My Impression of Korea - Korea.net

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GLOBAL KOREA Feeling better, children play cards with their mothers Six Iraqi children who received heart surgeries and their family make the sign of a heart above their heads ‘Thank You, Korea’ Heart Surgeries for Six Iraqi Children a Flying Success BY PARK MIN-YOUNG STAFF WRITER Six Iraqi children returned to their country on Oct. 15 after having their heart-related diseases cured in Korea. They arrived in Korea on Sept. 23 through the invitation of a charity foundation made up of Korea Exchange Bank and Sejong General Hospital. The foundation funded the surgeries after Korean peacekeeping troops of the Zaytun unit in Iraq diagnosed them with congenital forms of heart disease. The six suffered from heart diseases which can be cured when treated early but can be deadly if not. They needed prompt treatment but could not afford it. They were all in serious condition by the time they arrived in Korea. Risk was high for 6-year-old Ranea Selah, who suffered from a congenital malformation of the heart. “Even doing a close examination was dangerous for her, not to mention undergoing surgery,” said Dr. Kim Sujin of Sejong General Hospital. In what was likely a miracle, Ranea survived four complex surgeries and is rapidly recovering. So are the rest of the kids. “Compared to the day they first arrived, they are incredibly healthy and their complexion looks good,” said Dr. Kim. “They will be able to live healthy lives with their normal hearts now.” Now full of energy, the six — from the youngest, Hawkar Mujafar, who is one and a half, to the oldest, Sana Farup, who is 12 — cannot stop giggling even for a second. “Thank you very much,” Sana said with a shy smile. “A million thank yous would not be enough, as Korea has saved my life. I feel more like a Korean than Iraqi now, since they gave me a Korean heart.” Sana cannot wait to go to school and be with her friends. For the younger ones, the moms couldn’t wait to send them off to kindergarten. “I never let him go outside at all before. But now, he can attend kindergarten when we go back,” said Abdulla Najat’s mother, stroking her son’s head. “We want to thank the Korean government and the Zaytun unit for giving us this wonderful opportunity,” she added. This is not the first time the Korean military and hospitals have worked side by side to save Iraqi lives. Sejong General Hospital, the Zaytun unit and other charity foundations co-sponsored surgeries in 2007 for Iraq war amputees and patients with heart disease. The kids toured Seoul on Oct. 14. It was a meaningful day for them, as they were outdoors without worrying about getting sick. Getting ready for the big day out, 12-year-old Sarwar Kadir expresses his excitement by running around the hospital. He was always optimistic, even on the day of his arrival, wearing a suit and shiny shoes to commemorate his visit to Korea. Now that he is healthy, he is a ball of energy. “Feel like you can run really fast?” someone asks him. “Of course!” Sarwar answers proudly with a mischievous smirk on his face — just like any other 12-year-old. ■ (Photos by The Korea Herald) Sarwar Kadir poses with his doctor 18 KOREA NOVEMBER 2008 NOVEMBER 2008 KOREA 19
NATIONAL (From top) Visitors look around the state exposition hall Visitors look around the presidential exposition hall Presidential Archives Set to Introduce Korea to the World BY PARK MIN-YOUNG STAFF WRITER Brief records of each president in the presidential exposition hall Nara Archive Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do The Presidential Archives opened in the Nara (National State) Archive Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, in December 2007. The nine-floor — including two basement floors — national archive, equipped with ultra-modern protection systems, is capable of storing 4 million volumes. It consists of a state archive and a presidential one. As a part of the state archive which holds important documents and records of the nation, the Presidential Archive was established this April to specially manage and preserve the valuable recordings related to the presidents. It holds more than 8 million pieces of data of the former and present presidents — from those of the first President Syngman Rhee to the present President Lee Myung-bak’s presidential transition team. “Korea is the first country to manage the ex-presidents’ archives all together,” says Hong Won-ki, a staff member of the policy coordination team of the Presidential Archives. Historical documents, such as the 14th President Kim Young-sam’s urgent announcement regarding the real-name accounting system and the 15th President Kim Dae-jung’s June 15 South-North Joint Declaration, are found there. Some documents are classified and will not be open to the public for 15 to 30 years. “This stops many documents from being abolished due to sensitive matters,” explained Hong. “We will preserve them well and after a certain period of time the public will be able to see them. This is a better way to uphold the people’s right to know.” The archives are well preserved. Sterilization before stocking the documents is obligatory, and they also go through a deoxidization process considering their condition of acidity. A restoration team fixes damaged documents of high value. It is such “Korea is the first country to manage the ex-presidents’ archives all together,” says Hong Won-ki, a staff member of the policy coordination team of the Presidential Archives. 20 KOREA NOVEMBER 2008 NOVEMBER 2008 KOREA 21
Page 3 and 4: Opening a communicative space betwe
Page 5 and 6: COVER Information on Autumn Festiva
Page 7 and 8: DIPLOMACY Yonhap Yonhap President L
Page 9: GLOBAL KOREA Gugak performance at t
Page 13 and 14: SCIENCE World’s Largest Solar Pow
Page 15 and 16: SBS Actors Park Shin-yang (left) an
Page 17 and 18: CULTURE The dog (gae) A legendary f
Page 19 and 20: PEOPLE Jung Sung-ha Korean Guitar P
Page 21 and 22: PEOPLE Yonhap Lim performs a tradit
Page 23 and 24: TRAVEL Samcheong-dong is a sweet an
Page 25 and 26: TRAVEL A Trip Back to Olden Times S
Page 27 and 28: FOOD 1 3 2 Omegisul master Kim Eul-
Page 29 and 30: EVENTS Charity Market Turns into Mu
Page 31 and 32: EVENTS Biennale Transforms Busan in
Page 33 and 34: BOOKS Korea: Impossible to Possible

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