Guestbook

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However, due to the mechanization of equipment, its role is changing into a different form. In that regard, the Army Academy’s mounted unit has sufficient justification for its necessity. In addition to providing equestrian training for cadets, it also carries symbolic significance as a descendant of the nomadic peoples. It will also help strengthen the military’s image as a trusted force through public-oriented external activities. I intend to attend as many events as possible, and I will also work hard to build an image of the military as a reliable force loved by the people.

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On the 22nd, the Seoul Racecourse Trainers Association and the Jockey Association held a signing ceremony for a “Compliance Agreement for Fair Horse Racing” at Cheonmajung in LetsRun Park. Through this agreement, the Seoul Racecourse Trainers Association and the Jockey Association declared their commitment to strengthening mutual communication between trainers and jockeys and to practicing fair horse racing through active self-regulation efforts. At the same time, they decided to work toward creating a trustworthy horse racing culture for customers and the public by signing and implementing an ethics agreement between trainers and jockeys.At this Ethics Convention for the Practice of Fair Horse Racing, the Seoul Trainers Association was represented by Chairman Kim Jeom-o, Director Park Jong-gon, Director Kim Dong-gyun, and Secretary-General Ha Jong-su, while the Jockey Association was represented by Chairman Lee Dong-guk, Vice Chairman Lee Geum-ju, Director Moon Se-young, and Secretary-General Kim Ki-seon.

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I will actively support the many concerns and opinions shared here today so that they can translate into practical and tangible results,” and urged, “Please do not hesitate to provide the Korea Racing Authority with support for the development of Jangheung County’s horse industry.”Meanwhile, the Korea Racing Authority stated that it plans to implement improvement measures including establishing a cooperative medical care system through a registration system for private veterinarians at each hub, providing clinical training for large animal veterinarians to promote emergency horse medical personnel, and expanding the installation of riding horse breeding support centers for horses, in response to difficulties such as the absence of a specialized horse veterinarian in the area of Jangheung County’s horse producers and the inconvenience of breeding support due to the long distance of Jangsu Ranch.

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When I first saw the horse, I didn’t think it would be this big. The reason I wanted to come here was that I applied because they said I could manage horses and see them in person. When I first read the words, the feeling was that it was interesting. At first, I was scared when I first rode a horse, but after riding it about twice, it was fine. Right now I’ve been busy preparing for the General Lee Yong-mun Cup equestrian competition and other things, and I don’t have much time, but if I have the time later, I’d like to try learning horseback riding.

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Since middle school facilities are used for the test, we support horseback riding experience activities as a form of mutual cooperation. We provide support for the experience program ten times during the first semester.Sungshin Women’s University provides 15 weeks of education per semester. It is said to be a popular subject, with a capacity of 20 students but a competition rate of 100 to 1. Every week, Sungshin Women’s University students come to the Korea Military Academy equestrian stadium to conduct training.

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In implementing policies, I hope they adopt policies that consider the responsibilities of a public enterprise, rather than focusing on the immediate issue of incoming funds. If they continue to confront residents and the association’s image worsens, it won’t be good for the staff either, so I hope the Korea Racing Authority will think it through. Would even the top elites, the Korea Racing Authority employees, feel more attached if the company were healthy and upright. Wouldn’t having conflict be something the employees don’t want either.

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Nothing has actually changed since the new chairman of the Korea Racing Authority arrived. There is nothing fundamentally changed, and there is no conversation either. Sometimes the staff came by and just said hello. Since it’s a public enterprise, once a new Minister of Agriculture and Forestry is appointed, the chairman of the Korea Racing Authority will likely change as well, so it probably can’t avoid being affected.Actually, I didn’t know that the Korea Racing Authority held horse racing in our country. When I thought of the Korea Racing Authority,

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I will actively support the many concerns and opinions shared here today so that they can translate into practical and tangible results,” and urged, “Please do not hesitate to provide the Korea Racing Authority with support for the development of Jangheung County’s horse industry.”Meanwhile, the Korea Racing Authority stated that it plans to implement improvement measures including establishing a cooperative medical care system through a registration system for private veterinarians at each hub, providing clinical training for large animal veterinarians to promote emergency horse medical personnel, and expanding the installation of riding horse breeding support centers for horses, in response to difficulties such as the absence of a specialized horse veterinarian in the area of Jangheung County’s horse producers and the inconvenience of breeding support due to the long distance of Jangsu Ranch.

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He was taken down after being accused of defamation by the police, but I was angry that he said that to people like us, whom he had never met before, in a way that was not reasonable.Protecting the living environment and the educational environment is not a matter of ruling or opposition parties, or of progressives and conservatives. There are pastors, priests, and nuns who participate in the exercise with us, as well as the principals and teachers from the Yongsan area, but they are very conservative people.

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Developing the horseback riding population is the most important part. We will promote grassroots equestrian competitions centered on self-governing clubs and local units to foster positive feedback through a quality evaluation system and to encourage participation by holding many youth equestrian competitions. We also plan to include in the second comprehensive plan the expansion of programs for safe horseback riding, such as the riding ability system.Regarding the horse racing industry, there are also parts concerning the construction

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Before the meeting began, KRA Chairman Hyun Myung-kwan said, “Jangheung County is the first local government to sign an MOU with the KRA and hold a meeting to discuss matters related to the development of the horse industry.” He added, “We look forward to hearing valuable suggestions from Jangheung County for fostering the horse industry.”At the meeting, a variety of opinions were discussed regarding the Korea Racing Authority and Jangheung County’s efforts to promote the horse industry.After the meeting, County Governor Kim Seong said, “There are many concerns about the direction of development in the horse industry, which is being promoted as a key project of Jangheung County,” adding, “The Korea Racing Authority’s proposal for the development of Jangheung County’s horse industry was a great help.” He said, “We ask for your continued interest and support for Jangheung County’s horse industry going forward.”

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To this end, both organizations will actively promote self-regulatory activities centered on ethics committee members to strengthen the ethical awareness of their members and workers.This year, Chairman Kim Ki-cheon, who turned 60, celebrated a double milestone. In May, the eldest son got married, followed by the expansion and relocation of the Holsmate Equestrian Club, the birth of five foals, and Gyeonggi Province being designated as the third special zone. Chairman Kim Ki-chun said, “I can only speak,” but everyone who knows understands how great his hidden efforts and contributions were before Gyeonggi Province was designated a special zone.Chairman Kim Ki-chun, who began as an equestrian, now has his interest extended throughout the horse industry.

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Regarding image improvement, the horse industry is providing the public with opportunities to experience horses, and the Korea Racing Authority is consulting with and promoting sound measures to shed the gambling image associated with horse racing.Although it is still being improved, I think its main points are enhancing the quality of life for citizens, expanding the public nature of equestrianism, supporting vulnerable groups, and improving urban residents’ access to equestrian activities. On the other hand,

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Going forward, the 2nd Comprehensive Plan will expand public equestrian facilities and experience riding programs that take into consideration low-income groups and socially vulnerable people. A large public equestrian center will be built near the city center so that socially disadvantaged groups who cannot access the horse industry can use it. We are making every effort to transform it into an affordable and easily accessible facility that anyone in the country can enjoy.Improving promotional awareness is a very important part.

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Some civic groups and members of the opposition committee, who have been persistently demanding the withdrawal of the reopening of the Yongsan off-track betting center, are attempting to continuously tarnish the Korea Racing Authority.On the morning of the 29th, civic groups including People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Committee for the Expulsion of the Yongsan Virtual Horse Racing and Gambling Establishment held a press conference at People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy’s Areumdri Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and announced plans to report to the National Tax Service over suspicions that the Korea Racing Authority is engaging in large-scale, organized tax evasion.

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I will actively support the many concerns and opinions shared here today so that they can translate into practical and tangible results,” and urged, “Please do not hesitate to provide the Korea Racing Authority with support for the development of Jangheung County’s horse industry.”Meanwhile, the Korea Racing Authority stated that it plans to implement improvement measures including establishing a cooperative medical care system through a registration system for private veterinarians at each hub, providing clinical training for large animal veterinarians to promote emergency horse medical personnel, and expanding the installation of riding horse breeding support centers for horses, in response to difficulties such as the absence of a specialized horse veterinarian in the area of Jangheung County’s horse producers and the inconvenience of breeding support due to the long distance of Jangsu Ranch.

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Until now, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism handled the horse industry through equestrian sports, but with the enactment of the Horse Industry Promotion Act in 2011, the promotion and support of the horse industry became the responsibility of our Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. A new system and a new paradigm were created to revitalize the rural economy and improve the quality of life for the people. Although there has also been recent state affairs manipulation, even if there is little direct connection on the ground,

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This year, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs designating one horse industry special zone each in Gyeongsangbuk-do (Gumi, Yeongcheon, Sangju, Gunwi, Uiseong) and Gyeonggi-do (Yongin, Hwaseong, Icheon) as the second and third horse industry special zones, the development of the horse industry in inland regions has officially begun.Jangheung County’s establishment of a close cooperative relationship with the Korea Racing Authority by signing a memorandum of understanding and holding a meeting to promote the horse industry is seen not only as an effort to foster the horse industry, which is emerging as the local government’s top priority, but also as a move with the designation of the next horse industry special zone in mind.

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Since the part of equestrianism as a sport before that has been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Livestock,it must be integrated with the livestock and agriculture sectors,and the horse industry should contribute to the development of agriculture.To achieve that,there must be sufficient coordination not only with the existing Ministry of Agriculture,Food and Rural Affairs but also with other ministries,yet there are some gaps. I think the lack of such coordination causes many problems in implementation and is something that needs to be addressed.

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This year, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs designating one horse industry special zone each in Gyeongsangbuk-do (Gumi, Yeongcheon, Sangju, Gunwi, Uiseong) and Gyeonggi-do (Yongin, Hwaseong, Icheon) as the second and third horse industry special zones, the development of the horse industry in inland regions has officially begun.Jangheung County’s establishment of a close cooperative relationship with the Korea Racing Authority by signing a memorandum of understanding and holding a meeting to promote the horse industry is seen not only as an effort to foster the horse industry, which is emerging as the local government’s top priority, but also as a move with the designation of the next horse industry special zone in mind.

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For now, legal harmony is still needed.Currently, an important aspect of the horse industry is the issue of use and training. There are aspects that can be handled with a riding horse, and the retired racehorses that come out every year—about 1,200 in total—also need to be well trained, but the training system has been lacking until now. In a way, I also think training was difficult, so there were parts where systematic development was not achieved. Retired racehorses that can be trained are actively being trained through the establishment of a systematic training system, and where necessary,

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In response to allegations raised by groups such as People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, the Korea Racing Authority explained through a press release that “the Korea Racing Authority is faithfully paying VAT on entrance and usage fees.”The Korea Racing Authority explained that it has been faithfully paying value-added tax on off-track betting venue entrance fees and on off-track betting venue usage fees charged to horse racing customers, and that the entrance fee for off-track betting venues was established in July 2011 based on Article 5 of the Korea Racing Authority Act, and that before the entrance fee was incurred, a separate usage fee was charged to customers who wished to use the member room (2005) or the designated seating area (2008).

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Although these issues have been sidelined recently due to many pressing matters within the Livestock Bureau, such as drought and avian influenza, I think we should hold another on-site discussion once these problems are resolved.The livestock industry is fundamentally aimed at reliably supplying safe livestock-derived food to the public. In contrast, the horse industry aims to improve the quality of life for the people by properly training and utilizing horses. The laws are different. As a result, this problem itself became a burden.

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On the 22nd, the Seoul Racecourse Trainers Association and the Jockey Association held a signing ceremony for a “Compliance Agreement for Fair Horse Racing” at Cheonmajung in LetsRun Park. Through this agreement, the Seoul Racecourse Trainers Association and the Jockey Association declared their commitment to strengthening mutual communication between trainers and jockeys and to practicing fair horse racing through active self-regulation efforts. At the same time, they decided to work toward creating a trustworthy horse racing culture for customers and the public by signing and implementing an ethics agreement between trainers and jockeys.At this Ethics Convention for the Practice of Fair Horse Racing, the Seoul Trainers Association was represented by Chairman Kim Jeom-o, Director Park Jong-gon, Director Kim Dong-gyun, and Secretary-General Ha Jong-su, while the Jockey Association was represented by Chairman Lee Dong-guk, Vice Chairman Lee Geum-ju, Director Moon Se-young, and Secretary-General Kim Ki-seon.

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Now in his third year in office, he said that although he has so far taken a field-oriented approach, he still feels regret over not being able to resolve many pressing issues, and that he will strive to address them.It has already been three years since I was assigned to the horse industry department. The official name of the department in charge is the "Masa Division," and it handles a wide variety of tasks. First, in addition to establishing and supporting a comprehensive plan for fostering the horse industry,