Photo News

Sledding Down the Hill

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter The biting cold spell is dying down and families are enjoying all kinds of outdoor winter fun. Ice skating and sledding are popular winter activities. They can be easily enjoyed by people of all ages and even the uncoordinated, since they require less technical skills than skiing and snowboarding. Moreover, skating rinks and sledding venues around town make these seasonal activities accessible even without having to travel outside of Seoul. Chae Man-sik, 77, and his six-year-old grandson were among the visitors to Supia Park, Ttukseom. ``At first, my grandson was afraid but now he's loving the sledding. I'm so happy to see him enjoying himself.'' Kim Sang-jun, a sixth-grade student at Samcheon Elementary School was also beaming with joy. ``It's winter break so I often come here with my family. I like sledding the best. I ride my bike here, and I want to come back again before school starts,'' he said. Since opening last year, Supia Park welcomes about 1,500 visitors per weekday and over 4,000 on weekends. It is conveniently locat

Through Our Eyes:

Peace Corps in Korea 1966~1981

A Glimpse of the Past

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Paul Albert Anka's ``Diana'' sounds from an old record player. The old pop song beckons passersby into a small street, transporting them back to the 1960s and '70s. The Dream Forest Art Center in Beon-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, is hosting a special exhibition just in time for schools' winter breaks. ``Daddy's Way to School as a Child'' invites viewers to experience life back when Mom and Dad were kids ― allowing the young to get a glimpse of the past and elders to relive their youth. Near the entrance, the old phonograph sets the nostalgic mood, and the street is lined with a barber's shop, a coal briquette store and a tiny stationary vendor, along with retro movie posters and some 10,000 authentic vintage items. The barber's shop in particular attracts attention ― it is the actual set used in the movie ``The President's Barber.'' Across the street is an electronics store that showcases the development of radios in Korea, and a comic book store displays the most popular cartoons of the era. At the far end of the exhibit is a replica of a

Seoul Festival of Lights

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Colorful beams dancing upon the black canvas of the winter night sky, and music and images projected onto building facades invite pedestrians to a fantastic light festival. A magical glow illuminates the twilight hour, providing busy passersby with an energizing break. The Seoul Festival of Lights continues through Jan. 17 in the downtown area around Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggye Plaza. A brilliant light show unfolds each evening under different themes. In the center of Gwanghwamun Square is a historical-themed space featuring ``Fractal Turtle Ship'' by the late video artist Paik Nam-june, on loan from the Daejeon Museum of Art. Across the street from the square, various video clips are projected on the facade of the KT Building. Past and present images of Seoul are screened along with various music-filled media art pieces. Festivalgoers are also given the chance to star in the audiovisual projection, to have their faces decorate the surface of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Each night organizers offers three opportuniti

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Most people, at some point in their lives, have waited for Santa Claus, wondering what kind of presents he will bring. A teddy bear? Maybe that new video game? Perhaps some new clothes? It's Christmas Day. Did you get a present? If so, it means that Santa has paid you a visit. But if you want to know who he really is, look around you. That someone will be looking at you with a big smile. As the Christmas season draws near, Santa is the most sought-after person in the world. And he can be found in places all around the world, donning his signature red outfit and white beard. In Korea, Santa has started his work earlier than usual this year. In Guro-gu, 1004 Santas ― employees from the district office and residents ― are out and about for a fund-raising event to collect money for the poor. On Dec. 15, senior citizens dressed in bright red Santa outfits graduated from the ``Elderly Santa School'' at the Community Chest of Korea Center, and held parties at centers for children and senior citizens. More than 2,000 postmen from 1

Gwanghwamun Ice Skating Rink

By Shim Hyun-chul The streets sparkle with seasonal decorations and lights, and the air rings with Christmas carols and Salvation Army bells. Gwanghwamun Plaza's silver-smooth ice skating rinks complete the holiday spirit. The biting weather can turn any pedestrian's nose red like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but children and adults alike seem to forget the cold while imitating Kim Yu-na's spins on ice. The public ice rink, which previously opened annually near Seoul City Hall, has moved to Gwanghwamun this year, with three rinks spanning a total of over 6,900 square meters between the statue of King Sejong and plaza's flower bed. The smallest of the three rinks, measuring 400 square meters, acts as a 25-meter-long sleigh course between the large (1,250 square meters) and medium-sized (600 square meters) rinks. The small rink is ideal for young children who cannot skate well. The large rink is undergoing reconstruction after the plaza's recent hosting of the Seoul Snow Jam competition and is slated to open on Dec. 21. Visitors, particularly those who forget to br

INCA Exhibition

Hahoe Mask Dance Drama

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter The spacious square is packed with a horde of onlookers, who sway and clap to the energetic rhythm of gongs and drums. A jester hypes up the mirth with dance movements that are as droll as the grin on his mask. A rumble of laughter fills the air as the jester throws brogue-ridden lines at the crowd. There is no separation between the stage and audience, as viewers also call out reprimanding remarks to the comedian while wearing smiles that resemble his mask. The Hahoe Mask Dance Drama originated in Hahoe Village, Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, and dates back to the mid-12th century, being the oldest among the country's mask dances. It was performed by and for the common people. Designated Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 69, the dance drama is part of a shamanist ritual for the town's peace and prosperity. It took place around the Lunar New Year's day, with an interval of three to 10 years but also on special occasions throughout the year, such as for warding off evil spirits. The drama comprises of 10 acts, each of which featu

Hoeryongpo Village

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Walking up the steep hill for 10 minutes, visitors of the Hoeryongpo Village find themselves looking down at a small town surrounded by a dragon-like lake, twisting and turning around the houses and walls. Hoeryongpo Village, in North Gyeongsang Province, got its name from the bends of the Naeseongcheon River, a tributary of the Nakdong River. The river takes a 350 degree turn around Mt. Biryong, which is 190 meters high, offering an interesting, yet breathtaking landscape to villagers and visitors. The area is small enough to scoop up with a shovel and is known as the ``island within the mainland,'' as it is surrounded by the river. The best way to enjoy the view is to walk up to the observatory along the 1.5 kilometer trail that leads up to Jangan Temple on Mt. Biryong, which was built during the Unified Silla Kingdom (668-935). Moving up to the second observatory, visitors can find the ``bongsudae,'' or the beacon mound, which was restored in Nov. 1997. Walk along the hiking route for about 40 minutes to the ``Wonsanseong,'' w

Okyeonjeongsa

A Night of Centuries ― Old Manor By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Serenity fills the space, without a note of desolation. Only the draft passing through the lattice windows disturbs the silence. Warmth seeps in through the heated ondol floor and the cozy scent of burning firewood, comforting the tired limbs. Perhaps this is how it felt to be a noble scholar back in the days. Chirping birds announce day break. After watching the sun rise in the backyard one is greeted with a homemade meal. Hahoe Village, located in Hahoe, Pungcheong-myeon, North Gyeongsang Province, is designated Main Folk Asset No. 122. The Nakdong River flows through in an ``s'' curve, giving the village its name. The village's traditional Korean charms ― ``yangban'' or nobleman houses and Buddhist temples ― attract many domestic and foreign tourists every year. A few years ago, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 73rd birthday here with a big traditional meal. Spending a night at a ``hanok'' (classical Korean house) is one of the best ways to experience the local tradition. The hanok is neit