pentaport

Pentaport Rocks Again in the Rain

Thousands of fans once again converged in the muddy Daewoo Motors Park in Song-do, Incheon, over the weekend to watch some of the hottest bands at this year's Pentaport Rock Festival. / Yonhap
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

INCHEON ― Thousands of fans once again converged the muddy Daewoo Motors Park in Song-do over the weekend to watch some of the hottest bands from Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Japan at this year's Pentaport Rock Festival.

The occasional downpour and massive mud puddles did not deter fans from singing, jumping, dancing and just enjoying the electric performances from bands like Travis, Kasabian, The Gossip, Ellegarden and Underworld throughout the three-day event.

Pentaport, Korea's biggest rock festival, started off slow on Friday with relatively sparse crowds maybe due to the low-key daytime line-up featuring mostly Korean indie groups like Tacopy, Sweater, Double Famous and Peter Pan Complex.

Things finally got rocking when British group The Go!Team hit the Big Top Stage, the festival's main stage, on Friday afternoon. With their cheerleader-type rapping and thumping music, The Go!Team had the crowd dancing throughout their hour-long set. Ninja, rapper and vocalist, showed her funky dance moves in songs like ``Ladyflash,'' ``Grip Like a Vice'' and ``The Power is On.'' Drummer Chi Fukami Taylor and guitarist Kaori Tsuchida also doubled as vocalists for some songs.

The Music, a British band from Leeds, surprised many with their powerful performance. They grabbed the crowd's attention with songs like ``Freedom Fighters,'' ``Strength in Numbers'' and ``Belief from Within.''

Crying Nut brought Korean punk rock to the forefront at the Big Top Stage, with their fast-paced tunes and edgy lyrics. The group hopped around the stage throughout the 80-minute set, at one point even donning long mullet-style wigs and having fun with the crowd.

Many fans were eagerly waiting for Japanese punk rock group Ellegarden, who were the main headliner on Friday, because of their recent announcement to go on hiatus in September. Ellegarden did not disappoint.

Starting with ``Space Sonic,'' Ellegarden launched a non-stop barrage of pop-punk songs such as ``Marry Me,'' ``Missing,'' ``Salamander'' and ``Red Hot.'' Lead singer Takeshi Hosomi thanked the crowd for supporting the band, before ending with ``Make a Wish.''

Fans came in droves on Saturday to see the strong line-up of performers including Travis, The Gossip, End of Fashion, The Vines and popular Korean groups Jaurim, Moonshiners and Lee Han-Chun and RunRunRunaways.

The Gossip proved why they've been called one of the most exciting live performers today. Lead singer Beth Ditto had everyone in awe of her strong voice, as she sang ``Listen Up,'' ``Coal to Diamonds'' and ``Standing in the Way of Control."

Scottish rockers Travis, immensely popular among Korean fans, had the crowd singing to their emotional rock tunes. Lead singer Fran Healy's haunting voice seemed especially moving in songs such as ``Sing'' and ``Turn.''

Sunday proved that the best was yet to come, with a line-up featuring British rockers Kasabian, Hard-Fi, Feeder, and electronica duo Underworld, as well as Korean punk rockers Delispice.

Hard-Fi performed their chart-toppers such as ``Hard to Beat,'' ``Cash Machine'' and songs from their second album, ``Once Upon a Time in the West.''



British band Kasabian rocked the house with ``Club Foot'' and ``Empire'' during their 70-minute set, showing why they deserved to be named Best Live Act Award at the 2007 NME Awards.

Underworld brought the Pentaport Rock Festival to a satisfying end with an electrifying 90-minute performance that included their hit song ``Born Slippy.''

Throughout the weekend, fans had to sludge through thick, slippery mud in between performances to get from the Big Top Stage to the Pentaport Stage and back. Most fans didn't seem to mind, as they donned colorful raincoats and rubber boots or in some cases, even went barefoot in the mud.

Dozens of food stalls sold overpriced snacks and beer, while various companies like Hard Rock Cafe, Naver and Adidas had promotional booths. MySpace, the social networking Web site, organized autograph signing events for performers like The Go! Team, Kasabian, Hard Fi and Peter Pan Complex.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

exhibit on disability

Electronic Art Exhibit Tackles Disability

This media installation “dot . a scene = sine at the sea ― tactuaL [si:gak] series #2” by Kim Hae-min gives the tactual experience of seeing the ocean landscape with dots. / Courtesy of Total Museum of Contemporary Art
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Disabilities are often a topic that makes people uncomfortable, and there are many social prejudices that still exist for people with them.

The exhibit ``thisAbility vs. Disability'' at the Total Museum of Contemporary Art tackles the topic of disability in society through 10 interactive electronic art works by Korean and foreign artists.

Curator Jeon Byeong-sam wanted to tackle the ``themes of human capability through creative transition of the senses.''

``Just as all people have distinct figures, appearances and characteristics, which we may call `disability' is only a difference, not a defect. This exhibition presents artworks that invite a reappraisal of disability. … I hope that the exhibition `thisAbility vs. Disability' helps roll back outdated notions of disability in society, that we may embrace our diversity and understand each other through the heart,'' Jeon said.

Visitors can try the interactive electronic artworks, such as bells that ring in time to your heartbeat and a digital musical instrument that can be played with facial gestures.

One of the most interesting works is by New York-based Malaysian artist Leon Lim. ``Discommunicativeness'' employs no sound, only visuals. Viewers can move the computer mouse to generate questions and answers on two separate screens, providing insight into deaf people's experiences.

Lim, who is deaf, formulated the questions and answers from his own, as well as other deaf people's experiences. The Korea Times did a feature story on Lim last month, which helped him invite around 50 deaf Korean schoolchildren to see the exhibit. He earlier told The Korea Times he wanted to inspire deaf children to achieve their dreams and to not be limited by their deafness.



Korean artist Lee Jae-min created ``Water Lights,'' a series of raised points connected to an LED whose light is triggered by the amount of water on the surface. You have to wet your fingers, write or draw on the pointed surface, and watch it light up.

In an interview with The Korea Times, Lee said the Braille system, which allows blind people to read and write, inspired his work. He wanted to make people feel what they write or draw, instead of see.

Another work that uses Braille is Japanese artist Mika Fukumori's ``Ototenji'' (Sound + Braille). It allows people who have eyesight to learn Japanese Braille using sight, hearing and touch. Visitors can insert blocks into a panel of six holes and watch as the blocks light up in different colors while the corresponding sound of the letter is played on a speaker.

``Heartbeat Carillon,'' by Chicago-based artist David Parker, features a series of steel arches with hand sensors that detect one's heartbeat, and a tower of glass bells. The heartbeat signal is converted into a strike on one bell, and the bell continues to ring while the participant holds on to the arches.

Parker told The Korea Times the work can be seen as a democratic art, since you only need a heartbeat to use it and it does not consider one's physical condition.

``Adaptive Use Musical Instruments'' is a work by Pauline Oliveros, Leaf Miller, Zevin Polzin and Zane Van Dusen. The project uses motion-tracking software that allows one to create music through facial gestures or small movements in front of a camera.

``Visitors enjoy creative alterations of auditory, visual and tactile sensations that may cause them to question themselves; in the process, they may also re-examine bases of their social judgments. These artworks can spark revelations that break social prejudice and affirm difference,'' Jeon said.

The exhibit runs through Aug. 24 at the Total Museum of Contemporary Art, Pyeongchang-dong. From Gyeongbokgung station (Subway Line 3, Exit 2), take bus no. 1020 or 1711 and get off at Lotte-Samsung Apartment stop. Visit www.thisAbility-Disability.net or call (02) 379-3994.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

brit art

British Art Invades Kukje Gallery, Gana Art

"Solar Activity Monitor" by British artist Marc Quinn is part of his solo exhibition at Gana Art Center. / Courtesy of Gana Art Center
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

This month, brace yourself for an invasion of British contemporary art in Seoul, with the solo exhibition of Marc Quinn at Gana Art Center and a group exhibition of well-known British artists such as Richard Hamilton, Charles Avery, David Mach and David Batchelor at Kukje Gallery.

Irony & Gesture

Kukje Gallery invited 11 British artists for its contemporary British art exhibition ``Irony & Gesture," which runs through Aug. 14.

``The artists invited for this exhibition are characterized not only by their strong personal vision and artistic practice, but also their strong understanding and exploration of the world around them. It is this understanding that imparts the clearer understanding of the gap that gives irony to their works that provide a truer vision of the world," curator Lee Ji-yoon said.

Three artists, David Batchelor, Richard Woods and Sam Buxton, were in Seoul last week to attend the exhibit opening.

The gallery floors are covered with Woods' work ``Logo no. 53 (color)" and ``Logo no. 54 (white)." ``The idea behind the logo series is wooden floors. Basically both act as a logo to themselves and they operate on their own graphic level. … I like wooden floors because the pattern doesn't repeat," Woods told reporters.

For his ``Parapillar" series, Batchelor created a work of steel stands with different plastic objects he bought from British pound stores.

``All objects attached are plastic, and all came from one pound shops where nothing costs more than one pound. These shops are universal in every country whether its one euro or one dollar. All these plastic materials come from the same place, China. … All of these works belong to a larger project that looks at the city and how to find color. I find places where color is experienced and find out what kinds of colors are there," Batchelor said.

In the installation ``I Ever Experienced This Comfort," Buxton created a mini-city made of acid-etched, laser-cut flat stainless steel. Buxton, whose background is mainly in design, said he created the design using a computer and then sent it to a factory for them to print it out on flat steel.

The thin, delicate steel piece is then unfolded into a 3-D replica of tiny cityscapes featuring airport check-in counters, supermarket aisles, trees, cars and buildings. Buxton said he created the piece specially for Kukje Gallery and is his most ambitious, biggest work to date. It took him over four days just to unfold the design from the steel sheet at the gallery.

Also on display are ``Soft Pink Landscape" by Richard Hamilton, a digital video ``Odile and Odette" by Yinka Shonibare MBE and a series of ink drawings on paper ``Untitled" by David Shrigley.

Visit www.kukjegallery.com or call (02) 735-8449.



Marc Quinn

Quinn is known as being part of the group of conceptual artists dubbed 'Young British Artists', along with Damien Hirst. He emerged as a leading figure in the British art scene in the early 1990s, with memorable works such as ``Self," a frozen sculpture of his head made from four and a half liters of his own blood.

At the Gana Art Center, viewers can find paintings of vibrantly colored blooms, sculptures of supermodel Kate Moss and a bust of Marie Antoinette made in bread and cast in bronze.

In ``Solar Activity Monitor" and ``Nile Flood, the colors of exotic orchids, cherry tomatoes and strawberries seem to burst from the canvas. Upon closer scrutiny, the blossoming flowers seem to have sexual undertones.

``Maquette of Sphinx," is a gold-plated sculpture of Moss shown in a twisted yoga position, while ``Endless Column," features two identical Moss sculptures placed on top of each other.

``What was interesting to me doing the Kate Moss sculptures was that she seemed to me to be a contemporary deity and that one of the problems we have is that our deities are only inhabited by our desires rather than anything the deity itself represents, which has some kind of moral, spiritual and metaphysical structure," Quinn said, in the exhibition catalogue.
The exhibition runs through Aug. 3. Gana Art Center, Pyeongchang-dong, northern Seoul. Tickets are 3,000 won for adults and 2,000 won for students. Visit www.ganaart.com.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

i make my job sound a lot better than it is

This appeared on today's Philippine Star... thanks to Carina for writing it.

It's so funny to see myself on the newspaper for once.

By the way, the pic was taken during AndreKim's fashion show in Shanghai earlier this year.

 

 

sizzling summer trends

Sizzling Summer Trends

A model wears denim shorts and top from casual brand Thursday Island.

/ Courtesy of Thursday Island

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Temperatures are already soaring early this summer, but the heat is not limited to the weather. Fashionistas everywhere are sizzling up the streets with the hottest fashion trends.

From short pants to feminine floral dresses to gladiator sandals, women can cherry pick among the season's many trends to find a style that suits them. Here's a guide to the summer's stylish fashion essentials:

Flower Power

Flowers are everywhere, and it's not in the parks or gardens around the city. Floral prints are popping up in one-piece dresses, shirts, voluminous tops, swimsuits, bags and even jewelry.

Designer Nicolas Ghesquiere used vibrant floral prints for Balenciaga's summer dresses and handbags. The results are a stunning bouquet of exotic hand-painted flower designs in red, orange, pink, green and blue on Balenciaga dresses.

Romantic florals can also be found in Prada, Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs' summer collections. Some of the season's best floral dresses feature hand-painted cabbage roses, daisies, orchids and Oriental blooms. Zooc, a Korean brand, offers flirty dresses printed with lavender, blue and green blossoms.

To get in on the bohemian trend, get either a short one-piece mini-dress or a floor-length maxi dress in a fantastic floral print. Anyone can carry off the mini-dress, which can double as a cover-up for the beach.

Hollywood fashionistas Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie have been spotted wearing the voluminous maxi dresses, but choose a maxi dress with the right cut for your body type.

Florals are also spotted on this season's handbags. Louis Quatorze, a popular brand in Korea, introduced a line of sweet floral printed handbags with white leather piping.



Keep Cool in Hot Shorts

Largely in part to sexy Korean stars like Lee Hyo-ri and Seo In-young wearing skimpy short pants, shorts are the most popular item this summer. Department stores and online shops have reported sales of shorts have even exceeded sales of the perennial summer favorite: miniskirts.

Celebrities can look good on TV wearing skimpy and tight hot pants, but it can be too revealing for everyday wear. There are a variety of styles and lengths to choose from, such as Bermuda shorts, casual cargo shorts, as well as printed, striped and denim shorts.

Korean brand Thursday Island has some cute denim shorts that are best paired with lightweight cotton tops and striped shirts. Codes Combine, known for its minimalist style, offers deconstructed versions of shorts in gray and beige.

Shorts can be tricky to wear. Knee-length tailored shorts are sophisticated, and almost universally flattering. Petite women should choose shorts with a higher hemline, and pair them with heels to create the illusion of length. Straight cut shorts are perfect for women with larger hips. Wear loose bohemian-style tops and tunics with shorts to hide trouble areas around the midriff.

Most companies generally frown on shorts as office wear, but some are more lenient with their dress code during the summer months. Remember to leave the hot pants at home, and opt for tailored styles that are cut above the knee, and pair it with a crisp top or jacket.

Go Wild With Animal Prints

Blame all-girl pop group Wonder Girls (check out their music video for ``So Hot'') for making animal prints ``cool'' this summer. Leopard and cheetah spots, as well as tiger and zebra stripes are showing up in miniskirts, tank tops and dresses worn by young girls.

Caution should be used when wearing animal prints, because the wrong styling will have you looking more like ajumma than a Wonder Girl. Keep the animal prints at a minimum.

Take a cue from the tasteful brown and white giraffe print halter dress that appeared on Banana Republic's catwalk. The dress was styled with a matching sun hat, white leather tote bag and chocolate brown strappy sandals.

Animal prints look best when you're trying to go for a simple safari look. For example, pair a leopard print top with a classic-cut skirt in a neutral color like khaki, white or dark brown. Resist the urge to pile on different kinds of animal prints, or you'll end up looking like a jungle disaster.

Walk Like a Gladiator

Gladiator sandals, platform wedges, peep toe shoes and strappy heeled shoes are the perfect complement to the summer clothes.

Gladiator sandals first came out last year, but after being spotted on the feet of celebrities like Nicky Hilton and Gwyneth Paltrow, its popularity exploded.

Now everyone is wearing these sandals, inspired by the ones worn by ancient Roman gladiators. Choose from a variety of styles from classic flats to platform heels. The most popular sandals come in brown and black leather and metallic shades.

Gladiator sandals look perfect with loose floral frocks and shorts, since the straps are tied around the ankles. Usually there are two or three straps, but Balenciaga has come out with gladiator sandals with straps going all the way to the knees. Givenchy's version of gladiator boots also feature thicker and knee-high leather straps.

Peep toes and sandals are perennial summer shoe favorites of Korean women. ``Sarah's Cabinet," located in Samcheongdong, has a selection of pretty jeweled heeled sandals. Latest styles for this summer include T-strap sandals in fresh pink, white and yellow colors.

Poolside Style

Hit the beach wearing any of this season's chic swimsuits from classic bikinis to embellished swimsuits to halter-top swimwear.

Retro-cut swimsuits are also coming back in style. Transform yourself into a 40s pinup girl with romper-style suits in Pop Art-prints and candy colors.

Don't forget to bring stylish cover-ups, wide-brimmed hats and flip-flops to the beach. Raffia sunhats, plastic bangles and ethnic-inspired accessories are the popular ways to add some spice to your beachwear. Converse introduced comfortable flip-flops in different colors, including a girly polka-dot pair with ribbons.

Get the Bronzed Look

Complete your summer look with light and pretty make-up. With the unbearable summer heat and humidity, women are also concerned about how to keep their makeup from melting.

Clinique introduced Long Last Bronze, a makeup collection for the woman who hates to re-apply but loves to look her best. The make-up is long-lasting and water-resistant, so you don't have to worry about smudging your eye shadow or eyeliner while you're swimming.

Quick Eyes Cream Shadow comes in water-resistant summery shades like Cocoa Shimmer and Sunlit Palm. Long Last Glosswear with SPF 15 protects lips from harmful ultraviolet rays, while the Brush-on Cream Liner has a silicone technology that prevents the eyeliner from smudging and allows it to stay on for hours.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

J-pop art

Exhibit Features Japanese Pop Art

"Girlhood" by Satomi Gouda is part of the "Spot! Japanese Contemporary Art" exhibit at Gallery Ihn.

/ Courtesy of Gallery Ihn

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

With its whimsical combination of Japanese pop culture and ukiyo-e or woodblock print tradition, Japanese contemporary art works are increasingly gaining notice around the world. Takahashi Murakami and Yoshimoto Nara are some of the most well known Japanese contemporary artists today. Buyers around the world are snapping up their works like hotcakes.

Keen interest is also being shown in the second generation of Japanese contemporary artists, who are seen as following in the footsteps of Murakami and Nara.

``Spot! Japanese Contemporary Art,'' currently held at Gallery Ihn in Samcheongdong, gives visitors a chance to view the works of nine artists including Hiroyuki Matsuura, Mayuka Yamamoto, Reiko Sakurai and Yosuke Ueno.

``The point of this exhibition is to observe the evolution of Japanese contemporary art and how the second generation has moved on after the first one (J-pop). We will spotlight the position of evolving Japanese art these days,'' curator Yang Ji-ni said in the exhibition brochure.

The artworks may simply seem cute, but actually show a distinct Japanese sensibility. At the gallery, odd-shaped cartoon-like sculptures sit on one side, while a team of candy-colored bunny costume-wearing children stand on the other. Paintings depicting odd characters, skull heads and flirtatious schoolgirls are on the walls.



Matsuura, who won the 2001 ``scout prize'' at the young artists GEISAI project conceived by Murakami, is seen as one of the most promising artists today. Starting his career as a graphic designer, Matsuura creates unique characters based on people he knows. His painting ``Frozen Blue'' shows a wide-eyed kimono-clad girl, while ``Windy Bunny'' is a series of installations featuring colorful bunny outfit-wearing children.

Yamamoto also has a fascination for depicting children wearing animal outfits. His paintings show innocent-looking children in mouse and penguin costumes, stirring up motherly instincts in the viewers.

The wide-eyed schoolgirl, a quintessential Japanese character in anime (cartoons) and manga (comics), is present in the works of both Sakurai and Satomi Gouda.


"Weather Girl" by Reiko SakuraiSakurai creates a cute girl character looking cheerful amid clouds and rainbows in one work, while the same girl looks melancholic with a black background in another work. On the other hand, in Gouda's paintings ``Girlhood'' and ``Blue Flower,'' schoolgirls are seen floating dreamily in a blue space.

Asa Go, a Japanese-Korean artist, touches on the division of the Korean Peninsula in her works. In ``You and ME,'' she made a painting of the Korean Peninsula, while a pink jeweled birdcage featuring a trapped character hangs in the foreground. Another piece named ``Distance'' shows a young girl and rabbit peering through binoculars while standing across the hall from each other, signifying the distance between North and South Korea.

Naoki Koide's sculpture ``New Home'' features characters with huge lips, oversized heads and expressionless faces. Chika Hattori's paintings feature animals like cats and birds in soft colors and minimalist detail.

Yosuke Ueno creates edgy, almost video game-like graphics in works like ``Negative Never Again.'' ``Mirror'' by Ryoko Kato sends a warning about pollution and environmental degradation.

``Fortunately, the new Japanese artists are succeeding in inheriting the identity and pursuing versatility and creativity to target the world market. And those young artists who made their own diverse techniques have gained international fame like their predecessors. The exhibition, where tradition and modernity meet together, creates an unfamiliar identity different from former ones, in consequence, it draws us into it effectively,'' Yang said.

The exhibit runs through July 20. Visit www.galleryihn.com or call (02) 732-4677.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

templestay

Night at the Temple

Participants at Baekdamsa's templestay listen to the head monk as he gives instructions on "ulyeok" or community work. Everything, including work, is considered a way of practicing Buddhism and meditation.

/ Korea Times Photos by Shim Hyun-chul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Han Sang-hee,
Staff Reporters

Baekdamsa ― Spending a weekend at a temple is becoming increasingly popular these days, with more people seeking refuge from the noisy city to find peace of mind.

Many temples now offer weekend-stay programs, luring Koreans, foreign tourists and expatriates who want to experience the life of Buddhist monks at their picturesque sites dotted around Korea.

Baekdamsa, located in Mt. Seorak National Park, is one of the favorite venues for temple stay programs. Beautiful mountains and creeks surround the temple, which offers interesting programs.

The Korea Times team traveled four hours by car from Seoul to Baekdamsa, braving the weekend traffic on the highways, intermittent rain showers and the winding roads leading to the temple.

Seeing the temple nestled between majestic mountains and surrounded by fog and forests was like soothing balm to our tired nerves. Walking on the bridge, decorated with Lotus lanterns, we were taking a step from the stressful world to the serenity of nature and Buddhism.

The temple was first built in 647 and suffered numerous fires and reconstructions. The temple standing now was built in 1957. Many famous philosophers and monks visited and meditated at Baekdamsa, Han Yong-un (1879-1944) being one of them. A poet, independence fighter and a monk, Han studied and meditated at Baekdamsa. The temple is also known as the so-called ``exile'' of former President Chun Doo-hwan during the late 1980s.

The standard temple stay program at Baekdamsa takes around 24 hours, starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday and ending on Sunday. The program starts with a brief introduction on the activities, such as ye-bool or Buddhist ceremonial service; cham-seon or Seon meditation; balwoo-gongyang or Buddhist meal with traditional bowls; dado or tea ceremony; and ulyeok or community work.



At the beginning of the templestay, participants are given a tour of the temple and the nearby forest. Shim Kwang-seob from the Korea Environment Movement Center was one of the forest guides and he was more than eager to share his expertise on the trees and animals living around the temple.

``It's important to appreciate the surroundings. Nothing should be taken for granted. Because temples are mostly located in mountains, understanding the surroundings is also a part of the whole meditation process,'' he explained.

Participants were also given a chance to play with the four temple treasures or ``dharma instruments,'' namely the gigantic bell, drum, cloud-shaped gong and moktak or wooden fish-shaped percussion instrument.

``It's all about your attitude. The four different instruments represent every living creature, even germs. So when you play them, you must be sincere and really mean it. It's not a game, but all part of a ritual of celebrating life,'' Ven. Samjo, the head monk of Baekdamsa, said before showing an example.

For dinner, participants experienced the balwoo-gongyang, where each is given a set of four wooden bowls, chopsticks and spoon wrapped in cloth. Everyone had to sit in a lotus position and should not speak or make any noise, except for the special prayer.



The balwoo signifies a precise amount of food that is needed for bodily sustenance and given to a person. Participants should only get the rice and food (mostly vegetables and kimchi) that they can eat, and not a grain of rice should remain in the bowls.

At first, water is poured on the bowl and used to clean each of the bowls. Then, rice is placed on the biggest bowl, soup on the second bowl, kimchi and vegetables on the third bowl, while the last bowl is filled with water. A single piece of kimchi is dipped in the water, and placed in the rice bowl, but it is not to be eaten. After eating, the piece of kimchi is used to wipe the bowls clean.

For someone new to the Buddhist meal, the process is difficult to follow because of all the specific rules. Monks believe that eating is a form of meditation, but for beginners the experience can be tedious and stressful because of the pressure not to leave a single morsel in your bowl.

Everyone had to drink the same water used to clean the bowls. Fresh water is once again poured on the bowls for a final cleaning, and then collected in two big pails. The monk compared the water from the two pails, and the group with the dirtiest water was ``punished'' by having to drink a teaspoon of the ``dirty'' water. While it is important to be respectful of the Buddhist monks' way of life, this struck us as disgusting, not to mention unsanitary.

One of the most important activities during the temple stay is the Seon meditation, which involves concentration with the aim of discovering one's true self. Seon is taken from the Sanskrit word ``dhyana,'' meaning contemplation and religious meditation. Two types of meditation, sitting meditation (jwa-seon) and walking meditation (haeng-seon), are introduced.

The dado or tea ceremony may seem simple enough, but it is not just about drinking tea. The act of brewing and drinking the tea involves practicing Buddha's teaching of ``proper mindfulness and concentration.'' There is even a Buddhist saying ``da-seon-il-me,'' meaning tea and Seon taste the same.



Ye-bool is a Buddhist temple ritual that involves giving respect to Sakyamuni Buddha and his disciples, and is performed three times a day, at 3 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The pre-dawn ceremonial service begins at around 2:40 a.m. when the sound of the moktak awakens the residents. Having barely slept four hours, we woke up groggy and hungry. At 3 a.m., the ceremony begins when everyone re-enters the temple grounds with handmade candles and walk to the main hall. Inside the main hall, they bowed three times before the Buddha Altar, Guardians' Altar and Memorial Altar, while the monks chanted Buddhist prayers. Listening to the chanting at the break of dawn was like an otherworldly experience.

Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects (aside from waking up at 3 a.m.) is the 108 bows. This is part of the Buddhist belief that mankind goes through 108 periods of anguish in life, and should make the 108 bows to be free from this anguish. It is considered a good meditation practice. But this reporter (Han) confesses to stopping mid-way; it was physically rigorous.

After breakfast, everyone takes part in the ``ulyeok'' or community work such as sweeping the grounds or cleaning the halls. Work is seen as a way of practicing Buddhism by cultivating patience and discipline. There is a Korean Seon rule that states: ``a day without work is a day without food.''

``I think temple stay programs are the only way to fully experience and understand Buddhism. It's so different from reading a book or watching a video. The peace, the nature and the meditation stay with you even when you go back to your daily routine in the city. Whenever I feel tired or frustrated, I try to remember my experience in the temples. I think it helps me live a more slow-paced and peaceful lifestyle,'' Kim Yong-sam, the director of the traditional arts division at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and a fellow participant, said.

Throughout the different activities, the monks explain the Buddhist philosophy and lifestyle, and guide the participants. However, foreigners should make sure to ask if the temples offer English interpretation services, or else it would be difficult and uncomfortable to follow the lectures and activities.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

Seoul

Gilsangsa

Located in Sungbuk-dong, northern Seoul, Gilsangsa is famous for Gilsang Seonwon, or Seon Center, which is used for meditation. For more information visit www.kilsangsa.or.kr or call (02) 3672-5945.

Bongeunsa

Bongeunsa is located in Samseung-dong, and despite the hustle and bustle of the city, it still manages to hold the peace and serenity of a temple. For more information visit www.bongeunsa.org or call (02) 3218-4827.

Incheon

Jeondeungsa

Jeondeungsa is the oldest temple in Korea and thus has a very rich history. It is also famous for the legendary monks who willingly became soldiers to fight against foreign invasions in the past. For more information visit www.jeondeungsa.org or call (032) 937-0125.

The Lotus Lantern International Meditation Center

The Lotus Lantern International Meditation Center is a place where many foreign monks and nuns who wish to study Korean Buddhism reside. For more information visit www.lotuslantern.net or call (032) 937-7033.

Gangwon Province

Baekdamsa

Located in Mt. Seorak National Park, Baekdamsa is famed for its breathtaking scenery and interesting programs. For more information visit www.baekdamsa.org or call (033) 462-6969.

Woljeongsa

With a dense forest of fir trees surrounding the temple, Woljeongsa is famous for various national treasures and cultural properties, including the octagonal nine-story pagoda, which is designated as National Treasure No. 48. For more information visit www.woljeongsa.org or call (033) 332-6664.

Gyeongsang Province

Jijiksa

The name of the temple holds a special meaning. Jijiksa literally means ``a temple that points directly,'' and symbolizes the pointing toward the hearts of people and thus guiding the way to truth of Buddha. For more information visit www.jijiksa.or.kr or call (054) 436-6084.

Chungcheong Province

Youngpyungsa

Located in the historic and cultural city of Gongju, the temple is built running east to west, greeting the sunrise and sunset everyday. For more information visit www.youngpyungsa.org or call (041) 857-1854.

Jeolla Province

Geumsansa

Geumsansa, or literally ``Gold Mountain Temple,'' is famous for its Maitreya Hall. The hall is designated as National Treasure No.62 and is the biggest of its kind in Asia. For more information visit www.geumsansa.org or call (063) 548-4441.

Jeju Island

Yakcheonsa

Yakcheonsa was named after the mineral water flowing alongside the temple. According to legend, the flowing water is known to have special healing powers. For more information visit www.yakcheonsa.org or call (064) 738-5000.