Let's learn Korean with Lily

Korean Folk Songs Book Review

2015-04-25T18:40:00.001-07:00

Korena Folk Songs Book Review

I would like to introduce a very good book to learn Korean folk songs and learn Korean at the same time.

The book introduces Korean folk songs that are traditionally popular among Korean people. Most Korean people know the songs very well or heard the songs a lot of time throughout their life.

These are the list of the songs in the book.

The book explains about the songs in English so you can understand the origin of the songs.

Three Bears Song is a very popular among Korean kids and My baby Yuri loves the song too! :)

You can see how you can sing through the music score and the Lyric section has three types of lyrics, Korean, Romanized Korean, English Translation.

This will help you sing the song in Korean and understand what it means.

They even have a CD inside the book and you can listen to the songs and sing along. You can sing by yourself like a karaoke because they even provide an instrumental version.

This is my video review of the book. You can listen to a part of the songs. :)

I think this is a very good book for you if you are person who like to learn Korean in a more fun way. Memorizing songs is a very good method to learn foreign languages.

This is a video of Yuri singing "Three Bears Song(곰세마리)"

I always sing with my baby so that she can learn Korean easily. :)

Korean Fashion Terms (2) - Tops

2014-04-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

1. 셔츠 (sheocheu) - Shirt

반팔셔츠 (Banpalsheocheu ) - Short sleeved shirt
Among 반팔셔츠, 티셔츠 (Tisheocheu) indicates a shirt which doesn't have a collar.
폴로셔츠(Polosheocheu) is a shirt which has a collar.

Since I like Lee Hyori, I will post a lot of Hyori's pictures today. ;)

This is 티셔츠. It doesn't have any collar.

Golf players usually wear 폴로셔츠.

Nice looking 폴로셔츠

긴팔셔츠(Kinpalsheocheu) - a long sleeved shirt

Pretty Hyori with 긴팔셔츠

2. 나시(Nashi) - Sleeveless Shirt

끈나시(Kkeunnashi) - Top with a strap

3. 배꼽티 (Bekkobti) - Short top showing your belly button

배꼽(Bekkob) is Belly Button.

I know you guys want more pictures with 배꼽티, but I will stop here. lol.

4. 탱크탑(Tangkeutap) - Tank Top - A short sleeveless shirt

5. 블라우스 (Beullauseu) - Blouse - A dressy women's shirt with buttons

시스루 블라우스 (Siseuru Beullauseu) - See-through Blouse

Nowadays, 시스루 블라우스 is popular in Korea.

Usually, people don't wear 시스루 블라우스 like this. People put 나시 inside, but Hyuna is supposed to be sexy, so that is how she wears it.

6. 와이셔츠 (Waisheocheu) - Men's dress shirt

A lot of men's fantasy is being with a girl with only 와이셔츠.

A lot of Korean celebrities take pictures like this because many men like this.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Please comment to support! :)

Korean baby words

2014-01-22T22:14:00.003-08:00

Yuri is 22 months old, and she uses Korean words to express herself since I speak Korean to her.

Let's learn some Korean baby words!

1. Milk - 쭈쭈 (Choo choo)

This is one of the first words that Yuri started to say. She loves drinking milk, so she says 쭈쭈 to let me know that she wants milk.

Yuri is drinking mommy's 쭈쭈.

She was 12 months, and she was hungry!

2. Cookies, Biscuits, chips (snack) - 까까 (Kaka)

She likes to eat 까까 for her snack. 까까 is like baby's cookies. It doesn't need to be necessarily cookies. It can be popcorns, cereal. Anything tastes good can be 까까.

3. Dirty - 지지 (Jiji)

I tell her something is 지지 and she shouldn't touch it. She understands it and usually repeats it and say "No" which means she shouldn't touch it. Her "No" has many different meanings. :)

The other day, I posted a video of Yuri smiling. Yuri smiled and then started sucking James's keys. My viewers said she shouldn't suck keys since they are dirty.

Oh, right I should have said "지지."

But, Yuri's smile in the video was so precious, so please enjoy her smile! :)

Korean Fashion Terms (1) Skirt, Pants

2013-11-16T14:47:00.001-08:00

1. 치마(Chima) - Skirt
Even though Skirt is 치마, when we talk about mini skirt or long skirt. We just use our Konglish pronunciation.

미니 스커트(Mini Seukeoteu) for Mini Skirt

Rihanna is such a barbie doll.

Their skirts look too short. -_-;;;

롱 스커트 (Long Seukeoteu) for Long Skirt (Maxi Skirt)

This can be a long skirt, I guess.

It is long, just with a slit.

3. 바지 (Baji) - Pants

반바지(Banbaji) for shorts

Me and My baby. :)

Hyomin (Korean singer)

Hmmm... Will you at least find your size?

Shorts that are very short are called 핫팬츠(Hatpenteu). 핫팬츠 is from Hot Pants. I guess if shorts are very short, they make you hot?? Anyway,

Too short.

Please.... don't....

Are these panties or shorts?

A dad in Utah got so fed up with his teenage daughter's short shorts, and he decided to wear these.

Yes, you are the best Dad EVER. lol.

긴바지(Kinbaji) for long pants

I like this color. :)

Victoria, don't you think the pants are a bit too long?

This is not how you wear long pants, dude.

Thanks for reading the post!!!

While googling, I found Blake Lively's beautiful dress. I want to have it!

Please wait for the next post, Korean Fashion Terms (2)!!

Top 3 Sexiest Celebrities in Korea

2013-11-15T22:26:00.000-08:00

How do you say "Sexy celebrity" in Korean?

"Celebrity" in Korean is 스타(Seuta). 스타 is from "Star" in English.
"Sexy" is 섹시한(Sexihan). -한 makes a none an adjective.

A Korean TV show did a survey asking who the sexiest celebrity(가장 섹시한 스타)?

가장(Kajang) means the most.

The first place was won by Hyori Lee.

I think she is not only the sexiest but also the prettiest.

The second sexiest celebrity is Hyuna from 4 Minute.

She looks very sexy as well.

The third sexiest celebrity is a man, TOP from Big Bang.

He even got chosen as the sexiest male musician on Fuse.tv.

I think his eyes are sexy.

The interesting thing is you can hardly find his topless pictures. People think that even though he doesn't show his body, he is still sexy.

But, I still think that Taeyang from Big Bang is much sexier. He is my favorite. :)

I like his smile. I love his eyes! So pretty and sexy!!!! Hehehe.

Who is your 가장 섹시한 스타?

Places to go when Korean people go on a date

2013-07-19T07:06:00.002-07:00

Obviously, when Korean people go out on a date, they do the same things as other people such as going to a coffee shop, eating at a restaurant, going to the movies, going to a sport event, etc.

However, there are some places where Korean people like to go when they are hanging out with their friends or dating.

1. 노래방( Noraebang) Karaoke

Karaoke is a place where you can sing with your friends. Korean people love to sing. Even couples go to noraebang to sing together.

2. 커피숍(Keopishob) Coffee shop

As you can see, coffee shops are partitioned. They want to have private tables for them, so lots of coffee shops which are partitioned are popular among couples.

It is like you have your own private space to drink coffee (or make out?).

3. DVD방 (Dibidibang) DVD room

This is a place where you can watch movies in a very small theater. When you go inside, you choose what movie you want to watch and then watch it in a room.

Since DVD rooms can be used as hotels (some people go there to make out and more!), minors can not go there.

4. 멀티방(Meoltibang) Multi room

Nowadays, there are more multi rooms in Korea. There, you can watch movies, sing songs, play games, and drink coffee. You can basically do anything there. You pay per hour and spend time there doing anything.

Even though, the rooms look bright and cute and are advertising that the rooms can be used by minors, since the rooms cannot be supervised by adults, there are rumors that minors will be prohibited to go there soon.

Anyway, Koreans usually go to these kinds of places when they are dating other than going on a picnic, swimming, hiking, driving, etc. like any other people. :)

How to greet 'Happy New Year.' in Korean

2013-01-08T12:34:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone!!!!! :)

2013 has started...

It is about time to make a new year's resolution and start a new beginning.

Korean people say "새해 복 많이 받으세요(Sehe bok mani badeuseyo)." when we greet each other around new year.
새해(Sehe) means New year. 새is 'new'. 해 is 'year'. 복 is 'fortune, luck, happiness'. 많이 is 'a lot'. 받으세요 means 'please receive.' So, all together, it means 'Please receive lots of fortune that new year brings.

I hope this year will be really an exciting year for you and me!

Everyone! 새해 복 많이 받으세요!

Secret

Kara

Yuna Kim (Figure skater)

SNSD (Girl's generation)

Pronunciation of 새해복 많이 받으세요.

The place that you should go when you visit Korea - 찜질방 (Jjimjilbang)

2012-12-18T18:44:00.002-08:00

Have you ever heard of 찜질방(Jjimjilbang)?

Since it is winter and cold, I really miss 찜질방 back in Korea. It is basically a public sauna. You go there to sweat out some bad things and warm yourself in this kind of weather. Korean people love to go there as a family or a group of friends.

People go there to sweat out and eat and sleep. It is really fun going there. There are some places that you go and sweat like a sauna.

There are some places where you can lie down and sleep.

After you sweat in a sauna, you can go to a hot spring or public bath and take a bath.

How nice!!!! Huh!!??

There is one thing that Korean people do when they go to Jjimjilbang. It is making a sheep-head hat (양머리Yangmeori) with a towel. A very famous Korean drama started this hat in Jjimjilbang, and people started doing it since then.

Check people's 양머리.

This is how you make 양머리.

When you go to Korea, make sure you visit 찜질방 if you don't mind washing in a public bathtub...(Of course, you need to get naked when you are taking a bath.)

Words related to College Life - 미팅, 소개팅, 동아리, 엠티

2012-12-12T14:35:00.002-08:00

I think Korean people have the most fun time in college in their life in general.
When you are a high school student, you hardly have free time because you need to study to get into a college. It is really stressful. We even have a joke that there are three types of people in the world, men, women, and high school seniors.
Anyway, once you are done with high school life, you enter a college. (Around 80% of Korean high school students go to a college. That is really high.)
You start doing a lot of fun things like 미팅(miting), 소개팅(sogeting).
미팅 is a group blind date.
소개팅 is a 1 on 1 blind date.
Your parents will not be against you dating anyone now. You are in a college!!!
You do lots of blind dates.

You join 동아리(dong-ari). 동아리 is a group(circle). When I was in a college, I joined a travel 동아리 and a choir 동아리. The travel 동아리 got together a lot and drank a lot, so I didn't really like it and quit it. I really like the choir, and I still talk to people in the choir.

You go to lots of 엠티(emti). 엠티is MT(Membership Training). It is basically people in a same major or 동아리 go to the countryside, rent a house, play games, and drink alcohol together. It is usually one night and 2 days activity.

You drink beer!

You drink soju!!

And then, you pass out and sleep like this......

Country names

2012-12-07T08:37:00.001-08:00

In Korea, we say countries' names by their real names, but some countries which have had a relationship with Korea for a long time, we have some different Koreanized names for them.

The countries are
USA, China, Japan, Germany, UK, Thailand, Taiwan, and India.

USA 미국(miguk)

China 중국(Jungkuk)

Japan 일본(Ilbon)

Germany 독일(Dogil)

UK 영국 (Yeongkuk)

Thailand 태국(Teguk)

Taiwan 대만(Daeman)

India 인도 (Indo)

Blind date - 미팅, 소개팅

2012-12-04T17:01:00.002-08:00

미팅(miting) is 'Meeting.' It has two meanings. The first one is like english, 'meeting' at a company. The other one is 'group blind date.' Since you meet someone for the first time, we call a blind date 미팅. If there are three girls who want to meet guys, a friend of them can introduce three guys to them. That is 미팅.

You do 미팅a lot when you go to college since you have almost no time to meet people and date in high school. You are supposed to study for a college and then you can date after you become a college student.

소개팅(Sogeting) is a combined word of 소개(soge) and 팅(ting). 소개 is introduction. 팅 is from 미팅. So this is an 1 on 1 blind date. Your friend hooks you up with another opposite sex.

Korean people are quite shy, so they would hardly approach some strangers and start talking to them. So... even if a Korean man meet his ideal woman on the street, he will probably not approach her. And, if you approach her and try to get her number or something, she will think that you are a player trying to pick up girls on the street. So... Korean people sometimes complain that they can't meet new people. so, they ask their friends to introduce somebody to them so that they can meet new people and possibly start dating.

Anyway, if you are still single, I hope you will find someone for you soon. :)

Korean Words related to Marriage

2012-12-02T16:34:00.003-08:00

처녀(Cheonyeo) - Single woman(Bachelorette)
총각(Chongkak) - Single man(Bachelor)

처녀, 총각 are basically unmarried single woman and man. 미혼녀(Mihonnyeo), 미혼남(Mihonnam) are the same words as 처녀, 총각.

Here 녀(Nyeo) is woman, and 남(Nam) is man.

노처녀(Nocheonyeo) - Old bachelorette
노총각(Nochongkak) - Old bachelor

Many Korean people think that marriage is a very important thing in your life. If you are not married even after you turn 30, people around you start to say things like, "When are you gonna get married?" "Do you have someone to marry?" "Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?" "You need to start thinking about getting married seriously!"
So, many old bachelors or bachelorettes get stressed out whenever people say things like that to them.
노처녀, 노총각 don't have any starting age.
Even only 20 years ago, people consider women over 27 노처녀 and men over 30 노총각.
However, now, people think that women over 35 are 노처녀 and men over 40 are 노총각. But, everyone thinks differently. Some might think that a woman who is 31 years old is 노처녀 and some might not.

Once you get married, you become 기혼녀(Kihonnyeo), 기혼남(Kihonnam) or 유부녀(Yubunyeo), 유부남(Yubunam)

There are some slang words for these. Recently people have started to use 품절녀(Pumjeolnyeo), 품절남(Pumjeolnam) for married woman and man. 품절 means 'Sold out.' Basically, it is sold out or taken, so that the person is not available anymore.

There are some hoodies with 품절녀, 품절남 written on. You might want to wear them on your honeymoon.

Check these videos about 노총각 and 노처녀.

(Go to 1:25 to see the 노총각 part)

One thing that you should know about Korean culture is most Korean people think that older son or daughter should get married before younger ones.

The younger brother of 노총각 wants to get married, but since his older brother doesn't have any girlfriend and doesn't seem to get married any time soon, the younger brother gets frustrated and worries that his girlfriend might break up with him out of impatience.

Lots of 노총각, 노처녀s are complaining that their relatives are the ones that put the most pressure on them about marriage. So, holidays when families and relatives gather are the time that 노총각, 노처녀 are not really happy.

Korean Slang- Konglish 'Event.'

2012-11-28T15:54:00.001-08:00

이벤트(Ibenteu) is basically 'Event' in Konglish.

In a dictionary, the word 'event' means

a. Something that takes place; an occurrence.

b. A significant occurrence or happening.

c. A social gathering or activity.

So, it is just any occurrence in English.

But, in Konglish, we use 이벤트 as a very special occurrence or some special thing that you do for somebody.

If a store holds 이벤트 an event, that means they might have some major sale for customers or bring some celebrities to the store so more customers can come to the store.

Black Friday, Black Saturday, Cyber Monday are considered 이벤트 in Korea.

This is an 이벤트 of 'Study abroad agency.'

They are saying they will give out some scholarship since they just opened a website about going to Japan.

Dunkin Donuts is doing some 이벤트 on Valentines day. If they buy something for their Valentines, they might win some prizes!

The loan company is doing some 이벤트 saying they will loan some money without interest for 7 days.

You can do some 이벤트 between couples.

If someone 이벤트하다 for her boyfriend or his girlfriend, that means they will throw some surprise party or propose with some music, songs in a nice place.

They do 이벤트 for their boyfriend or girlfriends' birthdays, anniversaries, 100 days after they became boyfriend or girlfriend, Valentine day, some special day, proposal, etc...

They light some candles and confess their love.

They reserve a coffee shop or a restaurant and decorate the place and confess their love with their friends.

They propose outside in public with strangers looking at them.

Especially women dream about romantic 이벤트 from their boyfriends, so many Korean guys are a bit pressured to do those 이벤트 since many other guys do it and their girlfriends get jealous and put some pressure to them.

이벤트 between couples takes place usually in public. They confess their love in the movie theater or they propose in a big coffee shop where there are many people.

Korea is such an 이벤트 country. If you don't do 이벤트, you are just not romantic and your girlfriend might think that you don't deserve a girlfriend. lol.

This is proposal 이벤트 which took place in Gangnam.

Here, a groom does 이벤트 at his wedding for his bride.

So... if you want a Korea girlfriend, REMEMBER! 이벤트 is very important! Especially in PUBLIC!! like in a movie!!!!

Greetings

2012-11-28T10:07:00.004-08:00

When you meet someone for the first time, you will say 'Hi! Nice to meet you!"

In Korea, you can say 안녕하세요(Annyeonghaseyo) or 안녕(Annyeong) for "Hi."

In Korea, we use two forms when we are talking.

When you are talking to older people and someone not familiar to you or just you want to respect the person, you use 'High Form.'

When you are talking to your friends and younger people or someone who are very close to you(even though they are older...like your mom, dad, brother, sister, or some older friends), you use 'Low Form.'

Some parents strictly make their children to use 'High Form' to them. It sounds more respectful.

안녕하세요(Annyeonghaseyo) is High Form.

안녕(Annyeong) is Low Form.

And then you might want to say "만나서 반갑습니다(Mannaseo Bangapseumnida)." or "만나서 반가워요(Mannaseo Bangawuoyo)."

It is "Nice to meet you." in Korean.

When you know the person and meet her or him, you can say "How are you doing?"

In Korean, it is "어떻게 지내세요?(Eoteoke jineseyo)"

Then, the answer may be "I am doing fine."

In Korean, it is "잘 지내요(Jal jineyo)." or "잘 지내고 있어요(Jal jinego iseoyo)."

Korean people use N-word all the time?

2012-11-22T00:59:00.003-08:00

One day, I was hanging out with my friends.
My cell phone rang, and I picked up. I started talking in Korean.
After I was done, my friends were like...'OMG, did you just say the 'N-word' over and over again?

I used it so many times that they couldn't miss it.

Well... Let me tell ya.

I didn't use the 'N-word.' The word in Korean just sounds similar to it.

There are two.
내가 and 니가
내가(Nega) means 'I' when you are emphasizing 'I' in the sentence.
니가(Niga) means 'YOU' when you are emphasizing 'You' in the sentence.

Well.. so... when I told them that, they all laughed.

If you don't know that, you might get offended.

There was one black guy who went to Korea and thought that some old man call him 'nigga' and assulted the old man. It is really bad.

If you want to check the video out, this is the video.

It is a really sad video...

Let's learn at least some basic language before you visit the country.

Slang related to 'Appearance.' - 간지난다

2012-11-22T00:40:00.000-08:00

간지난다(Ganjinanda) is similar to 멋있다(Meosita). While 멋있다 is 'looking good,' 간지난다 means 'fashionable' and 'looking good with nice clothes' with fierceness and edge.

간지 is actually from 'Kanji' from Japanese. It is 'feeling' or 'vibe.'
So, if you translate 간지난다, it will be 'giving off good vibes.'

So, 간지난다 is 'fashionable' and 'looking good.(This doesn't means handsome. It should be more of fashionably looking good.)' and giving off fierce and edge vibes.

Gosh... He is just 간지 himself.

We call him 소간지(Soganji) since his lastname is So.

He is Bi Rain. We call him 비간지(Biganji).

Many Koreans also say Blacks are 간지난다.

We say 흑인간지(Heuginganji).

My hubby, James has some 간지, right? lol.

For some men readers, I need to put some women pictures.

I think the woman who has the most 간지 might be Rihanna.

Look at her. She is just 간지. I might need to call her '리간지(Riganji).' lol.

Wow. Wow. I like her. hee hee.

And... maybe another might be Blake Lively.

She is Serena in Gossip Girl.

She has real 간지.

She is only wearing this school uniform, and she just looks great!

Anyway, who else has 간지 for you guys? :)

Slang related to 'Face' 쌩얼

2012-11-19T23:51:00.002-08:00

쌩얼(Sseng-eol) is a face without any make-up.
쌩(Sseng) is a strong versions of 생(seng). 생 means 'raw.'
얼(eol) is the first letter from 얼굴(face).
Many Korean celebrities post their 쌩얼 pictures so that they show off their face without any make-up.

But the funny thing is most their 쌩얼 face is not just make-up free. They do their 쌩얼 make-up by applying some BB cream and very light lip gloss and etc. etc.

So... if someone says her face is 쌩얼 today, don't believe her 100% because she might have done some 쌩얼 makeup. :P

Idioms related to 'Face' (2) 얼굴이 피다

2012-11-19T23:27:00.003-08:00

얼굴이 피다.(Eolguri pida.)
얼굴 is face, and 피다 means 'to bloom.'
So if you translate it directly, it will be 'a face is blooming.'
Obviously, a face can't bloom.

Can it? Maybe.. lol

So if someone says, 너 얼굴이 폈다(Neo eolguri pieota). That means you look happier and brighter.

Example: 너 요즘 좋은일 있니? 얼굴이 폈다. (Do you have anything good happening? You look brighter.

Idioms related to 'Face' (1) 낯 뜨겁다.

2012-11-18T00:03:00.004-08:00

1. 낯 뜨겁다 (Nat Teugeobda)

낯 is Face. 뜨겁다 means 'hot.'

When your face turns hot, that means your face turns red and you are embarrassed or shy(blushing).

For example, if someone keeps pointing out your weaknesses, you will say "낯 뜨겁다".

When you see a couple displaying their affection too much in public, you will feel shy and wouldn't like it.

Then you can say "낯 뜨겁다."

Hey! What are you guys doing???? I am shy. I am blushing.

These are really 낯 뜨거운(When you are using it for an adjective, you use 'Nat Teugeoun)) moments.

Konglish words? How can I pronounce them?

2012-11-13T11:14:00.002-08:00

Since Korean letters don't have certain sounds that English has, we write some sounds in Korean letters which sound similar to the english letters.

Korean language does not have 'f' 'v' 'th'(in Thanks) 'th'(in Mother) 'l' 'r' 'z' sounds.
For 'l' 'r' sounds, we have very similar 'r' sound, but if you listen carefully, it is not really either 'l' or 'r.'

When you hear 'ra' in Camera, it is not 'l' or 'r'. You have to pronounce it placing your tip of the tongue right in the middle of the mouth ceiling.

Check this how 'orange' sounds.

That is how you should pronounce Korean 'r.'

As you just notice from the sound 'orange,' we always finish any words with either vowel or 'm' 'n' 'p' 'b' 'ng' 't'. If the ending sound is 'g' like Orange, you need to put a vowel to complete the word. We put 'i.'

Since we don't have 'v' sound, we change it to 'b' sound.

This one, too. Not video, it is bidio. :)

Since we don't have 'f' sound we change it to 'p' sound.

Kiss finishes with 's' sound which is not allowed to end with in Korean language, so we put 'eu' sound at the end.

This one, too. not just 't' you have to say 'teu.'

We don't have 'z' sound. so we just use 'j' sound.

For 'th' in thanks, we use 's' sound, and for 'th' in mother, we use 'd' sound.

Now, if you hear any Konglish words, you will be able to understand them! Yay!! :)

Studying in Korea

2012-11-12T14:46:00.001-08:00

Stuyding In Korea

Studying in Korea

Interested in studying at a college or university Korea? Want to pursue an MBA or graduate degree here? There are many higher education opportunities for international students hoping to study in Korea.

Admissions Process

The Korean university academic year begins in late February and to early March. Most Korean universities admit new students twice a year. For Spring semester starting in March applications are usually opened from September 1 to November 30. For Fall semester starting in September applications are opened from April 1 to June 31. Buteach universities have their own requirements and procedures, so it's important to research all prospective programs early.

Application packets often include:

• Application Form
• Self Introduction and Study Plan
• Official Academic Transcripts and Proof of Graduation or Expected Graduation (if applicable)
• Letter of Recommendation
• Copy of Passport of Proof of Nationality
• Proof of Korean or English Ability (as required)
• Documents Proving Financial Capacity
• Portfolio, Video, Etc. to Prove Competence (Arts and Physical Education Applicants)

Language of Study

Most international students who study abroad in Korea take courses offered in English. Many universities offer courses in certain subjects and majors in English, with some schools offering nearly a third of their courses in the language. English-language courses are more common at the graduate level.

Foreign students who want to study in English or Korean are required to prove their language proficiency, if the language is not their native tongue. Schools differ on types of language exam scores they accept, so it’s important to check with individual schools about their requirements. See the Required Exams topic below for information on some of the more commonly-accepted exams.

Types of Programs

There are many programs available for students wanting to study in Korea. Undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available for students proficient in Korean or English. Other programs allow students to study in Korea for a summer or semester, studying Korean language and culture or courses in their major.

For more information about studying in Korea as an international student, visit the National Institute for International Education website, http://studyinkorea.go.kr.

Undergraduate Programs

The education system at Korean universities is similar to that of Western universities, although some differences do exist. Undergraduate degrees generally have four years of coursework. Medicine, dentistry and architecture degrees are usually completed in five or six years. Students need to declare their majors when applying to a university, with only a few universities allowing changes in majors. The minimum number of credits for graduation is 140, with some universities having specific course requirements.

Thirty different undergraduate majors are offered in Korea including literature, pedagogy, business administration, fine arts, music, science, economics, political science, law, theology, administration, library science, engineering, agriculture, oriental medicine, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary medicine, dentistry and medicine.

Graduate Schools/MBA Programs
There are two types of graduate schools in Korea. Generalist graduate schools offer programs focusing on academic research. These schools offer master's and Ph. D programs. Specialist graduate schools offer programs to help students prepare for business practices. Some specialist graduate schools only offer master's courses, while some programs hold evening classes for workers. Graduate programs often offer more classes in English than undergraduate programs.

Students must have a bachelor's degree or expected graduation certificate to be accepted into a program. Test scores for English or Korean proficiency are required, depending on the program. Students without these scores may attend Korean pre-master's courses for international students.

Master of Business Administration programs accept degrees from a number of majors, but require two to three years of work experience for apply.

Regular Semester Programs

Students attend courses during the regular semester, with both Korean and international students. Courses run from the spring through fall semesters. Language of instruction is either Korean or a foreign language, often English. A larger number of graduate courses are offered in English, compared to undergraduate offerings.

Short-Term Exchange Programs

Many universities in Korea have international exchange programs with partner universities throughout the world. These programs allow students to study at Korean universities for a short period of time: summer or winter break, a semester or a year. Check with the study abroad office at your university for more information about exchanges offered with schools in Korea.

Vacation Period Programs

Some schools in Korea offer summer and winter programs for foreign students. Classes are offered in Korean language and culture, as well as general education courses.

Universities

Here are Top 10 colleges and universities in South Korea on the basis of academic excellence and other activities are :

1) Seoul National University

2) Yonsei University

3) Korea University

4) Pohang University of Science and Technology

5) Ewha Women's University

6) Sungkyunkwan University

7) Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

8) Pusan National University

9) Hanyang University

10) Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Korean Government Scholarship Programs

Numerous Korean government ministries offer this kind of Korean scholarship program. Each year, the number of beneficiaries increases and there are many opportunities. Currently, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade offer scholarship programs. Before applying, it is advisable to take the Test of Proficiency in Korean or the Korean Language Proficiency Test, to show that you have reached a certain level of proficiency.

Korean Government Scholarship Program - Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development
The Ministry of Education offers a scholarship program for international students from countries that have concluded a bilateral cultural agreement regardless of the field of study. Every year, 100 applicants enrolled in masters or doctoral programs, Korean language programs, or research projects are selected to receive full tuition and living expenses. The application period is open for three months every year from the end of November to mid February.

* Scholarship covers: 2 years for masters degree program, 3 years for doctoral degree program, 6 months to 1 year for research, 6 months to 1 year for Korean language training.
* Awarded: Tuition, monthly stipend (800,000 won / 9,600,000 won a year), research support (humanities 420,000 a month / natural sciences 480,000 won a month), health insurance
* Application Period: From the end of November to mid February
* Contact: The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, National Institute for International Education Development +82-2-3668-1359 / www.ied.go.kr

Korean Government Scholarship Students for Undergraduate Courses from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development
This scholarship is designed for students from the CIS or Asia. Since it targets Asian students, the chances of selection are relatively high. Regardless of ones major, there are 30 scholarship recipients that are selected which must complete a four-year bachelors degree and a one-year Korean language training course.

* Scholarship covers: 4 years for undergraduate degree program plus 1 year of Korean language training.
* Awarded: Tuition, monthly stipend (700,000 won / 8,400,000 won a year), health insurance
* Application Period: From the end of November to mid February
* Contact: The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, National Institute for International Education Development +82-2-3668-1368 / www.ied.go.kr

Research Fellowships for International Graduate Student Program from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development
Students from any country who wish to study in the fields of science or technology are eligible to apply. One hundred people will be selected for graduate or doctoral-degree study in the fields of science and technology. This program is open to anyone who has finished a bachelors degree in a relevant field and plans to study in Korea for a two-year masters and a three-year doctoral degree.

* Scholarship covers 2 years for masters degree program, or 3 years for doctoral degree program in the field of science & technology
* Awarded: Masters 8,400,000 won (700,000 won a month), Doctorate 10,800,000 won (900,000 won a month)
* Application Period: June and December
* Contact: Korea Research Foundation +82-2-3460-5500 / www.krf.or.kr (Korean)

Korean Government IT Scholarship Program from the Ministry of Information and Technology
Students from any country studying in the field of information technology are eligible to apply. Applicants can apply for both IT and public policy. Only those planning to pursue a masters and doctoral degree can apply, and 170 people are selected twice a year.

* Scholarship covers: 2 years for masters degree program, 3 years for doctoral degree program in the field of information & technology
* Awarded: Masters 10,000,000 won (700,000 won a month), Doctorate 14,000,000 won
* Application Period: December for spring semester applicants and June for fall semester applicants
* Contact: The Institute for Information Technology Advancement, Human Resources Development Division +82-42-710-1320 / www.korea4u.org

Global IT Policy & Technology Scholarship from the Ministry of Information and Technology
This scholarship is designed for public officials and professionals working in the field of information and telecommunications in the Asia-Pacific region or the Middle East. Every year, 45 candidates are selected to study for their masters or doctoral degrees in the field of IT, 15 for public policy and 25 for technology. The scholarship covers tuition, airfare, health insurance, and living expenses. The public policy program and the technology program are conducted both at Seoul National University and the Information and Communications University (www.icu.ac.kr).

* Scholarship covers: 2 years for masters degree program, 3 years for doctoral degree program in the field of international IT
* Awarded: Tuition, airfare, health insurance, and monthly stipend (1,500,000 won)
* Application Period: December for spring semester applicants and June for fall semester applicants
* Contact: Institute for Information Technology Advancement, Human Resources Development Division +82-42-710-1323 / www.iita.re.kr

Art Major Asian Scholarship (AMA) from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Designed to develop outstanding art students in Asia, the AMA scholarship selects students in the fields of music, dance, fine arts, visual art, theater, and the traditional arts for studies at the Korean National University of Arts. Every June, 20 candidates are selected for bachelor or masters degree programs.

* Scholarship covers: 4 years for undergraduate degree program, 2~3 years for masters degree program in the field of arts
* Awarded: Undergraduate: 18,000,000 won a year, graduate: 18,000,000 won a year
* Application Period: June
* Contact: Korean National University of Arts +82-2-958-2553 / www.knua.ac.kr /ama@knua.ac.kr

Korean Language Training Fellowship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TradeStudents from any country wishing to learn Korean for at least six months to a maximum of one year are eligible to apply. The fellowship covers living expenses. Every year, about 70 to 80 people are selected to enroll in a Korean language program. Those who are already learning Korean or are already studying in a Korean-related field are given preference on their application.

* Scholarship covers: 6 months ~ 1 year for Korean language training
* Awarded: Monthly stipend of 900,000~1,100,000 won, immigration support 300,000 won, tuition, and travelers insurance

Scholarship Foundations

In addition to the scholarships offered by the Korean government, other scholarship programs are offered to international students through foundations. Compared to government scholarships, these fellowships have stricter conditions, but students can apply even if they are already studying in Korea. The fellowship is also offered to those studying Korean or taking Korean-related classes in their home country.

Korea Foundation Fellowship for Korean Studies
The foundation gives out a number of fellowships, which includes the following: for research scholars and graduate students who want to study Korean language; for foreign scholars and professional researchers who want to conduct field research in Korea; for those who want to pursue a masters or doctoral degree; for those who already received their doctors degree and want to do more research; and for associate professors that are doing research and writing research papers. These fellowships support both those who want to study in Korea and those who want to study in their home country. For more information, contact the Korean Foundation (+82-2-3463-5784 / http://www.kf.or.kr/ language@kf.or.kr).

Fellowship for Korean Language Training
* Eligibility: Applicants must have a basic understanding and command of Korean. The scholarship supports those with a major or minor in a Korean-related field at an undergraduate level; faculty, lecturers, or researchers lecturing about a Korean-related field, doing research at a university or research institute, or working in a Korean-related field in a museum curators and librarians.
* Awarded: 900,000 won for bachelor or masters degree level, 1,100,000 won for doctoral degree level or higher, immigration support 300,000 won (one time), tuition, and travelers insurance
* Grant Period: 6 months (Grantees with outstanding academic performances may extend for another 3 to 6 months)
* Application Period: Announcements are made in February and applications should be received by the end of July for the next academic year.

Fellowships for Field Research
* Eligibility: Students who have completed their doctoral degrees in Korean studies and are working on their dissertation, or faculty, lecturers, or researchers connected to a university or research institution who are lecturing or conducting research related to Korean studies are eligible.
* Awarded: 1,300,000 won a month for doctoral degree program, 1,500,000 won a month for lecturers and assistant professors, 2,000,000 won a month for professors and associate professors, immigration support 300,000 won (one time), round-trip airfare, and travelers insurance
* Grant Period: 3~12 months
* Application Period: the end of July for the next academic year

Fellowships for Graduate Studies Program
* Eligibility: MA or PhD level students majoring in Korean studies at a university in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Foreign graduate students enrolled in a masters or doctoral degree program in Korea are also eligible to apply.
* Awarded: Amount of tuition and monthly stipend varies by the level of tuition and the prices in the grantees region and country.
* Grant Period: 12 months (Possibility of extension for outstanding students)

Post-Doctoral Fellowships
* Eligibility: Scholars who have received their Ph.D. degree in a subject related to Korea but are not currently holding a full-time faculty position may be eligible to apply. Applicants must have received their Ph.D. degree prior to the start of their fellowship research.
* Awarded: Amount of award varies by region, country, institution, and years of experience of fellowship.
* Grant Period: 12 months

Leading Scholar Research Fellowship
* Eligibility: Researchers who have received their Ph.D. degree in a subject related to Korea and who are involved in Korean-related lectures and research activities.
* Awarded: Research grant and actual research expenses
* Grant Period: 6 to 12 months

International Scholar Exchange Fellowship from the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies
The Foundation provides scholarships to university faculty members and institutional researchers from Asian countries doing research in the fields of humanities and social sciences, energy related fields, and information science and technology. Approximately 50 fellows per year are supported for research per one-year period in Korea.

* Scholarship covers: 1 year of research in the field of humanities and social sciences, energy, and information and telecommunications
* Awarded: Research grant of 2,200,000 won a month, immigration support, round-trip airfare and insurance.
* Application Period: Deadline by February 15
* Contact: Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies www.kfas.or.kr.

Scholarships for International Students from the Korea Scholarship Foundation for Future LeadersThe Korea Scholarship Foundation for Future Leaders offers tuition and some stipends for international students who have completed more than two semesters at a graduate school in Korea. Students must have received a GPA of 3.0/4.5 (2.8/4.3) or above in the previous semester. This scholarship is open only to those international students already studying in Korea.

* Eligibility: International students who have already completed two semesters at a graduate school in Korea.

Resource: Worknplay.co.kr

Korean Slang - Divorce(Divorcee), Single from the birth

2012-11-09T22:15:00.002-08:00

Lately, Korean people have started to think that divorce is ok not a sin. As more and more people are getting divorced, there has been a word for it. Those people who are divorced and become single again are called 돌싱.

돌싱(Dolsing) is from 돌아온 싱글. 돌아온(Doraon) means 'having come back.' 싱글(Singguel) is Korean pronunciation for English, single. So basically, it means 'came back to single.'

Check the pronunciation.

Another popular one that are being used a lot since recently is 모태솔로(Motaesolo).

Do you know the movie, the 40 year old virgin?

He has never did 'it' with a woman and never really had a girlfriend. We can call him 모태솔로.

모태(Motae) means Mom's womb. 솔로(Solo) is from English word, Solo.

You might be able to guess what it means. Yes!! Solo from the womb of Mom.

If someone is 모태솔로, that person never had a girlfriend or boyfriend.

There was even a TV program which gathered 모태솔로 people and set up blind dates for them. lol.

How to say "USA" in Korean

2012-11-08T13:37:00.002-08:00

Why do Koreans call USA "Miguk"?
It is actually from Chinese.
Chinese people call America(USA) MEIguo.

MEI is probably from ME in aMErica.
When ancient chinese met Americans, probably the ME sound stood up to them.
Guo is nation.

They write Meiguo in this way, 美国. (If you translate this directly, it means "Beautiful Country.")
We read this Chinese characters in Korean way. And that is Miguk.

This is how you say, "I am American."

Are you from Miguk?
Then, like this post! :) lol.

Korean Government Scholarship Program for International Students

2012-11-06T09:17:00.002-08:00

Do you want to study in Korea??

If so, check this thing out! I think it is a really good chance for anyone who would like to study there.

Korean Government

Bachelors/Masters /PhD

Deadline: 15 Nov/31 Mar (annual)
Study in: Korea
Course starts September 2013

Brief description:

The Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) is designed for international students who wants to pursue higher education in Korean Universities. The scholarship supports Bachelor’s (4 years), Masters (2 years), and PhD (3 years) plus 1 year Korean language course.

Host Institution(s):

Universities (or Institutes) designated by NIIED. See the KGSP guidelines (link found below) for the complete list of accredited Universities.

Fields of study:

Applicants must choose their desired fields of study from the listed programs offered by participating universities or institutes. Detailed information about the fields and majors offered by Korean universities is found at this link.

Number of Scholarships:

Around 110 undergraduate scholarships and 345 graduate scholarships will be awarded in 2013 (based on 2012 data).

Target group:

The scholarships are targeted to students from more than 60 countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe. You can check the KGSP guidelines (link found below) to find out if your country is part of the scholarship program.

Scholarship value/inclusions:

Undergraduate Program

• Airfare: A round-trip economy class ticket
• Monthly Allowance: 800,000 won per month
• Relocation (Settlement) Allowance: 200,000 won upon arrival
• Repatriation Allowance: 100,000 won upon completion of studies
• Language Training Fee : The full costs up to 1 year
• Tuition: The tuition fee up to 5 million won is exempted by the Korean Government, and if any, the tuition fee exceeding 5 million won and the entrance fee for the first semester by the host university
• Medical Insurance: The grantees will be provided with health insurance for major accidents and illnesses during their scholarship period.

Graduate Program

• Airfare: A round-trip economy class ticket
• Monthly Allowance: 900,000 won per month
• Relocation (Settlement) Allowance: 200,000 won upon arrival
• Language Training Fee : The full costs up to 1 year
• Tuition: All admission fees are waived by the host institution. The full tuition is paid by NIIED.
• Medical Insurance: 20,000 won per month(limited insurance coverage) will be provided to the university for students.
• Research Allowance: 210,000 won for students in human and social sciences; 240,000 won for students in natural and mechanic sciences per semester
• Dissertation Printing Costs: 500,000 ~ 800,000 won for the costs related to a printing dissertation

Special Allowance for ALL students proficient in Korean language (TOPIK level 5 or 6): 100,000 won per month

Eligibility:

Undergraduate Program

•  Must be a citizen of the country to which the scholarship is offered, which also applies to the applicants’ parents
•  Have graduated or will be scheduled to graduate from high school as of March 1st of the invitation year
•  Must possess above 80% (out of 100%) cumulative grade point average (CGPA), or must be within the top 20% (out of 100%) in rank in high school.

Graduate Program

• The applicant and his/her parents must hold foreign citizenships. Applicants who hold Korean citizenship are not permitted to apply for this program.

• Applicants must be under 40 years of age as of Sep. 1st, 2012 (born after Sep. 1st, 1972).

• Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree as of September 1st of the selection year. Applicants who have enrolled in or graduated from a university in Korea are not eligible for the KGSP program. Specifically, applicants who have previously enrolled in or graduated from an undergraduate program, a master’s program, or a doctoral program in Korea cannot apply for this program.

• Applicants must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.64 on a 4.0 scale, 2.80 on a 4.3 scale, 2.91 on a 4.5 scale, or grades/marks/score of 80% or higher from the previously attended institution. If the applicant does not satisfy the above GPA requirements, he/she will be ineligible to apply to this program.

Application instructions:

Applicants can only apply for the scholarships through the Korean Embassy in their home country or a participating Korean University. Visit the websites of Korean Embassy/Consulate in your own country.

For Undergraduate Program, the Korean Embassy or Consulate will recommend qualified candidates to NIIED by 15 November 2012. Therefore, the application deadline should fall BEFORE this date – around September to November 2012.

For the Graduate Program, the Korean Embassy or Consulate will recommend qualified candidates to NIIED by 31 March 2013. Therefore, the application deadline should fall BEFORE this date – around January to March 2013.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) to access the latest KGSP guidelines and for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website: http://www.niied.go.kr/eng/contents.do?contentsNo=78&menuNo=349

Source link: http://www.scholars4dev.com/3693/korean-government-scholarships-for-international-students/#ixzz2BSlaZ4xn

Korean idioms (2) - 눈이 높다 (Eyes are high??), 콧대가 높다 (Nose is high?)

2012-11-05T16:28:00.001-08:00

눈이 높다(Nuni nopda.) literally means Eyes are high.

Maybe... like this???

But, obviously, that doesn't make sense.

Anyway.. this actually means your standard is high. Especially, when you look at the opposite sex, if you want so many things from the opposite sex, you can say you are 눈이 높다. If they say, boys should be tall, funny, has a lot of money, went to a good school, has a good job.... blah blah blah.. their eyes are just too high.

ex) 우리 누나는 눈이 너무 높아 아직도 결혼을 못했어.

콧대가 높다 literally means nose is high.

Like this!

You can use it like that with a real physical appearance.

But also, you can use it as 'snobby.'

So... if someone's 콧대가 높다, that person is prideful, snobby, stuck-up, stubborn...all combined together.

Ex) 대학 가더니 콧대만 높아졌어.