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(516) Immigration

(515) Inflation

(514) Describing age (I)

(513) 2011 Gangnam Fashion Festival

Foreignline

KEB Personal Banking Seminar The Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) is offering seminars in English for expats wanting to learn more about personal banking in Korea at the Itaewon Global Village Center. Taking place on Oct. 27 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., these seminars cover all the basics, like how to sign up for a bank account and debit card, how to pay utility bills, how to wire and receive money from your home country, and how to get a credit card. The bankers will also explain how to begin banking online (in English) with either a Windows PC or Mac. This is followed by an extensive Q&A session when experienced bankers from KEB will address your queries. The session is free. For more information contact (02) 2199-8883 or email itaewon@sba.seoul.kr To register, contact the center with your name, phone number and work affiliation. To get there leave exit 2 of Itaewon station (line 6, stop 630). Walk straight about 200 meters and look for the Hannam Building, on your left. (There’s a Family Mart just before the entrance to the Hannam Building.) Take the elevator to the

KAFS welcomes new deputy head of mission

By John Redmond The Korea Australia Friendship Society (KAFS) held a special dinner to welcome deputy head of mission at the Australian Embassy Brendan Berne, at the New International Hotel in Seoul on Oct. 4. Comprising of KAFS members, local business figures and artists, the gathering of some 40 people took place between 7 and 10 p.m. and was a gesture by many as a way to thank Australia for coming to the aid of Korea during the Korean War (1950-53). The evening comprised of a buffet style dinner and speeches by KAFS members in English, and a thank you message from Berne in Korean. Berne’s previous posting was in France. KAFS has been active for some 30 years as a program that involves the exchange of ideas and skills between Korea and Australia. These include job training, educational programs and trade opportunities.

Vino that is truly Italiano

By Agnes Yu Despite pessimistic economics spurred by Moody’s recent downgrade raining on the parade, Italy remains a booty peninsula unrivalled in art, opera, fashion and above all, food and drink. A drink in particular is wine. Wine that can be red, white or rose, wine that is sparkling or still. Here on another peninsula far, far away, Francesco Morello and Stefano Piantoni teamed up to create the Italian Wine Club (IWC) Seoul, a company that promotes Italian wines as easy, accessible and to be enjoyed in a friendly environment. Morello works for Sureung Wine, a wine importer and Piantoni works for the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ITCCK). Together they have great synergy. They met two years ago at an event organized by the ITCCK to introduce Italian wines to wine importers. Morello attended as an importer. He says, “I have always found in Korea, a kind of lack of marketing activity for wine on behalf of the final consumer instead of industry people.’’ Collaborating with other wine importers and Italian restaurant owners, the pair of young men decided t

AustCham Chairman’s Night huge success

By John Redmond The AustCham 2011 Chairman’s Night, under the theme “KorOz Superstar,” was held at SMS Art Center in Shinsa-dong on Oct. 7. It had a huge turnout and provided some much needed entertainment. Kicking off at 7 p.m. the evening featured a concert by Stacey Evans and the CEO band before moving onto a talent show, a solo performance and an award ceremony. The concert was a chance to showcase prominent businessmen of international firms performing a range of rock n roll classics, complete with saxophone solos and performances by veteran Korean rock musicians to a very appreciative audience. Apart from a night of networking the event was also described as the “Australia Korea 50 Years of Friendship,” acknowledging 50 years of strong bilateral and diplomatic ties between the two nations. The talent show was an open competition featuring the singing and musical talents of prominent CEOs from Korean and Australian companies, university professors and local and expat musicians. Martin Walsh, Australian senior trade commissioner from the Australian Trade C

(512) Seocho district bicycle rental (II)

(511) Seocho district bicycle rental (I)