Let me Introduce "Something"

Spend the Summer at the Royal Palace:



An event titled “Spending the Summer at the Royal Palace” is being held from July 24 through August 31 at Changgyeonggung Palace. Let me introduce it to you.

Upon entering the palace you will be able to see a banner in front of euhgoo (a stream flowing from a royal place) that traverses the palace.



The clear stream euhgoo flows along Geumcheon path with pleasant, gurgling sounds, and you can take a rest in the shades drawn by the lush trees planted along the path. The path is also adorned with a variety of aquatic plants such as lotuses and water lilies as well as twenty-some photographs.





You can spot friends, lovers, families here and there, as well as foreigners visiting Korea. There are kids on a field-trip with the assignment to observe water lilies and hyacinths. There are members of a photography club on an outing. The various aquatic plants with their beautiful features and purifying qualities grab people’s attention for a long time.





On the first day of the event, water lettuces known for their pollutant-fighting, purifying capacity were given out as a souvenir.








In the olden times, there were purported to be 8 ways of fighting the heat of the summer. According to Jeong Yak-Yong, a leading Korean philosopher in the late Joseon Dynasty, the 8 ways were :

1) Playing Baduk sitting on a cool bamboo mat
2) Practicing archery on a platform of pine trees
3) Playing the traditional Korean game of Tuho (throwing arrows into a jar)
4) Riding swings in the shade of a zelkova tree
5) Listening to the cry of cicadas in the forest
6) Writing poems on a rainy day
7) Washing feet in the moonlit night



Guy's lets try little vacation at Changgyeonggung palace..it will be fun to have .........

See the Korean Ice Princess

BoA and Seven to perform at Incheon Korea Musical Wave

Korea’s leading international stars BoA and Seven will be performing at Incheon Korean Music Wave 2010 on August, along with 14 other Korean musicians.The concert will take place at Incheon Munhak World Cup Stadium on Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. The Incheon-sponsored event is also supported by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Apart from the two singers, Taeyang, Kara, 2PM, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, Son Dam-bi and other leading Korean entertainers will make appearances, officials of HH Company etc.



Seven released his new album “Digital Bounce” on Wednesday while BoA will make her return to Seoul next month after a five-year-absence in Korea.

The concert is expected to draw about 50,000 audience members and will be broadcast live on MBC’s “Show! Music Center.”

“By grabbing attention from all over Asia, we’d like to maximize the promotion effect and have more foreign tourists.” This is the motto ...



Tickets will be available online starting July 28 at ticket.gmarket.co.kr.
source: Korea Herald

A midsummer night's dream in the city: Seoul Plaza sizzles with arts and culture

Seoul Plaza is easily associated with a multitude of ``Red Devil'' football fans who gathered there to watch the World Cup games.Now that the games in South Africa are over, however, the square is now host to a variety of arts events. The top notch outdoor stage rivals those seen in overseas opera festivals. Moreover, these open-air evening performances provide a sweet break from the daily grind.

Here, no one has to worry about securing tickets. All performances are free of charge and the large stretch of grass invites all passersby to sit down. Any spot on the green is VIP-worthy.



The clientele is diverse, from workers making a stop on their way home to tourists passing by and families that traveled from afar to take in a show.

For the fourth year, opera, musical, traditional Korean music, pop, classical and dance performances are taking place. The stage invites not only professional artists but amateurs as well to share their work.



The program varies by the day of the week, catering to a diverse range of crowds.

July's program features a special stage work by the National Theater of Korea, as well as ``pansori'' (Korean opera), folk songs and world music concerts ranging from African to South American repertoires.

In August, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Seoul Pops Orchestra and other ensembles will take the stage, while various jazz artists are lined up for September. In October, the venue will become a feast for rock'n'roll.



For more information, visit www.casp.or.kr.
Source :The Korea times

Fusion music band to hold concert at SAC

The fusion “gukak” (Korean traditional music) group Gong Myoung will perform at the Jayu Theater in the Seoul Arts Center (SAC) from July 21 to 25.

Gong Myoung means resonance in English and the band mostly uses a variety of traditional percussion and wind instruments made of bamboo.

The group consists of four men ― Song Kyoung-kun (daegeum or Korean woodwind instrument), Lim Yong-ju (buk or traditional percussion), Park Seung-won (piri or woodwind instrument) and Kang Sun-il (janggu or traditional hour-glass shaped percussion).



Song generally leads the melody with calm and soft sounds. A “daegeum” is a Korean woodwind instrument which is made of bamboo and played like a flute. Lim plays the “buk,” a Korean drum. This adds a dynamic and rhythmical power to the music.

Park plays the “piri” which is another Korean woodwind instrument and played like a recorder. He also plays the recorder and guitar and takes the lead for the melody. Kang plays the “janggu,” a Korean drum which leads the rhythm section.
They blend genres and cultures playing more than 30 musical instruments, including both Korean and other instruments, such as shakers, timbales, bar chimes, guiros and bara drums.

Titled “Space Bamboo,” the upcoming concert will be comprised of pieces including “White Moon,” “Spring,” “ Plateau,” “Bamboo Bamboo,” “Siem Reap” and “Brushing on the Sky.”

The tickets for the concert start from the range of 25,000 won for students and 35,000 won for adults. For more information about the band, visit www.gongmyoung.co.kr.

Official symbol and website for the G20 Seoul Summit

Source: Korea.net


The Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit (Chairman: SaKong Il) unveiled the official symbol for the G20 Seoul Summit, to be held on November 11-12, 2010.The symbol incorporates two images: the sun rising over the East Sea and a ‘Chung-sa-cho-rong’, a traditional Korean lantern with a red-and-blue silk shade. The Korean government will use the symbol in welcoming the leaders who will be participating in the G20 Seoul Summit.
Professional advisors worked with the G20 organizing committee to finalize the official symbol, based on a design chosen in a nationwide contest held April 5 - May 7. The original design was created by Jang Dae-young and entitled ‘Seoul’s Lantern (a Chung-sa-cho-rong)’. 2,279 Korean citizens submitted proposals for the contest, designed to raise awareness of the upcoming summit.

“This official symbol represents Korea’s commitment to furthering the work of the G20, and helping to guide the world economy beyond the financial crisis,” said Dr. Sakong Il, Chairman of the Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit.The G20 Summit Committee has also launched its official website, in Korean and English, www.seoulsummit.kr. The website offers the most up-to-date news on the summit process, as well as background information on past summits and related topics.

‘Chung-sa-cho-rong’ is a traditional Korean image, known to add light in the dark and act as a guide to the right path; it further symbolizes a host’s thoughtfulness in welcoming guests. The 20 rays of light reaching out from the center of the ‘Chung-sa-cho-rong’ represent the sun rising in the East Sea. In the context of the G20, it can be seen as representing economic growth enhanced by greater global cooperation.

‘Chung-sa-cho-rong’ encapsulates the balance between yin and yang, and harmony and cooperation between advanced and emerging economies. The lantern is meant to underscore Seoul’s goals for the summit, including actively incorporating the voices of non-G20 countries into the G20 process.
The symbol will be used in official documents, promotional materials, badges, and business cards as well other related items.

One can get more information from : Korea.net or http://korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&thiscode=eng022002&guid=48327

Open auditions to be held for new Asian girl group

FarWest Entertainment -- a production company helmed by former Walt Disney Company (Asia Pacific) president Jon Niermann -- and a group of Asian partners are behind a fledgling girl band enterprise called “Project Lotus.”

The concept behind “Project Lotus” is simple.



Get five talented girls from Korea, Japan, China, India and the Philippines. Pair them up with Grammy Award-winning producers Eliot Kennedy and Brian Grant. Give them songs composed by prominent song writers like Take That’s Gary Barlow. Get it all down on film and drop it on the world.

In the midst of pre-auditions, FarWest and team are busy culling talent from a variety of outlets, including the Internet, where hopefuls can upload their audition videos onto Project Lotus’ website (www.projectlotus.tv), Facebook page or their YouTube channel.

To date 850 girls have sent in their clips. The number could more than double by the Aug. 2 submission deadline.Applicants need to be Asian women aged 18 to 25 who can speak English and sing and dance. Clips should feature hopefuls singing an English-language pop song.

According to production manager Laura Conway, video clips are just the beginning of an extensive auditioning process that includes country manager-hosted tryouts. Producers will also tour Asian cities to scout out candidates from performing arts schools, modeling agencies and local management companies.

“The candidates who are successful will be invited to attend a live audition in their capital city,” Conway explained via e-mail. “This audition will take place in front of a panel of celebrity judges.”

A group of 25 finalists, five from each country, will then fly to Hong Kong to take part in a six-week training process. One girl from each country will be eliminated every week until only five are left.

The resulting footage is slated to air in February and March. The album release is set for April.

“TV deals are currently in negotiation,” said Conway. “We intend that the television show will be broadcast throughout the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Asia.”


source : http://www.koreaherald.com/entertainment/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100705000458

Korea Herald

" Mr.Hulbert" the hidden hero of Korea’s independence

The whole article is taken out from the Korea times " arts and living" section: Assometime we need to understand the Korean history as well as the foreign sympathiser's who plays an important role in shaping the Korean society.

If a foreigner can be a patriot in the cause of another nation, American missionary, journalist and activist Homer B. Hulbert (1863-1949) was a true believer for Korea.



The American missionary, journalist and activist Homer B. Hulbert (1863-1949) devoted his life to Korea’s liberationand modernization. The book “Crusader for Korea, Homer B. Hulbert” sheds light on his life, contributionsto and affection for Korea.

Hulbert, who shed tears over the sufferings of Koreans under Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945), devoted his youth to help modernize Korea and liberate it from the occupation. He was also a pioneer in establishing modern educational system in the belief that this would save Koreans from Japan's imperialistic rule.

His contribution to Korea's modernization and great affection for Koreans ― often overshadowed by Korean patriots ― comes into the spotlight in a new book "Crusader for Korea, Homer B. Hulbert" written by Kim Dong-jin and published by The True Friend.

The book sheds light on unknown facts about the American hero who was a special envoy of King Gojong and helped fight for Korean liberation behind the scenes.

Hulbert was born in New Haven, Vermont to a devout Christian family in 1863 and studied at Dartmouth College before attending the Union Theological Seminary.

He first stepped on Korean soil at the age of 23 in 1886 along with Delzell A. Bunker and George W. Gilmore to teach Korean students English at the Royal English College set up by King Gojong. Designed to nurture Korean youngsters with a Western education, the school opened in 1886 with 35 students mostly from the noble class.

Hulbert laid the foundation for Western education in Korea by setting up the rules, regulations and curriculum in the school's early days. He introduced academic fields such as English, history, natural science, geography and mathematics.

While teaching Korean students, he realized there was a severe lack of textbooks. So he published "Saminpilchi" (Knowledge Necessary for All) in 1889 in hangeul (Korean alphabet), the first of its kind. The 161-page textbook covered world geography, governments, industry, education and the military to enlighten Korean people about the outside world.

He had a good command of Korean and highly appreciated the excellence of hangeul. Hulbert often lamented the situation in which hangeul was not used as often as Chinese characters.
The American missionary contributed an article about the excellence of hangeul to the New York Tribune, describing it as "true alphabet." Hulbert was one of few foreigners who intensively studied and appraised the writing system. He posted articles on hangeul several times in the first English monthly magazine "The Korean Repository." Also he introduced his studies on hangeul in the annual report of the Smithsonian Institution in 1903, saying "Korean surpasses English as a medium for public speaking." It was the first thesis about the excellence of the Korean language internationally.

Starting with "Saminpilchi," he went on to publish 15 textbooks between 1906 and 1908. As a historian, he wrote the masterful history books, "The History of Korea" (1905) and "The Passing of Korea" (1906).

The "History of Korea" is the extraordinary result of his Korean studies in English consisting of two volumes of 409 and 398 pages, respectively, covering ancient and medieval times to modern Korea.


The cover of the book “Crusader for Korea, Homer B. Hulbert” written by Kim Dong-jin and published by The True Friend, 464 pp., 18,800 won
"The Passing of Korea" is a compilation of Korea's history, culture, traditions, customs, industry and social systems that carries his opinions about the doomed destiny of the country and also a criticism of the United States. The book was a comprehensive guide to understand the country for both the Korean elite and foreigners. It was seen as an attempt to tell the world about the Korean situation and was published in London. In fact, after its publication, many international newspapers such as The New York Times and The New York Tribune began paying
attention to the Korean issue.




As a trusted aid and special envoy of Gojong, Hulbert was sent to Washington to meet the administration of Theodore Roosevelt to deliver the king's letter to win the help of the U.S. in stopping the Japanese move to strip Korea of its sovereignty through the illegitimate use of force and coercion. But Hulbert was denied a meeting with the President and other government figures. Despite his efforts, the Japanese imperialists forced the signing of the Eulsa Treaty in 1905 that stripped Korea of its sovereign rights.

Hulbert publicly condemned the U.S. over the Taft-Katsura Agreement that hinted at U.S. recognitions of Japan's sphere of influence on Korea in 1905 by violating the Korean-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce that was signed in 1882. Also, he strongly denounced the agreement because it led to recognition of Japanese interest in Korea as later stated in the Treaty of Portsmouth that assured the Japanese annexation of Korea.
In a desperate attempt, Hulbert once again went to Hague as a special envoy with credentials from Gojong, along with other envoys ― Lee Jun, Lee Sang-seol and Lee Wi-jong ― in 1907 to inform on Japanese brutality.
But under Japan's dominance, Hulbert had no choice but to return to the U.S. Even after arriving there, he continued to preach for the independence of Korea through lectures and columns in newspapers.

At the same time, he touted Gojong's efforts to keep the sovereignty from Japan to the world. "The King of Korea never surrendered to the Japanese. Never did he soil the sanctity of his regal office by voluntary consent … At the risk of his life, he approached the Peace Conference at the Hague without effect. At the risk of his life, he sent appeals to every chancellery in Europe, but enforced abdication prevented their delivery. He was marooned upon a throne," he said in a speech in Washington in 1942.

One of the wishes he tried to make true during his lifetime was the recovery of the king's money from Japan. Gojong deposited 510,000 marks (worth 2 trillion won at current rates) in the Deutsch Asiatische Bank in Shanghai in 1903 and 1904 and the receipt reads, "To be kept at the disposal of His Majesty the Emperor of Korea." But Hulbert found out that Japan took the money in 1908. To reclaim the money, Hulbert spent 40 years obtaining legal proof of the deposit and the process of Japan's illegal seizure of the money.

Hulbert once again trod on Korean soil in 1949 when President Syngman Rhee invited him to the country to commemorate his contribution to the nation's independence. But the 86-year-old Hulbert passed away one week after he arrived. His body was put to rest in the Foreigners' Cemetery in Seoul as he always said "I would rather be buried in Korea than in Westminster Abbey."

source : http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/07/135_69524.html

Branching out the Korean ties with Indian Institute

One of the remarkable initiative going to established between The Academy of Korean Studies and Jawaharlal Nehru University of India in the field of Education:

The Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which they expect will serve as a hub for Korean studies in South Asia. The academy has also extended a grant to the university (New Delhi) recently, spoke to Tirna Ray on how the initiative will strengthen the evolving relationship between India and Korea:

Why is 2010 a year of significance for Korea-India relationship?

It is significant because of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries. Korea and India established their diplomatic ties in 1973. The two countries are bound by close cultural ties, which may be traced back to the ancient past. Buddhism, India's unique gift to the world, facilitated exchange of ideas and served as a bridge connecting the two civilisations (Korea and India). Close cultural ties bound Korea and India in the past. In the modern times, the two nations face the common destiny of colonial oppression and the task of nation-building.

The objective of Academy of Korean Studies: AKS aims to promote Korean studies through in-depth research and innovative teaching of Korean culture. AKS has defined new frontiers of inquiry in Korean studies and fostered competent scholars in Korean humanities and social sciences with global perspectives and values.

(What will the MoU between JNU and AKS imply?): First and foremost, it will facilitate exchange of students and faculty between India and Korea. Full-time professors from AKS can visit India and collaborate with teachers here or engage in teaching. Further, hopefully, the grant will enable academicians from JNU to visit Korea, collect material for their research, or start a journal which will publish articles by Indian scholars on Korea, and so on. As of now, the grant money has been awarded for three years and it amounts to about $ 65,000. It is important that we cultivate competent scholars of Korean studies and qualified graduates who understand Korean language, culture and society in its entirety. They in turn will be able to convey the core concerns of Korea adequately to the Indian audience. Only then will this initiative acquire a sustainable dimension. A political relationship or understanding between the two countries can have a future only when it is anchored by education and cultural initiatives.

(Feb 10, 2010
The Times of India
source:Academy of Korean Studies/Kim Jung Be)

"Muan County" of South Korea offers lotus flower heaven

MUAN, South Jeolla Province -- There’s more to lotus flowers than meets the eye as a recent trip to Muan County in South Jeolla Province proved just a few weeks ahead of “The Lotus Industry Festival of Korea Muan, 2010.”

Despite the jarring, cold nature of the festival’s official English moniker, the venue itself is anything but.



Calm, serene, quiet albeit scorching hot, the Hoesan White Lotus Ground -- where the festival will be held from Aug. 5 to Aug. 9 boasts Asia’s largest lotus patch that lies within sprawling 30,300 square meters of pristine wetland.

The county is situated at the very tip of the peninsula on the southwestern coast, about a four hour drive south from Seoul.

At the start of the festival visitors can take a scooner ride across the Hoesan lotus wetland on its “lotus path fantasy boat ride” event.

The name of that event might be flattering itself a bit, but the experience is quite pleasant and relaxing.

Also on hand during the five-day festival are a host of family friendly DIY activities, such as lotus root harvesting, making lotus soap, and creating lotus dye.

Just in case all of the walking gets the legs aching a bit, festival organizers have said they would provide cold lotus water baths for visitors to dunk their legs into to cool off.


Later in the day, just when the blistering summertime sun begin to have some mercy on folks, a series of stage performances has been lined up for festival-goers to sit and relax with maybe an ice cold lotus leaf brew or tea.

With South Jeolla Province being home of the Pumba performance, there will plenty of them throughout the festival.

Pumba refers to a traveling minstrel of performance artists and vagabonds of the Joseon period. They were nomads stricken with poverty that roamed from one town to the next staging shows in marketplaces in the hopes of earning enough to eat.

Another event which will surely see both smiles and scowls of contempt will be the mixing of a gigantic wooden bowl of bibimbap big enough to serve 2010 adults.

There is much more to be explored in Muan County -- family friendly activities like digging for octopus and crabs in the ocean flats after the sun sinks behind the horizon, for example. This is done by torchlight, since the area becomes nearly pitch black once the sun goes down.
Visitors can be rest assured they’ll be in for a real culinary treat since food is something that the Jeolla Provinces can boast about.

Here foodies can enjoy everything from lotus cookies, lotus noodles, lotus ice cream, lotus bread, lotus “dasik,” or traditional Korean confectionary, and iced lotus tea -- which in the summer heat is a godsend.

With that said, faster than you can cite a Forrest Gump reference to shrimp, Muan and its province are known for other local delicacies -- not just lotus.

Dug up from the ocean flats of the beaches surrounding the county along with its onions and garlic, octopus is in season.Dug up fresh either in the early hours of the morning or in the evening, they are served roasted on open flame pits wrapped and skewered on wooden chopsticks and seasoned with sea salt, garlic, and sesame oil and seeds.

Locally called nakji horong, most other coastal regions that sling the same dish lather the skewers with spicy chilli sauce which one over zealous local claimed was “because the octopus in other areas doesn’t taste as good so they have to use strong seasoning.”

One might wonder why they abandoned such a unique practice that might give the dish more historical resonance and texture than using just two disposable sticks.


I have taken out this article from " The Korea herald"
http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100715000574

Its all about famous Makgeolli

The milky, off-white color….the deep, slightly bitter, mouth-watering taste…and the sweet finishing flavor….

Guess what it is?
Yes, indeed, we are talking about “makgeolli” here, one of Korea’s representative traditional alcoholic beverages.

In line with the recent makgeolli boom, the first web site devoted solely to makgeolli (http://www.jurojuro.com) has been launched by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Korea Rice Foodstuffs Association.

“Juro” here refers to the journey of finding makgeolli and other tasty food along the road. It can also mean the longish table for placing liquor glasses, and by extension, the talk, laughter, and mingling among people taking place over a bowl of makgeolli.



According to the Ministry of Food, this year’s makgeolli market is estimated to be around USD 550 million worth of scale. And 60% of the market nation-wide is dominated by a handful of major makgeolli manufactures, while for the capital region, as much as 70% is taken up by them.

The fact is that smaller, lesser-known, local makgeolli companies are losing ground in the competition with the giant companies. In case of Gyeonggi-do area, for instance, all 40 companies but for mere two or three are facing a drop in sales ever since the makgeolli boom.

So the Ministry of Food decided to open the above-mentioned web site to introduce and promote small and medium-sized makgeolli manufacturers that each have their own distinct color and flavor.

The web site’s two main themes are makgeolli and makgeolli side-dishes. There is a “Navigation” section where you can search for various types of makgeolli either according to its region or characteristics, as well as view customer reviews and experts analyses. There is also the “Liquor Talk” section where the visitors of the web site engage in free chats.

But I’d say the highlight of the site is the “makgeolli side-dishes” page, which introduces places that have the best dishes to go with makgeolli. Just by looking at the pictures of all kinds of “anjoo (dishes served with liquor),” your mouth will start watering!



There are around 700 makgeolli manufacturers throughout Korea, and as in the case of wine, each region boasts its own distinct flavor. On the web site, you can search for specific kinds of makgeolli that you want – whether it’s live makgeolli or sterilized makgeolli, or whether it’s made with Korean rice, exported rice, or flour etc. So you can pick and choose a makgeolli that just suits your taste.



Drinking makgeolli the right way?

Makgeolli tastes best when you stir it. Some people wait a while after pouring the liquor and just sip at the clear upper layer, saying it tastes crisp and clean that way, but then you’re missing out on the very gist of makgeolli. All the healthy parts – the yeast, lactic-acid bacteria, vitamin, fiber etc – are found in the sediment part that sinks to the bottom of your makgeolli bowl. So don’t forget to stir it!


The whiter makgeolli, the better?

Nope, that’s not true. The difference in color comes from different varieties of yeast. The Japanese-style rice yeast is closer to white in color, while wheat yeast, which is made in a typical Korean style, is somewhat yellowish in color. Rice yeast gives out a clear, simple taste and wheat yeast a richer and heavier taste. The choice is up to you.

Another tip: Sterilized makgeolli was made to enjoy the scent so it is best to keep it at around 5–10 degrees Celsius. In contrast, draught (live) makgeolli is made to savor the refreshing feeling of a carbonated drink, and so needs to be kept around 0–5 degrees Celsius.
Side dishes that go especially well with makgeolli? Among hundreds, I’d go for “jeon (Korean pancakes)” and “jokbal (pig’s feet)”!

The recent makgeolli boom is also in keeping with the Korean government’s efforts to globalize hansik (Korean cuisine) as well as to increase rice consumption.

Amazing Castle of Jinju : precious asset of Korean Treasure

Jinju:


The Siege of Jinju was one of two battles during the Japanese invasions of Korea, the first in 1592, and the second in 1593. The first battle of Jinju along with the Battle of Hansan Island and the Battle of Haengju are regarded as the three most important battles of the war. The second battle of Jinju was not as successful, and it fell to the Japanese.







Jinju castle was an important castle that guarded Jeolla province. Ukita Hideie and Hosokawa Tadaoki agreed on taking Jinju castle because if the Japanese captured it, it would open up a new road to Jeolla, and they would be able to attack Gwak Jaeu's guerilla forces hiding in the area. Jeolla was also place for plenty of loot. Ukita also agreed to recapture Changwon, a small fortress that led to Jinju castle. Therefore, an army of 30,000 men to recapture Changwon and Jinju set out.











will upload with more story n picture

Namisom Island of South Korea

Namiseom Island is a tiny half-moon shaped island located in Chuncheon, South Korea, formed as it was inundated by the rising water of the North Han River as the result of the construction of Cheongpyeong Dam (청평댐) in 1944.







Its name originated from General Nami (남이장군)[1], who died at the age of 28 after being falsely accused of treason during the reign of King Sejo, the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Although his grave wasn't discovered, there were a pile of stones where his body was supposed to be buried. It was believed that if someone took even one stone from there, it would bring misfortune to their house. A tour company arranged the grave with soil and then developed Namiseom into an amusement park.






Namiseom Island was formed as a result of the construction of the Cheongpyeong Dam. It is a half moon shaped (462,809㎡) isle, and on it is the grave of General Nami, who led a great victory against the rebels in the 13th year of the 7th king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Sejo (reign 1455 ~ 1468). Namiseom Island is 63 km away from Seoul in the direction of Chuncheon, and is famous for its beautiful tree lined roads. The island is 30 minutes away from Chuncheon and an hour away from suburbs of Seoul. Since it is not far from Seoul, many couples and families come to visit.





A special feature of Namiseom Island is that there are no telephone poles. This is because all electric wires were built underground to keep the natural feeling of the landscape. The complex is 553,560 square yards with chestnut trees and poplar trees around the isle. In the middle of the isle, there is a grass field about 316,320 square yards. It is composed of education and training facilities, camping sites, swimming pools and water-sports facilities for motorboats and water skiing. There is also a theme park with merry-go-rounds, a shooting range, roller skating rink, and there are lodging facilities such as resort villas and bungalows.





Namisum offers a bike center, an electric car tour and a swimming pool. It takes about 2 hours from Seoul by car. It provides visitors with a direct shuttle bus from Insadong in Jongno, Seoul.

Metasequoia path is a location for a Korean Drama "Winter Sonata (겨울연가)" produced by KBS. The forest path is surrounded by white birches and Korean white pines all year around. This place was used to film two main characters' childhood - Yujin and Joonsang step on each other's shadows after skipping class.



International festivals are held throughout the year. The International Book Festival, supported by KBBY is held every year and has contributed to improvement of children's books and culture. Another is YoPeFe where teenagers from different countries present their traditional dance and songs and teach them to each other. Through this experience, they learn each other's culture.







There are a recycling Center, an environment school and a green store. Namisum used to be filled with garbage such as bottles of Soju and scraps from visitors' food. Children learn the importance of protecting the environment.