Archive for 'Culture'
National Treasures of North Korea Posted by Ginny on Oct 10, 2010
North Korea is home to some of Korea’s national treasures. The following items are considered national treasures because they have a historical, cultural and artistic importance. The Paintings in Anak Tomb No. 3 (안악3호분), are some of the best preserved cave paintings in North Korea. These paintings are considered the 67th national treasure. The Paintings have…
Korean Dances Posted by Ginny on Oct 7, 2010
Traditional Korean dances are vibrant examples of how unique and ornate the Korean arts are. Here are some Korean dances that I would recommend you see. Taepyeongmu (태평무) is a dance characterized by women wearing long sleeves. This dance was originally performed to promote peace in a time when Korea was constantly invaded by other…
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…
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…
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…