2009년 12월 3일 목요일

Using Korean internet site

As you know if you want to join Facebook or Twitter, you only need e-mail address. But most of Korean communities need more information about you. We can use site’s service after confirming our real-name and enrolling resident registration

I heard that some foreigners said it is difficult to use Korean internet

But fortunately I found good new

According to the latest article issued Nov 16th, one homepage which helps foreigners to join Korean communities easily opened

Without Registered Aliens, people can sign up and use internet by passport number

-> ifriendly Go to this site


Refer to bottom’s article from Korean Harold

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Website to help foreign Web users

The government yesterday announced the launch of a website to provide foreigners with information on the sign-up process for local websites, as part of its efforts to give foreigners easier access to local websites.
Since May last year, the Korea Communications Commission has allowed foreigners to register with local websites by submitting a passport number. Before the revision of the registration system, only those who had alien registration numbers were allowed to sign up at local websites as members.
In August, the government also set up a guideline for web masters to permit sign-up of expatriates living in Korea.
The KCC sent the guideline to operators of a total of 800 Web portals, internet shopping malls, online game sites and other major websites.
In its latest efforts to make it easy for foreigners to use websites, the KCC launched the website, which is available in four languages: Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. (www.ifriendly.kr)
"Despite Korea's advanced broadband infrastructure, foreigners in Korea experience inconvenience in using local websites," the government said.
Foreigners cannot use many websites because a limited number of websites allow alternate means of identification, such as an alien registration number or passport number,
Errors frequently occur during sign-up processes. The KCC said it would continue its efforts to make local websites more accessible to foreigners.

(hjjin@heraldm.com)

By Jin Hyun-joo

The frequently-asked visa category

It is information of species of Visa. Generally most of people issue this type of Visa so check the necessary documents and information

Scrapted from Korean Consulate General in Chicago Web Page


The frequently-asked visa category

The category of Korean visa varies depending on the application's period and purpose of stay. The following is the detailed information about the frequently asked visa category.


1. Short-Term Employment Status(C - 4)

1) Letter of employment contract
2) Letter of employment recommendation issued by the head of the relevant central government agency (an entertainer needs a letter of performance recommendation issued by the Korea Media Rating Board), an official letter from the relevant government agency or documents proving the necessity of employment

* English Instructor for Summer or Winter Camp
- Diploma Original or Copy of Diploma (Attached Apostille)
- Criminal Record (Attached Apostille)
- Employment Contract
- Document regarding Establishment of School or Organization
(etc. Life Long Education Center)
- English Camp Program


2. Student status(D-2)

- U.S citizens who wish to pursue academic degree courses of study at a university or qualified higher educational institution need to apply for D-2 visa
- The necessary documents are as follows

1) Valid passport
2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.
3) Standard admission letter from university.

3. Investor status(D-8)

- the employees of the corporation who has invested the capital into Korea according to Korean Statute "Foreign Investment Act" can apply for D-8 visa.
- the scope of employee who is eligible for D-8 visa.

1) executive or senior manager: an employee performing supervisory or executive duties
2) an employee with essential skills: an employee having specialized knowledge or skills for the operation of the invested company

- The necessary documents are as follows

1) Valid passport
2) Completed visa application form with photo attached
3) Temporary duty order(transfer order) or statement of employment
4) Certificate of foreigner's investment report or certificate of business registration

* It is highly recommended for applicant to obtain Certificate for Recognition of Visa Issuance from the local Korean Immigration Service, for the expeditious and streamlined visa issuance. (please, refer to the following #ͩ about this Certificate)

4. English Instructor status(E-2)
- US citizen who want to teach English at foreign language institutions or organizationsneed to apply for E-2 visa
- The applicant is required to have a bachelor degree or equivalent degree
- The necessary documents are as follows

(i) If you have a the Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number

1) Valid passport and 1 copy of its personal data page
2) Completed visa application (with confirmation of visa issuance number from Korean Ministry of Justice)
3) A passport picture (2x2, color) attached to application
4) Visa Fee : $45

* Money order only
- pay to : Korean Consulate General
- Cash accepted in person

5) Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for return of the passport by mail
6) visa interview is required completed form (Consuls check list)

* need to make an appointment for an interview and it takes 2-3 business days to complete the process of a visa application after the interview

(ii) For EPIK applicant

1) Valid Passport and 1 copy of its personal data page
2) Completed visa application
3) A passport picture (2x2, color) attached to application
4) Visa Fee : $45

* Money order only
- pay to : Korean Consulate General
- Cash accepted in person

5) Notice of Appointment
6) Employment Contract
7) Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for return of the passport by mail

* Visa interview is waved for EPIK applicants

(iii) For TaLK applicant

1) Valid Passport and 1 copy of its personal data page
2) Completed visa application
3) A passport picture (2x2, color) attached to application
4) Visa Fee : $45 (U.S. Citizen and other citizen please see in)

* Money order only
- pay to : Korean Consulate General
- Cash accepted in person

5) Invitation Letter
6) TaLK Scholarship Contract
7) Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for return of the passport by mail

* Visa interview is waved for TaLK applicants

Let's Learn Korean

Many people want to learn Korean but they don’t know where the perfect place is

If somebody have Korean friends or live in Korea, they have more chance to learn Korean

For who don’t have any chance, I introduce some Korean lecture sites :-)


1. Sogang University’s Korean lecture site.



-> Sogang University’s Korean lecture


2. Cyber diplomatic mission, VANK, offers introduction of Korean on this site

-> VANK "Let's learn Korean"


3. It is e-learning campaign site 0f multicultural Family operated by Korean Digital University


From late 1990s, people from China, Japan, Vietnam, America, Canada and etc came to Korea and made multicultural society
For those people, Korean Digital University mad Korean lecture online

The site offers Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Japanese, English and Mongolian

You can click the flag button which you want on the main page.

-> e-learning campaign for Multicultural Families


4. Seoul University’s Korean lecture site.


-> SNU "Click Korean"


5. Do you want to know Korean history more? If so, visit Digital Hangeul Museum

Hangeul means Korean


-> Digital Hangeul Museum



If you want to get information about Korean culture, go to the bellow’s site

1. -> Study in korea

It provides various languages from the main page :-)


2. -> HANSTYLE

HANSTYLE is simplified form of Korean Style. You can see the fascinating traditional Korean designs


3. -> Korea Sparkling

If you want to visit Korean, this would be useful for you


Most of public sites offer several languages on the top right of the main page

If you click the language, the page would move into the translated page.

2009년 11월 26일 목요일

We made Twitter for Korea VISA hanjoong

If you have any question about issuing Visa or Korea, please ask us whenever you want.

We'll answer it ASAP

Please let us be your friend :-)

GO Twitter

2009년 11월 24일 화요일

The frequently-asked visa category

It is information of species of Visa. Generally most of people issue this type of Visa so check the necessary documents and information

Scrapted from Korean Consulate General in Chicago Web Page


The frequently-asked visa category

The category of Korean visa varies depending on the application's period and purpose of stay. The following is the detailed information about the frequently asked visa category.


1. Short-Term Employment Status(C - 4)

1) Letter of employment contract
2) Letter of employment recommendation issued by the head of the relevant central government agency (an entertainer needs a letter of performance recommendation issued by the Korea Media Rating Board), an official letter from the relevant government agency or documents proving the necessity of employment

* English Instructor for Summer or Winter Camp
- Diploma Original or Copy of Diploma (Attached Apostille)
- Criminal Record (Attached Apostille)
- Employment Contract
- Document regarding Establishment of School or Organization
(etc. Life Long Education Center)
- English Camp Program


2. Student status(D-2)

- U.S citizens who wish to pursue academic degree courses of study at a university or qualified higher educational institution need to apply for D-2 visa
- The necessary documents are as follows

1) Valid passport
2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.
3) Standard admission letter from university.

3. Investor status(D-8)

- the employees of the corporation who has invested the capital into Korea according to Korean Statute "Foreign Investment Act" can apply for D-8 visa.
- the scope of employee who is eligible for D-8 visa.

1) executive or senior manager: an employee performing supervisory or executive duties
2) an employee with essential skills: an employee having specialized knowledge or skills for the operation of the invested company

- The necessary documents are as follows

1) Valid passport
2) Completed visa application form with photo attached
3) Temporary duty order(transfer order) or statement of employment
4) Certificate of foreigner's investment report or certificate of business registration

* It is highly recommended for applicant to obtain Certificate for Recognition of Visa Issuance from the local Korean Immigration Service, for the expeditious and streamlined visa issuance. (please, refer to the following #ͩ about this Certificate)

4. English Instructor status(E-2)

- US citizen who want to teach English at foreign language institutions or organizationsneed to apply for E-2 visa
- The applicant is required to have a bachelor degree or equivalent degree
- The necessary documents are as follows

(i) If you have a the Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number

1) Valid passport and 1 copy of its personal data page
2) Completed visa application (with confirmation of visa issuance number from Korean Ministry of Justice)
3) A passport picture (2x2, color) attached to application
4) Visa Fee : $45

* Money order only
- pay to : Korean Consulate General
- Cash accepted in person

5) Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for return of the passport by mail
6) visa interview is required completed form (Consuls check list)

* need to make an appointment for an interview and it takes 2-3 business days to complete the process of a visa application after the interview

(ii) For EPIK applicant

1) Valid Passport and 1 copy of its personal data page
2) Completed visa application
3) A passport picture (2x2, color) attached to application
4) Visa Fee : $45

* Money order only
- pay to : Korean Consulate General
- Cash accepted in person

5) Notice of Appointment
6) Employment Contract
7) Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for return of the passport by mail

* Visa interview is waved for EPIK applicants

(iii) For TaLK applicant

1) Valid Passport and 1 copy of its personal data page
2) Completed visa application
3) A passport picture (2x2, color) attached to application
4) Visa Fee : $45 (U.S. Citizen and other citizen please see in)

* Money order only
- pay to : Korean Consulate General
- Cash accepted in person

5) Invitation Letter
6) TaLK Scholarship Contract
7) Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for return of the passport by mail

* Visa interview is waved for TaLK applicants

2009년 11월 20일 금요일

Korean Traditional Martial Arts

Yesterday, President Obama visited Korea and left this afternoon

Korean government gave him Taekwondo uniform for present, because President Obama learned Taekwondo while he was senator

Korea has various kinds of traditional martial arts and Taekwondo is one of them

When you see the Taekwondo during Olympic game, it looks players only use their legs but they use hands too :-)

Taekkyon, other kind of Korean martial arts, is a little bit different with Taekwondo. It is slower and softer. When you see it first time, you might think people are dancing. But, can you see that? The softness contains strength.



Click the photo to see big size
Doing Taekkon with wearing Korean traditional clothes, Hanbock

YouTube Video about Taekkyon CLICK

I linked the Taekkyon movie. The feature of Taekkon is moving body with making a concentration of spirit. Its Jun-bi action which means ready really looks like dancing but Taekkon has ascendancy over the opponent by moving legs

The similar point of the Taekkyon and Kaekwondo is using legs a lot :-)

Useful website in Korea

Today, I will talk about the useful website for visiting Korea

You can get the valuable information from there. Check it :D


1. The weather forecast

Korean weather is unexpectable. We could not know when it rains.
So~ this website is very necessary.
Check the weather where you are :)

-> Korea Meteorological Administration

2. Tax reference


If you are a long-term resident, need to check it at least once
Do you know that ESL teachers also have to pay the tax ?
Please refer to the prior post "Taxation of income tax for foreign ESL teachers"

Below is the National Tax Service site

-> National Tax Service

3. Korean Food


There are various kind of Korean dishes but how could we know everything?
you can find out the recipe of enjoying the spicy and spacious tastes of Korean food from the site :-D

-> Korean Food

Pepero Day, 11 November

November 11 is Pepero day in Korea


Pepero (빼빼로) is a cookie stick, dipped in chocolate syrup, manufactured by Lotte in South Korea since 1983.
Pepero Day is an observance in South Korea similar to Valentine's Day. It is named after the Korean snack Pepero and held on November 11, since the date "11/11" resembles four sticks of Pepero. The holiday is observed mostly by young people and couples, who exchange Pepero sticks, other candies, and romantic gifts. Lotte denies starting the holiday and instead states that they noticed a bump in Pepero sales around November 11th and after continued popularity they decided to then encourage the holiday with special gift boxes and other promotions. Some consider it to be a contrived holiday and some teachers have encouraged children to exchange healthy snacks to help combat obesity.






This picture is Famous Pepero's photo from 1983
The original Pepero has regular chocolate taste but there are several flavours these days


According to one story, Pepero Day was started in 1994 by students at a girls' middle school in Busan, where they exchanged Pepero sticks as gifts to wish one another to grow "as tall and slender as a Pepero".

From one day, Pepero day became sepecial day to youngers.
So, today I also gave Pepero to my coworkers and they thanked me :)
Someone wondered Pepero day is only for lovers.
Actually, not only couples but also families and friends give Pepero to each other lately.
Pepero day is commemorative day to us these days.

2009년 11월 17일 화요일

Seoul's subway line map

Today I'm gonna talk about the Korean subway line.

6 cities, Seoul, Pusan, Incheon, Gwanju and Daegoo, have subways in Korea.
Let's see Seoul's subway line first.




you can see the detail Seoul's subway linemap on the below's site.

Subway map in English


If you type the departure and destination, it gives you the best way to go
It is very useful servise.
You can find Korean tourist attractions on this map.
Next time, I'll post the places where we should go with seeing the subway linemap.

Related Sites of Korea Immigration & VISA

It should be informative to foreign resident and someone haven't been Korea yet
This web site offers the service related to Korea visa or emigration
It must be helpful to gain the information while living in Korea by visiting web site
Sometimes you can find hiring information and something necessary
Check it :D



1. Seoul immigration office

(URL : http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM80/index.do )

Tel : 1345 (from lan-line or mobile phone)

Immigration Contract Center for Foreigners
-Just dial 1345 for further information regarding Immigration process

Someone come to Korea first time usually don't know the information of visa and emigration
If you dial 1345, representives from each country will answer
How to get there: Get off at Omokgyo station (Line 5) Gate No.7 and walk 10 min.

2. HiKorea, e-Government for Foreigner

(URL : http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/main_en.pt )

Hi Korea is the main site of the electronic government for foreigners, jointly
created by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and
the Ministry of Labor. It was created with the purpose of providing investment,
employment, residence, and everyday living related information and services
from a single source to foreigners visiting Korea.

Purpose of our service

- Provide information relating to immigration, investment, labor and everyday living in Korea or those that plan on coming to Korea.
- On-line electronic processing of various applications that are needed for residence and employment
- Provide investment related services to potential foreign investor. For example, gathering information about potential local partners, recommending local firms to investors (and visa versa), and various consulting services
- Realization of electronic government for foreigners that allows them to enjoy same level of privileges and conveniences as a Korean national

3. Contact Korea

(URL : http://www.contactkorea.go.kr/index.do )


You can submit the resume to gain jobs on this website
and your info will be offered to various companies

Direct link to the HuNet system of the Ministry of Justice, vastly reducing time required for visa issuance (HuNet to be completed by December 2009)


4. Seoul Global Center

(URL : http://jobs.seoul.go.kr )

This website has variety information for someone living and coming to Seoul.
There are many kind of services about business, something necessary to living, foreign group or organization info and etc

2009년 11월 12일 목요일

Taxation of income tax for foreign ESL teachers


It'll be helpful to someone teach English on E-2 visa
Also it must be useful to somebody going to be a ESL teacher in Korea
It explains how to pay tax
I scrapted it from the Korean National Tax Service blog :-)


Q: I am currently working as an ESL teacher in a language institute (hakwon) in Korea. My employer deducts 5% from my monthly salary for tax purposes. Is such taxation correct?


Taxation of income tax for foreign ESL teachers differs based on their employment status. Employment status is determined by the specific conditions of the contract between you and your employer, and it is broken into two types: employee and independent contractor (“free-lancer”).


1) If you are a resident, you are taxed as follows:


- If you are an independent contractor (free-lancer), the payer must withhold taxes every month at a rate of 3.3% (0.3% resident surtax included). In this case, you are responsible for filing global income tax return in the month of May of the following year, and any amount of tax withheld will be credited to you as prepaid tax. You may be able to claim a tax refund on your global tax return if the prepaid tax amount is greater than your final tax liabilities.


- If you are an employee, your employer must withhold the monthly income tax calculated by using the Simplified Tax Withholding Table. Your income tax liability for the year is settled and finalized in February of the following year through the year-end tax settlement completed by your employer.

2) If you are a non-resident, you are taxed as follows:




- If you are an employee, you are taxed following the same method applied to resident employees.



- If you provide lecture or teaching services without an employment agreement, the withholding rate shall be 22% (2% resident tax included).

- However, income from independent personal services and dependent personal services (wages and salaries) may not be taxable in Korea when it meets certain non-taxation requirements, such as the 183 day-term test provided under tax treaties.
※ Please refer to the Income Tax Calculation Chart for Resident ESL Teachers







Click the photo to see big size


- Article 122 of Personal Income Tax Law [Calculation of Tax Base and Tax Amount in Case of Global Taxation on Non-resident]
- Article 137 of Personal Income Tax Law [Year-end Tax Settlement of a Tax Amount on Wage and Salary

Alien Registration

Foreign residents who come to Korea with a long-term visa (more than 90 days) have to obtain an Alien Registration Certificate from the Seoul Immigration Office within 90 days after arrival.
The alien registration procedure applies to foreigners wishing to change their visa type, as well as those who wish to extend their period of stay beyond 90 days. Any change in the Alien Registration Certificate must be reported to the Immigration Office within 14 days. When foreign residents move, they should report to their new district office within 14 days of moving. Foreign registration is valid for one (1) year and foreigners must renew their registration within one (1) year.

Registration period

Foreigners intending to stay for more than 90 days in Korea after entry:
- within 90 days of entry
Foreigners with permission granted for status to stay or change of status:
- Upon receiving permission. (immediately)

Exceptions to foreign registration

- Those carrying out diplomacy, official missions and agreements, and their family members (A-1, A-2, A-3)
- Those undertaking diplomatic, industrial, or other important duties for the national security and their family members, and other foreigners exempt from registration as foreigners by the Minister of Justice
- Foreigners from Canada intending to stay for less than 6 months and who hold one of the following Visa status: Culture/Arts (D-1), Religious Works (D-6), Visit&Stay with family (F-1), Family dependency (F-3), others (G-1)

Required documents

- Application Form
- Passport
- 3 photographs (taken within 6 months, 3x4cm)
- Fee (10,000 Won)

Related Sites : Seoul immigration office
(URL :http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM80/index.do)



ALIEN REGISTRATION CARD IMAGE





1. Registration Number : first six digits(birth date)
- last seven digits(personalized number)
2. Name : name as appears on passport
3. Nationality : nationality as appears on passport
4. Place of stay : address in Korea
5. Status of sojourn
6. Date of issue, Expiry date
7. Issuing office





1. Date of permission : the date when the permission is issued.
2. Change of particulars : change of the status of stay, etc.
3. Permitting office : office that makes the permission.
4. Period of stay : the date when the permission is issued and there
by the new expiration date of the period of stay.


Source : Seoul immigration office
(URL :http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM80/index.do)

2009년 11월 11일 수요일

Make a Kim-Chi

I scraped this post how to make Kim-Chi from korea4home community.
Kim-chi prevent from H1N1 :D

If you have any interest, just look at this.



Make a Kim-Chi



Of the countless varieties of kim chi that are made in Korea, by far the most common and celebrated version is made with Napa cabbage.

Kim chi that's made with cabbage is loaded with indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a compound that is well recognized as a powerful cancer-fighting compound. Numerous studies indicate that I3C can offer protection against many different types of cancer and may even stop the growth of existing tumors.

You could hop on over to a local Korean market to buy a bottle of kim chi, but it may not be as healthy as you'd like, since most commercially prepared varieties are made with white sugar and shrimp.

To make healthy kim chi that still has lots of flavor and health-promoting compounds, start with a whole head of fresh Napa cabbage:


Separate the leaves and chop them up into bite-size pieces. These shreds of cabbage will shrink about 25% during processing, so no need to make them too small. And no need to clean them yet, as we'll be giving them a good rinse in a bit.


Measure out a quarter cup of sea salt.


And add it to a small bowl of warm water.


Give it a gentle stir until the salt is dissolved.


Now add the salt water to the cabbage and give the cabbage a light toss to distribute the salt water.



Now a bit of waiting time. The salted cabbage needs to sit at room temperature for about four hours. The salt will help draw moisture out of the cabbage, and will also act as a natural preservative.

Here's what the cabbage should look like after about four hours:


If you look closely, you'll see a small pool of salt brine at the bottom of the bowl.

Now grease up your elbows and wash and strain the cabbage two or three times. You want to rinse off the salt water and return the cabbage to a large bowl.

Congratulations - this is the base for your kim chi.


Measure out a quarter cup of ko choo kah rhoo, also known as fine red chili flakes/powder. If you don't have easy access to a local Korean grocery store, you can order ko choo kah rhoo from the following site:

Crushed red pepper flakes


Add a quarter cup of warm water and mix with a spoon until the chili powder/flakes turn into a bit of a paste.



Transfer the red pepper paste to the cabbage.



Plus a tablespoon of minced garlic.



And a tablespoon of finely chopped/minced ginger.



Three to four green onions, sliced.



Two tablespoons of anchovy sauce or fish sauce. If you prefer a vegetarian version, you can skip this step.



And now for the secret ingredient that sets this kim chi apart from most commercially prepared varieties: a concoction of half a ripe apple, half a ripe pear, and half a yellow onion, all blended up with one cup of water.


This apple/pear/onion blend adds a hint of natural sweetness to the kim chi - most commercial varieties simply add a cup of sugar.

Now put on a pair of gloves so that you can get right in there and give everything a solid toss and rubdown.
Gloves are necessary, as the red chili flakes/powder will make your bare hands burn.


And voila, you have homemade kim chi that should please even the fussiest of Korean food critics.



You want to bottle the kim chi up in glass bottles, cap them, and leave them out at room temperature for 24 hours
before refrigerating.

One word of warning: don't fill the jars right up to their tops, as the contents will expand a bit as the kim chi
ferments, and filling the jars to their rims will likely result in leakage.

Here's a look from up top:



And from the front in all its glory:



After 24 hours of fermentation out in room temperature, transfer capped bottles to the refrigerator and take portions out as needed. The kim chi will continue to ferment while refrigerated, and will keep for at least a month.
The longer it ferments, the more sour it will get. Personally, I prefer kim chi that isn't sour at all, so we tend to use these bottles up within a week or so.

Click here for a printer-friendly version of this recipe (no pictures):

Healthy Kim Chi Recipe

Once you master the art of making your own healthy kim chi, you can enjoy it as a side dish to just about any main dish, and you can make it a component of dishes like Korean pancakes (bin dae duk) and a number of different Korean stews.

Korean National Holidays 2009~2010

It is very useful information to somebody live in Korea. Good to refer to it.

This list is Korean holidays ^^

It is bad news that we had a lot of holidays on Saturday in 2009.

For instance, June 6th and October 3rd, these holidays were on Saturday ~!!

Let's look forward to 2010 :-)






Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009

- 1 Jan : New Year.
- 25-27 : Jan Sollal (Lunar New Year).
- 1 Mar : Independence Movement Day.
- 1 May : Labour Day (not an official public holiday but many companies and financial markets close).
- 5 May : Children's Day.
- 9 May : Buddha's Birthday.
- 6 Jun : Memorial Day.
- 15 Aug : Liberation Day.
- 2-4 Oct : Harvest Moon (Chuseok).
- 3 Oct : National Foundation Day.
- 25 Dec : Christmas Day.


2010

- 1 Jan : New Year.
- Jan/Feb* : Sollal (Lunar New Year).
- 1 Mar : Independence Movement Day.
- 1 May : Labour Day (not an official public holiday but many companies and financial markets close).
- 5 May : Children's Day.
- 28 Apr : Buddha's Birthday.
- 6 Jun : Memorial Day.
- 15 Aug : Liberation Day.
- Sep/Oct* : Harvest Moon (Chuseok).
- 3 Oct : National Foundation Day.
- 25 Dec : Christmas Day.

2009년 11월 9일 월요일

Korea Food_Bibimbop

Beef & Mixed Vegetable Rice


Bibimbop = 비빔밥 (korean)

Bibimbop literally means "mixed rice" or "mixed meal" in Korean. It's a popular meal consisting of a bowl of steamed white rice topped with vegetables, beef, a whole egg, and kochujang (Korean chili pepper paste). Kochujang is usually served separately to control its spiciness of this rice dish.

A variation of this dish, dolsot bibimbop ("dolsot" meaning "stone pot") is served in a heated stone bowl, in which a raw egg is cooked against the sides of the bowl. Before the rice is placed in the bowl, the bottom of the bowl is coated with sesame oil; consequently, the portion of the rice touching the bowl becomes golden brown and crispy.

Vegetables commonly used in bibimbap include julienne cucumber, zucchini, carrot, white radish, mushrooms, bellflower root, and laver, as well as spinach, soybean sprouts, and bracken fern stems. Tofu, either plain or sauteed, may also be included in the dish. Within both types of bibimbops, all ingredients are typically stirred together thoroughly before eating.

Recipe Ingredients:

•1/4 lb of chopped beef (ground beef is acceptable)
•100 grams of bellflower roots (doraji)
•50 grams of bean sprouts
•1 lettuce leaf
•3 shiitake mushrooms
•1 sheet of vegetable jelly
•1/3 carrot
•1 cucumber
•1 egg
•3 cups sticky rice grain
•4 tbsp kochujang
•1 tbsp sugar
•1 tbsp sesame seeds
•sesame oil
Cooking Directions:

1.Wash 3 cups of rice, soak for 30 minutes and drain. Put the rice in a thick cooker and add 3 1/3 cups of water, then bring them to a boil. After 10-15 minutes boiling, reduce the heat and simmer with the lid on for 5 minutes. Do not lift the lid while cooking.
2.Season beef and stir-fry lightly until cooked.
3.Cut cucumbers, carrots and shitake mushrooms into match stick size and shred bellflower roots (doraji) and lettuce leaf. Squeeze out excess water and sprinkle them with salt (not including lettuce leaf).
4.Add 1 tsp of sesame oil to hot frying pan and stir-fry the cucumber quickly so the color stays vivid. Spread them on a big plate to cool. Add more sesame oil, then stir-fry bellflower roots, carrots, and mushrooms consecutively.
5.Place cooked rice in a deep dish and add the prepared ingredients on top of the rice (*For hot stone dolsot bibimbop, heat the stone pot until hot enough to burn the fingers and coat 2 tsp of sesame oil. Place the rice sizzling right into the hot stone pot).
6.Fry an egg sunny-side-up in a frying pan and place it on top of the dish (*For hot stone dolsot bibimbop, place the raw egg on the side of the hot pot so it can slightly cook).
7.To make seasoned kochujang paste, combine 4 tablespoons of kochujang, 1 tbsp of sugar, 1 tbsp of sesame seeds and 2 tsp of sesame oil. Mix all ingredients well.
8.Add seasoned kochujang to taste and mixes it thoroughly with the rice and vegetables before beginning to eat.


from: http://www.trifood.com/bibimbop.html



I found the interesting post during searching the internet.
You can see how to make boiled rice with assorted mixtures(비빔밥)
Enjoy it :-)

http://video.about.com/koreanfood/Bi-Bim-Bop-Recipe.htm

Korea Food_Bulgogi

Grilled Marinated Beef

Bulgogi = 불고기 ( korean )

Bulgogi is one of Korea's most popular beef dishes. It is made from thinly sliced sirloin or another prime cut of beef. The meat is marinated with a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, black pepper, garlic, onions, ginger, wine and sugar. It is marinated for two to four hours to enhance the flavor and its tenderization.

Bulgogi is traditionally grilled, but broiling or pan-cooking is common as well. Whole cloves of garlic, sliced onions, and chopped green peppers are often grilled or cooked at the same time. It is often served to non-Koreans as a first taste of Korean cuisine.

This dish is usually served with a side of lettuce, spinach, or other leafy vegetable, which is used to wrap a slice of cooked meat, often times along with a dab of ssamjang, kimchi, or other side dishes, and then eaten as a whole. To see a visual illustration, click here.

Korean 101: "Bul" is the Korean word for "fire", and "gogi" is "meat" .∙. "Fire meat"



Recipe Ingredients

•1 pound thinly sliced steak
•5 tbsp sugar
•1/2 cup soy sauce
•2 buds finely chopped garlic (can also be crushed, and crushed buds removed before serving)
•1/4 tsp salt
•5 tbsp Mirin (sweet sake, optional)
•2 tbsp sesame oil
•2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
•1 cup split green onions
•2 cups thinly sliced carrots (optional)
Cooking Directions

1.Mix all ingredients except carrots. Marinate in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
2.Cook over medium high heat until meat is just short of desired completion.
3.Add carrots and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
4.Serve with rice.


from : http://www.trifood.com/bulgogi.html

Korea VISA

1) VISA Types

Single Entry Visa

- Only a single-entry is permitted for the duration of the visa
- Valid for 3 months from the date it had been issued

multiple-entry visa

- Multiple entries are permitted for as long as visa remains valid
- Valid for:
* Diplomacy (A-1) / Conventions/Agreements (A-3) visa status: 3 years from date of issue
* Visa provided under multiple-entry visa Agreement: duration specified by an agreement
* Visa provided for national benefit: duration specified by the Minister of Justice


2) Sample of Republic of Korea VISA






① No. of Visa : Serial No. of Visa Issuance
② Status : Type of social activities or status of Foreigners while their stay in Korea
③ Period of Sojourn : The permitted term of stay from starting from the date of entry into Korea
④ Entries : Visa Types, single-entry visa/multiple-entry visa
⑤ Issue Date : Visa Issuance date
⑥ Expiration Date : The Valid Term of Visa/ After this date, the visa is automatically rendered void.
⑦ Issued at : Where the visa was issued.

3) Visa Application Fee


- Single-entry visa for less than 90 days: Amount equivalent to $30 (USD)
- Single-entry visa for more than 91 days: Amount equivalent to $50 (USD)
- For all multiple-entry visa: Amount equivalent $80 (USD)
- Chinese Tourism Group: Amount equivalent to $10 (USD) per person

※ The fee is exempt for people of the country under the fee-exempt agreement with R.O.K.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Exempted country :
England, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Thai,
Japan, Taiwan

Exempt condition :
All types of visa(regardless of period)
England is limited to less than 6 months

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Exempted country :
Columbia, Barbados, Peru, Liberia,Dominican Republic

Exempt condition :
Limited to the visa issued for more than 91 days
-------------------------------------------------------------
Exempted country :
Paraguay, Benin, Romania, Brazil,Uruguay, Cyprus, Guatemala

Exempt condition :
Limited to diplomatic/official passport holders of
visa issued for more than 91 days
-------------------------------------------------------------
Exempted country :
Mongolia, Venezuela

Exempt condition :
Limited to diplomatic/official passport holders of
visa issued for more than 31 days
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Exempted country :
Philippines

Exempt condition :
Limited to the visa issued for less than 59 days
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Exempted country :
Australia

Exempt condition :
Limited to the visa issued for less than 90 days for
the Short Term Business(C-2) purpose
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Exempted country :
Germany

Exempt condition :
Limited to the visa issued for the purpose of
Overseas Study (D-2), General Training (D-4),
Supervisory Intra-Company Transfer (D-7),
Corporate Investment (D-8), Trade Management
(D-9), Special Occupation(E-7)
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