18 COMMUNITY
PHOTO CHALLENGE — weekly winner
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Popular Seoul
business class
starts Monday
By Shannon Heit
The Seoul Global Center will
again host its Business Start-up
Education Class for internation-
al entrepreneurs. While the fu-
ture had been uncertain after
its first run, after frequent in-
quiries from expats, the SGC
decided that it would be benefi-
cial to provide the course again.
Sponsored by the Seoul
Metropolitan Government, last
year’s inaugural lessons proved
a success; the course spawned
six still-operating businesses
and more students have other
businesses in the works.
One former student,
Singaporean Chua Pei Chi, said
he would certainly recommend
the class to others interested in
starting a business. “Before I
attended the course, I always
had the intention (of starting a
business in Korea), but I didn’t
know how to go about it. It gave
me an idea about how I could
start and also gave me con-
tacts,” he said.
Chua is currently in the
process of getting his trading
company off the ground. He
predicts it will open in April or
May. Chua, who was involved
in trade in Singapore, said that
“knowing that there is a course
like this, made me feel wel-
come to start my own business
here.”
The intensive classes will run
every day except Sunday, start-
ing Monday, March 22 through
April 1 at the SGC Seminar
room, located on the 5th floor of
the Press Center, near Seoul
City Hall. During the week,
classes will be held in the
evening in an effort to accommo-
date work schedules of interest-
ed participants, typically from
6:30-8:30 or 9:30 p.m. One
Saturday class will be held in
the afternoon from 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
Topics will range from Korean
business culture, creating a vi-
able business plan, registering a
business, location and real es-
tate analysis, human resources,
Students take part in last year’s Business Start-up Education
Class.
Course schedule
Date Title
March 22 Orientation
Korean business culture
March 23 Evaluating business potential
& finding business ideas
March 24 Establishment
March 25 Business plan preparation
March 27 Location & premises
HR
March 29 Legal requirements
March 30 Tax & accounting
March 31 Licenses & permits
April 1 Obtaining finance
labor and business laws, taxa-
tion, and business licenses and
permits.
Each course will be taught by
an expert in the field and some
of the courses will be taught by
non-Koreans who have personal
experience in either foreign di-
rect investment or entrepre-
neurship in Korea.
Alberto Giacchini, director
and professor of Sejong
University’s Sejong Syracuse
MBA program, lectured for last
year’s program and will return
again to give a lecture on “eval-
uating business potential and
finding business ideas.”
Giacchini has personal experi-
ence owning his own business
in Korea and says the course is
great for future business own-
ers for practical tips and ad-
vice.
Giacchini adds that he hopes
more and more entrepreneurs
from the expat community will
consider starting a business,
emphasizing additional benefits
to Korean society. “By having
more and more foreign-owned
businesses, you’re creating more
of a character for the city.
Foreign communities and busi-
ness add flavor to the culture of
a city, as in London” or other
global cities.
While this is a business start-
up “basics” course, future spe-
cialized courses are also
planned for the second half of
the year. These courses will fo-
cus specifically on the trade and
food-service industries. In addi-
tion, the SGC also provides indi-
vidualized, free business consul-
tation as a regular service for
any international residents in-
terested in investing in or start-
ing a business.
Interested in attending? Visit
the Seoul Global Center’s web-
site http://global.seoul.go.kr to
download the application form.
For other information about liv-
ing and working in Seoul, visit
the unofficial blog at www.seoul-
cityblog.com
(shannon.sgc@gmail.com)
Shannon Heit
Lecturer / Organization
Chris Dykas, Freelancer
Todd Sample, KOTRA Korean Trade-Investment
Promotion Agency
Alberto Giacchini, Sejong University
Seung-il Nam, Korea Exchange Bank
Gerald Staruiala, KTPM Consulting
In Park, Cyber University
Bong-soo Jung, Kangnam Labor Law Firm
Hyeong-ju Kim, Ji-hoo Law Firm
Danielle Suh, Kim and Jang Accounting Firm
Ju-won Han, First Law Lee & Ko
Ha-yoon Jeon, Seoul Credit Association
FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2010
PHOTO CHALLENGE — weekly winner
— Sunkyunkwan University at Natural — Taken in one of the small fishing vil-
Science Campus, Suwon Amirul Hafiz lages on the southern coast of the coun-
try during February Megan Ahrens
In focus: Improve your composition
The Photo Challenge is sponsored by of thirds has been recognized in imag- more or less 1/3 as tall as the frame in points (the eyes) on or near the upper
Hyosung Camera (English: 010-7203- ing literature for a couple of hundred your finder as you look through it. Now left or right intersections. When shoot-
9599) and Babo Shirts (www.ba- years and has no doubt been around as put the tree dead-center in the frame ing landscapes, if the sky is especially
boshirts.com). Winners of the weekly an aesthetic principle ever since man and take a shot. File that image away for interesting sit the horizon on or just be-
competition receive a 50,000 won store began to create art. So, what exactly is reference in a moment. Now frame an- low the lower horizontal line.
credit at Hyosung Camera and a Babo it, and how can we apply it to photogra- other shot with the tree sitting, say, on Should there be some interesting
Shirt. To take part in the competition, phy? the right hand vertical of our tic tac toe foreground elements, position the hori-
simply upload your photo at Imagine if you can, what you see lines and the horizon stretching along zon along the upper line. In either case,
www.flickr.com/groups/seoulphoto- through your viewfinder divided by two the lower horizontal marker. Hit the try to place any strong vertical ele-
club — Ed. horizontal and two vertical lines. It’s as shutter and let’s compare these images. ments such as a prominent copse of
if a neat tic tac toe grid has been placed Which is the more interesting? Or at trees or the highest landmark about
By Aaron Raisey over your image, dividing it into nine least, which is the most aesthetically where either of the two verticals lie.
equal parts. These lines provide basic pleasing? If you choose the last photo- Like any rule it’s really just a strong
Just as a musician has to bring notes, guides behind which you should graph we snapped, you would be with guide and in some circumstances such
timing and rhythm together to create a arrange the important parts of your the vast majority of people. It’s well un- as with repetition or classic portraiture
piece of music, you as a photographer photograph. This is counter-intuitive to derstood that images that have prime you might have to break the rule to
should strive to bring the subject, back- what almost everyone thinks when points of interest, balance and visual achieve your desired image.
ground and structure together to pro- they starting picking up a camera — cues on or near these four lines, and es- Keep the rule of thirds in mind
duce an image that is pleasing for the just stick the subject right in the middle pecially their intersections, elicit more though. You’ll find you start to produce
eye. This, just as in music, is called and fire away. favorable responses than those with the stronger and more interesting images if
composition. However, let’s visualize a simple ex- subject placed right in the middle. you begin to build them around those
Photographic composition is a large ample of this principle in practice. You can apply the rule of thirds easi- four lines and points.
and complex subject, but today we will Imagine through your viewfinder, a flat ly to almost any image you choose to See how expat photographers from
keep it simple and look at just one basic green grass field stretching to the blue- capture. For example, people are al- all around Korea stick to, or break the
but very important and easy-to-use sky horizon with a solitary tree in the ways popular subjects. Avoid placing rules at the Seoul Photo Club on Flickr.
principle — the rule of thirds. The rule middle distance. The tree is perhaps them in the middle and place their focal (raisey@hanmail.net)
must cook the bone for days be-
Three of the best bowls in Seoul cause the broth is thick and lus-
cious. The pork falls off the bone
and it is saturated with the tan-
talizing broth.
By Daniel Gray lic bomb of tender rib meat that 2. Creamy tofu stew at Piyang is accented with bits of ground I recommend you eat the
Seoul Eats is impregnated with flavor. Kong Halmoni pork. potatoes last, because they will
After a couple bites of this dish, I think the owner-grandmoth- Directions: Go out Seolleung be soft and you can crush them
How many times have you your mouth will feel as if it is on er at this restaurant is obsessive Station, Exit 4, go two blocks to- down with bits of pork to make
been in this situation? You go fire and your breath will kick compulsive about cleanliness wards COEX and make a right mashed potatoes.
into a Korean restaurant, and like an Italian family after a and flavor. at Nonghyup Bank. Go two Directions go to Nokbon
you ask the server what the best long dinner. The place is impeccably clean blocks and make a right at Station (Line 3) and take a cab
dish on their menu is, and they The sauce must call for about and each side dish, or “ban- Namwon Chu-o-tang. towards Eunpyeong-guchon yak
answer, “all of them.” 30 cloves of chunky, eye-searing chan,” is served in a ceramic Phone: (02) 508-0476 Seobu Gamja-guk; Seoul;
They either say that or — if garlic. It’s all about the sauce bowl with a shiny pair of tongs, 3. Potato and pork bone stew Eunpyeonggu Nokbondong 181
you have a non-Korean face or and if you have any left over at so you have to take a portion of at Seobu Gamja-guk Phone: (02) 356-4555
accent — they direct you to the the end of the meal, you can fin- your vegetable and put it on For over a year, I have done
blandest, sweetest, “foreigner- ish your meal with a fried rice your own side plate. Double dip- the food spot with Steve
friendly” item on the menu. dish. ping of chopsticks is not al- Hatherly from TBS eFM radio. Daniel Gray works for O’ngo
Well, I say don’t trust them. Directions: Go out Sinsa lowed. Steve talks about this amazing Food Communications. You can
Here is a rundown of some of Station, Exit 6, and make a The specialty of this restau- potato and pork bone stew place follow his adventures at
the best Korean bowls I’ve right at Bean’s Bin Cafe. It’s rant is their creamy tofu stew on his show and we finally made www.seouleats.com; the opin-
found in Seoul. about two block’s down on the (Kong biji). the trek all the way north to ions expressed here are the au-
1. Daegu-style spicy garlic right. There is usually a 20- On a cold day, it is like coming Nokbondong (near Nokbon thor’s only and do not necessari-
braised beef at Dong-in Dong’s minute wait. home to your ondol. The ricotta Station). ly represent those of The Korea
Maeungalbijjim is a spicy gar- Phone: (02) 516-5765 cheese-like texture of this dish It’s all about the broth. They Herald. —Ed.
by starving himself for days or Shopping
Five things to do this week dabbling in drug use. Die
Galerie’s exhibition presents a
varied representation of his
work including 33 paintings,
What: Flea markets
When: Varied times
Cost: Free
Whether you’re passing include Irish food and drink, After,” the final in the series, drawings, paper works and Seoul is undoubtedly great for
through town, or in your third along with traditional music and a 3-D viewing of “How to sculptures. shopping. While there is an
year of teaching in Seoul, here and dancing. Hit the Irish pubs Tame Your Dragon.” Kids can abundance of markets selling
are a few ideas for spicing up later in the evening for dance take pictures with their fa- Spiritual dresses, pantyhose and high
your week. From drinking at parties and drink specials. vorite characters and learn the heels, there are also a few flea
the Irish Festival to finding in- basics of stop-motion anima- What: Zen meditation markets in the city where you
ner peace, we hope to provide Kids/Young at heart tion. When: Saturdays 2:30-4:00 can find more unique items at
appealing suggestions for all of pm great prices. Check out the
Seoul’s expat community. What: Exciting world of ani- Art and culture Where: Ahnkook Zen Center Philippine market for all things
mation Contact: http://www. Filipino, or the Yongsan flea
Culture/celebration When: March 19 to 25 What: Andre Masson Exhibit ahnkookzen.org; (02) 732-0772 market where the specialty is
Where: Hangaram Design When: Through March 25 Cost: Free computer goods. The Seocho flea
What: Saint Patrick’s Day Museum, Seoul Arts Center Where: Die Galerie Find your inner light. If market is Korea’s largest sell-
Irish festival Contact: http://www.sac.or.kr Contact: http://www.die-ga- you’re curious about Buddhism ing, everything from clothing to
When: March 20 Cost: 14,000 won lerie.co.kr or Zen meditation, this is the electronics. Refer to the contact
Where: Cheonggyecheon DreamWorks, the master- Cost: Free perfect opportunity to explore info for a comprehensive list and
Plaza Seoul minds behind box-office fa- Connected with both the cu- the world of self peace. The directions, and don’t forget to
Contact: http://www.iak.co.kr vorites “Shrek,” “Monsters vs. bist and surrealist movements, Ahnkook Zen Center opens its bargain.
Cost: Free Aliens” and “Kung Fu Panda,” Andre Masson is a leading fig- doors to all who are interested
What better place is there to are holding an animation con- ure of 20th century art. Masson in learning about the path to pu-
celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than vention that is sure to excite is known as the fist practitioner rification and enhancement. Know of an activity worth
in Seoul? Grab a Guinness and both young and old. The festi- of automatic drawing, and was Lectures in English about the mentioning in our weekly guide?
join the green masses for a val will include a celebration of also known for his attempts to culture of Buddhism are held Please e-mail suggestions to
street fair and parade. Events the release of “Shrek Forever tap into the subconscious mind every Saturday. scumming570@gmail.com —Ed.