Saw this from Time Magazine. I guess this is the South Korean Special Army soldiers demonstrating their martial arts skills during a rehearsal for the 61st anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Gyeryong military headquarters.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/picturesoftheweek/0,29409,1927323_1957148,00.html#ixzz0WChsDQVb

A beautiful gallery of photos of the 2009 Busan (Gwangali) Fireworks festival is here on Naver.com

Sometimes the city is spelled “Pusan” with a “P” and so if you want to look up more photos, video and other details about the Busan (aka Pusan) Fireworks Festival, you may need to type in “Pusan” with a “p,” just fyi.  Nevertheless, this show was one of the most AMAZING shows you’ll ever get to witness.  They did it up quite well here in Busan and it seems to get better each year.

Following are some great photos taken by John Bernardi and also a link to the actual show on Youtube.  It was impressive…

Videos of the Busan (Gwangali) Fireworks Show 2009 show here.

At first, I had a hard time finding this Big Bang song/video. It’s their newest release. I guess it was just released at the end of October on the 28th. The reason I had a hard time was because it’s in Japanese. Unfortunately, we’re not allowed to play it on our radio station…so I guess I’ll have to enjoy it here.

U.S. State Department, U.S. Embassy Seoul
Consular Section, American Citizen Services (ACS) Newsletter
NOVEMBER 2009

The U.S. Embassy is transmitting the following monthly newsletter via its warden system as a public service to U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea.  Please disseminate this message broadly to other U.S. citizens.

In this issue:

1. U.S. Embassy Seoul Launches Consular Information Unit
2. Online Passport Form Wizard makes applications a breeze!
3. Tips for a Smooth Consular Visit
4. Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Influenza Information
5. A Message to American Communities and Organizations in Korea
6. Twitter for Worldwide Travel Warnings
7. Recent Travel Warnings and Alerts
8. Upcoming Embassy Holidays: November 11, 2009 (Veterans Day), and November 26 (Thanksgiving Day)
9. Embassy Contact Information

———————————————————–
1. U.S. Embassy Seoul Launches Consular Information Unit
———————————————————–

In order to better serve the public, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea, officially launched a new Consular Information Unit on October 26, 2009.  This Information Unit will become your new one-stop shop for information about all U.S. Consular Services in the Republic of Korea.

The Consular Information Unit will be responsible for all routine consular correspondence for the Consular Section, including Nonimmigrant Visas, Immigrant Visas, and American Citizen Services.  The Information Unit will be responsible for responding to incoming consular-related public inquiries by e-mail, telephone, fax or postal mail.

Our public Visa Inquiry telephone line is 02-397-4373.  Our Passport Inquiry line is 02-397-4040.  These public inquiry lines are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.  Our fax number is 02-397-4080 and our e-mail address is seoulinfo@state.gov.  All consular telephone inquiries not related to passport or visa matters or emergency inquiries should still be directed to 02-397-4114.  Our website has been updated with our new contact information.

———————————————————–
2. Online Passport Form Wizard Makes Applications a Breeze!
———————————————————–

The U.S. Department of State has prepared an online wizard allowing applicants to complete the data fields of a passport application and prepare a hardcopy all in a few simple steps.  The online forms can be used for passport renewals, adding supplemental pages, and first time passport applications.  After filling out your application on-line, print and bring it with you to the Embassy when you apply.  You may fill out the required forms using the Passport Wizard at the following site:  https://pptform.state.gov/?Submit=COMPLETE+FORM+DS-4085+ONLINE.

Additional information about passport services may be found here:  http://seoul.usembassy.gov/us_passports.html.  The American Citizen Services Unit of the US Embassy in Seoul encourages all citizens needing passport services to use the electronic application form as it will significantly decrease the time needed to process your application and increase the accuracy of the data entered for you.

———————————–
3. Tips for a Smooth Consular Visit
———————————–

– Please make sure you have read our hours of operation and have taken note of Korean and American holidays before planning your visit.
– For passport applicants: Complete (but do not sign) passport applications ahead of time – this considerably shortens your visit.
– Photos: Pay special attention to passport photograph requirements and make sure you obtain 2’’ by 2’’ photos. Selecting “passport photos” in a photo booth won’t always give you photos of the correct size.
–For minors (passport applicants below age 16): Parents, please remember to bring your child’s original birth certificate and social security number when applying for a new or replacement passport.
– For notary clients: Please ensure you have read your document(s) to be notarized and understand the contents.  Do not sign your document, but make sure that all other blanks are filled in before coming to the Embassy.
– Please remember: The fewer items you bring to the Embassy (i.e. backpacks, laptops, cell phones, etc.), the more quickly the security check will be for everyone.

————————————————–
4. H1N1 Influenza Information
————————————————–

Information and updates on H1N1 Influenza is constantly being put out.  For the latest information on this issue, please remember to regularly check the Department of State’s official webpage on H1N1: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html

The Korean Government’s website on H1N1 is a prominent link on the Korean Centers for Disease Control’s main page:
http://www.cdc.go.kr/kcdchome/

—————————————————————
5. A Message to American Communities and Organizations in Korea
—————————————————————

The Embassy encourages all schools, business groups, churches, private companies, and other organizations with a nucleus of American citizens to make sure that the Embassy has a point of contact for your group.  To ensure that your group is kept fully informed by the Embassy:
– Sign your group up at http://asktheconsul.org/ to receive this newsletter and Embassy warden messages through your group’s generic email address;
– If you have a group that will be in Korea for a fixed period of time, register them at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/pages/common/CreateAccountStart.aspx following the instructions under “New Organizational User”;
– Send an email to the Embassy at seoulinfo@state.gov giving the name of your organization, a point of contact (POC), email address, phone number, and any other contact information.  It is not necessary that your POC be an American citizen.  The Embassy will use this information to contact your group in an emergency.  Please type “Group Contact Info” on the subject line of your email.

—————————————-
6. Twitter for Worldwide Travel Warnings
—————————————-

Join the over 8,000 followers of tweets from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. Using twitter, you may stay up to date on Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings around the world. Sign up at the following website:http://twitter.com/TravelGov

————————————
7. Recent Travel Warnings and Alerts
————————————

The U.S. Department of State has recently issued Travel Warnings or Travel Alerts for the following countries and regions:

Worldwide Caution July 29, 2009
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html

H1N1 Flu Outbreak Information
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html

Travel Alerts
China   09/25/2009
Mozambique   09/23/2009
Germany   09/23/2009
India   09/12/2009
Uganda   09/11/2009
China   09/09/2009
Mauritania   09/01/2009
Tanzania (including Zanzibar)   08/28/2009
Mexico   08/20/2009
Honduras   07/24/2009

Travel Warnings
Guinea    10/01/2009
Lebanon    09/29/2009
Cote d’Ivoire    09/22/2009
Philippines    09/17/2009
Congo, Democratic Republic of the    09/01/2009
Mali    08/31/2009
Eritrea    08/28/2009
Central African Republic    08/19/2009
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza    08/14/2009

For additional information about these travel warnings and alerts, please go to this site:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

———————————————————-
8. Upcoming Embassy Holidays: November 11, 2009 (Veterans’ Day)
November 26, 2009 (Thanksgiving Day)
———————————————————-

The Embassy will be closed on the following days:

November 11, 2009 (Wednesday) Observance of Veterans’ Day (U.S. Holiday)
November 26, 2009 (Thursday) Observance of Thanksgiving Day

Please be advised that the days just before and after a holiday are usually exceptionally busy in the American Citizen Services Unit of the Embassy.  Do not be surprised at a significantly longer wait for consular services on those days.

A complete list of all of our holiday closings for 2009 and 2010 is available on-line at http://seoul.usembassy.gov/holidays.html.

——————————-
9. Embassy Contact Information
——————————-

American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy Seoul
32, Sejongno, Jongno-gu
Seoul 110-710, Korea

- or -

American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy, Seoul
Unit #15550
APO AP 96205-5550

Tel: 02-397-4040  (Passport Inquiry line)
Tel: 02-397-4114 (All other services)
Fax: 02-397-4080
DSN: 721-4114
English:  http://www.asktheconsul.org/
Korean:  http://www.usavisas.org/
E-mail:  seoulinfo@state.gov

Just saw this on Yahoo News images. Just thought it was too cool (or what kids these days sometimes say is “kewl”) to not post.

Enjoy!

Looks like Korea’s automobile industry is coming of age…

**Comments from Youtube: CNN just did a ride along with the man behind the Korea’s first supercar Spirra. First of all, just to refresh, the Spirra is powered by a modified Hyundai V8 engine to the tune of 500 hp and can hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds totally on par with other supercars from Germany and Italy. CNN interprets this as proof that the Korean automarket has come of age, causing one analyst to comment that the Spirra is a way of saying, “Hey we can make a $100,000 supercar, too.” Dutch car dealer reportedly just ordered 145 Korean supercars. More details are on the websites: www.bobaedream.co.kr or www.protomotors.com and a full article about the car and company are on wikipedia’s article on Proto Motors

Ever since quitting smoking in 1st grade (yes, I smoked for a full week when I was 7 years old!), I’ve been an opponent of cigarettes.  However, my folks run a convenience store and growing up, I’ve always seen prices of smokes up close since I handed over those “packs” to customers for a dollar plus and up.  I saw this on Yahoo’s News & the images associated with the news and literally almost fell backwards in my chair.  While I think this is a great thing that tobacco’s gotten very expensive, I was still a little floored at how much it now costs for a pack of cigarettes.  I wonder though how much of this $10.50 is margin versus how much is actually the price going up.  I realize that taxes and other tariffs account for a lot of this price, but just like gas prices, I wonder if the tobacco companies’ profits have grown in line with the prices of the products they sell.

On a side note, why is it that oil companies do make much more money when they’re gouging customers throughout the world with higher prices?  I mean, while a barrel rises in price, why is it that the margins seem to increase as well for the leading oil companies in the world?  It’s definitely not my parents or the many convenience store and gas station owners fault because their margins stay the same.  I’ve seen it up close.

Tisk, tisk oil companies…

…Brandon.

a.k.a. Byung-hyu Na.

These days, I’ve been focusing on writing a book I’ve been wishing to complete for some time now.  Actually, it replaces what I thought would be my first book titled “Hit or Stand.”  I’m going to try and get this book done primarily for you great friends out there asking “So, why did you go to Korea?” and my boys who I hope some day will understand what their father was thinking all these years.

For now, I’m focusing on ER: The Urgency behind Korea’s Real Education Emergency or something like that.  I have a few opinions on the future of South Korea and thought my 10 chapter book on it may help the future generations of Korea stay competitive despite Korea’s success thus far.

Back to the “day in the life of…” me…

These days, I focus a bit of time on Inside Out Busan at eFM 90.5.  I should actually be writing for my radio show, in my opinion, but decided to take a couple hours for a break today since I feel like I’m non-stop with the radio show, my classes at the University and my privates which are nowadays on Wednesday, Saturday and a couple hours on Sunday.  I’ve also been asked to do a couple more, but not sure if I want to spend more hours on Sunday and literally fail to have even a single weekend day off.  The sad irony is that I’m still making less than I was before I decided to go solo and that I’m working every day of the week.

I do have Tuesdays through Thursday’s during the days off, but have to go into the station to do the show in the evenings so they’re just 1/2 days off with my only other day off being a 75% day off on Sunday.  So, I guess I sort of have 2.25 days off split over 4 days.  I use one of the half days though to catch up on sleep from the lack of it on my Mondays that are spent early in Korea Maritime University.

Oh before talking about my weekly schedule, I am very grateful in seeing my folks who visited recently.  Also, on the near term horizon, I have Edwark Park, a Principal of a Chinese language school in or near San Diego, coming to visit.  Looking forward to seeing Ed.  What else?   I think I need to find a cheap car for the winter as well.  Any ideas anyone?  

Mondays: Korea Maritime University early in the morning (between 7 & 9a), a brief respite in the afternoon, but soon thereafter shooting over to the studio until 9′ish daily.

Tuesdays: I catch up with sleep in the mornings with the studio waiting for me in the early evenings and evenings.

Wednesdays: I finally have time for ER and other business development, but it feels like I haven’t had until now to really get to ER more.

Thursdays: repeat of Wednesday with the additional fact that I can do chores or other tasks.  I also find that I need to do a bit of cleaning & help with the recycling even though I feel like I’ve been not as good about that lately and do a bit of shopping as well.  Hello Costco!  I’ve been doing a bit of cooking too which can be a bit time consuming.

Fridays: a repeat of Monday

Saturdays: privates from early morning through 8p these days.

Sundays: 2 hour private from 3p to 5p.

There’s a little more detail here and there, but that’s the general “A day in the life of”…me!

U.S. State Department, U.S. Embassy Seoul
Consular Section, American Citizen Services (ACS) Newsletter
OCTOBER 2009

The U.S. Embassy is transmitting the following monthly newsletter via its warden system as a public service to U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea.  Please disseminate this message broadly to other U.S. citizens.

In this issue:

1. Introduction of new American Citizens Services Chief, Buck Waldrop
2. Online Passport Form Wizard makes applications a breeze!
3. Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Influenza Information
4. A Message to American Communities and Organizations in Korea
5. Recent Travel Warnings and Alerts
6. Upcoming Embassy Holidays: October 12, 2009 (Columbus Day)
7. Embassy Contact Information

———————————————————————
1. Introduction of New American Citizens Services Chief, Buck Waldrop
———————————————————————

New ACS Chief Robert “Buck” Waldrop arrived in Seoul mid-August from Washington, DC, where he had served in the Visa Office at the Department of State.  Buck takes the place of the previous ACS chief, Hale VanKoughnett, who who has transferred to our Embassy in Manila.  Buck brings with him a wealth of consular experience having served as a consular officer in Manila, Panama, Papua New Guinea and Matamoros, Mexico on the Texas/Mexican border, and having served in the Consular Affairs Bureau in Washington in the Office of Overseas Citizen Services, Office of Fraud Prevention and the Visa Office.  Buck was an Army officer for several years before joining the Foreign Service and served in Yongsan from 1987-88.  He had not seen Korea for 21 years until returning in August, and was amazed at how much Seoul has grown and developed.  Buck’s wife and younger daughter who attends a local international high school have accompanied him to Korea.  He is excited to be in Seoul for a three
-year tour and looks forward to meeting and working with many of you in the months ahead.

———————————————————–
2. Online Passport Form Wizard Makes Applications a Breeze!
———————————————————–

The U.S. Department of State has prepared an online wizard allowing you to fill-in the data fields of a Passport application and prepare a hardcopy all in a few simple steps.  After filling out your application on-line, print and bring your application with you to your appointment.  You can access the required forms using the Passport Wizard at the following site:  https://pptform.state.gov/?Submit=COMPLETE+FORM+DS-4085+ONLINE.

Additional information about passport services may be found here:  http://seoul.usembassy.gov/us_passports.html.  The American Citizen Services Branch of the US Embassy in Seoul encourages all citizens needing passport services to use the electronic application form as it will significantly decrease the time needed to process your application and increase the accuracy of the data entered for you.

————————————————–
3. H1N1 Influenza Information
————————————————–

Information on H1N1 Influenza is constantly being updated.  For the latest information on this issue, please remember to regularly check the Department of State’s official webpage on H1N1: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html

The Korean Government’s website on H1N1 is a prominent link on the Korean Centers for Disease Control’s main page (all in Korean):
http://www.cdc.go.kr/kcdchome/

—————————————————————
4. A Message to American Communities and Organizations in Korea
—————————————————————

The Embassy encourages all schools, business groups, churches and missionary organizations, private companies, and other entities with a nucleus of American citizens to make sure that the Embassy has a point of contact for your group.  To ensure that your group is kept fully informed by the Embassy:
–Sign your group up at: http://asktheconsul.org/ to receive this newsletter and Embassy warden messages through your group’s generic email address;
–If you have a group that will be in Korea for a fixed period of time, register them at: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/pages/common/CreateAccountStart.aspx following the instructions under “New Organizational User”;
–Send an email to the Embassy at Seoul_ACS@state.gov giving the name of your organization, a point of contact (POC), email address, phone number, and any other contact information.  It is not necessary that your POC be an American citizen.  The Embassy will use this information to contact your group in an emergency.  Please type “Group Contact Info” on the subject line of your email.

————————————
5. Recent Travel Warnings and Alerts
————————————

The U.S. Department of State has recently issued travel warnings or travel alerts for the following countries and regions:

Worldwide Caution July 29, 2009
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html

H1N1 Flu Outbreak Information
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html

Travel Alerts
China   09/25/2009
Mozambique   09/23/2009
Germany   09/23/2009
India   09/12/2009
Uganda   09/11/2009
China   09/09/2009
Mauritania   09/01/2009
Tanzania (including Zanzibar)   08/28/2009
Mexico   08/20/2009
Honduras   07/24/2009

Travel Warnings
Guinea    10/01/2009
Lebanon    09/29/2009
Cote d’Ivoire    09/22/2009
Philippines    09/17/2009
Congo, Democratic Republic of the    09/01/2009
Mali    08/31/2009
Eritrea    08/28/2009
Central African Republic    08/19/2009
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza    08/14/2009

For additional information about these travel warnings and alerts, please go to this site:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

———————————————————-
6. Upcoming Embassy Holidays: October 12, 2009 (Columbus Day)
———————————————————-

The Embassy will be closed on the following day:

October 12, 2009 (Monday) Observance of Columbus Day (U.S. Holiday)

Please be advised that the days just before and after a holiday are always very busy in the American Citizen Services Unit of the Embassy.  Do not be surprised at a significantly longer wait for consular services on those days.  If you do not have an urgent need for an ACS service, consider coming to the Embassy on a day that is less likely to be busy.

A complete list of all of our holiday closings for 2009 and 2010 is available on-line at http://seoul.usembassy.gov/holidays.html.

——————————-
7. Embassy Contact Information
——————————-

American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy Seoul
32, Sejongno, Jongno-gu
Seoul 110-710, Korea

- or -

American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy, Seoul
Unit #15550
APO AP 96205-5550

Tel: 02-397-4114
Fax: 02-397-4101
DSN: 721-4114
English:  http://www.asktheconsul.org/
Korean:  http://www.usavisas.org/
E-mail:  seoul_acs@state.gov

According to a new report provided by the UN measuring Human Development in 182 countries, South Korea ranked #26 which would be in the top 15% of all nations studied. Korea ranks above other relatively developed countries which produce more gross income like China (#92), Mexico (#53) and India (#134). Korea still ranks behind many “Very Highly Developed” nations, but is ahead of countries like the Czech Republic, Portugal and Israel.  At the bottom of the list was Niger.

The full list follows and an explanation is provided at the bottom on how HDI or the Human Development Index is measured.

1. Norway
2. Australia
3. Iceland
4. Canada
5. Ireland
6. Netherlands
7. Sweden
8. France
9. Switzerland
10. Japan
11. Luxembourg
12. Finland
13. United States
14. Austria
15. Spain
16. Denmark
17. Belgium
18. Italy
19. Liechtenstein
20. New Zealand
21. United Kingdom
22. Germany
23. Singapore
24. Hong Kong, China (SAR)
25. Greece
26. Korea (Republic of) aka “South Korea”
27. Israel
28. Andorra
29. Slovenia
30. Brunei Darussalam
31. Kuwait
32. Cyprus
33. Qatar
34. Portugal
35. United Arab Emirates
36. Czech Republic
37. Barbados
38. Malta
39. Bahrain
40. Estonia
41. Poland
42. Slovakia
43. Hungary
44. Chile
45. Croatia
46. Lithuania
47. Antigua and Barbuda
48. Latvia
49. Argentina
50. Uruguay
51. Cuba
52. Bahamas
53. Mexico
54. Costa Rica
55. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
56. Oman
57. Seychelles
58. Venezuela (Bolivarian Rupublic of)
59. Saudi Arabia
60. Panama
61. Bulgaria
62. Saint Kitts and Nevis
63. Romania
64. Trinidad and Tobago
65. Montenegro
66. Malaysia
67. Serbia
68. Belarus
69. Saint Lucia
70. Albania
71. Russian Federation
72. Macedonia (the former Yugoslav Republic of)
73. Dominica
74. Grenada
75. Brazil
76. Bosnia and Herzegovina
77. Colombia
78. Peru
79. Turkey
80. Ecuador
81. Mauritius
82. Kazakhstan
83. Lebanon
84. Armenia
85. Ukraine
86. Azerbaijan
87. Thailand
88. Iran (Islamic Republic of)
89. Georgia
90. Dominican Republic
91. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
92. China
93. Belize
94. Samoa
95. Maldives
96. Jordan
97. Suriname
98. Tunisia
99. Tonga
100. Jamaica
101. Paraguay
102. Sri Lanka
103. Gabon
104. Algeria
105. Philippines
106. El Salvador
107. Syrian Arab Republic
108. Fiji
109. Turkmenistan
110. Occupied Palestinian Territories
111. Indonesia
112. Honduras
113. Bolivia
114. Guyana
115. Mongolia
116. Viet Nam
117. Moldova
118. Equatorial Guinea
119. Uzbekistan
120. Kyrgyzstan
121. Cape Verde
122. Guatemala
123. Egypt
124. Nicaragua
125. Botswana
126. Vanuatu
127. Tajikistan
128. Namibia
129. South Africa
130. Morocco
131. Sao Tome and Principe
132. Bhutan
133. Lao, People’s Dem. Rep.
134. India
135. Solomon Islands
136. Congo
137. Cambodia
138. Myanmar
139. Comoros
140. Yemen
141. Pakistan
142. Swaziland
143. Angola
144. Nepal
145. Madagascar
146. Bangladesh
147. Kenya
148. Papua New Guinea
149. Haiti
150. Sudan
151. Tanzania, U. Rep. of
152. Ghana
153. Cameroon
154. Mauritania
155. Djibouti
156. Lesotho
157. Uganda
158. Nigeria
159. Togo
160. Malawi
161. Benin
162. Timor-Leste
163. Cote d’Ivoire
164. Zambia
165. Eritrea
166. Senegal
167. Rwanda
168. Gambia
169. Liberia
170. Guinea
171. Ethiopia
172. Mozambique
173. Guinea-Bissau
174. Burundi
175. Chad
176. Congo (Democratic Republic of the)
177. Burkina Faso
178. Mali
179. Central African Republic
180. Sierra Leone
181. Afghanistan
182. Niger

What is the Human Development Index (HDI)? The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income).