This weekend is the beginning of the 2010 World Cup!

Here is the schedule for the games throughout this weekend:

(All times are in Korean Standard Time)

It’s natural to think of Seoul as simply a huge urban sprawl, with lots to do in the areas of art, food, and shopping and little to do for nature lovers, but Seoul has more green spots than you might think.  Since Mother Nature seems to be begrudgingly giving us spring weather little by little, now would be a great time to learn more about parks around Seoul.

To begin, there are over a hundred parks listed on the city’s parks website – far too many to cover in detail in this article.  Instead, we’ll take a look at a few major parks and their facilities, in different areas around Seoul.  For a more comprehensive list of all the parks, you can visit the website http://parks.seoul.go.kr/park/.  If you go to the “Park search” section there, you can see that there is at least one park in each “gu” or district, and many districts have at least three or four parks. 

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2vs2 bboy battle WEST COAST SEOUL presented by Strife.tv

Prelims will start at 3pm
The Main Battles will start at 7:00 PM

Entrance Fee: 10,000 won
All proceeds will go to the group for Single Moms, Miss Mama Mia.
저희가 이 행사의 모든 수익금을 기부하려는 단체는 “Miss Mama Mia” 이구요. 어려운 미혼모들을 위한 단체입니다.

For pre-registration, email bgirlmislee@gmail.com with your crew name, bboy names and phone number.

Joey Bzdel and Helen Kim from You Can Dance Studio, photo by Chris Bateman

Some might think when you’re living abroad, you have to give up your old hobbies. Others might think that new hobbies are too difficult to start in a foreign place. However, for those interested in dance, Korea’s growing, vibrant dance community can provide a great opportunity to enjoy an active hobby and a place to meet others who share your passion.

Tango

Tango, the mysterious and seductive dance which was just deemed a part of the world’s “intangible cultural heritage” by UNESCO last year, is beginning to gain some popularity here in Korea. The dance, which originated in Argentina and Uruguay, has both African and Spanish influences, and was originally a working-class dance form. After gaining popularity in Europe and North America, the dance as we know it today is often seen in ballroom dance competitions and has been the subject of or highlighted in various movies worldwide, indicating its international appeal.

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Part exercise, part philosophy, martial arts is a great way to feed both the body and mind.  Some students of martial arts may consider it a physical sport, where others consider it an art or spiritual exercise.  While there are a wide range of martial arts that have originated in all areas of the world, they can generally be categorized in two groups, in reference to the major actions they emphasize:  striking or grappling.  “Striking” martial arts typically refer to those that focus on striking and kicking movements, such as Taekwondo or Muay Thai.  “Grappling” martial arts typically refer to those that focus on throwing, pinning, and holding, such as Hapkido or Brazilian Ju Jitsu. How do you know which one is for you?  The first step is to decide if you’re more interested in striking or grappling techniques.  If you’re interested in both forms and incorporating them as a full contact sport, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) may also be another interesting option.  Below is a brief introduction to the aforementioned martial arts and places in and around Seoul where you can study them. 

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