Coffee made with a smile Exterior of MakersGreeting you as you walk into Makers, or Dayanghan Gage(다양한 가게: lit. &lsquoDiverse store&rsquo), is the wonderful scent of fair trade coffee in the air. The store&rsquos barista bursts into laughter, covering her mouth with her small hand. It is another usual day for her. She seems to prefer talking with the patrons of the store over brewing coffee. She enjoys her time here.It has been 15 years since she married a Korean man and came to live in Kor... Go Link ]]> 2011-12-22 11:28:54 The Seoul MICE Industry is the Way ForwardThe MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) industry is one of the largest growth industries for our capital and the nation as a whole. It has opened the door to the world as a growing number of visitors have discovered Seoul's unique character &ndash an ancient, yet modern city brimming with centuries of culture and filled with hospitable, welcoming citizens.Ours is a city capable of hosting diverse meetings thanks to the close partner... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-14 17:31:47 Seoul's Retro Neighborhood, SeochonEvery big city has a few uniquely vibrant areas that outsiders rarely visit until, of course, they become "discovered." In Seoul, the area between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Inwangsan Mountain is one of the most vibrant and complex neighborhoods in the city. It is so complex that it lacks a clearly identifiable name like its more famous neighbor Bukchon (North Village) on the other side of Gyeongbokgung. Composed of 13 small administrative districts called "dongs... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-14 11:46:08 Korea's largest wetland registered in the Ramsar ConventionUpo Wetland (photo source: Korea Tourism Organization)Upo Wetland (also called Sobeol) is the largest natural wetland in Korea, located east of the Nakdonggang River, a large river in southern Korea. Its area is widely distributed across four administrative districts in Changryeong County, South Gyeongsang Province: Yuoe-myeon, Ibang-myeon, Daehap-myeon and Daeji-myeon. In August 1998 Upo Wetland was registered on the Ramsar List of Wetl... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 16:31:49 Buddhist paintings, the most beautiful paintings in the worldA surprising number of people choose Goryeo Buddhist paintings as the most beautiful type of artwork in the world. A glimpse of Suwol Gwaneum Do ("Painting of Water Moon Avalokitevara Bodhisattva") at Kagami Shinto Shrine in Karatsu, Japan would easily clarify this point. The painting &ndash which is five meters high &ndash is imposing yet elegant, full of luxurious color, and drawn with lines that are both delicate and strong at the s... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 16:18:08 Korea &ndash from being helped to helping othersKorea was once one of the poorest countries in the world, suffering through 36 years of Japanese colonial rule, the national division shortly after liberation from Japanese imperialism and the ensuing Korean War. But Korea managed to overcome all these adversities, emerging as an advanced country. Korea is also the first country in the world to transform itself from a recipient of aid into a donor that is now responsible for and capable of helping ... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 15:00:09 Hanbok's beautiful curves resemble the lines of nature in Korea Hanbok is Korea's traditional, indigenous clothing. Handmade with fabric dyed using natural materials, hanbok reflects Koreans' sentiments and culture as well as the lines of Korea's mountains and fields.The baerae (bottom line of the sleeve) and the seop (outer collar of the coat) of jeogori (short jacket), and the toe of beoseon (traditional Korean socks) illustrate the beauty of fluid, soft and sleek lines. Hanbok, made with free... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 14:54:04 Koreans and "ppallippalli"I used to not like the words "daegang ppalli" (meaning "quickly though imperfect") because I believed this was not a good way of doing things. But these days, I find myself using the word "ppallippalli" more and more. In fact, hardly a day goeswithout me saying"ppallippalli." Whenever I leave from home to work in the morning with my children, I say "Stop dawdling, hurry up!"Even at school I say the same thing to my students: hurry up! "ppallippalli" is like a habit acqu... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 14:23:50 Model of ideal residential space, traditional Korean villageTraditional Korean villages are, above all, very beautiful. They have also long had what modern people now strongly desire: a close community feeling and an eco-friendly philosophy whereby people live healthily in harmony with nature. For anyone who has imagined the ideal residential space, a visit to a traditional village in Korea is a must.Nature-inspired design Daeam seen from daecheong (traditional open air living room)of Bobondang ... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 14:12:55 I want to promote gugak to Japanese people.I started to learn how to play the janggo, a traditional Korean hourglass drum, at the age of six. I learned to play the daegeum, a Korean flute, at fifteen. Now I am a gugak (traditional Korean music) musician, and give performances both in Korea and Japan.I have devoted myself to making gugak known to Japanese people. Of course, it is not easy to disseminate the folk music of one country to another country. For example, imagine an Indian folk musician... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 13:25:41 King Sejong practiced "strategic silence" in the early days of his reign.Official royal portrait of King Sejong, the fourth king of the Joseon DynastyIn Sejong Sillok (Royal Annals of King Sejong), one can read about how King Sejong adamantly refrained from making statements during the early period of his reign. Royal opinions on major national agenda such as defense and personnel administration were expressed via the abdicated King Taejong, the father of King Sejong. King Sejong only engaged in... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 11:30:29 Changgeuk based on the traditional Korean musical genre pansoriChanggeuk, which literally means "singing drama," is a genre of musical drama based on pansori, a famous Korean vocal music genre that is also a UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Since its foundation, The National Changgeuk Company has been committed to the production of musical dramas developed for modern audiences from pansori. The company's latest Changgeuk work, "Cheong," was created for today's theatergoers not just in Korea but overs... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 10:58:30 Jejudo, the birthplace of all haenyeoJejudo (also Jeju Island) is the birthplace of haenyeo. Haenyeo, which literally means &lsquosea woman,&rsquo is a term for woman divers who fish for a living by diving deep underwater without oxygen tanks. They catch things like seaweed, abalone, conch, sea cucumber and agar. At first glance, these woman divers look like ordinary farm village women. They alternate between farming the land and &lsquofarming&rsquo the sea, diving for fish and other ocean catch... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 10:29:11 Exploring SeoulFortress is like a snapshot of the city's history. Seoul'sFortress, which goes up Bugaksan Mountain,as seen from House with a View, a café in Buam-dong, Seoul2011 marks the 617th anniversary of Seoul's designation as the capital city of Korea. This also means that it has been 617 years since King Taejo (Yi Seong-gye), the first king of the Joseon Dynasty, named Seoul as the capital in 1394, three years after his coronation. Among the many capital cities in the world, few have a hi... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-11 10:09:03 Seoseng gwa cheonyeo (Student and Virgin): A woman's one-sided loveSoseng gwa cheonyeo (Student and Virgin), artist unknown, 19th century.This genre painting captures a woman's unrequited love. From the frame of the sliding door, the lamplight shines in a single room. A young student sits late into the night reading a book. His features are prominent and his yugeon (horsehair hat) sits neatly on his head; the expression on his face is severe. A full moon lights up the yard and the gate. From the... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-10 18:10:16 The definition of beauty is centered on inner beauty rather than physical appearance.In depictions of people, Asian art has always gone beyond physical appearance to capture the subject's inner spirit. It is for this reason that in the history of Asian art, the most preferred subjects were significant figures regarded as being decent and honorable. Indeed, more than physical appearance, artists highlighted the inner beauty of their subjects. We can see a wide variety of artists' interpretations ... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-10 16:39:10 The figure on the 50,000 won bill Portrait of Shin Saimdang by Lee Jong-sang on 50,000 won billProbably no other female figure in Korean history is as well known as Shin Saimdang (1504-1551). Even to this day, Shin Saimdang is respected for being the ideal Korean woman. Her portrait appeared on the 50,000 won bill in 2009.Shin Saimdang is mostly remembered for being an accomplished artist, calligraphist and poet. She is also famous as being the mother of Yulgok (1536-1584), a great scholar and s... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-08 17:20:56 Alleyways, the growth rings of the cityIn every corner of Seoul there remain alleyways that sew the story of the city's history. There are meandering pathways amidst hanok (Korean traditional houses) and those with beautifully colored murals painted by artists. Walking these alleyways leads you through the yesterday, today, and tomorrow of Seoul.Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul's largest hanok cluster Scenery of 11 Gahoe-dong. The sight of the shouldering rooftops rouses a feeling of warm familiarit... Go Link ]]> 2011-11-08 16:55:23 Changdeokgung: A true palace of JoseonAccording to Royal Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, several records appear of hunting expeditions that took place because of the sudden appearance of a tiger on the palace grounds. As if to confirm this historical fact, a wild boar appeared in Changdeokgung Palace in 2006, frightening everyone present. What then does this imply? This points to the fact that Changdeokgung is close enough to the mountains that wild animals frequently appear on palace premises.A p... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-28 10:59:05 Bojagi: Easy and convenient Korean cultureGreen and red are the promise of Christmas. At the beginning of winter, I quietly prepare for the holiday with red and green bojagi. (photo source: Joongang m&b)What word can describe the essence of Korean culture? Jeong, that special feeling of mutual connectedness that cannot be described in words &ndash I express it through bojagi (wrapping cloth). Its vivid colors and flexible usage perfectly embody the Korean spirit of sharing? Perhaps bojagi is the... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-28 10:45:50 A 81,258-page Tripitaka of GoryeoIn 1231, Mongol troops invaded the Goryeo Empire (918~1392). Goryeo decided not to surrender and continued to fight the Mongols from Ganghwado Island in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) not far from the capital city, Gaeseong. The Mongol troops, who were ill-accustomed to sea battle, left alone the provisional government on Ganghwado but instead wreaked grave damage on the rest of the peninsula. Amidst such turbulent times, the Goryeo ruling elite decided to carve out a... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-28 10:25:43 Gagok: Songs that fortify the body and mindWolhatangeumdo, Lee Gyeongyun(yangban artist, mid-Joseon, 1545-1611)(source: Korea University Museum)Wolhatangeumdo is a painting that depicts a seonbi (literally 'virtuous scholar,' a member of the yangban class) playing the geomungo on a moonlit night. There is one unusual thing about this otherwise beautiful classical painting: the geomungo does not have any strings. The seonbi is thus playing the geomungo with his heart rather than his fingers, comp... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-28 10:16:50 150 Chinese college students venture out to rediscover a neighbor As a member of the Exploratory Korean Culture Tour Group of Chinese Youth, comprised of 150 Chinese college students, I had the opportunity to embark on a nine-day tour of Seoul, Gongju, Gyeongju and Jeju Island. Time passed quickly, and the trip was over in the blink of an eye. Each place we visited had its own story, people welcomed us with open arms, and beautiful scenery greeted our eyes wherever we went. Reflecting back, my 8... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-28 09:54:13 New popularity of Korean herbal medicine cosmetics Cosmetics using traditional herbal medicine are gaining popularity with consumers. Coupled with the recent well-being lifestyle trend and new attention to naturalism, the number of herbal medicine cosmetics brands is rapidly increasing. In line with the global cosmetics trend toward high efficacy and phyto-care, herbal medicine cosmetics offering a permanent and nature-friendly solution for skin are attracting attention from an increasing number... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-28 09:46:39 G-learning spread from Korea to the world Game-based learning (G-learning) originated in Korea, and was used for the first time in the United States at an elementary school in Culver City, California on September 27, 2010. The students responded so enthusiastically to the program that it was hard to believe they were in an actual math class. Notably, students who had trouble paying attention in general classes displayed keen interest in solving math problems given as a quest of the game. The kid... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-27 14:38:39 Korean Cultural Centers overseas: 16 locations in 12 countries as of 2010.Korean cultural centers overseas do their utmost to promote Korean culture in an effort to expedite international exchange between Korea and other countries. Currently, 16 cultural centers have been established in 12 countries through which Korean cultural lectures, performances and exhibits are held. The centers also offer introductions to the Korean language, publish and distribute promotional materials on Korea, host Ko... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-27 11:18:10 Respect for peace and fairness is the bedrock of taekwondoTaekwondo, a Korean martial art, became an official Olympic sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Since then, the number of people who enjoy the sport has grown rapidly. Taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art, presents the Korean spirit and epitomizes Koreans' knowledge, virtue and strength. From ancient times, Koreans have practiced taekwondo not only to train their bodies, but also to foster patience and perseverance. The sport h... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-27 10:57:56 Are you planning to visit Korea? The friendly operators at the 1330 call center are waiting for you with reliable solutions to all your travel concerns.The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO)'s 1330 call center is a tourist information hotline for Koreans and foreigners that provides useful travel information for most regions of Korea as well as interpretation and other services. The call center is making continuous efforts to improve its services by offering a mobile phone text message service, as... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-27 10:48:58 Korea is transforming into a multicultural society where people of diverse cultural backgrounds live together. Multicultural families in Korea are categorized into families with a foreign husband or wife, families of foreign migrant workers, families of North Korean defectors, and single person families (foreign migrant workers and foreign students).In many cases, members of multicultural families cannot easily access medical institutions due to language and/or financial barriers, and thus face ... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-25 14:35:17 Pursuing biodiesel out of responsibility and dutyThe oil crisis and environmental pollution are so serious that it is not even worth mentioning their significance here again. Even though ordinary citizens are aware of these problems, it is difficult for people to cope with them proactively in their everyday living. Hence, civil servants have the responsibility and obligation to take the lead in efforts to address these problems.I came to learn about biodiesel during the 2002 World Cup Korea/Japa... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-25 14:24:23 History is a mirror reflecting the present Reflecting Pond When you enter the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, you first encounter the Cheongjajeong Pavilion, a symbolic building installed to mark the museum's 100th anniversary. This building sits alongside a pond called the "Reflecting Pond (Geoulmot)." History is often referred to as a "mirror reflecting the present," and in this sense, the pond is a symbol for how the museum's preserving and exhibiting of historical cultural legaci... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-25 14:16:41 Becoming the 100,000th Korean citizen: entering into the real Korean life Professor Roy, Alok Kumar (second from the right) and his familyMany people ask me what has changed in my life ever since I became 100,000th Korean citizen. Not much, I must say. I have already lived more than 31 years in Korea. Many people in Korea had accepted me as a Korean much before I got this citizenship. And there may be many even today who may not think I am a Korean at first sight, because I look different. Being... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-25 14:07:43 Cultural heritages, a spiritual foundation for the presentCultural heritages are historical assets that allow us to trace the lives of our ancestors and understand their histories, traditions and lifestyles. Cultural heritages also provide a spiritual foundation, shaping our identity and inspiring self-respect. Also, how well we conserve our cultural heritages determines how well traditional values will be inherited through the generations and how much our lives will be enriched by such heritage... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-25 13:59:26 Space for quiet reflection in the middle of the citySeonyudo is a ship-shaped island surrounded by concrete walls located downstream of the Hangang River. At the east end you will find Yanghwadaegyo Bridge, and to the west, a beautiful pedestrian bridge. Seonyubong Peak, famous for its beautiful landscape, used to be located here, but after the great flood in 1920, when people began to quarry stones from the peak, it eventually disappeared. The site was then used as a water purification facility... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-19 17:50:28 Korean salon, Club SarangbangsClub Sarangbangs Festival This poem was recited at the very first gathering of cultural clubs in Seongnam City, and has been recited at every gathering since then, like a folk song being passed down through the generations. Maybe someday, someone will create a beautiful melody for the poem to make it into a song that we can sing together. The song will be handed down to our children and again, to our children's children.There are more than 1,000 cultural art clubs i... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-19 17:39:27 Bronze statue of King Sejong the Great in Gwanghwamun Square(Photo Credit: Korea Tourism Organization)King Sejong dreamt of a nation with a strong culture and economy.Koreans usually choose King Sejong as the most accomplished and influential leader in the nation's history. King Sejong (also called King Sejong the Great), who masterminded countless achievements during his 32-year reign (r. 1418~1450), fostered young talent and created hangeul, the Korean alphabet, with the establishment of Jiphy... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-19 17:25:51 Soompi is a driving force behind the growth of the Korean wave Soompi is the world's largest English online media that provides overseas K-Pop fans with up-to-date coverage on K-Pop culture. Soompi's headlines include such things as: "Wonder Girls' 'Nobody' enters the U.S. Billboard top 100 singles chart for the first time in K-Pop history," "Big Bang member Taeyang's first solo album Solar ranked second in the U.S. iTunes R&B sales chart," "Kara, Jang Geun-suk and Girls' Generation in the Orico... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-19 17:13:44 Filial piety is the basis of the Korean psyche.It would not be an overstatement to say that filial piety has taken firm root in almost every area of Korean culture. Ever since Confucianism was adopted from China during the Three Kingdoms Period, it was melded together with the Korean philosophy on ethics to form a uniquely Korean version of filial piety. During the Joseon Dynasty, filial piety became an essential part of the state&rsquos ruling ideology and was considered the most important valu... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-17 18:47:54 Visually beautiful, delicious and nutritious: Bibimbap The Bibimbap Backpackers is a group of Korean men and women on an international tour to promote delicious bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish, to the world. Our journey began in Beijing, China, on April 5, 2011 and has already taken us to many countries across the globe.Bibimbap with a variety of colorful ingredientsKorea boasts so many delicious dishes, of which kimchi, bulgogi, galbi, japchae and bibimbap are the most recognized globally. ... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-11 17:53:37 "Nam June Paik was the most modern artist among us." - Allan Kaprow, artist Nam June Paik (1932 - 2006) was the ultimate creator &ndash both in his life and in his art. Born into a wealthy family in Seoul during the Japanese occupation of Korea, Paik attended middle school in Seoul and Hong Kong. After the Korean War, he moved to Japan where he graduated from high school in Kamakura, a city near Tokyo. Kamakura is where the head temple of Zen Buddhism is located, and the experience of living in ... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-11 17:35:11 From different countries, different aromas Humans have used aromas as comfort for the mind and the body for a very long time. The connection between aromas, humankind and religion is also an intimate one.Each country has its own unique aroma depending on the herbs it favors. Sage is the most frequently used herb in the United Kingdom, for example, while oregano, mint and dill are popular in Middle Eastern countries and Greece. Coriander and lemongrass are widely used in Southeast Asian countries... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-11 17:27:16 Climate change demands a change in mindsetThe impact of global warming on the Earth has become all too clear. A beautiful island nation in Asia, Maldives, is facing the imminent threat of submergence due to global warming. Polar bears are on the endangered animals list. Rising sea levels are causing growing alarm, as is the desertification that is making the whole Earth drier and drier. Korea is not immune from this vicious circle of climate change, either. Summer in Korea is getting hotter ever... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-11 17:15:10 Not assistance or donations but fair tradePoverty and climate change are the most urgent issues facing humankind today. Failing to solve these problems puts not only present people in danger, but also future generations and the Earth itself. Numerous people in the developing world are suffering under the grips of poverty, hunger and disease. Yet many people in developed countries enjoy affluent lifestyles, lavishly consuming resources. This reality makes us ask a very important question: from wh... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-11 16:43:42 Korea &ndash years ahead of its time in ITKorea is a mobile heaven where 50 million mobile phone subscribers, more than the entire population of Korea, enjoy wireless communication anywhere, anytime. It is not unusual to see subway commuters search for real-time news on smart phones or watch baseball games using the DMB service. In this sense, it is not an exaggeration to claim Koreans as early adopters of cutting edge IT services.Korea was the first in the world to commercialize second generati... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-11 16:26:40 Mrs. Smart's smart dayMrs. Smart is a homemaker who lives in Seocho-dong, Seoul. She starts her day with a morning alarm from her smartphone. As her home network system is linked with her smartphone, the system automatically turns on the lights, opens the curtains, and sounds the wakeup alarm for the rest of her family. After breakfast, her husband heads to work, and her children go to school. She cleans up the house, while listening to music from Wall Pad.Home network Wall Pad EHW-1030Soon afte... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-11 16:17:21 Korean sensitivity and universalityYard of "ㅡ"-shaped house in Pyeongchang-dong[Photo courtesy of Kim Yonggwan]My office is on the top floor of a commercial building in Seoul. From the outside, the building looks very common, but that impression totally changes when you go up to the roof of the building. The building is actually divided into two structures with a yard. One of the two structures is again divided into two sections and there is a courtyard where you can look up at the sky. I love ... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-11 16:10:00 A battle scene from the movie "Singijeon" in which a restored Singijeon rocket was usedSingijeon, the best and most advanced weapon of the fifteenth century Annals of the Joseon Dynasty states that Singijeon, a newly-developed weapon at the time, played a crucial role in the territorial war with the Manchus that took place south of the Amnok (Yalu) and Duman (Tumen) Rivers.As in the past, the development of new weapons today requires solid background in advanced science and technology. This is w... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-11 15:30:12 Korea is the only country having received aid from the US Peace Corps that now sends volunteer workers abroad. The photo exhibition "A Story of Volunteerism" contains images of both Korea's past when it received aid from the Peace Corps as well as Korea on various community service projects throughout the world. "A Story of Volunteerism: Americans in Korea, Korea in the World" is jointly hosted by the Embassy of the United States of America in Korea and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KO... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-06 14:38:07 Taekwondo is making a new leap forward with the "Enjoy Taekwondo Project.""I knew about taekwondo before I even learned about Korea." Every Wednesday and Saturday, tourists gather at Gyeongheegung Palace to watch a taekwondo performance that includes not only a taekwondo demonstration but also a performance, music, a storyline and Korean traditional dance. The taekwondo demonstration team, dressed in white dobok and black belts, gather gi (energy) at the tips of their hands and bare feet. Their ... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-04 16:47:39 Naju, hometown of indigo dye and silkNaju in southwestern Korea has long been the home of indigo plants and mulberries, planted on the fertile lands alongside Yeongsangang River. The soil around the river and the mild climate of Naju offered our ancestors the best conditions for cultivating indigo plants, which is why Naju was once a major supplier of indigo in the country and a center for indigo dyeing and silk. The indigo-dyeing industry thrived for a time in this area, but was later left on t... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-04 16:24:51 A world-class science museum in KoreaOn November 2008, the cutting-edge Gwacheon National Science Museum, located in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on a 240,000 square-meter plot, opened its doors for the first time. It was a large-scale government project with a budget of 4.3 billion won. With 4,000 exhibits and over 1.5 million visitors each year, it is a symbol of Korea's rising status as a science powerhouse.Aerial view of Gwacheon National Science MuseumTesla coil (4,000,000V artificial lighti... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-04 15:11:15 Korea: The Suzerain of Online GamesOne thing that taekwondo, which became an official Olympic sport in 1988, and online games have in common is that Korea is the 'suzerain' of both. If there are one hundred million people all over the world who do taekwondo, there are one billion who play online games. It is to this one billion that Korean culture is spread and Korean philosophy is shared.The history of online games began in 1996, the year Nexon Co. Ltd. developed the very first graphic online g... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-04 13:37:41 Senegal's First Taekwondo Master Dam SeckNot even my mother knew that I would become Senegal's first taekwondo master I first began taekwondo in 1986.I quit karate, which I had practiced for the past two years, and began taekwondo. The look on my mother's face as she handed me my first dobok (taekwondo uniform) was one of faint disbelief. My mother believed that just as I had done with karate, I would soon quit taekwondo for the flimsy excuse of wanting to try out another martial art. She never ... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-04 13:17:43 "Farming is Art" Installation, Gyeonggi-do, South KoreaSsamjienongbu, from A to Z design consulting for farmersSsamjienongbu is a social enterprise that aims to rediscover the beauty and value of agriculture and see farming in a fresh new light under its motto, "Farming is Art." Ssamjinongbu, which began by transforming deserted school buildings in farming villages into art spaces, turned its sights to design consulting in 2010 and made its name with the project for "Surisuribongbong Farmhouse R... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-04 13:07:40 Mingled by the Wind. Joined by the Earth, 2009, 2010 Shanghai Expo, China"Ik-Joong, you just have to follow three things when you live your life.""First, always eat breakfast.""Why?""When you're body is weak, you'll fall if keep looking for an easy path.""Second, if you go to a restaurant give a big tip. The people working there have a family they need to care for.""Oh, yes.""Finally, I'm not sure you'll understand this, but know how to differentiate 'opportunity' and 'temptation'. A lot of peop... Go Link ]]> 2011-10-04 11:46:17 Life/Life, 15×5m, Pohang Museum of Steel Art, 2011The stories you know of, I know of, and we all know of, but try to hide 1 2 3 4 5Ever since I was tagged with the peculiar title, "the strange collusion of art and the everyday," I had been known as a kitsch artist. It then seemed to bequite awkward for both of us &ndash the audience and me &ndashif I would present abstract-lofty art.It was a kind of certificate that was granted to me, "a kitsch artist," the right to talk about stories that you ... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-30 16:42:22 Norigae (source: Korea Tourism Organization)A beloved accessory of the Joseon dynastyA thin string tightens the dress, and the norigae hangs daintily on the jeogori.Norigae creates a subtle harmony between the radiant hue of the hanbok jeogori (short jacket)and the dresses' full and elegant folds. The norigae was an accessory beloved by all women of the Joseon dynasty from the royal family and yangban (ruling class)wives to the commoner class.A special desire expressed by the beautiful patternsF... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-30 16:28:40 Evacuation of the Achasan FortressesPanoramic view of Hongnyeonbong Fort No. 1 during an excavation (Korea University, 2007)A book on the cultural remains of Joseon, published by the Japanese colonial government in 1942, summarizes well the features of a group of Goguryeo fortresses on Achasan (Mt.) and its vicinity including their forms, scales and distances. The remains, however, were thought to have been lost in the course of the expansion of Seoul's territory after liberation, since the expa... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-26 16:17:18 The colorful and vivid hues of hwagak craftworkHwagak is a form of traditional Korean craftwork that uses thin transparent ox-horn to create beautifully colored patterns and lustrous surfaces on woodwork.Woodwork with natural colors and textures was common during the Joseon Dynasty, but hwagak was extremely different for it was very vivid and beautifully colored. This illustrates that although the people of Korea are deeply attached to neutral or white hues, women boldly broke this pattern for t... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-26 15:26:18 Cheongbaengni enhanced the morality of government officials and scholars"Noblesse oblige" refers to the importance of moral responsibility among leaders of society. This idea provided a significant first step towards the creation of a civil society and has been demonstrated throughout history. A prime example is the Cheongbaengni system. Cheongbaengni (淸白吏) was an honorable designation bestowed on honest and upright government officials during the Joseon Dynasty. Translated literally, it mean... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-26 15:08:44 Korean gardens created by Korean climate75 percent of Korea's land mass is mountainous. There are rounded mountain peaks, hills and flowing streams. Pungsu (fengshui) principle dictates that when building a home on this type of land, the most optimal situation is to have a mountain in the back and flowing water in front of the house. A low wall is built to encircle the house, and inside is the mens' quarters, women's quarters, servants' quarters and a separate building in the back. Small walls a... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-26 13:50:02 The 40 royal Joseon tombs on the UNESCO World Heritage list1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10The 40 Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, registered by the Korean government (Cultural Heritage Administration), was officially designated as a world cultural heritage by the 33rd World Heritage Committee amidst international fanfare in the historic city of Seville, Spain, on June 30, 2009. It is Korea's ninth world cultural heritage.The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty are the tombs of the 27 kings, queens and post... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-23 14:49:26 Who is Kim Mandeok?There are many anonymous angels in Korean society today who share their love of humanity through donations. Past history also does not lack humanitarian-minded individuals. Of these, the generous acts of Kim Mandeok (1739~1812) are especially worthy of our attention. The fact that she hailed from Jeju Island as well as her social status as a former kisaeng (female entertainer) makes her donations even more special.According to various records, Kim Mandeok was born into the Kim... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-23 11:46:18 Seoul, a world-class granite cityThe city of Seoul was built on a basin.The land on which Seoul stands today was made by the weathering and erosion of granite embedded deep in the earth hundreds of millions of years ago. The parts of the basin that were severely weathered and eroded became what is today Seoul, and the parts made of firmer rock that were not eroded became the mountains that surround Seoul like a screen: Bukhansan ('san' means mountain), Dobongsan, Suraksan, Buramsan, Inwangsan an... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-23 11:29:25 Dating: A meeting of a man and woman, Marriage: The union of two familiessource: Korea Tourism Organization Marriage in Korea today involves the universal process in which a man and woman meet of their own free will, date for a certain length of time and then get married. However, this type of 'free dating' was impossible in traditional Korea because arranged marriage was the only type of marriage. In an arranged marriage, it is not the future husband and wife but the families of the husband and... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-23 10:30:10 Oriental Medicine: The 'Original' HallyuAfter Donguibogam (official English title: Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine) was registered as a UNESCO Memory of the World in 2009, Korean oriental medicine began to be more widely recognized. The registration of Donguibogam as a UNESCO heritage brought Korea into the limelight along with the Donguibogam Commemorative Society, which works toward publicizing Donguibogam.However, this type of attention is not new to those in the field of oriental... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-20 11:25:16 Hangwa is made for healthYakgwa (medicinal cookies)Finger Yugwa (fried cookies) One of the most important elements we should consider before deciding what to eat is health. It is for this reason that increasingly more Korean people today are turning their attention to hangwa, or, Korean traditional confectioneries. Hangwa are healthy snack foods made from agricultural products grown and harvested in Korea and are free of additives or chemicals detrimental to human health. It is typically made by... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-20 10:58:22 Decorative maedeup throughout the timesKorea's maedeup, or knot-work, first started as a convenient tool used to assist daily activities, but various aesthetic elements were incorporated later on. During the era of the Three Kingdoms, maedeup could be divided into two categories: knot-work used in everyday activities and knotwork used for decorative purposes. In Goguryeo's Anak Tomb No. 3 (recorded in the year 357), the ancestor sits below curtains decorated with maedeup.Goguryeo's Anak Tomb No ... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-19 16:54:16 To be a Museum that relates to the world through creative understanding of folk cultureThe National Folk Museum of Korea researches, preserves and exhibits Korean folk culture items, offers educational programs on Korean folk culture based on its archives, and pursues international exchanges with overseas museums. From Korea's rural communities to the residential districts of downtown Seoul and even to some of the world's remotest villages in China and Nepal, the museum records the details of ev... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-19 16:13:48 "Did they read novels at the palace during the Joseon Dynasty?"Joseon literati looked down on novels&hellipWould anyone in the palace have read them?The answer to the above question is "yes."Novels that were read in the palace were kept in Nakseonjae, a building in ChangdeokgungPalace built by King Heonjong (twenty-fourth king of Joseon) in 1847 for his consort Gyeongbin Kim. This is why these novels are often collectively called 'Nakseonjaebon,' with 84 types and over 2,000 books.A view of Naks... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-19 15:28:00 King Sejong's secret document on explosive weaponryI first encountered Byeonggidoseol, a part of Gukjo Oryeuiseorye (Five Ceremonies of Joseon), at the National Library of Korea. Its pages were dark yellow because it is five centuries old, but once I began reading I almost forgot that it was an ancient text. Throughout the book were many illustrations of gunpowder-using weapons, each accompanied by a caption with detailed measurements of each of the weapon's parts. It was apparent at a glance th... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-19 14:21:06 Grandmother who created JejuSeolmundae Halmang (or Grandmother Seolmundae) is the goddess and creator of Jeju. As long as Jeju exists, her spirit will never fade, as she holds the power that maintains order on Jeju.Even as far back as the 1950s, records mention Seolmundae Halmang as the mountain goddess of Hallasan (a mountain on Jeju). In modern times, however, her name is not even included in shaman rituals. While none worship her these days, the spirit of the Seolmundae myth lives on.Stories ... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-19 14:07:11 Korean food is a lot more than just red and spicy.It was long before hallyu became popular. A Korean student I got to know while majoring in Korean as a college student took me to a Korean restaurant: my first encounter with Korean food. I did not know Korean food very well back then, and the only memory I have of the jjigae (hot soup) and kimchi (pickled vegetables, usu. cabbage) I ate that day is that it was very red and very spicy.Two years later, I left to study abroad in Korea. As long as I... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-16 16:01:19 Jeongdaeeop, the music of King Sejong the GreatIn the early fifteenth century, King Sejong the Great (the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty, 1397-1450) created a new genre of music by tapping on the ground with his cane. The ground was tapped in order to measure the length of the hyangak (the music of Joseon) sound: the resulting musical score is known as Jeongdaeeop. Jeongdaeeop, which was created by King Sejong himself, is recorded in Sejong Sillok (Annals of King Sejong). We are therefore abl... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-15 15:08:17 What is a sangsomun?A reenactment of the Yeongnam Maninso incidentA sangso is a written appeal to the king. Technically, anyone from the lowest Seonggyungwan (National Confucian Academy) student to the highest government official could submit a sangso. In early Jin China it was called a sangseo, but was later called ju. During the Han Dynasty, the sangso was further sub-classified into jang, ju, pyo and eui. Several more categories (ju-eui, juso, gye, cha, jang, seo) were added later on. During ... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-15 14:53:55 Queen Seondeok: A monarch who rose above the walls of her eraThere were only three female monarchs in Korean history, all of whom reigned during the Silla Dynasty. Among Queen Seondeok, Jindeok and Jinseong, the first female monarch was Queen Seondeok (r. 632~647), the twenty-seventh monarch of Silla. In the East at the time, it was forbidden for a woman to govern a country. Predictably, this caused a great deal of debate and chaos when Queen Seondeok came to power. The rebellion led by Chilsuk,... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-15 14:25:18 source: Akdang IbanKorean traditional music: pansori, Jongmyo jeryeak, gagok, Gangneung DanojeTraditional music has always been an essential part of Korean daily life. The Joseon Dynasty, in order to solidify its ideology, set forth the political ideology of yeak &ndash a combination of the Chinese characters ye (propriety) and ak (music). This shows that music was used as an important tool in the mission of properly educating the people. The value of this music is recognized in the modern era a... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-15 14:09:40 When thinking of cultural heritages, what normally comes to mind are things like old pagodas and Buddha statues, ancient buildings, old paintings and calligraphy. However, there are also living cultural heritages like trees. There are approximately 20,000 old trees that can easily be seen across the country: of these, 162 are designated as cultural heritages under the category 'natural monument.' These old trees are a minimum of several hundred years old, while the oldest have grown alongside hu... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-15 13:36:43 Deugeum, a pansori singer's most important challengeWe call those who are good at pansori 'myeongchang.' What kinds of qualities must a myeongchang then have? 130 years ago, Sin Jaehyo proposed four skills that all myeongchang must possess. These are: inmulchire, sasulchire, deugeum and neoreumsae. inmulchire roughly means the importance of the singer's physical appearance. Sasulchire means that pansori lyrics must be poetic. Deugeum indicates the various vocalization techniques necessary in pan... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-15 13:27:57 Yaksun harmonizes food and medicinal ingredients and balances yin and yang of human bodyYaksun means "food as medicine" or "food as good as medicine." It involves understanding the characteristics of food and combines them based on oriental medicine principles. The main purpose of Yaksun is to help people make the most suitable food choices based on their individual health. By ingesting the most suitable food, healthy people can maintain their health while unhealthy people can fend off disease, ... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-06 17:23:44 Time-honored history of Korean tennis Tennis was considered the most representative of upscale sports in Korea from the 1970s to the 1990s. Photos of players clad in tidy white jerseys on the courts would frequently grace the covers of magazines. However, the history of tennis in Korea actually dates back to the early 1900s. At the National Athletic Competition in 1926, tennis was included as an official sport along with soccer, baseball, and basketball.Tennis events enjoy success in Korea as we... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-06 17:13:11 Korea has developed a colorful array of festive foods celebrating the four seasonsKorean people have long relished the distinct four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter, and have led lives worshipping and obeying the laws of nature. They have also developed a tradition of celebrating the arrival of a new season by eating foods made from the crops the season produces, keeping healthy through the energy gained from eating such seasonal foods. In Korea, seasonal foods comprise all the specia... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-06 17:05:08 Rush weaving, the craft of making household goods with water plant stems Rush weaving is a Korean traditional folk craft in which the stems of rush plants (Wancho or Wanggol in Korean) are woven together to create various household products such as mats and baskets. The rush plant's stem effectively absorbs moisture, keeping the user cool in the summer, and preserves warmth, making it good for the cold winter season as well. In addition, the stems maintain their original smooth and shiny surface... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-06 16:53:45 Korea, another name for miracleStarving, homeless children wandering around begging for food; an infant trying to nurse from its dead mother's breast; people frozen to death&hellip The Korean War was sad, cruel and brutal to all Korean people. World Vision began in the midst of the Korean War. A foreign sponsor giving Christmas gifts (1955)The country ravaged by war (1954)The story started when Pastor Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision International visited Korea amid the Korean War. So moved w... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-06 16:43:53 Pansori is a traditional Korean art form first created and enjoyed by ordinary people in the late Joseon Dynasty (17th century). The name, Pansori, is a compound word formed from the word pan, which means a scene, a stage or a space where many people gather, and sori, which means Korean traditional narrative song. Korean people call a space for entertainment noripan (literally, a space for playing). In the past, vagabond artists opened noripan, performing acrobatic performances such as tumbling ... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-06 16:34:23 Specialized in Heungboga, designated Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 5 Master Singer Park Song-hui was born on October 30, 1927, in Hwasun-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do as the seventh of nine children. Her family moved to Gwangju when the singer was still a young girl and settled there.Master Singer Park Song-hui after a performance at Yeongyeongdang Hall, Changdeokgung Palace in April, 2009The original given name of Master Singer Park Song-hui is Jeong-ja, but she is better known b... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-06 15:44:19 Korean ads stand out in the international market for appealing to the heart, not the headAn increasing number of Koreans and Korean companies are attracting attention around the world for excelling in their areas. For example, while in the past many Korean companies forayed into overseas markets by using a low price strategy, these days large corporations like Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motors have fortified their brand strengths by introducing high quality, innovative products. Moreover, K... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-06 15:18:49 The Korean National University of Cultural Heritage aims to cultivate expert human resources to spearhead the culture millennium of the future.Dream school for learning about cultural heritage The Korean National University of Cultural Heritage (KNUCH) is ideal for those interested in examining the cultural legacies and heritages of Korea. It is a four-year national university, established by the Cultural Heritage Administration in the Reinstated Baekje Kingdom Complex in Buyeo, South Chungcheon... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-06 14:25:40 The world is wide open for those who are up to the adventure.Youngseok Park in high schoolIt all started when I was a high school freshman. A friend of mine lived in Soraksan Mountain in Gangwon Province and ran a shop selling herbs and souvenirs. I visited there to hang out with him and climb Daechongbong Peak, the highest peak of Soraksan. Ever since I fell in love with the mountain,and went climbingthemountain with my friendson every vacation.In 1980, I happened to see a parade that included ... Go Link ]]> 2011-09-01 13:25:02 The most charming aspect of Korea &ndash EnergyIf you visit a foreign country, travel or stay abroad, you will feel the distinct charm and appeal of the country you are in &ndash its sentiment and cultural uniqueness. Since this feeling varies from person to person, it is not easy to explain in simple words. Then what makes Korea an attractive place for foreigners? It is difficult to pinpoint one thing when it comes to the charms of a country. However, I would say that for Korea, it is energy. T... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-26 11:09:42 HistoricVillage of JoseonYangdong Village is located in Gyeongju, a city famous for its thousand-year history. Gyeongju was the capital city of the millennium-long Silla Kingdom, and preserves Silla's very footsteps and spirit. However, what is interesting about Yangdong Village is that, although it is situated in the old capital city of Silla, it is where the yangban (ruling class) scholars of Joseongathered to live. As a historic noble village, Yangdong maintains the long history and tradition... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-26 11:02:58 Dokkaebi: Korea's famous creatureThe dokkaebi is a famous creature in Korea. According to the stories, this grotesque-looking creature has bulging eyes, a red face, and one or two horns on its head. It is also known to be completely covered in fur and to carry an iron club covered in spikes scaring anyone in its path. It possesses a special magical power, transforming itself into anything at anytime. Dokkaebi may transform into a person, but it can also become fire, or even light.Dokkaebi: the a... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-26 10:55:03 A long history dating back to the prehistoric age Korea has four distinct seasons. On hot summer days, people cooled themselves sitting on the wooden floor in maru, the middle section of hanok (traditional Korean house), while in the cold winter they warmed themselves by sitting on the warm ondol floor. Hanok has both warm ondol for winter and cool maru for summer. The heating system that warms floors is called ondol.Ondol is composed of agungi, a furnace where firewood is burned; gorae or flues... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-26 10:30:29 Is there anything we can do to change foreigners' perceptions of Korea?From left: Park Sang-A, Choi Jeong-yoon,and Byun Sa-rah of roking magazineRoking had a humble, small start as a magazine dedicated to promoting the Republic of Korea, our motherland, to the world. Young Koreans in their 20s, including one who studied in the United States, a stylist who loves Korean fashion, and an elementary school teacher responsible for shaping the nation's future leaders, got together at a small café to an... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-26 10:13:57 Unique world views and values of Koreans exist within folk-beliefs Humans live with various types of unexplainable phenomena. Koreans have also encountered physical and psychological forms of the unknown. Through this process, Koreans have created psycho-cultural interpretations of natural phenomenon, and as a result, these collective ideologies have created folk-beliefs.Because there are traces of collective symbolism within folk-beliefs, unique world views and values possessed by Koreans can b... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-25 16:50:03 Korean greeting words convey hope for the well-being of others &ldquoAnnyeonghaseyo&rdquo is the most common greeting in Korea. Greetings are the words or phrases used to inquire after the health of people we meet or to start a relationship with someone we are meeting for the first time. It is not clear when &ldquoannyeonghaseyo&rdquo became the most common greeting of Koreans. As &ldquoannyeong&rdquo means &ldquocomfort without trouble,&rdquo the greeting &ldquoannyeonghaseyo&rdquo conveys hope... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-25 16:36:11 Folk art paintings capture the hopes and dreams of the artist Traditionally, Korean folk art paintings (Minhwa) were used to decorate the home, especially on special occasions like weddings and birthdays. The paintings covered diverse themes closely related to everyday life, and folk artists ranged from amateurs to professional painters affiliated with the royal palace.Folk art painting was referred to as &ldquopattern painting&rdquo because the works repeated the same patterns. Folk artists led... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-23 11:50:20 Hadong, one of the most famous tea plantations in KoreaAccording to the history of the Three Kingdoms, tea cultivation in Korea began when King Heungdeok of Shilla ordered Kim Dae Ryeom to bring tea seeds from the Tang Dynasty and plant them on Jiri Mountain in his third year (828 BCE). The tea seeds were planted at Ssanggyesa Temple on Jiri Mountain. Thus, the Buddhist temples on Jiri Mountain became the birthplace of green tea in Korea.Even before the Choseon Dynasty, Hwagae Village (within Ha... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-23 11:29:21 A total of 600,000 people have visited the Jarasum International Jazz Festival since its launch in 2004.Cloudy jazz island Jarasum Island in Gapyeong was once considered useless soil because it flooded whenever it rained. In 2004, the citizens of Gapyeong, city officials, volunteers, and jazz musicians joined forces to hold the first Jarasum International Jazz Festival. The festival first began in 2004 on this barren island, and despite two days of heavy rain during the first year's three-day fe... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-23 11:19:44 Hahoe Village's Byeolsingut wishes peace and happiness for the villageHahoe Village, located in Pungcheon-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, traditionally held Byeolsingut every 5 to 10 years. Byeolsingut is a grand worship ritual conducted for the village deity, and Talnori (mask dance drama) is a part of that ritual. Byeolsingut was very well known, and some people even believed they would not go to heaven unless they saw it. A gut performed in 1928 drew many people from neighboring villages.... Go Link ]]> 2011-08-23 09:58:54