Photos - The Korea Times

Gyeongju National Museum

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Gyeongju National Museum displays some 150,000 treasures from the prehistoric era and from the Silla Kingdom's one thousand year reign to the Joseon Dynasty. The museum displays lively remnants from the prospering Silla Kingdom, 1,300 years ago (57 BC - AD 935), with splendid craftworks such as the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok The Great and a gold crown from Cheonmachong. Located in Kyongju Historic Areas, North Geyongsang Province, the museum was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in December 2000. Most noticeable is how well the cultural heritage has been preserved. The museum consists of an Archeology Hall, Art Hall, Anapji Hall and an Exhibition Area in the Museum Garden with about 3,000 cultural properties. Archeology Hall has a Prehistoric-Proto Three Kingdoms Room, Silla Room and Gukeun Memorial Room, with relics collected around Gyeongju City. Consisting of the Historic Room, Sculpture Room, Metal Craft Room and Hwangnyongsa Room, the Art Hall displays some 700 articles excavated from Anapji pond of Kyongju. An

Jul 26, 2007

Noryangjin

By Gregory Curley Contributing Writer Noryangjin is Seoul’s oldest and largest fish market. The huge, dizzying sprawl of its 66,000 square foot weathered warehouse, teeming with seafood as far as the eye can see, houses both its vendors and hordes of eager, early risers scurrying about over slippery floors in search of the freshest catch. As prices here fall roughly 20~30 percent below what the larger, surrounding retailers advertise, the early dawn poses no timely challenge for those willing enough to get ahead of the game. With more than 700 shops opening their doors from 3a.m., selection is endless. A visit through will have one witnessing the colorful, relentless, twenty-four hour frenzy of activity taking place in blurry streams as hurried souls work seamlessly together in order to fuel the flow. Bids are called out to the cacophonous cries of competing recipients from the auction floor nearby, coolers are whisked through on trolleys down narrow walkways flanked by displays of glistening fish on swelling beds of ice and the drumming of cutting boards echoes throughout as

Jul 19, 2007

Historic Gyeongju

Linking Magnificent Past With Present By Brenda Koller Contributing writer Avisit to Korea would simply not be complete without a visit to Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) for over 900 years and one of the world’s 10 most historic sites. This magnificent area has earned its reputation as a “museum without walls” due to the high concentration and diversity of historic buildings and objects including 52 properties designated by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritages. The Silla Dynasty created a rich culture in which science, art and craftsmanship flourished. This is evidenced in the many skillfully crafted and artistic stone monuments as well as iron, bronze and gold artifacts that visitors can view at Gyeongju’s numerous attractions. Until it was renamed in 935, Gyeongju was called “Seorabol,” meaning “holy land where the sun shines first” and is also referred to as “the Buddhists’ pure land.” Buddhist culture flowered at the time, a reflection of the sophistication, splendor and prosperity of the Silla Dynasty. From ancient tombs that are scat

Jul 12, 2007

Hwaseong Fortress

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Hwaseong Fortress was constructed as an act of filial devotion by Jeongjo, the 22nd king of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), and to strengthen his power, eradicate party conflict and fortify the southern area of the capital. Construction began along Mt. Paldal in January 1794 and was completed in September 1796. UNESCO selected it as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1997 because of its high technical scientific distinction as an early modern military structure. The circumference of the fortress is about 5.7 kilometers and it has four main gates:“Hwaseomun” (west gate), “Janganmun” (north), “Paldalmun” (south) and “Changnyongmun” (east). The fortress features 48 facilities. Not only is the view good but it also is equipped with many defensive and offensive features, including arrow launching platforms, angled towers and secret gates ? a fine example of an oriental fortress. Now, there are a number of traditional events that take place there. Jang Yong-yeong Guarding Ceremony takes place every Sunday at 2 p.m. and traditional milit

Jul 5, 2007

Ulleung Island

By Simon Phillips Contributing Writer Mysterious Ulleung Island lives up to its name. Located in the East Sea, some 120 kilometers from the Korean Peninsula and 200 kilometers west of Japan, its beauty is breathtaking. Covering an area of 28 square miles and inhabited by only 10,000 people, Ulleung Island is small and charming. Volcanic origins have created a rugged landscape of soaring cliffs which rise from the sea floor to meet the mountains, the highest being Seonginbung Peak at 984 meters. The island has had an equally rocky history. Records go back to 512, when the Shilla Kingdom conquered a small nation called Usanguk that governed Ulleung and nearby Dokdo Island. Legend has it that the emperor used wooden lions to intimidate the population, threatening to turn them loose unless they surrendered. Conflict continued throughout the Joseon Dynasty with raids by Juchen pirates in the 11th Century and subsequently by Wokou pirates in the 14th Century. History then tells of sporadic fishermen's battles between Korea and Japan over fishing rights in the area. Their firs

Jun 28, 2007

Gwangjang Market

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Amid the steaming air, Gwangjang market next to Cheonggye Stream in Jongno, Seoul, people are taking slow steps, living slow lives. Established in 1905, it is the first market in Korea to trade everyday. The market, specializing in silk and draperies, experienced a downturn when large supermarkets and department stores emerged, but since the stream reopened in 2005, it has been invigorated and is full of curious visitors browsing about. Here you can experience the true Korea, which you don’t get to see in air conditioned department stores or large supermarkets. Long and complex paths are filled with retailers from many regions, bargaining for goods. Vendors, lined up one after another, sell Korean pancakes, sausages and pigs feet, which have made the market even more famous. Hundreds of people talking and the smell of food in the air create a harmonious enlivening atmosphere. Listening to 84-year-old saxophonist BaekYeon-hwa play, and having a drink accompanied with pancakes and sausage, takes away your worries and puts you in a

Jun 21, 2007

Hanok Village in Jeonju

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter The city of Jeonju still bears the beauty of ancient Korea. Around Pungnam-dong and Gyo-dong in Jeonju City is Hanok Maeul (Village) where 700 Hanoks still remain. The Hanok Maeul still retains the shape and frame of the old Korea-styled house on a scale unrivaled in Korea. The village was built during the Japanese colonial period as a symbol of a protest against Japanese merchants coming to Jeonju. It has many attractions of interest to anyone wishing to learn more about Korea. The Jeonju Traditional Culture Center provides a chance to experience Korean traditional plays. At the Traditional Craftworks Exhibition Hall, a variety of old arts are displayed. The origin and history of how traditional spirits are made can be learned at the Korean Traditional Wine Museum. Visitors can learn about making Hanji (Korean paper), one of Jeonju’s special products, in person. The Korean Traditional Life Experience Park, showing the life of a typical noble in the Josun Dynasty is not to be missed. Internet reservation is availab

Jun 14, 2007

Seongju

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Seongju County is located in the southwest of North Gyeongsang Province. It is surrounded by high and beautiful mountains including Mount Gaya national park. The Nakdong River runs through the county in all its splendor. The best attraction of Seongju is Mount Gaya. It was designated as a national park in 1972. The mountain has a distinguishable shape and the clean surrounding valley shows off the beauty of the natural landscape and the four seasons. The mountain also attracts many climbers. At the base of the mountain is a botanical garden which has 580 kinds of wild flowers. Junggi Village is at an altitude of 520 meters and there people can experience gathering corn, grilling potatoes and making tea with bamboo leaves. Seongju County also has many cultural relics including traditional buildings made during the Goryo and Josun Kingdoms. Old tombs and mountain fortress walls of SeongSanGaya provide visitors an opportunity to experience life at that time. Remains of the Josun Kingdom include stone urns holding the p

Jun 7, 2007

Korean Paper

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Paper was invented by Che Ryun of the Han dynasty in 105 A.D. Another material similar to paper, papyrus, grew by the side of the River Nile in 2500 B.C. However, papyrus can not be called paper although the etymology of paper came from the pith of the papyrus plant. Paper in Korea was influenced by China but since 610 A.D. it started to differentiate itself from Chinese paper. Further, Korea invented an exclusive method of making paper in the eighth century through a distinct process by beating the ingredients. Korean paper (Hanji) is made from the bark of a mulberry tree. To make paper, the sequence is as follows. First, a section of mulberry tree needs to be put into water until its bark can be peeled off. The peeled bark should be dried after which the dried bark is put into water again to separate the endodermis. After the endodermis is extracted it is boiled with lye. The water is then removed by a compressor. Once it is compressed the remainder is mixed with water which oozes through a squashed abelmosk, an

May 31, 2007

Silkworm

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Despite their repulsive appearance, silkworms provide people with cloth and nutritive elements. The silkworm, the caterpillar of the silk moth, spins a cocoon of unbroken silk thread which is used in making healthy foods as well as cosmetics during its short 49-day lifespan. Silkworms live purely only mulberry leaves and grow during their sleep. They only sleep about four times in their lives. One silkworm can spin 1,000 to 1,500 meters of silk. A newly born silkworm of about three millimeters, gains 10 thousands times its weight within 20 to 25 days. Five days of a silkworm’s life can be compared to a human’s one year, like the 7 years of a dog’s. Silkworms are chiefly used for making silk thread. The making of silk started about 3,000 years ago in Korea and was developed by kings. Between 1960 and 1970, the sericultural industry boomed in Korea but from 1980 it lost its position to cheaper Chinese products. The Rural Development Administration will display silkworms at its building in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province until July 21 t

May 24, 2007

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