Renting a cell phone in Korea

Any SK Telecom provider will rent you a cell phone.

    Whether you are having family members or friends come visit you in Korea, or you are taking a vacation to Korea, it is always nice to have a cell phone. Because Korea's cell phone companies are so strict here (there are only about 4 servers), it is almost impossible to bring a phone from a foreign country while using your service from home. Yes, this means that your cell phone probably will not work if you bring it to Korea, even if you plan to pay international fees. Believe me, I called my server T-mobile back in 2009 before I came on a 2 week trip here. They told me that the fee was 99 cents a minute and that I could get service in the city of Seoul just fine. However, upon arriving in Korea this was not true. Don't learn the hard way, and plan ahead to rent a cell phone. The only two companies to rent cell phones from are SK Telecom and KTF.
    One of the easiest ways to rent a phone is by getting one in the airport. The following airports in Korea will rent you a cell phone: Incheon International Airport, Gimhae International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and the Gwangju International Airport. The fees vary by location, but they are about 3,000 won per day with a charge of 100 won per minute (about 10 cents a minute). The company will give you a cell phone and charger, and you must return the phone in order for your payment to be stopped. Otherwise they will charge you in full for the phone. Visit Dynamic-Korea to see specific directions and numbers for each phone rental location in the airport. You can also reserve the cell phone in advance by following their booking instructions, however it might just be easier to pick one up in airport if you have time.
    If you landed too early in the morning or late at night to rent a phone from the airport, another option is to find a private cell phone vendor in the city and rent from them. I found one conveniently located across from the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon. The store name is called IDEA and they have SK Telecom serviced phones that you can rent. You must give them a 50,000 won deposit for the cell phone, and you will receive the deposit back when you return the phone. A 20 day rental will cost you 40,000 won, and you can pay as you go at any SK Telecom location. The lowest amount you can put on the phone is 13,000 won which will be more than enough money for 20 days in Korea.
   Once you have your cell phone rented you should take advantage of the free Korean translation service. Simply dial your area code plus 1330 and you will be connected to a free bilingual translator who can help guide you to tourist sites, or direct your cab driver. Visit the 1330 website to learn more about this service.

If you have any questions or comments about "Renting a cell phone in Korea" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Mini Korean lessons online with Arirang TV: Let's speak Korean

Lisa Kelly giving a lesson titled "When did you come to Korea?"

    Thanks to Lisa Kelly and Young Kim you can now enjoy learning Korean through hundreds of mini Korean language lessons. The show which is titled Let's Speak Korean is aired on Arirang TV offers viewers 10 minute lessons which are a great addition to anyone's Korean language studies. The show is truly unique, funny, and inspiring as their beginner level student Blake is quizzed after each lesson.
    I found these lessons through the website TV Clip.biz, where there are many of the older episodes posted. However, by using the Arirang TV website you can also find up to date lessons and English to Korean transcriptions of every lesson written out on their website. If you visit their You Tube site at Arirang Korean you can also find even more episodes. Keep in mind they are completely free, so you have nothing to lose by watching and following along.
    I recommend making flash cards of key vocabulary and expressions after each lesson and then memorizing the terms. Then go back and watch the episode many times to reinforce the pronunciation and context. I truly enjoy learning about Korean culture and the funny atmosphere that Lisa and Young bring to the set. They are always having a great time and have unique approaches to teach the language. The video posted on this page is a great lesson about living in Korea and saying how long you have lived in Korea. Lisa and Young are really cute as they travel to different countries practicing their Korean.

If you have any questions or comments about "Mini Korean lessons online with Arirang TV: Let's speak Korean" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Getting blonde highlights in Korea with the fabulous Michelle at The Green Turtle

Michelle and I after my appointment!

Michelle is amazing and truly has a passion for doing hair!

    Getting blonde hair color in Korea is a huge deal. Koreans have much thicker hair then foreigners so they use harsher products, and almost no one has experience with light colors. There are plenty of horror stories of blondes getting their hair done in Korea. Therefore, I strongly recommend calling many places and interviewing them about their past experience and checking on prices. There is a really great hair salon near Ewha Women's University that specializes with foreigners and they speak English well. EUNHA BNC has a great website and a posh store, but after calling and adding up the total price my hair would have cost 200,000 won! I would never spend that much on hair back home, and there is just no reason to here.

Michelle's assistants will help him throughout the appointment.

    So I called about 5 different places in Seoul, and I finally settled on The Green Turtle with the fabulous Michelle. When I asked him if he could do two colors of blonde he by far had the best answer and the lowest price. "No problem sweetie, I can do high and low lights starting at 75,000 won and a hair cut for 25,000 won" he said in his cute girly voice. The total price for my half head of highlights and a hair cut was only 85,000 won, just what I pay back home! Now that I'm back in my apartment staring in the mirror at my beautiful hair, all that I have ringing through my head is a bad version of The Beatles "Michelle my gay hairdresser, he is so amazing, my Michelle, my Michelle!"
    Michelle did two colors of blonde highligts on my hair, and he gave me an amazing hair cut. He is totally in "lala land" singing the day away and truly enjoying himself. He has two female assistants that also help him throughout your appointment. At one point I had all three of them working on my hair, it just doesn't get any more fabulous than that. The salon located in Itaewon, isn't all that flashy. But Michelle definitely knows what he is doing. Towards the end he will give you a great blow dry and style. According to Michelle, he gave me the "Victoria's Secret Sexy Hair Look!"

    I'm not sure why The Green Turtle has its own name, but it is part of Nogku Total Beauty & Massage Salon. They are the same place, and Michelle works there, so don't get confused by the website which is called Nogku Massage. Michelle simply works in the back of the salon and does everyone's hair, so you don't have to worry about getting another hairdresser the day of your visit. He owns the hair section of the salon. The beauty portion of the salon offers great prices for massages 50,000 won, manicures 15,000 won, and even Brazilian waxes 60,000 won. This is the only place I have seen that offers a Brazilian wax in Seoul. (Most Koreans don't tame their bush!)

   To get to the salon simply exit Itaewon Station any exit. Directly across the street from the Hamilton Hotel there is a Quiznos and a Cold Stone. The salon is in the same building on the third floor. 

Me waiting nervously as my highlights set!

TGT is located on the third floor.

If you have any questions or comments about "Getting blonde highlights in Korea with the fabulous Michelle at The Green Turtle" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

Nogku Massage Center is The Green Turtle.

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Try Cheongdo's famous persimmon wine at The Gam Wine Tunnel

Cheongdo's wine tunnel is famous for its persimmon wine and inviting atmosphere.

  

The entrance to the tunnel reveals the old train tracks.

     The moldy green walls and the old brick ceiling inside The Gam Wine Tunnel truly have an old European dungeon like quality.  Upon entering the old railroad tunnel which was built in 1904, you will immediately appreciate the humidity in the air a cold winter day. The 1,000 meter long tunnel located in Cheongdo, Daegu,  was transformed into a wine cellar in 2006, where gam (persimmon) wine is made and stored. The tunnel remains a constant 15 degrees Celcius with a 50-60% humidity.
    The tunnel has recently become a popular tourist spot and Cheongdo's second source of income. Every town in Korea is famous for some kind of product, natural beauty, or tradition. Cheongdo happens to be famous for their abundance of persimmons. You can view a live English news cast about the tunnel online from Arirang TV.  Because of the tunnels newly found popularity, I strongly recommend going to the tunnel off season (any time besides Autumn) to avoid the crowds. January was a perfect month to go on a weekend because there were hardly any people willing to brave the tunnel which has been described by many Koreans as freezing cold. I couldn't disagree with this statement more, as the tunnel was a warm and cozy environment with rich air and damp surroundings.

Marie Webb with her friends Melanie and Laurent enjoying their wine.

    Of course my favorite part of the tunnel was sipping away 3 glasses of the persimmon wine. The winery offers its guests a free tasting of their two regular wines. The "special blend" was far too high in alcohol content for me at about 16%. The flavor was harsh and actually reminded me of a badly flavored vodka. However, I did enjoy the regular persimmon wine which was much sweeter and lightly flavored. After tasting the wine, you can order a glass for a reasonable price of 3,000-4,000 won, or an entire bottle for 18,000 to 25,000 won. But as a hardcore fine, red wine lover, I didn't think any of the wine was worth buying. 

A great place to stop and take a picture inside the tunnel.

     Unfortunately the winery does not offer its guests a free tasting of their rare persimmon ice wine. Because the temperature must be extremely cold to produce the ice wine, the small bottles come at a steep price of 89,000 won. If you are hungry, there is also a small restaurant where you can order food and snacks such as cheese and fruit to compliment your wine. A small fruit and cheese plate will only run you 5,000 won, so it is possible to make this trip cheap.
     The wine tunnel truly has an ambiance of love and passion. There are beautiful places throughout the tunnel to stop and take your picture. Such as cute white benches surrounded by fake persimmon trees, and a giant wire artwork resembling a bottle of wine and a glass which is completely covered in lights. Yes the atmosphere is definitely eerie at times, at one portion of the tunnel it becomes very dark. But the dim lights and candles only add to the romantic vibe.

A giant wire figure rests at the end of the tunnel.

    Much of the historical information was received from The Korea Tourism Organizations article written by Kimberly Paul. You can find more information about the tunnel, and complete directions to the tunnel here.  Keep in mind that this winery is located in Daegu, about up to 5 hours in a car and 2 hours by KTX. I took a Mugangwha train from Seoul Station to Dong Daegu (3 1/2 hours) for only 22,000 won and then a train to Cheongdo (20 minutes) for only 2,500 won. Once at Cheongdo you can take an inexpensive bus to the tunnel, or hop in a taxi for a 7,000 won ride. The taxi line is on the same side of the Cheongdo train station, when you exit just turn left and walk about a minute. Visit my article about taking the train in Korea for even more help with arranging your travel plans.

One of the wine barrels next to an old opening filled with persimmon wine bottles.

Small picnic tables line the tasting and dining area.

The tree types of Gamgrin persimmon wine.

Where the tunnel stops for regular visitors. A tour further into the tunnel may be arranged in advanced.

A view of the moldy green and red ceiling and stone walls.

If you have any questions or comments about "Savor Cheongdo's famous persimmon wine at The Gam Wine Tunnel" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

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Taking the train in Korea

The KTX speed train reaches speeds of 300 kmp, thats 168 mph!

Taking the train offers great views of Korea, such as the Han river.

   South Korea has an amazing railroad system with a wide variety of comfort levels and prices. Once you figure out how to get around by train, exploring Korea will be a piece of cake. You can travel virtually anywhere in the country in about 2-4 hours thanks to the newly improved Korea Train Express (KTX) which will allow you to travel from Seoul to Busan in only 2 hours and 30 minutes. So sit back, relax, and enjoy great views of the Korean country side via the Korean railway.
    My first experience on the Korean railway was this weekend when I took a train down to Daegu to visit a good friend of mine. I took a Muganghwa class train which is an older train to save some money. I actually saved around 70,000 won by not taking the KTX, and it only took me an extra hour and a half. My ticket on the Muganghwa train was 22,000 won instead of the KTX price of 45,000 won, and my ticket back to Seoul was even cheaper at only 16,000 won because the train was booked and I could only buy standing class tickets. Yes, you can buy tickets where you have no seat reserved and they are even cheaper, therefore if all the seats are taken you could be standing. This happened to me on my train back to Seoul, but I didn't want to stand for 3 and 1/2 hours, so I chose to sit casually on the cozy carpeted floor of the dining car.

A view of a KTX train from a platform in Seoul Station.

     Two days before the trip, I used Korail's online booking service through their website. Luckily, this is one of  a few Korean travel sites that has an English page. Simply enter in your desired destination, select your train type, and provide your passport number, Alien Registration Card number, and your credit card info to book a ticket up to one month in advance.
    There are five different train types that will take you around Korea. They each have their perks and flaws, which are important to know before booking a ticket. Lets take a look at what each type of train has to offer:

KTX passengers are offered a luxury travel experience.

    The KTX (short for Korea Train Express): KTX is of course the fastest way to travel in Korea, but it is also the most expensive. For a one way KTX ticket from Seoul to Busan it will cost you about 52,900 won if you sit in standard class. The train runs at a top speed of 300 kph, which is about 186 mph!  KTX trains make fewer stops, but they also run to fewer locations. So they are good to take if you are traveling far distances in a short period of time. KTX makes it easy to plan any day trip from Seoul down to southern parts of the country. (Source: Wikipedia) 

    The Saemaeul-class (새마을): These trains used to be the fastest way to travel around Korea before KTX opened in 1992.  Saemaeul trains are just as nice as KTX trains, but they take a longer. A one way Saemeaul ticket from Seoul to Busan will cost about 39,000 won which is only about 12,000 won cheaper than KTX. This may seem like a high price to pay, when the train takes about 5 hours total. I think your better off taking KTX than Saemaeul trains because you don't save that much by taking a Saemaeu, but the total travel time is a lot longer.

Standard seats inside of a Mugangwha train.

    The Muganghwa-class (무궁화): Old Muganghwa trains are clearly the 3rd class train in Korea, however they are the most affordable. These trains also have giant seats and plenty of space which makes up for the longer travel time, but they are not as nice as KTX or Saemaeul trains. A one way ticket from Seoul to Busan will only cost you 26,500 won and will take about 6 hours. The train will make more stops to smaller cities and stations in Korea. If your willing to tack on some extra travel time, the low price can be a real incentive. I recommend booking this train at 5am in the morning, and then you can just sleep the entire ride!

Mugangwha trains have a more colorful exterior.

    The Tonggeun (통근): These trains are commuter trains, and only run a few specific routes. Most of the routes run to smaller and rural areas such as the northern Gyeonggi-do areas. This  includes the Gyeongwon Line (Dongducheon-Sintan-ri) and the Gyeongui Line (Munsan-Dorasan). But don't get confused this with the subway line of the same name. Keep in mind that you cannot reserve a seat on commuter trains.

    The Nooriro-class (누리로): this  is a new class of trains that will eventually replace longer route Mugangwha trains.  This train actually runs on the same line as line 1 of the subway system,  but it makes fewer stops than the subway does. You pay the same price as the Muganghwa-class train, but you only get there a little faster. So as an obvious result, they aren't very popular yet.

A huge Korail sign in Seoul Station.

If you have any questions or comments about "Taking the train in Korea" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Celebrating The New Year Korean Style

Here is the first sunrise of the 2011 year. Watching the sun rise NYD is good luck.

    Multiple readers have e-mailed me asking what New Year's Eve was like in Korea. Even though it is already Thursday, this is one celebration worth talking about. Unfortunately, with the New Year comes our busiest month at ESL schools, so this post is coming a few days late! The biggest New Year's event happens every year in Seoul, and  is pretty much equivalent to the giant ball dropping in New York City at Times Square. There is also a famous event on the morning of New Years Day. So what is the Korean equivalent of NYC New Years?
    Well, there is no fancy ball, but there is a giant bell ringing ceremony. Last year the President even came out to ring the famous Bosingak bell which dates all the way back to 1346. The bell is housed in a beautiful traditional Korean style building, and events take place all day leading up to the ringing of the bell at midnight. The bell is located in the historical downtown area of Jongno, which is a great place to remember old times and celebrate the future.

Here is a picture taken before the famous bell ringing ceremony at around 5 pm.

    The event is pretty lackluster in my opinion. Everyone stands outside for hours in the freezing cold weather to hear the giant bell ring and see a few fireworks. My group of friends ending up hiding out in a restaurant behind the bell until about 5 minutes before midnight. Then we walked outside and joined the crowded streets packed with policemen, and participated in the countdown. Immediately after the event people start clearing away from the site, but there were many people who stayed to shoot off personal fireworks.
 

A picture taken behind the famous bell tower during the ringing ceremony.

    In my opinion the event is completely overrated, but it is definitely something that everyone should experience once in their life while they are living in Korea. Although the New Years Eve ceremony is lackluster, the New Years morning tradition is one that I strongly recommend. Every year on New Years morning, thousands of Koreans get up before dawn and venture to the coast or mountain tops to watch the sun rise. Watching the first sun rise of the new year will bring you good luck and karma for the rest of the year.
    My first opinion of the sun rising events was, "are these people nuts?" But my morning spent on top of Namsan Mountain was truly one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life. Everyone was so excited to see the sun, and when it finally came up you heard cheers and applauds from everyone. There was so much happiness and love present that morning it was almost overwhelming. Once the sun comes up you are supposed to make a wish for the new year and announce it to your friends and family who will also wish for your happiness too. To learn more about sun rising events and festivals in Korea during New Years visit The Korea Tourism Organizations website here.

Another view of the first 2011 sunrise on top of Namsan Mountain.

If you have any questions or comments about "Celebrating The New Year Korean Style" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Enjoy Myeong-dong Cathedrals Gothic architecture and attend an English Mass

Myeong-dong Catheral during December.

     Within a shopping district in the busiest area of downtown Seoul, no one would expect to see a Gothic style church among the bright neon signs of restaurants and billboards. Since 1784 people have been gathering inside Myeong-dong Cathedrals exquisite brick walls, and little did they know that the church would be designated historic spot No. 258 in the 21st century.
    Today the church represents the symbol of the Catholic Church in Korea and is the headquarters for the Archdiocese of Seoul. Every Sunday the church offers two English Masses for foreigners living in or simply visiting Korea. The English Mass takes place on Sundays at 7:00am and 9:00am and there are even English hymn books so that you can sing along.
    Be sure to check out The Crypt which is located beneath the main altar of the church. The underground area is used as a place of worship, and also houses martyrs Bishop Imbert (Second Bishop of the Church in Korea) and Fr. Chastan (member of the Paris Foreign Missionary Society) as well as others remains. There is a Pilgrimage Mass held every weekday at 10:00am in the Crypt if you are interested in seeing a service in the beautiful yet spooky underground room.

The front entrance of the Church.

   For the most spectacular views of the church I strongly recommend going at night time. The lights around the building really bring out the different colors of the bricks. One of the best pictures can be taken at the foot of the hill as one gazes upward towards the church.
     Myeong-Dong is the perfect place to celebrate Christmas Day Mass. I went to the mass last Christmas on Saturday Dec. 25, at 9:00am. The church wasn't as packed as I thought it would be, but you should arrive early if you want to sit towards the front. The priest came from all the way from Ireland, and he definitely threw in a little bit of humor towards the end of the mass! View an article about the funny 2010 Christmas mass at "cat-angel man and Irish priest singing".

A side view of the Myeong-dong Catherals brick walls.

A glimpse inside reveals the church organ and high Gothic style ceilings.

If you have any questions or comments about "Enjoy Myeong-dong Cathedrals Gothic architecture and attend an English Mass" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to  
goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Reader Q&A: How can you meet other expats in Korea?

Terrible cartoon drawing by Marie Webb, hilarious Korean culture courtesy of Korea.

     Korea can be a very difficult place to meet friends, mainly because Koreans do not find it socially acceptable to talk to strangers. Yes, sometimes working for a smaller company in Korea can lead to feeling isolated from other expats. The language barrier can also attribute to this factor, especially if you are not living in a large city like Seoul. If you take away one point from this Q&A it is this: remember that you are a foreigner, and just because something like talking to strangers is not accepted by Korean society, doesn't mean that you should change your cultural norms to fit theirs. Thank you to my anonymous reader for bringing up this very important topic in the following email:

Hi Marie,

First of all, it's nice to know that you're having a good time in korea despite the cultural differences. I'm a Malaysian who just graduated from the UK and am now working as an intern at a korean company in gangnam-gu(1 year contract). Currently livin in a studio apartment unit in Wangsimni. 

So it's been one month since I got here and I'm finding it a little lonely especially with the language barrier. I mean, I like my colleagues and my other korean friends. They're lovely, but it's always nice to get to know some people who are in a similar situation as I am. My question would be: Do you know/Would you recommend any channels or hangout spots to meet up with expats? I actually found some at "meetup.com" but I'd just like to get your opinion on this. Please and thank you!

Keep up the good work :).

Cheers,

anonymous (Gone Seoul Searching will keep all of its readers names anonymous unless otherwise instructed)

p/s: Sometimes, I envy Westerners here as you guys are treated like celebrities whereas I blend in with the crowd because of my skin complexion. The problem would be that I can't speak Korean. People give me weird stares when I try to communicate in English (WHY is this Korean-looking guy talking in bloody English?!). I'm learning the language, but it's tough.

Q: Do you know/Would you recommend any channels or hangout spots to meet up with expats?

 A: Yes, meetup.com is a great resource to use if you are having difficultly meeting other foreigners. However, it is always somewhat strange to rely on technology to meet others. I strongly recommend taking some tours that are directed for expats. Companies such as www.adventurekorea.com and The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch are always getting together groups of expats for amazing tours around Korea. The RASKB also offers multiple lectures each month in which many expats are in attendance.  
    If you are teaching adults, I also recommend hanging out with your students. They will often times introduce you to many places and other people in which you can make new connections. In America this would be completely unheard of, but in Korea this is acceptable. 
   Lastly, you should check out the community page of Seoul Magazine. The English magazine posts tons of events happening around Seoul each month. Among events such as the Seoul Players, O'ngo cooking classes, and Korean cultural classes for foreigners you should be able to meet plenty of expats. Most of all, keep an open mind and make plans to see people again and exchange numbers whenever possible. Don't be afraid to talk to foreigners on the subway just because the Korean's don't. 


Q: How do I cope with an Asian appearance, but I am really a foreigner in Korea? 


A: I know many Asians, Mexicans, and even Indians who are spoken to in Korean on a daily basis. The Korean people automatically assume you are a local or a mix because of your dark skin. My main recommendation to you is to learn how to say short phrases like "waygooken"  "Hanguk anyio" and fast! The Koreans will immediately understand that you are just a foreigner and cannot speak any Korean.

If you have any questions or comments about "Reader Q&A: How can you meet other expats in Korea?" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Seoul Food Girl: Eating live octopus at Noryangjin Seafood Market

You can also read this post at www.seoulfoodgirl.com
  

Bargaining for your live octopus at Noryangjin is half the fun.

  Eating live octopus in Korea is a delightfully scary and delicious experience. The best place to experience eating raw fish (sannakji hoe), and especially raw live octopus (낙지) is none other than the famous Noryangjin Seafood Market in Seoul.

    Noryangjin is one of Korea's largest fish markets with a raw fish market operating 24 hours a day 365 days a year. After arriving at the Noryangjin market from subway line No. 1, I was overwhelmed by the amount of seafood that this enormous building houses. Just looking at the billions of pounds of sea food got me wondering if there are any fish left in the sea at all (and I am no animal rights activist)!

Huge tanks of clams are among hundreds of types of seafood at Noryangjin.

    Once at Noryangjin you will see hundreds of tanks of fresh octopus. Simply wander up to one of the stalls and ask how much (Eolmayeyo). A medium size octopus about the size of your hand should run you about 10,000 won. If you want to bargain with the fish dealer simply hesitate alot and then say gga gga ju se yo , which means discount. The "gga gga" is pretty much pronounced "ka ka" like poop, with a strong emphasize on the first "ka." The fish dealer will be very impressed that you said this, and will most likely drop their price immediately

A view of Noryangjin seafood market at 1:30 am on a cold Friday morning.

   After purchasing your octopus, head on over to one of the many hidden and often underground restaurants in the market. Sometimes the fish dealer will take you right there which happened in my case. At the restaurant, they will wash and serve up the raw and wiggling octopus with some tangy sauces and lettuce for a cheap price.

If you have any questions or comments about "Eating live octopus at Noryangjin Fish Market"  please leave them in the comment box below or email them to seoulfoodgirl@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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A commercialized Korean Christmas

A Christmas photo stop in Myeongdong outside Migliore.

Christmas in Korea is just like America's Christmas, but on steroids. The entire concept of Christmas is turned into a giant commercialized frenzy for the month of December. My students explained to me that they go on expensive dates with their boy/girl friends and that it is a much bigger deal than Valentines day. Take for example the 5 course dinner offered at the JW Marriot in Seoul witch is a steep 200,000 won!
    Going to class every day and listening to my students talking about Christmas was a bit depressing at times. Some of them would say things like "Well I'm single, so I'll just stay home and watch movies and be sad all night!" Christmas here is more about dating than anything, most of the Koreans that are religious have a small celebration like a dinner, or go to church and that is all.

Pagoda and YBM competing with each other.

    Although there is a sad side to Christmas in Korea if you are single, the decorations throughout Seoul are simply magnanimous. Everywhere you look there are Christmas lights and trees. The YBM headquarters in Jongno put up their giant display of lights, and about a week later Pagoda (YBM's biggest competition) threw up five times the amount of lights on their small building in Jongno!  Check out some amazing pictures around Seoul and from my Christmas party this year.

Pagoda cannot fit anymore Christmas lights on their building.

Outside of Myeongdong Catholic Church.

A nativity scene at Myeongdong Church.

Crazy light structure outside of IBK bank.

A beautiful Christmas tree outside of Myeongdong theatre.

A woman taking donations and ringing the bell, just like Salvation Army in America.

A shoe store advertisement wishing you a happy walking?

Former YBM students wearing matching Christmas sweaters at my Christmas party.

A group photo at my Christmas pot luck dinner in Jongno.

If you have any questions or comments about "A commercialized Korean Christmas" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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