RONNIE NG

2011-11-07T17:24:00.001-08:00

Your emotions, how do you measure?
Do you measure through the sky's colors,
or through your body's temperature...

Happiness won't be like Newton
An apple won't make it proven...
So, if you can't get that person,
You shouldn't feel hurt & beaten
There're some things which just won't happen...

Curse of an ESL Teacher

2008-12-25T02:01:00.000-08:00

I've just read an interesting blog article by an ESL teacher (i suppose?) teaching in Jeju island.

http://lostonjeju.blogspot.com/2008/12/vampires-on-jeju-island.html

It seems he has cheekily vented his dissatisfaction with hagwon (학원, 學院) directors through a review of “Curse of Jeju Island”, based on the excerpt and introduction published on this blog. For those of you who do not know what a hagwon is, it's actually a cram school that offers lessons in almost any subject such as computer, math, taekwondo, English and much more. Korean parents are many times more “kiasu” than Singaporeans, so these hagwons are actually quite prevalent across the country.

The ESL teachers have creatively twisted the term from “hagwon” into “hogwan”, i guess, as a dig from the word “hog”. Why do they associate hagwon operators with pigs? Well, I guess the main issue is on $ $ $ $, as you can see in his review:

But, if you think you signed a crappy contract when you came to Jeju Island to teach English you can feel fortunate you are not Jackie Chang!!

"I take aim and mow it down, then slowly walk towards it to see if it’s dying. If this vampire is fully subdued, the Governor will pay me a quarter million Korean Won for this feat."

Yep, Jackie gets 250,000 Won per vampire. That's about $200 US in today's money. $200 for killing a vampire(!?). Can you say "ripoff?" Jeez, and I thought some of the youngsters that show up on the island to teach English were stupid. Jackie makes George Bush's foreign policy advisors look intelligent! I think Jackie Chang would be a hogwan owner's dream.

Hahaha~! I think he's got a point. While Jackie can make use of US$200 for a decent Samgyupsal bbq and dozens of soju with Master Inada, it really isn't enough to cover rent and other living expenses, let alone the expensive hunting equipment, especially the silver bullets~! Haha... It's time for Jackie et al to raise fees.

LOJ also commented on the "Mirae Paradox":

Mirae just doesn’t enjoy that feeling of stabbing a sword across, or gunning a bullet into a vampire’s chest. She feels really bad about having to kill a fellow Korean. It just doesn’t seem right to her about killing a fellow countryman.

I guess that means if it was a Canadian created vampire English teacher, she'd have no problem cutting out its living guts and using them to grease the lugnuts on her Hyundai Sonata.

I almost LMAO over this, but i think he has nailed himself a good idea for a new storyline.

“Curse of Jeju Island” is currently distributed only within Singapore, as I doubt that Koreans would welcome the historical/political settings of this plot. On a second thought, however, this book might become a hit with the ESL teachers in Korea. I can imagine each of them buying a copy and using it as a dartboard or voodoo against the penny-pinching “hogwan” operators.

My thanks to LOJ for his humorous review. ;)

Vampire Knight: Opening Soundtrack: Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi

2008-05-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

"Vampire Knight" is by far the best anime i've ever watched~!!

Synopsis: Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At sunset, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, there to protect the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires.

吸血迷情济洲岛

2008-05-04T04:56:00.000-07:00

Chapter One

It’s a cold night on Halla Mountain (할라산). Crickets cast creepy choruses on the forest floor. We’re hunting a group of vampires who’ve been lurking on the far side of a ravine. I keep myself alert with my Japanese partner, Master Seiji Inada (稲田誠治) on the opposite ridge. I was having very little success and I was about to call it a night, until I see a lone bat dashing across the moonlit canopy. I reload my .45-caliber revolver with fresh silver bullets and watch in silence as it morphs into its human form. As the wind blows bitter cold through the leaves, I see the shape-shifted figure moving through the underbrush. My finger hangs wearily over the trigger as I wait for the creature to come into range. There’s no time to check further—I peer around a boulder in time to see the vampire making a mad dash across the ravine. I take aim and mow it down, then slowly walk towards it to see if it’s dying. If this vampire is fully subdued, the Governor will pay me a quarter million Korean Won for this feat.
(picture source: Vampire Knight Anime)

My name is Jackie Chang (张杰齐) and I’m a Vampire Hunter. I'm average built, average weight and have a below-average vocabulary for the Korean language. Not surprising, since I’m from Singapore and my mother tongue is Mandarin. I have chosen to be a vampire hunter because I have always wanted to be different. If I’d followed my country’s blueprint for “economic success”, I’d be mugging for my exams, get a degree, and eventually get holed up in an office cubicle. Or worse, after years of hard work in a company, a new CEO comes in and you get retrenched.

Instead, I bought a one-way flight ticket to Japan and travelled to the Yamaguchi prefecture. There, I enrolled myself into the Tokuyama Academy of Demonology (徳山殺妖者学社), and I was trained to be a vampire hunter. My course instructor, Master Seiji Inada has now become my working partner. Although I feel that I’m rather talented, Master Seiji always tells me that my success has more to do with sheer luck than with skill.

(picture source: google earth maps)

Under the invitation of the local government, we arrived here in Jeju Island six months ago to set up a hunting agency. Our office is in the Samdo-1-Dong (삼도 일동) district, which at first glance might not seem like one. Well, the office actually functions as our home and we have a female member living under the roof together. Han Mirae (한미래), our secretary of sorts, helps with the paperwork and housekeeping. She sometimes tags along with us when we do our vampire slaying thing.

Mirae was orphaned at a tender age, and had been raised in a Catholic Convent, until she was old enough to work and make a living. That’s how we met her and invited her to work for us. Apart from secretarial work, Mirae also treats the wounds and injuries that we receive after fighting and killing the vampires. Mirae just doesn’t enjoy that feeling of stabbing a sword across, or gunning a bullet into a vampire’s chest. She feels really bad about having to kill a fellow Korean. It just doesn’t seem right to her about killing a fellow countryman. In fact, this girl had saved the life of a vampire recently, and his name is Shin Taewoo (신태우).

Earlier this evening, I caught her packing a few make-up items into her bag, along with a comb and mirror, and she was out the door before I had time to ask her where she was going. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she was wearing black winter stockings, a red long jacket and a white sweater with a turtleneck. Nevertheless, as she was hurrying away down the street, I poked my head out the door and yelled. “Hey Mirae! Where are you going?”

“Out!” she called back, waving and skipping around a corner. Without further guessing, she must have gone to see Taewoo. I blew out a sigh of resignation, failing to understand why Mirae is so mesmerised by that vampire. However, what pisses me off is that Mirae isn’t the only one who’s being kind to Taewoo. If it wasn’t for Master Seiji, I could have easily finished him off on several occasions. The Japanese hunter seems very protective of him, and there’s just something odd about this. I can’t quite place it, but I know there’s something fishy going on.

I don't actually know if Taewoo is good or bad. Truth is, no one knows much about this vampire. The only thing I know for sure is that he's one of the Guerillas (former rebels). And they have been at war with the Regiments (former soldiers) for more than fifty years.

Chapter Two

Walking along the deserted street towards Taewoo’s house, Mirae rubs her hands and blows her breath to keep them warm, as the chilly autumn night envelopes her. Taewoo had brought her home a few nights before, so the route to his house is still fresh in her mind. She has a talent for memorizing things, and her memory is serving her flawlessly now. The house is standing on the high part of a sloping acre, and the surroundings has an unkempt look, pebbled and weedy. A deserted motel, Taewoo’s house has layers of old paint snaking off the exterior. The Korean girl squints at the building before her, looking for any sign of life, and seeing none. Maybe the two brothers aren’t at home, she ponders, beginning to pick her way through the grass toward the front door. The blades of grass reach mid-shin, and it’s a bit itchy, but she carefully skirts the high clumps, and makes it to the front door unscathed.

She knocks a few times on the door, waits, and tries again when she doesn’t get an answer. She then presses her ear to the door, listening for noise from within. She thinks she’s hearing a slight rustling, but that may be something else. Like the rats from the basement. Mirae shivers at the thought. She edges back and tries to open the door, but it doesn’t budge at all. She then leans over to peer in through a window, only to find it boarded up. She scowls, and stomps off around the house, trying to find another way in. To her disappointment however, all the windows on the ground floor are boarded up, and there’s no way she can pry them away, no matter how hard she tries. She growls in frustration, stomping her foot angrily.

Mirae just wants to see Taewoo, that’s all. Do the Shin brothers really have to board their windows up and not answer the door so she can’t get in like this? She growls again, and is just about to try the front door again when she spots a drain pipe conveniently placed right beside an open window. The pipe is rusty, but this seems to be her only option now. Mirae hangs the strap of her bag between her jaws, clenching it with her teeth, and begin to scale the pipe.

Gripping the pipe tightly in her hands, she takes a swing and manages to cling on to the window sill. She then struggles with the partially open window pane, hauling herself halfway over before losing hold of her bag. It drops all the way down to the ground, and she stares at it for a moment, her eyes narrowing. She then huffs and - deciding she doesn’t much want to scale the pipe again, and that she can simply pick it up on her way out - leaves it there, hidden beneath the tall grass.

Mirae dusts the flakes of rust off her hands. The room she finds herself in once she climbed over the window sill is sparsely decorated with cobwebs. The motel bed is now reduced to a dusty mattress on box springs, but her eyes are immediately drawn to the silver flute resting on it. She walks slowly to it, her footsteps seeming unusually loud in the quiet house. Fingering the holes on the instrument, she experiments with blowing, but it’s a lot harder than it seems. Her face is getting red from the exertion, and she eventually lays the flute back down. The door suddenly creaks open, and Mirae gives a little squeak of surprise.

A figure appears, dressed in a black fleece jacket. At first Mirae thinks it’s Taewoo, because of the black wavy hair and red eyes. But she soon realizes it’s Shin Eunwoo (신 은우), Taewoo’s elder brother. She finds the sharp edge of a sword against her throat, not even realizing the blade had been drawn. It glimmers maliciously in the moonlight, and she gulps.

“Annyung haseyo,” she greets with a slight bow, smiling weakly, hoping the blade doesn’t slip on accident. Or on purpose.

Eunwoo observes her silently for a few more seconds, then lowers his sword to sheath it. “How can I help you?” he asks with an aloof scowl on his face, still-crimson eyes watching her. With an unblemished face and two large eyes, Mirae could be more beautiful if Eunwoo hasn’t startled her with his sword. Mirae squirms a bit under his gaze, but replies in a steady voice.

“I would like to talk to Taewoo,” she replies, and Eunwoo nods slightly, then gestures slightly to the door. Mirae walks out, shutting it behind her, and almost instantly hears the sound of the flute she’d been examining not a minute before.

"How beautiful", she reflects as she wanders through the house, searching for Taewoo’s room. She’d found it before in the same manner, and she manages to do it again this time.

Taewoo is lying on his bed, hands interlaced behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling, but he looks up when Mirae pokes her head in. He blinks a few times, clearly not expecting her to pop into his room like that.

“What are you doing back?” he asks, and Mirae can’t stop a slight smile from crossing her face. The exact question his elder brother had asked of her.

“I just wanted to talk to you,” she replies...

.......................................................................

This excerpt is found in the sequel to Curse of Jeju Island,
BLOOD ENEMIES OF JEJU ISLAND,
which will be released depending on the sale performance of the first book~

For those of you reading this and have bought and read my first book, I'd like to say A BIG THANK YOU~!! :)

For those of you who have not bought or read it yet, I encourage you to pick up a copy at a bookstore near you, so that the second book may be released sooner...

Thanks for all your continuous support~!

How The Korean Vampires Came To Be

2008-04-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

Korea was under the colonial rule of the Japanese Empire between 1910 and 1945.

During the Japanese occupation, thousands of Koreans were used as test subjects (guinea pigs) in secret military medical experimentation units, such as Unit 731, Unit 516, and many more. Towards the end of the colonial period, the Japanese military scientists were working on a new project, which was a "vampirisation process" on humans through genetic alteration.

If the project proved successful, the "supposedly-dead" could remain alive through parasitic life sustenance - a biological mechanism that mimics the blood-sucking vampire bats and leeches. The Japanese Army paid some poor hapless Korean parents to allow the medical officers to perform the experiments on their children. However, the Korean parents involved in the transaction believed that the experiments were merely another series of medical trials, and were not aware that it was actually a vampirisation process.

Theoretically-speaking, the success of this project would allow the Japanese Imperial Army to utilise the "undead" as "immortal soldiers" to fight through the end of World War II. The project, however, didn't seem to yield any immediate nor apparent result, as the Korean children in question didn't seem to show any physical sign of becoming "vampirised". The medical officers could not find any sort of cell mutation nor behavioural change in these children.

The project was finally abandoned, when the Japanese Army were forced to surrender to the Allied Forces in 1945 after the American dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. All documents and project facilities pertaining to the said experiments were destroyed, so as to eliminate evidences of the Japanese Imperial Army's atrocious deeds.

The children grew up normally - some of them joined the US-led South Korean Army (known as the Regiments), while some of them embraced communist ideals and became the insurgents (known as the Guerrilas). The two remained at war until the "Jeju Massacre" , which claimed the lives of more than 60,000 people. Their bodies were then sealed in the volcanic cave of Mount Halla. Amongst these 60,000 people were some of the test subjects who were earlier involved in the vampirisation process. The vampirisation process only became effective when these dead bodies were laid in the cave.

The geological conditions (temperature, mineral make-up, etc) of the volcano cave helped to promote the vampirisation process, and their genetic structure mutated to resemble the feeding patterns of bloodsucking creatures such as bats and leeches. Thus these group of the dead were resurrected to become vampires, as they acquired the ability to shapeshift into bats, and back into their human form. They are now doomed to roam the streets of Jeju seeking living human prey.

Could Seiji Inada, being a Japanese vampire hunter, somehow be linked to the vampirisation project conducted by the Japanese Army several decades ago?Hhhmm... It very well could, especially if his father, Kazuhito Inada was one of the soldiers involved during World War II...

Find out more in the sequel to the Curse of Jeju Island:

BLOOD ENEMIES OF

JEJU ISLAND

(In Progress of Writing)

Curse of Jeju Island's Library Traffic

2008-04-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

http://newarrivals.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding.aspx?bid=12924650

I've been visiting the National Library's (click above link) web database recently to spy on my book's popularity and I'm glad that it's doing fairly well with an average 25% borrowing rate. It seems that the NLB has acquired about fifty copies of my book and roughly 10-15 of them are being borrowed... As the books seem to be borrowed from branches where the convent schools are located, I have a feeling that most of my readers are female... probably because of its supernatural/romance twist, which reminds them of Stephanie Meyer's TWILIGHT series...

While a 25% borrowing rate is considered good for a local book, I'd be much happier if a reader likes it so much that he/she decides to buy from the bookstore instead. The book is retailing at S$12.89 in the local bookstores, & you can find it at the Popular bookstore in the "SINGAPORE COLLECTION" shelves, & at Kinokuniya/Borders at the Children's Section...

Concerned parents may protest that a vampire fiction like mine shouldn't be located in the Children's section, with all the blood & gore... I grew up with a healthy dose of 'Hardy Boys', 'Famous Five', "Secret Seven', 'Three Investigators' sort of stories, but today's children are different are experiencing a different kind of childhood from mine. They have grown up prematurely and are already used to fast-paced action-packed media (games/movies), so I'm pretty sure my story doesn't require an NC-16 rating...

My books are sharing limited space on the shelves, competing with dozens other titles, and all you can see are the thin spines screaming silently for attention... So I'd like to appeal to anyone reading this: if you happen to visit any of the bookstores but have no intention of buying my book, I'd be most grateful if you could do me a simple favour of sieving them out of the obscure shelves and place them strategically at the conspicuous spots where people can notice them at first glance, ie. the New Arrivals section, Bestselling section, or place them next to the "Movie Tie-In" titles such as Nim's Island, the Caspian Prince, Speed Racer, etc... Xie Xie~!!!

The book has been reviewed on Sunday Times and TEENS magazine, and also appraised online by 2 bloggers. It's really heartening to know that there are actually readers who do care enough to give a tonne more than their two cents' worth and provided a critical analysis on this light novel... If you're interested, here are the links:

http://guardian--angel.blogspot.com/2007/

http://www.seriouslysarah.com/blog/

Picking out the best-sellers

2007-10-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows whether he or she likes a book, or not, after reading it. DAPHNE LEE finds out how book merchandisers figure out which titles you’ll like before reading them.

YOU can’t judge a book by its cover. But some do. While the prettiest jacket will not disguise a badly-written book, there’s no denying that a customer with nothing particular in mind, browsing indiscriminately in a bookstore and faced with hundreds of books, might well choose the one with the most attractive cover.

Book merchandisers know this and, therefore, the look of a book is something they do notice when ordering new titles.

Seto Kit Sau, who is unit chief of the Kinokuniya Bookstore's children’s fiction department says, “Yes, I like to choose nice covers, but they also have to have good content.”

She names Into the Forest by Anthony Browne as a prime example of a book with an intriguing cover “and a very cool story to boot.”

Children’s book merchandisers agree that children are attracted to colourful covers and parents, too, are often similarly influenced.

“The book cover and design do play a pivotal role in determining its popularity and saleability,” says Samantha Tang, merchandising manager at Popular Book Co.

She says that the first impression is very important and, for busy parents, it may be the only thing that leads to a purchase.

“Most of the time, parents don’t know where to start looking and, if they are not interested in browsing through the book themselves, then the cover is the only thing they have to go by.”

That’s where the merchandiser comes in. He or she has to ensure that, as far as possible, a book’s content lives up to its appearance.

For Kinokuniya's merchandisers, all avid readers themselves, the books they choose must pass the “first paragraph” test.

Teressa Hoon, unit chief of Kinokuniya's literature and general fiction sections, explains: “The first paragraph has to grip you immediately. It must make you want to read more. Even better, it must make you reluctant to put the book down.”

An interesting title is also a plus as it can prompt one to take a book off the shelf in the first place (without which there can be no reading of the first paragraph).

Kinokuniya's non-fiction merchandiser, Yong Jet Yau, picked Rory Stewart's The Places in Between because of its “intriguing title” as well as subject matter: the author's account of his walk across northern Afghanistan shortly after the fall of the Taliban.

Shortly after Kinokuniya started selling the book, it entered the New York Times best-sellers list.

Kinokuniya included it in their Gem of the Month promotion last month and it sold out.

“It's great when a book you believe in sells well,” says Yong. “It makes me feel like I'm on the right track.”

Like her colleagues, she likes the task of introducing customers to books that are new, interesting and surprising.

Says the merchandising manager of the store, Abby Wong, “Informed buying is our ultimate objective. We should know our product and we shouldn't underestimate the intelligence of our consumers.

“Book buyers can start trends by exposing Malaysians to new titles. You often hear customers mention the same old business books, the same old self-help or science books, but there really is so much more out there.”

Yes, there is, but among the many good reads, dross sometimes lurks – and sometimes it ends up on the shelves anyway, thanks to popular demand.

Says Seto, “Sometimes market demands compel us to order books that are not well written. Sometimes, they are popular because they are associated with a hit movie or TV show.”

Although these are books that Seto, if she had her way, would like to keep off the shelves, a merchandiser is required to keep an open mind and not be swayed by personal taste.

“Our likes and dislikes definitely influence our decisions, but we have to be careful not to get too carried away by our own tastes,” says Yvonne Chau, the MPH Bookstores merchandising manager for general books, a department that includes cookery and self-help titles.

Ultimately, bookstores are businesses and the bottom line is to make a profit.

So, as Tang puts it, “We have to try to be conscious of the fact that what we prefer might not be what the public wants.”

What the public wants, apparently, are bestsellers by the likes of Dan Brown, John Grisham and Sophie Kinsella, feng shui books by Joey Yap and Lilian Too, and self-help manuals.

This is why merchandisers must take heed of international bestsellers lists and the latest efforts of tried-and-tested authors.

Hoon says, “Naturally, I will order more copies of a book by A-list authors like Michael Connelly, Mitch Alborn and Kazuo Ishiguro.”

For chains like MPH Bookstores and Times the Bookshop, there is the added complication of differing demands depending on the outlet.

“For example, business books are very popular at our store in Suria KLCC so there is a larger Business section there,” says Wong Yuen Poh, Times' retail manager.

“But, at Bangsar Shopping Centre (in Kuala Lumpur), general fiction titles are more in demand because that is a residential area. We try our best to track the sales in the different outlets to determine the needs of the customers,” she says.

Says Chau, “We take note of the area, the sort of customers and their spending power, and taste in reading material, but sometimes trends change.

“Ten years ago, Malay fiction sold best at the store in Alpha Angle (in Petaling Jaya, Selangor), but English titles are gaining in popularity now.”

“Malaysian authors like Tash Aw (author of the The Harmony Silk Factory) tend to be popular in all the stores,” adds Ramji. “And Devika Bai (The Flight of the Swans) is especially popular in Johor Baru because that was where she lived.”

Malay romance novels are also extremely popular, along with religious books.

Over the last five to 10 years, says Ramji Rabi, MPH’s assistant merchandising manager for the fiction department, Malaysians have increasingly paid more attention to literary award winners.

However, not all winners are hits with Malaysians. Two titles that have been a great success here are Life of Pi by Yann Martell and The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.

“What makes the real difference is media attention,” says Wong. “Customers will ask for books that are highlighted by newspapers.”

All the merchandisers we spoke with make it a point to read or at least research what they are choosing for the stores.

“It makes sense to know what we are selling,” says Tang, who says that when time constraints do not allow her to read a book from cover to cover, she then reads reviews in trade magazines and online bookstores, compares sales reports of books in the same genre and seeks the distributors' advice.

“An interest in reading is an asset in this job,” she says. “Thousands of new books are published every year and we must be able to cherry pick titles suitable for our local market.”

SELECTION OF PAPER

2007-10-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

We have decided to go with off-white recycled paper instead of virgin white paper for the publishing of my book.

Recycled off-white paper are more expensive than virgin pure-white paper, but it saves the trees and the yellowish tint means it's less strenuous for the readers to read.

The Publishing Process

2007-10-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

At first my publisher wanted to do away with the cover flaps, because he wanted to give the book a “novel-like” look. (Flaps are like “wings” of the book cover, and extension which allows extra information such as the story synopsis, or author’s profile to be included) But I disagreed with him. I felt that cover flaps can help to make the book look more sturdy, and make it look more like a “hard-cover” book.

The flaps also help prevent the book cover from being crumpled/dog-eared. In addition for cover flaps, I also requested for the first and last page of the book to be made of red art paper. I feel this will enhance the “quality feel” of the book, and thus increase its perceived value.

Even if all 1,000 copies of the first print-run were sold, we’d only get to break even. The chance of making a loss on this publication is very high. So why do we still go ahead and publish the book? Because the profit would come from the larger print volume (based on economies of scale) on subsequent prints.

I’d like you to give me your support. If you like the book after browsing through it at the bookstore, do buy it. It helps the writer (me!!! ^^) place food on the table.

Thank you. ☺

Book Cover Design

2007-10-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

When my publisher (Candid Creation) sent me the cover art for my debut fiction, Curse of Jeju Island, I liked it very much. The colours red, white and black fit with the theme. Here's what they've done so far:

This cover is actually a result of emails that went to and fro between my publisher and I. Yes, there should be mutual respect and exchange of ideas and information between the writer and his publisher. After much discussion on the colour theme, illustration, and selection of font, the result is a design which I'm very satisfied with.

THE ART OF STORY TEASING

2007-10-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

Apart from the cover design and the author’s name, the story synopsis may be the most powerful sales tool for your book, the final thing that clinches the deal in the reader’s mind and makes him/her carry that book to the cash register. Here’s what will appear on the back cover of CURSE OF JEJU ISLAND:

Over fifty years ago, 60,000 people were killed during the 'Jeju Massacre' on Jeju island, South Korea, when the South Korean Army attempted to brutally suppress an armed insurrection by the people of Jeju.

The bodies of the victims - civilians,rebels, and soldiers alike - were sealed in a volcanic cave on Mount Halla to rest, or so it was hoped, in peace for all eternity.

However, decades later, some of these bodies were mysteriously resurrected as vampires and they are now doomed to roam the streets of Jeju seeking living human prey and continuing the battles that they once fought in life. Thus, the bitter feud between two mortal factions - The Regiments (former soldiers) and The Guerrillas (formal rebels) - has now become immortal.

Today, fifty years later, we meet Han Mirae, a young Korean girl who is caught in a love triangle between Jackie Chang, a swashbuckling vampire hunter from Singapore, and Shin Taewoo, a powerful vampire of the Guerrillas. And, we meet Lee Hyunsuk, the opal-eyed vampire of the Regiments, who abducts Mirae in order to set a trap to kill the other two.

Can Taewoo or Jackie save the girl in time? And who is Mirae's real love?

Korean Meets Singaporean: Funny Dialogues

2007-09-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

HY (i shan't reveal her real name) is my friend who's a Korean flight attendant with SIA. When she first started her job as a trainee crew, there were some funny incidents which happened because of her grasp of English.. Please don't take it that i'm trying to ridicule the Koreans but rather look at it that i'm just sharing some thing here with everyone just for a good laugh, ok?

Incident One - Keopi of Straits Times
============================

Flight Passenger: Can i have a copy of Straits Times please?

HY: (thinking to herself: "Keopi" and Straits Times?)
*in Korean, "Keopi"(커피) means "Coffee"

Shortly after, HY returns with the customer's request.

HY: Sir, here is your Keopi and Straits Times.

Flight Passenger: (looking puzzled) Did I ask for coffee?

Incident Two - Catch up in Your Work
===============================
Flight Supervisor: HY, i think you should try to catch up in your work.

HY left abruptly and returned shortly with a sachet in her hand.

HY: You asked for Ketchup?

---------------

i also personally experienced such incidents 3 years ago
when i had my first brush with Korean people. At that time,
i haven't started learning Korean & a few Koreans didn't have
a good grasp of English either..Anyway, here goes:

Incident Three - So Far?
=================
i was having a conversation with a Korean executive.

Me: So, how's your job getting so far?
(it's supposed to mean: is it getting interesting, tough, boring?, etc)

Executive: So far? No, not far.. near my house..

Incident Four - How I Found It
=======================
i was having a conversation with a Korean secretary.

Me: So, how do you find your job?
(it's supposed to mean: is it interesting, is it tough, boring?, etc)

Secretary: Oh, i found it from the newspapers...

Incident Five - I am Fine, Thank You
==========================
i was still talking with the same Korean secretary.

Me: Oh, i see.. how old are you, by the way?

Secretary: I am fine, thank you.

巫侠小说 CHINESE WIZARDS

2007-09-28T23:33:00.000-07:00

Excerpt:

Ancient China During 1115 BC

It was a dark time in the magical lands of ancient China, known as the Central Realm (中原). The Jurchen army of Jin Kingdom (金国) collaborated with the evil clan of “Xiemo” (邪魔圣教) and overthrew the Liao Kingdom (辽国). The Jurchen are one of the Non-Chinese nomad peoples that inhabited the area of modern Manchuria in China's northeast. Having conquered the Liao Kingdom, the king of Jin, Wanyan Aguda (完颜阿骨打) then proclaimed himself emperor of the Jin Empire. To thank the Xiemo clan for his support, Wanyan Aguda declared the clan’s leader, Lord Mozun (魔尊), as the Prime Minister. All the members of Xiemo clan, known as Moguizi (魔鬼子), rose in power and became the evil military police of the new kingdom.

The people of the former Liao Kingdom lived in terror as they were violently oppressed by Moguizi on a daily basis. Everyday there were rumours of villages that had been destroyed or people being tortured to death simply for their oppressors’ entertainment. Freedom had simply ceased to exist the day the Liao Kingdom was conquered.

The neighbouring Chinese people of the Song Empire (宋朝) were still holding out in the war against the Jurchen and Moguizi. The Jurchen had already captured Northern Song (北宋), and it would only be a matter of time before Southern Song (南宋), too, would fall. The fall of the Liao Kingdom had changed the balance of power, and it was obvious that the entire Central Realm would eventually be swallowed by the Jin Empire as eventually.

At the same time, there lived a community of highly skilled Chinese wizards known as Wuxia（巫侠).’Wu’ means anything related to witchcraft and wizardry, while ‘Xia’ refers to a chivalrous and righteous person. Thus ‘Wuxia’ refers to a righteous person who excels in wizarding kungfu (巫灵功夫) and who uses their magical expertise to protect the innocent and right social unfairness or injustice (鋤強扶弱). Such a person is said to possess ‘magical virtue’ (巫德), and usually regarded as a people’s champion. The wizarding community was made up of several clans, and the two most prominent of them all was the Wudang clan (巫当派) and Shaoling clan (少灵派).

This story begins with a 16 year girl who lived in the Yang Village (杨家村) near the Northeastern borderlands of the former Liao kingdom. Her name was Shangguan Lingxue (上官灵雪), and she was the daughter of a village physician (a.k.a. healer).

It was mid summer, and Lingxue had ventured into the woods to gather some herbs for her father. The girl hadn’t been lucky however, and before she knew it, it was quite late. ‘I should really get back to the village before it gets too dark.’ she sighed.

However, she noticed something was wrong when she was still a distance away from the edge of the woods; there was a reddish glow in the night sky, toward the vicinity of the village. Fearing the worse, Lingxue hurried toward the edge of the woods. When she finally got there, she gasped.

The village was under attack! Straw and wooden huts were on fire and Moguizi were running all over the place along with dark creatures that appeared to be under their control! Ogres, minotaurs, goblins, werewolves (collectively known as ‘demons’ or ‘妖魔’) were tearing down buildings and killing every living thing in sight that was not a Moguizi or a demon! Lingxue stared in shock as she saw many people he knew personally being murdered right before her very eyes! Then, before anyone saw her, she turned around and ran! Lingxue ran as fast as her legs could carry her away from the massacre: away from the only life that she knew that had been taken from her in one attack.

Eventually, Lingxue grew exhausted and collapsed under a willow tree (柳树). As she sat there, the reality of what she had just witnessed settled in, and she burst into tears. ‘My family is dead,’ she thought. ‘My friends, my home, my whole life is gone. What more can possibly happen?’ At this, she started crying even harder. It was only after her tears had subsided a little when she noticed a large shadow falling over her. Slowly, Lingxue looked up into the face of one of the minotaurs (黑牛魔) from the village. These black minotaurs were known as Heiniumo in the Central Realm.

The Heiniumo was twelve feet tall, had ebon skin, had a pair of sharp-looking onyx horns, and was carrying a large wooden club. Lingxue was too paralyzed with fear to even scream as the heiniumo grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her up. “No....please....” was all she could say as more tears flowed down her cheeks. She anticipated the worse as the heiniumo slowly started lumbering back towards the village, carrying the sobbing girl in its hand.

It was then that it happened. A young Wuxia (巫侠) was riding a divine condor (神雕), and he jumped out in front of the heiniumo, startling both the heiniumo and Lingxue. The condor had ivory-coloured feathers, and was striding in big steps with its two extremely thick legs. From the way it walked, with its head held high, the white condor certainly showed great power and grandeur.

The Wuxia, too, was a magnificent sight to behold. He was about Lingxue’s age and was quite tall and handsome. He was dressed in blue tunic, and clad in black boots. From beneath his shoulder coverings flowed a brilliant red cape and in his right hand he carried a silver sword with beautiful inscriptions adorning the blade. The winds were combing through his raven black hair, but the most striking aspects of the Wuxia were his thick brooding eyebrows.

“Put the girl down,” the Wuxia ordered.

At first, the heiniumo simply stared at the Wuxia. Then, without warning, the heiniumo let out a huge growl and swung its club toward the Wuxia! There was a sound of metal hitting wood as the Wuxia blocked the club with his sword. He then sent his condor jumping behind the heiniumo. The heiniumo turned around and swung his club again, only to have it once again deflected by the sword. Angrily, the heiniumo swung the club down with the all the strength he could muster! This time, the Wuxia had his horse jump out of the way as the club came crashing down.

All of a sudden, the Wuxia wielded his sword at the heiniumo and shouted “降妖剑法!” (“Xiangyao Jianfa” means “Demon-subduing Swordplay”)

Lingxue’s eyes widened as a red light shot out of the sword and hit the heiniumo, sending its club flying out of its hand into a shrub about ten feet away. The heiniumo looked confused as the Wuxia next shouted ‘乾坤魔移!’ (“Qiankun Moyi” means “Magical Maneuver of Qiankun”)

Lingxue screamed as she was mystically flown out of the heiniumo’s grasp and went drifting through the air. A second afterwards, she found herself in the arms of the Wuxia. The Wuxia shouted ‘魂飞魄散!’ causing the heiniumo to fall unconscious. (“Hunfei Posan” means “Broken Spirit, Scattered Soul”) Lingxue looked into the brilliant eyes of her rescuer and promptly fainted.

With Lingxue and the rider on its back, the condor fluttered its wings and flew toward a tall mountain. Green and luxuriant, the forest was thick, this mountain was called Mount Wudang (巫当山).

A huge towering mansion stood on the peak of Mount Wudang with a tall flagpole on either side of its gate. The flagpoles were about thirty feet tall, each with a huge red banner streaming in the wind. The banner on the left was embroidered in yellow silk, bearing the image of a majestic dragon. As the banner fluttered back and forth in the wind, the dragon seemed as though it had come alive and were about to jump down at any time. Just above the dragon’s head was a pair of bats, embroidered in black silk, waving their wings in flying motion. The banner on the right bore two huge Chinese characters in black that read “WU DANG,” all written in a bold, vigorous calligraphy.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Spring was always a relaxing time of the year on Mount Wudang. The breeze gently brushed the willow trees and wild flowers, causing the air to be filled with the pleasant scent of the season.

When Lingxue woke up, the first thing she saw was a pair of twinkling eyes gazing at her. As her vision came in focus, she saw that they belonged to a kind looking bearded old man dressed in a Taoist tunic (道袍). He was standing in front of a wall with a swirling black and white emblem, known as “Taichi” (太极).

"Ah, I see that you have woken, Lingxue Guniang." (Guniang means “young lady” or “miss” in Chinese)

Lingxue looked around. She was lying on a bed in the middle of a small room with stone-brick walls. Sunlight was streaming through the windows behind her and there was a wooden door not far away from her bed. The old man was sitting on a stool right next to the bed.

Lingxue stared at the old man in bewilderment. "Wh-who are you? Where am I? H-how do you know my n-name?"

The old man chuckled and stroke his beard. "Ah, yes. In answer to your first question, my name is Taiji Xuanfeng (太极玄丰). I’m the founder of Wudang Clan (巫当派) and also the clan’s Grandmaster. In answer to your second question, you are in a guest room of Mount Wudang (巫当山). In answer to your third question...well lets just say that I have ways of finding things out."

Lingxue was about to ask more questions when the door opened and two Wuxia walked in. Lingxue recognized one of them (with his raven black hair, brooding eyebrows, and red cape) as the one who had saved her from the minotaur. The other Wuxia was a little taller. He had fiery crimson hair and also wore a blue tunic, with a sword hanging from his belt, and he was draped in a violet cape.

"Ah, most excellent timing," Xuanfeng gestured toward the violet-caped Wuxia. "This is Sima Yufei (司马育飞).” The old man then gestured toward the other Wuxia. "I believe you have already met Ouyang Qingyun (欧阳庆云). Yufei and Qingyun are two of my most outstanding grand-disciples."

Qingyun smiled. "Are you all right?" he asked with concern in his eyes.

Lingxue bowed her head. You have saved my life, Master Ouyang," she said. "I am forever in the debt of your grace..."

"Please just call me Qingyun," interrupted the Wuxia. "And call him Yufei. We really hate those ridiculous formalities that people use with us. And you can forget about that 'eternal debt'. I was only doing what any Wuxia would have done, so don't worry about it."

"Wuxia?" asked Lingxue.

"That's what we are," said Qingyun. "The Wuxia is a group of righteous people who are skilled in wizarding kungfu (巫灵功夫). Our mission is to protect the innocent and weak from evil and to uphold justice within the Central Realm. Our ultimate goal however, is to destroy the Xiemo clan and overthrow the Jin Empire."

"Now I am sure you would all like to continue with the conversation but I believe Lingxue guniang deserves some rest now," said Xuanfeng. "There’ll be a meeting tomorrow and I would like her to attend." As the door closed, Lingxue wondered about what she had gotten herself into.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next day, Lingxue answered a knocking on her door and was greeted by a blind man with shaggy gold hair, like the mane of a wild lion.

"Good day, Lingxue guniang," he said with a groggy voice. "My name's Xiongxun (雄逊). People call me Gold-mane Lion (金头狮爷). I'm here to show you to Wudang’s Grand Hall."

The Grand Hall, itself, had a large vermilion gate, with a pair of stone lions decorating the entrance. Teacup-sized copper studs on the gate shone in the bright sunlight. Above the gate, characters in gold lacquer were inscribed on a huge sign reading, “巫当大殿”, which meant “The Grand Hall of Wudang”. Beyond the gate were two rows of junior apprentices in blue Taoist robes, with poker faces seemingly in high alert.

Inside the hall were hundreds of Wudang disciples (巫当弟子) all standing in neat, straight rows. On the east side of the hall sat six people. Taiji Xuanfeng had four direct male disciples: Master Hongye (Red Leaf), Master Lanshi (Blue Stone), Master Qinghai (Green Sea), and Master Huangsha (Yellow Sand). Wudang On the left sat a Taoist nun, about 40 years old. The nun’s surname was Zhou (周), and her Taoist name was "Ziyan" (Purple Mist). She was the Wingmaster of the Women’s Wing of Wudang. As a group, they were known as the “Five Elders of Wudang”.

The Grandmaster stroke his white beard with his right hand and exuded an aura of deep contentment. Their chairs were placed about one metre apart from one another, and behind each stood more than twenty youths.

Lingxue noticed Yufei and Qingyun as they beamed at her when she stood behind Taiji Xuanfeng. Xuanfeng smiled at her before he raised his voice to make an announcement.

"Members of Wudang Clan," he spoke. "The young lady behind me is Miss Shangguan Lingxue (上官灵雪). Three days ago, Miss Lingxue lost her home and family in an attack by the Moguizi. Therefore, she shall be staying on Mount Wudang for the time being. However, I am positive she would not want her time here to be wasted. Therefore, though she is a mere village commoner, I extend to her an invitation to join the Women’s Wing and to be trained in basic wizarding kungfu (巫功) and wushu (巫术) so that she may be able to defend herself from the threats of Jurchens and the evil Xiemo Clan. That is, of course, if she accepts."

Lingxue was speechless. She spent a few minutes thinking about the offer but she could only come to one conclusion. The Xiemo Clan had taken everything from her and now she was being given the chance to strike back at them. Furthermore, she was being given a shot at a new life after her old one had been crushed. After a few moments, Lingxue looked up and simply replied, "I accept your kind offer, Grandmaster Xuanfeng."

“Great,” said the venerable Xuanfeng. “In that case I shall leave you under the tutelage of Madam Zhou Ziyan, the Wingmaster of our Women’s Wing.”

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

During the months that followed, Madam Ziyan trained Lingxue in all forms of wizarding kungfu and wushu. Being a fast learner, she excelled at the various skills within a span of weeks. Unfortunately, Lingxue was not as fortunate in martial arts. It turned out that she was very good in defending herself with a bamboo staff (竹棍), but there was no hope for her when it came to swords, spears, bows and arrows, or any kind of pugilistic weapon for that matter. However, it didn't really matter since her abilities with wushu and the staff made up for all her shortcomings with other weapons. If there was one thing that she was absolutely horrible at however, that would have to be riding a condor. She learned this the hard way by falling off three times before finally giving up.

Lingxue pursued a number of activities during her free time. Sometimes, on bright sunny days, Lingxue would be playing the flute, sitting in a pavillion by the edge of the bamboo forest (竹林) that surrounded the Wudang clanhouse. She would be approached by a jade dragon (玉龙), which came to her since jade dragons and other pure creatures only approached virgin maidens (玉女).

Lingxue also spent time with the two young Wudang disciples, Yufei and Qingyun. As she grew more comfortable around them, she eventually managed to drop the formalities that had been grounded into her since childhood. In no time at all, she grew to become extremely close friends with Yufei and Qingyun. Yufei was always teasing Lingxue, and it wasn't uncommon to hear the two arguing in a friendly squabble. Although on the surface, they seemed to be arguing all the time, they were actually very fond of each other and enjoyed the others' company.

Qingyun was another matter altogether. He was kind and compassionate and always looked at Lingxue with concern and sympathy in his eyes. Lingxue always felt the most safe and secure whenever she was with Qingyun and Qingyun was happy to be around Lingxue. If there was one Wudang member that Lingxue could've stayed with at all times, he would have had to have been Qingyun. Qingyun, for his part, formed a special friendship with her and allowed her into a part of his heart that previously he had only let Yufei into. Whenever she looked under Qingyun’s brooding eyebrows, Lingxue saw a young man who had grown up deprived of love and had seen much sorrow and pain during his life. Sometimes, it took her all the willpower she had to keep herself from holding him in her arms and comforting him.

One day, two months since Lingxue had stayed in Wudang, there was a clan meeting in the Grand Hall. After the initial chatter had died down, Taiji Xuanfeng spoke up.

"Last night while I was gazing at the stars in the sky. I witnessed a huge celestial rock which was landing near the Central Realm from the mystical heavens. Such a rock is known as the ‘Tianwai Feishi’ (天外飛石), and it’s said to be inscribed with a message or new magical powers from the gods. I have divined that the celestial rock has probably landed within the borders of the Liao Kingdom. Therefore, I ask for volunteers to go and make a visit and find the rock before the Moguizi find it too."

Lingxue, realizing that this could be her chance to prove herself, jumped up immediately. "I’ll volunteer for it!" she shouted.

Xuanfeng beamed. "I thought you might, Miss Lingxue."

"I'm not comfortable about her going alone though," said Qingyun. "I, also, volunteer for this quest."

"So do I," said Yufei.

"Very well,” said Xuanfeng. “I wish you three good luck when you leave tomorrow. May the ‘Qi’ be with you." (In Chinese wizardry, “Qi” is a part of every living thing that exists, as a kind of “magical force” or “spiritual energy.”)

ALL RIGHTS OF THE "巫侠", "巫灵功夫", "少灵" & "巫当" CONCEPTS & STORY CONTENT RESERVED TO RONNIE NG 2007-2008

Light Novel Out in November!

2007-09-28T00:14:00.001-07:00

Studies: Adults aren't reading as much

2007-09-26T00:24:00.000-07:00

One in four adults read no books last year.
But of the three adults who did read, women as well as
senior citizens were the most avid readers.

children's and young adult book sales flourish in June
(22.2 percent increase in hardcover books, 7.1 percent
in paperback books)

women do read more literature than men.
Slightly more than one-third of men now read literature, it found.

Reading takes time, and that also might factor into fewer readers,
if that is indeed the case.

While book sales may be down, the American Library Association found
public library use continues to grow.

Reading is harder, which might be a reason people are shying away from books, too.
Compared to TV, it's hard. And it's long and it's slow and there's
a very delayed gratification.

In today's fast-paced world, it seems to be getting far more difficult
to engage teenagers in reading books, as opposed to text messaging
and quick online chats.

It is the advanced technology teens have access to today that
distracts them from using books as a way of entertainment.

It doesn't mean they are incapable of reading.
It means they choose to do other things instead.

Kimchi Popiah 김치 포뺘

2007-09-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ingredients: just 'Kimchi' & 'popiah skin'

actually, in retrospect, & as a word of caution, you should try to squeeze dry the kimchi first before wrapping it with the popiah skin...this is to prevent leaking...or better still, you should place a sheet of seaweed (김) on the popiah skin before placing the kimchi..this is to retain the kimchi's juiciness & prevent the popiah from getting soggy..

i also recommend that you use the crunchy kind of kimchi such as "cabbage kimchi"백채김치 or "cucumber kimchi"오이김치 as that would add chewing texture & improve the tasting sensation... if you are using the non-crunchy types of kimchi, then i suggest you should add some japanese/korean rice...

You can also consider the deep-frying method...

Try It For Yourself & Give Me Your Feedback~!!

Foodcourt Culture of Singapore

2007-09-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

If you have any experience in the foodcourt culture of Singapore, you may be aware that the foodcourt attendants are quite efficient when they clear the dishes immediately after you've finished eating.

Most of my Korean friends find the cleaner's act of clearing the dishes while customers are still at their table an act of "disrespect" and "being rude", it's like asking them to leave. While I can appreciate the act of clearing dishes as a way to control customer traffic and improve customer turnover, I do somewhat agree with the Koreans that such acts tend to affect the customer's eating experience adversely. I think food court operators should have faith and trust in singaporean customers that they'd take their leave upon finishing their food if they see that the foodcourt is crowded and that someone else is looking for a seat.

Otherwise, at a time when the foodcourt isn't crowded, there's obviously no point in being so anxious to clear the dishes as to spoil the customers' experience.

Frowning Flag

2007-09-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

Found this in a satirical website of Wikipedia, called Uncyclopedia. LOL

Ronnie Recommends - LOVE AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

2007-09-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

SOURCE OF ARTICLE

http://www.readaboutcomics.com/2004/11/12/love-as-a-foreign-language-vol-1/

Joel’s sick of Korea. He’s sick of teaching English classes, he’s sick of the strange food, he’s sick of not understanding the language, and he’s sick of the cockroach in his apartment that just won’t die. He’s so sick of it all that he’s ready to quit, but just when he’s ready to tender his resignation, everything looks like it’s about to turn around.

J. Torres’s script for Love as a Foreign Language hits all the right notes for a introduction to the series. We really get to know everything important about Joel; his yearning to go back home to Canada, his growing disdain for Korea, his relationship with his co-workers, and his frustration at the barriers that separate himself from Korean culture. What’s great about it is that you never feel like Torres is rattling off exposition or lecturing the reader; all of the information unfolds naturally as we follow Joel through several days of living in Korea and seeing Joel get beaten down by everything around him. You can’t help but feel bad for Joel, as you see how even a day’s worth of language classes slowly saps his enthusiasm and energy until by the end of the day he just doesn’t care anymore. He’s a genuinely likable guy, and seeing those little sparks of energy and excitement about him when he first encounters Hannah makes you want to see more of him like that all the more. As an added bonus, there’s a lot of Torres’s trademark humor in Love as a Foreign Language; little zingers like Joel’s comment on how Korean foods seems like the end result of a dare had me grinning the whole way through the book.

This is the first artwork I remember seeing of Eric Kim’s, but I’m pretty sure that I’d have remembered something this nice if I’d encountered it before. He’s got a great command of body language; little scenes like Joel slumped over a table while Kelly eats her Korean food that could have just been banged out onto the page instead come to life, from Kelly’s fiendish grin as she holds her chopsticks to Joel’s crumpled posture. The whole book is like this; every page flows perfectly from one panel to the next, allowing everything from gags of Joel smacking into the door to his resigned look as he pushes through the subway to come to life. Stylistically, Kim’s art is very much his own, defining a look so effortlessly it makes me wonder if he hasn’t really been drawing comics for years while I just wasn’t paying attention.

Love as a Foreign Language Vol. 1 is a great start to a new series for Torres, Kim, and Oni Press; the fact that it’s just three months until a second volume has me really excited because this is a fantastic book. If there’s any justice, this is about to become the next big thing with comic readers everywhere. I do know that for me, Love as a Foreign Language is a winner from start to finish. Well done.

WIKIPEDIA DOES IT

2007-09-17T22:04:00.000-07:00

I think the biggest advantage writers in the 21st century have is the internet, especially wikipedia. Instead of visiting the library, I depend a lot on the wikipedia for info about practically everything.

PONTIANAK PHOTO

2007-09-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

I was doing my research over the internet on pontianaks and chanced upon this picture. It was around 3am, and the picture really gave me the creeps. My hair stood and I felt cold.

PONTIANAK SLAYERS OF VAMPINES

2007-09-16T02:53:00.000-07:00

THE HALF-BLOOD PONTIANAK

Excerpt-
PROLOGUE

At Block 934 of Vampines Street 7, the lights went on in a 3-room HDB flat on the thirteenth floor at the sound of a crying baby. Jenny Teo, a single mother in her late twenties, stretched in her bed after having switched on the lamp on her night table. She pushed her covers off herself and sat up, rubbing her weary eyes before checking the time on her alarm clock. It was nearly three o’clock.

Jenny got up and tied her hair in a ponytail as she walked towards the crib next to her bed. She lifted her crying baby boy and held him close to her, making pacifying sounds and rocking him to ease the cries.

“What is it baby? Are you hungry?” the young mother asked. Her baby’s crying didn’t stop. She put him back in his cradle, but the baby’s cries worsened still. The woman caressed his soft cheek with the back of her fingers. “Mummy will be right back with your milk bottle,” she cooed and bent down to press a soft kiss on his forehead.

Jenny left the room and made her way towards the kitchen. She could still hear the dimmed sound of the baby’s cries coming from her bedroom and tried to hurry not to keep her son hungry for too long. She took his bottle out of the drainer and poured some water out of a thermo flask into it.

The little baby was still crying loud as he was waiting for his mother. He was frantically moving his tiny arms and legs. Suddenly the shadow of a person emerged over the baby in the crib.

The mother of the baby opened the package of the baby milk powder and started adding it to the bottle filled with water. She counted the number of spoons she added to it.

In the bedroom, two female hands reached for the infant boy and lifted him, leaving the baby bed empty. Slowly, the baby’s whimpers started to become softer as he was being fed by the woman.

Jenny put the last spoon of milk powder in the bottle, closed it, and shook the bottle to mix it as she made her way back to her room.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” she said, although her baby’s cries were slightly decreasing. Jenny frowned when she didn’t hear her baby anymore. How had he become so quiet while he was still hungry? The young mother cautiously entered her room. She could see her child laying in his crib from where she stood and it seemed like he was sound asleep.

“Justin?” she called his name softly. She approached the crib and took a better view of her baby.

From outside the window, The Pontianak stood at the corridor. She had just carried baby Justin, and was now looking into the bedroom. She put her hand against the window grille and brought her pale, but pretty face nearer to it.

“N-O-O-O-!-!-!” came Jenny’s scream from inside, followed by loud cries from the young mother.

The corners of The Pontianak’s mouth turned up and formed a vicious smile on her face as she was satisfied at the result. Suddenly her brown eyeballs turned opal-white, her fangs slightly grew out of her mouth, their sharp tips clearly visible, and her nails grew, after which her pale skin turned darker.

The Pontianak was still smiling deviously with the cries of the mourning mother in the background. Then she morphed into a black stray cat and jumped off the block, leaving an empty spot in front of the window.

POSTER GIRL

2007-09-12T13:54:00.000-07:00

22 January 2007, Monday, 12.55pm, at Raffles Place

The next time I saw Stephanie, it was in a manner I would’ve never expected. She appeared on the posters of a Giordano clothings store at Raffles Link shopping arcade, promoting some ladies’ apparels for this year’s Lunar New Year festive season. I’m really surprised. When I’d met her yesterday on the train, I had never expected her to be an advertisement model in addition to being a medicine student. Well, like I’ve said it’s probably due to some sort of indescribable X-factor in her that landed her the chance of modelling. Much to my pleasant surprise, she’s striking a couple of very nice poses in those posters!

She said she’d call, but she hasn’t though. Not that I hope she would, but just wondering that’s all. Anyway, it’s only Monday…. Oh, why do I even care anyway?!

STEPHANIE WONG

2007-09-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

21 January 2007, Sunday, 10am, at Tampines MRT Station.

I’m standing at the west-bound platform of Tampines MRT station waiting to go to church. Feeling bored, I raise my head to look at the flat-screen display which shows information about the train’s arrival time. Just then, a girl steps away from the escalator and walks up to stand beside me.

I dart my eyes to the left, then to my right. From what I see, there are plenty of empty spaces along the platform. But why does she have to stand right beside me, among so many spots? Well, never mind. I guess it’s just a coincidence. Looking through the glass panel, I guess she’s probably in her early twenties. I notice her hair is rather short for a typical woman, slightly brown and wavy. She has a slender waist and a petite body frame, but her face is round and chubby. Quite an unconventional match, I must say. She’s dressed in a pretty white floral halter, its hem is less than knee-length, making her look taller than she actually is. Oh what the heck, why am I surveying her anyway? The way I see it, she doesn’t even come close to the standards our women in Korea boast. Well, in Seoul, at least.

This girl is half a head shorter than me, so I could smell the fresh fragrance of shampoo in her hair. Lavender… Hmm, not bad…

“You know, someone died on the tracks yesterday,” the girl suddenly turns to me and says.

“Y-yeh?” I raise my eyebrows, surprised she’s talking to me.

“The train’s average cruising speed is forty-five kilometres per hour and when it slows down upon arriving at the platform, it’ll still manage at about twenty-five kilometres per hour.”

“Y-yeh?” I roll my eyes, wondering what she’s trying to drive at. “S-so?”

“So,” she continues, “if I were to jump down the track at that very instant, what kind of death do you think I will experience?”

I don’t have an answer to that question. But neither do I have the time to reply, as the train happens to be arriving now.

The girl and I manage to find a pair of empty seats, so we get seated next to each other. Then she plugs a pair of earphones into her ears. Morbidly, she starts to flip though a copy of medical textbook that shows the various anatomies of dogs and human. Fortunately, I haven’t had my breakfast yet. Otherwise, I guess I’d be puking all over.

Her earphones is blasting out a rather loud sort of rock music, I think, even the passenger sitting on the other side is visibly annoyed.

Trying to avoid those grotesque-looking biological illustrations, I turn my head around and look at other passengers in the carriage. Almost everyone is wrapped up in his or her own life; some are simply staring ahead, others appear to be busy - keeping their minds occupied, not wanting to think about their lives.

As the train enters the tunnel, everyone’s reflection is now visibly clear in the window. Feeling bored, I take a glance at the girl through the reflection, letting my gaze meander along her narrow shoulders, slim arms, her trim midriff, and the understated curves of her small breasts before settling on her face. Her face, tsk. The girl looks up and seems to notice I’m surveying her features. I have to pretend to be looking at the route map above the window to avoid being caught voyeuring. This girl isn’t that great-looking. Yet, there’s something about her - some indefinable nuance in her nature – that got to me.

“%@#$&%$#@?” she’s speaking in Mandarin I guess, but I can’t understand at all.

“Sorry,” I reply. “I’m not Chinese.”

“Oh!” she covers her mouth, and shows a mock expression of surprise. “I was just asking if the music is disturbing you.”

“Yes. Ah, no,” I say, trying to be polite. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Where are you from?”

“Korea.”

“Oh!” Her eyes glitter, and her smile widens. Why is that so, I don't know. “Annyung haseyo.” She tries to impress me with a basic Korean greeting.

“Yeh, annyung haseyo.” I nod my head politely in the usual Korean fashion.

“I’m sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. Hello, my name is Stephanie Wong,” she introduces, and offers her hand with a kind of initiative I’d hardly seen in Korean girls where I grew up in Seoul.

An exchange of biography follows. Stephanie tells me she’s a medicine student in the National University of Singapore, and that it has been her childhood ambition to become a doctor and save lives.

“So, what do you do for a living?” she asks.

“Me? Erm… Me… I’m junior oil trader in local branch office of Korean company.”

“Oil trader? Sounds like fun.”

“Yeh.” I nod gingerly.

“Sorry, but why do you keep saying yeh, yeh, yeh?”

“Because… my English not so good, that’s why.”

“Oh? I think your English is alright.” Stephanie assures me. “At least, I understand what you’ve been saying so far.”

“Thank you.” I smile, slightly flattered. The conversation meanders until the train is reaching City Hall station, where I have to get off.

“Er, Taewoo, right?” she says. “Do you have a name card of something?”

“Yeh,” I say, handing out my business card to her. She takes the card and studies it closely.

“Chilsung Petroleum Private Limited. Assistant Trading Manager. Wow.”

“Yeh, I have to go, see you next time. Annyunghee kyeseyo.”

“You mean, there’s a chance for a next time?” she raises her eyes. “I’ll give you a call sometime. Take care, bye!”

KIMCHEE VS. DURIANS

2007-09-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

20 January 2007, Saturday, 3pm, at my rented apartment.

If you are a first-time eater of kimchee, you’d probably complain that it smells like smelly socks. What’s worse is that after you’ve eaten kimchee, you smell like smelly socks; the combination of cabbage and pungent spices like garlic and chili peppers makes the smell ooze out of your pores long after you’ve eaten it.

But as a native Korean, let me tell you this: kimchee is our national staple, and we have it everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We can't live without our daily fix of this fermented vegetables.

Yes, you can’t appreciate kimchee. Neither do we know how to appreciate your smelly durians. To me, durians smell like shit. But no matter how much I dislike this thorny green, so-called “king of fruits”, I wouldn’t deprive others from eating it.

Take my Malaysian roommate Kenny, for example. He simply can’t stand the smell of kimchee.

Today, I was about to take out my box of kimchee - which my gomo (고모, paternal aunt) prepared for me in Korea – from the fridge and eat it together with the lunch I’d prepared. When I got to the fridge, it was gone. This is how my dialogue with Kenny went:

ME: Kenny, you see my kimchee in the refrigerator?

KENNY: No... Why leh?

ME: My auntie prepared for me before I came to Singapore from Korea.

KENNY: Orh, you mean those rotten vegetables ah? It smells like I don't know what, man! So I threw it away oredi.

ME: WHAT? YOU THROW AWAY MY KIMCHEE? MY KIMCHEE!!!

KENNY: Aiyor, sorry lah! Okay lah, come, lemme treat you to some of my Sarawak durians.

ME: (looking with utter disbelief) @%#%!@!!!?#$@#!!!

SINGAPORE FOODCOURT & AUNTIES

2007-09-12T07:03:00.000-07:00

19 January 2007, Friday, 1pm, Lunch at the Food Junction

Today, I am RAIN.

My first week on the job, I realized that many ajummas here in Raffles Place are extreme fans of Korean drama series and they're really crazy over Korean hunks. I’ve been receiving flattering comments from the food court aunties and cleaning ladies that I resemble Lee Byunghun, Hyunbin, Bae Yongjun, Lee Donggun, and Kwon Sangwoo. But Rain is doing a concert tour in Singapore this Sunday, so today I am RAIN.

Back in Korea, if I were to tell anyone I look like Kwon Sangwoo or Rain, they'd be throwing molotov cocktails at me (made using Soju bottles, mind you), asking me if my plastic surgeon was drunk. But the way I see myself in the mirror, I think it's not unreasonable to say I look like Cha Taehyun. Anyway, it doesn't really matter. I'm happy with the way I look now. And in Singapore, I'm considered the cream of the crop in terms of looks, really.

It’s comforting to know that there’s a Korean stall in almost every foodcourt in Singapore. There’s a local stall that makes very good handmade noodles, which they call “Ban-mian”. I like it a lot, as it looks and tastes almost like the Kalguksu (갈국수) we have in Korea. Even though it's a local dish, I feel very much at home eating it.

To make Kalguksu, wheat flour is first mixed with raw bean powder and kneaded to make noodles. Then it is boiled in chicken broth and served with the broth and toppings.

A bowl of Ban-mian costs $3.50. If you’re a Food Junction cardmember, you get to enjoy a 10% discount. But it’s my first week here, so I haven’t got a chance to apply for membership yet. Fortunately, the ajumma of the ban-mian stall said if I could say “Sarang haeyo” to her, she’ll give me a 20% discount…

AJUMMA! SARANG HAEYO!!!

In Korea, after eating at the foodcourt, we normally return our trays to the tray clearing point, where we toss the leftovers from the dishes into the chute. So I'm rather surprised here at the foodcourts in Singapore, no one does that. They have foodcourt attendants to clear the tables.

It's lunch time now, the foodcourt is very crowded. It wasn't easy for me to find an empty table. When I've finally found one, there are still trays of leftovers left by the previous customers. I asked the clearing auntie to remove those trays away. But she refused. Unless... unless I say “Sarang haeyo” to her...

AJUMMA! SARANG HAEYO!!!

Well, what to do? That's Hallyu for you... Sigh...

STEPPING FOOT ON SINGAPORE

2007-09-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

14 January, Sunday, 11.35am, Changi Airport Terminal One.

Atssa! I finally have my feet land safely in Changi Airport after just over six hours of the flight journey from Seoul.

Tomorrow I’ll be starting my new job as assistant trading manager in the light distillates department at Chilsung (Singapore) Petroleum Private Limited, the local oil trading office of Chilsung Corporation. Chilsung is one of South Korea’s biggest chaebol, and makes the biggest contribution to the nation’s GDP. Frankly, I had never much planned on coming to Singapore to work. But, given a wonderful opportunity, I need to grab the chance. The pay is decent, and the prospects are good. And I certainly need something to prove myself here in this island city-state, just like how I did in Seoul. A new life in a new country, Singapore. Nothing but success and a promising career ahead, this is the vow I made to myself.

But there’s one problem, though.

Singapore seems like a giant microwave oven, it’s unusually hot and humid. Ever since I step out of Changi Airport, I’ve been perspiring like a tap of running water. The only regret of working here is the lack of seasons. I heard over here it’s hot summer for three hundred and sixty-five days, all year round. I haven't figured how I'm going to survive here in this weather, but I'll get used to it somehow. In any case, there's alway airconditioner, right?

Yet, I'm beginning to miss Korea now. Korean autumn, Korean winter.

It's Dark Outside

2007-09-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

It’s dark outside,
as the music subsides,
and no one is beside.

I am thinking,
while the phone is ringing,
is it me you’re calling?

I pick up the phone,
only to hear a dead tone,
am I not the one?

It’s dark inside,
as the music subsides,
and no one is beside.

DJG Short Fiction - Yeonsaeng in Labour

2007-09-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

‘Come on Yeonsaeng, you can do it. One last push and you’re there.’

Jang Geum brushed her friend’s hair out of her eyes, and stroked her face encouragingly. Yeonsaeng had been in labour for almost twenty hours, every single one of them worse than the last. She was on every kind of pain ever imaginable, but with every contraction came a new agony. She had only the tiniest drop of energy left, and Jang Geum wasn’t sure what would happen if it took more than one last push.

Yeonsaeng fell back on the pillow, utterly exhausted. ‘I can’t, Jang Geum,’ she sobbed. ‘No more, please make it go away.’ Tears of pain and despair streamed down her face unchecked, as they had been for the last few hours. She could stand it no longer. She felt like she’d been shut in the bedchambers, fighting against the agony that was ripping through her forever. In her mind, a time where it didn’t hurt no longer existed. Before it had started, she had thought that the emotional pain she had suffered over the last months was the worst pain you could possibly feel, but now she wasn’t so sure. With every contraction, she felt like she was going to die, and she was beginning to reach the stage where it wouldn’t be altogether unwelcome.

‘You can do it, Yeonsaeng. Yes, you can,’ rallied Jang Geum.

Yeonsaeng's fingers were crushing Jang Geum’s hand but as they had been for over a day, she couldn’t feel them anymore, so it didn’t really matter. Being a medical lady, Jang Geum was saying all the right things but she wasn’t entirely sure Yeonsaeng could actually manage another push.

The next contraction began and Jang Geum encouraged her again. She was so tired it hurt, so she couldn’t imagine what this was like for Yeonsaeng.

‘This is it, Yeonsaeng, this is it. This is going to be the one. Push, come on, push.’

Yeonsaeng pressed on, using her very last reserves of strength for one final effort, and let out an agonising scream that shattered Jang Geum’s eardrums. Finally, at long last, a thin cry pierced the room.

‘Chal dwessyeosseubnida, mamanim,’ the imperial midwife said, ‘you’ve got yourself a healthy little princess.’ Yeonsaeng had fallen back on the pillow again, completely exhausted, and showed no interest in the woman’s words. Her eyes had shut, and they didn’t even flicker at the news of her child, the Emperor’s child.

Book Excerpt- Curse of the Volcano Island

2007-09-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

Chapter one
(Jackie’s POINT OF VIEW)

THE WAY I SEE IT, LIFE IS LIKE A VAMPIRE. It sucks most of the time, period. It’s ever thirsty for pain, and it aims to drain you dry.

And that is why most people appreciate my work of killing them. My name is Jackie Chang, and I’m a Vampire Hunter… in the loosest sense of the word. Although I’ve said that life sucks like a vampire, it actually pays to get them killed. Well, I’m an expatriate from Singapore invited by the governor of Jeju Province to hunt these bloodsucking creatures – For every vampire slain, a quarter million Korean Won goes into my pocket. And that roughly equates to about two hundred and fifty U.S. dollars. Sounds lucrative huh? Well, not everyone can be a vampire hunter, though. In fact, I’ve gone through years of rigorous apprenticeship in Tokuyama, Japan to become one.

Jeju Province is the only special self-governing province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country’s largest island. The volcanic island lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of South Jeolla Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946. Jeju Province is sort of a city-state, so its capital city is also called Jeju. To the south, it meets Seogwipo City at the top of Hallasan, the island’s only mountain. The island is half a size bigger than Singapore, but yet it only has a population of less than 400,000 – not even one-tenth of Singapore’s population.

Here I am, on Jeju island working with two other vampire hunters; my team of sorts – Seiji Inada, and Han Mirae. Like me, Seiji is also a foreigner except he’s from Tokuyama, Japan. Seiji has far more experience than me, given the fact that he’s nearly twice my age.

Of course the ability to hunt vampires isn’t always about experience; it could be just a matter of luck and timing. Yes, there were times when Seiji reported five or six vampires slain in a single night. But that’s probably because he had gotten there first, was equipped with better weapons, and got to to kill these vampires first. Yet, among the the three of us, I’m definitely not the worst in terms of number of total kills. Han Mirae scores the lowest number of killings – She scored zero, to be exact.

To be fair, Mirae isn’t actually a vampire hunter. She’s actually an orphaned native of Jeju island, whom we invited to help us with the daily administration of paperwork, as well as to bridge the cultural differences between the locals and us. Mirae was orphaned at a tender age, and had been raised in a Catholic Convent, until she was old enough to work and make a living. That’s how we met her and invited her to work for us. Apart from secretarial work, Mirae also treats the wounds and injuries that we receive after fighting and killing the vampires. Mirae just doesn’t enjoy that feeling of stabbing a sword across, or gunning a bullet into a vampire’s chest. She feels really bad about having to kill a fellow Korean. It just didn’t seem right to her about killing a fellow countryman. And I guess, that is why foreigners like Seiji and I were hired to do the killing. So that they can “outsource” the burden of guilt to us.

*******

I SIGHED HEAVILY AND RESTED MY CHIN on the table in front of me. I squinted at the stainless steel bowl in front of me for a moment, lifted my head slightly, and poured the ice-cold sour broth into my open mouth. Then I stood on my feet and left, leaving a few korean bills on the table to pay for my meal consisting primarily of Mul Naengmyeon, and small side-dishes of Kimchi and Banchan.

Mul Naengmyeon are strands of thin, hand-made buckwheat noodles, and is served in a large bowl with a tangy iced broth, raw julienned vegetables, a slice of a Korean pear, and often a boiled egg and/or cold beef.

Kimchi (also spelt gimchi or kimchee) is a traditional Korean fermented dish made of seasoned vegetables. Kimchi is also a common ingredient and cooked with other ingredients to make dishes such as kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae) and kimchi fried rice (kimchi bokkeumbap). Moreover, because it is both flavourful and healthy, the world-wide appeal and popularity of kimchi continues to grow.

Banchan refers to small side-dishes served in Korean cuisine. Banchan are served in small portions, meant to be finished at each meal. They can be replenished during the meal as they are finished.

“Annyung hee kaseyo,” said the storeowner, as he bowed and greeted me goodbye. It’s autumn, and the weather was rather cold. I put on my coat and slid my hands into the deep pockets. Inside the fleece-lined black jacket nestled a silver gun loaded with matching bullets. It never hurts to be careful, but it certainly will if you were caught off guard and wind up as the next victim.

I have seen far too many victims lying in some back alley of the Samdo-2-dong neighbourhood, where they had been dragged when they were still alive and kicking, but were drained of blood before an hour had passed. And then there were even another sort of victims lying at the back alleys. I don’t usually concern myself too much with a vampire’s life, but it piques my curiosity whenever I find a dead vampire lying, well…dead, in an alley somewhere.

Today however, I haven’t killed a single vampire, though I had found a dead one, slain by one of it’s own kind. I didn’t know why they killed each other, but frankly, it mattered to me. For each one murdered is one less I could have killed by myself. Well, there goes half a million Korean Won, which I could have made otherwise.

Last night was a happier moment for me, as I had beaten the silver-haired japanese by one dead. I had killed one while Seiji hadn’t killed a single creature. That alone would have given me teasing rights for some time, though the fact that I myself had gotten one made it even better.

A sudden sound to my right made me freeze and melt against the side of Ramada Plaza, the gun loaded with silver bullets grasped firmly beneath my jacket. When the sound didn’t come again I slowly crept from the shadows and continued on my way, though a bit more wary than I had been. It never hurts to be extra careful. It might be approaching daybreak already… but still, it wasn’t too late - or too early, however you choose to view it - for vampires to be out and about.

Seiji had stayed indoors tonight, down with the flu, leaving me to do the hunting all by myself. Ah-chew!!! We normally work together, even if we aren’t often within arm’s length, and the Japanese hunter’s absence makes me feel a lot more vulnerable, so it was probably a good thing I hadn’t encountered any vampire tonight. The older man and I work separately, often on opposite sides of the island. But either of us would still be able to come to the other’s need if necessary. Just knowing the silver-haired hunter was out could make me feel a bit more secure. Honestly speaking, Seiji had saved my butt more times than I could count.

I let go of the gun in my pocket as I neared my home at the Samdo-1-dong district, which also functions as our team’s headquarters. I glanced around a few times for any preying eyes, just to play safe. When I found none I stepped into the house, closing out the night that was brightening into dawn at last.

The interiors of the house were quite neat, a result of Mirae’s efforts. If I were living by myself, the house would have been strewn with empty instant noodles cups, tidbit packages and candy wrappers. So it’s really fortunate that Seiji and I have Mirae living with us. The girl was currently curled up in the large armchair that gave her a nice view of the empty street outside, a book on her lap. She looked up when I came in, and smiled.

“Nuh Muol ilk-go itsuh?” I asked her what she was reading.

“I’m reading a korean romance novel,” replied Mirae. “It’s entitled “The First Shop of Coffee Prince”. It’s about a tomboyish female who gets mistaken as a guy, and she starts working in a coffeeshop owned by the cocky son of a rich family.”

“Chaemi it-neun geot gat-ey,” I said it sounded rather interesting. “By the way, how is Seiji getting on with the flu?”

“Seiji is sleeping now. Before he turned in, he said he’ll be feeling better enough tomorrow to go hunting with you,” said Mirae, before returning to her book.

“Muoragu?! What!!!” I gaped until my jaws dropped to the ground, and my eyes could see my hair growing. The Japanese hunter’s presence makes me feel safer, but still… “If he comes with me, he’ll start killing more vampires!”

Mirae rolled her eyes. “Well that’s the point, isn’t it?”

“Well yeah, but so what? He’s already…” I tried to come up with a number but failed, “a lot ahead of me, and pretty soon he’ll be so far ahead I’ll never be able to catch up with him!”

Mirae sighed and set her book down. “I’m going to sleep now, you probably should too.”

“I don’t need any sleep!” I declared to her retreating back. “I can stay up all day and night if I want to!”

“Keojitmal hajimayo! Quit lying, Jackie!” Mirae ordered, crossing her arms, and after furrowing her eyebrows at me as if daring me to do it, she turned and headed up the stairs.

“I’ll prove to you I don’t need sleep, Han Mirae,” I said to myself. Then I seated myself in the chair she’d vacated, staring out the window with wide-open eyes, determined to prove the korean girl wrong. Almost immediately though, my eyes started drooping, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep to meet Alice in Wonderland…

I awoke with a start, all senses alert. I didn’t remember having slept for a long time… But, oh my goodness, a day had passed, and it was already evening right now. Actually, I didn’t need to look so surprised that I woke up this late. We hunters sleep and awake according to the vampires’ hours so we could hunt them down more efficiently. Yawning widely and stretching my arms above my head, I saw Seiji eating a bowl of cereal, while Mirae grabbed a bowl from the cabinet and poured herself some as well.

“Chal jasseoyo? Did you sleep well?” Mirae grinned. “I remember last night someone was saying he didn’t need any sleep.” She giggled.

I grabbed a bowl too, and poured myself some cereals, which I wolfed down entirely before Mirae had even taken three bites. I then set about gathering my weapons, belting and strapping them on accordingly, before sitting on the armchair. I stared sternly at Seiji - almost like my high school principal - urging him to eat faster so we could leave immediately and hunt those vampires.

Seiji continued eating at a normal pace however, completely denying my existence. For a while I thought I was the invisible man, he had no regards for me at all. I decided to give up and slumped over backward into the chair. The moment Seiji stood however, I sprang on my feet and sprinted out the door like the roadrunner. Beep! Beep!

“I’m going to beat you tonight!” I challenged. Seiji lugged a bag of weapons over his shoulder and smiled mockingly.

“No you won’t.” His smile turned into a look of sheer confidence.

Ronnie's Debut "Korean Vampires-Curse of the Volcano Island"

2007-09-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

Story Synopsis-

Since the "Jeju Massacre" (제주도민 학살 사건) of South Korea, which claimed the lives of more than 60,000 people more than fifty years ago, their bodies were sealed in the volcanic cave of Mount Halla. Decades later, some of these bodies were mystically resurrected as vampires. The bitter feud between two mortal factions became immortal: The Regiments vs. The Guerrillas.

Fifty years later today, we meet Han Mirae, a young Korean girl who's caught in a love triangle: Jackie Chang, a swashbuckling vampire slayer from Singapore, and Shin Taewoo a powerful vampire of the Guerillas. Then meet Lee Hyunsuk, the opal-eyed vampire of the Regiments who abducts Mirae in order to set a trap to kill the other two.

Can Taewoo or Jackie save the girl in time? And who is Mirae's real love?

The streets, districts, buildings and cuisines mentioned in this book are actual, and the description of the epic ‘Jeju Massacre’ is based on a true historical account. Otherwise, the story is largely fictional, especially the vampires. There certainly isn’t any vampire on Jeju island, and this book should not deter any holiday-maker or tourist from travelling to Jeju. In my opinion, Jeju is definitely one of the best tourist destinations in South Korea. The notion of vampires in this book is purely for entertainment value, and not to be taken as a gospel.

I’ve been learning Korean for almost five years, and until now it’s still a knotty problem for me. You need a very good skill of listening comprehension in order to make out what a native is actually talking about. Fortunately, with a good background in the Chinese language, it helps to make the learning of Korean language much easier. If you’re good in Japanese too, well, then I’d say you’ve got half the battle won. Why is that so?

Because Korean shares similar grammar with Japanese, while 70% of its vocabulary is borrowed from neighbouring China, and now many English words have penetrated the Korean lexicon too. Hence they’ve got Konglish, which is Korea’s equivalent of Singapore’s Singlish.

Having said that, however, Korean is largely written in hangeul, the alphabet developed under King Sejong’s reign in the 15th century. The way I see it, the Korean script is one of the most systematic and consistent alphabets used today.

Hangeul consists of only 24 characters, of vowels and consonants, which aren’t that difficult to learn. However, the formation of words using hangeul are quite different form the way that Western alphabets are used to form words.

The emphasis is on the formation of a syllable so that it resembles a Chinese character. Thus, the first syllable of the word ‘hangeul’ (한) is formed by an ‘h’ (ㅎ) in the top left corner, an ‘a’ (ㅏ) in the top right, followed by an ‘n’ (ㄴ) at the bottom. As a result, the full syllabic formation forms into some sort of a box, which looks like this: 한.

Pronounciation
-Vowels

ㅏ a as in the ‘a’ in ‘are’
ㅑ ya as in ‘yard’
ㅓ eo as in ‘of’
ㅕ yeo as in ‘young’
ㅗ o as in ‘go’
ㅛ yo as in ‘yo-yo’
ㅜ u as in ‘flute’
ㅠ yu as in the word ‘you’
ㅡ eu as in the ‘oo’ in ‘book’
ㅣ I as in the ‘ee’ in ‘sheep’

Combined Vowels

ㅐ ae as in the ‘a’ in ‘hat’
ㅒ yae as in the ‘yeah’ in ‘oh yeah!’
ㅔ e as in ‘ten’
ㅖ ye as in ‘yes’
ㅘ wa as in ‘wander’
ㅙ wae as in ‘wax’
ㅚ oe as in ‘way’
ㅝ wo as in ‘won’
ㅞ we as in ‘wet’
ㅟ wi as in the word ‘we’
ㅢ ui as in ‘u’ plus ‘i’

Single Consonants

ㄱ k/g
ㄴ n
ㄷ t/d
ㄹ r/n
ㅁ m
ㅂ b
ㅅ s/t
ㅇ nasal sound of ‘ng’ or silent word.
ㅈ j/t
ㅊ ch/t
ㅋ kh
ㅌ t
ㅍ p
ㅎ h/ng

Double Consonants

Double consonants are pronounced with more stress than their single consonant counterparts.

ㄲ kk/gg
ㄸ dd/tt
ㅃ bb/pp
ㅆ ss/t
ㅉ jj/tch

After familiarising yourself with hangeul, the next step is to get yourself acquainted with the way the language is being used. You can achieve this by listening to the way Koreans pronounce words, phrases, and sentences during a conversation, and to try and repeat their pronounciation. You can acquire this by watching Korean dramas and movies, listening to Korean songs. But the best method is still to mingle and make friends with Koreans, and practise the language with them. If you’ve decided to pick up this language, I wish you all the best and happy learning!

CLICK ON ABOVE BOOK COVER TO RETURN TO HOMEPAGE

2007-09-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

5 Points in her post I would like to leave a comment… ( very polite hor me.. )

Meanwhile, I got invited as a special guest on talkshow “You Hua Jiu Shuo” (The one hosted by Quan Yi Feng and Desmond Koh), and as a special “surprise” for me, the producers also invited Steven Lim…

1. I noe its my fault for not being able to make my name well known, but with due respect… my name spelled with an A, Dasmond Koh

- What exactly did I write about Steven? Say it in his face.

2. If she can write in in her post, whats the prob of narrating it in the prog? *scratch head*

- Was Maia and I in cahoots to get publicity for both of us? (Answer is apparently no)

3. umm… a lot of pple in doubt abt it, isnt it gd to hv a platform to clarify it? unless….

- Am I being so controversial to get publicity?

4. too tough a question to answer? or… wat should she says on national tv… yes no no yes…

- Blah blah etc questions, some asked in a rather rude way.

5. rude way? we’re just being ’straight forward’ like her…

It’s so weird to have someone be offensive to you on tv, it’s like you are completely taken aback and can only smile with incredulous raised eyebrows…

6. You are outspoken, hide nothing, straight forward … then simply answer the question as it was thrown to ya… there’s no need to be completely taken aback and can only smile with incredulous raised eyebrows…?

I wonder.
What’s in her mind.
What’s in your mind while reading tis as a third party…

Don't we all just love backlash?

No seriously, thought I'd share with you guys my mentality over creating this blog post of mine.

I woke up one morning with a sudden urge to create a blog entry about all the disgusting bloggers around, because it seems that recently there are so many of them?

What makes a disgusting blogger?

With the obvious exception of Maddox (and me!), disgusting bloggers, are, to me, either (1) pretending to be something they are not or (2) think way too highly of themselves (and not in a joking manner, either, like I do).

There are, of course, many other really ugly and gross people around blogging too, but as long as they know their place, I totally have no problems with them. =)

Some of you have asked me, "Why do you have to do this to all these innocent people? They didn't do anything to you!"

Well, look around you, people... Did I do anything to all those people who wrote all those mean stuff about me either? No sire, I didn't! And I tell you, people who write about me do it way worse... I guess I do deserve a bit of it. :D

So I thought to myself, what the fuck? Seems like it's a fair deal - I want fame, and I get criticism along with it, right?

Survive it, and I continue with my work. Can't take it? Stop blogging altogether, and change your url!

And surely you all concur, people on my list are all attention-seeking people wanting fame.

And so, if here and there some fuckers would write bad stuff about these people on the list, why not me? Why can't I? Just because I am a wee bit more famous?

Now that's not fair, is it? Afterall, my blog is a platform for my views, and I am free to write whatever I want on it.

These "victims", so called, are also free to rebuke whatever they want, if they so wish to.

Of course, the smart way out of this is to take the high road and act gracious about it instead of insulting me back (personally, I think, insulting me back would be so much more fun and creative), which will naturally get readers sympathizing with the underdog and making me seem like a bully.

DO I CARE THAT I AM CALLED A BULLY?

Not in the least bit! I'm already being deemed as bullying handicapped-toilet users, foreign workers, filipino rape "victims", why not disgusting bloggers to cap it all off?!

Please stop telling me whoever and whoever took it so graciously and therefore I suck. I DON'T CARE! I'm tired of being fake and PR and being the bigger person. I want to be the petty and smaller person! (childish, but blame Mike, he spoils me)

So anyway, as someone rightly commented, Maia did invite me to her album launch in September 2005. Then, I didn't know her well (I only met her once before, when she was still a singing teacher), but I'd say I sincerely liked her then.

Circumstances, and perhaps, people change, and when she was a star blogger with me, I started disliking her (or rather, her online self).

Once, she left a damn stupid and act-PC comment on my star blog, saying something sarcastic like I am very superficial since I judged some uncle in the airport in LA. I deleted that comment, and our relationship (so-called, the superficial one we used to have) soured.

The last thing I like to hear about myself is that I am being fake, and therefore I felt like I have the need to clarify.

I don't like all these 5 people's blog persona, and it is unlikely I will like them in real life either (I thought Celeste was absurd in real life but didn't dislike her, although her blog personality is like... barf), so I don't care if they dislike me (please do dislike me, I don't know what to do if you guys are nice to me, it totally throws me off course).

It is, however, inevitable that I will see some of these people in real life (Maia and probably Nicole, whom I don't mind), and I guess if I see them I'd just pretend not to see them?

Sigh, wish Singapore was not so small.

Somebody else said something about me being fired from, supposedly, various media, and therefore, I am the real sore loser here.

Just to clarify, I didn't actually get "fired" from Stomp. My 3 month contract ended, and it didn't get renewed. In this rein are also May and Choy, Jaymee Ong, etc. I don't know if they chose not to continue or not, but seeing that blogging once a week is not that tough, I'd say maybe they also didn't get their contract renewed.

It's no big deal - I didn't fit into their rigid child-safe blog criteria, and therefore, I can't do what I do best (write in-your-face blog entries), and so there is no point in keeping me.

Nothing wrong with that.

Speaking of retailiation, Steven Lim does it best, of course. =)

17-07-2007, 07:14 AM

I think Xiaxue and Steven makes a good couple . :)

jingeileen

17-07-2007, 10:22 AM

what is this post for anyway? :confused::confused::rolleyes:

JhyphenBoy

17-07-2007, 10:34 AM

is this part of some flaming thing?

angeldevil4

17-07-2007, 10:59 AM

ppl of a similar breed shd be together..

*not mentioning names here*

Levallon

17-07-2007, 11:27 AM

Who are steven lim and celeste chen anyway? Never heard of them :confused:

alkiefish

17-07-2007, 11:57 AM

I think Xiaxue and Steven makes a good couple . :)

I agree wholeheartedly clarissa!

Xiaxue and steven lim make a fantastic couple!

Both are equally wu liao. :)

angeldevil4

17-07-2007, 12:21 PM

Who are steven lim and celeste chen anyway? Never heard of them :confused:

steven lim is the one who stripped on singapore idol if im not wrong..
http://www.stevenlim.net/ his webby

Levallon

17-07-2007, 12:22 PM

steven lim is the one who stripped on singapore idol if im not wrong..
http://www.stevenlim.net/ his webby
Oh, that guy? I think I met him before at the first sg idol auditions. He's pretty friendly from what I noticed. I just sat down there day dreaming while he was making new friends.

ChickenJoe

17-07-2007, 12:33 PM

Who are these 3 clowns?

angeldevil4

17-07-2007, 12:35 PM

Oh, that guy? I think I met him before at the first sg idol auditions. He's pretty friendly from what I noticed. I just sat down there day dreaming while he was making new friends.

he provides his eyebrow plucking services @ Tangs orchard :eek:

ArchAngelz

17-07-2007, 12:59 PM

Where did you get the idea that Xiaxue hates Steven Lim and Celeste Chen?

EvilCicada

17-07-2007, 01:33 PM

i dun see any point in this thread

Ridley_Scott

17-07-2007, 11:47 PM

I think Xiaxue and Steven makes a good couple . :)
Good couple? A pair of weirdos maybe. :D
Read on newspapers that Xiaxue is flaming Maia Lee. As such, Maia Lee did the same to her. A typical case of an eye for an eye. :D

clarissawon

18-07-2007, 12:11 AM

snatch from the website at

http://xiaxue.blogspot.com:)

Don't bother logging in .

It is a huge traffic jam.

Read at your pleasure at 4am in the morning.

msrobinhood

18-07-2007, 12:50 AM

whats the links? xiaxue hates them? who said so?

ziggy76

18-07-2007, 09:06 AM

fight of the virtual celebs in blog-o-sphere huh?

lol!

how.. truely... exciting... NOT!

Levallon

18-07-2007, 09:21 AM

I think people with ego problems simply because they have a high blog readership are quite sad in a way.

And xiaxue has a spelling error on the last line in her latest post.

'retailiation' :)

jingeileen

18-07-2007, 10:43 AM

snatch from the website at

http://xiaxue.blogspot.com:)

Don't bother logging in .

It is a huge traffic jam.

Read at your pleasure at 4am in the morning.

why are u even helping her to get readers?

ur strange.. why dun u adver. your own blog instead? :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

angeldevil4

18-07-2007, 11:26 AM

qwerty0870

18-07-2007, 11:33 AM

I think people with ego problems simply because they have a high blog readership are quite sad in a way.

And xiaxue has a spelling error on the last line in her latest post.

'retailiation' :)

I think XX is a fine example of the extreme waywardness some of our youths can get.
She reminds me of North Korea.....
"our plight is coz of the japanese and the americans... they are evil... we must hate them...if it weren't for them, we'd be prosperous and powerful"
Ever thought of reflecting inward? What goes around, comes around.

Levallon

18-07-2007, 11:44 AM

I agree with qwerty, anyway I find the small box of xx quotes on the top right side of the site good for some cold humor. Kudos to xx for entertaining me for three seconds. :p

Dollierot

18-07-2007, 12:01 PM

Haha.. XX seems to have a problem with everyone.
Even poor innocent ice Angel got flamed on her blog. And because she posted up what XX deemed as "act cute" pictures. :rolleyes:

Gosh.... Steven lim... Gives young girls nightmares. I happen to know him personally, and i think he's quite attention seeking and narcissistic. Look at the header on his blog!! :eek:
"SINGAPORES" MOST HANDSOME MAN" or something like that.
And he flexes his muscles and dances about in an oil stained greasy pair of undies!:eek:

Levallon

18-07-2007, 12:04 PM

But underneath it all I think he's quite a nice guy, I had a brief chat with him before the first sg idol auditions a few years ago.

ArchAngelz

18-07-2007, 02:08 PM

Its funny how XX can criticise other people's looks when she's has a looks problem herself.

I've heard (which cannot be substantiated) that she does not allow any photos of herself to be posted UNLESS they have undergone Photoshop?

Levallon

18-07-2007, 02:13 PM

ziggy76

18-07-2007, 02:18 PM

Skyyyyyy

18-07-2007, 03:04 PM

who cares abt them lar..

Ubergurl

18-07-2007, 03:34 PM

I think XX is a fine example of the extreme waywardness some of our youths can get.
She reminds me of North Korea.....
"our plight is coz of the japanese and the americans... they are evil... we must hate them...if it weren't for them, we'd be prosperous and powerful"
Ever thought of reflecting inward? What goes around, comes around.

But of course. (Not that I am THAT old myself).

The youth of today seem to think it's ok to have verbal and written diarhorrea and sprout nonsense all over the place without being held accountable.

They hurl vulgarities when situations go against them, they jump to conclusions without judging really the true situation; they have this herd mentality.

And when they get caught they behave in an even worse manner.

I have seen people who are older than 30 behaving like this even.

P.S. I am not 30. I am under 30 years of age. For now.

qwerty0870

18-07-2007, 04:45 PM

But of course. (Not that I am THAT old myself).

The youth of today seem to think it's ok to have verbal and written diarhorrea and sprout nonsense all over the place without being held accountable.

They hurl vulgarities when situations go against them, they jump to conclusions without judging really the true situation; they have this herd mentality.

And when they get caught they behave in an even worse manner.

I have seen people who are older than 30 behaving like this even.

P.S. I am not 30. I am under 30 years of age. For now.

dun fret ubergurl,

Kim Jong-il is 65 and he still behaves like that.

:D :D :D

Levallon

18-07-2007, 04:46 PM

dun fret ubergurl,

Kim Jong-il is 65 and he still behaves like that.

:D :D :D
I'd be the same if I had a couple of nukes ready to launch at my command. :D

qwerty0870

18-07-2007, 04:53 PM

I'd be the same if I had a couple of nukes ready to launch at my command. :D

Yah quite true....

See how Bush Jr acts like a baby with his 10,000 nukes?

:D :D

Regolith

18-07-2007, 05:29 PM

Hmm,a midget trying to look pretty and having a hard time doing that.

A not very handsome and fit guy think he is prince charming and prance about in his undies,and make stupid videos.

A girl that acts and look the position of the slut at such a young age.

Does it really matters who win?

Complicatedness

18-07-2007, 05:53 PM

Read Xia Xue's entry,

Read Ice Angel's blog, Read Celeste's blog, dun bother to open Steven Lim and LaoZaBor's Blogs,

but one thing's for certain:

Her entry has definitely increased the hits in all of the blogs.

ChickenJoe

18-07-2007, 06:35 PM

I am so damme disgusted by the things these fellas post on their blogs.

And i just ate nasi lemak.

Good grief!

Dollierot

18-07-2007, 07:56 PM

ziggy76

19-07-2007, 10:26 AM

hmm.. yes.. im very sure its an oil stain.. lol. from the greasy shine. *vomits uncontrollably*
He goes around pulling ppl by their arms and saying "Im famous!! Do you know me?!"
oh god... i wonder if anyone let him pluck their eyebrows before. :X

haha... if you guys think XX and celeste chen is bad, take a look at this malaysian blogger called Mayzhee. Some obnoxious narcissistic child who believes the world revolves around her. :eek:

http://www.chizzu.com/MayZhee/

lets not speculate about the oil stain. i'm pretty sure we'll never be able to agree what that 'stain' is. hahahaha...

I saw him once at a Gillette road show at scotts shopping mall, it just made me not want to be a customer after watching him make a mickey of himself.

poor example of using the wrong marketing tool. and he's just damn off.

apart from that. i hardly read blogs. most blogs are just a big yawn. except for a few good funny ones.

Prophet5

19-07-2007, 01:16 PM

Who is xiaxue, steven lim, celeste? :confused:

ChickenJoe

19-07-2007, 01:46 PM

Who is xiaxue, steven lim, celeste? :confused:

Some clowns.

KEVinZeee

19-07-2007, 06:13 PM

LAMPsHEV

19-07-2007, 08:33 PM

has anyone seen steven lim's retaliation video?

LOL. i think his vocabulary revolves around "reeduculors" and "youknowsomething?" and the "omg...OMG...OMG", and of course, the one that no one can forget, "you sucks, you sucks, YOU SUCKS YOU SUCKS YOU SUCKS".

maybe he sings that in his sleep to himself.

HAHA. YEAH! it was super hilarious!

Actually, neither. But I would say Maia is the lesser of the two evils.

After having been sacked by Stomp and TNP, it's funny how Xiaxue hasn't learnt to be mature and learn to be responsible for her words.

Xiaxue is the typical example of people who use the excuse of 'speaking their mind' to say anything about anyone. Without thought or consideration for others or the damage her words could do. She only cares about being heard.

Although I would not call Maia a good girl of sorts, but Xiaxue makes her look good by comparison.

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2007-09-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

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Sam Ng
Sam Ng
Sam Ng
Sam Ng
Sam Ng
Sam Ng (Duno)
Sam Ng
Sam Ng
Sam Ng
Sam Ng
Sam Ng (Dean)
Sam Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Ng
Samantha Erica Ng
Samantha Jade Ng
Samantha Marie Mei-Lin Ng
Samantha Ng Kar Wai (Ng)
Samantha Samson Ng
Samma Ng (Sa)
Sammi Ng
Sammy Ng
Sam Ng Cheng Hwee (Ng)
Samson Ng
Samson Ng
Samson Ng
Samsudin Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Suy (Ng)
Samuel Ng
Samuel Ng
Samuel Oliver Ng
San Ng
Sandeep Kumar (Ng)
Sandhya Ng
Sandile Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Lam (Ng)
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Powerpuff (Ng)
Sandra Ng
Sandra West (Ng)
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng (Wong)
Sandra Ng
Sandra Ng
Sandra Carolina Ng
Sandra Ng Li Wen (Ng)
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Goh (Ng)
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Arredondo (Ng)
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng (Suratwadee)
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Ng
Sandy Robyn Helena Ng
Sandy Th Ng
Sankai Ng
Sankie Ng Sin Kiu (Ng)
Sannie Ng
Sanny Ng
San Pak Ng
Santo Ng
Santos Ng
Sapphire Ng
Sapphire Ng
Sara Ng
Sara Ng
Sara Ng
Sara Ng
Sara Ng
Sara Ng
Sara Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng (Liu)
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng
Sarah Jean Ng (Painter)
Sarah Jinet Wai-Ling Wong (Ng)
Sarah Pui Yee Ng
Sarah Yu Ki Ng
Sardonna Ng
Sarina Ng
Saroo Ng
Sasha Ng
Sauhin Ng
Say Hooi (Ng)
Sayaka Ng
Sayne Ng
Sb Ng
Sc Ng
S C Ng
Scar Ng
Scarlet Ng
Schell Ng
Scoot Gabriel Ng
Scott Ng
Scott Ng
Scottie Ng
Seamus Ng
Sean Ng
Sean Ng
Sean Ng
Sean Ng
Sean Ng
Sean O'reilly (Ng)
Sean Ng
Sean Ng
Sean Ng
Sean Ng
Sean Ng
Sean Ng
Seaniverson Ng
Sean Martin Philip N Serrano (Ng)
Sebastian Ng
Sebastian Ng
See Ng
See Woon (Ng)
See Ng
Seechee Ng
See Ruei Lim (Ng)
Selena Ng
Selena Ng
Selina Ng
Selina Ng (Aniles)
Selina Ng (Selina)
Selina Ng
Selina Ng
Selma Ng
Selviana Ng
Sen Ng
Seng Ng
Senia Ng Sze Nok (Ng)
Sera Ng
Serena Ng
Serena Ng
Serena Ng
Serena Ng
Serena Ng
Serena Ng
Serena Ng
Serena Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng (Ern)
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ng
Serene Ariella Ng
Serene Mei-Ern Ng
Serene Siu Lyn Ng
Serial Ng (Istegeldim)
Serin Ng (Lim)
Sf Ng
Sg Ng
Shammie Ng
Shamrock Ng
Shan Ng
Shan Ng
Shana Ng
Shana Ng
Shan Cho Ng
Shanel Ng
Shane Ren Ng
Shanna Li-Ping Ng
Shannen Ng
Shannon Ng
Shannon Ng
Shannon Lin Yeong (Ng)
Shanon Ng
Shanon Ng
Shantell Ng
Shanzen Ng
Sharah Mae So (Ng)
Shareen Ng
Shareen Ng
Sharel Ng
Sharette Ng
Sharette Ng
Shariann Ng
Sharifa Ng
Sharmaine Ng
Sharmila Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ang (Ng)
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng (Cinco)
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng (Khoo)
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng (Yee)
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng (Xialian)
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng (Sharon)
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng (Patmou)
Sharon Ng (Joon)
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng
Sharon Tan (Ng)
Sharon Ng
Sharon Ng Shi Min (Ng)
Sharyn Ng
Shaun Ng
Shaun Ng
Shaun Ng
Shaun Ng
Shauna Ng
Shavine Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng (New)
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng
Shawn Ng

2007-09-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Allí hay un espacio de opinión para fans internacionales. Dentro de las muchas opiniones leí una de una fan China, que decía en términos generales que: Aunque estaba muy contenta y le gustaba mucho la idea de que hubiera Super Junior China, que consideraba a Henry bienvenido siempre y cuando fuera como solista o como miembro de otro grupo de SM, no como Super Junior. También decía que aceptaba a Henry como amigo de Suju. Que era un chico talentoso pero que no debería ser parte del grupo.

Me pareció curioso ver mensajes de fans Chinas allí, considerando que el alboroto parecía tener algo de xenofobia de parte de las fans Korenas. Sea como sea, me parece que la página es una buena forma de expresar lo que piensan y no haciendo lo que hicieron en el performance. Como sea creo si van a manifestarse tan fuertemente, deben hacerlo con SM. Escribirles directamente a ellos. La verdad no se si ya lo estén haciendo, como sea esperemos que esto no afecte los sentimientos de Henry.

Si van a pasarse por la página, tendrán que dejar comentarios en inglés ^^''

EDIT No lo había dicho antes, pero en realidad creo q a Henry le hiría mejor como solista q como miembro de Suju... honsestamente creo q esto le permitiría brillar más... es muy talentoso ^^'(No estoy diciendo q Suju no lo sea xDDD) pero definitivamente él puede brillar con su luz propia >33
Henry Power!!!

รายละเอียดข้างล่างแฟนคลับเกาหลีได้ทำขึ้นมาในภาษาอังกฤษและญี่ปุ่น และก็ได้รับความช่วยเหลือจากแฟนๆในประเทศอื่นๆ ซึ่งตอนนี้มีเป็นภาษาไทย จีน และสเปนด้วย
คนที่เห็นด้วยและอยากช่วยกันแสดงความเห็นไปที่เวบนี้นะคะ http://kt1171.ivyro.net/13/ วิธีการโพส ไปที่ Signature room แล้ว ตั้งหัวข้อใหม่เลยค่ะ ตามแบบฟอร์มที่เค้าให้มาอ่ะคะ กดตรงคำว่า write คือตั้งหัวข้อใหม่คะ ใส่ประโยคนี้ Super Junior's additional member objection ตรงที่เค้าเขียนว่า Subject แล้วตรงที่เขียนว่าContent ให้กรอกรายละเอียดตามนี้ค่ะ [ชื่อ / อายุ / สัญชาติ / ประเทศ] แล้วก่อนโพสก็เลือกตรงช่องที่ขึ้นว่า secret ด้วยนะคะ เพื่อที่ว่าคนอื่นจะได้ไม่เห็นข้อมูลส่วนตัวของเรา

กลุ่มนักร้องซูเปอร์จูเนียร์ ที่เพิ่งจะเผยโฉมในในรูปลักณ์ใหม่เมื่อไม่นานมานี้ ซึ่งเป็นกลุ่มนักร้องที่มีการตั้งเป้าหมายไว้เพื่อจะดีตลาดในประเทศจีน ขณะนี้กำลังคัดสรรสมาชิกเพื่อดำเนินการให้บรรลุเป้าหมายต่อไป

บริษัทต้นสังกัด SM Entertainment แต่เดิมที่ได้มีการแบ่งยูนิตย่อยเป็น ยูนิตเพลงบัลลาดอย่าง Super Junior KRY กลุ่มเพลงทรอทอย่าง Super Junior T ขณะนี้มีแผนการที่จะขยายตลาดสู่จีนโดยเตรียมตั้งกลุ่ม Super Junior China ในการโปรโมทในประเทศจีนนั้นวางแผนที่จะใช้สมาชิกหลักคือสมาชิกชาวจีนในปัจจุบัน ฮันเกิง และ มือไวโอลินที่มาเป็นแขกพิเศษให้กับซูเปอร์จูเนียร์ในเพลง Don't Don เด็กหนุ่มสายเลือดจีนเฮนรี่ สำหรับเฮนรี่นั้นจะไม่ได้เป็นหนึ่งในซูเปอร์จูเนียร์ที่เกาหลีแต่จะทำกิจกรรมในฐานะซูเปอร์จูเนียร์ที่เฉพาะประเทศจีนเท่านั้นซึ่งสมาชิกคนอื่นนั้นอาจจะเป็นซูเปอร์จูเนียร์หรือจะเป็นนักร้องในประเทษจีน หรือจะเป็นเด็กฝึกหัดอื่นๆก็ยังไม่ทราบได้ ซึ่งทางบริษัทต้นสังกัดยังคงไม่สรุปและทุกอย่างสามารถเป็นไปได้ทั้งสิ้น

ด้านผู้เกี่ยวข้องของบริษัท Sm Entertainment เปิดเผยว่า
"จากนี้ไปชื่อของซูเปอร์จูเนียร์นั้นจะเป็นชื่อที่เป็นสัญลักษ์ของสตาร์แห่งเอเชีย
เราจะสรรสร้างและปั้นดาวที่เปี่ยมไปด้วยความสามารถอย่างต่อเนื่อง"

From bits and pieces of the features of famous Korean actors such as Song Il-Gook, Rain and Hyeon-Bin, a plastic surgeon has come up with an "ideal" Korean face. Here's the full article (source: www.chosun.com)

A plastic surgeon has published a composite image of the ideal male Korean face. Rhee Seung-chul, the head of plastic surgery at Hanil General Hospital, made the image from the faces of 16 Korean Wave stars. Rhee had earlier done the same thing for women by making a composite image of 19 female stars.

The ideal Korean male consists of bits and pieces from Kang Dong-won, kwon Sang-woo, Kim Rae-won, Mun Jeong-hyeok (Eric Moon), Bae Yong-joon, Jung Ji-hoon (Rain), Song Il-gook, Won Bin, Lee Wan, Jang Dong-gun, Jae Hee, Jo In-Seong, Jo Hyeon-jae, Ji Seong, Ji Jin-hee, and Hyeon Bin? all of them popular not only in Korea but in China and Japan as well. He analyzed their faces with a computer program called BAPA, for "balanced angular and proportional analysis". The result is a slim face with chiseled cheekbones and a clear chin, big eyes, a long nose and long, thin upper lip.

"According to the beauty theory that says the average of all the most preferred faces is the most beautiful, I made the new-generation handsome face by using the faces of stars that young Internet users like most", Rhee said.

2007-09-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

	English		Malay
Book no.	First story	Second story	First story	Second story
1	Madman's Mansion	The Monster in Mahima's Mirror	Rumah Agam Orang Gila	Jembelang Dalam Cermin Mahima
2	The Case Of The Cursed Clock	Night Of The Haunted Hamburgers	Kes Jam Sumpahan	Malam Burger Berhantu
3	Scary School Bus To Nowhere	Revenge Of The Goldfish	Bas Sekolah Yang Menakutkan	Dendam Ikan Emas
4	My Creepy Computer	There's A Ghost In My Photo!	Komputer Seram	Hantu Dalam Gambar!
5	Happy Birthday Horrors	Eaten By Hamburgers
6	Our Radio Won't Turn Off!	The Cinema Of Doom
7	Don't Get Off At The 13th Floor!	My Shoes Have Gone Nuts
8	The Demon Dentist	Who Stole The Zoo?
9	My Handphone Is Haunted!	School Camp Terrors
10	Who Else Is Living In Our House?	Our School Ghost
11	Don't Laugh At A Killer Clown!	My Sinister Sunglasses
12	The Carnival Of Horrors	The Boy With Blood-Red Eyes
13	My Invisible Friend	Strangled By Spaghetti
14	The Fiendish Fish Spirit	Our Ghostly Bus Stop
15	My Friend's Now a Mummy!	May All Your Dreams Come True
16	My Class Vampire	The Mad, Mad Music School
17	All My Friends Have Vanished!	What's That Thing In My Pillow?
18	The Super Scary Supermarket	Who Invited The Ghost?
19	Flying Tiger Fist Of Shaolin	Demon's Island
20	We Made A Monster	Clones In Class
21	Don't Go Near The Neighbors	Sombody's Stealing My Life
22	Wormhead	They Came From The Drain
23	Good Knight, Raider Goh	Sleep Over And Die!
24	The Eight Legs Of Ang See Beng	The Demon Dentist Strikes Back
25	The Wild, Wild Wolves Are Coming	My Secret Stalker
26	My Cursed Mask	Welcome To The Weird School
27	Please Stay In Your Grave!	Forest Of Fear
28	The People Gobblers	The Revenge Of Mahima's Monster
29	My Creepy Cruise	Stranger Danger
30	Attack Of The Lizardmen	The Body Switchers
31	Stop The Deadly Dummies!	Who Sent Me A Coffin?
32	When The Ghosts Went Mad	Drop Dead, Gorgeous
33	The Legend Of Lady Long Neck	Who's Been Cursing Me?
34	My Freaky Shrunken Head	Evil By Email
35	What's That Thing On My Hand?	River Of Shivers
36	Dr Dredd And The Exploding Teeth	Dead Write
37	The Dead Are Dancing	Old Ghosts Of New York
38	Singing Swords, Dragon Drums	Have You Been Drinking Brain Juice?
39	My House Is Now A Graveyard	When The Vampire Wakes Up
40	What's That Under Our School?	Magic Shop Madness
41	There's A Witch In My Watch	Tree Boy
42 Few days back, my internet connection was extremely unstable, and I can’t do anything online. I then found a book in my sister’s room, titled “True Singapore Ghost Stories:Book 12″. There’s quite many stories in it, and I would like to share on with you guys. Hope Russel Lee, the author/editor won’t mind. Silly Lily’s Story It was one of the coldest nights I had ever experienced. It was long past 10pm and I was all alone at the KTM platform in Butterworth, waiting for my night train to Singapore. While waiting, I sensed that someone or something was inching towards me. I turned around and saw a beautiful young girl in her early twenties. “Excuse me, sir, can you please tell me when the train will depart?” she asked sweetly. She wore a beautiful cheongsam with a high slit that exposed her beautiful, slim and fair thighs. I was slightly embarrassed as I couldn’t help drooling. “Miss, I don’t know,” I replied. I then took another long look at her in hope that I could somehow befriend her. She took out her train ticket, bearing a number ending with 1038, and showed it to me. She then asked me if I was going the same way as her. I politely told her that I was going to Singapore to visit an aunt. Before she could reply, the station master shouted that the train would depart soon. I took her with me to the nearest coach, opened the door and sat down. She was silent and I looked out of the window as rain began pouring down. I somehow had to find a way to break the ice. “Where are you going, Missy?” was the best opening line I could think of. It seemed work. She smiled and replied, “My name is Lily and not Missy, silly.” The last thing I cared for was if her name Lily, Missy or Silly. At least she had smiled at me. I wanted to talk to her more but I felt shy, some how, in the presence of such lovely young lady. I took out my half-finished book to read but before I could start, she interrupted, saying she was a fan of horror stories. Lily then asked me whether I had time to listen to a story of her own and I nodded. The story was about Miss Chan who had turned 16 and was a stunning beauty. She managed to pass her government examinations and was proud of her achievement. She packed her bags and left her hometown for Penang in search of an exciting job. However, in Penang, she fell into some bad company and was forcefully raped one night. Two men killed her and chopped her into pieces, after raping her many times. They thew her body parts over many places in Ipoh, over two hundred kilometres away from Penang. The two guys thought it was all over until the forty-ninth after her tragic death. Miss Chan returned as a ghost to seek revenge on the two murderers. She sought them, and tore out their private parts, hearts, eyes and internal organs. It was more horrible than what they had done to her. Although it made the headlines, the mystery of the two mutilated men was never solved in Penang. Taken aback, I took out a cigarette and lit it. I told her that it was the most realistic ghost story I had ever heard. They way she told it, I thought she was there herself. I told her that it would take a little time for me to write to some magazines to share her story. She laughed out loud and asked if I believed her story. I was honest: I shook my head but complimented her for telling me such and entertaining story. She was adamant in wanting me to publish her story to warn all young gurks not to trust men like Miss Chan had. I told her not to over-react and I told her that I couldn’t promise her that I could get her story published as I didn’t even have time for my own writing. She put a hand on my shoulder and asked a question that would change my outlook, my lifestyle and my beliefs forever. “Do you know who is the girl is in the story?” “You mean Miss Chan?” I asked. “That poor girl was me.. and I’m now going back to Ipoh to rest in peace,” she said haltingly. “I have finished my mission.. and I’m going home.” I was stunned. “You are Miss Chan? Yes, sure! And I’m Frankenstein. At this point, the train’s horn sounded and Lily floated in the air. The Lily I knew three hours ago was not the same Lily that was floating in the air. She had taken oin terrifying demeanour; her hair was out of place and her face had terrible scratch marks all over it. Even her cheongsam as badly torn. I fainted. When I woke up, I was nearly in Kuala Lumpur. The station master found me sleeping alone and decided not to wake me up. I finally woke up and slapped myself a few times to make sure I had not dreamt the previous night’s events. But I held something in my right hand. They were two train tickets. One of it was my own and the other had the end numbers 1038. I realised her story was true and that is why I’m writing in now to you, Russell. I wanted her story to be shared to make her final wish come true. End ——- There’s something weird in this story. How do the guy know when the station master found him sleeping and decided not to wake him up? I thought he was asleep that time? Just to share this story, it’s up to you to believe it or not. If it’s true, I’m just helping Lily to spread the story, and if it’s not true, just take it as an entertainment. I did not blockquote the story, as it would be all in grey and make it hard to read. A Ghost Story from Singapore This story, apparently, is a true story from an army camp in Singapore. David, an officer staying in the camp, lived in the room next to his NCO (non-commissioned-officer). Every morning, David would wake up, do his daily morning routine, then wake up his NCO next door and they would go for breakfast together at the camp canteen. This lasted for quite some time until… One morning, David knocked on the NCO ’s door as usual. Instead of the NCO ’s familiar voice answering, he heard an eerie, inhuman-like voice answer from behind him. "Wait, You cannot wait, is it?" He was stunned; he stood rooted to the ground, too scared and confused to react. Just then, he heard the sound of a car horn. He quickly ran to the driveway and told the driver of the car about his strange experience. The driver decided to try it for himself, and soon both were back outside the NCO ‘s door. The driver knocked on the door… The same voice, also from the back, whispered, "Wait, You cannot wait, is it?" Both of them screamed and ran to the canteen. What do you think is the explanation for this supernatural incident? Could it be hallucination? But then, isn’t it coincidental that two people could hallucinate the same thing? And what do you think happened to the NCO? When David and the driver reached the canteen, they saw the NCO there happily eating his breakfast. Apparently, the NCO is well aware of the mysterious, eerie voice that haunted David. He even talks to the voice, which lived in his room. And David was so scared that he immediately applied for a transfer of room. What do you think the voice is?	Beware The Gravedigger!	The Eggs Of Evil	True Singapore Ghost Stories by Russell Lee With over 850,000 copies sold, True Singapore Ghost Stories has become a household name since its inception in 1989. Russell Lee, the top, bestselling Singapore author, compiles reports, stories and interviews about the supernatural. Light and entertaining, each book, which comprises about 50 stories, appeals to both children and mature readers. The masked author keeps his identity a secret, preferring to let his stories do all the talking.

2007-09-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

ews about SM Entertainment's unprecedented plans of forming a large twelve-member rotational group spread over the internet as early as 2004. The members chosen for the group became a popular topic of discussion within netizens after rumors spread that a handful of members from the group has made media appearances before. SM Entertainment gave their official announcement in forming a large twelve-member rotational band in February, 2005, the group being called Super Junior 05.^[1]

Most members have been actors, MCs, models, or DJs. Heechul, Siwon, and Kibum made their debuts in dramas and films. Leeteuk, Yesung, Kang-In, Sungmin, and Eunhyuk are still active DJs. Han Geng made his first media appearance as a model.^[2]

Super Junior 05 made their pre-debut appearance on the Korean channel, M.NET on September 11, 2005.^[a] At the showcase, Super Junior performed various styles of hip hop dancing. The group danced to B2K's "Take It To The Floor." Han Geng, Eunhyuk, and Donghae, also performed a separate dance away from the group, dancing to Usher's "Caught Up." However, the performance did not air on television until May 16, 2006.

[edit] Debut

Super Junior 05 made their debut television appearance as a group on SBS Inkigayo on November 6, 2005 as a twelve member group. The group performed their first promotional single, "TWINS (Knock Out)." A digital single with "TWINS (Knock Out)", "You are the one", and three more different tracks were released online on November 8, 2005. A CD single was scheduled to be released on November but a more complete album, SuperJunior05 (TWINS)^[b], was released on December 7, 2005 instead. Their debut album sold more than 81,000 units.^[c]

Like all Korean artists, an official fanclub was created for the group, called E.L.F. (acronym of Ever-Lasting Friends). Since Korean fans tend to support their idols with a certain balloon color, Super Junior 05’s official color became pearl sapphire blue. Critics term the group’s fans as "elfs" (elves) in relation to the name of their official fanclub.

To further publicize the new group, on the last month of 2005, Super Junior 05 collaborated with another boy band, TVXQ. Together they released a winter single titled "Show Me Your Love," a bubbly pop track. During this time, the two groups were seen on the same shows together to promote their single.

With the start of 2006 after "Show Me Your Love" performances and promotions were finished, Super Junior 05 moved onto their second single, "Miracle", a light bubblegum flavorted song that is a huge contrast from their edgier debut single. It was their last single to be promoted from their studio album.

Promotional image for the album U

Along with a start of a new year, SM Entertainment decided to alter some members of the group. Prior to Super Junior 05's debut, SM Entertainment had announced that this group was not intentioned to be a permanent group, but a rotational one–where some members from the group would either stay or leave, and new members would come in to replace them. The initial plan in forming Super Junior 05 was to create popularity and experiences for each member so they could easily achieve a high success in the Entertainment industry. After Super Junior 05, Super Junior 06 would be debuting, and the label was beginning to take actions to announce the new members. However, seeing the fans' reactions and how the members' requested to remain together, the label abandoned the initial preparation. The "05" in the group's name washed away.

On May 23, 2006 SM Entertainment announced the addition of a new member, Kyuhyun, being the youngest member. The new thirteen membered group polished a newer look and released their new single, "U" online for free download on May 25, 2006. "U" exceeded 1,700,000 downloads.^[3] The single was soon followed by the release of "Endless Moment" on May 29, 2006 and "Lovely Day" on June 6, 2006. The title song "U" enjoyed the #1 spot for several weeks on music programs for the first time in the group's career.

When promotions barely began for their single "U", a new single, "Dancing Out" was released on July 23, 2006 as part of SMTown's summer album. Super Junior had been frequently appearing on various musical and variety programs to promote their new singles thereafter. Because their single "Dancing Out" was a special summer single, they had their "Goodbye Special" (performing their last singles "U" and "Dancing Out" for the last time) on SBS Inkigayo on September 3, 2006.^[4]^[d]

The group's second full-length album was intended to be released on November of 2006, but due to Heechul's car accident on August 10, 2006, schedules regarding the second album had to be postponed.^[5] A year later in September, SM Entertainment finally announced the official release date of their second album. The day before the album released, the label released a list of demonstrative ringtones that would be included in Super Junior's new album.^[6] Global pre-orders for the album began on September 14, ane the album, Don't Don, officially arrived at the CD stores on September 20, 2007.^[7] Within the first three days of release, album sales went past the 11,000 mark, debuting as #1, and in close competition with Lee Soo Young's new release.

Super Junior made their official comeback on September 21, 2007 with the performance of "돈 돈!(Don't Don)" at KBS's Music Bank. All thirteen members of the group will be performing, being the first performance for the group to perform as a complete number of thirteen after a whole year.^[8]

[edit] Overseas expansion

Since Super Junior's debut in South Korea, the group endeavored to share an equal share of influence across Asia. The group has paid many visits to countries outside of their homeland, especially China and Thailand. Although Super Junior has yet to make an Asian concert tour, there has been speculation where Super Junior will target the overseas markets and hold their own major concerts in 2008.

[edit] Expansion to Thailand

Super Junior made their first overseas performance in Thailand on March 9, 2006 at a music ceremony.^[9] In effect of the appearance, the group's new single with TVXQ moved up to #8 on Thailand's Channel [V] Music Chart.^[10] Soon afterwards, "Miracle" debuted in the charts on March 21, 2006. "Miracle" was the first song produced by SM Entertainment that topped overseas music charts in Thailand of Channel V. The song stayed as #1 for four consecutive weeks.^[11] Siwon was also chosen to be the endorser of 12 Plus, and filmed several comercials in Thailand. During Super Junior's performance at the Academy Fantasia in Thailand on July 14, 2007, several hundred Thai fans were crowded around the stage to watch the group perform. Some fans even fainted due to excessive heat and limited space while many others were injured due to the heavy amount of shoving and pushing.

The group's third single for SMTown, released in the 2007 SUMMER SMTOWN - FRAGILE July 5, 2007, debuted as #18 on Thailand's International Channel [V] Music Chart on the week of July 29, 2007. The single jumped to #8 the week after, and on the third week the single advanced to #1.^[12] The single was a remake of H.O.T.'s "Full of Happiness" (행복). Aside the International Channel [V] Music Chart, currently on its 4th week as #1, the single also made it to #1 on the POP Channel International Chart and the MTV International Chart in Thailand. The single is currently staying strong as the #1 position on these three charts.^[13]^[14] album on

[edit] Expansion to the Chinese market

Along with performances of Kangta & Vanness, Super Junior made their debut performance as a group in China on June 12, 2006, performing "U" and "Miracle". After the performance in Qingdao, Super Junior became the most frequently reported Korean artist from the Chinese media.^[15]

Prior to the group's Qingdao performance on April 2006, Super Junior's only Chinese member, Han Geng, visited China for the first time since his debut to promote Super Junior. Since then, Han Geng and the rest of Super Junior gave continuous visits to China. On June 2006, Super Junior made their first visit to China as a group. The group has made over ten visits to the country since April 2006. In Han Geng's recent visit to China on mid-July of 2007, close to 300 fans welcomed him at the airport.^[16] After filming the Chinese film A Battle of Wits in 2006, Super Junior's other member Siwon made frequent visits to China to promote the film. Along with the rest of the cast of the film, Siwon toured four cities in China, the stops including Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Siwon's popularity even exceeds that of Andy Lau at some of the tour stops. On August 8, 2007, Han Geng and Siwon visited China again and traveled to Changsha to participate in a variety show that was suppose to be held earlier on April but was postponed because of the April 19th accident. Over 700 fans were at the airport to welcome the two.^[17]

On July 18, 2007, Super Junior arrived in Shanghai to attend a 2007 Cyworld event. Due to previous chaos and confusion caused by the amount of Chinese fans at the airport, and also because of a tight schedule, the organizers for Super Junior decided to lead the group to exit the airport through the VIP section instead of meeting the fans through the main entrance.^[18]

Due to continuous visits to China, sources say that the group has serious intentions to target the Chinese market, with a Chinese version of "U" released in the Chinese editions of the single, U, on June 15, 2007. It is also said that the group will record as well as perform more Chinese singles in the future, and will also release a Chinese album.^[19] Super Junior announced that they will hopefully hold their own concert in China by 2008.^[20]

Super Junior made their first visit to Taiwan on June 16, 2007 as guest performers and award announcers at the prestigious Golden Melody Awards, also known as the Taiwanese version of the Grammys. Super Junior announced the Best Vocal Group and Best Performance Album^[21]. They also performed the songs "U" and "Miracle" at the awards ceremony. The group also broke a record at the ceremony, having the most amount of people to announce the awards.^[22] However, only eleven of the thirteen members attended the event. Heechul could not attend due to a schedule conflict. Kyuhyun was still resting due to a previous car accident. awards.

Media outlets had termed Super Junior as "The Most Popular Group" after walking the red carpet at the Golden Melody Awards.^[23] It is said that their popularity at the ceremony even exceeds Taiwan's own artists. Over half of the fans present at the red carpet event were fans of Super Junior and over one hundred and fifty reporters rushed to the group to interview them.^[24]

[edit] The April 19th Car Accident

On April 19, 2007 at about 12:20 AM (Korean time)^[25] four members of Super Junior, Leeteuk, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Kyuhyun, and two managers were injured in a car crash. The driver lost control of the vehicle as the van flipped over on its right side.^[26]

Kyuhyun, who was sitting behind the driver's seat when the accident occurred, was severely injured with a fractured hip, pneumothorax from fractured ribs, and facial scratches/bruises.^[27]^[28] Leeteuk had a successful operation removing the glass shards in his back, and got a total of 170 stitches on his face and his back.^[29]^[30]

Shindong and Eunhyuk, least injured with cuts and scratches, were both discharged on April 23, 2007.^[31] Leeteuk and Kyuhyun recovered faster than expected,^[32] and Leeteuk was discharged from the hospital on April 30, 2007^[33], and Kyuhyun was discharged two months later on July 5, 2007.

[edit] Controversies

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[edit] Fan suicide

After a weight loss from 87 kg to 47 kg in three months, seventeen-year-old Lee Eun Ji appeared on an episode of SBS's Star King, a Korean variety show. After the program aired, the audience of Star King and netizens began to criticize Lee's unhealthy way of dieting. Her classmates also begun to spread rumors of her at school and she received many negative remarks over the internet, criticizing on her looks and weight loss. When a picture of Lee with a certain "S group member" surfaced on the web, Lee became a more popular topic of bashing online.^[34] After it was revealed that the "S group member" was Kang-In of Super Junior, members from the official Super Junior fanclub, E.L.F., began to insult her frequently. There were also reports claiming that her schoolmates became less friendly to her after her picture with Kang-In surfaced on the web, along with the previous rumors spread by her classmates.

Lee committed suicide on June 5, 2007; it has been speculated that harassment from Super Junior fans played a role in her decision to take her own life. On a note written to her parents the night before she took her life, she stated,

“

I’m sad to have been scolded. Father and mother, I’m sorry for having worried you. I’m sorry for having given you pain.

”

^[35]

However, it is still disputed whether or not Lee's suicide was really because of the bashing by Super Junior fans, or because of post weight-loss depression. According to Lee’s mother, she scolded Lee the evening before her death for not eating to lose more weight.

[edit] Cyber attack

On July 30, 2007, during an episode of School of Rock, Leeteuk said that Korean figure skater Kim Yu-Na refused his cyworld invitation. After the program aired, Super Junior fans posted over 7,000 comments on Kim's cyworld daily. Kim's fans counter-attacked Leeteuk's cyworld. However, Kim publicly clarified that she has never refused such an invitation. Ultimately, Leeteuk had to post an official apology for the incident to have ever occurred. Leeteuk explained that he wanted to make an interesting topic for the television program and did not expect such a bad consequence. He apologized for his false story.^[36]

On August 9, 2007, a hearing was held to discuss about the incident. According to the various articles, the panel discussed that it is hard to know whether a guest on a show is telling the truth or not, since Leeteuk did not say it during a live broadcast. Since the show did not verify the story before it was aired, the show has to take responsibility for the incident to have occurred. A final decision will not be made until further discussion after August 21, 2007. However, the charges will not be pressed against Leeteuk.^[37]

[edit] Music style

Further information: Super Junior discography

Of the two studio albums and two singles Super Junior has released since 2007, the majority of their music is of the mainstream K-pop label. Super Junior's debut single, "TWINS (Knock Out)" was an edgy, rock-influenced release, and also a cover of "Knock Out", a song by a British boy band, Triple Eight. However, their follow-up single, "Miracle", was a light-hearted, bubblegum pop love song, a clear target for the younger audiences. The rest of the tracks in their first studio album, Super Junior 05, mainly consisted of pop love ballads and also R&B-influenced dance tracks with rap and fast drum rhythms. The title song "U" from their first CD single was more focused on urban contemporary, having a more R&B approach to the music. Their latest release, "돈 돈!(Don't Don)" however, is a complete rock track with an R&B vibe. The violin bridge in the middle and the rich usage of guitar riff, drum beats, and also varying dynamics of the song heightens the song's musical essence. Nonetheless, most of Super Junior's promoted singles and main focuses are songs that fall into the dance category.

Heechul, Shindong, and Eunhyuk are sometimes credited for writing the rap lyrics in some of their tracks such as "Show Me Your Love". Eunhyuk was also the main contributor for the rap lyrics in the group's single, "U". Leeteuk, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, and Donghae wrote the lyrics to the pop track, "I am" from their Don't Don album.^[38]

[edit] Ability and criticism

Being a large thirteen member boy band, the members contain a variety of different vocal ranges to complement each other when singing, espcially in their fast dance tracks and slow ballads that requires harmonization. Yesung, Kang-In, Siwon and Kyuhyun sings within a deep bass range. However, they are also known for their vocal belting techniques, notably Yesung and Kyuhyun.^[39] On the other hand, Sungmin and Ryeowook sings within a tenor range while Leeteuk, Heechul, Han Geng, and Donghae's vocals come between as a mid-high range. Most non-lyrical introductions or bridges are usually harmonized by Super Junior K.R.Y. They can also be seen singing short a cappella cuts^[e], and are considered by many to be the most talented vocalists in the group.^[40] Shindong, Eunhyuk and Kibum are the known rappers of the group due to their rhythmical vocal range and quick tongue. Heechul and Donghae constantly raps as the supporting vocals.

Cover of studio album, Super Junior 05

Super Junior's debut single, "TWINS (Knock Out)" was an edgy, rock-influenced release, and also a cover of "Knock Out", a song by a British boy band, Triple Eight. However, their follow-up single, "Miracle", was a light-hearted, bubblegum pop love song, a clear target for the younger audiences. The rest of the tracks in their first studio album, Super Junior 05, mainly consisted of pop love ballads and also R&B-influenced dance tracks with rap and fast drum rhythms.

Super Junior has been criticized in the past for lip-synching and lack of vocal skills, specifically for shaky pitch and heavy breathing.^[41]^[42] The criticisms worsened in July 2006 when they lipsynched on Show! Music Core (쇼! 음악중심) of MBC, a show that guarantees all live performance. While fans have defended them saying that Heechul was ill, their critics argued that they shouldn't have to because they are a large thirteen member group. With Heechul being ill does not account for all thirteen members.^[43] Despite this, they have still remained popular through their strong fan base and their album sales have been strong.

[edit] Discography

Further information: Super Junior discography

[edit] Subgroups

Since debut, SM Entertainment has created two subgroups for Super Junior. The intentions of the subgroups is part of SM Entertainment's strategy to not limit Super Junior's activities^[44]; the goal of this strategy is to show that Super Junior can do more than just singing one kind of genre of music but a whole range like dance, ballad, trot, rap, etc.

At some concert appearances, the members have been witnessed sectioning themselves off into smaller-groups, and each performing its own set of songs. This causes speculation that the group's strategy is to actively target particular musical tastes. As these smaller groups are rarely permanent, with the exception of Super Junior K.R.Y, the constantly shifting makeup of these groups is able to target as many possible "tastes", and by evaluating which groups were well received, a clearer evaluation of the market tastes is possible and obviously these groups will enjoy reappearances in later Super Junior concerts.

On April 2007, the six members, Yesung, Kang-In, Sungmin, Donghae, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun soundtrack of the MBC drama H.I.T. They sang both the opening and ending theme, titled "Success" and "H.I.T", respectively. There has been speculation that these six members will be forming another subgroup, but this never happened. were featured in the

In addition, other members of Super Junior have appeared on variety shows individually, while others have hosted radio shows and music shows; three of the members (Leeteuk, Kang-In, and Shindong) continue to host for M.NET's M!Countdown and few other music programs are hosted by Heechul. Leeteuk, Yesung, Kang-In, Sungmin, and Eunhyuk are also hosts or co-hosts for their own radio shows.

Although the two subgroups of Super Junior, Super Junior K.R.Y and Super Junior T, met wonderful success, there has still been speculations within the media that a third subgroup will be made with the remaining members, Han Geng, Siwon, Donghae, and Kibum due to an earlier interview by Super Junior saying that a third subgroup is expected to be debuting^{[citation needed]}. However, no further information was revealed.

[edit] Super Junior K.R.Y

Super Junior K.R.Y, created around late 2006, is a trio which was formed from Super Junior members Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Yesung. They have participated in the Original Soundtrack of the tvN Drama Hyena with a total of three tracks, including the main theme.

K.R.Y.'s first official performance was on November 4th on KBS's Music Bank^[45] and have been showing live performances only ever since^{[citation needed]}.

Each member of K.R.Y has developed a particular persona and subsequent fan-base, the label has decided grouped those members sharing similar qualities and having them perform particular songs to target a particular audience. The members of K.R.Y, for instance, are amongst the most vocally powerful of the members of Super Junior, and have developed a marketable style as the mournful ballad singers (a style that has proven very popular in recent years, although stagnation in the style's development is causing it to lose its once fresh evocative power).

[edit] Super Junior T

Super Junior Trot, known as Super Junior T, is a six member subgroup with the members Leeteuk, Heechul, Kang-In, Shindong, Sungmin, and Eunhyuk. Surprising many fans, the group’s main music style is trot music, a traditional style of old K-pop that most music fans of the younger generation tends to ignore. Singing in modernized versions of trot, the group was widely accepted by both the older and younger audiences and received praises from music critics.

They released their first single, Rokkugo!!! (로꾸꺼!!!) (Rokkukkuh, the word "backwards" literally written back to front) to mainstream radio on February 23, 2007. The single was successful and topped several charts in Korea after three days of release.^[46] The subgroup made their first television appearance on February 25, 2007 on Ingigayo with trot singer Bang Shil Yi and sang her hit Chut Cha (첫차).^[47]

[edit] Super Junior China?

On October 2, 2007, SM Entertainment announced a new Super Junior subgroup project that will be beginning activities in China starting in 2008, named Super Junior China. Along with Han Geng and several other tentative members from the original group, Henry Lau, SM Entertainment's new Chinese trainee, who was also featured in Super Junior's "Don't Don" music video, was said to be one of the core members for the subgroup.^[48] The subgroup's main focus will be on the Chinese market, singing Chinese versions of previous Super Junior songs as well as introducing and promoting new Chinese singles.

The announcement brought in a huge wave of disatisfaction and opposition from fans of Super Junior. Many online petitions were made by both Korean and Chinese fans to prevent and convince the label to not add a fourteenth member. ^[49] Some fans are even planning to boycott the company's products.

[edit] Film and television career

Further information: Super Junior filmography

Some members of Super Junior have had acting careers. In Super Junior's Mini-Drama (대결! 슈퍼주니어의 자작극), the group wrote, produced, and acted in the drama. The subject matters of the drama chosen from the top three choices from the viewers.^[50]^[51] Super Junior have also participated in Super Junior Show (슈주쇼 Suju Show), (2005-2006), Mystery 6, 슈퍼주니어 풀하우스 (Super Junior Full House) 2006, 미소년 합숙 대소동 (Super Adonis Camp) (2006). Their busy schedule was briefly interrupted when Heechul fractured his femur in a car accident.

Leeteuk was the first to appear in a television drama back in 2000 in MBC's All About Eve, responsible for a simple cameo role. Kang-In was the first to debut as an actor among Super Junior, having a supporting role in the Korean drama, A Man and A Woman, released in May 2002. Heechul, Siwon, and Kibum then followed, individually debuting in separate dramas. Heechul and Kibum acted together in Banolim 2 (Sharp 2) and Rainbow Romance after their group debut. Siwon was the first to make a film debut when he played supporting role in the 2006 Chinese film, A Battle of Wits starring Andy Lau. The filme was premiered i over five different Asian countries.

Attack on the Pin-Up Boys theatrical poster

Super Junior's debut film Attack on the Pin-Up Boys (꽃미남 연쇄 테러사건) premiered on July 26, 2007 in Korea. This is the first film released from SM Pictures.^[52] Every member of Super Junior is in participance of the film with the exception of Kyuhyun, who was still resting from the April 18th car accident. The film will soon make its debut in the cinemas of China and Thailand.^[53]

The film is a high school comedy involving a blogger by the name of Kibum who blogs about all of the terror events that occurs on the 14th of each month. Siwon stars as the president of the Student Union, Kang-In as the president of Judo Society, and Heechul as a president of Dance Society. In the film, the three become targets to series of terror events.

The film did better than expected in box office sales. In reference to online ticket sales, the company was expecting a 22% range, but the sales made passed 41.19%. ^[54] It also gained positive reviews from film critics, pointing out that the movie was more plot-oriented instead of star-oriented, setting aside critical views of idol-centered films. Unlike past movies that tout its pretty boy casting, the film kept all the viewers until the end with a fascinating mystery.

Despite unexpected results in the box office of the film's premiere week, the film has failed to attract no more than 100,000 audiences.^[55] Nonetheless, SM Pictures is still making an effort to promote the film and to succeed in breaking through the film industry.^[56] The company will be attending the 12th annual Pusan Film Festival on October 4, 2007, and will also organize an opening ceremony, "SM Night." Previously, only SidusHQ and Namooactors, two of South Korea's top film producers, has contributed in the festival's opening ceremony.^[57]

The members also starred in various music videos from various SM artists. The most notable performance was in Zhang Liyin's debut music video, "Timeless", featuring Han Geng and Siwon.

[edit] Image

Although overwhelming, the large thirteen member boy band captures many fans with different tastes.^[58] Siwon also remarked that Super Junior is a group with a variety of styles, for each member displays a different charisma.^[59] With the release of each album, the group presents their image with contrasting concepts. Their debut single provided Super Junior with an edgy rock image and their second title track, "U," although purely a pop single, gave Super Junior a more mature look. The group's new image with "Don't Don" surprised the media with their unique hairstyles and dark appearance.^[60]

After the formation of Super Junior K.R.Y and Super Junior T, the group began to explore different musical styles. Super Junior T's goal is to introduce the younger generation to accept traditional trot music.^[61] However, they are also warmly welcomed by the older audience due to their entertaining styles of performing. Recently, Super Junior has developed a more mature style^[62]; their vocalization becoming more expressed in their music and also a slight shift in dance style.

[edit] Awards

Super Junior confirmed their ability as successful performers when they were nominated as Best New Group and won at the 2006 M.NET/KM Music Festival, given on November 25, 2006.^[63] Follow-up awards include Best New Group and Mobile Popularity at the MTV Seoul Gayo Daesang Awards, given on December 1, 2006.^[64] The grandslam was completed as they won the Best New Male Artist award on December 29, 2006 on SBS Gayo Daejun.

Year	Awards
2006	SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song, South Korea (June 25) – "U" M.NET M!Countdown 1st, South Korea (July 6) – "U" SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song, South Korea (July 9) – "U" SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song, South Korea (July 16) – "U" M.NET M!Countdown 1st, South Korea (July 20) – "U" SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song, South Korea (August 20) – "Dancing Out" M.NET M!Countdown 1st, South Korea (August 31) – "Dancing Out" Korean Chinese Custom Ceremony, China – Ten Most Popular Music Group (September 24) Korean Chinese Custom Ceremony, China – Korea-China Thirty Most Influential People (September 24) 13th Korean Television Arts Festival, South Korea – Group Award (October 31) 7th Korean Visual Arts Festival, South Korea – Photogenic Award (November 8) M.NET/KM Music Festival, South Korea – Best New Group (November 25) MTV Seoul Gayo Daesang Awards, South Korea – Best New Group (December 1) MTV Seoul Gayo Daesang Awards, South Korea – Mobile Popularity Award (December 1) M.NET Golden Disk Awards, South Korea – Best New Group (December 14) M.NET Golden Disk Awards, South Korea – PAVV Most Popular Music Video (December 14) Jukeon Digital Music Awards, South Korea – Best New Group (December 22) SBS Gayo Daejun, South Korea – Best New Group (December 29)
2007	SEED Awards, Thailand – Best New Asian Artist (January 31) 2007 M.NET Summer Break 20's Choice Awards, South Korea – Best New Asian Artist (August 21) 2007 M.NET Summer Break 20's Choice Awards, South Korea – Best Group (August 21) 2007 M.NET Summer Break 20's Choice Awards, South Korea – Best Performance (August 21) 2007 M.NET Summer Break 20's Choice Awards, South Korea – Best Pretty Boy – Heechul (August 21) 2007 M.NET Summer Break 20's Choice Awards, South Korea – Best Bad Boy – Kang-In (August 21) 2007 M.NET Summer Break 20's Choice Awards, South Korea – Best Dresser on Blue Carpet (August 21) 2007 Asia Song Festival, South Korea – Appreciation Award (September 22)

[edit] Related publications

Super Junior Photo Album – Boys in City, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2006 (September 16, 2006)
Super Junior 2007 Hanging Calendar: Version A & B (December 27, 2006)
Super Junior 2007 Schedule Calendar (December 27, 2006)
Super Junior Photo of the Month: Version A & B, Thailand 2007 (March 5, 2007)
Super Junior Photo of the Month: Version A & B, Eunhyuk's Birthday 2007 (April 11, 2007)
Super Junior Photo of the Month: Star Cards (June 4, 2007)
Super Junior Photo of the Month: Version A & B, (July 17, 2007)
Super Junior Photo of the Month: Version A & B, Attack On the Pin-Up Boys Special Edition (August 8, 2007)
Attack on the Pin-Up Boys – Making Book (August 20, 2007)
Super Junior Photo of the Month: Memory Game Card (September 7, 2007)

2007-09-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

Alphabetical Sort

Taichan Restaurant Pte Ltd
Chowon Garden Korean Rstnt Pte Ltd
Akashi Japanese Rstnl Pte Ltd
Auntie Kim'S Korean Rstnt Pte Ltd
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Han River Barbeque Rstnt Pte Ltd
Kim Dae Mun Pte. Limited
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The Singapore Korean School conducts Korean Language classes for non-Korean speakers every quarter of the year (Jan, Apr, July & Oct). The courses are designed to infuse and integrate not only reading and writing skills participants will also be introduced to the culture, customs and etiquette of Korea.

Course Details;
1. Korean Language Course consists of 8 levels.
2. Each level actively seeks to equip the student with appropriate reading and writing skills through effective teaching techniques and materials. Students will learn to read and write the Korean alphabet (han-gul) and at the same time learn more about the social customs and etiquette of Korea.
3. Each level runs twice a week (Tue and Thu, 7-9pm) for ten weeks.
4. Each lesson is split into 2 periods; each lasting 50 minutes with 10 minutes break in between.
5. Current year intakes : 9 Jan - 22 Mar 07
10 Apr - 21 Jun 07
10 Jul - 20 Sep 07

Super Reds Football Club is a South Korean professional soccer club which was formed to play as a foreign team in Singapore's S.League in 2007.

The creation of the club was driven by the Korean community in Singapore. Parties involved in the governance of the club include the Korean Association of Singapore, and the Korean business community and Korean embassy in Singapore. The club's founding Chairman and coach is the Korean football guru Hong In Woong, who was previously the Technical Director of Sporting Afrique FC.

The club was originally known as Korean Super Reds FC, but changed its name to Super Reds FC in August 2007.

The team play their home games at the Yishun Stadium.

Knowledge of this eating place was somewhat of a chanced discovery. We were driving along Tanjong Katong Road looking for the new ‘Miss Clarity’ (which we realized was not opened yet) and saw this brightly-lit restaurant just after the rows of shophouses and a petrol kiosk (I can’t remember which chain). Hungry, we decided to park and sniff out the venue – limited free parking is available in a little lane behind the restaurant (diners can also enjoy a free car wash at the petrol station).

Two friendly staff greeted us at the door as we checked out their menu on the stand. I took a peek into the restaurant and was skeptical about the lack of diners – except for the one alfresco table watching football on the big outdoor screen; the restaurant interior was void of customers. I hesitated but we decided to give it a chance eventually. (More customers did arrive after that but they all chose to sit outside with the huge screen.)

With the exception of some Korean dolls on the counters and the repeated Korean CD playing in the background, the clean white interior décor of the restaurant bore little resemblance to your usual Korean restaurant. But all that would not matter as long as the food was good, and it was (almost comparable to 'Ju Shin Jong' and cheaper). The menu was also similar to the latter, with various meats in the range of S$16 to S$28, and the popular sides such as kim chee pancakes and spicy soups – the restaurant seems to have lunch specials too but we were not shown the menu since it was dinnertime.

We ordered a serve of their Sirloin beef (S$28) and the seasoned beef slices (S$28) – yes, we're beef lovers. This came with an ‘off-the-menu’ complimentary plate of meat of our choice (beef, pork or chicken) – an opening promotion the one-month-old restaurant was dishing up to customers who ordered a minimum of 2 types of meat. Considering that it’s free, our promotional plate of pork was reasonably generous. You could also have the option of cooking yourself or have the server save you from the oil splatters – we chose the latter. And do not worry; they make a point to check out how well you’d like your meat done and serve you the first few pieces as testers before going full scale.

6 side dishes were served as soon as our orders were placed. This included black beans, sweet ikan bilis, bean sprouts (the small local ones instead of the usual huge one you would get), pickled seaweed, radish and cucumber kim chee and the all-time famous cabbage kim chee. What is worth mentioning is that the cabbage kim chee here is REALLY GOOD – we probably had 5 or 6 refills!! And the servers were very kind to automatically ‘monitor’ and top-up whenever we ran low. Now that’s one up for good service!

The looseleaf lettuce (for wrapping the cooked meat) was also extremely fresh! You know how some parts of the leaves can become a little brown as the restaurants washes and set them aside way beforehand in a bid to cope with the dinner rush? But that’s not the case here. The freshness was unbelievable! Every leaf of lettuce was oozing with crisp "green-ness"! Not to mention that the kind waitress was extremely quick to bring out a new plate just before my last piece was consumed. I’ll give another plus for the attentiveness!

Water (with slices of lemons) and fragrant Korean tea were served on the house. If you prefer, bottled beer is served at S$4.50 and soju cost S$25 a bottle. The opening promotion also extends to alcohol (1 free for every 4 bottles of beer, or 1 free for every 3 bottles of soju), which is perfect since the place is opened to 2am daily and there is both a TV indoors and a huge screen outdoors. Seems like a nice place to chill aside from pigging out.

So are there any down sides to the place? Well, parking is a little limited as I’d previously mentioned but if you don’t mind walking a little, there are many small lanes around the corner for parking (just be careful not to block the residents in the area). Also, I thought my boyfriend’s rice (S$1.50) was served too quickly (even before the sides) – it got cold by the time they started cooking the meat. And if you must be picky, the only payment methods were by CASH or NETS (no credit cards yet since they’re new). But the cashier did say that more options will be available later.

Overall, it was a pleasant meal! The food was good and value for money – total bill came up to S$64 for the 2 beef and complimentary pork. Service was lovely with the crew being extremely polite and attentive (other minor glitches easily overlooked)! And come on, where can you get free parking and a free car wash along with your great meal?? I say you give it a shot!

Editted to add (6 Oct 2007): Just a few details that came to mind subsequently which I decided to include in case it’ll affect your decisions to try out this place. The bbq stove in this Singaporean-Korean jointly-owned place runs on gas (those small refillable canister ones) so if you’re looking for the old-fashioned charcoal grill, this may not be the ideal place for you. But at least you don’t have to worry about smelling “smoky” when you walk out of the restaurant! Singapore News] The movie will be on screen in 167 countries, and Singaporean fans can anticipate to see Rain in the theaters on May 8 next year. The movie distributor Golden Village will try their best to invite Rain over to fully promote the movie! If all goes smoothly, another "Rain" storm might be coming!

During inquiries, the spokespeople of Golden Village indicated that Rain caused quite a big stir when he came to the lion city (Singapore) in the beginning of this year. will be Golden Village's biggest movie, and they hope to be able to get Rain to Singapore; with the help of his influence, push this movie up into the box office.

This movie will not only be shown in the US, but also in showings within 166 countries worldwide, including Egypt, Australia, Germany, Spain, Holland, England, Brazil, Japan and so on.

At the thought of the movie being screened in 167 countries, Rain has nothing but excitement, "Before the start of the film shoot, I kept wondering if there was even a need of me in any part of the movie. It looks like I was worrying for nothing, my parts were increased, that's just too good!"

In the movie, Rain's supporting role only had 30 minutes of acting time. But later the directors were greatly satisfied with his performance that they increased it to 50 minutes. According to South Korean reports, Rain practiced his Engilsh movie dialogues very diligently, and since the beginning of shooting, he said the dialogue was never corrected or revised, so it looked like his proficiency in English was rather effective.

Wachowski Brothers, directors of are directors of this new movie based out of the Japanese cartoon . In this movie Rain plays the part of an Asian race car driver struggling to maintain his family's honor.

9 Oct - 18 Dec 07

2007-09-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

The following are the abbreviations frequently used by Singaporeans who can usually understand most of them, with little or no context.

4D - 4-Digits, a Singapore lottery
5 C's - 5 C's of Singapore: Cash, Car, Credit card, Condominium, Country club
A*Star - Agency for Science, Technology and Research
AA - Asian Aerospace
ACS - Anglo-Chinese School
ACJC - Anglo-Chinese Junior College
AJC - Anderson Junior College
AMK - Ang Mo Kio
AMP - Association of Muslim Professionals
AYE - Ayer Rajah Expressway
BGR - (slang) Boy-girl relationship
BKE - Bukit Timah Expressway
BMT - Basic Military Training
CAAS - Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
CBD - Central Business District
CCA - Co-curricular activity
CCC - Citizen's Consultative Committee/Chinese Chamber of Commerce
CDAC - Chinese Development Assistance Council
CDC - Community Development Council
CHIJ - Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
CHIJMES - CHIJMES, Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Middle Education School
CMI - (slang) cannot make it
CNB - Central Narcotics Bureau
CIP - Community Involvement Project
CJC - Catholic Junior College
COE - Certificate of Entitlement
CPF - Central Provident Fund
CPIB - Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
CTE - Central Expressway
CWO - Corrective Work Order
DART - Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team
DSTA - Defence Science and Technology Agency (pronounced Des-STA)
DBS - DBS Bank, Development Bank of Singapore
Dr. M - Mahathir bin Mohamad (from Manglish)
ECP - East Coast Parkway
EDB - Economic Development Board
ERP - Electronic Road Pricing
GCE - General Certificate of Education
GCT - Goh Chok Tong
GEP - Gifted Education Programme
GRC - Group representation constituency
GST - Goods and Services Tax
HCI - Hwa Chong Institution
HDB - Housing Development Board
HPB - Health Promotion Board
HSA - Health Sciences Authority
IC - Identity card, or In charge
IDA - Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
IP - Integrated Programme
IR - Integrated Resort
ISA - Internal Security Act
ISD - Internal Security Department
ITE - Institute of Technical Education
JB - Johor Bahru
JBJ- Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
JJC - Jurong Junior College
JTC - JTC Corporation, Jurong Town Corporation
KIV - Keep In View; refers to items, documents or papers that should be kept around for later consideration
KJE - Kranji Expressway
KK - Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital
LKY - Lee Kuan Yew
LRT - Light Rapid Transit
LTA - Land Transport Authority
MAS - Monetary Authority of Singapore
MC - Medical Certificate
MCD - Ministry of Community Development
MCS - Methodist Church in Singapore
MDA - Media Development Authority
MENDAKI - MENDAKI (Council for the Development of Singapore Muslim Community)
MGS - Methodist Girls' School
MINDEF - Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
MOE - Ministry of Education (Singapore)
MOM - Ministry of Manpower
MRT - Mass Rapid Transit
MUIS - Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore)
NCC - National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
NCMP - Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
NCSS - National Council of Social Service
NDP - National Day Parade
NEA - National Environment Agency
NETS - Network for Electronic Transfers
NIE - National Institute of Education
NJC - National Junior College
NKF - National Kidney Foundation Singapore
NLB - National Library Board
NMP - Nominated Member of Parliament
NP - Ngee Ann Polytechnic
NPCC - National Police Cadet Corps
NRIC - National Registration Identity Card (identity card)
NS - National Service in Singapore
NSF - National Service in Singapore as a Fulltime occupation from drafting until ORD (see below)
NSTB - National Science and Technology Board
NTC - National Technical Certificate
NTU - Nanyang Technological University
NTUC - National Trade Union Congress
NUH - National University Hospital
NUS - National University of Singapore
NYP - Nanyang Polytechnic
NYJC - Nanyang Junior College
OB - Out of Bounds (see OB marker)
OBS - Outward Bound School
OCBC - Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
ORD - Operationally Ready Date, refers to the date on which a National Serviceman completes his 2-year term of service.
PA - People's Association
PAP - People's Action Party
PCK - Phua Chu Kang, a popular TV sitcom
PE - Physical education
PIE - Pan Island Expressway
POSB - Post Office Savings Bank, Singapore
POSBank - POSBank, also Post Office Savings Bank
PSA - as in PSA International, Port of Singapore Authority
PSC - Public Service Commission (Singapore)
PSLE - Primary School Leaving Examination
PUB - Public Utilities Board
PWD - Public Works Department
RC - Residents' Committee
RCS - Radio Corporation of Singapore
RGS - Raffles Girls' School
RI - Raffles Institution
RJC - Raffles Junior College
ROM - Registry of Marriages
RP - Republic Polytechnic
RSAF - Republic of Singapore Air Force
RSN - Republic of Singapore Navy
SAF - Singapore Armed Forces
SAJC - St Andrew's Junior College
SAP - Special Assistance Plan
SBS - Singapore Bus Service
SCDF - Singapore Civil Defence Force
SCGS - Singapore Chinese Girls' School
SDA - Singapore Democratic Alliance
SDU - Social Development Unit
SDP - Singapore Democratic Party
SGH - Singapore General Hospital
SGX - Singapore Exchange
SIA - Singapore Airlines
SINDA - Singapore Indian Development Association
SILS - Singapore Institute of Labour Studies
SJAB - St. John Ambulance Brigade
SJI - St. Joseph's Institution
SLF - Singapore Labour Foundation
SMC - Single Member Constituency
SMRT - Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Corporation
SOS - (slang) Struggling in silence
SP - Singapore Polytechnic
SPA - School-based Practical Assessment
SPF - Singapore Police Force
SPH - Singapore Press Holdings Limited
SPG - Sarong Party Girl
SRJC - Serangoon Junior College
SRP - Skills Redevelopment Programme
SS - Social Studies
SSO - Singapore Symphony Orchestra
SYAS - San Yu Adventist School
STAR - Special Tactics and Rescue (Singapore)
TCS - Television Corporation of Singapore
TIBS - Trans-Island Bus Services
TJC - Temasek Junior College
TP - Temasek Polytechnic
TPJC - Tampines Junior College
UOB - United Overseas Bank
URA - Urban Redevelopment Authority
VJC - Victoria Junior College
VS - Victoria School
VWO - Voluntary Welfare Organisation