Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NM14456]

While spending time here in Korea I�ve thought it would be interesting to learn some traditional art or skill that would be interesting and useful when I leave Korea. I guess to clarify � I�m not talking about Tae Kwon do or taking Korean language courses or paperfolding.

My general impression and I may be very wrong is that there isn�t a lot of this in existence in Korea. A great example of something useful and transferable would be Japanese carpentry � you know everything done with small hand tools but expertly done��..

Has anyone run across an interesting traditional trade or skill here? Do classes exist for the idea?

[Troglodyte]

A lot of traditional skills are going the way of the dodo. (Or so it seems whenever I ask about traditional skills.)

But if you're into arts and crafts, check out Insadong area in Seoul. You can get a general idea there. I'm sure that there are classes for some traditional things but I'm not sure that the instructors would speak much (any) English. If you find someone doing something you're interested in, then ask them, or have a friend help you ask. If you can't find what you like, ask a friend to help you search in Korean on naver.com .

[DIsbell]

Korea is internationally known for its ceramics. Might be something to look into. Otherwise... cooking/pickling food is sort of unique and definitely traditional.

[NM14456]

Thanks for responding -

Yeah Korea seems remarkably void of any traditional trades and in that way seems very different from Japan let alone other cultures. I've walked around Insadong (sp?) and will go again for the hell of it but wasn't wowed by much there. Maybe I just missed seeing the right thing?

Is there a reason for this in Korea - the lack of traditional skills or trades?

It's an aspect of Korea that's pretty depressing. The language barrier is another problem too.

The cooking idea seems the most obvious and something that ran through my brain before. If there's something I like about Korea it's many of the soups here........not much to go on is it?

[shinramyun]

[Louis VI]

Learn the local culinary arts, how to make gimchi and other Korean foods. It's practical and transferable.

[mimi belle]

There are some traditional arts but I'm not sure how easy it would be for a westerner to find a class. Or if you would be interested.

As someone mentioned, pottery or ceramics is a traditional art.
Also archery and drumming.

But it sounds like you want something more practical and tactile. I'm thinking you could possibly find a traditional calligraphy or brush painting workshop if you looked.

[SinclairLondon]

Archery.

[NM14456]

[HapKi]

[NM14456]

[prairiegirl81]

If you are into Korean Traditional music I would suggest that you check this out: http://www.gugak.go.kr/html/jsp/eng_2006/c00_program/c20_gugak.jsp

The National Gugak Centre has classes for Foreigners - 12 weeks for only 30,000 won!

If I had lived in Seoul I would definitely have checked this out. As it was, my fiancee was able to take private Taepyongso lessons in our small city just be asking the local teacher.

[NM14456]

[HapKi]

[NM14456]