What a great experience! I have never been to the Korean Culture Center, and I really enjoyed learning more about our docent's personal life as a 1.5 Korean American, and her perspectives on gender growing up. I am sure there are many things that differ from 1st generation and 2nd generation. I loved that the museum also included a model of what their homes looked like in the past - I am sure that seeing this would give any student or visitor a chance to imagine themselves living during that time. Lastly, I enjoyed walking through the entertainment portion of the Korean Culture Center. It seems like Kpop, video games, entertainment are a gateway to learning to about Korean culture, and I am really glad that they have gained so much global popularity over the years. 

When people heard about the word “culture” center, most would immediately link it to something old or outdate. It is definitely not the Korean culture center we visited today. Besides the exhibitions of traditional Korean housing, clothing/textile, musical instruments and writing, there’re also other activities that attract the younger generation – Kpop academy, story time and language class. I also enjoy reading the pamphlets introducing different areas of Korea. Such a fantastic way to get people interested in visiting Korea.

I enjoyed the Korean Cultural Center and think it was very interesting. I especially liked the model rooms and historical artifacts, but I'm sure my students would like the modern culture on the other side.  If I worked in LA I would take students there, but from San Diego it would be $1000 for a bus and 3 hours up and 5 back (I've taken students to the Getty and the Museum of Tolerance several times, and it always takes that.)  So I don't think it would be worth it for me from San Diego, as it isn't enough to justify the cost and time.

     Yes, in agreeance, hearing our docent speak about the K-Beauty component and hearing she actually teaches a K-Beauty course was corroboration of the information we learned. 

     This causes conflict with some of the teaching about gender though, as lectured about women, beauty, and roles; Or maybe, it's not clear. But what is clear, both men and women are using K-Beauty.

     So, gender specification is not necessary when talking about K-beauty. Here are some inquistive questions: Are women attempting to make themselves more beautiful to attract men? Are men attempting to make themselves more beautiful to attract women? Are we attempting to become beautiful for attraction in general? Are we attempting to look beautiful for our own self-worth? Clearly, in Korea, this practice has been more popularized and published than other places. By the way, it will be very difficult to maintain "beauty" if you are doing blue collar work. Anybody? Anybody? Hmm?

The Korean Cultural Center was delightful before we even stepped into it! It’s garden was beautiful... a little oasis. The docent was so informative and really opened my eyes to the plastic surgery isssue in Korea. She also spoke to the issue of raising  / retaining ones culture .  I really enjoyed how we were shown the areas of the country and the docent gave her experiences with them. Even the instruments—she provided personal connections to them and their music.    I was really struck by the beauty and craftsmanship of the home decorations and the clothing. I wish I could attend some of the classes but they seem to be mostly on weeknights and that won’t work with a 4 hour drive ☹️  Maybe bringing a smaller group of students up in vans would be doable.

Interesting questions! I've heard similar discussions from the feminist movement in the U.S. Are makeup / attractive clothes / plastic surgery oppressive because they require women to sacrifice time, money, and comfort for the gratification of men? Or are they empowering because they allow women to feel strong, confident, and beautiful? It's a really difficult question (why does makeup give them confidence in the first place?) that I think each person needs to answer for themselves by really examining their reasons for engaging in these things and weighing the benefits against the required sacrifices. I think the fact that, in the US, we are allowed to choose for ourselves shows the progress we have made with respect to this issue. It's true that women who choose not to participate in that culture are treated a little differently even here, but it sounds like in Korea there is much more societal pressure to be concerned with looks. I think if someone is having plastic surgery because they are truly unhappy with how they look and the surgery will give them confidence and improve their life, all power to them, but when they opt for surgery because their society is demanding a very specific look from them, it is time to examine that particular value. I also acknowledge that I'm coming at this with my own Western beliefs about beauty and conformity, which of course are not universal!

And as to your point about blue collar work - that's often the point! Bound feet, pale skin, impractical clothing - beauty standards are often tied to a sign of wealth. It might be more subconscious for us today, but wearing nice clothing and perfect makeup are definitely signs of having money and time to devote to those things. I imagine that this causes anxiety for people with less money and time.

I agree with all the points you made. One of the things that struck me about the beauty/plastic surgery push in Korea is that it is not just women, men are doing it too. While personal appearance is definitely important here, it seems there is so much more emphasis on it there.