2012, Year of the Black Dragon

One of the attractions of life in Korea for many of us is the two New Years we get to celebrate. Korea has two calendar systems, one governed by the Sun and one governed by the Moon, and each of them has its own year-end holiday. Marking the Year of the Black Dragon, this year’s New Year begins on Monday, January 23. The Korean Lunar New Year, called “Seollal” or “Gujeong,” usually falls on the second new moon after winter solstice. Seollal is Korea’s largest holiday. 

The dragon, a legendary beast that is comprised of a combination of many animals including a snake, carp and tiger, is considered one of the most holy creatures - it is customary for people to buy lottery tickets after they have dreams about dragons.

This year is considered especially lucky, as it will be the Year of the Black Dragon, an event that occurs only every 60 years. Although the Year of the Dragon occurs every twelve years, only every fifth occurrence is the Black Dragon, making a sexagenary cycle. Korean people consider the Year of the Black Dragon to be a year of luck and good fortune, believing the Black Dragon ascends to Heaven at the end of its life. The last Year of the Black Dragon was from January 27, 1952 to February 13, 1953.

Besides being a favorite subject for literature and art, the dragon can also be found as a motif in many aspects of traditional Korean culture: architecture, furniture, clothing, ornaments and jewelry, and various household items. Also, many Buddhist temples are adorned with the dragon as it is said that nine dragons poured perfume from the heavens upon Buddha’s birth. Dragons hold a cintamani in their mouths – the magical jewel representing Buddha’s virtue – which can grant your every wish.

Everything related to the king had a dragon reference such as “dragon face” (용안), “dragon coat” (용포), “dragon seat” (용좌), with dragon engraved in the king’s royal seal. Also, the first work to be written in the Korean alphabet Hangeul was Yongbieochonga (용비어천가), “Song of the Dragons Flying to the Heavens”, praising the achievements of the forefathers of the Joseon Dynasty. A traditional funeral carriage is adorned with a dragon to escort the deceased to the other world. Dreaming of a dragon is the luckiest dream that can ever be, and expressions that equal the dragon with that of excellence and greatness are still used today.

The presence of the Black Dragon is making itself known in Korean society in many ways. The birth rate is expected to rise, as parents will want their children to be born in such an auspicious year. Department stores are selling baby products decorated with the Black Dragon. People born in previous Years of the Dragon can receive discounts at a variety of businesses.


Dragon Years are about important changes. As it is the presidential election year in Korea, there is no doubt that it will be. To learn more about what the dragon means in Korea, a visit to the National Folk Museum of Korea is highly recommended.

For more information :http://www.korea4expats.com/news-year-of-the-dragon-korea-2012.html

                                   http://blog.korea.net/?p=6629

Have a very Happy Black Dragon New Year!

                                                                                                                             Posted by XY

Interesting Facts About Korean Schools

1. Kindergarten is not mandatory, therefore if a student goes to one they are private schools

2. Kindergarten is for kids aged 5-7

3. Elementary school students go to school for only about 5 hours a day

4. Although elementary school doesn’t have long hours, a high number of students go to “academies” after school (like the one I teach at). There are Math, English, Science academies, but if a student goes to piano lessons daily they call that an academy as well.

5. Some parents (like my principal) send their kids to a number of “academies.” My prinicipal’s son goes to SEVEN: English, Math, Science, Essay Writing, Piano, ‘All Subjects,’ and Chinese Calligraphy. The total cost for this is $1,700 per month. His hours are generally 7:30am-10pm and on Saturdays he has about 5 hours worth of school. I’m not kidding. What a tough life.

6. English is required to be taught in elementary schools from the age of 10

7. It’s not out of the ordinary for students to be physically punished if they act up or don’t do homework.

A brand new year~ 환영 2012~

Children doing 새배절

During 1st Jan of each year is Sul nal (설날) or New Years Day in Korea. Normally,Korean will wish us   sehe bok mani baduseyo (새해 복 많이 받으세요). So, what does it means? Let us break this phrase down so that we can better understand this greeting.  Sehe (새해) means ‘new year’.  Bok (복) means ‘luck’.  Mani (많이) means ‘a lot’.  Baduseyo (받으세요) means ‘receive’.  Altogether if we translated 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. On sul (설), it is 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.

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.The sebe jul (새배절) tradition goes way back in Korean history. Children perform sebe jul (새배절), adults will seh bae(a deep bow to the flow).It is 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 money called sebe don (새배돈) and words of wisdom.  Sebe don (새배돈) is usually handed out until the child reaches high school or college.  When the children grow up as an adults, especially if they already work, they will usually give their parents sebe don (새배돈).  So, it just like a cycle, which is reversing back and the young takes care of the old. 

The traditional new year meal is a soup of thinly sliced rice cake - TteokGuk(떡국) or variation of dumplings.Because everyone turns a year older with the start of each new year (not on their birthday), many people tell their children that they can not get older unless they have eaten some tteokguk. Some type of Duk(rice cakes,ttuk or duk) is enjoyed at every important Korean celebration, and the white rice cakes in the soup represent a clean start and new beginning for the new year.

After the meal, they will having their family time,could mean traditional outdoor games like kite-flying or noltigi.Some of them will playing Korean board games like yutnori(a board game that involves stick-tossing), younger generations playing video, sing karaoke or having a relax conversation. 

Before this end, wish you all sehe bok mani baduseyo (새해 복 많이 받으세요) or Happy New Year. ^^

TteokGuk(떡국)

Ps --To know more about this, please visit Korea tourism website : http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=941952

sources from: http://www.transparent.com/korean/sul-%EC%84%A4/ & http://koreanfood.about.com/od/holidaysandoccasions/a/NewYear_2.htm


by JY

Chase Away Winter Blues at Hot Springs in Korea

In the middle of the winter when temperatures hover below zero, there's nothing more tempting than a relaxing soak at “oncheon”, or hot springs, a popular destination for those wanting to escape the cold.

Korea is known for its numerous hot springs, which are filled with various minerals and elements such as alkaline, radium, sulfur and sodium. The mineral-rich water is supposedly good for one's health by stimulating blood circulation, combating fatigue and helps cure various skin diseases like arthritis, anemia, neuralgia (painful nerve disorder), high blood pressure and certain gastrointestinal diseases.

I would like to introduce the most popular and conveniently accessible hot springs in Korea!

Dogo Hot Springs

Dogo is the most famous hot springs area in terms of scale and facilities in Asan, South Chuncheong Province, home to the oldest hot springs in the country. It has been famous since the ancient Shilla Dynasty for its medicinal water. Legend has it that a king of the Shilla Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-668) visited Dogo Hot Springs, said to be the oldest in Korea, to bathe his battle wounds and was able to regain his health. Starting development 200 years ago, Dogo is known for natural sulfur hot springs considered as one of the best four in Asia. They are said to be effective in treating neuralgia, skin diseases, digestive ailment, arthritis, and rheumatism.

Paradise Spa Dogo in Asan, South Chungcheong Province

Seorak Waterpia: Sokcho, Gangwon Province

•  Hot Springs with Sunrise

This is the most popular travel destinations that thanks to good-quality hot spring, water and romantic winter beach on the East Sea and fresh seafood. The city is home to Korea's largest hot spring theme park, Seorak Waterpia, at the famous Mt. Seorak. It never runs out of hot spring water as 3,000 tons of alkaline sodium bicarbonate water is pumped out from 680 m underground at 49 degrees Celsius a day. It is also one of the places where people can see the sun rise faster than anywhere else in the country. 

Outdoor hot spring in Seorak Waterpia  

A small private bath in Seorak Waterpia

Toechon Spa Green Land

Toechon Spa Green Land in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province near Seoul has over 60 pools and is an ideal location for families. It also houses an herb garden and offers various events every day such as authentic Chinese circus and a magic concert. 

Foot bath in Toechon Spa Green Land

Just a few minutes spent in these hot springs would certainly relax you and make you “feel brand new.” 

Why not try to schedule a trip to one of Korea's many hot springs? =)

Source :http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/02/04/2011020400087.html

Posted by  XY

Flag of South Korean

Do all Kpop's fans or Korean'fans exactly know about what is the meaning of south Korean flag?
How does it build with behind meaning?

Here to show you guys and learn together about the south Korean flag

History of South Korean Flag

The flag was designed by King Gojong or Pak Young-hyo in 1882, and Taegeukgi was adopted as the national flag of Joseon Dynasty on March 6, 1883.During the colonial era, the flag was banned. The Taegeukgi was used as a symbol of resistance and independence during that time and ownership of it was punishable by execution.After independence, both North and South Korea initially adopted versions of the Taegeukgi, but North Korea later changed its national flag to a more Soviet-inspired design after three years (see article Flag of North Korea).The Constituent Assembly of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) has officially adopted the Taegeukgi as the national flag since July 12, 1948. After the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea, "The Rules for the flag of the Republic of Korea" was first enacted.

South Korean Flag Description:

The flag of South Korea consists of a white base. In the center of the flag is a blue and red circle, which is surrounded by four black trig-rams, one in each corner.Traditionally, the four trig rams are related to the Five Elements of fire, water, earth, wood, and metal.

	Kun	Heaven
	Yi	Fire
	Kam	Water
	Kon	Earth

South Korean Flag Meaning:

White is a traditional color of the Korean people. The emblem in the centre of the South Korean flag represents the dual forces of yin (blue) and yang (red). The yin and yang balance each other and maintain a harmonious existence by being complementary opposites, positive and negative, active and passive, male and female, night and day, good and evil and so on. Yin is the passive or static mode and yang the active or dynamic mode. The trigrams represent the elements of fire, water, earth, wood, and metal.The white color of background stands for the peace and the purity of the Korean people who have loved to wear white colored clothes. Therefore, the Korean people have been called the white-clad nation.

South Korean Flag History:

The current South Korean flag was adopted on January 25, 1950. The Republic of Korea was formed in August, 1948. The flag was designed in 1882 during the reign of King Gojong by the Korean ambassador to Japan. Gojong proclaimed the Taegeukgi to be the official flag of Korea on March 6, 1883.

Interesting South Korean Flag Facts:

In Korean the national flag is called 'Taegukki' ('Great Polarity'), taking its name from the central emblem on the flag, which is called a 'taegeuk circle.

May look and listen on small brief and clear about the description of South Korean Flag 

source: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/kr.html

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_South_Korea

issued by S1nG

Myth of Korea: Tangun

Once upon a time, Heavenly God, Hwan-in, noticed that one of his sons, Hwan-woong, always had his heart set on the world of mortals below. God looked down upon it and found the Samwi-Taebaek mountain the most befitting place for human beings to live.

He gave his son three Cheon Bu-In(God-given seals of king) and let him go down to the earth to rule over the human beings. (Here, we can see the same name of "Cheon Bu-In" and "Cheon Bu Gyeong". So some scholars guess, the Cheon Bu-In of the myth might refer to Cheon Bu Gyeong in real history.)

Hwan-woong, with three thousand subordinates, took leave of his father and came down to the human world and held his ground under the Shindan-soo(sandalwood used to make an alter for God) on top of the Taebaek mountain. He named the place Shin-Si(divine city) and he had himself called Hwan-woong Cheon-wang (Divine king Hwan-woong). He gave people their first lessons in right living and ruled over them, taking care of human affairs of as many as three hundred sixty kinds, such as farming, death, disease, punishment and good and evil, with the three goods of Poong-baek(wind), Woo-sa(rain) and Woon-sa(cloud) under his command.

At this time it so happened that a bear and a tiger were living together in a cave. They always prayed to Divine king Hwan-woong that they be made human beings. Taking notice of their admirable wish, the divine king gave them a bundle of sacred mugworts and twenty cloves of garlic and said, "If you eat these and do not see sunlight for one hundred days you will become human beings."

The bear and the tiger immediately began to practice abstinence, living on the mugworts and garlics in cave. After twenty one days the bear became a woman, but the tiger, unable to endure the abstinence, violated the injunction of the divine king, and failed to become a human being.

Now the woman could not find any man to marry her, so she always prayed under the sandalwood to be given a child of her own. Hwan-woong tok notice of her prayer, transformed himself into a man temporarily and married her. She gave birth to a son, who was to be Tangun-Wanggeum(Kin Wanggeum of Sandalwood).

Wanggeum succeeded Hwan-woong as king. He selected Pyongyang as his capital and named the country to Asadal at the Baekak mountain and reigned over the country for a thousand and five hundred years. Thus he became the founding father of Korea.

Korean Martial Arts

Anneyong everyone, do u guys waiting for new post? No wait No queue ! There is a new post gotta be upload right NOW !! Hoooray~

Let's have some arguement about the topics.

Which topics do interested by all of you? Dance?Food?Tourism? 

Right now, try to forget above topics that been mentioned , LET'S go to the KMAC(Korean Martial Arts Center) 

Korean Martial Arts

Korean martial arts (Hangul: 무술 or 무예, Hanja: 武術 or 武藝) are the martial arts that originated from Korea. Some well known Korean martial arts are hapkido, kuk sool won, andtaekwondo. There has also been a revival of Korean sword arts as well as knife fighting and archery. In modern times, Korean martial arts are being practiced worldwide.

KMAC

The Korean Martial Arts Center, or KMAC, was established by M.W. Jung in 1984 to provide high quality Martial Arts instruction for children and adults. Master Jung started teaching in 1968 and currently holds Master ranks in Taekwondo (Tae Kwon Do), Hapkido and Judo. He also has extensive experience in other arts.

Whether an individual martial artist, non-experienced to master levels, or an established school searching for guidance towards credentials at Kukkiwon
(WTF Korea) or Sin Moo Hapkido, you have come to the right place. KMAC's Masters have all the necessary wisdom and extensive experience to help you attain official world class knowledge and certification. We can tailor a program to help you attain the result you've been gearing for. Feel free to contact us for more Information.

KMAC currently offers instruction in Taekwondo (Tae Kwon Do), Hapkido, Judo,Traditional Asian Weapons and Tai Chi. Please feel free to browse our site to learn more about us. We also welcome inquiries by phone 415.333.1050 or email. Give us a call today!

Do you guys know the best ever Taekwondo team in Korean??

Answer : Korean Tiger (K-Tiger)

Korean Tigers Taekwondo DemonstrationTeam was established in 1990 and is the most representative Taekwondo Demonstration Team in Korea. It has participated in various international competitions such as the World Taekwondo Championship(1993, 1997, 2001), Worldcup Taekwondo Championship(1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002), U.S. Open Taekwondo Championship(1992, 1993, 1004, 1995, 1999), Sydney Olympics Taekwondo Demonstration, Busan Asian Games Taekwondo Demonstration, and demonstrations at the World Martial Arts Championship held in Paris, France, and tours in the U.S. and Europe, thereby introducing the Korean spirit of Taekwondo to the world. 

Video - K-Tiger Perfomance

Do indulge their performance ? No wait ! Let's learn Tae~kwon~dooooo together.

further info may look up at this link :

http://www.ktigersusa.com/home_ktigers.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_martial_arts

http://www.koreanmartialarts.com/ 

issued by sing