How to Dress Professionally at Work.

Dress code based on T.P.O (time, place, and occasion) is very important, especially when you start to enter the business world.

The Importance of Film Soundtracks

Music plays an important role in movies, evoking a range of different emotions and conveying their central messages.

Korean Billiards Culture

Billiards can easily be one the most exciting leisure sports for everyone to enjoy no matter gender, age or career.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Interview with Professor Noh Yang-Kyu, Former Korean General

Clipboard03 We had an interview with professor Noh on May 10, 2013. Noh Yang-Kyu is at Woosong and in the process of writing about North Korea. He is a security expert, and he graduated from Korea Military Academy in 1977 and then served for 36 years. Now he is teaching security studies and leadership at Woosong.

Woosong Herald: What is changing in the relationship between North Korea and South Korea?

Professor Noh Yang-Kyu: “When administrations change, they offer different policies. At the time of President Kim De-Jung, he implemented policies that helped North Korea. But Lee Myung-Park’s policies were different and didn’t help North Korea. Now the policy has changed again. President Park Geun-Hye thinks that if North Korea abandons their nuclear project and the study of missile technology, we can help them to grow. We want to talk instead fighting a war. This is how the policy has changed.”

WH: What do you think about Park Geun-Hye’s policy towards North Korea?

Noh: “Before we talk about that, people who live in their own country would like to believe in their president’s philosophy. South Korea and North Korea have a very special relationship. They have hurt each other and that has not been remedied. When the Korean War broke out, South Korea was far weaker than North Korea. But recently this has changed. South Korea is ranked 7th largest military in the world. So we would have a great military power during a war and we should try to be more peaceful with North Korea. South Korea is not immune to nuclear war. So I think Park Geun-Hye’s policy is good.”

Clipboard04 WH: Can you tell me what do you think about nuclear missiles in North Korea? In this interviewer’s opinion, if North Korea has nuclear missiles and we are reunited, we will gain nuclear missile technology, and that would be a good thing.

Noh: “Well, that is very dangerous opinion because if nuclear missiles are given to us, many other countries will oppose us and we will be isolated in the world. So our economy will decline and life will get harder. And if we get nuclear missiles, we have to be aware of the consequences. Also, nearby countries like China and Japan will say that they also have the right to make nuclear missiles and maybe we have the next World War on our hands. So your opinion is very dangerous.”

WH: What do you think about the South Korea/US alliance?

Noh: “After the Korean War, America had South Korea’s wartime operational control. The alliance between the two militaries is strong for now, these days South Korea is stronger than in the past, so the alliance is stronger. If the alliance between South Korea and America is strong, Korea will remain safe and American investors will want to invest in Korea. That will make Korea continue to grow. So I think the alliance is important.”

WH: What do you think about North Korea’s hard-line policy?

Noh: “In history, many communist countries think the most important thing is to maintain their government. Also, North Korea wants to maintain the Kim government. But Kim Jeongeun, the leader of North Korea, is very young and has little or no experience, thus people don’t trust him. So he takes a hard-line policy, because he wants to maintain his government.”

Clipboard05 WH: So why don’t they choose another policy?

Noh: “North Korea is afraid of opening up its broadcasting system because if they let citizens use the broadcasting system, then maybe the citizens will start a revolution against the government. So they allow citizens to be nervous about war, so they can to block any attempts at a revolution.”

WH: What do you think about relationship between the two Koreas in the future?

Noh: “Recently China has changed their opinion about North Korea. In China, some banks refuse to work with North Korea. That means China will not help North Korea. North Korea relies heavily on China, with aid levels at about 90%. So they cannot continue to have a hard-line policy without China. In the future they will want to have a conversation with us.”

WH: How do we do to reunite Korea?

Noh: “Some young people don’t want to reunite because they are worried about the damage to South Korea if we become reunited. But North and South Korea are one country and one ethnic group, one race. So the government needs to try and change their people’s minds and explain what they are doing. They should hold an open forum to discuss uniting the two Koreas.”

WH: What do students think about North Korea’s attitude?

Noh: “At Woosong University, I want many students to share their thoughts about security. Of course, they are very busy, between jobs and studying, but I hope that they are interested in Korean’s security.”

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Staff writers Min Jihong and Cho Wonha.

The Process to Success: Psy

The Process of Success Psy Recently, as we all know, Psy has never been more popular or more attractive. Now it has opened a high wave of Korean sentiment around the world because of his songs and dances. So I think we need to know about the process to success for him.

A rookie singer stirred up the Korean pop music scene with very explicit lyrics, peculiar dance moves and his unconventional appearance in 2001. The rookie singer was Psy, also nicknamed the “Bizarre Singer” with “Bird,” the title song of his first album. Psy showed off his own style, fashion and confidence successfully breaking the stereotype among k-pop music lovers that male singers have to be good-looking and be able to dance well.

His in-your-face lyrics especially appealed to the younger generation of Korean music fans. But, just 5 months after his album was released, Psy’s album was not allowed to be sold to juveniles after complaints that it was a negative influence for the younger generation. Several months later, Psy was arrested by the police on charges of smoking marijuana. In January 2002, Psy was punished with a fine.

But he didn’t want to give up what he has loved and believed. His second album entitled “For Adults” was released in the same month but was also banned from being sold to those under the age of 18. In September of 2002, Psy released his 3rd album by launching his new music on an Internet music site. Being released just a few months after the World Cup games held in Seoul, the title song of Psy’s 3rd album, “Champion”, saw great success for its crowd-pumping vibe. And that gave him more confidence.

So he continued to hold his spot as an artist that fans loved for his unique ways. Certainly the inevitable came, and he went in to serve his mandatory military sentence from 2003 to 2005. However, evidence came to light that suggested Psy didn’t properly serve his full sentence. He was re-drafted to serve a second term in August of 2007. After being released the summer of 2009, Psy voiced how he had learned a lot through his experience. He said he also felt the weight of his responsibility to his wife and two daughters that were born two months before he started his second term.

After that Psy switched entertainment agencies in 2010 to YG Entertainment where CEO Yang Hyun-suk expressed his old time ties with the singer. However, he has been embracing the fact that he’s nowhere close to idol status. Although Psy's actions did not receive any significant international media coverage at that time, this changed after the media reported about it in early December 2012. On December 7, 2012, Psy issued an apology directed towards members of the U.S. military and to the American people for his "inflammatory and inappropriate" language, and expressed hope that the American public will accept his apology.

The man behind the hit, the 34-year-old South Korean artist known as Psy (short for psycho; he was born Park Jae-Sang), has been a star for years in Korea: “Gangnam Style,” named for an expensive neighborhood in Seoul, appears on his sixth album, YG Entertainment But even Psy was unprepared for the worldwide response to his latest single.

“I’ve only done this for 12 years, only for Korea, not for overseas at all,” he said by phone from Seoul. “I didn’t expect anything like this. So what can I say? Everything moves way too fast.”

It is apparent that chance always around us and if you stick to your purpose and persuasion and never says give up, then finally we can achieve our goals and even we were not prepared.


Staff writer Yan Yunyun.

How Can the Government Reduce the Number of Smokers?

no_smoking Did you hear about the increase in the price of cigarettes? A month ago, the Korean government decided to increase the price of cigarettes. The national assembly was concerned about the health of the nation’s people. In this country cigarette prices are very affordable compared to other countries. Korean smokers strongly protested the decision of the government. It is difficult for the two sides to come to an agreement.

The smokers say that “It is difficult to live without smoking, although they also know that cigarettes are harmful for their health. If we have no money, does that mean we have to stop smoking? We are also your nation’s people. Don’t we have a say in decision making?” The smokers don't understand the decision of the government. In my opinion, I agree both with the government and the smokers, but the increase in the price of cigarettes is not the best way to reduce the number of smokers.

Most nonsmokers hate the smell of cigarette smoke, so they avoid smokers and want people to stop smoking. But smokers can now smoke on the street, park and any other public spaces. How about making more areas especially for smokers? The government should build more smoking areas and make smokers smoke only in those areas. If they smoke in another place which is not a smoking area, they will have to pay a fine. Let's say you are in the park, the man next to you is smoking and you are about to go out of your mind. Then you call a police officer and that guy has to pay a fine. I think it is good for both smokers and nonsmokers, because everyone knows the rules then at least, and nonsmokers will not have to breathe in second-hand smoke.

Clipboard01 What do you think about my suggestion? Someone could say that my idea is impossible in reality and the government can make better proposals. The increase in the price of cigarettes is most certainly not the best option for everyone. I hope the government will make another suitable option for all of Korean people.


Staff writer Park Eun Bi.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Woosong’s Gyms for Woosongers’ Health

Exercise equipment. There are three gyms at Woosong University- the East campus, West campus and Solbridge.

However, Sol Sporex in Solbridge is considered the best gym at Woosong. Their motto is “We are doing together to care for our city's well-being life”. They provide many Daejeonites- and students an opportunity to a break from their busy lives and re-energize. Sol Sporex offers many facilities and fitness programs: a swimming pool, fitness center, sauna and group exercise- including yoga and aerobics. These programs are very popular among gym members. But if you don’t feel like exercising, the sauna, one of the more popular amenities at the gym, may work for you.

Swimming pool. Sol Sporex has many specialists on hand to assist members with all its different programs. And if you have never worked out in your life, no problem- everyone has to start somewhere. “When I was young, my body was very weak and thin. But I did exercise; my body changed, I got healthier and gained confidence,” said Seung Hun Ryu, a Sol Sporex trainer. “So I work to help those who have had the same worries as I did.”

Some might consider other fitness clubs around Daejeon, but Woosong students find comfort in working out close to home. “I think the swimming pool is very good because it’s always clean with natural sunlight,” said an anonymous Woosong Freshman. “They have all different kinds of exercise equipment but not enough for all muscle-parts. One suggestion: “I know that Sports and Fitness management department students intern here. I hope they can be more kind to people who come to Sol Sporex for the first time.”

pricesSol Sporex's service hours vary each day.

On weekdays and Saturday, open 6 A.M. - 10 P.M. On Sunday and national holidays, open 6 A.M. - 7 P.M. And they are closed every 2nd and 4th Monday each month. For more information visit www.solsporex.co.kr


Staff writers Park Hui Je and Han Ki Tae.

“Casting pearls before the swine?” An Editorial about the Relations between South and North Korea

Clipboard02 Due to the reorganization of South Korea by other powerful countries, and because of South Korea’s international situation, the provocation by North Korea has been more severe than ever.

The current situation started with the ‘Cheonan-Ham’ and ‘Yeonpyung-do’ in 2010, and has since become exasperated. The joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S. is their excuse for launching a missile which North Korea claimed is a “satellite”. They even decided to close the Gae Sung Industrial Complex, a symbol of cooperation and hope for all Koreans, on their own initiative.

Because of the peace accord between South and North Korea, for approximately a decade, Kim Daejung and No moohyun’s governments were dedicated to adhering to the provisions of the treaty which prohibits the development and testing of nuclear bombs and long range missiles. The treaty provided economic aid to North Korea in a variety of ways. Despite an internal economic crisis, including the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.), North Korea began to develop nuclear and missile technologies.

Even though it is not related to the military, the unilateral closing and the evacuation of the workforce at the Gae Sung Industrial Complex, and strange rumors that Kim Kwan-jin was slurred as a warmonger (likened to Hitler) by North Korea’s media, shows us that Kim Jeongeun has no political proficiency and North Korea is up to its old tricks, like so many times before.

Hopefully Kim Joengeun thinks carefully about this situation because in the end, his actions are not going to foster reunification and are more likely going to create a loss from both sides. In circumstances like this, Kim Jeongeun’s provocation of the United States seems like a fly trying to bite a tortoise.

It is apparent to us now that the closing of the Gae Sung Industrial Complex, a symbol of the future reconciliation between the South and North, which was founded 50 years ago, is more painful to the South. But of course the world wants peace, and if Kim Jeongeun and North Korea should adopt a cautious attitude, the rest of the world might be more flexible and willing to negotiate.


Staff writer Park Hyung Jun.

Same-sex Marriage: The Global Debate of Today

mm The controversy surrounding same-sex marriage seems endless. People’s view is clearly divided into two, with some in-between. With the trend of homosexuality gaining more support, the proponents of homosexual marriage consistently advocate abolishing discrimination, claiming that homosexual couples have their rights to have families. According to them, it is imperative to legalize same-sex marriage in order to overcome the unfair situation in which the homosexual population is placed. The opponents confront them, arguing that the essential meaning of marriage is going to be damaged. By referring to the essential meaning of marriage, they mean two people giving birth to a child to form a family, by extension, forming the society. These opponents largely consisted of believers in religions including Catholicism, and Islam, and they protest against homosexual marriages.

ww Starting with the Netherlands legalizing homosexual marriage in 2000, many other countries have been following suit. Currently there are ten countries in which same-sex marriage is allowed officially. Some of these countries where gay marriage is legal are Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Portugal, and Denmark. In the U.S.A., there are currently ten states that allow same-sex marriage including Washington DC. England, which recently passed the homosexual marriage law, is going to expand the law which will allow same-sex couples to conduct religious ceremonies (only under the conditions that the churches approve of them), and acknowledge them as legitimately married, previously only referred to as a “partnership.” In the case of Israel, the same-sex marriage is tolerated outside its national border and in all of South America, Argentina is the only country that the law has passed. The trend of legalization of homosexuality is accelerating and the number of countries which will pass the law is likely to increase.

Today, it is hard for us to believe that there once was a time when women could not vote for their leader, and white and black people had to eat and drink at separate locations. With today’s fast changing times, people will soon find it strange that there was the time in which same-sex marriage was not tolerated.


Staff writer Kim San Ok.

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