Maybe the South Koreans can take some lessons from their northern bretheren about how to properly print currency:

Concerned about counterfeiting, South Korea has been giving its currency a facelift, starting with the 5,000 won note.

The new bills were released in January with much fanfare, but a large chunk have been recalled after the printers botched some of measures aimed at preventing counterfeiting.

Problems included some notes not being printed with holograms, as well as other defects.

The state-run Korea Minting and Security Corp. recalled nearly 17 million of the new notes in February — its first recall in more than half a century.

In March, the printing service said it had discovered seven more 5,000 won notes with printing errors.

“The reprints have made the Bank of Korea a laughingstock,” the Korea Herald said in a recent editorial.

According to some, it appears the North Koreans are continuing to tunnel into South Korea:

Retired Col. Gordon Cucullu, speaking at a session sponsored by the Defense Forum Foundation, said North Korea’s tunnels are nearly as long as the New York city water system.

“I think it gives everyone here a chance to recognize not only this is doable from an engineering standpoint, but in some cases, if you look at it through the eyes of the enemy, it is practical,” he said.

“Tunneling is not rocket science. North Koreans are now experts at tunneling through, drilling and blasting, so it’s not high-tech,” he said.

South Korean Army officials have said earlier that North Korea in the 1970s dug more than 20 underground tunnels to infiltrate into the South, some of them across the military demarcation line.

Their estimate at the time was that more than 15,000 North Korean soldiers could pass through a tunnel in an hour.

For those who haven’t taken a DMZ tunnel tour yet, I highly recommend you do so. The tunnels are really impressive and gives you perspective on how dangerous these tunnels can be in war time.

Now why are these demonstrators allowed to accost and harass US Marines on a joint training exercise with the ROK Army?:

The demonstrators spent some 50 minutes at the site, wielding pickets with such slogans as, “Stop pre-emptive strike exercises against North Korea which prevent the establishment of a peace framework on the peninsula.” Some tackled U.S. soldiers taking part in the training to calls of “Yankee, Go home!” and “Stop the war exercises.”

Police admitted they took precautions against protests from fishermen and local peace activists but were caught off guard by activists “from outside” who interrupted the drill “unexpectedly.” Police say they will consult with the military before deciding whether to book them for obstructing officials.

How could the police not plan for outside agitators? Shouldn’t these outside agitators be arrested? Could you imagine the headlines if the Marine pushed this guy back? He would probably claim injury and psychological damage and demand an immediate apology from the USFK commander and President Bush. Also if Marines were tackled by these protesters wouldn’t that constitute assault at least?

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.

Korea has many great mountain drives for people who love the high peaks of this country to experience.  One of the remotest of those can be found just outside of Soraksan National Park.  If you have a day to spare while visiting the park then I highly recommend you take a drive up the little traveled Highway 56 in Gangwon province.

This country highway spirals up and down than many high peaks of Gangwon province and features a great distant view of Daecheon Peak, the highest of peak of Soraksan National Park.

Along the road you will get a chance to see plenty of wildlife, trees, mountain scenery, and country villages. The villages along this road are so remote that I felt like I was going back into time watching this farmer plow his field with manually with oxen.

This trip is not only a great day trip from Soraksan National Park but is also a great way to travel from Soraksan to Odaesan National Park if this park is also on your itinerary. A back entrance to Odaesan can be reached by turning off at the Odaesan park entrance on highway 446.

Along the way to Mt. Odaesan the rising highway provides incredible views of Korea’s Taebak Mountains:

If you have no plans of visiting Odaesan National Park then just stay on the highway which will eventually allow you to connect to Interstate 50 via highway 31 which will take you back to Seoul.

To get to this highway from Soraksan National Park just travel south on Highway 7 from Sokcho to the city of Yangyang. At Yangyang travel west on Highway 44 for about 10 miles before turning at the intersection on to Highway 56 heading South. It is a great ride that shouldn’t be missed for those already visiting the area.

Where is this famous Korean mountain?

Then:

Seoul in 1951 during the Korean War.

Now:

Seoul in a 2003 photograph.

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.

I wonder if Nomad will ever book a fishing trip like this one?

Hat Tip: Commander Salamander