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Quote Dump #10


"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."
- Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)

"The great minds of our society are those who make us use our own."
- Bill Hicks

"Never work so hard making a living that you forget to make a life."
- lostNfound

구미 Gumi

16 Jan 2010, Wanting to experience a little of the winter, I escape from warm Masan to the snow in the mountains of 구미 Gumi.

Life in Korea: emergency evacuation plans from South Korea

This was originally published on ChrisinSouthKorea.com in 2010. 

April 2013 Koreabridge update includes some fixed broken links.  If anyone has additional information, please comment below. 

UPDATED 3 June 2010: Additional information from the Irish embassy added.

UPDATED 27 May 2010: More information about Canada's plans - HT to Len in the comments - and additional information about plans for Americans not in Seoul.

With tensions between North and South Korea being what they are, it's a good idea to be aware of your country's evacuation plans - or to make them yourself.

For U.S. citizens: The US Embassy has a plan in place. There are evacuation points across South Korea based on where you live. If living in Seoul, for example, you'll need to find your way to the Jamsil Sports Complex (Sports Complex station, line 2) or the Mokdong Ice Rink (Omokgyo station, line 5, exits 2 or 3) for meeting and potential evacuation.

  • If you're north or east of Seoul (northern Gyeonggi-do or Gangwon-do) come to the same places that Seoulites do (see above).
  • If in Pyeongtaek, Daejeon, or elsewhere in Gyeonggi-do, head to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek.
  • If in Daegu, Busan, Gwangju, or elsewhere in southern South Korea, head to Camp George in Daegu, Camp Carroll in Waegwan, or Jinhae Naval Base in Chinhae.
  • If you live in Songtan or Kunsan, you already know about the military operations in those towns - just head there.

For Canadian citizens: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has some information about evacuation, but this page details the plan, along with what to expect. Expect to team up with the Americans in a time of crisis, thanks to a global agreement to help each other in times of crisis. You'll want to register to know what's going on during evacuation times, though.

For South African citizens: The South African embassy in South Korea website doesn't provide any information about evacuation plans. This might be one reason to call them up and ask - 02-792-4855 is the number to contact according to their website.

For British citizens: The British Embassy in Seoul's website doesn't detail any evacuation plans, but there are plenty of details for other specific issues while living in Korea. If interested in learning more, call the switchboard at 02-3210-5500.

For Australian citizens: The Australian Embassy in Seoul's website doesn't provide any information about evacuation plans. For more information, call the embassy at 02-2003-0100.

For New Zealand citizens: The New Zealand Embassy in Seoul's website doesn't provide any information about evacuation plans. For more information, call the embassy at 02-3701-7700.

For Irish citizens: The Embassy of Ireland's website provides some information about what to do in case of emergency, and advises Irish citizens to register or check out the Department of Foreign Affairs. While there is an evacuation plan, it's not published on the website. For more information, call the embassy at 02-774-6455.

No matter what country you're from, invasion from or war with North Korean changes the whole 'living in South Korea' deal. In the past, it has been easy to dismiss the North as many of the locals do - but when the local population gets visibly worried, I do too. At the risk of sounding like your mom, a few basic things should be done:

  • Keep your important documents in one easy-to-grab place. We're talking birth certificates, passport, college diplomas, etc. etc. If SHTF (sh!t hits the fan) these are the papers you'll need to repatriate yourself. Get a durable folder - those little paper / card stock ones don't hold up very well. Those zipper pouches that zip around an A4-sized document are decent.
  • Register yourself with your nation's embassy. Unless you really want to stay off the grid, this is the easiest way for the government to find you when you want to be found, and who to call in case SHTF. Click on your embassy's link above - they all have a way to register your stay in Korea with their office.
  • Make an emergency bag - the same sort of thing you made before Y2K. Little things like non-perishable food, water, important medications, first aid kit, extra money, a blanket, flashlight, radio, candles, matches, garbage bags, a knife, duct tape, and playing cards (got to pass the time somehow) will go a long way if SHTF.
  • Catch up with friends and family in your home country. Keep them in the loop in case they're not up on the latest news coming from Korea.

Readers, are you concerned about living / teaching in Korea? Have you made any emergency evacuation plans?

Creative Commons License © Chris Backe - 2010

This post was originally published on my blog, Chris in South Korea. If you are reading this on another website and there is no linkback or credit given, you are reading an UNAUTHORIZED FEED.

 

Dynasty Digs

If you were leading a Confucian dynasty called the Joseon, and it was 1394, and you built a palace called Gyeongbok that housed kings and queens and princes, and hosted foreign envoys and government meetings and royal weddings, and at its peak grew to a sprawling complex of 330 buildings that comprised Korea’s power structure, you might want to consider hiring a few dudes like this to guard it.

.

They mean business. 

And they play instruments…

and carry flags.

They can even pull off 14th-century Uggs paired with gold tassles and swords.

You might name the Palace’s second gate Heungnyemun, and use it to display mad design skills…

but store your blueprints somewhere safe, so when the Japanese invade  in 1592 and burn the place down, your successors have some drawings for future reference.

That way, around 1867, they can rebuild, restoring the grounds to their original awe…

 

until Japan invades again in 1910, occupies Korea until the end of WW2, and burns down all but 10 palace buildings.

But not to worry!  In 1989, your 20th-century leaders will devise a 40-year plan to rebuild all the palace structures destroyed by the Japanese…

 

and the people will wander the grounds in peace, escaping the hustle of Seoul…

and the lotus pond where King Sejo practiced archery in the 1460′s will reflect the leaves of willow trees.

Gyeongbok means “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven.” 

With the help of these guys…

.

let’s hope heaven keeps a closer watch over it this time around.


Northern Exposure

Relations with North Korea are beginning to boil, once again.  As broadcasted, trade has been restricted, border controls tightened, and as of today South Korea has positioned loudspeakers along the border projecting propaganda into the North.  It is interesting how many perceptions and predictions arise from such a dilemma.  I haven’t heard a word on the issue from any of my Korean aquaintences.  In fact, when I ask for their thoughts they seem completely clueless to any quasi-recent developments on the matter. On the contrary, my American friend suggested registration with the US Department of State just in case shit hit the fan, and my journalist European friend believes it is just another  story in the newspapers.  From complete oblivion, to mild paranoia, to incredulity.   While each of these assumptions have some credibility in theory, I believe what can most safely be taken from these hypotheses is that in all honesty, we don’t know.    As frustrating as it is there is not much that can be done to wipe the fog from this window; no one knows what the future holds for this troubled peninsula except the king of madness, instability, and little-man syndrome himself, whom I would venture to guess is as unsure on this one as we are.

I feel obliged to note that my thoughts on the matter have little bearing in historical competence; obviously.  History was never my forte.  All I know is I took my American friend’s advice and took the few minutes to register with the US Department of State, because what I do know, is all you can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.


Boryeong Mud Festival Sauna Accommodations

Well, my search has revealed only one sauna (no jjimjilbang) in the area of Daecheon Beach. Haesu Sauna is very near the main beach entrance but has little information listed anywhere on the internet. From the map, it looks to be a big building but I'm not sure if there are any sleeping rooms available there.

I'm sorry ~ I wish I had better news for all you spa lovers. It would be an excellent way to save money during the festival, as the motels and minbak can be more than double their regular rates. My best advice for now would be to get yourself a minbak room. After all the sun and sand you could check out this sauna for a little rinse-down then go out walking around/drinking/eating until dawn as others will. Anyway, with a minbak or motel room, you'll have somewhere to leave your bag.

I'll be attending the Boryeong mud festival on the second weekend (July 17th - 18th) so at that time I'll update this post with more information with details of the Haesu Sauna. Until then, if you have any information about good motels or minbak, and especially about a sauna or jjimjilbang, please comment on this post.


Jjajangmyeon with Nuna

For my lunch I visit a small sandwich shop very close to my office where this lady makes nice toast with egg n pickles. The first time when I went to her shop she asked me few things in Korean, like where I am from, how long I have been here etc. As such I did not expect her to speak English so I started chatting with her in broken Korean.

I continued visiting her place everyday during lunch time and we started chatting in her broken English and my broken Korean about places, weather, my family, her family, Indian food, my marital status etc. We kinda developed a bond and I was liking it coz it gave me an opportunity to improvise on my Korean Speaking skills.

At times, she would introduce me to her other customer and they would talk to me in English. She felt sorry at times that she could talk to me in English and there was so much to talk about. But she did manage to tell me that she was very happy to see me.  I started calling her Nuna, which means elder sister in Korean. And she spoke to me like her younger brother. She would ask what I do on weekends and if I knew cooking. When am I planning to get married etc.

Finally one day she invited me for dinner. She asked if I like Jjajangmyeon and I said yes. She told me that we can go together. But I kind of bounced as I was too busy with work. The next day when I went to her shop as usual she said she waited for me long and was disappointed. So we went out for lunch and had Jjajangmyeon in a Chinese Siktang (Restaurant). And it was really yummy. Jjajangmyeon is Chinese noodles with black sauce. It is very famous in Korea and Koreans eat it with great appetite. And now I am a big fan of it too. I seriously love Jjajangmyeon.

So when I was about to pay the bill, Nuna did not allow me to. She said next time, next time. That was so very sweet of her. I mean I am just her customer not even her employee or colleague and she treats me for lunch with her own money. I was truly touched by her affection and hospitality. Truly for me Korea is home away from home. The people here are so warm and friendly that it gives me one more reason to fall in love with Korea. I LOVE KOREA.

Cheers to more Lunch with my Nuna :)


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