#116 The Old and the New – A Trip to Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam

[스티븐스 대사]

Greetings Netizens,

In the early spring I had several trips to the U.S. (http://cafe.daum.net/usembassy/I2bb/108) – but I also did some great spring trips in Korea.  I want to tell you about one – to Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam.  It combined the “old and new” aspects of Korea.  

Old… Petroglyphs and Fortress

We took a train from Seoul to Ulsan on Sunday because we’d heard about petroglyphs at Bangudae and Cheonjeon-ri, in Gyeonsangbukdo.  They are designated as Korean National Treasures dating from about 7000 – 3500 BC, but they weren’t “discovered” until the early 1970s. There’s a museum that opened in 2008 to visit first, and then a nice walk to see them.  Sometimes the water level is too high to view the petroglyphs, but we were there when the water level was low, and we had a good viewing. 

Walking down to see the Bangudae petroglyphs up close 

Having a closer look at the petroglyphs of Cheonjeon-ri

We then drove south along the East Sea coast to Seosaengpo Fortress, north of Busan.  I specifically wanted to find this place again, as I had lived in Busan in the 1980s and remembered an impressive fortress, but not much more.  More than twenty years later, it’s still impressive.  This time I learned more of the history, too; it was actually built by the Japanese, and we learned something of the history of the Japanese presence in Korea while enjoying the beautiful scenery.  One thing that hasn’t changed:  It’s a stiff uphill walk to get to the top!   

Embassy Seoul staff and Mr. Shin Jong-Han, Manager of the International Affairs Division of Ulsan Metropolitan City government at the top of Seosaengpo fortress.

Still driving south toward Busan , Tyler Allen, the principal officer at the American Presence post in Busan, insisted we stop for a snack of what he described as the best and biggest “hoddeok (호떡)” he’d ever had.   

Waiting for the hoddeok!

And New…Hyundai Heavy Industries and GM Korea

On Monday, we visited the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI)’s huge shipyards in Ulsan.  I’ve been there several times over the years, but it never fails to impress.   

We were hosted by Senior Executive Vice President Kim, Jung-Rae, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. with one of Hyundai Heavy Industries massive shipbuilding cranes in the background. 

I called on Ulsan’s mayor, Mr. Park Maeng-woo.

My final stop in Ulsan was at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, where I gave a speech on “Diplomats and Engineers: Leaders for the 21^st Century.” As the first university in Korea with a specific focus on green energy, Ulsan is indeed producing 21^st century leaders. 

Then it was on to Busan to stop at the Busan American Corner.  Busan’s Metropolitan Simin Library is home to the first American Corner in Korea, a place where the people of Busan have access to information about the United States.  From pop culture to reference materials the Corner provides it all, with free access to English language materials as well.  The Corner is bigger and better than ever.  In December 2010 it moved to a new, bigger location within the library to make room for the huge increase in patrons, from a little over 2,000 in 2006 to over 10,000 in 2010.  It was here that I met my second group of students that day; this time all from Busan International High School.  Whenever a group of students is involved, the topic of education always comes up. And sometimes it comes up even when there are no students around!  Our two Presidents have even talked about it.  Over lunch in Seoul over a year ago President Obama asked President Lee what was the biggest problem President Lee had with education.  President Lee said it was the “education fever” of Korean parents!  That education fever is something we could use more of in the U.S.  But what I tell students is that the best way to learn, a new language for example, is to find something you love and practice the language doing that.  Biking, hiking and tennis have certainly helped me learn Korean!  

With the students from Busan International High School at the Busan American Corner.

Our three-day trip concluded on Tuesday with a visit to Changwon, where I called on Governor Kim Du-kwan and then continued an in-depth conversation about issues in Gyeongnam and the U.S.-Korea relationship over lunch.  I also visited GM Korea’s automotive plant in Changwon; there’s now a big “Chevrolet” sign and bow-tie at the entrance to the factory, as GM emphasizes its Chevrolet brand.  We toured the production line to see the “Spark” being built (many of you might remember it as the Matiz, they recently changed the name). Then it was back to Seoul on the KTX – the best way to travel in Korea – with the possible exception of a bicycle. 

With Gyeongsangnamdo Governor Kim Du-kwan

Old and New…

What I liked about this trip was the way we were constantly experiencing Korea’s most ancient and modern aspects, from petroglyphs to shipbuilding and automobiles.  New archeological sites are continually being discovered, often thanks to all the modern construction going on!  So we learn about these petroglyphs in Bangudae, thousands of years old but only “found” in the 1970s.  Korea’s prosperity and appreciation for its past means that the country’s archeological sites can be found and preserved, and coexist, side by side, with modern innovations and technology like the ships being built at Hyundai or the new Spark car or the new city hall building in Gyeongsangnamdo.  The old and the new can exist together.  That’s a big part of modern Korean identity. There’s great pride in being Korean and an increased understanding, a sense of Korean history, combined with confidence about being global in the 21^st century.

    

[함스냉면]

Thank you for loving Korea.