Open Korean Markets



Imagine snack corners offering your choice among a million tasty morsels, big bowls full of fresh fish, hangers full of clothes for sale, and much more. All under one big tent!!

This is one of many open Korean markets that are all gathered along the sidewalk, a combination of grocery stores, snack corners, seafood stands, and clothes shops. The open markets are one of the main attractions in Korea. The tourists always can't go through an open market trip without a purchase. Whether it's a simple bul-go-gi shiskabob, or a cool-looking gold statue of the Buddha, or a painted Korean fan, or a sample of some shrimp, or a modern pair of jeans...........you get the point. Anyway, Korea's open markets have a lot to see, taste, buy, and touch. Everything is there. It's like an open American mall!!



Korea's Language was invented and improved by an ambitious man named Sae-jong Dae-wong. He was a king and the progress he made toward his throne is very interesting. First, before him were two brothers. The first one was the one entitled to be crowned king. He was, but evidently he didn't have the brains and responsibility to rule over the country. He kept getting drunk and had many wives throughout his lifetime and was very careless. He was eventually dethroned and the same thing was continued with the other brothers, and although they tried thier best, they were all dethroned and lost thier royal titles as ruling kings of Korea. It happened when the former king, the father of the children and now too old to claim back his position, depended on the youngest one, who was very bright and curious about various things. He proved himself worthy to wear the crown by showing off his skills to the king's assistants and soldiers. The brothers graciously gave up thier title, deciding that thier little brother would rule Korea succesfully. He was then named the ruler of Korea. He was very eager to make changes and improve the economy of Korea. He invented the sun-dial and other very useful instruments. He then invented Korean. Before, the Koreans had always used old forms of Chinese characters to write messages and letters. The king thought that Korea should be ashamed of not having thier own language and worked very long and hard to create what we now use and call the Korean Language.

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