Namyangju Core 10Pick [korea Tour]

 

01Jeong Yak-yong Historic Site

Namyangju is the hometown and the place where Jeong Yak-yong, the first Asian to be designated as a UNESCO World Monument, spent his later years. In the Joan-myeon area, there is his birthplace, Yeoyudang, as well as a shrine called Mundo-sa, which houses his tomb, memorial tablet, and portrait. At the Dasan Memorial Hall, you can see copies of Jeong Yak-yong’s representative books, Mokminsimseo, Gyeongseyupyo, and Heumheumsinseo, as well as his letters and landscape paintings, the greatest Silhak scholar of the late Joseon Dynasty. The crane and wheel used to build Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon have been restored and are on display. The Dasan Cultural Center, located next to the memorial hall, displays art pieces themed on Jeong Yak-yong. If you walk around the Jeong Yak-yong Historic Site, you can learn about his philosophy, scholarship, and beliefs, making it a treasure trove in Namyangju.

location 11, Dasan-ro 747beon-gil, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-2837

operating time Tue~Sun 09:00~18:00 (closing at 17:30)

Closed Every Monday, January 1st, Lunar New Year's Day and Chuseok

02

Dasan Ecological Park

Dasan Ecological Park is a water environment ecological space where ecology, history, and culture come together. If you walk along the path that looks like Jeong Yak-yong would have walked, Paldang Lake appears before your eyes like a hidden treasure. Dasan Ecological Park has a walking path where you can tour the ecological wetlands, purification wetlands, and bird ecological wetlands, as well as an aquatic plant garden. There are also rest areas and wildflower fields created here and there, and an observatory where you can see Paldang Lake and the ecological park at a glance. It is a place with charm in all four seasons, spring, summer, fall, and winter, but I especially recommend the lotus field in summer and the reed landscape that decorates the fall.

location 767 Dasan-ro, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-8634

03

Water Garden

The 'Water Garden' located in Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si can be found along the Bukhangang River Bicycle Path. It is famous as a resting place for cyclists, but it is also a representative walking spot where you can enjoy beautiful scenery with family, lovers, and friends. It is a place where you can immerse yourself in the beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons, with the clear and blue river flowing leisurely. In spring, poppies bloom, in summer, lotuses bloom, and in fall, yellow (yellow) cosmos bloom in full bloom, presenting the beauty of each season. Cross the Baetnaduri Bridge, the bridge that symbolizes the Water Garden, and take pictures with the beautiful scenery as the background at the Water Garden Frame View Photo Zone. Get away from the busy and complicated city and feel relaxed.

location 398 Bukhangang-ro, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-8634

04

Onam Lake Park

One of Namyangju’s unique attractions, Onam Lake Park was originally a reservoir. It was a place where the water from Palhyeon Valley, famous as a wild flower mecca, was stored and supplied for agricultural use, but in 2008, it was reborn as a park for citizens’ leisure and healing. The lake, surrounded by a beautiful forest, creates a quiet atmosphere all year round. If you walk along the 3km-long walking path, you can take great pictures on the glass-bottomed skywalk, and you can also have fun finding hidden photo zones here and there. Also, enjoy a splendid fountain show with music and lights at Onam Lake Park’s famous musical fountain.

location 50-2 San, Onam-ri, Onam-eup, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-8634

05

Cheonghakcheon Cultural Park

Cheonghak Valley, located at the foot of Mt. Surak, boasts beautiful scenery. However, for nearly 50 years, it has been occupied by illegal structures and facilities such as tents and platforms, causing inconvenience to valley users. In order to return Cheonghak Valley to the citizens of Namyangju, we persuaded the nearby residents to make it the first river garden in the country, and through large-scale demolition and river restoration, it returned to 'Cheonghak Valley Resort'. The signature space of Cheonghak Valley Resort is a sandy beach that makes you feel like you're at the ocean. The combined area of ​​Sky Beach, Sun Beach, and Flower Beach is 1,760㎡, which is very large.

location 47, Sunhwagung-ro 945beon-gil, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-8730, 2485

06

Namyangju Hangang Park (Sampae District)

The largest park along the Hangang River in Namyangju is Namyangju Hangang Park (Sampae District). With a total area of ​​239,882㎡, it is larger than 33 soccer fields combined. The park has sports facilities such as a baseball field, an inline skating rink, and a futsal court, as well as a birch forest, which is a representative landscape photo often posted on SNS and the pride of Namyangju Hangang Park. There is also a bicycle park, a water park that people of all ages can enjoy in the hot summer, a musical fountain, a children's garden with cute Legos, a flea market space and a performance hall, and a theme flower garden where you can enjoy beautiful flowers from spring to fall.

location 254-2 Gosan-ro, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-8636

07

Neungnae History and Culture Park

Neungnae Station was remodeled from a closed station that no longer has trains and turned into a cultural park. It is famous as a SNS photo spot because it still retains its old appearance, and there are many cute elements unique to a small station. Looking at the small ticket booth, waiting room with wooden chairs, and black and white photos, it feels like you have gone back in time. You can see it while going along the Bukhangang Bicycle Path, Gyeonggi Old Road, and Dasan Road, so take a picture.

location 566-5 Dasan-ro, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-2063

08

Piano Falls

From a distance, it looks like a natural waterfall flowing down a mountain, but Piano Falls is an artificial waterfall that is a whopping 92m long. 'Piano Falls' is a place where you can see with your own eyes how the water we use easily and conveniently is supplied, used, and returned to nature. After being used in ordinary homes and industrial sites, polluted water is collected in a sewage treatment facility, and this water is purified and returned to rivers and streams. Hwado Blue Water Center created an artificial waterfall by pumping up the discharged water that is to be returned to nature after purification. When you come to Piano Falls, you can experience the magnificent view and the sound of the waterfall, which is like a gift before the water returns to nature. And next to the waterfall is a 'Piano Restroom' in the shape of a grand piano. When you step on the stairs, you can hear the sound of a piano, and there is an observatory and a lounge, so I recommend going up. You can also learn about the water cycle at the environmental experience center, and in the summer, you can use the water park.

location 562 Waterfall Road, Hwado-eup, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-8224

09

Jeong Yak-yong Fun Ground

Namyangju Youth Hostel Jeong Yak-yong Fun-ground is a space for teenagers with a natural environment and the latest facilities. It is located 30 minutes from Seoul and is a customized accommodation for teenagers and families. There are themed rooms, a dance stage that is the best place to practice K-dance, a conference room that can hold international conferences and various forums, a 4,500㎡ natural grass square with a view of the Bukhan River, festivals and various teenagers programs, virtual sports experience devices, etc. Through various programs and facilities, teenagers can enjoy nature, experience healing from academic stress, develop dreams through unique educational programs, meet and interact with new friends, demonstrate their skills and talents through free activities, and discover new sides of themselves, and have a fun and enjoyable time at Jeong Yak-yong Fun-ground, a hangout for teenagers.

location 566-5 Dasan-ro, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-2063

home page www.funground.or.kr

10

Water Clear Arboretum

The Mulmarum Arboretum operated by Namyangju City is an experiential arboretum where nature, culture, health, and learning breathe well. It is a place where clean water meanders and is located in Sudong-myeon, called 'Mulgol-an', and is an eco-friendly place where you can feel the beauty of the four seasons. You can see various plants in 20 exhibition gardens, and there are also various experience programs such as forest interpretation, forest healing, children's forest, and woodworking. Take a picture of your life at the slow mailbox that delivers your letter after a year, the stairway to heaven with Chukryeongsan Mountain and the blue sky in the background, and the 300-year-old wishing tree.

location 47-4, Jidun-ro 307beon-gil, Namyangju-si

inquiry 031)590-4075~8

home page www.nyj.go.kr/forest

New Jeans becomes tourism ambassador

The "New Jeans" were appointed as honorary Korean tourism ambassadors on the 11th and attended the commissioning ceremony.

On the 11th, the South Korean government appointed the popular five-member female music group New Jeans as honorary tourism ambassadors for Korea. At the commissioning ceremony held in Seoul, New Jeans expressed their enthusiasm, saying, "We will take the lead in spreading Korean culture and tourism to the whole world."

　The South Korean government aims to attract 20 million foreign tourists a year, up from about 11 million last year, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

　New Jeans has also released a video introducing Korean food and tourist spots, with subtitles in Japanese and other languages.

A city of alleys... From Choryang-dong, Busan to Yeongdo

Exhibits on Ibagu-gil. Photo : Gapsu Choi

Busan is a city of alleys. As refugees flocked in during the Korean War, the city suddenly grew huge, and roads were built wherever possible. The roads in Busan that run along the hills and mountains are narrow, steep, and sometimes reckless, leaving travelers perplexed. 

However, sometimes this embarrassment stimulates the curiosity of travelers and gives them pleasure. The series of alleys starting from Busan Station, passing through Choryang-dong, Jungang-dong, Nampo-dong, and Jagalchi Market to Yeongdo is a course where you can experience the true colors of Busan.

A place where the lives of Busan’s common people live

If you leave Busan Station and cross the street, you will reach Chinatown. There are many famous Chinese restaurants such as Shinhwawon, Maga, and Hongseongbang. Some restaurants have delicious dumplings, while others have delicious black bean noodles. Another restaurant is famous for its sweet and sour pork. After passing Chinatown, you will reach Texas Street. After passing the Choryang 2-dong community center on Texas Street, you will reach Choryang Elementary School, and this is where Choryang's 'Ibagu Road' begins. It continues through the old Baekje Hospital, Kim Min-bu Observatory, and all the way to Kakkomak.

Climb the hill along Ibagu Road. You can see houses crowded together on the hill. The small houses are close together and seem to be crouching, shoulder to shoulder. These are the houses where refugees came to live during the Korean War. Workers from the nearby Jagalchi Market, factory workers, and dock workers also flocked. The steps up the road are heavy. 

Yeongdo landscape. Photo : Gapsu Choi

A series of alleys… The true face of Busan

From Busan Station to Jagalchi Market and Yeongdo

Feel the footsteps of history and visit delicious restaurants

international market. Photo : Gapsu Choi

The road is narrow enough for two people to barely pass by, shoulder to shoulder. The floor is covered with rough cement. As you walk up the road, your steps stop right in front of the ‘168 stairs’. It's as dangerous as a ladder hanging in the air. People from the mountain village went up and down these stairs several times a day. Adults scooped well water and carried it on their backs, and children ran up and down the stairs to run bean sprouts and tofu errands. In the evening, after finishing their hard work, the heads of families would have a drink and stumble up the stairs. 

Next to the 168 stairs is the ‘Kim Min-bu Observatory’. Minbu Kim is a poet born in Busan. He died young at the young age of 31. His poetry was outstanding, but because he left the world too early, few people remember him. On one wall of the observatory, 'Waiting Heart', a song included in a high school music textbook and lyrics written by Minbu Kim, is engraved. There are many unique stores around the mountain, such as ‘Ibagu Playground’, ‘6·25 Makgeolli’, and toy stores. From here, you can see Busan Port so close you can touch it.

Bibim Dangmyeon at Gukje Market. Photo : Gapsu Choi

A fun-filled market tour

If you go down Ibagu-gil, it passes through Jungang-dong and leads to Nampo-dong and Gukje Market. Gukje Market originally refers to a complex consisting of a two-story building and a total of six facilities, but the nearby Sinchang Market, Changseon Market, and Bupyeong Market are generally referred to as Gukje Market. If I had to compare it, it resembles Namdaemun Market in Seoul. Shops selling shoes, bags, glasses, jewelry, etc. are intertwined like a maze along the narrow streets. 

It's fun to look at the various products at Gukje Market, but the highlight is finding delicious restaurants hidden in every nook and cranny. Inexpensive and delicious street food welcomes you in every alley. It is difficult to list them all, including fish cakes, bibim vermicelli, Chungmu kimbap, banquet noodles, green onion pancakes, sundae, sikhye, tofu sushi, and millet kkumi.

Grilled lamb tripe. Photo : Gapsu Choi

Across the street from Nampo-dong is Jagalchi Market. It is the largest seafood market in Korea. It is said that 30-50% of Korea's marine products and dried fish are supplied here. When you enter the market, street vendors are lined up, and there is no end in sight. There are various types of fish, including whale meat, on the stalls. The streets, filled with the unique scent of the sea, are crowded with visitors.

I'm hungry so I go to a grilled fish restaurant. Order the mackerel set meal. Six or seven side dishes, two pieces of mackerel, and gobong rice are served on an ‘obong (tray)’. This is a restaurant for sailors who came to Jagalchi. Open from 3 am. The mackerel is fresher and more delicious. There is no fishy smell. 

Meet Old Busan

If you cross Jagalchi Market, you will reach Yeongdo. It is called ‘Old’ Busan. When you go to Yeongdo, the atmosphere is noticeably different from Haeundae, Gwangalli, Nampo-dong, and Seomyeon. When it comes to Seoul, it feels like Jongno. It feels a little old, but in modern terms, it's vintage and retro. 

When you think of Yeongdo, Yeongdo Bridge comes to mind. It is the only bridge in Korea that is raised and lowered. Even now, we do bridge crossings. The village in front of Yeongdo Bridge is called Kangkangi Art Village. It is a neighborhood built around an old ferry dock, and it is also where the shipbuilding industry began with the opening of Korea's first modern shipyard in 1912 during the Japanese colonial period. The reason it is called ‘kangkang’ is because of the sound of the hammer. To repair a ship, shells and foreign substances stuck to the bottom of the ship must be removed and rust removed. It is said that the sound of hammers doing this work filled the neighborhood all day long. There are still 12 shipbuilding companies in operation. 

The village declined in the 2000s as the shipbuilding industry declined, but with the establishment of various cultural facilities, including a ship experience center, people began to visit again. As you walk around the village, you will find many places to visit, including galleries, museums, and workshops. 

There are 33 works of art installed throughout the Kangkangi Art Village through the ‘Public Art Project’. The location of the works of art is detailed in the leaflet distributed at the information center located at the entrance to the village. As you follow these works one by one, you will understand the history of Kangkangi Art Village little by little. Cloud-shaped streetlights and full-color murals are perfect as a background for a 'shot of a lifetime'. 

 

A place where you can hear the sound of spring coming... Gyeongju Haeguk-gil and Seongdong Market

Gampo Haeguk-gil is a great place to walk. Photo by Gapsu Choi

It's spring. Soon Gyeongju will be covered with cherry blossoms. It's not worth the effort of walking a long way just to see the cherry blossoms this spring. Let’s go to Haeguk-gil, which is still a little less known. You can also enjoy a sea drive. Your itinerary will be more enriched if you taste delicious Gyeongju food at Seongdong Market in Gyeongju.

A good road to walk right now

There is ‘Gampo Kkakjigil’ in Gyeongju. It is a road that connects the coast and villages centered on Gampo Port. Among these, section 4, ‘Haeguk-gil’, is a road that preserves the atmosphere of an old alley. Between buildings with low slate roofs, a winding road that can barely accommodate one person passes. It's not long, about 600m, but as the name suggests, it's a lot of fun walking while looking at sea guksu painted on every wall. Even if you walk slowly, 30 minutes is enough. 

The alley begins across from Gampo Public Market, located in front of Gampo Port. There is a small sign on the wall, and you can easily find it by asking nearby merchants. You can walk in the following order: Haeguk Alley, Haeguk Stairs, old building's basement warehouse, Damuleun House, Hancheontang, Well Saem, and Pine Tree House. The alley is just as narrow as it looks from the outside. There are many places that are barely wide enough for one person to pass through, and you have to turn your body sideways to get through. Rough cement was applied to the road. There are small houses on both sides of the alley, with gates barely large enough for a single person to enter, and windows the size of paintings. 

Seagulls were painted on every wall along the alley. The colors and shapes are all different. There is white sea guk and there is also purple sea guk. The color of haeguk, whose color has faded as time has passed, is also noticeable. As fall deepens, a bunch of real sea guks bloom in front of a picture of sea guk, welcoming travelers.

As you walk along the alley, your view becomes clearer and you come across a path with a large beetle drawn on the ground. If you go up the slope to the left, there is a church and playground, and from here you can see Gampo Port and the East Sea. If you go down the road to the right a little bit, you will come to a staircase with a large sea guksu painted on it. This is the most popular photo zone on Haeguk-gil, and travelers take photos to make memories.

If you pass the stairs and follow the alley, you will see a building that shows the depth of time. On the wall of a building with a brown door, there is a sign that reads ‘Old Building Basement Storage.’ It is said that the building was used as a shelter and underground warehouse. There is a Japanese-style house called ‘Damul-eun House’ 2-3 minutes away from here. Originally, the area around Haeguk-gil was where a Japanese immigrant fishing village was formed after the port was opened in the 1920s, and it is said to have been the busiest street at the time. Damuleun House is a remnant of a village built by Japanese fishermen. Walking along Haeguk-gil, it is not difficult to see old Japanese houses, which are now used as soup restaurants, pharmacies, and laundromats. 

The building located across from Damuleun House catches the eye with its towering chimney. It was a building that was used as a bathhouse, but no one lives there now. If you follow the road next to the building for about 100 meters, you will find the site of an old well. There is a bucket and the water is flowing in the well, but it is not drinkable. It is said to be a well that was commonly used by villagers during the Japanese colonial period.

Songdaemal Lighthouse is located about 10 minutes north of Gampo Port across Haeguk-gil. Songdaemal means ‘the end of a pine tree’. As the name suggests, there are pine trees at the edge of the cliff curved like dragons, and between them, the blue East Sea washes over with white waves. If you pass through the pine forest and go down close to the cliff, you will see two pure white lighthouses. Above the management office building on the left is a new lighthouse modeled after the three-story stone pagoda of Gameunsaji Temple, and next to it is an old lighthouse built in 1955 as an unmanned lighthouse. The scenery of the black rocks and the sea below the lighthouse is beautiful. Anglers spend leisurely time on the rocks.

You can leave Songdaemal Lighthouse, see King Munmu's Tomb and Gameunsa Pagoda in Gyeongju, and then take a tour of downtown Gyeongju. The Tomb of King Munmu is where King Munmu, who completed the unification of the three kingdoms, is buried, saying that he would become a dragon and protect the country even after death. It is also famous as a sunrise travel destination. On the way from the Royal Tomb of King Munmu to downtown Gyeongju, there is the Gameunsa Pagoda, which is called the 'typical Silla pagoda' for its perfect formative beauty. The formative beauty of Gameunsa Pagoda, which has nothing to add or take away, fascinates the viewer. 

Gyeongju’s Kitchen, Seongdong Market

It is said that the world's people have become harsh, but if you are looking for a place where people's hearts and affection still remain, it would be the traditional market. As I walk through the bustling alleys of the market, I feel as if my energy is rising and my heart is naturally enriched. 

In Gyeongju, the thousand-year-old city, there is a market full of people. Seongdong Market is the representative market of Gyeongju. Since the market is just across the railroad crossing from Gyeongju Station, it is visited by many tourists as well as Gyeongju citizens.

Originally, Seongdong Market was located where the Myeongdong Clothing Market is now located in the city center. The size was also small, about 1,300 m2 (400 pyeong). It was called Yeommae Market because it sold only cheap items such as clothing, tools, and simple food. Yeommae is an abbreviation for ‘cheap sale.’

Seongdong Market moved to its current location in 1971. At the time, it was not a large market, measuring about 3,300 m2 (1,000 pyeong). Then, as Gyeongju City grew, the market grew along with it. It is now considered the best market in Gyeongju, covering approximately 13,223 m2 (4,000 pyeong). There are about 600 stores in Food Alley, Fish Alley, Pyebaek Food Alley, Vegetable Alley, and Clothing Alley, and people from Gyeongju as well as Eonyang and Ulsan come here.

Seongdong Market filled with octopuses. Photo by Gapsu Choi

The most eye-catching thing at Seongdong Market is the large octopus hanging in each fish pancake. In the Gyeongbuk region, which has a strong Confucian tradition, octopus must be prepared for major events such as family rites or ancestral rites. Cut the octopus legs in half, place them neatly on skewers, and place them on the table along with beef and shark meat. This is because the character ‘geulwol (文)’ in the name of the octopus symbolizes a scholar. In the past, octopus ink was actually used as a substitute for food. 

There are also pieces of fish that look like tuna, which are shark meat that has been pickled and aged in salt. In the Gyeongbuk region, including Gyeongju, Andong, Yeongju, Yeongcheon, Bonghwa, and Cheongsong, it is called 'Dombegi' or 'Dombegogi'. There is a saying that sea bream was made by cutting shark meat into 'dombak, sea bream,' and there is also a theory that it originated from 'sea bream shark.' Just as 'skate' is not missing from Jeolla-do's ancestral rites, 'Dombegi' is not missing from Gyeongsang-do's ancestral rites. 

A better race on foot

Gyeongju is a great city to travel on foot. The Silla Grand Bell is said to be a reproduction of the King Seongdeok Divine Bell, National Treasure No. 29. It is 3.66m tall, has an average thickness of 20.3cm, and weighs a whopping 20.17 tons. This bell, which began to be made during the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Silla and was completed during the reign of King Hyegong, must have awakened Seorabeol in the morning and comforted it in the exhaustion of the evening for over 1,200 years. How did people make this huge bell back then? I try to guess his feelings, but it is not easy to understand. I imagine the sound of the bell and walk toward Daereungwon. 

I think what makes Gyeongju worthy of being a ancient city is the group of royal tombs, including Daereungwon. Gyeongju is the world's best tomb city. The city is built between tombs such as the Noseo and Nodong-dong tombs, Daereungwon, Hwangori tombs, Hwangnam-ri tombs, King Naemul's tomb, and Oreung. 

When you leave Daereungwon, you will reach Hwangridan-gil. It is the trendiest place in Gyeongju. There are many cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, and independent bookstores. It gets very crowded starting around evening. Director Hong Sang-soo also filmed his movie ‘Discovery of Life’ here. 

If you cross Hwangridan-gil, you will reach Cheomseongdae. After Cheomseongdae, you will reach Gyerim, and soon you will reach Wolseong. Wolseong is the site of the Silla palace, and when you climb up here, you can see the entire city of Gyeongju, including Daereungwon and Hwango-dong. 

 

“High-tech biopharmaceuticals, Chile will become the next epicenter of Korean medicine”

 Chile, located on the other side of the world from Korea, is a very distant country from us. There are no direct flights, so even if you fly, it takes 26 hours to travel halfway around the world. The time and seasons are opposite. However, if we narrow it down to the economic field, Chile and Korea are quite close countries. The Korea-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was signed in February 2003 and took effect in April 2004, played a decisive role in narrowing the distance between the two countries. Since then, Chilean wine and pork belly have become part of the Korean diet, and speeding Korean cars have become a familiar sight on Chilean streets.

Chile's population is approximately 20 million, so it is difficult to say that it is a large market. However, Chile has recently been receiving a lot of attention from around the world. This is thanks to lithium, which is called ‘white oil’. Lithium is a key raw material used in almost all types of batteries, and its price has recently risen as electric vehicles have gained popularity. 

On April 18, I met Ambassador Matthias Franke at the Chilean Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul. He said that Korean cars are competing with the world's leading brands in the Chilean market and are showing off their high status in terms of reliability and reputation, and that "the elimination of tariffs on Korean products through the conclusion of the FTA may have also helped." In addition, he said that the current global economy is very different from when the Korea-Chile FTA was negotiated, and conveyed the Chilean government's desire to conclude supplementary negotiations within this year, which marks the 20th anniversary of the FTA's entry into force. 

Ambassador Franke, a former lawyer, majored in international law at the Catholic University of Chile and received a master's degree in international studies from Georgetown University in the United States. Before taking office as Chile's ambassador to Korea in July 2022, he served as Chile's permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Chile's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom.

How do you evaluate the performance over the past 20 years since the Korea-Chile FTA was signed?

“I am looking at it very positively. According to the Korea International Trade Association, the amount of trade between the two countries increased more than five-fold between 2003 and 2023. Results were seen quickly, with the number more than doubling 20 months after signing the contract. Korea is Chile's fourth-largest export market. Last year, exports to Korea amounted to $7.5 billion (about 10.3 trillion won). “Exports of Korean products and services to Chile more than doubled from $517 million (about 700 billion won) in 2003 to $1.25 billion (about 1.7 trillion won) last year.”

Matthias Franke , Chilean Ambassador to Korea,
Bachelor of International Law from the Catholic University of Chile, Master of International Studies from Georgetown University, Former Permanent Representative of Chile to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Former Deputy Ambassador of Chile to the United Kingdom Photo by Reporter Lee Yong -seong

After the conclusion of the FTA, the popularity of Chilean wine in Korea and Korean cars in Chile increased significantly. 

“Chilean wine ranks first among Korean imported wines in terms of volume. Chilean pork belly is also popular in Korea. Automobiles from Korea's Hyundai Motors and Kia are competing with the world's leading brands in the Chilean market, showing off their high status in reliability and reputation. This is a significant achievement considering that competition among global brands is very fierce because Chile does not have its own automobile industry. “The elimination of tariffs on Korean products through the conclusion of the FTA would certainly have helped.” 

Chilean wine has been ranked first in the country in terms of imported volume for several years. Considering that Chile ranks 6th and 5th, respectively, in global wine production and export, it can be said that the FTA with Korea has had a significant effect. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors have the largest share of the Chilean automobile market. As of August last year, Hyundai Motors was in third place, behind Toyota and General Motors (GM), but when combined with Kia in fifth place, monthly sales of about 25,000 units far exceed Toyota (17,857 units). Korean smartphones, televisions, and home appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators are also popular.

I think the global craze for Korean culture, including K-pop, may have played a role in the rise in the status of Korea and Korean companies in Chile.

“In the 1980s, Koreans began immigrating to Chile, especially in the capital Santiago. At that time, most of those who immigrated to their home country (Korea) for trade successfully settled down, and as a result, Korean culture began to become known in Chile. In addition, the K-pop and K-drama craze that broke out in the 2010s served as an opportunity for Chilean youth to become more familiar with Korean culture. “Today, Santiago has become a city where K-pop bands on international tours must stop by.”

I am curious whether there are any signs that interest in Korea, sparked by the popularity of Korean Wave cultural content, will shift to new industrial fields. 

“In Chile, interest in K-food has recently increased significantly. The number of Korean restaurants has rapidly increased everywhere, and efforts to adapt to local tastes by using Chilean ingredients based on traditional Korean food are also noticeable. I think K-beauty will take over the baton next. Several Korean related companies have already opened stores in Chilean shopping malls. It is expected that more Korean companies will enter related fields in the future. “I think the next epicenter of the Korean Wave in Chile will be cutting-edge technologies such as biopharmaceuticals.”

As the spread of electric vehicles increases worldwide, the status of Chile as a lithium powerhouse has also increased. 

“Chile holds about 40% of the world’s lithium reserves. It is responsible for 24% of global production, ranking first in this sector. Although the Atacama Lake is the only place in Chile where commercial lithium production is currently taking place, there are 45 other salt lakes in Chile with various chemical and geological characteristics. The Chilean government recognizes the importance of Chile in the production and distribution of major minerals, including lithium, and is making efforts to help the growth of related industries. “The announcement of the national lithium policy last year is part of such efforts.”

What is the core of the national lithium strategy?

“The government and the private sector are working together to promote the growth and development of Chile’s lithium industry. Government participation will be through Codel-co, Chile's state-owned mining company and one of the world's largest copper producers, and Enami of Chile. Economic growth is not the only thing that is important. Local communities and experts also participate to ensure environmentally, politically, and socially sustainable development. The Chilean government is trying to attract Korean companies interested in Chile's lithium resources. “We hope to one day become part of the Chilean lithium ecosystem and will continue to collaborate with them.” 

Currently, three domestic battery companies (LG Energy Solutions, Samsung SDI, and SK On) are producing batteries with lithium hydroxide made by processing lithium carbonate. These companies receive most of their lithium carbonate imports from Chile. Previously, Chilean lithium producer SQM signed long-term lithium purchase contracts with LG Energy Solutions and SK On.

Negotiations are underway to supplement the Korea-Chile FTA. What direction do you think we should move in? 

“The current global economy looks very different from the early 21st century (when Korea-Chile FTA negotiations were underway). The role of small and medium-sized businesses and the importance of global supply chains in trade have increased, and things to consider, such as the environmental impact of production and trade, have also increased. For this reason, the two governments agreed to supplement the existing FTA in 2018. The Chilean government hopes to finalize the supplementary agreement within the year. If that happens, it will be the best event for both countries to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the FTA.” 

What kind of Chilean imports would you like to see more of in Korea in the future? Conversely, is there any Korean export product you would like to introduce to Chile? 

“I hope that many Chilean agricultural products, which were excluded from the first FTA agreement, will come into Korea. Chile is a producer and exporter that boasts world-class competitiveness in the agricultural sector. After concluding an FTA with Chile, Korea also gave preferential treatment to other countries (with which it signed an FTA). I just hope that we can compete with them on an equal footing and allow Korean consumers to make choices. The focus of the Chilean Embassy in Korea on trade is to help export Chilean products to Korea, but it also provides opinions on the export of Korean products to Chile. “Korean seaweed, persimmons, meat, and some seafood are likely to be very popular with Chilean consumers.”