korean style

How To Avoid The Pitfalls of Korean Culture So That You Look Sophisticated to Korean Girls

2012-04-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

Korea has an ancient and diverse culture and cultural protocols are strictly followed in Korea. Korea also has a homogeneous culture with many Koreans travelling abroad in western countries. The Koreans therefore follow a mixed culture combining elements of western and the Asian. For example, the Korean custom of greeting is a bow and the western custom is a handshake, therefore many Koreans may shake hand after a bow, combining elements of both culture. However, most Koreans, especially Korean women, still consider physical contact like shaking hands inappropriate. So you should be able to avoid this pitfall, if you wait for a sign from the Korean woman that she wants to shake hands with you, after of course you both have bowed to each other. Again, while you shake hands it is better if you can support your right forearm with your left hand as that is a show of respect. There are several other aspects of etiquette that you should remember in order to avoid the pitfalls of Korean culture and look sophisticated in the process. This article provides you some glimpses to that.

Apart from the customs of greeting, there are also other aspects of etiquettes like dining etiquette and gift giving etiquette. Gifts are thought very important in interpersonal relationships and there are some very important points to be kept in mind. For example, the gifts should always be wrapped properly with red and yellow papers as these colors represent royalty. Yellow and pink papers are also allowed to wrap the gifts. However, the gifts should not be wrapped in green, white or black papers. You should neither sign the gifts in red ink. It is also considered inconsiderate to present an expensive gift to someone, if you know the other person cannot reciprocate it. The number 4 is considered unlucky, so gifts should not be given in multiples of 4. The number 7 or 9 is considered lucky. You should always remember to offer your gifts with both hands.

There are also dining etiquettes to remember. You should not be late or go without appropriate gifts to a Korean house and you can be late for as much as 30 minutes without taking offence. You should always remember to open your shoes outside the house and wait for the host to introduce you in a social gathering. You should also learn to use chopsticks before you try to win the heart of a Korean girl. You should remember never to point your chopsticks or pierce your food with the chopsticks. Neither they should be kept crisscrossed while you put them to rest. You should also not forget to send a thank you note the next day after the dinner to the host.

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The Red Shoes Korean Remakes Is One Of Our Best Horror Movies Ever

2012-04-27T05:03:00.000-07:00

Best horror movies ever has enjoyed the various remakes of Hans Christian Anderson's The Red Shoes in all its incarnations including Michael Powell's, who was more notable for his controversial film Peeping Tom. With the Korean horror movie wave came another version of The Red Shoes in 2005 which became typical of the look of these Korean horror films. The creepy girl with long hair who could do body contortions from Cirque de Soleil.

So here's the quick synopsis for The Red Shoes. Set in Seoul, the film follows Sun Jae (Kim Hye Soo, also in "Three: Memories") who, after catching her husband with another woman, moves into a decrepit old apartment building along with her adorable young daughter, Tae Soo. Working hard to settle into their new life, Sun Jae comes across a strange pair of red shoes when she's travelling on the subway, and decides to take them home. In all movies, it seems that struggling people always take the subway, but their not struggling too much or else they'd be taking the bus, I guess.

Naturally with any horror film, when you find something of value, it's always too good to be true and thus the shoes turn out to be cursed, and exerts a sinister power over all those who come into contact with them, leading to expected deaths and disaster. Basically they usually make the wearer dance to their death...even Buffy The Vampire Slayer had their variation of that with their brilliant musical episode. Eventually, with Tae Soo's life hanging in the balance, Sun Jae and new interior designer boyfriend Cheol (Kim Sung Soo) desperately try to unravel the mystery of the shoes before it's too late.

It's not the best of the Korean horror movie wave, but the beauty of The Red Shoes is that the director (Yong-gyun Kim)never forgets that the original story was a horror film and sticks firmly too it giving us some good chills and creepy effects. So if you're a big horror fan, The Red Shoes is worth checking out along with Michael Powell's version which was a bit more artsy but had a chilling effect.

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Korean Folk Songs

2012-04-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

The music of Korea is over 1000 years old. Isang Yun - a musician teaching in Berlin included Korean songs in his course which was later brought back to Korea. Like all other strong influences, war definitely had its impact on Korean music. Korean music is mostly influenced by shamanistic and Buddhist thoughts. The dance, drum and the sinawi dance music is clearly evident in folk music.

The Dongbu folk songs are unique in various areas and are typical about the styles. The songs from the Jeolla and chungcheong area are known as Namdo folk songs. They are full of drama and the collections are tasteful. The Pansori and the Sanjo were created out of Namdo music. The music of Jeju from Jeju Island is simple and rich in their compositions. The Pansori is actually a one man show which involves dialogues, enactment, dance and a drummer assists with the rhythm for the singer. The Pansori is done at a stretch for eight hours. It is actually required to make the voice hoarse by shouting, so as to become a Pansori singer. The props include a handkerchief and fan.

A troupe of thirty musicians performs the Nongak. The Sanjo is a tempo based playing which accelerates and moves to a high tempo. The musical instruments of Korea include Kayagum which can be played in the solo style, duet and as a group of three. The instrument has to be placed on the lap with the tail on the ground level. Tanso is the wind instrument and played along with the flute. The original bamboo of Tanso is now replaced by resin. The sound produced is pure melody. Yanggum is made of bamboo and is a string instrument almost as big as a piano. The fourteen keys which is now increased to the count of twenty six keys. Most of the string instruments of Korea in the contemporary folk times are made of silken threads.

There are bowed, plucked and struck varieties in the folk string instruments that encompass the Geum, Bipa, Sohaegeum and Yangguem. There are flutes, horns and oboes and mouth organs and also the jeok, so, Hwa, Dae piri and Nagak in the wind instrument folk variety. There are other chimes, gongs and cymbals of various varieties in the percussion musical instruments. Folk songs are still evident in the villages. Rituals, ceremonies and festivals mark the occasion with traditional Korean folk's songs. Though a evolution is also seen in the making of musical instruments, traditional Korean folk songs bring pure melody.

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The Best Korean Hairstyles For Girls

2012-04-27T04:44:00.000-07:00

The right hairstyle is essential in completing the image of a person. Currently, the incredible variety of hair cutting styles and varying styling methods determine the top choices of Korean hairstyles for girls. There exists a vast selection ensuring that every girl can get a hair style to match her face shape and personal preferences.

Among the factors to consider when going for a style is the personal haircut style, which could be short, medium or long. It is necessary to consider hair texture and the shape of the face. The hairstyle should suit one's facial features. It is also relevant to consider the aspects that a person wants enhanced and which ones to hide.

Trends in the beauty industry have seen more women letting go of their long hair and going for the shorter and sexier spike hair styles. Most women use spikes to spotlight the haircut and add edginess. Observe that spikes are best fitted for square faces, and they are not recommendable for those seeking to reduce the length of their faces. It is also difficult to maintain such styles on fine hair as they require a thick hair texture. These styles enhance key facial features such as eyes and lips.

Anime hairstyles are among the styles that have gained a lot of popularity in recent times. These imitate characters in the anime cartoons, which tend to look great in fabulous clothes, elegant hair designs and really big eyes. These come in various forms, including bob, long layered and extra long designs.

One of the techniques of hairstyling commonly used today is the punk design. This style was considered to be exceedingly darling, so many women did not go for it until recently. It can be implemented on short hair, though it looks more appealing on medium and long hair. It puts more emphasis on the cut rather than the length of the hair.

The emergence of hipster fashion trend has led to the development of matching hipster hairstyles. Tresses are applicable on all lengths of hair, often incorporating colorful methods to flash their forwardness in fashion. This method often goes for unique hairdos and accessories rather than regular mainstream and celebrity trends. The basic concepts involve pairing one's clothing with a brand new attractive short cut, often being bowl-cuts, unclear partings or extremely fixed angles.

There is a variety of cute school hairstyles available to female Korean students. These can be implemented on short, medium and long hair. Short hairs offer limited styling options, including straight, curly, messy and spiky techniques. For medium hair, it is advisable to try loose straight designs, curly loose designs, messy buns, ballerina bun and bob styles. Even more options are available for long hair, the best being half-up/half-down, pinned up, ponytail, braided and scene styles.

Given the wide range of Korean hairstyles for girls, a room for diversity is provided. It is possible to go for a different hairstyle anytime someone feels like. Take note that remarkably few styling options are available for short hair while they are virtually endless for long hair. However, the latter require more styling time in comparison to the earlier. Consequently, middle length hair is the most preferred, because it is more versatile than shorter hair yet requires lesser maintenance than long styles.

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Choosing Men's Designer Clothing To Help You Look Taller

2012-04-27T04:35:00.000-07:00

One of the latest trends in men's fashion clothing is for the slim fit inspired by so much of the fashion clothing coming out of the east. From Japan and South Korea in particular a whole range of slim fit clothing is fast becoming popular over here in the UK, and this is great news for those men who want to try to look a little taller.

For many men the wish to look a little taller is a constant concern, and although the definition of being short is being under five foot six, there are plenty of men taller than this who are still keen to try to give the appearance of an extra few inches. So the Japanese and South Korean styles becoming popular now make an excellent choice, especially for the slimmer man.

One of the most distinctive features about this new style clothing is the way it is cut to fit, and to provide as slim a silhouette as possible. One of the mistakes made by many men is to wear loose fitting clothing, because if you're looking to appear taller wearing loose clothing will in fact do quite the opposite. Baggy clothing enhances the width, and this in turn reduces a person's apparent height. The converse is of course true, in that wearing slim clothing that is contoured, fitted and provides a svelte silhouette will help to give the appearance of extra height.

It is well known that the average height of people in the UK is greater than the average height in places such as Japan and South Korea, but it's also a fact that the average build in the UK is heavier too. By buying men's designer clothing from fashion houses specialising in clothing either imported from the east or designed along the same basic principles, it is possible to create a look which really enhances a person's height. But this can only be achieved by buying the correct size. The measurements given for this clothing can sometimes be a little confusing, as it may be given in Japanese or South Korean measurements, in US measurements, or UK or European measurements. A large size by South Korean or Japanese standards would be about a medium in US terms, and a small in UK or European sizes. It's important therefore to know what standard of measurement is being given, or to use actual measurements to gauge the size you need.

But by purchasing slim clothing you can really make a difference in your apparent height. Another tip when choosing men's designer clothing for this reason is to try to buy clothing which matches in colour. If you're trying to look a little taller then you should not use contrasting colours, as this breaks the sections of your body up and reduces the overall impression of height. By wearing similar or the same colours for shoes, trousers and tops you can blend the different sections of your body together in a way which is more seamless and creates a greater impression of overall height.

The combination of slim fit clothing and colour matching can really make a difference, but if you are trying to look taller then it is particularly important to make sure that you purchase men's designer clothing which is fitted. If the clothing is not fitted then any looseness or bagginess will average out your contours in such a way that you will lose the appearance of height. Avoid tapered or baggy trousers, but instead go for boot-cut or straight leg trousers, especially if your torso is slightly shorter than average compared to the length of your legs. By choosing men's designer clothing in this way you can walk tall, both in terms of style and appearance!

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Latest Asian Style and Fashion

2012-04-27T04:24:00.000-07:00

Asian fashion is something that attracts people from various parts of the world. In fact if you research a bit then you will come to know that Asian fashion is the fastest growing industry in today's world. Asian fashion has its unique trend and styles. The fabric and designs are contemporary, classy and easy to wear. Among different types of styles Korean fashion and Japanese fashion is the most attractive and profitable for everyone. Previously the Asian fashion industry was restricted in their local markets only. Things are changing pretty fast now and with that the Asian fashion has also become a familiar name among the people belong to western countries.

Many people think that the Japanese fashion has its own appeal. Though. The dresses, fabrics and styles are pretty different from the western style but it has a fragrance. The fragrance of its own place is what makes the Japanese fashion a favorite. Though, many people think that the Korean fashion has become more western these days and the touch of its own has lost somewhere. If you are looking for some latest trend of Korean or Japanese fashion then you must search on internet first. You will get to know a lot of new things about the Japanese fashion from there. How they wear their kimono or their accessories and styling will also catch your eyes for sure. You will also be able to compare the price among different companies. This is surely a hugely benefit. You can check different type of Korean and Japanese outfits and then select the one you want to buy.

If you are a bargain hunter then Asian fashion is surely for you. You can get fantastic designs in the cheaper rate. Not only that, you can also bargain the price according to your convenience. There are many people who are shopping fanatics and they enjoy shopping for Korean and Japanese fashion. They get to wear beautiful fashion accessories and clothing at an affordable price. If you are going to Japan then Tokyo is the place you must not miss at any cost. Japanese street fashion is another thing that one must check. You can find excellent dresses, fabrics and designs at extra ordinarily low cost. Shinjuku and Roppongi are two places that the shopping lovers consider as the hotspot of Japanese fashion. You can also visit these places to get to know the Japanese fashion a bit more. If you wish to shop and then go for lunch then Ginza is the ideal place for you. After your shopping spree in Korea and Japan you will surely want to come back again to Asian fashion world again. That is the essence of this fashion industry.

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Asian and Korean Fashion Style

2012-04-27T04:15:00.000-07:00

Fashion is an ever changing concept. Fashion lies icon style, fashion lies in presentation, fashion lies in the way you talk and also on the way you perceive things. style changes from country to country. The concept is differently practiced in different places depending on the climate and choice of the general population.

When talking about Asian style you have so much to say and so many things to present. Asian influence on fashion genre has increased with days. Several Asian countries have now entered fashion competitions to prove their likeness and respect towards impending fashion. Before they used to dot upon local markets and now they want to reach out to international fashion bazaars. They have crossed the lines and have always tried to come up with something new and extraordinary. This is what Asian style all about is. Lots of Asian designers are flooding the international fashion market with their innovations and fashionable endeavors. Most Indian designers are trying to mix and match traditionalism with contemporary fashion to make something really pleasing and appreciable.

Korean style is a more restricted one. They really find it hard to move out from their respective boundaries and present the world with something new and unique. Korean fabrics are excellent and they are enough to give other cloth materials a tough fight. Korean people have a legendary fashion history. They like to rule with conventional styles among contemporary fashion lovers. Korean fashion designers are hard workers. There is no scope of any kind of loop holes in the kind of design they are presenting the world. It is only that they are not so much interested in experimenting with their age old authentic fashion. They love the way they have always been. They dislike breaking rules and this is what Korean fashion is all about.

After the Koreans the Japanese to are not far behind. They have a host of their personal collections as well. Japanese fashion designers are both amazing and exceptional. Japanese fashion reflects both culture and soul. Its fashion reflects Japanese tradition and history. Japanese fashion is a perfect mixture of the past and the present. Starting from their traditional kimono ton contemporary western style outfits the Japanese fashion conscious population has always made a mark in fashion industry. Japanese fashion is not about flaunting.

They have silently presented the international market with world class designs. Japanese are extremely fashion conscious people because they believe in out and out enrichment with age, time and style. However, they hate unnecessary experimenting with uniqueness because they believe that what is traditional is always pure and trusted. Thus the world of international fashion has a lot to learn from Japanese fashion conscious people. They have presented the world with a different and exemplary STYLE STATEMENT.

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