PRECAUTION

To all muslim....U shouldn't try all the non-halal food on this blog....Thank Q

Yakshik (약식)

A typical snack enjoyed on Deborum (대 보름), or the full moon festival, is yakshik (약식). Yakshik (약식) is brown in color and sweet in taste. Today, we are going to learn how to make yakshik (약식).

METHOD:

First, soak about two cups of chapssal (찹 쌀) or glutinous rice in cold water for a day. If you don’t soak the chapssal (찹쌀), it won’t turn out soft and sticky, so make sure to soak, soak, soak. Then, take a cup of brown sugar and a cup of cinnamon and mix it together. Add two cups of water and a tablespoon of soy sauce. Next, mix in a half cup of raisins.

Then, open a can of bam (밤). Let me give you a hint as to what bam (밤) is. “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” If you haven’t guessed alreay, bam is the Korean word for chestnut. Drain the water out of the can of bam (밤). If you don’t want the canned variety, you can buy some raw chestnuts. However, it takes more work with raw chestnuts because you have to peel off the hard skin.

Then get about a fourth of a cup of song kwa (송과). Song kwas (송과) are pine nuts. They are yellowish in color and used in American recipes as well. For example, pine nut oil is used in making brownies. Pine nuts come from pine cones. I guess you could look for some pine cones and try to shake out some pine nuts, but a better use of your time might be to buy it at the store.

Next, grab a handful of dechu (대추). Dechu (대 추) is a type of date or jujube. (Jujube as in the type that grows on trees, not the candy.) Dechus (대추) are red and look like dried raisins. Dechus (대추) give the yakshik (약식) a natural sweetness. Dechu (대추) is used not just in yakshik (약식) but in Korean teas and medicine as well.

Put everything in the rice cooker and wait for it to cook. When it’s done, it’s ready to be served! So dig in!

Ogok-bap (오곡밥)

Ogok-bap (오곡밥) is a common dish consumed on Deborum (대 보람) or the full moon festival. What is ogok-bap (오곡밥)? It’s a dish of five different types of grain.

The most prominent ingredient in ogok-bap (오 곡밥) is chapssal (찹쌀). Chapssal (찹쌀) is glutinous rice. When glutinous rice is cooked, it becomes sticky. Despite it’s name, glutinous rice does not contain gluten. So for all of you who are on a gluten-free diet, ogok-bap (오곡밥) is perfect for you.

Pat (팥) is a type of red soybean. Red soybeans are often sweetened and consumed as a type of paste in Korean desserts. In ogok-bap (오곡밥) red soybeans are not sweetened and consumed as a bean, not as paste.

There are also black soybeans called komjung kong (검정콩). Komjung kong (검정콩) contains a lot of protein. Komjung kong (검정콩) is the most recognizable ingredient in ogok-bap (오곡밥). They are huge and scattered all throughout the ogok-bap (오곡밥).

Bori (보리), which is barley grain in English, is used to make Korean tea. Bori (보리) is also used in U.S. goods like bread and oatmeal. Bori (보리) is really healthy and known to regulate blood sugar levels.

Lastly, ogok-bap (오곡밥) contains chasusu (차수수). Chasusu (차수수) is sorghum. Sorghum is used in the US as fodder for livestock and sometimes to produce molasses in alcoholic beverages.

So those are all the grains in ogok-bap (오곡밥). As you can see, it’s really healthy. There is some salt in ogok-bap (오 곡밥), but not enough to be bad for your health. Also, ogok-bap (오 곡밥) is consumed with a stew, so it’s not consumed just in and of itself. (ogok-bap by itself would be a very bland dish!) Ok everyone, gotta go, talk to you next time.

Deborum (대보름)

Deborum (대보름) is an up-coming festival celebrated on the fifteenth of January. This festival is based on the lunar calendar and means ‘great full moon.’ The locals believe that the first full moon appears on the fifteenth of January. Like many Korean festivals, there are always traditional activities that highlight the festival.

For example there is the tradition of cracking nuts with your teeth called borum (보름). It’s thought that cracking nuts with your teeth will create a healthy set of teeth for the coming year. The origins for this tradition is unclear. However, this tradition goes back to the time when dental care was not widespread in Korea. It may have been a way to deal with unhealthy teeth. Also, nuts are a good source of nutrition and many peasants who lacked protein could stock up on it with this tradition.

There’s also the tradition called orum (오름) on deborum (대보름). Orum (오름) is an activity where a mass of people try to climb the highest mountain peak in their local village. The first person to reach the top and see the full moon is the person who will have the most luck in the coming year.

The highlight of the festival is an activity called jwi-bul-nori (쥐 볼놀이). Jwi-bul-nori (쥐볼놀이) is an activity where used cans are poked with holes and stuffed with dry grass. The cans are lighted and children whirl the cans around a field of crops. The ash from the dry grass in the cans fertilize the fields. This game is a pyro maniac’s dream. The fires are quite big and spread far into the fields. Jwi-bul-nori (쥐볼놀이) serves two purposes. One of the purposes happen to be practical. Through a game-like fashion, jwi-bul-nori (쥐볼놀이) completes an important part of the agricultural cycle. The second purpose is more entertaining. The fires caused by jwi-bul-nori (쥐볼놀이) are beautiful. They are jaw-dropping.

Here’s what I mean by the deborum (대보름) festival being a arsonist’s paradise:

U-gong I-san

Today’s post is going to feature a four letter Korean proverb for the New Year. As you know, four letter proverbs are represented by Chinese characters. Here are the Chinese characters for the four letter proverbs: 愚公移山. Let’s break this proverb down to its syllables. This character 愚 is pronounced as ‘u.’ It means foolishness. The next character is 公 and is pronounced as ‘gong.’ Now, this character could have several meanings. It could mean ‘man’ or ’sir.’ For the purposes of today’s proverb, let’s focus on the meaning for ‘man.’ The character 移 is pronounced as ‘i’. 移 (i) is the root word meaning to move or transfer. Lastly, this character 山 is pronounced as san and means mountain.

Altogether this proverb means, ‘the foolish man who moved a mountain.’ Believe or not, this is a proverb with a positive meaning. Before I go further into what this proverb means, let me tell you the story behind this proverb.

A long time ago, there was a man named ugong (우공). Ugong (우공) noticed one day while walking that there were two mountains. The two mountains were connected to each other and they formed a formidable blockade so that people had to walk around it to get to the other side. This is when ugong (우공) got the idea to gather his sons and dig a pathway between the two mountains. Every day ugong (우공) and his sons would get a shovel to try to create a pathway. The work was difficult and seasons would change with no progress in sight.

The villagers laughed at ugong (우공). They called him a foolish man for trying to perform such a difficult task. Ugong (우 공) just replied and said, “After I die, my sons will carry out the work and their sons will carry out the work when my sons die. You’ll see, there’ll be a passageway between the mountains.” Unbeknownst to ugong (우공), the spirit residing on the mountain overheard ugong (우공). He felt pity for ugong (우 공) and decided to help ugong (우공). The spirit moved one of the mountains, creating a passageway between the two mountains.

So what’s the moral of the story? The moral is, hard work pays off. With persistence and dedication, you can achieve your dreams. True, ugong (우공) had a little help from his sons and the mountain spirit, but nonetheless his goals were fulfilled. Now let’s tie this story back to 愚公移山 (u-gong-i-san), our four letter proverb. This proverb literally means, ‘the foolish man who moved a moutain.’ Figuratively it means that you can move a mountain as well, especially if you work hard. The moving of a mountain symbolizes an impossible goal or dream. Therefore, this proverb signifies that an impossible dream can be accomplished with some persistence.

Why did I choose this proverb to represent the New Year? Looking back at 2008, it looks like people had a rough year. No matter how hard 2008 seemed, let this proverb be an inspiration to everyone.�

New Years's Superstitions

The New Year is a time of insecurity and doubt for some people. To ensure a successful year Korean people may perform rituals that seem strange to Americans. Some of these rituals are performed out of habit. Some of them are performed to prevent misfortune. Whatever the reason, this post will be a combination of funny and odd practices that are sure to pique your curiosity.

You might be interested to know that some Koreans drink a type of liquor called kkwi balki sol (뀌밝이솔). This tonic is supposed to clear one’s hearing for the New Year. The tonic supposedly protects the drinker from overhearing any malicious gossip. It’s also supposed to give the drinker the ability to accept wise advice. Honestly, I’m not exactly sure of the ingredients that make up kkwi balki sol (뀌밝이솔). This drink is home-made and contains a concoction of traditional and supersitious beliefs. For example, I’ve heard that some people put a pinch of animal feces in the drinks. In some parts of rural Korea, animal feces are considered healthy and often used as fertilizer. In that case, I don’t really want to know what’s inside of a kkwi balki sol (뀌밝이솔)!

Another interesting supersition is that of jeya (제야). Jeya (제야) is the custom of staying awake on sut dal ku mum (섣달그믐) or New Year’s Eve. If the person doesn’t stay up until midnight of New Year’s Eve, it’s considered bad luck. The local legends all say that your eyebrows will turn white and you’ll age faster than normal. Since people hating aging, it’s a custom that people try not to put off. The custom of jeya (제야) is also carried out because it’s thought that being awake and welcoming the New Year will lead to a bright, healthy and happy life. Since this affects my future, I just stay awake until 12:00 am then go back to sleep at 12:01.

Another tradition involves a little story. There is a boogeyman in Korean folklore called Yakwanggy (약왕기). Apparently Mr. Yakwanggy (약왕기) likes to take trips to Korean households and steal their shoes. As a result, Korean people hide their shoes inside the house. Usually shoes are left outside of the door, but since Yakwanggy (약왕기) is the dude stealing people’s shoes, it’s just not safe to leave the shoes outside. If your shoes are stolen, it’s considered bad luck. Shoes symbolize the means or paths to a goal or aspiration. If you no longer have the shoes you basically lack the means to carry out your New Year’s dreams. Here’s the funny part: to confuse Yakwangyy (약왕기), people leave a noodle strainer outside of their doors. I guess Yakwanggy (약 왕기) is not the brightest goblin out there, because he sees the strainer and becomes enchanted by it. He spends all his time counting the individual nooks and recounts them because he gets confused. Then, finding that the sun is on the rise, Yakwanggy (약왕기) runs away. Yakwanggy (약왕기) is the posterchild for the dark so yeah, sun is not his thing.

So whatever your New Year’s rituals are, just remember, don’t take it too seriously and just go with it for the fun of it.

New Years Games

Koreans celebrate the New Year with many traditional games. Yay! Games! Seriously, who doesn’t like games?! Some of the games that I’m about to list are not actually games, they’re more like traditional activities that people perform during the New Year’s celebrations. Nonetheless, they’re quite fun and interesting, so remember to enjoy them and have fun.

The easiest game to play is paengichiki (파 엔기치기). Paengichigi (파엔기치기) is a game where players try to knock over the other person’s spinning top. The person who has the spinning top still running is the winner. First you take the spinner in your hands and let it drop to the ground. Then you take a whip to strike the spinning top so that it continues to spin. I love playing this game on ice. When the spinner is put on ice, it spins way more rapidly than the floor. It’s a challenge to play on ice because you have to concentrate on the spinning top and yet make sure not to slip on the ice as well.

If you have good hand-eye coordination, you might want to try tuho (투호). Tuho (투호) is a game where you throw arrows into a vase. The person who has the most arrows in the vase is the winner. The vases may have several holes. The main hole is in the middle. The goal is to try to get the most arrows in the main hole. The other holes don’t count so if your arrows land there it’ll just be a waste of energy!

Here’s a game you can play by yourself: jegi-chagi (재 기차기). Jegi-chagi (재기차기) is a game of hacky sack. The American version of hacky sack involves a player kicking a bag filled with beans into the air. However, jegi-chagi (재기차기) is a little different. Instead of a bag of beans, a shuttlecock is used. The tip of the shuttlecock is covered with a coin. A piece of cloth covers the coin. This allows the shuttlecock to have a light base and a heavy top. The goal is to keep the shuttlecock in the air, using just your legs. If you use your arms or let it fall to the ground, then you’ve lost the game. My legs became so sore and I had muscle spams after playing it for an hour. Jegi-chagi (재기차기) is a great form of exercise. It’s fun for all ages and easy to play. Really, everyone can participate.

Lastly, the hardest game to play is neolttwigi (널뛰기). Neolttwigi (널뛰기) is a game of seesaw. The object of the game is to stay on the seesaw through a series of jumps, without falling down. This game is physically exhausting. First you have to jump and make sure your end of the seesaw touches the floor without falling. Then the person on the other end of the seesaw has to do the same. Honestly I like the American version of seesaw better because you just have to sit and let the other person do all the work. Unfortunately neolttwigi (널뛰기) is a game of jumping so no sitting is allowed.

So remember everyone, whatever you do this New Years, have fun and enjoy yourselves!

New Years Food

Hi everyone! Let’s talk about what Koreans eat on New Year’s Day. The typical day of the New Year starts with breakfast. Breakfast consists of a rice cake soup called ddok-kuk (떡 국). Ddok-kuk (떡국) is a soup made of beef broth with thinly shaped oval rice cakes. Actually, I’m not sure why Americans call ddok-kuk (떡국) a soup with rice cakes. It’s not really a rice cake per say, but rather a type of dough made out of rice. Anyway, some of the ingredients in ddok-kuk (떡 국) are bits of seaweed, an egg that has been cooked and thinly sliced, and some seasame seeds. The beef broth also contains some soy sauce as well. On top of that, it’s not unusual to see beef cut into small chunks mixed in with some green onions.

This is optional, but sometimes people put mandu (만두) in ddok-kuk (떡국). Mandu (만두) means dumpling in Korean. Mandus (만 두) can be prepared by frying them, or boiling them in hot water. The mandu (만두) used in ddok-kuk (떡국) is boiled. The fried mandu are called gunmandu (근만두). Usually gunmandu (근만두) is crispy and dipped in soy sauce. The kind of mandu (만두) made in boiling water is called mulmandu (물만두) or mandu-kuk (만두국).

The insides of the mandu (만두) vary by preference. I like to put noodles in my mandu (만두) with some pork and green onions. Kimchi mandu (김치 만두) is also very popular as well. I’ve also heard of a seafood mandu (만두) with crab meat and vegetable mandu (만두) with green herbs. Honestly, there are so many variaties out there, and different kinds are being invented every year.

That’s the best part of mandu (만두). You can put whatever your heart desires. All mandus (만두) despite what’s inside, are made of a flour-based exterior. The flour is mixed with water and rolled into a dough. Then the dough is thinly shaved into round circles. The ingredients are put in the dough and the dough is sealed with some egg yolk. Of course, you can just buy mandu (만 두) at a store. (It’s much easier!)

The question I often get is, why do Korean people eat ddok-kuk (떡 국) on New Year’s Day? The answer to that is two fold. One, ddok-kuk (떡국) is believed to be healthy and to purify the body. The white rice cakes are white and the color white is supposed to symbolize the purity of the food. Second, it’s a tradition and people have been carrying out this tradition for ages. That’s it for today, but I’ve got some more posts coming up on New Years celebrations, so don’t miss out!

Yut nori (윷노리)

Yut nori (윷노리) is a traditional Korean game played on New Years. In Korea, New Years is a holiday that lasts roughly three days. Technically speaking the official New Years is designed as January 26th of this year. That’s because on the lunal calendar, the new year begins on the 26th of January. Sometime during the New Years celebrations, Korean families have this tradition of spending time by playing traditional games. The most popular game is Yut nori (윷 노리).

This game is really interesting. First off, this game is often hand made. The board on which the game is played is really not a board at all. It’s a piece of cloth with some markings on it. It’s so inexpensive that families of all income levels can participate. The board, or rather the cloth is called malpan (말판). The markings on the malpan (말판) indicate stations. Before I get into that, you’ll need a mal (말) or a board piece. The board piece can be made of anything. It can be a button, some coins, marbles, rocks, etc. Anything goes.

Next, you’ll need four sticks. These sticks need to be a particular shape. You can either carve some wood by hand or buy them. Each stick has to have a flat side and a round side. Here’s the interesting part: whether the sticks face up or down determine the number of stations the player can move. First you toss the sticks in the air and let the sticks fall to the ground. If three sticks have the flat side facing down and only one out of the four sticks have the flat side facing up, this is called do (도). The particular positions of the sticks are named after animals. In this case do (도) means pig. A do (도) allows a player to move one space.

When two out of the four sticks have the flat side facing up and the other two have the flat side facing down, this is called ge (개) or dog. Ge (개) is worth two spaces. If one stick has the flat side facing down and the other three sticks have the flat side facing up, it’s called gol (걸) or sheep. Gol (걸) is worth three spaces. If all four sticks have the flat side facing up, this is called yut (윷). Yut means cow and is worth four spaces. If all four sticks have the flat side facing down, it is called mo (모) or horse. This is worth five spaces.

The first person to reach the end is the winner. This game can be played by all ages. If you like making crafts you might also enjoy making this game as well. Whenever I play this game with my cousins it always turns into a family war! No, I’m just exaggerating, but it can get pretty competitive. At least with this game I don’t go to jail or have to forfeit my property as I have to do in Monopoly. Yeah I know it’s just a game, but when that happens I always get so stressed out!

Wanna see how it’s played? Here’s a youtube video about it:

Sul (설)

Hi everyone! This is the first post for 2009! Todays is Sul nal (설 날) or New Years Day in Korea. The typical phrase you’ll hear is sehe bok mani baduseyo (새해 복 많이 받으세요). Let’s break this phrase down so that we can understand this quirky greeting. Sehe (새 해) means ‘new year.’ Bok (복) means ‘luck.’ Mani (많이) means ‘a lot.’ Baduseyo (받으세요) means ‘receive.’ Altogether if you translate this literally it means, ‘Receive a lot of luck for the New Year,’ or ‘Good luck for the New Year.’

New Years Day is called Sul (설) in Korean. Korean children follow a tradition called sebe jul (새배절) on the morning of New Years Day. Sebe jul (새배절) is a type of bow where you stand up and prostrate yourself with your forehead nearly touching the floor. Technically speaking you don’t have to be a child to perform a sebe jul (새배절). You could be forty years old and still perform this ritual; especially if your parents are still alive. The sebe jul (새배절) tradition goes way back in Korean history. It’s supposed to be a sign of respect towards the elderly.

When children perform the bow, parents and grandparents will give their children and grandchildren some allowance money called sebe don (새 배돈). Sebe don (새배돈) is usually handed out until the child reaches high school or college. Adults, especially if they work, will usually give their parents sebe don (새배돈). So here, the cycle is reversed and the young takes care of the old.

On sul (설), it’s also customary for Korean people to wear a hanbok (한복) or a traditional Korean outfit. As you can see, the New Year is a time where Koreans practice many traditional rituals. It’s also a time that many people spend with their families. I’ll talk more about this in later posts. For now, sehe bok mani baduseyo (새해 복 많이 받으세요) or Happy New Year.

Sung-tan-jul (성 탄절)

What is sung-tan-jul (성탄절)? Sung-tan-jul (성 탄절) is Christmas in Korean. As you know, some South Koreans celebrate Christmas. However, the story’s different for North Korea. Christianity is seen as a doctrine imported by the West. As a result, the North Korean government views Christmas and anything associated with the West with suspicion.

Although there are a few churches in North Korea, (four to be exact) the activities of the church are monitored very closely. The churches basically operate on the whim of the North Korean government. If the government is displeased with the church in any way, it can arrest and imprison any of its members. Imprisonment can lead to death for any of the church members. The work camps in North Korea are infamous for its torture tactics. Out of fear, North Koreans celebrate Christmas in secret.

To be honest, not many North Koreans know about Christmas. The press is tightly controlled and scrutinized by the North Korean government. Therefore, anything postive about the West, including Christmas, is censored by the North Korean press. If the North Korean people saw how happy and charitable people were on Christmas, and how beautiful the streets are decorated, capitalism would seem like a positive thing. That would threaten the North Korean agenda.

So this Christmas in North Korea, there will no christmas trees, no lights that line the streets of Pyongyang (평 양) the capital of North Korea. The only thing that will light up the streets of Pyongyang (평양) is the Juche Tower (주 체상탑). The Juche Tower (주체상탑) was made to commemorate the life of Kim Il Jong (김일정), the former dictator of North Korea. What the tower really symbolizes is oppression and the wholesale denial of humanity. So for all those North Koreans this year and for everyone reading this, Merry Christmas (메리 크리스마스).

Everland (에버랜드)

Don’t know where to go on vacation for the holidays? How about going to South Korea? Where exactly in South Korea? Try Yongin (용인) in Kyung-ki (경기) province, just south of Seoul (서울), the capital city of Korea. There are several ways to get to Youngin (용인). One way is through the subway. If you take either the Jukjun (죽 정) or the Bojung (보정) line, you’ll get there within reasonable time. Your other option is to take the bus in the city of Sungnam (성남).

Ok, now that the transportation issue is out of the way, let me talk more about Everland (에버랜드). Everland (에버랜드) is one of my favorite amusement parks. It’s very decorated; especially during Christmas. Everland (에버랜드) has everything, it’s the Disneyworld of Korea. Admission is around 26 U.S. dollars for adults and 19 U.S. dollars for children. Here’s a tip: go during the nighttime. You’ll get discounted admission prices when you go at night.

If you’re going with your family, check out Zoo Topia (즈토피아). There’s a place where the kids can feed the goats and ride horses as well. They also have animal shows where the animals will perform stunts. The main attraction is an elephant named Koshik (코식). I don’t know if it’s some kind of magic trick, but he can mimic Korean words. Either that or it’s a guy hiding behind a curtain and making those sounds. They also have a safari bus where you can see animals from the wild lounging about and sleeping. Sometimes the animal trainers will feed or pet the wild animals. I get a little nervous because I’ve seen footages of “When Animals Attack Part 2″ on cable television, and let me tell ya, it ain’t pretty.

If you’re with your date then go check out European Adventure (유로피안 아드벤춰). The place is full of European restaurants. You’ll never see so many European restaurants in one place, other than European Adventure; especially in Korea. According to my memory I think there were a couple of Italian restaurants, but they all seemed more or less decent. The interior is very sophisticated, and the food is good as well. I had some spaghetti and the sauce tasted sweet, but it was still very delicious. They also have a flower garden where you can stroll through and enjoy the scenery.

Two places that are a must see are Caribbean Bay (가라비안 베) and Everland Speedway (에버랜드 스피드웨). Caribbean Bay (가 라비안 베) is a water park and you’ll need to pay extra for it, but it’s soooo worth it. It’s indoors and the water is heated. It’s just perfect for some winter relaxation. Everland Speedway (에버랜드 스피드웨) is a race track. You don’t have to be a professional driver to drive a car. It’s great for letting out all that pent up stress you might have accumulated during the holidays. I just rammed into the walls, other cars, sometimes people (oops!), and had to calm myself down after an hour of doing that.

Of course since it’s an amusement park, Everland (에버랜드) has all sorts of rides and rollar coasters, but every amusement park has that, so I didn’t bother writing about it. Other than it, it’s time to say bye or annyung (안녕) in Korean.�

Korean Desserts For Holidays

I should preface this blog post by mentioning that not all Koreans celebrate Christmas. Some Koreans happen to be Buddhists and so Christmas isn’t really a holiday that they can identify with. Some Koreans are Christians, but they tend to observe Christmas in a low key fashion. For example, on Christmas Eve some Christian Koreans may start a prayer marathon that lasts until midnight. Some exchange presents and decorate their house with a tree and some don’t, it really depends upon the person. In regards to gift giving, that also depends upon the person. Sometimes Koreans may give money as a present, instead of an actual gift. If you feel uncomfortable about giving money, you can also give a gift certificate as well. To be honest, sometimes I prefer getting money as a present, because I haven’t always liked the gifts I’ve gotten. I guess it’s the thought that counts…

Well if you don’t want to give money you can always make gifts that come from the heart that everyone will enjoy. Hankwa (한과) is a general term for Korean sweets. Here are some dessert ideas that will please your Korean friends:

1) Yakgwa (약과) is made by kneading some wheat flour and frying it in honey and seasame oil. Sometimes instead of wheat flour rice flour is used. Also, in place of honey, rice wine can also be used as well. Yakgwa (약과) is brown in color and is made in the mold of a flower. These cookie like sweets can get stale very quickly, so make sure they’re refrigerated properly. As for taste, I would say they taste close to what I feel ginger snap cookies taste like.

2) Sukshilkwa (숙실과) is made by boiling some fruits, ginger, and pine nuts in water mixed with honey. You can add chestnuts as well. Sukshilkwa (숙실과) come in a variety of colors. Some are tannish, some are blackish, some are white, etc. As for taste, it really depends on the ingreedients. If you add in lots of sugar and honey, it has a tendency to be sweeter.

3) Jungkwa (정과) is made by boiling either fruits or plant roots in honey and some mulyot (물 엿) or Korean liquid candy. It’s soft like jello. You can pretty much put anything in jungkwa (정과) including carrots, ginseng, melons, sweet potatoes, etc. Food coloring is optional. It tastes like American jello, but less sweeter.

By the way, you don’t have to make these by hand. You can find these goodies at your local Korean grocery store. It’s a good time to start trying something new. Who knows, you might actually grow to like Korean sweets!

Real Life Korean Politics

Today was a drama filled day in the South Korean legislature. Picture this: a man in a suit blocks the doorway to the parliamentary meeting room, another man gets a sledgehammer to pry the door open, a security officer uses a fire extinguisher to stop the man with a sledgehammer. No, it’s not what you’re thinking, it wasn’t a rendition of a Korean play in a theater. More importantly, when did fire extinguishers become weapons used on people?

So what was the cause of all this commotion? Well it seems that the Hanaradang (하나라당) a ring wing conservative party in Korea, submitted a proposal that would reduce tariffs in a trade agreement with the U.S. This trade proposal will be the biggest since NAFTA for the U.S. and the biggest ever for South Korea. Both countries have a lot to lose if this agreement isn’t approved in the kuk-he (국 회), or the Korean legislature.

Everyone wants free trade right? So why is the Minjudang (민주 당) and the Minju-nodong-dang (민주노동당), both of which happen to be the opposition parties to the Hanaradang (하나라 당) so against this trade agreement? Well, it seems that the trade terms will negatively affect farmers, auto makers, and trade unions. Anticipating the Minjudang (민주당) and Minju-nodong-dang (민주노동당) reactions to the trade agreement, the Hanaradang (하나라당) locked the legislative door to the opposition parties. Well it looks like the Minjudang (민 주당) wasn’t too happy because they got some sledgehammers to pry the door open.

However, it looks like the Hanaradang (하나라당) won. They thought ahead and got some security officers to hose down the members of the Minjudang (민주당) with a fire extinguisher. Hmmm… I wonder if this is what they mean when people say they want to be ACTIVE in politics. It also seems Hanaradang (하 나라당) has another trump card: the president. No, we’re not talking about Bush, but rather the newly elected President Lee Myung Bak (이명박) of South Korea. He happens to support the Hanaradang (하나라당). It’s going to be a uphill battle for the opposition party, that’s for sure.

Want to see what it looked like at the legislature? Here’s a youtube video on it:

Korean Pronouns

Learning Korean pronouns can be difficult and confusing, even for an intermediate level student. For today’s post, we’ll get to the bottom of understanding Korean pronouns and when they’re used.

First off, let’s start off with the singular first person pronoun on the formal level. To say ”I” or “me” in Korean you would use juh (저). The singular first person pronoun on the informal level is na (나). Na (나) also means “I” or “me.” It’s just that na (나) is informal while juh (저) is used when you want to express yourself formally. The plural first person pronoun on the formal level is juhhi (저희). Juhi (저희) means “we” or “us” or “our.” The plural first person pronoun on the informal level is uri (우리). Uri (우리) has the same meaning as juhi (저희). In Korean, the dominant usage of uri (우리) and juhi (저희) is for posessives. When you want to say ‘our house’ you would probably used the juhi (저희) or uri (우리). However when you want to say ‘we are here,’ you’re most likely to drop the ‘we’ altogether.

In Korean, the second person singular polite form is dangshin (당 신), while the second person singular informal form is noh (너). Both mean ‘you,’ but there’s a catch here. Dangshin (당신) can also mean ‘dear’ as in the affectionate term that married couples call each other. You don’t really need to worry about this pronoun because it’s usually dropped in conversation. It’s usually obvious when you’re talking to someone (through eye contact) and so you really don’t need the ‘you’ to address someone. The second person plural polite form is dangshindul (당신들) and the second person plural informal is noh-hidul (너히들). Both mean ‘you all.’ Again these forms are usually dropped and sometimes the title yorobun (여 러분), which means ‘everyone’ or ‘everybody’ is used instead.

The third person singular masculine form is ku (그) while the third person singular feminine form is ku-nyuh (그녀). Both forms mean ‘they’ or ‘them.’ The third person plural masculine form is kudul (그들) while the third person plural feminine form is ku-nyuh-dul (그녀들). Both plural forms mean ‘they all.’ Again in place of the ‘they all’ form sometimes yorobun (여러분) or ‘everyone’ is used instead.

Well, that’s it for today. Hopefully this clarified matters!

Insam (인삼)

As the cold season rolls around, I’m finding that I’m no longer immune to catching a cold. I guess I’m getting older! Of course I’ve been taking some cold medicine but this cold has been really persistent. Maybe I’ll switch back to some traditional Korean medicine. In Korea, insam (인삼) or ginseng is a popular remedy for curing the common cold. Insam (인삼) is used for many different purposes. Let me tell you about some common ways Koreans use insam (인삼) or ginseng.

First off, for those of you who haven’t even seen a ginseng root, it’s a plant dug up from the ground. Some have leaves and sometimes the leaves are used in medicinal concoctions as well. Most of time it’s the root that matters though. In Korea, a red ginseng called hongsam (홍삼) is commonly used to cure benign cancer. Hongsam (홍삼) is a little different from the American variety found in the U.S. Most places in Chinatown have a herbal shop where you can find the American variety in abundance.

If you want a nice hot cup of tea, try some insam-cha (인삼차) or ginseng tea. The hongsam (홍 삼) is usually steamed then boiled in water. Next, honey and sugar is added to the water to reduce the bitterness of the ginseng. Insam-cha (인삼차) is good for maintaining the immune system, reducing constipation and curing colds. The only bad thing about it is that you might be up all night because it. If drunk in large quantities, it can produce insomnia.

Some American mothers will make chicken soup to cure the common cold. Similarly, Korean mothers will also make a type of chicken-ginseng soup called sam-ke-tang (삼계탕). Sam-ke-tang (삼계탕) is made from dried ginseng boiled in water. You add salt, pepper, and some green onions. I like to add rice to my soup, but it’s not necessary. In addition to the ginseng, I’ve seen people put some other medicinal plants in the soup. For example, some people like to put kugija (구기자) or wolfberries in their soup.

Ginseng is quite expensive in Korea. Some rare varieties cost about 20 U.S. dollars per root. The more potent the ginseng the higher the cost. Some people prefer to buy the weaker ginseng because they’re affordable. For example dangsam (당삼) is a root found commonly around riverbanks and small shrubs. There’s also something called danggwi (당귀). I’ve heard that danggwi (당귀) is effective for women who have just given birth. Personally I prefer the real thing even if it’s more expensive. If I find that it’s really effective, it’s worth my money.

If you’re planning on taking some ginseng for medicinal use, make sure you talk to a specialist. There are many qualified doctors who can tell you a lot more about ginseng and their side effects better than I can. There are also many quacks out there, so be careful of them. Sometimes they lie about the effects of a ginseng and jack up the price for it, so do your research. Other than that, I just want to say kon-gang-ha-se-yo (건강하세요) or be healthy!

Proverb Of The Day

This is the second post on Korean proverbs in a recurring series of Korean proverbs. Hope no one is dying of joy! In Korean, we have what are four Chinese character based proverbs or words of wisdom called sa-ja-song-oh (사자성어). These four lettered proverbs can be downright strange when they’re translated literally. Let me show you what I mean with today’s proverb.

Today’s proverb is dong-ka-hong-sang (同價紅裳). First let’s examine the characters one by one to decipher their meaning. Dong (同) is the root word for ’same’ or ’similar’ in Korean. Ka (價) is the root word in indicate value or price. Hong (紅) is the root word for red, and sang (裳) is the root word for dress. Altogether this phrase translates as ’same priced red dress.’

So…what does this phrase really mean? Well, to understand it we need to know a little of Korean culture and history. In olden days, only the rich could afford to buy colorful dresses. Peasants usually wore white garments. When you connect this to the Korean proverb dong-ka-hong-sang (同價紅裳), it means that when there are two dresses that are priced the same, it’s going to be a given that one will choose the red dress.

In sum, this proverb is noting the human tendency to pick the better of two choices; provided that they are under the same conditions. The next time someone offers you a choice between two goods of relatively equal quality or price and one of the choices is better than the other, just say dong-ka-hong-sang (同價紅裳). You might get a confused look, but at least you’ll know what it means!

Bulguksa (불국사)

I haven’t really touched upon Korean architecture, but I’m going to start by talking about a cool site that every tourist should go see. There are loads of temples in Korea, that’s for sure! However, there aren’t many temples as beautiful as bulguksa (불국사). Bulguksa (불국사) is considered a national treasure by the South Korean people and government. It’s located in the Gyungsang (경 상) province of Korea. Bulguksa (불국사) means Temple of the Buddha Land. (Somehow Bulguksa sounds longer in English than in Korean lol.) It’s made of stone and wood, with many restorations over the years.

Before you reach the temple, you’ll have to walk a pair of bridges. Well, they aren’t bridges per say, but a staircase. (Sometimes, the names for things in Korean are exaggerated to make something sound grander than what it really is.) You have the option of taking the yunhwakyun (연화교) or the Lotus Flower Bridge and the chilbokyo (칠보교) or the Seven Treasure Bridge or you can take the chong-un-kyo (청운교) the Blue Cloud Bridge and the bek-un-kyo (백운교) or the White Cloud Bridge.

The temple consists of the four main halls that contain a gilded gold Buddha statue. (I guess back in the day big bellied Buddhas were the ‘in’ thing. What happened to Buddhas who aren’t morbidly obese? You know it’s not setting a good example for your followers. Lol.) De-ung-jun (대웅정) is the Hall of Great Enlightenment. Mu-sul-jun (무설전) is the Hall of No Words. (I want the Hall of No Words as my personal room for when my noisy cousins come to visit for the holidays). Bi-ro-jun (비로전) is the Vairocana Buddha Hall, and the kuk-rak-jun (극락전) is the Hall of Supreme Bliss. If I had a choice of where to go when I die I’d choose the last hall. Somehow Supreme Bliss seems more my style!

The exterior of the Bulguksa (불국사) temple is stunning, but don’t forget the exterior as well. Before you reach the temple you’ll see two stone pagodas. One of them will be the da-bo-dap (다 보탑). The da-bo-dap (다보탑) is ornate and is supposed to represent earthly and material matters. The suk-ka-dap (석 가탑) on the other hand, is the stone pagoda that is simple in design. It represents the spiritual world.

Want to know what it looks like in more detail? Here’s a youtube video on it:

Kut (굿)

I have a really bad cold today and have been taking some medicane, but I still feel terrible. I wish there was a magic solution to help me get better… Which gets me thinking…has anyone ever heard of kut (굿) before?

What is kut (굿)? Kut (굿) is a ritual performed by a mudang (무당) or a shaman. The purpose for which a kut (굿) is performed varies. Before I get to that, let me explain more about what kut (굿) is. Kut (굿) is not a widespread practice, and is mostly performed in rural areas. Kut (굿) consists of the shaman being possessed by a spirit to the point where she takes on a different persona. The mudang (무당) wears an elaborate costume and performs a dance with a set of bells that ring with each step.

The mudang (무당) is always a woman. Usually women become a mudang (무당) after experiencing a mysterious illness for which no medical treatment can diagnose or cure. This illness is called a shinbyung (신병). To get rid of the shinbyung (신병), the mudang (무당) must undergo a ritual called ne-rim-kut (내림굿). Ne-rim-kut (내 림굿) is where the spirit possesses the woman and she eventually accepts the spirit as a part of her life. It’s kind of like an initiation ceremony for a mudang (무당).

Sometimes kut (굿) is performed for a family tormented by a sprit. In a ritual called sshit-kim-kut (씻김굿), the mudang (무당) tries to help the spirit pass to the afterlife peacefully. Sometimes an individual may die suddenly in an accident or die regrettably before their time. When that happens, the person may linger in this world as a spirit. To release this spirit or help them pass smoothly to the underworld, the mudang (무당) may perform some strange and hilarious gestures like spitting into someone’s face to rid of the spirit.

You may not personally believe in kut (굿), but some Korean people do. Some mudangs (무당) actually make a decent living out of kut (굿). Although many people in Korea look upon kut (굿) with suspicion, the practice of kut (굿) is still alive; despite the persecution of mudangs (무당) in the past. Again, you may not believe in kut (굿), but kut (굿) and the people who practice it are a unique part of Korean history and culture. Therefore, we should try to understand kut (굿) even if we don’t particularly subscribe to kut (굿) beliefs.

Want to know more about kut (굿)? Check out a youtube video about it:

Kimbap (김밥)

I had some kimbap (김밥) for lunch today and decided to write a post about it. What is kimbap (김밥)? Kimbap (김밥) is rice, some vegetables and meat wrapped in seaweed. Kim (깁) means seaweed and bap (밥) means rice. Kimbap (김밥) is really easy to make. You can pretty much put whatever you want in it.

First, get some seaweed. You can easily get this at a Korean grocery store. Then put some rice all over the seaweed. I prefer to mix some vinegar with the rice. This allows the rice to stick to the seaweed, but it’s not necessary. It’s just that a little moisture can go a long way, but it’s up to you. Also, use white rice. I find that barley and brown rice is thicker, and it doesn’t stick to the seaweed as well as white rice.

I like to keep my kimbap (김밥) simple. If you put more than three ingredients in the kimbap (김밥), it can get chunky. When it gets chunky some of the contents can spill out. My three favorites are: crab meat, some spinich, and eggs. You can get some packaged crab meat at a Korean grocery store near you, and as for the spinich, you can get it fresh or canned. If you buy the canned spinich, make sure you squeeze out the juice. As for the eggs, cook them until the yolk is dry. Then cut them into horizontal strips. Place all the ingredients on top of the rice and roll everything with a bamboo roller.

Here are some other alternatives: use beef or ham instead of crab meat. As for vegetables, you can use cucumbers and carrots. In Korea, kimbap (김밥) is used as picnic food. It’s also a popular form of Korean fast food, because they’re great to eat when you’re in a hurry. Unlike fast food though, kimbap (김밥) is healthier. In some Korean shops, you can get two rolls for $3, which isn’t too bad, considering the variety of ingredients that go in it. Ok everyone, that’s it for today and here’s a youtube clip on making kimbap (김밥):

Social Interaction

Are you worried about making a fool of yourself in front of a Korean family? Have you been invited to eat a meal in a Korean household? If so, I have some tips to help you so that your visit goes smoothly.

Before you arrive at the house make sure you have a small gift ready. The gift could be a bottle of wine or a box of oranges. Whatever it is, don’t arrive empty handed. Since you’re going to be treated to a meal, be considerate and show your appreciation by bringing a small gift. Also, before you enter the house the host will say “du-ro o-se-yo” (들어 오세요) which means ‘come in.’ When you hear that, that is your cue to say an-nyung-ha-se-yo (안녕하세요) or hello.

At this time you can also hand over your gift and say “byul kot ani-ji-man ba-du-se-yo” (별 것 아니지만 받으세요). This phrase translates as ‘this isn’t anything or this isn’t much, but please accept it anyway.’ Then the host will probably say something to the effect of “sa-o-ji a-na-do-de-nun-de” (사오지 않아도 되는데) this phrase translates as ‘you didn’t have to buy anything.’ This is an important social interation that Koreans perform daily. By claiming that you didn’t bring anything worthy, you are being humble. In return, by claiming that you didn’t have to buy anything the host is being polite.

If you’ve been invited to a traditional Korean family, the eldest person is the fist person to pick up their chopsticks and eat. Only after the eldest person has picked up their spoon or chopstick are you allowed to eat. If you’re not eating with a traditonal Korean family you may hear the phrase “mani du-se-yo” (많이 드세요). This means ‘eat to your fill.’ When you hear this, this is your cue to start eating. Although the host requests you to eat to your fill, be polite and make sure that you eat so that other people can have their share of the food.

It is also typical to hear a host say, “mani charin kot ob-ji-man mani du-se-yo” (많이 차린 것 없지만 많이 드세요). This phrase means ‘I haven’t prepared much but please eat to your fill anyway.’ This phrase can seem particularly ironic, especially when there is so much food prepared. In this case the host is showing humility by understating the situation. If it does happen to be true that there isn’t much food prepared, don’t reply by agreeing or confirming the host’s comment. Rather deny or disagree with the host, even when it’s obvious that that’s not the case.

One thing about Korean communication that you should understand is that you shouldn’t always understand a phrase literally. Korean people tend to state things so as to sound humble and polite. Don’t abuse this politeness and be considerate. The host’s politeness is not a license for you to do whatever you wish. Remember that you should return the host’s politeness by being humble and polite as well. Ok everyone. That’s it for today. I know this post wasn’t really helpful but I hope you still learned a lot anyway. (Did everyone notice my humble comment there? Lol.)

Thank You

In honor of Thanksgiving Day, today’s post will focus on how to say ‘thank you’ in Korean. In addition to that we’ll go over some related phrases that may serve useful on this special day.

The first word everyone should know is kam-sa-hap-ni-da (감사합니 다). Kam-sa-hap-ni-da (감사합니다) means ‘thank you’ in Korean. It’s also a formal way to say ‘thank you’. If you’re dining with people you know very well you would probably use the word ko-map-sup-ni-da (고맙습니다) instead. Ko-map-sup-ni-da (고 맙습니다) is a less formal way to say thank you in Korean.

The word for ‘thank you’ is a general phrase that can be used in any situation. However if you want to convey your appreciation in a specific way, especially in regards to a delicious meal; I would use the phrase: ma-shi-ke mo-gos-sum-ni-da (맛있게 먹었습니다). Ma-shi-ke mo-gos-sum-ni-da (맛있게 먹었습니다) means ‘I ate well.’

If someone urges you to try for seconds and you’re full, you can politely decline with the phrase, aniyo be-bul-up-ni-da (아니요, 배가 부릅니다). This phrase literally means ‘no, my stomach is full.” You can also respond with ’aniyo kwen-chan-sup-ni-da’ (아니요, 괜찮습니다). This means ‘no, it’s alright’ as in when you want to say ‘no, I’m fine I don’t want another helping.’

If you want to excuse yourself from the table you can use the phrase, shil-le-hap-ni-da (실례합니다). Shil-le-hap-ni-da (실 례합니다) means ‘excuse me’ or ‘pardon me.’ Of course you could just apologize and say I’m sorry with je-song-hap-ni-da (죄송합니다). Je-song-hap-ni-da (죄송합니다) is a formal way to say I’m sorry. You can also say I’m sorry with mi-an-hap-ni-da (미안합니다). Mi-an-hap-ni-da (미안합니다) is still polite but less formal. However, if you use any of the apologies you would have to give a reason as to why you’re apologizing. It’s a little awkward if you just started to apologize and left the table immediately after that. If your Korean is not that great, just use the phrase for ‘excuse me. It’s understood that you need to leave the table without having to explain why.

Ok everyone, that’s it for today. Happy Thanksgiving!

Kam (감)

What are some of your favorite fruits? Do you like strawberries, apples, oranges? One type of fruit that is highly sought after by the Korean people is kam (감). Kams (감) are persimmons. Persimmons are orange in color and have a chalky sweet taste. A persimmon is a fruit with so many uses. Let’s take a look at some of thoses uses.

My favorite traditional Korean drink is sujongkwa (수정과). Sujongkwa (수정과) is made out of dried persimmons, cinnamon and ginger. The persimmons give the sujongkwa (수정과) a sweet taste, while the cinnamon and ginger give the sujongkwa (수정과) a mild spicy taste. It’s hard to explain, but it tastes sweet and spicy at the same time. It’s really delicious when it’s served cold. I add some pine nuts for taste but it’s not absolutely necessary. Sujongkwa (수정 과) is also dark red in color. Somehow that reminds of the autumn season.

In some rural areas of Korea nothing is wasted. Even the leaves of the persimmons are used. The leaves are dried then boiled in some hot water to make kam-ip-cha (감입차) or persimmon tea. Sometimes the persimmons are fermented and made into a vinegar mixture called kam-shik-cho (감식초). Interestingly enough the kam-shik-cho (감식초) is thought to have some healing and restorative effects on the body. As a result some people prefer to use kam-shik-cho (감식초) over regular vinegar.

I also like to consume persimmons in solid form. For example there is a popular snack called kot-kam (곷감). Kot-kam (곷감) is persimmon that has been dried in the outdoors for two weeks. After it’s dried it’s heated even further to let the moisture out. Sometimes sugar is added to perserve the sweetness that has been lost when it evaporates in the heat.

Of course you can always eat a persimmon raw just as it is, but be careful. Eating too many unripe persimmons have been known to contribute to stomach complications that result in surgery. Don’t worry though, this only pertains to unripe persimmons. You can eat all the ripe persimmons you want without any repercussions.

Hanbok (한복)

For special occasions and other formal events it’s not unusual to see Korean people wear a hanbok (한복). For women, a hanbok (한복) consists of a fluffy skirt called a chima (치마) and a jogori (저거리), which is a short jacket with long sleeves. The collar of the jogori (저 거리) is v-necked and lined with a white band. Older women tend to wear dark colors such as brown and gray. However at weddings older women will wear light pastel colors similar to the color sky blue and light pink. In general, women 50 years old and above will wear subdued colors. It’s not considered fitting and proper for a women of mature age to wear bright colors. However it’s quite alright for children and younger women to wear bright colors such as yellow, red, gold and green.

Hanboks (한복) can be quite expensive. They tend to start at around $200 and cost more depending on the design and quality of silk used. For example some hanboks (한복) have a different color cuff at the end of the sleeves. Sometimes the cuff is lined with white rabbit fur. My favorite hanboks (한복) are the ones with print on them. The prints can be of various design, but they tend to be subtle so as not to overpower the dress. The most popular prints are of Chinese characters. A lot goes into the designs made for animals and plants. Stichers spend hours sewing intricate details, often by hand. Sometimes oil paints are used. The oil paints take just as long and look very polished.

For men, hanboks (한복) tend to be a lot less elaborate. (This is why it’s more fun to be a girl!) They consist of baggy pants called baji (바지) and a jogori (저거리) but more in the shape of a vest. The baji (바지) and jogori (저거리) are of different colors and sometimes they have Chinese print on them.

In the old days only nobles could wear a hanbok (한복) of different colors. People born of low rank were required to wear a white hanbok (한복). Today, only people who are in a state of mourning wear a white hanbok (한복). Even if you don’t wear a hanbok (한복), it’s nice to just have one as a decorative piece in your home. You’ll certaintly get questions about it from your guests. So go ahead and get one!

Korean Greetings

Hello everyone! Today we’re going to learn some important Korean greetings. The most basic and frequently used greeting is an-nyung-ha-se-yo (안녕하세요). An-nyung-ha-se-yo (안 녕하세요) means hello. You might be surprised to know that there is no separate greeting for good morning, good afternoon or good evening. Whether it’s the morning, afternoon or evening, you just use the phrase an-nyung-ha-se-yo (안녕하세요).

There is one exception. For the phrase ‘good night’ it’s more natural to use the phrase jal ja-yo (잘 자요). This literally means sleep well. Now some Koreans from time to time might use the phrase jo-un a-chim (좋은 아침). Jo-un a-chim (좋 은 아침) means good morning. However, the predominant method for saying good morning is still an-nyung-ha-se-yo (안녕하세요). I tell my students to just learn the phrase an-nyung-ha-se-yo (안 녕하세요) because it’s easier to remember and the more common greeting that Koreans use to say good morning.

Also, if you want to ask someone how they have been you can use the phrase an-nyung-ha-shim-ni-kka (안녕하십니까). This phrase is on the formal level. You can also say ’how are you’ as jal ji-nes-sum-ni-kka (잘 지넸습니까). While jal ji-nes-sum-ni-kka (잘 지넸습니까) is still formal, it’s a little less formal than an-nyung-ha-shim-ni-kka (안녕하십니까).

While there is only one phrase used to say hello, there are actually two phrases that you could use to say good-bye in Korean. Each phrase depends on the situation and the person you are talking to. For example, if you say good-bye to your professor in the hallway and the professor is physically walking away from you, you would use the phrase an-nyung-hi ka-se-yo (안녕히 가세요). However, if you say good-bye to your professor in his/her office and the professor stays put at his/her desk, you would say an-nyung-hi-ke-se-yo (안녕히 계세요). As you’ve noticed, whether the person is leaving or staying put, determines the specific good-bye greeting used.

If you want to be less formal when you say good-bye, use the phrase an-nyung (안녕). This phrase can be used whether the person you’re talking to is staying or leaving; it doesn’t matter. However, don’t use this phrase when you’re talking to someone older than you or someone you don’t know that well. While saying good-bye using an-nyung (안녕) is easier to remember, it can only be used with certain people. One way I try to remember which good-bye greeting to use is by the verb stem. The greeting used for people who are leaving contains the verb stem ka (가) which means ‘to go’ while the good bye used for people who are staying contains the verb stem ke (계) which means ‘to be.’ They are very subtle in sound, so make sure you know the difference between the two good-byes.

Ok everyone, I have to go, so for now I’m going to say daume bayo (다 음에 봐요) or see you next time!

Top 3 Korean Rice Cakes

여러분 안녕하세요! (yorobun an-nyung-ha-se-yo) 여러분 = everyone. 안녕하세요 = hello. Hello everyone! Today’s post will be a top three countdown from my third favorite to my number one favorite rice cake of all time. We will count down in Sino-Korean numbers and introduce my favorite rice cakes at the same time.

Coming in 삼 (sam) 등 (dung): (삼 등 = third place.) is patinjolmi (팥 인절미). Patinjolmi (팥인절미) is made from white rice and chapssal (찹쌀) or glutinous rice. After the white rice and chapssal (찹쌀) is mixed together, it is steamed in a rice cooker until it becomes soft. After it’s cooled, it’s pounded on a flat wooden board called an anban (안반). Once that’s finnished it’s rolled in powdered soybeans called pat (팥). I like this rice cake because you can reheat it later and still have the softness and taste of soybeans preserved. It can get a little messy eating it though. Sometimes the powder falls all over the place, but it’s a fun activity to do with the kids.

In 이 (e) 등 (dung): (이 등 = second place ) is bek-sol-ki (백설기). Bek-sol-ki (백설기) means white snow in Korean. First you soak the rice and mepssal (맵쌀) overnight and drain the water afterwards. Then you pound it into little pieces with a jolgu (절 구) and a jolgutkongi (절굿공이). A jolgu (절 구) is a mortar while a jol-gut-kong-i (절굿공이) is a pestle. When the pieces start to look like little snowflakes, add some sugar and starch. Then steam it in a siru (시루) or a earthenware steamer. It’s the most simple and basic rice cake out there, but it’s still sweet and tasty.

Lastly, coming in 일 (il) 등 (dung): (일 등 = first place) is ggul-ddok (꿀떡) which means honey rice cake in Korean. First, boil some hot water in a sot (솥) or a cauldron. Then mix the white rice and mepssal (맵쌀). After that, let it cool. When it cools down knead the dough into miniature round balls. Poke a small hole in the balls and pour some Korean candy syrup in it. Then close the balls with some more dough. Make sure you add some grease to the balls so that they don’t stick to each other. I love this rice cake because its sweet, tiny and cute to look at. You can add some food coloring to make it more festive as well.

One thing that you might have noticed is that the main ingredient in rice cakes is rice. Duh! It just goes to show how important rice is to the Korean cuisine. Not only is rice a staple crop but a form of dessert as well. You’ll also notice that a lot of Korean rice cakes have minimal amounts of sugar; especially when you compare it to American cakes. Therefore, if you’re worried about calories, a typical Korean rice cake will contain far fewer calories than a typical American cake with icing. Unfortunately, Korean rice cakes contain a lot of carbohydrates, (It’s starting to show on my hips! I need to work out!) but as long as you have it occasionally it shouldn’t contribute to a significant weight gain.

Korean Proverb Of The Day

Every month starting from this month I plan on creating a monthly series of Korean proverbs. This Korean proverbs series will help you understand the Korean culture and language a little better each time you learn a new proverb. Hopefully you’ll look forward to this series and learn from it as well.

Today’s proverb is “두 손에 떡” (du soneh ddok). To clarify its meaning let’s break this proverb into digestable parts. 두 = two. 손 = hand. 떡 = rice cake. Altogether it refers to a person who holds two rice cakes in each hand and is unable to eat the rice cakes properly because both hands are occupied. In other words, your greed can prevent you from becoming efficient because instead of doing things one at a time or eating the rice cake one at a time, you want to do it all at once or eat both rice cakes at all once with both hands.

This proverb accurately reflects the value Koreans place on doing things at their suggested time, in order, one after another. The English phrase “haste makes waste” is very similar in meaning to this Korean proverb, except for the fact that it has more to do with overambicion leading to inefficiency. In fact, many Korean proverbs have English equivalents, but not all are as clear in meaning as the one we just looked at today.

Some proverbs have hidden meanings so as not to offend anyone, especially the aristocracy. The use of Korean proverbs goes way back when criticizing a noble could warrant death or imprisonment. Therefore, Korean proverbs are used to this day to criticize people indirectly. However, many educated people know the complex meaning behind some popular proverbs, so your use of a proverb may not be so indirect. At the very least though, when you use a proverb, you’ll look erudite and fluent in Korean. I guess you could call it a higher form of trash talking, especially when you want to comment on a situation or a person!

Night Markets

f you’re ever in South Korea don’t forget to stop by some of the most vibrant and busiest night markets in Korea.

Without further ado let me introduce you to the Namdemun (남대문) Market. Namdemun (남대 문) is one of the oldest marketplaces in Korea. You’ll find clothes, souvenir items like figurines, hair pins, and jewelry. A lot of the items are cheaper than what you would find in a retail store. If you really want the best value for your money, go to the market between the hours of 12am to 4am. The streets of Namdemun (남대문) are less crowded at these hours; which means less customers and more sellers who are willing to lower their prices in a last bid attempt to sell their goods.

Next, let’s go to the Busan-kong-dong-o-shi-jang (부산공동어시장) which is the Busan Cooperative Fish Market. This market is the largest seafood market in Korea. They have all sorts of fish and seafood like seaweed, oysters, octupus, squid and eels. I gotta warn you though, the smell can be umm…how should I say…interesting. Well, simply put, the Busan (부 산) fish market has a fishy, seawater sort of smell. For first time visitors, this may be a bit overwhelming.

If you want a sweet deal on electronic goods, go to the Yongsan (용산) market. It has a variety of name brand computers, CD players, Ipods, video games and office equipement. While Youngsan (용산) is known to sell its products within a store rather than outside on the street sidewalk, you can still haggle over prices. In fact, some items do not have a price tag because it’s expected that the customer will haggle over it. Also, a lot of sellers at Yongsan (용산) will allow you to test out the machine before you buy it. The only thing is, just don’t break anything!

Maybe you’re more into antiques. Well then, let me guide you to Insadong (인사동) Market. Insadong (인사동) has all the traditional Korean ceramics, paintings and furniture you could possibly ever want. It’s really the place to go for anything traditional. A word of warning though, it can be a bit pricey. The goods are hand made, so some of them cost in the thousands while the most expensive can reach into the millions. If you want something more affordable, they have these miniature porcelain vases that you can get as souvenirs. Even if you don’t get to buy anything, just take a look around. So much of traditional Korean culture and art is alive in Insadong (인사동).

Since these markets are not traditional shops, you can haggle with the seller to get a discount. If the seller makes a ridiculous offer, sometimes customers will use the phrase, “바가지 씌우지 마세요” (bagaji shiuji maseyo). This phrase literally means, “don’t put a bucket over my head” which is similar to the English phrase “to put the wool over someone’s eyes.” You’ll also find that a lot of these markets are open past 12am. So if you want to beat the morning and afternoon rush, you can take a leisurely stroll in the wee worning hours. How fun! For some of you this is a good excuse to stay up past curfew!

Korean Numbers

In general, the Korean number system can be quite complicated. What many people don’t realize is that the Korean number system has two distinct number systems. Each system is used for different purposes. Sounds complicated right? Don’t worry, I’m here to help everyone out. I’ll point out the differences between the two systems, when to use them and the irregularities or pitfalls you need to avoid when using the number system.

Let’s begin with the native Korean numbers. Native Korean numbers are only used to express numbers 1-99. It should also be noted that numbers 1-49 are the most commonly used in native Korean numbers. For example, let’s say that someone asks “몇 살이에요?” (myot saliehyo?) 몇 means how many and 살 (sal) is the counter for age or put in another way it means “years old” while 이 에요 (iehyo) is the standard polite ending for nouns ending in a consonant. Altogether 몇 살이에요 (myot saliehyo) means ‘how old are you?’ Since 살 (sal) is the counter or classifier that requires a native Korean number, you would state your age in native Korean numbers. If you’re ages 1-49, you’ll probably use the native Korean numbers. You don’t have to, but most Koreans use the native Korean numbers if they are 1-49 years old.

Let’s say that you’re aged 50-100. You will most likely use the Sino-Korean numbers instead of the native Korean numbers. Again, you don’t have to use the Sino-Korean numbers for ages 50-99. However, most Koreans prefer to use numbers 50-99 with Sino-Korean numbers. For the number 100 which is pronounced as bek (백), you must use Sino-Korean numbers. There is no native Korean number equivalent for the number 100. Also, if you’re going to state your age in Sino-Korean numbers, you have to use the counter or classifer 세 (seh) instead of 살 (sal).

Ok, let’s review everything we learned so far. When you want to say I’m 15 years old in native Korean numbers you would say 열다섯 살이에요 (yol-dasot sal-i-eh-yo). However when you want to say I’m 15 years old in Sino-Korean numbers you would say 십오 세예요 (ship-o sehyeyo). As you’ve noticed, the counter determines whether you use native or Sino-Korean numbers. The counter for minutes which is 분 (bun) in Korean is always stated in Sino-Korean numbers. However the counter for hours which is 시 (shi) is always stated in native Korean numbers. There if you want to say 5 hours and 5 minutes which is another way of saying 5:05, you would say 열 다섯 시 오 분 (yol-dasot shi o bun).

So why are there two number systems? The answer to that is controversial. Koreans have always had the native Korean number system. However the Sino-Korean number system was developed later in Korea’s history. Some say it was imposed upon the Koreans by the Chinese. Whatever the reason, having two numbers systems can make things quite confusing. For example, telling time, as shown in the previous paragraph, is no easy feat.

As a general rule, anything having to do with the calendar, such as the months, days and years are in Sino-Korean numbers. Anything with objects, such as animals, people, furniture are native Korean numbers. Initially you’ll have to memorize when to use the Sino-Korean and native numbers, but the more you practice the more intuitive it becomes.

Let's Eat Meat!

Today’s post will introduce some of the most popular meat dishes in Korea. If you’re a vegetarian, this post is not for you. I’ll write about some Korean dishes without meat in a future post. In the meantime, please don’t report me to PETA. For all you meat eaters out there, this post will highlight some savory Korean dishes that I would highly recommend. So let’s get ready to eat meat!

Bulgogi (불고기) tops the list as one of the all time Korean favorites. Bulgogi (불고기) is beef that has been marinated with soy sauce, sugar, seasame oil and garlic. It’s usually grilled and depending on the restaurant, may cost about $15-30. Some people eat bulgogi (불고기) with lettuce and rice. The lettuce acts like a taco shell and the rice and bolgi (불고기) serve as the filling.

The next popular meat dish is kalbi (갈 비). Kalbi (갈비) is also a beef dish. However unlike bulgogi (불고기) kalbi (갈비) can be sparse in meat with thick bones inbetween the meat. Kalbi (갈비) is also less tender than bulgogi (불고기), while costing about the same or more than bulgogi (불고기). Like bulgogi (불고기), kalbi (갈비) is grilled and marinated and sometimes consumed with rice and vegetables. Carrots and onions are the most typically grilled with kalbi (갈비).

If you’re low on cash, try some samgyupsal (삼겹살). Samgyupsal (삼겹살) is not a beef dish. It’s actually a pork dish. Samgyupsal (삼겹살) looks a lot like American bacon, but thicker in texture. Samgyupsal (삼 겹살) is often grilled but not marinated. It’s consumed by dipping it in a sauce consisting of soy sauce, black pepper, vinegar and salt. Depending on the restaurant, it can be as cheap as $9 per plate. Typically people will order some soju (소주) or a Korean alcoholic beverage with samgyupsal (삼겹살). Since soju (소주) is relatively cheap as well ($1-2 per bottle), you can still get a full meal without destroying your wallet.

Maybe you’re more into seafood. Well then I would recommend sengsun-hwei (생선회). sengsun-hwei (생선회) is raw fish that has been thinly sliced. Sengsun-hwei (생선회) is marinated with rice wine, soy sauce and seasame oil. It is sometimes dipped in a spicy red pepper paste called kochujang (고추장). Depending on the quality of fish and the restaurant, it may cost around $17-25 per plate.

A lot of Korean meat dishes have two things in common. One is that they are often marinated and two, the use of soy sauce as a condiment or marinating sauce is preferred. Remember before you eat say the phrase, “chal mok ke sum ni da” or (잘 먹겠습니다). This phrase means, “I’ll eat it well” or “I’ll eat with delight.”

Korean Wave 'Hallyu' (한루)

Hallyu (한루) or the Korean wave, is a term that refers to the growing popularity of Korean entertainment, culture, food and language in other countries; particularly in East and Southeast Asia. The Korean wave can be traced back to the 1990s when audiences in China, Japan and Taiwan were first exposed to South Korean dramas. Korean dramas, pronounced as durama (드라마) in Korean, are essentially soap operas that last for about three months with around twenty episodes or so. Korean dramas are known to contain highly addicting plotlines. Naturally, stories of unrequited love, good guy versus bad, reeled in many East Asian fans.

Interestingly enough, Korean dramas became popular in Middle Eastern countries like Iran as well. With Korean dramas focused on family values and devoid of sexual content, Middle Eastern audiences were able to identify with some of the drama’s characters. One of the most notable of these dramas is called Jewel of the Palace or dae jang gum (대 장금). Dramas like dae jang gum (대장금) sparked an unprecented interest in Korean culture and put South Korea on the “map.”

With the export of Korean dramas, Korean music followed in popularity. Boy bands with flashy dances and upbeat rhythms soon captured female audiences. The most well known of these boy bands is dong bang shin ki (동방신기) a five member group consisting of songs that range from hip hop to more pop songs. Additionally, solo artists like Rain pronounced bi (비) in Korean, and Boa (보아) would rise to top the music charts and perform concerts in countries like Japan.

The Korean wave achieved three goals for South Korea. First, it cemented South Korea’s presence historically, on the world stage. Japan and China were no longer the only countries to dominate Asia socio-politically and economically. For the first time South Korea became a strong contender to challenge the Chinese and Japanese stronghold in Asia. Secondly, the South Korean economy prospered with the export of Korean goods. More people wanted to wear Korean clothes and eat Korean food while they were watching and listening to Korean music and dramas. With the rise in South Korean exports, Korea increased its trading presence in the world as well. Lastly, South Korea gained an upper hand in political and diplomatic affairs. In the past, countries like China and Japan looked down on Korea with contempt, but now efforts are being made in those respective countries to “reconcile” with South Korea. (This reminds me of a situation where the popular kid at school initially ignores you but then upon learning that you’re rich, the popular kid all of a sudden wants to be best buddies with you!)

As South Korea moves towards the future, and as problems mount in North Korea, whether South Korea likes it or not, it will have a greater role in world affairs in the coming years. So don’t be surprised to see South Korea in the news more often or Korean goods in supermarkets all across the U.S.!

North Korea

For the past couple of posts I’ve referred to the word “Korea” many times. For most of those times I’ve used “Korea” to refer to the Republic of South Korea. Today, I’m going to talk about North Korea. Now, before I begin, I just want to preface this blog by saying that I don’t want to get into a political discussion over whether “Korea” refers to both the South and North combined or whether it refers to the South alone. This post that I’m currently writing right now will refer to North Korea, or the country north of the Korean peninsula.

North Korea is a one party state, which means that Kim Jong-il the current leader of North Korea, is the head of state and the only leader of the state. Being that North Korea is a one party state, there are no elections and no opposing parties. Kim Jong-il will remain the head of state until he passes away or abdicates his power to a successor. The successor will most likely be his son or relative, operating much like the successor systems of kings and queens.

Moreover, North Korea follows a juche (주체) ideology that centers its focus on being a self reliant state. This means that there is no trade conducted among nations and no dissemination of media outside of North Korea. Any outside media that is permitted is strictly censored to adhere to North Korean policy. This is a good way to ensure that nobody talks behind the leader’s back or criticizes his policies. You are not allowed to even criticize something as trivial as Kim Jong-il’s outfit, which I must say, is probably the nightmare of many fashion forward stylists. I would go so far as to say that it is a green sometimes burlap colored outfit that does nothing to accentuate the good parts of your figure. (Not that I’m a fashion expert, but if I were him I’d get a wig, some height elevation shoes, and cut back on the sweets and fats.)

Ok, back to North Korea. (Sorry for going off topic there!) I think Americans take it for granted when they buy a foreign watch or rent a foreign movie. The juche (주체) ideology would seriously limit many aspects of our lives. For example, I would be half traumatized and go into a mental breakdown if I could not get updates on what happened on Prisonbreak or Heroes which happen to be two of my favorite tv shows. Oh, and I would be sad if I couldn’t listen to the news or buy foreign books as well. (Sort of).

Back again to North Korea (having a lot of trouble staying on topic today!) North Korea currently faces many daunting challenges as it enters the next century. Conflict with the U.S. over nucleur weapons and mass starvation and famine are some of the problems that plague the country. As the role of increasing technology, particularly the internet; spreads throughout the globe, only time will tell whether North Korea will be able to sustain its juche (주체) ideology.

Soju (소 주)

Now, enough with the serious posts and on with the fun posts! Today I’m going to talk about everybody’s favorite subject: alcohol. (Well, maybe not everybody’s favorite!) Since this is a Korean blog, let me introduce an alcoholic beverage native to Korea. It is called soju (소 주). Soju (소주) is mainly made from rice, but other starches such as potatoes and barley are sometimes used as well. Soju (소주) is usually clear in color, but some are fruit flavored and have artifical dyes that make them look red or green. The South Korean government prohibits the alcohol content of soju (소 주) to be above 35%. As a result, many sojus (소주) contain an average of about 20% of alcohol content.

Moreover, Korea is what I call a drinking culture. Now, I’m not saying that Korea is a nation of alcoholics! What makes an alcoholic? Well, I’m not sure, but Koreans don’t really have the stigma attached to alcohol like Americans do. What I mean is that soju (소주) is often a medium for people to bond in situations they would not normally have the opportunity to do at work. Employers and employees in Korea sometimes work overtime shifts without extra pay. Naturally stress and fatigue builds up, creating a need for people to let their hair down. Sometimes an employer may offer to treat his employees after a long day of work. Usually, employees accept, because accepting an offer to drink is seen as accepting someone’s trust and friendship.

The concept of going drinking with your employer may seem like an odd concept to Americans. In American society, there are certain boundaries carved out between one’s personal life and work life. In Korean society, these boundaries are less distinct. If you’re someone who likes to drink, you’ll do fine in Korea. If you’re not a particularly tolerant drinker like me and you refuse to drink often, you may offend some of your co-workers. Just to be polite, I would suggest that you take at least a sip and perhaps apologize with a jesonghapnida (죄송합니다) which means I’m sorry in Korean. You may also want to add, surul chal mot heyo (수를 잘 멋 해요) which literally means “I don’t really do alcohol well” with the intended meaning being that you aren’t an avid drinker.

If you do decide to go out drinking with your boss, here are some alcohol etiquette rules you should follow. When you pour a drink for your boss, make sure both hands touch the bottle. If both hands don’t touch the bottle, at least place your left hand on your right arm with your right hand pouring the drink. Using both hands is a sign of respect so remember to do that. Also, remember that it’s a bit direct and frank to drink with your face toward your boss. When you bring the glass to your lips, make sure you turn your head away from your boss at least 45 degrees away from your boss. Think of this way: since Koreans have a tendency to sit close together, drinking with the your face toward the other person would allow the person to see and hear you gulp down your drink, and that is just not an attractive sight!

So, have fun drinking and don’t forget to say konbe (건배) which means cheers!

Hangul (한글) Day

Hangul nal (한글 날) which in English means Hangul Day, is commemorated on the ninth of October. The word han (한) means Korean and the word kul (글) means script, while nal (날) = day. Altogether Hangul Day (한글 날) means Korean script day. Hangul Day commemorates the creation of the modern Korean alphabet system. The Korean alphabet contains 14 basic consonants and 10 vowels. In addition to these basic consonants and vowels, there are also 5 tensed consonants and 4 aspirated consonants. The Korean alphabet also contains some dipthongs as well, but enough about the alphabet. Let’s talk about the history of the Korean alphabet.

Hangul (한글) or the Korean alphabet, was made the official writing system in 1446 A.D during the reign of King Sejong. Before hangul (한글) was used, Koreans used to write in Chinese characters. Chinese characters were difficult to write, pronounce and read, so only the nobles were literate while the rest of the population remained iliterate. King Sejong was determined to close the gap between the noble and peasant class. He promoted the Korean alphabet as the official writing system, which allowed peasants to communicate with each other through writing. There were feverish cries of protest from the noble class, many who feared that they would lose their prestige and power with the introduction of hangul (한글). Despite protests the hangul (한글) system was a success. Some peasants were able to apply to low government positions and improve their standard of life. It just goes to show how important writing and reading is. Sometimes I think people take it for granted, especially in this age of numbers and science.

Whenever I teach hangul (한글) to my students, I always try to give them some kind of a mnemonic way to memorize the sounds with the letters. Here are some tips that I think will provide useful for those of you who are learning the Korean alphabet:

1) ᄂ has an “n” sound and the way I remember this is that the character loos like a person who is kneeling. The word kneeling is spelt with a k, but it is pronounced with an “n” sound. Therefore, even if it requires you to use your imagination, try to think of the way a letter looks with a way it sounds.

2) ᄆ has an “m” sound. This character reminds me of a mouth. Mouth begins with an “m” sound, which helps me to remember that ᄆ has an “m” sound.

3) ᄇhas a “b” sound. This character reminds me of a bed. This requires some imagination. The two ends of the bed are the bed posts while the horizontal line in the middle is the cot.

So, just like what I have done with the characters above, I encourage you to find ways of remembering the Korean alphabet with the way the characters look. It may be impossible to find an equivalent sound with a pictorial representation for every character, but at least you have your work cut out for you for the ones you do have equivalents for. So until the next post, happy learning!