Take a journey with a fan of all things Korean

Appreciation of its traditions, arts and history is the main reason why I have a great passion for all things Korean. 

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter John Paul Vergonia

Photos = John Paul Vergonia, Korea.net

My passion for everything Korean started when TV channels in the Philippines aired some of the most famous Korean soap operas that were a contributing factor in the growth in popularity of Korean TV shows, pop music and movies across East Asia and elsewhere, the so-called Korean Wave, or "Hallyu" (한류). Since then, these TV shows, music videos and movies have influenced my way of life and led me to discover everything about Korea. I now appreciate its traditions, arts and history, including its world-renowned cuisine, which is what I want to experience and learn more about.

With the airing of popular Korean TV shows in Southeast Asia, such as "Endless Love" (끝없는 사랑), "Stairway to Heaven" (천국의 계단), "Only You" (온리 유), "Coffee Prince" (커피프린스) and "Jumong" (삼한지: 주몽편), this Korean Wave has started to be recognized worldwide, not only in the Philippines.

'The King's Face' (왕의 얼굴) is one of the historical TV shows that gave me a remarkable understanding of Joseon politics and love.

Showcasing the rich history and traditions of Korea in many TV soap operas, including values-driven plots, make them hits and that is why the masses love them. I'm guilty of loving them episode-by-episode, especially if it’s a historical soap opera based on Joseon times.

By watching Korean soap operas, you’ll learn a bit of a typical Korean’s normal life, their beautiful language and ancient habits and traditions that are still valued today, including the wonderful places and attractions all across the country that are really inviting and postcard-worthy. Besides all this, due to my passion for watching historical soap operas, especially the famous series "Jewel in the Palace" (대장금), I’ve learned to love and appreciate not only the Korean language but also the colorful and healthy Korean cuisine that is one of the world’s best.

These are just some of my Korean language notes from college that I still use to learn Korean.

My background with historical soap operas has encouraged me to learn the official Korean language and the alphabet of Korea that's considered to be one of the most efficient alphabets in the world because of its scientific basis and design! In college, I had the chance to be part of a pilot language program for Korean language that my school introduced in partnership with Kyung Hee University, a well-known private research university in Seoul, in return for teaching Korean exchange students English while they stayed in the Philippines. The Korean language classes we had went well for months, but unfortunately the program was cancelled and we ended up learning just a few basics.

The popularity of Korean pop music, TV shows and movies across East Asia and elsewhere has also hit the Philippines, with popular publications and magazines featuring special issues about all things Korean regularly hitting the shelves.

In my college years, the growth in Korean media was all over the Philippines and East Asia. With the continuing success of Korean TV shows with exports and with episodes shown on almost all local TV stations in the country, accompanied by the new wave of Korean pop music, many Philippine fans openly embraced Korea's ever growing national popularity. When radio stations started to play K-pop music, like top hits popularized by Big Bang and 2NE1, stars like Sandara Park, who started her career as a singer-actress in the Philippines, was even more famous. Korean fashion, Korean hip hop and Korean modern dance all make K-pop trendy, and the genre gains followers all around the globe. With the growth in popularity of Korean music, TV shows and movies, combined with all the fans, it’s no surprise Korea’s soft power has dynamically conquered the globe.

For years working as a freelancer and web administrator, I've witnessed the growth of the K-pop music industry in the Philippines. Although I'm not really a fan, you really can’t avoid becoming one, as K-pop songs are played on just about every street corner in the country. Moreover, with the use and wide acceptance of different social media and networking sites as marketing platforms, K-pop is made even more popular and everything and anything from Korea is even further introduced online. It was at this time that the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines opened its doors to promote everything about Korea with its classes, activities and events.

At least once per year, I venture to try something new again, every since I finished college. It took me some time to finally have the courage to continue to study a second language, one that I learned to love since my college days. Armed with a background in how to read and write Korean, with a few phrases that I speak and understands fairly well, in 2015 I finally enrolled in the basic language class that the KCC Philippines offers three times per year.

The students pose for a photo with our lovely teacher in the basic Korean language class. 

Toward this learning process, it's not just about the language but also the diversity of the Korean Peninsula. It may be about the food, music, technology, traditions or the people as a whole. While studying, I didn't stop as a language student, as I'm aiming beyond this immediate goal and I can’t help but grab another opportunity and maybe be able to learn more about Korea at the Korean Cultural Center or its affiliates. Thus, I've made it as a member of the second batch of the "Krew Manila," an official fan group for the cultural center.

As part of KCC events and since we're part of the support club, we volunteer at various events and activities organized by the cultural center, in the aim of further promoting Korea among the Philippine audience and to strengthen the strong relationship that exists between Seoul and Manila. I really enjoyed being a supporter, whether it be as a program assistant, a tech booth staff, a content writer or a photographer. You’re not just enjoying every event you attend, but also the opportunity to expand your knowledge about everything Korean. Not only that, I also had the opportunity to write content for the KCC supporters' blog. The certification I received from them as a token for being an active affiliate made everything worth the journey.

A first-of-its-kind taekwondo exhibit in the Philippines is hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines. Philippine taekwondo icon Monsour del Rosario III made an appearance, together with members of the Philippine Taekwondo Association.

The previous year's Global Taste of Korea Contest is held at a famous Philippine culinary institute. The winner was sent from Korea to compete in the finals.

After completing a semester of basic Korean, I decided to not pursue the next module, which was the elementary Korean class, to concentrate on being a supporter for all the events hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines. Every now and then, if I had some spare time, I signed up to help with the activities and events that the KCC would organize. There was a Korean speech contest, a quiz about Korea, the Global Taste of Korea cooking competition, the K-pop World Festival, a Korean Film Festival, the Phil-Kor Cultural Exchange Festival and a series of "culture Caravans." These were just few of the events that we covered over the past two years. I'm proud to say that I'm enjoying the privilege of being able to share Korea with the world. I treasure my time as a supporter of the KCC in the Philippines because I know that I have something new to learn every time we have an event.

At the Korean 'culture caravan,' held at different universities across the Philippines, the Korean Cultural Center is able to actively promote Korea and can provide smiles to the students there as they try on some traditional Korean Hanbok attire.

Traditional paper dolls are made out of traditional Korean Hanji mulberry paper, illustrating samulnori (사물놀이), a famous version of traditional Korean drumming. 

I was in my second term as part of the Krew Manila when Korea Clickers, the official Facebook profile for the Korean Culture and Information Service, was in search of its fifth group of honorary reporters. These people work with the team at Korea.net. Of course, missing such a great opportunity wasn’t in my vocabulary, so I immediately sent in my application in the hopes of becoming a Korea.net honorary reporter based here in the Philippines. Luckily, I was chosen to represent my country and to be one of the 76 members of the group.

Korea.net's fifth group of honorary reporters based in Korea poses for a photo during the induction ceremony and a three-day tour of the country. (Korea.net DB)

As the term began for us honorary reporters and as we began to fulfill our duties and responsibilities, I made sure to participate in all the activities and to write feature articles for the team. My eagerness to promote Korea and my passion for cooking Korean food has made one of my dreams a reality: to be an ambassador in my own little way as a content contributor to Korea.net.

Cooking Korean food for my family is my way of expressing myself, aside from writing content.

I still remember my first article, “Cooking Korean food at home,” which was published on both the official website and at the Korea Blog. I feel so accomplished, as my article about home-cooked Korean food was put out on various websites where it’s globally read by Korea fans and avid enthusiasts for all things Korean. I was doubtful at first whether or not I was doing it right, since Korea.net has a large number of readers, but then I realized that it wouldn't publish a write-up if it weren't interesting to share.

Furthermore, my post was also published on different social media sites managed by KOCIS, including some related organizations. It was actually a rewarding feeling because apart from being an active supporter of the KCC in the Philippines, I'm also part of the amazing team at Korea.net. Every so often, I write content about the exciting events and activities that the Korean Cultural Center is hosting all year-round, not to mention the different events related to Korea that are happening across the Philippines.

In autumn last year, I was surprised to be invited by KOCIS and by Korea.net to have an all-expenses-paid tour of Korea and to experience Korea first-hand. Korea is the first country I ever visited outside the Philippines. I'm so overwhelmed with all of the experiences we had during our week-long tour there that Korea.net prepared for us. We were a carefully selected team of honorary reporters from all around the world. It was indeed an honor to finally see and experience Korea myself. Without a doubt, Korea is beyond beautiful in every way, and it wasn’t just about the autumn foliage but also the new knowledge gained and the whole new experiences and friendships made.

Honorary reporters from eight countries are invited to Korea in autumn last year by Korea.net and by KOCIS for a week-long tour of Korea where they experienced first-hand the cultural diversity of the Korean Peninsula. (Korea.net DB)

A sumptuous set of food awaits you on your culinary journey across Korea.

Korea.net honorary reporters pose for a photo along with Sohoorang (수호랑) and Bandabi (반다비), the official mascots for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. (Korea.net DB)

It was a dream come true. Korea.net is indeed our “Gateway to Korea!”

With the accomplishments I achieved so far as an enthusiast of all things Korean, from being a student to becoming an honorary reporter, to actually experiencing Korea myself; all of this has been a great opportunity for me to be able to effectively write inspiring stories about Korea and its warm people, interesting history, diverse culture, attractive places, modern technology and lovely food. As the slogan goes, “Imagine Your Korea” came true right before my eyes, and undeniably Korea is blessed to be such a beautiful nation.

Beautiful dosirak Korean lunch sets (도시락) are overflowing with delightful Korean dishes paired with purple rice, including a number of side dishes. These lunch sets are one of my inspirations to start my own Korean food business.

I was so inspired by what I experienced in Korea, especially the people, their food and their traditions, arts and history. I can’t hide my happiness every time I talk about it to my family and friends. As I said, the best way to share beautiful stories about a certain place is to experience them personally.

The food was remarkably one of the tastiest discoveries during our stay in Korea. Because I love everything served on the Korean table, and because I'm a good cook, I'm encouraged to finally start my own small Korean food business, delivering food just like they do in Seoul and other big cities. Again, I'm very much thankful, as one of the inspirations was the promotional video that we had to watch during our visit to the Korea.net office in Seoul.

  

Inspired by street food served at pojangmacha street tents (포장마차), this is my own version of Korea’s favourite picnic and take-out food, gimbap rice rolls (김밥). 

A Korean dosirak lunch set is filled with great tasting Korean delights, including bulgogi marinated beef (불고기) as the main dish, steamed white rice, kimchi (김치) and good side dishes including two of the most loved Korean rice cakes, injeolmi (인절미) and gyeongdan (경단).

I started my own small Korean food business called Hanbap. The name is derived from the Korean words Hanguk (한국) and bap (밥), which, when combined, means “Korean Rice.” About three months ago we started serving delicious Korean food in a casual manner, without compromising the authentic taste or traditional way of cooking. With the good feedback that I'm receiving, I think it’s a good start for me as a first-time entrepreneur. I really can’t forget the beautiful lunchboxes that we shared along with the honorary reporters while enjoying a comfortable KTX train ride from Seoul to Busan. It was beyond ordinary for me to see and taste traditionally prepared Korean dishes packed in a visually appealing lunchbox, including a set of delicious side dishes. That's what gave me this business inspiration.

This is the first time for me to see all the different types of kimchi sold in the Jungang Tradition Market in Tongyeong, Korea.

Aside from writing content, I also express myself through every meal that I prepare for my family, and through the start-up business that I launched. I guess it’s one of my own simple ways to share the flavors of Korea with my community. I want to, at least, offer something different. Although it’s kind of hard since I'm still just starting out, it’s getting more and more interesting every day as I grow as a business person.

Until today, I'm eagerly learning Korean on my own while busying myself with innovating the Korean menu for my business. So far, it has been a fun, awesome and exciting journey for me and the story doesn’t end here, for sure. I know there’s still a lot in store for us to learn, discover and explore about everything Korean.

wisdom117@korea.kr

Vietnamese reality show introduces beauty of Korea

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Cao Thi Huong

Photos = Fanpage "Chị ơi, đi Hàn Quốc," season one

“Chi oi, di Han Quoc,” or "Eonni, go to Korea!" is a Vietnamese reality TV show produced by the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam with the participation of three famous artists from different fields. There's program host Jennifer Pham, actress Hong Anh and singer Minh Hang. 

Singer Minh Hang (left), actress Hong Anh (second from left) and program host Jennifer Pham pose for a photo at a press conference to introduce the new show. 

The show is based on a reality TV show that aired in Korea "2 days, 1 night." Female artists will be faced with unforeseen situations and then deal with them by making their own decisions. Through this, the audience will have the opportunity to experience the different emotions of each character.

The three Vietnamese stars perform a traditional Korean mask dance. 

The three stars are really excited to participate in a traditional Korean mask dance, a talchum. It's a unique traditional dance of Korea.

The Vietnamese team enjoys a Korean public bath house.

Thirty-five episodes follow the celebrities for 39 days as they explore 12 cities, including many Korean tourist attractions. Season One was broadcast on VTV and on VTC11, and was also broadcast on YouTube.  

The show will help the Vietnamese people have a true view of Korea, and let them see the harmony between the traditional and the modern.

  

The Vietnamese stars enjoy sampling all sorts of Korean traditions, including tea ceremonies and delicious cuisine.  

The show has received a lot of love from the audience and had introduced interesting attractions in Korea to its viewers. “Chi oi, di Han Quoc” season two is scheduled to air in 2017. 

wisdom117@korea.kr

2017 Sydney Korean Festival

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Lalien Guillen

Photos = Charmaine Cruz, Sydney Korean Festival Facebook profile, Alexander Ruspandy

I collaborated with very dear friend of mine who is currently living in Sydney. We have been friends since high school and she is like a sister to me. She also loves Korea very much. Recently, she volunteered at the Korean Festival in Sydney. I did a little interview with her. There was a lot of things to say when it comes to Korea, so we decided to divide our article into two parts. Come and join our two-part collaboration article.

The 2017 Sydney Korean Festival is held in Sydney in April.

Part 1: Catching the Korean Wave

- How did you get interested in the Korean Wave?

The Korean Wave -- or Hallyu -- refers to the growing popularity of Korean pop music, TV shows and movies in East Asia and elsewhere. It entered my life in the third quarter of 2003 when one of the biggest TV networks in the Philippines, GMA, decided to air Korean soap operas dubbed into Tagalog.  At first, I was only watching bits and pieces of each episode of "Autumn in my Heart" (가을동화), which was the very first Korean soap opera aired in the Philippines. It was in 2005 that I began my journey toward the world of Korean pop culture. That was the start of me developing a crush on several Korean actors. I started to imagine or to be hopeful that I would be like the lead actresses on the TV shows. It also marked my copying of Korean fashion and hairstyles. I had my hair cut the same as the Korean actresses, or I copied the way they styled their hair on the TV shows. I just couldn’t stop watching Korean soap operas from then on. I even resorted to watching the actual completed series with English subtitles rather than waiting for the daily episodes to be aired on TV dubbed into Tagalog. Korean soap operas opened up a lot of emotions for me and made my imagination work non-stop. During my Korean soap opera addiction in the Philippines, though it was well known in my household, I was still discrete about it outside of my home, as some of my friends weren't into it and I didn't want to be judged for being a fan of Korean TV shows. "Playful Kiss" (장난스런 키스), which was another of my favourites, was the last Korean soap opera I ever watched in the Philippines, as I embarked on a new life in Sydney in the third quarter of 2011.   

When I arrived in Sydney, Korean soap operas and movies were my stress and boredom reliever. I can say that they have become my best friend. I've searched all the Korean soap operas and movies I could possibly watch on YouTube. However, it was an on and off case with me from 2011 to 2015, as I was also busy watching movies and TV shows in English and doing my other hobbies. So the year 2016 marked my solid return to the world of Korean media. I was literally and undeniably hooked, as a famous saying on the internet goes: “Korean soap operas are life.” They became my life too. I followed the ongoing series being shown in Korea at the same time and in between I was watching completed series or Korean movies as I got a little bit anxious when I wasn't watching anything from world of Korean pop culture. Even during break times at work, I would be scrambling on my phone to watch anything Korean. In addition, my list of male actors upon whom I had a crush expanded. The list just wouldn’t stop. By late 2016, I also started watching the Korean variety show "One Night, Two Days" (1박 2일). At first I just watched Park Bo Gum’s episodes but I fell in love with the whole program’s wit and humour so I did a marathon of season three while watching the current episodes and in between other ongoing soap operas. I would always feel sad when the final episode of the TV shows I was watching would come, but I would always anticipate the next show coming down the pipeline.

I'm a big fan of Korean soap operas. 

This year, three of my friends introduced me to Korean pop music. Before, I wasn't familiar with pop stars and their songs because I only loved to listen to the soundtracks from Korean TV shows and movies. The soundtracks are amazing and heartfelt. Now, I’m getting addicted to the pop group Bangtan Boys. I also listen to other pop stars recommended by them, but it was mostly the Bangtan Boys that I listen to. As I was so into the Korean Wave, I even used Korean products like facial washes and cosmetics and hair care products. I even started learning the Korean language. As I became more and more of a fan in 2016, I even started buying merchandise related to Korean TV shows and to the Bangtan Boys.

- What do you like most about Korea?

I like Korea's deep rooted traditions and its beautiful architectures and scenery. I like their fashion sense and their skin regimens. I love to watch Korean movies and soap operas. They always leave me in awe of the beautiful places in Korea, its food, traditions, fashion and cosmetics. 

Some of my friends and relatives once told me that I look like a Korean. How I really wish I look like them. I always wanted to copy Korean fashion or hairstyles. I even make my eyes look as Korean as possible through make-up tutorials. I envy their skin. I also fell in love with the Korean language, so I continued learning how to read and write Korean with the help of my friends.  I think now I just love anything Korean.

- What made you volunteer for the Korean festival in Sydney?

First of all, I always wanted to volunteer at any festival or event. Plus, it's my first time to experience any festival, and a Korean one at that. So being a self-confessed "Korean fanatic," I wanted to explore more about the world of all things Korean and wanted to be in contact with real Korean people and my fellow fanatics. I decided to give it a try. Secondly, being a shy person I think it was a great opportunity to challenge myself to make friends and to communicate with other people.

Part 2: Being part of the 2017 Sydney Korean Festival

- Please tell us about your experience at Sydney's Korean Festival.

First of all, when I finally decided to apply for a volunteer position at the festival and when I was invited to attend the orientation session, it never crossed my mind that there would be a Korean Cultural Center situated in the heart of the city. My workmates never seemed to know anything about Korea, aside from the cherry blossoms or just the existence of the country itself.

The Korean Cultural Center in Australia (KCC) was founded in April 2011 and has been working hard to introduce Korea to Australia ever since then. The people who work there are very enthusiastic in encouraging cultural exchanges between the countries. They offer different activities, such as Korean language classes, cooking classes, dance classes, make-up classes, and calligraphy classes that will start next year. There's an education program, school holiday programs, school excursions, a Korean mother's storytelling session, Korean pop music clubs, writing competitions, regular events, Korean movie screenings, art exhibitions, and other special events like the Sydney Korean Festival. They also have a library for both Koreans and non-Koreans where people like me can have access to Korean books. They offer a membership program that can give members a lot of benefits and discounts at any event related to Korea. The cultural center is located on the ground floor at 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. It's open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Korean Cultural Center in Australia gives easy access to everything Korean. 

Now, let me tell you about the Sydney Korean Festival. It's all about opening up Korea and its wonders to Sydneysiders. The festival has been running for six years now on the first weekend of every April.  From what I’ve heard, before the event only ran for one day, but last year 50,000 people came to the festival so the committee decided to make it for two days this year.

It was again held at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbor. I attended the event as a volunteer on the first day only, as much as I wanted to do both days, I already booked other plans on April 2.

Many booths prepare for the event. 

Some of my fellow volunteers are ready to welcome attendees.

I received my official volunteer shirt and the festival’s guide before the event.

My booth was the first aid booth. I was a bit lost at the time, as I was still alone at 10 a.m.  Everyone else was busy at their own booth and assigned tasks.

I worked at the first aid booth at the event. 

Raffles were drawn every hour with more than 100 winners throughout the day. Prizes ranged from vouchers to boxes of food to cash prizes to plane tickets to Korea.

This is my raffle ticket. I was so unlucky. I didn't win anything.

  

Performers roam the vicinity with their traditional musical instruments.

Two of the highlights of the festival were performed consecutively. They were the traditional game called chajeon nori and a traditional performance called a Pyeongtaek nongak, or "traditional agricultural or farming music from Pyeongtaek."  

A chajeon nori is a traditional game where the leaders of two groups are standing on their respective battle frames, large A-shaped wooden ladders or frames. Whichever team’s frame falls to the ground first losses.  Because it was considered a mock battle among males, it showcased the martial spirit the community, but the spirit of playing fair is the true beauty of the game.  

Many volunteers participate in this performance. A lot of attendees were anticipating this mock fight. 

Pyeongtaek nongak shows traditional Korean folk songs, dances and acrobatics from the region around Pyeongtaek. Nongak means simply "performing arts from the olden days of Korea, especially music, dance and related rituals," specifically from agricultural communities and farmers. It was an unreal experience for me because I had only seen these kinds of performances in TV shows and movies.  It was as if the movie "King and the Clown" (왕의 남자) (2005) was playing right before my very eyes. I really enjoyed the performance.

Nongak dance and music from Pyeongtaek is one of the most traditional performances in Korea. 

The ingredients to make bibimbap mixed rice with vegetables and meat were arranged in the shape of the Australian continent. 

I was amazed at how organized the Koreans were! There's even a Korean Nurses Association here in Australia. They were the nurses that I helped on day one of the festival.  They were so friendly and grateful that I volunteered for the festival. They thought I was Korean. When I said I wasn't, they were so surprised and asked how come I was volunteering and how did I find out about it.  They also said I do not look Philippine, more Indonesian.

Many food trucks took part in the festival. 

People at the festival got to experience many Korean traditions.

There are also pop performances at the festival.

I roamed around the area while there were still no patients coming to our first aid booth.

Nongshim, a Korean food and beverage corporation, put on costumes from the TV show 'Descendants of the Sun.'

This was my favourite among all the booths there. As I mentioned above, I only came to appreciate Korean pop this year. So this Melbourne-based K-pop store was really great for us fans.  This made me realized that Korean pop music is also a big thing here in Sydney.

People try on some traditional Korean clothes at the festival. 

I make my own postcard at the festival. 

The K-pop World Festival is a yearly dance cover competition for Korean pop fans all over the world.  The application deadline was March 19, with results announced on March 21. Applicants are not allowed to be ethnically Korean. Groups can have any number of people, as long as they match the real pop group that's being covered. A total of 10 groups competed that night. One of the groups flew from Adelaide to Sydney just to appear on stage. The grand prize winner and the second place finisher would have the chance to perform at the finals in Korea and a chance to dance alongside their idols. The finals will be on Sept. 29 in the city of Changwon. For more info, please can check the link below.

http://k-popwroldfestival.kbs.co.kr

The songs covered include "Bombayah and Fire" by Black Pink and "Monster" by Exo, to name but a few of them. 

Participants show off their dancing talent.

The winner of the Melbourne K-pop World Festival also performed their dance cover to "Blood Sweat and Tears" by the Bangtan Boys.

The second place finisher, the group from Adelaide, danced to the song "Boombayah" by the group Black Pink.  The moment they set foot on stage, I knew they would be part of the winners. They really had the moves, their hips swayed and they were really flexible.

There was no doubt in my mind that they would be the winner. They literally rocked the stage with their dance cover to the song "Monster" by the group Exo.  I may not have seen the original video of this song, but I think the winner really was the best among the rest that night.

The grand winner draws a lot of attention from the audience. 

The night was pretty active during the competition, and everyone was active.  There was a game with prizes of music CDs. Again, I didn't win. 

I wasn’t able to attend the second day of the festival, but here's a guide to day two. There was a Korean Drama and Film Awards for the first time in six years.

- What was your fondest memory of the festival?

I really felt welcomed by the committee and I was very grateful of that. When I wore the 2017 Sydney Korean Festival official T-shirt as a volunteer, I couldn't help but feel giddy and proud.  As I was in the first aid booth -- being a nurse myself -- I was given a vest from the Korean Nurses Association of Australia to put on while volunteering there. That made it even more real for me. The Korean-Australian nurses that were there with me kept thanking me for volunteering, even though I was a non-Korean. They would always hug me and introduce me to some of the committee members as an expression of their gratitude. I really felt appreciated.

Watching the traditional performances was surreal for me. A smile was plastered on my face the whole time. I was taking pictures and videos of the performance, too, telling myself that, before, I could only see this on a TV show or in a move, but that now I was seeing it in person.

It was also fun to watch a lot of people participate in the event. I never knew there were so many Koreans in Sydney. There were a lot of fans of Korean pop music, too, not only Asians but real Australians and other nationalities, too. I was amazed when the talent and dance competition unfolded, as I never imagined K-pop was a big thing here, as well. I felt as if I belonged. Also, I couldn't help but feel giddy whenever people would ask me if I were Korean or when they would speak to me in Korean, assuming that I was one of them. 

Buying merchandise for the pop band Bangtan Boys was memorable for me, too, as I've never done this before. Mind you, I was trying not to buy anything that I didn't really need at the moment as a sacrifice for holy week, but I broke that rule for the Bangtan Boys. I also received a lot of freebies and to top it all, when I bid goodbye to the president of the committee, he gave me a big box of Nongshim instant noodles. I will definitely volunteer again next year.  This event was a great opportunity to experience the colourful and diverse culture of Sydney.

I bought a whole bunch of products at the event.

 wisdom117@korea.kr

The Korean Experience

By Korea.Net Honorary Reporter Nour M. Aldemrdash 

Photos = Nour M. Aldemrdash

When we mention the word ”Egypt,” the first thing that crosses one’s mind is the pyramids, but the reality is that Egypt is full of many other monuments and charming places. Similarly, when I say the word “Korea” in front of an Egyptian, they think directly of Samsung and LG, and maybe K-pop, but they don’t know about the history or heritage items. Maybe they don’t even know that Korea has history and civilization just like Egypt.

I’m writing this article to shine a spotlight on the hidden treasures of Korea. The heritage and history of this country are just like the roots of an old tree. However, just as the wind blows, it will last and stand until the end of time. It’s so important to read and learn more about this country. Maybe someday we will meet a Korean person and it wouldn't be good enough to just say, “Sorry, but I know nothing about your country”. The way in which a society views itself and thinks about its identity is very important, as without it, we wouldn't be able to communicate. Once we learn it, we will be excited to travel to Korea.

The Korean culture, which is known as “Han,” contains a variety of interesting traditions. It all starts with “Han“ and each detail of it has an amazing story. Start with “Hanbok,” traditional Korean attire and my favorite personal experience. I used to see Hanbok on TV, simply like skirts and colorful tops, but when I came to wear it, I was totally amazed. It’s not as simple as I thought. The way to wear it, the design and even the industry itself is so valuable. Hanbok was just the start. When I wore it, I decided to buy one, but since we don’t have it in Egypt, I had to buy one from Korea. Finally, the Korean Cultural Center in Egypt announced that there would be a Hanbok design workshop, but sewing experience was needed, so I couldn’t join, but my mother did. The look of the Hanbok is totally different compared to the way to make one. Now, I have my own Hanbok, but this time only I know how valuable it is.

Hangeul is the Korean alphabet. Ancient Koreans used to speak Korean but write using Chinese characters. Because that was so difficult, only the upper classes could write. The Koreans had a problem with writing their language and became illiterate. So King Sejong the Great (r. 1418-1450) oversaw the creation of Hangeul in 1443 to help the Korean masses read and write their own language. The team of scholars who created the letters did so, the story goes, according to the shape of the mouth and tongue, to make it easy for everybody to learn it. Everyone in Korea can now read and write Hangeul. Sejong didn't only make history. He even changed the future of Korea. On Oct. 9 every year, people celebrate the Korean alphabet day, or Hangeul Day, as it’s an official holiday. The Korean Cultural Center in Egypt arranges events to celebrate Hangeul Day every year, so they introduce Hangeul to the guests and tell them the story of King Sejong the Great, play some games and give away some awesome traditional Korean gifts to the winners. 

Traditional Korean music is known as Hanguk eumak, which is songs and music. Starting with the song “Arirang,” it was the first traditional Korean song I heard. I thought it was just a sad song, but when I looked up the lyrics I came to know that it’s more than a story of a woman singing to her husband who decided to abandon her. It’s a story that refers to Korean history, as it shows Korean efforts to get independence from colonial rule. I also came to know that the song "Arirang" has many versions and has been translated into many languages, including English, French, German, Mandarin and simplified Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. 

Traditional dance and music in Korea are known as Hanguk ak. There are different types, as each one has a special and unique style. The first time I learned about traditional Korean dance and music was at the Han-Arab Society Festival, the ninth Korea-Arab Friendship Caravan, when I attended an amazing performance. 

I never thought that I would attend a live performance of a traditional Korean show, but it was a great experience that I will never forget. Still, the depth and breadth of traditional Korea is full of branches, like Hansik and traditional food, Hanyak and traditional medicine, and Hanguk akki, a type of traditional Korean musical instruments.

There's one big difference between what I used to hear about Korea and now. I haven't even visited Korea yet, but it’s not limited to learning about countries only when we visit them. Writing about Korea can motivate readers to learn more about it, and the more they learn, the more they will be looking forward to visiting Korea and having their own experiences there. We get great experiences when we learn. As long as I’m alive, I won’t stop learning.

wisdom117@korea.kr