Thursday, March 28, 2024

Why I write this blog

About Me

I am a teacher, blogger, and illustrator living in Seoul. I started this blog back in 2010 after I moved here as a way to answer my own questions about Korean life and culture. 

As a fan of Korean historical drama, I began to research about Korean history particularly the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). My chart of Joseon Kings and related Korean drama is still one of the most popular posts on my blog. I particularly like the dramas directed by Lee Byung hoon including of course the classic Jewel in the Palace and Heojun, which started a new fusion style of historical drama over twenty years ago. Watching drama has brought up other questions too such as Why do people eat tofu when they come out of prison? Click below to see more of my most popular posts. 

As well as Korean drama, I write about studying Korean language. I’m always on the lookout for a new and fun idiom to learn. 

I have a growing number of posts on  Korean Art and Calligraphy. I studied calligraphy at the Seoul Calligraphy Museum at the Seoul Arts Centre and have taken private lessons for several years. I think Korean calligraphy is still quite an unknown area and I’m working on posts highlighting some noteworthy calligraphers and artists. 

Day to day life in unfamiliar cultures has its challenges and surprises too. I’m sure I have made many  faux pas! When I learn something new I blog about it. And there is still lots to learn! If you would like to get in touch, please fill in the contact form below. Or use the address dramasrok@gmail.com Cheers!

 

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7 thoughts on “Why I write this blog

  • Mardelle, it’s a symbolic act; they eat tofu (a white bean curd and the color white in Korea is representing things that are pure and innocent) so their lives in the future will be ‘crime-free’ and hopefully never have to go back to prison. Theres a much more indepth exaplanation here: http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2014/03/tofu-after-prison.html. Hope that helps!

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  • Please help me understand. I’m watching the Night Watchman which King Hae Jong became evil. I can’t search the life of this king because I can’t find King Hae Jong even in Wikipedia. Thanking you in advance for helping me.

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  • It must be majestic in its own way living in Seoul! I wish i could fall with a parachute over there and stay like until i leave my final breath, but pocket seems to argue with me. Definitely, I will be keeping an eye on your site for sure! Keep up the good work. 🙂

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  • Hi – is there a way to contact you directly? I am coming to Korea April 23-May 1. My father was the first commander of the U.S. Fighter Wing that is stationed at Kunsan and they are renaming part of the base in his honor. I am thrilled beyond belief because I’ve been a dedicated K-drama and k-pop and Korean history aficionado for two years now and am looking for a guide for five days. I don’t even know where or how to begin asking. I am a professional woman, museum director, published author and artist and would like to connect with a mature, knowledgeable guide (who also likes to have fun). Can you point me in the right direction? I’d be so grateful. Thank you, Christina Olds

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  • I wanted to ask about tea shops in Seoul. there’s a post here about the tea museum (also a tea shop) but I suspect a more traditional / conventional shop is what I’d be looking for, a place to stock up on unusual teas (not green) at normal market prices. anything come to mind? it’s not really enough time for a post but I’ll be in Seoul next week. it’s not completely relevant but some background is that I’m a tea blogger living in Bangkok, so I could pass back some information about what turns up one way or another.

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    • Hi. I’ve been meaning to do more posts on tea in Korea but haven’t got around to it yet…
      The only tea I’ve had from tea plants here is green tea from Boseong in the south of Korea. I think the best bet for finding unusual teas in a traditional setting is to look around the shops in Insadong. They sell various teas such as jujube tea and chrysanthemum tea, and ginseng. I’m not sure if that is the kind of ‘tea’ you’d be looking for though. Of course the department stores have nice tea sections too.

      Coffee has been much more popular here than tea but recently some ‘upmarket’ teashops have been opening – O’Sulloc is a tea shop chain that sells all sorts of teas (but with an emphasis on green tea). Sorry I can’t be more help.

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