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Teuroteu Music Posted by Ginny on Sep 16, 2010
Teuroteu (트로트) music is a combination of fox trot music, jazz and traditional Korean music. Teuroteu music became popular after WWII, when American musical influences were inspiring Korean artists. Teuroteu is especially popular with older audiences, but it’s making a slow comeback with younger audiences. You may have heard of Tae Jin Ah (태진아) through…
Korean Soft Drinks Posted by Ginny on Sep 13, 2010
The market for Korean soft drinks is growing every year. Here are some Korean soft drinks you’ve probably heard of : Bacchus (박카스) is an energy drink. The commercials for Bacchus focus on people drinking Bacchus after a hard day’s work. Chilsung Cider (칠성사이다) is like a carbonated soda. The reason why I love this…
North Korean Architecture Posted by Ginny on Sep 10, 2010
North Korea has this reputation of being a pastoral countryside with no buildings in sight, and that’s simply not true! A common characteristic of North Korean buildings is that they are often tied to nationalistic ideals. A lot of the buildings were built for propaganda purposes, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t architectural wonders…
Santoki Posted by Ginny on Sep 7, 2010
Santoki (산토끼) is a Korean nursery rhyme sung by Korean children. If you watch the video, you’ll see that the adults have a special dance to the song. That dance is taught to Korean preschoolers all over Korea, and it’s supposed to be performed while singing the song. So let’s burn some calories, and sing…
Famous People of Korean Descent Posted by Ginny on Sep 4, 2010
There are some famous people with Korean descent who’ve made their careers abroad. Some of these people are in film, some in sports and some in music. Chanel Iman is a fashion model that has graced the cover of fashion magazines like Vogue and Harpers Bazaar. Iman is only ¼ Korean, but who’s counting? Korean/African…
Scenic Places in North Korea Posted by Ginny on Sep 1, 2010
North Korea covets some of the most scenic locations in Korea. When you look at these places, it’s hard to believe that the country is troubled in any way. A lot of these places are currently closed to international visitors, but once the ban is lifted, these places might be good travel spots. Amnok River…
Korean Directors Posted by Ginny on Aug 30, 2010
Korean films are starting to receive some attention on the international stage. Part of this is due to clever marketing, but there is the fact that some of the greatest Korean directors are making these films. Bong Joonho (봉준호) is a talented director. Two of his films that he made while he was a…