The Secrets of Lost - Daniel Dae Kim's Korean Accent

Dear Korean,What did you think of Daniel Dae Kim's pronunciation of Korean in Lost? Given that he didn't grow up in Korea, how was his accent?JenniferDear Jennifer,The Korean watched exactly half an episode of Lost so far, pretty much by accident. From that half an episode, the Korean recalls that Mr. Kim's Korean accent was really terrible.But the Korean is willing to give a fair assessment, so he...

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Where Are You Watching the World Cup?

Dear Korean,I have a madcap idea of watching all the games of the 2010 World Cup in a bar / restaurant / club of one of the countries playing. Would be great to support a different team each game with local supports. Could you recommend anywhere I could watch the Korea v. Greece game in London? Ideally central.JamesDear James,The Korean does not know, but he is certain that AAK!'s UK-based readers...

Here is a CNN report on Arizona's crackdown on teachers with accents, which was previously discussed here at AA...

ROKS Cheonan -- What You Need to Know, What You Need to Think About

There are many things in the pipeline to be discussed on AAK! -- like the 50 most influential K-pop project, the upcoming World Cup or a litany of really interesting questions -- but right now, any discussion other than the biggest news coming out of Korea feels frivolous. The Korean, of course, is talking about the sinking...

According to Wall Street Journal, crime rate fell sharply in the United States from 2008 to 2009. Particularly notable is Phoenix, AZ, where violent crime dropped by 17 percent. In particular murder rate dropped by 26.9 percent. Number of reported kidnapping also dropped in Phoenix. Property crimes dropped by 21 percent in Phoenix overall, including 36.3 percent drop in auto theft. All other major...

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Gifts for a Prospective ESL Teachers?

Dear Korean,A very good friend of mine will be leaving for Korea next month to teach English in Seoul for at least a year. I want to get her a really nice gift that will be useful to her during her stay. But I have no idea where to begin. Any suggestions? DiyaDear Diya,The Korean has always been able to find everything he needed in Korea, so he does not know. Readers, any suggestions?Got a question...

Fascinating article about LPGA star Christina Kim on the Wall Street Journal. An excerpt:...It's worth noting, as always with Ms. Kim, what she was wearing Monday night: a low-cut black sheath dress, spectacular jewelry and lacy, high-strapped, 4-inch René Caovilla heels which must have cost at least $1,000 when she bought them in Dubai last December. "They've even got sparklies on the bottom," she...

The World Cup is approaching rapidly. Jamie Trecker at Fox Sports has an excellent rundown of the (South) Korean national team. Well, excellent if one only looks at Mr. Trecker's soccer analysis, because his linguistics skills (for example) appear to be a little rusty.Take the very language of Korea: it is unique in Asia in that it is NOT ideogrammatically based as Chinese and Japanese are; the hangul...

Apropos of nothing...The Korean attended a concert in which Robert Schumann's Scenes from Goethe's Faust was played. The songs were in German, and had an English translation in the programs.One part of the music features four grey women, named Need, Guilt, Worry and Sorrow. The Korean was particularly struck by Worry's song -- in essence, it said Worry makes one paralyzed, such that...

The Swedru All Blacks F.C. of Ghana sends their well-wishes to Korea's national team.The All Blacks are singing Team Korea's new cheering song (in very good Korean!), whose original you can listen he...

Ask a Korean! News: How to be a Power Blogger by Mr. Joo Seong-Ha

Another good one from Mr. Joo Seong-Ha of Nambuk Story about being a power blogger.*                     *                       * "Tarzan, After Coming to the City, Became a Power Blogger"(As my blog gained some publicity, a magazine called "Newspapers and Broadcasting" asked me to write...

Interesting Financial Times article comparing how Koreans dealt with the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, and how Europeans are dealing with the financial crisis today:Would Europeans queue to hand in their wedding rings to be melted down in the interests of repairing their national finances?That is what South Koreans did amid the Asian markets crisis of 1997-1998 and the draconian strictures imposed...

If cheering for LeBron's implosion is wrong, the Korean does not want to be rig...

Recipe -- Beef Turnip Soup

Dear Korean,I am looking for a recipe for a Korean soup that's got a clear broth and is made with turnips. Do you know what I am talking about?Amy P.The Korean sure does. Here is the recipe for Korean style beef turnip soup. (소고기 무국.)Ingredients:Korean turnip (무), which looks like this:Beef -- head meat flank (양지머리)Korean leek...

Ask a Korean! News: Korean and Japanese Scholars Issue Joint Statement on History

While the Korean has been consistently critical of Japan's efforts to revise its imperialist past, he will also give credit when credit is due. This is a big step for an improved relationship between Korea and Japan:Korea-Japan Intellectuals: "Korea-Japan Annexation Was Null and Void From the Start"Ko Eun, Oe Kenzaburo and 200 others make a joint statement"Act of military oppression which was unjust...

...and here is the Deprofiler to wear when traveling in Arizo...

Mr. Clarence Dupnik, sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, considers Arizona's new immigration law to be unconstitutional and unnecessary:I have spent over 50 years in the law-enforcement profession in the Tucson community, the past 30 of which I have served as sheriff. ... I have argued from the moment that this bill was signed that it is unnecessary, that it is a travesty, and most significantly, that...

When the Korean's friends plan his bachelor party, everyone gets together on time at Las Vegas, we all get drunk, gamble money away, make deposit into some ladies' college fund and generally have a good time.When the Korean Fiancee's friends plan her bachelorette party, they bicker about where to meet in New York, can't agree on the dress code, engage in catfights and backbiting among the bridesmaids...

Korea, in English?

Dear Korean, I'm in a class called Asian Americans of Mixed Heritage and we have to do a research paper. I picked mixed heritage Korean Americans (mostly due to the fact that I got into K-pop and just the Korean culture/entertainment in general.) I don't exactly have a thesis yet, but I guess a good place to start is to examine...

Ask a Korean! News: Arizona Demotes Teachers for Having an Accent

The Korean really tried. He tried mightily to avoid discussing the topic of the new Arizona law that essentially requires Americans (particularly Asians and Hispanics) to carry a passport in the state. He only dropped one line on this blog, and discussed this topic elsewhere -- online and offline.In fact, as odious as the Korean finds this law, it was the perfect opportunity for the Korean to practice...