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Cho Baek-sang: Taiwan, the Beautiful Pearl of the Pacific Ocean (TAIPEI QUARTERLY 2016 WINTER Vol.06)

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Post date:2017-03-10

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Cho Baek-sang:
Taiwan, the Beautiful Pearl of the Pacific Ocean

Article_Yen Ai-Chueh
Photos_Yang Jiaying, Korean Mission in Taipei
 
Entering the Korean Mission in Taipei on the 22nd floor of the Taipei World Trade Center, we are greeted by the tourist-favorite Taipei 101 tower through the office window of representative Cho Baek-sang. It almost seems as though the building is looking in and waving, as if saying goodbye to Cho as the end of his term in Taipei approaches.
TAIPEI WINTER 2016 Vol.06 Cho Baek-sang: Taiwan, the Beautiful Pearl of the Pacific Ocean
▲ Cho Baek-sang says that whether it’s geographical and natural environment, cultural customs, or food, with each tour he discovers ever more charms and strengths of Taiwan. (Photo: Yang Jiaying)
 
Though Living in Taipei, Very Familiar With All of Taiwan’s Attractions and Resources 
Time flies, says Cho in Chinese, in which he is fluent. From his first day in April 2014 through to the end of October this year, when TAIPEI visited him, he had been busy at his official duties maintaining and developing friendly and cooperative relations between South Korea and Taiwan. While here he took every chance, whether related to his official tasks or during his leisure time, to explore the island’s northern, central, and southern areas.
TAIPEI WINTER 2016 Vol.06 Cho Baek-sang: Taiwan, the Beautiful Pearl of the Pacific Ocean
▲ For the last Korea-Taiwan Friendship Week in early October, the iconic Korean performance troupe BIBAP was invited to Taiwan to perform. (Photo: Korean Mission in Taipei)
 
He says that whether talking about geographical or natural environment, cultural customs or foods, on each and every trip he discovered new charms and advantages. His favorite travel destination is Dongyanshan National Forest Recreation Area (東眼山國家森林遊樂區) in Taoyuan City’s Fuxing District (桃園市復興區). In Taipei, he specially recommends Daan Park (大安森林公園). “On weekends and holidays, I often take the metro to the park and spend an hour or two strolling through it. I see many people, meditating, practicing tai chi, jogging or having fun with their kids. Getting a taste of how Taipei people enjoy their leisure time reminds me a great deal of Central Park in New York.” He adds that the public space at the park’s metro station is well worth a visit for foreign tourists, with a beautiful landscape waterfall and water-dance fountain show that lasts about 10 minutes.
 
Stationed in Many Lands – Deeply Impressed by Taiwan 
Cho is a graduate of the Department of Political Studies and International Relations at Seoul National University and the Foreign Policy Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Over his 34-year diplomatic career, he’s been posted to South Korea embassies and consulates in the United States, Nepal, Japan, Vietnam, mainland China, and other locations. In 2012, when serving as consul general in Shenyang in mainland China, his mission was chosen “Best Consulate.” Fluent in Chinese, English, Japanese, and German, he is South Korea’s only ambassador (representative) to have been specially appointed as a Ministry of National Defense international policy officer on military policy and multilateral security and protection cooperation affairs.
TAIPEI WINTER 2016 Vol.06 Cho Baek-sang: Taiwan, the Beautiful Pearl of the Pacific Ocean
▲ The 2016 Korea-Taipei cultural exchange festivity was held on the East Entrance Plaza of Taipei City Hall. (Photo: Korean Mission in Taipei)
 
South Korea-Taiwan relations underwent a fundamental shift in 1992. Fortunately, through the dedicated efforts of both sides, in recent years each has become the 5th-largest trading partner of the other. The resumption of direct scheduled flights between the two countries in September 2004 has gradually brought robust tourist traffic, and the addition of 90-day visa-free entry plus coverage of Taiwan in 2013 by the Korean travel show FlowerH4 (花漾爺爺) has attracted even more South Korean travelers to Taiwan. In 2014, the number of tourists visiting each other’s countries exceeded 1 million for the first time. At present, there are 110 direct flights between the two countries per week, and exchanges are increasing daily. The tourist-visitor number for 2016 is expected to reach 1.7 million.
 
Cho brings a fresh foreigner’s perspective when looking at Taiwan, often leading to pleasant surprises. Most of his time has been spent in Taipei. He finds the city very clean and safe, the people kind-hearted and warm, and the scenery rich and varied – an extremely attractive city with a fusion of the beauties of Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo. Taipei 101 has made a deep impression on him; he lives in the Xinyi District, and much enjoys the tower’s rainbow spectrum of colors, with the colors changing
every evening.
 
Cho expresses special gratitude for the assistance the city government’s Department of Cultural Affairs (文化局) has provided him with venue-use applications. He staged a “Korea-Taiwan Friendship Exchange” event three years in a row, the most recent on October 1st, 2016, with the department’s help. The last event was staged on the Taipei City Hall East Entrance Plaza (台北市市政大樓東門廣場), with the soaring Taipei 101 as backdrop, creating a setting both majestic and rare. There were performances by Taipei Percussion and Korean singers RK Kim Seung Hee and Lu.E. Stalls were set up to serve Korean cuisine and provide Korean cultural experiences.
 
Soon to Leave Office – Suggestions for Korean Travelers 
For first-time visitors to Taiwan, he recommends first exploring the north. Must-visit attractions include Yangmingshan (陽明山), Yeliu GeoPark (野柳), Jiufen (九份), Jinguashi (金瓜石), Pingxi (平溪), Tamsui (淡水), Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei 101, Longshan Temple, and Ximending. Some people who come to Taiwan but stay in Taipei go on themed tours each time. For example, a hot-spring tour could include Beitou, Yangmingshan, Wulai (烏來), and Jinshan (金山). If adults are traveling with kids, a good idea would be to add a visit to the Taipei Zoo (台北市立動物園) to see the famous pandas.
TAIPEI WINTER 2016 Vol.06 Cho Baek-sang: Taiwan, the Beautiful Pearl of the Pacific Ocean
▲ Korean Mission in Taipei Representative Cho Baek-sang gives a speech.(Photo: Korean Mission in Taipei)
 
On a return visit to Taiwan, Cho recommends an in-depth excursion taking in Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County (南投縣日月潭), Fort Zeelandia in Tainan City (台南市安平古堡), and down the east coast exploring Yilan (宜蘭), Hualien (花蓮), and Taitung counties. He describes Taiwan as a place of countless hidden gems well worth numerous visits and, expressing his love for this land, goes so far as to state that, “The beautiful pearl of the Pacific Ocean is not Hawaii, it is Taiwan.” He believes that tourism should be a key focus for systematic development in the future, and that target markets should be more deliberately segmented, with promotions tailored more specifically for each.
 
Over the past decade or so Korean pop culture has swept across Asia, and even the globe – Korean pop-idol TV dramas, Korean music, the PSY phenomenon, Samsung mobile phones, and premium cosmetics. The Korean people have achieved the perfect integration of national characteristics and IT information-industry capabilities, creating a “Korean wave” that has swept through countries around the world. Cho has watched Taiwanese TV dramas and variety shows, and is of the opinion that local entertainment artists are attractive, creative, and charming, and the entertainment industry cultivates impressive talent, such as internationally renowned film directors Ang Lee (李安) and Hou Hsiao-hsien (侯孝賢). It would be a great opportunity if Korean talent could work with them co-writing and producing scripts.
 
Summing up, Cho uses the term “brothers in hardship” to describe the close relationship between South Korea and Taiwan. Both have export-oriented economies, and both are facing employment difficulties among youth and the highly educated, aging societies, industrial pollution, and other issues. Most special is the fact that in both countries power is peacefully handed over between elected political parties, and both are today headed by a woman. “We are perhaps the two most similar countries in the world,” he states, and precisely because the two have faced such similar difficulties, they can work in close concert in the future to find solutions.

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