Missing Korea

For the first time I finally had the courage to browse through the photos I took during my last travel to Korea, Spring of last year. I’m decorating my 2015 planner and, of course, photos from Korea are a must!

Mixed emotions. Bittersweet.

The memories are killing me as I click through each and every folder. But the priceless happiness that I felt during those days also came rushing in. It’s as if I can feel, once again, the coolness of Korean Spring breeze brushing through my face and the warmth brought by the fluttering of my heart is embracing me. I’m glad that more than the pain and sadness, I’m feeling happy seeing the photos I took then.

It also makes me miss Korea so much and for the first time since I returned I felt the urge to go back. Korea Spring 2015, I can’t wait for you! How I wish I can once again witness spring in the next few months but I have to wait until 2015 – when I’m more ready. Just one year. I’ll be a good girl for the meantime.

I’m still halfway through my folders (Day 28 of 51). Sharing some of my favorite photos. When I’m more ready and have more time I’ll post more photos and anecdotes from my stay in Korea both on Summer of 2012 and Spring of 2013. I wish I’ve taken more photos – prettier photos ㅠㅠ 아쉽다!

2013.03.23 Namsan Tower

2013.03.23 Namsan Tower

2013.03.29 Hangang Park (Jamsil)

2013.03.29 Hangang Park (Jamsil)

2013.04.07 Naksan

2013.04.17 Dangsan Bridge

xx오빠, 이 사진들을 볼 수 있음 좋겠다. 어떻게 생각할지 되게 궁금해. 너… 보고 싶어… 아니… 안보고 싶어!

[뉴스] Pinoy tourists to South Korea expected to increase following relaxed visa rules

Pinoy tourists to South Korea expected to increase following relaxed visa rules

 (The Philippine Star) | Updated August 25, 2013 – 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines – When the South Korean government relaxes its visa rules starting Sept. 1, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) Manila Office expects more Filipino tourists to Korea.

Filipinos who have visited Korea at least once are now eligible for a one-year multiple-entry visa under the new rules.

Those who have visited Korea more than twice are eligible for a three-year multiple-entry visa.

And visitors who previously held a three-year multiple-entry visa can now obtain a five-year visa.

Rules have been relaxed for Chinese and other Southeast Asian nationals, too.

Sangyong Zhu, director of KTO Manila, is positive that easing visa rules will translate to more visitors to Korea.

“Korea is always ahead in visa processing compared by other countries. We are confident that visitor arrivals to Korea will surpass more than 12.5 million visitors again this year, “he said.

From January to July, Korea welcomed more than 6.3 million visitors.

This year, tourists from Philippines alone increased by 61.5 percent in March, 8.5 percent in April, 12.1 percent in May, 47 percent in June, and 74.4 percent in July compared to 2012.

For information, call the KTO Manila office at 880-0312 to 0313 or e-mail ktomanila@gmail.com.

꺄악!!!!!! This is good news! Getting a tourist visa to South Korea has always been a struggle for many Filipinos. I’ve been there. Done that. It’s NOT EASY! And now… now… I may be able to get a 3-year multiple-visa entry???!!!!! 꺄아아아아아ㅏㅏㅏㅏㅏㅏ!!!!! Thanks to this news my mood got better. I was, yet again, on a sour mood since yesterday… but now I can finally smile and have something to look forward to…. ^^

Korea, see you again in 2013!

A pleasant surprise came at the end of last year. I just “passed by” the Korean Embassy before Christmas and submitted a tourist visa application “just for fun” since I was in the area frequently at that time. I submitted my application without any expectations at all. In fact I don’t actually have plans of coming back to Korea soon. Some friends were asking me why would I go to Korea and I just answer, “No particular reason” because there really aren’t any (aside from the obvious fact that I loved my stay there last summer and I’d do anything to be there once again).

Nonetheles I’m excited! I never thought I’ll be able to go back there this soon. Heck, I even thought I may not be able to go back (at least not in yeeeeaaarss). But here’s my visa and all I need now are roundtrip plane tickets and I’m off to go!!!

See you again, Korea! 🙂

[촬영장소] City Hall – Porridge Restaurant 본죽 당산점

Any City Hallers would know this porridge restaurant that has been on a number of City Hall episodes. How can one forget how Jo Guk tried hard not to cry while eating his porridge and looking at Mayor Shin Mi Rae’s photo?

scene from the drama

scene from the drama

scene from the drama

scene from the drama

scene from the drama

What I love most in this shop is that they preserved the props used in the drama  – the tarpaulin with Shin Mi Rae’s photo even if it has been 3 years already. They also proudly display some more photos from the drama inside and outside the shop. There’s even a nice signage that reads “City Hall Filming Location” outside. Whereas some of Kim Sun Ah’s filming drama locations have either renovated their place already or have taken down photos from her dramas.

ADDRESS:

서울특별시 영등포구 당산동6가 216-8
+82 2-2635-6287

HOW TO GET THERE:

Take line 9. Get off 당산 station. Take exit 8. Walk straight ahead. You’ll find the porridge shop on your left.

[촬영장소] City Hall – National Assembly of South Korea

Alright, there were actually no scenes that was ‘really’ filmed inside (or even outside) the National Assembly, I believe. Just a POV of Jo Guk from his car and some studio-filmed scenes that was supposed to be the inside of the National Assembly (unless they really filmed it inside?).

Nonetheless, for Kim Sun Ah / City Hall fans (fondly called Cityhallers), the National Assembly = Congressman Jo Guk!

scene from the drama

scene from the drama

photo taken from the back – which i think is how it was shot in the drama as well

HOW TO GET THERE:

Take Line 9 and get off 국회의사당 station Exit 1.

[촬영장소] I Do I Do – 수상한 포차 목동점 Choong Baek’s Restaurant

The place where EVERYTHING started in I Do I Do – Choong Baek’s 포차.

Scene from the drama

Scene from the drama

I went there twice. First to just look at the place. Next time I went there to join a 모임 with some Korean fans of Kim Sun Ah. The food and drinks were good! 🙂

ADDRESS:

서울시 양천구 신정동 902-1 산정빌딩 4층 403호.

1577-3817

HOW TO GET THERE:

Take subway line 5. Get off 목동역 exit 1. Walk straight for a few meters. It’s on your left, right next to a 노래방.

[촬영장소] When It’s At Night – National Museum

Whenever Korea’s National Museum is mentioned, When It’s At Night is always the first thing that comes to my mind. Why not? If more than half of My Name Is Kim Sam Soon was filmed on Sam Shik’s restaurant, more than half of When It’s At Night was filmed at the National Museum.

Scene from the drama

Scene from the drama

Scene from the drama

Scene from the drama

The M cafe!

After the drama finished, there used to be a tarpaulin of a photo of Kim Sun Ah and Lee Dong Gun in this cafe. But it’s gone now. Instead a photo of a different was attached to one corner (and I didn’t bother checking which drama it was).

1. I wasn’t able to go around (especially the park areas because we don’t have much time (on my two visits to the National Museum).

And…

2. I haven’t seen When It’s At Night for a veeeery long time, so I can’t remember where exactly most of the scenes were and what National Treasures appeared on the drama.

But they are all there! Inside and around the National Museum. 🙂

HOW TO GET THERE:

Get off 이촌역 and basically it’s just around the corner. You can see it right away. You won’t miss it.

The M cafe is on the second floor.

[촬영장소] Scent of A Woman – Line Tour

We were on our way to King Kong Entertainment, Kim Sun Ah’s agency, from Sam Shik’s Restaurant near 삼성 역. I kinda saw the name POSCO from afar, but I’m not sure if it’s the same POSCO as the one used as Line Tour in Scent Of A Woman. Luckily we have to pass by that building and I was able to confirm that it was indeed Line Tour.

Behind The Scenes photo

Address:

735-3 Posco P&S Tower, Yeoksam-dong, Kangnam-ku Seoul

서울특별시 강남구 역삼동 735-3 포스코P&S타워

HOW TO GET THERE:

Take Line 2. Get off 역삼역 exit 3 and walk a few meters. It’ll be on your left.

However, we actually just walked from Sam Shik’s restaurant to reach this place. Quite a long walk though if you are not used to walking.

[촬영장소] My Name Is Kim Sam Soon – Sam Shik’s Restaurant

My first ever stop was My Name Is Kim Sam Soon‘s Bon Appetit restaurant. Probably because it was the easiest one to find and is also near the area that I am going that day. And it’s a good thing, I thought. After all my “relationship” with Korea started with My Name Is Kim Sam Soon and we all know how big of a role this restaurant have in that drama.

Scene from the drama

Scene from the drama

Me and my friend kept walking until we saw the famous clock from the main street. We got really thrilled when we saw the tip of the clock of that famous filming location for Kim Sam Soon.

But when we get nearer, we were both disappointed with what we saw. 😦

The place is now a total rundown. 😦 It was renovated so it doesn’t look the same anymore, though there are still traces of materials from the original building (like the clock, the bricks, the flooring, the doors, and the tiles. It’s so sad to see wild weeds sprouting between the tiles and the abandoned restaurant stuff inside. It looks like no one has stepped inside for a loooong time.

When the drama was filming it was Hippo Family Restaurant. Although the drama named the restaurant Bon Appetit, you can still see some logos of Hippo on it. Then I heard it was closed after the drama (my thoughts: they scouted for a restaurant that is about to close – since the drama needs the location for a long period of time it would be difficult for both the restaurant owner and the production staff to use a place that is currently operating). Then it was renovated and turned into Todai Restaurant (Western Restaurant I’m guessing). There are still logos of Todai on the building when we went there. I think they are the reason why the clock was pushed back instead of the original position. But we also noticed that there was a different restaurant name on it – Aribann (a Traditional Korean Restaurant).

I don’t know why the place was abandoned. If only I had the money I’ll buy the place and make it alive again, just to relive the Kim Sam Soon memories.

It’s just really sad seeing the place like that. It has changed a lot. But as what my friend said, What do you expect, it’s been 7 years! O.o

I promised myself I’m never going back to that place. It just makes me feel sad. Me and my friend felt really really sad after we need to cheer ourselves up. There’s something in the place that would make anyone who have seen My Name Is Kim Sam Soon feel gloomy.

HOW TO GET THERE:

If you are still interested and doesn’t mind feeling lonely, take subway line 2. Get off 삼성 station. Get of exit 2. Walk straight ahead. It would only take your a few minutes. It’s on your left. It’s not easy to see the place right away because it’s covered by some trees. But if you keep looking up, you won’t miss the clock.

There’s a BMW showroom in front of it (which is just along the main street (영동대로). You can pass by a small door beside the BMW showroom to get to the restaurant. Or you can turn left on the third corner (역삼로).

[촬영장소] Scent Of A Woman – Incheon Airport

scene from the drama

Scent of a Woman, episode 2.

Also take note of She’s On Duty.

I’ll take more photos on my departure next month.