For Immediate Release
Denver, Mar 20, 2013 — Author Don Southerton announces the release of his latest historical novel set in the early years of the twentieth century in what is now North Korea. The work is titled A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier, Book Three 1900–1907. The book weaves key historic events of the era with a fictional account of Yankee trader Josh Gillet.
Southerton notes, “Linking fact and fiction, A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: the Northern Frontier follows Connecticut Yankee Josh Gillet’s adventures in Korea during the early 1900s when American concessionaires and influence were making huge new inroads in Korea. ”
In addition the author points out, “American missionaries and traders formed a core cadre among the foreigners who ventured to what the West called the Hermit Kingdom. The Korean monarch Kojong, looking to thwart ever-growing Japanese imperialism, pursued a strategy of granting trade concessions, including lucrative mining rights, to westerners. By the early 1900s, the Northern Frontier mines were among the richest in Asia. It is here the main character Josh settles and becomes a productive member of the mining community. Meanwhile, growing tensions between Russia and Japan move the region and Korea ever closer to war.
A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier will appeal to those interested in better understanding Korea and the role westerners played in the opening of the region to the commerce and modernization.
About the Author
Don Southerton has held a life-long interest in Korea and the rich culture of the country. He has authored numerous publications with topics centering on the Korean auto industry, new urbanism, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures. Southerton is often called upon by the media (the BBC World Service, Bloomberg TV, Korea Times, Yonhap, Wall Street Journal, tbs eFM and Forbes) to comment on modern Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations. His firm Bridging Culture Worldwide provides strategy, consulting and training to Korea-based global business.
This is the author’s third historical novel. The Northern Frontier is the final installment of the A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm trilogy. The series blends fact with ample amounts of imagination.
A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier will be available through iBooks, Kindle, Nook, and Google.
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US Korea Connect–A Hidden Benefit of KORUS FTA
Sunday, May 5th, 2013by Don Southerton April 30, 2013
I have long followed and supported both successful market entry of Korean business into the US and American firms to Korea. This mutual success has centered on product, retail and quick service restaurants, with limited opportunities in the service sectors. The KORUS FTA will make a huge change in this exchange. In the area of services, I see KORUS FTA as a game changer.
A few weeks ago, United States Secretary of State John Kerry visited Korea and spoke about the importance of trade between our two nations. This month, President Park will visit the White House to reaffirm our countries’ mutual commitment and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-Korea strategic alliance. Since its implementation last year, the KORUS FTA has given that alliance a new dynamic. One area of the agreement that should receive more attention is trade in services.
At its core, trade in services is trade in ideas. Whether legal, financial, technical, or in the tourism industry, the services exchanged between the U.S. and Korea expand mutual access to highly skilled talent. That talent is vital in generating the ideas that will define our economies tomorrow. In fact, today’s leaders in the U.S. service industries are using the KORUS FTA to recruit and nurture that talent.
Unlike the banking and insurance sectors, non-Korean legal and accounting firms faced entry barriers prior to the KORUS FTA. Today, American law firms like Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton are able to open offices in Korea under the KORUS agreement. Law firm Ropes and Gray, Another U.S. Korea Connect success story, sees their new ability to open physical locations in Korea as a way to show their dedication to Korean clients.
Outside the obvious benefits to service related firms, under the KORUS FTA, U.S. businesses are generating and exchanging ideas more freely. But the best is yet to come. American companies have expressed the need to hire additional Korean professionals to help them navigate the Korean marketplace. Professional visa reforms under consideration by the U.S. Congress will fulfill that still unmet need, allowing companies to take greater advantage of the KORUS FTA.
As the pace of business quickens, service providers need a regulatory framework that provides them maximum flexibility. A fluid business mechanism that promotes and enhances innovative ideas is essential for prosperity in both countries. That’s precisely what the KORUS FTA does for the service industry.
About Don Southerton
Don Southerton has held a life-long interest in Korea and the rich culture of the country. He has authored numerous publications with topics centering on the Korean auto industry, new urbanism, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures. Southerton is often called upon by the media (the BBC World Service, CNN Fortune, Bloomberg TV, Korea Herald, Korea Times, Yonhap, Wall Street Journal, Forbes) to comment on modern Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations. His firm Bridging Culture Worldwide provides strategy, consulting and training to Korea-based global business.
Link to Article
http://www.uskoreaconnect.org/blog/2013/04/trade-in-ideas-a-hidden-benefit-of-korus-fta/
Tags: Don Southerton, Korea consulting, Korea market entry, KORUS FTA, US Korea Connect
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