The Seoulite

Summer’s here. This is how we invite Chinese tourists to Korea! You too!

The Seoulite is expanding his online offerings… now all kpop fans can unite… and date each other! Tired of so-gae-ting? Want to find someone new? Need to just waste some time online by flirting with fellow kpop fans? Well, well, well… go to my new website: www.kpopsingles.com.

Everything is free. You can chat, send messages, do video conferencing and even browse through the kpop zone. We’re just getting started so if anyone wants to volunteer to update the kpop pages with more recent stars, let me know. I only put up my favorites from back in the day…!

A love like this... how romantic.

The March First Movement, or Samil Movement, was one of the earliest displays of Korean independence movements during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The name refers to an event that occurred on 1 March 1919, hence the movement’s name, literally meaning “Three-One Movement” in Korean. It is also sometimes referred to as the Manse Demonstrations (만세운동). During the series of demonstrations that began that day and spread throughout Korea, 7,000 people were killed by Japanese police and soldiers.

At 2 P.M. on the 1 March 1919, the 33 nationalists who formed the core of the Samil Movement convened at Taehwagwan Restaurant in Seoul, and read the Korean Declaration of Independence that had been drawn up by the historian/writer Choe Nam-seon and the poet/Buddhist monk Manhae (also known as Han Yongun). The nationalists initially planned to assemble at Tapgol Park in downtown Seoul, but they chose a more private location out of fear that the gathering might turn into a riot. The leaders of the movement signed the document and sent a copy to the Japanese Governor General, with their compliments.

We herewith proclaim the independence of Korea and the liberty of the Korean people. We tell it to the world in witness of the equality of all nations and we pass it on to our posterity as their inherent right. We make this proclamation, having back of us 5,000 year of history, and 20,000,000 of a united loyal people. We take this step to insure to our children for all time to come, personal liberty in accord with the awakening consciousness of this new era. This is the clear leading of God, the moving principle of the present age, the whole human race's just claim. It is something that cannot be stamped out, or stifled, or gagged, or suppressed by any means.

The March 1st movement resulted in a major change in Japanese imperial policy towards Korea. Japanese Governor-General Hasegawa Yoshimichi accepted responsibility for the loss of control (although most of the repressive measures leading to the uprising had been put into place by his predecessors) and was replaced by Saito Makoto. Some of the aspects of Japanese rule considered most objectionable to Koreans were removed. The military police were replaced by a civilian force, and limited press freedom was permitted under what was termed the ‘cultural policy’. Many of these lenient policies were reversed during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.

Women also found new opportunities after the movement to express their views for the first time in Korea. Ideas of female liberation were allowed to be printed after the rebellion. Such journals as the Sin yoja (New Woman) and Yoja kye (Women’s World) were printed.

The March 1 Movement was a catalyst for the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai in April 1919.

On May 24, 1949, March 1st was designated a national holiday in South Korea.

This is certainly not a newsflash if you’ve overheard conversations by teenage girls… and even adult women who sound like teenagers when you say ‘Daniel Henney.’ The man you see everywhere in commercials, movies, tv shows and magazines was chosen as the #1 guy to whom girls want to give chocolates this Valentine’s Day.

A local cable channel asked 3,343 women online, and 67.9% of them said Daniel. The survey was conducted online between January 13th to February 3rd, and the question actually asked respondents to choose a main character of a romantic comedy movie.

Daniel Henney was chosen for his role in 미스터 로빈 꼬시기 (Seducing Mr. Perfect).

Mr. Perfect won by a landslide victory. The rest of the losers almost equally shared the remaining votes.

Kwon Sang Woo (권상우) took second spot with 11.6% of the vote for his role in 'Almost Love' (청춘만화)

Song Il Guk (송일국) came in third place with 10.5% for his role in 'The Art of Seduction' (작업의 정석).

Last, but not least... another 10% voted for Bong Tae Gyu (봉태규) for 'When Romance Meets Destiny' (광식이 동생 광태).

If you’re a guy in Korea… do not buy any chocolates today. You have to wait next month! In South Korea, women give chocolate to men on February 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14. On April 14 (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on the 14th of Feb or March go to a Chinese restaurant to eat black noodles and “mourn” their single life. Koreans also celebrate Pepero Day on November 11.

Happy New Year everyone! Seoul is quite empty as most Seoulites are currently eating dduk-guk (rice cake soup) with their families in their hometowns in the countryside. If you are in the city, you should breathe in the clear air with all the cars off the street - a rarity in Seoul!

The Rice Cake Soup is a tradition. You eat it every Lunar New Year. This bowl was made by my Aunt.

This is the most unique dduk I've seen in a Rice Cake soup! You can get this at the cafe at Gyeong Bok Palace. Every new year they open up the palace gates for tourists... complete with uniformed guards from the Joseon Dynasty.

When you happen upon family members, friends, or a passersby and would like to say happy new year in Korean, here is the pharse: 새해복많이 받으새요! Sae-hae-bok-mahn-hee-bahd-euh-sae-yoh. It literally means 'May the new year bring you lots of luck!'

Bark... Bark!! Happy New Year!

Puppies are cuter than oxen. But this is the year of the ox. What does that mean? People born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. They tend, however, to be eccentric, and bigoted, and they anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with Snake, Rooster, and Rat people. Years of the Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997... and of course 2009!

What is the significance of the cow or ox?

For some, the ox personifies diligence and faithfulness. Others think of honesty and scholarship. For those who imagine the milking process, there are feelings of motherhood associated the image of a cow.

In India cows are regarded as sacred and in ancient Egypt they were worshipped. In Korea… cows are an integral part of Korea’s traditionally agrarian society and to this day remain an important asset to farmers.

Before industrialization, cows did all the laborious farm work. That may explain people’s special affection toward cows. They are sometimes regarded as a family member. In the old days when there were no banks, ranchers sold them in times of financial crises. So they also acted as an emergency treasury.

Famous people born in the ox year include... Napoleon Bonaparte...

Princess Diana...

and... Barack Obama!

What future does 2009 hold for Korea?

A famous Korean mystic says Korea will have a mixed year. Baek Unsan, President,Korean Association of Fortune-tellers says, ‘The Korean economy will nurse itself back to health in mid-November or December. Inter-Korean relations will not improve much, but South Korean tours to North Korea’s Mount Geumgang resort and Gaesong City will likely resume as early as March.’

May all readers of The Seoulite and their loved ones receive many blessings this year!

Where is Top Chef in action in Seoul? At a place called OKitchen. It’s founded by a husband and wife team… who opened a restaurant because they found that there weren’t enough jobs for the graduates from their cooking school.

OKitchen is located in the new trendy alley in Itaewon close to Buddha’s Belly and Gecko’s Garden. The husband… Susumu Yonaguni was born in Japan and trained in New York. The wife, Jamie Oh, served as the pastry chef from New York’s five-star Essex House Hotel. She has become a celebrity food stylist in Korea and has penned several cookbooks.

Merry Christmas! For people who just can't let the holidays go... here is a posting of Christmas dinner!

The interior has a blend of style from Tokyo, New York and of course Seoul.

A nice white wine to pair with your appetizer? Nope, it's scotch. Korean scotch. Crazy holiday revelers.

Fatten up with some great bread.

The amouse bouche bruchetta with goat cheese. The best part of the meal.

Very artistic. Salmon pate. Oyster. Smoked salmon.

Beef carpaccio.

Grilled salmon.

Mashed potatoes were mmmmm.... goood.

Gelato. Lots of pomp and circumstance. Bleh.

Chocolate mousse cake. Looks so NYC circa 1999.

This was amazing. I think I saw it on the Food Network website. Good job. It was executed with perfectionist attention.

OKitchen is OK. I wasn’t too blown away by the meal… but that might have been because it was a fixed Christmas dinner menu. On the other hand… isn’t that when you should bring it? At Christmas? Hmmm….

OKitchen
Itaewon
(02) 797-6420

Food: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Service: 4/5

Itaweon station (line 6, exit 1). After passing KFC, make a right at the 4th or 5th alley. Sorry it’s not more specific… it’s Seoul so it will vary as to what one counts as an alley.

Of course in Seoul you have a mix of the old and the new…
You ring the new year with a bell from the Joseon Dynasty…
And then you watch one of the latest k-pop sensations (Shinee!) perform their New Year’s Dance… with the best English radio station in Korea… Arirang Radio!

And here’s the KBS broadcast of the night’s celebration… it is for an older crowd… but it’s still full of celebrity action.

What do Seoulites do on the New Year? Witness the traditional ringing of the Bosingak bell to mark the New Year! The bronze bell housed in the Bosin Pavilion is rung 33 times to mark the transition to the New Year and can not be heard at any other time.

In the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) people greeted the first day of the new year by ringing the bell 33 times in the early morning. The number 33 symbolizes luck in Korea. The bell currently in use is a replica of an old clock and was restored with donations from the citizens of the country.

People sang it. Do they know what it means? Auld Lang Syne means in the days of ‘old long ago’ or rather in the good old days in Old Scots. So on New Year’s you’re supposed to remember the good from the past year while you move into the next year.

New Year’s over the past few years have been transitions for the Seoulite. So he’s gonna take a moment to make up for December 2007 along with December 2008. He went from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Seoul in the span of two new year’s celebrations. It turns out that during New Year’s 2007 to usher in 2008 - which he spent in Korea - this horrific article was printed in the San Francisco Chronicle! Always the last to know… a year later too!

Well, he’ll just take it as a compliment that his departure from San Fran was so tragic to the industry that it qualified as the ‘lowest’ moment in 2007! Oh Bobby Hurwitt… why were we always your favorite company you loved to bash.

The Seoulite was never able to properly say good-bye to the precious memories of being an activist in the States. He is glad to leave this hat for a while. It can be such a mindscrew to be in America. The Seoulite will tell you it is such. a. relief. to be in Korea... so Auld Lang Syne to that baby!

Above and below are videos of two of his role models and mentors… David Henry Hwang and Philip Kan Gotanda. May they keep thriving in their artistic endeavors and find great success in 2009!

Rob Hurwitt… a concession since it is the new year… and it appears you had redeemed yourself in late 2008 with this article. Much love and best wishes for a successful new year for Asian American Theater Company and the Chronicle.

And of course Rob… I am very grateful for your support at the beginning… kicking it back to 2003!

And I forget how sassy I was. See my sassy quotes:
Sassy Article #1
Sassy Article #2

Sandra Oh just hits it on the nail. Christina Yang. Rocks. The Anatomy.

The Seoulite doesn’t have many pictures from his time at AATC on his computer in Seoul but he was able to find a couple on the internet… why aren’t there more photos?

A montage of one of the many magical moments of working together towards a mission to better the world. For real. It feels good. Everyone at AATC… the Seoulite misses you!

Here’s an Australian’s take on racial politics… maybe if Asian Americans all had Australian accents things would immediately change. It’d be a mindscrew back in the other direction!

And the Seoulite was happy to discover on Youtube that the student theater group (originally started by David Henry Hwang in 1979), which he helped revive while at Stanford, is still alive and so funny! This is a spoof the Asian American Theater Project did on ‘The Office’. The more things change… they really do stay the same.

Regrets for 2008… I had a few… but then again really really too few to mention. More grateful than anything else. Many prayers for a roaring 2009! It’s an 11 year!

Oh… and Auld Lang Syne. We need to hear someone sing it. Sing it Mary Poppins!

Postings will resume after the holidays! In the meantime Happy New Year! Please take care not to get sick with the cold/flu that’s going around Seoul lately. If you’re wondering… it starts off with a scratchy dry throat, then progresses to some vocal change, head cold, sinus pressure, and lastly (I hope!) runny nose.

2009!
2009!
2009!

Hi, I’m Sean Lim, an American expat living in South Korea.  This is my blog about becoming a Seoulite.

What is a Seoulite?
A ‘Seoulite’ (서울깍쟁이) is a citizen of Seoul, just as a ‘New Yorker’ is a citizen of New York. Of course the label ‘Seoulite’ doesn’t simply denote a place of residence [...]