Korea(2015.2.) by Korean culture and information service

February 2015

설 날

Seollal, Lunar New Year’s Day Why do people ring in New Year’s twice? People TV Producer Na Yeong-seok Geomungo Musician, Park U-jae Travel Cheongsando Island

contents

korea

February 2015

COVER STORY

CURRENT KOREA

MY KOREA

Lunar New Year's in Korea Why do people ring in New Year's twice?

Traditional nongak music

Korea’s plan to avoid a 'WALL-E' trash world

PEOPLE

SUMMIT DIPLOMACY

MULTICULTURAL KOREA

TV producer Na Yeong-seok Geomungo musician Park U-jae

President's Achievements After Two Years of Summits

Chungnam Harmony Volunteer Group Leader, Bulatova Anastasiya

TRAVEL

POLICY REVIEW

NATURE

Cheongsando Island

President’s New Year’s Plan

Hallasan Mountain

SPORTS

CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

FLAVOR

Bobsleigh miracle

Tri-band LTE

Gangjeong, a Lucky Holiday Food

ENTERTAINMENT

GLOBAL KOREA

Life as a celebrity manager and stylist

Ridding the world of Ebola

SPECIAL ISSUE

GREAT KOREAN

New beauty standard and a treasure ship

General Gang Gam-chan

Publisher Kim Jae-won, Korean Culture and Information Service Executive Producer Han Seong-rae E-mail webmaster@korea.net Magazine Production the book company Editor-in-Chief Lee Min-jeong Staff Writers Yoon Se-eun, Hong Hye-won, Kim Nae-on, Kim Tae Kyung Production Supervisor Kim Min-kyung Advisory Panel Lee Duk-ju, Lee Byung-jong, Hong Dong-won Copy Editors Gregory C. Eaves, Oliver Williamson Jr., Alex J. Ahn, Kim Hyun-ah, Kim Jeong-hyun Creative Director Oh Seong-min Head Designer Kim Se-ryeong Photographers Moon Duk-gwan, Hong Ha-yan Printing Kumkang Printing Co,.Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from KOREA and the Korean Culture and Information Service. If you want to receive a free copy of KOREA or wish to cancel a subscription, please e-mail us. A downloadable PDF file of KOREA and a map and glossary with common Korean words appearing in our magazine are available by clicking on the thumbnail of KOREA on the website of www.korea.net . 발간등록번호 11-1110073-000016-06

Cover Story

Lunar New Year’s in Korea Why do people ring in New Year’s twice? Written by CHO YONG-HEON

korea

February

eople traditionally used the lunar calendar. Today, however, people refer to the solar New Year’s Day as the first day of the year. They call the Lunar New Year’s Day “Seollal” in Korean, as did their ancestors. In 2015, Seollal falls on February 19 on the solar calendar, more specifically, the Gregorian calendar. Even though the solar calendar is the standard way of reckoning time for nearly all activity—business, education and so forth—in this country, the lunar calendar retains great cultural importance, especially concerning traditional holidays. On the lunar calendar, the day and month are determined by the shape, size

and location of the moon.When the moon is invisible, with the sun and earth in alignment, it is the first day of the month. This day is called choharu. On the 15th day, the moon is aligned with the sun again, but the earth is in between.This day of each month is called boreum.The last day of the month is called geumeum. It takes about 29.5 days from one choharu to the next choharu, so one lunar month is 29 or 30 days.Thus, the lunar year is shorter than the solar year by about ten days. For this reason, the two calendars have very different leap month cycles. The official calendar for Korea, China and Japan was the lunar calendar until the mid-19th century. Japan officially jettisoned the lunar calendar during the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912). China officially adopted the solar calendar in 1949, when Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In Korea, King Gojong ordered use of the solar calendar in 1895. Nonetheless, Koreans still use both calendar systems to this day. More so than any other g roup of people in East Asia, Koreans consider the lunar calendar to be extremely important.

Family members take part in an ancestral rite on the lunar New Year. © Yonhap News

korea

February

Farmers and fishermen especially depend on it, and not only to track traditional holidays.Tidal action is dictated by the relative location of the moon to the sun and the earth, and many aspects of life in rural Korea depend on the 24 seasonal divisions of the lunar calendar. The Moon and Tradition

People have always considered the moon to be more important than the sun.The word eumyang (yin-yang) is an everyday word, not only in Korea but also in other countries that were under Chinese cultural influence in the past. Eum (yin) refers to the moon, and yang (yang) refers to the sun. It is notable that the syllable eum comes before the syllable yang in the word eumyang, suggesting that the moon had greater influence on people’s lives than did the sun. Another notable example is the term ojangyukbu, literally the five viscera and six entrails. This word refers to the internal human organs. The ojang, the five viscera, are the heart, kidneys, spleen, lungs and liver. All these words, ojang and the terms for each of the five viscera, share the same Chinese character, 臟, which Korean speakers pronounce as jang.

Children receive “gift money” after bowing to their grandparents on the morning of Lunar New Year’s Day.

One part of that Chinese character is 月, which means the moon. People believed that a human being’s internal organs were under the influence of the moon.The sun retains its shape and size every day, but the moon changes from a crescent to a half to a full moon and back. Those changes were believed to affect the human body, and that influence was called eumgi (yin qi). Eumgi from the moon was considered essential for health. Gi (qi)signifies the life force and the fundamental energy of the universe. It governs the alternation of day and night, as well as the rise and fall of the sea level. Eumgi from the moon varies in strength depending on the shape and size of the moon, and these changes are encoded in the lunar calendar. In Buddhism, a full moon shining on the water symbolizes the Goddess of Mercy, the Avalokites´vara Bodhisattva. This symbolism is vividly illustrated in a famous

People believed that by eating rice cake soup, or tteokguk, on New Year’s Day, they aged by one additional year.

Yunnori boards from Joseon times show the celestial bodies used to measure the four seasons. © National Folk Museum of Korea

genre of paintings from the Goryeo period (918-1392) called Suwolgwaneumdo, literally, Painting of the Water-Moon Goddess of Mercy. Only two or three of these paintings remain extant in Korea. In a typical Painting of the Water-Moon Goddess of Mercy, the moon shining on the water is divinized as a bodhisattva. The painting bespeaks of the Buddhist ideal that, “One is all, and all are one.” You may ask how one equals many. There is one moon in the sky, but there are numerous reflected images of the single moon on a body of water, including the sea, lakes, rivers and streams. In Buddhism, one and many are not different, and this philosophy is embodied by the existence of the moon.

Children play the yutnori board game. © Yonhap News

People believed that a human being’s internal organs were under the influence of the moon.

Seollal, Lunar New Year’s

The first specific record about how people celebrated Seollal, or Lunar New Year’s, is found in a Chinese history book written in the seventh century. The “Book of Sui” (636) and the “Old Book of Tang” (945) state that on the first day of every year, the people of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) felicitated one another and saluted the sun and the moon, while the king threw a banquet for many guests and officials.There were already many New Year’s traditions,

and they became even richer during the Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon (13921910) periods. Here is a brief look at some of the traditional New Year’s customs. Early in the morning, people would gather at the eldest descendant’s house to hold a memorial rite for their ancestors. This type of ancestral rite is called a charye. Through a charye, people salute their ancestors and inform them of the arrival of a new month, season or year. After holding a charye on New Year’s, people make a deep bow to their grandparents, parents and other family elders in the order of seniority.This bow is called sebae. In a typical rural village, people make sebae bows to their family elders and then visit their family graveyard.They then visit relatives to make sebae bows to the elders of their extended families and to vil-

korea

lage elders. When you make a sebae bow, you say,“May you receive many blessings in the New Year!”Then, you sit down to hear words of blessings from the elders. On New Year’s Day, people would add one year to their age, but not without eating a special soup called tteokguk. Hence, people joke that you will not get older if you do not eat tteokguk on the morning of New Year’s Day. The book “Dongguksesigi,” literally,“A Record of Seasonal Customs of the Easter n Countr y” (1849), g ives a detailed account of how to make tteokguk. Rice powder is steamed, placed on a pounding board and pounded repeatedly with a mallet until it is made into long, thin bars called huintteok, literally, white rice cake. Bars of white rice cake are sliced into small discs and added to a clear soybean stock, along with beef or pheasant meat. The stock is boiled and chili powder is added before serving. On New Year’s Day, everybody would

The exhibition “A Sheep Bringing Happiness” is being held at the National Folk Museum of Korea from Dec. 17, 2014, until Feb. 23, 2015.

wear a special costume called a seolbim. A child’s seolbim had many colored stripes. Boys would wear a blue belt, girls a purple belt. People jumped on long wooden seesaws, called a neol, to play neolttwigi, believing it would prevent athlete’s foot. They would also fly kites from New Year’s Eve through January 15th. They would hang a bamboo strainer, a bokjori, literally a fortune ladle, next to the door to the main room of the house or the kitchen, expecting that an

Children learn how to make rice cake on Lunar New Year’s Day at the Namsangol Hanok Village. ©Yonhap News

February

abundance of rice would come into their home in the new year. These rich New Year’s customs are attributable to January being an off-season for farmers, but also to the belief that it is a sacred month that opens another year. People believed the wishes for which they prayed during a sacred period would certainly come true. Today, only a few of the New Year’s customs are still practiced. Even so, families still gather together to hold the charye ancestral rite, to eat tteokguk and to bow to their parents and elder relatives. Lunar New Year’s Day is especially notable for the so-called great national migration.Throngs of people travel to and from their rural hometowns where their parents live on the occasion of this important national holiday.Today, more and more parents in rural areas are traveling in the opposite direction in what could be characterized as a reverse mass migration to their children’s homes in urban areas, but

Visitors make kites at the National Folk Museum of Korea on Lunar New Year’s Day. ©Yonhap News

the vast majority of people still go to their parents’ homes. Lunar New Year’s Day is still very important as it upholds traditions and is valuable face time with the extended family. Yunnori with Family and Friends

People play games on Lunar New Year’s. Yunnori is especially popular. It is fun, but also requires both luck and strategy. Yunnori requires a board, called a malpan, tokens, called yunmal, literally horses, and four wooden sticks, called yutgarak or simply yut, that, like dice, determine how many spaces your piece can move. Participants usually team up into at least two groups of three or four.

The yut stick is a half cylinder.When it is your turn, you cast the four yut sticks to determine how far one of your horses will move on the board. If the round side of every yut stick is up, you have scored mo, and you can move one of your horses five spaces. If the flat side of every yut stick is up, you have scored yut and may move four spaces. If you score mo or yut, you are usually given a free extra turn and can cast the sticks again. Three flat sides up is geol and lets you move three spaces.Two flat sides up is gae, which is equivalent to two spaces. Finally, one flat side up is do, which, of course, allows you to move only one space. The outcome of a Lunar New Year’s yunnori game is believed to have special sig-

Families still gather together to hold the charye ancestral rite, to eat tteokguk and to bow to their parents and elder relatives.

korea

People circle a burning stack of straw and make wishes during a New Year's Day event last year. ©Yonhap News

A Full Moon Welcomes the New Year

There is a custom of absorbing eumgi (yin qi) from the first full moon of the year by the lunar calendar, called a dalmaji. People used to believe that eumgi would bring health and luck. Villagers would have a festival on the day of the first full moon of the year, which is called Jeongwol Daeboreum. Hand in hand, dozens of young women would rotate in a large circle, singing a song with the refrain, “Ganggangsullae." Farmers and children would set fire to old rice straw on the earthen divisions between rice paddies and fields, a custom called jwibulnori, literally, "mice fire play." Burning the old rice straw was a means to mentally prepare for the new year. Eumgi coming down from the moon corresponded to the flames coming up from the burning straw and wood. The tradition of dalmaji spread from inland to coastal areas. In Busan, the largest port city, there is a hill on the coast called the Dalmaji Gogae. It is the perfect place from which to see the full moon rise over the horizon of the sea. If you receive yanggi (yang qi) of the sun by sun tanning, you can receive eumgi of the moon by dalmajiing. Hence Dalmaji Gogae assumed the name in English of Moon Tan Road at the turn of the century. Westerners in the past disliked the moon. They believed that it emanated magical powers of insanity. That is why it is only during a full moon that werewolves transfigure into wolves and vampires appear. It is interesting that the full moon symbolized something unlucky and inimical in the West, but was a cause for celebration in Korea and other countries heavily influenced by Chinese culture.

February

nificance. It is a forecast of what will happen in the new year.There are different theor ies as to what the board, called a malpan, signifies. One common interpretation is that it symbolizes a year. The board has a starting line, which is also the ending line, called home, and bears 28 large and small circular spaces on it onto which the pieces can move.The 28 circles signify the four seasons of the year, with seven circles for each season. If your horses safely come home after going through all the four seasons, you will not experience any ill fortune during the year.The seven circles for each season symbolize the moon, the sun, Mercury,Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.The 28 circles are terminals for those seven celestial bodies travelling through the four seasons. A yut stick with the curved side up symbolizes the sun, while one with the flat side up represents the moon. The scores of do, gae, geol, yut and mo signify water, fire, wood,

Luck ladles, or bokjori, are hung on the gates or doors to wish for longevity and wealth. ©Yonhap News

metal and earth. In short, the yut board encapsulates a year-round journey of the seven celestial bodies, which we use to count time. Year of the Sheep

One especially intriguing feature of the lunar calendar is its 12-year cycle alluding to an imaginary circle of 12 animals. Every 12 years, the same animal claims the year as its own.The 12 animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep or goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Each animal stands for different things: rat for popularity, ox for effort, tiger for power, rabbit for impatience, dragon for strategy and tricks, snake for studying, horse for money, sheep for pilgrimage and journeys, monkey for solitude, rooster for aggressiveness, dog for art and pig for health. These lunar zodiac signs are called tti in Korean. If you are born in the year of the sheep, you are a sheeptti.

The 12-year cycle coincides with the cycle of Jupiter’s revolution around the sun. The location of Jupiter relative to the sun determines what year it is.The year 2015 is the year of the sheep or goat. In Korea, since there are more goats than sheep, it may be more appropriate to call it the year of the goat. A goat has a beard, so it is likened to a scholar or sage, and symbolizes wisdom and dignity. People used to believe that children born in the year of the sheep were more likely to become scholars. Goats feed on grass growing on precipices in order to avoid predatory beasts.That is why people also used to believe that people born in the year of the sheep were inclined to be immersed in their own inner world and remain aloof from money and power. Long ago, people believed in tti compatibility. Put differently, it was believed that there were compatible and incompatible pairs of lunar zodiac signs. Lee To-jeong

People learn how to perform a deep bow on Lunar New Year’s Day.

authored the f amous astrology book “Tojeongbigyeol,” literally, “Secrets by Tojeong,” and talked about predicting individual fates based on people’s tti or their lunar zodiac sign. Lee was a soothsayer who travelled to every corner of Korea, evaluated the geographic features and people of every area, and delivered messages of hope to the people. Many people to this day prepare for each new year by consulting a tojeongbigyeol fortuneteller.

Cho Yong-heon is an Orientalist, a Buddhist scholar and a visiting professor at Wonkwang University's Graduate School of Oriental Studies. He has written books on Buddhist temples, noble families and sajumyeongrihak, the study of East Asian fortunetelling. Since 2004, he has been writing the "Cho Yong-heon’s Salon" column for the Chosun Ilbo, a Seoulbased daily.

interview

korea

February

Curator Jang Sang-gyo of the National Folk Museum recreates traditional festivals, dances and games that everyone can enjoy. Interviewed by Lee Min-jeong Photographed by Moon Duk-GWAN

Look Around, Eat and Have Fun

urator s at the National Folk Museum of Korea research, preserve and plan exhibitions about traditional society. Curator Jang Sang-gyo has worked more than two decades at the museum. These days, he is busy arranging an event for Lunar New Year’s. “How do I bring greater joy and value to those coming to the event? How do I involve people from all walks of life— young and old, women and men? I never stop thinking about these questions, and I constantly brainstorm with my team. We also do our best to ensure complete safety.” Memories for Grownups, Joy for Children

The National Folk Museum shows how people lived long ago during feudal and royal times. It has permanent indoor exhibitions and temporary outdoor exhibitions. The museum also hosts events for children, grownups and families. The museum has held a Lunar New Year's event every year since 1990. It is a big attraction for f amilies, and it differ s depending on the lunar zodiac animal of the year. “Last year was the year of the horse,” says Jang. “Our program featured such activities as pony riding and walking on bamboo stilts, called jungma, literally, “bamboo horse.”This year is the year of the

sheep, so visitors will be able to feed sheep and take photos with them.” “Visitors will also be able to make ‘luck ladles,’ or bokjori, and ‘luck pouches,’ or bokjumeoni.They will be able to learn how to properly conduct the deep bow, the sebae, traditionally performed on New Year’s Day toward one’s elders. They can also cast the yut sticks to predict their fortune for 2015. Traditional foods, such as rice cake soup (tteokguk), traditional snacks (hangwa) and traditional persimmon punch (sujeonggwa) will be waiting for them.Visitors will be able to play traditional games including the board game yunnori, spin tops and jump on the neolttwigi seesaw. There will even be such educational activities as painting the traditional types of paintings that the king would bestow on subjects on New Year’s Day, called sehwa, and making tea confectionaries (dasik). Of course, there will be performances of traditional farmers’ music (nongak) and a traditional mask dance. In a word, there will no shortage of great things to see, eat and enjoy.” Jang Sang-gyo’s Lunar New Year’s Day events have always featured a variety of activities and programs, but the one thing he remembers most amusingly is last year’s pony rides. Children who had been born in the year of the horse were given the opportunity to ride a pony and have their photo taken on the animal. The children

loved it, even though they had to wait in line for some time. The museum’s Lunar New Year’s events have been attracting more and more people with each passing year. In 2013, about 30,000 visitors came. In 2014, the event drew around 57,000 visitor s. Roughly 40 percent of the visitors are tourists. Mainland Chinese visitors, who also ring in the new year by the lunar calendar, feel at home, and those who are from other parts of the world find the entire event exotic. Grownups are prompted to revel in their childhood memories, and children forget themselves in joy. “Our lifestyle changed markedly with the transition from traditional to modern society,” says Jang. “Seasonal customs also changed, as they will continue to do. I am deeply interested in traditional society, so I am happy to be engaged in this as a profession. I think understanding traditional society is critical to our national identity. What Koreans used to do on the first holiday of the year, that is, Lunar New Year’s Day, bespeaks a great deal about the Korean nation, including our lifestyle, disposition, wishes for the new year, such as good health in the family and happiness, a rich harvest and many blessings. Allowing visitors to learn about traditional society is so rewarding.”

people

Ordinary Genius, Na Yeong-seok

With hit shows like “One Night, Two Days,” “Grandpas Over Flowers,” and “Three Meals a Day,” TV producer Na Yeong-seok has hit three homeruns, making him one of the greatest producers of our generation. Written by HYEON TAE-KYUNG Photographed by Hong Ha-yan

ou might wonder whether a show about two grown men living and cooking together in the countryside would be very interesting, but “Three Meals a Day” was named the best reality show in the second half of 2014. On the show, actor Lee Seojin and pop group 2PM’s Ok Taek-yeon interact with visiting guest celebrities and the animals that live with them on the farm. Viewers found the show’s humor comforting, as they had with every other show produced by Na Yeong-seok. Na showed up exactly on time for the interview. His face, clothes and attitude were just as we have seen every week on TV. For a man who makes popular shows for a nationwide cable network, he was reserved.The first air date for his new show “Three Meals a Day – Fishing Village” is just around the corner, so we asked him if he had time for the interview. He kindly replied,“I have enough time today, so don’t worry.”

korea

February

A warm-hearted free spirit

“One Night, Two Days,” the show that brought Na Yeong-seok to fame, was directed mainly at middle-aged male viewers. His recent shows have been loved by people of all ages, and especially by women. “I have no particular audience in mind when I produce my shows. I do everything the same every time. I suppose the interest depends a great deal on who stars in the show. Gang ho-dong from ‘One Night, Two Days’ and Lee Seo-jin from ‘Three Meals a Day’ are each so different,” says Na. In planning, the most important factor for him is who will be in the show due to the nature of reality TV programs. He is considered the best of the best in bringing out the hidden side of the celebrities on his shows. “I like nice people, and I am more interested in characters that bring something new to the table, even if they may already be well-known to the public,” says Na. He speaks modestly of his achievements, but he has worked with numerous people who have unleashed their unseen potential. Lee Seo-jin looked too smart and chic for the countryside home in “Three Meals a Day.” Also, it was unclear whether senior actors in their 70s would get along well with each other during long trips abroad in “Grandpas Over Flower s.” Thanks to Na Yeong-seok, the shows were a great hit and all the actors looked much friendlier on screen.The choice of subtitles and background music on the shows has become more refined over the years. “I am not responsible for the subtitles and the music. I should give credit to those people who work with me. I simply give them the freedom to do what they do best.” Just a hard-working TV producer

Na Yeong-seok may at first seem to be uninteresting as a person. He is not fond of social media, and his pastime is watching Hollywood blockbusters. Except for his shows, which generally involve extensive

“Three Meals a Day” stars two male celebrities in a countryside home cooking organic food. ©CJ E&M

In “Grandpas over Flowers,” old men with an average age of 77 go backpacking together. ©CJ E&M

traveling, he does not travel much. “I wouldn’t say I like to travel, but I don’t dislike it either. I’m an ordinary employee of a company, like most people. I only have about seven days of vacation every year, so there isn’t a lot I can do,” says Na. He doesn’t seem interested in trends, nor is he

humorous or outspoken. In the short interview, he looked very serious. “I’m not special. All I do is lay out what I want to see and do, and then I film it on camera. I am delighted that my shows are so popular. I am in fact sometimes afraid of the criticism I receive, but I do my best to understand what our generation wants to see on TV,” says Na with conviction. Speaking of the format of “Grandpas Over Flowers” being exported to the U.S., he said he never thought about it when he planned the show. He only added that he simply thinks long and hard about what theme many people can relate to. Humor is widely considered the most difficult thing to preserve in translation, but older actors facing their differences when having to spend several days traveling abroad together is funny in any culture. Na says he is just an ordinary man. “I feel embarrassed when people say I’m a celebrity. I’m a TV producer. I don’t have to look handsome and elegant, and I don’t have the time or patience for that.” He may not be the sophisticated figure we think he is, but he is certainly a genius disguised in ordinar iness. He is a great leader who knows how to attract people, acknowledge his weaknesses and appreciates those who work with him.

people

Geomungo Musician, Park U-jae

Young musician Park U-jae dreams of bringing novelty to traditional music. Written by HONG HYE-WON Photographed by Moon Duk-GWAN

he geomungo is one of the representative string instruments of traditional Korean music.This six-stringed zither was loved for over 1,000 years in the royal palaces and salons of Joseon.With a sound that resembles a cello, the tunes of the geomungo symbolize male intellectuals, perhaps because it was played mostly at gatherings of virtuous scholars. One can easily sense this masculine vibe in the music played by Park U-jae, who is hailed as an artist of the next generation. Park is both a professional geomungo musician and the musical director of a contemporary dance company. His style of music is difficult to grasp at first because such notes and melodies have never been heard before with this traditional instrument. It may not sound like the geomungo at all, but Park U-jae’s music soon enamors the listener with his unique style. Developing a signature style

“It is also hard for me to define my style of music. Many people say I have a composition and melody line that cannot easily be described as traditional, and I agree with them. I never studied how to write music, so I don’t start composing my music on paper. I start on the instrument itself. I am not bound by any set rules. I just think about creating music that is more unique and stylish,” says Park. His first experience with the geomungo was in middle school. He started learning music at a piano school, as do many young students. While his peers chose to go out-

Park U-jae performs in his concert “Morphosis” at Culture Station Seoul 284, the old Seoul Station building. © SeungYull Nah

side and play after school, Park was dying to go home and play the piano. His father didn’t like it. He wanted Park to be more like other boys his age. He changed his mind about Park when he realized that it was just the way his son was. One day, he took Park to a friend who was a maestro of the geomungo. “The moment I laid my hands on the geomungo, I fell in love with it. Unlike piano keys, the strings of the geomungo made sounds when I plucked them. I felt as if they were alive,” recalls Park. He then started learning to play the geomungo. The pentatonic scale of traditional East Asian music was unfamiliar at first because Park’s initial musical training was with the heptatonic scale of Western instruments. As time went by, however, he started playing the geomungo, but with a bow instead of the conventional short bamboo stick, called a suldae. He also experimented with playing using only harmonics, without the frets, or the gwae. Park in effect developed his own method of playing the instrument and the rare sounds of the geomungo have formed his signature style ever since. Breaking from convention

“The purpose of my music is not to present the Korean identity. I don’t like discussing whether my music can be defined as traditional or not. I want to express myself as I am in my music,” says Park. Some express concer n about his experimental approach to music, describing it as a too radical departure from the

korea

traditional form. However, Park thinks that his music is an attempt at overcoming the limitations of the geomungo and plans to continue along his chosen path. “I understand that people want to stick to the traditional, but there is also the need to invent something.That is what I hope to do. Last November, I released an album titled ‘Morphosis.’ I consider my music a variation of the conventional tunes of the geomungo. The idea behind this album was to broaden the range of music that can be played with the instrument. Using an array of methods and collaborating with audio engineers, I aimed to create a deeper, expansive sound,” explains Park. His exotic tunes are also extremely popular outside of Korea. Park is testing the possibility of the geomungo becoming part of world music. His music is especially well received in the field of contemporary dance, which requires tremendous imagination. “In April, I will be working with the National Dance Company. I will be touring the world with Belgium’s Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Company starting in Antwerp in September. I want to continue my career as a creative artist, rather than just being a great musician.” After the interview, he played the geomungo by strumming it like a guitar in his singular style.

February

TRAVEL

Cheongsando

Island

korea

Cheongsando Island serenely awaits spring.

February

Written by Yoon Se-eun Photographed by Moon Duk-gwan

people

Docheonghang Harbor welcomes visitors to Cheongsando Island.

he term “slow city” originates from the Italian word cittaslow, which means a city where life is slow and easy. Cittaslow also refers to an inter national movement founded by Mayor Palolo Saturnini of Greve in Chianti, Italy, in 1999. It promotes a slow city life, where nature and tradition come together. Cheongsando Island is the first Asian island designated as a slow city, or a chittaslow town. Numerous films and TV soaps are shot on the island because it is so beautiful.The island rests calmly on the picturesque sea and has countless charms, such as stone walls and terraced rice paddies.

paths every day. The 11 Slow Paths have a combined length of 42.2 kilometers. The scenery takes your breath away with every step. Walking along a Slow Path intoxicates you with the scenery, and your steps naturally become slower, hence their name.You will encounter nearly everything on the island—an observator y that affords a

sweeping view of Cheongsando and nearby islands, the steep cliffs along the shoreline, the ter raced r ice paddies (gudeuljang), beaches with unforgettable sunsets and sunrises, villages where the simple life endures, the unique straw- or grass-covered graves (chobun) and even Bronze Age dolmens (goindol). Cheongsando in Film and Drama

Stone walls in Sangseo Village stand in peace.

Slow Paths

A walk on Cheongsando Island is refreshing for both the mind and the body. The so-called Slow Paths attract tourists from far and wide, and the islanders tread the

“Seopyeonje” (1993), a famous movie by director Im Kwon-taek, was filmed on Cheongsando Island. Today, there is a path named the Seopyeonje Path, after the film. Lined by low, crude stonewalls on both sides, the Seopyeonje Path stretches through fields of gently rolling canola and barley, especially gorgeous in the spring when they burst forth with yellow canola flowers and green barley sprouts. Of course, the path offers alluring beauty throughout the year, too. Popular TV soap operas such

korea

February

left A road sign tells you that you are on a Slow Path. right From Cheonghaejin, you can see the outer castle gate below.

as “Spr ing Waltz” (2006), “Scent of a Woman” (2011) and “Pinocchio” (2014) were also filmed here, and the filming locations are open to tourists. Sangseo Village

Cheongsando Island has a long tradition of using stones for many purposes, including stone walls and terraced rice paddies, the gudeuljang non. Sangseo Village retains those traditions almost intact. Constructed solely with naturally formed stones, without a trace of soil, the village’s stone walls remain the same, creating a peaceful ambience. Long ago, the rocky soil and slopes made farming challenging, but the villagers terraced the slopes with wide-flat stones to make way for rice paddies. These terraced rice paddies are called gudeuljang non in Korean, and the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has put them on its list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Beaches of Cheongsando Island

There are picturesque beaches on the island, too. The soft sand of Puldeung Beach in Sinheung-ri Village on the east side of the island runs for two kilometers at low tide. The sound of pebbles rubbing together in the surf can be heard at Gaetdol Beach in Jinsan-ri Village. If you want to relish a stunning sunset, go to Cheongsong

Beach. People flock there to see the sun paint in reddish tones the vast sandy beach and the sea speckled with islands and islets. Cheonghaejin and King of the Sea

Nearby Wando Island has many tourist attractions. There are historical sites and beautiful scenery, including the evergreen Wando Arboretum, the histor ic castle founded by General Jang Bogo and Wando Tower, from which you can see far into the distance, even to Jeju Island. If you are interested in the history of Wando Island, you must go to Cheonghaejin, the historic castle and market place built by General Jang Bogo, who was dubbed the King of the Sea. Born in 787, he established Cheonghaejin on the small island of Jangdo in the sea off Wando Island in 828. Cheonghaejin functioned not only as a garrison but also as a center of trade. With the building of Cheonghaejin, Jang emerged as a central trade figure among late Unified Silla (668-935), Tang China (618-907), and Heian Japan (794-1185), helping Silla take the initiative in seaborne trade across the region. Cheonghaejin remains nearly intact today, telling us what the glory days of General Jang were like. Nearby is a memorial hall which commemorates the feats of General Jang Bogo.

What to Eat Cheongsando and Wando are famous for their sea food. The Binggre Restaurant (tel. 82-61-554-1144) in Gunnae-ri Village on Wando Island serves grilled fish. If you go there in winter, you can have grilled sea bream, mackerel, rockfish and sea bass. The flesh is soft, but the skin is crispy. Where to Stay There are numerous lodgings of different types in the villages of Docheongri, Dorak-ri, Ji-ri and Sinheung-ri. Some are as pretty as coastal vacation homes, and some are Hanok, a traditional type of home. The fees vary with the seasons. Docheong-ri and Dorakri villages share Docheonghang Harbor, and Jiri and Sinheung-ri villages have beaches. Getting There From Seoul, the best way is to hop on a bus to Wando Island. It takes about 5 hours and 40 minutes. Then embark on a boat for Cheongsando at the Wando Passenger Terminal. The ride takes about 50 minutes and the ferry runs five times a day. Don’t forget to bring your ID. You won’t be permitted onto the boat without it.

SPORTS

Bobsleigh Miracle Victory is not the only goal in sports. Written by HYEON TAE-KYUNG

t the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, the Jamaican men’s bobsleigh team safely finished the race, beating everyone’s expectations for this tropical nation in a winter sport. The spectators in the arena gave them a thunderous applause, making it the greatest highlight of the games. The Olympic spirit shown by the Jamaican team later inspired the Disney film “Cool Runnings,” once again touching the hearts of many. In December 2014, 26 years after the 1988 Jamaican miracle, Calgary played host to the largest bobsleigh competition in the

world, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (FIBT) World Cup. At this competition, Korea’s bobsleigh team saw a miracle of its own when bobsledders Won Yun-jong and Seo Yeong-u finished in fifth place in the two-man event with an average time of 1:49.88 minutes for the two races. The team won the nation’s first bobsleigh medal at an international event. The four-man team, which debuted at this World Cup, ranked 13th. A short 16-year history

The national team has shown remarkable

improvement since Korea became a member of the FIBT in 1999. The team debuted at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, finishing in 19th place. It then won gold medals at the eighth and ninth FIBT America’s Cup races in Lake Placid in 2013, and ranked 18th at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, all despite its short history and a small talent pool upon which to call. Under less than ideal circumstances, and with no proper equipment or track for training, the athletes and coaches worked day and night to achieve such great results. In sliding sports like bobsleigh, the

korea

overall performance depends heavily on a fast start. The tracks run from 1,200 to 1,500 meters, and athletes race along at an average speed of around 135 kilometers per hour. Even a few hundredths of a second can make the difference between victory and defeat. As with Formula One, winning requires top-notch technology and the use of all of the athletes’ physical capabilities. This makes bobsleigh racing an excellent indicator of a country’s advancement, not only in the sport itself, but also in science and technology. For a long time, Korea was hardly supportive of its bobsledders and of the sport in general. For mer bobsledder Gang Gwang-bae says, “Before the Vancouver Olympics, we had to rent a sleigh for every competition at USD 500 a week.” There was no bobsleigh track, so athletes had to train on paved roads on sweltering summer days using a sleigh with wheels. The national team that competed in Sochi had to train intensively. Over the three months leading up to the games, they ran through tracks 250 times in four different countries. There are twelve athletes on the team today.The official bobsleigh arena will not be completed until 2017, but the team was finally able to buy is own sleigh in 2010 thanks to increased interest from the government, corporate sector and the public. In Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do (Gangwon Province), there is now a training center, and athletes have been training under the direction of renowned Korean coaches since 2013.

1 - T he four-man team prepares for the seventh FIBT America’s Cup race in Lake Placid on Jan. 11, 2014. The team won Korea’s first gold medal at this event. © Korea Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation 2 - T he men’s bobsleigh team’s Won Yun-jong (middle) is interviewed at Incheon International Airport on Dec. 24, 2014. © Yonhap News 3 - W on Yun-jong and Seo Yeong-u compete in the two-man race at the FIBT World Cup in Calgary on Dec. 19, 2014. © Yonhap News

The team’s star, Won Yun-jong

In 2010, the Korea Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation held team trials.Young prospective bobsledders from diverse professions took part in the trials, including Won Yunjong, an aspir ing physical education teacher. When he made the national team, he weighed merely 84 kilograms. To build up his physique, he was immediately put on a diet of 15 bowls of rice a day, and he now weighs over 100 kilograms. He became the

February

pilot for his team and began training mentally every day, steering through the bobsleigh track in his head. Bobsledders must be heavy and strong because power, when pushing the sleigh, and acceleration are important.Won didn’t just gain weight. He worked tooth and nail to build muscle while maintaining his agility. Seo Yeong-u, who partners with Won in the two-man race, is a former sprinter. In bobsleigh, he is the brakeman. He helps push the sled to provide acceleration at the beginning and stops it when the race is finished. To build muscle, Seo lifted weights whenever he could. He trained over ten hours every day, from dawn until late at night. Not one member of the national team, including Seok Yeong-jin and O Je-han, who compete in the four-man race, received any technical training when they were young, but they have no less devotion than other world-class athletes. Now, the national bobsleigh team is prepar ing for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. No one can tell whether they will be able to pull off a miracle and become Olympic champions, but they are already champions in spirit for having endured so much to get this far. They deserve a hearty applause for their passion and spirit because the Olympic Games are not always about winning medals.

ENTERTAINMENT

A Day in the Life of a Celebrity Manager and Stylist What happens behind the spotlight? Written by HONG HYE-WON Photographed by Moon Duk-gwan Comments by Professor Kim Yeong-jik of the Entertainment Management department at the Korea Entertainment Training College

here is never such thing as a fiveday, 40-hour workweek in the world of entertainer management.This is especially true for the staff of boy bands and girl groups, who are pop idols. Celebrity managersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work becomes even more intense as their stars are in demand at more arenas and sometimes even overseas. With the popu-

larity of Korean pop culture sweeping across the East Asia, they might be in Korea today, China tomorrow and Thailand the day after that. 18-hour workdays still bring joy

I followed the road manager of one idol

group that has just released a new song to see what his day is really like. When the group has a live perfor mance on a TV music show, he needs to wake up early in the morning. The singers usually need to be on stand-by in the studio by 6 a.m. His day starts at 3 a.m. when he wakes up all the members of the group and takes them

korea

The stylist checks every item in the artist’s life, including clothes, shoes and bags.

to the hair salon. By the time the singers are done with shooting two more TV shows and practicing for the next day’s performance, it is already 11 p.m. Even after everyone in the group arrives home, the road manager checks on the members individually and makes sure they are healthy. He works about 18 hours a day. One of the essential tasks of a road manager is driving. His greatest responsibility is to take the group from place to place according to schedule. He also has to run errands and to act as a body guard to the singers, who are followed by large crowds of fans wherever they go.Working on weekends is also necessary. Once he has worked as a road manager for two or three years, he can be offered a promotion, or a better position at a different management agency. “Part of my job is to make sure that my singers have something to eat, even in the car, because we are always on the go. At the end of the day, I sometimes realize that I didn’t eat much since I was mostly behind the wheel. Even so, I am thankful that our working conditions have improved as the

entertainment industry has developed. In the past, there were simply no rules. It is a manager’s dream to become successful, like the three most-famous entertainment agencies SM,YG and JYP. For now, I am happy to see my singers perform well on stage in front of a roaring crowd. Everything comes down to three minutes

Pop idols’ stylists stay closest to their stars. They put the outfits on and adjust them as necessary. In fact, celebrities often become best friends with their stylists. If an idol group has gained popularity, they usually switch their agency when their contract ends, but rarely do they change their hairdressers and wardrobe stylists. The responsibilities of stylists who work with idol groups are greater than if they simply worked for actors.Their job is mainly the same for photo shoots or TV shows: they receive the sponsored outfits and have their artists wear them. However, for stage performances, they have to design and make the outfits themselves.This keeps them extremely busy. An exper ienced

February

celebrity stylist who has worked with multiple idol groups has created thousands of outfits.“The outfits need to be different for different networks, so we design hundreds of outfits in a single month,” he says. A stylists’ work has been made even more difficult by high-definition cameras. The outfits they make not only need to look pretty, but also be comfortable enough for their artists to dance on stage. Girl groups’ stage outfits are often quite revealing, and if anyone is caught on camera in an awkward position during the dance, photos are often posted online almost instantly and usually go viral. “I feel an enormous sense of satisfaction when the singers deliver a killer performance in an outfit I made for them. No matter how demanding this job gets, I don’t think I’ll ever quit working as a stylist. I feel pure joy at the end of the day.” Until the idol group goes on stage, the entire staff stands by, checking the outfits, microphones, and makeup. A stage performance lasts about three minutes. These three minutes are that for which everyone behind the scenes has worked so tirelessly.

The manager keeps everything under control for his star.

SPECIAL ISSUE

Quality products and Hallyu

Setting a New Beauty Standard All eyes on Korean style Written by HONG HYE-WON

eauty products topped the list of tourists’ most sought-after items last year.According to an online survey by the Visit Korea Committee (VKC), 32 percent of international visitors are most-eager to purchase cosmetics. It was not long ago that highend imported cosmetics were the most popular items in duty-free shops, but no longer. Korean beauty products are what’re hot today. Some tourists even visit Korea several times a year just to buy cosmetics.

Even well before Korean beauty products began to take off in popularity, Korean women were renowned throughout the global beauty products industry for their sophistication. Some global cosmetics makers used Korea as their test market in the belief that they should be able to satisfy consumers anywhere around the world if they could satisfy Korean consumers. Domestic beauty products are of very high quality because the producers know what discriminating consumers demand. With such a vast selection available at such attractive pr ices, they can indeed appeal to women all around the world. Not surprisingly, Hallyu -- the tremendous popularity of Korean entertainment, including soap operas and music, across East Asia and other parts of the world -- has helped Korean beauty products catch on in the global market. “Korean actresses have skin like white porcelain. Their white, dewy skin, with ultra-light, natural makeup, is beautiful,” said a 30-something woman from Thailand who visits Myeong-dong twice a year or more. She purchases a dozen CC creams (color correcting creams), other skin care products and facial masks because she believes that Korean cosmetics are better for Asian women than European ones. In fact, the craze for Korean beauty products started in the Asian market. Korean soap operas and numerous other shows that aired nearly every day on TV in China, Japan and Southeast Asia stoked widespread interest in the on-screen entertainers.The skin care and makeup products used by those who seem familiar, sophisticated and fashionable have become very popular among women in these countries. The desire to follow Korean celebrities’ makeup styles has even moved online. One need only type “K beauty” into YouTube to find one highly informative video clip after another on the supposed “Korean way” of applying makeup.

korea

Key to Korean-style makeup: natural 'barely there' look

What makes Korean skin care so appealing is its natural composition and the flawless, fair complexion that it affords. It helps a woman look younger, they say.That is why the hottest items from any Korean cosmetic brand are its skin care products.The application of Korean-style skin care products involves six-steps, compared to the usual three steps, and interest in it is growing. Hydrating products, such as serums, creams, and facial masks and packs, are ever more popular by the day. According to the PR team of AMOREPACIFIC (a famous cosmetic firm), the best sellers are hydrating products because many Korean celebrities have cited good hydration as a key to their radiant, youthful skin. In fact, even the Korean expression “chokchok,” for “moist,” is rapidly gaining currency abroad. It pops up quite often in discussions about the essence of Korean-style skin care and makeup. Numerous different base makeup items have also contributed to the boom in Korean-style beauty care. Starting with BB creams (blemish balm creams), now con-

February

sidered essential makeup items, innovative products such as cushion compacts are beginning to be rolled out. Even some luxury cosmetic brands, such as Chanel, Dior and Clinique, are producing such items, reflecting the popularity of Korean beauty products. On the back of this huge success, Korean makeup companies are advancing into the U.S. and European markets. Last September, a New York Times article, “South Korea Exports Its Glow,” said that what appealed to U.S. women most were BB creams. That product opened the doors to the U.S. market for the Korean beauty industry, the paper noted.

BB Cream started a boom in Korean beauty products. © Able C&C

1 - C ustomers try out the cosmetics at a Missha store in Mexico. © Able C&C 2 - M yeong-dong is packed with cosmetics stores. 3 - The first Missha store opens in Turkey. © Able C&C 4 - I nnisfree cosmetics at the Parkson Department Store in Shanghai. © AMOREPACIFIC

New beauty model grabbing global attention

According to the Korea Customs Service (KCS), beauty product exports exceeded imports in November 2014, the first time since the KCS started releasing trade statistics.Year-on-year exports rose sharply from USD 1.15 billion to USD 1.69 billion. Imports were up from USD 1.39 billion to USD 1.55 billion. In tandem with the rush for Korean cosmetics is a huge rise in plastic surgery tourism. As of end-2014, 42.3 percent of all so-called “health tourists” in the Gangnam area were coming to Korea to look more beautiful with the help of a doctor's scalpel. Whether they are attracted to Korean celebr ities or to Korean skin care and makeup, demand for Korean beauty products and services continues to surge, evolving further and challenging the Western standard of beauty.

Oriental medicine-based cosmetics are gaining popularity in North and South American markets. © Hankook Cosmetics ©Saimdang Cosmetics

SPECIAL ISSUE

Hidden Treasures Along a Beautiful Coast

Forty years have passed since the discovery of treasure off the coast of Sinan Written by Kim Nae-on photographed by The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage

ugust 20, 1975, was an important day for archeology. On that day, a counterpart was found to Captain Kidd’s Quedagh Merchant, the treasure ship in “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson. A fisherman accidentally pulled up six pieces of pottery off the coast of Sinan in Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province), a coastline scattered with over 1,000 islands.The pottery was presumed to be of Chinese origin from the Song and Yuan periods, and an extensive underwater excavation commenced. Work continued for nine years and yielded a staggering volume of valuable relics. Among them were about 20,000 pieces of pottery, including Goryeo celadon, in addition to incense burners for Buddhist ceremonies, craftworks, bronze mirrors, a variety of materials for making Buddhist statues—including metals and

Chinese juniper wood—and some 7 million thought-to-be Chinese coins. Sinking of Chinese merchant ship

Researchers found that a Chinese merchant vessel en route from China to Korea and Japan foundered off the coast of Sinan in 1323, late in Goryeo times (918-1392).

The 200-ton merchant ship measured 34 meters in length and 11 meters in width. It sank on its way from Ningbo, China, to Hakata, Japan, with a load of pottery and craftworks.The relics from the wreck were in good condition, despite having been buried underwater for 700 years. The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage (NRMCH) was opened in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, in 1994 in commemoration of the excavation and the partially restored starboard side of the ship, dubbed the Sinan, is on view there. The discovered artifacts are priceless. They afford us an opportunity to see how people lived in the 1300s and to glean important details about the nature of trade and exchange among Korea, Japan and China at that time. Inscribed wooden tablets discovered in the ship, for example, bear

korea

important details, such as the time and destination of the voyage, the date of loading, purchasers, and the items and quantities on board. They indicate that there was substantial trade among Korea, Japan and China. Some of the items were ordered by a temple in Kyoto, Japan. Goryeo spoons and Japanese chess pieces suggest that Koreans and Japanese were also onboard. The fact that numerous incense burners were in the ship indicates that the nobility of East Asia frequently burned incense at the time. Most intriguing was the discovery of 28 tons of coins at the bottom of the ship. The coins gave the vessel ballast and could later be used as money or as a commodity in Japan, said Professor Sakuraki Shinichi of Shimonoseki City University at the international symposium “Metal Relics Recovered from the Sinan and Metal Craftwork from 14th Century East Asia,” held recently at the NRMCH. Japan needed copper in the 1300s, and seemingly imported copper coins that had been taken out of circulation in China.

1 - Part of the Sinan is on display. 2 - Marine archaeologists and workers raise the Sinan. 3 - Peppercorns are found on board the Sinan. 4 - A rtifacts from the Sinan wreck are on exhibit at the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage in Mokpo. 5 - Goryeo celadon found off the coast of Sinan.

The Sinan, proof of brisk maritime trade

The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Her itage in Mokpo reopened the Sinan Treasure Ship Exhibit Hall in December 2014, marking the 20th anniversary of the opening of the museum, just before the 40th anniversary of finding the ship in 2015. It is now holding a special exhibition,“Sea Routes in the South Western Seas from the Perspective of Maritime Exchange,” in honor of these anniversaries. In 1323, the world was undergoing tremendous change. More people were on the move, and information was beginning to spread more quickly. Countries across East Asia were eager to trade by sea. China, ruled by the Yuan dynasty for the past forty years, actively shared in these ideas and practices, and exchanged goods with Europe through its merchants. It invested heavily in trade.

February

Ningbo, whither the Sinan set sail, was the first Chinese port open to trade, and the people there were adventurous and very interested in maritime trade. Korea in 1323 traded actively not only with Japan and China, but also with the Arabian Peninsula. It was at that time that the name, "Korea," was derived from the pronunciation of Goryeo by visiting Arab merchants. The brisk maritime trade enabled countries to introduce their own cultures to their trade partners' countries. China’s printing technology was the impetus for Korea to develop its own printing technology, and Korea’s Buddhist art exercised influence over Japan’s. For some, mar itime trade was the opportunity for a new life. According to the author of “The Sinan Treasure Ship’s Last Voyage,” Goryeo people hoped to find a better life at sea, away from the tribulations of the Yuan/ Manchu invasions of Korea, the cor ruption and tyranny of authoritarianism, and the great social injustices of the time.The brave detected a wind of change and boldly sailed out of their country to explore the world and seek greater happiness. The Sinan is proof that lays bare their entrepreneurship and zest for life.

CURRENT KOREA

Music for the Heavens and the Harvest In 2014, traditional nongak music was inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage items. The dynamic beats of the ritual to the skies above and to the earth below are hard to resist for any listener. Written by Kim Nae-on

n the first day of 2015, a lively dance performance, accompanied by a cheerful crowd, was held in the National Theatre of Korea’s KB Haneul Youth Theater. It was an encore production by the nongak troupe Yeonhuidan Palsandae, titled “Mupung,” which had originally been staged in September 2014.The all-female troupe, created to revive the tradition of women playing nongak in the 1950s and ‘60s, performs folk songs, drum dances and shamanic ceremonial dances to rhythms played by an array of percussion instruments: the small handheld gong (ggwaenggwari), the larger gong (jing), the hourglass-shaped drum (janggu), the barrel drum (buk) and the small drum (sogo).

Alongside this, the National Intangible Heritage Center opened an exhibition, “Nongak, the Ecstatic Excitement of Humanity,” to celebrate the inscription of this traditional music onto UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage items, bringing people’s attention to the original meaning of nongak and introducing the various instruments and props used in its performance. Farmers’ music

The term nongak means “farmers’ music.” In traditional agrarian communities, nongak was an outlet to relieve the stress from hard work and was part of a ritual to the gods, praying for an abundant harvest, as well as

for the happiness and prosperity of the community. The older generation would remember watching these performances in their neighborhoods when nongak bands toured around communities during traditional holidays, like the last day of the lunar year, the first full moon of the Lunar New Year and the beginning of the rainy season. Performers would visit each house and stage a spectacle, blessing the door, the front yard, the well and the earthen jars, jangdokdae, that contained many of the family’s staples. In return, the people of the community would offer them delicious food and drink. In the end, everyone joined in to dance and to enjoy a joyful festival. Nongak is certainly not just about the music. It also involves dancing and acting. To fully enjoy the show, one should look at the perfor mers’ facial expressions and movements while listening to the music. A standard performance includes a lively, energetic rhythm produced by the four crucial percussion instruments: the small hand-held gong (ggwaenggwari), the larger gong (jing), the hourglass-shaped drum (janggu) and the barrel drum (buk).The flag bearer (gisu) is at the front of the troupe, followed by the chuiguns who play a brass hor n (nabal) and a wind instr ument (taepyeongso).Then come the jaebi or apchibae, who play the four percussion instruments, and lastly the japsaek or duichibae, who dance while playing comical characters. Dancers typically play a hunter, a male clown, an upper-class nobleman, a playful child or a bungling monk. The audience becomes engrossed in these dynamic performances and completely loses track of time. The most important element of nongak is the repeated tension and release. As a perfor mance matures and reaches its apex, the musicians, dancers and actors all mesh together as one. The tunes and rhythms intensify and then loosen up, arousing varied emotions among the audience.The harmonious sounds hit a crescendo, there are swift dance movements and the actors' storytelling all together

korea

February

seem to convey what life is all about.There is no boundary between stage and audience. One of the charms of nongak is the subtle invitation by performers to spectators to join in the performance. Playing along with the dancers can be such a thrill.

1 - The tiger mask used in a nongak performance. © The National Intangible Heritage Center 2 - A Yeonghuidan Palsandae performer. © Yeonhuidan Palsandae 3 - T he exhibition “Nongak, the Ecstatic Excitement of Humanity” opened with a special ceremony on Dec. 11, 2014. © The National Intangible Heritage Center 4 - T he jing gong and mallets. © The National Intangible Heritage Center

Together agricultural communities

The fundamental purpose of nongak is to honor and appease nature. Farmers in the past believed there were gods in the sky, the earth and in all of Mother Nature, as well as in the spaces we occupy and in the objects we use. Nongak derives from the desire to abide by the laws of nature, and all the instruments in the performance embrace this idea. The small handheld gong, the ggwaenggwari, has the highest pitch among the four percussion instruments and symbolizes thunder and lightning, and the days of the year. The hourglass-shaped janggu drum makes high- and mid-pitch sounds and represents rain and the twelve months of the year.The buk barrel drum has the deepest sound. It is a metaphor for the earth and the clouds and represents the four seasons. Finally, the jing gong encompasses all the sounds and represents the invisible wind and the year as a whole. Nongak played a central role in bringing together agricultural communities

some 200-300 years ago. It was an embodiment of the people’s strong desire to sow in their fields the goodness from the heavens and to seek prosperity together. Through nongak, everything came together: the skies and the earth, the heavens and the harvest, water and fire, young and old, landowner and tenant farmer. The lyrics to the nongak song from the Yeongnam region, “From Moon to Star,” or “Byeoldalgeori,” go as follows: “From the heavens we receive the stars. From the earth, we farm. This year our harvest is grand, next year, too, will be a year of plenty.The moon is bright like broad daylight. Bright in the darkness, it shines on us.” As long as people continue to work in the fields, and the sun, moon and stars shine in the sky, the tunes of nongak will forever be in their hearts.

SUMMIT DIPLOMACY

President’s Achievements After Two Years of Summits The power of public diplomacy Excerpted from Weekly Gonggam

resident Park Geun-hye has visited numerous countries since her inauguration in February 2013. She has traveled to the United States, China, Russia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, India, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Canada, Italy and Australia.These countries include the two so-called “global powers” of the 21st century—the United States and China—and many other countr ies across the Eurasian continent. At

meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Group of Twenty (G20), the Nuclear Secur ity Summit (NSS) and at the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit, she has met the leaders of nearly every country that might share any interest with Korea. President Park’s foreign policy could basically be characterized as “sales diplomacy” combined with multilateralism.The former is intended to realize mutual eco-

nomic benefits with Korea’s counterparts and is a major focus of the President’s foreign policy. For the latter, she has actively participated in multilateral cooperative forums where heads of state gather to reach a consensus on global security issues. President Park obviously has economic growth and security as her highest priorities. FTAs broaden the Korean economy

Such “sales diplomacy” spans various fields. Some of it has resulted in agreements that

korea

could affect the overall trade paradigm, and some of it has led to specific cooperative business projects. The President reached a broad agreement on a free trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping during her eight-day trip to China in November 2014. Previous administrations had already concluded free trade agreements (FTAs) with the European Union in 2011 and with the United States in 2012 as well as with many other countries. When the Korea-China FTA comes into effect, Korea will have FTAs with the world’s three largest economies. These three FTAs will help Korean companies enter more industries normally monopolized by local companies.The total combined gross domestic product (GDP) of all the countries that have agreed on free trade with Korea accounts for an overwhelming 73.2 percent of the gross world product (GWP). The Korea-China FTA

alone, when finalized, is expected to save approximately US$5.44 billion or about 6 trillion Korean won in tariffs.This figure is 5.8 times greater than that of the Korea-U. S. FTA (about US$930 million) and 3.9 times that of the Korea-EU FTA (about US$1.38 billion).This is important in light of Korea’s heavy dependence on exports. The President’s visits have sometimes led to a breakthrough in exports. During her visit to Kazakhstan, for example, a Korean company signed a long-term contract through which a Kazakh electric power company will purchase US$18.8 billion worth of electricity generated from the Balkhash coal-fired power plant over the next 20 years.The visit to Turkmenistan in June 2014, the first by a Korean president, helped domestic companies clinch deals to build gas-processing plants worth US$5 billion and secure rights to sell more than US$7.7 billion in chemical products.

February

The President’s state visits to India and Switzerland in January 2014 could also be characterized as “sales diplomacy.” In India, she met Chairman and Managing Director Anand Mahindra of the Mahindra Group, the largest shareholder in Ssangyong Motor, to talk about the group’s investment of approximately US$936 billion (about 1 trillion Korean won) into the Korean car company over four years. She was also instrumental in facilitating an agreement between the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Indian Space Research Organization for cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space. In Switzerland, she explored ways to create synergies by combining Switzerland’s vocational training system, a primary source of the nation’s competitiveness, and the strengths of Korea’s educational system. Her efforts led to one agreement and eleven memoranda of understanding (MOUs), including an

1 - S outheast Asian leaders and President Park (center) link hands for an official photo before the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit at the BEXCO convention center in Busan in December 2014. ©Yonhap News 2 - P resident Park visited the U.S. to meet President Obama at the White House on May 7, 2013 for her first summit diplomacy after the inauguration. ©Yonhap News

President Park’s soft power, which is said to be unique characteristics of women leaders, has been a key asset in her “trust-based diplomacy.”

agreement on social security. On the multilateral front, President Park has worked hard to promote global security at international summits, such as at the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) held at The Hague in March 2014. The NSS aims to prevent nuclear terrorism and improve nuclear security around the globe. It is the largest multilateral security summit, with some 53 heads of state and the secretary-generals from four international organizations in attendance in 2014.There, the President presented Korea’s achievements and pledges regarding the international nuclear security framework. “The journey toward a world without nuclear weapons should start from the Korean Peninsula. I look forward to working with everyone here to make that vision a reality,” she said in her keynote speech during the NSS opening session. At the UN Climate Summit in Sep-

President Park shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping upon arrival at the opening ceremony of the APEC Summit in November 2014. ©Yonhap News

The efforts made in the sales diplomacy span across various areas.

President Park Geun-hye addresses the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2014. ©Yonhap News

tember 2014 in New York, heads of state discussed ways to tackle global warming, a new global security issue of the 21st century. The participants concurred that climate change caused by greenhouse gases could be as threatening to all humanity as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. President Park explained that the Korean Government had incorporated its response to climate change into its initiatives to promote innovation in the manufacturing sector. She also said that Korea would help developing countries combat climate change by sharing its experiences. Emissions trading has long been an issue of contention in the international community since the adoption of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known simply as the Kyoto Protocol. The differing positions on the issue stem from the varying levels of indus-

korea

February

2014.3.23~25 Netherlands, Hague Nuclear Security Summit

2013.11.2~4 France 2013.11.4~7 Great Britain 2013.11.7~8 Belgium·EU

2013.9.4~7 G20 Summit Saint Petersburg, Russia

2013.6.27~30 China

2014.9.20~23 Canada

2013.5.5~10 USA

2014.1.18~22 Swiss World Economic Forum

2014.9.23~25 New York, USA UN Climate Summit, UN General Assembly

2014.3.25~28 Germany 2014.10.14~17 Milano, Italy ASSEM Summit

2014.6.16~21 Central Asia(Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Kazakhstan)

2014.12.11~12 Busan, Republic of Korea ASEAN·Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit

2014.1.15~18 India

2013.10.8~10 Brunei ASEAN Summit

2014.10.17~18 Italy

2014.11.12~13 Republic of the Union of Myanmar East Asia Summit 2013.10.6~8 Bali, Indonesia APEC Summit

2014.5.19~20 United Arab Emirates

2013.2.25 - 2014.12.31

2014.11.9~12 Beijing, China APEC Summit

2013 Tour Site

2013.9.8~11 Vietnam

2014 Tour Site

2014.9.23~25 Indonesia

2014.11.14~16 Brisbane, Australia

President Park has visited many countries during her first two years in office. ©Yonhap News

trialization found across the globe. Developed countries, such as the United States and Western European countries, have already undergone industrialization, while developing countries in Asia and Africa have just started. The President proposed that Korea could serve as a bridge between the two camps in the negotiations for a post-2020 set of rules to combat climate change because it is well aware of the situation on both sides. Leaders at the summit welcomed the Korean Government’s vision of revitalizing the stalled negotiations. A vision of a world without nuclear weapons

Among the major achievements of the Park Administration are efforts to remind the world of the gravity of the North Korean nuclear weapons issue through rounds of summit talks and international conferences. The Government has consis-

tently pushed forward its trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula, its Northeast Asian Cooperation Initiative and its Eurasia Initiative. The gist of the initiatives is to lay the foundation for mutual prosperity through denuclearization and lasting peace on the peninsula, one of the flashpoints of both the 20th and 21st centuries. She has maintained that this would also improve security and cooperation across Northeast Asia as well. One of the international community’s concerns has been that an emerging China might precipitate a conflict with the United States. President Park has striven to forge a consensus that peace on the Korean Peninsula is a precondition to defusing the tense situation. At the 2014 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit held in December in Busan, President Park and the Southeast Asian heads of state gathered to

commemorate the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-ROK dialogue under the slogan “Building Trust, Bringing Happiness.” It was an opportunity to explore ways to realize prosper ity for all ASEAN member countries and to introduce Korea’s achievements in administrative reform. President Park’s use of soft power is a key asset in her trust-based diplomacy. Her efforts to connect with people by speaking their language have been well received across the globe. She made a speech in English during a joint session of the U.S. Congress in May 2013 and in Mandarin at Tsinghua University, China, in June 2013. She also gave a keynote speech in French at the France-Korea Business Forum in Paris in November 2013. At the heart of the President’s foreign policy lies her public diplomacy, which seeks to persuade people not by military or economic prowess, but by a direct and personal approach.

Policy Review

President’s New Year’s Plan President Park Geun-hye spoke about her three-year economic innovation plan and public sector reforms. Excerpted from Korea.net

President Park Geun-hye says she would create an economy with a strong foundation and turn the Korean economy into a dynamic, innovative one. ©Yonhap News

resident Park Geun-hye discussed her policies for the new year concerning inter-Korea relations, her three-year economic innovation plan and public sector reforms, at Cheong Wa Dae on January 12. “This year is the 70th anniversar y of Korea’s liberation and a meaningful year for our countrymen,” said the president. “This year also presents a golden opportunity to concentrate our strengths on reviving the economy and improving innovation in the country. The government will take advantage of the opportunities to make 2015 a year of hope.” “Since the global financial crisis, the global economy has been in great transition, and international competition is get-

ting ever more fierce,” President Park said. “To overcome these challenges, we laid out a three-year plan for economic innovation last year.” President Park said the government will correct improper systems and practices in the lax public sector and in the market and create an economy with a strong foundation. By promoting the creative industries, the government intends to turn the Korean economy into a dynamic, innovative one and achieve a balance between domestic consumption and exports so that the benefits of economic growth will be equally distributed among the countrymen. If everything goes smoothly, Korea will be headed toward achieving a 4 per-

cent potential growth rate, a 70 percent employment rate and a per capita yearly income of USD 40,000. The president emphasized that, first of all, reforms must be undertaken in four sectors: public, labor, financial and education. President Park said she would build an economy with a strong foundation. The functions of public sector entities that have become unnecessary or overlap due to changes in the environment will be merged or abolished, allowing the government to reorganize based on its core competencies. The president also asked both ruling and opposition parties to conclude issues regarding the pension system for public servants by April, after complementing

korea

their reform plan for the extension of the retirement age for public workers and a wage peak system. In addition, the president asked businesses and the labor sector to come up with comprehensive plans to reform the labor market by March, and to do it with coexistence in mind. The government will also further liberalize academic terms for students so that they can study without being restrained by college entrance exams. It will introduce trial vocational schools similar to the apprentice system in Switzerland so that the education system can be changed to become more practical and to better fit industry's needs.

We can meet anybody to resolve the pains of division and come up with ways for a peaceful reunification.

dynamism in the economy

President Park said the government would expand the creative industries nationwide and industry-wide in order to revive dynamism in the economy. In a bid to support and assist small- and medium-sized enterprises and startup companies, the major players in many creative industries, it will create so-called “creative economy innovation centers.” They will feature a one-onone support system with large companies, and there will be one in all 17 provinces

and cities across the country so that smaller, more creative companies can benefit from a one-stop service center. In order to establish new future growth engines, the president said she would pursue a “manufacturing innovation 3.0 strategy.” This would bring innovation to the manufactur ing process, including expanding the use of smart factories and developing core technologies related to the Internet of Things (IoT), 3-D printing and big data.With the launch of a “creative village” in Sejong City, the government will distribute smart farm models and develop information and communications technology standards to encourage rural tourism as well as the retail and educational sectors. President Park also talked about her ideas to reduce medical costs and to eliminate blind spots in the nation’s welfare program. “The government will continue to lower medical costs, option-related expenses, nursing care costs and the charges related to higher-grade hospital rooms for four major illnesses: cancer, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular diseases and rare, incurable diseases,” she said. “For the basic welfare system, we will upgrade the system so that more people can benefit from it and receive better support. Even if their income levels rise, they will be able to receive necessary aid in terms of medical treatment or housing.” Speaking of her vision and direction for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula, the president said,“North Korea needs to come to the table for talks without hesitation. We need to start by reuniting separated families, then improving the quality of life for North Korean citizens and reviving emotional homogeneity between the two Koreas.The two Koreas should talk to each other one-one-one and open their doors for reunification.” “To establish a basis for the development of inter-Korea relations and peaceful reunification, the government will pursue practical dialogue and create routes for cooperation through private sector assis-

February

tance and cooperation,” she said. Concerning the separated families, the president said, “We cannot delay the issue anymore, considering the old age of the survivors. I hope that North Korea will respond with an open mind so that separated families can unite again around the Lunar New Year holiday in February.” The president also hoped that the two Koreas could celebrate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Korea together through various joint events. Later in the Q&A session, the president responded to a question about an interKorea summit. She said, “We can meet anybody to resolve the pains of division and come up with ways for a peaceful reunification. We can have a South-North summit if it helps in that regard.” “There are no preconditions,” she stressed. “To resolve problems through dialogue, we need a sincere attitude and an open mind.” Concerning the denuclearization of North Korea, President Park said, “This is not a precondition, but if it is not solved, we cannot talk about peaceful reunification. We need to solve the issue through bilateral or multilateral dialogue.” Concerning national security, the president said, “The government will strongly maintain the Korea-U.S. alliance, further solidify the Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership, seek upgraded relations with Japan in celebration of the resumption of diplomatic relations and pursue stable development in relations between Korea and Russia.” Finally, concerning the issue of sexual slavery dating to World War II, the president said, “Victims who were enslaved as ‘comfort women’ are very old and if there is no quick solution, it will remain as an unsolved issue.Then, it would be a burden on KoreaJapan relations and it would also be a heavy historical burden for Japan.” “We are still trying to come up with solutions that can meet the expectations of the public and the international community,” the president concluded.

CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

in the Wo g n i r rl he F

t Net w or k s e t s as

d’s

Korean telecommunications to set another world record Written by HONG HYE-WON

t is not unusual at Incheon International Airport for disembarking passengers to immediately switch on their mobile phones as soon as they enter the terminal, whether to check their messages or social networks. This is not surprising when you realize that they are so accustomed to far faster wireless internet service than they can generally get overseas. The Korean telecommunications industry boasts some of the fastest networks

in the world and is constantly improving its services. Phone companies are now ready to offer the first tri-band LTE (Long-Term Evolution)-Advanced or LTE Advanced (LTE-A) Tri-Band Carrier Aggregation services worldwide. Reportedly, it will be four times faster than the LTE services of today. The three main mobile carriers—KT, SK Telecom and LG Uplus—have offered the fastest mobile internet services since

the commercial deployment of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology for 2G (second generation) mobile devices. Except for the introduction of LTE services, they were the first to offer triband LTE-Advanced, LTE-A and Broadband LTE-A services. SK Telecom was the first to offer the service with the restyled Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on Dec. 29, 2014. KT and LG Uplus will soon follow suit.

korea

What is Tri-Band LTE-Advanced Service?

Commercial broadband LTE-A service uses different bandwidths and was introduced in June 2014. Only six months later, the three mobile carriers debuted LTE Advanced (LTE-A) Tr i-Band Car r ier Aggregation service, which combines three disparate bandwidths for faster speeds and more capacity. Simply put, it is like making the road three times wider. Its speed is a whopping 300Mbps (megabits per second), four times faster than LTE. It takes just 28 seconds to download an entire gigabytesized movie. The download used to take over 7 minutes over a 3G network, about 106 seconds by LTE and about 36 seconds by broadband LTE-A. Korea’s LTE network is now the backbone of the nation’s mobile communi-cat-

February

ions, and there are already some 30 million LTE service subscribers.Watching a movie or searching for what you need on the web, in real time, on the move, whether on the subway or the bus, has become part of everyday life. Commercial use of the triband LTE-Advanced network will improve the experience even more. People will be able to download massive volumes of content and watch high-definition streaming videos. They will be able to enjoy Ultra HD movies on their mobile device without interruption or quality issues. The technology will also help users of mobile social networking services, such as Twitter and Facebook, to use more video content. With a mobile device signed up with the latest network, people will be able to play high-perfor mance games, just as they would on a PC, and use more productivity tools other than just email. Jockeying for a faster network continues

It takes just 28 seconds to download an entire gigabyte-sized movie.

above Customers experience even faster tri-band LTE phone service. © LG Uplus bottom Researchers test the speed of tri-band LTE networks. © SK Telecom

Korea’s telecommunications industry marked a number of impressive achievements throughout the years and is continuing to evolve. President Park Geun-hye said at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference held in Busan in November that Korea seeks to offer the world’s first 5G network services by 2020. A 5G or fifth generation wireless network is expected to be 1,000 times faster than today’s LTE networks. Competition among global telecoms providers to seize first-mover advantage is already intense. Commercial use of wireless networks would create a tremendous change in the content enjoyed on mobile devices. It would usher in an entirely new paradigm of everyday life. Can Korea once again win the race to bring next-generation wireless networks to market? After all, the global markets are forecast at around USD 1.159 trillion, the domestic market at USD 38 billion, and the next generation of network technology could very well exceed our wildest expectations.

GLOBAL KOREA

Ridding the World of Ebola

Korean telecommunications to set another world record Written by YOON SE-EUN

team of volunteer doctors and nurses left for Sierra Leone on Dec. 13, 2014, to join the fight against Ebola. The situation is grim. The virus is having a devastating toll on West Africa. Infections were reported even in the U.S. and Europe.The international community has called for a concerted effort to stop the virus, and the Korean government has answered by rendering medical support across the affected region. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Defense Ministry started recruiting volunteer medical staff last autumn. They formed the Korea Disaster Relief Team

(KDRT) of 30 doctors and nurses, including infectious disease specialists. Safe and systematic relief operation

The first KDRT cohort is now participating in relief efforts in Sierra Leone. In light of the high risk of contagion and the lethality of the virus, the team is proceeding with all due caution. The team underwent safety training in Worcester, north of London, before arriving at the Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) in Goderich, near Sierra Leoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital. The team was put through one week of training to adapt to the area

before embarking on four weeks of relief work. Upon their return to Korea, the volunteers will be quarantined for three weeks. A three-person team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea International Cooperation Agency was also dispatched to Sierra Leone to assist the KDRT and to ensure the medical teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety.They will support the KDRT in cooperation with EMERGENCY, an Italian non-governmental organization running the ETC, with the Sierra Leone government and with the United Nations (U.N.).

korea

February

Ebola outbreak, a global issue

The Korean government dispatches relief teams for humanitarian purposes to areas around the world stricken by natural disasters, calamities or accidents, according to the Overseas Emergency Relief Act. The KDRT’s mission in Sierra Leone is the first time for it to respond to an epidemic. Since the initial outbreak of the highly infectious virus, the U.N. has launched an urgent appeal for more human resources. Upon finalizing the plan and schedule for the KDRT, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se emphasized that tackling the Ebola crisis is a humanitarian, political and historical obligation. According to the World Health Organization, there have been 19,497 Ebola infections and 7,588 deaths as of Dec. 24, 2014. So far, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Cuba, China and Korea have all deployed medical staff in response to the epidemic.The relief team's mission is not only for disease treatment, but also for global peace and security. During his tour of the three West African countries heavily hit by the virus, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited an Ebola treatment center to offer encouragement to the KDRT.“Ebola is a threat to the

1 - A mock medical treatment facility is set up at a training center in Buckinghamshire, U.K., where the first members of the KDRT are stationed for training before their departure to Sierra Leone. ©Yonhap News 2 - A member of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) demonstrates how to wear a protective anti-contamination suit at a training center in Buckinghamshire, U.K., before joining the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone. ©Yonhap News 3 - T he first members of the KDRT depart Incheon International Airport on Dec. 13, 2014. ©Yonhap News 4 - A nurse specialized in infectious diseases suits up in special anti-contamination gear in the infectious diseases ward at the National Medical Center in Seoul. ©Yonhap News

survival of humanity. It is not somebody else’s problem, but a global one that humanity faces as a whole,” he said. “The conditions surrounding the outbreak have somewhat improved, but we all have to make an effort to end the epidemic. Even if only one person remains infected, the situation is still dangerous.” The threat of the Ebola virus continues and support from the international community will be sustained until the threat is finally eradicated. The Korea Disaster Relief Team will, likewise, continue to do its part until they accomplish the mission and return to their families, safe and sound.

Great Korean

Gang Gam-chan A heroic general who scored a legendary victory against the Khitans in the early 11th century Written by Kim Tae-kyung Photographed by Hong Ha-yan

ang Gam-chan, an illustrious general of the Goryeo period (918-1392), was born in 948 in an area called Geumju, which today encompasses the Gwanak-gu and Geumcheon-gu districts of Seoul.The “Goryeosa,” a history book written during the Joseon period (1392-1910), tells two tales about him. According to one of them, a royal envoy was entering Siheung-gun County one night when he saw a large star fall onto a house. He sent someone to the house to find out what happened and learned that the lady of the house had given birth to a boy just as the star fell.The envoy took the baby to his home in the Goryeo capital and raised him as his own. In the other tale, a Chinese envoy who, upon seeing Gang Gam-chan, then prime minister of Goryeo, bowed deeply to him and said, “The fourth of the seven stars of the Big Dipper is here.” The fourth star of the Big Dipper was a symbol of wisdom and power. Historians say that Gang was born to a prestigious family and at the age of seven began to learn literature and martial arts from his father. Well versed not only in Buddhist scripture but also in astronomy, geography, and geomancy, he achieved the highest score on the national civil service examination in 983. Invaders from the North

In those times, Song China (960-1279) was in constant conflict with the Khitans of the Liao dynasty (907-1125) to the north.The Khitans were unhappy with Goryeo’s proSong leanings and galloped south to invade Gor yeo in 993, launching the Fir st Goryeo-Khitan War.The war ended with a negotiated peace. In 1010, the Khitans crossed the border of Goryeo again in the

the border, Goryeo appealed to Song China for help, but the Song dynasty was by then already waning and was an ally of the Khitans. Local wars of attrition continued for years before a year of peace brought a badly needed respite to the Korean Peninsula. In 1018, Khitan General Xiao Paiya crossed the Amnokgang River with 100,000 troops in an all-out war against Goryeo, the Third Goryeo-Khitan War. After years of conflict, Goryeo was fully prepared for the war and had some 200,000 troops available under the leadership of General Gang Gam-chan. Great Victory in the Battle of Guju

Second Goryeo-Khitan War, but the Koreans triumphed over them in battle under the able leadership of General Yang Gyu. The Khitans invaded yet again in 1014, and this time everything seemed to be working against Goryeo. As soon as General Xiao Dilie led his Khitan troops across

Shrine to General Gang Gam-chan at Anguksa Temple in Nakseongdae Park.

General Gang was an excellent tactician and strategic planner. He began to prevail from the outset of the war. He showed especially great wisdom in the Battle of Honghwajin, where the two armies faced each other across a river. Upstream from the battle, the Goryeo army dammed the waterway using a huge sheet of stitched cowhides, in expectation that the Khitans would believe that the river was shallow and attempt to cross. As expected, the Khitans did indeed begin to cross and the Goryeo troops removed the cowhides to unleash a deluge upon them. The Khitans suffered one defeat after another throughout their expedition, but General Xiao stubbornly pressed on toward Gaegyeong, the Goryeo capital. In 1019, the Khitans had Gaegyeong in their sights, but were compelled to hastily retreat before a sudden attack by Goryeo troops led by General Gang. More Goryeo

korea

troops were waiting in ambush along the retreat route and made a series of surprise attacks on the retreating Khitans.They suffered heavy losses and were pursued relentlessly by General Gang up the peninsula. Finally, on February 1, 1019, the two generals met face to face in Guju, also known as Gwiju. The final battle between General Xiao’s elite troops—exhausted but well seasoned through extensive combat experience with other countries—and General Gang’s determined, well-prepared troops was epic, marking a watershed in international relations in 11th-century Northeast Asia. The Khitans did not want to return home empty-handed. Goryeo did not want

to give away even the smallest piece of territory. In time, both human and heavenly help arrived. General Kim Jong-hyeon brought up reinforcements, and the winds began to blow against the Khitan troops, tipping the fortunes of battle in favor of Goryeo. The Khitans lost heart. Goryeo was emboldened. The Khitan soldiers began to leave the line of battle one after another, and General Gang did not miss the opportunity. He seized the triumphant momentum to clinch one of the greatest victories in Korean history, dubbed the Battle of Guju. Records show that only a few thousands of the 100,000 Khitan troops that had set foot in Goryeo ever

February

returned home. General Xiao had to abandon his armor and standard to save his neck. After dealing the Khitans such a crushing defeat, General Gang built fortresses along the border in preparation for another incursion. He displayed exceptional talent not only in battle, but also in domestic politics and policies. He was an indispensable official for the king and the Goryeo people. In 1030, he was promoted to the highest office under the king.Years later, he pleaded with the king for his retirement, but the king wanted to keep Gang near. The king detained Gang by the sleeve and rendered him a staff as a gift. Gang had to serve as an official for the rest of his life.

Statue of General Gang Gam-chan on horseback, in Nakseongdae Park, Seoul.

MY KOREA

o life, only trash.The satiric world of the adorable, trash-compacting robot named WALL-E comes as a warning to our singleuse, disposable consumer generation. The ever-expanding landfills are evidence that our current world is plagued by the negative effects of the mantra, “out with the old, in with the new.” Several nations are trying to find an efficient and effective way to curb this trash trend. Korea may just have the solution. Getting into the recycling routine

Five years ago, I walked into a convenience store determined to purchase some prepaid government-authorized plastic trash bags. After using my severely limited Korean, I had a smile on my face and a stack of 10-liter trash bags in hand. Upon exiting the store, I took my first steps into the larger world of recycling.

Don’t get me wrong, I had recycled before, but I never had to pay for special trash bags or take so much care while recycling. Growing up, recycling was simple. Our home had two colored recycle bins: green for paper products and blue for plastics, metals and glass. At our local transfer station, also known as the dump, there were two huge dumpsters. In one went the contents of the green bins, the other, the blue bins. My current apartment complex’s recycling system is much more complex.There are bins for paper, plastic, Styrofoam, aluminum cans, vinyl, old clothes, batteries, prepaid food waste bags and prepaid trash bags. When I first started recycling in Korea it was a daunting task. Struggling to read all the labels in Korean was time consuming. Now, I separate all my trash and recyclables beforehand, and an uncomfortable feeling

arises whenever I accidently put a recyclable good in the trashcan, similar to the feeling when you notice a piece of trash accidently fall from your pocket while walking down the street. A couple of dirty trash tricks

The biggest problem I had with the garbage growing up was the terrible stench: the sweet smell of rotting food. Here food waste must be placed in prepaid authorized plastic bags, similar to the larger trash bags. After a few days of keeping food garbage in its own 2-liter bag the smell it produces is not only horrid, it attracts flies. Storing the bag in the freezer keeps things fresh and keeps the food away from hungry bugs. That is the first dirty trick. Now, let’s rewind back 4 years, I had finished my shopping at a large grocery store and bought a vinyl plastic bag to take

A Robot and Recycling Korea’s plan to avoid a 'WALL-E'-like trash world Written by Isaac Colson ILLUSTRATED BY Kim DONG-JIN

korea

home the groceries. Although I didn’t like the idea of having to pay for the bag, the purple bag did have a picture of a penguin on it—I like penguins. Being frugal, I decided to always carry the bag with me, folded carefully in my coat pocket, if I ever needed it. However, after offering it to a Korean friend to hold some of their personal effects they outright refused my penguin pack. Frustrated, I finally figured out the problem. On the one hand, it was a normal shopping bag, but on the other it was also a prepaid government authorized

TRASH bag. My friend didn’t want their belongings being toted in a garbage bag. Dirty trick two: Some purple penguin shopping bags double as authorized garbage bags. Cutting edge tech and food waste

Some apartment complexes have food waste disposal systems. These high tech automated machines weigh your organic food waste and charge a fee depending on the weight, no bags required.The machine will only open its doors after a radio fre-

February

quency identification (RFID) tag is scanned.These tags have the owner’s name and address encoded within them. If you decide not to pay the fee, the machine will be angry, and it literally knows where you live.These systems are no Waste Allocation Load Lifter – Ear th-Class robots (WALL-Es), but they are a good way to utilize technology to help keep Seoul clean. Whether it is high-tech machines, strict recycling rules or prepaid trash bags, Korea has the right idea when it comes to reducing its waste footprint.The efficiency with which the government handles waste disposal and recycling has caught the interest of several of my international friends who I met while studying Korean. I hope other countries soon follow in Korea’s footsteps, to insure that the world of “WALL-E” remains fiction.

MULTICULTURAL KOREA

Harmony with a Difference Uzbek immigrant Bulatova Anastasiya helps migrant workers deal with cultural and legal issues. Written by Kim Nae-on Photographed by Moon Duk-GWAN

“I

’ve been studying the Labor Standards Act. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, I offer consultations and interpretation services for migrant workers at the Cheonan Support Center for Foreign Workers. On other days, I interpret for migrant workers at the police station when something happens,” says Anastasiya who lives in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong Province). Her stuffed bag shows how busy her life is. She always carries two large notebooks, one of which is filled with technical terms including those for professional negligence and departure guarantee insurance. Anastasiya needs to know these terms in Korean to help migrant workers get fair reward for their work and to resolve tough problems.

korea

It all started with getting a driver’s license

Anastasiya’s work started in 2007 when her husband suggested she get a driver’s license. “Once my children were old enough, I decided that I wanted to work. My husband promised to buy me a car if I got a license. He failed his driving theory test eight times, and he probably thought I wouldn’t make it,” says Anastasiya with a chuckle. At the time, she wasn’t familiar with words like “gradually” and “promptly,” but she stayed up until two or three o’clock in the morning each day studying for her test. She passed her exam and acquired her license after only her second try. Her husband was flabbergasted when she broke the news and simply replied,“What?!” Anastasiya had prepared for her license exam in a driving class for foreign residents at the Asan Police Station. One day, there was a traffic accident involving an ethnic

If local organizations help us develop our skills, we can help them do their work.

Korean Russian who didn’t have a driver’s license. The Asan Police Station asked Anastasiya if she could come and interpret for them. “At first, I didn’t know any of the terms used by the police, and it was a real headache. Later, I realized that migrant workers frequently find themselves in difficult situations because they do not know Korean law and there are many cultural differences. So, I suggested starting a support group to inform migrant workers of the laws and cultural norms they need to know while working here.” Hence Mommy-Pol, a multicultural volunteer group for migrant workers, was born. Becoming the leader of the “Harmony” volunteer group

Mommy-Pol’s line of work does not just include helping resolve issues that migrant workers experience.Volunteers also roll up their sleeves for the underprivileged.They visit the elderly and people with learning disabilities to keep them company and to trim their hair. In 2008, when neighboring Taean County suffered a devastating oil spill, they traveled there to join the cleanup effort. “People generally don’t think of spending their precious time helping other people recover from a disaster like this, especially when there is no financial gain in doing so. Koreans are different in that they quickly offer assistance and come together to lend a hand. In Taean, I even saw parents who brought their children along. At first, I couldn’t understand why they came with their children, but I later realized the value in it.” Anastasiya slowly learned the meaning of volunteering and felt more confident that she could be of great help to others. Last year, she became the leader of the Chungnam Harmony Volunteer Group, made up of five different volunteer organizations from across the province.The group focuses primarily on helping multicultural families integrate into their local communities. “I am not afraid to speak up for that in which I believe. If I see that something is

February

unfair, I don’t hesitate to speak out. I also have a very loud voice. I think these are the reasons I was chosen to be the leader.” In fact, Anastasiya offers her heartfelt criticisms and suggestions to organizations like the Multicultural Family Support Centers, part of the local governments. A few of her proposals have included offering vocational training for migrant women, such as beauty and nail art classes, and higher-level Korean language courses for migrant workers who have been living in Korea for some time.“If local organizations help us develop our skills, we can help them do their work.” Anastasiya wants to share her exper ience and knowledge gained over the years with migrant women who are new to the country. As a young woman in Uzbekistan, Anastasiya represented her nation as a junior-level gymnast. Now, living in a foreign country, she helps others like herself become more accustomed to the unfamiliar country. “My experience here hasn’t been as challenging as that of some migrant women.There are many people who are in constant financial distress, and I hope to help them.” Twelve years have passed since she moved to Korea. Are there any cultural differences Anastasiya still finds hard to understand? “In Uzbekistan, you can take 24 days off every year. Ever since I married my husband, I have been expecting to have a long vacation with him, but he never talks about taking time off work.When I finally asked him when we were going to have a few weeks of vacation, he said he could take four days off,” she said with a smile.

Nature

Hallasan Mountain

Hallasan Mountain, located on the southernmost island of Jeju, is full of wonder and uncommon beauty. It is topped by a crater lake, crisscrossed by more than 40 hiking trails, and is adorned by countless fantasticallyshaped rock formations. Written by Kim Nae-on Photographed by OH HEE-SAM

t 1,950 meters, Hallasan Mountain is South Korea’s highest peak. “Hallasan” means,“a mountain high enough to pull the galaxy.” It is one of the three most famous mountains in all of Korea, alongside Baekdusan Mountain and Geumgangsan Mountain, both in North Korea. With a modest ridgeline that softly melts into the sea’s horizon, Hallasan Mountain seems to offer the island residents a warm embrace. For centuries, people have believed that the mountain protects the country from heavy winds coming from the South Pacific. In fact, the vast fields on the southern region (specifically Yeongnam and Honam regions) of the Korean peninsula yield a rich harvest precisely because Hallasan Mountain shields

them from typhoons. The mountain has always stood firmly in its place, comforting the people even during their hardships and in times of war. The people of Jeju are very sensitive to changes in the weather. They even predict the year’s fortune by climatic events. It has long been believed that Hallasan Mountain’s fickle weather was due to the existence of a spirit. The mountain projects a unique aspect of its beauty when seen from different directions. From Jeju City on the northern coast of the island, its flanks look steep and rugged. From Seogwipo on the southern coast, the slopes look gentle. A poet named Go Eun once wrote, “There is no beauty that moves a soul like Hallasan Mountain.”

korea

In the spring, the mountain comes alive with rhododendron and azalea blossoms. In the summer, it reveals a multitude of shades of green. In the autumn, the leaves turn red, orange and yellow, and in the winter, the mountain is covered with snow. Blanketed in white, Hallasan Mountain is such a breathtaking sight that many eagerly anticipate the winter to enjoy its serenity and otherworldly beauty.This seasonal cycle begins again when Adonis blossoms herald the coming of spring. Numerous hiking trails, called oreum, run up and down the slopes of Hallasan Mountain.Water cascades down on all sides over countless waterfalls, and the slopes are scattered with uniquely-shaped rock forma-

tions. Hallasan is also home to a number of rare plants. Roe deer are a common sight, and one of the springs on the mountain is named after them. The best scenery, however, is offered by the Baengnokdam, the lake-filled crater at the top formed by a volHikers descend the mountain toward Gwaneumsa Temple.

February

canic eruption. According to legend, the Baengnokdam was created when the Heavenly Jade Emperor became enraged and ripped off the top of the mountain after a huntsman accidentally shot at the heart of the sky. Winter snows remain around the rim of the crater until May.The snow-covered Baengnokdam is one of the twelve most beautiful sights of Jeju Island. Legend also claims that a man who sees the star Canopus in the dark night sky from the top of Hallasan Mountain will live a long life. Even without ever spotting Canopus, hiking to the summit of the guardian of the peninsulaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;also a UNESCO World Natural Heritage siteâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is an unforgettable experience.

Flavor

Gangjeong, a Lucky Holiday Food Written by Yoon Se-eun Photographed by KIM HEE-JIN

anuary 15th by the lunar calendar is a special day. Falling on March 5th this year, it marks the first full moon of the new lunar year. In Korea, the day is called Jeongwol Daeboreum, which literally means,“the full moon of the first month.” People wish for happiness and health on this day and partake in traditional foods and confectionaries. Nuts are one of these snacks.You crack open peanuts, chestnuts, pine nuts or some

other type of nut in order to prevent boils and other such pains throughout the year. Another yummy food enjoyed on Jeongwol Daeboreum is crunchy gangjeong.This food is made by stir-frying legumes, hard nuts and seeds, such as black beans, peanuts, walnuts, perilla seeds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Then, you pour sweet grain syrup on top. Scrape the mixture onto a wooden chopping board, roll it flat,

let it harden and chop it into bite-sized pieces. Gangjeong is loved by everybody— old and young, women and men—since it is sweet, crunchy, nutty and even healthy. Perhaps that’s why munching on it was believed in the olden days to bring luck. Try this healthy and delectable traditional confectionary this coming Jeongwol Daeboreum for your health and luck in 2015.

korea

February

- Learn Korean -

Happy NewYear’s.

Lunar New Year’s Day is called Seollal. According to tradition, a formal greeting on special occasions is a bow where you get down on both knees and bend your upper body.This kind of greeting is known as a jeol.This formal New Year’s bow is called a sebae. On the official Lunar New Year’s Day, people change into their traditional clothes, Hanbok, to symbolize a new beginning and to start off with a clean body and heart, paying their respects to their elders by bowing.

Let’s learn how to do a Lunar New Year’s bow.

Source the Korea Tourism Organization, www.visitkorea.or.kr

Happy New Year’s.

When performing the Lunar New Year’s bow, the girl or woman places her right hand over the left hand. The boy or man places his left hand over his right hand.

MEN - Raise both hands to the chest. Place both hands on the floor as you bend your knees. Bend your upper body and bow your head. Once your head touches the back of your left hand, stand up. WOMEN - Release your hands naturally as you bend your knees and sit. Rest your hands in front of your knees, placing them at shoulder’s width. Then, bow your head as you bend your upper body. Take your hands off the floor as you raise your upper body.

After the Lunar New Year’s bow, we sit down politely and say, “Saehae bok mani badeuseyo,” meaning, “Happy New Year’s.”