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K-Drama Words and Phrases: Strong Girl Bong-soon
At 90 Day Korean, it’s no surprise that we love all things Korean and Korean dramas are no exception! We’re big fans of studying Korean but also doing it in a fun and interesting way. Whether it’s studying with television, music, or movies, learning through a medium you enjoy is a surefire way to learn Korean fast! So for that reason, we’re going to start an article series of some of our favorite dramas and words you can look for to supplement your Korean studies while you watch.
So heat up your popcorn and grab a pencil because we’re starting with the 2017 hit drama 힘쎈여자 도봉순 (himssen-yeoja dobongsun) or in English, “Strong Girl Bong-soon”. Let’s get started!
Strong Girl Bong-Soon Overview:
This drama centers on a woman named Do Bong Soon who possesses extraordinary strength which she inherited from her mother. She meets Ahn Minhyuk, a CEO of a gaming company who is being harassed by an anonymous person. Because of her strength, she was able to work at Ahn Minhyuk’s company as his bodyguard. With Do Bong Soon’s strength and Ahn Minhyuk’s smart mind, they’ll try to end the series of attacks against women in Do Bong Soon’s neighborhood.
Why you should watch it:
For all K-Drama lovers, having Park Hyungsik and Park Bo Young play the main characters is enough reason to watch this drama. You can witness their amazing chemistry and cuteness. Aside from that, this drama is a breath of fresh air to K-Drama lovers since it’s not your ordinary romantic comedy series. For one, it doesn’t follow the usual concept of rom-com series. It emphasizes the character of the female lead having an extraordinary power; her physical strength. It somewhat takes the classic concept of a “damsel in distress” and flips it on its head. In this drama you can expect extreme girl power. For another reason, there is feel of a crime investigation in this drama which is a pleasant twist. Another strong point is its comedic aspect. You’ll find yourself laughing quite hard while watching, especially if you’re a fan of slapstick humor. Check it out at the link below.
Link to watch: https://www.dramafever.com/drama/4988/strong-woman-do-bong-soon/
Can't read Korean yet? Click here to learn for free in about 60 minutes!
Episode 1 Overview
Ahn Minhyuk was riding a bus when he sees a short girl wearing a pink hoody save his bus from danger. This piqued his curiosity as to how such a small woman could be capable of such strength. That small woman made a mark on him that day.
K-Drama Vocabulary:
Korean Word (한국어)How it SoundsEnglish Translation 협박(hyeobbag)threat 비겁하다(bigeobhada)coward 자신(jasin)confidence 도망가(domang-ga)escape or run away 현실(hyeonsil)realityK-Drama Phrases:
지금 당장!!! (jigeum dangjang)
Right now.
그것도 아주 많이 (geugeosdo aju manh-i)
That is also too much.
Episode 2 Overview
Do Bong Soon decides to take on the job of a bodyguard for Ahn Minhyuk. He discovers that Do Bong Soon lives in the neighborhood with crimes involving women. The two of them work together to figure out how to stop the series of assaults on women.
K-Drama Vocabulary:
Korean Word (한국어)How it SoundsEnglish Translation 우주(uju)the universe 범인(beom-in)criminal 서명(seomyeong)signature 반대하다(bandaehada)oppose 고민(gomin)problem 백화점(baeghwajeom)department store 서점(seojeom)bookstore 운전(unjeon)drive 자연스럽게(jayeonseuleobge)naturallyK-Drama Phrases:
범인 빨리 잡히만 좋겠다. (beom-in ppalli jabhiman johgessda)
I hope the criminal will be caught soon.
저줌 잠깐 봐요. (jeojum jamkkan bwayo)
Look at me.
나 오늘 놀거야. 기분 나빠서 일 못하겠어. (na oneul nolgeoya. gibun nappaseo il moshagess-eo)
I’ll have fun today. I don’t feel good today so I can’t work.
So now that you know some words and phrases from this series, check it out and learn even more! Let us know how you like it, and let us know what your favorite Korean dramas are in the comments below.
Want more great K-drama phrases for learning Korean? Check out our other great article about K-drama Phrases for learning Korean!
The post K-Drama Words and Phrases: Strong Girl Bong-soon appeared first on 90 Day Korean®.
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Dating in Toronto: Are Local Men Commitment-Phobes?
Now that I’m back in Toronto I’m trying to assess the dating pool from the outside looking in. While I’m more focused on finding a job than a date (current job ✓, new job August 20th ✓), my gal pals are on the prowl. I’ve returned from Korea to find I only have a handful of single male friends. It seems like I have more single female friends in my age-group than ever, and they are all experiencing the same problem. Is it that Toronto men are scared of commitment or scared of a confident, successful woman? Let’s take a look at some examples of my single pals and other gals dating in Toronto.
Lisa Fotios
Dating in Toronto: Lisa
Lisa and I have known one another for over 10 years. She’s got a pretty dominant personality at first, but is pretty chilled out and easygoing when it comes to making plans. She finished her MBA a few years ago and has taken on a senior role at a start up. She’s passionate about her work, her dog, and her family. I haven’t seen my friend Lisa in 4 months. Why? Well, she’s been pretty heavily into the Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid scenes. For her, Dating in Toronto is a full-time job, too. She’s met a pretty attractive man who seems to take up a lot of her time, yet another commitment-phobe, plus she’s juggling a gazillion first dates. Seems like she’s collecting a variety of styles, throwing them at the wall, and just seeing what sticks. So far she hasn’t really gotten anywhere, and I haven’t really seen my friend!
Dating in Toronto: Abby
Abby is 25. She goes out every Friday to the exact same bar hoping to find a husband. I shit you not, this girl honestly thinks that the first guy who doesn’t back away when she smashes her face into his is going to make for a great provider for her 2.5 children, dog, and white picket fence in Thornhill. Abby joined ultimate frisbee because she thought it would be a great way for her to meet guys. She does it all for the ‘gram. She captions with the likes of “your vibe attracts your tribe” on a picture of a group of people who don’t actually know one another. With someone like Abby, you can’t share your interest in a particular member of the opposite sex. She will undermine any sort of connection you had by trotting over, tits out, making the game real easy for ya man over there. Why work an hour for $100 when someone’s dangling a $20 note in your face, right? She gets off on creating competition with her remaining female friends. She’s a juvenile, insecure, little girl who needs the validation of strange men more than the loyalty and support of gal pals. Don’t be an Abby, don’t take home an Abby, don’t befriend an Abby.
Eneida Nieves Dating in Toronto: JessicaJessica has a revolving door of men. She keeps 2 or 3 in play and has a whole bunch of guys on the bench. She climbed the corporate ladder quickly at the same company for the last 8 years. Recently, she bought a condo and furnished it exactly the way she wanted having lived in a shitty, run-down old building for most of her time in Toronto. Dating in Toronto changed a lot for Jessica when she made the move. All of a sudden the dudes who were freelancing and bartending on the side felt the need to get their shit together and move on up in the world. Jessica was finally showing the wealth she had accumulated, and these guys were not into it. The two men she’s currently dating have told her those three little words over and over again (“I love you”, for those of us who are jaded). Neither of them want to date exclusively. It’s sad, but when you’re dating in Toronto everyone is always on the look-out for something better. They could have their perfect man or woman doing naked back-flips in their front yard, but unless they put down the phone they’ll remain completely oblivious.
Jennifer Decan Dating in Toronto – Candidly CartierSo what’s the secret to actually meeting someone in Canada’s largest city? I thought it would be easier than my experiences in Korea seeing as there are more native English speakers here and many of us grew up with similar cultural backgrounds. In reality, it’s far more difficult. Why is dating in Toronto so obnoxious? When I met Adonis, it was an instant connection. Our wifi signal was weak and I can honestly say, for me, it was love at first sight. I don’t think that feeling will ever go away, and even thousands of miles apart I still feel like we’re connected. With ex-Co-Pilot it was easy, too. I begrudgingly met him after a series of crappy first dates and it was a “right place, right time” situation. He was absolutely incapable of being alone, and I needed a band-aid. Now I’m in a situation where I have a great apartment, great job, and some great friends. I’m no longer working as a conventionally “female” gender role (as a teacher), and the intimidation factor is out of control when you’re dating in Toronto.
Caitlyn Wilson Dating in Toronto is ExhaustingI’m too tired to get dolled up and go out on Friday nights. I’d muuuuuch rather Netflix and Chill. Going out clothes sold here are either hoochie-mama bralets and booty shorts or totally binding triacetate-polyester blend urban professional attire. There is no in between, anymore. My feet hurt. Doing my hair and makeup, stuffing myself into spanx, then trying to get that dang zipper up by myself is exhausting – and for what? All you see at these meet markets are people trying to get the bartender’s attention or simply sitting in a corner and swiping all night.
Swipe for Your LifeSpeaking of swiping, I’ve been out on my fair share of first and second dates having met through a dating app. My aforementioned friends and I get the same message each and every time we opt to keep our legs together for more then a couple of dates. “I think you’re looking to take things a little slower than me. I’m looking for something more casual.” Sir, I’ve met you twice. It’s entirely unfair to imagine that you know what I want. It’s cocky to think that you’re such a stud that I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you after seeing you in two different outfits. Also, it’s pretty pathetic that apparently I’m only good enough to be your booty-call. I was prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt after your horrendous first kiss because we had good banter. I’m starting to think that these morons just want their tinder date to turn up and bend over before agreeing to ever meet again.
Martin Jernberg A Girl’s Gotta EatThese guys seem to think that I want the ring, the house, and the 2.5 kids immediately. It’s not that I want something serious, I just want something consistent. I’m starting a new job and have a pretty full schedule, but a girl’s gotta eat, right? Realistically, I’d like to have a companion with whom to do absolutely nothing on Friday nights, and maybe to go hiking with on Saturday mornings. I like breakfast in bed, too. Yeah – I’ll make it. Don’t get up. There’s still so much of the world to see, and I’m plenty happy as a solo traveler. If you’re along for the ride, great. Please don’t assume to know what I want. Don’t dismiss me simply because you’re intimidated or a Toronto man scared of the first inkling of commitment.
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Hyunwoo’s Tips for Setting Language Goals [TTMIK] | Glass with Billy
Everyone has their own goals for learning Korean. Whenever I meet someone who tells me they're also learning Korean, the first thing I ask them is about their goals. Usually they'll either want to learn how to speak comfortably in the language, or just learn a few phrases to use with someone close to them. I think goals are important for learning languages, but some goals can be ineffective or even hurt your progress. Specifically I wanted to share my opinions together with Hyunwoo from "Talk To Me In Korean" and get his advice on setting goals.
Goals are an important topic that aren't often discussed when learning Korean, so I wanted to get to the bottom of it and hopefully learn something new in the process. And I did.
Why are you learning Korean? What are your goals?
Check out Hyunwoo at the “Talk To Me In Korean” YouTube channel.
The post Hyunwoo’s Tips for Setting Language Goals [TTMIK] | Glass with Billy appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.
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Live Korean Classes + Membership Announcement
Thanks for being a follower of my content and Korean lessons. Today I have a special announcement, that I'll be starting live Korean classes on YouTube.
These will be completely free, interactive, and will be a chance for you to practice and ask questions about what you're learning.
My very first class will be this Saturday (late morning or early afternoon), but the date/time could change depending on what fits most people's schedules.
I've also begun channel memberships through YouTube. This is another way to support me (separate from Patreon or other methods) that's directly through YouTube. You'll get badges for your name, and special emotes that only members can use in the chat. You'll also get special member-only posts in the Community tab of my channel (outtakes, polls, and more content).
Memberships are completely optional, and just something I wanted to do because it goes together with live streams. Please note that you don't have to pay me anything at all. I already love what I do and will keep doing it. Memberships (as well as my Patreon page) are for people who want to support me monetarily, but just watching my videos and subscribing is also supporting me. I appreciate all of you.
Feel free to leave any questions or feedback here, or send me a message (on my Contact page).
The post Live Korean Classes + Membership Announcement appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.
Better beers are here in Busan (Dynamic Busan)
It’s a pretty great time to be in South Korea if you are a craft beer drinker.
The craft beer industry is blowing up all around the world. While it’s still pretty young in South Korea (especially here in Busan), that newness and freshness are really exciting. Especially for those of us who have been here for at least a few years and remember the times when there weren’t more than a few options beyond the bland, light American-style lagers that have dominated much of the beer-drinking world here.
It’s also great to have the input of Jiyoung Moon, my Korean editor and co-writer for this piece. With Dynamic Busan, what’s starts is her Korean story, which is then translated by our capable translator Sangmin Kim. Then, it comes to me. Besides cleaning up the text to better read like native English-written text, I consult with Jiyoung on what else should be added and what can be taken away. It has been a pretty (sorry) dynamic team effort.
The story can be found below and at the Dynamic Busan website. If you’re ever in Busan, South Korea, definitely consider grabbing a pint!
BETTER BEERS ARE HERE IN BUSANWhile the craft beer industry is booming worldwide, it has seen particularly solid growth here in Korea. This is partly because it is just so different from what has been available for as long as any beer could be bought here.
The government, for its part, is helping keep up the momentum. Busan last year designated craft beer as a local business it wants to see succeed and supported craft beer-related brand design, advertisement, promotions and more as a result. Korean craft beer is not only gaining traction here, it’s getting recognized beyond the country. Rate Beer, a well-known beer evaluator from the United States, highlighted four Busan-based craft beers during “The Best Beer in Korea” in 2016. They recognize greatness. Beer enthusiasts traveling from across Korea to Busan for its brews recognize greatness. Now, it’s your turn. Are you up to the challenge?
Busan Craft Beer Festival
Head to BEXCO in Centum City Sept. 5 through 9 for the inaugural Busan Craft Beer Festival. More than 50 businesses including Busan brewers, other domestic breweries, importers, food trucks and more are expected to participate in this festival. People will be able to taste 100 different kinds of craft beer during the festival and enjoy various music performances. Beer brewing lectures are also expected to be conducted. A busanbeerfestival.com website is expected to launch soon.
*Galmegi Brewing Company
Minsik Seo, Jiwon Jeong, Steven Allsopp and Ryan Blocker are making magic happen at Galmegi Brewing Company.
The galmegi (seagull) is not only the symbol of Busan. It has become the symbol of the emerging craft beer market here, as well. Busan craft beer began with Galmegi Brewing Company. In 2013, Galmegi opened Busan’s first western-style brew pub, located within shouting distance from Gwangalli Beach. Their beers that first year were contract brewed, which is when a business works with an outside brewery to make their beers, often using their own recipes. But, with immediate success brought rapid growth. The brewery opened a short walk away in 2014.
Their hard work has paid off. Besides the brewery in the Gwangan area, there are five Galmegi franchises, in Nampo, Seomyeon, Haeundae, the Kyungsung University/Pukyong National University area and in the Pusan National University area. Galmegi Brewing Company’s beer is also available in a number of tap houses in Seoul. Galmegi has an assortment of beer styles that range from light to dark, slightly sweet to unapologetically bitter. India Pale Ales, ambers and stouts can be found on regular rotation. But, more unique, seasonal choices are available, as well, including a ginger-infused beer, a boozy triple IPA and a refreshing beer brewed with Korean yuja fruit.
-Location: 58, Gwangnam-ro, Suyeong-gu
-How to get there: Geumnyeonsan Station (Metro line 2), exit 5. Walk down the cobblestone road toward the beach. Cross the street at the next main intersection and turn right. Walk until you see the brewery on the left.
-Information: galmegibrewing.com, @galmegibrewing on Instagram
*Gorilla Brewing Company
Most breweries offer samplers of their selections.
Gorilla Brewing Company has been busy. Opening in a small space in Millak-dong (neighbor-hood) in January 2016, the owners of this British-style craft beer brewery quickly realized expansion would be necessary. The following year, Gorilla moved to Gwangan, in a larger two-story location a short walk down the road from Galmegi’s brewery. Gorilla Brewing harvests its hops, the flower that is a key component in beer making, from a farm in Gyeongsangbuk-do (province), which allows them to maintain a fresh taste that is very local. About 10 different beers are brewed by Gorilla, including their enormously-popular Gorilla IPA, Busan Pale Ale and more. Special beers have included Tiramisu Extra Stout and the FM Coffee Stout, brewed utilizing coffee beans from the popular FM Coffee shop in Jeonpo-dong. Their brew pub also has a number of other Korea-based brews on constant rotation, allowing visitors a condensed opportunity to taste what all the fuss over Korean craft beer is about.
Saturday visitors to Gorilla Brewing Company can check out live music every Saturday night, as well as free yoga classes at noon.
-Location: 125, Gwangnam-ro, Suyeong-gu
-How to get there: Geumnyeonsan Station (Metro line 2), exit 1. Walk straight toward the beach. Turn left at the next intersection and walk straight for about five minutes. Gorilla Brewing is on the left.
-Information: gorillabrewingcompany.com, @gorilla_brewing on Instagram
*Wild Wave Brewing Co.
What began as a sour beer project in Gwangan has headed east to Songjeong Beach. While Wild Wave Brewing Co.’s Surleim sour beer is still one of its most popular brews (and available in bottles), they have expanded their choices beyond sour into other realms of deliciousness. The brewery’s regular rotation includes Surfing High, a highly drinkable kolsch-style brew, the full-bodied and flavorful Bella IPA and Hazelnut Ale, an Irish red ale made with maple syrup and hazelnuts. Enter their Songjeong brewery and the impressive array of oak casks immediately catches the eye. Wild yeasts and lactic bacteria from the air in these casks result in the sour, tropical flavors that have made Wild Wave famous. Order from their favorable menu of various pub grub, order a couple pints and prepare to have a fantastic afternoon that is only a short walk away from Songjeong Beach.
-Location: 106-1, Songjeongjungang-ro 5beon-gil, Haeundae-gu
-How to get there: Songjeong Station (Donghae line), exit 1. Cross the street and turn right down the alley near the bus stop.
-Information: wildwavebrew.com, @wildwave.brew on Instagram
*Praha 993
A visit to F1963 in Mangmi-dong can fill up an entire afternoon. There are regular art exhibits, a bookstore, even a coffee shop. There’s also delicious Czech-style beer. Launched in 2017, Praha 993’s origins begin in its founders Czech Republic homeland. Its beers range from pilsners (which originated in the Czech Republic) and stouts to India Pale Ales and seasonal specialties like pumpkin ale that are brewed on-site. These pair well with an assortment of both Czech-inspired and pub-familiar meals including fish and chips and Koleno, savory slow-roasted pork knee that is a quintessential Czech feast. The number 993 in their name comes from the year beer is believed to have been produced for the first time in the Czech Republic. Beer drinkers can experience more than 1,000 years of beer history at not only their flagship location, but also in their Seomyeon branch and at other fine pubs across the city.
-Location: 20, Gurak-ro 123beon-gil, Suyeong-gu
-How to get there: Suyeong Station (Metro lines 2 or 3), exit 5. Take bus 54 and get off at the Sanjeong Apartment stop. Walk uphill toward F1963.
-Information: praha993.com, @praha993_brewing on Instagram
*Hurshimchung Brau
Hurshimchung Brau has brewed their beer in a fun German-style beer house in Nongshim Hotel since 2004. Hurshimchung Brau uses imported German malt for its beers, which include familiar German styles like pilsner, weizen and dunkel.
Enjoy an array of German/Korean beer hall food fusion favorites such as Haxen, a German-style jokbal (braised pig’s feet), deep-fried octopus and more. Their great hall holds regular live performances and offers a view of the brewery. Hurshimchung Brau also holds a popular Oktoberfest outdoor event every year that features unlimited servings of their sensational suds.
-Location: 23, Geumganggongwon-ro 20beon-gil, Dongnae-gu
-How to get there: Oncheonjang Station (Metro line 1), exit 1. Walk straight to public parking lot for two minutes. Cross the main road, then follow Geumgang gongwon-ro for three minutes. Cross the street at the intersection and Nongshim Hotel is on the right.
-Information: hotelnongshim.com
*Finger Craft
A former home and commercial milk storage building has been converted into Finger Craft, which refers to wanting to be the number one place for beer. Besides their warm and inviting flagship location along the Oncheoncheon Stream, Finger Craft has two other locations near City Hall and in Choryang. Six different contract-brewed craft beers are available utilizing their own recipes including Osige Ale, a beer created with coffee supplied by the popular Momos Coffee, also in the Oncheonjang area, the hearty Black Finger, the citrus-infused Mosaic Finger and more.
-Location: 7, Oncheoncheon-ro, Dongnae-gu
-How to get there: Oncheonjang Station (Metro line 1), exit 2. Walk toward Myeongnyun Station five minutes. Their Captain Hook-style signboard will be seen on the left.
-Information: @fingercraft on Instagram
*Owl & Pussycat Taproom
“Good people drink good beer.” It is sound advice that adorns the wall of Owl & Pussycat Taproom in Gwangan.
This craft pub and bottle shop offers both an impressive selection of bottled beers from around the world as well as both local and international drafts. All of this with a breathtaking view of Gwangalli Beach. Owl & Pussycat Taproom features nearly a dozen different kinds of tasty contract-brewed beers created from their own recipes, including the aromatic Suri Saison, the coffee-infused Gwangan Brews, an India Pale Ale and more. Snacks that always pair well with beer such as pizza, sausages and fried chicken are also available.
-Location: 2F, 38-1, Namcheonbada-ro, Suyeong-gu
-How to get there: Geumnyeonsan Station (Metro line 2), exit 3. Walk toward the beach. It is located in the same building as Ediya Coffee.
-Information: facebook.com/opc.brewing , @opc_brewing on Instagram
*Tetrapod
Tetrapod offers customers house-branded contract-brewed beers and other beers from around Korea. From its stylish interior to curated design focus, those especially interested in design and branding will find something to enjoy. Their design aesthetic even garnered an iF product design award from International Forum Design of Germany. Familiar favorites like IPAs, pale ales and stouts are available.
-Location: 2F, 77, Jungang-daero 680beonga-gil, Busanjin-gu
-How to get there: Seomyeon Station (Metro lines 1 and 2), exit 6. Turn right after passing Electronic Land. Walk one more block and enter the alley on the left. Walk straight a little further, then walk toward the building with a brick wall on the left.
-Information: tetrapodbrewing.com, @tetrapod_brewing_co on Instagram
JPDdoesROK is a former news editor/writer in New Jersey, USA, who served a one-year tour of duty in Dadaepo/Jangnim, Saha-gu, Busan from February 2013 to February 2014. He is now a teacher in Gimhae.
‘I’m Still Here:’ Transitioning this site
Below is my former bio page for this site, which I started in late 2012 in anticipation of my pending arrival back to South Korea a few months later. Instead of just getting rid of this for my resume, I decided to archive it as a post. It will hopefully be a nice nostalgia bomb for me at some point looking back.
I’m Still Here(Updated 03/20/2017)
Hammering home the importance of experiencing Korean culture since March 2017. The BEXCO platform on the Donghae Line, Busan’s newest metro line. I rock a mean snowboard. Suck at guitar, though. As Ralph Cramden would say, “homina, homina.” #foodpornography #sliceoflife Getting a grip at Samcheok penis park.My interest (maybe obsession) with the concept of South Korea began in the spring of 2003, as I was sleepwalking my way through my final semester at Alfred University. I was a not-entirely-lazy-but-still-pretty-damn-lazy English major about to be pooped out into the real world without any clear idea what I could be, or should be doing with the degree I was about to be bestowed. At this point in my life, I had been slowly and surely racking up credit card debt, I was soon going to be required to begin paying on student loan debt, and I still at this unenlightened time had to maintain a pack-a-day cigarette habit. Things looked shit.
One day, while Prof. Mike McDonough waxed about a childhood friend who stole a penguin and a cousin whom–“I shit you not,” he insisted–was named Ophelia Balls, I looked on the school’s job forums to find, I shit you not, an advertisement encouraging new graduates to consider a career teaching English in South Korea. “See the world!” “Pay off your debts!” “Be immersed in a foreign culture!” For someone with few prospects for travel outside the tri-state area that did not involve taller and deeper mountains of debt, I was intrigued.
It would take another two years before finally pulling the trigger. In November 2005, in what today feels like a completely different world, I arrived cold, severely jetlagged and utterly confused in Jinju, South Korea. Less than 40 days later, after posting a job listing on Koreabridge, I stuffed my suitcases like I was being hunted by the po-po and left Korea with my tail tucked between my legs. It was a different time. Far fewer coffee shops, many more PC Rooms, no Skype and, for me, only a tethered, cheap phone to make expensive, obsessive calls to an increasingly less-interested ex-girlfriend back home in New Jersey in the middle of (my) night.
The aforementioned obsession with the concept of Korea began to creep not long after I landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. I’ll leave the details to that to this musty old claptrap of a blog I obsessed over during much of the aughts and into the teens, as I prepared for my second attempt at giving a life in The Land of the Morning Calm a go.
Korea finally stuck in February 2013, when I returned to Busan, to teach at a hagwon (학원, or private school) in Dadaepo Beach, Saha-gu–which was ass-deep in subway extension construction–which as of this update is about to have its own set of subway stations, which will no doubt change the identity of that sleepy southwest Busan beach area forever.
Happy with my job, I expected to renew for at least another year. But, with a significantly-reduced number of students at the school, the foreign teacher jobs were eliminated. This took me out of Busan and into nearby Gimhae, in March 2014. I returned to Busan in February 2016, where I expect to stay until eventually, finally, my obsession with the concept of South Korea comes to a close.
I hope you enjoy reading about this third go, what I write, share and experience, and hope you can share your own personal adventures, whether they are happening for the first time or you’re just completing them to their full for the first time.
Potential plagiarism and fourteen hours of Final Fantasy (NintendoEnthusiast)
Today was a pretty busy day writing for the Nintendo Enthusiast site. It began pretty quietly with a simple post mentioning some new artwork released for Sonic Mania. But, then there came the news that a reviewer at games juggernaut IGN might have been caught plagiarising a YouTuber’s video review and, hoo boy, it got busy. I was actually reminded of some of the particularly hectic days of yore when, while working for Patch.com, some kind of major story was happening and needing to be constantly updated. Unfortunately, one of the biggest stories of the day was when it was rumored Snookie was coming to town. Nonetheless, it felt good to get back into a breaking news kind of story mode after so long. Dynamic Busan is a monthly newspaper, so the likelihood of something urgent dropping in my lap that has to be covered immediately has been pretty nil.
If you’re interested in games, potential plagiarism stories or Sonic the Hedgehog art, definitely click the links above. I also completed and posted my newest ongoing series, Nostalgia Now, which I describe as: a look back at impactful moments in the gaming life of a man who is potentially knee-deep in a midlife crisis but doesn’t have enough money or need for overcompensation to buy a Corvette. So, he buys games.
Click this link to take you to the story on NintendoEnthusiast or continue below. Enjoy!
Gaming memories: I have a few.
I am two months shy of 39 and one-half years old. My first memories of gaming in my life are brief snippets of Christmas Morning 1983. My older brother is playing with our new Atari 2600, then still called the Video Computer System, I am pretty sure but who cares? This site isn’t called Atari Enthusiast.
The moving pictures in my mind feel as real as if they could have happened this morning in my childhood home in suburban New Jersey, as opposed to in my humble apartment in Busan, South Korea, where the only signs of Christmas are the fairy lights wrapped around the railing leading up to the loft. Certain moments, including hearing the excitement in my brother’s voice as the system booted up, remain strong. But, they are his gaming memories. I spent more time that morning playing with the Nerf indoor basketball set attached to the entryway closet than crowded in front of the TV.
My real gaming moments, the moments that I will hopefully still remember when I am old and perhaps not quite as sharp as I once was to remember much else, arrive several years later. I’ll leave Christmas Morning 1983 to my brother. He has so few gaming memories that pretty much run out after the mid-1980s that I would hate to deprive him.
Welcome to “Nostalgia Now,” a look back at impactful moments in the gaming life of a man who is potentially knee-deep in a midlife crisis but doesn’t have enough money or need for overcompensation to buy a Corvette. So, he buys games.
Our debut trip down memory lane starts in 1990. The Atari from Christmas 1983 has long since been boxed away somewhere in the catacombs known as our attic. The N. E. S. (as opposed to the NES) reigns supreme and will continue to do so until I receive the Super NES for my birthday in April 1992. It is an age of limited funds, which resulted in an age of limited games. With limited options, we did what most people did to feed the gaming need back then: we rented.
Blockbuster was far from the first option for borrowing games. In my New Jersey home, we opened an account at Lincroft Video. Located in what eventually became a Dunkin’ Donuts, Lincroft Video was a fun factory for a 1980s kid not yet jaded by the seemingly-unlimited options that the Internet would usher forth a couple decades later. Videos upon videos that we could watch and not have to pay $100 for (yes, some VHS tapes cost that much back in the day)! And, games!
But, not many games. What at first seemed like an endless wonderland began to show its limitations after a few years. So, the Dunphy clan moved on. We eventually landed on Choice Video, which was given a loving nod to by Kevin Smith as the imaginitively-renamed “Big Choice Video” in Clerks.
Back then, it definitely had big choices. And, we had a big choice to make. We chose Final Fantasy.
In the U.S. in 1990, Final Fantasy was still a new intellectual property. So, the choice was not quite as easy to make as it might be today. But, for myself and my brother-in-law–who drove to New York City two years earlier to pay $80 for a copy of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link–RPGs and their ilk were our jam. And, in the pre-Final Fantasy VII days, they were pretty darn hard to come by. So, anything that was even close got our attention.
Final Fantasy certainly got our attention… for 14 hours.
Many readers will nod in recognition of similar marathons. While it does not hold a candle to the most die-hard South Korean gamers who would die hard for their Starcraft, it’s a pretty impressive session. Unlike today, however, we didn’t play for more than half-a-day simply because we wanted to. We had to. Sure, you could extend a rental an extra day or more. But, that costs dinero, dude. If you’re going to keep that game out, why don’t you just buy it? Time in 1990 was definitely money.
As I have written previously, game ownership was a lot different 28 years ago than it is today. I didn’t own hundreds upon hundreds of games, with access to thousands more through morally murky (ahem, emulators) means. I didn’t move on from Bravely Default to Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology because the battle system felt a bit out of balance and I was losing interest in the characters. If that was all it took for me to lose interest in a game in 1990, I wouldn’t have bothered with taking out Garland at the very beginning of Final Fantasy. And, if I hadn’t, I would never have known that (nearly three-decade-old spoiler), he was Chaos, the main bad guy all along. Mind blown.
I seriously doubt we would have spent 14 hours on Final Fantasy in today’s world. There’s just too much choice (but, sadly, no Choice Video. They might have been out of business before Y2K). Attention spans, mine in particular, are far more finicky and fleeting than they were 28 years ago. Can I imagine tolerating Final Fantasy beyond the 50th time one of my heroes tried to attack the air instead of an enemy? Doubtful.
It was a different time. Games were a hell of a lot harder. They were more expensive. And, they were due back to Choice Video by 11pm tonight! Our 14-hour marathon Final Fantasysession is very much locked into one day in history and, at least for me, could never happen in another time. It is for that reason, and for the enjoyment and general bonding my brother-in-law and I experienced over that solitary day almost three decades ago, that I consider this to be one of the most nostalgia-inducing gaming moments in the life of this nostalgia addict.
Postscript: Some of you might be wondering, after all of this nostalgia… did we beat the game in those 14 hours? Well, sadly, we don’t actually remember! We did beat the game at some point. But, as to whether or not it was on this fateful day, that will remain a mystery.
LTW: BMW cars in Korea on fire (literally)
Much respected BMW is currently facing a big image problem as its 520d models keep catching fire in Korea. In 2018 alone until Aug 4, total of 32 BMW cars got fire on the road. More frustrating is that these engine fires take place only in Korea, not in other nations. After reports of some parking lots banning 520d models and an internet mockery of BMW as Burn My Wagon, BMW Korea finally made an apology on Aug 6, explaining that a leakage of coolant from the EGR cooler is the root cause of the problem, and that this is not a unique problem in Korea. Korean version of NHTSA is not buying BMW's root cause analysis, and urged BMW to come up with more detailed reports. It is estimated that 8.5% of the 106,317 BMW cars ordered for recall have potential to burst into flames. While BMW owners are lining up to file a lawsuit, BMW sales in Korea has dropped 43.9% in 4 months from 7,052 units in March to 3,959 vehicles in July.
I was at BMW headquarter in Munich, Germany, last week. With over 30 years in Korean auto industry, I thought about dashing into the head office for a meeting with high level engineering team to address the urgent issues from Korean consumers, especially on why fire in Korea only. My wife stopped me as she has more urgent issue to address at a Louis Vuitton store in downtown Munich.
How To Say ‘Right’ In Korean
One thing that will be of necessity to you when you’re in Korea, is knowing the directions from point A to point B. Lucky for us, there are many ways to find out what the directions are, even as a foreigner who may not speak fluent Korean.
Unfortunately, even with access to directions and maps, we might sometimes find ourselves lost. We then have no choice but to ask someone for directions, often a local. While these days many Koreans can speak English, it’s still an advantage to know how to express yourself in Korean, in this case asking for directions as well as understanding the received instructions.
So today’s lesson is focused around learning how to say ‘right’ in Korean. On its own it may not be sufficient, but it’s one more step towards fluency – or at least the ability to navigate through South Korea!
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‘Right’ in Korean
The word for how to say right in Korean is 오른쪽 (oreunjjok). Specifically this word translates to ‘one’s right’ and ‘right side’.
When receiving or giving out directions to a destination that includes a turn to right, this should be expressed with 오른쪽으로 돌다 (oreunjjokeuro dolda). The verb 돌다 (dolda) translates to the meaning of ‘turn’ or ‘make a turn’.
If there is no need to make a turn, and you simply want to express that a certain building – or something else similar – is on the right side of a street, you can say 오른쪽에 있다 (oreunjjoke itta), as this means ‘it is on the right side’.
Additionally, you can use the expression 오른쪽 also when you want to tell someone that something specific on a magazine spread is on the right side, or a picture is on the right side of a collage, or something is stored on a drawer on the right side, and so on. Basically, anything that is in relation to the direction of right, such as on which side of the subway the doors will open at any particular station, can be expressed by using 오른쪽. The one exception is when you are navigating while driving a car, as in this case you may wish to use the word 우회전 (uhwejeon) to express making a turn to the right.
A word of caution about Romanization
While it is possible for you to study the words in this article simply by reading their romanized versions, it will come in handy for you to be able to read Hangeul if you ever wish to come to Korea. Hangeul is the Korean alphabet, and not difficult to learn. In fact, you can learn it in just 90 minutes.
After you’ve familiarized yourself with Hangeul, life in Korea will suddenly seem so much easier and the country won’t appear so foreign for you. So, if you’re serious about learning Korean, why not learn Hangeul today?
Sample Sentences Formal:
다음 사거리에서 오른쪽으로 도세요. (daum sageorieseo oreunjjokeuro doseyo.)
Turn right at the next intersection.
Standard:
쯕 가면, 오른쪽에 카페가 있어요. (jjeuk gamyeon, oreunjjoke khapheka isseoyo.)
If you go straight, the cafe will be on your right.
Informal:
맨 오른쪽의 건물이 우리 아파트건물이야. (maen oreunjjoke geonmuri uri aphatheugeonmuriya.)
Our apartment building is the one farthest to the right.
Now that you know how to say ‘right’ in Korean, we hope we’ve set you on the right path. Stay tuned for how to say ‘left’ in Korean, and let us know what other words you’d like to learn in the comments below!
*Want more Korean phrases? Go to our Korean Phrases Page for a complete list!
Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto
The post How To Say ‘Right’ In Korean appeared first on 90 Day Korean®.
Enough is enough: in defense of expensive games and smaller backlogs
I have been writing since early July for Nintendo Enthusiast, a news and features site focused on everything from the House of Mario. Original article can be found here.
Enough is enough: in defense of expensive games and smaller backlogs I have far too many games. Chances are you do, too. It wasn’t always this way.Picture it: suburban New Jersey, some time in 1994. The Internet is barely a thing, a weird black screen of neon-colored text my brother’s friend accesses to talk to the few other people in the area who have it. The Super Nintendo stills reigns supreme in the Dunphy household. And my sweaty hands have finally gotten a copy of Final Fantasy III (VI). After months and months of anticipation and waiting for Software Etc. to call to let me know it has arrived, the day finally comes.
The cost? $73.99, plus tax. Adjusted for inflation, that humble 24-megabyte cartridge would cost about $125 today. Ouch.
Was it worth it? Hell yes, it was.
I played the game until my 15-year-old fingers creaked. I creased the spine of the official guide until the glue cracked and caused pages to come loose. This was long before Internet game guides were a thing, after all. I marveled at the stunning music and colorful graphics that hold up 24 years later. I cheered as Edgar and co. escaped under the desert. Shed a tear as Celes sang in an iconic opera. Sat with my mouth agape as the entire world turned to ruin. Mode 7 effects during the airship scenes? Oh yeah, I was soaking it all up.
Why wouldn’t I? It was and still is a wonderful, groundbreaking entertainment experience. And it was the only new game I had available. At this point, my collection probably consisted of classics like Super Mario World, Legend of the Mystical Ninja, Super Castlevania IV and ill-advised gifts such as Ultraman and Road Runner’s Death Valley Rally. Donkey Kong Countrywould arrive the upcoming Christmas and Chrono Trigger wouldn’t dominate most of my free time until the following one. Final Fantasy III was all I had. So, I squeezed it dry.
My collection is far larger, and far more digital today. My Steam library is full of titles I got free as part of larger bundles or that I don’t remember purchasing. A stack of DS game cards I brought with me to South Korea in 2013 is packed up in a drawer, as is an old New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles bag of PlayStation Portable UMDs. In 2016, I finally purchased a PlayStation 3 and proceeded to buy as many sub-$5 games as I could. They sure look pretty on a bookshelf. The threat of purchasing current-gen consoles ever looms, guaranteeing even more opportunities.
And let’s not be precious: Emulators and the thousands of game opportunities they promise are always a lightning-fast download away.
None of this existed back when I was staying up well past midnight playing Final Fantasy III. I have started to wonder which situation is better. Truthfully, I have known the answer for a while.
Recently, I saw a YouTuber post about having purchased another 3DS system, a 2DS XL. I think this particular vlogger was up to 10. I wondered: Are you happy yet? Is it enough? To whit, in my collection both in South Korea and back home in boxes at my dad’s house in New Jersey, I own (in no particular order) Nintendo 2DS, Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo DSi XL, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation, Atari 2600, Atari Jaguar, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance SP, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Sega Genesis, Sega Game Gear, Sega CD, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Virtual Boy, Panasonic 3DO, and a laptop with access to an overflowing Steam library.
Did I forget any? Probably. Oh, wait, yes. TurboGrafx-16. I loaned that to my brother years ago and now we can’t find it.
I need to ask myself: Am I happy yet? Is it enough? When do I finally get to say enough is enough?
This is not an attempt to criticize anyone who has or aspires to have a large video game collection. This is not even meant to criticize my own. However, whenever I decide to start a new game and cycle through a seemingly insurmountable list of options, I find myself too spoiled for choice. I start a game and–faced with a puzzle I can’t solve, a boss I can’t beat, something that rubs me a little wrong–I give up on it and start something else. Sometimes, I just say “screw it” and pick up my Kindle. There’s a whole other bag filled with far too many worms.
Is there an answer? I try to self-police my own deluge of options and the subsequent burnout. I have put every system away but one. I have pulled one or two games out and ignored the rest. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s something.
Eventually, when the other systems come back out and I am faced with the decision of whether to try Grim Fandango Remastered on Steam, Samus Returns on 3DS, or Persona 4 Golden on the Vita, I am reminded of that super-expensive RPG I played for almost 80 hours more than two decades ago. I think of Nintendo’s practice of not offering most older games for bargain-basement prices like most of their competitors. I wonder if those bargain-basement prices have really been a good thing for gamers? Be honest: If that recent Switch hack (only on older systems, apparently) could provide you with access to every single Switch game, for free, would you play them all? Would you spend as much time with Super Mario Odyssey if it were free as you did when you had to fork over $60 for it? Is paying far less, or nothing, than something is actually worth really worth it? Are we happy yet?
Maybe I’ll just go play Final Fantasy III again.
Should You Get a Korean Tattoo? + Interview with Koreans
Over the past 5 years I've been asked over and over about helping people to decide their tattoos. Many people have wanted to get tattoos in Korean (in 한글) and have asked me for translations or advice. I wanted to answer some of those questions by making this video.
Actually, it might be a good idea to *not* get a tattoo in Korean if you're not committed to the idea. This is for several reasons, which I explain in the video, including them still not having the best image (although this is changing), being difficult to get, and the high chance that it won't look good or won't make sense. But if you still want to, I also outline a few tips for how to make sure your tattoo is as good as possible.
To finish this video I went on the streets and interviewed some Koreans to ask them what they think about tattoos. The question that I asked Koreans living in Seoul is this: “외국인이 한국어로 된 타투를 하면 어떨까요?” (“What do you think if a foreigner gets a Korean tattoo?”).
The post Should You Get a Korean Tattoo? + Interview with Koreans appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.
