for those who love South Korea

The Gamcheon Culture Village (Taegeukdo Village) is...

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:32:45 -0400

The Gamcheon Culture Village (Taegeukdo Village) is called “Busan’s Santorini” and as you stare out upon the community you instantly understand why. Spread out below you is a panorama of endless rows of low-rise cubicle homes climbing up the steep hillsides from the sea below, their cheerful blue, yellow and pink hues a delight to the eye. Narrow stone and concrete alleyways wind their way through the homes, yielding something new at every turn. Beloved by photographers throughout Korea, it might not be Busan’s most famous tourist destination, but it certainly is one of its most picturesque.

Gamcheon Culture Village was formed by Korean War refugees back in 1950. It was a temporary place of abode for the poor, who aspired to move on to better accommodation as soon as possible. But the village is now an attractive feature of the old city with its terraced houses on the hill, and maze-like narrow alleyways. Now the village has transformed into a beautiful village of culture and became a new tourist attraction for both Korean and overseas visitors, with its own distinctive culture and unique views.

“The rolling green fields of Boseong” - Boseong...

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:44:06 -0400

“The rolling green fields of Boseong” - Boseong Green tea plantations famous for its green tea leaves.

Seoul, 1945. This is the year when World War II ended, also the...

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:31:00 -0400

Seoul, 1945. This is the year when World War II ended, also the year when Japanese surrendered and the Korean Peninsula was liberated from 35 years of imperial rule. But this caused country to be divided into South and North Korea. The USSR occupied Korea north of the 38th parallel, while the U.S. occupied the southern section. Under UN auspices, a democratic government established the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in 1948 with its capital in Seoul. The Communists established the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) with its capital in P’yongyang.

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Sun, 19 May 2013 20:20:44 -0400

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Sun, 19 May 2013 18:16:19 -0400

Pororo the Little Penguin (Korean: 뽀롱뽀롱 뽀로로) is a popular...

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:06:58 -0400

Pororo the Little Penguin (Korean: 뽀롱뽀롱 뽀로로) is a popular cartoon series. In South Korea, Pororo has become famous among preschool kids and children and has earned the nickname “Pororo the President”, while to some teenagers, “Pororo the God”.

The series revolve around the adventures of Pororo and his friends who live in the snowy village of Porong Porong Forest. No-one knows how they came to live on the island but they naturally came to live together in the village situated in the little valley where the sunshine is warmest and the cold wind is least harsh. Pororo and his friends often encounter challenges and learn practical and moral lessons in each episode. In this episode Pororo and his friend Crong travel and experience life in Korea.

Production of Pororo began in 2002 and the program began airing in South Korea on EBS in 2003. Internationally, the program currently airs on Australian, French, Taiwanese, Indian, Italian, Puerto Rican, Singaporean and Vietnamese channels. It also started airing in Norway, on Boomerang, and Cartoonito in the UK. It also airs in Disney Junior (Asia).

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Sat, 18 May 2013 18:12:15 -0400

Hoeryongpo Village, in North Gyeongsang Province, got its name...

Sat, 18 May 2013 16:52:34 -0400

Hoeryongpo Village, in North Gyeongsang Province, got its name from the bends of the Naeseong River, a tributary of the Nakdong River. The area is small enough to scoop up with a shovel and is known as the “island within the mainland”, as it is surrounded by the river. The best way to enjoy the view is to walk up to the observatory along the 1.5 kilometer trail that leads up to Jangan Temple on Mt. Biryong, which was built during the Unified Silla Kingdom (668-935).

The area has been developed as a tourist spot ever since 1997, with numerous hiking trails and parks, and was also the location for the hit drama “Autumn in My Heart” (2002). For more information about the village.

Gwanaksan - ”mountain of the hat-shaped peak”

Sat, 18 May 2013 16:37:00 -0400

Gwanaksan - ”mountain of the hat-shaped peak”

Changdeokgung Palace (“Prospering Virtue...

Sat, 18 May 2013 16:27:31 -0400

Changdeokgung Palace (“Prospering Virtue Palace”) was the second royal villa built following the construction of Gyeongbukgung Palace in 1405. The palace gained in importance starting from the time of 9th king of Joseon, Seongjong, when a number of kings began using it as a place of residence. It was the principal palace for many of the Joseon kings and is the most well-preserved of the five remaining royal Joseon palaces.

The palace grounds are comprised of a public palace area, a royal family residence building, and the rear garden which was constructed during the reign of King Taejong. Known as a place of rest for the kings, the rear garden boasts a gigantic tree that is over 300 years old, a small pond, and a pavilion. The garden was kept as natural as possible and was touched by human hands only when absolutely necessary. The most beautiful time to see the garden is during the fall when the autumn foliage is at its peak and the leaves have just started to fall.

It is one of the “Five Grand Palaces” built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897).

“Pavilion of Far-Reaching Fragrance” - Hyangwonjeong...

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:59:00 -0400

“Pavilion of Far-Reaching Fragrance” - Hyangwonjeong Pavilion in winter, Seoul

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Sat, 18 May 2013 15:54:09 -0400

Gonggi (공기) is a popular Korean children’s game that is...

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:28:49 -0400

Gonggi (공기) is a popular Korean children’s game that is traditionally played using 5 or more small grape-sized pebbles. Nowadays, children buy colourful plastic stones instead of finding pebbles. It can be played alone or with friends. The stones are called gonggitdol (공깃돌), which means “gonggi stones.” Since only a few stones and a flat surface are needed for play, the game can be played by anyone almost anywhere.

How to play:

Level 1: The stones are thrown on the playing surface and the player picks a stone to throw up in the air. While airborne, the player picks up one stone on the playing surface. Then, the player catches the stone. These steps are repeated until all the stones have been caught.
Level 2: The stones are thrown on the playing surface again. However, at this level, the player picks up the stones two at a time.
Level 3: The stones are thrown on the playing surface. The stones are picked up once in a cluster of three, and the other in the amount of one.
Level 4: The player throws one stone in the air, places the others on the surface, and catches the airborne stone. Then the player picks up the four clustered stones on the playing surface. Then the player catches the airborne stone.
Level 5: The player tosses the stones from the palm of their hand in to the air. While airborne, the player switches his hand backside up. The stones are then caught on the back of the hand. Then, the player throws the stones in the air and catches them. The number of stones caught amount to the score.

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Fri, 10 May 2013 17:02:21 -0400

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Fri, 10 May 2013 16:59:21 -0400

Spring Blossoms, Hyangwonjeong, Gyeongbokgung, Seoul

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:57:00 -0400

Spring Blossoms, Hyangwonjeong, Gyeongbokgung, Seoul

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Fri, 10 May 2013 16:52:39 -0400

I know this may seem very long to read, but anyone interested in...

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:33:00 -0400

I know this may seem very long to read, but anyone interested in Korean culture or history should read about this person. I believe, knowing King Sejong is a “must” for anyone whose favorite country is Korea. If you decide to reblog this post you can remove my note :)

Sejong the Great (세종대왕)

(May 15, 1397 – April 8, 1450)

Sejong is one of only two Korean rulers posthumously honored with the appellation “the Great”, the other being Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo.

Sejong was the fourth king of Joseon. Born with family name Yi (이; 李), given name Do (도; 祹). He is the third son between King Taejong and Queen-Consort Min. As a young prince, Sejong excelled in various studies and was favored by King Taejong over his two older brothers. Sejong’s ascension to the throne was different from those of most other kings. Taejong’s eldest son, Yangnyeong (양녕대군), viewing himself as lacking in the requisite skills for kingship, believed that his younger brother Sejong was destined to become king. As he believed it was his duty to see the better-qualified Sejong placed as king, he intentionally behaved rudely in court and was soon banished from Seoul. His efforts ultimately brought Sejong to the throne. The eldest prince became a wandering traveler and lived in the mountains. The second son Grand Prince Hyo-Ryung, understanding his older brother’s intentions and sharing his views, traveled to a Buddhist temple and became a monk. In August 1418 Sejong ascended the throne. However, Taejong still retained certain powers at court, particularly regarding military matters, until he died in 1422. Taejong consolidated the power of monarchs by eliminating founding contributors and purging potential claimants to the throne. For this reason he even executed Sejong’s father-in-law, Shim Ohn, and his close associates. This allowed Sejong to be an unchallenged political authority during his reign.

King Sejong revolutionized government by appointing people throughout different social classes to civil servants. Furthermore, he encouraged people to behave according to Confucianism and performed official government events according to it, at the same time he suppressed Buddhism. As a result, Confucianism became social norm. But later he alleviated his action by building temples and accepting Buddhism by making a test to become a monk (Seung-gwa). In 1420 Sejong established the Hall of Worthies (집현전; 集賢殿; Jiphyeonjeon) at the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It consisted of scholars selected by the king. The Hall participated in various scholarly endeavors, of which the best known may be the compilation of the Hunmin Jeongeum.

King Sejong was an effective military planner. He created various military regulations to strengthen the safety of his kingdom, supported the advancement of Korean military technology, including cannon development. Different kinds of mortars and fire arrows were tested as well as the use of gunpowder. In relationship with Ming, he made some successful agreement that benefitted joseon. He kept good relationship with Japan by opening three ports and allowing trading with them. But he also invaded Tsushima island with military forces in order to stop pirating in South Sea(East China Sea) since Tsushima island was a base for pirates. In 1433, Sejong sent Kim Jong-seo, a prominent general, north to destroy the Manchu. Kim’s military campaign captured several castles, pushed north, and restored Korean territory, to the Songhua River. Four forts and six posts were established to safeguard the people from Jurchen nomads.

Sejong depended on the agricultural produce of Joseon’s farmers, so he allowed them to pay more or less tax according to fluctuations of economic prosperity or hard times. Once the palace had a significant surplus of food, he distributed food to poor peasants or farmers who needed it. Because Sejong wanted to help farmers he created a farmer’s handbook in 1429. The book—the Nongsa jikseol (농사직설)—contained information about the different farming techniques that he told scientists to gather in different regions of Korea.

Sejong is credited with technological advances during his reign. During his rule, Jang Yeong-sil (hangul: 장영실) became known as a prominent inventor. Naturally creative and smart thinker Jang was at the bottom of the social class. Taejong, the father of Sejong, noticed Jang’s skill and immediately called him to his court in Seoul. Upon giving Jang a government position and funding for his inventions, officials protested, believing a person from the lower classes should not rise to power among nobles. Sejong instead believed in his ability and truly, Jang created new significant designs for water clocks, armillary spheres, and sundials. However, his most impressive invention came in 1442, the world’s first rain gauge, named Cheugugi; unfortunately, this model has not survived.

Sejong also wanted to reform the Korean calendar system, which was at the time based upon the longitude of the Chinese capital. So for the first time in Korean history astronomers created a calendar with the Korean capital of Seoul as the primary meridian. This new system allowed Korean astronomers to accurately predict the timing of solar and lunar eclipses.

In the realm of traditional Korean medicine, two important treatises were written during the reign of Sejong. These were the Hyangyak jipseongbang and the Euibang yuchwi, which historian Kim Yongsik says represents ‘Koreans’ efforts to develop their own system of medical knowledge, distinct from that of China.’

Sejong supported literature, and encouraged high class officials and scholars to study at the court. King Sejong created the written language of hangul and announced it to the Korean people in the Hunminjeongeum (Hangul:훈민정음, Hanja: 訓民正音), meaning ‘The verbally right sounds meant to teach the people.’ Before the creation of Hangul, only members of the highest class were literate (hanja was typically used to write Korean by using adapted Chinese characters, while Hanmun was sometimes used to write court documents in classical Chinese). One would have to learn the quite complex hanja characters in order to read and write Korean. Further, despite modifications to the Chinese characters, hanja could prove cumbersome when transcribing the Korean language, due to considerable differences in grammar and sentence order.

King Sejong presided over the introduction of the 28-letter Korean alphabet, with the explicit goal being that Koreans from all classes would read and write. Each hangul letter is based on a simplified diagram of the patterns made by the mouth, tongue and teeth when making the sound related to the character. Morphemes are built by writing the characters in syllabic blocks. His intention was to establish a cultural identity for Korea through its unique script. The blocks of letters are then strung together linearly. First published in 1446, anyone could learn Hangul in a matter of days. Persons previously unfamiliar with Hangul can typically pronounce Korean script accurately after only a few hours study. Although most government officials and aristocrats opposed usage of hangul, lower classes embraced it, became literate, and were able to communicate with one another in writing.

Sejong’s personal writings are also highly regarded. He composed the famous Yongbi Eocheon Ga (“Songs of Flying Dragons”, 1445), Seokbo Sangjeol (“Episodes from the Life of Buddha”, July 1447), Worin Cheon-gang Jigok (“Songs of the Moon Shining on a Thousand Rivers”, July 1447), and the reference Dongguk Jeong-un (“Dictionary of Proper Sino-Korean Pronunciation”, September 1447)..

Sejong was blinded years later by diabetes complications that eventually took his life in 1450. He was buried at the Yeong Mausoleum(영릉; 英陵). His successor was his first son, Munjong. Sejong judged that his sickly son Munjong was unlikely to live long and on his deathbed asked the Hall of Worthies scholars to look after his young grandson Danjong. As predicted, Munjong died two years after his accession, and political stability enjoyed under Sejong disintegrated when Danjong became the sixth king of Joseon at the age of twelve. Eventually, Sejong’s second son Sejo usurped the throne from Danjong in 1455. When six martyred ministers were implicated in a plot to restore Danjong to throne, Sejo abolished the Hall of Worthies and executed Danjong and many ministers who served during Sejong’s reign.

The life of Sejong was depicted in the KBS Korean historical drama King Sejong the Great (TV series) in 2008. Sejong is also depicted in the 2011 SBS drama Deep Rooted Tree.

Good Night, Seoul

Wed, 08 May 2013 07:55:15 -0400

Good Night, Seoul

Evening in Seoul

Wed, 08 May 2013 07:51:01 -0400

Evening in Seoul