A. INTRODUCTION Mountainous Terrain World School International Forum 2017 South Korea South Korea s terrain is highly mountainous. According to research conducted by the South Korean government in 2007, there are 4,440 major mountains within South Korea. Due to the absurdly large number of mountains that preside upon the surface of the tiny peninsula, plains are extremely rare, making the constructions of large dams and farmlands incredibly difficult. At the present, out of the 12276200ha of the South Korean territory, 1644000 ha currently consists of farmland. Precipitation South Korea receives an average of 1274 mm of rainfall annually. (International standards state that less than 1700mm is considered as a shortage of water) Of the 1274 mm of rainfall, more than 50~60% falls during the summer when humid air from the Pacific reaches the Peninsula. This often leads to overflowing during the summer, and droughts in the spring and autumn. Sources of Water Four major rivers exist in the South Korean mainland. These are the Han River( 한강 ), the Gold River( 금강 ), the Nak Dong River( 낙동강 ), and the Yeong San River( 영산강 ). These four rivers supply most of the water for the general populace, and its industrial and agricultural needs. There are currently 18000 dams, both large and small, in place to maximize yields.
Changes in Society South Korea is currently experiencing a huge growth of oneperson households. 12.5% of all young South Koreans (aged 15~29) are currently unemployed. This uncertainty of financial stability and employment has led to the creation of one most competitive working and studying environments the world has ever seen. As the financial crisis continues, one-person households have become very common, now consisting of more than 11% of the entire population, according to a report made by the government in 2016. In addition, South Koreans are currently struggling to manage their body weight. B. Current Food Traditional Korean Cuisine Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancient agricultural and nomadic traditions in the Korean peninsula and southern Manchuria, Korean cuisine has evolved through a complex interaction of the natural environment and different cultural trends. Korean cuisine is largely based on rice, vegetables, and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes ( 반찬 ; banchan) that accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice. Kimchi is almost always served at every meal, and thin soup is often served with Korean food. Thanks to the diversity of side dishes and the rice, Korean cuisine is wellrounded both in taste and nutrition, and includes large amounts of dietary fiber. However, despite how health it is and how well-rounded it is, Korean cuisine also takes a very long time to prepare, a luxury that some people cannot afford in Korea s busy society. Issues Concerning Current Food While most household meals remain traditional, and thus, nutritionally well rounded, such meals are becoming much fewer in the daily lives of the average South Korean student or employee, who often find themselves hard-pressed for time, making a traditional Korean meal arduous and inefficient. Instead, fast food and luncheons are rapidly gaining popularity while venues that specialize in traditional Korean dishes remain unchanging. For example, the sale of luncheons sold at convenience stores has
skyrocketed over a course of a few years, as the market value jumped from a meager 17 million $ to a remarkable 442 million $ since 2013, and sales increasing by more than 50% every year. However, these luncheons are often heavy in sodium and preservatives, and are not as nutritious as traditional dishes, thus disrupting health and nutritional values. C. Future Food MRE The Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MR) is a self-contained, individual field ration in lightweight packaging used mainly by the military for field conditions. MREs have also been used in relief efforts in natural disasters and such. MREs usually contain a main course, side dish, utensils, bread, dessert, and a flameless ration heater. MREs are currently being used as emergency food and standard meals. While MREs currently used by the military is high in calories and sodium, this can be easily changed for civilian use. MREs provide several distinct advantages. They are easy to buy, carry around, cook, and clean up. As everything needed for the meal is included in the packet, and can be easily cooked with a few easy steps. While MREs should be kept cold, they do not have to be refrigerated, and can often go for weeks before spoiling. MREs also offer a wide variety of dishes, and are nutritionally balanced. The following is a comparison between the modern meal and the meal of the future(mre) in accordance to the survey conducted. Modern Food history&tr adition time value aesthetics 10 5 0 health monetary value future food modern food As can be clearly seen, while aesthetics, and history & tradition were lacking, the MRE made up for this loss through monetary and time value.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEYED GROUP Number of those surveyed: 24 Age dispersion of survey group: 17years old or higher Gender group represented: 91% Male 9% Female (survey open to public) Family structure: No single parent family. Out of two parent families 36% have 1 income earners and 64% have 2 income earners. Average number of children in household: 21% 1 child, 35% 2 children, 44% more than 2 children Number of income earners: 48% one member, 48% 2 members, 4% more than two members Average number of meals per day: 22% twice a day, 78% three times a day Employment Status: 57% student, 30% employed, 4% employer, 9% self employed Where food comes from: 87% supermarket, 35% Fresh food market, 9% own garden Average number of meals eaten out as a family: per week: 1.43 Frequency of taking snacks: 44% once, 44% twice, 4% three, 9% four or more Where are the ingredients of most of your family meals obtained: 76% supermarket, 8% fresh market, 2% one s garden, 14% other Help in the kitchen: 52% Yes, 48% No Whether there is an ingredient that participants dislike: 70% none, 30% more than one
The Futures of Food & Water Perspectives Most participants placed priority on the article of Maintaining health and nutrition values, for it was answered as the most important. Many considered Safe and affordable drinking water and Water for the environment as our global water need. Meal Satisfaction-Future, Modern As for MRE (Meals Ready to Eat), most of the participants of the survey agreed that the monetary and time value of it was superb. However, most participants of the survey showed doubts on it being an ideal future meal for humanity. On the other hand, as these graphs show, many people have rated their typical modern meal in the day, answering Very Satisfied multiple times to many aspects of the meal.
Thoughts on your eating environment Place of meal consumption: 70% home, 65% school, 22% etc. Satisfaction at mealtime: more than 83% answered higher than Neutral Members of meal: 17% alone, 4% full family, 70% partial family, 70% friends Satisfaction on members who eat meals together: 78% answered Satisfied and higher Who prepares and cooks the meal: 87% mother, 22% father, 17% self, 9% etc. Satisfaction on the person who prepares and cooks meal: 70% answered Satisfied and higher Who purchases/grows ingredients for food: 78% mother, 17% father, 4% self, 17% etc. Satisfaction on the person who purchases/grows ingredients for food: 87% answered Satisfied and higher
Issues Concerning Water Heavy pollution of the four rivers has occurred over recent years. In 2008, the South Korean government set in motion Four Rivers Investment, a 19 billion dollar project meant to create additional water storage, build canals, and clean up the rivers, and the government declared that it would be a Green New Deal. The plan backfired completely, not only failing to meet the plan s original quota of canals and water storage, but also bringing major pollution to all four rivers, posing a major problems to cities that drew their water supply from the rivers, and decimated entire ecosystems. This has given rise to a new word in the Korean vocabulary: Algae Latte ( 녹조라떼 ) referring to the algae blooms that continue to occur regularly every year. Arisu Among the rivers of South Korea, the Han River, flowing through Seoul, is used as the source for the tap water of the city called Arisu (Pronounced Ah-ree-soo). As Arisu is supplied to the entire Seoul city, it is very strictly administrated by the water treatment plant. The Seoul Metropolitan Government engages in 24-hour real-time protection and surveillance of the water source to deliver clean and safe tap water'. Regular assessments are made of 41 different indicators at 33 water source points and 135 indicators at the six water intake points. It is being served to more than ten million people living in Seoul and the metropolitan region of South Korea. However, the ratio of people who directly drink this tap water is very low. The percentage of citizens who drink Arisu directly was around 1% in 2005, and 5% in 2015. On the other hand, in other countries that chlorinate their tap water, the rate is 86% in the UK, and 56% in the US, according to a survey done in 2000. The following are the reasons why people disfavor Arisu. 1 st (43.9%) 2 nd (26.3%) 3 rd (12.2%) Vague Anxiety Smells of Chloride Rust