#koreanstory

[koreanstory]

Sea Story

Koreatown / LA / USA

[ink-from-the-rift]

별을 찾아서 Searching for Stars

수진과 민호는 가장 친한 친구였어요. 그들은 모든 걸 같이 했어요. 어느 따뜻한 여름 저녁, 수진과 민호는 공원에 나가 밤하늘을 바라보고 있었어요. Sujin and Minho were best friends. They did everything together. On a warm summer night, Sujin and Minho went to the park and gazed up at the night sky.

"와, 별이 너무 많다!" 수진이 감탄했어요. "Wow, there are so many stars!" Sujin exclaimed.

"그렇지? 저기 저 초승달도 예쁘다," 민호가 말했어요. "Isn't it? That crescent moon is beautiful too," Minho said.

"민호야, 유��을 본 적 있어?" 수진이 물었어요. "Minho, have you ever seen a shooting star?" Sujin asked.

"없어. 너는?" 민호가 고개를 저으며 대답했어요. "No. Have you?" Minho replied, shaking his head.

"나도 없어. 유성을 보면 소원을 빌 수 있다면서?" 수진이 말했어요. "Me neither. They say you can make a wish on a shooting star," Sujin said.

"정말? 그럼 유성이 나타날 때까지 기다려 보자!" 민호가 흥분해서 말했어요. "Really? Let's wait until we see one!" Minho said excitedly.

두 친구는 잔디에 누워 하늘을 올려다봤어요. 별들이 반짝거리고, 바람이 부드럽게 불었어요. The two friends lay back on the grass and looked up. The stars twinkled, and the wind blew gently.

"민호야, 내 소원은 뭐일까?" 수진이 한숨을 쉬며 물었어요. "Minho, what would my wish be?" Sujin sighed.

"글쎄, 세상에 소원은 많잖아!" 민호가 대답했어요. "건강하고 싶다거나, 시험을 잘 보고 싶다거나…" "Hmm, there are so many wishes in the world!" Minho answered. "Being healthy, doing well on your exams…"

수진은 고개를 갸우뚱했어요. "뭐지… 별다른 소원이 생각나지 않아." Sujin tilted her head. "Hmm… nothing special comes to mind."

"그럼… 우리가 영원히 친구로 지내는 게 어때?" 민호가 제안했어요. "How about…wishing for us to be friends forever?" Minho suggested.

수진은 크게 웃었어요. "그게 제일 좋은 소원이야!" Sujin laughed. "That's the best wish!"

친구들은 계속해서 별을 올려다 보며 이야기를 나누었어요. 그들은 유성을 보지는 못했지만, 소원을 비는 것만큼이나 둘이 함께하는 시간이 소중하다는 것을 느꼈어요. The friends continued to chat and look at the stars. They didn't see a shooting star, but they realized that their time together was just as precious as a wish.

[whitearashi]

Seoul, Hongdae

In the middle of a walk.

- L

[topumasum]

I published a small story on Kindle Amazon

Genre - thriller, crime-detective, serial killer, major character death, psychological and noir

[econopoly-blog]

Hyundai the best in the index! #mumbai #indianstockmarket #emergingmarkets #samsung #seul #koreanstory #cellphone #citycar #asianstockmarket #kospi #bourse #borsa #bolsa #tradingonline #spreadtrading #spread #financialfreedom #financetips #warrenbuffet #soros #lg #etf #daytrading #economy #tata #india #korea (presso Seul, Corea) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_136f8gWSz/?igshid=1p37r9y6a1y9m

[rollokr]

Libros de aprendizaje y demás

Hola queridxs. Os vengo a hablar de mis libros. Me encantan los libros y su olor. Me encanta subrayarlos y manosearlos, así soy. Lamentablemente para los hispanohablantes no hay muchos libros en español para aprender coreano, casi todos son en ingles. Estos son los que utilizo para aprender coreano. TODO, todo, todo lo compro en esta página web, que es una maravilla: https://www.aprendecoreanohoy.com/

Dentro video.

- TTMIK Books: Probé con estos. Estoy muy contenta con todo el contenido de TTMIK y pensé que los libros serian igual. Y fue un acierto. Son muy intuitivos, efectivos, con ilustraciones y ejercicios nada pesados, son… divertidos. Si, esa es la palabra. Volvería a comprar más.

- Korean Stories: Muyyyy completo. Me encanta todo de este libro. Tiene audios fáciles, las historias van incrementado de dificultad, tiene su vocabulario y sus ejercicios… No le falta nada. Recomendadisimo.

- NEW TOPIK I: Mis libritos de TOPIK. A ver os comento, aquí tengo sentimientos encontrados. Dependerá de vuestras habilidades y vuestras carencias. Como ya he dicho (creo) mi fuerte no es la memorización y eso me afecta mucho en lo que a vocabulario se refiere. El caso es que en este pack viene un librito con TODO el vocabulario que entra en el TOPIK I. Perfecto para mí. Luego tienes 5 exámenes con sus respuestas, que también están muy bien, aunque en internet también puedes encontrar exámenes de prueba, esta página es mi favorita: https://www.topikguide.com/complete-topik-practice-test-online/

En definitiva, si necesitas apoyo porque te lo estas preparando solx y encima tienes problemas de vocabulario, cómpratelo. Si es solo por los test, pasa.

Otros recursos:

- Teclado coreano en el ordenador. Esto es una movida al principio, eh? Vamos, no veas lo que me costó configurarlo para poder cambiarlo del coreano al español. Busca un buen tutorial en Youtube porque recuerdo que no fue fácil. Hazte con unas pegatinas para el teclado en Aliexpress. Una vez lo tengas todo, tu vida va a mejorar sustancialmente, palabra.

- Papago Naver. Bájatelo ya, hazme caso.

- Teclado coreano en el móvil. Esto es más fácil de configurar, al menos en mi caso. También hiper útil.

Cualquier cosa, comenta baby. 수고하셔습니다!

[fluentkorean]

먹튀 is short for 먹고 튄다 where 먹다 is to eat and 튀다 is to bounce or spatter out. . . . ● To give you a visual of what 튀다 means, you know that moment when you're deep-frying and you put a piece inside of the hot oil and drops of oil spatter out? (기름이 튀다.) Or when you're talking to your crush and you feel droplets of saliva leave your mouth? (침이 튀다.) It also applies to when something elastic like when a rubber ball bounces out of your balcony. (공이 튀다.) So there's an element of speed and something liquid or bouncy escaping something. ⤵️ . . ● 먹고 튄다 literally means "to eat and bounce". The English equivalent could be "dine and dash" but its usage isn't limited to skipping out on a restaurant bill. In fact, 먹튀 was originally popularized in a sports context like in baseball and soccer when athletes received a huge salary or signing bonus but didn’t perform well on the field. . . ● 먹튀 can be used in any situation with an assumption of a "give and take" where someone takes first and then doesn't hold up their end of the bargain. It can be used in serious situations like a financial scam or in playful/casual situations like when you're babysitting your nephew and you make a deal that he'll finish his homework if you let him play on his iPad, and then he doesn't do any work after finishing his game. . . ● Sentences using 먹튀: 1. 먹튀 당했다. - [Someone] pulled a fast one on [me]. 2. 아직 기대에 부응하지 못했지만, 아직 먹튀라고 하기에는 너무 일러. - It hasn't lived up to expectations, but it's still too early to call it a fraud. 3. 책을 빌려줬으니까 먹튀 하지 마! 다음 주에 우리 다 같이 여행 가는 거다! - I've lent you the book, so you better keep your word! We're all going on the trip next week, okay? . . . #fluentkorean #koreanvocabulary #koreanslang #koreanstudy #koreangrammar #koreanstories #koreanstudygram #koreannotes #learnkorean #studywithme https://www.instagram.com/p/B_b5kLUB2eT/?igshid=17tjlvr1bhpt

[mybusinessstoriesblog]

Over the last 12 months, Market Kurly's founder has taken great steps to differentiate her offering.

In September 2019 Sophie Kim committed her fresh grocery delivery company to phase out all plastic packaging. It is now 100% using eco-friendly packaging including reusable eco boxes.

The COVID 19 pandemic crisis provided both massive growth and concern. How to protect drivers whilst still fulfilling its rocket delivery promise; order fresh food such as vegetables fruit or eggs before 11pm with delivery before 7am.

These kinds of differentiation have led to very successful funding rounds.

2019 Series D round US$ 110 million

2020 Series E round US$ 164 million

This funding comes from a commitment to building a new shopping experience aimed at urban and affluent Korean shoppers willing to pay a premium for wider choice and fresher products.

Founded in 2015, 2019 revenues came in at over 420 billion won.

Market Kurly is going head to head with many big players, but seems to be succeeding by knowing its customers better and continually looking for ways to differentiate its offerring.

#koreanentrepreneur

#koreanstories

#marketkurly

#onestoryaday

#tuesdaystory

#businessstories

[koreanstory]

This is our 2nd Flower Story

Duluth / GA / USA

Thanks, Sean!

[ink-from-the-rift]

티라노와 꼬마새

한때 티라노사우루스 렉스가 있었어요. Once upon a time, there was a Tyrannosaurus Rex. 크고 무서운 공룡이었죠. He was a big and scary dinosaur. 그는 항상 화가 나 있고 배가 고팠어요. He was always angry and hungry. 어느 날, 작은 새 한 마리가 티라노의 등에 앉았어요. One day, a little bird landed on the T-Rex's back.

"안녕하세요!" 새가 지저귐니다. "Hello!" chirped the bird. 티라노는 깜짝 놀랐어요. The T-Rex was startled. 몸을 흔들어 새를 떨어뜨리려고 했지만, 새는 버텼어요. He shook his body to try to get the bird off, but the bird held on tight.

"왜 날 귀찮게 하냐?" 티라노가 으르렁 거렸어요. "Why are you bothering me?" growled the T-Rex. "당신 속이 많이 울리는 것 같아요. 배가 고프신가요?" 새가 물었어요. "You seem to be growling a lot. Are you hungry?" asked the bird.

티라노는 얼굴이 빨개졌어요. The T-Rex blushed. 사실 그랬거든요. He was, in fact, very hungry. "그게 너랑 무슨 상관이냐?" "What's it to you?"

"제가 도와드릴 수 있을 것 같아요!" 새가 말했어요. "I think I can help you!" said the bird. "큰 동물을 찾을 수 있어요. 같이 가요!" "I can find you a big animal. Let's go!"

티라노는 잘 모르겠지만, 배가 너무 고파서 새를 따라가기로 했어요. The T-Rex wasn't sure, but he was so hungry that he decided to follow the bird. 새는 티라노를 나무가 우거진 곳으로 안내했어요. The bird led the T-Rex to a forest. 커다란 스테고사우루스가 풀을 뜯고 있었어요. There was a large Stegosaurus grazing on the grass.

"조심하세요!" 새가 티라노에게 속삭였어요. "Be careful!" the bird whispered to the T-Rex. "저게 당신의 저녁이에요!" "That's your dinner!"

티라노는 ���르렁거리며 달려들었어요. The T-Rex roared and charged. 큰 싸움이 벌어졌지만 티라노가 이겼어요. There was a big fight, but the T-Rex won. 맛있는 저녁을 먹고 고마웠어요. He ate a delicious meal and was very grateful. 새도 나중에 남은 고깃조각을 조금 얻었어요. The bird also got to eat some of the leftover meat.

그날부터 꼬마새와 티라노는 친구가 되었어요. From that day on, the little bird and the T-Rex were friends. 새는 티라노에게 음식을 찾아주고, 티라노는 새를 보호해주었어요. The bird found food for the T-Rex, and the T-Rex protected the bird. 배고픈 공룡과 자그마한 새가 친구가 될 수 있을 줄은 아무도 몰랐어요! No one would have thought that a hungry dinosaur and a tiny bird could be friends!

[retnonateriver]

. Kim Seon Woo, kenapa nama itu disebutkan lagi? Kenapa nama itu muncul lagi setelah aku meninggalkannya hampir lima belas tahun yang lalu?? . Tentu saja Ibunya Seonwoo yang memintaku untuk mengunjungi putranya itu. Tidak hanya kemarin atau hari ini saja, tapi selama tujuh hari berturut-turut. . Beliau tidak mengutarakan kenapa dia memberiku waktu sampai tujuh hari. Maksudku, ada apa? Dan kenapa? Menaklukkan hatinya Seonwoo tidak semudah menjemur pakaian. Bahkan sejak kecil, aku yang sudah menyimpan perasaan pada Seonwoo saja juga belum bisa mengetuk hatinya sampai sekarang. . Tentu saja aku tidak bisa menolak apa pun permintaan Ibunya Seonwoo. Selagi itu masih bisa kupenuhi, aku akan melakukannya. Tetapi permintaannya kali ini tidak yakin bisa kupenuhi dalam waktu seminggu. . Penasaran sama ceritanya Jang Eun-gi yang selanjutnya? . Yuk, baca "What is Date" dan cari tau gimana kencannya Eun-gi sama Seonwoo dengan klik link bio atau link di bawah ini ⬇⬇ . http://www.storial.co/book/what-is-date . Tulisan ini dibuat untuk mengikuti kompetisi menulis cerita pendek yang diadakan oleh Storial, Nulisbuku, dan Nanny’s Pavillon #7DaysWithU . @storialco @nulisbuku @nannyspavillon . #cerita #ceritapendek #cerpen #ceritabersambung #cerbung #koreanstory #teenlit #bynear #ceritaremaja #penulis #letswrite #storialco #nulisbuku #nannyspavillon #writechallenge #writecompetition

[ugly-blogger-oh-aia-blog]

In their HEARTS - A HeroSan FanFiction [COMPLETED] - Scene1: One Rainy Summer (on Wattpad) http://my.w.tt/UiNb/ytT6eqTg7C 안녕하세요 Annyeonghaseyo!!! 이 모든 HeroSAN 팬입니다. i modeun HeroSAN paen-ibnida.!! ;) >>This is for all HeroSan fans;)) 우리 모두는 두 번째 기회 오른쪽 믿는? uli moduneun du beonjjae gihoe oleunjjog midneun? >>We all believe in second chance right? 그래서 여기에 당신의 갈증을 공급하는 내 토큰입니다 ..geulaeseo yeogie dangsin-ui galjeung-eul gong-geubhaneun nae tokeun-ibnida .. >> So here is my token to feed your thirst..;) 나는 모든 사람들이 그것을 사랑 바랍니다! naneun modeun salamdeul-i geugeos-eul salang balabnida! >>i hope everyone will love it!! Sana mai-ship natin ito, we will LOVE to see these two in one movie again...;) Sana din ma-spread natin ang LOVE natin sa HeroSan!!! ;) (..haha pasensya na,.. gi-noogle translate ko yan kaya medyo kompyansa ako sa pinagsasabi ko, hehe sorry naman kung trying hard,.. just to give life on the story,.. Anyways.. paki tuloy nalang ang pagbasa nang PROLOGUE..)

[soju-stories-blog]

Itaewon:  An Ode to The Gold

 People spoke of "How much better it was before..." or how "You should have been here in 2010..."  However, for my time playing up front as the lone striker for Itaewon FC from February 2013 until around the summer of 2015, it was the sanctuary of all places.   

 Gold Bar

Open every night, cheap - and questionably sourced - booze, always packed (even on a Monday morning at 5am) and you'd constantly leave with an anecdote to tell: usually involving witnessing / being involved in a fight.

It was just of course an added bonus to proceedings that the ease of hooking up there gave the place an air of an extremely low budget version of the Playboy mansion.  Imagine the Hugh Hefner ‘bunny girl grotto’ experience but on a Travelodge Hotel scale of design, features and budget...the tackier the better.  No thrills needed:  a quick check in and even quicker check out.   Customers passing through the golden arches of this particular establishment were looking for a ‘Happy Meal’ of a different kind.  

Outside, above the entrance to this utopia, on a yellow hued background (Real 24 karat Gold being too expensive in those days for mere everyday decoration) stood the name...in proud, golden, flicking lights...luring you inside.

  Gold Bar:  "Where you don't pick the STD, the STD picks   you."

This was an Itaewon area before the incoming tidal wave of gentrification had completely eroded the crumbling features of the seedy cliff facade.  Leaving behind in its departure a faceless parade of generic looking chain store coffee houses, pretentiously overpriced 'fusion cuisine' restaurants and fad bars that would come and go quicker than you could say: "Premature ejac..."

 There used to be a certain character to the streets, a distinct feeling that 'something might happen' filling the air.   In this respect I don't mean the stories of stabbings, gun wielding GIs, lines of prostitutes up Hooker Hill touting their wares or the supposed No Go zones that had proliferated the area 10-15 years prior.   Itaewon was just a different breed to any other composite clone neighbourhood in Seoul, the rest of which adhered to the 7/11 + Coffee Smith + Paris Baguette + Noraebang genetic coding.  

In a country where appearance is everything, with plastic surgery rife and conformity and collectivism adhered to over individualism or 'standing out', Itaewon didn't want to play by these rules. It was the Black Sheep of the family: the moody teenager giving society the middle finger. 

If we're to stick with this family unit metaphor, then if Itaewon was the wayward son, the Seoul city planners and the local real estate moguls were the judgmental extended relatives , scornfully lurking in the distance,  waiting for some slip up or mistake and the opportunity to pack their disgraced sibling off to military service. This what was best for him they'd decided.  He needed straightening out. This would be followed by a lifetime in a nondescript, dull office job  and matched at home, by an equally mundane and lifeless marriage to a bride of their choice.

Thankfully, this had yet to pass.  Itaewon was for the time being the nonchalant rebel who didn't conform to standards set by his family ties and had no desire to.  He was the rough, scruffy Nirvana tribute act, to their dreary, cul-de-sac, dad rock, Nickelback cover band.

Artwork courtesy of Aaron Cossrow @ http://sojuking.com/ 

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."

  This golden period for Itaewon was a precursor to the overriding influence social media would start to yield upon society.  It's not like Facebook or Instagram weren't prominent in 2012.  They were there.  However the solid concrete barriers that society had in place, were just about managing to keep the ever rising levels of smug entitlement and over inflated self importance at bay.  The population were safe for the moment, blissfully unaware of the approaching, apocalyptic tsunami of Instagrammers about to engulf them with demands for a waiver on their bill, as they have “2000 followers and their own hashtag.”

When the levees finally breached in late 2014, that's when Itaewon, went almost overnight from being lamented as a "wretched hive of scum and villainy" by officials, to Starbucks:  The Theme Park.  There were cafe latte mascots, selfie stands, pop up hipster stores, more Starbuck stores where you used to find starfucks, Street Churros stalls and Kpop tours for the mega rich Chinese tourists. The dystopian gentrification was complete.  Itaewon was getting packed off to military school and a buzz cut.  

Parents who used to run in fear at the first signs of dusk or foreigners in their midst, now brazenly walked the dark alleyways of Itaewon with their kids in pushchairs.  This is the affluent, respectable clientele the area now desires.  The type who'll purchase countless lattes, alongside taking countless selfies.  They're content to purchase overpriced (and elaborately over sized), phallic like ice creams, which are then thrust into their confused and traumatized kids' faces for the family photo opportunity.    

The dirty, clandestine dive bar you once loved and cherished has gone mainstream and been given a final nail in the coffin:  the dreaded Naver blog.  It now resembles a clearance sale at a sausage meat factory, on the day before the annual 'Sausage Fest' celebrations in Bratwurstshire. Where people with sausages stuffed in every possible orifice get in for free.

 I've got ahead of myself in my lamenting of the present whereas we should be doing a Marty McFly and focusing on going back.... to the future?  I mean the past.   Whatever.  Go get a churro.  

  The Mos Eisley Cantina

The first time I found myself inside Gold Bar, is like most of my nights in Itaewon, quite hazy and vague.  It could be my bad memory or most likely, the amount of soju that had been consumed prior to ending up there. I do remember however that  my 'Golden' initiation ceremony with my female acquaintance there required no pleasantries, names or chat up lines being provided before the exchange of bodily fluids took place.  Classy stuff.

It was probably a blessing in disguise, as my Korean at this time (and now) was still pretty minimal and her English wasn't much better.  I still hadn't got her name by the time she left the following morning.  Despite such a sketchy recollection of details. I do remember one thing:   in providing me with her mobile number, she'd obviously forgotten that the profile picture on her Kakao Talk (The Korean version of Whatsapp, for those not in the know) was of a striking and beautiful figure, dressed from head to toe in virginal white.   It turns out she was supposed to be getting married later that month. 

If the potential herpes outbreak from your Gold conquests didn't satisfy your thrill quota, then there was also the lack of any adherence to fire safety codes on the premises to overindulge on. No emergency exits: one way in and one way out.  A burning inferno waiting to happen. And no, I’m not on about a case of chlamydia.

A conveniently placed bar stood at the far end of a dance floor.  I say "dance floor" but it was more like a human dodgems ride, where you were frequently shoulder to shoulder and bouncing off people far more inebriated than yourself.  Alcohol spillage was highly likely.  Any diligent attempts to navigate your way to the bar without a variety of suspicious looking liquids ending up all over your person and your shoes was impossible.  Speaking of shoes, you never wore a decent pair to Gold, the next day they'd resemble a Jackson Pollock, but without the multi million pound resale value.

The close proximity of fellow drunk patrons and the minimal room for manoeuvre could work in your favour, as it facilitated proceedings in meeting the opposite sex and escalating events to close the deal. The bar's relaxed vibe had a tendency to make people less preoccupied about their own personal space being invaded and more open to starting up conversation with random strangers. Having said this, such close contact could also be a source of annoyance, with regular scuffles and fights occurring as people took umbrage at being bumped into for the millionth time that night and booze combined with too much testosterone led to words or fists being exchanged.  Most of the "fights" were fairly pathetic and never amounted to more than shoving and male posturing, conveniently concealing the fact that neither party really had the balls to escalate events to a real altercation.

Artwork courtesy of Aaron Cossrow @ http://sojuking.com/

There were countless times where verbal confrontations led to nothing, meaning that the real moments when things spilled over were relished.  Punches being thrown and bottles being broken:  This is what we came for.  Sadly, despite housing a clientele and exhibiting an ambience that wouldn't be out of place in the Mos Eisley cantina, the heights of a Han Solo vs. Greedo shoot out were never reached.  

  The Streets are Paved with Vomit Coated Gold.  

 The frequent lack of desire to escalate a scene from verbal to physical confrontation in Gold or any other dive bar in Korea for that matter, stemmed from the laws in place that awarded financial compensation or "Blood money" for any physical damages or injuries caused by another party.  

Upon my arrival I was told it was basically one million won ($1000) a punch.  And that's money for the victim receiving the right hook, not the aggressor. The law and the police force favoured this swifter fix of a monetary reward for "minor misdemeanours", over a lengthier, more time consuming process of a criminal prosecution.  So if you're going to really punch someone in the ROK, you'd better hope there's no CCTV or camera footage. Otherwise, you're pretty much fucked and can say goodbye to your job and visa.  The locals frequenting these grimier parts of town are well aware of the odds stacked in their favour: "The house always wins".

The Korean police for their part couldn't really care less if there was any Waygook vs. Waygook (외국  Korean for 'foreigner') beat down action.  They'd happily let it pass:  

"Go for it boys, beat the shit out of each other.  We’ll take the bets”.

"Blood money" was a concept that was far greater reinforced  by the cops when it came to Korean nationals. Due to this, you’d often spot certain Korean guys in Itaewon bars, usually older aged men (ajeossi), who much like an ambulance chasing lawyer, were looking for a quick claim and any excuse to start a fight. This was conducted with the full knowledge that any physical injury caused to them could potentially be a nice little top up on the monthly salaryman pay packet.  It didn't matter if they instigated any confrontation, what mattered was the injuries they received. Cheap booze, raging male hormones, intoxication...alongside fresh batches of newly arrived young American GIs doesn't exactly lead to rational thought or reasoning being applied to events.  The close proximity of the nearby US army base in Yongsan and the amount of English teachers living in the Itaewon area, meant the vomit coated side streets were paved with "No win, no fee" legal claims gold...if one went looking for it.   Which leads to a caveat to the throwing a punch rule: There didn’t even need to be video evidence for you to be fucked.  I've experienced, witnessed, even been told of countless occasions where a foreigner hasn't even provoked an incident, and yet the police believe the account being provided by the Korean involved and all their friends supporting the story.   And that's when you're really fucked, because there's nothing worse than potentially losing your job or being kicked out of a country, when you've gone to great lengths to avoid any provocation or retaliation.  If you're going to get smeared for the crime anyway, you might as well get your money's worth and leave a punch in.  

This is why, in its heyday, Gold Bar, was pretty refreshing. Most of the times, the bullshit that you'd encounter in other parts of Seoul's night life got left at the door. There were no pretensions to the place, it was a Dive bar, what Donny T would call a "shithole".   A place where people went to get pissed, have a laugh and easily pick up.  I genuinely lost count of the amount of away goals I scored there. I probably shouldn't try and work it out as it'll probably have me reaching for the Domestos.  

It was always a source of amusement to hear women lying to themselves and to the listener, by proclaiming "I only come to this place for the music". Which, if we switched genders, would sound as about as believable as a man justifying that he only watched porn for the “Terrific mise-en-scene and depth of field camera work". On one occasion I can remember finding a girls’ ID down the back of my bed, leaving it on my kitchen table and my mate remarking:  "Oh you met her too?  I banged her last month". That's the kind of refined place it was.  The music must have been amazing. 

Gold was also the kind of place where you could get a drink and for no extra charge, be entertained by a group of transgenders and their mama san, savagely head butting a dude acting drunk and belligerent.  Then...not content with that, repeatedly bottle him, and clearly still not satisfied with the extent of their work...remove their wigs and attempt to strangle him.   After the screams and shouts had settled, everything went back to normal.  

In witnessing that unrelenting, brutal attack, it gradually dawned upon me what Spandau Ballet had meant in their 1983 hit tribute 'Gold'.  During a tour of Korea in the early 1980's, they'd performed in Seoul and stumbled across this valuable little treasure trove of a venue.  It’s decadence had artistically inspired them. 

I fully took on board what the band members must have felt: For the limited time you were inside Gold, the dodgy toxicity levels of the alcohol, the synergy with the other drunks around you and the lethal amounts of dopamine flowing through your brain being waterboarded by Avicci songs, you  really felt you were “indestructible”. 

Even as you left to face the 5am, dawn of the dregs reality and commenced the walk of shame home:  past the puke, discarded nightclub flyers, half eaten kebabs and desperately trying to avoid eye contact with the morning commuters, as they judged your drunken state. The Gary Kemp and Co. lyrics would comfort and reassure you.  On you went, content, with their words ringing in your ears.

  "Gold, I'm glad that you're bound to return".

Soju Stories    Feb 2018

[koreanstudyjunkie]

KOREAN SHORT STORY | 읽기 연습

reading comprehension practice

> staying up late 😴💤

⚠️this story was made by KStyles (on youtube/instagram)

Name | 이름 :

늦었어⏱

STORY :

나는 늦게까지 텔레비전 보는 걸 좋아해. 📺

근데 엄마는 항상 일찍 자라고 하셔. ⏰

나는 왜 일찍 자야 하는지 모르겠어. 🤷‍♂️

자기 전에 핸드폰 게임하고 자야겠어. 🤳📲

오늘 또 늦게 일어났어. 🛌

어떡하지? 진짜 늦었어. 😩

학교에 뛰어가야 해. 너무 피곤하고 졸려. 🏫🏃‍♂️

수업에 집중을 못 하겠어. 👨‍🏫

이런... 돈이랑 도시락 가져오는 걸 잊었어. 🥪🧃

다시는 늦게 자지 말아야겠어. 😮‍💨

QUESTIONS:

1.) What does the speaker like doing?

2.) What did they do before bed?

3.) What happened after they stayed up too late?

4.) What did they forget as a result of sleeping late?

🌻Question Answers🌻

1.) What does the speaker like doing?

> "나는 늦게까지 텔레비전 보는 걸 좋아해."

("I like watching tv until it's late".)

2.) What did they do before bed?

> "자기 전에 핸드폰 게임하고 자야겠어."

("I'll play mobile games before I go to bed."

3.) What happened after they stayed up too late?

> "학교에 뛰어가야 해. 너무 피곤하고 졸려.

수업에 집중을 못 하겠어."

("I have to run to school. I'm so tired and sleepy. I can't concentrate in class.")

4.) What did they forget as a result of waking up late?

> "돈이랑 도시락 가져오는 걸 잊었어."

("I forgot to bring my money and my lunchbox.")

☀️English Translation☁️🌤

I like to watch TV until late. But my mom always tells me to go to bed early.

I don't know why I have to go to bed early.

I'll play mobile games before I go to bed.

I woke up late again today.

What should I do? It's really late.

I have to run to school. I'm so tired and sleepy. I can't concentrate in class.

Oh, I forgot to bring the money and the lunch box.

I should never go to bed late again.

💻Vocabulary & Grammar List📓

늦게 - late

~까지 - until

텔레비전 - television, tv

보다 - to look, watch

는 것 - adds -ing to verb, modifies verb and turns it into a noun

좋아하다 - to like

근데 - however

엄마 - mom

항상 - always

일찍 - early

자다 - to sleep

라고 하다 - quoting someone

~시 - honorific ending

왜 - why

아/어야 하다 - have to, must

-는지 모르다 - not know..; show uncertainty

모르겠다 - I don't know

-기 전에 - before..

핸드폰 - phone

게임하다 - to play a game

~고 - and

아/어야겠다 - should do

오늘 - today

또 - too, also

일어나다 - to wake up, get up

어떡하지? - what should I do?

진짜 - really

늦다 - to be late

학교 - school

뛰어가다 - to run

너무 - too (much), very

피곤하다 - to be tired

졸리다 - to be sleepy

수업 - lesson, class

집중 - concentrate, focus

못 하다 - to not be able to do

이런 (이렇게) - this, like this,

돈 - money

(이)랑 - and

도시락 - lunch box

가져오다 - to bring

잊다 - to forget

다시 - again

지 말아야겠다 - shouldn't do

[koreanstory]

This is our 6th Food Story.