Korean University Life published on Korea Blog

Student cheer team at the University festival

We've all heard about public schools and the infamous hagwon or private academies in Korea, but ever wondered what life is like at Korean universities? My article "Korean University Life" has been published on the Korea Blog, the final product of interviews with over 100 students.Check it out here: http://blog.korea.net/?p=14268

Thanks for reading!
-Jessica

"Picnic Like a Pro" - Published on The Korea Blog

I'm very excited to say that my piece, "Picnic Like a Pro: Korean Outdoor Dining Culture" has been published on the Korea Blog! Covering everything from picnics to snack tents, this blog talks about Koreans and their far-out outdoor dining.

Check it out, share, like, or comment, and help me to celebrate this great success!
http://blog.korea.net/?p=13865

Love, 
Jessica

WKB Tour 2012 - Scenic Seonyou-do, Days 2 & 3

L to R: Asif, Dorothea, Gisela, Ema, Anabel, and Maria,
and our guide Grace and me in the front, smiling on Seonyou Island

If you've read my previous posts, you'll know that a few weeks ago my blogging for the second round of the Korea Blog was rewarded with a special trip. The six other bloggers Annabel and Ema, Gisela, Maria, Dorothea, and I met in Seoul for a welcome dinner, and Asif caught up with us in beautiful Jeonju. 

We spent the first day and night of the tour in Jeonju, but just before lunch we set off for Seonyou Island or Seonyou-do, a tiny island set in an archipelago of 65 islets off Korea's west coast. Seonyou Island, alternately spelled 'Sunyou', 'Seonyu', or 'Sunyu,' is known for its tranquility and relaxed island lifestyle. It is a popular destination for cyclists and for those simply looking to "get away from it all." We were excited to get there, but not before a lunch break, of course.

Seafood specialties in Gunsan

We stopped for a seafood lunch in Gunsan's Raw Fish Town, a building housing a series of seafood restaurants and their vendors near the ferry terminal. We took an elevator up to the top floor and were led into a private room. We had drop-down seating on the floor, meaning that our legs could hang below us in a hollow space underneath the table. It is like sitting on a chair, but with no back, and it is very comfortable. 

We had a great view, but most of the time we spent looking at the variety of strange seafood covering the table. The long, low tables were filled with side dishes and various delicacies from the sea, some of which we'd never seen before. We ate thinly sliced raw fish, mussels, clams, crab, and scallops. There were a few other specialties I couldn't identify, but I tasted them all because I wasn't sure I'd ever have the courage to order them on my own again! We even tried some sannakji, or live octopus. The octopus is chopped up and served in sesame oil, its tentacles still wriggling as they slide down your throat and it is certainly one of Korea's more adventurous delicacies. Needless to say, some of the bloggers stuck to soup.

We went straight to the ferry terminal after lunch. The ferry ride was an hour long, and we were followed by a pack of ambitious, snack-seeking seagulls for the majority of the trip. Once we arrived at the island we just had to take a short drive - on the back of a truck!

Loaded onto the the truck bed, tiny chairs and all!

A bumpy, giggle-filled five minutes passed before we arrived at our pension, a series of small single-room houses set atop a hill overlooking a rock beach. We tumbled out, unpacked, and set off again for a tour of the island before dinner. 

Gisela and Yeon relax on our way to Janga Island

Fishermen playing jokgu

We took a winding walk, crossing a bridge to the tiny Janga Island. We stopped to admire the sunset, scenery, and antics of the local fishermen, who were either busy casting reels, playing jokgu, or simply taking a rest on the rocks. We drove back to eat a delicious barbecued dinner, sampling the local treat of small, crunchy seasoned crabs eaten still in their shell. We tossed the whole meal back with some jokes, stories from our home countries, and of course a beer or two. As the sun set, our little island family crawled down to the rocky beach where we took turns shooting off hand-held fireworks and being silly with sparklers. Still the night ended too quickly and soon we tottered off to bed.

Resting on the rocks

The next morning was a blur, as we rushed out to the waiting golf-style cart that was to show us around the island, while a few of the braver bloggers took bicycles instead (not me, in case you were wondering!). The pension owner was an able tour guide, navigating the bumpy and narrow roads with ease. We passed couples strolling along Seonyou-do's aptly-named "16-Kilometre Beach" and stopped for some photos with mural art. We drove to the "Praying Lighthouse," a quaint red, hand-shaped building peeking out on the sea, taking our last looks before we headed back to the pension for a Korean-style breakfast of soup, rice, and kimchi. 

I told you I was an angel! This mural art was made for me ^^

We then bid the pension-owners farewell and took one last bumpy truck-bed ride back to the ferry terminal.Just two hours later we arrived in Gunsan, ready for next adventure, but still not quite ready to tell the peace and quiet of Seonyou-do goodbye. 

So long, Seonyou-do!

WKB Tour 2012 - Welcome Dinner in Seoul

Dinner at Bulgogi Brothers in Seoul Finance Centre with my new blog friends.
L to R: Ema, Annabel, Grace, me, Gisela, Dorothea, and Maria

Ten months ago, I was chosen for the second round of the Korea Blog, and last month my blog was selected to attend a special reward trip. I traveled from my home in Busan to Seoul on the KTX, Korea's high-speed train system and hurried my way through Seoul Station to meet five other bloggers and the Korea Blog staff for a welcome dinner at Bulgogi Brothers Restaurant in the Seoul Finance Center.

Bulgogi Brothers!

The overseas bloggers had met one another earlier in the day. I met Annabel and Ema, Gisela,  Maria, Dorothea, and our guide Grace on the drive to Gwanghwamun station, home to the glorious grand gate of Seoul's historic Gyeongbukgung Palace and the shining Seoul Finance Center. I was delighted to meet my new international friends, but I must confess I was equally excited for dinner, and I was not disappointed. 

Oooh, oooh mandu!

We were ushered into a private room with rust-colour paneled walls and a long, black tables with flat burners on top. Our KOCIS representative Cathy arrived just as multiple servers appeared carrying enough side dishes, or banchan, to fill the table. We dug into sweet steamed corn on the cob and small, salted whole potatoes, which Cathy informed us are one of the restaurants most popualr side dishes. We whetted our appetites with kimchi, fried mandu or dumplings, and some mouth-watering bulgogi with rice before waiters reappeared to light the burners and throw on the meat.

I can't really say it, but I sure like to eat it:
Yangnyeom galbi

Naengmyeon, yum yum

Our group spent the next two hours noshing on a tantalizing array of platters served in seemingly endless succession, each one tastier than the last. Soup. salad, rice, and mushrooms and meat on skillets arrived one after the other. We ate what must have surely been some of from Korea's finest bulgogi, marinated beef, and ribs. We sampled side dishes as varied as lotus root, steamed egg, and quail egg. We finally finished off the meal with a helping each of iced buckwheat noodles or naengmyeon and some plum tea. The service was excellent and our private room was perfectly conducive to chatter about all things Korean. It was so fun to share such a nice meal with so many interesting people from around the world!

IP Boutique Hotel, Itaewon

After dinner, we headed to our accommodation. The IP Boutique Hotel is a quirky and elegant hotel located only minutes from the busy centre of Itaewon, one of the multi-cultural hubs of Seoul. The hotel's brightly-coloured exterior shone even in the dark and a sculpture of a knight on horseback greeted us at the doorway. The lobby was home to a slew of eclectic chairs and a pair of elevators made to resemble designer suitcases. The funky design continued into the rooms, with large wall appliques accenting an all-white decor. The beds were soft as clouds, and the bedding was equally heavenly, perfect for an angel like me! ^^  The morning brunch buffet was a delectable mix of Korean and Western tastes, served with just the right number of refills for my coffee.

The yummy breakfast buffet was a perfect mix of Western and Korean -
I took kimchi AND French toast  ^^

Dinner at Bulgogi Brothers was a wonderul culinary adventure and an even better bonding experience and the IP Boutique Hotel was the perfect launching point for our tour. There's no finer way to start a trip than with some good food, good friends, and a good sleep!



*All images taken from official sites, unless otherwise noted

Bulgogi Brothers logo and images retrieved 2012/10/12 from http://bulgogibros.com/

IP Boutque Hotel image retrieved 2012/10/12 from http://www.ipboutiquehotel.com/

WKB Tour 2012 - Historic Jeonju, Days 1 & 2

Front to back, left to right: Me, Dorothea, Annabel, Ema;
Maria, Gisela and Yeon enjoy dinner in Jeonju

In January I was selected to contribute to the second round of the Korea Blog, and in September my blog was chosen for a special reward trip! I joined six other Korea enthusiasts known as the WKBs or "Worldwide Korea Bloggers" on a wonderful trip through Seoul, Jeonju, Seonyoudo, and Gunsan. Today, I'd like to tell you about our trip through the historic Jeonju city in North Jeolla province.

After our welcoming dinner in Seoul on Thursday evening, our WKB Team assembled on Friday morning at the Nambu Bus Terminal. Along with our Korean tour guide Grace, Annabel and Ema, Gisela, Maria, Dorothea and I quickly our photographer Han and two-man camera before boarding our bus to Jeonju.

We arrived in Jeonju just in time to lunch on the region's famous bibimbap, or mixed vegetables with rice. We were joined there by a local bibimbap expert - the art of Korean food is serious stuff! He told us that Jeonju is famous for its traditional foods due to their perfect blend of colours, taste, aroma, and texture. Of course after he told us that, we couldn't wait to start eating. We happily sampled the hanjeongsik, a spread of up to 30 side dishes that cover the table!

Eating until we could eat no more, we pried ourselves from the chairs to waddle off for a guided tour of Jeonju's famous hanok village. Our guide explained that a hanok is a Korean traditional home, known for its beautiful sloping tiled roof and airy architecture. The Jeonju hanok village is comprised of over 700 hanok homes that sit on picturesque cobblestone streets.

Overlooking Jeonju's hanok village, made up of of over 700 traditional-style homes

Our guide led us to National Jeonju Museum and palace and the elegant Jeondong Cathedral.  We also snacked on some patbingsu or red-bean shaved ice from a trendy local spot before saying goodbye to our guide. 

Jeondong Cathedral, one only three cathedrals in Korea

Enjoying your patbingsu, ladies?  :)

We then had the chance to try some experience programs. We hand-dyed some handkerchiefs and then we learned about the traditional tea-pouring ceremony, one of my personal highlights from the trip. 

We hand-dyed handkerchiefs in the traditional way, using natural materials 

All that creativity worked up an appetite, so we enjoyed a bimibap and galbi dinner, and we toasted to our health with makkeolli or rice wine, and moju, a local drink known for its smooth, sweet taste. 




We finished off our day by watching some pansori. Pansori is an evocative musical performance that has been named both a Korean National Treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage art. We listened as the pansori singer lilted, bellowed, and whispered her way through a melodic story to the beat of a single drum. After that, Asif finally arrived and our group was complete. A few of us went for a Jeonju-style nightcap, enjoying more makkeolli and yet another round of hanjeongsik. How do Koreans stay so thin with all this delicious food around??? 

The pansori singer uses her emotions to tell a story

Bellies full again, we walked to our accommodation. We spent the night in our very own hanok home, Hakindang. We slept on the cozy heated ondol floor, surrounded by darkness and silence in the center of the city. In the morning, Hakindang's owners gave us a tour and showed us into their own home,  which was built with the same wood and by the same designers who built Gyeongbukgung in Seoul! The wood came from Baekdusan, the most famous mountain on the Korean peninsula. Their home was a treasure trove and their attic neatly filled with various curiosities and Koreana. The antiquities were a delight to behold before bidding our hosts farewell.

Our homestay, Hakindang

Our home-stay offered serenity in the city

We set off next for the Jeonju Film Studio. Led by the studio manager, we learned how movie sets are built and how special scenes such as raining scenes are shot. We got to see sets being built and even play with some of the props and costumes from famous Korean movies! We posed with catapults, thumbed through original scripts, and tried on some costume pieces. 

Out and about at the Jeonju Film Studio complex

Dorothea tries on some costume pieces

We stopped for one last coffee break before continuing on to our next destination, Gunsan city and Seonyou Island. As we left Jeonju, I quietly began plotting my return. I know now that this beautiful city has so much more for me to explore, and that one weekend simply wasn't enough.

WKB Tour 2012, from Seoul to Gunsan

WKB Tour 2012 (L to R): Asif, Dorothea, Gisela, Ema, Annabel, and Maria,
and our guide Grace and me in the front

Last January I was selected to contribute to the second round of the Korea Blog. After nine months promoting Korean culture and tourism through my blog, I was chosen for a special reward trip! I joined six other Korea enthusiasts on a wonderful tour through Seoul, Jeonju, Seonyoudo, and Gunsan.

WKB Tour 2012!

WKB Tour 2012 (L to R): Asif, Dorothea, Gisela, Ema, Anabel, and Maria,
and our guide Grace and me in the front

Last January I was selected as one of fifty worldwide bloggers to contribute to the second round of the Korea Blog. After nine months promoting Korean culture and tourism through my blog, I was chosen for a special reward trip! I joined six other Korea enthusiasts on a wonderful trip through Seoul, Jeonju, Seonyoudo, and Gunsan.

Seomyeon Style: Saturday Night in Busan

A woman hammers a nail into a wooden block, trying to win a prize

If you live in South Korea, and if you and your love are wandering about Busan at loss for something to do this Saturday night, I recommend that you grab your better half and head to city centre for a date night in Seomyeon. The commercial hub of Busan, Seomyeon is home to the hip and energetic people that make this seaside city so great. With trendy shops and clubs lining the streets and stylish youth crowding the sidewalks, Seomyeon makes for a fun evening out, with plenty to see and do.

7 Years Later, Revisiting Guy Delisle's Graphic Novel, Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea

Pyongyang, by Guy Delisle
Source: drawnandquaterly.com

Canadian Québécois cartoonist and animator Guy Delisle's graphic novel Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea (English-language edition published by Drawn & Quarterly, Montréal, Québéc, Canada, 2006) is an eye-opening, delightful, and strange tale. Delisle's two-month stay in North Korea's reclusive capital of Pyongyang serves as both the setting and the story-line for the book. The title alone is enough to pique interest, and readers won't be disappointed. Delisle's short stay in "the Hermit Kingdom" provides sufficient laughs and insights to last 176 beautifully rendered pages.

Gochang's Bokbunja Festival is Berry Nice!

On June 22, Korea's only Bokbunja Festival or Black Raspberry Festival kicks off in Gochang County, North Jeolla province. An annual event that sees some 100,000 visitors, the festival is a culinary and sensory delight with many activities to entertain and impress.

Patbingsu, a Summer Treat for Me and You!

Summer is coming, and so is that hot, hot heat. Sweeten the transition with this tasty summer treat.

Well, it's getting a bit warm here on the Korean peninsula. Spring's heating up and soon it'll be summer - hot, humid, and oh-so-sticky Korean summer. Soon you'll be spending days dreaming of lounging on the beach and of central air-conditioning, but what about all those  land-locked, city-dwellers without central air? What are they to do? As the weather warms up why not cool down the Korean way with some tasty patbingsu? 

Fishing for Fun at the Gwangan Eobang Festival

This weekend, Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28, come down to Busan to enjoy some fishing festival fun! The Gwangan Eobang Festival or Fishers' Festival, is taking place on the scenic and conveniently located Gwangalli Beach.

Celebrating the traditional ceremonies and rites of Korean fishing towns, the Eobang Festival promises dancing, singing, games, snacks, and much more! Located in Suyeong-gu, or Suyeong District, the area is known as one of Busan's premier fishing regions. Festival-goers will enjoy traditional dance and song performances, originally composed to wish the fishers luck and safety. At night, you can also see the impressive physical feat that is the synchronized group swim, where 10 men swim in time to beach-side drums. They curve and wind their way single-file to the lighted fishing boats, re-enacting nighttime fishing tradtions before making their way back to the beach. All weekend long, enjoy tasty seafood treats, festival booths, games, face-painting and other family-friendly activities. Admission is free and most activities are free or available at a low cost. Don't forget to buy a souvenir fish hat!

To get there, take the subway to Gwangan Subway station, Metro line 2 (green line, stop #209). Take exit 5. Turn back on yourself and then turn right, walking straight for 800 metres (7-8 minutes) down the hill, crossing three crosswalks before reaching the beach. You can also get off at Geumnyeonsan Station, Metro line 2 (green line, stop #210). Take exit 3, and turn left walking 800 metres (7-8 minutes) straight down the cobbled street, crossing three crosswalks before reaching the beach. To get to Busan, take the train to Busan station or Gupo station, both located near the subway line. Several buses are also available, and the Haeundae terminal is only eight subway stops from Gwangan station.