Are you a super diligent and organized person who has everything prepared as the New Year rolls in? Or are you the other kind of person (like me) who is startled by how fast the New Year has made its appearance?
I always say the New Year officially starts with Lunar New Year (this year it falls a bit late on February 10th). It allows you time to recuperate from the Year End holidays and festivities, while giving you a grasp of what New Year’s resolutions you can really stick with.
Some of my planners over the years
Despite my being late in acknowledging the presence of the New Year, it does not mean I’m unorganized, though. I am extremely fastidious about planning and recording things, so for me, a calendar and planner/diary are essential for everyday living. I do use the digital options: on my laptop, on my mobile; but I also need to put things down on paper with ink in the old fashioned way. It’s usually around this time of year when I start, because huge discount sales go on for the New Year’s planners and diaries. What you would have paid full price two weeks ago would now be at 30%~50% off. I usually take advantage of this and keep my diary notes only in digital form until I purchase a new planner during these sales.
In Korea, the English word “diary” (다이어리) and planner are usually inter-used, although most of the time it would be more diary than planner. Some people I know would set up their schedules and do their “planning” on their mobiles while writing down the actual events which happened in their “diaries”. (FYI: A true diary, i.e. a detailed written account of the daily events, would be called by the Korean word, “일기”.)
Super Junior calendar comes with chicken
Now, about getting a new diary/planner and calendar for 2013: there are so many brands to choose from! Not counting the complimentary calendars you get with purchasing other products, for example, a K-pop star calendar for the fried chicken franchise they endorse; or the logo embedded company planners they expect you to use at business meetings, Korea is a stationery paradise with more choices than your wallet can handle.
“Infinite Challenge” calendar, planner, poster set.
Photo courtesy of d&shop
The most popular calendar and planner selling in Korea are probably those of the variety show “Infinite Challenge” (무한도전) featuring photos of the show and its members. All profits from sales go to charity so it gives more incentive in purchasing them. You can have a full year of laughs hanging on your wall or sitting on your desk.
And then, inescapably, there is the overabundance of cute:
Cute knit cover diaries by Toffeenut
Hong2 & dding9’s bunny character theme
“Secret Operation” army themed diary by Jokooman
Animal friends from Main Street
Rabbitami’s calendar
Snake year calendar from Chachap
Polka dot zip-up diary from Barunson
Pony Brown planners in pink
The artistic and creative:
Calendar by artist Yook Shim Won
Moi-natural’s easel calendar
Kori’s story in Paris by Unipics
Eco-friendly message in rEDCLOUDY’s calendar
Multi-useful calendar from MAKEECO
Cartoonist Smilebrush’s diary and planner
Weekly planner from UnR Korea
Paint calendar from EmotionºF Design
Imagine’s character diary
Ooh La La No 2 series
The simple:
Red oak mini calendar by Design Happy
Monopoly offers multicolored planner choices
Plaid covered pocket planners by organic brand Origo
“Table Talk” calendar by Antenna Shop
Smiley diary from Vroom
Basic and simple from Yangjisa
The traditional :
Palace calendar by Earthoo
Hanbok and other traditional items in Somssi’s calendar
Syscom & Ytt Art Gallery’s folk painting calendar
Nivy’s stylized Korean dress theme planner set
The non-product endorsing, star version:
TVXQ, K-pop kings
Last, but certainly not least, the K-drama calendar made by KOCIS. I love this one. It’s currently in my living room.
A year of K-dramas
There are also the personalized calendars you can make through various stationery services, and designs offered by illustrators/artists/cartoonists from their personal websites. As I’ve said before, there really are many selections out there.
All the above brands and others may be purchased at the stationery department of major bookstores, specialty stationery and gift shops, museums and art galleries, and online shops. Happy shopping and happy planning!
Major bookstores
www.kyobobook.co.kr
www.ypbooks.co.kr
www.bandinlunis.com
Stationery and design product shops
www.artbox.co.kr
www.10×10.co.kr
www.1300k.com
www.ebarunson.co.kr
www.mmmg.net (Post about mmmg on Korea Blog here)
