Book gives keen insight into Korean history A Review of Korean History (English) Han Young-woo; Translated by Ham Chai-bong from Korean to English

“A Review of Korean History” written by Han Young-woo, professor emeritus at Seoul National University, explores the nation’s history from its birth to the present. The English version of the Korean history book published by Kyongsaewon Publishing translated by Hahm Chai-bong is divided into three volumes _ “Ancient/Goryeo Era,” “Joseon Era” and “Modern/Contemporary Era”_ along with detailed descriptions and some 700 photos and illustrations. Since the first edition of the book was published in 1997 with a revised edition in 2004, it has become a steady-seller in Korea with 39 editions until the end of 2009. The book was also translated into Japanese in 2003 by Akashi Shoten Publishing. The first volume of the English rendition illustrates the roots of Korean history, old Joseon and other ancient states along with the Three Kingdoms. The second volume focuses on the Joseon Kingdom from its foundation to the reform of the ruling system, economic development, culture, internal conflicts and foreign invasions. The third volume probes the birth and growth of modernism, dawning with the peasant uprisings and reforms to the rise and fall of the Korean Empire, the Japanese colonial rule and Korea`s independence movement. It also deals with the Korean War (1950-53) and reconstructions in the mid-1900s and political upheavals in the 20th century. The book puts more emphasis on the Joseon era _ the author described researching the Joseon Kingdom gave him the joy of discovering “hidden treasures” as he enhanced his understanding about the cultural values of the Confucian state during his four-year term as the head of the Kyujanggak Archives. Jung Ok-ja, chairwoman of the National Institute of Korean History, reviewed the book, saying that the author seems to suggest a new milestone for the 21st century through this book. “Cautious about both narrow-minded nationalism and globalism’s relative lack of identity, he pursues a humanitarian society centered on coexistence and co-prosperity. Such a view of history seems to be aligned with neo-nationalism, from among the various approaches of modern historiography. Rooted in a positivist historiography, a major approach in modern historiography, the author has built a basic academic foundation from which he conveys a neo-nationalist view of history,” wrote Jung. The book gives keen insights not only on historical incidents and perspectives but also cultural fields such as literature and music, commerce and international trade, and geomancy and Taoism. The publication is also helpful for foreigners who are interested in Korean history and culture. The 72-year-old author was former dean of the College of Humanities at Seoul National University and dean of Kyujanggak Archives and director of Korean Studies. For more information or inquiries, call (031) 955-7441-3, or visit http://www.kyongsaewon.co.kr.

Jirisan National Park

Boasting breathtaking views, Jirisan National Park was the first Korean park to be designated as a national park in 1967. Its glorious mountain range extends across three provinces and five cities. The magnificent mountains and exceptional scenery make this one of the most famous mountains in Korea. Roughly 1,915 meters above sea level, Cheonwangbong Peak, considered to be the pillar of heaven is the main peak. Jirisan also features Banyabong and Nogodan, and is home to over 10 famous temples. There are over twenty summits and valleys such as Baemsagol Valley, which are part of "Jirisan Ten [Sceneries]."

As this is the location of the most well-preserved virgin forests in Korea , the majestic and mystical mountain is highly revered. There are many species of animal and plant life, and as the first place to cultivate tea in Korea, herbal medicine cultivation still flourishes here.Mt. Jirisan was also where the Buddhist culture prospered, and there are also many cultural assets here, such as Silsangsa Temple (National Treasure No.7), Baekjangam and the Three-Story Stone Pagoda (National Treasure No. 26.). These regional cultural assets and the superb sceneries of nature give you a unique taste of local history and culture.

The weather is temperamental and only 80~100 days out of the year are clear and sunny, but the mist and fog create rare, unparalleled scenes not found anywhere else.

Tour Course Information

Mt. Jirisan's Piagol Maple Festival: Held at the last week of October. Many people come to enjoy the beautiful fall foilage, traditional performance, and exhibitions.

Facility Utilization Fees

Camping Sites - S size 3,000 won / M size 4,500 won / L size 6,000 won

Local Transportation

1. Hwaeumsa Temple: From Gurye, take Hwaeumsa Temple bound bus (runs 30 times a day / 30 min interval / 20 min ride).2.Yeongoksa Temple: From Gurye, take Yeongoksa Temple bound bus (runs 14 times a day / 1 hour interval / 50 min ride).3. Piagol Valley: From Gurye, take Piagol Valley bound bus (runs 9 times a day / 2 hrs interval / 40 min ride).4. Ssanggyesa Temple: From Gurye, take Ssanggyesa Temple bound bus (runs 5 times a day / 1 hour ride).

City tour train/bus for Chuncheon World Leisure Games and Chuncheon Dakgalbi & Makguksu Festiva

Posted Aug. 17, 2010 ShareThis

• Source : Korea Tourism Organization

The Chuncheon City Government announced that from August 28 (Saturday) to September 5 (Sunday), it will be operating train and bus tours running directly between Seoul and Chuncheon. There will also be a special bus package named “Chuncheon Mankkikho” targeting Japanese visitors. These tour packages are designed to proactively draw tourists to Chunchen during the period of the 2010 Chuncheon World Leisure Games and the Chuncheon Dakgalbi & Makguksu Festival.

Train tours depart from Namchuncheon Station and take passengers to the venue of the World Leisure Games, Soyang Dam, Uiamho Lake, Kim Yu-jeong House of Literature and finally arrive at Kim Yu-jeong Station, which has trains back to Seoul. Fees for this one-day tour are 19,000 won for adults and 15,000 won for children.

The bus tour departs from the Gwanghwamun area in central Seoul and takes visitors on a one-day bus tour course that includes Jamsil in Seoul, the venues of the festivals, Soyang Dam, Statue of Soyanggang Maid and Kim Yu-jeong House of Literature. Fees are 15,000 won.

“Chuncheon Mankkikho” is designed especially for Japanese tourists who visit Seoul and want to go to Chuncheon as well. Buses depart from the Seoul Lotte Hotel and go to Namiseon Island, Gongjicheon areas, the Drama Gallery, the venue of the World Leisure Games and to Chuncheon’s Myeongdong Street.

Period: August 28 (Saturday), 2010 - September 5 (Sunday), 2010 Venue: Songam Sports Town, downtown Chuncheon Official Website of Chuncheon Dakgalbi & Makguksu Festival www.mdfestival.com (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) For information about the train/bus city tour, contact 1600-7788 (Korean) or www.k7788.co.kr (Korean) Chuncheon Mankkikho 02) 778-0150 (Korean, Japanese) (A group of more than 4 people can make a reservation at the information desk of Lotte Hotel) Korea Travel Phone +82-33-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) Tourist Destinations: ☞ Soyangho Lake ☞ Namiseom Island ☞ Kim Yu-jeong House of Literature ☞ Chuncheon’s Myeongdong Street ☞ Chuncheon Myeongdong Dakgalbi Street Related Column: Chuncheon & Namiseom Tour - A Place of Romance

Ulsan City to install credit card reader in all taxis

The City of Ulsan is to install a credit card reader in all its taxis.

This will affect 4,196 taxis among the 5,796 taxis operating in Ulsan. The remaining 1,600 taxis already have a credit card reader. The installation of credit card readers will make things even more convenient for citizens.

All city taxis in Ulsan will carry a credit card reader by the end of this year, making it more convenient for Ulsan citizens.

The City of Ulsan plans to install a credit card reader in 4,196 taxis (2,838 privately owned taxis and 1,358 company taxis). This represents a significant portion of the total of 5,796 taxis operating in the city. To implement the changes the city will invest KRW 701 million (50% of the costs will be paid by the owners).

The remaining 1,600 taxis (Taehwagang Call: 800, Gorae Call: 800) already have credit card readers. Ulsan City plans to provide assistance to privately owned taxis and companies that want the credit card reader early.

An official from the municipal authority said, “Recently, many passengers are choosing to pay taxi fare using their credit card. That’s why we have decided to install credit card readers in all taxis.”

Meanwhile, since the introduction of ‘branded taxi (1,600 cars)’ last year, the number of credit card payments has greatly increased. In June, for example, 64,884 payments were made by credit card (KRW 390,806,000), a 180% increase from the previous year.

Source:Korea.net

Seoul Grand Sale 2010

Seoul Grand Sale 2010

http://www.seoulgrandsale.com/2010/en/seoulinfo/grandsale.asp

- Period : July 21 – September 12 (54 days)
- Venue : Various parts of Seoul
- Event description : Special discounts, free entries, premium giveaways etc.
- Open to domestic citizens, foreign visitors
- Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Organization.

Intended to promote the image of Seoul as the shopping tourism destination, the event will be participated by some 600 retailers that will offer special discounts as well as a wide variety of events and promotions.

Two Korean Villages Become UNESCO Sites

Andong City’s Hahoe Village and Gyeongju City’s Yangdong Village, which are the two most representative historic villages in Korea, were registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list at the 34th Session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in Brasilia, Brazil on August 1. With this designation, Korea now holds a total of 10 UNESCO World Heritage items.

It is extremely rare for historic villages to be in intact state due to modernization and development and such, and the assessment of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is accordingly extremely rigorous.

The Hahoe and Yangdong Village, too, had to go through a series of reviews, holdups, and postponements before they were granted the approval. ICOMOS recognized the two villages’ historic and cultural significance as early as last May and the legitimate ground in having them registered as one coupled-up item. However, due to the fact that there wasn’t a comprehensive administrative office that manages both of the villages together, ICOMOS sustained their approval.

To this, Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration with Gyeongsangbuk-do, Andong City and Gyeongju City, organized “The Council on Preservation of Historic Villages” that was going to collaboratively manage and preserve the two villages. And after submitting to 21 member countries of WHC thorough information and promotional materials on the Hahoe and Yangdong Village as well as dispatching a government delegation to the 34th Session of WHC, were they able to put the two villages on the list of UNECO World Cultural Heritage.

1995: Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple / Jongmyo Shrine / Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks
1997: Changdeokgung Palace Complex / Hwaseong Fortress
2000: Gyeongju Historic Areas / Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites
2007: Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes
2009: Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
2010: Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong

Founded in the 14th-15th centuries, Hahoe and Yangdong Village’s layout and location – sheltered by forested mountains and facing out onto a river and open agricultural fields – reflect the distinctive aristocratic Confucian culture of the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

The Hahoe Village contains Yangjindang Manor (Treasure No. 306), Pikchondaek House (Important Folklore Material No. 84), Chunghyodang Manor (Treasure No. 414), and Namchondaek House (Important Folklore Material No. 90) among others. It has also preserved the shamanist rite of Byeolsin-gut, Hahoe Mask Dance, and Jeulbul Nori.

The Yangdong Village contains Mucheomdang (Treasure No. 411), Hyangdan (Treasure No. 412), Gwangajeong (Treasure No. 442) as well as Tonggamsokpyeon, a book printed on movable metal type (National Treasure No. 283).

The two villages are the first of their kind in Korea to receive the honor in that they are places that are actually being inhabited by people. They are “living heritage.” Residents have well preserved not only traditional housings but the intangible culture of the two villages as well, which further increases the value of Hahoe and Yangdong.

Having relics registered on the UNESCO list is pointless if they don’t continue to be properly looked after. The two villages, Hahoe and Yangdong, now having become world-acknowledged historic assets, will likely trigger a surge of tourists both domestic and international. And accordingly, we will need to further reinforce maintenance system and strengthen tourism infrastructure so that those precious vestiges of the past can still be there for the next generation to appreciate as well.

Korean Song Gives Hope to Kenyan Children

Have you listened to the song “Dream of a Goose (거위의 꿈)” by the legendary Korean singer Insooni (인순이)? I bet most of you have.

“….Yes, I do have a dream. I believe in that dream. Wait and watch me….”

A song of catchy melody, heartfelt lyrics, and powerful performance. But I personally would say that the charm of the song lies in its lyrics. It’s a monologue of a goose that is determined to soar up to the sky someday – despite all the callous ridicule of the world saying geese can never fly. The goose says it will achieve that dream of flying someday somehow. It’s such heart-wrenching lyrics.

And what’s more impressive, this Korean song is being sung by children in a far, far, far away country – Kenya.

Children of “Korogocho,” Kenya’s Largest Slum Town

In the region called Korogocho, one of the largest slum neighborhoods of Nairobi, Kenya, some 150,000 to 200,000 people live pressed shoulder to shoulder. The town is polluted beyond imagination – its sky is black with smoke coming from burning garbage and its ground wet with atrocious residual liquid.

In this seediest of the seediest towns on earth, people live on less than two dollars a day. Children scavenge through garbage for food and clothing – practically live amidst piles of trash – and going to school is a luxury only enjoyed by a mere one-third of the Korogocho children. The illiteracy rate and the seriousness of their ignorance is of such grave state that the kids won’t understand if they are told to “line up.” But what’s harder for them to bear than the hunger and the lack of education itself is the despair – the complete absence of hope and dream.

And in this most dire and glum situation, Good Neighbors – an international humanitarian and development organization from Seoul that originated as a non-profit NGO in 1991 – has been running the Jirani (meaning “good neighbor” in Swahili) school, vocational training center, and medical center since 1996.

A Song of Hope Budding out of Despair

Artistic activities offered to children in Kenya are almost non-existent. The only substantial one will be the choir run by the Good Neighbors Kenya, giving them a glimmer of hope and dream.

Under the instruction of a Korean music director, children started practicing the song “Dream of a Goose.”

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Director spared no time and energy in explaining the meaning of the song’s lyrics over and over to the children. For the second verse, they even composed their own version of lyrics in Swahili describing their sufferings and also their will to overcome them. The children sang with all of their hearts, hundreds of times, and soon they memorized all the melodies and lyrics.

And they were given the opportunity to participate in the music competition hosted by the Kenyan government on June 18. And miraculously, they came in 3rd place. The video of their performance was uploaded on YouTube and drew applause and encouragement from audiences worldwide. It moved numerous Korean web users as well as the Korean singer Juck Lee who is none other than the composer of the very song “Dream of a Goose.”

Children’s Voice and a Dream Come True

The story of Korogocho children and their choir eventually gave birth to the “Jirani Children’s Choir,” sponsored by Good Neighbors. Around 100 children were selected after extensive auditions, and they started to sing hope and dream to the world.

Children who have to dig though mountains of garbage to survive now spread something beautiful, something hopeful, to the world with their collaborative voice. It is, indeed, a dream come true.

After a series of performances in a number of countries including Korea, they were able to collect enough finance to support the children’s education.

It’s a real story that sounds so dramatic and touching it might as well be turned into a film. Tae-Jong Rim, one of the five board members of Good Neighbors and the president of the Jirani Cultural Project Foundation, commented, “The Jirani Children’s Choir wouldn’t have been possible without Koreans’ strength in culture. We should continue to expand these kinds of activities.” International exchange and support will keep expanding as well as the government ODA.

It’s impossible to help everyone in the world who is poor and is in need of help. But it’s possible to give them a glimpse of hope, just as the Kenyan children’s “Dream of a Goose” did.