Quotations of the day

"In the past, North Korean films stirred interest as they were assumed to deal with political issues, but now they are recognized as movies only." (Remark made by Professor Cho Hee Moon of Sangmyung University after the North Korean film `Bulgasair` flopped badly)

"I believe that true renewal and true happiness do not come by forgetting one`s mistakes or wounds, but by accepting them as valuable assets and reflecting on them." (Statement made by novelist Yoon Heung-Gil)

"The IOC is a mammoth international sports company." (U.S. entrepreneur Peter Weveroth on his belief that the Olympics bring the IOC huge profits)

"Many proposals not to the taste of Koreans are being made." (A U.S. official commenting that the U.S. is willing to amend the SOFA at the demand of the Korean people, but negotiations are negotiations)

"Contrary to former Russian president Boris Yeltsin, who participated in meetings while drunk, Putin was quite impressive, particularly his meticulous strategy-making and persuasive manner when he led debates."(A member of an international political science professors` group explaining why Russian president Putin got the highest marks among the G8 participants.)

"If the pre-appropriation of budgets becomes prevalent, the National Assembly will be reduced to a rubber-stamp entity." (Rep. Kwon Chul-Hyeon, the GNP spokesman, criticizing the pre-appropriation of additional budgets by certain ministries)