A nice gossipy item from the Chosun Ilbo: Kim [Ki-duk] went to Jungbu Police Station in Seoul to obtain a permit to manufacture a model gun for his new film. But his seedy appearance inspired little confidence, and when he kept repeating the phrase, “The leading man’s gun, the leading man’s gun,” police decided he … [Read More]
Featured Posts - page 276
Conference report: Hallyuwood — Korean Screen Culture Goes Global
I was unable to attend the conference, and I am grateful to Prof Hu Puzhong for this report: The symposium has witnessed a relatively blissful atmosphere probably because the Korean wave and its cultural representation in screen production seem to have become an alternative in a world dominated by the hegemony of Hollywood. Academics from … [Read More]
62% of Koreans can’t use chopsticks
According to the Chosun Ilbo, “only 38 percent of [Korean] adults, split almost evenly between male and female, [are] able to use chopsticks in the correct manner.” The problem could threaten Korea’s future intellectual prowess. Professor Kim Phil-soo at Daelim College who conducted a survey of 252 Korean adults said: “chopsticks require a person to … [Read More]
Fourth most ideal rear belongs to transgender star
Sorry to be a bit tabloid, but I just had to preserve this article from the Chosun Ilbo, which illustrates the Korean obsession with plastic surgery. Visitors to a plastic surgeon’s website were asked whose bum they would most like to have. The preferred posterior profiles were owned by the following celebs, in order: Jeon … [Read More]
Pyongyang declaration
PYONGYANG, Sept. 17 Kyodo The following is the full text of the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration issued Tuesday after a summit meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Kim Jong Il, leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chairman Kim Jong Il of the DPRK National … [Read More]
Memories of Mokseokwon
Fond memories of a visit to Mokseokwon (목석원) sculpture park in Chejudo. I was lucky enough to be introduced to Baek Un-Ch’ol, who has masterminded the park. The main exhibits in the park are interesting pieces of driftwood, which Mr Baek has spent a lifetime collecting. He could earn a fortune by flogging them off … [Read More]
The June 15 North-South Joint Declaration
The following is the text of the joint declaration issued following the first Nouth-South summit. NORTH-SOUTH JOINT DECLARATION True to the noble will of all the fellow countrymen for the peaceful reunification of the country, Chairman Kim Jong Il of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and President Kim Dae … [Read More]
The 1994 US – DPRK Agreed Framework
AGREED FRAMEWORK BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA GENEVA, OCTOBER 21, 1994 Delegations of the Governments of the United States of America (U.S.) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held talks in Geneva from September 23 to October 21, 1994, to negotiate an overall resolution of … [Read More]
Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean peninsula
The text of the Joint Declaration, courtesy of the Federation of American Scientists: JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DENUCLEARIZATION OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA Entry into force on February 19, 1992 South and North Korea, In order to eliminate the danger of nuclear war through the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, to create conditions and an environment … [Read More]
North-South Korea Joint Communiqué
Text of the North-South Korea Joint Communiqué
NORTH-SOUTH JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
Pyongyang, July 4, 1972
Talks were held in Pyongyang and Seoul for discussing the question of improving the relations between the north and the south and reunifying the divided country.
Ri Hu Rak, director of the Central Intelligence Agency in Seoul, visited Pyongyang in the period from May 2 to 5, 1972, and had talks with Kim [Read More]