Picture credit : marimari.com

From the 6th century, when Silla proclaimed a detailed system of law, its politics and social status were founded on Buddhism, and the systematic succession of an ancient kingdom was achieved. In addition, Silla accomplished the unification of three kingdoms by strengthening its national power based on the production of iron. Wooden chamber tombs with a stone mound, Buddhism, and gold crowns symbolize Silla culture, and many different excavated artifacts such as drinking glasses show the international character of Silla culture.

Discribed once as “a country with striking gold and silver artifacts,” Silla was a kingdom with a splendid gold culture. This gold crown was excavated from the North tomb of Hwangnamdaechong in Gyeongju (the capital of the Silla Kingdom) and is the most representative Silla gold artifact.

Photo credit :  Petnehazi.Anita in Picasa

Hwangnamdaechong is the largest tomb made during the Silla dynasty. The tomb is a double-mound for a Silla king and queen, and is shaped like a gourd. In the North tomb, more ornaments including a silver belt ornament with an inscription of ‘Buindae (the meaning of Madame’s belt)’ were found than in the South tomb. In this sense, this North tomb can be presumed to have belonged to a woman. A gold crown indicates the owner’s political and social class.

Photo credit : queenseonduk.wikia.com

The gold crown has three tree-like prongs (interpreted as the Chinese character for “mountain”) and two antler-like prongs. Silla gold crowns are very similar to a Siberian shaman’s crown in shape. For this reason, based on the gold crown as well as the wooden chamber tombs with a stone mound, it is assumed that the ruling class at that time came from the northern region.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHROEUuWQUw

There are various type of Silla crowns and they are already designated in National treasures of South Korea. The crowns are very fragile with more than one kilogram weight.

References :

National Museum of Korea

Video credit on youtube : Shilla relic!Korea Culture!新羅신라문화유물!Beautiful korea uploaded by sungchur

King Sejong the great was the third son of King Taejong and queen Wonkyong. He was the fourth king in Jeoseon Dynasty. He invented Hangul, the Korean alphabet during his reigned in year 1418 – 1450. He also improved the Korean agriculture system and another useful tools such as water clock named Chogyonguu, Korean sundial named Angbuilgwi and a rain gauge named Cheugugi. King Sejong The Great were also expert in music, art and dance. He set up the Guanseupdogam the place where teached Korean music and Chinese music.

5/19/2012 토요일 언어교환
http://www.facebook.com/events/304035613008509
http://cafe.naver.com/seoulexchange
Do you want to Learn Korean English or Other Languages?

Time: Saturday May 19th, 4pm-6pm
Location: Itaewon (이태원) exit #3 http://wellbeingstudio.com/wellbeingstudiomap/14735
Cost: Free
Membership Fee: 20,000won one time fee.
* Must buy a drink from the cafe so we can pay for the study facility.

Please RSVP for this group study since there are only limited number of seating.
Your can reserve your seat by sending me a message through FB, e-mail, phone call or text.

kimchicrew@gmail.com
010-8978-1984
Peter

There will be a party starting at 7pm.
You can join us for both Language exchange and the party or you can just come to just one event.

PS. We need helper. Please contact us if you would like to help out with the language exchange or the party. You will get special benefits. :)

Photo credit : kenh14.vn

Spring will ended soon and here comes summer. There is a summer special drink in Korea named misutgaru. It is made by steaming then roasting grains like beans, barley, glutinous rice, non glutinous rice or barley rice. to make powder that is then drink with added sugar or honey. Misutgaru is also known as a healthy drink for those who want to maintain the body weight because it is very good for diet.

So are you ready for the summer with misutgaru ? ^^

read : il yo il

read : weol yo il

read : hwa yo il

read : su yo il

read : mok yo il

read : keum yo il

read : t’o yo il

Photo credit : news.kbs.co.kr

Picture credit : womennews.co.kr

Kkokjijeom dance is a special dance which created to cheering the Korean national soccer team during the 2002 world cup which Korea was one of the host for this big event. It is fun to do in a group because it’s easy to learn and everyone can share the feeling of unity and sense of belongings while dancing together.  You can try it with your friends ^^

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZwVofzROMQ

Video credits uploaded on Youtube :

World cup Dance uploaded by yun91

(누룽지데이)_꼭짓점댄스와 누룽지데이 published by bopne1

Photo credit : wikipedia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIgVt1ejjjM

Let’s go back to Chuncheon ^^ Chuncheon also has a great view and places to visit. Remembering of the famous Korean drama, Winter Sonata which is filmed in one of the islands in Chuncheon area. Yes Nami island. Let’s check another island besides Nami that we can visit also when we go to Chuncheon and also another spots in Chuncheon.

Photo credit : tripwow.tripadvisor.com

Jungdo (Jungdo-dong, Chuncheon city, Gangwondo)

Surrounded with Lake Uiam has the very excellent surrounding scenery, it is a noted place for tourism which many people visit for the university M.T. for four seasons, picnic, or athlete meeting.

Nami Island (Namsan-myeon, Bangha-ri, Chuncheon city, Gangwondo )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NivWeEIUmAA

As a place that keeps the beauty and artistic effect of four-season nature, Nami island is loved as a rest space from which romance is given to the youth, memory is given to sweeties, and warm heart is fully given to the family and employees.

Geoseumdochi Island (36-1 Sinmae-ri, Seo-myeon, Chuncheon city, Gangwon-do)

This island is a summer resort where people can enjoy water reports such as waterskiing, wind surfing, and motor boat in a large lake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICWCBYoRAfY

Interesting spots to visit :

Gamjeongri limestone cave
Central Museum of Kangwon National University
Kimyoujeong house of literature (868-1 Jeung-ri, Sindong-myeon, Chuncheon city, Gangwon-do)
Breeding ground of snowy heron ardea cinerea (416-1, Mancheon2-ri, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do. S.Korea)
Hallym University Museum
Jungdo Resort
Mt. Gubongsan (Gamjeong-ri, Dong-myeon Chuncheon city, Gangwon)
Chunseong Library
Jade Mine
Bonguisanseong Mountain Fortress
7 storied stone pagoda
Chuncheon city Library
Flagpole Supports of Geunhwa-dong
Life-long Education & Information Library
Mt. Bonghwasan
Jengrigobungun
Chuncheon NationaMuseum
Jeokseokchong
Model Airplane Museum (Busawon upward slope, Joyang 3-ri, Dongsan-myeon, Chuncheon city, Gangwon-do)
Cheojeonri dolmen
Wind Surfing
Graveyard of cheongpung buwongun
Mt. Yonghwasan
Gangwon Korean music art Center (2nd floor of the Gangwon Korean Music Art Center at 86 Samcheon ring road, Chuncheon city, Gangwon-do(Formerly 200 Samcheon-dong)
Hoejeonmun Gate of Cheongpyeongsa Temple
Hyeolgeoyuji
Bridge of Chuncheon
Gangwon Nationauniversity Baekryeong Center
Seosangri 3 storied stone pagoda
Chuncheon Culture Center (107 Okcheon-dong, Chuncheon city, Gangwon-do)
Bier of Cheongpungbuwongun Kim Wu-Myeong
Civil servant stone of Kim Jeong graveyard
Wibongmun Gate
Kim Jeong-Eun Traditional house
Golf Club
Min Seong-Gi Traditional house
Joyangnu Pavilion
Children’s Hall
Chuncheon Hyanggyo
Puppet Theatre
Gangwon Drama Gallery
Soyangjeong
Chuncheon jukrimdong cathedral
Chuncheon art madang
Lake Soyang. Soyang dam
Hallym university ilsong arts Hall
Chuncheon Soyang Catholic Church
Movie Cinema
Chuncheon Culture Center
Choe Jae-Geun Traditional house (907-2, Jeongjok1 (il)-ri, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do. S.Korea)

Mt. Geombongsan (Gangchon-ri, Namsan- myeon, Chuncheon city, Gangwon)
Graveyard of Uiam You In-Seok
Gugok waterfall (Gangchon 1-ri, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon city,Gangwondo)
Gangchon boy scout camping site
Munbae village
Chuncheon seombae village
Nami island
Ski slope (29-1 Baekyang-ri, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon city, Gangwon-do)

Heungguksa temple
Deungseon waterfall
Wolsongri three-storied stone pagoda
Mt. Samaksan
Fishing valley
Goseumdochi island
Motor park
Lake Uiam. Uiam dam (Seo-myeon, Chuncheon city, Gangwondo)
Graveyard of Han Baek-rok and its Gate
Gangwondo Youth Training Park
Inline Skating
Graveyard of Sinjangjeolgong
Paragliding
Sinmaeri stone-pile tomb
Gangwon police museum
Gongjicheon
Gangwondo forest museum park
Cheongpyeongsaji (Cheongpyeong 1-ri, Buksan-myeon, Chuncheon city, Gangwon-do)
Animation museum
Owolri recreation forest (San 46-1 Owol-ri, Seo-myeon, Chuncheon city, Gangwondo)
Chuncheon Art Gallery
Bangdongri Goguryeo ancient tomb
Water skiing
Samaksanseongji
Hyeonam Folk Museum (371-1 Hyeonam-ri, Seo-myeon, Chuncheon city, Gangwon-do )

Gangwondo Provincial Flower Garden (218-5 Sannong-dong, Chuncheon city, Gangwon-do)

Video credits on Youtube :

강원도 아리랑 (KangWonDo Arirang)- 김영임 (Kim Young-Im) Korean Folk Song Uploaded by SuperTheseus
Trip to ChunCheon.wmv Published by ExploringKorea
My Memory – Winter Sonata Uploaded by zeppelin7th

References :

tour.chuncheon.go.kr

Believe many of you are also learning Korean from various online sources and smartphone applications. This is definitely not an easy way, however, it’s the best way to learn especially when you do not have time for a regular class.

I’ve been learning occasionally during my free time for past few years and my speed of improvement can barely be measured. Luckily I have some nice Korean friends to correct me when I made mistakes, but still, it’s hard for a native Korean to explain the language to a basic learner, like me. Similarly to many languages, Korean is interesting in the way that an expression can be expressed in few different ways, and it requires understanding of the language structure and usage of different linking verbs in order to express correctly. With this, I decided to start new again to learn from the very basic.

I discovered a really good learning resource which has various teachers guiding you in learning this interesting language via. audio recording (mp3), written words (pdf), and video lessons on youtube.  Have actually recommended this website on my Facebook, it’s http://www.talktomeinkorean.com/. They have also smartphone application (KORLINK) that enables you to access to their lessons easily wherever you go! Try it!

In addition to the online resources, I would also recommend to learn via. the traditional method – books! Last month I bought my first Korean workbook from http://mykoreanstore.myshopify.com/ and it comes with a CD as well. The moment I flipped open the book, I was stunned when I realized everything (except some simple instructions) was written in Korean. I tried to answer the questions one after one, and really enjoy it especially the audio listening sections which are good practice to enhance my listening skill. The book used some nouns and verbs repeatedly in different questions to help you get familiarized with them. You may choose to tally the answers after you completed each chapter to realize your mistake and keep improving. It is actually better to practice along with the student textbook.

I had bought the student textbook for next stage, but am still struggling to free out my time. So, how about you? How do you learn Korean and what are the resources?

- 크리스티 ✿

When he was young and still learning how to do traditional calligraphy he got so good that one day he thought he had nothing left to learn. Later he was visiting his mother in his hometown and his mother came up with an idea for making modest again.

Photo credit : 대구교육사랑 at Naver by 대구광역시교육청 http://dge.go.kr

His mother proposed Han Seok Bong a little experiment to cut tteok (Korean rice cake) while he write calligraphy without any lights in the dark of night and saw who was better at their respective activity.  His mother had cut perfect slices of tteok, but it was impossible to make out what he had written.  Han Seok Bong returned to Seoul and continued his study. He became a diligent student and famous in his field. He then become a master in calligraphy.

This moral story is told to young people about the value of humility, because we never learn all there is to know.

References :
Arirang Korean Basics 서울대학교 언어 교육원
Photo credit : 대구교육사랑 at Naver by 대구광역시교육청 http://dge.go.kr

《빗소리》 – 주요한
“Sound of the rain” – Ju Yo-han

비가 옵니다
밤은 고요히 깃을 벌리고
비는 뜰 위에 속삭입니다
몰래 지껄이는 병아리같이

Rain is falling,
The night quietly spreads its wings.
Rain whisper in the garden
like chicks chirping secretly.

이즈러진 달이 실낱같고
별에서도 봄이 흐를 듯이
따뜻한 바람이 불더니
오늘은 이 어둔 밤을 비가 옵니다

The waning moon was thread-thin,
Like spring flowing from the stars,
the warm breeze blew.
Today, rain falls on this dark night.

비가 옵니다
다정한 손님같이 비가 옵니다
창을 열고 맞으려 하여도
보이지 않게 속삭이며 비가 옵니다

Rain is falling.
The rain falls like a sweet guest.
I opened the window to greet it,
but hidden in the whispering, the rain falls.

비가 옵니다
뜰 위에 창 밖에 지붕에
남 모를 기쁜 소식을
나의 가슴에 전하는 비가 옵니다

Rain is falling.
In the garden, outside the window, on the roof…
Like an unknown good news,
The falling rain enters my heart.