(EN) Gwangju News December 2015

Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine

December 2015 Issue No. 166 Published on November 25, 2015 Cover Photo: Allan Jessen Cover Art & Design: Joe Wabe Photographed by: Joe Wabe Gwangju News is the first local English magazine in Korea, first published in 2001. It covers local and regional issues, with a focus on roles and activities of the international residents and local English-speaking communities.

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

Gwangju News is published by Gwangju International Center 5, Jungang-ro 196 beon-gil (Geumnam-no 3 Ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733~34 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date February 22, 2010 Printed by Join Adcom 조인애드컴 (+82)-62-367-7702

THE EDITORIAL TEAM PUBLISHER Shin Gyonggu MANAGING EDITOR Karly Pierre ONLINE EDITOR Callum Holmes COORDINATOR AND LAYOUT EDITOR Minsu Kim PHOTO EDITOR Joe Wabe CHIEF PROOFREADER Bradley Weiss ONLINE EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jacqui Page, Sam Page COPY EDITORS Laura Becker, Tim Berg, Brian Fitzroy, Robert Hinderliter, Victoria Lee, Joey Nunez, Jon Ozelton, Kelsey Rivers PROOFREADERS Christie Fargher, David Foster, Di Foster, Fellin Kinanti, Jannies Le, Carrie Levinson, Joey Nunez, Gabriella Nygaard, Katie Rayner, Stephen Redeker, Pete Schandall, Chelsea Thompson, Teri Venable RESEARCHERS Cho Nam-hee, Choi Shin-ae, Jang Dong-ha, Jung Yun-hee, Kim Dae-yong

Volunteering Inquiry and Feedback: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr Advertising and Subscription Inquiry: minsu@gic.or.kr or 062-226-2733~34 Special thanks to the City of Gwangju and all of our sponsors. gwangjunewsgic.com

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Gwangju City News

Compiled and Edited by Choi Shin-ae, Cho Nam-hee, Jung Yun-hee and Joey Nunez Photo courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City

MAYOR YOON ADVISES QINGHUA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO BE WORLD LEADERS Gwangju Mayor Dr. Yoon was a guest speaker at the Qinghua University in Beijing on October 22. In his address entitled “The Vision of the Youth in the 21st Century,” Yoon advised 300 students to be leaders of the whole world, not just China. Yoon is the fourth invited speaker from Korea, after President Park Geun-hye, former congressman Jeong Mong-jun and former Samsung Electronics Vice Chair Yoon Jong-yong.

WATER SUPPLY LEVELS A PROBLEM AT THE START OF 2016 Some rural areas of Chungcheongnam-do are experiencing a water shortage due to the worst drought in 40 years. Gwangju City revealed that water can be supplied normally until the first half of next year. The Dong-bok Reservoir, Gwangju’s main water supply, and the Juam Dam are expected to be at lower than normal levels at the beginning of the year. As a drought counteraction measure, Gwangju is hoping to increase water reserve levels by monitoring the Dong-bok catchment area. An official related to the Office of Waterworks said, “I hope that the public begins to understand the need to conserve water.”

INDONESIAN STUDENTS VISIT GWANGJU Nineteen high school students from Medan City School in Indonesia visited Gwangju for eight days through The Sister City Home Stay Relationship Program for the Youth. Following a welcoming ceremony in Suwan and Gwang-deuck schools, the students visited the 5.18 National Memorial Cemetery. Lubis, a Medan highschooler, said, “I am proud to be a youth of the sister city of Gwangju, center of supreme sacrifices.” The group also visited the Asia Culture Center, KIA Motors Corporation, City Hall and Hyanggyo, a Confucian temple. Djauzi Ilmi, a representative of Medan High School, said, “It is a good opportunity to compare Medan and Gwangju’s school systems. I hope that both Medan and Gwangju keep their relationship friendly.” Meanwhile, the City continues to support opportunities for city youth to interact with diverse cultures through this sister city program, which began in 1999. The participants are selected by the Education Office every year. The participants from Suwan and Gwang-deuck High School are going to Medan for a chance to have a unique cultural exchange.

MOKPO TO BUSAN SIGHTSEEING TRAIN Korail Gwangju Branch announced it will operate a special tourist train travelling from Mokpo to Busan, on Nov. 20. The train will leave Mokpo station at 11 p.m. making a stop at Haedong Yongkungsa (해동용 궁사) Temple to provide tourists the chance to take in its famous sunrise views. The route will then take travelers to Haeundae (해운대), Taejongdae (태종대) and Busan’s International and Jalgalchi Markets before departing for Mokpo at 5 p.m. A round-trip ticket will cost 68,000 won. Further information is available on the Korail website and at the Mokpo Station’s Travel Center.

For more information on Gwangju, please scan the QR code

Content s December 2015 Issue No. 166

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News and info 5 Gwangju City News

Feature 16 Dynamic Flow

12 Upcoming Events

20 The Collector’s Burden

58 Community Board

23 My Grandfather’s Story 24 Silver Town for the Golden Years

GIC

26 A Christmas Story

8 GIC Talk Review: A Higher Alternative

27 Why is Christmas Romantic in Korea?

9 GIC Talk December Schedule

28 Study Break

10 GIC Tour: The Boseong Green Tea Fields

Local 7 Gwangju Talks 32 York York Barbeque 34 Business to Watch LUBUNNY 36 5 Reasons to Stay at Hamkkehae

30 Rooted in Hope

General

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15 December DVD Releases 51 The Nuclear Option 54 Short Stories and L2 Learners 56 Tricky Science, Real Risk

Guesthouse 38 Europe in Korea 40 Haemul Pajeon 47 Sewol Update 48 Caring for a Companion

Photography

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41 Photo of the Month

Culture

42 Family and Child Portraiture

50 Goshiwon, Day 967

Places to see

52 The Urban Legend of Organ

44 Exloring Pungam 46 Lost and Found in Japan

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Harvesting and Gwangju Taxis 53 The Yangban Culture

gwangju talks I local

What are your plans for Christmas and New Year’s Eve? Translated and Complied by Cho Nam-hee and Joey Nunez

Kim So-yee (F, 22) Christmas is a festival celebrated around the world, but people celebrate this day in different ways. For me, I used to spend the day with my friends, go to church or hold a party with my family. This Christmas, I would like to find my lover and then “get snowed in” together. This would be a special day for me this year. And then, when I greet the New Year, I would like to climb a mountain and pray special wishes for 2016, for all to be well in 2016.

Ki Ha-Ri (F, 20) On Christmas, I will go to church, because I believe that God exists. Also, I will meet my boyfriend and spend time with him. We will go skating and go to a Christmas festival. Then, on January 1, I will go to a sunrise attraction and make a wish. Then, I will eat rice soup with my relatives.

Kim Yeong-hee (F, 30) When I was young and in my 20s, I used to float so high every Christmas. I used to be interested in fun and active things like dancing with people in a club. For the past few years, however, I have preferred to get together with a small group of friends in a quiet coffee shop rather than visit noisy places, so that is what I am going to do this Christmas Eve. I would love to talk with them about what has been happening in their lives and hang out downtown to see the twinkling night-sights. And then, I will go to church to thank God on Christmas Day and on December 31. Also, I will not forget to buy a gift for myself for a year of hard work.

Shin Eun-Hwa (F, 20) First, I will give Christmas cards and some presents to my family. Next, I will go to Everland with my friends to a Christmas festival held there on Christmas Day. We will have a pleasant time going on the rides.

I will also donate money to a charity to help others and make everyone else happy on Christmas. It will be a great and fruitful time. But for next Christmas, I hope to spend time with a new boyfriend.

Lee Dong Won (M, 25) I have never spent time with a girlfriend on Christmas or New Years Eve. To be honest, Christmas is not a special day. It is just a holiday, but many girls think that they want to spend that time together with a boyfriend on Christmas, as if they are movie stars. So, do not blame your girlfriend and try to be a “couch potato” on Christmas. Do your best for your girl on that day!

Song Dae Woo (M, 24) The weather is getting colder as the end of the year is approaching. There are two huge end-of-the-year events, but one is not for me. Christmas Eve does not have much significance to me because I am not a Christian, so I have nothing special to do on that day. On New Years’ Eve, I will go to a mountain at midnight to see the sunrise. It is the beginning of 2016 and the end of 2015 at the same time. Reflecting helps to modify my plans for the upcoming year, and also helps me connect with the great spirit in nature to help me be a better man.

Happy Holidays! You are invited to join us at the GIC on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. for our annual Adios 2015 event. Pictures and a slideshow presentation from 2015 will recap highlights from events in 2015. We also will have entertainment, food, games, activities and more, so come to the GIC to celebrate the holiday season and the close of 2015 with us!

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A Higher Alternative Community Colleges in U.S. Higher Education System Words and photo contributed by Diane Syejeong Kim

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any Koreans decide to study abroad every year. Students who decide to study abroad may have multiple reasons behind their decisions. Some are interested in cultural exchange and language training, whereas others may be more interested in pursuing a degree in higher education. In addition to studying, a large proportion of the student population is interested in continuing their overseas experiences by landing a job upon completion of their course work.

ment of State agency, international students have many choices regarding the institution type and location that is most suitable for their academic and long-term goals. There are more than 4,500 nationally and regionally accredited institutions for international students. Furthermore, many of these schools can create rich experiences in through student support services because international students have been an essential part of the university student body for multiple decades.

Among a number of different countries around the world, America is one of the most popular choices for pursuing higher education for many international students, including Koreans. In fact, Korea was ranked as one of the top 3 countries that consist of 50 percent of the international student population in the U.S. in 2014, according to the Opendoors Survey conducted by the Institute of International Education. A total of 68,047 Korean students made a decision to launch their academic careers in the U.S. last year alone.

World-class research universities with their leading scholars is another key factor that makes U.S. higher education attractive to the students. Fourteen out of the top 20 universities in the world are located in the U.S., according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-2016. Aside from traditionally established Ivy League universities along the East Coast, an astounding number of West Coast universities are ranked in top 20 universities in the world, including Cal Tech, Stanford, UC Berkeley and UCLA.

What motivates Korean students to study in the U.S.? According to Education USA, a U.S. Depart-

While possibilities are infinite for prospective students who are planning to enter the U.S. as inter-

gic talk schedule I gic

national students, there are many choices to make and steps to take in the journey of completing your dream degree in the US. During this GIC Talk, audience members will be able to discover diverse facets of higher education in the U.S. through community colleges and state university systems, to help attendees walk through the path of studying abroad.

In addition, I will discuss practical tips and tools

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needed when applying to higher education institutions in the U.S. Thank you in advance for coming to this GIC Talk.

Remember, all GIC Talks are for free and everyone is welcome, so come and enjoy the final GIC Talk of 2015, on Saturday, December 12, at 3 p.m. in the GIC First Floor Hall!

GIC Talk December Schedule

Theme of the Month:

Investing for the future Time & Location: Saturdays from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., GIC Auditorium (1st Floor) For more information, contact gictalk@gic.or.kr $1,000 helps us ensure the longevity of an existing program location. $2,500 helps bring this program to a new safe house location.

DECEMBER 12 Speaker: Diane Syejeong Kim Topic: Community Colleges in U.S. Higher Education System More information about this GIC Talk is included in the GIC Talk Preview.

DECEMBER 5 Speaker: Sarah Smith Topic: Connecting Women: Bras and Human Trafficking Free the Girls is an American-based non-profit organization, which is using second-hand bras to transform the lives of human trafficking victims. Come hear about the facts and figures behind this significant topic and how one small program is making lives better. Information will be provided on how audience members can donate.

Ever wonder just how your donation to Free The Girls will help the women in this program? It is amazing how far a donation goes to support Free the Girls. $10 helps train girls to sell bras. $25 helps provide English lessons for the girls. $100 helps one girl return to school with tuition, books and a uniform. $225 helps provide remedial reading and math tutoring for these girls. $400 helps outfit a new classroom. $625 helps provide for the girls’ emergency medical needs. $900 helps give the girls in one location access to computer training.

DECEMBER 19 There will be no GIC Talk, due to the Adios 2015 Event, on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. There will be pictures, a 2015 slideshow presentation and an award ceremony for GIC members and volunteers who made GIC programming possible and successful in 2015. Adios 2015 will have entertainment, food, games, activities and more. The GIC will additionally be fundraising to benefit the GIC in 2016.

If you are interested in helping with the event by cooking and/or performing, please contact Cho Namhee at nh@gic. or.kr and/or by visiting the GIC. All are invited to the GIC to celebrate the holiday season and close 2015 with us!

DECEMBER 26 There will be no GIC Talk, due to the Christmas Holiday.

So, Happy Boxing Day, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year to all! Enjoy these holidays to the fullest, and we will look forward to seeing you at the next GIC Talk on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 3 p.m.!

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gic tour preview I gic

The Boseong Green Tea Fields Written by Cho Nam-hee Photographed by Jeongmin Lee

Start

9:00 am

Bohyang Dawon Making Tea

Lunch Yeonnip Bap Jeongsik

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et another year draws to a close. Leafless trees and gloomy weather only make you want to stay at home with stacks of woolen blankets. But why not enjoy hot green tea in a tranquil garden and treasure the last moments of 2015 with the GIC Tour?

Less than an hour’s drive away from Gwangju, original Korean green tea fields will be the main focus point of the GIC Tour’s final excursion for 2015. You may have heard of Daehan Dawon, a place your friends or colleagues may have boasted about visiting before. This December, GIC Tour will take you to a secret hidden garden for an advantage over your peers. You will visit Bohyang Tea Farm and will learn

Yulpo Pine Tree Beach

Arrive 3:00 pm

all about green tea from tea-making to tea-drinking etiquette.

Choi Yeong gi, the 5th generation owner of the farm, is confident that no other farms or institutes in the area provide the same high quality teas that his farm provides. His vigorous research on teas has led to his success in growing organic green teas and obtaining various certifications from domestic and international organizations, such as the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) and the International Organic Certification from the United States, Japan and Europe.

After learning how to make teas and sipping a few cups yourself, your stomach will surely begin to growl. A special lotus leaf, “jeongshik,” will be prepared for you for you as you enjoy the sounds and tastes of Boseong. Besides green teas, cockles are also one of Boseong’s signatures. Boiled or eaten raw, the taste hints that sea waves are close.

The final tour of the year cannot end without seeing the winter sea. A few winding roads over hills and Yulpo Beach comes into view. Gentle waves and salty sea air relieves the stress of weary travelers.

Close out 2015 with the GIC in the exotic world of green teas! At the end of the tour, participants will head back to the GIC to enjoy the “Adios 2015” event, where the members will recap the 2015 GIC Tour season and discuss 2016 tours.

There will be food, games, activities, discounted items, and more!

GIC Culture Tour - Boseong ￦

Date: Saturday, December 19th, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Price: GIC Members 30,000 won, Non-Members 45,000 won Children under the age of 12 25,000 won Children to not participate in making tea 10,000 won Itinerary: Gwangju - Bohyang Dawon (Bohyang Green tea field): Making tea - Yeonnip Bap Jeongsik (Table d’hote with Steamed Rice Wrapped in a Lotus Leaf) - Yulpo Pine Tree Beach - Gwangju Contact: 062-226-2733 or gictour@gic.or.kr (Lee Jeongmin)

The Christmas season begins at Holiday Inn Gwangju!

We welcome this big season with the tradition of tree-lighting at the hotel lobby and splendid Christmas decorations. We are presenting a wide range of Christmas dishes from roasted turkey to seasonal oysters – as our international buffet restaurant Hourglass during the Christmas Festive season. Feel privileged at the 5-star hotel and enjoy a big and valuable dinner.

Period: Dec. 23 ~ 26 2015 (Wed. – Sat.) Price: KRW 55,000 (VAT included) per person / 1 Adult, 1 Child Free (under 12 years old) Operation Hours: 17:30 – 22:00 (L.O 21:00) Reservations: 062-610-7061, 2 * Reservations are necessary

It is not early to book a special dinner during the peak holiday season!

Celebrate Christmas and New Year at our stylish sky bar, La Place. We offer an adorable course menu, including the grilled lobster tail and beef tenderloin as the main dish.

Enjoy a romantic dinner and amazing views with your friends and lovers for this special season.

Period: Dec. 24, 25 and 31, 2015 Price: KRW 120,000 (VAT included) per person for 8 Course Menu (Dec. 24 and 25) KRW 100,000 (VAT included) per person for 6 Course Menu (Dec. 31) Operation Hours: 18:00 – 02:00 Reservations: 062-610-7095

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Upcoming Events Boseong Tea Plantation Lighting Festival 보성 차밭 빛축제 Boseong Tea Plantation Light Festival is held at the green tea plantation, and is one of Korea’s best tourist attractions.

Lights are displayed on the trees and along the roads around Botjae Tea House and Dahyanggak Observatory to light up the wintery night sky for visitors.

Some highlights include a decorated tree, a Green Tea Plantation themed street, the Milky Way Tunnel of Love, photo zone, and the Hanging Hope Cards. Performances and interactive programs for tourists are provided every week.

Dec. 11 - Jan. 24 Botjae Tea House, Dahyanggak (11-2, Yeongcheon-ri, Hoecheon-myeon, Boseonggun, Jeollanam-do) Take the intercity bus bound for Boseong from U-Square (Gwangju Bus Terminal).

061-852-7988 http://e-tour.boseong.go.kr/index.boseong

Yeosu Hyangilam Temple Sunrise Festival 여수 향일암 일출 기원 한마당

Visit Hyangilam Temple on the last day of December to have your wishes fulfilled. Visitors can end their year and welcome in the next by watching the new sunrise as they make their New Year’s resolutions.

The event kicks off with a traditional music festival, followed by the Sunrise Singing Contest, orchestra and candlelight ceremony, and New Year’s countdown. At midnight, the bell will ring in the New Year followed by fireworks, a dance festival, a family movie festival and so much more. Before sunrise arrives, the samulnoli (Korean traditional percussion music) will be played to welcome in the dawn.

Dec. 31 - Jan. 1 60, Hyangilam-ro, Dolsaneup, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do Take the intercity bus bound for Yeosu from Usquare (Gwangju Bus Terminal) and get off at Yeosu Bus Terminal. From there, take bus No.111 or No.113 to Hyangilam for 1 hour.

061-659-3875-3877 http://www.ystour.kr/en/festival/hyangilam.jsp

Ttanggut Sunset, Sunrise Festival 땅끝 해맞이 해넘이 축제 Welcome in the New Year with a fresh start by visiting Ttanggut Village. Celebrate Korea’s diversity and have a meaningful shared experience with Korean nationals and other tourists as they gather to celebrate and welcome in the New Year. This historical heritage site is a unique place to watch the sunrise and set. Activities include ganggangsullae, julgut, a candle lighting event, a disco party, poetry readings, a New Year’s Day concert, fireworks and more.

Dec.31- Jan.1 Ttangkkeut Village, Songji-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do Take the intercity bus from Gwangju U-Square bus terminal and get off at Heanam bus terminal (2 hours). From Heanam bus terminal, take the HeanamSagumi bus and get off at Ttanggut town bus stop.

061-530-5309 http://www.haenam.go.kr

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Asia Culture Center Schedule 비는 오지 않지만, 우리에겐 우산이 있지 Even Though There Is No Rain, We Have an Umbrella

Gwangju City Ballet - The Nut Cracker Dec. 17~18, 7:30 p.m.

Gwangju Art and Culture Center ￦ 30,000 won (R seat), 20,000 won (S seat), 10,000 won (A seat) 062-613-8244

Gwangju Symphony Orchestra - Masterwork Series IX Special invitation performance Piano Son Yeol Eum Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m.

Gwangju Art and Culture Center ￦ 30,000 won (R seat), 20,000 won (S seat), 10,000 won (A seat)

2015 Kazumi Tateishi Trio 5th Live in Korea “Ghibli Meets Jazz” Dec. 20, 5 p.m.

Bitgoeul Citizen Cultural Center ￦ 66,000 won (VIP), 55,000 won (R seat), 44,000 won (S seat), 33,000 won (A seat) 070-8680-8477

The 10th KBC Living & Housing Fair 제 10회 KBC건축박람회 Dec. 3 - Dec. 6, 10a.m.- 6p.m.

Kim Daejung Convention Center ￦ Admission Fee: 2,000 won Directions : Take bus 01, 38, 64, 518 or 1000 and get off at the Kim Daejung Convention Center.

062-650-3048 http://www.kbchousing.com

Dec.12 -13 Asia Culture Theater - Theater 1-1 ￦ Admission fee: 20,000 won “Even Though There is No Rain, We Have An Umbrella” is a musical, which is set in an undefined time to remember Gwangju’s history. The story recalls memories to help the audience get closer to the past.

The main character climbs Mudeung Mountain where he faces challenges and decisions on how to climb the mountain to try and reach the top.

He discovers his strengths, to his delight, while getting lost in the center of the forest. When the desire to reach the top disappears, the main character begins to explore the mountain.

질문하는 인간 –Paper QThe Person Who Makes Inquiries –Paper QJan. 23, 2016 Asia Culture Theater – Theater 1-1 ￦ Admission fee: 20,000 won Nowadays, people aren’t interested in asking questions. Instead, they just do as they are told. They live in contentment according to the limits given to them.

When young adults leave their parents, their values are more focused on money and power.

The focus of this project is to try to develop a life of independence and re-evaluate the decision-making process, particularly in terms of political activism.

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info

@ GWANGJU THEATHER Chungjang-no 5-ga 62, Dong-gu, Gwangju (two blocks behind NC WAVE)

￦ 8,000 won per person per film 062-224-5858

http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju

Dec. 3

Cruel State (117 minutes) Genre: Documentary Director: Kim Jin-yeol In April 2014, the Sewol Ferry that sank in the waters of Jindo resulted in 304 casualties. The families of the deceased did not even have the time to say goodbye to their children. In protest, they spent many nights on the streets in front of the Parliament, Gwanghwa-mun and the Blue House.

Island (105 minutes) Genre: Mystery, Thriller Director: Park Jin-sung Starring: Oh Ji-Ho, Moon Ga-Yeong A pensive man visits an empty house. A neighbour tells him the house is haunted but the man ignores him.

Park Jinseong’s second feature takes place on Jeju Island and gazes into the pain of life.

Dec. 10

We Will Be Ok (102 minutes) Genre: Feature Director: Baek Jae-ho Starring: Kim Sang-seok, Baek Jae-ho In the year 2012, 30-year-old Sang-seok wants to become an actor, but he is unsure how to achieve his goal.

He tries to make a movie with his mates Jae-ho and Tae-hee but of course, his friends are not much better than him. As in love as well, all Sang-seok does with his girlfriend Miso, is send text messages. Meanwhile, Sang-seok encounters a girl and he starts to like her.

Dec. 17

Seaside Town Diary – Our Little Sister (127 minutes) Genre: Drama Director: Koreeda Hirokazu Starring: Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, Suzu Hirose There are three sisters: 29-year-old Sachi Kouda (Haruka Ayase), 22-year-old Yoshino Kouda (Masami Nagasawa) and 19-year-old Chika Kouda (Kaho). They live in a house in Kamakura, Japan. Their house was left to them by their grandmother. One day, they receive news on their father’s death. When the sisters were young, their parents divorced and their father left them. They haven’t seen their father in 15 years. Upon hearing the news on their father’s death, the sisters attend their father’s funeral. At the funeral, they meet their stepsister Suzu Asano (Suzu Hirose). She is 14-years-old and there is no one to take care of her. The oldest sister, Sachi, invites Suzu to live with them.

Our Last Tango - Un Tango Mas (85 minutes) Genre: Documentary Director: German Kral Starring: Johana Copes, Juan Carlos Copes, Alejandra Gutty A story of love between the two most famous dancers in tango’s history. Marí a Nieves Rego (80) and Juan Carlos Copes (83) met when they were 14 and 17, and they danced together for nearly fifty years. In all those years they loved and hated each other and went through several painful separations, but always got back together. No other man danced like Juan and no other woman danced like Maria! Eventually, he finally left her for a woman 20 years younger with whom he fathered two children. Now, at the end of their lives, Juan and Maria are willing to open up about their love, their hatred, and their passion.

movie review

I general

On The Download

December DVD Releases Written by Kyle Chandler

W

ith all the focus this month on big box office draws like Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Dec. 18) and The Hateful Eight (Dec. 25), it is still worth noting all that the small screen has to offer for December.

The documentary Amy (Dec. 1) from acclaimed filmmaker Asif Kapadia (Senna - 2010) uses contemporary interviews and unseen archival footage, allowing unprecedented access to Amy Winehouse’s short and tragic life. By humanizing the star, the film appeals to fans and non-fans alike. It goes beyond the well-trodden tabloid stories to give a more rounded portrayal of the burgeoning but troubled singer. Amy received heavy criticism from father Mitch Winehouse and exhusband Blake Fielder for depicting them, rather convincingly, as manipulative architects of her downward spiral and eventual death. At its heart, Amy is a heartbreaking account of how a young person can be used and destroyed by the very people who were supposed to protect and support her. For this reason, even if you are not a fan of Winehouse, this is a compelling, emotionally wrought tearjerker.

Next, Tom Cruise returns in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (Dec. 15) as Ethan Hunt for the fifth, and possibly best, installment of the Mission: Impossible series. This time Hunt must locate and destroy the Syndicate, a rogue spy organization that is diametrically opposed to the Impossible Missions Force.

Rogue Nation’s aesthetic sensibility and strong espionage narrative pays homage to the Bond movies of the 1960s. Simultaneously, its action set pieces throw down a gauntlet to all the other action movie franchises around.

For horror fans, Goodnight Mommy (Dec. 1) is a chilling tale set in the Austrian countryside. After their mother returns home from a face-changing cosmetic

surgery, her twin boys start to doubt that this woman is actually their mother. With gruesome, visceral scenes of violence, a disturbing tone and plot twists, this will be a favorite among horror aficionados. Likewise, Keanu Reeves is Eli Roth’s latest terror victim in Knock Knock (Dec. 8). When Evan Webber (Reeves) answers the door to two stranded young women, what starts out as a kind gesture turns dark and deadly.

Knock Knock is a blend of the revenge horror and home invasion movies of the 1970s, as well as the “yuppie” horror films of the early 1990s.

On a lighter note, Cooties (Dec. 1) stars Elijah Wood as a substitute teacher who must survive a foodborne pandemic that has infected his pre-teen students, turning them into a rampaging horde of bloodthirsty zombies. Much like Shaun of The Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004), Cooties effectively delivers gore and comedy in equal measure.

In Ant-Man (Dec. 8), Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a downon-his-luck cat burglar who becomes Marvel’s newest superhero. Aimed at a younger audience, Ant-Man is not as gritty as other Marvel Cinematic Universe installments, and its tame comedy doesn’t deliver as many laughs as Guardians of the Galaxy. However, the central performances are excellent and the action, especially in the final battle, is creative and exciting.

Last of all, Bone Tomahawk (Dec. 29) is a Western horror starring Patrick Wilson and Kurt Russell. When a group of settlers are kidnapped by cannibalistic cavedwellers, four men form an unlikely partnership and set off across the Wild West to rescue them. Bone Tomahawk is a cross between The Searchers and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and will appeal to any moviegoers with a taste for something different.

So if the cinema lines are too long, there are plenty of great choices to watch at home during the holidays.

So if the cinema lines are too long, there are plenty of great choices to watch at home during the holidays.

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feature

Dynamic Flow Allan Jessen Keeps the Water on Written by Joey Nunez Photographed by Joe Wabe KJ1 Company Building and Pumps courtesy of Keum Jung Ind. Co., Ltd

feature

D

ynamic is the word that best describes KJ1, according to Mr. Allan Jessen. The company’s director provides waste-water pumps around the globe.

“The employees have taken up so many challenges and new tasks. They have changed their mentality,” Jessen explained.

This once-Korean company has now entered into an international partnership with Grundfos, a Danish organization. Changes are always difficult, but the “relentless ambitiousness” Jessen personally prefers is what his employees now exhibit. According to Jessen: “KJ1 guarantees top quality and services... and [the employees] have been exceptionally good with receiving and adopting new work habits and new communication ways. They are extremely dynamic and flexible.”

Originally from Denmark, Jessen first visited Korea to conduct a 2008 inspection tour. First impressions cannot always be trusted because Jessen did not feel at home initially.

“I had some grace period for some consideration, and in that period, I totally changed my perception because I could see a lot of dynamics in Korea that we don’t have in a very well-organized and structured company in Denmark,” Jessen continued.

“Everything was a little bit floating, but decisions were made fast, and it is dynamic and flexible.”

New opportunities remain Jessen’s main motivation. “I could see that there probably would not be a better challenge, a work-related challenge, than trying to get this company into a world-class division.”

Soon after accepting the position, Gwangju’s Pyeondong Industrial Complex was advertising available space and providing contracts for foreign investment companies. The decision was made to move the Incheon branch south. “We now have a 50-year lease contract, and I came down in 2009, [after] February of that year during construction of this factory.” Opening May 2009, KJ1 has been creating and installing pumps ever since.

Jessen knows his work in Pyeondong with pumps is important for all Gwangju residents.

“The pump is the invisible instrument that we all have. No matter what we have in terms of life quality, there are pumps involved. We specialize in

waste-water pumps. Can you imagine if you could not flush your toilet today? Can you imagine that there is no water when you shower or that your washing machine is not able to get water? Even in your cars, there are pumps. Pumps are the invention that has brought technology to what it is, because technology could not develop if there were no pumps.”

However, not everyone in this world is as fortunate as we are in Korea. In fact, Jessen stated that the number and size of floods is increasing, even tripling in the past 30 years. Thus, KJ1 functions and markets its waste-water pumps to multiple global locations, where there is either too much or too little H20.

KJ1 waste-water pumps were installed at the 2014 Sochi Russia Olympics, and in annual flooding spots in Indonesia and Thailand. Natural water lines have also been divided by urban growth, so pump installation should strategically be in the best locations to provide water for the most people in close proximity.

Jessen has stated that solar-driven pumps in thirdworld Asian and African nations are installed at a lower cost, so humanitarian aid is prioritized over sales. “The consumer will pay a small fee to bring more clean water... instead of transporting water maybe 20 or 30 kilometers from their rivers that might be polluted.”

Jessen also stated that KJ1 works with local governments to record and maintain statistics, create and modify flood scenarios, and allocate funds for future purchases of electrical and mechanical equipment.

As he developed pumps, Jessen has also maintained and strengthened relations with his colleagues and created a good work environment. Jessen’s communicative personality prompts him to eagerly provide detailed explanations about the reasons for previous decisions.

Jessen has learned that these “full descriptions” that were embraced and encouraged in Denmark, were initially met with less enthusiasm in Korea. “I think in the beginning, they did not want to hear about it, but now they actually really appreciate it. ... If you have an aggressive growth strategy, you will need people who can step up and take a larger

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part of the responsibility to belong in a specific job area.”

periods of receiving orders for manufacturing, distributing and installing pumps.

Jessen is pleased with the current status and improvements his employees have successfully achieved. Jessen likewise welcomes his own transformation while working within this Korean company. “Now, I am more patient, and I definitely have become more tolerant, and that is simply due to me accepting cultural differences.”

Jessen’s plan for next year tries to answer a question he faced this year: “How many people do we need in a factory?”

Transforming is only half of KJ1’s success. Jessen’s pride and joy is the 2012 range of flood control pumps that were developed in the span of two years. Providing a new asset for pump markets, Jessen asserts this work to be “one of the most efficient development projects in Grundfos history.

This product range is globally the most complete, in terms of consistency and design, and in terms of full range. The efficiency is world-class, very high and better [compared] with other products that have been in the market for a long time.”

With such successes in the past, Jessen has already mapped out how KJ1 will continue to soar in the future.

First, Jessen’s desire in 2016 is to find balance between the peak (busiest) and the valley (slowest)

“Actually, we do need people in the factory to take up the peak load. So we will start off with production of smaller and standardized pumps, which we have already [decided]... and we have the manufacturing tools to do it. Then, we will take in and make a Korean assembly of other group projects and different types of pumps, but also big pumps, so that when we have our peak in flood control... we can get more of a stable flow of products going through the factory with a higher volume.”

Jessen stated that removing such extreme variations in productivity will best help the company in the future. “I want to keep the peaks, but I want to avoid the valleys, so we put in some different pump types to have a more stable production.”

The 2020 strategy is to have a newly-created team specializing in solution development that will later refine their job descriptions and roles. “If you are a manufacturer today, it is easy just to produce pumps. But again, the mentality of the customer is

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actually, to be honest, [that] he doesn’t really care about the pump. For him, the most important point is he gets a certain amount of water moved from one place to another as soon as possible, or in a certain flow with a certain speed.”

Jessen recalls all-too-familiar scenarios when a waste-water pump does not function. So now, this current five-member team, which will someday number 25, will help any customer with any installed-pump crisis. “If you are part of a company that creates a proposal and a solution to an enduser, then you have removed all of his considerations. If you take the responsibility, you will win the heart of your customers.”

By 2025, Jessen desires to acquire more land and continue developing pumps for the company’s multiple partners and consumers, especially in the Land of the Morning Calm. “I believe if you have the will and if you have the drive, then Korea is the place where you can do miracles, which would also answer the question of why I continue to stay here in Korea. It is very motivating for me.”

Throughout this basic 10-year plan, Jessen desires to provide employment opportunities for differently-abled people and former criminals. While global societies typically ostracize both groups, Jessen sees potential. For the differently-abled, Jessen explained that “a certain part of our work could be standardized” to make it easier for smaller specialized groups to handle projects.

“Everyone deserves a second chance in my book, and especially people who have a doubtful past,”

Jessen said about the formerly incarcerated. “Maybe mentally, they want to get out of that part of their former lives and start a fresh note. So you might give them the chance to [go on] a stepping stone to get them to the next level, and I would love to have the resources to run this kind of program here [as is done in Denmark.]”

Following structure is crucial for KJ1’s success as well.

“We have to keep our integrity, and then, we will stay faithful to our philosophy.”

And, it is clear that Jessen has developed and continues to develop a dynamic work environment with creativity and loyalty exhibited by its employees, with success as its accompanying force.

“We have to adapt to change, both in mind and in ways. We have to do it.”

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The Collector’s Burden Written and photographed by Karly Pierre Interview translation by Cho Nam-hee

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rs. Kim moves slowly, judging, sorting and collapsing cardboard boxes and plastic bottles carelessly tossed in piles along the street. She stacks another bag of plastic bottles and panels of flattened boxes onto her cart, precariously exceeding the 70-kilogram limit it can comfortably carry. Gray hair sprouts from the top of her red visor; her bare hands are wrinkled.

Of her childhood, she recalls only three things: eating, cold weather and feeling hungry. In her lifetime, she was a part of the generation that propelled Korea into its warp-speed transformation from a war-ravaged country to an economic and technological triumph. Now, in her 80s, the struggles of her youth have returned.

“Things have changed too much,” Kim said. “Many shops downtown have moved or closed down. Unlike in the past, we do not live together as a whole family. Everything has changed so much.”

Like the 49 percent of Koreans aged 65 and over living in relative poverty (according to a 2014 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] economic survey), Kim has not reaped the benefits of Korea’s economic prosperity.

Korea’s elderly poverty rate starkly contrasts with the average rate of other OECD countries, which hovers at 13 percent.

The cause of this staggering statistic is largely attributed to the breakdown of the system of familial

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support that has sustained Korean society for generations. Korea’s Confucian tradition dictates that the family, namely the eldest son, is responsible for supporting aging parents. But over the past few years, government surveys have shown sons’ and daughters’ increasing unwillingness or inability to fulfill those duties.

Because of ingrained cultural expectations that families would care for the elderly, the Korean government had no welfare system in place until 1988. But the system has proved inadequate. In 2011, Korea had the second lowest budget for elderly welfare among OECD countries. If the elderly population, projected to rise to 40.1 percent of Korea’s population by 2060, remains unsupported, this age group could drive poverty in the country up to devastating levels. The government recently implemented long-term care initiatives and increased public pension benefits. However, in 2014, according to Korea Statistics, only 39.6 percent of the population aged 65 and over received public pensions. Even with government assistance, some still found it hard to make ends meet.

So, many in Kim’s age group continue to work — and many work as cardboard collectors.

Elderly cardboard collectors, called pyeji jubneun eoreushin (폐지 줍는 어르신) in Korean, are a common sight on city streets across the country.

Kim has been collecting for 10 years.

“When I first started collecting, I always skipped lunch,” Kim said. “However, that brought me severe pain all over my body. Now I try to pack a lunch for myself and have it regularly. Since I have arthritis, I eat sagol.”

Sagol is a beef leg bone soup, which is well known for healing joints.

Kim wakes up at six every morning to care for and have breakfast with her husband who suffers from Alzheimer’s.

“At first, we collected cardboard together,” Kim said. “My husband used to ride his motorcycle to the edges of Gwangju to collect anything that was worth a penny. But that did not last very long. My husband had to have hip-joint surgery. Then I had to take care of him and work at the same time all by myself.”

She collects during the weekdays, usually beginning at 9:30 in the morning. Her first stop is the nursery near her home.

“They take all their recycling out the night before,” Kim said. “I try to get there first... I usually look for cardboard around the downtown area... I work until 5 or 8 at night.”

On the weekends, she rests. She visits a Chinese medical center for therapy on her shoulders, waist and knees. It’s a rare opportunity for personal interaction.

“I don’t have any friends,” Kim said. “Many people who used to live in my neighborhood have moved to another area or passed away. The only person I talk to is my husband.”

Between the harsh years of her youth and old age was a brief period of prosperity. Kim and her husband owned a stationary store across from an elementary school.

“We provided pretty much all of the school materials students needed,” Kim said. “But the number of students shrank dramatically and business began to decline. We had to close our business.”

They had borrowed money to pay the jeonse (전세), a large refundable deposit paid to the landlord for housing, on an apartment. However, the landlord never returned the deposit and disappeared with the money.

“The only place we could stay was a cramped cellar right under the stationary store,” Kim said. “No heaters, only walls of concrete. It was freezing in the winter.”

Kim and her husband now live alone in Gyerim 1 neighborhood. Many in Kim’s generation increasingly do not live with their children. A 2013 Korean Statistics survey showed that 67.8 percent of the elderly age 60 and over lived independently and 73 percent did not want to live with their children, a noticeable departure from the traditional multigenerational Korean household.

Kim’s son works at the post office and her daughter works at the district office. Her children often assist financially, but Kim and her husband mostly rely on the 360,000 won a month public pension they receive jointly and her earnings from collecting.

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“If I earn around 20,000 won, I call it a successful day,” Kim said. “One hundred kilograms of cardboard and recyclables would give me about 9,000 won.”

Moo Yeol Lim opened the Wooju Muyeok (우주무 역) junkshop seven years ago. Cardboard collectors come to Moo’s shop to redeem their recyclables for money, and they bring their stories as well.

“The people who collect usually don’t get any support from the government or are very ill,” Moo said.

“Most of the collectors who come here are ladies around 70 to 80 years old. It seems like women tend to live longer than men.”

Moo later remembered that one of his clients was 100 years old. He called her up to confirm.

“Yes, she was born in 1915,” Moo said. “I have known her for more than 10 years now. When I first met her, she was unable to move, but after collecting cardboard around the neighborhood, her health improved. It’s quite interesting that she got better after working.”

Although Kim said she never experienced mistreatment while collecting, Moo worried cardboard collectors were often misunderstood.

“I want people to know that there are a variety of people who are involved in this industry,” Moo said. “Not only poor people are involved in it. Some people have a house and children who they can ask for support, but they are not getting any support and they just make a living for themselves. Even if you have a relatively well-paid son or daughter, the world is too tough to live, so it is difficult for parents to ask them for help.“ Many Koreans work far into their old age, determined not to be a burden to younger generations.

“I have to take care of my husband and myself,” Kim said. “I will collect until I can’t work.”

It’s late afternoon, but Kim has a few more stops in mind before going home. She presses the full weight of her body against the cart as she makes her way down the street.

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My Grandfather’s Story Written by Han Saebyeol

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live with my grandparents. My father decided to live with his parents and my mother agreed, and I was born into that big family. I love both of my grandparents, but my grandfather is a very special person to me. When I was a little kid, I often had nightmares. My grandpa would come and comfort me, helping me fall back asleep. He was also my mental shield against all the things I struggled with.

Whenever I had troubles in my life, I went to my grandpa, and my grandpa calmed me down. Now, I want to tell my grandfather’s life story.

My grandfather was born in Hwasun 77 years ago in 1938. He was the first child among seven siblings. He used to hang out with his brothers and sisters when he was a child, and he remembers it was a really fun time. But his father pushed him so hard to study to become a politician or a lawyer that some of his childhood memories are depressing. While he was studying politics in Chonnam National University, he met his soul mate: my grandma. She was from another village, and soon they were married.

At that time my grandpa was involved in a protest against the military coup of president Park Chunghee. My grandpa left his house and went to my grandma’s house to avoid interrogation by the police. When he and my grandma ran away from the dictator’s agents, my grandma got pregnant with my father. My grandpa said it was the greatest moment in his life when he heard my grandmother was carrying his first son. A few months later he decided to join the military because it was the only way to get away from the police. He served as a soldier for one and a half years. When he came back from the military, he kept studying at Chonnam National University. But his misery was about to begin.

Right after my grandpa graduated from university, he was banished by his father. My great grandfather thought my grandpa failed him by not becoming a

lawyer or a politician. When my grandpa left the house, he decided to be a teacher. But first he had to work to support his family. He had to work in a mine. This was the most depressing time for my grandpa. He said he was traumatized when he heard so much rough language and so many insults from the other workers. My grandpa was too timid and shy to get along with those tough guys, but he persistently kept doing the mine work that mentally and physically harmed him until he got a new job.

Finally, he passed the exam to be a teacher and got out of the mine. He became a middle school math teacher, and it became his lifelong career. He made many mistakes at first, but he was getting used to being a teacher and soon became one of the most respected teachers at his school. He worked in many public schools and taught a lot of students, until he retired at the age of 60. After his retirement, he became depressed and a little bit violent, but he managed to control himself a few years later. Now he is resting and enjoying his hobbies like collecting stones.

My grandpa was not a perfect man. He made a lot of mistakes in his life, and some of them were really serious. But it was not my grandpa himself who did the wrong things. I think he made mistakes because he was struggling to survive in a society that was unfair and filled with lots of corruption. My grandpa went through many obstacles when he had to become independent. Those difficulties gave my grandpa huge challenges, but he overcame them and succeeded to have a nice job and good family. I am so proud that my grandpa has become the person who he is now even after experiencing so many troubles in his life.

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Silver Town for the Golden Years Written by Karly Pierre Interview interpretation by Cho Namhee Photos courtesy of Noel Silver Town

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he band comes every Wednesday. An elderly woman grabs the microphone and heads toward the front of the crowded dining hall — swaying and singing while she parrots the flashing lyrics on the screen. Everyone claps along to the familiar rhythm. They cheer on both her vocal triumphs and shortcomings. Soon the microphone will be passed to someone else in the crowd, but not before the bandleader invites her for a spin on the dance floor.

Noel Silver Town is one of a rising number of elderly nursing homes in Korea, a service essential to meeting the demand of a rapidly aging society. Korea’s 65 and over age demographic, which now accounts for 13.1 percent of the population, is projected to balloon to 40.1 percent by 2060, according to Statistics Korea. Caring for generations with longer life expectancies along with changing family dynamics has become a challenge for the nation.

“The band is from the Western District Office,” Noel Silver Town Director Jeong Eun Mi explained. The music from the dining hall fades to a distant thumping as she walks down a hallway. She points out colorful origami dangling from strings, a photo of two residents playfully arm wrestling and a small celadon vase. “A resident made that vase. Sometimes they sell their pottery at flea markets.”

From the sunroom’s large windows, the view of the surrounding hills, orchards and garden below are a reminder to the facility’s 28 residents that not all of Korea is racing forward. For this generation, who Jeong said are known as “Hills of Barley,” the thought is comforting.

“Our residents aren’t strong enough to work in a garden anymore,” Jeong said. “So they watch the farmers in the garden and sometimes give them advice.”

All of the facility’s residents are women in their 80s or older. Most were factory workers in the past.

This is the generation, Jeong notes, that experienced “years of intense starvation and hardship,” only to find themselves swept up in the middle of the nation’s economic boom without a safety net.

“They were devoting too much to their families and could not prepare themselves for their elderly years,” Jeong said. “In Korea’s current system, it is difficult for families to care for elderly family members in the home as we did in the past. Within a family, both parents are working and family size has decreased.”

In traditional Korean Confucian society, caring for the elderly was the responsibility of the family, namely the eldest son. Jeong notes that in the past,

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sending an elderly family member to a nursing facility was considered abandonment, but with the government’s recent push to expand long-term welfare, facilities like this no longer have a negative stigma.

is due in large part to the support it receives from Woolgang Church. Also, in July 2008, the government began the Long-term Care Insurance System, which supplements expenses at nursing facilities.

Wolgwang Church, led by Pastor Kim Yoo Su, launched Noel Silver Town in 2009. Jeong has served as director from the beginning. She previously worked in the Eastern District Public Health Center and was a professor at Honnam University in the Social Welfare Department.

With changing demographic trends and new government initiatives, elder care is set to become a thriving industry in Korea. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in 2001, 7,864 elderly people resided in 128 nursing homes throughout the country. In 2012, 103,973 elderly Koreans resided in 4,079 nursing homes. A 2011 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report showed the number of long-term care beds in Korea was increasing at a markedly faster rate than any other developed country.

“I would send my students on practicums to various nursing homes, and my students would return complaining about the poor living conditions of the elderly,” Jeong said. “From that experience, I wanted Silver Town to be a role model for nursing homes in Korea.”

Many residents in the facility are wheelchair bound, but Jeong has implemented programs to create an environment in which residents do not feel trapped indoors. Elementary and kindergarten students regularly visit to create a cross-generational connection. There is a fitness program, cooking classes and, a particular favorite among residents, foot aromatherapy massage sessions.

“They get to relax and talk to the masseurs,” Jeong said. “The elderly are so used to giving and not receiving, it’s important to create experiences that focus on them only. Occasionally, we will take them on outings for a picnic or festivals. They eat and shop...

During Chuseok we made songpyeon together. It’s funny because the residents can make them faster than our cooks.”

Noel Silver Town’s staff of 18 includes nurses, cooks, caregivers and administrators. Jeong has visited a number of nursing homes in other countries including Japan, Sweden and the United States and feels that a “smaller is better” approach is more effective when providing elder care.

“After touring other facilities, I feel we have high quality programs and services,” Jeong said. “I think elderly people feel lonelier in bigger facilities.”

A waiting list is evidence of Noel Silver Town’s growing reputation in the community. It offers a high standard of service, but is able to keep its fees relatively low (around 400,000 won per month) when compared with other nursing homes in Korea. This

Although elder care is a nationally debated issue, the decision to enter a nursing home is a personal one.

“In their hearts and minds, the elderly want to be with their families,” Jeong said. “But some elderly came here of their own will because they think it is better to be taken care of by the facility since we provide food at regular times and they are able to be social.”

Families considering moving an elderly family member to Noel Silver Town are given a tour and subsequent counseling in order to make a decision.

“Many Koreans think that if you enter a nursing home you will stay there forever, but that’s not always the case,” Jeong said. “This is also a good place for recovery. If the resident’s health improves and they want to return home, they can. That has happened a few times here.”

Although Noel Silver Town was founded by a Christian church, its openness to welcome people of all spiritual backgrounds appeals to residents and their families.

“Most families like the fact that we have morning services everyday and ministers visit us on Sundays,” Jeong said. “We sing and pray, but there are some people who are not religious and that is fine...

I believe that through caring for the elderly I am spreading the love of Jesus. I feel joy seeing the happy families when they visit. That kind of moment motivates me.”

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A Christmas Story Written by Kelsey Rivers and Antonio Kim

It’s undeniable that Christmas has captured the hearts of people all over the world and people in many countries celebrate the holiday in unique ways. These are stories about the American and Korean Christmas experience.

An American Christmas

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hristmas Eve is even more important and meaningful to my family than Christmas Day. I was raised as a practicing Christian, so on Christmas Eve we would go to church and have a candlelight service in the evening. Everyone in the church would gather in their nice clothes, hold candles, pray and listen to the Christmas story together. It was a good time to be with family and friends. We would go caroling from house to house in the neighborhood too.

Maybe it seems a little odd that we went Christmas caroling in Arizona since the weather is warm even in December, but people came out of their houses when they heard us, and they were excited to listen.

Sometimes they gave us hot chocolate or snacks to thank us. Afterwards, we would go home and have a more intimate dinner with our family. Christmas Eve has religious significance for me, as it is a time for reflecting on the past year and talking about what you are thankful for. It is actually my favorite day of the year.

Christmas Day, though, was more about having fun.

We would wake up in the morning and there would be presents under the Christmas tree. We would each have stockings with snacks and little gifts in them.

My mom goes all out for Christmas because she likes to spoil my siblings and me. My mom has good taste, so everything looked beautiful. The way the

gifts were wrapped and arranged under the tree was kind of like art. After we opened presents and had a nice breakfast, we would start preparing for lunch.

We always went to our pastor’s house for a potluck lunch with people from our church. There, we had a “white elephant” gift exchange. Everyone brought a silly gift, and then took turns picking a gift from the pile. When they opened it, everyone laughed about what they got. Occasionally, someone would get a desirable gift, and then other people would try to “steal” it by exchanging their silly gifts for the good one. It was a lot of fun.

In Korea it seems like giving gifts is mostly an exchange between couples. Growing up, I gave gifts to everyone in the family and all of my closest friends. I always spent so much money every Christmas buying gifts for my friends because we gave gifts to everyone we cared about.

A Korean Christmas

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o you know what “Christmas with Kevin” means?

In Korea, it means spending Christmas without a date or alone like the character Kevin in the movie “Home Alone”. Every Christmas we look forward to

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watching Kevin on TV. We love watching Kevin’s efforts to protect himself against two burglars while he is home alone.

In the movie, Kevin’s family plans to take a trip together, so they all gather at Kevin’s house before Christmas Eve. Kevin prays to God that his family would all just disappear after fighting with his older brother. The next day, Kevin has mixed feelings when his family accidentally leaves without him.

We can see differences between Western and Korean Christmas celebrations through "Home Alone". Like in the story, some Westerners take trips for Christmas and prepare as far as a year in advance. Others who do not have Christmas plans might set out for a trip on New Year's Eve. Koreans celebrate Christmas

differently. First, Korean Christmas celebrations are shorter than Western celebrations, although the date of the holiday is the same. Koreans celebrate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, enjoying the full day and the evening, but there is less of a Christmas season leading up to it. Second, while Christmas in the West is mainly a time for family, many Koreans spend Christmas with a romantic partner. If they are single, they can meet friends for drinks and to hang out. To Koreans, Christmas is a festival for both friends and lovers.

Because Koreans have their own traditional holidays, they see Christmas differently than Western countries. But everyone wants to spend Christmas with someone they love.

Why is Christmas Romantic in Korea?

An Origin Story Written by Karly Pierre

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any Westerners are befuddled by the romantic association Koreans have with Christmas.

Here is a brief history lesson that can provide some insight.

Christmas was declared a national holiday in Korea

by President Syngman Rhee in 1949. Although the earliest account of a Christmas celebration in Korea dates back to an 1884 entry in American missionary Horace N. Allen’s journal, the holiday was not celebrated outside of a very small Christian community. The year Rhee, himself a Christian, declared Christmas an official holiday, only 3.7 percent of the population was Christian.

During the years of his authoritarian rule, Rhee imposed a strict midnight curfew in the country. The only night that was an exception was Christmas Eve. According to the book “Big Brother Little Brother” by Sang-Dawn Lee, Rhee was dismayed that non-Christians took advantage of the “free night more fully than Christians.”

Young people poured into the streets. Hotels, beer halls and nightclubs were overwhelmed. Choi In-Hun, a famous novelist, wrote of the scene saying, “Christmas in this country is nothing but a

pretext for the younger generation of both sexes to get together and romp.”

A Korean Christmas Here are a few essentials for a truly Korean Christmas celebration.

Christmas Cake Koreans enjoy buying these elaborately decorated cakes from bakery chains such as Paris Baguette and Tous Les Jours. They are usually sponge cakes and are a fairly new tradition that is unique to Korea.

Popular Christmas Movies These three movies are popular among Koreans during the holiday season.

- “Home Alone” - “Music and Lyrics” - “Love Actually” Popular Christmas Songs These three songs get Koreans in the holiday spirit.

- “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey - “Last Christmas” by Wham!

- “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”

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Study Break

Gwangju Anti-Hakbul Society Focuses on Forced Study * This is the second part of our story on the issue of forced study, continued from last month’s issue.

Interview and Story by Ana Traynin Interview Interpretation by Cho Nam-hee Photo courtesy of Gwangju Anti-Hakbul Society

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wangju Anti-Hakbeol Society recognizes that they cannot work alone in finding a solution for forced study. They have partnered with youth organizations, education activists and human rights activists. Yet there is one group missing from the demonstrations.

“I feel it’s sad and pitiful that students can’t join the campaigns,” Park Go says. “When there is a labor demonstration, the actual people who have a very close relationship with the industry are involved. In this case, no other students are willing to join the campaign. Even if they want to, if they find a wrong system in the school, they send a petition to the school but the school says they don’t have any unlawful policies.”

Student rights are a relatively new concept as older generations have resisted giving a voice to those under 19. While student human rights have been generally guaranteed in the constitution, the last

five years have seen a progressive shift in the Ministry of Education with the passing of detailed local ordinances on student rights in Gyeonggi Province, along with Gwangju, Seoul and Jeonbuk Provinces.

The passing also included the creation of a student human rights department within the local education office.

“The student human rights ordinance improved many of the conditions,” Park Go said. “The issue of [enforced short] hair length was resolved four or five years ago. Older conservative generations have been hindering the improvement of student human rights. Still, forced study is the ongoing issue.”

Since students are reluctant to demonstrate in public and jeopardize their futures, the citizens’ group decided on alternate ways of sending their message to the Gwangju Office of Education. In an online survey of over 500 local high school students, 85 percent responded that they have experienced

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forced study. The anonymous nature of the survey, the schools’ annual reports which reported no forced study cases and no teacher willing to admit performing forced study put the group in conflict with the Office of Education. From there, the demonstrations began.

Picketing in front of the office has led to a discussion with education officials and two agreements.

First, officials agreed to ensure that all reported cases of forced study are handed over to the Students’ Rights Department instead of the Department of Careers and Extracurricular Activities. Second, officials agreed to provide parents with a newsletter of the details of evening self-study and give them more of a choice to opt out. Park Go believes these achievements are the minimum that the Office of Education can do for students.

“The priority now is preventing the actual forced study, not coming up with a solution,” he said. “The office says, ‘If that happens, just report it.’ It must be prevention-based to approach this issue. The office needs to let students know they have choices to make, and make teachers and administrators aware of the losses they face if they perform forced study in the school. Currently, the Office of Education is not really aggressive to the issue. They just want to delay it as long as possible.”

Park Go points out a recently formed parents’ group fighting against forced study has disproved the office’s insistence that the practice is caused entirely by students’ parents. Yet, teachers steeped in the school culture refuse to admit their own participation in forced study.

“Since this issue has been going on for a very long time, there’s no way the culture can be flipped on the spot. We need more efforts and discussions to change the convention. It has taken a long time to come up with the regional ordinance, so we believe we would need the same amount of time to improve the student human rights.”

University admission has traditionally been based on scores from the November College Scholastic Ability Test known as Suneung, but recently a second option that considers clubs and other extra-curricular activities has begun to change the process.

“My priority is to allow the students to choose what they want,” Park Go says. “Furthermore, if it’s pos-

sible, it would be nice if this campaign can reduce the total amount of study time and maybe change a little bit of the study environment. Korean education is highly focused on math, English, science. We should allow students to experience more extracurricular activities and to think more about their lives.

Nowadays … the students cannot [be] guaranteed admission to the prestigious universities even if they spend a lot of time studying at their desk.”

The issue of early English education is connected with what Park Go describes as a normalization of native English teachers in schools across the board.

This year, the Ministry of Education lifted a ban on English classes in elementary school 1st and 2nd grades, allowing them during after-school hours.

The new policy seeks to close the gap between public education and private academies. While the government has repeatedly sought to limit early English education, it is often in conflict with the public’s desires.

“It is now a rising problem that the youngest students are learning English more than Korean,” he said. “The problem is not because they are learning a language other than Korean. It creates [fewer] opportunities for students to learn about other parts of the world. There is a focus on English and Western culture. There needs to be more opportunities for students to think about their careers.”

Park Go hopes that all teachers, including native English teachers, will pay more attention to student needs. The growing network of independent alternative schools has also led to the creation of public innovative schools, those with more authority to develop student-based curriculum. This can be an opportunity for native teachers to get more involved.

“The teachers should focus on what students actually want from the school. Everybody needs to be a part of the school community and should not follow exactly what the government wants but needs to do what is best for the students.”

Gwangju Anti-Hakbul Society 학벌없는사회를 위한 광주시민모임 Gwangju Sansu-dong 536-19 070-8234-1319 http://www.antihakbul.org (Seoul) http://antihakbul.jinbo.net

https://www.facebook.com/antihakbul

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Rooted in Hope

Gwangju Youth Find a Breakthrough in The Forest Written by Cho Nam-hee Photos courtesy of Gwangju Youth Center “The Forest”

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ith record low unemployment rates and higher requirements for job applications, more and more Korean youth are being pushed to the edge of a precipice. Thus, many youths are forced to make extreme decisions for themselves, by giving up.

Korean adults in their 20s and 30s refer to their generation as generation “n-Po“ (the initial letters of the Korean word “pogi,” which means to give up). These pessimistic youth are not only giving up on their hopes

and dreams but they are also sacrificing life milestones by not marrying, buying a house nor developing interpersonal relationships.

According to a survey conducted by Saramin, a job recruitment website, 69 percent of 1,675 respondents in their 20s and 30s think they belong to the n-Po generation. Due to the dramatic success of the previous generation, the standard norm puts today’s youth under pressure to live a “successful” life financially. With

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so much discouraging news in the media, is there any hope left for young Koreans?

Gwangju youth center, The Forest, was established this June to kindle the lost passion of local youth. Ilgwon Seo, the center’s director, has been agonizing over Korean youth for a long time. After investigating the current phenomenon among Korean youth, he saw a need to create a space for struggling young adults where they could meet, hang out and develop skills to create meaningful lives.

His previous work experiences at a health center in Cambodia and at the Beautiful Store as the head supervisor of Gwangju and Jeonnam areas, have given him insight in understanding and empathy for what young people are currently going through.

“The young people of Korea have the right to know the true value of life and they need opportunities to see the world in many different views,” Seo stated.

He nicknamed the center “The Spring Pool,” because it represents an oasis for young in Gwangju and relieves all the thirsts of the craving youth.

The center’s focus is to be a platform for Gwangju’s youth to collaborate, create and innovate. It encourages the youth to share ideas and develop skills through distinct programs as lectures, discussions and cultural exchanges. Of all the beneficial programs, monthly collective buying is the most beloved part of the center for visitors.

The center invites unique young Gwangju entrepreneurs from diverse areas who have compelling stories of success and tips for the discouraged youth. Prior to these lectures, the nominated speakers are thoroughly evaluated on their passion towards the youth and whether or not they have the right topic and can provide the right guidance for young adults. As a result, the first sets of lectures were enormously successful. Some of the most successful lectures include image presentation, communication, photography and project planning.

Seo believes Asia to be a major player in the world future markets. Thus, he is seeking to create more opportunities for Gwangju youth to educate themselves about the continent’s other countries. Once a month, the center hosts a special Asian Day. International residents from China, Vietnam and other Asian countries are invited to share and communicate with these eager

youth who are willing to learn about diversity in Asia.

In addition to these opportunities, Seo also focuses on making international residents feel welcomed. During the 2015 Summer Universiade Games, realizing the absence of a mosque for international guests, he made the one room at The Forest available as a prayer room for Muslims.

The Forest consists of five different well furnished rooms: the Pi-um (bloom), Na-rae (wing), To-dak(a pat), Asia and E-room & Se-um (build and establish) designed to bring out the best in the youth. The rooms can be rented as a multi-purpose room and it is free of charge for youth residing in Gwangju.

“As groups of trees form great forests, we will do our utmost to help the youth to grow a forest, Gwangju,” the center’s slogan states. Through their hard work, the center envisions a brighter future for the youth of Gwangju and everywhere else.

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local I gwangju eats

York York Barbeque Written and photographed by Matthew Endacott

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he word “barbeque” in Korea is synonymous with the idea of eating meat we cook ourselves with tons of banchan (side dishes), kimchi, and for those who partake, soju. Korean barbeque is always a treat, but for someone wanting a different experience, the York York Barbeque restaurant is a quality destination to eat. York York offers what many ex-pats have grown up loving — brisket, ribs, cole slaw, french fries — the whole shebang.

Atmosphere and Service Even the walk up the stairs is exciting. The building stands alone at the top of a hill giving the impression of a high-class establishment. Not many places in Korea have a lawn to appreciate and around the back is a patio area with picnic tables to get the full barbeque experience when the weather is nice.

Inside is pleasant: the lighting is soft and warm; the

furniture is simple but stylish; and the decorations have a classic Americana feel to them. Absorbing all this while eighties American pop played through the sound system created a good vibe in the spot.

The staff was pleasant and happy to seat us with our menu, which was only Hangeul. For those that do not read or speak Korean, ordering may be a challenge; nonetheless, the staff is quite accommodating and try to help as much as they can.

Food There were a few choices for single items, like a grilled cheese sandwich and fries for 8,9000 won, chili cheese fries for 11,000 won, or even a falafel burger with pulled pork for 21,900 won. Those sounded nice, but we were there for the BBQ set for two — brisket, chicken breast, pork neck, pork

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ribs, cole slaw, french fries, salad, three rolls, and cabbage for 29,000 won. When the set came out, I was surprised to see it was able to fit on one tray but that did not deter my appetite. Two barbeque sauces sit on the table: one tastes standard, a tad on the sweet side, and the other seemed to be blended with balsamic vinegar. They have a spicy sauce upon request. Though good, we believed it to be Ligo hot sauce. I personally prefer spicy, so I mixed the regular BBQ with the hot sauce and it was exactly what I was looking for. The brisket was the largest portion and most flavorful of the meat served and when paired with the rolls it was decadent. While the grilled chicken breast and ribs tasted fine, they were surprisingly small portions.

The chicken looked like a half breast and my biggest disappointment was the set has only two ribs — one per person. Another highlight, pork steak was juiciness cooked to perfection, and well-seasoned. The sides as well, the coleslaw had great flavor, the fries were crisp and tasty, the rolls were rolls (a treat to have in Korea). However, the salad (basically lettuce with a light sauce) left us wanting. For two hungry adults, the set alone was not enough. We also ordered a side of pork and beans for 2,500 and 1,000 won for two extra rolls was well worth the price and completed the meal nicely.

The best surprise was its extensive variety of quality

beers filling nearly two pages of the menu. Kona, Samuel Adams, Leffe, to name a few of the multitude of other bottled imports, plus Stella Artois on tap at a reasonable 7,000 won. A few of these satisfied my whole experience. I would recommend going to try York York Barbeque for its brisket, beer, and atmosphere. Overall it was a great dining experience.

Address: 광주광역시 동구 산수동 112-1 번지 (112-1 Sansu 2(i)-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju) Phone: 010-4644-9659 Time: Tuesday-Sunday Open-12:00 p.m. Close-10:00 p.m. (last order at 9:00 p.m.)

Buses: The location is in an obscure place but a nice area. You can take buses: 01, 15, 27, 28, 74, 80, 187, and 1000 to 산수오 거리 or Sansu 5-way bus stop. It is approximately a 600-meter walk North West. After getting off the bus, walk north until you can take your first right through a residential area. Keep walking until you reach the next main road and turn left. York York Barbeque will be just up the road on the right side of the street on a small hill.

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*Gwangju Biz highlights innovative small to mid-sized businesses in Jeolla Province that are bringing the entrepreneurial spirit to the marketplace.

Business to Watch Written by Jessica Schultz Interview Interpretation by Choi Shin-ae Photos courtesy of LUBUNNY items, fashion clothing and accessories, and more.

LUBUNNY aims to help women shine more brightly in whatever endeavor they pursue through lightweight and eye-catching products. The company was founded 30 years ago as a family-owned company and we hope to keep the LUBUNNY family tradition.

GN: How is LUBUNNY different from other fashion and lifestyle companies?

Park Joo-hyun: Our company continues to manufacture all products in South Korea and has a reputation for excellent quality and durability. Continuing to manufacture in South Korea has helped us streamline the design, manufacturing, distribution and sales process for optimal efficiency. With this efficiency comes greater price competitiveness and more time for focusing on new designs and items that our customers will enjoy. Our company has also considered the environment since the beginning.

LUBUNNY makes eco-friendly bags that use fabric instead of animal skin.

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ew industries change as quickly as the fashion industry. With evolving trends and ongoing customer demands for both practicality and visual appeal, it takes a strong brand to satisfy both functional and design needs. LUBUNNY has grown over the last 30 years by satisfying those demands and looks forward to evolving their business into an even more wellknown fashion icon. Gwangju News recently had the pleasure of meeting Park Joo-hyun, the CEO and owner of LUBUNNY Co., Ltd. GWANGJU NEWS (GN): Tell me about LUBUNNY. Park Joo-hyun: Lummi from luminous + bunny combine to make LUBUNNY, a manufacturer of living

GN: What is LUBUNNY’s signature product?

Park Joo-hyun: The RuMe (Re-use Me) eco-bag has always been our best-selling product. The material is parachute fabric, making it lightweight and incredibly durable. Bag maintenance is not an issue with this easily washable fabric. RuMe was launched in 2007 based on an agreement between LUBUNNY and Rume, Inc. in the United States. The brand awareness continues to grow and exports are now worth more than one million USD. LUBUNNY bags have several designs, including cross bags, shoulder bags, and backpacks. Aprons and jackets are also very popular products.

GN: It looks like LUBUNNY has some interesting

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marketing ideas. Could you explain those more?

Park Joo-hyun: Since LUBUNNY is a fashion and lifestyle brand for women and children, we have begun marketing the brand through additional lifestyle channels. Both Café LUBUNNY and Sports Chicken lucoqkio combine high-quality coffee and farm-fresh food with LUBUNNY products for a total brand experience. LUBUNNY products are on display at all locations and provide multiple ways for LUBUNNY customers to interact with the brand.

GN: Where is LUBUNNY focusing international efforts?

Park Joo-hyun: When LUBUNNY first entered the international market, our main targets for exports were Hong Kong, Japan and the United States, but we have since expanded to more markets. LUBUNNY currently exports to 24 countries around the world, but we are concentrating on China and Southeast Asia presently. We are working on both the online and offline Chinese markets and already you can purchase items in Guangzhou, Tianjin.

GN: While international markets are a focus, how has LUBUNNY progressed in Korea?

Park Joo-hyun: We have made great strides within our domestic business in the last few years. In 2012 LUBUNNY signed a sales agreement with Samsung Everland, Samsung HomePlus, Lotte Mart, Lotte De-

partment Store, and Shinsegae Department Store.

In 2013 we founded a similar entity, LUBUNNY Co., Ltd., to enter additional markets. Our company has since established shops in New Jersey in the U.S. and in KORAIL stations in Seoul, Gwangju, and Myeongpummaru. Then in 2014 we entered Lotte Department’s Myeongdong flagship store in Seoul.

We continued with stores in Gwangbok, Jamsil, Gwangju, and Seomyeon in Busan. As of this year we also have a duty-free shop in Incheon airport.

GN: Where do you see LUBUNNY going in the future?

Park Joo-hyun: LUBUNNY plans to continue expanding into the luxury goods market with additional clothing, accessories, and living items. Already the fall designs are ready to launch and many more products are in the works. Our customers should look for umbrellas and suitcases in next year’s product line and even catchier designs.

LUBUNNY is also online at http://LUBUNNY.co.kr

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local I now trending

5 Reasons to Stay at Hamkkehae Guesthouse Written by Farahiah Aminuddin Interview Interpretation by Lee Ha-rim Photos courtesy of Hamkkehae Guesthouse

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f you have ever stayed in a guesthouse during a holiday trip, you know how unique it is compared to hotels and motels. While most guesthouses try to create a home-like environment for visitors, my previous experiences unfortunately left me feeling underwhelmed.

However, an opportunity to visit Hamkkehae Guesthouse left me and my co-worker with a lasting impression. The impact was so strong that I decided to share

with readers and future Gwangju visitors five reasons why you should stay at Hamkkehae Guesthouse. #1 Perfect Location Travelers and visitors appreciate a comfortable stay, but may not welcome the time-consuming trouble of finding food and attractions near their accommodation. Hamkkehae Guesthouse is located on Yongbong-

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ro, across from the Chonnam National University front gate, so reaching many places couldn’t be easier.

The guesthouse is only a 10-minute taxi or bus ride from U-Square Bus Terminal, and all kinds of public transportation are within 20 steps from the door. The Gwangju Biennale is located five minutes west of the guesthouse, the downtown area is 20 minutes away by bus or 10 by taxi and the back gate area of Chonnam National University is only a five-minute walk from the guesthouse. In the neighborhood where the house is located, restaurants, cafes and fast food places are all within walking distance, including many of Korea’s famous “chimaek” (chicken + “maekju” [beer]) places. #2 Reasonable Rates Money is everyone’s concern. It’s important that the amount spent is appropriate for the service and quality that we get. And at Hamkkehae Guesthouse, I guarantee that it is. Room rates per person/night are low and reasonable. Where else could you spend such little money for the same comfort as living in your own home? Plus, it is far cheaper than any hotel or motel. #3 Hospitality Research has shown that one major reason visitors and tourists keep coming back to the place they visited is because of the hospitality that a particular place provided for them. A warm welcome and the friendliness of the guesthouse owner Ji Hyeong and her son Yul will surely make you want to come again as soon as you have a chance. The moment we arrived, 6-yearold Yul, who waited outside, greeted us with the most adorable smile and politeness and was not shy or awkward at all despite me being a foreigner and my tall coworker towering almost three times Yul’s height. Ji Hyeong prepared a small snack for us despite us not staying there and coming around dinner time. She said everybody who comes to the house is a guest. After a small chit chat with Ji Hyeong and Yul, they showed us around the house. From the moment we arrived in front of the house, we were made to feel like we were

relatives who lived far away and were long expected to visit. I am sure if you visit or stay at Hamkkehae Guesthouse, you will be treated the same. #4 Cozy Accommodations When you have super heavy luggage and have traveled far, the last thing you want to do is climb stairs, even just one flight. Hamkkehae Guesthoust is on the ground floor. So don’t fret, you won’t be exhausting yourself. Besides that, this guesthouse has only two guest rooms: one triple room and one single room, so there will most likely be no more than four people at a time. Fewer people means less mess and less competition for facilities and utility use. Trust me, if you have stayed in a guesthouse before, you will know what it is like to wait to use the bathroom, stove, washing machine, and etc. The small number of people also means less noise and more privacy. Moreover, you will have absolute privacy because the house owner will not be in the house with you all the time, unless you need assistance or you wish to spend time with her. Thus, you will have the house to yourselves. #5 Unique Services You may not believe it, but you can hold a party in the guesthouse. While Hamkkehae has rates per day you stay, due to its petit size, you can also rent the whole house if you want to gather with friends and family, have meals together or celebrate something. Other than that, if you want to have a traditional Korean meal and learn more about Korean culture, just let the house owner know and she will prepare it all for you. Not only that, if you would like a personal tour of Gwangju, feel free to seek the assistance of the house owner, and she will guide you and make your stay enjoyable.

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Address: 광주 북구 용봉로 64, 101호 (101ho, Yongbong-ro 64, Buk-gu, Gwangju) Phone: 010-9441-6917 (Eng), 010-2606-6912 Blog: http://blog.naver.com/gud6912 Prices: A Single Bedroom (per person) 50,000 won / 1 night Three Bedrooms (per person) 35,000 won / 1 night

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Europe in Korea Written and photographed by Bob Hughes

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he Little Prince. Colorful wooden shutters over windows. Impressionist paintings. Giant multi-colored macaroons. It can only mean one place: Damyang.

Damyang’s local favorite, Juknokwon or the bamboo forest and Metasequoia Road are routinely used as the sumptuous natural backdrops to a host of films and Korean dramas. Tucked between these very Korean landmarks, however, is the small French village of Meta-Provence.

The village’s namesake is the southern French region known for its fine wines, writers such as Colette, and balmy weather blowing in from the Mediterranean Sea. Despite being thousands of miles away, its younger Korean sister, a small side road off a long

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stretch of sun-dappled, tree-lined avenues, wears its Francophilia with a truly Korean fervor: signs bedecked with French phrases; shops housed in light, airy maisons; tableaux of famous 19th and 20th century paintings surrounding a fountain with water encircling a faux-marble bust.

Given the success of Paris Baguette, Tous Les Jours, and other French-style eateries and cafés in Korea, this is perhaps not surprising. Korea is among many other countries (my home of Britain included, albeit begrudgingly at times) in its lengthy love affair with France, its culture, and its cuisine.

As you walk into the still-under-construction village, one of the first novelties to catch your attention is the homage paid to “The Little Prince,” Antoine St. Exupéry’s children’s classic and world favorite. Indeed, “The Little Prince” is the third most translated book in the world.

You may wonder why I have chosen a place so decidedly un-Korean as my favorite place in the country.

My selection is by no means a dismissal of Korea, its architecture, or its culture. In fact, it is Damyang’s absolute dedication to constructing a tiny French world, full of little Gallic touches frozen in time, which makes Meta-Provence such a lovely stop-off point and, oddly, such a Korean sight to behold.

Across the intersection of two shops’ walls, the dreamy pastels of St. Exupéry’s world come to life: strange planets consisting only of trees that have over-run the land, the elfin Prince himself flanked by a small fox, and a watering can floating in midair as it tends to a small red rose. The viewer is invited to step into the scene and pretend to water the rose for a photo opportunity.

As you walk further past the gates, which suggest the entrance to a Gallic theme park, the extent of this area’s commitment to a vision of French life becomes more apparent. Large plastic macaroons in a paint box of colors invite visitors young and old to clamber over them, posing for pictures like pre-Bastille monarchs atop their confectionary thrones.

Wooden shutters, painted in a broad range of bright, sun-soaked colors, frame windows of mock-French houses. It does not matter that inside they are selling Korean “mandu” (dumplings), nor that you can find Chinese restaurants from whose windows you can gaze out over distant Korean hills.

This is France, albeit one imagined through a Korean eye.

The small, French-themed café serves various pastries and cakes in the style of its culinary homeland, with small apricot plaits instantly satisfying a craving I had not realized I had.

Of course, these are flanked by an array of coffees and hot drinks, many of which are those one would find in any café in Korea, but the French romance lingers still.

Address: 전남 담양군 깊은실길 2-17 (담양읍 학동리 586-1) (2-17 Gipeunsil-gil Damyang-gun, Jeonnam) Phone: 061-383-1710 Time: Tuesday-Sunday Open-12 p.m. Close-10 p.m. (last order at 9 p.m.)

Buses: Take the bus 10-1 at the Damyang Bus Terminal and get off the bus stop, 깊은실(Gipeunsil bus stop). It takes around 13 minutes from the Damyang Bus Terminal to the Meta-Provence.

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local I gwangju cooks

Haemul Pajeon Recipe and photography by Joe Wabe

INGREDIENTS (1 SERVING) 1 cup of seafood diced into small pieces (a mix of your preferred seafood: squid, shrimp, mussels or oysters) 1 large spring onion cut lengthwise 1 red chili pepper thinly sliced

BATTER 1 cup flour 1½ cup cold water 1 egg lightly beaten salt and pepper to season

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he most popular variation of this Korean-style pancake is “haemul pajeon,” which is made with seafood. It is one of Koreans’ favorite appetizers to enjoy indoors during rainy days. “Pa” means green/spring onion, and “jeon” means pan-fried battered food.

PREPARATION Remove the excess water from the seafood and drain well. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat, then pour the mixture into the pan and spread it evenly.

Cook until the bottom is golden brown and turn it over, pressing it down with a spatula. Cook for another 3 – 4 minutes. Serve hot off the pan with a dipping sauce made from a mixture of soy sauce and sesame oil.

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Photo of the Month Photograph by Kyeong-cheol Park Words by Joe Wabe

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his month’s photo is a clever photo by Kyeong-cheol Park, taken at the annual Halloween party at the Gwangju bar, Speakeasy. The lighting, colors and especially the composition, make this piece a very attractive and fun photograph to enjoy. Kyeongcheol is a talented local Gwangju photographer, who continues to contribute to the local photography scene with his great work.

You can find more about his work and studio (located in downtown) through his website: http://www. cheolphotography.tk Nikon D4, 28mm

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photography I photo essay

Family and Child Portraiture Story and photos by Lorryn Smit

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hen you ask people what possessions they would rescue from their burning house, one of the most frequent answers is the photograph album, or nowadays, a computer with their digital images. When in panic mode it is interesting that we would probably grab photos rather than valuable jewelry. This impulse to save our recorded memories is the driving force behind our constant desire to transform our most precious moments into images. We want to preserve the important events and people in our lives. The ceremonies of birth and birthdays, marriages and anniversaries, holidays and new houses are all recorded because they matter.  As I was packing my bags the night before my flight to Korea, I was searching the house for photos of my family that I could take with me and while I found a

few, none of them were beautiful. Not one of them touched me emotionally like a beautifully composed picture would and at that moment I wished that we had a professional come to document our lives together in a beautiful and unique way.  This regret has stayed with me since that day and is probably why I feel so strongly about people having themselves beautifully and professionally documented, not only for themselves, but also for their children and their family. Yes, we have swanky phone cameras now that enable us to take photos of babies first steps or selfies with our friends but these photos get uploaded to social media and disappear into the masses never to be printed or looked at again. They are great fillers for our life stories, but in the end we need the highlights to be documented in an exquisite way. 

lost in gwangju I places to see

When I am photographing a family I will always be thinking of how the child is going to feel when they look at the pictures. I feel that my job is to create and make the image look like a safe holding space for the child(ren) where they are safe and protected.

These images are one of the few things of a childhood that parents are able to preserve for them so when they look back on their memories, I want them to feel loved, cherished and most importantly a sense of belonging.

I also do everything I can to make the photo session in itself a bonding and memorable experience for the family. The experience itself is just as important as the actual product that I deliver. My hope is that I can create a time where mom and dad can step out of the daily hustle and have two hours to admire their children and reconnect with each other as partners and as a family.

Something happens to us when we see pictures of our families. We well up with pride and want to show people; we travel back in time and can see and feel details long forgotten; we are reminded of what matters and how time moves too quickly, and to treasure the moments we have today.

Pictures, like memories and stories, are part of our legacy. We hold them close, we pass them down. It is a gift to be able to share a visual of moments, details, people, places and things to those we love, so that they, too, can feel even a glimmer of the joy we feel when we reflect on those times.

To see more of my work you can visit www.lorrynsmit.photography/blog

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places to see I lost in gwangju

* Every month, this column takes an in-depth look at a neighborhood in Gwangju.

Exploring Pungam Written and photographed by Lucy Kent

ing ridge at night. The view, despite some fog, is incredible. When the air is clear you can clearly see the Gwangju World Cup Stadium. Speaking of, the stadium itself is worth a visit. The stadium opened up in 2001 to host the FIFA Soccer World Cup. It has hosted a slew of various other sporting and music events. It is currently home to the K-League. If you ever feel like watching a good game of soccer, this is the stadium to go to.

For those less athletic, there is the Pungam Reservoir. This is by far the most well-known part of Pungam. It is nearly 60 years old. Originally built for agriculture, it became part of a movement to create parks throughout the country. It is quite lucky that they turned the area into a park as it is beautiful and

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his month we are going to explore Pungam. A beautiful area of Gwangju in the mid-south, Pungam is located almost completely south of the Hwajeong Subway Station. The feeling of the area is an almost small-town, homey sort of feeling. Pungam-dong itself is shaped like a gentle “U”. I think it looks like a slice of “jokbal,” but that is just my opinion. The fall views are incredible and it is supposed to be a great area for cherry blossom season.

For those of you who like views, hiking and escape, Pungam has a very nice hiking trail that has a great view of Gwangju. The full hike, so I have heard, is about two hours and curls around Pungam like a happy cat. The hike is through GeumDang Mountain. I did not have the chance to hike this area, but I did take the opportunity to climb the start-

Photo by Brittany Brickner

lost in gwangju I places to see

relaxing. You can slowly stroll down the path and take in the lake. All along the path are benches, pavilions, swinging benches and tables. Even this late in the season there are flowers blooming along the walk. You can find geese, turtles and other water animals throughout the year as well. Despite the hour of day, the walk, especially along the various bridges, is captivating. For daytime viewers, you can find fountains, waterfalls and glittering water. For nighttime viewers, you can rest in decently lit areas or look at the glowing lights on the rocks and in the water. The view is calming despite the city it rests in.

find a nice bar/cafe that advertises live music. Unfortunately, there was no music playing while I was in the area, admittedly a Monday night, so I cannot vouch for that. But give it a try someday and you may find yourself with a new favorite place to visit.

For music lovers, and not just trot, there is also The Street of Live Cafes. It’s true that most information about this area is outdated, 2011 if you can believe it, but at least some of these cafes still exist. If you do not mind a little wandering to get there, you can

Pungam really is its own little world with a unique feel that separates it from the rest of Gwangju. If you ever have a spare afternoon, I would recommend going and climbing the mountain. Look around. There is no doubt that you will enjoy yourself.

Finally, for the shoppers out there, Pungam has the Lotte Outlet Mall. The Lotte Outlet Mall in Pungam, which is connected to the Gwangju World Cup Stadium, is reportedly the first of its kind. It is known for giving the same products as other areas, but for a lower price. It is also connected to the Lotte Mart.

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money to get another one. At a cost of 10,250 yen, I had change to spare. Finally, I made it to Kyoto and it took assistance from employees at two information desks to help me get to my next stop — Shijo Station, Gate #5.

On the subway, I could not quite figure out what stop to go to and thought I would ask someone where to get off and which direction to then walk toward my hotel. I asked a girl who was sitting next to me, Mimi, “Sumimasen...?”

Lost and Found in Japan Written and photographed by Brian Fitzroy

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made it! I was at my destination: Hiroshima, Japan.

At the bus station I had to drop off my luggage at a baggage center, which was a random luggageholding business inside a nearby warehouse. Then I got on a tour bus to then spend a few hours at the Peace Park — which was, of course, awesome, and, surprisingly, quite emotionally taxing. The Motoyasu River had a calming effect, reminiscent of Gwangju River. Walking along the river and hearing its waters left me deeply appreciative after the profound and chilling experience touring the museum.

After sightseeing Hiroshima on foot, I got to the train station only to realize I lost my Shinkansen, the bullet train, ticket I had bought that morning when I arrived in the city. I looked and looked, but it was nowhere to be found. I prayed that I had enough

She was kind enough to get off at the same stop and then walk me to my hotel. We chatted the whole time and even though she might have wanted to hang out right then and there, since I did not have money and was incredibly lost, I was growing a little skeptical. She could have been guiding me through a maze of streets to sacrifice me to a cannibal for all I knew. I just asked to her add me on Facebook. But, I thought, if my Japanese friend and tour guide, Tsubura, forgot about me, then I could hang out with Mimi, the friendly stranger.

So here I am now, in my capsule hotel room, listening to people more or less trying to be quiet while I hammer away incessantly on my laptop without any plan in mind for the next 12 hours but sleeping and trying not to think about food that I cannot afford to buy. I will ask for water from the front desk because they speak pretty good English.

Tomorrow, I will hope for the best when meeting my other Japanese friend, Mari. She will be able to get me out of the situation of lacking money, language ability, and knowledge of a money transfer center location. But, if the trip has been any indicator of what the people are like, then I should be as completely happy as I was during my first few weeks in Gwangju.

right to the city I local

Little Progress Made One Year After the Special Sewol Bill Written by Kim Singsing

July, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance allotted only half, 8.9 billion won, of the originally requested 16 billion won for the committee’s budget this year.

Next year’s budget, only 6.17 billion won, is one-third of the initially requested 19.87 billion won, which was allotted by the government. The government cut 4.89 billion won for the close examination of the salvaged Sewol Ferry, claiming that the operation overlapped with that of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

On Nov. 12, the day of Korean SAT, 250 bookbags at Gwanghwamun Gate in Seoul to remember 250 Danwon High school students who died in the Sewol tragedy. If they were alive, it was their examination day. copyright Hankyoreh newspaper

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he Special Sewol Bill, which aimed to initiate a thorough and independent investigation into the ferry disaster and take measures to prevent a recurrence, was legislated on November 7, 2014. However, almost no progress has been made in the year that has passed since then.

The government has been shirking the committee’s operations by delaying and cutting down on the needed budget for the Special Investigation Committee for the Sewol Ferry Disaster. After delaying the decision until

Jeolla Safety Alliance is a group of Koreans and international residents alike to create awareness of crimes.

This safety card is for you to cut out and keep handy!

FB group: Jeolla Safety Alliance

Even in fundamental operations, the government and the Special Investigation Committee for the Sewol Ferry Disaster seem to be in disharmony. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries made public announced the first underwater operation on August 19, but failed to collaborate with the Special Investigation Committee. Furthermore, a director has not yet been assigned, leaving the committee with no one in the core leadership position.

The term for the Special Investigation Committee for the Sewol Ferry Disaster ends on June 30 of next year, but the salvage operation of the Sewol Ferry continues.

An extension of the term for the Special Investigation Committee will be essential.

The article above is the summary and translation of an article published in the Kyunghyang newspaper on November 7, 2015.

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local I right to the city

Caring for a Companion

Volunteers’ Efforts to Improve Conditions at Gwangju Animal Shelter Written and photographed by Laura Becker

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his past October, a 55-year-old woman was killed by a falling brick while building a shelter for feral cats at her apartment complex in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Identified only by her surname, Park, she quickly became known to the media as “Cat Mom.” With no clues surfacing in the first week, speculation focused on conflicts between “cat moms” and their neighbors. According to the police, the elementary school student who threw the brick had no intention to cause harm and was too young to be held accountable under current laws.

Park’s death may not have been the hate crime that some suspected; nonetheless, her story brought attention to the uphill battle of advocating for animals in Korea.

Owning pets is a relatively new phenomenon in Korea. In the past, animals were viewed either as workers or as food. The pet industry began to boom when the nation industrialized and more and more people had disposable incomes. There remains a perceived distinction between small breeds, better suited for apartment living, and larger ones, such as Korea’s native Jindo dogs, which are often still seen from a strictly utilitarian perspective.

Cats have historically been viewed unfavorably as rat control, vermin or bearers of ill fortune, but these attitudes are disappearing. A growing number of Koreans are cat lovers, especially young urban dwellers, and veterinary care and supplies for cats are readily available.

The surge in popularity of pet dogs and cats has resulted in a parallel increase in abandoned animals.

In July 2011, the Korea Times reported that over 100,000 pets were abandoned across the country in 2010. Of these, only a tiny percentage were placed in homes. An estimated 200,000 feral cats roam the streets of Seoul alone.

Fighting against the rising tide of abandonment and neglect are a number of animal rescue and advocacy groups, among them Bodumi in Gwangju. Bodumi caused a stir this year when it sued the Gwangju Animal Shelter, accusing the shelter of misusing funds and failing to provide the animals with minimum basic care.

Bodumi member Jiseong Heo explained that 10 years ago, the city of Gwangju was managing the shelter and welcoming a large number of volunteers. The Gwangju shelter was doing so well that other shel-

right to the city I local

Inside the shelter, over 100 dogs and cats live in dirty cages with wire mesh floors. The shelter stopped euthanizing animals in February 2015, but many die at the shelter from respiratory illnesses and skin conditions. Young animals are particularly vulnerable. According to Heo, the shelter sometimes allows Bodumi members to foster young animals at their homes. “The shelter staff know that if the young dogs and cats stay at the shelter, they will die,” Heo said.

Ms. Heo’s students spending time with shelter dogs

Before the lawsuit, the shelter was closed off to volunteers, unwilling to let them see what was going on inside. Today, Bodumi members volunteer on weekends and are collaborating with a local cat mom group to work out a schedule of alternating weekends.

Presently, the shelter receives approximately USD $400,000 per year from city government but allocates only 6-8 percent of funds to the animals’ food and needs, while 75 percent goes to officials’ salaries. The city is no longer directly running the shelter but has a contract with the Institute of Animal Medicine at Chonnam University.

Bodumi volunteers may not be a welcome sight for all at the shelter. Bodumi’s decision to put public pressure on the shelter and demand more transparency and better conditions for the animals strained the organization’s relationship with shelter officials.

“If they try to say they are not accepting volunteers, we just tell them we are from Bodumi, and they let us in,” Ms. Heo said. “They know that if they do not, we will make trouble.” An English academy owner, Heo brings students to the shelter and tasks them with dog-walking while the adults tackle the more difficult job of cleaning the cages.

Veterinarians from the university are paid to sit on a board of directors, but they are not involved in the day-to-day running of the shelter. The head of the shelter also has ties with the group and receives pay despite not being present at the shelter. “We never see him. We have no contact with him,” Heo said.

Gwangju residents who speak Korean can register to volunteer at the Gwangju Animal Shelter through its website, kcanimal.or.kr. English speakers are encouraged to watch the Gwangju Pets Facebook page for opportunities to volunteer on weekends with Bodumi.

ters around the country used it as a model of success and came to observe how it was run. Those days, however, have passed.

When Bodumi members volunteer at the Buk-gu shelter, they groom, walk and clean the animals alongside the small on-site staff: receptionist, groomer, veterinarian, janitor and eight “rescuers” whose jobs are to collect animals from the street.

Most of the rescuers are older men employed through the city government’s job program and have little or no experience working with animals.

“Sometimes people call them and they do not come, or they come but cannot catch the dog,” Heo said.

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culture I gwangju writes

Goshiwon, Day 967 Written by Leb Mofsky

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an it be true, as many days as that?

I hadn’t started counting till today, but roughly thought it in the 800s, not a month or so from ... one thousand.

At any rate, Day 1, Day 2, they all start early here. By five or six, the sun has risen high enough to shine above the sheets of cardboard wedged between the panes, expressly there to block the light, but not tall enough to block it out completely.

A six-inch gap remains, with nothing but a light green curtain, thin as gossamer, to stand sentry, and stop the early dawn’s attack. False, treacherous curtain! I lie there helpless, forced to hide beneath the sheets, while you high-five the sun as it passes through in full parade. But no, the sun, too, as if it knew to what weakness it owes its victory, is turned a mournful, sick green.

The world of dreams dissolves. Enough. I rise.

Out, the ear plugs. Off, the radio set to 88 FM. White noise, to block my neighbor’s slamming door at 6 a.m.

You see, the sun is not my only foe.

After 967 days, have I not thought of every precaution?

Of course! But no more than anyone else would have done in the same situation.

First things first. Rise, to greet the sun victorious.

I pull aside the light green curtain.

It opens right to left. Then the inner pane, sliding smoothly. And finally a sheet of cardboard, once a packing box for sweet potatoes, now flattened out and fading.

Do you, too, use flattened packing boxes as curtains? I am not poor, I swear it!

Ah, then, why do I go on like this? Why? A friend of mine, code-named Arianna, has told me many times that I should move. ‘이사 와,’ she says, to her neighborhood.

A better place, where streets are wide and straight, the buildings tall, the restaurants, not cheap.

I know, I have been. I have paid the bill.

A better place. But oh, so far from work.

If I lived there, I would have to get up an hour earlier to catch the bus, and hope that I, or it, are not too late.

But you can see how much I value sleep.

An hour less, a truly bitter loss.

I fear I try your patience. Why should you be forced to read about my sleeplessness?

Gentle reader, if ever a landlord you become, be sure to put thick curtains on the window. If you must go to work at 6 a.m., go softly, with a thought for those who can and want to get some rest.

Day 1000 will come, I cannot move before. But pray that I get the resolve to move soon after. Seeing the exact day count has not done a little to help.

green korea I general

The Nuclear Option

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Nuclear Power Moving Forward in Korea Written by Choi Shin-ae

In Korea, the government has to reinforce the need for strong safety policies as it continues to promote growth. Even minor accidents can raise anxiety among citizens. Thorough pre-training, safety checks, and installing layers of protection shields are all necessary to prevent accidents.

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outh Korea was introduced to nuclear power in the 70s after it was promoted as stable energy supplier. Nuclear power plant construction has been ongoing since the first nuclear power plant Gori 1 started its operations in 1978. With an installed capacity of 1,872,000 kilowatts, Gori 1 made Korea the world’s sixth largest nuclear power generator.

The government plans to increase nuclear power’s share of the country’s energy supply to 29 percent by 2035. In addition to the 23 installed nuclear plants, more plants will be built to help the country meet its goal of 40 nuclear plants. Gori 3 and 4 nuclear plants are both under construction and they will begin operating by 2017. Gori 5 and 6 will be completed by 2022.

Although great as an energy source, nuclear power has the significant danger of radiation leaks. Nuclear power plants are constantly managing radiation and radioactive waste during operation. There are many safety procedures in place in case of an emergency and The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety provides information about such procedures on its website www.kins.re.kr.

After the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, Germany, Switzerland and Italy chose to close their nuclear power plants. In Germany, they declared firm plans to close 17 nuclear power plants by 2022. The U.S. and China also made changes, such as modifying additional construction policies. Only two of Japan’s 43 operable nuclear plants have reopened since they were shut down in 2013.

While committed to the nuclear safety issues, many experts have studied alternative energy sources to replace these plants, such as nuclear fusion energy and renewable energy sources, which are more ecofriendly. Nuclear fusion does not create high-levels of radioactive waste. As a result of innovations in wind power technology, energy generation from wind turbines has increase from two gigawatts in 1990 to 280 gigawatts in 2012.

In Korea, Jeolla province has planned a project to generate five gigawatts of wind energy annually by installing one tubine on the southwest coast and four turbines offshore. The government is also pushing a plan build wind power plants along the coasts of Youngkwang and Buan, Jeolla. Jeollanamdo has already undergone a pre-feasibility study for the project. There is also a long-term plan to build renewable energy facilities with a huge investment of 15 trillion won over 20 years.

The issue of nuclear power is sure to continue to be a topic of continued debate in the future. On November 13, 2015, the government rejected a referendum by Yeongdeok citizens hoping to stop the construction of two nuclear reactors in the area.

Even though 91.7 percent of voters (11,201 citizens) cast a vote against the proposed plans, the government will proceed with construction.

Society should consider the reasons why residents held the referendum even though they expected resistance. Our government should reconsider its nuclear plans and what is best for citizens now and generations to come.

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culture I behind the myth

The Urban Legend of Organ Harvesting and Gwangju Taxis Written by Stephen Redeker

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ang on to your kidneys.

Since sometime in the late 1980s there have been many rumors around the world about travelers who have been unknowingly sedated and awoken in a bathtub full of ice and water. They were left with a note or told that one or both of their kidneys had been removed. On the black market a human organ, such as a kidney, can sell for a large sum of money. Unfortunately, these poor victims did not willfully choose to participate in this.

Instead, the organs were illegally harvested from the unsuspecting victims. However, the good news about these gruesome tales is the fact that they are not based in reality at all. These stories are untrue.

Korea had its own organ-harvesting caper, and it actually originated in a city very close to many of us: Gwangju. In case you missed it, in the summer of 2013 there was a screen capture of a KakaoTalk conversation that described an incident where someone was abducted and had their kidney removed.

The victim, who was “a friend of a friend,� entered a taxi to go home, but the ride took a wrong turn.

He was drugged via a syringe in the neck and later found himself abandoned in a field upon waking up.

He was taken to the hospital and told his kidney had been removed. This KakaoTalk screenshot went viral and had thousands of likes and shares on Facebook.

Some people took this news seriously. There was even a report that an elderly woman was worried about her husband who was drunk and coming home in the back of a taxi. She warned him about the kidney harvesting ring. Right then, the drunk, middle-aged man jumped out of the moving taxi and broke his arm.

Hoaxes like these are popular in Korea and usually sprout up in the summertime, spreading across cyberspace to give people goosebumps. None are based on any hard facts, but their sensational nature is what attracts people and gets them to share these stories. Organ-harvesting hoaxes have been around in Korea for years, but this black-market taxi tale gained quite a bit of notoriety. It originated in Gwangju and was widely reported in reputable news outlets.

Thankfully, local police departments investigated this supposed crime ring and found no evidence of its existence. Not only was this urban legend put to rest, but it also restored our beloved city of Gwangju’s reputation as a safe place to live.

As passengers, most of us can feel a sense of relief knowing that fast and sometimes reckless driving are the only real fears to have in the back of a taxi.

jeolla history I culture

The Yangban Culture Written by Hea-ran Won

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here is an old Korean story called Yangban-zhen, which describes “yangban,” the ruling class of the Joseon Era, in the following way.

The story states that there were several types of yangban. Yangban who only read books were called classical scholars; those who worked in politics were called officers and those who had virtue were called gentlemen. At five o’clock in the morning, a yangban had to wake up, light a candle and sit properly looking down to the tip of his or her nose and bend the knees while supporting the hips with the heels. A yangban had to be able to write letters small enough to fit on sesame grains. They could not touch money with their own hands. They could not take off their socks when it was hot and had to wear a gat, a traditional Korean hat, when eating food.

Originally, yangban was a universal term used to address officers. When the king held meetings to decide government policies, the military officers stood on the left side and the scholarly officers stood on the right side. These two groups of officers together were called yangban, meaning the two sides. As time passed, the meaning changed to address the whole ruling class of the Joseon Dynasty.

Yangban hated to marry with those who were from lower classes. If yangban were to officially marry someone from a lower class, their children could not become yangban. In the worst-case scenario, yangban who intermarried with a lower-class member could lose his or her status as a noble. Thus many yangban men had an unofficial second or third wife. Children of second or third wives were taken in as part of a yangban’s family, but they were

not treated as equals and were discriminated against.

In other words, if one had an ancestor from of a lower class, one could not become a yangban.

For these reasons, genealogy became an extremely important tool in the lives of the yangban. The family tree showed that one was of a pure bloodline and was therefore certified to live as a yangban. In the past, both the sons and daughters were recorded in genealogies. However, with the growing tendency to compile larger volumes, the first son of the family became more important. Only the first son could continue the family bloodline, and only he would receive all the family properties, which explains why in the famous Korean story HeungbuJeon, the first son Nolbu and the second son Heungbu had such different amounts of wealth. The second in line was not given rights to continue the family. In some extreme cases, yangban families took foster sons to continue their family because they only had daughters or sons from the second or third wife.

Yangban were afforded all the privileges in the early Korean society. They were rich, prosperous and had the right to be involved in politics and work as artists. However, as Korea entered into war with Japan, the differences between yangban and the lower classes became less clear, allowing a new yangban class to arise. Eventually, yangban became more about wealth and influence than about class, family line and virtue, as described in the story Yang-banzhen.

This story will be described more in a future installment of Gwangju News.

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general I kotesol

KOTESOL

KOTESOL promotes scholarship, disseminates information, and facilitates cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with teaching and learning English in Korea.

Short Stories and L2 Learners Written by Tyson Vieira

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n English conversation courses, instructors would likely never consider teaching literature. However, a literature project can be used as a student-centered, interactive experience if teachers introduce the literature enthusiastically and systematically. As language instructors, our role is to guide students toward a path of autonomous learning and self-discovery. Literature can be a tool for finding such a path.

Technique I credit my success in using English literature in the classroom to Professor Linda Gajdusek and her article, “Toward Wider Use of Literature in ESL: Why and How.” In this article, Gajdusek (1988) explains a technique that divides the classroom literature experience into four steps: pre-reading activities, in-class work, analysis, and extending activities.

ever, if the students have too much information, it could dampen their excitement and the pleasure of discovery during the initial read. Vocabulary work is an efficient way to prepare the students without revealing too much of the story. Assigning thematic essay topics is also a beneficial pre-reading activity. In my adult classes, for example, I used Ernest Hemingway’s short story “Soldier’s Home” and had the students discuss questions related to themes of the text beforehand. I often use this “discuss before reading” approach before the initial reading to prompt students with vocabulary from the reading and encourage them to “guess and explore” the material. Without questions and discussion before reading, there is a chance that the students could misread the cultural attitudes of the text, which might hinder the goal of teaching culture.

Choosing a Text It is important to choose a text that provides a challenge but is not so overwhelming that it discourages students from future explorations in English literature.

The story should also be relatable. For example, I used the text “Too Small Paul” with my 3rd grade elementary school students. My students expressed interest in this story because it included appealing visuals, sports, and the feeling of being small and young in a world of taller and older siblings and adults.

2nd Step: In-Class Work The in-class work could take less time depending on the text’s difficulty, class proficiency and familiarity with the story. However, establishing the text’s observational facts is crucial because it gives each student an opportunity to test out assumptions and impressions regarding the text during the class process of discovery and interaction. Plus, the lower level students are being supported indirectly, giving them enough time to process and participate with the rest of the class (Gajdusek, 1988).

1st Step: Pre-Reading Preparation After choosing a text, it is important to provide background information to help the students approach the text successfully and prevent misunderstandings. How-

3rd Step: Analysis Now that the facts have been established, the students can begin to dive into the whys, and “to develop their own attitudes toward the characters, values and situa-

kotesol I general

tions of the story . . . to move beyond information to involvement and experience” (Gajdusek, 1988, p. 245).

My activity of choice is journaling, which allows for individual exploration of the text. The prompts can be basic, such as “What happened in the story and why?” or more complex, such as questions about the writer’s style or underlying message.

4th Step: Extending Activities This final step introduces creative writing and in-class group work. Such extension activities “must be structured so that the students will succeed only if they have understood (or are motivated by the activity to understand) the writer’s assumptions about character, conflict or values in the piece” (Gajdusek, 1988, p. 252).

I usually ask students to create scenes for the story that are not revealed in the text. This activity requires students to create a scene openly and freely without contradicting the story. In addition, I ask the groups for textual evidence to support their scenes.

Conclusion I have found Gajdusek’s four-step technique to be consistently successful when introducing students to English literature. Through a variety of activities, teachers can help guide their students to a path of autonomous learning and self-discovery. If teachers introduce English literature enthusiastically and systematically, our students will be able to take a written story and create a new interactive experience in the classroom.

[References] Gajdusek, L. (1988). Toward wider use of literature in ESL: Why and how. TESOL Quarterly, 22(2), 227–257.

Hedgcock, J. S., & Ferris, D. R. (2009). Teaching readers of English: Students, texts, and contexts. New York, NY: Routledge.

Tyson Vieira works at Kyungnam University as an English assistant professor. For three years, he worked for the Jeollanamdo Language Program (JLP) under the Provincial Office of Education. Prior to this position as a teacher at Muan Englishtown, Tyson taught for two years at five different elementary schools in Haenam, Jeollanamdo. He earned his MA in TESOL from Azusa Pacific University in California. He is an active member of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter, served as the co-facilitator of the local Reflective Practice Special Interest Group and is a chapter officer. He has written articles for JLP’s Bibimbap blog and the Gwangju News magazine.

Upcoming KOTESOL Events Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Monthly Chapter Meeting & Year-End Dinner Date & Time: December 12 (Saturday), 1:45 pm Place: Gwangju National University of Education Presentation: Short Stories for L2 Learning (Tyson Vieira) Collaborative Workshop: Making Effective EFL Activities Swap-shop Session: Present your ideas, activities, tips, advice.

Morning (11:00) Reflective Practice Session Year-End Dinner: TBA No Admission Charge For more details: Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Email: gwangju@koreatesol.org

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general I health

Tricky Science, Real Risk Climate Change and Health Written by Jessica Keralis

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arlier this summer, The New York Times published an article on the complicated scientific relationship between climate change and health outcomes. The article’s tone was cautious, and it acknowledged early on that public health initiatives based on climate risk are politically fraught, and, in some cases, the science is not as robust as some would like. Several health-effects that environmental advocates frequently link to climate, including vector-borne diseases (e.g., malaria and dengue), natural disasters, and temperature extremes were examined, along with the strength of the research behind each association. The central point of the article is that the science examining climate and its effects on health is, as most scientists will cheerfully admit, quite complicated, and the data that the scientific community has on the subject is incomplete and patchy for many countries and geographic regions.

Korea is certainly no stranger to climate-related health woes. I was warned about “yellow dust” al-

most as soon as I arrived in Korea in 2012. This spring phenomenon in which prevailing winds bring clouds of fine dust from the deserts of northern China and Mongolia, causes sore throats and respiratory distress in healthy people and can be fatal for those who already have asthma or other respiratory conditions, Pollution and desertification in recent years has made the problem worse. The country’s autumn haze also made headlines, not to mention Jen Lee’s “Dear Korea” comic, this year, with Greenpeace challenging the conventional wisdom that China is the primary culprit. According to the group’s analysis, Korea’s own coal-fired power plants could be responsible for up to 70% of the fine particle-laden smog, also known as PM2.5; at best, it is a 50-50 split. Greenpeace alleges that the air pollution generated by the country’s coal plants are responsible for up to 1,600 deaths.

The link between air pollution and health-effects is pretty clear-cut, but what about climate change itself? Are disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes really expanding their range, and if so, does that directly result in more cases of mosquito-transmitted diseases? The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established that 2015 had the hottest summer ever recorded, but are heat

health I general

waves and temperature extremes definitively linked to more deaths or hospitalizations? Alas, answers to these questions are less clear. “There’s a lot of evidence showing that extreme weather can hurt people, but what we don’t know is whether those effects are getting worse,” says Columbia University Climate and Health Program director Patrick L. Kinney, who points out that scientists do not yet have the long-term data needed to pinpoint how climate change is affecting health. Similarly, Mary H. Hayden, a scientist who studies climate and health, explains that it is difficult to establish with certainty that climate is directly driving vector-borne diseases. “I don’t think we can dismiss the role of climate.

But can we say there is a direct causal link? No, we can’t. It’s more complex than that.”

This, of course, is the primary struggle with translating science into real political action: complexity is difficult to convey, and scientific research has an extremely high bar when it comes to making definitive statements. Findings are always open to challenge, research is always ongoing, and climate change in particular can be politically toxic because it is so closely intertwined with energy and economic policy. The upside to this, however, is that we now

have much more data than we used to, in no small part, thanks to increased political will and a greater sense of urgency.

Waiting for the science to be indisputable carries its own costs. In the early years of the HIV epidemic, for example, many epidemiologists had a good idea of what was causing AIDS, but because the science of virology was not as developed as it is now, it took nearly seven years for the virus itself to be identified. As a result, they received pushback from politicians, business leaders, and blood banks demanding proof before they were willing to take action. The scientists’ warnings went unheeded, and many more died as a result. Climate change activists are facing a similar struggle now. As Dr. Kinney noted in the New York Times piece, “... if we wait for the health evidence to be ironclad, it may well be too late.”

Jessica Keralis has a Master of Public Health and four years of experience in the field of public health. She is currently working as an epidemiologist. Feel free to suggest future health article topics by contacting her at jmkeralis@gmail.com. All views expressed here are her own and not those of any employer.

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former judge, GIC board member Services available in Korean, English & Chinese

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Tel: 062) 222-0011 Fax: 062)222-0013 duckheepark@hanmail.net

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info

Community Board Have something you want to share with the community?

Gwangju News community board provides a space for the community to announce clubs’ activities and special events.

Please contact gwangjunews@gic.or.kr for more information.

UNESCO KONA VOLUNTEERS UNESCO KONA Volunteers is a registered organization that helps underprivileged kids to learn English independently through storybooks and story-maps.

We are looking for long-term volunteers who desire to enrich their lives.

We are asking volunteers to commit to helping at least once a month (please check the days and locations below). Foreign volunteers who are interested in practicing their Korean and learning more about Korean culture with Korean children are welcome to stay at the center on any Saturday morning or Saturday evening for a short cultural exchange. If you have any picture books, storybooks, puppets and any educational items, we accept all donations in order to distribute them to the local children’s homes or community children’s centers in Gwangju and South Jeolla province.

The days and locations of the facilities are as follows: Every Saturday morning / 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or every Saturday afternoons (evenings) 5-7 p.m.

Location: UNESCO KONA Volunteers Center (Ssangchong-dong, Seo-gu, 062-4349887) 3rd Sunday afternoons / 3-5 p.m.

Location: Youngjin Children’s Home (Imgok-dong, Gwangsangu, 062-9528040) or Gwangju Children’s Home (Dongrim-dong, Buk-gu, 062-513-0859) 4th Friday afternoons 3-5 p.m.

Location: Grandmother’s Community Children’s Center (Punghyang-dong, Buk-gu, 062-524-2076) 3rd Sunday mornings and afternoons/ 9 a.m.–2 p.m. (Lunch is provided) Location: Haein Temple (Jangseong, South Jeolla, 061-393-5135)

For more infomation, please visit: 1. http://cafe.daum.net/konavolunteers 2. www.facebook.com (UNESCO KONA Volunteers) 3. contact KONA (Kim Young-im) at 062-434-9887 or at konacenter@ gmail.com

COMMNUNITY CLASSES AT GIC Weekdays Zumba Class – GIC Hall, 1F 7 - 8 p.m. Wednesdays 5,000 won / each session FB page: Zumba with Cailin in Gwangju Weekends Art Club – Room 5, 2F 12:30 - 3 p.m. Saturdays Participation fee varies depending on Class theme and material FB page: Gwangju Art Class

GWANGJU ICE HOCKEY TEAM Looking for men and women of all ages to join us every Saturday night from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Yeomju Ice Rink near World Cup Stadium. If you are interested, contact Andrew Dunne GWANGJU Petit à Petit at 쁘띠 따 쁘띠 프랑스 그룹 – Room 5, 2F 4 - 6 p.m. Saturday, December 5 atdunne@gmail.com FB page: GWANGJU Petit à Petit 쁘띠 따 쁘띠 프랑스 그룹 GWANGJU INTER FC The Gwangju International Soccer Team (Gwangju Inter FC) plays regu- GIC Book Club – Room 3, 2F larly every weekend. If you are inter- 4 - 6 p.m. Saturdays ested in playing, email: gwangju_soc- FB page: GIC Book Club cer@yahoo.com or search ‘Gwangju Inter FC’ on Facebook.

COMMUNITY GROUPS IN GWANGJU ADOPT A CHILD FOR CHRISTMAS Gwangju – 광주 Adopt-a-Child for Christmas is curGwangju Freecycle rently holding their annual toy drive Gwangju Performance Project to provide the orphans of Gwangju GFOG (Global Families of Gwangju) with Christmas presents. If you are Gwangju EPIK Teachers interested in sponsoring a child or Gwangju Community Builders children by purchasing gifts or donat- Gwangju-Jeolla Job Bank ing money, please visit www.adopLadies of Gwangju and Vicinity tachildgwangju.org. There, you will Jeolla Safety Alliance find a form you can fill out to choose Gwangju Yoga the number of children you would like Gwangju Veggies to sponsor and how you would like to help them out. Also, “LIKE” AdoptWE ARE LOOKING a-Child for Christmas - Gwangju on FOR WRITERS! Facebook to stay up-to-date with future events, like present wrapGet involved and make Gwangju News ping, Christmas parties, and future an outlet for you to express yourself. fundraisers! Thank you for your help For more info: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr Gwangju News is only as great as it is in helping these children to have a because of the community it serves, brighter Christmas! and the writers, photographers, editors and proofreaders within it who regularly volunteer their services.