▲ JDC Junior Journalists pose at the Jeju Free International City Development Center. Photo by JDC Junior Journalist program

[This article was written by a “ JDC junior journalist” and is published as an NIE (newspaper in education) resource for English education in schools.]

On a beautiful sunny day in May, there was a 1)press conference with the chairman of Jeju Free International City Development Center, Kim Han-wook. He said this while 2)promoting his corporation and its development projects:

“My main goal is to make Jeju citizens healthy. Also, we must work to earn money to A)maintain Jeju’s 3)natural resources and to keep the environment clean for our 4)descendants.”

Kim was then asked to explain the meaning of “free internation city” and he said that it means “B)freedom of movement for people, goods, and capital.” This would attract tourists and C)boost the national economy. He also 5)stressed that he wants to maintain Jeju’s environment.

The chairman discussed the benefits of being a free international city, as well as his future projects. For example, he explained how all graduates from NLCS Jeju, one of the international schools at Jeju Global Education Village, have been accepted at the world’s top 40 universities. He believes this is also part of promoting Jeju and 6)improving conditions for the island’s citizens.

“If Jeju is a free international city, D)it will contribute to the economy and make Jeju and Korea more famous.”

Kim also talked about the JDC Junior Journalist program, organized by The Jeju Weekly, and how this summer there will be an English camp open to all.

“We will get approximately 2 billion won from the Korean government and we will pick 20 students for this summer vacation and the camp will go on for three weeks. There will be lots of students who are smart, and who have lots of money. But even if they don't have lots of money, I will pay for them.”

JDC is currently working on many projects such as the Jeju Myths and History Theme Park, Jeju Health Care Town and the recent opening of Jeju Aerospace Museum, in addition to future plans for new 7)tourist attractions similar to Seoul’s Lotte World.

Kim’s vision and the JDC’s projects show how E)the center is 8)striving to make Jeju a top free international city.

* Vocabulary 단어
1) press conference 기자회견
2) promoting 홍보하는
3) natural resources 자연자원
4) descendants 후º’들
5) stressed 강조했다
6) improving conditions 상황을개선하는
7) tourist attractions 관광객을끄는, 흥미거리들
8) striving 분투하는

* Expressions 표현
A) maintain Jeju’s natural resources : 제주의자연자원을지키다
B) freedom of movement for people, goods, and capital : 자본과상품,사람들의이동자유
C) boost the national economy : 국가경제를신장시키다.
D) it will contribute to the economy : 경제에기여«“것이다.
E) the center is striving to : 이회사는 ~에매진하고있다.

* Discussion points 토론주제
1. What does free international city mean to you?
국제자유도시는당신에∞‘무엇을의미하는가?
2. What positive and negative effects do large-scale infrastructure projects have on Jeju Island?

거대인프라사업은제주도에어떤형태의긍정적이고부정적인영향을미치는가?
3. If you were the head of JDC, what new project would you design and why?

당신이 JDC의수장이라면어떤형태의새로운프로젝트를설계하고싶으며왜그러한가?