Take a journey with a fan of all things Korean

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Appreciation of its traditions, arts and history is the main reason why I have a great passion for all things Korean. 

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter John Paul Vergonia

Photos = John Paul Vergonia, Korea.net

My passion for everything Korean started when TV channels in the Philippines aired some of the most famous Korean soap operas that were a contributing factor in the growth in popularity of Korean TV shows, pop music and movies across East Asia and elsewhere, the so-called Korean Wave, or "Hallyu" (한류). Since then, these TV shows, music videos and movies have influenced my way of life and led me to discover everything about Korea. I now appreciate its traditions, arts and history, including its world-renowned cuisine, which is what I want to experience and learn more about.

With the airing of popular Korean TV shows in Southeast Asia, such as "Endless Love" (끝없는 사랑), "Stairway to Heaven" (천국의 계단), "Only You" (온리 유), "Coffee Prince" (커피프린스) and "Jumong" (삼한지: 주몽편), this Korean Wave has started to be recognized worldwide, not only in the Philippines.

'The King's Face' (왕의 얼굴) is one of the historical TV shows that gave me a remarkable understanding of Joseon politics and love.

Showcasing the rich history and traditions of Korea in many TV soap operas, including values-driven plots, make them hits and that is why the masses love them. I'm guilty of loving them episode-by-episode, especially if it’s a historical soap opera based on Joseon times.

By watching Korean soap operas, you’ll learn a bit of a typical Korean’s normal life, their beautiful language and ancient habits and traditions that are still valued today, including the wonderful places and attractions all across the country that are really inviting and postcard-worthy. Besides all this, due to my passion for watching historical soap operas, especially the famous series "Jewel in the Palace" (대장금), I’ve learned to love and appreciate not only the Korean language but also the colorful and healthy Korean cuisine that is one of the world’s best.

These are just some of my Korean language notes from college that I still use to learn Korean.

My background with historical soap operas has encouraged me to learn the official Korean language and the alphabet of Korea that's considered to be one of the most efficient alphabets in the world because of its scientific basis and design! In college, I had the chance to be part of a pilot language program for Korean language that my school introduced in partnership with Kyung Hee University, a well-known private research university in Seoul, in return for teaching Korean exchange students English while they stayed in the Philippines. The Korean language classes we had went well for months, but unfortunately the program was cancelled and we ended up learning just a few basics.

The popularity of Korean pop music, TV shows and movies across East Asia and elsewhere has also hit the Philippines, with popular publications and magazines featuring special issues about all things Korean regularly hitting the shelves.

In my college years, the growth in Korean media was all over the Philippines and East Asia. With the continuing success of Korean TV shows with exports and with episodes shown on almost all local TV stations in the country, accompanied by the new wave of Korean pop music, many Philippine fans openly embraced Korea's ever growing national popularity. When radio stations started to play K-pop music, like top hits popularized by Big Bang and 2NE1, stars like Sandara Park, who started her career as a singer-actress in the Philippines, was even more famous. Korean fashion, Korean hip hop and Korean modern dance all make K-pop trendy, and the genre gains followers all around the globe. With the growth in popularity of Korean music, TV shows and movies, combined with all the fans, it’s no surprise Korea’s soft power has dynamically conquered the globe.

For years working as a freelancer and web administrator, I've witnessed the growth of the K-pop music industry in the Philippines. Although I'm not really a fan, you really can’t avoid becoming one, as K-pop songs are played on just about every street corner in the country. Moreover, with the use and wide acceptance of different social media and networking sites as marketing platforms, K-pop is made even more popular and everything and anything from Korea is even further introduced online. It was at this time that the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines opened its doors to promote everything about Korea with its classes, activities and events.

At least once per year, I venture to try something new again, every since I finished college. It took me some time to finally have the courage to continue to study a second language, one that I learned to love since my college days. Armed with a background in how to read and write Korean, with a few phrases that I speak and understands fairly well, in 2015 I finally enrolled in the basic language class that the KCC Philippines offers three times per year.

The students pose for a photo with our lovely teacher in the basic Korean language class. 

Toward this learning process, it's not just about the language but also the diversity of the Korean Peninsula. It may be about the food, music, technology, traditions or the people as a whole. While studying, I didn't stop as a language student, as I'm aiming beyond this immediate goal and I can’t help but grab another opportunity and maybe be able to learn more about Korea at the Korean Cultural Center or its affiliates. Thus, I've made it as a member of the second batch of the "Krew Manila," an official fan group for the cultural center.

As part of KCC events and since we're part of the support club, we volunteer at various events and activities organized by the cultural center, in the aim of further promoting Korea among the Philippine audience and to strengthen the strong relationship that exists between Seoul and Manila. I really enjoyed being a supporter, whether it be as a program assistant, a tech booth staff, a content writer or a photographer. You’re not just enjoying every event you attend, but also the opportunity to expand your knowledge about everything Korean. Not only that, I also had the opportunity to write content for the KCC supporters' blog. The certification I received from them as a token for being an active affiliate made everything worth the journey.

A first-of-its-kind taekwondo exhibit in the Philippines is hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines. Philippine taekwondo icon Monsour del Rosario III made an appearance, together with members of the Philippine Taekwondo Association.

The previous year's Global Taste of Korea Contest is held at a famous Philippine culinary institute. The winner was sent from Korea to compete in the finals.

After completing a semester of basic Korean, I decided to not pursue the next module, which was the elementary Korean class, to concentrate on being a supporter for all the events hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines. Every now and then, if I had some spare time, I signed up to help with the activities and events that the KCC would organize. There was a Korean speech contest, a quiz about Korea, the Global Taste of Korea cooking competition, the K-pop World Festival, a Korean Film Festival, the Phil-Kor Cultural Exchange Festival and a series of "culture Caravans." These were just few of the events that we covered over the past two years. I'm proud to say that I'm enjoying the privilege of being able to share Korea with the world. I treasure my time as a supporter of the KCC in the Philippines because I know that I have something new to learn every time we have an event.

At the Korean 'culture caravan,' held at different universities across the Philippines, the Korean Cultural Center is able to actively promote Korea and can provide smiles to the students there as they try on some traditional Korean Hanbok attire.

Traditional paper dolls are made out of traditional Korean Hanji mulberry paper, illustrating samulnori (사물놀이), a famous version of traditional Korean drumming. 

I was in my second term as part of the Krew Manila when Korea Clickers, the official Facebook profile for the Korean Culture and Information Service, was in search of its fifth group of honorary reporters. These people work with the team at Korea.net. Of course, missing such a great opportunity wasn’t in my vocabulary, so I immediately sent in my application in the hopes of becoming a Korea.net honorary reporter based here in the Philippines. Luckily, I was chosen to represent my country and to be one of the 76 members of the group.

Korea.net's fifth group of honorary reporters based in Korea poses for a photo during the induction ceremony and a three-day tour of the country. (Korea.net DB)

As the term began for us honorary reporters and as we began to fulfill our duties and responsibilities, I made sure to participate in all the activities and to write feature articles for the team. My eagerness to promote Korea and my passion for cooking Korean food has made one of my dreams a reality: to be an ambassador in my own little way as a content contributor to Korea.net.

Cooking Korean food for my family is my way of expressing myself, aside from writing content.

I still remember my first article, “Cooking Korean food at home,” which was published on both the official website and at the Korea Blog. I feel so accomplished, as my article about home-cooked Korean food was put out on various websites where it’s globally read by Korea fans and avid enthusiasts for all things Korean. I was doubtful at first whether or not I was doing it right, since Korea.net has a large number of readers, but then I realized that it wouldn't publish a write-up if it weren't interesting to share.

Furthermore, my post was also published on different social media sites managed by KOCIS, including some related organizations. It was actually a rewarding feeling because apart from being an active supporter of the KCC in the Philippines, I'm also part of the amazing team at Korea.net. Every so often, I write content about the exciting events and activities that the Korean Cultural Center is hosting all year-round, not to mention the different events related to Korea that are happening across the Philippines.

In autumn last year, I was surprised to be invited by KOCIS and by Korea.net to have an all-expenses-paid tour of Korea and to experience Korea first-hand. Korea is the first country I ever visited outside the Philippines. I'm so overwhelmed with all of the experiences we had during our week-long tour there that Korea.net prepared for us. We were a carefully selected team of honorary reporters from all around the world. It was indeed an honor to finally see and experience Korea myself. Without a doubt, Korea is beyond beautiful in every way, and it wasn’t just about the autumn foliage but also the new knowledge gained and the whole new experiences and friendships made.

Honorary reporters from eight countries are invited to Korea in autumn last year by Korea.net and by KOCIS for a week-long tour of Korea where they experienced first-hand the cultural diversity of the Korean Peninsula. (Korea.net DB)

A sumptuous set of food awaits you on your culinary journey across Korea.

Korea.net honorary reporters pose for a photo along with Sohoorang (수호랑) and Bandabi (반다비), the official mascots for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. (Korea.net DB)

It was a dream come true. Korea.net is indeed our “Gateway to Korea!”

With the accomplishments I achieved so far as an enthusiast of all things Korean, from being a student to becoming an honorary reporter, to actually experiencing Korea myself; all of this has been a great opportunity for me to be able to effectively write inspiring stories about Korea and its warm people, interesting history, diverse culture, attractive places, modern technology and lovely food. As the slogan goes, “Imagine Your Korea” came true right before my eyes, and undeniably Korea is blessed to be such a beautiful nation.

Beautiful dosirak Korean lunch sets (도시락) are overflowing with delightful Korean dishes paired with purple rice, including a number of side dishes. These lunch sets are one of my inspirations to start my own Korean food business.

I was so inspired by what I experienced in Korea, especially the people, their food and their traditions, arts and history. I can’t hide my happiness every time I talk about it to my family and friends. As I said, the best way to share beautiful stories about a certain place is to experience them personally.

The food was remarkably one of the tastiest discoveries during our stay in Korea. Because I love everything served on the Korean table, and because I'm a good cook, I'm encouraged to finally start my own small Korean food business, delivering food just like they do in Seoul and other big cities. Again, I'm very much thankful, as one of the inspirations was the promotional video that we had to watch during our visit to the Korea.net office in Seoul.

  

Inspired by street food served at pojangmacha street tents (포장마차), this is my own version of Korea’s favourite picnic and take-out food, gimbap rice rolls (김밥). 

A Korean dosirak lunch set is filled with great tasting Korean delights, including bulgogi marinated beef (불고기) as the main dish, steamed white rice, kimchi (김치) and good side dishes including two of the most loved Korean rice cakes, injeolmi (인절미) and gyeongdan (경단).

I started my own small Korean food business called Hanbap. The name is derived from the Korean words Hanguk (한국) and bap (밥), which, when combined, means “Korean Rice.” About three months ago we started serving delicious Korean food in a casual manner, without compromising the authentic taste or traditional way of cooking. With the good feedback that I'm receiving, I think it’s a good start for me as a first-time entrepreneur. I really can’t forget the beautiful lunchboxes that we shared along with the honorary reporters while enjoying a comfortable KTX train ride from Seoul to Busan. It was beyond ordinary for me to see and taste traditionally prepared Korean dishes packed in a visually appealing lunchbox, including a set of delicious side dishes. That's what gave me this business inspiration.

This is the first time for me to see all the different types of kimchi sold in the Jungang Tradition Market in Tongyeong, Korea.

Aside from writing content, I also express myself through every meal that I prepare for my family, and through the start-up business that I launched. I guess it’s one of my own simple ways to share the flavors of Korea with my community. I want to, at least, offer something different. Although it’s kind of hard since I'm still just starting out, it’s getting more and more interesting every day as I grow as a business person.

Until today, I'm eagerly learning Korean on my own while busying myself with innovating the Korean menu for my business. So far, it has been a fun, awesome and exciting journey for me and the story doesn’t end here, for sure. I know there’s still a lot in store for us to learn, discover and explore about everything Korean.

wisdom117@korea.kr

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