Public Secondary School Teacher Appointment Cadidates Selection Competition Test

I don't know how to call it in English, so I translate it literally. I will call it just Teacher Appointment Test.

Anyway, Public Secondary School Teacher Appointment Cadidates Selection Competition Test is the test to choose candidates who are eligible for appointment in the public secondary schools in the South Korea. To pass the test is one of the ways to become a school teacher in S.Korea and it is the supreme one of them. Even though there are others ways such as teaching in private schools or getting jobs as substitue teachers, those who has teacher certificates want to be public school teachers because it is much more stable and it provides them with a better working environment. (some private schools have an unreasonable authority system.)

Teacher Appointment Test is divided into 3 phases.

In the 1st phase, testees take test of 2 subjects. One is Pedagogy and the other is their major subject. On the whole, it seems to be 2 subjects. But once you look at it closely, there are far more subjects. The Pedagogy test include all the sub categories of Pedagogy such as Educational Philosophy, Sociology of Education, Education Administration, Education Psychology, History of Korean Education, History of Western Education, and so on. Major subjects also cover various areas of each subject, for instance, Engslih major testees have to study English literature, Linguistics, Second Language Teaching Pedagogy, etc. It is not a simple test. The pedagogy test consists of 40 multiple questions and major subject test 40 as well.

The 2nd phase is the essay test. Once the testees pass the first phase, they take essay tests. There are total 4 questions which they have to answer. The test starts from the morning and finished around lunch time. Testees are allowed to use 2 hours for 2 questions, so it takes total 4 hours. They have 30 minute break between them. In this test, only major subject questions are given.

The 3rd phase is the most complex one. On the test day, testees gather at the test place. They are given the material to teach. They have to complete a teaching plan for one hour class. Only a pen, a paper and a ruler are given to them. After they finish, they have to demonstrate the teaching plans they made in front of interviewers. 2 days later, they are called upon again for further interviews. The individual interview is the final stage of the whole test.

As you see, it is not an easy test and competitive rate is really high. (last year in Busan, only 20 passed the test and more than 400 people applied for)

10 Rock and Roll albums you must listen(and how to listen properly)

Here's the list of the rock n' roll albums that you must listen to. This is made by me and beware that this list is 100% subjective. Any criticism will not be welcomed:P


1. AC/DC - Highway To Hell (1979)
AC/DC is the greatest Rock N' Roll band. It's really hard to tell which one is the best among their massive full discography. 'Back In Black' is the most selling album of theirs but I prefered this one. When I was touring the South Island of New Zealand, the bus driver played the song 'Highway To Hell'. Words of the song at that time scared me a little bit, however, I actually felt as I was in heaven! Play this album in the car when you go somewhere for a vacation.


2. Nirvana - Nevermind(1991)
It might be a bit tiring to talk about Nirvana because they were mentioned too much whenever people talk about rock bands. Nowadays I don't listen to their albums, but they are still my favorite rock band. Nevermind was the first rock album that I purchased. Play this album when you get angry.

3. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973) This album is famous for staying in the Billboard album chart for 741 weeks! It is an incredible record and there will no album that will break that record. This is like drugs. After I played this one first, I couldn't but keep listening to it everyday. Don't do anything when you listen to this album. Sit down and listen to every single sound in the every songs. Don't stop while you are listening. After it finishes, you would feel as you watched a movie or something.

4. Various Artists - Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack (1998) This is my favorite movie soundtrack of the non-favorite movie. I don't really like the story of this movie, but the music in it was glamorous. Watch the movie even you don't like the homosexual movie. After that listen to the soundtrack again. You'll be addicted.

5. The Clash - London Calling (1979) This is the greatest punk rock album. Even though I don't know much about punk rock or culture, this really sounds good to me. Play this and dance.

6. Pulp - Different Class (1995)

Jarvis Cocker is a genius. He really shows the DIFFERENT CLASS in this album. You can also dance to this music.

7. Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004) This it the greatest album of the 21th century, I think. During the rest of this new century, no one will be able to make a better one than this. Music and words are really well organized. It didn't sell well like mainstream music but apparently shows what indie music is. Their live performance is also great. Every members of the band changes positions for each songs and they use whatever makes sounds.(eg. hitting helmets) But to listen this album, sit down in a quiet place and concentrate to the music. (Also, do not stop the music until it finishes playing.)

8. The Killers - Hot Fuss (2004)

This guys just played glamorous indie rock n' roll then, and they become one of the biggest band in the world now. Anyone can dance to their music. I really hope to see them play in Korea.

9. Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go (1996)

The greatest Welsh band ever. This is the first album that they made without their missing (and who is still missing) guitarist Richey James. When you play this, imagine that you lost your loved ones, and the singer's scream will be stabbed into your heart.

10. Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

This is one of the unfortunate albums of 1967 (The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper albums was released the same year) and unfavored by the masses. It is famous for its cover art by Andy Warhol. Play this album and go to sleep.

All the music above is worth paying. Listen to them. But don't download them for free!

Lee, Han-Chul and Run, Run, Runaways

September 11th, 2009
20:00 @Busan Culture Center


This was fourth time for me to see Lee, Han-Chul playing. I saw him twice in rock festivals and once in his own concert on March, last year. In the previous gigs, most of the songs he played were from two albums of Bulldog Mansion(his previous band) or from his recent solo project. He prepared a lot, however, for this concert because it has been 15th years since he debuted as a musician. The set list consists of songs from his various music projects and even the songs he made for other musicians. So it was a really nice chance to enjoy all his musical history.


I've got a set list!

The gig was divided into 2 phases. In the first phase, he played songs that I mentioned before. The concept of the second phase was 'World Tour'. He made his recent album, The Record of the Moment, after he traveled around the world. Many songs in that album are written about his experience and feeling he had in other countries and he wanted to share his with ours.(There are some songs in his album which has got the title from the names of cities such as Tokyo, Sevilla, Milano, Havana) Audiences really enjoyed his music and the atmosphere. After he finished, he played 3 more songs for encore.


Lee, Han-Chul is one of my favourite Korean musician. He made a debut when he won MBC College Pop Music Contest in 1994. I didn't know him before I saw him appear in the famous situation comedy in 1998. At that time, I just thought that he was a funny guy. After that, I heard some of his music through radio or TV and became interested.


He has a rather complex musical history. After he made a debut, he made a solo album. Some years later, he met a guy from Busan, whose name is Jang, Ki-young, and made a musical collaboration called Zipper. Their song 'The girl whom I love...' was a big hit and he became more famous.

'Zipper - The Girl Whom I Love'

After that, he has gone through a lot of musical projects such as Bulldog Mansion, High School Sensation, 주식회사(A Stock Company), and so on. Now he's playing with his own band 'Run, Run, Runaways'.

'Bulldog Mansion - El Disco Amor'

'Lee, Han-Chul - Super Star'

But few weeks ago, it was announced that Bulldog Mansion will reunited temporary only for the Grand Mint Festival 2009.


He uses various things to make his music. It is a mixture of Rock and Roll, Pop, Funk, Ska, and etc. I think he loves Latin culture a lot. (He speaks a lot of Spanish on the stage. Though, I don't know whether it is spoken correctly or not.) He is a good melody maker and also good at making nice rhythm. While he was singing in the gig, he said that he want to survive for long as a musician. That's is what I hope, too. Because he does not play in the main stream, it is rather hard to live a life of musician. I want him to keep making good music and making people happy.

'Lee, Han-Chul featuring Park, Sae-Byul - Now, It's a Season of Love'

Jisan Valley Rock Festival 2009

One of the most exciting events during the last summer vacation as a university student was Jisan Valley Rock Festival 2009 (July 24th, 2009 to July 25th 2009). Because I had to study to prepare the public school teacher appointment test, there was not so much fun as I used to have before. JVRF was the biggest fun of cool(air conditioning was really good in library) but boring summer.


It was the first JVRF but the history is not too short. There was Triport Rock Festival in 1999. It was held in Incheon and the half of the festival was ruined because of heavy raining. After a year, Triport seemed to be held again, but it was cancelled because of low ticketing rate. On 2006, Triport was revived as Pentaport Rock Festival. Although it rained during the festival period, it was a successful one and the success continued for two more years. On 2009, there was a roumor that the festival will split in two and the roumor proved to be truth. Two companies who are planning the festival together had some disagreement and one of them decided to make another festival on their own. So JVRF was born. Pentaport and JVRF started on the same date in different places. I decided to go to JVRF because it is more like last year’s Pentaport. (This year’s Pentaport failed to construct fascinating line-ups.)


The concept of JVRF this year was ‘Go Rock, Go Green’. It was really in nature. The festival site was made in ski resort. It was surrounded by mountains and that was obvious difference with Pentaport where musicians play near city.


On the first day, I arrived there a bit late. I had 3 wrist bands on. The white one is to enter the festival site, the purple one is to enter the camping site and the orange one is to DRINK!!!!!!:D I missed several bands to set up my tent. Jimmy Eat World was the first band I saw.

Fall Out Boy from the U.S. was next. They played passionately but the response was rather cool. It might be because it was too bright then. Rainy Sun (I know it's hard to recognize but they are!), Korean band who came from Busan, played on the sub stage.I moved back to the main stage to see my favourite Korea band Crying Nut playing. They are always cheerful.And to the sub stage again! There was British band Starsailor. (I need to buy a new camera.) I left the sub stage before Starsailor finished playing because of...

WEEZER! He prepared a special guitar only for Korean gig and practiced heaps of Korean to speak on the stage!

On day 2, I missed American band called Airborne Toxic Event. It is the biggest mistake during 3 days of festival.:(

Anyway, here are Lee, Han Chul and his band. He always play well on the stage. I'm going to see his gig on this Friday. I'm really looking foward to it.:)

Next was Human Instinct. I don't know much about them except that they are old and Kiwi.This is another favourite Korean band, Deli Spice!

Legendary Korean Rock n' Roller, Kim, Chang Wan played with his band.It must be Korean band Windy City. I don't have much interest in these guys.

British electronic music group Basement Jaxx was next. Since 2007 Pentaport, electronic musicians are headlining one of the festival days. BJ was good enough to finish the night of the second day. They brought all their live member and the show was fantastic.On the last day morning, Bulnabang Star Sausage Club (Bulnabang is a garden tiger moth) played on the stage. Their name is funny because it sounds like Buena Vista Social Club. They don't admit that they got an idea from BVSC. They were funny guys anyway.

Here are the sensational Jang, Ki Ha and the faces!

And Mi Mi Sisters!

Before JVRF, I applied for the signing event and I won the chance to attend Priscilla Ahn's signing event! She is half Korean and half American. And I think she is not a human being. She is the Goddess.

Korean girl Yozoh is playing.

Legendary Patti Smith is playing on the main stage! People have the power!The Goddess appeared on the sub stage with her guitar!3 days of festival is alomost finished. My 2nd favorite Aussie rock band JET started playing. I sang along most of the songs they played (even I don't know the exact words:P)

After JET, Sister's Barbershop played on the sub stage. It was the second time to see them playing this year. I love their music a lot.And FINALLY!!!! It is OASIS!!

They were the best! I can not explain more. Recently they broke up the band. It is very sad news. I think I am a fortunate guy because I have seen them playing before they disappeared.

And this was the end of the 3 day festival. I don't know where I will be next year and what I will do, but I'm pretty sure that on the last weekend on July, I will be in JVRF 2010!