Yesterday(Thursday, August 2, 2012) I and my friends joined one volunteer activity from Hallyu Supporters at Daejeon CGV(near Seo-Daejeon subway station).

On that day, there was one activity to promote Hallyu Supporters.  That activity was that Hallyu supporters team invited foreigners around Daejeon city to watch a movie titled "I AM" for free.

This 8000 won ticket in the picture above was one of the tickets provided for free for participants.

Below clip is the example for "I AM" Movie ^^

This movie is not like other movies. It shows the effort of superstars in SM Town project.  Before I understood that superstars were gifted to perform, but after I watched it, I realized that even superstars needed to practice a lot to improve themselves.  So, this movie really inspire me to keep studying hard, to set a goal, and to find a way to reach that dream... Even though on the way to get there was full of obstacles, we must not give up, but to keep going...

I hope you have a chance to watch "I AM" also... ^^

Note:
1. The official website for SM Town, please click (in Korean language)
2. Facebook for SM Town, please click
3. SM Town Official Youtube Channel, please click

Cold Noodles(냉면) at 원미면옥

Today I went to have lunch with my Korean teacher and my Chinese friend.  I really appreciated to my teacher that he brought us to delicious food.  The food named "냉면(Nang-Myon)" or we can directly translated as "cold noodles."  He brought us to the most famous 냉면place in Daejeon area.  The restaurant name is 원미면옥.

It's very famous.  One of my Korean friends confirmed that this restaurant is the most famous restaurant for cold noodles.

Many TV shows came to this restaurants also.

This is our turn.  We had to wait for 30 minutes long ..  T^T ..

The queue is long till outside of building....

After 30 minutes, we could enter to eat cold noodles.  We ordered two types of cold noodles...

The first one is 물냉면(mul nang myon).  Its cold noodles with soup.

 This one is 비빔냉면(bi bim nang myon).  Its cold noodles with bi bim source. This dish was served with soup separately. 

The meat that you see in the picture is duck meat.  Duck meat made this menu very special different from other restaurant. Also, soup was also delicious.

Originally, the taste of cold noodles were really good, but if someone wants adapt the taste, you can put vinegar, soy source, or mustard.

Or you can put chili. ..^^

 Also, of course, you should not miss kimchi.

If you want to go there, I will tell you the way by public transportations.

You can take no. 607 bus in front of Sinhan bank near Daejeon station.  Until you reach 동신고등학교(Dongsin High School) bus stop.  You will see the restaurant in opposite side of the road. You can click here to see the map but it is in Korean language... T^T

Please enjoy your meal... ^^

Yeosu Expo, Yeosu, South Korea

After I heard that there were discounts for foreigners who lived in South Korea for Yeosu Expo until July 28, 2012 from my teacher(See detail click).  I didn't feel any hesitates to go there anymore.

After I knew it, I started to find friends to go travel with me.  After that, I bought tickets from Korail(Korea train) via smartphone application.   We also can buy tickets from Korail website.  The tickets look like as follows:
I had to go to Seo-Daejeon Station and take a train to Yeosu Expo.  I went to Yeosu Expo on July 27, 2012.  The train left the Seo-Daejeon station at 8:30am.   Let's talk about trains in South Korea.  Here, they provides 3 classes of trains to serve their customers.  The first class train is called "KTX."  It is the fastest train in Korea and its highest speed is 350 km/hr.  It is the most expensive ticket.  The second class train is called Saemaul(새마을).  It is cheaper than KTX.  The third class train is called Mugunhwa(무궁화).  Saemaul train's speed is not that different from Mugunhwa's but Saemaul's seat is much more comfortable than Mugunhwa's seat.

The train prices from Yongsan station(in Seoul) to Yeosu Expo and Seo-Daejeon station(in Deajeon) to Yeosu Expo and the prices between weekday and weekend.

Train type	Yongsan station<->Yeosu Expo	Seo-Daejon station<->Yeosu Expo
KTX	42,800 won/46,000 won	24,600 won/26,400 won
Saemaul	39,300 won/41,100 won	24,200 won/25,300 won
Mugunhwa	26,400 won/27,600 won	16,200 won/17,000 won

On July 27, 2012, I and my friend went to Seo-Daejeon Station and we found one building that was hit on me.

It is this building.  It is beside the train station.  Can you guess what it is?  I have a hint in the next picture..

That's correct!! It's the parking building for bicycles.  You may saw this before but it was my first time to see this.  Maybe I saw this kind of building before but I never realized what it is..haha...
We went there around 20 minutes early, so we had to wait a bit.

In the waiting area in Train station...

In the platform......

The train was coming... wow ..finally, let's go to Yeosu Expo :D

After we sat in the train for 3 hours, finally, we reached Yeosu Expo Station..

Wow.... there were so many people... ><"

We went out from station and we saw this tower. We could see the whole Yeosu Expo area from this tower.

My ticket.. ^^  It was only 3,000 won.  The original price is around 33,000 won

Before entering the Expo area... :D

The expo is non-smoking area :D ...

This is Iserael Pavillion... ^^

Before lining up for Japan Pavilion, we needed to have this ticket first.. :D

Thailand Pavilion ..

Thailand Pavilion's mascot .. It's so cute :D

Thailand are one of candidates for EXPO 2020 .. Let's cheer for Thailand :D

France Pavilion :D

 Inside of France Pavilion...^^

I think this one is inside Netherland Pavilion ><

Is it Denmark??

This one was in Egypt ^^"

As We didn't have to much time to enjoy all of pavilions in Yeosu Expo as we planed only for one day trip .. T^T ..  I hope you can go there and enjoy a lot in Yeosu Expo and please share your experience ^^..

After TOPIK exam, we went to eat JimDak (찜닭)

Yesterday TOPIK exam was very difficult for me.  Maybe I hadn't prepared well.  After exam, we went to downtown in Daejeon named Eunhang-Dong(은행동) by subway.  In subway station, I saw one spot that I was amazed as I couldn't find it yet in Bangkok, Thailand.

It's this "Digital Station."  It is just a normal computer to suggest information of subway and bus.  But the most interesting thing is the chargers.

I feel that the organization operating this subway really concerns of its customers.

After we took subway and went to downtown.  We decided to eat JimDak(찜닭).  The dish contained chicken with the black sauce and rice noodles.  There are 3 tastes: mild, normal, and spicy.  Also, there are 3 sizes of JimDak which are small size for 1-2 people(18,000won), medium size for 3-4 people(26,000 won) and big size for 4-6 people(37,000won).  If you want to eat with stream rice, u can order gon-gi-bab(공기박) for 1,000won each.  For beverage, water if served for free but if you want pop-soda, you can order um-ryo-su(음료수) for 1,000won each.  In this restaurant, there are two kinds of pop-soda which are Pepsi and Cider.  The rest of the menu is about alcohol.

Taste of Jimdak is very nice but if you like spicy food, you should order spicy taste and you would love so much.  I usually went to the restaurant with my non-Korean friends.  They really love Jimdak, especially my ASEAN friends.  If you come to Korea, I recommend you to try this food, even though it's not well-known by non-Korean...
Have a nice day :D

Notice about TOPIK

Today I got a special lecture from Prof. Kim Yoon Hee who was the TOPIK exam's question maker.  She taught us about TOPIK information and techniques how to prepare for TOPIK.

About TOPIK information, we can find it on TOPIK website.  She also noticed us about the answer sheet for writing part.  We have to write down in the correct direction, otherwise we will got 0 point, no matter how good we write.

The front side is still the same.

But the back side is already changed.  You must be careful.

Another notice is that TOPIK exam will be changed the pattern after 28th TOPIK exam(TOPIK on Sun 22nd July 2011 is 27th TOPIK).  Nowadays TOPIK exam has 4 parts which are vocabulary/grammar, writing, listening, and reading.  The new version of TOPIK will consist of writing, listening and reading.  Also, there will be TOPIK speaking.  TOPIK speaking exam is different from TOPIK exam.  Applicants will not be require to take both exams.  This kind of exam is similar to TOEIC that they are TOEIC exam and TOEIC speaking exam.  Professor expected that many companies and universities will require non-Korean applicants to have TOPIK speaking also because nowadays non-Korean people can get high level of TOPIK exam but they can't speak in Korean fluently.

For people who live outside Korea, you have to take the TOPIK exam as soon as possible before they change the pattern of exam.  The 28th TOPIK exam place is already announced.  The list below is from TOPIK website.

2012년도 제28회 한국어능력시험 해외 시행기관 접수기간 및 연락처
연번	국가 Country	시험일 Date of Exam	접수기간 Application period			접수처 Where you can apply?	연락처 Contact
1	아르메니아(예레반)Armenia	10.27(토) A형	8.7	~	8.20	예레반국립외국어대		374-93-71-0694
2	헝가리 Hungary		8.7	~	8.20	헝가리한국문화원		36-1-550-0240
3	우크라이나(키예프) Ukraine		7.28	~	8.17	주우크라이나대사관 영사과		380-44-246-3759~61
4	이탈리아(로마) Italy		8.7	~	8.20	라사피엔차대학		39-388-607-1156
5	스페인(바르셀로나) Spain		6.1	~	6.29	까딸루냐주립외국어학교		34-93-200-1371
6	스페인(마드리드) Spain		7.10	~	7.25	컴푸텐세문과대학	csim@rect.ucm.es	34-913-946-6441
7	스페인(말라가) Spain		8.7	~	8.20	말라가대학교		34-95-195-2772
8	캐나다(오타와) Canada		7.30	~	8.16	주캐나다대사관 및 오타와세종학당		1-613-244-5053
9	브라질(상파울루,이과수,리오데자네이루) Brazil		8.7	~	8.20	상파울루한국교육원	www.keisp.org	55-11-3229-4324
10	아르헨티나(부에노스아이레스) Argentina		8.7	~	8.20	주아르헨티나 한국교육원	www.ieka.net	54-11-4807-1056
11	콜롬비아(콜롬비아) Colombia		7.28	~	8.17	주콜롬비아대사관		57-1-616-7200
12	포르투갈 Portugal		7.30	~	8.17	주포루투칼대사관		351-217-937-200
13	아랍에미리트 United Arab Emirates		8.1	~	8.15	자이드대학교	ksi.uae@gmail.com	9-715-0623-8719
14	케냐 Kenya		7.28	~	8.17	세종학당		254-20-266-3-088
15	베네수엘라 Venezuela		8.20	~	8.24	주베네수엘라대사관		58-212-954-1270
16	파라과이 Paraguay		7.28	~	8.17	주파라과이한국교육원		595-21-334-939
17	에콰도르 Ecuador		8.7	~	8.20	끼또한글학교		593-89-385-600
18	미국(타코마) USA		8.7	~	8.20	타코마교육원		1-253-571-1415
19	미국(오레곤) USA		8.7	~	8.20	포틀랜드대건한국학교		1-503-762-6880
20	일본(도쿄 외 29지역) Japan	10.28(일) B형	7.1	~	8.8	한국교육재단(온라인 접수 병행)	www.kref.or.jp	81-3-5419-9171
21	중국(북경외 29지역) China		6.25	~	7.25	중국 교육부 고시중심	www.etest.net.cn	86-10-8531-0700
22	중국(홍콩) China-Hong Kong		7.20	~	7.31	홍콩한국국제학교	www.kis.edu.hk	86-852-2781-0715
23	몽골(울란바토르) Mongolia		8.7	~	8.20	몽골 인문대학교 출판부(인문대 3동)	temuujin@hanmail.net	976-9114-2014
24	베트남(호치민) Vietnam		8.9	~	8.23	호치민한국학교	http://kshcm.net/	84-8-5417-9021
25	베트남(하노이) Vietnam		8.7	~	8.20	하노이한국학교	http://hanoischool.net/	84-4-3555-8645
26	태국(방콕) Thailand		8.1	~	8.15	방콕한국국제학교	http://kisbangkok.co.kr/	66-2-543-6981~2
27	태국(송클라) Thailand		8.1	~	8.15	쏭클라나카린대학교	www.pn.psu.ac	66-73-331-304
28	태국(마하사라캄) Thailand		8.1	~	8.15	마하사라캄대학교	http://www.inter.msu.ac.th/	66-4375-4241
29	대만(타이뻬이) Taiwan		7.30	~	8.17	국립정치대학 한국어문화과	www.mofat.go.kr/taipei	886-2-3928-7073
30	대만(고웅) Taiwan		7.30	~	8.17	국립고웅대학 동아어문학과		886-7-591-9761
31	필리핀(마닐라,바탕가스,팜팡가) Philippines			~		정인한국어재단	jikf_phil@fotmail.com	63-917-589-8147
32	싱가포르(싱가포르) Singapore		7.30	~	8.10	싱가포르한국국제사무국	http://www.singkoschool.org/	65-6741-0778
33	인도네시아(자카르타) Indonesia		7.16	~	8.3	자카르타한국국제학교	http://jiks.com/	62-021-844-4958
34	말레이시아(쿠알라룸푸르) Malaysia		7.28	~	8.17	말레이시아 국립대학교	koreaukm@yahoo.co.kr	603-8921-6556
35	미얀마(양곤,만달레이) Myanmar		8.7	~	8.17	한국대사관, 만달레이 Swan Hotel	mmr.mofat.go.kr	95-1-527-142~4
36	캄보디아(프놈펜) Cambodia		7.28	~	8.17	주캄보디아대사관 민원실	http://khm.mofat.go.kr	855-23-211-900~3
37	브루나이(반달세리베가완) Brunei		8.1	~	8.10	주브루나이한국대사관 민원실		673-246-3001
38	이란(테헤란) Iran		8.4	~	8.15	테헤란한국학교		982-18-873-4910
39	카자흐스탄(알마티) Kazakhstan		6.4	~	8.20	알마티한국교육원		7-727-392-9120
40	카자흐스탄(아스타나) Kazakhstan		6.4	~	8.20	아스타나한국교육원		7-7172-901-113
41	키르기즈스탄(비쉬켁,오쉬) Kyrgyzstan		8.1	~	8.14	비쉬켁한국교육원		996-312-933655
42	우즈베키스탄(타슈켄트,우르겐치,페르가나) Uzbekistan		8.7	~	8.20	타슈켄트 한국교육원	http://www.tashkec.uz/	998-71-291-8182~3
43	우즈베키스탄(사마르칸드) Uzbekistan		8.7	~	8.20	사마르칸트 외국어대학 한국어학과 사무실		998-3662-33-4368
44	타지키스탄(두산베) Tajikistan		8.7	~	8.20	타지키스탄국립사범대학 한국어학과 사무실		93-445-9049
45	아제르바이잔 Azerbaijan		6.1	~	8.20	주아제르바이잔대사관민원실		994-12-596-7901~3
46	러시아(블라디보스톡) Russia		5.11	~	8.29	블라디보스톡한국교육원	http://www.vladikoredu.kr/	7-4232-515-303
47	러시아(모스크바) Russia		7.16	~	8.17	주러시아대사관	www.keisp.org/main/main.php	7-495-783-2727
48	러시아(로스토프나도누) Russia		6.10	~	8.10	로스토프나도누교육원		7-863-240-8167
49	러시아(상트) Russia		7.30	~	8.17	총영사관 1층 영사과 민원창구	http://rus-stpetersburg.mofat.go.kr	7 812-448-1909
50	호주(시드니) Australia		7.2	~	8.17	시드니한국교육원	http://www.auskec.org/	61-2-9261-8033
51	인도 India		8.1	~	8.20	주인도한국대사관문화홍보과		91-11-4200-7095

I wish you can get level as you want... o(^.^)O  <fighting>

PS:  If the information is incorrect, it is because of author's mistake.  It's not mistake of all people who I mentioned above.  

Where should we stay if we want to study in Korea?(2)

Last time we talked about accommodation provided by university.  This time we will talk about accommodation outside the campus....^^"

There are many kinds of accommodations that you can stay around university from cheap to expensive, from austerity to luxury. It all depends on your budget.

Let's start from one-room(원룸).  This kind of room is very comfortable to live.  The room is provided full option such as TV, desk, bed, kitchen, private toilet, wardrobe, and washing machine.  However, the room fee is very expensive and,  most of the time, we have to give money for deposit as well.  Normally, in Daejoen area, the room fee is around 300,000-500,000 won a month and deposit will be more than 1,000,000 won.  Actually, if you can support higher deposit, your room rate will be reduced.  On the other hand, if your room rate is high, the deposit will be low.  Sometimes, if you can negotiate with an owner, you don't need to pay for deposit at all.  In that case, you have to pay all of your room fee at once.  For example, if you want to do contact to live in one-room for 1 year and you don't want to pay for deposit, you can negotiate to the owner that you will pay all 12 months at once without giving a deposit.  In many cases, the owners agree.  Also, we have to pay for gas bill, electricity bill, running-water bill by ourselves.

Normally, the building of one-room will be similar to the building in the picture beside.  In fact, I lived there before.  I really wanted to continue to live there but my budget was not allow me to do so.  That time I paid for 400,000 won per month and gave 1,000,000 won for a deposit.  I really enjoyed staying there.  I could cook and invite my friends to have small party(we didn't allowed to be noisy).

Regardless of the high price, there is also an inconvenient point.  We need to separate garbage into food, plastics, paper, and general.

For general garbage, we need to buy special plastic bag in order to throw the waste.  There are different colors of plastic bags in different region.
For example, in my area which is Dong-gu, Daejeon, we have to buy green plastic bag as in the picture beside.  We must buy it in local grocery stores including supermarkets and discounted store in the same area where you live.  For more information about waste disposal, please visit your city's webpage.  For Daejeon city, please click here.



Another kind of the accommodation is ha-suk-jib(하숙집).  This kind of room is normally from Korean people who want to divide some rooms of their houses to other people for renting.   This kind of room consists of basic furniture such as TV, bed, wardrobe and desk.  In some places, we need to share bathroom with others but in other places we have our own bathroom.  The special thing of ha-suk-jib(하숙집) is that the owners will provide meals.  It's not free because it is already included in room fee.  For some places, room fee is also included gas fee, electricity fee, and running-water fee, but in some places, we need to pay even for internet by ourselves.  If the owner is not provide meals, the room will be called as "one-room."  The price of this kind of one-room will be cheaper.
 I also lived in this kind of room before.  After negotiating, I needed to pay 200,000 won a month and I had to pay all at once, so I didn't need to pay a deposit.  The room fee was already included gas fee, electricity fee, and running-water fee, but I had to pay 15,000 won extra for internet and TV.

Another kind of accommodation is ko-si-won(고시원).  I never lived in this kind of accommodation but I heard from my Korean friend about it.  The concept of ko-si-won(고시원) is that "it is small and it has small bed and small desk, the bathroom is shared, so it is very inconvenient."  According to the concept, this place should be the cheapest place.  But I don't know a reason why it's a bit expensive around my university comparing to one-room. It costs 200,000 - 250,000 won per month.  A deposit is not required.  You can check it out fromhere.


I hope you can decide where you can live if you want to come to South Korea for study..^^


Have a good time  :D