Ask a Korean! News: Korea's Bobsled Team

The Korean could not care less about the fuss about Korea's short track speed skating team. Arbitrary rules and falling down are part of the game people, let it go.Instead, let us focus on the heartwarming story of Korea's bobsled team:"Show Them We Can Do It"; The Miracle of the Four Bobsled WarriorsThey held their hands. The heated energy channeled to every one. They could not even hear each other...

New York Times article about Kim Yu-Na's victory:So intense was the interest in the Kim-Asada rivalry that Korean reporters and photographers began arriving at the arena 12 hours before Thursday’s competition, only to find that some of their Japanese counterparts had spent the night at the rink....“I think the whole nation is in front of the television,” said John Moon, chief of staff of the South...

Live Blogging Winter Olympics: February 25, 2010

Some more impressions...- Ditched work early, came home at around 9:15 p.m. Was nearly blown away from the insane snow and wind. Did the Korean mention New York weather sucks?- Damn near had a heart attack to find the DVR was not working. Fortunately, regular TV worked, and figure skating did not happen yet. In fact, it would...

Once Again, Vote for LiNK!

Dear Korean,I wanted to ask if you could urge your readers to vote for us every day this week at www.linkglobal.org. We've been stuck in 4th place and we only have one week left to place in the top 2. Sunday is the last day to vote.An easy way to get the word out is through our facebook group and cause. Here are some links that make it easier:http://linkglobal.org/pepsi/blog/?page_id=111http://linkglobal.org/pepsi/blog/?p=204http://linkglobal.org/pepsi/blog/?p=186Esther...

The Korean found this post on Truehoop about Omri Casspi, the first Israeli player in the NBA, to be very interesting. Korean Americans and American Jews are in a comparable situation -- while they call America home, they have a visceral connection with the places outside of America. The interplay between the two places, symbolized by athletes, is an interesting mirror into how a mind of an immigrant...

Ask a Korean! Wiki: How Not to be an Arrogant American?

Dear Korean,I am an American I am going to be living in Korea for a year. I don't want to be the arrogant American. I would like to learn and respect the local culture. What would you say is some of the most immediate things to know about the culture to get me started?RyanDear Ryan,The Frenchman of Ask a Frenchman! was asked the exact same question, and his answer is excellent. Here it is in its entirety:Let’s...

Live Blogging Winter Olympics: February 23, 2010

Below are some of the Korean's impressions.- The Korean Mother visited from Los Angeles, and we nearly forgot about the Winter Olympics while unpacking. Fortunately, the Korean Fiancee DVR'd the whole thing. She's the best. At 8:30 p.m., we are only 30 minutes behind the coverage.- Cheltzee Lee, a daughter of a Chinese man and an African American woman, now representing Australia in figure skating....

Ask a Korean! News: Currency Reform in North Korea (Part 1)

As always, Mr. Joo Seong-Ha brings the latest news about North Korea -- this time, about the recent currency reform. Mr. Joo made this post in two parts, and the Korean will do the same. Part 2 will come later.*                           *                          ...

Apropos of nothing...There were two candidates in an election. Total of 2.8 million votes were cast. Candidate I earned 28,000 more votes than Candidate II. All votes were either for Candidate I or Candidate II. What percentage of the total votes did Candidate I earn?The Korean volunteers as an SAT tutor for a 10th grader who gets As and Bs. (The Korean reviews his students' grade sheets himself.)...

Looking for Translation Service

Dear Readers,A significant portion of the questions that the Korean receives is simple translation. While the Korean answers those questions that take less than a minute to translate, he neither has the time nor energy to translate anything longer.So if you can provide a translation service (for a fee or otherwise,) let the Korean know. After the Korean is assured of the quality of your work, your...

Why is StarCraft Popular in Korea?

Dear Korean,What caused Starcraft's popularity in Korea?Cristiano E.Dear Korean,What's with Korean people and their obsession with Starcraft? Every Korean I know or met loves Starcraft. They are obsessed with it. Why is that?SamDear Korean,Why are Korean people so infatuated with Starcraft? It seems to more a part of Korean...

Ask a Korean! News: Pissed-off Young Men, Coming Soon to American Political Arena

The extent to which Korean social phenomenon sometimes presages American social phenomenon is astonishing.The U.S. will have to produce 10 million new jobs just to get back to the unemployment levels of 2007. There’s no sign that that is going to happen soon, so we’re looking at an extended period of above 8 percent unemployment.The biggest impact is on men. Over the past few decades, men have lagged...

Ask a Korean! News: Does Anyone Want an Air Conditioner from Baskin Robbins?

This really has nothing to do with Korean society or culture other than the fact that it happened in Korea, but just the image was too funny.*                    *                    * BR Korea, which operates the ice cream chain Baskin Robbins, had its office equipment confiscated for not implementing...

Interesting article about how Korean Americans -- including adoptees -- are received when they visit Korea.Based on her interactions in South Korea, Babe says she can break down the attitudes toward gyopo into three types.She described the first as "a person that's older who is sort of angry about you being a Korean but not being fully Korean." The second type is "very friendly and helpful" but sometimes...

Korean skaters are kicking ass in Vancouv...

AAK! Music: Circus Magic Traveling Troupe by Crying Nut (1999)

Today's selection is Circus Magic Traveling Troupe (서커스매직유랑단) by Crying Nut (크라잉넛).서커스매직유랑단Circus Magic Traveling Troupe [Intro]안녕하세요 오늘은 김선생이랑 같이 나왔어요Hello! I came out with Dr. Kim today 아이고 김씨 아저씨도 나오셨네요 Oh my, Mr. Kim came out too아랫마을에 장이서서 서커스가 왔데요The village is holding a market and a circus came 아~ 그럼 우리한번 가볼까요Ah -- then should we go take a look? 아이구 장에 나오니 사람 참 겁나게 많네요Oh my, the market...

Ask a Korean! News: Lunar New Year in North Korea

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone. (If you were expecting greetings related to that other made-up holiday, go elsewhere.) As a sebaetdon, the Korean gives you again Mr. Joo Seong-Ha of Nambuk Story, with a story about the Lunar New Year in North Korea.*                        *                       ...