Seoul Searching | Cartoon Street + Seoul Animation Center.

I had a 'eureka' moment while watching 'Hwayugi' (A Korean Odyssey), Lee Seung Gi's comeback drama after serving in the military. In episode 2, you'll see Son Oh Gong (Lee Seung Gi) sitting on a building rooftop, watching over Jin Seon Mi (Oh Yeon Seo) as she tries to find her lost umbrella.

Son Oh Gong watching over Jin Seon Mi. It was THIS scene where I had my eureka moment. :)

Jin Seon Mi passes by a row of buildings before heading towards the back alley, and I was like, "Oh my! I know this place! We were there last spring!" I immediately posted my discovery on my Instagram and my Facebook page, where I was later on bombarded by inquiries about the location, how to get there, and the like.

And so, for the benefit of my fellowmen (more like fellow Kdrama addicts, lol), here's a little background about the Cartoon Street, one of the filming locations in Hwayugi.

The intersection in front of Pacific Hotel.

Virtual tour of Cartoon Street after the jump!

Sharing the Joy of Korean Animation.

It's going to be a fun-filled February for the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines as it launches its first exhibit for the year. Dubbed as 'Korean Character Exhibition: The Delight of Korean Animation Character World', the event will highlight the flourishing animation culture of Korea.

From hand-held flip books in the earlier times, to studios that produce most of the work for major American animation companies (bet you didn't know that all of the episodes of  The Simpsons and Family Guy were made and drawn in South Korea), the Korean animation industry now enjoys explosive growth and increasing popularity not only in Asia, but also across the globe. As such, K-animation is now being heralded as the new Korean wave.

Take for instance the cartoon series Pororo the Little Penguin, which has earned tremendous success since its launching in South Korea in 2003. The series currently airs in thirteen different countries, including the Philippines.

Pororo the Little Penguin.

And then there's Pucca, whose success has gone beyond the television series. The Pucca franchise includes not only toys and kids wear, but also accessories, housewares, stationery, and even an adult clothing line with Kpop group Wonder Girls as its model.

Pucca!

These two, along with other iconic K-animation characters, will be showcased in the upcoming KCC exhibit. These cute and loveable characters are guaranteed to pique the interest of the viewing public, and capture the hearts of children (and even adults, too).

Cloud Bread.

Hello Jadoo!

Tayo the Little Bus.

The exhibit formally opens on Friday, February 7 at the Exhibition Area of the Korean Cultural Center. Fun games and activities such as face painting, 3D puzzles, plus a ride on Tayo the Little Bus await the young audience on the opening day.

The Delight of Korean Animation Character World.

This event is open to the public, and will run until May 10, 2014.

For further information and queries, please contact the Korean Cultural Center at 555-1711 or email events@koreanculture.ph.