Archive for 'Culture'
The Gumiho Posted by Ginny on Aug 25, 2010
There is a new Korean drama out called 내 여자친구는 구미호, which means “my girlfriend is a nine tail fox”. The drama is currently being broadcasted by SBS and stars Lee Seung Gi (이승기) and Shin Min Ah (신민아). Shin Min Ah plays the role of a Gumiho (구미호). A gumiho is a legendary nine…
Korean Martial Arts Posted by Ginny on Aug 19, 2010
Taekwondo (태권도) is often more widely known as the premier Korean martial art form of fighting. There are for certain other Korean martial art forms, but they are less known throughout the world. Kuk Sool Won (국술원) is a hybrid martial art form that combines techniques from a variety of martial art forms. Tang Soo…
The Five Grand Palaces Posted by Ginny on Aug 13, 2010
If you want to view a bit of art, culture and history, visit the “Five Grand Palaces” in Seoul (서울). 창덕궁 or Changdeok Palace, means “Palace of Prospering Virtue”. Changdeok Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because the features of the Palace blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Some of the natural features…
Korean Instruments Posted by Ginny on Aug 7, 2010
Way before guitars and violins were introduced to Korea, Korean music was dominated by traditional Korean stringed instruments such as these: A Gayageum (가야금) is a twelve stringed instrument made of wood. A Geomungo (거문고) is a six stringed instrument plucked with a bamboo stick. A Haegum (해금) is like a two stringed fiddle played…
Music and Film Festivals in South Korea Posted by Ginny on Aug 4, 2010
The month of August is a great time to attend various music and film festivals in South Korea. The EBS International Documentary Festival (EIDF) showcases documentaries that probe questions about society and its institutions. This year it’ll take place on the 23rd of August. This year The Busan Rock Festival will take place on August…
Traditional Korean Shoes Posted by Ginny on Aug 1, 2010
Traditional Korean shoes are sometimes worn for special occasions like 돌 (child’s first birthday) and are sometimes sold as souvenirs for foreigners. By far the most commonly seen traditional Korean shoe is the 고무신, which means “rubber shoes” in Korean. People of high status and courtesans wore highly decorated 고무신, while people of lesser means…
Traditional Korean Hats Posted by Ginny on Jul 26, 2010
No one wears them anymore, but at one point in Korean history, these hats were a common sight : The gat (갓) was a hat worn by upper class Korean men. This video is a clip from the Korean drama called Yisan (이산). If you look at the first seconds of the video, you can…