Pictures from Community Service Event

Hallyu & Me (Part III)

Although I didn't do these two community service projects specifically for this project, over the past year I've dedicated more than twenty hours of my time these two community service activities as part of Korean Club at Punahou School. Since the Korean community in Hawaii doesn't have many opportunities for volunteering, it was important to seize every opportunity possible! The largest and most important event where the Korean community gathers together and volunteers their time and effort is at the annual Korean Festival in July. Even though I've been to the Korean Festival before, last summer was the first summer I ever had a chance to volunteer.

The Korean Festival is very similar to the Okinawan Festival in that it has many food boths (such as Palama Market and Kimchee Hot Dog), kiddie games, culture booths (such as hanbok picture taking), entertainment including kimchee eating and karaoke contests, and so much more. The Korean festival is also the perfect place to become immersed in Korean culture, and I always visit the Hallyu booth which has an overwhelming collection of magazines, posters, pictures, and other memorobilia of Hallyu over the years. In addition, I also enjoy listening to the music which highlights both the older and more modern Korean songs. For example, this past year they had two very popular singers come from Korea- WAX and Lee Ki Chan.

{Clip of a News Report on Korean Festival 2007}



{Clip of WAX and Lee Ki Chan sining 오빠 (Oppa)}

The second community service project that I participated in besides the annual Korean Festival is the annual K-Fest sponsored by the Hawaii International Film Festival. Korean media (films, dramas, music, etc.) has become so popular in Hawaii as a result of Hallyu that Hawaii International Festival has dedicated one week to Korean Moves through K-Fest. Although I must admit it wasn't as exciting as Korean Festival, after my shift was over I was allowed to go into the theaters to watch the films for free and in that sense immerse myself in Korean culture through the movies! ^O^ This past K-Fest they had Hallyu star Lee Jun Ki make an appearance, and in the past they had other big name stars appear at the film fest such as Han Ji Won and Lee Byung Hun two other well respected veteran actors.

{Clip of Hawaii International Film Fest: Lee Jun Ki}

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5pOxrfIpI8&feature=related

2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc2r_wgLEDk&feature=related

{Side Note: One thing that I would like to note about Korean actors and actresses that make them very different from American actors and actresses is that they're normally more personal in the sense that they'll accept leis, take pictures, and sometimes even give hugs to their fans! ^O^ This is one of the main reasons why the Korean Drama fans in Hawaii were so upset when Lee Jun Ki was rushed to the car after his arrival at the airport.}

Hallyu & Me (Part II)

For the second half of my project (besides this blog), I played three pieces from the "Seasonal Korean Dramas" (more officially known as "Endless Love" series) by the director Yoon Suk-Ho. These "Seasonal Korean Dramas" include four dramas (1 for each season). Yoon Suk-Ho has spent the majority of his cinematic career working on these, and he is by far one of the most well respected and well known veteran directors in the Korean Drama industry.

In addition, these "Seasonal Korean Dramas" have made Hallyu stars forever legendary in the Korean Drama Industry, for example Bae Young Joon who is probably the most famous and best paid Korean actor makes 200,000 US dollars/episode and 43 million US dollars/year. Even though its been six years since Winter Sonata was released in Korea it still enjoys continued fame especially in Japan where Bae Young Joon has an enormous and very dedicated fan club. In fact Bae Young Joon is so popular that Japan is releasing a cell phone based on Bae Young Joon which will be released sometime this year.

For many Hallyu fans Yoon Suk Ho's "Seasonal Korean Dramas" represents the structure or the basis of Korean dramas, which is probably because there a few Hallyu fans who haven't seen at least one of these dramas.

So...."What are the Seasonal Dramas?"

The first "Seasonal Korean Drama" was released in 2000 starring Song Seung-Hun and Song Hye-Kyo. This drama both made them legendary Hallyu Actors. So in honor of the first drama here's the main title song from Autumn Story/Autumn Fairytale/Autumn in my Heart




{My Critique: Fortunately this is one of the shortest and easiest pieces, but it's also one of my favorite songs from the drama and because it wasn't very difficult it wasn't so stressful to learn. However, since it was simple I tried my best to pay more attention to the artistry of the piece such as the dynamics and phrasing in each measure. Also making sure the melody could by clearly heard at all times. Although this piece is still by far not perfect, I hope my listener will be able to really hear the dynamics and appreciate the artistry that I tried to give to this piece.}

Compare: Here's a Video Clip of the Main Title Song from Autumn Story. Enjoy!

The second "Seaonal Korean Drama" was released in 2002 starring Bae Young-Joon and Choi Ji Woo. This drama both made them both the most well known Hallyu stars globally. At first I couldn't decide which piece to choose because there were so many excellent songs, but in the end I decided to choose one of the most well known songs from this drama so here's My Memory from Winter Sonata/Winter Ballad.



{My Critique: Although out of the three songs I learned this was the longest piece, it was probably one of my favorite pieces. However, although it was the longest piece it wasn't the most difficult piece out of the three because the technique wasn't as difficult. Nonetheless, I don't think I would ever be completely satisfied. It was difficult to record this piece because the songs is very long so if you listen really good you can actually point out the mistakes. Out of the three pieces I learned, I know this song the best and I really like the melody of this piece. In addition, this piece is also different because it has lyrics and in the drama it's normally heard with lyrics. }

Compare: Here's a Video Clip of the song My Memory w/ the English Translation

The third "Seaonal Korean Drama" was released in 2003 starring Song Seung-Hun again and Son Ye Jin. Although this drama didn't make her a legendary Hallyu star, she is still recognized today as a well respected veteran actress. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find a solo piece from this drama, so I don't have a piano song for this drama. However, I'll still post a music video from this drama. Unlike the other songs I posted so far this song is more upbeat; however, I really enjoy this song because it's associated with nature scenes in Summer Scent.

Here's a Video Clip of the song Say Yes from Summer Scent!

The fourth and final "Seaonal Korean Drama" was released in 2006 starring two new actors- Seo Do-Young and Han Hyo-Joo for a change instead of veteran actors as Yoon Suk-Ho chose in the past. It also starred Korean-American actor Daniel Henney who although can't speak more Korean than an Elementary school student won Korean drama lovers over with his good looks. Danniel Henney is also relatively new and hasn't starred in many Korean dramas because he can't speak Korean; however, he speaks perfect English. In Spring Waltz he speaks mostly English and only very little Korean. So in honor of the fourth and final installment here's Teardrop Waltz from Spring Waltz.

{My Critique: This is the last song I learned and for me it was the most difficult song to learn of the three pieces. This piece was difficult because the technique was little harder, and I didn't feel I was able to covey the artistry of the piece that was suppose to, and it took several recordings for me to be somewhat satisfied. At first the piece was too fast and it sounded too rushed, then there didn't seem to be any dynamics, and because the microphone was closer to my right hand when I was playing the piano it sounded so much louder than the left hand. As a result I kept having to re-record. This piece definetely has the most mistakes, so as of right now it still needs a lot of work in my opinion.}

Compare: Here's a Video Clip of the song Teardrop Waltz. Enjoy!

The best thing about these "Seasonal Korean Dramas", and the reason why I enjoy watching them is because of the way that the director captures the best of the beauty in Korean nature, and the "Seasonal Korean Dramas" captures the beauty of the changing seasons in Korea. Although the similarities between the dramas start to get old, for example the love triangle story plot, the picturesque scenes never fails to capture my attention.

Hallyu & Me (Part I)

안녕!저는 조이입니다.만나서 반가워요 ☺
(Hello! I'm Joy. Nice to meet you!)

I first became interested in korean dramas two years ago as a result of a good friend and partially my family as well. From what started as a fanaticism for Korean dramas slowly spread into a love for Korean culture and all things Korean.

"What is Hallyu?"

In Korea the sudden interests in Korean pop culture is known as the 'Hallyu Wave'. Hallyu Wave a.k.a the Korean Wave is especially evident in Asian countries. The term Hallyu actually originated in China in mid 1999 by Beijing journalists who noticed the growing popularity of South Korean goods in China; however, today it has become a global term. The Hallyu Wave officially began with the export of Winter Sonata (the most well known and overall the most popular Korean drama).

"Riding the Hallyu Wave-> ♥" (A Mini Composition)

I’ve become Korean according to my friends and my parents, immersing myself and changing my life around me to reflect what I believe is Korean. My ears instantly perk up at the slightest mention of Korea, Korean Dramas, 하류 (Hallyu), or anything I remotely relate to being Korean. I even recently restricted myself to purchasing only clothes from South Korean brands online, my Ipod only contains music from Korean dramas or songs sung by Korean Pop Artists, and the few albums I own that include Japanese songs are sung by Korean artists. I’ve even turned my cell phone into what my friends have deemed the “K-phone” (my Iphone turned into a Korean phone), because it features pictures of Korean flower bouquets with sparkly pink netting, my favorite actor 주지훈 (Joo Ji Hoon), and of course my favorite Korean dramas like 궁 (Goong). Slightly tacky, overboard, and obsessive perhaps, but some people might say it’s a way of demonstrating my love and interests for my heritage and culture. However, I must digress, I am not Korean, not even one percent. I’m purely simply, and only Japanese.

It would be impossible to deny who I am, my Japanese heritage, the numerous bowls of おぞに (Ozoni) I’ve devoured every New Year’s morning, and going to bon dances with friends. However, while I believe it’s important to understand, appreciate, and immerse myself in my own Japanese culture, over the past three years I’ve come to not only appreciate my Japanese culture and heritage but the Korean culture as well. My interest in Korean dramas has slowly blossomed into a passion for the Korean culture, and over the past three years has probably been my greatest cultural experience. It has led me on many great adventures like learning the 한글language, participating in Korean community cultural events in Hawaii, trying new foods, joining and organizing clubs, reading a different genre of books (books popular in Korea that have been translated into English, and even turning my dislike into playing piano into something that I enjoy.

Many people are often only immersed and feel closely associated with their own culture, which is by no means wrong, but very predictable and easily appreciable. Being practically immersed in only my Japanese culture for my entire life, up until three years ago, I easily took things such as knowing what words like おぞに (Ozoni) and着物 (kimono) meant for granted. Three years ago, words like 엄마 (umma), 아빠 (appa), and 친구 (chingu) was completely foreign to me, and each time I learned a new word it was like tasting the sweetness of candy or ice cream for the first time. The words dripped with familiarity and seemed to easily flow off my tongue in some conversations with friends, as if I spoke them all my life. Learning new words became addicting, each one a delicious delicacy to be devoured. Korean language classes suddenly became a must have, and leading me from one “adventure” to another new “adventure”…

I’ll never forget the first day or Korean language classes, the slight intimidation, the fear, and the excitement all tangled up inside me. Walking to the two-story white Korean Presbyterian Church, and wondering whom my teacher would be and if anyone spoke English. I was singled out and introduced as the non-Korean girl which was very important since everyone else was Korean, even the blonde hair elementary school girl with blue eyes was half Korean and spoke and understood more Korean that I did. I couldn’t speak as well or understand as much as everyone else in my class who grew up their entire lives listening to at least one parent speak Korean. In addition to being the only non-Korean in my class, I’m also the oldest in my class as well. Receiving my two Korean workbooks were like my most cherished presents on Christmas day, but reading my assigned one or two sentences from the story about two talking pairs of shoes was one of my greatest fears. Not because I had to read it out loud (although I do fear public speaking), but because I so desperately wanted to be good at reading and speaking the Korean language, something that seemed impossible, that I couldn’t bear the thought of someone telling me I was bad at it. All the other elementary and middle school kids in my class were so lucky that all Korean words seemed to naturally role off their tongue, especially since they didn’t seem even a tenth as interested as I was. It was so easy to be jealous of the kids who could sleep at the back of the class and say the correct answers when 선상님 (seonsangnim= teacher) called on them, especially since I was rigorously taking notes. Korean classes also led me from one adventure to the next, because for the first time I got to try new authentic Korean foods that I never had the chance to try before.

I never would have got to try 떡복이 (Tukbokki= Spicy Rice Cakes) or 만두국수 (Mandooguksu= Mandoo Soup) if it wasn’t for Korean language classes. I realize that now, being the somewhat picky eater that I am, my mom would probably not have allowed me to order it at a Korean restaurant and would’ve been too afraid that I wouldn’t eat it and only waste food. Trying new “authentic” Korean foods was in many ways an adventure for me, because like my secret desperation and want to be able to speak Korean well, I also desperately wanted to like these Korean foods. I don’t think anyone was more excited to be eating spicy rice cakes than I was. I could distinctly remember one of my favorite scenes from my favorite Korean drama 궁 (Goong) where 채경 (Chae-Kyoung) was so happy to be eating spicy rice cakes with her school friends when she wasn’t suppose to, and as I reflect back on that moment I think I desperately wanted to emulate her and her happiness.

My Korean cultural experiences have also led me to think about my 금 (geum), my dreams. Since I’ve become interested in the Korean culture, my life has seemed to greatly circle around it, and my dreams have definitely changed along the way. I dream of going to Korea now, and I can almost see myself hiking up Mt. Halla and screaming at the top of my lungs to relieve stress. I imagine eating kimchi and spicy rice cakes in one of the small restaurants owned by ajummas, running through the soft yellow daisies on Jeju Island. I dream of studying Korean in college and studying abroad at the infamous and prestigious Seoul University. However, if someone told me even four years ago that learning about Korean culture would be my number one interest, I probably wouldn’t believe them. Sometimes I even wonder I must admit if I’ll wake up one morning and wonder why I enjoy learning about the Korean culture so much, especially since I’m not Korean. However, although my dreams might seem foolish, I believe that my greatest cultural experience should constitute as something that changed my life and who I am, whether it might be for better or worst. For the rest of my life, this will probably be my greatest cultural experience, because what could be a more remarkable “cultural lesson” than being able to learn to appreciate and experience a culture other than your own.