<BODY><P>For those in or near Seoul: </P>
<P> I just noticed a banner near Samgakchi this past week promoting the outstanding "Ah -- Omoni!" exhibition at the nearby Korean War Memorial which I thought had closed days after I saw it in late August, since I'd seen and heard nothing of it since. Turns out it has been extended through November. <BR> The exhibition covers the first 60 years of the Rep. of Korea, with a special focus on mothers in particular, and on women in general. There are countless photos and exhibits portraying daily life in Korea over those six decades, plus life-size recreations of shops and storefronts common in the 1950s and 1960s -- <EM>kumong kage, </EM>Chinese restaurant, pawn shop, electrical shop, and an entire <EM>tal tongne</EM> mock-up on a steep hillside.<BR> When we went, the place was full of middle-aged parents with children in tow and the occasional <EM>halmoni </EM>or <EM>haroboji</EM>
, expounding to their offspring about how it used to be when THEY were young. And all the visual aids are there.<BR> Sadly, there is virtually NO English to be found anywhere in the several halls, and admission is a substantial 8,000 won, but for the curious the exhibition is still worth 2-3 hours even without language. The exhibition catalog, published by the Chosun Ilbo, is also very good value at 10,000 won. </P>
<P>Ken Kaliher<BR>Seoul<BR><BR>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <BR>Phone: -82-11-9652-3192 (011- in Korea) <BR>Back-up E-mail: kenkaliher@hotmail.com <BR>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <BR>“We’ve rarely seen a state use organized crime in this way [N. Korea's circulation of counterfeit 'supernotes']. This is a criminal state, not because it’s been captured by criminals, but because the state has taken over crime.” <BR> -- U. of Pittsburgh Int'l Affairs Prof. Phil Williams, quoted in October 23, 2005 Int’l Herald Tribune </P></BODY>