Interview: Mr.Yu In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism

Early last year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism set three main goals ― give people hope through culture; enhance the economic vitality through cultural contents; and build future-oriented, global Korea ― and suggested 10 tasks to achieve them.  These tasks are intended to give hope and comfort, create more jobs and encourage more investments. In the long term, the goals reflect the government's intention to reinvigorate the social atmosphere. For this purpose, the ministry set aside close to 3 trillion won in creating jobs in the culture, sports and tourism sectors and building culture and arts infrastructures to enhance the...

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Interview: Mr. Trevor Hill, Managing Director, Audi korea

The Audi AG, one of the world’s most successful car manufacturers in the premium segment, succeeded in maintaining its earning power in the first half of the year, despite the major challenges encountered on worldwide automobile markets and the difficult overall economic situation. In group succeeded in avoiding the effects of the negative overall market trend, and recorded a significant operating profit of 823 million euros. The Audi brand is also hitting its sales targets: in the first six months, approximately 466,000 cars were delivered. In Korea too, the company has been performing exceedingly well, and is one of the most recognized imported...

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Interview: Mr. David-Pierre Jalicon,French architect

Thirteen years ago when Mr. David-Pierre Jalicon, a French architect , visited Korea as part of a French research delegation to help design the KTX bullet train, he hardly hand an inkling that he was destined to stay back in the country. His first trip took him across the length and breadth of the country along the present-day KTX route, when he traveled to better understand the Korean landscape. During his researching, he landed other projects, including building the French School and French Cultural Center in Seoul. Within a year or so, he became the first and only French architect to own firms in both Korea and France. Today his firm, D.P.J....

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Interview: Minister of Strategy & Finance Yoon Jeung-hyun

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF) was established in March 2008 when the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of Planning and Budget were merged to establish fair tax systems and efficient fiscal/economic policies. As the ministry that oversees the daily economics of the public, it is committed to the advancement of the domestic economy and establishment of growth dynamics through effective policy coordination, fair tax systems, public enterprise reform, systematic distribution of national resources, efficient budget management and active international cooperation. Playing a pivotal role in the Korean economy, the MOSF has...

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Interview: Lars Vargo, Ambassador of Sweden to Korea

On 1st July 2009, Sweden took over the Presidency of the EU. This means that for six months, Sweden is leading the EU's work and is responsible for moving important EU issues forward.The Presidency of the European Council rotates between the Member States on a half-yearly basis. The country presiding over the Council functions as the driving force in the EU's legislative and political decision-making process.This time around, it is a unique opportunity for Sweden to lead and influence work on important EU issues. At the same time, the country holding the Presidency must be flexible and prepared to deal with unexpected issues.With the EU-Korea...

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Interview: Mr. Constant Van Aerschot, Co-Chairman, Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EEB) project of WBCSD

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a CEO-led, global association of some 200 companies dealing exclusively with business and sustainable development. The Council provides a platform for companies to explore sustainable development, share knowledge, experiences and best practices, and to advocate business positions on these issues in a variety of forums, working with governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations.Members are drawn from more than 35 countries and 20 major industrial sectors. The Council also benefits from a global network of about 57 national and regional business councils and...

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Interview: PCNC Chairman Kang Man-soo

The Presidential Council on National Competitiveness focuses on heading regulatory reform and deregulatory measures to create a business-friendly environment for both domestic and foreign companies, strengthening Korea's economic growth potential, and expanding social capital.Amid falling inbound investment due to the global financial crisis, the Korean government is taking steps to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI). A couple of months ago, the PCNC, presided over by President Lee Myung-bak, announced new measures aimed at attracting more FDI. The new measures include increasing the size of the government's cash grants to foreign investors...

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Interview: Mr. Byun Moo-keun, Commissioner of Defense Acquisition Program Administration

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was launched on January 1st, 2006 in order to perform more transparent and systematical tasks in defense capability improvement programs, defense industry promotion and defense material procurement. Since its establishment the execution of defense programs in Korea has become more transparent, credible and predictable by the law of the defense program.I recently interviewed Mr. Byun Moo-keun, Commissioner of DAPA. The following are excerpts:One of the main objectives of establishing the administration is defense industry product export. DAPA will be the forerunner for the economic rescue and...

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Interview: Mr. Lee Young-hee, Minister of Labor

In 2008, the new government of President Lee Myung-bak caused a paradigm shift in labor policy. The new paradigm aims to pursue growth and employment simultaneously by supporting economic revival and job creation to make Korea a leading advanced nation. This means pursuing economic growth and job creation at the same time by boosting market economy, developing human resources and achieving active welfare. But now with the Korean economy facing a serious crisis, it has even more challenges. Falling exports and shrinking domestic demand are expected to lead to negative growth and the employment situation is deteriorating rapidly. There is even...

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