Yellow Dust

South Korea is a small nation with a very high population density. There are many people in a relatively small space using energy at what has become an alarming rate. In addition, emissions regulations may be a bit different in Korea than in your home country. Some say that the pollution, especially in the Seoul area, is unbearable. Others don't even make note of it. Moves toward a greener Korea have been taken. Plans for more fuel efficient and environment friendly buses (in the thousands) have been made. The move away from diesel fuel is slow, but growing.
Whether or not pollution in Korea poses a major health issue can vary from person to person. However, there is one factor that most foreigners in Korea (and Koreans alike) despise and this causes many to run for cover or go to more extreme measures to protect themselves--Yellow Dust.

Most Koreans will tell you that Yellow Dust comes from China and China is to blame for this cough inducing storm. While that's partially true, Yellow Dust originates from the deserts of China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. The winds that blow across these deserts in the springtime carry the dust particles to East Asia (i.e. South Korea and Japan.) Despite attempts at reforestation, the problem has yet to lessen.You may ask yourself "What harm could it possibly do? It's just dust!" Well, the dust itself doesn't impose any real threats besides creating an icky layer of dirt on an open window sill. However, the particles that the dust mingles with while in transport are the problem. Things such as sulfur (from acid rain), heavy metals (no relation to Black Sabbath), and bacteria are picked up in the dust storm and make their way to Korea. These extra particles are what make Yellow Dust a nuisance and fear for many Koreans. During this season, you'll see handfuls of people wearing surgical masks and a not so pleasant yellow haze in the sky that isn't coming from the sun.Yellow Dust isn't new to the Korean peninsula. Reports and records of this yellow haze date back to the Silla dynasty in 174 AD. Yellow Dust (also known as Asian Dust) has been around for quite a while and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon. T.T

Valentine's Day 2010

It's about that time of year again. The time for lovers to come together and celebrate their unity and singles to either lament/rejoice in their single-ness. Either way you choose to celebrate it, there are options for all of you no matter what your relationship status may be. Here are a few ideas for both couples and singles to enjoy on Valentine's Day or any time of the year.
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Couples

1. A nice candle-lit dinner for two. There are thousands of restaurants to please your taste buds all across the Korean peninsula. Whether you prefer pricey fine dining or a hearty and economic meal, there's the whole spread in the ROK.

Star Chef














This is a fusion restaurant with a taste for all palates. Star Chef is moderately to expensively priced, but you won't be disappointed. It may lack in the desired Valentine's private and intimate feel department, but the food will most likely put your mind past this and all other things that you may be thinking about.

Mad for Garlic














This might not be a wise idea of you have a lot of kanoodling and smooching planned on Valentine's Day (perhaps it should be filed under the "single's" category?), but I guess you always have the option to do whatever you want! It might be a bit crowded, especially because of the free table wine given to those who have to wait to be seated. Nonetheless, Mad for Garlic has the romantic lighting, wide wine selection, and moderately-priced food that are the makings for a lovely evening with enough garlic to scare off at least a dozen vampires.

2. A romantic comedy or drama might set the Valentine's Day atmosphere. Whether it's cuddling with your honey at home or sharing a bucket of popcorn and Milk Duds, a movie is a good way to spend quality time with your sweetheart. Chick flicks and romantic dramas aren't unique to the West, Korea's go its share of them too!

I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK
















Directed by the infamous Park, ChanWook, I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK is a different genre than what we usually see from Mr. Park. With a surreal/fantasy twist, a romance story is born between two individuals in an unlikely setting : a mental institution. Bits of comedy here and there bring you down to earth from the somewhat serious tone of this film.

Seducing Mr. Perfect
















Eye candy for the ladies embodies itself in the handsome Korean-American, Daniel Henney. He plays a handsome and emotionally detached executive who attempts to reform a sensitive and generally unlucky in love female counterpart, which ultimately ends in the demise of his bachelor state. The two fall in love outside of the workplace in an essentially cheesy and easily predicted plot.

Sleepless in Seattle


















Who can forget the era of Meg Ryan at her height of "ro-co" films? She's memorable in When Harry Met Sally and one of the quintessential representatives of the chick flick film genre. Whether it's this particular film or any of her other attempts to secure her place as America's sweetheart, Meg Ryan's got it going on and deserves a place on our Valentine's "to do" list for couples!
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Singles

1. Muster up the courage and treat yourself to a tasty dinner! Whether it's stuffing your face full of guiltily rich and decadent food or just enjoying a simple Korean favorite, enjoy and celebrate your time alone all without having to worry about what a significant other might want!

Samgyeopsal

Where can you go wrong with same fried, fatty pork and a bottle of soju? The answer? Nothing. Samgyeopsal is an HSK favorite that can satisfy even the most picky of eaters. (Don't forget the extra side of 기름장!) Round up a group of your single friends or go it alone!

Chez Meili














A great way to stuff yourself into oblivion. Herr Meilinger specializes in Austrian traditional dishes such as wiener schnitzel and kaesespaetzle. The homemade sauerkraut will knock your socks off and the gorgonzola cream sauce pork medallions are to die for! Spend that hard earned money on a treat for yourself on this greeting card holiday!

2. Watch a violent, bloody, crime/slasher movie. Sit back with a bottle of your favorite beer or even wine and watch an evil vampire greedily drink the blood of some praying nuns in habits or a deranged psycho-killer go to town on a couple of teenage kids. Whatever your pleasure, go against the grain this Valentine's Day!

Scarface


















Crime and drug lords don't get any badder than Tony Montana. Al Pacino stars in yet again another organized crime movie, but this time he slaps a Cuban accent on that dirty mouth. Quotations like "Who do I trust? Me!" are unforgettable and let's not forget the glorious downfall of Mr. Montana in a Rambo style shootout as he tries to maintain what he's worked so hard (and illegally) for!

No Mercy For the Rude
















Shin, HaKyun plays a dumb/mute killer who goes by the name of "Killa". He earns his wages by being a hired assassin and being a good one at that. He's got an eccentric personality that he can't seem to express in words and his obsession for bullfighting is among one of those eccentric traits. Although there's a romantic twist, there's also enough killing and storyline to keep you interested. The romance doesn't overpower you and it's definitely not enough to make you cynics out there barf!
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These suggestions aren't all there are out there for this Valentine's Day. If you have suggestions, send them our way for our readers to consider!

FAQs Part 4

* I went to 2 different universities/have multiple degrees. From which one should I get the original diploma/degree certificate and 2 transcripts?
It is completely up to you from which university you would like to obtain your original diploma/degree certificate and transcripts. If you transferred while obtaining your bachelor's (or higher) degree, send the documents from the university at which you completed your degree. If you have a bachelor's and a higher degree, we would advise that you send the diploma and transcripts of the degree that has the most relevance to teaching EFL. If neither are relevant, then send whichever ones you'd like. You may want to consider which university is cheapest and fastest. Just remember-your diploma and transcripts must be of the same degree and from the same university!
* I'm a (your nationality here) citizen, but I'm currently residing in a foreign country. Do I have to return to my home country to get a visa?
While it'd be ideal and less paperwork for HandS Korea, you are not necessarily required to be in your home country in order to obtain your visa. Some visas can be obtained in Korea (i.e. F2 or F4 visa.) The E2 visa must be obtained outside of Korea unless you're going to renew it. If you are in a country that is not your country of citizenship, then you must sign a waiver to allow the Korean embassy in that country to do a check on your educational background. (HandS Korea will provide you with this form.) Once that check has been done, you will be able to get your visa in the country in which you are currently located. We tend to shy away from this option as it is quite a lengthy proces, but on rare occasions, we have made exceptions.

* Why so many emails, HSK?!?
...because we love you and always want to be with you in your inbox! Believe it or not, those pesky emails are meant to help you. The HSK team has worked hard to compile information that we think would be useful and practical for you to know while preparing to come to Korea. Even for those of you who are seasoned veterans of teaching English in Korea, the first few emails are aimed at helping you get to know who we are and to understand that we're people just like you! They eventually will stop, but if you don't want to receive them, you won't hurt our feelings. Just shoot us an email and let us know that you're not interested in receiving any more HSK emails and we'll take you off of our "list."

* I'm a vegetarian. Can I survive in Korea?
Some Koreans might be taken aback should you mention that you're a vegetarian. Food allergies and food lifestyles haven't quite yet caught on here. Fortunately, there are some options for you vegetarians out there. There are several vegetarian restaurants with Korean and other international menu options. Any Indian restaurant should have veggie options and even within the Korean cuisine, there's several choices for vegetarians. On the same note, vegans might find it a bit more daunting of a task to fulfill their vegan needs. While international supermarkets don't lack in Seoul, the quantity becomes less when you move outside of the Seoul metro area.

* I'm worried that 2.1 million to 2.4 million KRW won't be enough to survive and pay my bills both in Korea and back home.
You're not alone in this category. Many people try to bargain with schools to earn more than the general pay offerings. Their attempts are generally not met with success. While yes, 2.1 million KRW is nowadays approximately $1800 USD, we also ask you to remember that your apartment deposit and rent are paid for by your employer. Your income tax deduction is only 3.3% of your monthly gross salary. AND...Korea's not that expensive! (Especially when your rent is paid by someone other than yourself!) A one-way taxi ride across the city at normal fare period is less than 20,000 KRW. A one way bus/subway ride the same distance is 1,100 KRW (less than $1!!!) A hearty and filling meal at your local gimbap restaurant is 4,000-6,000 KRW maximum. Pair of jeans in a local shopping market is approximately 20,000 KRW. Things are affordable here and most teachers find themselves able to pay credit card bills, student loan bills, etc. and live comfortably!

Fan Death TT

In ever culture there are myths and urban legends. In Korea, a major ongoing story is Fan Death. It is said that should one leave an electrical fan running over night with all windows closed, those inside the room could potentially perish due to suffocation or hypothermia. There is much debate surrounding this myth as many are convinced that it is real while others staunchly state that it is impossible.

Today, you'll hear the facts and you can make up your minds for yourselves!

There are many theories regarding this topic. A few of the many include :
~ The Korean government imposing this idea to reduce the waste of energy.
~ The circular motion of the fan blades can create a vacuum in which all the room's occupants' air will be taken from them because of this vacuum. The life is literally sucked out of them.
~ The fan blades cut up all of the oxygen molecules making them unusable to the beings that need them and therefore, those in the room will suffer from oxygen, or suffocation.

A Korean government organization also at one time supported this belief by making an official statement saying that fan death was one of the top 5 reasons for injury or accidents in the summer.

Many experts in the medical field deny this idea and claim that it is only folklore. Some also go as far as to blame the Korean government for propagating this ridiculous notion. In an excerpt from the Korean Joongang Daily newspaper, Pr Gord Giesbrecht states :

"It's hard to imagine death by fan, because to die of hypothermia, one's body temperature would have to get down to 28 [°C], drop by 10 degrees [Celsius] overnight. We've got people lying in snowbanks overnight here in Winnipeg and they survive. Maybe if someone was elderly and they were sitting there for three days in a sealed room with an electric fan turned on. Someone is not going to die from hypothermia because their body temperature drops two or three degrees overnight; it would have to drop eight to ten degrees." In addition, "the only way to verify whether someone had really died of hypothermia during the night would be to take a core body temperature the following morning. Waiting three days while the body was in the morgue wouldn't work because the corpse's temperature can drop during that time."

However, the writers for the well-known blog Ask a Korean! asserts that some professional medical opinions may be mistaken. They admit that it is rare, but not completely unheard of. They say that if in a completely enclosed room with no air flowing in to replenish your body and only air in mass quantities is being pushed on to your body, you risk catching hyperthermia. They compare it to the operation of a turbo-overn, but in the opposite sense. (Cool air instead of hot air.)

With all these contradictory assertions being made, how can we know whether fan death is real or not? I suppose there is no real way to find out unless you feel like putting the fan on high and sealing off your room. Are you willing to take the risk in order to prove this supposed urban legend false?

*Note : HandS Korea has chosen to take a neutral stance on this one! ^^

Exploring Samsung-dong/COEX

Samseong-dong

Gangnam-gu (강남구) is a district in Seoul that is very urban and offers much to do and see. The HandS Korea office is also located in this particular district. Within Gangnam-gu are various neighborhoods, one of which is very well-known and it is called Samseong-dong (삼성동). Samseong-dong contains a couple of famous places in Seoul : COEX Mall and Bongeunsa (Buddhist) Temple. These two things are a prime example of the mélange of modern and traditional that attracts many people to Seoul. Samseong-dong is filled with modern buildings as it is home to many head offices of worldwide corporations.
COEX Mall is as close to a Western-style shopping center as Seoul offers. It is comprised of many different stores (electronics, restaurants, clothing, trinkets, etc.) and often hosts many events and concerts. There are many Western clothing retailers in COEX such as Zara and MNGO. To get to COEX, take the subway (green line 2) to Samseong station and by way of exit 6, one can enter directly into the shopping mall.
Bongeunsa Temple is just next to COEX Mall and is one of Seoul's largest Buddhist temples where those who practice this ancient religion still go to worship. It is proof of Korea's ancient past among its contemporary present, visible in the avant-garde architecture found all over South Korea.

Weekend get away--Suanbo

Suanbo

Seoul really does have it all and there is almost always something to do. Despite Seoul's liveliness, sometimes one might want to get away from the city to enjoy a quiet weekend with friends. A group of HSK friends were invited to a weekend in Suanbo at a friend's vacation home.

Suanbo is located near Chungju in North Chuncheon province, just south and a little east of Seoul, Suanbo is about 2.5 hours by car from Seoul. Our Korean friend rented a car and we made the trek to Suanbo, just making a few stops for bathroom breaks and snacks. Keeping ourselves entertained with lively conversation and road trip games, our Korean-style road trip was a success and a fun time.
Once arrived in Suanbo, we settled in and had a small dinner with some drinks and card games. We all hit the hay early as there was a rigorous schedule planned for the next day.
After a good night's sleep, we woke up early and hit the trails. Suanbo was filled with small secondary homes of Koreans who live in bigger cities such as Incheon and Seoul. The people of Suanbo were very friendly and welcoming. I felt as if I was a part of the community as everyone smiled and waved as we walked by. There were fields of green speckled with bright red apples ready to be picked. Additionally, our pension was just near a small stream home to tiny fish darting here and there. We took a trip into "town" and bought ice cream and saw Suanbo's famous hotel containing spas that nearly every Korean knows about. Furthermore, we paused at a local watering hole to enjoy some specialties of the region : rice wine and potato pancakes with vegetables. Our last stop was a Buddhist worshipping place of which almost only ruins remained, but this didn't stop Buddhists from coming to worship. After a long day, our friend treated us to a delectable array of Korean food. We went to town on a homemade spread including grilled samgyeopsal, potato pancakes with fresh veggies, and doenjang jjigae.After our much too short weekend in Suanbo, we hit the road back to Seoul and felt well-rested and ready to get back to the grind back in our home away from home.

Natural Seoul--Seoul Forest (서울 숲)

Seoul Forest

While Seoul is one of the most architecturally modern and pleasing cities in the world, it does not lack in a multitude of parks and green spaces. Its mountainous surroundings also help create a natural ambiance among an astounding amount of skyscrapers and new buildings. One of the more well-known areas to relax and enjoy mother nature's gifts is Seoul Forest. While its title may lead one to believe that its size is quite vast in area, it is actually a large park located in the eastern part of Seoul. Seoul Forest contains plenty of paths and trails for a nice stroll, an ecological park housing several different species of animals (roe deer, elk, mallards, etc.), a cultural art park with various sculptures, an indoor botanical garden and insect house. The most aesthetically pleasing time to go is either in early fall when the leaves are turning or in the late spring when flowers are in full bloom.To get to Seoul Forest, take the subway (olive green line 7) to Ttukseom Resort Station. Exit number 8 will take you to the main entrance and one can see signs pointing you in the right direction as well as numbers indicating how far away you are from the entrance. Seoul Forest is open every day of the year 7 AM to 8 PM and entrance is free.