Instant Noodles

Ramen
Today’s Korea Times reports that spicy Korean ramen is taking off in the US. Japanese companies have thrived in the market for years but tastes are expanding and interest grows in spicy Korean-style ramen. Complete story here.

    라면 (ramyeon) – instant noodles
    매운라면 (mae-un-ramyeon) – spicy ramen

The word ramen is used for all kinds of instant noodles:

    컵누들 (keop-nudeul) – cup of noodles, any style of noodles in a cup
    칼국수 (kalguksu) – knife-cut wheat noodles, traditionally handmade, not here though
    우동 (udong) – thick wheat noodles, comes from the Japanese word ‘udon‘

Ramen Expire Dates
Chopped green onions, sliced rice cake, sliced fish cake, and a fried-egg are commonly added to enhance the flavor and texture. Many Koreans will admit to eating ramen two or more times per week since it’s cheap and easy to make (especially men who can’t cook). My favorite dish, 부대찌개 (budae-jjigae), normally comes with it too. And although ramen makes a tasty snack, it’s high in fat, sodium, and calories.

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Easy to Learn Korean 787 – The NIS (Part Two)

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North Korean defectors must keep their identities and personal information confidential. If this information is leaked, family members who are living in the North face severe punishment or torture. Sadly, a defector who was working for the South Korean government on a 2-year assignment, was arrested by the NIS for leaking the identities of defectors to the North. Reports state that data on as many as 10,000 North Korean defectors might have been revealed.

Full story at the Chosun Ilbo.

787-NIS 2

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Easy to Learn Korean 786 – National Intelligence Service NIS (part one)

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NISPresident Park Geun-Hye began choosing her Cabinet members on Saturday. Among them, a former Army chief of staff was named Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The NIS is Korea’ central intelligence agency, like the US CIA. Full story at the Korea Times.

786 - NIS 1 Continue reading →

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Easy to Learn Korean 205-206 – North Korea

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Missiles or crayons?

MissileIn today’s news, the Korea Herald reports that up to 70% of North Korean missiles are pointed at South Korea. Click here for the 1000 Missile Story.

    Father – 아버지 (abeoji)
    Kim Jong-Il – 김정일 (gim jeong-il)

    Son – 아들 (adeul)
    Kim Jong-Eun 김정은 (gim jeong-eun)

205-North Korea 1

206- North Korea 2

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Eating out – Upper-dining restaurants

RestaurantAn interesting article from the Korea Times on the growing trend of restaurants called upper-dining. These mid-tier restaurants fall somewhere between high-end and casual restaurants and offer value, taste, and a comfortable environment for a reasonable cost.

From the Korea Times.

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Online Korean bookstores looking to overseas markets

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Bookshelf 

Good news for Korea’s expanding overseas book markets and international online bookstores. With warehouses in the US and other markets, Korean publishers can reduce shipping time from 10+ days to less than 2 days.

  Korea Times:
  Korea Times

  Seoul Selection’s international website.

  Seoul Selection USA website. Also available at Amazon.

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Easy to Learn Korean 772-773 – ex-President Park Geun-Hye.

Update: ex-President Park Geun-Hye is currently in prison

Korea’s new President, Park Geun-Hye, had her inauguration today at the National Assembly building on Seoul’s Yeouido (island) alongside 77,000 selected citizens and politicians. The post-inaugural parade took her to Gwanghwmun Plaza in northern Seoul and finally to the nearby capitol building, Cheong Wa Dae. This is a return to the Blue House for Park since she already lived there for 15 years as the daughter of the late President Chung-Hee. She was also promoted to the post of First Lady for five years, following the assassination of her mother in 1974. Interesting fact: President Park holds a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering (1974) and can speak five languages.

Vocabulary:
President – 대통령 daetong-nyeong
Park Geun-Hye – 박근혜

Korea Times links: (in English and Korean)
Inauguration Day ceremony
Park Geun-Hye’s Speech

773-Presidential Inauguration772-Park Geun-Hye President

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