DMZ Gallery (Tour in Korea)

DMZ Tour~~!!

Tour gallery (Tour in Korea)

The couple has traveled Nami island and Seoul.

2013-14 Ski tour pics in Korea

The Historical Story of Dokdo island

Located 87.4km away from Ulleungdo Island, and formed entirely from volcanic rock, Dokdo is an isolated islet off the east coast of Korea bearing a latitude of 37°14' north and a longitude of 131°52' east. Collectively, both Ulleungdo Island and Dokdo Islet once belonged to a country named Usanguk. According to geographical records, Usanguk became part of the Silla Dynasty (57B.C. ~ 935 A.D.) in June of the 13th year that King Jijeung ruled Silla. Isabu (a general and politician of Silla) gained significant strength during this period to overtake Usanguk. 

In the Seongjong Memoir of the Joseon Dynasty, there are passages by Kim Jaju describing Dokdo Islet, which was referred to as Sambongdo at the time. Dokdo was initially called 'Sambongdo', 'Gajido' or 'Usando', but the name was later changed to Dokdo in 1881. The name 'Dokdo' was first used in 1906 by the Headman of Ulleung County Sim Heungtaek. In 1914, Dokdo Island officially became an administrative district of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. 



After The Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, Japanese fishermen often came near Ulleungdo and Dokdo. Sukjong Sillok, the Annals of King Sukjong (1674-1720), records that An Yongbok went to Japan twice in order to protest against Japanese nationals trespassing into Korean territory. He asked the Japanese authorities to recognize Korea's sovereignty over these islands and to forbid Japanese nationals to sail to the islets. 




Dokdo Islet is comprised of two main islets: Dongdo, or East Islet which sits 98m above sea level, and Seodo, or West Islet, which sits 168m above sea level, together with 36 smaller rock formations. Seperating Dongdo and Seodo is the Hyeongjegul Cave, together with Cheonsanggul Cave on Dongdo. Over time, other caves and topographic features of the islet formed due to weathering and erosion. 

Japan acknowledged the value of Dokdo Islet after the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. Japan unilaterally transferred Dokdo Island to Shimane Prefecture, Japan and renamed it "Dakesima". Several authorities in Japan have continuously declared their dominion, over the islet, which led to diplomatic conflicts between Korea and Japan. Such conflicts have yet to be resolved. 

Presently there are security guards on Dokdo Islet that protect several houses that were built onto the rocks as well as a small harbor.

Austin's Choice - Korean Drama : 9. Coffee Prince

The First Shop Of Coffee Prince Shes back! Following her roles in Princess Hours and The Man of the Vineyard, which made her an icon of trendy Korean dramas, Yoon Eun-hye is now starring as a tomboyish young girl dressed as a man in The First Shop of Coffee Prince. This big hit in Korea, which is based on a novel with the same title, has attracted a large female audience by casting some well-known actors to play handsome princes in this marshmallow drama. This is the first long dramatic series ever to be produced by MBC's first female drama producer Lee Yoon-jung, who had previously directed shorter dramas such as Taeneung National Village. With her sophisticated and feminine dramatic sensibility, Lee has succeeded in capturing the hearts of viewers who are largely young males and females in their thirties. Drama Information  Broadcast Network : MBC   Broadcasting Dates : July 2 ~ August 28, 2007 at 21:55 every Monday and Tuesday  Producer : Lee Yoon-jung  Cast : Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Seon-gyeon, Chae Jung-an  Website : http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/coffeeprince (Korean)

Synopsis As the head of a poor family, the lively and independent Eun-chan has worked at just about every job there is. She is hired to work at a coffee shop by Han-gyeol who mistakes her for a male and asks her to pose as his boyfriend. A relationship begins between Han-gyeol, who pretends to act as a homosexual to scare off the blind dates arranged by his grandmother, and Eun-chan, who needs to hide her gender to make money. At his grandmothers request, Han-gyeol takes charge of the failing Coffee Prince. He re-opens the shop together with a few princes including Eun-chan and builds a partnership and friendship with them. In the process, Han-gyeol finds himself drawn to Eun-chan, and this homosexual attraction confuses him.

About the Characters Choi Han-gyeol Played by Gong Yoo  Han-gyeol is the heir to the Dongin Foods Company. He had been working in the U.S., but returns to Korea at his grandmothers request. Smart, witty, and handsome, he is popular with women. He hasn't settled on any particular job, and still has so many things he wants to do. Clearly, taking over the family business is not what he has in mind. He is unable to defy his grandmothers requests, however, so he starts managing the coffee shop, Coffee Prince, and grows to enjoy the taste of its coffee. Definitely stubborn, he doesn't want to ask for favors or give them. Likewise, he acts with indifference toward others. However, deep inside he is warm hearted. He meets Eun-chan, a lively boy (who is actually a girl) and falls in love with him, which has him deeply troubled about his sexual preference. Go Eun-chan Played by Yoon Eun-hye Eun-chan is definitely a manly-looking girl. When she was in high school, girls of her age often mistook her for a pretty boy and tried to date her. Since her father passed away, she has worked at all kinds of jobs to support her family. Despite her difficult situation, she maintains a courageous and forthright demeanor. A likeable person, she enjoys eating good food and is friendly to everyone. Influenced by her coffee-loving father, she has an uncanny ability to judge the aroma of coffee. Thanks to this ability, she lands a job at Coffee Prince and dreams of becoming a hostess one day. She falls in love with Han-gyeol who is cold and wild, and since their encounter, her life is no longer as peaceful as it had been. Choi Han-seong Played by Lee Seon-gyeon Not only does Han-seong have a sweet voice and smile, but he is also easy-going and can make friends easily, though not revealing his true feelings. Like other artists, he is stubborn and somewhat eccentric. A musician working at a broadcast company, he lives alone - away from his family and the family business, Dongin Foods. As far as work is concerned, he is full of confidence and active. He has found it difficult to be close to women ever since he broke up with his ex-girlfriend, Yoo-joo. However, he finds he is drawn to Eun-chan who befriends him. Han Yoo-joo Played by Chae Jung-an Yoo-joo is a stylish and sexy artist. The raven-haired beauty has been working actively in both New York and Seoul. She is liberal to the point of selfishness, wearing whatever fashion suits her taste. She makes friends with others quite easily, but her unrestrained character often leads to loneliness. Deep inside, she is hurt easily and has trouble getting over it. She once loved Choi Han-seong but her passion for art caused her to break up with him and go to New York. She later goes back to Han-seong only to learn the painful truth - that he doesnt feel the same way about her.

Film Locations The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince at Hongdae The 1st shop of Coffee Prince is actually an old coffee shop that was remodeled for the drama. This inconspicuous coffee shop was packed with fans that flocked there to catch a glimpse of the production in process. Set to reopen after filming, both the exterior and interior have been totally overhauled in line with the film. Inside, visitors can find a painting by Han Yoo-joo as well as a number of props from the drama. The only thing missing are the people like Han-gyeol, Eun-chan, Mr. Hong, Wapeulseongi, Minpyeminyeop, and Jappeokarim. If you are a real fan of the drama, Coffee Prince, you may want to stop by for a cup of coffee and enjoy the memories of the drama.

Seoul Animation Center Seoul Animation Center can be visited by walking up Namsan Mountain from Myeongdong station. It was opened in May 1999 as a Mecca of Korean cartoons and the animation industry. The center hosts an animation festival, and offers a variety of facilities like a theater, an information center, exhibitions, and daily education programs. It also holds many theaters and galleries including a library, a visual material information center, a theme exhibition gallery, and an animation exhibition gallery. In particular, AniCinema is the nations first animation-only theater with 179 seats and a dolby digital sound system. It also has facilities for education such as an experience gallery, seminar rooms, and digital education rooms, as well as a video editing room and recording room for professionals. Thanks to its location at the foot of Namsan Mountain, the center has a great view that can be seen from the rooftop. This was the location of Han-gyeols house in the film. Built of wood, it has a romantic garden with a wooden deck and a swing, offering a panoramic view of downtown Seoul.

Sandongsugyodaewang (Chinese Dumpling King) In an effort to reconcile with Eun-chan, Han-gyeol asks her to meet him at a Chinese restaurant. In one scene, Eun-chan eats a dish full of sweet and sour pork as Han-gyeol watches, smiling at her. Han-gyeol can't drink but decides to order something alcoholic, and the two soon make up. In this scene, which was filmed at a Chinese restaurant in Yeonhee-dong, the two have fun just like brothers. On the 500-meter-long street there are about eight Chinese restaurants. The street is also called Yeonhui Matgil (Yeonhee Street of Flavors).

Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong The day after her father's memorial day, Eun-chan prepares some food from the memorial service and goes to visit Han-gyeol. Wishing to avoid meeting her, Han-gyeol says he is jogging. He calls Yoo-joo, and the love triangle scene unfolds, which includes Yoo-joo (who prepared a nice lunchbox upon Han-gyeol's request) and Eun-chan (who walks back and forth restlessly with the food). The scene was filmed at a jogging course at Palgakjeong on the Bugak Skyway. From here, you can see a great view of Seoul and enjoy the beauty of nature all within the city limits. No wonder it is popular as a dating spot for young couples. In the evening, many are out to enjoy a drive. Together with Namsan Mountain, this is a popular night time attraction in Seoul.

Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun Eun-chan possesses a natural gift for smelling and distinguishing good coffee. As such, she works for Coffee Prince and dreams of becoming a barista. Han-gyeol quickly notices her ability and one day takes her to a bookstore where he buys her a book about coffee. The place where the exterior of the bookstore was filmed is Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun, which is the largest bookstore in Korea.

Hongdae Playground Han-gyeol has been involved in a one-sided love with Yoo-joo, who is the girlfriend of his elder cousin. After many years, he still has romantic feelings for her. One day, he goes out on a date with her, and has a great time. Yoo-joo shows an interest in a hat sold by a street vendor and Han-gyeol buys it for her. The date scene was filmed on the street in front of the playground opposite Hongik University. In the evening, street vendors sell a variety of accessories and clothes. On weekends, a flea market is held on the open grassy field, where you can buy everyday necessities and accessories made by young artists. There is also an Indie-band performance.

Duksung Girls High School One rainy day, Eun-chan returns home with a doll in her hand, when she bumps into someone else walking along. The other person is about to give Eun-chan a hard time when Han-gyeol suddenly appears to help. They pick up the rain-soaked doll and run to get out of the rain. The scene in which Han-gyeol saves Eun-chan, which resembles something out of a fairy tale, was filmed in front of Duksung Girls High School. The street starts from Pungmoon Girls High School (across from Insa-dong Street) and continues until you reach Art Sonje Center. It eventually leads to Samcheong-dong where there are numerous small shops, cafes, and restaurants. Photo courtesy: Cine 21, MBC Information & written by KTO

Austin's Choice - Korean Drama : 8. Worlds Within

“Worlds Within” was produced by a Korean drama dream team. One of Korea’s best drama writers, Hee-kyung Noh, teamed up with director Min-soo Pyo and two of Korea’s favorite stars, Song Hye-gyo and Hyun Bin, to produce a first-class drama series. It’s the story of a drama production team and their everyday lives and relationships, and the story unfolds in an understated yet heart-touching manner. The drama focuses on the beautiful love story between Junyoung and Jio (played by Song Hye-gyo and Hyun Bin), and their realistic yet powerful emotions struck a chord with many viewers.

Drama Information Director: Min-soo Pyo Script: Hee-kyung Noh　 Starring: Hyun Bin, Song Hye-gyo Broadcasting Company: KBS Airing Period:October 27, 2008 through December 16, 2008 Website: Click Here (KOR)

Synopsis When Junyoung, a director, joins the drama division of a broadcasting station, she finds herself working with Jio, a senior director and her former boyfriend. When Junyoung breaks up with her current boyfriend, Jio confesses his true feelings for her, and they get back together. Meanwhile, Gyuho Song, an established director in the broadcasting world, begins a risky romance with Haejin, a young yet fearless actress. As well as these love stories, the drama paints a compelling picture of the professional lives of directors, scriptwriters and actors. Cast Ju Jun-young performed by Song Hye-gyo　 She joins the broadcasting station to fulfill her professional ambition of making a drama. Her passion for work gains her recognition from her colleagues and seniors. At work she appears quite confident and is undaunted by her mainly male colleagues. Although on the outside she is frank and direct, Jun-young is actually quite sensitive and gets hurt easily. At work, her meticulous nature sometimes hurts the feelings of her colleagues, and she is still naive when it comes to relationships, often, unwittingly, hurting her boyfriend's feelings. However, she has a sweet and warm-hearted personality. Jung Jio performed by Hyun Bin　 Jio is a gifted director who makes good productions that get high ratings. He is passionate and serious about his work, as well as being warm hearted and considerate of others, which has made him an idol among the junior directors in the company. He enjoys other people’s company and is always surrounded by people. Although his ambition was to become a film director, he gave up his dream due to his family’s financial situation. Instead he joined a broadcasting company and finds fulfillment through making dramas with heart-warming stories. At times he still pines for first love, Yeonhui. Song Gyu-ho performed by Eom Gi-jun　 Smart and stylish, Gyu-ho is one of the broadcasting company’s star directors. However, he is the selfish, ambitious type who would do anything to get a higher rating and is often given the cold shoulder by his colleagues. He has a cold and proud personality, and he doesn’t bother making friends. Although Gyu-ho often finds himself always at odds with Jio, he actually likes him. Gyu-ho’s character changes during the drama, influenced by his romance with the young, sweet actress, Haejin. Main Locations Jingwansa Temple Before breaking-up due to pressure from Gyu-ho’s father, Gyu-ho and Haejin take one last trip together. The scene where the two lovers share their pain and tears was filmed at Jingwansa temple. This was also the filming location for one of Hyun Bin’s previous dramas, the very popular <My Lovely Samsoon>.  Jingwansa temple is famous for its small yet beautiful temple, the stonewalls that line the mountain trails, and the dark green foliage that surrounds the temple garden. Visitors can follow the path past the temple to enjoy trekking on Bukhansan mountain. Jingwansa temple is home to female Buddhist monks, and it also runs a temple stay program for visitors. Wondang Horse Farm This is the place where an accident involving one of Jio’s camera crew was filmed. Jio’s ambitious drive leads him to film in this location, despite his unclear eyesight, and the head cameraman ends up getting injured. Despite this unfortunate event, this location is in fact an incredibly beautiful spot. Beautiful slender white poplar trees line the road that leads to Jingwansa temple. Some 40 dramas and commercials have been filmed in this area, these include <The First Shop of Coffee Prince> and <One Fine Spring Day>. The farm is spread out across rolling fields and visitors can watch the horses leisurely grazing in the meadows. Since the farm is only 30 minutes distance from Jingwansa temple and both are on the outskirts of Seoul, they make for a good day trip. Walking Slowly (Neurige Geotgi) The first scene of this drama takes place in front of a café called Walking Slowly in the Cheongdam-dong area of Seoul. In the scene, Jio is filming for a drama with his fast-moving camera crew. Walking Slowly café is a popular spot for filming due to its serene design and the scenic ginko trees that line the road in front of the café. This café serves “slow food” and caters to food lovers and the health conscious. Wine and tea are also served.   Information & written by KTO