World Leisure Congress scientific program to provide global perspective on ‘leisure and identity

Culinary schools and star chefs lead food globalization

Korean dishes like bulgogi and bibimbap are slowly gaining popularity overseas as a health food. Early this month at the “Korean Barbecue Contest” held in Los Angeles, nearly 10,000 people crowded the stands for a sample. Last week, U.S. media also covered PGA champion golfer Yang Yong-eun’s dinner party of a multi-course Korean meal, including rice, galbi (beef ribs), and kimchi, for his fellow golfers.

Recently, the Korean food globalization team at the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MIFAFF) announced that Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will be the first university in the US to open a full lecture series dedicated to Korean cuisine. The prestigious east coast University enjoys vibrant exchanges with some of the top universities in Korea, including the Seoul National University, KAIST, Ewha Woman’s University, and Hanyang University.

According to the school, beginning this September, these lectures will “explore the fundamentals and philosophy of traditional South Korean cuisine,” with a “strong emphasis on cultural influences, the Korean aesthetic, knife work and terminology.” This course will be open to all students interested in Korean culture.

Lee Jee-hyun, an assistant professor at Drexel University played a major role in bringing the lectures to campus. Lee is currently pursuing ways to make Korean cuisine a part of the curriculum for the culinary arts program, and further planning to open a Korean cuisine course at Drexel’s Lifelong Education Center.

Students will also have the learn about Korean food through hands-on sessions where they learn how to cook rice, soup, condiments, and a wide variety of Korean foods using Korean produce. These sessions, led by Professor Adrienne Hall, will be restricted to students with majoring in culinary arts.

The lectures will last for 10 weeks, with a predicted class size of about 10 to 15 students. The students will learn to make four to five different Korean course meals, and around the eighth week, the school plans to invite managers of school restaurants and local businesspeople from Philadelphia and New Jersey’s the food industry to sample and evaluate the student’s food.

“Many of the students in Drexel’s culinary program go on to jobs in the restaurant business or food companies,” said Jang Myung-chul, an official from the Korean food globalization team. “This will not only help to promote Korean food to the locals, but also provide us a chance to collect feedback on our traditional food for future improvements.”

Korean cuisine has also made in-roads at Hattori Nutrition College, Japan’s top culinary school in May this year. The Tokyo-based culinary institute was established in 1939 and produces over 1,000 professional cooks every year.

A total of 1,300 students from four culinary departments will attend a 25-week long lecture series, which is divided into sections on theory, folklore, demonstrations, and cooking sessions. They made gujeolpan (nine-filling crepes), haemul kimchi-jjigae (kimchi stew with seafood), oiseon (stuffed cucumber) and ogok-bap (five-grain rice).

Last March, in order to provide better lectures on Korean food, MIFAFF and Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation invited a dozen Korean cuisine instructors living in Japan back for to Korea for extra training before the school starts again.

The Ministry is looking to expand Korean cooking programs to other cooking schools abroad, such as the Culinary Institute of America in the United States, Le Cordon Blue in France, and the Tsujicho Culinary Institute in Osaka.

The government is considering establishing official licenses for Hansik chefs, enacting a new law to promote restaurant business, and create a 50 billion won food industry investment fund by 2013.

Star chefs for Korean food

The government wants to help nurture star chefs working in Korean traditional food. Last May, MIFAFF designated Kyung Hee University, Sejong University’s Institute of Traditional Korean Food, Sookmyung Women’s University’s Korean Food Institute, and Woosung University as institutes for training future Hansik chefs.

Another nine universities and institutions, including Daelim and Hallym Colleges, were designated as professional training schools for producing experts on local cuisines. The students will go train for five months, from July to early December, with the government shouldering 70 percent of the expense.

Chef Lee Hyo-sam, who completed the course last year, stands as a successful example of this new Hansik training. His yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) with noodles is currently a big hit in his restaurant, attracting not only locals but quite a number of expats as well.

The government selected Woosung University, Jeonju University and Busan Tourism High school as schools cooking Korean cuisine. The three schools recognized for management and training of the students were chosen to receive extra government funds for the next few years. The two colleges will receive a combined 2.4 billion won for the next four years and the high school will receive 600 million won for next three years.

Woosung University is taking advantage of the opportunity by operating a culinary MBA course, the first of its kind in the world. The course is open to only top 10 percent of students, resulting in fierce competition among those who wish to build their culinary, business, and foreign language skills.

source:korea.net

A peculiar love song: Maestro Ahn Eak-tai’s 'Aegukga'

Maestro Ahn Eak-tai, composer of the Korean national anthem “Aegukga,” conducts the Vienna Symphony Orchestra during a rehearsal in 1942. Below is the score for “Aegukga.” /Korea Times file By Lee Hyo-won It’s impossible to forget Yoon Do-hyun’s infectious rock tune “Oh, Pilseung (victorious) Korea,” which took the entire country by storm during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, as red T-shirt-clad fans cheered for South Korea in perfect unison. “Where there is pressure, there is folk dance,” according to Danish artist Fos, and the same can be said of other art forms and traditions that take root when groups are bound by a unifying sentiment or goal, be it love of the game or political propaganda. The power of folk music can be said to have propelled the adoption of Ahn Eak-tai’s “Aegukga” as Korea’s national anthem. Cult activities translate most palpably into popular culture, and many countries have picked up widely loved tunes as its national song. Just as the French opted for “La Marseillaise,” Ahn’s melody deeply resonated with Koreans’ collective feelings of bitter loss — and undying hope — during Japanese colonial rule (1910-45), and continues to define the Korean identity to this day. “Aegukga” literally means “Song for Love for the Nation.” Last Sunday, the familiar tune resounded in the farthest corners of the country as it feted the 65th anniversary of Liberation Day when Korea was freed from Japanese rule on Aug. 15, 1945. The anthem is expected to resound even louder since this Sunday marks the centennial of the annexation of Korea by Japan on Aug. 22, 1910. The tribute to Ahn and his iconic legacy continues next month through a concert and photo exhibition organized by the Ahn Eak-tai Foundation. Ahn’s love song for Korea, and moreover, the dramatic life of Ahn himself, deserve special attention, and The Korea Times looks into his artistic merit and humanitarian spirit. A peculiar love song “Aegukga” today is known as a proper noun that refers to songs Koreans sing when the “taegeukgi” or national flag starts waving in the air. This remains true to the etymology of the word “anthem,” which derives from the Greek word “antiphony,” meaning a song one sings in response to something — like a Gregorian chant sung in a call-and-response style. In this case, it’s a musical call to patriotism or belonging of sorts. But in the past “aegukga” denoted a broad genre of songs aimed to inspire patriotism. In 1896 a variety of aegukga lyrics were published for the founding of Korea’s first modern daily Tongnip Sinmun (The Independent), and “The Korean Empire Aegukga” was commissioned by the emperor and was sung during major state ceremonies. Among these was a popular set of lyrics that is believed to be written by independence fighter An Chang-ho and/or Yun Chi-ho. During the colonial period, the lyrics gained popularity among Koreans, particularly during the March 1, 1919 independence movement. The words however were sung to the melody of “Auld Lang Syne”; while studying in the United States in the 1930s Ahn noticed his compatriates singing “Aegukga” to the tune of the Scottish folksong and was inspired to compose his most enduring legacy. “Aegukga,” now bearing an original melody, was first sung among Korean expatriates in San Francisco and then spread to Shanghai, where the Korean provisional government was based (1919-45). The anthem thus reached the Korean Peninsula last; even after liberation, the lyrics were often sung to the notes of “Auld Lang Syne.” Kim Gu, the sixth and last president of the provisional governing body, decided that “Aegukga” would be Korea’s national anthem until the two Koreas were reunified, true to this day. When the Republic of Korea was founded in 1948, “Aegukga” as it appears today was featured in official state ceremonies and school textbooks. Ahn’s legacy, however, was not just composing the Korean national anthem — he was the country’s first internationally renowned maestro. He was among the first Asians to become a core part of the Western classical music scene, as he mingled with composers like Zoltan Kodaly and Richard Strauss and conducted premier ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic. His love song for Korea, moreover, is manifest in his famous symphony “Korea Fantasy,” which features the melody of “Aegukga” as its main theme. The piece premiered in 1938 in Dublin, and won the hearts of the Irish audience who, like the Koreans, were under foreign rule. Throughout his conducting career he almost always showcased “Korea Fantasy,” and on one occasion he was barred from the Rome Philharmonic Orchestra for performing the symphony since Italy’s then-ally Japan found the piece politically offensive. The three-part symphony, however, remains incomplete to this day. A globe-trotting maestro It is difficult to discuss his work in depth without looking into the life of the maestro cellist, conductor and composer. Ahn was born in 1906 in Pyongyang, which is now the capital of North Korea. He exhibited a strong proclivity for music at an early age, and by junior high school he was playing the violin, trumpet and cello. In addition to musical pursuits, the teen-aged Ahn was also preoccupied with anti-Japanese activities. He faced possible imprisonment when the March 1, 1919 uprising broke out, but quite ironically a Japanese doctor helped him flee to Japan. After graduating from the Kunitachi Music School he moved to the United States in order to pursue music more freely. He studied at the University of Cincinnati and the Curtis Institute of Music, and in 1932 the cellist became the first ever Asian member of the presitigious Philadelphia Orchestra. It 1935 he composed “Aegukga.” Afterwards, Ahn continued his studies in Europe, where he forayed into conducting under renowned Maestro Bernhard Paumgartner. He then moved to Hungary, where he studied composition under the auspices of Kodaly. He became part of the exciting local music scene and it was during this time that he composed “Korea Fantasy.” While working in Spain he met his wife Lolita Talavera and the couple married in 1946. They resided in Majorca, where he founded the Palma de Mallorca Symphony Orchestra. Following Korea’s liberation, Ahn returned to his homeland for the first time in 25 years. He initiated various projects such as an international music festival and conducting what is now the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also invited to give concerts in Japan, including one during the 1964 Summer Olympics. He received the Cultural Order of Merit from the Korean government in 1965. Dissension with local musicians, however, led to the halt of his music festival in Seoul, and before an envisioned amendment Ahn passed away suddenly from an illness in September 1965, while he was visiting Majorca. He was 59. His ashes were transferred from the Spanish island to the Korean National Cemetery in 1977. In 2009, a statue of Ahn was erected in Budapest. While Ahn is one of Korea’s most recognized composers he has also been subject to much controversy, including being labeled a Japanese sympathizer. As much as political and social issues with Japan remain heated, some argued the need to adopt a new national anthem, particularly since “Aegukga” was never legally adopted. “It’s up to historians to figure out the truth. In any case the fact remains clear that Ahn was Korea’s first maestro conductor who was highly respected overseas and that he left behind a legacy that means a great deal to Koreans to date. In paying our tribute to Ahn, we only deal with his life and work as a musician, as the composer of Korea’s national anthem,” Kim Yun-kyung, executive director of the Ahn Eak-tai Foundation and piano professor at the Soongsil University Conservatory, told The Korea Times. “Ahn has left behind 10 compositions but unfortunately some scores no longer exist. Historians and musicians are continuing their efforts to find the missing links in his life and career.” In the meantime, Ahn’s most enduring legacies speak for themselves through the universal language of music. Biographical information has been extracted from text provided by the Ahn Eak-tai Foundation and music critic Han Sang-wu’s work for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 1991 —ED. Tribute to Ahn The Ahn Eak-tai Foundation will host its annual concert commemorating Ahn’s musical achievements on Sept. 1 at Seoul Arts Center. This year’s performance will reenact the 1938 world premiere of “Korea Fantasy” by offering the same program that was staged in Dublin. The KBS Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Chung Chi-yong, will play Beethoven’s “Egmont” overture, Op. 84 and pianist Ian Young-wook Yoo will appear as the soloist for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491. Instead of Schubert’s Incomplete Symphony No. 8, three vocal pieces will be offered: Soprano Kim Hyang-ran and bass Im Cheol-min will sing Ahn’s “White Lily” as well as “Geu-jip-ap (In Front of That House)” and “Ga-go-pa (I Want to Go)” by Korean composers who attended the same school as Ahn in Pyongyang. “Korea Fantasy” will be the grand finale of the evening. In addition to the concert, an exhibition of Ahn’s private photographs will be open to the public for the first time at V-Gallery within Seoul Arts Center, from Sept. 1 to 10. Some 100 photos, selected from more than 1,600, will be displayed. Admission to both events is free. It is recommended that seats for the concert be reserved in advance by telephone before Aug. 25. Call (02) 821-8494 or visit www.ahneaktai.or.kr (Korean only) for more information.

source:Korea times

Azerbaijani musicians perform in Korea with classical music concert programs

Azerbaijani musicians performed in three cultural centers in Korea with concert programs of classical music, Korea's Embassy in Azerbaijan told Trend.

Four young Azerbaijani musicians - Baku Music Academy's students Kamran Mirzeyev, Kamran Sarkar, Nargis Aliyeva and Kanan Mayilov were in Korea from Aug. 3 to 18 in the orchestra, organized on the initiative of the Azerbaijani Embassy and the Korean Silkroad Foundation.

The final concert took place Aug. 17 in the largest cultural center of Seoul "Sejong Art Center". Along with a wide audience, the concert was attended by Chun Yung-woo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Korea, the Silkroad Foundation President Kang Duk-soo, the employees of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Korea, as well as representatives of other diplomatic missions in Seoul.

During the visit Azerbaijani representatives took part in joint rehearsals with musicians

from other countries of the Silk Road (Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan).

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