Archive for 'Culture'
Kim Il Sung’s Birthday Posted by Ginny on Apr 15, 2011
April is the month of Kim Il Sung’s birthday. Kim Il Sung (김일성) is the father of Kim Jong Il (김정일). Kim Il Sung was the man responsible for creating North Korean policies that would continue in his son, Kim Jong Il’s reign. Kim Il Sung is dead now, but despite all the years that…
Korean Festivals in April Posted by Ginny on Apr 11, 2011
Weather wise, April is an awkward time because just when you feel it’s getting warmer, it suddenly rains or gets cold. That’s why it’s sort of risky to hold outdoor festivals in a month like April. There are some awesome April festivals in Korea. Some have been canceled, but some are taking place or will…
Korean Dances Posted by Ginny on Mar 10, 2011
Did you know that there are some interesting Korean dances that have ancient roots in traditional Korean culture? One such dance is Pogurak (포구락), which is a dance that simulates a ball game. If you watch the video, you can see that there is a long board with a hole in the center. A hack…
Korean Shopping Malls Posted by Ginny on Feb 26, 2011
South Korea is becoming more and more modernized. Part of that modernization can be seen in the elaborate and luxurious shopping malls of Korea. For example Shinsegae (신세계) is a large shopping mall with many department stores. Shinsegae literally means “New World” in Korean. Shinsegae is much like a smaller version of a town square…
Korean Dogs Posted by Ginny on Feb 24, 2011
Do you like dogs? I myself do, and if you feel the same, let me tell you about some common dog breeds in Korea. Sapsal Gae(삽살개), which in English means Sapsal Dog, have been in Korea since the Silla era (57 BC – 935 AD). They are known to be furry and come in various…
Hong Gildong Posted by Ginny on Feb 14, 2011
Hong Gildong (홍길동) is Korea’s version of Robin Hood. Hong Gildong is a story that was written in the 16th-17th century. It’s a story about a man named Hong Gildong that steals from the rich and gives the stolen goods to the poor. The story of Hong Gildong describes the ideal qualities of a leader…
Seowon Posted by Ginny on Jan 31, 2011
There are many seowons in Korea. A seowon (서원) was a Confucian school that also served as a shrine to those who followed Confucius ideology. Here are some famous seowons in Korea. The Dosan Seowon (도산서원) was a famous Confucian academy. The Dosan Seowon was like a boarding school where students studied, ate and slept…