Korean Dating Shows

I'm in a relationship so I'm not in the dating scene any more, and my Korean man is very westernised, so I haven't had any straight up Korean style dating. HOWEVER! I have found another way to observe the dating scene, dating TV shows! and better yet a show that is actually from England and remade in Korea. The one and only, Take Me Out! or in Korea, Love Switch!

Take Me Out in the UK

Love Switch in Korea

The aim of this dating show is they bring in one contestant, usually a male, and then a large arrangement of the opposite gender watch videos of the contestant and switch off the light on their counter if they don't want to date him. At the end the contestant chooses someone from the people who have left their lights on and gets to go on a date with that person.

After having watched both these shows I've noticed a few differences in how the Koreans approach the show compared with the Brit's.

1) In the UK nearly every show ends with them picking someone and going on a paid for luxury date together, usually a holiday, which then viewers see clips of in the next episode. Now the Korean version appears to lack the after date prize and footage, but that probably would be because hardly anyone gets chosen at the end of the show! At first I thought it was just a one off that the contestant at the end didn't choose any of the women that left their lights on, but after watching a few episodes I realised that, more or less, of the 3 men they bring on only 1 will walk away with a woman at the end. Picky much? the girls are friggin' gorgeous.

The text says "Gu Yuna who prefers busy guys" but she gets her light turned off by him in the end. 

It's not a flippin' marriage show, why so picky?? oh wait...maybe it is

2) All the contestants talk about how many years after dating they would like to be married by and will base their decisions on this. I cannot tell you the number of times I have watched this show and the people start talking about when they would like to be married by, and if your marriage timeline doesn't match theirs you are out of the running for a date. Why would you even mention that to a guy you are first meeting?? That's a cardinal sin in the western dating world!! punishable by dying alone and only being loved by your 50 cats!

"I'm 28 so I need to be married in 2 years, when do you want get married?"

This may seem a little forward, but actually out in Korea it isn't uncommon to hear this. And even the male contestants will say something similar. It is expected that everyone in Korea should get married by age 30, and although this is a similar standard in the west it's much more heavily enforced here. My older friends will be sent on constant streams of blind dates in order to find a husband/wife before "time runs out"

3) Your grades matter. I was watching one episode where the guy started explaining that even though he went to a good school his grades weren't the best, nearly every woman in that place turned their lights off....

Playa Playa

Education in Korea is super competitive and important, which deserves it's own separate post, but as we have sussed already that this show is a kind of marriage audition, having a good education is an important factor. So, best keep that C- you got that one time in pre-school hidden from your date.

Now we know we're looking for a genius in a similar age bracket annnddd...

4) You gotta be beautiful. Now this is pretty standard in any country, so no surprise, however in Korea there is a huge plastic surgery culture, another topic so huge that it needs it's own post. Also what is considered beautiful here is bound to a very strict set of guidelines which leads to a lot of people getting the exact same plastic surgery face....that most the contestants have...

The classic surgery face is skinny jaw, pointy nose, huge eyes. 

A lot of the women on the show have the characteristics of a surgery face

Spend enough time in Korea and you can spot the surgery face from a mile off, and I can safely say that about 97% of the women you see in the media have that exact face. The only fully natural girls you see tend to be in the audience. 

Now in the UK often celebrities will have had some work done, but when I watch Take me out UK the girls are all very varied, short, tall, old, young, skinny, and most importantly FAT! in the UK there is such a thing as a beautiful fat girl on TV and she will find herself a date on that show like any other girl. It's perfectly normal to be a little bigger, but with Korea's narrow vision of beauty you will not find such a diverse mix on Love switch. You will only be offered a skinny selection of surgery faces, because apparently that is the only thing that sells on Korean TV.

Take me out UK: There's actually some meat on those girls bones

So basically we can conclude that the general Korean dating show rule is to find someone extremely intelligent, extremely good looking and suitable to marry...no wonder the contestants hardly walk away with a date at the end....

Cultural Perspective on the Subject

One of the most important aspects of Korean culture one should understand is the constant pursuit for perfection. Post-war South Korea was deathly poor and all the countries focus was on improving their lives for future generations. Through making big impossible goals and working continuously to reach them, South Korea has become a super powered economic hub of Asia, however, that impossible goal culture has stuck. From an early age Korean children are encouraged to be the smartest, richest, most successful, and most beautiful. While in the west are taught to be accepting and to be happy with our flabby bodies and mediocre lives. Both these systems are good and bad, pursuing perfection leads to an unhealthy obsession and despair when it doesn't happen to you but also to a super effective and high flying society, whereas pursuing acceptance creates a lazier society that can't progress as quickly, but more happiness with the cards that one has been dealt and a better avoidance of social problems that Souther Korea suffers from like low self esteem, over working and a strong plastic surgery culture.

So when Koreans go on dating shows they are still pursuing that impossible goal and want to find absolute perfection, then marry that sucker to seal the deal. Voilà mystery solved.

Cost of living in Korea

Having come from the UK, which is one of the most expensive countries around and has a very strong currency, it is safe to say I am having a heck of a time out here! Woohoo making it rain! Do the money dance people!

buh seriously now

Seoul is cheaper than London I can tell you that, but only if you know what to do with your money. Cheaper than america I don't know since the won is pretty close with the dollar so you don't get the 50% super sale like I do when I buy my 50 hello kitty dolls. (what? I needed those dolls)

here's an idea of the general price ranges you'll see.

Eating out

1,000-5,000won- cheap, can buy you kimbap and even whole meals in cheap places-its pretty common
5,000-10,000won- average, will buy you a whole meal in most places, most common price range for food
10,000-15,000won- expensive, you are probably eating western food at this price, but it'll be more high quality, or it's a dish that is meant for a group to eat.
15,000-20,000won- very expensive, you're eating steak at this point or a buffet
20,000+won - you are eating friggin' lobster

Clothes

1,000-10,000won-cheap stuff like this can be found in student areas, you can buy all sorts, shoes, dresses, jumpers
10,000-20,000won- still cheap
20,000-40,000won- average, you'll find this in your typically branded stores
50,000-90,000won- will be more nice stuff like cool handbags, coats, jackets, unique pieces etc.
90,000+ upwards and onwards in quality and brand

Travel

chhheeeeeaaaappppppp!!!
Subway-1,500won a trip + a few 100won for long distance
Taxi-2,400won base rate and 100won for distance/time
Coach- depends on destination but Korea is small so you'll only travel maybe 4-6 hours max to get to the otherside 10,000-40,000won and with super comfortable reclining seats
Bus-cheaper than but similar to Subway price

Rent

You have to keep in mind that in Korea you have to pay a massive deposit if you want to rent an apartment usually 5,000,000won+ it's government protected though so if your landlord spends it all or doesn't give it back the government will pay you and chase up the landlord after. Contracts usually last a year, and you may have to pay more rent monthly to get a shorter contract, you can also pay more deposit to get a lower monthly rent. If you have 100,000,000won you can actually find a way to live rent free, since most buildings are owned by property developers and investors and they will invest your deposit to make money, and in return you can live in the building rent free.

300,000-600,000won a month- a haksoojib, goshiwon or dorm price in seoul, can also get a small one room apartment in a not so nice area.
600,000-1,000,000won a month-if your contract is long and you are paying a larger deposit probably a small but more modern one room apartment
1,000,000-2,000,000won a month- you can manage a modern officetelle with this kind of price range
2,000,000+ you will gradually get more and more space and a better location extra

Don't have enough money for a deposit?
don't worry! you can get a small bedroom in a goshiwon or a hasookjib. They're much cheaper monthly too, it's generally reserved for students but working adults are free to live in them too. A goshiwon is similar to a dorm in size and, depending on what you pay, will be very tiny and may or may not have you're own small bathroom unit inside the room. I'm currently in a goshiwon, it's tiny but I have my own bathroom and have added all my cute home comforts, so it's just like having a bedroom in a shared house really. A hasookjib is for students, you will get a room, usually a shared bathroom with a floor, annnndddd a special bonus *drum roll please* your meals are cooked for you! ta-da! in a goshiwon you'll probably have free kimchi and rice in the shared kitchen but a hasookjib will prepare full meals for you.

Utilities
I'm afraid I don't know about bills since they're included in my goshiwon and were included in my dorm, but i've been advised by estate agents to always add another 100,000won on top of you rent to budget for bills. Which will vary depending on the size of your place and your usage etc.

HOT TIP
wanna decorate your pad with awesome cute stuff? stationary? cleaning products? storage utilities? Daiso is the Korean 99p/dollar store/whatever you have in your home country store. I love that place, it has so much awesome stuff at 1,000won 

In general Seoul isn't too bad to live in money wise, if you need to live cheap you can do it and be pretty comfortable, and if you are teaching a typical salary is 2,000,000won a month and you don't even  have to pay rent, so yeah, money dance people! 

Using Your Foreign iphone/buying a new phone in Korea

I wanted to use my present UK iphone in Korea, and since I had a hard time finding resources on how, here is a blog post on getting a phone/using an iphone in Korea, as it is indeed possible.

Step one

UNLOCK YOUR PHONE FIRST

Your phone needs to be unlocked in your home country before you can be given a Korean SIM, I had a friend who wanted to use her iphone but because it was locked she couldn't, when she then asked her phone company to unlock it they explained she had to actually physically be in their store to do it. Which she couldn't do because she was in Korea....so you best unlock that sucker!

Step two

I can't speak for places outside of Seoul but when I went to get my phone done I went to the Olleh store in Hongdae since there is an English speaker available. I imagine all Olleh stores are able to give you the SIM but you might want someone who speaks Korean with you.
Bring:-

• Passport (alien registration card works too)
• Phone
• Address details

Hongdae exit 9, olleh store is directly in front of you, go in, go upstairs, look confused and speak english then an english speaker will probably come get you.

Tell him/her what you want, in my case a pay as you go SIM, write down your details on the form, the person helping you will show you where you sign and write since the contract is in Korean.

Give them some money for the SIM (I think about 5,000 won) and top up your phone.

and you're good to go!

Contracts

If you decide you want a contract, or to buy one of their fancy phones, get a Korean bank account (very easy to do) bring your passport again and start talking to the clerk about what you want. I do warn you though that contracts generally last a year so don't waste your money if you're staying for less than a year, if however you have that money to waste go ahead (you lucky duck)

Getting a cheap Pay as you go

My friends who didn't unlock their phones, or have the money to buy a smart phone or not staying long enough for a contract, got cheap recycled phones for about 15,000won. They're very old school but hey it works! Same contract and top up system as your unlocked phone.

Easy right? just talk to a store clerk and they will find you everything you need. I am currently using my UK iphone with a Korean SIM and have had no problems.

Pre-leaving nerves

This is my face right now

I have about 2 weeks to go before my flight to Korea and the reality of going to a foreign country where I don't speak the language and have no friends or family is starting to sink in.

I can barely order a takeaway on my own let alone go abroad!.....people on phones scare me...

I keep trying to remind myself, you have already been through University once, you've moved out of home and lived alone before.....the catch is I hated University! I made 3 friends and one arch nemesis! And considering I'm a very tolerant and easy going person it takes A LOT to become my arch nemesis!! (but that's another story)

Point is, that is no comfort.

But once my sister spoke to me I calmed down, She went on a gap year around my age and explained that actually I can come home at any time, I just have to ask myself :

"if I went home now would I regret it forever?" 

And the answer is yes, I would totally regret it. and quite frankly regret is a worse feeling than nerves.

Big Boobs vs. Korea

Now lemme tell you a story....

I was shopping on a Korean website when: ooo look at that cute jacket!! I want it, but I'm not sure it'll fit me, oh the chest measurement is 80cm!! that sounds big! lemme check my size! *gets measuring tape* ...........-_-

Damn you Cute Korean Fashion!!!

I have come to the conclusion that God had intended for me to grow up to be a stripper -_-, I have been trying to fight that fact since these breasticles started forming on my chest but boy does he make it difficult for me!

My mantra for shopping for clothes in Korea is this: if you are big in your own country lord knows you will be massive in Korea.
This applies to any body part, big head?? You'll have a tough time finding hats. Big feet?? Forget about those pretty shoes you just saw they are not in your size. Long legs? Wide shoulders?? Massive hands?? anything! You will have it harder.

If you are an average size in your home country then fine, you will be able to fit into something out there, but if you find it hard shopping for your size in your home country then it will be bar impossible in Korea.

But there is hope! In Myong-Dong in Seoul there are a lot of western brands like H&M and Forever21 that have the same stuff you would find in your local stores. Itaewon also supposedly caters to the larger person, however the choice of clothing may not be to your taste.

Here are a few tips though for the curvier woman in Korea:

• Buy waist belts, nipping in at the waist is best for curvy women, if you can't find those kind of cuts in clothes or are stuck wearing baggy clothes to cater to your size, wear a waist belt to make the outfit do a waist nip.
• Buy all your bra's before you come here, same goes for big headed hat wearers, big footed shoe wearers, big handed glove wearers, what ever it is that you need to fit your out of proportion bits, as you'll have a much harder time getting it here.
• If god wanted you to be a stripper too, and you are desperately trying to fight that, these bra's are pretty good:  http://www.highstreettv.com/genie-bra-3-pack-free-pads-1.html?gclid=CJje8q7PpbACFcwNtAodAzh1XQ they've started cropping up all over so you don't need to buy this brand but it's good for those with bra troubles.

Otherwise happy shopping~~ and you never know it may actually fit you so don't be afraid to try things on.

Learning Korean

You wanna learn Korean? well you and me both honey *ghetto head swivel*........no seriously I've done it already lemme help you out.

After I was with Lover boy for about year I decided I'd have a go at learning Korean but had no real idea of where to start. Little did I know that this decision to start learning had effectively changed the course of my life and led me to start a new passion.

Step 1

I did a quick youtube search and....

The first thing I watched was this Video that explained how to read and write Korean

I fell in love with Korean thanks to this Video, it made it easy to learn and gave me my first step to learning.

Nowa days I keep sites like these on my youtube feed and liked on facebook, people like:- 

Hyunwoo sun  http://www.youtube.com/user/ever4one

trueheart 101 http://www.youtube.com/user/trueheart101?feature=results_main

Maangchi http://www.youtube.com/user/maangchi?feature=results_main

eat you kimchi http://www.youtube.com/user/simonandmartina?feature=g-all-a

talk to me in Korean http://www.youtube.com/user/talktomeinkorean?feature=results_main
Expat Kerri http://www.youtube.com/user/expatkerri?feature=watch

Step 2

I fell in love with Korean thanks to this Video, it made it easy to learn and gave me my first step to learning.

the Video was posted by Koreanclass101.com so I looked them up and joined their website.

http://www.koreanclass101.com/

I learnt the basics from them and used it for about a year.

other websites also include:

Talk to me in Korean: http://www.talktomeinkorean.com/

Haru Korean: http://harukorean.com/

All of them have an easy going feel good vibe to them and are great for learning on the go, or when you live in the middle of no where and have no local Koreans to teach you.

Step 3

Invested in some study books. These books were good to learn from and explained things in a logical manner.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Basic-Korean-Grammar-Workbook-Workbooks/dp/041577487X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1338127924&sr=8-6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intermediate-Korean-Grammar-Workbook-Workbooks/dp/0415774888/ref=pd_sim_b_5

Super charged turbo step 4

Now this is the thing that accelerated my Korean learning 10 fold, I started receiving classes from a teacher. trust me this is the fastest and best way to learn, when you self study often you just buy books but never actually go through them from start to finish, or you don't always feel like studying. Being in class means I am forced for 2 hours a week to sit down and study. You also learn more balanced, when I was listening to Koreanclass I would know how to speak but my writing was terrible and if I was using books I could write but my speaking would be terrible (thank god Korean is phonetic). With a teacher you learn it all together and get to practice, as well as meet like minded people and make new friends.

The class I joined is run by the Korean community centre in Raynes park.

108-110 Coombe Lane, West Wimbledon, London, SW20 0AY

contact: lkschool@ymail.com

Our teacher is absolutely amazing, she is a Korean Korean teacher (she teaches Korean to Koreans) and can be found teaching at Chessington Community College for the Korean Saturday school as well, where couples send their Korean children to learn while they live in the UK.

and this is the best bit...the price...

£50 for 10 weeks

that's £2.50 an hour!!

now because the course has grown a lot and our poor teacher needs a break, there is a chance the prices may go up, but it won't be by much and considering a term at SOAS (School of Asian studies) in London costs thousands, it is a fair deal!

Times are usually 6:30pm til 8:30pm, there's an intermediate class on Wednesdays, a beginners on Thursdays, and I think they just started another round of absolute beginners on Tuesdays.

I've been going here for a year and a half now and it has been fabulous. However if you don't live in the local area, getting there is hard. So here are the books we use if you decide to continue self study.

http://www.hanbooks.com/koforbewr.html

http://www.hanbooks.com/koforbere.html

http://www.hanbooks.com/koforbeliwau.html

http://www.hanbooks.com/koforbespwau.html

Step 5

I'm preparing for step 5 now, which is going out to Korea and Studying full time for 10 months! I'll keep posting about what I find as I go along so watch this space!

I hope this helps a bit when you're looking for resources to learn Korean~~!

Guide: Applying to Yonsei

About 2 months ago I made the decision to go to Korea and study Korean full time. I know that there are a growing number of people who want to do the same so this a guide talking about Yonsei University and the application process.

---------

Yonsei University is one of Korea's oldest and most prestigious Universities, it is equivalent to Cambridge, but because it isn't as internationally renowned as Oxford, Cambridge or Harvard you may have to explain that to your friends when you want to impress them.

but don't let that scare you!

as a foreign student it is very easy to get in, it is only Korean students that have a hard time. This is mainly because there aren't a lot of foreigners in Korea, although that number is growing there still isn't a huge demand for exchange students or Korean language learning courses, hence they will happily let in any foreigner with a willingness to learn and a high school/equivalent diploma ---at least to the Korean language institute, not sure about the others. The high school diploma is also just the minimum requirement, anyone can join at any age as long as they have that.

Yonsei University Logo

Cost

Whether studying here is Cheap or not has to compare with your local University fees, in the UK the prices just went up to £9,000 a year and it is about £12,000 a year for foreign students, that makes it about £3,000 or £4,000 a term.

Yonsei is 1,600,000 won a term....that's about £900

I only wish I was learning Korean back when I was choosing university all those years ago *sigh*

best not to dwell on it, its not good for my health..... *headdesk*

Courses

There are several programmes Yonsei offer to Students that want to learn Korean. all of which can be found here: http://www.yskli.com/lsm_prog.htm

Prices vary on what you choose, but it's very flexible. You can jump in at any time in the academic year and there's no minimum number of terms to take. you can spend one summer there or 2 years, it's up to you.

This is because the courses are taught in ability levels from 1-6 or 1-8, 1-6 is the normal program and assuming that you progress one level each term you'll be fluent in 6 terms. 1-8 is the 8 level program that goes a bit slower and is aimed for English speakers, after 8 terms you will be fluent, assuming you are starting from zero that is.

(I've chosen the 6 level, I'll let you know how I get on, it's supposedly a bit harder *gulp*)

Application

so now you have decided which programme you want it's time to apply!

first you'll have to register online, you'll see a little log in box and that'll have a link to register underneath, here's a link in case you don't see it: http://www.yskli.com/login_reg_eng.htm

once that's done you'll see a screen saying thanks and it'll give you a login and password. Using that you can log in, and click the "apply now" link, from there you can choose the course, once inside you fill out some details and have to do a short essay as to why you want to study Korean at Yonsei.--don't worry it's not a test they just want to know a bit about you and make sure that you really want to learn and are not just going to bum around. (Tip: write it out in a word file first so you have all the correct spellings, then copy and paste it into the essay box.)

after that it'll tell you thanks for applying and give you bank details to pay your application fee of 60,000won. 

Note:-

• every time they send you bank details the account number is different even though the rest of the info is the same, this way they know when you have payed certain things
• when wiring money abroad it costs you money--Barclays charged me £25 every time I wanted to send money, regardless of the amount 
• try to over estimate the exchange rate, the rate you see on the internet may not be the rate they use, always pay a little bit extra so that you don't have to come back to the bank and be charged another £25 because you under paid by 50p

Next on the to do list is some document sending.

you'll need:-

• photocopy of your last educational certificate (Degree/Diploma/transcript)
• photocopy of your passport
• and if you haven't gotten a Visa yet, but intend to get one, you need to send them either:
  a sponsorship letter from a working Korean national-this is to prove that they will be financially responsible for you should things go wrong
  or a bank statement that shows you have over $3,000 in your account

Tip:- If you have the money choose the bank statement, it's easier to get a hold of, you can also get a relative to give you $3,000 just so it appears on your statement then take it back later.

Note:- the Visa people are more strict so you may need to hold onto that $3,000 until your visa is done as well.

once you have those, scan them in and send it to one of the KLI co-ordinators (via e-mail is best), since you're reading this in English I'll assume you need the English speaker: Yim Bang-wool yskli@yonsei.ac.kr 

after about a week you should receive an e-mail from Bang-Wool saying you got in and then it'll give you the bank details to pay your tuition fee. She'll also ask for a mailing address to send you a welcome pack and whether or not you need the visa documents from them.

DONE!

Note:- if you are applying for more than one term here are some tips

• you still need to send an application but you don't need to resend your documents and rewrite your application essay since you have already been accepted.
• explain to Bang-Wool that you are going to be applying for more and she should be able to send you a bank account number to pay for the other terms in one go, rather than paying the bank charges each time you want to send individual payments.
• once that's sorted the visa pack that is sent to you should have all the terms you are staying for included and the visa people can give you one long visa instead of having to top it up each term.

Korean Stomach, English Location

I remember my first time in a Korean restaurant, I had been with my newly found lover boy for only a month and had not known anything of Korean culture, language or food. This was back in 2008 before the Korean wave had taken hold of young hearts across the world, and even though I was already bopping to Shinhwa and DBSK, I knew nothing.

I had Korean BBQ

It was amazing.

-end-

...........okay I'm lying! (about the end part) would be cruel to leave you hanging!

For the past 4 years I have been dining in Korean restaurants in the UK and this is my guide and suggestions to those of you looking for a taste of Korea without a plane ticket.

When living in the UK the place to be is New Malden, it's in the suburbs of London and is the UK's answer to Korea town. It's a little grubby round the edges but a great place for Korean Cuisine and most importantly Korean Service. Free Kimchi for all!

YAMI - New Malden

This was the first place I ever ate at, that fateful BBQ was the start of many. It's a nice clean modern little place, and does a mean BBQ.

69 High Street, New Malden, KT3 4BT

020 8949 0069

It's a short walk down the high street from New Malden station and worth a visit.

Yumi - New Malden

Yumi is a Chinese Korean restaurant, what I mean by that is it is what Korean's consider to be Chinese food, but it doesn't actually exist in China. Much like Indian Tikka Masala existing in the UK but not in India. This is the place to go for 짜짱면 (black bean noodles) and 잠뽕 (spicy seafood soup)

          

짜짱면   

          

잠뽕

96 Burlington road, New Malden, KT3 4NT

Running this place is a friendly Ajuma (middle aged woman) and her daughter Yumi, they love football and happily chat with their customers. Apparently Ji-Sung Park visits here, most the Korean footballers can be found in New Malden at some point.

You'll have to walk your way past the fountain roundabout and down towards the giant B&Q to find this place.

Lotte Restaurant- New Malden

Now this place is a real hidden gem, food is great and I visit here constantly. It is hiding away behind an unassuming screen door at the back of a small Seoul Plaza corner shop. They deal in Japanese and Korean style cuisine, you can have sushi along with many great tasting hot pot's. If you were not looking for it you would not find it, which is a shame so go look for it now!

회덮밥(sushi fish hot pot)

126 Malden road, New Malden KT3 6DD

020 8949 4998

It's next to the Fountain pub and located at the back of this Seoul plaza, very high quality food for a great price, why else would I visit it so often? I highly recommend it.

Jin Go Gae - New Malden

Jin Go Gae is a real up and comer and becoming my new favourite place to eat. You can get a gorgeous Korean BBQ here for about £10 per person, that's with lettuce, rice, Side dishes, and free water/tea. All this with great Quality and service. Plus as a bonus they have a non-native Korean working there who is fluent in Korean, there is hope for us foreigners after all! hoorah!

My other half eating again - he loves it here too

272 Burlington Road, New Malden KT3 4NL

020 8949 2506

Place is amazing but the only catch is it's difficult to reach by foot, from New Malden High street you have to head towards the giant B&Q and then cross the Dual carriage way roundabout to where the Krispie Kreme drive-thru is, walk down the road a bit and you are there. You can also get there from Raynes Park station by going towards the Waitrose, turn left at the junction so that you walk under the train tracks and pass the sports field, and keep on walking, you'll reach it.

Corean Chilli - Leicester Square (Central London)  

Corean Chilli is part of China town in London, and one of the main Korean restaurants in Central London, however the food is......edited for English taste buds, things are a lot sweater and not very authentic, plus no free service, this is Central London after all.

When you're looking for real Korean food go to New Malden, if you are living in London Corean Chilli is an option, but I would not suggest it, and a google search shows not many other people would either.

51 Charing Cross road, Leicester square, London, WCH2 0NE

If you're shopping in China Town and hunger strikes you can come here, but don't make an effort to eat here if you ask me.

Learning Korean: a warning to K-poppers

So you want to study Korean?? move there?? marry a Korean?? EXCELLENT! the more the merrier I say~ Let's fill this world with peace and love, mutual understanding and K-pop! ahhhh K-pop *salutes*

but seriously

do it right or turn around now -_- you need more than K-pop to move to Korea, because when you move out there and Taemin doesn't ask you to marry him you'll be holding your Korean language degree in tears.

"sorry guise"

for starters as a Korean learner you have to make a decision: is this my hobby? or my future?

For me I learn Korean for the enjoyment of it, I love the way the language works, and it's just so fulfilling to learn I can't describe it! So I guess really it's a hobby, but thanks to a horrible recession co-in-siding with my graduation, leaving millions of young people unemployed, I thought rather than continue trudging the streets looking for work that I am either too qualified for or too inexperienced for, I will expand on my hobby to make my job potential better! Voila~ it is now my future~

plus you know life experience and doing what I really want etc.


Now I don't blame you if you started learning Korean because you love K-pop, I started learning because I love my boyfriend.

Man I love, doing what he loves...eating

however I don't learn for him, in fact he is quite happy speaking only English to the point that me learning Korean annoys him.... jerk ¬_¬

If you decide to up sticks and move to Korea, you need to do it for you and only you, because, sadly, other people have a tendency to disappoint you, especially K-pop stars.