[EN] Gwangju News January 2021 #227

Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine

Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine I January 2021 #227 Collaborating for a Better Community

January 2021 #227

Happy New Year 2021!

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Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine

January 2021, Issue 227 Published: January 1, 2021 Cover Photo

Happy New Year 2021!

(By Asia Culture Center, Unsplash)

THE EDITORIAL TEAM Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Chief Copy Editor Layout Editor Photographer Staff Writer Communications Copy Editors Online Editor

Dr. Shin Gyonggu Dr. David E. Shaffer William Urbanski Isaiah Winters Melline Galani Kim Hillel Yunkyoung Cami Ismanova Jeong Jiyeon David Foster, Di Foster, Elisabeth Loeck, Jonathan Moffett, Joseph Nunez, Melline Galani

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 © 2021 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.

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

Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.

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The year 2020 has been dubbed “a year like no other”; that no one will challenge.

January ushers in a new year, 2021. Let us hope also to make it a year like no other, but in a positive sense – a new year for which we make new plans, set new goals, and draft new resolutions.

Here at the Gwangju News, beginning with this January issue, we are planning new content for the new year and setting a goal of increased readership as we resolve to serve our readers to the best of our ability. We hope that 2021 will be a productive and enriching year for you also.

As 2021 begins, the Gwangju News and the Gwangju International Center will be working more closely with GFN radio in serving the international community. Read our interview with the GFN president, “Collaborating for a Better Community,” for details.

Our second feature is an interview with artist Song Philyong on how he represents Korea in his paintings of water.

Our Blast from the Past this month discusses the folk beliefs associated with apples and “hangover stew.” While on the topic of food, you may wish to check out our Korean recipe for soybraised chicken and our review of the Bogwang-ok restaurant, as well as find out what’s cooking at Loft 28 in an interview with their owners.

Though the pandemic may have restricted our travels, you can still travel with the Gwangju News as it guides you on a tour of the demolition in the city’s Hak-dong area, to the May 18 anniversary exhibition at the Gwangju Museum of Art, and then to a multi-faceted husbandry experience at Sangha Farm. The tour continues over waters to the east coast islands of Dokdo and Ulleung-do, and then you sail over seas and oceans to the big island of Australia to experience a summertime Christmas down under.

One Gwangjuite describes her experience interning in New York City, while an Indonesian gives her perspective on interning at the GIC. One twenty-something reveals to us her deep reflections on her life in her “first Saturn return,” and a Pennsylvania wanderer reveals why he has quit social media for good.

Discover how to influence student behavior as a teacher for a peaceful classroom, learn of the joys of volunteering to teach storybook reading, and learn how to talk about online shopping in Korean. Learn also how many expats stranded here during the vacation beat the pandemic with season’s greeting in this month’s Photo Essay. And don’t forget to check out the Gwangju City News and this month’s crossword puzzle.

As always, stay COVID smart, stay COVID safe throughout the year, and enjoy the Gwangju News.

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News

January 2021

Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date: February 22, 2010 Printed by Join Adcom 조인애드컴 (+82)-62-367-7702

From the Editor

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

The Gwangju News is published by Gwangju International Center: Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5 (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733~34 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com Email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr GwangjuNews gwangjunews

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Photo of the Month

Gwangju: The City of Light in the Night

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The Author

Joe Wabe is a Gwangju expat who has been contributing to the GIC and the Gwangju News for more than ten years with his work in photography and writing.

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CONTENTS January 2021

Issue 227

01. From the Editor 02. Photo of the Month

36. Expat Living: Stories of Life as a GIC Intern 38. Local Entrepreneurs: Loft 28

MONTHLY NEWS 04. Gwangju City News

FOOD & DRINKS 43. Recipe: Jjimdak – Soy-Braised Chicken 44. Restaurant Review: Bogwang-ok: The Real Taste of Damyang

FEATURES 06. Collaborating for a Better Community 10. People in the Arts: Song Philyong – Painting the Spirit of Water BLAST FROM THE PAST 14. The Mystifying Powers of Korean Foods: Apples and Haejang Stew TRAVEL 16. Around Korea: Sangha Farm 20. Around Korea: Ulleung-do & Dokdo, the Hawaii of Korea 22. Lost in Gwangju: Expropriating the Past in Hak-dong 26. From Abroad: Christmas Down Under COMMUNITY 34. Gwangju Abroad: Becoming a Better Version of Myself

TEACHING & LEARNING 19. Everyday Korean: Episode 37 – 온라인 쇼핑 (Online Shopping) 46. KONA Volunteer Teaching: English Through Storybooks 49. The Peaceful Classroom: The Art of Curbing Challenging Behaviors THOUGHTS & OPINION 33. Gwangju Writes: Half-Truths, Whole Truths 51. Opinion: Life After Facebook CULTURE & ARTS 09. Crossword Puzzle 30. “To Reach a Star”: May 18 Anniversary Exhibition 54. Photo Essay: Say “Hi” Through Pics

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Gwangju City News Reprinted with permission from Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall

Gwangju Station Investment at 1.2 Trillion

B MONTHLY NEWS

y 2025, the Gwangju Railway Station area will be reborn as the largest start-up complex in the Honam region, with urban renewal projects such as the Economy-Based Urban Renewal New Deal, the Urban Renewal Innovation Zone, and the Complex Development Project.

Mayor Lee Yong Sup stated that Gwangju Station has finally been selected as a national pilot zone for urban renewal innovation zones at the Special Committee for Urban Renewal, presided over by the prime minister on December 21. He added that the three mega projects, including the Gwangju Regional Economy-Based Urban Renewal New Deal Project, Urban Renewal Innovation Zone, and the Complex Development Project are expected to create more than 16,000 jobs.

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Gwangju Station used to serve as the center of transportation, logistics, and industry in the Honam region, but in the 2000s, the relocation of public institutions such as Gwangju City Hall and the relocation of KTX lines to Gwangju-Songjeong Station have led to a decrease in the surrounding population and the aging of the buildings.

City Hall is pushing for urban renewal projects in earnest to regain its status as a hub for urban growth as it used to be in the past, and to revitalize local commercial districts and induce population inflows aiming to develop the area into a new economic hub.

and residential and commercial areas to revive Gwangju Station, where the number of passengers declined sharply after the KTX line was discontinued.

Gwangju City is investing 50 billion won by 2024 to build “Station G,” a hub for nurturing young entrepreneurs; an environmental improvement project for the safety and convenience of pedestrians around Gwangju Station; and a joint green center, a community space that utilizes railway sites between Gwangju Station and the Pureuneum Center.

Selected as an Urban Renewal Innovation District

Selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport on December 21, 2020, this project will create an innovation hub that combines industry, culture, and housing in Gwangju by integrating green, digital, and startup-oriented businesses, with a 16.8 billion won investment over five years beginning in 2021.

In order to foster core industries in the future and increase the survival rate of start-ups, Gwangju City Hall will concentrate on starting businesses in artificial intelligence (AI), eco-friendly energy and mobility, and 5G-ICT (digital) in line with the government’s New Green Digital Industry. City Hall plans to induce active investment in start-ups through cooperation with

Selected as New Deal Project Gwangju Station’s EconomyBased New Deal Project was selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in 2018 as a project to foster local hub facilities such as establishment of startups and corporate growth support facilities, green and environmental improvement,

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5 local and foreign universities, research institutes, and investment institutions, and plans to expand into the Gwangju Tech Incubator Program for Start-ups Town (TIPS).

Implementation of Gwangju Station Complex Development Project

In addition to the Urban Renewal New Deal Project and the National Pilot Project of the Innovation Zone, Gwangju City will jointly carry out the Gwangju Station Complex Development Project with KORAIL. Since Gwangju Station is located in the downtown area, it is not only a transportation hub but also adjacent to the Asia Culture Center, the Biennale, Gwangju Kia Champions Stadium, and large department stores. Therefore, nine redevelopment projects are actively underway.

May 18 Records Donated on 40th Anniversary

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wangju Fire and Safety Headquarters recently called for caution as the frequency of fires in kimchi refrigerators has increased nationwide. In the past three years 32 cases have occurred in Gwangju, 93.8% or 30 cases in old kimchi refrigerators, causing one death and 193 million won in property damage.

Kimchi refrigerators that are older than 10 years should be inspected by experts, installed in a non-humid place at least ten centimeters away from the wall, cleaned regularly to prevent dust from accumulating, and opened in the back at least once every three years to remove refrigerator dust.

Kim Young-don, head of the City Protection and Prevention Department, said, “In the case of kimchi refrigerators, after purchasing a new product, the old kimchi refrigerator is often used as a multi-purpose refrigerator on the balcony or in a utility room. The outer case is constructed of an insulation material, so in the event of a fire, a large amount of toxic smoke is generated, and the risk of personal injury is very high.”

City Hall to Charge for Parking

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wangju Metropolitan City will charge parking fees for vehicles using parking lots in its facilities from January 1 in order to resolve parking difficulties and to facilitate parking for civilians visiting government buildings. Gwangju City has been operating its parking lots free of charge, but the parking fee has been levied to resolve the parking shortage as a result of severe parking difficulties.

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January 2021

Parking for civil petitioners is free of charge for 1 hour and 30 minutes. If this time is exceeded, 300 won for every 10 minutes and a maximum of 8,000 won per day will be charged. City government facilities are open to citizens free of charge on weekdays from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next day, and on Saturdays and holidays. With the implementation of paid parking, it is expected that parking difficulties will be resolved by curbing all-night parking and long-term parking for users and office workers who have been using the city hall parking lots.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

n December 22, a ceremony for the donation of May 18 records was held at the May 18 Democratization Movement Archives building.

The donated items are related to martial law declared in 1980, including martial law military uniforms, bulletproof helmets, military boots, and bulletproof vests, and military armament (20 rounds of ammunition, compasses, water containers, cartridges, load-bearing equipment, and bullets for M16 rifles), two suppression rods, and a combat police cushioned uniform.

Warning of Fires in Kimchi Refrigerators

MONTHLY NEWS

Mayor Lee Yong Sup has stated, “The massive urban regeneration project for Gwangju Station is aimed at revitalizing the stagnant old city center and creating a new growth hub for Gwangju. It is a very innovative and bold project that can fulfill the dreams of 1.5 million Gwangju citizens and the dreams of our youth. It will be the driving force behind the realization of ‘Gwangju, the Center of Intelligence.’”

“To mark the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement, we donate these artifacts that we have to the May 18 Archives in hopes of enhancing the value of the exhibition hall,” said the donors, Kang Seok-in and Kim Hyun-song.

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Collaborating for a Better Community I n t e r v i e w w i t h G F N P re s i d e n t B a e S e u n g - s o o

FEATURE

As a new year sets in, we set for ourselves new hopes, new wishes, and new resolutions. This year the Gwangju International Center (GIC) – through the Gwangju News – and the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN) have decided to join hands in a closer collaboration for the benefit of our communities. To this end, we start a series of upcoming articles with this interview with the President of GFN, Mr. Bae Seung-soo.

interested in GFN since its opening. I stepped into the GFN presidency with the idea of making GFN an organization that will play a new role in the local media.

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GN: Please describe your main roles as the president of GFN. Bae Seung-soo: I have the role of representing the broadcasting company externally. My position as president implies performing external affairs on behalf of GFN as well as making final decisions on matters of major importance. Since the position of president is nonexecutive, there are some limitations in terms of roles and authority, but as I represent the institution, I work with a sense of responsibility and dedication.

▲ GFN President Bae Seung-soo

Gwangju News (GN): Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with the Gwangju News, President Bae. First, please introduce yourself to our readers by telling us about your background and about GFN. Also, how long have you been president of GFN? President Bae Seung-soo: Greetings. I am Bae Seungsoo, president of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network.

I took office in November 2018 and have been with GFN for more than two years now. I have been working in the local media industry for more than 30 years, starting as a reporter for Gwangju MBC and serving as the head of the Gwangju Viewers Media Center, and I have been

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GN: In recent years, podcasts and music streaming services have become increasingly popular. As a medium, what can radio broadcasting offer that these other services cannot? In short, how can radio stay relevant?

Bae Seung-soo: GFN is a comprehensive radio station that produces programs of various genres such as news, current affairs, culture, and entertainment. Through its various programs, we provide information to foreigners residing in Gwangju and South Jeolla, and opportunities for Koreans to improve their language skills. Moreover, in case of an emergency or disaster, we deliver the news to the residents in various languages so that everyone can be informed in real time.

Radio is a more accessible medium to the public than any other. Therefore, radio is a medium that reflects people’s opinions and preferences, which makes it a medium for public debate. Particularly, in GFN’s case, it is easy to produce content for listeners without borders,

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7 emphasizing its importance as a medium that increases the nation’s competitiveness in the rapidly changing media market.

GN: How does GFN serve both the Korean and expat communities, and what are the challenges faced in doing this? How does GFN maintain a positive relationship with the Gwangju community?

Bae Seung-soo: GFN offers various information, culture, and entertainment programs for foreigners through English, Chinese, and Vietnamese programming. We are trying to deliver information that foreign communities want through more detailed content areas such as legal issues and medical information in addition to news relating to daily living.

GN: What plans is GFN making or considering to broaden its future? In particular, what is GFN’s vision for 2021?

Bae Seung-soo: Firstly, in line with the social-distancing

As a public broadcaster, we are committed to our responsibilities as well in 2021 by preparing for duringCOVID and post-COVID broadcasting, and other emergency situations. We will continue to upload COVID-19-related information, such as daily status reports from Gwangju City Hall on real-time SNS, and deliver it quickly through broadcasting. At the same time, we will work harder to deliver public interest news so that local foreigners can obtain quick and accurate information in the event of a national crisis or natural disaster.

Furthermore, we are planning to transform GFN into a more citizen-friendly radio station by broadcasting bilingually. By increasing the proportion of Korean language in the programming, we will try to make broadcasting that can be more convenient and friendly to citizens by airing simultaneous programs in English and Korean, Vietnamese and Korean, and Chinese and Korean.

FEATURE

In order to maintain a positive relationship with Gwangju’s citizens, we conduct an annual listening behavior survey and reflect it in the production of content preferred by Korean and foreign listeners. In recent years, requests for bilingual programs have increased, so we are partially reviewing the production of programs in both Korean and foreign languages. As such, GFN listens to the voices of our Korean and international community listeners and actively considers them.

era, we are expanding to new platforms using new media.

We plan to strengthen new media contents through the development and expansion of SNS programs such as YouTube, Naver Audio Clip, and Facebook.

GN: Yes, that will be more listener-friendly. I am interested in how COVID-19 has impacted GFN’s activities. Can you elaborate on this?

Bae Seung-soo: Due to COVID-19, many outdoor

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www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

FEATURE

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▲ Recording a show in the GFN studio.

events, such as the GFN House Concert, quiz events for international students, and trot music festivals for foreign residents, have been canceled during the past year. I deeply regretted that we could not make a program in which we could communicate with all our listeners.

Next year, we will be capable of communicating with our listeners in various ways online and through non-faceto-face events.

GN: GFN and the Gwangju News are both committed to serving the expat community in the Gwangju-South Jeolla area. In what ways do you think our two institutions can cooperate or collaborate to better serve our community?

Bae Seung-soo: I know that the GIC has also tried to keep foreigners from feeling uneasy by providing contacttracing and other information in various languages during this COVID-19 pandemic. The Gwangju News and GFN are different media, one being a publication while the other is radio broadcasting, but I think it would be extremely helpful if we share and promote information mutually. Also, I am sure that we will be able to expand beyond the limitations of print publication and radio broadcasting if we regularly discuss events or projects that can be held jointly for the foreign community.

GN: In an attempt to attract listeners (in North America, for example), many radio stations resort to broadcasting edgier but often provocative or even disreputable content.

How does the GFN stay relevant without employing this tactic?

Bae Seung-soo: GFN, as a public radio station, has an obligation to comply with the Korea Communications

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Commission’s review regulations, so it is difficult to produce provocative content like in North American media. However, since its inception in 2009, GFN has maintained its relevance through special programs such as documentary production for the underprivileged, including multicultural families and foreigners in the blind spots of human rights. Last year, we made headlines with a program related to sexual assault by the military during the May 18 [1980] Democratic Movement, and this year we also produced a documentary about undocumented migrant children in Korea. As such, GFN is interested in human rights issues and produces related programs for the globalization of Gwangju – a member of the World Human Rights Cities.

GN: Thank you, President Bae, for taking the time to provide us with this interesting and informative interview. We look forward to abundant and very effective collaboration between our two institutions and much future success for the Gwangju Foreign Language Network.

Photographs courtesy of GFN. Interview conducted by Melline Galani.

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Look for the answers to this crossword puzzle to appear in February in Gwangju News Online (www.gwangjunewsgic.com)

Created by Jon Dunbar

DOWN 1 Prevent 2 Old Testament prophet 3 Bad scent in UK 4 One of the Three Kingdoms 5 Luke ___ Medical Mission Team 6 Hearing organ 7 Former French culture minister Pellerin 8 Grass field 9 Wailing spirit from Ireland 10 “When ___ away, the mice will play” (2 words) 11 Noses 19 Book ID code 21 Opposite of west

ACROSS

23 Old woman

1 Singer Tori

28 Local readers of Gwangju News

24 Savor

5 TESOL, ESL

33 Epps or Bradley

28 E-commerce website

9 “Life Goes On” band

34 Electrical resistance unit

12 Veni, ___ vici

35 Author Roald

13 ___ Dream Site for the disabled (2 words)

36 “___ for Lady Vengeance”

14 Cheol-soo or Gil-jeong

43 Large valley on Mount Mudeung

15 Biodiversity sci.

44 Eisenhower

16 2 Live or cabin

45 ___ deGrasse Tyson

17 The Matrix’s chosen one

48 Alternative to jeonse

18 Finnish journalist Virtanen

49 Bbang Goom ___

20 World Heritage list org.

50 Truth or ___

39 Korean house

22 Skaters’ magazine

51 Whistle sound

40 “The best is ___ come” (2 words)

25 “At the drop of ___” (2 words)

52 Korean news channel

42 CTRL+Z

26 Ki-moon

53 Jeju trail

46 Opposite of online

27 Sound stages

54 “Little Witch Academia” heroine

47 Artist Maelee

30 Matisz or Guthrie 31 Singer Jung-hwa 32 Troublemakers 33 David Bowie song “Space ___” 36 Shoplift or pickpocket 37 Largest artery 38 Korean rice cake

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41 Run out of moisture (2 words)

29 Beach house on Geoje Island

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People in the Arts

Song Philyong

Painting the Spirit of Water Interview by Jennis Kang

FEATURE

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few years ago, I was impressed by waterfall paintings at an exhibition hosted by the Gwangju Museum of Art. When I viewed the vigorous waterfalls on the large canvases, I thought I could hear the sound of the water rushing down, and I felt chills. Inspired by this experience, I arranged to have an interview with the artist of “Flow,” Song Philyong, and got a chance to learn more about his artwork.

meanings. It can represent the wild flow of currents in the world, or it can stand for the spirit of uprightness, righteousness, and truth.

Jennis Kang (Jennis): I appreciate you giving me your time, Mr. Song. I have seen your works and I am fascinated by the waterfalls. I know oil and acrylic paintings are not traditionally used in Korean paintings, but your works put me in an oriental mood. Can I ask you what you wanted to express in your waterfall paintings?

Song Philyong: Actually, I wanted to paint the history of this land and the people who have lived on this land.

History is like the flow of water. It runs on and on without stopping.

Jennis: So, the rocks are like the power of the people.

They are surrounded by the falling water, but still remain standing.

Song Philyong: Right, that is the idea I try to capture.

Jennis: I heard that you studied art education at Chonnam University in Gwangju and that you completed your master’s degree at Hongik University in Seoul. How was your school life?

Song Philyong: I entered Chonnam University in 1977, and when I was in my senior year, the May 18 Uprising occurred. As a citizen of Gwangju, I also went through the chaos abundant during that time. Continuing for ten years after May 18, 1980, I felt skeptical about my life, my painting, and the realities around me.

Sleeping Magnificence 1 (2019).

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January 2021

Jennis: You said that the flow of water is like the history of the earth. I also see many rocks in your works. Can I ask the meaning of the rocks?

Song Philyong: The waterfall embodies a variety of

I am following the waterfalls’ essence: the sound of uprightness. And the rocks, standing firm against the waterfall, symbolize those who have lived on this land – strong rocks that stand tall, not washed away by the water.

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11 Jennis: I can guess how you felt. I lived in downtown Gwangju at that time in 1980. I can still hear the echoes of gunshots hitting buildings and the people shouting chants. I was too scared to go out to see, but my older sister saw a man getting shot when all he was doing was holding the national flag.

Song Philyong: Right. We cannot forget the tragedies.

That is why I started to paint the history of the land.

When I studied at Chonnam National University, I learned from Professor Lee Tae-ho. He helped me to open my eyes to see the history of this land.

Jennis: I think an artist’s life is reflected in his or her works. What memorable childhood story do you have that may relate to your artistic life?

Song Philyong: I was born on the Goheung Peninsula on the coast south of Gwangju. I liked to draw from my youthful days. Sometimes I went out for sketching at the hermitage called Sudo-am at Un-am Mountain, or to the seaside near my house.

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▼ Artist Song Philyong

January 2021

Jennis: Oh! I know that hermitage. My husband’s hometown is also close to Un-am Mountain, so I once went up the mountain with my first child when he was a baby. After driving up a steep and winding road, I met an elderly Buddhist monk who lived alone at the small

Jennis: So, the technique is more simplified than that of Goryeo celadon. I heard you used the Johwa technique on your paintings. Would you tell me how?

Song Philyong: I paint a base on the canvas, and when the paint dries, I coat it with diverse, deep colors. I express the history of this land through the layers of the base.

Before the last layer dries, I draw waterfalls and rocks

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Jennis: This 100-year history was indeed like a roaring waterfall. Within roughly the last century, we had the Donghak Peasant Uprising, the Japanese occupation, the March 1st Independence Movement, the Gwangju Students’ Independence Movement, the Korean War, liberation, the North–South division, the Jeju 4.3 Uprising, the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, the April 19th Revolution, and the May 18 Uprising – so many things have happened. Have you captured all of them on canvas?

Song Philyong: Yes, I have painted those events on a 16.5-meter-long panorama as an epic of this land. The work is now kept as part of a collection at the Gwangju Museum of Art.

Jennis: So, you grew up in the village, absorbing the remnants of traditional culture, with shards of pottery scattered here and there.

Song Philyong: Right. Buncheong pottery began to be made after Goryeo celadon. The method of making Buncheong pottery was easier than that of Goryeo celadon, which consisted of inlayed patterns. But Buncheong pottery also went through several stages.

Starting first with dipping the dark clay pottery into white watery clay. Then, patterns were etched in with a sharp tool. Using this technique results in a really beautiful pattern. It is called the Johwa technique.

FEATURE

Jennis: Wow, I also learned from him. Professor Lee Taeho taught us the History of Korean Arts. He let us go to temples to sketch the old stone Buddhas there. I really enjoyed his class. I am glad we have memories of him in common. So, you traveled all over the country with him?

Song Philyong: Yes. It was during this period that I consolidated my fundamental reflections on the history of this land. Professor Lee and I traveled all around the country, and I came to feel the energy of the land as a result of those experiences. All the while, I wondered why innocent people had to die, and what new hope there was for us. Then I started to paint about what has happened to the people over the past century, from the Donghak Peasant Uprising to the May 18 Uprising.

temple. Sitting on the floor, we talked over tea. When he saw me comforting my child to get him to sleep, he said, “You remind me of my mother who would have raised me like you are raising your child. She must have died long ago. I left her in North Korea.” It is amazing that we both have memories of the same place, Sudo-am.

Song Philyong: I am glad you know my hometown. Right at the base of Un-am Mountain, there is Undae Village, which had the biggest kilns for Buncheong pottery during the Joseon Dynasty. Then, all of a sudden, the pottery kiln fires went out in the 16th century. People do not know the exact reason why, but a few years ago, the Buncheong Cultural Museum was built in the village.

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12 in powerful strokes with sharp tools, similar to what has been done with Buncheong pottery.

FEATURE

Jennis: Your paintings could be thought of in some regards as pottery but on flat canvases. I noticed your scraping skills in your works such as the Mt. Geumgang series. How do you paint Mt. Geumgang?

Song Philyong: Mt. Geumgang has been loved by many people and by a lot of artists since long ago. I was especially impressed by Gyeomjae Jeong Seon’s renderings. His paintings depicted the real landscape of Geumgang. The word “real” here means the “essence” of nature. He was called the “Saint of Art” in the Joseon Dynasty. I had always wanted to see the real Mt. Geumgang in North Korea and luckily, in 1998, Mt. Geumgang was opened to tourists from South Korea, so I was able to go see its beautiful scenery. Inspired in my own right, I painted it on my canvases in my own way.

Jennis: I have never been to Mt. Geumgang. Was it not difficult to visit North Korea?

Song Philyong: Yes, it was. The barrier between the North and the South has been standing for almost 70 years. Once, President Kim Dae-jung’s Sunshine Policy led North Korea to open Mt. Geumgang for a few years from 1998. I was able to hike up the mountain as many as 18 times, but it is closed again. ▼ The Flow of History (2018).

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January 2021

▲ The Sound of Uprightness Is a Sound.

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Jennis: How lucky you were! What moved you to trek through the mountain so many times?

Song Philyong: Mt. Geumgang is famous for the unique shapes of its rocks. It is said that people can see the shapes of all the creatures in the world in the rock formations of Mt. Geumgang. It also has beautiful waterfalls and jadecolored ponds. I went there to find the real essence of its landscape.

Jennis: I regret very much having missed the chance to see it. I hope to be able to see Mt. Geumgang sometime soon.

Song Philyong: I hope I can, too.

Jennis: So, you painted Mt. Geumgang and held exhibitions in Seoul. I heard your Geumgang paintings are even hanging in the Blue House.

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Jennis: Wow, that is truly amazing. You have told us about the people and the land through paintings of water, waterfalls, rocks, and Mt. Geumgang. What do you think will be your next subject?

Song Philyong: I think I will continue painting waterfalls, capturing the essence of water. Waterfalls contain the sound of uprightness. I am drawing camellias these days, as well. What is unique about these flowers is that the petals of the camellia do not flutter to the ground one by one; the whole flower falls off at once. The abruptness of the flower’s falling without hesitation is like a waterfall, I think.

Photographs courtesy of Song Philyong.

The Interviewer

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Major Group Exhibitions 2015 Gyeonggi Museum of Art, Ansan 2014 Yi Eung-no Memorial Hall, Hongseong 2013 Gwangju National Museum, Gwangju 2012 Ilmin Museum of Art, Seoul 2010 Interalia, Seoul 2009 Gwangju National Museum, Gwangju Main Collections National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art, Gyeonggi Museum of Art, Jeonbuk Provincial Museum of Art, Gwangju Museum of Art, Kumho Museum of Art, Ilmin Museum of Art, and Gyeomjae Jeongseon Museum of Art, as well as the Blue House and Art Bank.

January 2021

Kang Jennis Hyunsook is a freelance English tutor and once-in-a-while interpreter. She likes taking photos of nature and reading books. Jennis enjoys meeting people in the arts, and she feels that the world is wide and full of so many wonderful people. Email: speer@ naver.com.

Major Individual Exhibitions 2016 Gyeomjae Jeongseon Art Museum, Seoul 2015 Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju 2012 Ewha Gallery, Seoul 2004 Hakgojae Gallery, Seoul 2002 Ewha Womans University, Seoul 2000 Hakgojae Gallery, Seoul 1995 Kumho Museum of Art, Seoul

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Jennis: People say that the camellia blooms three times: once on the camellia tree, once after falling on the ground, and finally, once more in our hearts. I am sure your camellias will bloom in our hearts, too. Thank you for your time, Mr. Song.

The History of the Land (2018).

FEATURE

Song Philyong: To my honor, three of my paintings are in the Blue House. Several times my paintings have been used as the background for summit meetings with the heads of other nations.

▲

▲ Buncheong Pottery

▲ Okryu-dong

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14

Blast from the Past

The Mystifying Powers of Korean Foods

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January 2021

blast from the past

Apples and Haejang Stew If you have been invited to a Korean restaurant or to a Korean’s home for a meal, you are sure to have heard “Try some of this; it is good for your health.” It seems that every Korean food is especially good for protecting against or remedying one ailment or another. So it is with haejang-guk for hangovers. In this issue, we revitalize Stephen Redeker’s article “Hangover Stew” (Gwangju News, April 2013). Some foods are thought to be healthful only when eaten at certain times and to be avoided at others. This is true of apples in Korea. Stephen Redeker also contributed the expose “Eating Apples at Night” (Gwangju News, August 2012), which we have also revived and present to you here. — Ed.

Hangover Stew

Hunger can strike during a severe hangover. It is best to stick to foods that do not irritate the stomach but will add the necessary nutrients to the blood that the body needs. Eggs for breakfast would be a good choice, as they contain amino acids that help break down the toxins from the alcohol. Soups, such as chicken noodle or miso, are helpful because they contain salt and are easy on the stomach. Potassium-rich foods like bananas, kiwis, and spinach are also beneficial. Honey helps restore blood sugar levels and should be consumed in tea or with toast.

First, it is important to consider what causes a hangover.

The main culprit is a loss of water in the body. Alcohol is a diuretic, causing the body to drain itself of liquid, including from the brain. This is why you feel a headache after waking up in the morning from a bout of drinking the night before. The liver and kidneys have been working overtime to filter out the toxins from the alcohol. Thus, the body is also depleted of salts, sugars, and electrolytes.

The best way to remedy this is by adding these back into the bloodstream.

Some foods and drinks to avoid, contrary to popular opinion, are greasy foods, coffee and caffeine, orange juice, and the “hair of the dog” (any alcoholic drink taken to cure a hangover). Greasy foods with meat are good to eat before a night of drinking. Consuming these foods the next day can irritate the stomach or dehydrate the body further.

After spending the late-night hours with friends and consuming large amounts of alcohol, a popular Korean tradition is having a bowl of haejang-guk (해장국, hangover stew) to combat the excruciating effects of a hangover. The name derives from haejyeong (해졍, 解酲), literally “relief from the bottle.” It has been long believed that the powers of this particular dish in the morning will help to dissipate the ravages of a hangover. Is this just a myth, or is there some truth to this?

Nutritionists have provided a menu of foods and drinks that can help alleviate the effects of a hangover. The most important is water. Drinking a few glasses of water before going to sleep can prevent a bad hangover. If the hangover has already struck the next morning, water will still help rehydrate the body. Some other drinks that help nourish the body are sports drinks (they add electrolytes and sugar), fruit juice (sugar and vitamins), pickle or sauerkraut juice (sodium and vinegar), tomato juice (lycopene antioxidant), and ginger and peppermint tea (soothes the stomach).

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This brings us back to haejang-guk. Does it really have what you need to cure that hangover? Haejang-guk often contains pork, doenjang paste (similar to miso), onions, garlic, ginger, pepper, mushrooms, cabbage, and sprouts mixed with a hot beef broth. There is no doubt that this delicious hot bowl of wholesome stew can cure a raging hunger, but is does not contain all hangover-dissipating ingredients. It is spicy, and consuming spicy food can cause one to sweat, releasing those hangover-inducing toxins. Because it is spicy, it will also cause you to drink more water, which will combat the dehydration and ease the pain. But it is missing the sugars and electrolytes needed to replenish the body. This dish may be harsh on the stomach, especially for the uninitiated. The

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ingredients contained in a bowl of haejang-guk will actually absorb alcohol, which will help to prevent a bad hangover, so a bowl of haejang-guk as a meal before party time would also be a good idea.

Haejang-guk comes in a wide variety of styles. There is seonji haejang-guk (선지 해장국), which contains cow or pig blood and is popular in the Daegu area. Ppyeo haejang-guk (뼈 해장국) is made with the broth of slowly boiled pig bones. Popular in Gangwon-do, where walleye pollock are caught on the east coast, are hwangtae haejang-guk (황태 해장국) and bukeo haejang-guk (북어 해장국), the latter of which is made of dried pollock. In the Jeonju area, kongnamu haejang-guk (콩나무 해장국), made with bean sprouts and an anchovy broth, can most easily be found. Jeju-do’s haejang-guk is commonly called mom-guk (몸국) and is made with mojaban (모자반, sargassum seaweed) boiled in pork broth.

Eating Apples at Night

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” This adage is taught to most Western children as a way of verbalizing that apples are very healthy to eat. In theory, if we eat an apple every day, we will be so healthy that we will not need a doctor. Although this may be an exaggeration of the health benefits of apples, we must agree that this is one healthful fruit. Koreans too agree, but with one caveat.

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However, the reason why the “gold apple – poison apple” maxim developed has a lot to do with pectin and bowel movements. Pectin, which stimulates bowel movement, can put a strain on the digestive function of the intestine in the evening. While sleeping, the undigested fiber causes gas to form. This may cause frequent visits to the toilet at night and an uncomfortable feeling in the morning. In addition, the organic acids in apples can increase the acidity of the stomach and cause irritation, so eating apples in the evening or at night before going to bed is better to avoid.

For the person with a healthy digestive function, however, apples can safely be eaten at any time of day.

It is the person whose digestive system is not in the best condition who should be more careful not to eat apples before sleeping. Years ago, when this “gold apple – poison apple” adage originated, it must be remembered that the average Korean did not enjoy the fine diet and high degree of health that is enjoyed today. In those times, “A morning apple is gold, an evening apple is poison” rang much truer than it does today – and that is, of course, a good thing!

Original text by Stephen Redeker.

Supplemented by David Shaffer.

Resources Han, H. (2018, December 4). 밤에 먹는 사과, 정말 毒? Health Chosun News. https://m.health.chosun.com/svc/news_view. html?contid=2018120303080 Kim, J. (2018, April 13). “아침 사과는 금, 저녁 사과는 "독"은 진실?

Asia Gyeongje. https://www.asiae.co.kr article/2018051114501038657 Lee, G. (2012, October 19). “아침에는 금사과,” 저녁에는 독사과” 라고 불리는 이유는? Health Chosun News. https://m.health. chosun.com/svc/news_view.html?contid=2012101801922 Namu-wiki. (2020, November 30). 해장국. https://namu.wiki/해장국

January 2021

The fact that apples are healthful is no mystery, but does this change when eating them at night? Eating food before going to bed is generally a bad idea because foods that are spicy, heavy, or fatty will make it difficult to sleep soundly. Apples, however, have none of these properties and are actually filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are beneficial for sleeping. Apples help to decrease blood pressure, improve breathing, and lower blood sugar. They also help the body to secrete serotonin, causing the nerves to relax more easily, all of which help to provide for a good night’s rest.

Most of an apple is really just water, but the peel contains a large amount of the dietary fiber pectin, which gently helps to stimulate bowel movements when the “gold apple” is eaten after breakfast. This fiber is also good for digestion and cleans the colon. In addition, pectin helps remove carcinogens and heavy metals from the body.

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Korea has the saying “A morning apple is gold, an evening apple is poison” (아침 사과는 금, 저녁 사과는 독).

This encapsulates the belief that eating an apple at night is actually unhealthy, as it would be difficult for one’s stomach to digest, hence causing indigestion. This would lead to a sick feeling and make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. This appears to be a well-established belief in Korea. Younger Koreans say that they have heard this from an elder at some point in their life, and there are those who, because of this saying, refrain from eating apples before bedtime.

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blast from the past

But you do not need to wait to have a hangover, or anticipate one, to have a bowl of haejang-guk. This traditional dish is quite tasty on its own in any of its regional varieties.

Apples also contain polyphenols (antioxidants), which are found mostly in the apple peel. They assist the body in breaking down carbohydrates and regulating blood sugar, providing a steady level of energy (rather than creating an energy spike that may keep one awake).

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Around Korea

TRAVEL

Sangha Farm

Experiencing Real Farm Life Written and photographed by Melline Galani

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January 2021

ochang is recognized by UNESCO as an ecologically sustainable development location, which made it the perfect place to develop an organic farm. But what is organic farming? Put simply, it is a method of crop and livestock production that does not involve the use of pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics, or growth hormones while minimizing soil erosion and degradation, and reducing pollution.

Situated about 75 kilometers northwest of Gwangju in Gochang County, Sangha Farm offers probably the best possible organic farm life experience. It is also the first farm in Korea to produce organic milk. This place was introduced to me by a friend with whom I spent an amazing time at the farm. I did not even know that such places could be found in Korea.

Driving to the farm is the only possible way to go since there is no public transportation available. However, it takes only about one hour to reach it and, once you leave the highway, the roads are beautiful and the view is very relaxing.

The farm itself is quite large, and you realize this once you reach the parking lots (there are three different

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parking lots available). I would say it is like a big theme park with a lot to see and experience that satisfies even the most sophisticated tastes. From accommodations to weddings and a winter spa experience, the farm has it all and is a hot tourist destination. In late autumn and early winter, visitors can make their own kimchi with vegetables grown on the farm by experiencing a twoday course that includes the spa, a farmer’s dinner, and a pension stay. There are also separate kimchi-making (kimjang) sessions with an instructor, and the participants will each take home three kilograms of kimchi. Home delivery is also possible. All the ingredients, fresh and locally prepared, are provided by the farm.

At Sangha Farm, all the herbs and vegetables used for cooking at their restaurant have been grown in their fields. Fruits grown here are used to produce jam at the in-house factory, and the milk produced at the dairy farm is sold at the market and also used as an ingredient for the baking class.

The complex compound consists of a sheep ranch, dairy farm, and an animal farm where children can feed animals like goats, rabbits, calves, sheep, chickens, and deer. There is also a nice coffee shop; two restaurants – one offering Korean cuisine and one offering Western-

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17 style dishes; two experience buildings, where kids do all the baking and cooking activities; a small playground for toddlers and young kids; the Farmer’s Village, where the accommodations are; and the Farmer’s Market, where products made at the farm or grown locally are sold. I was really surprised to realize what the dairy products I buy online are actually made here. Of course, I could not leave without buying some. Handmade cheese and jams are also top products sold at the store.

The farm offers a milking tour, where visitors can see cows being milked and milk being processed into cheese and bottled milk, but we arrived too late for that. One thing that I particularly noticed was the lack of odor. I was also impressed to see that the animals were taken good care of and clean.

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We had an early dinner at the Sangha Kitchen, the Western-style restaurant. Vegetables from the garden and the sausages made at Sangha are used at the restaurant.

We ordered the signature dish, pizza with sausages, mushroom sauce pasta, a salad, and a soft chicken dish, which was the best chicken I have ever had in Korea.

The food was delicious and more consistent than I had expected. The restaurant has a wide range of dishes with prices starting from 9,000 won. ▲ The Farmer’s Market. ▼ Delicacies from Sangha Kitchen (1. White egg Caesar salad, 2. Mushroom pasta, 3.Soft chicken, 4.Tomato and Bocconcini cheese pizza).

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TRAVEL

▲ The sausage-making factory.

Near the restaurant there is the place where the sausages are made, and there we could see the sausage-making process through wide windows. It was quite interesting to watch, especially for our children. The compound also has a souvenir shop, where original Korean souvenirs can be bought; a street truck that sells grilled cheese and sausages (made in-house, of course), coffee, and beverages; and a small lake with a wooden bridge around it for slow walks.

The entrance fee is 5,000 won for kids and 8,000 won for adults. Food-making experiences include baking milk bread, muffins, and animal-shaped cookies, and making sausages – each costing 15,000 won – in addition to making sweet rice cakes at 10,000 won per person.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

Either for just a day trip or an overnight weekend, the time spent at Sangha Farm is a memorable experience.

What better place to enjoy nature and stay away from technology? It has just become our new favorite place in South Jeolla Province.

▲ Hatching eggs.

The Interviewer

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Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, who is currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges, learning interesting things, and is incurably optimistic. Her favorite place in Jeolla is Sangha Farm.

Instagram: @melligalanis

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19

Everyday Korean Episode 37 온라인 쇼핑

(Online Shopping)

By Harsh Kumar Mishra

Grammar ~ 등: This is similar to “etc.” and is used when you want to express that there are other options in addition to the ones mentioned.

Ex: 저는 사과, 바나나 등의 과일을 좋아해요.

I like fruits: apples, bananas, etc.

데지:

언니, 롱패딩을 살까 하는데 어디서 사면 좋을까요?

[Eon-ni, rong-pae-ding-eul sal-kka ha-neun-de eo-di-seo sa-myeon jo-eul-kka-yo?]

Daisy:

Eonni (literally, “older sister”) I’m thinking of buying a long, padded jacket; where should I get one from?

~ 잘 몰라요: Use this expression when you want to say that you are not sure about something. The use of 잘 makes this more polite than saying just 몰라요 (I don’t know).

Ex: A: 이 식당이 어디 있는지 알아요?

B: 아니요, 제가 잘 몰라요.

정민:

요즘 다들 인터넷에서 많이 사는데 너도 한 번 찾아 봐.

[Yo-jeum da-deul in-teo-ne-se-seo ma-ni sa-neun-de neo-do han beon cha-ja bwa.]

Vocabulary 롱패딩 사다 요즘 인터넷 찾다 어플 깔다 브랜드 상품 모든 믿다 쓰다 아까 언급하다

long, padded jacket to buy nowadays internet to find, to search for to install an app brand/branded items all (adj.) to trust, to believe to use a while ago to mention

Jeongmin: A lot of people buy them online these days, so you should check them out there, too.

데지:

저 한국에서 온라인 쇼핑을 많이 안 해 봐서 잘 몰라요.

[Jeo han-gu-ge-seo on-la-in shyo-ping-eul ma-ni an hae bwa-seo jal mol-la-yo.]

Daisy:

I haven’t done much online shopping in Korea, so I don’t really know how.

정민:

어플 깔아. 쿠팡, G마켓, 11번가 등 쇼핑할 수 있는 어플이 많아.

[Eo-peul kka-ra. Ku-pang, G-maket, ship-il-beon-ga deung shyo-ping-hal su in-neun eo-peu-ri ma-na.]

Jeongmin: Install a shopping app. There are many apps, such as Coupang, Gmarket, and 11Street, where you can shop.

고마워요, 언니. 이 어플들에서 브랜드 상품도 찾을 수 있어요?

[Go-ma-wo-yo, eon-ni. I eo-peul-deul-e-seo beu-raen-deu sang-pum-do cha-jeul su is-seo-yo?]

Daisy:

Thank you, Eonni. Can we also find brand items on these apps?

정민:

응 응. 모든 브랜드 상품들 있어. 믿고 사도 돼.

[Eung, eung. Mo-deun beu-raen-deu sang-pum-deul is-seo. Mit-go sa-do dwae.]

Banking-Related Vocabulary 주문하기 결제 환불 반품 교환 취소 배송조회 장바구니 구매 내역 배송완료

ordering payment refund return (an item) exchange cancellation delivery tracking shopping cart (literally, “market basket”) purchase history delivery completed

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데지:

언니는 어떤 어플을 쓰세요?

[Eon-ni-neun eot-teon eo-peu-reul sseu-se-yo?]

Daisy:

Eonni, which app do you use?

정민:

아까 언급한 거 다 써.

[Ak-ka eon-geup-han geo da sseo.]

Jeongmin: I use all those I mentioned (a while ago).

January 2021

TOPIK GUIDE (topikguide.com) is the most comprehensive website devoted to the TOPIK exam. It has been helping Korean language learners pass the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) for more than eight years. On our website, you can get all the TOPIK updates, grammar and vocabulary materials, and study tips. You can also visit our TOPIK Guide YouTube channel.

Jeongmin: Yeah. All brand items are available. You can trust them and buy them.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

데지:

12/23/2020 6:17:34 PM

Around Korea

TRAVEL

20

Ulleung-do & Dokdo, the Hawaii of Korea

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January 2021

ave you heard about the “Hawaii of Korea” – those mysterious islands lost in the middle of the East Sea?

As far back as I can remember, long before I decided to move to South Korea, I recall myself looking at old pictures of Ulleung-do in my grandfather’s library. He was passionate about culture and history, and had a book covering South Korea. Little did I know of the importance of Ulleung-do and Dokdo to Koreans.

This year, as you may already know, we could not manage to travel abroad (hello, corona). But I was craving for new adventures and kept looking for some of the most remote places I could find on Korean territory. My choice went to Ulleung-do and Dokdo, both known to be pretty difficult islands to reach due to weather conditions and their location.

I asked my friend Tomi if she was ready for the trip of a lifetime, and we both decided to go on a five-day camping trip in Ulleung-do!

Beginning our trip from Gwangju, we took our car and drove all the way to Pohang. After a night in town, we

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Written and photographed by Lea Moreau departed on time and took the 8:00 a.m. ferry to Ulleungdo. I am not going to lie: The seasickness was pretty bad, and I felt sick all the way to the island, which took three and half hours. (Tip: Take some meolmi-yak [멀미약, motion sickness medicine] with you, as you will probably need it). Arriving around lunch time in Jeodong Port, we enjoyed the first meal on the island: jeonbok juk (전복죽, abalone rice porridge). It was delicious!

After fully filling our bellies, we went to the Ile Café (이레 카페) in order to rent our motorbike. The owner was super kind and offered to rent his motorbike for 45,000 won a day. It was definitely the best choice we could have made in order to travel freely around the island. No need for taxis or buses, we could stop by any attraction we wanted to and fully explore any of the roads on the island. (Tip: Note that you need a Korean driver’s license, and previous motorbike riding experience is a plus).

We asked if we could leave our backpacks in the coffee shop for a few hours and went on a ride to find the best camping spot. A few kilometers away, we found the perfect location facing the ocean and close to a local shop. We put up our tent, and then the adventure could really start. The weather was perfect for most of our trip,

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▲ Let’s go!!!

▲ Exploring the island with Tomi.

I brought along some French foie-gras (liver) and Tomi some red wine, so we found the perfect spot facing the sea and stopped for hours, eating our toast and happily celebrating our crazy trip. On the way back, we took hundreds of pictures while looking at divers ready to do some scuba diving and ended our day by admiring the sunset while riding our bike.

While visiting Dokdo on Chuseok Day, we both wanted to celebrate our new home – Korea – and feel the energy

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Ultimately, we went back to Pohang and ended our trip full of happy memories and thousands of pictures.

We will definitely go back to Ulleung-do as soon as the weather allows us. Until then, thank you, Ulleung-do.

You were so great to us!

The Author

Lea is a French travel specialist currently based in Sunchang, Jeollabuk-do. She works with local government entities in order to develop tourism in the Jeolla provinces and actively promotes both Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do on social media and Korean TV. She has created two YouTube channels in order to share her passion for travel, while giving useful tips and advice. You can follow Lea both on Facebook and YouTube at Leadventure. For more information about travel in Jeolla, check out Lea’s other YouTube channel at Jeolla Go.

January 2021

On the third day of our trip, I managed to book our boat tickets to Dokdo. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, as most of the time, only 30 percent of the ships are able to leave due to harsh weather conditions. On Chuseok Day, the sea was so quiet and peaceful with not even a single wave. We felt the island wanted to welcome us and show us what tranquility could bring when peace prevails. The Dokdo islets have a long and painful history, being the center of a diplomatic dispute between Korea and Japan that goes back more than 300 years.

On the last day, I really wanted to film some drone shoots in order to show my foreign YouTube followers the beauty of Ulleung-do. So, we went back to the best spots, and I filmed almost all day. It was great to share this filming day with my best friend, and we had raw fish (회, hoe) to celebrate our last day on the island.

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We forgot everything closed early on the island, so we decided to celebrate our Chuseok holiday in a BBQ restaurant. We watched a Na Hoon-a (나훈아) concert with the restaurant’s owner and ended up drinking soju and dancing with our masks on all night. It was an unforgettable experience, one where we all forgot the hard times and just appreciated celebrating life as one united world despite one of us being French and the other American, together with our newfound Korean family.

of such a place on a meaningful holiday. We took pictures and cried while feeling the meaning of the islets to Koreans. We were so proud and happy to have made it so far! That day, we also realized how Koreans love and cherish their land, and that it is important to remember history so that the next generation will protect this part of Korea.

TRAVEL

except one rainy night. On the second day, we decided to ride around the island. We took a lot of pictures along the way. The roads were sometimes in pretty bad shape due to the last typhoon, but it definitely made our trip more interesting. Needless to say, the island offers some of the most amazing landscapes and drives along the coastline, which really gives you an incredible opportunity to admire the sea views from every angle.

▲ BBQ party on Chuseok Day.

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22

Lost in Gwangju

Expropriating the Past in Hak-dong

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January 2021

Written and photographed by Isaiah Winters

One of the last old homes to enter the woodchipper.

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mong Gwangju’s most neglected neighborhoods, few surpass Hak-dong in their potential. Well situated between downtown, the Gwangju Stream, and Chosun University, Hak-dong even boasts two stops along the city’s only extant subway line. For anyone paying attention, it’s a real estate gold mine inevitably consigned to a good, old-fashioned expropriation.

This column last visited Hak-dong six months ago when evictions were in full swing despite certain residents’ firm opposition. These include stakeholders in Jadong Plaza, Namgwang Church, and a few individuals who carried on with their lives as best they could. In awe of their mettle, this year’s initial Lost in Gwangju piece will pay homage to these resolute holdouts and the terminal beauty of their vanishing neighborhood.

Capturing images of terminal beauty within pockets of deprivation isn’t always easy, and finding humaninterest stories buried beneath the rubble is even harder, especially now with demolition continuing full bore six days a week. Nevertheless, over my time sifting through Hak-dong’s remnants, I took an interest in a few places, including a calligrapher’s house and studio [see the July 2020 issue], which was still in place until the beginning of last December. Early on in that month, however, its second floor got decapitated, with the base getting demolished a week later.

Another home I found brimming with personal artifacts belonged to a diligent photojournalist with an intense interest in regional photography [see also the July 2020 issue]. As of this article’s submission date, his home still

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January 2021

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24 As for Hak-dong’s inner core, most residents are already long gone, save one who’s turned his jutaek home into a resistance center of sorts by spray-painting it with messages in defiance of demolition. As the sun set on my penultimate visit to the area, the owner sat out front in the dark beside a barrel fire. Though his home still seems to have electricity, I can only wonder if it has heating as we head deeper into winter.

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I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the area’s most overlooked residents, who also make up the majority of holdouts: felines. Following an apparently prolific autumn breeding season, there are more cats in Hakdong than ever before. They seem to scurry from nearly every home I visit, peer around almost every alley corner, or stare down at me intently from every other rooftop.

Sometimes this can be a little haunting, especially when the cats ▲ Redevelopment has come down on Hak-dong like a ton of bricks.

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January 2021

stands with all his photos and thousands of meticulously catalogued negatives inside. The staying power of this particular home is likely due to its proximity to Namgwang Church, which stands in adamant opposition to demolition and looks determined to fight eviction till the bloody end. [To understand why some churches are so reluctant to relocate in the face of redevelopment, see the March 2020 issue.]

Yet another personal account involves two elderly residents – an unflinching couple who continued to run a “computer dry-cleaner’s” in the area long after it’d been in eclipse. Behind their little storefront, I would always see them shuffling about here and there between racks of freshly hung laundry while the hum of a large dryer sounded the street’s only pulse of life. I don’t know exactly when they closed up shop, but I recently got inside the place and saw that they’d taken everything except the large dryer, which now sits coldly idle.

Presently, the wrecking crew is bulldozing the neighborhood’s softer, hanok-rich center of traditional houses while leaving the sturdier exterior buildings up as a bulwark. This seems to be standard practice, as it was also utilized in recent redevelopment projects in Gyerim-dong, Jungheung-dong, Im-dong, and Yu-dong.

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are clearly hungry and crying out for food. I sometimes use their hunger as a cover when confronted about why I’m skulking around abandoned neighborhoods. It’s a good idea to bring treats along as proof in these instances.

Fortunately, most of the abandoned cats of Hak-dong seem to be anything but hungry. While cats in some redevelopment zones look gaunt and haggard from lack of care, these cats look plump and healthy – and not just because they’re nursing or have full winter coats. It’s apparent that there are a few guardian angels who live nearby and abundantly supply the remaining homes with plates and bowls of cat food. I’ve noticed that more than a few homes have even been supplied with several boxes and crates padded with small pillows inside. One home I saw had close to a dozen of these makeshift beds with freshly emptied bags of cat food discarded at the door.

In preparation for this article, I spent a few weekends darting furtively from house to house (not unlike a cat) in search of details with any personalized touch. Old family photos are usually the biggest score, doubly so if they were taken on the premises and can be lined up for before and after shots. Handmade artifacts are also revealing, as with the hundreds of hand-folded paper cranes I found hanging in the window of one of the

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25 area’s few remaining hanok homes.

The detailed carpentry and idiosyncratic tilework of each home also help to humanize otherwise vacant dwellings that once teamed with multiple generations. Even the grimy, old handle of a paint-chipped wooden door can somehow summon all the people who once crossed that threshold.

Despite Hak-dong’s latest erasure looking very doom and gloom, there’s one silver lining that I’d like to focus on in an upcoming

▲ The lights of Hak-dong have been eclipsed by high-rise apartments.

TRAVEL

article. There’s now a small cohort of mainly Gwangju-based Korean photographers on Instagram who are painstakingly documenting excisions like Hak-dong and elsewhere, often with surprisingly beautiful results. I recently reached out to a few of them once I noticed we were shooting the same areas, likely on the same exact days in some cases. Their photography, backgrounds, and motivations are things I’d like to highlight more this year. ▲ Wooden doors retain a rustic charm.

To wrap up this article, I should finally get around to sharing my own Instagram account, where you can see many more photos and videos germane to redevelopment in Gwangju. This you can find in the updated author bio below.

The Author

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January 2021

Originally from Southern California, Isaiah Winters is a Gwangju-based urban explorer who enjoys writing about the City of Light’s lesser-known quarters. When he’s not roaming the streets and writing about his experiences, he’s usually working or fulfilling his duties as the Gwangju News’ heavily caffeinated chief copy editor. You can find more of his photography on Instagram @d.p.r.kwangju

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

▼ Handmade artifacts like these paper cranes bring vacant homes back to life.

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From Abroad

TRAVEL

26

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

▲ A delicious Christmas feast. It might be pushing (or already above) 40oC in some parts of the country on Christmas Day, but we still all enjoy a good roast lunch or dinner. (Alana Carniato, 2013)

Christmas Down Under Written by Lauren Wightman “Six white boomers, snow white boomers / Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun / Six white boomers, snow white boomers / On his Australian run” — Harris & Brown, 1960.

▲ “Christmas light looking” and one family who decided to go “all out” with their decorations. (Alana Carniato, 2017)

I have seen snow two times in my entire life. The first was when I was fourteen and went to “the snow,” as we Australians like to say, as if it were a singular location.

The second time, late last February, was on one of my first nights in Gwangju, when I was caught in a random flurry on my way home. Whilst you can see and enjoy snow in Australia, many Australians, myself included, live along the coast and happily experience a very mild, snow-free winter of around 16 degrees (Celsius, of course).

For the American I was walking with, while seeing snow was unexpected, she remained fairly impassive. But for me, it was stop-with-hands-outstretched and eyesupturned-in-wonder kind of moment. Now, as the days grow colder, I find myself becoming more and more excited for the presence of snow, but at the same time, more and more reminiscent of summer back home and what this time of year never fails to bring – Christmas.

Although retaining traditional customs, Christmas in

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27

TRAVEL ▲ The so-called “Christmas tree” in question. Not my family’s proudest decorating moment, but still definitely one of the funniest. (Kate Wightman, 2017)

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On every street, it’s a tradition passed from neighbor to neighbor or father to son, that someone dons a beard and a Santa costume, usually also outfitted with a pair of sunnies and thongs, to give out lollies to all the kids or raise money for charity. Given our lack of sleighs, however, this is often done on foot, from the seat of a sulky, or even the back of a motorbike.

Another well-loved tradition, mainly due to its access to air conditioning, is “Christmas light looking,” or jumping

January 2021

Australia has been altered to not only suit the climate, or the “stinking hot” weather, as my mum would say, but the quirky and multicultural Australian way of life.

“I couldn’t imagine anything but a white Christmas,” I often hear from my Northern Hemisphere friends. But for me and many other Australians, while there may be no “boomers,” or kangaroos, usually, involved in our Christmas celebrations, the blazing sun is a welcome reality.

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In the lead-up to Christmas, many Australians can’t skip the obligatory photo with Santa at the local shopping center, who is often only slightly overtired and grumpy.

This photo will be used on your family’s annual Christmas card to send well wishes to all your friends and relatives.

Luckily, once you’re too big to sit on Santa’s knee, Mum will stop forcing you to take them. If your family doesn’t receive a card in the letterbox, you can expect a knock at your door, a plate of food, a plant for your backyard, a carton of beer or bottle of wine, and a request to “put the kettle on” for a cup of tea.

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January 2021

TRAVEL

28

▲ Forbes, New South Wales. This Santa clearly wanted a speedier form of transportation for handing out presents that Christmas.

(Elizabeth Godden)

in a car with friends and family, bringing a travel mug of hot chocolate, blasting some Christmas tunes, and seeing how others have decorated their houses. For some families, it’s tradition to go “all out” with these decorations, but for mine, it’s always been limited to solar-panel fairy lights haphazardly thrown on the tree in the front yard. Similarly, sometimes even our Christmas tree wasn’t a tree at all. One year, it was a giant piece of driftwood that we’d stood in a bucket and wrapped tinsel around, while another was a houseplant.

As Christmas Day draws nearer, and with schools letting out for summer holidays across the country around midto-late December, many Australian families choose to celebrate outside the cities, often by disappearing “down the coast” to locations with better access to a beach, river, or swimming pool and staying at campsites, caravan parks, or a relative’s house – some until well past New Year’s Eve. So, after opening presents on Christmas morning, if not already there, many Australians will quickly head to the closest water source for a swim, or the backyard for some type of fun family activity. This may be cricket, or in my case, an intense game of Finska, a traditional Finnish wood tossing game, and giant Jenga, usually followed by Dad firing up the “barbie,” or the BBQ, for a “sausage sizzle,” also a BBQ, for Christmas lunch.

If not a BBQ, a leg of ham is a Christmas table staple, along with a different variety of salads, such as potato, prawn, and avocado, and wombok, or Chinese crunchy noodle

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▲ The Christmas Cracker. To partake in this table tradition, find a partner, grab one end of the cracker each and pull. The cracker should “pop” and break in half, with the person holding the larger piece getting to keep all the goodies inside! A paper crown and a joke are a given, but you can also receive another small gift like a mini deck of cards, a bottle opener, or a mirror. (Alana Carniato)

and cabbage. With many fruits coming into season in the summer, there is also no better time for a fruit platter or Mum’s homemade pavlova – a meringue cake topped with fresh cream and fruit. For my family, lunch is always preceded by finger foods like fresh prawns, spring rolls, cob loaf, or oysters Kilpatrick – oysters garnished with Worcester sauce and crispy bacon, all of which is usually washed down with a cup or more of tea, a jug of Pimms, or an ice-cold beer, or wine. During lunch, or dinner, it’s also a table tradition to pop a Christmas cracker, tell the awful dad-jokes and wear the flimsy paper crown from inside as you eat.

The day after Christmas, known as “Boxing Day,” is for rising early and heading to the local shops to enjoy the post-Christmas markdowns and snag a bargain with your Christmas money, or visiting the family and friends you didn’t see the day before, to help eat their leftovers, and borrow their pool – followed by promptly going into a food coma until New Year’s Eve. While my whole life I’ve been dreaming of a magical, snowy-white Christmas, I think the Christmas that I know has a little bit of magic to it, too. So, this year, and in years to come, while I hope all your days are merry and bright, I also hope that one day, maybe not all your Christmases are white!

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29 Glossary of Australian English boomer: kangaroo mum: mother sunnies: sunglasses thongs: flip-flops (rubber sandals) lollies: candy sulky – lightweight horse carriage caravan – travel trailer, camper cricket – an open-air game similar to baseball Jenga – a building-blocks game barbie – barbeque grill sausage sizzle – a barbeque picnic wombok – Chinese cabbage, nappa cabbage pavlova – a meringue-based dessert Pimm’s – a gin-based fruit drink summer holidays – Christmastime

Support the GIC! Be a Member!

Annual Membership Fee General: 40,000 won; Student: 20,000 won; Group: 20,000 won (min. 10 persons).

Inquiry: member@gic.or.kr / 062-226-2733

FOOD & DRINKS

The Gwangju International Center (GIC) is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to promote cultural understanding and to build a better community among Koreans and international residents. By being a member, you can help support our mission and make things happen! Join us today and receive exciting benefits!

• One-year free subscription and delivery of the Gwangju News magazine.

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• Free interpretation and counseling services from the GIC. • Discounts on programs and events held by the GIC. • Up-to-date information on GIC events through our email newsletter.

Send the Gwangju News to your loved ones back home!

The Gwangju News has been serving the community since 2001 by delivering news and information to the international communities of Gwangju. Send the Gwangju News to your family and friends back home, and let them know about Gwangju!

The Author

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Bank Transfer: Kwangju Bank (사)광주국제교류센터: 134-107-000999 Paypal: gic@gic.or.kr Inquiry: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr or 062-226-2733

January 2021

Christina Lauren Wightman is a 22-year-old Australian from near Wollongong, NSW. On a break from her master’s degree in public policy and currently working as an English teacher, when she’s not social distancing, she enjoys exploring Korea and living life here to the fullest, all the while, (over)sharing about Australia with those she meets along the way. Instagram: @lozwightman

Payment can be made through bank transfer, cash, or Paypal.

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▲ Season’s Greetings from 1998, the first of many photos of my twin sister and I with Santa Claus. The reason he’s grumpy is because that’s his real beard, and we just pulled on it.

Annual Subcription Rates • Asia and Australia: 40,000 won (US $40) • Europe: 50,000 won (US $50) • America, Africa: 60,000 won (US $60)

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30

CULTURE & ARTS

“To Reach a Star”

Entrance of the exhibition

May 18 Anniversary Exhibition Written by Lee Aekyeong

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January 2021

Cultural Memory

“Cultural memory” is a collection of memories chosen to be remembered and reproduced in the present; this continuity forms the identity of a group bonded by the contemporary narrative frame of the past. “Cultural memory” is thus a form of cultural heritage wherein the historical value of having a collective memory emerges in contemporary times. This distinctive feature gathers together members of the public who share common interpretations of the past and understand its value for the present and the future, something that inspires commemoration. Thus, although the original source of a cultural memory comes from the memories of those who directly experienced an event, cultural memory forms a group identity by mediating recollections and connecting the past and the present through cultural and societal interpretations.

When it comes to the cultural memory of a difficult history that includes social injustice, the group identity becomes more expressive and reinforces a sense of

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integrity and endurance through memorial activities as ethical obligations that provide special ties between members of the group. Therefore, the cultural memory of a disruptive past event becomes a core piece of the identity formation that individual and institutional members of a community have chosen to sustain in the form of a contemporary narrative.

“To Reach a Star”: 40th Anniversary Exhibition

In Gwangju, the Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980, commonly referred to as “May 18,” has become a core foundation of its group identity as a major cultural memory. Since it opened in 1992, the Gwangju Museum of Art has organized special exhibitions themed to present the spirit of democracy, human rights, and peace derived from this painful history. On the 15th of August, 2020, the museum opened an exhibition for the 40th anniversary of May 18, titled “To Reach a Star,” to deliver future-oriented messages with hope arising from the collective intelligence and societal altruism that Gwangju citizens showed in 1980.

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31 What is special about this exhibition is that it tries to move beyond the sorrow and anger by adopting a form of contemporary art rather than a realistic, documentarylike presentation. The metaphoric messages of the exhibition soften the tension and conflicts regarding the disruptive topic while giving the events a powerful voice.

Eventually, the metaphoric and artistic presentation of the difficult history allows the museum to attract a broader range of audiences, including younger generations and those from different cities and countries who have not experienced May 18 and feel uncomfortable discussing it.

exhibition, the starlight in the darkness represents the sacrifice and altruism that the victims of May 18 showed us in 1980 as well as their hope for a bright future. This installation reminds us of the famous quote of Oscar Wilde, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

The representative artwork for this exhibition is “Dark Room – Gwangju,” installed by Sheela Gowda. The repurposed drums used for this certain artwork were gathered from a rural area in India where most people make their shelters from waste. Their shelters are tiny inside, but when they look up, they can see bright stars in the night sky through holes in the ceiling. In this

▲ Dark Room – Gwangju, Sheela Gowda, 2020 (Concept 2006).

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▼ Dark Room – Gwangju, Sheela Gowda, 2020 (Concept 2006).

CULTURE & ARTS

As Jun Seung-bo, director of the Gwangju Museum of Art, explained, this special exhibition for May 18 revives this valuable moment in history by restructuring the past and present through art as well as by constructing the unity and bond of community for a better future. By doing so, the mystic story of May 18 can be heard again through the audience’s feelings and emotions from the metaphoric artwork. As Aristotle said, “Metaphor has greater clarity, pleasure, and originality.” Similarly, Jun hopes the audience will participate in the current discourse about May 18 at the exhibition and learn about the present state of the topic. He believes that the spirit of May 18 is still valid since collective intelligence and societal altruism are required to maintain our community health. “To Reach a Star” is the exhibition in which universal values of humankind are embedded.

January 2021

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January 2021

CULTURE & ARTS

32

▲ Table of May, Jangdong Collective, 2019–2020.

The artwork I like the most is “Table of May” created by a group of young curators known as the Jangdong Collective. The Jangdong Collective adopted a form of meokbang, an eating show where a host interacts with viewers while eating foods, to remember May 18. They invited senior women who directly experienced May 18 in 1980 and listened to their stories while cooking and eating together. This familiar form of presentation allows an audience without first-hand experiences or memories of the painful history to feel more comfortable and open about discussing May 18.

Overall, this exhibition shows the high capability of art for reconciliation and de-traumatization by engaging with diverse generations and intensifying the public discourse about May 18. Beyond generations and regions, the spirit of May 18 has been manifested as a universal value of humankind that has become the identity of Gwangju. If you want to take a moment for yourself to think about the message that the history of May 18 conveys to us, visit the exhibition, “To Reach a Star” at the Gwangju Museum of Art. You will encounter the sublime beauty that emerged from the sorrow and pain of May 18.

Further Information About the Exhibition and Museum

experience is controlled with one-way signage, bookable time slots online, and limited visitor numbers due to the present socialdistancing regulations.

For further information, please visit the website of the Gwangju Museum of Art (http://artmuse. gwangju.go.kr).

The Interviewer

Lee Aekyeong is an international residency manager and curatorial assistant at the Gwangju Museum of Art. She is currently taking the master’s degree program in psychology and neuroscience at King’s College, London, for interdisciplinary research in the museum sphere. With a great interest in art, she interviews local artists and art enthusiasts, in addition to reviewing exhibitions.

Instagram: @evevievy

The exhibition closes on January 31, 2021. The gallery

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Gwangju Writes 33

Half-Truths, Whole Truths Written by Boipelo Seswane It was April 2018.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the earth was just beginning to burst alive with springtime and new beginnings. I did the same and set off on my move to Seoul from sleepy Jeollanam-do. Twenty-nine is not considered the age of one “wet behind the ears,” yet there I was, light feet rushing forth into a new chapter of my life. Unbeknownst to me, the planet Saturn was gearing up to return to the position it had been at in the sky at the time of my birth.

My first Saturn return was dawning on the horizon of my life – I had in truth not yet lived. And thus began all the places where my life would face a reckoning, and any parts of it that resembled a house of cards would need to come down.

Saturn, for me, is placed right at the point astrologically known as the midheaven. The midheaven has to do with things related to our career, public self, or the image we portray to the world. Everything that touches this point is said to “stand out.” There is no quietness when, as in my case, there are several other points that additionally touch this point. The magnifying glass it holds up brings questions about how my actions or non-actions shape those parts of my life. It puts everything I become part of under intense scrutiny by asking hard questions about purpose — legacy.

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As I near the end of my first Saturn return, I am seeing with more and more clarity how I had held myself back and similarly been held back by circumstances or others. I have gone through a big process around the kind of work I want to do and be part of. Essentially, there has been a big breaking down and restructuring of the ways I want to be of service to myself and my community. In that sense, there has been a sustained questioning around discerning the spaces I choose to be in – ensuring above all that they allow me to thrive. At the time you are reading this, I will have completed my first Saturn return. I can only hope that I will also have indeed passed with anything close to a semblance of triumph. Regardless though, this first encounter will color so much of my life moving forward.

The Author

Boipelo Seswane is a Seoul-based South African artist. She is a teacher, performer/creator (actor, model, and painter), and a writer with experience in multiple facets of creativity, including writing, editing, theater, and film. She has always been interested in interrogating life through words and other forms of expression. Instagram @bopzybee

January 2021

The last two and a half years ripped everything I know apart. I do not say this feeling sorry for myself. It is a rite of passage we all experience, in different ways, from the age of twenty-eight years or so, lasting about three years, and occurring again every twenty-eight-odd years. My Saturn return set alight a lot of fires in my life. For better or for worse, what has remained is what I have chosen to carry into the next phase of my life.

My process took me on an unprecedented journey to the center and encouraged me to dismantle the tower of my life from the inside outwards. In taking stock of any places in myself and my relationships that needed work, I have become even more acutely aware of what parts of pain or lack I might have unintentionally held onto. It is important to notice what might have been helpful or stabilizing at one point but has now become an emotional/psychological crutch and therefore needs to be released to strengthen the whole.

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— Where in my life can I release my grip and allow flow?

— Do the relationships or collaborations I am part of water me?

— Do they allow me to move through life (in a public sense) confidently?

— What points of comfort and familiarity have been hindering my growth process?

— Are the things I pour myself into meaningful? How do they shape the essence of my life?

— Do I want to still be doing any of the things currently in my career life another twenty-eight years from now?

I often refer to my Saturn return as the “Beyoncé” in my life. I think here of her iconic “Beychella” performance (which, coincidentally for me, also took place the same month my Saturn return began), and the subsequent documentary Homecoming, which was released in 2019.

In the documentary, she tells her dancers, “Until I see some of my notes applied, it does not make sense for me to make more.” Saturn, in the same manner, asks much of you in places you might not have felt comfortable in. In the true depths of meeting my shadow, I was brought to my knees and had nothing else left but something akin to prayer and applying or reapplying notes.

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COMMUNITY

34 Gwangju Abroad

Becoming a Better Version of Myself

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

A staff meeting at the Manhattan real estate office (MTY Group, Inc.).

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35 I am now also trying to help friends who have difficulty in adjusting to Gwangju.

Written and photographed

by Park Hyo-eun

S

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The Author

Park Hyo-eun loves her dog, learning new languages, and her time with friends. She is now working at the Gwangju International Center as a coordinator. Instagram: @hhhhe_p

January 2021

Thanks to these efforts, I was able to fully adapt myself to my work in the first month and was able to

provide real estate education to new employees later on, even though I was an intern. I still think I would not have been able to make new friends and be recognized in the company if I had not tried to achieve my goals when I got depressed. Even now, when things go downhill and I feel frustrated, I still recall that experience and work hard for the goal that I set in Manhattan. Also, I am thankful for everyone who helped me in so many ways. I know it would have been very hard for me to adjust there without their help.

Since I know the value of assistance,

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The first was to experience various things and improve my English skills, and the second was to achieve a meaningful work life. For my first goal, I went to various meetings and made new friends. Among them were friends who were locals and others from different countries. I could talk to them and share our cultures and our thoughts. And thanks to them, I was able to have special experiences visiting local restaurants and hidden attractions, not famous restaurants or well-known attractions. For the second goal, I checked the New York real estate web pages every day to organize new sales/rent listings and memorized the map of the city and market price of each neighborhood.

And, if necessary, I called directly to the building manager to find out the information I was after.

▲ Embarking on the Hard Hat Tour.

If someone were to ask me about the most impressive moment of my life in the U.S., I would say that it was every day. For tourists, the city is a total attraction, and for locals, the city is their daily life. I spent every day there feeling like I was traveling.

What is more, life there meant a lot to me since I became a better me by overcoming my limitations and achieving new goals. I hope my loved ones there are safe and well in the midst of this pandemic. I am looking forward to visiting again once COVID-19 is defeated!

COMMUNITY

ince I was young, I always wanted to go abroad and experience different cultures.

I got a great opportunity by chance to intern for a real estate company in Manhattan in New York City. I arrived there with big expectations since it was my first time to go to the States and live abroad, but the start was far from easy. Unlike the relatively quiet and simple routes of Gwangju’s subways and buses, the city was always bustling and crowded everywhere, and the complicated subway lines embarrassed me.

Moreover, it was difficult to carry out my work since I was new to the real estate field. I wanted to do well in both my work and daily life, but I felt depressed because things did not go my way. However, I tried hard to adapt to the two resolutions that I made before I left Korea.

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36

Expat Living

COMMUNITY

Stories of Life as a GIC Intern

From Daegu to Gwangju, from Student to Intern ▲ Members of the GIC team workshop.

Written and photographed by Emmanuela Sabatini

I

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

am Emmanuela Sabatini (Emma) from Indonesia, and I did my master’s degree at Keimyung University in Daegu via a Korean government scholarship program. Before I graduated, I asked myself many times about the future, and I decided to challenge myself by getting work experience in Korea.

I had never lived in Gwangju before, but I did visit twice in 2019: first, to participate in the ASEAN-Korea Special Exhibition, which was run by the Asia Culture Center; and second, for sightseeing related to May 18 and Gwangju’s neighboring city of Damyang. Those experiences encouraged me to try a new part of my life in Gwangju. So, naturally, I was glad to find out that I had gotten an internship at the Gwangju International Center (GIC).

From the middle of August 2020, my life in Gwangju started. I began by spending two weeks doing a homestay experience with a Korean family while taking an introductory class about my internship. The homestay hosts and I shared many things, like trying Indonesian food. They were so warm; they even picked me up to take me to my new home. I am so lucky to have a new family in Gwangju!

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My internship started in the beginning of September 2020 while Korea was at the 2.5 social-distancing level for COVID-19. I spent my time mostly at the GIC or home at that time, as the pandemic affected various events happening around the GIC. The events at the GIC started to change from offline to an online platform, and I was naturally a part of this historic transition.

My Days as an Intern at the Gwangju International Center The GIC is a non-profit organization for Korean and international residents of Gwangju to join together and collaborate on community building. In other words, it is a place for support that offers exchanges between Korean and foreign residents to improve their life in Gwangju. I was part of the International Support Team, responsible for Korean–English translations and interpreting, the Gwangju Newsletter, SNS promotion, and supporting events.

In September, the first month of my internship, I started to learn more about the GIC’s operations and employees.

I tried to write articles in newsletters and explored ideas for the GIC’s SNS promotion. Besides that, I participated in some programs to introduce Indonesian culture

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37 and food to elementary school students and homestay families, and then let them experience these. That was my first time to have a food class online.

Along with the start of the autumn season, I started working with others on 2020 Asia Culture Plaza Online, an online collaborative event put on by the Asia Culture Center and the Gwangju International Center. I had the responsibility to support the event through SNS promotion and filming onsite. Although this was not my first experience working with film, introducing angklung (Indonesian traditional music) and wayang (Indonesian traditional puppets) through video were new for me. I was so excited and proud to be a conduit to introduce Indonesia to the people of Gwangju.

COMMUNITY

In addition to the above, the GIC also held its annual Gwangju International Community Day (GIC Day) event in November. This event was held online with real-time classes and film videos, so we called it the 2020 GIC Day Online. I supported both platforms from preparation to finish. We had to prepare the ingredients and tools for the real-time classes and sent them to participants the day before. Also, we had to accompany the speakers in doing the real-time classes. For the film videos, I needed to prepare cooking utensils, accompany on-site filming, and do subtitle and translation work on the video. It was quite a busy month, but I found it interesting on the other hand. I became friends with the speakers, got know-how to perform online events, and got used to staying flexible in every situation.

▲ Filiming for 2020 Asia Culture Plaza Online.

▲ Presenting Indonesia’s culture to students.

Fun and Sweet Memories at the GIC

2021�01��(January).indd 37

▲ Preparing for the 2020 GIC Day Online.

The Author

Emmanuela Sabatini is originally from Jakarta, Indonesia. She had worked in Indonesia for almost five years before challenging herself to continue her master’s studies at Keimyung University.

Now having completed her graduation and internship at the GIC, she is ready to start a new career in the new year. You can follow her life journey at www.emmasabatini.com

January 2021

I would like to express my gratitude for the four-month internship opportunity given by the GIC. Finding a job during the COVID-19 pandemic is a pretty hard thing to do, but fortunately, I was selected to be a member of the GIC this year. I think I made a good choice to challenge myself at the GIC. I felt that the GIC was very open to foreigners and provided a space for them to develop in every way. I was not just an intern but also a participant and speaker who introduced Indonesian culture to people in Gwangju. I learned about the GIC members’ work attitude and their best services on offer to everyone who visits the GIC. I felt their warmth, which is something I will remember and carry with me everywhere I go.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

I remember when the GIC International Support Team and I went to the team’s workshop in early December. I never thought that I would have workshop time with GIC members. It was a healing and fun time to spend with everyone. I tried to cook Indonesian food called nasi goreng and another dish called “shrimp cracker” for them.

I was so happy to know that they liked it!

12/23/2020 6:18:22 PM

38

Local Entrepreneurs

Loft 28 The Power of Family

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

COMMUNITY

Interview by Melline Galani Have you ever tried Jamaican chicken or had the feeling of home away from home? In this issue, Gwangju News presents an interview with the Loft 28 owners, Craig Anthony and Ronald Harford.

They are not only an inspiration for other business owners but also the kindest and most positive individuals we have met in a while – and their Jamaican food is amazing. Here is what we talked about.

Gwangju News (GN): Thank you for taking time to do this interview for us. First, please introduce yourselves, and tell us about your academic background. Also, please tell us about your first encounters with Gwangju and South Korea.

Ronald Harford: My name is Ronald Harford and I have been living in Korea for eleven years now. It started by looking for new opportunities and a career change, and I discovered teaching English in Korea. That is how I started my life here. Through ten years of teaching, I have been through all steps from kindergarten, private hagwons, and public schools to Chosun University where I am working at present. About my origins, I was born and raised in Venezuela and then moved to Canada.

I was lucky enough to have been raised in a bilingual family, as my father is from Jamaica and my grandparents immigrated to Canada. I did my university studies in Florida, U.S.A., and earned an international studies degree. Here in Korea, I completed my academics by getting a master’s in education from a U.S. university, too.

Craig Anthony: I also came to Korea eleven years ago – one month after my cousin, Ron. My first two years, I lived in Busan teaching at private academies there.

I also did my studies in Canada and the U.S.A., and I have degrees in accounting and marketing, followed by a master’s in business (MBA).

GN: How long has Loft 28 been in operation?

Craig Anthony: We opened the place together five years ago, and it was mostly as a hobby, as we were both teaching

2021�01��(January).indd 38

at the time. As time went on and things got busier for us, one of us had to make the sacrifice and make a full-time job of caring for the restaurant, and that person is me.

GN: Starting any business is tough. What were some of the major hurdles you had to overcome and who helped you?

Craig Anthony: During our first five years here, we made so many amazing Korean friends that ran their own business, whether they were cafes, restaurants, clubs, or other types of businesses. We helped them with smaller things such as making a menu in English, and the more we helped the more we realized we could do something, too. Therefore, we discussed and came up with the idea, especially since we used to cook our jerk chicken, which is the Jamaican main dish that we sell now, for many of our Korean friends and they loved it.

The paperwork one must do in order to open a business is not easy, especially for foreigners, but we had our Korean friends that we call “family,” and we joined together to open the business. There are a lot of separate laws and regulations that Korean business owners do not need to follow and the paperwork is extensively more.

Ronald Harford: Since we are not fluent in Korean, it is obvious that we could not have done it without our friends.

GN: Please give us the details of the concept behind the motto, “Home away from home,” and how you came up with it.

12/23/2020 6:18:23 PM

39 Ronald Harford: The concept that we envisioned was to have a place that looked like a home, an apartment where friends are invited to have dinner. That is why we went with a space that looked like a loft, hence the name “Loft.”

The first place we had it in was divided exactly to look like an apartment: like a home with a living room, a bar area that looked like a kitchen space, actual beds in the corner for the sitting area, and a library case with books like a day room, so when the people would come in, they would have the feeling of visiting a friend’s house. We also wanted to give that feeling through our service, too.

We have always tried to be friendly to our customers, to get to know them. We had a lot of customers that became regulars and kept coming back, and the place had become a friendly environment for them, too. At that point we thought, well, it feels like a home away from home, so that is how the concept was made.

GN: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we know many businesses are facing hardships. We know you had to close the business for a while, but you found other methods to “survive.” Please provide some details about that process.

Craig Anthony: Due to our business license, we had to

GN: How can people order the Jamaican jerk chicken, especially Koreans?

Craig Anthony: They have to order it from our Facebook page. As I said before, we have been going back and forth over whether we want to join one of the Korean delivery apps to sell locally. For now, if Koreans want to order our chicken, they should either be part of the foreign community, as we promote mostly on foreigner-centered Facebook pages (such as the Gwangju group), or search for the advertising on those groups or our Instagram account. We did investigate Naver as a possibility for ordering, especially since that is cheaper than the apps, but our Korean family told us this service is more prominent in bigger cities such as Seoul and Busan, and not so many people in Gwangju are using it.

January 2021

2021�01��(January).indd 39

close when the government regulations were enforced.

We looked at every option that we had. We noticed that Koreans order food using special apps, but using these delivery apps is quite expensive because not only do you need to pay the delivery people, but you also have to pay for the marketing on a monthly basis. The problem for us was that the delivery companies deliver to a specific area, and we knew that would not work for us because many of our customers are foreigners, and they come from all over Gwangju. Therefore, we had to take a lot of time from our schedules to do the delivery. We do the cooking (fresh to order) and deliver things personally, too. We divided the deliveries by area, doing like Seo-gu one day, Nam-gu one day, and so on. We also try our best so the people get their food warm and fresh. This delivery is the only way for us to survive during these times, but not profit-wise.

We know that we can do it because we have been doing it since January, so now we have more expertise with the logistics, too.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

▲ Loft 28 donation to MDream.

▲ Loft 28 donation to My House.

COMMUNITY

Craig Anthony: We like to say that we do not have customers; everybody is a guest coming to our house.

When we chose the name of the place, we wanted it to be like an address (and an address needs a number).

The meaning of the number “28” is actually my parents’ birthdays put together: My mother was born in February (2) and my father was born in August (8).

12/23/2020 6:18:25 PM

40

GN: How is the chicken delivery side-business going now? Is it still functional or was it just a temporary solution during the closing period?

Craig Anthony: Yes, it is still going on. Since many people prefer to dine at home these days, we provide them the same delicious food at their door. Besides jerk chicken, we also have other Jamaican dishes that we do, such as smoked turkey leg, and we intend to expand our food sides, too.

COMMUNITY

Ronald Harford: And we have maintained the same quality and taste. All the seasoning ingredients come from Jamaica, and we use Craig’s grandmother’s recipe, so the food is really authentic. We have many customers outside of Gwangju some as far as Pyeongtaek and we deliver personally.

GN: Have you gotten any kind of support or subsidies from City Hall during this period?

Craig Anthony: Yes, we did get some subsidies. I think the Korean government has helped us the best it could in this situation. The first time when they helped us, we had to show some proof related to how much we sold during the same period last year compared to this year and, if you qualify for subsidies, you would get the support money. After that, we just received the subsidies without having to submit other documents. Is it enough? It is never enough, but it does help, for sure. And that is why we must do the chicken delivery if we want to survive.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

Ronald Harford: We must do whatever it takes if we want to pass this period. We had to cut hours and adjust our schedules so we could budget properly and maintain the business’ profitability, if possible.

GN: Loft 28 has always held fundraisers supporting diverse organizations. Please tell us more about these initiatives.

Craig Anthony: When we do a fundraiser, we choose something that is close to our hearts. One of the fundraisers was for “My House” (우리집), an organization that helps single mothers and young women who suffer from domestic abuse. Being from Jamaica and having seen those things enough, I think it is close to my heart to do something about it. I too was raised by my grandmother, and I have seen things happening in my lifetime. We found out about “My House” from another foreigner and decided to help, but we have done multiple other charities.

Ronald Harford: From the beginning, we thought we wanted to give back to our community and try our best to help out if we were ever fortunate enough to have a successful business. We have done a few fundraisers for orphanages as well – specifically MDream Children’s Home – lately. I found out about them from a member

2021�01��(January).indd 40

▲ Cheese platter

▲ Jamaican jerk chicken

▲ Salmon salad

▲ Curry chicken

12/23/2020 6:18:25 PM

41 of my soccer team, since I also play soccer during the weekends. He told me he runs an orphanage that is among the oldest in Gwangju and that he is the third generation to run it. I was so impressed by his stories, so I invited him, telling him that we do fundraisers from time to time. We started to work more closely with him to be able to help out and have held two to three events for them.

Craig Anthony: The orphanage owner is also a musician, and he and the kids have their own band that performed in our restaurant as well. We also have a singing competition from time to time and a trophy that we give to the winners to take pictures with. We decided to give it to the kids, and all the funds raised that night for the event went to them as well.

COMMUNITY

The foreign community here has always been the heart of our business as well as very supportive of our causes.

But we have a lot of Koreans as customers, too. The main goal of our business is not to be only foreigneror Korean-oriented; we want everybody to come and feel comfortable. Many of our Korean guests have also lived abroad or are familiar with living abroad for a short period, and they are more inclined to help. They understand the meaning of fundraisers.

▲ Live music at Loft 28.

▲ Children from MDream performing.

Ronald Harford: We must always think in terms of the Korean market though, because we run a business here.

But if we can manage to get, like, 50–50 group diversity coming in, I would call it a success. Koreans want to experience the foreign feelings and vibes, while foreigners who live here can also communicate more with Koreans because sometimes they isolate themselves with only a foreign crowd and fail to integrate more with Koreans.

GN: What are the main challenges in operating Loft 28?

Craig Anthony: Nothing really. I do not like to complain,

2021�01��(January).indd 41

but the hardest part would be starting, the paperwork, and the logistics. My advice would be, if you want to open a business as a foreigner, make sure you have a lot of Korean friends willing to help you.

Ronald Harford: For this year, I think the biggest problem was the consistency of the government regulations – like, you need to close now; or you can open this week, but then you have to close for another period; and so on. It was a bit of a hassle for us because most of the time we got the messages on really short notice, and we had, for example, events planned that we had to cancel. Of course, we are all learning from these situations, and I am sure the government has its own difficulties, too.

Craig Anthony: Yes, the communication between the government and business owners has been a challenge.

January 2021

Ronald Harford: It has been like a family feeling and it is good. Each year we take time off with our staff to take a trip together, like team-building. We go to a pension, bring food to barbeque, take a walk on the beach, and basically spend good, quality time together as a family.

For me, this is the great part: to be able to do this with coworkers who have become friends and are now so close that we can mention them as family members. We appreciate and help each other. It is great to have this kind of work environment.

▲ Korean hip hop at Loft 28.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

GN: What aspect do you love most about your business?

Craig Anthony: Doing it with my family, with my cousin.

We also have a great relationship with our staff, whom we consider family, too, and who have been with us since the beginning. We are here to integrate not only different cultures but everybody together and also to have fun while working. As I say, do what you love.

12/23/2020 6:18:27 PM

42

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

COMMUNITY

What has been confusing for us is that the government would close certain businesses and allow others to remain open, and I refer here to the meaning behind it (we know that in accordance with the business license, one place can remain open or have to close). For example, they would decide to close a restaurant downtown that has live music, but across the street, there is another restaurant that does not have music and is packed with people and is allowed to remain open. We understand that closing is better for the community, and we have never argued about it, but sometimes when we have questions, it would be really be nice if we could get some answers, too.

GN: What are your future business plans, especially since it looks like COVID-19 will be around for a while? And what are your thoughts on competition with similar places here in Gwangju?

Ronald Harford: We hope that we can continue what we are doing, and if these are the same hurdles that we will again face down the line, at least we are familiar with them now, and we can adjust to what we need to do.

Also, more direct marketing for the chicken delivery is a consideration. We also see the situation as an opportunity to search for other places now that prices are going down for rents and many businesses are closing down. We are thinking about what we can expand, like maybe changing the location or expand to another area. With or without COVID-19, we are still thinking about opportunities and a second location in the future.

Craig Anthony: Related to the competition, we do not see other places as competition to us, especially when we are in another area. If they are doing well, we are doing well.

The foreign community here is small, and there are only a handful of places where people can go to be amongst other foreigners. Actually, we do guide the newcomers to the rest of the places if they are in search of different cuisine or another ambiance. We always try to be positive and support the other businesses here.

I think the aspect that is different at Loft 28 is our happiness in running it and joy of doing so with our friends and family. Of course, each business needs profit, but this is not the only aspect that matters. We do try our best to make Loft 28 a diverse place and make sure that everyone feels comfortable.

GN: Thank you, Craig and Ron, for your time and for a look into the operation of Loft 28 and the community work that Loft 28 is also involved in.

2021�01��(January).indd 42

Photographs courtesy of Loft 28.

▲ Craig Anthony and Ronald Harford (sunglasses).

▲ Ronald Harford and Craig Anthony with Loft 28 staff.

LOFT 28 Address: 79, Myeonang-ro 6-beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju (Chonnam University backgate area) Operating Hours: Daily 6:00 – 09:00 p.m. (at present, due to COVID restrictions).

Phone: 010-5586-6276; 010-8470-1221 Website: https://www.facebook.com/28loft28/

The Interviewer

Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, who is currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges, learning interesting things, and is incurably optimistic.

Her new addiction is the jerk chicken.

Instagram: @melligalanis

12/23/2020 6:18:28 PM

Korean Recipe 43

Jjimdak Soy-Braised Chicken Written by Joe Wabe

I

n the spring of 1999, Queen Elizabeth became the first head of state to visit Hahoe Village in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, as part of the celebration of her 73rd birthday. She also toured some Confucian schools and temples within the city, which are prominent cultural sites this metropolis is renowned for.

Andong, the largest city and capital of North Gyeongsang, is well recognized as a center of culture and folk traditions and the pioneering heart of Confucianism in Korea.

Among its many titles that make this city a tourist and cultural hub, Andong is widely perceived as the birthplace of soy-braised chicken, or jjimdak (찜닭).

This popular, savory dish, which according to popular belief started at the Andong Old Market (안동구시장), is complex in flavor and has taken off among younger Koreans. It’s slightly salty but also sweet in terms of seasoning and, depending on individual taste, could also include spiciness in its description. A quick Naver search for “winter food” will put this soy-infused chicken in the top listings.

The addition of glass noodles allows you to eat it on its own without the need for extra side dishes, and merely an extra small bowl of steamed rice will give you the perfect balance you need.

Preparation

Joe Wabe is a Gwangju expat who has been contributing to the GIC and the Gwangju News for more than ten years with his work in photography and writing.

2021�01��(January).indd 43

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 whole chicken (cut in chunks) 3 big potatoes (cut in chunks) 1 onion (medium size) 1 carrot (cut in chunks) Korean glass noodles (about 200 grams) 4 shiitake mushrooms 1 stalk of green onion 1 tablespoon of minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon of minced ginger 1 teaspoon of roasted sesame seeds 3 teaspoons of soy sauce 2 teaspoons of cooking syrup 1/2 cup of Coca-Cola 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce 2 teaspoons of sesame oil 1 hot chili (if you want it spicy)

January 2021

The Author

(Serves 4)

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

In a pot, parboil the chicken for about seven minutes.

Skim the fat and drain the water. In a clean pot, add the chicken, five cups of water, and all the ingredients except the noodles, mushrooms, green onion, and sesame seeds. Cover and let it cook for 15 minutes.

Add the noodles, mushrooms, and green onion, and depending on how sweet or spicy you want it, you can either add more coke, or make it spicier with more chilies. Garnish it with sesame seeds and serve with white rice.

Ingredients

12/23/2020 6:18:29 PM

44 Restaurant Review

Bogwang-ok (보광옥) The Real Taste of Damyang

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

FOOD & DRINKS

Reviewed by Melline Galani

I

t is said that South Jeolla’s food is the best in Korea, and I for sure agree with this. Being the main big city of the province, Gwangju has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine and restaurants.

The restaurant I will review here has been around since 1970 and is quite famous among le connoisseurs. I have been going to this place ever since I first traveled to Korea, and that was in 2014. The food and taste are still as they were then.

The restaurant is located near Gwangju Cinema downtown, just a two-minute walk from NC Wave. Even though it was refurbished one year ago, it still has the ambience of an authentic Korean restaurant. As with many other hot places in Gwangju, this one too is quite packed in the evening, and on weekends in particular.

Now with the pandemic and new restrictions, things are not as crowded anymore. The good news for those looking to play it safe is that they do offer home delivery.

▲ Damyang-style pork rib barbeque and side dishes.

must say, it is my favorite Korean alcoholic beverage.

The second point is definitely the barbeque, which is the best I have had so far, even better than those “famous” restaurants in the Damyang area. The third point is the kimchi: both the fried and the normal kimchi are just amazing. You cannot stop eating them. ▼ Bibim rice

The main dish is the Damyang-style pork rib barbeque (담양 돼지갈비), which costs 13,000 won per person. It comes with plenty of delicious side dishes, and you can choose between simple rice (공기), nurungji (누룽지, scorched rice served in water), and seasoned (bibim) rice (비빔공기). I always pick the bibim rice because it is so delicious, and it comes with extra side dishes, among which is my favorite – fried kimchi (볶음 김치).

At lunchtime, kimchi stew (김치찌개) or cold noodles (냉면) are also available.

There are three main points that draw me to this place so often: The first one is a sort of herbal wine, gashi-ogapiju (가시오가피주, Siberian ginseng wine). Even though it is Korean, it is quite difficult to find in restaurants. I

2021�01��(January).indd 44

12/23/2020 6:18:30 PM

45 can tell if a place is tasty by its kimchi, and I totally agree.

I think you can tell from the kimchi and side dishes if a place serves delicious food or not.

The exterior of the restaurant looks like those from the 1970s and the interior is simple, clean, and spacious. There are tables with chairs for dining, but there are two areas: one that requires taking off your shoes and one that does

If you happen to be near the downtown area or just want to try some authentic Korean cuisine, then this place is a must. But be aware, it is addictive!

FOOD & DRINKS

not. There is a big message on the exterior saying that the rice, pork meat, and kimchi are made in Korea, showing the pride of the owners in using local ingredients.

The meat comes already cooked, which I personally like because I am always hungry when I get to the place, and I do not want to spend time cooking my own steak at the table. Fresh garlic and lettuce together with ssamjang (쌈장, a dipping paste that accompanies lettuce wraps) complete the amazing taste. There is the saying that you ▼ Gashi-ogapi-ju, herbal wine.

Address: Gwangju, Dong-gu, Chungjang-ro 5-ga, 69-1 광주 동구 충장로 5가 69-1 Operating Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Closed every 2nd & 4th Sunday Phone: 062-224-5790

The Reviewer

2021�01��(January).indd 45

January 2021

Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, who is currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges, learning interesting things, and is incurably optimistic.

Instagram: @melligalanis

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

BOGWANG-OK (보광옥)

12/23/2020 6:18:31 PM

46

KONA Volunteer Teaching English Through Storybooks Complied by William Urbanski

TEACHING & LEARNING

T

he KONA Storybook Center is a UNESCOassociated volunteer organization in Gwangju that promotes cultural exchange and English learning through storybooks. While most people in Korea are familiar with the ubiquitous English academies and myriad language exchange programs, something I feel what distinguishes KONA (Korean Organization of the Natural Approach) is its volunteer base: English speakers from all over the world.

During these challenging times in which face-to-face meetings are not always possible, KONA volunteers want to share their stories about how they have been continuing their efforts to connect with young English learners. The following three stories are the first of a twopart feature highlighting the excellent and ongoing efforts of KONA to provide an alternate educational framework for young students.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

Volunteering in the COVID-19 Period

— Nayan Das, Bangladesh The year 2020 was not just another year. We have been experiencing something that we never expected, even in our wildest imagination. People are killing people based on color and religion. Humanity is missing in humans. Moreover, at the beginning of 2020, COVID-19 broke out all over the world. Thousands of people have died and are still dying today; people are confused and frustrated. The whole world is going crazy. Reality is so brutal. There is negativity everywhere. We are living in tough times. As individual human beings, we are so helpless. But as they say, tough times teach us how to be strong and look for opportunities. Individually, we may be weak, but together we can achieve our dreams. By contributing what we have through volunteering, we can help each other to achieve our dreams.

It has been almost five years since I began volunteering at KONA. As a KONA volunteer, we participated at the Daein Night Market, Gwangju Children’s Home, and

2021�01��(January).indd 46

Gwangju International Community Day. But this year, because of COVID-19, our usual daily life has been destroyed. Now we are trying to adjust our lives to this pandemic era. We came to know lots of new English terms such as lockdown and social distancing. Wearing masks became the new normal to keep ourselves as well as others safe. Lockdowns and restrictions on social gathering show us how much of a social creature we are and how much we need human interaction to function as a society. Learning the value of social interaction, all daily social activities moved from offline to online, including schooling, meetings, and conferences. As a volunteering organization, KONA has also moved from offline to online.

Online volunteering was a new experience. In the beginning, I was skeptical about online volunteering, but soon, all my doubts dissipated, and I got used to the system. Except for some technical challenges, I realized the opportunities that online volunteering brought. It saves me commute time from GIST (where I am a doctoral program student) to the volunteering center. Another special opportunity that online volunteering brought us was that anyone could join from any part of the world. A year ago, two of our dedicated volunteers, Dr. Shilpa Rani (India) and Kevan Hudson (Canada), left South Korea.

I never thought that I would see those beautiful souls again, but with online volunteering, we have been able to get connected again. I am happy to see them joining our online volunteering activities. It is amazing to see Adhrit (the son of Dr. Rani) growing with the organization. At 6:00 a.m. (Indian time), the mother and son participate in the KONA volunteering program with Korean kids and their families. We share our culture and read books online. We also read the biographies of famous people all around the world. We do yoga and meditation also. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to spend time with other smiling faces. At the end of the program, we share our experiences and suggestions of how we might make the program better next time.

All these online KONA volunteering successes have come to reality because of the dreams and efforts of Prof. Youngim Kim, who is working so tirelessly to reach out to the kids and their families in every possible way. She is such

12/23/2020 6:18:31 PM

47 an inspiration for all of us. She shows us that together we can overcome any situation no matter how tough it is. Finally, I would like to thank Prof. Young-im Kim for allowing me to be a part of the KONA volunteering organization, enabling me to have valuable experiences in my life.

My Online KONA Volunteering Experiences

Suddenly, Prof. Kim Young-im, who is the founder of Gwangju’s KONA Storybook Center, informed me of how to volunteer online. Frankly speaking, KONA

I did my volunteer work through Zoom, where I could see the faces of children and other volunteers. My volunteering days were every first and fourth Saturday of the month, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. I was not the only one, as there are also some Korean families and foreign volunteers, such as Nayan (Bangladesh), Kevan Hudson and Tom Wyatt (Canada), Shilpa Rani (India), Erva Ozkan (Turkey), and Haru (Kazakhstan), who are very outgoing and love working with children. They gave me a nice impression in terms of getting on well with English learners.

TEACHING & LEARNING

— Matkhiya Usmonova, Uzbekistan These unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 pandemic have changed the everyday lives of people. It is clear that in Korea, we are all struggling for survival in an unseen and unknown situation. In order to limit the spread of the contagion, we have to follow social-distancing norms. Cities around the world are imposing lockdowns and restrictions to curtail the free movement of citizens. Schools are promoting online education, and organizations are encouraging employees to work from home. Before COVID-19, I could attend my Chonnam National University classes, travel around Korea, and do volunteering. But after COVID intervened, my life started to be boring, and I suffered from negative thoughts by staying in the same place. In order to prevent this, I wanted to do something useful but did not know what to do.

Storybook Center, founded in 2004, is a small research center that supports UNESCO-KONA Volunteers. Its goal is to help disadvantaged children learn English independently through storybooks and story maps.

It also helps families and kids to increase their love of reading storybooks in English. Online volunteering was good news for us because it was a great chance to give our time and use our skills and passion to make a difference in young, disadvantaged students’ lives. In this article, I would like to share my great virtual experiences at KONA Storybook Center, which have enriched me and been valuable in the development of my career, lifestyle, and personality. I think discussing my experiences will help others understand the value of volunteering, especially in our modern age.

There were over ten children full of interest in learning the English language. They know how to read, write, and make story maps, as well as speak in English. Our job was to help them to achieve their respective goals for the future. We read short English stories from the

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Photo by Jerry Wang, Unsplash.

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TEACHING & LEARNING

websites “Unite for Literacy Library” and “Little Fox.” By listening to short stories, children learned how to read and pronounce English words properly. I surmise that our readings helped them to inspire themselves in learning the English language. In addition to this, foreign volunteers introduced their country by making a presentation. To be precise, I presented Uzbekistan’s national symbols, traditional clothes and values, tourist attractions, and other things that grabbed the students’ attention. The presentations were given for 30 minutes per volunteer. Actually, I was really glad to introduce my country of Uzbekistan to KONA’s young learners, as it was one of my goals to introduce Uzbekistan to Koreans and foreigners as well. During my virtual volunteering, the host took screenshots of our happy faces and uploaded them to the KONA volunteering website, where members could see them and realize that they were doing a nice job.

To sum up, many disadvantaged children spent their valuable time studying English online with foreigners, and it has become one of their most precious moments during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. When it comes to me, I am really thankful to Professor Kim Youngim for giving me such opportunities and experiences.

These volunteering experiences – helping children learn English through English stories – have aided me in being more self-empowered in teaching and in my personal life.

It is perhaps the most satisfying online experience to act for others rather than for ourselves during these most difficult times.

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January 2021

Sharing Kazakhstan’s Culture as a KONA Volunteer — Gaukhar Akhmetzhanova, Kazakhstan I was reading the Gwangju News while waiting for the IELTS speaking test examiner to call my name. In the magazine, there was a notice about volunteering opportunities in town and one of them was at KONA Storybook Center. I wrote an email to the contact address and waited.

The thing is that it was my second year in Korea, and I was thinking about volunteering because I wanted somehow to be of service and give back to the community.

I remember the first day when I walked into the center.

Prof. Kim Young-im welcomed me with the kindest smile, and so did Tiana, a volunteer from the UK, who walked me through the basics and the overall process of how things were done. With this, I took my first humble steps into the world of volunteering. The reason why I decided to join KONA is that I sympathized with its mission: to teach English through reading books. I learned and

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mastered English while reading. In my opinion, books are the depository of knowledge, with naturally learning language hidden within. So, needless to say, one not only acquires knowledge but also acquires language through reading.

Prof. Kim Young-im, the founder of KONA, created her methods of teaching English to children through reading books, drawing story maps, and many more activities.

Her methods are so effective because you can see how dramatically students improve their English abilities in a short period of time. Apart from learning, students also broaden their world views by interacting with foreign volunteers. This is truly a beautiful synergy, as the students are learning about other cultures, they are also teaching Korean and sharing their own culture, which trains them to have a certain degree of responsibility. By doing this, they gain confidence and start tutoring new students. It is impressive to see how a senior student who started this journey several months ago starts to coach new students. This happens so naturally and strengthens students’ independent learning skills, leadership, and empathy through coaching, which is not usually present in conventional teaching methods.

This year, I was volunteering for KONA Vision Talk, the event in which foreign volunteers present their country’s culture and history followed by a discussion. It was such a unique opportunity to share Kazakhstan’s culture with Korean students. I realized that there is a shortage of information about Kazakhstan available in Korean, so I was motivated to research Korean culture in order to reflect on my culture. In addition, I was learning the Korean language in order to establish a deep connection with students and inspire them to embrace another culture.

Due to the worldwide pandemic situation, all meetings were conducted online through Zoom. Presenting online is challenging since one can feel the lack of sincerity and human interaction, but I did my best to engage with students, even though it was through a screen. As always, I learned a lot about Korean culture and from students while at the same time sharing Kazakhstan’s culture in the spirit of mutual understanding.

I am so grateful to all of the KONA members who shared their dreams and allowed me to learn together with them.

Teaching is not easy – it is an act of service for others, and we should learn how to teach before doing it. Prof.

Kim Young-im is truly an inspiration since she shared her teaching methods and empowered me to give back to the community. It is an honor for me to be part of the KONA family, which values curiosity, inspiration, and cross-cultural understanding.

We will be bringing you more KONA volunteering experiences in our next issue of the Gwangju News. — William Urbanski, managing editor.

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Photo by Magnet.me, Unsplash.

The Peaceful Classroom The Art of Curbing Challenging Behaviors

Written by Katy Clements

A defiant student is a student who typically will not follow instruction. Such a student typically demonstrates this behavior by becoming angry with the teacher, refusing to do work, or gossiping with other students during class. I have learned that usually this student is trying their best to receive attention. In the classroom, I

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The Daydreaming Behavior

Because of recent events, everyone has become more stressed. Students are staying up late on their mobile devices, making them more prone to boredom and exhaustion. I have seen many learners become distracted, bored, or simply uninterested due to lack of proper stimulation. Though it may be exhausting to teach with bravado for long, we should remember our class may be the only engaging lesson of the day, whether it is online or in person. If teaching with gusto does not seem to be working, sometimes I find it useful to walk around the

January 2021

The Defiant Behavior

have learned to praise students who ignore the negative behavior of others. Additionally, I will also refuse to respond to aggression, unless physical. Most of the time, the behavior will work itself out in time, once the student sees that they cannot challenge your position. Sometimes this can be intimidating, but stick to your guidelines and stay consistent in your behavior.

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hether or not we like to admit it, we have all been a student with unique quirks and behavior patterns. As we have grown and stepped into careers of our own, a lot of us have forgotten what it was like to be a student. I can recall having specific struggles as a young person, and I also recall the teachers that either handled my behavior gently or callously. As an educator, I tend to think back and empathize with my former self. I have compiled a small list of types of unique behaviors and the tools that I have learned throughout my career.

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50 room. Typically, a student will straighten up as I walk by.

Additionally, I will call on a student I see drifting away to see whether they can answer the question or not in an effort to pull them back into the discussion. Remember, try not to lose your patience with daydreamers. They too are under new stressors.

TEACHING & LEARNING

The Lazy Behavior

This is one of the most challenging behaviors. A student who is lazy could hold back a class and make your job more difficult. Firstly, you must not lose your patience.

Laziness can sometimes be a form of defiance, so the student may be looking for attention. I have found a few tactics that help me manage, but overall if a student refuses to work, then you can only do so much. One tactic I use is to reward the students working hard, sometime if a lazy student sees that others are not following them, then they will behave. Another tactic is to not be afraid to use a firm tone. Yelling or shouting at the student could backfire, but using a calm, firm tone as you repeat instructions sometimes works. As a last resort, I have had to sit across from a student and help during class time. If none of this works and you feel like you have exhausted other options, let a co-teacher or principal know, that is, if your relationship is healthy. They could speak to the student or help the student. It is not our place to contact a parent, and this could embarrass your employer.

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January 2021

The Sensitive Behavior

Sensitivity is something that could be hard to notice. It can sometimes come across as shyness or defiance. Most sensitive students tend to daydream or be reserved. If I notice that I have a sensitive learner, I try not to call on this student too much to read aloud. I use a gentler tone when I speak to them, and I try to always let them see me act humorously. Sometimes, all they need is someone who can recognize and respect their sensitivity. They will usually sit against the wall and speak very lowly. Try not to embarrass them by calling them out because it could hurt their feelings. However, I will often try to work with them one-on-one if I find an opportunity.

One problem that I typically encounter is drawing or playing with a pencil case during class. Pencil cases usually are very decadent here. They have small games, whiteboards, hidden drawers, or contain a rainbow of pens or markers. Students can be tempted to play with the case or use its contents. I have had to ask that only one pencil and one eraser be out during class. If a student is advanced and is doodling while another student reads aloud, I will often let the behavior pass until it is the student’s turn.

These are the most profound behaviors that came to mind. Sometimes, having a mixture of these behaviors can be a challenge. If you have any further thoughts or questions, I challenge you to draw on your own experiences with past teachers. Try to be the teacher you needed as a young learner.

The Author

Katy Clements lives in Mokpo with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys writing and cooking. She has a degree in criminology and sociology. Katy has been a teacher for nine years. In the past, she taught behavior techniques to students.

The Distracted Behavior

From my perspective, distraction and daydreaming are not the same. If a student is distracted, they will often become busy with items or people around them. This can be mistaken as deviant behavior but it usually is not shown out of defiance. If a student is chatting with a neighbor, typically I will issue a warning that I will move them. If the warning is not taken seriously, I will take the next step and move the student to an empty desk. If the classroom does not have an empty desk, I will often ask students to switch places. Often, this decision is not warmly received, but stay steadfast.

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Opinion

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Life After Facebook Why I Finally Quit Social Media for Good Written by Michael Goonan

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Apart from a few weeks of curiosity when I first opened my account, I probably logged into Facebook once a week at most until I started university. This time, I was even more eager to connect with my new classmates, as I was striking out on my own in the world for the first time.

I joined my university’s incoming class group and “friended” lots of people, some of whom I would get to know eventually, but most of whom I never got to know beyond the level of acquaintance. I guess it must have

How My Facebook Use Evolved

Around 2011, I got my first smartphone. It was also around this time that Facebook released Messenger as a standalone mobile app. One convenient aspect of this service was the ability to simply add people as friends after meeting them, and then connect on Facebook Messenger , rather than having to save so many phone numbers. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of the company’s carefully engineered process of getting me – and millions of other users – to increasingly view the site as indispensable to daily life.

Around this time, Facebook introduced its newsfeed and started sending more and more notifications to its users. All of these features were designed to keep users engaged with the Facebook ecosystem as much as possible in order to maximize advertising revenue. Before long, I was checking Facebook on my phone many times a day. This habit more or less continued for the rest of the decade, save for a few eye-opening periods of time when I made the deliberate choice to “detox” from the service for an interval.

As I spent most of the period from 2015 to 2018 traveling the world,

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Those of us who remember a time without these devices know in our hearts that they are sucking away too many precious moments of our lives.

To be honest, I have known this for years, but it was not until a couple of months ago that I finally decided enough was enough and deleted my Facebook account for good.

It was the fall of 2007. I was 16 years old and had just transferred to a new high school. I was eager to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. For a while, I had managed to resist the trend of joining social networking websites. I had tried MySpace in the past but found it to be an unimpressive waste of time and deleted my account within about two weeks. But this new site seemed different. It was not full of ads and visual clutter, it did not auto-play music I did not want to hear, and it seemed to have some good privacy features. I thought maybe it could be useful, so I signed up. What is more, it was a site that was previously only open to college students, so the fact that I could now use it as a high school junior must have felt “cool.”

fulfilled, in a very rudimentary way, my desire to feel like a welcome member of my new class.

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Most of us never envisioned this when we first signed up for these services a decade or more ago. When Facebook began in 2004, flip phones were what most of us carried in our pockets. Likewise, when we first upgraded to a smartphone, we may have just thought it was nice not to carry two devices in our pockets anymore – a phone and a music player. Little did we know that within a few years, these devices would be taking up so much of our time and attention.

How I Started Using Facebook

THOUGHTS & OPINION

F

or billions of us in the world today, social media has become an integral part of our lives. Whether we use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or all of the above, these apps are sending dozens of notifications to all of our devices, every single day. Without a second thought, we look at our screens as soon as we have been pinged. It is an old classmate’s birthday; an acquaintance has posted a picture of their lunch; a politician or celebrity has said something outrageous.

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THOUGHTS & OPINION

52

meeting many interesting people along the way, disconnecting from Facebook seemed unthinkable.

Imagine, losing touch with all these people! Even scarier was the notion that I would surely lose touch with my friends and family back in the U.S. Deep down, I knew in reality that this was just an excuse to justify my habits of scrolling, clicking, and commenting. During those years, I probably stayed most consistently in touch with my grandfather, who did not own a cell phone and barely knew how to use any technology that came out after the 1980s. I did manage to get him on Skype every now and then, but for the most part, that relationship was maintained with good, old-fashioned phone calls and regular visits home. Looking back on it, my deep subconscious probably most feared standing in line, sitting on the toilet, or riding a bus without constant access to stimulation.

Each time I did one of my “detoxes” from Facebook, I was astonished by how much better I felt. A certain jittery, low-level anxiety was gone. I felt so much more engaged with the world around me. My attention span seemed to instantly expand, and it

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suddenly felt like there was just so much more time in the day. I read entire books in two or three days. I exercised more and got out in nature.

I meditated, played the guitar, and did lots of writing. Perhaps most ironically, my social life often improved, as I made the effort to actually send long emails to my friends, call them, or actually meet in person rather than “like” their status or leave a brief comment on an article they shared. Each time I did a detox, it gave me a lot of clarity as to just how much mindless Facebook use had colonized my time.

the tech executives and engineers who designed these tools, it finally became exceptionally clear that this was exactly the point. I could no longer ignore that, despite the small benefits it provides, social media use had become a true cancer on my life and on society as a whole.

Let us look at some of the costs of our addiction to social media.

Impact on Individuals

“Things will be different from now on,” I told myself. I deleted the app from my phone, drastically reduced my data plan, and resolved to only check it occasionally and mindfully.

Wasted Leisure Time: The average Facebook user spends about 50 minutes per day using the service (not including time spent on Facebook Messenger), and the average social media user spends roughly two hours per day using apps and websites such as Instagram and Twitter. The younger generation is even worse, with one in five teens spending five hours a day or more using these services. What is more, people tend to drastically underestimate the amount of time they spend using social media each day. Removing the drain of social media on your time can lead to the miraculous feeling of suddenly adding several hours of leisure time to your week to engage in highquality social activities and hobbies.

That was all well and good, for a while. But before long, the site’s carefully engineered methods of sucking in my attention began to take hold, and I was browsing the site on my mobile browser and letting it distract me at work. Facebook’s ability to fragment my attention was simply too powerful for my willpower to contend with. When I watched the excellent documentary The Social Dilemma in September 2020, which interviews many of

Loss of Productivity: The average smartphone user spends three hours and 15 minutes per day staring at their screen. If you are anything like I used to be, most of this time is related to social media use. To make matters worse, the average user picks up their phone 58 times per day, which is obviously horrible for concentration and productivity. It turns out that social media apps in particular are some of the worst offenders at sapping your attention because they are purposely designed to nudge you to pick up your phone and engage with the services as much as possible.

This trains your brain to expect frequent dopamine hits, leading to a moderate form of addiction. But the worst harm to your productivity is

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53 the fragmentation of your attention.

It turns out that frequent distractions such as checking social media, email, and phone calls lead to an average drop of ten points in IQ scores. With the average person checking their smartphone every 12 minutes during their waking hours, this means that we are putting ourselves into a state of continuous partial attention (CPA), making it very easy to feel that there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish goals that would be attainable in much shorter periods of time if we were able to focus our attention.

Social media has since made things worse, as its algorithms quickly learn to only show you information that aligns well with your prejudices. This would be bad even if social networks were selectively sharing factual news stories in this way. But a 2018 MIT study found that fake news stories are actually far more likely to spread on social media than real ones. On average, fake stories were 70 percent more likely to be shared, and spread at least six times faster than true stories. Because of confirmation bias, the brain has a strong incentive to believe these fake stories. Extrapolate the effects of this to the billions of people using social media, and you see how this might cause serious problems.

Polarization: It turns out that social media algorithms are exposing us to more extreme points of view as well.

A 2016 Harvard study found that politicians with extreme ideologies gathered a larger following on social media and that posts expressing extreme views were more likely to

All of these factors and more have led me to conclude that social media has been a toxic presence in my life. It has wasted my time, hurt my productivity and social life, been bad for my mental health, and likely has lead me to be ruder and more misinformed than I would otherwise have been. The first couple of weeks without social media were a bit strange, and it was definitely an adjustment to re-learn other ways of staying in touch with people I cared about. But now, after being free for a couple of months, I can tell you very honestly that I do not miss its presence in my life. On the contrary, letting go of social media has enabled me to engage more meaningfully with the world and people around me. Perhaps deleting your accounts will do the same for you.

See http://goonan.us/musings/life-afterfacebook-why-i-finally-quit-social-mediafor-good/ for an extended version of this article.

The Author

Michael Goonan is a writer, teacher, and wanderer from Pennsylvania, USA. He currently works as a middle school teacher in Yeonggwang and previously taught in the Czech Republic and Australia. As he was a philosophy major during his undergraduate years, he is passionate about living a life with “love of wisdom” at its foundation. He writes about his travels, human nature, and other topics of interest at goonan.us. Email: goonanm2@icloudcom

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“Information Glut” and Fake News: Way back in the 1980s, media theorist Neil Postman said that television was leading to an unprecedented situation: “information glut.” For all of human history up to that point, the biggest problem would have been a lack of information. But Postman argued that the rise of 24-hour news on television was troubling, saying, “When there is too much information to sustain any theory, information becomes essentially meaningless.”

Conclusions

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In any case, there is good evidence that social media use, in and of itself, really is causing serious mental health problems. Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University has been studying generational differences for nearly three decades. During the period 2011–2015 (the exact time that smartphones and social media use reached near ubiquity), major depressive episodes among teens suddenly increased by 50 percent, along with feelings of uselessness.

There were also significant falls in time spent socializing outside the home with friends, life satisfaction, and happiness. Twenge has dubbed this generation, born after 1995,

Impact on Society

be noticed and circulated on the platform.

THOUGHTS & OPINION

Mental Health: “Social media” is actually a horrible misnomer for services like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Why? Because it turns out that the more you use it, the lonelier and more isolated you feel, on average. While it is true that the research has not fully established the direction of causality (i.e., whether social media use causes people to feel isolated or whether feelings of isolation lead to more social media use), it does not really matter. Even if social media itself turns out not to cause loneliness or isolation, using it for hours a day that could otherwise be spent meeting up with people in person certainly will not be a viable solution to the problem.

as “iGen,” because they are the first generation in history for whom smartphone and social media use were present for their entire adolescence. She contends that there is a strong causal connection between the rise in social media use and the serious increase in teen mental health issues.

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Photo Essay

Say“Hi” Through Pics The Say “Hi” Through Pics photo contest originated for residents in Gwangju who were not able to visit their family members and friends due to the COVID-19 situation. The event was held as a collaborative undertaking by the Asia Culture City Forum (ACCF) and the Gwangju International Center (GIC) in November. The photo exhibition itself was held from November 19 to December 19 at the GIC’s lounge. Participants submitted a photo with a greeting to their family or friends. All the photos in the contest can be checked out on the GIC website or the GIC YouTube channel. Here we present eleven of them.

▲ Sharif Saqib

To his mother in Pakistan: Dear Mom, I miss you.

I am playing with my daughters in the autumn leaves

To his parents in California: We miss you guys! Though the pandemic will keep us apart for the holidays, we’ll celebrate in spirit together.

Photo taken at the Nonsan, Korea.

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January 2021

Photo taken at at Chonnam National University.

▼ Wilson Melbostad

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▲ Karina Prananto

To her parents in Jakarta, Indonesia: Looking forward to the future, I am sure it will be bright!

Photo taken at the Seochanggyo Bridge in Seo-gu, Gwangju (Yeongsan River Bicycle Path).

▲

Do Khai Minh

To her parents in Vietnam: Mom and Dad, be healthy and live long. I am also living well!

Photo taken at the Damyang Juknokwon.

Khan Md Ishtiaq Hossain To his mother in Bangladesh: Mother, don’t worry.

I’m enjoying my life in Korea.

Photo taken at Mudeungsan National Park.

Sandy Loreno

To his fiancée in the USA: Hi, honey, I love and miss you a lot. I hope to see you soon. www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Photo taken at home.

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56 Sohee Kim

Adnan Muhammad

To her friend in Japan: You have gone to Japan for your new start. How are you?

To his mother in his home country: I wish you a healthy life.

Photo taken at the Chonnam National University.

Photo taken at Gangneung, Gangwon-do.

▼

Eunjeong Lim

To dear friends and their parents in Japan: Let’s be healthy until the day when we can meet again and drink!

Photo taken at Izakaya, near Yokohama, Japan.

The Compiler Lee Jeongmin was born is Gwangju and has been a coordinator at the Gwangju International Center since 2015. She likes reading, drawing, and hiking.

To her Korean teacher in Belgium: Teacher! Thanks to you, you can see the beauty of Korea!

As you can also see, I'm fine! Thank you for always supporting me!

Photo taken at Eworld in Daegu.

▼ Zapranova Arukhan

Best regards to my mother in Kazakhstan: Looking at this picture, I think you can feel the autumn of Korea. It’s already winter in Kazakhstan, so beware of the cold and drink lots of hot tea.

I’m doing well, so don't worry. :) Photo taken at home.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

January 2021

Aline Verduyn

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KONA English Center

KONA Storybook Center The KONA English Center (KEC) is an educational center for English reading and culture exchanges. The KEC will guide any family and their children to develop a love for reading and to explore foreign cultures.

KONA English Center 코나영어센터 KONA Storybook Center 영어독서교육연구소 UNESCO KONA Volunteers 유네스코 코나 자원봉사단

The KONA Storybook Center (KSC) is a non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged children to learn English independently through storybooks and storymaps with UNESCO KONA Volunteers (UKV).

Programs: 1. 영어독서멘토링 (Mentoring in English Reading) 2. 영어로 배우는 과학 (Science in English) 3. 영어로 배우는 위인전 (Biography in English) 4. 코나비전특강 (KONA Vision Talk) 5. 외국인과 함께하는 문화교실 (UNESCO CCAP)

Tel: 062-434-9887 광주광역시 서구 상일로 37 37 Sangil-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju

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