Mugunghwa Express…or not?

No, it’s not red light green light that you probably saw in one of those Korean variety shows that you binge on. It’s not even the name of the train you ride on your way to Busan. It’s a rose, but not a rose. It’s the national flower of Korea, the Rose of Sharon, also known as ‘Mugunghwa’ in Korean or by its nicknames ‘everlasting flower’ or ‘the immortal flower.’ This Korean floral emblem is not just stunning but also has a lot of meaning for the Korean people.  

 

What’s in the nomenclature?

This flower’s binomial nomenclature is Hibiscus Syriacus, and its Korean name is a combination of two words: ‘mu-gung’ meaning ‘everlasting’ and ‘Hwa’ meaning flower. True to its name, this beautiful flower is long-lasting, blooming from summer into autumn blossoming as the sun rises and closing its flowers every evening. This flower is strong, sturdy, and resistant to cold. The individual flowers don’t fall out together but instead one after another leading to a prolonged and bountiful blossoming period. If you want to visit South Korea to see these flowers, the period of July-October will be a fantastic time to witness the bloom of the Rose of Sharon.

 

It has five petals, and what makes it so beautiful is that it comes in a diverse range of colors such as pale pink, purple, and white, among others. The most common variation of this flower emblem is a single bloom with a pretty reddish hue in the center.

 

Koreans adore this flower as it pays tribute to their noble spirit and exemplifies the country’s countless victories and tribulations that they have endured in their unique history. Varieties of Rose of Sharon are categorized according to the colors of their blossoms. They are grouped as asadal, baedal, and dansim.

• Asadal: It’s a white flower with deep red in the middle that transitions to pale pink at the edges.
• Baedal: It’s an entirely white flower.
• Dansim: This flower comes in blue, purple, red, or white with intense purple or red center.

It is also a part of South Korean history. Even before the Gojoseon era, the Rose of Sharon was prized as a ‘blossom from heaven.’ Emphasizing its significance, even the Silla Kingdom referred to itself as ‘Geunhwahyang,’ which translates to “Country of Mugunghwa.”

Image by Jaesung An from Pixabay

With time, the Korean people’s adoration of this flower was only boosted when in the late 19th century, the Korean national anthem included a phrase praising the beauty of the Rose of Sharon. Even during the darkest hour of the Japanese colonial rule, the Koreans devotion to the Rose of Sharon never waned. After its independence from Japan, it was only natural for the Korean government to recognize the Rose of Sharon as their flower emblem.

The Modern Rose

Even to this day, the Rose of Sharon hold’s a special place in the hearts of the Koreans. For instance, the most luxurious hotels are not labeled as ‘five-star’ but as ‘five Rose of Sharon.’ Its main feature is its endurance. If you go to Korea, don’t be surprised to see it in parks and alongside sidewalks. They grow quickly, are low-maintenance, and can endure for long. This is the main reason why the Korean government adopted it as the flower emblem as it represents the Koreans yearning for a lasting system of prosperity and national development. The Rose of Sharon is a symbol on the flags of the Korean government and national organizations and even on badges and decorations.

So next time you pass by those beautiful parks in Seoul, on a hot summer night, look for this tenacious bloom and perhaps get inspired on your devotion and determination to live life to the fullest, just like any flower that adds beauty to the world.

Hang on tight.

Hanbok: Layers of Color and Culture

You have seen it for sure!

Whether it’s through your favorite K-Drama, history channel, or some YouTube videos, you’ve probably come across the hanbok. Hanbok is one of the most important representations of Korean culture. The hanbok’s origin can be traced all the way back to the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BCE-668 CE), but even to this day, it’s still worn on holidays and special occasions. We take a closer look at this spectacular traditional attire.

What are all those layers for?

It is the traditional attire of the Koreans. In South Korea, it’s termed as ‘Hanbok’, whereas, in North Korea, it’s known as ‘Joseon-ot’. Han means ‘Korea’ while ‘Bok’ means clothing. The hanbok’s basic design comprises of the jeogori, the upper garment, and a lower garment. The jeogori is a blouse like jacket which can be worn both by men and women. On the other hand, for the lower garment, men wear a pair of trousers known as ‘baji’ while women don a full knee reaching skirt known as ‘chima.’ Along with these, various outerwear and accessories are used for different occasions.

What makes this traditional attire so fascinating is that even after a period of two thousand years, the design and form have been preserved. Throughout the years, the style and length have seen changes, but the basic appearance remains intact.

Hanbok in a colorful culture.

The manufacturing technique and materials used strongly represent Korean society and culture. Various materials are used to make this traditional attire. Specialized fabrics came from different areas of Korea; for example, the hem from Andong was a favorite with the upper classes (yangban).

Fabrics were also utilized with the change in season. Heavy fabric lined with fur were in high demand during the colder season whereas summer season required hanbok’s made with thinner materials, and during the autumn season, many women would dress up in hanbok made from gossamer silk as it resembled a rustling sound similar to that of walking on dry leaves.

The color of the hanbok was also a symbol of social standing; white represented chastity, integrity, and purity and was typically worn by the common people, whereas the upper glass dressed in blue, yellow, red, black, as well as white. These colors also represented oriental cosmology’s five elements (wood, metal, water, earth, and fire).

The hanbok was also embroidered with patterns to represent the wearer’s wishes. For instance, pomegranates and bats expressed a desire for children. Whereas tigers, cranes, phoenixes, and dragons were reserved for high-ranking officials and royalty.

Despite these differences, the core significance of hanbok revolved around the Korean affection for naturalness, prayer for blessings and supernatural protection as well as the Confucian dress code.

Hanbok of Today

In 1996, the Korean government created ‘hanbok day’ to motivate the wearing of hanbok. Recently, hanbok has garnered renewed interest and fascination not only in Korea but across the globe. Whether its Instagram hashtag challenges, wearing it abroad or through street flash mops, this traditional attire has seen a skyrocketing rise in interest with hanbok rental shops mushrooming everywhere.

Many prominent designers have attempted to modernize this traditional attire by focusing on function and mobility while at the same time incorporating traditional structures and patterns in leather and lace, linens, and simple cotton. Former Korean President Park Geun-Hye was also known for her fascination with Hanbok. And with the current Korean wave, this traditional attire has found a new global fanbase.

Regardless of the changes it underwent, Hanbok is an exquisite representation of Korean culture not just for its historical significance but also for its authentic Korean artistic value and will continue to remain so for years to come.

Kingdom Season 1: The Newest Zombie Series to Chill to in NetFlix

Kingdom, a South Korean zombie action-thriller that started airing on Netflix in 2019, is a remarkable show that revamped the zombie narrative. The show is set in the Joseon period of Korea, a post-war era characterized by a society with great inequality, famine, and political struggles. It focuses on the mission of the crown prince—Lee Chang (Ju Ji-Hoon)—the illegitimate son of the king, to find out more about the mysterious plague that began to spread in his country, and why it has led the undead to feast on human flesh.

 

This refreshing zombie TV show has set itself apart from its precursors, basically demanding an audience to witness its unique take on the classic zombie landscape. It is perhaps the first zombie series that took place in a historical Asian setting, showing a blend of rich Asian culture, and blood and terror distinctive of a zombie film. Furthermore, it presented the zombie narrative in a panoramic view, taking into consideration the existing hierarchy, corruption and power politics in feudal Korea as the society faces decay; this is essentially different from most Western zombie films that revolved around a group of people in a modern urban setting, struggling with moral dilemmas as they struggle to survive.

The brilliant cast also contributed to the success of the show. Ju Ji-Hoon gave justification to the character of the merciful and intelligent crown prince. Seung-ryong Ryu is also praiseworthy in his portrayal of Chief State Councilor Cho Hak Joo’s role, the mastermind of evil schemes in the season. Moreover, the visual aesthetics of the series was exceptional due to its incredible cinematography, costumes, action scenes, and production set. Ultimately, if you are up for an engrossing six-episode series that tackles politics and inequality in a zombie apocalypse backdrop, this is definitely a must-watch for you.

 

TEASER: Along with the Gods 신과함께-죄와 벌

Image from Wikipedia

 

A familiar theme caught my attention as I browsed reviews about the movie “Along with the Gods” (신과함께-죄와 벌). This is the cinema adaptation of a popular web toon (I have not seen a translated version available as of now).

My initial reaction is “Divine Comedy in CG!”

It was already shown in Korea and Taiwan so I can surmise there is already a copy of this movie somewhere. I will not give in to instant gratification though and will wait until the movie is shown on the big screen. To understand context though, I am writing about some of the key terms that were supposedly mentioned in the movie. I will blog about the movie after I have watched it…

Disclaimer:

The key points mentioned below are based on the online trailers I have watched.

 

Judgement after Death / Reincarnation

“Life arises from deaths; death arises from life”

~Sahngjehnim

Judgement after death is a prevalent theme in most of the world religions and spiritual practices. One can conclude that this belief is what makes us human. Although the goal of having the judgment after death varies from a religion to the other, it can serve as a beacon as we traverse our lifetime. This gives us a reason to believe in good and strives to live good in this life.

In some practices, the belief in the judgment after death offers a chance to redeem one’s self through reincarnation. In “Along with the Gods”, the concept of reincarnation was visually presented when the main protagonist had to undergo judgment through seven trials where he had to prove that he has lived an honorable life. Only after passing the said trials will he be able to reincarnate.

Vengeful Spirits

“All disastrous events throughout the world

are instigated by vengeful spirits”

~Sahngjehnim

This is another concept that comes in different forms or representation. In the book “The Eight Teachings”, this is defined as embittered spirits who embody intense bitterness and grief, which they suffered at the hands of others during their human lifetimes. To exact revenge for their bitterness and grief, vengeful spirits torment the descendants of those who wronged them. A pretty self-explanatory term actually. These spirits are out for vengeance and something that humans would have to overcome.

Guardians of the Afterlife/Grim Reaper

 

A still cut from “Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds,” released by Lotte Entertainment. (Yonhap)

 

Now this one warrants a separate blog post on its own. This is perhaps the most recognisable entity in this movie, especially for those with background on mythology (or even the modern anime). In the recent years, the grim reaper has been made visually appealing and more human than how they were portrayed in the past. In the movie, they were the main protagonist’s guardians and even “lawyers” on his judgement for reincarnation. This is very human compared to the Western personification of grim reapers as skeletons with a scythe until Joe Black of course. In the East, the most recent image of this entity is fixed on Lee Dong Wook (Goblin)

Based on the trailers that I have watched, I am looking forward to watching the full film. I hope it doesn’t disappoint 🙂

Hallyu Marketing in the Philippines Today.

MANILA – Giggling youths, wearing colorful outfits, doing selfies with finger hearts while queuing for concert tickets, blocked the way of people walking past the ticket booth. The line is particularly long raising the question of who are they queuing for. Approaching the end of the line, it’s revealed that it’s for tickets for the latest solo tour of a famous Korean idol – a product of Hallyu during its peak. It will be the idol’s 3^rd show in the Philippines, and it seems that the crowd is still the same.

Looking Back

Before the turn of the 21^st century, few considered this a fad that saw the increased awareness of the Korean culture. The Hallyu movement, which literally means “flow of Korea” started with the increased international recognition for K-dramas and K-pop. This “wave” commenced in Asia, spreading across the globe until the present, way longer than what can be considered a fad. In 2017, the Philippines is still a consumer of this cultural product, with the increased targeted marketing through social media and the internet.

Music and Performances

With the bustling economy, Korean musical performances have a steady following in the Philippines.  A few Korean pop songs made it to the local airwaves, not to mention the proliferation of K-Pop albums available in the market. The digital music service, Spotify offers playlists created by users that contain the newest tracks of the hottest idols, with songs released in digital format the same time in South Korea. Filipino stans flock to the concerts of their favorite artists, spending thousands of pesos to see their beloved idols in the flesh. For some parents, K-Pop concert tickets can be a reward for their children after excellently performing in school. Pauline, a senior manager for a healthcare firm mentioned no regrets spending $500 for concert tickets as a reward for her daughter’s achievement in school earlier this year. “I understand her love for BTS and I know that the experience of seeing them live will be a memory she will treasure forever. With that thought, I am not batting an eyelash spending that amount” she added with a laugh. Concert tickets for Korean artists, regardless of the venue, can be very pricey with the breakdown almost similar to established Western artists. To illustrate,  the upcoming Manila leg of G-Dragon’s (Bigbang) Act III Moment of Truth – The End World tour that sold VIP tickets for approximately $260 with the current inflation. Fans wait patiently to buy these tickets as they are more often than not, sold out a few hours they are released. Albeit not as hardcore as their Korean counterparts, fan clubs based in the Philippines are very active on social media platforms. Anyone can do a hashtag search for a fandom name and it will immediately list the groups supporting a particular group of idols. In these groups, you can find the latest pictures, memes and everything in between. Membership can go as high as 300,000 in Facebook alone for certain idol groups, with regular meetings and page updates.

BTS

Movies and Dramas

Hashtag searches can also be done for K-dramas and movies. Before Hallyu reached the Philippine shores, television was ruled by the overly long local dramas and the imported, Tagalized Latino dramas. The successful Taiwanese series “Meteor Garden” was a breath of fresh air that paved the way for K-drama, the current representative of Asian series. Tagalog dubbed K-dramas started to become a primetime favorite. There’s even a locally produced series featuring Korean artists with Filipino actors showing in a major broadcasting station’s evening slots. Korean movies, praised for its storylines and cinematography are also becoming popular, much more than the previous years due to the Filipino public’s exposure to different actors and actresses. The attendance of the yearly Korean Film festival has increased steadily as the years go by. Movies like ‘Nabi’ and ‘Old Boy’ sparked curiosity for the Korean film industry. An avid follower of K-drama, Valerie. who works as a customer service representative said that for her, the charisma of K-dramas and movies boils down to two things: the so-called “eye candy” and the safe “kilig” element that can move the viewers’ heart without showing too much skin. This minimal “skinship” makes most K-dramas safe even for young people to watch. And with streaming services like Viu popping up here and there, the market for these media form is still something to watch out for.

Technology, Fashion, Health, and Beauty

The young Filipinos who are following the Hallyu trend contribute to the commercial values of many Korean brands. Korean brand phones are pretty popular for Android users, with some buyers researching phone models based on what they have seen elsewhere, either in a drama or an MV. The same logic applied for the budding popularity of Korean skincare, cosmetics, and fashion. An online seller, Kharen P., who sources her items from Seoul, mentioned a remarkable increase of orders for a certain skincare brand after it was endorsed by the popular actress Song Hye Kyo. Vloggers also add up to the hype making this more appealing to the people following the K-Beauty and Fashion wing of the Hallyu movement.

Tourism

This “cultural marketing” sparked by the entertainment industry, brought about a boom in tourism making South Korea the 20^th most visited country in the world back in 2012. With the easier visa process, Filipino tourists flocked to South Korea to experience what they have seen in modern media. Some tourists even made K-drama sites as their sole itinerary for their trip to the Land of the Morning Calm. In 2016, Filipino tourists were ranked 9^th in terms of visitors arriving in Korea based on nationality, just after Singapore and Malaysia. Jeju Tourism Office is even urging the Philippine tourism department to organize Jeju bound tour groups that will help increase the number of Filipino arrivals to this visa-free destination. This is an initiative to regain strength in tourism that is affected by foreign policies while riding the Hallyu wave.

Food

There is no need for a Filipino to travel far to experience Hansik as Korean restaurants are pretty common in the capital of the Philippines and most major cities. Cooking traditional Korean food can also be learned in classes offered by the cultural center or even through Youtube videos, while the ingredients are all available in the Korean grocery marts that are scattered in the city. Major supermarkets hold the basic ingredients and even packaged kimchi, allowing the regular Pinoy to experience Korean food at home, after the initial hesitation to do so.

Language

Although still far from neologism, along with “kimchi”, it’s now easy to hear snippets of Hangeul such as “annyeonghaseyo”, “kamsahamnida” etc. Watching movie and dramas as well as listening to Korean songs made the once touted as a difficult language interesting to learn and study. The Korean language classes offered by the cultural center are often fully booked with a long waiting list at any given semester. Language classes are also offered by private institutions running for profit. Like anything else, anyone can also learn through online classes or mobile apps that are available as long as there’s an internet connection.

Looking Forward

Once known as the Hermit Kingdom, Korea opened its doors to foreign culture and sent out its culture to the world. From Asia to Europe and eventually to the rest of the world, Hallyu have endured the “fad” phase and has proved its tenacity through heavy marketing and targeted consumerism. This phenomenon is definitely not dying but rather tapering to a slow but steady pace. One can say that the novelty of Hallyu has disappeared and it has started to receive negative response vis-à-vis the positive developments in some countries. Back in 2016, a reporter for Dong A Ilbo concluded that “if export of culture is unilateral, it cannot continue for a long time” and terms such as “cultural imperialism”, “cultural genocide”, “culture backlash” etc. are being opened to study the effects of the Hallyu wave. Experts fear that this could be a different form of the so-called “colonial mentality” that Filipinos dealt with for the longest time. Or maybe it’s just a part of the bigger developments to make the world a global family. The final results are not yet seen at this early stage.

Whatever it is, as long as there’s a consumer for this product, one can safely say that Hallyu is here to stay. Just like Western influences on culture, there will definitely be traces of the Korean culture in the world for the years to come.