You give me hope and strength You cheer me up and encourage to change my life You teach me how to live life more meaningful You're the power that energized me You're my inspiration... My everything.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
BYJ Branches Out Korean Cuisine
Source: The Korea Herald
Home > News > Culture
TOKYO - Even after all these years, it is impossible not to mention actor Bae Yong-jun, the 37-year-old hero of "Winter Sonata," when talking about the Korean pop culture boom in Japan.
In 2004 he rose to stardom there when the KBS drama, which began broadcasting here in 2002, became a mega hit in Japan. In the years since "Winter Sonata," none of Bae's other works have been as successful as his first. Nonetheless, he was greeted by 45,000 fans at Tokyo Dome last fall, when he hosted a promotional event for his latest book on Korean culture and tourism, "A Journey in Search of Korean Beauty."
Fifty-thousand copies of the first edition were sold on the day it was released. Among the fans who showed up at the promotional event was Miyuki Hatoyama, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. Known as an enthusiastic fan of Bae and Korean dramas, the Japanese first lady chatted with him for 10 minutes prior to the event.
In recent years, Bae has played a singular role in broadening the Korean pop culture boom into tourism and cuisine.
He has opened two Korean restaurants, plus a grocery store in Japan, all under the name of Gosireh. "Gosireh" is a combination of "Gosi," the name of the agricultural god who appears in Korea's founding myth, and the Chinese letter "reh," which means "politeness." The name is meant to emphasize the restaurant's determination to always put its customers first, explained Kim Mi-hea, a culinary researcher and public relations representative for all three stores.
In addition to Gosireh, Bae launched a traditional Korean barbeque restaurant called "Goshire Hwa" in Nagoya last year. Most recently, he opened "Goshire Gun" in the basement of Seibu Department Store in Tokyo last month.
Located at the heart of the large commercial and entertainment district called Ikebukuro, Seibu Department Store is a top retail giant owned by the Seibu Group, a company responsible for multiple railway lines in Tokyo.
The store specializes in Korean-style dishes, or "banchan," plus various different types of salads, "ssambab" (lettuce wraps) and "juk" (porridge).
Despite the fact Bae is something of a magnet attracting flocks of Japanese to Korean restaurants, Kim said Bae has never thought of using his popularity to promote his restaurants. Kim said Bae believes this would never help Korean cuisine gain mainstream popularity and that taste should be the only thing that matters in the restaurant business.
Before Gosireh, Bae also had a successful restaurant business in Korea. Gorilla in the Kitchen, a hip western restaurant located near Dosan Park in southern Seoul, is popular among young people for its herbal salads and sandwiches.
"The food cultures in the two countries have much in common, as both depend much on soy sauce (ganjang) and soy paste (doenjang)," Kim said. "What I think is missing from Korean cuisine is something to entertain eyes of customers while preparing food. We are working on it so you will be seeing it soon."
(danlee@heraldm.com)
By Lee Yong-sung Korea Herald correspondent
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Korean Savory
Source: The Korea Herald
[SAVOR KOREA (11)] Korean cuisine makes big strides in Japan
Considering the location of the restaurant -- situated just one station away from Shinjuku, Shin-Okubo houses one of the biggest "Korea towns" in Japan -- it was surprising to see the restaurant full of happy Japanese diners at around half past eight.
Upon seeing the restaurant's sign, I presumed it must be one of many Korean restaurants in Japan that opened in recent years jumping on the bandwagon of the popularity of Korean pop culture in Japan. A hit 2003 MBC television series, "Daejanggeum (Jewel In the Palace)" is one of the flagship Korean dramas that swept Asia over the past several years.
Nearing the end of my tight first-day schedule in Tokyo, I just wanted to get a "big picture" of the recent changes in the status of Korean culinary culture for my future article, and the restaurant named "Daejanggeum" seemed to be the perfect place to hear about such changes.
Unfortunately (yet fortunately in a sense for this article), Shim Jae-dong, the 34-year-old owner of the restaurant, was preoccupied with customers packing the restuarant's 20 tables. About 80 percent of the customers were regulars, Shim said.
"Not-very-spicy Korean dishes such as 'dolsot' bibimbap (a variation of traditional bibimbap served in a very hot stone bowl, 850 yen or $9), 'haemul jijimi' (seafood and vegetable pancake, 1,500 yen) and 'samgyetang' (chicken and ginseng soup, 2,500 yen) are highly looked upon by Japanese customers," Shim told The Korea Herald.
It is hard to deny that the popularity of Korean entertainers in Japan has played a part in the success the restaurant, and Shim found no reason not to use it to attract customers. In one corner of the restaurant is a big-screen television playing episodes of the hit culinary drama set in Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Also hung on each of the walls are the pictures of actress Lee Young-ae in her Daejanggeum costume.
"We are also running a few fan communities of popular Korean entertainers including those for actor Bae Yong-joon, Song Seung-hun and pop group SG Wanabe," said Shim, a native of Seoul, who opened the restaurant in November 2004.
Certainly, not all Korean restaurants in Tokyo's "little Korea" that opened since the Korean pop culture boom -- early 2000s -- have been successful in winning the hearts of locals. In fact, quite a good portion of Korean restaurants in Shin-Okubo depend largely on Korean customers for revenue.
Shim says that one of key ingredient to Daejanggeum's success is localization in service style.
"Food items are served as original as possible to traditional Korean recipes, but in terms of service style, we are closer to Japanese style, tailored more to the requirements of an individual customer," he added.
When serving dolsot bibimbap, for example, servers at the restaurant mix the ingredients in the pot for Japanese customers who are not accustomed to the Korean-style "bibim" (mixing) culture of food.
"Some Japanese customers, mostly strangers to Korean culinary culture, prefer to eat vegetables and steamed rice separately. We kindly explain how Koreans eat bibimbap but we never force our customers to do anything against their will," he said. "We never say 'no' to any trivial request of our customers."
Namdaemun Gimbap, another popular Korean restaurant in Korea town specializing in Korean-style fast food, or "bunsik," also cites personalized service as a key to successful business in Japan.
"We allow our customers to decide the degree of spiciness for some spicy Korean dishes including "sundubujjigae" (soft tofu stew, 850 yen), said a waiter at the restaurant who wished to remain anonymous.
Korean foods in Japan are far from being cheap by standards back home, as a bowl of ordinary "jjajangmyeon" (Korean-style Chinese black bean noodles) is served at 750 yen (about 9,600 won). The busik restaurant with somewhat classy and modern decor, however, is sought after by young Japanese students until late night.
"I tried jjajangmyeon today. I have also tried Chinese jjajangmyeon before but I like this one," Miyuki Sakai, a Japanese housewife who had come all the way from Yokohama to eat Korean food with her husband Toshiro, said.
An ardent fan of Korean television dramas, Sakai both shyly and proudly showed off a two-year table calendar she had purchased that day at a nearby Korean shop, each of which featured Bae Yong-joon and Rain, respectively.
It was initially the popularity of Korean pop culture that upgraded the status of Korean cuisine in the Japanese culinary world, but with or without such cultural trends, Korean food is now making big strides rapidly in the mainstream Japanese dining experience.
"Korean food has such huge growth potential in overseas markets, as huge as the variety of cooking methods used for it," said Kim Mi-hoe, manager of Gosireh Korean restaurant.
Owned and run by Bae Yong-joon, who is affectionately called "Yonsama" by Japanese fans, the restaurant located in Tokyo's Shirogane area is said to be a "must see" place among Japanese celebrities.
Its VIP room called "Sarangchae" is fully booked for many months to come and the price of its luxury Korean courses are from 20,000 yen to 30,000 yen (up to 50,000 yen for special orders).
"It is pretty expensive, but considering the quality of food and service, I think the price is reasonable," Kazuko Yamamoto, a 56-year-old regular customer of the restaurant, said. "I first came here as a fan of Yonsama, but these days I come here to enjoy authentic Korean-style dishes more than anything else. My only complaint about Korean food is that it is much harder to see smiles on the faces of employees at Korean restaurants than other ethnic restaurants in Tokyo," said the nursing school teacher who travels to Korea one every two months
(danlee@heraldm.com)
By Lee Yong-sung/Korea Herald correspondent
S.Korean Gov't Plans to Boost The Wave
By Victoria Jen,
Channel News Asia
Posted: 30 December 2009 1316 hrs
Since then, the Korean wave has triggered a surge of demand for all things Korean.
Japan and China are the biggest buyers today and the South Korean government has even bigger plans to boost the wave further.
In July, it opened Star Avenue in Seoul and the memorabilia hall of Korean stars has already drawn more than 43,000 visitors.
On display are costumes, accessories, and various other items donated by the stars such as a leather vest worn by Korean pop star Rain and the hand print of popular actress Choi Ji Woo.
Here, you can get up close and personal with your favorite star, put on the costumes they wore, and even pose as one of the characters or send an email to your favorite star by using a touch screen computer.
"Everyone I know likes watching Korean dramas, my mother likes them, I like them, my sister likes them and all my friends like them," said one tourist.
Thanks to the Korean wave, sites featured in popular Korean drama series like the Four Seasons House in Seoul have also become some of the hottest tourist attractions here.
It is believed the Korean drama "Winter Sonata" in 2002 started the Korean wave and it is so popular in Asia that the economic benefits generated by the leading actor Bae Yong Joon alone, is estimated to account for 0.1 per cent of the country's GDP in 2005.
And Korean stars aren't the only ones who reap the benefits.
The wave has also boosted demand for Korean products ranging from cosmetics, electronics, to automobiles.
Now, the South Korean government is also hoping to ride the Korean wave to polish its national image.
"Brand is collectively what we are... It is to project an accurate picture of where Korea today is, what Koreans are and who we are," said Samuel Koo, Chairman, Cultural and Tourism Committee, Presidential Council on Nation Branding.
The nation branding council plans to spend 100 billion won, or US$85 million, to correct Korea's negative image as a divided country choked by frequent street protests.
Organisers have also roped in its citizens to help with the campaign.
"When I get approached by foreigners, I try my best to help them with the directions and everything. You might think there's not a lot of things an individual can do. But if small changes can come together, we can actually make a big improvement and change eventually," said one citizen.
"I guess Koreans are very unified citizens, so as a citizen of Korea, I can participate more in the government's events or help foreigners to look around so that they can feel more welcomed. That way more people will come and more people will know about Korea," said another.
South Korea now ranks 31st on the Anholt Nation Brands Index, falling behind Japan, China and Singapore. But the council is determined to raise its ranking to 15th by 2013.
- CNA/il
BYJ - One of the Top Ten Stories of "KoreaTimes News"
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/12/113_58183.html
12-29-2009 22:02
Former presidents' summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il were jointly chosen as the top national story of the decade by The Korea Times. Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun visited Pyongyang in 2000 and 2006 respectively to discuss peace with the leader of the communist nation. In the international category, the terrorist attack on the United States on Sept. 11, 2002 has been selected as the top story of this decade. The following are lists of the 10 major domestic and overseas events compiled by The Korea Times that defined the first decade of the 21st century.
Domestic
1. South-North Korean Summits
2. Korean Golfers Dominate LPGA
3. Kim Dae-jung Wins Nobel Peace Prize
4. Roh Moo-hyun Commits Suicide
5. Birthrate Hits Record Low
6. North Korea Tests Nuclear Bombs
7. 2002 World Cup Korea/Japan
8. Top Sports Stars Kim Yu-na and Park Tae-hwan
9. Fierce Controversy Over US Beef Imports
10. Korean Wave (Hallyu) Sweeps Asia
Korean Wave in Asia: Actor Bae Yong-joon and other top Korean pop stars have created a ripple known as the Korean wave or “hallyu” in Asia. Despite its ups and downs, the Korean wave is expected to remain a strong cultural phenomenon in the region.
International
1. 9/11 Terrorist Attack on the United States
2. War in Afghanistan
3. War in Iraq
4. Tsunami Hits Southeast Asia
5. Huge Earthquake in Sichuan, China
6. First African-American President Obama
7. Change of Global Financial Landscape
8. Japan's First Power Transfer in Five Decades
9. Birth of Euro Zone and EU President
10. China's Rising Status as a World Power
Geuksasil Fuzzy Model of BYJ and Others
I found this in cafe.daum.net/byjgallery by Style (thanks sis)
But this article originally from Chosun.com
See more in this link....
http://weekly.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/12/22/2009122200790.html
Jang Dong-gun, Bae Yong Joon, Hong Myung-Bo,
Lee Young Ae Jewel in the Palace, Kim Gu teachers (from left).
It seems to see the real thing.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Notice #137: Keyeast and BOF Merge
Thanks to BYJGlobal for the translation
Thanks to BYJ.Co.Kr user.
BOF that manages BYJ.co.Kr is going to merge into Key East.
Therefore, all the information of the members of BYJ.Co.Kr will be transferred over to Key East according to the law, article #26.
If you do not agree with this transfer of your personal information, you can withdraw the membership. In this case all the personal information will be eliminated except by the rule the preservation is required.
Transfer over to the following address:
Name: Key East
Address: Chung Dam Dong 41-2, Geum Ha Bldg 16F
Kang Nam Koo, Seoul, Korea
Tel: 02-3444-5588
Email: Webmaster@keyeast.co.kr
Effective as of 12/30/09
It will not affect to the site.
Furthermore, secure, abundant and reliable services will be provided.
By BOF manager
Bae Sung Ung
Here's the original message in Korean.
137 [공지] 키이스트와 비오에프가 하나가 됩니다. BOF 2009-12-21 458
안녕하세요.
BYJ.CO.KR을 이용해 주신 여러분들께 감사 드립니다.
BYJ.CO.KR의 운영을 맡고있는 ㈜비오에프는 2009년 12월 30일 자로 ㈜키이스트와 합병하여,
사이트를 이용하시는 회원님의 개인정보가 아래와 같이 이전됨을 알려 드립니다.
*아 래*
1. 개인정보를 이전하려는 사실의 고지 및 동의 철회 방법과 절차
㈜비오에프가 ㈜키이스트로 흡수 합병됨에 따라서, BYJ.CO.KR의 가입 회원 및 이용자 분들의
개인정보는, 정보통신망 이용촉진 및 정보보호 등에 관한 법률 제26조에 의거하여,
㈜키이스트로 모두 이전됩니다.
회원님의 개인정보의 이전을 동의하시지 않는 회원님은 탈퇴 및 동의 철회를 하실 수 있으며,
이 경우, 법령에 따라 반드시 보관할 의무가 있는 정보를 제외한 모든 개인정보는 즉시 폐기합니다.
2. 개인정보를 이전 받은 법인의 연락처
● 상 호 : 주식회사 키이스트 (KEYEAST)
● 주 소 : 서울시 강남구 청담동 41-2 금하빌딩 16층
● 전화번호 : 02-3444-5588
● 이 메 일 : webmaster@keyeast.co.kr
3. 효력시기
개인정보 이전의 효력은 2009년 12월 30일자로 발생 합니다.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas BYJ
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
"History Of Bae Yong Joon" - Airing in DATV from Jan.31, 2010
Source: http://datv.jp
Trans by Tomato ( Many thanks)
Press Release
Digital Adventure
22 December 2009
-treasured video program of Bae Yong Joon's 6 years activities shot by staff camera-
Digital Adventure will start airing super great new program "History of Bae Yong Joon" on it's TV station "DATV" from 31 January 2010. As it's special program, first episode will be a 30 minutes program to show the digested version of Bae Yong Joon's footsteps.
Bae Yong Joon's staff have been recording for about six years since his first Japan visit in 2004. These treasured videos are recorded in more than 500 tapes. "History of Bae Yong Joon" will introduce precious, unreleased videos and selected private videos which can be released now.
Serious looks at the meetings, uptight looks at the backstage or waiting room of the event, relaxed looks at party time etc..... filled with the scenes only staff who are close him can catch.
《 some text omitted 》
details of "History of Bae Yong Joon"
station: DATV (sky perfect tv! 750ch.)
price: jpy 2,500 (tax)
homepage: http://datv.jp/
air time: Sunday, 31 January 2010, 23:30-24:00 (special 30 minutes program)
regular program(23:30 - 23:45) starts from Sunday 7 February 2010
*repeat airing
contents of program:Bae Yong Joon's video program captured by staff camera
# Bae Yong Joon's serious looks at the meetings
# Bae Yong Joon at the backstage or waiting room of the event, andrelaxed looks at party time
# real face while traveling etc.
-----*****-----
平成21 年12 月22 日
各 位
会社名 株式会社デジタルアドベンチャー
代表者 代表取締役社長 矢島 重比古
(ヘラクレス・コード 4772)
問合せ先 管理本部長 大山 智子
TEL 03-5772-7291
DATV、1 月31 日から新番組「History of ペ・ヨンジュン」放送決定!
についてのお知らせ
当社はこの度、自社テレビ局「DATV」(スカパー!750ch.)において、新番組
History of ペ・ヨンジュン」を2010 年1 月31 日から放送開始することを、
下記のとおり決定いたしましたのでお知らせい たします。
**********************************************************************
PRESS RELEASE
2009 年12 月22 日
株式会社デジタルアドベンチャー
DATV、1 月31 日から新番組「History of ペ・ヨンジュン」放送決定!
~ ペ・ヨンジュンの約6 年間にわたる活動をスタッフカメラが撮影した秘蔵映像番組 ~
株式会社デジタルアドベンチャー(本社:東京都港区、代表取締役:矢島重比古)は、自社テレビ局「DATV」(スカパー!750ch.)において、超大型新番組「History of ペ・ヨンジュン」を2010 年1 月31 日から放送開始します。初回は30 分スペシャル番組として、ペ・ヨンジュンの歩みをダイジェスト版で お届けします。
ぺ・ヨンジュンのスタッフは、2004 年の初来日から約6 年間にわたって、彼の言動を記録してきました。その秘蔵映像を収めたテープは約500 本にものぼります。「History of ペ・ヨンジュン」は、その中から特に貴重な未公開映像や、今だからお見せできるプライベート映像を厳選して紹介してまいります。打ち合わせで見せた真剣な表情、イベントの舞台裏や控室での緊張した表情、打ち上げでリラックスした様子など・・・いつもそばにいたスタッフカメラだからこそとらえることができたシーンが満載です。
DATV は、2009 年10 月1 日の開局以来、アニメ「冬のソナタ」の世界初放送をはじめ、ペ・ヨンジュン が参加した東京ドームでの2 大イベント(“アニメ「冬のソナタ」~もうひとつの物語~”および“『韓国の美 をたどる旅』出版イベント”)の全編初放送や「DATV Korea-enta! news」 (DATV オリジナル韓国芸能ニュース番組)や台湾ドラマなどを放送し、ご好評いただいております。今後もさらにパワーアップし、みなさまの生活をより楽しく、より豊かに彩らせていただきます。どうぞご期待ください。
【『History of ペ・ヨンジュン』概要】
放送局: DATV(スカパー!750ch.)
視聴料金: 2,500 円(税込)
ホームページ: http://datv.jp/
放送日時: 2010 年1 月31 日(日) 23:30~24:00(スタート記念拡大版30 分スペシャル)
2010 年2 月7 日(日)よりレギュラー放送(23:30~23:45)※リピート放送あり
番組内容: スタッフカメラがとらえた ペ・ヨンジュンの映像番組
・打ち合わせで見せた真剣な表情のペ・ヨンジュン
・イベントの舞台裏や控室、打ち上げでリラックスした様子のペ・ヨンジュン
・移動中にふと見せた素顔など
本件に関するお問い合わせ先
株式会社デジタルアドベンチャー 広報部 池田、趙(チョ)
TEL: 03-5771-2376(報道関係者専用) FAX: 03-3401-3077
E-mail: press@digiadv.co.jp
Scan and photo credit to Kaorin of byjfan (Thank you so much)