KPOP Jacket Lady
KDrama and KPOP Concert Reviews, Travel Tips, Korean Recipes and more
The National Treasures of S. Korea.
Some countries, such as S. Korea and Japan have designated lists of ‘National Treasures’, to include both physical, or tangible, artifacts like palaces, sculptures and artworks, as well as living, or intangible treasures, such as people and traditional festivals. I have always liked this idea, and often will look at the UNESCO World Heritage List for a country before a visit to help me narrow those really must see places and things. The UNESCO List is obviously on a grander scale, with only some of those items on each country’s’ national lists making it to the UNESCO one. The premise, however, on a very basic level is similar, look at your stuff and see which is the best of that particular thing, from that particular place and time. Then keep it safe, restore it if necessary, and put it on display so your people can see it. This to a certain extent also works with people and festivals, although with people you must also specify that they pass on their knowledge and skill to future generations.
Korea is proud to have 12 items on the UNESCO World Heritage List and 19 on the Intangible World Heritage List. For comparison the USA has 23 (mostly natural areas) and 0, while Spain has 46 and 16.
These numbers show that Korea takes exceptional joy and pride in the skills of its artist’s and craftspeople, as well as by trying to preserve their cultural heritage through festivals and performances. Designated National Living Treasures, craftspeople, artists and performers, can be seen showcasing their skills and talents at various sites around Korea. For most visitors the easiest place to see some is probably Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul where a few reside and work.
Although watching and learning from people passing on traditional skills and knowledge is among one of my favorite things to do, seeing the best of the best a country has to ofter is high up there too. The Korean Government has, so far, designated over 300 National Treasures, along with numerous subcategories, and carefully considers items for future inclusion to the list. The list is not ranked, but rather listed when each thing was placed on the list. Sungnyemun, or Namdaemun, Gate was listed as National Treasure number 1.
Number 2 on the list is Wongak Temple 10 level stone tower. It is kept safely behind glass in Topgol Park in Seoul. Many famous buildings, gates, pagodas etc are on the list, but the list also has multiple smaller artifacts and artworks that are kept inside museums.
The National Museum of Korea, one of the top ten largest in the world, has amazing collections of artifacts both indoors and out, which include quite a few National Treasures. My favorite is National Treasure 91 which is a “stoneware vessel in the shape of a warrior on horseback, from the Old Silla period, around 500-600AD. Found in Geumnyeong-chong, Noseo-dong, Gyeongju City, Gyeongsangbuk-do. He is just charming, and extremely well executed. Each of the National Treasures is carefully labeled as such, so if you’re short on time you can see the highlights by focusing just on the National Treasures, although I would encourage you to look at everything you possibly can as there are many more splendid things to see than are just on the National Treasures list.
Korea is to be commended, as not all countries have taken such steps to protect their cultural heritage. Not all National Treasures are publically owned, some belong to private collectors, such as in the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, but rules and regulations are in place to protect items in private hands.
Next time you’re in Korea keep your eyes out for the small plaque telling you if the item you are looking at is indeed a National treasure, they are often hidden away in plain sight.
Have a great day everyone.
You might also enjoy Hanji: The Paper of Korea, Juldarigi:An Extreme Form Of Tug Of War, Seoul City Gates, and Neolttwigi: A Korean Seesaw Game.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. Photo credits to original owners.
Banpo Rainbow Bridge, Seoul.
The Banpo Bridge which crosses the Han River in Seoul lights up with an amazing display of shooting water fountains, music and lights about four to six times a day from the months of April through October. Although fun to watch at any time, the night time displays are perhaps the most popular. If you want to plan a visit it is best to check the daily schedule before you go to make sure you’re not disappointed.
We arrived at dusk and were drawn towards Some Sevit, three man made floating islands. You may recognize them as the U-Gin Genetics Research Buildings from Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron movie. Knowing that the water show would not begin for some time we wandered down to explore the manmade islands. We found a cafe in one of them where we had a drink and chilled until darkness began to fall and the lights began to come on. The dim, dark building slowly began to glow with multiple colored interiors and outside lights.
Joined together by floating walkways it was easy to explore, stopping often to take in the views of the Han River and the city beyond.
Unsure of the actual schedule, we were visiting early April when the weather is still sometimes inclement, we gave into our hunger pangs and decided to splurge on one of the restaurants overlooking the Han River and the skyline.
Nighttime cruises are also a good way to view the Banpo Rainbow Bridge display.
The display lasts about 20 minutes and the water ‘dances’ to the music all the while changing color as the lights shine on the jets of water. The bridge is 570 meters in length, with 380 nozzles (total) lining it on both sides.
The display also looks different from different viewpoint so it is a good idea to stroll around, just remember that the wind can blow the sprays of water quite some distance.
Lots of people hang out to watch the display, both locals and tourists so it’s a great place to people watch.
One last look back as we headed out for home.
There’s lots of amazing photos online, as well as Youtube videos, but nothing can really do it justice, so be sure to check it out next time you’re in Seoul.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Seoul Forest Park: In Photos, My Favorite Place To Stay In Seoul, and Seoul City Gates.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. Photo credits to Elle and Debora Marzec.
WILD KARD 2017: The 1st Tour in America.
This has been a banner year for Kpop concerts in Texas and that means lots of miles added to our odometers. Here in Texas we tend to measure distances in hours, and fortunately Houston is only about a 3 hour drive from where I live, that is with no stops and good traffic conditions. Dallas is about 5 1/2 to 6 hours. For those out in west Texas the drive can be over 12 hours of driving to get to the usual venues. I mention this to show the dedication of Texas Kpop fans.
KARD chose Houston and a venue, Stereo Live, that I hadn’t been to before. I got there early to get in line to ensure a good spot once the doors opened. They had paid parking at the venue and staff had put out clear signs showing where fans should start lining up, for which I say thank you. (I hate the general chaos that happens at some concert venues.) I heard that the first people in line got there around daybreak and had settled in early for the long wait. My friends and I were relatively close to the front, and if you check the top photo you can just see me front row left when the show began. The hot Texas sun drove fans into puddles of shade as the temperatures rose. The staff/venue brought out a water cooler which was nice of them. Others sought out the local corner gas station for drinks, snacks and restroom breaks. The staff at the gas station were really kind letting so many people use their restroom.
It wasn’t too long before the line circled the building. P1 was to the left and P2 to the right and they met up at the back of the building. While waiting in line some fans were chosen to be recorded for an official film at the end of the tour. Can’t wait to see if my friends make it to the final edit.
Stereo Live is not a very large venue, which was nice as it had a good intimate vibe going on. It also had a pretty fantastic balcony level allowing a great view for many fans. Once inside the crowd was almost humming with excitement, and sang along to the music, cheered and ‘wo-wooed’. There was a small flurry of excitement as people realized JRE, an internet celebrity of sorts, was seen front and center of the audience, but most people were watching the time waiting for the real reason they were there, to see KARD.
Made up of B.M, Somin, J.Seph, and Jiwoo, KARD is unusual in Kpop for being a co-ed group, which perhaps has made them somewhat more popular with foreign fans than with those in S. Korea. Without ‘officially’ debuting yet, KARD has only released 3 songs, therefore the concert was billed more as a fan meet/ party/concert, so the more intimate setting was perfect. It was also sold out which is pretty fantastic.
They arrived on stage to raucous screams of excitement and immediately began performing Rumor, after which they paused for introductions. I could hardly hear at this point as the audience never seemed to pause in their show of affection towards the members. You can watch some really good fancams from my friend if you want to watch all the action.
I might be a bad reviewer because rather than list the songs they sang etc, I’d prefer to recount some of the highlights and things that stood out, or particularly caught my attention. I obviously had listened to KARD and watched their MVs but I went to the concert with a fairly open mind, and came away a fan. I had a opportunity to talk to their local driver, and he told me all about how they were very nice, even signing a poster for him and chatting with him. He said they were surprised and thrilled to see so many fans already lined up when they stopped by the venue for rehearsal.
On stage they all seemed to genuinely care for each other and to help each other out. They also seemed to get comfortably mad at each other in the way only friends can get away with. And after the concert you can see J.Steph sticking close to Jiwoo, guarding her back. They came across as genuine people which is always nice to see.
Their singing was good, their choreography on point and after some initial woodenness when they first appeared on stage they relaxed and seemed to enjoy themselves. I love watching performers who are enjoying themselves. Performing shouldn’t be just a job, it should be something you love to do, and KARD looked like they were having a good time.
With no particular bias walking into the concert I walked out a J.Seph fan. He somehow reminded me of some kind of small woodland animal, all cute and innocent at times and then at other times all fierce and wild. He was obviously a little at a loss during the parts when English was being spoken, but you could see the spark in his eyes when he understood. It was fascinating to watch him, plus he had a cute smile.
One of my favorite parts of the whole evening was the game section. They chose a great game, one which provided fan interaction without the risk of anyone getting, or feeling, embarrassed. It was maybe more like a lottery for prizes than a game for the 4 randomly selected fans. We all wished we were the ones chosen, but I think we were all genuinely happy to watch brother and sister fans have some of the best moments of their lives. Each ‘contestant’ had to roll a giant dice and depending on the number they rolled they received a ‘gift’. The first winner had BM sing to her for a wake up call message on her phone. Another received a signed poster with a hug, a third got a signed album, and the last one was an instant polaroid photo with all the members.
The fan meet/party/concert was a load of fun and well executed, especially for a pre debut group who have so very few songs under their belts. But evening didn’t end there. Many fans had hi tough or photo ops with KARD and we all had to line up for our benefit. The line for the photo op was fairly well organized, but as usual the photo op was rushed and some of the staff quite curt. Once outside lots of people formed small groups, not wanting the evening to end. Some stayed to watch KARD leave while others spread throughout the city seeking Korean restaurants, the favored place to hang out with like minded KARD fans and go over all the highlights of the evening.
Criticisms include the backdrop display. It was odd watching the real live KARD walking around in front of the giant pictures of themselves on the screen. A more neutral background would have been preferable, especially for those taking photos. Also to those P4 fans who pushed and wiggled their way to the front. No the rest of us who paid for P1 or P2 don’t think you’re clever or smart, we think you’re cheats, taking what you didn’t pay for. And finally kudos to the mom who brought a group of younger girls to the concert. It looked like they had the best night of their lives.
Overall a great night was had by all, and we hope that KARD had an equally fun night. Y’all come back y’hear.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also like Party Baby! BAP 2017 World Tour in Dallas, SHINee World Tour In Dallas, SXSW Kpop Night Out, and Hyuna Charms Her Dallas Fans.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
All photo credits to original owners. Thank you to my friend ‘sangheili19’ and Simon Chan for letting me use some of their photos. Remember to check out some of the fancams.
Hwacha: A Korean ‘Rocket Arrow’ Launcher.
While traveling around Korea to museums, and historic buildings such as palaces, it is fairly common to see these wooden handcarts. These are known as hwacha and along with the missiles they fired they were instrumental in protecting Korea from pirates and foreign invasions for over 300 years. Usually seen loaded with singijeon or rocket arrows they could also shoot a type of bullet. They were perhaps the most formidable defensive weapon of their time.
The story of their invention dates back many centuries and was dependent on the Korean people being able to obtain the recipe and materials to make gunpowder. The Chinese discovered/invented gunpowder and used it originally for fireworks and then later for weapons. They did, however, realize its importance and so they closely guarded the secret of how it was made. ( The first mention of gunpowder in Chinese texts dates from 142 AD, the first firework displays from around 700 AD, and the first weaponized rockets from around 900 AD.)
By the middle to late 14th century Koreans knew of gunpowder both from those who had studied in China, and from the fireworks displays that were put on at Royal Palaces for entertainment. But being able to buy carefully controlled amounts of gunpowder and weapons is not the same as having your own supply. China, the Mongols, and Japan (particularly Japanese pirates) all had eyes on Korea at this time because of its resources and strategic importance, making Koreans nervous about their ability to defend themselves and self rule their country. Having gunpowder weapons was essential for Korea.
Choe Mu Seon, (1325 – 1395) the son of a government official is credited with ‘inventing’ gunpowder in Korea, but what that means is that he built on earlier Chinese knowledge and made the first gunpowder created and made in Korea. A subtle difference, but still not an easy task considering the Chinese laws against any knowledge of of the production of gunpowder being shared with foreigners. Choe spent some time in China studying and gained some knowledge there, and later supposedly bribed a Chinese merchant for the ‘recipe.’ However, even if you know the ingredients, you have to know the correct proportions for gunpowder to work.
By 1376 Choe had worked out how to make gunpowder, and how to get the correct ingredients. Once he showed the power of his new ‘weapon’ he gained the support of the King and Government. He was given a laboratory/workshop, along with a factory and people to man them. (1377) He not only worked on producing gunpowder, but also on all the weapons that could use gunpowder. In the 14th century Chinese weapons manual, the Fire Drake Manual, bombs, mines, fire arrows, rocket launchers, primitive flamethrowers, cannons, and gun like weapons were all mentioned. It is said that Choe’s workshop and factory was not far behind in their list of weapons they were creating and improving.
A favorite weapon was the fire arrow, which had been around for a long time as basically a gunpowder charge attached to an arrow and aimed at advancing troops.
But it wasn’t long before the arrows were being fired out of a bamboo, or sometime metal, tube. In Korea these ‘rocket’ arrows were known as singijeon. There were 3 sizes, with the largests being more like an ‘arrow cannon’ with a charge attached. The Chinese had similar weapons, but the Koreans kept improving upon the idea and over time came up with better weapons. They wanted a method of firing more than a single arrow at a time and came up with the hwacha, their version of a multiple fire arrow launcher.
Chinese version top, (from Huolongjing) Korean version below.
It is not known exactly when the first hwacha was constructed, but the early models were probably constructed in the lata 14th century, and then by 1409 Choe Hae San, the elder Choe’s son, created the first battle ready hwacha. Improvements were made in the 1450’s and the hwacha became one of the most devastating weapons of the age. Armed with multiple arrows, between 100 and 200, the hwacha could decimate closely ranked troops in battle. Used mostly as a defensive weapon it was portable and could moved to where it was needed. It was even used on board ships against Japanese pirates.
If you want to see a fictional account of the development of the hwacha you can watch the 2008 movie, The Divine Weapon. Although not true to history, the movie shows the effectiveness of the hwacha in battle. If you want to watch something more modern you can watch Mythbusters, episode 110, where they test the hwacha’s abilities. One thing the Mythbusters don’t mention is that some of the singijeon could also have gunpowder packets attached to them that had a separate fuse so that they would explode when the arrow arrived at their target. So gunpowder propelled arrows with small gunpowder charges added to them, flying by the 100’s towards their target. What a terrifying spectacle for the enemy troops.
So next time you see a hwacha quietly on display, stop a moment to recognise it for what it was, the ultimate weapon of its time and place.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Korea’s Greatest Hero, “And Stones May Break My Bones,” Archery In Korea, and Horseback Archery In Korea.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to original owners.
Six Degrees of Yoo Jae Suk!
Many of us have heard of the game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon where the idea is to connect any actor in Hollywood with Kevin Bacon in less than six degrees. The goal is to connect the two in as few connections as possible so using an example from wikipedia,
“Ian McKellen was in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) with Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy
McAvoy and Fassbender were in X-Men: First Class (2011) with Kevin Bacon.”
This means McAvoy and Fassbender each have a Kevin Bacon number of 1, while Ian McKellen has a Kevin Bacon number of 2.
The game was invented in 1994 by 3 college students, although the idea of six degrees of separation in the general world population was first posited in 1929 by Frigyes Karinthy, and popularized by John Guare’s play, later a movie, of 1990. Along with the small world theory and the growth of social networks it now seems that often less than 6 degrees are needed to link one person with another. Facebook says that on average there’s only 3.57 degrees of separation between any 2 FB users.
I thought it might be fun to try a Six Degrees of Yoo Jae Suk game, but soon realized that almost everyone in the Korean entertainment industry was probably connected to him in less than 3 degrees. Even I have a Yoo Jae Suk number of 2. The top photo shows me with Brad Moore and the 2nd photo is Brad Moore with Yoo Jae Suk. Kevin Bacon has a Yoo Jae Suk (YJS) number of 3. Kevin Bacon – Tom Cruise – Jack Black – YJS. Arnold Schwarzenegger also has a YJS number of 3.
Which leads me to wonder if there’s anyone in Korea who has six degrees of separation from YJS ? Maybe so, because it is thought that 12% of Hollywood actors can’t be linked with Kevin Bacon using the strict criteria of the original game. Also when discussing the idea for the whole world there’s obviously isolated populations where people have less interaction and contact with the outside world.
Can you do a six degrees with your bias, or favorite group? I thought I would give it a try.
Kpopjacketlady – Brad Moore – Yoo Jae Suk – Big Bang.
This time without using Brad, because through him and YJS I could ‘connect’ with lots of people.
Kpopjacketlady – Kenneth Kim – BTS. (BTS stayed at Ken’s place one time when they were doing an event at Times Square Mall in Seoul.)
You may have to do some looking, but let me know if you have any ‘degrees’ of connection with any Kpop idols or actors. (Obviously I haven’t counted the idols and actors I’ve high fived at recent concerts, because using that I could ‘connect’ quite easily with a multitude of people. I was fortunate enough to chat with Brad at a social event, and Kenneth is a friend so I thought it was ok to use them, as the ‘rules’ say acquaintances.)
Have a great day everyone.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to original owners.
You might also like The Humor in Mud, Happy 300th Running Man, The Seoul House, and Pojangmacha: Better Known To Some As A Soju Tent.
Seoul Forest Park: In Photos.
Like many great cities Seoul has multiple public green spaces and parks, one of which, Seoul Forest Park, can in numerous ways be equated to Hyde Park in London, or Central Park in New York. It is a large green area within the densely populated city and as such has many purposes, many of which center on enjoyment, and learning about the nature found within its boundaries.
Easy to get to from 2 different subway stations Seoul Forest Park is very popular with Seoulites, and somewhat less so with tourists. So if you want to experience some of the activities that regular Koreans do in their down time, Seoul Forest Park is a perfect place to spend a few relaxing hours away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
From small touches like a free library near the entrance, to numerous water features throughout the park, relaxing is one of the park’s goals. But if you want something more vigorous there’s a whole sports area with a basketball court, skate park, a soccer field, and badminton courts. You can also rent bicycles.
You can even camp in the park.
Originally a royal hunting forest, time has seen it change to being a water purification plant, a racecourse, and a golfing area. All that’s left to show it was a racecourse is a lovely sculpture of racing horses. It opened as a park in 2005 after thousands of trees were planted to create the lovely park we see today. Large as it is it is only the third largest park in Seoul.
The water purification plant has been turned into a learning and educational area. We saw a school field trip here of the cutest kindergarten kids all dressed up like they were going on safari. (No photos to respect their privacy.) They made our day when they very seriously, and politely made their bows to us.
Inside they have a lovely butterfly garden,
a cactus area,
along with space for some aquariums and display pens for small reptiles etc. Although not very large it was a perfect reuse of the old purification plant.
The park has a large sculpture area, with some evocative and interesting pieces.
Our favorite being the large wire piece that you could actually climb inside.
There are also multiple play, and learn through play areas. It is always fun to play with water so I’m sure the Archimedes Screw is always popular, we had to stop and try it out. There’s also a play fountain over near the racehorse sculpture, but we didn’t want to get that wet!
Rows of fruit trees, and hidden gardens among the ruins of parts of the water purification plant were unexpected pleasures.
As were the artworks created by students and visitors.
A snack overlooking a wetlands area was a nice break. Most locals seemed to bring picnics, or headed to the cafes and restaurants in the two large tower buildings you can see from the park. We might try that next time, but we did enjoy having the cafe almost to ourselves.
I haven’t mentioned the obvious, the multitude of walkways and paths that meander throughout the park, the nature and wildlife that can be seen, to include some deer in outdoor pens, and the beautiful Han River which marks the southern edge of the park, but that and a whole lot more is available to discover and enjoy. More a park than a true forest the Seoul Forest Park is a wonderful place to relax and unwind, and get away from it all. Well, almost all, as you can still hear some of the sounds of the surrounding city, muted reminder of what exists beyond the borders of the park.
We had a great morning in the park, and plan to visit it again in a different season to see what colors it shows then.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Spirit Garden, Yongyeon Pond, Halla Arboretum, Yeomiji Botanic Gardens, and Springtime Cherry Blossoms in S.Korea.
Please to do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to original owners. All except map to Elle and Debora Marzec.
Happy Anniversary KpopJacketLady.com.
I woke up this morning to see a notice from WordPress wishing KpopJacketLady.com a Happy Anniversary.
Wow, has it really been one year since I started this website? What a year it has been. For me personally this past year saw me travel to Korea for a second visit, to see multiple Kpop concerts here in the States, and watch a lot of great Kdramas. I retired the original Kpop jacket, began work on the new one, and continued discovering new things about Korea.
The website has seen over 6,000 visitors from 111 countries who have viewed it over 10,500 times, which I think is pretty cool. I especially like that people from so many different parts of the world have read my posts.
Kpop truly is a worldwide phenomenon. The most popular posts on the site are the ones about games.
And the least popular ones about the recipes I’ve made.
I’ve written posts about some of the places I’ve visited.
And some of the wonderful Korean food I’ve eaten both here and while in Korea.
The past year has been full of Kpop experiences from concerts, to exhibitions, and of course tourist attractions.
There’s also been new friends and old.
The deconstruction and retiring of the original Kpop Jacket and the continuing work on the new one, this time on a Korean made, natural fiber jacket bought on my last trip. Not only does the new jacket have more space, it also is much cooler to wear in the Texas heat.
There are posts on Korean history, culture and sports. As well as posts on Korean innovations, such as the Turtle Ship, and the first heated greenhouse.
Posts on Korean models turned actors, as well as Kdrama reviews can also be found when looking through the 136 posts that I wrote last year. Yeah, I wrote a lot last year and obviously will need to go back through them and update some of them and find a better way of organizing them so that people can easily find what they’re looking for.
There are obviously posts on Kpop and concert reviews,
but there are also posts on green spaces, parks, and the natural beauty of Korea.
Also posts on some of the different street foods I tasted, which really shouldn’t be missed on a visit to Korea.
But with all the things, I’ve seen, done, and written about in the past year, most of my favorite experiences revolve around people, and food. I’ve met some really cool, and interesting people and shared some fantastic food with quite a few others. Food and friends, they both make life so much better.
I don’t have a cake to celebrate the 1 year anniversary, but knowing that there are people who are reading and enjoying my blog is enough to make this a good day.
Hope y’all have a great day too.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
All photo credits to original owners.
Party Baby! B.A.P. 2017 World Tour In Dallas.
B.A.P. the Best Absolute Perfect Kpop group is in the middle of their 2017 World Tour and after a successful US part of the tour they’ll soon be heading to Europe. I managed to catch the Dallas show at the Majestic Theatre Downtown Dallas. This is the third time B.A.P. has performed in Dallas and the fans were excited to see them return.
Just among the small number of people in front and behind me in line there were two young ladies who had driven over 10 hours to the venue, and quite a few who had driven more than 5.
Debuting in 2012 B.A.P. burst onto the Kpop scene with a tough bad boy image, and powerful, dynamic music, lyrics, and choreography. Over the years they have expanded their repertoire to include fun upbeat songs as well as those with greater depth, maturity, and meaningful lyrics. They have had some issues over the years with their management company, TS Entertainment, which put a damper on their career progression for a while, as well as having one member battling an anxiety disorder. But they are back now, and hopefully it will all be smooth sailing from now on.
For once the lining up and entry into the venue went relatively smoothly. (At some venues this part is total chaos as the production companies don’t seem to communicate with the venues to have a plan in place, especially since Kpop fans are known to arrive early to events, and many venues are unprepared.)
Fans started lining up during the early afternoon onwards, and spent time getting to know their line neighbors, relating stories from previous events, comparing biases, and generally having a fun time being with other fans. Die hard fans came down the line handing out free postcards, glowsticks, party hats etc. A member of the venue staff periodically patrolled the line reminding fans not to block the sidewalk or business entrances, but he was a cool old military man and was pleasant to chat to. The merchandise and wristband process started while people were still in line and that helped speed things up.
The Majestic Theatre is a lovely theater from the 1920’s beautifully restored and maintained in Downtown Dallas. With all the performances she’s seen over the years I wondered what she would make of her first Kpop concert!
The fans were happy and excited and couldn’t wait to get into the actual auditorium. After finding their seats many made more friends and gradually as the auditorium filled you could feel the excitement growing. The roar that went up when DJ B.Shoo came out was intense. Although everyone danced to the music, it was a little like having multiple layers of wrapping paper on a present, we just wanted to get to the gift inside, because we were already in a hyped up party mood. We knew just who we were there to see.
The countdown clock was the signal for even more screaming, cheers, and whistle blowing.
We were all so excited when them came on stage, but with the smoke and the backlights I spent the first few minutes working out who was who by their silhouettes. The music singing and dancing was baller, but I didn’t like that I couldn’t see their faces.
(Production companies please note that when you use smaller, older theaters you need to take that into account and plan special effects accordingly. Kpop groups are relying on you to help make their concert tours successful and you let them, and the fans, down when you don’t do a good job.) The overuse of backlighting and the smoky atmosphere kept me from taking many photos for the first part of the show, so I just concentrated on enjoying the show.
B.A.P. are beautiful to watch perform in many ways, physically, musically, and artistically. Their fans are among the most enthusiastic and loyal and knowing that B.A.P. realizes this and performs all out for their fans, makes every one of their concerts worth attending.
After the opening songs the boys introduced themselves and chatted for a short while before choosing a member of the audience to come on stage with them. This young lady was chosen, not just because of her outfit, but because they recognised her from previous stops. While everyone wished they were her, I think we were all pleased that such a devoted fan got chosen.
Giving the members a short breather after the exciting and dynamic opening, this segment also allowed us a chance to see them somewhat stationary and listen to them speak.
They looked well, with only Yongguk looking a little less so. I do so wish he would gain a little weight, and maybe the Dallas stop helped with that, as during the show they commented on how large the food portions here were, and how hot Dallas is.
Solo performances followed and changed the tempo and flow of the concert. Zelo sang in English for his solo which was a nice touch for his American fans.
After an outfit change they came back out and continued as all six. By this point Yongguk looked more relaxed and we began to see his wonderful smile every now and then. The concert and crowd were really at fever pitch as B.A.P. slowly headed towards the end of the show, each song an inexorable step towards that end. Even knowing this, there was no letup in the volume and intensity of the crowd. Whether it was because we were in a relatively small theater I don’t know, but we were the loudest crowd I’ve ever been in. Even the members commented on the enthusiasm and energy of the Dallas fans.
When they finally left the stage for the last time a pall sort of fell over the crowd. We were all so happy to have seen them, but downcast because it was over. The fans who had the high touch or photo op were still somewhat ebullient as they had that to look forward to, but the others trailed out of the auditorium replaying all the excitement in their heads and wondering when they would next be able to see their ‘boys’.
The staff did a pretty good job of minimizing the chaos that can occur organizing excited fans for the benefits, but yet once again the fans were rushed through the high touch and photo op. I guess the production companies don’t care as they already have their money, but they don’t seem to realize that rushing the fans just gives them a bad name. Even if you slowed the process down by a few seconds it wouldn’t be so bad, and how about 2 group photos. Even a second or two apart means the fans could choose the one they look better in.
Overall it was a fantastic show, in a super venue, with some of the best fans in the Kpop world. Thank you Majestic Theatre. Thank you Babyz.
And Thank You B.A.P. Y’all Come Back Y’hear.
Have a great day everyone.
As a side note the first hand embroidered patches I ever made for the Kpopjacket were for B.A.P.’s World Tour in 2014.
But that jacket was too small so the patches have been moved to a larger jacket.
Only Big Bang has more patches than B.A.P.
You may also enjoy SHINee World Tour in Dallas 2017, Kpop Night Out @ SXSW parts 1, 2, and 3, plus HyunA Charms Her Dallas Fans.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
All photo credits to original owners. All except first photo credit to me.
Juldarigi: An Extreme Form Of Korean Tug Of War.
Tug of War is among the most ancient of games and no doubt developed independently in multiple places around the world. It is a game that probably arose quite naturally as it is instinctive to hold onto something you want when someone tries to take it away from you. Animals also play this game, as many of us know when we play tug with our dogs.
The oldest image of Tug Of War dates from about 4,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt, but that doesn’t mean people in other ancient civilizations didn’t play, it just means no one else left an image that has survived. Ancient China has a legend that Tug Of War was invented at the dawn of time when the Sun and Moon played to determine the amount of light and darkness in the world. For something more than a legend there are Chinese written accounts that say the game was used to train warriors almost 3,000 years ago. Mentions of the game crop up in Ancient Greece, (500 BCE), Scandinavia & N. Germany, (1000 CE), India, (1100’s CE), France, and Japan (1500’s CE) as well as in many other countries.
It has been played in many different ways, by pulling each other’s arms, by holding around the waist and pulling, and by using something like a rope or piece of skin to pull on. These are the more common versions, although versions using sticks, bamboo etc are also played. In Korea you can still find playground games played with a couple of these methods.
Played by two people it is mostly a game of strength, played by multiple it becomes a game of teamwork and strategy, as well as strength. In Korea both girls and boys play Tug Of War, although it seems the arms around waists version is perhaps more popular with girls.
The most famous Tug Of War game in Korea is called Juldarigi. This version uses huge ropes and whole villages of people to play. It has its’ origins in agrarian practices from long ago that took place to try and ensure a good harvest. Once quite prevalent all over Korea in rural areas, it has dwindled down to only a few places, the most famous nowadays being held in Dangjin, and in Yeongsang.
The rope used can vary in size, but can be up to 200 metres in length, over a metre in diameter, and weigh up to 40 tons. It takes a communal effort by a lot of people, plus experts who know how to direct said people, to make the rope. In danger of dying out, some communities are looking for young people to learn the skill to prevent that happening. In 2015 ‘rope tugging’ rituals from 4 countries, including S.Korea, were placed on the UNESCO world intangible cultural heritage list, as of importance, and as something that should be preserved.
The rope can be made from a single strand using rice straw, but when made with 2 strands it will have an ‘am’ strand, which is female and twisted to the left, and a ‘su’ strand, which is male and twisted to the right. These two strands are then twisted together. Sometimes ropes are made from 3 strands twisted together. Each rope is made with a large loop at the end, one smaller than the other.
There’s a lot of symbolism attached to the game, with the ropes being likened to snakes, or imugis, otherwise known as young or immature dragons. In Korean folklore dragons are associated with water and agriculture, they often live near rivers and waterfalls, and can bring rain. There is an old saying, ‘the rain cloud follows the dragon,’ and since rain is important to agricultural communities they prayed to the earth, the dragon, local mountains, and performed other shamanistic rituals in the hope of a bumper harvest and general bounty for the area. Sometimes Juldarigi was played on a regular basis, perhaps every three years, and sometimes it was played only in times of drought to bring the rain. Different areas had slightly different rituals and timing, although it was mostly associated with Daeboreum, a celebration of the first full moon of the new year.
The large central rope has lots of smaller ropes woven into it along its’ length and a fan of medium ropes are attached at the opposite end to the large loop. The two teams are often divided into East & West, or North & South, or Male & Female. In general it is more beneficial for the female team to win because of the association of women with childbearing, fruitfulness and fecundity. The women’s team could also include unmarried men, and the men’s team could decide to not use all their strength, thereby losing to ensure prosperity. Nowadays it doesn’t matter so much as Juldarigi is more a festival and celebrations of old customs than a ritual to bring good fortune to the village.
The male and female ropes are paraded to the competition area, accompanied by traditional percussion music, flag waving, dancers, and supporters. Sometimes a person or two ‘ride’ the rope to yell insults, jeers, and ribald remarks. In some cases a sword fight might even ensue. Finally one rope is inserted through the loop of the other, often accompanied by sexual innuendo jokes, and a log is set in place to hold them together.
The two teams grab the smaller ropes wherever they can and on a signal they begin to pull. Nowadays this can be over in a matter of minutes, but long ago it is said the tugging battle could go on so long they had to have rest periods.
Once over, the ropes are often broken down and bits carried away by the participants for good luck, with the luckiest bits being the two loops. It was also thought that for an infertile woman stepping over the opponent’s rope would make her fertile, or make sure a fertile woman who did so would have a male baby.
Youtube has multiple videos showing Juldarigi, but I would suggest if you ever get the chance to see it in person it no doubt would be an epic experience. I have it on my list of what I still need to see and do in Korea.
Have a great day everyone.
You might also enjoy Ssireum: Korean Style Wrestling, Traditional Sledding In Korea, Seokjeon, and Horseback Archery In Korea.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
All photo credits are to original owners, mostly Korean Tourism sites.
Cats And Dogs: Animal Cafes In Seoul.
Seoul is a city of cafes, in fact it is said there are more cafes in Seoul than in any other city in the world. Therefore in order to stand out many have come up with themes to try and capture the attention of consumers. Animal cafes have become popular, particularly cat and dog cafes. Seoul also has a racoon cafe and a sheep cafe that I know of, and I believe there are other animal cafes too that crop up from time to time. The dog and cat ones seem to be perennial favorites as they are the pets most people would like to keep in their homes, and who use the dog, and cat, cafes as a substitute when it is too difficult to keep one of their own.
Animal cafes are also popular with those looking for a way to relieve stress, and of course are popular with many tourists. Make sure you understand the fees and rules as each cafe may be run in a slightly different way. Usually you must buy a drink, and entry is then free, plus you can buy treats the animals like. In cat cafes be careful of your belongings as some cats like to ‘spray’ to mark their territory.
There’s usually a large selection of cats to play with, and safe areas for them to retreat to to avoid people and other cats. You might go and the cats may be reticent to interact with you, but being cats they may just need a little time to warm up to you.
I am not particularly a cat person, but I could not get this cat to leave me alone. I think he saw a black jacket and just decided he had to leave long white fur all over it. The drinks are kinda incidental to the experience, but overall it was a nice way to take a relaxing break from doing tourist stuff.
Dog cafes are also popular since it is much more likely that a dog will be happy to interact with you.
There are a few different dog cafes you can visit in Seoul, this particular one was in Myeongdong fairly near the cat cafe. In this one the dogs also performed tricks from time to time, and they seemed quite eager to do so.
The skateboard was the most popular toy, but the Bulldog and the Sheepdog both tried hogging all the play equipment. The Dachshund gave up after a while and came over to me to chill for a bit.
Both the Sheepdog and the Bulldog managed to ‘drive’ the car, and get their treats. The car did move down the track at a very slow speed and the dogs did steer the car.
Dogs were everywhere, including on the tables.
I enjoyed the experience as I missed my own dogs, but I think it would be fun for anyone. Make sure you follow the rules, don’t wear your best clothes, and make sure you wash your hands afterwards.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also like Korean Tea, A Look At Hongdae, and Pojangmacha: Better Known To Some As A Soju Tent.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. Photo credits to Elle Marzec.
KPOP Jacket Lady 