London Olympic Cheering Song for Team Korea

An official cheer song for Team Korea to the London Olympic co-produced by National Gugak Center and singer PSY.

Translation :

Our things, our grace,
the precious things are live
If you have taken out your sword,
a least slice up some radish
If you don't see the end,
you tremble with anger
Even if you get far from your dream
don't ever get sad and just run. You're still young
It's not over until it's over
They do it till the end, Korean people
Everyone get up, right now, get up
Everyone get up, a big thing is happening
Lift it and get up, right now lift it and get up
Lift it and get up, then that is KOREA

KOREA louder, KOREA louder
KOREA harder, KOREA oh oh oh

The music is ringing, the music is ringing
The shouts of 50,000,000 are ringing and spreading

Yaya, yayayaya
yayayayayayaya oh oh oh

Who dares to test me ? That test will be dangerous
If I say I'll do it, I'll do it Once I do it, it's tremendous

The shouts of the 50,000,000 are our sound
It's the sound of the Korean peninsula, KOREA
It's not over until it's over
They do it till the end, Korean people

Everyone get up, right now, get up
Everyone get up, a big thing is happening
Lift it and get up, right now lift it and get up
Lift it and get up, then that is KOREA

KOREA louder, KOREA louder
KOREA harder, KOREA oh oh oh

The music is ringing, the music is ringing
The shouts of 50,000,000 are ringing and spreading

Yaya, yayayaya
yayayayayayaya oh oh oh

KOREA louder, KOREA louder
KOREA harder, KOREA oh oh oh
KOREA louder, KOREA louder
KOREA harder, KOREA oh oh oh

It's not over until it's over
They do it till the end, Korean people, KOREA

Video credit : gugak1951 uploaded on Youtube.

Hodori, The Seoul Olympic Games Mascot 1988

Talking about the olympic games there is a part attracts of my attention during this event, a mascot.
Every country which is selected as a host for the olympic games also has a mascot for this event.
When the olympic was held in Seoul in 1988, Korea also has the olympic mascot. The name is Hodori.

What is Hodori ?
호돌이 Hodori is a name of mascot of Seoul Olympic Games held in 1988. The shape is a tiger which is very familiar through myth and legend as a symbol of luck.

Photo credit : fastcompany.com

The bodyline was contoured to give a soft feeling, and the mascot wore an Olympic medal around the neck to identify itself with the Olympics.

To enhance the Korean flavor, the figure wore the traditional Sang-mo hat of a Korean farmer's band player. The hat's spiraling streamer formed an S-shape to denote the first letter of Seoul, as the host city.

Hodori was designed by Kim Hyun as an amicable Amur Tiger, portraying the friendly and hospitable traditions of the Korean people, and the name Hodori was chosen from 2,295 suggestions sent in by the public. "Ho" is derived from the Korean word for tiger (호랑이 horangi ), and "dori" is a diminutive for boys in Korean.
"Hodori" is also the name of the Korean Tae-Kwon-Do National Demonstration Team, which also uses the Hodori tiger as their symbol. (Wikipedia)

On this olympic games Korea got the 4th highest rank of 46 participant countries, with 12 gold medals, 10 silver and 11 copper medals.

All Eyes in Korea, 100 Day Festival of Korean Culture in London

Link : http://english.visitkoreayear.com

Korean Traditional Fan Making Short Class at Korean Cultural Center Indonesia

Dano refers to the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and it is one of the representative traditional festive days in the early summer.
The particular custom for Dano is to wash one's hair with the juice of iris leaves and also not only wash but also including drink the iris leaves juice to remove headaches for women.

Iris leaves

Dano which was taught to be a day of great vitality when all things in nature were alive; therefore it was believed to be the best day to expel misfortune. Thus all people from commoners to the Royal Palace used to put amulets on the gateposts of their houses, In the amulets a magic formula was written to ensure a happy, prosperous life and to keep out ghosts and deceases, or various divine were painted in red, including Cheoyong, the god who defeats evil spirits and ghosts.
There two folk games usually held on Dano, women games is 그네뛰기 geunettwigi and 씨름 ssireum is a wrestling games for men.

그네뛰기 Geunettwigi is a swing games, played by women by standing on the swing seat. The swing was usually hung from a high branch of tall tree, allowing a total swing length of four meters or more.
씨름 Ssireum is one of the oldest martial arts in Korea. Based on the wall paintings on royal tombs from Goguryeo Kingdom, ssireum had captured around year 37 BC.

Also in Dano festival, there is a tradition by giving a fan each other. The ornaments could be animal objects such as tiger or dragon as a symbol of lucky and defeats evil spirits. Or could be a peony flower ornaments which are using for an ornament of Korean wedding dress. Peony flower is a symbol of  prosperity.

 Tiger and dragon as a symbol of lucky and defeats evil spirits

 

Photo credit : artmuseums.kr

 Peony flower as a symbol of  prosperity

Photo credit : flowerinfo.org

Painting or making of 모란Moran (peony flower) fan is dedicated that the painter would get delighted live and prosperity. 

This is what I'm going to share, my great experience on this weekend of how to make a Korean traditional fan, 모란Moran fan. This activities is a short course held at Korean Cultural Center Indonesia and collaboration with 국립민속박물관 The National Folk Museum of Korea.

My tutor name is 남정예 선생님 (www.namjungye.com) and I got a lot of knowledge from her of how to paint a Korean fan. Especially the way of making a gradation color in water color painting. I was so excited to follow this class today.

Maedeup (The Korean knots) as the additional ornament of the fan

Me (on the right) with 남정예 선생님 and team

Korean Traditional Fan Making Short Class

Part I

All of the tools for this course are brought from Korea and made in Korea. Korean fan is made from Hanji (Korean paper) with maedeup ornament (Korean knot hand craft) as an accessories, brush and also various colors of water color paint. 

Fan Samples with various colors are displayed in front of the class

Tools of making and coloring a fan

Soft color tone is one of a characteristic of Korean water color paint

Part II

남정예 선생님 gives some instructions and useful tips of how to paint a fan using Korean technique. We are also helped by her team. From this course I got a new lesson how to make a gradation by using water color paint.

 

Part III

 Activities of participants during the class. 

 

 

 Part IV

How to make a gradation :
1. Put a darker color on the section you want to make a gradation. Make a round shape. Do it fast and let the water color paint still wet on the fan.
2. Put the brush on the water then put it on a tissue, and brush the wet part of a darker side with up moving.

Fisnishing steps :
You may add another ornaments or coloring another part of a fan with you own creation.

and ... here is a fan, I made ^^

Besides a class I followed, there is another class with the topic making of Korean mask, it is also held together with this program. 
Thank you for Korean Cultural Center Indonesia for held this program. We are looking forward for the next program related with traditional Korean art and culture in the future.

by Maria Margareta

Fan Class : Sunday July 15th, 2012 at Korean Cultural Center Indonesia

www.namjungye.com

References : 

An Illustrated Guide to Korean Culture

Modern and Traditional Korean Games and Sports

International Garden Expo Suncheon Bay Korea 2013

South Korea will be the host of big event next year. 2013순천만국제정원박람회 or International Garden Expo Suncheon Bay Korea 2013 will be held next year from April 20th to October 20th 2013.

 

 

Located in Jeonam province and is one of the world's top 5 coastal wetlands. Suncheon Bay  is also a Korea's ecological capital which is surrounded by islands, sea, mountains and shore and the right place for ecological tourism in Korea.

Some of tourist spots near Suncheon bay are Nagan-Eupseong Folk Village, Seonamsa (Millenary Tempel of Buddhism), Songgwangsa (The Three Treasure Temple) and Dolmen Park.

 

 
Suncheon Bay is also a place for bird migration observation in Korea. The unique way to explore Korea by Ecological tourism. Feel the warm heart of mother nature, where the nature has its confidence here, in Korea.


Video credit : Rural-20: Suncheon Bay by TheRural20 on Youtube.
Photo and masterplan credits : 2013expo.or.kr

Get to Know Name of Korean Food Ingredients Through Games

When we are learning foreign languages, there are various ways and methods of learning we can follow. It depends of  each person, what ways or methods do they want to learn foreign language efficiently.
Some people like to attend a class and studying together with their fellows, some of them choose to learn by themselves at home with books, some of them choose to learn in the study club and etc.
Education games is one of the methods I choose, for learning Korean with fun, I found this game on

www.rice-museum.com

and I really having fun with it. This game is also increasing my Korean vocabulary list and challenging my brain by memorizing some items I should find on the screen.
This is also good to educate people about healty food we should consume everyday.


http://www.classfarm.com/data/play/game2/mix/Equally.html

Capture descriptions :

 

 

Review and captured by Maria Margareta

Moving to a New Place with Korean Style

Interesting video from Arirang World channel, describes about of how moving company in Korea move all of their clients stuffs profesionally. This is very unique :) so check this out!

Touch Korea, a Virtual Tour Through Cyberworld

How to get to know about Korea, just from your fingers ? I already done! :) I can Touch Korea and make some tours with my fingers :) an interesting and interactive games related with some aspects of Korea are available here. From culture, arts, sports, culinary and also interesting tourism spots in Korea. I can say it's a virtual tour of Korea through cyber world and I really enjoy it.

I'm capturing here about my "tour" and experiences with Touch Korea ^^

 

Join me and make your great tour in South Korea by clicking this link below ^^

http://www.ibuzzkorea.com/touchkorea/eng/

Video credit on Youtube uploaded by VisitKorea

명동 대성당 Myeong-dong Cathedral

Myeong-dong Cathedral is the first brick Gothic style church in Korea. It is located in the heart of downtown of Seoul, Myeong-dong and has become a symbol of the presence of the Catholic Church in Korea.

Photo credit : www.mdsd.or.kr

The floor plan of the church is a latin cross with an center and two side aisles with the roof of the church is 23 meters in height. Myeong-dong Cathedral has a 45 meters bell tower and the church's architecture retains the pure Gothic style without adomments. Designated historic spot No. 258, the Myeong-dong Church has significant historical value embedded in its architecture.

Photo credit : Maria Margareta

Myeong-dong Cathedral also has three stained glass windows which are put on the right, left and at the center behind the altar, the originals are presumed to have been created in Benedictine Monasteries in France.
The stained glass windows contain the following :
Center behind the altar : The 15 Decades of the Rosary.
The left side : Nativity Scene and Adoration of the Magi.
The right side : Jesus and His twelve Disciples.

All of the bricks of the Cathedral were fired in the brickyard at Hangangttong. Twenty types of bricks in two colors, red and grey, were used in the construction makes beautiful effects. 

Myeong-dong Cathedral also has the crypt located beneath the main altar and the church which is used for worship and the preservation of the martyr's remains.

Photo credit : holyplace.catholic.or.kr

The beautiful pipe organ is placed on the balcony and still using until know. I also followed the mass and heard the sound of pipe organ and it's so beautiful! The balcony also used as a place for choir. I believed the balcony of Myeong-dong Cathedral is a the best acoustic place inside the church.

Photo credit : www.mdsd.or.kr

Video credits published on Youtube : 

E19.명동성당 - 서울디자인자산 by nexyglo

복되다 주의 길이 온전한 이(BEATI QUORUM VIA) - CV stanford by seekinglumber

[가톨릭합창단]명동성당 6/3 교중미사 특송 by seekinglumber

장승 Jangseung The Guardian

장승 Jangseung is a large post of rock, or wood set up at the entrance of the village. It is the carved face is humanlike and has glaring eyes with the eyeballs swollen out, a round flat nose and open mouth. There are usually two of them. one, appearing as man wearing a hat like a crown and the other one is a woman look-alike appereance a bride wearing jokduri or another expressions.

Pic credit : snucm61.org

According to the folk beliefs, the function of Jangseung is devided into where they will be placed. If the Jangseung were placed at the enterance of the village, it was believed as a guardian to keep out the evil spirits and to protect the village.
If they were put between two villages, it is as a demarcate the boundary between the two villages and if they were put on  a roadside, they function as a gurdian and a guide-post for travellers.

References :
An Illustrated Guide to Korean Culture

낙안읍성 Naganeupseong

낙안읍성 Naganeupseong located in Suncheon, Jeollanamdo province, The southwest side of South Korea. This historic place also describes the folk Korean village in Joseon era and surrounded by the fortress.

The map

How to get there :
From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal or Seoul Central City Bus Terminal.
Take an intercity bus to Suncheon Intercity Bus Terminal.

From Suncheon Bus Terminal.
Cross Suncheon3-gil st. and walk along Palmaro st. to the bus stop.
Take bus 61, 63 or 68 to Naganeupseong Folk Village. (50 min-ride)

Video credit :

[TV ZONE] Naganeupseong Fortress, Where Time Stands Still uploaded by koreanheritage

References :

visitkorea.or.kr

김홍도 Kim Hong-do, a Painter from Korea

Kim Hong-do also known as Danwon was lived in the late of Joseon period. He entered royal service as a member of the Dohwaseo, the official painters of the Joseon court, and drew the portrait of King Jeongjo. Kim Hong-do is also the first painter that captured the potrait of daily Korean life, his paintings today are valued almost as much for the insight they shed on daily life in Joseon as for their inherent aesthetic value.

Some of his paintings has been listed on the National Treasures of South Korea which is a numbered set of tangible treasures, artifacts, sites, and buildings which are recognized by South Korea as having exceptional artistic, cultural and historical value.
Now in Ansan, where Kim Hong-do spent his childhood and youth, there is an annual festival named Danwon Art Festival and will be held from 2012.07.06 ~ 2012.07.11.
(directions : Take off at Gojan Station (line 4). The art center is in walking distance of 5 minutes).


Video is uploaded by freeara on Youtube.

옥장 Okjang

Phoho credit : namdozine.com

The earliest ornamental jade artifacts are comma-shaped jades and tubular jade excavasted from Puyo. One of the capitals of the ancient Baekje Kingdom and was affordable only for the upper class or the royal household.

The extant jad handicraft objects of The Joseon period are predominantly decorative objects. Beads for male headbands, women's diadems, rings, buttons, incense boxes, pillow ends, pendants, belt buckles and sword hilts.

People have regarded jade as a model of the five principles that virtuous men should follow.
Its warm, genial color stands for benevolence, its subtle glow for righteousness, its clear ring for wisdom, its hardness for bravery and its harmless sharpness for acuteness.

This art craft of making is one of the Important Intangible Cultural Properties no. 100 designated by the Republic of Korea Government.

References :
Video : Uploaded by zenas034
Korean Traditional Handicrafts and Food

Cooking Experience : Korean Pancake

Hello everyone,
I want to share my cooking experience in making of a pancake using pancake flour made in Korea. It is very easy to make and simple ^^

Step 1 :
There are three main items that we have to prepare. a Pancake mix flour, two pieces of egg and a glass of milk.

Step 2 :
Make a big hole in the middle of the flour and put the two eggs into the hole. Please stir only in one direction. If you want to stirred from left to right, just stir it consistently in one direction. You must not change then from right to left.

Step 3 :
Put the milk, little by little and keep stiring in one direction.

Step 4 :
Stir until mixed together and put it on the fry pan little by little and fried one by one.

Step 5 :
Ready to be served.

Photo by Maria Margareta