Bibimbap, Blank Stares and serial killing fishermen!

The inter-Korean Summit has finished and everyone had a good time!

Just look at the puss on Mr. Kim in this group photo. Now...this is a man who likes to have a good time!!! I can feel the fun from here...


In more Korean "Non-News"...

Visitors to an event called '4340 Bibimbap for Harmony' make bibimbap for 300 people at the National Folk Museum in Seoul on Monday, two days before Foundation Day, which marks the start of the Dangun Era 4340 years ago. Dangun is the mythical founding father of Korea. /Yonhap



Eeeek...beware...there be killers on those dangerous Korean seas. Here's a creepy tale of a serial killin old Korean pervert!! He murdered again and again cause he just wanted to touch some young women.

Fisherman Confesses to Serial Murders
Chosun Ilbo

A 70-year-old fisherman has confessed to murdering four young adults in two separate incidents in less than a month.
According to police, on the evening of Aug. 31, the fisherman identified as Oh was preparing for a fishing trip at a dock in Bosung, South Jeolla Province, when he was approached by a couple who asked for a boat ride. They were 21-year-old Kim (male) and 20-year-old Choo (female), both college students from Gwangju.

Oh took them on board and sailed for about 30 minutes into nearby waters. After fishing for about an hour, Oh threw Kim into the water in order to rape Choo. Kim struggled to climb back into the boat, but Oh beat him five times with a hook on a pole, killing him. Oh then advanced on Choo, but she fought back by grabbing Oh's waist. Finally Oh threw her into the water, too, and stopped her from climbing back into the boat with the pole, police said.

Just 25 days later, on Sept. 25, Oh was preparing for another fishing trip at the same spot when he was approached again, this time by two women who asked for a boat ride. Oh took 24-year-old Cho from Gyeonggi Province and 23-year-old Ahn from Incheon on board and returned to his fishing spot where he worked for about three hours. On the way back, Oh tried to touch one of the women. Both women fought back and all three fell into the water.

One woman was swept away by the tide and Oh climbed into the boat. When the other woman tried to climb in, Oh killed her with the same pole, fearing that she would otherwise go to police. Read more...


The English Industry in Korea is booming...we all know that...not a new revelation on my part, but here's an interesting article on the origins of Korea's English Boom! "Original English Boom" by Andrei Lankov in the Korea Times is an interesting look at the history behind South Korea's love affair with studying the English language.

Summits, Chinese Speaking Children and Cult-like English Schools

President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korea’s titular leader Kim Yong-nam pass through the Arch of Triumph in an open car during a motorcade in downtown Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, the first day of the inter-Korean summit. Korea Times


So, what's the news?? Well, on the Korean Penninsula there's only one true story at the moment and rightfully so. The North/South Summit is on everyone's minds. It's such an exciting event that the Korean Ministry of Finance and Economy has released some cute caricature wallpaper for all of us to enjoy!!!

Korea Times


Should English teachers become worried about English study becoming a thing of the past in Korea? I doubt it, but this is an interesting story nontheless. We all know how "English-crazy" so many are in South Korea. The English education industry is a massive one, employing thousands of native English speakers from many countries, not to mention home-grown teachesr. As China emerges as a major player in the world economy (soon to be the next superpower), many Koreans are scrambling to give their kids yet another advantage. Chinese language fluency will hopefully be another chance for Korean children to seek their fame and fortune...and of course look after Mom and Pops when they get old...we hope! In "Wanted: Chinese Graduates to Babysit Children" in the Chosun Ilbo, it looks like young Korean students will now have another academy to stand between them and "childhood"!

Oh yeah...
An interesting tale in Japan Probe questioning wheter Nova Language School is truely a cult or not! Read for yourself....funny stuff!

It's that time of year again...time for PIFF (Pusan International Film Festival). I was living in Haeundae last year and was able to enjoy many of the festivities along the beach. It was cool. I was able to see loads of celebrities whom I have never heard of or seen before. I suppose that took a lot away from the moment, but...hmmm....there ya go! I may not have known the "famous" people I saw, but I do know one thing...Busan can be a groovy little city (4 million pop.)to live in. Chec out what the Joogang Daily says about Busan's cuisine.