Hong Seok Cheon’s Chinese restaurant catches on fire in Itaewon. Apparently the suspect is a US military soldier named “Corporal G”.

What a way to start the new year. At least it looked like the fire wasn’t started as a homophobic agenda. Instead an intoxicated GI decided he needed some warming up to do. Well that’s one way to start the year with a bang.

I’m glad there weren’t any casualties. Hong doesn’t need any more stress like that!

Tags: glbt, hong seok cheon, itaewon-dong, military, restaurant, seoul, south korea, yongsan-gu

Hong Seok Cheon’s Chinese restaurant catches on fire in Itaewon. Apparently the suspect is a US military soldier named “Corporal G”.

What a way to start the new year. At least it looked like the fire wasn’t started as a homophobic agenda. Instead an intoxicated GI decided he needed some warming up to do. Well that’s one way to start the year with a bang.

I’m glad there weren’t any casualties. Hong doesn’t need any more stress like that!

Tags: glbt, hong seok cheon, itaewon-dong, military, restaurant, seoul, south korea, united states, yongsan-gu

Heaven, I’m in Heaven . . . when we’re off together dancing kimbap to kimbap!

Kudos to those who knows the original song and the original singer. Seriously, if this wonderful Kimbap Cheonguk (Heaven) chain restaurant ever disappeared away from South Korea, I’d cry. If it ever disappeared out of my neighbourhood, I’ll go on a rampage to the headquarters! Not that it will happen, since there are two of these in my neighbourhood — mere one minute apart from another — so as long as one remains . . .
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Tags: dollar, itaewon-dong, restaurant, seoul, south korea, won, yongsan-gu

After many months of depriving myself of this fun (mostly because my throat and sinuses were stricken by some disease), I finally went to a no rae bang (private karaoke rooms) with a friend. Actually, it was a really long and freezing day. I had to haul myself to Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu for an errand, and then I waited for my friend in a coffee shop in my neighbourhood. When she arrived we went to another coffee house/bar to have dinner. Then we decided to go to a no rae bang since we couldn’t go last time due to my sinusitis.

We went to the one we always go to, paid about $9-10 bucks for over an hour, and sang our hearts out. Whenever we go, we sing a bunch of weird combination of songs. Here’s a list of what we sang and of what I can remember.
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Tags: amuro namie, blondie, BoA, deep purple, dong bang shin gi, eagles, eurythmics, gangnam-gu, gloria gaynor, guns n' roses, itaewon-dong, japan, karaoke, mariah carey, no rae bang, queen, rock band, seoul, south korea, system of the down, the carpenters, video game, x japan, yeoksam-dong, yongsan-gu

Considering all the recent Korean celebrity suicides, especially those who came out as GLBT, I’m glad Hong Seok Cheon didn’t take that route. He’s still alive and kicking, and the most recent news about him is that he published a book. The book’s called Design Your Own Restaurant, and it “celebrates his successful transformation from suddenly-out-of-work actor to restaurateur”.

Hong, an actor back in the 90s, came out gay in 2000, and not surprisingly, his sexual orientation wasn’t accepted among the general Korean population. That affected his acting career, so he began to open a series of restaurants — the first one being “Our Place” in Itaewon.

It’s a shame how he gave up acting to do this restaurant business, but from what I read, he’s happy with his current life, and that’s all that it matters. I just hope more GLBT Koreans can see that suicide isn’t the only option for being who they are. Actually, what I really hope is for Korea to become more accepting of GLBT, but considering recent events, the light in the tunnel’s really dim. However, like Hong, I’d like think a bit more optimistically about my home country — even if I am a natural pessimist!

Oh and one of these days, I shall check out “Our Place”. I live in the area, so I may as well go!

Tags: book, glbt, hong seok cheon, itaewon-dong, restaurant, seoul, south korea, yongsan-gu

This article is about how the US State Department considers Hongdae and Sinchon, two famous clubbing and bar hopping districts in Seoul, “dangerous areas”. This article brings out two clashing viewpoints from me. One is bewilderment and the other is anger.

I am trying to see why the US State Department would even consider those two areas dangerous. For a city where crime isn’t huge as some major cities, I just cannot fathom what could be listed as dangerous. I mean, yes, since it is a bar district, running into drunkards is not my idea of safe, but it just makes me wonder what they mean by “dangerous”. Yes, crime will always exist, but is it really high in those two areas or is it just another way to prevent Americans from going there? And by Americans I mean those who are affiliated with the US military.
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Tags: discrimination, hongdae, itaewon-dong, korea, mapo-gu, military, seodaemun-gu, seoul, sinchon-dong, united states, united states state department, yongsan-gu

Couple of months ago, my Korean cousin from Suwon came up to Seoul with her boyfriend. They stopped by, left their car in our apartment parking lot, and went up to visit N Seoul Tower (or Seoul / Namsan Tower). After reading this article, I wonder if they went up there to declare their eternal love for one another . . . much like the article said how couples would bring locks, lock it, and throw the key away.

As much as I find this really corny and wasteful, this discovery is actually tempting me to go back up to the Seoul Tower. That temptation itself is quite shocking since I have sworn never to go back up there after a field trip that traumatised me. And I do live close to it. Heck, I’m only five minutes away, by car, from the base of the mountain, so one of these days, I may go up there to see such a thing. Make that a day when I’m really bored, have a friend who’s willing to go with me, and when we do go up there, we are taking the cable car. I refuse to walk up there, which stems back to that childhood trauma of the place.

Actually, you guys here at Ningin can motivate me to go up there. Although, I don’t know if going up that high during winter’s a good idea or not. XD

Tags: korea, n seoul tower, namsan tower, seoul, seoul tower, suwon, yongsan-gu

It has taken me twenty-three years to discover the godliness of Indian cuisine. I admit that I am not adventurous when it comes to food, but when I am at the point of where I am sick of eating the same crap over and over again, I will look for something different. Therefore, this past spring, one of my friends who loves Indian cuisine suggested we try Taj Palace out in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, a place she never been to before but heard good reviews of the place.

This restaurant is near Hooker Hill a red light district in Itaewon, and it’s above a transsexual bar. That made me think weird random stuff in my head. However, considering how it’s normal to see set ups like that in Seoul, especially in Itaewon, I threw those thoughts aside and went in there. It is a nice, clean place, with nice host and waiters. On Saturdays and Sundays, they have their weekend buffet, where it’s 16,500 won (about $15-16) and it’s all you can eat. The varieties is good, and along with the buffet food, we also get free naans on the side. Mmmm.

Let’s just say after my first visit there, I was forever converted into Indian cuisine fan. I love that place, and I went back more on my future visits, bringing friends with me who agreed that it was an awesome place. I guess despite its choice of location and whatnot, it’s a great Indian restaurant. See below for images of the meal from my last visit.
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Tags: hooker hill, india, itaewon-dong, korea, restaurant, seoul, yongsan-gu

This drool-worthy picture next to this paragraph is some dessert waffle dish called the “Giant Brown Apple Thunder” thingamagie. Last month, my friend “Stella” and I went to The Waffle Factory around Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu. That night, I was merely introduced to the waffles. Then we went to this one coffee shop/bar in the same vicinity called “The Library” for a drink or two.

Couple weeks ago, I told “Seungee” that we should both try the restaurant because the waffles that I did try a bit last time was delicious. Both of us are breakfast food fans, and we believe that breakfast foods are meant to be eaten during all times of the day. Unfortunately, finding good American-style breakfast is a bit of a pain in Seoul since we are either limited to the US military bases or at places that “Koreanises” the food. Thankfully, we lucked out! The Waffle Factory really do serve great breakfast food, in Seoul, all day long, and at a fairly reasonable price. We spent about 31 bucks at this place for two dishes and two drinks. Let’s move on and let the “blog-entation” begin! With pictures, naturally.
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Tags: itaewon-dong, korea, melamine, restaurant, seoul, yongsan-gu

* Have a reason to go out and eat . . . CHECK — It’s someone’s birthday.

* Make sure you have a decent size group . . . CHECK — Get two families for seven people.

* Go to a traditional restaurant . . . CHECK — After discovering there’s an actual parking lot . . . for like five cars!

* Sit on the floor . . . CHECK — Make sure you have a floor cushion for the padding on your bottom.

* Let the birthday person choose what they were craving . . . CHECK — Bulgogi!

* The restaurant ahjummas starts bringing the food and let the fun times begin!
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Tags: ahjumma, itaewon-dong, korea, restaurant, seoul, yongsan-gu