Spotlight
Science of Seoul
By Suwitcha Chaiyong, Photos courtesy of Kanisorn Aupipak and Wachirawit Swangchot
Thai students explore high-tech Korea
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Here in the Land of Smiles, South Korea has a reputation for producing pop superstars and top TV dramas, but it�s also a leading country in science and technology.
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| Seoul Science Museum |
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| Gyeryongsan Natural History Museum |
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| LG Science Hall |
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| Infrared monitor |
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| Cheonggyechoen canal |
Thai students Kanisorn Aupipak (Oh), 14, and Wachirawit Swangchot (Pump), 17, recently joined a group science trip to South Korea, arranged by Nanmee Books. Oh and Pump were very impressed by the science scene in Seoul. They were also surprised at the level of fascination that Koreans seem to have with museums.
�I was surprised to see lots of young kids at the LG Science Hall because I thought they wouldn�t understand a lot of the things there,� Oh said. �Maybe the teachers brought them to develop their thought and skills.�
Oh and Pump noticed that Seoul�s museums are also hip hangouts for teens.
�Thai teens tend to hang out at malls, but many Korean students spend their time in museums,� Pump said. �On weekdays, they were crowded with kids, just like Siam Square.�
HI TECH HALL
During their four days in Seoul, Oh and Pump visited the Sumsung Children�s Museum, the National Museum and the Seoul Museum of History. They even had a chance to check out Gyeryongsan Natural History Museum in Daejeon, a city near Seoul.
Oh and Pump both agreed that the LG Science Hall was the most intriguing of all.
�It demonstrated a lot of research about alternative energy,� Pump said. �Korean scientists are finding ways to replace petrol by using wind, sunlight and water to create new energy sources.�
One of the fun things they saw at the LG Science Hall was a robot that drew Oh�s portrait.
�The drawing looked just like me!� she said.
FUN SCIENCE
At the National Museum, Oh had an exciting experience in an infrared radiation room.
�We sat in a room with a capacity of 20 people, and infrared radiation was used to measure our body temperatures,� she said. �A monitor showed which people had the highest temperatures.�
For Pump, one of the highlights was the Gyeryongsan Natural History Museum.
�It�s huge, and it covers physics, chemistry and biology,� he said. �There�s lots of experiments where you can join in, and we also saw a 3-D science movie.�
SEEING THE SIGHTS
Even with so many museums to visit, Pump and Oh managed to see some sights around Seoul. They visited the Sa Dong cultural market and the National Folk Museum, where Oh had fun learning all about other aspects of Korean life.
�It was interesting to learn about Korean culture and history,� she said.
Another fascinating attraction was the Cheonggyecheon canal.
�In the past, the canal was covered with a highway, and the water was filthy,� Pump said. �The highway was taken off, and the water and environment were fixed up until it became a leisure spot for the locals. It was amazing.�
LASTING IMPRESSIONS
• Did you know • |
 Daejeon is known as
the Silicon Valley of Korea. |
By the end of their trip, Oh and Pump were impressed by the scientific innovations in South Korea.
�We found that South Korea has very advanced technology and that young people there are encouraged to learn about science,� Oh said. �It was interesting to explore a high-tech country.�
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reputation
(n): the
opinion that people have about what something is like, based on what has happened
in the past IDIOM see the sights: to visit local tourist attractions |
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