The Hollywood movie Brokeback Mountain has been released in Korea and like the US is not bringing in huge audiences:
Ang Lee’s beautiful portrayal of love between two cowboys had brought 330,000 Koreans into the theaters as of last weekend, while some 210,000 saw Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash in the Johnny Cash biopic.
That suggests the influence of the Oscars on the Korean box office is not quite what it used to be. At least when compared to films that have ridden their Oscar success into Korean cinemas like “Million Dollar Baby” (2004, 1 million tickets sold), ”Chicago” (2002, 1.2 million) and “A Beautiful Mind” (2001, 1,16 million), this year’s winners are no great shakes.
Walk the Line is the best movie I think out of all the Oscar winners this year but I can understand why it is not a big box office seller in Korea because the movie is about the country music singer Johnny Cash which probably very few people in Korea have ever heard of.
This is was a bad year for Hollywood movies IMHO and they just continue to get worse and worse. That is why I think Korean movies will be able to stand up against Hollywood movies due to their improving quality and interesting story lines.
Inspired by this link provided by the Marmot’s Hole I have decided to start my own series of post on the best drives in Korea as well. Korea has a lot of beautiful scenery to see and traveling by car into the country side is the easiest way to see it.
The first drive I will highlight is one close to Seoul, but not a very well known tourist attraction to foreigners even though it should be. The drive I’m talking about is on Highway 98 just North of Uijongbu through the Gwangneung valley.
This valley features some of the largest trees you will see in all of Korea due to the valley being designated as Korea’s National Arboretum that has protected these magnificent trees. You can see many of these trees and the beautiful river just by driving down Highway 98 but you can see even more by visiting the actual Arboretum. You must have a reservation to enter the Arboretum, just call 031-540-2000 to make a reservation. Tickets only cost 1,000 won to get in.
Another great site along Highway 98 is the tomb of King Sejo. King Sejo was born in 1417 as the second son to King Sejong the Great. Sejo seized power in Korea the old fashioned way in Korea, by killing for it. In 1453 he killed many of his relatives including making his own brother drink poison in order to secure the throne.
Despite the bloodshed, during his reign King Sejo did accomplish many things including new scientific achievements, reforming the tax system, and consolidating royal power. In his later years he became a devout Buddhist and promoted Buddhism in Korea.
King Sejo wanted a simple tomb after his death and that is what he got at Gwangneung. His tomb is nothing elaborate but the fabulous scenery more than makes up for it. The path to Sejos tomb is a really nice walk that offers great views of the valley’s many scenic trees that should not be missed.
To get to highway 98 just travel North from Seoul to the city of Uijongbu. Once in Uijongbu follow the Highway 43 signs to Pocheon. Look for the right hand turn on to Highway 98 once you enter what is known as Furniture Road in Uijongbu where furniture stores line each side of the road just outside of Uijongbu. Once you start traveling East on Highway 98 you will quickly enter the country side and see many nice farms and vineyards before dropping into the Gwangneung valley. This road is also a nice place to take your bike if you get up early and avoid the traffic that picks up at mid-day.
Once you have seen the National Arboretum and King Sejo’s tomb you can return back to Seoul by taking Highway 47 heading South. This is great day trip to the country side that shouldn’t be missed for all you Seoulites out there.
Then:
The Ville back in 1960.
Now:
Unlike most areas in Korea the TDC Ville is one place that appears to not have changed much.
You can see many more pictures and information about the TDC Ville by clicking here.
Here is an interesting article about a gallery in London that features anti-Bush political cartoons:
I ventured into the small gallery which, through this Saturday, will host an exhibition of political cartoons dedicated to President George W. Bush.
Some prominent cartoonists, including Steve Bell and Martin Rowson, are showcasing their collection of cartoons about Bush. The cartoonists satirize Mr. Bush as an incompetent leader who has led the planet into a blood bath in Iraq and has evil ambitions of world domination.
Mr. Rowson told me that he gets around 400 pieces of hate mail every time he upsets Republicans in the United States with his depictions of George Bush.
I can understand a debate about President Bush being incompetent or arguements over the war in Iraq but to call Bush “evil” is just taking things to far. I find it interesting that the cartoonists feel so free to demonize Bush but are to scared now to print Islamic cartoons for fear they will be attacked and murdered. Yet Bush and the Republicans are the “evil” ones.
From the Stars and Stripes:
A U.S. soldier was sentenced to five months of confinement and a bad conduct discharge during a court-martial Friday on charges he was absent without leave from his unit for more than nine months.
Kenneth H. Gore Jr., of the 8th U.S. Army, also was reduced from the rank of E-2 to E-1 during the half-day court proceeding.
So why did he go AWOL?:
During questioning, Gore told Parrish he had married a South Korean woman in early 2005 but had problems getting her a visa to return with him to the United States.
Gore said he had submitted an extension package to stay in South Korea so he could work the issue but the Army denied his request. A second request also was denied, he said, which led him to decide to stop reporting for duty so he could get her “paperwork processed.â€
“I thought it would take anywhere between a couple a days and a week,†he stated in court Friday.
Instead, Gore holed up in an off-base apartment until January 2006 while his wife worked to support them, he said.
On Jan. 3, Gore said, his wife called military authorities and told them his whereabouts. A military investigator and Korean National Police who responded found Gore hiding in a closet, he said.
He goes AWOL for the wife and the loving wife turns him in. I wouldn’t say this has the makings of a healthy marriage. Yes he is an idiot and he now has 5 months at Camp Humphreys to think about it.
This case is a perfect example of why I say it is better to get a Fiance’ Visa instead of getting married in Korea if your time in country is short. Bring the significant other over to the US before getting married to see how she adjsuts, plus the paperwork drill is much easier and doesn’t require you to go AWOL like this dumb soldier.
So who started the Yongsan fire? Was it the crazy ajumma?:
A South Korean woman who had protested outside a Yongsan Garrison gate for the last month is the lead suspect in a Thursday morning fire that’s being called the biggest blaze on the U.S. military base in at least 35 years, according to South Korean and U.S. officials…….
Police also have requested a mental evaluation of the woman, identified as Kweon Jung-ja, 57. She has been seen frequently outside of Yongsan Garrison complaining about the South Korean government and asking the United States for help, Jang said.
On the night of the fire, she was at the scene yelling that she had started it, South Korean police have said.
Or was it the drunk ajushis?:
On Wednesday night, five service corps workers had returned to that building after a union dinner, Jang and others have said. The workers had been drinking, though it was unclear how much, Jang said.
At some point, all five men fell asleep. One of the men, Lee Guen-sang, told police he was awakened by a noise outside the building, Jang said. Smoke was beginning to fill the room, Lee told the police.
Lee, who was not harmed in the fire, found Kweong screaming that she started a fire, Jang said. Lee and another man, Kim Jin-su, escaped the building unharmed, Jang said. They later told police they didn’t know that there were other people sleeping in the building, Jang said.
It was still unclear Friday how Kweon was able to get inside the compound.
My money is on both of them. Here is my theory. The drunk ajushis probably left the gate open which allowed the crazy ajumma to enter and set the place on fire. Sounds plausible to me. This is definitely one of those only in Korea stories.
Here is a link to at least one person who witnessed the aftermath of the fire.
Where is this famous Korean mountain?
Who can names these two islands connected by a bridge?