Han Asia Times

Korean dishes like bulgogi and bibimbap are slowly gaining popularity overseas as a health food. Early this month at the “Korean Barbecue Contest” held in Los Angeles, nearly 10,000 people crowded the stands for a sample. Last week, U.S. media also covered PGA champion golfer Yang Yong-eun’s dinner party of a multi-course Korean meal, including rice, galbi (beef ribs), and kimchi, for his fellow golfers. Recently, the Korean food globalization team at the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MIFAFF) announced that Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will be the first university in the US to open a full lecture series dedicated to Korean cuisine. The prestigious east coast University enjoys vibrant exchanges with some of the top universities in Korea, including the Seoul National University, KAIST, Ewha Woman’s University, and Hanyang University. According to the school, beginning this September, these lectures will “explore the fundamentals and philosophy...

Maestro Ahn Eak-tai, composer of the Korean national anthem “Aegukga,” conducts the Vienna Symphony Orchestra during a rehearsal in 1942. Below is the score for “Aegukga.” /Korea Times file By Lee Hyo-won It’s impossible to forget Yoon Do-hyun’s infectious rock tune “Oh, Pilseung (victorious) Korea,” which took the entire country by storm during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, as red T-shirt-clad fans cheered for South Korea in perfect unison. “Where there is pressure, there is folk dance,” according to Danish artist Fos, and the same can be said of other art forms and traditions that take root when groups are bound by a unifying sentiment or goal, be it love of the game or political propaganda. The power of folk music can be said to have propelled the adoption of Ahn Eak-tai’s “Aegukga” as Korea’s national anthem. Cult activities translate most palpably into popular culture, and many countries have picked up widely loved tunes as its national song. Just as the French opted for “La Mar...

Azerbaijani musicians performed in three cultural centers in Korea with concert programs of classical music, Korea's Embassy in Azerbaijan told Trend . Four young Azerbaijani musicians - Baku Music Academy's students Kamran Mirzeyev, Kamran Sarkar, Nargis Aliyeva and Kanan Mayilov were in Korea from Aug. 3 to 18 in the orchestra, organized on the initiative of the Azerbaijani Embassy and the Korean Silkroad Foundation. The final concert took place Aug. 17 in the largest cultural center of Seoul "Sejong Art Center". Along with a wide audience, the concert was attended by Chun Yung - woo , Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Korea, the Silkroad Foundation President Kang Duk-soo, the employees of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Korea, as well as representatives of other diplomatic missions in Seoul. During the visit Azerbaijani representatives took part in joint rehearsals with musicians from other countries of the Silk Road (Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbeki...

“A Review of Korean History” written by Han Young-woo, professor emeritus at Seoul National University, explores the nation’s history from its birth to the present. The English version of the Korean history book published by Kyongsaewon Publishing translated by Hahm Chai-bong is divided into three volumes _ “Ancient/Goryeo Era,” “Joseon Era” and “Modern/Contemporary Era”_ along with detailed descriptions and some 700 photos and illustrations. Since the first edition of the book was published in 1997 with a revised edition in 2004, it has become a steady-seller in Korea with 39 editions until the end of 2009. The book was also translated into Japanese in 2003 by Akashi Shoten Publishing. The first volume of the English rendition illustrates the roots of Korean history, old Joseon and other ancient states along with the Three Kingdoms. The second volume focuses on the Joseon Kingdom from its foundation to the reform of the ruling system, economic development, culture, internal conflicts ...

Boasting breathtaking views, Jirisan National Park was the first Korean park to be designated as a national park in 1967. Its glorious mountain range extends across three provinces and five cities. The magnificent mountains and exceptional scenery make this one of the most famous mountains in Korea. Roughly 1,915 meters above sea level, Cheonwangbong Peak, considered to be the pillar of heaven is the main peak. Jirisan also features Banyabong and Nogodan, and is home to over 10 famous temples. There are over twenty summits and valleys such as Baemsagol Valley, which are part of "Jirisan Ten [Sceneries]." As this is the location of the most well-preserved virgin forests in Korea , the majestic and mystical mountain is highly revered. There are many species of animal and plant life, and as the first place to cultivate tea in Korea, herbal medicine cultivation still flourishes here.Mt. Jirisan was also where the Buddhist culture prospered, and there are also many cultural assets...

Posted Aug. 17, 2010 ShareThis Source : Korea Tourism Organization The Chuncheon City Government announced that from August 28 (Saturday) to September 5 (Sunday), it will be operating train and bus tours running directly between Seoul and Chuncheon. There will also be a special bus package named “Chuncheon Mankkikho” targeting Japanese visitors. These tour packages are designed to proactively draw tourists to Chunchen during the period of the 2010 Chuncheon World Leisure Games and the Chuncheon Dakgalbi & Makguksu Festival. Train tours depart from Namchuncheon Station and take passengers to the venue of the World Leisure Games, Soyang Dam, Uiamho Lake, Kim Yu-jeong House of Literature and finally arrive at Kim Yu-jeong Station, which has trains back to Seoul. Fees for this one-day tour are 19,000 won for adults and 15,000 won for children. The bus tour departs from the Gwanghwamun area in central Seoul and takes visitors on a one-day bus tour course that includes Jamsil in Seou...