Recent books on Korean Market

Autumn Prayer
By Choi Jin-yearn; Translated into English from Korean by Won Eung-soon; Good Works; 130 pp., 12,000 won

This poetry book consists of works that deal with the issues of life and death from a Christian’s point of view.

This is the first time the poet’s work has been published in English.

Rev. Choi Jin-yearn is a member of International PEN, serving as a trustee of the Korea PEN Center. He is also the Chairman of the

Review Committee of Korea Modern Poets’ Association.

He made his literary debut via the Poetry Monthly Magazine, “Simunhak” in 1973.

A poet and an essayist, the author has served at several churches as an ordained minister, and worked for Christian magazines as
a chief editor and publisher.

As a poet and writer, he has published 10 collections of poems and three collections of essays.

― Do Je-hae

Tears of Blood: A Korean POW’s Fight for Freedom, Family and Justice

Yoo Young-bok; Translated from Korean to English by Paul T. Kim; Won Books: 161 pp., 12,000 won

This autobiography tells of some 50 years of hardship endured by Yoo Young-bok, a prisoner of war of North Korea who was forced to live in the Stalinist state.

Starting on June 25, 1950, when the North crossed the 38th parallel to invade the South, Yoo tells how he was conscripted by communist sympathizers for the North Korean army when they occupied Seoul.

His story is far from simple: captured by the South after he defected, he settled in Seoul and was reunited with his family, only to join the South Korean Army again. He was then captured by the Chinese and handed over to North Korea.

During his ordeal, he was stripped of all free will: forced to watch and take part in a battle of different ideologies, and fought on both sides of opposing groups of people.

There is the familiar family tragedy here that accompanies war. A tale told multiple times in all nations fraught with disaster, yet Yoon’s is still sad because it is true, and told simply.

Kim, the translator who was only 16 when he first read the Korean original, said he felt he must translate it as he was “awestruck” by Yoo’s “human story.” Few readers will disagree.

― Cho Mu-hyun

Pink Himalayas

Korea Breast Cancer Patients Society Choir; Econbook: 260 pp., 13,000 won

Korea Breast Cancer Patients Society Choir, founded in 2005, wrote this book to tell readers about the lives of nine Korean women who have battled breast cancer for years.

All of them challenged themselves; they climbed a mountain in the Himalayas, together with doctor Noh Dong-young of Seoul National University Hospital.

The book “Pink Himalayas” includes the ups and downs of their life including the times of hardship and struggles.

And each one of the nine in the book, presents a unique personal story. They discuss their first reactions to the dreaded news of the reports of their diagnosis, how they have lived through the pain and the lessons learnt from the ensuing struggles.

The catching point of this book is the fact that it goes beyond mundane narrative of cancer complications but delves deep into the philosophical depths of life and above all offering an exhortation to all readers.
                                                                                                                        Rachel Lee

Chinese Student Soaks Up Confucian History in Andong

Andong in North Gyeongsang Province is famous for its history as the home of Confucian learning in Korea. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Andong is Hahoe Village, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, as well as Byeongsan Confucian School. Many of the homes of scholars and nobles from the Chosun Dynasty, as well as Confucian schools and other remnants of history are well preserved in the city.

Liu Jingshao, who is studying mechanical engineering at Andong National University, has recently developed an interest in Korean culture. Thanks to the rising popularity of the Korean Wave in China, Liu has been getting a lot of questions about Korea from his friends back in China. He decided to go on a trip with a school friend in order to find out more information about the country to pass on to his friends back home. This was his first trip in Korea and Liu decided to do some sightseeing in Andong and experience traditional Korean culture.

His first destination was the Manhyujeong Pavilion, about an hour's drive away from Andong National University. The pavilion and its surrounding forest are considered one of the hidden attractions of Andong. The path leading up to the pavilion is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. It allows for a relaxing walk while listening to the chirping of birds and the gentle sounds of a nearby brook. Ivy covers a wall above a waterfall leading to the pavilion.

The next destination was Gail Village, where the Andong Kwon clan has lived for the last 600 years. Every corner of the village exudes a Confucian and aristocratic ambience. Liu and his friend spent a night at a guesthouse in an old hanok, or traditional Korean home, here, close to the entrance of Hahoe Village. The community sits between a large pond and a mountain towering behind it.

In the middle of Gail Village is Sugok House, which was built around 220 years ago. A section of the building was turned into a lodging facility in 2009 after the Gyeongbuk Frontier Culture Foundation took control of it. The house and its surrounding area exude a traditional ambience.

After spending a night at Sugok House, Liu and his friend headed to Dosan Confucian School. This was the cradle of Confucianism during the Chosun Dynasty, where renowned scholar Yi Hwang taught students.

Revival of Korean movies

This is the 14th in a 15-part series on the stars and trends in “Hallyu” or Korean wave, which is gaining global popularity in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The Korea Times produces this special project in cooperation with the Korean Foundation and CJ E&M. ― ED.



If the 10-million milestone in Korean film industry is a good barometer, the Korean film industry is enjoying yet another renaissance since making it big in the early 2000s.

The biggest hit of this year is “The Thieves,” which was released in July. The heist film directed by Choi Dong-hoon with an all-star cast including Kim Hye-soo and Jun Ji-hyun currently has been seen by 13.02 million people, beating out “The Host” (2006) that attracted 13.01.



It’s also the sixth film to surpass the 10 million mark in the history of Korean cinema. Following closely on its heel is “Masquerade” starring Korean heartthrob Lee Byung-hun and directed by Choo Chang-min. After a little over a month since its release, some 9 million have watched the movie and the number is expected to rise.

“The movie simply reaped the success of the Korean-style blockbuster,” Jung Duk-hyun, a popular culture critic, said Monday during a telephone interview. “It’s one of the two major currents in mainstream Korean cinema today along with what we call well-made films. Now, Korean cinema has a full system set up to produce such commercial blockbusters, which audiences love to watch these days.”



Aside from these commercial hits, Korea’s auteur director Kim Ki-duk’s bleak-morality tale won the Golden Lion for best movie at the 69th Venice Film Festival. His film, “Pieta,” has also been submitted as a foreign language candidate for the Oscars.

Korean films initially appeared on the international cinema circuit around the turn of the 20th century. A number of Korean movies were already enjoying global attention before “hallyu,” or the Korean Wave, took Asia by storm with K-pop songs and television dramas. Quality films like Kang Je-kyu’s “Swiri” (1998), Park Chan-wook’s “Joint Security Area” (2000), and “My Sassy Girl” (2001) are among them. But the big spotlight came particularly with Park’s “Old Boy” (2003). Since then, the world’s attention shifted toward K-pop.



“Korean culture has received a warm reception from around the world thanks to K-pop that paved the way to enter the world market for films and television miniseries, and it pushed up exports,” film critic Park Woo-sung said Monday.

Also Korean directors are making successful inroads in Hollywood, if the ability to cast A-listers can attest to this. Park and Bong have shot new movies in the United States with big Hollywood names. Park cast stars like Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode for “Stoker,” which will be released next year. Director Kim Jee-woon also recently shot his new film “Last Stand” (set to be released on Jan. 18, 2013) in the world’s biggest film market with actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Forest Whitaker.



The rise in K-films is invariably linked to Hollywood as well.

“Hollywood has gradually been losing its monopoly so it is looking for new subject matter from abroad and Korea is one of the attractive markets for remake rights,” said Jung.

Amid such a spike in the popularity of domestic films, movie exports are booming, reaching $15.8 million in 2011, a 13.8 percent increase year-on-year. A total of 358 movies were exported, 82 more than last year. It reversed a six-year contraction.



More Korean films are premiering at international film festivals. “The Thieves” has been selected to open the London Korean Film Festival and will close the Paris Korean Film Festival in November. It was sold to such Asian countries as China, Singapore and Thailand even before its release here and is also set to be released in 12 cities worldwide including Los Angeles and New York.

The country has also been the host of various film festivals. The Busan International Festival, which closed Saturday, has positioned itself as the biggest of its kind in Asia and eighth biggest in the world since 1996. The Jeonju International Film Festival, which debuted in 2001, focuses on digital, independent and art films. Other well-known events include the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival, the International Women’s Film Festival and the Jechon International Music & Film Festival.



“Cinema is positioned as one of the must-do leisure activities in Korea and audiences tend to go for more popular films like Korean-style blockbusters than art movies or independent films these days,” Park Woo-sung said. “But this phenomenon won’t do anything good to develop the industry. Korean cinema should focus on its quality and content rather than just trying to go global and following trends.”



History of cinema in Korea

Korean cinema dates back to 1903 when people paid to watch moving pictures of scenery from Korea and abroad in Dongdaemun, eastern Seoul. In 1919, the first Korean film was made, a kino-drama “Fight for Justice” directed by Kim do-san. After that such silent Korean movies as “Arirang” (1926) were produced over the next few years with better techniques and production values.

When the Park Chung-hee administration took office in the 1960s, seen as a golden age, it pushed a program of state-led industrialization and economic development in every area of society and cinema was no exception. It ushered in a more stable system through corporation-style production so companies cranked out films, spanning a wide variety of genres. Notable movies in this era include “Aimless Bullet” (1961) by Yu Hyun-mok, “Mother and A Guest” (1961) by Shin Sang-ok and “Sound of Magpies” (1967) by Kim Soo-yong. Korean film has been through many twists and turns since the golden age and finally regained its momentum.

For more information, visit www. enewsworld.com.

Seoul Fashion Week starts next week

Top Korean designers will be unveiling their 2013 Spring and Summer Collections at the War Memorial of Korea and Seokyo Xi Gallery in Seoul from Oct. 22 through 28.



Seoul Fashion Week began in 2001 under the auspices of the Seoul Metropolitan Government which identified fashion as an emerging growth industry, earmarked for support.

The festival will present a total of 67 fashion shows comprising of 47 Seoul Collection, 12 Generation Next and seven Presentation shows. This year’s participating artists include Korean designers Lie Sang-bong, Lee Jae-ho, Song Jain and Kim Su-jin. There will also be a presentation showcase of Singapore fashion on Oct.25.

Fashion week kicks off with collections by Resurrection’s Lee Ju-young, Dominic’s Way’s Song Hye-myung on Oct. 22, followed by Liesangbong’s Lie Sang-bong on Oct. 24 and Steve J& Yoni P’s Jung Steve and Pai Yoni on Oct. 26.

The organizers have created a program designed for people aged between 10 and 50 to show off their creativity in fashion. The winners of the program will present their work in Seoul Plaza on Sunday. There will also be a special runway show with the theme coexistence and a concert, both open to the public, on the same day.

For more information, visit http://www.seoulfashionweek.org.

Designer brands boosting CSR efforts

Professor Gan ho-seob, left, Frida Giannini, center, creative director at Gucci, and Kim Kyung-chul, manager of KOSAF, gave a special talk to university seniors at Seoul’s Hongik University in April. / Courtesy of Gucci Korea


Luxury fashion brands are following in the footsteps of high-street brands such as H&M in corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Swiss watch brand Rolex has honored extraordinary individuals with its Rolex Awards for Enterprise since 1976. The biennial awards are designed to foster the spirit of enterprise around the world.

The 2014 scheme will select five individuals aged between 18 and 30 with creative and ambitious ideas in the areas of applied technology, cultural heritage, environmentalism, exploration and discovery, and science and health.

Submitted projects are assessed on their originality, feasibility and potential for impact. Those selected will receive 50,000 Swiss francs (60 million won). And the winners will gain access to the network of about 100 past laureates and gain international publicity.

Past winners include; Australian bio-engineer Mark Kendall who is developing an inexpensive way to reduce the annual death toll of millions from infectious diseases; Ethiopian Bruktawit Tigabu who aims to tackle the high mortality rate in her country through a television series designed to teach children about health and South African Andrew Muir whose project aims to provide training and jobs to young people orphaned by AIDS. There has been no Korean winner so far.

Applications should be submitted by May 31, 2013. For more information, visit www.rolexawards.com.

Italian jeweler Bvlgari started a campaign in 2009 to support the “Rewrite the Future” campaign for Save the Children. The international children’s charity established in the United Kingdom provides education to children living in conflict-affected areas.

The jeweler has raised about 12 million euros (approximately 17 billion won) since 2009 by selling a specially designed silver ring featuring the Save the Children logo engraved inside. Twenty percent of profits from sales of the ring are donated to the organization.

Bvlgari has also created a collection of 15 pieces of jewelry and eight high-end timepieces worth 3 million euros. The collection was presented in Rome at the brand’s retrospective exhibition “Between Eternity and History.” The money the items were sold for was also donated to the charity in 2009.

It has decided to produce more Save the Children rings to generate another 3 million euros until 2013 and take part in other education support programs such as “Healing and Education through Art Program.” It continues to donate 20 percent of the retail price of each item.

The ring is available at all Bvlgari stores worldwide. For more information, visit www.bulgari.com.

Luxury Italian fashion house Gucci set up a 5-year scholarship initiative to support Korean university students majoring in fashion-related fields in April. Titled “The Gucci Scholarship Program,” the leather goods house will award bursary aid for five students for a five-year period. The program was organized in partnership with the Korea Student Aid Foundation (KOSAF). The program also offers the recipients an opportunity to visit Gucci’s leather goods factory in Florence and a fashion show in Milan.

The brand’s creative director Frida Giannini visited Korea in April and gave a special talk in front of about 450 university seniors at Hongik University.

Fashion design/textile art professor Gan ho-seob at the university also participated in the event. Gan is known for his role as a judge on television program “Project Runway Korea.”

More details about application and requirements for the brand’s scholarship program are to be available from December onwards. For more information, visit www.gucci.com or www.kosaf.go.kr.

Experience Korean lifestyle in North Jeolla

맨 위에 450의 경우 table 삽입 시 아래 enter 하나 더 생기는 것은 여전합니다. 200px의 경우 공간 떨어지던것은 이제 정상입니다.

This is the second in a series featuring ``must-see routes’’ for foreign tourists, developed by the Visit Korea Committee. A total of five routes spanning the country will be presented over a three-month period. The series will introduce a high-quality tour biweekly and is in conjunction with the nationwide campaign to promote the ``2010-2012 Visit Korea Years.’’ / Korea Times News
There are many spots across the country where foreign tourists can see how Koreans lived during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). But there is no place like the famous hanok village, made up of traditional Korean houses, and other historical sites in North Jeolla Province, a three-hour drive from Seoul, to experience Korea’s traditional lifestyle and get a taste of unique cuisines.

There are also many museums displaying historical artifacts and local specialties, with dozens of restaurants ready to serve visitors hundreds of local delicacies.The Jeonju Hanok Village is a must-go destination for foreigners visiting this southwestern part of the country. At first, they will be amazed by a spectacular view of 700 hanok, or traditional Korean houses, and then by a wide range of fun activities they can engage in.

Other popular tourist sites nearby the hanok village, including Gyeonggijeon (a shrine worshiping the founder of the Joseon Kingdom), Hyanggyo (Confucian academy) and Jeongdong Catholic Church, are flooded with thousands of visitors every day.

If you venture out of Jeonju, the province’s largest city, a whole new world awaits you. The Byeonsan Peninsula, the national park in Buan County, is a beachgoer’s paradise. Visitors can also tour nearby Saemangeum Reservoir, created by the world’s largest reclamation project, which offers a unique view that cannot be seen anywhere in the world.

중간삽입 시 test - 이것도 여전히 아래 한 줄 더 떨어집니다.

 

If you head south from there and arrive at Gochang County, the nationally-renowned Seonunsa Temple and dozens of ancient dolmen, UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, are ready to welcome you.

If visitors go northeast from Gochang, they will encounter a rather uniquely-shaped mountain, called Mt. Mai, in Jinan County as its two peaks look like horse’s ears that arouse curious responses from onlookers.

``People know North Jeolla Province only for bibimbab and several other traditional dishes. But when you visit this unspoiled land, you will be pleasantly surprised by what it can offer both Korean and non-Korean visitors,’’ said Han Kyung-ah, executive director of the Visit Korea Committee. ``Jeonju Hanok Village and many other sites across the city, which is the birthplace of the Joseon Kingdom, are attractive tourist spots. Above all, tourists can enjoy a wide range of authentic Korean dishes at affordable prices.’’

The Year of the Black Dragon is the ``Visit North Jeolla Province Year,’’ Han said, stressing the year 2012 is a perfect time for foreign guests to visit the area and experience Korea’s traditional lifestyle.

Attractions

Jeonju Hanok Village, the landmark of Korean traditional culture, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Korea. In the well-preserved living traditional village, 700 hanok are home to Jeonju residents today. Visitors can appreciate the beauty of each hanok structure by taking a stroll through narrow alleys. During their journey, they will inevitably discover a number of facilities from which they learn how to make traditional artifacts and how to drink traditional alcohol and tea. There are traditional culture learning centers such as art crafts exhibition halls, master products exhibition centers, hanok living experience centers, traditional alcohol museum, hanji (Korean paper) centers, and herbal medicine experience centers. Visitors can participate in learning about and making traditional art crafts such as fans, while trying out the traditional tea shops and restaurants. Guests can stay overnight in hanok if they seek to experience what it was like to sleep during the Joseon Kingdom.

Gyeonggijeon, historical treasure No. 339, is a shrine worshiping the first king of the Joseon Kingdom, Taejo. The shrine was built by King Taejong in honor of his father. But the wooden structure was burned down in 1597 during the Japanese invasion and was rebuilt in 1614. The shrine holds Taejo’s portrait, which was drawn in 1442 when his grandson King Sejong was ruling the kingdom. The present portrait of the regent was redrawn in 1872 by King Gojong. Every year, descendants of the Joseon royal family from across the country hold a memorial service for their ancestors. Two tortoises are installed on the roof of the main building of Gyeonggijeon. Carpenters who completed building the structure put them there, hoping it would last eternally. The tortoise is also known as a preventer of fire as it lives in water. Besides seeing King Taejo’s portrait, thousands of tourists visit Gyeonggijeon every year to stroll its well-kept garden. It is particularly beautiful with autumn scenery and a popular filming location for historical dramas and movies.



Hyanggyo is a Confucian academy, which nurtured tens of thousands of scholars over the centuries. Many of them went to Seoul and passed exams, becoming civil officials from the Goryeo and Joseon Kingdoms. Jeonju Hyanggyo has become a popular tourist destination after it was used as a main filming location for popular drama ``Seonggyungwan Scandal,’’ which took viewers to Jeonju hundreds years ago. The Confucian school was first built during Goryeo Kingdom and the present structure is said to have been rebuilt in the late 1500s. There are five big and old ginkgo trees in Hyanggyo, with the one in front of the west gate being 400-years-old. The meaning of planting ginkgo trees in Confucian school grounds is for students to become an upright person as the ginkgo trees do not get infested with insects. Ancestral rites are performed, and legend says that if one supplicates a wish with a 250-year old ginkgo taken in front of Ilwok gate, he can pass a state examination.



Jeondong Catholic Church, the site of the first Korean martyrs, is located in the entrance of the hanok village. The church is established in the exact place where the first martyrs Yun Ji-chung and Gwan Sang-yeon were executed in 1791. Jeondong Catholic Church, built from 1907 to 1914, is the cradle of faith that preserving martyrdom place. The church’s cornerstone was erected with the stones from the ramparts of Pungnam gate, the south gate to Jeonju, after it was destroyed. As the first Western style building in Jeolla Province with Romanesque style, it became an attractive place with the cornerstones and stained glass with colors and paintings of martyrs Kwon Sang-yeon, Yun Ji-chung and Yu Jung-cheol. These days, the church has become a popular place for wedding ceremonies.

Makgeolli Village is where visitors can enjoy drinking traditional Korean rice wine in fun settings along with delicious side dishes at affordable prices. Paying for only one kettle of makgeolli fills the table to the full and special side dishes are available upon further ordering one kettle. There are over 250 makgeolli houses in Jeonju. Jeonju makgoelli is cited as one of the three most-known Korean rice wines, and they are as equally famous as the Jeonju “bibimbap,” “hanjeongsik” (Korean Table d’hote) and “kongnamul-gukbap.”

Seonunsa Temple located in Gochang County is famous for its beautiful trails. While walking on the trail from the foot of Mt. Seonun all the way up to the temple, visitors can appreciate a spectacular view of the mountain. In particular, thousands of people visit the mountain in the autumn when the leaves of the numerous maple trees turn red or yellow.



Built during the early Joseon Kingdom, Gochang-eup Fortress, 1,684 meters in circumference, is another popular tourist spot. There are engraved letters on the fortress wall, by which some people guess that workers were mobilized from various areas in Jeolla Province and construction was completed in 1453. Fortress hiking has been handed down and preserved as a unique folk custom. The legend states that if you walk around the fortress with a stone on your head once, all diseases will be cured; if you walk around three times, you will go to paradise. The best days for hiking there are in March. The dolmens are another must-see. The Gochang Dolmen Site is the largest and most diverse group in Korea, centered on the village of Maesan. Most of them are located at altitudes of 15 to 50 meters along the southern foot of the hills. A total of 442 dolmens have been recorded, of various types, based on the shape of the capstone. Those interested can learn more about this UNESCO World Natural Heritage by visiting the nearby Gochang Dolmen Museum.



The Byeonsan Peninsula in Buan County is a popular summer vacation destination for its beautiful beaches, while Mt. Naejang located in Jeongeup is the most famous mountain autumn foliage. Mt. Mai in Jinan County is another popular spot for visitors for its uniquely-shaped two peaks, which look like horse’s ears.

Restaurants

Jeonju hanjeongsik (Korean traditional table d’hote) is the food all visitors to North Jeolla Province should try. Hanjeongsik refers to a formal table setting at Korean restaurants and Jeonju hanjeongsik, which is widely regarded as a masterpiece of local cuisines, is even more filling to your eyes and stomach. During the Chosun Kingdom, Jeonju hanjeongsik was enjoyed only by “yangban,” or the upper social class, and served only on brassware. The menu is normally is comprised of 15 to 16 side dishes, including the eight to 10 main ones and three to four special dishes. If you want all kinds of delicious dishes on one table, Jeonju hanjeongsik is the one for you. These are some of restaurants that serve genuine hanjeongsik; Baekbeonjip (063-286-0100), Jeollahoegwan (063-228-3033), Songjeongwon (063-283-7663), Hanbyeongnru (063-280-7082).

Jeonju is also well-known for kongnamul-gukbap, or bean sprout soup, which is popular with heavy drinkers across the country. It is a rice-based dish cooked with bean sprouts and condiments in an earthen pot, called “ttukbaegi.” The dish is boiled in earthenware by putting a variety of spices on rice and mixing them with soybean sprouts and its unique flavor and refreshing taste has been loved by habitual drinkers as one of main Jeonju dishes. It is a must-taste in this ancient city. Jeonju’s weather conditions and water quality are particularly suitable for cultivating bean sprouts. For kongnamul-gukbap, visitors can go to Sambaekjip (063-284-2227), Hanilgwan (063-226-1569) and Wengi Kongnamul (063-287-6979), among many more famous restaurants that serve the dish.

Bibimbab, one of the Joseon Kingdom’s top three dishes together with Pyongyang “naengmyeon” and Gaesung "tangban," is the most famous traditional dish in Jeonju. It is a mix of steamed rice mixed with assorted vegetables and chili pepper paste. Bibimbab is the first dish that foreign visitors seek once they arrive at the city. Kongnamul cultivated in good quality water and fresh raw meat makes Jeonju bibimbab delicious and special. Nowadays, you can enjoy it even on trains or planes. Those seeking to eat genuine Jeonju bibimbab are strongly recommended to check out these restaurants; Gajokhoegwan (063-284-2884), Gogung (063-251-3211), Hankookkwan (063-272-9229).

 

Attention! Foreign travelers Foreign tourists, who follow one or more of the Visit Korea Committee’s ``Must-See Tour Routes’’ and leave comments on its website, could win free airplane tickets through a prize draw. Those who make suggestions on how to improve the committee’s tour courses may also be awarded with a prize. Jin Air, Korea’s leading low-cost carrier, is sponsoring this event. You can either send comments to jjijin@visitkoreayear.com or leave them directly at http://english.visitkoreayear.com/english/micro/bbs/01_view.asp?idx=242.

4 Ways of Sporting an Autumnal Military Look

The scorching summer heat is gone and the autumn breezes are here. Skin loses its luster and the chill creeps down the collar. This is when the military look, with its restrained colors and turnup collars can be worn to best advantage. Here are four ways of making it work for you.

◆ Casual

The easiest way to go about it is the casual variety, a combination of khaki jacket and skinny jeans or tight cotton trousers with chunky knee-high or ankle boots.

Stylist Yoon Han-young said, "If you want to be more edgy, a large check-printed shirt or a T-shirt with shiny beads will help you stand out." Casually rolled-up sleeves or shirts with a loose hemline can look trendy. Wear a loosely fitting shirt with one or two buttons unbuttoned.

◆ Office

For office workers, an all-out military look might be going too far. Instead, hint at it with a neat, knee-length H-line skirt, a silk blouse, and a large brown trench coat. Any trench coat will do, whether structured with thick fabric and wide collars, or thin, soft material.

The important thing is creating a twist. If the outerwear is formal, then you can be bolder with what you wear underneath, and if what you wear inside the coat is conventional, then you can choose more edgy outerwear.

◆ Girly

An example of a girly military look would be a jacket with epaulets worn over a miniskirt and floaty chiffon blouse. You can still go with knee-high boots, but killer high heels are also a good match. A dark coat should be complemented by brightly colored innerwear.

◆ Luxury

This was a staple of Princess Diana's. Try matching a flowing party dress with a military jacket or trench coat decorated with gold buttons and epaulets. An elegant pair of high heels perfectly completes the look.