S. Korea economy among global best performers: OECD The third-highest growth rate among the 21 member countries

South Korea's economy grew at a relatively faster pace compared with other major countries last year, indicating government-led stimulus efforts helped effectively respond to the global downturn, Yonhap News said on March 8 quoting a report as having said. According to the report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), South Korea's economy expanded 0.2 percent last year, the third-highest growth rate among the 21 member countries that have unveiled their preliminary growth figures. Poland ranked first with a 1.7 percent growth, followed by Australia with 1.4 percent. The United States, the epicenter of the global financial crisis, saw its economy shrink 2.4 percent, while Britain, France and Germany posted contractions of 5 percent, 2.2 percent and 5 percent, respectively, the report showed. Though data from all 30 member countries have yet to be available, observers say that the three nations would be the only to report expansions in their economies last year.

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South Korea, Malaysia Mark 50th Anniversary in Bilateral Relations

Taiwan mobilizes rescue response following Kaohsiung’earthquake

South Korea and Malaysia celebrated the 50th anniversary of their bilateral relations on Feb. 23 in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur in ceremonies. In Seoul, the Event of the 50th Anniversary of Korea-Malaysia Amity 2010 was held at Seoul Palace Hotel on Feb. 23 with more than 250 invitees from the Korean government, the National Assembly, ambassadors of ASEAN countries and prominent figures from all segments of Korean society attending. In Kuala Lumpur, in the meantime, a reception was held on the same day and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman hailed the strong bonds of friendship that existed between both countries. He expressed hope that such a reception would continue to be held in the future as it provided a platform to strengthen ties between the two countries. Present were Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob and South Korean Ambassador to Malaysia Bong Rwull Yang. At the event, Anifah also launched the commemorative stamps and first day cover in conjunction with the anniversary.Both stamps feature the image of the Malayan tiger and Korean tiger. Following is the full text of an interview with HE Malaysian Ambassador Dato' Ramlan Ibrahim, Ambassador which was given to Multi-Cultural Community Forum(MCCF) of Asia Management Institute for Strategy(AMI)North-east Asia Forum(NAF) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Korea-Malaysia amity 2010. Q. Malaysia has been as one of more advanced counties among 10 member nations of ASEAN. It is the country with various cultures as a melting pot of culture as well. In addition to this, please introduce about Malaysia to our readers and Korean

Taiwan experienced a 6.4 magnitude earthquake at 8:18 a.m. local time on March 4. With an epicenter in Jiaxian Township, Kaohsiung County, the tremblor was the strongest to hit the local area in a century. Nearly 100 township residents were injured, close to 500 dwellings and 587 schools were damaged. One bridge developed stress fractures and a high-speed train was slightly derailed. After the lessons learned from the flooding in the wake of Typhoon Morakot, which struck southern Taiwan in August 2009, government agencies displayed high efficiency. The National Fire Agency under the Ministry of the Interior formed an emergency response task force within two minutes of the earthquake’s occurrence, which contacted the response centers of each local fire department to monitor the disaster situation. The Armed Forces also mobilized troops 17 minutes after the tremblor, which proceeded to the disaster area to inspect the situation and help people evacuate. The military also dispatched reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters to check on indigenous peoples of the mountainous areas.

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Taiwan develops new treatment for H1N1

Saemangeum International Marathon due for May 16,2010

The National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) and a research team from National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH) announced January 26 that they had discovered a new method for treating novel influenza (H1N1). According to Su Ih-jen, deputy superintendent of NCKUH and leader of the research team, the team discovered that administering PPAR (peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor) agonists and antiviral drugs simultaneously could effectively treat H1N1 influenza, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and avian flu. More than a decade ago, the research team began conducting a series of studies on virus-related hemophagocytic syndrome. After over three years of laboratory testing on animals, the results were published in the January 2010 edition of the biomedical journal Antiviral Therapy. Su added that the treatment has been approved by the Center for Drug Evaluation of the Department of Health and the NHRI. Clinical tests have already begun this January at five major hospitals, including NCKUH and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital. These trials will focus on pneumonia resulting from influenza as well as treatment of the H1N1 flu. The research team hopes to have the new treatment ready for use by autumn or winter, in time for next wave of H1N1 infections.

Gunsan Saemangeum International Marathon will take place on May 16, 2010 along the scenic 33-kilometer barrage in the West Sea, the longest such facility in the world, Organized by Gunsan City as part of festive events for the dedication of the Saemangeum Seawall , the organizing committee of the event is receiving the applications for the marathon race from participants from Feb. 18 through April 19, 2010 for 61 days either through its website(www.smgmara.org) or telephone number of 452-6009 or 450-4254. Participating fee for five km course is 10,000 won, half course rate is 30,000 won and the full course is 35,000 won respectively. This is where we leave our daily worries behind and do the thing we love on bright Sunday morning running along the panoramic seawall, a spokesman for the organizing committee said. Many expats are also invited to join the event to be staged on the Saemangeum Seawall, a great place to run enjoying striking views. The government first embarked on filling the Saemangeum estuary in 1991 to create more land and a freshwater reservoir along the country's southwestern coastline.

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Jecheon City to Host 2010 World Oriental Medicine-Bio Expo Sept.16-Oct.16, 2010

Jecheon City hopes to raise its popularity in the world through showcasing its uniqueness and best among the three major herb markets in Korea during the forthcoming 2010 World Oriental Medicine-Bio Expo to open on Sept. 15, 2010 for 31 days run. Venue of the event is Second Bio valley located at Wangam-dong, Jecheon city, some 150 km south of Seoul. More than 14 countries including the United States, China, Russia, India, Japan and the Philippines are expected to join the Expo along with 30 provincial governments and 10 medical schools and 50 academic institutions in Korea and foreign countries. Taking advantage of the event, the largest of its kind in this part of the world, Jecheon municipality will present a comprehensive blend of Korean oriental medicine and other bio products as well as tourism and services, culture, cuisine and arts. These exhibits will also serve as an occasion showcasing Jecheon’s uniqueness as well as its image as a modern city transforming itself into a city of culture and tourism with vitality rising high in the central inland. Most of these exhibits would fit the expo's theme of “Rediscovery of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Hanbang,” Lee Soo Sung, chairman of the organization committee for Jecheon International Traditional Oriental Medicine Bio Expo said.

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News Bulletin