How to survive in Korea

Things you don't know about Koreans and Gaegogi(Dog meat).

2012-10-12T03:19:00.001-07:00

Some Koreans like Gaegogi (dog meat)?

Yes.

All Koreans eat Gaegogi (dog meat)?

No.

[Park Ji-Sung]

Park Ji-Sung did a good job on the field not because he ate Gaegogi,

but because he practiced really hard.

Why we had to eat Gaegogi?

Like in many countries in the world, in Korea people’ closest animal was “dogs”.

But to Koreans in the past, dogs were used to be a kind of emergency food, not a pet as they are now.

[Mongolians]

Mogolian nomads ate reindeers and made clothes and built their houses with the skin of the reindeers that they were moving around together like a family.

Sad to say, since long ago Gaegogi has been a specialty for Koreans. But you should take into account the fact that historically Korea was invaded many times by neighboring countries such as China, Japan and Mongolia for thousands years.

Red : China
Blue : Korea
Green : Japan

In hard times, they had to eat their pet dogs to add some protein to their poor diet.

Gaegogi nowadays

[This is Boshitang!!!]

Dog meat is “Boshintang” in Korean. Bosin, the head of the word Boshintang, means “strengthening the kidney”. So, some Koreans enjoy this food at the hottest days of the year.

On the countrary, dog (as a pet) lovers do some parades against eating dogs.

[parade]

For your information, we introudce some food that is believed by Korean guys to be good for stamina.

Among them are Gaegogi, the tail of a freshwater eel, the testicals of a cow. But the best is Gaegogi.

I don’t know whether this is bad or good news, but nowadays many Koreans hate Gaegogi and even Gaegogi-eaters.

Eaters eat and haters don’t.

Koreans eat rich food at the hottest days of the year for their health.

On these days, Gaegogi lovers eat Boshintang and dog lovers eat Samgaetang (Korean traditional chicken soup).

At these hottest days, dogs and chickens are consumed much across the nation. Three days in Hell for dogs and chickens in the nation!

Are they really good for stamina?

No scientific evidence, but it may work to some extent.

How to eat Boshintang

[Just kidding...]

If you want to try Boshintang when you visit Korea, we suggest that you ask your dog eating friend for best recommendation.

Some places are really poor.

The idea of eating it is no good in the first place, so you should find a really good place.

When you are served Boshintang, pour spices into the soup and take out the meat and dip it in the sauce. The rest will be finished with rice.

Ginseng liquor with Gaegogi makes the person in front of you look 1.5 times prettier.

Korean Bomb Shot "Poktanju"

2012-08-23T01:31:00.003-07:00

Koreans enjoy drinking.

Easy way to be drunk

Regardless of age and gender, many Koreans love drinks and have fun.

In a cheerful atmosphere with friends or colleagues, Poktanju, or the bomb shot brightens up the mood.

Not only easily makes Poktanju you drunk, but also it gives you fun to make.

1. Somaek (Soju+beer)

Soju

Beer(Maekju)

The most preferred kind of Poktanju in Korea.

A two thirds of beer cup awaits one cup of Soju to be mixed with.

2. Yangmaek (hard liquor+beer)

Hard liquir (Yangju)

Beer(Maekju)

Usually at a hostess bar, you would find this kind of Poktanju.

Prepare beer cups that are as many as the number of people at the party. Two thirds filled beer cups are lined up and at the border of each cup is a hard liquor filled cup.

The host or the most important person at the day pushes down the hard liquor cup at one end of the line into the nearest beer cup, which leads the other cups to fall into the other beer cups one by one successively like a domino playing.

The most important thing is to line up cups with delicacy.

3. Somak (Soju+Makgeolli, or raw rice wine)

Rice wine (Makgeolli)

Soju

Sprite

Soju and Makgeolli, a Korean traditional rice wine are mixed up with Sprite.

Sprite makes Somak tastes sweet.

Surprisingly, Somak makes one fast drunk and anyone having Somak will have a hard time with a hangover the next morning.

A Korean saying says that Somak makes one never be able to recognize even their parents.

3. "Gojingamrae"ju (beer+coke+soju)

Beer

Coke

Soju

"Gojingamrae"Ju

Drop a Soju cup half-ful of coke into an empty beer cup and drop a full-filled Soju cup into it.

The last thing to do is filling up the beer cup with beer.

The first taste is bitterness from the Poktanju mixture and by the time you finish the half you taste coke which gives you the sweetness of coke.

"Gojingamrae" is a Korean four-letter saying, which means sweet after bitter.

Another way to make Gojingamrae - Ju.

Other than this, there are more combinations of alcoholic drinks to make a great Poktanju.

A good combination of Poktanju makes the atmosphere more cheerful and exciting.

Drunkenness makes all become friends.

When you visit Korea, you must give it a try.

But we do not recommend Poktanju very often since it gives you a hard time the next morning.

What is "Gangnam Style"?

2012-08-08T02:13:00.000-07:00

Gangnam is one of the bustling districts in Seoul, capital city of Korea.

Neon signs of clubs and bars are illuminating the streets of Gangnam at night.

During the day, COEX mall located in Samseong-dong of the district attracts many shoppers and exhibition lovers to Gangnam.

Gangnam Style, also the name of a hit song by Psy, means a pesrson who palys fun and hot.
As shown in the music vedio, these Gangnam style guys are never-self-concious as long as they are having fun.

In the music vedio, the guy in a yellow suit is Yoo Jaesoek, a famouns Korean comedian and the dancing girl who comes on in the middle of the video is Hyuna, one of the hottest K-POP girl.

How much do Girl's Generation(SNSD) weigh?

2012-05-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

Members of SNSD (Girls' Generation ) appeared on Happy Together, the TV show. Aired on May 10, this show had Tiffany, Jessica, Taeyeon, and Yoona as its special guests on the day. All MCs and guests of the show have some requirement. All cast members have to put on a kind of a uniform (a short set) of the show. By doing so, they can talk in a more comfortable way. The idol stars were cute even in such a funny short set.

Butterflies in the stage?

SNSD powerfully performs on stage ever since their debut 5 years ago. But they said that they still get nervous everytime they appear on stage. Recalling the moment they first revealed one of their hit songs, Hoot, Jessica said that she was so nervous that she got confused about the lyrics of the title song and consecutive three lines were mixed up. Taeyeon and Tiffany trembled themselves when first presenting TaeTiSeo's title Twinkle on stage.

Yoona's kiss?

Yoona is starring in a TV drama, Sarangbi, as a main actress with Jang Keunseok. Weeks ago her kissing scene was aired in which she and Jang was kissing at a fountain romantically. Jessica, too, talked about her kissing scene in the drama, Wild Romance.

<Jessica's Kiss scene>

What are they like when they were kids?

They made public their childhood pictures. Gee! Younger SNSD is the same as now.

Jessica

Taeyeon

Right girl is Tiffany

How much do they really weigh?

They said that their official profiles are not quite exact. Jessica, Taeyeon, and Tiffany said that they one to two kilogram weigh more than what their profiles say, 45kg for each. Both Suyeon and Yoona weigh 48kg. There is no special secret to keeping in shape, they said. Maybe they watch their figure by dancing.

Last week's incidents in Korea

2012-05-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

Metro in Korea

Korea has been buzzing with the news about some happenings in the metro. Somebody drank. Somebody had a bowel movement in the cart. This time a female drunk got naked and swore to people in the train. They did not directly do harm to people, though. But watch yourself when bumping into these kinds of people in your train. You'd better move to another cart. In 2003, 9 years ago from now, a guy who was socially discontented put a fire in the metro, leaving 192 people dead and 148 injured.

Be careful of Karaoke in Korea

Many Korean people love drinking and singing, so there are a lot of karaokes in the streets of Korea. But you'd better careful when trying a karaoke. Mostly, these places are cramped and are like a labyrinthine. So, in case of fire, you can hardly escape yourself. Days ago, a fire broke out in a karaoke in Busan, Korea, leaving three Sri Lankans and three Koreans dead on the spot. The death toll reported is 9, and 25 are reported injured. The number is expected to increase. Even Koreans have difficulty finding their way out in case of emergency. I bet, karaokes in Korea will be tougher to you.

Does your country allow euthanasia?

In Korea, 80-year-old man were arrested on a charge of helping his 70-year-old wife, who had been fighting against her lung cancer for 6 years, dead by cutting off his wife's respirator. "I could not see anymore my wife suffering that much. I hope she can stay without the respirator in heaven," the old man stated in cry to the police. Among Korean Internet users, there are more pro euthanasia than those against it as long as it is conducted under limited conditions.

How to survive in Korea. #2 How to use Jjimjilbang

2012-05-05T08:44:00.001-07:00

Don't you just want to try it?

Jjimjilbang is a culture not just a bathing place

There are many countries with hot springs.

But Korea is the only country that has a culture in which an entertainment package of hot spring, accomodation, and PC room sevices is provided for a reasonable price.

We call the full package place Jjimjilbang.

In Korea, one Jjimjilbangs is found in at least one neighborhood, so if you need a place to stay overnight or want to spend time with friends using spa-like services, you can use Jjimjilbang for a reasonable price instead of checking into an expensive hotel or a motel.

How to use Jjimjilbang

First, you have to pay the fee and get your clothes (a pair of a T-shirt and shorts) and locker key. Even though there are variances, most Jjimjilbangs provide one or two towels for free.

You have to put on this uniform in Jjimjilbang

The fee varies neighborhood to neighborhood, but the price ranges from 5000 to 8000 won (usually less than 10,000 won)

You check the number printed on your locker key and find your shoe locker first. Put your shoes into the shoe closet and enter the locker room. Find your clothes locker and put all your belongings including your clothes into the locker before going into the shower.

People remove their shoes before entering a Korean house

It is important to carry your key in your body by wearing it onto your wrist or ankle.

You should be naked in the bathhouse. Otherwise you can be mistaken as a professional scrubber.

Body scrubber is the only person
who wears pants in the bath

After having a shower dry your body and keep the towel.

Put on your Jjimjilbang clothes and remember to carry your locker key and a towel with you.

Find a sign saying “찜질방” and take your way following the sign.

Follow this sign

There are many kinds of sauna rooms. Find your taste and soak out sweat as much as you want. In Korea, many women wanting to lose weight use sauna rooms.

83℃ !!!!

You can put the tower on your head to protect your hair from the heat. Make your towel funnier by following these directions.

1. Fold the tower along its width twice

2. Fold it lengthwise three times

3. Put on your head

Very cute!!!

Try Shikhae, a Korean traditional drink, and baked eggs. They cost you 2000 to 3000 won.

Shikhae is sweet Korean drink

If you want to sleep, spread a mat on the floor or anywhere and go to sleep. Watch your belongings because there are Jjimjilbang theives!

If you want to go out, go back to the bathhouse and take off your Jjimjilbang short sets and get into the shower. Just go out the same way you come in. If you pay the snacks by having your locker key scanned, you pay the money when your way out.

Consider this! Everyone is naked in all bathrooms in Korea. Men shoud find their way into the men’s bathroom and women take their way to the women’s. Don’t be disappointed. Everyone can meet in the sauna lounge.

If you have fiends of the opposite sex, set a time to see at the Jjimjilbang lounge.

Many foreigners are living in Korea and enjoying Korean things.

Suit youself. You will be welcomed anywhere as long as you pay.

1st week of May, K-pop story

2012-05-04T22:49:00.001-07:00

1. Sonyeo Shidae (Girls' Generation) makes a sub-unit group TaeTiSeo

Sonyeo Shidae's Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun have formed a sub-unit group, TaeTiSeo. These girls were shown individually from time to time since they are on vocals in Sonye Shidae. This time the three unite as one to show off their powerful voices and glamorous performance.

(Official fan-site)

2. Ulala Session comebacks with their first official album

Leader Im Yoontaek(second from the right) is
still fighting against his cancer

Ulala Session has made their official debut after winning Korean version of American Idol, Superstar K. Im Yoontaek, the leader made a fabulous performance at the the audition show with his surgically resected stomach. He was diagnosed as terminal stomach cancer and had to undergo the surgery. Many of the audition show fans were impressed by his powerful performance and astonishing singing. This time Ulala Session has made their official debut.

3. IU and her peach painting

The 20-year old singer song-writer IU who has die-hard Korean male fans does strange things sometimes. She did one this time and made her male fans embarrassed by drawing a picture of a peach that reminds one of an ass. Playing an acoustic guitar to her remakes is one of IU's specialties. This time she plays a recorder, the musical instrument, to her new song, Boksunga that means a peach.

We lack news about male idols. Maybe they are busy doing overseas showbiz.

See you next week~

How to survive in Korea. #1 Introduce

2012-05-04T03:34:00.001-07:00

Are Koreans crazy about Boshintang (dog soup)?

- That’s not true. People of other Asian contries eat the dog food more than Koreans.

Hello, all. My name is Ska and I have been living in Korea(South Korea) for 30 years.

Korea is the only divided nation in the world and has a history full of ups and downs.

Actually, it is still at truce.

But the world has been surprised at the once war-torn nation’s rapid development.

Now many have been interested in the Asian country and every year a growing number of people from the world visit Korea.

This blog will provide you tip on how to survive in Korea (e.g., How to dodge the missiles from North Korea and how to successfully shelter yourself in the time of war).

I was just kidding.
What I am going to do is to help you dispel all the myths and misunderstanding about Korea and to give you advice on living well in Korea.

- In fact, North Korea forces fired around 10 artillery shells and rockets at Yeonpyeng island in 2010;;;

Of course, Korean pop culture including K-pop will be introduced to you.

Bookmarking or inviting me to your facebook page will be welcomed.

Any comments and suggestions will be appreciated.