Speech

Introducing Korea.

Majestic mountains, pungent pickled cabbage, and succulent marinated beef. Welcome to a country that boasts over 5,000 years of history. Welcome to Korea. Hi my name is Chae Lin Oh and I'm going to introduce you to Korea today.

First, I want to talk about some famous places in this country. Nagan Folk Village in Suncheon is the best preserved walled-fortress vilage of the Chosun period in Korea. A massive stone wall and four battlements encircle the village. These were constructed to protect people from Japanese pirate raids. Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul is a royal palace that was built in 1394. This palace remained the main seat of power for Korean kings for many years and was the largest palace of the five grand palaces built in the Chosun dynasty. The name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung translates in to English as "palace of shining happiness". These are the places where Korea made its soul and spirit. I hope you respect them like I do.

Second, I want to mention Jeonllanamdo's famous festivals. WE have the 2013 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo. the Young-nam Formula One GRand prix, and the 2012 Yeosu World Expo. The Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo will be held over a period of six months and will showcase Suncheon bay; one of the world's top five coastal wetlands. The F-1 grand prix will be in operation for five years, will bring both Korean people and foreigners together and help advertise Korea to a global audience. The Yeosu Expo will exhibit marine life, the excellence of Korean culture, and high-end information technology. 8 million visitors and over 100 countries are expected to take part. So much happens in this small area!

Third, I have to talk about "Kimchi" and "Bulgogi" two of Korea's most famous foods. Althought kimchi-fermented pickled cabbage- fives off a strong, garlicky smell and tastes pretty spicy the World Health Organization named it in the top five healthiest foods on the planet. Bulgogi is a Korean dish that usually consists of marinated barbecued beef. Bulgogi literally means "fire meat" in Korean, which refers to the cooking technique-over an open flame- rather than the dish's spiciness. I highly recommend that you try these delicious an dhealthy Korean foods!

Fourth, I will discuss Korean culture. After the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, Korea was left crippled and forced to borrow 30 billion dollars, including 19.5 billion dollars from the IMF. However, against all odds, Korea's economy rose up very quickly and all debt was paid back nearly three years ahead of schedule. Foreigners called this: "a miracle of Han river". This fighting spirit is present in all Koreans and probably exists because Korea has been subjected to numerous attacks throughout its long history. Despite boasting some magnificent mountains like Jiri, Halla, and Baekdu, Korea's terrain is not very fertile. In fact, around 70% of the country is covered by mountains leaving only around 22% arable land. This means that Koreans have to work harder than most other countries in order to be successful. Thus, I think Korea is a very intelligent and talented country because we don't have much productive land, gold, oil, or any other valuable raw materials yet our country has became one of the G20. Not bad for a small peninsula located south of China and west of Japan!

Today, you've heard about some famous places like Nagan Folk village and Gyeongbok Palace fantastic festivals such as the Suncheon Bay International GArden Expo, the Young-nam Formula One GRand prix, and the Yeosu World Expo Korean cuisine - kimchi and bulgogi, healthy pungent cabbage and delightful succulent beef and Korea's hardworking culture, which is shaped by its long history of oppression and its mountainous territory. I've shared Korea with you, now I hope you can share another treasure with me! Thank you for listening.