Koreabridge

• Busan

This is a great introduction to Korean apartments. This one is a basic officetel studio.

YouTube Channel: expatchick

—

Liv'in' Korea Crypto Father

 

 

Curious about Korean consonants? You came to the right place! In this article lesson, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about Korean consonants. As you learn about these Korean letters, along with Korean vowels, you’ll soon be able to form a Korean word, and eventually, sentences.

Let’s get to it!

What is “consonant” in Korean?

The Korean word for consonant is 자음 (jaeum). Consonants will help you form words in Korean with the other half of the Korean alphabet which are Korean vowels or 모음 (moeum).

How many consonants in Korean are there?

There are 14 basic Korean consonants, plus 5 double consonants which makes 19 consonants in total.

What are the basic Korean consonants?

Here are the 14 basic consonants in Korean language. The basic thought behind creating each Korean letter has been to draw the symbol with its pronunciation in mind.

KoreanRomanization ㄱg/k ㄴn ㄷd/t ㄹ r/l ㅁm ㅂb/p ㅅs(/t) ㅇng ㅈj/ch ㅊch(/t) ㅋk ㅌt ㅍp ㅎh How to pronounce Korean consonants

Although we’ve laid out the sounds in their romanization here, the correct pronunciation may not be exactly what you expect. That is because the Korean pronunciation is not directly the same way an equivalent to how English letters would be.

The Korean alphabet, 한글 (Hangeul), is a very scientific alphabet. This is used in both South Korea and North Korea. It is an official writing system where each alphabetic letter is shaped according to the sound they make and this concept is very much present in Korean consonants too. Understanding this can also help Korean learners understand each sound fast along with overall Korean pronunciation.

Basic consonant sounds

Among the 14 consonants, there are five basic consonants whose shapes are also used to determine how they should sound as you speak Korean. These five basic consonants are ㅁ, ㄴ, ㅅ, ㄱ, and ㅇ. The basic shape that each consonant represents are the following:

Bilabial – represents the shape of the lips. The bilabial consonants are ㅁ, ㅂ, ㅍ.

Alveolar – represents the shape of the tongue touching just behind the teeth. The alveolar consonants are ㄴ, ㄷ, ㅌ, ㄹ.

Alveolo-palatal/dental – represents the shape of a tooth. The alveolo-palatal or dental consonants are ㅅ, ㅈ, ㅊ.

Velar – represents the shape of the tongue that touches the back of the roof of the mouth. The velar consonants are ㄱ, ㅋ.

Glottal –represents the shape of the throat. The glottal consonants are ㅇ, ㅎ.

Korean consonants’ names

Below we have included some example words for each consonant letter which may help you learn the consonant sound. These words are the actual names of these Korean consonants. We have included romanization as an aid, but we advise Korean learners to focus on learning through Korean alphabet letters directly as it is more accurate.

KoreanConsonant names ㄱ기역 (giyeok) ㄴ니은 (nieun) ㄷ디귿 (digeut) ㄹ리을 (rieul) ㅁ미음 (mieum) ㅂ비읍 (bieup) ㅅ시옷 (siot) ㅇ이응 (ieung) ㅈ지읏 (jieut) ㅊ치읓 (chieut) ㅋ키읔 (kieuk) ㅌ티읕 (tieut) ㅍ피읖 (pieup) ㅎ히읕 (hieut) How to pronounce Korean double consonants

In addition to the 14 basic consonants, the Korean language also has 5 more consonants called double or twin consonants, making the Korean consonant letter tally 19. So, what are these Korean consonants? We’ll show you below!

KoreanRomanization ㄲkk ㄸtt ㅃpp ㅆss ㅉjj

The sound that this type of consonant makes when pronounced falls somewhere between plain or basic consonants and aspirated consonants in its hardness. That means, for example, that although ㄲ has ㄱ twice in it, its sound is not directly twice as hard as ㄱ.

Korean double consonant names

Just like the basic consonants, the double ones also have their own names. These are quite easy to remember if you’re already familiar with the names of the first 14 consonants that we listed above. These consonants are also called 쌍 (ssang) or “twin” letters in Korean. Here’s how each of them is called:

KoreanConsonant names ㄲ쌍기역 (ssanggiyeok) ㄸ쌍디귿 (ssangdigeut) ㅃ쌍비읍 (ssangbieub) ㅆ쌍시옷 (ssangsiot) ㅉ쌍지읒 (ssangjieut)

That was easy to memorize, right? You simply need to add 쌍 (ssang) before the respective basic consonant’s name to form the twin letters’ name!

Differences in pronunciation based on the Korean consonant type

Basically, there are three different types of Korean consonants: plain, tense, and aspirated. They are labeled into different groups according to their Korean pronunciation.

Plain consonants

Plain or basic consonants are all the ones from ㄱ to ㅈ, plus ㅎ. These Korean consonants are pronounced without any aspiration. That means, no burst of air is required to pronounce each consonant letter.

KoreanRomanization ㄱg/k ㄴn ㄷd/t ㄹ r/l ㅁm ㅂb/p ㅅs(/t) ㅇng ㅈj/ch ㅎh Tense consonants

Double or tense consonants are Hangul consonants that have pronunciations harder than the basic consonants, but not as strong as the aspirated consonants.

KoreanRomanization ㄲkk ㄸtt ㅃpp ㅆss ㅉjj Aspirated consonants

These are the aspirated consonants: ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ . Unlike the basic consonants, the aspirated consonants require such a burst of air, or aspiration, in their pronunciation. That is why their romanization sometimes comes with the h-sound.

KoreanRomanization ㅊch(/t) ㅋk ㅌt ㅍp Differences in pronunciation based on position in a syllable

There are three different positions for a consonant in a syllable: initial, medial, and final. Therefore, there are also a variety of pronunciations for each consonant. When a consonant is in an initial position, it tends to be voiceless. In simpler words, it means each consonant is pronounced as shown in the table below:

Korean consonant
on initial positionKorean consonantRomanization 가ㄱka 다ㄷta 바ㅂba 자 ㅈcha 라ㄹra 아ㅇa

Each of these consonant sounds has a rather weak Korean pronunciation. Also, the length of the sound should be short.

Initial consonants

As mentioned above, a Korean consonant in an initial position tends to be voiceless. However, notice above that there are two exceptions to the initial consonant rule. The first is ㅂ, which is the one Korean consonant that does have a “voice”, so to speak.

A Korean syllable blocks, a syllable starts with a consonant at all times. The consonant ㅇ, when used as the initial consonant in a Korean syllable, is entirely silent. If it is not the first syllable in a word, it merely strengthens the last consonant of the previous syllable, if the end of the syllable is a consonant.

Medial consonants

A medial consonant is more complex. Here the sound and pronunciation of the consonant depend on if the previous syllable ended with a consonant or a vowel. Specifically, if the medial consonant is ㄱ, ㄷ, ㄴ or ㅂ. The basic rule of thumb is that a medial consonant following a vowel will be pronounced as normal, so ㄱ is g, ㄷ is d, and so on.

A Korean consonant following a consonant, however, will be pronounced more like a tense consonant. So ㄱ would be pronounced more similarly to ㄲ, and ㄷ more similarly to ㄸ, and so on.

Final consonants

Final consonants are those that finish off a syllable, for example, ㄹ in 글 (geul). They are called 받침 (batchim) in the Korean language. This also serves as a base or support of Korean syllable blocks as it is the bottom position of consonants in a syllable block.

The 받침 is an important part of Korean pronunciation because it often determines a change in the way Korean words are pronounced. However, not all Korean syllables have 받침.

Consonants in the 받침 position can either be common or mixed final consonants.

Common Final consonants

All double and basic consonants can be used as final consonants except for ㄸ, ㅃ, and ㅉ.

Mixed Final Consonants

These consonants are also known as double batchim, there’s only a limited number of possible combinations. These are 11 of them which are: ㄳ, ㄵ, ㄶ, ㄺ, ㄻ, ㄼ, ㄽ, ㄾ, ㄿ, ㅀ, and ㅄ.

Pronunciation rules for final consonants

There are several rules that affect the sound the syllable would produce. Here is an example:

밥 (bap) –> the final ㅂ has a “p” sound, but its sound is shorter and more voiceless than the initial ㅂ

사랑 (sarang) –> here the ㅇ is pronounced as “ng”

Also, in the cases where the final consonant is followed by a syllable starting with “ㅇ”, the final consonant keeps its typical sound and ties directly with the next syllable. ㅇ will remain entirely silent when it starts the following syllable. For example:

만원 (manwon) –> the pronunciation is closer to “manon”

A further complication is the final consonants “ㄷ” and “ㅌ” when the following syllable block consists of “이” (i) where only the vowel has a sound. In these cases “ㄷ” is pronounced like “ㅈ” and ㅌ like “ㅊ”.

같이 (gachi) –> if written down based on its pronunciation, it will look more like “가치”

Furthermore, often when “ㅎ” is the final consonant or the initial consonant of the next syllable, with the previous syllable block finishing with a final consonant, it strengthens the connecting consonant. For example:

잡히다 (japida) –> the “ㅂ” will be pronounced like “ㅍ”

그렇지 (geureochi) –> the “ㅈ” will be pronounced like “ㅊ”

However, if the consonant combination is ㅎ + ㄹ, ㅎ will become silent and only ㄹ will have a sound. ㅎ will also become silent when the next syllable starts with ㅇ. Like this:

괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo) –> the ㅎ is silent, the pronunciation jumping directly from ㄴ to the vowel ㅏ

That’s it for Korean consonants! Learning this concept as you practice how to speak Korean will surely help with your pronunciation. For further reading on how consonants and vowels, and whole Korean words are pronounced in the Korean language and other rules on Korean pronunciation, please refer to our guide on Korean pronunciation. In the next lesson, we will tackle Korean vowels with you!

The post Korean Consonants – Letters of the Alphabet (Hangul 한글) appeared first on 90 Day Korean®.

—

Learn to read Korean and be having simple conversations, taking taxis and ordering in Korean within a week with our FREE Hangeul Hacks series: http://www.90DayKorean.com/learn

Korean lessons   *  Korean Phrases    *    Korean Vocabulary *   Learn Korean   *    Learn Korean alphabet   *   Learn Korean fast   *  Motivation    *   Study Korean  

 

Please share, help Korean spread! 

 

 

Classified Ad Type: 

• For Sale Items

Location: 

• Nationwide

Neighborhood: on-line businessContact person by email

1.Brief introduction about above company(GD1) we want to sell.

=Type of business: On-line recruiting company

=Job: Introducing Native English Teachers to academies, schools and companies.

=Foundation year and Location: 2011 and Korea

=Activity from 2011 to present: Has introduced Native English Teachers very actively/successfully through on-line to academies, schools and companies in KOREA only.

2.Future’s Option: If you like, you will be able to establish another company(or department: GD2) to introduce Native English Teachers to academies, schools and companies All Over The World. Our know-how based on lots of our experience we have obtained through GD1 for last ten years will surely help the development of GD2.

3.You must be good at Korean and English to manage GD1 in Korea. Otherwise, you will have to hire an employee who is good Korean and English. 4.This is an on-line business;thus,it is hardly affected by Covid-19

>>If you want to get more information, please contact us at [email protected]

>

   

—
Sign-up NOW and get 2-Weeks Free Trial

 

MasterTOPIK.com
Learning strategy which is the fastest and easiest way to reach the target TOPIK score,
at a reasonable price of $14 a month.    Stay Connected! MasterTOPIK
Facebook      Kakaotalk        Instagram

—

- Mogao (Our Community App) 
- Official Website 
- TikTok 
- Instagram 
- Facebook

— From Korea with Love
Chrissantosra.wordpress.com

 

 

Join 473 other followers

 

—

Burger n' Kimchi are the most unlikely, wildest husband-and-wife team consisting of Burger (an American Expat living in Busan) and Kimchi (a born and bred Busanite). We absolutely love Busan, South Korea and would like to share a glimpse with you through our own unique lens.

        

      
Merch      Tip Jar
  Kimchi's
    
Instagram    Naver Blog Burger's

Medium Articles

Papago is the most popular translation app and web site for translating Korean and English, but is it perfect? Does it need to be perfect?

My friend Kenny and I tried to have a Korean conversation using only Papago, and it was impressive! But things also didn't go as well as I thought.

Find out why you might want to avoid Papago (or any other translators) when trying to learn Korean, and also when you might actually want to use it to help you.

The post I tried to talk in Korean using only Papago translator appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.

—

www.GoBillyKorean.com

 

FOLLOW ME HERE:       SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL:

 

Choices Best Year Ever! Pretty Good Year Mixed Bag - Some Highs and Some Lows Just another 12 months Not Great. Ready for 2022 Terrible...Again!. F--- You 2021! Details: 

The Sanshin-gak Hall at Oeosa Temple in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Temple History

Oeosa Temple is located in southern Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do to the east of Mt. Unjesan (479.5 m). Oeosa Temple was first founded during the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. to 935 A.D.) during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla (r. 579 – 632 A.D.). At first, the temple was named Hangsasa Temple. The temple gained its current name through a rather interesting tale about the monks Hyegong and Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.). One day, while attempting to revive two fish that had been swimming in the neighbouring lake, one of these two fish came back to life. Both claimed that they were the one to revive the fish, so from that day on the temple came to be known as Oeosa Temple, which means “My Fish Temple” in English.

Since the temple’s creation, very little is known about its history. However, what is known is that four monks, Jajang-yulsa (590-658 A.D.), Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.), Hyegong, and Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) had a relationship with Oeosa Temple. This is made evident by the hermitages that surround Oeosa Temple like Jajangam Hermitage and Hyegongam Herimtage to the north, Wonhyoam Hermitage to the south, and Uisangam Hermitage to the west.

In total, Oeosa Temple is home to one Korean Treasure. This is the Bronze Bell of Oeosa Temple, which is Korean Treasure #1280.

Temple Layout

You first approach Oeosa Temple up a long winding road that’s surrounded by the neighbouring mountains and a water reservoir. On your way, you’re likely to see some local mountain hikers out enjoying the picturesque landscape. Immediately upon entering the temple grounds, you’ll be greeted by an open Jong-ru (Bell Pavilion). There’s a large Brahma Bell housed inside it, and it’s adorned with beautiful Bicheon (Flying Heavenly Deities). In addition to the central Brahma Bell, you’ll find an old, gnarled wooden fish gong, as well.

To the immediate right of the bell pavilion is the temple’s fountain that has a baby stone monk at the head of the fountain. To the right of this cute fountain, you’ll find the Nahan-jeon Hall. Up the stairs, and entering the Nahan-jeon Hall, you’ll find a golden collection of Nahan (The Historical Disciples of the Buddha) inside. These sixteen statues are joined by a main altar triad centred by Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha).

Next to the Nahan-jeon Hall is the simplistic Samseong-gak Hall. The exterior walls to this hall are adorned with beautiful landscape paintings. Inside, you’ll find three shaman murals. In the centre is a rather long Chilseong (The Seven Stars) mural. To the right is a simplistic painting dedicated to Dokseong (The Lonely Saint). And to the left, you’ll find a stunning Yongwang (The Dragon King) mural. If you look close enough at the Yongwang mural, you’ll actually see that the golden scales of the swirling dragons are bubbled to give the dragon scales texture. Keeping the Samseong-gak Hall company, and slightly to the left and under a beautiful cherry blossom tree, is the Sanshin-gak Hall. Housed inside the other shaman shrine hall at Oeosa Temple is a simplistic mural dedicated to Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit). Sanshin is joined in this mural by his trusty side-kick, a ferocious tiger.

Uniquely, or rather strangely, the Daeung-jeon Hall at Oeosa Temple sits in the centre of the temple courtyard and not at the back of the temple grounds. The Daeung-jeon Hall dates back to 1741, and its exterior walls are adorned with a beautiful collection of Shimu-do (Ox-Herding Murals). Stepping inside the rather compact main hall, especially for a temple of such size and prominence, you’ll find a triad of statues resting on the main altar. In the centre sits an image of Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). To the right of the main altar is an older painting dedicated to Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife).

After looking around the temple grounds, you can walk out the main temple gates and past two fierce-looking Narayeon Geumgang and Miljeok Geumgang (Heng and Ha) that adorn the temple entry gate. Down the stairs, you’ll come to a beautiful river that flows tranquilly out in front of Oeosa Temple. The view is both peaceful and calm.

Before you leave Oeosa Temple, and if you have time, you should visit the temple’s museum, which is free. The museum houses the purported hat of Wonhyo-daesa, and it’s also where you’ll find the Bronze Bell of Oeosa Temple, which is a Korean Treasure. In November, 1995, during construction on the reservoir in front of Oeosa Temple, the Bronze Bell of Oeosa Temple was discovered. The bronze bell was first cast in 1216. Suseong-daesa, from Donghwasa Temple in Daegu, was in charge of the casting of this specific bronze bell. On the surface of the bell, you’ll find Bicheon (Flying Heavenly Deities) flying. You’ll also find two Bodhisattva images on the surface of the bell. Each is kneeling on a flower cushion, and their hands are clasped together. Amazingly, the bell weighs 180 kg.

How To Get There

From the Pohang Intercity Bus Terminal, you’ll need to make your way over to the Ocheon Transfer Station. To get there, you can either take Bus #175 for thirty minutes, or you can take a taxi that’ll last seventeen minutes. The taxi ride will cost about 10,000 won. From the Ocheon Transfer Station, you’ll then need to board the bus that says “Ocheonjiseon (Oeosa) – 오천지선 (오어사)” on it. This bus ride will last about twenty minutes, or eleven stops. From where the bus lets you off, you’ll need to walk the remaining kilometre to Oeosa Temple.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Oeosa Temple is one of the most beautifully located temples in all of Korea with its meandering river and the towering mountains. Adding to this natural beauty is the Bronze Bell of Oeosa Temple inside the temple museum, the historic Daeung-jeon Hall with its Shimu-do (Ox-Herding Murals) that adorn its exterior walls, and the handful of other temple shrine halls that visitors can explore. Oeosa Temple makes for a nice little weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The reservoir in front of Oeosa Temple. The view leading up to the temple grounds. Passing through the side entrance to Oeosa Temple. The Jong-ru (Bell Pavilion) at Oeosa Temple. A look inside the Nahan-jeon Hall. The Sanshin (Mountain Spirit) mural housed inside the Sanshin-gak Hall. The twisting golden dragon in the Yongwang (Dragon King) mural inside the Samseong-gak Hall. The historic Daeung-jeon Hall. One of the Shimu-do (Ox-Herding Murals) that adorns the Daeung-jeon Hall. A look inside the Daeung-jeon Hall. The Bronze Bell of Oeosa Temple inside the temple museum at Oeosa Temple. The main entry gate at Oeosa Temple. —

KoreanTempleGuide.com

Dale's Korean Temple Adventures YouTube

Inner Peace Art Store
​​​​​​​
 

 

Location: 

• Busan

From: https://www.busan.go.kr/dynamic/news/view?dataNo=66077&srchCl=News&bbsNo=10  This winter, lights of hope will appear all over Busan. With the continuation of prudent preventative measures and the introduction of the "Living with COVID-19" scheme, Busanites can enjoy festivities once again. 

Sanbok Sky Light Festival 
Nov. 22 to Jan. 9 on Sanbok-ro Road

Strings of lights, photo zones and installations will line a 1.2-kilometer section of Sanbok-ro, in Daecheong-dong (neighborhood) and Yeongju-dong, Jung-gu.

A striking scene of the port is visible from one of the main lighting sections, the Yeongju Sky Observatory.

How to get there: Choryang Station (metro line 1), exit 1. Take bus 190 and get off at Busan Digital High School.

△ This winter, an ocean of lights blankets the sands of Korea's most popular summer destination, Haeundae Beach. 

 

Haeundae Light Festival 

Nov. 27 to Feb. 2 at Haeundae Beach

Last month, a lighting ceremony marked the beginning of the eighth annual Haeundae Light Festival. 

The Haeundae Beach area will play host to countless activities and light installations. The Haeundae Oncheon-gil space (near the Haeundae-gu Office) has been added to the original line-up of Haeundae Beach, Gunam-ro square and Haeundae Market. 

How to get there: Haeundae Station (metro line 2), exit 3 or 5. 

△ Busanites' eyes widen as social distancing regulations change and four bright festivals lead the city into the new year. 

 

Christmas Tree Cultural Festival

Dec. 4 to Jan. 9 at Yongdusan Park

 

This year, the Nampo-dong, Busan Christmas Tree Cultural Festival, which traditionally takes place on the main shopping road, will move to Yongdusan Park as a safety precaution.

　

The main tree, a festival landmark, is installed in its usual spot (Gwangbok-ro intersection). Photo zones with interactive illuminated sculptures stand in the park's Central Plaza. There, visitors can write and hang their New Year's wishes on trees or take in one of the various performances, like a magic show or caroling concert along the way.

How to get there: Nampo Station (metro line 1), exit 7. Go left side for 180 meters and use escalators or stairs on the right side. 

Light Dream Festival

Dec. 6 to Feb. 6 at Busan Citizens Park

The "2021 Light Dream Festival for Busanites' Hope" will be held at Busan Citizens Park, the city's most famous urban park, in Bujeon-dong from December 6 to February 6. 

　Every night a fountain light show will be held near South 1 Gate. In addition, LED sculptures will line a 600-meter course from South 1 Gate to North Gate and a walking course from North Gate to the entrance of Busan National Gugak Center (BNGC). 

　BNGC will sponsor traditional performances and experiences sporadically throughout the festival.

 

How to get there: Bujeon Station (metro line 1), exit 7. Turn left at Busan bank and go straight about 500 meters. 

Location: 

• Busan

From: https://www.busan.go.kr/eng/bsnews01/1514438 

 

 

The city of Busan has announced the four winning videos from the 2nd Busan Metropolitan City YouTube Video Contest.

The contest was held from July 5 to October 4, 2021 under the theme, ‘Advertise Your Supportive “It” Items of Busan.’ A total of 25 YouTube entries were submitted and the city selected four winning videos after preliminary and expert reviews.

The following is a list of the top winning videos:

Grand Prize (1): 「누군가의 헌책이 당신만의 잇템?!」

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phcXi6bVAps

A teacher and student team from Hyekwang High School promote used books at Bosu Book Street as "It” items of Busan, featuring a music video with their own song. Used book stores and small businesses at Bosu Book Street have been in a crisis due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and redevelopment in the area.

 

Second Prize (1): 「Busan Forever」 by Storm Reid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq_nKEn61nM

Featuring four "It" items - Fitness, Fashion, Food and Fun to promote products of small businesses in Busan from the viewpoint of foreigners

 

Third Prizes (2):

「B.O.S를 열어봐」

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaygDBbmW5I

B.O.S stands for ‘Busan One Hell of a Spot’

Featuring seas of Busan, Haeundae traditional market, restaurants and cafes

 

「남포동 잇템 구경해 볼래?!」

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR8TwLyYYDc

Featuring a video to promote products of small businesses and tourist information at Nampo-dong area

 

The winning videos aim to stimulate the local economy by promoting products of small businesses in Busan with messages of hope to overcome the difficulties due to prolonged COVID-19 outbreaks.

The winning entries will be posted on the city’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/DynamicBusan) and BADA TV website at http://badatv.busan.go.kr/view.do?no=75

 

For more information, please contact the New Media Division at (051)888-1386.

Classified Ad Type: 

• Job Wanted

Location: 

• Busan

Neighborhood: Contact person by email

Hello. I am looking for a part-time job in Busan.

Can work after 2pm. My korean level is basic.

Kitchen helper, cleaning, fried chicken house, coffee shop et.c.

Please use the Email contact form. 

Thank you.

The Flag of the Republic of Korea – The Taegukgi (태극기)

Since the liberation of South Korea from Japan, and much like the nation as a whole, Buddhism in Korea has undergone a modern day revival. After liberation in 1945, the celibate Korean monks that were marginalized during Japanese rule were able to return to their roles of authority at temples and hermitages. Also, a large number of men and women became ordained monks and nuns after liberation. In addition, a countless amount of new temples opened in the centre of cities and towns, which was unheard of during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

However, the regaining of Korean independence hasn’t always come without its problems for Korean Buddhism. Just as society was going through an unprecedented amount of social and economic changes from the 1960’s to the present, so too has Korean Buddhism. As Korean culture is rooted in Buddhism, Korean Buddhism mirrored the tumultuous changes occurring around it. During the dictatorial rule of Chun Doo-hwan (1980-1988), he infamously attacked Korean Buddhism. He sent in the military to raid temples and seize monks. As a result, hundreds of monks were imprisoned and tortured. And all throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, there were sporadic temple burnings. In addition to these acts of arson, Buddhist artwork and pagodas have been vandalized. Some of the more extreme cases have seen red crosses being spray painted on temple walls and shrines, as well as Buddhist statues being decapitated. More recently, and under the Protestant Lee Myung-bak (2008-2015) administration, sectarian division continued between Buddhists and Protestants with the favourable appointment of twelve Christians being nominated to his presidential cabinet in comparison to only one Buddhist. Accordingly, this led to some discontent for Korean Buddhists.

Samgwangsa Temple in May, 2005 during Buddha’s Birthday.

Yet among this era of conflict, it’s also been a time of regeneration and renewal for Korean Buddhism. And it’s this renewal and regeneration that has thankfully outshone the conflict. This time of renewal has been led through education, social activities, and various forms of print and media. Korean Buddhist leaders of all sects are trying hard to shed their old-fashion image for a more contemporary one through inclusiveness, socialization, and modernization. These three seem to be the cornerstones in allowing Korean Buddhism to become more relevant to the needs of Koreans in the 21st century.

Presently, there are forty-two sects in Korean Buddhism, which include the larger Jogye-jong, Taego-jong, Cheontae-jong, and Won Buddhism. In addition to these forty-two religious sects, there are over sixty general Buddhist associations, forty-six youth associations, thirty student college associations, sixty-six middle and high school student associations, and ten children’s associations throughout Korea. And in a more social slant, there are over ten educational institutes which include universities and colleges that are run by various sects. Also, there are twenty-one public welfare associations, as well as three hospitals run by Korean Buddhists. And finally, towards modernization, in May, 1990, BBS (Buddhist Broadcasting System) went on air in an attempt to promote Buddhism both domestically and abroad. This goes hand-in-hand with the print efforts of Korean Buddhism. Now, there are ten different weekly newspapers, fifteen monthly magazines, four quarterly research journals, and a countless amount of official and unofficial websites dedicated to Korean Buddhism in various languages.

All of these efforts have been made to move Korean Buddhism from its past into the present and well beyond into the future. Fortunately, Korean Buddhism is no longer a secluded religion on a remote mountain top, isolated, and alone. Instead, it has taken giant leaps forward in modernizing and popularizing Korean Buddhism both for the present generation, as well as for generations to come.

Tongdosa Temple in May, 2014 during Buddha’s Birthday. —

KoreanTempleGuide.com

Dale's Korean Temple Adventures YouTube

Inner Peace Art Store
​​​​​​​
 

 

The advanced grammar form ~는 둥 마는 둥 can be used to show that someone half-heartedly does something, or barely does it, or doesn't do it properly. But there's a deeper meaning to the form which comes from its pieces - mainly the particle 둥. If you learn how to use 둥, this form is quite easy to understand and use in any situation. We also covered how to use ~을/ㄹ 둥 말 둥, which uses this same 둥 particle but in a different way.

The post 는 둥 마는 둥 Half heartedly | Live Class Abridged appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.

—

www.GoBillyKorean.com

 

FOLLOW ME HERE:       SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL:

 

—

www.GoBillyKorean.com

 

FOLLOW ME HERE:       SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL:

 

—
Sign-up NOW and get 2-Weeks Free Trial

 

MasterTOPIK.com
Learning strategy which is the fastest and easiest way to reach the target TOPIK score,
at a reasonable price of $14 a month.    Stay Connected! MasterTOPIK
Facebook      Kakaotalk        Instagram

The Korean flag in Korean is called 태극기 (taegeukgi). Its earliest version was designed and put to use in 1882, becoming the national flag of South Korea in 1948 after the Korean War ended. The current flag of South Korea was taken into use in 2011.

In this lesson, we will be learning more about the flag of South Korea, which at one point was a symbolic piece that represents the whole country of Korea.

What does the Korean flag look like?

Korea’s flag is composed of four colors: white, red, blue, and black. Each color has its purpose in the flag. It has a plain white background forming a rectangular shape. In the middle, a yin-yang circle is formed, minus the spots, with the color red on the upper half and blue on the lower half. The circle is then surrounded by four trigrams with the color black, placed in each of the four corners.

What is the symbolic composition of the Korean flag?

The flag bears four colors with symbolic meaning. The white background is a symbol that expresses land, while the red and blue forming a circle in the middle illustrates the Korean race or people of Korea. Meanwhile, the black sets of bars stand for Korea’s government.

White background

The color white that symbolizes land in the flag is seen as a traditional color in Korean culture, commonly used in daily clothing in the 19th century. The white background itself represents peace and unity. Even today, white often appears in Korean hanboks.

Red and Blue Taegeuk

The red and blue colors alone are named 태극 (taegeuk), so are essentially what the whole flag was named after with the meaning “supreme ultimate” in English. The red and blue taegeuk is divided into two parts, decidedly in the shape of yin-yang, which was derived from old Chinese philosophical ideologies.

Separately they represent elements opposite of each other like good vs. bad. Specifically, the red half represents positive cosmic forces, while the blue half is a symbol for negative cosmic forces. But put together like this, the shape is a symbol of the opposing elements complementing each other. The thicker part of yin and yang represent the beginning, and the slimmer part expresses the ending. So where yang ends, yin (or eum in Korea) starts, and then where yin ends, yang starts, and so on.

Black bars

The four groups of black bars also follow Confucian ideologies. The three solid bars are Heaven, the three bars set apart in the middle are Earth. The bars on the upper right corner represent fire, and the bars on the lower-left corner are symbols for water.

History of the Korean flag

In the history of Korea, the country did not have any national flag until 1882, while still under the Joseon dynasty. However, the need for a flag arose in the late 1800s during the Japan-Korea Treaty in 1876 when the Japanese flag was presented, while Korea at that time didn’t have a flag. With this, the king of Joseon ordered the government officials named Sin Heon and Kim Hong-Jip.

The task was further delegated to Lee Eung-Jun as well as a Chinese official Ma Jianzhong. A newspaper from Japan in 1882 credited the original flag, which by then had been used as Korea’s national flag on at least one occasion, as the design of the king of Joseon, Kojong.

Changes made to the flag of Korea

The flag didn’t immediately appear like how the current flag looks like. Between 1882 and 1910, Korea’s flag came under some slight changes. The basic design has changed mostly the same, or nearly identical, since its inception. However, some changes to the colors and ratio have occurred throughout time.

In the initial version, the bars were black, but in some other versions, they have been varied shades of blue, usually a dark navy shade, but also bright blue for a brief period of time. Originally the blue in the yin-yang circle was also a darker shade, although interestingly enough, the red has remained mostly the same, though sometimes a little more muted in the shade.

The most notable change is that the lines of the red and blue within the circle are much more simplified in the current flag than they were before 1910. The circle also changed from having blue on the left and red on the right side to red on top and blue on the bottom in 1948.

Who created the national flag of Korea?

Although the flag was originally credited to Kojong, he was mostly simply the commissioner of the flag. The original design for the taegeukgi flag came from Lee Eung-Jun, with Hong-Jip and Ma Jianzhong making modifications primarily to the coloring of the flag.

Finally, a politician named Park Yeong-Hyo presented a scale model of the flag as it was to the government in August 1882, and this version of the flag ended up becoming recognized as Korea’s official flag. Thus, Park Yeong-Hyo has since become the person credited as having created the first national flag of Korea and was the first person to use Korea’s flag in Japan in 1882.

Taegeukgi as the South Korean Flag

The taegukgi remained to be seen as South Korea continued using this flag as its emblem when Korean independence was restored in 1945. It officially became the national flag of South Korea in August of 1948, when the state of South Korea was established. The color scheme of South Korea’s flag was fixed to precision in 1997.

North Korean flag

As was established before, a version of the South Korean flag was already in use as a national symbol while the two Koreas were still unified. However, the North Korean flag currently in use became the official national flag used in North Korea in 1948 when North Korea was established.

This came from pressure from Soviet Union’s military officers, who thought the taegeukgi flag wasn’t modern enough in design and ideology. The flag was designed in Moscow, although it is unclear by whom. Today it is credited as the design of Kim Il-sung, the founder and first dictator of North Korea.

What does the flag of North Korea look like?

The national flag of North Korea is a lot different from the flag of South Korea. The North Korean flag is blue, white, and red. It consists of a red panel-like mid-section, with a red star against a white circle towards the left side. Above and below are thick blue stripes, and in between the red and blue on both sides are narrow white stripes.

What is the Korean unification flag?

The North and South Korea flag was adopted into use in 1991. The entire Korean peninsula is represented through this flag, in solid blue color, against a white field background. Korean unification flag was created for the 1990 Asian Games, where South Korea and North Korea originally planned to compete as one team. They did not do so in the end, and thus the flag was not used for the games in the end.

However, in the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships, the two Koreas competed as one team, using the Korean unification flag as their flag in the competition. A variation of the flag has been used in a few other international events since. This was used as a designation of the two countries competing as a unified team. One notable such instance is the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

And now you know the story and history of the Korean flag! How similar or different is it from how other countries got their flags? Let us know in the comments below!

Next up, if you wish, perhaps you’d like to read about the history and modern life of South Korea!

The post Korean flag – Meaning and symbols of this national banner appeared first on 90 Day Korean®.

—

Learn to read Korean and be having simple conversations, taking taxis and ordering in Korean within a week with our FREE Hangeul Hacks series: http://www.90DayKorean.com/learn

Korean lessons   *  Korean Phrases    *    Korean Vocabulary *   Learn Korean   *    Learn Korean alphabet   *   Learn Korean fast   *  Motivation    *   Study Korean  

 

Please share, help Korean spread!