Sunday, May 3rd was a beautiful day. The sun was out, there was a light breeze. It was the perfect day for a colorful festive parade. Here are some shots I got that I’m proud of. Enjoy.
Dan
Pics from the Hi Seoul Festival Monday, May 4 2009
Seoul Living and jongno and korea and photographs and seoul 10:22 pm
How to get the burnt smell out of the microwave Tuesday, Apr 28 2009
Seoul Living and coffee and microwave 9:55 pm
Pic from The Sultan’s Secret Garden
I know that you’ve all done it. I’ll admit it. I’ve done it too. My sister Jenna was the best at it. She once cooked popcorn and set the timer for 3 minutes and it started to burn after 2. The entire family ran to the kitchen to see what was going on and Jenna was there staring at this smoking microwave and not doing anything. I think I turned the microwave off. We asked her why she didn’t do the same and she answered, “But the directions said 3 minutes!”
Yes, we have all burned something in the microwave and then had to deal with the stench of burnt food. Now the worst smell of all has to be burnt popcorn. I don’t know why that is, but burnt popcorn smells like rancid cat urine with a liquid smoke scent.
Now, my friend burned something in her microwave yesterday and she asked me how she could get the scent out. The solution that Momma Gray taught me was to take some vinegar and baking soda and coat the walls with it and let it sit for a couple minutes. This should get rid of the smell off the walls, but the real stench resides on the fan and the vents.
So what can you do? I asked Google and Google told me this: cut up a lemon and put it in a bowl of water and nuke it for 6 minutes.
I found this site with a whole mess of other pundits on the subject and here are some other solutions I found.
*Oh my gosh, I think that I created the first taquito smoke bomb ever! And the smell was horrendous. I over cooked about six taquitos in the microwave (thanks to the dial deciding to go backwards). I used straight vinegar in a bowl, got it to the boiling point (about 5 minutes), then let it sit. I continued doing that for about an hour or so. The moisture from the boiling vinegar travels through the fan mechanism. The vinegar smell through the house will go way. No smell from microwave. Whewwww! (02/18/2008)
*Heat vanilla extract in a bowl in the microwave for approximately 35 seconds. Turn off microwave, and leave door closed for 12 hours. (05/11/2008)
By Mary
*I have burnt my microwave while making popcorn, the smell stunk and the walls were so yellow! After reading lots about it on the internet on how to fix the issue, here are 4 steps that worked very well for me:
1) Add fresh coffee grounds to a bowl with water and boil it at least twice (will get most of the odor off).
2) Then “cook” cinnamon or something else you like the smell of (will help get rid of the smell in the vents).
3) Clean the yellow dirty walls with cotton pads & nail polish remover (I used acetone based, but they say the acetone free works too).
4) Repeat step 2 as often as you need to fully remove the popcorn smell
I was about to consider buying a new microwave but gave it a chance trying this out and VOILA 
(02/12/2009)
By Ati
Well, I hope that helps.
Dan
Free Wifi for Foreigners at Starbucks I have proof! Thursday, Apr 2 2009
Seoul Living and coffee and seoul and wifi 2:30 pm
Aza, now I can blog while having a big Americano with a melty, gooey chocolate Tofinek. Have you ever done the Tofinek thing? I recommend the regular one more, but you just take off the lid of your coffee and set the Tofinek on top. In two minutes, the caramel inside will be all melted and delicious. It’s quite awesome.
And the wifi! If you have a ARC card, you just log on to NESPOT and follow the instructions and you’ll be signed on. There is no time limit and all the instructions are in English. Nice…Starbucks is giving a little back to the expat community. Starbucks has much better coffee than Tom N Tom’s so this is just brilliant! Brilliant!
hahaha
Dan
PS. If you see a guy with a laptop covered in gaudy stickers, it’s me. Remember to say hi.
St. Patrick’s Day in Seoul i.e. Wolfhound and St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Daehangno Wednesday, Mar 11 2009
Seoul Living and daehangno and events and st. patrick's day 2:32 am
Join Itaewon’s Biggest St. Patricks Day Party at the Wolfhound Irish Pub & Restaurant.
It all starts on Thursday March 12 with Live Irish Acoustic Music and culminates on St. Patricks Day March 17th with Live Irish Traditional Music by the musical group “Bard” with a whole lot of drinking in between.
Thursday March 12 – Live Irish Acoustic Music from our long time friend Eric Custer and his mates with sets at 9pm and 11pm.
Saturday March 14 – St. Paticks Day Warmup Party with Green Beer and Jello Shot specials all day and night long. We will also show the Ireland Scotland Six Nations Rugby game at 2am. Its Parade Day with a traditional Irish Concert & Fair at Marronnier Park, Daehangno, Hyewha Station from 11 a.m. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade to start at 1pm
Sunday March 15 – All Day and All Night St. Patricks Day Party. Doors open at 11am. The pub will be all dressed up and we have ordered extra beer, mugs and party hats for the day. Green beer and shooter specials with Irish music played all day and night long. (No quiz)
Monday March 16 – Table Quiz with special Irish themed rounds and special prizes. Starts at 9pm
Tuesday March 17 – St. Patricks Day. Live Traditional Irish Music from the 5 piece band “Bard”. Music starts at 9pm.
We hope you will join us for one or all of these events.
The Wolfhound
–
www.WolfhoundPub.com
Korea’s Most Celebrated Foreign Festival Saved by Seoul Government
- 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Festival to focus on community spirit thanks to “rub of the green” –
(Seoul, 09.02.26) With business tightening its belt buckle in the face of the prevailing global economic downturn, one of Korea’s largest and most well-attended foreign festivals has received last-minute funding to ensure its celebration in 2009. Thanks to sponsorship and assistance from the City of Seoul, Korean Air, Diageo Korea (Guinness) and the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Seoul’s 9th Irish Festival – 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Festival – will go ahead as planned in Daehangno on Saturday, March 14th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Attracting an estimated 18,000 attendees in 2008, the Irish Festival, organized by the Irish Association of Korea (IAK), was in danger of not going ahead this year as significant corporate sponsorship was not renewed. The traditional and colorful street parade is a costly venture, and the festival in Seoul had also traditionally been accompanied with a free open air concert and fair. However, thanks to our loyal support from long-standing sponsors, this year’s festival will focus on continuing to build community spirit.
“Guess we got the rub of the green again!” joked Kevin Tobin, Chairman of the IAK. “Every year we get more and more involvement and participation from Korean and non-Irish community groups and individuals, and there is an unwritten expectation in Seoul that this event will take place.
“As a group of volunteers, both Irish and Korean, we rely on the spirit of the community and other groups to make our event a success. This is what St. Patrick’s Day is about: sharing and celebrating cultural diversity together.”
The Festival will feature both Irish and Korean samul nori and dance, including six brass bands, rock ‘’n’ roll, traditional Irish music plus traditional Irish dance, featuring exhibition step dancing. The audience will be invited to participate in what has become a Seoul Irish Festival tradition – Irish folk dancing. There will be an informal parade through the streets of Ihwa-dong, east of Daehagno Boulevard, starting and ending at Marronnier Park. The IAK is calling on all Koreans and members of the foreign community to participate in and support this friendship march and to celebrate Ireland’s national holiday by wearing green. The IAK will accommodate all non-profit groups wishing to follow our bagpiper in our St. Patrick’s Parade as we wind through the streets of Ilwha-dong, around Marronnier Park.
Traditional Irish Concert & Fair – Marronnier Park, Daehangno, (Hyewha Station, #4 Light Blue Line, Exit 2) 11 a.m., to 5 p.m., March 14th
St. Patrick’s Day Parade – start @ Marronnier Park, Daehangno, 1 to 2 p.m., March 14th
‘Hooley’ at Dublin Terrace in Gangnam, 5 minutes from Gangnam Station, Exit 7 – from 7 p.m. to late (tickets at 50,000 won, includes free Guinness, drinks and food until 1:30 AM, discounted pricing after 1:30), March 14th
Visit http://www.iak.co.kr for up-to-date information about the 9th Irish Festival in Korea (or www.seoulshamrock.co.kr).
Maps of Seoul Tuesday, Mar 3 2009
Seoul Living and seoul 10:52 pm
http://r.wingbus.com/seoul/samcheongdong/yeon_schd/map/?splayer=N
If you are looking for great online maps of neighborhoods in Seoul, then I recommend you check out Wingbus. Here is a map of Samcheongdong with a listing of cafes and restaurants.
It’s all in Korean, but I think you can figure it out.
Dan
St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Daehangno, Seoul 2009 Tuesday, Mar 3 2009
Seoul Living and events 2:48 am
Korea’s Most Celebrated Foreign Festival Saved by Seoul Government
- 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Festival to focus on community spirit thanks to “rub of the green” –
(Seoul, 09.02.26) With business tightening its belt buckle in the face of the prevailing global economic downturn, one of Korea’s largest and most well-attended foreign festivals has received last-minute funding to ensure its celebration in 2009. Thanks to sponsorship and assistance from the City of Seoul, Korean Air, Diageo Korea (Guinness) and the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Seoul’s 9th Irish Festival – 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Festival – will go ahead as planned in Daehangno on Saturday, March 14th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Attracting an estimated 18,000 attendees in 2008, the Irish Festival, organized by the Irish Association of Korea (IAK), was in danger of not going ahead this year as significant corporate sponsorship was not renewed. The traditional and colorful street parade is a costly venture, and the festival in Seoul had also traditionally been accompanied with a free open air concert and fair. However, thanks to our loyal support from long-standing sponsors, this year’s festival will focus on continuing to build community spirit.
“Guess we got the rub of the green again!” joked Kevin Tobin, Chairman of the IAK. “Every year we get more and more involvement and participation from Korean and non-Irish community groups and individuals, and there is an unwritten expectation in Seoul that this event will take place.
“As a group of volunteers, both Irish and Korean, we rely on the spirit of the community and other groups to make our event a success. This is what St. Patrick’s Day is about: sharing and celebrating cultural diversity together.”
The Festival will feature both Irish and Korean samul nori and dance, including six brass bands, rock ‘’n’ roll, traditional Irish music plus traditional Irish dance, featuring exhibition step dancing. The audience will be invited to participate in what has become a Seoul Irish Festival tradition – Irish folk dancing. There will be an informal parade through the streets of Ihwa-dong, east of Daehagno Boulevard, starting and ending at Marronnier Park. The IAK is calling on all Koreans and members of the foreign community to participate in and support this friendship march and to celebrate Ireland’s national holiday by wearing green. The IAK will accommodate all non-profit groups wishing to follow our bagpiper in our St. Patrick’s Parade as we wind through the streets of Ilwha-dong, around Marronnier Park.
Traditional Irish Concert & Fair – Marronnier Park, Daehangno, (Hyewha Station, #4 Light Blue Line, Exit 2) 11 a.m., to 5 p.m., March 14th
St. Patrick’s Day Parade – start @ Marronnier Park, Daehangno, 1 to 2 p.m., March 14th
‘Hooley’ at Dublin Terrace in Gangnam, 5 minutes from Gangnam Station, Exit 7 – from 7 p.m. to late (tickets at 50,000 won, includes free Guinness, drinks and food until 1:30 AM, discounted pricing after 1:30), March 14th
Visit http://www.iak.co.kr for up-to-date information about the 9th Irish Festival in Korea (or www.seoulshamrock.co.kr).
1330Comments
Learn to play Korean instruments. Sunday, Mar 1 2009
Seoul Living and events 12:50 am
I wrote this up for my radio show and I thought you might be interested. If I was musically inclined, I would probably go to this.
Do the words: 가야금, 징, 복, 아쟁, and 장구 ring a bell? Maybe it should, for they are the names of Korean instruments. And if you ever wanted to learn to play the 가양금, 징, 복, 아쟁, or 장구, then you should sign up for classes at the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts. They have classes starting this spring on Saturday, March 7th. For a mere 30,000 won you can 12 lessons at the center and you’ll learn how to play the gamut of Korean instruments.
It’s all pretty amazing and fun. I think I might sign up as well. You can find out more information at the Korean Traditional Performing Arts center website at www.ncktpa.go.kr or e-mail at eric@ncktpa.go.kr again that’s www.ncktpa.go.kr or e-mail at eric@ncktpa.go.kr
Dan
Yeol Lecture on March 3rd. Lost in Translation: Caption Alert and Naminara Free Festival Sunday, Mar 1 2009
Seoul Living and events 12:42 am
Here are some fun events for you this week.
YEOL will have a lecture with Professor Yi Sung-mi tomorrow, March 3rd, at 10:30am at the Seoul Museum of History. Her lecture is entitled: Lost in Translation : Caption Alert. Professor Yi Sung-mi is a Professor Emerita of Art History at the Academy of Korean Studies. You can find out more information on their website at www.yeol.org
Naminara Republic Foreigner’s Free Festival
Period: Saturday 28th Feb – Sunday 8th of March 2009 – 9 days
Venues: Special event halls on Nami Island, Chuncheon Province, Korea.
Entry fee: free entrance for all foreigners and immigrants in Korea.
Events: Exhibitions, Performances, International Free Market, Workshops, Cultural Hands-on Experiences
Throughout Asia, Nami Island is famous as the setting for the KBS TV drama ‘Winter Sonata’, and it is renowned as a clean and peaceful place set apart from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
The 14th is a special day in Korea Thursday, Feb 12 2009
Seoul Living and korea 2:27 am
Could someone please tell me why the 14th is so special?
Here is a great website that I found with information on each of the 14th days.
January 14th – Diary Day
Couples are meant to give each other a diary or year planner thing, and note down all the rest of these lovely gift-giving days.
February 14th – Valentine’s Day
In contrast to Western society, today is traditionally when women give chocolates to their men and confess their love.
March 14th – White Day
Men give candy to the women they love (and flowers and choc and cuddly toys….in fact, anything really!)
April 14th – Black Day
A purely Korean day, for those singletons out there, who havnt received choc or candy so far, console yourselves by eating ja jang myun – a black noodle soup – or other black foods.
May 14th – Rose Day / Yellow Day
Couples exchange roses, and those lonely hearts gather for curry and companionship. Apparently dressing in yellow is also recommended.
June 14th – Kiss Day
As one site puts it: ‘Lovers confess their feelings to one another and kiss passionately.’ Just another excuse to make out really!!
July 14th – Silver Day
I’m liking this idea – couples can freely ask their friends to give them money to pay for a date! (I shall call this ‘free date day’!!) Couples exchange gifts made of silver, and announce their relationship to their friends.
August 14th – Green Day
Couples are supposed to dress in green, and walk outside in the woods (ooh camouflage opportunity!)
Singles drink a (green) bottle of soju to console themselves.
September 14th – Photo & Music Day (I’m really not making these up!)
Any guesses…?! Couples take photographs together, then in the evening go out with friends to noraebangs and night clubs. (Which is what we Westerners do every week, right?!)
October 24th – Apple Day
You ready to learn something? The Korean word for apple, sa-kwa, also means to apologize. On Apple Day, friends, family and couples give an apple to each other to apologize for past mistakes.
November 11th – Pepero Day (Ah yes, the choc stick day!)
A new day that has taken off in South Korea, it is named after a pencil-shaped cookie stick covered in chocolate, given mostly by young Koreans as an expression of their affection.
The 11th day of the 11th month is specifically chosen as the number looks like a Pepero stick. Students exchange the treats with one another with the thought of growing tall and thin (an obsession in Korea, tho don’t think eating choc cookies is gonna help there…!)
November 14th – Movie Day & Orange Day
Ok, i’m not even gonna explain this one!
December 14th – Hug Day
We actually met people in Seoul giving out free hugs last year! Couples are meant to hug one another lovingly to stay warm in the cold winter months.
Surviving Seoul Wednesday, Jan 28 2009
Seoul Living 4:05 am
This was aired on TBS efm on Monday February 2nd on Soul of Asia. There is information on cycling, events, credit cards, and how you can get your pension back.
PS. The reason I am posting it on this site is because when I upload this to the TBSefm website, it is not searchable so the information is difficult for others to find.
So here is the script.
Let’s start with some news from the Seoul Global Center, because you know how I heart them.
The Itaewon·Hannam Global Village Center on Feb. 6th will be having a living in Seoul orientation class at 10:30am. There will be lots of good living tips and information there. Plus, you’ll meet other Seoulites. And you can get the fabulous Living in Seoul books at the orientation and they’ll have snacks and coffee.
Also the Itaewon.Hannam Global Center will be offering an exciting tour of the city on this Saturday, February 7th. The tour is free of charge and it has a jam packed itinerary full of great activities. It starts with a cooking class to make bulgogi and haemulpajeon and then, and this is the best part, you get to eat it.
Then the tour will go to Gyeongbok Palace, the Folk Museum, and Insadong. It will end with a performance of Nanta. Families and individuals are welcomed to attend. I’m pretty sure it’s for foreigners only, so sorry Seoul citizens. You can RSVP by calling the Global Center at 796-2459 or email them at itaewon@sba.seoul.kr
Now we have received some questions from listeners to our e-mail address and I would like to answer some of them today. If you have questions you can send them to tbsefm@gmail.com. Dan and I are happy to research and answer these questions for you, so be sure to e-mail us at tbsefm@gmail.com
Here is a question from a listener: Can you get a credit card if you work for a hagwon?
The answer is yes, but it is more difficult than if you are working for a public school, a corporation, or a University. If you work at a university, a reputable company or public school you’ll get much higher credit limits than at a hagwon.
If you need a credit card that can be used overseas, you can get one at most banks by putting down a deposit. You can put down 1 million or 2 million and you’ll gain interest on deposit you put down, however, it’s not a credit card per se: it’s more like a debit card. However, you will be able to use it in another country and get cash advances. You will also be able to use the credit card to pay for purchases in separate installments.
Well, listener, I hope that answered your question about getting a credit card.
Here is another question: Sara, how do I get my pension refund?
If you want to get your pension you should go to your nearest pension office. They are in every city and there are several in Seoul. I know that the one by Gangnam station has English speaking help. You go out Gangnam Station exit 4 and it is right next to the KTF building. It’s on the 4th floor.
In order to apply you need to take your Air Tickets, your bank book, passport, and Alien Registration Card. For an overseas account, you’ll need your bank transfer number. A voided check should have all the necessary information. Some banks are requesting SWIFT codes these days, so be sure to have it ready just in case.
You’ll have to fill out a form and present your information and then the money will be sent. If you send it your Korean account, it usually takes a week. For overseas accounts, it usually takes 1 month. Oh, and if you would like the money to go to another person’s account then you are going to have to get a notarized letter from an attorney.
You can find the forms and additional information at the National Pension Office Website at www.nps.or.kr
Here is another question, Sara, I recently purchased a car from another foreigner and I found out that there are over 2 million in unpaid fines and tickets on the vehicle. The previous owner has left the country, what am I supposed to do?
Listener, I’m sorry to tell you this but the fines and tickets need to be paid before you can register the car. I hope you didn’t pay too much for the vehicle. This brings me to my next point, you should get the car registration checked before you buy a car. If you are buying a car for 500,000 won, there might be a reason why the car is so cheap.
Let’s take a break, Here is
BREAK
SONG?
Surviving Seoul Part 2
Over the weekend we had two cyclist on the show and they shared great information about cycling in Seoul. First of all, I learned about Critical Mass. Critical Mass is a cycling event held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. Cyclists meet and ride together through the city. Some of the largest ones in the world have had over 80,000 riders. That one was held in April in Budapest.
There is a monthly Critical Mass in Seoul. Now I’m not sure that it will have 80,000 people, but for cycling enthusiasts it sounds like fun. The next one will on February 21st at 4pm and it meets in Gwanghwamun. You can find more information about it at http://bike.jinbo.net
On our message board you’ll find a whole list of bike shops where you can buy fixed gear bikes as well.
Alrighty, so back to Surviving Seoul.
Let’s talk about the yellow dust. Springtime is coming and some of you might have heard about yellow dust. So first of all, you might be asking yourself, What is yellow dust?
During certain times of the year, dust from China’s Gobi Desert will mix with pollutants from China and then flow conveniently into Korea. When it is really bad, you will notice that the sky will have a safari sheen. Yellow dust can cause respiratory problems and eye problems. For people that have to speak a lot, the effects of yellow dust can be devastating. So how can you protect yourself?
When it is really dusty, you should try to avoid being outside. Also, have a face-mask in your backpack. You can get these at most drugstores. I know, you might think you look ridiculous, but know that you’ll be protecting your lungs. Just think of yourself as an urban ninja. Plus, people will probably stare less if you’re a foreigner because it covers your face.
Also, you should drink a lot of water. This will help your lungs flush out the pollutants.
I found a great website to keep abreast of air quality in Korea. It’s at http://eng.airkorea.or.kr/ that’s http://eng.airkorea.or.kr/
And one last thing, if some is retiring in Korea it is polite to say:
건강 하게 지내세요. That’s 건강 하게 지내세요.
It means, I wish you good health in the future.
Someone I know is retiring soon, so it’s something that I had to look up. It’s a good phrase to remember and it is much better than saying, See you around.
Well, that’s it for Surviving Seoul Today. Again, if you have questions you can e-mail them to us at tbsefm@gmail.com, post them on our message board, or you can send us a text message at #1013.
