Archive for the year 2011
The Importance of Being a Tiger— Tiger Motifs in Korean Art Posted by Linda on Dec 23, 2011
A tiger 호랑이, or the transliteration “ho-rang-i”, is a significant motif in Korean culture, especially in the realm of folklore and folk paintings. 호랑이들 represent courage and pride; they are also a good luck symbol. Korean folk paintings, known collectively as 민화, or the transliteration, “minhwa” were the common people’s art formin the late Joseon…
Korean Persimmons Posted by Linda on Dec 10, 2011
It’s harvest time in Korea, and autumn (October to early December) is the only season persimmons are plentiful. If you live in Korea, you will see them being sold everywhere—from outdoor markets, grocery stores, to subway stations. For about 1,000 won, you can buy four to five persimmons. An affordable and healthy treat, persimmons…
A Beginner’s Mind Posted by Linda on Dec 1, 2011
“Why are you learning Korean? You.” This question haunts me. As a second generation Korean-American who learned how to speak Korean by osmosis from my Korean mother’s small conversations and language leaks amongst her family and friends, I am insecure about my “Korean-ness”. Our stereotypical society expects me to know about Korean culture, food, and…
Korean Sweets: Sukshilgwa Posted by Ginny on Oct 3, 2011
There is a type of Korean confectionary called Sukshilgwa (숙실과) that refers to sweets that are made by using fruits that have been heated and then coated with sweeteners like honey or sugar. Sukshilgwa literally means ‘cooked fruits’, which is basically what sukshilgwa is. It is a traditional Korean sweet that used to be presented…
Naengmyeon Posted by Ginny on Sep 29, 2011
Sometimes you just get a craving for something light, refreshing but yet filling. Korean cold noodle is just the thing to satisfy that craving. One type of Korean cold noodle is Naengmyeon (냉면). Naengmyeon can be served with a cold broth, in which case the dish will be called Mul naengmyeon (물냉면). Mul naengmyeon is…
School Bell Song Posted by Ginny on Sep 27, 2011
There’s an old Korean children’s song called 학교종, which means ‘school bell’. It’s a song about teaching kids that when the school bell rings, it’s time to start class. Korean people take their children’s education seriously. Although the song is sweet, cute and short enough for kids to remember, there’s a serious message underlying the…
South Korean Museums Posted by Ginny on Sep 23, 2011
There are so many ways to experience and see traditional Korean culture at work. One of the ways is to visit a museum in Korea, one like the Museum of Straw and Plants Handicraft (짚풀생활사박물관) in Seoul (서울). I love seeing all the things that can be made with straw. I once saw these boots…