Day 10 - IFEZ + Community Media Centre + NC Cube Mall

Located in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Korea, the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) Global Centre aims to provide all rounded support for foreigners residing in the IFEZ. What kind of support do they provide then? Well, I headed down to the G Tower and the Community Media Centre where I found out more about their services!

The G Tower gave me a birds-eye view of the entire landscape of Incheon! The view was absolutely breath-taking as I moved along the glass windows from the 33rd floor, admiring the skyscrapers that were slightly below me. In this very tower, services extending from daily living, business activities, administrative service, educational courses and even international exchange events are provided. Basic to specialized counselling regarding legal, labor, tax and real estate related issues are also provided to help foreigners settle in the IFEZ.

The IFEZ has an area size of 132.9 km2, covering Songdo, Yeongjong, and Cheongna International Cities including Incheon International Airport/Ports and currently holds 2.9 million people.

The IFEZ is indeed a growing business landscape and is undoubtedly on its’ way to securing its’s spot on the top few free economic zones in Korea. I can’t wait to see how the IFEZ develops in the years to come!

Afterwards, we visited a nearby Community Media Center. The place allowed Incheon citizens to rent media equipment for free, so that they too can get a chance to be behind the camera and produce their own work. The center also provides training for residents who are interested to learn more about the field of media.

Fully equipped with radio booths, tv studios, and an editing room, residents have access to freely create any media content they want. We explored the center and played some interactive games too. It would be great if there is such a place in Singapore!

Next stop: NC Cube mall! This mall is unique as it is divided into four buildings named after the seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. There is also a canal in the middle, and several cafes built strategically next to it so that patrons enjoy their drinks and food beside the water.

The atmosphere was really good there. One can simply take a walk beside the canal too if they don’t like shopping.

My friends and I took the time to shop as there is a wide variety of stores there, including premier brands. I would love to visit this place again if I have the time!

Written by Abigail Leong and Peggy Tan as ODAO

Day 9 - Bibap!

Somersaults, flying kicks and body flips flashed passed my eyes as I sat in the first row of the theatre. Never once throughout the entire show did my heart stop pounding because of the dangerous stunts that were being pulled off by the actors. Suddenly, things took a turn when I started seeing vegetables being thrown across the stage! That’s when I thought to myself that this wasn’t just any regular musical that I’ve ever seen before.

Who would’ve ever thought that cooking could be incorporated into a musical? Bibap made its’ first debut in 2009 and has gained world recognition for its stunning performances thus far. The performance is put together with a combination of beat-boxing, acapella singing, b-boying, acrobatics and martial arts. But what’s even more amazing is that the entire musical is a nonverbal performance where the actors mimic the sound of making different dishes from various cuisines!

The musical revolves around two head chefs that are competing to prepare the best dish of various cuisines ranging from Chinese, Italian, Japanese and lastly, Korean. In each cook-off, the winner is then selected by a random audience member which makes this performance even more exciting.

Tears of laughter were shed as the actors performed slapstick comedy on stage. All the actors performed so well and it is so hard to choose a favourite one. However, if I must pick, I would choose the “Rookie Chef”. The “Rookie Chef” made me laugh the hardest as he made several mistakes whilst preparing the dishes. Not to mention, he was always one step behind the other apprentices, giving opportunities for them to make fun of him. But, what attracted me the most was when he started b-boying towards the end of the performance. His swift moves completely changed my impression of him!

Everything, from lights to sound to music was prepared so well that I could leave no room for critics. I was left in awe several times during the entire duration of the performance especially with the beat-boxing! I thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout the entire performance and if I had a chance to watch it again, then I would most certainly not decline. Bibap went beyond my expectations is now on my list of top musicals that I’ve watched.

If you’re looking for comedy, action and entertainment, then Bibap is the musical for you.

Written by Abigail Leong as ODAO

Day 7 - KBS Drama Centre

How many times have you watched a Korean drama and wondered what it’s like on the set of where your /oppas/ and /noonas/ film?

Too many times, that’s for sure. Well, at least for me.

And for the first time in Kimchi history, I went to the drama set in KBS not as a side dish, but as a guest who got to take a look at where many dramas have been filmed before.

We were first brought to an indoor set where the morning dramas are usually filmed. Rooms of different kinds were built side by side in the studio, so much so that had it not been for the lights hanging from the ceiling, it would’ve looked like there was a mini village within those four walls. What’s special though, is the fact that the sets are smaller than what appears on screen. This is so as the cameras make the set appear much bigger than what they really are.

However, the movie magic does not stop there.

Injuries and wounds that you see in dramas aren’t just the product of incredibly realistic makeup. At KBS, they have their own props studio where they use silicon to make fake limbs or bodies. There, they also painstakingly craft the props that are needed for their shows.

Moving outside, we were met with an even bigger set. What looks like an entire town is actually made up of plaster, and rocks that seemed solid could be pressed in and squished. KBS Drama Centre even built towns based on different eras, even renting their sets to other broadcasting companies should they need it.

It has always been a dream of mine to star in a k-drama, and although this wasn't my shot to fame, to have stepped on the same ground as my /oppas/ and /noonas/, how blessed I must be.

Written by Nicole as ODAO