Korean Travel Online - Event Updates (2nd week of Feb)

Seollal is finally this weekend. Here's a ton of activities you can check our during this 3-day weekend. We've also updated our event listings.

Seollal Events:

Seollal Events at National Gugak Center	Feb 10 – 11	Seocho	Seoul
Celebrate Seollal with the KTO Event page and pics click here	Feb 7 – Feb 16	Jung-gu	Seoul
Seoul Global Center Celebrates Lunar New Year	Feb 7	Jung-gu	Seoul
2013 Lunar New Year Holiday Schedules	Feb 9 – 11	various	Seoul
Namsangol Hanok Village Seollal Events	Feb 9 – 11	Jung-gu	Seoul
Lotte World Foreigner Discount	Feb 2- 17	Seongpa-gu	Seoul
Free Seollal Holiday Events in Seoul	Feb 9 -11	various	Seoul
Jeonju National Museum Holds Seollal / Jeongwol Daeboreum Celebrations	Feb 9 -24	Jeonju	Jeollabuk-do
Korean Folk Village New Year's Celebration	Feb 2 – 11	Yongin	Gyeonggi-do

Festivals:

Korea Grand Sale	Jan 11 – Feb 28		various
Jeju Field-Burning Festival	Mar 8 – Mar 10	Jeju-si	Jeju-do
Ganghwa Bingeo Festival	Dec 22 – Feb 24	Ganghwa	Incheon
Happy Winter Festival	Dec 14 – Mar 3	Yeonsu	Incheon
Happy Winter Festival	Dec 22 – Mar 3	Changwon	Gyeongsangnam-do
Happy Winter Festival	Dec 15 – Mar 3	Gumi	Gyeongsangbuk-do
Jinhae Gunhangje Festival (Cherry Blossoms)	Apr 1 - 10	Changwon	Gyeongsangbuk-do
Happy Winter Festival	Dec 15 – Feb 24	Seo-gu	Gwangju
Happy Winter Festival	Dec 19 – Feb 17	Yuseong	Daejeon
Happy Winter Festival	Dec 21 – Feb 24	Buk-gu	Daegu
Nonsan Strawberry Festival	Apr 3 – 7	Nonsan	Chungcheongnam-do

Exhibits/Museums:

Van Gogh in Paris	through Mar 24	Seocho	Seoul
Tim Burton Exhibition	Dec 12 – Apr 14	Jung-gu	Seoul
The World Animals: Exhibition Project	through Mar 3	Yongsan	Seoul
Pine Tree: Looking Ahead 1000 Years	Through Feb 17	Jongno	Seoul
History in Glass	Through Feb 27	Yongsan	Seoul
I Am an Artist Exhibition	Through Mar 31	Seocho	Seoul
Musei Vaticani Collection	Through Mar 31	Seocho	Seoul
American Impressionism Exhibition	Through Mar 29	Seocho-gu	Seoul
Sparkling Secrets -Swarovski	Through Feb 17	Jongno	Seoul
Label Market Exhibition	Through Feb 17	Mapo	Seoul
Year of the Snake Exhibition	Through Feb 25	Jongno	Seoul
Asian Wedding Rituals	Through Feb 11	Jongno	Seoul
Joseon Dynasty Life	Jan 15 – Feb 24	Jongno	Seoul
Engraving Exhibition-Baptiste Fompeyrine	Jan 15 – Feb 24	Jongno	Seoul
Maden Pictures 13	Jan 15 – Mar 3	Cheongdam	Seoul
Art Across America	Feb 5 – May 19	Yongsan	Seoul
The Peranakan World: Cross-cultural Art from Singapore and the Straits	Mar 19 – May 19	Yongsan	Seoul
Mongolian Archeological Excavation Result Exhibition	Apr 23 – Jun 23	Yongsan	Seoul
A Painter’s Life: Kang Sehwang and Literati Culture	Jun 11 – Aug 11	Yongsan	Seoul
Buddhist Guardian Paintings of Late Joseon	May 14 – Sep 8	Yongsan	Seoul
The Taoism in Korea: Deities and Immortals	12-10-2013 ~ 03-02-2014	Yongsan	Seoul
Memory of Landscape I have never seen	Jan 25 – Apr 21	Jung-gu	Seoul
Cartographic Achievements of Joseon	Through Feb 28	Jongno	Seoul
Scent of Masterpieces: Reillumination of Korea Modern Painting	Through May 12	Jung-gu	Seoul
Money Garden	Through Nov	Jongno	Seoul
Snake Exhibition at Seoul Zoo	Jan 1 – Feb 28	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Lim Choong-sup Exhibition	Through Feb 24	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Caricatures of Korean Presidents	Through Mar 31	Bucheon	Gyeonggi-do
Dream Walking in the Magical Reality	Through Aug 11	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Donated Photographs 2012	Through May 26	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
The Poetic Object - Contemporary Crafts	Through Mar 31	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Beyond the Plate/ Beyond the Sketch and Study	Through Feb 11	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Korean Life & Customs of Modern Times (Free)	Through Feb 28	Jung-gu	Daegu
Alive Gallery - Living Art	Through Mar 3	Buk-gu	Daegu
Contemporary Video Art in China	Through Feb 24	Cheonan	Chungcheongnam-do
Journey to the World-Renowned Art Museums	Jan 5 – Feb 28	Haeundae	Busan

Others:

Sledding Hill	Dec 15 – Feb 17	Hangang	Seoul
National Gugak Center Music Classes	Mar 7 (deadline)	Seocho	Seoul
International Gugak Workshop	Mar 26 (deadline)	Seocho	Seoul
Seoul International Marathon	Mar 17	Jongno	Seoul
Wednesday Midday Concerts	3rd Wed of each month	Jung-gu	Seoul
Seoul International Photo and Imaging Industry Show	Apr 4 – Apr 7	Gangnam	Seoul
Korea World Travel Fair	May 30 – Jun 2	Gangnam	Seoul
Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013	Apr 20 – Oct 20	Suncheon	Jeollanam-do
Five Color Starlight Garden Exhibition	Dec 7 – Mar 3	Gapyeong	Gyeonggi-do
Daegu Ice Rink	Through Feb 11		Daegu
Traditional Music & Dance	Saturdays 2013	Busan	Busan

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Korean Travel Online - Suwon Day Trip by Public Transportation

Here's how you can go from Myeongdong to Sungkyunkwan University (Suwon) to Hwaseong Fortress, to Korean Folk Village.

Good luck fitting them all in one day! 

Myeongdong to Sungkyunkwan University

Take Subway Line 4 at Myeongdong1 heading toward Hoehyeon direction.
Get off at Geumjeong Station
Transfer to Subway Line 1 heading toward Gunpo direction
Get off at Sungkyunkwan University Station, Exit 2. Suwon Campus is approximately 10~15 minutes’ walk from the subway station. (or take Bus 39)

Refer to the red dots on the map below:

1	성균관대역(수원시)	Seong-gyun-gwan-dae-yeok
2	성균관대학교(수원시)	Seong-gyun-gwan-dae-hak-gyo
3	삼성아파트(수원시)	Sam-seong-a-pa-teu
4	성대정문(수원시)	Seong-dae-jeong-mun

Sungkyunkwan University to Hwaseong Fortress

Take Bus 39 across the main gate

Get off at Jang-an dong(장안동) station.

1	성대정문(수원시)	Seong Dae-jeong-mun
2	율천고등학교(수원시)	Yul-cheon-go-deung-hak-gyo
3	엘지아파트.금(수원시)	LG Apart.
4	화서푸르지오(수원시)	Hwa-seo-pu-reu-ji-o
5	화서2동주민센(수원시)	Hwa-seo-i-dong-ju-min-sen
6	화서역.화서주(수원시)	Hwa Seo-yeok. Hwa Seo-ju
7	화서위브하늘채(수원시)	Hwa-seo-wi-beu-ha-neul-chae
8	정자종합시장(수원시)	Jeong-ja-jong-hap-si-jang
9	상공회의소(수원시)	Sang-gong-ho-eui-so
10	수성중사거리(수원시)	Su-seong-jung-sa-geo-ri
11	KT수원지사(수원시)	KT Su-won-ji-sa
12	장안동(수원시)	Jang-an-dong

Hwaseong Fortress to Korean Folk Village

Go back to the bus stop where you got off from

Take Bus 58

Get off at Folk Village Entrance민속촌입구

*Note: There's too many of this for us to romanize. So if you need the pronunciation of these, go to http://roman.cs.pusan.ac.kr/, copy paste the word, then click 바꾸기

1	장안동(수원시)	Jang-an-dong
2	화성행궁(수원시)
3	팔달문(수원시)
4	녹산문고앞.경(수원시)
5	2001아울렛(수원시)
6	성빈센트병원(수원시)
7	한국전력경기사(수원시)
8	수원고용센터.(수원시)
9	인계선경아파트(수원시)
10	우만아파트(수원시)
11	구매탄시장입구(수원시)
12	아주대삼거리(수원시)
13	법원사거리(수원시)
14	KT동수원지사(수원시)
15	남부경찰서.매(수원시)
16	원천저수지입구(수원시)
17	원천주공2단지(수원시)
18	태평양화학.삼(수원시)
19	삼성삼거리(용인시)
20	프리미엄아울렛(수원시)
21	영통입구(수원시)
22	잔다리마을.이(용인시)
23	두진아파트(용인시)
24	상미마을.신갈(용인시)
25	신갈오거리(용인시)
26	경기도박물관.(용인시)
27	루터대학교(용인시)
28	금화마을4단지(용인시)
29	상갈역(용인시)
30	금화마을3단지(용인시)
31	통미마을.보라(용인시)
32	민속촌입구(용인시)	Min-sok-chon Ip-gu

From Korean Folk Village, you may take Bus 5500-1 back to Myeongdong. Simply get off at Seoul Baek Byeong-won Pyeong-hwa Bang-song (서울백병원평화방송)


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Korean Travel Online - It's All About the Money

The Bank of Korea Money Museum (한국은행 화폐박물관) displays various Korean and foreign currencies, dating from ancient times to the present day. It also exhibits materials relating to finance and the economy and holds special exhibitions from time to time.

The museum was the former head office of the Bank of Korea and it is a designated National Historic Site. The museum's architecture has a kind of French Renaissance vibe to it. The interior is quite a sight to behold as well.

The Life of Currency area details the life of a currency

Replica Vault

Special Exhibit

What's impressive about this museum is they have a lot of hands-on activities and games for both children and adults. Children most certainly enjoy this fun way of learning.

Calculate your personal inflation rate

Also, you may borrow the audio guide for 500 won.
They will ask for you ARC or ID which you can get back when you return the audio guide.
Lockers are also available for free.

Ongoing special exhibitions:
Money Garden - December 2012 to November 2013
Exhibit about flowers and trees depicted on notes coins

Scent of Masterpieces Exhibition - December 11, 2012 to May 12, 2013
Reillumination of Korea Modern Painting

 


How to get there:

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Korean Travel Online - Garden of Morning Calm in Winter

The Garden of Morning Calm (아침고요수목원) is a huge garden with a different themes every season. In winter, since there are no flowers, the garden holds the lighting festival where the whole garden is lit up in beautiful, colorful lights. The garden is open only until 6pm but during the lighting festival, they will remain open until 9pm on weekends. The festival is called the The Five Color Starlight Exhibit and it runs until March 3, 2013. Admission is 7,000 won.

We arrived at the place a little past 5pm, just enough time to take a walk around the place before sundown. At around 5.45, everyone was waiting eagerly for the lights to come on. It was not completely dark yet, but the moment the lights came on, I jumped and let out a little scream. The lights were turned on all at one and that moment was just breathtaking. For more pics of the lighting festival, go here >>> http://on.fb.me/YNU6UH

How to get there:
We originally planned to go via the ITX Train all the way to Cheongpyeong. Then take bus from the station to the garden. However, since the ITX train only has limited departure times, we decided to take the subway instead. From the station, we took the cab to the garden since there was 4 of us anyway.

By ITX: (Either from Yongsan or Cheongnyangni station)

ITX train schedule from korail.com

By regular train:
Make your way to Sangbong station (Seoul subway, Jung-ang line).

Subway map

From here, transfer to the Gyeongchun line and get off at Cheongpyeong station. The trains on the Gyeongchun line don't come as ofter as the other subway lines so refer to the time table below for the train schedules. Left column is the hour, right column is the minutes. For example, first row says train arrives on 05:30 and 05:55

Train schedules departing from Sangbong bound for Cheongpyeong

From Cheongpyeong station, you can either cab it to the garden (costs approx 16,000 won) or take the regular bus. However, the bus doesn't come very often and you might have to wait for an hour or so for the next one. The website at http://morningcalm.co.kr/sub2_02__4.htm (best viewed with Internet Explorer, might not work with Firefox) has the bus schedules. They also say it takes 15 minutes from the train station to the bus terminal.

Another option is to take the City Tour Bus. It's more expensive (5,000 won) but stops at Cheongpyeong Station so you don't have to walk to the terminal. Bus schedules below.

Walking from Cheongpyeong Station to Cheongpyeong Terminal

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Korean Travel Online - Hummus and Tuna Kimchi Pita Sandwich Wrap

Tired of your regular tuna sandwich made with bread from Paris Baguette and tuna with mayo?
Love Hummus?















Here's a recipe for a sandwich with a blend of Middle Eastern and Korean twist.

What you will need:
1) Pita Bread - can be bought at Itaewon Foreign Food Mart
2) Hummus - can also be bought at Itaewon Foreign Food Mart for 5,000 won
3) Lettuce
4) Tuna spread - made by mixing tuna with mayo and cream cheese
5) Kimchi bits (and onions) - I prefer them stir frying them for a bit. Onions are better caramelized too.
6) Dried seaweed
7) Optional: Scrambled egg, tomato, cucumber.

There's really no instructions needed other than stir frying the kimchi and then heating the pita bread for a bit in the pan you used to stir fry the kimchi in. Spread some hummus on the pita bread then combine all the remaining ingredients together to make a sandwich wrap.

Should have added more kimchi

Add seaweed and whatever else you want

Enjoy

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