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When I was a little boy, people used to tell me that I would be able to easily understand at least one-third of the Japanese language because one-third of that language is written in good old Chinese characters (however, this turns out to be false - I don't understand anything in Japanese up to now). As for the Korean language, I thought it'll be sort of comprehensible, too, as it's full of the square characters as well. When I first arrived in Seoul, Korea I was astonished to find that they don't use much of Chinese characters! What they use to record their language are some lines, circles and squares that are casually put together to compose mysterious forms. In old Chinese stories Taoist monks used to use this kind of signs to drive away ghosts! I spent 5 days in Korea in October 1998. It was a pity I didn't go Cheju-do (an island to the south of the Korea Peninsula), where people say is the most beautiful site of the country. We landed in the Kimpo International Airport (I doubt it's the only airport in Korea) in Seoul, and then set out for Inch'on (to the west) on a bus. |
