나만의 공간

Topic I like to shop at various places. I go to retail outlets or fashion malls. I can get good deals at these locations. I am pretty good at haggling for prices. I end up getting extra discounts off and on. Department stores have major designer brands, but they are rather expensive. So, I only go there when they have sales going on. Plus, there are large shopping districts in..

Topic In Korea, you must get your driver's license renewed every seven to ten years. This can be done at a local driver's license testing facilty or at the police agency's traffic bureau. The process is slightly different depending on what type of license you want to renew. You have to bring your old driver's licens and recent color photos of yourself. You also have to buy a p..

Topic Jeju Island has been a favorite vacation spot among Koreans for decades. There is a new reason many more people visit the island these days. Jeju Island has been boasting what's called Olle paths. These are natural hiking trails that go around the whole island. The trails pass through forests, mountains, and beaches. These hidden paths were opened to the public in Septem..

Topic One common popular Korean stew is called doenjang chigae. It tastes quite thick and pungent. It's made of Korean soybean paste, doenjang. It's considered a great comfort food throughout the year. The best part is that it's pretty easy to make. You just boil some water with some anchovies in it and put in some doenjang as the soup-base. Zucchinis, potatoes, turnips and pe..

Topic Just like the FDA in the United States, Korea has its own Ministry of Food and Drug Safety(MFDS). The MFDS ensures the safety of foods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics. The MFDS plays a role in the regulation and enforcement of standards. Raw produce or farm goods are overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA). The MFDS makes s..

Topic Rice consumption in Korea has been dropping since the mid 1980's. This is partly due to a change in people's dietary habits. In recent years, there have been various measures aimed at encouraging Koreans to eat more rice. Major food companies have been producing rice cookies and instant noodles made out of rice. New types of rice cakes were made to promote the consumptio..

Topic Before an educaion-major gets a teaching certificate in Korea, he or she must fulfill one's student teaching requirement. The training takes place during the senior year of college, typically in the month of April or May. Commonly, a veteran teacher is assigned to each student-teacher to oversee his or her training. The first week is mainly about getting to know the stud..

I think traveling alone is better than traveling with a tour group. The first reason I prefer to travel independently is that I don't have to be bound by a schedule. I would rather have the freedom to do whatever I want to and go wherever I want to. For example, if I go on a group tour, I might have to visit a boring museum just because it's in the itinerary. Second, if I go o..

Topic Parents' Day is May 8th in Korea. It's a custom to give carnations to parents on this day. I already picked up some flowers for my mom and dad on my way home last night. I also wrote them a thank-you card. I have some special plans lined up for today. First, I'm taking my folks out for dinner to a nice restaurant. The place is a bit pricey, but I want to treat them well...

Topic Korea's central bank is the Bank of Korea (BOK). It was established back in 1950. The BOK's main role is to formulate monetary policies. First, it sets the benchmark interest rate periodically. It pushes up the interest rate to curb inflation. This helps bring about price stability. It lowers the interest rate to boost the economy. The central bank's key interest rate ha..