Fans of Asian films should check out some of the many Korean DVDs currently available. And even if you've never watched an Asian film in your life, you might find that their unconventional plotlines and unpredictable endings are a welcome change of pace from the repetition of Hollywood. I've listed six high-quality Korean DVDs below, and they're all highly recommended for both Asian cinephiles and those new to the genre.
Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005) - One of the highest-grossing Korean films of all time, Welcome to Dongmakgol is set during the Korean War and centers around an isolated mountain village where the locals aren't even aware of the fighting around them. When an American pilot crash lands near the village, he's soon joined by both North and South Korean forces. Will these enemies continue their fighting, or will the calming atmosphere of the village wash away the tensions? Kang Hye-jeong is a standout as a quirky village girl.
Gangster High (2006) - Director Park Ki Hyeong takes a look at teen violence in this riveting film about a soccer club that gets embroiled in a feud with a rival gang over the affections of a tough-talking girl. While it's far from being a comedy, enough dark humor is thrown in to keep audiences entertained between scenes of high school brutality.
The King and the Clown (2005) - Set in the 16th century and featuring lesser-known actors and homosexual themes, The King and the Clown still managed to become a major hit with Korean moviegoers. The male leads are a pair of tightrope walkers and clowns who wind up serving the court of a king prone to homicidal fits. When the king falls for the effeminate Gonggil (Lee Jun Ki), it sparks jealousy among his court (especially his main concubine), and a plot is hatched to get rid of the performers permanently. Based on the play "Yi," the film provides an in-depth look at Korean jester and folk culture.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring (2003) - Instead of his usually violent films, controversial director Kim Ki-duk turns in a reflective piece set on a Buddhist monastery which floats on a peaceful lake. Broken into five segments, the film follows the life of a Buddhist monk from childhood to old age. A big hit with the critics, it was recently added to Roger Ebert's list of great movies.
100 Days with Mr. Arrogant (2004) - When a high school girl accidentally causes a college student to scratch his Lexus, he draws up an enslavement agreement to allow her to pay off the damages. This begins a bizarre and often hilarious relationship based on various forms of revenge. An unconventional love story starring Kim Jaewon and Ha Ji-won.
Silmido (2003) - Loosely based on true events, Silmido begins with North Korean commandos trying to assassinate South Korean President Park Chung-hee. After the mission fails, South Korea retaliates by rounding up prisoners and other social undesirables and training them on the island of Silmido. Their training complete, they're ordered to head into North Korea and assassinate Kim Il-sung. But something goes wrong along the way, and soon these agents are facing termination at the hands of their own countrymen. The first South Korean film to ever draw an audience of 10 million people.
Monday, 29 June 2015
Sunday, 28 June 2015
Latest Korean Fashion Trends 2015
If you have you been bitten by the Korean bug known as "Hallyu", and you want to take part of the Korean wave that is currently sweeping the globe, then you can do so by introducing Korean fashion in your wardrobe.
Korean fashion is very now and trendy. And to help you achieve this style, here are some tips to get you looking like a Korean pop star.
Latest Korean Fashion Trends
1. The preppy look
The clean and polished look of the preppy style is taken into another level by introducing layering. You can layer a classic button-up shirt with a bejeweled collar or a super awesome bow tie.
2. Sheer and clear
If you want to stay fashionable in the summer, you can dress up in clothes made from sheer materials to keep you cool and stylish at the same time. Lacy nightgowns are perfect examples of this.
3. Great jackets and cardigans
If you're not into the preppy, layered look, you can opt for the spunky, rock and roll style. You can achieve this by wearing a studded jacket, or a cardigan with embellishments. By wearing these pieces of clothing, you can definitely make a fashion statement that people will notice.
4. Princess dresses
Korean fashion is not immune to the propensity of most Asians to the allure of anything cute. Dresses with frilly and ruffled details come in abundance. And they usually come in soft and bright colors like hot pink.
5. Flower power
Dresses are made more cuter by having flower details or flower prints. These clothes are perfect for frolicking under the sun.
6. 80's funk
If you're still stuck in the 80's, Korean fashion style will definitely suit you. 80's fashion aesthetics is stylish resurrected and given a modern, Korean twist. You can have your pick from bold, exciting colors of printed tees, to the lax harem pants and cool and colorful sunglasses.
Famous Pieces of Korean Fashion
If you don't want a uniform Korean look and you just want a specific piece of clothing from Korea, here are some examples of dresses and shirts that will add an extra oomph to your wardrobe.
Figure cardigan
Chiffon striped NB
Indian T-shirt
Sexy baggy pants
Rose top jump suit
Chiffon dress
S. Breath dress
Sexy holed T-shirts
Long & short comb dress
Sexy long & short cutting dress
Cute sleeveless hoodie
Korean Hair Styles
To have a complete Korean look, you need to have the matching hair style to achieve it.
Hair styles for girls
Romantic wave
Water wave
Hair styles for boys
Wolf shaggy cut
Short onion haircut
Medium haircut with bangs
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Korean Healthy Food Tips
Korean food is well-known globally for being spicy, flavourful and delicious. But did you know that Korean cuisine also offers numerous health benefits? Korean cuisine is so healthy that South Korea boasts of an obesity rate of just 3.5 percent. Now, contrast that obesity rate with the likes of the United States (34.4%), the U.K (25%), Mexico (30%) and New Zealand (25%).
Many may attribute such low obesity rate to genetics of Asians in comparison with Caucasians - the latter being bigger in build than the former etc. - but that's not true either. Koreans are healthier than many people largely because of their diet, proof of which is the Cambridge World History of Food's report that the average Korean meal contains 13 percent less fat than those found in the diets of Americans and Europeans.
General Health Benefits of Korean Cuisine
Aside from the fact that Korean food lends itself well to a non-obese population, it also offers many other health benefits. Said benefits to good health will not come as a surprise once the ingredients, condiments and materials used as well as the cooking tools, techniques and technologies applied are considered.
The most common ingredients used in Korean cuisine are vegetables, which we all know to be full of the macronutrients and micronutrients essential in the maintenance of good health. From the side dish to the main dish and from fresh to fermented, vegetables like cabbages, bean sprouts and spinach are generously used. Add in the generous uses of garlic, ginger and other beneficial spices and Korean cuisine is very healthy
Meat, by contrast, is used sparingly which magnifies Korean cuisine's health benefits. Even when it is a meat dish, the Koreans prefer the lean and healthy types like lean beef, chicken breasts and fatty fishes. As a result, the risks for cardiovascular diseases are significantly lower, thanks to lower saturated fat and cholesterol content in Korean cuisine.
The cooking tools, techniques and technologies used for preparing Korean food are the healthy types. Grilling, stir-frying, stewing and fermenting are the most popular ways to cook Korean cuisine, all of which means that the foods are cooked in their own juices. In contrast, many foods in countries with high obesity rates like the United States are deep fried in vats of oil.
Here are a few of the expected health benefits when one adopts the Korean mindset to food and Korean cuisine itself:
Lower risks for cardiovascular diseases like hypertension as well as neurological illnesses like strokes and dementia
Lower risks for certain types of cancer because of the anti-carcinogenic properties of vegetables
Stronger internal organs especially the liver and the kidneys
Better digestion because of increased appetite for easily digestible food
Stronger bones due to the presence of isoflavones in beans and mushrooms
Healthier skin since there are lesser amounts of preservatives
Nutrition Information of Korean Foods
Each of the popular Korean foods has its own health benefits by virtue of the ingredients and cooking techniques used on it. The following are just a few of most popular:
Bulgogi is a grilled dish consisting of marinated barbecue beef although it can also be made from chicken (dak) and pork (dwaeji). Since this is grilled over an open flame, it cooks on its own juices and, hence, no fatty oils are used. Caloric content is 310 per serving.
Jeyuk bokkeum is fiery pork served with rice, leaves of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, perilla (Sesame leaves) and other large leafy green vegetables as well as slices of raw garlic and chili peppers. Calorie per serving is 221.
Bibimbap may have slightly higher calorie content - 560 calories for a single serving - than other types of Korean food but the health benefits are still there, nonetheless, thanks to the seasoned vegetables, tofu, egg, meat or seafood in the dish.
Ddukbokki is made from rice cake combined with fish cakes, garlic and onions. Very hot and spicy has many of the benefits associated with gochujang and chilli's, as well as being very low in fat. Calorie count is 378 per serving.
A discussion on the health benefits of Korean cuisine will not be complete without mention of kimchi, a traditional spicy Korean condiment served from morning till night in virtually all dishes. It is known to improve the circulatory system because of the garlic, fish paste and chilli as its main ingredients, click here for more health benefits of Kimchi.
It's not just food which makes the Korean diet so healthy, South Koreans also gain a lot of health benefits from the drinks that they consume, the teas such as green and ginseng are full of anti-oxidants and aide the bodies systems while drinks containing barley like Shik-Hye and Barley tea, help the digestive system.
Adopting a Korean diet could help improve your health, help you loose weight, prevent diseases and improve your general well being, as the Korean wave continues to gather steam and spread around the world, don't miss out of one of the worlds most interesting cultures.
Saturday, 14 March 2015
Benefits Korean Ginseng Root and Red Ginseng Roots
For thousands of years, Koreans have been using Korean Ginseng Root believing that it "protects the organ system, calms mood, and brightens up the eyes." One of the old Korean medical works states that "if a person takes Red Ginseng continuously, his or her body will feel light so the person can live longer." Many recent studies back up the old findings of the benefits of Korean Red Ginseng Root, and until today, many people take them to stay healthy.
What is Korean Ginseng Root?
Korean Ginsengs, one of the Panax species, are usually about 60-80 centimeters (including the stem and leaves) and their roots are about 7-10 centimeters. Koreans call it "In-sam," which means "man plant" because it is shaped like a man. Red Ginseng roots are both wildly grown and harvested in cold areas of Korea. Ginseng tastes sweet at first but eventually bitter after, and today they are available as powders, dried roots, and liquid extracts. Korean Red Ginseng is a type of Korean Ginseng that is harvested after 6 years.
Benefits of Red Ginseng Root
Korean Ginseng root strengthens human's immune system with its main active ingredient, ginsenosides. Ginsenosides help the body reduce the effects of stress by increasing protein synthesis in the brain, thus improving blood circulation in the brains. Better blood circulation in the brain allows better mental and physical performance. Korean Ginseng root is used for diabetes, migraine, infections, and radiation as well as stimulants for appetite. Another widely known usage of Ginseng root is to increase stamina. Besides ginsenoside, which is steroid-like phytochemical, Korean Ginseng root also contains panaxtriol that allows fast recovery from illness and increase in strength. These roots can actually work like a natural steroid that athletes can take. Ingredients in Korean Ginseng root can also be found in energy drinks.
Studies have shown that Korean Red Ginseng roots help men's erectile dysfunction. This means that Red Ginseng roots can actually be a natural alternative to Viagra, which is a mixture of unnatural chemicals made in labs. These roots are also used to help women with menopausal symptoms. Another study suggests that Red Ginseng (especially Korean Red Ginseng) can reduce the relapse of gastric cancer.
Safety & Dosage
Ginseng roots are classified as a "Generally Recognized As Safe" by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and recommended by many doctors. Also, these roots are generally considered safe to consume in large amount. As mentioned earlier, many people consume Korean Ginseng Roots in various ways and Koreans eat them by making a chicken soup called "sam-gye-tang" with them also.
To Conclude,
Korean Ginseng Roots:
- Strengthens immune system
- Reduces effects of stress
- Fights diabetes, migraine, infections
- Stimulates appetite
- Increase stamina
- Boosts illness recovery
- Helps men with erectile dysfunction
- Helps women from menopausal symptoms
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
SOUTH KOREAN FILM INDUSTRY
SOUTH KOREAN FILM INDUSTRY & TOP BEST KOREAN FILMS
One salient feature over the past decade has been the increasing success of Korean films on the screens, where they have proved capable of attracting new spectators - a phenomenon similar to that witnessed in some European countries, according to what emerged during MEDIA Salles' Focus on Europe event at Cinema Expo International 2002, in Amsterdam.
Considering all these points, the following two reflections on the Korean film industry, especially from the 90s up to the present, may be offered to European movie concerns.
Increasing market share of Korean movies
From 15.9% to 45.2% within 9 years, the Korean film market share increased..Until 1993, the Korean movie had a very small market share, because of its low quality, due to the limited budget for production and the lack of a well-developed system compared to the mighty Hollywood majors, which had been present on the Korean market since 1988. Accordingly, the market share of Korean movies had been steadily decreasing for the above mentioned period, finally dropping to 15% and threatening its very existence.
However, in 1999 the film Shiri brought a positive turning. It was the first Korean blockbuster movie, recording around 5 million spectators: it catapulted to the top of the South Korean box office and ended up toppling the record previously held by Titanic. This exceptional event was enough to initiate large-scale fund-raising and the creation of a production system by SEG (Samsung Entertainment Group). Shiri's success, representing the opportunity for the market share to soar to 39.7%, inspired many Korean film-makers and convinced them that Korean productions could be successful if they were based on a good financial support and a selected, quality background.
Subsequently other Korean movies, like Joint Security Area and Friend were of great impact in the Korean film market, so that in 2002 the market share settled at 45.2% in terms of admissions and at a higher 46.7% in terms of box office. It should be remembered that, at the end of the nineties, the number of foreign movies released in Korea was six times higher than for domestic movies.
Apart from the development of the Korean movie in itself, the spread of multiplexes, mainly belonging to the Orion Group and CJ, and the legislation on the "five-day working week" have tempted the Korean people to visit theatres more during their longer weekends. As a result the Korean film market has continued to expand by 17% to 18% each year and total audiences in 2002 amounted to over 100 million.
In addition, major distributors of Hollywood movies, such as Warner Brothers, MGM, and Dreamworks began to obtain the copyright for remakes of several movies that had been big hits on the Korean market. Fox, Walt Disney and other direct-distribution companies also started to take Korean movies on board their global distribution runs. Most recently, Columbia signed a contract on world distribution and investment with a local production company.
Large Korean enterprises join the race for film business
In the turmoil of the national crisis and IMF aid, most of the funding for the film industry seemed to come to a halt as the major sponsoring companies became involved in corporate restructuring and attempted to do away with unnecessary expenses and investments. Nevertheless, not only small and medium funding but also financial capital were able to replace the void thanks to a series of Korean movie successes and the theatre franchising system for securing stable profits.
As the film industry recovered from the monetary crisis thanks to this massive funding and to the constant production of quality movies, the situation was reversed. Competition on this market is becoming fiercer day by day and the major Korean enterprises with nationwide multiplex chains, represented by the Orion Group, CJ and Lotte, strive to strengthen their market leadership in terms of production and distribution, as well as exhibition. Another dark horse on the market, Cinema Service, has made the production and distribution of Korean movies its top priority and is now starting to open its own theatres. Significantly, it is already known that this company has concluded a merger deal with its foremost competitor, CJ, and the Orion Group and Lotte are expected to launch survival strategies that will lead the market into the second round.
TOP 10 BEST KOREAN FILMS
MUSA
Musa (Musa), released as The Warrior in English-speaking countries, is a 2001 South Korean epic film directed by Kim Seong-soo, starring Jung Woo-sung, Ahn Sung-ki, Ju Jin-mo and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi.
The setting is China, 1375. After ousting the Mongols, the Ming now face a rapidly deteriorating relationship with the Korean nation. When a diplomatic envoy from Korea arrives in China, the Ming troops arrest the innocent visitors as spies, exiling them to a remote desert. As fate would have it, the Koryo warriors escape their captors, but soon learn that freedom is not without its problems. Having failed in their mission, the Koreans find themselves at a crossroads. To return home to Korea as failures would be a shame none of them could bear, yet to stay in China would be a move that would effectively sign their own death warrants.
However, fortune smiles upon the disaffected heroes in the form of a captured Ming princess, the stunningly attractive Buyong (Zhang Ziyi). The Koryo troops realize that freeing the lovely maiden from the Mongols would not only reconcile them in the eyes of the Ming, but it could be their only ticket home. So the small band of soldiers embark on a daring raid to save the haughty princess and return her safely to Nanjing.They have to face numerous problems on the way.
All in all Musa is an enrapturing movie from start to last and thus is a must watch.
Old Boy
Imagine being imprisoned for 15 years; no, not in a real prison, but in a hotel room, held there by someone you don't know, and for something you can't remember. This is the situation Oh Dae-Su finds himself in, going slowly mad for a decade and a half until he is suddenly and inexplicably released. Director Park Chan-Wook based this movie on a Japanese manga, but took it totally in a new direction. The movie succeeds in being thrilling, entertaining and unexpected, and most of that is due to the intensity with which actor Choi Min-Sik tackles the role of Dae-su. The twists and turns are seemingly endless; and often shocking; yet Choi holds it all together. You just can't take your eyes off him.
The Chaser
Joong-Ho used to be on the right side of the law as a detective. Now he is a pimp, facing financial ruin because his girls are disappearing mysteriously, and he isn't making any money. The police don't seem to care, so Joong-Ho calls on his own former skills to find out what has happened to the girls. What he finds is horrifying in the extreme, and it takes a strong stomach to sit through all of it, but those who have to; namely, critics; have acclaimed the movie. It is a stunning movie, taking the audience in unexpected directions as Joong-Ho desperately tries to track down one of the girls, called Mi-Jin, before the worst happens. Directed by Ha Hong-Jin, The Chaser doesn't let up until you fall off the edge of your chair.
Brotherhood of War
Western movie goers rarely get to see the Korean War from the Korean side, although M*A*S*H gave us brief glimpses during its long run on TV. This South Korean epic follows the lives of two brothers roughly conscripted into the conflict. The older brother, Lee Jin-Tae, tries to secure the freedom of the younger brother, Lee-Jeon, by performing brave acts, but all he does is incur the boy's anger and jealousy. This intensely moving drama doesn't care which side is right or wrong, it shows the horrible consequences of war on families and ordinary people. It is harrowing to watch, but director Kang Je-Gyu gets his message across; war is hell, for all of us.
The Good, the Bad, the Weird
Manchuria in the 1940s; full of desperate characters and wild rumors of secret treasures; makes a great substitute for the wild west, in this South Korean re-imagining of Sergio Leone's classic The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (but then so did Spain in the original movie). Into this eye scorching landscape come three men in pursuit of a map that leads to a buried treasure. The men are bounty hunter Park do-Won (the Good) played by Woo-Sung Jung from A Moment to Remember; bandit Park Chang-Yi (The Bad) played by Lee Byun-Hun; and thief Yoon Tae-Goo (The Weird) played by Song Kang-Ho from Memories of Murder. The action is unrelenting as they pursue each other, and are pursued by Japanese soldiers, other thieves and bandits, and anyone who happens to like a good chase. The stunts are intense; Lee broke his leg, and Jung his arm, falling off horses. Director Kin Je-Woon calls his movie a kimchi western. Everyone else calls it one hell of a ride.
A Tale of Two Sisters
South Korean cinema is not all about murder mysteries and love stories. When it comes to psychological horror, this 2003 movie is guaranteed to creep out even the most hardened fan. Two sisters, Soo-Mi and Soo-Yeon, return to their home after a stay in hospital. What follows, when the elder sister believes her step-mother is abusing the younger sister, mounts in spine chilling horror and tension until the shocking truth is revealed. Director Kim Ji-Woon extracted consummate performances from his young stars, Lim Su-Jeong and Moon Gyung-Young, using a well known folk tale as the basis for this movie. A remake called The Uninvited in 2009 simply failed to catch the atmospheric essence of the original.
My Sassy Girl
Run, don't walk, away from the American remake of 2008 and watch the 2001 South Korean original instead. It is based on the real-life blog of Kim Ho-Sik, writing about his relationship with an unnamed girl. She's a terror, abusing him, testing him, embarrassing him in public, and generally making his life hell. Why does he put up with it? Because she is suffering and he believes he can help her. On one level, this is one of the funniest movies ever made; Char tae-Hyun plays the hapless hero, rescuer and victim, while Jun Ji-Hyun (now known as Gianna Jun from Blood: The Last Vampire) plays the girl. From their first meeting, when the drunk girl vomits on the bald head of an elderly train passenger, to the meeting with another old man that awakens her to the realisation that she knew real love, this movie couple will steal your heart.
A Moment to Remember
No one can do romance like the Koreans. If you want to be swept up in a love story that leaves you breathless, don't watch Love Story again, watch this. Starring current South Korean box office magnet Woo-Sung Jung as Cheol-Su, and the lovely Ye-Jin Son as Su-Jin, the movie is about two people whose love survives even the tragedy of Su-Jin developing Alzheimer's disease at a young age. Together they are building beautiful memories as they meet, and marry, but all those memories are soon to be lost to Su-Jin's rare illness. Woo-Sung gives a mesmerising performance as the man who goes from a loner with a chip on his shoulder to a loving husband who has to face the fact that his wife doesn't recognise him any more. Have the tissues ready, because director John H. Lee and his hand picked cast sure know how to get those tears flowing.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...and Spring
This haunting movie will linger long in the memory after the closing credits. The setting is exquisitely beautiful, a temple floating on a lake surrounded by hills and trees. It is home to an old monk and the young boy he is training. This is spring, in the boy's innocent youth. In summer, when the boy is in his teens, he gets his first taste of desire when he meets a young girl and her mother, who is seeking help for the girl's illness. When the old monk sends the girl away, the boy also leaves, and the seasons turn to autumn and winter, as the world outside intrudes. This lyrical poem of a movie was directed by Kim Ki-Duk.
Memories of Murder
Starring one of South Korea's most popular actors, Song Kang-Ho (from The Good, The Bad, The Weird and The Host), and Kim Sang-Kyeong, this movie is an all-time hit with fans of Korean cinema. Directed in 2003 by Bong Joon-Ho, Memories of Murder is based on the true story of the investigation into South Korea's first serial killings, in the 1980s. The impact of the grisly murders on a police force not trained or equipped to deal with them, and the efforts of unsophisticated country cops to track down the murderer, make for an engrossing movie. Song plays Detective Park Doo-Man, a simple soul, who is overwhelmed by the case, and is assisted by city cop Seo Tae-Yoon (Kim Sang-Kyeong). The two do not form an easy partnership, as Seo tries to impress upon Park the need for proper investigation methods. The setting, a small town outside Seoul, is beautifully realised and takes you right into the story.
Sunday, 25 January 2015
Korean Dating Tips

We all know that values influence everything we do. For Koreans their strong Korean values is no exception.
What if I told you that in Korea how a man and woman are supposed to be is completely different? At least as far as dating is concerned. What if I told you that if you wanted to date Korean women or men successfully it could mean changing your values?
Discover some differences between what it means to meet potential partners in Korea compared to the West. That way if you want to date Korean women you would know what they like.
Social Introduction Over Chance Encounter
Who wouldn't want to meet a potential partner through trusted friends? If your friends recommend that person then that means it's good right?
But what if you happen to spot the love of your life? Would you stay close to your friends and not dare to meet her? Or would you muster up the courage (maybe even liquid courage) to go talk to her? What if it was someone your friends and family didn't approve of?
Koreans in general are more interested in staying their groups. In Korea if a man is curious about meeting an 'unknown' women (or "mollenen yawcha" as Koreans would say it) and he approached her it could be risky.
His culture and upbringing teaches him that he must obey the family and only date for the sake of marrying and raising a son. If a Korean dates someone for fun or because they choose that person his (or her) society would frown upon it. Unless that person had money or connections (or both!)
So a Korean man is considered a 'man' if he can give up his whims and instead choose a partner that's right for his family.
But aren't women attracted to an 'alpha man'? If a Korean woman meets a 'nice' guy who is set on providing for her - wouldn't that bore her? Wouldn't she prefer someone who's a challenge and fun?
Yes they would but that's not all. Read on
For Korean Women - Attraction is a Burden
What if I told you that most Korean women resent being attracted to a man? Shocking isn't it? Why is that?
When a woman is attracted to a man she's losing leverage and power. Her logic quickly disappears. She doesn't trust her feelings.
Rather than enjoy the emotions and trust them she would rather cut them off...and the guy with it.
Yes women around the world do it but not to the extent that Korean women would take it.
You see: She has a lot at stake. She must date guys for her and her family's sake. Those are the homogeneous Korean values that are affecting how she thinks and feels.
In Korean society a Korean woman has no status. It's a very patriarchal society and the only way a Korean woman can get status is from her husband.
She also has a time limit. It's also still commonly accepted that a Korean woman's value in having a partner lasts until she's 29 years old. 30 tops. In a superficial society like Korea's your age matters. For Korean women it's even more so.
So why waste time dating guys who don't make the grade? Instead of finding a challenge who could leave her she'd prefer a boring but safe guy.
She'd miss out on some of life's fun but it's not her concern. Korean's (and most Asians) are just getting out of poverty. Survival is still the #1 priority for them.
Why Dating In Asia Is Different
Asian women (as in women who were born and grew up in Asia) are more focused on keeping the community happy. A man as we see it in the West could disrupt that community. So when it comes to dating Korean women being a man is different.
For more information on Korean values click on the link.
Enjoy being a man in the West!
Dan with dating tips for dating Koreans
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
How to Learn Korean Language
Want to know how to learn Korean? You should! With the increasing popularity of Korean movies, TV dramas, and pop music acts, this language is becoming quite popular. It can be difficult to learn, however, if you don't take the right approach. Follow the 3 steps laid out below, on the other hand, and you'll learn Korean with ease.
How to Learn Korean Step 1: Get Friendly With the Korean Alphabet
Having lived in Korea for 5 years, I've seen lots of Westerners try to learn to speak Korean without first learning the Korean alphabet. It seems like a quick shortcut to speaking the language. Unfortunately, skipping this step causes much more harm than good. The reason is because the Romanized versions of Korean language sounds just don't translate well. For example, here is how you say, "Korean has four distinct seasons." Hangugeun ne gyejeori tturyeothada. Read that and try to get the pronunciation correct! It's not going to happen. What will happen is that you'll learn Korean with terrible pronunciation, and, as everybody knows, fixing poor pronunciation is much more difficult than learning it correctly in the first place. So, do yourself a favor and learn how to read Korean characters right from the start
How to Learn Korean Step 2: Get Cozy With Korean Grammar
Yes, if you want to know how to speak Korean you have to study the grammar. I see you cringing, and I feel your pain, but hear me out. First, I'm not telling you to get deep into Korean grammar, studying every aspect of the language's structure. What I'm saying is that you should get familiar with the basics. Why? Because Korean sentence structure is "backwards" when compared to English. For example, in English we use the structure Subject + Verb + Object. So, we would say, "I threw the ball."
In Korean, sentences are structured Subject + Object + Verb. So, in this case, we would say "I ball threw." Also note that I left out the word "the" in the Korean sentence. That's because articles (a, an, the) aren't used in the Korean language. Now, look at these two simple grammar rules I have given you. Then imagine that you want to learn how to say something in Korean like, "I went shopping." How much easier is it going to be to accomplish your goal in light of the two simple grammar structures that you've just learned. Much easier, I think you'll agree.
How to Learn Korean Step 3: Get Speaking
Actually, you should be speaking from day one, but I'm trying to make a point here. My point is that when learning Korean it is really important to master the sounds of the alphabet and become familiar with grammar before you focus too much on your speaking; otherwise, you'll end up with poor pronunciation and grammar skills. I make this point because with other languages, like Spanish or Italian, these steps aren't really necessary--you can just dive right into those languages.
Also, the Korean alphabet only takes a few days to master, so it's not like you have to invest a huge amount of time before you move into speaking. Finally, when you do get into speaking conversations, make sure you practice with a native Korean speaker. If you want to learn how to speak Korean but don't have a native-speaking Korean person handy, just use Korean language learning software. Today's programs have well-designed, highly interactive dialogues that are recorded by native-Korean speakers.
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