The Mediterranean diet is synonymous with healthy eating in the Western world, originating from people’s diet in Mediterranean countries like Italy and Greece where people eat less milk products, meat, poultry and saturated fat but eat more vegetables, fruit, fish,olive oil, grains and nuts.

In February 2010, a Columbia University research team, in the US, found that the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of stroke, dementia and heart disease. In addition, other research conducted by a medical journal discovered that people on a Mediterranean diet had a 30 % less chance of becoming depressed than those on an ordinary diet. It is not surprising that the Mediterranean diet is known as the king of all healthy diets because it is good for people’s mental and physical health.

However, do you know about Hansik, the Korean food, which is a healthy diet better than the Mediterranean diet?

The nature of Hansik is based on health. In Korea, there is a saying that the roots of ‘medicine’ and ‘food’ are the same so if you eat well, it will be like taking a good medicine. In the past, Koreans think first of people’s health when they prepare food. For example, if you look at the ingredients of major Korean dishes like Bibimbap, Japchae and Galbijjim, you will see that the ratio of animal and vegetable foods is 20 to 80, keeping in harmony. Historically, Koreans thought that food was the link between nature and man so they developed recipes which could bring out the natural flavor and taste of the ingredients when they prepare food. “Namul”, or wild vegetables, is a popular Korean dish prepared to bring out its natural flavor by
simply mixing or boiling the vegetables without damaging the nutrients of the original ingredients.

Korean food also reflects the profound philosophy of the ‘Yin-yang and the Five Elements’ refers to the philosophy that all things can be divided into yin and yang. In Hansik, vegetables with roots in the soil
are regarded as ‘yin’ while vegetables which bear fruits above soil, animals or fish are ‘yang’. Moreover, according to this philosophy, all things are composed of the Five Elements, metal, wood, water, fire
and earth. It means that 5 colors’ tastes and recipes must be considered when cooking.

For example, Bibimbap is the most popular food, Hansik, reflected well of Yin-yang and the Five
Elements. The ingredients of Bibimbap are rice, red pepper paste, wild vegetables, water parsley, bean sprouts and Korean-style raw beef. In this way, the yin-yang of the ingredients are in harmony with
the Obangsaek(5 colors), yellow (middle), blue (east), white (west), red (south) and black (north).

Today, many researchers at home and abroad are studying Hansik with ‘nature’, ‘health’ and ‘Oriental philosophy’ as its ingredients. ‘Health,’ an American health journal has designated Kimchi, the main Korean dish, as one of the Five Healthiest Foods in the world.

Unfortunately, he died during this battle, but he did not want his death to be known leading to England’s victory. Even at the moment of his death, he was a great hero who thought only of his home country. After the battle, the England expanded the British Empire by dominating the sea and controlling trading blocs in Europe.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin

There was also a Korean navy admiral who was known to be as great as or better than Lord Nelson. He was Admiral Yi Sunsin(1545-1598). During the Imjin War in 1592, he led all the naval battles to victory. He also led the Battle of Hansando Island, one of the four greatest naval battles in the world’s history. Before the Imjin War started, he prepared for war perfectly because he anticipated it. He created and built Geobukseon (Turtle ship), war ship with an armored cover on top, the first storm fleet in the world, together with his men and led the naval battles to victory.

During the Battle of Hansando Island, Admiral Yi Sun-sin commanded and developed his famous tactic, Hakikjin, a crane wing formation with ships forming a semi circle in which enemies were trapped. He defeated the enemies quickly and decisively. The secret of the firepower was only discovered in the 20th century, surprising scholars in related fields. With his victory in the naval battle of ‘Hansando Island,’ Joseon was able to block the supply route changing the direction of the battle. Even after that, he led the navy of Joseon. He also took part in the Battle of Noryang which closed the Imjin War. But like Nelson, he was deeply wounded during the Battle of Noryang, and he did not want his death known until the battled ended in victory.

He saved his country at the moment of crisis. His life story has been handed down with his diary,
Nanjungilgi and other historical documents even moving the Koreans of today with his great deeds. Like
Lord Nelson, his statue stands at Gwanghwamun Square, in the center of Seoul, which is the capital of
Republic of Korea.

It is certain that everyone knows about Stonehenge, one of Ten Wonders of the World. Stonehenge, which means “stones hanging in the air “,is a relic in Southern England made up of 80 huge stone monuments of 8 meters high and weighing 50 tons.

In 2008, a joint research team from 5 universities in England announced in a newspaper that Stonehenge was the tomb of powerful men of the region in 3000 BC. But some people believe it was used to as a “temple” to perform ancestral rites for God or an observatory to observe stars in the sky. Furthermore, some people say that it would not have been possible for people in 3000 BC to make the 80 huge stones stand. The purpose of Stonehenge has not been identified so far. For this reason, it is chosen as the most typical Wonder of the World, today.

Similarly in Korea, there are Goindols(Dolmens), a world wonder like Stonehenge.

Goindol

The Goindols are a World Heritage which shows the megalithic culture of the prehistoric age. Korea is a country of Dolmens with as many as 30,000 examples, about 70% of the world’s Dolmens. In particular, many mysterious Dolmens, with a lot of holes, are found in all parts of the Korean Peninsula. Some scholars who have studied the size and condition of the holes identified them as an ancient astronomical chart corresponding to zodiac signs. They also concluded that the Dolmen astronomical chart was made around 3000 BC, 1800 years before the Babylonian astronomical chart of the Mesopotamian civilization in 1200 BC which was known as the cradle of the ancient civilization.

Miroku Bosatsu

The Koryuji Temple in Kyoto, Japan was built in 603, is the oldest temple in Kyoto with a 1000 year history. Therefore there are many relics in the temple. The most eye-catching is the wooden statue of the half-seated Mireuk bosal which was registered as the national treasure of Japan in 1951 for the first time. The statue of the Buddha is 124cm high made from a pine tree. Its beauty is well known throughout the world. A German existential philosopher, Karl Jaspers (1883-1969) praised the statue highly saying that he had never seen a piece of art which showed a more true peaceful appearance of human existence.

But there are not many people who are aware that this statue of Buddha was transferred from Korea. Have you seen Korean national treasure No.83, the bronze statue of half-seated Mireuk-bosal? This piece is exhibited as ‘The Smile of Buddha.’ This statue looks like a twin to the statue in Japan with its well-proportioned posture; the wrinkles in Buddha’s cloth expressed in elegantly three dimensions; the eyes, nose and mouth on the exquisite face as well as the quiet smile at the corners of the mouth.

Bangasayusang

However, this is not the only proof that the statue was transferred from Korea to Japan. The other fact is that the material with which the wooden Buddha was made was pine which does not grow in Japan. Many ancient books in Japan including ‘Nihon Shoki (Chronicle of Japan)’, ‘Fuso Ryakuki’, a Japanese historical document recorded that the statue of Buddha was transferred from Silla, an ancient Korean kingdom.

Therefore, not only Korean but Japanese scholars acknowledge the fact that the statue of half-seated Mireukbosal was transferred from Korea. Korea, China and Japan have been located geographically
close from ancient times ago so they have been in close contact and developed a unique culture respectively. Among them, Korea was the messenger to link the Chinese and Japanese cultures to create a new culture which changed Asia. There are many such examples.

However, do you know which country developed the great movable metal type printing first? Many will think of Germany because many people believe that Gutenberg’s 42-line Bible was the oldest metal type printed book, made in 1455 in Germany. However this is not true.

This is because ‘Jikji’ was already published using movable metal type in Korea in 1377, 78 years before the Gutenberg Bible. Even though the original was not preserved, according to some documents, another book titled “Sangjeong Yemun(Detailed and Authentic Codes of Ritual and Etiquette)” was made with metal type around 1230.

The movable metal type printing that was made in Korea had a great influence on Asian World including Japan. In the 16th century, two Japanese books entitled “Jikei Kyouki(時慶卿記)” and “Kangakumon(勸學文)” included the fact that the copper type and the wooden type printing of Korea were passed on to Japan. In 2001, UNESCO listed Korea’s Jikji on their Memory of the World Programme. Since then, Jikji has gradually become known to the people in the world.

Korea, in Asia of the 21st century, is now growing to be one of the top IT powerhouses in the world. This was only possible because of the great invention like “movable metal type printing”.

Most of Western people will think of ‘Bone China’ when they think of ceramics. The name ‘Bone China’ originated from Great Britain in the 1800s. From a long time ago, Western people loved to eat meat and enjoyed hot tea. If they put the hot tea in porcelain, it often broke because of the heat. The English tried make improvements by using animal bones to make heat-resistant porcelain. This was called ‘Bone China’.

Goryeo Cheongja

However, do you know that recently Korean ceramics are gaining the world’s attention? Until the 17th century,only Korea and China used to make porcelain. Even in historical documents from China claim that Korea’s Goryeo Cheongja is the origin of ceramics, they indicate that “Goryeo Cheongja is the best in the world” emphasizing its global value. China is not the only country that believes so. A naturalist in the UK praised Goryeo Cheongja highly by saying, “the best Korean ceramics are the most elegant and truthful with all the advantages of ceramics, revealing the fact that it is the product of a happy people’ in his book titled <Chinese and Far Eastern countries’ ceramics> in 1945.

Goryeo Cheongja has received much praise for being the best because of its ‘creativity’ and ‘color’. The potters of Goryeo made a unique inlaid celadon. The inlay technique was used to carve patterns on the surface to be filled with metals and jewels. It was originally developed in Egypt and introduced to the Korean Peninsula via Central Asia and China. At that time, no master craftsman of the East or West applied the technique to ceramics. Therefore, it was very innovative and creative that Koreans applied this technique to ceramics. Moreover, the color of Goryeo Cheongja was more beautiful and elegant than Chinese ceramics which were produced in mass at that time. With such elegance, it is no wonder that it was praised as the best ceramics in the world in the 12th century.

In this way, Korea’s Goryeo Cheongja is estimated to be a major Korean relic of the blended cultures of the East and the West because it accepted Chinese ceramics’ culture to develop it into a unique product to be distributed all over the world without imitating it completely.

Many people will say that it is Aristotle (BC 384-322), who along with Socrates and Plato, is the most influential scholar. He was the most influential Greek philosopher contributing to laying the foundation for
Greek philosophy to be developed into a comprehensive system of Western philosophy. Especially, he is more familiar to us as the teacher of Alexander the Great.

In Korean history, there is Yi Hwang (1501-170), who was the most prominent scholar, as well as the teacher of the most powerful ruler. Yi Hwang, like Aristotle, contributed to create and develop Eastern philosophy. Many great rulers of Joseon Dynasty wanted him as their teacher to gain his wisdom. Many of his disciples, like ‘Yu Seong-ryong’, became great leaders in society who saved the nation in times of crisis. His teaching and spirit still remain in all corners of Korean society even after 500 years. Like Aristotle, the learning and philosophy of Toegye(penname of Yi Hwang) Yi Hwang is spreading beyond our borders.

Already, many scholars in China and Japan are doing research on him as a subject of respect and learning. His 45 books of 11 kinds were published in the Edo period of Tokugawa Ieyasu in Japan, having a great influence on the Kimon and Kumamoto Schools, the mainstream of modern Confucianism. Moreover, in China, the home of Confucianism, Liang Chi Chao, the representative philosopher during the Enlightenment praised Yi Hwang as a saint, calling him ‘dear Yi Buja(李夫子)so far away’ showing how deeply he was influenced by Yi Hwang. Yi Hwang’s influence was not limited to Japan and China. There are many Toegye Yi Hwang’s research institutes built to disseminate and develop his learning in the world, including Asia, the Americas and Europe, which shows that his teaching and influence are now spreading across the world.

Alexander the Great

Have you heard of Alexandria, a beautiful port city in the Mediterranean? This city was built by Alexander the Great(BC 356~BC 323), in his name as the King of Macedonia, who built a great empire over Greece, Persia and India.

Despite the fact that he ascended the throne quite young, at 20 years old, he was able to seize the regal power immediately to build an empire because of his father, Phillip IV. Phillip IV exerted the influence of Macedonia through military and diplomatic methods to surrounding city states to reinforce his sovereign power. He also trained his troops to be able to expand the territory.

Thanks to his father, Alexander the Great started to win battles with the Persian Empire which was a great empire at that time. Finally, he took possession of most of the Persian Empire to build his own empire. Unfortunately, his vast empire split into 3 countries when he died in 323, in Babylon, after his defeat in India. He only reigned for a short period of 13 years but his achievements are highly praised even today because of his prodigious tactics and the spread of Hellenistic culture which embraced the East and the West which affected generations to come until the 15th century.

Like Alexander the Great, who blended the Greek and Persian cultures in those times, there was a king in Korean history who also built an empire. He was Gwanggaeto the Great(374~412), the 19th king of Goguryeo. He also came to the throne very young at 18 years of age. Like Alexander the Great, his father, King Gogugyang and his uncle, King Sosurim established a foothold in politics, military and culture so he was able to expand his territory over vast Manchuria.

Gwanggaeto the Great

Therefore, as soon as he became the king, he attacked Baekje in the south to get the land, won a naval battle with ancient Japan and advanced to Inner Mongolia in the north. Inner Mongolia was used as a distribution base as a strategic region to hold China in check and stop people moving southward from the northern region. Likewise, he secured the distribution base by expanding the territory to develop the economy. A unique culture of Goguryeo flourished through cultural exchanges. Since then, he expanded the territory within the Korean Peninsula to keep Japan in check. He expanded to Liadong peninsula in the southernwest and the whole area of Manchuria in the north. In this way, he developed a vast territory stretching from the Korean Peninsula to Manchuria.

Then, Goguryeo had an influence on the relationship between Eastern and Western Asia through cultural exchanges with surrounding neighbors, Central Asia and India. The history of Gwanggaeto the Great has been passed on to this day with carvings on the gravestones of the royal tomb of Gwanggaeto the Great and Jungwon Goguryeo-bi(Jungwon Goguryeo Stele). With this, Koreans learn about foreign policy and the remarkable tactics of Gwanggaeto the Great.

However, have you heard of the first queen in the 5000 history of Korea?

Queen Seondeok(?~647), the 27th ruler of the Silla Kingdom, was the first queen to be crowned at a time when only men became kings. During the reign of Queen Seondeok (632-647), in 7th century, Silla had the weakest national power compared to Goguryeo and Baekje. But from the moment she became the queen, she took care of her poor people at home and abroad. She pursued various policies to improve the nation and appointed the two heroes, ‘Kim Yu Shin’ and ‘Kim Chun Chu’ thus laying the foundation for the unification of the three countries by Silla.

Nowadays, Koreans say that Silla, the weakest of the three countries, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, was able to unify the three countries and last for a thousand years because of the human resources and the leadership of nation’s leaders. Queen Seondeok came to the throne during a turbulent period but she was a great queen who paved the way for Silla over the next 1000 years with her outstanding wisdom.

Lincoln still inspires many Americans even today. His image is on the money Americans use every day. He is the trademark of Ford Motors, a global motor company. There are cities and art centers named after him. Even on the famous Mount Rushmore known for the large rocks sculptures, his face is engraved.

In Korean history, there is also a leader who is loved by Korean people even today like Lincoln. King Sejong(1397-1450) was the 4th King of the Joseon Dynasty. While he was on the throne, he accomplished a great deal in politics, economics and culture. However, his greatest achievement was the invention of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet which Koreans of today use. At the time of King Sejong, the common people could not read so they were often inconvenienced and at disadvantage. He felt pity for them. So he invented Hangeul. He was the first leader who created an alphabet for his people, a historical event which cannot be found anywhere in world history. He was a true leader who loved people beyond their social status.

For example, he gave maternity leave of 100 days to servants, the lowest in the social rank. Thus, he realized the welfare policy of the 21st century in advance. He appointed Jang Yeong-sil, a servant, to a high ranking government official position, introducing policies beyond imagination of the social system at the time.

Today, he appears on the money of Korea like Lincoln. Not only that, there is Sejong Science Station on King George Island at the South Pole. The first Aegis Weapon System, KDX-III, is the King Sejong Aegis Warship. There are also cities, roads and buildings named after him which show how much Koreans love and respect the King.