California, U.S.A. - Coinciding with the enactment of the Korean and United States Free Trade Agreement on March 15, 2012, Wente Vineyards of Livermore Valley, California, has found a way to celebrate the biggest trade accord in almost 20 years. Wente Vineyards Restaurant Executive Chef, Matt Greco, arrives in Seoul on May 4, 2012 and will spend 10 days sharing his culinary expertise with residents of Seoul as Guest Chef at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Seoul.

Central to the Free Trade Agreement signed on March 15, 2012 is a reduction in tariffs that will eliminate about 95% of taxes that are extracted on imports and exports on numerous products, including American wines, shipped to Korea.

“I am very excited to have the 15% tariff immediately removed on American wine exports to Korea,” says Michael Parr, Vice President of International Sales for Wente Vineyards, California’s oldest family owned winery.

The elimination of this tariff puts American wineries in a stronger position to compete with Chilean and European wineries that engaged in similar trade agreements with Korea over the past few years. Koreans are increasingly becoming sophisticated wine consumers and are eager to explore a range of International wines.

Parr states, “American wines are readily accepted in Korea based on agreeable taste profiles, relatively easy labels to decipher and a familiarity with American lifestyles due to the number of Koreans that have traveled or studied in the United States. The new Free Trade Agreement will only increase their thirst for American products (from wine to electronics, machinery and financial services) that will now be available to them at more affordable prices.”

Sharing the culinary talents of Wente Vineyard’s Chef Greco while sipping a fine glass of California wine with the citizens of Seoul seems like an appropriate way to launch this monumental trade agreement and to celebrate the two countries long stand alliance. Parr exclaims, “Do I see a bright future for our wine business in Korea? You bet!”

About the Trade Accord

U.S. wine exports to Korea, 90% from California, were more than 500,000 cases valued over$11 million in revenues to wineries in 2011. Wine exports are anticipated to grow at least 25% over the next few years.Korea is now the only Asian country to have implemented free trade agreements with the world’s two largest markets (U.S and U.E.).

California long had been the second biggest exporter of wine to Korea, behind France. However, Chile surpassed the Golden State in 2005 after the South American nation signed a trade agreement with Korea that sharply lowered import duties. The European Union signed its own treaty with Korea, which became effective on July 1, boosting the likelihood of increased wine sales.

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In March, North Korea announced that it was ready to launch an observation satellite into space between April 12 and 16, when the country celebrates the 100^th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il Sung. Representatives from the U.S., Japan, South Korea and even China, which is said to be in a perfect diplomatic relationship with Pyongyang, tried to restrain these plans.

The main reason they pointed out was the fact that the actions of the North Korean officials are in dissent with U.N. resolutions. Besides, the country formally declared last year that it would not take part in nuclear activities which would put people in danger.

Despite all warning, North Koreans continue to insist that their project is for scientific purposes, whose major task is to improve the economic situation of the country.  The general manager of the launch facility, Jang Myong Jin, said: “Our country has the right and also the obligation to develop satellites and launching vehicles. No matter what others say, we are doing this for peaceful purposes.” However, the world still wonders whether these are the only intentions of Pyongyang.

The misgivings of Japan and South Korea grew into the taking of precursory defensive measures. They both made known that they would start actions against the rocket if necessary.  In reply to these operations in the Asian countries, North Korea assured that the trajectory of the satellite would be southwards, and that it would not put its neighbor in danger. Apart from this, Pyongyang didn’t hide its intention to “punish” every country which tries to thwart its plans.

The plans are meant to show to the world that despite the hardships around the tragic death of their leader, Kim Jong Il, North Koreans are still a strong nation. The country is ready to turn a new page and start writing the new history of their country under the patronage of Kim Jong Un. “North Korea needs to show some tangible achievements to its people to solidify Kim Jong Un’s leadership,”  declared Koh Yu Hwan, a professor at Seoul’s Donnguk Univerity.

The preparations around the launch of the satellite worked according to plan. The first two satellites, built on the launch pad, were experimental, but according to the engineers working on the project, the third one will be brought into use as soon as possible.

On April 8, journalists were officially allowed to see the rocket for the first time, which turned to be the apple of discord between the Asian country and the world leaders. The media representatives, who gathered in Tongchang-ri, North Korea, had the opportunity to examine from close up the Unha-3 rocket, which is said to fly off into space later this month. Meanwhile, Washington promised to provide Pyongyang with provisions if necessary, on the condition that it will keep nuclear activities idle.

The satellite itself has to send back images, which will be used for projects involving the exploration of the natural resources of the Asian country, as well as for weather forecasting. And yet, there are still fears that this is the next North Korean plan directed against its southern neighbor and the U.S.

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With the recent attacks being leveled on teachers around the United States, it may be of interest to compare how American teachers stack up against teachers in other countries.  If the U.S. wants to remain a superpower, it seems essential that the education system is comparable to other countries.  The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (O.E.C.D.) report from 2009 may be the best data to compare teachers globally.

American teachers work longer hours than those in other countries.  Educators in the United States spend on average 1,080 hours teaching each year. Across the O.E.C.D., the average is 794 hours on primary education, 709 hours on lower secondary education, and 653 hours on upper secondary education general programs.

It is difficult to compare salaries globally.  Cost of living is widely different between regions of countries much less between continents.  Not to mention, higher education costs much less in many other countries so educators are not faced with the crippling debt that many in America deal with.  But, generally the salaries of teachers in America appear to be above the global average.  The average public primary-school teacher who has worked 15 years and has received the minimum amount of training, for example, earns $43,633, compared to the O.E.C.D. average of $39,007.  However, a more accurate comparison can be seen if you compare teachers’ salaries to the amount of wealth that a country has.  In that regard, America is lagging behind.  In the United States, a teacher with 15 years of experience makes a salary that is 96 percent of the country’s gross domestic product per capita. Across the O.E.C.D., a teacher of equivalent experience makes 117 percent of G.D.P. per capita. At the high end of the scale, in Korea, the average teacher at this level makes a full 221 percent of the country’s G.D.P. per capita.  This is perhaps the most startling statistic and the meaning behind it cannot be ignored.  America does not put a priority on educating the youth.

The Program for International Student Assessment, a group that compares schools around the world, has a message for America– Train teachers better and pay them more.  Top-scoring countries like Korea, Singapore and Finland recruit only high-performing college graduates for teaching positions, mentor them and take steps to raise respect for the profession, said Andreas Schleicher, who oversees PISA.  “Teaching in the U.S. is unfortunately no longer a high-status occupation,” Schleicher wrote in a PISA report.  “Despite the characterization of some that teaching is an easy job, with short hours and summers off, the fact is that successful, dedicated teachers in the U.S. work long hours for little pay and, in many cases, insufficient support from their leadership.”

On the most recent PISA reports, Finland and Singapore were tops in science, Korea and Finland in reading and Singapore and Korea in math. American students are ranked 15th in reading, 19th in science and 27th in math.   Schleicher also said that America may spend a lot on education; they just aren’t spending it on the necessary areas.   He noted that Americans spend much more in other areas, such as busing and sports facilities.  “You can spend a lot of money on education, but if you don’t spend it wisely, on improving the quality of instruction, you won’t get higher student outcomes,” Schleicher told The New York Times.

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