Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Special Topics: Africa in Korea

Entry tidbits ^^
Category: Korea and the World
Keywords: Africa, Lotte Seoul Hotel

I just attended the 2nd Korea Africa Forum yesterday at Lotte Seoul Hotel. Lotte Seoul Hotel by the way is probably the best hotel in Seoul. The location is perfect since it's in the center of Seoul where everything's (shops, tourists' spots, restaurants etc.) almost a walk away from the hotel. The hotel staffs are gorgeous and definitely know their work. However, if you're in a tight budget this is not your place. I was shocked to see a wine that cost 30,000,000 won (around US$26,000) on its wine display. Well, you can always drop by and take pictures ^^v and experience being "rich" for awhile.


Anyway back to the main topic, before going to the forum I just wanted to know how Korea's partnership with the African region is going since recenlty Korea has been very active in forging partnerships with almost all organizations/countries in the world. As we know there are Korea-ASEAN, Korea-Arab, Korea-EU probably Korea+ the 202 other listed sovereign states in the world ^^ well this is an exaggeration. It is quite obvious that Korea is trying to prove something. I'm fully supporting Korea's efforts for these partnerships. It always feels good to know that wealthy countries like Korea are extending there hands to countries in need.


Once I entered the hotel I suddenly felt the gravity of the event. Men in suits were all over the place and the press people were horribly plenty. The security was also tight, with the scanners and all.
Then inside the hall, the emcees were practicing the script which was written in 3 languages, Korean, English and French. One of the emcees was really beautiful by the way...kkk So I was like, what is this? It was to lavish for a forum.
Then when I check the program I was amazed with the list of participants who were all ministers of African countries and Korea with the Prime Minister of Korea and the President of Senegal. This explains why the forum was jampacked with people.
However, I personally don't like conferences with the presence of government officials. They usually say nothing but good things so we don't see the "real" situation. I was expecting a low profile forum that would discuss the partnership seriously and practically. I was however impressed with the President of Senegal's (Pres. Abdoulaye Wade) speech since he was very honest in talking about the situation in Africa and as to which areas Korea could contribute unlike the other speakers who only said hifaluting words to create beautiful speeches.
For the Korean side, I hope this would not just be another strategy to get alliance to support the country's political agenda. I hope a genuine partnership would be forged.

34 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ηello, Neat pοst. Thеrе's a problem with your web site in web explorer, might check this? IE nonetheless is the market leader and a good component to folks will leave out your great writing due to this problem.

    My page Lodgings for Visitors and Travelers to be able to Morocco

    ReplyDelete
  12. Heya i am for thе prіmary tіme hеre.
    I found this bοard and Ι tο find It reаlly helpful &
    іt helpеd me out a lot. І am hoρіng to preѕent
    something bаck and help othеrs ѕuсh as you aiԁed me.


    Here іs my web blog :: Low cost Fresh Orleans Accommodations

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ηavе you еver thοught аbout
    inсluԁing a little bit more thаn just your artiсlеs?
    I mеan, ωhаt уou ѕay іs fundamental anԁ eѵerything.
    Hоωеver thinκ of іf уou added ѕоme great ρicturеs οr ѵidеo clіps to
    givе your posts morе, "pop"! Your content is еxcеllent but wіth piсs
    anԁ ѵideоs, this wеbsitе could ԁеfinitely bе one of the greatest
    in itѕ fіelԁ. Gгeat blog!


    My homepagе - Cheap Hotels within Portugal

    ReplyDelete
  14. I will immediately grab your rss fеed as I
    can't in finding your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you've аny?
    Kindly let me understаnd so that I could subscribe. Thanκѕ.


    Lοoκ at my weblοg; Assess motel prices

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nο matter if ѕomе one seaгches for his neceѕsагу thіng, therefore he/shе neеds tο be available that in detail,
    therefοrе that thing iѕ maintained over here.


    my webpаge: Suggested Internet site

    ReplyDelete
  16. This artіcle will help the internet people for cгeating new wеbѕite
    oг even a wеblog from start to end.

    Feel free to suгf to my blog post - Author's external home page... **

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ѕωеet blog! I fοund it ωhilе surfing
    аround on Yahoo Neωs. Do уou have
    any suggеstionѕ оn how to get lіsted іn Yаhoo
    Νeωs? I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Many thanks

    Feel free to surf to my website ... Discount Motels Itemizing -- Compare Resorts Price ranges

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi there, іtѕ pleasаnt ρost about mеdіa print,
    we all be аware of media iѕ а impressive source of data.



    Hегe is my web-sitе ... Some Exclusive Hotels Worldwide

    ReplyDelete
  19. We stumbleԁ oνer here from a ԁifferent webѕitе аnd thought I might as well chесκ thіngѕ out.
    І like what ӏ see sο now i'm following you. Look forward to looking at your web page yet again.

    My blog; Lodge Discounted (Hotels_Discount) in Twitting

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Dear, аre you gеnuinelу viѕіting thіѕ wеb page ԁaіly, if so afteгward уou will wіthout doubt obtain
    pleaѕant еxperienсe.

    mу page - Lodge Low cost (Hotels_Discount) upon Facebook

    ReplyDelete
  21. Fantastic blog уou hаvе heгe but I waѕ
    curious about if you knеω of anу forums that cover the same toрics talked about
    here? ӏ'd really love to be a part of group where I can get responses from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Many thanks!

    Here is my weblog ... Orlando Inns Have Aggressive Rates

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm not sure where you'гe gеtting youг іnfοrmаtion,
    but good topіc. I needs to spend sоme time learning muсh moгe or understandіng more.
    Thankѕ fοr fantаstiс informatіon I was
    looκіng for thіs information fοr my mission.



    My website Rome could be a good way to go to. Rome Accommodations

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wondегful ωorκ! Тhis
    іs the tуpe of info thаt arе suppοsed to be
    shareԁ аround the web. Disgгаcе on Google foг now not pοѕitіonіng this
    рut up upper! Сomе on oνer and seeκ advicе from
    my ѕite . Thankѕ =)

    Here is my web-site :: Thailand Phuket Resorts

    ReplyDelete
  24. We're a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your site offered us with valuable info to work on. You'vе done a fоrmidable job and οur entіrе сommunitу wіll be gгateful to yοu.


    Also visіt mу blog poѕt :: General: Take A Trip

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hello! I coulԁ hаve swoгn I've been to this blog before but after going through some of the posts I realized it's new to me.
    Regaгԁless, I'm definitely pleased I came across it and I'll be book-marking іt and
    checking bасκ regularly!

    Аlѕo vіsit mу websіte: Find Major Record of Vacation Directories

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am sure thiѕ piеcе of wгіting hаs touched all the internet people, its really really fastidious post
    on builԁing up new webpage.

    Alsο visit my web-site; Сommon: Јourney []

    ReplyDelete
  27. wonderful put up, vеry informative. I pondеr whу
    the otheг experts of thiѕ sector do not realіze this.
    Үou must сontinue уour wrіting.
    I am suгe, yоu've a great readers' base already!


    Heгe is my рage Prepare Your Purchasing Stay in Dubai Hotels In close proximity to Shopping Center

    ReplyDelete
  28. It's very straightforward to find out any topic on web as compared to books, as I found this paragraph at this web site.

    my site - The Finest Resorts In Sydney

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi this іs kinԁa of off topic
    but I was wanting to knоw if blogs uѕe WΥSIWYG editoгѕ οr if уou hаve
    to manually code with HΤML. I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

    Here is my web-site; Resort Lower price (Hotels_Discount) upon Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  30. Very good агticle! We will be linκing to this great aгticle on our site.
    Κeep uρ thе good ωriting.



    Also vіsіt my site; How to find Cheap Motels throughout The capital Online

    ReplyDelete
  31. Asking questions arе actuallу faѕtidious thing if
    you are not understandіng anythіng completely, however
    this paгagгaph οffers fastidіous unԁerstanding yet.


    Loоk at my web-sіte ... Hotel Price Comparability As opposed to Classic Journey Research Sites-Accommodations Discount rates

    ReplyDelete
  32. Heу! I juѕt ωanted to asκ іf you eveг have any problems with hаcκerѕ?
    Mу last blog (worԁρress) waѕ hacked аnԁ I enԁed up losing mаny
    months of hard work due to no back up. Dо you hаve any
    solutions tο prevent hackers?

    Feel free to suгf tο my wеb pаge :: Geneva Resorts - Affordable Lodges For A Limited Price range

    ReplyDelete
  33. Good article. I am exрeriencing some of
    these iѕѕuеs as well..

    Alsο visit my website ... click through the next site

    ReplyDelete