How Many Andreas Can You Count?
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Working Holiday
Working Holiday
Thomas, Dr Jane Goodall and a Newspaper Pencil
Every Tuesday night I head down to Seolleung to tutor Thomas. I have five separate students in total that I teach individually, all of whom are pleasant people. I'm busy enough as it is, but the extra money makes the difference between meagre and comfortable living. Unfortunately, with Ph.D coursework classes looming next week, I'll have to cut down on some things or risk insanity.
Thomas is an incredibly intelligent 5th grader who has a broad interest in the natural sciences and a surprising amount of general knowledge. For instance, he knows about the anatomy of hermit crabs and that zebras are stripey in order to confuse chasing predators. My job is to stimulate his scientific thinking and English skills, which is quite a responsibility.
This photo sits on Thomas's desk during our tutoring sessions. Sitting with him is none other than Dr Jane Goodall, of chimpanzee fame. He has met her on two occasions while she's toured Korea.
One of Dr Goodall's foci in her colourful life is to promote environmental conservation awareness in young students. Recently, Dory from Toastmasters gave me this pencil as a gift. It's a pencil with a graphite core, but made from hard-pressed recycled newspaper instead of wood. The writing on it says 'Stop Global Warming!'
Something you might like to think about doing right now is changing your computer settings so that sleep mode comes on in 5 or 10 minutes. Small things like this all add up over years of computer usage.
And eat less meat, more fruits and vegetables.
Korean Gender Reader
( Source: Ningin)
1) If You’ve Got it, Flaunt it? The Potential Mainstreaming of Assertive Female Sexuality in Korea
As the live performance below demonstrates, even sans the sex scene of the music video, the dance routine for the Brown Eyed Girls’ (브라운아이드걸스) Abracadabra (아브라카다브라) remains compelling viewing. Spoken from the perspective of a heterosexual male of [...]
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Busan Haps Memories of Murder Review
I wrote a review of “Memories of Murder” (2003) for the new foreigner magazine “Busan Haps.” Here’s a link to the article:
http://busanhaps.com/Template/issue2mag/issue2dvd.html
The hard-copy version of this magazine is available for free in most of the bars, travel agents, and restaurants in Busan that cater to foreigners.
[Two] The Song of the Day
The Song of the Day
I was thinking about what I wanted to write for my first real blog entry. I was suffering from a writer's block, until after watching one of my weekly Korean TV shows. Right after the show ended, I just knew that this is what I wanted to write about.
One of the ways I want to show Korea is through explaining how I see it in my everyday natural life.
Since, I am a big fan of this show, which I am about to introduce, and Korean music in general, I have decided to dedicate my second entry in Chomsongdae to these two topics.
Although I will begin by explaining what the "슈퍼스타 K/Superstar K" show is like, the thing I want to share most is a moving performance in this week's show.
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I just watched the fifth episode of "Superstar K". I am not sure if you know about this show. Just in case you were wondering, yes, it is a Korean show, created by Mnet which is a pop/music channel similar to mtv in North America.
**Just in case I have some readers who are about to leave because they are thinking "I am not interested in pop", well, if you can understand Korean and want to hear a touching performance that nearly had be me teary, please stay! **
So... back to "Superstar K"
This show is the Korean version of American Idol. The idea is that millions of people of any age living in Korea can audition and compete to become the one and only "Superstar K". This person will be awarded 1 million won (won=Korean currency) which is approximately $100,000 US. Also, they get a contract with one of the best entertainment management companies in Korea and have the honour to perform in the year end Mnet Km Music Festival which is a very important music awards event. In 2008, Big Bang won the top award which is the "This Year's Top Award".
Basically, “Superstar K” is THE chance of a life time because according to the "Superstar K's" official website (only in Korean) , the lucky winner will have their album released within a month. A month??
That is really amazing considering the long years many Korean idol stars (pop stars popular among teens) spend in training. For instance most members in the popular boy band group Super Junior spent 5~6 years as trainees under SM Entertainment.
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Today, there have been an increasing number of success stories of Korean pop singers who have made it to the top nationally and internationally. For instance, the Wonder Girls, which is a group made up of 5 girls gained tremendous success in Korea with their three #1 singles "Tell Me", "So Hot" and "Nobody". Since then, the girls have made their US debut. Some of you may have heard that they recently toured with the Jonas Brothers in concert this summer.
Thus, with many rumours and stories of success and with programs such as "Superstar K" that guarantees stardom for its winner, it was expected that many people would come audition to get the chance to become a popular singer.
And, there were many people! Apparently, a national record was set for having the greatest number of people auditioning for a reality show in Korean history. Celebrity judges included singers Lee Hyo Ri, Lee Seung Chul, and many others toured the capital, Seoul, Incheon, Gang-reung, Dae Jun, Guang Ju, Dae Gu, Busan, and Jeju Island looking for the special talent.
40,000+ people waiting to audition in Seoul
Lee Hyo Ri, Lee Seung Chul, Insooni were some of the celebrity judges
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The first four episodes of the show presented some highlights of the preliminary rounds. Today’s episode was exciting because it was the first time viewers got to see 129 of those who qualified from the preliminaries up close and personal.
In the first half of episode five, the two judges, Lee Hyo Ri and Yang Hyun Suk (head of YG Entertainment whose singers include 2ne1, Big Bang, Se7en, etc.) narrowed down the choices after listening to the auditioners’ solo songs.
In the second half of episode five, the remaining contestants were put into groups of 4-5 to perform.
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Among the groups shown, the group called 여인천하 (literally translates to women rule the sky) gave a very moving performance of the song 심장이 없어(Heartless) by the group 에이트(Eight).
It is really hard to explain why it was so moving, but if you want to see it, I suggest you watch the whole episode five. (Or you can just see the group’s performance. I have provided the links at the end of this blog)
Basically, all the other groups before 여인천하 did not seem to work well together as a group. As they entered on stage, I got an unmistakably feeling that the group was very united.
Before they began to sing, 김국환/Kim Gook Hwan who is a blind contestant in this group 여인천하 gave a brief thank you to his group for accepting him into the group and being considerate of his disability by choosing to perform a slow paced ballad song instead of a lively dance song. I am not really sure if this group chose to do a ballad because 김국환 cannot move around freely because he is visually impaired. Whatever the reason, it was moving to hear what 김국환 had to say. Many thoughts crossed my mind.
How many times did this guy feel discriminated against because of a disability he has no control over?
How many times would he have wanted to perform with other people?
How hard was it to memorize this ballad in one night, without seeing the lyrics?
And then, they started to sing... Unlike previous performers, everyone in this group was very calm on stage and very much in control of their singing. No one was trying to stand out or put themselves ahead of the group.
Everyone sang as a team for the team with all of their parts memorized.
The lyrics really represented some of my feelings before the group performed.
The first line was
아프다고 말하면 정말 아플 것 같아서, 슬프다고 말하면 눈물이 날 것 같아서, 그냥 웃지, 그냥 웃지. (If I say it hurts, it might really hurt. If I say I am sad, tears may fall, so I just smile, so I just smile)
You just have to see the video. (Link for the video is at the bottom of this blog entry)
Wow. Now, that was moving. Lee Hyo Ri who was judging showed some tears while the group was performing.
김국환 pictured on the bottom right
I am sure many viewers out there were sniffling too. It was just awesome to see that performance for many different reasons.
I wanted 김국환 to do well and show the world that he can do this. If he was ever told that he could not do something in the past because of his disabilities, I hoped that this performance proved those people wrong.
I loved how the group was so together. In a competition that is all about standing out as an individual, their group performance screamed UNITY.
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The best part of all was when all five of them in 여인천하 were told that they made it through to the next round even though the judges are supposed to limit their choices to a maximum of two people from each group advancing to the next round.
What can I say anymore? It was just beautiful!
The song of the day is Heartless by 여인천하
Video clip of the group’s performance on YouTube
(By the way-sorry there are no English subtitles for this video)
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Episode 5 of "Superstar K" reminded me to take heart in this world filled with so much competition, jealousy, anger, war, and inhumanity. It is not often that you can feel like this after watching a reality TV show, but it happens sometimes, so I hope you can watch this and take heart as well!
As we say in Korean, everyone 아자 아자 화이팅! (Aza, Aza, Fighting!)
Memories is a Cinematic Experience You Won’t Forget
MEMORIES OF MURDER (2003)
Directed by: Bong Joon-Ho
Starring: Song Kang-Ho, Kim Sang-Kyung, Kim Roe-Ha
Available for Rent in Video Stores across Korea
Bong Joon-Ho burst onto the international film scene with his portrayal of South Korea’s first serial killer case, “Memories of Murder” (2003). The film stands out for its brash storytelling devices and visual beauty, making it essential viewing for anyone interested in the new wave of Korean cinema.
Two small-town detectives, Park (Song Kang-Ho) and Cho (Kim Roe-Ha), are investigating the brutal rape and murder of two women. Their methods include fabricating evidence, beating suspects, and coercing confessions out of people they know to be innocent. Having absolutely no clue what they’re doing, the local police force gets help in the form of detective Seo (Kim Sang-Kyung), a savvy and level-headed cop from Seoul. Yet, even his prowess can’t keep the bodies of beautiful young girls from popping up all over town.
The film takes place during the repressive military regime that ruled South Korea throughout most of the 1980s, and can be interpreted as political allegory. However, it’s best to take it for what it is on the surface – a witty reinvention of the police procedural genre. “Memories of Murder” isn’t your typical whodunit; it operates backwards to the murder mystery formula. Instead of following the detectives as they gather clues that eventually reveal the killer’s identity, the film chronicles a series of setbacks that leave the audience with more questions than answers.
A wonderful tracking shot of the first crime scene captures the chaos of the entire investigation. Reporters abound, kids are running around, and a tractor drives over the only footprint left in the mud. “The crime scene’s ruined!” yells Park as the one-man forensics team belatedly makes his way to the corpse. Best described as the anti-CSI, “Memories of Murder” is a refreshing glimpse of detective work in the days before the country was properly equipped to deal with homicides.
But it’s also oddly funny. The script’s unique spin on a familiar genre allows the director to introduce a touch of sardonic humor to an otherwise serious subject. The protagonist’s antics in particular are hilarious, thanks to Song Kang-Ho’s pitch-perfect performance – one that helped establish him amongst Korea’s finest actors. At one point, Park convinces himself the culprit must be shaving his privates so as not to leave behind evidence, and visits all the public bathhouses to seek him out. When that doesn’t work, he consults a fortune teller.
Bong’s delicate balance between comedy and drama is a paradigm for the way the film looks. The colorful shots of the Korean countryside contrast with the darkness of the police station’s drab basement, where numerous interrogations take place. The rich cinematography adds aesthetic value to an already well-rounded movie that viewers are sure to remember.
An Introduction to Chomsongdae
An Introduction to Chomsongdae
Chomsongdae (cheomseongdae/첨성대) is a national treasure in Korea. It is the oldest surviving observatory in East Asia. It was built by Queen Sondok [선덕여왕 善德女王, ?~647], the first female ruler in Korean history during the Silla Dynasty in the 7th century.
(If you like Korean dramas at all, currently the drama "선덕여왕/Queen Sondok" is very popular!)
There are different ideas about what this structure was used for-astronomy, astrology, or as a symbol of Buddhism which had a great influence in Korea during the time it was built.
I emmigrated from Korea some time ago, but, it's still my motherland and a place that brings back many dear childhood memories with family, friends, great food and awesome places to go.
Just as some believe that Chomsongdae was used to gaze at stars that are far away in the galaxy, this blog will act like the Chomsongdae.
**************************************************************************I emmigrated from Korea some time ago, but, it's still my motherland and a place that brings back many dear childhood memories with family, friends, great food and awesome places to go.
I hope that this blog will act like the Chomsongdae for you as you get to see Korea through the lens of a Korean living abroad.
I will be writing about Korean pop culture, tourist locations, Korean history, and lots more, so please stay tuned :)
Poster for 꽃보다 남자/Flowers Before Boys drama
숭례문/Soong Rae Moon- the first structure that was named a national treasure in Korea
무궁화/Rose of Sharon- the national flower of Korea
Yours truly,
Sunflowerchocolate
Chinese Food in Seoul
Apart from good old Itaewon, finding real Chinese food in the suburbs of Seoul can be quite difficult. Just as the Americans have lemon chicken and chop suey (which many native Chinese are unfamiliar with), so too do the Koreans have their own interpretations of Chinese food, to which they adhere with admirable and puzzling tenacity.
Someone once asked Chen Jing "Well if you don't eat jjajjangmyeon in China, what else is there to eat?"
Every so often though, you can find a hole-in-the-wall type place that serves something refreshingly different. One small place we found near Nakseongdae station (come out of exit 4, turn left at the petrol station, then turn right and walk straight for a while), serves fairly authentic Chinese hot-pot, known as shabu-shabu in Korean. The word shabu-shabu is onomatopoeia, it's supposed to be the sound that the meat makes when you swish it around in the soup. I listened carefully while swishing, but could not detect the slightest hint of a 'shabu-shabu' type sound emanate from the broth.
While English speakers would say that dogs go 'woof woof', Koreans say that dogs go 'mung mung!'
The soup on the left was a seolleong-tang-esque type affair, while the soup on the right reminded me suspiciously of jjambong. Still, it was much better than most Korean Chinese restaurants here. The price was around US$30 for two people and quite good, although there was enough food for three people.
The only other place that I've found outside of Itaewon has been our old favourite in Suwon with the eccentric owners. Because we're down at the greenhouse a lot these days, Chen Jing and I have eaten here a few times. In the photo is Snow Beer, which is cheaper and not as popular as its cousin, Tsingtao Beer.
And for good reason.
Last week we tried wet noodles, which consisted of thickened chicken soup, cabbage, noodles and chicken. Quite simple and not too bad. What I liked most though, was the chilli oil on top, which I used to eat quite a lot back home.
When we head to Hong Kong next month, I think I'll be eating around six meals a day.
Someone once asked Chen Jing "Well if you don't eat jjajjangmyeon in China, what else is there to eat?"
Every so often though, you can find a hole-in-the-wall type place that serves something refreshingly different. One small place we found near Nakseongdae station (come out of exit 4, turn left at the petrol station, then turn right and walk straight for a while), serves fairly authentic Chinese hot-pot, known as shabu-shabu in Korean. The word shabu-shabu is onomatopoeia, it's supposed to be the sound that the meat makes when you swish it around in the soup. I listened carefully while swishing, but could not detect the slightest hint of a 'shabu-shabu' type sound emanate from the broth.While English speakers would say that dogs go 'woof woof', Koreans say that dogs go 'mung mung!'
The soup on the left was a seolleong-tang-esque type affair, while the soup on the right reminded me suspiciously of jjambong. Still, it was much better than most Korean Chinese restaurants here. The price was around US$30 for two people and quite good, although there was enough food for three people.
The only other place that I've found outside of Itaewon has been our old favourite in Suwon with the eccentric owners. Because we're down at the greenhouse a lot these days, Chen Jing and I have eaten here a few times. In the photo is Snow Beer, which is cheaper and not as popular as its cousin, Tsingtao Beer.And for good reason.
Last week we tried wet noodles, which consisted of thickened chicken soup, cabbage, noodles and chicken. Quite simple and not too bad. What I liked most though, was the chilli oil on top, which I used to eat quite a lot back home.When we head to Hong Kong next month, I think I'll be eating around six meals a day.
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