[JRC 학생기자] People Visiting Korea, No Cons?

People Visiting Korea, No Cons?

Jae Hyun Shin

Increasing numbers of Tourists from all over the world are visiting Korea. Compared to the 919,000 visitors in 2012, more than 1,004,000 people came to Korea for their temporary stays during the past year. This growing rate is making the Korean government and businesses concentrate on attracting more tourists because of potential monetary gains. Since the travelers can actually contribute to the domestic economy, they are having a strong influence on the Korean society. Some people, however, express their concerns related to such a situation.
To start with, the upcoming holiday Chuseok, which is one of the biggest events in Korea, is expected to bring in a large number of tourists. People are especially looking forward to Chinese travelers called ‘Yorkers’ visiting Korea during this time. To meet the demand, Lotte World’s department stores and the head office in Busan, Jamsil will only be closed the very day of Chuseok. According to the officials in Jeju, more than 24,000 people, including foreigners, are projected to visit the island. Since there might be some inconveniences, Seogipo-si is running a special emergency operations room from September 6th through the 10th. Many organizations are making programs only for the visitors not only for the holidays but also for the weekdays.
Korea Tourism Organization cooperated with Korea Exchange Bank and Lotte World for a marketing initiative to invite more foreign tourists. The influx of such visitors from various countries is sometimes noted as the main reason that local people experience discomfort. One of the issues brought up in Korea was related to the Chinese tourists visiting Ewha Womans University. Their constant disturbance, such as taking pictures of the students without their permission and interrupting the ongoing lectures by making noise in front of the classrooms, enraged the entire school.
Even though tourism is helping most of the industries to flourish and is develop due to the tourists, as long as the inconvenience exists, the development won’t last long. It’s time for the entire nation to not only try to enlarge the number of people making a visit to Korea but also every quality of their experiences.

Giving to the late Kiwoong Kim’s honorary graduation certification
Yeseul Im

The late Kiwoong Kim, studied municipal engineering in Incheon University, finished the four-year course in February this year and left English certification for graduation, was unexpected accident.
He had worked in passenger ship which named Sewol-Ho as a part timer to earn his own allowances since he was discharged from the army. It was known that he had boarded to work at part-time job. He had a fiancé who had worked as a crew in Sewol-Ho. Although the ship was sinking, they evacuated student and passenger first. For this reason, they were not able to escape in the ship. Koreans were to express their feelings of shock and regret that their bodies were discovered because they were about to get married.
Gwangsook Kim who is the late Kiwoong Kim's mother said sadly, “I just wish that they live happily in heaven. I feel my heart break when I heard the news.”
An administrator in University of Incheon said, “We decided to give him an honorary graduation certification though the late Kiwoong Kim was not able to receive his degree. But we lament for his death also have to pay tribute to his noble sacrifice spirit” His mother received his University diploma in his behalf.
1,137 people were granted a degree(26 doctors, 158 masters and 953 bachelors) in this graduation ceremony.