Comments on: The Development of Korean Culture Is A Money Thing? http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/ Korea... in Blog Format Tue, 2 Dec 2008 00:45:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: TomCoyner http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50739 TomCoyner Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:31:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50739 During the ten years my family lived in Tokyo during the 1990's, either as a family or as individuals we would frequent Shimo Kitazawa. The place is like Insadong on steroids BEFORE most recent redevelopment of Insa -- and 100 times more hip than any place in Seoul, save possibly Hongdae. What may be different is that a sizeable number of Japanese are organizing a serious resistance movement against the highway. There was only token resistance with Insa five years ago. The end result may be the same. I hope not. But if anyone has not yet been to Shimo Kitazawa, by all means GO the next time you make it to Tokyo. You won't regret it -- or you may be too late. During the ten years my family lived in Tokyo during the 1990’s, either as a family or as individuals we would frequent Shimo Kitazawa. The place is like Insadong on steroids BEFORE most recent redevelopment of Insa — and 100 times more hip than any place in Seoul, save possibly Hongdae. What may be different is that a sizeable number of Japanese are organizing a serious resistance movement against the highway. There was only token resistance with Insa five years ago. The end result may be the same. I hope not. But if anyone has not yet been to Shimo Kitazawa, by all means GO the next time you make it to Tokyo. You won’t regret it — or you may be too late.

]]> By: montclaire http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50735 montclaire Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:10:58 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50735 Insadong is to Korean culture as the Cheonggyecheon is to nature. Insadong is to Korean culture as the Cheonggyecheon is to nature.

]]> By: L'Ombre de l'Olivier http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50734 L'Ombre de l'Olivier Mon, 02 Oct 2006 19:20:20 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50734 <strong>Blogs, Town Planning & Local News...</strong> The Marmot's Hole links to a NY Times article about Shomikitazawa, Tokyo which reports on the feeble but slowly growing movement to protest unsightly developments. I think the article is, in many ways, a classic of MSM drive-by reporting because, in .... Blogs, Town Planning & Local News…

The Marmot’s Hole links to a NY Times article about Shomikitazawa, Tokyo which reports on the feeble but slowly growing movement to protest unsightly developments. I think the article is, in many ways, a classic of MSM drive-by reporting because, in ….

]]> By: sewing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50732 sewing Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:39:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50732 Like Haisan, I seek out out-of-the-way places, too. I suppose that makes me a snob as well, but sightseeing is simply less stressful when you're not knocking elbows with a hundred other camera-toting tourists or jostling with busloads of bemused kids on field trips, all trying out their best "Hello!"s. Anyhow, it's somehow more rewarding finding the more neglected buildings, parks, etc...sometimes, they even seem closer to their past than the gussied-up, high-profile draws like Gyeongbokgung or Namdaemun. For shopping, I'd rather go to a neighbourhood market than Namdaemun, let alone Myeongdong or the department stores. Ditto for restaurants...give me the workaday, hole-in-the-wall sikdangs (as long as the food's good) over half the restaurants in Gangnam any day (unless someone else is paying! ;) ) Like Haisan, I seek out out-of-the-way places, too. I suppose that makes me a snob as well, but sightseeing is simply less stressful when you’re not knocking elbows with a hundred other camera-toting tourists or jostling with busloads of bemused kids on field trips, all trying out their best “Hello!”s. Anyhow, it’s somehow more rewarding finding the more neglected buildings, parks, etc…sometimes, they even seem closer to their past than the gussied-up, high-profile draws like Gyeongbokgung or Namdaemun. For shopping, I’d rather go to a neighbourhood market than Namdaemun, let alone Myeongdong or the department stores. Ditto for restaurants…give me the workaday, hole-in-the-wall sikdangs (as long as the food’s good) over half the restaurants in Gangnam any day (unless someone else is paying! ;) )

]]> By: sewing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50730 sewing Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:28:48 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50730 ...Oh yeah, and since the first time we visited that tea garden, our hosts paid, we didn't learn until our last visit that on top of all the other disappointments, the tea in question was hopelessly overpriced! …Oh yeah, and since the first time we visited that tea garden, our hosts paid, we didn’t learn until our last visit that on top of all the other disappointments, the tea in question was hopelessly overpriced!

]]> By: vonjackass http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50728 vonjackass Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:25:42 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50728 Double or triple priced green tea? Shoddy, off the shelf paintings? A $9 cup of tea? Insadong is washed right out. Whenever I walk through there anymore, I just feel like telling the folk walking down the street that they are better off buying their tourist trinkets anywhere but there...and as for culture is concerned, there is more Korean culture reflected in the jewelry store windows around the corner on Jongno as there is in Insadong. Double or triple priced green tea? Shoddy, off the shelf paintings? A $9 cup of tea? Insadong is washed right out. Whenever I walk through there anymore, I just feel like telling the folk walking down the street that they are better off buying their tourist trinkets anywhere but there…and as for culture is concerned, there is more Korean culture reflected in the jewelry store windows around the corner on Jongno as there is in Insadong.

]]> By: Haisan http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50727 Haisan Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:21:32 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50727 (I should probably use fewer parentheses (parenthetically speaking)). (I should probably use fewer parentheses (parenthetically speaking)).

]]> By: Haisan http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50726 Haisan Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:20:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50726 The Ssamzie building is located where a damn fine galbi-jib used to be. And although I really dislike the new building at least, 1) the owner gave a bunch of really cool people free (or almost free) use of much of the space pre-construction, and 2) the owner is legitimately interesting in improving Korea's art and music scenes. He put his money down and has tried to make things better, especially with Ssamzie Space in Hongdae (which has kind of fizzled out, but at least he tried). I should probably admit, though, I am one of the unhelpful ones. I jealously guard many of my favorite spots, and do not want them swamped with the touristy hordes (foreign or domestic). Not sure if that makes me a hypocrite or a dick or what, but that is how I feel (not always, but often). Let the tourists have Insa-dong and Hongdae and the (faux) palaces. Let the kyopos have Apgujeong and Gangnam and (the faux) Hongdae. I am quite happy with my Korea. The Ssamzie building is located where a damn fine galbi-jib used to be. And although I really dislike the new building at least, 1) the owner gave a bunch of really cool people free (or almost free) use of much of the space pre-construction, and 2) the owner is legitimately interesting in improving Korea’s art and music scenes. He put his money down and has tried to make things better, especially with Ssamzie Space in Hongdae (which has kind of fizzled out, but at least he tried).

I should probably admit, though, I am one of the unhelpful ones. I jealously guard many of my favorite spots, and do not want them swamped with the touristy hordes (foreign or domestic). Not sure if that makes me a hypocrite or a dick or what, but that is how I feel (not always, but often). Let the tourists have Insa-dong and Hongdae and the (faux) palaces. Let the kyopos have Apgujeong and Gangnam and (the faux) Hongdae. I am quite happy with my Korea.

]]> By: hardyandtiny http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50724 hardyandtiny Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:15:55 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50724 Thank God for Namsan.... Thank God for Namsan….

]]> By: Sperwer http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50722 Sperwer Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:01:41 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/02/the-development-of-korean-culture-is-a-money-thing/#comment-50722 I think Haosan is correct insofar as Insadong has evolved/changed/been changed into something quite different from what it once was and in a way that has pretty much obliterated what it functioned as. I also think you've over-reached in describing the City's plan as involving a shopping center. It's a five story "establishment" (they say) with performance venues, a tourist info center, museum and a marketplace for traditional arts and crafts. Moreover, that's now far off what has been there on and off again for several years. What they should have done is prevented the construction of that crime against architecture and taste put up by the Szzamie guy. I think Haosan is correct insofar as Insadong has evolved/changed/been changed into something quite different from what it once was and in a way that has pretty much obliterated what it functioned as.

I also think you’ve over-reached in describing the City’s plan as involving a shopping center. It’s a five story “establishment” (they say) with performance venues, a tourist info center, museum and a marketplace for traditional arts and crafts. Moreover, that’s now far off what has been there on and off again for several years. What they should have done is prevented the construction of that crime against architecture and taste put up by the Szzamie guy.

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