Gwangju News August #258

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August 2023, Issue 258

Published: August 1, 2023

Correction: July Issue

The cover photo and cover feature interview of the July 2023 issue (#257) of the Gwangju News introduced the film Wontoks in such a way to imply that it was connected with the “Extinction Wars” exhibit at the Gwangju Biennale. Unfortunately, it was later revealed that the film was in no way related to the exhibition, which is the work of two artists, Jonas Staal and Radha D’Souza. When the Gwangju News became aware that the photos used with the interview and the interview itself were misleading, we immediately removed the online version of this article.

The Gwangju News strives to maintain the originality, veracity, and accuracy of all its content, including all photos, articles, and interviews. Occasionally, and between the time our content is finalized then printed in the magazine, situations change which make updating the printed version impossible. The Gwangju News remains committed to protecting its integrity by immediately admitting to any publication errors and taking steps to correct them.

The errors that appeared in the July issue should not be interpreted in any way, shape, or form as an oversight or mistake by the volunteer writer who conducted the interview. The volunteer writer completed the interview with the best information available at the time.

The Gwangju News would like to officially apologize to the Gwangju Biennale as well as to Jonas Staal and Radha D’Souza for any confusion this has caused.

William Urbanski Managing Editor Gwangju News

From the Editor

Thelingering rains of Korea’s rainy season are weakening with more drawn-out intervals in between. Heat-wave warnings are becoming recurrent on everyone’s smartphone, and the shrill sirens of ambulances rushing heatstroke victims to the hospital are an everyday occurrence. These are all signs of the intense heat of August, host to the third of Korea’s “dog days.” August also signals the publication of another issue of the Gwangju News, and we hope that we have compiled a summer edition that is, at the very least, as enjoyable and as informative as previous issues.

This month’s cover at once looks like a grocery store and the inside of a bus. Well, it is both. “Bus Mart” is a little-known market on wheels, catering to the South Asian cuisine-loving community but little known over the past seventeen years. Read our cover feature to learn more about this unique mobile supermarket. In a related piece, discover how one Malaysian resident of Gwangju deals with the challenges of maintaining a halal diet in Korea [Community].

How aware are you of the massive emigration from the Korean Peninsula beginning in the early 20th century and the role that Koreans in the Americas played in supporting the Provisional Korean Government in exile during the colonial period? Find out more about the history being uncovered in our second feature. Turning to present-day politics, an upto-date analysis is made of the comings and goings of third (and fourth) parties in the whirlpool of South Korean politics [Political Focus].

Teaching and learning earns a greater than average spot in this issue. Interested in learning Korean in a quality program at no cost? Check out the KIIP program covered in our third feature. And of course, there is also our regular Everyday Korean lesson in this issue. This month’s Language Teaching discusses value shields and how they can be integrated into a language class. Montessori Education deals with developing the child’s imagination this time around.

In your August downtime, consider hiking and sightseeing at several little-known spots along the west coast [Lost in Honam]. Or you may wish to consider something closer to home – a baseball game or a soccer match. Can’t decide which would be better – seeing the Kia Tigers or watching Gwangju FC? Our managing editor will let you know his opinion. And of course, there is much more on offer.

Stay health-conscious, stay heat-conscious, and enjoy August’s Gwangju News!

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News

Gwangju

Photo of the Month

CNU Law School Mural

(The former college of education building)

By Neha Bisht

This beautiful painting on the wall of CNU Law School illustrates the Gwangju Democratic Uprising. The movement is commemorated every year on May 18 in memory of Gwangju residents who laid down their lives for the nation.

The uprising started after martial law forces used extreme force to inflict heavy and even fatal force upon CNU student protesters (as well as bystanders) who were protesting martial law implemented by the Korean government. The painting was prepared by the Mural Promotion Committee, which includes the Mudang and Sinbaram art clubs and CNU’s Art Education Department. The painting is noticeable from a faraway distance, imprinting the great sacrifice in the hearts of visitors.

Gwangju City News

Extension of Working Hours for Foreign Students to a Maximum of 30 Hours per Week

Foreign students studying in South Korea will now be allowed to work up to 25 to 30 hours per week, an increase from the current limit of 20 hours, in an effort to encourage their settlement in the country. The Ministry of Justice announced on June 23 that this measure would be implemented starting on July 3. There are also plans to extensively revise the visa system for international students studying in Korea.

To expand opportunities for career exploration, the Ministry of Justice has increased the maximum working hours for foreign undergraduate students from 20 to 25 hours per week. Additionally, for foreign students with outstanding Korean language proficiency, they will be allowed to work up to 30 hours per week. The methods of proving Korean language proficiency have also been expanded to include completion of social integration programs offered by the Ministry of Justice and completion of Korean language education at Sejong Institutes, in addition to the existing

Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK).

The scope of employment during vacation, which was previously limited to simple labor, has been expanded to include internships in specialized fields related to students’ majors. Additionally, international students participating in the Standard Field Practice Semester System, the internship system through contracts between universities and companies, as well as international students participating in compulsory field training, will be exempted from the requirement of obtaining a part-time employment permit.

The financial evaluation criteria, which have been criticized for being excessively strict when issuing student visas, will also be relaxed. The evaluation will be based on the Korean won instead of the US dollar, and the minimum financial requirements will be reduced from the current $20,000 (approximately 26 million Korean won) to 20 million won for degree-seeking students, and from $10,000 (approximately 13 million Korean won) to 10 million won for language training students.

Call Center: 062-120

Bitgoeul Gwangju

Waterpark for Children in Gwangju Citizens’ Forest

A waterpark for children in Gwangju Citizens’ Forest (광주시민의숲) will be open from July 22 to August 20. It will run every Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and children under the age of 13 can use it free of charge.

Every Monday the waterpark will be closed for cleaning and facility inspection. Depending on weather conditions such as rain, it can be closed.

In order to prevent accidents, safety management personnel will always be at the waterpark. The water in the swimming pool will be replaced every day, and Gwangju Metropolitan City will test the water quality every 15 days. (More information: Gwangju Green City Office: 062-613-6465)

New Age Counting System Starts

Korea’s new age counting system starts July 28. Under the new age counting system, the age of citizens is 0 at birth, and 1 year is added each time a person’s birthday passes, as per the international age counting system. Under the traditional Korean age counting system, a newborn baby’s age is 1 year, and it is 2 years after New Year’s Day.

First article translated by Koo Yesol. Other articles translated by Kim Sukang

▼ Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

Bus Mart : Gwangju’s

Expat-Friendly Market on Wheels

By Neha Bisht

Photos by Kim Hillel Yunkyoung

Everyone has heard about mobile food trucks, but have you ever witnessed a food mart on wheels? Yes, it is true. I was also surprised when I first learned about this grocery market through my friends. So, I decided to introduce you all to Mr. Park Jong-kyu, who runs the popular Bus Mart. Living in a foreign country is difficult for most migrants, especially those without access to their home country’s food supplies, and equally so for vegans, vegetarians, and the Muslim community.

Mr. Park understood these necessities and seized the opportunity to start a business. He has been running Bus Mart for the past 17 years. The service is foreign friendly and has been a lifeline for many immigrants from South Asian countries, such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere, who come here for higher education and jobs. Bus Mart provides fresh supplies of vegetables and fruits in addition to much-missed stocks of spices, lentils, rice, flour, and sweets that make Korea a home-

▲ The interior of Bus Mart is fitted with shelves on both sides, stocked with a wide variety of grocery items.

away-from-home for foreigners. The Muslim community living in Gwangju mainly faces issues in getting halal food; therefore, the Bus Mart helps in alleviating this shortage, too. The availability of resources from one’s home country allows foreigners to share their food culture with locals in its authentic form.

Bus Mart provides services mainly around the universities and industrial complexes of Gwangju. Customers can expect the bus to be at a designated place on a specified day of the week. For example, the Bus Mart service is available on 2nd and 4th Friday of every month at Chonnam National University near the Seongsan Mansion apartments (성산맨션) bus stop over by the G&R Hub from 19:50 to 20:15, as well as at Chosun University on the same days from 19:00 to 19:25. On the same following Saturdays, it comes to Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology near the Mechanical Engineering Building (S1) parking area from 18:00 to 18:45 and thereafter moves to the Honnam Industrial Complex area.

In addition, the bus covers some rural areas around Gwangju on other weekdays. The bus waits for its customers at the chosen parking spot at a predetermined time before leaving for the next stop. Mr. Park is very punctual regardless of weather conditions. He always sends everyone a gentle reminder message on the day of arrival. The grocery prices in Bus Mart are very reasonable considering that the consumers are mostly students and factory workers. Apart from the bulk of the food options that are systematically arranged on shelves, Mr. Park also takes suggestions if people wish to include something more. Bus Mart is different from other suppliers, as you can request/order fresh food supplies by calling Mr. Park directly. He also has some knowledge of English, which helps non-Korean-speaking students when making purchases. Mr. Park is a very polite person and always arrives on time because he knows people are eagerly waiting for him. He accepts all kinds of payment methods, too.

▼ Among the many Bus Mart grocery items is a variety of fresh produce.

In the end, on behalf of the entire foreign community, I am very thankful to Mr. Park and his Bus Mart for the innovative business initiative, which helps many foreigners and lets them continue living in Gwangju while also feeling closer to home. I personally buy many grocery items and fresh vegetables from Bus Mart, and I recommend it to all my friends who like to enjoy South Asian cuisine. Most foreign students still do not know about this convenient service, and as a result, they continue to face many difficulties in finding food resources. I hope this article will help them to connect with Bus Mart and give them the option to buy the food of their choice.

The Author

A native of India, Neha Bisht is pursuing her PhD research at Chonnam National University’s Department of Material Science and Engineering. She loves to meet new people and make new friends. She wants to explore the whole world and learn more about the traditional and cultural differences across the globe. She always likes to contribute to the wellbeing of society in whatever way she can.

CONTACTING BUS MART

Phone: 010-7279-9643

If you want Bus Mart service in your area, please contact Mr. Park Jong-kyu via SMS or KakaoTalk.

To request a special order, text Mr. Park with the name and desired quantity of your food product at least one day before the sales date in your area. If you want to order some products from your home country that are not available in the Bus Mart, you can request the name and desired quantity of your food product.

Note: Sometimes the Bus Mart operating hours can be subject to change. If you register your mobile number with Mr. Park he can keep you updated.

▲ Bus Mart is an actual bus, a market on wheels, catering to the foreign community with hard-to-find grocery items.

The Korean Diaspora of the Americas and the Provisional ROK Government

By Kim Jaigi

THE BEGINNINGS

The history of the Korean diaspora in the Americas begins with the immigrant laborers to Hawaii in 1903. Two years later, approximately 7,400 Koreans had arrived to toil on sugar plantations. In 1905, 1,033 Koreans worked on agave farms in Mexico while being pricked by thorns in the scorching sun. In 1921, 288 of the Koreans in Mexico extended the community to

the Caribbean Sea, as they ventured to Cuba to work on its sugar plantations and agave farms.

These Koreans without a country all their own established the Korean National Association (KNA) in 1909. It soothed their homesickness and defended their interests. The KNA sought a home for Koreans outside of their lost homes and supported the independence movement by

sending funds to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Shanghai.

On February 1, 1909, in San Francisco, Park Yongman*, Syngman Rhee*, and Ahn Chang-ho* led the founding of the KNA, which would act as the representative organization for all Koreans in the Americas. National heroes Jang In-hwan* and Jeon Myeong-un* had been stirring enthusiasm among Koreans in America to resist the Japanese Empire, and their acolytes saw the necessity of integrating with the KNA and combining efforts with the associations in San Francisco and Hawaii. The KNA’s explicit goals were thus: the repeal of the Ulsa Treaty [which made Korea a protectorate of Japan and was a precursor to annexation in 1910]; the restoration of Korea’s statehood; and the peace and prosperity of overseas Koreans.

From the Hawaiian Islands to Mexico and Cuba, the small group of immigrant Koreans banded

together tightly through the KNA. In 1910, as Korea lost its last bit of autonomy, the KNA served as an ersatz government for the nowstateless overseas Koreans.

LINKING KOREAN PATRIOTS

The KNA became the mouthpiece of the Korean community through printing The New Korea (신한민보) newspaper. It gave hope to the longsuffering Koreans and kept alive the dream of political independence. The New Korea became a mainstay for the Koreans of the Americas through all stages of life, in times both happy and sad. Koreans in Asia and in the Americas also established lines of communication that linked Koreans in different countries with general news, the announcement of the second-generation births [American-born children of Korean immigrants], pictures, marriage announcements, and advertisements for ethnic foodstuffs.

Kim Gu’s letter from Shanghai to KNA President Earl K. Paik (The New Korea, May 1, 1930).

The independence movement doggedly brought news of events in the colonized fatherland as well as in Manchuria and the maritime regions to the overseas Korean community, thereby keeping the spirit of independence alive. The paper reported on support and donated funds for the March 1st (1919) Movement and its “echo” a decade later in the Gwangju Student Independence Movement. Even the Koreans in Mexico and Cuba, who were in especially dire financial straits, offered aid.

Koreans in the Americas maintained relations with the Provisional Government in Shanghai, continuously giving funds for independence, which we know from a May 1, 1930, article in The New Korea. As news of the Gwangju Student Independence Movement reached the Americas through the KNA, many Koreans responded by donating money to the students through the Provisional Government. Pivotal nationalist Kim Gu* expressed his gratitude in a letter to The New Korea, thanking KNA members for their immense financial help to the Provisional Government.

For the past 90 years, Kim Gu’s letter was largely unknown.

For the past 90 years, Kim Gu’s letter was largely unknown. When I was in New York for the 2016 academic year, my studies on the Gwangju Student Independence Movement led me to come across The New Korea. I then found Kim Gu’s letter mentioning the Independence Movement, and then confirmed it as being delivered to the thenchair of the KNA, Baek Il-gyu* (“Earl K. Paik”).

THE GWANGJU STUDENT INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT STOKES THE FIRES OF PATRIOTISM

This letter is an invaluable resource considering Kim Gu made no other mention of the Independence Movement in his diary or in the twelve volumes of collected writings discovered in 1999. This letter, written on April 2, 1930, and brought by sea from

Shanghai to San Francisco appeared on page 3 of The New Korea on May 1. The letter reads:

The independence movement, yet again cut down and languishing for several years, has been strongly reinvigorated by the Gwangju Student Independence Movement. In response, your [KNA members’] sincere outpouring of support to help the [Provisional] Government at a time of immense costs, without even a note of receipt and regardless of credit, is a deeply moving act that I wish to commemorate.

This letter, reproduced in The New Korea, shows Kim Gu of the Provisional Government in Shanghai directly citing and praising the Gwangju Student Independence Movement in print for the first time. It also attests to the continual remittances by the community of Koreans in the Americas for the national independence fund. Also, through this letter, we know that the Korean diaspora of the Western Hemisphere made large donations to the Provisional Government motivated by the Gwangju Student Independence Movement.

In this letter, Kim Gu referred only to the “poll tax” (인구세) that the Koreans of the Americas had all paid. Until now, the known specific references in Kim Gu’s diaries were to people like Kim Gyeong* (“Travis Kim”) in Chicago, who raised money for the Provisional Government to pay rent in Shanghai. The diaries also express gratitude as “$200 was not trivial at the time.” The passages also acknowledge “figures such as Kim Gi-chang * and Lee Jong-o* in Mexico as well as Lim Cheon-taek* and Park Chang-un* in Cuba who supported the Provisional Government.”

HONORING THE WORTHY

The Koreans of the Americas continuously provided substantial support even amidst financial crisis and did so all the way until liberation in 1945. Through these deeds, about 300 persons are in the national registry for acts of valor. However, their deeds and the official acknowledgement thereof have not reached all descendants. This applies to the progeny of 40 of the 60 Koreans who lived in Mexico and 35 of the 43 in Cuba.

The Covid-19 pandemic stalled efforts to track the descendants of these Koreans in Mexico and Cuba, but I have conducted volunteer visits to Hawaii, Mexico, Cuba, and New York from January to April of this year. I am analyzing roughly 2,000 persons I discovered through photographs taken at Diamond Head Cemetery in Hawaii. Visits to Mexico and Cuba have already resulted in notifying the descendants of honorees like Lee Gi-sam*, Kim Seong-mi*, Lee Don-ui*, Lee Hak-sa*, Roh Deok-hyeon*, Kim Chi-myeong*, Lee Geun-yeong*, Hur Wan*, Kim Yeong-seong*, Ahn Sun-pil*, Ahn Ok-hui*, and Han Ik-gwon* [each of whose descendants can receive special honors].

I estimate roughly 300 people gave support to the KNA and the Provisional Government in their independence efforts but remain unrecognized. Because problems of fairness continue to plague these efforts to bestow posthumous awards to these meritorious Koreans, the [Korean] government needs to take special measures to ensure the proper honoring of these supporters [of Korea’s independence].

* Recipient of honors for national valor.

The Author

Edited and

translated

by Jonathan Joseph Chiarella.

Kim Jaegi is a professor in political science at Chonnam National University. He is the author or editor on multiple books on national liberation movements, has written several academic articles, and is the chair of KORiaspora, a research project that documents the travails of overseas Koreans from the late Joseon era to today.

The Koreans of the Americas continuously provided substantial support even amidst financial crisis and did so all the way until liberation in 1945. Through these deeds, about 300 persons are in the national registry for acts of valor.

Announcement for Go Chang-deok’s 60th birthday in Matanzas, Cuba.

Obituary for Jeong Won-do of New York.

Come an’ Getcha KIIP

The Korean Immigration Integration Program

By Clare Rawsterne

Anyone familiar with England, might know that the headline is a salute to the proverbial market stall owners of London, who call out over the crowds to sell their wares. I suppose the Korean equivalent would be the truck drivers – public address systems cranked up to full – who drive from street to street selling seasonal foods. Though, unlike those hard-working folk who must tack on a price for their goods, in the case of KIIP, there’s really no need.

KIIP is the Korean Immigration Integration Program, developed by the Ministry of Justice, which offers free language and culture classes to anyone who wishes to learn. I had been in Korea for several years before I became aware of KIIP and was relieved when it finally fell into my lap. I was, by this point, a veteran Google searcher of “Korean language classes,” “learn Korean,” “can someone please, for the love of god, teach me Korean?” and yet KIIP evaded me. One can only assume it was hiding somewhere in the depths of the internet.

My first attempt at learning Korean was with KDA, Korean Digital Academy, a course put together by a Canadian and a Korean. It was a great introduction to the language with videos and course materials online as well as a onehour speaking class per week with a native Korean teacher. The combined efforts of a

native English speaker fluent in Korean, and a native Korean speaker fluent in English, meant that the classes were delivered not only with language expertise but with empathy for all the embarrassments, hurdles, and herculean grammar flips one must do in one’s head to start making headway with the language.

Each level of the program you complete gives you points towards a visa.

After a couple of years of doing KDA in a Rachel and Ross (of Friends) on-again-offagain style – I am giving away my age with that pop-culture reference – I decided that I wanted to stay in Korea on a more permanent basis. This came with a few self-imposed requirements: first, I would have to step up my Korean game with more regular classes; and second, I would have to look into changing my visa in order to feel like my life here was more rooted and stable. Back to Google. It would not best me this time. Actually, my Google searches still didn’t turn up much, but I did find a video by the amazing Megan Moon, an American YouTuber living in Korea, who got her residency visa through KIIP.

Two for two, language classes and a visa. I was intrigued. Getting the basic information still required quite a bit of internet rifling and a fair amount of reading, but eventually I got it down to several key points that convinced me the program was the stuff of dreams. And here is that list for you:

• Classes are free.

• Classes are frequent.

• Each level of the program you complete gives you points towards a visa.

In order to improve my Korean, particularly my speaking and listening, I knew a one-hour class once a week would suffice no longer. I needed more, but thinking about the cost of private classes made me want to hide under the covers. And thinking about language exchange

websites made me want to remain under the covers for all eternity. Thankfully, all, bar one, of the KIIP courses are one-hundred hours of classes, and all for the delicious price of… nothing. You have to pay for the textbook and the workbook, which currently cost around ten thousand won a piece and are available through Coupang. Here endeth the financial sacrifice.

KIIP textbook. (Photo by the National Institute of Korean Language)

All, bar one, of the KIIP courses are one-hundred hours of classes, and all for the delicious price of… nothing.

There are two options for completing the 100 hours. The first is to take classes online. Pre-Covid, online classes were reserved for those not able to attend in-person classes, valid reasons being pregnancy, mobility issues, distance, etc. If you live in Gwangju or Jeollanamdo in-person classes can be harder to find, so online is sometimes the only option. Online classes are generally two hours per night, Monday–Friday, with a variety of start times available. If, however, you are weary of living life through a screen, then an in-person class is available at Nambu University in Gwangju. Classes are every

test is comprised of a written exam and a speaking test. The speaking test requires reading a short passage and answering some questions about the contents. It is conducted in groups of five. If you have passed TOPIK then submitting that certificate at your local immigration office will also gain you entry into the program. If you have TOPIK Level 1, you will enter KIIP at Level 2, if you have TOPIK Level 2, you will enter KIIP at Level 3, and so on.

Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You will have classmates from around the globe and a welltrained teacher, adept at communicating with learners entirely through Korean.

A little more information before I sign off: in order to register for KIIP, go to https:// www.socinet.go.kr/. I would advise getting a Korean friend to help, as navigating the website is challenging. There are six levels in the program: Levels 0 to 5, Level 0 being for those who need to start right from the beginning with Hangeul. There are several ways to get into the program: you can sign up and start from Level 0, or you can test into the program by registering for a Sajeonpyeonga (사전평가), or level test. The level

Aside from the obvious benefits of very little cost and a high number of class hours, there are other delights to be had. PostCovid, being in a classroom with a group of people makes me slightly less afraid of the impending AI takeover. Additionally, all these scrummy humans are going through the same experience, which is affirming. I am the only native English speaker in my class of around twenty people, which means that we all have to communicate using Korean, leading to lots of speaking and listening practice. One member of the class, let’s call him “Sam,” uses every grammar point to talk about his wife and two girlfriends, which often has the group roaring with laughter. He does not seem remotely aware of how funny he is, which only makes him funnier. Finally, our teacher is a lively and engaging woman who makes an effort to remember all of our names and always asks Sam about his wife and girlfriends. She teaches us through the textbook as well as through relatable anecdotes, while guiding us on how best to pass the exam. All in all, I look forward to my KIIP Sundays.

Clare Rawsterne was made in Manchester, England. She is an expert on rain, Sherlock Holmes, and every Mancunian’s favorite pastime: complaining.

The Author

▲ A cohort of KIIP Level 4 students.

Three Lazy Hikes Along the West Sea

By Isaiah Winters

Ihate the West Sea.

It’s shallow and muddy with a color palette usually ranging from some metallic sludge to full-on dirty dishwater. In last year’s August issue, I said, “If Korea’s three seas were its offspring, the West Sea would be the red-headed stepchild,” and I stand by that. That’s also what makes this underachieving littoral perfect for my next writing and photography challenge – to find beauty in this slacker of a sea. Therefore, in this month’s installment of “Lost,” I’ll take you on three lazy West Sea hikes with views so good you’ll forget how crappy Korea’s west coast can be.

DAEDEOK-SAN, YEONGGWANG-GUN (대덕산, 영광군)

This 240-meter mountain doesn’t look like much on a map, but when you consider where it is and what it overlooks, the payoff is exceptional. If you park at its northernmost trailhead, the hike to the summit is just under a kilometer and ends at a perfectly placed pavilion draped with “Do Not Enter” signs, as the somewhat aging wooden structure has been deemed unsafe by local authorities. However, if you’re cheeky enough to skirt all the danger bunting, the view of the Watan Stream bending between Beopseong-po on the right and lush green fields on the left before

▼ Daedeok-san’s best impression of Suncheon-man.

spilling into the West Sea is truly impressive. While enjoying the breeze up there for about half an hour, I shot what’s probably my favorite timelapse to date. The sunlight would periodically flash through the clouds and highlight the fields below, bringing me about as close to nirvana as the West Sea can.

By the way, if the view inspires a little déjà vu, that’s probably because what you’re seeing is the humble discount version of Suncheon-man. Whereas a visit to Suncheon-man from Gwangju

takes an hour and a half one way, leaves you 20 minutes outside the city, and costs 15,000 won for a standard adult ticket, the drive to Daedeok-san takes only 50 minutes, leaves you five minutes outside the city, and doesn’t end at a ticket booth. Also, the city beside it isn’t just any Podunk village – it’s Beopseong-po, one of the top places in the country to get gulbi (굴비), or dried yellowtail. After gorging yourself there, a 10-minute drive across the harbor’s main bridge will bring you to Baeksu Coastal Road (백수해안도로), one of the best coastal boardwalks in the country. If you’ve got a car, this is a day trip you shouldn’t skip.

DALKI-BONG, BUAN-GUN (닭이봉, 부안군)

Though a mere 85 meters above sea level, this tiny peak affords you a great view of the westernmost edge of the Byeonsan Peninsula and Gyeokpo Beach. On a clear day, you can easily make out the distant islands of the Gogunsan Archipelago, and if the sunlight is strong enough, the waters may even appear blue! For lazy types, this hike’s for you, as you can literally drive to the top, park at the base of the observatory, and take the stairs straight to the observation deck. (If only there were an elevator, too!) If instead you actually

▲ The boardwalk along Baeksu Coastal Road.

▼ Byeonsan Peninsula’s rocky shoreline.

make the effort to hike all the way up to the observatory, you’re rewarded on the way back with a staircase down to Gyeokpo’s vast tidepools and tiny sand beach. To my surprise, even at low tide (pictured), the water is less murky and the sand less muddy than is usual for the West Sea, making this beach one of the southwest’s better places to swim.

If swimming’s not your thing, or if inclement weather keeps you ashore, another spot nearby worth checking out is the extreme westernmost tip of the Byeonsan Peninsula (pictured). You can walk or drive there from the beach and check out all the tiny caves and weird rock formations that hem in tidepools teeming with life. If you want to grab a meal while you’re in the area, there’s a little seafood market by the beach, and for anyone smitten by the place, there’s a giant, pink-roofed hotel (pictured) that you can book for the night. We stayed there a few summers ago when it offered outdoor wine tasting at sunset and, I have to say, it was a pretty cool experience. My only warning about this area is that, as per usual at Korean beaches, the lifeguards are absolute schoolmarms with nothing much to do, so they’re guaranteed to intervene if you do anything outside their stunted definition of “fun.” Upon arrival, I managed to get

a whistle blown at me in under three minutes. If you visit Gyeokpo Beach, see if you can beat my time!

DAEJANG-BONG, GUNSAN-SI (대장봉, 군산시)

If big dikes are what you like, Korea’s got the biggest of them all. The Saemangeum Seawall, for all its pointless ecological destruction, is an engineering marvel that anyone with a car can appreciate. Arguably its most redeeming feature is that it links up with the aforementioned Gogunsan Archipelago via a series of bridges, and this allows you to drive over the West Sea uninterrupted for a ridiculous distance until you reach the little island of Daejang-do. The island is the furthest west you can possibly drive in North Jeolla Province, and the road terminates just short of a hiking trail that takes you up the island’s most prominent peak, aptly called Daejang-bong. At just 142 meters, the peak certainly won’t give you altitude sickness, but the summit’s unobstructed views and steep drop off may inspire a little vertigo if you don’t handle heights well. With the ascent not taking long, I recommend going close to sunset to soak in the best views; the outstanding hiking infrastructure will make your descent just before nightfall quick and convenient.

▲ Gyeokpo Beach and the extreme western edge of the Byeonsan Peninsula.

Originally, we’d planned to stay overnight at the foot of the peak, but the pensions were ridiculously overpriced, so before heading home, we just grabbed some seafood noodles and jeon at Red Bridge (빨간다리), one of the hole-inthe-wall restaurants on nearby Jangja-do. The owner is a sweetheart with a music playlist that’s sure to surprise you. If we’d had more time and better weather, we would have seen more of the

archipelago’s heterogeneous beaches, ranging from long, crescent-shaped sandbars to small pebble beaches nestled in tiny coves. Among the latter, Okdol Beach on Seonyu-do was impressive for its flat, tile-like pebbles and extensive boardwalk. Unfortunately, many of the best beaches face south, which means they’re more likely to get battered by bad weather. Case in point, that day a wall of horizontal rain from the

south forced us to cut our visit to Okdol Beach short. Still, I’d absolutely return to Daejang-bong and can’t recommend the archipelago highly enough. Go and visit!

All said and done, I think I hate the West Sea a little less.

Hailing from Chino, California, Isaiah Winters is a pixel-stained wretch who loves writing about Gwangju and Honam, warts and all. He’s grateful to have written for the Gwangju News all these years. More of his unique finds can be seen on Instagram @d.p.r.kwangju and YouTube at Lost in Honam.

The Author

▲ A cloud-smothered sunset as seen from the peak of Daejang-bong.

Helping Others Helps the Helper Also

By Park Nahm-Sheik

Ihave been a lifelong teacher of English helping people learn to use the English language. I started with private tutorials for any and every comer. This work afforded a decent living for me and my family comprising my widowed mother and my little sister. In hindsight, this was one whale of a payoff for a teen breadwinner of the family aspiring to a career in TEFL.

I was also happy with the noticeable strides made in my command of English as I strove constantly to be a better teacher of the language. As part of my routine, I wrote speeches and stories for my students looking to take part in public-speaking and story-telling competitions. Arduous as it undeniably was, this work proved to be quite instrumental in tuning up my written English.

Inspired by the success of this ghostwriting gig, I dared dive headfirst into a sea of classics available in English. I devoured over 500 volumes of both fiction and nonfiction in just a matter of years. Before long, I got hundreds of thousands of pages of quality English text under my belt. This reading stint greatly expanded my intellectual universe, which was something I used to pride myself on as a young man majoring in English language and literature.

I then proceeded to hone my listening comprehension skills by tuning in to thousands of hours of English-language radio transmissions from all over the globe. My favorite broadcasters were BBC, VOA, and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (or AFRTS for short).

I was particularly attracted to the AFRTS news dictation program, featuring leisurely phraseby-phrase reading of up-to-the-minute news. A daily program lasting about 20 minutes, it was tailored to distribute major news items of the day to overseas U.S. military broadcasting outlets. I took advantage of this program by either taking down the news or mimicking the news reader, paying close attention to his enunciation.

The English thus acquired and consolidated stood me in good stead in the years that followed. First, it helped me get a coveted East-West Center Fellowship to the University of Hawaii, where I obtained my master’s in linguistics. Had it not been for this degree, my appointment to the faculty of Seoul National University would have been out of the question. It was a dream come true, pure and simple, for a graduate of a provincial university in Korea.

Even more dramatic, however, was the way English came to my assistance while I was struggling with cerebral infarction. This horrible disease robbed me of much of my memory along with most of my English. Before I knew it, I was succumbing to both dyslexia and aphasia just like that. Most of my mobility also fell victim to this horrible condition.

While making last-gasp efforts to get over the after-effects of this disease, I stumbled across what eventually turned out to be a way out. After going through a series of unconventional tacks to cope with the problem, I figured that written English could possibly come to my aid. I was

desperately looking to reclaim my brain somehow or other. As luck would have it, this search was soon beginning to pay dividends.

As of this writing, my memory is around halfway back where it used to be before I got hit with this head-shattering sucker punch. Fortunately, my English is now as much back where it was prior to the onset of the disease. I have also regained much of my mobility. In the process, I have learned that mental and physical mobility/agility go hand in hand. As a result, “Use it or lose it” hit closer to home.

In light of this episode, I now better understand what Rene Descartes meant when he said “Je pense, donc je suis” or “Cogito ergo sum,” which translate to “I think; therefore, I am” in English and “Ich denke, also bin ich” in German.

Before closing, let me make the point here that volunteering is an act of helping. It is then no coincidence that volunteering does a great deal of

good for the volunteers, too. At the end of the day, they all get to enjoy a tremendous dose of fulfillment and satisfaction. In this context, altruism and egoism are thus apparently just the two sides of one and the same coin.

God bless the GIC for hosting a whole legion of multicultural activist volunteers for the Gwangju-Chonnam region and beyond! I do believe that God helps those who help others, their neighbors included.

The Author

Park Nahm-sheik has a BA in English from Chonnam National University, an MA in linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A., and a PhD in applied linguistics from Georgetown University. He is now a Professor Emeritus after a long and illustrious career at Seoul National University as well as President Emeritus of the International Graduate School of English.

Photo via unsplash.com

Finding Halal Foods in Gwangju: Challenges That Need to Be Accepted

By Qurratu

Having a solid six years’ experience living in a dormitory, food taste does not matter because I am grateful enough that a plate of rice is guaranteed three times a day, being served without fail. Hence, I am confident to say that I never felt any difficulties in altering my Malaysian taste buds to adapt to Korean cuisine. However, finding halal

food in Gwangju is not that easy. In addition to homesickness and financial worries, this is another challenge that Muslim international students especially need to prepare for. Never did I imagine that it would be this difficult to find halal food here, and because of this, I have come to appreciate food more than ever.

Photo via unsplash.com

As Muslims, we consume halal food, which is “any food or product prepared and handled according to Islamic Sharia law, as interpreted in the Quran” (Ruiz, 2022 ). To put it simply, there must be no trace of pork or alcohol, and it must not mix with haram (“forbidden”) foods. Halal foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish, eggs, and zabiha meats (duck, chicken, lamb, beef, etc., that are slaughtered in a permissible way). Others might say having a restriction is a hindrance, but as everything is set with beautiful reasons, personally, I do not complain much. Syra (2021) mentioned that halal foods keep our bodies healthy and clean, and ensure we slaughter the animal with the most considerate method.

How do I overcome this difficulty in searching for halal food? It is either by eating at a halal restaurant or preparing my meals. There are quite a few halal restaurants in Gwangju, and the nearest to my university is Registan Avenue in Yongbong-dong. Uzbek cuisine is marvelous, and I love it more than I expected. However, eating out in general sure burns a hole in my wallet, and as an international student, I must avoid being in the red. Thus, cooking for myself is the safest option! Halal meats can be easily purchased on Coupang, ordered anytime and anywhere, and they will arrive at your doorstep in no time. Since this also costs quite a lot, I always settle for a vegetarian meal with cheap protein alternatives like tofu and eggs.

Quickly, I realized that I needed to adapt to this new lifestyle by first accepting the fact that it is not easy to eat halal foods in Gwangju, at least for now. Second, I needed to make cooking fun! Yes, it is troublesome to cook every meal because of all the dishes needed. However, it can be easier and more enjoyable with creativity and by making journals of our cooking journey. Next, before heading to HomePlus, I do my research and make a shopping list based on a well-organized meal plan that can last a long time – up to two weeks. This strategy greatly helps me with managing my finances, and thanks to this, I can even treat myself by eating out occasionally without any guilt.

It is not an easy transition from halal food

everywhere to halal food nowhere. Nevertheless, it became tolerable and manageable as time passed by, since I am used to it. I am not struggling on my own; with the bits of help from people around me, the burden on my shoulders becomes lighter. Their brilliant ideas, pieces of advice, and even the foods they share with me are the things that help maneuver me to face this difficulty. Rather than a difficult transition, I would like to use the word “interesting” instead. When and where else will I have this kind of experience in life? Pushing myself to learn how to cook, master my finances, and enjoy my international student life at the same time has helped to make sure I am full throughout the day.

To conclude, finding halal foods is challenging for me, but I always remind myself that others are facing many more difficulties, so I should not be discouraged by this little test in life. After all, money is the main point, and tracking my finances is the key to making sure I enjoy studying abroad to the fullest. Studying abroad, eating delicious food, and happy traveling are not granted to everyone, so never take this situation lightly, and see all those challenges on the brighter side. With a positive and clear mindset, I am excited to explore my newly discovered talent in coming up with more meal ideas and also cheat codes for stabilizing my finances.

The Author

Qurratu, who comes from Malaysia, never worried about finding halal foods, but that changed when she came to Gwangju to study. Nevertheless, she now slowly comes up with solutions and gets to enjoy Korean halal cuisine even more.

It is not an easy transition from halal food everywhere to halal food nowhere. Nevertheless, it became tolerable and manageable as time passed by, since I am used to it.

Opportunities and Opportunism: Third-Party Three-quels

By Jonathan Joseph Chiarella

Politicians in Korea often form new parties. The ROK has no run-offs, but every level of government has some degree of proportional representation. This and local traditions limit the effects of Duverger’s Law, a law that gives a dismal prognosis for third-party entrepreneurs. The ability to create new parties without immediately fading into irrelevance makes for great opportunities. Excessive splitting, however, damages one’s “side” and sours politics in general with opportunism.

saw the disastrous effects of the latter in 1987. (In a four-way competition for president, the outgoing dictator’s partner, Roh Tae-woo, won with only 36.6 percent of the vote in a fourway competition.) Because FPP elections are common in Korea, only two parties at a time pre-dominate, albeit with regular reformations and reshuffling.

One party usually hosts the conservatives and the far-right. The other is the party of the center-left. In presidential elections, notable individuals can force some changes, but after the dust settles, two parties remain. In elections for assemblies, however, independents and third parties are a regular feature. The economic left burst onto the political stage in the 2000s through an umbrella party, Democratic Labor. Had its members operated merely as a faction of a larger party, they would have been less significant, less distinct.

As per Duverger’s Law, first-past-the-post electoral systems (FPP) usually cause the country to support only two political parties. Under FPP, a minority winner who gets “first place” still wins. This encourages strategic voting and discourages vote-splitting. Korea

Democratic Labor went through several splits in the ensuing years. Excessive infighting has rendered several small parties. They rarely win districts or meet thresholds for representation. The recent victory of a Jinbo-dang (진보당) candidate in a Jeonju district came as a surprise. Splitting has also spelled trouble for those outside of the ideological squabbles of the left. The Minsaeng-dang (민생당) has held on, but it never outright won an election. It currently holds no offices. Park Ji-won’s appointment to Chief of the National Intelligence Service is

The ability to create new parties without immediately fading into irrelevance makes for great opportunities. Excessive splitting, however, damages one’s “side” and sours politics in general with opportunism.

Minsaeng-dang’s greatest success. Ahn Cheolsoo’s Citizen’s Party found itself swallowed up in the People Power Party with last year’s presidential election and the electoral alliance.

This last example especially offers a cautionary tale. Gwangju native Kwon Eun-hui came to prominence as a non-partisan, hard-hitting police officer in Seoul who followed a case all the way to then-president Park Geun-hye (later ousted for a bevy of crimes). Kwon took residence in Gwangju and won election to the National Assembly in 2016. In the following election, 2020, she did not represent a Gwangju district directly, but won as a proportional representation candidate for Ahn’s latest proreform, big-tent centrist party. In 2022, she opposed her party’s wholesale merger with the rightist-dominated People Power Party. However, she was in the minority; the union took place. Because Korean law does not allow politicians elected through proportional representation to leave their parties, Kwon now occupies an awkward position. She is officially in the People Power Party, but her influence and her voting habits run opposite. Mainstream

politicos in the party have been keen to expel her, and she will certainly be out of a job next year.

At this point, observers may look warily on the “New Party” (새로운당) project led by Keum Taesup. Veteran politico Kim Jong-in sees Keum as a force majeure, but we should also consider the

The National Assembly Plenary Chamber. (Photo by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea)

Because Korean law does not allow politicians elected through proportional representation to leave their parties, Kwon now occupies an awkward position. She is officially in the People Power Party, but her influence and her voting habits run opposite.

rebuke from those like Justice Party leader Lee Jeong-mi. Unlike her predecessors, Lee wants cooperation with other leftists. The “New Party,” being fairly centrist, is not competing with her voting base; her words carry more weight. (Note: her comments came before Justice Party member Park Won-seok announced interest in the New Party.) These projects serve as singleelection machines that fizzle out as members rejoin the dominant parties – if they even win.

A cynical, but partially true, take is that the New Party hopefuls are just more people making themselves relevant as individuals by starting a new party. (Ahn failed to win the presidency twice, as well as the Seoul mayorship. Of the early New Party founders, only Yang Hyangja won in the last election). It may look good to wash one’s hands of imperfect incumbents, but reacting by claiming to be beyond normal politics while not touting practicable policy differences will only get you so far. Recent history speaks for itself.

Complete dominance by only two parties leaves many unsatisfied and can enforce bizarre

dichotomies on adherents. One party becomes the party of welfare and gun control, or is it personal freedom? Another becomes the party of Christianity and militarism, until some pivotal year makes the “team” isolationist. On the other hand, having myriad parties brings downsides. Also-ran parties fail to become bargaining units. Reformist, big-tent parties become lost in the noise. To paraphrase: “the number of the counting shall be three … seven is right out.”

The word “practicable” is a conscious choice. I do not mean “practical” or “sensible.” I do mean “able to be put into practice” or “able to be realized” or “be effectual.” The distinction is crucial here.

Jonathan J. Chiarella grew up in New York. He holds a BA in history (Rochester) as well as two MAs (Chonnam, Florida) and a PhD in politics (Florida). You can spot him riding the river trails or read his analysis of current affairs related to Honam or international relations.

Nota Bene

The Author

Graphic of Korean political parties by Jonathan Joseph Chiarella, 2023.

Building Rapport Through Multimodal Lessons: Value Shields

By Maria Lisak

While my students may feel lots of loyalty to each other for being Korean and united under Han (the Korean Han nation), classism, sexism, and lookism can be differences that divide instead of unite. Getting Korean learners of English to trust each other in the competitive culture of education is hard, too. When judged continuously for your knowledge and performance of that knowledge, it is a wonder that anyone shows up to class! However, tempered with the stress of these modern anxieties is Korea’s cooperative culture. A deep need for friendship and belongingness; the total trust and deep commitment of jeong (정). As a non-Korean teacher, how am I supposed to foster rapport between myself and my students for them to feel safe and take risks needed to improve their English language skills? One of the essential tools I use to foster rapport is value shields.

RAPPORT, MULTIMODALITY, SHIELDS

Rapport is a positive connection between individuals characterized by trust, understanding, and empathy. It fosters effective communication, cooperation, and collaboration, creating an open and supportive environment. It goes beyond surface interactions, building deeper connections and a sense of camaraderie, enhancing educational environments through collaboration and common goals. One of the ways I encourage rapport is through multimodal activities like a

value shield, which taps into learners’ interests and utilizes their digital devices.

Multimodality refers to the use and integration of multiple modes of communication. Modes can include verbal language, written text, images, gestures, facial expressions, body language, sounds, and other forms of expression. In a multimodal lesson, different modes work together to convey information, meaning, and expression. Multimodal lessons support language learning by engaging learners through a variety of modes such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic, enhancing comprehension, retention, and overall language acquisition. In my class, the lesson for value shields incorporates text, visual imagery, and spoken presentation.

A shield originated as a handheld piece of defensive armor designed to protect the user from enemy attacks. I incorporated the shield in the lesson as a metaphor to represent the defenses we take against the challenges encountered in the world. Our values act as a shield to protect our identity. A value shield can be used to deflect harm, cushion blows, and provide protection. I started using value shields to support and encourage students to have confidence in using English instead of fitting into prescribed patterns of output. Value shield activities were designed to help students develop agency regarding their English language study and express their identity

as they probe interlingual spaces. Learning and development are influenced by cultural and social factors, something that is key to my teaching pedagogy. This frames the multimodal activities I use and gives a sense of play to otherwise textfocused coursework.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH VALUE SHIELDS

I have used value shields over the years with my students, and they have yielded remarkable results in fostering rapport. My previous action research studies centered on my learners’ use of value shields and superhero powers in a multimodal literacy project. The students identified five of their core values and presented them to the class in addition to introducing their superhero avatar with the special gift they give to their communities. Additionally, I have presented teacher training workshops on how I combined the value shield project with other identity work into student videos. Learners introduced themselves giving their five core values, ascribed (how others see us) and avowed (how we see ourselves) identity, as well as their dream job in a video. These videos were more lively than the standard self-introductions that occur at the beginning of every term. You can find instructions on my blog for value shields and superhero projects (Lisak, 2016). Recently, I gave a professional development seminar in Jeonju where I spoke about the underlying educational theories of value shields, and the participants each made their own value shield. We had a very interesting conversation about my students’ inclusion of “greed” as a value. Understanding the Korean context as students may be “greedy for learning” as in the use of yoksim (욕심) gets lost in translation when “greed” appears as a core value on a learner’s value shield. Teachers and learners, in my experience, feel a challenge and freedom when doing this multimodal activity.

THE TEACHER’S GUIDE TO VALUE SHIELDS

So, how do you actually run a lesson for value shields? I like to demo my own value shield and set up steps of what to include. I also offer nonexamples, mistakes students should avoid. A few times, I have given a list of possible values.

I offer my own value shield as a graphic organizer. I do a short opening: “What are your values? What do you value? Companies often have a mission statement where they introduce their values.”

I then give a live demonstration of my values: “One of my core values is safety. If I do not feel safe, then I do not want to try. I like to make my classrooms a safe place so that students feel comfortable to take risks when using English, even if they make mistakes.” After my demonstration, I do some repetition. “I chose safety instead of stability, welfare, or well-being, because I want my students to improve their ability, not hit a level of comfort and stop trying. Also, I did not choose the word ‘safe’ because I wanted to use a noun form.” I then review the value shield by demonstrating one of the values again. After this, I ask students to explain why I chose each value. They can answer as a class, helping those that did not understand clearly after the first or second demonstration.

When making lesson plans, remember to give instructions at the proficiency level of the learners. I also think it is important to choose what resources will be used. Will they draw them in class or as homework? Will they make them electronically? Can they only use their personal photos? What is their information literacy level; can they source from the internet correctly?

▲ Maria’s value shield.

Additionally, you need to make decisions about how learners will share their value shields. Will they write a sentence to introduce each value? A paragraph? An essay? Will they give speeches in class about their value shields? Will they make a video about their value shield?

I encourage students to create a video including voice-over, one slide per value, reading their script. Set time limits, aiming for 30 seconds to 1 minute. This allows every student to present in one class period. The video serves as a practice tool, providing rehearsal opportunities. In class, students present the video (with the sound off), giving their own live speech.

After presentations is a feedback opportunity. This might be a good space to translanguage to see what the learner intended as their Korean meaning. This is also a good time to make sure visuals match the language. I typically do not use a rubric to evaluate their English; my focus is to understand the student and to make sure others understand them as well. I observe varied challenges among my students, including English proficiency, visual messaging, drawing/ technology, and shyness. Learners enjoy the activity and better understand one another.

I build the results from value shields into other activities. A superhero project comes next, and then other multimodal activities for goal-setting, midterm reflection posters, and final portfolio reviews. I also plan error correction activities based on word form mistakes. A synonym connection activity is used for mission statements and company website analysis. My most moving experiences have been when learners use English words to express their values and their “voice” in English. It is exciting to see some students move from machine translation into figurative, even poetic, interpretations of their values in English.

Of course, value shields are not the only multimodal imaging that can support rapportbuilding. Other alternatives include avatars, animals, mascots for festivals, masks, ghosts or zombies, soccer clubs, totem poles, family crests, coats of arms, flags, seals, and dojang (name stamps).

MAKING THE MOST OF THE MODES

By incorporating multimodal activities, learners develop media literacy to create messages and interpret online content. During a lesson or course, various multimodal activities can be designed to emphasize the content of visual messages and the chosen color palette. Of course, this is an English class, so the words in the message will be an important mode, but artwork and pictures are other interpretive ways to present information. Body language and movement are also fun modes to bridge gaps in meaning. Sounds, whether humming, music, nature sounds, or even silence, can be important modes to explore and have learners understand their integrated meaning.

TRANSFERABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

As I teach university students and my learners will one day be working in offices, team-building by finding common ground and respecting differences are important skills that they need to develop and transfer to a more and more complicated, international workplace. Rapport facilitates team-building by fostering trust, open communication, and mutual understanding among team members. Value shields can be an experience that helps them in their future to check in with themselves as well as to get to know others.

Even if my students later find themselves working independently at home as a freelancer, the value shield activity is helpful for their business branding efforts. Personal branding requires control of visual and textual messaging. By understanding their core values, they can align their brand’s mission, messaging, and actions with those values. Additionally, valuesdriven entrepreneurship often leads to socially responsible practices, contributing to positive

social impact and enhancing the brand’s reputation.

When rapport is missing in a language learning class, several negative consequences can arise. Without rapport, engagement suffers and motivation to participate decreases. Rapport helps overcome some of the small barriers we encounter in daily communication. If someone is sick or grumpy, we are more likely to give them acceptance and support because we have a longer experience of good times with them as well. A lack of rapport also impacts confidence, as learners feel less comfortable and more selfconscious about making mistakes. A lack of rapport limits collaborative efforts, as there is less of a group identity that has been formed from a sense of community and belongingness. In a really bad class atmosphere, a negative classroom dynamic can develop where conflicts and misunderstandings are the norm and tools are not present to overcome these normal breakdowns in communication.

The absence of rapport in a language learning class can result in reduced engagement, communication barriers, decreased confidence, limited collaboration, and negative classroom dynamics. It is crucial for language educators to actively foster rapport to create a supportive and conducive learning environment that maximizes students’ potential and enhances their language practice journey. It is important for educators to foster an atmosphere of collaboration and deal proactively with classist and sexist actions, and subtle attitudes of judging others negatively. I have found multimodal value shields to be a fun way to get to know each other and start building a successful, friendly class.

Reference

Lisak, M. (2016). General ELT swapshop for GwangjuJeonnam Chapter of KOTESOL. KoreaMaria. https:// koreamaria.typepad.com/gwangju/2016/10/gjkotesol.html

The Author

Maria Lisak celebrates her 20th year living in Gwangju and would like to thank all of her students, co-workers, and mentors over the years who have helped her to live her dream. She teaches administration welfare at Chosun University. Email: gwangjumaria@yahoo.com

GWANGJU-JEONNAM KOTESOL UPCOMING EVENTS

Summer Potluck Picnic

• Date: August 12, 2023 (Saturday), 4:00–6:00 p.m.

• Potluck: Bring a dish or beverage (Pizza will be available.)

• Venue: Gwangju National University of Education

Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter Zoom Workshop

• Date: August 24, 2023 (Saturday), 7:00–8:00 p.m.

• Topic & Presenter: Speech/Language Pathology with Choi Jung-yun

Check the Chapter’s webpages and Facebook group periodically for updates on chapter events and other in-person and online KOTESOL activities.

For full event details: Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL

Key Elements of the Imagination and Its Effect on Children’s Development

By Kim Yul

Imagination is a unique ability that humans have, and it is a special ability that is expressed through interaction with the environment surrounding humans. Particularly in the case of children, unlike adults, the environment surrounding them is the environment they are experiencing for the first time, and because the environment itself gives them great stimulation, children’s imagination can be expressed even more so. Children are constantly interacting with the new environment around them, which causes them to think; thinking gives rise to imagination, and imagination is linked to their intellectual development.

All of these processes happen inside children. Explosive thoughts and imaginations that arise from inside make them look back at their environment once again, and through this they expand their surroundings and become aware of the diversity and grand structure all around them. The more this process is repeated, the more children become curious about the environment, including themselves; they in turn wonder about the world and the universe, acquiring cosmic thinking skills in the process. After all, imagination can be said to expand children’s way of thinking. Education for imagination is to broadly expand the ability that is already inherent in each child with the right education and the right method.

The most important concept of Montessori Education is the internal development of children. They work and study with the freedom to organize their spirit by themselves, and children make great progress overall during their work. It means that if a child works independently, an instructor does not necessarily lead them to abstractness from concreteness. It is important that the children find their own way to abstractness, and they should

feel satisfaction and love voluntarily through their work.

To that end, Dr. Maria Montessori brings a lot to the Montessori classroom. Numerous teaching aids and themes have been elaborately combined to expand children’s right thinking and stimulate interest. In addition, in order for children to enjoy repeated learning voluntarily, we have included complex purposes for the teaching aids in use, not simple ones. Children can feel and experience new things the more they use these and other tools of the classroom. The teaching materials in the Montessori classroom look very simple, but they are not. Numerous parishes are connected and live like an organism, and children achieve internal development through constant stimulation in this environment.

Another critical point of the imagination that Dr. Montessori claimed is the love of human beings. She illustrates her ideas on the imagination in her theory that the education of the imagination should assist children to understand the true meaning of love, and eventually, they feel happiness through this process. Love is the fundamental element of all kinds of species, the nature of humans’ social life, and the most important purpose of education. When instructors give the concept of love to students, the latter understand the Earth as one country and have a love for all mankind. These ideas also lead the students to having consideration, sympathy, and concession.

The Author

Kim Yul is originally from Gwangju and has taught in Cincinnati, Ohio, for many years. He is a Montessori elementary school teacher who believes education can change the world.

Kia Tigers vs Gwangju FC

Which team offers sports fans a bigger bang for the buck?

By William Urbanski

Since time immemorial, the Kia Tigers have completely dominated the professional sports scene in Gwangju, and for good reason. For baseball aficionados and casual fans alike, the games knock it out of the park in terms of entertainment value with their reasonably priced tickets and innings full of crowd singalongs. Even compared to MLB games in North America, the games are surprisingly fun to attend.

But lately, a new contender has risen to challenge the Kia Tigers’ prominence in our fair city. In the

last year or so, Gwangju FC has become the new hot ticket in town, that is, if you can get your hands on one. Watching either of these teams play at their home fields offers tremendous bang for the buck, but it is time to settle once and for all who is the king of Gwangju sports teams.

THE STADIUMS

When it comes to the stadiums, the Kia Tigers Champions Field is the nicer venue hands down. It is a beautiful, large stadium with plenty of seating and is just overall a nice place to hang

▲ Despite the referee forgetting his glasses at home and not being familiar with the rules of soccer, the atmosphere at the Gwangju Football Stadium is electric!

out. As well, if you are ever lucky enough to sit in one of the VIP boxes, it is quite the glamourous experience.

While I have personally never driven to the stadium nor parked there (I have always taken public transportation), it is pretty easy to access, and I have never really had a major problem except that it can take some time to find a taxi when the game is over.

On the surface, the Gwangju Football Stadium may look a little “makeshift” and even a tad “ramshackle,” but there is more than meets the eye. It is located right beside a giant Lotte Mart, which means it is easy to get food and drinks before the game. This is in stark contrast to Champions Field where, if you want to buy food, you are basically at the mercy of the vendors outside who are happy to sell you a box of cold fried chicken for, like, twenty-five bucks.

While there is a huge parking lot that surrounds the Gwangju Football Stadium, it gets very busy around game time, so I would recommend parking at least an hour before the game starts (or just parking closer to the World Cup Stadium and walking over). In any case, there is plenty of

free parking to be had.

To sum up, while Champions Field is a nicer physical venue, the Gwangju Football Stadium’s location offers some serious advantages.

THE ATMOSPHERE

Even though I am not a huge baseball fan, there is a certain je ne sais quoi about going to a Kia Tigers game. During the innings, there are cheerleaders hyping up the crowd, fancy videos and songs to introduce the individual players, and all sorts of general razzmatazz to keep the fans entertained.

This is all well and good, but part of me cannot help but feel that because of the slower pace of baseball in general, the team really has to rely on literal song and dance to keep the fans’ attention. And while the music, videos, and chanting do get the crowd involved, it all starts to wear a little thin by the seventh or eighth inning.

As well, I have noticed that a lot of people at the Kia Tigers games kind of seem to be there just to socialize and are not overly interested in what is happening on the field. So, in some respects, it is very similar to watching any other generic sports

▲ A beautiful facility but notice the empty seats.

game in Korea, like volleyball, a sport which I despise with every fiber of my being.

The Gwangju Football Stadium, while somewhat basic, is laid out to keep the fans close to the action. When you go there, you get the sense that the people watching the game are there because they are really interested in what is going on in the field, which creates an intangible yet palpable atmosphere of excitement in the stands. The game is the main attraction, and it is difficult to not get caught up in it. In addition, since the team has been doing a lot better in recent months, almost every game sells out, which is a big contrast to Kia Tigers games, where there are usually large swaths of empty seats.

STICKBALL VS KICKBALL

The point of this article is not to compare the sports of baseball and soccer as everyone already knows soccer is the superior sport in every way. Despite this incontrovertible fact, it is important to appreciate that people like these sports for different reasons.

The action in baseball is much more sporadic, but the game does have a statistical element that a lot of people like. For example, there are entire industries based around gathering baseball statistics, which shows how much people really enjoy the aspect of comparing players based on their stats.

Soccer is more about appreciating the overall athleticism and skill of the players required as well as the teamwork required to win games. Baseball has its moments that showcase the players’ explosiveness, but hitting a ball with a stick and then running a few meters is nothing compared to the endurance and physical conditioning required to even be a somewhat average soccer player. Soccer players spend ninety minutes running around like mad most of the time, but baseball players spend a good chunk of their games chilling on the bench or catching flies with their mouths open. As well, it is way harder to do anything with your feet than with your hands so, yeah, take that, baseball.

In the end, the age-old question of baseball vs soccer boils down to individual preference. But when it comes to which sports team offers the more authentic, raw, and genuine sports experience, Gwangju FC is the undisputed King of Gwangju.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

The Author William Urbanski is the managing editor of the Gwangju News. He has a personal vendetta against the sport of volleyball.

▲ The Champions Field VIP seats are amazing, even if the people in the next box over insist on standing at the rail and blocking your view of home plate.

How Gwangju Toastmasters Club Transformed My Life as an Introverted Communicator

By Philippe Coulon

In August 2022, during a visit to the Gwangju International Center for a chess tournament, I stumbled upon a group that would change my life. However, my initial impression could not have been more wrong. I thought I was joining a culinary workshop on making toast, but I quickly realized that I had stumbled upon a Gwangju Toastmasters Club meeting. This non-profit international organization aims to help its members improve their communication and leadership skills while boosting their self-confidence.

A TIMID START (AND A DELICIOUS MISUNDERSTANDING)

Imagine my surprise when I walked into the meeting room, expecting to learn how to prepare tasty toast, only to discover something entirely different. It was not a cooking workshop; it was an experience focused on personal development and public speaking. I had to set aside my disappointment and embrace the opportunity to become a better communicator.

A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Gwangju Toastmasters Club offers a unique learning environment where mistakes are embraced with kindness, and members encourage each other to grow. I soon realized that my culinary skills were not as crucial as I had thought because I had found a group of people willing to help me develop my communication skills without the fear of getting burned.

THE POWER OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

Over the weeks, I discovered the liberating

power of public speaking. Prepared speeches and improvisation exercises helped me overcome my shyness. I learned to harness humor to captivate the audience’s attention and build connections. Gwangju Toastmasters Club became much more than just an association for me. It became a playground for developing my communication skills.

A SPRINGBOARD TO LEADERSHIP AND EXCITING ENCOUNTERS

Gwangju Toastmasters Club offered me much more than communication skills. Through the leadership opportunities within the club, I developed team management and event organization skills. I met incredible individuals, all driven by the desire to improve and grow. Together, we formed a community where laughter, learning, and mutual support thrived. If you are looking for an unexpected and rewarding experience on a Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., look no further than Gwangju Toastmasters Club meetings. It is the perfect opportunity to discover a new side of yourself, flourish as a communicator, and meet likeminded individuals. As Dale Carnegie once said, “People who succeed in life are those who have mastered oral expression.”

The Author

Philippe Coulon, a retired French language visiting professor from Belgium, taught at Korean universities for over 25 years. Having relocated from Seoul to Chuncheon, then to Suncheon and finally settling in Gwangju in 2023, Philippe continues to pursue his passion for language and cultural exchange.

Café-Hopping Discoveries: Pastries & Nails, Anyone?

By Yousra Feriel Drioua

Besides self-checkout at 24-hour convenience stores, self-serve cafés, self-serve eateries, and self-serve gas stations, apparently, “self-nail” shops are also in!

Up first, and right behind Dormitory 8’s gate at CNU, lies a little jewel to be uncovered: SomSom Coffee (솜솜 커피). This café is a fusion of a coffee shop and a nail shop, and if you think that is adorable, it gets better; you do your nails yourself! The entrance is entirely made of see-through glass, which made my studying session there quite refreshing. I took the twoperson seat right behind the nail station, which starts off with a table by the doorway that has nail stickers, nail polish, buffers, gels, oils, and all the supplies you will need. There are even photos of previous clients’ nail creations hung on the wall if you run out of inspiration. Beside it is what I presumed to be a UV or LED light machine, which stood next to the largest range of nail polishes I have ever seen so close. Gel, matte, metallic, or holographic nail polish: If you could name it, I am pretty sure they had it.

Care for a slow day in Gwangju? We have got a two-spot itinerary just for you!

This time around, our review segment ended up in a chain of uniquely themed cafés around the campus of Chonnam National University (CNU). Korea is surely famous for its “self ” service concept, where you are responsible for doing whatever would have required the assistance of a clerk about a few years ago, and it has reached an extensive amount of ventures.

Additionally, you do not have to worry about the café getting overcrowded, as there is a spacious area in the back to relax, and doing your nails is not a prerequisite for you to enjoy your visit. Their menu has a variety of pastries and desserts, along with caffeinated and noncaffeinated drinks. Speaking of the latter, and as I was the only early bird that morning, the owner was brewing new “potions” and kindly offered me to try a possible new signature drink called something along the lines of “tomato mojito.” I may not recall the name, but the taste lingers in my mind with freshness thanks to the mint, sweetness, and tanginess of the cherry

▲ Entrance of SomSom Coffee.

tomatoes.

If you find yourself in need of a tasty beverage, freshly baked goods, or simply to get your nails done, SomSom Coffee (솜솜 커피) is calling your name! There are helpful instructions on how to use the material, and you can join the bandwagon by taking a photo of your nail creation to be hung on the wall.

Up next is a joint called Café Dunn & Dunn Edwards Paints (카페던 & 던에드워드페인트). I was genuinely surprised with this one, as it is a café with a home improvement concept! Considering that Korea is a trendsetter when it comes to uniquely themed cafés, but with most of them centering around Seoul or tourist areas, this was quite a rare find. The place’s architecture is that of a gallery. It is made up of two stories, the top one serving as a balcony overlooking the first floor.

The gallery consists of a spacious seating plan, a display cabinet with a wide range of paint, and a counter with an array of delights and desserts. However, their signature sweet is most definitely the financier, in my opinion. After taking a look around, I took a seat upstairs, and just in time to procrastinate doing my assignments, the bell rang for me to pick up this gorgeous delight and their signature lotus Einspänner. The sourness from the citrus and the sweetness of the blueberry clashed as the earthiness of the lotus and the bitterness of the coffee washed over. It looks rich and most definitely tastes like it!

For those moving to Gwangju, looking to go over some home renovations, or simply seeking a fun activity, I have kept this insider tip for last: The café does not only sell Dunn & Edwards Paints, but they also conduct DIY painting classes occasionally! You can find out related details on their Instagram page below.

These are my mini Gwangju café-hopping discoveries for the time being, and I will catch you in the next review piece! Below is everything you need to find your way to the cafés.

SomSom Coffee (솜솜 커피)

Open Daily: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Phone: 070-4797-0977

Address: 광주 북구 설죽로 202번길 18 (우)61185

Café Dunn & Dunn Edwards Paints (카페던 & 던에드워드페인트)

Monday–Friday: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Weekends: 12–10 p.m.

Paint Classes: Monday–Saturday before 6 p.m.

Instagram: @dunn_edwards_gj

Phone: 0507-1374-9077

Address: 광주 북구 문화소통로 70 1층 용봉동 (우) 61177

Yousra is a young Algerian living in South Korea and majoring in mass communication and journalism. As she figures out her calling in life, she is mostly interested in writing, broadcasting, and broadening her comfort zone. She enjoys intriguing conversations, adventures, interacting with people, and being an active community member. Oh, and she is an avid member of the BTS ARMY! Instagram: @myyilgi

The Author

▲ Paint cabinet at Café Dunn.

Jeong: A Shared Connection

By Francesca Duong

My family rarely ate out when I was a kid. We still do not.

In my hometown, the restaurant scene consisted of large chains or overpriced local restaurants with mediocre food. In my hometown, foodies would cry. I know I did.

Restaurants were mostly saved for special occasions, like birthdays or mini celebrations. The restaurants we frequented were a small Chinese buffet and a neighborhood Thai restaurant with incredible pad thai. Aside from those infrequent outings, we mostly ate at home. It was common to hear the sizzling of the pan hours before our meal as my mother worked laboriously to cook for our family. Food at home was far cheaper and healthier than eating out, despite the occasional lack in variety.

Jeollanam-do (전라남도) is known for having some of the most delicious foods in Korea. Gwangju is no exception.

Every street in Gwangju is lined with restaurants serving their own special menu. Every person has their own choice of favorite restaurant. Yet, despite this acclaimed province for food, when I came to Gwangju, it was hard to break out of my previous habits. It was difficult to justify eating alone or ordering delivery when I could cook for myself. What I did not realize, though, was that eating out has more purposes than just providing substance and nutrition.

It is a powerful concept in Korean culture that binds people together. There is no direct English translation; however, it refers to the connection between people – an unspoken bond of loyalty and care that is shared between both friends and strangers. To “build jeong” is to cultivate the relationship, as if stacking bricks piece by piece to build a strong foundation.

Within the first few days of arriving in Gwangju, my coworker and her mother took me to a Chinese restaurant to eat jjajangmyeon (짜장면) and fried rice. I recall sitting across the duo I had barely known and attempting to converse using a mixture of English and limited Korean. My mind was racing, trying to find questions that would drive the conversation and remove any awkward silences. Little by little, food filled our table, and we started eating. As we passed around the dishes, my heart calmed, and our conversation freely flowed. Certainly, after the meal, we had a much closer relationship than before.

Jeong (정).

Simultaneously, while our relationship grew, another one was also budding. Before we left the restaurant, my coworker’s mom gestured to the owner to come over. He was an old man who spoke Mandarin Chinese, and when he heard I could also speak the language, he started eagerly asking me questions. “What are you doing in Korea?” “How old are you?” “How long does it take for you to get to work?” As my brain kicked into overdrive to dust off my Chinese abilities, he smiled at me with such warmth and care that it was almost as if I was a long-lost family member. Through food and through language, we found camaraderie.

When we left, the restaurant owner walked us out and waved goodbye as we walked down the road. I promised myself that I would come back soon. In two weeks, I did.

Gwangju was the first time I visited a restaurant alone. Typically, eating alone often generates images of people feeling lonely or sad – my experience was anything but. Seeing the bright red sign of the restaurant brought a sense of calmness to the nervous excitement I felt. My hand wrapped around the handle of the door, I took a deep breath, and then I flung the entrance door open.

Immediately, the owner greeted me with recognition. He gestured for me to sit anywhere in the restaurant, and I chose to sit at a small circular table close to the cash register. After ordering, the owner brought out a pitcher of tea and directed me to wait a few minutes before serving. The restaurant was buzzing, and almost every table was filled. Regardless, between orders, the owner would come to my table, swirl the tea in the pot, and check to see if it was ready. When the tea was steeped to perfection, he poured me a cup.

As I ate my food, customers began to trickle out of the restaurant as it neared the restaurant’s rest time. Once I was the only one left, the owner pulled out a chair and sat down with me. I poured him a cup of tea, and we chatted long after my plate was cleaned. He told me about his parents moving to Korea from China, and I showed him pictures of where I grew up. He introduced me to the other staff members, and I told him about my daily life.

It was comforting. It was a growing connection.

Before I left, I asked him how I could address him. “叔叔,” he responded. Uncle.

“

叔叔,” I repeated. “Goodbye!”

I felt new ties to the owner, to the restaurant. I felt jeong. I frequented the restaurant every few weeks, and during those visits, I was constantly greeted with a warm smile and pitcher of hot tea. When the owner was not busy, we would chat as I ate my food. The shared space and time grew to be invaluable to me, and I was grateful for our bond.

Unfortunately, as the weeks passed and my schedule started becoming more and more packed, I was unable to visit the restaurant as much as I previously had. Yet, the restaurant still lingered in the back of my mind. Even though I was not physically present, I still felt an attachment to the restaurant. I wondered if the owner was still in good health or if he had been working too hard. I wondered if the restaurant was doing well or if it was a quiet day that day. I missed it.

Maybe a month had passed before I was able to visit again. The owner’s face crinkled and he shook my hand.

“

很久不见!” The owner said. It has been a while.

“

对啊, 很久不见。 ” I responded. Yes, it has. “真的对 不起。我这几天很忙。 ” I am sorry. I have been busy.

“

哎呀! 不用, 不用。没关系。 ” No, no. It is okay. “你 有空的时候, 来这儿。我们欢迎你。 ” When you have time, come. We will always welcome you.

“Thank you,” I said, with much more meaning than could be verbally communicated. Thank you for everything.

The Author

As a writer, Francesca Duong, strongly believes in the power of narrative as a platform for truth and discussion. She loves lengthy conversations, being involved in the community, and discovering delicious foods.

An Unfinished Dream

By Nahida Islam

Ah, finally… the first step to the dream that she has been seeing with her eyes open since 2016. Incheon Airport is right in front of her. The staircase is being set slowly before her, but her heart is beating fast. She feels like pinching herself. Is it for real or a dream?

She never got the chance to travel to any other country, not even for basic tourism. This is also her first trip by air. The fear, the nervousness, and the uncertainty are all mixed up in her heart and consuming her mind. She cannot think straight.

She is the eldest of three, with two younger brothers. When she told her parents that she wanted to pursue her education in South Korea, they were in denial. The culture of Bangladesh also does not allow a woman to go abroad alone or without marriage. Society will tell you to marry a man, and if he allows it, then you can even go to hell.

As though it were destiny, her parents gave into her strong will and continuous persuasion.

In 2022, she got admitted to Chonnam National University in Gwangju. She found herself a professor and would work at his lab. There she would complete a doctorate degree and become a faculty member back in Bangladesh, a fool-proof plan.

During this time, she would learn Korean culture, which she has been fond of. She has been a fan of K-pop and K-dramas since 2016. It is one of the reasons she has wanted to pursue her higher studies in South Korea. It is a funny and childish fact, is it not? But she is only 27 now, so it is okay to be a little childish.

When her departure time was drawing near, she felt like she had a stone in her heart. She never thought it would hurt so much. Her parents and brothers were cheering her up all the time and preparing her for the different experiences to come. But she could feel the sadness in their eyes.

The night before the flight, her mother came to her room with teary eyes. Her mother said, “You are going to a new country; everything will be different, and you will be on your own. Your family won’t be with you. Will the people around you understand you? Can you manage everything? Promise me you will take care of yourself.”

I replied, “Don’t worry, Mom, I will manage everything. I am not going there permanently –just a few years – then we will all live together. And I will be with you all the time. I promise, I will take care of myself.”

In a flash, one month passed.

She does not know how the time could pass by so quickly. Every day is busy. Did she keep her promise? She tells her mother on the phone that she is eating, sleeping, and enjoying her life every day – that there is no problem at all – with a happy face. Is it true? Maybe partially. She skips her meals quite often, not being used to Korean food, and cannot cook all the time. Stress, the pressure of her new life, lab work, and coursework turn out to be reasons for her deprived sleep.

Everybody says that the problem is with her, as others manage everything while she cannot. Still, she pushes herself to get accustomed with her surroundings.

As all the fingers of a hand are not the same, can every person be?

Everything is a bit excessive for her. She cannot express her struggle and sorrow to anybody. She is suffering alone, and the suffering is increasing day by day. She starts to feel like nobody is there for her. She is all alone. She wishes her family were by her side, but thousands of miles are keeping them apart.

All the exhaustion turns into a sickness. She starts to get ill frequently. As it gets worse, she goes to a hospital. Her life turns upside down. She cannot even think what awaits her.

Doctors declare that she has aplastic anemia, a kind of blood cancer. Maybe she has had this terminal disease for a long time, maybe she just got it, or maybe… she does not even bother to ask.

All she feels is emptiness with a few questions: “Should I cry or call someone? Whom should I call? Should I ask God ‘Why me?’ or is everything a bad dream? Dreams – I have lots of dreams. What about them? What about the promise I made to Mom?”

She starts to meet new people, opening up to her community. It is late; maybe too late.

From that day onward, her life changes. Treatment starts, and the hospital becomes her home. Those

around her help, but they have their own work to do, so they cannot help enough.

Her parents ask for their daughter to be sent back to Bangladesh, as they cannot come to South Korea.

It is a long, lonely, hurtful, year-long journey. Her parents give up everything for the treatment. She wishes every day to have one more day with her family.

She is getting better.

One day, she calls one student at her university, asking him to find another lab for her. She wants to finish the dream she dreamt.

But destiny has a different plan for her. Maybe not everybody is supposed to complete their dreams, just like her.

One beautiful, sunny morning, when everyone is busy thinking how to fulfill their dreams and work aims, she leaves behind her unfinished dream.

Nahida Islam is a PhD student at Chonnam National University in Gwangju. She is an introvert who always dreams of a world full of love and care. She does not think about achievement but cherishes the way to any destination. A country girl from Bangladesh, she should not be here, but she is.

The Author

Reviewed by Michael Attard

ReidHoffman is an American internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, podcaster, author, and billionaire. He was the co-founder of LinkedIn, the businessoriented social network. He is an unabashed believer in the potential of AI to not only create a better world but to spawn more enlightened humans. In his book, Impromptu, he explains his reasoning and provides detailed statements created by GPT-4. In this review, I want to be as minimally technical as I can. But I think it is important to understand that GPT-4 refers to Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4, which is a “large language model” created by OpenAI.

Hoffman points out that AI has been a part of our lives for a while, and this is readily seen in social media. “AI algorithms help tailor content and product recommendations

to your own specific tastes.” Contrarily, algorithms can keep non-acceptable content at bay.

Throughout, he is careful to consistently present the possible cons along with the pros. The book, as an exploration, or a conversation with GPT-4, entertains various spheres of society and work. Areas of discussion include justice, journalism, social media, law, sales, and management consulting. It did appear to me, however, that many of the pros and cons offered by GPT-4 were the same across the topics discussed.

Pertaining to justice, Hoffman wonders how AI could be used, “to give us more justice, not less.” For his inquiry, he chooses a relatively new tool which has been introduced into many law enforcement agencies. He asked

GPT-4: “How should we be thinking about the potential benefits and risks of bodyworn cameras used in policing?” I found the response to be basic, certainly not profound. GPT-4 responded that there would be, “improved transparency, accountability, and trust between officers and the public,” etc. On the negative side, there were “privacy concerns, data security issues,” etc. I do not really see anything new here.

A second point of discussion is AI and journalism, an industry whose business model has been brutalized by the internet and out-played by non-news players for advertising dollars. Hoffman asks GPT-4 to “imagine that it is the year 2032, in the months leading up to the U.S. presidential election.” Furthermore, GPT-4 is to assume that fake news is everywhere: fake endorsements, false confessions, etc. The question then is, can GPT-4 create a “travel advisory” for voters seeking news and information? The response included such statements as “Do not trust any source of information without verifying its credibility … beware of holograms, … Use fact checking tools … and critical thinking.” My view is that as in the above discussion of justice, there is not anything new being presented.

Nevertheless, Hoffman believes that AI is here to stay and will progress from being useful to essential. He claims that AI will “leverage” some of our most significant technologies. He refers us to the introduction of the calculator in the 1970s. “Teachers and parents were alarmed.” And yet today, everyone recognizes that calculators, “are a critical part of math instruction.” A progression has gone from, “cheating to curriculum.” Time has been freed up to allow for a higher order of thinking.

With respect to regulation, Hoffman states: “I don’t think we have enough information and context yet to determine what regulations we do need.” This is not to minimize risks, but accepts that “technologies are never

neutral.” Furthermore, he adds, “Zero risk is only possible in a world of zero progress.” His reasoning is similar surrounding the call to temporarily ban further AI development. “Holding AI algorithms … to error-free standards … will only prevent us from making real progress.” Instead, he offers that we should understand AI as a tool, “that requires human caution, curiosity and responsibility.” He believes that people need to choose to make the choice to see AI as having human-amplifying abilities. Much easier said than done, I am sure.

One hot issue around AI for many people is the fear of losing their job to AI. Perhaps somewhat dismissively, he says: “In the past, it has always been breakthrough technologies that have created the jobs of the future—No different this time.” Following his line of thinking of AI as a tool, he does not see the replacement of search engines, but rather envisions new ways to gather relevant and useful information.

For Hoffman, AI will be a collaborative partner, not our replacement. He sincerely believes that AI is part of humanity’s progress. He even goes as far as to say, “The people of 2060 will arguably be more human than us.” Let us hope so.

In conclusion, I do not see this book as a seminal work on AI. Rather it is a freeranging discussion with demonstrations of AI as we can examine it today in its GPT-4 form. Hoffman has started with a strong belief, and personally, I think that he is probably correct. But the easily readable book is more of an optimistic prediction rather than a deductive conclusion.

The Reviewer

Michael Attard is a Canadian who has lived in Gwangju since 2004. Though officially retired, he still teaches a few private English classes. He enjoys reading all kinds of books and writes for fun. When the weather is nice, you may find him on a hiking trail.

Everyday Korean

Episode 68 하룻강아지 범 무서운 줄 모른다 Fools Rush in Where Angels Fear to Tread

By Harsh Kumar Mishra

The Conversation

정민: 네하야! 내일 대표님하고 오후 미팅이 있다는 걸 들었어?

Jeongmin: Neha, did you hear that we have a meeting with the boss tomorrow afternoon?

네하: 네, 들었어요. 그저께 미팅 초대메일 받았어요. Neha: Yeah, I heard. I got an email invite the day before yesterday.

정민: 원래 월말에만 미팅 하셨는데 중순에 미팅 하시는 게 오랜만이야. 직원들 모두 걱정하고 있어.

Jeongmin: It’s been a long time since she’s called a meeting in the middle of the month. She usually only calls meetings at the end of the month. All the employees are worried.

네하: 왜요? 대표님이 그렇게 착하신데 걱정을 왜 해요?

Neha: Why? She’s so kind. Why are people worried?

정민: 하룻강아지 범 무서운 줄 모르는군. 대표님을 잘 몰라서 그래.

Jeongmin: Ah, a new-born pup doesn’t know how dangerous a tiger is! You say that because you don’t know her well.

네하: 뭐예요? 저 알려줘요.

Neha: What do you mean? Please tell me.

정민: 지금 길게 이야기할 수 없지만 대표님이 화가

나시면 범보다 더 무서우세요.

Jeongmin: I cannot tell you in detail now, but just know that when she gets angry, she’s fiercer than the tiger.

Grammar

~ (는)군요: This exclamatory ending is attached to verbs or adjectives to express one’s exclamation about a newly learned fact by seeing or hearing something. “~는군요” is used with verb stems and “~군요” with adjective stems. The “요” at the end can be dropped when talking with a friend, junior, or anyone else close.

Ex: 와! 매운 음식을 잘 먹는군요. Wow! You really enjoy spicy food!

눈이 참 예쁘군요. Your eyes are so beautiful!

하룻강아지 범 무서운 줄 모른다: This witty Korean proverb, literally meaning “A new-born pup doesn’t know how dangerous a tiger is (and starts barking at it),” is used to describe a situation when an ignorant person acts overly brave without understanding the seriousness of the situation. This proverb is somewhat similar to the English proverb “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,” which depicts a similar situation.

Ex: 하룻강아지 범 무서운 줄 모른다더니 혼자서 열 명하고 싸우려고? As they say, fools rush in where angels fear to tread. So, you’re going to fight ten people by yourself?!

Vocabulary

대표: representative, boss, CEO, 오후: afternoon, 그저께: the day before yesterday, 받다: to receive, 원래: originally/usually, 월말: the end of the month, 중순: the middle of the month, 직원: employee, 걱정하다: to worry, 착하다: to be kind, 강아지: a puppy, 범 (호랑이): tiger, 무섭다: to be scary, 모르다: to not know, 알려주다: to tell, 길게: at length, long, 화가 나다: to get angry

The Author

Harsh Kumar Mishra is a linguist and Korean language educator. He volunteers with TOPIKGUIDE.com and Learnkorean.in. He has also co-authored the book Korean Language for Indian Learners.

Top of The Drop

By Daniel J. Springer

Top of the Drop is our monthly installment by Daniel Springer of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN), where “Danno” picks his favorite newly released tunes that you may have missed, along with some upcoming albums and EPs that you might want to keep on your radar.

L’IMPERATRICE & CUCO – “HEARTQUAKE”

There are few groups that can even approach the elegant touch of Flore Benguigui and company’s absolute mastery of synthcentered dance funk over the past several years, and with this particular one-off single, it seems they are just getting better and better. This tune was inspired by The Empress and her latest foray to Coachella, where they met Mexican-American indie riser Cuco and decided to go ahead with a collab. No big deal, really… aside from literally everything about this bilingual duet and its hip-shaking deepness, the former of which Benguigui and Cuco’s Omar Banos delivers perfectly.

SHARON VAN ETTEN – “QUIET EYES”

This is a beautiful closer to the (semi-)recently released soundtrack to the new film Past Lives, which was scored by Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear. Of course, this tune would be a very notable exception, as Van Etten

teamed up with Lana Del Rey collaborator Zachary Dawes to write this string-laden accoutrement to the credits in the movie. For those wondering what it might feel like to watch a massive but elegant caravan of royalty pass by on parade, this might be your perfect four-minute mental substitute.

TERRACE MARTIN FEAT KEYON HARROLD, JUSTIN TYSON & DOMINIQUE SANDERS – “DEGNAN DREAMS”

For anyone into soul, R&B, funk, hip-hop, or anything else in that realm of the audioverse, Terrace Martin has become a name. Of course, since getting a couple Grammy nominations, Martin has become known the world over working with other titans like Robert Glasper, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, and Quincy Jones just to name a few biggies. June 29 saw the release of Martin’s latest project, Fine Tune. This is the first in a series of jazz-inspired records to be released by the artist announcing his new label called Sounds of Crenshaw, which will be releasing bops inspired by the inner city of L.A.

MONSTER RALLY – “SWIMMING IN THE LOTUS GARDEN”

Ted Feighan is the man behind this act and is based in Cleveland. While the moniker is something that sounds like the thrash metal band performing on a stage during a local Friday night demolition derby, Monster Rally is in fact some of the most innovative and relaxing lo-fi beats you can find anywhere. Inspired by exotica and tropical sounds, Monster Rally is set to release a new EP on July 28 called Flower Shower, of which this is an exquisite early taste.

NEAL FRANCIS – “SAY YOUR PRAYERS (LIVE)”

A child prodigy on the keys who lost his way later in life via the familiar villainy of drugs and alcohol, Neal Francis has really gotten his act together since going sober and getting back to music. Initially signed with Ohio’s Colemine Records, 2021 saw Francis move onto the big time with ATO Records. This tune appeared on the artist’s In Plain Sight LP from that same year and is a brilliant live jam performed to perfection in front of the hometown crowd at Chicago’s Thalia Hall.

FAR CASPIAN – “PET ARCHITECT”

This band is the brainchild of Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joel Johnston, and after years as a trio then a duo, Far Caspian is now seeing Mr. Johnston as the solo proprietor. None of these ins and outs have stopped Far Caspian from becoming an exceedingly popular name in modern dream pop sounds, and this past July saw their latest record, The Last Remaining Light, drop July 14.

SAMPHA – “SPIRIT 2.0”

This is the UK-based artist’s first new music in six years’ time, and for those of you wondering what the hell happened, be assured you are not alone. This standalone single encapsulates the signature sound that gained Sampha so many fans previously, with “Spirit 2.0” being a tender, borderline anguished experience to get through, with the rewards of patience through listening being very tangible by the end.

ADEEM THE ARTIST – “FERVENT FOR THE HUNGER”

As the seven dedicated readers of this space will know (not counting proofers in that number, but they will probably be aware as well), we are huge fans of this nonbinary country artist, even though that genre is generally not our thing. Last year saw Adeem put out their seventh studio album White Trash Revelry, and with their first new tune of the calendar year, they decided to go back an album before that with a tune from 2021’s Cast Iron Pansexual and do an updated version.

BENEE – “DO IT AGAIN”

For the past several years now, Benee has been going from strength to strength with indie dance earworms that have gone viral all over the world, and now it seems that the artist from Auckland has truly arrived. This is the tournament theme song for the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, capturing the urgency and tension of the event itself perfectly while keeping the happy vibes flowing for those of us just in it for the afterparty.

NEW JEANS – “SUPER SHY”

Far be it from me to recommend something from possibly the most shameful sellout shills in modern K-pop, which for any of you who know the business is most certainly making a very bold statement, but this track was released in the lead up to the group’s new album Get Up, and it is pretty good. Two aspects make it particularly refreshing, as the UKG beat in the arrangement has some serious heft to it and is produced to a tee. Also, the young ladies are not explicitly singing about the latest Pepsi product or how awesome (insert payor name here) is, or whatever. It is win-win, but not in the usual slippery slimeball way.

July Releases

Little Dragon – Slugs of Love (July 7)

Dominc Fike – Sunburn (July 7)

Local Natives – Time Will Wait for No One (July 7)

PJ Harvey – I Inside the Old Year Dying (July 7)

Mahalia – IRL (July 14)

Claud – Supermodels (July 14)

Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher (July 21)

Blur – The Ballad of Darren (July 21)

Oscar Lang – Look Now (July 21)

Post Malone – Austin (July 28)

Georgia – Euphoric (July 28)

Sevendust – Truth Killer (July 28)

Daniel J. Springer (aka “Danno”) is the creator, host, writer, editor, producer, troublemaker, and Mr. Fix It of “The Drop with Danno,” broadcasting weeknights on GFN 98.7 FM in Gwangju and 93.7 FM in Yeosu from 8–10 p.m. Prior to this, he was a contributor to several shows on TBS eFM in Seoul, along with being the creator and co-host of “Spacious” and “White Label Radio” on WNUR in Chicago.

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @gfnthedrop

Show RSS Feed: https://feeds.transistor.fm/thedrop-with-danno

August Incoming (Watch Out!)

Mammoth WVH – Mammoth II (August 4)

Art School Girlfriend – Soft Landing (August 4)

Les Imprimés – Rêverie (August 11)

Jungle – Volcano (August 11)

The Hives – The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons (August 11)

Cautious Clay – Karpeh (August 18)

Osees – Intercepted Message (August 18)

Genesis Owusu – Struggler (August 18)

Hozier – Unreal Unearth (August 18)

Pale Jay – Bewilderment (August 18)

The Armed – Perfect Saviors (August 25)

Buck Meek – Haunted Mountain (August 25)

The Author

The Author

Yun Hyoju was born and raised in Gwangju and somehow ended up married to an Irish guy named Alan. She has been working on her short comic, “Alan and Me,” which is about their daily life. She publishes a new comic every week on Instagram. It can be found here: @alan_andme.

C R O S S W O R D P U Z Z L E

1 Capture

2 School website’s top-level domain

3 Chinese dumplings

4 Astronomer Brahe

5 Bruce or Jung-jae

6 K-pop performer

7 Karenina or Sorokin

8 A brewery based on Jeju

9 Singer Nicki

August 2023, Issue 258

Published: August 1, 2023

The Gwangju News is the first English monthly magazine for the general public in Korea, first published in 2001. Each monthly issue covers local and regional issues, with a focus on the roles and activities of the international residents and local English-speaking communities.

Copyright ©2023 by the Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the written consent of the publisher.

The Gwangju News is published by the Gwangju International Center: Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5 (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731

Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr

Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315)

Registration Date: February 22, 2010

Printed by Joinadcom 조인애드컴 (+82)-62-367-7702

Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.

Cover Photo Bus Mart

Photo by Kim Hillel Yunkyoung

THE EDITORIAL TEAM

Publisher Dr. Shin Gyonggu

Editor-in-Chief Dr. David E. Shaffer

Managing Editor William Urbanski

Chief Copy Editor Isaiah Winters

Layout Editors Kim Sukang

Photographer Kim Hillel Yunkyoung

Online Editor Kim Sukang

For volunteering and article submission inquiries, please contact the editor at gwangjunews@gic.or.kr.

Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine