The KCC in Mexico

Hi everyone!!

Looks like I'm back and ready to keep on blogging, somehow a few days after I posted about my break I got some inspiration, started editing a video of the WKB Tour from September '12 and decided to make a "Korean Night" at home, a few friends, my sis and I kind of have this new tradition to make a "Country night" everytime one of us Travel.... so far we've only had an "Italian night", a "Vegas night" and next we'll have a "Mochis Night"** and a "Korean Night", we usually make typical food from the place and play some music, I still haven't decided what will I be cooking but I'm sure Kimchi will have a very special place at the table!

Anyway, yesterday my sister and I headed to the KCC in Mexico for the screening of the movie JSA, I had NO idea what this movie was about and since I didn't know if there would be many people we decided to arrive early, we got there at 5:30 and the movie was schedules at 6:00pm, turns out... the place was EMPTY.... honestly it was disapointing to find the KCC looking almos exactly the same as the last time I was there over 10 months ago :(

Apparently my sister and I were the only ones waiting for the Movie and just a few minutes before it started another guy came in.... we were 3!!!!!!! only 3!!!!!!!!! I keep on wondering why there are very few people going to the KCC, I know Mexico holds a very considerable ammount of people who loves Korea, I think they could do more by maybe creating more events, Kpop events (which we know attracts a LOT of people), Cooking Classes and Traditional Music lessons were ONLY announced at the "Notifications" part of the KCC website, there were no announces on Facebook and I don't think the KCC has a twitter account updated. I understand these kind of events are for certain number of people but one would believe the KCC would like to have lots of people coming in and out of the Center because that's its purpose, right?, to Promote Korean Culture and allow others to get more information about Korea, isn't it?

WAAAAAAIT!... I was talking about a Movie, wasn't I?... We watched JSA (Joint Security Area)

JSA is a 2000 Korean movie directed by Park Chan-Wook and it's bases on the novel DMZ by Park Sang-Yeon, it's basically a movie about a shooting incident within the DMZ (The border between South Korea and North Korea). Throughout the movie you'll see the story of 4 new friends, 2 North Korean Soldiers and 2 South Korean soldiers... sadly due to a bad timing they get caught "hanging out" together and that's when the shooting takes place, it made me wonder if North and South get to become friends from time to time ad the DMZ.....

The movie is 108 minutes long and even thou at 1st I have a little problem with the subtitles since I was trying to catch up the Movie, the subtitles and words in Korean.... Does that happen to you when you are trying to learn a language?... I find hard to concentrate at the imagines trying to learn new words in Korea when I'm watching a movie or a Drama.... O_O

IF you have the chance to watch this move make sure you watch it!, I'm really glad I went yesterday and catched it, otherwise I don't think I would've watched it at home.... :(

I'm really excited I got this urges to blog again :D and I'll try to update as soon as possible...just remember I have a weird schedule at work and I might only be able to update on the weekens :/

-Gisela V.

P.s. I sent a message to the KCC to see if I'm allowed to assist today to the 1st Cooking Class, if I'm allowed I'll make sure to post about it ASAP!


**Los Mochis is a coastal city in northern Sinaloa, Mexico

K-Pop in Mexico and more news/events

Hi everyone!

How've you been?, lots of things are going on over here and the main one is... Arirang and TV Azteca (One of the biggest TV Networks in Mexico) have announced a K-pop concert in Mexico this year, according to their Facebook after some meetings it has been confirmed that this year a Kpop group will come to Mexico, dates, prices and venues are yet to be confirmed but I know for fact that ALL Kpop fans in Mexico are super excited about this, so... we better start saving our $$ if we want to go to the 1st Kpop concert in Mexico, hopefully this will help bringing more Korean Artists to Mexico. IF you want more info about this you can also visit KPOP in Mexico's Facebook here. And you can follow @fer_gay y @el_hub on twitter, they are TV Azteca's main contact regarding this matter.

On another news, this Saturday the Openning of the Kpop Sarangday Mexico will be held in Mexico City, this oppening will mark the start of a series of events regarding SARANGDAY, this event is being organized by the KOREAN POP MEXICO COMPANY , all the information of the event can be found here.
The price of the event is $160 pesos and you'll have to pay this before this Friday  (April 20th).

There's another event called "IDOL FANCLUB ATHLETIC CHAMPIONS", this will be held on May 5th at Parque Bicentenario (Mexico City), this is a Sports event that will gather Kpop Fan clubs, the entrance fee is $20 pesos and you can read more about it here.

If you can not go to these events, every Tuesday the Korean Cultural Center is showing Korean Movies for FREE!!! it is limited to 100people you can catch a movie ar 3pm or 6pm, this Tuesday April 17th they will be showing "Welcome to Dongmakol" (웰컴 투 동막골). The story is set in Korea during the Korean War in 1950. Soldiers from both the North and South, as well as an American pilot, find themselves in a secluded village, its residents largely unaware of the outside world, including the war.
For more information about this you can visit the Korean Embassy in Mexico's Facebook here. If you can not go to see a movie you can just go to the KCC and check the books, movies, dramas or CD's they have in there, they are friendly and be happy to receive you :)

And last but not least... some of you already know about the Global Seoul Mate campaign that the Seoul Metropolitan Goverment released about 2 months a go to help promote Korean Culture around the Glove, I sent my applications and today the "winners" announcement was posted on their website and I made it!! I get to be one of the 110 Global Seoul Mates!!!! I'm extremely excited about this and can't wait to get more information on how is this going to work, if you guys applied as well you can check the results here.

Well, hope you can assist to those events or at least to go check out the KCC.
The address is posted here.

-Gisela V.

*********************************************************

Hola a todos!¿Cómo están?, Muchas cosas están sucediendo aquí y la principal es... Arirang y TV Azteca han anunciado un concierto de K-pop en México este año, de acuerdo a su Facebook después de algunas reuniones se ha confirmado que este año un grupo de Kpop vendrá a México, fechas, los precios y lugares aún por confirmarse, pero sé que todos los fans de Kpop en México están muy emocionados acerca de esto, así que ... es mejor empezar a ahorrar nuestro $ $ si queremos estar en primera fila del primer concierto de Kpop en México, Y esperamos que esto ayude a traer más artistas coreanos a México. Si desean obtener más información acerca de este también se puede visitar en Facebook KPOP de México aquí. Y pueden seguir a @el_hub y @ fer_gay en twitter, que son el contacto principal de TV Azteca en relación con este asunto.

En otras noticias, este sábado es la Inauguración del México Kpop Sarangday y se llevará acabo en la Ciudad de México, esta apertura sera marcar el inicio de una serie de eventos relacionados con SARANGDAY, este evento está siendo organizado por KOREAN POP MEXICO COMPANY, toda la información de el evento se puede encontrar aquí. El precio del evento es de $ 160 pesos y tendrán que pagar esto antes de este viernes (20 de abril).

Hay otro evento llamado "IDOL FANCLUB ATHLETIC CHAMPIONS", esto se llevará a cabo el 5 de mayo en el Parque Bicentenario (México DF), este es un evento deportivo que reunirá a los clubs de Fans del Kpop, el precio de la entrada es de $ 20 y pueden leer más acerca de aquí.

Si no pueden ir a estos eventos, todos los martes en el Centro Cultural Coreano está mostrando películas coreanas GRATIS! Con cupo limitado de 100 Personas por función y hay 2 funciones de 15:00 o 18:00 pm, este martes 17 de abril se muestra "Bienvenido a Dongmakol" (웰컴 투 동막골). La historia se desarrolla en Corea durante la guerra de Corea en 1950. Los soldados, tanto del Norte como del Sur, así como un piloto norteamericano, se encuentran en un tranquilo pueblo, sus habitantes desconocen en gran medida el mundo exterior, incluyendo la guerra. 
Para obtener más información acerca de este se puede visitar la Embajada de Corea en Facebook de México aquí. Si no pueden ir a ver una película pueden ir a la KCC a dar la vuelta, o checar los libros, películas, Series Coreanas o CDs que tienen allí, estoy segura de que estarán encantados de recibirlos.

Y por último pero no menos importante ... algunos de ustedes ya saben acerca de la campaña "Global Seoul Mate" que el Gobierno Metropolitano de Seúl lanzó hace aproximadamente 2 meses, la campaña esta creada para ayudar a promover la cultura coreana en todo el mundo, yo envié mis solicitud y y el dia de hoy anunciaron a los "ganadores"!!.  El anuncio fue publicado en su página web y fui aceptada! asi que ya soy una de los 110 Global Seoul Mate!! Estoy muy emocionada por esto y no puedo esperar a obtener más información sobre cómo se va a trabajar, si ustedes aplicaron pueden consultar los resultados aquí.

Bueno, espero que puedan asistir a esos eventos o al menos ir a visitar el CCC. 
La dirección está publicada aquí.

-Gisela V.

Gisela @ TBS eFM 101.3 (Korea)!!!

Hi everyone!

Some of you already know this because well... I tweeted about it :D
2 weeks ago my friend Eugene invited me to participate in a Segment called "Around the World" at the show DriveTime with Sam and Annabelle, in case you didn't know this is a Radio show broadcasted by TBS in Korea and each week they have a correspondent from somewhere around the world.
I was very excited to be a part of this and let Korea know a little bit more about Mexico and you'll ask.. Why is she posting this in here?, Well I also got to talk about the KCC that recently opened its doors in Mexico :)

So... here's the audio
If you listen to it... I'm Sorry!!!! lol, I know I sound like a 10 year old... remember I was VERY nervous

Click  here to check it out

-Gisela V.

Korean Cultural Festival in Mexico (Part 1)

Hello everyone!

Master of Ceremony

This past March 10th 2012, the Korean Cultural Festival took place in the City Theater (http://www.cultura.df.gob.mx/index.php/tcm), Luckily for me I got an
Invitiation from a friend (Thank you Younhee!!!), I was supossed to bring someone with me, but the only person interested was my sister but she couldn't make it :( so I decided to go alone (I know... Foreveralone, right??). I usually don't like going places alone, specialy if I know it's going to be crowded, anyway after I decided to go on my own a storm came and I thought it was a sign of god telling me not to go... When it was time to leave the house the rain was almost gone so I took a cab and guess what!, the streets were closed... was that another sign??
I was about to quit when I decided to walk...and I'm glad I did because the Festival was WAY more than what I was exptecting to be and I met Laura, soon we started to talk about Korea and turns out she had an invitation for the openning of the Korean Cultural Center in Mexico, she invited me to go with her and I gladly accepted her invitation.

It was 7 o'clock when the lights went off and we heard music comming from the outside of the Theater... Drums, people yelling, music, samulnori outfits

When everything started I obviously started taking pictures.... turns out... I wasn't allowed to do it so I was asked to stop :( ... I couldn't just NOT take pictures...I hate posting without pictures... so I enjoyed the 1st time of the show but I was sort of nervous because I couldn't take pictures, so when I sawthe "No pictures!!" girl I asked if there was something I could do or someone I could ask for permission to take pictures and she send me to the Press balcony YAY!!! *so much win!*, I waitied until the end of Part II and then I hurried back to the Press balcony the only downside to it was... I had to stand for the rest of the 1 1/2hr show (Remember I was holding a big/heavy camera, my bag, an umbrella, another jacket, etc).

Part I

Sori/Sounds

SKYBULLS, a composition by Shin Chang-Ryul

This openning act was in charge of Kang Eun-il & Haegum Plus

Part II

Harmony between Tradition and modernity

LIBERTANGO
An adapted piece between Argentinian Tango and a russian popular song

NEW AH-MI

This was interpreted by Oh Ah-Mi, an Electric cello  pioneer from a new gendercalled "Electronic Cassic", her performances combine music and a startling performance. I must say, Oh Ah-Mi was incredible, she has so much energy and charisma, she can dance with the cello (An electric cello is supposed to stay still on the ground) and everything is very energetic. You can see a video of that day HERE

Oh Ah-mi - Han's Dancers - Oh Ah-mi

HAEGUM RAPSODY (By Peter Schindler)

It is a musical work that includes classic repetition of phrases. Is influenced by European style chords, jazz and Asian music

THE CHASE

This piece expresses the run of a fugitive and its chaser, this piece was performed by Kang Eun-il & Haegum Plus witch is a group of people making hybrid music, it was created in 1999 and is one of the most representatives of Korea.

WOLFGANG'S TUNE

Interpreted by the Haegum trio, Electric cello and piano.

BELLE AND EMERALD (Notre Dame de Paris)

Interpreted by BOS (Bridge of Soul) Popera male trio, that fuses classical music with popular music. This was accompanied by the Han's Dance Company.

Bridge of Soul

Since I don't want this post to be super long, this will be it for today, but wait for Part 2 of the Korean Cultural Festival with B-boys, Samulnori, the Jing Dance, K-Tigers (Taekwondo), Namsadang, Bésame mucho and ARIRANG!

-Gisela V.

Buzz Korea 

Korean Cultural Center in Mexico

Yesterday March the 13th 2012 the Korean Cultural Center in Mexico held its Grand Openning, I've been waiting for this for over a Month ever since I found out about it.

Last month I went to the KCC to meet the Director Professor Bong Chul Kwan, Mr. Kwan was kind enough to show me the yet unfinished building and answer a few questions, so here's some information about the KCC in Mexico.

Me: How does the idea came up to open a KCC in Mexico?
Mr. Kwan: The idea came because there are a lot of people in Mexico interested in Korea, K-pop, the Language and culture in General

Me: What kind of activities will be held at the KCC?
Mr. Kwan: Cooking Classes (Korean and Mexican Food), Language Classes, Dance, Music and we also want to provide a space for people to show their art, paintings, shows, etc.
We also have a room with a Big TV where people can come and watch Korean News, Dramas or Movies, there's also an auditorium where conferences can be held or used for Meetings.
In addition to this we'll have internet access and Computer with access to Korean Books directly from Korea.

Me: Do you have planned to invite Korean Artists only?
Mr. Kwan: No, the idea is to invite Korean and Mexican artist, we still don't have a convocatory opened yet, but people can show us their work in order to have an exhibit here at the KCC.

As you can see, there will be lots of things to do at the KCC in Mexico, I'm glad it's opened now since all of us Korea-Lovers can enjoy some more of Korea here in Mexico.

Right before the Ribbon cutting ceremony there was a little show outside the KCC of Samulnori (Traditional percussion music from Korea)

The Openning included dignataries from both countries, incluiding Korea's Culture Minister Choe Kwang-Shik and the Korean Embassador in Mexico Sung Hoa Hong a representative of Samsung in Mexico and other personalities.

Ribbon cutting

Outside of the KCC in Mexico

Korean Ambassador in Mexico - Korea's Culture Minister Choe Kwang-Shik

The event included Speaches of the Ambassador, The minister and a member of the SRE.
After the speaches we enjoyed some Traditional Korean Music

 2 Korean songs by the "Niños Cantores de Chalco" sort of like a Chorus of under priviledged girls who take music lessons from nuns, I've never seen this chorus and must say those girls can really play and sing.

Then it was the turn of "Bridges of Soul", a Popera (Pop - Opera) trio who sang a famous Mexican son "Bésame Mucho" with Mariachis, I didn't get to take pics of this since it was really crowded :(

This was the only pic I was able to get... sorry guys!!

Last but not least, all the artist came back on stage to perform "Arirang", everyone sang and it was a very exciting moment.

Just to finish this great event we all went downstairs to have some yummy korean food and drinks, funny thing is... At the buffet line I met the Architects who worked with the building, they were really nice and asked me about Korean food, I promised I would mention them here since no one else did at the ceremony, so Hi!!! Mr. Leonardo Garcia (Lead Architect) and Mr. Isaias Gonzalez!! Thank you for making such a nice building for us :)

All in all, it was a great event and I'm really looking forward to all the activities that will soon start at the KCC in Mexico.

As for the Korean Culture Festival of last weekend... I still owe you that post!! and I promise this weekend you'll have it!!

Hope you like the post and if you have any suggestions for posts, just let me know!!
Here are some pictures of what's currently being shown at the KCCM

-Gisela V.

PS. The KCC is located in Temístocles #122, Polanco. Right next to the Subway station, you can see the map here

Korean Cultural Festival in Mexico

Hello everyone!

How've you been?, I feel like it's been a while since the last time I posted about ME going somewhere....
This saturday March 10th at exactly 18:20, I have been invited to the Korean Cultural Festival in Mexico, this event was organized by the Korean Embassy in Mexico to celebrate the International Festival of the Arts in Mexico, promote Korean Culture in Mexico and to help Mexico and Korea to get closer through Culture, Music, Dance and traditional Corean Games.

The program is Divided in 5 Parts:
(I will obiously be posting more about it next week)
Part I
Sori / Sones
 -Sky bulls

Part II
Harmony between Tradition and modernity
 -LiberTango
 -New Ah-mi (Electric cello) by Oh Ah-mi
 -Haehum Rapsody
 -The Chase (Musical Piece)

Part III
Korean Lines
 -Samulnori
 -The Jing dance
 -Taekwondo
 -B-boying

Part IV
Dynamic Korea
 -Pungmulnori and percussion performance
 -Namsadang

Part V
Encounter
 -Besame Mucho (Kiss me much)
 -Arirang

Well.. there you have it, I'm really excited about this and next week the Korean Cultural Center in Mexico will be openning, here's hopping to be able to assist to that event as well.

-Gisela V.

I'm sorry for the lousy picture!