When a Busan woman gets married, she heads for Busanjin Market to find everything she needs to set up her new household. Everything from Korean and Western clothes to bedding and lines can be found here. Many shops sell silk and other raw materials for making clothes.
Thursday 2 July 2009
Busanjin Market
Pusan National University
Pusan National University (PNU) was established by the national government in 1945 in Busan. PNU now comprises 12 colleges, a general graduate school, and 6 professional graduate schools. It contributes to the development of the nation by producing prominent experts and talented leaders. PNU has many other facilities, including libraries, a museum, broadcasting facility, press center, dozens of research centers and laboratories, and over 80 different college clubs. Inside the university are many symbols of the school, including Rainbow Gate, which was built in an arch style tribute to the 10th anniversary of the school's establishment; Munchangdae, formed with large rocks and located between the College of Pharmacy and the National Culture Research Center; and Mirinae Stream, starting from Geumjeong Mountain and crossing the school. Like Ewha Woman's Univ. and Hongik Univ. in Seoul, in the front of PNU are many reasonably priced eateries, cafes, institutes, fashion outlets, beauty shops, and various other stores well developed to attract students to enjoy cheaply while they are studying. A joke among Busan's younger generation says that Haeundae, Taejongdae, and Busandae (the Korean name for Pusan National University) are the 3 the most famous entertaining areas in Busan.
lifeinkorea.com
Busan (Pusan) City Travel Information
Busan (Pusan) is Korea's second largest city with close to 4 million people. It also serves as the country's main port for international cargo, as well as passenger ferries to Japan and Jeju Island. The city is famous for its seafood and beaches, as well as the Hallyosudo Waterway with its picturesque islands. The Busan fish market has a huge selection of fresh seafood in the early morning. Although primarily known as a port, the city has many steep hills, creating a very unusual mix of mountains and ocean. The area remained relatively untounched during the Korean War, but the flood of refugees drastically shaped the city.
TransportationBoat: From Busan Port (Chungand-dong, Chung-gu), you can catch a ferry to a number of domestic destinations (Cheju-do, Ulsan, Yeosu, and Inch'eon). Taking a boat to Yeosu through the Hallyeohaesang National Park, you can view the spectacular scenery along Korea's south coast. You can also get international passage to Japan and China.Bus: The Express Bus Terminal (Onch'on-dong, Tongnae-gu) has express buses to most major destination in Korea. For less popular destinations, you will need to use one of the 2 inter-city bus terminals: Dongbu (east- Myeongryun-dong, Tongnae-gu) and Seobu (west- Kwaebeob-dong, Sasang-gu).Plane: Kimhae International Airport, located across the Nakdong River from Busan, has domestic flights to Seoul, Cheju-do, and Gwangju. It also has a few international flights to Japan.Subway: Busan's line 1 and line 2 connect most of the major attractions in the city. As they are both relatively new, they are much cleaner than Seoul's.Train: Busan Station, located near the main port, is the terminus for the Kyeongbu Line (going north to Seoul) and Kyeongjeon Line (going west along the south coast to Mokp'o).
Introduction korea
The Koreans are the offspring of a tribe who came down to the Korean peninsula, passing through Central Asia, Manchuria, and Siberia over many centuries before Christ. Anthropologically, they belong to the Tungus of the Mongolian family. They have preserved a unique language, culture and customs in their history of five millenniums as a single people
The Koreans are known for their creativity and originality as evidenced in their invention of the world’s first metal printing type and iron-clad ship (called Turtle Ship) as well as their diligence with which they have achieved remarkable economic growth. Especially, in 1988, they successfully hosted the Seoul Olympics which provided a venue for world harmony despite such adverse condition as division of the peninsula, gaining recognition of the whole world of their excellence and strong potential.
According to the ‘Global and Korean Population Status’ released by the National Statistical Office on July 10, 2003 on the occasion of the World Population Day (July 11), the population of the Republic of Korea as of July 1, 2003 is 47.93 million, which ranks 26th in the world. In addition, the combined population of the two Koreas ranks 17th in the globe with 70.45 million. The population of the ROK, which accounts for 0.8% of total global population in 2003, is projected to go down to 0.6% in 2030. The portion of the combined population of the two Koreas is expected to decrease from 1.2% to 0.9%.
According to the data of the National Statistical Office, the number of children per woman of child-bearing age is sharply dwindling each year. Thus, it is expected that the total population of the ROK will shrink from 2024, going down to 44.34 million in 2050 with its rank at the 42nd. The sex ratio at birth which represents the birth ratio of boys to girls was 110.0 in 2002, up 1.0 point from the preceding year. This is higher than the normal ratio of 105 to 107. In addition, it is forecast that the aged population (65 or over) in the ROK will take up 14% of its total population in 2019 and 20% in 2026, making the country a super-aged society.
In the ROK, the portion of people at the age of 0 to 14 is 21.1%, a level on a par with industrialized countries, while that of people at the age of 65 or over remains at the world’s average. Its population aged 15 to 64 stands at the world’s highest level.
In addition, the ROK saw its aged population at the age of 65 or over exceed 7% of its total population in 2000, which opened the age of an aging society in full swing. It is expected that the portion of its aged population will reach 14.4% in 2019 and 20.0% in 2026, rapidly transforming the country into an aged and super-aged society respectively. It will take only 19 years until the percentage of the aged population grows from 7% to 14% and merely 7 years until it increases from 14% to 20%, much faster than the pace of aging in industrialized countries.
In every part of the world, Korean people are deemed to be diligent, faithful, enthusiastic about their children’s education and bright.
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Hyun Bin and Song Hye-Kyo filming in Singapore
All Singaporean fans must have rejoiced because Korean heartthrob Hyun Bin and beautiful actress Song Hye-Kyo were filming in Singapore for their new drama “The World They Live In” since September 1st. The 16-episode Korean drama is set in Singapore for a few episodes and is about the TV and movie production industry. It will also be the first drama where Hyun and Song work together in a TV series so we will see if sparks can fly between these two.
Lee Byung-hun Meets Kimura Takuya in High-Profile Film
Two top stars from Korea and Japan have once again displayed their respective talents in the same movie. Lee Byeong-Heon and Kimura Takuya are appearing together for the second time--after their 2007 Japanese film “Hero”--in “I Come With The Rain.”
Directed by Vietnamese-French director Anh Hung Tran, whose works include “The Scent of Green Papaya” and “Cyclo,” the film is a multinational project starring Josh Hartnett and Elias Koteas in addition to Lee and Kimura.
The thriller centers around ex-Los Angeles cop Kline (Josh Hartnett) who travels to Hong Kong in search of the missing son (Kimura Takuya) of a Chinese billionaire. Lee plays a role of a mafia boss in Hong Kong.
With trailers released on April 18, it is scheduled to hit theaters in Japan on June 6. A large-scale premiere will be held in the island country, which all the stars will attend.
Up, Down, Left, Right
Learn Korean directions in today’s lesson! Today Ryuji is looking to go back somewhere and he’s asking around for directions. He’s been there before, but he just doesn’t quite remember how to get there. So listen in to today’s lesson as we’ll be tagging along with Ryuji to wherever he’s going. And as he’s asking directions, we’ll be going over location words and some essential phrases, when looking for something in Korea. If you’re traveling in Korea and looking for directions, this is the lesson to listen to!
Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie
Give us some love while you learn Korean with KoreanClass101.com! In today’s Newbie Lesson, we’re going to be going over an indispensable phrase that is used with extreme frequency in Korean. As Ryuji wakes up in some woman’s house, he’s asking her for some water, food, and one more special item. So in today’s lesson, we’ll be going over how to ask someone for something in Korean. We’ll also be going over a speech softener, which will make you sound more polite, and more appreciated.
download
Kim So-eun in Singles and a new drama
Kim So-eun trades her usual long, straight locks for a curly mop and a smoky eye in the July issue of Singles.
Inside the magazine, the interview with Kim talks of the roles she’s taken on as a child actor, as well as her breakout role playing Chae Shi-ra’s younger character in the historical series Iron Empress and, of course, by her popularity as Ga-eul in Boys Before Flowers. In the few months since the latter wrapped, Kim So-eun has picked up numerous endorsement deals for brands like Clean and Clear, Pocari Sweat, and Anycall.
Kim So-eun calls herself “lucky” in her roles, talks about studying hard for university entrance (which friends told her was unnecessary since she’s famous), and recounts how she earned the nickname of “Runaway” in high school because she used to always run away whenever a boy she liked would appear.
She currently stars in The Man Who Can’t Get Married, which just began airing yesterday on KBS. The drama pulled in a mere 8% rating on its first day (competitor Queen Seon-deok is holding strong with 27%). Already she is drawing notice for her new role, which differs from her sweet and innocent Ga-eul character; in The Man Who Can’t Get Married, she displays a bright, lively personality with a hint of slyness. (That’s according to the reviews; haven’t seen it for myself yet. Anybody got comments on the drama?)
Monday 29 June 2009
'Dad' Kwon "CF all break - Money Today
From the first child actor Kwon Sang-woo was thrilled.
25 Kwon aired MBC 'Golden fish' 'knee Park taoist' marriage appeared to have recently told of a full-Tori also revealed his son.
Kwon Sang-woo's "in a marriage, I think CF was about 7 flights of all lost now," the "But it's all right. I got 3 days ago a group," he said.
He's "the biggest amount I can think of a group," the "popular after the marriage shall be postponed for your own behavior was a coward," he said.
Kwon, "We will not even realize. I can replace the guy that does not matter now, I feel like going to the world," he has confessed.
Kwon Sang-woo for the son, "I look like her much improved (?) Was" the "whole damatgo Streamlined me I look like my mom," he could not hide a smile.
He gets his son died 6 months after his father was born just been said.
Kwon Sang-woo "My son wants to make a lot of memories," and "always remember about my 2 years old my father had hope. Want to be a good husband and father," he said.
On the air meeting with the wife, Son Tae-yeong Kwon Sang-woo in the dating, marriage and pregnancy and childbirth without modification to the pool to tell me a love story attracted attention.
Shin Ji-yai Wins Wegmans LPGA by 7 Strokes
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Shin, 21, shot a 1-under 71 to finish at 17-under 271. Kristy McPherson and Yani Tseng each shot a 66, the day's best score, to surge into a second-place tie at 10under.
One behind were Japan's Mika Miyazato (71) and rookies Haeji Kang (71) of South Korea and Stacy Lewis (74), the former NCAA champion from Arkansas, AP reported.
``I have a lot of tournaments'' left to play this year and ``maybe I try more wins,'' Shin was quoted as saying. ``Still, my goal is rookie of the year.''
Shin dedicated her victory again to her mother, who was killed in an auto accident in 2004. ``I have my mother's picture in my course book,'' she said.
A multiple winner on the Korean tour, Shin became the first non-LPGA member to win three events when she reeled in the Women's British Open last August, according to AP. She followed with late-season wins in the Mizuno Classic and ADT Championship and, in March, captured the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore for her first victory as a tour member.
koreatimes
Putin Celebrates Late NK Leader's Birthday
The Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on the birthday of his late father Tuesday, the North's official news agency said.
Putin called for firmer cooperative ties between Russia and North Korea in the message to celebrate the 96th birthday of the late leader, state founder Kim Il-sung, the North's Korean Central News Agency said.
"The traditional friendship and goodwill ties between the two countries are developing today," Putin was quoted as saying. "Efforts will continue to expand the multifaceted cooperation to ensure the welfare of peoples of the two countries as well as overall peace, stability and security on the Korean Peninsula and
elsewhere in Asia," he said.
The Russian leader sent a congratulatory message on the 66th birthday of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Feb. 16. (Yonhap)
Korea times
Busan to Launch World Music Fest in 2010
Busan, Korea's second largest city, requested a grant of 200 million won on Thursday from the central government to help host a new annual world music festival in August 2010.
If the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism fails to provide the full amount requested, the city plans to shoulder shortfalls from its coffer for 2010, a spokesperson said.
The Music Association of Busan, which has initiated the festival preparation committee with other music-related bodies, unveiled 100 million won in funding for the event at the panel's inaugural meeting on Thursday afternoon.
The festival is set to be staged for eight days in late August at Busan Cultural Center and several other venues, with the city-run philharmonic orchestra performing curtain-raisers in collaboration with world-renowned musicians, he said.
A variety of fringe music events under consideration include a concert at Haeundae Beach, the city's most popular beach; the Moonlight Music Station in Jangsan; a temple music concert at Beomeosa Temple; a Beach Music Festival at Gwangalli Beach; and Classical Music at Chungnyeol Shrine, the official said.
Kim Jong-un Succession Story and Hillary Clinton
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The world's interest dramatically shifted away from North Korea's nuclear issues to a succession of power that could potentially
act as another nuclear bomb in the form of regime collapse. This shift of attention probably has North Korea puzzled, even dumbfounded.Why? Because North Korea leaked talk of Jong-un's succession with the intention of ``focusing" global interest on the nuclear issue and finishing up nuclear-related negotiations with the United States, not directing attention away from the nuclear issue to succession.
So what made North Korea leak the succession rumor?
Here's a thought. North Korea pushed forward with the test launch of a long-range satellite rocket on April 5 and conducted its second nuclear test shortly after, threatening the United States and Japan. It also conducted medium-range coastal artillery fire on the West Sea, posing an all-directional threat to South Korea. However, the responses from the United States and neighbors were not what North Korea had in mind. In fact, the responses were completely opposite to the North's intended goal of its ``armed military-first diplomacy." North Korea launched the long-range rocket and went on with the nuclear test in order to drag the United States into nuclear negotiations. However, the superpower and South Korea approached the North's military threats with a bigger confrontational card.
The North revved up the engine for dialogue by fostering a confrontational environment, but the South and the United States rejected dialogue under the name of a stronger alliance. Furthermore, they vowed greater retaliation against the North's military provocations. It was then that the rumor of North Korea's succession gradually filtered out of the secretive state.
There was no official announcement of who would be the successor. Neither was the name of the successor clearly presented. So far, all the talk of Jong-un's succession from North Korea has been from second-hand accounts, metaphorical and suggestive. The North has never officially said Jong-un will succeed Kim Jong-il. North Korea is only sending out enough propaganda for anyone with common sense to be nearly certain that Jong-un will be the successor.
This is why my bet is on the idea that talks of succession in North Korea are directed at getting the United States interested, rather than officially championing Jong-un as the successor. In particular, the rumor is one of North Korea's strategies in dealing with the United States, aimed at garnering the interest of State Secretary Hillary Clinton.
Here is why. The series of rumors surrounding North Korea's succession emanating from the North correspond with Clinton's remarks made on Feb. 19 on the succession structure of North Korea. North Korea's all-directional military artillery showoff is likely to be a strategy based on the secretary's comments.
Clinton's first trip as secretary was to four Asian nations: Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China. On the plane from Jakarta to Seoul on Feb. 19, she made a rather shocking remark, saying that the leadership situation in North Korea is unclear and that the United States is concerned about North Korea possibly facing a crisis over succession sometime soon. She went a step further in saying that the U.S. government is concerned about heightened tensions in North Korea and neighboring countries if a succession battle unravels and changes take place in the leadership system in North Korea.
This comment suggests why North Korea is driving inter-Korean relations to their worst level with armed provocations. But let's take a step further. The key part of Clinton's comments was that changes in the North Korean leadership are holding back the discussions on dismantling nuclear weapons and that ``our goal is, try to come up with a strategy … at a time when the whole leadership situation is somewhat unclear." Clinton also said that North Korea's succession is a roadblock to the six-party talks. She also added that in the process of deciding its successor, North Korea is highly likely to engage in provocations.
Now, one can guess why North Korea conducted its second nuclear test following the long-range rocket launch, held two U.S. female journalists as hostages, transported an intercontinental ballistic missile to a test site in Dongchang-ni, Chulsan-gun, North Pyongan Province just 70 kilometers away from the Yongbyon nuclear facility, and recently moved another ICBM from a missile research center in Saneum-dong, Pyongyang, to a test site in Musudan-ri. Why did North Korea choose to play the worst in U.S.-threatening cards, such as declaring uranium enrichment, rejecting U.N. Resolution 1874 on the second nuclear test, pushing forward with a third nuclear test, and reprocessing spent fuel rods at the Yongbyon nuclear facility?
One must focus on the fact that talks of succession in North Korea are linked with the issues listed above. North Korea's worst series of armed threats to South Korea since the Korean War is based on Clinton's remarks on the concerns of heightened tensions in North Korea and neighboring countries following changes in the North Korean leadership. By the secretary's comments, North Korea learned of the gravest concern to the United States. Now, North Korea is intentionally maximizing military threats and demonstrations against the South in order to gain U.S. interest.
It was on the extension of this strategy against the United States that the rumor of Jong-un's succession came out. The decisive factor in North Korea's decision to leak the succession rumor as its U.S. strategy was the part where Clinton stressed that the United States hopes to find a strategy while the leadership situation in the North is unclear. North Korea has been conducting armed demonstrations against the United States, South Korea and Japan because it wants to attract their attention and conclude nuclear negotiations with the United States as soon as possible. However, the U.S. response to the North's strategy was to ignore the North. That is why the North's nuclear and missile tests have failed as a tool to interest the United States and lead it to nuclear negotiations.
For North Korea, Clinton's remarks hinted at the fastest way to bring the United States to the nuclear negotiation table. In other words, they found that Clinton was gravely concerned about two possibilities: that in the process of a power transfer to the 26-year-old Jong-un, North Korean politics would fall into a turmoil of extreme domestic chaos and that North Korea's nuclear weapons would no longer be stably controlled; the second worry is over a successful coup by military hawks who would then take control of the nukes, completely veiling the management of the weapons under total uncertainty. This is why North Korea intentionally spread word of succession, thereby signaling the possibility that nuclear control in North Korea could be thrown into uncertainty in the face of political instability in the process of succession. Rumors of succession thus surfaced as North Korea's strategy against the United States, not as an actual plan to establish the succession system.
North Korea rejected the six-party talks and wants one-on-one talks with the United States, seeing what Clinton said on North Korea's succession issue as a roadblock to the six-party talks. She also added that in the process of deciding its successor, North Korea is highly likely to engage in provocations. Clinton's comments appear to have acted as a ``spot-on, step-by-step roadmap" to the North's recent series of armed actions. The North Korean nuclear issue is not as high on the Obama administration's diplomatic agenda as the Taliban in Afghanistan and nuclear issues in Pakistan. The Taliban has fought back and claimed 70 percent of the entire land of Afghanistan, and once they reclaim the country, Pakistan will be their next target. Then, Pakistan's nuclear weapons may fall into the hands of the Taliban, which could launch a nuclear attack on the United States, which is the worst-case scenario.
The United States is thus doing all it can to stabilize politics in Afghanistan and Pakistan as soon as possible. In the meantime, North Korea is playing its succession card to portray political instability in order to maximize uncertainty over nuclear control.
Talks of Jong-un's succession, along with the nuclear test and armed demonstrations, are a means to interest the United States. The rumors are apparently a strategic card to negotiate nuclear issues with the United States, rather than establish a succession structure in light of the rapidly worsening state of Kim Jong-il's health.
North Korea's nuclear test, missile test launch, and all-out armed demonstrations against the United States, South Korea and Japan are means of military-first diplomacy to interest the superpower and conclude nuclear negotiations as soon as possible ― they are not directed at stabilizing Jong-un's succession. I don't think North Korea is that foolish. If North Korea is building up tension through its armed demonstrations in order to solidify the succession system, that means the North's nuclear weapons are not means of diplomatic negotiations but regime protection.
Then there would be no point in negotiating the nuclear issue. I don't believe North Korea would develop a strategy against the United States that is based on such a foolish lapse of judgment. North Korea leaked word of succession to create a situation, based on Clinton's remarks, which will be the gravest concern of the United States in order to attract its interest. However, since talks of succession came out, the United States and neighboring countries have been focusing on Jong-un, setting aside the nuclear and missile issues. In other words, Kim Jong-un is overshadowing nuclear and missile issues.
North Korea made a serious mistake by spreading word of succession ― it lost both nuclear and missile leverage. The North launched all-out armed demonstrations, expecting the United States to be active in negotiating nuclear issues once word of succession leaked out. Bur the strategy unexpectedly backfired. As more word spreads of North Korea's succession, outside observations on the North's political system will lean closer to regime collapse. Then, Kim Jong-il's system will appear to be on the brink of a very unstable situation and no negotiation or dialogue will be done with the North for the time being. The consensus will be to wait and watch where North Korea is headed. I wonder what card the North will play next.
smjjang21@gmail.com
Jang Sung-min was a secretary for political affairs to former President Kim Dae-jung and member of the National Assembly. He is currently president of the World and Northeast Asia Peace Forum and a director of the Korean Association of International Studies (KAIS). He authored ``War and Peace: the Future of North Korea After Kim Jong-il'' and ``The Bush Administration's Foreign Policy and Korea.''
koreatimes
Drama Music Is New Source for Hits
 Pop group T-Max hit it big when the group participated in the original soundtrack album for popular drama “Boys Over Flowers” early this year. |
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
In the past, original soundtrack albums were just a little extra something that came with a television drama. Now, however, more viewers and drama makers are starting to realize their importance and potential.
One of the most popular drama soundtracks lately has been Baek Ji-young's ``Is Love a Sin?'' for the SBS drama ``Princess Ja-myung,'' starring Jung Ryeo-won and Park Min-young. Her sad ballad was made for Jung's character Ja-myung, and although the drama is not faring well in the ratings, the song is soaring in popularity, topping Internet music charts.
``We started working on the original soundtrack a year before the actual airing of the drama. We were given the synopsis of the program, and after discussions with the producer, we managed to create music and songs that were a fit for the big budget period drama,'' Lee Sang-ho, the music producer, told The Korea Times.
In the past, drama production companies would work on the album, along with the television series itself, but due to financial difficulties, the albums would often be pushed to the sidelines.
``But now, broadcasters outsource the soundtracks to a separate company, like `Ja-myung.' We put our money and effort on the albums, so of course we strive to bring out the best album possible,'' Lee said.
The recent rush of top singers joining the soundtrack scene is another result of this extra effort.
``We aim to create a high-quality album, and that includes the singers. We would discuss with the drama makers, and when we all agree that this specific singer is a fit for the song, we start recording,'' he added.
The producer said soundtrack albums hit their peak with the drama ``Boys Over Flowers,'' and continued with several others including ``Princess Ja-myung.''
Although SS501 already had a firm fan base, working on the drama, ``Boys Over Flowers,'' helped them gain more recognition. In F4 star Kim Jun's group T-Max's case, working on the original soundtrack for the hit drama was indeed a stroke of luck.
The line of top singers continued, with Lee Seung-chul singing for the drama ``East of Eden'' (MBC), while singers like Ho-ran, Position, Jung-in and Seo Mun-tak joined together for the drama ``The City Hall'' (SBS). Tae-yeon and Tiffany from Girls' Generation worked on the dramas ``Beethoven Virus'' (MBC) and ``Princess Ja-myung,'' respectively.
More singers are expected to attract new fans through drama soundtracks, including Big Bang members T.O.P. and Tae-yang, who will be working on the new drama ``Friends, Our Story'' (MBC).
The members' agency YG Entertainment said that they decided to join the project despite their busy schedule in Japan, and that they were thrilled to participate in such a drama.
``It's the first time for us to be working for an original soundtrack of a drama, and we can't wait to see how our songs will appear in the program,'' the two members were quoted as saying by their agency.
Pop group Super Junior will also connect with fans through dramas, with their song ``Dreaming Hero'' for the new show ``The Partner'' (KBS).
``Although `The Partner' is a program about law and attorneys, it's more cheerful than serious. We naturally tried to make bright songs and also tried to bring singers in for the younger crowd to help us bring out that atmosphere,'' Lee Pil-ho, the music director, said.
``We simply hope listeners and viewers will consider soundtrack albums as nothing less than ordinary albums. Soundtracks no longer depend on the popularity of a drama, but work on their own now. It's a whole new service we can provide to the audience,'' said Lee.
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
Sunday 28 June 2009
Bulgogi: Korean BBQ Beef
One of Korea's most famous beef dishes, bulgogi is made up of thinly sliced sirloin that is marinated to enhance its flavor and tenderness. Try making this delicious bbq beef at home.
Meet Tokyo Girl Winner
The winner of the Japanese-Korean talent search, “Meet Tokyo Girl” has been announced as 14 year-old Jang Dayun. Hello! Project is a Japanese idol factory company responsible for mega pop acts like Morning Musume and Berryz Kobo. The company is lead by Tsunku, the man responsible for producing and writing nearly every song that comes out of Hello! Project. Tsunku announced Jang as the winner of the competition during a Berryz Kobo concert in Korea. No specific plans have been announced for Jang as to how she will enter the Japanese market. My guess is that she will disappear for a while to undergo more idol training. On his blog, Tsunku commented that while he felt comfortable with his choice of the winner, there were other applicants that he would like to train in Japan as well.
Her young age doesn’t surprise me. It is well known that the majority of Hello! Project’s audience are of ages that would rival any SNSD ajusshi in Korea.
Son Dambi to star in her first drama?
Rumors are flying around that SBS is negotiating with Son Dambi’s people to have her play the lead female role in their upcoming drama Dream.
If Dambi accepts the part, it will be her first starring role in a drama. She’ll play the part of a strong willed Tae Bo instructor that works at her father’s martial arts training facility.
SBS is also negotiating with Frozen Flower star Joo Jin Mo. If he takes the part, Jin Mo will play the role of a sports agent with a troubled past. Dream is in its earliest stages of production and the scripts for the 20 episode drama just started to be written. However, it seems that Dream will have the classic love triangle story line because SBS confirmed that there will be two male leads in the drama. SBS didn’t give out a name for the second male lead but they did say that he is one of Korea’s most talented A-list actors.
Dream is set to air in September on Mondays and Tuesdays after the historical drama Ja Myung Go comes to an end.
I’m praying that Son Dambi will take this role. Oh the possibilities especially after her Engrish acting debut was delayed. Imagine seeing Dambi working out, getting all hot and sweaty while wearing one of those tight aerobic outfits that show off her flat stomach and her sweet behind. Of course they would have to make her character as realistic as possible and show her stretching out and doing the splits before her Tae Bo class (I demand that SBS make her character realistic). When she’s all done with her class, while in slow motion, Dambi would grab her bottle of water, take a drink and then pour water all over her body to cool off. Oh shit…my magic rod is screaming at me. I better stop now and “take a break.” I should also prepare ahead of time, before this drama comes out, and do some online shopping for “supplies” that I’ll need to fully enjoy Dambi’s first starring role (don’t disappoint me SBS).
Kim chi Becoming an International Favorite
Kimchi is a "great cultural myth from the old dynasty era of ancient Korea..." There is a superbly palate-pleasing kimchi to delight every taste. A global favorite, kimchi is a food that adds zest to all kinds of meals and its appeal cuts across all social, economic, ethnic and geographical boundaries. Kimchi is an exotic, super spicy side dish. While no one is quite sure whether kimchi is a pickle or a salad, its wide range of flavors, types and styles make it a palatable part of an irresistible side-dish, a great appetizer, and a naturally cultured healthy raw vegetable. Kimchi has been served daily with every meal throughout generations of Korea for thousands of years. Kimchi sparkles with the flavor of garlic, ginger, scallions and chilies. Kimchi adds zest to all goods. Kimchi is an excellent contributor to the human body. Unlike other similar foods, kimchi has its own unique nutritional value of promoting health and preventing disease, there is "none better" and it is "well worth" to the human diet.
A study of kimchi history reveals that people were enjoying kimchi's unique goodness more than 4,000 years ago. In about 2030 B.C. the inhabitants of northern India brought seeds of this vegetable to Mongolia, and the preservation of greens with other vegetables soon became common as cultured raw vegetables. Kimchi is the most versatile food. In Japan and Korea it is served as a side dish. An impressive range of all kinds of kimchi is becoming very popular in America, Hawaii, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and way down under in Australia. Indeed, it is found and enjoyed almost everywhere nowadays. Kimchi is never fickle where flavor is concerned. Its tantalizing taste attracts particular eaters.
In Japan, Korea, and both northwest and southeast Asia, each person munches an average of ten to fifteen kilograms of kimchi a year. In South Korea alone, that is about four hundred tons per year or more of kimchi consumed than any other vegetable.
Currently, kimchi has become a popular health food in the "New World" ever since the first immigrant settled in the Hawaiian Islands and North America from many Asian countries. The kimchi patch provided great emotional comfort to those under exiled conditions far away from their homeland. Kimchi touched and appealed to many ethnic settlers who started making kimchi and spoke enthusiastically its zesty flavors.
Color and flowers aren't only for the Spring
Before the show started, I was looking at the crowd there were a lot of, what the Korean say "ajuma" - elderly ladies. No it's not the type that you see on the street, these ajumas were decked out in their Sundays' Sunday's best.
The lights dim and the music plays. It's the Motown classic "Heard it through the Grapevine." With the amount of ajumas and classic Motown Philly music playing you expect the old and the drab. The the first pieces is revealed. A red tulip dress that cinches at the waist with a red patent belt. Then came an aqua blue dress that used a petaling effect, which made it resemble to fishscales. An applause came from the crowd.
More pedaled colorful dresses came out then there were jackets. In a bubble-y shape the jacket itself had several different colors on one piece. It was like a gradient scale of one color. Matched with the bubble jacket was a scrunched up silk scarf with the same effect. For the jackets that didn't have this look, it was made up of wool with a rose silk screen print on the back.
From that rose image, the outfits transitioned to dresses with a rose pattern juxtaposed to the velvet black material.
After the collection was finished a large applause came from the audience. Who knew flowers can grow in the winter.
Above are some shots of the mentioned outfits. 
Song Jain and Jung Wookjun
Song Jain and Jung Wook Jun hosted a special catwalk session at 915 Industry Gallery in Cheongdam-dong. Both designers experimented liberally with voluminous shapes while keeping their color palettes dark and mellow.
Jung brings home his experimental Juun.J F/W 2009 menswear line after celebrating a successful showing in Paris this past January. Particularly to note in this collection are Jung's outerwear pieces, which included fresh variations on the classic men's jacket, trench coats and military-style ponchos. At the same time, slim pants grounded the levity of more voluminous pieces, and feminine silhouettes harking back to the 80s and 90s constantly offset strong masculinity.
Similarly, Song Jain's depicted the darkness and serenity of the winter season through her collection, which was marked by structure amid roomy silhouettes. Particularly to note were black, brown and wine coloring that, coupled with strong, defined tailoring, weighed down lighter fabrics like silk, wool and cotton knits, resulting in simultaneously loose yet tense style.
Marriage, Funeral, and Ancestor Memorial
Marriage, Funeral, and Ancestor Memorial in North KoreaThe communist regime in North Korea upon seizing power in 1945 proclaimed that all traditional customs regarding marriage, funeral and memorial service must be abolished because they were the remnants of the old age, and therefore, they must be changed in accordance with socialist way of living.
In North Korea the period from February 16 (Kim Jong-il's birthday) to April 15 (Kim Il-sung's birthday) is designated as the "Loyalty Festival Period," and during this period, the people are told to refrain from holding private feasts such as wedding parties and Heokap (60th birthday anniversary commemorating longevity).
Weddings are usually held at home or public places during non-working hours after obtaining permission from Party officials in relevant workshops. During the ceremony the newlyweds are told to swear their loyalty toward Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, and after the wedding, they must visit one of Kim Il-sung's statues nearby to pay a floral tribute on it and to take picture there. No such a thing as honeymoon can be thought of in North Korea. Guests are invited to weddings, and they usually bring food and some gifts.
People used to hold 3-day condolence period before funeral in accordance with Korean custom, but nowadays, due to economic difficulties, people are compelled to finish funeralservices within a day.
People have been allowed to hold small-scale Hoekap feasts since the early 1960s, but recently the Workers' Party has been shouting a slogan, "Sixty, Still Young, and Hoekap at Ninety," and under these circumstances, no one think of holding Hoekap feasts nowadays.
In case of the death of high-ranking Party officials, condolence period is kept for 5 days. When Kim Il-sung died, North Korea held a 12-day condolence period, and observed a 3-yearrefraining period. North Korea is still spending enormous amount of money to celebrate Kim Il-sung's birthday anniversaries every year.
North Korea’s Symbols
Every state must have its anthem, flag, and coat of arms ? or must it ? This package, now taken for granted, became the worldwide standard only about a century ago, when European habits and traditions began to spread across the globe.Nonetheless, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has all three. When in 1948, a separate North Korean state came into existence, it produced its own flag, anthem, and coat of arms ― all designed according to the then already established Communist tradition.The North Korean flag is red, edged at the top and bottom with thin white and wider blue bands. In the middle of the red band there is a white circle with a red five-pointed star. The inclusion of such star had been a long-established tradition of the Communist heraldry by 1948, but the colors ― red, blue, and white ― hint at the colors of the taege?kki flag, now used in South Korea. Indeed, until 1948 the taege?kki was widely used in the North as well. I have seen pictures of government-sponsored rallies where the participants carried portraits of Kim Il Sung, Lenin, and Stalin alongside the taege?kki! Just few years later this became unthinkable, and during the Korean War people who were found to have taege?kki in their homes could be shot.I would not say that the North Koreans treat their flag with great respect. But they are not unusual in this regard: the US-style flag worshipping is an exception rather than rule worldwide. Private houses seldom have flags. This is left to the authorities which ensure that a number of flags will be on display during some special events or official holidays.Following the Communist tradition, North Korea uses its coat of arms, perhaps, more frequently than it is normally done by Western countries. The coat of arms was also designed according to Communist traditions and essentially followed the pattern first suggested in 1918 for the Soviet coat of arms. It has an oval shape, and is surrounded by ears of rice, with the name of the state written on the red ribbon at the bottom.Nowadays, the North Korean Constitution (article 168) describes the coat of arms as, ``The national emblem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea bears the design of a grand hydroelectric power plant under Mount Paektu, the sacred mountain of the revolution, and bearing the beaming light of a five-pointed red star, with ears of rice forming an oval frame, bound with a red ribbon bearing the inscription `The Democratic People's Republic of Korea'.'' However, one cannot find anything resembling the quite distinctive shape of Mount Paektu on the coat of arms. It depicts a rather unremarkable and generic mountain chain. Indeed, this reference to Paektu was introduced only in the 1990s when this mountain, allegedly Kim Jong-il's birthplace, became the focus of a powerful propaganda campaign. Thus the generic mountains on the coat of arms became Paektu ― keeping the previous unremarkable shape. The power station harks back to the days when the North was the industrial stronghold of the Korean peninsula, something that ceased to be the case long ago.The North Korean anthem was composed in late 1947. However, its role is somewhat ambiguous. Many North Koreans do not know the words. This is not surprising: the anthem is seldom played in North Korea. For all practical purposes the official anthem has long been replaced by the Song of General Kim Il-sung and its recent imitation, Song of General Kim Jong-il (the latter generally following the former). These songs are performed at most official functions, while the anthem can be heard only when a foreign dignitary visits Pyongyang or when it is played for a North Korean athlete who wins some international competition. The anthem is symbol of the state and nation, but it is deemed less important than the two Kim songs, which extol the leaders' personalities.Like the South, the North has its own officially approved ``state flower.'' This is the ``mokran,'' a kind of magnolia which was allegedly discovered and named by Kim Il Sung himself. I am not going to discuss whether a high school graduate had enough specialized knowledge to discover a new species. I do not doubt that a guerrilla commander could easily find the necessary reference books in the Manchurian wilderness. After all, North Korean propaganda has never bothered itself with being plausible.The ``mokran'' has played its role as the national symbol from the late 1960s, and in 1991 it finally received official state endorsement. However, in its symbolic capacity the magnolia has to compete with two peculiar flowers ― kimilsungia and kimjongilia. These two are far more popular
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