Cultural festival between Korea & India - Pune 2015

Fan Given as a Souvenir

                               Cultural festival between Korea & India 2015



      The steadily growing Korean community in Pune City is making 
sincere     efforts towards cultural integration.

                                         Firstly sorry for not posting for a very long time !

        South Koreans have been immigrating to India since the early 1950s. The big boom of immigration occurred when Hyundai set up a bulk of its factories in Chennai in 1995. Since then the average number of Koreans coming to settle in India, even temporarily, has increased exponentially.
                             

          According to the Korean Association of Pune, on an average, 500 Koreans would immigrate annually 20 years ago. Now the figure has crossed 1,500 in Pune alone. Korean companies like Hyundai, LG and Samsung have expanded in India, resulting in more Korean employees coming to the country for work. The cities with the highest Korean population now are Pune (1,500), Chennai (4,000) and Delhi (3,500).
                                 

Korean Food Stalls

Korean Lady in Beautiful Hanbok

 In an attempt to introduce Indians to Korean culture, the Korean Association in Pune has been organizing The Indo- Korean Cultural Festival since last year. Last year, the event took place on Saturday and had the Koregaon Park venue with Korean families dressed in Hanbok, the traditional silk Korean costume, for an evening of food and fun with their fellow countrymen.

Arirang Song 

Indian Style wedding with Korean Groom & Indian Bride 

Korean Lady Performing on a Bollywood Song.

Gangnam Style fusion dance

 The event also saw an equally enthusiastic participation from Punekars, with local children putting up a Taekwondo demonstration, and even taking the stage for the K-Pop contest, where participants are expected to perform Korean pop hits (Gangnam Style). In fact, the crowds cheered louder for the Indian performers. And one of the highlights of the festival was when a Korean boy and an Indian girl struck up a duet of “Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanaam” a Bollywood movie song during the cultural show.

Even the culinary spread was a mix of Indian biryani and Korean delicacies like Kimbaap (sticky rice rolled in seaweed), Korean-style fried rice called Bokkeumbap, (sticky rice fried with red beans and topped with a tuna Kimchi) and traditional Korean rice flour and red bean paste dessert, called Gyeongdan.

           So it was an awesome evening with many local youth performed to Korean songs & won many prizes  in lucky draws & in Singing , Dancing competition. Prizes were Air Ticket to Korea, LEDs, Tabs, Mobile handsets, Refrigerator & last but not least Korean souvenirs’ with Lotte Choco Pie to everyone present at the venue. 

Congratulations to Incheon International Airport for winning the Best Overall Airport in the World prize

The Incheon International Airport Corporation won the Best Overall Airport in the World prize at this year’s Global Traveler Tested Reader Survey Awards.

The awarding ceremony took place on Dec. 15 (local time) at the Peninsula Beverly Hills LA. Earlier this year, Seoul's main airport was also declared "Best Airport Asia-Pacific" and "Best Airport 25-40 Million Passengers" in the most recent Airport Service Quality Awards. With the prize, the Incheon International Airport became the only airport in the Global Traveler Hall of Fame.

Earlier, the airport had topped the Airport Service Quality of the Airports Council International for nine consecutive years. Approximately 26,000 people participated in the assessment.
It was followed by Changi Airport in Singapore and the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Opened in 2001, the Incheon International Airport has recorded an annual average growth rate of 6.4 percent, and 400 million people have used it until August this year.

The number exceeded 40 million in 2014 alone, too. At present, it is connected to 188 cities in 55 countries around the world, and its cargo and passenger transportation volumes are the third and ninth-highest in the world, respectively.

How to Send a Gift by Using Korean Mobile Gifticon(a mobile gift voucher)

Many Koreans use a mobile gift shop application to send a gift to their families, friends and to coworkers. You need to buy gifts for coming Christmas but don't have time for shopping? Then why don't you use the Korean mobile App store as it is very easy and convenient to use.

1. Using 'Gifticon Syrup'

This easy to download mobile App recommends you appropriate items to select showing several possible occasions.

You can choose the (list of) receiver(s) from the contact list of Kakaotalk or Facebook.

① Personal authentication is essential. Click the 'Identifying to Use' and choose 'mobile Identification' on the left side.

② Read and accept all the policy terms and enter your name, gender and date of birth. And then click 'requesting authentication' after choosing your mobile carrier.

③ After entering the verification code number sent to you, click 'next' button. If you accept all the policy terms of Gifticon click ‘next’ button again. Here, you can set up your password for Gifticon App.
                          

Now, it’s time for shopping. If you click one of the theme shops (birthday, baby shower, cheering up, etc.) you’d like to visit, recommended items are shown according to each occasion. 

Besides the theme shops, brand shops categorize goods by items. For example, if you choose the coffee/drink, you will see the product list with diverse brands, types and sizes.

Choose one of the items you want, pick an e-card with a brief message. And then choose the receiver designating the route that the gift delivers: text message, Kakaotalk or Facebook messenger.
                         

2. Using the Mobile Gift-shop in Kakaotalk

You can also send a gift at Kakaotalk which Koreans use a lot. The good point of this shopping is easy and convenient.

① Click 'See more' in Kakaotalk to find a 'gift shop' tab.

② In 'recommended theme' corner are shown the items appropriate for occasions: birthday, Christmas, anniversary, marriage, etc.

                       

Hybrid Taxis to Help Keep Seoul's Air Clean

                            

Toyota's Prius hybrid taxis will start plying the streets of Seoul in mid-December. Toyota Korea on Thursday said the carmaker will deliver a dozen Prius taxis in mid-December, with another 30 booked for delivery later.

The taxis were launched on Aug. 20, but delivery took longer than expected because of the time required to re-spray them in the requisite colors and fix the components.
Prius taxis are expected to take some time to establish themselves here over the cheaper LPG taxis. A Prius taxi costs around W26 million (US$1=W1,116), up to W10 million more than the LF Sonata, the most common kind of taxis here.

Toyota started mass production of the Prius in 1997 and has sold a total of 3 million units around the world. The taxi versions can be found on the streets of Austria, Croatia, Japan, Singapore and the U.S.

Sweet treats at Garosugil

                           
Sweets can be found in almost every nook and cranny of Garosugil and its adjoining streets.

In fact, one can practically gauge the latest dessert trends of the city by taking a stroll through the scenic area that is located in Seoul’s Sinsa-dong. 

There one will come across at least three different takes on soft serve, uber-popular roll cakes, variations on the bingsu and other delights. 

                                         


One will also find sister shops of established dessert stops, like sibling stores Pumpkin Terrier Cake Shop and Hey. J, both of which spin out tasteworthy confections.

Pumpkin Terrier Cake Shop, which opened in June, derives its homey cake aesthetic from Glamorous Penguin, a dessert cafe that opened in 2012 in Seoul’s Hannam-dong.
Layer cakes can be found at Pumpkin Terrier, including a particularly memorable raspberry meringue confection, where layers of cake boasting a slightly big crumb are sandwiched around a sweet raspberry curd. 



                                         


The whole towering affair is then covered in sugary, marshmallow-like meringue for the kind of dessert that goes great with a piping hot cup of coffee. 

1F, 534-8 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
(070) 7627-0057
Open 1:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily
Cookie chou costs 3,500 own each, matcha soft ice cream costs 3,900 won, matcha soft shiratama costs 4,800 won

Ddeok-gal-bi meatball skewers

There are lots of different kinds of street vendors in Myeongdong, including “Ddeok-gal-bi meatball skewers,” the one we are going to introduce to you today.
It started from the idea that people would enjoy “Ddeok-gal-bi,” one of the most famous traditional Korean food, more casually as walking if it is made into bite-sized meatballs, and it soon became very popular in Myeongdong. Why don’t you try it out if you plan to shop in Myeongdong area? It would be not so difficult to find this place as they set up a huge food model to attract people in front of it.


                         

World’s First Vertically Movable Mini-tram Developed in Korea

An unmanned mini-tram that can move up and down by an elevator has been developed in Korea for the first time in the world. This can be usefully deployed in places where short intervals between trains are required and there are multiple destinations for passengers, such as large shopping malls, transit transfer centers and airports.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute held on November 27 the first pilot run for the mini-tram at its head office in Euiwang in the southern outskirts of Seoul. The six-seater battery-operated tram can travel up to 50 kilometers an hour along the magnet-laid rail. Once a passenger presses the call-up button at the station, the tram will come pick up the passenger to take her to the desired destination along the optimal route indicated by the GPS. The central control center makes sure the trains can be run smoothly without colliding with each other.
According to an institute’s official, the tram can come in handy in small residential towns and areas in which connecting means of transportation are needed. As the tram is small sized, it costs less to build and maintain. Currently similar trams are under deployment in London’s Heathrow Airport and Masdar City Airport in Abu Dhabi. The institute aims to commercialize the technology by 2016.

Seoul to Introduce “Pororo” Taxi to Dispel Bad Image of Seoul Taxis

Seoul taxi drivers are notorious for rejecting customers and driving aggressively. In order to dispel their bad reputation, Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced “Pororo” taxis in an attempt to paint cabbies in a more friendly light.

The Seoul city government modified 20 owner-driven taxis with images of the popular cartoon penguin Pororo, and has launched a pilot project that will continue until May next year. “Pororo, the Little Penguin” is a much beloved animated cartoon series in Korea and abroad. Pororo has even been dubbed as the “president of children.”

From outer decorations to accessories inside the vehicles themselves, Pororo and his friends have taken over the taxis, giving much delight to passengers, especially children.

Passengers don’t need to pay extra fare for the specially decorated taxis, and those who would like to take a Pororo taxi should make an online reservation at Seoul’s public transportation reservation site (http://yeyak.seoul.go.kr/main.web) at least seven days prior to the service.

However, the services are not only based on reservations, and those who are lucky enough to spot one on the street can ride a Pororo cab like any other taxi in Seoul.

The city government will decide whether to keep the service running after reviewing responses from passengers and taxi drivers, once the pilot project has concluded.

Popular Character Pucca to Let Seoulites and Tourists Know Public Information

Pucca will engage in public information campaign activities to promote Seoul to its citizens and tourists. It will introduce Seoul’s main attractions to foreign tourists as well.

The Seoul metropolitan city government signed an agreement with Vooz which created the character Pucca on November 17 to jointly produce content for public use free of charge. Pucca, designed by the animation character designing company in 2000, has gained popularity in more than 150 markets worldwide. It has won the best animation character awards for three consecutive years from 2003, and was selected as Korea’s best animation character in 2010 by the Seoul Business Agency.

The city government plans to allow Seoulites to obtain public information on the city related to women and children in an easy and fun way by utilizing Pucca. The lovable character will also be on public campaigns about etiquette on public transportation or non-smoking sections in order to establish better communication channels between the city government and Seoul citizens through the friendly animation character.

As it is popular in other countries including China and Brazil, Pucca will become a tour guide in tourist materials for tourists in hot spots such as Myungdong and Gwanghwamun as well. Considering the fact that a growing number of Chinese tourists love the Chinese girl-like character, it is expected to boost the local economy.

All the materials on which Pucca appears are available at bus stops, public vendors in Seoul and the Seoul Book Store located in the City Hall.

                               

The city government has already utilized many domestic animation characters to communicate with Seoulites well. It came up with “Tayo” buses and “Larva” subway trains, which grew huge in popularity.

                                           

All 8 of Seoul’s Dulle-gil trails are open to walk on as of Nov 15

                        

There are many walking trails in Korea, but you don’t need to travel far to enjoy one of Seoul’s 8 Dulle-gil trails, all of which are fully open to public as of November 15, 2014.

As the love and interest from Seoulites and visitors from other regions increases for Seoul’s natural attractions, so the roads built close to mountain trails gain in popularity. However, this influx of vehicles is detrimental to the natural scenery. In order to protect Seoul’s natural attractions while still allowing people to draw near, the Seoul government created the Dulle-gil trails that cover the city’s most visited natural attractions, organized into 8 courses reaching 27 different locations. Covering 157km in total, these trails are perfect for exercise but also good for viewing nearby cultural and historical sites. Moreover, all entrances and exits are within short walking distance to 23 major subway stations for easy access.