In Search of Korean Food, Food, Food!

What are the joys of travelling? Okay, there is beautiful scenery, meeting strangers in unfamiliar places, the relaxing train rides…but I’d say “food” definitely tops the list. When it comes to travelling around Korea, be sure to remember that each and every region of Korea boasts its own characteristic, specialty food.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) began its “Korea Gusuk Gusuk 2010 (Nook and Cranny of Korea 2010)” campaign. It’s a sequel to the 2006/2007’s “Where Is It Here?” campaign, and 2008’s “That Spot in That Movie & Drama,” and 2009’s “Live Learning for Children.”

The campaign features : “Boiled rice wrapped with lotus leaves” of Gyeonggi-do Gimpo region“Clam stew” of Jeollabuk-do Buan region“Boiled bamboo shoots” of Jeollanam-do Damyang region“Olchaengi guksu (noodles made from dried corn flour)” of Gangwon-do Jeongseon region“Heotjesabab (a type of bibimbap) of Gyeongsangbuk-do Andong region….among other numerous regional dishes of Korea. These advertisement videos will be aired seasonally in the S/S and F/W categories.

Visit KTO’s web café (http://cafe.naver.com/9suk9suk) to view unabridged versions of the videos and also to learn about promotional events!

Place Of Fantasy Or Mystery ..."Jeju (Cheju) Island"

Cheju island (Chejudo) known as a place of fantasy or mystery is the largest island in Korea and is located in the southwest sea of the Korean peninsula and is highlighted for its uniqueness. It is also known as the "Island of the Gods," which is popular vacation spot for Koreans and many Japanese.It remains one of the top honeymoon destinations for Korean newlyweds.

The size of Cheju is 73km from east to west, 41Km from north to south in the shape of an oval. The island has an area of 1,845km2 with a circuit road of 182km along the seashores. It has a convenient traffic situation thanks to the several transversal roads and many other small and large roads and its population is about 530,000. In the center of this island, there is Halla mountain (Halla-san) which was a volcano once rising 1,950m above the sea level.The island's mixture of volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, make it very similar to the Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. The island offers visitors a wide range of activities: hiking on Halla-san (South Korea's highest peak), catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, viewing majestic waterfalls, riding horses, or just lying around on the sandy beaches.

Besides tourism, Cheju's main industries are fishing and agriculture. Fresh fish, squid, octopus, sea cucumber, and various other creatures can be easily bought in markets, restaurants, and even right on the beach. Cheju's tropical weather and high preciptation are perfect for growing pineapples and tangerines. The island is also famouse for its Shitake mushrooms and cactus plants. Honey made from local flowers has a special taste.

To reach Jeju by plane there is several flights daily via Korean Air and Asiana from Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Jinju, Kunsan, Gwangju, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Ulsan, Yecheon, and Yeosu. As well we can reach there by boat from Busan, Yeosu, Mokp'o, Wando, Noktong, and Incheon.

A Best View, Sweet Relaxtion, Happy & Joy "N SEOUL TOWER"

Seoul Tower is a communication and observation tower located in Namsan Mountain at Seoul, a city of 10 million people. Which was built in 1969, and opened to the public in 1980 embracing the city giving memories and stories to people. Viewable from almost anywhere in Seoul, it serves as an excellent landmark. Built on a 262 meter peak in Namsan Park, the tower reaches to 480 meters above sea level. After the tower's original owner merged with the CJ Corporation, it was renamed the N Seoul Tower (official name CJ Seoul Tower).

Many people enjoy climbing up here for early morning exercise or for a romantic stroll after dark. As well people ride the Namsan cable car up the mountain.There is also revolving restaurant, rotates at a rate of one revolution in every 48 minutes. Seoul Tower also contains several other attractions for tourists. Several exhibit halls display pictures of old Seoul, local birds, and towers from other countries too. The interesting thing is that there is the fence filled with couple and friendship locks. There were thousands of cute locks covered in heartwarming messages written on them. It was a very interesting and fascinating view. After writing secret messages, every people throw out the keys which is supposed to signify everlasting friendship that will always be together just like the locks.
Seoul Tower is truly astonishing and beautiful at night. With the different colors of light flashing and music playing in the background, the scenery still remains clear and vivid.

To reach there we can use Circulating bus (Yellow Namsan circulating bus number 02)

1) Subway stations near the bus stop - Chungmuro Station (line 3 and 4) exit 1 (in front of Daehan Cinema), Dongguk Univ. Station (line 3) exit 6

2) Operating hours and intervals : every 5~8 minutes, 08:00 ~24:00

3) Fare : cash 550 won, transportation card 500 won (discounted for transfer)

The Incheon International Design Awards (IIDA)

Major international design awards?

There is the International Design Awards (IDA), or the International Forum Design Awards.
But did you know Korea has one like that too?

It’s the Incheon International Design Awards (IIDA), now entering its 7th year. For the past 7 years IIDA has been receiving increasing attention from the design industry, academia, and enterprises both at home and abroad. In 2009, as many as 3,709 submissions from 97 countries were taken, and for this year IIDA is seeking submissions from May 1 until August 25, for 117 days.

The theme of IIDA 2010 is “Green Heart,” as it attempts to generate interest and participation from global designers in spreading more eco-friendly and sustainable life style in connection with design. Prizes worth of USD 43,000 will be awarded.

IIDA 2010 seeks entries in the following 3 categories:
1) “Green Design for Human” – daily goods, home appliances, lightings, furniture, stationery, home devices, cars, packaging, etc2) “Green Design for City” – architecture, interior design, road, items for streets, public spaces and facilities, park, urban infrastructure, etc 3) “Green Design for Communication” – poster, video, advertisement, illustration, campaign, software, mass media, networking, etc

The entries will be evaluated by a judging committee comprised of Korean and international experts in the relevant fields of design. There will also be special awards – “Netizens’ Choice Award” and “People’s Choice Award (chosen by the visitors of the Incheon International Design Fair).

Despite the relatively short history, IIDA has been rapidly garnering global attention and recognition. I’m sure this year’s IIDA will be seeing even more innovative items from all over the world :)

Touring Seoul with iPhone

When we travel abroad, we usually research and gather information about those foreign places beforehand so we could be prepared.

But even so, when we’re actually there, more often than not we get encountered with situations where things aren’t quite as we expected them to be.

Providing foreign travelers with accurate, on-the-spot, easy-to-access information while they are on their tours – that’s the purpose of the web site “i Tour Seoul (http://www.visitseoul.net/)” run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

It is a digital tour guide that offers a wide range of information regarding Seoul for foreign travelers who visit and tour around the city. The services are offered through the web site as well as at the kiosks installed at various spots in the city.

Starting late 2009, the services have also been being offered, on a tentative basis, via smartphones. And starting this month, it will be expanded for common usage

Also, the “i Tour Seoul” mobile application can perform search around the area, putting you in the center, for popular tourist sites, restaurants, public transportations and others.
One other interesting application is the one where you can take pictures of the spots you visit using your iphone and send them to your account at “i Tour Seoul” web site. And then later on, after you are done with your travel, you can download the pictures to your computer at your leisure.

These applications can be downloaded free-of-charge at the Apple App Store. And for those travelers who do not own an iphone, they can rent one at Incheon and Gimpo Airports, and also at the City Airport, Logis & Travel sites.

Transferring the entire information and functions of a web site as a mobile phone application is said to be an unprecedented tourism service.

Seoul and Its Happy City Project

According to the recent statistics of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the number of foreign residents of Seoul is estimated at around 250,000, taking up 2.5% of Seoul’s total population.

This is an increase by 100,000 people within the last 3 years – a stupendous increase, indeed. This signifies just how fast Seoul is turning into a global and multicultural city.

Then how satisfied are the over 250,000 international residents living in Seoul?

According to the survey conducted in November 2009 on foreigners who had been living in Seoul for more than one year, their degree of satisfaction scored 3.8 out of 5 points, which is an increase for three consecutive years.

But of course, there are things to be improved. To that end, Seoul city has launched the “Happy City Project” which includes various support programs for foreigners in communication, multiculturalism, solving everyday problems and obstacles, and so on.

The project focuses on 15 foreigner-dense areas designated as “Global Zones” which include the Seoul City Hall area, Yeoksam, Samsung, Yeouido, Ichon, Itaewon, Hannam, Yeonnam, Seorae Village, Myeongdong, Insadong, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, etc.

Also, the construction of the “Global Cluster Building” will begin in May, which will include a one-stop help center for foreigners and chamber of commerce offices of various countries.
The “Global Business Help Center” will open in mid-May in COEX with the aim to help foreigners set up small to medium-sized businesses in Korea. And the on-site consultation service, where a batch of staff visits areas with high concentrations of foreigners, will be further streamlined.
Last January, 14 additional multicultural family support centers opened in Seoul, which makes a total of 20 such centers. A web site (http://mcfamily.seoul.go.kr/) designed to provide information on Seoul city and job vacancies for foreign spouses was launched in five languages including Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, English and Korean.

A support center for migrant workers has also been operating, providing Korean-language classes that put focus on industrial site-related vocabulary. There is also the International Student Forum, and the foreign students support desks at major universities that provide counseling and information on Korea for international students.

Various cultural performances will take place in Mugyo-dong “Global Street” near the Seoul City Hall, and flea markets for foreigners will be held at the Seoul Folk Flea Market in Sinseol-dong. Furthermore, the Seoul Help Center for Foreigners is going to sponsor 16 foreign community festivals including the Mongolian Naadam Festival and the Irish Folk Dance Festival.

For medical services, the current 11 medical centers for foreigners will be expanded to 17 by 2012, and a Global Open Health Center will be launched in Yeongdeungpo-gu and Geumcheon-gu districts in May, where treatments for pregnant women and infants from multicultural families will be provided.
In terms of public transportation, sign panels will be furnished in a number of foreign languages at every subway station, and so will the Seoul city subway map. Also, 26 administrative forms frequently filled out by foreigners will be translated into Chinese and Japanese in addition to English and Korean. Tax notices, too, will have its contents written in both Korean and English.

Likewise, Seoul city is making efforts to create a truly global Seoul that is a wonderful city not only for Koreans, but for all the foreign residents and visitors in it as well!

The Magical Beauty of Hanbok

There are many things that may represent Korea. One among them is the Korean traditional dress “hanbok.”

Although nowadays few people wear hanbok except on national holidays like New Year’s Day, the beauty and elegance of the garment is always amazing.
Stitch by stitch, making a beautiful hanbok takes great craftsmanship, effort, and passion. It depends on how you choose the right combination of colors among infinite possibilities; how you cut, fold, stitch up patches of cloth together; how you sew patterns onto it, etc.

Hanbok has some magical quality about its color and texture that even the modern digital technology can’t really simulate on the screen.

Patterns of flowers and butterflies sewn into the cloth radiate the artist’s craftsmanship and subtlety. Wearing hanbok, you can just feel the artist’s heart oozing out of it. There are no fixed set of rules or formula to follow in making hanbok. How the garment is rendered is solely at the discretion of the hanbok-maker.

Hanbok takes into account the wearer’s body shape, comfort, and beauty, all at the same time. It is one of Korea’s greatest assets containing its people’s indelible, age-long wisdom.

Despite the garment’s much fallen popularity among people nowadays, the passion and perseverance of hanbok artists endures.

Hats off to the hanbok makers – protectors of one of the most precious Korean assets.