In the alleys of Bukchon Hanok Village, an area in central Seoul famed for its traditional Korean houses, countless tourists tromp around taking photos with digital cameras and smartphones. The tourists are loud. You can hear them coming. “Every morning at around 7:30 a.m., we hear a ton of tourists making noise,” says Kim Jae-hyeok, 43, a Bukchon resident. “I think I’m going to get a neurosis from it. I cannot tolerate the noise anymore.” “When I first moved here, I was very open to tourists and let them come into my house and use my bathroom,” says Oh Ok-sun, 55, who has been a resident for four years. But the steady stream has become more like an inundation. “People just lined up to come into my home so I had to shut my door,” she says. “And now, I have to clean up garbage that the tourists leave every morning.” 

Tourism is good for the economy of course, but not for people whose homes are destinations for busloads of visitors from China and Japan. Bukchon shares this problem with Ihwa Mural Village in Jongno District, central Seoul, which has 70 colorful murals, and Seochon in Hyoja-dong and Sajik-dong, west of Gyeongbok Palace, which boasts traditional Hanok houses in which merchants resided during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In Bukchon, the Jongno District Office has posted 16 signs that read “Silence please” in English, Chinese and Japanese. It hasn’t helped. The Seoul city government and Jongno District Office are now concerned that the deluge of tourists may lead to a so-called touristification of certain neighborhoods. Touristification is when an ordinary area becomes so popular with tourists that it forces residents to move away. 

According to the Seoul city government and Jongno District Office, a total of 18 complaints were filed by the residents in Bukchon related to tourists last month. Last year, only two complaints were filed. “18 complaints are quite a lot if they’re all about the tourists,” says an official at the district office. The number of residents packing up and leaving the area is increasing. “Of 90 houses here, there are 10 that are unoccupied,” says Lee Gang-bae, 53, a representative of Gahoe-dong in Jongno District. “Existing residents are starting to consider leaving because of various noise and parking difficulties.” Real estate prices in the neighborhood have dropped significantly. “A 3.3 square-meters (35.5 square-feet) plot of land cost 30 million won to 35 million won ($27,000 - 31,000) five years ago,” a real estate broker says, “but now, the price has dropped to 20 million won to 25 million won.” After some neighborhoods became tourist attractions, groceries, laundries and butcher shops disappeared as residents left the neighborhood. “In Paris, 400 areas were selected as protected zones where various shops such as groceries and laundries are supported and protected by the government,” said Lim Young-shin, president of a nonprofit organization, Imagine Peace. 

Some residents are taking matters into their own hands. In April, residents of Ihwa Mural Village started to erase some of the murals, their most popular tourist attraction. Earlier this month, they painted over some more. The stairs adorned with paintings of sunflowers, a prized feature, were painted over with bland grey paint. On the walls next to the stairs, there are various phrases written in red paint such as “Do not tour around residential areas” and even “Stop tourism.”

先生(せんせい)に会(あ)いに行(い)きます。선생님을 만나러 갑니다.

先生(せんせい)になりたいです。선생님이 되고 싶어요.

先生(せんせい)に注意(ちゅうい)されました。선생님께 지적받았습니다.

Intelligence is a person’s ability to perceive information and retain it as knowledge that can be used in the future in any applicable context. It is important in learning, concept formation, understanding, and reasoning. On the other hand, character refers to good or bad behaviors or human virtues such as empathy, courage, integrity, loyalty, and compassion. Character is important especially in human relations, choices that people make, and actions that they do.

Although both are important, many people believe that intelligence weighs more. They say it is what ultimately makes humans the highest form of animal, but some people think otherwise.

Supporters of intelligence stress that it drives people to achieve their dreams and realize their true potentials. For this reason, many people emphasize the importance of education and invest in the education of their children. Fostering children’s intelligence gives society high hopes that they will someday land a promising job, build a career, and give back to society.

Furthermore, intelligence is most useful in crises and problem-solving situations. Intelligence makes people more efficient, productive, and results-oriented than character does. In contrast, character and emotions often drive people to focus on too many considerations that get in the way of what should be a faster decision-making process. 

Most importantly, all forms of intelligence are highly valued in different sectors of society. For example, scientists are the ones who invent and discover breakthroughs that benefit mankind. They are also the ones who are always in pursuit of knowledge that can help improve humans’ quality of life. Moreover, intellectualschallenge existing belief systems and social constructs to help mankind embrace modernity and change.

Opponents of intelligence say that intelligence should only besecondary to character. Character is what makes people human. It represents a person’s heart. Intelligence, on the other hand, is useless if people’s actions are not driven by their beliefs, principles, and integrity. 

Moreover, people driven by character can make contributions to society just as well as intellectuals do. More often than not, people of character think beyond themselves. They strive to touch people’s lives and make positive changes. They also make good leaders because they have the ability to think of ways to elevate not only their status but society’s as a whole.

Finally, character not only elevates a single individual but society as a unit. A society that is made of people driven by integrity prospers better than a society that is comprised by intellectuals who outsmart each other and compete with one another.

このボタンを押(お)して下(くだ)さい。: 이 버튼을 눌러주세요.

押(お)してみて下(くだ)さい。: 눌러보세요.

押(お)さないで下(くだ)さい。: 누르지 마세요.

Inflation fell to the lowest rate in 16 months, remaining below 1 percent for four consecutive months as crude prices continued to slide and the government discounted power bills to ease the burden caused by the increased use of air-conditioners during the heat wave. However, despite the low inflation rate, Koreans, especially those in middle and low-income households, are burdened by the continuing price hike in produce, which is expected to worsen with the sluggish economy. In August, the country’s consumer prices rose 0.4 percent year on year, the lowest growth since April 2015, when the prices also rose 0.4 percent, the government said on Thursday. “The slow growth rate is mainly due to the government’s decision made last month to give discounts on electricity bills for households,” said Yoo Soo-young, a director at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. “The inflation rate in August would be around 0.8 percent if the changes in electricity billing systems were not made.” 

In fact, the government has decided to discount household electricity bills from July to September, as lawmakers and many residents found the current progressive billing system unfair or said it burdened households. During the heat wave, angry residents called for changes to the system. “The fall in crude oil prices not only impacted the price of petroleum products but also dragged down the overall prices for electricity, water and gas,” Yoo said. Prices for electricity, water and gas fell 12.6 percent in August compared to the previous year, contributing to lowering inflation by 0.57 percentage points. Petroleum prices dropped 8.8 percent over the year, mirroring the fall in international crude prices, lowering inflation by another 0.37 percentage points. Gasoline prices fell 8.2 percent and diesel prices dropped 7.6 percent compared to a year ago. Even though the overall inflation rate slowed, basic living expenses and consumer prices of food increased last month, tightening living conditions for low and middle-income households. Prices of fresh produce rose 2.8 percent compared to the previous year and the prices of other food, including agricultural produce, livestock and fishery products increased 1 percent. “The prices of vegetable rose significantly from the previous year due to the hot weather,” said Yoo at the Finance Ministry. 

The prices of vegetables alone rose 6.2 percent year-on-year last month. Napa cabbage prices jumped 58 percent, pepper became 30.9 percent more expensive and the cost of garlic rose 17.5 percent. The cost of Korean beef, or hanwoo, rose 13.7 percent, but pork prices dropped 4.5 percent. These products are widely used during Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving, which is just two weeks away. Service prices, including rent, utility bills, travel and dining, in August increased 1.9 percent year-on-year, contributing to raising overall inflation by 1.07 percentage points. The cost of rent, including jeonse, or lump-sum rental deposits, was up 2.5 percent compared to the previous year. The price of the Korean liquor soju sold in restaurants and bars rose 13.2 percent, and the prices of raw fish meals at restaurants increased 5.2 percent, according to Statistics Korea. 

Consumer prices rose the most in Busan by 0.8 percent, followed by Seoul (0.7 percent) and Gwangju (0.6 percent). Inflation was lowest in Gumi, North Gyeongsang, and Jinju, South Gyeongsang, which each saw inflation drop 0.3 percent in August. “The discounts on electricity bills are going to expire in October and we expect the inflation rate to move up to around 1 percent later this year as it did before,” said Yoo. “Global oil prices are showing signs of recovering and it appears that some of the downward pressure from overseas will be reduced. “The government will monitor consumer and global oil prices thoroughly and will try its best to stabilize the local retail and agricultural industries so that they can be prepared for Chuseok.” The government statistics agency researched 481 major goods Koreans purchase in 37 major cities and provinces.

ソウルは星(ほし)が見(み)えない: 서울은 별이 안 보여

星空(ほしぞら)はきれいですね: 별이 뜬 하늘은 예쁘네

星(ほし)が出(で)る: 별이 나오다

The modern Olympics has three vital ceremonies: the opening, closing, and medal ceremonies. These ceremonies have evolvedover time, but they are still based on the ceremonies held in the ancient Olympic Games. 

The opening ceremonies of the Olympics officially mark the beginning of the Olympic Games. However, in the recent Olympic Games, some athletic competitions are held prior to the opening ceremonies because of the increasing number of teams that participate in the different sporting events.

The opening ceremonies typically commence with raising the host country’s national flag along with playing its national anthem. Afterwards, an artistic program prepared by the host is presented.This usually involves singing, dancing, and acting performances that showcase the host country’s culture, history, and other important features. During the artistic program, the current Olympic Motto is also presented.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the opening ceremony featured performances that highlighted the ancient art and culture. The presentation aimed to show the world that China is becoming a world power that is set to bring great things to the world. 

The 2012 London Olympics highlighted some of the country’s contributions to the world like the Industrial Revolution and the Beatles. 

In the 2016 Rio Olympics, the opening ceremony was a celebration of Brazil’s distinct and awesome culture. It also featured a short reminder on the growing environmental problems, like climate change, that the world is experiencing.

After the artistic program is the Parade of Nations. During the Parade of Nations, some of the participating athletes of every country march into the stadium. A theme song chosen by the host country plays in the background as groups of athletes from their respective countries march one at a time. Each country’s delegationis led by the country’s flag and a sign with the country’s name on it. Traditionally, participating athletes from Greece enter first followed by the countries arranged in alphabetical order. Delegates from the host country enter last.

The highlight of the opening ceremony is when the Olympic Torch is brought into the stadium. It is passed from one athlete to another during the torch relay until it reaches the last athlete, usually a representative of the host country, who is tasked to light the stadium’s cauldron. This is followed by a symbolic release of two doves that signifies peace. The release of the doves marks the end of the opening ceremony.

The significance of the opening ceremony of the Olympics goes deeper than just officially marking the beginning of the Olympic Games. It is also filled with expressions of culture and meaningful messages that the host country wants the world to know.

手紙(てがみ)は届(とど)いた?: 편지 도착했어?

荷物(にもつ)が届(とど)いた: 짐이 도착했다

私(わたし)の歌声(うたごえ)が君(きみ)に届(とど)いてほしい: 내 노랫소리가 너에게 닿기를

Household income continued its slow growth in the second quarter this year, and spending remained unchanged compared to a year ago, as economic conditions remain grim and the income gap between rich and poor continues to grow. Monthly household income during the second quarter of the year averaged 4.31 million won ($3,850), according to a Statistics Korea report released Friday, a 0.8 percent increase from a year ago. But when compared to average household income during the first quarter (4.6 million won), it was a 5.46 percent drop. “Average household income saw limited growth in the second quarter largely because income made from investments shrank sharply,” said an official at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. “But income made from labor and businesses saw mild growth.” 

Household income has been struggling since the second half of last year. After reporting a 2.9 percent year-on-year growth during the second quarter last year, household income growth has remained below 1 percent. During the second quarter this year, household income growth was even slower than the 0.9 percent inflation rate. With income barely going up, households are tightening their purse strings. Household spending in the second quarter remained unchanged compared to a year ago, with monthly spending averaging 3.28 million won. But when compared to the first quarter of this year, it fell at a sharper rate than household income. Second-quarter spending shrank 6.8 percent. Even worse, the average propensity to consume in the second quarter fell to an all-time low, breaking the previous record set in the third quarter of last year. 

Average propensity to consume is the fraction of disposable income that a household spends after excluding required expenditures such as taxes and insurance. In the second quarter, the fraction amounted to 70.9 percent, while the previous record held in the third quarter was 71.5 percent, meaning people have been cutting back on spending. Statistics Korea attributed the drop to an aging society where the number of heads of households in their 60s is increasing while the population of younger people in their 30s and 40s is shrinking. As a result, Korean households have been cutting back on consumption of daily necessities as well as clothing and shoes. Spending on food and beverages dropped 4.2 percent year on year, clothing and shoes fell 2.5 percent and even spending on education saw a drop of 0.7 percent. 

Instead, more is being spent on recreational activities and goods. Money spent on cigarettes and alcohol increased 7.1 percent, mostly because of a tax hike on tobacco enacted last January. Cigarette spending alone increased nearly 11 percent. Spending on cultural activities and entertainment also rose during the second quarter due to extensive holidays in early May. The Statistics Korea report showed income disparity worsened in the second quarter. Households in the lower 20 percent saw their income shrink 6 percent, whereas the top 20 percent saw a 1.7 percent increase.

新(あたら)しい車(くるま)がほしい: 새 차를 갖고 싶어

新(あたら)しい服(ふく)が買(か)いたい: 새 옷이 갖고 싶어

新(あたら)しい家(いえ)で住(す)みたい: 새 집에서 살고 싶어