Images powerful than words

Sometimes a picture is powerful than many words. A strong picture can give bigger messages to us. Let me introduce impressive pictures to me

It is a scene of 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards (a.k.a MAMA) held in Singapore. Originally, it was domestic music award, and the hosting company CJ, the biggest culture contents group in Korea, expanded it to whole Asia. Now, more than 13 Asian countries watch Korean singers through this award. I'm very proud of my country and being motivated powerfully because I also want to work in culture and contents business.

Thousands of people are waiting for taking an employment paper exam at the same day in a huge convention hall. It explains that how hard a college finished student get into a company. Sadly, I can't escape from the same situation either and I'm very afraid whether I can pass the little hole.

Korean president Park wore light blue jacket whereas Obama wore black jacket with gray striped tie. I can notice that he definitely offered his condolences to ferry accident in Korea because White house's official dress code is navy suit or matching light color tie with black suit. I'm very disappointed that the president of my country is interested in her fashion or personal schedule than national accident.

This is not a deep forest but the Tsinghua university campus in China. I've studied in the school for 4 months and found out green campus help students let off steam and improve efficiency. This picture prove beautiful campus environment is important fact to become a good school because as many people know Tsinghua is the first university in China. My university is similar to it, science and engineering specialized , but two schools' campus environment is totally different, actually lack of trees and break area so I really envy them and hope someday my school became like the picture, too.

A Korean idol group 2pm leader Jay Park, a Korean American, drop out of the group in 2009 because of his his past word in Myspace before he came to Korea to become a singer. He said he hate Koreans and Korean culture. Many people swore and insult him very hard. Just after 1 week he drop out and went back to America. Many fans cried and boycott the management company. It took almost 3 years Jay comeback to Korea again. In fact, some people mistranslated the words and cursed him like witch-hunting. The point is that the words on Internet were too strong that nobody can't stop it. This picture represents the most popular result of online witch-hunting. 

uncomfortable guest Avergers

The most famous movie in last year, Avengers’ sequel filmed in Seoul. About two weeks from March 30, around the key spots of Seoul including Han river bridge and Gangnam main street was filmed in. It was the first time Hollywood's blockbuster movie shooting in Korea, and many citizens and movie fans were looking forward to Hollywood stars’ first visiting. 

This special event was planned in November last year, the Seoul Film Commission started it. Among 2 or 3 final candidates, the Avengers became the final bid winner. For the just 15 filming days, several months of progress was started. The Hollywood film team will receive enormous perks. Korea movie council decided to refund 30% of film production costs in South Korea, about 30 billion won. The main shooting location was banned to enter up to 12 hours. It was only for them. It is because that Seoul city and Government expected the movie will bring a rosy effect. 

Korea Ministry of Culture foresee 2 trillion won worth of national brands will rise including 4 billion in tourism promotion. About 20 minutes of the movie will describe Seoul as state-of-the-art technology in the future. In addition, choice of film professionals’ prove Seoul won its strong competitor, Tokyo, and more and more film men will knock the door of this city.

However, the government’s sign of hospitality was excessive. First of all, they did not consider the convenience of the citizens of Seoul. Mapo Bridge which is controlled longest is one of the busiest traffic spot. Although the pre- bypass was promoted, but it was out of idea to me that why the citizen of metropolitan have to bear the congestion. It felt like let the biggest bed room to the guest.

Are they in same line?

Also, the national brand of 2 trillion won increase in value is questionable. Avengers is known as well with its exciting action scenes created by computer graphics. Like most of people do not curious about the crumbling city behind the robots, actually New York, no one wonder where this movie has gotten this great high-technologic city view. They just want to see how the buildings collapse down cooler.

You can just compare with other movies which have particular backgrounds. Hangover2 starts from a strange room in Bangkok.  After the bachelor party in Las Vegas, things do not go as planned, resulting in bad hangover with no memories of the previous night. When they wander in complicated city, audiences can enjoy the unique scene of Thailand with spider webbed cables and thousands of motorcycles. The places they’ve wandered were to be a tourism package. 

There’s another Hollywood movie – Tom Cruise starred Mission Impossible 3. Jumping out rely on one line along skyscraper in Shanghai and running through Venice of China, Shitang left a deep impression on the audiences. But I can’t assure Iron man and Captain America’s new power can make people remember Seoul.

Last year, 200 million people in Korea visited cinema. Now Korea can join the ranks of not only the economic advanced but also cultural advanced country. So we can proud of love calls from Hollywood film makers. But, ourselves also have to take care our own movie business. Seoul city didn’t allow the independent movie director to film in subway during the Avengers shooting period. There cannot be this kind of discrimination after all if this city really like and love cultural business.

Also, filming council should not over issue perks. If not, some of the cherry pickers will flock into here rather than capture the beauty of Seoul.

Link:

'Avengers 2' expected to bring big benefits to Korean movie industry

[Seoul/Iteawon] Iteawon Half Day Course

Hi guys! This is your Seoul tour guide Jina :)

Today, following the latest post about Iteawon history,
I'm going to suggest "Jina's half day course" to you.

It is composed by the stores and places I really visited before!

You don't have to worry about any sponsors behind this post because no one know my blog presently....

Anyway!

When you visit Iteawon, spend just half of the day would be enough, because it just take just 30 minutes when you walk the entire street.

Because of the physical geography of Iteawon, a jar shaped business district(which is stucked in the middle of none business or residentail district) developed in this area - from Noxa subway station to Hangangjin station.

Let's start from Haebangchon near Noxapyung subway station on line 6.

It is very quiet and small residential district composed of more than 70% foreigners. The main street is full of small restaurants which can satisfy special customers in there.

 

The most popular restaurant in here is 'Jacoby's Burger'. It became famous since 2011 for its 20cm tall beef burger with original chips - nicknamed 'Destroying Gut Burger' on internet because of the huge calories!

 

If you hate line-up or too heavy meal, I'll recommend a bruch special in '7ate9', a small restaurant just front of the Jacoby - I found it just last week :) It serves many western style foods like pasta or risotto. Especially the brunch menu was quite good because the components of a plate are very fresh.

 

The restaurant is very small so it is easier to talk with the cheif in there than other big and busy shops. (We chatted about the recent cafe trend in Iteawon.) I think this kind of familarity is the big strength of stores in Haebangchon.

 

After the meal, let's move on to dessert. The first one is 'Sweetbee', the soft ice cream shop. It's on Kyungreedan street, across the street from Haebangchon.

The base ice cream is made of fresh milk. You can also choose from 9 different organic toppings and decorations. As see in the picture, the whole corn is coated by white chocolete. I'm the person one of sweet-mad and I gave A+ to it.

 

Another dessert is 'Monster Cupcake'. It's not far from the Sweetbee. Upon entering the store, a notable feature is the horror movie motif interior. The cupcakes in there are not only very strange but also elaborate. Maybe it can be good decorations in Halloween. There are, however, too little tables make people only choose take out.

 

So far I have explained stores in Haebangchon and Kyungreedan street which are very popular among young women these days. Because the foreigners and young people have big percentage of here, it is expected that more and more unique stores will appear in this area.

 

 

 

Let's strolling around the Iteawon main street this time. Different from common squared Korean buildings, buildings and stores in Iteawon are looks exactly like colorful western countries' that. Even if you don't taste the 2~30$ expensive world foods, you can find out and enjoy the Iteawon features in every corner of there. 

 

From Iteawon street beyond the Cheil building, the best ad company in Korea, is shopping district. Many no-named clothing stores are there and sometimes you can meet the surprise flea market and get items from Korean designers' brands at reasonable price.

 

Not far from Hangangjin station exit no.1, there's Leeun art museun founded by Samsung. The Galaxy phone company Samsung has huge influence in economy and also in culture, so the museum owns treasure pieces.

 

 

This is the end of the half day course! After that, visiting Myungdong by bus for shopping and going up to the Namsan for night sight viewing will make you a perfect day.

(spring in Iteawon, 2013.05)

 

Me and my parents actually follow this route on weekend. I hope more people know the beaty of Seoul.
See u !