Spring Cleaning For Trees?

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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