Traditional wedding vs. Modern wedding in Korea

Korean Traditional Wedding Ceremony
In ancient time, wedding in Korea was not a matter about bride and groom, but two families. Therefore, arranged marriage which means a wedding by arranged by parents was dominant for a long time. Most bride and groom could not know about each other at all such as face, personality, and name. They had to follow their parents’ decision. On the wedding day, bride and groom wore Korea traditional costume called ‘Hanbok’, which is very colorful and beautiful clothes made by silk. Usually, wedding ceremony was held in the yard of the bride and many neighbors and relatives congratulated on them.

Modern Wedding Ceremony in Korea
As Korean society has been modernized rapidly since 1970, marriage pattern changed into love marriage which refers to the marriage of man and woman who are in love with each other. Although arranged marriage still remains in Korea, love marriage is common. Most wedding ceremonies were performed in the Wedding Halls which are decorated with wedding motif. Bride and groom wear western style costumes such as white or black tuxedo for groom and white wedding dress for bride.

Hangeul : The Korean Alphabet

The Korean Alphabet, Hangeul was created by King Sejong who was the greatest King in the Kingdom of Joseon(1392~1910), in what is modern day Korea, during the 15th century.

Before its creation, only a small percentage of the population in Joseon could read and write because at that time Joseon did not have its own alphabet system and used Chinese characters

for the upper class people. In fact, the general public was illiterate. So King Sejong tried to make a Korean writting system based on phonology. Hangeul consists of 10 vowels and 14 consonants and can be conbined to form numerous syllables. Hangeul is quite easy to learn and write because it is systematic and comprehensive.

For example,

We can combine all the consonants ㄱ/g/, ㄴ/n/, ㄷ/d/... ㅌ/t/, ㅍ/p/, ㅎ/h/ and vowel ㅏ/a/.

The results will be like the followings in terms of written form and pronunciation.

* Wirtten form : 가, 나, 다 ... 타, 파, 하

*Pronunciation: /ga/, /na/, /da/... /ta/, /pa/, /ha/

Once you learn the basic Korean Alphabet(10vowels and 14consonants) and several

prounciation pattern, you can read most of Korean syllables using the way I showed you above examples. Therefore, it is deemed as one of the most scientific languages in the world. Hangeul has attributed to high literacy rate(more than 95%) in Korea.

Different word order between English and Korean

The outstanding difference between English and Korean is word order. I think this is one of main reasons that Koreans cannot learn English easily.
In English, ther word order of transitive verb is subject, verb, and object(preposition phrase
would be optional), while in Korean, the word order is subject, (prepositional phrase),
object, and verb. This totally different word order makes Korean students confused because the structure becomes another obstacle besides vocabulary.
* Example
English> " I study English in Iowa city. "
(Subject) (verb) (object) (prepositional phrase)

Korean> "나는 아이오와에서 영어를 공부합니다. "
(Subject) (prepositional phrase) (object) (verb)

In addition, there is a few article usage in Korean compared to English. So
most Korean students have a big trouble to use articles not only in spoken English,
but also written one. I still feel difficult when I use articles such as 'a', 'an', and 'the'.Organizing structure(subject, next verb, and then object or predicative) is not easy in my head before I speak English, but it is interesting and at the same time challenging.

The ART INSTITUTE of CHICAGO

October, 2, 2007

It was my first time of Chicago trip. I have been very interested in paintings, which means the most favorite place in Chicago trip was entirely focusing on the Art Institue even though I have never been there. I really wanted to see original masterpieces painted by famous artists such as Van Gogh, Seurat, Monet, and Matisse. When I entered the gallery, I was really excited. What a great opportunity! Actually, it was not enough time for me to look at all the painting in the Art Institue. Of many collections, I could not but choose some. I picked up Impressionism & Postimpressionism galleries and Modern & Contemporary galleries. There I recorded some pictures with my digital camera and above video is about "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" painted by Georges Seurat, French artist. An old curator was explaining the paintings to visitors. I couldnot look through all the galleries because of lack of time. So I really want to go to the Art Institute again and have a plenty of time to see all of exhibitions. After that, I went to the Millenium Park. The park was quite familiar with Coex Mall in Korea. High buildings and and some modern sculptures. I really enjoyed the Chicago trip.

I like teaching

After finishing my graduate school, I worked at hearing aids company,
called GNReSound Korea, as an audiologist for 3 years. At that time, I was in
charge of teaching nurses or audiologists about ears, physiology, anatomy, hearing, hearing test and hearing rehabilitation. I learned lots of useful skills for teaching such as how to make presentation materials using powerpoint, how to deliver professional knowledge effectively,
and how to make people pay attention to my class. It was quite exciting.
I really enjoyed teaching. In 2005, I went to Mongolia with my YWAM members( Youth With A Mission, YWAM is an international, inter-denominational, non-profit Christian missionary organization). There I was responsible for Korean Language School for Mongolian Children.
I taught Mongolian children Korean Language for 3 days.
It was really precious experience for me. I realized that I liked teaching somebody something through those experience. Now I am studying English in the University of Iowa and at the end of this semester I have a plan to apply for a Ph.D. course of Audiology here. I hope to get an admission and start my course. In the future, I would like to be a professor in the field of Audiology and then teach students. It might take 5~6 years.




















* I am teaching Mongolian children Korean letters and man who is holding a microphone is an interpreter from Korean to Mongolian(Actually he is Mongolian).

The nature of the universe

As knowledge of the universe throgh scientists' research increases, many people believe that originally the universe was started by Atom. However, I think the nature of the universe is beyond the understanding of human beings, even though many secrets of the universe have revealed so far. The universe was created by awesome God who is love according to the Bible. And I believe that. Hence whenever I saw things he made in the universe such as flowers, human beings, stars, and moons, I am surprised because of his great love. Look at the flower which I took in New Zealand. Probably you can find the beauty. How can we make such a beautiful flower as human beings? He showed his love which we cannot see with our sight, but feel with our heart in the universe.

"Let there be light," (GE1:3)

In this August, I travelled Minnesota with my friend EunYoung
and my mentor, Grace.
When we come back Hotel from St.Paul, sky was brilliant like that picture.
Sunlights covered with clouds slightly was amazing.
The spirit of God was descending like a dove and lighting on us.

Oh, Lord! How wonderful are your works!