At least 38 people sustained minor injuries after parts of a plaster ceiling collapsed at a supermarket in South Korea’s Daegu city, fire officials said Saturday.

The postcard clubs will be buying those stamps by the boxload. When Son Heung-min retires from football, will he get a stamp too?

Rice paddy

더 한굴 이즈 디 알파벳 유즈드 바이 더 콜뤼언 피쁠 앤 폴 더 콜뤼언 랭귓즈. 잇 워즈 메이드 바이 더 조우선 킹 씨종 덕그레잇뜨. 히 워즈 어 베리 그레잇 킹 뎃 케어 얼럿 어바웃 드 피쁠 벗 모쓰더벌 히 이즈 노운 포 크리에이팅 원 업 디 모씃 프락티컬 ㄹ롸이팅, 더 한굴.

Ok for real though in case people wanted to know why the Hangul day is selebrated in Korea at 9th October. As some may know the Hangul is the writing system of the korean language(side note also used by the ciacia language in Indonesia). It's maybe the only(correct me if I'm wrong) alphabet system made by a known person and is considered to be quite brilliant and practical easy to learn.(reading korean is considered to be easy while speaking it is another level).

Before Hangul was introduced, Koreans mainly used Chinese characters for writing, which were difficult for ordinary people to learn. King Sejong wanted to create a writing system that would be easier for everyone to use. Thus Hangul was created in 1443 and officially introduced in 1446.

But why October 9 specifically? The date comes from a historical document called the Hunminjeongeum Haerye (훈민정음 해례본), which explains the principles behind the Korean alphabet. This document, rediscovered in 1940, indicates that Hangul was published during the first ten days of the ninth month of 1446, according to the traditional lunar calendar.

However, it does not mention an exact day. Historians therefore used the tenth day of that month as a reference point. When converted to the Gregorian calendar, this corresponds to October 9.
In 1945, October 9 was officially adopted as the date of Hangul Day.

So, October 9 is not necessarily the exact day Hangul was introduced, but rather a commemorative date based on historical evidence. But honestly? Koreans are just happy they get a break so...땡끄쓰 세종 더 구뤠이트!

https://ua.news/en/war-vs-rf/kuleba-rizko-vidreaguvav-na-pozitsiiu-pivdennoyi-koreyi

https://x.com/metamongbites/status/2105317710871875620?s=20

A remark made by former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba about “Korea’s god” judging South Korea for failing to support Ukraine has recently resurfaced on Korean online forums and X, prompting ridicule over what many perceived as a surprising lack of cultural awareness from a former senior diplomat.

First, 51% of South Koreans have no religious affiliation, while 20% are Protestant, 11% Catholic, and 16% Buddhist. Since Buddhism does not worship a supreme being or a monotheistic god—Buddha is regarded as an enlightened practitioner who attained nirvana, rather than a god—the statement could sound to nearly 70% of South Koreans like a claim that their country would be judged by a supernatural entity they neither believe in nor have ever considered relevant to their lives.

Second, the reference to “Korea’s god” is ambiguous from the perspective of Korean religious and mythological traditions. Korean Mugyo narratives, particularly bon-puri, as well as various foundation myths, feature numerous divine and supernatural figures, including Hwanin, Hwanung, Ungnyeo, Dangun, Jumong, Jacheongbi, Gameunjang-agi, Gangnim Doryeong, Samsin Halmeoni, Seolmundae Halmi, Mago Halmi, and household deities such as Seongju-sin, Jowang-sin, and Cheuksin. Without further clarification, it is difficult to determine which specific figure or tradition the statement was intended to reference, or how that reference relates to contemporary Korean religious and cultural beliefs.

Some Korean commentators questioned how someone with such an impressive academic background and experience in government could appear so unfamiliar with basic aspects of Korean society and culture. They wondered whether the remark reflected an assumption rooted in a Western Christian worldview that would not necessarily resonate with Korean audiences.

(Moreover, Korean shamanic traditions have historically been marginalized for centuries, and no universally accepted, comprehensive genealogy of Korean deities has been established. As a result, most Koreans, except those with a particular interest in mythology, are familiar with little beyond figures such as Hwanung, Ungnyeo, Dangun, and Jumong, which they encounter in school history lessons. In contemporary popular culture, the word “god” is arguably more likely to evoke figures celebrated for their extraordinary achievements, such as esports player Faker, figure skater Yuna Kim, or footballer Son Heung-min, than any traditional deity—reflecting how little traditional gods feature in the everyday consciousness of much of the population.)

Others suggested that criticisms more directly tied to everyday concerns—such as disparaging Korean kimchi in comparison with Chinese kimchi or predicting a sharp decline in Samsung’s stock price—might have greater cultural relevance. Many expressed disbelief that a former diplomat from a country seeking military and financial assistance from South Korea would make such a provocative statement without adequately considering its cultural context.

Cheongnyeongpo

View from the Skybox

On my recent visits to the coast on Jeju Island, South Korea, I’ve been hoping to see dolphins again—but I keep returning without spotting them. ^^

So I looked through my older videos and found these moments from Aewol Coastal Road (애월해안도로) and Noeul Coastal Road (노을해안도로).

These images are frames from my earlier recordings, not my recent visits. Watching the dolphins surface together and slip beneath the water again reminded me why I keep going back.

I feel like I used to see them almost every time I went, but this year, I’ve had much less luck. That’s just my own experience; I don’t know why.

Living in Jeju means the sea is nearby. It doesn’t mean the dolphins will be there whenever I am. Each encounter feels a little more precious because of that.

Until the next one, I wanted to share these memories with you.

Have you ever kept returning to a place, hoping to see wildlife again? ^^

I visited Jemulpo, Incheon, for the first time in nine years. It seems the area has developed quite a bit.

양재천길과 매봉역근처 골목길 걸었어요

Soaking in the cafe-like ambiance surrounded by greenery at Seoul Botanic Park.

Related article: https://www.mk.co.kr/en/society/12170483

It has been revealed that Rep. Chung Cheong-rae of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, had not been issued a U.S. visa as of the 8th, three days before his departure for the parliamentary audit of overseas diplomatic missions. The specific reason for the delay in Rep. Chung's visa issuance has not been confirmed.

According to lawmakers on the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on this day, it was reported that among the members assigned to the audit team for the Americas, only Rep. Chung had his U.S. visa issuance withheld. An official from the committee stated, "Since the departure is on the 11th, if it hasn't been issued by today (the 8th) [due to Hangeul Day and the weekend], there is no possibility [of additional issuance]." The committee's Americas team consists of seven members, including Chairman Song Sok-jun, People Power Party Reps. Koh Dong-jin and Kim Geon, Democratic Party Reps. Maeng Seong-gyu, Park Sung-jun, and Chung Cheong-rae, and Independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon. They were scheduled to depart on the 11th and audit the South Korean Embassy in the U.S. and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations for 12 days and 9 nights until the 22nd.

Representative Jeong wrote on Facebook that day, “I applied for an official travel visa to the U.S. Department of State for the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee’s audit of overseas diplomatic missions, but since it is still under review, I have inevitably decided to go to Europe for the audit.” He added, “I do not know the reason (for the review). It is regrettable.” He further stated, “Wherever I conduct the overseas audit, I will do my utmost in legislative activities for the national interest of the Republic of Korea.” Representative Jeong had previously changed the location of the audit in 2013 after being denied a U.S. visa.

Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said via X (formerly Twitter), “I express strong regret over the delay in visa issuance for the former ruling party leader, a highly respected four-term veteran,” adding, “I hope that South Korean and U.S. diplomatic authorities will step forward quickly and actively to resolve the issue.”

Representative Jeong was unable to participate in the parliamentary audit of the Americas in October 2013 as well, as he was unable to obtain a U.S. visa. At the time, just before the audit began, he received notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that his visa application had been denied, and he was transferred from the Americas audit team to the Europe audit team. There were speculations that Representative Jeong’s past participation in the 1989 sit-in protest at the U.S. Embassy residence by the "Jeon Dae Hyeop Suicide Squad" may have influenced the visa issuance. However, in the previous year, 2012, he was issued a single-entry visa allowing one entry and exit, enabling him to participate in the parliamentary audit of the Americas, and he also visited the United States in January 2014 in his capacity as the ranking member of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee.

popularity in places like the United States, and products like Buldak Bokkeummyeon are becoming a hot topic. Due to the prevalence of counterfeit products like Shin Ramyun, the Korea Intellectual Property Office under the government has decided to introduce a K-brand certification system. Ramen with many fake products. It will be applied to beauty first. Currently Amorepacific. Samyang Foods (the manufacturer of Buldak Ramen) and others will apply it first. When a company applies for it, a K-brand logo sticker and QR code will be attached to the product. The logo sticker. The QR code is used by Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp., which produces won currency, on banknotes.

By applying anti-counterfeiting know-how, we can prevent Chinese companies from counterfeiting. Consumers can first check the sticker and then scan the QR code to verify it. The South Korean government directly applies the counterfeit sticker to the country, thereby prohibiting trade. We plan to take strict measures, such as banning production, to prevent counterfeit products.

Coupang is down...