Seongju Life Culture Festival

May 17, 2013

The long trip to Seongju–land of yummy melons and the resting place of the Placenta Jars of the Sons of King Sejong the Great–took almost five hours by bus. May 17 was a holiday, and a huge number of Seoul-lites had the same idea as us international students—road trip!!!

Arriving in Seongju a few minutes before 1:00PM made us feel famished. We were ready to eat anything. And everything on this table looked yummy! 행복마을 기사식당 prepaerd yummy dishes for us Korea Performance Supporters and our friends!

Among the banchan on the table, this was the most special. It’s pickled melons made from Seongju’s famous melons. The sweet-sour combo tickles one’s taste buds.

After lunch, we were given a special tour of 한개 Village by the village president himself. He made us pay special attention to how different the walls are on the right and on the left.  According to him, the craftsmanship of these two walls reflects the time period when these were made. The wall on the left, with its smooth finish, is newly made. The wall on the right, with its rough and ragged appearance, is an authentic Joseon era wall.

Personally, I like the ragged wall better. It still stands strong up to this day despite its seemingly poorly made and weatherbeaten appearance.

As a foreigner, I can’t get over the beauty of the 한옥. I’ve seen a lot of these houses in Seoul, but seeing more of these in Seongju still excites me.

I hope I can have the chance to live in an actual 한옥 someday. That’s my wish.

The village president is a lucky guy. He lived in this grand Joseon era house as a kid. This is his ancestral house.

According to him, men and women lived in separate houses during the Joseon era. And just this week, I learned from my professor that a Joseon wife’s living space is called 안방, and only her husband and children can go there.

A husband’s living space is outside the compound, and looks grander than the wife’s living space.

Should we just make peace with this part of history?

As long as there is a roof over people’s heads?

 

Either way, we K-Performance Supporters were too happy to tour this village.

Next, we went to the Life Culture Festival.

There was a traditional tea ceremony booth, the elegance of which was just breathtaking.

There were life-size dioaramas depicting Joseon life. This one shows us a yangban wedding.

This one shows us ancestor worship during the Joseon period.

This nice 아저씨 patiently taught my friends how to properly do ancestor worship.

And then there were melons.

Melons!

Melons everywhere!

There was also a booth on how to make crafts.

There was also a booth on how to take care of babies.

Practice makes perfect, I suppose.

Either way, I think I am better at working and studying. And seeing Korea with my curious foreigner’s eyes. Thanks Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and BnBHero for this awesome trip!

Geeky Stuff I’ve Been Doing In Korea Part 2: Conference-hopping

I can’t get enough of learning. Classes seem to not be enough. And neither are museums (see previous post on “Geeky Stuff I’ve Been Doing in Korea Part 2: Museum-hopping“), which of course feed my relentless interest on 사극 (historical drama), 한국전통문화 (traditional Korean culture), and 전쟁 (war).

And so, I’ve gone to a place where serious graduate students go: conferences. And here in Korea, especially Seoul National University, there are many.

The first one I went to was right in my own backyard, of course: The Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) Symposium 2013: New Challenges for Korea in the Era of Global Changes. Two of my favorite professors in Korean Studies were here. As a graduate student, this was the equivalent of “K-pop fan-girling”.

And then there was the Distinguished Lecture in SNU by Microsoft founder Bill Gates on the Voice of Innovation last April 21. According to this SNU article, over 1700 students registered, but only 300 students were chosen to attend the event. Needless to say, I was one of those lucky students.

A few days before the lecture, I got an email from GSIS saying around 25 students will be chosen for this event. Interested students must submit one or two questions to Mr. Gates. We were chosen based on the quality of our questions. I asked something about Mr. Gates’ creative process and seeming penchant for a multidisciplinary approach to creativity.

During this lecture, we were in awe at how Mr. Gates was so articulate and eloquent. He just teemed with intelligence.

Last but not least is the Asan Plenum 2013, organized by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, one of Korea’s (and the world’s!) leading think tanks.

I went there as part of the Asan Plenum 2013 Young Scholars Program, where I worked as an e-reporter through Twitter.

As a Young Scholar, I was also given access to two special lectures for Young Scholars. I chose two lectures about China. I know, I know, it seems counterproductive since I’m a Korean Studies student, but believe me, I have a special reason for this. And it’s something along the line of…China is rising, and Korea’s path is inevitably intertwined with China’s, so knowledge of China as a regional and international actor is vital. Besides, I’ve had a strong interest on Chinese language and cybersecurity prior to my pursuit of Korean Studies. So these two seemingly divergent topics mesh beautifully in my mind.

Part of being a Young Scholar was being given an opportunity to attend a Networking Lunch with the world’s leading scholars and fellow students. I was assigned to the group of Middle East experts, who talked about the ongoing Syria crisis.

At first I was at a loss as to how the Middle East relates to my Korean Studies, but later on, I realized that learning about the Middle East, an unstable region, is vital and definitely connected to my Korean Studies since Korea gets its energy resource from this region. Moreover, the Middle East is also an important trade partner of Korea. Thus, Korea has a stake in this region’s stability. If I weren’t assigned to this Networking Lunch, this fact would have been under my radar. So I consider this a blessing in disguise.

Aside from conferences, I’ve also been a regular viewer of Indie Plus movies in Sinsa, thanks to free tickets I’ve been lucky to win from Community Korea.  After each screening, there’s a Question-and-Answer portion with the movie director–a great way of gaining insights on the director’s creative vision and life.

Geeky Stuff I’ve Been Doing in Korea Part 1: Museum Hopping

I’m currently spending the Spring semester in Seoul National University. Of course I’m studying as hard as I do in Thailand, but here, it’s a lot more fun. I read, I go to classes, and I supplement this geeky-ness with even more geeky-ness via (ta-daaah!) Seoul’s many museums on Korean history, society and culture. What’s even better is that these museums are for free!

National Museum of Korea. Accessible by Subway Line 4, Ichon Station. Just go to the tunnel leading to the museum. It’s super easy!

The first museum I went to was the National Museum of Korea where I studied various aspects of Korean history and culture. My favorite, of course, is the section on Joseon Dynasty, where I had my fill of looking at various norigae (those colorful ornaments hanging beautifully on a hanbok) and hair accessories of the queen.

War Memorial Museum of Korea. Accessible from Samgakji Station, Exit 12.

I also went to the War Memorial Museum of Korea, where I studied not just about the Korean War in the 1950s but various wars in ancient Korea as well. I was thrilled to learn about my country’s (Philippines) participation in this war — We were one of the countries that sent troops to help Korea!

National Palace Museum of Korea. Accessible through Line 3, Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 5.

Then there’s also the National Palace Museum of Korea, where I had my fill of learning about Joseon palace life. It’s great for feeding my sageuk addiction!

Seoul Museum of History. Accessible via Gyeongbokgung Station, Line 7.

Since Seoul is such an amazing city, I didn’t miss the opportunity to learn about its exciting history and rapid development, from the ancient period up to contemporary times at the Seoul Museum of History.

Seoul Baekje Museum, near the Olympic Park.

With all the attention that the Joseon Dynasty has been garnering in Korean TV dramas, it’s a shame that we sometimes overlook the Baekjae period, which is also a glorious period in Korean history. In one word, it’s about power. Visit Seoul Baekje Museum  near the Olympic Park to learn why.

Seoul National University Museum

Of course, I didn’t dare miss this museum in my own backyard — the Seoul National University Museum. It’s also an interesting museum where we can learn about ancient (well, paleolithic life) in Korea.

While it looks like I’ve visited a lot of museums in Korea, there are still a lot more I haven’t seen. And I want to see more!

Seoul is a great city for museum-hopping. There are lots to see and learn, the contents are creatively presented, and best of all, it’s ultra-accessible and mostly for free! Perfect for Korea geeks like us!

Come with me?

K-Performance Supporters Welcoming Party!!!

On 5 April 2013, the Korea Tourism Organization held the most 대박 이벤트 for people who love Korean culture and performing arts, also known as K-Peformance Supporters. As part of the Season 2 K-Performance Supporters, me and my friend were invited to the welcoming party at the Gangnam K-Pop Concert Hall together with the other Season 1 and Season 2 supporters. We went there for a night of food, fun and awesome performances by some of the K-pop world’s up-and-coming music groups. We all feel 운이 있 for being given the chance to be K-Performance Supporters. We’re all excited to see and experience the best of Korea’s culture…and to blog about it to the world!

More photos of the K-Performance Supporters welcoming party are in my Facebook page. Please take a look by clicking the link below! 보세요!

Photos of K-Performance Supporters Welcoming Party

My favorite Korean language learning tools

Image borrowed from: http://losangeles.olx.com/sat-sun-korean-language-conversation-class-la-koreatown-iid-8664929

As a Korean Studies major, learning Korean language is a definite must-do. After all, how can I rightfully call myself a Korean Studies major if I can’t even speak decent Korean, right?So I’m currently studying Level 2, which is a far cry from Level 6, the holy grail of Korean language learning. Nevertheless, someone (a.k.a., me) is hard at work learning this language. Thanks to the internet, the task is made a lot easier.

Here are some of my favorite online learning tools:

 

 

 

 

1) Verbix –  Conjugate Korean Verbs http://www.verbix.com/languages/korean.php

I had a hard time learning how to conjugate verbs when I first started learning Korean. But after a few searches on Google on how to conjugate verbs, I found this jewel of a site called Verbix. It has a page that automatically conjugates verbs. Just input the regular form of the verb on the box, click Go, and, voila!, the various conjugations of the verb will appear! This is a great way of checking if your conjugation is correct.

2) Lexilogos Korean Keyboard http://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/korean.htm

Some people download software that enables them to type Korean characters on their keyboard, but for me, an online keyboard like Lexilogos works better. I don’t like installing too many programs in my laptop because I found that these make my computer run slow. So I’ve taken to bookmarking this site and visiting it whenver I need to type something in Korean.

3) Google Translate –  http://translate.google.com/

Of course, not all translations here are accurate, and we shouldn’t rely on this too much. BUT (and I mean BUT!), Google Translate is a great way of: 1) checking if your spelling is correct because it can detect if you mispelled something and promptly recommends the (presumably) correct sentence, 2) checking if your words make sense, 3) hear sentences said in Korean so you’ll know how to pronounce these the way they should be.

Aside from these, I also watch a LOOOOOOT of Korean TV dramas online and listen to loads of Korean music while relaxing or while working out at the gym. These help me listen well and hear how words should be pronounced. And these are great ways of seeing beautiful Korean culture, too! BUT of course, as my Korean teacher cautioned me, reading textbooks is still the best way to learn Korean well as these provide the foundation for correct grammar. The slang can come later. ^^

So those are some of my favorites. What’s yours? Let’s share! ^^

Eco Art & Music Fest Fundraiser Opens January 19 at Conspiracy Garden Café

I love going to art exhibits and music fests, and this seems like a good one. It’s also a fundraiser for the benefit of helping save the pawikan, an endagered species in the Philippines. Too bad I’m not in Manila for this!

I got this press release from the event organizers.

An art exhibit and music fest fundraiser for Save Philippine Seas’ Pawikan Watchers program opens on January 19, 2013 at the Conspiracy Garden Café, Quezon City.

EndDanger, which features mixed media artworks from the group Artists for Nature and performances from Flying Ipis and other music bands, calls attention to the growing problem of animal endangerment in the Philippines and encourages the community to get involved in conservation and protection efforts.

Although gifted with a rich and biologically diverse ecosystem, from lush forests to a vibrant marine life, our country’s natural resources have significantly dwindled over time. Animal species, in particular, are under increasing threat from habitat destruction, pollution and commercial exploitation. Many are now in the verge of extinction.

The artists and organizers behind EndDanger seek to raise funds for the monitoring of one of the Philippines’ most threatened species, the pawikan. All proceeds from the event’s ticket sales will go to the Pawikan Watchers training program, which Save Philippine Seas (SPS)—an independent movement that fights abuse of our aquatic resources through legal discourse and social media—launched in cooperation with Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).

Pawikan Watchers aims to educate volunteers from different parts of the Philippines on the ecology and biology of, and PAWB-approved guidelines for, handling sea turtles. Apart from raising funds, Artists for Nature sees the exhibit as an opportunity to broaden public awareness of the urgent need to preserve our wildlife.

The art exhibit runs up to February 8, 2013. Conspiracy Garden Café is located at 59 Visayas Avenue, Project 6, Quezon City.

For opening night tickets or more information, please contact Wendi Garcia at +639162742859 or artistsfornature@gmail.com. Like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/artistsfornature and follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/artists4nature for updates.

Where to buy Korean clothes cheaply in Bangkok

Mention the term “Korean clothing brand” and images of cool and stylish clothes will pop up in anyone’s mind. That is, cool, stylish and…expensive. But here in Thailand, fans of K-fashion get their fill of K-style for cheap at a shop called Outlet Super K.

A short walk away from the Chitlom BTS station, Outlet Super K sells what Thais call “Korean inter brands”, that is, a slew of international brands that are made in Korea. The store is actually a “breath of fresh air” in the Chitlom shopping area because the styles of clothes sold here are different from the usual stuff Thai stores sell. In Outlet Super K, you can find all ranges of styles, from trendy and edgy to cute and feminine.

Aside from clothes, you can also find bags, shoes and accessories here. To give you an idea of how cheap clothes here are, I was able to buy a cami with intricately placed appliques and beads for just 50 baht, as well as a girly black top for just 99 baht. My friends got cute, knee-length skirts for just 99 baht. Some dresses go for just 300 baht.  So you get the idea of how cheap shopping can be here.

So the next time you’re in the Chitlom area, looking for clothes to fit your K-syle, remember this tip: The treasured threads are in Outlet Super K!

Kimchi Commandments (or, kimchi-making tips for dummies like me)

Making kimchi with my friends at the Korean Studies booth during the Academic Expo of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.

As a Korean Studies student, making kimchi is bound to be a seemingly trivial but necessary activity. After all, how can you know the basics of Korean history and not know the basics of making kimchi, right? For a Korean Studies student, that is just…inconceivable. You have to have all bases covered.

So during the Academic Expo in my university, I volunteered (or rather, the teaching assistant volunteered me ᄒᄒᄒ) and another girl to lead the kimchi-making demonstration in our Korean Studies booth.

I already have a basic idea of how to make this, since I took a kimchi-making lesson a few months ago. Kimchi tutorials on Youtube played a part in this, too. But during the actual day of our kimchi-cooking demo, something akin to stage fright happened: we froze. Good thing our Korean 선생님 came to the rescue.

She gave us some tips on how to make proper kimchi the Korean way.

1) Salt matters.  I thought any kind of salt will do. So when I went to the supermarket to buy salt, I just bought whatever I could grab in a jiffy–refined salt. But it turns out that for kimchi, rock salt must be used. So remember this, buy rock salt, not refined salt! And salt your cabbages with the rough stuff!

Also, be generous with the salt. I was reluctant to put so much that I basically scrimped on this. But it turns out that the more, the merrier. Just remember to wash it off before putting the red pepper sauce.

2) The absence of anchovy paste does not make our taste buds grow fonder. I couldn’t find anchovy paste in the supermarket here in Bangkok, so I thought we’d just make kimchi without it. But I was wrong, so wrong! Our kimchi tasted bland without it. The absence of one ingredient does make a difference in taste.

3) Fish sauce won’t fail you…as long as you don’t douse your kimchi with it. Keep this in moderation and your kimchi will taste fine. We made the mistake of putting a lot of fish sauce, thinking it could replace anchovy paste, but we were wrong. Fish sauce should be in harmony with the other ingredients.

4) Chop the cabbage into small pieces if you want to make quick kimchi, but make kimchi the traditional way (using whole cabbage) if you want to demonstrate how authentically beautiful and old-fashioned kimchi is made. We tried to cut corners (like time) by chopping our cabbage into small pieces so that we can make it quickly. But our 선생님 wasn’t too happy with this when she saw this on demo day. As a Korean, she wanted to demonstrate how beautiful kimchi-making is (And it is!). I suppose this has to do with cultural pride. So here’s a lesson learned: Presentation and style is as important as doing the job…especially with Koreans! =)

So those are lessons I learned from making kimchi. I hope I can make more great kimchi soon!

The best Korean buffet in Bangkok

Korean food is no doubt delicious. And in Bangkok, Korean food can also be expensive. But thanks to my newfound Thai friends (I am a foreign student here), I was given advice on where to eat the best tasting Korean food that’s also easy on the pocket for those on a student’s budget.

The place is called Special K, which offers eat-all-you-can buffet. For just 290baht, you can have your fill of different varieties of marinated pork, chicken, shrimp, squid, or any other seafood. Of course there’s also a lot of banchan (appetizers), kimbap, and soups.

This place is popular with Thai and Korean people alike because everything is very delicious and affordable. And for me and my friends, this is the best place to eat and celebrate in as our reward for a semester’s hard work.

Address:

Special K, Room A,B, 3/F, Anek Vanit Building, 155 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thong Lor), Bangkok, Thailand

Nearest Train:

BTS Thong Lo

Opening Hours:

daily 11:30am-2pm, 5-10:30pm

Coreana Cosmetics Museum: A window to Korean beauty in history

Korean beauty fans! Before you head on to Myeongdong for your Korean cosmetics fix, you might want to make a sidetrip to where Korean beauty has its place in history–the Coreana Cosmetics Museum.

As someone fascinated with how Korean women stay beautiful and elegant (as seen in our favorite sageuk and contemporary TV dramas), I made sure that my second trip to Seoul involved going  here.

I first read about this museum while researching related material for my ancient Korean makeup article for WKB, and have since vowed to visit once I return to Seoul. September’s participation in an academic conference gave me the opportunity to do so. And I must tell you that my sidetrip to Apjugeong, where the museum is located, was well worth the visit.

Coreana Cosmetics Museum showcases a wide array of makeup cases and vials, trinkets and costumes collected by Corean Cosmetics Company founder Dr. Sang-Ok Yu for over 40 years. The collection numbers around 5,300 pieces, so you can just imagine the sheer delight this museum will give to makeup and beauty junkies! It’s really the largest cosmetics museum in Korea! =)

The musuem has two exhibit halls at the 5th floor and 6th floor of space*c at Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu in Seoul

The museum also shows how Korean women in ancient times prettified themselves with colors that can be found nature: Chili peppers for a pretty pout, for example.

The museum also shows how Korean women loved beautiful things even in ancient times. From celadon makeup bottles and bowls to colorful contemporary powder cases, this museum will make you appreciate and learn about Korea’s makeup culture.

How the body looks is given importance, too, through accessories for the hair and for the clothes. Overall, Korean’s look as colorful and cheery hundreds of years ago as they are in the present time.

I highly recommend that you visit this place if you’re serious about beauty—the Korean way!

How to get there:

By subway, take Line 3 Apgujeong. Go out at Exit 3. Take a 3-5 minute walk to CGV Apgujeong Theater, and you’ll see a sign that says Space*c. Go in that direction until you see the building to your right.

Admission Fee:

3,000won for adults and 2,000won for students