2010년 10월 31일 일요일

Firms to highlight IT skills during G20

The country’s telecom and technology firms are preparing well-ahead for the G20 Seoul summit, which is only two weeks away.

The government and many local firms are making last-minute preparations to use the global event as a way to present their advanced technologies to the leaders coming from all over the world.

G20 Summit Preparation Committee is planning to set up an IT experience hall that introduces 60 years’ worth of the nation’s cultural assets at the COEX ConventionCenter in southern Seoul, which is where G20 will take place.

Through the use of multi-touch screen technology, visitors will be able to touch and feel Korean traditional clothes and houses as well as other images.

“We will enable other nation’s representatives to walk around Seoul and naturally find the merits of the advanced technologies of Korea,” said Kim Yoon-kyeong, a spokesperson for the G20 preparation committee.

It will also feature the must-see places in Seoul, designated by UNESCO, on a large screen, supported with virtualization technology.

The 3-D broadcasting hall, which will be first in airing real-time Internet protocol television (IPTVprograms in 3-D, will be located next to the IT experience hall. The effort will be carried forward jointly with the Korea Communications Commission and KT Corp.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government also announced a comprehensive G20 support plan earlier last week, claiming it will operate a 4-D image room from Nov. 8-13, near the main event hall.

Companies seek to take advantage of G20 summit

The upcoming Group of 20 leaders’ summit is expected to offer a crucial opportunity for Korean firms to boost their image and promote products abroad.

The leaders of the 20 biggest economies will attend the Nov. 11-12 summit and more than 100 corporate chief executives will participate in a forum of global corporate CEOs scheduled for Nov. 10-11. 

The events are expected to draw more than 1,000 government officials, businesspeople, academics and journalists from across the globe.

Korean companies in various sectors including telecom, electronics, automobile and retail are waging promotion campaigns to take advantage of the premier forum of global economic cooperation.

The G20 summit is forecast to contribute 31.2 trillion won ($27.7 billion) to the national economy, according to the Korea International Trade Association. 

They estimate that the summit will help lift Korea’s exports by 3.9 percent, worth over 20 trillion won, in the medium and long term. Its spin-off effect will reach 10.6 trillion won, feeding through 166,000 new jobs, KITA says.

The economy will earn nearly 97 billion won from summit participants’ spending and 170 billion won from corporate advertisers, the report 

According to a survey by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, nearly 70 percent of its 310 member companies think the upcoming summit will have a positive impact on local economy. 

Nearly 54 percent of respondents said the summit would boost trade by improving the nation’s image, while 23 percent pointed out investment growth and new business opportunities as the advantages of the two-day event.

Marketing campaigns for the G20 summit are in full swing at automobile manufacturers such as Hyundai Motor Group and local units of BMW, Audi and Chrysler, as they will be riding the delegates and their company from all around the world.

Hyundai Motor’s flagship luxury sedan Equus Limousine is chosen as official vehicles for the G20 leaders. BMW’s 750 Li, Audi’s A8 and Chrysler’s 300c will be carrying their spouses and international organization chiefs, the organizing committee said.

Shanghai Expo to give Korea W7tr boost

Korea is expected to see increases in exports and tourism worth 7 trillion won ($6.22 billion) over the next three years following its participation in the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, a report showed Sunday.

The $44 billion World Expo closed Sunday after China’s richest city hosted arecord number of visitors during the six-month event. 

By running a three-story national pavilion during the biennial event, Korea’s exports to China are expected to increase by 6.37 trillion won over the next three years, according to a report by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. This is equal to 6.6 percent of Korea’s exports to China registered in 2009.

The number of Chinese who will visit Korea over the next three years is expected to grow by 450,000, benefiting the local industry by 631.9 billion won, it added.

The report said mobile phones topped the list of wish-to-buy products, followed bycosmetics and clothing.

KOTRA said the Korean pavilion has attracted a record 7.25 million visitors during the fair, exceeding the agency’s target of 6 million. The previous record number of visitors that Korea has attracted through fairs was 3.5 million during the 2005 Expo held in the Japanese city of Aichi.

Korea built the 7,680-square-meter pavilion at a cost of about $24 million, equipped with various facilities to host cultural events and sideshows.

The report came as the Shanghai World Expo comes to an end on Sunday after a six-month run under the theme of “Better City, Better Life,” with Korea and 190 other countries and 50 international organizations participating.

A ceremony was held in the evening along the city’s Huangpu river, with leaders including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and United Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon in attendance. 

The Expo has attracted almost 73 million visitors since it opened to the public on May 1, according to its website, surpassing the 64 million people that attended the 1970 expo in Osaka, Japan. 

Authorities in Shanghai campaigned against spitting and littering, expanded the subway system and built two new airport terminals to prepare for the biggest event to be held in the city. The exhibition, with pavilions from about 190 nations from the U.S. to North Korea, may lift Shanghai’s economic growth to more than 8.5 percent this year from 8.2 percent in 2009, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences estimates. 

“The Expo was a turning point for Shanghai as the city now moves up the ranks of the world’s metropolises,” said Tu Qiyu, head of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences’s urban research center. “The Expo has been a huge education for Shanghai and many Chinese in modernization.” 

After winning hosting rights in 2002, Shanghai allotted 28.6 billion yuan ($4.3 billion) for construction and operating costs and 270 billion yuan for infrastructure, including the airport terminals and a three-year renovation of The Bund waterfront area. Shanghai’s growth last year was at the slowest pace in 18 years.

Lady Gaga appeared in anti-sexual harassment video

Lady Gaga, a 24-year-old pop icon known for wearing as little as possible once appeared on an educational video, the Daily Mail reported on Oct. 27. 

Before gaining world fame, during her teenage years Gaga, Stefani Joanna Angelina Germanotta, as she was known then, took part in the short film which aimed to teach students about dealing with sexual harassment.

Rousseff is elected as Brazil's next president


SAO PAULO (AP) _ A former Marxist guerrilla who was tortured and imprisoned during Brazil's long dictatorship was elected Sunday as president of Latin America's biggest nation, a country in the midst of an economic and political rise.

A statement from the Supreme Electoral Court, which oversees elections, said governing party candidate Dilma Rousseff won the election. When she takes office Jan. 1, she will be Brazil's first female leader.

With nearly 95 percent of the ballots counted, Rousseff had 55.6 percent compared to 44.4 percent for her centrist rival, Jose Serra, the electoral court said.

Rousseff, the hand-chosen candidate of wildly popular President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, won by cementing her image to Silva's, whose policies she promised to continue.

Separated families enjoy second day of reunion

MOUNT GEUMGANG, North Korea  -- Swallowing the sorrow of having to part again in less than a day, Korean families reunited after 60 years of separation sang together, posed for photos and eventually broke down in tears on Sunday as they promised to meet again.

Exchanging the addresses of their homes on either side of the heavily armed border, some families prayed for a chance to be reunited again while others plunged into doldrums over fears that the two Koreas may never be one again.

"Their stress will peak tomorrow when they have to say goodbye to each other," said Lee Jae-pil, a medical doctor assigned to the reunions of 100 families from both Koreas from Saturday to Monday.

2010년 10월 26일 화요일

Top 10 hotel suites around the world


Staying at the world’s most luxurious hotel might be one of your once-in-a-life-time dreams. For those who will never see inside luxurious hotel suites, The Korea Herald selected the top 10 most exorbitant hotel suites around the world. Keep in mind that all of the hotel suite services were priced without additional taxes and fees.


Burj Al Arab, Dubai (www.jumeirah.com)

Royal Suite 
$ 19,060 (70,000 UAE Dirhams) per night
Located on the 25th floor of the hotel and in the sun-drenched heartland of Dubai, The Royal Suite offers dazzling views of the Arabian Sea, two bedrooms (with appointed interiors, majestic colors and fabulous furniture), a marble and gold floor, marble bathrooms with spa bath, a rotating four-poster bed in the master bedroom, a dining area, a private cinema and a private elevator. A personal butler stays with you round the clock to fulfill every wish. The Royal Suite is the last word in luxury, with a marble and gold staircase, leopard print carpets and Versace linens. The guests can also enjoy a submarine ride to an underwater themed restaurant, as well as a gigantic aquarium filled with deadly sharks.


Park Hyatt, Paris (paris.vendome.hyatt.com)

Imperial Suite
$ 19,415 per night (€ 14,000)
Located on the 5th floor of the hotel, the 250 square meter suite contains high ceilings, an 85 square meter living room, a dining room, a kitchenette and a separate working area. It also provides high-speed internet access, a color printer, an individual air conditioning control, a DVD player, a computer with a flat screen monitor and multiline telephones. Plus, The Imperial Suite offers a spa bathroom with whirlpool bath, a steam room shower and a table dedicated for massages.



Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo (www.ritzcarlton.com/Tokyo)

Ritz-Carlton Suite
$ 24,621 (¥, 2,000,000) per night
Located on the 53rd floor in the city’s tallest building, the Ritz-Carlton Suite offers spectacular views of the coastal city of Tokyo, including Tokyo Tower and MountFuji. Encompassing more than 3,300 square feet and representing the largest executive suite in all of Tokyo, the suite was designed to reflect classic European inspiration fused with contemporary trends. It offers a connected living room/dining room, a bedroom, a four-poster king-size bed, Frette linens and feather beds, marble bathtubs, rain showers, two 40-inch Sony BRAVIA televisions connected to DVD and CD players, access to wireless high-speed internet, dualine telephones with voice mail and in-room Asprey bath amenities. Food and drinks are offered round the clock and an extra measure of privacy and security is ensured for its customers.


The Atlantis, Bahamas (www.atlantis.com)

Bridge Suite
$25,000 per night
As The Bridge Suite is the most luxurious premiere accommodation in the hotel, it provides its residents with magnificent views with full balconies and sumptuous rooms fully decorated with a variety of unique adornment. A 116 square meter living room is offered, along with a grand piano and two 22-karat gold entertainment rooms, which can also serve as dining rooms and large bedrooms. The master bedroom contains a king bed, closets and handmade linens. There are two bathrooms with chaise longues, marble bathtubs and dolphin fixtures. The 75 square meter balcony and 4-meter-high ceiling also offers spectacular views of the water, lagoon and pools in the Atlantis. Seven permanent round-the-clock staff dedicated to The Bridge Suite await vacationers for a rainy day.


Ritz-Carlton Moscow (www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Moscow/Default.htm)

Ritz-Carlton Suite 
$ 25,500 per night
The 237 square meter Ruiz-Carlton Suite allows its guests to enjoy the most stunning spectacles of the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral and Christ the Savior Cathedral. The suite contains a spacious living room with a grand piano and dining area, a library, an office room, a boardroom and a heated floor. The residents can enjoy marble baths with separate rain shower and private sauna. Wireless Internet access is also available. 


Westin Excelsior, Rome (www.starwoodhotels.com)

Villa Capola Suite
$ 29,000 per night
Situated on the fifth and sixth floors underneath the dome of the hotel, the suite covers 567 square meters and has an additional 168 square meters of balconies and terraces. The Villa Cupola offers a private library, a private pool, a private health club, a private wine cabinet with over 150 wines to choose from, steam bath, whirlpool and a Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system. The suite features panoramic views of the heart of Rome. 


Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas (www.palms.com)

Huge Hefner Sky Villa
$ 40,000 per night
The 1,000 square meter and two-story Huge Hefner Sky Villa contains the best of everything, including a media room, a sauna room, a personal glass elevator, three gorgeous bedrooms, artworks, an outdoor terrace filled with a private marble pool and two gorgeous bedrooms, where you can look over the dazzling nightscape of Las Vegas. A round-the-clock butler service, a private workout room, a fireplace, message and spa rooms, and pop-up plasma TVs are also offered. 


Four Seasons Hotel, New York (www.fourseasons.com)

Ty Warner Penthouse
$ 40,000 per night
Located on the 52nd floor, the suite provides a complete 360 degree view of the coastal city of New York, including the Statue of Liberty, all of its bridges and Central Park. Encompassing 4,300 square meters, the nine-room suite can be accessed by its own private elevator. Every space is beautifully decorated and is made to feel even more expensive with windows covering the whole bay, ceilings and skylights. With its ceilings, walls and transparent floor, the master bedroom includes another outdoor balcony designed to enjoy the fascinating beauty of Central Park. The room contains a marble fireplace, a spa room decorated with living bamboo, a spacious dressing room covered with leather, a grand piano, a full marble bathroom, rain shower in a glass-enclosed room, radiant-heated floors and sinks made of rock crystal. Plus, full spa treatments, along with a personal trainer and a 24-hour butler service, are also available.


Hotel Martinez, Cannes (www.hotel-martinez.com)

Penthouse Suite 
$ 50,742 (€ 36,000) per night
The Penthouse Suite is one of the biggest, most expensive, and the only terraced penthouse suite in the hotel. The terrace covers 223 square meters and accommodates up to 100 personnel. The suite offers a Jacuzzi, a plasma screen television, a DVD library, a kitchen, a personal sauna room, an open bar, two bedrooms, a 24-hour private butler and spectacular views that cover the magnificent Lerins Islands and the entire Bay of Cannes. It is said that one Saudi sheik became so obsessed with the suite that he aspired to rent it for five years, but failed to win the hotel’s permission.


President Wilson Hotel, Geneva (www.fivestaralliace.com)

Imperial Suite
$ 65,000 per night
Located in the heartland of Geneva and on the top floor of the hotel, The Imperial Suite can be reached via a private elevator. The suite contains four bedrooms, six bathrooms with mosaic marble floors, a cocktail bar and a terrace, where you can enjoy exceptional views of Geneva through bulletproof windows. The room contains a billiard table and a cocktail lounge, where its guests can view the turquoise and picturesque Lake Geneva. There is a dining room, which can accommodate up to 26 people. What makes the Imperial Suite unique is its state-of-the-art security system, including a helicopter-evacuation service for its guests.

SKT to develop multiple OS, global platforms, CEO says

SK Telecom, the country’s top mobile carrier, plans to invest 1 trillion won ($895.97 million) over the next three years to build global wireless service platforms, its CEO Jung Man-won said Monday.

He said the company’s new growth strategy will place emphasis on multiple mobile operating systems and platforms for its popular services. 

The telecom service provider’s well-known services include T-Map, T-Store and social messaging services such as NateOn.

“Telecoms now can’t differentiate their services for customers only with their network technologies,” said the president and CEO of SKT. “That is why we’re planning to build a business model by creating an eco-system … We will move onto providing service platforms to grab the opportunities lying ahead.”

The move takes place after the telecom service operator is being threatened by global players such as Apple, which not only offers hardware but also software services like its Apps Store and iOS.

The company’s competitors KT and LG Uplus also joined SKT to offer an unlimiteddata usage service for customers, leaving no room for SKT to differentiate itself from the two.

SKT will cooperate with the members of the global Wholesale Application Community as well as Korea-WAC to develop a number of mobile operating systems such as the Apple’s iOS in the long term.

The K-WAC members plan to offer a test service in January, followed by a commercialized service later in May.

SK Telecom CEO Jung Man-won addresses a news conference on Monday.  (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)

‘G20 to make progress in fixing global imbalance’

Korean and Canadian finance chiefs on Monday voiced optimism that the Group of 20 will achieve substantial progress in fixing global imbalances when their leaders meet in Seoul in November. 

Canada and Korea chair the Group of Seven and the Group of 20 respectively this year. 

Finance chiefs of the G20 on Saturday agreed to avoid competitive currency devaluation and push to keep imbalances at sustainable levels.

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he expects the G20 will make progress further in reducing trade and current account gaps in the Seoul meetingslated for Nov 11-12.

LG picked as top Asian appliances brand

LG Electronics’ air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines were selected as Asia’s top brands, according to a survey of Asia’s top 1,000 brands, LG Electronics said Monday. 

LG was the only brand to sweep first place in all three areas, the company said. 

LG refrigerators and washing machines overcame their global rivals to take first place for a third consecutive year in the annual survey, LG officials said.

LG’s air conditioners took first place for a second straight year. 

Company officials said Asian consumers appeared to favor their products because of the efforts the company took to localize.

LG air conditioners, for instance, were designed to help prevent the spread of avian flu. 

The company’s refrigerators boasted features to keep food fresher in a more humid environment. 

Following LG in all three categories was Japan’s Panasonic, which was trailed in turn by South Korea’s Samsung for refrigerators and washing machines.

With the brand survey, LG Electronics showed that it continues to reign as one of the world’s top three in consumer appliances despite its waning popularity as a phonemaker, market watchers said. 

TNS, a global consumer market researcher, jointly conducted the survey with Media, a magazine based in the Asia-Pacific region devoted to media andmarketing industries, on consumers in 10 leading Asian countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Singapore to select Asia’s best 1,000 brands.

TNS and Media started this survey in 2008, LG officials said.

Italian teacher banned from teaching for being too sexy


The Italian female teacher, who has become a target of criticism from parents for “being too sexy to be a teacher,” has been banned from teaching until she’s proven that she has stopped filming "kinky films," the online parody news Spoof reported on Friday.

Parents at the Catholic school in Milan where she teaches were outraged at her past career. She used to earn some money during her studies by starring in kinky films. But, it has ruined her teaching career eventually. Now she just wants to teach, leaving behind her past experience, said the Spoof. 

The British Daily Mail reported on Thursday that angry parents at an Italian school withdrew their pupil from the school, contending that a teacher is too sexy.

The teacher is a former beauty queen and is attending the prestigious Milan school  in Italy.

The parents' action came after Ileana Tacconelli, 28, who has three degrees and was a former model, recently caused a sensation by posting her racy photos and video footage of her on the internet.

Meanwhile, fathers of the school kids reportedly formed a group advocating the teacher while mothers are furious over the teacher.