Ajumma's Journal

Peony Power

2012-01-31T02:09:00.000-08:00

Never had the chance to meet a Moran in person. Am clueless about her scent, despite her inclusion in the L’Occitane range. Yet, I admit, I’ve been prejudiced against her size and rather ostentatious appearance. That bias has been reinforced since I saw Dong Yi, the historical drama which featured Lady Jang Hui-bin (?-1701) , one of "the best known royal concubines of the Joseon Dynasty", according to Wikipedia. She was an ambitious woman who supposedly plotted against the queen and succeeded in getting the latter deposed. In one scene from the popular sageuk, Lady Jang gives orders to replace the modest bleeding heart flowers in the exiled queen's garden with the more showy peony with their profusion of petals.

So I never really bothered in the past to find out more about this flower known as Moran in Korea or the tree peony to garden enthusiasts. It seemed to be such a cliche in Chinese paintings and folding screens.
But a private joke has got me trawling the Net to learn a bit more about this "King of Flowers" as nicknamed by the Chinese. It represents quite a list of attributes - affluence , honour, high status, luck, happiness, elegance and poise.

Here is a snippet from primaltrek:

"One legend describes how Wu Zetian, the only Empress (690 -705 AD) of the Tang Dynasty, was drinking one day during the winter in the Imperial Flower Garden. While admiring the snow, she was also captivated by the fragrance of the winter flowers that were in bloom. She wrote a poem and sent it to the god in charge of flowers. The poem said that she would visit the garden again the next day and that all the flowers were to bloom and not wait until spring. The next morning hundreds of flowers were in bloom. But, the peony stubbornly disobeyed the order and refused to bloom. The Empress was enraged and gave orders that all the peonies in the capital city of Chang'an were to be banished. Those tree peonies that refused were burned to the ground. From that time on, the peony gained a reputation for resistance and rebellion. As time passed, however, the peony's reputation softened and gradually changed to one symbolizing longevity, loyalty, happiness and eternal beauty."

A pity. If the flower retained its original symbolism, I think I would like it more. The notion of a flower refusing to kow-tow to royalty seems much more appealing.

It also stood for national peace and security during the Joseon period. Perhaps that was what poet Kim Yeong-Nang (1903-1950) was alluding to in his poem below:

Until peonies bloom
I just go on waiting for my spring to come.
On the days when peonies drop, drop their petals,
I finally languish in sorrow at the loss of spring.
One day in May, one sultry day
when the fallen petals have all withered away
and there is no trace of peonies in all the world,
my soaring fulfillment crumbles into irrepressible sorrow.
Once the peonies have finished blooming, my year is done;
for three hundred and sixty gloomy days I sadly lament.
Until peonies bloom
I just go on waiting
for a spring of glorious sorrow.

The flower even has its own genre known as peony paintings. Its profusion of petals has been depicted in peony tassels, hanbok decorations, pillow ends, celadon pieces, in fans used in a traditional dance. Seems as if there is a peony in every nook and corner of traditional Korean culture.

That seems to apply as well to modern Korean designs. The Peony Medal or the Order of Civil Merit was recently awarded to.Kim Yuna; it's the second most presitigious award for civilians. Check out Margaret Cho’s peony tattoo.

This late bloomer in spring is not just a pretty face - it is surprisingly a pretty tough plant. It's reputed to be low maintenance and can withstand the punishing temperatures of winter. Traditionally valued for its roots which were eaten, the peony was believed to have the power to treat “menstrual cramps, asthma and convulsions”.

These days, to admire the real deal, you could head for Changdeokgung or Deoksugung sometime around May as it blooms in late spring. Unfortunately I doubt I'll have the chance to see this anytime soon, so I just have to try harder not to be so prejudiced against this pretty face and learn to appreciate its multi-faceted nature, whether it's immortalised on a vase...

or an antique teapot....

OR a modern coffee mug with cap....

on paper napkins ( see above) or treasure chests ( see below)

or super-ornate rice bins or traditional pillow ends.

sources:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/03/148_64050.html

http://hompi.sogang.ac.kr/anthony/KimYeongNang.htm
http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/mostpopularflowers/morepopularflowers/peonies
http://www.wpro.who.int/internet/files/pub/97/191.pdf
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/52282156
https://thinkingaboutlanguages.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/word-of-the-week-33/
http://www.newsfinder.org/site/more/tree_peony_the_soul_of_china/
http://www.korean-arts.com/images/CV036B-CB037B_pink_peony_5x5.jpg
http://www.koreaherald.com/entertainment/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110320000258
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/103264528/Peony_Rice_Pot_20kg_.html
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/11855002/Mother_Of_Pearl_Peony_Pirate_Chest.html
http://www.korean-arts.com/images/CS103%20peony%205x5.jpg
http://www.koreanartandantiques.com/items/1060871/en1store.html
http://www.moonscrafts.com/2011/07/korean-pottery-goryeo-sanggam-celadons.html
http://www.dhgate.com/new-arrival-peonies-stamped-wedding-napkins/p-ff808081318f593b0131addcc2897fef.html
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8787806
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/thank-you-cards/korean/kamsahamnida-thank-you-in-korean-810799
http://teatrekker.wordpress.com/tag/chinese-12-flowers-of-the-months-teacups-chinese-flower-tea-cups/
http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html
http://iluvskating.tumblr.com/page/2

Hope Floats

2011-12-31T22:37:00.000-08:00

Have to thank MBC for this poignant scene from the historical drama, Dong Yi, in which the heroine finds herself lost among ordinary Koreans releasing lanterns bearing their wishes for the new year. Known in China as "sky lanterns", they apparently originated during the turbulent days of the Three Kingdoms when a besieged group was forced to send messages for additional troops by way of these wind-borne lanterns.

The tradition of expressing one's wishes for the New Year presumably made its way to Korea from China. What I'd like to know is if this charming practice is observed anywhere in Korea these days. I have my doubts given the predominance of high-wire cables and considerations for aviation and high building safety and ecological considerations, despite the assurances of one Chinese manufacturer that the lanterns are made of flame-retardant paper, that its flight altitude is only within 800-1000 meters and that its "burning time" is just between 12 and 15 minutes.

Anyway, here's wishing everyone a Happy 2012 and may your hopes keep afloat indefinitely.

sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDLIOiafkPE
http://www.ec21.com/offer_detail/Sell_Sky_Lantern_Oval_Shape--12755845.html

Expect Slower-Moving Queues At Immigration Counters in ROK

2011-12-27T01:36:00.000-08:00

If you are a non-Korean national, over 17 and not a diplomat, be prepared for longer lines at entry points into South Korea like Incheon International Airport, with effect from January the first.

Reason : The Justice Ministry insists on scanning your fingerprints and face when you wait in line to have your passport stamped before you are allowed entry into the country. If you want to kick up a fuss about the tedious and inconvenient biometric scanning procedures, be prepared to be refused admission into the country.

Actually, biometric scanning isn't a new thing in RoK - it has been applied to those entering the country from places regarded as high-risk ( in the eyes of the Korea Immigration Service) since September, 2010 as well as to long-term staying foreigners. Besides, those used to travelling a lot around the world should already be familiar with such inconveniences as biometric scans have been part of entry procedures in the US, Japan and the EC in one way or another for some time already. However, security measures are being tightened ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit which will be held in Seoul early next year.

According to one source, "Biometric scanning will be conducted in 11 different languages including English, Chinese and Japanese. The process potentially could double the amount of time that it takes to pass through immigration. At the immigration desk, foreigners entering the country for the first time will have both index fingers and their faces scanned as part of the Justice Ministry’s Biometric Identification System."

Make sure your MP3 or IPad batteries are fully charged before you join the long lines at the immigration counters in Korea. If not, pack a novel and look upon the occasion as an opportunity to practise patience. As for those in tour groups, good luck and do consider solo travel to Korea in the future!

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/12/27/2011122701407.html
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111226000712
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2011/12/27/0200000000AEN20111227006700315.HTML?source=rss
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=6830
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOmT2vkdGi0&feature=player_embedded

Kpop As YouTube Genre

2011-12-27T00:30:00.000-08:00

These days, when one's fame is measured in terms of the number of Facebook "likes", it's a sure sign that Hallyu has spread its wings beyond the Asian market when it has been listed as a genre on the Youtube music website since 15th December. This is probably the first time the pop music of a particular country has been highlighted, much to the delight of fans of Super Junior, Girls' Generation and so on.

BUT, what about those outside Kpop mainstream? Don't know when Fluxus's Channel first appeared on cyberspace but here's hoping more people around the world will become familiar with these indie musicians like Yi Sung-yol, W and Whale, Ibadi and Clazziquai.

Sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/program/program_musicnews_detail.htm?No=17070
http://www.youtube.com/profile?feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_776510&user=fluxus&src_vid=ScURmRUgZt0

Can Korean Doctors Help Acid Attack Victim?

2011-12-16T01:44:00.000-08:00

I’ll stop complaining to myself about having a bummer 2011 because I’ve just been reminded indirectly by a news article that others have had it worse. This week, a fellow Malaysian is in South Korea in the hope that doctors in the JK Plastic Surgery Centre in Seoul will be able to help her regain some normalcy after a nightmarish acid attack a few years earlier left her partially blinded and badly scarred. It was particularly harrowing because her own father , who was mentally unsound, was the assailant and her mother died as a result of that attack.

When I first saw the news that Tan Hui Linn was going to receive pro bono treatment under a Medical Korea project, the cynical side of me, I’m ashamed to admit, was thinking – Oh, what a clever way to boost medical tourism in the country. But what really matters is that Hui Linn’s time in Korea won’t be wasted and that her body won’t reject the skin transplants so that the surgeries can indeed take place.

So, here’s wishing Hui Linn all the very best and thank you very much to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and those involved in the Medical Korea project for helping her . Hopefully it will turn out to be a win-win situation for all but especially for this plucky schoolgirl who managed to do well in her exams despite her personal tragedies.

Sources:

http://www.asiaone.com/News/The%2BNew%2BPaper/Story/A1Story20100209-197648.html
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/16/nation/10105522&sec=nation
http://www.whatsontianjin.com/news-2057-tan-hui-linn-m-sian-acid-attack-victim-scarred-by-dad-to-get-surgeries-in-s-korea.html
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111215000893
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medical-korea-concludes-korea-medical-charity-program-for-2011-134901788.html
http://www.medicalkorea.or.kr/eng/index.jsp
http://www.lifestylermag.com/Korean_Wave
http://english.jkplastic.com/jk_about/overview_01.html
http://www.acidviolence.org/index.php/news/malaysian-acid-attack-survivor-to-undergo-plastic-surgery-in-south-korea/

SKC Hallyu Party 2011

2011-12-13T18:12:00.001-08:00

Dear Mr Yun Jae Jin (Managing Director of KTO KL) and the Board of Directors of SKC in Malaysia,

Gamsa –hamnida once again for inviting me to the SKC ( Saranghaeyo Korea Club) Hallyu Party 2011 held on the 4 Dec 2011 in Petaling Jaya. I thought I would be late for the event as the traffic was moving quite slowly so it was a relief to see the long lines of SKC members lined up outside the doors of the Bentley Auditorium. The e-mail confirming the invitation had reminded us to turn up in either red and blue and I half expected the hall to be also decked out in the traditional red and blue lanterns. But when the doors finally opened, there didn’t seem to be any special decorations.

Not that anyone was complaining – those who had attended a K-pop concert the night before were probably still keyed –up about having seen their fav SuJu singer perform while others were keeping their fingers crossed and praying to win some attractive lucky draw prizes such as a hanky set from Jeju, Hanji tray, K dolls, 2PM CDs, Samsung camera, LG mobile phone, AirAsiaX tickets to Seoul.. I wasn’t holding my breath and expecting to win anything but I think I would’ve dug a little deeper into my purse if I had known earlier that proceeds for the sale of the RM 5 raffle tickets would go to the Cancer Society of Malaysia. Still, it was nice to know that we were doing something to help the community.

Your speech ( Mr Yun’s ) was short and sweet but what impressed me most was the fact that you’ve picked up quite a few of the local languages, greeting members of the audience in English, Malay and Cantonese. I could see quite a few of the members of the SKC Board of Directors busy organising the events with the help of the “shepherds” ( volunteers from the SKC, I am assuming). Sophia, Yee Pei and Tyra were enthusiastic MCs who were pretty comfortable getting the audience up on their feet to regroup according to the Hangul character stickers on their sleeves.

The young ones were soon happily engrossed in the first group game with the musical challenge, “How K-pop Are You?” Those on the floor were eager to prove how well they could identify different K-pop songs while others like myself literally on the sidelines and sitting out on the chairs may have been bemused by the shrieks of recognition each time a few bars of music was played . I was equally baffled by the second game which seem to require pretty extensive knowledge of the lives of K-celebrities.

The winners, identified after a few elimination rounds, were presented with packets of instant ramyeon ( hopefully, they were imported from Korea and not the Made-In-China version).

Long lines quickly formed during the tea break. Happily SKC fans were very civilised and patient waiting their turns. The theme seemed to be Street Fare -it was kindly sponsored by Hanseong, a local Korean restaurant, The gimbap was delicious and the tteokbokki was equally well-received though it was uncharacteristically distributed in small paper cups. Choco pies and fizzy drinks completed the menu.

Thank you, Hanseong for the spread and thanks to Yokee, BoD member and other volunteers for serving us so patiently. ( I hope I got the names right!)

Dances by various girl or boy groups such as Epsilon , Ruffneckz and Progression provided additional entertainment as they performed the latest hits from Miss A, Wondergirls and Suju. They seemed to garner as many screams of excitement as the original Hallyu singers. Once again, I was struck by the way the demographics have changed so rapidly. Unlike the first generation of ajummas who were besotted with K –dramas, the younger set have first fallen in love with K-pop.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – this will be an interesting challenge for the KTO and SKC BoD – how do you cater to the different interest and age groups ( assuming you are equally interested in reaching out to two separate segments of the market)? What about SKC members outside the Klang Valley especially those in other states?

Anyway, thanks for all the hard work in organising the SKC Party 2011, thank you for the lovely calendar and here’s wishing all of you an even more eventful 2012!

Sincerely,
ajumma

P. S. Have you checked out my Open Letter in Inspiring Korea Night 2010?

I'll Remember MAMA Part 2

2011-12-02T17:28:00.000-08:00

Here's the continuation of what made me half-glad and half regretful that I spent four hours in front of the telly to catch the delayed telecast of MAMA 2011.

5. Fann Wong's fashion question-mark - What on earth was she wearing??? Apologies to the fans of "Singapore's National Treasure" but she looked as if she was determined NOT to aim for conventional glamour in that strange garb. But hey, what do I know about fashion and why should I care about her wardrobe choices???

6. Ulala's spirited performance

Each time I start feeling sorry for myself, I must remember Im Yoon-taek's never-say-die spirit. Despite suffering from stage four cancer, he was able to perform with the other three members of Ulala Session. His baggy clothes couldn't hide his thinness but what really stood out was their energy and heart. These winners of Season 3 of "Superstar K" looked like the real deal ,IMHO, compared to the well-oiled machinery of the more well-established boy bands.

7. I'd sooner forget the painfully awkward sight of stiff kids in yellow T-shirts shepherded onto stage to stand in line in the background and instructed to hold yellow balloons and wave their hands as Apl.de.Ap. of the Black-eyed Peas sings "We Can Be Anything". Spare me the cliche, please. It's too corny to be even cute.

8. Wowed by will-i-am's performance of "The Hardest Ever" but was that really him or a dancer with the image of will.i.am's head on the TV screen as the head? Haven't seen any 'live' concerts for years and this inventive and theatrical number shows me what I've been missing.

To Be Continued....

Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeMBaGuzhk8&feature=related
http://www.koreaboo.com/index.html/_/general/ulala-session-says-we-hope-to-be-more-tha-r11836
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tzGwMKCrF4&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1eyPMCmZUI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1eyPMCmZUI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeKWdH3hhD4

I'll Remember MAMA...part 1

2011-12-02T01:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of ELEVEN things that impressed me or depressed me about the recent M.Net Music Awards ceremony held in Singapore. I'll remember MAMA 2011 for....

1. Lee Byung Hyun - working his charm and speaking "da England" quite convincingly. Wonder who's his diction teacher???

2. Screams of Kpop fans during Lang Lang's performance. Beethoven would've turned in his grave if he heard the excited howls punctuating "Moonlight Sonata".

3. The lack of subtitling or rather, subtitles in English, made me wonder why MAMA bothered to have the show in Singapore if it was catering to the home audience. Or does MAMA think the ample provision of eye candy such as Han Chae-young in a stunning Dolce and Gabbana gown and Bae Su-bin in a tux would be sufficient to keep Hallyu fans happy? Personally, I'd still like to know what the presenters were saying, even though the chatter may be trite. MAMA, please remember, if you wanna go global, you gotta go with the flow and that means hiring people who can translate Korean into English pronto.

4. Great stage. Could hardly believe my eyes. Was that really the Singapore Indoor Stadium? Looked like MAMA played fairy godmother to her Cinderella and the SIS was magically transformed into the belle of the ball. One report pointed out that the stage featured the Chinese character, "ren" to signify people and how music brought people together. Particularly loved the work of the lighting director and the special effects which almost made up for the absence of English subtitles. One example here in 2NE1's performance.

To be continued.....

http://www.enewsworld.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=1806
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/photosgallery/gallery_20111129171430.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_5lzbIZ_DY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G_5lzbIZ_DY#!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAHD0aFt45A

Seoul Lantern Festival Lights Up Tonight

2011-11-04T01:15:00.000-07:00

The Seoul Lantern Festival ( not be confused with the Lotus Lantern Festival) starts this evening with a lighting ceremony at Cheonggye Plaza at Cheonggyecheon. The lantern display stretches all the way to Gwansugyo (Bridge) and they will be lit up from 5 pm to 11 pm each evening until the 20th of November.

The theme for this annual festival is "Stories of Seoul's Past through Lanterns" so expect to see lots of traditional motifs.

Checklist of lanterns to snap to post on Flickr:

Cheongsachorong, the red-blue lantern, used for wedding ceremonies,

was also used as the logo for the G20 summit last year.

1. an 18-meter lantern tunnel made up of over 3,000 cheongsachorong (traditional Korean lanterns with a red-and-blue silk shade)

2. a model lantern of Namdaemun Gate

3. Haechi, Seoul's mascot

Lanterns from twenty other countries as well as those by participants in a local competition will also be showcased. If all that viewing whets your appetite, try making your own lanterns at Gwanggyo Gallery. Handicraft activities start on November 5th.

Charges apply, of course. To make your own Wish Lantern, you'd have to cough up 5,000 won and for the privilege of floating your own lantern on the Cheonggyecheon, you'd need to pay 2,000 won. Don't see how the latter can be enforced given the length of the stream and the expected crowds. I suppose any unauthorised lantern will be fished out unceremoniously.

For more info, click here.

sources:
http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&art_id=48789&lang=en&m=0003001006003&p=06&gclid=CObQovi5nKwCFYka6wodMnSD2A
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo.htm?No=17410#
http://www.exploringkorea.com/seoul-lantern-festival-2011/
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/11/04/2011110400936.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/09/2010070900974.html
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?nCategoryID=1&SearchType=&keyword=&gotoPage=1&cid=1424125&cCode=&nCategoryID=&searchType=&searchKeyword=

MAMA's Making Rounds In Asia

2011-11-03T01:53:00.000-07:00

Kpop lovers in Asia have more reason to celebrate now that Mnet Asia Music Awards ( affectionately dubbed MAMA) has ambitions to be the "Grammys ofis the East" and is holding its award ceremonies outside Korea.

Last year, the 12th MAMA was held in Macau. This year, Singaporean fans as well as well-heeled neighbours from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand can scream their hearts out at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on the 29th November to welcome their favourite Kpop idols. Consolation for those who can't book their tickets to Singapore, MAMA 2011 will be broadcasted in 19 countries, including live in Korea, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia.

The line-up will probably include appearances by nominees such as TVXQ, B2ST, Big Bang, Super Junior,2PM, Brown Eyed Girls, Girls’ Generation, Kara, 2NE1, Kim Hyun-joong, Park Jae-beom, Jang Woo-hyuk, HyunA and G.NA.

That Singapore's Mediacorp and the Singapore Tourism Board is using the pop culture of another country to boost its own tourism industry isn't anything new. Think Universal Studios on Sentosa which has just recently announced a hike in entrance fees. If things work well in Singapore, MAMA will probably do the rounds and visit China, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia in the future. Imagine MAMA set against the backdrop of the Twin Towers in KLCC or the Shanghai Bund. Question is: What happened to MAMA attracting Kpop lovers to Korea? What has KTO to say to MAMA's ties with tourism promotion boards of other countries?

source:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/11/143_97807.html

Good News For Gingko Tree Lovers

2011-10-31T03:20:00.000-07:00

For the first time in twenty years, a private gingko forest has been opened for public viewing somewhere on the foothills of Odaesan. It may not seem very big, standing at 43,000 sq m. ( about the size of a baseball stadium) but many of the trees here are more than 30 years old.

Gamsa hamnida to the owner and patient planter of these trees, Yoo Ki-chun. Apparently he bought the abandoned land 20 years ago and planted gingko trees when he realised the soil wasn't suitable for fruit trees.

The reporter from Arirang News who covered this story didn't indicate if there was any admission charge nor were there any details about how to get to Mr Yoo's estate So watch this space as I try to get more information to update this page if picnicking under the golden shade of these most elegant and hardy trees in autumn is on your bucket list.

BTW, interesting that Odaesan seems to be enjoying a fair bit of limelight in the local press of late. First, it gets the title of No 1 Most Beautiful Forest in Korea for 2011 and now this. Just how close is it to Pyeongchang?

Meanwhile if you're not venturing beyond Seoul but want to feast your eyes on this goldern hoard, check out these gingko trees at the Olympic Park in the capital.

Gingko gold in Seoul's Olympic Park

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/31/2011103101346.html
http://eng.me.go.kr/content.do?method=moveContent&menuCode=res_tou_pak_kor_odaesan
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/31/2011103100367.html#

The Most Beautiful Forest in Korea for 2011

2011-10-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

Beats me what kind of yardstick is used by the Korea Forest Service when it comes to ranking their forests and one wonders why it seems necessary in the first place to have such a list in the first place.

Anyway, they've just declared on 26th October that the "MOST BEAUTIFUL FOREST FOR 2011"...drumroll please... is...in Odaesan in Gangwon-do.

Odaesan in winter

In particular, the stretch of fir forest sandwiched between the Iljimun ( One Pillar Gate) at the entrance of Woljeong Temple and the Kumgang Bridge is supposed to be particularly fetching. Tree huggers can take their pick from the 1,700 fir trees in this area. But do handle them with some respect. The average age of these firs is about 83 years, but there are some which are over 3 CENTURIES old. Now , that's impressive.

The fir forest of Woljeong Temple on Mount Odae, Gangwon Province.

Must check out what was the Most Beautiful Forest for the past years.

sources:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/502726.html
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264215

M Pass (Metropolitan Pass ) Coming Soon

2011-10-25T02:27:00.000-07:00

Good news for visitors to South Korea. From December onwards, you can buy new multiple-ride transit passes and enjoy greater savings as you plan day trips between Seoul and some other cities in the country.

Ask for the M-Pass but before that, plan carefully as you have to decide between purchasing the one-day pass ( which costs 10,000 won and lets you take up to 20 subway trips ) or opt for the 2-day, 3-day or 7-day pass instead.

According to the Korean Herald and Yonhap News, " The passes currently are only for travel on subway lines and a railway linking Incheon International Airport to Seoul, but will later be expanded to include all regular buses in the capital area. Discounts on admissions to royal palaces and other tourist destinations will also be given to foreigners with passes."

Never really bothered about checking out passes for transportation around Seoul before but now that I've done a bit of surfing, the options seem to be increasing and at the same time, a tad migraine-inducing if you're like me and hate making consumer comparisons.

Seoul City Plus Passes - Choices Within Choices

How, for instance, does the M-Pass differ from the Seoul City Pass OR the T-Money card OR the Seoul City Plus Pass? Points of comparison include coverage ( can it be used on local buses and subways outside Seoul? ), mode of recharging and refunds and additional discounts for tourist attractions.

I'll leave you to do the math.

The assumption seems to be that most tourists prefer to make Seoul their base but what about those who are not particularly keen on spending so much time in the capital?

Personally, I'd prefer to have a travel pass that gets me on any provincial, local and inter-city bus so that I can travel out from Incheon International Airport, avoid the traffic snarls of Seoul and head directly for the hills. It's early days yet so it would be interesting to see which cities or towns outside Seoul will be involved in this scheme.

sources:
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111020000820
http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=261307
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/TR/TR_EN_5_4.jsp

To Olle OR Dulle?

2011-10-20T19:29:00.000-07:00

This is a promise to myself. As soon as I can, I’ll head for the hills. In South Korea, that is. First, a quick own-up: I like walking but I’m not a great nor good walker. Still, I love the low humidity, the autumn colours and very accessible walking paths in the ROK. Question is: given the usual shortage of time and won, a hard choice is imminent. Do I do the Dulle or the Olle?

The Dulle Trail in Jirisan ( source: JoongAng Ilbo)

Been following Steve Oberhauser’s account of his marathon exploration of all the hiking trails in Jeju known as the Olle Trails ( link) in The Jeju Weekly. I’d like to follow some of his footsteps ( but definitely not his Spartan diet ) but for the moment, I’m still waiting for him to complete and evaluate all twenty-one trails on the island before deciding which one is safer, easier and still rewarding scenic-wise for this ajumma.

There’s another Dulle Trail on the mainland in Jirisan National Park that looks immediately promising –that’s the trail between Jucheon in Jeollabukdo and Sancheong in Jeollanamdo. While I’m not likely to complete the full 70-km course, it’s supposed to be “perfect for those who are looking for a relaxing walk rather than a steep mountain climb”

OR if I’m really strapped for time….

Bukhansan Dulle Trails

I could attempt a teeny section of the 44 km- Dulle Trail around Bukhansan near Seoul. Apparently it’s a wooden walkway that’s easy on the legs, knees and heart. But if I still feel as if the stretch is taking its toll on my never-been-in-decent-condition body, I can look forward to the 35 benches along this novice-friendly trail.

Smartphone owners are even more spoilt as apps on the Andriod platform are available for five trails out of the 13 Bukhansan Dullegil trails. You can get easy access to maps, side trails information and interesting explanations about highlights along the courses. The information is available in English, Korean and Japanese. Check out the official website of Korea National Park Organization (www.knps.or.kr) and Bukhansan Dullegil (http://ecotour.knps.or.kr/dulegil/index.asp).

But if you think all this is too lame for you, then check out the Haeparang Road, once it’s completed in 2014. This 688-km trail will stretch from Busan all the way up to Goseong’s Unification Observatory near the DMZ. A perhaps over-enthusiastic spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism even indicated to the press that the trail could even reach Russia’s Vladivostock in the future.

Sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2926536
http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100915000631
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/51299295 joey janzen olle_jeju1
http://android-apps.com/applications/travel-local/bukhansan-dulle-gil/
http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleList.html?sc_sub_section_code=S2N63
http://ecotour.knps.or.kr/dulegil/index_e.asp
http://eckorea.ecplaza.net/news/13/48405/seoul_to_create_a_200kilometer.html

In Pursuit of Autumn Colours In Korea 2011

2011-10-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

Capture the silvery, delicate beauty of eulalia or pampas grass ( Haneul Park in Seoul. /Newsis)

Stunning maple reds are expected to be in full display between 18th and 20th October in Seoraksan. Brace yourselves for crowded trails and be prepared to share the beautiful scenery with hordes of visitors and wait in line to snap photos of your loved ones posing beside a particularly pretty tree.

The trees in Yeouido in Seoul are already changing colour also.

Fall foliage is expected to peak around 22nd of October.

Check out the photos of Korea's autumn colours on this blog for some inspiration.

Some hints from an amateur for great shots:

1. Go early to avoid heads intruding into your photos.

2. Head for the temples in the national and provincial parks.

3. Balance close-ups and wide-angle shots.

sources:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/11/2011101100390.html

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/03/2011100300354.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/115_96329.html
http://www.pbase.com/dbh/autumn

Autumn Leaves Schedule for Korea, 2011

2011-09-22T02:37:00.000-07:00

Here's the 2011 Fall Foliage Schedule, lifted from the KTO website.

"The Korea Meteorological Administration recently announced that the autumnal tint will be making its appearance 1-6 days later than it has in previous years. Leaves on Jirisan Mountain and the central regions of Korea are expected to start changing between October 3rd and 19th, while the southern regions will start experiencing the seasonal bursts of color between October 13th and 30th.

The first foliage* of Seoraksan Mountain is predicted to start around October 3rd, and will reach its peak** around October 18th. The peak time of fall foliage on Naejangsan Mountain will be around the 7th of November. Last but not least, the autumnal tint will peak in the central regions and Jirisan Mountain around middle to late October, and in the southern regions around late October to early November.

2011 Autumn Foliage Schedule ( I've just selected some national parks. For the full schedule, click here.)

How to Read the Info Below:
National Park - Date for First Foliage - Date for the Peak Foliage

NOTE:

*First foliage = 20% of a given area’s foliage has changed color
**Peak foliage = 80% or more of a given area’s foliage has changed colors

Seoraksan in Gangwon-do (설악산) 10.3 - 10.20
Bukhansan in Gyeonggi-do, nearest to Seoul (북한산) 10.19 - 10.28
Naejangsan, a popular place for viewing maple reds (내장산) 10.26 - 11.7
Jirisan - one of the biggest national parks (지리산) 10.13 10.23
Hallasan on Jeju-do (한라산) 10.17- 10.28

See earlier posting on shorter autumns in Korea

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1391042
Courtesy of: Korea Meteorological Administration

Autumn Leaves in South Korea - ETA for 2011

2011-09-19T02:02:00.000-07:00

Make your date with the autumn leaves in Korea in October - but look sharp. The season, as I've suspected, is getting shorter and more elusive. See the KBS news article below:

from 2010's autumn foliage schedule posted on the KTO website

From the KBS news website:
"Autumn foliage will appear later than usual this year and the beautiful colors of the changing leaves won't last as long. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that leaves are expected to change color first at Mount Seorak around October third and at Mount Jiri around the 13th. The foilage at Mount Bukhan will begin to turn red around the 19th. These dates are three to four days later than average.

But the crimson foliage is expected to reach its peak faster this year, from mid-October in the central region and late October in the south. The weather agency says higher than normal temperatures through mid-September will push back the start of the turning of the leaves but as temps go down from later this month, the changing of colors will pick up speed."

Same news from Arirang:
"Autumn is here in Korea and you can see the leaves turning a beautiful red at Mt. Seorak starting October 3rd.The Korea Meteorological Administration says the fall foliage will move through late October peaking two weeks after the first showing. High temperatures this month have delayed start of the changing colors compared to an average year by about one to six days depending on the region."

Click here for a comparison with 2010 and with 2009. Am waiting for the official schedule published by KTO and will post here ASAP for fall foliage hunters.

Sources:

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Sc_detail.htm?No=84575&id=Sc
http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=120474&code=Ne2&category=2

"Those Were The Days" - A Sunim's Version With Interjections and Questions

2011-09-15T01:03:00.000-07:00

Came across this article in the Joong Ang Daily ( my comments and questions in parentheses). I used to toy with the idea of spending time learning temple cuisine in a future visit to Korea but now am having second thoughts. Shows you how faint-hearted I am.

"The following is an account by monk Shimwoo, in his own words, of the history of temple food at Haein Temple. He explains how the kitchens operated before gas boilers were installed in 1987, when the monks had to rely on wood fires, and how discipline was even stricter then than it is now.

Haeinsa's Kitchen - No need for Gordon Ramsay here

The kitchen in Haein Temple has now been modernized, but before 1987 we still used wood fire stoves and iron cauldrons. For junior students who were yet to become monks, their duties often involved menial chores and cooking in the kitchen. Their daily work was supervised on a much stricter basis than it is now. Back then, if you were placed in the kitchen to, for example, make the rice, you would have to do that for an entire year.

( First thing that surprises me is that monks do the cooking 'cause in all the temples I've visited so far, I've only seen ajummas doing all the kitchen work. So how has this regime become more lax - do junior monks have to cook rice for only 6 months before they're allowed to do anything else?)

"Meanwhile, the apprentice monks who were in charge of making side dishes would have to cut the food to exactly the set length. For kimchi, the set length was three centimeters, for kkakdugi (diced radish kimchi) it was 3.5 centimeters, while for tofu the length was 10 centimeters.

( Whoa - this is formidable. I tend to be pretty crude and slapdash in my chopping, slicing and dicing. Anyway, for people who are supposed to be Zen-like and not get hung up on trivial things, why should the length and breadth of my carrot sticks matter?)

This rigorous kitchen work was a way of testing their willpower. The time they spent in the kitchen was a time for them to ask themselves if this was the way they wanted to live their lives. Back during that period, when a military government ruled the country, there were many people who came here to become monks. We used to welcome around 10 people every day. But after experiencing how hard the kitchen work was, most of them left.

( Which makes me even more faint-hearted than those people 'cause I'm now considering not signing up at all!)

When I think back to that time, a time when we didn’t have gas boilers inside the kitchen, there were many comic episodes that occurred. In the temple’s kitchen, we had a tradition of making rice for 500 people in just five minutes - which was very taxing for the junior monks. When I was in that role, I also had to do this. To make steamed rice for 500 people, you need 25 doe (a Korean unit of measurement that is equal to around 1.8 liters) of rice, or around 50 kg in weight. As soon as the person in charge of the fire finished lighting up the charcoal, the monk in charge of the rice would have to pour all the rice into the boiling hot water as quickly as possible and then close the cauldron lid. While the rice was cooking, the junior monk would have to stand next to the iron caldron in case anything went wrong. Because the caldron was steaming hot, anyone who stood next to it would soon be drenched in sweat. There were many times when junior monks collapsed due to all the heat as they were standing next to the giant cauldron. Then, after four minutes and 55 seconds, the monk in charge of the whole operation would yell out “put the fire out!” The timing is very important, as steamed rice can taste totally different even if you get the cooking time wrong by as little as 1/100th of a second.

( I guess that's why the juniors needed a year to learn to cook rice. Reminder to myself to ask for cooking lessons in a small hermitage kitchen instead of a gargantuan institution like Haeinsa. )

When you are making rice for 500 people, there is bound to be a lot of nurungji (crust of overcooked rice left on the bottom of the pot). The amount of nurungji that we stored for a year was huge. We would put it in a separate wooden rice chest and use it to make gochujang. So, on the day we made gochujang at the temple, the monks would take the nurungji to the nearest rice mill and grind it. Then we would mix red pepper flakes, ground nurungji powder and starch syrup to make gochujang. The gochujang we made from nurungji was so nutty and delicious. It has to be tasted to be believed.

( And here I was thinking that nurungji was something one made into a delicious drink or candy. Wonder whether I can purchase this gochujang at other places besides Haeinsa?)

Click here for directions on how to get to Haeinsa -whether you're checking out its famed printing woodblocks or its kitchen.
source:
http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2940656
http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264238

Temple Sells Sauces

2011-09-13T03:34:00.000-07:00

Fancy some temple-made gochujang? For those who like organic foodstuff free of additives and made from the purest natural ingredients, you may be happy to hear that the monks of Haeinsa are going commercial and selling their sauces like doenjang (soybean paste), ganjang (soy sauce) and gochujang (red pepper paste) to the public soon.

How will the temple jang compare to Shin's brand of gochujang?

What makes their sauces exceptional? As the article from Joong Ang Daily claims: "As the sauces need specific conditions to flourish, the surrounding environment, with its light rain, high daily temperatures and cool nights, makes it the perfect production base. Monks have known about the quality of the water produced around the temple for centuries. It derives from the Gobulam Mineral Spring, located at an altitude of 950 meters (3,117 ft), giving it a clean, crisp quality. Sounds as squeaky clean as the Sound of Music.

Will Haeinsa's sauces become more famous than its wooden printing blocks?

The official launch of the Haein Temple Jang brand will coincide with the Millennial Anniversary of the Tripitaka Koreana. Make your way to the main event hall of the Changwon Exhibition Center in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang, from Sept. 23 to Nov. 6. to buy these sauces. Prices have not been confirmed but you may expect to pay around 18,000 won per kg. You may have to cough up an additional 10,000 won to enter the Millennial Anniversary Exhibition, though.

For more information, visit www.tripitaka2011.com or call (070) 4251-9200.

sources:
http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2940657
http://www.sanchon.com/english/Temple/temple4.html
http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264238

Gochangeupseong Fortress: In the Footsteps of KBS's Hwang Jin-yi, Part 2

2011-08-26T03:27:00.000-07:00

The scene in which Ha Ji-won’s Hwangjinyi practises her dance before her first love, the impressionable and impetuous aristocrat ( played by Jang Geun-seuk) was shot at Gochang- eupseong.

See the last few minutes of this Youtube video from the KBS drama.
Now I’ve been to other fortresses before in South Korea such as Nagan-eupseong, the fortress at Gongju and Hwaseong in Suwon, so what would make Historic Site No. 145 in Gochang-gun in North Jeolla Province (Jeollabuk-do) so special and worth visiting?

Various sources suggest visitors take note of its distinctive round walls outside the fortress gates erected during the early Joseon Dynasty, a moat to discourage invaders and the absence of private dwellings ( unlike Naganeupseong, for instance) with only government buildings erected within its walls.

But I think what gives Gochang-eupseong its unique charm is its story of WOMEN POWER.

Professor Hur Kyoung-jin recounts a legend in the Spring 2005 edition of Koreana:
“At one time, two ramparts had to be built in the region at the same time, so men built one section at Seosan while women built another at Gochang. As an incentive, it had been decided that whichever town completed its walls first would be awarded a local magistracy…. However, since the men underrated the women, they would wile away the time in drink and merriment. In contrast, the women worked ceaselessly, hauling the stones and building the walls, without taking breaks. In the end, their steady efforts enabled the Gochang walls to be completed first. "

Dapseong Nori (walk around fortress) is held during the Gochang Moyang Fortress Festival

( before or after September 9th in lunar calendar)

"To commemorate this legendary event, every year the women of Gochang walk all along the walls as part of a ‘wall-stamping’ festival. It is believed that anyone who walks the full length of the walls will be assured of good health and a long life. The effects are said to be especially beneficial if carried out during a leap year, when the gates to the afterworld would be open.”

A full circuit of these walls once is supposed to "prevent disease".

Go round TWICE to enjoy a lifetime of good health AND

if you've the stamina to repeat the promenade for the THIRD time,

you've secured your ticket to heaven.

So if I manage to make my way to Gochang on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, I'd need to bear in mind a few things:

1. Find out from the KTO when AND WHERE exactly this picturesque ceremony takes place. One blogger was too late for the event and had to be content with the sideshows. Must remember to ask for the specific gate where this annual parade begins and ends.

2. I must NOT expect dramatic sights of ladies in hanbok gracefully and stoically bearing big rocks above their heads. Apparently, custom only requires symbolic gestures and the modern-day ajumma need only carry a stone as big as her dainty fist.

3. It's a 10-min walk from Gochang Bus Terminal to get to Gochangeupseong.

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=658574
http://culture.gochang.go.kr/site_english/
http://culture.gochang.go.kr/site_english/festival/07-01.htm
http://jikimi.cha.go.kr/english/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvZxuVlq45Y
http://koreana.kf.or.kr/popup.asp?flag=view&article_id=5789&sword=gochangeupseong&volumn=19&no=1&lang=English

Yecheon - A Side Trip from the KBS Hwangjinyi Trail

2011-08-18T23:16:00.000-07:00

While I'm not likely to make the effort to look for the Byeongamjeong Pavilion which formed the evocative backdrop to the meeting and parting of the young lovers in the KBS period drama, Hwangjinyi, I wouldn't spend spending time in Yecheon, the county where the pavilion is located.
This county in Gyeongsangbuk-do tends to go under the tourist radar; no surprise with more well-publicised attractions in nearby Andong.

Yecheon's in Gyeongsangbuk-do

Still, the county with a charming name (Yecheon, 예천군, 醴泉郡, sweet liquor.stream/spring) has a few places worth highlighting for a different travel experience especially as I prefer the laid-back pace with the opportunity to sample the agrarian practices and the traditional lifestyle of the yangban.

1. First stop I'd make: Hoeryeong-po or Horyeong-po or Hoelyeongpo (회룡포). This place is a geography lesson on ox-bow lakes come alive. Firmly in the embrace of the Naeseong-cheon, which is a tributary of the Nakdong-gang, this agrarian village in Yonggung-myeon is about 17 km west of Yecheon. It used to have at least twenty households a decade ago but apparently "only nine households remain". It would be interesting to count how many households there are now. BTW, how many households are needed to call a village a village?

For best views of Horyeong-po, I'll need to get out my hiking boots and head for Biryong-san. Check out this posting on a day trip with rewarding views.

The pavilion on Biryongsan for great views of Horyeongpo

I'll play a game of spot the rice fields and try to identify the squash and watermelons plants but at the same time see if any particular spots look familiar as outdoor locations for "Autumn in My Heart or Gaeul Donghwa ( 2002), one of the earliest Hallyu K-dramas which became popular outside Korea.

Cast of Gaeul Donghwa - Won Bin, Song Hye-gyo, and what's his name?

I'd also see if I can join a group of visitors participating in a 2-day village experience. Hopefully I can learn to make and sample Korean rosebay cakes, and pretend to be a farmer for a few hours by seeding potatoes, corn and collecting mugwort and pickpurse ( Spergula arvensis L. ) in the surrounding hills. Or I'd just call 011-802-9054 or contact Chairman Ju-Hee Ryu at 017-533-651 to see if they'd entertain individual requests.

◈ Hopefully I'd have the stamina to reach this site to get similar scenic shots of this picturesque village such as those on this website and these great shots from The Marmot's Hole. Must also remember to read up beforehand on the Three Rivers Pub or the Samgang Jumak, the last of the traditional watering-holes in the country.

2. Geumdangsil Village meaning "Lotus Blossom Floating Over / On? The Water" sounds like another pleasant stopover. It's 1 km from Byeongamjeong ( Local Road 982 towards Yongmunsa) and the description of its "picturesque old homes and stacked stone wall-lined streets" sounds promising. It'd be fun to get happily lost in its maze of narrow lanes and alleys. I could also check out Park Yeon-i's home ( in the first alley past the village entrance near Bansonjae House) which was used in the movie "Please Teach Me English". Not so keen to take up the villagers' offer to dress up in period costumes but I wouldn't mind signing up for calligraphy lessons or tea ceremonies for a sampling of the yangban ( aristocratic) life.

Musr remember that free calligraphy lessons are available on Monday evenings 7 pm but must BMyO brushes, chinese ink, paper. Contact : Yongmun myun office 82-54-650-6612 Transportation : 20 m from Yechun eup(10km).

Yecheon Hot Spring

3.If there's a 24-hour jjimjilbang at theYecheon hot spring (예천온천), then this is the place for me. Let's see if there's any basis to the claim from the KTO website: "The nutrients in the water also have anti-aging properties."

To get there, I'd have to board a bus to Yecheon Intercity Bus Terminal (예천시외버스터미널) at Dong Seoul Terminal (Departure 11 times a day (06:40-20:00), 2 hour and 30 minute ride). Then I'd need to get on the bus to Beolbang / Punggi (Hot Spring) at Yecheon Bus Terminal (06:20-18:10, 20 minute ride)

Nailseong Observatory

4. Never been to an observatory before so a visit to the Yecheon Astronomical Science Park a.ka. Nailseong Observatory could be an enlightening experience but if there aren't many translated displays in English, then I doubt if I could make head or tail of the artefacts on display in Nailseong Planetarium.
Perhaps I'd be better off as an armchair traveller and surf its website at http://www.portsky.net/

Still, it might be fun trying out the high-powered telescope and the astronaut training simulations even though I can't read about the history of astronomy etc if the explanations are all in Korean only. If I can master my nerves, I'd try out the " G-force Simulator, bounce around in the Moon Walk Chair, experience the vertigo of zero-gravity on the Multi-Axis Trainer, or float in space using the MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit)". But if my queasy and cowardly stomach protesteth too much, then I'll humbly retreat to the auditorium to find out what a 4D movie looks like. Wonder if the overnight stay facility here is as cheap as a jjimjilbang stay?

To get there, I'd have to take a bus bound for Gamcheon (감천), Oncheon (온천), Beolbang (벌방), or Punggi (풍기) from the Yecheon Intercity Bus Terminal , *Bus departs approx. every 90 min

Sources:

http://www.investkorea.org/InvestKoreaWar/work/ik/eng/bo/print_added.jsp?bno=704200006&sort_num=114
http://en.filmkorea.or.kr/search/search_viewer.asp?grp=101&dir=1826&gotopage=4
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=805822
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=805822
http://www.invil.org/english/village/daegu/contents.jsp?con_no=101565&page_no=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yecheon
http://wiki.galbijim.com/Yecheon
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=805928
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1127954
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1216638
http://san-shin.net/Yecheon-Biryongsan.html
http://en.ycg.kr/open_content/main/
http://211.114.21.20/alienspecies/eng/search/detail.jsp?id=16&page=10&code=
http://georgesuzuki.blogspot.com/2010/09/100911-mt-biryongsan-hwerongpo-yechon.html
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/program/program_tour_detail.htm?lang=e&current_page=7&No=1359

What I've Been Missing This Summer

2011-08-12T01:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a selection of photo stories from the JoongAng Daily from the past two months. This posting is a reminder to myself of what I've missed while I was unable to blog this summer.

Ajumma's version of Nanta

1.Women from Wanju, North Jeolla, present a performance based on the old practice of ironing out wrinkled clothes by pounding with wooden clubs. The performance was held at the 2011 Seongbuk District’s Day of Social Enterprises at the Seongbuk District. [JoongAng Ilbo]

Magical Mystery Tour by Moonlight

2. Greeters welcome visitors to the Moonlight Tour at Changdeok Palace, hosted by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation. The event included an evening tour of the palace and performances of traditional Korean music and dance. The tour will resume in September. [NEWSIS]

Were the gods listening when Gangnam was flooded?

3.The National Folk Museum holds a traditional ritual to pray for clear skies, peace and the well-being of the nation. During the folk ceremony, called Gicheongje, museum-goers participated in prayers to the ancient mountain and river gods in the east, west, south and north to stop the deluge by offering drinks and food. By Kim Sang-seon

Would budget travellers be turned away from these cafeterias?

4. Dozens of Seoul citizens eat lunch yesterday at a police station cafeteria. With high inflation, many have resorted to eating in places like police stations and district offices, which offer inexpensive meals. [YONHAP]

Welcome Home, Uigwe, Even Though The French Say It's Just a Loan

5. Hyojang Seja Chaekrye Dogam Uigwe, above, an illustrated guide to the inauguration of the crown prince, will be displayed at the National Museum of Korea from July 19 to Sept. 18 in a special exhibition commemorating the return of the documents from France. It is one of 297 volumes of the Oegyujanggak Uigwe, which were returned to Korea from France in four difference batches from April to May this year. [YONHAP]

Hurray for the Dulle - How long will it take to walk around Bukhansan?

6. Climbers check a section of the Dulle walkway course that circles the entire circumference of Mount Bukhan, which was opened to the public yesterday after nine months of construction. [YONHAP]

How many different ways can you cook tuna?

7. Chefs yesterday lift a giant bluefin tuna to divide into pieces at a tuna restaurant in Jonggak, central Seoul. The tuna, which weighed 350 kilograms (772 pounds) and measured 270 centimeters (8 feet 10 inches) long, was caught off the shores of Jeju Island. [YONHAP]

Did Mr Gere do the 300 bows?

8. U.S. actor Richard Gere signs a guestbook at Jogye Temple in central Seoul as monk Sung Jin watches. Gere, was in Korea for six days to promote his photo exhibition “Pilgrim,” which features photographs of Tibet, and to experience Korean Buddhism. “Pilgrim" runs until July 24. Gere will also visit Tongdo Temple in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang, and Donghwa Temple in Daegu. [AP/YONHAP]

Remind me to look out for a paddy field next time I visit Changdeokgung.

9. Tourists join officials of the Rural Development Administration and the Cultural Heritage Administration to plant rice in a paddy at Changdeok Palace in Seoul. Joseon Dynasty kings used to show their support of agriculture by planting rice themselves. By Kim Sang-seon

Sorry, smokers but my lungs and nostrils are celebrating this bit of news.

10. Seoul Metropolitan Government officials patrol Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul as a new ordinance designating the plaza as a nonsmoking zone took effect. Smokers caught breaking the rule will be fined 100,000 won ($93.06). By Kim Do-hoon

Sources:

1. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2938374

2. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2937755

3. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2939776

4. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2939775

5. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2938962

6. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2938308

7. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2938186

8. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2937857

9. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2936985

10. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2937041

Byeongamjeong: In The Footsteps of KBS's Hwang jinyi, Part 2

2011-08-11T02:23:00.000-07:00

Do I really want to spend precious time hunting down Byeongamjeong, a pavilion cum bridge which may no longer resemble the one featured in the KBS drama, Hwang-jinyi? Though I may admire the work of Ha Ji-won ( BTW, check her recent interview with CNNGO Seoul here) and think the younger Jang Geun-seuk even cuter than his present all-too-pretty incarnation, I'm not sure that I'd be so crazy as to visit this place simply because it served as romantic backdrop to a fictitious romance.

So here's the contrast between reel life and real life. Above, the music video of the heart-breaking tragic tale of yangban youth ( played by Jang Geun-seuk - all wide-eyed and bushy-tailed before he developed the brooding hippie look ) and the lowborn heroine ( played by the radiant Ms Ha Ji-won ) with a charming proposal scene shot at the pavilion. Below, the more prosaic reality, minus the lovely lighting, floral embellishments and editing out of modern day touches like a dull phone pole.

How To Get There:

By car - Take the Jungang Expressway. Exit at Nadeulmok of Yecheon.

Head toward Yongmun on Local Road 928. About 8km down this road, you should be able to see Byeongamjeong. It's the easternmost pavilion in a group of pavilions at Seonghyeon-ri in Yongmun-myeon.

By bus - From Dong Seoul Terminal, board a bus bound for Yecheon ( Services run 7 times daily between 6.40 and 18. 40; it's a 2 hour and 20 minute trip). From Yecheon, I'd probably ask around for local buses headed towards Yongmun or take a taxi.

According to one source, parts of the pavilion and stone bridge have been demolished for safety reasons. The rest of the structure is supposed to have been earmarked for similar treatment but this puzzles me as Byeongamjeong has been designated Cultural Property Material No 453. Then again, after looking through the website of CHA (Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea), I'm beginning to wonder if that's a false assumption ie. that such designations don't guarantee immunity from bulldozers.

So these pics may be the remaining record of the existence of this pavilion. Which may be a bit of a shame. Even if it hadn't featured in the KBS drama, it's quite a charming spot and one can only imagine how much prettier it would be with lotus flowers in full bloom in late July and August.

The trees around the pond seem rather photogenic as well, with or without leaves.

Although I'm not so keen to go all the way to Yecheon to look for this pavilion, I realise there are some other attractions that make this place worth visiting. Will cover these in the next posting.

Meantime, for more on this pavilion which enjoyed its five minutes of fame in Hwangjinyi, check out The Scent of Spring from the Silver Screen: Yecheon ( dated 2007-04-20 )

Sources:
http://findallvideo.com/please-look-at-me-geu-dae-bo-se-yo-choi-hye-jin-engroman-sub/id/1989206191
http://gyeongbukhere.blogspot.com/2011/05/yecheon.html
http://www.investkorea.org/InvestKoreaWar/work/ik/eng/bo/print_added.jsp?bno=704200006&sort_num=114
http://en.filmkorea.or.kr/search/search_viewer.asp?grp=101&dir=1826&gotopage=4
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=805822

Important Update On Free Shuttle Services

2011-08-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

Please take note if you're in Korea and planning to make use of the free shuttle services between Seoul and Busan.

Between July 1 and August 31, the route is as follows:

Gwanghwamun 8:00 - Lotte Hotel Seomyun, Busan 14:20 - dep. Lotte Hotel, Busan 16:00 - arrive Seoul 22:00

Also the service will be stopped temporarily betwen 9th and 14th September to avoid the traffic snarls during the Chuseok holiday season.

For more information, click here.

source:
http://english.visitkoreayear.com/english/benefit/benefit_07_01_01.asp

Mureung Valley: In the Footsteps of KBS's Hwang Jin-yi, Part 1

2011-08-05T00:20:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats sageuk ( Korean historical dramas) for getting inspiration when planning your travel itinerary around Korea. For some inexplicable reason, I've been watching again the KBS drama, Hwang Jin-yi and salivating each time the beautiful scenery of the countryside is featured. So here's the first part of my wish-list as I try to follow the footsteps of the KBS version of Hwang Jin-yi's story. ( Not much point trying to trace the trail of the original gisaeng as she lived in what is now North Korea).

First stop: the famed Mureung Valley in Gangwon-do, popular in the past among poets and these days among K-drama producers. It forms the backdrop to the scene in which an aristocratic youth ( played by Jang Keun-suk) chances upon Hwang Jin-yi (played by Ha Ji-won) as one of the gisaengs-in-training. Just as it's love at first sight for the young man, it's love at first sight for yours truly as well and I wonder why I didn't pay attention to the mention of this place in my Lonely Planet guidebook. Now I kick myself mentally for this omission as I've also learnt that it's also been used as the outdoor shooting location for two of my other K dramas, Painter of the Wind and City Hall.

Click here for the link to KTO website.

I'd probably find a bus to Gangwon-do from Incheon International Airport.

May have to change at Chuncheon to get to Donghae. If it's late in the day,

I'd stay at a jjimjilbang near the bus station at Donghae.

If Samhwasa temple or its nearby hermitages here don't have an informal temple-stay,

I guess I could easily find a minbak just outside the park grounds.

Must mentally prime myself not to expect gushing

waterfalls as they tend to dry up in autumn.

I'd spend time to gawk and marvel at the Chinese characters inscribed on these rock faces.

And of course, hike up to see the Twin Falls.

From the KTO website:

Mureung Valley (무릉계곡), which spans from Mt. Dutasan (두타산) and Mt. Cheongoksan (청옥산), refers to a four-kilometer stretch from Hoamso Pond – where, according to a legend, a tiger drowned to death – to Yongchu Falls, located upstream. The waters of Mureung Valley flow over wide sheets of rocks and into the cracks between them, forming a large and particularly splendid pond along the path. Starting at Mureung Rock, a wide sheet of single rock on which hundreds can sit, the valley twists and turns around Samhwasa Temple, Haksodae Falls, Okryudong, and Seonnyeotang Ravine, all the way to Ssangpok and Yongchu Falls, providing breathtaking scenery along the way. Also known as ‘Arcadia,’ scholars and poets frequented the valley in olden times and the 5,000-m2 Mureung Rock bears the inscribed names of some of these poets and their works. The valley offers a medley of curious-looking rocks and stones, and other odd scenery that attracts many tourists.

Also, I'd need to check out Sogeumgang in the vicinity.
Hiking Trails - 3 suggestions from KTO:
* Trail 1: Entrance - Mureung Rock (무릉반석) - Samhwasa Temple (삼화사) - Dutasanseong Fortress (두타산성) - Dutasan Mt. (두타산)

* Trail 2: Entrance - Mureung Rock - Samhwasa Temple - Gwaneumsa Temple (관음사) - Gojeokdae (고적대) - Dutasan Mt.

* Trail 3: Entrance - Haksodae (학소대) - Ssang Waterfalls (쌍폭포) - Youngchu Waterfalls (용추폭포) - Bakdallyeong (박달령) - Cheongoksan Mt. (청옥산)

Travel options:
1. Take a bus from East Seoul Terminal to Donghae. Nineteen rounds of bus services are provided everyday from 07:09 to 20:05 and the ride takes about 3 hours.

Or take a train from Cheongnyangni Station to Donghae/Mukho Station. Six rail services are provided everyday from 07:00 to 22:40 and the ride takes about 6 hours.

2. Once you are in Donghae, you can take a city bus from Donghae Intercity Bus Terminal to Mureung Valley. (The bus operates at 30-minute intervals and the 14.1 kilometer journey takes about an hour.)

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=789870#
http://punynari.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/forfigure-fm.jpg?w=600
http://tigersandmagpies.com/2010/01/donghae-cheongok-cave-mureung-valley/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlKdfq64mj0&feature=player_embedded
http://www.skynews.kr/article_print.asp?mcd=60&ccd=6&scd=3&ano=37
http://english.dhtour.go.kr/guide/10.htm

Hallyu Spreading

2011-08-03T02:18:00.000-07:00

I betcha someone is probably placing a pin on a large world map in the office of KTO in Seoul right this minute to update his superiors on the progress made by the Hallyu Wave since the start of the millennium.

If I were doing an academic exercise for some post-grad work, I may even do a study on how Hallyu has spread first through K dramas,then Kpop music and even Korean food & drink to far-flung places like Manipur, Santiago, Tashkent and also Teheran.

So what's next - K ballet? K musicals? K fashion?

See article below from Donga-Ilbo.

JUNE 21, 2011 22:58

The "Korean Wave," or hallyu, started in Asia focused on TV dramas and K-pop but is now spreading to other genres and reaching a broader global audience.

The term "Korean Wave" was coined in 2003 when the hit soap opera "Winter Sonata" attracted huge fans in Japan. The fever has grown into a worldwide phenomenon with children in a small remote village in Manipur, India, saying "Thank you" and "I love you" in Korean.

Bekhzod, a college student in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent starts each day listening to the song "Gee" by Girls’ Generation that goes, “So cool, dazzle my eyes, can’t breathe, I’m shaking.” He sets the alarm of his mobile phone with this music and also watches the Korean drama "Queen Seondeok" on Samsung TV while having breakfast with his family.

Uzbek, Yoshlar, Tashkent and Markaziy, four state-owned TV stations in Uzbekistan, compete against other to air more Korean dramas.

Bekhzod has an LG Electronics air conditioner at home that he turns on during breakfast. Perhaps his fondness for Korean pop and dramas has prompted him to use Korean home electronics.

The young man’s bag is full of Korean-made pens and notebooks. When morning class is over, he gets Korean lessons from an ethnic Korean living there in preparation for a Korean-language contest. His daily life is surrounded by “Made in Korea” products.

If Korean dramas led the Korean Wave in early 2000s, K-pop is doing so now. K-pop is popular not only in Japan, China and Southeast Asia but also in North America, Europe, Africa and South America.

YouTube’s K-pop map shows that the music videos of Shinee’s “Replay” and 2NE1’s “Lonely” are viewed all over the world except in Chad and the Central African Republic.

According to the Korean Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry’s 2010 content industry statistics, Korean music exports rose 71 percent between 2005 and 2009 from 22.27 million U.S. dollars to 31.26 million dollars.

The spread of the Korean Wave is helping raise Korea’s national brand image and the export of Korean products. After Lotte Liquor BG hired Korean actor Jang Keun-suk to endorse its products, Lotte exported 24 million bottles of the Korean rice wine "makgeolli" to Japan in the first half of this year, 40 percent more than its initial target.

With Korean food gaining popularity in Singapore after the historical drama "Jewel in the Palace (Daejanggeum)" was aired there, CJ Foodville opened a "bibimbap (spicy rice with vegetables)" chain Bibigo in the city-state.

LG Electronics, which started relatively later than its rivals in the smartphone market, has also raised its market share in Singapore thanks to the use of popular actor Lee Min-ho in ads.

Source:

http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2011062218078

The Different Faces Of Korea..according to KTO

2011-08-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest promotional videos created by KTO - love the photography and the sight of the solo dancer dressed like a shaman ( I think?) is quite haunting. Pity the sites used in this video aren't identified but I can recognise a few and smile complacently and say to myself, "Been there, seen that."

But, mind you, only a few. Lots more to tick off on my long list of places to visit. Don't you love those magnificent trees? Can someone tell me their location?

On another note, pretend to be a marketing student and compare the different videos aimed at different regional markets. The first aimed at Chinese market depicts the dynamic Korea which puts a modern spin on its traditional performing arts while the second, intended for the Japanese market invariably features Bae Yong-jun but also typically emphasises the natural beauty of the country on an intimate scale. In contrast the exotic and mystical is highlighted in the campaign for the US and European markets. Even its slogan, "Be One With Earth and Sky" smacks of New Ageism. Is that what KTO thinks will sell Korea to Americans and Europeans?

Can't speak for them but hey, I'm sold.

sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=quQLnALSCps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0K8981Xluw&feature=related

The Honeymoon Is Over

2011-08-01T00:54:00.000-07:00

When I backpacked on buses in past visits to Korea, I used to marvel how the local bus companies managed to offer services in rural areas even though there were few passengers occasionally. It was fun trying to make small talk with the halmeonis or halrabeojis who were often amused and bemused by this foreigner travelling alone. Fast forward to 2011 and this sobering news found on the Hankyoreh:

(Photo by Jeon Jin-sik)

"Residents living in rural areas of Buyeo County, South Chungcheong Province, wait for buses on their way home from visiting a local market that opens every five days at a bus stop in Buyeo Town, July 15. Recently, a number of farming and fishing village buses, which are the only transportation means for those who live in remote and secluded villages in the country, have ceased operation due to the accumulated deficit of the operating companies. Those companies have reduced and stopped bus services as their financial difficulties have worsened from oil price hikes and rising labor costs, in addition to a decreasing number of passengers. As of late 2010, 101 companies ran 2006 buses in 4181 bus routes.Accordingly, elderly residents and students in those regions have encountered considerable difficulties in going to school and the market."

Looks like I'll have to spend more time waiting for less frequent bus services or consider alternative ways of getting around the country. But really the inconveniences suffered as a shoe-string traveller are peanuts compared to what the poor halmeonis and elderly ajummas are going to suffer when their main lifelines are going to be severely curtailed or even disappear entirely.

How will grandma find the way home?

Anyone remember that grandma bent double who had to make her way from her cottage to the nearest market in town by bus in the movie "The Road Home"? There are plenty of ladies like her scattered across the country and I wonder how they'll manage to carry their farm produce from their humble gardens or fields to sell in the nearest rural market without benefit of local transport.

source:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/488392.html
http://vladivostokfilmfestival.ru/en/archive/film/52/

Open Letter to KNTO

2011-07-28T23:11:00.000-07:00

Dear KNTO,

I've been watching with dismay the KBS World video footage of the Mount Umyeon ( in the southern part of Seoul) landslide, abandoned cars on flooded city roads and the sorry sight residents bailing out water again and again from their denuded homes after floodwaters played cat and mouse with municipal pumps. While I was glad that I wasn't stranded in Seoul this week, I wondered how independent tourists who don't understand Korean are coping with the disruptions in the capital and elsewhere in the country.

There was no mention of the major traffic jams on the KNTO website and the updates on its Twitter account were not very helpful. May I suggest that you post details such as which bus routes, subway
stations and blocked roads people should avoid so there's less likelihood of visitors getting caught in some traffic snarl or worse, being trapped by the rising floodwaters?

I think such updates via Twitter or your website to inform tourists who can't follow media reports in Korean or Hangul would be more useful than suggestions as to which indoor attractions to visit during the rainy season. Not much point recommending that I check out XYZ museum when I can't even board a bus or subway train to get there, is there?

I'd also hate for you to have to do this. If the speculation published by The Korea Times turns out to be true, you'd have to rethink your marketing strategy of selling Korea's temperate seasonal beauty. If indeed the climate in your country is becoming sub-tropical, I'd suggest you promote the maple and spring seasons with a greater sense of urgency.

Sincerely,
ajumma

Click here for Korean Travel on Twitter

source:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/32319/rains-mudslides-submerge-south-korean-capital-kill-36
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/07/117_91824.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/09/07/2009090700328.html

To Eat or Not To Eat Shin Ramyun?

2011-06-15T02:43:00.000-07:00

First, the Ministry of Health says "Don't" and then, a few days later, it says it's OK to consume Shin Ramyun ( or Shin Ramen ) instant noodles because tests on these products have apparently shown there aren't excessive levels of plasticiser ie. di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP).

Those who are addicted to this stuff do bear in mind there are two sources for the Shin Ramen packet noodles which are sold in Malaysia - those directly imported from Korea which are more pricey and sold in Lotte marts and supermarkets and the cheaper versions from China which one can find in wet markets and night markets. I'd like to think the Korean products are better and safer but I've nothing to back this wishful thinking.

I wonder if samples of the product from both countries were tested. Goodness knows how many packets I've already consumed and how much contaminants are in my system but do I care? Sounds terribly irresponsible of me but as I type this, I'm feeling peckish and longing for a bowl of spicy, chewy Korean ramyun. Oh dear - can somebody tell me if my favourite Nongshim is safe to eat?

Sources:
http://my.news.yahoo.com/msia-urges-consumers-avoid-korean-noodles-053003793.html
http://www.intellasia.net/news/articles/health/111328248_printer.shtml
http://mylife.online-4u.com/?p=541

Do Koreans Have A Soft Spot For Nella Fantasia?

2011-06-09T03:11:00.000-07:00

Let me add to the virality of this already viral video clip from Korea's Got Talent but also go off on a tangent.
Warning: Lotsa name-dropping ahead but no, that's not my real focus here either.

Ok- it's about Choi Sung-bong and how he's Korea's own Susan Boyle or Paul Potts...yadah, yadah...) and not about Nella Fantasia but this is the second time I've heard this music ( well, I wasn't aware of the music when it was featured as Gabriel's Oboe in the movie, "The Mission" ) as well as the second time I've been made aware of it by a Korean TV production.

It was featured in a memorable scene from Beethoven's Virus in which the orchestra really connects with Orchestra-Killer Maestro Kang for the first time. Now Nella Fantasia may be the song that could catapult Mr Choi into a fate similar to Susan Boyle's. BTW, those into spotting Hallyu stars, see if you can spot Seo Taiji's ex i.e. Ms Lee Ji-ah and Mr Jang Geun-seok in the second video clip. Also, it was a pleasant surprise as well to see the wife of Mr Sol Kyung-gu ie. Song Yoon-ah of Hotelier and On Air fame in the judge's seat for the Korea's Got Talent show.

So now, I'm throwing this question into cyberspace - why does this composition seem to resonate with Koreans? ( same goes for Pachabel's Canon in D ) Is it the lovely melody by Encio Morricone or the lyrics ( if the Korean version is anything like the English one below?

In my imagination I see a fair world,
Everyone lives in peace and in honesty there.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like the clouds that fly,

Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.
In my imagination I see a bright world,
Even the night is less dark there.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like clouds that fly.

In my imagination there exists a warm wind,
That breathes on the cities, like a friend.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like clouds that fly,
Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.

sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RKOL4O9Cy8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nella_Fantasia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BewknNW2b8Y#at=129

New Life For Old Pipes

2011-05-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

What a nice idea. The neighbours could even cultivate together their own herb garden. Next time you need some fresh basil or rosemary, just pop outside to pluck what you need.

Caption from KBS World: The Korea Land and Housing Corporation on Monday held a ceremony in Seoul to mark the completion of a project on remodeling worn-out living spaces into eco-friendly areas. (Yonhap News)

source:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo.htm?No=16527

Cultural Art Performance by Jang-seung Eouri Art Troupe, Part 2

2011-05-26T00:46:00.000-07:00

There were two main reasons why I wanted to attend this concert presented by the Jang-Seung Eouri Art Troupe. First, I was hoping to hear again the Dharma drums which I had witnessed at various temples in Korea before. If you've read my earlier posting, you already know how satisfied I was on that score.

The second reason was the Salpuri dance. Korea is well-known for its exuberant and energetic dances by troupes of graceful ladies in jewel-hued hanboks. Salpuri, however, is a solo act by a single female in plain white hanbok and it's slow and restrained. But when I first saw it performed at the Chongdong Theatre, I was riveted. It was such a haunting and moving experience that I now look forward to any chance of seeing it 'live'. It's been claimed that the dance has shamanistic roots although others maintain that the name of the dance alone is its only link to shamanistic rites as the literal meaning of "salpuri" is to wash away evil spirits.

Another person sees the dance as embodying the essence of Han, meaning "sorrow, bitterness or unsatisfied desire", a characteristic of Korean art and culture. Click here for this writer's pretty vivid description of the dance. Better still, watch the videoclip below.

So was I satisfied with Ms Jung Kyeong's performance? I'm no dance critic and the concert organisers didn't have the benefit of all the top-notch facilities of the Chongdong Theatre so let's just say she did a fairly decent job but it wasn't as mesmerising as the first time I saw it on a cold autumn evening in Seoul. What I'd really like to do is to go to some remote Buddhist temple in Korea on a full moon night and watch this danced in the open courtyard in the partial darkness. I want the shivers to run down my back not simply from the low temperatures of the fall season but to recreate a scene I saw in that enigmatic Buddhist movie entitled "Why Has Bodhidharma Left For The East?" by Bae Yong -kyun.

Here are some additional notes on salpuri from a source indicated below:

"Usually a mudang(shaman) presided over the process. Shamanism is a long-held tradition which emerged around the Three Kingdoms era. Salp'uri was the climax of shaman rituals. Its representative by-product is the unique salp'uri rhythmic cycle that has been adapted in other performing arts. Salp'uri is prevalent in the Honam region, the southwestern part of Korea, in the form of ssitkimgut, the soul cleansing shaman rite. This is regarded as the archetype of the present Salp'urich'um which uses a white silk scarf as a key prop. The salp'urich'um dance has been polished over the centuries to add artistic value, and so it is hard today to trace it back to a mere exorcism rite. It was performed in shaman rites accompanied by the rhythms of shinawi (featuring an extensively improvised ensemble with wind and percussion instruments) to attract the interest of spectators. As it was refined into an artistic artform, salp'uri's name changed to ipch'um, chukhungch'um, or sugonch'um.

Although it derived from shaman rites, salp'uri does not carry out any religious function. The dancer, attuning herself to the sorrowful shinawi music, portrays sadness and anxiety in her every step. During this process, the dancer's movement reveals striking energy and movement as she performs in a trance- like state. The salp'uri's rhythmic normal font cycle starts out with slow-paced shinawi rhythms and gradually builds up speed which conveys the dancer's excitement."

Incidentally, I came across this brief abstract entitled "Dynamics of brain electric field during recall of Salpuri dance performance" by Park JR, Yagyu T, Saito N, Kinoshita T, Hirai T. See below. Have to check with a neurologist what the jargon means but it does sound as intriguing as the dance itself.

Abstract
The brain wave activity of a professional Salpuri dancer was observed while the subject recalled her performance of the Salpuri dance when sitting in a chair with closed eyes. As she recalled the feeling of the ecstatic trance state induced by the dance, an increase in alpha brain activity was observed together with marked frontal midline theta activity. Compared to a resting state, the dynamics of the electrical activity in the brain showed an increase in the global field power integral and a decrease in generalized frequency and spatial complexity.

Click here for the link to Chongdong Theatre. You may or may not see a salpuri performance there now but a good show is usually to be expected there.

LondonKoreanLinks has an interesting article on dance. I learn from its posting that male dancers may also perform the salpuri! Hmm... pardon my bias, but I doubt the effect would be as haunting.

sources:
http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/perform/salpuri.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12509202
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRo6V4aUc8
http://www.koreafilm.org/feature/100_83.asp

Cultural Performance By Jang-Seung Eouri Art Troupe - Part 1

2011-05-20T03:24:00.000-07:00

While Mother Nature was throwing a a pretty intimidating temper tantrum last Sunday afternoon, the audience who attended a cultural performance presented by the Jang-Seung Eouri Art Troupe were treated to a quite an interesting time. This fund-raiser, organised by BGF ( Buddhist Gem Fellowship)
in collaboration with Sam Poh Thong and held at the MAS Academy auditorium in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia was quite well-attended though the attendees were presumably members of various Buddhist groups in the country. It would've been even more heart-warming if the audience had been more diverse but I guess the young Hallyu fans were saving their money for another SuJu or 2 AM ( or is it 2 PM ?) concert.

The event started off a bit too sedately though not surprisingly but it soon warmed up and got the audience tapping their feet, clapping their hands and even asking for an encore from the musicians. The MCs, a Malaysian and a Korean, were nowhere to be seen at the beginning which was a little surprising but they did offer interesting snippets of information about the backdrop for the first one-third of the concert. What did raise my eyebrows was the Taenghwa (탱화, San.: Thangka i.e. a painting of Buddha images or stories from the Sutras on silk or hemp cloth.) which formed the backdrop for the first section of the concert. This one though, which is a replica of an original masterpiece featured the Goddess of Mercy.

Part 1 Making An Offering To Buddha

Bopgo - Dharma Drum Dance performed by the Venerable Seong Ju

Memo to Self - Remember NOT to have ANY expectations! This particular Bopgo was a far cry from the intense drumming I had heard on previous visits to the temples in Korea. Philistine that I am, I couldn't help wishing the Ven. Seong Ju had kept to convention instead of giving us her artistic interpretation of the daily ritual intended to "awaken all sentient beings and open their minds to participate in the Dharma or Buddhist Law so that they may be delivered from suffering".

So, mian-hamnida to Ven. Seong Ju but I was really disappointed with the slow -moving opening item which barely contained much contact with the drum. The latter wasn't as huge as anticipated either, so that was another disappointment. I felt let-down particularly because I was hoping my companion could hear what I had heard and fallen in love with before. Looks like I'll have to drag her to a temple to Korea myself one of these days just so she can hear for herself what I've been raving about.

Click here then for some idea of what I'm missing.

Bara JakBeop - Bara ( Cymbals) Dance

No idea how close this dance item is to the original choreography but according to one website, "monks perform this dance...to purify the place by defeating evils". The dance aims to make people have "righteous minds" so I suppose one would really need to be educated in an appreciation of Buddhist performance arts to really appreciate what's going on.There are supposed to be 84 rhythms but I forgot to listen out for these. Either the music didn't sound that varied in its rhythmic patterns to my uneducated ears or maybe I was nodding off because I didn't have enough sleep the night before.

Two ladies presented this item and we could applaud their ability to maintain their balance despite all the turning round and round which they had to do. Still, one couldn't help wishing they had been moving in unison a little more closely and this is where I suppose I had underestimated the efforts and endless practises to achieve the clockwork precision of Girls' Generation dances. ( Horrors - am I drawing parallels between the sacred and the profane??? ) Plus I would've liked the ajummas to bang their cymbals with more conviction. The rather lady-like sounds they produced would NOT have been very effective in scaring any demon away. Still, I'm glad for the chance to see this dance because it wouldn't be something one comes across easily, unless one happened to be at some temple during a Buddhist celebration, I figure.

Here are some notes on two dances from another source:

"The ‘ Barachum’ (바라춤, Cymbals Dance) is a temple dance which, through clasping our fists and unclasping them, represents our vow to live in harmony, and to accept the teachings of the Buddha and to promulgate them. (Its origin goes back to the time of the ‘Bara’.)

The purpose of the ‘Nabichum’ (나비춤, Butterfly Dance) is to gather together all gods in the whole. It also calls all sentient beings that have not come back to life in order that they may repent of all sins and bad karma, and create good karma. Therefore, the moves and steps of the Barachum (바라춤, Cymbals Dance) and Nabichum (나비춤, Butterfly Dance) are solemn and strict, and are done with clear and unattached mind. Therefore, these movements symbolize the true meaning of ‘Seon’ (J : Zen). For example, the basic movements of the Dances are to take steps tracing the Chinese character (‘丁’, K: Jeong, 정). The main movements are; to turn around in circles signifying integrity and harmony, to clasp and unclasp the hands signifying love and compassion, and to fold and unfold the body symbolizing taking refuge."

To be continued....

sources:
http://www.bovis.tv/index.php?id=14,36,0,0,1,0
http://eng.koreatemple.net/culture/default.asp?cat_id=10&page=3

Guess Whom This Memorial Service Is For

2011-05-10T02:28:00.000-07:00

Take a good look at the offerings particularly in the foreground and guess whom these people are honouring.

Click here for the answer. I wonder if Korea's the only place in the world where such a scene can be found.

source:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/477167.html

Pretty Big Bibimbap And A Sneak Peek Into Social Welfare, K-style

2011-05-06T03:34:00.000-07:00

This photo from the Hankyoreh caught my eye and the accompanying text ( see below) to the shot of a giant bibimbap got me wondering about this particular welfare group. Turns out it's a Christian organisation which runs a soup kitchen amongst other projects but I found two things particularly interesting. First, the name "Da-il" is supposed to mean the "Pursuit of unity within diversity" which sounds a lot like the Indonesian national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika which is ancient Javanese for "Unity in Diversity". Hmmm...was the pastor inspired by the Indonesians?

Next and more intriguing is the Da-il website itself ; if you click on the list of people serving the foundation on the left side bar, you'd find a list that sounds pretty comprehensive in its organisation - from advisors to a board of directors to auditors, and even public relations ambassadors comprising people from the media and entertainment scene. I don't know whether to be impressed or intimidated.

Write-up from the Hankyoreh:
"Pastor Choi Il-do, chairman of the Dail Welfare Foundation, center, and other donors hold giant utensils to mix boiled rice and other ingredients in a large bowl to make bibimbap, mixed rice and vegetables, for 500 people at the “365 Relay of Scooping and Sharing Rice” event held in front of their campaign headquarters in Seoul’s Dongdaemun District, May 2. The event was put on to commemorate the rice-scooping pastor serving a total of five million bowls of free meals to the homeless and those living in poor neighborhoods since its start in 1988. The Dail community usually serves free meals to 1,200 people a day, which costs two million Won ($1,866). Thus far, around 200,000 volunteers have helped serve the meals. (Yonhap News)

source:

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/476096.html

http://eng.dail.org/goto.asp?sub_no=1_1

Spring's Almost Over?

2011-05-05T02:48:00.000-07:00

This photo by Tak Ki-hyoung was taken on the 22nd of April after heavy showers and strong gusts caused the cherry blossoms to fall from the trees around the National Assembly building in Yeouido. Jackson Pollock could draw inspiration from the pretty picture they make on the ground.

What I'd like to know is where the photographer was standing to take this great shot. Perched on a tree or does he have access to a high floor on some official building nearby?

Check out this article on where to catch the last sights of this all-too-fleeting season in Korea this year.

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/05/05/2011050500411.html

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/474508.html

Houses In Korea I Fell In Love With, Part 3

2011-04-26T03:01:00.000-07:00

Actually I'm not crazy about the house featured in Secret Garden ( starring Ha Jiwon and Hyun Bin) - it's too white, too Zen, too contemporary for my old-fashioned tastes. The exterior is another story, though. Loved the wooden walkway leading to the apron overlooking the small pond outside the house. The eulalia and maple trees plus the ceiling-to-wall glass windows allow for wonderful vistas which can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.

It's not going to be easy for K-drama fans to make a pilgrimage to the Maiim Vision Village which is the shooting location for this hugely popular dramatic comedy about role reversals. Getting to the Maiim Vision Village which was also the location for some scenes from other K-dramas like "Winter Sonata" and "Star's Lover" isn't really the problem. See the map below.

The tricky part is gaining admission onto the grounds which cover 330,000 square meters in Yeoju in Gyeonggi-do as it's not open to the public. Unless you are a member of the press or better still, an employee who is supposed to undergo training under Maiim Group, a company selling cosmetics and health food products, your chances of getting close-up snapshots of the grounds and buildings are as slim as Ha Jiwon's character gaining approval from her snobbish mother-in-law. Otherwise, you may be lucky enough to explore its dorms, community area and sports facilities and lovely gardens. About ten years ago, it existed as a youth hostel but was converted into a training centre when the land was purchased by Maiim Group.

That being the case, you may as well be an armchair traveller and explore the place via cyberspace. One of the most significant buildings here is the Mud and Stone House. The architect, Bae Dae-yong, was responsible for this hybrid of contrasting textures which featured a stone section as a working space on the upper part of a hill and the "mud" section on the lower slope inteded as guest rooms.

Bae remarks: "Beauty is nothing but something that is hidden in nature, being revealed accidentally. It can be declared that there is no essential beauty not rooted in nature. For beauty belongs to nature. Beauty is not created but discovered, and we should approach the nature as near as possible if we want to discover it, and we men cannot create such a beauty but can only make it revealed." His ideas about how design can harmonise with nature can be found in his book, "Removing, and Becoming Transparent”.

Here are some examples of Bae's work.

My favourite room is probably the library - see above right. The suspended window on one end of the room looks like a painting in itself while the rock is a pretty large token of Nature making its presence felt in this airy, ample interior.

Here's another instance of Bae's work - this time for a wealthy couple in Seoul. The ceramic tableware, stone lantern and bamboo are the traditional touches to this otherwise very Western design.

See also:

Houses In Korea I Fell In Love With, Part 1

Houses In Korea I Fell in Love With, Part 2

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_5_1_68.jsp
http://www.soompi.com/news/secret-garden-press-conference-features-house-and-actors
http://www.soompi.com/content/type/2/0/3/9995
http://www.soompi.com/image/335575
http://www.bnadesign.co.kr/home/project.bna?proc=view&cateNo=100000011&index=128&lang=E#
http://www.bnadesign.co.kr/home/design.bna?lang=E
http://www.kdb.co.kr/screen/jsp/IHIre/down/new/2011.02-16.pdf
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/archive/pavlik_article_112002
http://www.maiim.com/eng/01_Story/03_Company_Brief.html?pageNum=1&subNum=3&ssubNum=1

Learning Korean Through Donga Cartoons

2011-04-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Here's another source of Korean cartoons with translations - useuful for learning Korean in small doses.

1 ) 버티던 평가원 - The persistently denying Korea Institute of Curriculum and Evaluation

2) 복수정답 인정하고 (평가원) -2) Admits its mistake of dual answers

3) 전 사퇴하겠습니다 (원장) - 3) I resign (KICE President)

4) 그 말이 정답이네 - 4) "That is the correct answer!"

source:
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=140000&biid=2007122532998

Wanna Hang Out...New Hanji At A Korean Palace?

2011-04-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

Oh to be in Korea now that spring is here. I'd make a beeline tomorrow ( 23rd April, 2 pm) for the Tongmyeongjeon Hall at Changgyeong-gung ( palace) to volunteer for the ‘Royal Palace Maintenance Reenactment and Participatory Program’. You may have already missed the demonstration of the cleaning of the Jegi ( wooden bowls used in the Jongmyo ancenstral rites which will be conducted on the first Sunday of May) - this was held on the 16th of April but it's not too late to take part in other palace maintainence traditions.

Be prepared to get your fingers sticky as you help to rip off the year old hanji from palace windows and doors and replace them with fresh sheets of Korean traditional mulberry paper. You may also observe the palace housekeeping staff cleaned the floors the good old-fashioned way without benefit of domestic robots. All you need to pay is the normal admission charge for this privilege sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes palace life.

And if you miss the event tomorrow, the third part of the program will be at the Seongjeonggak Pavilion of Changdeokgung Palace on April 30th (2:00 pm).

Tourists at Changdeokgung can now admire spring blossoms on palace grounds as well.
Click here for the comprehensive list of activities at the different palaces.

Click here for an earlier posting on the Quintessential Spring Pictures

source:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1259075
http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=46044
http://ajummasjournal.blogspot.com/2009/09/andong-hanji-andong-part-6.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/04/15/2011041500362.html

Hanbok Gets The Boot From Shilla

2011-04-18T03:43:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard and don't get the significance of the cartoon above, here's a quick translation:
The Hotel Shilla Seoul pushes out a woman in hanbok, Korean traditional costume, saying, "No admittance! It's because hanbok is dangerous." The woman gets angry and asks, "What country's hotel is it?"

The hoo-ha started when hanbok designer Lee Hye-sun of Frozen Flower fame ( who usually goes around in hanbok) was denied entrance into the ParkView buffet restaurant at the Shilla Hotel on the grounds that she was ...well, wearing a hanbok. Apparently compliants from some hotel guests have prompted the hotel staff to discourage guests from wearing the national dress of Korea for fear of causing people to trip over its billowing and long hemlines.

It didn't take long for Shilla to respond to the furry of comments by enraged Netizens with a formal apology from none other than the Shilla CEO herself, Lee Boo-jin. BTW, she also happens to be the oldest daughter of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

The affronted designer and the CEO who had to do some damage control

I'm just wondering what's happened to the over- zealous staff member simply carrying out orders who unfortunately became the one who said "Anio" to the pride of the nation, couture-wise. OR Perhaps it was not even a Korean employee but a clueless foreign worker who didn't have enough proficiency in Korean to explain the hotel policy diplomatically.

Then again, what is really Shilla Hotel's policy on the hanbok? Wouldn't it be better for the hotel to put up notices to remind guests to be careful where they tread? For goodness's sake, surely that shouldn't even be necessary as everyone should exercise common sense and be careful when approaching someone in a hanbok. Personally I'd prefer to admire from a distance and would steer clear of any ajumma in a hanbok because I doubt I could afford to pay for her laundry bill if I accidentally bumped into her and spilled some gochujang on her dress or worse, if I have to pay compensation for a torn hanbok. Do you have any idea how expensive and hard to maintain these beautiful and delicate garments can be???
sources:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/473002.html
http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110413000988
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2934882

Touring Korea From The Air

2011-04-12T02:22:00.000-07:00

How many tourists would be fortunate to have a pilot in the family or have enough won to afford to hire a small plane just to appreciate these enormous artworks? While I applaud the creativity of these landscape artists who have given crop circles their own Korean spin, I wonder how viable a tourist attraction their creations would be?

Perhaps pilots of budget airlines plying the Seoul-southern province routes may be persuaded to fly over this area on a regular basis but it wouldn't do much for reducing our carbon footprints.

From the Hankyoreh: "The first photo shows a majestic view of rice fields near the Suncheon Bay by the Suncheon City, South Jeolla Province. The city created hooded cranes, the representative migratory bird at the Suncheon Bay, one of the world five wetlands, with colorful rice plants including black ones among ripened yellow ones."

It may be possible to get a bird's perspective of the second scene below without resorting to wings. If one is willing to clamber up the nearest mountain or hill overlooking this giant moral, one may be rewarded by this striking if less inspiring sight. Still, I can't imagine hordes of tourists making the effort, though.

From the Hankyoreh: The second is a photo of green fields with young rice plants in the Goesan County, North Chungcheong Province. The county displayed neolttwigi, a traditional Korean jumping game on a plank similar to a see-saw, with a sentence reading, ““Wow! She’s really taking off!”....Recently, scenic farming, also called beautiful farming, has become increasingly popular in South Korea. It has attracted tourists in addition to income from the produce.

(Photos courtesy of the local governments)

sources:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/472378.html
http://www.designswan.com/archives/mysterious-crop-circles.html

BMK's When Flowers Bloom Again In Spring

2011-04-08T02:47:00.000-07:00

Here's another version:

꽃피는 봄이 오면BMK (비엠케이)
니가 떠난 그 후로 내 눈물은 얼 수 없나 봐
얼어 붙고 싶어도 다시 흐른 눈물 때문에
널 잃은 내 슬픔에 세상이 얼어도
날이 선 미움이 날 할켜도

뿌리 깊은 사랑은 이젠 떼어낼 수 없나 봐
처음부터 넌 내 몸과 한 몸이었던 것처럼
그 어떤 사랑 조차 꿈도 못 꾸고
이내 널 그리고 또 원하고 난 니 이름만 부르짖는데

다시 돌아 올까? 니가 내 곁으로 올까?
믿을 수가 없는데 믿어 주면 우리 너무 사랑한
지난 날처럼 사랑하게 될까? 그 때의 맘과 똑같을까?
계절처럼 돌고 돌아 다시 꽃피는 봄이 오면

기다리는 이에게 사랑 말곤 할 게 없나 봐
그 얼마나 고단한지 가늠도 못 했었던 나
왜 못 보내느냐고 오~ 왜 우냐고
자꾸 날 꾸짖고 날 탓하고 또 그래도 난 너를 못 잊어

다시 돌아 올까? 니가 내 곁으로 올까?
믿을 수가 없는데 믿어 주면 우린 너무 사랑한
지난 날처럼 사랑하게 될까? 그 때의 맘과 똑같을까?
계절처럼 돌고 돌아 다시 꽃피는 봄이 오면

참 모질었던 삶이었지만 늘 황폐했던 맘이지만
그래도 너 있어 눈부셨어
널 이렇게도 그리워 견딜 수가 없는 건
나 그 때의 나 그 날의 내 모습이 그리워

시간에게 속아 다른 누굴 허락하고
다른 누군가에게 기대 서로 묻고 산다고 해도
날 기억해 줘

한 순간이지만 우리가 사랑했다는 건
너와 나눈 사랑은 참 삶보다 짧지만
내 추억속에 사는 사랑은 영원할 테니까
꼭 찰나같아 찬란했던 그 봄날은

Korean to English translation ( See how Google translator can mess up?)

After that you're gone can not get away my tears, look at the Earl
Tears flowed again because I want to freeze transfixed
The world froze in my sorrow, I have lost
Hate me, the day halkyeodo

I can not get away and pulled off a deep-rooted love Look
You like my body, beginning a momyieotdeon
What I can not even dream that dream
And you want within your name I was crying

Could come back? You could come to my side?
Believe if I can not believe we loved so much
The last day when I would do? I wonder when the heart and the same?
When spring comes round again, like the seasons around

Has anything better to do I see waiting yiege
I had not even measure how much hardship or if
Why not send a calling me Oh why I'm crying
I keep blaming me and rebuke me, but I can not forget you

Could come back? You could come to my side?
I believe if I can not believe we have loved
The last day when I would do? I wonder when the heart and the same?
When spring comes round again, like the seasons around

Mozilla had been so devastated lives, but always mamyijiman
But you still got nunbusyeoteo
I miss you too so what I can not stand
I figure that I miss the day when I

Hours to allow anyone else to be fooled
Hope someone else can live with each other to ask
Remember me me

I mean, one moment, but we
Divided by the true love you more than life is short
I'll love to live in my memories forever
The spring is glorious moment I think

sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvqR7fnqMl8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH3-Wa6LAZE&feature=related

On Air In Jinhae Midst Cherry Blossoms

2011-04-07T02:30:00.000-07:00

Aside from Romance, On Air was the other K drama that got me drooling over cherry blossoms in Jinhae. In episode 12, Lee Gyeong-Min ( played by Park Yong-ha) and his entire production team take a break from their hectic schedules to admire the springtime blossoms. There's another scene in which Seo Yeong-Eun ( Song Yoon-ah ) goes off for a solo walk to admire the cherry blossoms at night, but she is soon joined by Lee Gyeong-Min.

Wonder if Song Yoon-ah looks up at the cherry blossoms and feels a pang for her co-star who committed suicide last year.

Shooting location for On Air

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_5_1_40.jsp
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=261560
http://koreanfanscommunity.blogspot.com/2010/10/on-air-2008.html

Spring Cleaning For Trees?

2011-03-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

Can't decide which is more impressive - the sight of an 872-year-old juniper near Seocho Station in the southern part of Seoul OR the sight of an employee of the municipal council giving it some serious TLC?

Wish people in my corner of the cosmos had half the regard these people here have for trees. We prefer to chop down branches so that they don't smash our windowscreens during a thunderstorm. We'd even sooner chop down all the trees to convert the land into prime real estate or plantations or golf courses. Instead of admiring a tree-lined avenue, we'd opt for the space to be cleared for extra parking space.

What puzzles me is the exact treatment the trees are getting here - pardon my ignorance but why on earth would they need washing?

Korea Times photo by Won You-hon

sources:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/03/115_83791.html
http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/slideshow-photo/these-women-were-cleaning-the-trees-by-travelpod-member-bee7bea-kyongju-south-korea.html?sid=12304232&fid=tp-15
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=16237&current_page=

Say "Kimchi" Pretty Please, Baby?

2011-03-24T22:33:00.000-07:00

I'm guessing that few would've bothered to give these babies a second look if they were photographed with their mothers. And even then, when K-pop celebrities are posing with them for photographer Jo Se-hyun, the babies aren't likely to get as much attention as Hallyu stars like Lee Seung-gi, Jang Geun-suk or Kim Ok-bin.

The photos are part of an exhibition organised by the Social Welfare Society to create awareness for the issue of adoption so I'm a bit puzzled as to why these particular babies were chosen as they're not orphans. According to the Chosun Ilbo, these belonged to single mothers or they were babies with disabilities ( which isn't the same as an orphaned baby who needs a new set of parents).

If you're interested in the where and when of the exhibition, it's somewhere in Busan and will be open from the 25th to the 31st of March.

BTW, looks as if Ms Kim Hee-ae is the most successful in coaxing a smile from her partner for her monochrome shot. Lots of fans would love to be in the embrace of Lee Seung-gi and Jang Geun-suk but these babies look neither thrilled nor impressed.

Clockwise from top left, Kim Ok-bin, Lee Seung-gi, Kim Hee-ae, Han Hyo-joo and Jang Geun-suk posing with unidentified and uncredited babies.

source:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/03/15/2011031500863.html

Cherry Blossoms Schedule for 2011

2011-03-24T02:29:00.000-07:00

As I'm typing this, the cherry blossoms are supposed to be blooming in Jeju already. Guess I have to be satisfied with recollections of my visits to Jinhae, Hadong and Namhae during the spring of 2007 and remind myself that spring isn't really my favourite season. Sour grapes, huh?

Anyway the cherry blossom schedule is already out on the KTO website for those of you who are planning to catch the sights in Korea this season. Happy planning for your itinerary!

Click here for the full details for where and when the cherry blossoms are expected to make their appearance and click here for the predictions for forsythia and azaleas.

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?nCategoryID=1&SearchType=&keyword=&gotoPage=1&cid=1224040&cCode=&nCategoryID=&searchType=&searchKeyword=
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1223280

To Market, To Market..Within A Korean Train Carriage

2011-03-23T02:07:00.000-07:00

If you're a Seoulite who prefers buying fresh and cheap greens directly from the farmer but you can't be bothered to drive out to the countryside, what do you do?

Hurry down to Cheongdam Station on Line No 7 of the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation ( which runs subway lines 5, 6,7 and 8) and look for a parked train on a spare line. This is the "5678 Happy Market" - a springtime initiative which brings together Korean farmers from 20 different rural areas who wish to sell the produce directly and urban ajummas looking for cheaper Napa cabbages or radishes which can be discounted between 10 to 20 percent. Talk about a win-win situation.

BTW, marine products - ie the dried varieties- are also available . Cash or credit cards are accepted and what is even more impressive is that some delivery service is also provided.

Hurry, though - this unique market ends on 24 March.

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2933827
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/469465.html
http://www.smrt.co.kr/Eng/Culture/Culturemap/Culturemap_06.jsp
http://korea.tc/go/137140
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2927231
http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_Vod_Full_Pop.asp?VodURL=1&VodSeq=55723

More On Learning Korean Through Cartoons

2011-03-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

What's the Korean word for ...?

Tsunami - 해일 or 쓰나미

Radioactive - 방사성

A woman shops at a supermarket flooded with water that reads, “Tsunami of foot-and-mouth disease,” and says, “This time it’s radioactive...” 　　

A fish on the shelf says to her, “It’s hard to eat and live, isn’t it?”

Japanese fish and vegetables contaminated by radioactivity have made South Korean households more nervous about food safety and prices compounded by the domestic outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.　

(Hankyoreh Geurimpan Mar. 21)　

sources:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/469037.html

K's Only Human

2011-03-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

Kang Yoon-sung a.k.a.K's hit, "Only Human" from the Japanese drama "One Litre of Tears" seems appropriate for the moment.

English translation of lyrics:

On the other shore of sadness,
It is said that there is a smile,

On the other shore of sadness,
It is said that there is a smile,
Finally we arrived.
But what are we waiting for?

The purpose is not to run away,
It's to chase after dreams
We should have gone out to travel
On that summer day so long ago

In a place worn down by sadness
something called a miracle, is waiting
Yet we are still searching
for the sunflower that grows at the end of spring
The warrior who awaits the morning light
before he can clasp it with red nails,
his tears glitter and fall

Even if we’ve grown used to loneliness
only relying on the light of the moon
We have to fly away with featherless wing
just go forward, just a little further

Even tomorrow, if you see it
Though there isn't a sigh either.
Like a ship going against the current flow.
Right now, go forward, move ahead.

Even if it cuts through the rain and clouds,
The wet roads shine,
Only the dark will teach,
A stronger and stronger light,
Be strong, go forward, move ahead.

Japanese lyrics

ONLY HUMAN by K

kanashimi no mukou kishi ni
hohoemi ga aru to iu yo

kanashimi no mukou kishi ni
hohoemi ga aru to iu yo
tadori tsuku sono saki ni wa
nani ga bokura wo matteru

nigeru tame ja naku
yume ou tame ni
tabi ni deta hazu sa
tooi natsu no ano hi

asita sae mieta nara
tame iki mo nai kedo
nakare ni sakarau fune no you ni
ima wa mae he susume

kuru shi mi no tsu ki ta basho ni
shiyawase ga matsu to u yo
boku wa ma da saka shi te i ru
kisetsu ha zu re no hi mawari
ko bu shi nigi ri shi me
asahi wo ma te ba
aka i tsume a to ni namida ki ra ri o chiru

kodoku ni mo na re ta na ra
tsukia ka ri tayo ri ni
hame na ki tsubasa de tobi ta to
mo-to mae he susume

amakumo ga kireta nara
mu re ta michi ka ga ya ku
nami da ke ga hoshi e te ku re ru
tsuyoi tsuyoi hikari
tsuyo ku mae he susume

source:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpqoPX_CLaM&NR=1

Seoul Has Shifted

2011-03-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

A friend was asking about the direction of movement of land following the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan. Looks like the Korean Peninsula has shifted to the east, according to the report from the Chosun Ilbo below. The extent of the slide ranged from less than 1 cm to slightly over 5 cm, depending on the region. But that's nothing compared to the dramatic change experienced by Japan - it moved eastwards up to a maximum of 2.4 metres (7.92 feet).

Earthquake Shifts Japan, Korea Further Apart

The devastating earthquake off the northeastern coast of Japan on Friday caused Korea's easternmost Dokdo islets to shift around 5 cm to the east. Tokyo claims sovereignty over the rocky islets, which lie between the two countries in the East Sea. Japan shifted altogether 2.4 m to the east due to the earthquake, moving further away from Dokdo.

The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute said Wednesday that data from global positioning systems in 11 locations throughout Korea show that the Korean Peninsula has shifted 0.8 to 5.16 cm to the east, depending on the region. Seoul shifted 2.11 cm to the east, while Daejeon, Mokpo and Dokdo moved 1.96, 1.21, and 0.89 cm east, respectively, according to KASI.

Mar. 17, 2011 09:44 KST

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/03/17/2011031700683.html
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Japan-Earthquake-Shifts-Earth-s-Axis-189203.shtml
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-03-quake-shifted-japan-korea-scientists.html

FMD in Korea - Not So Hot For Tourists But Worse For Locals

2011-03-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

FMD ( Foot and Mouth Disease is also known as Hoof-and-Mouth Disease) does not usually affect humans. It doesn’t mean that if you come into contact with a cow which has FMD, you will get infected. The odds are HIGHLY unlikely. Moreover, Wikipedia states that the virus “ that causes FMD is sensitive to stomach acid” so “ it cannot spread to humans via consumption of infected meat, except in the mouth before the meat is swallowed.” BTW, FMD is not to be confused with HFMD “hand, foot and mouth disease” which is usually caused by the Coxsackie A virus.

The reason government officials have been discouraging visits to farms and travel around the country is that the FMD virus can be carried and spread easily by humans and animals when equipment, cars or clothes are exposed to it. That’s why:

• The Lee MB administration tried to discouraged people in the ROK from making their annual return visits to their hometown s during Seollal celebrations earlier this year

• Tourists can expect many closures of zoos and cancellations of festivals especially those in the rural areas

• Lovers of bulgogi or samgyeopsal -gui can expect to fork out more won for these favourite meat dishes as wholesale prices have risen and imports from the US or Australia have increased. Those who cannot do without their daily glass of milk may also suffer escalating prices.

• Government workers especially veterinarians and health officials in the agricultural sector have been forced to cancel their leave and have had very little rest as they are on the front-line fighting the spread of the disease. If there have been human deaths related to FMD in Korea, the cause may well be indirect as they’ve been exhausted, working round-the-clock to contain the virus.

Just a word of caution – be careful what you drink. According to one article in The Korea Times some “groundwater sources near animal burial sites have been classified ‘undrinkable’ due to concentrations of colon bacillus – a bacteria group that includes E.coli – that exceed the legal minimum.” When health officials ran out of the lethal injections to kill the cows and pigs in a humane way, it led to the desperate mass burial of live animals. The hasty culling of the animal livestock may have inadvertently compromised groundwater sources as the tarpaulin used to line the burial pits may have been torn by the struggling animals.

Sources:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2042942,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/18/south-korea-foot-and-mouth
http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2011/world/foot-and-mouth-disease%E2%80%94will-mass-animal-burials-cause-water-contamination-in-south-korea/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand,_foot_and_mouth_disease
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot-and-mouth_disease
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/459153.html
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/457708.html

Cherry Blossoms In A Ring Of Fire

2011-03-14T02:24:00.000-07:00

Older generations of Koreans may have an ambivalent attitude towards the appearance of cherry blossoms on the Korean landscape as they evoke bitter memories of the Japanese occupation. According to Hannah Kim, "Already on the 50th anniversary of the Japanese surrender in World War II, some of the cherry blossoms that were planted by the Japanese were chopped down at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul because they were identified as painful remnants of the colonial past. "

Cherry blossoms, for others, may simply spell the end of winter and start of spring. It's a popular motif on wedding cakes and some people even like it as a tattoo. However, long before the samurai and kamikaze pilots adopted the flower as their special symbol, the cherry blossom has symbolised for the Japanese the "transient nature of life" or fleeting beauty. When the sakura starts to appear in Japan around mid-April this year, there may not be so many cherry-blossom viewing parties under the trees with the attendant sake-drinking and feasting. Instead, the delicate blooms will probably be viewed silently with a wrenching of the heart and a sting in the eye.

So this posting is dedicated to all those who were killed in the recent 9.0-magnitude earthquake cum 10-meter tsunami disaster in Japan. They may have been ordinary citizens of Japan, or Koreans living and working there and there may have also been various nationalities visiting , working and living there but the forces of nature weren't discriminating. May their souls rest in peace.

BTW, check out this ominous article by Simon Winchester on the devastation in Japan which uncovers a conspiracy of triple whammies - geography, topography and geological history. His commentary begins with this sombre reminder:

"All of those broken bones in northern Japan, all of those broken lives and those broken homes prompt us to remember what in calmer times we are invariably minded to forget: the most stern and chilling of mantras, which holds, quite simply, that mankind inhabits this earth subject to geological consent—which can be withdrawn at any time."

sources:
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/13/the-scariest-earthquake-is-yet-to-come.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2011/02/168_63676.html
http://epoch-archive.com/a1/en/us/nyc/2009/04-Apr/08/B2.pdf
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/photography/photos/cherry-blossoms-gallery/imperial-palace-cherry-blossom/
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/seasonal/sakura2011/index.php
http://www.stolaf.edu/people/kucera/YoshidaWebsite/evolution/essay_pages/stephanie_cargile.htm

Learning Korean Through Hankyoreh Cartoons

2011-03-10T01:35:00.000-08:00

Here's an idea for cramming a quick language lesson while putting your finger on the pulse of the Korean society. Cartoons are a regular feature of the on-line Korean papers and it's interesting to compare and contrast their perspectives on various issues like politics and the economy.

For instance, it's quite amusing to see the difference in their depictions of MB - that's President Lee Myung-bak for those new to the lingo of Korean cartoons. That's not just his name but the Hankyoreh cartoonist has cleverly played on the words "muneung" ( incompetence) and "bupae" ( corruption) as well. See the second cartoon below.

In contrast, the partiality of the JoongAng Ilbo towards MB is not hard to miss when it tries to persuade its readers of parallels between the founder of Apple and Mr Bulldozer. I'm not sure how Steve Jobs would feel about MB being compared to him but at the very least, I can't imagine MB ever wearing a turtle-neck sweater and jeans or matching Jobs' ability to inspire. If you want a crash course on the current controversies surrounding the LMB administration, look no further than the icons on MB's "iPad". For an explanation of what each represents, click here.

As far as I can see, only the Hankyoreh goes the extra mile to offer to some degree translations in its texts that accompany the original cartoons in Korea. Cartoons in the JoongAng Ilbo and the Korean Herald are only given in English, so then Hankyoreh is your best bet for language learning through cartoons. A pity though that it doesn't translate every word or phrase in its cartoons.

sources:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/464078.html
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/467195.html
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/466787.html
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2932976

ETA for Spring Flowers 2011

2011-03-03T23:17:00.000-08:00

According to KBS, the KMA has issued the ETA for spring flowers for this year:

ETA for Forsythias

Jeju-do - around 13th March
Southern regions- between 15th and 26th March
Central regions - between 27th March and 1st April
Northern regions - after 2nd April.

ETA for Azaleas

Jeju-do -around March 15th in Jeju
Southern regions - between 17th and 28th of March
Central regions - between 29th March and 3rd April
Northern regions - after April 4th.

The peak flowering season for each region comes seven days after these dates.
Best time to see these flowers in Seoul ? Around April 5th and 6th.

Previous Postings on Spring Flowers in Korea:

Forsythia

Azaleas

sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_zoom_detail.htm?No=6160
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=966240

Stumbled Upon This Umbrella....

2011-03-03T01:58:00.000-08:00

Came across this pic of an umbrella sold by a Korean company. What would poor van Gogh have thought if he saw this instance of commercialization of his painting, "Almond Blossom, San Remy" ?

Still, I'd sooner buy this than an imitation of a Burberry brolly. Puts me in a chirpier frame of mind. In the mood for springtime blossoms.

Source:
http://www.tradekorea.com/product-detail/P00245332/_Almond_blossom_san_remy_printing_3_steps_auto_folding_umbrella.html#
http://www.1artclub.com/almond-blossom-san-remy-by-vincent-van-gogh/

U-Taek's Sijo For Spring

2011-03-01T01:26:00.000-08:00

Sijo on Spring by U-Taek (1262-1342)

청산에 눈녹인바람 건듯불고 간데없다

적은덧 빌어다가 머리위에 불리고저

귀밑에 해묵은 서리를 녹여볼까 하노라

The spring breeze melted snow on the hills then quickly disappeared.
I wish I could borrow it briefly to blow over my hair
And melt away the aging frost forming now about my ears.

Does spring seem to mock one the older one gets?

U-Taek’s poem contrasts wistfully the youthfulness of the season and his own physical decline. If only one’s white hairs could vanish as easily as the melting snows. I’m more worried about the frost between my ears, though. Slip sliding away into senility doesn’t keep me awake at night but I find myself working at Sudoku puzzles a little more earnestly than before.

sources:
http://www.ahapoetry.com/sijo.htm
http://www.sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/current/sijo_samples.html
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=16127

Inspiration For New K-Drama

2011-02-25T01:58:00.000-08:00

While surfing through the JoongAng Daily on-line, it occurred to me that some news stories had the potential to be new plot lines for Korean TV. It’s been some time since I’ve actually followed a new Korean TV drama so excuse me if the following suggestions aren’t trendy, clichéd or plain dull.

First off, here’s an idea for wholesome entertainment, suitable for the whole family – an elementary school somewhere out in the boondocks of Korea is under threat of closure with its shrinking numbers until a young teacher comes along with fresh ideas to turn things around. Start with some conflicts with over-aged students, conservative principal or staff and anxious parents.

Then mix these with some heated debates about whether encouraging creativity undermines discipline. Finally spice it up with pastoral scenes of the children harvesting their own sweet potatoes in their own school vegetable garden and you may have a recipe for a heart-warming though awfully clichéd story that may be a throwback to Sidney Poitier’s To Sir With Love.

Too treacly for your tastebuds? How about this other school-based story with a nod towards Park Chan-wook’s Sympathy For Lady Vengeance? A ex-army retiree has the local eyebrows raised when she volunteers to be a school sheriff. Comic scenes of how she bungles during her training sessions turn into sinister moments as she takes advantage of her placid demeanour and position to do away with the fourth-grade teachers one by one.

Plot No. 3 – An ex- government worker receives a windfall and pursues his dream of setting up a bar. Things go well for him until he comes to the defence of a young employee who’s being bullied by his colleagues to take part in drinking rounds of soju. The underbelly of corporate culture comes under scrutiny here through the eyes of the bartender cum pub owner – to drink or not to drink, is that simply the question?

Plot No 4 – A study of a family business in a barbershop - across three generations. The colourful lives of their patrons like the corrupt politician and head of a chaebol will form the substance of each episode. Woven into this story would be the generational clash between the family patriarch who wants to “keep what is sacred” and his grand-son who wants to move to Gangnam.

Finally, a grim story based on the memoirs of a retired prison guard whose guilty conscience drives him to seek atonement for taking part in the execution of innocent political prisoners. Set against the turbulent politics of the 1950s, we get a chance to see what Seoul was like in the post-war years.

So what do you think? !%$i$(&##%@*^%#@$%

OK , OK - I'm sticking to my day job.

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2929813

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2932715
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931620
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2932556
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2932085

Expect The Unexpected This Spring

2011-02-23T17:29:00.000-08:00

If you're planning a trip to South Korea this spring and wondering what to pack - I'd suggest that you include some winter woollies. Last spring was a bit of a meteorological roller-coaster so be prepared for some unpredictable weather again in 2011. See below.

Photo on right - 10th March 2010 - Snows fell on spring blossoms ( Yonhap)

From KBS Website:
No Unusual Weather Conditions Forecasted for Spring

"Temperatures in South Korea have been warm this week, but forecasters are predicting the weather to be highly variable into mid-March.The Korea Meteorological Administration predicts that this spring will see similar temperatures to previous years, except for the unusually low temperatures recorded last spring. However, a cold front from the north will expand to the Korean Peninsula around mid-March, temporarily driving down temperatures.Also, the eastern part of Korea will witness low temperatures in April. Precipitation in March and May will be similar to that seen in previous years, but April will likely be relatively dry."

Photo on left: Snow fell in Seoul on 22 March 2010

Photo on right: Strong winds ravage Seoul on Tuesday, with wind chill temperatures falling below zero degrees Celsius. 27 April 2010

Let's see how accurate this KMA is in its predictions for this year.

sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Dm_detail.htm?No=79669&id=Dm
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=14619&current_page=16
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=14539¤t_page=16
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=14788¤t_page=14

Free Bus For Tourists From Seoul To Busan

2011-02-23T01:08:00.000-08:00

Good news for foreigners who'd like a free ride to Busan. Click here for important update.

From March 2nd, you can hop on a free shuttle bus from Seoul to Busan, if you're a non-Korean .

The service in a 28-seater limousine bus operates each weekday except Mondays.
Wifi access is available on board, alongside DVD players and materials with useful tips on tourist attractions in Busan.

Starting point : outside Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Gwanghwamun
Stops at the Lotte Hotel and Paradise Hotel in Busan

Other info from the KTO website:

Make reservations for the shuttle service through the Visit Korea Year website www.visitkoreayear.com (Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese).
Two tickets are available per reservation. Reservation must be made 10 days in advance to guarantee seating. Remaining unreserved seats will be allotted on a space available basis.

Don't forget your passport!

Click here for info about similar services that ply the Seoul-Gyeongju and Seoul-Jeonju routes.

* For more information: 02-1577-2507, E-mail: visitkorea@chesstours.co.kr

* 1330 call center: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese)

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1214472
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=609796

Spring's Here, For Some At Least

2011-02-21T01:31:00.000-08:00

Snow on Haeundae Beach, Busan - 14 February 2011

While those in the east coast may still be shovelling snow from their rooftops of their houses and cars or pathways outside homes or shops, those on the west coast of the Korean peninsular seem to be enjoying balmy temperatures already.

Snow-covered roofs in Gangwon-do, 17 Feb 2011

Let's hope this spring will be a mild one and more predictable than last year. The cherry blossoms didn't oblige photographers and enthusiasts by appearing on schedule. There were also unpleasant surprises for Korean farmers last spring.

Red plum blossoms have appeared at the UN Memorial Park, Busan

KBS reports: "Spring flowers are beginning to bloom on Jeju Island. Rape blossoms, which are regarded as harbingers of spring on the island, are blooming in some coastal areas. The blooming will be at its peak in March and April. Japanese apricot flowers are also in full blossom, signaling that winter is giving in to spring. The temperature even reached as high as 15 degrees Celsius on Jeju last week. Tourists to Jeju are busy bidding farewell to the severe winter and ushering in spring on the southern island."

White plum blossoms in Hallim Park, Jeju

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2932471
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Dm_detail.htm?No=79584
http://www.korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&guid=53309
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=16025&current_page=
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=16077&current_page=

One Standing Egg with Cat, Broccoli, Bell Peppers and So On

2011-02-18T02:37:00.000-08:00

Check out this collaboration between this Korean band and a Japanese animator. Such a refreshing change from girl groups in short shorts.

Particularly enjoy resting my eyes on the background of patterned strips of cloth in different shades. Makes me want to go shopping to redecorate the interiors of my home. How long did it take to create the stop-motion video? Kudos to the patience of the designer who made strawberries look like Ethel Merman's group of synchronised swimmers.

BTW, this is the second "La La La" song I've featured on this blog - the first by SG Wannabe is here. Why am I attracted to songs with such lame titles?

Details:
Standing Egg -Debut Mini Album "lalala2010.04.21 RELEASE

My Space http://www.myspace.com/standingegg

Video : Taijin Takeuchi

Very comprehensive posting on this group here.

source:
http://www.allkpop.com/2010/12/unhyped-talent-standing-egg

Form Versus Substance In Jwibulnori

2011-02-17T01:38:00.000-08:00

Ok - call me old-fashioned and a party-pooper, but I find something about the first photo from Yonhap News mildly unromantic. The children here, playing with LED lights, are giving a modern spin on a traditional activity known as Jwibulnori.

The custom is observed on Daeboreum, the first full moon night of the lunar year. It's nice that these children are having fun and continuing some ancient tradition and their parents would probably approve the new devices which are safer and save more energy. The kids can also delight in the wider variety of coloured lights compared to the traditional lit charcoal pieces in a covered tin-can.

Give me the heat, warmth and incandescence of the original anytime.

I also wonder how many of them were familiar with its cultural roots - the serious practical purpose behind the game?

An excerpt from a source:
"Historically, people played the traditional game named jwibulnori (쥐불놀이) the night before daeboreum. They burned the dry grass on ridges between rice fields while children whirled around cans full of holes, through which charcoal fire blazed. These cans fertilized the fields and got rid of harmful worms that destroyed the new crops."

I'm not sure how much of that custom is based on some old wives' tale and how much of it has any scientific basis. How do the ashes of the charcoal fires help to get rid of harmful worms while sparing the useful or innocuous ones?

It probably means little to urbanites anyway. So many agrarian-based practices are barely observed these days because we don't see the relevance. It would be interesting to see if Koreans living abroad will still have or play jwibulnori.

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1200048

http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=52832&thiscode=eng010003&mode=popup&TB_iframe=true&height=420&width=700
http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/festivals/festivals.cfm?Subject=Jeongwol
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1197854
http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/south-korea/busan/festivals-and-events-in-busan/jeongwol-daeboreum-daljip-(straw-heap)-burning-busan.html
http://www.investkorea.org/InvestKoreaWar/work/ik/eng/nr/nr_01_read.jsp?no=608300001&l_unit=90202&bno=902040007&page=4&sort_num=78
http://www.korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&guid=53151
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daeboreum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Korea-Daeboreumnal-Full_Moon_Festival-05.jpg
http://samedi.livejournal.com/361102.html
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Culture_of_Korea
http://www.freewebs.com/tb2korea/Korean%20Festival/Daeboreum.jpg

Snowstorm Statistics

2011-02-14T01:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a thumbnail sketch ( painted in numbers ) of the havoc created by a low pressure system south of the Korean Peninsula which created a snow cloud over Gangwondo this weekend, just before Valentine's Day.

An average of 50 centimeters ( 19.7 inches) of snow inundated Gangwondo. Some specific examples: Daegwallyeong - 56.3 cm; Gangneung - 77.7 cm ; , Donghae -100.1 cm; and get this, Samcheok - 120 cm.

1,280 residents in 640 households were cut off.

300 people in 100 cars were snowbound for 34 hours.

293 local bus services were disrupted.

75 buildings ( 67 greenhouses, 7 livestock facilities and 1 warehouse ) collapsed from the weight of the snow piling up on the rooftops.

12,000 soldiers, 11 military helicopters, and 1560 snowplows have been deployed in the battle against the snowstorm.

Estimated damage - 4.5 billion won ( $4 million).

My mind is still reeling from the thought of 120 cm of snow in Samcheok. How on earth are the inhabitants of that town in particular coping? What I'd also like to know is how many poor tourists were caught unawares and how they managed to deal with all the hardships and disruptions to their travel plans. Do they have special phone apps, courtesy of the KMA ( Korean Meterological Administation) or the KTO to give them advanced warning of such ambushes by Nature?

sources:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/02/113_81272.html

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/02/117_81290.html
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2932166
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/02/14/2011021400320.html
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=16025

Korean Car Commercials

2011-02-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

I'm not into cars but I do like these car ads.

Kia Soul has a really cute one with hamsters.

Hyundai's "New Thinking, New Possibilities" commercial is also impressive - - can anyone explain how they do it? Is it all CGI?

Also for good measure, have thrown in a parody - how the South Koreans envision what a North Korean car commercial would look like.

Finally, could not resist including the outrageous as usual but oh so entertaining Top Gear episode in which Jeremy Clarkson and James May review Korean cars. (BTW, they've also been equally disparaging about Malaysian cars.)

sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfJnqbudMzs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYS7ygCB5IU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM3UAnCH5IE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzG1x7Ei6uw&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr2IZHeyczE&feature=related

How To Host A Hallyu Fan Meeting

2011-02-07T01:24:00.000-08:00

The following thoughts come to mind after viewing this youtube footage of a recent signing event arranged by Laneige Homme for Hyun Bin's fans. The session with the Secret Garden star lasted over two hours at Lotte Department store in Myeongdong on the 22nd of January.

1. Timing is Everything

Organisers of signing events don't need to be too successful in getting the word out that a Hallyu star is making an appearance at such a place on such a date. If the publicity details are released too early, you may get a far larger crowd that could easily become an over-excited mob that could be hard to control. Too late and you're wasting your A and P budget.

And the line went round and round - pics from Soompi

So while it seems as if winter is a lousy time for a signing event, it helps to sift out the less dedicated from the die-hard fans who are willing to queue in the freezing cold outside for hours.

How long did these Hyun-Bin diehards suffer near zero temperatures before they could shake their idol's hand?

2. Control The Information Leaks
Not necessary to spend a lot of won or resort to WikiLeaks publicising the event in conventional media - just pass on details of time and place to a well-chosen fan club or well-followed blogger and let nature take its course. If you've picked the right celebrity to be your brand ambassador, then half your job's done.

3. Ask for the Co-operation of the Traffic Police

You want to please your potential customers but at the same time, you don't want to incur the wrath of the drivers, passers-by or shoppers who have no interest in meeting your star and don't want to be inconvenienced by walkways or roads blocked by long lines of fans queuing to meet their idol or get his or her autograph. Check out the youtube footage between 0:50 and 0:57 the bemused customer trying to get a makeover from a sales assistant at a makeup counter while surrounded by hordes of screaming teens.

4. Hire, Train and Equip Extra Bodyguards

Better to employ many bodyguards with endless patience to control the masses of screaming teenagers. Recruit tall staff members who can tower over the long lines of fans standing earnestly on tiptoe. They would need to have firm handclasps so their natural barricades would not be broken by a wall of teens who surge forward excitedly to touch their favourite Hallyu actor or singer. It's also a prudent move to train them to deal firmly but gently with female supporters who could sue your staff for manhanding or molesting them. Megaphones, queue markers and ear-plugs should form part of the regular arsenal to be handed out to your staff.

5.Monitor the Message Boards

After the event is over, it's worth checking out what the participants have to say about how well or how badly you organised the whole thing - are they satisfied customers who will fork out more won to buy the products endorsed by your chosen star or has your brand image taken a battering with more people disappointed by late and all-too-brief appearances or people who got their toes stepped on far too often or fans who decided the amount of money you got them to pay to purchase an autographed poster wasn't worth all the blood, sweat and tears?

See also
The Meeting with Lee Min-ho That Wasn't

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/28/2011012800768.html

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/21/2011012101080.html
http://www.laneige.com/brand/model_story2.jsp
http://en.amorepacific.com/about/about_brand_news_list.jsp#88
http://en.amorepacific.com/about/about_brand_news_list.jsp#88
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=13974
http://www.soompi.com/news/hyun-bin-holds-an-autograph-session/page/1
http://www.allkpop.com/2009/10/lee_minhos_hectic_day_in_singapore

Sober Seollal

2011-02-04T01:32:00.000-08:00

If you're a Seoulite with a bus or train ticket bound for your hometown this Seollal and grumbling about the long queues or traffic jams leading out of the city, spare a thought for some hundred-over employees of the National Institute of Animal Science at Suwon, Gyeonggi-do. While most people have the luxury of disregarding the government's call to minimize visits to hometowns which have been stricken with the foot -and-mouth-disease ( FMD), the workers at NIAS have been quarantined in their workplace since January 3.

Caption from source: A day before the Lunar New Year holidays, passengers yesterday line up to board buses at Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Banpo-dong. The Korea Expressway Corp. estimated 680,000 cars had left the capital as of 9 a.m. yesterday and 1.93 million cars would hit the road during the period. [NEWSIS]

Caption from source: Employees at the National Institute of Animal Science wash dishes because only two kitchen staffers are there to prepare meals for more than 100 workers who have to quarantined for fear of spreading FMD. Provided by the institute

Consider the sad example of Shin Sook, as reported in the JoongAng Ilbo:

Shin Sook, 38, who works in the computer room at the institute, walked from the building toward a big steel gate where a JoongAng Ilbo reporter was waiting. That’s how far Shin is permitted to have contact with the outside world. And that includes the Lunar New Year holidays, too. Shin, a mother of two young daughters, lives only three kilometers (1.8 miles) from the institute, but she has only been gazing in that direction for 28 days, unable to go home.“From the office, I can see the windows of my apartment. If the lights are on, I think to myself that my kids are home and when the lights are out, I know that they have gone to bed,” said Shin.
“Everyone treasures all the animals here. We can’t let anything happen to any of them,” Shin said. There are hundreds of priceless livestock at the NIAS, ranging from pigs that were genetically modified to help produce cures for hemophilia to cows used for cloning somatic cells. If the disease infects animals involved in projects that have been conducted for decades - with billions of won in investments - it could shake the foundation of the country’s biotechnology research to its core.

After the NIAS building became off-limits, the only things that have been allowed in are food for the workers and the livestock and oil to heat the facilities. The food is sterilized by infrared light before being carried into the building. And trucks carrying can only enter the grounds after being carefully sterilized. Workers’ family members can only meet them at the steel gate. So, two weeks ago, when Shin’s daughters visited, she couldn’t even hug them. Shin tried to explain the situation to her girls. “The pigs that mom’s company raises are very precious. Mommy can’t go outside or hug you because these pigs might get infected with a dangerous disease,” Shin told her older daughter, a fourth grader, while her younger daughter, 7, cried loudly. Shin said he told her husband not to bring the daughters to visit anymore because she couldn’t bear turning the daughters away as they cried.

Life inside the building is trying. Shin said half of the workers caught a cold after sleeping on the floor with no heating. The air is cold and dry, with the only heat coming from radiators. Employees wash their hair and face in a basin and take turns using the few showers at the institute. But still, Shin said, the conditions are bearable. The unbearable part is being unable to see her daughters. On Jan. 20, Shin spent the whole day sitting absentmindedly at her desk. It was her younger daughter’s elementary school orientation day.

Let's hope we can see an end to the spread of the FMD soon so that people like Shin can be reunited with their families.

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931790
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931798

QR Codes At Seoul Bus Stops

2011-01-31T18:46:00.000-08:00

It wasn't too long ago that I learnt a new word ( OK - it's not the first time I've admitted I'm a techie dinosaur) and now I read that the Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced QR Codes at its bus stops in Seoul City. Very impressive.

Real-time information for bus routes now available at the fingertips of Smartphone owners in Seoul

Quick Response Codes, i.e. two-dimensional matrix barcodes, were developed by a subsidiary of Toyota called Denso-Wave way back in 1994. QR codes, now commonplace in Japan, are quickly becoming part of the arsenal of marketing managers who want their clients' business cards, advertisements and billboards to talk directly to their customers' mobile phones.

QR code on the right side of the conventional bar code - snapped at a Japanese supermarket

So with the QR Code reader application in your mobile phone, all you need to do is to snap a photo of the QR code at a bus-stop in Gangnam, for instance, and all the relevant information pertaining to the bus services that ply that route will be instantly available on your smartphone. No more painstaking keying in or noting down the bus schedules.

That's good news for Smartphone owners who are living or working in or simply visiting Seoul. The application is available in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese ( both in the simplified versions for those from the PRC and the traditional script for the Taiwanese).

Remind me to buy a smartphone before I make my next visit to Seoul.

sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=257573
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid
http://searchengineland.com/what-is-a-qr-code-and-why-do-you-need-one-27588

Clueless About Valentine's Day Gifts?

2011-01-27T01:45:00.000-08:00

Korean strawberries are sold in the local markets already so I'm wondering how long it will be before these find their way onto supermarket shelves in my country. It's not clear whether a Korean or an Australian first developed heart-shaped strawberries, like the Japanese who pioneered cube-shaped watermelons but I bet the strawberries are more likely to sell better than the watermelons - they're cuter, have more commercial appeal and easier to transport and kinder on the postman who'd have to deliver these to scores of delighted girlfriends around the world.

Caption From Source: Workers wrap heart-shaped strawberries at a farm in Gangjin, South Jeolla, yesterday. The heart-shaped strawberries have been getting a huge response from consumers. They are being sold on the Internet at http://cafe.naver.com/icigo/. [NEWSIS]

source:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931533
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2010/01/18/148251_horticulture.html

Sliding Down The Frozen Floodgates Of Goesam Dam

2011-01-26T01:10:00.000-08:00

Just kidding - it's the same ai-ee( 아이) in this ajumma who had the impulse to go toboganning down tumuli in Gyeongju. Am NOT recommending that people take their sleds to go sliding down the frozen waters off Goesan Dam.

Caption from source: Water flowing from the floodgate of the Goesan Dam in North Chungcheong Province froze over on Wednesday with freezing temperatures continuing to grip the nation for several days. The dam was designed and built using solely domestic technology. (Yonhap News)

source:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=15937

Sometime Firefighter, Sometime Icefighter

2011-01-25T00:43:00.000-08:00

Do the firefighters in Korea expect this in their job description? Guess in a 24/ 7 world and in a temperate zone country, one has to expect the unexpected. Firefighters in Seoul and other cities around Korea are likely to be pretty busy hacking down icicles this winter. So thanks, gentlemen for risking life and limb and suffering the chill.

Coming from a country which only has one season, it's easy to overlook winter hazards like falling icicles. Wouldn't want to be passing by when one of these decides to drop on the heads of passers-by. Have to remind myself to avoid buildings with frosty facades - fascinating but diabolical like the White Witch of Narnia.

Caption from source: Rescue officers of a fire station are removing a huge icicle after a water tank of a residential building in Changcheondong, Seoul froze and burst in freezing temperatures. (Yonhap News)

source:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=15928&current_page=

BRRRR....Winter Bites Back

2011-01-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

The unusually cold temperatures continue into January, plunging Korea into a deep freeze. The morning of January 16th was the coldest of the season, setting new lows in the recent cold snap.

From the KBS website:

" According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the Sunday morning lows came to -17.8 degrees Celsius in Seoul, -24.3 degrees in Cheolwon, -23.2 degrees in Jecheon, -22.5 degrees in Chuncheon, -16.2 degrees in Cheonan, -16.1 degrees in Daejeon, -13.1 degrees in Daegu, -11.7 degrees in Gwangju, and -12.8 degrees in Busan."

For the first time in a long time, people are actually able to walk on the frozen Nakdong River in Busan. That, so far, has been the only plus point of the unusually firigid weather in the southern part of the Korean peninsular which is more accustomed to milder winters.

People living in Gimhae, Gyeongsang-namdo faced dry taps when a water mains burst and in Busan, traffic came to a standstill for three hours when another pipe burst near an elevated highway and the gushing water froze three of seven lanes. Then again, many motorists couldn't even make it to the highways as their car engines stalled.

Local fishermen were caught off-guard when their boats were blocked by ice in the ports. According to one fisherman, he "had never seen frozen seawater in Busan in [his] entire life"

Caption from source: Cold snap continues: Residents walk past a line of snow-covered cars at an apartment complex in Nam-gu, Ulsan, Tuesday. Heavy snow hit Pohang, Ulsan and other cities of North Gyeongsang Province, snarling traffic in the region, with Pohang receiving a record 28.7 centimeters of snow. The weather office forecasts the freezing weather will continue across the nation throughout this week./ Yonhap

Caption from source: Icicles hang off an apartment in Seo District, Gwangju, yesterday, caused by a burst water pipe on the building’s exterior from the recent spell of extremely cold weather. [YONHAP]

BTW, a reminder to pedestrians on sidewalks, beware of falling icicles and black ice!

Caption from source: Water pipes rupture: Residents line up to receive tap water from a fire truck in Dong-gu, Busan, Monday as the ongoing cold spell froze and ruptured water pipes in countless households in the southern port city. The temperature there dipped to minus 12.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the lowest in 96 years./ Korea Times photo by Lee Seong-deok

When temperatures plunge, there's a chance the water supplies as well as power supplies will be affected while costs of utilities will soar. Power-conserving measures are already in place and civic buildings have been instructed to turn off their heating sources for certain periods to avoid a power shortage crisis. Employees have been encouraged to wear long johns or naeboks to their places of work.

Caption from source: White-tailed sea eagles fight at Gyeongpo Lake in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Tuesday. Wild birds are believed to have difficulty finding prey these days as lakes and rivers are frozen amid the cold weather.

Even the birds aren't spared. As if H1N1 isn't enough, the wild birds now have to struggle to survive as food supplies become scarce. Any chance some kind councilmen are going to do what they did last year to feed the wild critters?

Notes from KBS - for those who want a little more on the changing climate:

"The typical weather pattern in Korean winter is three days of cold followed by four days of warmth. That means a cold spell usually dissipates after three days. This year’s winter feels particularly harsh not only because of the low temperatures, but also because of the lack of the temporary thaw. Snowstorms make matters worse, giving the impression that the winter freeze is not letting up. Thaws have not lasted long, reaching average temperatures for only half a day, two days at the most. In Seoul morning lows fell to minus 10 degrees or lower almost every day in 2011. At this rate Seoul’s average temperature in January will set the lowest record in 30 years. As of January 16th, a whopping eight days saw daily lows below negative 10 degrees, pulling down the average low temperature to below the minus-10-degree mark.

So why is the latest cold snap so relentless? The Korea Meteorological Administration attributes it to unusually high temperatures in the North Pole. In general the temperatures in the Arctic region remain very low. The colder the temperature in the North Pole, the faster the atmospheric air rotates, which traps the cold within a whirlpool of cold air and prevents it from spreading into the northern hemisphere. But this year’s unseasonably warm winter in the Arctic has slowed down the air circulation and has allowed the cold air to move south toward the middle latitude regions of the northern hemisphere. Some meteorological experts also claim that severe snowfalls in Siberia and the southeastern part of Mongolia have reflected energy out into the atmosphere and further cooled down the air in the upper stratosphere. The weather forecasters say that a large expanse of minus 40-degree air is hovering above the Korean Peninsula. It is ironic that the effects of global warming have thawed the North Pole, thus causing the extreme cold spell. Of course not all the blame for the extreme cold is directly attributed to global warming, but it is undeniable that changes in the climate are causing anomalies in weather patterns. "

sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_zoom_detail.htm?No=6077
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/17/2011011700459.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/17/2011011700354.html
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931075
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/115_79835.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/115_79774.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/115_79525.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/0
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931118
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931126
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/n_feature/2010/12/29/14/4901000000AEN20101229007800315F.HTML