Gwang ha mun Square

After the language class, i surely need a break before visit Asean and Korean Center in the evening. I want to visit some places nearby. I still have 6 hours to go before i have to meet my buddy. Because we are in Ssangdari right now. So the nearest place from our position is this one (look at the map).

Here we are, Gwang ha mun Square. It’s located near Gwang ha mun gate, in Jongno-gu district. Gwang ha mun square has a monument which known as Haetae monument. Haetae monument regarded as guardian of palace against fire. When we walking along we will find the traces of old Seoul, Hanyang. In front of Sejong Center, there is a huge monument of the King, King Sejong. It’s 6 meters high, 4 meters wide (i guess). Between a bronze statue of Admiral Yi Sun-shin and the Sejong Center, there is a gallery with formative arts, photographs, etc. Also, as you can see in the picture above, the stream of water spouts out from the fountain. At night, the fountain is much beautiful because of the light.

Besides, there is “Memorial Waterway” too, seems like artificial river which flows underground water, which goes from both Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun subway stations to Cheonggyecheon Stream. Plus, behind the Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin is “Sunken Square” which connects Gwanghwamun subway station and the ground allowing people to access the Square easier.

Transportation

There are so many station in this district, you can reach this area by subway or bus.

If you take Subway, you can choose one of these station
1) City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1 & 2), Exit 3.
2) Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 6 & 7.
3) Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 1, 2 & 8.

If you take Bus, you can choose one of these *depends on your initial position
Red Bus: 5500-2, 9602, 9706, 9708, 9713
Blue Bus: 103, 150, 401, 402, 406, 408, 607,704
Green Bus: 0212, 1711, 7016, 7018, 7022, 8000
Village Bus: Jongno 09, Jongno 11

Korean Language Class

Today I have language class at Seonbuk global village centre or usually called 서울글로벌센터 in hangul. It’s like a school which has functions as a community center where Korean and foreign residents can come together and share their cultures. By sharing and coming together will help us to overcome cultural differences and work toward building a common cultural community.

  

The building located in Seonbuk, Seongbuk-dong district. Not far enough from my guesthouse, around 2 miles away. Seongbuk-dong is a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and woods where numerous ambassadors and people from lots of different countries found their homes. As a means of true multicultural diversity and exchange, the school not only bring any aspect of the Korean culture closer to foreign residents but introduce the cultures of many different countries to Koreans as well.

 

How to go there?

 

Hyehwa Bus Station (06.30 AM)

 

It’s a simple question from my junior. Well, it depends on what day you asked to me, because i always try something new everyday. On the first day i go there by bus, but on the next day i try to use subway. When i use the bus i have to chase the bus in peep of day (early morning). After that i’m looking for a bus which has specific code 2112. Unlike in Indonesia, it has arrival and departure time which is showed in blackboard located near the bus station. I ride the bus from Hyehwa Marronnier Park Station then get off at Seongbok-gu SSangdari Station. The bus take me in 15 minutes to my destination through 2.2 Km main road, 7 bus stop, and cost 1200 won.

 

Location of Hyehwa station (first point) and SSangdari station (End point)

Location of Seongbuk Global Village Center from SSangdari station

 

On the second day when i use subway, i don’t really need to wake up early ‘cause it’s very easy to chase the subway and it has more frequently arrival time. In my case, it through 3 station, started from Hyehwa station to Gireum station (the nearest station from the school). The subway also cheaper than the bus (only 720 won) and take less time than the bus (only 7 to 8 minutes). Here is the details if i take subway :

 

 

1. From Hyehwa station (my guesthouse district) i need take line 4 subway to Gireum station.
2. The subway will pass 2 station, Hansung univ station and Sungshin women univ station.
3. When i arrive at Gireum station i still need to walk along 0.3 Km to school.
4. The fares will be like this :

 

Using Ticket		Using Transit Card
Regular	1350	Regular	1250
Teenagers	1350	Teenagers	720
Children	500	Children	450

I have a transit card and i’m not teenagers anymore so you already know how much i have to pay.

 

In your opinion, between the bus and subway which is better?

Write down your answer in the comment

 

 

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#1 day class

 

On the first class, i learn about hangul basic. Learn about its alphabets, how to read, and first meeting sentences. Even though Korean may look just like Chinese or Japanese to the untrained eye, it is actually much easier, because the characters are a combination of just 24 letters and a few simple variations, rather than a few thousand more or less random drawings. So even going at a relaxed pace of 4 letters per lesson, i will have learned everything i need to read Korean after just a few hours, while i think the Japanese or Chinese scripts take years to be mastered.

 

 

Furthermore, I also learn about the origins of hangul and know the fact if Korean was usually written from right to left in vertical columns. Since then writing from left to right in horizontal lines has become popular, and today the majority of texts are written horizontally.

 

My korean teacher, Jiyeon

 

Together with my friends, we learn for 2 hours in medium size class called Seongbuk Sem room which has room heater, free coffee and free wi-fi, astonishing. In this time i also meet my first korean friend, Nayoung.  

#2 day class

 

For this time, i learn more about korean language especially writing and speaking. First, In writing i learn that korean words are consist of consonant and vocal (vowel) letter. Which is always started with consonant letter. The shapes of the the consonants “g/k, n, s, m and ng” are graphical representations of the speech organs used to pronounce them. Other consonants were created by adding extra lines to the basic shapes. The shapes of the the vowels are based on three elements: man (a vertical line), earth (a horizontal line) and heaven (a dot). In modern Hangeul the heavenly dot has mutated into a short line. Spaces are placed between words, which can be made up of one or more syllables. The sounds of some consonants change depending on whether they appear at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a syllable.

 

I like a coffee because it gives me illusion that i might be awake - Lewis Black