MetaFilter posts tagged with seoul

Seoul before the war

needled — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:12:18 -0800

Color pictures of Seoul, 1949.

Seoul through music videos

needled — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 18:32:27 -0800

Seoul as seen through music videos, whether driving (1, 2), sitting (3), running (4), or walking (5). The songs:

eniac "소년은 달린다" ("The boy runs" or "The boy keeps running") (2011)
양진석 (Yang Jinseok) "강변북로" ("Gangbyeon Expressway") (2011)
peppertones "new hippie generation" (2008)
deli spice "항상 엔진을 켜둘게" ("I will always keep the engine running") (2001)
언니네이발관 (Sister's Barbershop) 어떤날 ("Some days") (1999)

And just because it's fun: U.V. (feat. J.Y. Park) "Itaewon Freedom" (2011) Itaewon street footage begins at 3:41. Lyrics mention other Seoul locales well-known for their clubs and bars - "Gangnam is too crowded/ Hongade is too crowded/ and Shinchon just lacks something ... " (U.V. is a comedy musical act in the vein of Flight of the Conchords; the video is an homage to London Boys' "Harlem Desire")

"What to do when the shells hit Seoul"

needled — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:12:02 -0800

"A general rule of thumb: Go underground to avoid artillery and conventional bombing runs, but go up as high as possible in a chemical weapons attack." A major South Korean newspaper reports on what to do in the case of North Korean attack and the state of evacuation shelters in Seoul. In the case of conventional attack, "the best places to duck for cover are subway stations, apartment basements, and basements of other structures - in that order." Seoul has 4,000 shelters, which have been scored on a 1-4 grading system, with 1 being the most protective. Subway stations as well as apartment building basements are "grade 2" evacuation shelters, while basements of commercial buildings are rated "grade 3". Of note: "There are no public 'grade 1' shelters that can withstand a chemical, biological or nuclear attack in the capital." Meanwhile, the U.S. military's Stars and Stripes provides USFK evacuation information. This PDF provides information on NonCombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), including who is eligible for evacuation and what evacuees should pack. There also videos of NEO exercises. (Stars and Stripes link via The Marmot's Hole)

Look at these crazy bikes! These are future bikes!

Greg Nog — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:43:33 -0800

The Seoul Cycle Design Competition: all shortlisted entries. Some examples: the winning entry. This one looks like a mean glow-worm. Some hearts, just for fun. A luggage-carrier. A foldable round bike. Horse that is only a pretend horse. Kind of a kitchy ivy lock. Poke around, look at all the different designs!

Seoul Takers

Kirth Gerson — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:48:53 -0800

Halloween Subway Where? Korea, of course!

Korea: Then and Now

phoque — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:14:09 -0800

Seoul: Then and Now. Photos Part 2. Anyang: Then and Now.

That gentle piano is the peace of the grave

adamgreenfield — Fri, 18 Apr 2003 23:39:38 -0800

Young-hae Chang's latest, Operation Nukorea, is shattering, unflinching, and beautifully executed. It's a little tale about consequences, and what happens downstream from decisions not sufficiently considered.

It probably would have brought tears to my eyes even if I did not have family in Seoul. Watch it through to the end.

Korean pop group has

VelvetHellvis — Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:00:25 -0800

Korean pop group has "Seoul". Covered in greasepaint and sticking their lips out in exaggerated fashion, Korean girl group, the Bubble Sisters, sing and dance to teenybopper pop in blackface. In homogenous countries, racism seems to play out differently than in diverse countries such as the United States. In Asia, putting on blackface may be seen as a way to pay homage to artists of African ethnicity, but in the U.S. it makes most people cringe and recoil in horror much like hearing someone say the "N" word. The Bubble Sisters profess a love for black music and seek to emulate it, but in their “Bubble Song” video, the group wears blackface while lamenting they are ugly and praying to be pretty for their true loves. Is this an earnest homage to African-American musicians, blatantly offensive Sambo-esque imagery or a cultural misinterpretation of flattery?