(EN) Gwangju News April 2011 #110

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April 2011 Issue No. 110

Girl Power ROTC’s new female cadets

Energy Implications Solar and nuclear power explored

Travel Reviews The Philippines and China visited

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Gwangju News April 2011

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What’s On

Gwangju News

16 Gwangju FC

Cover Photo Photographer: Yongkyu Yang Cover Photo: Wild Flowers - see page 18 Publisher: Gyonggu Shin Editor-in-Chief: Maria Lisak Editors: Daniel Lister, Minsu Kim, Julian Raethel Assistant Editors: Seth Pevey, Stephen Redeker Copy Editors: Kyle Johnson, Kathleen Villadiego Coordinator: Karina Prananto Layout and Design: Karina Prananto, Meghyn Cox Proofreaders: Steve Chandell, Gina Covert, Erin Fahrer, Caitlin Jacobs, Matthew LaPlant, Daniel Lister, Steve McNally, Jake Meliville, Jon Ozelton, Julian Raethel, Stephen Redeker, Lindsey Shear, Rob Smith, Gabriel Ward, Kathleen Villadiego, Debra Young Allen

Researchers: Hee-seon Yang, Jungkyu Baek, Ki-eun Lee,

33 MINI - King of the Mountain

Heekyung Go, Boram Lee and Juyeong Hong

Address: Jeon-il Building 5F, Geumnam-no 1-1, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-758, S. Korea

Phone: +82-62-226-2733~4 Fax: +82-62-226-2731 E-mail: gwangjunews@gmail.com Registration No.: 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Printed by Logos (Phone +82-62-444-8800) Gwangju News Magazine is written and edited by volunteers.

Special thanks to the City of Gwangju and all of our sponsors.

Copyright 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 publishers.

Gwangju News welcomes letters to the editor (gwangjunews@gmail.com) regarding articles and issues. All correspondence may be edited for reasons of clarity or space.

47 Lettuce Fritter Gwangju News April 2011

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Contents Featured Articles

Regular Columns

6

Editorial

7

11

Feature

This Month in Gwangju

By Jon Ozelton

Japan Earthquake 12

By Jacob Lotinga

8

Upcoming Events

Feature

18

Photo Gallery

Japan Nuclear Meltdown will Renew Nuclear Safety Debate

23 Feature

16

30

Photo Contest

Gwangju FC

32

News

Home Pages

Interview

Interview with Michael Wilson

34

Community

Muay Thai Kickboxing

35

Community

SWEET Fair 2011

36

Community

The Perfect Eyebrow

38

By Justyna Jurczykowska

26

Travel

Yunnan – The Province of Eternal Spring (II) Travel

Adventure in the Philippines

옆/ 앞 / 뒤 / 위 / 아래 +에’ The Marker: ‘옆 Literature

Poetry Literature

The Cry of the Magpies

By Elton LaClare

39

By Simon Bond

28

Language Study

Translated by Chae-pyong Song and Anne Rashid

By Trevor Homeniuk

25

Letters to KOTESOL

By Soo-a Jung

By Julian Raethel and David Kim

24

Language Study

By Dr. David Schaffer

By Gabriel Ward

22

Dear Korea

Feature

By Finbarr Bermingham

20

Cartoon

By Jen Lee

Female Cadets in a Pioneering Program

By Jaehong Park

Nature and People

By Yongkyu Yang

By Michael Bielawski

14

News

Cartoon

Digby

By Leroy Kucia

40

Living Tips

Housing Lease Terms

By Adrian Tegler Living Tips

44

Entertainment

Iron Maiden

41

Getting Married in Korea

By Georgia Bryan

By Stephen Redeker

48

Food and Drink

42

Kebab Man, Carlos Vargas Health

45

Hanbang Cosmetics and Beverages

Entertainment

Gwangju News’ KPOP

By JDragon

By Jungkyu Baek and Ki-eun Lee

20

Fash-on with xxl jjdp By jjdp

By Seth Pevey

49

Fashion

46

Food

Yen Cafe and Pasta

By Gabriel Ward

The Philippines

Food

47

Lettuce Fritter

By Hee-seon Yang

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Gwangju News April 2011

Community Board

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Gwangju News April 2011

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Editorial

Daniel Lister

Julian Raethel

Outgoing Editor

Incoming Editor

After an astonishingly quick six month spell it’s time for a new editor.

Hello Gwangju! As the new editor I would firstly like to say thank you to Dan Lister for the dedication and hard work he has done for Gwangju News. He is a champion and will be sorely missed.

Six months ago we we’re lucky to build on Jon’s strong foundations.

Now we have got a new team, whom I’m proud to step aside for so that they may continue to raise the bar, with the help of an enthusiastic team of volunteers, and the ever so supportive and encouraging permanent staff.

We’ve seen a lot of new features introduced since the end of last year – Gwangju poetry, Letters to KOTESOL, FashOn, photo gallery, a new cartoon, more news and the return of the home pages and a new logo. It’s been great to watch the magazine grow and diversify and there is no doubt it will continue to do so with Julian at the helm.

Goodbye GN, I’ll forever be a reader.

To our volunteers all across the board, without you this magazine could never be. Keep up the amazing work.

And to you, the readers. You are the reason this publication exists. We have seen it come from strength-to-strength and hope you get a kick out of reading it as much as we do from producing it.

Stephen, Seth and I will be taking over the reigns and we want to continue and improve the path of Gwangju News. It can be difficult living in a foreign-speaking community and we hope that we can keep people informed of what’s happening while providing a good read along the way.

As we are well into 2011 it will be interesting to see how our community grows and what challenges we face individually.

Let's get into it!

Meet the New Team!

Assistant Editor: Stephen Redeker Stephen Redeker is from New Jersey, USA. He teaches ESL at a small hagwon in Gwangju. Discovering new cultures and being active within the community are just a few reasons he's ecstatic about living in Korea. A jack of all trades and a master of none, he's thrilled to bring his various abilities in making GN magazine the best it has ever been.

Assistant Editor: Seth Pevey Seth Pevey is from Louisiana and came to Gwangju to teach English in the spring of 2010. Since coming he’s become involved in journalism through Gwangju News and Gwangju Blog. He reviews movies weekly on GFN’s Hello Korea and is involved with the GIC. Seth will focus on the monthly features and looks forward to continuing the excellence of Gwangju News in his new position as co-editor.

Copy Editor: Kyle Johnson Kyle Johnson, Copy Editor and staff nit-picker. Kyle works as an English teacher in Gwangju. He hopes to see the Gwangju News continue to provide interesting and informative stories to the readers. Before coming to Korea, Kyle worked in journalism and politics in his native United States.

Copy Editor: Kathleen Villadiego Kathleen Villadiego is from Sydney where she worked as a teacher and manager at a private college. She has lived in Gwangju for about a year and a half, and is currently working at Gwangju Women’s University.

She started volunteering for GN not long after her arrival first as a proofreader then copy-editor. She is excited to be part of the new team of editors.

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News

This Month in Gwangju A brief roundup of news stories from in and around Gwangju

Helping Japan All of our readers will of course be fully aware of the tragedy in Japan, following the March 11 9.0magnitude earthquake, and the devastating tsunami that followed. Readers might not be aware though that Sendai, the nearest major city to the quake, is actually one of Gwangju’s sister cities.

Since the quake, international aid groups have sprung into action, whilst people in Korea, and all over the world, have rallied to donate money, items and organize fundraisers, to contribute to the relief effort.

Gwangju’s mayor sent a message of condolence to his Sendai counterpart the day after the disaster, and on March 16, the City sent a dispatch of emergency aid relief supplies, such as bottled water, noodles, soap and so on, to the area.

Several special telephone numbers have been set for people to call and make a small monetary donation.

Each call results in an automatic donation of 2,000 won to the respective charity organization’s appeal.

Some numbers are 060 701 1004 (Korean Disaster Relief), 060 707 1070 (Korean Red Cross) and 060 700 1122 (Community Chest of Korea).

Alternatively, you could make a monetary donation directly to aid organization by money transfer. Some relevant account details are: - Korean Disaster Relief: Nonghyup Bank #106906-64013414 - Korean Red Cross: Nonghyup Bank #301-0077-432911, or Kookmin Bank #9-010-001-0001 - Community Chest of Korea: Korea Exchange Bank #068-13-21409-0

Shared Hope Dental Network Eight dental clinics have teamed together to offer assistance to Gwangju’s international residents, forming the “Shared Hope Dental Network” (희망나눔 치과네트워크).

As of March 6th, migrant women and foreign workers will be offered free dental check-up service at one of the network’s clinics, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sundays.

Dental treatment provided by the Shared Hope Dental Network Gwangju Dream

Fourteen dentists across the eight dental clinics are providing these voluntary services. The clinics involved are Gyurye, La-On, Somang(hope), Eunseok Dentists (Namgu, Keumho branches), E-pureun, Lee Min ho, and Mi-Plus.

Anyone wishing to benefit from the free dental clinics, should call the Multicultural Support Network Association in Gwangju. Tel: 062-362-5678 Taxi Drivers’ Dispute Resolved

Gwangju’s cabbies might be a little happier these days, after their labour dispute with taxi companies was resolved. The two groups agreed to a system for drivers to work five consecutive days, then have a day off.

Previously drivers had been required to work for six consecutive days before benefitting from a rest day. The agreement was reached in the mayor’s office on March 5th, and will remain in place for a 10-month trial period until the end of this year.

Gwangju Twitter Finally, in keeping with the times, Gwangju City announced on March 24 that it has launched its own official Twitter feed, to make announcements about its work, provide information about events in the city, and answer residents’ enquiries. You can keep up to date with the Korean-language tweets by following @dodreamgwangju.

By Jon Ozelton Gwangju News April 2011

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Upcoming Events Festival Hampyeong Butterfly Festival

Changwon Jinhae Gunhangje Period: April 1 - 10, 2011 Place: Daecheon-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam-do Korea’s largest cherry blossom festival takes place in Jinhae. Over 2 million tourists come from all over the world to walk along the tree-lined streets and picturesque mountain paths.

Events include fireworks, Cherry Blossom Concert, Ganggangsullae, Art Contest and Experience events For more info:http://gunhang.changwon.go.kr

Period: April 29 - May 10, 2011 Place: Hampyeong Expo Park Area, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do The Hampyeong Butterfly Festival offers visitors the opportunity to get a closer look at ecology, in particular the region’s butterflies.

Inquiry: 1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) Entrance fees: Adult (up to 65 y.o. 7,000 won), students (up to 18 y.o): 5,000 won, children (up to 12 y.o): 3,000 won , 6 y.o and below: 2,000 won

Performances Dominique Fillon Jazz Concert

Paul Potts ‘ Tour in Korea’

April 23, 2011 Gwangju Theater @ 5 p.m.

Admission: 15,000 won (advance reservation: 12,000 won) For more info: Gwangju Theater (062-225-8877) or Centre Culturel Francais (062-527-2500) Dominique Fillon has devoted his whole life to his passion of music, affected much from his father and older brothers, learning how to play piano, conduct, and sing by himself from the age of 11. Now he travels around with his two partners: Steven Rodby on contrabass and Nic Cecire, a renowned Australian percussionist, on drum. In 2011, they make their Korean tour and Gwangju is going to be one of their stages.

Date: May 11, 2011 @ 8 p.m.

Gwangju Art and Culture Center Grand Theater Admission fee: 66,000 ~ 154,000 won Once a cell-phone salesman and now an international celebrity, pop opera tenor Paul Potts was the winner of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ in 2007 and has since had a UK no.

1 album. Along with musician Kevin Kern, he will be touring Korea this May. For advance ticket reservation, please call 1644-0412

Musical-The Three Musketeers April 8 - 10, 2011 Gwangju Culture & Art Center After Cardinal Richelieu learns the Queen has a diamond heart, which was a present from the King to her, as a token of love to the Duke of Buckingham, he suggests the King should ask the Queen to wear it at a royal gala. Richelieu dispatches the Comte de Rochefort and Lady de Winter to London to recover the gem, which he plans to unveil at the gala in order to reveal the Queen has been unfaithful.

Spring Fling Spring Fling is an event showcasing the local talent (mostly expat) in Gwangju's underground DJ scene. Many different genres of electronic music will be played. So come enjoy the good vibes.

It will happen on April 2 from 10 p.m. at two venues; MC Lounge Club Bar and Tequilaz.

GIC Gallery Exhibition ‘From Mudeung to Halla: A Left-foot Approach to Photography’ John Jackson took photos in 1971 in Korea. After 30 years, in 2009 he began again to take photos. Some of his photos were selected for exhibition in various photo contests between 2008 and 2010 in Korea. In this exhibition he will show a wide range of photos: landscapes, temples, birds, trees and people in Jeolla province and Jeju Island.

Exhibition period: April 9 ~ 23, 2011 Opening with Artist’s Talk: April 9 (Saturday), 3~ 5 p.m. at GIC Gallery

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Exhibitions Dream of Butterfly Gwangju Museum of Art March 1 - May 15, 2011 This is a special spring Exhibition. You can see 70 works by 19 artists.

These are about animal, science and living nature. For more info: www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr

Time of Trace Gwangju Museum of Art March 11 - April 10, 2011 For more info: www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr

Gwangju Art Museum Geumnam-no Hall 52 Haseo-ro, Buk-gu Opening Event Art Association Members Exhibition 1 (Western Painting, Watercolor, Sculpture) April 13 - 19 Exhibition 2 (Calligraphy) April 20 - 26 Exhibition 3 (Oriental Painting) April 27 - May 3 Exhibition 4 (Crafts, Design, Print, Media) May 4- 10 For more info: 062-613-5382

Daedong Gallery 3-7 Geumnam-no, Dong-gu Wol-bong, Joe Dong-hee Exhibition April 28 - May 4 For more info: 062-222-0072 or e-mail to sunmok-yoon@hanmail.net

Metro Gallery 28-1 Geumnam-no, Dong-gu, Basement 1F Mudeung Calligraphy April 7- April 13 For more info: 062-226-8053 or e-mail: kfaa21@hanmail.net

Mudeung Gallery 51-25 Gung-dong, buk-gu ‘The Suggestion for Modern Art’ April 14 - 20 ‘Jeong Il Exhibirion’ April 21- 27 For more info: 062-236-2520 or e-mail: greendna@naver.com

Gwangju National Museum Special Exhibition “Chang-am Lee Sam-man, As Water, As Wind” April 23- May 22 For more info: 062- 570-7061 or e-mail ii070@korea.kr

Gwangju Art Museum Sang-rok Hall 1165 Sangmudae-ro, Seo-gu ‘Time of Trice’ March 11- April 10 ‘Environment Art Exhibition’ April 16 - June 5 For more info: 062-613-5393

Gwangju Shinsegae Gallery 1F Shinsegae department, Gwangscheon-dong, Seo-gu ‘Hoan Miro’ - April 11 ‘Kim Jong Kyung Exhibition’ April 12- 19 (April 18 is OFF) ‘Kim Cheon Il Exhibition’ April 20 - 26 ‘Heo Im Seok Exhibition’ April 27- May 3 For more info: 062-360-1630

Keumho Gallery U-Square, Gwangcheon-dong, Seo-gu ‘Gwangju Picture Club's Member Exhibition’ April 13 -19 (Hall 1, 2) ‘Lee Seong Il Young Artist Exhibition’ April 20 - 26 (Hall 3) ‘Bang Cheol Ho Exhibition’ April 27- May 3 (Hall 1) For more info: 062-360-8436 or e-mail: moonnari@kumhoasiana.com Compiled by Bo-ram Lee, Juyeong Hong Art Exhibition Source from Gwangju Art Guide

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Movies @ Gwangju Theater Chungjangno 5-ga (two blocks back behind Migliore) Phone: 062-224-5858 Films change weekly to bi-weekly.

Check online for calendar and prices. (http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju/) Admission fee: 8,000 won for one film. 21,000 won for 3 films.

30,000 won for 5 films; 50,000 won for 10 films The following movies will be shown in April: Tears of Africa Genre: Documentary Dubbing: Hyun Bin Language: Korean Another Year Genre: Drama Starring: Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen Language: English Over four seasons, a happily-married middle aged-couple endure other people’s problems, enjoy their son’s newly-discovered partner, and cope with an unexpected family bereavement.

Soul Kitchen Genre: Comedy Starring: Moritz Bleibtreu, Adam Bousdoukos, Pheline Roggan Language: German (with Korean Subtitle) Soul Kitchen is about family and friends, about love, trust and loyalty and about the struggle to protect a place called home in an increasingly unpredictable world.

True Grit Genre: Adventure, Western Starring: Matt Damon, Jeff Bridges Language: English Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with "true grit," Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. She joins him in his trek into the Indian Nations in search of Chaney. They are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who wants Chaney for his own purposes. The unlikely trio find danger and surprises on the journey, and each has his or her "grit" tested.

Sports Gwangju FC Soccer Team Match Schedule Date

Match Team

Time

2 9 20 24

Pohang Steelers Sangju Sangmu Jeonnam Dragons FC Seoul

15:00 15:00 19:00 15:00

Venue: Gwangju Worldcup Stadium (광주월드컵경기장) Direction: Buses 6, 16, 20, 26, 47, 74 get off Worldcup Stadium bus stop Ticket Price: Adult 10,000 won, Family (4 people) 30,000 won 5.18 Marathon Registration: until April 20, 2011 Date: April 21 (Sat.) Time: 9 a.m.

Place: Gwangju Sangmu City Park Stadium Fee: half course &10km 20,000 won, 5.18 course 5,180 won For more info: 062-720-1014~5 or www.518run.com

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KIA Tigers Baseball Team Match Schedule Date

Match Team

Time

2 3 12 13 14 15 16 17 26 27 28 29 30

Samsung Samsung Nexen Nexen Nexen Hanhwa Hanhwa Hanhwa SK SK SK Lotte Lotte

14:00 14:00 18:30 18:30 18:30 18;30 17:00 17:00 18:30 18:30 18:30 18:30 17:00

Venue: Gwangju Mudeung Stadium (Baseball Field) 무등경기 장 Buses 16, 38, 51, 53, 58, 89, 95, 98, 151 get off Mudeung Stadium bus stop Ticket Price: Adults 7,000 - 12,000 won; Students (13 - 18): 4,000 - 9,000 won; Children (under 13: 2,000 - 6,000 won

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Feature

Japan Earthquake Jacob Lotinga is an English teacher at Chonnam National University. He previously taught in Sendai (Gwangju’s sister city), a region heavily affected by the earthquake. Here he shares his thoughts on the recent tragedy.

talkonevietnam.org

arch 11 this year, Tohoku’s great quake struck, virtually obliterating coastal settlements that I had never expected to be mentioned by, say, the International Herald Tribune. Sleepy fishing towns like Kesennuma didn’t stand a chance against the tsunami unleashed by a freak quake that pushed the limits of the Richter scale.

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Here in Gwangju, it felt wrong to stand in class and discuss some relatively trivial subject, such as how one might communicate at a botanical garden, knowing that many thousands of souls in Tohoku – people who had fully expected to live – had died under the brutal, rushing waters of the tsunami, and that those who remained were grieving or aching.

in.com

The wretched story of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor continues to unfold daily, with accompanying tales of an exodus from Japan and of Tokyo’s water and air contaminated by radiation. I hesitate to write these words for the Gwangju News, knowing that the ending of this tragic tale is unclear.

Mixed in with all this recent dread, there has been much to admire. I would use the word ‘heroic’ sparingly, but how else can we describe the nuclear plant technicians who struggled on for the sake of the rest of us, confronting levels of radiation that they know may be lethal?

I feel certain that all readers of the Gwangju News will want to join in sending heartfelt condolences to those in Japan who are enduring the aftermath of this unexpected disaster. Let us hope that further tragedy will be limited.

blog.joinmsn.com

GIC May Concert ‘Folk Songs and Pop Songs’

“To raise funds for Sendai - Japan’s tsunami and earthquake victims” Date and Time: May 1, 2011 @ 5~6 p.m.

Venue: Gwangju Culture and Art Center Small Theater Admission fee: 10,000 won * tickets may be purchased at the GIC or on the day

By Jacob Lotinga

Gwangju News April 2011

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Feature

Japan’s Nuclear Meltdowns will Renew Nuclear Safety Debate

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eoul – How might the recent tragedies in Japan including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcano eruptions and a nuclear meltdown most affect Korea? We’re far enough away to avoid the destruction and the east blowing winds should keep most nuclear radiation away. The greatest effect may be economic, because the safety of Korea’s prosperous nuclear industry will be re-evaluated.

Forty percent of Korea’s energy is nuclear, and in addition Korea builds plants for other nations including a recent $20 billion contract with the UAE (United Arab Emirates). If there is a renewed backlash against nuclear technology, Korea’s economy could suffer.

In fairness to Japan’s situation, a 9.0 quake is unprecedented for the region, and it’s the third largest ever recorded worldwide and that power plant was over 40 years old and probably shouldn’t have been used anymore. But the presence of those nuclear plants is taking an already devastating disaster to a new level. Can existing and future nuclear plants be modified to sustain these kinds of earthquakes?

As of one week after the initial 9.0 earthquake, at least three explosions and three melting reactor cores are confirmed by Japanese officials. One explosion on the following Monday was felt over 25 miles away as brown smoke plumed thousands of feet high. At this point no workers stay at the plant for more than 15 minutes at a time, and when radiation spikes they simply can’t go in. The government reports various radiation levels throughout Japan and overseas. It is being detected as far away as Alaska, according to their health commissioner. The government is handing out potassium iodine to citizens and they are calling this their worst disaster since the end of World War II. Chemical Physicist Christopher Busby put this event

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A nuclear plant explosion in Japan.

www.news.com.au

into perspective on the Alex Jones’ Radio Show on March 17. He said at the infamous 1986 Chernobyl meltdown in Russia, an estimated 50 tons of radioactive material was released, and some people speculate that contributed to millions of cancer cases. At this plant there are over 1,000 tons of mixed uranium and plutonium spent fuel in addition to about 600 tons of active fuel, although it is unclear how much has been, or will be, released. One “positive” thing about this case is a lot of it will likely fall into the ocean, apologies to the fish.

So if we are to consider alternatives to nuclear energy, we need to look at two criteria. First, of course, we need to consider safety and the environmental impact. And second is energy efficiency which is the ratio of energy produced versus the energy needed to create and run the power plant (or windmill, solar panel etc.).

Today the main rival to nuclear energy is coal.

Proponents argue that coal is cheap, abundant and that modern plants have filters and scrubbers that

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Feature

per kWh. However Korean engineers believe they can bring the cost of solar down to at least a competitive 70 won per kWh by 2015.

In contrast one kilowatt of nuclear energy costs only 39 won per kWh and coal energy costs 54 won per kWh. It should be noted that there are no major coal deposits in the region, which would likely raise the price. Hydro electric power is also competing at 85 won per kWh. Some people believe that there are at least several Japan nuclear plant locations. www.energybusinessdaily.com efficient, safe and environmentally friendly prevent everything except water vapor and carbon energy technologies that are being suppressed to dioxide from getting out. They argue the carbon protect the profits of coal, nuclear, and other energy helps surrounding forests grow faster as the plants industries. Just one example is cold fusion energy, turn it into oxygen that we breathe. also known as low-energy nuclear reactions or LENR technology. It was dismissed as a fraud early after its The main criticism is that excess carbon dioxide in introduction in 1989, but today U.S. Navy the atmosphere might be trapping heat and causing researchers are among many scientists that are global warming. Global warming skeptics argue that publishing new studies and are calling for big energy companies and governments want to reconsideration of this largely unused technology. demonize carbon, because it allows them to raise energy prices and control many aspects of our lives Obviously this latest disaster is going to ignite a via a carbon credit system. Obviously this is a huge passionate debate about what energy technologies separate debate; just understand there is no should be in the future. With so many options and consensus on global warming. conflicting information going around, all that we can do is try to educate ourselves the best we can and In theory if there were never any meltdowns at remember to get both sides of every debate. nuclear plants and if the by-products can be safely contained, then the environmental impact from

By Michael Bielawski nuclear power would be minimal. The reality is even if nuclear plants are made more earthquake ready, there will always be something unthinkable that could go wrong, so determining the use of nuclear power is really a risk assessment.

Donation for Japan

Then there are alternative energies like wind and solar. While these are certainly clean, they unfortunately require government subsidies because of their high cost per kilowatt (kWh). That means it takes too much energy to create and maintain the windmills and solar panels when compared with the energy produced. Wind power in Korea costs around 100 won per kWh and solar is an unrealistic 700 won

GIC welcomes donations to help the victims of Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Donations may be sent to: Bank: Gwangju Bank Acc. No: 019-107-324739 User name: 광주국제교류센터 Please write ‘Japan’ as reference.

Gwangju News April 2011

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Feature

Female Cadets in a Pioneering Program Jaehong Park, a fourth-year undergraduate and second-year trainee officer with the ROTC at Chonnam National University, reports on the acceptance of female students at the university’s ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps).

ntil recently, you could spot a small number of undergraduates at Chonnam University dressed in the uniform of cadets, saluting one another respectfully on campus – but these dignified trainee officers were always young men, never women. Now, for the first time, the university’s demanding military training program will be open to female university students.

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Last September, South Korea’s Ministry of Defense announced its intention to recruit sixty female cadets for the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) on university campuses across the country. This would be part of the ministry’s long-term plan to appoint talented female military officers. Chonnam National University, one of the country’s state universities, was one of only seven institutions nationwide that were permitted to recruit female cadets.

The five female recruits.

On February 17 this year, five female students took part in an official ceremony to begin their two-year ROTC training program. They swore an oath, promising: “Proud to be the first female cadets, we will be loyal as officers to the Republic of Korea!”

These five female recruits had already faced tough competition: Chonnam National University’s ROTC had been inundated with fifty-two applications from would-be female cadets, representing the second highest application rate of Korea’s seven participating universities.

Many challenges lie ahead for the female cadets.

They have just embarked on a two-year military training program that will include daily exercise at the crack of dawn and runs of up to 7 kilometers around the Chonnam campus. All requirements will be the same for male and female trainee officers.

The Ministry of Defence’s move to accept female students as trainee officers represents a turning-

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point for increasing gender equality in South Korean society, particularly in the military. Until recently, women were free to apply for a limited number of military posts after graduation: they could, for instance, be employed at military academies. But until very recently, women were excluded from the officers’ training scheme on university campuses.

The five female cadets at Chonnam University’s ROTC have awakened great interest – both among fellow students and among the media. When the female trainee officers took part in three weeks’ intensive military training at Seongnam ROTC this January, reporters from KBS and other news outlets were on the scene, photographing and interviewing Chonnam’s female cadets.

By Jaehong Park

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Feature

Brief Interview with Cadets and Trainers Interview with Female Cadets What made you apply to be one of the first female cadets in South Korea?

It seemed a great way to challenge myself. I also wanted to overcome negative stereotypes of girls, and show that women were capable of serving in the military.

Why did you decide to join the ROTC? Jinsol Moon: I was influenced by my father who’s serving in the Air Force.This is the reason why I dreamt of being a soldier.

What do your friends and family think of you being in the ROTC? Yaeji Jung: My parents and friends supported and respected my decision. Especially the first reserves (예비역) loved to talk about the military with me.

How did you prepare physically for the course?

Si-on No: I had to prepare more than others due to my poor physical ability. In the morning I went to the gym and did some running and stretching. In the afternoon, after school was finished, I went to the gym again and had a personal trainer.

Also whenever I had some time, I went to fitness program held

by ROTC, and motivated myself by watching others.

How do you feel now that you are a member?

Jiyoung Choi: In the beginning I was just happy. However, as time has gone by responsibility took place due to my position.

At the same time it feels like a burden, but still I am proud to wear the uniform.

What has been most challenging and rewarding about your experience so far?

Jihyun Park: It’s probably applying for the ROTC and getting accepted .

Vox Pops What’s your opinion of women in the army?

Caroline, 25 I know I could never do it, but I appauld any women who have the guts and desire to serve.

Juliet, 22 Badass.

Heekang, 29 They are special. But I wonder how they feel about the army and Korea.

Emily, 22 I respect them. My brother is in the navy, and I know being in the army can be brutal.

Adnan, 23 Uniforms are hot.

Dione, 28 All for equality in the world – so women should be allowed to serve.

Hyun-jeong, 26 Women in the army are great. But it’s difficult.

Elizabeth, 22 They’re hot, I like it.

Kyeongwon, 30 I have no idea. I don’t mind whatever they want to do.

Hee-young, 38 It empowers women!

How is your relationship with the other members?

Jihyun Park: Everyone has their own personality. We rarely have friction, but most of the time we know each other well enough that we speak the same language.

Do you plan to join the army in the future?

Si-on No: Yes, after serving as an ROTC officer I want to extend and walk as a soldier.

Interview with Trainers What, if any, are the differences between the physical expectations of the male and female recruits?

Differences between strength and speed. However we have different criteria for male and female recruits therefore we expect the maximum from each of them. They all know that consistent practice will improve them.

How do you think the male members feel about the female members?

They felt kind of awkward at first, but after running and training together they have begun to feel comfortable with each other’s company.

How do you think the general public feels about having females in the ROTC? Positive, for giving opportunities to females as well.

Do you think other universities should do the same as Chonnam in regards to having female members?

The ROTC has extended and is recruiting more, starting from this year.

A Cadet’s Training at Chonnam University’s ROTC. Physical training: At 7 a.m. each weekday morning, all cadets complete one hour’s intensive physical training.

Cadets run a complete circuit of the university campus (30 minutes), do push-ups and run with sandbags (10 kilograms for male cadets, 5 kilograms for female cadets).

Military education: Cadets take three credits’ worth of military classes per semester for two years – a total of 12 credits.

Vacation training: Cadets complete several weeks’ intensive military training during each university vacation.

By Ann Juli-James Gwangju News April 2011

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Feature

Gwangju FC he sun was shining, the fans were singing, the scene was set; and although the official attendance figure may have been embellished (does anybody really think there were 36,000 people at the game?), everyone involved with Gwangju FC had something to shout about after their first ever professional game on March 5. Three second half goals from the rookies settled their encounter with Daegu FC, who despite responding with two of their own, were out-fought by a spirited Gwangju side.

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A high profile publicity campaign had been undertaken by the club to ensure a large attendance and anyone who had come down to watch the previous inhabitants of the stadium, Gwangju Sangmu FC, will have been thrilled by the turnout.

There was a carnival atmosphere around the arena: families enjoying picnics in the stands, pockets of supporters unveiling newly conceived chants and all and sundry bathing in glorious March sunshine.

Hopes were high, but despite a bright opening five minutes, it seemed that neither team had read the script.

Gwangju went close with two efforts early on, but the first half was largely forgettable. The home side seemed overawed by the occasion: the team of young players, mostly recruited from the K-League draft could never have played in front of such a crowd.

Daegu, too, seemed slightly unnerved. They finished bottom of the table last season and in the opening period, it didn’t seem as though the close season had brought any improvement at all.

The Rays, though, came out after the break firing on all cylinders. Team captain Gi-Dong Park was an inspirational figure, the driving force throughout and so it was fitting that it was he who would break the deadlock, nodding home from a well placed cross from the left. The home supporters were sent into raptures, but their celebrations were short-lived.

Only two minutes later, the advantage had evaporated. Il-Soo Hwang placed a well aimed header past the suspicious Ho-Jin Park in the Gwangju goal. Park looked uncomfortable throughout, despite being one of the most 16

Gwangju News April 2011

experienced players in the Gwangju line-up, and was found wanting again 10 minutes later.

He spilled an innocuous looking effort from HyungIk Cho into his own goal, much to the chagrin of the local support. Daegu were in the ascendancy.

Brazilian number 10 Juninho, on loan from Portuguese side Nacional, looked increasingly dangerous and at times it appeared as though Gwangju would go on to suffer a heavy defeat. The players’ heads were down and it took the influential Gi-Dong Park being felled for a penalty in order to revive them. Dong-Sub Kim dispatched the kick from 12 yards and with both teams on even terms again, the home side looked like the only likely winners.

Brazilian Joao Paulo was introduced for his debut and was immediately lively. He provided a spark going forward that ignited the Gwangju team, as

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Feature

Daegu began to look tired and despondent. A series of chances went wasted and at 2-2, a rare Daegu attack brought a fantastic stop from beleaguered goalkeeper Park. The irrepressible captain Gi-Dong Park wasn’t to be denied, though, after some great, tenacious work on the right a fine ball was delivered into the area to be fired home by the number 10. 3-2: game over.

The scenes of jubilation were extraordinary. The foreigner community, who had come with their own banners and chants prepared, joined the Korean crowd in savouring the first victory of the season.

Gwangju currently occupy third place in the table but they face a series of tricky away games before their next home time on April 2 against former Asian Champions League winners Pohang Steelers. The timing of the game will be viewed as a disappointment for the club. Being almost four weeks away, the momentum garnered from the first game may well have been lost and it clashes with the first baseball game of the season, too.

By Finbarr Bermingham Photos by Gwangju FC Originally seen on Gwangju Blog For ticket’s information, see page 10

But here’s hoping that the first game’s scenes will be replicated throughout the season as Gwangju FC attempt to build on their excellent start.

Gwangju News April 2011

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Photo Gallery

Nature & People

By Yongkyu Yang

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ongkyu Yang was born in Busan, November 15, 1976. After he graduated from Choongang Univ., Dept. of Economics, he started to shoot. Also he has had exhibitions five times. At present, he works as a photographer in the village of Mari.

For more of his work, please visit his website at http://doobooda.kr/wp/

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Photo Gallery

Gwangju News April 2011

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Interview

Interview with Michael Wilson – Holiday Inn’s General Manager wangju News had the opportunity to meet Michael Wilson, the general manager of the Holiday Inn, recently for dinner. He has spent the greater part of his adult life living and working abroad, within various areas of the hotel and tourism industry. As an expat myself, I was interested in hearing about Michael’s experiences of living abroad.

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GN: Michael can you tell me a little bit about how you ended up doing what you are doing today?

Michael: I fell into the management side of the hotel industry by recognising opportunities when I saw them, and with a little help of fate every now and again. I was working as a waiter in a hotel in Melbourne in the late 1960s. Another guy at the hotel got an offer for a management position in Auckland, New Zealand. He turned it down as he did not want to leave Melbourne. My attitude was ‘if you’re not going to take the job, I will.’ I have never really looked back since. I’ve lived and worked in various places such as Greece, Tahiti, Singapore, and now Korea to name just a few. I never had a grand plan looking far into the future when I started out in the hotel business as a young man. All I knew was that I enjoyed the management side of the business, and that I would one day perhaps like to own my own hotel.

GN: One of the things that is hardest about living as an ex-pat for me, is being away from friends and family back home. How have you dealt with that, having spent most of your adult life living abroad?

Michael: Well, the Internet has not been around for that long. Before the Internet, it was much harder to keep in contact with people, so I used to only really have contact with people when I would go back to visit friends and family in Australia. It is much easier to maintain contact with people with the

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advent of the Internet, however while living abroad we’ve found one gets tired of making great new friends, but having to say goodbye to them. So that has hardened us, and made us more guarded.

Because of this I now choose to keep a small, tightknit group of friends, and treasure my wife and children. I think living abroad and always saying goodbye to people really brings into focus the constants that that one has in their life, and makes them more grateful for them.

GN: How did you manage trying to raise a family and moving to a new country every few years?

Michael: Moving around has had its trials and tribulations with my kids. They are older now, but it was really tough settling down somewhere, and just as they had made some friends and

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Interview

acclimatised to their new home, we had to tell them we were moving again. It was gut-wrenching. On the other side of the coin, it was great for them in the sense that they got to see different places around the world from a young age. Kids are very resilient.

It got to the point where we had barely settled down somewhere and my two sons would ask me when were moving next, almost in eager anticipation.

GN: How have you found living in Gwangju?

Michael: I like it here. The staff that I’ve employed are all highly motivated. I’ve found that Korean people are highly motivated to achieve success, and that they will go to great lengths to achieve it.

GN: Having only been here a few months, how do you navigate the language barrier with your staff here?

Michael: The challenges that arise here are typical of most places around the world. The language barrier is one that is important to cross, as for me it ultimately makes for a better service to the guests in the hotels I manage. I’m managing a western business model, and most of the staff here one day want to be general managers, so many can speak English. It is an important string in their bow. Not being fluent in Korean has presented difficulties in a few one-on-one conversations, but most of the time it is not too much of a problem for me. There are enough English speakers around and many of the senior staff members have been educated in English-speaking countries.

differences that you have no doubt come across in your time thus far in Gwangju?

Michael: Koreans are concerned with saving face and social harmony as I am sure you know.

Understanding this is important, as I believe to truly succeed one needs to understand the culture they are working with. But I am trying to promote my staff here, and I describe myself as a hotel mechanic. I get pleasure from helping people succeed. This means I need to be honest with my staff but bear in mind how things are done here. If I am honest with a staff member, I’ll make sure not to do it in a way that embarrasses them in front of others. One of the things I sometimes struggle with here is the sense of hierarchy and the fact that everyone here has a role here that they stick to. I like to do a bit of cooking and so I’ll roll up my sleeves and go into the kitchen. The chefs get embarrassed and a little defensive, because they feel that I am their boss and that I should not be doing their job. On the other hand a place like Fiji is the complete opposite. When I was living and working there, I would go into the hotel’s kitchen, and the chefs loved me being in there with them.

GN: Thanks for your time Michael, it has been great talking with you.

Michael: It is my pleasure.

By Gabriel Ward Photos from Holiday Inn

GN: How have you navigated cultural Gwangju News April 2011

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Community

Muay Thai Kickboxing H

ave you seen the 1989 classic martial arts flick, The Kickboxer?

In the hey-day of his career, Jean Claude Van Damme plays a stern amateur kickboxer who vows to avenge his brother’s mangling at the hands of champion Thai fighter, Tong Po. Who, as you guessed it, is an absolute freak-of-nature.

Unlike the Belgian action superstar, you don’t need similar motivation (or the desire to kick down wooden pillars) to take up one of the most popular martial arts in the world – Muay Thai kickboxing. Whether you’ve had some training before or want to give it a shot, ChoiGo Muay Thai Gym in Ssangcheon could be just the ticket for you.

There are many forms of kickboxing and mixed-martial arts nowadays, particularly with the increasing worldwide phenomenon of the K-1 and UFC tournaments. Traditional Muay Thai has been a national sport in Thailand since its inception around the 11th century. It was used by the Siamese military as close combat training as a last resort for soldiers. Muay Thai was developed into a competitive sport based on similar fighting styles of its neighbours Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia. It is also referred to as the “art of eight limbs”, because there are eight uses of contact when engaging an opponent, including knees and elbows. Despite taekwondo gaining national precedence in Korea, Muay Thai is growing in popularity and offers an attractive alternative for people of all ages.

Max Power Choi-Go Gym opened in 1993 and became the proud owner last year under Master Tae-hyung Kim (김태형). Kim began Muay Thai in 1993 at the age of 18.

After winning the ’96 and ’98 Korean National Kickboxing Tournaments, Kim decided to hang up his gloves in 1999. He left the martial arts scene before returning to taekwondo in 2006 (which he had trained for one year in 1992) which earned him his black belt.

Last year he returned to the gym that trained him and bought it. He is now one of the most highly-regarded trainers in the Jeollanam-do Muay Thai community.

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Kim’s own personal trophies and those from other fighters training under him line the walls of the gym.

“Because kickboxing is not a sport which has a specific routine anyone can step into kickboxing easily,” he says.

“Kickboxing helps people build stamina and physical strength while also growing a strong spirit.”

Kickboxing is revered for its tough training. In fact, its one of the toughest in the martial arts world. A combination of resistance, endurance, flexibility and weight training is only half the path; then comes the

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Community

precise techniques of punching, kicking, knees, elbows, grapples, and defence….all in a day’s work. A lot of people start kickboxing to get into shape, but they also learn some great self-defence and fighting techniques also. That’s the beauty of it: it helps builds self confidence.

Master Kim and his small team of trainers use a oneon-one basis to teach. Also because there are no specific class times, you can go however many times you want in a week. The gym is open over 12 hours on weekdays and five hours on Saturdays. When I first walked in the doors to start training five months ago I was nervous about the “foreign factor.” How would we communicate without my typical monkey gestures? I was put at ease immediately; Master Kim can speak passable English enough to understand each other and get the job done.

Since that day it’s easy to record progress. American hagwon teacher, Sarah Emory, says “it’s great to have the personal training through one-on-one attention. It’s a fantastic, unconventional form of exercise and the gym is really welcoming.” If you’ve got some goals to pursue concerning fitness or martial arts, Muay Thai can deliver.

If you are interested and you want to know more, send me an email at julian.raethel@gmail.com. And remember: don’t block with your chin!

By Julian Raethel and David Kim Photos courtesy of Choi-Go Gym

Comic

By Jen Lee

Gwangju News April 2011

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Community

he news is out: Gwangju has officially declared itself a future hub of green energy for South Korea. And further, resource-rich Jeollanam-do is a great place to develop a renewable energy industry and is getting lots of attention for it. This bright future was showcased this March, in trade show form, under the name SWEET.

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The SWEET fair (the Solar Wind and Earth Energy trade fair) is a trade show organized to present the latest in sustainable energy technologies, to create partnerships and exposure for companies and to build a reputation for renewable energy in this area. Since 2006, SWEET has helped hundreds of companies and the latest renewable energy technology gain funding and exposure.

There were tents outside the Kimdaejung Convention Center, with small and simple partitioned booths for smaller companies inside the center. There were also some big, super space-age displays for the bigger companies (with representatives wearing matching uniforms). Along with the displays were different varieties of turbines, solar panels and solar devices throughout the center.

More difficult to discover was how some companies were there to promote their international standards technology.

There were companies that only offered local technology, which needed to partner with international standard systems to be sold to international markets. Some international groups were aiming to make a sweet deal with a local manufacturer to create sell-able products for the international market. But why come to Korea for production?

Cheap labor? Great quality products? Awesome Kimbap?

This wasn’t very clear.

What was clear was that Korea, and especially Jeollanam-do, has been quickly moving forward with renewable energy. For instance, Korea has been developing wind tech internationally. Local companies have been buying expensive set-up equipment and sending it to other countries to build renewable energy systems. There has also been a recent storm of attention for wind energy in Jeollanam-do, with projects like President Lee Myung-bak's Green Growth Initiative. In

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total, 40 trillion won ($36 billion dollars) will be spent on green growth in South Korea, and the project aims to spend over 3 trillion won on solar and wind power alone, by 2015.

Even more, the initiative plans to spend something like 2.5 billion won over the next five years on renewable energy in Jeolla province alone because of all the space and sunlight here.

Excellent news for solar enthusiasts and sunbathers is that Jeollanamdo receives more sun than anywhere else on the peninsula. Mokpo, for example, can generate 1,420 kilowatt of solar energy yearly, enough to power over 22,000 60 watt lightbulbs. The Sinan-gun islands near Mokpo also boast a solar array the size of 93 soccer stadiums and there are a number of wind turbines in the area. Soon there will be even more clean technology here. Officials hope that Jeollanm-do will generate 40 percent of Korea’s renewable energy by 2015 .

SWEET’s main function seemed to be building partnerships and making sales. Most booths offered a single product or two for perusal. Some offered big deals and work for smaller companies to join. However, there were a few anomalies to this, like the Australian booth that seemed to simply present a model of an effective, working renewable energy infrastructure. Overall the feeling was the promotion of a sustainable energy future in Korea took precedence.

SWEET wasn't your average food, home or car fair with focus on Photovoltaic, Solar Thermal, Wind Power, Hydrogen, Fuel Cell, Geothermal &Unused Energy, Biomass, Marine Energy, Integrated Gasification, Combined Cycle, Hydropower, Waste Energy, and Eco-Environmental Industries. SWEET's original 2006 fair had exhibitors in 150 booths from 66 companies and 13 countries. This year there were 20 countries, 250 companies and 700 booths with a sales area and a coffee shop. The good news is that this kind of expibition is happening with increasing popularity around South Korea (eg. Daegu's green energy expo runs April 6-8).

SWEET will likely return to Gwangju and continue to raise interest and awareness.

By Trevor Homeniuk Photo from KDJ Convention Center

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Community

The Perfect Eyebrow he majority of us are in one of these two categories: we are guilty of eyebrow neglect or overly-aggressive eyebrow plucking. Which category do you fit into? The eyebrows are one of the most prominent parts of your face. Eyebrows frame your eyes. They help convey emotion. They move with every feeling you have. They rise with excitement. They drop with anger. They frame your eyes, and the eyes are the windows of your soul. I think that it is really important to have strong and beautiful curtains on these windows. The right eyebrow shape will make your eyes look larger and take years off your face. The last two points are reason enough to take control of your eyebrows.

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To pluck or not to pluck always seems to be a question on my mind. I am a girl who will let my eyebrows grow a little too much because I hate plucking them. I never maintain my eyebrows to keep them looking fresh by plucking. I hate the feeling of individual hairs being ripped out from my skin, painfully, one at a time. To pluck a hair feels like snapping a small elastic against your skin. There are those people who enjoy the feeling and can whip through a hundred hairs in 15 seconds. I am, unfortunately, not one of those.

You are probably thinking that I am sporting a hideous unibrow, but let me reassure you that I am not. Ok, what’s a unibrow? A unibrow consists of both your eyebrows making one. You have two eyes therefore you should have two eyebrows. If you have a unibrow please read on.

I do have a solution to my eyebrow dilemma. I simply go get my eyebrows waxed every month. You are probably thinking that this sounds barbaric. I dislike plucking one hair, but I will have 40 ripped off my face in one shot. The point is that it is one shot and you have 40 or so hairs gone. It does hurt a little but the speed of waxing is far faster than plucking.

eyebrows and I searched for months to find the right place in Gwangju. Through trial and error, we found the perfect spot. It is a tiny little place tucked beside a hair salon downtown, near Mr.Pizza. The owner is the only one that does the body and eyebrow waxing.

She will give you an eyebrow pencil and asks you to draw the shape that you are comfortable with and she will wax your eyebrows into that shape. If you don’t know what shape you want, she will take small areas at a time and gradually get to the style you like.

This process will take an hour on your first visit, but the slow process is worth it to have the perfect brow.

She doesn’t speak English, but all you need is to show her what you want.

Location: In front of Mr.Pizza is a three way crossing.

The salon is located just off the intersection of the main street. At the intersection you will be able to see the orange awning. They are open until 9 p.m.

Story and photo by Justyna Jurczykowska

It is really important to find a good place that can help you shape your eyebrows correctly. My

Gwangju News April 2011

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Travel

Yunnan – The Province of Eternal Spring [Part II]

Chongsheng Temple and the 3 Pagodas You simply can’t visit Yunnan and not come to visit this. In fact, perhaps that statement should be extended to the whole of China. The three magnificent Pagodas are Dali’s perfect picture postcard, and there are many ponds to take reflection photos of these structures as well. The largest Pagoda of the three stands at 70m and has 16 tiers. These Pagodas were built back in the 9th century by builders from Xian.

Though those pagodas steal the show the temple complex behind them is equally majestic, and no less grand. To really see this whole area you’ll need to set aside at least a half a day, and to be honest a whole day would be better. It’ll take you an hour to walk from the entrance to the last building of the temple, and with many courtyards to walk through this place may remind you a little of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It’s

worth taking your time though to really appreciate this place, and as the price is a little steep at 20,000 Won you’ll want to get value for money by really seeing everything.

Lijiang Lijiang, like Dali, has a lovely old town. The area that is completely reserved for pedestrians is also larger than the one in Dali and this perhaps gives Lijiang the edge; however, that comes at a price as it will cost you 15,000W to just take a walk around this old town.

Lijiang’s old town is something of a maze of little alleys intersected by small streams and it really is a pleasure just to walk around and soak up the atmosphere. A little outside the old town is the Black Dragon Pool.

This offers amazing views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The Black Dragon Pool leads up to several

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Travel

lots of tourist agencies in the old town that can arrange a day trip, with a price of roughly 20,000 won per person.

Once you are at the gorge you can hike down to the bottom and see the river, or you can hike up the mountain to its summit at 3900 meters. The hike up the summit involves a winding path that has 28 turns—it’s a demanding hike with some tricky sections.

Around Lijiang

other pools and will make for a nice afternoon stroll in the park. If you want a challenge there is the Elephant Hill that sits next to the lake, which you could climb.

The old town has several places of interest other than the many shops. The main square has a lovely old water wheel, on the other side of town there is Mu’s Mansion, and not far from Mu’s Mansion is Lion Hill.

There are also some theatres near the main square that offer evening performances by the Naxi Orchestra.

The Tiger Leaping Gorge The names of some of the places in China add a mystical tone that will undoubtedly make you want to visit. The name of this gorge is said to come from a group of hunters who witnessed a tiger leap away from them over the gorge and to safety. The gorge, one of the deepest in the world, will take about two hours to reach by bus from Lijiang. If you plan to go independently it would be a good idea to plan for a two-day hike, and if you possibly can, stay for three days. If you have only one day available then there are

The most obvious place to visit outside Lijiang other than the Tiger Leaping Gorge is the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, that stands at 5500 meters. It is possible to hike this mountain though the cost is a little steep. Again you can organise a package with one of the tourist agencies in the old town. Another option is to visit the main square of the old town, and near the water wheel you may find people offering tours to the mountain by donkey for around 20,000 Won. Of course, you can haggle for the best price here.

There are monasteries to visit around Lijiang and also a few smaller towns such as Baisha and Shaxi. There is also the impressive Stone Drum Mountain that provides the pivot for the bend in the Yangtze river. The view of the stone drum is also one of the best panoramas in China.

Accommodation Hostel accommodation can be arranged in each town through this website: www.hostelworld.com Recommended hostel: Lijiang – The Panba Hostel Story and photos by Simon Bond

Gwangju News April 2011

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Travel

Adventures in

The P hilippines ver thought about swimming with a 10-meterlong (32 feet) whale shark? Don’t worry they have no teeth. Whale sharks are the largest living fish species and are the gentle giants of the sea, feeding mostly on tiny plankton. Visitors flock to the small fishing village of Donsol in the Philippines each year to swim beside these amazing animals. The best time to go is between March and April when sightings are almost guaranteed. All it takes is a 45-minute flight from Manila to Legaspie airport coupled with a van ride into town. ZestAir offers flights for as low as $20.

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If whale sharks aren’t your thing, fly from Manila to Caticlan and hop on a small outrigger across the channel to the Philippines hottest tourist Mecca, Boracay. Appropriately named, white beaches stretch for miles sandwiched between aqua blue water and a mix of beach bars and restaurants to suit every taste.

Spend your days relaxing in the sun with a mango shake or try one of the many activities offered on the island. Everything from paragliding to sailboat rides, jet skiing and snorkelling. Scuba diving on Boracay is particularly good with a range of dive sites. The dive shop, Dive Gurus is one to check out. Enjoy relaxed reef diving with turtles at Fridays Rock, or experience a deep drift dive with black tip sharks along the wall at Yapak II. There’s even a great wreck dive with an exciting swim-through into the engine room and the front cargo holds. Spend your evenings at Bom Bom Bar enjoying a drink on the beach with live music every night. Don’t leave Boracay without taking a day trip to Ariel’s point. This organized tour has it all, cliff diving, snorkelling, canoeing as well as all you can eat and drink all day long.

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If you’d like to get off the beaten track, fly into Tagbiliaran airport on the island of Bohol. Spend a night or two at the Organic Bohol Bee Farm. Located on the coast this idyllic resort with its own organic restaurant and the homemade ice cream shouldn’t be missed. Another great spot labelled the “backpackers Shangri-La” is the Nuts Huts. Sleep in a grass roofed hut along the river and enjoy the warm atmosphere and good food in the main lodge. The Nuts Huts is a good base for travelers wanting to see the chocolate hills and Bohol’s famous tiny primate the tarsier.

Some of the Philippines most stunning scenery can be found on the island of Palawan. A flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa is about an hour. Day tours to the underground river are a good option but making the trek up to El Nido is a must. The six-hour van ride from Puerto Princesa isn’t fun but El Nido is worth it. Jagged limestone cliffs surround the small tourist town and day tours to the different lagoons are spectacular. In the evening The Alternative restaurant servers up some appetizing Filipino food.

If motorcycles are your thing then rent a 250cc Honda XR from The Pit Stop and spend the day driving around the northern part of the island. This allows you to reach some unbelievable beaches that are completely untouched. Scuba divers should check out Sea Dog Divers for some good diving in the area. If you have the time it’s worth spending a few extra days taking a boat to Coron where you can dive amongst Japanese World War II wrecks.

Story and photos by Adrian Tegler

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Travel

Gwangju News April 2011

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PHOTO CONTEST Submit your best shot of Korea!

To enter the Photo Contest, simply send your name, photo and picture description to gwangjunews@gmail.com.

This month’s photo contest was judged by Debra M. Josephson Debra M. Josephson, a professional photographer for over 15 years, received her B.F.A. in Studio Arts, specializing in Drawing & Painting at The Ohio State University in 1995. She later embarked on her M.A. in Studio Arts at New York University in 1999.

W I N N E R

Getting ready for a night out

Overlooking Naju Lake on 새해

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Photo by Kerri Strothard

Photo by Juan Esteban Zea

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Korean reflection

By Mieka Sawatzki

A tour boat on Suncheon Bay.

Photo by Mark Eaton

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News

Home Pages Want to write about news from your country?

Contact the Editor for more information: gwangjunews@gmail.com.

Australia

U.S.A

Student goes Romper on a Sandwich Stalking Bird A law student in the city of Brisbane has pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty for stomping on an ibis that was stalking his sandwich. Andrew Quay Wee Meng was eating a sandwich at a café when an ibis “snuck up from behind and jumped onto his table.” The student then “threw his food down” and “wrestled the bird to the ground,” stomping on it five times. And what was the cause of this dramatic act of violence? According to Quay’s lawyer, the student was once attacked by a crow and thus has been afraid of birds ever since – totally justifiable. For the ibis, because its wing was badly damaged and the injury to its neck made breathing difficult, it had to be put down – thankfully for Quay before the bird and its flock could exact any form of Hitchcock-style revenge.

Ultimately, the lesson here is: don’t get in the way of a hungry bird-fearing student and his lunch.

Source: news.com.au

The New “Wake-Call” Were you a student who was often late to school? Do you have a child who can’t quite rouse in the morning?

Well, a Conway, Mass. School has adopted a way to ensure that their current 88 percent attendance rate improves to 95 percent or better. The chronically late receive a pre-recorded phone call message from the principal at 6.15 am. Currently, 20 percent of Durfee High School students routinely receive this ‘robo-call’ after other forms of punishment such as detention were rendered ineffective. New York and Illinois are also using this method. Let’s hope that it works!

By Aisha Hobbs

Vietnam Due to the political problem in Libya, the gasoline price in Vietnam increased dramatically last month, surpassing the highest record price in 2008. Along with the rise of gasoline prices, diesel fuel, kerosene and mazut fuel prices also increased causing the insecurity for consumers all over the country.

By Kathleen Villadiego

England Three men in London pleaded guilty to the theft of world-renowned (Korean-born) musician Kim Min-jin’s violin. The entrepreneurial trio, described by local press as ‘gypsies’, offered the violin to a stranger for 100 GBP (200,000 won), who refused based on his daughter already having a recorder. A national television appeal followed and the thieves were caught, only to reveal the violin had been stolen from their property. It is unclear, however, whether the three were aware they were in possession of a Stradivarius violin – worth some 1.2 million GBP (24, 000,000, 000 won).

By Daniel Lister 32

Gwangju News April 2011

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance, the stability of fuel prices couldn’t be held anymore as the import tax was reduced to 0 percent, and price stabilization fund was in the final slope. Thus, the price went up as a result. At the same time, the General Statistics Office announced the consumer prices index of February rose 2.09 percent, reached the highest point in the past two and a half years.

Following the problem of fuel prices, the price of other necessary commodities are starting to go up making Vietnamese consumers concerned more and more about their daily life.

By Thu Doan

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News

New Zealand Christchurch Earthquake Disaster struck Christchurch on February 22 when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the city. Christchurch is located on the east coast of the South Island, and is the second biggest city of New Zealand with approximately 400,000 people. The quake occurred at lunch time on a business day, meaning that the effects were horrific, with the inner city demolished. At the time of writing this on March 21st the estimated death toll was 182 making it one of New Zealand’s worst ever natural disasters.

One month after the quake the Civil Defence still had the inner business district cordoned off as large parts of it were still deemed unsafe. People had been leaving the city in droves and have become known as ‘quake refugees.’ There were still 3-4 percent of houses without water and it was still being recommended that residents in Christchurch boil their water. Resident are being asked to use water conservatively.

Ireland It’s ironic that Ireland’s National Holiday was founded in Boston in 1737, but given the truly global status of the festival today, not wholly surprising. Much like most Christian holidays, the supposed meaning of St Patrick’s Day has long since been drowned in a Guinnesssponsored river of booze. The slave Patrick, brought to Ireland from France aged 14, is said to have introduced Christianity to the island, with a little help from the shamrock. Amongst his beatifying miracles was to have driven the snakes out of the country, but evidence suggests post-glacial Ireland never had any snakes in the first place. So whilst many bemoan the loss of the true meaning of St Patrick’s Day, watching drunken revelers stagger into bars, drenched in stout and melodramatic tears, perhaps they should consider the absurdity of fragments of the myth. The outcome is no more ridiculous than the basis.

By Finbarr Bermingham

A large national memorial was held on March 18th in the city and 30,000 people attended. It is not known how long it will take to rebuild the city, nor how much it will cost, but it will certainly be in the billions of dollars. New Zealand’s Earthquake Commission received 75,000 claims in the month following the quake. Perhaps most frighteningly large aftershocks were still being felt in Christchurch in the latter part of March.

By Gabriel Ward

Colombia The Best Rock in Latin America is in Bogotá If you are traveling through Latin America this summer make sure you visit Bogotá, Colombia, on the last and first weeks of June and July, respectively, to see the biggest multi-day, free, opened-air rock festival in Latin America. Rock al Parque, held in Simon Bolivar Park, exhibits not only the biggest names of Rock across the world but also unveils the newest and hottest in Salsa, Jazz, Hip Hop, Opera, Reggaeton, and Zuzuela. With over 350,000 people (400,000 in 2004) attending the weekend festival Rock al Parque, 2011 edition, is one of the best places to visit this summer.

By Juan Esteban Zea

MINI - King of the Mountain A Race for Charity Date: April 9, 2011 (weather permitting) King of the mountain returns again on April 9.

All are welcome to compete in a race over Horang San (호랑산) over two mountain peaks and down to the beautiful temple surrounds of Heung Guk Sa (흥 국 사 ). Entrance fee is 2000 won with all proceeds going to the Ngumbulu Project (http://ngumbulu.wordpress.com/).

To register and for more details go to: www.kingofthemountain.110mb.com

Gwangju News April 2011

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Language Study

Le e tte e rs t o K OTESOL If you have a question for Dr. David, please send an e-mail to gwangjunews@gmail.com letting us know your question, student’s age and proficiency level

Dear Dr. Dave, I teach conversation classes to adults, and although I am experienced, since teaching in Korea, I’ve had problems with most of the older men in my classes. I find that the older men often try to dominate class and group discussions – there’s always the usual signs of discomfort from younger class members when this happens. In all circumstances, I try to ensure whole class feedback stays on topic and encourage other class members to participate. It seems that the older men don’t like to be seemingly cut short or have attention diverted from them, and they also don’t respond to my teaching style - they make comments in Korean to other class members. I don’t know if the fact I’m young and female has anything to do with this problem, but in any case I believe in treating every class member equally. However, knowing that older people in Korean culture are supposed to be allotted with greater respect, should I cater for this practice? How can I approach this?

Miss Anon Dear Miss, You have analyzed your situation quite well. The interjection of cultural beliefs very different from your own is very much at play here. EFL teachers very often find themselves in such situations. What you have to consider and deal with is not just older men in your classes, but the class as a whole because they share the same cultural background. Yes, Korean culture still considers authority to increase with age. And older Koreans are more likely to cling to the older belief in male dominance. These are facts you need to accept to a certain degree (remember that you may be the only one in the class who holds a radically different view from the others.) You need to recognize the cultural differences and come to a middle-ground understanding.

Also remember that Koreans have long held the belief that students should respect their teacher. It is good to keep the class mindful of who the teacher is and who the students are. What may help is to present a set of class rules at the beginning of the course and have the students agree to it. (Some teachers do this in the form of a signed contract.) Then in class, if a student does consume more than their share of time, you can simply interject “Rule 3” (Thou shalt not hog too much class time.) or “Rule 5” (Thou shalt not disrupt the class with comments in 34

Gwangju News April 2011

Korean.) when a student is speaking out of turn. (BTW, No. 1 on my list of class no-no’s is “No cell phones ringing in class.”)

Culture-sensitively yours, Dr. Dave

Hello Dr. Dave, I’m teaching enthusiastic young adults with low-level ability. Although they seem to be progressing in their general speaking skills with the help of the textbook, we don’t seem to make much forward movement in regards to listening. Do you have any practical tips to improve students’ listening ability?

Thank you, No Name Dear Mr. No, Yes: Close the book! I imagine that your coursebook is a conversation book. As such, it likely contains mainly speaking activities. While the teacher is presenting material from the book orally, the students are likely reading what the teacher is saying – not listening. Give your student listening activities in which the listening material is not provided in writing. You can incorporate listening components into speaking activities. For example, in a small group decision-making activity, you can provide the situation or the problem orally, possibly several times, before the students set themselves to working on a solution. For pair work, you can give the students gap-fill tasks where they have to listen to their classmates to obtain the necessary information to complete their task.

Aurally yours, Dr. Dave

By Dr. David Shaffer Dr. David Shaffer is a professor of English at Chosun University, where he teaches in the graduate, undergraduate, and TESOL certificate programs. He has served in Korea TESOL for many years and is presently the President of the Gwangju Chapter. He invites you to attend teacher development workshops at their monthly Chapter meetings.

Web: www.kotesol.org/?q=Gwangju-Jeonnam

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Language Study

The Marker: '옆/ 앞 / 뒤 / 위 / 아래 +에’ Dialogue 소라: 존씨, 안녕하세요?

Sora: Hello, John

[jonssi, annyeonghaseyo?]

존: 네, 안녕하세요? 학교가 어디에 있어요?? [ne, annyeonghaseyo?. Hakgyoga eodie iseoyo?]

John: Yeah, How are you? Where is the school? 소라: 학교가 은행 옆에 있어요. [hakgyoga eunhaeng yeope iseoyo.]

Sora: The school is next to the bank. 존: 그럼, 은행이 어디에 있어요? [geureom, eunhaengi eodie iseoyo?]

John: So, where is the bank? 소라: 은행이 수영장 앞에 있어요. [eunhaengi suyeongjang ape iseoyo.]

Sora: The bank in front of the swimming pool. 존: 수영장이 어디에 있어요? [suyeongjangi eodie iseoyo?]

John: Where is the swimming pool? 소라: 수영장이 GIC 뒤에 있어요. [ suyeongjangi GIC dwie iseoyo.]

Sora: The swimming pool is behind the GIC. 존: 네, 고마워요. [ne, gomawoyo.]

John: Thanks.

Reference: 김성희 외. (2009). 서강한국어1A 서울: 도서출판 하우 서강한국어. Retrived January15, 2011 from http://korean.sogang.ac.kr

Grammar

Vocabulary

The pattern '옆/ 앞 / 뒤 / 위 / 아래(beside/in front of/behind/on/under) + 에(place marker)'words that indicate directions and locations. Combined with markers indicating location such as '에`. They are used for locations.

옆[yeop]: beside 앞[ap]: in front of 뒤[dwi]: back; behind 위[wi]: on 아래[arae]: under 가방[gabang]: a bag 책상[chaeksang]: a desk 학교[hakgyo]: a school 은행[eunhaeng]: a bank 수영장[suyeongjang]: a swimming pool

Example •가방이 (There •가방이 (There •가방이 (There •가방이 (There •가방이 (There

책상 is a 책상 is a 책상 is a 책상 is a 책상 is a

옆에 있어요. bag beside the desk.) 앞에 있어요. bag in front of the desk.) 뒤에 있어요. bag behind the desk.) 위에 있어요. bag on the desk.) 아래에 있어요. bag under the desk.)

By Soo-a Jung Soo-a Jung is an instructor at the GIC Korean Language Class

2011 GIC Korean Language Class Schedule

5th 6th

3rd

May 14 - June 30

4th

July 9 - August 25

September 5 - October 22 November 5 - December 22

For more information, please contact Moon So-eun at (062) 226-2733/4 or e-mail gwangjuic@gmail.com

Gwangju News April 2011

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Literature

Poetry

Selected Poems from My Life: A Birch Tree by Kut-byol Jung Translated by Chae-pyong Song and Anne Rashid

Kut-byol Jung (1964~) was born in Naju, Jeollanam-do. She is a professor of Korean literature at Myungji University in Seoul. Working as both a poet and a critic, she has published four poetry collections: My Life: a Birch Tree (1996), A White Book (2000), An Old Man’s Vitality (2005) and Suddenly (2008), along with two collections of critical essays: The Poetics of Parody (1997) and The Language of Poetry Has a Thousand Tongues (2008). She has also edited an anthology entitled In Anyone’s Heart, Wouldn’t a Poem Bloom?: 100 Favorite Poems Recommended by 100 Korean Poets (2008).

Translators’ Brief Bios: Chae-pyong Song is an associate professor of English at Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. Recently, along with Anne Rashid, he won the 40th Korean Literature Translation Awards for translating Kim Hye-soon’s poems. His fields of interest include 20th-century English literature, postcolonial literature, translation studies, and globalization of culture.

Anne M. Rashid is an assistant professor of English at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she teaches American literature and creative writing courses. She and Song have published translations in The Korea Times, New Writing from Korea and Gwangju News.

The Floating House, the Fragmented Family “Who am I? Who am I in this house?” Father has a toothache and takes out his loose dentures, then puts them back in. “Please stop it, Father.” “What’s this fuss about every morning?” I walk out, throwing down the spoon, while biting on a piece of radish kimchee.

“My womb is your house. A child is my child only when she’s at my bosom.” Mother cleans out the small testicle-like orchid.

“Are you running out today again? Not good for others to see.”

I walk out, stepping on the wound-like remnants of furniture Father threw out by the creaking gate.

Whether it’s the dentures blooming in the yard or Father’s obliviousness to the world or the horrible testicle-like flowers or this broken Mother, family is an age-old hatred tamed for years.

It’s the place where I rest, a place on which I turn my back three times yet in the end I will return to it because they are my flesh and blood.

A place where short flowers bloom and ferocious dogs bark– a fortunate bloodline that can’t let go of the chains searching for each other.

Risking my life in endless expectation, today once more I knock on the door of discord.

The door handle I hold is rotten. There’s a familiar yelling sound.

“Yes, it’s me.” I, the young one, also rot.

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흘러가는 집 날아다니는 가족 누구냐, 이 집에서 내가 누구야. 헐거워진 틀니를 뺐다 꼈다 치통을 앓는 아버지, 그만 좀 하세요, 아침마다 이게 뭐예요. 알타리무쪽을 씹다 숟가락을 던지고 내 배가 니들 집인디, 자식두 품안이제. 개불란을 닦는 어머니, 오늘도 나가실 거예요, 남들 보기도, 뻑뻑한 대문을 향해 내던져진 세간들의 상처를 밟고 마당에 꽃핀 틀니나 세상 찬란하기만한 아버지나 끔찍한 개불알꽃이나 금간 어머니나 오랫동안 다스려진 해묵은 증오라고 세 번 등돌리고 결국 살내음으로 세 번은 한 패가 될 내 쉴 곳 키 작은 꽃 피고 사나운 개 짖는 곳 서로를 찾아 수배의 사슬을 놓지 못하는 천만다행의 핏줄 그 끝없는 희망에 목을 걸고 오늘도 불화의 문을 두드린다 잡고 있는 문고리가 썩어 있다 정든 고함소리 네, 저예요. 새파란 나도 썩고 있다

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Literature

Spring Garlic Like an obscenity, like a clenched fist, a white garlic clove writhes; I rub my burning eyes.

The breath-taking intensity careens like an explosion: dark green spring garlic mixed with pepper paste between lettuce and pepper– the garlic flower of Namdo, South Province, white with a garlic scent.

Oh, the fresh spring night.

Feel the sensuous energy that rolls up– not a flower, not a plant.

Shhh! Shhh!

See how it spews its venom, courageous, like a guerilla, into the spring sea.

Spring garlic mixed with pepper paste between lettuce and green pepper– the Namdo seed garlic, white with a garlic scent.

다리는 달리고 있다 운동회날부터 나는 달리고 있다 너를 지나 집과 담벼락을 지나 어둔 밤길을 지나 전신을 활처럼 제끼고 두 눈을 감고 가슴을 치며 가로막는 횡단보도를 넘어 달릴수록 에워싸는 빌딩숲을 넘어 내 나이를 넘어 달리고 있다 입술을 깨물며 재앙의, 넘어지는 것보다 처지는 일이 더 무서웠다 허파꽈리에 가득 차는 검은 연기 과거는 넝마 미래를 훔치며 화살보다 빠르게 달린다 내 열망의 한가운데를 눈부시게 난파할 그 순간까지 발바당이 점점 가슴이 머리가 텅.텅.텅. 콘크리트처럼 굳어가며 삶이 빠르면 죽음도 발정난 고양이 예기치 못한 골목에서 튕겨 달려드는

봄마늘 욕설같이 불쑥 주먹같이 흰마늘쪽이 꿈틀, 매운 눈 비비며 폭음처럼 질주하는 숨가쁜 휘발성 시퍼렇게 물오른 상추 고추 사이 봄마늘 마늘고추장 마늘 향기 하얀 남도 마늘꽃 오 싱싱한 봄밤 꽃이 아니어도 풀이 아니어도 하르르 피워내는 저 화냥기 좀 봐 쉿! 쉿! 당차게 뿜어대는 저 독기 좀 봐 봄바다를 게릴라처럼 상추 고추 사이 봄마늘 마늘고추장 마늘향기 하얀 남도 마늘씨

Legs Running Since the grade school field day I’ve been running past you past houses and walls past dark night roads my whole body spreading like a bow two eyes closed and beating the chest beyond the crosswalk that hinders me beyond the forest of buildings that encloses me as much as I run.

I run past my age biting my lips.

Being left behind is more horrifying than falling down.

Dark smoke fills the lungs.

The past is in rags, to steal the future I run faster than arrows At the center of my desire till the moment I dazzlingly break down – The soles, chest, head getting thump, thump, thump, hardened like concrete.

If life runs fast, so does death, like a cat in heat leaping from an unexpected alley.

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Literature

Korean Literature Review

The Cry of the Magpies

T

he narrative of the soldier’s return home from battle is as old as the story-telling tradition itself. From the Greek epics of Homer to modern tales of the second Gulf War, stories of the aftermath of conflict have never been far from hand. In fact, they exist in such numbers that the character of the lonely soldier is in peril of becoming a cliché.

Themes of alienation, social dysfunction and emotional scarring loom large in such tales, and while the subject matter cannot help but compel us, it is incumbent upon the writer to present us with a novel twist to maintain our interest in a well-worn storyline.

Thankfully, Kim Dong-Ni accomplishes this in his highly-praised story, The Cry of the Magpies – which follows the struggles of Bong-Su, a battle-scarred survivor of the Korean War. The tale begins rather strangely with the discovery of a book entitled, Give Me Back My Life: A Confession by a Murderer. This, we learn, is none other than Bong-Su’s account of his own experiences upon returning to his hometown after the armistice. Although less than two years have passed since his departure for the front, much has changed. His mother, previously ill, has become a total invalid, and his sister has transformed from a girl into a beautiful young woman. The most significant alteration, however, relates to Bong-Su’s fiancé, JeongSun, who, we learn, has been tricked into marriage by another man.

Each new situation Bong-Su encounters seems to fuel the rage that has been building since his return. The persistent cries of the magpies (traditionally thought to herald death) coupled with the ominous title of his memoir add to the tension. The confrontation with the man who has stolen his wife is one of the story’s many highlights, but nothing can rival the unexpected turn that Kim Dong-Ni delivers on the story’s final page.

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In contrast to the suspenseful unraveling of the title story, “Deungsin-bul” presents an eerily understated history of an unusual statue housed in a temple somewhere “to the north of the Yangtze River”. The unnamed narrator, a deserter from the Imperial Japanese Army, seeks refuge in the temple only to become apprenticed to the monk charged with caring for the peculiar statue. A strange connection between the narrator and the statue (known as Deungsin-bul) is evident from the outset, but the exact nature of the tie remains obscure even after the story is finished.

Closure in the conventional sense eludes the reader in both of the tales that make up The Cry of the Magpies, but much of the allure of Kim Dong-Ni’s writing lies in its refusal to put the world comfortably back in order.

Anyone eager to be unsettled by accounts of the psychological tolls of war will find what they’re looking for here.

By Elton LaClare This article was first seen in the Gwangju Blog

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Cartoon

Gwangju News April 2011 39

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Living Tips

Housing Lease Terms tarting this month Gwangju News takes some extracts out of the GIC’s excellent Gwangju Guidebook, which offers excellent hints and tips of where to go and what to do in the city, as well as some excellent living tips. Here it looks to offer some help on all you might need to know when it comes to getting accommodation in the city.

S

Jeonse 전 세 (Key money) Jeonse is an old traditional rental system in Korea.

Basically it allows you to receive your entire deposit back once you move out. This system has slowly decreased, but sometimes still prevails in the 주택 (one or two stories house) rental.

• Deposit is returned upon termination of contract (without interest) • No monthly payments • Contract period of minimum 1 year or 2 years in average.

• 10 percent of the total deposit should be paid when signing the contract. The remaining should be paid when you move in.

• Tenants are responsible for maintenance and utilities, both of which should be all settled when moving out.

Wolse 월 세 (Monthly payment) There are two kinds of monthly payments: 1. Deposit to be paid to the owner for the term of lease, amounting around 10 to 20 percent of the monthly rent.

You also have to pay the rent fee every month.

Depending on the contract, your deposit may be returned to you upon termination of contract.

2. Advanced payment of the monthly rent at a set date of every month is required for the entire lease term. No deposit is required. This system is popular among migrant workers who cannot afford huge deposits or key money.

Signing Contracts: 1. Consult a real estate agency registered by the government. (A real estate agent will provide information and services such as registration and contract.)

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2. You may have to pay 10 percent of the deposit or one month rent fee to the owner when you sign the contract (the rest should be paid when you move in.)

3. Show your alien registration card at the relevant office.

4. You have to report change of address to the immigration within 14 days of your moving.

5. When you sign the contract, write it in English. Any documents written by foreigners in English have a stronger legal force under the Housing Rental Protection Act by the government.

6. Departing residents are required to settle all outstanding accounts including utilities, phone bills, etc. Tenants who move out also have the responsibility of disposing of things before the new tenant moves in.

One-room or Officetel These are especially f o r individuals who stay and work far away from their hometowns and are unable to afford a “one-room” apartment or an office-tel. This economical residence provides a place for an individual to study, work and sleep, which is relatively safe, as there is an owner who oversees the security of the building. Men and women are allocated different floors in the building.

The office-tel is a suitable living option for one or two people. The one-room is a more economical option; the office-tel is more suited for both residential and commercial purposes. The office-tel is more expensive with a bigger living space and more facilities in the room.

Payment option: Jeonse (deposit) or deposit + monthly rent Room size: One or two rooms Facilities: Kitchen, air conditioner, refrigerator, bathroom, Internet access

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Living Tips

Apartment The option of renting an unfurnished apartment is m o r e economically friendly for individuals living in Gwangju for an extended s t a y .

Apartments have few facilities and amenities and usually must be purchased separately.

Gosiwon Originally, gosiwon referred to a house in which people studied to pass their examinations. Nowadays, gosiwon have become a highly popular residence option.

Price range: 150,000 won - 300,000 won per month (includes security and building management expenses) Room facilities: Bed, desk, chair, Internet access Communal facilities: TV, lavatory, shower room, refrigerator, kitchen, washing machine (This is dependent on the cost of the gosiwon; a more costly room will come with a bathroom and a refrigerator for one’s personal use.)

Payment option: 1. Wolse: Deposit (Bojeunggeum) + monthly rent rate 2. Jeonse: Whole deposit w/o monthly rent (usually for two years.)

3. Purchase: These options can be varied when you are negotiating with the house owner.

Check out Gwangju Guidebook online at www.gwangjuguide.or.kr (English) or www.gwangjuzhinan.or.kr (Chinese).

We are looking for volunteers for factchecking and copy-editing. Korean and English-speaking foreigners needed. Contact karina@gic.or.kr.

Getting Married in Korea When my husband and I decided to get married in Korea, we had no idea how difficult it would be to get information. Everywhere we turned, we were told it was impossible for two foreigners to get married in Korea. For any nonKoreans wishing to tie the knot in Korea, this is what you will have to do.

Here’s what you will need: 1. Passports 2. Alien registration cards 3. Certificates of no impediment to marriage from your countries (original and Korean translation) 4. Two witnesses With these documents, you can then head to 종 로구청 (Jungno District office) in Seoul. You get there by taking subway Line#1 and getting off at 종각 (Jongkak), Exit#1. At the Jungo District Office, there is a section for international marriages and the clerk speaks English. You and your witnesses will need to complete a form and present your documents, after which you will receive your marriage registration within a few minutes. The cost for this is a mere 400 won. The marriage certificate is in Korean, but the good news is there is an office just across the street from Jungno District office where you can get the certificates translated and notarized within 20 minutes. The translator speaks many languages, including French, English, Russian and Spanish.

As you can see, the process is not difficult at all; it’s just that the information was not readily available. If you do decide to get married in Korea, we wish you all the best.

By Georgia Bryan

Gwangju News April 2011

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Fashion

Fash-On with xxl jjdp T

his month is all about making what you already own more fashionable.

show off more leg. Trust me - these are a summer staple and will quickly become your go-to shorts.

Customization and innovation are the key to the multi-billion dollar industry that seemingly tells us every season that what we wore in the last one is now passe/hideous and that we should change. Well it is all good to say that we should all go out and buy an entire new wardrobe. This however bypasses that; the essence of fashion is reinvention and innovation.

Scissors are our friend, therefore don’t be afraid to tackle the rest of your closet either. If your t-shirt neckline is not working for you, turn your crew neck into a V-neck. It belongs to you - individualize!

In this edition of Fash-on with xxl jjdp we will be customising some clothing for spring/summer and with a few minor tweaks to your existing wardrobe, I’ll show you that being more Fashon-able is easier than ever. We will also be covering some key colors and trends for the upcoming season.

Here’s how to do it: Purchase any inexpensive hoody in a summer fabric cotton/t-shirt material works best - not a thick winter hoody.

Some like to follow, some like to lead. Others like me, take scissors to my clothing and re-imagine and rework them. Whoever said that you have to wear your belt buckle in the front? Move that sucker to the side and make an impact. Scarf = headband = belt. See, it’s as easy as that. Be free - you paid for it, so enjoy it!

Open your mind and look at things in a different way.

To start off with we are going to be converting some old jeans into summer shorts.

Really easy to do - I found that these shorts quickly became my summer staple. What is more comfortable than a worn-in pair of jeans right? Search your closet and find a pair of jeans that have become a bit tattered at the hem-line. Now breathe new life into them by chopping them off with an ordinary pair of household scissors just below the knee. Always be more lenient with the first cut as you can always shorten them. If you do need to shorten them, simply roll them up.

Cut off jeans

Girls can generally afford to go a little shorter to

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Another customizable piece is a backless hoody. Well, not completely backless, rather more of a focal piece.

All you have to do is: In the front cut vertically from the centre of the neckline down to create an opening. Basically creating the opening for a zip-up hoody without the zip. This makes it easier to slip on.

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Fashion

Backless hoody - Lotte Mart; BigBang Tshirt Uniqlo ➡ Spring palette - pastels

Now in the back cut an arc starting at the nape of the neck down the shoulder to about elbow length. Do not cut all the way down! Repeat on the other side.

Now drape the remaining fabric towards the inside of the hoody. And there you go: backless hoody. Ready to take the city by storm.

Now here are some easy additions to your wardrobe that will help you stand out.

This is the easiest of all. Take a dark colored cotton t-shirt and sprinkle with household bleach to achieve a splatter effect. Remember to wash the shirt first before wearing it.

Splatter T-shirt

As a general rule always own a standard pair of black socks.

They always come in handy. White socks had their heyday with Micheal Jackson’s “Thriller” and well, should rather be left exclusively for when you exercise.

Socks/ Hosiery

But spotted on the runways all over the world is the emergence of colorful socks to take a drab and dreary suit or pencil skirt to the next level. Use vivid color to highlight or accent what you are wearing. I am a devotee to Uniqlo’s range of socks.

Hosiery for ladies is more accessible - so add some vivid color and pattern to make a statement to your everyday dressing.

The Straw Trilby. This sun protector brilliantly takes you from casual to The Ultimate Summer Hat cool without breaking the bank.

The Korean sun can be very harsh. You can stay protected from the harsh rays and still look like you are going to an amazing summer festival.

Finally, colors for this spring/summer palette range from delicious bright bursts of energy to calmer and cooling pastels. But the main point is immerse yourself in color.

Remember its Fash-on, re-imagine and have fun!

By xxl jjdp Photos by Billy Cho (Shot on locaton atop of GFN Headquarters)

➡ Colored socks and trainers Gwangju News April 2011

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Entertainment

Iron Maiden

eviving musical memories of years past is an opportunity that should not be missed. Rare is the chance to see a big-name band perform live in concert in Gwangju, so a trip to Seoul was necessary in order to see a favorite band of yesteryear: Iron Maiden. In case you’ve never heard, they’re a “heavy metal” rock band from England who’s heyday was in the mid to late 80’s.

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This was Iron Maiden’s first concert in Korea. The show was an entertaining set of classic songs mixed with contemporary numbers from the past decade

(inside a stadium at Olympic Park). Bright flashing lights and ever changing backdrops provided an energetic aesthetic to the arena which was packed with a mix of foreigners and Koreans. It was a blast watching Korean locals belt out the choruses of classic songs like Fear of the Dark and Hallowed Be Thy Name. It was a pleasant surprise to see how (lead singer) Bruce Dickinson’s operatic vocal range was still intact, even after all those years in the business.

There were a few observations of things that seemed odd at the concert. This show had a start time of 8 pm, pretty early for a single band rock show (possibly due to the subway time schedule).

The ticket scalpers looked more like merchants at the local outdoor market. There was a sterile feel to the atmosphere outside the arena since there was no parking lot full of “metal heads” blasting tunes from their cars. Actually, there wasn’t any music to be heard until you stepped through the large doors and into the arena. No alcohol was permitted inside. Seeing businessmen wearing suits to a rock concert was also a first.

Using a few vacation days to see a classic rock band was well worth it. Hopefully Korea gets many more chances to see big bands such as Iron Maiden perform live. They might be past their prime, but they can still rock the house and draw fans from all over the world under one roof to rock together.

By Stephen Redeker

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Entertainment

Gwangju News’

K-pop H

ello Everyone! This is Jdragon a lover of everything KPOP!

Kpop is not just about the catchy music but also about television dramas which have become its own subculture.

In this edition we will take a look at some of the most popular dramas that you should check out.

Kdramas are highly addictive and the most recent offering that is still enrapturing all media outlets is the super successful show Secret Garden. Its cast has shot into superstardom and every television advert around these days is basically a parody of its most memorable scenes i.e capuccino and ab crunch kisses. The soundtrack was also one of the top selling albums of last year.

Another recent drama was Dream High. The show is a local version of the American classic FAME, which is jam-packed with idols’ stars from groups such as Miss A, Tiara, 2pm, IU and entertainment mega-boss producer Park Jin Young (JYP) himself. Its soundtracks have also rocketed up charts and occupied numerous spots on the GFN “K-popular” top twenty countdown.

Other notable series from this year so far are My Princess which deals with reviving the Korean Monarchy, and Sign, which is a great criminal investigation drama.

But my love for Korean dramas started with some classics that everyone in Korea, young and old, all hold dear.

The first drama being Boys Before Flowers, a school drama. Through a rare coincidence an average girl meets the four richest and most spoiled boys in the country.

The story deals with school relations, betrayal and ultimately falling in love. This one had me up until 4 a.m. just watching this amazing story. It is also rumoured to be the instigator for many men getting themselves a lovely perm.

I have also been addicted to Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

Set in a university during the Joseon era and revolving around the exploits and love stories of four youths. A talented young girl enters this prestigious university as a boy, ultimately creating much fun and drama. This is also a great way to get more exposure to the history of Korea.

For those not fluent in Korean the soaps are also available online through many portal sites with English translations.

Check out the links below and enjoy! www.koreandrama.tv www.dramacrazy.net www.mysoju.com I assure you that there will be hours of laughter and tears in store for you.

By JDragon JDragon is one half of the dynamic K-pop duo who bring you GFN98.7FM’s KPOPULAR daily. Listen on www.gfn.or.kr right after the midday news.

Gwangju News April 2011

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Food and Drink

lxÇ cafe & pasta ecently I heard of a new Italian restaurant that has opened up in the middle of downtown Gwangju. Found in the alleyway leading up to the Speakeasy, Yen is a small establishment with a quaint, red façade. I hadn’t seen Yen before going to dine there for the first time, so didn’t know what to expect of it other than that it serves Italian food. When seeing it for the first time, I got the impression that it is a small, quiet place where a young couple might go on a date, or where a group of girlfriends might meet for lunch.

Perhaps not the type of place I’d usually dine at, but I went in anyway as I wanted to taste the food.

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Upon entering the restaurant, my friends and I were warmly and confidently greeted by the woman in front of the house. The ambience of Yen’s interior was different from its rustic exterior, as it had a more modern feel, with white painted walls and black tables. The cute factor was still very much present though, as some of the empty chairs had giant teddy bears in them, confirming my suspicion that young couples are one of the restaurant’s target clientele.

My friends and I were seated and given menus. All considerations of atmosphere aside, I was immediately impressed with the menu, as Yen had opted to keep their menu relatively simple, which is something that all good restaurants do. The two primary things to order were pasta and risotto, as well as various teas, coffees, and

soft drinks. I was also impressed by the reasonable prices of the various pasta and risotto dishes, which were all between 8,500 to 10,500 Won. The waitress provided excellent service, promptly pouring us water, and a giving us a couple of small cheese fondues with a bite size piece of buttered bread as service. After a couple of minutes she then came back and took our orders. We only had to wait around 10 or 15 minutes for our food to arrive. I got the Mozzarella Pomodoro. A couple of my friends got the Alfredo, another got the Pomodoro, and another got one of the risottos. I was pleasantly surprised at the portion sizes.

A couple of times I’ve been to Italian restaurants in Gwangju and been served a gigantic bowl of pasta with a gallon of cream that’s supposed to pass as sauce. Not the case at Yen. The dishes were served in nice bowls, and were a more modest size, with a high sauce to pasta ratio, more in fitting with how pasta is eaten in Italy.

I found my dish to be pretty good, and was pleased to find I couldn’t taste an absurd amount of sugar in the tomato sauce; the pasta had a bit of bite to it as opposed to being over boiled, soft, and mushy, which was also a sign that the chef knew what they were doing. I was also happy at the level of garlic in the tomato sauce as it’s something that I love. I thought that the sauce could’ve been thicker and there could’ve been more mozzarella in it, but overall I was happy with my meal. All of my friends that I was with were also happy with theirs.

The cuteness factor was stepped up a notch after we had finished our meals as the waitress came over with a Polaroid and took our photo to put on a wall in the restaurant. Then we paid the bill and said goodbye to the excellent staff.

Thus I can recommend Yen as a place to go with a small group of people for a quiet, reasonably priced, tasty meal.

By Gabriel Ward Photos by Stephen Redeker

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Food and Drink

Korean Easy-Cook Recipe

상추튀김

(Sangchu Twigim)

Lettuce Fritter

How to make LettuceFritters

ettuce fritters were made in Gwangju first. Many people think lettuce fritters are fried lettuce because of the name. But that’s wrong. Lettuce fritters are various fritters wrapped in lettuce.

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Usually in lettuce fritters, deep-fried squid is used. A few years ago, in a TV program, a quiz asked, “In Lettuce Fritters, Is there lettuce or not?” Of course, the answer was ‘no’.

It was a popular food in the 1980s~1990s in Gwangju.

Near the downtown, there is a little restaurant that has served Lettuce Fritters for over 30 years. But many people from other parts of Korea don’t know lettuce fritters. Still, there are many restaurants selling lettuce fritters in Gwangju.

Nowadays, there are many new franchise lettuce fritter restaurants near universities. Because it’s not expensive food, many students enjoy eating this.

By Hee-seon Yang

Things to prepare (two servings): A squid, carrot 25g, sesame leaves 8g, flour 120g, cold water 150ml, cooking oil, soy sauce 20ml, carrot 10g, pepper 10g, sesame

Cooking method: 1. Wash squid. Remove skin and cut it into slices.

2. Cut the carrot and sesame leaves into small pieces.

3. Mix all the ingredients: squid, carrot, sesame leaves, flour and water.

4. Spoon mixture into heated oil around 170~180C. Fry them.

5. To make soy sauce seasoning: Put onion, pepper and sesame into soy sauce.

6. Enjoy fritters with soy sauce seasoning and lettuce.

Gwangju News April 2011

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Food and Drink

Kebab Man, Carlos Vargas

s expats in Korea, one of the things we often miss most is the food of our younger years : the cuisine we left back in our home countries.

While Korean food is entirely amazing, delicious, healthy and cheap, there is sometimes a startling lack of variety among the common fare of the peninsula, leaving some palates itching for a flavor once lost but not forgotten.

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Lately, some local expat foodies have been stepping up the game in order to bring us all the familiar dishes we know and love. The warming of the weather with the oncoming of spring has brought us just one such new vendor – Carlos Vargas: The Kebab Guy. A bit of an entrepreneur, Carlos is friendly, hardworking, and savvy. You can often find him outside the late night expat drinking holes here in Gwangju, a line of hungry inebriates forming around him.

Carlos has a background in cooking. After searching for a low cost hobby to launch in Korea, he found the hot ticket during a trip up to the capital: “I was inspired to create The Kebab Scooter my first trip to Itaewon. After tasting one kebab and seeing the frenzy that surrounded Ankara Kebab, I knew this was something that I wanted to do.”

Don't let the fez throw you. His parents are Puerto Rican, and he grew up in New Jersey, but he cooks one mean kebab. His prowess with this Middle Eastern–style snack is proven by the fact that he is constantly surrounded by both foreigners and

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Koreans during peak hours, some of whom are having perhaps their first taste of kebab ever.

“I learned to cook originally from my mom, who was a great cook. She has inspired me to get in the kitchen since I was a child,” Carlos humbly reminisced.

So how does he pull it off? A lot of dedication and drive, perhaps, combined with a little help from his friends.

“I get a lot of my stuff from The Underground Grocer, as they have a lot of the spices, tortillas, and chicken that I need. I use a local produce provider in Yongbong-dong for my veggies. I really enjoy that after over two years of talking about selling kebabs to everyone and anyone that would listen, I am finally out there doing it. It gives me a real sense of accomplishment. It is also very nice to receive so many compliments from my peers. My first day open was overwhelming, as everyone made me feel like a super star. I really appreciated all the positive feedback that I received.”

You could easily see Carlos and his cart becoming symbolic of the wave of foreigners who've come to Gwangju. As people from all over the world begin to make this city their home, we hope to see more of such cultural displays (particularly when it comes to delicious food). It looks like the future is bright for Carlos and for Gwangju.

Story and photo by Seth Pevey

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Health

Hanbang Cosmetics & Beverages osmetics is a big industry in Korea, and hanbang cosmetics are a large part of this industry. To show its importance, the two top hanbang cosmetic products – Sulwhasoo and Sooryehan – were given as presents to the first lady of each country who attended the 2010 G20 Summit in Seoul. Hanbang products are also internationally renowned.

You can find hanbang cosmetics in department stores in cities like Hong-Kong and New York. But despite their popularity, not many people know what hanbang cosmetics are.

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What are hanbang cosmetic products made of?

According to a survey conducted in 2010 by Daily Cosmetic about half of the 580 participants thought hanbang cosmetics was a mixture of cosmetics and oriental medicine while the other half thought it was cosmetics made with medicinal herbs. Both answers are partially correct, but because the KFDA (Korean Food and Drug Association) does not have a standard for hanbang cosmetics, each company has made its own standards. This can be confusing, but in general, products can be placed into one of three categories: 1. Pure and authentic.

- All made of active ingredients from oriental medicine with no chemical components.

2. Common - A mixture of cosmetics and active ingredient from oriental medicine 3. Common Natural - No oriental medicine components but using natural components What are the benefits of hanbang cosmetics?

According to the same survey, about 30 percent of respondents said that hanbang cosmetics produced excellent results, while a smaller number claimed that it had less side effects than other cosmetic products. The effectiveness of cosmetics containing hanbang varies according to the ingredients and mixing process. For example, Shulwhasoo uses traditional techniques called pose (포제) to make the oriental ingredients more effective. It includes red ginseng which is good for removing wrinkles. According to its makers, their product allows collagen to build deep in the skin attacking wrinkles from the inside.

There are many brands to choose from in the hanbang cosmetic range. It can be difficult to find the right product for you, so it’s a good idea to check the ingredients and ask hanbang cosmetic users for recommendations.

Along with well-being trends, nowadays many people are paying attention to hanbang (Korean-medicine). In Korea, everyone knows how good hanbang is for their body, but because of its smell and taste, many people get far away from it. But, there’s a way you can enjoy hanbang easily in your life: its beverages. Many beverages that consist of hanbang ingredients have less smell and a less bitter taste.

Beverage 流 Ryu (Nae momae he rel ryu) Ryu means “flowing all over the body", and this new concept tea takes care of the inside of your body. Ryu contains buckwheat which is effective for your body’s circulation, and 15 kinds of ingredients carefully selected from traditional oriental medicines. It also contains ingredients like dried orange peel, mushroom, ginseng, persimmon leaves and mulberry leaves. Even though it is made of so many ingredients, its taste is similar to normal tea.

Jungkwanjang Hwalsam (정관장 활삼) Jungkwanjang Hwalsam offers, in my opinion, the best range of red ginseng drinks. They all contain a six-year old red ginseng concentrate from Jungkwanjang (Jungkwanjang is red ginseng brand of the Korea Ginseng Corporation which has a 110 year history). Red ginseng is effective in activating the digestive functions, overcoming fatigue and strengthening your immune system. The taste could be a little bitter than normal drinks, but in Korea there’s an old saying: “몸에 좋은 약은 입에 쓰다”. This means the medicine which is good for your health can be bitter when you take it.

Hutgae tea (헛개차) Hutgae tea is made from the fruit of the hutgae tree and is well-known for being very effective in relieving hangovers and protecting the liver. The company that makes this tea insists that it is a beverage especially good for men and it will support frustrated fathers and husbands. This beverage gives off a pleasant aroma like nurungji – the crust of overcooked rice – and tastes similar to regular tea.

All these products are easily found in markets and are also convenient to take. Every day, drink a small amount of hanbang tea. It will keep you healthy on the inside and on the outside, and make your skin soft.

By Jung-kyu Baek and Ki-eun Lee Gwangju News April 2011

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Community Board

GIC News GIC Journal: Social Discourse of Disquiet A new space for writers, artists and photographers. This publication allows people to explore different forms of art in South Korea. We would like to bridge the gap between arts that are perhaps lost in translation. We would like to hear your ideas and opinions.

If you would like to get involved please e-mail selina.gicjournal@gmail.com Please join our facebook group - GIC Journal: Social Discourse of Disquiet.

Please look at the work-in-progress at http://gicjournal.wordpress.com Check out the "What's On" page for art events in Gwangju.

Gwangju Chaoreum Taekwondo Address: 1187-3 Chipyeong-dong Seo-gu, Gwangju Phone: 062-384-0958 Location: Chaoreum Taekwondo Gym is located on the third floor of Jeong-yeon (K-1) building (just beside the bus stop) Buses : 62, 63, 64, 518 (bus stop: 상무대우아 파트 - Sangmu Daewoo Apateu) Taxi directions: "Sangmujigu Kumho Daewoo Apart ro gajuseyo".

Method of instruction is in English Weekday Classes: 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.(from Monday to Friday) Sunday Classes: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Community

Middle School.

Busses: 29, 38, 39, 62, 97, 98, 99 Get off at Yeonggwang-tong intersection bus stop and walk toward Songjeong Middle School.

Sunday masses: 10 a.m. (Indonesian/ East Timor); 3 p.m. (English) at the Migrant Center; 6 p.m. (Vietnamese) 2nd Sunday: 11 a.m. Mass for multi-cultural families Migrant’s Counsel Center is open!

Gwangju Apostolate Migrant Center was appointed as the Supporting Center for Foreign Workers by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea. Workers and employers with problems can be given help and advice from counselors.

Tel: 062-959-9335/ 019-588-2133/ 011-96027266

Meditation Session

Scavenger Hunt @ Speakeasy

Gwangju Jumbo Taxi

There will be Meditation Session offered every Saturday from 5 - 6 p.m. after the GIC Talk.

Anyone is welcome to join although RSVP is preferred. Fifteen-minute Introduction to Meditation followed with 30-minute sitting. The remaining time will include a reading from ‘The Compass of Zen’. Bring a firm cushion to sit on and a light warm blanket. Jeans are not recommended. Please contact the GIC for more info.

Groups, consisting of up to four members, will meet at 7p.m. at Speakeasy for a 8p.m. start.

They’ll be given a set of tasks and set out into the maze downtown, before returning. The groups are given only one hour to complete as many tasks as they can. Afterwards a few drinking games and competitions will be hosted to keep the camaraderie going well into the night. There will also be a chance to give an optional donation to the Sungbin Orphanage, a home for girls in Gwangju.

If you’re traveling in a big party or simply need transportation in and around Gwangju, Gwangju Jumbo Taxi provides service to Bus Terminal, Airport and others. With a seat capacity of up to 9 people, you can travel in comfort. Friendy and hospitable, Mr. Kim will help you travel with safety and comfort.

Whether you are going from/ to Gwangju Airport or simply to travel around the city, give Jumbo Taxi a call.

Call to reserve at 010-5086-7799 (Mr.Kim) or refer to www.gjtaxi.co.kr for the price list.

Gwangju Guidebook Volunteers Help GIC update the second version of Gwangju Guidebook due to print on October 2011. Korean and English speakers needed for fact checking and copy editing. Contact karina@gic.or.kr for more information.

Art Gwangju Artist Collective Artists and Art Lovers, we invite you to meet up monthly at GIC for workshops, chat and encouragement. Stop in to discuss your art and community art events.

Facebook: Gwangju Artist Collective E-mail: gwangjumaria@yahoo.com

Sports Gwangju Men’s Soccer The Gwangju international soccer team plays regularly most weekends. If you are interested in playing, e-mail: gwangju_soccer@yahoo.com.

Gwangju Ice Hockey Team Looking for men and women of all ages to join us every Saturday night from 7:30 to 9 at Yeomju Ice Rink near World Cup Stadium. If you are interested, contact either Andrew Dunne at atdunne@gmail.com or Chris Wilson at kreeco@rogers.com

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Each task will be on a points based system, so the harder the task, the more points you get. Thus, whichever group has completed the most high point-based tasks, will most likely be the winner. We have a 100,000 won bar tab for our first place winners, vouchers from First Nepal and prizes from Teach ESL Korea News Recruitment and Speakeasy.

There’s only a maximum capacity for 50 people on a first come, first served basis.

Anyone interested can sign up by searching for ‘TESL Korea’ on Facebook. Or visit the forum (found under the community page) at www.teslkoreanews.com, or email teslknews@gmail.com.

Sung Bin Orphanage Sung Bin Orphanage is looking for creative/ active/ energetic/ outgoing/ enthusiastic longterm volunteers to join in our regular Saturday program. We would like you to give at least two Saturdays per month. As well as being a friend, you will be asked to teach basic English to girls aged 7 to 14. Meet every Saturday at 1.30 p.m. in front of downtown Starbucks. All are welcome. For more volunteering information please contact Al Barnum at: al_barnum@yahoo.com.

Apostolate to Migrants Center Address: 802-4 Songjeong -2dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Phone: 062-954-8004 Subway: Get off at Songjeong Park (송정공 원) Station and walk toward Songjeong

Anasura Yoga Workshop with Shauna Hylenski Venue: GIC Date: April 16-17 from 11 am - 1 pm (please arrive before 11 and bring a mat) Workshop Costs: Payment made before April 9: 1 day 50,000 won (either Saturday or Sunday; 2 days 90,000 won(Both Saturday and Sunday) Payment made after April 9:1 day 60,000 won; 2 days 100,000 won Saturday Program: 11 am - 1 pm: Opening to Grace within You and around You 1 - 2.30 pm: Lunch Break 2.30 - 4.30 pm: Universal Principles of Alignment Sunday Program: 11 am - 1 pm: Step into the flow 1 - 2.30 pm: Lunch Break 2.30 - 4.30 pm: Shift your perspective For any other questions and to register, please contact Andrea Hildebrand : andybrand9@gmail.com

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GIC Talk/ Advertisement

[ GIC Talk ]

Time & Place: Every Saturday, 3-4:30 pm, GIC office (5th floor of Jeon-il Bldg) For more information, visit www.gic.or.kr or contact Moon So-eun at: gwangjuic@gmail.com Check out pictures from previous GIC Talks http://picasaweb.google.com/gictalk Click for the highlight clips of GIC Talk at www.youtube.com/user/GICTALK

April 2 Topic: Maybe questions are the answer Speaker: Nate Kent (Host of the radio program Sunday Bubble on GFN) Some people think that living and learning in a foreign environment has to be difficult. What if it could be easier than you thought?

Perhaps this is your first time dealing with a different culture. Maybe you are having a tough time relating to your current work environment. These are practical and immediately applicable strategies for overcoming perceived difficulties and obstacles you may have during your stay in Korea, or traveling overseas to study.

April 9 Topic: Opening of an art exhibition Speaker: John Jackson

April 23 Topic: Internal Displacement in Colombia: Public and Socioeconomic Policy Speaker: Juan Esteban Zea, M.A. (Portland State University) It is estimated four million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Colombia who have fled due to violence have migrated to urban centers. Based on ethnographic research between April and September 2009, the speaker will share how many IDPs resettle in Bogotá, Colombia--the country's capital. The GIC Talk will present the violence, administrative problems, and the changing laws concerning IDPs in the last fifteen years.

April 30 Topic: Gun Culture in America Speaker: Robert Grotjohn (Professor at Chonnam National University)

For more information, please see page 8

April 16 Topic: Meditation Speaker: Jennifer Ullrich This talk will begin with a few various meditation techniques. There will be seated meditation, soen-yu breathing, a dharma talk, and a Q&A on anything attendees may want to talk about in a safe and supportive environment. Meditation has been proven to help calm the mind, cleanse the body, usher forth clarity, bring a deeper understanding of oneself and others, and help one find more meaning in life.

Gun culture has a long tradition in the United States. Indeed, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (ratified in 1791) guarantees “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.”

Controversy about that right was in the news recently when, on January 8, Gabrielle Giffords, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona, was shot as she held a “Congress on Your Corner” meeting with constituents outside a grocery store near Tucson. What is the history of gun culture in the U.S.? What are some of the issues concerning gun control? How might we interpret the Second Amendment for today?

2011 GIC 3rd Korean Language Class Please register by May 10, 2011 Saturday Classes

Weekday Classes Level

Days

Textbook

Level

Textbook

Beginner 1-1

Monday & Wednesday

서강한국어 1A (Pre-lesson ~ Lesson 1)

Beginner 1-1

서강한국어 1A (Pre-lesson ~ Lesson 1)

Beginner 2-1

Tuesday & Thursday

서강한국어 1B (Lesson 1 ~ Lesson 4)

Beginner 1-2

서강한국어 1A (Lesson 2 ~ 6)

Beginner 2-2

Monday & Wednesday

서강한국어 1B (Lesson 5 ~ Lesson 8)

Beginner 2-1

서강한국어 1B (Lesson 1 ~ 4)

Intermediate

서강한국어 2B (Lesson 1 ~ 4)

- Period: May 16 – June 30, 2011 (Twice a week for 7 weeks)

- Class hours: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (2 hours) - Tuition fee : 80,000 won (GIC membership fee: 20,000 won/ year and textbooks excluded) cash only

e

Not

* The tuition fee is non-refundable after the first week. * A class may be canceled if fewer than 5 people sign up. * Textbooks can be purchased at the GIC

- Period: May 14 – June 23, 2011 (Every Saturday for 7 weeks)

- Class hours: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

(2 hours) - Tuition fee: 50,000 won (GIC membership fee: 20,000 won/ year and textbooks excluded) cash only

GIC is located on the 5th floor of the Jeon-il building, the same building as the Korean Exchange Bank, downtown. The entrance is located immediately to the north of the bank. Contact GIC office for more information.

Phone: 062-226-2733/4 E-mail: gwangjuic@gmail.com Website: www.gic.or.kr

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