It was long time since I wrote on ths blog. It has been hectic days because of the pressing requirement from my home, company, and school. How to manage to answer to these things is the key issue these days. Sometimes I lost my control, and sometimes I'd like to give up somehow.

Will SEE.

This gathering at the 3 alley's in Itaewon in June 2006 was the sign of the successful 2006 outturn of Seoul office.

LRT prospects in private sector of Korea

- Sungnam LRT (7.7km with 13 stations, 285billion won): under pre-feasibility stage

Phase 3 PPP Toll Road Projects which will be announced in early 2007

1) Seoul-Moonsan: 44km with 859billion won(GS consortium incl. Daewoo, Doosan)
2) Seoul-Dongdoochun: 45km with 1.1trillion won (Daewoo consortium incl. GS, Daelim)
3) Hwado-Yangpyung: 400billion won (Hyundai development consortium incl. Koryo development)

Major PPP projects which are approved by the Government.

- Gangnam circulation expressway: 1.2trillion won
- 3rd Kyungin expressway: 616Billion won
- Busan-Ulsan highway: 1.4trillion won
- Seoul metro line 9: 1.2trillion won
- Uijungbu LRT: 584Billion won
- Bukhang bridge: 562billion won

Doosan heavy industry is a world leading company in the desalination plant. They recently acquired Mitsui Babcok of UK to secure the plant boiler technology and through this acquisition, Doosan has original technologies in generating plant boiler, three desalination technologies, crank shaft of ship engine, and work roll in steel mill.

According to the high-profile staff of their Changwon factory says that they will invest in R&D about 313billion won by 2010.

Doosan is buidling two desalination plants in Lybia, and contacting Algerian government for another prospect.

By 2020, 30 berths will be constructed at Songdo New City in Incheon. The Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries says that the access road and revetments tenders will be announced by next June 2007. For bulding berths, private investments will be required in amount of 2.6 trillion won, and total project capital will be 4.3trillion won. Phase 1 will be 13 container berths, 4 cargo berths at southern coastal area south of the existing LNG storages.

Recently, Kumho construction announced that they will be increasing their overseas project's share in their portfolio more than 10%. Mr.Lee Yun-Ku, CEO of Kumho construction says to the media that they will be focusing more on the overseas airport development using domestic airport related track records as a springboard of their ambition.

Kumho is preparing for New Airport bid in Dubai near Jabel Ali Free Trade Zone, and investigating their chances in Dubai and Abudhabi.

New airport in Jebel Ali is expected to be total capital, $ 10billion and Abudhabi airport will be more than $5billion. Kumho is talking with local contractors to make an consortium according to Mr.Lee.

He makes it clear that Daewoo E&C will be mananged independently as before. Kumho acquired Daewoo E&C recently.

Korea Engineering Association will prepare the revised evaluation criteria for selecting engineering firm who designs for the government projects. 5-10% of total capital has been spent for the engineering (design+supervision), but the whole life cost is more important for the structure, the engineering firms capability is viewed very important factor for successful projects.

The 1st PFI(Private Finance Initiative) road project will be launched in Japan next year. Recently, the 1st PFI(Private Finance Initiative) road project has been reviewed by Japanese Ministry of Construction(JMC). This road section is the new 9km extension of the existing Osaka ring road(L=60km). Japanese PFI association which is composed of 35 member companies in different private sector will submit their idea on how to proceed with this 1st toll road to JMC by Feb. 2007. According to the association, this 9km extension section will be 1km elevated, 3km excavated road and 5km shield tunnel (underground), and expects 40,000 vehicle traffic per day, and expected project capital is 320 billion yen. This will be the 1st toll road in Japan, and JMC will be investigating other toll roads with the association soon.

(source: Daily Construction News of Japan)

I had a dinner with my collegues in Halcrow. Cheil Kabli restaurant locates near the Plaza hotel, and we used to go this place for having Korean BBQ. The best menu is a sourced sirloin on charcoal...

9 people ate 16 portions (one portion is designed for one person), so over budget!.

After the long screeing processes, I've become the one of 500 people who passed the 1st competition to be the 1st Korean astronaut.

I've got the basic physical test last Sunday in Chungjoo city where Korean Astro-medical centre locates. It is quite mind-breaking experience due to its unique and once in a lifetime event. About 500 people gathered in this small town voluntarily to participate this longtime-taken event.

Amongt these 500, only two will be selected to be sent to Russia Gagarin space centre located in Kazhastan by early next year, and only one of two will go to the space on April 2008.

Why do I apply?. It seems fun and also thrilling to be the first Korean to see the earth from the outer space. Ha Ha Ha.

My second son starts to walk after 14months!. This photo was taken on his 1st birthday on 29 July this year.

Being a father is always challenging in work life balance issue. I'm trying to think in positive way about the happenings in my house, but not always successful!!!

- Succeed at home first
- Seek and merit divine help
- Never compromise with honesty
- Remember the people involved
- Hear both sides before judging
- Obtain counsel of others
- Defend those who are absent
- Be sincere yet decisive
- Develop one new proficiency a year
- Plan tomorrow’s work today
- Hustle while you wait
- Maintain a positive attitude
- Keep a sense of humor
- Be orderly in person and in work
- Do not fear mistakes- fear only the absence of creative, constructive, and corrective responses to those mistakes
- Facilitate the success of subordinates
- Listen twice as much as you speak
- Concentrate all abilities and efforts on the task at hand, not worrying about the next job or promotion

The Alchemist

"When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it"