Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2008 Edition
Copyright © 2008
Published by
Korean Culture and Information Service
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Have you ever heard about Korea located in the Far East Asia?
Wouldn’t you want to know about the 5,000 years of Korean
history, culture and Korean life style, where everybody loves
kimchi and bulgogi? This book has the solutions to your curi-
osities about Korea.
Korea doesn’t just have a rich history it is also well known for
its progressive technology and futuristic architecture and de-
sign. Its IT, mobile, and semiconductor industries are famous
around the world. Korea is a country where past traditions are
interconnected with modern thinking.
EPILOGUE 162
“Sanghyun! Hurry!!!”
“Take it easy, dude. I’ll help you.”
Welcom to Korea! 15
“Alex, you said it’s your first time in Korea, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you even know where Korea is?”
“Sure. It’s east of China and south of Russia! … But,
to tell the truth, I looked it up on a map just before
I got my ticket.”
“Yeah. North and South Korea make up the Korean
Peninsula, which is on the eastern tip of Asia be-
tween China and Japan – in what is commonly called
the Far East.”
“Why are North and South Korea still divided when
Germany and many others have unified?”
Panmunjeom
16 Let’s go Korea!
Korea lies between ▲
Japan and China
Korean is easier than it sounds
Welcom to Korea! 17
Sejong the Great (1397~1450)
18 Let’s go Korea!
Learning Hangeul (Korean Language)
Many languages are written with foreign alphabets: English uses Roman letters, Mon-
golian uses Cyrillic. Korean used to use only Chinese characters. But in the 15th
century a Korean king ordered creation of a new alphabet to make it easier to read
and write Korean words. Great King Sejong worked with courts scholars to make
Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. The vowels are drawn from three shapes “ㅡ” for land,
“ㅣ” for man, and “ · ” for sky. The consonants’ shapes reflect the relevant position of
the tongue, lips and teeth. The alphabet is so easy, most people master it within a
few hours.
- Summary of the Romanization System -
Note 1 : The sounds ㄱ,ㄷ, and ㅂ are transcribed respectively as g, d, and b when they ap-
pear before a vowel. They are transcribed as k, t, and p when followed by another consonant
or form the final sound of a word. (They are Romanized as pronunciation in [ ].)
e.g
Welcom to Korea! 19
During the school year I’d hear Sanghyun talking on
the phone with his parents in Korean and thought I’d
never be able to learn the language. But when San-
ghyun taught me syllable by syllable, it really wasn’t
that hard. In a few minutes, I was able to greet peo-
ple and ask simple questions.
20 Let’s go Korea!
eracy rate in the world. … Have you heard of the King
Sejong Literacy Prize?”
“No.”
“It’s a prize UNESCO awards to an individual or or-
ganization that makes a big contribution to fighting
illiteracy.”
“But who’s King Sejong?”
“He was the Korean king who created the first ver-
sion of Hangeul.”
“Hangeul 1.0”
“Exactly! He and the scholars in his court researched
writing systems from around the world and the way
Korean sounds are made and created a new alpha-
bet, so people could read and write our language
easily. Before that, only the wealthy could afford to
teach the Chinese characters used to write Korean.”
“Wow, trying to make his subjects smarter and
homework easier. Sounds like one cool king.”
22 Let’s go Korea!
Gangbuk (river north). The old part of the city with
the palaces and big temples is in Gangbuk. My fam-
ily lives in Gangnam. That’s the more modern part
of Seoul.”
“Seoul is the capital, right?”
“Yes, and Korea’s biggest and most populated city.
▲ Incheon International Airport
It’s like our D.C., New York and Hollywood all in one Duty Free Shop
place, and it also hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics
and 2002 World Cup. Look! You can see the World
Cup Stadium over there. It seems like every time I
come back, Seoul is more developed. It’s become
one of the major cities in the world.”
Welcom to Korea! 23
visual Information
Facts about Korea
http://www.korea.net
Visit korea.net, the official website of
the Korean Government whenever you
want to know about Korea. You can
find
Thumbs up!
The best places to visit in Korea
There are tons of places for teenagers to enjoy in Korea! Amusement
parks, ski resorts, national parks, Jeju Island, and so on. Plan a visit that
you will never forget!
Don’t worry even if you don’t have time to leave Seoul, there are many
great shopping areas to visit. Why not go to Lotte World and COEX? If you
have time, drop by Heyri in Paju, Seoul Land in Gwacheon, or Everland
in Yongin. If you are a big fan of sports, visit Gangwon-do Province and
enjoy rafting in the summer and skiing in the winter. If you get a chance
to visit Jeju, it would be a great opportunity to look at marine life from a
submarine and to try go-carting, horse riding, and hiking.
●
Seasonal Tour - Winter Sports
●
Seasonal Tour - Rafting
●
Special Tour - Jeju Island
●
Entertainment Theme Park
●
COEX
●
Heyri Art Village
Seasonal Tour 1
Donggang River
The Donggang River is 72km long and runs across Gangwon-do. The River has an abundant volume
of water, which provides perfect conditions for rafting. The Donggang is well known for its beautiful
scenic views and its well preserved ecosystems. Discover the Donggang today!
☎ +82-33-370-2091 8 www.ywtour.com/eng
JEJU: Within an hour’s flight from Seoul, Busan or Daegu, travelers in Korea can
reach a land of a completely different character. Recognized as the best-preserved area
in the nation, Jeju Island is Korea’s only island province.
The island is Korea’s most popular honeymoon destination. Known as “Little Hawaii” for
its volcanic landscape, picturesque subtropical scenery, sandy beaches, waterfalls and
hiking trails, it is one of the world’s top ten tourist attractions with over four million visitors
a year.
The blue sea, Mount Hallasan, Seongsan Sunrise Peak, Dragon Head Beach, Cheonji-
yeon Falls, paragliding, Horseback riding. Come to green and tropical Jeju Island, when
you just want to get away from it all.
P Jeju Special Self-Governing Province 8 www.jejutour.go.kr ☎ +82-64-710-2114
Horseback Riding
The fantastic island, Jeju, where green atmosphere is all around. Among all other attractions, Jeju
is best known for its small horses. Come and run on the grassland along with the Mother Nature on
horseback. The panoramic view and refreshing breeze you can feel upon hills of Mount Halla. It’s
where you can take a rest looking down the green grassland and the blue sea.
Kart Racing
Go-karting or mini formula racing is an easy to learn motor sport. Because go-karting doesn’t require
a driver’s license, young and old are able to race! The cars and race tracks are safely designed.
ATV Experience
ATV (All Terrain Vehicle), or quad bikes, are able to run on any road no matter how bumpy or rugged.
The ATV is a trouble-free vehicle that can easily run on all terrains, even hills! Quad biking is much
more exciting than any other amusement ride. Try quad biking today and experience excitement that
you will never forget.
Submarine Tour
Jeju, a designated blue belt area, has amazing maritime scenery. Take pleasure from seabed explo-
ration where you can find famous damselfish and variety of coral reefs!
Hiking Jeju
Jeju has excellent hiking, with flat, esay pathways and more adventurous courses. Also, stop by a
beach where you can bask in the sunshine.
Scuba Diving
Jeju is known for its clear pure water. Many divers visit Jeju especially in spring and autumn, when
underwater conditions are perfect for scuba diving. Good scuba diving areas include the coast of
Seoguipo, Chagui-do, and U-do.
Entertainment Theme Park
Lotte World
Lotte World is the perfect spot for entertainment and sightseeing. It is a theme park filled with thrilling
rides, an ice rink, different kinds of parades as well as a folk museum, a lake, and much more. Lotte
World is divided into an ‘Adventure’ theme once you are inside the building, and outside is a ‘Magic
Island’ theme next to Seokchonhosu Lake.
☎ +82-2-411-2000, 4000 8 www.lotteworld.com
Seoul Land
Seoul Land is Korea’s first theme park, with beautiful scenery surrounded by Mt. Cheonggyesan.
Seoul Land has an area called ‘World Square’ where one can glimpse traditional architecture and folk
items from all over the world. You can view traditional Korea at Samchulli Hill, a western frontier at
Model Land, and Fantasy Land. Seoul Land is a popular destination as it also contains Seoul Grand
Park, Forest Bath Resort, the National Modern Art Center and other great attractions nearby.
☎ +82-2-504-0011~6 8 www.seoulland.co.kr
Everland
Located in Yongin, Everland is a large theme park boasting a zoo, snow sledding, and botanical
garden. The park also contains three distinct themes which are Festival World, Caribbean Bay, and
Speedway. Festival World includes Global Fair, American Adventure, Magic Land, European Adven-
ture, and Equatorial Adventure, each created with is own unique style. Caribbean Bay is the very
first water park in Korea. The park is well laid out with convenient walkways, which can accommo-
date about 35,000 spectators. Everland also features the Glen Ross Golf Club, Automobile Museum,
Sportspark, and Hoam Art Gallery.
☎ +82-31-20-5000 8 www.everland.com
COEX
COEX is prominent landmark in Seoul. Located in the central business area, COEX is a
destination for business, shopping, entertainment, and more. With a world-class con-
vention and exhibition center, Asia’s largest underground shopping Mall, restaurants and
entertainment facilities, COEX is a great place to go in Seoul.
8 www.coex.co.kr ☎ +82-2-6000-0114
P COEX, World Trade Center Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
And more!
Heyri Art Village
Heyri is an art village that communicates culture through a variety of genres. At first, this
village was designed as a ‘book village’ linked to Paju Publishing Town in 1997. But in
the process of building the project, lots of artists in various cultural fields joined it. And
the concept of the village was expanded to ‘cultural art village.’
Now over 370 members: writers, artists, directors, architects, and musicians are building
their artistic spaces, houses, work rooms, museums, galleries.
Museums
There are more than thirty small or medium-sized
museums in Heyri with subjects such as interna-
tional folk instruments, toys, butterflies, magazines,
traditional foods, Buddhist art, figure paintings,
stamps, films, film posters, etc.
Art Galleries
There are six galleries in Heyri: The Gallery Cheon-
gam, Nam-Kyu Lee’s Memorial Hall, the Kwang-
Young Gallery, BaekSoonsil Gallery, the Korean Ce-
ramics Museum, and the Vietnam Museum.
Music Halls
There will be numerous small concert halls and re-
cital studios for chamber music. Classical music
cafes and jazz cafes will also feature high standard
concerts throughout the year. Now Heyri has the
Korea Music Hall, VR Concert Hall, and the Cam-
erata Music Hall.
Art Shops
Around one hundred art shops and antique shops
will keep articles of contemporary artists and an-
tiques in stock to sell and exhibit. Yu-Sook Park’s
Gallery, KAIS Gallery, Sumi Gallery, The Gallery
Focus, and Jin Ad are some of the locations with
shops.
8 www.heyri.net ☎ +82-31-946-8551
P Heyri Tanheon-myeon Paju-si Gyeongi-do
Chapter 2
Experiencing Korea
Hi ! This is Sanghyun. My home country has a lot of things to
do and see. Korea has internationally renowned theater, such as
“Nanta,” “Jump” and B-boy shows, and traditional performances
like mask dances that our hundreds of years old and percussion
bands that literally make heads spin. I hope that my friend Alex
can experience some of the best that Korea has to offer during
his stay.
Hangang River, heaven in Seoul
42 Let’s go Korea!
◀ Water Sports
on the Hangang River
Hangang River
“Wow, there are a lot of people here already!”
“The Hangang is a great place to come any time of
the day. In the morning, lots of people come here
to exercise. They can jog, rollerblade, bike, or play
basketball or soccer.”
“It’s great. So much open space in a huge city.”
The Hangang is the river with the
“And when it gets really hot during the summer, largest basin area in Korea, and
it flows for 481.7km across the
the pools open, so you can cool off in them. In the
middle of the Korean Peninsula.
fall, there are big fireworks shows at night, and all Currently 23 bridges span the
year, you can take inexpensive river cruises, day and Hangang, along its banks are 12
parks and various facilities for rec-
night.” reation and sports.
Experiencing Korea 43
Namsan Mountain “It’s really awesome that a super busy city like Seoul
has a place where everyone can come and relax.”
N Seoul Tower ▶
Samulnori “They get a new date and new lock and hike back
up.”
“Spoken like a man of experience. How many of
these are yours?”
“Yeah, right. I never had much time to date.”
46 Let’s go Korea!
“Where are we going now, Sanghyun?” NANTA
“My brother got us tickets to Nanta!”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a nonverbal performance. Mainly cooks pound-
ing out very funny and exciting rhythms. It comes
form samulnori, the traditional percussion band I
was telling you about. People of all ages and nation-
alities enjoy this show. It’s easy to understand the
plot and humor because the beat and facial expres-
sions reveal the moods so well.”
“Isn’t that the Korean show on Broadway? I thought
it was called ‘Cookin’.” ‘Nanta’ in Korean means to ‘beat
“Yeah. We talked about going before. It’s the first crazily.’ NANTA is a nonverbal
performance that uses the rhythm
Asian performance to have its own theater on Broad- and beats of samulnori to comical-
way.” ly dramatize different things that
can happen in a kitchen. NANTA
“I’m glad I get to see it on stage in Korea!”
made its international debut in
“It’s been a big hit here for around 10 years. There 1999 at the Edinburgh Fringe Fes-
tival, where it received the best
are even two theaters in Korea that are all ‘Nanta,’
performance award. It has been
all the time.” staged in Japan, Germany, U.S.,
“I can’t wait to see it.” Russia, China, Netherlands and
other countries. In 2004, NANTA
became the first Asian program to
When we arrived at the theater after taking the bus have a long-term performance on
Broadway. It ran for 449 shows.
and subway, Jaehyun, my brother, was already there,
waiting for us. BTW, in Seoul, you can use the same
metro card to pay for the bus, subway and taxis. And
transfers are free for public transportation if you get
to the next bus or subway before too long.
Experiencing Korea 47
Insa-dong for tradition, Daehangno
for young people
48 Let’s go Korea!
Insa-dong street ▲
“Then where are we going now?”
“Hyeong, how about Insa-dong?”
“Sanghyun, you told me your brother’s name was
Jaehyun. Why do you keep calling him Hyeong. Is it
short for Jaehyun?”
“No, Hyeong means ‘older brother.’ It’s from Con-
fucianism. It’s a way to show respect for those who
came before us. You’ll hear many titles like ajumma
(aunt), halabeoji (grandfather). It can get really de-
fined. Even with twins, the second one out calls the
first ‘hyeong’ all his life.”
“But Jaehyun just calls you Sanghyun.”
“Younger brothers and sisters usually don’t get any
respect.”
“Oh, so Canada and Korea aren’t that different after
all.”
Daehangno
We headed to Insa-dong, an area between the main
palace and Jongno, the biggest street of old Seoul. It
has many shops and vendors that sell antiques and
traditional items. There are also many galleries, ar-
tisans, and teashops there. It’s like a movie set for a
Running from Jongno 5-ga to Hye- Korean bazaar. In fact, you’ll sometimes see profes-
hwa-dong Roundabout, Daehang- sional film crews shooting here and always see many
no is centered around Marronnier
Park. Daehangno is a street full of local and foreign tourists walking around with cam-
numerous dance, play, and mu- eras.
sical theaters, art organizations,
and street performers.
Alex is becoming more and more fascinated with Ko-
rean culture. He talked excitedly about each item that
he saw in Insa-dong. He seemed especially interested
in fans. He bought two already. We were all tired from
walking all around Insa-dong, so we decided to break
for a meal. We shared bibimbap, pajeon, and sun-
50 Let’s go Korea!
dubujjigae. Alex really liked the pajeon which had a
lot of seafood in it.
With our bellies full, we got on the bus and headed
for Daehangno. Now that we’ve seen Insa-dong, Jae-
hyun (a.k.a Hyeong) suggested that we check out a
place so geared to students its name means “Univer-
sity Street.”
Experiencing Korea 51
When we arrived at Marronnier Park, many people
were handing out brochures for different plays. Jae-
hyun explained that often the performers and even
the producers of small plays come out and advertise
their shows. We saw actors in funny costumes and
artists drawing some pretty good caricatures before
we headed off.
Shopping in Korea
52 Let’s go Korea!
that we go to one of the wholesale markets that stay
open all night. So here I am at Dongdaemun, walking
through a bustling street full of other teenagers look-
ing for cheap, hip clothes. I hear some loud music and
people cheering up ahead, so I’m going to go check
it out.
Experiencing Korea 53
B-boy ▲
“Korean B-boys are famous for having powerful, cre-
ative moves. Even though breakdancing hasn’t been
around in Korea for long, Korean guys are already
dominating the stage at international competitions.”
“They’re really good! How many times is he going to
spin on his head like that? Do they usually perform
in places like this?”
“B-boys like to perform outdoors just for practice and
to show off their skills. This most likely won’t be your
last time seeing a performance like this in Korea.
Let’s go in one of the complexes.”
54 Let’s go Korea!
Night scene
Experiencing at Myeong-dong
Korea 55 ▲
Hahoe Village in Andong Hahoe Village, discovering our
ancestors’ wisdom
Experiencing Korea 57
Byeolsin Gut’.”
“What makes it special?”
“It’s unique because the performers wear masks called
‘tal’ and dance. This is to entertain the gods and ap-
pease their anger.”
“They must be starting now. The crowd’s getting quiet”
Experiencing Korea 59
and watch, we had to leave to get to Bongjeongsa
Temple on time for the temple stay program.
60 Let’s go Korea!
Temple Stay
Temple stay is a cultural-experience program designed to help Koreans and foreigners alike under-
stand Korean Buddhism better by observing and practicing the life of a monk. Temple stay offers
various unique experiences such as chamseon (Zen meditation), dado (tea ceremony), calligraphy,
barugongyang (communal Buddhist meal service), and an introduction to temple culture. The program
is open for everyone and lasts from 2-10 days.
108 Bows
The bow represents a desire to lower one’s self
and serve others. The person bowing brings
his or her forehead all the way to the floor and
raises the palms skyward. The number 108 has
to do with the sins Buddhism warns against
and the possibility of one committing them in
the past, present and future.
Experiencing Korea 61
ple. You might have noticed rank-
ing is really important in Korea:
the lower the number, the more
important its cultural significance.
Geungnakjeon is the oldest exist-
ing wooden building in Korea. The
monk also told us the story of how
62 Let’s go Korea!
“Jaehyun, why do we eat all the leftovers?”
“That’s for us to realize the preciousness of the love
and the effort that went into preparing the food and
also to cleanse our minds like the food plates.”
“That’s right,” the monk added, “Barugongyang isn’t
just eating. It’s also a kind of training for everyone;
a process for cultivating one’s mind.”
64 Let’s go Korea!
“Korea has highly developed services and technology
for the Internet, cell phones, DMB (digital multime-
dia broadcasting), and WiBro, so you can always ac-
cess various services while on the move.”
“I know. I’ve seen people watching TV on their cell
phones in the subway. But what’s WiBro?”
“WiBro is short for ‘wireless broadband.’ The service
provides fast Internet access for people constantly
on the move.”
Experiencing Korea 65
Digital Life in Korea
Mobile DMB
Korea is a world leader in mobile and PDA tech- DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) allows
nology. Korea is at the forefront of the develop- users to receive audio and video broadcasting
ment of mobile technology. Mobile services in while on the move. DMB was developed to re-
Korea include mobile banking, gaming, traffic place the radio, but it has improved since then,
information, GPS, navigation system, and us- and now it can not only trasmit audio but also
ing a cell phone as a ticket or coupon. DVD quality video.
WiBro IPTV
WiBro is the wireless broadband Internet tech- IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) uses high
nology developed by Samsung Electronics speed Internet to supply video and information
and the Electronics and Telecommunications onto the television. This allows those unfamiliar
Research Institute. In October 2007, 3G wire- with the computer to home-shop, watch mov-
less services in Korea became an international ies, do online banking, play online games, and
standard. Currently most users are from the listen to MP3 files on the television.
metropolitan area, but the usage of the WiBro
technology is expanding throughout Korea.
66 Let’s go Korea!
Blog Minihompy
An amalgamation of the words “web” and Minihompy is a Korean online community net-
“log”, blog refers to online posts describing work service. Minihompy makes uploading
one’s thoughts and feelings. Blogs allow shar- pictures and videos simple, and the personal
ing, interaction, and discussion among those pages are extremely customizable.
keeping up with the fresh blog posts.
Korea has a highly developed online gaming in- With the development of mobile communica-
dustry. Gamers review games and share gam- tion, mobile communities are expanding. Based
ing strategies with others through online and on the world’s leading mobile networks, Korea
offline communities. is starting mobile community services in fields
such as marketing, religion, and trade.
Experiencing Korea 67
visual Information
Soul of Asia, Seoul
Hi Seoul Festival
◈ The economic center of East Asia ◈
Daehangno
Insa-dong 63 CITY
Anguk Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line Free Shuttle Bus Daebang Subway Station,
No.3), walk 1 minute. Yeouinaru Subway Station, Yeouido Subway
Station
Insa-dong, located in the middle of the city,
is an important place where old but pre- With 63 floors and measuring a height of
cious and traditional goods are on display. 264m, the 63 CITY is one of Korea’s tallest
Within these alleys are galleries, traditional and most recognized building. The 63 CITY
restaurants, traditional teahouses, and ca- boasts spectacular views of the Hangang
fes. River and the surrounding mountains of
There are traditional performances and ex- Bugaksan, Namsan and Gwanaksan. The
hibits as well. Insa-dong is especially pop- 63 CITY’s basement floor boasts conve-
ular with foreign tourists. This is where they nient facilities, including 63 Sea World, 63
can experience and see traditional Korean Sky Deck, 63 IMAX theater.
culture firsthand, and also purchase pieces ☎ 82-2-789-5679
of fine art. 8 www.63city.co.kr
78 Let’s go Korea!
I can definitely feel the energy. Can you teach me a
little?”
“Of course!”
Poomsae
Taekwondo poomsae are the basic successive defensive and offensive move-
ments one does with an imaginary opponent to improve form, flexibility and con-
centration. Taekwondo is about mastering proper hand and feet techniques but
also building self discipline and respect.
As taekwondo students master the poomsae taught by their master, they are certi-
fied and can advance to the next dan (level). Poomase training gets more rigorous
with each level, and it can take well over 25 years for a student to become a mas-
ter at the highest rank, 9th dan.
Kyorugi
Kyorugi means sparring. It can be in the form of practicing with a partner or actual
bouts that put all the poomsae training to test as opponents try to strike one an-
other while at the same time using defensive techniques to avoid or deflect blows.
Kyorugi is at the center of taekwondo training, and a large part of the sparring is
an unspoken dialogue of movement to size up the skill, power and weaknesses
of the opponent.
80 Let’s go Korea!
Kyukpa
Kyukpa is one of the methods that is used to measure the power and speed of the
practitioner by applying a variety of taekwondo skills to boards, bricks or any cho-
sen material with application of physical force and mental concentration.
82 Let’s go Korea!
streets because they couldn’t get tickets. The Red Taegeukgi
Devils received as much attention from the interna-
tional media as some of the big teams.”
“The Red Devils? Who are they?’
“They are the support club for the Korean national
football team. But during the World Cup, anyone
wearing a red shirt and cheering on the national
The Korean flag is called the Tae-
team was a Red Devil. I still remember when mil- geukgi. Its design symbolizes the
lions of people gathered in the streets and shout- principles of yin and yang. The
circle in the center of the flag is
ed ‘Dae~han min guk’! That’s the country’s official divided into two equal parts. The
name in Korean.” upper red section represents the
proactive cosmic forces of the
“Sanghyun, what’s that mark on the shirts and the Yang. Conversely, the lower blue
headbands?” section represents the respon-
sive cosmic forces of the Yin.
“That’s called the taegeuk. It is the symbol of harmo-
The two forces together embody
ny and coexistence of the yin and the yang. It holds the concepts of continual move-
ment, balance, and harmony that
the meaning that the universe was created and grows
characterize the sphere of infinity.
from the interactions between the two. This mark is The circle is surrounded by four
trigrams, one in each corner. Each
also drawn in the center of the Korean flag.”
trigram symbolizes one of the four
“So much meaning for such a simple symbol. Yang is universal elements: heaven, earth,
the active side, right? I feel a lot of yang just from fire, and water.
84 Let’s go Korea!
ago when Japan launched a major invasion of the
peninsula. Korea’s military and the civilians joined
forces and fought off the invasion.”
“There must’ve been great leaders to help the people
out of times like that.”
“During the Japanese invasion Admiral Yi Sun-sin
helped defeat the Japanese by creating a fleet of
ironclads called turtle ships because the their upper
decks were covered with an iron plate like a shell. He
demolished the Japanese fleet with brilliant tactics.
But the more important fact is that everyone took Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin ▼
The “Lord of Heaven” Hwanin had a son, Hwanung, who yearned to live on the
earth among the valleys and the mountains. Hwanin permitted Hwanung and
3,000 followers to descend onto Baekdusan Mountain, then called Taebaeksan
Mountain, where Hwanung founded Sinsi (City of God).
A tiger and a bear prayed to Hwanung that they may become human. Upon hear-
ing their prayers, Hwanung gave them 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mug-
wort, ordering them to eat only this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for
100 days. The tiger gave up after about twenty days and left the cave. However,
the bear remained and was transformed into a woman.
The bear-woman (Ungnyeo) was grateful and made offerings to Hwanung. How-
ever, she lacked a husband, and soon became sad and prayed beneath a sin-
dansu (divine betula) tree to be blessed with a child. Hwanung, moved by her
prayers, took her for his wife and soon she gave birth to a son, who was named
Dangun Wanggeom.
Dangun ascended to the throne, built the walled city of Unknown, near present-
day Pyeongyang, and called his kingdom Joseon (known today as Gojoseon or
Ancient Joseon).
86 Let’s go Korea!
years.” National Anthem, Aegukga
“I can’t believe that such an advanced country like
Korea had so much trouble in the near past.”
“Me neither. That’s why other countries call what the
Koreans have accomplished until now the Miracle on
the Hangang. Just around fifty years ago, Korea was
one of the poorest countries on earth, and now it The Korean national anthem is
“Aegukga.” Before the birth of
ranks as the thirteenth most economically powerful the Republic in 1948, the words
nation. It is also a great feat for Seoul to have hosted of the anthem were often sung to
the tune of the Scottish folk song,
one of the most successful Olympics ever.” Auld Lang Syne. Maestro Ahn
“When were the Olympics held in Korea?” Eak-tai (1905~1965), then living in
Spain, felt that it was inappropri-
“Before I was born; in 1988. The Seoul Olympics
ate to sing this patriotic song to
brought together over 150 countries. It was the first the tune of another country’s folk
song. So in 1935, he composed
time in twelve years that the U.S. and Soviet Union
original music to go with the lyr-
were both at the Games.” ics, and the then exiled Korean
Provisional Government adopted
it as the national anthem.
I explained to Alex that the spirit of Korea can be
red-hot, like the enthusiasm of the Red Devils, but
1988 Seoul Olympics
also deep and broad like the waters of the East Sea. The 24th Summer Olympic Games
He nodded as I told him that the taegeuk mark in the were successfully held in Seoul
from September 17 to October 2,
middle of the Korean flag is the symbol of such dual- 1988. The games concluded after
ity. a 16-day run under the themes of
peace, harmony, and progress.
The largest Olympiad up to its
time, more than 13,000 athletes
and officials from 160 countries
gathered to promote the ideals
the Olympics uphold while tran-
scending the barriers separating
the East and the West and the
North and the South. The first
boycott-free Olympics in twelve
years, the Seoul Olympic Games
rose above international hostilities
and national interests and shed
light upon the founding ideals and
principles of the Olympic Games.
1 2
3 4
5 6
9 10
11
3
2
9
4
5
6
96 Let’s go Korea!
“No, actually you’re in it. This says approximately Seokguram Grotto and
30,000 dolmens are scattered around Korea. The Bulguksa Temple
The Seokguram Grotto contains
ones in Gochang in Jeollabuk-do, Hwasun in Jeol- a monumental statue of the Bud-
lanam-do, and on Ganghwa Island in Incheon are dha looking at the sea in the bhu-
misparsha mudra position. With
UNESCO World Heritage sites.”
the surrounding portrayals of
“Really?” gods, Bodhisattvas and disciples,
it is considered a masterpiece of
“Yeah. Another Korea World Heritage pop quiz: What’s
Buddhist art in the Far East. The
the Jikji Memory of the World Prize? I’ll even give you Temple of Bulguksa (built in 774)
and the Seokguram Grotto form
a clue, Jikji is short for Buljo Jikjisimcheyojeol.”
a religious architectural complex
of exceptional significance.
Sanghyun stared blankly, but Alex tried to come up
with something.
Buljo Jikjisimcheyojeol
“From the temple, I remember ‘Bul’ means ‘Bud- Buljo Jikjisimcheyojeol contains
the essentials of Zen Buddhism
dhism,’ but you lost me with the rest of it.”
compiled by priest Baegun in late
“Not bad, for someone here for only a couple of days. Goryeo period.
But Sanghyun, I’m voting you off the peninsula.” This book was printed at the old
Heungdeoksa Temple in Cheon-
“Oh come on. Did gju, using movable metal type in
you know what it July 1377. Jikji is the world’s old-
est example of movable metal
was before you saw type printing in existance and
it in the book?” shows us an important technical
change in the printing history of
“Contestants don’t humanity.
98 Let’s go Korea!
Complex, which are both in Seoul. I wanted to take Jongmyodaeje
him to Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, but
there wasn’t enough time to travel down to Gyeongju
in the southeast part of the country. Maybe when he
comes back to Korea the KTX bullet train line going
there will be finished, and we could make a day trip
out of it.
Jongmyodaeje is a grand ceremo-
ny honoring the past kings of Ko-
rea. Five times a year during the
Joseon Dynasty, the king himself
Jongmyo and palaces that trace Ko- used to conduct the ceremony in
rea’s history back 600 years Jongmyo, where Jongmyojerye
and Jongmyojeryeak were per-
formed. The Japanese banned the
We took the subway because Alex liked to find his ceremony during their rule of Ko-
rea, but the ceremony resumed in
own way around and practice reading the names of
1969. Now Jongmyodaeje takes
the stations in Hangeul. He kept talking about how place every first Sunday of May.
convenient and well maintained the system was and
how much he liked the bus-subway free transfer sys-
tem since he never had to worry about having the
right fare. When we got on a train, there were a cou-
ple of empty seats.
“Yeah.”
“Jongmyo can be better understood if you think
about such Korean culture. It is a place for honoring
the past kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. A
big ceremony takes place here in May every year.”
Deoksugung Palace, just across
“Sort of like the way you said your family serves food from City Hall, was originally a
and drinks to your ancestors at their tombs on Lunar prince’s home, but later designat-
ed as the king’s temporary home.
New Year’s?” It became a full-fledged palace
“Right, but this ceremony is much bigger with hun- during the reign of King Gojong
(1863~1907), who led many build-
dreds of musicians, officials and relatives of the last ing projects, including Seokjojeon,
royal family all in Hanbok.” the largest stone building in Korea:
it was once used as a museum of
I think it’s cool that Koreans want to show their old
modern art but now houses royal
kings they remember them even though the monar- relics.
chy is gone.”
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace is the
largest and most historically sig-
nificant palace of the Joseon pe-
riod. It was built by King Taejo, the
founder of the Joseon Dynasty,
in 1395, as a symbol of his new
reign. Like most other palaces, it
was damaged during the Japa-
nese invasion of Korea in the 16th
century. One of its most famous
structures is Gyeonghoeru, the
pavilion where kings held recep-
tions and parties.
▼ Traditional full-course dinner school cafeteria serves Vietnamese food but no Ko-
“Wow, those colors are wild. It’s like the mix in the
Korean spirit you were talking about. The ceremo-
nies are so formal and serious, but the clothes much
more expressive than Western suits and dresses.
Colors that I’d never think of putting together look
great on Hanbok.”
“I think the appeal comes from the curves and edg-
es. They blend the bright colors well.” Traditional robes of ▼
the king and queen of
“It’s too bad that Koreans only wear Hanbok on spe- the Joseon Dynasty
Ssireum
Ssireum is a Korean form of wrestling in which two con-
testants grab a cloth band that wraps around the waist
and one leg and try to knock over the other. The bout
is over when any part of the body other than the feet
of a contestant touches the ground. Unlike most other
sports contested in a ring, ssireum is a nonviolent sport
that requires a combination of strength and skill.
Kite Flying
Kite flying is enjoyed by many cultures around the
world. Korean kites are rectangular, and thin bamboo
strips provide sturdy structure.
Geune
Geune is a swing made by hanging ropes from two re-
ally tall pillars or trees and attaching a wooden board at
the bottom. On Dano (lunar May 5) geune contests were
held, and the winner was decided by measuring who
could swing the highest.
Jegichagi
A Jegi is made by wrapping thin paper around a coin
with a hole in the middle and shredding the paper to
make it look like a shuttlecock. Jegichagi is a contest to
see who can kick the jegi multiple times and keep it in
the air the longest.
This game is ever popular during major holi- chip lands on a space occupied by the other
days. Yunnori is basically very simple. team’s chip, the captured chip must go all the
Instead of dice or a spinner, the combination way back to the beginning and the capturer
of four sticks determines how far to move on gets another turn.
the board. The board can be set up anywhere The board is set up with shortcuts. Normally,
with chalk or a magic market. The bigger the the chips must move around counterclock-
board, the better. wise. There is a special circle, so that diagonal
The sticks are shaped like small canoes, flat shortcuts are possible depending on where
on one side and rounded on the other, with your opponents lie.
tapered ends. On the bottom (flat) side of one Each team is given only four chips no matter
stick is a special mark, called baekdo. Each how many are in the group. The captain of
team has four chips, either black or white. All each side must coordinate the strategies of
four chips of one color must go around the avoiding, attacking, and doubling to bring all
board once for the team to win. four chips around the fastest.
The number of spaces which a player can
move depends on how the sticks land after be- Yunnoripan ▼
ing tossed. When one flat side is up and three
rounded sides are up, the combination allows
one step forward. Two up and two down al-
low a forward movement of two spaces. Three
flat up and one rounded up is good for three
spaces. If all the sticks are flat side up, the
move ahead is four spaces. Finally, if all the
sticks are rounded side up, it allows a move
of five steps.
Chips move separately, unless two of the same
color land on the same space and then move
together. It is possible for all four to travel in a
pack, but the danger lies in being caught and
“eaten” by the other team’s chips, whenever a
Because beef was so rare in the past, dishes preparing the sauce.
like bulgogi and galbi, marinated short ribs, · Pour the sauce over the beef and rub so that
were served only on special occasions. To- each piece is thoroughly covered.
day, a trip to a galbi house is the equivalent of · The more you knead the meat in the sauce,
going out for a nice steak dinner. Fortunately, the better it will taste. Marinate for at least an
bulgogi is easy to make at home. hour in the refrigerator. And that’s it!
· Korean restaurants use a dome-shaped grill
that let’s the juices drip off to the sides when
Recipe
grilling. Save the drippings. They are delicious
· Marinate 2.5kg of sliced beef sirloin, with 3
mixed into white rice.
tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of rice
wine. The sauce is made of 4 tablespoons of
soy sauce, a dash of black pepper, 1.5 table-
spoons of minced garlic, 3 tablespoons of
chopped green onions, 2 tablespoons of ses-
ame oil, and 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds.
· The secret of making delicious bulgogi is to
tenderize the meat with sugar and wine. If you
don’t have rice wine, try sherry, or even cola.
· Let the beef marinate for half an hour while
Bibimbap is a meal in a bowl. Bibim means to to remove water. Cut, and saute lightly.
mix, which is how to eat the artfully arranged · For protein, place an egg sunny side up on
layers of julienned vegetables, egg, and meat each serving. Beef, sliced into small strips and
with sauce over rice. Bibimbap is the rep- sauted with minced garlic, chopped green on-
resentative dish of southwestern Jeolla-do ions, a few drops of soy sauce, and a couple
Province, famed for its arts, culture, and cui- of pinches of sugar can also be added.
sine. But there is no geographical boundary in · Make a bed of rice in each bowl. Arrange
Koreans’ love of bibimbap. some of each ingredient carefully in sections
The beauty of bibimbap is that almost any radiating from the center. Top with the ground
vegetable can be used. Cucumbers, spinach, beef, and over that lay the egg.
carrots, Korean radish, mushrooms, water- · To eat, mix all the ingredients vigorously.
cress, and other leafy vegetables, anything Add red pepper paste and sesame oil to taste
that can add to the mix of color and texture. to keep everything moist.
Recipe
· Wash all the vegetables. Peel and julienne
all root vegetables. Saute them separately in
a lightly oiled pan and season with a pinch
of salt and pepper. For spinach, boil it briefly.
Drain, and then saute as above. Leafy veg-
etables can just be cut into bite-size strips.
· Remove mushroom stems and julienne and
saute them. For the cucumber, peel and salt
Korea’s history started from Gojoseon (2333 B.C.). Three Kingdoms Era
Through its 5,000-year history, Korea has developed Silla (57 B.C.- A.D. 935)
Baekje (18 B.C.- A. D. 660)
a truly distinct culture while interacting with the larger Goguryeo (37 B.C.- A.D. 668)
nations surrounding it.
Confederated Kingdoms of
Samhan (Three Han States)
KOREA
B.C. 5000 2000 1000 500 200 100 A.D. 200 300 400 500
CHINA
Bronze Age Warring States Era (475-221) San GuoEra Sui Dynasty
Qin Dynasty (221-206) (220-280) (581-618)
Western Han Dynasty Jin Dynasty
(206 B.C.-25A.D.) (265-420)
Shang Dynasty Nan Bei Chao
(166-1046) Dynasties
(420-589)
Zhou (1046-256) Spring and Autumn Era Eastern
(770-476) Han Dynasty (25-220)
THE WEST
Seokguram Grotto
Hunminjeongeum 2002 Korea-Japan
Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392)
A primer for teaching Han- World cup (2002)
geul, the Korean alphabet
created by the Joseon Dy-
nasty’s fourth ruler, King
Sejong the Great (1418-
1450)
Balhae
Kingdom
(698-926) Daehan Empire
600 700 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1800 1900 2000
Hegira (622) and beginning of lslamic era Matin Luther launched the Reformation (1517)
Pre-historic Period
(700,000 years ago – 400 BC)
Bangasayusang
(Gilt-bronze Maitreya), Goguryeo
Geumjegwansik
(A pair of gold ornaments for
diadem of the king), Baekje
Baekjegeumdongdaehyangno
(Gilt-bronze incense burner), Baekje
Mugujeonggwangdaedaranigyeong
(Pure Light Dharani Sutra), Unified Silla
Inmyeonmunuiwadang
(Eolgulmunuisumaksae),
Unified Silla
Dabotap
(Many Treasures Pagoda),
Unified Silla
Goryeo
(918 - 1392)
Palmandaejanggyeong
(Tripitaka Koreana woodblock)
Buljo Jikjisimcheyojeol
Celadon Pitcher
in the Shape of a Tortoise
Wine Ewer
visual Information
Joseon
(1392 - 1909)
‘Evil-repelling Tiger,’
artist unknown, 18 C.
�
138 Let’s
▲ Semiconductor go Korea! Scene
Manufacturing
KOREASAT 5, also knownofasKorea
Future MUGUNGWHA
139 5, ▲
a South Korean geostationary satellite was
launched at 03:27 UT on 2006 August 22
Traditional Korean Schools Challenges and opportunities in the
modern world
Sumi Jo (1962~ )
Sumi Jo, a Korean soprano, made her operatic debut
in 1986 as Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto. In 1993, she won
the La Siola d’Oro Award as Best Soprano of the Year,
and in 1992 she received a Grammy Award for her lead
role in “Die Frau ohne Schatten” (The Woman Without a
Shadow). Recently in 2008, Sumi Jo was also given the
Puccini Award.
Admission Procedures
Since academic programs and the school year start in
March in Korea, students must check the academic start-
ing date the previous year and make necessary arrange-
ments a year prior to the start of the academic year. Infor-
mation can be obtained through Korea Study Fair or from
the websites of the Ministry of Education and Human Re-
sources Development (www.studyinkorea.go.kr) or individ-
ual universities. After deciding which university to attend,
students must submit their application package before
being admitted by the school. Then, after admission, they
can visit the Korean Embassy or a Korean consulate for a
visa. For more information on visa requirements, visit the
website of the Korea Immigration Bureau (www.immigra-
tion.go.kr).
Korea Education System
Curriculum
Cumulative School
AGE Major Special
Years General Year
Curriculum Curriculum
3
4
Pre-school
Kindergarden Special School
Education
5
7 1 1
8 2 2
9 3 3
Primary Elementary
Special School
10 4 Education School 4
11 5 5
12 6 6
13 7 1
Special School
Middle
14 8 Civil Education School 2
School
Various Middle Schools
15 9 3
Secondary
Education Special School
16 10 1
National Open High
17 11 High School School Technical High 2
School Various High
18 12 Schools 3
25 19 1
PhD
26 20 Special School 2
27 21 3
Travel Information
Educational Tour
DMZ Tours
A s part of the armistice ending the 1950-53 Korean War, South and North Korea agreed
to pull their troops two kilometers away from the truce line. This created a 4-km-wide
demilitarized zone (DMZ) running 248 km (155 miles) across the peninsula. It has become
the most heavily armed border in the world. As one of the last relics of the Cold War, the
DMZ attracts a great deal of public interest. Korea DMZ tourist sites have been created
to quench peoples’ curiosity on this unique area where tension and peace coincide. These
sites are especially popular among foreign tourists.
· Dorasan Station
Dorasan Train Station is the northernmost Gyeongui-seon (Seoul-Sinuiju) Line train station in South
Korea. From this observation platform, North Korean military personnel are visible.
· Bridge of Freedom
The bridge is the only remaining legacy of peace in the Korean War as it holds the symbolic signifi-
cance of the “Return to Freedom.”
I n Icheon (or Ichon) an hour’s drive from Seoul is a large community of ceramic artists.
Tours to this art village provide visitors a chance to make their own piece of pottery
while learning the steps needed to turn a lump of clay into a beautiful piece of art. If un-
satisfied with your own handmade souvenir, there are plenty of shops carrying a range
of ceramic goods large enough to satisfy all tastes and budgets. Icheon is also home to a
major ceramics festival and museum.
Location
Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Program
· Presentation on Korean traditional pottery (history, characteristics)
· How to make ceramics with a potter’s wheel
· Making your own pottery under the supervision of a potter
· Lunch –a visit to an exposition hall and shopping
· A Visit to the Ceramics Museum or World Ceramics Center
( 82-70-8232-2299
ichontour@ichontour.com
8 www.ichontour.com
Suncheon Bay
Location
Suncheon Bay, Jeollanam-do
Program
· Sensational watercolor trip
Ecological Park, making natural art, Suncheon Bay cruise, making kimchi, Experience
Suncheon Bay S sea road and sunset, Nakan-eub Fortress, Korean paper art experience,
Seonamsa Temple, tea ceremony experience .
· Biology study Trip
- Environment Experience Course: Seonamsa Temple, Nakan-eub Fortress, Dolmen
Park, Myeongseolwon tea ceremony experience.
- Biology Experience Course: Suncheon Bay Ecology Hall, mountain village experience
at Cheongsogol.
C heonsuman Bay is Korea’s largest habitat of about 320 species of 700,000 migratory
birds (max. per day). Cheonsuman Bird Watching Fair held in an ecological treasure
chest field with a tremendous array of beauty.
Wild geese filling a field, a beautiful dance of about 300,000 Baikal Teals, a bewitching
figure of some 50 Eurasian Spoonbills, mallards, and storks will show you an incredible
world of birds. Your spirits will also soar in Cheonsuman Bay amid all the beautiful flying
scenes.
You will see a new world of nature in Korea’s best bird watching fair. Show your children
the mystery and preciousness of life in living observatory.
Program
· Visit Cheonsuman Ecological Center
· Birds watching tour
· Tea party
· Enjoy local delicacies
· Make sotdae
· Kite making
· Earthen totem pole making
Date: October
( 82-41-669-7744
8 www.seosanbird.com
Taekwondo Tour
T he Taekwondo experiential program for foreigners is held three times a day (10:30,
13:30, and 15:30, except Mondays) in Gyeonghuigung Palace until December. Each 90-
minute session accommodates up to 40 people. The sessions each offer a different pro-
gram: the 10:30 session covers basic taekwondo moves; the 13:30 session, self-defense
techniques; and the 15:30 session, breaking techniques. Participants can choose one or
more sessions or take part in all three. Everyone receives a taekwondo certificate and
badge upon completion of the session.
In addition to the taekwondo experiential program, why not try the Taekwondo Cultural
Performance, which is staged on the lawn of Gyeonghuigung Palace every Wednesday and
Saturday from 13:30 to 15:00 until December this year. Events include nori madang (tradi-
tional folk performance), taekwondo demonstrations and classes, and Korean traditional
music. In particular, the Taekwondo Program features a group of top taekwondo masters
from Kukkiwon who will demonstrate breaking and self-defense techniques. Prior to the
event, taekwondo photos will be exhibited from 10 am, and visitors will have a chance to
try on a taekwondo uniform.
Location: Gangnam Subway Station ( Seoul Subway No.2) walk for 15-minute
Program
· Meditation
· Basic Techniques
· Self-Defense Skills
· Breaking Skills
· Matching
( Kukkiwon 82-2-567-1058
8 www.kukkiwon.or.kr
Travel Information
Temple Stay
T o play a leading active role in the cultural age of the 21st century, the Jogye Order of
Korean Buddhism’s Temple Stay Division concentrates activities on traditional cultural
affairs and on the development and fostering of resources. The division is making rapid
progress in fulfilling this role on the basis of Korean Buddhism’s history and cultural re-
sources, both tangible and intangible. In particular, through the Temple Stay program, the
Temple Stay Division offers participants the opportunity to experience traditional Korean
Buddhist culture. Simultaneously, the program provides a solid foundation for the popu-
larization and appreciation of traditional culture in daily life.
Currently there are 43 temples participating in the program nationwide. The basic 24-
hour program (including overnight stay) can be simplified to half-day program (3.5 hours),
or extended to 3- and 4-day experiences. Six temples are always open to individual par-
ticipants while groups may make reservations at any temple all year long.
Program
Expo Park
8 www.expopark.co.kr
The Expo Park, with its focus on science and the future, enhances the consciousness of
the importance of science in many young people’s minds and upholds the spirit of the ‘93
Expo. In the park, there are many popular pavilions, such as the Space Reconnaissance
Flight Hall, the Technopia Hall, the Hanbit Tower, the Earth Hall, the Expo Memorial Hall,
the Information and Communication Hall, the Electric Energy Hall, the Natural Life Hall,
and the Energy Hall.
Daejeon Observatory
8 star.metro.daejeon.kr
The Daejeon Observatory offers people opportunities to observe celestial bodies. This
observatory is the first of its kind in Korea in terms of accessibility for ordinary people to
observe astronomy. The observation of the sun can be made during the day, and during
the night observations of other celestial bodies such as planets, nebulas, and clusters of
stars, the Miky Way are available through its astronomical telescopes.
Currency Museum
8 www.komsep.com/museum/
Located in Daedeok Science Town, the Currency Museum shows not only the 100-year his-
tory of national currency but also Olympic commemorative coins and present currency. It
was opened in 1988 with almost 80,000 coins and bills from different currencies.
Daejeon Institute of Education Science
Located in an area of more than 49,500m², this Research Institute has training facilities
for teachers and various pavilions for exploring life, the universe, solar system, and com-
puters as well as a pavilion for experiencing fundamental science. It offers rich sights to
see and enjoy through such imaginary experiences as functional structure of the body, a
growth of the fetal life, and a sensor robot.
8 tour.daejeon.go.kr/english
Epilogue
yun,
Dear Sangh
ll.
I h o p e e v e ryone is we
a so much! all my
I miss Kore y a n d tried to c
s u b w a y
th e r d a y I was in the r o u g h , s o I thought m
The o going th service bar
I
e n ts . T h e c all wasn’t h e c k e d m y
par when I c sub-
h o n e w a s b roken. But ’ t w o r k in New York’s
p don a, I’m
cell phones mer in Kore
remembered t a w h o le s u m
re.
having spen s around he
way. After us e d to th in g
ble getting ’t
having trou K o r e a n food. I didn
craving is , but
n o th e r th in g I’ve been w h il e I w as in Korea
A much e more
ked it this h there wer
realize I li te s , I w is
a t I ’m b a ck in the Sta e k m y p a r ents visited
now th Last w e er
e a n r e s ta u rants here. n d b ib im b ap. The wait
Kor galbi a ered
n d I to o k them to eat r e a d th e m enu and ord
a nI why he
pressed whe ht have been
was really im k th a t m ig t
th in g in K orean. I thin e v e th a t I still haven’
ever y an’t beli ibly
v e u s f r e e dessert. I c I t’ s r e a ll y an incred
ga angeul.
e n h ow to read H er.
f o r g o tt
t to le a r n and rememb
e to a
easy alphab s a b le to develop in
e a w a t
ld m e b e f ore that Kor o n . B u t I r ealized tha
You to f educati just
o n g n a ti o n because o d im p r o v e ment isn’t
str ent an e you
o r e a ’ s r a p id developm a b le to f e el it becaus
K ot be
You might n
about that.
Alex
Dear Alex,
Sanghyun
Arriving in Korea
International Flights
There are nine international airports in Korea:
Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, Cheogju, Daegu, Gwangju, Yangyang, Muan and Jeju
International Airports.
Incheon International Airport services flights to all parts of the world, but the oth-
ers only service Asia. An airport tax of 17,000 won for international flights and
₩4,000 or ₩5,000 for domestic flights is included in the ticket price.
For more details, visit www.airport.co.kr or call 1577-2600
Domestic Flights
Korea has a well-developed domestic flight network served by Korean Air and
Asiana Airlines linking 15 major cities.
Trains
Passenger trains operated by the Korean National Railroad are fast, reliable and
very inexpensive by international standards. There are the KTX, a super high-
speed train operating at speeds of 300km/h, super express Saemaeul and ex-
press Mugunghwa.
Trains are usually full on weekends and holidays, so reservations and advance
purchases are advisable at railroad stations or tour agencies such as Hanjin
Travel Service (Tel: 82-2-726-5541) at the KTO Tourist Information Center. Some
of the major railroad stations have special ticket counters for overseas visitors.
Timetables and fares are available at Korail (www.korail.go.kr).
Buses
Three express bus terminals serve Seoul: Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gangnam
Gosok Terminal), Dong Seoul Bus Terminal and Sangbong Bus Terminal. Seoul
Express Bus Terminal is the main bus depot for trips between Seoul and other
major cities. It is on Subway Line 3 or 7 at the station of the same name. Dong
Seoul Bus Terminal operates similar routes but with less frequent service and
fewer destinations, adjacent to Gangbyeon Station on Subway Line 2.
The Sangbong Bus Terminal serves Cheongju, Daejeon, Jeonju or Gwangju and
is near Sangbong Station on Subway Line 7. Deluxe express buses are some-
what more expensive than regular buses, but they are popular for their spacious
seats and facilities such as mobile phones and in-route movies.
Intercity Buses
Korea has an extensive intercity bus system connecting almost every city and
town. These buses do not provide special facilities for foreign travelers, there is
no English timetable, and the seats are more cramped than express buses, but
for adventurous visitors they are an interesting way to get closer to the spirit and
lifestyle of the Korean people. Intercity bus terminals are usually located within
express bus terminals in major cities and near the downtown area in small cit-
ies.
The bus system differs slightly from city to city in Korea. There are two types, reg-
ular local and seated coach buses, and both are numbered according to routes.
The bus system is so extensive that buses go virtually everywhere in every city.
Since bus signs are written only in Hangeul, finding the right bus can be confus-
ing for the first-time visitor.
Hotel staff can assist in choosing the correct bus and bus stop for your destina-
tion. Fares can be paid as you board with ₩1,000 or a transportation card.
To stop the bus at your destination, push one of the stop buttons located along
the interior of the bus as you approach your stop. It may be better to let the driver
know your destination. Ask someone to write It down for you to hand him as
you board. City express coaches called jwaseok buses stop less frequently and
travel more rapidly through congested areas. The fare for the city express coach
is about ₩1,800.
Subway
There are excellent subway train systems in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do Prov-
ince, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju. The subway is the most efficient and conve-
nient way for travelers to get around the city. Station names, ticket windows and
transfer signs are all clearly marked in English.
Regular taxis
Fares are ₩1,900 for the first 2 km and 100 won for each additional 144 meters.
If the taxi is going 15 kilometer per hour or less, the charge is 100 won per each
35 seconds. The fare between Incheon International Airport and downtown Seoul
is usually around 45,000 won, and 55,000 won for the jamsil area (although it
could be higher in heavy traffic), plus a 7,400 won toll. Fares increase 20% be-
tween midnight and 4 am. Taxi stands are ubiquitous around the cities, and they
may also be hailed almost anywhere on the streets except at a bus stop or a
congested area.
Busan
Daegu
Gwangju
For foreign tourists visiting Korea, guest houses offer quality lodging services at
low prices (around ₩15,000-40,000 per night). Convenient facilities such as mi-
crowave oven, gas range, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, TV, PC
are available for use and complimentary breakfast will be served. Also, one can
experience various cultures and languages with friends from many countries in a
friendly atmosphere.
Homestays
Hanok Stays
Visitors also can stay at a hanok (traditional Korean house). It is a good opportu-
nity for overseas visitors to experience traditional lifestyle. All furniture, windows
and interior structures are reproductions of a traditional Korean house. Traditional
sleeping pads and quilts are provided. Jirye Artists’ Colony and Suaedang in
Andong have beautiful natural surroundings. Rakgojae, Woorichip Guest House,
Seoul Guest House, Tea Guesthouse in Seoul, and Saehwagwan and Yansajae in
Jeonju are located inside a hanok village. For Rakkojae, rates are over ₩150,000
per room (breakfast, laundary service, tea ceremony, house made spirit included),
but for most others, rates are under ₩100,000 per room (breakfast included).
Information and assistance are readily available at the KTO’s Tourist Information
Center (TIC) or at information counters in international airports and at major tour-
ist sites. They provide city maps, brochures and information on tours, shopping,
dining and accommodations.
The hours of operation differ some what around the country, but the KTO’s TIC is
open every day from 9 am to 8 pm On the Web, visit www.visitkorea.or.kr
Itaewon 02-3785-0942
Myeong-dong 02-757-0088
When you need English assistance or travel information, just dial 1330 and a
billngual operator will help you. If you want information about another region,
press the area code for that region before pressing 1330.
Jeju-do 064
Visitors to Korea who experience any inconveniences or who simply want to offer
some advice should call or write to the Tourist Complaint Center operated by the
Korea Tourism. Organization: 40 Cheonggyecheonno, Jung-gu, Seoul, 100-180,
Korea (Tel 02-735-0101, Fax 02-777-0102)
Goodwill Guide
The KTO Goodwill Guide Service provides interpretation assistance as part of its
free tour guide service. Reservations are usually required, but this can be very
helpful if you need special help of any kind in Korea. Visit www.goodwillguide.
com
Government
Korea.Net www.korea.net 82-2-3981-800
Korean Immigration Service www.immigration.go.kr 82-2-500-9111~2
Ministry of Culture & Tourism www.mcst.go.kr/english 82-2-3704-9114
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade www.mofat.go.kr 82-2-2100-2114
National Quarantine Service www.nvrqs.go.kr 82-31-467-1700
Travel
Accommodations
Homestay Korea www.kyepa.or.kr 82-2-2665-6717
Temple Stay Korea eng.templestay.com 82-2-2011-1972
Youth Hostel Korea kyha.or.kr 82-2-725-3031
Transportation
Korean National Railroad www.korail.go.kr 82-2-1544-7788
Asiana Airlines us.flyasiana.com 82-2-1588-8000
Avis Rent A Car Korea www.avis.co.kr/eng 82-2-862-2847
Gimpo Airport gimpo.airport.co.kr 82-2-2600-2114
Korean Air www.koreanair.com 82-2-1588-2001
Kumho Rent A Car www.kumhorent.com/en 82-2-797-7000
Incheon International Airport www.airport.kr/eng/airport 82-2-1577-2600
Culture
Kimchi Museum www.kimchimuseum.co.kr 82-2-6002-6456
Korea House www.kous.or.kr 82-2-2266-9101~3
Korea Taekwondo Association www.koreataekwondo.org 82-2-420-4271
Korean National Heritage Online www.heritage.go.kr 82-42-481-4650
NANTA nanta.i-pmc.co.kr/en 82-2-739-8288
National Museum of Korea www.museum.go.kr 82-2-2077-9000
Seoul Art Center www.sac.or.kr/eng 82-2-580-1400
Seoul Selection www.seoulselection.com 82-2-734-9565
WorknPlay www.worknplay.co.kr 82-2-568-7536
Education
Ministry of Education www.mest.go.kr 82-2-6222-6060
Science and Technology
Younsei University Korea www.yskli.com 822-2123-8550~2
Language Institute