Homework Week 11

Korean Teddy Bear Museum 

What can be more cuter than a Teddy bear?

Millions of people around the world collect Teddy Bears and they seek out old, unique, and valuable teddy bears for their personal collections. The Jeju Teddy Bear Museum opened especially for the European collectors and is more exciting than ever with special "Teddy Bear" entertainment.

The Jeju Teddy Bear Museum opened on April 24, 2001. Here you can find everything you want to know about Teddy Bears! It contains two galleries, a museum gift shop, and a museum cafe. Also, on site is a museum bar/restaurant, a wonderful place to meet friends, family, and lovers. From the outside garden, there is a great view of Chungmoon Beach.

Teddy Bears have been loved and cherished since they were first introduced over 100 years ago. 

It's an amazing place, if you like teddy bears. :)

When you first enter the museum, you are introduced to the history of teddy bears. Did you know that "teddy" got its name from the US President Theodore Roosevelt?

You are looking at how some of the earliest teddy bears looked like!

After some history, it's just teddy bear madness. Basically, teddy bears in every setting and scenary that you can imagine :)

The Teddy Bear Museum lives up to its name, boasting quite an impressive variety that have been loved for more than a hundred years the world over. Inside the two galleries you can view the teddy bears from various countries.

Korean teddy bears getting married haha:))))

The really cool part of this museum is that, after going to the gift shop, there's even more to see outdoors.

Outdoors, there are various fountains, statues, etc. featuring bears! The fountain pictured above was interesting because at every hour bears come out of it and give a mini performance. It's kind of like those cuckoo clocks.

I hope that you'll have a chance to visit the museum one day :) You can have a great time there with your friends or  family!

Homework Week 8 - Korean Traditional Music vs Western

Traditional Korean music includes both the folk, vocal, religious and ritual music styles of the Korean people. Korean music, along with arts, painting, and sculpture has been practiced since prehistoric times.

Two distinct musical cultures exist in Korea today: traditional music (Gugak) and Western music (yangak).

I made a video with few examples of integration of both Gugak and Yangak...so here it is:

SOREA is a Korean band that plays modern Korean traditional music and made its debut by winning the gold award in the Creative Korean Traditional Music competition. "SOREA" comes from the phrase “Symbol of Korea”, “sound of Korea”, and “Show of Korea” and it represents the Korean cultural art.
http://skranjan.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/girl-groups-thrive-in-traditional-music-scene-sorea-band/ more about Sorea


BYUL MA RU - Fusion Korean Classic Band.
Released their first album in Sept. '07
Byul Ma Ru is made up with Bass, Drums, Guitar, Keyboard - Western instruments - and Dae-Geum, Ga-Ya-Geum, Hae-Guem, and Jang-Gu - Korean classic (traditional) instruments.

http://www.byulmaru.wo.to/ official website
http://www.youtube.com/user/byulmaru youtube page


JANYA is a daring new project incorporating traditional Korean instrumentation (Gayageum-Korean Zither, Daegeum-Bamboo flute, and Janggo- Drum with western vocals. The concept of this music is rooted in the Sinawi, a traditional form of Korean music used to accompany Korean Shamanic rites.
http://www.womex.com/virtual/danza_lola/janya/janya more about Janya


ORIENTAL EXPRESS has tried to present an extraordinary and unique music which incorporates various rhythmical beats such as jazz, rock, latin, funk, disco, and even electric sound into Korean-style melodies.

Synthesizing various different Western music techniques with Korean traditional melodies will make it easier to enjoy for those people who are not familiar with Korean traditional music.
http://www.myspace.com/orientalexpressband link to myspace 


HYORIN`S ful l performance of Night BluesThat It Rains 비 내리는 영동교  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEeafGeQB0U


Sungmin & Hyorin - Chunyang Opera Performance (Lunar New Year special, Pit-a-Pat Shake) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY28NOEdq1Q

Taegeugki Outfit!

The theme of last week`s K-Pop Night was Taegeugki...so i decided to make my unique outfit that follows this theme:D

Here we go:

red ballerinas with an image of Taegeugki:)

Jeans with a print saying "I love Korea!" (i took it from a supporting t-shirt) :DDDD

"Taegeugki" Nail art:

And my cool T-shirt that I ordered few days ago to support Korea at the Olympics!!! 

GO KOREA! Fighting!!!

Dano, 단오 — Spring festival

Dano, 단오 — Spring festival, which follows on day 5 of month 5 on the lunar calendar, which usually puts it in June on the Gregorian calendar.

It was believed that all of the energies of nature converged into one on this day. And, it was believed that Dano was an easy day for young people to fall passionately in love. Given that belief, parts of the Dano celebrations were built around attracting the opposite gender. Women would pout on their beautiful hanboks and swing to get the attention of the men. The men would participate in ssireum (traditional Korean wrestling) to show their strength to the women.

Customs:

Washing one’s hair with Changpo water

In traditional societies, women cut the roots of Changpo and made them into hairpins to prevent headaches. This custom, also called Danojang, included washing one’s hair in Changpo-boiled water to add extra shine on hair.

Marriage under the Jujube Tree
As a method for praying for an abundant year of farmhouse production, people stuck rocks between the roots of a jujube tree. This tradition is called Marriage under the Jujube Tree.

Wrestling and Swing Jump
Swing jump is a popular game between women during Dano. On the other hand, Korean style wrestling, also known as Ssireum, is very popular with men. As a custom, the winner of the Ssireum competition is awarded with a bull.

While in the past Dano was one of the three major Korean holidays (along with Seollal and Chuseok), its customs go largely uncelebrated today. But the holiday and it’s festivals aren’t forgotten. The holiday’s customs can be seen today in the Gangneung Dano Festival (강릉단오제).
 Danoje   Festival   includes  rituals such as  the Daegwallyeong Guksa Seonghwangje (a  tribute to Monk Beomil, believed to protect  Gangneung) and Yeongsinje (a deity greeting  ritual). Folk performances, ssireum wrestling,  swing riding, and tug-of-war competitions  follow these rituals. During the Danoje Festival,  visitors are also invited to participate in various events: watching a traditional wedding ceremony, making surichui rice cake, washing their hair in iris-infused water, and drinking alcohol offered to the gods. There are also regional dialect contests and other cultural programs.

K-Pop Dance!!

Since the 1980s, Korean dance has become liberalized in expression and style, broadening the boundaries of the genre. It`s became the rave, a new aesthetic that inspired many dancers to explore new and original styles. 

Dance routines in 1980s were nothing like the ones idols do now with complicated choreography; It was more like waving your arms in the air and a little shuffle of the feet, it was much easier to repeat it.

Oftentimes, people get obsessed with a song for a few months, then move on to something else – and though they may forget specific lyrics, three distinctive parts remain imprinted in their minds – the tune, chorus and signature dance move. The good dance is same important as a  good song or lyrics...that is why The K-Pop Dance in 21st century became more:

Complicated

Powerful

Energetic

Sexy


MY TOP 5 DANCE MOVES:

1. 

   Abracadabra

2. 

   Mystery

3. 

   Strong Baby:P

4. 

   Supa Luv

5. 

   Sorry Sorry!!!!
   
   

Letter to Kang Dong Won

Last week In KA We watched a screening :71 Into the Fire - an amazing, toughing movie about Korean War (1950-1953). Under the influence of this movie I decided to write a letter to one of my favorite actors, who is currently serving in the army.

Dear Kang Dong Won,

How are you? I hope that you’re doing well. I got a wonderful opportunity to write a letter to a Korean star in the army, and I decided to write to you because I saw a lot of movies starring you and I think you are a very talented and handsome actor.

Now you are a soldier, who is guarding the peace and security of your country bringing pride to your family. It's already been one year since you entered in the army. I’m sure your family miss you and I can safely say that us fans miss you a lot as well. But can you imagine how pleasantly surprised they will be to find you after two years of service, - a braver, stronger and a fulfilled man who performed his duty with unwavering loyalty.

The army toughens up a man; it is a constant physical and mental challenge that disciplines a man and brings out a whole new identity in him. I am sure that you’re facing this challenge with great spirit. I am aware of the risks associated with military service, so I hope you have loyal friends guarding the country alongside you, who support you, share your troubles and keep your spirits high. And I hope your seniors are kind to you.

By the way, my name is Katerina, I'm from Estonia, but now live in London, from where I`m writing this letter to you. I am one of the students in the K-Pop Academy in London. Here we study the Korean culture and history. I can tell you that a massive number of people admire Korean films and music. Korean culture is becoming global, and I am very happy about it.

I hope you are enjoying the time out there, doing things different, daring and adventurous. And I hope the time will fly soon, so you’ll be back among your family, friends and fans. I hope the army will inspire you to create something unique and beautiful when you come back. 

Wishing you best of everything,

Katerina.

Korean Dinner (HW 3)

Yesterday I made a Korean dinner for my friends. It actually came out very nice...every one liked it. We had LOTS of fun and I was very happy with my Korean cooking skills:D  
So...The menu includes: Beef Dukbokki as a starter, Japchae as a main dish and for a dessert i made Pepero. 

Let`s take a look how i did it and what did I use....I made few pictures while I was cooking!! (Sorry for the bad quality of the photos):DDD

Beef Dukbokki (떡볶이)
Spicy Rice Cake with beef and vegetables. 




Tukbokki is one of Korea's popular snacks that are loved by teenagers as well as adults. It is made from garaetuk, a chewy long cylindrical rice pasta cooked with gochujang (red chili pepper paste).


Recipe Ingredients:
10 oz garaetuk
4 oz beef
⅓ onion
1-2 stalk(s) carrots
1 tsp of gochujang or more, depending on how spicy you want the dish to be
1 tsp sugar
1 green onion
1 tsp garlic
Sesame seeds


For preparation, make sure the garaetuk is soft and chewy for cooking.

Cut the onion and carrot into widths of ½ inch and lengths of 1 inch.

Mix the ketchup and hot pepper paste in a pot, then boil it with added sugar, lastly sprinkle in some sesame seeds.

Pour oil into a pan with garlic and green onions then fry the onions, carrots and beef.

When the vegetables are lightly fried, put the garaetuk with the mixed sauce for 5-8 minutes.

Serve hot.

Jap-chae (잡채 ) 
Vermicelli Noodles 

Japchae is a stir-fried dish that combines sweet vermicelli noodles, thinly slices of beef, and various vegetables. Japchae is often served at Korean parties and during special occasions as the main dish.



Recipe Ingredients
12 oz noodle (Dang Myun)
4 oz beef
5 shitake mushrooms or Chinese black mushrooms
1 carrot
1 onion
1 egg
⅓ lbs spinach
5 tbs oil
1 tbs sesame seed oil
2 tbs soy sauce
Salt & black pepper (pinch)
Sesame seed (pinch)
1 tbs minced garlic
1 tbs chopped green onion



Soak mushrooms in water for 15 minutes. Cut off stems then cut the caps into thin strips.

Cut beef into thin strips and marinate it with the mushrooms in a seasoning of: soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, sesame seed oil, chopped green onions, and a pinch of ground pepper.

Cut carrots and onion into thin strips (julienne).

Cook spinach in boiling water for about two minutes. Cool spinach in running water. Squeeze the water out of the spinach. Season the spinach slightly with salt and sesame seed oil.

Batter and fry the egg in a pan with a pinch of salt. Once cooked and cooled, cut the egg into thin slices.

Cook the noodles in boiling water for about 2-4 minutes or until soft (You may want to cut the noodles in half before hand if they are too long). Rinse in cold water and drain.

Start cooking the beef and mushrooms with a bit of oil.

When beef is cooked, add carrot, onion, spinach, and noodles and stir-fry. 

When vegetables are cooked, add the sliced egg and use salt and soy sauce to season the dish to your taste.
Put it all in a dish and sprinkle some sesame seeds for the final touch.

Can be served hot or cold.

Pe-pe-ro (빼빼로) 

Chocolate Covered Biscuit Sticks

Pepero is a biscuit stick covered with chocolate with chopped hazelnut.
This snack is so popular in Korea that it even has its own holiday named "Pepero Day". 

Recipe Ingredients

Biscuit sticks

White and milk chocolate

Hazelnuts

Melt the chocolate in a bowl

Meanwhile pulse a handful of hazelnuts (or hcop them)

Dip pepero sticks in chocolate and decorate with chopped hazelnut
Hill in the refrigerator until chocolate has firmly set.

Enjoy!!!