- Crazy taxi cab drivers.
- Distinguished women from all over the world.
- W-Hotel–A five star hotel. FABULOUS!
- Jinsoo Terry in action.
- Optimistic dignitaries from Iraq.
…These are some of my adventures in Korea.
September 12-14, 2007
I had the honor of attending the First World Women’s Forum 2007 in Seoul, Korea recently thanks to my friend of 10 years and client for three, Jinsoo Terry—Korean-American for 20 years. She invited me to go with her and assist her. She wanted me to experience Korea–her birth country, and see her presentation in action.
One thousand women, primarily Asian, from all around the world came to the forum to learn from others, and speakers came to present their challenges for their country and unique ideas for meeting their countries’ needs. From what I could see there were only a handful of USA women attendees.
I met the First Lady of Korea; a Member House of Representatives Japan; presidents, deans and professors of key universities around the world; President of Korean Women Entrepreneurs Association and many, many more. The one that touched my heart were the two women representatives from Iraq. They had stories to tell and so did the others. Many women dressed in their traditional country colorful garments. It was an experience I will never forget.
There are droves of Korean assistants, young men and women, who strived to help you with any question or need you have. I have never experience this kind of royal treatment before. It was awesome. My trip to Korea was FABULOUS. There were a few “bumpy roads” and that’s what makes this a great story. Here is my adventure in Korea.
Seoul, Korea
“With over ten million people, Seoul is South Korea’s largest city and one of the largest cities in the world by population. Covering an area of only 605 square kilometers (234 sq. miles), smaller than New York City or Tokyo, it is one of the world’s most densely populated major cities,” according to Wikipedia.
“The Greater Seoul metropolitan area, which includes the major port city of Incheon, has almost 23 million inhabitants making it the second most populous metropolitan area in the world, after Greater Tokyo. Almost one fourth of South Korea’s entire population lives in the Seoul National Capital Area, and nearly one half in the Greater Seoul Area, making it the country’s political, cultural, and economic centre, as well as a centre for international business.”
Joan, the “Lost 7-year-old” Kid at the Incheon International Airport
Hey! I’m an immigrant! A foreigner! At least that’s what the signs said when I went through customs. That was a strange feeling. You can tell I don’t travel internationally—only once before 10 years ago I traveled to Japan compliments of my company, Nikon Research and Development Corporation of America. Not being a world traveler, the name “immigrant” was an interesting observation to me.
I arrived Monday, September 10, 2007–two days before the Forum. I waited at the Incheon International Airport for an hour after I arrived and felt like a lost 7 year old. I forgot to bring Jinsoo’s international phone number with me and had no one to call. I walked back and forth searching the area for someone who might recognize me. After all, there weren’t too many Caucasian women there so I would be easy to recognize.
After an hour Jinsoo’s mom and brother found me. They too had been walking around trying to find me—it IS a big airport. It was a great feeling to find them. Lesson learned: Write down phone numbers, hotel information, etc., and bring it with you. Don’t expect to get this from someone else.
Taking a “Disneyland Ride” with Korean Taxi Cab and Bus Drivers
We took a bus to a nearby suburb of Seoul where Jinsoo’s mom and brother live. An hour l-o-n-g fast ride that was the scariest ride I had ever experienced. The bus driver “zigs and zags” in and out of the lanes like a racecar driver. It felt like he was going 70 miles an hour with this busload of 25 people. Everyone else was calm but inside I was a nervous wreck and had a hard time talking to Jinsoo’s brother as I was so focused on the driving.
There are more than 3 million cars registered in Seoul. Traffic congestion is common and the taxi cab drivers are outrageous risk takers I would soon find out. It’s like going on a “Disneyland Ride.”
The next day I experienced Korean taxicab driving. First Jinsoo and I went to a business meeting with a CEO group from the consulting company, Free-CEOs. We were staying outside of Seoul city limits. Taxis can only drive within their own city limits. So at the end of the city limit you get out and take another taxi: Very inconvenient when you have lots of luggage.
In heavily traffic congested Seoul it is a wonder there aren’t more accidents. Cars move from one lane to the other frequently. They seem to know what they are doing, but I sure don’t. It is the wildest “Disneyland Ride” I ever experienced. No one wears seat belts! In the back seat of the car the seat belts are there but the connection to hook the belts is lost under the seat and you can’t use them.
My First Night in Korea at the “Slinky Quagmire Hotel.”
My first night I stayed alone in a suburb of Seoul at a hotel that shall remain nameless. It is a name brand in the United States and I wouldn’t want to embarrass them by giving out their name except to call it the “Slinky Quagmire Hotel.” It was humid and hot inside the one room that consisted of a bed with only a bottom sheet (no top). If there was an air conditioner I couldn’t find it.
Before Jinsoo’s mom and brother left me there for the night I was excited as I saw tea bags and said, “Oh look! Tea.” I looked at the bags and one was a green tea and the other said, “Happy Day” on it. “I will be fine,” I said trying to reassure them that it was okay to stay here for the night. Their condo was too small to fit another person in it so it was best for me to stay at a hotel for the night and they were reassured that this was the best hotel in their town.
I should have known this wasn’t going to be the Ritz Hotel when we went to the registration desk. It was all glass enclosed except for a peephole to communicate just like the slinky motels I saw in the ‘40s and ‘50s movies.
I turned on the TV and found channel OCN that gives American movies all day long with Korean subtitles. The tea and TV what more could I ask for? I decided to try the Happy Day tea as I can have green tea anytime. I began to open the package and it didn’t feel like a tea bag inside. A closer peek I realized that it was a condom! Back to the green tea for me. Koreans have clean and beautiful bathrooms. This hotel lived up to that reputation. The only thing was that they forgot to put towels in the room so I couldn’t take a shower. I didn’t know how to call the desk—everything was written in Korean—and it was near midnight so I figured that they probably wouldn’t have had anyone to help me anyway. Oh yes, one more thing… There was a used large size bar of soap in the bathroom that obviously stays there until it is used up. Also there was a whole trayful of full size bottles of toiletries from after shave, razor, to hand lotion including a brush with hair in it and all: Obviously everyone that stays in that room uses these items. “There is no place like home or the Slinky Quagmire Hotel.”
Jinsoo’s Business Meeting with Free-CEOs
The next day I left the Hotel and Jinsoo and I visited a consulting company called “free-ceos.com.” They had a meeting with Jinsoo. This company consists of retired Korean CEOs from companies such as Intel, Cisco Systems, Wang Laboratories, Hyundai Information Technologies, LG-CNS System, KIA Information Systems, SK Corporation, Daewoo Information Technology, and many others. They help foreign companies develop business in Korea effectively, and help local IT enterprises grow into competent players.
When Jinsoo walks into a room her warm smile and charismatic personality builds immediate relationships. For 5-1/2 hours I listened to dynamic people speak in Korean and I didn’t know one thing they were saying. Yet I could tell by their body language and enthusiasm that great ideas were happening.
I do want to thank Mr. Taik Ho Kim, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of the company for his gracious hospitality to me and making me feel like a special person as I sat in on the meeting listening to Jinsoo share all her ideas with the CEOs.
A FABULOUS time at the 5-Star W-Hotel
Jinsoo and I trekked off to the W-Hotel in my “favorite” form of transportation—the taxi. Our ride to the five star W-Hotel was the scariest of them all. It was an hour-long drive to the hotel in the busiest commuter traffic and the driver realized he had taken the wrong one-way exit to the hotel. What does he do? He backs up and drives backwards down the left side of the road for about 3 long minutes while the other drivers veered to the right honking their horns at the driver. Jinsoo and me were in the back seats—the first to get hit if it would happen. Thank goodness it didn’t and we arrived in one piece.
The hotel is an artist’s delight. Breathtaking sculptures, artwork and designs throughout the hotel. I have never seen anything like it before. On the main floor as guests walk in there are dozens of people ready to assist them. During our stay one guy in particular introduced himself with an abbreviated version of his name as “Joe.” When Jinsoo’s mom came to drop off something that Jinsoo needed Joe would escort mom to our room. He was always there to assist us and answer our questions when we needed something.
This hotel is huge and easy to get lost. It is connected on the lower floors to the Sheraton Hotel next door where the Forum would be held the next day. It is a great place for children to play “hide and seek’ except you may not ever find them again.
When Jinsoo and I walked into our hotel room it was awesome. Nothing was spared in the finest furniture and amenities offered. We immediately noticed that there was no bathroom privacy. The bathtub was out in the open in a clear glass covering. The shower was enclosed separately but the bathroom area with the sink was open. There was no door to close off the area: An interesting architecture design from an architect who didn’t believe in privacy.
We loved our stay at W-Hotel. We were treated like VIPs, thanks to Jinsoo being a part of the World Women’s Forum.
September 12 – The Workshops
This is workshop day on topics such as Global Careers, Leadership, and Time Management. I went to Jinsoo’s workshop: “F.U.N. – Fun, Unique, Nurturing: Achieve Global Success in Business.” Jinsoo introduced her music video, “If Jinsoo can do it, You can do it too!” The ladies went wild clapping during the music. Her message on personal and business success were a welcome hit with the audience.
September 13 – The First Day of the World Women’s Forum
There were more than 14 lectures and break out panel discussions this day. Yes, they were called lectures and even with the excellent content in each presentation it is hard to stay awake and stay focused on the presenter. Most of the topics covered the challenges poor people face in their country and the solutions to fix it. Many good ideas, yet their governments seem to have a deaf ear to using any of them. Many seem to feel that we are moving from a Euro-American to an Asian-American axis. Asia will play a big role in the 21st century. Asia is 56% of the world’s population. We will have more global players and Asian dominance. We need to look at the world differently.
Professor Mahammad YUNUS, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, has worked with the poor for many years. Bangladesh has 50% of the world’s poverty. He worked over the years to get 700,000 housing loans where women hold the title. That is because husbands would divorce their wives and the women would have no home. So Professor Yunus developed this plan where women own title to the property so the men now are hesitant to divorce their wives, as they will have to leave the home.
Statistics That Left Me Speechless.
- 2 billion people cannot spend $1 per day.
- 2.5 billion people cannot spend $2 per day.
- 92% of Africans do not have electricity.
- 70% of the poor are in Africa.
- 60% of women are widows in Iraq.
- 30 million people are seeking jobs in other countries, outside their birth country.
- 2/3 of all illiterate people in the world are women.
- Korea had a per capita income of $86 after the Korean War, whereas today they are a country with a per capita of $20,000.
Iraqi Women: The Most Optimistic Women at the Forum
There were two representatives from Iraq. I met them personally and had lots of questions to ask them.
First their presentations gave us this insight.
In the early ‘20s Iraqi women insisted on leading secular lives, refused veiling and demanded equal rights in civil law, education, and economy. In the ‘60s when Al Ba’Ath party took over they attempted to take back women to pre 1920s era. Women lost the rights they sought to hard to attain in the ‘20s. Following the collapse of the regime in 2003, Iraqi women were once again empowered to bring women leadership in the economy, social justice, politics and development. However, democracy failed them with religious rights. Interpretation for the women rights in community was cancelled for good.
Iraqi women are now being killed under the name of religion; their rights are violated under the interpretations of religion. Women are assigned to positions that have very little power. 46% of civil servants employed in Iraq are women. Yet, here are other sad statistics:
60% widowed women
77% Illiteracy rate among women
54% poverty
43% malnourished children
60% unemployment
70% Iraqis go without adequate water.
There are opportunities in Iraq to improve the lives of women and families if the government will focus on the future of Iraq—not just the war. There is plenty of room for development and economic empowerment for women. They could introduce small factory schemes in rural areas. Micro-credit financing for small industries. With lack of electricity, water, access to knowledge and grim future besides the killing and violence, there are as many young people who rebel against what is called “religious” practices and are turning into secularism.
Widowed women are on the increase. They are the mothers of the orphan generation that could engage in violence and revenge if they are not taken care of and contained within the social systems.
Getting to Know the Iraqi Women
During an informal talk with the Iraqi dignitaries I was impressed with their optimism. They believe there will be a better world for Iraq. They want to improve the health conditions of the Iraqi people. There are 2,000 cases of Cholera in Iraq. It is a preventable disease. All you need to do is boil water for drinking. The problem is that most of the country has a limited amount of water. Sometimes it works but most of the time it doesn’t. They live in the better part of Baghdad—the so-called safe green-zone. Yet they require 20 bodyguards to go anywhere. Water and electricity are scarce in this area too.
September 14 — Going Home to San Francisco
Friday afternoon I drove to the Incheon Airport in my own private limousine compliments of the Forum group and thanks to Jinsoo Terry recognized as a VIP by the group. My driver drove sensibly and helped me keep my calm. You do not need to give tips in Korea I was told, but Joe from the W-Hotel and my limousine driver both got big tips from me. They deserved it. With mixed emotions I said my goodbyes to Korea: the friendly people, gracious Forum and Hotel hosts, and a deep appreciation to Jinsoo for giving me this opportunity to visit the city with 10 million people.
—
Join Joan October 26-28, 2007 for personal book coaching at the Entrepreneurs’ Writers Retreat. For details: www.BizBookBreakthrough.com
—
No Comments » Permalink