East, Meet West! Comparing Korea and Canada

This article was inspired by fellow World Korea Blogger Angeliki Katsika's wonderful article comparing Korea and Greece. Reading her work, I felt compelled to write my own version, making some comparisons between my home country, Canada, and my "home away from home", Korea. So here we go: East, meet West. Korea, meet Canada.

Korea's Taegeukgi (태극기) and Canada's
Maple Leaf, or l'Unifolié ("The one-leafed" in French)

First, the big stuff.


Canada is absolutely massive! At a staggering 9,984,670 square kilometres (3,855,100 square miles), it's the second-largest country in the world after Russia. By comparison, Korea is a tiny peninsula nestled between the comparative giants that are Russia, China, and Japan.

Despite being one of the largest nations in the world, Canada's population is one of the most diminutive per area. The entire population of Canada is only 35 million, while Korea has a population of 48 million, or 481 people per square kilometre! That's pretty amazing. The Koreans have really squeezed themselves into their country!

Given the sheer number of Koreans squished into such a small space, it's no wonder that Korea is one of most ethnically and culturally homogeneous societies in the world. Canada, on the other hand, has a diverse population that is a mix of the native nations, European descendants of colonizers, and descendants of other ethnic immigrants. Currently, approximately 250,000 Koreans or Canadians of Korean descent live in Canada.


So you may be wondering, what could be similar about Korea and Canada? Well, I'm glad you asked.


Now it's time for the small stuff.


Both countries struggle to acquire a second language. For Koreans, it's English. For Canadians, it's either French or English.


We both like our condiments - Koreans need their spicy red pepper paste or gochujang, and Canadians need their maple syrup!


Koreans love their pastries, as evidenced by bakeries on every corner, and we Canadians just gotta have our doughnuts - it's a national joke for a reason.


WE BOTH HAVE FOUR SEASONS!

Canadian spring and summer, Korean fall and winter

Both countries are home to some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers, streams, and mountains you've ever seen. And while Canadians have rolling wheat fields, and Koreans have shining rice paddies, both are breath-taking in the afternoon sun.

Korean rice paddy and Canadian wheat field

Korea is a nation of bowing people, and Canadians are more the head-nod sort, but both like to pay their respects.


Koreans have clans, and so do Canadians. Just ask any proud Korean, or any Canadian of Native, Scottish, or Irish decent!


Both countries are home to kind people, handsome men, beautiful women, and adorable babies!

Cute Korean kiddos dressed for the Chuseok holiday

We share a love of seafood, and a love of beer, and we know that a barbequed meal can't be beat!


Finally, Korea and Canada both have a love of winter sports. Actually, we share a love of all sports. After Pyeongchang 2018, Korea will have hosted the Olympics twice, and Canada will have hosted three times.


And those are just the little things that I've noticed. 


As you can see, Korea and Canada have a friendly relationship for a reason. We know what it takes to make a good life - good land, and good people. Why don't you take a visit sometime? I think you'll find both countries are well worth the time.

Taking a Winter Dip at the Deokpo Penguin Swim Festival

On January 7th, I took part in the 8th Annual Geoje Penguin Swim Festival. This festival was just so much fun, and definitely one of my favourite experiences in Korea thus far!

I rose early to join a tour group and travel to Deokpo (덕포) on Geoje-do, or Geoje Island (거제도), a tiny area known for its beautiful beach. The festival grounds offered such services as complimentary snacks and beverages for participants, face-painting, and games. 

The opening ceremonies were a wonderful mix of traditional meets modern. First we were entertained with some traditional Korean drum music before watching some edgily-dressed women performing upbeat dance routines to modern K-Pop songs.

Small ones admiring the traditional drum music...

...And playing it too!

Dance troupe CHK showcase some stylish moves

After the show and official greeting, we were ready to swim. The fact that it was such a beautiful sunny day made it easier to take off our street clothes and change into our swim gear, but it was definitely still cold! The shock didn't last long, because we had other things to think about, namely the even colder swim that awaited us, and the camera crews!

The group loving a moment of fame

The festival crowd was quite large. Camera crews circled. It was a surreal feeling, but not an unwelcome one! After countless photos and camera interviews, we began a group warm-up session led by a far too energetic emcee.

Getting limber...

We're ready!

Limbs loose and hearts pounding, the competitors let out a few cheers before the whistle sounded. We ran forward into the ocean. Any thoughts of pain or shock due to the cold were cast aside because the needs of the group demanded that you push ahead. We had to swim a 50-metre round-trip. It was challenging to move in the cold with so many people, but we persevered and we made it. 

The swim didn't take very long, and once we reached dry land again, our cold but happy bodies plodded our way past the cameras, smiling and waving to retrieve our winners' medals. 

Victorious, we smile for the cameras. 
Fighting! 화이팅!

After a few minutes rest with some complimentary snacks, we continued our fun by joining the live flatfish catching contest. About 700 flatfish were released into a netted area in the sea, and we were all instructed to go catch them - by hand! Successful fishers could have their catch filleted and served raw for a small donation.

Our group caught a three-flatfish lunch 

We then took advantage of the free hot shower service and got bundled up again. We participated in some of the other activities, including an eel relay race, treasure hunt, and a three-legged race. One of our team members won an endurance contest, outlasting all the others as he balanced barefoot on a block of ice. 


As our feet thawed, we sat to our meal of delicious raw flatfish or gwang-eo (광어), and many others were doing the same!

The tour group enjoys lunch together 

With all of the festivities completed, we decided to take advantage of the local zip-line that stretched 450 metres from one end of the beach to the other. The view was gorgeous, it was comfortable, and not at all scary once you got off the platform.

Our second adventure of the day, zip-lining!

Mid zip-trip!

Landing intact, our thrill-seeking troupe decided it was time head back. After taking a few parting shots, we drove out of Deokpo, admiring the beautiful sunset and chatting about our adventure-filled day.

Good-bye, Geoje-do.

The 2012 swimming contest cost 10,000 won, and included a souvenir shirt & towel. Many of the other services available were free, or by donation and the event was well-organized. The zip-line costs 20,000 won for a round-trip, and is open year-round. Geoje-do is accessible via the Busan-Geoje Fixed-Link, and trips from Busan take about an hour. I highly recommend the trip! See Geoje-do tourist information: http://english.geoje.go.kr/index.sko.

Takin' the Plunge at the Haeundae Polar Bear Swim Festival

I had the pleasure recently of watching the 25th Polar Bear Swimming Contest on Busan's beautiful Haeundae Beach.

I rolled out of bed early on a Sunday to catch the festivities. The opening ceremonies and welcoming activities began at 9:00 that morning, but the real action started at 11:00 with the official swim event.


The swimmers were called to the front-and-center of the beach for the warm-up. Naturally the majority of the swimmers were Korean, but a few flag-toting foreigners could be made out in the crowd as well. The swimmers joined a warm-up group led by a quartet of attractive young Korean dancers. They were pushed through stretches, aerobic exercise and some fun games, all to the beat of loud and exciting music and cheers from the attending crowds. Cameras and tourists circled the competitors, all hoping for a glimpse of the fun.

Warming up with the dancers and camera crews

Swimmers small and big warm-up together

After the warm-up, the swimmers revved up with a roar of cheers. They turned to the water, and were sent off by the organizers with the bang from a gun, the thunder of applause, and a shower of streamers and confetti. Camera crews stood at the ready with commentators to live-broadcast the event.

Organizers cheer on those brave enough to swim

TV commentators reporting the events

Support for swimmers
on land and in the air!

The swim event lasted about half an hour and after that, the cold and victorious stopped to pose for photos with family, friends, and admirers. Yet another fun and unique event that I've enjoyed during my stay in Korea, and the perfect way to pass an afternoon during the long, cold month of January!

Post-victory pose with penguin

The Polar Bear Swimming Competition takes place every January at Haeundae Beach in Busan. Take any number of trains or buses to Busan, and then the subway to stop #205 on Line 2 (the green line). The beach is only a 5-minute walk from exits 4 and 5. This year, the festival took place January 8th, 2012, and the cost of entry was 20,000 won, including an official t-shirt. You can register through the festival's website, http://bear.busan.com. 

New Year's Nightlights in Nampo-dong

When many people think of holiday lights in Korea, they often imagine the festive lights at Seoul's Myeong-dong Cathedral, or the Christmas display inside the lobby of Itaewon's Hilton Hotel. For those of us living or visiting further south, Busan's Nampo-dong offers a beautiful annual holiday display called 'The Christmas Tree Cultural Festival,' and it draws crowds for both shopping and photos from December through early January. 

Busan's Christmas Tree Cultural Festival in Nampo-dong

Lights begin at the entrance of Gwangbok-ro, or Fashion Street, just outside exit 5 of the Nampo subway station (Line 1, Red, Stop #111). A 30-minute leisurely stroll will take you past over 100 shops and the escalator entrance to Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower, before finishing at Gukje Market, where you can reward yourself with a well-earned snack from a street vendor.

Entrance to Gwangbok-ro or Fashion Street
and the Christmas Tree Cultural Festival 

   

The trees light up around 6 or 7 PM and turn off at midnight. This year the festival ran from December 1st though January 9th. Many events and activities can be enjoyed in the early evenings, and especially on weekends, including live music performances, portrait artist booths, photo zones, and holiday snack booths. I went to see the lights three times this year! 

Admiring the lights

The Christmas Tree Cultural Festival (부산크리스마스트리문화축제) website can be accessed here. 

Welcoming Winter? Try an Icy Dip & Zip at Deokpo Beach!

On January 7th, I had the pleasure of participating in the 8th Annual Geoje Penguin Swim Festival. This festival was just so much fun, and definitely one of my favourite experiences in Korea thus far!

Geoje Penguin Swim 2012! 
거제도 국제펭윈수영축제 2012!

The 8th Annual Penguin Swim's Official Poster
(Image courtesy of GIPF's official website)

I rose early to join a meet-up group run by an amiable and well-spoken Korean man nicknamed Charles. Along with Charles and six others, we piled into a small van-bus and set off for the festival. The festival was being held in Deokpo (덕포) on Geoje Island or Geoje-do (거제도), Korea's second-largest island, located just outside of Busan

We crossed the new Busan-Geoje Fixed Link. This 8.2 kilometres route (5.1 miles) includes two cable-stayed bridges and an immersed 3.2 kilometres-long tunnel (2 miles), set 48 metres below sea-level (157 feet). This tunnel is both the world's second-longest and the world's deepest immersed tunnel to date.

The new Busan-Geoje Fixed Link, including Geoga Bridge 
(거가 대교) and the world's deepest immersed tunnel

Just a short time later we arrived at our destination, Deokpo, a tiny area known for its beautiful beach. The grounds included multiple tents offering such services as complimentary snacks and beverages for participants, face-painting, and games. We arrived just in time to collect our complimentary souvenir t-shirts and towels before watching the opening ceremonies.

Tour group friends from around the word pose with the festival mascots.
Korea, India, Canada, Ireland, and the USA were represented!

The opening ceremonies were a wonderful mix of traditional meets modern. First we were entertained by some well-practiced older men and women dressed in traditional costume playing Korean drum music before we took in an exciting drum show by a group of elementary and middle school students. They were followed by a local group of edgily-dressed, university-aged women performing upbeat dance routines to modern K-Pop songs, treating us to the entire spectrum of age and Korean musical tastes.

Small ones admiring the traditional drum music...

...And playing it too!

Dance troupe CHK showcase some stylish moves

Crowds young and old enjoy the show

After the show and official greeting (kindly translated into English), we were ready to swim. The crowds were called to the beach for the grand finale to the opening ceremonies. Cheers roared through the crowd as a ship trolled by spraying water into the air while laughter and claps could be heard as the beach was coloured with an explosion of confetti. All participants were then asked to ready themselves as the judges and volunteers made their way to their positions. 

A few words of welcome

Racing the see the show

Next year's penguin swimmer?

The fact that it was such a beautiful mild and sunny day made it easier to take off our street clothes and change into our swim gear, but it was definitely still cold! The initial shock didn't last long, because when we made our way over to the growing crowd of competitors, we had other things to think about, namely the even colder swim that awaited us, and the teeming hordes of camera crews!

The swimmers included students from India,
and English teachers from the USA, Ireland, and Canada

The group lovin' one of our many moments of fame

The festival crowd was quite large and the number of swimmers easily filled the enclosed area of beach. Camera crews circled, snapping Koreans and foreigners. It was a surreal feeling, but not an unwelcome one! After countless photos and camera interviews, we began a group warm-up session led by a far too energetic emcee.

Warmin' up in c-c-c-cold!

Getting limber...

We're ready!

Styles of dress ranged from fully clothed to barely dressed. Many outfitted themselves in their souvenir shirts, and quite a few sported serious-looking wet-suits and goggles. Somehow, and I don't know how, I was the only woman in a  bikini on the entire beach! Well, at least it means I'm easy to find in the photos! 

Limbs loose and hearts pounding, the competitors let out a few cheers before the whistle sounded. We ran forward, a mass body, into the ocean. Any thoughts of pain or shock due to the cold were cast aside because the needs of the group demanded that you push ahead. We ran as far as we could into the surf before the sand gave way and we began to swim. We had a goal of 25 metres to reach the dock with the volunteers, and then to escape as quickly as possible and swim 25 metres back to land. It was challenging to move in the cold with so many people surrounding you, especially upon reaching the dock, but we persevered and we made it. 

Finished and ready to go get our medals! 
Fighting! 화이팅!

It didn't take very long to make the round trip, and once we reached dry land again, our cold but happy bodies plodded our way past the cameras, smiling and waving to retrieve our winners' medals. Along with lines of other revelers, we made our way to stage. I shook hands with an elderly and well-dressed official who seemed very intrigued by me and my soaking-wet friends. He was a good sport posing for photos as he draped the medal over my neck.

Victorious, we smile for the cameras

After a few minutes rest with some complimentary hot lemon tea and ramyeon (라면), a kind of spicy instant noodle soup, we continued our fun by joining the live flatfish catching contest. About 700 flatfish were released into a netted area in the sea, and we were all instructed to go catch them - by hand! Successful fishers could have their catch filleted and served raw for a small donation. Four golden-coloured flatfish were also released, and each containing approximately 400 grams of gold inside them for the lucky person who found them! I didn't even catch one fish, let alone one infused with precious metals, but our group managed to catch or acquire three flatfish, thanks to a donated fish from a more talented Korean competitor. 

Antonio (far left) and Ben (far right) caught our flatfish lunch for us 

Pucker up!

These more active events were featured on national news, and we even made a few cameos!

On KBS: http://news.kbs.co.kr/society/2012/01/07/2416302.html

On MBC:  http://imnews.imbc.com/replay/nwdesk/article/2999152_5780.html

We then took advantage of the hot shower service (free!) and got bundled and warmed up again. While our fish were being prepped, the boys competed in an eel relay race and treasure hunt, and a three-legged race took place as well. The lot of us entered an endurance contest, where we stood barefoot on blocks of ice till we lost our balance. I lost to a 13-year-old girl, but Ben came away with a prize of designer socks to keep his feet warm when he's not competing.

Ben's cool composure on the ice earns him 
the grand prize - designer socks!

As our feet thawed, we sat to our meal of delicious raw flatfish or gwang-eo (광어), served with lettuce and gochujang (고추장), or Korean spicy red pepper paste. I snuck out between bites to snap some pictures of other happy festival-goers.

These ladies swam and won

Other fishers enjoying their lunch

The man in the middle caught their fish, 
and he looks a bit irked that his buddy is eating it!

Group shot, enjoying our victory lunch 
with a few new friends

With all of the festivities completed, we decided to take advantage of the local zip-line that stretched 450 metres from one end of the beach to the other. Luckily for us, the ride was half-price, exclusively for the Penguin Swim Festival! We paid 10,000 won (about $10 CAD/USD) for a round-trip. The view was gorgeous, it was comfortable, and not at all scary once you got off the platform.

Our second adventure of the day, zip-lining!

Harnessing the opportunity...

Mid zip-trip!

Landing intact, our thrill-seeking troupe decided it was time head back. After taking a few parting shots, we drove out of Deokpo, admiring the beautiful sunset and chatting about our adventure-filled day.

When even the balloons were up for grabs,
we knew it was time to head home.

Good-bye, Geoje-do.

The Geoje International Penguin Swim Festival 2012 swimming contest cost 10,000 won, and this fee included a souvenir shirt & towel. Many of the activities, snacks, or other services were either free, available at a low cost, or by donation. The locals are friendly, and the event was well-organized. The zip-line is 20,000 won for a round-trip, and is open year-round. Geoje-do is accessible via the Busan-Geoje Fixed-Link, and trips from Busan take about an hour. I highly recommend the trip! See the Geoje-do tourist information page: http://english.geoje.go.kr/index.sko.