Your Two Cents: What do you do at your family get-togethers???

As you all know, next week (February 2nd) is Lunar New Years in Korea...and many other Asian countries! This is HUGE in Korea. It falls within the TOP TWO holidays in Korea. This is similar to Chuseok where everybody goes to visit their parents/family and eat LOTS and LOTS (and LOTS and LOTS) of good food for pretty much 3-5 days straight. This week, we have an EXTRA long holiday because Lunar New Years falls on a Wednesday. So Many people get the rest of the week off. Some even get the day or two before it off as well. Lucky bums. Hehe

ANYWAYS, I don't know how many of our listeners celebrate the Lunar New Year, but I thought this would be a good question to throw at you guys:

How often do you have BIG family get togethers (with ALL your extended family members)? And if you do have them, what do you traditionally do at them? If you say eat and play games, I want you to be specific. What kinds of foods do you eat? What kinds of games?

I'm Korean, but I grew up in America, but out of all the states, I grew up in Hawaii. So the types of food I grew up eating is just about as FUSED as you can get. So I'm curious what types of foods other people are used to. :)

Answer away, and be sure to tune into KPI next Sunday!

Your Two Cents: Stereotypes About Koreans???

Hi everyone, hope you all had a great weekend. :)

This week's two cents question is going to be about all the amusing stereotypes regarding the Korean people. For example, when I tell people that I'm Korean, the first two things that I hear are: 1. Oh...you must have quite a temper! and 2. You must be able to drink a lot.

I think most people have heard the first one. Koreans are known for their fiery tempers. You can experience it even on the streets with angry pushy ajummas trying to get to the front of the line. Or perhaps with stubborn ajushis that can't stand young'uns acting like they own the world.

Let me know of ANY (positive or negative) stereotypes you've heard about Koreans or Korea. Don't be afraid of being offensive! I think this should be quite interesting...

Answer away, and don't forget to tune into KPI this Sunday to see if your answers are announced!

Your Two Cents: Tips On Learning Korean???

Hey all,
New year so I figured I should change up the Y2C picture as well. How original huh...two cents for Y2C -.-;;

ANYWAYS, looking over all of your new years resolutions, I saw a lot of similarities. There were a LOT for learning Korean. Wing actually asked this question so props to WING! And Selene suggested in making Wing's question into a Y2C question, so also props to SELENE!

Do you have any tips or advice or personal experience to share regarding learning Korean? If maybe you don't have any tips or advice, maybe funny stories or anecdotes about your efforts? If you have none of those either, maybe some difficulties you personally had in learning Korean. Or questions on a certain word or phrase? Myself and the listeners will try our best to answer each other's questions!

I shared this on the KPI show last Sunday, and I noticed another listener, Isaac said the same thing, but I found watching Korean dramas with the English subtitles (or whatever your first language is) to be REALLY helpful. I would pause the drama every time an interesting word popped up, and I would jot it down. You got to review those notes too because learning a new word is only 10% of it. You got to review, review, memorize, memorize, and eventually USE that word to make it your own.

Another thing I did was to find a Korean penpal. They have all these penpal (email penpal that is) services on the internet where they link you up with a person from the country of the language you want to learn. You write to them in Korean and they will write to you in English (or again, whatever language you're most comfortable in). Then you can correct each other's mistakes, learn about each other's culture, etc. I actually met up with my penpal when I visited Korea. He was very nice. PLEASE BE CAREFUL THOUGH. There are a lot of weirdos on the web, so meeting your penpal blindly is NOT SAFE. If you do feel it is safe to meet with them, BRING SOMEONE ELSE ALONG! Preferably someone who has a black belt in taekwondo! :)

Well, post up your answers and don't forget to tune into next week's KPI!

Words Behind The Music: JYP Nation "This Christmas"

“This Christmas”
-JYP Nation



Christmas (that’s what I want)
Fall in love this Christmas (that’s what I need)
Fall in love this Christmas this Christmas this Christmas


I just wanna be in love this Christmas.
내가 원하는 선물은.
The present that I want
정말로 이것 하나뿐 이야.
It’s really just this one thing
사랑에 빠져 있는 것 to fall in love

올해도 쓸쓸한 겨울 밤 거리를 혼자 걷고 있으면
if I have to spend another year walking the lonely winter streets at night by myself
스치는 찬 바람이 내 옷을 뚫고 들어와 가슴이 시려오고
the cold wind brushes past me and shoots right through my clothes to chill my heart
수많은 사람들 속에서 행복해하는 모습들 보며
as I watch the many people just full of happiness
한참을 미소짓다 결국엔 쓸쓸히 돌아서 발걸음을 옮겨
I may have been smiling but in the end I end up lonely turning around taking steps away from all this

I don’t wanna be alone this Christmas.
나도 누군갈 만나서
I too want to meet someone
다른 거리의 연인들 처럼 사랑을 속삭이고 싶어
And walk along the streets whispering love/sweet nothings like the other couples
That’s all I want.
해가 가면 갈수록 난. 외로움에 더 지쳐가나 봐
As time goes by I become more and more defeated with loneliness
익숙해지지 않고 점점 더 혼자라는 걸 실감을 하게되고
rather than getting used to it, I become more and more aware of the fact that I’m alone
올해는 나도 웃고 싶어 영화에 나오는 모습처럼
This year I too want to smile like the images in the movies
예쁜 크리스마스 트리 아래서 선물을 함께 주고 받으며 밤을 지새우는
I want to stay up all night by the pretty Christmas tree exchanging presents



자꾸만 돌아오는 겨울이 이제는 무서워 아름다운 캐롤이
I’m not afraid of the winter that keeps coming back around. The beautiful carols…
내 가슴을 찔러 도시의 화려한 불빛이 나를 슬프게 해 눈엔 눈물이
…stab at my heart. The bright lights all around the city make me sad. The tears in my eyes…
oh no 이제는 그만 no Christmas 달력을 넘길 수 있다면
oh no. make it stope now. No Christmas. If I could just flip the calendar…
해마다 December 12월은 뛰어넘어 너무 아퍼 그리고 외로워
…every year when December, the 12th month comes around, skip past it. It hurts so much and I’m lonely.

이젠 혼자 있긴 싫어. 더 이상 슬픈 Christmas는 싫어.
I no longer want to be alone. I no longer want a sad Christmas.
이번엔 내 소원이 꼭 이뤄 질거야.
This time my wish will come true.
I wish my dream comes true.

I just wish. This year.. It’ll be different.
No more lonely Christmas. I wanna fall in love this Christmas.

Your Two Cents: 2011 New Year's Resolution???

It's the first week of a brand new year and sure...this may be an overplayed question, but I'm going to ask it anyway!

What is your new year's resolution for 2011??? The Year of the RABBIT!

Last year was MY year (year of the TIGER) and so I expected it to be an extra special year for me. And it WAS! I met AMAZING friends that I know will forever be in my life from here on out. I've experienced love (all different kinds of love as love doesn't only have to be between man and woman right?!)...like the true kind. I've had many, MANY amazing work experiences, offers, opportunities...KBS World Radio being one of them. February was the first month I started here at KBS World so to think that a year has already almost gone completely by is...mind-boggling!

I'm going to try to think positively. So 2011 will be an even BETTER year! So what's my resolution for it? Well, the obvious one would be to lose weight. I'm gonna try to lose about 10 more pounds (4-5 kg). Aside from that, I want to work hard in a way where I don't get burnt out. I also want to take more risks whether that be physical, financial, emotional, etc. Perhaps I'll start up stocks. Maybe I'll buy a share of J.Tune Entertainment! LOL

Okay so let me know what YOUR new year's resolution is and tune into KPI this Sunday to see what other listeners had to say!

Thank you ALL for an AMZAING 2010 and here's to an even greater 2011!!! Love you guys!

Words Behind The Music: Baek Ji-young "그여자" "That Woman"

“그여자” “That Woman”
-Baek Ji-young


한 여자가 그대를 사랑합니다
There’s one woman who loves you
그 여자는 열심히 사랑합니다
that woman really loves you
매일 그림자처럼 그대를 따라다니며
she follows you every day like a shadow
그 여자는 웃으며 울고있어요
that woman is crying as she’s smiling


얼마나 얼마나 더 너를 이렇게 바라만 보며 혼자
how much…how much more must she watch you alone this way
이 바람같은 사랑 이 거지같은 사랑 계속해야 니가 나를 사랑 하겠니
this love that’s like the wind…must I keep giving you this worthless love in order for you to love me
조금만 가까이 와 조금만
come a little bit closer. Just a little bit
한발 다가가면 두 발 도망가는
if I take a step closer, you take two steps running away
널 사랑하는 난 지금도 옆에 있어 그 여잔 웁니다
I’m still here loving you by your side. That woman is crying.

그 여자는 성격이 소심합니다
that woman’s personality is very timid
그래서 웃는 법을 배웠답니다
that’s why she learned how to laugh
친한 친구에게도 못하는 얘기가 많은
she has so much she can’t tell even her closest friend
그 여자의 마음은 눈물투성이
that woman’s heart is just full of tears

그래서 그 여자는 그댈 널 사랑 했데요 똑같아서
that’s why that woman loved you. Because you were the same way
또 하나같은 바보 또 하나같은 바보 한번 나를 안아주고 가면 안되요
another similar fool, another similar fool. Can’t you hold me just once before you leave?

난 사랑받고 싶어
I want to be loved
그대여 매일 속으로만 가슴 속으로만 소리를 지르며
I scream it everyday to you inside, inside my heart
그 여자는 오늘도 그 옆에 있데요
that woman, even today, is by your side

그 여자가 나라는 걸 아나요
do you know that that woman is me?
알면서도 이러는 건 아니죠
you’re not being this way as you know that right?
모를꺼야 그댄 바보니까
you probably don’t know it because you’re a fool

Words Behind The Music: Shin Hye-sung feat. Eric & Nam Gyu-ri "안녕 그리고 안녕" "Hello And Goodbye"

안녕 그리고 안녕 Goodbye And Goodbye
by: Shin Hye-sung ( Feat. Eric, Nam Gyu-ri)
***first note that anyoung is hello AND goodbye in Korean


narr.) The promises... the places... and your smile... When we first met...

rap) Fallin' in love is like an ocean
잔잔한 파도 그 보다 큰 emotion
calm waves…an motion bigger than them
가까이와 비로소 한 번에 찬스 다음은 없어
Come closer for the first time. The only chance…there’s none next time
one time to shine next time is shame
but today
준비했어 많은말들
I’ve prepared a lot of words
I'm done
이벤트도 some 연애기술 테크닉
surprise events and some dating skills and techniques
I learned 머릿속은
I learned…in my head
blur too many concern
내게 안녕이라고 말해주는 love, I'm in love
love that says hello to me. I’m in love

날 사랑에 빠지게 한 그 말 나에게 건넨 맨 처음 그 말
the words that made me fall in love. The first words you spoke to me
내겐 봄볕처럼 설레었던 너의 안녕이란 인사
they made my heart skip a beat (excited) like springtime stars. Your words of hello


난 지울 수가 없어서 널 보낼 수가 없어서
I can’t erase it. Can’t let you go
눈물 삼키며 가지 말라고 온 맘 다해 막아보지만
as I swallow back tears, I tell you to not leave putting my whole heart into it trying to stop you
늘 안녕으로 시작해 또 안녕으로 끝난다
anyoung is how you start it and anyoung is how you end it.
미칠 것처럼 내 가슴을 웃게 하고 울게 하는 한마디 안녕
going crazy…that one word anyoung can make me both laugh and cry

rap) 그녀와의 만남 운명의 장난
my meeting her…it’s fate playing a joke
I don't wanna fake it no more
한순간의 판단
a decision made in an instant
She's a one of a kind, truly hard to find
못 말리는 심장 못 박힌
can’t stop this heart that has nails pounded into it
time to time what up shorty
아무리 노력해도 우리,
no matter how much we try
question with no answer
못 맞춰 발을 둘이
we can’t answer it
ask about me cutie
I still rappin' you're my beauty
잡을 수 없기에 저기 멀리, 저 멀리
because I can’t catch you…far away…way far away

날 슬픔에 가두게 한 그 말 나에게 남긴 마지막 그 말
the words that made me trapped with with sadness. The last words that were left with me
시린 겨울처럼 차디차던 이젠 안녕이란 인사
as chilling as winter, the words goodbye



rap) 어쩌면 난 너를 넘치도록 사랑 했어
Perhaps I overflowed with love for you
그토록 아쉽지만 미치도록 애절했어
that’s why it’s such a shame. I was going crazy with sadness
난 너를 멈추지를 못해 붙잡지도 못해
I can’t stop you, can’t hold onto you
나는 처절하다 못해 비참하지만 여태
I’m desperate and pathetic but couldn’t all this time

너 하나 밖엔 없는데 더 바라는 것 없는데
I only have you. There’s nothing more I want
사랑한다는 천 마디 말로도 끝내 막지 못한 한마디.. 안녕.. 안녕.. 안녕..
it can cancel out a thousand “I love you’s”…the one word that I couldn’t say: anyoung.