Namhansanseong Fortress

SEOUL OUTDOORS

IT’S TIME TO GET OUTSIDE AND DO SOMETHING

Spring truly begins in earnest, making it the perfect time to take advantage of Seoul’s countless opportunities for outdoor sports and leisure. Whether its bagging the rocky peaks surrounding the city, biking pleasant riversides, paragliding above the city, or simply strolling amidst historic alleyways, you’ll find something that matches your inclinations. SEOUL has asked several residents to recommend their favorite places to enjoy the great outdoors.

Namhansanseong Fortress

Running
Written by Kevin Dowling

Spring is right around the corner and there is no better time to hit the trails of Namhansanseong! A favorite for this writer, Namhansanseong has it all: smooth runnable trails, beautiful scenery, and a great choice of eateries in traditional Korean hanok-style restaurants. The fortress wall that runs along the mountain ridge offers great photo opportunities and views of Seoul. The best part is that this heritage site is easy to access by subway. Follow the Wirye Dullegil signs and enjoy a trail run through the rolling hills of Korea’s countryside. You will feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul city yet be only a short train ride away.

Kevin Dowling has run ultramarathons in Vermont, Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Jejudo Island. When he is not running in the mountains of Korea he is studying for an MBA at Sejong University and working full-time at AGS Four Winds International Movers.

GO> Sanseong Station 산성역 (Line 8), Exit 3. Take city bus 9 to the Namhansanseong rotary.

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Rock climbing on Insubong © Sanirang Alpine Networks

Rock Climbing
Written by Peter Jensen-Choi

Insubong Peak in northern Seoul’s Bukhansan National Park is our choice for natural traditional (trad) climbing for its stunning views, numerous multi-pitch trad routes, and easy park access. Insubong is one of the main climbing meccas for Seoul’s traditional climbers and boasts well over one hundred routes ranging in difficulty from 5.6 to 5.13. Insubong is truly the climber’s climbing crag, with bouldering, sport, and trad climbing available with crack, slab, face, chimney, and ridge style climbs. Insubong is not for the faint of heart; it should be climbed with a professional guide or someone with sufficient trad climbing experience.

Peter Jensen-Choi is the founder of Sanirang Alpine Networks (sanirang.net), a privately owned climbing business designed to expand the accessibility of climbing in Korea’s finer alpine environments to foreign and Korean enthusiasts alike.

GO> Take Bus 120 to its final stop and then take a cab or shuttle bus to the Doseonsa Temple parking lot. From there, begin hiking the main trail for 30 minutes to Insu Campground, then cut across the campground and head directly up the less obvious trails for another fifteen minutes. You cannot miss the headwall of Insubong’s main Big Slab.

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Walking
Written by Robert Fouser

Without question, my favorite walk in Seoul is weaving through the alleys of Tongui-dong, the micro-neighborhood that sits at the entrance to Seochon. The easiest way to start is from the Daelim Art Museum. Take the alley behind the museum and walk past the site of the famous white pine. Turn right and then turn left again at Gallery Artside and enter the narrow alley on the left. The long narrow alley lined with hanok (traditional Korean-style houses), each with its own personality, is the most exotic alley in Seoul.

Prof. Robert Fouser is an associate professor of Korean Language Education at Seoul National University and writes SEOUL’s Historic Walks column.

GO> Gyeongbokgung Station 경복궁역 (Line 3), Exit 9

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© Daehan Paragliding School

Paragliding
Written by Ohudy Luna

Not many people partake in paragliding, but if you’re in Seoul and are curious, then you’re in
luck. Not too far from Guri Station (a 10-minute walk from Exit 2) are a number of paragliding schools where you have the option of either doing a tandem flight (KRW 120,000), receiving lessons to become a certified pilot (KRW 400,000 for P1), or, if you’re already licensed, just paying for the transportation up the hill (KRW 40,000 for P1–P3, KRW 20,000 for P4 and above). Although there are a number of schools, the easiest one for foreigners to get in contact with is Daehan Paragliding School because of the friendly Englishman named Andrew who works for them. You do ground training and theory with him by the Hangang River near Banpo Bridge or Guri Station, and once you’re ready to fly, you can go to Guri Station (Jungang Line) to start flying.

Originally born in Los Angeles, Ohudy is a 26-year-old guy constantly cycling everywhere, in any weather, looking for new experiences with others.

FYI>

Daehan Paragliding (Andrew): T. 010-2189-9688
Daehan Paragliding (Seong Hyu): T. 010-5329-6330

Bukhansan National Park

Hiking
Written by Robert Koehler

One of the best things about Seoul is that it’s surrounded by mountains—you can find dramatic alpine scenery even in the heart of Seoul. The Baegundae Trail of Bukhansan National Park is one of my favorites. It’s not an especially difficult hike—it takes just two hours to walk from the parking lot of Doseonsa Temple to Baegundae Peak—but the views of the park’s countless peaks from the upper reaches of the trail are inspiring. Just below the peak is Baegunsanjang, an historic mountain shelter/lodge that offers simple meals and, when the weather is warm enough, accommodations. It’s worth spending the night here in spring and autumn (especially May and October)—you can then reach the peak just before sunrise and take in the “sea of clouds” that gather below the granite peak of Insubong.

Robert Koehler is the editor in chief of SEOUL.

GO> Take bus No. 120 from Suyu Station 수유역 (Line 4), Exit 3 to the last stop. From there, take a shuttle bus or taxi to the parking lot of Doseonsa Temple. The trail begins from there.

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Biking along the Hangang River

Biking
Written by Daisy Larios

Nothing says spring like a leisurely riverside bike ride! Luckily, Seoul Metropolitan Government offers bike rentals starting at KRW 1,000 throughout the city, as do many of the city’s individual districts. There’s one in the parking lot near Exit 1 of World Cup Stadium Station (Line 6); you can pay with a T-Money card but you’ll need your passport number for the computerized rental system. Look for the path that heads down to Bulgwangcheon Stream and head due north along the stream until Eungam Station (Line 6), or go down to the Hangang River and to the right, where a pleasant ride through its adjacent parks awaits you. Drop by the Nanji Ecological Wetlands for a dose of springtime renewal.

A California native, Daisy Larios is a trained librarian who enjoys eating, reading, writing, and photographing her way around the world. She currently edits and writes for Seoul Selection.

May 1, 2013 / Issue No. 578 English-to-Korean Translator Needed Seoul Selection is looking for an English-to-Korean translator, preferably with experience translating economy-related material. If you’re interested, send a resume to Eugene at planner@seoulselection.com. Book Giveaway For The Voices of Heaven Goodreads will be giving away 20 copies of Maija Rhee Devine’s The Voices of Heaven through May 5. Only residents of Korea or the United States can participate. Jongmyo Jerye Royal ancestral rite a link to Korea’s past The Jongmyo Jerye (also known as Jongmyo Daeje, or the “Jongmyo Grand Ancestral Rite”) is a Confucian rite held every first Sunday of May at Seoul’s Jongmyo Shrine. Performed by the Jeonju Yi family, Korea’s old royal family, the rite honors the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. It is attended by traditional music (originally written by King Sejong and later adapted for use in the ceremony by King Sejo) and beautiful traditional dancing. The rite has been designated a Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. For more information, see here and here. VENUE: Jongmyo Shrine DATE: May 5, 11:30am to 6:30pm ADMISSION: Free MORE INFO: See links above or call T. 02-3011-2637~8 GETTING THERE: Jongno 3-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 3, 5), Exit 8 or 11 Looking for Writers We are looking for writers to pen the Korea Essentials 2013 series, a cooperative project between the Korea Foundation and Seoul Selection. We’ve published 12 volumes so far, which you can find on Seoul Selection’s online bookshop. This year, we plan to release four volumes: Hanbok and Korean Fashion, Taekwondo, Korean Traditional Medicine, and Korean Dance. Each volume is about 20,000 words; manuscripts should focus on providing readers fun, easy explanations rather than excessively technical content. If you are interested in writing, please send a resume and writing sample to the appropriate supervisor below: Taekwondo: Hwa-pyeong Kim – word@seoulselection.com Around the Web A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler. Sungnyemun Gate opens to the public this week. Who knew North Korea has a microbrew scene? The Korean Wave is fueling a Korean language study boom overseas. The KTO wants tourists to discover the “real Gangnam.” Visit the fascinating salt farms of Jeungdo Island. Seoul and the Hangang River from Mt. Eungbongsan. Jajangam Hermitage in Pohang. The QiRanger conquers the Giant Ice Cream Cone. Yours Truly spent an evening walking along the Hangang River. Events Sanirang Rock Climbing School Sanirang Alpine Networks’ begins its 15th Climbing School Program of the season on Sunday, May 5. The climbing school meets every Sunday at 7:30 am at Bukhansan National Park for five consecutive weeks. The sessions include learning basic rock climbing skills on slab‚ crack and face. Technical skills learned are the basic principles behind climbing safety‚ knots‚ top-rope belaying‚ abseiling and very basic technical multi-pitch skills. The course is designed to learn and practice the fundamentals of climbing in a friendly, safe and laid-back environment. The course also gears clients up for the final multi-pitch climb to the top of Insu Peak via different routes in the final outing. In total‚ the five week climbing school program covers all skills up to the SAN Beginner Course and touches on the very basic aspects and skills of the Multi Pitch Course. PERIOD: May 5–Jun 2 TUITION: KRW 450,000 plus the 10% VAT or KRW 495,000 total MORE INFO: See here Universal Ballet–Shim Chung The Universal Ballet of Korea will present its adaptation of Shim Chung, a beloved Korean folktale that illustrates the Korean virtue of one’s dedication to their parents. A daughter of the blind man, Shim Chung willingly sells herself in return for 300 bags of rice for her father. Since its creation in 1986, the dance show has been staged more than 200 times worldwide. The production is complete with a masterful original score and many authentic elements of traditional Korean court clothing and architecture. VENUE: National Theater of Korea PERIOD: May 9–12 ADMISSION: KRW 10,000–100,000 Tickets: http://ticket.interpark.com/global MORE INFO: T. 070-7124-1737, www.ntok.go.kr GETTING THERE: Dongguk Univ. Station 동대입구 (Line 3), Exit 2. Unite all Originals Live with Snoop Dogg American hip-hop heavyweight Snoop Dogg, who has sold over 170 million albums worldwide throughout his 20-year career, is coming to Seoul for his first Korea concert on May 4. Korean hip-hop girl group 2NE1 will share the stage as a guest performer. Snoop’s debut album Doggystyle was released in 1993, topping on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. His second album Tha Doggfather was certified double platinum in 1997. Under the pseudonym Snoop Lion, the rapper released a new reggae single, “La La La,” in 2012. VENUE: OL PARK Soccer Stadium (Velodrome), Olympic Park DATE: May 4, 7pm ADMISSION: Standing: KRW 88,000, seat: KRW 55,000 Tickets: http://ticket.interpark.com/global MORE INFO: T. 010-3360-7846, facebook.com/unitealloriginals GETTING THERE: Olympic Park Station 올림픽공원역 (Line 5), Exit 3 Slash—Live in Seoul Saul Hudson, better known by his nickname Slash, is ready to take heavy metal enthusiasts by storm during his concert slated for May 9 in Seoul. Slash was the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He then cofounded the supergroup Velvet Revolver, which reestablished him as a mainstream performer in the mid to late 2000s. His debut solo album Slash was released in April 2010. VENUE: Uniqlo AX DATE: May 9, 8pm ADMISSION: KRW 60,000 Tickets: http://ticket.interpark.com/global MORE INFO: T. 02-3141-3488 GETTING THERE: Olympic Park Station 올림픽공원역 (Line 5), Exit 3 Cosmetics & Beauty Expo The Chungcheongbuk-do town of Osong hosts the Cosmetics & Beauty Expo, Osong Korea 2013. The expo seeks to create a converged and complex cultural and economic effect focused on the beauty industry, including cosmetics, through a comprehensive approach blending industry, culture and environment. The expo will feature a body painting show, beauty shows, performances, exhibits and plenty of hands-on programs. There’s lots to see and do nearby, too. VENUE: The vicinity of KTX Osong Station (Osong Advanced Medical Complex), Chungcheongbuk-do PERIOD: May 3–26 MORE INFO: T. 043-249-4523, www.osongbeautyexpo.kr 2013 Bolshoi on Ice Russian ice ballet troupe Bolshoi on Ice (a.k.a. Moscow Stars on Ice) comes to Seoul with a program of Snow White and Carmen. Under the direction of former Soviet figure skater Igor Bobrin, the Bolshoi on Ice has warmed the hearts of audiences with spectacularly designed ice shows for all ages of figure skating fans and performed by Olympic, World and European Champions, sport masters and circus artists, who competed in national and international events. VENUE: Mokdong Ice Rink PERIOD: May 1–26 ADMISSION: KRW 60,000–100,000 Tickets: http://ticket.interpark.com/global MORE INFO: T. 1899-0783, www.ice-show.com GETTING THERE: Omokgyo Station 오목교역 (Line 5), Exit 3 YEOL Lecture: The Way of Pungnyu : the Historic and Social Contexts of Pungnyu Music YEOL, Society for Korean Cultural Heritage, has presented some of Korea’s most prominent scholars, experts, and intellectuals in the field of Korean art, culture, and history as lecturers on the first or second Tuesday of the month, excluding summer and winter breaks. In this lecture, SNU professor Hilary Vanessa Finchum-Sung discusses “The Way of Pungnyu : the Historic and Social Contexts of Pungnyu Music.” VENUE: Seoul Museum of History, Seminar Room (2nd Floor) DATE: May 7, 10:30am–noon ADMISSION: Free REGISTRATION: Send name and contact details to yeol400@hanmail.net for registration MORE INFO: yeol400@hanmail.net or T: 02-736-5868, 02-735-5878 RASKB: Korean Pottery & Porcelain in Icheon Area The RASKB will visit some famous kilns to see some time-honored traditions at work. Traditionally, the important ingredients in making porcelain were good quality kaolin and large quantities of firewood. Kaolin was only found in some areas of the country, and the best kaolin close to the capital was found around Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do. There were also heavily wooded areas nearby, and the Hangang River provided a transportation route for moving raw materials to the kilns and finished products to the capital and beyond, so the nearby town of Icheon became the production center for much of Korea’s most famous porcelain. DATE: May 4, 2013 – 9:00am to 6:30pm COST: KRW 39,000 for members or KRW 46,800 for non-members. MORE INFO: See this link. GETTING THERE: See link above. Everyday Koreans Gwanghwamun Gate   Gwanghwamun Gate, the historic entryway to Gyeongbokgung Palace. The silhouette of Mt. Inwangsan on the horizon makes the gate all the more beautiful. Photo by Robert Koehler. *Click the photo to see a full-size version at our website. NOTE: If you have a photo you would like to see in our Everyday Koreans section, please sent it to story@seoulselection.com. Photos should be AT LEAST 950px wide. Send a one-line bio, too. Notifications Tell Us About ‘Your Korea’: If you’re a longtime resident of Korea and would like to share your story in KOCIS’s KOREA Magazine, shoot an email with your story idea to book@seoulselection.com. Update Your Shopping Mall ID – Seoul Selection encourages you to change your ID and password for our online bookshop and shopping mall at Seoulselection.com. The old IDs and passwords no longer work following our recent upgrade. Looking for Translators – Seoul Selection is looking for a few good translators (Korean to English) for general translation work. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to Kyehyun at trans@seoulselection.com. Seoul Selection eBooks – You can purchase some Seoul Selection titles in ebook format via Amazon.com (for Kindle) and Apple’s iBookstore. Titles include Ask a Korean Dude, Moon Tides, Doing Business in Korea, Once Around the Sun, and seven volumes of our Korean Film Directors series: BONG Joon-ho, IM Kwon-taek, KIM Jee-woon, LEE Chang-dong, LEE Man-hee, PARK Chan-wook, and SHIN Sang-ok. Seoul Selection via Ingram – Seoul Selection now has a direct wholesale distribution agreement with Ingram Book Group, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of publisher content. By choosing to allow Ingram to represent our material, we have opened our titles to a wider audience. Our titles will be available for order through Ingram at more than 35,000 distribution channels worldwide. Ask your local bookstore to have Seoul Selection titles available! Send Your Event Info – If you would like to advertise any upcoming events you are organizing, please send us the press release material at book@seoulselection.com by the preceding Friday in order for it to appear in the following Tuesday’s issue.

Freelance Contributors Wanted – SEOUL Magazine needs writers who are fluent in both Korean and English. Writers should have a strong interest in Korean culture and be able to interview Koreans. Send your resume and writing samples to book@seoulselection.com.

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