5 useful tips for anyone travelling to Korea

Are you planning to travel to Korea soon?
I remember being very anxious on my first trip to Korea but I was busy then so I hardly had time for research.
After the trip there was so many things I wish I knew, like where to get discounted tickets, or free services that I could have taken advantage of when I was there. That's why I want to share some of the services, policies and apps that I'm sure would be helpful to anyone who's about to visit Korea.

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KTO Manila announces new Wow Korea Supporters for 2017

Last March 30, 2017, KTO Manila finally announced their new Wow Korea Supporters for 2017, and I'm so happy that I was once again given the opportunity to be one of the 50 supporters.

Wow Korea Supporters are tasked to promote Korea Tourism and KTO Manila through their SNS accounts. They can share KTO Manila's post or create their own posts, blogs, and promotional videos related to Korea Tourism or KTO Manila. They are also tasked to submit monthly reports about the said posts to KTO Manila.

This year's selection process for the supporters seem to be more stringent than previous years as qualifications for the applicants have been narrowed down, and the screening committee is also bigger with the addition of partners like Travelers In Progress- TRIP, UST CTHM STS and Ateneo Korean Studies Program.

The supporters are also in for an even bigger challenge as specific themes will be given each week on what topic to promote. They'll be required to have 3 posts related to the theme each week, but they're also free to post other Korean-related topics.

So far, a total of 36 supporters have been announced already and 14 more will be announced in the coming days.

At the end of the year, the Best Wow Korea Supporter among all 50 supporters will win a tour package to Korea. I truly hope to win that package and promise to work harder this year (Fighting!). 

Being a Wow Korea Supporter is a truly rewarding experience that requires commitment, determination, and a genuine love for all things Korean. I've certainly enjoyed and have learned a lot from my first year as supporter (2015). I've been consistently promoting Korea (and have grown more in-love with the country) since.

Congratulations to all of the new supporters and I look forward to all the activities of KTO Manila Wow Korea Supporters this year!

Many thanks again to Korea Tourism Organization Manila, and it's partners, Philippine Kpop Convention, Travelers In Progress- TRIP, UST CTHM STS and Ateneo Korean Studies Program, for this wonderful opportunity :)

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Planning to visit Korea? For information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official page, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

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One K Global Peace Concert unites Kpop fans in Manila

It was the usual rush hour on a Thursday evening. I left work early to make it before the show starts. When I arrived, I was actually quite surprised to see so many people attending a concert on a weekday. But well, you can never underestimate the love of Filipino Kpop fans, because this night, seven fandoms gathered to watch their favorite K-idols perform in a very unique and symbolic concert.

March 2, 2017 marked another milestone in the history of Kpop in the Philippines as One K Global Peace Concert Tour, a concert rallying for global support for the reunification of Korea, made its first stop in Manila. Thousands of Kpop fans convened at the SM Mall of Asia Arena to see popular Kpop artists such as BTOB, B.A.P, B1A4, AOA, CNBlue, SHINee and PSY!

Unlike most Kpop concerts I’ve watched, which either starts with a teaser video of the performers or sometimes a front act featuring local artists, One K Global Peace Concert started with a brief overview of the One K Global Campaign, which includes the history of Korea and how war made it the only divided nation in the world. 

Korean host Sam Oh was also there to introduce some significant personalities behind the event such as internationally renowned producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who co-produced the One K global campaign song; and Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon, the founder and Chairman of the Global Peace Foundation, a leading international non-profit organization which co-organized the concert tour. 

There was also a ‘Dove soaring high segment’ where huge white dove-shaped balloons held by VIPs from different nations were released inside the Arena. This was done while everyone waved their glowsticks and cheered “One dream! One Korea! One World!” as loudly as they can, a symbolic act in wishing for a unified Korea and global peace. 

Free lightsticks were given to fans during the concert.

The SM Mall of Asia Arena became a sea of Blue and Green lightsticks, which coincidentally symbolizes the colors of the 2 main fandoms who attended the concert: the Boices (CNBLUE fans) and the Shawols (Shinee fans). 

Concert Highlights: It’s show time!

B.A.P.

After the introduction, the fans went wild as they knew that the concert was about to start. Kpop boy group B.A.P. was first to show off their prowess as they perform their hits ‘Skydive’, ‘One Shot’, and ‘No Mercy’, wowing the crowd with their powerful vocals and superb dancing skills.

BAP members Youngjae, Daehyun, Himchan, Jongup, and Zelo stood on the spotlight as they prepare to perform their last song for the night, the crowd favorite ‘No Mercy’. 

In between groups, AOA’s Seolhyun and SHINee’s Min Ho also amused fans with their hosting, keeping their energy on a high. The two even excited fans further as they shift roles from host to performer and back again.

B1A4

Of course, B1A4 certainly didn’t let the crowd’s energy to falter as they sent everyone on party mode with their cute dance moves and upbeat music. They performed ‘Beautiful Target,’ ‘Baby Goodnight,’ and ‘What’s Happening’, making everyone fall in love with their charms and endearing performance. They also showed everyone their aegyos (cute poses), and leader Jin Young earned the most screams and was crowd favorite.

B1A4 members Baro, Sandeul, Gongchan, CNU, and Jinyoung doing their cute aegyos in front of the audience.

Tribute to Kdrama fans

The night wasn’t only meant for Kpop fans as there was also a tribute for Filipino Kdrama fans as OSTs from top Korean drama series such as ‘Descendants of the Sun’, ‘Moonlight Drawn by Clouds’, ‘Boys Over Flowers’, and ‘My Sassy Girl’ were performed by the Kpop artists. The crowd was nostalgic as they sang along the familiar lyrics and was even more delighted to see their favorite scenes flashed on screen.

'Descendants of the Sun' OST ‘You are My Everything’ was performed by AOA's Choa. Other OSTs that were performed are ‘Swallowing my Heart’ from 'Moonlight Drawn by the Clouds' by B1A4's Sandeul, 'Paradise' from Boys Over Flowers by BAP’s Youngjae and Daehyun, and Shin Seung Hoon’s ‘I believe’ from 'My Sassy Girl' also by AOA's Choa.

AOA

Girl power is certainly very much present that night as AOA amused the crowd with their girly charms, angelic voices, and sexy performance. They were adorable and eye candy as ever as they performed songs ‘Excuse Me’, ‘Miniskirt’, and ‘Heart Attack’. They also showed some aegyos too, much to the delight of their male fans.

BTOB (Born to Beat)

Perhaps one of the most anticipated parts of the concert, was BTOB’s set as Philippine Melodies (their fanclub’s name) have really missed them since their last visit to Manila in 2015.

Fans sang along while the members perform ‘Pray (I’ll Be Your Man),’ and ‘Beep, Beep.’

“Wow, nice to meet you Manila!..I missed you! How have you been Manila?,” BTOB leader Eunkwang asked. 

“Hi Philippines! Long time no see!...Louder! Louder! Louder!,” shouted Yook Sung Jae, prodding the crowd to scream even louder for him. Known to be the group’s adorable maknae (youngest member) and for his famous role as Yoo Deok Hwa in the recently concluded Kdrama hit, ‘Goblin: The Lonely & Great God’, he was darling of the crowd that night. He was so amazed at the fans’ support for him that he later said “I love Philippines!”

The group later on invited everyone to do the peace sign, as they briefly talked about the noble cause behind the concert. They ended their set with their hit single “Wow”.

CNBLUE

Next in line was Kpop star CNBLUE, whose fans comprised almost a third of the crowd in the arena. Having been missed by their supporters for almost two years, the screaming got even louder when it was their turn. 

“Long time no see! Thank you for waiting. Thank you for screaming. I love you! Today is 2017 Global Peace Concert One Korea in Manila,” said CNBLUE leader Jung Yonghwa. He’s indeed a total performer as he sent everyone’s energy on a high with his superb vocals and suave dance moves . His fan service also made a lot the girls’ hearts flutter as he threw hearts and kisses in the air while walking around the stage.

The CNBLUE boys made the crowd roar louder with their insanely amazing performance of songs “Can't Stop,” “Cinderella,” and “You're so Fine”. 

After this, BTOB’s Eunkwang and Hyunsik went back onstage to perform a special acoustic rendition of ‘Anak’ by Freddie Aguilar, with Filipino actor Cesar Montano on guitar. The audience was surprised with Eunkwang’s perfect Tagalog accent and cheered throughout the entire song. 

SHINee

Of course, the night wouldn’t be complete without the electrifying performance from Kpop boy group SHINee, whose energetic dance moves and powerful vocals impressed everyone in the audience. They totally rocked the arena as they performed songs ‘View’, ‘One of one’, and ‘Everybody’. 

Thousands of Shawols gave the boys a standing ovation while singing their hearts out to each song. The fans were so happy to see their idols again that they started chanting “Shinee! Shinee!”. The group heard this and joined in the chanting.

PSY

The last artist to perform was Korean superstar Psy with his hits ‘Napal Baji,’ ‘Gentleman’, and of course, ‘Oppa Gangnam Style’, which made everyone jump and dance. He also performed a heartwarming song that speaks about the hardships and sacrifices of fathers for their families titled “Daddy’.

Finale: A Call for Korean Reunification and Global Peace

The night ended with all the artists singing the One K Global Campaign song, which serves as the anchor of the entire concert. There were fireworks onstage and confetti filled the center of the arena as wonderful music filled the air.

After the song, CNBLUE’s Jung Yong Hwa walked to the center stage and started bowing and bidding everyone goodbye. His example was followed by the other artists as everyone soon started bowing and waving to the audience.

It was indeed an awesome and unforgettable night as fans were all smiles as they left the venue. All the artists not only showed exemplary showmanship but also great love for fans with their excellent fan service.

Moreover, aside from just fun and entertainment, this concert served as a call for continued support for the dream of a peaceful reunification of the Korean people and global peace, a noble cause that’s truly worth supporting.

Now more than ever, the One K Concert attests to the power and influence of Hallyu in the Philippines, as well as the strong Philippine-Korean ties, which goes as far back as the 1950s when the former gave assistance to the latter during the Korean war.

The One K Global Concert Tour is set to take place in other countries like the United States, China, and Japan among others. It’s Manila leg was organized by KBS Media and ONE K Global Campaign Organizing committee, in partnership with All Access Productions. #

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[FANGIRL ADVENTURES] Moffatts in Manila: The Farewell Tour

Before Kpop, or any of the things that I fangirl about, I was a huge Moffatt fan back in high school. They were the first group that made me realize how much of a fangirl I can be. And the best thing was, I shared the entire experience with my childhood best friends. 

My favorite was Clint, and each of my friends chose one member too. We'd buy song books, watch MTV everyday so we can see their videos, we'd request for their songs, buy their albums, go to their concerts (and beg our parents to buy us tickets!), and I remember printing out tons of Moffatt photos in a whole rim of bond paper (I first got addicted to the internet because of them). It was all pretty crazy, and one of the best moments of my teens.

I was really happy to see them again recently. Now they're all grown up (we all are). Bob is now married, and Clint has a girlfriend and is becoming a dad. He and Bob now have their own group called Endless Summer.  Dave, although he did not attend the concert, turns out to be a yoga master now. And Scott is a solo artist still writing and composing his own songs.

I took lots of photos and videos from their concert here in Manila last February 18 and would like to share some here :) I promise to upload the rest when I have the time.

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Korea: A must-visit destination for coffee lovers

Don’t you just love to sit back and relax while drinking a cup of coffee in a nice, ambient cafe? You can read a good book or two, chat with friends, or even listen to good music while savoring that cup of Americano or Caramel Latte. If you’re like me who can’t get by a day without drinking coffee, then you may want to experience Korea’s infamous coffee culture.

Compared to tea, coffee can be considered a newcomer in the Korean market. Based on historical data, tea has been in Korea since as early as year 661, while Emperor Gojong only introduced coffee in 1896. But unlike many Asian countries where tea is the preferred drink, Koreans are generally coffee lovers. They love it so much that in a recent study (2013), it was said that Koreans consume coffee at an average of 12.2 times per week, which is more than their average consumption of their national dish, Kimchi. 

Coffee consumption has also become a status symbol among Koreans. From being a representation of western culture, which was first consumed by the wealthy and elite, to being a trend or a kind of ‘social glue’ that brings people together, Korea’s coffee culture has indeed evolved rapidly over the years, and there’s no stopping the industry’s growth just yet.

In a 2015 study, it was revealed that Seoul hotels were said to have the world’s most expensive coffee with an average price of KRW 10,000, and Starbucks is said to be the most expensive in Seoul than in any other city in the world at around 4-5 dollars at minimum. But despite the surge in coffee prices, Koreans continue to consume coffee.

Seoul hotels have the most expensive coffee in the world- Hotels.com 2015 Club Sandwich Index

Considered as the third biggest coffee drinker in Asia, Korea is home to around 49,600 cafes as of 2015, 17,000 of which can be found in Seoul. No wonder café-hopping, a term that means to patronize a number of different cafes on a single outing, is becoming a popular activity there. Cafe streets, areas that are lined with coffee shops, have also started to emerge and are becoming more popular in recent years.

I’ve had my own share of café-hopping in Seoul, and I’d have to say the experience is nothing short of amazing. There are about 2-5 cafes in every street, so at times you can literally hop on the coffee shop next door. My most favorite places to satiate my caffeine addiction are Myeongdong, Gangnam, Hongdae and Samcheongdong, and I’ve identified at least 4 types of cafes there according to ownership and style:

(1) Mainstream
(2) Themed
(3) Traditional/Hanok
(4) Celebrity-owned

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Mainstream Cafes

Mainstream Cafes are popular coffee shop chains that have branches all over the world. A good example for this is Starbucks, which has record-breaking achievements in Korea. Currently, Seoul holds the record as the city with the most number of Starbucks branches in the world and Korea is also ranked as the 3rd country with the most number of licensed Starbucks stores at 952 in total as of 3rd quarter of 2016.

Other big players that you can find all over Korea are Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and Gloria Jean’s, among others.

There are also popular homegrown cafes like Angel-in-us Coffee, Caffe Bene, and Tom N Toms.

If you’re a Hallyu fan, you’ll probably have an idea about how huge the mainstream coffee industry is in Korea. Cafes are a popular meet-up or dating place in Kdramas, and are sometimes also used as filming locations for Kpop music videos. The popularity of some coffee shops is even attributed to their exposure in entertainment shows.

Caffe Bene. Remember the famous foam kiss of Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin) and Gil Ra Im (Ha Ji Won) in Secret Garden episode 10? It was filmed at Caffe Bene in Seongbuk-gu.☕

Address: 120-2 Dongseo-dong 1(IL)-Ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Dal Komm Coffee. Some of the best scenes of Descendant of the Sun were filmed at Dal Komm Coffee. In fact, the drama featured 3 Dal Komm coffee branches located in Songdo, Bundang, and Yangjae. The scenes above from DOTS episode 13 (double date and fist bump scene) were shot at the Songdo branch.☕

Address: 23-5 Songdo 2(i)-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Themed Cafes

If you like drinking coffee with style, then themed cafes might suit your taste. These are coffee shops where everything; be it food, architecture, music, etc., revolves around a central concept, which can pretty much be anything under the sun. This is also the reason why each café offers something unique--because the owner’s creativity, individual taste and passion for coffee are infused in it.

Pet lover? Bookworm? Movie addict? I’m pretty sure there’s a themed café that will appeal to your fancy. The cafes feature a wide variety of subjects- from animals/pets, art, fashion, fruits, food, cartoon characters, foreign countries, and even movies.

I’ve seen quite a few themed cafes when I was in Korea. To name a few, I’ve seen a yarn store with a coffee shop, a café with a full banana concept, a vintage-themed café, and a café with a Lego theme. There’s even a Hello Kitty themed café complete with all the pink stuff!

Hello Kitty Café. This café is one of my favorites! 

I love how girly and cute it is and how great of a hang out place it can be.☕

Address: 364-14, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

You can check out my review of Hello Kitty Cafe HERE.

Slow Park. This small café-cum-bistro in the quaint and serene neighborhood of Samcheongdong offers a unique setting that combines elegance and warmth, as well as modernity and tradition. This place is becoming a popular venue for magazine shoots and TV interviews with celebrities.☕

Address: 15-2, Samcheon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
You can check out my review of Slow Park HERE.

Traditional/ Hanok-style Cafes

The earliest coffee shops in Korea were called dabang (다방). Nowadays, there are only a few traditional dabangs left in Seoul, but probably a good alternative to this is a Hanok (한옥) Café.

The Hanok is the traditional Korean home, which is known for its beautiful architecture. They are usually characterized by wooden pillars and floors (daecheong maru대청마루 ), clay walls and roofs, and Hanji, a traditional Korean paper which can be found pasted on flat surfaces like doors and windows for their insulating capacity and transparency.

A number of Hanoks were renovated and turned into cafes around Insa-dong and Bukchon Hanok Village. These shops are perfect for those who want a unique Korean coffee experience. They even offer traditional teas, snacks, and Korean rice cakes and desserts such as Bingsu, to complement the ambience. Some also offer alcoholic beverages such as beer and cocktails.

Luden Loquen Space (Café LN). A nice Hanok style café with an elegant traditional ambience in Bukchon that boasts of its Korean Black Raspberry Latte and Glutinous Rice Cake Waffle. ☕

Address: 5, Bukchon-ro 5na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Photo credit: visitkorea.or.kr; kimcheeguesthouse.com

Celebrity Owned Cafes

For Kpop fans and Kdrama lovers, there are also all sorts of celebrity-owned cafes, which reflect the personality of the owners, and often times feature their most prized collections.

Aside from coffee and pastries, most celebrity-owned cafes also sell idol-inspired merchandise like mugs, tumblers, shirts, and even signed posters and albums, which serve as popular souvenirs for fans.

At times, they also have a fan mailbox, where you can leave messages of support to your idol.

Celebrity-owned cafes are a popular hangout place for fangirls as they’re the perfect place to meet and become friends with other fans, as well as get a glimpse of their favorite Korean idols in person. If you’re particularly lucky, you may even catch them hanging out with some of their idol friends. Just make sure to not be too overexcited and not invade their privacy. Picture taking is sometimes not allowed so be sure to ask permission first. If your idol is in a good mood, who knows he/she might even agree to a selfie!^^

Wiki Café. This cute café in Samcheongdong is owned by Super Junior member Lee Sungmin. Being a huge Super Junior fan, I was really ecstatic to visit this café. I was even lucky to have a selfie with Sungmin’s younger brother, Lee Sungjin!☕

Address: 51 Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
You can check out my review of Wiki Cafe HERE.

Café J Holic. JYJ member, Kim Jae Joong, owns this café. The minimalist feel and modern ambience reflects Jaejoong’s sophisticated style.☕

Address: 3rd & 4th Floor, 8 Myeongdong 6gil, Chung-gu, Seoul or 54-6 Myeongdong 2-ga,
Chung-gu, Seoul

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