48. Karaoke

Saturday August 16, 2008

Young-Soo Lee *halmuni suggested doing Karaoke with the Japanese University students, and other halmunis. They were all singing and dancing around.

* "halmunis" in Korean, or "ahmas" in Taiwanese means "grandmas". (In Asia, elders are commonly referred to as grandmother or grandfather, whether you are related to them or not, as a way of showing respect.)

47. With Japanese students

Saturday August 16, 2008

Dinner with Japanese University students who were visiting Nanumeh-Jip. They had been visiting places related to WWII victims in Asia, including China and Korea.

46. Celebration - Finale

Friday August 15, 2008

The celebration ended with Won-Haeng's speech. He is a Buddhist priest and the Director at Nanumeh-Jip.

Won-Haeng Snim("Buddhist priest") speaking 

45. Celebration-Theater

Friday August 15, 2008

"Jin Hwan Kim's Traditional Korean Dance" company performed "A flower is blossomed and smiling" which was dedicated to Korean "comfort women." This performance acted out the story of the suffering of the "Comfort Women". Some Korean "comfort women" *halmunies cried when, during the story, they sang "Arirang," one of the most beloved Korean traditional songs.

* "halmunis" in Korean, or "ahmas" in Taiwanese means "grandmas". (In Asia, elders are commonly referred to as grandmother or grandfather, whether you are related to them or not, as a way of showing respect.)

Korean dancing

A Korean bride entering

44. Celebration - Audience

Friday August 15, 2008

The weather was constantly changing all day - sometimes rainy, at other times humid, cloudy and hot - yet many people came and celebrated Korean Independence Day with the "comfort women" *halmunis.

* "halmunis" in Korean, or "ahmas" in Taiwanese means "grandmas". (In Asia, elders are commonly referred to as grandmother or grandfather, whether you are related to them or not, as a way of showing respect.)

With the Korean halmunis

43. Celebration-Performers

Friday August 15, 2008

The Korean Independence Day Celebration was hosted by Mee Wha Kim - the famous Korean comedian. Performances throughout the day included a Korean-Latin Jazz band, Korean traditional "Pansori" style singing, playing of the "Kayakum" (a traditional Korean board zither), Junior High School students doing cheer-leader-style dancing and singing, and Korean and Japanese folk and pop performers.

Mee Wha Kim, MC, hosting

Korean-Latin Jazz band performing

A Japanese folk singer

Korean traditional "Pansori" style singers

Junior High School student performance

Korean "Kayakum" performance

A Korean pop singer, with the Korean "comfort women" *halmunis

Junior High School students singing

42. Celebration - Beginning

Friday August 15, 2008

Korean Independence Day Celebration, August 15th, at Nanumeh-Jip. Many students from Junior High School to Graduate students were volunteering at the event.

The event began with an orchestra playing Korean music. 

Sung Yeun, Buddhist monk

With Um Hee Sun, a graduate student volunteer

Many teenager volunteers

The orchestra playing