[:en]Traveling Archives

Korean nature is unique.

If you are Dutch like me, then the nature of Korea is one of the contrasts. The Netherlands have the countryside and the city, a few hills in the south and just under 50 islands. The Meuse and the Rhine split the country in two. Holland is a swamp delta drained by the Dutch. Korea has remained more itself throughout its existence. There are big cities, and the politicians broke the country in two, but much is still more or less untouched. You won’t find so much variation on such a small surface of the earth anywhere else. That is why Korean nature is unique.

Hanguk is a relatively small country.

Korea is 112,264 square kilometres in size. North Korea occupies 120.54. Unfortunately, I can tell almost nothing about nature in the communist part of the country. We know too little about it. Even the demilitarized zone holds many secrets. Animals and plants that have become extinct in South Korea can still live there. That zone is a large natural secret because no one has come there for about 70 years. South Korea is about the size of Iceland or Hungary. So relatively small. That makes the great contrasts you encounter in Korean nature unique.

High and low.

High, steep mountains dominate the landscape, the coastal areas and small islands. These features contribute to the diversity of Korean nature and the presence of a wide range of plant and animal species. Korea has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. The country experiences hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters, with a rainy season in the summer and autumn. This climate supports a variety of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

Plants and animals make Korean nature unique!

Korea is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. Many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Some animals are the Korean leopard, the water deer, and the musk deer.

Unfortunately, the Korean leopard, known worldwide as the Armur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis, Korean 한국 표범 hangug pyobeom), is extinct in South Korea. There is some hope that the world’s rarest big cat is still hunting in the demilitarized zone ore in North Korea. But that is seen as hope in vain. Only 50 or so Armur leopards, belonging to this subspecies common to the Korean Peninsula, live in the Kraj Primorski in Russia and Jilin in China. Read more about the Armur Leopards at https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/how-fast-are-amur-leopards-and-9-other-amur-leopard-facts

Unique Korean nature at Baedagol.

The Seongsaheon River flows through the Baedagol theme park. It is a river when the snow melts in the mountains and during the rainy season. Most of the time river is a narrow stream. It ensures two unique animal species in and near the theme park and the Goyang Koi Farm.

In addition to the cicada, the area has another “troublemaker”. The male Suweon (Hyla suweonensis) calls his female with a loud and high whistle. He’s not having a good time. The family has about eight hundred members, living between the Mangyeong and the Imjin rivers. They are closely related to Hyla Japonica whistling from Hokkaido to Yakushima in Japan, to the Ussuri River in the Russian part of ancient Goguryo and northern China and Mongolia.

The tree frog lays her eggs in rice fields. At the Baedagol theme park, they have managed to conquer a warm bed in the many water features. I think that there are several hundred living at the theme park. How the Suweon will fare in the future is unclear. Baedagol must make place for new high-rise buildings.

Read a detailed description of the tree frog here: PDF

I have only seen the hoof marks of the Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus, Korean 한국물사슴) in the river bed. They pass through it foraging at dawn.

Like the Korean musk deer, the water deer has tusks. They do not use them for hunting but as a weapon in territorial battles. First, a mock fight takes place. The males walk impressively towards each other and make clicking noises. Sometimes a weaker deer gives up at this point. When they fight, the males try to injure each other with their tusks. The loser himself indicates when enough is enough. He lays his head and neck flat on the ground or takes flight. The females live peacefully in groups.

At Baedagol theme park, C.E.O. Kim Young Soo collected many trees and plants.

Korean nature is unique for his fir. Source: https://bit.ly/2W9T4pZ Photographer: W. carter Public Domain Image — The Korean fir (Abies Koreana, Korean: 구상나무, Gusang namu): is a species of the fir tree that is native to the mountains of Korea. It is known for its distinctive conical shape and the fact that it retains its needles all year round.

The Korean bellflower is unique Korean nature — The Korean bellflower (Campanula takesimana, Korean: 섬초롱꽃, seomchorongkkot) is a flowering plant that is native to Korea and Japan. It is known for its blue or purple bell-shaped flowers.

Korean nature is unique for pine tree — The Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis, Korean 소나무, sonamu) is native to the mountains of Korea. It is known for its long, slender needles. It survives in cold, snowy environments.

The trees and plants are lucky. They find a home at the new locations of the Baedagol theme park and the Goyang Koifarm. For the tree frogs moving house will be a bigger problem. I am sure C.E.O. Kim Young Soo will find a solution.

Korea has a range of natural landscapes and ecosystems, ranging from subtropical forests on the southern coast to temperate forests in the central regions to subarctic forests in the high mountains.

One of the most notable features of Korean nature is the presence of many high, steep mountains that dominate the landscape.

Korean coastline is unique.

Korea is also known for its beautiful coastlines, which feature a mix of rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, and small islands. The country has many small islands off its coast. The coastal waters of Korea are home to a variety of marine life. Dolphins, whales, and sea turtles are some of the beautiful animals that visit the beaches.

The flat land in the Han river basin, for example, the mountains that mainly border the peninsula on the east side, and the many rocky islands and sandy beaches ensure that the nature of Korea is unique. You won’t find so much variation on such a small surface of the earth anywhere else. Geonggi-do alone, the province in which Seoul is located, offers its visitors numerous nature adventures.

If you like unique Korean nature: Page

Gardening, Korea

Odors give way to fragrance in 19th century

By Robert Neff
previously published: The Korea Times
featured picture: Mrs Emberley and her garden in Seoul, circa 1900.

garden odors — An excellent book about Korean fauna is “Flowers and Folklore from Korea” by Lorence-Hedleston Crane. Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the descriptions of Seoul were filled with complaints of streets packed with oxen, ponies and people all trying to avoid falling into the open sewers or stepping in the excrement of man and beast, and the fetid stench that seemed to hang in the smoke-filled air. While there may have been some truth to these descriptions, there were also very positive descriptions by more objective observers ― those who were willing to open their eyes (and nose) to the positive things:

“One might almost call [Korea] the Land of Lilies.

Were it not that other families of flowers, violets, eglantine, roses, white and red, lilacs and rhododendrons are equally prolific, while in the orchards, peach and pear blossoms fill the land with glory and beauty. In the endless procession of the seasons, there are lovely blossoms from snowfall to snowfall again. Hills and valleys become a riot of colour from the azaleas that strike the gamut of tints from snowy white to deepest orange. One botanist, in a single afternoon s ramble over the hills around Seoul, brought home a bouquet of forty-seven varieties of flowers; another near [Jemulpo ― modern Incheon], in one day, exceeded this number by a dozen.”

Joy in the garden fragrance.

While others complained of the “fetid smells” of Seoul and its sewers, the writer found joy in the fragrance of spring: “Not all the flowers are affluent of sweet odours, but enough of them carry aroma in their chalices to make the breezes sweeping from the mountain heights delicious to the senses. In springtime, especially, the winds often come perfume-laden to refresh and delight. In the autumn odour yields to colour and the hardier flowers. Among these, the aster and goldenrod drape the hills in scarlet, gold, purple and varied tints.”

One of the great things about living in Seoul is the city government’s dedication to planting flower gardens throughout the city. Flowers bloom along the bike lanes in the spring of 2019. Robert Neff Collection

Lillias Underwood ― who arrived in Korea in the mid-1880s and, for a time, served as the Korean queen’s Western physician ― was not shy in her writing, describing her good and bad impressions of Korea. She wrote: “Korea is glorious … the country fairly revels in blossom beauty in May and June … [and] all the environs of Seoul are sweet with the exquisite fruit blossoms, peaches, apricots, plums, cherries and pears.” She went on to add, “The hills are all ablush with rhododendrons and a dear little eglantine with the daintiest perfume riots all along the roads and fences.” One of her favourite flowers was the “virginal white honeysuckle” that grew on the slopes of Namhansan in the spring.

To sell lilies of the valley.

Apparently, some young Korean entrepreneurs realized money could be made through the foreigners’ appreciation for wildflowers. In 1899, the Korean Repository (an English-language magazine published in Seoul) wrote:

“Lads with lilies of the valley for sale are visiting houses of foreigners. It has been suggested that as these beautiful flowers when transplanted rarely, if ever, grow foreigners [should] discourage these boys by not purchasing.”

Many ― if not most ― Western residents in Seoul cultivated their own gardens. Of course, vegetable and fruit gardens were essential as they provided the foreign community with most of their needs. In 1897, nearly 500 quarts (473 litres) of strawberries were harvested from the gardens in Jemulpo. General William McEntire Dye ― the American advisor to the Korean military ― had a vast orchard in Seoul in which he grew Bartlett pears, apples, cherries and other fruits.

Flower gardens were also essential as they were visually and fragrantly pleasing and adorned with celebrations such as weddings and christenings, and helped lift the hearts of the bereaved in the all-too-common funerals of the late 19th century.

Lillias described her garden as:

“It was lovely nearly all the year-round. First of all, in the early spring were masses of yellow forsythia, then violets, and some of the first fruit blossoms, then flowering almonds and white lilacs, wisterias, fluffy greenish-white snowballs, and two great bushes on either side of the front door of yellow roses that recalled grandmother’s garden in dear America. In June came the roses in the greatest hurry to be seen, and, well, after that nobody could think of anything else. There was a whole hedge of damask rose bushes; they were cut every day by [the] hundreds, every bowl, jar and vase in the house crammed with them, they were sent to all the neighbours, yet still, they kept blossoming on and on never tiring, and the family could never keep up with them.”

Of course, with such a cornucopia of blossoms, there were great swarms of bees. “Such a humming you could hardly hear yourself think.”

Nice odor in Korean small gardens.

The foreigners were not the only ones cultivating gardens. Peppered here and there in the correspondences home and magazine and newspaper articles are references to Koreans cultivating small gardens wherever they could find space. Sometimes these Korean gardeners ran afoul of narrow-minded bureaucrats as evidenced by this article that appeared in the local paper in 1897:

“An enterprising man named Tai Duk-yep of this city has constructed a pretty garden in his compound, displaying horticultural skill and the art of landscape gardening. He admits visitors to his garden and charges them a few cents admission fees, which, he thought, was proper and lawful business. But to his surprise, the Assistant Chief of the Police Department ordered him yesterday to stop the business on the ground that it is injurious to the pockets of the people.”

Garden odor demands money and work.

Cultivating gardens was not easy. It required a lot of work and money. Many of the flowers and bushes were purchased from the United States and Europe but this tended to be rather risky. Sometimes the seeds were lost or stolen en route ― John Sill (the American minister to Korea) had a box of seeds stolen, along with some cigars, while they were being transported from Jemulpo to Seoul. He offered a reward of ten dollars (a princely sum of money) but the cigar-smoking thief was never apprehended.

Sometimes, when the seeds, bulbs and seedlings arrived, they were rotten or dead ― a waste of time and money. A couple of Japanese horticulturists realized that money could be made if they provided seeds and plants quickly ― and with a guarantee ― from Seoul. The competition between these horticulturists was fierce and they duelled one another not with a sword but with the local English language newspaper, The Independent.

On December 15, 1896, The Independent, reported in its local items column:

“The Japanese horticulturist, Mr Takahashi is desirous of obtaining orders for flowers, fancy trees and construction of gardens from the foreigners in Seoul. He guarantees first-class work.” While it was not an advertisement per se, it did provoke his rival.

Four months later, K. Yamashita took out an ad in the paper in which he advertised his selection of “fancy trees, either flower or fruit trees” that would be delivered as soon as the order was received. He also offered a guarantee: “In case the trees should not thrive they will be replaced without further charge.” He also offered to construct fancy gardens and flower beds for a low price and noted for reference that he was the “constructor of gardens for the French Legation and Japanese Consulate of this city.”

Y. Takahashi retaliated.

Two weeks later, Y. Takahashi retaliated and not only advertised “various kinds of fancy trees, fruit trees and shrubs and flowers will be supplied upon receiving an order,” with moderate prices but also declared that he was an “expert agriculturist and horticulturist.”

A year later both upped the stakes when Yamashita advertised himself as being “the only expert florist and landscape gardener in Seoul.” He offered “25,000 fruit, flower and shade trees have been imported from Japan” and the “most complete collection of rare and beautiful trees in his gardens.”

Takahashi responded by citing his own impressive background in horticulture: “member of the Japanese Horticultural Society and associate of the Imperial Agricultural Society.” He went on to state: “I have a number of beautiful shade trees, fruit trees, shrubs and flowering plants in my garden for my customers. I will plant them for you and guarantee that they will give you perfect satisfaction.”

What became of this rivalry is unclear as the newspaper ceased to publish regularly after December 31, 1898. In all likelihood, they continued to battle with one another and all-new interlopers for a great many years ― the peacefulness of their livelihood interrupted only by their competitiveness.

My appreciation to Diane Nars for her invaluable assistance and the use of her images.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books including, Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters. Robert D. Neff is a freelance writer and historical researcher specializing in Korean history during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Asia Society Korea’s Matthew Fennell caught up with him to discuss this new release. interview

You can follow Robert on facebook

Korea, Hallyu

Korean drama explained

written by Hugo J. Smal

How to watch Hallyu drama.

I love to watch and explain Korean movies and television series. For a long time, non of my friends could not cope with that. They simply did not understand Korean culture. And they still do not even tough I had Korean drama explained. Yes, during drinking evenings, I talked a lot about the Daehan Minguk. Maybe too much. The friends looked a little bit bored and took another beer. I brought spicy fried chicken to the table. They did not want me to explain Korean movies or television series.

Chi-maeg is very populair in Korea. You eat it with friends or workmates. This is not done in the dining room but in one of the little restaurants that are easy to find. The Koreans love to go out eating and have fun. In every movie or television series, the restaurant table is the hotspot.

The squid game changed.

Yes, I bored them a little bit. This changed since the movie Squid games. Their attitude improved. Now everybody wants to talk about Korea. The land is hot. And I am sure that when Covid was not our dictator, tourism to the land of the morning calm would explode. This is just my humble opinion. So let me give you some background information. This is useful while watching the screen. I promise you the word boring and watching Korean visual entertainment are not a couple. So let me give you some basic information. This will help you to understand Korean movies and television series a little bit more.

Names in Korean drama explained.

When we think of common Korean surnames, the Kim family, which rules in North Korea, quickly comes to mind. Surnames like Kim, Choi, Lee, Kang, Jang, and Park are common in Korea. Most of the time, these names originate from the names of ancient clans.Like everywhere in East Asia: use first the family name and after that the personal name. So Kim Jong Un and not Jong Un Kim as we in the west would do.

An anonymous person wrote on Ask a Korean:

In Korean manners, using the first name either meant very close intimacy or extreme superiority. Therefore, relatively few people may call you by your first name. Here is the list of those people: parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts; your older (but not younger) siblings; close friends of the same age or older; your owner (if you are a dog, cat, or other pets, or a slave in the old days.) That is it. That is Korean drama explained.

About using names in the work environment, the same person wrote:

For people met through a professional acquaintance, the correct term is to use the person’s last name, followed by his rank or profession. Thus, if you are a manager (bujang) whose last name is Kim, they call you Kim bujang-nim. (nim is an honorific, which makes the whole thing translate to “Manager-Sir/Madam Kim”.) If you are an owner of a store whose last name is Kwon, the Koreans call you Kwon sajang-nim. (sajang means the owner of a business. So you are being called Owner-Sir/Madam Kwon.
It is really worthwhile to read the entire blog: Blog

Bowing in Korean drama explained.

Waving or at least raising your hand is what we as westerners do when greeting. In Korea, people bow to each other. You don’t have to get all the way down on your knees. But a little bow is so respectful. The same goes for showing gratitude. The more grateful you are, the deeper your bow.They don’t just bow in greeting or gratitude. When someone has done something wrong and apologizes, they are prone to bowing. When someone has lied to someone else (or name something else that is serious) they go to their knees.
There is much more to explain about bowing in Korean drama. I found an outstanding article here

Formal and informal.

While we are using the formal word “you” less and less, in Korea it is very important to speak formally. If you don’t, it’s “disrespectful.”Take age into account to determine who you should speak to formally and who not. You should also ask yourself: How well do I know this person? If the person indicates that you are allowed to talk to them informally, that is a sign to ‘behave differently.

Respect for the elderly in Korean drama.

In Korea, respect for the elderly is common. This does not only mean that they respect people over 65, even if you differ with someone for a few months you show respect.
This lies in speaking formally and behaving properly. Watch your language, and so on. What strikes me personally is how children/young people deal with their parents. We in the west no longer express immense gratitude for parenting.

To be vocal in Korean drama explained.

The Dutch are always nice and sober. Cut our finger? Forget it. Soon you won’t see anything anymore. Koreans can (it does not have to be) express themselves quite vigorously about this. With cries like “OMO!” and “Ottoke?!” (meaning “Oh my God” and “Now What?”) the Koreans show how worried or in pain they are.
Also when there is an argument it can go loud. Lots of angry expressions are used. I name just some of them: hello! (what the hell!). Young people use this when they are frustrated. You can also use aish! Aigo is an expression used when someone is frustrated, irritated or just fatigued. Omo! means oh my god. But just looking means: Korean drama explained

Typical Korean food and drinks.

Eating culture in Korean drama explained. What should not be missing in the Korean series is of course the typical Korean food and drinks! Much of Korean life happens in restaurants, around the dinner table. On the screen, you see friends, co-workers and sometimes even enemies go-to restaurants again and again. Things you often come across are soju, Kimbap, Kimchi, Jajangmyeon and Miyeok guk. And the Americano coffee (black coffee as we know it) should certainly not be missed!

Soju

This alcoholic drink, made from rice and is often sold at eateries. Drink it from small shot glasses and it often contains 20% alcohol. Another typical drink is makgeolli. Traditionally soju was made from rice but after the Korean war
(1950th) people made soju with starch of potato, barley, sweet potato and tapioca.

Kimbap

This Korean snack consists of rice rolled in seaweed along with various vegetables or meat. Yes, in Japan they call it Sushi. In Korea, they make it with spinach, cucumber, carrot, beef or fish. You find a recipe here

Kimchi

A well-known, spicy side dish combined with several dishes. Kimchi consists of fermented cabbage and vegetables, aged for months in a jar. This pot is often kept (underground) in the garden.
Kimchi is traditionally made, salted and fermented cabbage or radish seasoned with powdered red pepper, garlic, green onions mixed with some fish sources. As kimchi appears on almost every meal, to keep kimchi, Koreans traditionally used big pots buried half underground. However, most people today use refrigerators specially made for kimchi preservation. You find a recipe here

Jajangmyeon

Jajangmyeon is a dish that consists of noodles, vegetables, meat and black bean sauce. Often they mix the dish completely. It becomes a tasteful slippery mess. You find a recipe here

Miyeok guk

Miyeokguk is a soup made of edible seaweed and is traditionally eaten on birthdays or after giving birth, although you can eat anytime you like. You find a recipe You find a recipe here

So, this was Korean drama explained. But there is so much more to tell. The best you can do is to follow the mantifang or one of our Social Media channels. You find them here

Korea

Special relation South Korea and the Netherlands.

The KOREA Times Posted: 2021-04-19 13:41

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Netherlands seeks sustainable future with Korea

I am happy that I take a tiny, little part in this Special relation South Korea and the Netherlands. I am visiting South Korea now since 2003 and it was a real adventure. So, almost one-third of the 60 years I helped the Baedagol the park and the Goyang Koi farm to be known in Europe. I hope I succeeded and that there are many adventures to come. In this post, you can read what Joanne Doornewaard, ambassador of the Netherlands to South Korea has to say about this special relation South Korea – the Netherlands. The interview was made with The Korea Times at the Dutch Embassy in central Seoul. Hugo J. Smal. Special relation South Korea!

The year 2021 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and the Netherlands.

“Sixty years is something that’s really meaningful in Korea, though I must admit that in the Netherlands, we do 50, 75 and 100. So we had to explain the difference to Hague,” Joanne Doornewaard, ambassador of the Netherlands to Korea, said in an April 15 interview with The Korea Times at the embassy.

“It’s looking back, but we also want to look forward. So it’s about our past, what we have achieved together ― the Netherlands was one of the Sending States to the Korean War and then we established diplomatic relations in 1961. Over time, the relationship grew and now we are very important trading partners and with youth involvement, both our countries are much interested in innovations and new technology. We cooperate for the future, so that’s our slogan.”

Special relation South Korea and the Netherlands means Co-create tomorrow.

Under the theme “Co-create tomorrow,” the Netherlands and Korea laid out a series of events to strengthen ties between the two countries with various joint activities, exhibitions and events both on- and off-line.
The yearlong festivities kicked off April 5, the day after the Netherlands and Korea established diplomatic ties 60 years ago, at Everland, a theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, known for its annual tulip festival.
Tulips are is one of the Netherlands’ major products, exporting about 3 billion each year, and April is the month of the tulip, so the decision came naturally.
“Because of COVID-19, we would otherwise have done it with big parties. We thought let’s do it in another way but still show people an impression of the Netherlands,” Doornewaard said. “With fresh tulips, that was a nice event to kick it off. More events are coming up as we celebrate the whole year.”
The Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics and Groninger Museum lent their collection to the National Museum of Korea’s “600 Years of East-West Exchange through Ceramics” exhibit through November 2022 and Dutch artist Femke Herregraven is taking part in the main exhibition of the 13th Gwangju Biennale from April 1 to May 9.

South Korea and the Netherlands join on festival

The Netherlands is the guest country of the 38th Busan International Short Film Festival. It took place in April. The Best Dutch Book Design 2019 exhibition is scheduled from June to August. In October, Dutch musicians will be featured at the 18th Jarasum Jazz Festival and the Seoul concert of the prestigious Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is slated for November.

Past, present and future for South Korea and the Netherlands.

Dutch and Korean people have a long history. It was a Dutch sailor who first introduced Korea to Europe. “Here in Korea, the Dutch are known for Mr Weltevree and Mr Hamel, who came here in the 17th century. The Dutch at that time went all over the world with ships and some of them washed up on shore here. Mr Weltevree stayed here and not much is known about his stay as he served the king here. But Mr Hamel lived here for 12 years and he went back to the Netherlands, then wrote down his experiences in Korea. That was the first publication about Korea in Europe,” Doornewaard said.

Special relation South Korea and the Netherlands. 27 — Start the adventure at Mantifang: korean hub

The two countries’ relations were highlighted once again during the 1950-53 Korean War. Last year was the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War and Doornewaard attended a ceremony commemorating the occasion and received a plaque from President Moon Jae-in on behalf of the 22 U.N. Sending States.
“During the Korean War, we stepped in and sent our soldiers to help South Korea. The commemoration event was huge and very impressive with President’s Moon honouring the veterans. I felt very honoured. I did not fight in that war, but to be there to represent the Netherlands and the veterans in the Netherlands was so special,” she said.
“Korea is organizing revisit program of veterans and it is very meaningful for them. There was a program when I just arrived here and I spoke to them. They are very elderly and vulnerable people, usually assisted by their son or grandson. But they told me that it’s so special to be here to see Seoul and Korea free and prosperous and the idea that they contributed to that.”

South Korea and the Netherlands trading partners.

Now the two countries are important trading partners. International trade is very important for the Netherlands and Korea, as both are exporting countries.
“For us, Korea is one of the main export markets in Asia and we also import some important items from Korea such as electric vehicles and batteries. As of 2030, there will be no fossil fuel cars sold, so there is a huge market for electric cars and there is a waiting list for Korean electric cars. The Netherlands is seen as a gateway to Europe so Korean companies invest in the Netherlands as a way to enter Europe,” the ambassador said.
“The other way round, we provide Korea with our semiconductor manufacturing machines and chips for the automotive industry. ASML and NXP are the big companies here.”

Bicycles line a bridge over the canals of Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands. Bicycle is a major form of transportation in the Netherlands. gettyimagesbank

Riding bikes together deepens Special relation South Korea and the Netherlands.

Fighting climate change is an important issue in the Netherlands, a country with one-third of its land below sea level.“Climate change is resulting in rising sea levels. We have dykes that protect us against the sea, but we cannot continue to build those dykes higher and higher. So we have to fight climate change. We cannot do it alone and that’s why it’s so important for international cooperation to fight together,” Doornewaard said. “Our population is requesting products that are sustainable. So companies have to invest in renewables and green energy because customers want that.”

South Korea and the Netherlands against climate change.

The ambassador said the country’s long-standing bike culture contributes to the fight against climate change. “We love bike riding and it was important even before the climate change. Now it comes positive as a sustainable transport so we facilitate people to ride bikes. My ministry has hardly any parking place for cars but a huge parking place for bikes. It helps to be energy efficient,” she said.

Cycle paths in the Netherlands. https://www.mangomobility.nl/

“Something we would like to promote here is bike lanes, which could help people to take a decision to ride a bike instead of a car. Being here for almost two years, I can see the increase in the use of bikes, but I can also see dangerous situations going through the traffic. In the Netherlands, we have bike lanes that cars cannot intrude in and if you have a safe bike lane, that could help more people to switch to sustainable transport.”She also mentioned the Netherlands’ efforts in producing clean energy such as wind farms in the North Sea, Smart City plans to make old city centres more efficient and designing new neighbourhoods in a more sustainable way.Doornewaard emphasized the involvement of the young generation in the green economy.

South Korea and the Netherlands youngsters together.

“We could work together in transition to a green economy. It involves innovation and new technologies such as hydrogen. Focus on technologies that are important for tomorrow. Don’t invest in a coal-fired power plant. That’s yesterday’s technology. Korea is an amazing country that has shown it is capable of making very big changes in a very short period of time. A lot is possible here and I hope we can work together in the way to build a more sustainable future,” the ambassador said.

Korea, Koi

Big Korean adventure!

The potential is still hidden for Europe.

Hugo J. Smal has shared his fascinating big Korean adventure, his experiences in Korea, particularly focusing on the koi culture and his adventures in the country. He has been involved in setting up koi facilities and has written about his experiences, including the challenges and cultural insights he encountered. If you’re interested in learning more about his adventures, you might want to check out his writings on “Koreans and I“. South Korea has several fanatical and ambitious koi lovers. Hugo Smal has been well established in this fascinating country for quite some years now. He has assisted several founder members of the koi hobby in setting up the right facilities. A report of a fascinating stay in a fascinating country. This article was published in a dutch garden magazine.

He tells his adventures in Korea.

Big Korean adventure! 30 — Must have been 2004 or 2005. Stairway to heaven on modo Island Goyang Koi farm hub

During the Holland Koishow of 2003, the organisation asked me to arrange a fish tank and provide it with good water and oxygen. A few Koreans brought koi on a plane to the Netherlands to participate in a competition and sell some koi. With the cooperation of several traders, they succeeded in both endeavors. The opportunistic Koreans filled the tank with their koi, placed some in the competition and had a good show. Not only did they sell quite a few fish, but they also won some of the lesser prizes in the show. During those days, koi lover and C.E.O of the Goyang Koi farm Kim Young Soo asked me if I wanted to come to Korea to help him with setting up a koi industry in his country. Who am I to say no to this big Korean adventure.

Struggling farmers.

China exported more and more rice to South Korea This made the farmers struggle. It was Kim Young Soo’s vision that the cultivation of the Japanese ornamental carp will be a good alternative for rice cultivation. The ambitious grower’s request was a challenge for me. Less than a month later, I was in Incheon, the Seoul airport.

From the airport, I was driven directly to a koi show where I had to give a short speech. The organization wanted me to judge. I did not feel qualified for that. Of course, they asked me what I thought was the best fish. For me, it could only be that a strong Sanke should win. The other fish were not really of good quality. To my surprise, a Showa won the main prize. This fish was certainly of lesser quality – so much knowledge I have – and was also sick on the bottom of the vat. “According to our standards this fish would be removed from the competition”, I noticed against a journalist.

A fierce argument during my Korean adventure.

After my remark, a loud tumult broke out. Tumult? Let’s just call it a fierce argument. I was put in a Kia Van and dumped after a long journey in a hotel room. “There you are,” I thought. “What had happened? What task, if any, still awaits me?” This show was certainly not well organized and the judges lacked the necessary knowledge. It smelled of clientelism and perhaps even bribery. Moreover, it was clear that no benching was done and no distinction was made between healthy or sick fish. Worldwide the koi are tested on health before the competition by skilled hobbyists, often with support from a veterinarian specialized in fish diseases. Not in South Korea at that time. Mind you: this happened in 2003.
The next morning I was picked up by a somewhat timid Kim Young Soo and his companions. In the back of the van there were big fish boxes. Sometimes their sounded big splashes. Later this turned out to be the sanke that should have won. Kim Young Soo was the owner. He had taken to heart my words, which were too honest for the Korean culture. He decided that he would take the lead in the Korean koi industry.

Korea is a big adventure!

During the rest of that trip, I got to see the impressive nature of the land of the morning calm. I also gained a deeper insight into the culture. I realized that the Koreans would have to do a lot of koi studies. And I would have to dig deep into this very wondrous society. I was introduced to a large number of artists. Baik Yong-Jung taught me that the carp has been deep in the Korean soul for centuries. This traditional artist paints nature experiences with carp. These always have a deep meaning. Õhado for example paintings of carps and crabs frequently occurred during the Yi dynasty (1362 -1905). Yangnido or ŏbyŏnsŏngyongdo are scenes of carps jumping in the air.

https://www.facebook.com/Y.J.Baik/ — Painting by Y.J.Baik

Garp myth.

The paintings draw inspiration from the following story: the Yellow River in China rises from the Dragon Waterfall. When heavy rains cause the water to rise in the river, old carp fight each other when they swim against the strong current. If one of the carps won and he reaches the tip of the waterfall. Their the fish passes the Dragon gate and turns into a dragon. Read much more about carps and Korea.
During the Confucian Yi Dynasty, this story symbolized the hope of getting the state exam and becoming a civil servant. This was the only way to get from poverty to wealth. Now it stands for the hope of obtaining diplomas and becoming something in life.

This is just one example of how carps play a role in society. A painting featuring carps is now a common wedding gift. Conversations with artists like Baik Yong-Jung and research in literature have shown that the carp, as a cultural symbol of China, traveled through Korea to Japan. In this way, South Korea culturally remains about 210 kilometers (the distance from Busan to Fukuoka) ahead of Japan.

Visionary idea and a real Korean adventure.

This, of course, does not apply to the carp as ornamental fish. In that respect, Japan has had a lead of more than 100 years. It seemed to me, therefore, an idiotic idea to think that the Korean koi farmers could ever compete with Japan on the quality of the go sanke class. I, therefore, suggested the idea of linking the koi to the Korean culture and thus also expanding the koi farm in Goyang Si, northwest of Seoul, into a cultural centre where, for example, ceramics and paintings would be exhibited.

All this was initially to introduce the Korean people to the koi hobby, with the ultimate goal of starting the export of both koi and koi-related art. I knew that Koreans view everything as a competition and strive to be the biggest, strongest, and best at everything. Understanding this mindset might be the greatest adventure in Korea. Kim Young Soo traded one piece of land for another, dedicating himself to studying and building. He invested significantly in Japanese parent koi pairs and began breeding and growing them.

Now I was already accustomed to advising in the Netherlands on koi ponds in difficulties. Sometimes with the purchase of fish. Kims urge to act turned out to be a very big challenge. I know not a lot about how a koi farm should be run. Luckily I could always rely in the Netherlands on experts such as René Krüter with questions about fish diseases and water quality and Mark Kleijkers when it came to the quality of the koi. In addition, I also have a good sense. I succeeded in supporting the task that the Koreans had taken on. Also, this proved to be a big Korean adventure.

Koi at Baedagol theme-park. — Koi at the Goyang Koifarm

Rising quality, promises a big Korean adventure

I saw the quality of the fish on the Goyang koi farm rise year after year. Kim Young Soo joined forces with mister Hong who had a significant number of breeding ponds near Gwangju. In a large number of mud ponds, top quality Go sanke. Fish that I would not refuse access to my pond.
After a long build-up of trust, talking and negotiating, Kim and Hong finally decided to enter the Hong fish at the Holland Koi show in 2011.
I travelled to South Korea together with René Krüter to select the fish. We thought they want to compete with smaller sizes of fish. But the Koreans thought completely different. They immediately wanted to win with large koi.

As children, René and I stood by the ponds, watching as one Jumbo koi after another was netted and placed into vats. Just seeing those fish was a blessing. It was a true Korean adventure with a Japanese twist. And now, they were coming to the Netherlands. Where would I keep them? My pond had been empty for several years due to the collection of fish from Korea. A few goldfish provided the necessary relief for the bacteria. I had about a month to get the water in top condition so that the fish could acclimate for a few months before heading to Arcen.

I decided it would be possible. My pond and filter were good enough for those Jumbo’s of top quality to enjoy my hospitality for a while. I ordered two vats for Arcen because the six fish we had chosen was too big for one.

European legislation.

“Because between dreams and reality, there are laws and practical misgivings.” Koreans will not have heard of Willem Elschot, but this sentence from “The Marriage” is applicable. In the OFI (Ornamental Fish Industry) journal, October 2008, Alex Ploeg had already written: “Asia breeders and exporters of live fish, crustaceans and molluscs for ornamental purposes might think:

” I am a Japanese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Chinese or Singaporean citizen, so why should I worry about European legislation? “

In a survey, 74% of Asian exporters indicated that they are trading with Europe, so I think we can assume that Europe is one of the most important markets for their products. European import legislation not only affects importers in Europe but also exporters in Asia, their suppliers, growers and collectors.
If the exporters want to sell their products on the European market, they have to comply with European animal health standards. Suppliers must supply fish that meet these standards.

Never enough Korean adventures.

The exporting country must also meet these standards. ” Of course, I had pointed out Kim Young Soo to European legislation. I always based all my advice on the OFI Code of conduct. He, his employees and the co-operating Korean koi breeders did not ignore these recommendations. They had called upon the right officials in their districts and even those from the right ministries and asked for the application for an export license for fish to the European Union.

But yes, things sometimes go differently… Kim Young Soo and mister Hong were standing with the fish at Incheon Airport when the sword of Damocles fell. It cut off all possibilities at once. Customs said that the fish could fly to Europe, but that they would be stopped at the border. This would mean that they would enter into the shredder. It was all very disappointing. A bad Korean adventure.

Hidden Dragon, crouching tiger

In the years that followed the Korean adventures grow. I have often been to South Korea. Kim Young Soo and I joined discussions with top civil servants at the ministries. They get my advice and sometimes my opinion in a too European way. I know that the official wheels are running but they are running very slowly. South Korea is still a hidden dragon and crouching tiger in terms of koi.

The Chinese now buy all fish in Japan and want to play a part in the koi hobby soon. So the question is whether the official wheels in South Korea do not run too slowly and that it will therefore only stay with grunts. Fortunately, Kim Young Soo took my advice not only to gamble on koi. He invested around 5 million euros – based on my advice. Yes, I shudder. He built a koi and cultural centre. It has now opened its doors under the name Baedagol.

When you did get exited about this big Korean adventure follow us on facebook: Goyang Koi farm 비단잉어 Nishikigoi

Gardening, Korea, Spiritual

Korean gardening: the gods are praised.

written by Hugo J. Smal

Sungnyemun burning: with regards https://joshinggnome.wordpress.com — Sungnyemun burning. image

On the 11th of February, 2008, Sungnyemun, Sungnyemun, the Southern Gate, from Seoul burned down. King Yi T’aejo (1335 – 1408), the founder of the Choson Kingdom, had this gate built around 1400. He also constructed the Kyon Gyeongbokgung Palace. These days you can see the fruit of Korean gardening there.
The purpose of this gate was not only to stop Japanese robbers. It also provided spiritual happiness and prosperity, absolute standards of Korean Gardening.

Emphasis on naturalistic beauty.

[:en]Wonderful wander: the Secret Garden in Changdeokgung, Seoul © Chinnaphong Mungsiri / Getty[:] — Wonderful wander: the Secret Garden in Changdeokgung, Seoul © Chinnaphong Mungsiri / Getty

For two thousand years, Koreans have been constructing beautiful gardens meant to bring the harmony of the natural world into man-made spaces. These gardens range from majestic gardens situated in royal palaces to humble courtyard gardens in traditional hanok-style family homes.

Korean gardens are distinguished from their Chinese and Japanese cousins by a deep emphasis on naturalistic beauty, a direct influence of the Korean philosophy of hermitism. To achieve this natural beauty, gardens take into account architecture, water, stone, and open space to create a sense of unlikely balance that isn’t forced or artificial. The most common features of Korean gardens grow out of these elements and include architectural pavilions and central reflecting ponds.

A lot of the Koreans still believe in all those influences of the gods. And the gate is rebuilt. It is their national pride and the Pungsu-jiri (풍수지리 is held in honour, as are the influences of the different religions described below. it’s splendid again

Chôngwon (정원) Korean Gardening or 정원 (jeongwon)

The Korean word for a garden is a combination of two Chinese characters. Chông 정, the first character, indicates a garden surrounded by buildings or walls. Chong divides gardens into a palace, official, temple and regular. This is according to the function of the building. Korean architectures divide the common garden into the front or back garden, indoor or outdoor, middle garden or for example a gate or stair garden. This is also according to the location.

Won 원, the second character, means hill or wide field with forests. With this character, the garden rises above the garden surrounded by buildings or walls. The composition of the two characters thus means a small garden, but also a park complex or a naturally designed park.

Trees look in.

The essence of Korean gardening is the natural landscape with hills, streams, and fields. The landscape is not separated by walls or other boundaries. The Korean gardener builds walls to let trees look over them.
The environment is allowed in the garden. The nature within the walls is not forced into a straitjacket like in Japan. The Korean garden is natural and therefore calming.
Nature is perfect in Korean philosophy. Therefore, the Hanguk takes great care in human intervention. Interference is almost seen as violent. The idea behind Korean garden culture is to make nature appear more natural than nature itself. Where the Japanese shape nature, the Koreans will shape in nature.

Korean gardening is a fusion.

With the word fusion, the Korean garden culture is appointed in one blow. In contrast to the one-sided, humanistic-Christian background of the Europeans, the Hanguk culture consists of a mixture of many settings: all of them from their ancient religious history.

Tangun (the sandalwood king) is seen as the mythical founder of Korea, 4326 years ago. He descended to Pyongyang, where he founded an empire: Chosön, the country of the morning calm.
This is a myth with a clearly shamanistic character, in which the fusion of cosmos, earth, gods, people, animals, and plants takes place. Shamanism knows many gods and spirits. These live in the landscape but also in the basement, the kitchen or in the attic. In the event of illness or other adversity, many Korean people still visit the Mudang.

Natural shrines.

Also, the piling of stones, Doltap (돌탑 ), stems from this natural belief. It is a common practice in Korea to place a foundation stone on the side of the road. Another finder contributes to his or her part. This way the most beautiful pagodas arise spontaneously along the way, but also at a Buddhist shrine or for example a waterfall. They are saving natural shrines, in which everyone cooperates. And the most beautiful thing … nobody kicks them over.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z57WEu2wtRw[/embedyt]

Pragmatic focus

Confucianism is the second religious belief that is a part of the Korean gardening philosophy. This focuses mainly on the life of man in this world. The relationships between people. Hence very pragmatic indeed.

Korean gardening in palace. — Yi dynasty beauty. The building washing his feet.

Confucianism, originating in ancient China, places a strong emphasis on harmony, order, and moral rectitude. In Korean gardens, this influence is seen in the careful balance and symmetry often present in garden layouts. Gardens were designed to reflect the Confucian ideals of harmony between man and nature, and the orderly arrangement of paths, water features, and plants often mirrors the structured societal hierarchy promoted by Confucianism. Learn about the role Confucianism plays in Korea today here.

Neo-Confucianism

It is highly influential in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty, further developed these ideas. It emphasizes self-cultivation and a deepened understanding of one’s relationship with the universe. Korean gardens from this period often feature scholar’s rocks and carefully curated views, which encourage contemplation and intellectual reflection. The gardens are not just for aesthetic pleasure but also serve as spaces for meditation and personal growth, in line with Neo-Confucian values.

Both philosophies contributed to the development of Korean gardens as spaces where ethical and philosophical contemplation could be pursued amidst natural beauty. The result is a garden culture that not only emphasizes aesthetic appeal but also intellectual and moral depth.

Great influence on Korean Gardening.

Also Buddhism has significantly influenced Korean garden culture, embodying principles of harmony, balance, and simplicity. These gardens often promote contemplation and meditation, reflecting the Buddhist pursuit of peace and inner tranquility. Elements like water, stones, and meticulously arranged vegetation are central, symbolizing the natural world and Buddhist teachings. Symbolism is key, with certain plants and structures representing spiritual concepts from Buddhism. This results in serene, naturalistic gardens that are not just visually appealing, but also spiritually meaningful.

No conflict.

In Korea, there was no conflict between religions. They simply exist side by side. Later, the Jesuits brought Christ. This Western saviour also got his place. The Korean culture only grew richer. Many Koreans choose a very down-to-earth starting point for faith. They just pray to everyone. If one does not help, one may expect more benefit from the other.

The saint set his spade.

It is therefore not surprising that you find Confucian symbolism in Buddhist temples, while shamanic gods keep watch. Therefore the fusion between four big worlds religions. Where in the west the rich ruled the garden culture, for example with the exorbitant Versailles, in Korea the saint set his spade in the ground. The European monks came no further than the herb garden. Those in the Far East succeeded in creating true garden art.

Korean gardening means the outside is looking in. — Outside looking in.

Human environment.

Korean garden architecture is holistic. According to the dictionary, Holism is the view that there is a connection in reality. Hence the whole is not found in the components.
The Korean garden culture, for example, combines Chong and Won, building a human environment that combines well with the world of nature. It is respecting both nature and human values.
Korean gardening is the art of creating an outdoor space with ecological values, functional and practical. It gives more value to ecology than to scientific disciplines such as technology and architecture.

Korean gardening incorporates the mythical.

The Korean garden differs from the formal garden. In the latter, visual beauty is sought. The beauty of the Korean garden arises from a complex, spiritual and mythical beauty. This is captured by the spirit and its five senses: sight, smell. hearing, taste, and feeling.
This is not the beauty, for example, found in the Japanese garden. Captured by planting and materials. The Korean garden has an organic beauty that changes in space and time. It relies on the elements and on materials used.

Korean gardening is natural. 자연주의 정원 (jayeonjuui jeongwon)

Compulsions of nature.

It is not only external beauty but also a manifestation of cosmic principles such as fragility, sound, contrasts between light and dark and dry and wet. In the distant past, the Koreans build about a thousand public gardens. Not by specialists, but by the garden owners themselves. They knew the working of nature through their own gardens, usually described as natural gardens.
These gardens acted as intermediaries between the compulsions of nature and the needs of man. It is strange that Korean garden culture is not discovered by the rest of the world. The Chinese garden gets attention, while the Japanese are a real hype.

See what happens in the Korean garden.