Monday, December 29, 2014

The Korean Gandhi, Bringing New Peace to India
The world renowned peace activist, Mr. Man Hee Lee, joined the International Conference of Chief Justices of the World (ICCJW) in India and delivered the keynote speech. In this conference, chief justices of the world gathered and signed, on an unprecedented scale, the agreement for the enactment of an international law to end all wars, a law proposed by Mr. Lee. He also joined the Peace Walk at Montessori School, with the student body, chief justices of the world, and former and current heads-of-state.
Mr. Lee giving the speech to the audience
Rabindranath Tagore, an Indian poet who is a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, named the Republic of Korea as ‘the lamp of the East.’ And now the light of world peace is shining from the Republic of Korea. A renowned peace activist of Korea, the chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light, Mr. Man Hee Lee became the topic of the day with his visit to India during his newest wave of the peace movement. Mr. Lee was invited to ICCJW, hosted by the Montessori School in India on December 14th (local time), and delivered the keynote speech emphasizing the enactment of the international law as a solution to achieve world peace and the cessation of wars. For this effort, 160 chief justices from around the world signed the agreement.
City Montessori School [CMS], Lucknow, Indiaw, India

In Lucknow, India, for three days starting from December 13th, the 15th ICCJW was convened with 160 judicial officers from 43 different nations. This was the largest ever meeting of its kind. In attendance were Former President Emil Constantinescu of Romania, Former President Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Chief Justice of the Afghan Supreme Tribunal Abdul Salam Azimi, Indian First Secretary to the Permanent Mission to the UN Prakash Gupta, Chairman of the International Judicial Conference, USA Frederick Furth, and other former and current heads-of-state.
The eyes and ears of the world focused on the 160 chief justices in attendance who signed the written agreement for an enactment of the international law for world peace and the cessation of wars.
Furthermore, the judicial officers in attendance were invited to Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) as members of the advisory committee for establishing an international law. This is expected to expedite the enactment of the international law for world peace and the cessation of wars.
On the 13th, Mr. Lee delivered his congratulatory remarks at the ICCJW, pleading, “If the leaders truly want world peace and love their nation and its people, then they must add a clause to end all wars in the international law and sign the agreement for world peace.” Also in this conference, Mr. Lee put the world-wide peace movement into action and pled for “an enactment of the international law to end all wars.” He drew the participation of legal, political, and religious leaders for the movement. Soon after the conference, Mr. Lee joined the Peace Walk with more than 2,000 students and judicial officers to promote world peace and the cessation of wars. Mr. Lee’s efforts are being broadcasted through many media including a state-run broadcasting station of India, DD News “Insight Asia.”
Also on the 14th, Mr. Lee mentioned in his speech that “the world is living in anxiety and is in chaos: nations fighting nations, civilizations fighting civilizations, fellow countrymen killing each other, believers killing other believers, the youth killing the youth. The world is in the midst of this conflict where nation and ideology are divided.” Moreover, this is because “there is no clause in the international law to end all wars on this earth and create peace.” The pragmatic solution to this issue is to have former and current heads-of-state implement the cessation of wars and world peace in the international law with HWPL, and Mr. Lee pled that the international law must be enacted.

Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim giving the speech


In September, HWPL amazed the world with the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Summit in Seoul and since then the organization has continued working tirelessly to end wars and usher in world peace pragmatically. Assembled at the Peace Summit were national and international political, religious, and youth leaders and members of media from 170 nations. Each party promised to gather their strengths to achieve peace. Political leaders signed to collaborate for the enactment of the international law, religious leaders signed to unite as one, and the youth and the media made commitments to do their part to bring about peace.
Mr. Lee in DD broadcasting station


Sunday, December 28, 2014

< Korean traditional Village, Han-ok village 한옥마을 >

On a sunny day,in the frosty air, visited Korean traditional village.
At Bukchon Hanok Village, Sam-chung Dong, Seoul - 


# Hanok 
Hanok is a term to describe Korean traditional houses. Korean architecture lends consideration to the positioning of the house in relation to its surroundings, with thought given to the land and seasons.




The interior structure of the house is also planned accordingly. This principle is also called Baesanimsu (Korean배산임수背山臨水), literally meaning that the ideal house is built with a mountain in the back and a river in the front, with the ondol heated rock system for unique heating system of South Korea during cold winters and a wide daecheong (대청) front porch for keeping the house cool during hot summers.


doors and interior made out of wood

# Characteristic - 
The environment-friendly aspects of traditional Korean houses range from the structure's inner layout to the building materials which were used. Another unique feature of traditional houses is their special design for cooling the interior in summer and heating the interior in winter.



# Origin of the term Hanok-
According to old paper about house in April 23 of 1907, the terms that Hanok appeared on the history for the first time. In that paper, Hanok was figure out the specific region where Jeong-dongroad, from Donuimun to Baejae school.  When era of Korea under Japanese rule, the ruler used terms such as 'Jooga' 'Joseon House' when they were talking about house improvement.


Hanok is an eco-friendly architecture
#  Bukchon Hanok Village
Surrounded by Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village is home to hundreds of traditional houses called 'hanok' that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. The name, 'Bukchon,' which literally translates to 'northern village,' came about as the neighborhoods that the village covers lie to the north of the two significant Seoul landmarks, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. Today, many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses, providing an opportunity to experience, learn and immerse in Korean traditional culture.
Rooftop seen from the hill top

























Thursday, December 25, 2014

< European Fairy Tales depicted by Korean Artist, Na Young Woo > 


# 1  Snow White 백설공주


"Snow White" is a German fairy tale known across much of Europe and is today one of the most famous fairy tales worldwide. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection Grimms' Fairy TalesThe fairy tale features such elements as the magic mirror, the poisoned apple, the glass coffin, and the characters of the evil queen and the seven dwarfs, who were first given individual names in the Broadway play Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1912) and then given different names in Walt Disney's 1937 film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  

# 2  Beauty and the Beast 미녀와 야수




Beauty and the Beast (French: Belle et la Bête) is a traditional fairy tale written by French novelist Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont and published in 1756. Variants of the tale are known across Europe. Belle begins to feel guilty about breaking her promise to the Beast and uses the mirror to see him back at the castle. She is horrified to discover that the Beast is lying half-dead from heartbreak near the rose bushes her father had stolen from and she immediately uses the ring to return to the Beast. Belle weeps over the Beast, saying that she loves him. When her tears strike him, the Beast is transformed into the handsome prince from Belle's dreams. The Prince informs her that long ago a fairy turned him into a hideous beast after he refused to let her in from the rain, and that only by finding true love, despite his ugliness, could the curse be broken. He and Belle are married and they live happily ever after together.

# 3  The Little Mermaid 인어공주

"The Little Mermaid" (DanishDen lille havfrue, literally: "the little mermaid") is a well-known fairy tale by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaidwilling to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince.
The tale was first published in 1837 and has been adapted to various media, including musical theatre and animated film

However the Little Mermaid cannot bring herself to kill the sleeping prince lying with his bride, and she throws herself into the sea as dawn breaks. Her body dissolves into foam, but instead of ceasing to exist, she feels the sun; she has turned into a spirit, a daughter of the air. The other daughters tell her she has become like them because she strove with all her heart to obtain an immortal soul. She will earn her own soul by doing good deeds and she will eventually rise up into the kingdom of God.

# 4  The Frog Prince

"The Frog Prince; or, Iron Henry" (GermanDer Froschkönig oder der eiserne Heinrich, literally "The Frog King; or, The Iron Heinrich") is a fairy tale, best known through theBrothers Grimm's written version; traditionally it is the first story in their collection. The 2009 Disney film, The Princess and the Frog, is loosely based on this story. In the tale, a spoiled princess reluctantly befriends the Frog Prince (meeting him after dropping a gold ball into a pond), who magically transforms into a handsome prince. Although in modern versions the transformation is invariably triggered by the princess kissing the frog, in the original Grimm version of the story the frog's spell was broken when the princess threw it against a wall in disgust.

#5  Alice's Adventure in Wonderland 이상한 나라의 앨리스 


Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (commonly shortened to Alice in Wonderland) is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonymLewis Carroll.[1] It tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children.[2] It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre.[2][3] Its narrative course and structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential[3] in both popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre.

*reference: Wikipedia, http://imgur.com/gallery/








< Merry Christmas and Pizza! > 

Among the crowded streets in Hongdae, one small shop called Monster Pizza!
Lots of people especially youth had gathered, short break for pizza- 


The menus are simple, you can taste real American pizza
Pepperoni, Cheese, Superspreme. 




We ordered pepperoni and cheese.yum yum.


  
Thin crust pizza surely taste good! 

Enjoy holidays and good food! 
This was Kate from Seoul, Korea.

Monday, December 22, 2014

< Freedom; it is an ideal which I am prepared to die >

Nelson Mandela is a South African lawyer who joins the African National Congress in the 1940s when the law under the Apartheid system's brutal tyranny proves useless for his people. Forced to abandon peaceful protest for armed resistance after the Sharpeville Massacre, Mandela pays the price when he and his comrades are sentenced to life imprisonment for treason while his wife, Winnie, is abused by the authorities herself. Over the decades in chains, Mandela's spirit is unbowed as his struggle goes on in and beyond his captivity to become an international cause. However, as Winnie's determination hardens over the years into a violent ruthlessness, Nelson's own stature rises until he becomes the renowned leader of his movement. That status would be put to the test as his release nears and a way must be found to win a peaceful victory that will leave his country, and all its peoples, unstained. (Written by Kenneth Chisholm)



Saying bye to his beloved Winnie who later on becomes one of the activists herself.

For 27 years of imprisonment, Mandela still hopes for freedom of him, of his people. In the prison he asks for long trousers and for the rights of prisoners.

Later on, after his long year of imprisonment, 
Mandela becomes the president of South Africa



" During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
 by Nelson Mandela on 20 April 1964 




“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” 

by Nelson Mandela

What is freedom that I seek for?





Thursday, December 18, 2014

<Korean Food, nutritious Hot Stone Pot>

Waiting for the food!

Lots and lots of side dishes~ 
Kimchi, To-fu, salad, other vegetable side dishes. 

special pot made of stone, keeps the rice hot!

rice with other whole-grain, 
lots of nutritious beans added to it!


Korean traditional soup called, Dyoinjang stew (된장찌개).

This is roasted saury.


you make your own bibimbap! Bean Sprouts, spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, put as much as you want and mix them with red pepper paste! 

After the main dish, put hot water into the hot pot, where the crust of overcooked rice is and it is Korean style oatmeal. 

Korean traditional drink, Shikhye, after the meal. 

Enjoy nutritious hot stone pot bibmbap(돌솥 비빔밥) with your beloved family!

 < End of the year, how Koreans celebrate! >

Gathered in the restaurant, waiting for a hot meal.



When the food is served, cheers to everyone! 
Bye to passing years but yes to coming year!

Talking to one another-

Cheers!
in Korean, 건배!

After eating and drinking, talking to each other their family and life.




If the time passes, I hope you will still be there and we can enjoy good years and good food and talk about our life together.