OFFICIAL SPONSORS
Sports Trainer |
Email: cardiotrek@gmail.com Hours: Tues-Thurs 10-5:30, Sat-Sun 10-3:30 |
|
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Korea spends 10 billion won on bikes
ENVIRONMENT/POLITICS - South Korea wants to become the leading bike maker in the next five years. Its all part of Korean President Lee Myung-bak's green growth policy, and he is determined to turn South Korea into a leading manufacturer of green technology.
To do so Korea's Ministry of Knowledge & Economy said yesterday that it will be establishing a high-tech bicycle research and development network in Daedeok, South Chungcheong, and will be spending 10 billion won ($7.83 million USD) building manufacturing complexes exclusively for bicycle parts and materials in Suncheon, South Jeolla, and Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang.
President Lee Myung-bak also participated in Korea’s first bicycle festival in Changwon, saying he was confident that Korea would become one of the world’s bicycle leaders in the next five years.
"Korea was a latecomer in automobile manufacturing [too], but after 20 years Korea has become one of the world’s top five [auto] manufacturing countries," Lee said. "Korea may be depending mostly on imported bicycles [right now], but in less than five years Korea will likely be one of the three major bicycle countries in the world."
The Daedeok research and development network will use existing centers including the state-owned Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute to develop bike-related technologies such as satellite navigation systems. The complexes in Suncheon and Yeongcheon will specialize in new materials and parts to make bicycles lighter, yet stronger. The Korean government says it is also considering expanding a subsidy for commuting to work via bicycle to promote their use for transport.
The city of Changwon currently gives 30,000 won per month (about $27 CDN) to workers who commute to work on bicycles for more than 15 days. In theory users could use that money to buy themselves a Pocari Sweat (a drink popular in Korea) or a Powerade every day on the way to work.
The government also plans to increase the number of bicycles available for rent to the public from the current 15,000 to 65,000 by 2011.
The bicycle industry globally is expanding rapidly. According to Global Industry Analysis the market last year was $54.9 billion, and is likely to expand to $61 billion by 2010. In Korea the local industry has fallen behind imported bicycles. Although Korea manufactured 1.5 million bicycles in 1990, in 2007 it only made 20,000 because it is getting a lot of overseas competition.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I lived in South Korea for a year and 3 months, and while there I bought a bicycle (bartered the guy down to 50,000 won and got him to throw in a lock too). I discovered the country was very bicycle friendly, so I see this as a positive move on part of the Korean government.
One of my favourite things to do was to go cycling beside the river in Jeonju, which allowed me to visit one of the Buddhist temples on the far side of the city regularly. Korean rivers often have walking/cycling paths built beside them, along with lots of reeds and flower gardens. I would definitely go back again and tour the country on a bicycle given the opportunity.
To do so Korea's Ministry of Knowledge & Economy said yesterday that it will be establishing a high-tech bicycle research and development network in Daedeok, South Chungcheong, and will be spending 10 billion won ($7.83 million USD) building manufacturing complexes exclusively for bicycle parts and materials in Suncheon, South Jeolla, and Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang.
President Lee Myung-bak also participated in Korea’s first bicycle festival in Changwon, saying he was confident that Korea would become one of the world’s bicycle leaders in the next five years.
"Korea was a latecomer in automobile manufacturing [too], but after 20 years Korea has become one of the world’s top five [auto] manufacturing countries," Lee said. "Korea may be depending mostly on imported bicycles [right now], but in less than five years Korea will likely be one of the three major bicycle countries in the world."
The Daedeok research and development network will use existing centers including the state-owned Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute to develop bike-related technologies such as satellite navigation systems. The complexes in Suncheon and Yeongcheon will specialize in new materials and parts to make bicycles lighter, yet stronger. The Korean government says it is also considering expanding a subsidy for commuting to work via bicycle to promote their use for transport.
The city of Changwon currently gives 30,000 won per month (about $27 CDN) to workers who commute to work on bicycles for more than 15 days. In theory users could use that money to buy themselves a Pocari Sweat (a drink popular in Korea) or a Powerade every day on the way to work.
The government also plans to increase the number of bicycles available for rent to the public from the current 15,000 to 65,000 by 2011.
The bicycle industry globally is expanding rapidly. According to Global Industry Analysis the market last year was $54.9 billion, and is likely to expand to $61 billion by 2010. In Korea the local industry has fallen behind imported bicycles. Although Korea manufactured 1.5 million bicycles in 1990, in 2007 it only made 20,000 because it is getting a lot of overseas competition.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I lived in South Korea for a year and 3 months, and while there I bought a bicycle (bartered the guy down to 50,000 won and got him to throw in a lock too). I discovered the country was very bicycle friendly, so I see this as a positive move on part of the Korean government.
One of my favourite things to do was to go cycling beside the river in Jeonju, which allowed me to visit one of the Buddhist temples on the far side of the city regularly. Korean rivers often have walking/cycling paths built beside them, along with lots of reeds and flower gardens. I would definitely go back again and tour the country on a bicycle given the opportunity.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
NOTE
Spam comments will not be approved. If you want to advertise your product or service (or want to sponsor this blog) please send an email.
Popular Posts
-
Need some extra carrying capacity on your bicycle? Maybe enough to take a whole extra person with you? Basically what happened was I was...
-
Bottom Bracket - The assembly between the pedals that allows the Crankset to rotate. Bottom Bracket Shell - Part of the bicycle frame that c...
-
Bike shops are ALWAYS looking to hire more bicycle mechanics, especially in the Spring. The problem however is the Old Catch 22... they on...
-
BRAKE LEVER TERMINOLOGY Adjusting Barrel - A hollow screw used to change the length of the brake inner wire. Barrel Locknut - A nut that hol...
-
By Smokey Dymny from the Quadra Bike School Too many beginners jump on a bike without knowing exactly how to set it up for comfort. The w...
-
The suspension in the front forks of a bike takes a lot of stress. All the weight of the rider and all the bumps and bounces of the terrai...
-
Since bicycles have been around since the 19th century there are many different thread standards that have been used. Standards also vary fr...
-
Ignore the photo on the right... its not really a cycling shirt. ;) What I want to pass on this time is clothing. Specifically cycling shi...
-
Bicycle chains turn black over time as the chain lube collects dirt and grit while riding or locked up outside. This is unfortunate and affe...
-
Is it a bicycle? Or is it a baby stroller? Or is it an expensive death trap for your toddler? The Dutch sure do love their bicycles, so its ...
About the Author
Charles Moffat is equal parts bicycle mechanic, cyclist, painter, sculptor, fantasy writer, poet, website designer and pun maker. For more details see charlesmoffat.com.
CONTACT INFO
Email
JOB POSTINGS
Do you own a bike shop and are looking to hire a bicycle mechanic in North America? Just email me with the job posting details and I will post it for you. (Also, please let me know when the job has been filled so I can update the posting.)
SELL YOUR OLD BIKE
If your bicycle is basically junk and you don't know what to do with it then SELL IT TO ME. I will use it for parts. I will give you a fair price ($20 to $30) for your old clunker just so I can rip it apart for parts.
If you need repairs check out my Bicycle Mechanic Services in Banbury-Don Mills.
I live on Jeju and soon to return home to brave the roads of London.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that Jeju is unbelievable for cycle users. There are huge cycle lanes, which are seperated from the main traffic flow, on almost every major road not in a downtown area. This means cycling around the island or across the island is relatively stress-free.
Of course, I feel this is deserved as when one is in the traffic it is death-defying!!