Please check out this website article and post a comment.
http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2007/11/19/mount-paektu-pilgrimage-packages-for-2008/
Do remember I grade on three points.
1. Your response to the article. Make a connection. Make a comment.
2. Answer, Why did I select this answer?
3. Answer, Why is this relevant to our class?
Happy bloging.
Mr Mc
52 comments:
I had once heard that mountains in North Korea were ugly because the mountains were stripped and empty, no trees, no grasses because o the hungry North Koreans. I think that the mountain that Seo Myeong-hee saw wasn’t reachable for the North Koreans. I hope that I could see the mountains. Seo Myeong-hee’s description makes it seem so majestic and wonderful. I was a little disgusted to read that Mount Paektu was used for worship. I don’t think that they should use that beautiful mountain as worship. Anyway, I am rather glad that North Koreans are opening up to South Korea. I thought that North Korea would never open up. I think that North Korea deciding to open up is the best choice they had ever made because firstly, it would help their economy. I am hoping that someday, North and South Korea would unite and become one happy free country. I hadn’t realized that Mount Paektu was the mountain in the folktale of the origin of humans. As I was reading the last couple of paragraphs, I was excited at how well this project was going. I really enjoyed the last paragraph, where the woman and the tour guard became friendly. I really think that through, this, Korea would be soon united. I think that we are told to read this because I think that our next unit in Social Studies is going to be on North Korea. Another reason might be because we are in Korea right now, and perhaps, the teacher thought that we needed to know how North and South were getting along. Anyhow, I am glad to read this article, although it took me quite some time to understand it.
it's me again! HI!!Hello!!
down to business
i think that this a bit wierd. Is this written by a Seo Myeong-hee or some kind of reporter? ANyway, this is not what you call breaking news but it is sort of interesting. Mainly, the thing that really got me is that North Koreans allowed us to get up there through North Korea. I always thought that North Koreans were either poor, or tested nuclear weapons. NOt making decisions about some tourist thing. Well, now we can see some of our long lost brothers and sisters. I never heard about the beauty of North Korea cuz i never thought North Korea as beautiful but now I know that those mountains are beautiful, pretty, raidant blah blah blah. About the lake in the crater. That's where the biological mutation started um, bear into human, got marries, ..., then me. hehehehehehe. If they are making a plane ride to some mountain, i think that it ~might~ be worth it. I personally don't like scenic views, after a quick see, a couple photoes, i'm outta there.
The tale about the bear and tiger, i think that isn't good thing to children. It's about animals touring themselves to become human. And in the story, the bear was only there for about 21 days or something, i'm not too sure but people say that it wasn't as high as 100 days.
(this blog's getting a bit too long)
anyway, i understand that this tourist company is doing some stuff to get South koreans to the North. I think that that is a great idea, it will one day, get so many South Koreans to North korea that they will get unified officially or unofficially. it's one of those wierd little unavoidable things. When it opens, i think that people will flock to see the mystic mountain and North Korea. Everyone wants something new to see and experience, it'll be a hit, i think i'll go see it too.
this article is about one of the few things that just might change your lives forever ....... wow
- ~phew~
Mr. Mcallister chose this because -he told us this- we are studying Korea and this article intrested him. This is something new to him and well, as I said, people always like new things, well, most of the time.
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this is related to our studies because we are learning about Korea, this article is about Korea and stuff. If that's not a direct connection, i don't know what is.
I found it not surprising that North Korea opened their country more to South Korea. North Korea, one of the most poorest and undeveloped countries in the world, can't possibly survive without the help of South Korea. The finacial aid we give to North Korea is more than half of what North Korea earns by themselves. The moentain Seo Myung-hee was talking about is Baek Tu mountain. My dad says he has been there when he worked with Hyundai electronics, and he said that it is so majestic and large that a whale can live there. It symbolizes beauty itself. I think this comment was posted because we are learning about Asia and next semester, were getting into Korea, so this blog gives us a feel of North Korea. This is certaintly relevant to what we do in class since we are mostly learning the geography of Asia. Now I think I know more about the geographical features of North Korea. I hope we can learn more about North Korea and someday unite into one country.
Wow now i wish i could see mount Paektu. I have never been interested in my ancestors or anything but i love roman myths and now the folktales we are studying, and this is one! I am glad that North Korea is cooperating with South Korea again and i hope that soon they will become one country again.
i think that worshiping objects is wrong and although that is one of the reasons the mountain is so famous, it should be admired for its beauty and history but not worshipped.
I dont think that tourism companies should be fighting over the mountain though and that because it is such a strong part of Koreas history it should be open for all to go to.
I think this blog was chosen because it is such an important part of Koreas history, just like the Japanese believe that there Emperors were direct god descendents and that is important to them.
Oh the Bake Du mountain...
My parnets once were watching this program aout the Paektu mountain. At first, it was about how beautiful the mountain's view is and was also about the Paektu mountain's monster.
Anyways, they were watching it, and my mother kept exclaimint, "Oh how I wish to go there!", and my father kept saying that, "Oh, it WAS very beautiful, all right!" Then my mother asked me, "Do you want to go there?"
I thought that the mountain is quite beautiful, but then I imagined walking on that high mountain. It made me shudder.
When I was reading the part about 1.2million wons, I thought, "That's a lot of money, and is it worth that much to go to a mountain?" Sure it must be beautiful, but 1.2 million wons! Wow! Whatever company that would start a business near or at Paek-du mountain would earn a lot of money because when a woman is willing to pay another 1.2 million wons to go to the mountain again, that means more people would try to go to the mountain, and the company would get rich! I don't think that the Chinease companies would not be so happy because they might have to lower their price if Korea's companies are willing to let people pay lesser money.
It also reminded me about the angry Koreans in the internet writing about how Paek-du is Korea's mountain, and not Chinese.
And then I also thought that if Korea became one again, then it would be easier to go to the Paek-du mountain.
And as for the myth of Korea, I have heard it so much that once I thought, "What if the bear really did turn into human?!" Silly thing.
Maybe it would be nice to go to the Paek-Du mountain once in a life time. But I should first get over the fight of the hight of the mountain! (it's very high you know! ㅠㅠ)
02388
Ah... Finally the closed up legend of Mount Paektu is being released to the public. After more than 50 years of closing up the mountain I can see why Hyundai Asan would want to get the first foothold into the tourism in Paektu. I have heard many stories related to this mountain and lake. But one thing that worries me is that the mountain is now 70% chinese owned. Those crazy North Koreans are selling it piece by piece to the Chinese. The mountain is a national symbol and is considered the origin of Korea. I hope that If North Korea and South Korea ever do come back together, that we will be able to gain Mt. Paektu once again. I really would like to visit it some day. More and more tourism business is springing up in North Korea, but I do not know if this will be of benefit to South Korea or not. I just hope that the two Koreas will be united someday even though the change may be drastic. I can tell that North Korea is loosening their iron grip and and opening up little by little. The only thing to do now is to wait until they open up fully. I believe the teacher chose this because Mt. Paektu is one of the most famous national symbol of Korea. It also marks the mythical beginnings of Korea. This is relevant to class because se are just starting the chapter on Korea and how it began. This is extremely important in showing some existing figures of Korea's legendary beginnings and more.
Thanks for the article
i think it was good to talk about what she did ay mt peaktu i nsouth korea
I'm Back, 02719 coming at you!!! Well, I am not a korean and as I read the story I was really impressed. I did not know about all the stuff with the bear and tiger...ect. But I found it very interesting to read about the possible resorts coming soon. When I was still in America I heard ALL about the N. korea's nukes and just thought they were power hungry...weird-os. But It is very nice to see that they are opening up to reason. I thought that the N. korean's are really starting to get in the real worlds affairs. My eyes nearly went buggeyed when I read the last bit about the N. korean guard becoming friendly with the ladie. thanks for the new blog MM.
and remember... buy my a gift for Christmas every body!!! Happy Holodays! from 02719
im really impressed about Mount Paekdu
especially chonji
there were not a lot of trees and grass but it was beutiful to look at it.
Im really glad to see North Korea opening up the Mt paekdu for south korea and i believe that we will unificated someday soon.
and it would help our economy too.
i didnt know that North Koreans were caring about the tourist that goes to the mountains.
i saw norhtkorean making soem bad stuff but i will think good about them now.
thanx for posting this article.
This news wasn’t surprising to me because I have already heard of this news and back then, when I heard this, I was shocked that North Korea actually let tourists through. I always thought that North Korea was a very poor and dangerous country. It’s really good to know that North Korea is cooperating with South Korea. I hope that this interaction between each other will unite the two countries once again.
When I was reading the part about 1.2million wons, I was shocked, and is it worth that much to go to a mountain? I’m sure it is a beautiful sight, but 1.2million wons! That’s crazy!!!! Whatever company that would start a business near or at Mount Paektu would earn a lot of money because when a woman is willing to pay another 1.2 million wons to go to the mountain again, that means more people would try to go to the mountain, and the company would come to wealth!
As I was reading this article, I was very familiar with the Korean myth which I had once read in a book. It was nice reading it again. I guess that Mount Paektu is really special. Anyways, I really think that this tourist business is a really good idea because it might help our country.
Mr. McAllister put this blog up because we are starting to learn about Korea and because Mt. Paektu is one of the most famous national symbols of Korea. This article also includes the mythical beginnings of Korea. This is relevant to class because we are just starting the chapter on Korea and how it began.
Wow! That Seo Myeong hee lady must have a lot of cash. If she paid 1.2 million won then think of all the other people on that trip. Just with five people on that tour that company probably can make a lot of money. Well, enough about money, I think that this article was somewhat new and old. The new part was that it took so much money to make the new resort. Also, that this project was considered two years ago and that South Korea has made investments in North Korea for the past nine years also surprised me. But then, I knew about this project so it sort of ruined the fun. And the mystical tale of how Korea started that I knew also which sort of took out the fun as well. But it was cool to hear it in the English version. It was interesting to hear about how it will work and all of the plans. I also think that the Hyundai Asan President was logical about how it would be unfair for the other travel agencies to get what Hyundai worked for nine years to get. And if it is only Hyundai they will make more money and it is their unique thing which makes it somewhat a better known travel agency.
I think that Mr. McAllister chose this because it is a link to Korea’s history when Korea was united and the present time. This relates to something we have done in class because we started to learn about Korea’s history.
I had heard of a tour to Mout Pak tu, but i didn't know it was that expensive. I just think that do we need to give money to tour something that was in our country. North Korea and South Korea was once a one country, so they should be together again and gain more power. I heard about a poor care for mountains. People in north Korea doesn't have food to eat, so they eat grass and leafs from the tree and the mountain, so they say moutains in North Korea are red and doens't have green leaves and all those natural things. I think even though they make people tour the moutains in North Korea, they should care about it and grow grass and plants. I knew the Paek Tu moutain was the place where Korea begin and it was the beginning, so they should keep it more holy and clean. Now China is trying to take over Paek-tu Mountain. If the place of the start is gone the culture or the spirit is gone. I think North Korea is just thinking about the present, they should think about the future to when we become united.
I believe Mr.Mcallister put this information because we are learning about Korea, and the history and folktales about Korea. Moutains tour in North Korea is issue these days, so i think Mr. Mcallister put it to make a connection with the folktale and now days. They say there is a monster in the Cheon-ji which is the peak of the Mount Paek-tu. I think that is just a fish that is huge or something. Isn't moutn Paek-tu a volcanic moutain, then how can a creauter live there? I thnk Mr. Mcallister is going to put more blogs about Korea, North Korea and South Korea from now on until next quarter.
When I read this I thought, “Ah, I want to try to go there too.” The reason I thought that was that there were lots of compliments of going to mount. Paektu. The people would say that it is most wonderful mountain. Since I was grown up in Korea for a long time, I have been in to lots of South Korean mountains. I have been in to mount. Geumgang when I was eight or nine. I remember it was beautiful. But I heard that mount. Paektu was much better than mount. Geumgang. Those made me want to go to mount. Paektu however that thought didn’t last long. But you reminded me! Now I want to go to mount. Paektu. ㅜ_ㅜ Seo Myeong-hee stating that Mount Paektu is the best place that she has visited made me want to go visit and wee how wonderful it looked. It also gave me another thought that Korean mountains are the best…
I think out wonder teacher posted this because we are going to learn about Korea after learning about Japan.. I am really excited!!!!
I would say in my opinion that it was a good idea for Kim Jung-Ill to open up North Korea a bit so people from South Korea could visit the Mount Paektu. The place is also a part of South Korea, so why should South Koreans have to go through so much trouble to get there? I never knew that you had to go through China to get to Mount Paektu. The way Seo Myeong-hee described it, it is a truly gorgeous scene to look at. I never really liked going up mountains, but I really am curious now about how the area looks like. I was never really awed either at sight-seeing but I wonder if I would be if I saw the lake. I think that North Korea is opening up a bit more at a time. I am glad that that is happening because even though we have politic disagreements and different ideas and opinions, we are still the same Koreans. I hope one day Korea will be reunited.
It will really be easier for people to go see Mount Paektu now. I do feel sorry for the people that work in the chinese route to Mount Paektu. They'll have less tourists so they'll get less money. North Korea is poor and undeveloped, and I wonder if this opening up more to South Korea is going to change anything. I hope it does, because North Korea seriously could use a bit of help. Also, the part about the tiger and the bear. Ahem...pretty weird. It's almost like how the Japanese thought how Japan was formed. A god came down and put the spear in the water, lifted it up and the drops of water that came down were formed into the island, Japan. Wow. A bear turning into a woman...
I also once heared that some Koreans were angry that we had to get through China to see Mount Paektu as it isn't even China's mountain. Well, problem solved. Now we just have to ride the airplane from South Korea and go right to the mountain. Also, if South Korea and North Korea just reunited we'd be able to go on foot (heheh). I know it isn't as simple as that as South Korea and North Korea just aren't ready to reunite yet but we all wait for that day.
I believe Mr McAllister chose this article because we are entering a new unit about Korea. This article is about a mountain in Korea, and we are studying Korea. See the conection?
Also this is revelant because most of us know (if you ever see the news) that Kim Jung-Ill and our South Korean President got together and met. Also, if we are studying Korea we would need to know some news about what is happening in our country these days.
I wish I could go to the mountain. It sounds like a beautiful place to go to. I thought that North Korea had no beautiful sights because of the nation's people. I never know the mountain was used for worship. That is sad and disgusting. I am excited that both of the countries are getting to each other. I didn't know that North Korea would open up to have tourist. Well it is cool that they are finally socializing. I pray that North and South Korea would unit and be a strong and powerful nation Amen!!!!!!!!!!!
I knew that North Korea started to allow South Koreans to visit Mount Kumgang, but I never heard about allowing the South Koreans to visit Mount Paektu. Anyway, now I am glad that North Korea is showing respect to us and this will make the relationship between us better. I was suprised that we have to take a plane to get to the Mount Paektu. It's gotta be expensive. I heard that Mount Paektu is a sacred mountain for worshipping and it was also the place where Dangun, the first king of the Kingdom in Korea which is a Korean myth. Many animals used to live there a lot , but not now. Anyway Mount Paektu sounds wonderful. This will make each countries more friendly. But this can't make the Unification happen. If we really unite into a country, then our land gets larger and we get more people to work, but we also have to spend trillions of money to fix the building and feed the poor North Koreans. Also this will reduce our jobs, too because we got more people who wants to get good jobs. Most of the old people say that we should be united, because they just want to see their relatives, but after few years, their family will die and there is no point of uniting together, but if we are rich enough to feed all the poors and build more houses and make more jobs, then Korea will develop into a big country. I think this really depends on how much money the government has. For right now, I think it's hard to be united, because, we don't have enough money to develop North Korea regions, so I would wait until we have enough money, then we unite into a single country. Once we do, I think our country will grow into a good country.
Another North Korea's industry opened up. Surely, a nation's industry is very much affected by the natural gifts of the geographic location. Texas by its oil, Taiwan by its trees, Europe by its mild climate and plains sufficient for farming. Every nation, unless they are a city country like Vatican, requires more than men's attention and that is the natural resources. However, what good is a sword if the wielder does not use it, proper and efficient usage of whatever the nation acquires from its nature is one of the most important factors. North Korea has made a good choice by opening a new industry of tourism. Not to offend North Korea, but as a matter of fact it is not very urbanized which was a factor that was weak compared to the industrial nations, but they protected something else as a compenstation and that I guess is the untouched mountains of Kemgang and Paekdu. However, beauty is a luxury one could enjoy only when staple needs are fulfilled and the wonderful sight of the mountains are magnificant, and tourism adds but a little sum of wealth to a nation's treasury unless people from all over the world comes to visit. I also doubt that the mountains would last unspoiled for long, for unless the tourists are ethnical Koreans, they won't be very concerned about waiting a little to not throw their candy wrappers away. But if the tourists are only Korean,they won't be the best way to fill the vault. My point is that the tourism is not enough to give any big impact to North Korea. Happy people might increase, but the nation's economy has far more priorities to fulfill before adding luxuries. Uniting the North and South is very risky, for no one can promise that the poverty won't consume the self-sufficient. All those who starve in the streets in North Korea basically is coming inside a regular family of South Korea, so Joining together is very risky. All summed up, North Korea needs to find a way to improve their productivity and wealth. Anyway neither North nor South will agree uniting. I think Mr. Mcallister posted this article because we were going to start a unit of Korea, and to give us a feeling of how the North Korea was like since we already know about the South since we live in it.
I once again felt the pride about Mt. Paektu. I've never been there and never had any interest in it, but this article made me be interested in the mountain in North Korea. Mt. Paektu is one of the most famous mountain in Korea, and I knew it was very beautiful, but I never knew that it was that impressive. On the other side, while reading this article, I kind of felt like Seo Myeong-hee was feeling this way because of her own pride about Korea too, even though I knew she was being very fair. Anyway, this article made me visit the Paektu Mountain but not yet. It's too high for me. I realized the significancy of a country having a good feature and enviornment. I hope that by this comment and article about Mt. Paektu will made many people around the world want to visit Korea.
I think this article was chosen by Mr.McAllister because he wanted us to know more about our own country since I didn't even know so mouch about it. Also, I think he was trying to inroduce about Korea, specifically Korea's geography.
This article is definitely connected to our lesson in Social Studies class because we are reccently strating to learn about Korea. This was very helpful and fresh for the intro of a new unit, and even though it was VERY long, the info was worth it. Have a nice weekend Mr. McAllister~!!
Several Monthes ago, I heard that China is taking over Mount Paektu to build an airport their. For that time I heard, I thought this was not an important issue, but now when I saw this article about Mount Paektu’s indescribable scenery, I finally noticed the importance of keeping our precious nature cultural heritage. How sad our magnificent inheritance to be deprived to China? China is destroying the beautiful mountain, which is also the Korean’s spiritual background, of Paektu to build an airport, to getter money. I hope that Korea got more power to get back the valuable relic from China’s losing mind of money. I think Mr. McAllister choose this article, not because to afflict students, because this article is very significant and reminds us to remember our spirit started from Mount Paektu. While studying of Korea, we can think of the worthful things of Korea. That is how this article is relevant to our class.
I remember going to the Paektu Mountain a long time ago. It was a REALLY great place to visit and there were so many things I remembered from there. I remember that when I went up the hill (riding a car), it was so scary and it felt like I was going to fall off the mountain soon, going around and around. It was really frightening and I heard many people in accidents because of the harsh driving going up the mountain, and there were some people who died too. However when I was at the top of the mountain, it certainly was a beautiful sight, seeing the CHeonji. Like Seo Myeong- hee described, it was mysterious blue. I remember that there was a change in the temperature alot, so I had to wear a thick jacket. Anyways, I think it's a good to hear that NOrth KOrea isn't being such an isolated country but is now starting to open up like other countries. It kind of reminded me of how Japan was closed from other countries during the Tokugawa time shogunate for 250 years. ANother thing I think is great is the comfortable transportation of using planes to go visit the mountain. HOwever, I think 1.2 million won is a little bit too much for the price. Overall, I'm excited to learn about Korea as our topic next in SOcial Studies.
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THe comment above is minee
I did the posting wrong:(
02625
Reading this article really made me want to visit the Mount Paektu.
Seo Myeong- hee described the mountain so well..it seemed to me like the moutain was somewhere that no once can imagine.
Anyways, I found it really interesting that Mount Paektu was the moutain in the Korea's creation myth. I have never heard this story so I thought it was really cool but also kind of wierd.
I think this is a great step to lead North Korea in to reuniting with South Korea. I think it would be best for North Korea to open up because this will help them to be a stronger economy.
I enjoyed reading the part that the women and the North Korean guard took a picture and was nice to each other.I really think that these little steps can lead us to be a one united country and i believe that we will,someday.
This relates to what we are learning about right now in social studies. By reading article , I learned about so many things and whats happening to Korea right now.
I was surprised about North Korea letting South Koreans to visit the Mount Paektu. Not only that, I really wanted to visit Mount Paektu one time. The program of flight from South Korea to North Korea was great. Because there was a Korean War agaisnt North and South Korea, I thought they would have a another war before even letting us to go to there land. Also, how I feel is that North Korea is opening there mind to us and start making peace with us. Many of South Koreans including me, want to visit the Mount Paektu. If it could possibly happen, there will be one Korea one day and not have a DMZ(?) to separeate two countries. Even now, the tigers are disappeared and there is a chance that there is a tiger in North Korea. Because tiger is a Korean's animal or a symbol, we must spread tigers all over Korea. I think the cooperation was going well and they made a sign or a treaty to let others to visit the Mount Paektu. I think Mount Paektu is important to Koreans because there is a stroy about how Korea started. Also many bears are disappering too.This is a Korean site saying and explaing about the bears"http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/animal/Description/mammal/bear/printfree.cgi?file=index.html". I wish and hope is that one day the both Koreans are in one Korea land and we could not always worried about the war and have a forever peace.
DX...
This article was so good because I liked to hear about Korea and its history. I thought most of the trees in North Korea are stripped and have no leaves on them because of the hungry North Koreans. It is so sad how they eat off of nature because of starvation. When Seo Myeong-hee said that the Paektu Mountain was the most beautiful, I imagined bright green and dark green leaves, tons of grass and flowers, and a bright blue sky with white clouds floating everywhere. But then I thought about what I heard about other mountains and wondered how that mountain would still be beautiful. I have always wished to see what North Korea is like and what it looks like compared to South Korea. Right now, I imagine North Korea as dark, deadly, abandoned, misty, lonely, quiet, and mysterious. Even though I want to go, I’m also a little bit frightened to go because of all the North Korean guards with guns and because of Kim Jong-il, the president of North Korea. I’m afraid that he will trick us and say that we can fly safely to Mt. Paektu but actually does a surprise attack on us. Sorry my imagination is wild right now… Its cool how they are planning to set up a resort for people to tour at but we have to be cautioned and be very careful. When I also heard about the North Korean guard that was guarding the border line, and how he smiled at them and took a souvenir photo and accepted chocolate from her I became relieved all of a sudden. I also feel really bad and sad for him because I have a feeling that he really is not a bad person that follows Kim Jong-il but someone who wants to be free just like everyone else. It was a good sign that not all of them despise us South Koreans. After I read that paragraph, I felt an urge to go over there myself and give a chocolate bar or something more to them and take photos with them and become friendlier. It will be a wish coming true if I could go there and make a difference to their society and ours. I really hope that someday we can be united into one country and make peace with them. It would be awesome to meet them and learn more about how they were and their cultures and how it felt to be captured.
We were probably told to read this article because our next unit is going to be on Korea and its history. Mr. McAllister will probably have us do things about North Korea and South Korea’s separation in class. Anyhow, I really enjoyed reading this article and learning more about North and South Korea.
Helllooo mr.mcallister
thank you for the new blog :)
Wowww. Just by reading this single article, I have learned so many interesting and new facts about Korea that I did not know of. I had heard about few South Koreans having the opportunity to visit Paek Tu San with special permission(Mts.), but I didn't know North Korea was going to open up towards us and let us tour quite freely compared to the past! Also, I knew the story of the bear and the tiger, but I didn't know that the day Jae Chun Jul, was the day that we celebrated for that myth, and I didn't know it had a relation towards Pyeong-yang as well. Anyways, it is a wonderful news for us, South Koreans, because after the war, the main, one place that's opened towards the South Koreans is the Paek Tu San. I'd love to visit Pae Tu San someday, because it was beautiful when I saw it through television and in movies, at least. The part of the article that talks about the elders that cried and felt emotional touched my heart. I felt sympathy because I once heard that Pyeong-yang is close to Seoul, that we are able to drive there in hours. It is tragic that we aren't able to enter North Korea freely when especially for the elders, have family members separated from them. I hope a day will come, when we can travel freely to North Korea without having certain limits. I'm very supportive against making a Paek Tu San tour. I don't think there are any negative reasons of not making one, even though it will be quite difficult such as the problem of money. However, my opinion is positive towards this idea and I hope it comes true! I chose this answer because I agree towards freedom, not the communist. I think that they should not block families from meeting each other, making them unable to meet for years since the war, which is heart-breaking. I also believe strongly that South Koreans have the right, or the privilege to see Paek Tu San too, because it's a mountain that used to belong in the whole country of Korea, even though it's located in Pyeong-yang. Also, I have heard that next year 2008, KTX was going to build a train that goes through North Korea and reaches to China all the way. They were planning this for the Olympics, and I think it's awesome and indescribable because North Koreans and South Koreans would be able to meet at least in the KTX. I was glad to hear this news, and I think there's no reason, for being against of letting the North and South Koreans to meet.
I think Mr.McAllister has chosen this article for current events because we are moving onto learning about Korea! (yeah) Also, we learned about the Korean War in the past, and the separation of North and South is still a big issue going on in Korea. I think this article was a good article to start us learning and thinking of the topic of Korea. I learned so much by just reading one article. I am quite excited to learn about Korea in Social Studies and I hope to learn farther beyond on Korea that I did not know of!
Thank you for reading my comment!
Lauren Kim :)
This "tour project" I think, is a start of North Korea and South Korea opening up to each other. For the past many years, North Korea was not opening up at all, and wouldnt let anyone in, but now, i think that they are trusting South Korea, and allowing them to come. That is a big step for both sides of Korea. When i started to read this blog i was kind of confused, but since now i know what is going to happen, im really looking forward to this tour thing to baekdu mountain. The thing that im wondering about is, why now? They could have opened up 10 years ago or 10 years later, but why did they choose now? Anyway the thing that really buggs me is that, its one land. One country. so why should we have to go through the trouble of paying money, and building just to get to the other side of OUR country. And we have to get permission from kim jung ill to get to the other side of our country. AND were paying most of it. I think that its kind of unfair. It was unfair that the land was divided this way. If it was the other way around; would they have paid this much to come visit the mountain? i bet they would have not taken no for an answer and just busted in. I dont think its right for one country to split up and ask permission to go to the other side. Now that i think about it, its really sad. Because of the border families are torn apart. BEcause of the border, people cant see all teh majestic and beautiful places this countries really contain. If i think about it this way, its really disappointing.
When i read the story about the bear and the tiger, i thought it was a very interesting part of how humans began in korea. A bear turning in to a woman, is just not right. And the human marrying the bear who had turned into the woman was just not right either. Its like, it we follow this theory, then all of us koreans are half human and half bear? its just really,,,embarrassing. whatever hapened to korean pride there?
BUt as far as im concerned, im glad that there is finally a chance for both koreas to unify as one. It would be really a amazing experience for me to see if i actually go to live until this time where both countrys would be together.
BUT ANYWAY i think that mr mcallister put up this blog because the next topic we will be studying is Korea. And i think that he wanted us to get a broad idea of whats going on between North and South KOrea so then when we get into that topic, that we arent like, clueless. And that maybe we will be learning the relationship between north and south korea, and if we were to learn that, then we would need a small understanding of what happened in the past and stuff. so yeah.. thank you mr mcallister for a great year and this..interesting blog :)))
Seo Myeong Hee it sounds like Seo Young Myaeng^^. Anyways it was interesting to know that North Koreans opened their country more to South Korea. I want to go to Baek Du Mountain. Now I heard about the beauty of North Korea, I never thought that North Korea would have those mountain that are pretty, and beautiful. Baek Du Mountain, according to the myth, is where the first ancestor of Korean began (is it?). The son of God named Huan Hung came to this land and brought this other helpers with him. One day a bear and a tiger came saying that they want to be a human, so Huan Hung gives him garlic and...(you know) and says that they have to stay in a dark place for 500days (I think) only eating what he gave them. But the tiger gives up, but the bear stayed. Soon he turned into a human, a girl, and Huan Hung ask her to marry him. Then they have this baby. This baby is the first anccestor of Korea. I think this story is a good story for childrens.
I think Mr. Mc Allister sent this bloge because we are learning about asia and now we are learning about Korea.
I think this was written by reporter. I want to go there and see once. I heard that there is a monster up there and I want to see that monster. I am so happy that North have opened to South Korea little bit and by this way, I think North and South can be soon united. That program they are using is good idea to learn money and if they explain to many people then more people will want to come and they can learn more about north Korea if they do then They will have to learn about south then they will want to come to south so that will be good. I really want to go to mountain and I don't know much about that mountain so I hope that prgram and also many people come to see the mountain and one day, I want to go and play. Please next time make it short
This article was very exaggerating. Seo Myeong-hee has traveled the world to see the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon in the United States, but she said her visit to Chonji, the crater lake on the peak of Mount Paektu, was the best trip of her life. She exaggerates too much on this particular mountain and lake. She expresses too much of her feelings.. Her descriptions are very majestic and wonderful that it actually hooks reader's attention. However enough is enough. Standing 2,744 meters (9,002 feet) tall, Mount Paektu has been worshipped for centuries as the place of Korea’s ancestral origins. In addition to its beauty, it is this rich cultural tradition that prompted Seo, like many South Koreans, to travel through China to see the mountain, since there is currently no way to visit the area via North Korea. This has surprised me alot. I was a little dissapointed to read that Mount Paektu was used for worship. I don’t think that they should use that beautiful mountain as worship. WOW!...Mount Paektu was the mountain in the folktale of the origin of humans.This also surprised me. After the last visit to Pyong Yang Kim Jung Il made a promise that he would allow foreigners to visit the Mountain. The project is going very well
Continued.........
The project is going very well this will allow the country's economy to develop. I wish that the country can develop their wealth and technology and once again unite as one country KOREA..... Because we are learning about korea and specificly the Korean war we know about the division of north and south korea. Therefore, Mr. Mcallister bloged this article to refer it to what we have learned at class.
Most mountains in South Korea are destroyed and lost its beauty of nature. This is because the technology has improved. Developing a new technology can also mean loosing more natures. I don't think it's neccesarily bad. There has to be variety of places in this world; some with the beauty of technologies, and other with the beauty of nature. South Korea is one of those countries with the beauty of technologies. In the other hand, around South Korea, there is North Korea that contains the beauty of nature. One of the beauty that they have is Paektu Mountain. I think that they should let South Korea visit there, which they are planning to. They should share their beauty of nature, and in the other hand, we South Korea should share our beauty of technology. If North Korea opens up Paektu Mountain, it will also develop on the peace between North and South Korea. If North and South Korea become one, they will form the most beautiful country in the world; containing both beauty of nature, and beauty of technology. -THE END-
Seo Myeong- hee described the mountain so well..it sounds like the moutain was somewhere that no one can imagine. I know about the myth of where koreans are from but I didn't know where the story took in place.I hope that by getting close with North Koreans when visiting the Mt. paekdu and building friendship eventhough it will be a short time. I hope that North Korea will open up:)!
I can't understand how "Seo Myaeng" thinks taht Paekdu mountain is more magnificant than Pyramids and other remarkable places. I heard that Paekdu doens't look that good now. Lots of Koreans are pretty mad at Kim Jung il, the North Korea president, because he didn't keep his promise. He got people's attention by promising that he will make South Koreans to travel Paekdu by having air or ship path. But the promise wasn't kept. So, South koreans can admire the beauty by only going through China, which I think is so unfair.
I know the story of bear and tiger trying to be a woman. That story was very impressive. Everytime I read the story, I'm amazed at the bear's patience, which I do not have.. But now, I'm not really impressed, because I saw this another version of the story that the bear ate the tiger, so he could servive. I think I can connect this story to our S,S. lesson by knowing what's happening in Korea's government.
I think that having a tour to the mountain would be nice. It would be interesting to go there. I hope someday I will beable to go there. It would really be nice. I almost read the price wrong. I almost thought it was 1.2 million dollors. I now know that it's 1.2 million won. aI think that that is a really good deal. I also didn't know that the lake was formed by a crater. That's an interesting fact. I also noticed that thay had god capatalized when they weren't talking about the one and only God. It's interesting.
That was pretty interesting but about the Hyun dai thing was a little bit not interesting
First, Kim Jung Il promised to Hyun dai that he will visit the Pecktu mountain. after the opening
another thing was about the tradition of Korean. basically 2main points! bear/tiger
The tiger and the bear were hoping to be people but the tiger couldn't accomplish it. because he could not to eat the 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort until 100 days. the bear could accomplsih and became a beautiful woman. according by this, Hwanung(son of lord heaven)married her. when they had a son they called him Daegun. still today, this mythology is in korean calender
Clara Jeon
I think that this program of making a resort in paekdu mountain is kind of a waste of money but I think that this is a good chance for South Korea and North Korea to get friendly and work together as a team. But the problem is that it is 280billion won for repairing the whole territory which is 280million dollars. It is way too expensive for just a resort in my opnion and I think that not a lot of customers are going to have a lot of demand because these days What is there? Theres ski resorts, themeparks, Places more entertaining this isn't the old days anymore people want to be entertained. South Koreans will be afraid to cross the DMZ in to pyeonyang thats another issue too. This program I think will have some working to do before its fully made.
I wish to go to Paetu mountain through the north korea.
I heard about Hundai gonna devolpe and make a place to travel.
I been Packtu mountain. It is so beautiful and Chonji look like ocean. water is so clean thay we can see the bottom of the lake.
When I heard 60percent of mountain sell to China. China government try to get this mountain and they trcik other country like this mountain is their mountain.
Chinese think Packtu mountain is their mountain. One of my friend said, Paektu mountain is our cuontry's they got the Packtu mountian during the Qing dynasty.
I want to tell them It's ours.
They declare and tirck to get Koguryo and Balhye. They changed the imformation and history.
I'm so sad when I notice that.
I want to get back our history and beautiful mountain.
I think that Seo Myeong hee was a great explorer and i didn't really know that the North Koreans allowed people to go to the Paektu Mountain. However, the problem is usually the time and money that it takes. Usually North Koreans didn't let South Koreans to come and it is very strict. For example, the DMZ and the border that keeps the South and North Koreans to com over each other. i don't understand why this is kept so securely. Anyway, if the North Koreans allow us to go to Paektu, many Koreans would actually go and I think we should unite now because there is too much commotion of people getting killed near the DMZ and other things as well. Getting united would be the best way.
I chose this answer because I thougth that this was an important step towrard the opening of North Korea. They didn't really allow foreigners and stuff but it was their first time now. this would be the first step to have North korea step into society
I think you chose this because our next unit is about Korea and this is an important news that we should know about for Korea
01414 Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
December 9th, 2007 at 6:03 am
I am rediculed by the thought of having to go through so much procedure and cost TO VISIT OUR OWN LAND! Its is RIDICULOUS!!!!!! Mount Paekdu is even part of our national Anthem: 동해물과 “백두산이” its the second word of the anthem, not to mention that it is part of our unqie and priceless culture, and holds unmeasureable value and one of the things that gives us dignity and pride. I also believe that this deal with Hyundai Asan is STUPID and FOOLISH. HOW IDIOTIC is it to BUY our road to where our OWN LAND. It is not the fact that we pay that matters, but how its used. Korean governments collect moneys to maintain and care for the natural environment in the mountain. However, the price of 1.2 million korean won - 백이십만원 is probably the price of traveling to Jeju go and come back not to mention staying in a beautiful hotel for three nights. This additional fee will go to the company - Hyundai and N.Korean government not just for the travel maintainous purposes but for their own government usage. They could be using it to make their new underground nuclear warhead facility for goodness sake! Anyways this is a very nice timming for Mr. MA to post it since we’re learning of Korean history/culture/geography which does include mythology and study of mountains such as Mt. Paekdu. I still hope that N. Korean government can come up with less pricy trip trouts such as ground routes or possible ocean cruse which will very likly be less pricy.
Sincerely,
Somebody
P.S> I accidently posted on the original site -_-;;;; but I really did post it on the due date...k? sorry ;;
i lost my id card so i do not know my number. hehe
okay. this article kind of touched my heart when the guard actually smiled at the woman and was thrilled when the woman gave him the chocolate. i thought the guard would just glare at the woman instead of smiling. And the guard being thrilled that he got a chocolate. now i feel sorry for the north koreans because it is not the people but the government that is controling them. the guard is actually a good guy and being thrilled over a piece of chocalate means that they do not have enough food for themselves and they are happy for even a small portion when we, students, are mad when we get a small candy.
Also, i heard from mrs.kim, the counseler, in NJHS that the north koreans dont have enough food for themselves that they even eat tree bark and leaves and branches. she said that most of the mountains in north korea are stripped from vegetation and nature and it is bare. The north koreans are so hungry that they ate everything that was edible. i always prayed that north korea and south korea would be united and that korea would be one and i am trying my hardest to support north korea as much as i can like the bethlehem project. this article said the north korea opened up for the tour to the mountain and the lake and let us actaully go through north korea to the mountain. wow, north korea is getting better and better and i think that soon north korea and south korea would unite. i hope so.
this is the person who lost his id card and told you but forgot to get my id card number. well to refresh your memory i am hansol.
Seo Myeong describes the mountains so well. I can imagine the mountains right in my mind. But the sad part is that those beutiful mountains are being destroyed. And because the mountains, which is shelter of lots and lots of animal, the animals die and get instint in Korea. I know that the project is going very well in Korea, because of the technaligy, Korea is 180 degree different outside. For everything, if you want to do something, you have to sacrifice other things, and technaligical development is one of those. If we want to develop, we have to sacrifice our beutiful nature. I wish it is possibl for us to keep the good nature and develop our country.
Interesting blog...
There were so many companies, factories, and so many brand names involved that some of the information was pretty confusing. However, this was a blog that was about Mt. Paekdu, and according to what my mom and my grandmother told me, there are many cool sites and landscapes there, and that we should go there sometime. The thing is, that since Mt. Pakdu is on the border between China and North Korea, it would be really hard to actually go there and see the mountain. According to my mom, there are many fountains, and waterfalls and many other amazing places. I think that looking at the mountain and being appealed by it is okay, but if you start loving it and loving it too much you actually start worshipping it, it's the wrong thing to do. If you start loving it more than God, it's a sin, and God will take it away from you. This happened to me before; I used to love something more than God, and soon, God took it away because he knew tha I was loving the world more than Him.
I think that this blog related to our classes in Social Studies Class because currently we are studying Korea, the history, and the land. While Mr. McAllister showed us a powerpoint on the early history, I thought that this would connect because he told us that when North and South Korea had wars and battles, the land was divided and many more things happened that caused Korea to be fighting from the 38th parallel, and finished the war on the 38th parallel. When South Korea was winning and the border line of the farthest UN advance in November 1950, if the South kept the line and didn't get defeated by the North, currently, Mt. Paekdu would be part of South Korea, however, when North Korea fought back, they took the land back. Too bad. If the mountain belonged to South Korea, I would have been able to visit there :(
Now, there is a DMZ that is the border that divides North and South Korea. In the DMZ, I've heard from Mr. McAllister that in the length and width of the border, the natural habitats and crops could be growing there, and that people are hoping for extinct animals, or other natural things.
Also, I've always thought that the legend of Koreans was really interesting - about the bear and the tiger, and how the bear could eat onions (or garlic?), and so he became a beautiful woman who married the son of the god, but the tiger couldn't keep it, so he couldn't become human.
I hope that one day, I would be able to visit Mt. Paekdu and be awed by the magnificance of the mountain.
i think the girl in the website misread the facts of north korea because she only saw part of it. i think mt.paektu might have bean good to look at but if you see it everyday, it won't be so amazing. there are lots of other bad things in north korea so just because mt.paektu looked good, it didn't mean that the whole of north korea is good. i think it might be a good idea to open up mt.paektu to other tourists. this is beacuse lots of the tourists that come might be from South korea and then it might encourage the two nations to be a bit more friendlier towards each other. it would also be good for us to see the traditions and myths that our ancestors beleived in many years ago. when both of the nations see that the people from both countries came from the same line, it will be a great help to bring the country to peace again.
This article was very interesting. I knew pretty much about Mt.Paektu and lake Chunjii. But I never went to North Korea so I don't know how much that mountain is beautiful what Seo-Myeong-hee told us. I really want to go to North Korea and see Mt.Paektu once. It's very pitiful fact that we are not allowed to go to North Korea whenever we want to go. However, I really want to go to see Mount Paektu. These days we can easily go to North without complicating steps. I think Mr.Mcallister picked this article because this article has relationship with Korea, conflit between South and North. This article is very relevant to our classwork because we are studying about Korea and Korean War.
My grandfather went to Mt.Paektu.
He had to go to China because he couldn't go to North Korea from south. Every one had to go to China to go to North Korea.
But I think it's good to allow people to North Korea.
BoB here!!
When I began to read this article I was shocked that North Korea was letting turists in to their land to see Mount Paektu. I think that it is so amazing how North and South Korea are begining to cooperate with each other. I also was amazed because I always think of north Korea as poor and very very dangerous for any kind of people, but no one has been in any danger in the mountan. I also think that it is a good think that north korea did this because it show the origionity of the Koreans and that even though they are seporated, they all came from the same place.
I an familiar and can relate to the legend of the mountan. How there was a bear and a lion who had to stay in a cave for 100 days and eat onions, and if the sucseded the would become human and marry the god. the tiger failed but the bear made it and became a beautiful woman and married the god...and yea thats where koreans came from.
I think that you (mr. Mac) gave us this blog because we are starting to learn about north and south Korea in class, and how this will show us how they were once one.
ooohh people have been talking about how they're making an airport to go to that Mount Paektu. When they finish I would really like to go there. It sounds really beautiful the way that lady described it. That's really surprising how the leader of North Korea let them start to build a place so you could fly into Mount Paektu. I never thought that he would do that, but maybe once he lets them do this he may let them do other things like that too. That'd be really cool to see. I think this is on here because we're starting a unit on Korea so this is part of korea and that's why it's on here and how it relates to class.
check point
I think it's great that we finally have an opportunity to have our feet on North Korean land, Baekdu mountain. I am glad that it's beauty is still beautiful as ever, even though i have never actually seen it. I think its mean that we have been investing money to north korea for 9 years but all we get back is tourism to Baekdu Mountain which still needs to be payed for.
I think the history of our mountain as being the beginning of all things are interesting, but i dont actually believe in it. It is fun though to learn about it, and our unique culture like many other different nations.
I think this will eventually lead to Korea becoming one again. I feel that there is still hostility between both of our countries but i hope we can throw away these hostilities. Let Korea be Korea.
This is related to our class becasue after the cold war we never set feet on each other's countries. But now since we can it is good.
arguing with p01260, they used the mountain to worship God because north korea forbid christianity. they killed anyone who had a bible. so since the mountain was safe, they worshipped in secret like long time ago.
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