Data Firmware

Googles AI vs Koreas top Baduk player schedule and livestream link

Real quick here, a while ago I mentioned the baduk battle between Googles A.I. computer "AlphaGo" and expert player Lee Sedol. I live-streamed a bit of the first match today, which featured some American guy commenting on each move (in English), which was pretty cool, as he was explaining the game and strategies being employed so that a guy like me, with no baduk knowledge at all, could sort of follow along.

The games will start at 1pm Korea Time (4am GMT; day before 11pm ET, 8pm PT) on these days:
- Wednesday, March 9: First game
- Thursday, March 10: Second game
- Saturday, March 12: Third game
- Sunday, March 13: Fourth game
- Tuesday, March 15: Fifth game

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Facebooks Korean Top 10 for 2015

Like last year, Facebook has posted their "Year in Review" lists and included lists for the Top 10 Most Popular Topics in Korea, and the Top 10 Most Popular Check-in Locations for Korea.

Ive translated them into English, with a bit of explanation just in case you need it. And you may also be interested in this years top Naver searches for Korea and top Google searches for Korea.

?? ?? - ????
Most Popular Topics - Korea

1. ??
   Big Bang
   The popular K-pop boy group released a new album this year, their third, after a 3 year absence from the K-pop scene, and embarked on an international tour.
2. ???? vs ???? ??
   The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight
3. 11?13? ?? ??
   11/13 Paris terror attacks
4. ???? ??
   Improvement in Inter-Korean Relations
   Reunions for family members separated by the Korean War were held this year.
5. 2015????????
   2015 Gwangju Universiade
   The 2015 Summer Universiade, an international sports competition for college athletes, was held in the Korean city of Gwangju
6. ???
   MERS
   Korea suffered an outbreak of the virus this year, which took a bite out of tourism. 
7. ? ???? ?? ???
   Paul McCartney Seoul Concert
   The Beatles legend performed for the first time in Korea this year, after having had to cancel his planned tour the year prior
8. ??? ???
   President Park Geun-hye
   Various national issues, including my personal favorite the textbook controversy, made it a rough year for the President, especially after year-end protests.  
9. ????
   Asian Cup
   The 2015 Asian Cup, a regional international football match, was held in Australia and saw the Korean national team finish in second place. 
10. ?? 70??
    Gwangbokjeol (Liberation Day) 70th Anniversary 
    This year marked the 70th Anniversary of Korean liberation from Japanese colonial rule. 

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Googles AI vs Koreas top Baduk player coming this March

It looks like Google will be bringing their A-game to Seoul in March for an epic man-vs.-machine match. SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY.

UPDATE: The match will be held March 9, 2016. See more here:
 - AlphaGo creator remains confident-INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily
 - Historic Go match set for March 9-INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

"FloorGoban" by Goban1 - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.

In a blog post today, Google highlighted the achievements of some artificial intelligence program called AlphaGo, designed to play the ancient game of "Go" or "baduk" as Koreans call it. The machine has already beat some hotshot player in Europe and in a small blurb about the next step, Google will bring the tech here to Seoul in March to face off against some local Korean hotshot. But why not hear it form the horses mouth:

What’s next? In March, AlphaGo will face its ultimate challenge: a five-game challenge match in Seoul against the legendary Lee Sedol—the top Go player in the world over the past decade.
[Official Google Blog: AlphaGo: using machine learning to master the ancient game of Go]

Mr. Lee is ranked 9-dan in the game, which is apparently good. Fans of "Reply 1988" (???? 1988) may notice that the baduk-playing character Choi Taek (??) is also ranked 9-dan, as was the real-life inspiration for the character (maybe).

Anyway itll be interesting to see how the match goes, and whether any nationalist (Korea vs. USA),  corporate (Naver/Samsung vs. Google), or humanist (man vs. machine) sentiments appear. I hope they do, frankly, because excitement.

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Facebooks Korean Top 10 of 2014

Real quick here, Facebook put out a Year-in-Review site filled with Top-10 lists, including two focused on Korea. Nothing special or surprising here, which makes me wonder if its been edited or filtered at all, because if I were to compile a Top-10 List for Korea 2014, it would certainly include Kim Yuna but where is any mention of Sewol, especially on a list focused on SNS?

Anyway here they are: supposedly the hottest topics discussed on Facebook in Korea in 2014, and the most checked-into places.

?? ?? - ??

Popular Topics - Korea

1. ???
   Kim Yuna
   (retired this year after a controversial Olympics judging decision)
2. ??????
   Valentines Day
3. ??? ???
   Ebola virus
4. 2014? ?? ???
   2014 Winter Olympics
   (South Korea took 3 golds, almost a fourth)
5. ??
   The Pope
   (The Pope visited Korea this year for Asian Youth Day and presided over a public Catholic mass in downtown Seoul that was attended by huge numbers)
6. ???
   The Super Bowl
7. ???
   Park Ji-sung
8. MTV ??? ?? ???
   MTV Video Music Awards
9. ???
   April Fools Day
10. ??? ??
    Asian Games
    (The Asian Games were hosted by Incheon this year)

?? ?? ??
Popular check-in Places - Korea

1. ????
   Lotte World
2. ????
   Namsan Tower (or "N Seoul Tower")
3. ????
   Everland
4. ??
   Myeong-dong
5. ??
   Hongdae
6. ?????
   Jamsil Baesball Stadium
7. ?????????
   Dongdaemun Design Plaza
   (opened this year)
8. ?????????
   Yeouido Hangang Park
   (site of a popular Fireworks Festival and a well-known Cherry Blossom festival)
9. ???
   Daehangno
10. ???
    Gyeongbokgung

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