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IN THIS ISSUE
JUNE 2018 COVER STORY
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Beat the summer heat with traditional Korean dishes and drinks
ABOUT THE COVER With summer upon us, many will looking for various ways to beat the heat. Luckily, Korea has a plethora of dishes and drinks that are eaten during the summer to help cool off and feel refreshed as the temp rises. Check out this month’s issue for just some of these popular dishes.
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IN THIS ISSUE
JUNE 2018 COMMUNITY
HEALTH
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LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! KIXFF hosts 48-hour film challenge
FILM
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‘BURNING’ Lee Chang-dong brings to life Haruki Murakami’s famous short
MUSIC
POSITIVE EMOTIONS ARE MORE THAN JUST BEING HAPPY How to use positive emotions for self-care
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FOOD & DRINK
TRAVEL
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FOR WINGS, GO NEKKID Nekkid’s 2nd branch brings in the taste
THE LONG JOURNEY Indie musician Dave Beck releases 2nd LP “Send by Sea”
CAUGHT IN THE CLAWS Gonzo adventures at the 21st annual Yeongdeok Snow Crab Festival
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KOREA
Advertising
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General Inquiries
info@groovekorea.com
EDITORIAL EMMA KALKA
emma@groovekorea.com
GIL COOMBE
gil@groovekorea.com
ROB SHELLEY
rob@groovekorea.com
ZEV D. BLUMENFELD
zev@groovekorea.com
CHRISTOPHER SAINT GERMAIN
photo@groovekorea.com
ART & DESIGN CESS RODRIGUEZ
cess@groovekorea.com
SPECIAL THANKS TO Han Ye-jin, Jiaying Lin, James Webb, J. Nellwyn Robbins, Roberto Hernandez, Zev Blumenfeld, Anders Nienstaedt, Brian Hammond, Daniel Kim
SPECIAL ADVISOR Prof. JUHAN KIM
jhkim@groovekorea.com
PUBLISHER SEAN CHOI
sean@groovekorea.com
To contribute to Groove Korea, email submissions@groovekorea.com or the appropriate editors. To have Groove Korea delivered to your home or business, email subscribe@groovekorea.com. To promote and event or share your opinions, please email info@groovekorea.com or the appropriate editor. The articles are the sole property of GROOVE KOREA. No reproduction is permitted without the express written consent of GROOVE KOREA. The opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. © All rights reserved Groove Korea 2006
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WHAT’S ON
Seoul Bamdokaebi Night Market March 30 – October 28 A market opens only during the night at 6 different areas around Seoul and serves local eats and craftworks.
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Yeouido World Night Market
Banpo Romantic Moonlight Market
Cheonggyecheon Time Tour Market
Friday & Saturday 6-11pm Yeouido Hangang Park, Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Friday & Saturday 6-11pm Banpo Hangang Park, Sinbanpo-ro 11-gil, Seocho-gu
Saturday 5-10pm / Sunday 4-9pm Gwangtonggyo Bridge (nearby), 14, Seolindong, Jongrno-gu
This is a nighttime art market literally lit by the moon. It that offers a diverse range of programs, from an artists’ flea market to local art programs open to everyone! Here, you can enjoy diverse special events and performances that beautifully merge art, delicious food, and romance.
This is a market for tourists that is filled with uniquely Korean sights and tastes and handmade souvenirs in a space that is both traditionally Korean and modern at the same time, guaranteeing that your night in Seoul will be one to remember.
Yeouido market is an international night market held at the Hangang River with sellers from all over the world (thanks to partnerships with many foreign markets!) as well as a multicultural hands-on market set against the beautiful nightscape of the Hangang River that offers exotic foods, special handmade items, and unique performances by artists from a wide variety of countries!
WHAT’S ON
DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) Youth Runway Marketl
Oil Tank Culture Park Forest Picnic Market
Cheonggye Plaza Season Market
Friday & Saturday 6-11pm Dongdaemun Design Plaza, 281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu
Saturday & Sunday 4-9pm Oil Tank Culture Park, 87, Jeongsan-ro, Mapogu, Seoul
June 15-17. 6-11pm Cheonggye Plaza, 14-1, Seolin-dong, Jongnro-gu
The backdrop of this youth market is the unique nightscape of the DDP! It features foods that will captivate the taste buds of youths, unconventional design products that will stop you in your tracks, and new-concept products given life by the creativity of young inventors! It is a trendy night market where you can discover the incredible talents of young artists and enjoy exciting DJ parties!
Based on an environmental conservation and restoration theme, this event is a citizens’ flea market that you can enjoy while having a picnic in the forest amid a pleasant and fun atmosphere!
The market for aspiring entrepreneurs with their sights set on the international market
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FESTIVALS
WHAT’S ON
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Gyeongbokgung Palace Night Tour
Gwangju Toechon Tomato Festival
June 17-30. 7:30pm-10pm (Last admission by 9pm)
June 22-24 104-7, Ori-gil, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do Gwangju Toechon Tomato Festival takes place in Toechon, which has been growing tomatoes since the 1970s. The festival is held to promote and sell their organic tomatoes grown from clean areas of Paldangho Lake.
WHAT’S ON
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FIFA GAMES
WHAT’S ON
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Sweden vs Korea
Germany vs Korea
June 18 (Mon)
June 27 (Wed)
Mexico vs Korea June 23 (Sat)
WHAT’S ON
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MOVIES
WHAT’S ON
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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom June 6 Chris Pratt Bryce Dallas Howard Jeff Goldblum
Entebbe, 7 Days in Entebbe June 7 Rosamund Pike Daniel Bruhl
MOVIES
WHAT’S ON
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Sicario: Day of the soldado June 27 Benicio Del Toro Josh Brolin
Ocean’s 8 June 13 Sandra Bullock Cate Blanchett Anne Hathaway Rihanna
WHAT’S ON
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COVER STORY
Traditional Korean foods & drinks for those hot summers Story HAN YE-JIN
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COVER STORY
A
nd here we go again - the summer is upon us with its claustrophobic humidity levels and aggressive sunrays which make you want to take refuge in air-conditioned stores, as sketchy as they might look. Surviving in the urban jungle of Seoul is an everyday struggle during Korean summers, making every excursion a heavy, sweaty and suffocating nightmare. South Korea, a new rising star in the worldwide culinary scene and a new reference in healthy cuisine, has found ways to fight the heat and defeat the obnoxious humidity from June to August. How did they manage this wonder? Well, they win this yearly war with food. The Korean concept of boyangsik (보양식) does not have an exact translation in English, like so many other typically Korean concepts, but it can be understood as healthy foods that put back energy into the body - like charging a phone. It can be separated into two categories. The first one, similar to what we do in most western countries, is eating ice cold food and drinking fresh beverages to defeat the heat, such as the famous cold buckwheat noodles naengmyun (냉면), traditional
ice cream patbingsu (팥빙수), or drinks with origins probably older than you like sikhye (식혜) and sujeonggwa (수정과), respectively made out of rice and dried persimmon. The other way out of this hell is, as we would say in English, to fight fire with fire (yi yeol chi yeol 이열치열 in Korean), namely by eating burning hot meals to regulate body temperature, helping one to relax and adapt better to the heat surrounding you, or so they say. Meals like samgyetang (삼계탕), a ginseng chicken soup, or boshintang (보신탕), dog stew, are among the biggest hits each summer. Mixing both extremes, hot and cold, is usually what Koreans go for to survive the heat and Katy Perry is lovin’ it! Yes? No? I’ll see myself out. In China and Korea most people refer to the three hottest days of summer as san fu tian (三伏) in Chinese and Boknal or Sambok (복날 or 삼복) in Korean. It can be translated literally as the three days of Fu or Bok - the Chinese character ‘伏’ meaning to lie face down. The meaning behind this is that the weather is so hot that it makes you want to rest on the floor all day to keep cool. Chinese people usually eat shabu
shabu, a hotpot of meat and vegetables boiled in water. Japan also has the concept of the hottest days of summer, called Doyonousinohi (土用の丑の日), ‘Eel Day’, on which they eat grilled eel. Funnily enough, this concept also existed in the ancient Roman Empire. Commonly called the “Three Dog Days,” it referred to the Sirius constellation, also known as Canis Major or Greater Dog constellation, which got closer to the sun on those three specific days. The first of these three days, chobok (초복), will be on July 17 this year, followed by the middle day, jungbok (중복), on July 27, and ending with the last, malbok (말복), on August 16. There is a tradition to eat specific meals on those three days: the aforementioned samgyetang and boshintang, as well as naengmyun or kongkuksu (콩국수), a soybean milk noodle dish. Let’s take a closer look at the two main hot dishes of summer, samgyetang and boshintang, by going back to their origins, health benefits, recipes and the culture that surrounds the preparation and the degustation of the meal itself, as well as two traditional summer drinks: sikhye and sujeonggwa.
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COVER STORY
recommends... Tosokchon (토속촌) (4.7/5) Jahamunro 5-gil 5, Jongno-gu (Near Gyeongbokgung Palace) | 10am-10pm 02-737-7444 16,000 KRW Too much waiting in line but worthy
Hosoo Samgyetang (호수삼계탕) (4/5) Dorimro 282, Youngdeungpo-gu | 11am-9:30pm 02-833-8948 15,000 KRW
Gangwonjung (강원정) (4.2/5) Wonhyoro 89-gil 13-10, Yongsan-gu | 11:30am-8:30pm (Closed on 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays) 02-719-9978 14,000 KRW
Koryeo Samgyetang (고려삼계탕) (4.5/5) Seosomunro 11-gil 1, Jung-gu | 10:30am-9:30 02-752-9376 16,000 KRW MICHELIN GUIDE 2018 - Known as the first Samgyetang restaurant to open in Seoul
Myeongdong Youngyang Center (명동영양센터) (4/5) Myeongdong 2-gil 52, Jung-gu | 10:30am-10:30pm 02-776-2015 16,500 KRW
Baeknyeon Tojong Samgyetang (백년토종삼계탕) (4/5) Yanghwaro 118, Mapo-gu | 9:30am-10:30pm 02-325-3399 14,000 KRW
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COVER STORY
SAMGYETANG is a whole chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginger, jujube, garlic and ginseng, cooked in a hot broth. Once the chicken is stuffed, it is cooked in a soup. Each cook uses different ingredients depending on their preferences. Some cook the chicken and the soup separately for hours to give the soup a richer taste; some prefer a lighter broth. Samgyetang is usually served with a ladle to eat the small parts of meat and vegetables in the bowl. It is served with the usual Korean side dishes or banchan (반찬), such as the Korean national dish, kimchi. The customer is also encouraged to flavor the taste with salt and pepper. The chicken used being usually small, one bowl is enough for one person, but when the chicken is bigger it is shared between two. In a country such as South Korea, where well-being is a not only a popular trend but also an important concept, much research has been done into the health benefits of samgyetang. The refined and soft taste of the chicken meat is both delicious and healthy. Indeed, the numerous components of this dish are good for the body in general.
First, you have the chicken wings. They’re associated with motor skills enhancement and growth. Following that is the chicken breast, which is good for recovering from fatigue, preventing aging and helping digestion. The jujubes are good to relieve stress, soothe anxiety and help deal with impatience. I’d like to apologize to all our vampire readers but garlic is also in the list of “good food”. It will kill bacteria and fight gastroenteritis while also helping with overall artery hardening and high blood pressure. Special mention for the crazy lovers out there, garlic will also boost sexual stamina. And last but not least, ginseng will be your best friend forever when it comes to overcoming heat, if you need to regulate blood circulation. Ginseng is considered a nourishing supplement by most people. However, one bowl being at least 800 calories, if not even 1,000 calories, mant believe it’s not actually good for sick people. In a few research studies, doctors give pointers for maximizing the health benefits of samgyetang. The first
one is to be careful of the amount you eat. Indeed, a person only needs between 300-400 calories per meal, which means eating the whole bowl is way more than needed. Secondly, because samgyetang can be quite bland without adding anything to the broth, people tend to add a lot of salt and kimchi. However, eating bland is better for your health, especially in the case of salt. Finally, because a lot of oil goes into the broth and the skin of the chicken is quite fatty, doctors recommend to only eat the flesh of the chicken. The very popular dish has a shorter history than expected. While there are mentions of different chicken soups throughout history – a similar dish existed during the ancient kingdom of Baekjae - the name samgyetang only started appearing in 1960. Its origins can be found in yonkyebaeksuk (영계백숙), a chicken soup made out of young chicken during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897). It became popular internationally after making an appearance in the popular drama “Descendants of the Sun” - it is now possible to order it through Amazon in small packages.
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COVER STORY
recommends... Samdae Bulojib (3대불로집) Banpodaero 26-gil 63, Seocho-gu | 11:30am-10:00pm 02-588-9450 16,000 KRW
Yetnal Sacheoltang (옛날 사철탕) Bongcheonro 457-1 | 10:30am-10:30pm 02-885-2215 12,000 KRW
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COVER STORY
Samgyetang is not the only dish that helps Koreans survive the summer haze. Another traditional dish that is supposed to fortify one’s body against hot weather is the controversial BOSHINTANG (보신탕), or dog stew. These last few months, videos of encaged dogs bred for their meat have made the rounds on the net, arousing the wrath of netizens all over the globe. While eating dog meat isn’t one of my habits, I couldn’t help but notice that debating this topic eventually ends up with somebody getting angry, someone else giving lessons on carnism and the soundness of veganism, and a third party positioning themselves as a Korean culture defender. At the end of the day, we all agree that even though we all struggle with the morals of killing living beings to transform them into delicacies, we should not forget that each culture has its traditions and none of us has the power to judge them. I came to the assessment that Koreans themselves, especially younger generations, are having issues with the whole dog-eating concept. It is, however, common for older family members to trick younger people into eating dog meat without telling them beforehand, sometimes leading to certain trauma once the truth is revealed. The history of boshintang, contrary to that of samgyetang, is very long, and can even be retraced to the Neolithic with dog bones found in archeological
sites. Under unified Silla (668-935) and Goryeo (918-1392), Buddhism was prosperous, which meant no eating meat because of the notion bulsalsaeng (불살생) - “no destruction of life”. However, at the end of the Goryeo dynasty, people started eating meat again, as seen in records. It is supposed that only the low classes were eating dog, because the higher classes imitated Mongols who did not eat dog meat. The long Joseon dynasty (1392-1897) archives show that eating dog meat was very common. Indeed, Confucianism, and not Buddhism, was the base of society and ruled every aspect of Koreans’ lives at the time. Confucius had many rules about eating, and while meat is supposed to be eaten with moderation, it definitely isn’t forbidden. Many recipes to cook dog meat were developed, as can be found in numerous texts from that era. A few examples of dog meat dishes of the time are gae gogi kui (고기구이) or dog meat barbecue, gaejangguk (개장국) or dog meat soup, gaejjim (개찜) or dog kebab, and musulju (무술주) or alcohol with dog meat. It was said in old texts that dog meat has a lot of healthy aspects. Its high protein and unsaturated fat levels are apparently good for various things: blood circulation, stamina, tuberculosis, respiratory illnesses, even simple colds. It is known to be good for women’s skin elasticity, breast milk quality, and solves some women’s intimate issues.
However, one must be careful when eating dog meat. Indeed, because eating dog meat is badly seen and not as common as eating beef or chicken, it is not usually checked as would other more common meats and can carry illnesses. There is also the issue surrounding the illegal dog trade. Especially prevalent in China, many dogs are kidnapped, maltreated and killed for the benefit of dog meat eating, or for festivals like the Chinese Yulin dog meat festival or during sambok in Korea. There are no legal regulations about the slaughter of dogs for meat, which leads to incredible cruelty when killing them. Since eating dog is still a cultural inevitability, some are asking for more legal regulations surrounding dog meat, which is sometimes interpreted by people as an endorsement of dog meat eating. Unlike the hot meals mentioned earlier, the concept of yi yeol chi yeol, fighting fire with fire in English, doesn’t apply to drinks in South Korea. While many people who have lived a decent amount of time in China like to drink warm beverages such as tea, water or even alcohol, Koreans have a tradition of drinking cold beverages during summer to regulate body temperature as well as heal sicknesses (not that they don’t appreciate warm tea as well). We will explore two very Korean drinks, sikhye and sujeonggwa, that I could not help but try while writing this article.
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COVER STORY
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SIKHYE (식혜) is a traditional rice drink, served cold as a dessert. While its texture and taste are very different from tea, it is commonly called rice tea. It is made by pouring malt water onto cooked rice, steeping it until the grains appear at the surface. Once this part is done it is poured out and boiled until it becomes sweet. It does contain some cooked rice grains and sometimes pine nuts. There are variations depending on the region. For example, Andong sikhye includes radishes, carrots and red pepper powder. Some versions are fermented instead of boiled. It is believed to help regulate body temperature as well as digestion and relieve hangovers. Its taste is described as gosohada (고소하다), a very Korean concept which does not have a specific translation in English. We can explain it as a sweetish taste, between milk, nuts and sesame. Some teas are described as gosohada. This word only exists in Korean, which proves that this is a very peculiar taste among Korean cuisine that many foreigners have a hard time grasping the meaning of.
Its (sikhye) taste is described as gosohada (고소하다), a very Korean concept which does not have a specific translation in English. We can explain it as a sweetish taste, between milk, nuts and sesame.
As said earlier, at the start of the Joseon dynasty, Confucianism took over from Buddhism, and with it, tea consummation was reduced in favor of drinks like sikhye and sujeonggwa. Much like tea, it was served regularly to royalty as an aperitif. The origins of the word sikhye come from the Chinese characters sik (食) which means eating, and hye (醯) from vinegar and alcohol. Sikhye is one of the many things prepared for Chuseok, the three-day holiday that celebrates the autumnal harvest. Families traditionally pay their respects to their ancestors by putting food and sikhye on a table and bowing in front of it. You can also find it in restaurants and jjimjjilbang, Korean saunas, where Koreans like to spend time to relax, often taking a nap, and drink sikhye to cool down. Many convenient stores carry it in the form of cans, cups and plastic bottles. The main brand vilac sikhye has existed since 1993 and was made popular by a commercial featuring popular actor Kim Bosung.
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COVER STORY
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COVER STORY
SUJEONGGWA (수정과, 水正果) is a drink similar to punch but without alcohol, made out of gotgam (곶감, dried persimmon), ginger and pine nuts. It has a brown, reddish color. After boiling the persimmon and ginger, the solids are taken out of the beverage. Once the brew has cooled down, bites of dried persimmon as well as honey or brown sugar are added. Like sikhye, it is served cold as a dessert and can be found in stores, made by the same company as sikhye, though less common. There are multiple variations of the recipe, some adding lotus flower, pumpkin, pear or citron. Sujeonggwa makes it first appearance in historical texts in 1849, in a book called “Dongguksesigi (동국세시기)”, about seasonal customs. It is however known as having existed since the Goryeo dynasty, usually prepared on Lunar New Year’s Day. The recipe has been changed throughout time, with more ingredients being added through the years. Its antimicrobial
Sujeonggwa makes it first appearance in historical texts in 1849, in a book called “Dongguksesigi (동국세시기)”, about seasonal customs. It is however known as having existed since the Goryeo dynasty, usually prepared on Lunar New Year’s Day. properties made it a popular medicinal drink, while still being drunk as a dessert for enjoyment. It is said that drinking sujeonggwa is good for digestion, prevents colds, declines cholesterol, prevents hypertension and is even good for the skin, as well as treating nausea and vomiting. Samgyetang, boshintang, sikhye
and sujeonggwa are few of the many dishes and drinks you can enjoy in Korea during the summer. When visiting Korea, I highly suggest trying as many meals as you can (though I won’t force you to eat dog meat), because why else travel if you don’t experience the full Korean experience and give your stomach a royal treat?
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COMMUNITY
Write. Shoot. Edit. Relax KIXFF hosts indie 48-hour film challenge
Story EMMA KALKA Photos COURTESY OF KIXFF
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ovies often take months, even years to complete. But one local group is looking for brave filmmakers to take part in a challenge that will see the completion of films - from writing, to filming, to editing - in just 48 hours. Korea International Expat Film Festival is hosting KIX48 from June 22 to 24, and is inviting all filmmakers - professionals and amateurs - to join up. Operating under the tagline “Write. Shoot. Edit. Relax,” the project challenges filmmakers with the tight deadline. But previous participants have said that the end result is worth it. “It was grueling. We were sprinting like crazy trying to get all the shots, but the finished movie definitely made it worthwhile,” said Joel Elliott, a previous participant in the 48 Hour Film Project. According to organizer Kevin Lambert, there were regular 48 hour film projects from around 2010 to 2013 or 2014, but then they seemed to taper off. He asked previous organizers of the events to feel out the logistics of it and decided that it fit under the KIXFF umbrella. “It’s a labor of love mostly done for community benefit, but it fits our niche. It’s a very DIY carpe diem kind of project,” he said. The challenge is an independent event - not connected to the international organization the 48 Hour Film Project - but operates generally in a similar fashion. Teams are given three elements that they must incorporate into
COMMUNITY
It’s a labor of love mostly done for community benefit, but it fits our niche. It’s a very DIY carpe diem kind of project. Kevin Lambert, KIX48 organizer
the film - a prop, a line of dialogue and a location. Though rather than drawing a genre like other 48-hour challenges, they are allowed to choose their own. Another difference is that teams can submit their finished products online via Dropbox, rather than having to rush a physical copy to a set location. Though if there are problems, organizers said they are open to arranging a drop-off location to help out. Also, the kickoff event will be livestreamed. Lambert said this was done to simplify the event and allow for groups all over the country to take part without having to travel all the way to Seoul. It will also help teams avoid disqualification because they got stuck in traffic. “This is different from most festivals in that it’s online and offline. Teams can participate anywhere in Korea. That’s really
helpful for teams in places outside Seoul,” said Jo Krukowski, a former 48 Hour Challenge participant. Each film must be a minimum of four minutes, up to a maximum of seven minutes - not including end credits. The weekend will start with a kick-off event on June 22 where teams are given their three elements. They then have 48 hours to complete their films before they
are submitted on June 24. Films that are submitted on time will then be screened on June 30 at EMU Artspace, a cinema complex near Gwanghwamun. The audience and a panel of judges consisting of local filmmakers and industry professionals will choose the winners. Lambert said that in his own experience, while it’s difficult making a film in 48 hours, it’s exciting and something to remember - and totally worth the price of admission. “Plus, if you win, you’ll also screen at KIXFF in September. Maybe your film will go all the way to Sundance. Who knows?” he said. Registration is open to anyone and costs 60,000 won by June 15. Teams can register online at kix48. com. Those who are interested but don’t have a team can attend a meet-and-greet event in Haebangcheon at Hidden Cellar on June 17. For more information on the challenge and how to get involved, visit the Facebook page or KIX48 website.
It was grueling. We were sprinting like crazy trying to get all the shots, but the finished movie definitely made it worthwhile. Joel Elliott, previous participant
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HEALTH
The power of play & positive emotions When the working day is done, oh we just wanna have fu-un Story JIAYING LIM
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HEALTH
A
former colleague had updated me on the results of her schoolbased intervention utilising LEGO® Therapy with some success for a small group of autistic students, reminding me how therapeutic work can be enriching and fulfilling not just for clients, but also for therapists were we to inject play into sessions. Many adults often forget to play, myself included. It was a sagely 9-year-old client who helped me remember this aphorism one day when she humphed in session, “I am just a kid; I want to play.” We continued with an expedition of hide-and-seek inside our imaginary Egyptian pyramid. Play can be incorporated into a myriad of therapeutic activities and more. On the education front, Nordic school systems have been harnessing the power of play for decades to improve learning outcomes, growth, and development. Research findings demonstrating that free play during frequent breaks slotted into a typical school timetable both rejuvenates students for the rest of the school day as well as promotes acquisition and practise of core social skills. This has
inspired play and outdoor education to be woven into the Finnish school curriculum. The United Kingdom, too, has adopted similar practices from the Scandinavian and Finnish model. The benefits of play and outdoor education are twofold; studies find that spending a mere 30 minutes a week amidst nature is protective against depression. That is but 4.3 minutes each day. What may the relevance of play be for us adults? For most of us, things like play dates, play groups, and slumber parties may be far banished to the recesses of distant childhood memories. In reality, a fair number of adults may find it awkward and hard to let our hair down and be playful. We are afraid of making fools of ourselves and being silly in front of others. For some answers here, we turn to the burgeoning field of positive psychology. Play increases our levels of positive emotions, which translates into numerous benefits for our physical and emotional health and well-being. However, there is more to positive emotions than simply the act of being playful or the emotional state of being happy.
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HEALTH
The idea of positive emotions may be misleading with the general populace hijacking the word “positive” and it also somehow evolving into a clichéd beast of its own. The definition of this word becomes an appropriate starting point for therapy or self-reflection. My clients and I explore the notion of positive as being affirmative or helpful for oneself, to reiterate that we are not promoting a contrived smiley front of happiness alongside a rejection of less-than-
depriving yourself of a decent chance to feel good about yourself. The constant message that being positive = happy (especially when you are not happy) is a recipe for bad self-care. Psychologist Barbara L. Fredrickson is most renowned for her broaden-andbuild theory of positive emotions. In general, it is recognised that, compared to negative emotions, positive emotions have a considerably subtler influence on humans. For a long time
In reality, a fair number of adults may find it awkward and hard to let our hair down and be playful. We are afraid of making fools of ourselves and being silly in front of others. positive feelings and states. The idea of embracing all aspects of our emotional self could not have been made clearer than through the computer-animated movie “Inside Out”. In exploring emotions in sessions, burly male clients have admitted to shedding a tear or two while watching this movie. This might say a lot to how often we were told to suck it up and hold back the tears when we were little tabula rasa. The seed of rejecting or repressing emotions would have been planted at an early age. So the first step to better our mental health is to avoid discriminating the emotions that arise within us: not to rebuff so-called negative feelings or treat them with bias. There are small actions that we can adopt with all emotions, be they positive or distressing. We can acknowledge them with acceptance, companion them with curiosity, and engage them with empathy. This creates opportunities for us to be constructive, and thus, affirmative with our emotions. The main point is, “positive” does not mean happy in any dictionary. A huge part of cultivating and maintaining mental health is to not self-sabotage by
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researchers did not even conceptualise positive emotions as having an adaptive role in evolution and survival. However, “although positive affect is transient, the personal resources accrued across moments of positivity are durable” (Fredrickson & Losada, 2005). This leads us to the two notions of “broaden” and “build.” Positive emotions broaden our thoughts and actions (i.e., our reactions) in the moment in relation to what is occurring around us. This means that the experience of a positive emotion encourages a follow-up sequence of exploratory (“broadening”) action. This contrasts with the experience of a negative emotion, which evolution shaped to facilitate our survival. Apprehension, fear, and wariness narrow our focus and our behaviours. Have a think about this. Be it a social
conversation or problem-solving at work, an open and curious approach kindles creativity and outside-the-box ideas, while on the flip side, a belittling and cynical attitude inhibits positive or effective exchange of ideas. Broadened experiences continue to induce activity, such as play, that fortifies (“builds”) our personal resources in areas of cognitions, emotions, psychological strength, physical well-being, and social relations. This personal fuel tank increases our resilience to adversity and supplies both food for personal growth and mettle in later times of need. Without broadening activities like playing, relishing, savouring, feeling contentment, and being grateful, we lose out on opportunities to refuel and replenish ourselves. Take a moment to reflect on how often you might be opening yourself up to positive emotional experiences. Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory has paved the way for ten positive emotions to emerge into the limelight. The accompanying infographic highlights five of these in a five-day plan for you to try. And maybe get out into the embrace of nature for your daily dosage of 4.3 minutes of antidepressants while you do so.
References: - Fredrickson, B. L., & Losada, M. F. (2005). Positive affect and the complex dynamics of human flourishing. American Psychologist, 60, 678-686. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3126111/ - O’Neill, A. (2016, April 6). Open fires and pointy sticks: The rise of Scandi-style nurseries in the UK. The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/04/06/ open-fires-and-pointy-sticks-the-rise-of-scandi-stylenurseries/ - Shanahan, D. F. et al. (2016). Health benefits from nature experiences depend on dose. Scientific Reports, 6, Article number: 28551. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/ articles/srep28551 - Walker, T. D. (2014, June 30). How Finland keeps kids focused through free play. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www. theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/06/how-finlandkeeps-kids-focused/373544/
Jiaying Lim is a licensed clinical and registered psychologist with Couchology, a private practice in Seoul, South Korea, which provides English psychological services; evening and weekend appointments are available to accommodate every client’s busy schedule. For more information, visit https://www.couchology.com or like Couchology at https://www.facebook.com/couchology/
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FEATURE
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MUSIC
The long journey Indie artist Dave Beck releases 2nd LP Story EMMA KALKA Photos BRIAN HAMMONDS
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ave Beck had an interesting journey from the U.S. to Korea. While a fair amount of Americans end up in Korea through either teaching English or the military, Beck’s journey started through a coffee shop in New York City. Years ago, he was just another barista working at Think Coffee near the NYU campus. And then one Sunday, the cast and crew of popular Korean TV show “Infinity Challenge” showed up in the middle of rush hour, with the cast attempting to order complicated drinks. After the episode aired, the coffee shop became a popular stop for tour groups with often 45 people stopping by at once. From there, the shop considered opening branches in Korea, though it took another two years before they found a suitable partner. And when they finally launched in Korea in 2011, it was none other than Dave Beck who performed at the opening party. He said that while he enjoyed New York City and it was an amazing place to live in as a musician, he didn’t feel he stood out. So, in 2013, he moved to Korea. His second LP “Send by Sea” – released May 15 - represents Beck’s journey from New York City all the way to Seoul. Written over a course of six years, a few of the songs were written in New York with the rest written here. Beck says he is a slow songwriter – it can take up to six months to a year to work out song concepts sometimes. His guitar player from NYC recorded his parts in a studio there and then sent them to Korea, something he called amazing in that it made him feel connected to his past in New York even though there were years in between. “Sometimes, as travelers, we have all these new experiences, and in a certain sense, we are escaping where we came from,” he said. “Eventually, real life kind of catches up to you. I find myself writing about feelings and experiences that I had from long ago. The things that we bring with us over the years.” The album itself has a decent mix of slow and faster tunes – from the haunting “Hwangsa” to the more
Eventually, real life kind of catches up to you. I find myself writing about feelings and experiences that I had from long ago. The things that we bring with us over the years.
uptempo “Dividing Lines” - though all seem to hold a sense of nostalgia. The album art includes the hanja for “yellow dust” though Beck is quick to point out that the album has nothing to do with pollution. Rather the connection is that it represents how at times in our lives, we push things aside until we have to face and deal with them – much in the same way the yellow dust issue has been addressed. Earlier in May, Beck held an early
release event at Strangefruit in Hongdae – which he said was a great place to play that cultivates a natural connection between the musicians and fans - and followed that up with a tour in the U.S. where he performed a release show in his hometown in Iowa. “It’s kind of crazy to think how long it had been since I’ve played back home. It was great to get hometown support and to play in a respected venue here,” he said.
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He continued that it’s been really exciting to release the album in multiple places and he feels lucky to be able to go and connect with people and share it with them in person. “People have been very gracious in taking time to listen and giving positive feedback. I think for people who followed my first album, this album is a good next step in my musical journey,” he said. From here, Beck will be playing a big festival in June at Olympic Park – Pilsner Urquell Park Music Festival. There are a few more festivals coming
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up that have yet to be announced, but he plans to continue playing at various festivals and events over the summer to promote the album. It’s exciting to see the Korean music scene grow every year, he said, with more bands and styles emerging and more international artists coming over. However, like anywhere, there is still a huge gap because the pop scene and everything else. The indie scene needs to grow stronger. “These days, people are going to see more live shows, but I would like to see that become even more
prevalent and for western musicians to integrate more with the local Korean scene,” he said. He added that for him personally, it’s hard to be an indie musician and a foreigner and find where he fits in. Sometimes others have a hard time figuring out where he fits in on the music spectrum. “There’s still a gap there and the indie scene seems bound mostly to Hongdae. Things are changing fast in the music industry, so hopefully that translates to a stronger music scene overall.”
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People have been very gracious in taking time to listen and giving positive feedback. I think for people who followed my first album, this album is a good next step in my musical journey.
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REVIEW
T
here’s something remarkably oldschool about Champion that is both a strength and a weakness. Increasingly, modern comedy movies have become surreal, self-referential or meta; or are just increasing unrealistic farces that continuously escalate. That’s fine of course, but it makes the mostly down-to-earth comedy of Champion all the more charming. Champion follows Ma Dongseok (Train to Busan) as Mark, a Korean immigrant in LA working as a bouncer. Thanks to his obnoxious friend Jin-gi, played by Kwon Yeul, he ends up losing his job at the bar. Jingi runs off to Korea and Mark works as a security guard, before being drawn back to Korea. Jin-gi plans to use Mark’s impressive strength
While very much by the numbers, Champion is a funny sports comedy with some nice heart.
CHAMPION RATING: B Written by JAMES WEBB
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to win arm wrestling contests in an attempt to get rich quick. Jin-gi’s greed gets them involved in underground arm wrestling competitions run by gangsters. In the meantime, when Mark attempts to find his mother, he discovers that he’s actually got a younger sister, Su-Jin (played by Han Yae-ri), who’s raising two kids on her own. Mark suddenly finds he’s got family and slowly climbs the ranks in an attempt to become the arm wrestling champ of Korea. A majority of the humor comes from Mark’s size, as characters who act tough around Su-jin or Jin-gi suddenly become friendly when Mark shows up. Or jokes about
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his massive appetite and incredible strength. Occasionally, there’s a fishout-of-water joke since he’s been in America for so long. Most of the scenes were funny or cute, especially involving Mark’s niece and nephew. But the whole movie is also pretty predictable. If you’ve seen a sport comedy, or a family comedy, you know a lot of the story beats. Training montage? Check! Intimidating sports rival with questionable morals? Check! Friendly Rival? Check! Second act conflict to add some stakes to the final contest? Of course. But Ma Dong-seok’s Mark is charming and Su-jin’s family is super cute. Even if the plot is predictable, the emotional beats hit in the right places as there were definitely some tears in the theater.
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One additional point of praise is the casting. Ma Dong-seok actually lived in the U.S., so whenever he
example, Shin Godzilla’s Kayoko Anne Patterson, who was played by Satomi Ishihara, is supposed to be a “Special Envoy for the President of the USA” yet her English is laughably bad. It’s simply poor casting. This kind of phenomenon isn’t limited to Asian films, often Hollywood mixes up Asian actor to similarly distracting results and then relies on the audience’s lack of familiarity with the language to get away with it. Even in Champion, the head gangster has a couple of English lines that were completely incomprehensible, which makes one wonder why give him English lines at all, especially since he never actually talks to Mark.
Most of the scenes were funny or cute, especially involving Mark’s niece and nephew. But the whole movie is also pretty predictable. speaks English he sounds completely believable. Often, when a movie contains a character who’s supposed to be “foreign” they often cast someone who is decidedly not, the results can really damage the immersion. For
Regardless, Champion is a solid, family, sports comedy. While predictable, Champion’s novel elements and Ma Dong-seok’s charm definitely makes it worth a view, even if it’s unlikely to become a classic.
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Burning RATING: A+ Written by JAMES WEBB
Lee does a good job of creating the somewhat dream-like atmosphere characteristic of Murakami’s writing, while also bringing his own edge to the story.
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B
urning is acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong’s latest film, based on the short story Barn Burning by Haruki Murakami. Lee does a good job of creating the somewhat dreamlike atmosphere characteristic of Murakami’s writing, while also bringing his own edge to the story. Burning follows a writer, Jong-soo (played by actor Yoo Ah-in), who falls for his old school mate, Hae-mi (Jun Jong-Seo). She has a lust for life and really wants to travel, so she tasks him with caring for her cat while she travels to Africa. Jong-soo obliges her, but is shocked when she returns from Africa with the handsome and rich Ben (Steven Yeun). Jong-soo stays close and gradually
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For example, while supposedly caring for Hae-mi’s cat, Jong-soo never sees the cat and wonders if she actually has one. Hae-mi also mentioned falling in a well near her house, but when he asks her relatives, they said
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vague ending. Or perhaps the film continuing past a point of no return is more uncomfortable depending on how the viewer interprets the rest of the film. Regardless of the changes, the movie is handsomely shot and Steven
Burning is a slow simmer and on the artsy side, but its slick cinematography and ambiguous mystery story make it the best Korean film of the year.
becomes closer to Ben, while also slowly burning with jealousy below the surface. Later, while sharing a joint, Ben confesses an unusual hobby: burning greenhouses. Jong-soo becomes somewhat obsessed with Ben’s hobby and whether or not he’s telling the truth. The original short story, Barn Burning featured in Murakami’s The Elephant Vanishes is quite short and quiet, with several things implied without being explicitly stated. Fans of Murakami’s story might be disappointed to find that some of that vagueness somewhat missing from the adaption, but it is replaced with a different form of ambiguity.
there was no such well. There’s a theme of conflicting information and uncertainty that runs through the movie, which replaces the simplicity and vagueness that pervades the short story. Things unfold in much the same way, but with a lot more details added to it, which reinforces the crux of the mystery, making it much harder to miss. Some of the additions could have probably been left on the cutting room floor, as there’s a couple scenes that add very little to the narrative. The movie also continues past the short story’s ending, in an attempt to produce something more cathartic to the viewer, but it would have been more daring to use the short story’s
Yeun’s soft-spoken and confident Ben stands out as being an impressive romantic rival or antagonist and Jongsoo is a relatable character, although not always entirely likable. Hae-mi isn’t terribly likable either, but she is charming in her own way and it’s at least easy to understand why each man is interested in her. While Burning is one of the best films of the year, it is a bit long and the pacing causes the movie to really unfold slowly. Because of that, audiences looking for a quick thriller might want to wait until they’re in the right mindset because Burning is much closer to something Paul Thomas Anderson would put out rather than a snappier thriller like The Vanished was. But for those with patience will be rewarded with spectacular visuals and emotionally complex mystery. It can also be read as a reflection of the growing frustration and discontent that many young people feel with regards to the growing wealth gap present in contemporary Korea (those living in other first world countries will likely know that feeling as well). Burning is a movie with much more staying power than most of the other Korean films that have come out so far this year, and is one of the best movies to release thus far in 2018, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see it scoop up some awards before the end of the year.
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Gonjiam RATING: AWritten by JAMES WEBB
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F
ound footage movies have gotten a bad rap. After the sub-genre was popularized by movies like The Blair Witch Project, the technique has been a favorite of horror producers because of the low cost and potential of high return, but the over saturation of the genre coupled with the relative difficulty of making one of these good cause some to approach found-footage with caution. Gonjiam: The Haunted Asylum (곤지암) is the first time this technique has been used in a Korean film and even those who aren’t fans of the technique will find a lot to like. Gonjiam’s plot is simple and not trying to push the envelope. A guy has a horror YouTube channel and he’s trying to get a bunch of hits by live-streaming a group going into a haunted asylum. So he recruits a small group of people and straps some GoPro-style cameras to them and heads off to Gyeonggi-do to get streaming. The characters are all played by relative nobodies and they’ve got fairly stock, one-note personalities that horror genre fans would be familiar with: “tom-boy”, “sexy girl”, “shy girl”, “greedy guy who only cares about hits”, “jerk guy”, “leader guy” and “loyal guy”. If it was an American horror movie, they would have replaced the “loyal guy” with a stoner and the “leader
The Haunted Asylum is a tense and competently made foundfootage horror film full of great scares.
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For less jaded viewers, it’s pretty terrifying. During my showing, a girl a couple rows in front of me started crying, which is one of the best stamps of approval a horror movie could get.
guy” would have been a football player. It’s not exactly character driven, but that’s par for the course in this genre. Of course, they reveal that the YouTube host has actually rigged up some spooky stuff in the asylum to get hits (although this is known to only two of his collaborators), but then real spooky stuff starts to happen. The actual Gonjiam is relatively well known, but the property owners hate trespassers coming onto the premises and didn’t give permission for the movie to be shot there, so this film made up a backstory and just filmed in some unrelated abandoned building near Busan. While that plot summary might come off as a bit negative, it actually shows how effective Gonjiam is. Even as a found footage film, a variety of kit gets used, including action cams, drones and some interesting panorama cameras that at least adds a bit of novelty to the format. In fact, some showings are using ScreenX multi-projection to take advantage of the 270 degree panorama (although these shots looks just fine on a conventional movie screen). Of course, the important element of any scary movie is the
scares, and that’s where Gonjiam shines. The director, Jeong Beom-Shik previously directed the atmospheric, but somewhat flawed horror film Epitaph (기담) and he brought a lot of the same tension building techniques to this film. The scenes in the asylum move relatively slowly at first. A lot of horror films botch the atmosphere by relying on jump-scares too often and too unexpectedly. Gonjiam doesn’t slouch in the jump-scare department, but it mostly earns them. It slowly builds the atmosphere in the asylum, occasionally slamming a door or something similar to keep the audience on their toes, but not too often. Then about the time that the movie feels like it’s about to drag, the real fun starts. Once the ghosts start coming in full force, it’s intense. Nothing here for gorehounds, but the imagery is still unsettling enough to impress horror fans. For less jaded viewers, it’s pretty terrifying. During my showing, a girl a couple rows in front of me started crying, which is one of the best stamps of approval a horror movie could get. While many readers will be unable to see Gonjiam in theaters, the big screen and enthusiastic audience definitely adds to the experience.
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FOOD & DRINK
For good wings,
go Nekkid Nekkid Chicken’s new branch pleases the tastebuds
Story J. NELLWYN ROBBINS & ROBERTO HERNANDEZ • Photos by DANIEL KIM
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Bracing ourselves, we took a bite – and the flavor explosion was splendid! Spicy sauces often burn away the ability to taste flavor combinations, but not Nekkid’s.
alking up the electric yellow steps to Nekkid Wings, the first impression felt is quirky and fun. Upon entering, it’s a continuum of the simplistic and modern aesthetic with industrial chandeliers and other urban accents, and the friendly staff is eager to seat you immediately. The menu is well-designed and even color-coded for the wing sauce spice levels. Ten wings and two sauces cost 11,900 won, but for the sake of writing a detailed review, we received four. The sauces (from least to most spicy) were: Parmesan Garlic, Honey Butter, Smokehouse, Korean Glaze, Classic Buffalo, Amazinger, Jerk, and Asian Chili. Sauceless wings are also available. We ranged the eight-sauce spectrum, settling with: Parmesan Garlic, Classic Buffalo, Amazinger, and Asian Chili. When we asked our waiter to recommend something else, he immediately suggested burgers, saying Nekkid aims to bring their burgers to the same forefront as their wings. Our waiter suggested the “Deluxe” and a complimenting Gorilla IPA. We conceded to his expertise and sat back, waiting for the food to arrive. It wasn’t a long wait. Two minutes for beer and under fifteen for food, we received a platter of wings, a Deluxe burger lunch special, and a plethora of clean-eating utensils, including an amusing pair of lobster claw gloves for your thumb and index finger to mitigate sauce mayhem. We started with the burger. On the menu, the Deluxe reads “Chicken breast, brioche bun, cheddar cheese, fresh tomato, romaine, onion, sweet pickle chips, ranch, and one sauce (side) of your choice.” The burger was flavorful, with all components complementing one another. Rob pointed out that the moisture of the chicken was perfect, which was impressive considering that it was an entire breast that had been breaded and fried. When we inquired about the technique, we were informed that the chicken had been brined for 24 hours prior to being served, which shows the attention-to-detail Nekkid pays its cuisine.
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We tried the Korean Glaze sauce on the burger and it was superb. Immediately you get a taste reminiscent of a galbi restaurant. The soybean flavor was delicate but nostalgic nonetheless and complementary to the other flavors in the burger, bringing out a symphony of taste. The burger alone costs 7,900 won, but the “lunch special” rate of 10,000 won, gets you a side of fries and soda. The fries were crispy and delicious enough to eat on their own rather than dipping in a sauce or ketchup – but we still indulged and enjoyed both. Next came the wings. Starting with the Parmesan Garlic, there was a wonderful balance between the two leading ingredients. It’s easy for garlic to overpower other flavors, but the parmesan tasted full and sharp, and a bite of pepper lingered in the mouth after the taste. Moving forward, we had the Classic Buffalo wings – with real blue cheese. The blue cheese had the sharp bite and tang you get from quality. The twoflavor combination was wonderful.
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After came the Amazinger. It’s a signature Nekkid sauce with ginger hints. The honey was subtle but added to the flavors, bringing out an appreciated richness in the sauce. Finally, came the toughest menu wings: Asian Chili. Nekkid describes the sauce as: “Madly addictive bold and spicy flavor from Southeast Asia. Beware the heat!” Bracing ourselves, we took a bite – and the flavor explosion was splendid! Spicy sauces often burn away the ability to taste flavor combinations, but not Nekkid’s. The citrus complimented the chili, and while the heat from the wings came later, it wasn’t unbearable – even to someone with a low spice tolerance. After finishing, we met Chief Executive Officer Saehm Lee to talk about the new branch and his views on Nekkid. The Sangsu branch opened on April 13, and so far things are going well. “But it’s not all about the money,” he said. He pointed to the video playing on a flat screen that featured a charity event Nekkid hosted previously to
donate to orphanages in Seoul. It’s important to Nekkid to give to others. They host quarterly charity events, and their next one will be in June. In the menu is a message about Nekkid’s mission. “We wanted something unique and original. Not only did we want our name to represent the food we serve, but we also wanted to convey what kind of place we want to be for the diners. We wanted people to come, shed their stress at the end of the day, and have a good time – so we came up with the name, Nekkid. “Our core values are ambition, belonging, and consistency. We put emphasis on relationship, taste, and quality of the food we make, consistency, and the culture we create.” The true authenticity of this restaurant, staff, and food is not to be missed. From the genuine desire to create delicious food, to the eagerness of helping their patrons unwind, enjoy themselves, and experience great cuisine, Nekkid is the place to go.
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We wanted something unique and original. Not only did we want our name to represent the food we serve, but we also wanted to convey what kind of place we want to be for the diners. We wanted people to come, shed their stress at the end of the day, and have a good time – so we came up with the name, Nekkid.
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TRAVEL
The Yeongdeok Snow Crab Festival:
Caught in the Claws of Yeongdeok A continued investigation towards discovering “true Korea.” Story ZEV D. BLUMENFELD Illustrations ANDERS NIENSTAEDT
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e almost hadn’t made it. “Hurry up, you wooly ratbastard. That’s our gㅗddamn shuttle!” I had yelled to my advisor, Binx, as he emerged from the train station, looking bewildered as Punxsutawney Phil. We pushed our way inside the nondescript van, barely getting the door closed before the driver peeled away. The fact was, I didn’t truly know where this shuttle was going. Carnal instinct had taken over. I had gambled that this unmarked van would bring us to the 21st Annual Yeongdeok Snow Crab Festival. It was either that, or judging by its fuzzy, purple interior, we’d be singing karaoke with the clan of ajummas (old ladies) sitting behind us. But we had indeed made it. And now, just thirty minutes after our arrive, I had begun doubting the reality of leaving this festival unscathed. We walked down the narrow alley bordering the venue, passing restaurants tightly squeezed together, their signs blending in a hodgepodge of Korean characters. The overhangs jutted out in no particular order or color coordination—red, yellow, and brown. Storekeepers stood smoking cigarettes or sweeping—some just looking out at the morning crowd. A woman with black, permed hair and bent posture held a hose, water running from it, splashing off her red basket, and seeping down the pavement into our path. That’s when I noticed them—crustaceans the size of wild boars, crawling up the sides of these restaurants. “Holy hell, man! There’re monster crabs scaling that building,” I yelled. “Somebody, quick, call the authorities!” “Please.” Binx said, taking off his sunglasses with a look of annoyance. “Spare me your do-good-nick thoughts and stick to the job, Mother Teresa. We have a festival to attend. And more importantly, I have crab to eat—hell, there’s enough here to make King Taejo full.”1 And with that, he walked off. “Fㅗck it.” I said to myself. The locals knew more about crab wrangling than I did. Their lives were out of my hands.
1 Taejo was the founder of Korea’s Goryeo Dynasty and ruled from 918-943. He had six wives, and united the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea.
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Across from the restaurants, dozens of dried squid hung, rope threaded through their beaks as they turned to jerky in the morning sun. The alley snaked around to a neighboring fish market. Rusted orange bars supported the metal roofing that stretched above the labyrinth of buckets containing the market’s sea creatures. From the harbor behind, the sun shot through, cascading off these polychromatic buckets on the brown and green brick floor, light ripples dancing in all directions. White fish, sea cucumbers, eels, crabs—it was all here. It was a pescetarians wet dream and an anti-speciesist’s hellscape. After being chased off by some angry seagull weilding a butcher’s knife, we backtracked to the information stand. The festival grounds had been set up in Hepalang Park—a giant concrete slab with tents and stages, three inflatable pools for crab fishing, and an obstacle course. Patrons stood at a tent jockeying for position in line, hoping to sign up for a chance to compete in the crab wheelbarrow race. One of these men stood out from the others. He smiled at the woman behind the counter. Then, without missing a beat, he yelled at his wife and three daughters to hurry over. It could have been his knockoff Oakleys or his shaven head, but there was something slippery about this fellow. “Bow to King Taejo,” a voice boomed from behind us. I spun around—and there, in traditional Korean attire, stood a group of 20-somethings. One of them, wearing baggy pants, gestured to another dressed in a hanbok (traditional robes) and a long hat. “He is king. You must bow.” So I bowed and they burst into laughter. “Where you from?” Baggy Pants asked. “America.” I said. “Yo, yo! Do you know, B-boy? You dance like B-boy.” He threw up his hand for a side high-five. I didn’t respond immediately. “I’m no dancer,” I replied, giving him an underwhelming slap on the hand. “Just a journalist—nothing more than an average joe with sinister tendencies.”
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“Spare me your do-good-nick thoughts and stick to the job, Mother Teresa. We have a festival to attend. And more importantly, I have crab to eat—hell, there’s enough here to make King Taejo full.”
“No dance? Ok, ok. He’s B-boy.” He pointed to one of the guys with a mushroom haircut and stud in his ear. Mushroom Cut stepped forward and began breakdancing on the concrete. The others started beatboxing in what sounded like the onset of hyperventilation. “Bizarre” was the word. It was the exact word. For fㅗcks sakes, these fine lads may have been some of King Taejo’s descendants. What would he have said about this soiling of the royal robes? “Did you hear that, man?” I said, cutting through the exasperated rhythm. It was faint, but unmistakable. In the distance was a clicking that could have only come from crab claws—millions of crab claws snapping together in a warning sign to any predator in close proximity. But we moved closer, drawn by the intrigue of the sight to be had, pulled by sheer wonderment and an investigative duty to crack open the essence of contemporary Korean culture—“true Korea” as I had dubbed it. What we saw instead was an emcee squeezing a crab in one hand and waving it at the audience. “Chil-man won (70,000 KRW)!” he shouted. “Chil-man, O-cheon won.” The clicking of claws fluttered around us, but these weren’t crabs at all. This was a crab auction and the sound
came from plastic clappers given to the audience for bidding. The sinister bastards had designed this noise quirk on purpose. The Brainworms grew hungry, conjuring up an image in my mind of the smug organizers sitting around in a smoky backroom. “You know what would really make the auction memorable?” “What’s that, Choi?” “Crab-sound clappers.” They must have really patted themselves on the back for that one. “They say some ideas are worth their weight in gold,” I said. Binx looked on, “Yeah, some ideas…”. The man with the shaven head had suited himself in waders and a red crab hat by the time we got to the wheelbarrow race. He was dancing around to some music, the way a crab would had it turned human. This overtly zealous behavior made him seem even more slippery. Beneath his smiling face and gregarious externalities lingered an overbearing soccer dad with helicopterparent tendencies. He was the kind of SOB that would yell at the coaches during his kids’ games and beat his wife to get off on the pure rush of adrenaline and power. He feared losing control and overcompensated to keep the fear hidden. It was speculation, sure, but not unfounded.
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He and his opponent took their mark at the starting line. The referee counted down from three, and the competitors sprinted to the first pool. Shaved Head set down the wheelbarrow and hurried to an inflatable pool where two cylindrical, net traps had been dropped. He yanked one from the water. Reaching in, he wrestled the crab toward the opening. It’s legs snagged in the net’s holes causing Shaved Head to tug harder. It was only as loud as a snap of the fingers, but the leg gave way tearing from the body, and falling onto the ground. The man tossed it into his wheelbarrow, withdrew the second crab. Once he had removed it, he hurriedly pushed the wheelbarrow to the second pool, swept up a couple more crabs, and made a U-turn. He hurried back towards the finish line victoriously. The crowd cheered, his children hugged him, and his wife stood smiling. Loose legs began piling up around the festival grounds. From the largest of the three pools, came the voice of another emcee. “Do you know ‘crab?’ Crap is crab,” said another emcee. It was ajaegaegu (old-man humor). Binx and I stood near the crowd around the pool. People waited with primitive fishing poles in hand. He was buying time. But for what? And then, three foreigners appeared atop a ladder leading into the pool. “Do you speak Korean?” he said laughing. One of the girls gave the affirmative. But after being pressed, it became clear he knew more English than she knew Korean. The long faces of many members in the audience signaled that they had grown tired of waiting for the event to start. They had, had enough of the man’s humor and most certainly enough of the pandering to the foreigners. The foreigners climbed into the pool and began tossing crabs out towards the yelling “fishermen.” Legs broke off mid-air, falling well short of the edges. Crabs landed upside-down only to be snagged by the nearest treble hook, hoisted to the surface, and chucked to the ground. One fisherman caught so many, I lost count. It all happened
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This family event had become a game of “Follow the Leader” into a pit of speciesism. as quickly as a game of skeeball in an arcade. As soon as one crab was removed from the hook, it was on to next. The foreigners awkwardly slogged through the water, holding the crabs at arm’s length as to not get pinched by a dangling claw. The number of crabs dwindled until the pool lay empty. The man counted his winnings and found that one of his catches carried the lucky tag. His prize?—a box of crabs. This family event had become a game of “Follow the Leader” into a pit of speciesism. It undeniably masqueraded
as an indoctrination for the youth into a system to support turning the animal into a commodity, thus eliminating the intrinsic value of a crab and replacing it with a dollar sign. It all came down to a quick dollar (or KRW) and a deeper desire to sustain—be it monetarily or through consumption. Tens of thousands of red bodies stacked together across tabletops, in wheelbarrows, and crammed into fish aquariums outside crowded restaurant fronts. The livelihood of the Yeongdeok fishing village had been built on the shells of the snow crab.
TRAVEL
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LISTINGS EMBASSIES American Embassy (02) 397-4114 • 188 Sejongdaero, Jongno-gu, Seoul Canadian Embassy (02) 3783-6000 • (613) 996-8885 (Emergency Operations Center) Jeongdong-gil (Jeong-dong) 21, Jung-gu, Seoul British Embassy (02) 3210-5500 • Sejongdaero 19-gil 24, Jung-gu, Seoul Australian Embassy (02) 2003-0100 • 19th fl, Kyobo bldg., 1 Jongno 1-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul Philippine Embassy (02) 796-7387~9 • 5-1 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul Spanish Embassy (02) 794-3581 • 726-52 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul French Embassy (02) 3149-4300 • 30 Hap-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
HOTELS & RESORTS Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul (02) 2250-8080 • San 5-5, Jangchung-dong 2-ga Jung gu,Seoul Novotel Ambassador Gangnam (02) 567-1101 • 603 Yeoksam 1-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
FAMILY AND KIDS
HOTELS & RESORTS Lotte Hotel Busan (051) 810-1000 • 772 Gaya-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan
AIRLINES Korean Air 1588-2001 Asiana Airlines 1588-8000 Lufthansa (02) 2019-0180 Garuda Indonesia (02) 773-2092 garuda-indonesia.co.kr Jeju Air 1599-1500 T’way Air 1688-8686 Jin Air 1600-6200 British Airways (02) 774-5511 Cathay Pacific Airways (02) 311-2700 Delta Airlines (02) 754-1921 Emirates Airlines (02) 2022-8400
Park Hyatt Busan (051) 990-1244 • 51, Marine City 1-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan 612-824, Korea
EMERGENCY CENTERS University Dongsan Medical Center (053) 250-7167 (7177 / 7187) 56 Dalseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu Gangnam St-Mary’s Hospital 1588-1511 • 222 Banpodaero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Yongsan Intl. School (02) 797-5104 • San 10-213 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul Seoul Intl. School (031) 750-1200 • 388-14 Bokjeong-dong, Sujeonggu, Seongnam, Gyeonggido Branksome Hall Asia (02) 6456-8405 • Daejung-eup, Seogipo-si, Jeju Island Daegu Intl. School (053) 980-2100 • 1555 Bongmu-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu
Yonsei Severance Hospital (Sinchon) (02) 2227-7777 • 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Seoul National University Hospital 1339 • 28-2 Yeongeondong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Seoul Samsung Hospital 1599-3114 • 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul Asan Medical Center 1688-7575 • 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center (053) 250-7167 (7177 / 7187) • 56 Dalseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu
Grand Hilton Seoul (02) 3216-5656 • 353 Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemungu, Seoul Somerset Palace Seoul (02) 6730-8888 • 85 Susong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Park Hyatt Seoul (02) 2016-1244 • 606 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
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Dulwich College Seoul offers an exemplary British-style international education (including IGCSE and IBDP) for over 600 expatriate students aged 2 to 18 from over 40 different countries. 6 Sinbanpo-ro 15-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea
www.dulwich-seoul.kr
admissions@dulwich-seoul.kr 02-3015-8500
LISTINGS FAMILY AND KIDS Eton House Prep (02) 749-8011 • 68-3 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul A unique British-style Prep School for children of all nationalities from 2-13 years of age. A broad, challenging and innovative curriculum preparing pupils for senior school and life beyond. www.etonhouseprep.com AMUSEMENT PARKS Everland Resort (031) 320-5000 • 310 Jeondae-ri, Pogokeup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do Lotte World (02) 411-2000 0 • 240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul Pororo Park (D-Cube city) 1661-6340 • 360-51 Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul Children’s Grand Park (zoo) (02) 450-9311 • 216 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul Seoul Zoo (02) 500-7338 • 159-1 Makgyedong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do BOOKSTORES What the Book? (02) 797-2342 • 176-2, Itaewon 1-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul • whatthebook.com Located in Itaewon, this English bookstore has new books, used books and children’s books. Kim & Johnson 1566-0549 • B2 fl-1317-20 Seochodong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
HEALTH ORIENTAL MEDICINE Lee Moon Won Korean Medicine Clinic 02) 511-1079 • 3rd fl., Lee&You bldg. 69-5 Chungdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul Specializes in hair loss and scalp problems and offers comprehensive treatments and services including aesthetic and hair care products. COSMETIC SURGERY MIZAIN plastic surgery Seoul National University College of Medicine graduate doctors offer the best quality medical services • (02) 515 6199 • Dosan-daero 423 (Cheongdam-dong 91-11), Gangnam-gu, Seoul www.mizainps.com MVP plastic surgery Welcoming environment for foreigners and friendly staff guarantees a pleasant visit for cosmetic surgery related consultations. (02) 3442 6669 •Nonhyeon-ro 819, Gangnam-gu, Seoul JK plastic surgery center Experience the best medical system in Korea. Its superb system allows the minimum efforts for your medical experiences. (02) 777 0337 • 584-2 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul FITNESS Exxl Fitness Gangnam Finance Center, 737 Yeoksamdong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul www.exxl.co.kr
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UROLOGY & OB Sewum Urology (02) 3482-8575 • 10th fl., Dongil bldg., 429 Gangnam-daero, Seochogu, Seoul Tower Urology (02) 2277-6699 • 5th fl. 119 Jongno 3-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul DENTAL CLINIC Boston Dental Clinic General dentistry / Periodontics / Orthodontics (02) 3482-0028 • 92-12 5F, Banpo 4-dong (Seorae French Village), Seocho-gu, Seoul OPHTHALMOLOGY Dream Eye Center The best eye clinic for LASIK and LASEK. 3,000+ foreign patients over 20+ years of experience with 0 complaints. If you’re considering getting this, make sure to choose the best. • 1588 9881 • 14 fl., Mijin Plaza, 825 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul ANIMAL HOSPITALS Chunghwa Animal Hospital / Korea Animal Transport (02) 792-7602 • 21-1 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul / www.cwhospital.com
MUSEUM AND GALLERIES National Museum of Korea (02) 2077-9000 • 168-6 Yongsandong 6-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul The NMK offers educational programs on Korean history and culture in English and Korean. National Palace Museum of Korea (02) 3701-7500 • 12 Hyoja-ro, Jongnogu, Seou This museum has a program called Experiencing Royal Culture designed for English teachers to help learn about Joseon royal culture. Seodaemun Museum of Natural History (02) 330-8899 • 141-52 Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Don’t know where to take your kids on weekends? This museum exhibits a snapshot of the world and animals. National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea (02) 2188-6000 • 313 Gwangmyeongro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do Leeum Samsung Museum of Art (02) 2014-6901• 747-18 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul • 10:30 am-6 pm Closed on Mondays, New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays. Gallery Hyundai (02) 734-6111~3 • 22 Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul The first specialized art gallery in Korea and accommodates contemporary art. • 10 am-6 pm Closed on Mondays, New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays. Plateau (02) 1577-7595 • 50 Taepyung-ro 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul • 10 am-6 p. m. Closed on Mondays. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA SEOUL) (02) 3701-9500 • 30 Samcheong-ro, Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Daegu Art Museum (053) 790-3000 • 374 Samdeok-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu Art space for local culture presenting Daegu’s contemporary fine arts and internationally renowned artists.
IBC 5tarium 61
OBC world club 62