the RFID/USN industry and 

made predictions for future demand of MEMS so as to provide 

an array of information that can actually help customers' businesses. 

Becoming a Global RFID/USN Testing Institution 

and a Certifier 

The RUC has continued to adopt international testing and certification 

systems and programs in a bid to grow into a global 

RFID/USN tester and certifier. Basically, through the expansion 

of KOLAS accreditation, a total of three more sectors will be certified: 

one in the existing categories regarding environment and 

credibility as well as others in the fixed/wireless communications 

devices and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) category. In 

addition, the RUC, certified as an international product certification 

institution, is building a world-class testing and certification 

system. The RUC's acquisition of the right to certify products by 

international standards, KSA ISO Guide 65 has boosted the 

credibility of the RUC's certification program. Taking advantage 

of such certifications, the RUC has been designated as a global 

EPC certifier in charge of the Asia-Pacific region and a mobile 

RFID official testing institution. At the moment, the RUC is 

making all-out efforts to be certified as an official RFID/USN 

testing institution by the Near Field Communication (NFC) 

Forum, a non-profit industry association that promotes the use 

of NFC short-range wireless interaction, and DASH-7 Alliance 

(a consortium of leading wireless industry players). From now 

on, the RUC will do its best to entrench itself as a leading global 

RFID/USN testing and certification institution through engaging 

in diverse international activities. 



Forum 

Lecture at IPAK Breakfast Meeting: 

The Future of Mobile, Web or App? 

Information Technology Professional's 

Association of Korea (IPAK )held a 

breakfast seminar at the JW Marriott 

Hotel in Seoul on Nov. 10 with roughly 

50 members of IPAK in attendence. 

IPAK organized a Software Contest of 

Korea and selected 34 products, including 

eight from China. It was noted that 

IPAK will announce a list of winners for 

the Day of Software Industrial Men and 

present the President's Award, Prime 

Minister's Award, and Minister's Award 

to the winners on Dec. 17. 

For the seminar, IPAK invited Bang 

Hyung-bin(hbbang@kt.com), Vice President 

of KT, Mobile Data BU Personal IPAK breakfast meeting 

Customer Group, as a speaker. Bang delivered 

a lecture on the subject of "The Future of Mobile: Web or 

App?" 

Apple CEO Steve Jobs seems to have confidence that the future 

of mobile lies in Apps, introducing iPhone OS4.0 to the market 

on March 12, Jobs said that "regarding mobiles, customers 

will gain information through relevant Apps rather than searching 

for it on Google." Bang said, "Apple introduced iAD, a program 

which inserts advertisements on iPhone Apps. It is because 

advertisers are expected to have a greater interest in Apps than the 

Web, as Apps heed growing popularity." Bang also noted that 

some people have a totally different opinion. "According to Kim 

Ji-hyun, Director of Daum Communication, even though mobile 

App Stores are growing, mobile Web services will grow faster 

than App Stores in the future. According to Kim, just 0.1% of 

Apps registered in the Apple App Store are making profit. There 

were no downloads for about 20 ~ 30 percent of the Apps." 

Bang said, "Development of Apps is important. However, distributing 

Apps to users still remains as a big barrier to mobile service 

providers." 

Web meets the world? (online + reality) 

"Web squared" is a term which combines the meaning of Web 

and world. Viewing Korea's IT media history, in the 1980s, an era 

of one household typically had one telephone (cable), then futher 

down the line the personal computer was developed. 

In the 1990s, the single person era, one telephone started with 

the supply of cellular phones and PC's. Super-speed Internet 

opened and the supply of e-mail began. New generations, generation 

X and generation Y emerged and the supply of desktop PC's 

expanded. In the 21st century, Internet era, 479.4 million people 

possessed an individual telephone, single households had one line 

as a means to access Internet, and the era of Web 2.0 and generation 

G emerged. The popularization of PC notebook's came 

about as well. "In the next decade of 2010, the era of Web 

squared supplied for a single person, two means of access to the 

Internet from one's household and smartphones emerged, heralding 

the mobile era," Bang said. 

He said that the era of Web squard is the cyber world. It is a 

phenomenon where simulacre-style mobiles augmented reality, 

which reproduced virtual reality thorough mobiles, replacing reality. 

Jean Baudrillard, Professor of Sociology of Nanterre 

University of France, coined the term 'Hyper Reality' for this era, 

where imagination seems to be more real than what is real and a 

society where virtual reality governs society as the era of simulacre, 

anticipating the future. "Like in the hit movie Avatar, virtual 

reality, which seems to be more real than what is real, is materialized 

through a program analyzing actions and faces, 3D programs, 

30,000 types of processors and some 250 cameras," he 

said. 


Forum 

Web 2.0 and Web squard 

Bang said, "The Web is no longer the aggregate of static 

HTML pages describing sets of information for the world. The 

Web is gradually becoming a world itself." He continued to say, 

"A browser is the window meeting the Web. In the era of Web 

1.0, browsers are links connecting the Web and individuals. In 

Web 2.0, a browser is a link between people and people and regarding 

Web squared, 

the boundary of browser 

and App is ambiguous, 

it becomes the brokerage 

media between 

Web and reality." Bang 

also gave a detailed 

technical explanation 

on Smart devices in 

Web squared and 

browsers that enable 

one to meet the Web. 

He also said that "although 

the use of mobile 

Apps falls behind 

that of mobile the Web 

Bang Hyung-bin, Vice President of KT, 

Mobile Data BU Personal Customer Group 

in terms of utilization 

in case of creating access 

to the Internet, the utilization of Apps is actively being 

made." Explaining the flow change of contents, he said, "500,000 

users connect with Foursquare, and the comparable figure was 

500 million for Facebook, 520 million for Skype and 6.52 billion 

for Google." KRC (Korean Resear-ch Consultancy) forecasts that 

the volume of the global smartphone market will see a four-fold 

rise in 2015 compared with 2009. 

Meanwhile, KT Eco-nomic & Management Research Center 

anticipated that the demand will increase by four times in 2012. It 

also forecasted that amid expanding the smartphone market, the 

ratio of using the mobile Web will go up higher than that of using 

Apps, which is the mascot of smartphones. It indicated that enterprises 

offering Web service should persistently manage the mobile 

Web. On the other hand, the mobile Web grew up first and its 

preference ratio is going up due to the continuous growth of App 

Stores. 

"In the case of U.S. developers, they think APIs linked with 

other services are very important. We can estimate a development 

direction of the present mobile App with the portions of 

Facebook (65percent), Twitter (60percent), Googla Maps (62percent), 

PayPal Payment (48percent). As the software of mobile 

Apps, iOS and Android coexist, presently, developers prefer iOS, 

but they are likely to gradually lean towards Android," he said. 

There are two types of Applications of App Stores - App application 

and Web application. "App is useful for users in specialized 

fields such as weather and maps, and the Web is useful in 

more general and miscellaneous fields such as search engines. 

Apps are used as a means for development, but it is difficult and 

developers tend to avoid disseminating it to many platforms. On 

the other hand, it can make profits from sales through tailor-made 

services, including 3D games. Meanwhile, Web applications use 

HTML and Javascript so that it is useful as an application to other 

platforms. However, it has shortcomings of simply depending 

on advertisements," he said. Bang stressed the importance of two 

directions rather than pursuing an individual development. 

Noting that new a type of browser is emerging in keeping up with 

the development of smart devices, he said that "browsers should 

be developed in a direction to produce universal standards that 

can carry out the Rich Web App functions by reflecting such Web 

standard development." 

Now the 3G era is changing 

to 3W (WiFi, Wibro, WCDMA) 

The Korean government is moving to announce the "Smart 

Korea" plan as a post e-government strategy. The smart government 

will build a mobile portal system and will embody m-government. 

As a guideline for the development of mobile e-government 

services, it recommends offerings of mobile Web methods 

and mobile Apps as public services and stressed importance on 

the guarantee of universal accessibility for all people. 

Commenting that the smart government pushes for innovation 

of communication, reform of the government's business process 

and differentiated mobile smart services, he explained the direction 

of "Econovation" policy, a policy supporting developers who 

work in keeping with the era changing from B2C to B2B. 

He said, "Finally, network resources are the problem. 

Although the 3G capacity reaches an unlimited level, it still falls 

behind the speed of WiFi. KT established a WiFi zone in many 

regions, but it was still uncomfortable to set up secure smartphone 

WiFi networks. Networks plays the role of detonator in activating 

smartphones. Noting that the era is now changing from a 3G network 

to a 3W (WiFi, Wibro, WCDMA) network, Bang stressed 

the importance of a network base for the smartphone boom. 


Event | Seoul Motor Show 2011 

Seoul Motor Show 2011 Sneak Preview 

The World’s Most Dynamic and Dazzling International 

Motor Show, Accredited by the OICA 

The Seoul Motor Show is a biennial 

auto show where domestic and foreign 

auto makers showcase their latest models 

that are either in production or at the 

R&D stage as well as new technologies 

for future models. The Seoul Motor 

Show dates back to 1995 and it is Korea's 

only motor show that has won the 

OICA( Organisation Internationale des 

Constructeurs d' Automobiles) accreditation. 

This is the Seoul Motor Show 

2011's 8th event.The Seoul Motor Show, 

which was designated by the Ministry of 

Knowledge and Economy as one of the 

top global exhibitions, has evolved into a 

major and well renowned exhibition held 

in Korea. Furthermore, it seems to be on 

the right track for joining the ranks of other 

top motor shows such as the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Paris 

Motor Show, the Detroit Motor Show and the Tokyo Motor 

Show. 

Evolution, Green Revolution on Wheels, 

the Seoul Motor Show 2011 

The Seoul Motor Show 2011 is scheduled to be held for 11 

days from March 31 to April 10 at KINTEX (Korea International 

Exhibition Center), Goyang, Gyeonggi-do (visit www.motorshow.or.kr 

to learn more). Under the theme of "Evolution, Green 

Revolution on Wheels", passenger cars, commercial vehicles, 

two-wheeled vehicles, bicycles, auto parts and other related devices 

will be on display at the exhibition. The 8th Seoul Motor 

Show will offer visitors a rare opportunity to have a panoramic 

view of the ongoing trend of the global auto market and new auto 

technologies.The 8th Seoul Motor Show will be the biggest motor 

show ever held in Korea; 132 companies (including auto makers 

and parts suppliers) from a total of eight countries with an expected 

visitor turnout of one million will take part in it. The Seoul 

Motor Show 2011 has elicited great interest from participants; 

above all, most of the participating auto companies asked for an 

expansion of the exhibition size, but KINTEX was not big 

enough to meet their demands for greater space. As a result, participating 

companies were allotted spaces that are 15 percent to 20 


percent smaller than they wished. 

By Huh Wan/ wanhuh@kama.or.kr 

Seoul Motor Show also showcases various types of historical vehicles in the World Automotive History Hall 

The Seoul Motor Show 2011 will be an improvement 

on previous events. - Top-notch luxury cars 

and fancy sports cars such as Maybach and 

Porsche will perch on the floor of KINTEX. 

In the case of vehicle models, ultra luxury cars and sports cars 

such as Maybach and Porsche that are rarely seen on the road 

will grace the Seoul Motor Show 2011 with their presence. In addition, 

Japan's Subaru, who developed the world's first fourwheel 

drive passenger car, will enter the Seoul Motor Show 2011 

to flaunt its state-of-the-art technologies. As for vehicle parts suppliers, 

major purveyors such as Hyundai Mobis, Mando and 

HCC (Halla Climate Control Corp.) will put on display their future-oriented 

auto parts. In sync with an increasing focus on lowcarbon 

and green growth around the world, an array of ecofriendly, 

high-efficiency, energy-saving small cars, hybrid vehicles, 

fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) will be 

displayed to stoke up public interest in the 'green vehicle' trend. 

A variety of peripheral programs are also in the wings to entertain 

visitors: by lottery, a car and a bicycle will be gratuitously given 

to visitors each day. To better serve the forecasted 1 million 

visitors at the Seoul Motor Show 2011, there are a slew of programs 

in the pipeline such as a Smart Vehicle and Smart Road

Seoul Motor Show 2011 | Event 

Huh Wan, Director General of the Organizing 

Committee for Seoul Motor Show 

2011(Telematics International Seminar), Collegian Self-made 

Car Contest, Collegian Automobile Design Contests, Best Car of 

the Show Awards by Journalists, UCC Contests, Car Design 

Class and Test-driving for Eco-friendly Cars (a new addition to 

the lineup of the Seoul Motor Show's peripheral programs). 

What's more, a total of 10 cars will be given to visitors for free by 

lottery during the 10-day Motor Show. On top of that, a bicycle 

will also be handed out each day to a lottery winner to make the 

Seoul Motor Show 2011 juicier and more visitor-friendly. In addition, 

to make sure 

visitors' have a pleasant 

tour of the show, 

amenities and resting 

places will be expanded. 

The International 

Auto Industry CEO 

Forum, which will 

be attended by major 

global CEOs and 

is deemed central to 

the Seoul Motor 

Show 2011, is sponsored 

by the Chosun 

Ilbo (a major newspaper 

in Korea), 

which by itself invited 

four to five CEOs 

of the world's best auto makers to learn about their management 

philosophy and changes in the global auto market and to foresee 

where the global auto industry is headed. Thus, the International 

Auto Industry CEO Forum is projected to draw a great deal of attention 

from industry insiders domestically and abroad. 

The economic effects 

of the Seoul Motor Show 2011 

Results of a survey which looked into the economic benefits 

generated from the Seoul Motor Show 2009 greatly underlines 

the economic impact of the Seoul Motor Show. According to the 

survey, the Seoul Motor Show 2009's positive effect on auto production 

was tantamount to KRW 525 billion, of which KRW 

210 billion was created in auto production and KRW 315 billion 

in upstream and downstream industries. Furthermore, the Seoul 

Motor Show 2009's added value was estimated at KRW 393.7 

billion. The organizing committee of the Seoul Motor Show 

2011, armed with its accumulated knowhow and ample experience, 

has been strenuously developing multi-faceted programs to 

attract more global auto makers, visitors and buyers. The Seoul 

Motor Show 2013 that will be held after the construction of 

KINTEX's second exhibition hall is completed, will be held on a 

floor of 100,000m 2 , twice the current floor size. Consequently, the 

Seoul Motor Show will take a giant stride towards becoming one 

of the world's top 5 international motor shows in terms of both 

operational capabilities and exhibition size. 

Seoul Motor Show(2009) brings tens of thousands of people 



32-inch Full HD LCD SME Products on a Roll 

Top of the Line 

The national leading online electronics shop, Enuri.com, is displaying a sweet twist for the LCD market. Unlike last year when 

Samsung and LG dominated the LCD television market, small and medium sized companies' 32- inch high definition LCD TVs are a 

big hit this year. Is this credited to the economic crisis, or the products themselves? After thorough research, this editor concludes that 

SMEs products are highly compatible. 

Overall analogy 

The costs of big brands' 32-inch LCD TVs range from KRW 600,000 to KRW 620,000 in today's market. However, 32-inch SME 

products can be found in the market with prices as low as KRW 365,000. 

It is this editor's pleasure to introduce her top 3 SMEs' 32-inch HD LCDs of the year. 

VT-3201HLW, Voimtle 

Starting with brief check -- 1,366 X 768 WXGA, 0.264 X 0.264 mm Dot Pitch, 5ms response time, 176 degree viewing angle - the 

Voimtle 32-inch LCD television provides real time internet information from news and weather forecast, to UCC contents. Various internet 

contents are available through open the platform app store. This model has High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), 

which picks up both digital audio and video signals in one cable. HDMI is way more compact than DVI, provides multi channel audio, 

and features HDCP codes. It's surround audio system and swivel monitor backs up the high definition 32-inch LCD TV only at 

KRW 395,250. What a deal! 



OSCAR HD-Class DV32LCD, WCD 

The merit of WCD's OSCAR line is that they use LG Display panels for their products. On top of the highest definition a viewer 

could ever imagine, this model is mainly known for its S-IPS -- In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels, which provides top quality images to 

viewers at any angle within 178 degrees. The charm of DV32LCD is in its Piano Black high glossy coated monitor. Noise cancelling 

feature and 5ms response time is noted, as well as various terminals such as HDMI, DVI, D-SUB, and S/PDF. Its current offer at the 

lowest price is KRW 436,000 online. 

TIVA-320 FHD, Speed Technology 

Three year warrantee, LG panel, and compact movie box, these are the differentiation of Speed Technology products. TIVA-320 

FHD also uses IPS panel with high resolution of 1360 X 768. Within 178 a degree angle, viewers can be guaranteed with the high image 

with 5ms response time. 16:9 wide view and 500cd brightness is calling movie lovers. Speed Technology offers a special item 

Movie Box as an option. Movie Box can stay connected to television, while the memory cards transfer movie contents. This Movie 

Box also plays multimedia files including video contents, music, pictures, and documents. Korean and English are the offered languages. 

The lowest price is offered at G Market for KRW 439,000. 

Editor's Choice : Voimtle 

Voimtle, the cheapest of the three, yet has the equivalent features as the other two in terms of resolution, response time, viewing angle and so on. 

However, what made this editor so strongly recommend this product is its online connection. Real-time news, weather forecast, You Tube contents viewing 

feature cannot be comparable to Speed Technology's multimedia file playing function. 

Chun Go-eun / clairbear@koreaittimes.com 



Drivers on the Road with Full Time Witness 


God helps the driver who helps himself? A black box is must-have item for most drivers in the country where louder voices always 

win. SMEs' black boxes are cost-effective, and the market is launched with the following top three companies. 

Overall analogy 

The costs of big brands' 32-inch LCD TVs range from KRW 600,000 to KRW 620,000 in today's market. However, 32-inch SME 

products can be found in the market with prices as low as KRW 365,000. 

It is this editor's pleasure to introduce her top 3 SMEs' 32-inch HD LCDs of the year. 

Semtech, Light Cruising 

Semtech black boxes support a GPS function that is compatible with Google Maps, and their 1.3 megapixel camera has backup batteries 

that runs for 5~10 seconds longer even after being turned off after an accident. Meanwhile, the price is the cheapest of all the other 

SME products. An extra US$ 10 will provide GPS support, and the black box itself is very compact yet efficient. 



AVIC VIEW-i 

The VIEW-i supports on-time recording functions as well as efficient location selection management. It also displays clear images at 

1.3 megapixels 120 degrees to the front and 149 degrees to the rear. So, navigating with the black box function, who wouldn't consider 

having one? In addition, they are compatible with any kind of car, supports TV and JPEG capture, manual video recording, accident 

situation recording and GPS functions. Additionally, it has the ability to synchronize with Google Maps! 

Eyecar Networks, The Observer Series 

The 'Observer Series' has received recognition for its high quality manufacturing and patents in Europe and America. The observer 

series has GPS functions and recording functions as well as other typical specifications of a normal black box. The driver can choose 

the models from 1-to-5 channel support. Meanwhile, the camera is detachable. Normally the camera is set up at the rear end of the vehicle, 

in case of an unexpected accident. 

Editor's Choice : Semtech 

This editor has to raise her hand for Semtech for its backup batteries and high quality images. However, the real competitiveness of their product is in 

the price. No other black box is as affordable as Semtech models, yet the functions are very similar to the other models. With US$ 65 investment, a driver 

can buckle up safely with GPS and black box system. Why not try one? 




CCTV or Guard Dog, That is the Question 


What good is a national heritage, or a personal propterty if it is has no guard? Learning from the past, CCTVs are a big hit these 

days. For a compact city like Seoul, a high quality CCTV is more suitable than owning a fierce dog. SME CCTVs aren't cheap, but its 

market keeps growing. Let's find out why. 

Comart Systems, HD CCTVs 

Comart systems proved to the world that there is no reason why CCTVs cannot be in HD. HD CCTV solution provided by Comart 

sends high-quality images of over 1,000,000 pixels through serial digital interfaces, and this also prevents any decrease in quality. When 

compared to analogue CCTVs, current video security systems are way ahead of the curve with full HD videos at no loss of playback 

speed. Comart systems officials explained,"HD CCTV solutions allow clear identification of faces or serial numbers on individual bills. 

The 4 channel HD DVR scheduled for release is a must for small shops and banks that require high quality video surveillance efficient 

security systems." 



E-ronix, Night Vision Camera 

"At night, when nobody around, a camera could tilt out of place while spinning at 400 degrees per second. Our product does not 

have this problem because it spins with great accuracy, precisely down to 0.00023 degrees. Also, problems of things icing over in low 

temperature areas have been addressed with an installed heater system, and a built in cooler would help keep the temperature down in 

hot areas like the Middle East." An E-ronix spokesperson explained. The night-vision camera E-ronix unveiled this year is an Infrared 

camera with 4 LED lenses which allow for clear recordings of up to 150 meters. 

E-pia, Wireless CCTV! 

E-pia develops low power RF wireless technology for various systems. This time they unveiled their wireless camera transmitter using 

the latest binary CDMA technologies. E-pia officials stated that "Our latest products are more resilient to static noise and interference 

that existing analogue/wireless devices lack, in addition to having a longer range than WiFi technology. Also, clear transmission 

of video and audio is possible at speeds up to 80km/h." The mechanism behind E-pia products is a series of signal transmissions from 

the camera to the transmitter and from the transmitter to receiver, and from the receiver to the screen. The key point is that these signal 

transmissions do not require a repeater for up to 200~300 meters. Officials continued on the products and prospect of the industry. 

"Currently we are developing this technology for strategic military use and currently, existing cameras with E-pia technology works exactly 

the same. So there is no need to purchase additional cameras, reducing cost. Our house developed a 4-screen camera which will 

be available next year. They are adaptable in many different business areas, and we are expecting increased demands." 

Editor's Choice : Comart Systems 

The great strength in the CCTV industry lies in each company's differentiation. Yet, this editor has to give the highest points to Comart Systems for 

now due to their HD surveillance solutions. The current complaints of CCTVs are mostly on their blur images. Zooming has been no help here. For the 

consumers who are seeking to try the CCTV for their home or work place, Comar Systems' product is recommended. 



SME 

SMBA Opens Its Arms to the World 

Behind Korea's No. 7 ranking in exports 

are Korean SMEs 

This year, Korea ranked 7th in world exports with a trade surplus 

of US $42 billion. How is that possible? 

Korea's SMEs(Small and Medium sized Enterprises) and the 

Small and Medium Business Administration (SMBA:www.smba.go.kr) 

have played a pivotal role in propelling Korea into that 

position. Trade environments are constantly changing. Thus, the 

SMBA has devised various kinds of support services to help 

Korean SMEs charge ahead 

and stay firm in the face of 

such transformation: the SM- 

BA goes beyond simply providing 

groundwork and support 

as a consulting partner assisting 

SMEs in creating inroads 

into oversea markets. 

To learn more about the 

SMBA's consulting services for 

foreign market entry and 

know-how, Korea IT Times 

met with Kim Young-tae 

(kdragon@smba.go.kr), 

Director of the Overseas 

Marketing Division for the 

Small and Medium Business 

Administration.The SMBA 

aims to maximize exports by 

encouraging Korean SMEs, 

ranging from start-ups to those 

armed with global competitiveness 

to make appropriate business 

choices and focus on their 

competencies. Provision of information 

on trade volume 

and overseas markets and buyer-seller 

matching services are part of what the SMBA does to catalyze 

exports. Promising SMEs who post up to US $1 million in 

exports, are discovered by the SMBA to bump up their exports to 

US $5 million in five years' time. In addition, the SMBA is keen 

on supporting overseas marketing through holding trade shows, 

offering support for export incubators and helping SME products 


Kim Young-tae, Director of the Overseas Marketing Division for the SMBA 

meet international standards. What's more, by designating small 

but strong SMEs who are deemed capable of proficient growth in 

a sustainable manner to reach over US $5 million in the global 

market, the SMBA provides varied support such as export-oriented 

R&D, securing of key competitiveness and overseas marketing, 

in order to create jobs and boost exports. On top of that, the 

SMBA's online export support services are offered to jack up opportunities 

on a continuing basis and to mount an online promotional 

campaign to expose more products made by Korean SMEs 

to overseas buyers regardless of time and place. 

SMBA's support programs have reached great achievements 

through the provision of support packages by the overseas marketing 

sector. From 2007 to 2009, export growth in SMBAbacked 

SMEs was 76.9%, which is 14 times higher than the average 

growth (4.1%) of SMEs as a whole. Furthermore, as of the

SME 

end of September this year, exports of 1,592 SMBA-supported 

SMEs shot up to US $3.11 million from last year's US $2.62, a 

whopping 120 percent in growth. 

Striking SME MOUs with other nations 

and raising joint SME funds 

Most noteworthy among the SMBA's activities are efforts to 

lay the groundwork for foreign market entry by reinforcing international 

collaboration. By forging friendly relationships with 

many nations, the SMBA has created an environment where 

Korean SMEs can actively engage in trade activities of various 

markets. For example, the SMBA signed MoUs with China, the 

United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel, increasing joint SME 

promotional funds and facilitated SME investment. The SMBA 

has stepped up it's cooperative relationships with other nations: it 

introduced Korea's SME promotional policy to African nations 

such Ghana and Congo and invited interested parties who 

wished to learn about Korea's SME policy to participate in such 

activities. "The government of Dubai that has recently gone 

through an economic crisis but has shown a high interest in manufacturing. 

Thus, we dispatched our experts to the UAE who 

wanted to learn about Korea's SME promotional policy and system, 

to offer strategic consulting services, advice on systems and 

English-language documents on laws. We always welcome any 

nation who wishes to take cues from Korea's SME promotional 

policy and system," said Director Kim Young-tae. The SMBA also 

holds trade exhibitions and sends trade promotion delegations 

to emerging markets such as the Middle East and to Korea's FTA 

partners to chart new territory and unearth niche markets. 

Besides, to help Korean SMEs overcome high overseas trade barriers 

such as tricky technical standards, the SMBA offers information 

on overseas standards and how to get certified. Now, the 

SMBA is poised to wade into the markets of Korea's FTA partners 

like the EU, India and Chile as well as uncharted territory in 

Central and South America and Africa in search of niche markets. 

By fully cashing in on the advantage of FTA tariff eliminations, 

the SMBA plans to intensively tap into a huge commerce of 

emerging market economies to gain a vantage point. 

Director Kim said, "We will make an all-out effort to discover 

strategic markets that are waiting to be tapped by Korean SMEs 

by conducting an in-depth market analysis by nation and by 

item." 

Exports of Korean SMEs' products 

and success stories 

Thanks to the SMBA's full-scale support, Korean SMEs' advanced 

technologies and SME CEOs' strong determination to export, 

more Korean SMEs are making a profit in oversea markets. 

Case in point is HAAN, a Korean home appliance maker. 

Armed advanced steam vacuum cleaners, HAAN has made remarkable 

achievements in overseas markets through its rigorous 

localization strategies such as setting up a subsidiary in the US 

and breaking into distribution markets. Another success story 

comes from the Korean company Lock & Lock who has been 

very successful in selling airtight food storage containers online 

and on home shopping networks in China. In addition, there are 

many SMEs whose businesses have been booming in the global 

market thanks to the Korean government's backing for overseas 

marketing. For instance, in 2009, a Korean company that was included 

in the project, Make Korean SMEs Exporters - which provides 

participating SMEs with education on trade, buyer-seller 

matching services and market research - posted over US $15 million 

in exports, up from US $20,000. Another Korean company 

in the Project also saw its exports jump from US $60,000 to over 

US $5 million thanks to the Project's in-depth market research 

and trade shows. Additionally, Osstem Implant, a Korean supplier 

of dental implants, has successfully developed premium brand 

"HiOssen" and it won the US $20 Million Export Award in 

2008. 



New Idea Goods 

Turn Off the Lights and Open the Curtains, 

Everything is Possible with a Smart Phone 

GS E&C (www.xi.co.kr) 's 'Xi Ilsan Xi We City' unveiled their high-tech ubiquitous city system. 

The revolutionary technology has changed what we think of in the areas of the network, safety and 

security systems. What's different is that users with a Smart phone are able to manage a hybrid ventilation 

system and climate control. This is just one example of the technology that is integrated into 

the ubiquitous building in 2010. Here are the examples of what visitors will enjoy in the Xi Ilsan Xi 

We City. Taking kitchen compost out to the bin on the curb is a think of the past. On every floor the 

Auto Solid Waste Collection system is available for the elimination of food waste. The Hybrid ventilation 

system, which is the marriage of natural ventilation and forced air ventilation, brings in fresh 

air without opening the windows. The electronic heat exchange system saves energy with less consumption 

for ventilation. It will also provide disinfected water, which contains plenty of minerals 

and DO(Dissolved Oxygen) via the Central Water Purifying System to households that are connected 

to the infrastructure. The state-of-the-art air conditioning system in bed rooms and ventilation 

system in kitchens foretell the greatness of ubiquitous city system. The Smart phone is an integral 

part of the system. Leveraging the power of a device the resident already has was an easy design decision. With it they can control the 

lights, temperature, and air. The system also allows the resident to get information about traffic, shopping and local area using their 

smart phone as well. 'Emote metering' and 'automated delivery service' are just another things residents will enjoy. 

FlatDis Unveils its Real Time 3D Converting 

System 

The Avatar brought a new era of 3D to our life and the FlatDis's 

converting system is one of the best ways to produce 3D movie 

content. 


Have you ever wondered if anyone has developed a solution to convert 

images from 2D to 3D? Well, wonder no more because FlatDis has been 

working on the display algorithm and the display quality enhancement 

technology to achieve just that since 2002. They began research to develop 

their 3D converting algorithm 5 years ago. Now FlatDis has developed 3D 

Box that converts 2D images and content to 3D in real-time. 3D Box is a 

hardware device and can be used with any resolution format input. The 3D 

Box will allow you to see up to Full HD imagery. It has various input 

channels, to include HDMI, DVI, D-Sub and Component. This is a turnkey 

product and users won't need to buy additional conversion hardware. 

Physically, the 3D Box looks like a standard set top box. It's easy to connect 

to your monitor or TV. The next thing you know you'll be enjoying the exciting 3D world. Flatdis has six patents, five in Korea 

and one in the US. These patented solutions include adjusting image quality in flat panel displays, motion detection equipment and 

stereoscopic conversion. Flatdis has a number of other products and service offerings. This diversified company, located in the 

Bucheon Chunui Technopark, Seoul, Korea, has units which supply the defense industry, develop fire sensors that are used in conjunction 

with CCTV, create digital displays and provide image-related training programs. Their 3D products are built to order, based on the 

customer's requirements, so you know you'll get just what you want. You can find out more information at 

http://www.flatdis.co.kr.

Goggleless 3D Image Display Makes 

a Whole New Experience 

Goggleless 3D Image Display 

unveiled by 3D One 


If you are a person who enjoys watching 3D images, but finds wearing 3D goggles uncomfortable, 

the answer is 3D One's goggleless 3D display. 3D One unveiled its goggleless 3D display, 

which comes in various sizes: the 3.8-inch versions are the same size as the screen on a smartphone; 

the 7-inch can be utilized for PMP, navigations and POP; the 12.1-inch can be used as a sub monitor 

and a DID (Digital Information Display); and the 19-inch, on which dot multi-users can be supported 

with only two images, right and left. Furthermore, their optical bonding greatly enhances visibility. 

Another one of 3D One's attention-grabbing products is the goggleless 3D digital photo frame 

(7"), which has the goggleless, multi-view 3D display and enables real-time 2D to 3D conversion. 

Using 3D One's own conversion algorithm, the 3D digital photo frame boasts a superb 3D conversion 

function. 

For more information: www.3done.co.kr 

Augmented Reality transforms 3D to 4D 

The Avatar brought a new era of 3D to our life 

and the FlatDis's converting system is one of the best ways 

to produce 3D movie content. 

Recently '3D augmented reality' became the talk of the town. It refers to 

the computer graphic, applied in various areas, such as mobile phones that 

projects a virtual object in real environment so that it looks as if the object 

actually exists. At the center of this cutting edge industry is Big I entertainment, 

who are expanding their business in special graphic production from 

3D stereoscopy, 4D, HD stereoscopic movies, and virtual reality. After 

supplying smart phone content to the German 3D production company 

'Special View,' Big I Entertainment in collaboration with Aga World, introduced 

a world classic fairytale book series with the world's first Blu-ray system. 

Now they are in negotiation for the product's exportation. It is an 

achievement that suits its reputation for their rich and various sources including 

picture books and illustrations. Big I Entertainment uses a separate 

layer system when creating content, and shows remarkable competence as 

they produce 10-minute stereoscopic content in just about one and a half 

months. In addition, they take into account the perspective in arranging the layers, so as to add visual comfort to the final result. This 

has been made possible by their special technology, whose patent is pending, and Big I Entertainment already has patents for a stereoscopic 

editing device and method, as well as video frame creation methodology for stereoscopic content. 

If you are ready to enjoy 4D augmented reality, find more about it at www.bigient.com 



Where is My Desk?!!! Articulated Arm 

Gives You More Space 

If you work with more than one computer display, then you know how 

crowded your work space can seem. Go with three or more and you'll need a 

dedicated space just for computing and any other work will have to be done 

elsewhere, that is of course unless you have a VISIDEC monitor mounting 

system from Mountkorea Co.,LTD (www.mounkorea.com). For users who 

require dual monitor applications, the Focus Articulated Dual Arm can revolutionize 

any workspace. This desk mount supports two LCD flat screens 

of up to 17.5lbs (8kg) each and frees up valuable desk space for enhanced 

VISIDEC 

productivity. Holding the two displays side by side or back to back, viewing 

comfort is dramatically increased through easy repositioning of the screens. 

Tilt, pan, rotation, height and distance from the screens are all at the user's control. This ensures an ergonomic design with award-winning 

features alongside great value for the money. 

The VISIDEC family, consisting of Focus, Traveller and Freestanding Ranges, are contemporarity designed mounts for LCD displays 

for home and office applications. VISIDEC offers great value in terms of price and functionality, award-winning design, and ease 

of installation. The VISIDEC Focus range incorporates Atdec's FlexiStarTM mechanism - a unique universal LCD screen attachment 

head which allows users to adjust their VISIDEC Focus mount to suit 75mm x 75mm (3" x 3") and 100mm x 100mm (4" x 4") VESA 

mounting hole patterns. The FlexiStarTM makes choosing a right mount for your monitor a breeze. 

Transcan, a Contactless 3D Image Scanning 

System 

MiniMe Dream launched a contactless 3D image 

scanning system called Transcan 

Many people's values have long shifted from quantity - simply having 

something to eat, wear, and sleep in - to quality: better eating, clothing, and 

sleeping. With the well-being fervor, an increasing number of consumers 

are seeking more healthy and beautiful life, which, as a result, explains the 

success of weight-loss clinics and fitness-related industries even during the 

economic downturn. Following this trend, MiniMe Dream (chkimpace@yahoo.co.kr) 

recently launched an innovative contactless 3D image 

scanning system called Transcan. This system, specially designed for fashion, 

obesity clinic, health and other related businesses, photographs the entire 

human body in only a tenth of a second, creating what could be called 

a customer's "digital twin." Transcan recognizes and subsequently generates 

image of a whole body that appears on the monitor, before analyzing 

the height, circumference, and body composition based on realistic figures, 

using various software applications, and then outputs the assorted data. 

The system automatically provides optimum diet and exercise information, 

and is also fast as well as harmless for human body since it does not 

use laser. 


Eco-friendly Lighting Equipment, 

High-efficiency LED Built-in Lig 


Daekwang Lightech(www.dklightech.kr)'s high-efficiency LED light fixture 

is designed for indoor lighting that is turned off and on by the external LED 

converter. The structure of the LED lights' tube uses Heat Sink radiation. To 

prevent glare caused by LED lights, scattering pipes were used. "In addition, 

high illumination reverberation shades were implemented to increase optical efficiency" 

said Daekwang Lightech. 

In particular, this product, an upgraded version in terms of optical and electric 

performance, can be used at industrial sites where precision machines are 

heavily used. Daekwang Lightech's high-efficiency metal halide lamps & stabilizers 

also warrant attention. Thanks to consistent efforts to develop state-ofthe-art 

technologies and quality improvements, Daekwang Lightech is able to 

High-efficiency LED light fixture for indoor lighting 

produce high-efficiency metal halide lamps, with a dual tube structure, that prevent 

the arc from coming into contact with the wall of the arc tube. Its dual tube 

structure also eliminates the potential for fire, in the event that a failure occurs. High-efficiency metal halide stabilizers are tuned off in a 

state of unloading to prevent electric shocks. A reset switch makes it easy to maintain. Above all, SP (Saving & Protect Igniter), used 

for the stabilizer, is supplied to over 20 domestic HID (high-intensity discharge) lighting manufacturers and can be used in a semi-permanent, 

eco-friendly manner. 

Catch Your Eyes with 3D 

HoloCubig, a 3D image device, showcases realistic 3D images 

Got a product promotion in 3D? You can imagine your fascination with 

realistic three-dimensional images. 3D Joy(www.3d-joy.com) launched a 

new product, called HoloCubiq, which enables such a promotion system. 

HoloCubiq is a 3D image device that projects 3D images of the product 

in the air for product presentation and advertisement without using actual 

products. The speaker maximizes the effect of advertisement by adding 

sound to the image. With the smart design and trendy color, HoloCubiq 

proves to be very effective for display, and the clear image and LED-based 

design helps improve the image, therefore, sales of the product. Holocubiq 

is produced in 8", and higher-end 15" and 19" models. The 19" model in 

particular can be custom-designed as a premium model, which features an 

integrated touch screen, allowing customers to select the product for which 

the video will play. Moreover, HoloCubiq Premium helps advertisers with 

marketing by quantifying the customers' preference in data. 



The First Slider Controller with a QWERTY 

Keyboard in Korea 

Are you tired of having a stack of remote control devices in front of your entertainment 

center. Well NST Co., Ltd (www.nstkor.co.kr). has about the most sophisticated 

universal remote you can imagine. It does everything you could want from a controller 

and you don't have to be a licensed commercial pilot to operate it. Simplicity of design 

and a complete array of features make the Blue-I the ideal universal controller. Their tag 

line for the product is "Next-generation Smart Controller" and smart it is. The compact 

design, when closed, conceals a full QWERTY keyboard, which will come in handy 

when your TV starts talking to the Internet and all those social networking sites. The 

convergence of technology means you will be able to perform many of the tasks that 

used to require a full blown computer on a variety of devices, which were traditionally 

single purpose tools. Having a keyboard at your disposal will eliminate the pain of entering 

text through some of the poorly designed interfaces that you encounter when trying 

Blue-I the ideal universal controller by NST to locate you favorite entertainment content. NST figured this out. When they developed 

the Blue-I they incorporated the keyboard in the remote in the same way that some smart cell phones do. The sliding feature saves 

space and improves ergonomics when the keyboard is not in use. Other handy features include Two-way communication, a strong 

communication method, integrated mouse, and it is able to control a broad range of multimedia devices. 

Hyundai IT Unveils Super Narrow Bezel LCD 

3D Multi-Vision 

3D Display specialist Hyundai IT (www.hyundaiit.com) unveiled the 

world's first Super Narrow Bezel multi-vision LCD 3D at Korea 

Electronics Show 2010. The Super Narrow Bezel is a 138" super-size 3D 

screen, formed with a total of nine 46" LCD displays, arranged in a 3 by 3 

configuration. Its height is comparable to that of an adult man. Unlike, the 

existing big screens using polarized 3D glasses, which can only be used in 

dark places, the Super Narrow Bezel provides 700 candelas, 150 percent 

brighter than a normal LCD TV, enabling easy presentation using the 

touch screen, even in bright places. The 70-inch premium Table Display, 

as you might have guessed from its name, is a device for display on a table. 

Users can search for information using the touch screen functionality and it 

can be connected to a TV, DVD, Divx, or PC. Hyundai IT's 3D display 

Hyundai IT's super narrow LCD 3D multi-vision 

products are supplied to television networks, including ESPN and production 

companies in Hollywood. The Super Narrow Bezel, which proves to 

be very space-efficient thanks to the auto-folding feature, along with Table Display is anticipated to be in high demand from businesses 

that are domestic and worldwide. They will serve well in exhibition centers, museums, and 3D production companies. Hyundai IT is 

also planning to showcase their digital signage solutions for bus shelters and subways. 


Haptic Simulator for Medical Training 


AR Vision's injection simulator, an medical training system, helps personnel 

to practice injection using haptic technology 

AR Vision (www.ar-vision.com)'s intravenous injection simulator 

(ARSim IV-100) is an interactive medical training system that helps 

personnel to practice injection using haptic technology. This system 

adopts 3D stereoscopic and high quality computer graphic effects to 

create a more realistic environment in order for the users - training 

doctors, nurses, and paramedics - to improve their injection techniques. 

The simulator also provides an array of useful training content 

for injection practice. 

Auto repair with simulation 

VSM, the simulated automotive repair solution developed by AR 

Vision, simulates 3D data designed by automotive designers before 

actually going into production, to minimize errors, reduce the development 

period and cost by a substantial amount. With realistic computer 

graphics and haptic devices, this solution provides a realistic environment for automotive repair, which helps training institutions 

and auto mechanics improve their technique. 

Stay Away from Electromagnetic 

in Our Daily Lives 

Electromagnetic inference considerations are increasingly important 

for our daily lives 

Electromagnetic inference (EMI) considerations are increasingly important 

as electronic devices become more ubiquitous in of our daily lives. Our 

reliance on these devices has increased the performance requirements for 

electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) components like common mode 

chokes coils, which provide protection against incoming and outgoing 

high frequency noise. They also protect electronic devices against high 

voltage pulse noises generated by spark discharge, etc. In switching power 

supplies, the waveforms are periodic, but they become non-periodic in the 

case of data lines used in telecommunications. That's where AMO 

Greentech (www.amogreentech.com) comes in. They are a 'Total Green 

Solution Provider'. Their core business is Renewable energy, Smart grid 

and Electronic Chokes to support an environmental friendly business model. 

AMO Greentech has developed, using advanced materials, the "Nano 

Ribbon"element, which is at the core of the choke product line. They have 

a lineup of Choke products which have superior magnetic properties over other magnetic components on the market. The AMFN- 

Series (Nano Common mode chokes) are mainly used to provide attenuation of asymmetrical conducted interferences. AMFN series 

shows a higher insertion attenuation that is insertion damping, overall the wide-range of frequency. AMF Series magnetic cores of high 

permeability, which are made of co-based amorphous alloys, are now available. In addition, recently AMOGREENTECH launched 

new AMFN Series common mode choke cores, which are made of nanocrystalline alloy. The typical permeability of AMF and 

AMFN Series common mode choke is 80,000. Where permeability rates excede 80,000, AMOGREENTECH can provide higher level 

common mode chokes with AMF and AMFN Series flat loop cores to satisfy those requirements. 



The Eye in the Sky Has Your Back 

It's night and one of your employees has been working late. She 

finishes her work and leaves the office for a long walk to the bus 

stop. As she exits the building some creep is lurking in the shadows 

waiting for an opportunity to take advantage of someone caught unawares. 

He sees your employee make her way out of the building 

and he's ready to make his move. This is going to be easy he thinks. 

Then he hears a soft buzz and realized there is a pan and tilt camera 

moving into position. The thing is pointing right at him. Then he notices 

a security person exiting the building and coming his way. As a 

coward who would consider accosting a vulnerable victim in the 

first place, he cuts and runs. A potential crisis is averted, because 

you have taken the responsible precaution in implementing a robust 

Digital IP Video Security Systems introduced by GSP 

security solution. These days surveillance systems are a requirement 

if you are doing business. The webcams you buy on line aren't going to cut it if you are serious about protecting your site, assets and 

personnel. If you want the job done right, check out GSP SYSTEMS INC. (82-32-651-2123 / www.gspsecurity.co.kr) Established 

April 2000, GSP SYSTEMS Inc. designs, develops and manufactures security products in S. Korea and offer fully integrated systems 

to customers the world over. Their products are proven in the field and have demonstrated their high quality throughout their 10 years 

of doing business. GSP systems are professional grade, suited for the security surveillance market, in which reliability and stability is essential. 

They provide the Total Solution, and GSP products are perfectly compatible with each other since they design, develop and 

manufacture their own technologies. They hear their customers' requirements and design systems to exceed their expectations. For integrated 

Central Management Systems, Digital Video Recorders, IP Network Servers and a full range of Camera equipment, make 

GSP your first stop. 

Does any Product Deserve 

the Good Design Mark? 

GeoCross has come out with the Vision Drive VD-7000 

GeoCross(82-1544-2954 / www.visiondrive.co.kr), a maker of in-car 

black boxes and telematics equipment, has come out with the Vision Drive 

VD-7000, which is making a sensation in the market. The VD-7000 is a 

2CH car black box, equipped with a WDR lenses and infrared ray LED. 

Noteworthy is that the VD-7000 is the only Korean product that has received 

the Good Design Mark. On its wide, color LCD screen, users can 

watch their past driving videos in vivid colors. There are so many features 

that deserve your attention. I don't know where to begin. Of course, the 

VD-7000, the only Korean product that bears the Good Design Mark, is 

great in terms of design. But that's not all. Its advanced features far exceed 

its external beauty. It provides services in many languages with a onetouch 

voice recording function. It has LED buttons, a three-axis shock sensor, 

a built-in GPS module, etc. In particular, the high-performance GPS 

module tracking function and simultaneous recording of what's happening 

forward and back and selective recording. 


Withsolution Has Taken Security Video 

Monitoring to a Whole New Level 


Withsolution (82-62-975-7373 / www.withsolution.com) is actively engaged in developing 

cutting-edge, high quality security equipment and becoming a leader in the 

market. Their systems employ totally digital technology to provide security equipment 

that is enhanced with digital multimedia technology. Their digital security applications 

are uniquely designed, developed and manufactured with their accumulated 

experience in CDMA-based wireless communications, CCTV video processing, 

embedded solutions, H.264 video compression processing and home network control 

techniques. That is a mouth full, but when it all comes together it 

represents an highly versital system, which has flexibility seen nowhere else in the 

industry. A description of two of their systems demonstrates what I'm talking about. 

One is the Wall Mount DVR (Digital Video Recorder). It can be installed at remote 

industrial sites, it is water-proof and vandal resistant. Since it uses an LED back-light 

Wall Mount DVR (Digital Video Recorder) 

high-resolution industrial digital LCD, the life of the product is longer. It produces no 

heat, so no separate cooling fan is necessary. What's more the unit is nearly noiseless. Over the Internet, all functions are accessible. It 

can be installed on a telephone pole or exterior wall. The system gives you the ability to monitor illegal disposal of waste, municipal 

water and sewage systems and other public institutions. Another configuration is used in vehicles. The Vehicle DVR is a security system 

that can be installed inside a car, truck or bus and it will record any malicious event. The units are particularly useful on monitoring 

for taxi robbery or vehicles that are at risk of being damaged or stolen. The system senses shock automatically through the use of a 

gyro-sensor. Upon detection, images showing the conditions 40 seconds before and after the event, based on shock time, will be stored 

automatically together with separate event records. This solution is the perfect marriage of industrial DVR technology, power supply 

control technology and sensor technology. 

No More Toothache, with Laser Toothbrush! 

M&H laser toothbrush 

Do you have hypersensitive teeth? Want to drink cold water and 

eat food without pain like other people do? Do the medicines and 

toothpastes not work for your damaged gums? In what would seem 

like the future, the world of toothbrushing technology is more prevalent 

now than ever before. M&H (www.mnhtw.com) recently introduced 

its laser toothbrush, which radiates low-frequency laser to 

massage user's gums and teeth every day. In clinical survey conducted 

by Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul St. Mary's 

Hospital, 75 percent of the patients with hypersensitive teeth showed 

improvement after using laser beam massage. Officials of M&H said 

"All you need to do is spend your 5 minutes per day while brushing 

your teeth and you will see your damaged gums covered by a thin 

protective layer after a few weeks." M&H toothbrush tells that the 

state-of-the-art products are not things that we can find in the future. 

They are what we use now. 



A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words 

and the Bigger the Better 

Many new arrivals to Korea are fascinated by those huge video 

screens that are mounted on buildings. The live sporting event experience 

has been transformed by the fan's ability to watch instant replays 

of the action in the stadium on massive 

video displays. Advertising has taken on a whole new dimension 

when the video message is viewed by thousands of passers-by at a target 

intersection. A building owner can leverage a good location into 

previously untapped income by agreeing to have a monster screen 

mounted on his building. When you are in the market for this technology, 

there is only one place to go and that's DBT(www.dbdt.co.kr). 

DBT (Dong Bang Data Technology / 82-2-2108-7878) Co., Ltd. is an 

expert in outdoor and indoor electronic display screens and IBS total 

solution systems. They have a proud tradition of providing the best 

Fantavision Electronics Display System by DBT 

technology and the organizational power to deploy solutions of this 

scale. They are known for their honesty, sincerity and ability to rise to the challenges associated with meeting or exceeding the customers' 

expectations. They have built an after-care service system which can't be matched by any other company in the field. Their 

FANTAVISION Electronic Display System is an electronic screen device for indoor and outdoor use. It's no secret in the industry that 

they use the highest quality high-luminescent lamps and LED and CHIP LED for the lighting elements. Their screens are deployed to 

display video, images and live footage in real-time. DBT produces custom-made installations to meet the customer's size and shape requirements. 

They build the best in breed display systems used for advertising or promotion. DBT takes the hassle out of the experience 

by handling all aspects of bringing the dream to reality. 

AHA Information & Communication Leads 

a New Information Culture with Its DID 

and Electronic Board 

AHA Information & Communication (www.ahainc.co.kr) presents two new promising 

products: the DID (Digital Information Display) and the AHA Electronic board. To start, 

AHA's DID, which is designed to facilitate information delivery, enables remote control 

and remote scheduling through networks. And AHA's DID is a 46 inch multi vision display, 

using super narrow bezels. AHA's large multi display has combinations of 3X3 and 

4X4 configurations, created by arranging many panels. What about an Electronic Board? It 

comes in either tablet monitor or the world's first wide table monitor. 

AHA's Electronic Monitor, which enables touch and scribbling on any LCD, PDP and 

DLP images can be very useful in educational and business settings. In the end, AHA's 

Electronic Monitor is expected to open the door to a creative, innovative, multi-media educational 

environment. 

AHA Information and Communication's 

mulitivision 


Touch Me! 

Wios’s 2020 New Product "SENEDA” 


Wios (www.x-pointer.co.kr), a camera touch solution developer, 

has unveiled its 2020 new product "SENEDA". SENEDA is a touch 

module brand that can be used as a touch screen monitor, once attached 

to a general monitor. It features a LCT camera. Wios's patented 

LCT camera technology works in the following way: the camera 

mounted on the top of the monitor senses objects. The strength of camera 

touches is that they can preempt any malfunction caused by screen 

WIOS unveiled its 2020 SENEDA 

scratches, which are the problem of the Capacitive Touch (PCT) technology. 

Any object, including finger tips, can be used to make touches. SENEDA can come in handy in terms of applications and installation. 

SENEDA comes in a wide range of sizes, so it can be applied in diverse touch screen sectors like DIDs (Digital Information 

Display) and kiosks. 

Float Like a Butterfly and Sting Like a Bee 

Chois's wireless RF based Control Devices can help you to deliver your 

presentation like a pro 

It's easier to keep peoples' attention if they can see you and 

you can move around while you are talking. Presentations 

can be a pain if you're tied to the location where the computer 

is, usually next to a projector in the back of the room. Chois 

(www.wios.co.kr) has solutions that let you roam freely, and 

even talk with your hands, if you like. Their wireless 

RFbased Control Devices easily connect to any PC and with 

one in your hand you can deliver that all-important presentation 

like a pro. Would you rather have the audience looking 

at the message delivery vehicle that you and your team spent 

hours working on or have them looking at you while you use 

your dictatorial powers of persuasion. With the Chois remote 

controller you can have both to give your self the best shot at 

getting your point across. The X-remocon is the new concept 

remote control for PC that a user can directly customize the 

mouse and keyboard function and control files in a PC with 

23 buttons. The XR100 uses RF to solve the directivity problems 

at a reasonable price. 

The infrared remote control works regardless of obstacles 

between the remote control and a PC. 

Chois has really thought of everything to get you ready for 

that big pitch. The X-pointer XP140 acts as a remote controller 

and laser pointer, providing the best environment for presentation in a light weight package. The XP140 supports the remote 

page transition and laser pointer functions for the use in Microsoft PowerPoint and provides the best environment for presentations 

without an auxiliary worker. With Chois RF remote control solutions you're prepared to nail it. 



High-Performance, High-Efficiency, 

Hybrid Digital Set-top Box 

Aegislogic (www.aegislogic.co.kr)'s Hybrid 

Digital Set-top Box (AL-200) embodies 

Aegislogic's advanced technology. It enables 

watching both IPTV and satellite broadcasts via 

one set-top box. In addition, 1080p full-HD 

video images can be enjoyed. 

In contrast to previous set-top boxes that allow 

for only one form of broadcasting reception, 

AL-200 allow users to enjoy both IPTV and HD 

satellite broadcasts. VOD and live functions via 

a server make it the optimum terminal solution 

for public offices, hospitals and large churches. 

Besides, Aegislogic Hybrid Digital Set-top Box 

Aegislogic's Hybrid Digital Set-top Box 

(AL-200)'s peripherals deserve attention, especially 

the Sliding Point Remote-Controller (AL- 

010). This remote controller can control the set-up box and TV, let alone the PC. Furthermore, Aegislogic's unique typing method, 

waiting to be patented at the moment, will help users enjoy IPTV in a more diverse and easier manner. Just like a PC mouse, the cursor 

on the screen can move in eight different directions. 

World’s First 15-Inch OLED Monitor 

for Professionals, LEM-150 

The LEM-150, the world's first 15-inch OLED monitor, 

unveiled by TV logic 


TV logic(82-70-8668-6611 / www.tvlogic.co.kr), a video technology and broadcasting 

equipment specialist, has released the world's first 15-inch professional 

OLED monitor, the LEM-150, causing a stir in the industry. The world's first broadcasting 

monitor made with OLED panels, the LEM-150 has many benefits that 

were not available in LCD monitors. For instance, the self-emitting OLED does not 

require a back light, therefore it is thin and light. The high luminance makes it 

brighter than normal displays and the high contrast ratio of 100,000 to 1 provides 

clear contrast at any viewing angle. The wide viewing angle, at 180°, offers a consistent 

picture quality regardless of the viewer's angle to the screen and the color does 

not become distorted when the display is viewed any angle. It is also worth noting 

that the monitor offers a clear and dynamic picture in any environment, thanks to its 

fast image response. It has a low energy consumption rate, because only the bright 

areas require energy. TV Logic is also planning to introduce the 'VFM-056W', a new 5.6-inch viewfinder monitor, at this year's Korea 

Electronics Show. The VFM-056W has a screen resolution of 1280x800 and weighs less than 0.3kg. It is resilient and heat-proof, using 

a magnesium emission system case. The monitor offers various features, which are unavailable in the existing viewfinder monitors, 

such as a Y level check, wave form, vector scope, range error, and focus assist. Ergonomically designed, the VFM-056W will set a new 

standard for viewfinder monitors, providing the optimum solution for filming, such as indoor and DSLR shooting.

Interior Design Meets Marketing Magic 


Interior designer Mrs. Lee recently visited a client with an unusual 

request. The client is a photographer who specializes in 

capturing outdoor scenes in wild environments. Mrs. Lee was being 

consulted regarding wall paper in particular. The photographer 

client had taken some spectacular pictures and wanted them 

integrated into the wall paper solution. Mrs. Lee thought it might 

be possible, but told the client that she would have to do some research 

and report back in a few days. Later that afternoon, she 

visited her advertising consultant, Mr. Park, to arrange for a new 

banner for the front of her shop. While she was there, she mentioned 

the client's requirements regarding the wall paper. The Mr. 

GeoCross has come out with the Vision Drive VD-7000 

Park said that he had recently acquired a new printing system 

from Inkchemsystem (http://inkchem.syn.co.kr), that he mainly 

used the amazing new system to produce 3D curved surface printing, but is was capable of performing many unusual functions. The 

UV printer, called JETRIX is a new machine and Korea's first multiplex printing system that integrates digital printing technology onto 

the irregular-and-curved-surfaced materials. Mr. Park was relieved to learn the the system doesn't use any kind of solvents, making the 

system eco-friendly. The High-speed operation and process, mass-customization and work standardization are just freebies. Mrs. Lee 

was happy that she had stopped by Mr. Park's office and told him of her dilemma. Thanks to Inkchemsystem JETRIX UV printer, 

Mrs. Lee's problem was solved and she would have another happy client. The next day she read in the news paper that 

Inkchemsystems had made a splendid achievement of cutting a deal to supply their JETRIX and 3D printers on the first day of KES 

2010. The 3D printer is scheduled to be supplied to Jinheung Co. in Jong-ro, Seoul. In the article it also said that Inkchemsystem is 

now planning to exhibit a sample that is compatible with various products at KES 2010. 

For more information: 82-2585-2042 / http://inkchem.syn.co.kr 

Lights, Camera, Action! 

Jinit's MMS-T Pro 

Since Youtube came on the scene, everybody has been getting in to the act. You can go to Youtube 

and see videos of just about anything you can imagine. Some take the process more seriously than 

others. For some it's ok to shoot a little movie with their phone and upload it to share with the world. 

But if that's not good enough for you then you need some specialized video editing gear. If that's the 

case then JINIT has the best around. JINIT(82-32-623-7600 / www.jinit.co.kr) has been around for 

the entire video revolution, designing and manufacturing digital video editing equipment since 1996. 

They have a dedicated staff of professionals and proprietary technology for the development and support 

of Digital Video Editing Equipment. JINIT is all about Digital Video Editing Systems, DVD 

Authoring Systems, Internet Broadcasting Systems, Network Broadcasting Systems and Security 

Surveillance Systems. 

In the 21st century and the Information Age, multimedia is taking center stage worldwide. Digital 

information plays an important role in every company. To keep pace with this growing trend, JINIT 

has developed and is now offering 'Netcast'- the world's first real-time multi channel broadcaster, 'JAS 

4' Digital Video Editing System, 'JAS 3' DVD Authoring System, Streaming Camera and Chroma 

Key Machine to elevate the quality of production video. They have been driving to lead the industry 

since the beginning and you can benefit from their hard work. You can't go wrong with a JINIT video 

system. 



Leader in Digital Conversion 

UMT8000 (Universal Media Transceiver 8000) is a 

professional IRD that provides up to eight slots in a 

compact size of 1RU. In addition to offering input and 

output for broadcasting and communication businesses 

and contents providers, this product has a chassis with 

Universal Media Transceiver 8000 

a minimum of one and a maximum of eight module 

slots. Each module supports satellite, cable, terrestrial, 

DVB-ASI, IP and baseband; decodes MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 (H. 264/AVC); and transcodes MPEG-2 into MPEG-4(H.264/AVC). 

Also, users can freely configure the system using its various power module options. The company is also launching MD2000 (Multi 

Displayer 2000) for multi-channel monitoring, which supports up to 32 SD or HD inputs and outputs them in DVI with the input from 

analog video or SDI. It has various output layouts and graphics designed for video and audio-level system monitoring. Acetel 

(http://www.acetel.co.kr) is a broadcasting equipment solution provider with an ambitious goal of dominating the world broadcasting 

industry with their technology. With experience and know-how in digital broadcasting systems, in which they have built for more than 

10 years a strategic alliance with digital broadcasting technology businesses inside and outside of Korea, the company is playing an essential 

role in the main TV networks' transition to digital broadcasting. As Korea's leading total digital broadcasting solution company, 

which offers services from establishment and development of digital broadcasting system (SI) to consulting and technical support, is 

renowned for having many core solutions related to digital broadcasting systems around the world. Now, with the new trend of digital 

conversion, Acetel is on the front lines of improving digital broadcasting systems in many areas, including satellite broadcasting, terrestrial 

broadcasting, cable TV, IPTV, and mobile broadcasting. 

Observer B1, an Eye-Witness, Protects You 

Observer B1, a digital drive recording device, provides drivers 

safety 

EyeCar NetWorks (82-1577-8227 / www.eyecar.co.kr) is a leading 

company in the digital visual field and has a superior technique. 

They strive to make a great products through advanced information 

technology to expand the digital visual field. They monitor customer 

feedback to enhance the the quality and value of their products. To 

realize their vision and achieve their ideals they are committed to 

Central Management, Value Propositions and being a Technology 

Leader. They focus on speed of delivery, having well managed systems 

and customer satisfaction. Their motto is "Never be satisfied 

with the present." The Observer B1 is a digital drive recording device 

designed to assist in driver's safety. It records evidence of accidents 

that occur either while the vehicle is being driven or while the vehicle 

is parked. It stores data, to include speed,direction,operation of 

brake, etc. and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. 

It records both video and audio of the events using a front view 

camera and an additional camera for external view. The recorded 

data is invaluable for determining the cause of accident. It's like having an eye-witness 24x7. Users can easily view all data recorded by 

the system on PC. Observer T1 is a multi-channel distributor using infrared LED and Motion detection sensors. When the Observer 

T1 is connected with Observer B1, the user has a 5 channel total vehicle drive recording system. The system will give the driver peace 

of mind in knowing that when the inevitable accident occurs 


Events | Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea 

The Living Ocean and Coast, 

Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea 

The Second Story in a Series of Three Articles 

Expo 2012 (http://www.expo2012.or.kr/eng/main.asp) held in Yeosu Korea will allow 

visitors to experience diverse and plentiful themes where designated exhibition 

rooms have been prepared apart from the exhibition halls, which distinguishes this event 

from other international expos. The designated spaces are used to exhibit the given 

themes which consist of Big-O, Marine Experience Park, and Expo Digital Gallery 

(EDG), which will become the central place of the exposition by making innovative use 

of the natural and geographical conditions present at the site. 

Preview of Expo Digital Gallery 

Big-O and Marine Experience Park 

Big-O is the world's first special event venue to be built on the sea, and it is going to be 

established alongside the seafront of Yeosu Shinhang. It will be a future-forward and organic 

space where visitors experience 'Life of the Ocean and Coast' and also where main 

events, marine performances, cultural events, and new-media shows are staged. Far 

from the old concept of exhibition halls, Big-O will project large-scale and innovative exhibition 

techniques to the outdoor space and natural environment. 

Expo Digital Gallery (EDG) 

EDG is the central avenue of the exhibition, which continues from Yeosu's old downtown 

to the KTX station. A ubiquitous marine culture center that integrates state-of-art 

Korea Pavilion, the world’s first carbon-free exhibition 

hall 

A sky view of Expo 2010 Yeosu Korea 


Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea | Events 

IT, artistic lighting, etc., The gallery, 600m long and 30m wide, 

will be established across the international pavilions, and is the 

first of its kind to be built in the open space. The avenue will represent 

the imagined future of the year 2050 by adopting cuttingedge 

technologies and marine artworks; additionally, after the 

Expo, it will be used for stimulating the city's vibrant culture 

scene. 

Main Exhibition Facilities 

Main exhibition facilities within the center will be built separately 

for the host country and participating countries. As a BIEapproved 

exhibition, it will comply with relevant regulations taking 

into account operation, services, location, access to outer 

space, the visitors' paths, and post-Expo utilization, etc., the facilities 

are scattered within the international exhibition area. 

Theme Pavilion: marine construction representing 

the city, coast, and ocean 

The pavilion for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea was built based on a 

design called One Ocean, winner of a heated competition which 

took place among 136 teams from 31 countries. The Pavilion is 

the core facility of the Expo as it represents the theme 'Life of the 

Ocean and Coast', as well as 'blue economy' and the 'union of humankind 

and the sea' in a holistic manner. 

Sub-theme Pavilions 

Three subtopics - development and preservation of the ocean 

and coast, new resources technology, and creative marine activities 

- will be expressed in four pavilions within EDG: Marine Life 

Pavilion (Aquarium), Climate and Environment Pavilion, 

Marine Industry and Technology Pavilion, and Marine 

Civilization/City Pavilion. The sub-theme pavilions will surround 

the Big-O so that visitors can enjoy various ocean-related 

experiences throughout the Expo site. The marine art exhibition, 

in particular, will be created using the digital technologies of 

EDG. 

Korea Pavilion: the world's first carbon-free exhibition 

hall 

Projecting the visions of Korea's marine technology and also as 

a tribute to the future of humanity, Korea Pavilion represents a 

green development of the new ocean, and will become the world's 

first carbon-free exhibition hall. Even after the Expo, the Pavilion 

will remain a permanent construction to convey the message of 

Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea. 

International Pavilion: harmony 

and coexistence of the five Oceans 

Over 100 participating countries will prepare for the exhibition 

at this pavilion, divided into individual and joint exhibition halls, 

where they will embody the theme of coexistence and cooperation. 

The exhibitions 

will be clustered 

according to 

each ocean to express 

the harmony 

and coexistence of 

the five oceans. 

The International 

Pavilion is designed 

to represent 

a small island on 

the sea, and will 

be constructed by 

using state-of-art 

building material 

as well as environmentally-friendly 

elements such as 

solar power and a 

Bernoulli natural 

Sky Tower 

ventilation system 

which features a 

wavy roof to aid in this function. 

Marine construction representing the city, coast, 

and ocean 

Marine Life Pavilion (Aquarium): 

view of the marine life 

The gross floor area is16,400m² and total of 6,030 tons of water 

in the aquarium tank, the Marine Life Pavilion (Aquarium) is 

comprised of an Aqua Museum, Coastal Life, and Marine Life, 

etc. While providing a tool for researchers on a wide range of subjects 

including specie conservation and farming technologies for 

institutions such as the National Fisheries Research and 

Development Institute, the Pavilion will supposedly house endangered 

species like the Beluga whale, Baikal seal, and a Sea 

dragon, which cannot be seen at a commercial aquarium. 

Other Exhibition Facilities: Expo for participation 

and network 

Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will also act as a platform to promote 

global, local, private, and public participation in the Expo, by 

adding international organizations and non-governmental organizations, 

local governments, and corporations. The event facilities 

that will be run at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea include Sky Tower 

(built with recycled soil), Waterfront Plaza, an open theater, and a 

pocket stage (small outdoor theater), all of which will provide 

spectacle and exciting experience for the visitors. Taking into account 

the particularities of the marine exposition, the facilities will 

be built in a strong and safe structure which is able to withstand 

wind, rain, storm, etc., without losing artistic qualities. 

Suh Jin-young/ info@koreaittimes.com 


Events Sketch | AECF 2010 

AECF 2010 Discusses Asia's Role 

in the Global Crisis Recovery Period 

With leaders from all over Asia gathered together to talk about 

the future of the Asian economy, the Asia Economic Community 

Forum 2010 (http://www.aecforum.net) was held from the 7th 

to 9th of November at Songdo ConvensiA, Incheon. "It was a 

great success in stimulating intellectual interactions, arousing new 

ideas and also recasting old views." Chairman Kim Hak-Su stated 

recalling last year's forum. "Now we face a different set of economic 

landscapes this year... Global Economic Prospects of 2010 

(GEP2010), released by the World Bank, warns that while the 

worst of the financial crisis may be over, global recovery is fragile. 

It predicts that the fallout from the crisis will change the landscape 

for finance and growth over the next 10 years". 

Chairman Kim continued that this year they were mindful of 

the G20 conference that was held just two days after AECF 2010, 

and that they encouraged a "transition from crisis response to 

stronger, more sustainable and balanced growth" into the "3-pillars" 

of AECF which is "Grand Debate II on 21st Century 

Capitalism", "Grand Compromise II among USA, China and the 

EU" and the "Grand Dialogue II between Asia and the West". 

The break-out session on Sunday, November 7th, consisting of 

3 sub-sessions; the economic sessions, political sessions and cultural 

sessions. The economic sessions were the most numerous 

with eight subjects being discussed. The Northeast Asia 

Economic Association of Korea led the break-out sessions on 

four subjects "Creating Asia Community", "Macroeconomic 

Policy in China", "Cooperation and Future Theme in Northeast 

Asia" and "The Korean Peninsula and China" each with moderators, 

speakers and panelists who are renowned professors of uni- 


AECF 2010 | Events Sketch 

Dr. Kim Hak-su, chairman of the Asia Economic Community (AEC) 

Foundation and Former ESCAP Executive Secretary 

versities from all across Asia. The politics session in the afternoon 

was headed by the Korean Association of International Studies. 

"Grand Compromise toward the East Asian Community" and 

"Grand Compromise on the Agenda of EAC" were the two subjects 

of the talks. Again, professors of universities from all over 

Asia participated. 

The second economics session followed, with the Korean 

Urban Geographical Society and the Economic Geographical 

Society of Korea organizing two talks on "Job Creation and 

Urban Competitiveness", "Global City Network and Urban 

Competitiveness". A graduate student paper presentation session 

was also organized. HK Research Center for Chinese Practices 

and the University of Incheon organized the culture session on 

the subject of "Studies in Chinese Standards and Practices". 

Professors from China and Korea were present to participate as 

speakers and panel. 

The last session of Day 1 was an economic session on "Asian 

Responses to the Global Financial Crisis: Experiences and 

Comparison" and was organized by the Korea Association for 

Comparative Economics and the Economic Geographical 

Society of Korea. Day 2 saw the forum set full speed ahead with 

three plenary sessions, a break-out session, UN APCICT and 

Model Asia Union meetings. Plenary session one started with an 

opening remark by the Chairman of AECF Kim Hak-su, and an 

opening remark from the Mayor of Incheon, Song Young-gil. 

The congratulatory speech was given by Park Jin, Member of 

Congress and Immanuel Wallerstein, Professor at Yale 

University. The forum continued with another session organized 

by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy and 

keynote speaker Amartya Sen, Professor at Harverd University. 

USA, presenting on the "Grand Debate of 21st century 

Capitalism: In Search of Alternatives to Washington Consensus". 

A break-out session was also held with Asia Values Survey 

Research Team organizing a talk on "Asia Values Survey for 

Creating One Asia Together: Perceptions of College Students in 

China, Japan and Korea", UNESCAP Sub-regional Office for 

East and North-East Asia hosting talks on "A new development 

paradigm in North-East Asia: Green Economy, and talks on 

"CSR Korea and Asia" were organized by Herald Media. 

The UN-APCICT organized "Turning Today's Youth into 

Tomorrow's ICTD Leaders" participated by many distinguished 

international guests. Plenary session 2 and 3 was organized by the 

Korea Institute for International Economic Policy and treated 

subjects such as "Asia's Response and Tasks for Recovery From 

the Financial Crisis" and "Post Crisis New World Order: Asia 

and G20". Finally, the model Asia union was organized by the 

Asia Economic Community Foundation and the Incheon 

Metropolitan City, Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority. The 

talks were on "Asia's Integration". 

The last day of the forum kicked off with plenary session 4 

"Grand Compromise " Among US, China and the EU: 

Resolving the Hegemony Crisis by G2 or G20?" organized by 

The Korean Association of International Studies. UN-APCICT 

continued their talks from yesterday, "Turning Today's Youth into 

Tomorrow's ICTD Leaders". 3 special break-out sessions continued, 

with the One Asia Club organizing the "Start One Asia" 

talks. The Incheon Development Institute and Asia Journalist 

Association organized talks on "Network of Competition & 

Cooperation Among Asia Megacity Regions" and "Asian 

Journalist's Perspective on G20 Seoul Summit 2010" respectively. 

An economic session and political session followed with 

"Background and Conditions for Regional Integration: Asia and 

Europe Compared-The Model of Integration?-How to reformulate 

the European model into East Asia", and "Asia regional integration 

road map" talks and were organized by Northeast Asia 

Intellectuals' Solidarity Korea. 

The last plenary session, the "Grand Dialogue", was held on 

the subject "Grand Dialogue between Asia and the West", with 

guest speakers including Choi Won-sik, Professor of Inha 

University and Bernard Senecal, Professor at Sogang University. 

All talks and meetings wrapped up on Day 3 with the announcement 

of the Asian Regional Integration Index with Kim 

Won-ho, Professor of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. The 

wrap up session followed, with Kim Hak-soo, Chair of AECF at 

the podium to bring things to a close. There was also an announcement 

of the Regional Integration Road Map & 

Declaration of Incheon by Park Je-hoon, Secretary-General of 

AECF. 

Choi Hyung-kyu/ info@koreaittimes.com 


Trade 

Korea to Become G7 by 2015 

President Lee Myung-bak attends the 47th Annual Trade Day 

"The Korean government is to seek new trade policies to cope 

with a rapidly changing trade environment in the wake of the 

global financial crisis." President Lee Myung-bak urged in his ceremony 

speech to mark the 47th Trade Day at COEX, Seoul on 

November 30. In his speech, the president stressed the importance 

of penetrating markets in emerging economies such as 

China, India, and Brazil. Those countries have shown rapid 

growth and positioned themselves central to the world's economy. 

He added that the proportion of G7 nations in world trade 

has been reduced from half to one third, which the G20 accounts 

for two-thirds of the world economy. 

President Lee stated, "The development agenda of the G20 

Seoul Summit also holds significance, in line with the long-term 

expansion of the overseas market." Later, the President urged local 

small and medium sized enterprises to enter into the global 

market by upgrading their competitiveness. The Korean government 

intends to incubate more SMEs to raise the nation's total exports 

up to 40 percent from the current 30 percent. After the 

President's greeting, the government of Korea announced its ambitious 

vision to become one of the world's top 7 exporters by 

2015. With this, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy announced 

seven potential-laden markets, such as Central and 

South America, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, China, 

India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. To increase 

the trade volume, the ministry is planning to enter the infra 

market which links resource development and 

aggressively targets the middle class consumer 

market. The ministry will also establish a new 

infrastructure to foster 500 SMEs as global businesses. 

Additionally, the ministry will integrate 

and organize all the trade information from various 

ministries as well as expanding their online-based 

electronic trading networks. Also, 

they enhanced the support for pioneering the 

field of new trade sectors including procurement, 

services, and plant. 

With this, Korea is currently negotiating a 

FTA with 12 countries including Canada and 

Mexico. The trade conditions will improve 

when the currency stabilizes and new free trade 

agreements with the EU and Peru are fully utilized. 

So far, Korea has ratified Free Trade 

Agreements (FTA) with 45 countries. 

Meanwhile, the Korea International Trade Association (KI- 

TA) announced that Korea is expected to become the world's 7th 

largest exporter this year for reaching the amount of USD 466 billion 

in exports, which is exceeding the level which stood prior to 

the economic crisis in 2008. Also, Korea jumped two spots ahead 

from last year when they held the position of 9th biggest exporter 

in exports. 

Also, KITA forecasts that exports will reach a total trade volume 

of USD 1 trillion ranking them the 9th trade nation in the 

world for next year. KITA sees that Korea will have a surplus of 

USD 42 billion as exports are expected to rise by 28.2 percent to 

USD 466 billion and imports by 31.2 percent to USD 424 billion, 

by far the nation's highest number. In addition, KITA forecasts 

for the next year, exports will increase 10.7 percent to USD $516 

billion and imports will grow 14.4 percent to USD $485 billion 

for next year. Nevertheless a lot of uncertainties in the global 

economy are likely to weaken export growth for next year, the nation's 

key export items such as automobile parts, machineries and 

textiles will lead as the strongest exports continually. The automobile 

parts industry is expected to increase demands in emerging 

markets including China. The IT industry also has a positive 

outlook for the next year as the demand for TV panels, semiconductors, 

and smartphone displays increase. 


Trade 

Muslim Market Emerges 

as a New Global Target 

The Muslim market is emerging 

as a new global target for international 

corporations. With a population 

of about 1.6 billion, the 

Muslim market represents a high 

level of economic power, population 

growth, and prospensity to 

consume based on its rich natural 

resources, which explains why this 

region became an alluring marketplace 

for many big corporations. 

According to Lee Donghun, chief 

researcher at Samsung Economic 

Research Institute, "Although they 

have a strong image of being closed 

and stoic, many Muslim people are 

actually active in purchasing luxury 

real estate, cars, and other premium 

products apart from basic necessities. 

The Muslim culture, despite 

being geographically scattered, 

forms a huge market for their religious 

homogeneity," he explained. 

In fact, the unique characteristics of 

the Muslim culture made it a tough 

market for many foreign companies 

to get through. However, "once you 

succeed in entering the market, it 

gives you a huge advantage in terms of the market share. But you 

need to build market strategies carefully as the religious values are 

deeply rooted in every corner of their daily life," said Lee 

Donghun. Distinctiveness is found in clothing and fashion industries 

as well. Due to the strict prohibition of idolatry, promoting 

images of living creatures is prohibited, therefore this principle 

can be applied to product design, packaging, and even messages 

in advertisements. One of the Korean companies that made a 

shrewd use of such rules is Galalab, an online game developer. 

The company removed character designs and background music 

as well as other patterns such as the cross and star, before taking 

on the Middle Eastern market, in which their product is currently 

the third most popular online game. 

By Lee Dong-hun, Research fellow of SERI (serildh@seri.org) 

Also, Mr. Lee emphasized, "halal 

certification is vital in the food 

and beverage sector," adding that 

"in order to export to Muslim markets 

not only the ingredient and materials, 

but also the manufacturing 

plants need the certification. Such 

strict censorship is now expanding 

to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. 

Early on, the global food company 

Nestle famously focused its efforts 

on the Muslim market, and established 

themselves as a leader in the 

global halal food industry. 

Another important factor to remember 

is the rule of cash transaction. 

"Islamic finance forbids charging 

interest for lending money, so it 

is a crucial principle to bring cash 

for a transaction," explained Mr. 

Lee. The cash-based Islamic finance 

system showed relatively solid 

performance even during the recent 

global financial crisis, making 

themselves a case study for the non- 

Muslim regions. In addition, HSBS 

Amanah, a financial institution 

which specializes in Muslim banking, 

was selected the best international Islamic financial institution 

by EUROMONEY in February 2010. "Active 'halal' businesses 

are required as part of an effort to create a new market," 

Mr. Lee concluded. "Korean companies in particular should first 

secure the Southeast Asian market, taking advantage of their experience 

in the region, before advancing to Middle East and global 

Muslim markets. The importance of understanding the religious 

and cultural particularities of Muslim, of course, cannot be 

stressed enough. It's noteworthy to mention that the influence of 

word of mouth is more prominant than in other cultures, they 

need to fully utilize the young consumer base for improving their 

image and promoting the products." 



KSA Holds the 36th National Quality 

Management Contest 

The 36th National Quality Management Contest was held at 

COEX in Seoul on Nov. 23 with the attendance of 1,700 some 

odd government officials, businesspeople, workers and other 

guests. The annual event, sponsored by the Korean Agency for 

Technology and Standards of the Ministry of Knowledge 

Economy and managed by the Korean Standards Association 

(KSA), is designed to spread quality management activities to all 

industries by presenting national quality awards to excellent companies 

and businesspeople that greatly contributed to improving 

the quality of goods and services, a KSA spokesman said. 

At the 2010 national quality management contest, a total of 16 

companies and organizations received national quality awards in 

recognition of their excellent quality management activities. 

Five companies and organizations, including Woory 

Industrial, Korea Monitoring System and Sogang University, 

won a Quality Management Award. Meanwhile, Gyeonggi 

Province received the Talent Development Award in recognition 

of its contribution to actively fostering talent in industrial fields, 

the spokesman said. The Quality Management Propulsion 

Excellence Local Government Award, a newly established award 

for this year, created to boost the quality management activities of 

local governments, went to Busan Metropolitan City. 

KEPCO NF won the Quality Competitiveness Excellence 

Award and 10 companies and institutions, including the 

Independence Hall of Korea, received the Service Quality 

Excellence Award. Two companies, one of which was Kia 

Motors, garnered the Circle Excellence Company Award, which 

was newly established this year to boost quality group activities. 

In recognition of their contribution to promoting quality management, 

Oh Se-young, CEO of SCOMMTECH, and Chang 

The 36th National Quality Management Contest 



Do-soo, CEO of KOSEP, obtained the Gold Tower Order of 

Industrial Service Merit. Oh carried out the quality innovative activities 

of 6 Sigma, contributing to building quality systems and 

improving corporate culture, and Chang pushed for the TPM 

movement for the first time among public companies, enhancing 

the efficiency of power generation. A total of 85 entrepreneurs received 

awards or citations. 

Additionally, 21 workers, including Kim Bok-tae of LG 

Chemicals, took the Quality Master Hand Award and 246 sectors, 

including a division of Doosan Heavy Industries, garnered 

the Best Circle Award for their creative activities to improve business 

in the office, public and service fields, the spokesman said. 

The Service Quality Master Hand Award went to five company 

officials, including Kim Moo-kyung of Kumho Resort, and 

the Excellence Suggestion Award was given to 10 workers, including 

Kim Hak-doo of Hyundai Motor. Prime Minister Kim 

Hwang-sik said as he delivered his address at the event, "I extend 

a great thanks to enterprises and workers that put forth their best 

efforts to provide consumers with high-quality products and services 

through quality innovation and the improvement of process. 

I hope quality management for customer value and happiness 

will become corporate culture and build an industrial foundation 

for sustainable low carbon and green growth," he added. "The 

best way to attain sustainable growth in an era of limitless competition 

is to bolster price competitiveness of Korean products and 

attain top-class quality. By doing so, we should provoke global 

consumers. To let Korea leap toward being a quality powerhouse, 

we should create global quality management and corporate 

culture for sustainable growth." Meanwhile, the national 

quality management contest initiated in 1975 to present awards to 

enterprises and workers that made great contributions to the 

strengthening of industrial competitiveness by playing a leading 

role in industrial positions for the spread of quality management, 

improvement of productivity and cultivation of creative thinking. 

In the course of propelling quality innovation, executives and 

employees joined hands, sought out labor-management harmony, 

and jacked up morale, greatly contributing to spreading quality 

management activities to all areas in the country, mentioned 

the spokesman. Through the national quality management contests, 

472 excellent companies, 4,169 excellence circles, 1,296 

master hands and 1,713 contributors have received awards thus 

far, added KSA. "Stock prices of the companies that received the 

national quality awards soared at a faster pace than the other 

companies, showing improvement of their financial status and 

global competitiveness," he added "As the global market demands 

a higher level of products and service quality in keeping 

with customers' diversified and top-notch desire, only companies 

which survive in stiff competition of quality can survive in the 

21st century." 

Suh Jin-young/ info@koreaittimes.com 


RFID/USN 

Korea Aims to Take 20% of the Global 

RFID/USN Market Share by 2018 

Korea aims to occupy 20 percent of the global RFID/USN 

market share by 2018, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy 

commented. "To this end, the government will actively foster 50 

RFID/USN-specialized companies, which will create a total of 

12,000 jobs by 2018," a ministry spokesman said. "On a step-bystep 

basis, Korea 

plans to expand its 

global RFID/USN 

market share from 

4.2 percent in 2009 

to 6 percent in 

2010, 10 percent in 

2012, and further to 

20 percent in 2018," 

he said. 

Along with this, 

the number of jobs 

to be created in the 

RFID/USN industry 

will steadily rise 

from 2,636 in 2009 

to 3,400 in 2010, 

5,500 in 2012, and 

again to 12,000 in 

2018, said the ministry official. This is due to a concrete strategy 

to propel the RFID/USN new growth engine, allowing the government 

to actively foster RFID/USN-specialized companies 

armed with high technology competitiveness. For instance, it 

spent 32.7 billion won in 2010 to support market-creative technology 

development in the field. The government's supports will be 

focused on RFID introduction technology of medical supplies, 

liquor and clothing, mobile RFID, and global SCM. In the meantime, 

the ministry will actively support such fields with great market 

demand as smart energy, smart social security, smart environment 

and mobile USN. "We will gradually shift the focus of the 

technology development assistance system from research centers 

and universities to RFID/USN-specialized companies," he said. 

"In particular, we will make a strong push for technology development 

aimed at commercialization and practical use in the fields 

of mobile RFID technology, RFID tags to prevent forgery of 


RFID/USN technology provides a lot of new intelligent services by combining with many other industries 

Western liquor, RFID security technology and recognition technology 

of individual products," said the spokesman. He added 

that the government will operate a customer-oriented operation 

committee from the commercialization stage of technology development 

to expand relevant technology transfer and strengthen cooperation 

in the demand sector. 

Task pool system and tailor-made R&D 

planning tasks 

As a means of fostering RFID/USN-specialized companies, 

the ministry will also build a task pool system and suggest tailormade 

R&D planning tasks through a comprehensive analysis, he 

said. "Based on the government's policy needs including a new 

growth engine development strategy and technology roadmap, 

and the needs from industrial, academic and research fields, we 

will build a task pool system," said the spokesman. "Along with 

this, we will strengthen the global test and certification function of 

the RFID/USN center for commercialization of technology development 

and enhancement of confidence and global competitive 

power," he noted. The ministry is moving to enact domestic 

standards based on the commercialization of technology develop-

RFID/USN 

Along with Korea’s strong ICT infrastructures, Mobile RFID/USN fields lead global competive power 

ment tasks and take an initiative in deciding or developing global 

standards and patents in such future-oriented fields as mobile 

RFID, next-generation sensor network. For instance, it completed 

an enactment of national standards for 58 technologies by 

2008 and plans to expand the enactment for an additional 40 

technologies by 2012. By 2012, it is also planning to propel an enactment 

of global standards for 10 technologies. 

Creation of domestic 

and foreign market demands 

Noting that the ministry is exerting doubled efforts to create 

sustainable RFID/USN market demands, the spokesman said, 

"We will actively support the seamless process which ranges from 

production to retail for clothing, medical supplies and other items 

necessary for introduction of RFID technology." In particular, 

the ministry's efforts to create large-scale RFID/USN demands 

will be focused on medical supplies, clothing and liquor, he said, 

adding that tag demands by 2010 will reach 60 million for medical 

supplies, 12 million for liquor and 9 million for clothing. 

"The liquor distribution information system, now being applied 

only to the Seoul region, will be expanded to other metropolitan 

cities across the country by 2011 and further throughout the country 

by 2012," he explained. "In cooperation with the Ministry of 

Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Education, Science & 

Technology, and Korea Food & Drug Administration, we are actively 

pushing ahead with the convergence of pharmaceuticals 

and IT, including attachment of RFID tags to medical supplies," 

he commented. In line with this, the spokesman said the ministry 

would introduce such IT technologies as ERP and RFID to the 

manufacturing process of medicine in order to enhance quality 

and strengthen safety management. 

"Through the development of the RFID-based e-Pedigree model, 

the ministry plans to sharply reduce distribution, return and recalls 

of forgery medical supplies and expand its R&D investment 

capacity," he said. In a separate move, the ministry plans to establish 

an RFID/USN total solution leasing company, which offers 

equipment leasing, solution, maintenance and management services. 

"At the same time, the ministry is pushing ahead with expanding 

the B2C new business market through the commercialization 

of mobile RFID. As an initial step, smartphones with a 

built-in RFID reader, USIM chip and remote RFID reader will 

be developed and a pilot test will be applied to air logistics," said 

the spokesman. 

To preoccupy the global RFID/USN market, the ministry will 

push for a package-type global marketing deal which includes 

hardware and software services, through mobile RFID integration 

solution development in liquor, medicine and clothing sectors, 

he said. "To speed up the nation's advancement in the overseas 

RFID/USN market, it plans to establish the RFID/USN 

overseas advancement council with KOTRA. KOTRA will provide 

information analysis services and marketing assistance 

through its global networks," said the spokesman. "By making the 

best use of RFID technology, the ministry plans to improve the 

nation's export & import logistics system and lead the global u- 

SCM market in the future," he added. 

Source : Ministry of Knowledge Economy 


Events Sketch | RFID/USN Korea 2010 

RFID/USN Korea 2010 Shows 

Market Expansion 

SK Telecom's vision based on mobile AR enbables smartphone users to receive 

information on a particular establishment by simply aiming the phone 

at it's sign 

The right kind of ingredients for seasoning - RFID has been 

"changing partners" to show its infinite possibilities to be a part of 

every aspect of our daily lives and business. This year, 

RFID/USN Korea 2010 showed a great twist in the RFID/USN 

industry. Through convergence, the exhibition showcased mobile 

RFID technology where smartphones now function as readers at 

a low cost. This means that there will soon be a flood of applications, 

making RFID/USN more familiar to consumers. 

Convergence Brings RFID/USN to Consumers 

Logistics, manufactures, construction -- new RFID/USN 

hardware and software technology and solutions, u-City solution 

and application services, mobile RFID and u-bikes -- the best 

market scene was presented by RFID/USN Korea 2010 to bring 

RFID/USN directly to consumers'. Conferences were held 

alongside the exhibitions, with 800 attendees from various research 

facilities, worldwide RFID/USN companies and universities 

sharing ideas, policies, new technologies and standards as 

well as successful implementation cases for RFID/USN. It has 

been highlighted as the key technology for IT convergence and 

green growth, with scholars attending various lectures on 45 different 

themes. This exhibition was attended by buyers from all 

over the globe includung USA, Japan and Europe; in addition 

they also executed business meetings as well as presentations for 

international and domestic technology and services. Roughly 50 

million USD is expected to be made from the buyers meeting. 

The CEO Sohn Young-jeon (second from left) in an intense meeting 

with a Chinese buyer 

Government steps up for IT growth 

The Korean government plans to raise the productivity of industries 

by adopting RFID/USN technology in numerous areas 

including resource management systems to smart grid and u-services. 

Additionally, the government has revealed plans to relocate 

RFID/USN related technological research from national laboratories 

to civilian companies. On December 3, at COEX, during 

the 2nd day of the 'RFID/USN KOREA 2010' conference, government 

research institutes and related IT institutes such as ETRI 

and KETI (Korea Electronics Technology Institute), KEIT 

(Korea Evaluation Institute of Industry Technology) presented a 

diverse variety of RFID/USN based technologies. 

Ceyon Technologies and KIC Systems 

Ceyon Technologies presented their RFID reader for smart 

phones and provided solutions to find product information in real 

time via smartphone or tablet PC. "When RFID readers read a 

tag, the product information is transmitted to the users' mobile devices 

such as thier smartphone and/or tablet PC," Company officials 

stated. "Product information can be monitored in real time 

even in industry field settings." This system is currently available 

as a demo on the android market and an iPhone version is also in 

development. Ceyon Technologies' automated RFID tagging system 

grabbed many buyers' attention at the RFID USN Korea 

2010. They currently possess a variety of products and solutions 

in a diverse frequency range (125KHz, 134.2KHz, 13.65MHz, 

900MHz, 2.4GHz) and their domestically developed RFID 

Reader and Tag has been implemented in areas from access con- 


RFID/USN Korea 2010 | Events Sketch 

trol to logistics, bookkeeping, agriculture management and hightech 

automated factories.KIC Systems also presented their RFID 

company management system along with Austria Microsystems 

and the Institute of Logistics Information Technology who 

showed their new RFID related solutions. The government held 

a technology relocation presentation while introducing new 

RFID/USN related technology developed by the ETRI, KETI 

and KEIT. 

Kim Heung-nam, President of Electronics and Telecommunications Research 

Institute (left) and Kim Seang-tae, President of National Information Society 

Agency (center) closely look at the u-bike 

ETRI 

Researcher Chan Bang-hyo from the ETRI introduced their 

RFID soft-infraware technology and stated that "An entirely different 

smart RFID reader technology will be developed in accordance 

with international standards, and this will dominate the international 

and domestic RFID device market," he then added 

"we have developed technology to pioneer the active RFID devices 

and service market." He also emphasized that "Middleware 

technology has expanded its infrastructure in order to achieve 

mutual operation in the international and domestic industry 

scene, we also expanded to RFID 2.0 technology." According to 

the ETRI, this technology has relocated to Hanmi 

Pharmaceuticals and a technology relocation contract with LG 

Hitachi and Minerva is also planned for this month. ETRI also 

showcased their unmanned electronic passport screening system. 

The unmanned electronic passport screening system is a system 

that compares the fingerprints of the holder and the electronic 

passport to determine its genuineness. This technology will allow 

much faster and easier passport checks at the airport. When the 

passport holder presses the screening process button and places 

the electronic passport on the reading system, a passport identification 

and authentication process begins. After ID and authentication, 

the comparison process of the fingerprint is conducted, 

which once concluded will allow entry. 

ENHC 

ENHC showed their 'smart hybrid bicycle' at 'RFID/USN 

KOREA 2010'. The 'smart hybrid bicycle' was first revealed at 

this year's exhibition. An electric motor attached to the front 

wheels will allow motorists to drive the bicycle at speeds up to 

30km/h at a push of a button while a GPS and wireless transmitters 

provide location information as well as navigational functions. 

During locked modes, unauthorized transportation up to 

5ms will be sensed by GPS triggering alarms. Pressure sensors 

and shock detection alarms are installed as well to prevent theft. 

Easy to read display for battery gauges and remaining power for 

the motor are provided and the bicycle automatically recharges 

when put onto its unique bicycle stand. Currently 30 of these electric 

bicycles are available in the Song Pa district office for employee 

use and some are available for public use with only simple 

RFID card checks. 

SK Telecom 

SK Telecom successfully showcased mobile RFID applications. 

Starting with their wireless emoticon service for bicycles, 

the booth exhibited their other mobile RFID services including 

the tank lorry oil management service, sushi automatic paying 

service, whisky authentication service, and pharmaceutical information 

service. The wireless emoticon service is based on SK 

Telecom's own Zigbee chip, and is designed by the Lee Myungsoo 

Design Lab. Many foreign buyers also paid keen interest to 

the Sushi Automatic Paying Service. The Sushi Automatic 

Paying Service consists of a sushi plate used in a rotating belt, 

which when placed on a RFID reader, provides the price and 

calorie of the selected dish. 


Sushi authentication service by SK Telecom 


Events Sketch | G20 Secoul Summit 2010 

1. Banquet for the spouses of participating Heads-of-State 

2. President Obama enters the G-20 dinner on November 11 with 

the escorts in Hanbok, a traditional Korean dress. 

3. U.S President obama and S. Korean President Lee, 

exhibting their drive for the G-20 meetings to begin. 

4. The Presidential Committee for the G20 Seoul Summit 

5. British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) and the Venerable Jinhwa 

7. Korean traditional dress, Hanbok, made with flags of the G-20 nations. 

8. Madame Callista J. Mutharika, First Lady of Republic of Malawi, stepping out of an electric car 

9. From left)Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Canada, China 

➊ 

➋ 

➎ 

➐ 

➑ 


G20 Secoul Summit 2010 | Events Sketch 

➌ 

➍ 

➏ 

➑ 


Events Sketch 

2010 The Night of Robot Industry 

'2010 Korea Robot Awards and The Night of Robot' are held 

More than 400 people from the robot industry, academia and 

stakeholders gathered together at the "2010 The Night of Robot 

Industry" was held successfully on December 2. At the event, 

Kim Young-Hwan, Member of the National Assembly and 

Chairman of the Knowledge Economy Committee and Kwak 

Seung Jun, Chairman of Presidential Council for Future and 

Vision graced the occasion with their presence. Chairman Kim 

delivered a congratulatory address stating, "Korea is the best at 

making semiconductors, automobiles, ships and displays, and we 

have entered as the playing field as manufacturing powerhouse 

Dignitaries observe best Robot products at the '2010 The Night of Robot Industry.' 

with a quickness. Now, base on these 

achievements, it is time to go after the 

Robot Industry." He also said, "This year 

the government invested KRW 180 billion 

toward the Robot Industry, but I will 

continue to find more funds which could 

be earmarked for the Robot Industry." 

Later, Chairman Kwak stressed the importance 

of the robotics industry as a convergence 

industry. He stated, "In the 

midst of the recent global financial crisis, 

our robot industry grew 20% from the 

previous year and has reached KRW 1.2 

trillion on the scale. If we combine our 

world-leading information technology, 

mechanical engineering technology, and 

quick acceptance for new products to the 

market, the Robot Industry will grow at a 

rapid pace and will be Korea's new representative industry." Cho 

Seok, Deputy Minister for Industry in the Ministry of Knowledge 

Economy said that next year will be the leap year for the Robot 

Industry. In the event, 8 outstanding contributors who have contributed 

to the creation of market and competitiveness strengthening 

received the award. Also, six companies received the award 

for the development of the robot industry. The Ministry of 

Knowledge Economy bestowed the Honorable Industry Award 

to Oh Changsuk, President and CEO of Samsung Techwin. It 

has been well known that Samsung Techwin completed the construction 

of a surveillance robot test bed. Samsung 

Techwin signed a $50 million contract with Algiers, 

the capital of Algeria, to run a traffic surveillance robot 

system on a pilot basis. The Seosan surveillance 

robot system has been well received by the world, so 

the oil storage base is inundated with inquiries concerning 

field trips to the base in Seosan. President 

Awards went to Youm Youngil, Chairman and 

Professor of Ulsan National Insititue of Science and 

Technology and Han Chang-soo, Professor of the 

Department of Mechanical Eng. in Hanyang 

University received the Prime Minister Awards. At 

the selection of 'best product of year', Min Keh-sik, 

Chairman and CEO of Hyundai Heavy Industries 

won for welding and handling robots. 

Kim Yearim / yearim@koreaittimes.com 


Column 

Seoul Public Transportation: 

One of the Best in the World 

By NatashaWillhite(info@koreaittimes.com) 

Natasha Willhite, Reporter of Korea IT Times 

The frustration of driving through a 

congested city is endured by many people 

throughout the world. However, the public 

transportation in and out of Seoul lightens 

as the experience is so utterly convenient. 

Unlike most public transportation, it 

is even 'foreigner friendly' towards visitors 

or workers from other countries whom 

lack the basic Korean language skills to 

navigate themselves. Public transportation 

takes South Korean technology and combines 

it with simplicity and convenience 

which keeps a large amount of people opting 

out of driving a car. 

Seoul's most popular modes of public 

transportation consist of the subway and 

bus system, which were designed to overlap 

one another at stops. The possibilities 

are endless, providing people the opportunity 

and convenience of exiting the subway 

station almost immediately leading to 

several different buses leading to various 

areas. For those who are not familiar with 

the public transportation system, one can't 

get too turned around or lost if they get out 

at the wrong stop, it's easy enough to redirect 

yourself with the numerous options of 

transportation available. Many bus stops 

are located right next to subway lines, so 

anyone that happens to get lost can walk 

down to the subway and catch the train. 

Both the subway and the buses are 

equipped with announcing systems that 

speak up to three languages, most typically 

English, Chinese, and Japanese. Although 

Chinese and Japanese are not always offered, 

the maps showing locations in 

Korean and English prove to be helpful. 

The subway is able to display scrolling information 

on monitors above the passengers 

for those who are not near the provided 

maps or need additional guidance. 

Sometimes the subway is filled with so 

many people, that viewing the maps offered 

is near to impossible, so the monitors 

act as a back-up. Just like the bus system, 

the subway announces the stops with information 

such as transfers and attractions 

at particular destinations. 

The subway consists of several lines represented 

by color and number. For those 

who are not able to communicate with 

anyone and get directions, the simplicity 

of looking at a color or number and 

matching it to the train is the best way to 

navigate yourself. Using colors and numbers 

cuts back on moments of confusion 

even for those who do not speak any of the 

languages the subway line offers. Overall, 

it is obvious that the public transportation 

sector understands the difficulties many 

people could experience and reduces the 

number by offering these simple and clear 

options for navigation. 

The public transportation system provides 

buses that are color coded to illustrate 

distance: blue, green, red, and yellow. 

Each color represents the type of route it 

follows. Blue buses typically follow the 

main line from downtown Seoul to the 

satellite cities surrounding it. The Red buses 

act just as the Blue buses, but follow a 

wider course rather than just the main line. 

Conveniently, the Green buses are routed 

along metro stations, other bus lines as 

well as some residential areas. For extra 

ease for those traveling downtown and the 

metropolitan area, the Yellow buses serve 

specifically for this. 

Most notably, bus stops in the Seoul 

area typically provide a monitor that displays 

the bus routes and the approximate 

times in which it will arrive. Overall, this 

simple technology should be expected. 

This is a way for people to accurately determine 

when they will be at a specified location, 

keeping wait time and frustrations 

to a minimum. To use the public transportation 

system, people have the option 

of using cash or T-Money card which can 

be refilled at many subway stations as well 

as convenience stores. The T-Cash card effectively 

cuts down the time at stops or 

transfers; however, the public transportation 

sector recognizes that for some it is 

easier to use cash, so this option is available 

for those. These are services in which 

Seoul city public transportation makes 

convenience a top priority. 


Leisure 

High 1 Ski Resort, 

one of the nation's top-notch ski 

resort opened on Nov. 19 

Tourists and Skiers Coming to The Korea’s 

Most Friendly High 1 Ski Resort 

Many boarders and skiers come 

to High 1 Ski Resort to enjoy skiing 


Leisure 

tennis facility, and games as well as a Multi Plus Hall," he said. 

To provide visitors with high-level snow, regardless of weather 

conditions, High 1 Ski Resort also expanded their fan-type snowmaking 

machines by 30 percent this year, he noted. 

Ski resort is now one of the most favorite sports 

for people during the winter season 

High 1 Ski Resort, one of the nation's top-notch ski resort located 

in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do, opened on Nov. 19. High 1 

Ski Resort was picked as the "Top Brand of the Year" in 2009 and 

ranked first in terms of customer satisfaction in 2010 for the second 

consecutive year, a spokesman of the ski resort said. 

"To meet customers' growing demand for top-class ski resorts, 

we recently opened 500 top-grade condominiums, double facilities 

for visitors, and additionally established fan-type snowmaking 

machines," he said. "Along with this, we increased the lift 

transportation capacity by 30 percent and expanded seasonal bus 

routes, enabling High 1 Ski Resort to be reborn as a state-of-theart 

ski resort," he explained. 

High 1 Ski Resort is a great vacation spot for families as well as 

a top resort for advanced skiiers. Several beginner slopes are located 

right next to the intermediate and advanced slopes, letting skiiers 

of various levels enjoy skiing together. It is one of the nation's 

most environmentally friendly resorts and many of the native 

trees have been well-preserved. The company plans to develop 

the resort into an all-season ecological tourist attraction, showcasing 

the region's beautiful wild flowers throughout spring, summer 

and fall. During the first week of the opening period (Nov. 19-26), 

the ski resort offered discount service of 10,000 won or 50 percent 

to ski lift users on weekdays and weekends, respectively. 

500 top-class condominiums opened 

additionally 

In addition to the existing 403 condominiums, it newly opened 

500 top-grade condominiums equipped with luxurious facilities 

and rooms with gorgeous views, bringing the total number to 903 

this year. Visitors to High 1 Ski Resort can wear skiing and snowboarding 

equipment in the room and directly move to the ski 

slopes, the spokesman said. "In keeping with the rising number of 

customers to the ski resort, the company built three new outdoor 

spas- the event spa, the massage spa and the doctor fish spa - in 

the Mountain Condominium," he said. "In addition, we opened a 

play facility complex equipped with a ski nursery room, a table 

30 percent rise in ski lift transportation capacity 

Noting that High 1 Ski Resort has been operating up-to-date ski 

lifts armed with the RFID system since its opening in 2006, to remove 

customers' inconveniences and shorten waiting time, the 

spokesman said, "We have increased the lift transportation capacity 

by 30 percent this time to offer better services to our customers." 

For convenience of visitors to the ski resort, the company 

also focused its efforts on improving parking services by additionally 

securing parking lots for over 1,000 cars and operating 

shuttle buses between parking lots and the slopes. 

At the same time, the resort increased their manpower to offer 

transportation guide services to customers who hope to visit nearby 

tourist attractions, in addition to enjoy skiing. "Along with 

this, it increased the operating frequency of seasonal buses linking 

the metropolitan and southern part of Korea with the High 1 Ski 

Resort, while expanding the number of resting places on the 

slopes from six to 12," he said. 

"To provide visitors with beautiful moments to watch and enjoy, 

it will hold a multimedia fireworks festival on every Saturday 

from Dec. 18 and other new events, including the High 1 Ice 

Village featuring ice sculptures and the Saturday stage which 

shows jazz, pantomime and magic shows," said the spokesman. 

4.2km-long slope 

The 4.2km-long slope boasting of a 645m vertical drop links the 

Mountain Top located 1,340m above sea level and the Valley 

Condominium via the Mountain Top located 1,250m above sea 

level, luring beginner skiers. Additionally, a top-class lift with six 

seats was set up this year, in addition to the existing lift system 

consisting of three gondolas with eight seats, five chair lifts with 

four to six seats, and one T bar with two seats. High 1 Ski Resort 

is the sole ski resort in Korea operating three gondolas. 

"Noteworthy is that High 1 Ski Resort is designed to enable 

and disabled skiers to enjoy ski without any inconvenience. As it 

possesses two official slopes suitable for the World Cup skiing 

competitions, it can host various skiing competitions, including 

the Ski World Cup for Disabled People and the Free Style Ski 

Competition," he commented. In addition to a top-notch skiing 

experience, visitors to High 1 Ski Resort can enjoy a truly unique 

dining experience at many restaurants, including Unam-jeong, 

which opened on July 10 this year to introduce "hansik" traditional 

Korean foods. "With the full opening of the national road No. 

38 linking High 1 Ski Resort, customers in Seoul can arrive to the 

ski resort within two hours and forty minutes by car, shortening 

the travel time by 30 minutes," he added. 

Lee Kyung-min / info@koreaittimes.com 


How to... 

Taming the E-mail Beast 

On any given day in 2010, the average corporate user sends 

and receives roughly 110 messages, according to the latest e-mail 

Statistics Report compiled by The Radicati Group Inc. Of that total, 

74 are received messages and 36 are sent. Of those 74 messages 

received, 13 were reported to be spam. The number of e- 

mails will only continue to increase through 2014, hitting 119 daily 

messages sent and received. 

Simply trying to manage your spam messages alone is taxing 

and time consuming, nonetheless messages related to business 

and/or personal affairs. Strategies for dealing with too much e- 

mail vary, but it boils down to organization and time management. 

For myself, I usually spend time in the morning sifting 

through e-mail after e-mail, while others leave it to the end of the 

day. Either way, there seems to be a specific time and method 

that most people use to tackle the inbox. 

I have put to use my latest weapon which is the Priority Inbox 

feature offered by Google. With this tool, Gmail learns to automatically 

filter e-mails into three different locations that I created: 

Important and unread, Important follow-up and Everything else. 

"I'm training to just get through important and unread and either 

respond immediately or label as follow-up, and then try to respond 

to all the follow-ups by the end of the day," my coworker 

said. "It has really changed the way I work throughout the day. If 

anything, it saves me valuable time at the beginning and middle 

of the day. I am not sorting through e-mails until the end of the 

day when I am winding down." With more business being done 

through e-mail and other methods of telecommunication - 

whether it's internal or external communication - etiquette also is 

important to many busy executives. This includes ensuring a subject 

line is not cryptic and copying only those who need to be 

copied on a message. Even though e-mail has made business for 

people across the globe more efficient, individuals still spend too 

much time staring at their computer. If it is used properly, it 

makes communication much more efficient and much more 

rapid. The major issue with communication oriented in e-mail or 

meetings, is that people that don't use the tool the right way and 

are not specific in their initiative and don't have the right directive, 

in addition to people cc-ing half the world. 

Protocol aside, a simple strategy for dealing with the 100 to 200 

messages you may receive daily is to read it once, then get rid of 

it. Many execs also noted that while spam messages are frustrating, 

the so-called bacn messages - e-mail that someone signs up 

for but may not want right now, such as alerts or newsletters - can 

be just as annoying. The process of e-mail management has become 

numbing. Your inbox doesn't have to be at zero, but it 

should be manageable. With all of those messages flying back 

and forth, it's easy to get lost in your in-box when trying to find 

something from the past. However, for those of you who use 

Gmail service from Google, there are a few little secrets that can 

be extremely useful for helping you find an e-mail in a giant 

haystack. 

Below are some search tips for sifting through those messages 

you do decide to keep that I adopted from David Pogue of the 

New York Times: 

Who? 

The most important search term most likely has something to 

do with who you sent an e-mail to, or who sent the message to 

you. By typing a word that you're looking for and then amending 

the search with from: or to: you can narrow your search to specific 

people. For example, if you are searching for e-mails about a 

wedding from Rachel you could type: 

wedding from : Rachel 

Where? 

One of my favorite advanced search features is the ability to 

snoop through different folders within your in-box. You can 

search just your in-box, trash or even your spam folder, if you're 

so inclined. The way you do this is to type your search term and 

then add the words in: followed by the folder you hope to search. 

A simple example is searching for an e-mail about Nuskin antiaging 

products in your spam folder: 

Nuskin in : spam 


How to... 

What? 

Another useful way to cull your inbox is being able to search 

for e-mails specifically with attachments. To do this, you can simply 

type a sender's name and add has:attachment to the end of the 

search. 

from : Hellyn has:attachment 

If you know the name of the attachment, you can search for 

that too. 

filename : Jeany's birthday.txt 

When? 

Time is always of the essence with e-mails, and searching for 

them with dates can be incredibly useful. To do this in Gmail, 

you can simply add the words after: or before: followed by the 

date you want to search. 

Gabrielle's dinner after:2010/10/20 

Read, unread, chat or important. 

Finally, Gmail lets users search through e-mail messages that 

have been read, unread, starred or are designated as important in 

a priority in-box. When typing in the search term, just add the 

word "is" followed by a colon and the status of the message. You 

can also search through a chat message with this feature too. 

Jennifer Thayer / info@koreaittimes.com 


Column 

Green Light for Sustainability Starts 

from Education 

On June 26, 2010, the Green Schools 

Alliance in partnering with the National 

Conservation Training Center (NCTC) 

of the U.S Wildlife Services held its second 

annual student climate and conservation 

congress (Sc3). Held in NCTC, 

which is a government-owned forested 

property on the Potomac River outside of 

Washington DC with access to top-rate 

national researchers, Sc3 empowers students 

with the skills, knowledge and tools 

necessary to plant the seeds of change in 

their schools, homes and communities. 

The 5 day conference included renowned 

guest lectures, substantial group discussions, 

and networking opportunities between 

environmental and economic leaders 

and students themselves. The last 

year's keynote speakers were Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Douglas 

Brinkley, Rob Watson and Andrew Revkin. The next Sc3 conference 

keynote speakers were Dr. Sylvia Earle, Bill McKibben, Dr. 

Robert Michael Pyle and Rob Watson. Prominent speakers such 

as Dr. Sylvia Earle, who received the 2009 TED prize, talked 

about the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Leading discussions 

regarding current environmental issues, many speakers 

helped students to learn profound insights of these conflicts. After 

the lecture, students were divided into different cohort groups to 

discuss the lecture, current environmental issues and what activities 

each student was involved in. Each cohort had to create a 

proposal that the students were going to present on the last day of 

camp. Interacting with other environmental leaders from all over 

the nation, students gained broader perspective on leading the 

global climate change movement. 

Besides the lectures and group discussions, students at Sc3 also 

had a balanced quality time for outdoor programs. Students were 

involved in walkabouts, river hikes, campfire stories, star-gazing, 

white-water rafting, archery and other outdoor activities to appreciate 

the nature. Through outdoor activities such as white-water 

rafting, students not only immersed themselves in the nature, but 

also interacted with other students through team work and social 

skills. The balance between quality outdoor programs, superb 


The Student Climate and Conservation Congress 

By Edward Lee 

speakers and a prime faculty enabled the students to have a 

greater understanding of the interrelation between human 

economies and the natural environment, making them an even 

stronger influence for sustainable change in their local community. 

The Student Climate and Conservation congress was a visionary 

inspiration from former President Theodore Roosevelt, who 

envisioned a global conservation corps that would reach and motivate 

every corner of society. To initiate Roosevelt's vision, the 

graduating class of 2010 Sc3 will develop individual and collective 

action plans to meet 21st century challenges. In order to support 

and initiate students to lead their communities, the Green 

Schools Alliance provided them with a Green Tools kit. The 

Green Tools kit includes strategies to improve energy efficiency, 

methods to calculate carbon emissions and an action checklist to 

check its progress. From the knowledge and Green Tools the students 

have acquired from the Sc3 congress, they will set sustainable, 

energy-smart goals and have the ability to measure the 

progress in their schools, homes or communities.

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