Seoul Square Media Canvas, a large LED screen installed on the exterior of the Seoul Square building across from the station, screens “Bottari Truck — Migrateurs” (2007) by Kim Soo-ja. Kim is known for her video series following a truck carrying “bottari,” or tied bundles, and the work spans several European countries.

“‘Bottari Truck’ was selected to be projected as a part of ‘Countdown,’ because her artwork reflected the characteristics of Seoul Station where people depart and arrive and where travelers coexist with homeless people,” an official of Seoul Square Media Center said.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 11, 2012. Admission to Culture Station Seoul 284 is free through September and costs 2,000 won from October. The exhibition is closed Mondays. For more information, visit countdown2011.org.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

One dayfirms that were born out of the heavy and chemicals industrialization drive became centers of technological learning. Technology diffused through subsidiaries and subcontractors, which were developed at first with the prodding of the government and were not so vibrant. However, later as industries developed, subcontracting relations were forged out of the firm’s own necessity of having to procure quality components, especially in industries such as automobiles. Korea at first relied heavily on foreign technology. The crisis created by the large technological gap pressured firms to expedite their learning, and the government acted to secure favorable bargaining positions for the Korean firms.

Moving up the technological ladder

From the Korean experience, we can see that the process of technological learning is not automatic, but requires conscious efforts and investment. The technological