South Korean Museums

Posted by Ginny 1 Comment
Sep 23 2011

There are so many ways to experience and see traditional Korean culture at work. One of the ways is to visit a museum in Korea, one like the Museum of Straw and Plants Handicraft (짚풀생활사박물관) in Seoul (서울). I love seeing all the things that can be made with straw. I once saw these boots made straw. They kind of reminded me of ugg boots! It’s just mindboggling as to how many things can be made with straw, and it doesn’t stop with just traditional Korean items like shoes and hats.

The Nonghyup Museum (농업박물관) is also in Seoul and is a museum dedicated to traditional Korean farming. Agriculture used to be a big part of Korean life and the museum chronicles the tools and methods of traditional Korean farming. Visitors to the museum can see displays of how ancient farming tools were used. Not only can you see hoes, plows and other farming tools. There are also sifting baskets, sieves and other tools.

 

I think the most fascinating museum for me to visit was the Lock Museum (쇳대박물관). The Lock Museum has many displays of traditional Korean talismans, locks, charms, latches and keys. It used to be that locks, charms and talisman had both symbolic and functional purposes. Some of the keys and latches had designs of animals like butterflies, peony flowers and peaches. Butterflies are symbolic of martial happiness and peonies are symbolic of wealth, while peaches symbolize longevity.

The Ricecake and Kitchen Utensil Museum (떡부엌살림박물관) features all the different kinds of cutlery used in the history of Korean cuisine. There’s also a section of the Museum that features solely on Korean ricecakes and the kitchenware that were traditionally used to make Korean ricecakes. I found the grinding stones to grind the glutinous rice into rice cake flour especially interesting. The Museum has over 5o displays on a variety of Korean ricecakes. It makes me drool just thinking about it!

 

Natural Monuments of South Korea

Posted by Ginny 1 Comment
Sep 20 2011

South Korea is a beautiful country with many flora and geological formations. There are several Natural Monuments (천연기념물) of South Korea that are popular among tourists. One of these places is the Natural Habitat of Crinum Lily in Gujwaeup (제주 토끼섬 문주란 자생지). Crinum Lilies are white flowers that bloom from July to September on Jeju Island (제주도). These lilies were once in danger of being exterminated be overpicking, but now they are protected by law.

Another popular natural monument in South Korea is the Ginkgo Tree of Yongmunsa Temple (양평 용문사 은행나무). This Ginkgo tree is estimated to be over 1000 years old. It is 135 feet tall and changes color in the fall. Normally the leaves of this Ginkgo tree are green, but in the fall they turn yellow. From afar the yellow leaves make this Ginkgo tree look like a magical golden tree that you read about in fairy tales.

 

The Turtle Rocks of Unpyeongri (운평리 구상 화강암) is my favorite natural monument in South Korea. They are located in the city of Sangju (상주시) in Gyeongsanbuk Province (경상북도). The Turtle Rocks of Unpyeongri are a bunch of rocks. They are named ‘Turtle Rocks’ because the rocks look like the designs you see on the shells of turtles. These Turtle Rocks were naturally formed in this day, which I think is quite amazing!

 

Herons are majestic creatures with retractable, long, graceful necks, which is why the Breeding Ground of Herons in Jincheon (진천 노원리 왜가리 번식지) in Chungcheongbuk Province (충청북도) is considered an important natural monument. The Herons in Jincheon rely on the Gingko trees as their habitat, which is why there are extensive efforts being made to protect the Gingko trees in the area.

 

The Gimnyeongguland Manjanggul Caves of Jejudo (제주도 김녕굴 및 만장굴) is another cool natural monument in South Korea. The Cave in the photo was enhanced by artificial green lighting for a tourism exhibition. Since it’s hard to see the Caves at night, the lighting gives the visitor an inner glimpse of the interior of the Caves.

 

Hanbok

Posted by Ginny No Comments
Sep 15 2011

Hanbok (한복) is the name for a type of traditional Korean clothing. In particular the hanbok for ladies has changed over the decades. Take for example the jeogori (저고리), which is the upper garment of the woman’s hanbok that covers the entire length of the arms and the upper body. In the early part of Korean history, the jeogori used to cover the waist, but over the years many women have preferred to have it tailored above the waist.

One of the reasons why the jeogori became shorter was because in times of war and other crises like food shortages, it was prudent to use less fabric for clothing. As wars ended the fashion for having shorter jeogori continued and women would wear sometimes add more extravagant elements to the hanbok. For example, the Kkeutdong (끝동) refers to the cuff of the sleeves of the hanbok. The kkeutdong was often of a different color than the rest of the hanbok. In the photo, the kkeutdong is the part that is blue.

It used to be that only the king and his relatives could wear hanbok with geumbak (금박) on it. Geumbak is a type of gold leaf design on the hanbok that indicated the person’s high ranking or royal status. Nowadays anyone who can afford to have a hanbok with a geumbak design can wear it. A skilled artisan must apply the geumbak to the hanbok, which is why hanboks with authentic geumbak designs are very expensive.

 

The goreum (고름) of the hanbok is like the ribbon or coat strings of the hanbok. If you look at the photo you can get an idea of how to tie the goreum of the hanbok. Usually the goreum of the hanbok is made of a solid color, but in the Jeoseon Period women who were prostitutes/dancing girls wore a special goreum that was decorated with flowers to indicate their occupation as prostitutes/dancing girls. However, this rule doesn’t apply to today’s hanbok!

Another way women distinguished themselves from other women was by the git (깃) or the fabric that lined the band of the collar. Women related to royalty would wear a git lined with geumbak and women who weren’t related to royalty but were of high status wore a git of a different color than the jeogori. In the photo, the git is the fabric that has the gold leaf design right next to the white lining of the color. Men’s hanbok has changed very little over the years, but women’s hanbok continues to evolve still to this day!

Korean Waterfalls

Posted by Ginny No Comments
Sep 12 2011

Some people mistakenly believe that all the waterfalls in South Korea are in Jeju Island (제주도), (If you don’t know what I mean, go here: http://www.transparent.com/korean/korean-waterfalls) but that’s simply not true. There are waterfalls all over Korea, including one in Donghae City (동해시) of Gangwon Pronvince (강원도) called Ssang Falls (쌍푹포). Ssang Falls is a beautiful waterfall that has been in the inspiration for local poets for many centuries.

Paraeso Falls (파래소폭포) is a waterfall in Ulsan City (울산시) in Ulju County (울주군). To see the waterfalls up close, you’ll have to hike up a rugged path. The path is inside a forest where it is connected to a valley. When you get to the valley there you will see Paraeso Falls. There is also a one hour walk from the bus stop to the hiking trail, so seeing the Paraeso Falls is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth it. The pond were the water from the Paraeso Fall gathers is a lovely sea-green color!

Unlike Paraeso Falls, Gugok Falls (구곡폭포) is in Chuncheon City (춘천시) is relatively easy to get to. It only takes twenty minutes by foot to get to the Gugok Falls. The waters from the Gugok Falls fall by dropping on different rock formations on the cliff. It’s amazing to see such water swerving and twisting before it drops straight into the pond below for about fifty meters. It’s one of those waterfalls that is easily accessible so much so that kids can join too!

Daeseung Falls (대승폭포) is located in Inje County (인제군). Since the Silla Era, Daeseung Falls has been a major relaxation spot. That’s because the natural surroundings of Daeseung Falls is unsurpassed in its beauty. For many generations, Inje County has had the lowest population density of any South Korean city. The low population is one of the reasons why Daeseung Falls had stayed quite pristine and unpolluted over the years.

Seoul Buildings

Posted by Ginny No Comments
Sep 9 2011

South Korea may be smaller in square feet than many of the East Asian countries, but it is not any less amazing! If you look around Seoul (서울), the capital city of South Korea, you’ll be amazed at the buildings that you see there. Take for instance the Trade Center  Building (무역센터빌딩)  in Seoul. The jagged sides of the building looks like a stairway to heaven.

 

 

The SK T Tower (SK T 타워) is famous for its asymmetrical shape. From the 27th floor, one side of the building starts to curve inward and then widen outwards. The SK stands for South Korea and T stands for Telecom. There’s a subway connected to the SK T Tower, so people can get to the subway without even leaving the building!

 

 

The Korea Development Bank Headquarters Building (한국산업은행 본사) is famous for its coin monument in front of the entrance. The coins have a hole in the middle, which is reminiscent of the coins that used to be in circulation before Korea began to modernize. While the monument is traditional, the building itself is very modernized.

 

 

The Central Post Office (중앙우체국) is the leading post office in Korea in terms of design. There are two buildings joined by a connector. In addition, the exterior of the building is covered by a v-shaped shield-like structure. The Central Post Office follows green principles, meaning that energy is used in a sustainable manner.

 

 

Boutique Monaco Building (부띠끄모나코 빌딩) is a residential building that is over 100 meters high with 27 floors. The Boutique Monaco Building also contains a museum that displays all the latest furniture. The Boutique Monaco Building itself looks like a piece of furniture built with legos, but with a much classier flair.

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