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Election Day - Suicide at Taejongdae?

Wednesday was national municipal elections day. Its been a noisy few weeks leading up to the polls with loud speakers lining every street corner blaring election promises, trucks driving around with political messages blasting and huge groups of people bowing to you as you walk/drive by. Despite all this, in Korea Election Day = Holiday for many company and government offices. So it was a very welcome holiday. In fact I was hoping there would somehow be a tie and they'd have to go back to the polls...but that didn't happen.

Leading up to election day, I was trying to ask some students about what the day was called in English, and so I wrote "Election Day" on the board and asked the kids to read it. And the result was a mix between Election Day and Erection Day as its very hard for some Koreans to differentiate between the two sounds. I had a laugh! Gotta love Erection Day....

I ended up meeting Matt and Marissa for lunch. Marissa and I came to Korea around the same time, but we really haven't hung out at all. So it was really nice to hang out with them and share stories/thoughts about Korea.

After lunch I met up with Jun, his daughter Jinnie, Marie, Dave and Gabrielle (Italian co-worker of Jun). We headed out to Taejeongdae where we hopped on the little train to take us around as it was too far for Jinnie to walk. As we approached the Observation Area we noticed lots of ambulances on the road and saw a dead body on a stretcher being put into an ambulance. It was completely covered in a blanket. I'd assume it was a suicide as that area is well known for suicides. It was really strange to see. I hear that suicide is not uncommon in Korea, especially among young people because the stresses of society are too much to take.

On a happier note, we had a wonderful time walking around Taejongdae. I also ran into Anthony and Rosie (from Brock U.) there which was nice as I haven't seen them for several weeks. I was able to shoot with my new camera (Nikon D5000). The pictures are a bit small, but I'm really impressed by the quality of them! More photos to come!

I also have included a photo of a picture a student drew of me. I love it! I've been Koreanized!

Dave with Jinnie's Sponge Bob Bag

Dave and Gabe

Marie

Jinne and Jun

Fluency and Q-tips

I will be the first to admit that my Korean is absolutely terrible. That being said, I can construct basic present, past and future tense sentences with my limited vocabulary and can generally make my way around with little trouble.

Today I was nearly defeated by q-tips. In a particularly spaztastic moment 2 days ago I managed to knock my q-tip jar over which promptly dumped itself into the toilet. Thank god there was nothing in the toilet but it was still a rubber gloved effort to fish them all out.

Note: my bathroom was obviously designed by a man. Inadequate and awkward bathroom shelving was not created with massive quantities of toiletries in mind. And I'm practically spartan compared to the amount I've seen Korean women bring on camping trips, let alone their home bathroom.

Anyways, so I popped into E-mart 20 minutes before closing thinking that I could grab juice, fruit, vitamins and q-tips and be on my merry little way. Oh no. I had to circle the toiletry section 3 times before I found the damned things. The entire time, all I could think is that fluency in a language is knowing how to say asinine things like q-tips. I finally found some in the eco-friendly section but I remember for a fact that I got my last bunch in a regular section for 50 cents.

Mini spaz update: I keep bumping my hips into my desk and other awkward furniture edges. I have interestingly shaped splotchy bruises on my hips that look really ridiculous with my bathing suit.

Next time: Alex goes on an adventure with her Korean co-teachers in which we wander the beach, bars and a light show. Now to upload the pictures....

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http://aaaalexsadventuresinasia.blogspot.com/

Driving to work: it’s so easy

And I hate it.

I live 20 km or 40 minutes from work by car and probably a little more than an hour by public transport. One of the big problems for me is the nature of the public transport I would have to use: two or more crowded buses or a bus, a roundabout subway ride and possibly a third bus.

One problem is that my university high up on the side of a mountain. I am from Gangwondo (well, seven years there; it feels like home) and Gangwondo is known for rugged mountains, but I haven’t seen a city like Busan before. A coworker who’s lived in San Francisco says the steep roads are comparable.

Anyway, I remain interested in alternate modes of transportation but I’m having trouble committing to them right now.

My previous blog had several posts about traffic and transportation. I saw two articles recently that I recommend and this post seems the right place.

In Slate, Vanderbilt, author of Traffic, a fascinating book that I have yet to review properly, describes efforts to make a better stop sign. I think there may have been a contest but I set the idea aside until I saw today’s article about traffic and connected the two. Maybe tomorrow I will have time to look at the contest or the results.

In Scientific American, there is an article about encouraging walking through careful urban planning. I wrote in 2008 about weak planning in Korea discouraging pedestrian traffic.

I hope I soon get back into writing real posts and not mere placeholders.

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Is North Korea really a threat?

With activities like this it's hard to believe it could be a threat, possibly a good place to spend the weekend but not a threat!

Tension has been mounting though. The sinking of Cheonan has been the cause of the rising tension. The official line from Seoul now is that North Korea is responsible for the sinking.

North Korea has denied any involvement. So what is the feeling like in South Korea? What is it like living beside North Korea? What happens if there is a war?

Watch the video:

Cool video of North Korea: (check out http://www.vbs.tv/ for more cool travel video)
http://www.vbs.tv/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-1-of-3
http://www.vbs.tv/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-2-of-3
http://www.vbs.tv/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-3-of-3

창덕궁 Changdeokgung

25 Apr 2010, I'm back in Seoul and I visit the last of the "Great Five" Palaces of the city and wander through downtown.

I'd Try Green Eggs and Ham

The cellphone translator calls this is a "sea squirt".

Wikipedia says sea pineapple.

Spicy fish soup ... head included.

Hoedeopbap

Point?

Some of the food in Korea can look a little scary.

Try it.

You might be surprised.

Korean Public Schools to hire Indian Teachers.

Here is the silver lining for Indians who are looking at Korea for job as an English Teacher.

As per Brian in Jeollanam-do blog Korean Public schools are looking at hiring 12 Guest Indian English Teachers for fall 2010.

For more details and applying for this job you can visit his blog:

EPIK to hire 12 Indian English Teacher for fall 2010.

Thanks a lot Brian for sharing this news.

Please note: the last day for submitting your application is 20 June 2010. So hurry up.

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South Korean Opposition Party Ahead

Voter turnout at 54.5% was high, and the South Korean opposition Democratic Party (DP) has claimed victory. But, several races, including Seoul, are still too close to call. As I read it, the DP took 6 posts, including some traditional conservative bastions, to the Grand National Party’s 5.

The DP claimed Lee and his conservative party have put national security at risk by taking a confrontational approach towards Pyongyang. Other issues such as Lee’s push for refurbishing South Korea’s four major rivers and his alternative to a contentious project to create a new administrative town in a central region have been sidelined.

Filed under: Korea, Politics Tagged: democratic party, elections, grand national party, lee myung bak

Destination: Seooreung (Goyang)

Just across the Seoul border rest some once-royal dead people. UNESCO certified as being significant to world culture, these western (서, or seo) five (오, or o) tombs (릉, reung or neung) are the original remains of Joseon-dynasty royalty. At over 1,600,000 square meters, there's plenty of room to meander and enjoy the area - and these days there's more than five tombs to see.

As elsewhere in Korea, these tourist-friendly tombs are proud of their recently awarded UNESCO status. Brochures have been changed, a stone monument has been added near the entrance, and some signs have been upgraded or updated. While all the tombs have English signage telling a little about the person, the tour guide is the person with more information. There's plenty of intrigue and drama that makes for so many Korean TV shows set centuries ago.

The first tomb you'll see is Sugyeongwon - permanent home to Lady Yi, the concubine to King Yeongjo. Originally buried in Seodaemun-gu in Seoul, her tomb was moved here in 1968.

The path to see all five tombs clocks in at about 2.1 kilometers, although two additional walking trails through the relatively unspoiled area exist as well. One is just over a kilometer, while the other is just under two kilometers. Both are closed loops that rejoin other trails, so you won't accidentally stumble into the next city over.

The tomb of Ingneung holds a Queen of the same name, and was the first queen of King Sukjong. At the tender age of 10 she became a Crown Princess; at 13 she became a Queen. Royalty apparently wasn't for her, as she died at 19 years old in Gyeonghuigung.

Sunchangwon holds a pair of royalty - Crown Prince Sunhoe (who died at 12 and never held the throne) and his wife, Lady Yun. As compared to those tombs of actual kings and queens, they are understandably small - but as they were royalty, are accorded a much higher status than the peasants of the time.

Gyeongneung holds a royal pair on two different sides. Deokjong, the eldest son of King Tejo, and Queen Sohye. Deokjong became a Crown Prince when his father received the throne, and fathered a son that eventually ascended the throne. That son, Seongjong, gave his father the posthumous title of Deokjong and his mother the posthumous title of Queen Sohye. After his death in 1457, Deokjong's tomb was the first buried in this area.

Daebinmyo holds an intriguing story of royal backstabbing. Jang Soui (?-1701) started off as a concubine to King Sukjong. Sukjong's Queen Inhyeon failed to produce a son (like it's her fault), so this lady-in-waiting helped him out. In 1688, Prince Yun was born. After Yun was made a Crown Prince, Jang Soui received a promotion to Royal Concubine. King Sukjong went so far as to remove Queen Inhyeon from her position, electing to make Jang Soui his Queen. Later on, he regretted this move, and poisoned Jang to kill her. Nothing says 'I love you, come back' like poisoning the competition. The tomb was moved here from the city of Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do in June of 1969.

Hongneung is the tomb of Queen Jeongseong. Unlike other queens, she didn't become a queen in her teenage years - rather, the ripe age of 32 years old, when King Yeongjo ascended to the throne. After being a diligent and humble queen for 34 years, she passed away childless in Changdeokgung. The king actually saved a space of real estate right next to her, but the politics changed against him. King Yeongjo is currently buried with his second queen in Dongguneung, another cluster of tombs east of Seoul.

Changneung holds one of the older royal couples. King Yejong became Crown Prince at seven years old, but had to wait until he was 18 to become King. After being King for 13 months, he passed away. Queen Ansun, however, lived on for three more decades as a queen, passing away in 1498.

While the Joseon Dynasty tombs are very similar-looking, the stories of the royalty buried inside are what draws people to them. Bring a picnic if you want to enjoy the pleasant area, and allow at least two hours for a good visit; more if you pack a picnic. Wear good walking shoes - the walk is not hard or strenuous, but this is not the place to break in new shoes.

Directions to Seooreung: take line 3 of the Seoul subway system to the Nokbeon station. Take exit 4 to street level, then walk to the SECOND bus stop and transfer to 702A or 9701. 702B will NOT get you there. Get off at the Seooreung stop (서오릉입구 - Seooreung ipgu, or entrance). Take the first right and walk about 100 meters, passing several restaurants along the way. Bear right, then look up for the wall and signs. 1,000 won admission. Open 6am-6:30pm March-October, 6:30am-5:30pm November-February (last ticket sales one hour before closing time).

Ratings (out of 5 taeguks):
Ease to arrive:

Foreigner-friendly:

Convenience facilities:

Worth the visit:

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