(EN) Gwangju News August 2010 #102

Gwangju News International Magazine for Gwangju and Jeollanam-do

August 2010 Issue No. 102

Contributors

Contents

Gwangju News August 2010, Issue No. 102

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The River is Us: The Controversy Surrounding the Four Rivers Restoration Project

By Alva French

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The Korean Way No.90: Liberation and Birth of a Nation By 2Ys

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Kang Un-tae: Newly elected major of Gwangju

By Gwangju City Hall

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In Jae-jin: Gwangju World Music Festival Artistic Director

By Doug Stuber

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Gwangju World Music Festival

Publisher: Shin Gyong-gu Editor-in-Chief: Maria Lisak Editor: Jon Ozelton, Kim Min-su Copy Editor: Solim Sirgey Photo Editor: Debra M. Josephson Coordinator: Karina Prananto Layout and Design: Karina Prananto Proofreaders: Pete Schandall, Solim Sirgey, Katie Rayner, Sam Richter, Julian Raethel, Valerie Nyczak, Austin Lewis, Marion Gregory, Steve Salinger, James Bland Address: Jeon-il Building 5F, Geumnam-no 1-1, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-758, South Korea Phone: +82-62-226-2734

Fax: +82-62-226-2732

Email: gwangjunews@gmail.com

By Doug Stuber 14

A Cultural Experience in Gwangju: Art Class Builds Community, Inspires Understanding

By Laurie Johns

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Downright Dirty - The Boryeong Mud Festival

Website: gwangjunews.net

Registration No.: 광주광역시 라. 00145 Printed by Saenal (Phone +82-62-223-0029) Cover Photo: Montage showing some of the artists who will be performing in the upcoming Gwangju World Music Festival. Main picture, then clockwise: Mariana Baraj, Kim Duk-soo Samulnori, Nah Youn-sun, Mamaku Project, Ithamara Koorax, Sukiafrica. All photos © 2010 Asia World Music Festival. See page 12 for more.

By Julian Raethel 18

Uncheon Pond Reborn

By J.B.

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K-League Football

By Finbarr Bermingham

Gwangju News Magazine is written and edited by volunteers.

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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.

Living Tips: Tips about Korean Language and How to Learn it Effectively

By Mheng

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Useful Korean Phrases

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.

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Photo Contest

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Art Projects for Children

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

By Kang Nang-won

By Doug Stuber 28

For Our Earth...

By Trevor Homeniuk

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Sojourn in the City of Light

By George Palafox

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Restaurant Review: Il-Mare

By Kammy Benham

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Korean Easy Cook Recipe: 미역국 Miyeokguk

By Kim Mi-so

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Cartoon: Digby

By Leroy Kucia

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Movie Review: Haeundae 해운대

By Adam Bourque

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2010 Asia Culture Forum

By Ahn Hong-pyo

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Upcoming Events Gwangju News August 2010

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Feature

The River Is Us: The Controversy Surrounding the Four Rivers Restoration Project y 2012, South Korean President Lee Myungbak’s administration will have spent 22.2 trillion won ($17.7 billion) on a controversial construction project aimed at restoring the nation’s four major rivers. The cornerstone of Lee’s Green New Deal is the Four Rivers Restoration Project.. The aim is to revitalize the Han, Nakdong, Yeongsan and Geum rivers by dredging rivers and streams, building reservoirs and dams, expanding sewage treatment facilities and creating jobs. Finalized in 2009, the project is said to help build tourist zones around the major rivers and counterbalance river contamination from recent decades of industrialization.

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reinforced the aims of the project to the global community. “The project aims to eliminate environmental contamination caused during the country’s industrialization in the second half of the 20th century. The riverbeds will be dredged and cleaned up. Unlike a dam project that submerges a large area of adjacent land or forest under a reservoir, the project takes an innovative approach, which will

While all of this sounds great in theory, many environmental and religious groups are calling upon the government to halt the project fearing it may do more damage than good in regards to delicate wetlands and biodiversity around the country. Foreigners and Koreans are joining together to educate the international community on the Four Rivers Project and why they feel it could have a disastrous impact on the environment.

In May 2010, Gwangju News joined about 30 foreigners and Koreans who toured Yeoju along the Han River with the Eco-Horizons Institute to learn more about the possible devastation that could be caused by Four Rivers Project. Together they explored areas that have already been constructed and others in the pre-construction phase.

President Lee’s Stance Despite criticism, Lee’s administration has vowed to press on with it as it announced its intentions to “aggressively carry out the Four Major River Restoration Project to re-store the ecosystems around Korea’s four major rivers” in support of the 2010 UN designated Year of Biodiversity.

In a leading international report, Gicana 7, Lee 4

Gwangju News August 2010

Map of the river and dams.

Birds Korea

Feature

enable the four rivers to constantly hold 1.3 billion tons of water, which is enough to resolve the nation’s water shortage. When the ecosystem is revived, water quality will be improved substantially, the biological diversity preserved, and the quality of life enhanced remarkably.

What is more, the river areas will turn into the bases for green growth, as tourism, leisure and industrial activities will contribute to local livelihoods.”

While referencing a previous pet project, the Cheonggye Stream project, carried out under his tenure as mayor of Seoul, Lee proudly asserted his favorable track record in bringing eco-friendly projects to fruition.

Opposition Mounts However, nicknamed “the Bulldozer” from his early days in construction, some have privately accused President Lee of cronyism by using the project to get jobs for his old boys’ network. The recent death of a construction worker on the project due to stroke has made some even more skeptical of the Four Rivers Project. Despite published assurances from the government on the project, many don’t buy the assertion that the Lee administration has the best of intentions.

Ma Yong-un of the Korean Federation of Environmental Movements (KFEM), an NGO that is part of the Friends of the Earth organization, while talking about President Lee stated, “He wants to finish the project before his term ends, so the construction work started in November of last year and everything will be finished before the end of 2012. The government is quite concerned about the opposition from environmental groups, religious groups and the Opposition party. They just want to speed up the initial stage. Some of the construction companies involved in the project work 24 hours a day…Some of the workers work 24 hours a day. In April, they worked 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is normal to work from 6am to 8pm. It’s no wonder the worker at the construction site passed away from being overworked.”

The World Wetlands Network, a group of over 200 NGOs, in an open letter to President Lee and his administration, offered this: “As proposed, the Four Rivers project will lead to a massive loss of biodiversity and cause enormous environmental costs, some of which will be immediate, and others which will emerge longer-term as the rivers and watersheds can no longer function in a natural way.”

Furthermore, “the construction of bicycle trails and resort areas proposed as part of the Four Rivers Project

Kim Jong-kyum of Eco-Horizons Institute explaining before and after photos of a construction site.

Alva French

“All the vegetation has been removed…So we are told that there will be bike paths established when the construction has been completed. This used to be the most beautiful spot of Yeoju, we don’t know how long it will take to recover. 100200 years? We don’t know… [This] leaves us to question the [project’s] agenda. Whether it will really improve the water quality and prevent drought or flooding. Those questions are with us… If we just take one example, water quality improvement. If we dig out the bottom, the natural water purification system will be distorted, and that will not help water quality improvement.” will increase disturbance to sensitive species and systems.” WWN went on to report on how many foreign damming projects were being modified in favor of more progressive solutions. Their letter concluded by asking Lee's administration to cancel the Four Rivers Restoration Project.

Birds Korea, a Busan-based bird and habitat conservation group, recently outlined their concerns of the project. “[It] will impact 50 bird species negatively, causing further declines in several sensitive water bird species that are ecologically dependent on shallow rivers, flood-plain wetlands and estuaries. Having conducted extensive tests on habitat and waterfowl around the country, Birds Korea has also called for a halt to the project..

While acknowledging the current state of pollution of the four major rivers, the government through its website, www.Korea.net, refuted critics by citing the positive benefits of pollution reduction. “Some argue that the project will only leave the ecology in ruins, but Gwangju News August 2010

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Feature

Left: Vanessa Falco, an American activist based in Suwon, organized the walking tour of the construction sites with Eco-Horizons Institute. She shared her thoughts on how she got involved in the fight against the Four Rivers Restoration Project.

Credit: Alva French

“Well, I visited this organic farm, called Paldong and I was listening to the farmers. We were interviewing them and they were saying how the government wanted to destroy their farms and build a bike path and a park. They were explaining how ridiculous it was, in their view. After that, I wanted to go back and talk to them again.. Paldong was the start of all of this. Before that, I had no idea the Four Rivers Project was destructive. I had been reading here and there in newspapers, but usually they had a very conservative stance, which is very compatible with the government.. I had no idea it was destroying instead of restoring. I just read articles from June of last year and I read how it was going to cost $ 22 billion dollars with the goals of preventing flooding, drought and water pollution. At the time, it seemed like that was evidence enough, but then when I was listening to what the farmers were telling me, “We have been here for thirty years.” … Their presence had decreased the nitrates… [Basically] the government is claiming that they need to leave because they are polluting the water! Therefore they have to relocate, which I think is absurd. It upsets me because they say they are restoring the environment, when they are destroying it.”

happening here is destroying the free flowing natural river. It’s not the restoration, but just destruction of the natural river ecosystems.

“We want to survey the impact of the restoration project and publicize this for Korean people, and organize different events for people to see. The developers and construction companies involved in the project would not allow us to go to survey wild plants and animals. The government doesn’t want us to do surveys in the project areas. We sent official letters to the Ministers of Land, Transport and Maritime Ma Yong-un of KFEM, the Korean Federation for Environmental Affairs and the Minister of the Movements, an activist at the forefront of the movement against the Environment…We suggested that Four Rivers Restoration Project shared his views.

Alva French environmental groups and the “According to opinion polls around 70 % of South government set up a joint-committee to survey Korean people do not agree with the Four Rivers wildlife in the project site, but we got no response.

Project. I still think most Korean people do not know what is really happening around the Four Rivers “International interest will help us to conserve the Project...The government keeps saying that they are rivers. We [still] need more international interest building more than 20 dams and [are] dredging and awareness on what is going on the four largest more than 570 million cubic meters of sand and rivers in South Korea. There have been several gravel for the rivers to supply more water for people international media reports, but still not many and prevent flooding, create recreation areas along people know about it.” the river and restore river ecosystems. What is really

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Gwangju News August 2010

Feature

nothing could be further from the truth…Once the project is completed, Korea will have secured extra reservoir space that can contain 1.3 billion cubic meters of water. More water will mean less water pollution, even during the dry season.”

A Separation Between Church and State The project has drawn the ire of religious groups as well. The Catholic Alliance to Stop the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, a group of Korea’s Catholic bishops and believers, has also protested against the Four Rivers Project in droves holding daily life and peace masses nationwide followed by all-night vigils calling for an end to the project.

Gwangju News also met a weak and weary Reverend Soo-kyung who had been protesting since March 2010 at a new construction site near a Buddhist temple.

Some see the construction near a normally off-limits religious sanctuary as a further affront by a Christian president against traditional Buddhist traditions.

Angered by the complete disregard to the sacred grounds of the temple by the Four Rivers Project he urged the group to resist the situation and reflect on Buddhist principles valuing the cycle of life. “We are the river. The river is us. The river is ourselves,” he said.

By Alva French

In late May 2010 another Buddhist monk, Reverend Munsu burned himself in protest of the Four Rivers Project leaving a handwritten will that translates as follows: “[The] Lee Myung-bak administration should stop and scrap the Four Rivers Project. Lee administration should eradicate corruption. [The] Lee administration should try its best to support ordinary, poor and underprivileged people instead of chaebols and rich people.”

The Korea Times, in a June 2, 2010 editorial on Reverend Munsu’s death, summarized the impact of the Buddhist and political conflict: “People, especially government officials, will have to stop and think at least once what has driven the 47-year-old monk to the extreme means of self-immolation, with respect to the controversial river reconstruction project… When the two conflicting arguments are two poles apart to find a middle ground, the only compromise should be sought in taking a more cautious, gradual approach. Yet the Lee administration is pushing ahead with the reconstruction of the nation's largest rivers as if there are no next governments, and despite opposition from a majority of the people. Little surprise then, religious leaders are resisting the ruling elite's unwarranted assumption of infallibility, which the priests believe should belong to only gods.”

On July 17, 2010, thousands gathered in Seoul to mourn Reverend Munsu’s loss.

Handwritten note of Reverend Munsu KFEM/ Ma Yong-un

Gwangju News August 2010

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The Korean Way

The Korean Way No. 90

August 15 (8.15): Liberation and Birth of a Nation

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or South Koreans, 8.15 has a dual meaning. One is the liberation from the 35-year yoke of colonial rule under Japanese from 1910 to 1945 and the other is the birth of the Republic of Korea on August 15 in 1948. The liberation came on August 15 (8.15) in 1945 when the Japanese Emperor Hirohito offered an unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces. When the surrender was made, Korea was not then divided into north and south yet, so the whole of Korea rejoiced at the surrender and celebrated the liberation together. But in early September 1945, the Supreme Allied Force Commander Douglas MacArthur announced that North Korea and South Korea would be governed by Russia and America respectively, divided at the 38th parallel. He said the division was a temporary device just to accept Japanese military surrender. But as everybody knows, the division turned out to be a bone of contention between north and south ever since. Once unification came to this divided land, then all the Korean people, North and South, would really celebrate the true liberation.

As to the other August 15, emotionally overshadowed by the 8.15 liberation, people tend to forget that it also celebrates the birth of the Republic of Korea (ROK) which took place in 1948.

It was in Cairo, Egypt in November 1943 that Winston Churchill of England, Franklin D. Roosevelt of America and Chang Jesu of China met and discussed matters of world affairs after the war. In the Cairo Declaration, the Korea independence was referred to … “in due course Korea shall become free and independent…”

On October 24, 1945, the United Nations was inaugurated with the Russian government’s ratification. The UN intended to govern Korea under trusteeship for some time.

At this news the whole country, North and South, opposed this plan vehemently. Sentiment was: no more foreign rule!

35 years of colonial rule is enough! But all of a sudden, Communists in the North accepted the trusteeship, while the right wing of the South opposed it. The Russo-American Joint Commission which should have dealt with this problem could not even call a meeting with social 8

Gwangju News August 2010

Korean citizens celebrating the end of Japanese colonial rule, 8.15 1945 Naver

organizations and political parties to discuss the problem.

Ensuing Joint Commissions failed to reach any conclusion.

In the end, the Korea question was referred to by the UN Political Committee and there it was decided that a general election should be held over the whole of Korea under UN supervision to establish a lawful government and carry out the withdrawal of Russian and American Forces. To supervise this, the UN General Assembly decided to dispatch the UN Korea Interim Commission to Korea.

But the Russian Military Government in the North did not allow the UN Korea Interim Commission to enter North Korea to supervise the general election. After all, a general election was held only in South Korea (’48.5.10) and the elected delegates formed the Constitutional Assembly (’48.7.17). On July 20, 1948, the Assembly elected a president and vice president of Korea. On August 15, 1948, the Republic of Korea (ROK) was proclaimed and American military government was discontinued. In the North, they held their own election without UN supervision and proclaimed the North the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on September 9, 1948. In December 1948, a UN General Assembly in Paris recognized the Republic of Korea as the only lawful government in Korea.

By 2Ys (An audacious pen name standing for Too Wise, whose real initals are S. S. S.)

Local News

Kang Un-tae Newly elected mayor of Gwangju

“I'd like to build a city full of happiness and creativity for the sake of Gwangju citizens during my tenure.� r. Kang Un-tae was elected as the 11th mayor of Gwangju on July 1, 2010. Mayor Kang said in his inaugural address, "I thought long and hard about the future of Gwangju through participation in state affairs and my political experience after taking office for 9 months in 1995. I will do everything in my power to build a city full of happiness and creativity for the sake of Gwangju citizens."

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He also said, "Gwangju has gone through an array of changes and transition so far, but I firmly believe that a higher dream and brighter future await Gwangju.

Therefore, I will try my utmost in order to build a city full of happiness and creativity together with Gwangju citizens by consolidating its identity as a city of democracy, human rights and peace."

Mayor Kang mentioned that citizens' happiness would be a top priority filling the Gwangju community with creative energy. Five administrative policies for carrying out this objective are as follows: (1) An autonomous community of participation and communication (2) An economic community of prosperity; (3) A cultural community of style; (4) An ecological community of happiness; and (5) A global community of human rights and peace An autonomous community of participation and communication that respect citizens' opinions A 'Round Table of the Gwangju Community' will be organized with the attendance of representatives from all walks of life in order to resolve a lack of communication while discussing pending issues and a future agenda in a social agreement.

A 'Citizen-participating budget system' and 'Citizen auditing system' will be introduced in order to pursue a transparent administration and reflect creative ideas in the private sector. 'Dialogue with citizens' will be also set up every Friday in order to figure out ways to facilitate daily convenience and reform an irrational system.

An 'economic community of prosperity' that generates more and better quality jobs Creating 100,000 jobs will be a major goal during this term while helping create 30,000 jobs in the private sector, fostering social companies and increasing jobs suitable for the elderly and for women.

A future growth industry including precision mold, cell, health care, etc. will establish a growth base by fostering five leading industries such as an automobile industry, electronic appliance industry, photonics industry and newly-added industries including green energy industry and culture industry.

A 'cultural community of style' where citizens are recepients beneficiaries of culture Various incentives including tax breaks will be provided in order to attract promising culture-related companies while designating areas around the Asia Culture Complex and Songam Industrial Complex as the 'Culture Industry Investment Promotion District.' CGI (Computer Generated Image) center will be constructed on schedule and CT (Culture Technology) Institute will attract a foster culture content industry with five strategic contents.

Music, game, arts & crafts, design and edu-tainment will be specially fostered.

A people-oriented 'Ecological community of happiness' A customer-oriented, customized city regenerative project will be carried out and specialized streets with style and grace will be formed around Chungjangro in order to protect the community against redevelopment. A better public transportation system offering easy access for commuters and passengers will be developed through efficient management of a quasi-public bus policy, management system of the total amount of taxis and alteration of driving system.

A 'global community of human rights and peace' in harmony More care and attention will be paid to the socially underprivileged by changing temporary positions to permanent positions, allowing more job opportunities for women and creating jobs for the disabled.

The world's first 'human rights city' designated by the UN will proceed by developing a human rights index for the City of Democracy, Human Rights and Peace, gradually instilling value into daily life.

By Gwangju City Hall Gwangju News August 2010

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Interview

In Jae Jin: Gwangju World Music Festival Artistic Director he personable In Jae Jin introduced himself as “J.J.” as we sat down to chat at the Golden Rabbit, behind the GIC. If there was an encyclopedia category for humans who made a career out of their passion, In would have his smiling face leading the entry.

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“At Koryo University I played saxophone in the school band, but wasn’t good enough to play in jazz clubs. What I could do though was find local restaurants to sponsor music events, and this started my career…which includes being the founder of the Jara Sum Jazz Festival in 2004, which has its seventh edition coming up in October,” In said. “We had 30,000 people attend the first festival and last year 150,000 made it to Jara Sum, which is 70 kilometers northeast of Seoul in a county with a population of only 50 million”.

A wise choice to start up the new Gwangju World Music Festival, “J.J.” was hired “officially” as its first artistic director in March, and he then went through his catalogue of music contacts, while traveling to Australia and Europe, scouring the globe to present as wide a selection of music possible within budgetary limits.

“I attended the WOMAX convention in Copenhagen, which is the largest World Music convention in the world, as part of 90 total days abroad firming up acts for the festival.

We would have loved to bring Youssou N’Dour, but what happened is even more amazing. Many performers were able to also secure grant funding from their own governments for travel. This allowed us to make the festival 30 bands from 15 countries,” In continued.

It will take all the marketing skills J.J. and his staff have to lure people away from their normal haunts to listen to music they may not have heard before, but the entertainment-as-cultural-classroom possibilities are endless at this festival.

“As far as I know, there are not any major radio stations that have world music shows, but you can find world

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Gwangju News August 2010

music on Korean radio dials if you search,” In said as he reflected on the task of trying to get Gwangju citizens, as well as possibly others from outside of town, to come to a festival, where even the award-winning, top-selling artists, who may be well known in Europe or the U.S., will not be well known here, even to expats.

World Music, so readily thought-of as the type “Youssou N’Dour plays” is widespread and not easy to define.

However, the actual type of music being played outweighs the specific roots of “world music.” It turns out reggae, folk, jazz, funk, flamenco, salsa, Chinese, Japanese and Indian traditional instruments, but played in modern self-composed pieces, will all appear in Gwangju.

Interview

Genres such as rock and K-pop have deliberately been limited or excluded. This makes sense: few people around the world think of these two as “world music,” even if world music stars employ some rock and roll.

The Gwangju World Music Festival should distinguish itself by having the bravery to stick to its title, even if bringing in mega-stars could increase the audience.

This distinction, over the long haul will make the festival more popular, due to the possibility of cultural exchange even among audience members.

“Personally, I think the genre ‘World Music’ was made up by record companies in order to sell records, and is a rather commercial approach to sell a different type of music. I don’t like to divide music by words, and I think the concept most people have of ‘world music’ is too limiting because it is based on this commercial beginning,” In says.

The set-up and feel of the four distinct venues means those who think about music the same way are likely to be attending the same performances. This shows the expertise of J.J. In, because a loud and rowdy crowd at a subtle jazz performance makes little sense, as would a family coming to a party/drinking venue, thus there is something for everyone.

“There are four venues, and each one is set up for a different feel. At Pungam Park headlining acts that appeal to everyone will play at a stage where families can bring a picnic, and enjoy other outdoor activities as the music sets the tone. At the Bitgeul Civic Center (the only venue with a fee to listen) top acts will perform indoors to a crowd that wants to listen to all the details, since the acoustics are excellent there. At Geumnamno Park a party atmosphere will take place, via funk/groove acts like “Whool” and “Common Ground,” from Korea, and Holland’s Maite Hontele who will light up the stage for younger music fans. After a long day of music, those who want to sit with a drink in a cozy atmosphere will find clubs on Kita Dong, also next to Sajik Park, and near the Bitgeul Center, full of more music well into the night,” In explained.

The convenience of three venues within walking distance is somewhat mitigated by the Pungam Park location, near the World Cup Soccer stadium, but the recent tunnel collapse under Democracy Square forced the fourth venue to be moved. The bright note is that the park is conducive to outdoor family participation.

“There are so many different types of great music globally. We can learn a lot about cultures via their music, and the attendance at the World Music Forum in June at Chonnam National University showed that a lot

Above, and facing page: The ever-cheerful In Jae-jin answering questions over coffee.

GIC

of people are interested,” In continued.

That event, which was held June 19 and 20, had a main theme of “Cultural Exchange” and the Hub City of Asian Culture Office of the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism officials that attended were happy to see an audience that swelled to overflowing the second day.

This is rare at a professional forum with session titles like “The Unveiled City of Gwangju,” and gives rise to the belief that the event itself will be well attended.

The auditorium was packed, In said, and there wasn’t even any music being played at the forum!

“The main thrust of the Gwangju World Music Festival is as a performing arts festival, but which can also raise the image of the city. As the festival itself grows in stature, there is a chance it can be an economic generator via food and lodging sales. This should help bolster Gwangju’s reputation as a cultural hub, since the city is already well known for its Biennale, and will be well known for the Asian Cultural Center, once it is completed,” In concluded.

So dust off your dancing shoes, get a groove on, pack a picnic, tune up your ears, and enjoy this 75% free music festival because it will be a major good time no matter your age, musical taste or party level. Indeed, this will be Gwangju’s “event of the season” for everyone, and one last round of fun before the fall school season starts back up. Enjoy!

For more information see the preview on the following page, or visit www.gjwmf.com

By Doug Stuber

Gwangju News August 2010

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Upcoming Events

Gwangju World Music Festival T

he Gwangju World Music Festival, nearly a year in the making, will feature 30 bands from 15 countries, spanning genres from jazz to salsa to flamenco to African, to cultural fusion in the form of Sukiafrica, a band made up of African, Korean and Japanese musicians.

The event is being sponsored by the Office for Hub City of Asian Culture of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and takes place in four venues, most of them known to our readers. The main stages are at the park in Pung-am dong in the southeast sector of town, the new Bitgoeul Civic Center near Sagik Park across the river from the downtown area, a number of bars and clubs near Sajik Park in what the locals call ‘Gita Dong’ or Folk Guitar Street, and at the downtown Guemnamno Park which has the sunken band-shell with young trees planted above, about three city blocks away from Provincial Hall and Kunsthalle Gwangju, on the “YMCA” side of Guemnam-no. All the venues are free to the public except the events at Bitgeoul, due to its having a rental fee.

An exact program of who is playing where is not known yet, but the events run from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday August 27th, and then throughout the day and evenings on Saturday and Sunday, the 28th and 29th of August. The line-up is impressive.

Along with Sukiafrica’s deep Mbira (hand piano) grooves, the big stars of the show include Maite Hontele, from Columbia but living in The Netherlands, who plays Salsa jazz on trumpet and also sings; Mariana Baraj (Argentina) who plays the Copla drum and who will be onstage alone playing folk/indie rock in a world music way; Ithamara Koorax (Brazil) is wellknown in the world of jazz, and ranked high in Downbeat Magazine annual contests, and sings a type of free-spirited acid-jazz; Louis Winsberg-Jaleo (France) brings his flamenco band to the festival; Debashish Bhattacharya (India) will amaze guitar fans

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Gwangju News August 2010

Upcoming Events

Various performers from the 2010 Gwangju World Music Festival. Above (l-to-r) Sukiafrica, Mamaku Project, Debashish Bhattacharya, and facing page, Louis Winsberg's Jaleo (top) and Sukiafrica (bottom). All photos © 2010 Asia World Music Festival.

with his self-invented slide guitars (three different ones to date) and unique style of play; The Mamaku Project (New Zealand) met far from home in France and is a band that plays a mix of dub/Reggae, Pacific music and jazz, French style.

Yumiko Tanaka is a shamisen virtuoso from Japan.

The shamisen is the famous three-stringed instrument with a long neck featured in many ancient Japanese prints. Her mix of shamisen, vocals and theatre is an unforgettable performance, transfixing even the youngest music fans.

Pipa player, singer and composer Min Xiao-Fen (China, living in New York) is known for her fluid style.

She is a world-recognized virtuoso in both orchestral and underground projects. A pipa is a four-stringed plucked instrument that looks like a Chinese lute.

And folks, that’s just the top eight. With 22 other bands to fill your ears, this ‘first ever’ Gwangju Music Festival is a bargain as there is no charge for most performances. In future years, there is bound to be a charge for a ‘pass ticket’ and, with all the work that has been put in to bring in music from every corner of the globe, it would be wise to support this event, to ensure

future music festivals in our city. Look out Jisan Valley and Pentaport, here comes Gwangju!

As with all music festivals there will be too much going on in too many different places to catch everything.

With main headliners at night in Pung-am dong Park, that’s one draw, but the convenience of being able to bounce from the Bitgoeul Performing Arts Center (known to some as the “Panorama hand-held slide projector” building, circa 1965), to the neighboring folk guitar bars and maybe jumping back to Geumnam-no Park should allow music-lovers a chance to glimpse at least 20 minutes of many different styles without feeling like they lost out on some of the big names.

It may well be a benefit that at least one venue (Bitgoeul) is inside. Though there will be an admission charge, the room is air conditioned and guaranteed to be dry.

Go to www.gjwmf.com to get further information, and updates on venues, schedules and ticket availability for Bitgoeul.

By Doug Stuber All photos are from Asia World Music Festival

Gwangju News August 2010

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Art and Culture

A Cultural Experience in Gwangju Art Class Builds Community, Inspires Understanding hen we encounter cultural differences, what is at first salient to us may gradually fade to the background, but what is available to us on strictly a subconscious level can leave deep and lasting impressions. My experience as an artist living in or rather, near, Gwangju and working with the Gwangju International Center on a project entitled “A Cultural Experience in Gwangju” helps me to discover that knowing a place is like living life from a slowmoving train: you see the same scenery every day, but it changes over time.

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The group of artists participating in this workshop sponsored by Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, were asked on the first day of the workshop to consider what inspired us about living in Gwangju. A list began…kimchi and food in general, Mudeungsan, festivals, Art Street, date night, Korean fashion etc. As people shouted out aspects of culture that made Gwangju distinct, I realized that my list looked and sounded different and, in fact, some of those things were the very things that I found difficult to embrace (but that too, indeed, can be a certain kind of reverse inspiration as our art is sometimes a symbol of the things that we guard ourselves against) but I couldn’t exactly pin-point why, or even what the differences were.

For months living in Korea, I considered myself an outsider and was reminded of it in subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways, but I have found the GIC a place where I can voice my opinions without risking criticism or judgment. So as I sat there listening to the list made by the other 11 members of the group, I realized that my own inspiration was not attached to a specific object or place for that matter. Sometimes it is against the backdrop of differences, that we discover ourselves. And perhaps also it was a matter of 14

Gwangju News August 2010

language. The word “inspiration” and the list distracted me, for these are not the things that truly inspire us; they are simply the firstborn impressions, the things we most readily see looking out of our respective windows. Art-making for most of us, I suspect, is more like a necessity and less like an act of inspiration.

As I struggled with this thought-provoking (inspiring?) difficulty, Lisa Mynhardt, facilitator, forged ahead. She asked us next to explore how we interpret through our

Art and Culture

can see that you are very moved by color and that it becomes the subject of your art.” Doug Stuber, one of the participants of the workshop, is an artist and a poet.

He teaches English Poetry at Chonnam University. To another participant she remarks, “because of the tactile nature of your process, you might want to try to do something sculptural.” By the end of the session, participants were already considering what materials they might need for the next session when the theme would be “creating own artworks.”

Above: Artist Doug Stuber works on typically colourful piece; Facing page: Participants disucssing and exchanging ideas

senses and how our senses enhance our experience. She admitted to us that taste was an important way for her to gain access to creativity, and that eating, as well as listening to music were necessary components of her process. I found this personally fascinating. But when I stopped to ponder this, I realized that memory itself depends on more than what can be captured in a visual snapshot or still life. To relive a specific moment depends on our ability to recall details through all of, or at least a combination of, our senses. The smell of a schoolbook or a forest after rain, the sound of keys tossed into a ceramic bowl, the taste of salt on your skin, or the crisp winter morning air on your face all possess the ability to transport us backward in time. Ms Mynhardt’s idiosyncrasy was beginning to make sense.

To test this, one of the drawing exercises of our initial meeting involved eating a piece of tart and chewy candy (as well as listening to music) and observing the person sitting across from us in order to gauge their experience to see how it, and the candy, played on our senses and influenced our drawings. When we held up our drawings, Ms. Mynhardt was able, with remarkable accuracy, to describe some of the individual’s preferences for subject matter and materials. “Doug, I

The workshop will culminate with a “field trip” to Uijae Museum and Jeungsimsa at Mudeung Mountain on July 24 where participants will create a group work with the citizens of Gwangju. Participants will meet in the morning and spend the day on the mountain. And because I feel myself most at home in a natural setting, I am very much looking forward to this day. I have realized that the aspects of Korean culture that I most respect are those habits rooted deeply in tradition: the giving and receiving with both hands, the way that students bow to me on the streets and in the classrooms, and the freedom that many hours of discipline affords. These were not things immediately available to me. It was over time that I began to notice and be moved by the more subtle gestures of this culture, like a slow-moving train travelling day in and day out down a well-beaten track.

“A Cultural Experience in Gwangju” is one of several events in conjunction with this year’s Asia Cultural Forum hosted by Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The purpose of this project (A Cultural Experience in Gwangju) is to promote intercultural exchanges between participants using art as a medium of expression. This three-week-long project also offers participants an opportunity to exhibit their individual and group projects at the GAIA Gallery and Kimdaejung Convention Center in August and September.

The project’s facilitator, Lisa Mynhardt, studied law in South Africa and has been working as an English teacher in Korea for 3 years. She participated in the “My life in Gwangju” project at GIC, facilitated by Sarah Epp in March and April this year. The project is coordinated

by So-eun Moon, a coordinator at Gwangju International Center. Ms. Moon studied Art History in Berlin and also participated in “My life in Gwangju”.

Represented cultures include, but are not limited to Korean, South African, American, and Indian.

By Laurie Johns Photos by Bae Sang-don Gwangju News August 2010

15

Discover Korea

Downright Dirty The Boryeong Mud Festival

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et’s face it: cleanliness can be overrated. And the Boryeong Mud Festival didn’t hesitate to prove that. Although it ran for nine days, it took only one weekend to show its teeth and bring out the filthiness of all in its path. As thousands descended upon Daecheon Beach for the 13th annual event, it was a case of every man, woman and child for themselves.

As you can imagine, the mud is trucked in by the tonnes. Historically, the plains inland from the beach were thought to hold mud that contained minerals which are beneficial for the skin. This theory was backed up by several research institutes over ten years ago and the town has not looked back since. Last year saw around 32,000 visitors flock to join in on the madness. Not only holding the festival, which generates big income, but also packaging and exporting several skin and facial products has helped put Daecheon on the Korean tourism map.

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Gwangju News August 2010

Day and night certainly held their contrasts during the opening weekend. Saturday saw rain and winds in the afternoon, which did nothing to deter the people. The beachfront held a greeting of mudslides (fantastic idea if not for the 4-hour line-up), mud pits (great for a bit of rough and tumble) and plenty of random mud being hurled around carelessly. There is nothing like getting smashed by a flying aerial assault of earth’s finest and not giving a stuff. What was great to see was a mudpainting tent, which literally covered people head to toe in all different colours. Some people looked like they had just walked off a horror movie set.

Discover Korea

Left: Muddy Friends Sarah Hiegel; Right: Racing on the mud slide Julian Raethel; Facing page: In the mud pit Adrian Tegler

The destination is perfect as the sea was all too inviting. Choppy waves were helped along by careless jet skiers who were acting like lifeguards (maybe they were..?) Contrary to what was initially thought, sand proved to be a bigger problem at the end of the trip.

As the weather calmed and day rolled into night the scene was set for the perfect concert mood. The opening ceremony displayed some traditional Korean mud dancing and several other great performances on the main stage. One notable act was a Korean beatboxer who was very impressive and extremely humble with his talent. But the most memorable moment were the fireworks. Unbelievably good. A spellbinding display which seemed to last forever and, if they repeated the same every night, would make for an insanely costly exercise.

The Sunday saw the weather turn it on. A great day to check out the events. This is worth a mention: morning is definitely the best time to go. Most people are still in bed nursing hangovers, the mud is fresh (if you know what I mean), the lines are shorter and there is a greater sense of filthy freedom.

It wasn’t all roses and picnics however. There are certain areas with plenty of room for improvement that could help add to the event’s longevity. A few event staff agreed that there weren’t enough facilities. Also a few more mudslides and painting tents wouldn’t go

amiss. When trying to find the back of the line during the day, a simple “no way am I getting in that” was the answer. Also the hunger of motel managers was at full scream. Whispers of people forking out up to 120,000 won a night for a small room left those without bookings with little option.

Here are some tips for next year: - Book early and with a group you trust (not with a random group of people from Seoul who crammed 15 people in a 20 square metre room… when you booked back in April).

- Don’t bother with taking any items for the day. Put enough cash into a small waterproof bag and leave it in your pocket.

- Leave the whites at home!

- For those with glasses: take plenty of contact lenses.

- Try and check out the morning, you’ll get to see and do a lot more.

One word to sum up: Freedom. The Mud Fest is a simple idea with profound impact. If you missed out this year and will be around for 2011, it is well worth the experience. There is no doubt this event will get bigger, and let’s hope the organisers realise this and get on top of it sooner rather than later. One thing’s for sure: you’d hate to be on clean-up duties.

By Julian Raethel Gwangju News August 2010

17

Out and About

Uncheon Pond Reborn T

hose of you who have been living in Gwangju for a while now probably know about the Uncheon Pond located in the Sangmu residential area.

For those that don’t, it is one of the best places in the city to see the wonderful cherry blossoms in the spring and the lotus flowers in the summer. During those two seasons, the pond is alive with the beautiful colors of nature. Finally, after being closed off for the winter for a major overhaul, the pond was re-opened in June. It is really good to see that it had a major face-lift done to it, as it has brought new life to the pond.

Sangmu was once on the outskirts of the city and was mostly farmland and an Army base. The farmers used the reservoir to help with the cultivation of their rice fields. Consequently, as the city of Gwangju began to grow and expand, city development slowly moved into the Sangmu area. The reservoir was seen as an obstacle in the developing area and was almost destroyed. Luckily, it was not and Sangmu grew around it, and the reservoir was then created as a pond for recreational use where families could walk around it and enjoy a little bit of nature in the city.

The city of Gwangju spent around 6 million dollars to recreate the pond and made it more accessible and people-friendly. This is not the first time the pond has had some work done to it. The Uncheon Pond started out as a reservoir for the farmers that lived in the area.

In the past, the pond had a pathway that went around it which allowed you to walk and look at the lotus flowers in the water as well as the trees and cherry blossoms located on the two islands from the shore of the pond. However, with the new face-lift people are

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Gwangju News August 2010

Out and About

Above: Fountains light up the pond at night. Facing page:The newly cleaned-up and restored pond and walkways.

now able to walk across the pond. By using a walkway system that goes over the water, people are now able to gain access to the two islands that are located in the middle of the pond. This allows visitors to get upclose to the cherry blossoms and the lotus flowers. As well as building the walkway, they also built a traditional Korean pavilion on one of the islands and two more pavilions on the shore of the pond where you can sit and enjoy the view. On the other island, they built a mini stage where musicians are able to perform small concerts. In addition to making the pond and islands look better, they also installed an impressive water jet fountain and light system in the middle of the pond which puts on a really great water and light show with water shooting up into the air and vibrant colors being shown through the water. The whole show takes about 1 hour and is accompanied by music. The fountain and light show happens every night around 8:30 p.m. just after the sun has set and in the daytime at 12 p.m. (the afternoon show does not include the light show). They also remade the small stream that is next to the pond going along the road and put in a small water fountain on the corner of the intersection. At the back of the pond, there are a few newly built cafes and a store where you can buy a drink to sit and relax and enjoy the beauty of the pond. There is also a viewing platform where you can stand and look at the pond and watch the water and light show. The best spot to

watch the show though, is on the walkway between the two islands.

So, the next time you are having dinner in Sangmu or happen to just be in the area, you might want to take a walk to the Uncheon Pond and check out the water light show, and perhaps take a stroll around the pond and enjoy this little space of nature located in the heart of Sangmu.

Story and photos by J.B.

Address: 869-9 Sangchon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju Buses: 1, 20, 45, 50, 72, 73, 270, 760 (get off at Uncheon Jeosuji 운천저수지 bus stop) Subway: Uncheon Station (Honam University Entrance) 운천역 (호남대입구)

Gwangju News August 2010

19

Sports

K-League Football A

recent article in the respected English football journal When Saturday Comes explored the direction taken by the Japanese Football Association in creating a successful professional league. Last year, the J-League drew an average crowd of 19,000, compared with the mean gate of 25,000 at an Italian Serie A game (Serie A being in the top 3 most vaunted leagues in the world). The author opined that part of the reason for this has been the healthy competition between the J-League and its Korean counterpart, the K-League. “What is interesting,” he mused, “is the way that the improvement of Japan and the J-League has also had a positive impact on the quality of the South Korean team and the K-League.”

There can be no disputing the progress made by South Korea’s national team over the past decade and the league as a whole has risen in profile and stature. But the news has seemingly yet to filter down to the people of Gwangju.

The city’s local team, Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix, had an average attendance of 7,719 in 2009, the second lowest in the K-League. The figure is an absolute travesty when you consider the facilities the team boast at the Guus Hiddink World Cup Stadium, but a little more palatable when you consider some of the facts. Sangmu is the sporting

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Gwangju News August 2010

division of the Military of South Korea and Phoenix is the professional football club. The playing staff is made up entirely of young Korean professional footballers serving their obligatory two years national service. Fifteen players sign for the team every season. They spend two seasons in Gwangju before returning to their previous professional club.

At a time when football is becoming ever more international, more glamorous and more colourful, the opportunity to watch eleven soldiers struggle to produce the desired level of cohesion and quality needed to challenge the big guns of Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and Suwon Samsung Bluewings simply doesn’t register with the locals. Sangmu are not allowed to sign any foreign players because of their military status and as such, the side really doesn’t have the wow factor perhaps required to drag the punters away from the (erstwhile) successful baseball team Kia Tigers.

It’s particularly difficult when you consider the imports on show elsewhere. Ulsan Hyundai, for example, are lining up this season with Colombia internationals Juan Estiven Velez and Carmelo Valencia. Seongnam’s attack has been spearheaded by their compatriot Mauricio Molina.

Sports

Left: Gwangju Sangmu celebrate a goal; Gwangju Sangmu, Right: Gwangju Sangmu players with some young footballers; Naver; Facing page: The impressive Gwangju World Cup Stadium; Naver

Montenegran striker Dejan Damjanovic leads the line for FC Seoul, and just about every other K-League outfit boasts players plucked from foreign leagues.

But that’s not to say a trip to the World Cup Stadium to support Sangmu isn’t worthwhile. Coming from Ireland, the local teams I grew up with could only dream of the amenities the faithful of Phoenix enjoy. The ground has a capacity of 44,118 and is an all-seater. Transport links are convenient and the fact that you can bring your own beers and do a quick food shop at the adjacent Lotte Mart means a Gwangju Sangmu home game makes for a great day out with a family or friends. Tickets cost a mere 6,000 won. Alas, the stadium doesn’t attract anything resembling a full house. I attended the K-League’s Round 11 when the visitors to Gwangju were Gangwon FC. The attendance was a paltry 2,367 (the stadium was under 5% full), but the quality of football on show was impressive, and the fervour of some of the fans that had attended was admirable. A troupe of bare-chested ultras led the chorus, banging out a steady rhythm on drums and chanting as though the stadium was heaving. For the most part though, the occasion was marked for its comfort and the mildness of the afternoon. Regular attendees of professional football would rarely describe their endeavours as pleasant, peaceful or tranquil, but the afternoon ticked all of those boxes.

Sangmu were in the driving seat for the most part and their dominance paid off when Kim Dong-Hyun broke the deadlock early in the second half. They held out for a narrow victory although Gangwon rarely looked like troubling Seong Kyun-Il’s goal. The Sangmu line-up contained midfielder Kim Jung-Woo, who went on to impress in the World Cup in South Africa, playing in all four of ROK’s games. It pushed the side up to a respectable ninth position in the table, which would be their best showing for six seasons should they maintain it for the duration of the season.

The future of football in the city, though, is in the balance with some interesting developments afoot. The city’s mayor has this year pledged his full support to a local citizen team to kick off in 2011. Such a move would certainly offer a lifeline to the beautiful game in Gwangju.

Sure, they would be able to sign overseas players (although many argue that those willing to ply their trade in Korea are only doing so because they couldn’t cut the mustard elsewhere and are looking to make a quick buck), but the consequences run much deeper than this. One of the cornerstones of creating a solid fan base is loyalty amongst both fans and staff. With the current system, players can play a maximum of two years with Gwangju Sangmu before returning to their “parent clubs”. With an independent team, they could nurture their own youth players, cultivate cult heroes and produce players synonymous with the Gwangju brand, a feat that is impossible in their current guise. How gutting it must be for regular followers of the side to watch their best players getting shipped off season after season.

Player allegiance is another issue that could be rectified. It is a timeworn fact that players perform better where they are wanted and where they have chosen to be. Having been plucked from such an environment and placed in the line-up of the country’s military team, their performance levels are liable to drop. If Gwangju wish to be truly competitive in the K-League, the creation of an independent side is a necessity. And hopefully then the World Cup Stadium won’t cut the lonely figure of a white elephant on the Sangmu horizon.

How to get there

Gwangju World Cup Stadium Buses: 6, 16, 20, 26, 47, 74 Taxi: 광 주 월 드 컵 경 기 장 가 주 세 요 (Gwangju wol.deu.keup. gyeong.gi.jang. ga.ju.se.yo) See page 41 for Gwangju Sangmu home fixtures in August

By Finbarr Bermingham Gwangju News August 2010

21

Living Tips

Tips about Korean Language and How to Learn It Effectively

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here is no doubt that the increasing influx of foreign nationals into Korea requires more effective Korean language teaching strategies.

Also, foreigners who are learning Korean should invest their time and effort to successfully learn Korean Language as well as its culture. For those of you who are planning to pursue their education or find a job and work in Korea, there are important things that you have to take into consideration.

Learn to communicate in Korean One of the most important things to have a convenient life while living in Korea is to understand the Korean Language and use it for communication. I have stayed in Korea for ten and a half years and based on my experience, it is not enough to only communicate in English. If you want to understand and enjoy Korean culture, blend into Korean community, and advance your career in Korea, developing Korean communication skills is crucial.

I read an article on the ’net stating that “a command of Korean is not as useful as you would expect since many Koreans speak English and are eager to practice it with foreigners, which makes practicing your Korean quite difficult.” I partly agreed with it, but I still believe that having a good command of Korean will give you a lot of benefits.

According to another article that I read, “Korean is a very difficult language one of the most difficult there are. At first Korean looks simpler than Japanese and Mandarin since it uses no tones and has an alphabet.

But as you progress you enter a maze of grammatical complexity and discover that the alphabet is supplemented by an ideographic character system of Chinese origin. Advanced learners of Korean report that it is difficult to use the language since nobody will correct you if you make a mistake and people will volunteer to speak in English whenever they can.” (http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/ e/languages/korean/index.html)

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Gwangju News August 2010

It’s true, but even though I haven’t studied Korean at an advanced level, I think that the Korean alphabet is not very difficult to learn. Based on my experience, I memorized Korean letters (한글) in two days on my own. I learned how to read and write Korean letters (한 글) in a month, but not fluently.

Learning to read and understand what you read in Korean and communicating in Korean are the complicated tasks. However, learning any other languages requires a lot of effort, practice and time.

Strategies or techniques helpful in learning Korean effectively: 1. Reading is very important. You should practice reading in Korean regularly. Get a good language textbook or short novel and read through passages two or three times to make sure you understand the context.

2. Building your vocabulary as you take note of commonly used words and phrases is crucial. You will soon be able to recognize patterns in the order of words and construction of sentences. You will also learn certain expressions such as idioms.

3. Practicing writing in Korean is also very effective.

Get a notebook and try writing down your thoughts or experiences in Korean.

4. Try translating a piece of text or a story in English into Korean. Keep a dictionary and grammar textbook handy to check sentence structure and grammar.

Other learning techniques that worked really well for me: 1. Studying out loud and imitating sounds, remembering what I hear around me, and reading signs and advertisements anywhere were very helpful in developing my reading skills.

2. Don't be embarrassed if you sound different as you try out accents. Don’t be discouraged about the mistakes that you make; instead learn from them.

3. Don’t be afraid of taking risks.

4. Create flashcards to aid you in memorizing words.

Living Tips/ Useful Korean Phrases

5. Write a Korean word or phrase on one side and its English meaning on the other.

6. Go over these cards once or twice over the course of a day until you have successfully memorized the word or phrase.

7. Download and install the Korean Language Pack.

8. Go to the Learn Korean website.

9. Visit the Let's Learn Korean portion of the KBS World website.

10. Log on to the Korean Through English website.

11. Go to the Kosnet homepage

Tips on how to learn Korean enjoyably: 1. Watch Korean TV shows and movies to get a feel of how ordinary people converse with each other.

2. Go to ‘Noreabang’ or Karaoke bar and sing Korean songs. It would definitely improve your reading skills and expand your vocabulary.

3. Attend concerts and festivals.

4. Go to Korean church.

5. Make friends with Koreans or stay with a Korean family.

6. When you ride a taxi, try to talk with taxi drivers.

You can practice your conversation skills.

Useful Korean Phrases A: 지금 뭐하고 있어요?

[Jigeum mwohago isseoyo?]

A: What are you doing now?

B: 너에게 문자를 보내려던 참이었어요.

[Neoege munjareul bonaeryeodeon chamieoseoyo.]

A: I’m about to text you.

A: 왜요? 무슨말 하려고 했어요?

[Waeyo? Museunmal haryeogo haetseoyo?]

A: Why? You were going to say something?

B: 매운 돼지 길비찜이 먹고 싶은데 함께 먹을 래요?

[Maeun dwaeji gabijjimi meokgo sipeunde hamkke meogeullaeyo?]

B: I feel like eating spicy steamed pork.

Would you like to have some with me?

A: 미안해요. 비가 와서 나가고 싶진 않아요.

[Mianhaeyo.. Bigawaseo nagago sipjin anayo.]

A: I am sorry but I’d rather not go out in the rain.

7. Korean is a dynamic and constantly evolving language, and there are constant additions of new slang and colloquialisms. One can stay updated by corresponding to native Korean speakers. You can look for an e-mail and video chat pal who lives in Korea who can help you improve your written and oral skills. You can subscribe to various media available over the Internet like newspapers and streaming videos. You can also view and participate in Korea-based newsgroups and forums.

8. If you are in a language class, form study groups with class members. Reinforce each other's learning goals by working on assignments, preparing for tests and practicing the language together.

There are so many ways to learn Korean without stressing ourselves. Try some of the tips I cited above and I hope they also work out for you.

For more information you can visit www.ehow.com/how_5170711_learn-koreanlanguage-online.htm

By Marie(Mheng) Pascual Igwe

~려던 참이었어요.

(Be about to + V) Grammar ~ 려던 참이었어요. (Be about to + V) This expression is used when you try to start an action which is stated in verb form.

Ex) 문을 열려던 참이었어요.

(I was about to open the door) 그들은 학교에 가려던 참이었어요.

(They were about to go to school.)

Vocabulary 문자 [mun-ja]: Text message 매운 [mae-un]: Spicy 돼지 갈비찜 [dwae-ji gal-bi-jjim]: Steamed pork 비 [bi]: Rain

By Kang Nang-won Nang-won is a student of Korean Language and Literature at Chonnam National University

Gwangju News August 2010

23

PHOTO CONTEST W I N N E R

The sun and clouds made for some fun photos in Mokpo.

Coast in Busan

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Gwangju News August 2010

Photo by Meghan Reynolds

Photo by Mesa Schumacher

Submit your best shot of Korea!

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

Tree on mountain of Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) in Jeju

Photo by Debra M.Josephson

Boundless blossoms flourishing in eternal light

Photo by Lafe Meicenheimer Gwangju News August 2010

25

Art Review

Art Projects for Children It takes a brilliant mind to devise artistic games that in 40 minutes are not only able to get at what might be ailing a child’s emotional life, but also help start the cure. Say hello to Joo Hong, artist, art therapist, children’s book writer, and developer of “Music Sand Animation,” and “Colorful Mind,” art projects that teach children about how to feel better.

T

hese projects are taking place at the Gwangju Suchang Elementary School, which is two bus stops out Geumnamro, on your right, past the NH building and old Citibank, and the famous “Merrill Lynch looking” bullstatue intersection. When you get to the bull, keep going straight halfway down a very long block, and you will see a yellow banner hanging over the middle school gate with obligatory sand playing field. It’s at Geumnamro 99, Bukgu, Gwangju (500-050), if that helps.

Foreigners are encouraged to attend with their children, who will delight in making animation in lit-up sand boxes, then turn to making pictures on wooden blocks, while playing games that associate working together with success.

Joo Hong, who holds a Ph.D. in Art Therapy, performs her sand box animations live on stage, and can convert flowers to faces to seascapes and back into faces with smooth finger motions that qualify as performance art, but also make fairly detailed aboriginal pictures that, alas, must be captured by photo or video due to their lack of longevity.

She completed five changing images (a large stemmed flower, a Picasso-esque cubist face, a profile of a mother holding a flower, and a full-box of rosebud, which was finally changed into a birthday cake) while chatting about how working with sand brings to life children’s inner selves via tactile stimulation and creativity at the same time.

“The lit sand boxes are 16 by 28 inches, and the animation process is captured on video. This makes the process as important as the finished product,” Joo Hong said. “Children learn to draw better when they are having fun with it, and the sand allows that.”

The projects are running on a split shift from June 22nd to August 8, and again from August 31 to September 12. The “classes” are 40 minutes long and start from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Over 5,000 children are slated to take place in these sessions.

I’ve done many performances on stage, but this is the first time I have worked with children in a room with multiple boxes,” Joo Hong said, as she led us into the dark, but air-conditioned, bench-lined room. Of course, working in darkness with the images lit from below only adds to the fun for the children.

Throughout the time, music is playing, which is a soothing

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Gwangju News August 2010

Top: Joo-hong; Bottom: Sand art on the light box

yet stimulating influence, thus touch, site, hearing and even smell (the sand smelled delicious) come into play as the children work exuberantly on their art.

“Colorful Mind” uses sound as rhythm, as the students clap the 3 x 5 inch wooden “dominoes” together before starting their projects.

“The class starts with children picking out a color they love from yellow, red, orange, purple, blue or green. They use two of these to make rhythms, any rhythm they want, which fills

Art Review

the room with a cacophony. We then stop and clap a rhythm together. We then draw a picture of something in the world that is similar to the individual artists on one side of the blocks, and then write on the other side. “ In order to raise the comfort level of first-time artists, she has the students use triangles, squares and circles as beginning points.

“These basic forms are easy to make, and the children are not scared to use the forms to draw people or houses or anything else. When the art is finished, we line up the blocks like dominoes, and learn that if one member falls, the whole class goes down,” Joo Hong explained, as she lined up 10 blocks and knocked them over, playfully. “We are not alone in the world; we are all connected.”

She has worked with people who have brain injuries and those facing other challenges to help them relieve stress via art in many settings. In this class she is able to detect personality traits via the colors chosen, character and subjectmatter choices, and what is written on the back of the blocks. This can translate into immediate relief during the class for the students and is an educational tool for their parents.

“Art therapy is a growing field here but is already well-established elsewhere,” Joo Hong said. “We use a rainbow of color blocks here, and that represents the variety of people in the world. We should work to change ourselves, rather than others, and learn to accept a wide variety of people who may have experienced a completely different life than our own.”

It seems natural that if the project is helping non-Korean mothers who live in Korea, it could also be instructive to nonKorean “alien” fathers who want to know more about what is going on in their children’s minds. She encourages parents to also solve their own problems by doing art with their children. “A Mongolian woman drew a green “Cinderella” with her child, and a Filipina lady drew a beautiful Hanbuk,” Joo Hong said.

“In 2014 the “Children’s Cultural Center” will be one program in the Asian Cultural Center,” Joo Hong said, as she looked forward to a time when self discovery could be a part of every visitor’s day in Gwangju.

Her own work is not-surprisingly playful, and upon first glance at Mudol Art (a downstairs gallery toward the “far end” of Art Street) I exclaimed “wow Miro,” only to find out that one of her children’s books is called “Mi-Ro, a Kitty.”

The other is called, “An Old Worn-Out Bicycle,” and both have corresponding “junk art” covers. Gwangju, of course, is a haven for those making art from things being thrown out on the side of the road.

She also makes small blank page books with a character called “Papillion” (butterfly in French) and donates them to children suffering difficult medical problems. Her paintings, like Miro and Picasso, attempt to paint with a child’s fresh perspective.

Her three main series are faces, dances and kisses. Note the cubist aspect of “Pattern Kiss 41,” and familiar-yetunique stick figures in works like “The Dance,” and her face series.

After the students have written their “When I was young I made lots of sentence about their miniature paintings, Cover of “Mi-ro, a Kitty” drawing in books in class, eventually my she asks them about what they think and teachers suggested I look into art,” she said with a smile. “Life puts the blocks on shelves to show them that their work is a is a dance, so I try to make art with the freedom employed “window on the world.” when dancing. I have meditated since 2001 and this has freed “One child drew a giraffe waiting for friends, then the child my mind to make art that is more free.” was able to talk about having no friends herself. Anyone has As a tip for new residents, Joo Hong suggested that you can their own creative world within. This project can help children get a feel for the history of the importance of art in Gwangju find that, which can be a healing process for those who need by getting to know living artists. it,” Joo Hong elaborated. “Modern art is a wide field, and we should have a colorful mind to accept all types of art.”

“From 1980 until now, the number of artists in Gwangju has grown immensely. Artists in Gwangju have had a particular Though an accomplished artist, Joo Hong is equally passion for their work throughout history, but the best way to dedicated to helping everyone in her community. know that history is to talk to living artists, maybe older ones, “This is a trial project, but we can trust the function, and who have had the traditions passed on from other masters. create this project for international families in which the Gwangju needs more ways to connect artists, who work mother is not Korean,” she added. “So the children can alone, but need the network. Perhaps the Asian Cultural communicate with their mothers, who may not speak Korean Center will be a place where this can happen,” Joo Hong said well yet, via the art, and the mothers can learn some Korean with a hopeful tone. at the same time.”

Story and photos by Doug Stuber Gwangju News August 2010

27

Environment

For Our Earth...

A

lberta, Canada: It's easy to give your spirit to the Albertan landscape and the warriors who pioneered it centuries ago. Their history resonates within the valleys and Rocky Mountains, along the foothills and deep in the prairie sea. The ecological diversity of this province is wonderful, the history is long and tragic, and Alberta makes a huge contribution to the world with the same wealth that has recently been destroying the Gulf of Mexico.

This year I have been lucky enough to experience seeing and hearing Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins play by enchanting water-swept trees along the Mekong, hearing Korean forests, and my soul, resonate with bird songs, discovering fairy-like insects convening on the warmth of the leaves in the early morning light (mosquitoes can be surprisingly ethereal at dawn!), snorkeling through coral forests complete with depth-charge-like sea urchins and fluorescent fish; witnessing the tangled mystery and striking emerald canopies of a mangrove forest…

However, the endangered Irrawaddy is being threatened by fishermen who fish unsustainably and destroy the dolphin's habitats. The mogi man loves his chemical warfare – fewer mosquitos means fewer dragonflies, fish and birds that eat mosquitos. The coral reefs of the world are dying from rising ocean temperatures. Mangroves are threatened by the destructive practice of farming that uproots the trees for only a couple of shrimp harvests.

Less forest means less habitat for local wildlife. Like reefs, mangroves are wave energy dissipaters, coastal community protectors, and highly efficient CO2 eaters.

There are mangroves living along the poor Gulf of Mexico.

The science regarding climate change is clear. The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) states that the world temperature can only increase a maximum of 2 degrees by 2050, or major catastrophes and weather changes will occur. The panel has concluded that at the rate we’re going our emissions will likely exceed the 2050 limit by double the temperature. The IPCC’s statements on climate change generally go undebated as they come to conclusions through an incredibly tedious consensus decision-making process. The panel is made up of many scientists, experts, and government representatives from all over the world who tend to disagree about global 28

Gwangju News August 2010

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

public domain

warming. Because of this process the IPCC’s climate consensus is basically climate law to the media but all decisions made by the group should be thought of as much worse than they really are.

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

- William Shakespeare D. H. Thoreau said, “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us.” We have the ability to control our fate. It is incredibly easy to forget about our addictions to conveniences when we’re living in developed nations, but it doesn't take much to empower ourselves against these addictions. Conscious efforts are needed to realize how we experience living on our planet.

Make a change... Activists are doing many things – writing petitions, calling politicians, hugging trees, abseiling from bridges... even simply riding the bus. Check the website, www.worldwatch.org: “In the 1990s, ‘environmentalist monks’ in Thailand opposed shrimp farming and dam and pipeline construction to protect mangroves and bird populations. They even preserved trees by ‘ordaining’ them within sacred community forests.”

Write an old-fashioned letter… Many people believe

Environment

this is the best thing to do. You can write or, better yet, call the minister of the environment or your local government representative with concerns about energy priorities and environment policies (www.eng.me.go.kr).

And you can write or call other countries regarding their environmental responsibilities.

Boycott… We can also do plenty at home and in our dayto-day lives. We can start by boycotting harmful practices and polluters. For example, did you know huge areas of forest get cut down to support the cattle demands of the fast food industry? A lot of these cattle are from the Amazon, so numerous monetary and environmental expenses are incurred through shipping costs on top of deforestation costs. There is a lot of potential for armchair activists to make a change with boycotts.

R.R.R. + unplug and turnoff + ride your bike…

There are many options for sustainable practices in how we live. Place your freezer out of direct sun in a cool space, use your dishwasher or laundry machine only when full, thaw frozen food inside your fridge so it cools the fridge and let warm food cool before refrigerating it. Keep your fridge away from the stove. Use water reducing shower heads and tap aerators, close your curtains in the day, use a fan and not A/C, etc. There are many, many things you can do. And don't forget to tune up your vacation plans.

Carbon offset calculator services are available on the web for people traveling abroad. I was quoted 50 dollars as the suggested offset price for two people going to Alberta.

By Trevor Homeniuk

EAEP Workshop update: The first EAEP (Envrionmental Awareness Education Program) workshop was held at Unnam Elementary School on June 19th. With the proper preparation along with inspiring handmade recycled workbooks and materials, the workshop turned out a complete success. The students were so active in their participation and were so prepared (they finished all their homework and had a great prep class led by Unnam teacher Miss Ryu). We started with an introductory slideshow followed by a problemsolving race game of the do's and don'ts of climate change. I've never seen a group of kids more involved in an activity. They had answers for every question we asked, ranging from "recycle" to "geothermal power", and the favorite "because the earth is wonderful". We played them our song "we can make a change" (check out YouTube GIC talks) and they clapped and sang along. We showed them our DIY environment puppet show. They loved it! The next week, the kids made a post card to send to their local member of government about what they learned in the workshop and what they want to see in the future of Korea’s booming economy.

On July 3rd, we showed our second workshop to the students of Moon Cheong Elementary with the only major difference being that the kids were a little older and a little cooler, but with our activities and the help of our eco-conscious volunteers Ko Nam Il and Kim Suk Young, we caused some “pupil warming" pretty quickly. We barely had to lift a finger; the students did so much. They were really eco-riffic!

Top right: Students at the workshop; Andrea Hildebrand, Above: Mangrove roots; public domain

With all the energy I saw I couldn't help but feel like we were making a change at these schools. With the proper nurturing and sustainable decision making today, people could be able to enjoy a wonderful earth in the future.

Gwangju News August 2010

29

Korea Experience

Sojourn in the City of Light “A

pril is the cruellest month� a poet once wrote. It was in April of last year that I was forced to begin re-evaluating my life thus far. Three years after my college graduation, postcollege life was taking its toll on me personally and professionally. I was nowhere near where I wanted to be in life and I was wracked with doubts regarding my future. The soul-crushing lack of real and satisfying employment in the wasteland called the American job market had demolished a good deal of my self-worth. I was forced to move back to a state I hated last June and try to scrounge for work. I eventually did find a job, two actually. While I enjoyed working with the staff at both jobs, neither one was going to make a true, lasting impact in my life. I needed a game changer, something that would sate my longing for purpose and adventure. For that, I looked east, Far East. I looked at teaching in Asia with a skeptical eye as horror stories regarding the experience were not uncommon. But, I did have a good friend who was very satisfied with the job and was more than eager to have a familiar face around. Proceeding with this gamble was fraught with risks and uncertainties. I had no teaching experience and didn't speak the native language. How would I deal with those obstacles? Would I find anyone I could relate to during my tenure? The most pressing

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Gwangju News August 2010

Korea Experience

question was, would I even like the job? Eventually, I decided to contact a recruiter and begin what would be a lengthy and often frustrating application process. It didn't matter to me at that point. What did I have to lose except a bunch of emotional baggage, and the suburban ennui that was rotting me to the core?

After all the paperwork had been done in December, I was supposed to be in Korea back in February in Chungbuk province. Fate, however, decided to kick me around and I lost out on the position due something as pedestrian as a shipping error. I had scrambled trying to find positions in other provinces, but after two more failed tries, I was at my wit's end by March. I had to resign myself to wait until August openings became available and deal with a few more months of grinding my days away at two jobs to make ends meet. Things seemed bleak that month. By what had to be some miracle, a position opened up in this city called Gwangju. Gwangju? I'd never heard of it. Then again, I was not very familiar with Korea as it was so I decided to take the position. I had to be in Korea near the end of March to make it to orientation and I felt that I could make it provided I could get my work visa processed on time. Fate, again, decided to take one last shot at me and delay my visa. I did eventually get it, but I missed out on the orientation which would've helped immensely in teaching me how to handle classes. I had to start teaching my first week in Gwangju with no idea on what to do or what to expect.

It was a challenging April for me trying to manage classes of up to forty students and somehow find time to plan lessons, learn whatever Korean I could and adjust to the culture. Good nights of sleep were few and far between that month.

But that was then and this is now. So here I am in Gwangju, the City of Light. It wasn't on my short list of placement choices, but I am happy to have wound up here. I've made some great friends who hail from around the globe, three of whom arrived on nearly the same weekend I did. We latecomers bonded at our one-day orientation the Friday of our first week which was a welcome relief seeing as how we had not seen any other foreigners during our daunting first few weeks at our schools. The “Fantastic Four� as we were eventually tagged on Facebook, consists of two Englishmen both hailing from Birmingham, myself from New Jersey and a colorful outspoken woman from Florida by way of Oregon. The four of us further bonded during our first trip to downtown Gwangju, where we found a friendly establishment owned by a

Facing page: George (crouching) and friends at Pungam Lake, Above: George and friends lying in the sun in Soswaewon Bamboo Garden, Damyang

Korean who had lived and worked as a brewmaster for years. He gave us a hearty welcome and a free round of beers as a welcome to Korea after he found out we were brand-new English teachers. Four disparate personalities bonding over free brews in a bar owned by a Korean brewmaster. It was then that it finally sank in how my fortunes had taken a major turn for the better. Despite the stresses of the job and the feelings of isolation that come from being a foreigner in a strange land, I now feel that my life has a real sense of purpose. I am, to the best of my ability, educating young minds and exposing them to my culture as I learn more about theirs. The job pays me well, I work with a great staff, and I'm respected. No longer am I a wage slave dependent upon the mercies of annoying customers and sales figures, always wondering if was going to get enough hours for the week. Not a day goes by where I don't hear or learn something new about Korea, be it through my school or my daily life.

My path is my own to forge, and I can do it amidst a rich culture and stunning scenery. In a day, I can go from my classroom, to hiking Mount Mudeung, to shopping and dining in not just one, but two fashionable downtown districts. I can do all of this in one remarkable city. And still, as an experienced writer, I realize that there are many chapters yet to be written on this wonderful sojourn.

Story and photos by George Palafox

Gwangju News August 2010

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Restaurant Review

IL MARE heomdan is a suburban-style neighborhood on the north end of Gwangju. The sidewalks are flat and wide enough for walking and bicycles, and everything looks well-planned and aesthetically pleasing. With the advent of warm weather, sidewalk cafés have opened their windows and offer an almost European feel to the neighborhood. Helping that image immensely is an Italian restaurant on the main road next to Holly’s coffee, its seeming twin.

C

presentations are pleasing and simple. The service is attentive and the room is intimate enough to easily get a server’s attention. In good weather, the front windows are opened, and there is outdoor seating under the canopy. There is English and Korean on all of the menus. For those of us who are foreigners, the efficient and charming manager, Lee Hyo-sun, speaks English and Japanese well enough to hold a conversation.

While families are welcome, this is not a “family style” restaurant. This is a date restaurant or somewhere you might hang out with your girlfriends when you are feeling in a more sophisticated mood. The atmosphere is modern urban European with a dark intimate feel.

The food reflects the interior. It’s not campy. The food

We are wary of most Italian restaurants in Korea because they tend to reflect the Korean idea that all foreign food is sweet, especially bread. This is an unfortunate misconception because it robs ethnic foods of their glory. We are world travelers and foodies, so we miss foreign food which isn’t a

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Gwangju News August 2010

Restaurant Review

stereotypical Korean approximation. Il Mare was a welcome surprise. The food was not full of sweet red sauces, or sweetened breads. They do not serve kimchi, a point of contention for some customers who complain about it to the manager. Kimchi is not even on the menu. While the restaurant does serve sweet pickles, they are made fresh with a hint of cinnamon and do not look or taste like they were sitting on a grocer’s shelf for 2 years.

We argue about which the best dish is. Kammy likes the Chicken Risotto with its freshly wilted veggies, slices of garlic, and creamy consistency mixed with mild elegant cheese. Chris prefers the Sam Gyeup Sal and Hamburger steak, which is a well-executed Italian spiced meatloaf, a side of pork steak, aromatic sesame rice, and grilled vegetables. Both lunch and dinner salads, which come with the meal, are bright and colorful with dressings that are not too sweet. All pizzas are thin crust and use good quality ingredients.

The Margarita is a basic cheese pizza with basil, which we recommend for those who are less adventurous.

The chicken and potato pizza is even better because the chicken is slightly spicy and the potatoes seem to add to the composition, giving a heartiness that is missing in the Margarita. For the adventurous we recommend the Gorgonzola pizza. Be prepared, there is a fine drizzle of honey on the top of this pizza; however, the

combination of gorgonzola’s blue cheese flavor in combination with the roasted garlic slices and the subtle sweetness of the honey is something any foodie should experience.

Western style dessert is not served, though they do have cappuccino and other coffees. However Holly’s Coffee, Il Mare’s coffee twin in Cheomdan, is next door with cakes, waffles, and other sweets. It turns out that the reason they look the same is no accident. The owner of Il Mare, Jun Eun Young, owns both.

Story and photos by Kammy Benham

Gwangju News August 2010

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Recipe

Korean Easy-Cook Recipe

미역국

Miyeokguk

T

raditionally, Koreans would never be without soup or stew on their table. For this reason, there are numerous kinds of soup and stew in Korea. The most famous Korean soup is probably kimchi stew or doenjang (bean curd) soup. However, the most special is probably miyeokguk (seaweed soup). This is because miyeokguk is an integral part of any Korean’s birthday celebrations.

In Korea, it’s a given that everyone will eat miyeokguk on their birthday. So whereas in a foreign country, it’s the norm to eat birthday cake, here, Korean tradition dictates the birthday person has to eat miyeokguk. Thus, miyeokguk has a strong connection with birthday culture in Korea. As well as being birthday food, many women eat it after they become mothers. Miyeok is well-known to be a very good food for new mothers because it tonifies the blood shortly after childbirth. So mothers eat miyeokguk not only for therapy but for custom. If there is a friend’s birthday coming up soon, making miyeokguk a birthday gift will probably be the best way to express your gratitude in the Korean way!

Story and photos by Kim Mi-so Kim Mi-so is a sophomore majoring in English literature at Chonnam National University.

How to make miyeokguk

(serves 2 - 3 people)

Things to Prepare: pan (or pot), brown seaweed, beef, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, oil Cooking Method: 1. Soak seaweed in water.

2. Mince garlic and beef.

3. Mix beef with sesame oil, minced garlic and sesame oil.

4. Put prepared seaweed and beef in the pan and fry with oil.

5. When white broth forms, pour water into the pan.

6. When water boils, season it with salt or soy sauce.

7. Enjoy!

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Gwangju News August 2010

Film Review

For most foreigners in Korea, the language barrier means that Korean movies at the cinema are out of the question. However, thanks to the advent of DVDs with subtitles, and the commonness of DVD rooms and rental places, Korean cinema has become a lot more accessible.

T Haeundae 해운대 Directed by: Yoon Je-gyun Starring: Seol Kyeong-gu, Ha Ji-won, Uhm Jung-hwa, Park Joong-hun Running time: 129 mins ell, I like to think I have seen a lot of films. I’ve seen excellent films and I’ve seen horrible films.

However what I put myself through watching Haeundae, the tsunami-based disaster movie released last summer, and one of the biggest blockbusters the Korean film industry has ever seen, left me distinctly underwhelmed.

When I asked around, all Koreans that I talked to said they really enjoyed it. I inquired further – was it just the tsunami part they liked? But apparently, no it is not. The reasons I was given were first, that it takes place in the area of Busan, and they apparently talk a little bit differently. This didn’t seem like much of a reason for liking a movie to me. The second reason is a little more understandable given that Koreans have a big pension for watching very dramatic scenarios. If someone asked me to describe Haeundae it would be this: it’s a soap opera with a wave at the end.

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The entire movie revolves around the intricate relationships that are created, and then of course something bad happens and then something good happens and then when things are really good, the big wave comes and messes it all up.

The basis for the story is one of the central characters has a fishing accident during a typhoon in 2004. He never goes back to fishing and has been looking after the main female character ever since (her father died in the sea accident).

During the film, the relationship that develops around these two characters is not exactly the element cinematic romances are made of, but appears to be the elements that Korean cinematic romances are made of. I think there is a big difference between Hollywood and Korean cinema. The film does also of course center around the beach of Busan called Haeundae...hence the movie name. It shows why people go there from all over the country: go on a summer vacation and enjoy some time in the sun away from university and college on Haeundae beach.

There are again multiple relationships between other characters that develop throughout the movie, and I kept asking myself when it was going to happen. This big disaster

that the movie claims to be about really does take a long time to reach.

But at a certain point it becomes clear that the movie isn’t about the big disaster at all, but rather about the people and the area it affects. And that is why it was a big hit. People really enjoyed watching the relationships develop with very different and opposite character types. The aggressive woman from Seoul seducing a young lifeguard from Busan, for example. The movie was not an attempt at copying, say, The Day After Tomorrow I think. More, it was to try and show the culture of Busan and specifically Haeundae. The tsunami, though spectacular when it finally arrives, was secondary.

My advice on this one is to set aside all expectations of a rollercoaster disaster flick because this isn’t it. However, if you’re really want to sit through 2 hrs of life on Haeundae beach, followed by some brief tsunami action, then sit back and enjoy!

By Adam Bourque Gwangju News August 2010

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Cartoon

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Gwangju News August 2010

Upcoming Events

The vast professional experience and diverse activities of these two keynote speakers, presenters, discussants and hosts are expected to heighten the quality of the forum.

y now, many readers of Gwangju News would have read last month’s article introducing Asia Culture Forum 2010 (ACF 2010), and we hope some may expect to participate in the forum. During the last thirty days, the Secretariat for Asia Culture Forum 2010 has been diligently preparing the forum in several fields, including public relations, planning, external affairs, protocol, hospitality and others. Part of the many tasks done at the office has been to invite speakers to the forum, and we’d like to introduce two renowned scholars who will be delivering keynote speeches at ACF 2010.

B

The first keynote speaker is Dr. Vo Van Sen. He is currently the President and Head of the Organizing Committee at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City. His academic specialty is in History, mainly Vietnamese and American History. He has acquired rich experiences through holding major positions at wellknown academic affiliations such as the Association of Vietnamese Historians; Journal of American History, Organization of American Historians; Consultative Board of International Relations with the U.S., Vietnam National University of HCM City; Korean Studies Association in Southeast Asia (KSASA), Australia; etc. He has written over 50 books that have been published in Vietnamese as well as in English. As an expert in history, his research and books have been quoted many times in local and national newspapers, magazines, journals and other publications.

The second keynote speaker is Dr. Ito Abito. He is an emeritus professor at The University of Tokyo and currently works at Waseda University Organization for Asian Studies as a senior researcher. He has been involved in many projects on Anthropological Korean Studies that span various fields and also on contemporary issues in Japanese society. One of his research works is ‘Anthropological Study of Post-industrial Society in Korea’. He is renowned for his keen interest in Korea. He also speaks Korean fluently. He has two publications in Korea: ‘Centrality and Marginality in Japan and Korea’ and ‘A Comparative Study on Social Organizations in Japan and Korea’ under the Series of Korea-Japan Joint Researches.

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Gwangju News August 2010

As introduced last month, ACF 2010 has two related events: ‘Special Exhibition for ACF 2010’ and ‘2010 Asia Youth Culture Forum’. We’d like to introduce the special exhibition first. This is a project where professional and amateur artists show their genuine experiences of Korean and local culture through their art. The project group consists of 12 domestic and international residents in and around Gwangju. Through this, visitors as well as participants can take part in an international cultural exchange in the region. Also, on the day of the forum, there will be an exhibition from ‘Gwangju Artist Collective’, made up of 30-40 domestic and international professional and amateur artists.

We are looking forward to your interest and participation in this special exhibition that will help Gwangju create its image as the Hub City of Asian Culture. There is going to be an opening ceremony on Aug 14 (Sat), from 15:30 to 17:30, at GIC Gallery, located at GIC. The first period of the exhibition will be held at GIC Gallery from Aug 14 (Sat) to Sept 4 (Sat) and the second will be held on the 4th floor of the Kimdaejung Convention Center on Sept 8.

An official website for the forum was launched and is in operation, though some pages are waiting for information regarding speakers and a detailed view of each session.

Those interested in ACF 2010 can register online as participants free of charge, and so gain benefits that are exclusive to those registered participants. There will also be opportunities to partake in the forum as one of the organizing staff working in the areas of Protocol/Liaison, Registration, Guide, Media Support and Management Support. For the sake of holding an first-class forum with internationally renowned scholars and experts, many of those who are qualified are more than welcome to apply for the field. Please visit the official website of ACF 2010 at www.acf.or.kr for more information. For further inquiries, please do not hesitate to talk with us via email at acf2010@acf.or.kr or phone +82-62-226-2731.

ACF 2010 is one of the few large-scale international events initiated by the local municipal government and organized by a regional office. We look forward to your keen interest and encourage readers to get involved, either as participants or volunteer organizers, to help us make ACF 2010 a great success!

By Ahn Hong-pyo, Hong-pyo is in charge of External Affairs at the secretariat for Asia Culture Forum 2010

Upcoming Events

Gwangju News August 2010

39

Upcoming Events

Festival 2010 World Music Festival in Gwangju

was produced in this area. To protect and to improve it, this festival is held every year. In this festival, visitors can look around the museum and make pottery individually.

2010.08.07 ~ 2010.08.15 Jeollanam-do Gangjin-gun Daegumyeon Goryeocheongjadoyoji Contact Us :061-430-3191~4 For more Information: www.gangjinfes.or.kr

rink fee is 5,000 won.

- 2010.08.23 Kimdaejung Convention Center, third exhibition Contact: 062-611-3332 For more Information: www.karakuriart.com

Exhibitions Artist who stole God July 22 - August 22 Yehyang gallery Contact: 225-0049

For three days, the 2010 World Music Festival will be held in Gwangju. Inter-national Music Festival has planned this event as part of the movement to develop the Hub City of Asian Culture. Gwangju's role as an instrument will start in earnest.

2010.08.27 ~ 2010.08.29 National Gwangju Center plaza How to get there: Line 3- exit 1 munhwajeondangyeok.

5-minute walk from YMCA More Information: www.cct.go.kr

Finding the secret of Mona Lisa July 16 - August 29 Keumho Gallery, U-square Contact: 360-8473 Dawn July 29 - August 22 Gwangju Museum of Art Contact: 613-5382 The Lotus Industry Festival of Korea in Muan, 2010 The tagline of the Lotus Industry Festival of Korea in Muan is "You can meet nature through Muan". In this festival, visitors can enjoy the natural scenery. There will be contests and experience programs.

2010.08.05 ~ 2010.08.08 Muan-gun Illo-eup Hoesanbaeng nyeonji Contact: 061-450-5319 For more Information: www.tour.muan.go.kr Robot Art Festival

2010 the 38th Gangjin Celadon Festival Throughout Gangjin province, there are a lot of cultural remains. Celadon is the most popular remnant of the past in Korea and a lot of celadon 40

Gwangju News August 2010

In the Robot Art Festival, visitors can view many m o d e r n robots and the World's r o b o t s .

There will be 300 r o b o t s exhibited. In addition, you can use the ice rink near this venue. The admission fee of this exhibition is 12,000 won, and the ice

Drawing Festival June 9 - August 29 Goheung Nampo Museum of Art

Performances HOT POTATO nationwide concert tour August 14, 2010 from 6:00p.m Gwangju Culture & Art Center (Small Theater) Admission fee: 55,000 won Pianist Roland Prรถll Recital August 17, 2010 from 7:30p.m Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do, (Yeonji hall) Admission fee: 7,000 ~ 10,000 won Shanghai Sinfonietta Performance in Korea August 18, 2010 from 7:30p.m Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do, (Moakdang) Admission fee: 7,000 ~ 10,000 won The Ballerina who loves a B-boy August 28, 2010 from 4:00p.m, 7:30p.m August 29, 2010 from 3:00p.m, 6:30p.m

Upcoming Events

1.Two Eyes Staring Genre: horror Director: Elbert van Strien Starring: Isabelle Stokkel, Charlotte Arnoldy, Hadewych Minis, Barry Atsma Language: Dutch

Gwangju Culture & Art Center (Grand Theater) Admission fee: 44,000 ~ 66,000 won Street dance meets ballet. This is the story of a ballerina who dreamed of being a prima donna, and it opens on a hip-hop square on the street next to the ballerina’s practice room. It is also a pantomime which shows the ballerina’s love for B-boys and how she looked down on the street dancers at fell in love with break dance. She gives up her dream and becomes immersed in street dance.

“90 minutes of touching experience that will makes you want to linger around for a while; and then the curtain falls amid heart-stopping music and the incessant roar of applause!”

Movies Gwangju Theater Chungjangno 5-ga (two blocks back behind Migliore) Phone: (062) 224-5858 Movie info from: http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju .cafe (only in Korean) Films change weekly to bi-weekly.

Shows films from several different countries. Korean subtitles available for all international movies. Check online for calendar and prices.

Admission fee: 7,000 won, 18,000 won for 3 films Showing Period: It depends on the movie.

The following movies will be shown in August:

2. El Sistema Genre:Documentary Director:Paul smaczny, Maria Stodtmeier Starring: Jose Antonio Abreu, Gustavo Dudamel Language: German 3. Queen Rock Montreal Genre: Documentary Director: Saul Swimmer Starring: Freddie Mercury, John Deacon, Brian May, Roger Taylor Language: English 4. Jeff Beck At Ronnie Scott's 2008 Genre: Documentary Director: Stuart Watts Starring: Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Vinnie Colaiuta, Imogen Heap Language: English 5. Taking Woodstock Genre: Comedy Director: Ang Lee Starring: Demetri Martin, Emile Hirsch, Imelda Staunton Language: English 6. The White Ribbon Genre : Drama, War Director : Michael Haneke Starring : Marisa Growaldt, Janina Fautz, Michael Kranz Language : German

Sports KIA Tigers Baseball Team Match Schedule

Venue: Gwangju Mudeung Stadium (Baseball Field) 무등경기장 How to get there: Buses: 16, 38, 51, 53, 58, 89, 95, 98, 151 get off Mudeung Stadium bus stop

Taxi direction: Go to 무 등 경 기 장 (Mudeung Gyeonggijang gajuseyo.)

For advance Purchase: www.ticketlink.co.kr or 1588-7980 Ticket Price: Adults 7,000 - 12,000 won Students (13-18 years old): 4,000 - 9,000 won Children (under 13 years old): 2,000 - 6,000 won Date

Match Team

Time

3th 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 13th 14th 15th 20th 21st 22nd 24th 25th 28th 31st

LG LG LG Doosan Doosan Doosan Lotte Lotte Lotte Samsung Samsung Samsung Samsung Hanhwa Lotte Doosan

18:30 18:30 18:30 18:30 17:00 17:00 18:30 17:00 17:00 18:30 17:00 17:00 18:30 18:30 17:00 18:30

Gwangju Sangmu Soccer Team Match Schedule

Venue: Gwangju Worldcup Stadium (광주월드컵경기장) How to get there: Buses: 6, 16, 20, 26, 47, 74 get off Worldcup Stadium bus stop Taxi direction: please go to 월드컵경기 장 에 가 주 세 요 (Woldeukeop Gyeonggijang-e gajuseyo.)

Advance Purchase: ticketlink.co.kr Ticket Price: Adults 6,000 won (Advance Purchase 5,000 won) Students (13-18 years old): 3,000 won (Advance Purchase 2,000 won) Children (under 13 years old): free Date 14th 28th

Match Team Busan I-Park Gyeongnam FC

Time 19:00 19:00

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Upcoming Events

GIC Talk - August Schedule Time & Place: Every Saturday, 15:00-16:30, GIC office (5th floor of Jeon-il Bldg) For more information, visit www.gic.or.kr or contact Kim Sing-sing at: gwangjuic@gmail.com Check out pictures from previous GIC Talks http://picasaweb.google.com/gictalk

August 7

August 14

“American Youth Working with Korean Youth" Speakers: Noelle Easterday (Camp Fulbright Curriculum Director) Camp Fulbright is an annual two-week English immersion program for Korean primary and secondary students. Campers are required to speak English 24-hours a day and are taught by over 70 native English teachers [Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs)]. Thirteen American teenagers are selected to join Camp Fulbright in the Junior Internship Program. These Junior Counselors (JCs) have the unique opportunity to learn about Korean culture, history, and language in addition to sharing American culture with Korean campers. It is an unprecedented opportunity for Korean youth to become friends with their American peers, and offers campers wonderful chances to use English outside of the classroom. Noelle Easterday (Camp Fulbright Curriculum Director) and her sister, Michaela (JC) will present about this year's camp experiences, including the challenges, inspiration, and transformative effects of this special international exchange.

Asia Culture Forum “Special Exhibition”

August 21 Meditation Speaker: Jennifer Ullrich

August 28 Caleb Sekeres’s Talk & Concert Speaker: Caleb Sekeres (Performing Artist) Caleb Sekeres will perform selections from his recently recorded (in Korea) CD "Late Night Meditations," as well as new compositions.

An American actor and theatre artist, Caleb will discuss the creative process, both theatrical and musical. From acting a role and inhabiting a character, to the more intimate and personal process of singing for a small audience, Caleb will share his experiences and opinions. Prior to coming to Korea, Caleb performed in New York City (Off-Broadway) and in regional theatres throughout the United States. In Korea, Caleb has performed his monodrama Bad Bad Boy, in Chuncheon, and given a small piano concert at the downtown Gwangju jazz club "In the Groove."

2010 GIC 5th Korean Language Class 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 1-2

Monday & Wednesday

서강한국어 1A (Lesson 2 ~ Lesson 6)

Beginner 1-2

서강한국어 1A (Lesson 2 ~ Lesson 6)

Beginner 2-1

Tuesday & Thursday

서강한국어 1B (Lesson 4 ~ Lesson 8)

Beginner 2-1

서강한국어 1B (Lesson 1 ~ Lesson 4)

- Period: Sept. 13 - Oct. 28, 2010 (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: 10,000 won/ 6 months and textbooks excluded)

Note

- Period: Sept.11 - Oct.23, 2010 (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: 10,000 won/ 6 months and textbooks excluded)

* 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 GIC or Top Foreign Language Bookstore (next to the Art Street in Geumnam-ro)

To register, please send your information: full name, contact number, working place, and preferable level to gwangjuic@gmail.com 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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Gwangju News August 2010

Community Board

Community Board Gwangju Artist Collective We are a group of artists and art lovers. We meet up about once or twice a month at the GIc for workshops, discussions and community art events. Look for us on Facebook or send an e-mail to gic-artist-collective @googlegroups.com Sung Bin Orphanage Sung Bin Orphanage is looking for creative/ active/ energetic/ outgoing/ enthusiastic long-term 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.

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.

Get off at Wolgok market bus stop.

Mass: Every Sunday at 3 p.m. at Wolgok-dong Catholic Church 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

Apostolate to Migrants Center Address: 969-10 Wolgok-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Phone: 062) 954-8004 Buses: 18, 20, 29, 37, 40, 98, 196, 700, 720

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Advertise in Gwangju News Target Your Customers!

Does your business cater to the foreign community?

Advertising in Gwangju News is the best way to reach your target market. 3,000 copies are printed and distributed every month. News about your services will spread like wildfire!

For advertising information contact Kim Min-su at (062) 226-2734 or e-mail: gwangjunews@gmail.com

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