SBS Super Concert in Gwangju!!!!!

Hello! It is week 5~

I am so excited about this post because I just went somewhere incredible...to the SBS Super Concert in Gwangju!!! The line-up included: TWICE, THE BOYZ, TXT, Hong JinYoung, Cherry Bullet, NATURE, N. Flying, IZ*ONE, MOMOLAND, and BTS. Have you heard of any of these groups?

Before I go into the concert, let me tell you a little something about K-pop:

Korean Wave

In South Korea, they call it "hallyu" or the Korean wave for the way that South Korea popular culture has dominated the global industry from K-Dramas, K-beauty, K-fashion, and K-pop especially. But what makes it so appealing? Many people attribute the success of K-pop to the attractive melodies, dance moves, and production of videos and photos. How did it start, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

The Beginning

In 1987 during South Korea's economic boom, the republic decided to reform it's democratic government. This, along with the decreased censorship rules and increasing modernization, changed what people saw on TV. People received their entertainment from TV and radio where music was introduced through talent shows. Prior to 1987, the music was mostly traditional folk and slow ballads. Rock music was especially controversial and often banned! Once the censorship rules were decreased, the broadcasting industry grew, South Koreans had more to watch and got regular exposure of music from outside the country. TV Talent shows were especially important in introducing new music groups to South Korean audiences and still play a crucial role in the success of a South Korean band's success. Going into the 90s, American style pop music began being fused with Korean music, to eventually lead to what we know today as K-pop. 

K-Pop

Sometime between 1995 and 1998, three important music studios were created: SM Entertainment (or SM Town), JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment. These studios began making the idol groups we know and love today. SM founder Lee Soo-man created the first idol group, HOT, in 1996. He assembled five singers and dancers that represented what he believed teens wanted in a modern-pop group. HOT had a lot of qualities that you might see in today's pop groups. They sing, dance, rap, and the members have unique personalities that come together thanks to music. At this time, K-pop was making their mark and creating a brand. K-pop performers themselves can be described as providing high-quality performances, a polished aesthetic, and music production capabilities similar to a factory. 

Not all rainbows and unicorns

Being involved in the talent industry in South Korea is not all it's cracked up to be. Some kids begin at maybe ten or twelve years old and get involved in highly competitive auditions. Music studios recruit talented children and bring them into the K-pop regime. Many children even attend special schools where they teach them how to sing, dance, and conduct their social behavior in preparation for life as a pop star. Their daily life consists of rehearsals, weekend music shows, and special groups performances. This allows them to gain fans before they "debut". Once they are old enough and if they get lucky, especially if they get lucky, the studio may place them into an idol group or launch them as a solo artist. BigHit is a big deal because of BTS, and they recently debuted a new group: Tomorrow x Together or TXT. Check them out:

I've heard a lot of rules go into pop star training. Many performers are signed into long-term contracts when they are still young which dictate their public and private behavior. They must follow special diets, follow a curfew, can not have romantic relationships, and regularly get their phones checked to ensure of it. It is very strict and many people do not agree with it. Many say that it can even be abusive. Increased public attention is the only way that we can have change so it will be very important for victims to come forward in the future. Despite all this, teens and preteens still flock to auditions in hopes of becoming the next big star or member of an idol group. 

When an idol group is formed, they must be trained to perfection. They generate songs, gain exposure through marketing, appear on TV, go on tour, and make "come backs". Comebacks usually mean a new album release for a group after they have been quiet for a while. These comebacks usually include fan meetings, TV appearances, concept art, and a whole new theme to their individual look and album. For example, BTS just made a comeback with their album "Persona". They started by releasing teaser photos periodically which showed album drop dates and concept art. Here is an example:

 

SBS Super Concert

Before I knew that I would have the opportunity to go to a Kpop concert, I told myself it wasn't important because they are so expensive in the USA and it may not even be worth it. Then a friend told me about the SBS Super Concert and the line-up...I could not pass it up! The SBS Super concert was held Sunday, April 28th in Gwangju, which is located in the southwestern region of South Korea. The concert was held to kick off the 18th FINA World Aquatics Championship. The tickets were inexpensive and since it was through a South Korean tour agency, Trazy, the experience was nearly effortless.While I was really far from the stage, I got to hear their voices live and see them perform live on the screens surrounding the stadium. Trust me...I was wearing prescription contacts and could barely identify the members from how far away I was. 

When I first heard about it, I almost couldn't believe it. BTS? The world-famous pop group? I'm a BTS fan. While I enjoy individual songs from other groups, I would not go in depth to learn about the individual members and their history because that takes time. But there so many great songs performed! Like Bboom Bboom by Momoland, Cat & Dog by TXT, Make It Right by BTS, Spring Memories by N.Flying, Dance the Night Away by TWICE, and Yes or Yes by TWICE. I never thought that I would experience so much in South Korea, but I'm not complaining. Overall, the organization, performances, and fan environment made the experience worthwhile! The stage theme changed with each song, people waved their light sticks to the beat, and fan chants could be heard in every direction. People have so much love for these groups and I find it to be so amazing. Groups like BTS release music with meaningful lyrics and powerful messages which help a lot of people. I definitely stan. 

Before the performances began. This is my view from my seat.

BTS saying goodbye. A fireworks show signaled the end of the concert.

If you have time, here is a video of the BTS performance from last night. It's long, so I would suggest watching it from home :D

Questions:

Did you enjoy todays post on K-pop?

Do you have a favorite K-Pop group? 

What is your opinion of the K-pop industry?

Source:

https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/2/16/16915672/what-is-kpop-history-explained

Photo of the Week

Waffles and ice cream! A frequent vendor food found everywhere. 

Insert Card for Power, Please!

Hello y'all! Welcome to week 4 ~

South Korea is a republic that has undergone rapid development very recently! Since the 1960s, South Korea has become one of the world's biggest economies. Traditionally, Korea was dependent upon their agricultural industry, with their forests dense and abundant with wildlife and the ocean providing food to the people. Today, Korea's economy has shifted to technology and service industries with a few of their biggest companies being Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. 

With modernization comes population growth. Seoul alone has over 10 million people as of 2016. This staggering population has put a strain on the countries environmental quality. A large population might be great for economic development, but the environment suffers. Below, I will go over a few of the "problems" with living in a major metropolitan city and some of the things that Korea is doing right. 

Wear your mask!

Specifically, air quality is poor due to automobile and industrial pollution. Many people also believe that the fine dust that contributes to the poor air quality drifts over from China, located Northwest from the peninsula. When I first arrived to Korea, my instructors advised us to check the air quality before going out to know whether or not to wear masks. Masks are very common in South Korea and have even turned into a fashion statement! Believe me when I say that they are necessary. Since arriving to Seoul, my allergies have gotten considerably worse. If I forget my mask, I get home with a sore throat and a persistent cough. It goes away after spending time indoors, but it is a reminder for me to wear my mask next time! People are also expected to wear a mask when they are sick in order to be hygienic and prevent the spread of germs. Would you feel comfortable wearing a mask to school if you were sick? How would you feel if that became a social norm?

BTS V wearing a simple black mask to protect from the pollution

Plastic, plastic, and more plastic. 

It is not just South Korea, our whole world is dependent upon plastic. It is convenient! Wherever I go, I see trash bins overflowing with single use plastic cups, straws, and food containers. This is especially bad on college campuses where mini marts and coffee shops are located on every corner. Plastic bags are especially bad. When I go shopping, plastic bags are provided. Seoul is making an effort to reduce the amount of plastic that is used though. Most mini marts, grocery stores, and retail stores charge for plastic bags. It is usually the smaller clothing stores that provide plastic bags for free. That is where I would say that the majority of my bags have come from. Since most stores charge for plastic, they also have reusable totes for sale! I see many locals utilizing reusable tote bags, like in Portland. While I would say that plastic bags, plastic packaging, and single use containers are a convenience, I see large cities like Seoul making efforts to reduce the amount of waste.

Recycle like a Korean

In South Korea, the people uses a system called "jongnyangje". This system is designed to ensure that the waste that people produce is being disposed of properly or else they get fined. Garbage is separated based on: common garbage, food waste, recyclables, and non-recyclables. Food waste is separated from common garbage and must be put in special biodegradable bags that can be purchased at most grocery stores. Recyclables include what you are probably used to recycling at home, but they also recycle any plastic bags, plastic cups, plastic film (like for instant noodles), batteries, and light bulbs. I thought this was really interesting about South Korea because in the United States, we can't recycle a lot of the single use plastics from home. Do you think this makes it okay to use single use plastic items? Or should we continue efforts to reduce our dependence on plastic convenience?

Insert Card for Power

One thing I think Korea does really well at is conserving energy! Many of their products and systems have developed to be energy efficient. This is due in part because South Korea relies heavily on petroleum imports. Meaning that the gas and oil they use has to come from other countries. There other sources of energy include coal, nuclear, and hydroelectric. In recent years, the republic has begun efforts to move toward renewable energy resources to reduce reliance on foreign imports.

In terms of saving energy, it is normal to be energy conscious in Korea. My dorm even has a system in place that saves energy. We have these key cards to get in and out of the building, but they also function to give us electricity! We tap our room keys to get in the room then we insert the card into a slot to activate the power. This includes the heating and cooling system. While many foreign exchange students might want to keep the heater on while they're in class, the key card system does not allow it. Students could even get punished if they try to leave the heater on while they are not in the dorm.

Mini Questionnaire 

To get an idea of how a fellow student feels about sustainability in Korea, I asked my friend Nancy a few questions about the topics I mentioned above. Nancy is a Korean-American engineering student with family here in Seoul. 

What do you think Korea could do to improve their sustainability efforts?

Nancy: "I think they could improve their waste disposal system. There needs to be more trash cans and more regulation on littering. I see so many people handing out paper flyers on the street and then they end up on the ground because people can't find a bin to dispose of them."

Do you wear a mask when you go out? Why or why not?

Nancy: "I check my phone in the morning to see if the dust is bad. If it recommends a mask, I'll wear it. Naver has the levels as: good, normal, bad, and very bad. If it says bad or very bad, then I wear a mask."

*Naver is an app described as the Google of Korea. They use it to get local information like movie times, shopping, email, weather, etc. It's only available in Korean.

How do you feel about recycling in South Korea? 

Nancy: "I feel they put an emphasis on recycling. Everywhere you go, you have separate bins for your different kinds of waste. I don't know when it started, but I think it is good because it has become a part of the South Korean lifestyle to recycle."

Do you leave the heater on when you are not home? 

Nancy: "No, I make sure to turn everything off before I leave. The lights, thermostat, and appliances. It's normal for Koreans to turn everything off in the house before you leave because it can get really expensive otherwise. My friend has her own apartment and always makes sure everything is turned off."

Let's Recap

Masks: Would you feel comfortable wearing a mask to school if you were sick? How would you feel if that became a social norm?

Recycling: Do you think recycling makes it okay to use single use plastic items? Or should we continue efforts to reduce our dependence on plastic convenience?

Please include your name in the comments, friends!

Sources:

https://asiasociety.org/education/geography-koreas
https://www.korea4expats.com/article-waste-disposal-recycling-korea.html

Photo of the Week

Me and a friend treated ourselves to strawberry cheesecake shaved ice at a dessert café! 

Land of High Mountains and Sparkling Seas

Hello class! 

I hope your week has been going well so far. We talked about South Korean culture and food last week, so this week I wanted to talk a little about the Korean peninsula's geography to give your a sense of my natural surroundings.

Korean Peninsula

The Korean Peninsula is divided into North Korea and South Korea. South Korea refers to the peninsula as "Hanguk" and divides it's territory into nine provinces and six special cities. The peninsula is 600 miles long with the shortest width being 120 miles wide from coast to coast. The entire landmass is 84,965 square miles with South Korea being 38,024 square miles. Compare that to Oregon, which has a landmass of 98,380 square miles. I could not believe this! I thought South Korea was much bigger. Do you think this is a common misconception?

Many young Koreans describe the peninsula as being "tiger" shaped while older Koreans describe it as "rabbit" shaped. The tiger and rabbit are both symbols commonly seen in folk-tales, paintings, and exports. The tiger is a traditional symbol that drives away misfortune and the rabbit represents the wisdom of the peninsula's agricultural economy. My professor for Understanding Korean Culture, Cha Sang A, says that the tiger also represents "courage and absolute power" and described it as Korean's favorite subject for art. Do you see the tiger? What about the rabbit?

********Spoilers Below********

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Land and Sea

Seoul is South Korea's capital city and the world's fourth largest urban-center. The city is bustling with people all the time. There is industry, skyscrapers, subways, and millions of people living in high-rise apartment complexes surrounding the city. Most urban areas like Seoul are located along the western and southern coast where there are many fishing villages and tidal flats. Korean ingenuity has allowed for ocean commerce and the agriculture industry to develop heavily in the last few decades. 

This is my view from the seventh floor when I am in the lounge! Do you notice anything in the distance? Those white high-rise buildings in the distance are all apartment complexes! I see many of these complexes all around the city of Seoul. 

The Korean terrain is mostly made up of mountains and streams. The landscape is described as very "dramatic" with many peaks and valleys. It is so dramatic in fact, that only one-fifth of the land can be cultivated, or used to grow food. The far north has sparse mountains while the south and west have more farmable low-lands and river valleys. It is here that you will find more large and dense populations, like Seoul! Look back at the first image, the map, and see if you can find Daegu, Gwangju, and Busan. These are all very large, populated cities. What do you notice about their location? Are they near the coast? Near a river? In the south?

Sydney mentioned during week 1 that she enjoys hiking! There are many places to go hiking in Seoul! One of those places is Bukhansan National Park. When my family came to visit, we hiked to the top of Samgaksan mountain and took this picture of the city below. What do you think? Is this a hike you would enjoy? It was breathtaking! Both because we were exhausted and because of the gorgeous landscape. 

When you look at the city in the photos above and below, can you see the changing elevation? This is the landscape of peaks and valleys described earlier. Walking around, I am constantly going up and down hill, but my body is getting used to it and I am finally building muscle!! Several of my teachers have told me to wear comfortable shoes because there is a lot of walking in Seoul. They were not kidding. 

I took this picture after getting lost in Seoul! I was exploring near campus on foot and ended up at the top of this hill. At least I got to see a great view.

Climate

Korea might be small, but it has a very diverse climate! The peninsula has a mid-latitude location which makes it's climate seasonal. We just got out of winter, which is typically long and cold! This last Winter when I arrived, everyone was wearing big, long puffer coats. Spring is short and warm and serves to melt the snow, calm the winds, and turn the landscape green. That is where I am now! When I first arrived, the trees were bare and the grass was dead everywhere. Now, the grass is getting greener and the landscape is filling with flowers!

The Cherry Blossoms finally bloomed! Spring has sprung!

In late June and early July, the rains start. Marking the beginning of the summer monsoon season typical of East-Asia climates. Monsoon means "seasonal wind shift" in Arabic. A monsoon happens when large masses of warm, moist air move inland from the Pacific Ocean toward Russia Siberia. In the winter, the direction shifts, so they move away. Summer storms can also bring typhoons. This is really heavy rain and strong winds that usually cause floods, landslides, and damage to property and agricultural crops. The reverse monsoon makes the skies clear, ending typhoon/monsoon season and bring fall! Fall is short, but very enjoyable for the Korean people. So much is fact that it is short-lived once the Winter returns.

Keep in mind, that the seasons can change depending on where you are. The climate may be seasonal, but the changing heights between mountains and plains and the distance from the ocean can affect the weather in South Korea.

To give you an idea of what monsoon season is like, I've attached this link: Monsoooooooon!!
This youtuber provides comedic relief to what many describe as a very miserable hot and wet monsoon season.

Resources

The Korean peninsula is abundant with natural resources to support economic development through Korea's industries. However, over time Korea's dense and growing population has put a strain on these natural resources. Next week, we will talk about how technological advancement and industry has improved South Korea's economy, but degraded the environment. 

To recap:

What does the Korean peninsula look like to you? A tiger or a rabbit?
Would you enjoy walking around Seoul? Or would you get tired of the hills?
What do you think about South Korea typhoon season? Does it make you appreciate Portland rain?

Don't forget to include your name in the comments! Thank yoooou!

Source:

https://asiasociety.org/education/geography-koreas

Photo of the Week

Many street vendors sell steamed silkworm larvae!

마리솔 --> Marisol in Hangul

Hello again! Welcome to week two!

I realized that I may not have done the best job introducing South Korea to you all. This week I decided to focus on giving you all some background knowledge.

We will go over:

• Where is South Korea? What does their flag look like?
• What language do they speak?
• What do they eat here?
• Who lives here?

I live in Seoul!

Where is South Korea?

South Korea is part of the Korean peninsula, South from North Korea. To the East, they have Japan and to the Northwest, China. Their flag looks like this:

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Their flag symbolizes harmony of the universe! The white background is harmony and peacefulness, the blue is yin, and red is yang. The black dash lines in each corner represent: sky, land, fire, and water.

What language do they speak?

People in South Korea speak Korean! It's based on their alphabet called: Hangul. Their alphabet was actually created by King Sejong, the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. This was really important for the Korean people because before Hangul, people read and spoke using Classical Chinese. Many people were illiterate due to the lack of education and difficulty of Chinese characters. It is described as the 'proper sound to teach the people' and contributed to the decline in illiteracy. Hangul is considered the easiest alphabet to learn! Can you believe I learned it in a week? Just don't ask me to say anything because sounding out words is much different than actually knowing the language.

What do they eat?

When having a typical Korean meal, you can usually find: rice, kimchi, soup, and side dishes. Rice is so important to the Korean people! It goes with everything. Same with Kimchi and other traditional side dishes like pickled radish, bean sprouts, and sweet potatoes, pickled onions, and many more. If I told you that kimchi is spicy fermented cabbage with fish sauce, would you try it? Have you tried Kimchi before? If you're okay with spicy food, it is really yummy! I hope you try it at least once!

Next I'll show you a few common dishes that you would find in Korea...

Kimchi Stew with rice and five side dishes

Bibimbap - Rice topped with vegetables, an egg, and meat (if you want)

Jeon - savory vegetable pancake and assorted fried vegetables

Korean Barbecue - meat of your choice with lettuce and side dishes

                                

Fried Chicken - eaten with side dishes and dipping sauce

NEXT: Common Street Food

Upper right: (kimbap) rice and veggies wrapped in seaweed. Bottom right: (jeon) vegetable pancakes. Upper left: (tteokbokki) spicy rice cake. Bottom left: (bulgogi) marinated then barbecued meats.

Many of your asked me what my favorite food was here in Korea. I forgot to mention that I don't eat meat! When I eat out, I usually seek Korean food. My favorites are jeon, kimbap, bibimbap, and tteokbokki! Ramen is also a must have. However, there are times when I have had enough eating out. That's when I make myself beans and rice. p: (enjoy my primitive emoji) 

American Food!

Is very popular here! Some things are harder to find and more expensive, like peanut butter, but there are many American restaurants. They sell burgers, fries, sandwiches, whatever you're craving! I should mention that there is a Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Starbucks down the street from my University. Imported products - products brought in from other countries - can be more expensive, but are definitely available, you just have to look for them! 

Who lives here?

Traditionally, South Korea has been described as a monoculture, meaning that the country is made up of mostly Korean people. Korea recently became a developed country which has increased their business, political power, and tourism! Many people have begun moving to Korea either because of the job opportunities or just because they like it here. From what you have seen so far, do you like Korea? 

When I first came, in the back of my mind I really wanted it to be like a drama! I had to be real with myself and admit that dramas are exactly that: dramatizations. They do a really great job of making Korea look appealing. Don't get me wrong, I love Korea so far, but it is important not to get too caught up with what popular culture and media shows you because they are showing you what they know you want to see. Would you say that life in the United States is exactly how they show it in tv shows? 

I will cover Korean Popular culture in another post. I know many of you are excited about that! To give you an idea of the traditional culture, I think it would be worth it to attach some photos. 

Hanbok - Korean Traditional Dress

Samgomu - 3 drum dance

Buchaechum - Traditional Fan Dance

Talchum - Traditional Mask Dance

Pansori - one person drama

Aniri = singer is many people

Balim = Fan as form of expression

Gosu = drum creates mood

Chuimsae = audience reacts to drama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayGl-igrwy8

In this video, the BTS intro incorporates Samgomu, Buchaechum, Talchum, and the traditional music of Pansori (in that order). Please enjoy.

I hope this week was interesting! Your teacher mentioned you were all learning about the development of language, culture, arts, and the early cities of the Western Hemisphere. I figured this mini lesson on Korea would be a good start. South Korea is one of those countries with such a rich cultural history, I can assure you that we have barely scratched the surface. :D

Questions:

What interests you about South Korea? 

What food do you want to try?

What did you think of South Korea before today? Did anything change?