SEOUL – North Korea’s rhetoric is such a familiar noise during United States-South Korean war games that most people don’t pay attention. Nor does anyone outside the US and Korean military establishments seem to care much about the exercises themselves – Key Resolve and Foal Eagle.
The real exchange of fire seems to be going on quite separately. That’s a debate among Americans and Koreans over one of the most contentious issues between the US and South Korea, namely the plan to give "operational control" over all military operations to a South Korean commander in the event of war with the North.

Asia Times Online :: Korea News and Korean Business and Economy, Pyongyang News

The most frequent excuse given is that Korea does not posses the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) to assume operational control.  Bullshite.  I propose that the Korean reluctance to assume OPCON is cultural rather than technological…it stems from Confucian filial piety. The US military is seen subconsciously as the doctrinal, organizational, and technological “father” or “ancestor” of the Korean military and is to be obeyed, respected, and supported.  Certainly there are fiscal issues involved as well, but the proverbial elephant in the room is filial piety.

SEOUL (AFP) – South Korea said Friday it would launch a probe into security systems of major retailer Shinsegae and 24 other companies after private data on some 20 million customers was leaked.

The move came a day after police arrested three South Koreans for selling private information, including IDs, passwords and addresses, of more than 20 million compatriots online.

S.Korea to probe huge online data leak – Yahoo! News

"Harmony," a touching story about four female prison inmates who create a choir, has been inching toward the 3 million attendee mark since its release in Korea on Jan. 28, much to the surprise of the film industry. For this film genre, 3 million is considered a success, but when you are talking about a veteran star Yunjin Kim, would you expect anything less?

We all know Yunjin Kim as Sun-hwa Kwon from the ABC series "Lost," which is filming its sixth and final season in Hawai’i. However there is more to this talented actress. Born Nov. 7, 1973, Kim has broken many barriers in her career and opened doors for other Korean stars. She is the first South Korea-born celebrity to have a successful acting career in both Korea and the United States.

‘Lost’ star scores another hit with ‘Harmony’ | honoluluadvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser

BANGALORE, March 10 (Reuters) – Imax Corp (IMX.TO) (IMAX.O) agreed to form a joint venture with a South Korean theater exhibitor to operate up to 15 new theaters in the country as the giant-screen movie operator seeks to expand its presence in Asia.

The agreement with CJ CGV Co Ltd was signed following the success of the exhibitor’s five existing Imax locations in South Korea, where the current 3D release of the blockbuster movie "Avatar" has generated more than $6.5 million, Imax said.

UPDATE 2-Imax signs JV for up to 15 theaters in South Korea | Reuters

Remember that episode of "30 Rock" where James Franco’s character was in love with a pillow? Oh that was so funny. You know, because it was a scripted television show. Not real life. I wouldn’t think that would need such a distinction, but then again, I wouldn’t expect a man in Korea to marry a pillow.

Korean Man Marries Pillow (VIDEO)

Gongsanseong (공산성) does not rank high on the ‘most seen by foreigners’ list. Then again, neither does the city of Gongju. Naturally, the Lady in Red and I had to check it out.

Originally called Ungjinseong, the mud fortress was used by King Munjuwang (reigned 475-477 A.D.) as the Baekje capital during the Baekje Dynasty. In 538 A.D., however, King Seong moved the capital to present-day Buyeo, although Gongju remained fairly important (and close to the capital) until the Baekje Dynasty collasped in 667 A.D.

The fortress was rebuilt with stones during the Joseon Dynasty, and King Injo hid here for a short time as well.

You’ll pass a number of stele, or monuments, while walking towards the front gate. Most are modern-day recreations, but this one dates from 1817 to give thanks for a rebuilt bridge. After Jemincheongyo (the bridge) was washed away by Jemincheon (the creek), the town couldn’t afford the rebuild. They ended up raising funds from the nearby towns of Buyeo and Yeongi, and rebuilt the bridge in August 1817.

The main, tourist-friendly, entrance – Geumseoru Pavilion, or the West Gate. The original was destroyed to make way for the construction of roads, but was rebuilt in 1993.

Walk along the wall of the fortress – the perimeter holds the most interesting sights, and the most recreations.

You got me here. The signs that explained the gates and pavilions didn’t bother to explain the flags.

Looking into the valley protected by the fortress walls – a fairly major construction or excavation project. Not pictured are some booths still under construction – an indication that the area is getting a makeover of some kind.

From 1708, the monument remembers how King Injo stayed at Gongsanseong to avoid the riot by Yi Gwal. In 1623, Yi Gwal was part of a coup that dethroned Gwanghaegun to make Injo king, and almost every other major leader of the coup was called to court. Yi Gwal’s ‘reward’ was to command his troops against the Manchus coming from the North. Yi Gwal responded in 1624 by bringing over 12,000 troops back to Hanseong (present-day Seoul), forcing Injo to flee while Yi Gwal took over the city. King Injo supposedly stayed in Gongju for 6 days to wait out the fighting,

What’s going on here? A field surrounded by a fence? The nearby sign reveals this to be the ‘presumed site of a palace’. A leveling in the 1930’s and excavations in 1985-86 uncovered many relics, including large building sites, lotus-patterned roof tiles, and holes to indicate building posts. In other words, something was here – but nothing’s been reconstructed yet.

Originally built in 1734, this pavilion commemorates two trees being appointed ‘high government officials’. Wait, what? When Injo fled to Gongsanseong, he waited for news under two trees; after the rebellion was taken care of, he gave the two trees their new appointment and ordered the fortress to be called Ssangsuseong. Why? He’s the King – who needs a reason? The pavilion was built where those two trees once stood.

Following the perimeter of the fortress around to the South Gate, or Jinnamru. Not pictured is the very modern view of Gongju you’ll get looking from the fortress towards the horizon.

One highlight of the fortress – Imnyugak Pavilion. Originally built in 500 A.D., it was supposedly used as a reception hall for the king and his subjects. The replica, created in 1993, is simply huge – and nicely painted. Each of the two floors could easily hold dozens of people.

Winding out the sights is Yeongeunsa, a temple originally built in 1458. The temple’s claim to fame? The lecture hall was used as living space for monks fighting during the 1592 Japanese invasion. A temple probably existed before that, since six Buddha statues were found from the United Silla period (668 – 935 A.D.), but there’s no information on where they’re displayed today.

A Lotus Pond, or yeonji, near the aforementioned temple – located right next to the Geumgang river. It was excavated and restored from 1982-83, and features an interesting color of water.

The fortress is quite interesting, easy to get around, and offers plenty of English-language signs. The area is still being improved, possibly part of a drive to increase tourism, so don’t be too surprised if you see a few new buildings. Although the views of the city take away from the natural scenery, it’s just as easy to look inward towards what’s been preserved. By itself, it’s worth a day trip to Gongju – just don’t expect to see many other foreigners while there.

Ratings (out of 5 taeguks):
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Directions to Gongsanseong (from Seoul): Get thee to the Express Bus Terminal (lines 2, 7, or 9 on the Seoul subway system). Take a bus to Gongju – it’s about two hours away, so buy a snack and drink for the bus. Once you’ve arrived at the Gongju bus terminal, take a cheap taxi (~3,000 won) to Gongsanseong, or cross the river and walk for about 3 kilometers to the entrance. Bus 100 stops in front of the parking lot of Gongsanseong, but I have no idea where to get on from. Admission 1,200 won for adults; open 9 am – 6 pm.

Its inventors believe that this is the future of urban transport — but it was hard not to be underwhelmed as the test vehicle trundled around a circuit on the edge of the South Korean capital.

The first public demonstration of the Online Electric Vehicle, or Olev, was, however, as much about the road on which it travelled as the prototype bus itself. Electric power strips have been buried 30cm (12in) under the surface and connected to the national grid.

They provide electromagnetic power to the vehicle, wirelessly, charging an onboard battery and powering the bus’s electric motor. The power strips need to be embedded in only 20 per cent of the length of a road to keep the vehicle running.

Korea unveils the ‘future of transport’ — the Online Electric Vehicle – Times Online

SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) – The Miele Guide to Asia’s finest restaurants is written by food experts who know and love the region (www.mieleguide.com).

The Miele Guide to Asia’s finest restaurants is written by food experts who know and love the region. This is a list of the top 5 restaurants in South Korea, which has embraced foreign foods with a passion in the past decade.

This is a list of the top 5 restaurants in South Korea, which has embraced foreign foods with a passion in the past decade. It is not endorsed by Reuters.

Dining Out: Top 5 Restaurants in South Korea – ABC News

The list of locations for the movie "Late Autumn" is low-key, local and a little bit surprising. This star-studded Korean-U.S. film may be a love story set in Seattle, but it ignores the predictable, sweeping drama of the Space Needle for the faded Fun Forest below.

"Late Autumn," with Chinese actress Tang Wei and South Korean actor Hyun Bin, has been filming in the city and state for the past couple of months. The plot, a remake of a 1966 Korean movie, centers on Korean and Chinese immigrants who meet on a bus to Seattle and over three days in the city fall in love.

But in its portrayal of the city, the movie also nurtured its own affair with Seattle.

Local News | Seattle gets a leading role in Korean film ‘Late Autumn’ | Seattle Times Newspaper

In South Korea, where people remove their shoes before entering homes, restaurants or funeral parlours, it is a nagging problem: people walking off with others’ shoes by mistake or, sometimes, intentionally.

Still, Detective Kim Jeong-gu’s jaw dropped recently when he opened the warehouse of an ex-convict in Seoul and found 170 apple boxes packed with 1700 pairs of expensive designer shoes, sorted by size and brand, and all believed to have been stolen.

Korean shoe thief brought to heel