[MANNAM international] Famous Korean food; Perilla Seeds Sujebi(Korean pasta soup)

[MANNAM international] Famous Korean food: Perilla Seeds Sujebi(Korean pasta soup)

MANNAM recommend Korean food

Today I want to introduce dear MANNAM friends delicious and healthy Korean restaurant. Usually what do you think about Korean foods? Bulgogi? Kim-chi? Bibimbab? Today, forget about famous ones. This food is healthy but unfamiliar to even Korean. One day, I got bad cold and one of my MANNAM friend took me to this restaurant. At that time, I barely swallowed food but this food is like soup so I could eat a whole bowl.

Have you got cold? I want to recommend sujebi when you feel sick and have a cold in Korea. It will make you warm:D

This is a Perilla Seeds Sujebi(들깨 수제비).

 I can say it’s kind of Korean-style Pasta soup.

what is the Sujebi?

Basically, Sujebi is wheat-flour dumplings in as clear soup with soy sauce, which commonly also contains other ingredients such as thinly sliced zucchini, laver, carrot or potato. It's one of famous Korean foods.

In this restaurant, a wheat-flour dumpling mixed with acorn powder is  special. That's why it looks gray and tasty is more chewy. Plus, perilla seeds powder is in soup.

Effectiveness of acorn

If you look in eastern medicinal manual 'Donguibogam', The effectiveness of acorn is

 promoting digestion and making strong intestine and stomach. When you have a sore throat, it's effective.

This is an acorn pancake (도토리 부침개).

If you get there, you should eat it as well.

Piping-hot sujebi, with its chewy dumpling, is popular with Koreans especially on a rainy day. It makes melt our mind and warm on rainy day.

How to get there 

This restaurant is located in Guduri in chunchoen city. If you have a chance to travel Gangwon province, drop by this famous restaurant "Junghyuen dotori yimjatang"(정현 도토리 임자탕).  

address 강원도 춘천시 동내면 거두리 962-2 

number 033-263-0002

[MANNAM] Korean Culture: What Do You Exchange with your Neighbor?

[MANNAM] Korean Culture: What Do You Exchange with your Neighbor?

In modern life, what did you exchange with people today? Money? Products? Or Ideas?

Here is something special to exchange in Korean culture. I will give you a hint. It’s invisible.

In rural areas, neighbors help out on each other’s farm. Helping each other’s works for nothing, we called it “Pum At-i.” “Pum At-i.” means exchange of labor. “Pum” is “work”. “At-i” is “exchange”.   

As developing the tertiary industry, agriculture has declined in Korea. Therefore it is uncommon now like before but it is still exist with the other shape of “Pum At-i.” For example, helping friend in moving to new house, making kimchi together(usually make more than 10 heads of napa cabbage each house at once), featuring in album without no money, etc.

We have regarded mutual help as a virtue. In company, there is a Mutual Aid Society. If some employee has a family event like funeral or wedding. Mutual Aid Society attend and help him.

When I was a kid, I remember my neighbor who was genial middle aged women. She was willing to take care of me in place of hospitalized my mother. After mom came back from hospital, mom said to her “I am so appreciate your help. I don’t know how to repay you for this.” She said, “We need more mutual help in adversity.”

This spirit of mutual help and “Pum At-I” is what the root of MANNAM. MANNAM is exchanging not only labor also a warm heart. Let’s suppose we exchange a warm heart. so all of people got warm heart. Isn’t it easier to make world peace?  

[MANNAM] The Five Cardinal Colors of Korean Food

Hi, MANNAM International friends! Do you like Korean Food? How do you describe Korean food using only one word? You may say “delicious”, “spicy”, or “hot”. If I describe Korean Food with one word, I will choose “colorful”.

Look at the photos above. Do they look delicious? They are three different kinds of Korean Food — “Jeon”, “Kim-bab”, and “Bi-bim-bab”. In each photo, you can find yellow, green, white, red and black. Yellow, white, red, black, and blue are called Korean five cardinal colors.

From the three kinds of colorful Korean Food, we can see Koreans ideas of “What looks good tastes good.” By adding different colored vegetables, Koreans improve not only the nutritional value of food, but also the appearance the dishes.

As Korean Food, MANNAM International Volunteer Association is also colorful. Why MANNAM International is colorful? One may say, “Because we have a wide variety of races, nationalities, languages, religions, and cultures.” Yes. That’s the answer. As members of a colorful volunteer association, let’s unite our hearts and efforts to make a more harmonious world through our volunteerism and peace campaign.

[MANNAM] Knowing the cultural difference

[MANNAM] Knowing the cultural difference

Have you ever wondered what ‘rice’ means) to Asians? Or 'bread' to westerners?

Both rice and bread are staple diets.

Then what would ‘bread‘ mean to westerners?

It seems like rice means something more than a staple food for Asian.

Then what is different and how is it different?

While I was googling, I found a very good article which explains how bread means to Asians and Westerners.

It gives a good explanation based on the author’s own experience of living in Korea as a foreigner.

I found this article is very interesting, so if you want to read it, below is the direct address to that article.

Source: http://healingmanmam.blogspot.kr/2013/02/mannam-culture-clues-s-korea-and-united.html

MANNAM International Friends, Fighting!

Hi, MANNAM International Friends! How long have you been living in Korea? While living in Korea, have you found there are several words Koreans have a predilection for? As for me, I have realized that Koreans like to use “Fighting!” much more than any other word in their daily life.

Many of you may be curious why Koreans say “Fighting!” so much. They say “Fighting!” when they take pictures, start a soccer game, or prepare for exams. It is a very popular phrase among Koreans. Then, what does “Fighting!” mean? You may have already guessed that “Fighting!” does not mean as its literal meaning. In fact, it has similar meaning as phrases such as “You can do it!”, “Good luck!”, and “Have a great day!”.

As members of MANNAM International, everyone in MANNAM International is working for world peace. Sometimes, there will be difficulties. However, together we can overcome them and on the road to peace, let’s “Fighting!”.

[MANNAM Peace Campaign] Let’s Make An “An-nyeong-han (Peaceful)” World Together!

Hi, MANNAM International friends! Do you know how Koreans greet each other? In English speaking countries, people usually ask “How are you?”, “What’s up?”, or “How’s everything going?” While, in Korea, people will ask “An-nyeong-ha-se-yo? (How are you?)”, “Bap- meo-geo-sseo-yo? (Have you eaten rice?)”, or “Eo-di-ga-yo? (Where are you going?)”. In the sentence of “An-nyeong-ha-se-yo?”, “An-nyeong” literally means “peace”.

In fact, these Koran greetings are related to war. In the past, there were so many wars in Korea that it was not easy for people to spend every day peacefully or safely. Nobody knew what would happen in the next minute. People might have to unexpectedly leave their homes, suddenly guard against the enemy, or unfortunately lose their lives. Therefore, when Korean people spent a night and got up the next morning, the first greeting they ask was “An-nyeong-ha-se-yo?” — “Have you spent a peaceful or safe night?”

Sometimes we can consider “war” equal to “no food”. During war time, since people could not do farm work properly, there was a food shortage. As a result, Korean people were often starved. Therefore, when Koreans met each other, they began to ask “Bap- meo-geo-sseo-yo?” as a greeting.

When you came to Korean at first, you may curious why Koreans always ask you “Eo-di-ga-yo?” In some cultures, the question may be considered as a private one. However, in Korean Culture, it is a common greeting which is also related to war. In the past, once there was a war, many Korean people lost their homes and possessions that they had to move from pillar to post. From then on, when they met each other in the street, they would ask “Eo-di-ga-yo?” They may want to ask “Do you know a safe place?”

Simple Korean greetings, but sad history. Imagine you live in a place where you have to go hungry, tremble with fear by bombardment, and live in fear of death every day. Then, we can call the place “a hell”. In the world, is there anybody who wants to live in such a hell? No. MANNAM International friends, to cease wars in the world and build an “An-nyeong-han (Peaceful)” world, let’s work together!

[MANNAM] Chopsticks In East Asian Culture

Hi, MANNAM International friends! How long have you been in Korea? When you first came to Korea, what difficulties did you have? For many MANNAM International friends, using chopsticks may be one of the difficulties to face while living in Korea. Chopsticks are the traditional utensil of East Asian cultures, but there are some differences in length, shape, and material.

Have you ever seen a Japanese person having a meal in Japanese cartoon? When Japanese have a meal, they usually hold their bowls and only use chopsticks. Therefore, chopsticks should be short enough for Japanese people to eat quickly. What’s more, since Japanese eat fish a lot, their chopsticks have sharp point at the end. The sharp point of the chopsticks is useful for Japanese to separate the flesh of fish from bones.

As for the Korean chopsticks, you may be very familiar with them. Japanese and Chinese chopsticks are usually made of wood, but Korean chopsticks are made of metal. People can use metal chopsticks for a longer time compared to wooden ones. Additionally, in order to pick up vegetables with the chopsticks more easily, Koreans use thin and flat chopsticks. In Korean culture, when Korean people have a meal, they use both chopsticks and a spoon.

Among the three countries, Chinese use the longest chopsticks. The long chopsticks can prevent them from burning their hands on stir-fried and hot food. Usually, Chinese chopsticks are made of wood. Wooden chopsticks are very useful for them to pick up rice, noodles, and various dishes.

Chopsticks in Japan, Korea, and China are all different in length, shape, and material. However, when people in these three countries have a meal, a pair of chopsticks is a necessity. Similarly, although members of MANNAM International have diverse cultures, languages, and nationalities, everyone is indispensable for the world peace campaign. With each one’s strengths, MANNAM International will surely achieve world peace. 

[MANNAM] The Korean Culture Of “Woo-ri”

Hi, MANNAM International friends! How long have you been living in Korea? During your stay in Korea, what is the most frequently heard Korean word? As for me, one of the most frequently heard words is “Woo-ri”. “Woo-ri” means we, our, us, ours or ourselves. Koreans use “Woo-ri” so often that you can hear it whenever and wherever. “Woo-ri Na-ra (our country)”, “Woo-ri Seon-su (our athletes)” “Woo-ri Mal (our language)”, “Woo-ri Gul (our alphabet)”, “Woo-ri Ssal (our rice)” and so on.

In fact, you can say “Korea” instead of “Woo-ri Na-ra” or use “Korean Athletes” rather than “Woo-ri Seon-su”. There is no difference in meaning. However, when you hear “Woo-ri Na-ra”, “Woo-ri Seon-su”, or “Woo-ri Mal”, you can feel the Korean people’s love, responsibility, and loyalty to their country and cohesiveness, unity, and oneness among Korean people.

As members of MANNAM International Volunteer Association, we all work together to embody the spirit of pure volunteerism and promote unity among the peoples and the cultures of the world. In a word, MANNAM International is doing a great work not only for us but for the world.

To do a great work as a group, all MANNAM International members should be cohesive, united, and work as one. That is the culture of “Woo-ri”. Also, to do a great work for the world, we need love, responsibility, and loyalty to the world. That is the spirit of “Woo-ri”. Above all, the reason why MANNAM International does a great work for the world is there is only one world and it belongs to everyone in the world. In Korean, we can say “Woo-ri Se-gye (our world)”.

[MANNAM] A Peaceful World: Where There Is Only Good News

Hello, MANNAM International friends! Did you spend a good Dae-bo-reum (literally "Great Full Moon") during the weekend? How did you celebrate it? Did you catch the first rise of the moon to have good luck all year? Or did you crack nuts to keep your teeth healthy for the year? There were several customs and traditions very special for foreigners and drinking Gwi-balgi-sul (귀밝이술) was among one of them.

Gwi-balgi-sul is a combination of gwi (ears), balgi (clearning), and sul (alcohol/liquor). It is a cold, clear, strained rice wine. People drink it on the morning of Dae-bo-reum, since they believe that Gwi-balgi-sul will help them to have healthy ears and hear only good news during the whole year! To hear only good news, it isn’t only wishes of Korean people. It is wishes of all MAMMAM International members and also wishes of people all over the world.

Today, there are still people who are suffering from war. Because of war, more problems such as poverty, diseases, and even death threat their life. To them, ceasing the war is undoubtedly the good news. For the good news, there will be many people who are struggling for it at this very moment. MANNAM International will also try our best to cease wars in the world.

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Korea Be Inspired. Feb. 27^th.  http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1797059

[MANNAM] Korean Traditional Culture, Jo-gak-bo

Dear, MANNAM international friends, today I'd like to introduce one of the Korean Traditional culture.

That is Jo-gak-bo(조각보)—patchwork wrapping cloth.

This boudoir handicraft of wrapping cloth can be used in various ways from wrapping boxes or things to covering fruits.

Jo-gak-bo is used not only in our daily life, but also for the ritual ceremony.

It is not merely a hand-made fabric, it contains the mindset of Korean ancestors.



Image from Jo-gak-bo Museum (조각보박물관)

Each stitch of Jo-gak-bo brings different fabric and design into one beautiful piece of art.
It shows Korean's traditional mind that emphasizes harmony.
Although the size of each fabric piece is different,each different fabric with various colors comes together to make one harmonious artwork.
This artwork which shows the embracing mind, which reminds MANNAM's mindset of embracing different cultures.        
As the mindset within the patchwork of different fabric, Jo-gak-bo, MANNAM embrace and respect all the various styles of culture.
As MANNAM international association, we work to promote unity among the peoples and the cultures of the world.

It's because we believe that unity of people and cultures of the world will make a beautiful and better world, like the beautiful art piece of Jo-gak-bo.

MANNAM Have you ever look up the moon in the sky today?

MANNAM Have you looked up the moon in the sky?

Have you looked up the moon in the sky?

I’m not sure whether you looked it up or not, but it was full moon tonight,

 Today’s moon was a little more special than normal one

It was the first full-moon since lunar new year began.

You might think the shape of the moon is not so important, but this is Korean holiday.

It is called 대보름 (Dae-bo-reum, which literally means ‘Great Full Moon’.

It is the day that celebrates the first full moon of the new year of the Korean lunar calendar.                                

On this Dae-bo-reum, the Great Full Moon day, there are some traditional customs and cultural games.

As one of the traditions, people burn the dry grass on the rice fields. Children also whirl around the cans with holes, with fire in it. This action fertilizes the fields and gets rid of the harmful worms that destroy the new crops. It is called 쥐불놀이(Geuy-bul-no-ri).

To celebrate the full moon, people stand beside each other and make a big circle to dance together.

Most of all, the highlight of the Dae-bo-reum (full moon day), is Burning Dal-jip (달집).

Dal-jip is a heap of straw or twigs. Some of them are tall as 30m.

Around Dal-jip, people tie the paper one which their wishes are written.

On the first full moon day, people write their own wishes and burn heap of straw to ward off their misfortune and bring good luck.

They wish for good luck and no one wants misfortune or bad luck, because they don’t want to live a miserable life.

What is your wish? Living a healthy life? Or making a fortune?

Those wishes are also good, but how about making a small wish for people you don’t know yet?

Most of people make a wish for themselves, or for their beloved family.

However, not many people make a wish for others.

Tonight with the full moon, how about making a small wish for people who live in the opposite position of your country?

You don’t know them, but as we are living in the same global village, it would be nice to wish for someone you don’t know.

It might sound strange to you, but wouldn’t you feel good if someone is wishing a good luck for you, even those person who do not know you?

So, why don’t we make a small wish for the others, underneath the first full-moon?

[MANNAM] How Many Bowls Of Tteokguk (Korean Rice Cake Soup) Have You Eaten?

Hello, MANNAM friends! Have you ever been asked “How many bowls of tteokguk have you eaten?” On the Lunar New Year's Day and sometimes New Year’s Day, Koreans eat tteokguk (떡국), rice cake soup as their tradition. Therefore, if someone asks you “how many bowls of tteokguk have you eaten?”, don’t be nervous. It is another way to ask “how old are you?”

In tteokguk, there are pieces of white rice cake and Koreans call the rice cake tteok (떡). Few people are curious why tteok in tteokguk is white, but in fact, the white color has its own special meaning. White means purity, beginning, outstanding, and long life. Therefore, eating white tteokguk on the first day of the year means to forget bad memories last year and live a meaningful life. [1]

MANNAM friends, how do you evaluate your life in 2012? We did lots of works and events in the last year and each of them was contributive to our neighbors and society. In the coming year, MANNAM will continue volunteering and we invite you to join us and make our 2013 more meaningful.  Are you ready to give your pure love to others through volunteering in 2013?

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[1] “The Origin of Tteokguk”. Happynsmile.co.kr. 25 Jan 2013. http://happynsmile.co.kr/90076364301