Chuncheon Puppet Ajosshi

While in Chuncheon (춘천) we popped into the Chuncheon Puppet Theatre (춘천인형국장) to see the wonderful Men of Steel perform their show "Cookie Cutter and Friends". While there we got a chance to visit the Chuncheon Puppet Museum (right next door to the theatre) and see some of the amazing puppets exhibited there...

Small Hanbok clad hand puppet.

Cute little German fellow.

Sadari Theatre Company puppet based on drawings by famous artist 이중섭 (Lee Jung-sop).

Standing up for the puppets of Britain a rather dapper Mr. Punch made by Professor Bryan Clarke.

Beautiful three panel rendition of the story of Shim-cheong.

And a giant puppet guarding the entrance to the theatre toilets.

You can find directions to the Chuncheon Puppet Theatre and Museum here or you can call them on 033 242 8450. If you happen to be visiting Chuncheon, then it's worth a look, especially if you have any interest in the wonderful world of puppetry. For more puppet photos click here...

Competition Time at the Seoul Podcast and Korea4Expats

Just a heads up to let you know that if you want to win tickets to see the fabulous English language children's musical "Twelve Singing Animals" then you've got two chances in the next couple of days. 

Korea4Expats have two sets of two tickets on offer. To enter the draw just email events@korea4expats.com with your name and phone number. The deadline to enter is Thursday 28th May and the winners will be chosen the next day.

The Seoul Podcast also have four tickets on offer, just email jennifer@seoulpodcast.com with your name and tell them you're entering the competition. Their deadline is Friday 29th May.

If you've got kids or know someone who has, it's a great way to entertain them, plus you get to see Paul Ajosshi in a top hat playing the harmonica...

Dwenjang or Dabang?

Staying at the Dream Palace Motel (꿈의 궁전 모텔) in Chuncheon was a delightful experience, but the fridge magnets did give us pause for thought. Somebody there obviously thinks that the "Coffee Girl" service and buying good quality dwenjang paste go hand in hand...

Spicy Chicken Chuncheon Style

Ever since I first came to Korea nine years ago, there has been one dish that has held a special place in my heart - 닭갈비. A gorgeous mix of chicken, rice cakes, spring onions, sweet potato, cabbage and red pepper paste cooked together in a big iron pan at your table. Chuncheon is known as the place to go for authentic 닭갈비, but I never had a chance to visit there until now. Finally, my dreams of the real thing were fulfilled and I have the photos to prove it.

Stage One:  

Everything gets shoved in the pan...

Stage Two: 

Everything gets stirred around...

Stage Three:

The ajumma looks at you scornfully as you try to stir things round yourself, snatches the scraper off you and informs you that the rice cakes are ready to eat.

Stage Four:

You snaffle all the rice cakes and wait impatiently for the chicken to finish cooking. Drinking beer helps calm your frazzled nerves...

Stage Five:

The chicken has been deemed ready by the ajumma and you may tuck in. One of my dining companions pointed out that when the sweet potato is soft, then the chicken is ready to eat.

Stage Six:

After stuffing yourself, the ajumma sends in one of her young men to forcefully clean your pan with what looks disturbingly like a windscreen scraper. He proves to be very effective.

Stage Seven: 

Now comes the decision that separates the men from the boys... Rice or noodles? For me there can only be one answer - BOTH!

Stage Eight:

The ajumma tosses and turns rice and noodles as you drain another glass of beer and pat your distended stomach, then it's time to get down to business and clean your plate...

Stage Nine:

Enjoy the blissful state of spicy chicken nirvana, then leave the restaurant stinking of slightly charred fowl and feeling slightly guilty for consuming a day's worth of food in one sitting.

We went to 명동 1 번지, located about midway down the 명동 닭갈비 골목 (Myeong-dong Spicy Chicken Street) in the centre of Chuncheon. Our friends recommended this place to us, but there are many others on the street and I'd love to hear your recommendations. You can call 명동 1 번지 on 033 256 6448.

Duck!

I've just got back from the Chuncheon Mime Festival, but before I bring you pictures of spicy chicken and waterfalls, I thought I'd just let you know that my latest post for FatManSeoul has just gone up...

Roast duck in Hannam-dong. Delicious!

Jesus Power!

Walking round the streets of Yongsan today I found this wonderfully inspiring job offer. I thought I'd bring it to your attention, just in case you might want to join up.

Here's the text for your perusal:

JESUS POWER

I NEED YOUR HELP !!

THIS IS A GOOD AND INTERESTED BUSINESS

DO YOU KNOW KOREAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM?

HOW DO YOU THINK JAEBOL COMPANY?

I'M NOT RICH BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYONE

I'M SCENARIO WRITER I WANT TO REVEAL TRUTH, NOT MONOPOLY

WE HAVE TO KEEP FREE TRADE RULE

QUALIFICATION: AMERICAN (WHOEVER LOVE DEMOCRACY)

FAVORABLE: KOREAN LANGUAGE USED (WRITING,READING,TO A DEGREE),

CHRISTIAN(BAPTIST,.....),USA ARMY

CF)IF YOU SEND YOUR EMAIL and your name THROUGH MY EMAIL,I'LL SEND MY STORY

FOR YOUR EMAIL.

I check my email on mon,wednesday ,friday (be cautious)

goloosung[@]naver.com

THIS IS A GOOD

BUSINESS, DON'T

FORGET AMERICAN

SOLDIER'S SACRIFICE

FOR     KOREAN

DEMOCRACY (KOREAN

WAR), WE MUST FIGHT

EVIL AND     REVEAL

TRUTH

------------------------------

Unfortunately, I'm not American and so do not qualify for any position available (Though I would like to point out that I do love democracy). But I hope that those of you who hail from the United States of America have a chance to experience Jesus Power.

More Baked Deliciousness at the Market

Macaroni Market seems to be turning into the hottest venue in Itaewon. Night after night as I walk past on my way home, the place seems to be packed with young, hip, trendy people and as I sat down for lunch the other day, the restaurant quickly filled up with patrons eager to sample their food.

A new chef has just signed a two year contract at the Market and the menu has changed to suit his tastes. There's now a 20,000 won "Pure Beef Burger with Foie Gras" and the pasta menu has been filled out with a few new dishes. After my wonderful experiences with their titular dish, I thought I best try out their other baked pasta and so ordered the 15,000 won "Lasagna alla Bolonese".

While the portion size is not as huge as the macaroni and cheese, this beautifully presented square of lasagna holds its own. The richness of the beef, mushrooms and tomato is complemented by just a single layer of bechamel sauce on top; the flavours are not overwhelmed by the cheese and I felt like I was being transported back to my parent's kitchen, eating my mother's own baked pasta. A small salad dressed with only oil and lemon compliments the main dish and the rosemary focaccia is a welcome addition for wiping up any leftover sauce.

Downstairs at La Bocca a similar portion of delicious lasagna will set you back 25,000 won, but Macaroni Market have the edge with a much cheaper dish and a lighter, more enjoyable atmosphere.

For those who wanted to see "Old Partner"....

For all you gentle folks who missed out on seeing the fabulous documentary 워낭소리 (Old Partner) in the cinemas, I have some good news and some bad news.

The DVD has come out...

but it has no English subtitles!

What's going on? You show the film with English subtitles in the cinema and then you don't bother to put them on the DVD? What kind of idiot did they employ to process this film? Old Partner won the best documentary prize at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival; it was part of the official selection for the Sundance Film Festival this year; it was already shown with English subtitles... Oh the humanity!

Perhaps there is some fancy special edition DVD on the way, perhaps we'll be treated to narration by Morgan Freeman and the occasional addition of CGI penguins, but I very much doubt it. Thanks EIN*S M&M Multimedia and Marketing for producing a DVD which excludes non-Korean speakers. 

Back in March the producer of Old Partner was getting rather angry about the illegal online distribution of Old Partner, do you think this release is going to help? There is no legal way to obtain an english subtitled copy of Old Partner... so what are the pirating youths of the world going to do when they can't get their official old man and cow love story fix? I despair, I truly do... I've seen the film and I loved it, I'm just sorry that non-Korean speakers won't be able to enjoy the same experience on DVD.

For those who can speak Korean, please rush out and buy this wonderful DVD for only 7,700 won. For those who don't... I'm sorry you may have to wait a little longer to see this beautiful film.

Korean Movies Subtitled in English 2009/05/18-2009/05/20

The Hub of Sparkle seems to have blinked out of existence for a little while, so I'll post listings here and then on the Hub once it is back up...

The subtitle excitement continues this week as 박쥐 (Thirst), 잘 알지도 못하면서 (Like You Know It All), 김씨표류기 (Castaway on the Moon) and 7급 공무원 (Secret Couple or My Girlfriend is an Agent) fight for the hearts and minds of English subtitled filmgoers.

Thirst is on at CGV Yongsan:

Monday (18th) - 1455, 1740, 2025 and 2315

Tuesday (19th) - 1455, 1740, 2025 and 2315

Wednesday (20th) - 1345, 2030 and 2315

Like You Know It All is also on at CGV Yongsan:

Monday (18th) - 0850, 1345, 1845 and 2340

Tuesday (19th) - 0850, 1345, 1845 and 2340

Wednesday (20th) - 0840, 1335, 1900 and 2355

Castaway on the Moon is on at the Gangnam Cinus Theater:

Monday (18th) - 0815, 1035, 1250, 1505, 1720, 1935, 2150 and 2405

Tuesday (19th) - 0820, 1035, 1250, 1505, 1720, 1935, 2150 and 2405

Secret Couple is on at the Myeong-dong Cinus Theater:

Monday (18th) - 1120, 1540, 2210 and 2420

Tuesday (19th) - 1120, 1540, 2210 and 2420

At the Gangnam Cinus Theater:

Monday (18th) - 0810, 1025, 1240, 1455, 1710, 2140 and 2400

At the Myeong-dong Lotte Cinema:

Monday (18th) - 0930, 1140, 1350 and 2250

Tuesday (19th) - 0930, 1140, 1350 and 2230

Wednesday (20th) - 0930, 1140, 1350 and 2230

At the Ansan Lotte Cinema:

Monday (18th) - 0950, 1205 and 1420

Tuesday (19th) - 0950, 1205 and 1420

Wednesday (20th) - 0950, 1205 and 1420

At the Busan Lotte Cinema:

Monday (18th) - 1100, 1320, 1540, 1800, 2240 and 2500

Tuesday (19th) - 1100, 1320, 1540, 1800, 2240 and 2500

Wednesday (20th) - 1100, 1320, 1540, 1800, 2240 and 2500

I'll update as and when the Cinus listings appear. All listings are correct at time of posting, but may disappear at the click of a button. 

Subtitled Vampires A Go Go!

Just finished writing my latest listings for The Hub of Sparkle and was amazed to find that CGV Yongsan will start showing 박쥐 (Thirst) with English subtitles from tomorrow!

I urge you to take time out of your busy weekend schedules and head down to Yongsan to see some dark and moody vampire action. I'll be heading back next week (as long as they keep showing it) for my second viewing, but this time I'll actually be able to understand what's going on!

Plus Hong Sang-soo's latest film is also being screened with English subtitles. Summer has arrived and the subtitled movies are crawling out of the woodwork!

Thanks CGV Yongsan.... You're the best!