Korea Life Blog - Vacation: Philippines

Surprise! I'm leaving in the morning for 5 days in the Philippines. I was supposed to go to Shanghai, China, but my passport is too full of stamps for a Chinese visa which requires one full passport page. I could have gotten new pages added but it would take 3 extra days and I had no time. This is what I get for not planning ahead. Then I tried Pattaya, Thailand, but no tickets were available as this is peak season. So I decided to go to the Philippines. So many nearby countries to choose from! I'm actually pretty excited. I'm not sure if I'll be able to update from there or not, depends on what the PC rooms are like and if I have time. I made a new page that will detail my journey.


Click here for Vacation: Philippines

Korea Life Blog - Molla Game


I found this game while walking around in Suwon. I call it Molla Game. (Molla means "I don't know" in Korean, one of the first expressions you pick up on.) Actually, I do know, but I thought it may be a joyful riot if my readers guess and make jokes about how it's supposed to be played. Funniest idea wins the laughter of readers around the world!

Korea Life Blog - McDonald's Dessert Center


I'm not sure if they have these back in the states, but they are popping up in a few places around Korea. No, you can't buy a hamburger here. You can only get coffee, pies, ice cream and whatever other McD's desserts. A small ice cream cone goes for 500 Won here, or about 40 cents. In the regular McD's here a small ice cream only costs 300 Won, or 25 cents. It's a hot day, just look at the line.

Korea Life Blog - Over-employment

If you have ever been to Korea you know how they tend to over-employ here. Especially at the department stores. This is probably because minimun wage in Korea is 2,500 Won, or about $2.25. Others have said it's the culture: they believe it's helpful to customers. For foreigners anyway (and, oddly enough, every Korean I've talked to) it's usually uncomfortable and intimidating. It's not uncommon for there to be an employee in every single aisle. They follow you around and stand next to you when you try to look at something. Often they are aggressive. On a number of occasions I have not purchased what I wanted simply because the sales person was completely annoying. While they may think they are being helpful, they make you feel as if you're about to steal something, the way the follow you and watch you. When they do this I will purposely act insane: walking in circles, zig zagging left and right, back around, ducking behind a display, leaping out, shucking and jiving, all the while laughing maniacally and bewildering the desperate sales clerk. Overemployment doesn't only occurr at the department stores though, it's at the grocery stores, and even at the American fast food chains.


On a sunday evening, I stop off at the Baskin Robins in Suwon where one employee makes my milkshake and three others observe. A classic example of over-employment, brought to you by Korean Life Blog.

Korea Life Blog - Apartment Madness

With so many people and not enough land, the only solution is high hise apartment buildings. They're tall, they're plain, they block all the scenery, they're everywhere. I have for you here now a stunning collection of modern Korean living taken from a new resedential area somewhere in Suwon.


Hundreds of apartments loom into the distance. Looks like something out of a science fiction movie. Run! Highrise apartments are invading!


Modern day Korea: a clean, safe street, new buildings, giant apartments in the distance.


For a mere $200,000-$300,000 dollars you can move here. Imagine saving your entire life to buy one of these apartments. It boggles my mind considering what that money could buy you in Western countries. The good side is the value of apartments skyrocket here, meaning you can get rich easy if you have money to purchase a unit and sell it even just a few years later. The rich keep getting richer in life.

(oops, picture deleted)
A Pizza Hut, a hospital, and SK high rise apartments. SK, one of the Korean major monoplistic conglemerates controls most of the telecommunications market. In the states it would be like moving into Verizon Apartments. All of the big names here make apartments, including Samsung and Hyundai. As if they don't make enough money otherwise. Can you imagine moving into Microsoft Apartments?


It's been a busy day. Sit down and relax. Enjoy a cold drink and the excellent view.


A massive complex. Can't they come up with some different designs? They all look exactly the same!



Here is a new elementary school. Why can't they make apartments look like this?

I hope you enjoyed this collection. Have a nice day.

Korea Life Blog - Modern Korean Electronics

To dispell the rumor that Korea is some strange remote country that makes plastic toys and clothes and perhaps some TVs and cars with long warranties, it's time to show the world that Korea really is a modern country. Here are a few pictures of some cool Samsung products.



It's impossible to show here the clarity of these flatscreen Korean made Samsung televisions. They are beautiful, as much as any Sony TV.



Fax machines, printers, big screen TVs, stereos, humidifiers, fans, refrigerators, air conditioning units...yes, Samsung makes it all.



Samsung's Magic Station. I really want to buy this. Hey look, the salesclerk has been reading my blog!

The Seoul Blog - Strange Conglomerations (2)


Here is the second installment of Strange Conglomerations (Korean buildings with an odd assortment of businesses).


At this building somewhere in Suwon, you can shop for electronics, go to the hospital, study Chinese at a private school, study martial arts (sword fighting), or sing a song at the no rae bang, the ever popular Korean karaoke singing rooms (I'll do a post about these sooner or later). How convenient!



Wow, look the assortment of businesses in this modern building. You can get some ice cream at Baskin Robins (this American Franchise is more popular here, found on virtually every popular street) eat at the Korean fast food chain, Lotteria, buy a phone, go to a book store, stop at the securities bank, visit the hospital, buy bread at the bakery, study playing the piano, buy stationary supplies, attend a private English school, and on and on. Conglomerations like these, albeit strange, are necessary to help save ever dwindling land space.

Korea Life Blog - New Poll (1)

I added a new homepage poll on the right side of the page. Here are the stunning results of the previous homepage poll:


What's your favorite thing about korea?

where's korea? 2 (2%)
the food 9 (12%)
my movie star aura 17 (22%)
girls actually like me here 7 (9%)
no tipping 11 (14%)
coffee girls 7 (9%)
the money 0 (0%)
scooter delivery/ dish pick-up 4 (5%)
i love it all 13 (17%)
i hate everything 5 (6%)


Edging out "I love it all," "my movie star aura" takes the top position. Not a single vote for "the money" is a big surprise. I personally voted for "the food," although I was sorely tempted to choose "my movie star aura" and "girls actually like me here."

Korea Life Blog - The Old Man with a Wart

After looking at some books of them at my school, I have become more interested lately in reading Korean folk tales for children. The stories are usually interesting and comical, the animations cute, sometimes ridiculous and bizarre. I stopped at a bookstore the other day and had a look.


I snapped this picture when the book store ajushi wasn't looking. It's a sneaky business these days to entertain my readers. Ths is a classic example of a well known story here: The Old Man with a Wart. (I'm not too sure that thing is really a wart. He'd better get it checked out quickly...he may well be The Old Man with Two Buck Teeth and a Hideous Malignant Tumor.) Notice the unique sounds the wind and owls make in Korea.



Other Korean books for kids. Note the silly animations. I wish I knew Korean better, I'd really like to read these.

Korea Life Blog - Shout Out Comments

The original 'Shout Out' comments are officially and completely gone. The server they were on was down often and had been slowing down my website. Sorry to all those who left comments. The good news is you can go back in time and leave new comments on all your favorite posts! If you haven't left any comments, now is a new chance to do so! Three cheers for Korea Life Blog!

Korea Life Blog - I Need a Computer

The internet has been down at work and the lone PC bang in my town changed the computers so that they can't be modified, meaning I can't transfer pics from my camera here anymore. I planned an exciting update, but I have no way to upload pics. I've been putting off buying a computer because I can't decide if I want an expensive notebook computer, or a much cheaper desktop. I want the desktop computer, of course, but I don't want to carry that when I move. Notebook computers are still double the price of a desktop here. What a dilemma. Argh! In other news it has not stopped raining here for 2 days and the whole town is soaked. I got drenched on the way here. Ugh!

Korea Life Blog - Let's Punch and Kick

A popular past time in Korea is kicking and punching games. No matter where you go, big city or small country town, you will come across these games. You compete with your buddies to see who can punch and kick the hardest, usually when your drunk. The only prize: high score and the respect of your peers. You've spent a lot of time at the gym, now it's time to put that effort to a useful means.


Check it out. It's Girl Fighter Upper Cut!. For a measly 500 won, or about 40 cents, you can fantasize about slugging your sister, your wife, your mother in law, or that girl who broke up with you because she wanted to explore her options. Hee ya! 1000000 points!


The name of this game is Vie Zzang. What the hell that means exactly is anybody's guess. Apparently two people punch at the same time and compare scores. What a great concept -male machoism at it's finest.


Phew, after all that punching your foot gets jealous. Time to kick. Yee haw! You're so cool! In your mind you are the greatest soccer player that ever lived! It's the World Cup. You kick! You score. America wins! (Later, when the alcohol wears off, you wake up in the hospital with shattered dreams and a broken foot.)

Korea Life Blog - Beggar


I made 100,000 Won today, or about $90, playing games with kids. This man begs for money, obviously not as fortunate as I am. Ajushi, did you eat dinner? What happened to you? Did you you lose your job? Did your marriage fall apart? I don't really care what happened actually. If you are this needy, well I can afford to give you some change. I hope it helps.

Korea Life Blog - Coffee Machines


Coffee machines are popular in Korea. The coffee is very strong. It comes in small paper cups. These machines are everywhere, and a cup only costs about 300-400 won, or about 25-30 cents, for a cup with cream and sugar. It's strong and can make for a quick pick-me-up.


A typical coffee machine. I'm not sure what all the choices are. The button all the way to the last is always "milk coffee" and has cream and sugar in it.



Why not have some coffee and make a phone call or two? You can tell them about how awful it tastes.

Korea Life Blog - Crane Game (2)

I was walking around Suwon and, with nothing better to do, decided to try out another crane game...let's see how I made out:


Here's the machine. It looks pretty old. There's a lot of marks on the front - undoubtedly the result of pissed off people kicking it in anger. But perhaps those people were empty headed children, drunken college kids, Russian prostitutes, or maniacal imbeciles. I swell with confidence. I can do this, I think. And, since it's an unusually high 500 Won for 3 tries, I decide there might be a chance.



There are the prizes, tantalizingly spread out, looking rather easy to grab. I eagerly fish around in my pocket for some change and insert 500 won. I move the crane out to the middle. It drops and clenches a little cutesy wootsy stuffed dog. The excitement builds, my heart starts to race. The toy is mine, I cry. All mine! Then alas, with a hard jerk, the crane changes direction, dropping my would-be toy out just before it reaches the hole! - yes, it's another machine rigged with the Crane Game Jerk of Despair. After three tries I give up and run away, shamed and humiliated once again.

Korea Life Blog - Instant Store by a Subway Station Entrance (2)

This post disappeared somehow, so I'm re-doing it here.


Out side the Suwon subway station, an ajuma has set up an Instant Store by a Subway Station. What's for sale? White hotdogs? Bags of clay? Oh, I see. It's deok, Korean traditional rice cake filled with sweet beans. The ajuma looks extremely excited at the prospect of record breaking sales. Wait - what's this? The man in the background is getting ready to strangle the ajuma and steal the deok! Run ajuma, run!!

Korea Life Blog - What's in my Fridge? (1)


It seems Shawn is really turning Korean. He opens his fridge. There's a bottle of water, two plastic boxes of Kimchi, and, alas - some frozen mandu...

Korea Life Blog - At the Movies in Korea

I knew you people back home were wondering about the movies in Korea. Well American movies are very popular here as well as Korean movies. American movies usually open a few weeks or more later than they open in the states, though. And many times some good movies may never make it here. I went to see Bruce Almighty this weekend with my friend. It was surprisingly funny, I thought.


The snack bar at the movie theater. The prices are more reasonable here, but the popcorn isn't fresh. By the way, is there any place in the world you can't buy Coca Cola these days?


A promotional poster for Terminator 3 coming soon to a Korean theater near you.

Korea Life Blog - What a Waste

I heard that South Koreans throw away more food than North Korea has to eat. I believe this is true. If you pass by any restaurant on a regular basis you will likely see bags and bags of food waste piled up on the curb. Millions of Americans grow up hearing their parents tell them, "finish all the food on your plate, they're are people starving to death..." I guess it hit home for me, because I really dislike wasting food. I do finish everything, as best I can. If something drops on the floor, I'll rinse it off an eat it. If somebody cringes at this, I'll pee in their soup. People really are starving. That's just how I was raised, anyway. While no doubt Americans waste food, South Korea is exceptionally ridiculous, no offense to the culture because I really love the food here. Most meals are served with a lot of side dishes. I regularly see people eat just a little or not even touch them at all, eating only the main dish. Take a look at this BBC article. (click here)


Look at these garbage bags full of wasted food. It's really not funny. It's sad.

Now click here to see a little girl starving in North Korea. Don't click here if you don't want to see it.

Korea Life Blog - Korean Letter Paper

I picked up some Korean letter paper today at a small stationary shop next to my home. Each set has 5 pieces of letter paper and 3 envelopes. They cost 1000 Won for each set, or about 80 cents. If you buy 4 you get 1 free, at this particular store. I used to have a big collection of these but I brought them home to the states to give away as gifts, the big spender that I am. Some of the sets are funny with strange cartoon characters and have either have terrible English sentences such as "love the night starry wonder and dream" or they have Korean expressions such as (example would go here if I took the time to translate...). Anyway, I think they are a lot cooler than greeting cards and make for a nice way to send a letter back home to your ex girlfriend who dumped you to let her know how in Korea you are a famous movie star and have an entourage of babes that cater to your every whim.


I'll choose the yellow paper. "Dear Grandma: Hello from Korea. Love, Shawn."