Musical Interlude: Canon Gayageum / Beat Box / B-Boy Variation

Let it be known that donism is your source for Gayageum videos (ㅋㅋ).

If you’ve been around for a bit, you’ll know I have a thing for the graceful sounds of the Gayageum (가야금). Have a look at this older post, A little Beatles, Gayageum-style, to start your journey.

This next video, by all accounts, should be something I am opposed to, with modernisms such as breakdancing and beat boxing (I am pretty crotchety for a 25 year-old), but it works out well for an apartment complex advertisement.

The Sookmyung Gayageum Orchestra goes for it again with this ultra-modern Canon variation. Play it a few times and let it grow on you.

TVing IPTV service “launches” in the media

While The Korea Times shows up late to the TVing party, we’ve been here for a while. Coming via an Akihabara News blurb, The Korea Times article does give a bit more insight into the future of the service (which it turns out is run by CJ). Seems CJ has plans to offer the service on telephones (which sure beats the slim offerings of DMB) and internet-enabled televisions.

If you’re looking for more information I discussed the pricing and made a guide for signing up, as well as a run down of the service with screen shots.

TVing’s Introductory Pricing

TVing: Free (for now) Live Korean TV (My original post. Note: It’s not free anymore)

TVing’s Introductory Pricing

TVing (discussed before) seems to have left open beta, and has thus introduced its introductory pricing structure. And it’s surprisingly reasonable. As a side not, the web interface includes channel chat, a TV guide, select VOD programs, and a nifty channel changer (graphic above).

The (non-porn) packages are as follows:

1 Day (+7 free days of viewing) = 1,000 KRW (regular 1,500KRW)

30 Days (+30 free days of viewing) = 3,500 KRW (regular 5,000KRW)

Monthly (+30 days of free viewing) = 3,000 KRW (regular 4,500KRW)

I am 99% sure about my translation of the last one, and I assume it’s calendar months (as in 1st of the month to the last). And it seems like 30 days is just 30 days regardless of the length of the month.

If you can read Korean and want to verify this (or check out the porn packages), visit the TVing order page.

TVing: Free (for now) Live Korean TV

On April 6th, GOM opened it’s new live online TV broadcast system, TVing to GOM members. It has been in free open beta since. I can’t say I have figured out how long it will be in open beta. Regardless, if you go to their site, you can register for a free 7-day viewing coupon which will begin once the open beta is over. So, if you’re Korean or a spaceman with an Alien Card in Korea, you should head over now.

This is obviously good for those without a TV or cable. But, if you do have those there are some added benefits, such as plenty of sports channels which will cover all the required baseball games of the day. For us English-speakers, you can watch CNN (Hong Kong), Bloomberg (Asia), Nat. Geo Wild, and Arirang. I only have basic cable, so I don’t get any of these. I can also see it being useful when you’re in a Starbucks (where I see plenty of whities), and need a news fix.

Here’s their nifty live TV guide.

Bloomberg and CNN are particularly good for staying on top of the business world / general expat community in Asia. The focus on these channels are mostly Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo (as with CNN Go), but Seoul / Korean issues pop up from time to time.

So far, there’s no indication as to their pricing structure, but I will be considering purchasing the service if it’s reasonably priced.

Required to watch

1. Windows w/ IE (welcome to Korea)

2. An ARC card

3. A GOM account (requires #2)

4. GOM Player (more convenient than the web version). You should have this for watching movies / VOD tv shows and music anyway

5. Free 7-day post-beta coupon

An example of CNN with the channel menu open on the right. It can be played full screen at tolerable quality.