[Article] Welcome to 2011: Year of the Rabbit.

[Article] Welcome to 2011: Year of the Rabbit.
Cr. - http://blog.korea.net/

One of the biggest holidays in Korea, the lunar New Year or “Seollal,” is coming up on February 3 this year. Many cultures around the world celebrate lunar holidays, which are based on the lunisolar or lunar calendars. It changes every year, since the traditional Korean lunisolar calendar and the Gregorian calendar aren’t quite in synch, but is usually in January or February.

It’s also a time of year when even the most modern Korean families take part in old traditions. The most dedicated fashionistas dig out traditional Korean Hanbok, kids trade in their high-tech gaming consoles for old-fashioned board games, and gourmands who like to sample the most refined flavors from around the world enjoy a bowl of humble homemade soup with rice cakes.



The most important part of the holiday is spending time with your family. While many people have moved from their hometowns to major cities like Seoul for work and education, the Korean lunar New Year brings everybody back to their ancestral homes. During the days before and after the holiday, roads countrywide are clogged with amazing traffic jams that can double or treble the usual length of a trip, as everybody heads to visit their families. Buses, planes, and trains sell out weeks ahead of time.



Because it’s so important to be with family during this holiday, workers and students get a day off before and after the actual New Year to prepare and to travel. Is there anything better than a three day holiday? How about a three-day holiday that happens right before a weekend? The year 2011 gives Koreans a nice, long five day break from hectic work and study schedules, and is a much appreciated chance to relax.

Once people make it home, there’s plenty to occupy people’s time – especially women. Because of the lingering influence of neo-Confucianism and traditional culture, the duty of preparing the elaborate offerings for ancestors and large meals for families falls mainly on married women. It can take hours or even days of preparation, leading many women to hate the holidays with a passion. Other women have taken refuge in services that do all the prep work for you and deliver a perfectly prepared ancestral offering – for a hefty price tag.



The other essential food for the lunar New Year is ddeokguk, a mild rice cake soup. Koreans think that eating ddeokguk on Seollal makes you a year older. Until you’ve dug into a steaming bowl of rice cake soup, you’re still the same age as the year before!

Usually, families hold a few ceremonies and activities together, including cleaning family gravesites and having “charye” ceremonies to honor the family’s ancestors. This involves very elaborate offerings of food and drink, which are then converted into meals for the living. Other families skip these ceremonies because of religious differences, especially people from some of the stricter Protestant churches.

Another important ceremony for many Koreans during Seollal is giving the first bow of the New Year to the older members of the family. While many people take joy in the greeting as a chance to show respect and love for their family, it also comes with a cash bonus – in exchange for the bow, young people usually receive some advice for how to behave in the coming year and an envelope of cash.

The rest of the time, people try to relax and have fun. Yutnoli, a kind of board game with wooden sticks instead of dice, is a particularly popular and old-fashioned way to pass the lazy hours. It’s also a time for people to engage in more modern pastimes, like watching special programs on TV, playing computer games, catching a movie, and hanging out with friends.

For people who don’t leave Seoul, it’s a great chance to enjoy one of the world’s biggest and busiest cities at its quietest. Some people hit the major museums and cultural centers, some of which offer discounts or free admission to people wearing Hanbok. Other people take short vacations overseas. When else are you going to get a few days off to lounge on a Thai beach or ski in Hokkaido?

[News] Lee Charm (CEO's KTO) : Can Korea draw 10 million foreign visitors this year?

[News] Lee Charm (CEO's KTO) : Can Korea draw 10 million foreign visitors this year?
Cr - Lee Hyo-sik@koreatimes.co.kr

The Korean government has unveiled an ambitious plan to attract over 10 million foreign visitors in 2011, up sharply from this year's 8.8 million, by promoting itself as an attractive tourist destination.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), a state-run tourism promotion body headed by CEO Lee Charm , is at the forefront of the campaign, expecting soaring numbers of Chinese tourists to help it achieve its objective as the number of Japanese visitors has stagnated over the past few years.

But its slogan of drawing 10 million foreigners is seeing an awful start as the number of Chinese people coming here during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday from Feb. 2 to 8 is projected to plunge sharply, compared to the same period last year.

The holiday is the busiest travel season for middle-and upper-class Chinese visitors, tourism industry watchers here say, stressing that whether Korea attracts 10 million foreigners from abroad this year or not will be largely determined by how many visitors it brings in from the mainland during the seven-day holiday.



Travel agencies here say that the number of Chinese tourists scheduled to come here during the holiday will drop by as much as 50 percent from last year. In 2010, the nation attracted a record number of travelers from the world's second largest economy during the Lunar New Year holiday, which lasted from Feb. 13 to 19.

Additionally, fewer-than-expected Chinese visitors will negatively affect the bottom line of hotels, department stores and other hospitality-related establishments here.

Hanjin Travel, one of the major tour agencies catering to inbound foreign tourists, said the number of Chinese visitors will drop sharply during the upcoming holiday as more became reluctant to come here, citing North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, and the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and bird flu.

"We expect a fewer Chinese people to visit here over the eight-day holiday because many feel unsafe, following the North's attack on the island in the West Sea and the heightened military tension between the two Koreas. Additionally, the spread of FMD and bird flu are dampening our efforts to bring Chinese tourists into the country", said a Hanjin Travel official who is in charge of marketing.

She then said the number of Chinese people coming here via her company will go down by about 50 percent, but declined to provide exact numbers.

Mode Tour, another large travel agency, echoed Hanjin's view, saying that Chinese travelers during the upcoming holiday will fall sharply from last year. "We brought in about 2,000 Chinese visitors during the 2010 Lunar New Year holiday. But for this year, the figure will likely be halved to around 1,000 as more Chinese people feel uneasy about their safety here, following the North's military attack in November", the agency's spokeswoman said.



The KTO admitted that the North's attack on Yeonpyeong Island and the spread of FMD have negatively affected Korea's efforts to attract Chinese and other foreign tourists over the past several months.

"In December, we failed to draw as many Chinese and foreign visitors as we had initially hoped, due largely to the rising military tension on the Korean Peninsula. But the situation has improved since the beginning of the year. But we expect the number of Chinese visitors during the upcoming holiday to increase at a much slower rate", said Park Jeong-ha, general manager of KTO's China team.

Park said more Chinese visitors have come here individually, rather than in a group, organized by travel agencies, as eased visa restrictions last summer have encouraged them to venture around the country on their own. "We are positive that the number of Chinese visitors for the whole year will exceed that of 2010", he predicted.

In 2010, the number of Chinese tourists to Korea soared to 1.88 million, up sharply from 1.21 million in 2009, accounting for nearly 22 percent of the total.

[Article] Jang Geun Suk's Dream come true : Director Lee Jun-ik mention Jang Keun Suk last 3 years ago.

[Article] Jang Geun Suk's Dream come true : Director Lee Jun-ik mention Jang Keun Suk last 3 years ago.
Original : http://twssg.blogspot.com/
Source : Voters@answers.yahoo

Last 3 years ago Lee Jun-ik Film Director of 'Happy Life' & 'The King and the clown' the famous movie mention to Jang Geun suk 'He is a young actor who is experiencing a pleasant growth period'. Now, Jang Geun Suk's Dream come true , he become to Hallyu Star new generation from 'You're Beatiful' and famous in Asia.

The movie 'Happy Life' directed by Lee Jun Ik draws the story of three normal men in their forties who reunite to form a rock band and rediscover their dreams. Amongst the three normal looking men with exceptional acting skills is one youthful and lively actor, Jang Geun Suk.

Jang Geun Suk who in the movie grew into an adult still had a hint of his youthful image in person.

While Director Lee Jun Ik's comment saying he restricted the screen time of Jang Geun Suk so female viewers wouldn't just focus on him, his charisma as the son of the former vocalist of the band Hyun Joon grabbed the heart of viewers with his good looks, picture perfect guitar skills, and surprisingly good vocals.

He takes on an important role as not just bringing youthful vibes to the movie but also as an important link between the older and younger generations.

Jang Geun Suk who says the question he received most after the movie's premiere was whether he really sang the song actually is experienced with two musical productions. Director Lee Jun Ik who was with us during the interview says, "It is like I am the child and Geun Suk is the adult," and nonetheless Jang Geun Suk's serious and skillful speech grasped my attention.

"Being so young, I contemplated a lot while acting Hyun Joon to be in more scenes. The scene using the restroom with senior Kim Sang Ho was one I created so the audience could better understand Hyun Joon. He tells me that I look the same as my father, and that is the moment I first picture the true father Hyun Joon never could understand before. I thought the audience would feel the fathers' love for their children through the scene."

Jang Geun Suk says the film shoot itself was a precious experience to him commenting, "All three of them were my mentors. They all live with their dreams. Having a lot or little money does not matter. They have the confidence and flexibility in regards to life not from being a star that everyone thinks of them as, but rather as ones who have achieved their dreams. They would practice all night, have a drink, and go out in slippers and grab something to eat."

He says the movie 'Happy Life' is one that asks, 'Are you living and doing what you want to do? Or are you living and doing what you have to do?' and that is the question that dominated his head throughout the filming.

"I started acting in middle school. It was my decision. Then one day I asked myself, 'Jang Geun Suk, are you happy right now?' and realized I was climbing stairs with no particular goal and no composure. I asked around about what a happy life is and asked my seniors as well. Of course there is not right answer, but thankfully I have found a little bit of composure in myself. And now I can enjoy things, at least to the point I can smell the scent of fall outside of the window." He seemed to be quite pleased in learning something priceless from Director Lee Jun Ik and the three other senior actors.

The movie features a father who works day and night to pay for private lessons and education for a talented son, and a father who sends off his child and wife abroad to study but ends up facing a divorce. They all live amidst self-gratification, or excuses, saying it is all for their children, and this is not much different from parents in the real world today.

I asked Jang Geun Suk who is still in the position of being a parent's child what he wanted from his parents. He says that his parents, while not fully approving when he said he wanted to act, supported him by telling him to do what he wanted to do.

"Are children truly happy when they achieve the social status their parents want them to? They all just go towards the one goal forgetting whether it was the parent's dream or the child's dream. I wish parents would trust their children and let them pursue what they want to. If only they could understand that children wander in their youth not because they don't know what to do, but they are struggling and trying hard to find what fits them. I believe everything is about the 'trust' between the parent and child."

In that sense, he says, "The movie 'Happy Life' can serve to be a meaningful opportunity to reflect on life with all the fantasies and reality barriers set aside between a father and son."

Jang Geun Suk is also chasing a dream.

"I became known through commercials and the sitcom 'Nonstop.' Until then I wasn't really an actor. If anything, I was an entertainer with a cute image. But after 'Nonstop' ended and I saw the spotlight that was on me shifting immediately to another person, I fell into a slum. And not being admitted to the college I wanted at the time put me at a loss of what to do. Fortunately, I was cast in two musicals and I was able to be satisfied seeing myself on a large stage. And I think I was able to become known as an actor through the drama 'Hwangjiny,' and I can feel more of that through the movie 'Happy Life.' But this is not my final destination."

He restlessly spoke about his dreams.

"I don't believe myself to be an adult yet. I still have a mind that is not quite yet fully matured. But I hope people who meet me can become closer as a person and respect and trust me."

Then what would be the image of an 'actor' Jang Geun Suk be?

"I want to be pure. Whether I become 40 or 60, I want to be a humble actor who doesn't loses passion. I am extremely happy right now by just being able to act."

He is a young actor who is experiencing a pleasant growth period.




Lee Jun Ik Profile :
Lee Jun-ik (born September 25, 1959 in Seoul ) is a South Korean movie director, producer and actor specialising in commercial historic movies and responsible for the 2005 smash hit 'The King and the Clown'.

Director :
2003: Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield
2005: The King and the clown
2006: Radio Star
2007: Happy Life
2008: Sunny
2010: Blades of Blood

Producer :
1999: Gancheob li cheol-jin / The Spy
2000: The Anarchist
2001: Hi, Dharma
2003: Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield

[Article] Ryu Si-won joins effort to find missing Japanese.

[Article] Ryu Si-won joins effort to find missing Japanese.
Cr. - http://joongangdaily.joins.com/
By Chun In-sung [estyle@joongang.co.kr]

When actor-singer Ryu Shi-won learned of the disappearance of Eriko Tanahashi, a Japanese woman who disappeared without a trace in Korea more than a year ago, he was as struck as if she were a member of his family.

“It didn’t make sense to me, so I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I felt like her son and wanted to ask her how she had ended up in Gangneung alone.”

Since then, he has taken a personal interest in the search for Tanahashi, a fan of Ryu who came to Korea in December 2009 on one of many trips she took after she got caught up in the Korean Wave of cultural exports.

Tanahashi was last spotted eating dinner alone in a restaurant in Jumunjin, a coastal town in Gangneung, Gangwon, on Jan. 1, 2010. Police say they have no idea if Tanahashi, then 58-years-old, met an accident, was murdered or voluntarily disappeared.

Ryu is one of the stars of “Winter Sonata,” the 2002 drama that was one of Tanahashi’s favorites. His 11th single album will be released in Japan in March, and his eighth studio album will be released there in September.

He remembers meeting Tanahashi several times in both Korea and Japan over the years, including the last moment he shared with her. One winter day a year ago, Ryu was on his way home when he spotted Tanahashi with three other fans. He got out of his vehicle to greet them and Tanahashi gave Ryu a letter and a T-shirt. Before she left, he said he told her to take care in the cold and get home safely.

“She wasn’t an outrageous fan who would ask me for my autograph,” Ryu recalled. “She always approached me carefully, called me ‘Shi-won san’ [Japanese for ‘sir’ or ‘mister’] and would give me handmade presents.”

Since her disappearance, he has reached out to her family. When two of Tanahashi’s daughters visited Korea earlier this month to search for their mother they met with Ryu, who told them he would assist in the search.

He asked fans to help find her, saying, “Please find it in your hearts to sympathize with the family and help them find their missing loved one.”

He had his agency collect information on filming locations that Tanahashi might have visited with the hope that it would help her family find her.

But Tanahashi’s whereabouts are still a mystery. In the meantime, people have reported sightings and sent notes of consolation to the family.

“[Tanahashi] visited Korea because she likes Korea and Korean culture,” Ryu said. “I hope people will send their regards to her family so they know how much Koreans care.”