광주 [GwangJu] -- National May 18 Cemetery and 2010 World Music Festival

National May 18 Cemetery

It was raining and quiet -- I did not expect that my visit to Gwangju would begin with a very sad story about Gwangju history. We visited the National May 18 Cemetery, and to be honest, I did not know any single thing of what has happened in the past in Gwangju or what did May 18 mean or what was this Cemetery for. We first did some kind of ceremony to worship the people who were killed in May 18 tragedy. My friend Chaopeng Wang represented us to pour ashes into the jar.

After that, we watched a video about what happened in Gwangju. It is Gwangju Democratization Movement. You can read all the information on the link, but when I watched the video, it was really sad and sad and sad. There were blood and dead bodies. It was about the Gwangju citizen who were willing to eliminate the dictatorship of the president of that time and defend the democracy. But, the Korean army were brutally killed (I don't know under whose command) the citizen and this cemetery were built to worship their (the killed citizen) effort to fight for the democracy. 

As you can see on the picture, there is a statue which shape is like two hands holding an egg. This statue is called The May 18 Memorial Tower and it means the resurrection of a new life because egg means life. At least their sacrifice were not useless, South Korea now is a democratic country^^.

"The Hub City of Asian Culture -- Gwangju"

Yeah, we got a book and pamphlets and there are a lot of information about the project that Gwangju are doing right now. I just finished looking and reading all of it, so I will tell you a bit about it.
So, they are planning (or in progress now) to make Gwangju as the hub of the Asian culture where the cultures froma Asia countries can be promoted here. What are the missions?
1. To establish and operate Asian Culture Complex as a cultural power plan.
2. To develop a culture-based urban environment
3. To promote the arts and culture/tourism industries.
4. To reinforce the city's cultural exchange functions

This project were actually started in 2004 and guess what, they might finish it in 2024 ... wow.
What is Asian Culture Complex, this is it:

Asian Culture Complex Miniature

What are the facilites?

Click to resize

I know I am such a lazy guy hahah. Anyway you get the point, right. And they are now building the Seven Zones of Culture which each of them has their own functionalities.

Click to resize

And we went upstairs to see the progress of this project, I could see some building was being constructed and it might be a great place^^.

Gwangju World Music Festival 2010

After being introduced to their project, we then went to see one of performances in the World Music Festival. We watched a 1 hour musical instrument performance by Debashish Bhattacharya, I think they are from India. To be honest, the performance was really hypnotizing, or maybe it is just me who doesn't know what art is. This festival was actually held on August 27 - 29. There are a lot of artist from many countries, such as Japan, France, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, Austria, etc and also,of course, South Korea. But due to the lack of time, we were just able to watch 1 performance indoor and then we went to another stage (outdoor) to see another performance for only around 1 hour.

And then after that indoor performance, we went to another stage and when I saw the performance, I thought it was from Indonesia because they wore the clothes which pattern was exactly the same like traditional clothes from my hometown (Borneo), but actually they were from Malaysia. Moreover, due to the similarity of our language, I was like so lost and could not make my mind about where they are from. Anyway, it was really an entertainment.

I think by holding this kind of festival, it really helps to promote the culture of many countries in Asia and also to introduce them to many people. Who knows? people might become interested to visit those countries and I think Gwangju really plays its role as the hub of the Asian culture.
Even it was raining, people seemed to enjoy the show. Now that's the spirit^^.

PS: some information are acquired from the book (pamphlet?) that was given to us called "A Flower from the Seed Called Dreams -- Hub City of Asian Culture Gwangju" which I think was produced by Office for Hub City of Asian Culture.

More pictures HERE.

August 30 2010

앙가

-- Hey ... I got a nice souvenir. And it happened again, like I lost my watch few weeks ago and now I get the new one hahah.

2010 MNet 20's Choice Award

Took place at the River Park of Sheraton Grand Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul. Because it was Summer, the theme were like pool and Summer^^. Anyway, WSK students got an opportunity to attend the award and I don't know if it was fortunate or unfortunate, we got a seat below the celebrity who attended the award.

The award was held from 6PM to 9PM. They announced the winners and also there were some performances by Korean singers. These are the winners that I had successfully taken the pictures of: 

Supreme Team

Beast

티아라 [T-ara]

이수근 [Lee Su Gen]

김태원 [Kim Tae Won]

유브이 [UV]

2AM also the winner

Yeah, due to the not-good-quality of camera that I have, I couldn't take any good pictures of all of them. Anyway, I found this website which list the complete list of winner at the award. It's here. That site also list the performances so I guess you can enjoy it there. I took some pictures though and I will upload it on my Picasa. So just check it out ^^.

More pictures HERE.

29 August 2010
앙가

--I hate my camera.

Expo Park Daejeon VS Lotte World Seoul VS Everland South Korea VS SixFlags St. Louis, USA

Hello Readers,

If you are my friend you will know that I am such a big fans of amusement park. I fell in love with amusement park at the first time I went to SixFlags in St. Louis which is one of famous amusement parks in the US. Anyway, the first day of my summer vacation (23 August 2010), me and my classmates went to Everland, the biggest amusement park in South Korea (maybe in entire Korea). Even though it was raining until 3, we still had fun up to maximum.

Here, I would like to compare some amusement parks that I have been to. And this is 그냥 angga's opinion, you know each person has different opinion. Anyway, I have been to 4 amusement parks and among those 4, the least interesting amusement park is Expo Park (Kumdori Land) in Daejeon (least interesting among those 4 does not mean it is not interesting though). Me and my roommate went there a while ago, and we tried several ride. We, of course, rode one of roller coasters there called Black Hole, and since I have tried a more thrilling roller coaster at SixFlags, so i was not really impressed, yet it still was fun. And then, I rode Viking, a ship that goes forward and backward, this was my first time riding it, so it was quiet fun. Even I said that among those 4 amusement park, Kumdori land is the least impressive, but actually there was a ride that I think it was the most terrifying. It is called Swing Drop, and hell ... It successfully killed me =]. It swings you 3 times, and then it will stop at the top and you have to wait until several minutes, and it will swing you backward, and at that time, it was the most terrifying time in my life, yet I enjoyed it at the maximum ^^.

Here are some pictures:

Behind me is the Black Hole

And this is the great Swing Drop ... scary

Kumdori Land is the first amusement park that I went in Korea, though ... so congratulation ^^.

Next is Lotte World in Seoul. Lotte World is provides a lot of indoor entertainment, but they also have outdoor attractions, too. Well, of course (again), me and my friend rode the roller coaster at the outside called Atlantic Adventure, it was really fast, but still not really thrilling for me. And then, wohoo I actually thought this one was better than Superman that I rode at SixFlags, but hmm not really ... it is called Gyro Drop, so it is like a tower and you go up there and suddenly it drops you and you die ... hahah no ... Superman at SixFlags was really fun, but this one, I feel like when it dropped us, it did not really loose, I mean it seemed to brake too much so I did not really feel naturally fall -- maybe just me =]. And then, we tried attraction inside, we went to the 4D movie which was spongebob (was it?) i don't remember. It was not my first time to experience 4D movie, but it was quite fun ^^. And then the last one was called French Revolution, it is a roller coaster, it has this loop but you won't feel there is a loop there ^^, it is really fast. Sadly, I did not take any pictures, my friend actually did, but she is like so busy right now =] I will give you the link though, later ;).

EVERLAND!!! it is huge ... hahah it was raining though, but like whatever let's just enjoy it. So, since it was raining we enjoyed most of indoor attraction. First, is Go Africa! it is not a ride, but it is kind of zoo. I guess you all know what zoo is, like you know animal place, but the most interesting thing was that I feed the bird ^^ so cute.

Ahh, I know I am such a humble and lovely and soft guy ^^

And then we went to a Rotating House, so inside the house you will feel that the house is rotating. And then we went to a 4D theater, and then to the animal show, and then to the monkey show where I finally got in touch with a snake ^^. And the best part was ... tadaaaaaa the rain stopped at 3!!! and guess what we rode the most thrilling roller coaster in my life --- Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduced you, T-Express. It has the steepest angle ever. When it went down, i really honestly could not scream at all, i don't know why, the voice just could not go out. It was the best best roller coaster ever! I recommend all of you this roller coaster. Since my main purpose of going to Everland was only to tame the T-Express, I was really satisfied and all the upset-ness of raining suddenly disappeared ^^. The last ride was Hurricane, even though it was the first time i rode this kind of ride, it was ... emm so so ^^.

The Everland Team

Errr ... yup see the next picture please

This is a friend of mine, it was at the Global Village where you can ride a boat and see some countries

The animal show, oops it is shy =]

After the rain stopped, there was a sort of fairy tale performance

She is one of the staff of the performance =]

Everland Team ^^

God Bless T-Express!!!

Finally!! snake =]

 Fiuh ... what a day ... it was totally fun.

If I compare all of those amusement park with SixFlags, I would say that SixFlags (in St. Louis) has more variety of attraction in one place. They have 7 different roller coaster which also has different taste (I rode all of them), they also have Batman The Ride which is really awesomely terrifying and will surely make u get headache, and then they have Superman Tower of Power which I said it was really high and drops like real, and other rides which worth riding. I have pictures of them, but you'd better see on the website =].

Well, each amusement park has its own good thing and not really good thing, for me I like all of them and I am searching for a new amusement park to taste.
Wanna join me? lol

More pictures:
Everland
SixFlags

Useful websites:
Kumdori Land (Expo Park) : http://www.kumdori.co.kr/
Lotte World Seoul : http://www.lotteworld.com/
Everland : http://www.everland.com/
SixFlags St. Louis : http://www.sixflags.com/stLouis/index.aspx

August 26 2010
앙가

--Will attend MNet Music Award 2010 tonight and World Music Festival in GwangJu on 28 ^^ Wohooo
*some pictures by 목영암 and 려나 ... thanks ^^

서인국 [Seo In Guk]

Hello Readers,

Yes ... I was listening to this song and I fell in love with it. The song is titled "마지막 생일" [Majimak Sengil] which means the last birthday. The song was nice on my ears and his voice is really beautiful. Anyway, the singer is 서인국 [Seo In Guk], he is a very handsome Korea singer. Since I really like this song, I decided to know more about the singer, maybe someday if I luckily meet him, I would not be lack of information about him heheh. There is an official website of him that you can visit to know more about him, but even though the menu lists are in English, the content is in Korean. I will help you translate some of information about him, taken from his official website.

source of picture: http://www.omgkpop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Picture-15.png

Name : 선인국 [Seo In Guk]

Date of birth : 20th October 1987

Place of birth : Ulsan

Educational background : Junior year at the Department of Information and Communication, Kyung Hee Cyber University

His latest album is titled "Just Beginning" contains that song I was talking about, and also there is a song called 사랑해 U [Saranghe U] which I think was the hits of this album. I have not listened to all the song, but I am looking forward to it. Curious? why not try to listen his songs, you might fall in love at the first time listening to his songs.

서인국 - 사랑해 U

Source: http://video.nate.com/214400038

서인국 Official Website : http://www.seoinguk.co.kr/

August 20 2010
앙가

-- 마지막 수업 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

WSK Stories of the Month -- Two Korean Villages Become UNESCO Sites

Andong City’s Hahoe Village and Gyeongju City’s Yangdong Village, which are the two most representative historic villages in Korea, were registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list at the 34th Session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in Brasilia, Brazil on August 1. With this designation, Korea now holds a total of 10 UNESCO World Heritage items. 

It is extremely rare for historic villages to be in intact state due to modernization and development and such, and the assessment of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is accordingly extremely rigorous. 

The Hahoe and Yangdong Village, too, had to go through a series of reviews, holdups, and postponements before they were granted the approval. ICOMOS recognized the two villages’ historic and cultural significance as early as last May and the legitimate ground in having them registered as one coupled-up item. However, due to the fact that there wasn’t a comprehensive administrative office that manages both of the villages together, ICOMOS sustained their approval.  

To this, Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration with Gyeongsangbuk-do, Andong City and Gyeongju City, organized “The Council on Preservation of Historic Villages” that was going to collaboratively manage and preserve the two villages. And after submitting to 21 member countries of WHC thorough information and promotional materials on the Hahoe and Yangdong Village as well as dispatching a government delegation to the 34th Session of WHC, were they able to put the two villages on the list of UNECO World Cultural Heritage. 

1995: Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple / Jongmyo Shrine / Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks
1997: Changdeokgung Palace Complex / Hwaseong Fortress
2000: Gyeongju Historic Areas / Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites
2007: Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes
2009: Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
2010: Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong

Founded in the 14th-15th centuries, Hahoe and Yangdong Village’s layout and location – sheltered by forested mountains and facing out onto a river and open agricultural fields – reflect the distinctive aristocratic Confucian culture of the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). 

The Hahoe Village contains Yangjindang Manor (Treasure No. 306), Pikchondaek House (Important Folklore Material No. 84), Chunghyodang Manor (Treasure No. 414), and Namchondaek House (Important Folklore Material No. 90) among others. It has also preserved the shamanist rite of Byeolsin-gut, Hahoe Mask Dance, and Jeulbul Nori. 

The Yangdong Village contains Mucheomdang (Treasure No. 411), Hyangdan (Treasure No. 412), Gwangajeong (Treasure No. 442) as well as Tonggamsokpyeon, a book printed on movable metal type (National Treasure No. 283).

The two villages are the first of their kind in Korea to receive the honor in that they are places that are actually being inhabited by people. They are “living heritage.” Residents have well preserved not only traditional housings but the intangible culture of the two villages as well, which further increases the value of Hahoe and Yangdong. 

Having relics registered on the UNESCO list is pointless if they don’t continue to be properly looked after. The two villages, Hahoe and Yangdong, now having become world-acknowledged historic assets, will likely trigger a surge of tourists both domestic and international. And accordingly, we will need to further reinforce maintenance system and strengthen tourism infrastructure so that those precious vestiges of the past can still be there for the next generation to appreciate as well. 

........................................................................................................................................ⓒ 코리아브랜드

-- I really did not know that I should do this *sigh ㅋㅋ

WSK Stories of the Month -- Korean Song Gives Hope to Kenyan Children

Have you listened to the song “Dream of a Goose (거위의 꿈)” by the legendary Korean singer Insooni (인순이)? I bet most of you have. 

“….Yes, I do have a dream. I believe in that dream. Wait and watch me….” 

A song of catchy melody, heartfelt lyrics, and powerful performance. But I personally would say that the charm of the song lies in its lyrics. It’s a monologue of a goose that is determined to soar up to the sky someday – despite all the callous ridicule of the world saying geese can never fly. The goose says it will achieve that dream of flying someday somehow. It’s such heart-wrenching lyrics. 

And what’s more impressive, this Korean song is being sung by children in a far, far, far away country – Kenya.

Children of “Korogocho,” Kenya’s Largest Slum Town 

In the region called Korogocho, one of the largest slum neighborhoods of Nairobi, Kenya, some 150,000 to 200,000 people live pressed shoulder to shoulder. The town is polluted beyond imagination – its sky is black with smoke coming from burning garbage and its ground wet with atrocious residual liquid. 

In this seediest of the seediest towns on earth, people live on less than two dollars a day. Children scavenge through garbage for food and clothing – practically live amidst piles of trash – and going to school is a luxury only enjoyed by a mere one-third of the Korogocho children. The illiteracy rate and the seriousness of their ignorance is of such grave state that the kids won’t understand if they are told to “line up.” But what’s harder for them to bear than the hunger and the lack of education itself is the despair – the complete absence of hope and dream. 

And in this most dire and glum situation, Good Neighbors – an international humanitarian and development organization from Seoul that originated as a non-profit NGO in 1991 – has been running the Jirani (meaning “good neighbor” in Swahili) school, vocational training center, and medical center since 1996. 

A Song of Hope Budding out of Despair

Artistic activities offered to children in Kenya are almost non-existent. The only substantial one will be the choir run by the Good Neighbors Kenya, giving them a glimmer of hope and dream.

Under the instruction of a Korean music director, children started practicing the song “Dream of a Goose.”

<30 children selected as members of the Jirani education center choir after rigorous auditions>

Director spared no time and energy in explaining the meaning of the song’s lyrics over and over to the children. For the second verse, they even composed their own version of lyrics in Swahili describing their sufferings and also their will to overcome them. The children sang with all of their hearts, hundreds of times, and soon they memorized all the melodies and lyrics. 

And they were given the opportunity to participate in the music competition hosted by the Kenyan government on June 18. And miraculously, they came in 3rd place. The video of their performance was uploaded on YouTube and drew applause and encouragement from audiences worldwide. It moved numerous Korean web users as well as the Korean singer Juck Lee who is none other than the composer of the very song “Dream of a Goose.” 

Children’s Voice and a Dream Come True

The story of Korogocho children and their choir eventually gave birth to the “Jirani Children’s Choir,” sponsored by Good Neighbors. Around 100 children were selected after extensive auditions, and they started to sing hope and dream to the world.

Children who have to dig though mountains of garbage to survive now spread something beautiful, something hopeful, to the world with their collaborative voice. It is, indeed, a dream come true. 

After a series of performances in a number of countries including Korea, they were able to collect enough finance to support the children’s education. 

It’s a real story that sounds so dramatic and touching it might as well be turned into a film. Tae-Jong Rim, one of the five board members of Good Neighbors and the president of the Jirani Cultural Project Foundation, commented, “The Jirani Children’s Choir wouldn’t have been possible without Koreans’ strength in culture. We should continue to expand these kinds of activities.” International exchange and support will keep expanding as well as the government ODA. 

It’s impossible to help everyone in the world who is poor and is in need of help. But it’s possible to give them a glimpse of hope, just as the Kenyan children’s “Dream of a Goose” did. 

...............................................................................................................................................

ⓒ 코리아브랜드