Seoul Palaces
by MEdelmann
We are not ready with the palaces, just in the neighbourhood of Changdeokgung Palace there is located Changgyeonggung Palace. Like the other, it offer beautiful architecture and a big green park, where the citizens of Seoul take a rest. You can watch them playing games (like I did, just watch my pictures in the travelogue) ....
(abstracts from )
Even...
by katie_park
(abstracts from )
Even non-verbal communication is widely different between East and West. Americans, for example, use a virtual carnival of facial expression and hand gestures that Koreans often find amusing. The wink, that wonderfully simple and versatile method of communicating at least five different meanings, is not naturally part of Korean culture, and the sight of it usually tickles Koreans and produces broad smiles. The rapid raising and lowering of the eyebrows, to show interest, is another non-verbal cue that can induce laughter from a surprised Korean onlooker. Tongues in cheek, rolling of the eyes, and licking of the lips, among others, are all foreign to this country. Still others, such as nodding the head up and down for yes and sideways to mean no, pushing out the bottom lip to show disappointment, pursing the lips to display anger, and an inquiring raise of the eyebrows are similar to both cultures. Hand gestures may also provide some examples of cultural contrasts. The Korean gesture for money is demonstrated by connecting the thumb and index finger, to form a circle, with the other three fingers pointed downward. Americans signal money by quickly rubbing the thumb across the tips of the four fingers, palm up. The shrug of the shoulders, with the head tilted to one side to communicate, 'I don't know,' has no equal in Korea. The index finger placed perpendicular to the lips, signifies 'Be Silent,' in both cultures but can also mean 'Keep a secret' to Americans. But the title of this section refers to a much deeper form of non-verbal communication involving recognizing and sharing emotions. Western culture knows it in the form of empathy that comes from long-term association with another, like a close relative or spouse. Most married couples have probably experienced a situation where one spouse knows what the other will say before it is spoken, or when one spouse can predict the other¡¯s reaction before a response actually occurs. With a little effort one spouse can probably feel as the other feels, in certain circumstances, even though the other never expresses that feeling verbally. That type of empathy, while reserved for more intimate relationships in the West, is much more common in casual interpersonal contact in Korea. The term describing the ability to discern and interpret these feelings non-verbally is 'nunchi.' This skill becomes a powerful tool in ensuring harmony in interpersonal relations by effectively reading another's feelings. Once this skill is developed, a large portion of routine communication can transpire without a word or so much as a raised eyebrow. People can learn to feel each other's mood routinely. Communication requires participants to focus on non-verbal behavior that provides clues to inner feelings. Foreigners must use care, when listening and observing, not to screen out behavior they should be examining and interpreting. Westerners who rely on detailed and repetitive verbal communication to feel comfortable understanding another's mood can be confused in Korea where much interpersonal communication is conducted non-verbally. Conversely, Koreans typically do not understand why Westerners insist on verbal communication in situations better conveyed non-verbally. For example, Koreans may wonder why Westerners must continuously say 'I love you' to make a partner sure of their intimate feelings. Many Koreans believe such emotion is more sincerely communicated non-verbally. Again, the example used in a previous section seems appropriate: if a spouse is moping around the house, Westerners would tend to question what is wrong and try to resolve it verbally. Koreans, on the other hand, might detect the bad feelings and try to cheer up the person with a gift of flowers or an act of kindness, without discussion. While understanding the unspoken is certainly a challenge, it's a skill that pays big dividends for foreigners who can develop and utilize it effectively while working in Korea.
HANGEUL
by ancient_traveler
Koreans have developed and use a unique alphabet called Hangeul. It is considered to be one of the most efficient alphabets in the world and has garnered unanimous praise from language experts for its scientific design and excellence.
4-19 Cemetary Near Jogye Sa Temple
by haveatisue
Near Jogye Sa Temple is the 4-19 cemetary, dedicated to the 142 Korean Students that were killed in a protest against the fraudulent 1960 presidential elections. The Protests and shootings brought the country to the brink of civil war. This caused President Syngman Rhee's government to collapse. The military General Park Chung Hee took over the government of the country and was a dictator until his assisinated in 1979.
There is a museum with pictures and 3-D di-aramas, fountains, a walking trail, small temple and some interesting art work. Unfortunately, all of the information is in Korean but the pictures do tell the story pretty well. The Cemetary is on the edge of Buk-han San park.
To get to the cemetary Take subway line 4 to Suyu station and follow the signs to the north of the station. The road the cemetary is on is called the 4-19 road, and it is well marked. If you write 4-19 any local can direct you the right way.
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JumpingNorman, South Korea June 7, 2010
Seoul, Palace, Skyscraper
Amsa-dong "Ecosystem Landscape Conservation Area"
Diving in Korea - Sokcho
