This morning a Korean pronunciation book I’ve ordered has finally arrived. I was so excited to open the package and finally take a look at the book after the whole Kindle fiasco. But I haven’t even set the package on the table and the doorbell rang again. Mailman must have forgotten something. But no, this time it was a different delivery guy, and this time the package was from Korean Embassy no less!
Now this may make it seem like it is a usual thing for me to be getting packages but I assure you it is not. Actually, if not for my boyfriend, I probably would never receive any.
So how did this happen? A few days ago I needed some information from Korean Embassy in my country. I actually felt a bit guilty for bothering them, but instead of making me feel bad about it, they expressed their gratitude that I was showing so much interest in Korea. Moreover, they asked for my address and offered to send some Korean magazines! I was psyched!
I expected just a few magazines but when I took the package in my hands it was really heavy. I got a whole stack of Kwave magazines, a Psy’s CD and two booklets, one about Korean classical music and another also about Korean wave. Kwave magazines are published by KBS and are titled Global Korean culture magazine.
Now, those that are following us on various social networks probably noticed in the last few days that I was curious about magazines in Korean language to help me learn Korean. This solved the problem! Not only are they in Korean but actually every article is written in both Korean and English side by side which makes it just perfect for practicing Korean.
At first I was feeling bad because I know how much you guys are crazy about Kpop, but as I read further on I found more than enough articles for myself as well. Korean food, movies, directors, actors, various cultural topics like Hanok, ancient temples, Korean money, notable historical figures, short lessons about Korean language, examples of Kakao Talk chats and more. Oh, and at the back of every issue is a fold-out poster of some Korean celebrity, usually a Kpop boy band.
The contents of the amazing package from Korean Embassy
Kwave magazine with TVXQ / DBSK cover story.
A stack of Kwave magazine issues that has arrived
Psy CD with 6 tracks
Korean Culture booklets No. 1 and 4
Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음) document describing new Korean script
Korean ‘JUMP’ fusion performance
Blade and Soul a Korean game
Honestly, if you are interested in any aspect of Korean culture I think it’s a great magazine to have.
I only had them for a few hours and I already found out a really interesting story. In 1960 Korean Taekwondo masters decided to travel out of Korea and show the world what they could do, but the problem was: They only had one Taekwondo uniform between them! It’s crazy to think how far Korea has come in such short time.
There was an even an article about wedding dresses and with so many photographs of Korean guys I joked with Kimchi Man if I’m maybe being sent a hidden message here. He replied: “I knew we put a lot of effort into supporting mixed marriages, but I didn’t know we also put effort into creating them ^^” He’s a funny guy, isn’t he? :)
And finally, I would like to sincerely thank Korean Embassy for this amazing gift.
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Loving Korean | Boyfriend in Korea 
Wow! That’s so awesome!
It really is :D I’ve been so excited since I’ve got them. Articles are really interesting.
Tbh I would be more interested in reading everything expect Kpop related articles ^^ Korean Culture booklets, Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음) document describing new Korean script… sounds really interesting.
I’m looking forward to a review of “The Sound of Korean”… yesterday I tried to pronounce whole sentences a penpal emailed me to practice, damn it was/is so difficult… phew…
The articles are really interesting, you know I already know quite a bit about Korea but most of the topics are completely new to me. Sadly the Korean version of the article is still too advanced for me but I will take time to more seriously sit down and try to translate in parallel.
Yeah, pronunciation… I went through the other book completely and still when I tried to pronounce 방향 my boyfriend couldn’t understand what I’m saying so I think I will benefit from yet another pronunciation book ^^
I have to search for other books about Korea, bcz the only book I’ve read about Korea is “Sleepless in Seoul” written by Vera Hohleiter. Everything else I’ve read was/is online. I’m especially interested in Hanoks, I love the architecture and will surely book a room for a few days when I travel to Seoul next year (*¯︶¯*) ♥ (In dramas I also always love more the older houses with some kind of small garden/court yard then the modern ones)
You just reminded me of something I kind of totally forgot, Korean ppl should be able to understand me… (≧◡≦)
Since I’m at work right now I can’t check how this word should sound like, Romanization doesn’t help at all. I have to admit pronouncing Japanese is, at least for me, much easier (>‿<)
Pronouncing Japanese is a lot easier for me as well. But I’m hoping that if I watch enough Korean TV, someof the pronounciation will soak into my head.
Congrats, Oegukeen! You deserve all of that stuff. Did you speak to them in Korean or English?
Thank you! It warms my heart that you think I deserve it :)
I wrote to them in English, I don’t speak Korean :( But it wasn’t a problem, they speak English better than I do :)
If you want some more magazines to read, and you don’t mind reading on a computer or ipad, you can go to http://www.pdfmagazines.org/ and search for “korea” or you can search worldmags.net by using google (site:http://worldmags.net/+korea). that site doesn’t let you search internally if you’re not logged in.
Sorry what is in brackets is meant to be site:http://worldmags.net/ korea and you type that into google and search
I hope so ^^ and with practice and lots of drama/movie dialogue repeading it should get better ^^ I really hope so! ^^
really nice :)
Indeed :) It made me so happy.
That is one of the most awesome gifts that you can ever get. Even if it’s to spread the word of the Korean wave it’s still amazing!
(Wonder if the Korean embassy here in DK has awesome gifts like that?)
I would wish that I lived next door to you so I could read them with you and discuss all the different aspects about Korea, from K-pop do deep ancient history and even todays food and coffeehouses~
I agree! Not many things could make me happier than this :)
That would be awesome! I can’t find anyone with my passion for Korea where I live. I really miss talking about it sometimes, especially when Kimchi Man is in Korea.
Well, there are my parents. But I infected them with love for Korea so it doesn’t totally count.
I get the drill xD
It’s the same here for me, my friend moved far away from me so i can’t see her often but we do talk on the phone sometimes :)
And I also have a really good friend from Ilsan whom I talk with everyday via Kakaotalk. We share pictures and emails with videos to each other so that takes away the sad feeling of being alone with a special interest.
Korean Embassy there is so generous! Now you have magazines that you could read for a year or so. 좋은 선물이었네요.
Isn’t it generous? I thought so too. Yeah, I can read for a long time and it helps a lot when I miss my boyfriend so much.
That’s awesome Oegukeen! They are very generous indeed. Enjoy your reading :). (Hahaha the hidden message…)
Thank you ^^
I’m going to call the Korean embassy in my country to ask whether they have Psy’s album lying around and maybe they will be kind enough to send it to me. Just kidding. You’re so lucky! So jealous. I want the K-Wave magazines, too. OK I’ll call the embassy. :)
What have I done!? Haha, just kidding :)
Wow! Christmas in August!
Exactly!
This is great! Thanks for sharing the pictures of the magazines too. Now I know what to look for.
been to korea which korean embassy gave you books?
all i got was grief and almost did not get my visa
but 10 days in seoul too short for me
Korean embassy is a diplomatic mission of Korea in another country.