Ryu Si-won's New Roles As Real-life Husband and Dad

Here's another Hallyuwood wedding and celebrity baby to look forward to.

RSW with his co-star, Jang Nara in the drama series, Wedding above. RSW on his real marriage and fiancee ( a dance major, nine years his junior) : " I’m approaching the end of my 30’s, and it’s a new opportunity to show change. I will try harder than I have done in the past and show you all an improved image…the 26th is my wedding with my girlfriend, who is a normal citizen.. I've always said my ideal type is a feminine woman. My fiancée is very close to my ideal type as she has a calm personality and fair skin. I often wondered if a moment like this would ever come to me, but it has come, and I am truly happy."

In addition to the many roles he has played in reel life, Ryu Si-won is about to take on the dual real-life roles as husband and father-to-be on the 26th October. After reading the news about his impending marriage, I was surprised to find out what a busy bee he has been over the years since I first saw him upstaged by Lee Byung-hyun in “Beautiful Days” which also starred Choi Ji-woo.

Here’s a quick run-down of what he’s been up to:

 Actor in TV drama series – most recently he appeared in “Style” with Lee Yong-woo and Kim Hye-soo

RSW on his return to the small screen through Style : ``I have been busy working in Japan. I think it's been five years since my last drama, and I'm as worried and nervous as ever. I feel like I'm starting all over again,''
 MC for a music chart show

 Singer of romantic ballads –“Change” was his first album in 1995

 Producer of his own promotional photos and helped to produce Ko Soo’s first photo diary “ 24 Hours With Ko Soo”

 Holder of an international car racing license, Ryu is coach and racer for a professional car racing team which he founded.

RSW and his protege: "This year being the sixteenth anniversary of my debut, I wanted to repay the love I received from fans by training younger artists who have talent and passion. I will do everything to support talented young artists so they can earn recognition overseas, not to mention Korea.”


 Record producer with female singer, Rottyful Sky, (Kim Hanul) under his wing

 Tourism ambassador and active promoter for KNTO; he also has a hand in developing special tour packages – Formula I World Grand Prix in Yeongam and another tour to celebrate his birthday with his fans

 Soon to be host of an upcoming MBC entertainment show in November
He’s also known as the 14th generation descendant of Yu Seong-ryeong, who was a prime minister in the Joseon Dynasty. His family home, Damyunjae in Hahoe Village in Andong has also attracted many curious visitors on account of his popularity as a Hallyu star who has been in the business for almost twenty years.

His smile has been described as comforting “like the scent of coffee” while his droopy eyes, boy-next-door charm and rolled-up jacket sleeves as his casual signature style have won him many fans particularly in Japan so it’s no surprise he’s been dubbed the “Hallyu Crown Prince”.

At the same time, however, he may not be able to shake off entirely his other nickname, “Ryucifer” given to him following an accident when he unintentionally ran down a pedestrian while driving his Le Mans at night and managed to avoid any police charges with an out-of-court settlement with the family of the victim.

 
RSW on Impending Fatherhood: "I will become the father of a baby in spring… There is no one else in the world who is happier to hear the [baby] news than a father. Everyone, please be good to your family and protect them. You can do that right?”

For KBS commentary on the new trend ( baby first, marriage next) in Hallyuwood, click here.

sources:
http://tiffanykimchiland.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html
http://koreanupdates.com/2010/07/21/blog-news-ryu-si-won-says-got-good-vibe-about-young-rottyful-sky/
http://www.lautanindonesia.com/forum/index.php?topic=12001.0
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/10/07/2010100700455.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryu_Shi-won
http://popseoul.com/2010/10/06/ryu-si-won-is-getting-married/
http://www.allkpop.com/2010/10/hallyu-star-ryu-si-won-to-get-married-and-become-a-father-next-spring
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2921593
http://www.korean-drama-guide.com/RyuSi-won-kicksoff-producer-career-Rottyful-Sky.html
http://www.chuyenhot.com/anh-cap-3-cua-cac-nam-ngoi-sao-han-851.htm
http://www.showwallpaper.com/view.php?topic=2972&page=3
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_artists_detail.htm?No=103815
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/09/201_48799.html

Rustic Charms of A Fortress Village, Suncheon, Part 3

Feel strange walking into Nagan-eupseong simply dressed in jeans, a pullover and sneakers. Should be wearing a plain hanbok or even some traditional peasant clothes stained the colour of persimmons with straw sandals instead. Such is the charm of this village that once I pass through its main gate, I am transported into another world and another time.

Nagan-eupseong Folk Village, 22 km west of Suncheon, was the site of the Paji Castle during the Baekje Dynasty and continued as a village in the Joseon dynasty. It’s more like a combination of Hahoe Village in Andong and the Korean Folk Village in Suwon because people still live and work here, alongside the open-air museum that it is. Unlike Hahoe which prides itself on being home to aristocratic families, Nagan-eupseong showcases the life of the ordinary folk.

Another striking difference is that Nagan-eupseong is a fortress village surrounded by a pretty thick wall with impressive gates at both ends of the village. The 1.41 km long and 4 m high walls, first built from sand and eventually stone, were intended to keep out Japanese invaders. These days, tourists such as yours truly are free to climb onto the ramparts. The double vision one gets standing there is quite strange: within the walls, I’m back in the time looking over rustic straw huts or tiled roofs of cottages and outside the walls, I’m immediately whisked back to modern times with the Korean 20th century style houses.

Am glad to have the company of three year old Dong Ok and his mum, a friendly ajumma that I meet on the tour bus. She points out to me various plants in the gardens of different cottages as we peer over the low stone hedges. We discover cotton balls which can be plucked straight off the plant, the purple flower of the doraji plant, another delicate bloom from the green tea bush, calabashes ( longish dark-green gourds sun-dried to use as bathing sponges). Persimmons and quinces hang from bare branches and the ginkgo trees are splendid as always.

There’s also a water wheel still in operation, the amusing entrance of a dragon kiln at the local pottery ( painted to look like a monster’s open mouth), a drinks dispensing machine boarded up to look suitably rustic and retro, a grand pavilion with an enormous drum, a long-bearded halbeoji in yellow earth-dyed garb who welcomes us as we watch him weaving ropes the traditional way.

The claim on the Suncheon website seems justified – there is a friendly atmosphere and if I’m fortunate enough to pass this way again, I’d like to stay in one of the minbaks available here to soak it all in very slowly.

Sources:
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=762732
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=312888http://www.nagan.or.kr/english/main.html

My Wish List – Andong Part 7

Here’s a list of the places I’d like to visit if I ever revisit Andong. It’s a convenient base to explore the following which are outside the city proper.

1. Bongjeong-sa

The tourist brochure claims that this temple has the oldest wooden structure in Korea in its Geungnakjeon ( Paradise Hall). Curious as well about the unique wall painting style here called dancheong. Apparently the priest who founded this temple folded a paper crane, cast it to the winds and decided to set up a new temple at the site where the crane landed.

Quaint legend aside, my main reason for wanting to visit this place is to check out Yeongsan-am, a nearby hermitage. It was part of the shooting location for a film that continues to intrigue me: “Why Did Bodhidharma Go To The East?” A climb up Cheongdeunsan (574 m), the hill behind this temple, would also be nice.

Travel Tip: Take local Bus No. 51 which runs every 1½ hours from the front of Andong City Hall to Bongjeong-sa (16 km north-west of Andong)

2. Dosan Seowon

This Confucian school is probably more famous than the Byeongsan Seowon ( see blog dated  Sept 18) and it’s reputed to be so beautiful that many film directors come here to shoot historical dramas like “Painter of the Wind”. The famous scholar, Yi Toe-gye whose face appears on the 1000-won note, established this academy in 1557. For a few hundred years, it was the most prestigious school in the land – the ancient equivalent of the SKY universities that modern Korean youths aspire to enter. Wonder if the Confucian students of the past had a more stressful time than their peers nowadays.

Travel Tip: Bus No 67 from Andong City Hall ( but do confirm with the bus driver as some don’t go all the way to the seowon. You’d need to walk the extra 2 km if that’s the case but the Lonely Planet assures readers of a pleasant jaunt.

3. Cheongnyang-san Provincial Park

Cheongnyang-san lends its name to three places actually – the mountain ( 870 m ), the provincial park, and the biggest temple here. According to the Lonely Planet, there are “ eleven other scenic peaks, eight caves and a waterfall…. The temple (sits) in a steep valley below the cliffs….The park boasts some spectacular views with tracks wandering along cliff precipices.” Sounds promising to me. I’d check into a minbak near the entrance to the park, stay overnight and explore the different trails as far as my legs and nerve will allow.

Travel Tip: The same bus ( No. 67) that goes to Dosan Seowon will continue its journey to the park entrance ( it plies this route every hour; trip takes about 1 hour and 15 mins).

4. Ginkgo tree at Yonggye-ri

Ironically this enormous tree is so close to the Jirye Art Village and yet I don’t think there’s a direct route to it. The literature claims that 14 people would be needed to encircle this tree which is 37 meters tall and has a diameter of 16 meters at its base. Like JAV, it was almost destroyed by the plans to build the Imha Dam but was successfully transplanted to its new home at the southern bank.
Travel Tip: Take Bus No 28 from Andong & get off at the Giran bus stop. After that, it looks like a loooong walk to find this tree. On second thought, hire a car.

5. Buyongdae
I first saw the high cliff of Buyongdae from a strip of sandy beach at Hahoe Village. Next time, I’d like to head straight to this place to view the village from this vantage point. A perfect time to visit would be when the villagers hold their Seonyu Julbulnori ( in October) when ropes of inflammable material are stretched across the river between Hahoe and Buyongdae for a special kind of fireworks show. There are also three buildings here to visit: Hwacheon Seowon, Ogyeonjeong-sa and Gyeomamjeong-sa.

Travel Tip: Get a car. Drive past the entrance to Hahoe Village, pass the Puncheon Agricultural Co-operative and then turn left at the Doyang three-way junction, to go across the Gwangduk-gyo ( Bridge). Follow the road that goes to the left.

For more info on bus schedules to the sights around Andong, please click here.
Source of Photos: KNTO website
Dosan Seowon http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=312772
Bongjeongsa  http://bongjeongsa2.templevill.com/intro/bojeongsa.swf
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=312775

Andong Hanji – Andong Part 6

It’s late in the day and we’re getting a little tired. But there’s one last stop on our day tour of Andong before our return to Jirye Art Village. The SUV rolls up in front of a nondescript building. It’s only when we’re taken inside that we realize we’ve been given an unexpected bonus –an inside look within  a traditional paper factory, Andong Hanji. Our sense of wonder returns as our  guide here explains to us Hanji ( paper)  is made.

The bark from mulberry bushes is processed to produce the famous Andong hanji. The inner white pulp of the bark is the most valued part. The water softened pulp can then be processed either by hand or machine. A gluey extract from the mallow plant is then used to hold the fibres together. Most impressed with women workers here who have to strip off with their bare fingers the papers which are dried almost instantly on very hot flat  ‘ironing boards’.  

The hanji, which varies considerably in thickness, colour and texture, can be used as calligraphy paper, print material for Confucian scholars, documents for official matters, coverings for walls and floors ( vegetable oil is applied for the yellow paper used on floors). The exhibition room also is a revelation – there’s an amazing range of products made from hanji, including dolls, lanterns, clothes & furniture.

Those who love gift wrapping, scrap booking or  doing paper crafts like origami, be forewarned – you can spend a long time and a lot of won at the hanji shop here! If you do have time to spare, you can take part in hands-on activities to make traditional masks, hats or books. The factory cum showroom is near the entrance of Hahoe Village so it’s worth checking out before or after your visit to the village.

Photo credits and  Links: KNTO website 
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=805345
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=309610