Writing : Summarize the article

[ Summary - the final draft - ]


In Korea Times, November 14, 2008, Jung Sung-ki reports a remark by Gen. Walter Sharp about North Korea still posing a threat to Northeast Asia. Sharp, commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command(CFC), says that, as a shield against North Korean intrusion, the U.S. army would continue to support South Korea. Last year, the two nations agree that South Korean commanders take independent operational control which the U.S. army has had since the Korean war, beginning 2012. He says that North Korea is equipped for war with ballistic missiles. Therefore, the U.S. army will stay in South Korea to prevent North Korea's outbreak despite CFC's disorganization. He believes that South Korean military will keep the security as successfully as they have done.



[ The article chosen ]

'Threat in Northeast Asia Remains Real'
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

The top American military officer in South Korea said Friday that North Korea's forward deployed armed forces with nuclear and missile powers pose a threat to the security of South Korea and the region.

Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), said the United States would give firm support to South Korean forces in case of an emergency to deter any North Korean invasion, even after South Korea takes over operational control (OPCON) of its forces during wartime in 2012.

``The threat to security in Northeast Asia remains very real,'' Sharp, who concurrently serves as chief of the U.S. Forces Korea and the United Nations Command, said during a Seoul forum hosted by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the CFC.

``North Korea still maintains the fourth largest military in the world. About 70 percent of which is forward deployed along the DMZ.

Sharp referred to North Korea's ballistic missiles and stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction as major threats.

``While it may have limitations, it still can cause enormous damage to ROK with little or no warning,'' he said, referring to the acronym of South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Sharp expressed confidence that South Korean commanders would successfully execute independent wartime operational control with the U.S. military shifting to a supporting role under a new joint defense system.

The first responsibility of any nation is to provide the security of its people, he said, adding that the South Korean armed forces have a proud tradition of doing just that, in peacetime and war.

He said the time has come for the South Korean military to take the next step and assume the OPCON tasked to defend the country.

OPCON transition slated for April 17, 2012, will mark the evolution in the half-century Korea-U.S. military alliance, he said.

``The ROK Army is able to deploy beyond the Korean Peninsula, as evidence of its support in Iraq, and has proven itself as one of the world's best militaries,'' said the four-star general, who now has the authority of controlling both U.S. and Korean forces during wartime.

About 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against the communist North.

Under the landmark accord on command rearrangement plans reached last year, South Korean field commanders will execute independent operational control of their troops during wartime, beginning April 17, 2012, with the U.S military shifting to a supporting role under the agreement. The two militaries will operate separate theater commands, while the CFC is to be deactivated.

South Korea handed over peacetime and wartime operational control to the U.S.-led United Nations Command at the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War. The command authority was transferred to the CFC in 1978. Seoul took over peacetime control in 1994.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr



Chloe's comment :
It was hard to fit the summary in the right length. I chose the article which is to me a little difficult. I don't have much interest in military thing, so it was a kind of challenge for me. When it comes to the article, I have more to say. It's not easy to "truly" understand what the general meant by the remark. It must be something serious and complicated which those in that world only know well. What I most hate is war. I don't know much about military things happening in Korea, however I just want this peace to continue as long as possible. Sometimes I'm scared that Korea is still kind of in the war.

Article : Another Warehouse Tragedy Involving Toxic Fumes

A fire in the basement of a cold storage warehouse in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province left seven people dead and five seriously injured.
The tragedy follows a previous fire in the basement of a cold storage warehouse in January that took the lives of 40 people just 6 km away from the scene of the latest incident. The causes of both accidents were identical. Sparks set off by a welder ignited combustible material.
Sprinklers had been installed in the facility back in January, but set to manual mode in order to prevent the pipes freezing in cold weather. This meant they failed to function during the fire. At the cold storage facility where the latest accident happened, 3,950 sprinklers were installed, but failed to function.
Both facilities used Styrofoam panels sandwiched by thick metal plates as wall dividers. Styrofoam or polyurethane foam is often used, due to its affordability and insulation. But both are highly combustible and generate toxic fumes which, if they catch fire, can render a person unconscious in seconds.
At a similar fire in Busan in 1998, 27 workers lost their lives spraying polyurethane foam onto walls. Tragic fires at cold storage facilities in Iksan, North Jeolla Province in 2003 and on Jeju Island in 2007 had the same characteristics.
Fire experts confirm styrofoam and polyurethane foam are extremely flammable. Buildings containing these materials turn into toxic gas generators if set alight. It is simply appalling that workers were welding without taking precautionary measures to contain the sparks they were generating.
Fire fighters, warehouse operators, maintenance officials and construction workers must realize that cold storage facilities can easily turn into fatal gas chambers. Until they do, these tragedies will continue to repeat themselves.


Chloe's comment :
When I first heard of this news, I just couldn't believe it. I even thought that the news was talking about the accident which happened last january. It was the same region and exactly the same way that the fire took place. The problems that were pointed out a year ago still existed and causd the tragedy there. Thus, I cannot call it 'an accident'. It was what we could have prevented. I am so sorry about the victims. I expect some serious actions that are repeating again and again.

Music : Ponyo on the Cliff

I want to introduce a very lovely song which I listen to every day. The song is an original sound track from the Japanese animation movie "Ponyo on the Cliff".

Actually I have expected a lot from both the movie and the original sound track. "Ponyo on the cliff" is made by Hayao Miyajaki, the most well-known animator in Japan. His movies include "My Neighbor Totoro" and "The Spiriting Away Of Sen And Chihiro" which were great successes in both Japan and Korea. Besides, when I heard that the famous song writer Hisaishi Joe participated in OST, I couldn't expect more!

However, the best thing that I didn't know about the movie and the ost is singers. This song is sung by a nine-year-old girl, Nozomi Oohashi and two middle-aged men and they make the song so sweet and alive. ^_^

This single has sold more than 340,000 sales in Japan until now which is a great hit.

Since the movie is released in Korea this december, the song is translated in Korean and the singers aren't changed. Check out the cute intonation!!! I'm looking forward to the movie as well!

Writing : Importance of Learning Foreign Languages in College

[Final draft - edited]

There are many things that we should do in college, but I think that learning a new language should be on the top of the things-to-do list. Since primary school, learning foreign languages has been regarded as an important thing since primary school. However, learning languages in college can be a life changing experience that gets more and more important as time goes by.

First of all, you should learn a new language because languages are like tools that help us contact with the world. It is possible to live with one tool, but you will get more knowledge and opportunities if you have more tools than others. In an age of globalization and an information-oriented society, you can strengthen your competitiveness by learning languages. In fact, many companies and universities offer more opportunities for jobs or scholarships to those who speak more than three languages than those who can only speak one.

Another reason that learning a new language is important is that you can improve the way you interact with other people. These days, society needs active and spirited people who can mix with other people well and express their opinions clearly. When you study academic subjects like math, you only need books and pens. However, you are required to speak out when learning a language. If your ability is not enough to express your thoughts, you will have to learn how to use your body language, including a variety of facial expressions. Eventually, you will talk and communicate with others more actively.

Finally, learning a language deepens your understanding of others. You need more than books when you want to speak a foreign language fluently. So, you will naturally encounter the life of those who speak the language through various media such as music, movies and so on. These media include not only the language itself but also the history and culture of the people who speak the language. For instance, if you watch the movie 'Farewell My Concubine' to study Chinese, you will get to know the history of modern China mixed in the main story. Meeting with different cultures and lifestyle helps you learn and understand various ways of living.
After graduation, it is hard to take time for learning something different, and it's more difficult when you get a job. Therefore, it's very important to learn a new language in college that can be a strong asset, by improving attitudes, and helping your understanding of others. If you are just wandering the campus worried about your future, why don’t you try learning a new language?