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JAN2014
Novelist
Eun Hee-kyung
Muju
HanbokKoreas traditional clothing ispractical and beautiful
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Publisher Woo Jin-yung, Korean Culture and Information Serv
Executive ProducerSuh Jeong-sun
E-mail [email protected]
Magazine ProductionSeoul Selection
Editor-in-ChiefRobert Koehler
Producer Shin Yesol
Production SupervisorLee Jin-hyuk
Editorial AdvisorsJang Woojung, Im Hyeong Doo
Copy EditorsGregory C. Eaves, D. Peter Kim, Hwang Chi-youn
Creative DirectorJung Hyun-young
Head DesignerKo Min-jeong
PhotographyRyu Seunghoo, Robert Koehler
Printing LEEFFECT
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11-1110073-000016-06
04
24
CONTENTSJANUARY2014VOL.10 NO.1
14 PEN & BRUSHNovelist Eun Hee-kyung
18 PEOPLEMaster Watch Repairman Back Jun-duk
20 TRAVELMuju
24 SPORTSKim Yuna
26 ENTERTAINMENTTaekkyeon Arirang Lyeon
28 SPECIAL ISSUE
Sejong City: Part II
30 CURRENT KOREAKorea's Toilet Revolution
32 SUMMIT DIPLOMACY
Year-end Diplomacy
36 POLICY REVIEWDaedeok Innopolis
38 CREATIVE TECHNOLOGYThe IT Healthcare Era
40 GLOBAL KOREAKorea Lends a Hand to the Philippines
42 GREAT KOREAN
Han Yong-un
44 MY KOREAThe Pojangmacha
46 MULTICULTURAL KOREAHockey Player Brock Radunske
48 TALES FROM KOREAThe Princess and the Idiot
50 FLAVORSeolleongtang and Kkakdugi
Embodying age-old philosophies, Koreas traditional
clothing is as practical as it is beautiful
C O V E R S T O R Y04
HANBOK
30
20
G a t e w a y t o K o r e a
Assisting events that introduce Korean culture to non-Koreans
Producing foreign-language publications and different types of
promotional materials on Korea
Operating the government homepage,www.korea.net
Assisting intenational academics, opinion leaders and foreign media
reporting on Korea
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V E R S T O R Y
Embodying age-old philosophies,Koreas traditional clothing is as practicalit is beautiul
Written bySamuel Songhoon Lee
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1. The traditional
Hanbok is still worn on
special occasions today.
2. The many Hanbok
worn by President Park
Geun-hye at various
diplomatic functions.
here is perhaps no other artiact that
captures the richness o Korean cultural
heritage as well as Korean traditional attire,
nown as Hanbok. While the origins o Hanbok
an be traced back millennia to the ethnic origins
the Korean people, historical records in the orm
murals painted during the early period o the
Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.A.D. 668) show that
Koreans began to wear a modern orm o Hanbok as
arly as the ourth century B.C.
Te basic design o Hanbok comprises o two-ieces, an upper and lower garment. Te upper
arment, thejeogori, is a bolero blouse-like jacket
worn by both women and men. For the lower
arment, women wear a chima, a ull-blown
kirt that reaches past the ankles, and men wear
baji, a pair o roomy trousers. On top o these
asic garments, a wide variety o accessories and
uterwear can be worn or different seasons and
different occasions.
What is most astonishing about hanbok is the way
in which its orm and design have been preserved,
despite a time lapse o two thousand years. While the
particular style and specific length have undergone
changes over the years, the basic appearance o
hanbok has stayed intact. In looking at Goguryeo
period murals dating rom the ourth century B.C.,
one will see an uncanny resemblance to the Hanbok
being worn on the streets o modern Seoul.
It is this remarkable preservation o Hanbok thatprovides a window into the rich cultural heritage o
the Korean people. Although Hanbok is popularly
worn today on special occasions such as weddings
and birthdays, there is renewed interest among
modern Koreans in wearing Hanbok as everyday
wear, just as their ancestors once did. Te revival has
been touched off by Koreas first emale head o state,
President Park Geun-hye.
1
Hanbok Diplomacy
Since being elected in December 2012, President Park Geun-
hye has surprised the worldand the Korean peoplewith
her steadast devotion to wearing Hanbok on official occasions.
Her devotion to Hanbok traces back to the influences o her
mother, Yuk Young-soo, who, in her role as first lady, oversaw
Koreas miraculous economic rise rom being one o the most
impoverished countries in the world in the 1960s to being one
o the richest today.
Yuk preerred to wear Hanbok instead o Western dresses.
Tis instilled a sense o pride and confidence amongst Koreans
who were struggling to pull themselves out o the destruction
and destitution o the tragic Korean War (19501953) and the
brutal colonial rule o Japan (19101945).
Widely known or her humble liestyle and abstention romluxuries, Yuk was unrestrained in her concern and devotion
to the livelihood o the common people, regularly paying
visits to the poor and sick. oday, even the staunchest political
opponents o President Park openly express their admiration
and respect or her mother.
President Park rekindled the peoples yearning or such
benevolent leadership when she opted to wear Hanbok at key
post-inauguration ceremonies in January 2013. She donned a
red durumagi, or outer coat, and a blue chimaat the goodwill
ceremony that took place minutes afer her inaugural address.
Te symbolism o the color combination did not go un
the colors red and blue, ound on the Korean national
historically represented the harmony o opposites. Ma
her outfit as a plea or unity amongst the Korean peopl
President Park has also been dazzling the global stag
her Hanbok, a policy that has come to be known as H
diplomacy. In her official visits to the United States an
she donned several varieties o Hanbok, each laden with
symbolism and meaning to mark the particular occasio
In an honorary dinner to mark the 60th anniversary
Korea-US alliance at the Smithsonian Museum in Wa
D.C., President Park wore a cobalt-colored chimaand
jeogoriwith elaborate embroidery. According to Kim
suk, designer o President Parks Hanbok, the colors o
presidents Hanbok were careully selected in conside
o the many U.S. veterans o the Korean War who wer
attendance. Te cobalt color symbolized the Korean s
the elaborate embroidery adorned with flowers and tr
marked the prosperity and cultural refinement o Kor
oward the end o her visit, President Park traveled
Angeles, which has historically been a popular destin
Korean emigrants. When meeting with Korean emigr
wore a pink Hanbok. In an interview with a newspap
Kim said he wanted to accentuate the motherly warm
eminine grace o the nations first emale president.
V E R S T O R Y
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Hanbok Captivates Global FashionRunways
Te beauty o Hanbok has also been recognized on the
unways o the worlds most respected ashion shows. Since the
990s, Korean ashion designers have lef their mark on the
Western ashion world with Hanbok-inspired collections.
In 1996, Lee Young Hee, one o the most respected Hanbok
esigners, dazzled the Paris ashion world with her exhibition
Hanbok: Clothes o the Wind at the Muse de lOrangerie.
ee was also the first Korean designer to have her works
eatured in Frances esteemed prt--porter collection. Her
ollections eature Hanbok adapted to modern sensibilities that
tretch the boundaries o the imagination.
Lees Hanbok collections have ofen been described as daring
nd experimental. Indeed, some o her womens Hanbok did
way withjeogori, and had chimabefitting a Western dress.
eading French media took notice o Lees collections, and Le
Monde praised the seamless way in which Hanbok drapes over
he human physique in smooth, flowing lines while retaining
s elegant and sophisticated demeanor.
Te beauty o Hanbok has also not gone unnoticed in the
yes o Western ashion designers, who have come to draw
nspiration rom the centuries-old Korean traditional attire.
Carolina Herrera, whose collections have been worn by such
rominent figures as Jacqueline Kennedy and actress Rene
Zellweger, showcased Hanbok-inspired dresses or her 2011
S/S collection. In particular, Herrera incorporated the ample
spatial eature o the chimawith an added emphasis on the
naturally flowing silhouette lines.
Te dresses made by Herrera retain the unique Korean
concept o the silhouette, said Kim Eun-jung, a clothing and
textiles proessor at Chonnam National University. Te way
the clothes envelop the body and the ample olds o the chima
all point toward how well she understands the emphasis on
lines ound in Hanbok. Herrera also eatured emale models
wearinggat, a wide brimmed hat with an emerging center
usually worn by Conucian scholars during the Joseon period.
Another Western designer who has drawn inspiration
rom Hanbok is the Belgian Dries van Noten, who was once
described by Te New York imes as one o ashions most
cerebral designers. For his 2012 Paris Collection, van Noten
incorporated prints ound in the paper collar o the jeogori.
His ascination withjeogoriled to a unique collaboration
with Korean Hanbok designer Kim Hye-soon, whose extensive
research into the upper Hanbok garment led to her authoring
the book Our Beautiul Jeogori(2011), which traces the
evolution o thejeogoriover more than 600 years. Van Noten
eatured severaljeogoridesigns and patterns ound in Kims
book in his own collection.
The Beauty of Hanbok
Flowing lines
When discussing the aesthetic delight o Ha
what inevitably emerges is the beauty o its
lines. Indeed, it is this attribute that distingu
Hanbok rom other East Asian traditional o
such as the Chinese cheongsamor the Japan
kimono. Korean Hanbok incorporates both
and curving lines, which combine to create
naturally flowing harmony. When the wear
the flowing lines o Hanbok create an undu
silhouette that is subtle yet palpable.
Te collar o womens Hanbok, which or
V-shape, can be adjusted to accentuate or s
neckline. Te rounded curve o the sleeves bring out a sense o gentleness. Te straight
that is projected rom the hanginggoreum,
string-like long ribbon that ties thejeogori c
presents a simple but elegant look. Te layer
wrinkles that gradually spread out rom the
o the chimato the bottom also add to the s
elegance.
Color arrangement
Another distinguishing eature o Hanbok i
contrast in complementary colors. Te colo
ofen ound in Hanbok are variations o the
colors o red, blue, green and yellow, as oun
the natural world, along with black and whi
East Asian philosophy oyinandyangand
elements that are believed to be the basis o
cosmos also yield great influence on how co
picked and arranged. Te contrast in comp
colors adds to the elegance and refined beau
Hanbok. White was the deault shade histo
avored by the Korean people or its symbol
modesty and pure spirit.
Red signified good ortune and prosperit
the color used in bridal Hanbok. Indigo rep
dedication so it was the color used in Hanb
by court ladies and the official attire o gove
officials. Black, which symbolized eternity a
1. A Hanbok by designer Lee
Young Hee at the Korea-Turkey
Traditional Fashion Show in
Istanbul on Sept 11, 2013
2. The spring 2011 collection
of designer Carolina Herrera is
modeled during Fashion Week
in New York, Sept 13, 2010.
3. Fashion show by designer
Kim Young Seok at the
Wedding Fair at the Westin
Chosun Hotel, Seoul, June
2012. Traditional Korean
Costume Kim Young Seok
V E R S T O R Y
1 2
3
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V E R S T O R Y
Traditional Clothingas Foreign Policy
Designer Kim Young Seok helps oster global riendships through Hanbok
Interview byRobert Koehler
Kim Young Seok wasnt born a Hanbok designer, let alone
the one for President Park Geun-hye. It started out as a
hobby, he says. When people die in Korea, they burn all their
things, so very few old, traditional things are left. I wanted to
recreate some of those old things as a hobby. It wasnt until
he reached his mid-30s that he began to design K
traditional attire professionally. Complete with fur n
warmer, he presents the very image of a fashion d
not just one who fashions the wardrobe of VIPs, i
corporate executives, first ladies and, of course, P
Park.
Kim says traditional clothing such as hanbokrefhistory and lifestyle of a country. I think Hanbok is
like architecture. Its very structured, he says. Lik
architecture,hanbokreflects whats inside. Its ver
and very layered, like the dresses of Victorian-era
According to the designer, the beauty of Hanbo
doesnt immediately present itself at first glance, li
good art. Too much perfection ruins beauty, he
pointing to the Mona Lisa, whose beauty contain
certain sense of unease thanks t o her missing eye
Hanbok is the same. When you first look at it, its
if somethings missing. But it makes you want to k
looking even after the person has passed. First w
Eh? and then we notice its beautiful.
President Park has earned both domestic and
international admiration for wearing Kims Hanbok
international events, including in her May visit to t
When we get invited to a friends home, we wear
clothes. When we meet foreign friends in particula
the ways we can spark interest in one another is w
traditional clothing or presenting them with somet
they take an interest in, says Kim. Hanbok diplo
is something that can smooth a first meeting and
sense of friendship.
So how can Korea promote Hanbok both at ho
and abroad? Speaking generally of the culture, w
need efforts to get people to wear Hanbok more,
Kim. Instead of simply complaining that Hanbok
uncomfortable, we must improve the aspects tha
uncomfortable.
rigin o all creation, figured in mens hats. Yellow, which
epresented the center o the universe, was the color preerred
y royalty and its wearing by common people was strictly
egulated.
Te complementary colors are one o the most captivating
esthetic attributes o Hanbok. Te contrast o bright yellow
gainst deep blue, or light green against solid red, or example,
re among the more popular color arrangements preerred or
heir eye-catching quality. During major events, such a color
cheme is worn by the primary participants or important
uests.
Beauty and Practicality
Although it may appear at first to be a daunting attire to be
worn every day, Hanbok in reality maximizes practicality
nd comort. Because Hanbok is sewn in a curved ashion in
ccordance with the general shape o the human body, it allows
asy movement and mobility. Because its silhouette and flowing
nes are not directly tied to the wearers physique, Hanbok can
e worn by people o all body types without compromising
ndividual dignity or elegance.
Simple changes in color arrangements allow the wearer to
reate a variety o looks with different underlying emotional
ones. Te ample room o Hanbok also allows it to be easily
tted to adapt or changes in physique. Hanbok is also widely
nown or its durability. Because the attire is colored using
atural dye, its aded color can easily be restored without
compromising its original colors.
Tere have been growing efforts to modernize Hanbok so it
can be worn as everyday wear along with popular clothing such
as blue jeans. One pioneer is Hanbok designer Park Mi-yeon,
whose brand Armi (pronounced ar-MEE) has a distinctively
casual flair (www.armbang.co.kr). She has adapted Hanbok to
modern, casual sensibilities that could be easily worn along
with other daily wear while preserving the undamental design
and spirit o Hanbok. Parks brand is carried by more than 50
chain stores throughout the nation.
Another pioneer in modernized Hanbok is Lee Gi-yeon, who
heads her own brand, Jil Kyung Yee (www.jilkyungee.co.kr).
Since the 1980s, Lee has led research and production efforts
to adapt Hanbok as everyday wear. She goes about achieving
the adaptation by looking urther back in time in attempting
to bring out the spirit and philosophy o the ancestors into
modern light.
Te modernization o her Hanbok collection comes rom
adapting the clothes with consideration or increased mobility
and also the blood circulation patterns o the human anatomy.
We embed our culture into our clothes, Lee said in a V
interview.
Modern Hanbok maximizes mobility and unction. Some
collections do away with the drapinggoreum, the coat-string
like tie that drops below waist, and also shortens the width and
length o the chimawhile extending the length o thejeogori.
A Russian visitor dons a Hanbok at a Korean homestay facility.
Koreans often wear Hanbok on traditional holidays.
21
0
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V E R S T O R Y
Throughout the Joseon Dynasty (13921910), Korea was governed by a neo-
Confucian philosophy which emphasized social harmony and refining oneself
through dedicated scholarship. This was reflected in the different Hanbok
ach class wore. Neo-Confucian scholars believed that a dedicated scholar must
efrain from excess, and as such, the children of noble families studying for the royal
vil service exam often took to wearing simple hanbok that stressed austerity and
efinement.
The king wore a specially prepared Hanbok made of red silk satin. It was most noted
or the carefully sewn golden dragon emblem on the chest and also on the upper
leeve of each arm. The queens Hanbok also stood out for its elaborate embroidery
onsisting of pheasants and plum blossoms.
Men belonging to the middle and aristocratic yangbanclass were easily identifiable
y theirgat, a cylinder-shaped hat with a wide brim made of horsehair. What clothing
material Hanbok was made from was also an important status symbol. Silk imported
om China was seen as the ultimate luxury fabric for Hanbok, while commoners
ended to wear Hanbok made of cotton.
Aristocratic women also distinguished themselves with colorful chima, with the
most popular colors being red, purple and yellow. It was quite ample in its depth,
o allow for a full silhouette, and extended to the ground to conceal the ankles. The
himaworn by common women were narrower and shorter and showed the ankles.
n addition, aristocratic women were fond of elaborate embroidery sewn around their
hima, while common women were not allowed such a luxury.
The color of womens Hanbok was also an important signifier of marital status. Red
himawere for single women without children while navy-blue chimawere for married
women. A combination of yellowish greenjeogoriand red chimawere for newlywed
rides. Widows wore white chima.
The variety of Hanbok colors was limited to the upper class. Pink, yellow or other
rightly colored Hanbok were worn mostly by children. Most commoners were
estricted to wearing white hanbok as their everyday wear. Because the color gold
eld significance as the center of the universe, only royalty was allowed to wear gold-
olored Hanbok.
Hanbok worn by government officials was distinguished by the square-shaped pattern
mbroidered on the front. Military officials had a tiger while civil servants had a crane
mbroidered on. The different types of embroidery distinguished the wearers rank.
Professional female entertainers, known asgisaeng,tended to wear colorful
anbok enveloped in elaborate floral patterns. They preferred Hanbok in strongrimary colors that were captivating to the eye. It was a great honor for a gisaengto
ave one of her patrons paint a picture or write a poem directly onto her skirt.
For a wedding Hanbok, the bride wore a crimson chimaand a special type of
ellowish-green jeogori. They also wore an extensive white sleeve that reached to
heir knees to cover their hands. The groom also wore an elaborate set piece that
trongly resembled the official court attire. They also c arried a folding paper fan to
over their mouths.
HANBOK ACCORDING TO
SOCIAL CLASS
2
The global popularity of Korean TV dramas, commonly referred
to as Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, has brought Hanbok to the
worlds attention. They include mega-hit dramas set in the past
such as: The Jewel in the Palace (2003), which starred Lee Young-
ae, one of Koreas most beloved actresses; films such as Untold
Scandal (2003) with Bae Yong-joon, the middle-aged Korean actor
popular with Japanese housewives, who plays a libertine, pleasure-
loving scholar of aristocratic background; Chunhyang (1999), where
a pair of star-crossed lovers battle fate in pursuit of love; Forbidden
Quest (2006), where two talented aristocrats create some of the
most sensational adult literature of the period; Hwang Jini (2006),
where the daughter of an aristocratic family voluntarily becomes a
gisaeng; and A Frozen Flower (2008) which follows the conflictbetween a kings male lover and the queen.
The great appearance of Hanbok in Korean movies has not only
led to more opportunities to introduce Korean traditional dress to
the world, but has also made it feel more familiar to Koreans, said
Lee Hye-soon, a highly acclaimed hanbok designer who supplied
costumes for Untold Scandal, King and the Clown (2005), and
A Frozen Flower(2008). While staying faithful to the tradition and
customs of the period, Lee said that in Untold Scandal, she made
variations to the specific hanbok worn by each character de
on the characters personality and image.
For example, for the character of Mrs. Cho, who was know
voluptuous beauty and sensuality, a tight-fitting jacket with
skirts in radiating colors was provided. The government offi
on the other hand, wore jackets with more breathing room
colors.
Perhaps no other celebrity has raised the global recognit
Hanbok as much as actress Song Hye-gyo. Her portrayal of
most legendarygisaengin Hwang Jini led to her becomin
Korean celebrity to grace the cover of Vogue Korea in June
wore Hanbok in Paris and her photographs were taken by o
worlds most recognized fashion photographers, the ItalianPaolo Roversi.
Following the recent surge of interest in Hanbok, Korean
featuring the attire have opted to showcase its beauty and
in new ways. Prior to the opening of the film Queen: the Ki
Concubine (2012), a fashion show was held at Gyeonghui
Palace in Seoul, where the royalty of the Joseon Dynasty on
Cast members wore their movie customes and walked the r
putting on display the exquisite beauty of hanbok.
THE HANBOK IN KOREAN DRAMAS
5
3
4
1
2
1. Cast of the 2010 MBC historical drama Dong Yi
2. Actress Ha Ji-won in Joseon Dynasty-gisaengdress for the 2006 KBS2 drama Hwang Jini
Commoners clothing 2. A white Hanbok worn by aseonbi, the rustic scholars of the Joseon Dynasty.
Queens Hanbok from the early Joseon Dynasty 4. Agisaengs Hanbok 5. Wedding Hanbok
21
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WRITING INISOLATIONNovelist Eun Hee-kyung finds inspirationn solitude
Written by Felix Im
4
N & B R U S H
In 1994, a ormer aspiring writ
ordinary mother, worker and
ound hersel stuck in the one
o a complacent lie: a preset path w
circumstances stayed static while t
continued to rush by, increasing in
every year.
I just realized that my lie was se
at 34. Id received all the education
going to get; I was married and a m
my job was steady and stable. Ter
more great changes awaiting me, s
She is now one o Koreas most w
known and successul novelists, wi
that has been translated into Engli
French, German, Russian and a ho
other languages. Her name? Eun H
kyung. Surprisingly reserved in de
almost to the point o shyness, she
her sentences careully, seemingly
to speak beore prooreading their
once more inside her head.
So I decided to do something ab
situation; I needed a change; I need
step off the main path and run awa
random alley and find mysel again
It was in such an alley where Eun
took her first steps to realizing her
dream o becoming a novelist.
Id always written and always lik
writing, but I think I never gave it
until then, she says.
So afer acquiring a months vaca
her day job, she ran off to the coun
isolating hersel with her pen. It wa
experience with true solitude.
I had so much to say. It had all b
stuffed down during all those years
quietly. Te result was five short st
Afer my month o reedom was up
return to work, but still managed t
sixth.
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N & B R U S H
Late Bloomer
ronically enough, it was that sixth short story that she wrote
fer coming back to work that officially started her career:
Duet won that years literary contest held by the major daily
Dong-A Ilbo. It didnt elicit the response Eun was hoping or,
owever. Worse, it got little response at all. Afer a ew silent
months passed, she decided to throw something a little heavier
t the world and went off into seclusion again, this time or two
months. Te result was her first ull-length novel and perhaps
er best-known work,A Gif rom a Bird. Te cynical yet
umorous narrative, told rom the perspective o a precocious
2-year-old girl, got the attention the author had been seeking,
s well as her first Munhakdongne Novel Award.
I didnt plan on being some huge success, Eun says. But I
new I didnt want to leave that place until Id finished my first
ovel. o be honest, it was rather un. It was my first ull-length
ovel and I ully enjoyed the writing process. Afer that, I was
ble to write prolifically or a number o years. I just had so
much to say. But Ive slowed down a bit now.
The Value of Solitude
ticking to her tradition o creating in isolation, Eun made it a
oint to go somewhere new and secluded every time she wrote
novel. Te process has obviously worked or her, as she has
since racked up an impressive list o literary honors, including
the prestigious Yi Sang Literary Award.
I actually only recently started writing in caes, which is
hinted at in my latest work Lie Unperturbed, she says. Now,
its not as easy as it once was to just take off and seclude mysel,
but I still cant write at home. Tats where my ordinary lie
is. A certain occupation awaits me therea wie or mother or
socialiteso I cant write there. I need to be alone. I dont want
to see anyone I know. I think most writers are like that.
Something unique to Eun, however, is her habit o rarely
taking notes or jotting down anything on a notepad.
Even i I do write something down on the go, I never know
what to do with it later, when Im actually writing. Most o the
time, I dont even know why I wrote it.
In with the New
Just as when she first ran off to the countryside, Eun is always
looking or something new, be it a resh approach to writing or
an unamiliar experience, anything to inspire her. While certain
authors spend their careers ocusing on perecting a singular
world, Eun approaches every novel as a new experiment, each
its own separate world. As a result, every work evokes mixed
reactions. Fans o one her books dont like the next one and so
on. One thing that doesnt change, however, is that she always
Life Unperturbed(Changbi Publishers, 2012) Talking to a Stranger (Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 1996)
bases villainous characters on hersel.
I dont want to hurt anyone I know, so I model all bad
characters afer mysel. Either that, or its my husband, she
adds, laughing.
Asked i her recognition abroad has changed her, Eun
calmly shakes her head.
Te only thing thats changed is my experience, going
outside o Korea and seeing things Id never have seen
I stayed in Seoul. When I go abroad or an event, boo
signing, or just travel, the main thing Im looking or
perspective. My writing hasnt evolved to some more
level. It just continues to evolve as it always has. Whe
to New York or two months, I just lived as an ordinar
not as a writer. Tats what I wanted: a new experienc
When someone looks at me, the first thing I do is split myselfinto two selves. One self remains inside of me, while the otherself thats been split off from my real self leaves my body and plays my
role.
While the other self that goes outside of my body is exposed to others
and acts exactly like me, my real self stays inside my body and watches
the self thats gone outside of my body. I have one self act like the self
that others expect to see, and the other self watches this. All this time,
Im split into the self being seen by others and the self that is watching,
which is myself.
All the while, of course, my real self isnt the self being seen but rather
the self thats watching. Since its the self being seen that is p ressured
and humiliated under the gaze of others, the real self thats watching
isnt hurt as much. By separating myself into two se lves this way, Im less
exposed to the eyes of others, and I can keep myself intact.
Since Im showing others not my real self but a self Ive made, I used
to think that this might be hypocritical or pretentious . I thought that
splitting myself into two selves might be wrong because Im trying to
look good or be dishonest, but after I learned the word artificiality,
my doubts were dispelled. My habit of self-splitting wasnt hypocrisy, it
was artificiality. Artificiality is a much more complicated emotion than
hypocrisy, but isnt immoral in the str ict sense of the word.
A Gift from a Bird
6
Excerpt,A Gift From a Bird (Mun
Publishing Corp., 1995), p2223.
In addition to the Korean origina
is available in French, Spanish,
Chinese, too.
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R A V E L
0
MujuA national park and ski resort orm a winter wond
Written byRobe
now encrusted branches at the peak of Mt. Deogyusan, Deogyusan National Park
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2
Where to Eat
Muju Deogyusan
Resort has a wide
selection of food and
entertainment choices:
Korean and Western
restaurants, snack stores,
bars, karaoke and cafs. For
something a bit more rustic,
try eojuk, a spicy fish stew. Geumgang Sikdang (T. 0
322-0979), near Muju County Office, is a good place
Interestingly, the region is known for making its own
from wild grapes. The wine is aged in a renovated tu
originally built for the construction of a hydroelectric
Where to Stay
Muju Deogyusan
Resort has three
hotels: the deluxe HotelTirol, the Family Hotel, and
the modest Kookmin Hotel.
The latter offers many six-
person rooms where visitors
sleep on the floor and share
a kitchen. Another option is
to stay at the little village down the road or in an ov
sauna, called ajjimjilbang.
Getting There
Intercity buses depart from Seoul Nambu Bus
Terminal to Muju Bus Terminal at 7:40am, 9:2
10:40am, 1:40pm and 2:35pm. From the back gate o
Muju terminal, in front of the Jeil Clinic, take the free
bus to Muju Deogyusan Resort. T. 063-320-7113.
MORE
Jejudo
Muju
While most travelers in Korea head to
the wilds o Gangwon-do in search
o winter scenery, some o the best
nowy vistas in the land can be enjoyed about two
ours south o Seoul in the county o Muju, one o
Koreas biggest winter sports centers. Te host o
he 1997 Winter Universiade, Muju is blessed with
igh scenic peaks and plenty o snowsome o the
eaviest snow all in the country, in act. On Mt.
Deogyusan, the centerpiece o Deogyusan National
ark, the wind and snow combine to produce a
urreal landscape o snow flowers that mesmerize
ikers intrepid enough to brave the heights and
old.
Muju Deogyusan Resort
Mujus chie tourist draw is Muju Deogyusan
Resort, one o Koreas most popular ski destinations.
Te resort boasts both the countrys longest slope,
he 6.1-kilometer Silk Road Course (vertical height
810 meters), and steepest run, Raiders Slope with
70-degree incline. For those not training or the
Olympics, a Rookie Hill is intended or beginners.
Te courses are also snowboarder-riendly.
Te complex is modeled afer the great alpine
resorts o Austria, as undoubtably noticeable rom
the aux-alpine architecture. For the ull Austrian
experience, get a room in the resorts five-star Hotel
irol, where the suites are lined with Austrian larch.
Its like sleeping in an alpine orest. About 1,000
Austrian-style condo rooms are available, too.
On Seolcheonbong Peakwhere the gondola
drops you offan impressive three-story Korean
pagoda cuts a pretty dramatic figure, especially
when the snow and wind are up. From here is also a
trail that leads to the peak o Mt. Deogyusan.
Deogyusan National Park
Mt. Deogyusan is one o Koreas higher peaks at
1,614 meters. Te 20-kilometer main ridge sports
several peaks o more than 1,000 meters. Its a broad
mountain, however, so while hikes are long, they
arent especially arduous. Te biggest danger in
winter is the cold. Dress warmly and be prepared
1. Downhill skiing at Muju
Deogyusan Resort
2. Nighttime skiing at
Muju Deogyusan Resort
3. The gondola will get you
to the top of the runs.
R A V E L
1
or the wind and snow. Be sure to wear crampons. o hike the main
ridge will take about 12 hours, though it could take considerably
longer i theres deep snowand there probably will be.
Te ideal plan is to take in the sunrise rom the peak. I youre
lucky, the clouds will be below you to orm what Koreans call a
sea o clouds. o do this, though, you need to spend a night at
Hyangjeokbong Shelter (. 063-322-1614, KRW 8,000). Be sure to
call ahead to make a reservation as it fills up quickly. At the higher
elevations are clusters o ancient yew trees, twisted by the elements
into antastic shapes. I youve got a camera, try to capture the trees
silhouette against the morning sky.
2
3
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KIM YUNA
Written byKim Tong-hyung
Figure skating superstar quiets doubt ahead oSochi Olympics
4
1
P O R T S
For the first time in as long as anyone can remember,
Kim Yuna perormed at an international figure skating
competition and did not wow the audience, though this
did not change her position at the podium, which has been
inexorably in the top spot.
Coming off a three-month layoff due to injury, the two-time
world champion and reigning Olympic gold medalist made
her season debut in December in the Golden Spin o Zagreb in
Croatia. She quieted most doubts over her orm by blowing her
competitors out o the water.
Despite that, her perormance did not meet the lofy
standards she has set or hersel. Afer scoring 73.37 points in
the short program, Kim showed a bit o rust in the ree skate,
alling on her first jump combination, a triple lutz-triple toe
loop, beore recovering with a smooth finish. Te all came
afer she botched the landing on her double axel, considered
one o the easier jumps, in the short program the previous day.
Still, Kims score o 131.12 in the ree skate gave her a
combined 204.48, or nearly 30 points ahead o runner-up Miki
Ando o Japan, who finished with 176.82.
Kims perormance reinorced what many believe: barring
another injury or a career-altering slump, the 23-year-old
will be the surest bet to win the gold in next months Winter
Olympics in Sochi, Russia. She is also seeking to become
only the third woman ever to repeatedly become Olympic
champion.
I was a bit shaky, but overall Im satisfied with my
perormance, she said.
I elt some pressure as I was coming back rom an ankle
injury and this was the first competition o the season. I was
surprised afer the jump as Id never allen that hard in practice,
but I was able to concentrate more afer the mistake and skate
cleanly the rest o the way.
She added that her recovery
is at the 80-90 percent
level and expressed
confidence about finding
her peak orm by the
beginning o
the Winter
Olympics in
February.
A Fierce RivalryIn Sochi, Kims biggest competition is once again exp
come rom longtime rival Mao Asada o Japan, who e
her ourth career win at the ISU Grand Prix Final in
month, but it actually hasnt been much o a rivalry.
In Kims historic perormance in the 2010 Vancouve
Olympics, she earned a record o 228.56 points, 23 mo
runner-up Asada.
In their most recent meeting in the 2013 world cham
in March, Kim won with a dominating perormance o
points, while Asada finished a distant third.
When at her best, Kim makes it clear that she is sim
different level than her competitors. Te speed and tig
her spins are rom another world, and so are the balan
fluidity that allow her to glide on the ice and land like
afer moments o controlled violence in the air.
Asada can be said to be the more gifed skater in at
ability, being the worlds only woman who can land tr
axels with anything resembling regularity. But she has
to display this skill in the biggest competitions, such a
Olympics and world championships.
I Asada does land that jump in Sochi or brings a m
complete game, she could finally give Kim some real
competition. Te world should hope that Asada does.
As great as Kim has been throughout her career, wh
world has seen her best truly remains to be seen. It is d
to tell how ar Kim can go, considering she has yet to e
legitimate competition.
1. Kim Yuna at the Golden Spin of Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia on Dec 6, 2013
2. Commemorative coins issued to celebrate Kim's gold medal from the 201
Olympic Games
3. Fans root for Kim at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.
3
2
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6
TAEKKYEON ARIRANGLYEONNon-verbal performance blends two classic s of Korean cultural heritage
Written byCharles Luskin
Although the popularity o pop culture has grown
exponentially over the past ten years in East Asia and
around the world, interest in traditional perormance
rts has lagged. Tis disparity exists, in part, because o lack o
xposure. While oreign audiences can easily consume popular
music, V and film, and ofen do, perormances o traditional
music and dance are ofen shown to domestic audiences only.
aekkyeon Arirang Lyeon, however, might change this.
Designed by taekkyeonmaster Lee Yong-bok and
choreographer Im Hak-sun, the show, as the name suggests,
displays two o Koreas traditional art orms: the martial art
taekkyeonand Arirang, the nations most amous olk song.
Both o these traditions have been included on the UNESCO
list o Intangible Cultural Heritage. aekkyeon Arirang Lyeon
explores the beauty o both arts by choreographing taekkyeon
movements with Korean traditional olk music. Lyeon is a
ERTAINMENT
wordless narration told though martial art dance
and music, a new composite o the old. In this
hybridization, Lyeon ollows in the ootsteps o
Cookin Nanta, a hit show that is an amalgam o
traditional percussion and non-verbal comedy.
Yet while Cookin Nantacreates a new cultural
product by merging characteristics o the
production Stompwith Korean traditional music,
Lyeon does it entirely with traditional cultural
materials. Indeed, the titular lyeon means
connection, specifically between two art orms
and between the past and present.
A Long Pedigree
Originating perhaps as early as the TreeKingdoms period, (57 B.C.A.D. 668) taekkyeon
became a popular martial art during the
Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), with its public
competitions ofen depicted in period murals
and paintings. While taekwondo and hapkido, a
martial art that combines kicking and punching
techniques with joint locking and throws, have
large international ollowings, the ormer is an
official Olympic sport while the latter remains
relatively ignored. Practical knowledge o
taekkyeonwas nearly lost when Korea was under
Japanese colonial rule. Just one master, Song Duk
Ki, remained afer Koreas liberation in 1945, and
rom him all modern taekkyeonpractices stem.
aekkyeon, the first martial art to be included on
the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list,
relies on an almost rhythmic pattern o stances
and fluidity o movement that give it a dance-
like quality. In this respect, the martial art shares
something in common with tai chi and capoeira.
Unlike tai chi, however, taekkyeonhas combat as
its purpose, and unlike capoeira, taekkyeonis not
a dance. Nevertheless, the Korean martial arts
dance-like qualities make it a natural choice or
accompaniment with music.
aekkyeon Arirang Lyeon sets taekkyeons
choreography to Arirang, Koreas most amous
olk melody. Like all old Korean olk so
Arirang has innumerable orms and v
but the most common version tells the
o a jilted woman separated rom her lo
by a mountain pass. Many passes in Ko
mountains are called Arirang, so the s
o the tragedy is as malleable as the lyric
addition to this amous song, aekkyeo
Arirang Lyeon is choreographed to sam
Korean traditional percussion, and per
with other traditional instruments, inclu
gayageum, an ancient 12-stringed zither
Te perorming companys world tou
cover 30 countries and 70 cities over the
years, starting November 15 in Washing
Lyeons novel combination o artorm
only by Cookin Nantain scope, is not th
maniestation o the desire to explore th
vacuum o Korean traditional arts in th
eye. Metal bands like Wool and reggae b
like I and I Jangdan also combine tradit
Korean sounds with other genres, albeit
much smaller stage. Nonetheless, it is h
aekkyeon Arirang Lyeons tour will g
enough global interest to spur new com
o the new and oldand the old and old
1. A flying taekkyeonkick
during Taekkyeon Arirang
Lyeon
2. Taekkyeon Arirang
Lyeon brings together
Korean martial arts and
Korean music.
2
1
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The Toilet Goes Deeper
But the toilet awards are more than just about clever designs
and pleasant smells. Teyre part o a greater campaign
or public health and sanitation, one that gained major
momentum rom the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea-Japan.
During the preparatory stages or co-hosting the worlds
largest soccer tournament, the Better Korea Movement
(BKM) convened to revamp Korea or international visitors
across three key areas: cleanliness, riendliness and order.
One o their major concerns was that international visitors
would poo-poo the state o Koreas public restrooms, so they
launched a national campaign to transorm public b athrooms
into spaces o beauty and culture.
Another pioneer in toilet reorm was the late Sim Jae-
duck, who was born in 1939 in an outhouse, an event that,when viewed retrospectively, seems to have orged his ate as
inextricably linked with toilets. His place o birth resulted in
many o his peers nicknaming him gaettong, which can be
delicately translated as dog poop, an unortunate moniker
that lasted throughout his childhood.
Not until he was elected mayor o Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, did
he drastically improve the citys waste management systems.
He also ounded the Korean oilet Association and started
a bathroom revolution, transorming his toilet image into a
positive one. He didnt stop there. He became a key ounder
o the World oilet Association, an international ben
organization that works with the United Nations and
NGOs in the noble pursuit o one simple goal: to pro
every person in the world the opportunity to use a c
comortable toilet. Sim was so passionate about toile
even had his house rebuilt to look like one. He is now
as Mr. oilet.
Better Future through Better Toi
So why the obsession with bathrooms and hygiene?
realized that clean public acilities go beyond pleasan
Teyre an essential eature or a healthy, progressiv
Although taken or granted by many, sanitary restro
arent as common as they should be. According to th
World Health Organization, nearly 42 percent o thepopulation lives in chronically unsanitary condition
indirectly causes more than two million deaths per y
More than 400,000 children under age 5 die annuall
diarrheal conditions that could be drastically reduce
effective waste management. Cholera, typhoid, para
and dysentery can also be greatly reduced through p
water management and waste disposal.
Still think the bathroom awards and toilet associat
silly? Look at the statistics. Tink about what lie wo
like without clean toilets and then reconsider.
0
Public toilets are an issue that many people would
rather avoid discussing. Yet noble people in Korea
have been working hard over the past decade to
nsure that this dire topic is not ignored. Tats what the
Korean oilet Awards are about. Whats that? You didnt
now o an awards ceremony or clean and sanitary public
estrooms? Even though 2013 marks the awards 15th year,
he lavatory is still a taboo topic.
Te annual awards were held Nov 29 at the Korea Press
Center, with participants rom more than 100 organizations
round the country. Public bathrooms nationwide were
nspected by a team o judges rom July to September, and
the winner was announced Nov 14. Te criteria were tidiness,
sanitation, convenience o use and design.
Te top prize this year went to a Busan toilet located along
Daecheoncheon Stream at the base o Mt. Geumjeongsan.
Completed in July, the acility offers a constant stream o
relaxing classical music, mountain ragrances and a calming
color scheme to relax the nerves. Te womens restroom
contains stalls designed or children, one or mothers
accompanied by children and an additional powder room
or doing make-up. Both mens and womens restrooms are
equipped with entrances at both ends or proper ventilation
and offer windowed ceilings or clear views o the blue sky.
RENT KOREA
Written by Felix Im
Korean oilet Awards highlight the importance o human waste management
FLUSH WITH PRAISE
1
1. Lovely views from the bathroom of N Seoul Tower, Mt. Namsan
2. Mr. Toilet House, the toilet-shaped former residence of late Suwon mayor Sim Jae-duck. Now a toilet culture exhibit hall.
3. A dung beetle-shaped bathroom at an insect sanctuary in Yecheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do www.bkm.or.kr
2 3
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President Park Geun-hye had a busy diplomatic schedule
in November and December, holding talks with several
visiting leaders and dignitaries rom around the world,
including Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Vice-President
Joseph Biden.
Boosting Relations with Russia
President Park held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir
Putin at Cheong Wa Dae on Nov 13. President Putin was the first
leader o one o the our major powers closely related to Korea
to visit Seoul. During their second
summit this year, the two leaders
had in-depth and useul discussions
on a wide range o issues, including
the boosting o major substantive,
cooperative projects such as the
Rajin-Hassan logistics partnership,
the enhancement o people-to-
people and cultural exchanges, and
the latest developments surrounding
the Korean Peninsula and Northeast
Asia.
Te two heads o state shared
the understanding that Koreas
policy aimed at promoting Eurasian
cooperation and Russias policy
ocusing on the Asia-Pacific region
could be combined to create
increased bilateral cooperation,
thereby helping urther regional
cooperation in Eurasia. In this
connection, they adopted a joint
statement outlining the direction o
uture developments and concrete
measures or collaboration sector
by sector in the hope o orging new
Korea-Russia relations and charting a
new era or Eurasia.
Summit withKyrgyz President
President Park hosted President Almazbek Atambaev o
Kyrgyzstan at Cheong Wa Dae on Nov 19. He was the first
head o state rom Central Asia to make an official visit to
Korea since the new administration was inaugurated. During
their summit, the two leaders discussed boosting substantive
cooperation across a wide range o areas, including bilateral
relations, business, trade, energy, resources, agriculture,
and development cooperation, as well as people-to-people
exchanges. Tey also covered recent developments surrounding
the Korean Peninsula and other regions as well as cooperation
on the global stage.
On the Eurasian Initiative in particular, President A
said he strongly supported President Parks vision, esp
her idea o a Silk Road Express that would connect th
Eurasian region by rail. President Park said it would b
or both countries to not only deepen cooperation and
assistance but also to work more closely together at th
Nations and in the world community.
Sports Diplomacy, Cooperation wLaos
President Park also met with International Olympic C
(IOC) President Tomas Bach at Cheong Wa Dae on
A BUSYDIPLOMATICSCHEDULEWorld leaders visit Seoul at the end othe year
MIT DIPLOMACY
2
1. President Park sits with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
2.President Park shakes hands with President Almazbek Atambaev of Kyrgyzstan.
3.President Park holds a summit with Laotian President Choummaly Sayasone.
2
3
1
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1. President Park escorts Greek President Karolos Papoulias.
2.President Park welcomes US Vice President Joe Biden
3.President Park holds a summit meeting with Singaporean Prim
Lee Hsien Loong.
4
Te meeting was a courtesy call by Bach on President Park,
he head o state o the host nation or the 2018 PyeongChang
Olympic Winter Games. Tey discussed working together
or the success o the PyeongChang Olympics and increasing
eople-to-people exchanges between Korea and the IOC.
Te next day, President Park and Laotian President
Choummaly Sayasone held a bilateral summit. Te two leaders
oted that in the less than 20 years since the establishment
diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have made remarkable
rogress in such diverse fields as exchanges o senior-level
fficials, trade, investment, culture and tourism. With PresidentChoummalys historic visit, both leaders agreed to continue
o elevate riendly and cooperative relations. Tey pledged to
urther develop mutual trust and riendship via reciprocal visits
y high-ranking officials. Tey also welcomed the signing o
n MOU on exchanges and cooperation between the political
arties o the two countries.
In addition, the two heads o state agreed on the need or
urther exchanges and collaboration in the deense sector.
Meeting with Greek President
President Park held a meeting with Greek President Karolos
Papoulias at Cheong Wa Dae on Dec 3. President Papoulias
was the first Greek leader to visit Korea since the establishment
o diplomatic ties between the two countries. President Park
said the visit by the president o Greece, a European country
that sent troops to fight in the Korean War, was especially
meaningul on the 60th anniversary o the Korean War
armistice. Welcoming him to Korea, President Park said the
noble sacrifices o Greek soldiers during the Korean War would
never be orgotten. She stressed that Greece played a critical
role in the development o Koreas shipbuilding industry and
that it is still the largest destination or Koreas ship exports.
She asked President Papoulias or his support and interest so
that mutually beneficial cooperation between Korea, a leading
shipbuilding power, and Greece, a global shipping powerhouse,
would continue to deepen.
Strengthening the Alliance with the U.S.
On Dec 6, President Park hosted a meeting with U.S. Vice President
Joseph Biden, which was ollowed by a working luncheon at Cheong
Wa Dae. Tey discussed a wide range o global issues, including
urther deepening and developing the comprehensive strategic
alliance between Korea and the United States, the North Korean
nuclear problem and the latest regional developments in East Asia,
as well as Iran and Syria.
President Park noted that the bilateral alliance, which has been
Koreas most integrated and closest alliance over the past 60 years,
has served as the lynchpin or stability and prosperity in the Asia-
Pacific region. She proposed that the two countries continue to
step up efforts to crystallize the comprehensive strategic alliance
ounded on the Joint Declaration in Commemoration o the 60th
Anniversary o the Alliance between the Republic o Korea andthe United States o America, which was adopted this past May
by both countries. Vice President Biden emphasized that the U.S.
commitment to the deense o the Republic o Korea is firm and
its decision to rebalance to the Pacific Basin is not in question.
He added that their alliance, which is playing a key role in the
rebalancing policy, has served as the oundation or increased
efforts or cooperation in Asia and beyond. He also proposed that
the two countries work together to improve cooperation and mutual
support in a variety o fields.
Summit with Singaporean Prime Minister
President Park and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
held a summit at Cheong Wa Dae on Dec 11 in her last scheduled
summit or this year. Teir discussions ocused on bilateral
economic cooperation to acilitate the advancement o Korean and
Singaporean businesses ties as well as on investment, construction
and the creative economy.
President Park began by saying the two countries share the
common experience o achieving remarkable economic growthby ostering human resources, despite a lack o natural resources
and adverse external economic conditions. Bilateral cooperation,
she said, should be urther expanded not only in the economy but
also in politics and security, including East Asian security. o this,
Prime Minister Lee echoed her opinion and proposed the sharing o
experiences to meet the challenges posed by the complicated global
economic environment, as well as a variety o regional security
concerns and the higher expectations o society.
MIT DIPLOMACY
1
2
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Driven initially by labor-intensive goods, Koreas rapid
industrialization over the past fify years has also
proven to be a technological success. Export items o
he sixties were highlighted by textiles, ootwear and wigs, but
his list is now headlined by computer chips, cars, smartphones
nd flat screens.
Daedeok Innopolis, a state-financed research cluster in
Daejeon that was ormerly known as Daedeok Science own,
as made critical contributions to integrating technology into
Koreas economic makeup since its establishment in 1974.
While its unction has started to be duplicated by the
esearch units o private companies, including global business
iants Samsung and LG, the complex continues to find ways to
elp domestic technology stay a step ahead o the competition.
In a ceremony celebrating the acilitys 40th anniversary
in November last year, President Park Geun-hye called the
research hub integral to the governments plan to nurture a
creative economy driven by innovation and entrepreneurship.
Government-employed researchers will be encouraged to get
aggressive in exploring new technologies and research areas
that private companies have yet to touch or struggled with,
she said. Te intellectual property produced at the Daedeok
complex is taking on an increasingly critical role or younger
and smaller firms, which would otherwise struggle to secure
leading-edge technologies.
Tis is the country that, afer the Korean War, had no
resources and no capital. However, we quickly realized the
opportunity provided by science and technology, which drove
our rapid economic growth in the past decades. Science and
technology will undoubtedly help us overcome the economic
I C Y R E V I E W
6
DAEDEOK INNOPOLISTe key to Koreas tech success Written by Kim Tong-hyung
challenges we ace today, Park said.
Te government will provide the maximum level o support
to strengthen the Daedeok research cluster, which will serve as
an essential part o building a creative economy.
Key Technologies
Established in 1973, the Daedeok complex is home to 30
state-run think tanks, five universities, including the Korea
Advanced Institute o Science and echnology (KAIS), and
dozens o private R&D centers.
More than 1,300 companies, many o them I ventures, are
located within the cluster, taking advantage o the wealth in
research talent. Teir combined revenue in 2012 was nearly
USD 16.1 million and they employ nearly 64,000 people.
Te state-run Electronics and elecommunicationsResearch Institute (ERI), located in Daedeok, is credited or
helping advance domestic semiconductor technology in the
1980s. Collaborating with a number o companies, including
Samsung, and researchers rom Seoul National University, the
think tank developed the countrys first 4-megabit DRAM chip
in 1989 just three years into the project, and the worlds first
256-megabit DRAM in 1994. Korea is now the worlds leading
producer o computer memory chips, a market where Samsung
and chie domestic rival Hynix run a duopoly.
In the 2000s, the ERI worked with American chipmaker
Qualcomm to commercialize CDMA communication
technology, this has proven critical in developing the mobile
Internet technologies used in smartphones today.
Also in Daedeok, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute
(KARI) marked a milestone in January last year when the
Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), a rocket jointly
developed with Russia, took off rom the Naro Space Center in
Goheung, Jeollanam-do, and delivered its payload into orbit.
Tis made Korea the 11th nation to launch a satellite rom its
own soil.
KARI will independently develop and launch a bigger KSLV-
2 rocket by 2020, a project that will represent a truer test o its
capabilities.
Korea started developing rocket technology in 1989 with
help rom the University o Surrey in the UK, a project that
resulted in Korea launching its first two spacecraf, Uribyol 1
in 1992 and Uribyol 2 in 1993. Te number o Korean satellites
1
has since increased to 11, including the latest to go in
the Science and echnology Satellite-3.
Te Korea Institute o Machinery and Materials (K
another Daedeok tenant, is dedicated to researching h
speed, magnetic levitation trains. Tese uturistic trai
designed to exploit magnetic orce and float several m
above the tracks, which reduces riction and allows a
speeds than conventional trains. KIMM recently ann
that it has developed the core technology or a magne
levitation engine that allows train speeds o more than
kilometers per hour.
Te technologies developed here point the way to K
uture. Said President Park to the Daedeoks researche
world is now experiencing a great wave o convergenc
science and technology specialists like you find a brea
or human development and happiness by joining or
conduct convergent research that overcomes boundar
2
3
1. Cutting-edge research in a clean room at Daedeoks Korea Research Ins
Chemical Technology (KRICT) 2. Trial run of a maglev train at Incheon Inter
Airport in November 2012. Scheduled to open in March 2014 3. Successful
Korea's Naro-1 rocket on Jan 30, 2013
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E A T K O R E A N
HAN YONGUN
Written byViolet Kim
Buddhist monk and poet who also participatedin the pro-independence movement
2
1
Han Yong-un, also known as Manhae, was a Buddhist
monk, reormist, religious and political leader, poet
and activist. Any educated Korean will immediately
recognize the opening lines o his classic poem My Love Has
Lef, commonly seen as an ode to a Korea ree rom Japanese
colonization.
Born Han Yu-cheon in 1879 in Hongseong,
Chungcheongnam-do, Han grew up in the age o the Korean
Empire (18971910) years amid the political uncertainty o
oreign invasion and domestic instability at the turn o the
century.
His activist tendencies emerged early. In his teens, during
the 1890s, he joined the Donghak Peasant Revolution or
social reorm beore taking up the robe o a Buddhist monk at
Oseam emple on Mt. Seoraksan in 1905. Tis retreat rom the
world did not signal his retreat rom politics. Rather, it was the
beginning o his activity as a Buddhist reormer and leader.
In 1910, Korea officially ell under Japanese colonial rule
and Hans style o Buddhism entered the ray. Arguing both
or reorm and or the potential o Buddhism in politics,
he promoted a modernized and more accessible orm o
Buddhism that recognized political reality and offered analternative to the oppression o the time.
His influential guide to Buddhism, Bulgyo Yushinnon,
was published in 1913, ollowed by Bulgyo Daejeonand the
magazine Yushin.
An Activist Monk
Although Hans political ideas were influenced by his religion,
1. Simujang House, Hans old home in
Seoul
2. The Silence of My Love, a collection of
Hans poetry released in 1926
his activism also stands alone and earns him a place i
history as one o the nations early independence hero
He played a leading role in the organization o the Ma
1st Movement in 1919, the first large-scale demonstra
o Korean resistance to Japanese colonization. He help
both the drafing and the signing o Koreas declaratio
independence the same year.
Tree years in prison did not deter him and he con
write and campaign or liberation while incarcerated.
In 1926, the monk published his first volume o poe
Silence o My Love. O the 88 poems in this collection
amous and widely taught is Nimeun Gatseumnida, or
Has Lef
Te nim, translated into English as beloved, lov
or even Lord, is unspecified. Grammatically, nim i
honorific way o saying you. Various interpretations
you reerred to in this poem as the Buddha, a woma
motherland.
Te narrator laments a beloved that has lef while
simultaneously denying the departure. Te nim mig
lef but the narrator did not send this nim away, and
rejects this absence. Tis juxtaposition o the departed
as a stated reality and the reusal o the narrator to acc
this are ofen interpreted as an expression o hope or
independence, as defiance toward the reality o a colo
Korea, with the nim representing the motherland.
Hans oeuvre as a poet includes more than 300 poem
while his works have and will orever be
tied to the liberation movement,
this does not lessen the value
o his poetry or its place in
Korean literature. Rather,
an understanding o the
underlying history can enrich
appreciation or his works,
as his achievements were an
important part o the ormation
o the Korean cultural identity
o resistance and liberation.
8/13/2019 KOREA [2014 VOL.10 No.01]
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Outdoor food stalls offer good food with a side of Korean warmth
THE POJANGMACHA
Written bySteve Miller
Illustrated by Kim Yoon-Myong
It was a late Saturday afernoon. I had just
completed a 10-kilometer hike scouring
the jagged ridges on Saryangdo, a small
island near the coastal city o ongyeong in the
southern part o Korea. While I was prepared
or the hike, clambering up and down the fixed
ropes needed to complete my trek took more
out o me than Id like to admit. Tats why
when I reached the dock to catch my erry
back to the mainland, I was thrilled be yond
belie when I saw severalpojangmachalined up
waiting or me.
Okay, so they werent necessarily waiting or
me, but you get the idea. Tey were there, sitting
in all their orange-tented glory, ready or hikersand passers-by alike. In Seoul,pojangmacha,
translated as covered wagons but easier to
describe as street ood stalls, are just about
everywhere. Some specialize in sausages, sweet
treats or spicy staples like tteokbokki, spicy rice
cakes, and twigim, ried snacks. Coming down
rom the mountain, I was hoping at least one, i
not more, o the stalls would have my avorite
Korean hiking snack: haemul pajeon, ried
seaood pancake.
I neared the first stall but it was empty. My
heart sank just a little, since I could tell by
the burners and batter that whoever ran this
stall had all the ingredients needed to make
my beloved snack; however, he or she had
momentarily stepped away. My gaze passed to
the two other stalls nearby and was met with a
delightul smile rom a short ajumma, an older
Korean woman. She beckoned me to come over
by raising her arm and motioning to me. Despite
being tired, I picked up the pace and obediently
complied.
Her stall wasnt large. From what I could tell,
she had a two-burner gas range under a griddle
and a small prep area. Te counter had about
a one-oot lip sticking out rom it, but was
enough or me to sit down on the hard plastic
stool and use it as a table.
Annyeonghaseyo, I said sitting dow
Her eyes gleamed back. Annyeongh
said melodically.
Now my Korean isnt the best, but th
when it comes to pronouncing ood, I
spot-on. While I couldnt craf a long, c
sentence inquiring about the menu, I s
intoned, Haemul pajeon?
A nod accompanied by Ne, or yes
know that she understood. She said som
couldnt catch and when she sensed tha
comprehend, this wonderul woman m
sentence simpler. Makgeolli?
My eyes lit up and I nodded again. Shreached into a cooler and retrieved the
green bottle that I know oh-so-well ro
and gave me a small bowl rom which
Ten she went to work. She fired up th
and laid down a layer o batter. Te hea
the iron below quickly made a sizzling
as it began to cook. She added stalks o
onion and bits o seaood to the mixtu
While she was cooking, I saw a ew o
members rom our group approaching
Tey also looked haggard rom the trai
called them over. When they saw me p
makgeolliinto bowls or them, they ha
their pace. ired, they plopped down b
along the carts rim and we toasted not
our adventure but also to the wonderu
preparing ourpajeon.
Our group quickly ell into a pattern
drinking, and chatting. It is exactly thi
camaraderie that makes dining at apoj
enjoyable. A group o people, riends a
riends alike, coming together to eat, d
be merry. We finished our meal, paid t
thanked our host, and quickly made ou
to the erry beore it lef port. Tis expe
isnt unique or limited to Seoul. Its a a
across all o Korea, and one that I truly
K O R E A
4
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6
he Korean national ice hockey team is not an
institution associated with multiculturalism, but thats
where you can find Brock Radunske, the first oreign
hockey player to become a Korean national.
Te Canadian-born Radunske came to Korea six seasons
ago to join Anyang Halla, one o Koreas three proessional ice
hockey teams. My agent presented me with the opportunity. I
did a little research,and I decided to take a chance on coming
to Korea, he says in an interview with KOREA Magazine.
Radunske came to Korea predominantly to play or Anyang,
but acquired Korean nationality in spring 2013 to join the
national team.
Korea competes in
the world hockey
championships every
year, and the Canuck
joined in time or the
2013 tournament in
Hungary. You have
to have a passport [to
play or Korea], so
that was a prerequisite
or me to participate
or eam Korea, he
said.
Korea is 26th in
the world hockey
rankings, but
seeks to improve in the hope o qualiying or the 2018
Winter Olympics, which will be hosted by the country in
PyeongChang, Gangwon-do. Te national team has made
steady progress in the sport, but Radunske is modest about
how much o an impact he has had. Its hard or any one player
to have a huge impact, he says. Tere are a lot o little things
going on at the same time I they come together, theres
potential or Korea to become a better hockey country. I guess
they consider me one o the small things.
While Korea is not amed as a melting pot, the blond-
haired Radunske says he experienced a distinct reaction to
his appearance in comparison to his Korean teammates in the
national championship. Tere was a lot o curiosity, especially
TICULTURAL KOREA
Radunske takes the ice with Anyang Halla.
Written by Loren Cotter
Canadian-born hockey player Brock Radunskedishes on diversity on the peninsula
GIVING KOREAA SHOT
rom the media, he says, because I look different and
name is different. But as ar as my teammates are conc
weve played together or a long time now and theyre
supportive. Im happy that we play together on the sam
A Hockey First for Korea
Korea is making great strides toward becoming more
multicultural in sports. Officially, Radunske is the on
player to become a Korean national, but there are tw
players waiting or their turn, he says. Teyve also b
or two or three years now and are hoping to be a part
national team
orward.
Tere are m
benefits to Ksports embr
diversity, acc
Radunske. H
a very multi
sport, he say
the top team
world, in the
Hockey Leag
one team co
10 or 12 cou
represented
team. So or
time, differen
rom different countries have been playing together o
same teams and theyve had success with this model.
adapts to it, and it looks like they have, it gives the Ko
players a chance to play with new players in different
and it gives them the opportunity to improve their gam
Radunske also says Korea is becoming more multic
off the ice as well as on. I eel like Koreas a very ast-p
country. Tey obviously have their certain cultural m
with their history, but they are willing to adapt, he say
think the reason Ive elt so comortable here is b ecau
the willingness o the people we meet and the organiz
play or to really help us, and it also improves who we
makes us a part o whats going on here.
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ES FROM KOREA
The Princess andthe Idiot
Written by Felix Im
Illustrated by Shim Soo-keun
Behind every good man is a great woman
8
he story o Ondal the Idiot and Princess
Pyeonggang o Goguryeo may seem
strange or even implausible at times. As a
esult, the tale is ofen viewed as a historical olktalebout a mans rise rom destitution to greatness and
he woman who had the wisdom to believe in his
otential.
A Stubborn Princess
Te tale begins in the royal palace o King Pyeongwon
Goguryeo, who ruled rom 559 to 590. Among his
hildren was Princess Pyeonggang, a chronic crybaby
whose crying was so persistent and got on the kings
erves so much that he ofen threatened to marry
er off to Ondal the Idiot i she didnt stop. Ondal
was an inamous beggar who lived outside the palace
gates and was reportedly as ugly as a donkey. He was
ofen seen begging or ood or himsel and his blind
mother. His ugliness, dirty clothes, and seemingly
oolish behavior earned him the ridicule o everyonewho knew him, as well as the nickname Te Idiot.
When the princess turned 16, her ather attempted
to marry her off to a wealthy and powerul noble.
His stubborn daughter, however, put up fierce
resistance and insisted that the king keep his promise
o marrying her off to Ondal. Bewildered and angry,
King Pyeongwon said he had just teased her, that it
was only a joke, but the princess reused to relent.
Teir argument ended with the princess leaving the
palace to roam the streets in search o her uture
husband.
The Odd Couple
When she entered Ondals humble home, Princess
Pyeonggang immediately explained to his weak
mother that she wanted to marry her son, who
was out etching tree bark or ood. His mother
identified the princess as a person o noble
upbringing by her perume and sof skin. Te
mother explained that she and her son were very
poor and that a woman o high birth had no place
there. Te princess, however, showed no change in
her determination.
When Ondal arrived, the princess once again
explained her reason or visiting. Ondal was
instantly suspicious, however, and angrily sent her
away. Afer the princess spent the night outside hishouse and offered to buy him a new house, ood,
land and a horse with the money she earned by
selling her gold ring, Ondal was soon won over by
her sincerity. Te princess not only brought Ondal
and his mother out o poverty, but also paid or his
education and gave him proessional training in
the martial arts.
From Idiot to Hero
Ondal, who ended up extremely talented and ar
rom being an idiot, quickly became an excellent
soldier. He went on to excel in an annual martial
arts competition, so much so that he caught the eye
o King Pyeongwon, who asked him or his name.
When Ondal gave his reply, the king was so taken
aback and impressed that he made the ormer
beggar an honorary general in the royal army.
Ondal soon displayed his bravery and military
prowess when armies rom what the Northern
Zhou Dynasty in China invaded Goguryeo
lands. Legend has it that he singlehandedly slew
more than 20 soldiers in an instant, a sight that
inspired his entire army to victory. Ondal the
Idiot had officially become a military hero and the
recognized son-in-law o King Pyeongwon.
Death for a CountryWhen the king passed away, he was succeeded
by his eldest son Yeongyang. One day, General
Ondal asked his new king i he could lead an
army to reclaim lands in the south that had b een
taken over by the Silla Kingdom. Convinced that
Goguryeo needed to strengthen its southern
presence, King Yeongyang consented to the
request. Unortunately, the brave beggar-turned-
hero never returned rom the campaign, or he
was shot with an arrow and met his end near Mt.
Achasan. Ondal has since been remembered in
Korea as a rags-to-riches symbol.
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IBRS/CCRIN:10024-40730
NOSTAMPREQUIRED
REPLYPAID/RPONSEPAYE
KOREA(SEOUL
)KOCIS
15Hyoja-ro,Jongno-gu
Seoul(110-040)
RepublicofKorea
Byairmail/Paravion
SunriseoverBuddhisttempleSilleuksaandNamhangangRiver,Yeoju,Gyeonggi-doKTO
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2014
JANUARY
8/13/2019 KOREA [2014 VOL.10 No.01]
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00
L A V O R
Seolleongtangand Kkakdugi
Written byShin Yesol
Photograph courtesy of Seongbuk Seolleongtang
Nothing warms the soul in winter quite like a bowl o
seolleongtang.
A specialty o Seoul, the dish is a milky bee broth
oup made rom ox bone and brisket. o get the ull flavor rom
he bones, the soup is sometimes boiled or an entire day. Te
ery first bowl o seolleongtangis said to have been prepared afer
eonnongje, a Joseon Dynasty ceremony in w hich the king prayed
or a good harvest. oday selleongtangis a popular dish or the
masses, and its rich but not spicy flavor makes it a hit with oreign
isitors, too.
Seolleongtangis usually eaten with a bowl o rice and kkakdugi,
r sliced white radish kimchi that removes the distinctive meat
mell o the soup and supposedly aids digestion. Te contrast o
he soup and the crunchy kkakdugialso adds a bit o un to the
ining experience.
The line is busyLets learn Korean expressions for making a phone call.
Yes, this is Sejong Travel Agency.
01, .Ne, Sejong yeohaengsaimnida.
.
.
Jamkkanman gidariseyo.a, Minsu ssineun jigeumtonghwa joongimnida.
Please hold.
Oh, Minsu is on another line.
03
Really? Then Ill call a
? ,
Geuraeyo? Geureom, jedashi jeonhwa hagesseu
04
.
Yeoboseyo. Minsu ssi isseumnMinsu ssi jom bakkweojusey
02
Hello. Is this Minsu?May I speak to Minsu, ple
Lets practice!Read the above
expressions then fill
in the blanks with the
correct answers.
.yeoboseyo.
Hello.
.jigeum tonghwa jungimnida.
The line is busy.He/Sh
.jamkkanman gidariseyo.
Please hold.
.jalmot georeotseumnida.
You have the wrong n
?sillyejiman eodiseyo?
May I ask whos calling
OO .OOssi jom bakkwojuseyo.
May I speak to OO?
3
4
5
6
1
2
The following are
Korean expressions
used in making a
phone call. Please
read and say
together.
Hello. Yeoboseyo. Hello. Yeoboseyo.
answer( .) answer( ?)
( ) ( )
Is this Sejong Travel Agency?
Geogi Sejong yeohaengsajiyo?
Is this Minsus home? May I speak to Minsu?
Geogi Minsune jibijyo? Minsu jom bakkwojuseyo.
Oh, sorry. Jhoesonghamnida This is Minsus friend Naoko.
Ne, jeoneun Minsu chingu Naoko-imnida.
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