Temple Stay in Korea
Looking for something new to try in Korea?
Have you hiked all the mountains, done all the weirdly-themed Norae-bangs, and attempted everything else you think an expat here can try? If so, there’s one more thing for you and it is gaining popularity in Korea. The Templestay program is a great way to learn more about Buddhist and traditional Korean customs all in one visit.
Top Monk speaking on the temple’s construction
We visited Beomeosa (Jogye Order, Korean Buddhism) which sits on Geumjeongsan in northern Busan. As with most temples I have visited, Beomeosa seemingly has its own design and also a dramatic history. The temple’s monks organized defenses against the Japanese during but the enemy forces inflicted much damage, burning the structure in 1592. Beomeosa was eventually rebuilt as a smaller version of the original and has remained largely unchanged since the 17th century. Continue reading →
Hiking Geumsan, Namhae Island
We all went hiking up Namhae’s famed Geum-San for a friend’s birthday and encountered some beautiful views not only out to sea but also back towards the mainland of the Korean Peninsula.
The hike we picked was designed to take 90 mins. but there are many opportunities to stop and rest or take some nice photos along the way. Most notable along the way are Ssanghongmun (Gate of Double Rainbows) and Boriam Temple. Both provide picturesque views but the best spot has to be at the top.
Follow the Money
By Carl Hedinger & C. Adam Volle
“Follow the money,” it is said, if you want to understand a country’s politics. Far fewer say, “Study the money,” but more should. Learn about the faces on a country’s currency and you learn a lot more about the people who put them there – their self-image, their ambitions.
Consider the bills and coins of today’s won (원), starting with the obvious: conspicuously absent are all of the modern state’s 20th-century architects, in a clear repudiation of their dictatorial leadership. But then, notice that even though Koreans claim an almost 5,000-year-long history, all five of the historical figures chosen to represent them lived within just 200 years of each other, from 1398 to 1598.
Scenes from the 2012 Lantern Festival
Hello All!
Just wanted to share some photos of this year’s 진주남강유등축제 (Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival). While not the best night shots(I’m still a novice at that), I really enjoyed the scenes and wanted to share them on YoJinju!
Enjoy!
If you’d like something more, check out this post from Gwangju Blog. Feel free to share some photos with us! We always love looking at great pictures!
안녕!
Jinju Nongae Festival
If you are looking for something to do in Jinju AND save some money that’d be otherwise spent traveling, there might be something for you here at the end of May. For a great chance to learn about some history and local culture, come to Jinjuseong (Jinju Fortress) for the Nongae Festival. Running from May 25th-27th, the Festival commemorates the great sacrifices made by Jinju locals and most importantly Nongae – the entertainer who bravely gave her own life to kill a prominent Japanese general during the Imjin War. Here’s one perspective on Nongae’s great actions:
“Capturing the enemy commander is the same as annihilating an enemy corps. Moreover, as a mere gwangi (traditional dancing & singing woman belonged to government), she showed her loyalty and patriotism to us. This laudable story will be remembered forever.”
– Poet Jeong Ji-yong(1902~?)
While the festival is centered around Nongae, it is also a celebration of local art throughout Jinju’s history. Thanks to the great wealth of resources found on Jinju’s Nongae Cyber Museum, there’s a little of something for everyone. With information posted in English, Korean, and Japanese, Jinju is certainly interested in attracting as many people from as many walks of life as possible to this festival. The website hosts sections on history, literature, a collection of songs dedicated to Nongae, and even a cleverly put-together cartoon about her.
There will certainly be some great sights and fun activities going on in and around Jinjuseong! .
Although the English website hasn’t been updated since 2010, here’s the latest schedule translated by our dear friend Yejin here in Jinju:
May, 25. Friday
17:00 – 17:50 Heondare (tea offering ceremony and procession) at Jinju Castle
17:50-18:40 Uiam Byeolje (Ritual) at the Open Theater in front of the museum in Jinju Castle
20:00 – 20:50 Opening ceremony and the reenactment of Nongae’s sacrifice at Uiam
May 26. Saturday
18:00 – 19:00 The performances of Jinju intagible cultural assets at the Open Theater
19:30 – 20:30 Music concert at the Open Theater
21:00 – 21:40 The reenactment of Nongae’s sacrifice at Uiam
May 27. Sunday
18:00 – 20:30 Several performances at the Open Theater
21:00 – 21:40 The reenactment of Nongae’s sacrifice at Uiam
For more info, please visit these websites:
Korean: http://nongae.jinju.go.kr/main/
English: http://english.jinjunongae.com/main/
Japanese: http://japan.jinjunongae.com/main/
The Quote by Jeong Ji-yong can be found here: http://english.jinjunongae.com/02cyber/02_01.php
15th Annual Maehwa Festival
Need to get out of the city after the long, cold winter? Head out to the eastern edge of Jeollanam-do bordering Gyeongsangnam-do for a touch of beautiful maehwa. English speakers refer to these little beauties as plum blossoms, and since the maehwa is the earliest flower to bloom, its opening signifies spring’s arrival in Korea. A festival celebrating the maehwa has been taking place for the past 15 years. The original festival in 1997 lasted three days and, due to popular demand, has since expanded to its current nine-day format.
The festival always begins when plum blossoms cover the entire area surrounding the Seomjin Village or “Maehwa Village,” as it is known during the festival. This village sits between a high mountain and a beautiful river. On one side lies Baegunsan, a mountain famous for its hiking trails and home to nearly one thousand species of plants, and the Seomjingang, a fishing hotspot that also boasts a nice beach area with bleachers, rests on the opposite side. Both the mountain and river provide an excellent vantage to take beautiful photos. A short walk away from the Village center is a large walkway which overlooks a dam and surrounding mountains.
When the maehwa bloom, be prepared to take lots of photos, as this area’s natural beauty is truly admirable. If the lovely flowers are not enough, activities abound during the festival. The main feature is the “Flower Way Concert”. For the more competitive spirit, there will be photo, food, and drawing contests. If it’s not possible to make a visit during the festival, be sure to come around throughout the spring and summertime as the wildlife awakens from its wintry slumber.
During my own visit in mid-February, I spoke with a kind woman at the local tourist information office in Gwangyang, and she mentioned that the maehwa were only at “10 percent bloom”. Having seen the blossoms when they were just getting started, I can assure readers that the festival time (March 17-25) will provide a breathtaking experience.
The best way to reach the Maehwa Festival is to first travel to Gwangyang (1 ½ – 2 hours). Then take a city bus from Gwangyang to the festival (40 min – 1 hour). Plenty of information, including an English tourist map, is available at the Gwangyang bus station.
If this area seems nice, there are more places nearby that can provide an enjoyable experience. Close to Gwangyang is Suncheon, which is known for its Ecological Park and many species of birds. Another great location is Namhae, which many people in Gyeongsangnam-do frequent as a watery getaway from the city. While the Gwangyang area may not have the lights and the glamour of a big city, this festival truly shows the splendors of Korea’s countryside and even an occasional glimpse into the past.
By Carl Hedinger
Edited by Caitlin Jacobs (Gwangju News)
Festival Info:
Time: March 17-25
Place: Daap-myeon Maehwa Village
Getting there: (From Jinju) Take an bus from the Inner-City Bus Terminal to Gwangyang (1 hr). Buses leave every 2 hours so try to be there as early as possible. Check here for bus info. From Gwangyang, take an Inner-city bus to the Maehwa Village (40 min – 1 hour).
Eating in?
Ordering delivery in Korea is easier than you might think! There are some restaurants that we know and love from back home which are used to receiving calls from foreigners. The first thing you need to have is your home address and be able to pronounce it correctly. When calling, all you have to ask is “Do you have an English Line?” Sometimes they will be able to help you right away, and sometimes they will have to call you back, so be patient! The numbers provided are corporate lines, so make sure you tell them that you are located in Jinju. The local branches usually won’t have someone that speaks English, but the corporate lines often have someone there to assist the foreigners. After giving them your address (and downstairs door code if you have one) you can give them your order. The great thing is that once you call in an order, they usually keep your address on file, so the next time you call you may not have to give it to them again! Also, If you are picky like my boyfriend and do not want certain things on your hamburger you can say, “Mustard, pickle, onion bbae-go- ju-sey-yo” “… 빼고 주세요”. To be clear, you can also say the items that you don’t want and say “Minus”. They will then ask you if you would like to pay with cash or card. If you are paying with card, the delivery man will bring a portable credit card machine to your door. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Here are places where you can call and get English assistance.
Photo Courtesy of http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/the-rice-bowl/dominos-south-korea-your-pizza-30-minutes-or-else
Domino’s 1577-3082
McDonald’s 1600-5252
Mr. Pizza 1577-0077
By Christina Riley
Great Groups
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If you are living in Jinju…
There are some great groups to be aware of to make your living easily and more social!
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On Facebook check out the following groups:
In Jinju:
Jinju
Yo Jinju!
Jinju Flea Market
Studying the Korean Language in Jinju
Jinju Book Club
Jinju Church
International English Church
Jinju Jobs
Throughout Korea:
Talk to me in Korean
Waygook
When in Korea (WinK)
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Fantastic Websites:
www.Waygook.org This is one of the best websites for teacher’s in Korea. This website is a great resource for swapping Lesson Plans, great games, ideas, and general questions about life in Korea. Have a question regarding pension, taxes, or even mailing packages home? Go here! It is suggested that you use the search feature first before posting because the website already has a wealth of information!
www.internationalenglishchurch.com This website has a wealth of information for those who are religious or have questions regarding religion and times for worship. In addition, this website has a lot great information on Jinju!
http://jinjuchurch.or.kr/ On this website you will be able to find the worship times for English services geared towards international non-denominations!
www.Nicemarket.net Missing Dr. Pepper? Like cooking curries? A little slice of home can be delivered to your door! All of the western groceries you’ve been missing can usually be found here. Running out of Busan, this company usually only delivers once a week, so be sure to check their delivery schedule!
www.expatmart.co.kr Just like Nicemarket, but with a lot more selection! Specifically in the Indian Curry department! Also, this company delivers more often, but does charge a shipping fee of 3,000KRW if your order is under 70,000KRW
www.Gmarket.co.kr The amazon.com of Korea! Complete with English! Looking for a cheap tent? Knock off Uggs? Find them here! Delivery is incredibly fast (I’ve received things the NEXT day!)
www.TalktomeinKorean.com Talk to me in Korean is a great site with mp3’s and accompanying pdf files to help you learn Korean! Check out their facebook page too!
www.lang-8.com If you would like a more intimate learning experience, lang-8 is a website where you can interact with native speakers. It is a language exchange for any series of languages!
www.whatthebook.com Miss reading? Based out of Seoul you can order English books! They have a nice and large selection of books, but allow 10 business days for shipping.
www.betterworldbooks.com This is another option for English books. A great aspect to this site is that for every book that is bought, the company gives a book to someone in need. It is also a great resources for book clubs!
by Christina Riley
Driving in Korea
Locally getting your Korean Driver’s License
Take your ARC (Alien Registration Card), passport, current driver’s license from your home country, 3 passport sized photos, and KRW 11,000 in cash to the DMV. You will have to sign papers and pass a physical exam. Next, you will have to trade in your home country’s driver’s license for a Korean one. You may get your original license back whenever you want, but you will have to give back your Korean license. The closest DMV to Jinju is in Masan.
…to Masan from Jinju:
Take an Inner-city Bus towards Masan. You may either take city bus 72 or tell a taxi the following information:
경남 창원시 (Gyeongnam Changwon Shi)
마산합포구 진동면 (Masan Hapo-Gu Shindongmyeon)
진동리 700 (Jin Dong Ri Chil Bek)
Ph: 055-271-7603
It’s always a smart idea to have the phone number with you just in case the taxi driver doesn’t understand you or recognize the address!
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Korean Driver’s License for an American (Option 2)
Getting a driver’s license in Korea isn’t as hard as one may think! Within your first 90 days in Korea you may exchange your U.S. Driver’s license for a Korean license after submitting a notarized affidavit attesting the authenticity of your license and its state of origin. One can obtain this affidavit by making an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. Be sure to bring a valid driver’s license, passport and ARC. There will be a fee of $50 for the notary.
You can find more info here:
http://dl.koroad.or.kr/english/index.jsp
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International Driver’s License for an American
If you are interested in obtaining an International Driver’s License, the process is much easier BUT does take longer. This is the process that I used that was very simple and we didn’t even have to leave our home! Through AAA you simply print out an application, include two passport sized photos (with signature on the back), a photocopy of both sides of your current driver’s license and $15USD permit fee. In addition, you will need to provide them with return postage. (This can be estimated by using UPS.com for rates) AAA says to allow 4-6 weeks for return mail unless you have included and specified express mail service.
http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html
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Renting a Car in Jinju
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To rent a car there is an AVIS location in Jinju. Gajwa-dong Jinju City
It is located near MBC Cinema. Buses that frequently go that direction are 121, 127,131, 17-5, 21,21-1, 221, 27, 27-1, 33-1, 333, 36, 490, 50, 55, 95 and get off at 가좌주공아파트거리뷰 Ga-jwa ju-gong apart-tu geo-re-byu
Or you can tell a taxi driver:
652-17 가좌동 진주시
Or MBC ga-jo-sey-yo (at the MBC, walk towards the 3 way intersection and turn left and walk approximately one block until you see a small alleyway on your right. You will see the Avis in the alleyway!
Refer to http://www.ajrentacar.co.kr/eng/use/inland.jsp for specific prices on rentals! Keep in mind that certain cars might not be available at that current location so use this as a guide for prices!
The hours of operation are:
Saturday/Sunday 9a-6p
Mon-Fri 8:30a-7:30p
re
**Important** Age Requirements
At this location the minimum age is 21 for car groups C (Compact), E (Standard), and F (Full Size). The minimum age is 26 for car groups G (Premium), H and K (Luxury), I and J (Special). The minimum age is 30 for any other car groups.
More information can be found at www.avis.com
OkCar Rental is located at 253-1 상평동 (Sang pyeong-dong)
Take Bus 37 to 원예농협 Won-ye NongHyup. Cross the street and walk down the intersection 3 1/2 blocks. (English not guaranteed!)
Yo Jinju! 