November 12, 2002
Translated by the PUFS newsteam from articles in Busan Ilbo

American Monk Opens New Zen Center
On Saturday November 9th the Namsan International Zen Center held its opening ceremony. The abbot of the Center is the Venerable Mu Shim Sunim, originally from America. This ceremony saw a coming together of Mu Shim's friends and fellow Zen students that had studied under the internationally known Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn. The day was coming together of old friends and new to welcome the center and what it will bring to the community. This Center will be a place to learn about Zen, mediation and practice. Mu Shim Sunim will be organizing and holding Dharma talks in English on Sunday afternoons at 3:00. These talks are open to anyone interested in learning more about Zen

The first Dharma talk was given by a nun from Lithuania who is the vice-abbot of the Zen Center in Hong Kong. Her talk introduced us to what the practice of Zen has done for her and introduced what Zen is. She told the old story about the two monks who decided to walk home from a conference in silence. As they were walking home they came to a river, not a deep river, but a river none the less. At this river there was woman who was wearing fine clothes and did not want to get them wet. She was motioning for someone to help her cross the river. So, one monk went up to her, picked her up and carried her across the river. The other monk was shocked; "How could he pick her up?", he thought." "He is a monk, he cannot touch a woman , no less pick her up and hold her."This monk thought about this and because he could not speak until they reached the temple, just kept thinking about it. Finally they came near the temple and the angry monk finally had to say something. So he said to the monk, " How could you pick up that woman and carry her across the river?" The other monk answered, " I put the woman down beside the river, while you are still carrying her." That is the idea of Zen. At these talks there is a meditation period, followed by a talk and then a question and answer period.

For more information, please call Stephanie Gonda at 011-9395-4830. To get to the temple from PNU take the number 80 or 80-1 bus near the monk. It takes about ten minutes. The temple is near Namsan highschool. The bus will take a left and go up a hill, keep on the bus until you pass David's coffee (white shop with red letters) and then it will take another turn and then you will see an LG25. The temple is on the second floor. There is an English sign as well.

Remember:
Mountain is blue, water is flowing.
Salt is salty. Sugar is sweet.

Real estate market is in a slump

Land and home purchases dramatically declined by between 10 to 33 percent from July to September.

Although real estate prices are increasing in Busan, the market is depressed. Therefore, real estate experts expect that prices will decrease.

According to Korea Land Construction, 41,320 real estate transactions took place from April to June, but only 33,925 transactions occurred between July and September. Land purchases decreased by 18%, and the size of the land purchased decreased by 30%.

21,889 apartments were purchased from July to September, whereas 24,359 apartments were purchased between April and June. Dandog (one to two story house) purchases decreased from 5,355 to 3,596 during the same time period.

Commerce building purchases fell from 1,772 in the spring to 1,366 in the summer, a decline of 23% in number and 24% in size.

The number of industrial sites purchased increased, but the size of the sites decreased from July to September.

An official of Korea Land Construction stated that high real estate prices have caused the real estate market slump.

Translated by Dong Chan

BCCI will offer electronic signature certification

The Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry will provide nationally approved electronic signature certification beginning on November 15th.

BCCI cooperated with the Korea Information Certification Authority Inc. in order to begin issuing the officially approved electronic signature certification in the Busan, Kimhae, and Yangsan areas. The electronic signature certification is nationally approved for various purposes, including Internet banking and investing, electronic contracts, and electronic trade.

Presently, at electronic bids, some major organizations require this nationally approved certification, including major government offices.

Companies in Busan, Yangsan, and Kimhae areas can obtain this certification within one to two days after registering at the Electronic Signature Registration Center of BCCI.

BCCI will offer seminars and educational programs to inform customers of the benefits and practical usage of electronic signature certification.

Translated by Ha Sun Ha

Lotte draw for 200,000,000 won apartment

Lotte is celebrating its 23rd anniversary by holding a draw for a 200,000,000 won apartment.

Approximately 60,000 people have entered the draw. Although the purchase of Lotte products was not required for entry, sales have increased since the draw was announced.

The apartment is called “World Meridian” and is located in Geoje-dong.

World Construction provided Lotte with the prize apartment, an example of “Win-Win Marketing”. World Construction hopes to gain popularity, and Lotte anticipated increasing sales.

The winning ticket will be drawn at the main entrance of Lotte on November 17th.

Translated by Lee Hwa

Busanites ask presidential hopefuls for a futures company

Busan citizens have suggested that presidential candidates need to adopt a platform promoting futures development in Busan. Specifically, they want a futures association and a futures company to be invited to Busan to boost the city’s economic growth.
According to the committee responsible for inviting a futures association and futures head office in Busan, specific presidential commitments, such as special tax for shifting a company headquarters to Busan, are necessary because it is vital to invite a futures association and a futures head office to Busan soon.
Officials said that they will also hold an important conference on this subject with municipal assemblymen in the International Conference Room at the Busan Chamber of ! Commerce and Industry.

Translated by Song Ji-mi

Deluxe apples go on sale at post offices

The Busan Regional Communications Office has begun direct marketing of Miryang “oel-eum-gol” apples, which grow in the alpine region of Miryang.
This apple is a fruit with a high sugar content (17~19). It has a firm, crunchy interior. The fruit’s juice is very rich, and the apple has a unique, honey-like aroma.
According to the BRCO, every post office in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeong-Nam will sell these apples during the harvesting season.
BRCO would like to open the farmers’ market to provide high-quality farm products to consumers at low prices. The price (without packaging costs) is 12,000 won for 5 Kg (20 pieces), and the highest grade is 24,000 won (5Kg, 11~12 pieces).
Last year, BRCO received responses by consumers in the cities. They sold 90,000 boxes through the offices' network. So this year, they scaled up their markets to include Gyeong-Nam, and they will increase sales to 100,000 boxes.
Starting November 11, BRCO has put the goods and pamphlets at the post offices, received orders and mailed the boxes to the consumers within 2-3 days.

Translated by Hong Shin-ae

Smoking Prohibited and violators expelled from HighSchool
Daejin high school requires 'the three no's' for entrance

The principal of Daejin high school (in Jangjeondong near PNU) requires a written pledge from students berore they enter his school. If students violate teh pledge, they are required to withdraw from Daejin Hish School and find another to attend.

Since1997,the school has maintained a "three no campaign". The three no's are no smoking, no violence, and no absence without reason. The school has also abolished field trips and picnics. Instead of these recreational activities, they conduct a training program of physical and mental self development (including calesthenics, mediation, and refective activities).
They sent a list of the entrance requirements for Daejin high school to each middle school in the city and ask for their assistance in finding appropriate students. Kim Kil Yong, the principal of the school said that one of the primary reasons why they have enforced these stringent policies is to eradicate students' smoking. He added that maintaining a healthy mind and body is more important than studying.

Translated by Lee LeeHwa

Mega Mart begins cyber shopping and deliver

Mega Mart will offer on-line shopping to customers living in the Namcheon area beginning on Nov. 11th (www.mega-mart.co.kr). The Internet shopping mall will carry 25,000 products, including home appliances and food, and the on-line prices will be the same as in-store prices.

Existing Internet shopping malls take from two to seven days to deliver products, whereas Mega Mart promises delivery within a day, and same day delivery if the order is placed before 6:00pm.

Fresh produce and meats will be delivered three times a day, at 11:00am, 3:00pm, and 7:00pm. Products can be purchased using credit cards or cash.

Female delivery people will be employed in order to alleviate any anxiety housewives may experience when having a man in their homes.

Although the delivery service will be limited to the Namcheon area at first, there are plans to extend the service area in the future.

Translated by Kim Dong Chan

Post-exam brawlers get arrested
Post-exam celebrations of one group of high school seniors got out of hand early Wednesday morning and several celebrants wound up under arrest. After years of high pressure studying, it is common for exam takers to celebrate with binge drinking. One group of students, identified as Mr. Choi and Ms. Son and their friends, got into a brawl after hours of drinking at a soju tent and were detained by the Busanjin police in Seomyeon around 2a.m.on November 7th. Ten boys and girls were brought into the station and four of them were arrested on charges of fighting and disturbing the peace.

Hotels made 10 billion won during AG

During the Asian Games, the hotels in Busan, Ulsan, and the surrounding area earned about 10 billion won from the AG organizing committee.

Lotte Hotel, the headquarters of the AG, earned about 2 billion won; the Paradise Hotel made about 720 million won; and the Grand Hotel made about 500 million won.

These earnings only include accommodation charges. If food and drinks were included, the total would exceed 20 billion won.

Translated by Park Joo Bin

Darangee Village wins Special Prize

Darangee Village won the Special Prize at the 2002 Green Management Awards. The Rural Development Administration presented the prize to the village leader, Kwon Jeong Do, at the Convention Center in the Seoul Grand Hotel on Nov. 7th.

This is the first time the award was given to a village rather than an individual or small group of people.

Darangee Village is a traditional rural theme village located in Namhae-Gun, Kyeongnam. The village is a popular place for people to experience rural life, and is comprised of 58 households and150 residents.

In April, Darangee Village and the Agricultural Science and Technology Center in Namhae created a tour company that offers two-day/one night tours of the rural village.

For more information on Darangee Village, visit the Namhae-Gun Homepage at http://www.namhae.go.kr, or call 055-862-7996.

Translated by Ha Sun Ha

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