When Korean Police Met Malaysian

Have you encounter police in your daily life? Most of us will try to avoid to see the police if possible (at least in Malaysia^^). In normal circumtances, we just look up for the police when we are looking for direction or reporting.

Few days ago, i went to have late dinner with some Malaysian friends. We had fried chickens and beer. Guess what, the fried chicken in Korea is very delicious with different varieties. My favourite is the 'YangNyom' (양념-Fried in Hot and spicy seasoning sause) fried chicken. ^^

Ok ok. Here comes the story. On our way home, one of my friend found a wallet on the street. This lucky guy always found money on the street. According to him, Koreans hardly look down and never collect small money found on the street. ^^

The wallet came with some money and credit cards. Looking at it, the black colour wallet has different design without pocket for storing money but come with a clip for notes. It shall belongs to a young man. So, the honest people of Malaysian (haha!) decided to report the found wallet to the police station. The nearest police station was about 500 meters away near Sinchon subway station.

The small police branch office was close without any attending personnel. We found the phone in front of the police station and call to report our findings. A police patrolling car came after 3 minutes. Two male police officers came out from the car and started to record my friend's details and the findings. One of the officer count the money in front of us and we are told to become the witness of an amount of 13 1000 won (equivalent to about RM400). That was a very professional conduct. Correct me if i'm wrong, i do not think Malaysian police will do the same for that amount of money ( the value of 13 1000 won in the high cost living of Korea is same with the usage of RM 131 in Malaysia.)

We were also being told that, Korean law allowed the founder of lost money to enjoy up to 20% of the original amount of money no matter the owner was found or not.

With the current technology checking on the visa card info, the young male owner was found on the nex day. We did not meet up the owner despite the offering of his favour. We were happy and we believe the owner was happy too from his thankful tune from the other side of the phone.

Hyundai Motor Company, From Today To Tomorrow

The visit to Hyundai Motor Company had again widen my view pertaining to automobile industry and i appreciate the efforts of the company in producing high quality products despite the difficult economic environment.

Founded in year 1967, Hyundai Motor Company has been selected as one of the top 100 global brands three years in a row and has now truly become a global automobile maker, receiving positive reviews from many independent evaluation agencies and the mass media. Its TAU engine included among the world's 10 Best engine. Hyundai has also increased productivity, completing the construction of its second plants in China and India.

Hyundai is giving free cars to every visitor. I've got a Black colour Grandeur for free too. Err... i mean model car. ^^ Photos shown here are some concept cars for 2009 including IX Onix, Blue Will and Nuvis.

Source: http://worldwide.hyundai.com/

World Cultural Heritage- Bulguksa & Seokguram

Wild boar behind the board

Bulguksa: The Temple of Buddha Land
Bulguksa is a Buddhist temple in the North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is home to seven National treasures of South Korea, including Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo (Blue Cloud Bridge), and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. The temple is classified as Historic and Scenic Site No. 1 by the South Korean government.In 1995, Bulguksa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Seokguram Grotto, which lies four kilometers to the east.

The temple is considered as a masterpiece of the golden age of Buddhist art in the Silla kingdom. It is currently the head temple of the 11th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

Seokguram

The Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage and part of the Bulguksa temple complex. It lies four kilometers east of the temple on Mt. Tohamsan, in Gyeongju, South Korea. The grotto overlooks the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and rests 750 meters above sea level. In 1962, it was designated the 24th national treasure of Korea. In 1995, Seokguram was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Bulguksa Temple. It exemplifies some of the best Buddhist sculptures in the world.

Overlooking the East Sea far ahead beyond the mountain ridges from the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula, Seokguram stands as a proud testimony to Korea's brilliant tradition of classical Buddhist sculpture. A small but noble pantheon of divinities symbolizing Buddhist philosophy and aestheticism, the eighth-century cave temple is a structure of sublime beauty culminating religious belief, science and fine arts which flowered in the golden age of Asian art. Seokguram is located near the tummit of Mt. Tohamsan, east of the historic city of Gyeongju, capital of the Silla dynasty (57B.C.-A.D.935).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seokguram & http://www.ocp.go.kr/english/treasure/dom_pgs.html

Hyundai Heavy Industries

Thanks again for the arrangement set by the Presidential Council of National Branding, Korea that i manage to visit the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in Ulsan, a city some 4 hrs from Seoul.

On a small and quiet fishing village, HHI built the world's largest shipyard in 1972. Since then, HHI rose to the position of world's top shipbuilder and turned Korea into the world's leading shipbuilding company. The accumulated technology in shipbuilding had been utilized to diversify HHI's business activities into other industries fields: Offshore & Engineering, Industrial Plant & Engineering, Engine & Machinery, Electro-electric Systems, and Constrcution equipment.

The story of the HHI founder, late Chung Ju Yung (Ansan) was a story of a dedicated young man who devoted his entire life to promoting industry and to making his country prosperous for its citizens. "There are no failures, only trials', the quote from this respectful man had planted deep in my heart...certainly a pioneering spirit and passionate determination can overcome theoretical or scientific limitations.

Source: http://english.hhi.co.kr/company/at_a_glance.asp

POSCO - Move The World in Silence

Thanks to the Presidential Council of National Branding, Korea, i manage to visit the world 3rd largest steel making company - POSCO (Pohang Iron & Steel Company). Established in 1968, POSCO has grown into a global steelmaker with the annual production of 33 million tons of crude steel, leading Korean economic development for 40 years.

What surprise me is that 75% of their productions were for domestic usage in various industries including automobile, shipping, electrical and construction. Hot-rolled steels are for general structures and welded structures are produced for steel structures, bridges, ships, and automobiles. Cold-rolled steels are used to product structural steel which does not need drawability but require strength.

The company's slogan, "We move the world in silence - 소리 없이 세상을 움직입니다' is a very suitable slogan for picturing the importance of steel in our daily life.

We were also greeted by the Senior Executive Vice President of the company, Mr. Jin-Il Kim. Wearing in uniform, Mr. Kim has posted a very good leadership image to me together with his simple yet humour cum astonishing speech.

The visit was so meaningful that i discovered the best quote of the year ' 鋼鐵은國力 - Steel is the strength of Nation'.

Source: http://www.posco.com/homepage/docs/eng/html/company/archive/s91c6010043l.html
Nice tv comercial too.