Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine
I February 2016 Issue No. 168
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Join Our Team!
Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine
February 2016 Issue No. 168 Published on January 27, 2016 Cover Photo: Beer Cover Art & Design: Joe Wabe Photographed by: Joe Wabe Gwangju News is the first local English magazine in Korea, first published in 2001. The magazine 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 EDITORS Katrin Marquez, Joey Nunez ONLINE EDITOR Callum Holmes COORDINATOR AND LAYOUT EDITORS Minsu Kim, So-hee Jeong PHOTO EDITOR Joe Wabe CHIEF PROOFREADER Bradley Weiss ONLINE EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jacqui Page, Sam Page COPY EDITORS Laura Becker, Timm Berg, Brian Fitroy, Robert Hinderliter, Victoria Lee, Joey Nunez, Jon Ozelton, Kelsey Rivers PROOFREADERS Jannies Le, Carrie Levinson, Katrin Marquez, Gabrielle Nygaard, Joey Nunez, Stephen Redeker, Pete Schandall, Teri Venable RESEARCHERS Cho Nam-hee, Choi Shin-ae, Jang Dong-ha, Jung Yun-hee, Kim Dae-yong
Gwangju News always needs volunteers who want to share their expertise or gain some. Please contact us with your interests and ideas to get involved!
The Gwangju News Print Team needs proofreaders and writers. Please contact the print editor at gwangjunews@gic.or.kr. The Gwangju News Online Team needs online editorial assistants. Please contact the online editor at gnonline@gic.or.kr. Email us today and start getting involved!
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.
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GwangjuNews
@GwangjuNewsGIC
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Contents February 2016 Issue No. 168
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News and Info
General
5 Gwangju City News
11 On the Download
7 How to Claim a Tax Refund
44 Health : How Cerebral Palsy Helped Star Wars Help Life Science
10 Upcoming Events 50 Community Board
48 KOTESOL : Consider Task Demand to Ensure Lesson Success
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Local
Features
6 Gwangju Talks 28 Gwangju Cooks : Dotorimuk
12 The Beer Bang
34 Gwangju Biz : Chung Man Chicken
16 A Korean Oasis for the Weekday
36 Rights to the City : Talking for Change 38 Sewol Update 42 My Korea : To Gwangju University, in Gratitude
GIC
Downtowners 18 Keeping up Tradition in Modern Korea 20 The Rebellion of Independent Bakeries 22 Whose History? 24 Lee Sang-hong, An Interview with the
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Chosun University Hospital Director
8 GIC Talk Preview 9 GIC Talk February Schedule
Photography 29 Photo of the Month 30 A Collision of Two Passions
26 Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ...
Culture 39 Gwangju Writes : Cold out 46 Behind the Myth : Here Come the Dokkaebi!
Places to See
47 Jeolla History :
32 Departing Gwangju : Passage to Peace
The Nosa School and the Opposi-
40 Lost in Gwangju : U-Square, More than
tion against Western Influences
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a Terminal
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Gwangju City News
news
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Compiled and Edited by Cho Nam-hee, Choi Shin-ae, Jung Yun-hee, Kim Dae-yong and Joey Nunez Photos contributed by Gwangju City Hall
INTENSIVE SUPPORT FOR SMB IN GWANGJU To enhance the basis of the local economy, Gwangju has implemented diverse support policies for small businesses this year. First, the city intends to discover the hidden leading businesses to intensify competitiveness. After choosing 100 companies next year, Gwangju plans to support funding and provide management consulting. In addition, the city will raise funds and support from 4.7 trillion won to 5 trillion won to stabilize the safety management of the businesses who suffered from a lack of funds last year. The city will build a Technology Holding Company that will support the patent, establishment, and technology industry with support from universities and investment agencies until March. Gwangju has announced its focus on stimulating the public economy. The city will also revamp the 1913 Songjeong Station Market into a new market composed of tradition, culture, design and ICT and will also develop a collaboration between the Asian Culture Complex (ACC) and the Namgwangju Sunrise Market. GWANGJU TO PROVIDE MORE SPACES FOR YOUTH AND FOREIGN ARTISTS This upcoming September, the city’s recently opened Asia Culture Center will attempt to change the artistic circle for youth and foreign artists during the Gwangju Biennale. Cho Jin-ho, the director of the Gwangju Municipal Museum, stated that they held a conference on this year’s exhibition projects and discussed arranging spaces for these artists. The decisions made at the meeting include reconstructing the Culture Center’s pottery facility located in Jungwae Park as an International Residency Studio and Culture and the Art Education Support Center in Sajik Park as a Youth Artist Support Center. They hope to complete the construction by the end of this year. GWANGJU CITY WILL INTRODUCE HYBRID NATURAL GAS-POWERED BUSES The CNG hybrid buses will be in operation in Gwangju this year for 30 days. Gwangju city announced that it will replace 1,000 buses with the CNG hybrid buses to decrease carbon dioxide emissions and will improve the air quality to the level of the developed nations. CNG hybrid buses will have a combination of an electric motor and CNG engine with more efficient energy consumption than the previous buses. Furthermore, compared to other buses, these buses will decrease the city’s expenses due to reduced fuel costs of about 110 million won. A city official said: “Smog has been an issue more than ever before, so we needed to introduce CNG hybrid buses, an alternative, to meet the citizen concerns about the environment.”
For more information on Gwangju, please scan the QR code
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6 local I gwangju talks
Gwangju Talks What is your favorite Lunar New Year Memory? Translated and Complied by Cho Nam-hee and Choi Shin-ae
★ Jang Dong-ha (24 / M) I went to Jung Dong Jin on the East coast to see my first sunrise with my family. I had never previously witnessed a sunrise, so I was excited to see one. In my memory, there were so many people waiting for the sunrise. When the sun rose, they shouted for joy and wished each other a happy New Year. This refreshing experience gave me hope for what was to come. ★ Kim Dae-yong (31 / M) The Fireworks. My mother has three sisters and six brothers that all married and had children around the same period, so I have many cousins close to my age. We have always set off fireworks every Lunar New Year, even though many uncles and aunts tried to prevent us. As time has passed, nowadays, all of our families enjoy the fireworks whenever the Lunar New Year comes. It has become our New Year tradition. ★ Choi Dong-jun (26 / M) My family used to visit my grandfather’s house every New Year where my father’s cousins and my cousins get together. I will never forget this time in my childhood. My cousin is an only child. We are very close to each other, though we only see each other a few days out of the year. We played on a seesaw and a slide in the playground. I remember we all dressed up in colorful hanbok. The next morning, we ate ddeokguk and shared many other dishes. ★ Jung Yun-hee (22 / F) When I was seven years old, my family went to my father’s hometown to celebrate Lunar New Year. On the way there, my brother and I saw a very big dog in the rest area, so we wanted to be close to the dog. We plucked up our courage and began to tease the dog. Then, suddenly, the dog chased my brother and bit his arm. My parents were surprised and called 119. After the medical treatments, we arrived at my father’s hometown. I will never forget that day. I am sure my brother will not either.
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info
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How to Claim a Tax Refund on your Korean Spending Written by Joey Nunez Special Thanks to GIC Counseling Services
Listed now are the best ways to achieve the biggest refund. 1. Apply to use a cash-receipt card. This concept is to be handed to any server when you pay with cash. Tallying up your total expenditure using cash for the year is ideal for calculating your refund. With this method surprisingly, you receive more of a refund for money spent using either cash or debit/ cash cards. So if you are making large purchases, we recommend using cash or debit/cash cards.
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2. Apply for an electronic banking certificate. This nternational residents are entitled to tax refunds. method will allow you to register your bank account So, by following these steps for claiming a tax re- with the main Tax Office website. Visiting this webfund, you will be able to save money. site to see the full expenditure on your bank account for the year is possible with this method. However for starters, if you are from a country that has a tax agreement with Korea and are currently There is no need to rush updating records, as past not paying taxes, you cannot claim a refund. To find transactions will also be included. However, having out if you are in a country, check out the National this type of certificate will also allow you to use InTax Service website (the English version is accessible ternet banking and to complete online purchases. at: www.nts.go.kr/eng/) 3. Generate a yearly spending certificate by registerAdditionally, the Korean tax year ends on December ing your cash receipt card and your bank account 31. So if you are not going to be leaving Korea be- together, by using an electronic certificate using the fore New Year Eve’s, it is better not to complete the main Tax Office website. paperwork. You will not be able to claim a refund in your home country or while on vacation elsewhere. The work needs to be completed after the end of the previous tax year, when a tax return form must So, now the good news. If you are sure you are pay- be completed, which is usually needed in January ing taxes and will be in Korea for the start of the new or February. However this information should be tax year on January 1, 2017, then you can complete checked once to see if everything is working cora tax refund at the end of this year. rectly. Once this certificate is completed, generating this report will help break down one’s yearly spendThe next important factor is the amount you will be ing. refunded is based on your earnings on your total annual expenditure. In other words, if you earn very For all methods, we recommend that you ask a Kolittle but spend a little bit more than you earn, you rean to help with any of these processes. If you have can expect to receive a large refund. Also, if you are difficulty securing help for yourself, the GIC can not spending very much relative to your earnings, help by e-mailing counseling@gic.or.kr. you will not receive very much back.
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8 gic I gic talk preview
Gwangju African Community Written by Joey Nunez Photo contributed by the Gwangju African Community
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peakers Sherone Ginti and Lawrence Kerkulah, leaders of the Gwangju African Community (GAC), will be sharing how the Gwangju African Community has been created in the past, developed last year and moving forward throughout 2016, all during their GIC Talk on Saturday, February 20. The group has established an official and original preamble and constitution, with one of the goals being “to serve the community.” Chris Doekpar, GAC Current President, has previously stated how the group’s multiple activities successfully fulfills what Africans living away from their homes need most during their stays in Gwangju, which include: assistance with meetings, weddings, retreats, graduations, funerals and counseling opportunities. “There is a uniqueness in this community and its potential. We have had a wonderful time gathering as international people,” he said. Doekpar’s own story of arriving in Korea motivated him to help develop a community, previously in Pyeongtaek and now in Gwangju. “I was lonely and I encountered culture shock, but I felt it was more important to help bring myself and others together to keep our African identity while living in Korea,” he said. Kerkulah is blessed to serve other nationalities where they are, both with the physical needs that Doekpar above mentioned and for other needs that most people miss. “There is a growing culture, but sometimes we are limited. The nature of work and school schedules prevent people from coming. Therefore, I want to bring spiritual transformation in Gwangju.”
Gwangju, the current Gwangju African Community functions to promote peace, unity, progress and social awareness among Africans residing within Gwangju. The organization thus maintains an African-focus upon cultures, traditions and values, with meetings serving as forums for exchange of views within the African community. Still, all nationalities are welcome to attend these meetings, with the dialogue held in English. GAC also strives to assist and support specific development projects for community empowerment, both within its community and outreaching to other existing organizations in the Gwangju community, while also encouraging the further educational endeavors among its members. GAC ultimately desires to serve as an umbrella organization for all African community organizations in Gwangju. As GAC continues to advance its image and future programming, Doekpar recognizes how the GAC community can contribute within the Gwangju community. “We want Koreans to experience the African uniqueness. We can contribute to Korean society, for multiculturalism, and we look forward to having the platform to contribute.” Come to hear Ginti and Kerkulah’s perspectives and celebrate the GAC’s successes and future community collaboration during the GIC Talk on Saturday, February 20, at 3 p.m. in the GIC Hall.
Previously known as the African Association of
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gic talk schedule I gic
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GIC Talk February Schedule
Theme of the Month:
Around the World
Time & Location: Saturdays from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., GIC Hall (1st Floor) For more information, contact gictalk@gic.or.kr FEBRUARY 6 There will be no GIC Talk, due to Seollal. Enjoy the time with your family and friends, and we will see you on February 13th!
FEBRUARY 13 Speaker: Nate Glab Topic: Think Tank: House of Genius The House of Genius is an approachable think tank that transforms the entire concept of think tank methodology. Originating in Boulder, Colorado, the United States of America, this monthly event provides networking opportunities for the expansion of any community around the world. According to its official website, House of Genius is currently in over 30 locations in 11 countries, and the Speaker is interested in starting the conversation of a new chapter in Gwangju and/or in another part of Korea.
FEBRUARY 27 Speakers: Eunjoo Kim and Sua Park Topic: From the Youth Hope Project to a GIC Talk, the Amazing Experience of Two High School Girls During the fall of 2014, two girls participated in an event that was hosted by the Korea Foundation and organized by the Gwangju International Center. They were chosen as the best participating students and had a chance to go to Australia. Also, they participated in a second event in 2015 as staff members and continued helping with some events as youth volunteers at the GIC. Now, these two young girls are going to talk about their amazing experience as speakers of a GIC Talk. Come to hear more from these two high school girls.
FEBRUARY 20 Speakers: Sherone Ginti and Lawrence Kerkulah Topic: Gwangju African Community More information about this GIC Talk is included in the GIC Talk Preview on page 8.
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info
Upcoming Events Shona Sculpture Exhibition 세계조각장식박물관
The former Daedong Gallery has been renovated into a brand new World Sculpture and Ornament Museum during December 2015. To celebrate its opening, the Shona Sculpture Exhibition is being held as a special exhibit. Shona is a Zimbabwean tribe who were the master inspirations of such modern arts as Picasso and Henri Matisse. The exhibition is comprised of more than 450 exquisite Shonan sculptures.
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Dates: Dec. 28, 2015 ~ Feb. 28, 2016 Venue: World Sculpture · Ornament Museum (ex-Daedong Gallery) Address: 14, Jungang-ro 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju Admission Fees: Free Directions: On the subway, get off at the Culture Complex Station. For buses coming Downtown, get off at the Asian Culture Center or Geumnam-ro 4 Phone: 062)222-0072, 226-5800
Barae Peak Snow Festival on Jirisan Mountain 지리산 남원 바래봉 눈꽃축제
Jirisan Mountain, the National Spiritual Mountain, turns into a world of snow in winter, making spectacular scenery. Towards the beginning of January and February every year, the Barae Peak Snow Festival is held in the campsite at the entrance of Baemsagol Village on Jirisan Mountain, and features a wide range of events, such as snow ball fights, kite flying, sledding, and other activities. Dates: – February 14, 2016 Address: Baraebong tract 214, Unbong-eup, Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do Directions: Take the intercity bus at the Gwangju Bus Terminal and get off at the Namwon Bus Terminal (1 hour, 10 minutes). From the Namwon Bus Terminal, take No.134 Bus and get off at the Unbong Elementary School Bus Stop. Phone: 063-620-3818
Joy + Love × Happiness÷ 기쁨+ 사랑× 행복÷ Dates: Feb 19th ~ Feb. 21st Venue: Gwangju Museum of Art ￦ Admission: Free Phone: 062-613-7149 Website: http://www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr
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@GWANGJU TEATHER
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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
February 4th The Assassin - Nie yin niang (Hsiao-hsien Hou) (Drama / 105 min) In ninth-century China, an exiled assassin (Shu Qi) must choose between love or duty when she receives orders to kill a man (Chang Chen) from her past. Carol (Todd Haynes) (Drama, Romance / 118 min) Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) spots the beautiful, elegant Carol (Cate Blanchett) perusing the doll displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store. The two women develop a fast bond that becomes a love with complicated consequences. February 25th ~ 28th
Tsai Ming-liang Special Show The River – He liu (1997) (Drama, Romance / 115 min) Rebels of the Neon God - 青 Qing shao nian nuo zha (1992) (Crime, Drama / 106 min) Vive L’Amour - Ai qing wan sui (1994) (Drama / 118 min) Goodbye, Dragon Inn - Bu san Tong nien wang shi (2003) (Drama, Comedy / 82 min) Dragon Inn - Long men kezhan (1967) (Action, King Hu / 111 min) This film is a masterpiece of martial arts swords-play and speaks the tune of “The Swordsman” and the “Zatoichi” films. A must see for fans of classic Asian cinema.
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general I movie review
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On The Download
February January DVD Releases DVD Releas-
es
Written by Kyle Chandler
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ere are big hits coming in February, such as Spielberg’s Bridge Of Spies (February 2nd) and Crimson Peak (February 9th), as well as Black Mass and the Aaron Sorkin-scripted Steve Jobs (February 16th). But there are even more notable films that may have flown under the radar. Set in the final days of the American Civil War, The Keeping Room (February 2nd) is brutal yet poetically contemplative. The main narrative centers around three Southern women - two sisters and their former slave - who must defend their home against rogue Union soldiers. Thematically, The Keeping Room is a cutting indictment on the horrors and brutality of warfare, connoting how women are often the victims of unspoken suffering away from the front lines. While director Daniel Barber gives these heavy topics room to breathe, he does not allow them to weigh the movie down. He is able to draw hope and even depict a sense of beauty and harmony, especially through the performances of the lead actresses Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfeld and Manu Otaru. Along with stunning photography, The Keeping Room is as much a celebration of perseverance to live as it is a contemplation on the nature of war and death. There are more struggles for the rights of women in Suffragette (February 2nd). Focus is on Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan), a young and naive woman who through the film’s course becomes politically active as she is exposed to the social, legal and moral injustices suffered by women. Through Watts, Suffragette depicts the early feminist movement in England at the turn of the century. At times Suffragette is guilty of being reductive to its historical source but is still a powerful film in its own right
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and a good introduction to a very important part of history. It also has a litany of great performances from supporting cast members which include Helena Bonham Carter, Brenden Gleeson and a cameo from Meryl Streep as suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst. Surprise comedy hit Grandma (February 9th) with Lily Tomlin in the titular role is also available. After a recent break-up from her longtime girlfriend, Elle (Tomlin) helps her teenage granddaughter (Julia Garner) deal with an unwanted pregnancy. Grandma is acerbic and tender in equal measures and is Lily Tomlin’s finest role. Other comedies this month include box office flop Rock The Kasbah starring Bill Murray and the criminally underseen Man Up (both February 2nd). Starring Lake Bell and Simon Pegg, Man Up is the story of a single woman (Bell) living in London who is mistaken for another woman and ends up going on a blind date with the man of her dreams. Yet their relationship begins as far-from-perfect as the two are embroiled in a series of misadventures and chance encounters. Funny, witty and very warm, this is a great rom-com for everyone. Other films available this month include Vin Diesel’s The Last Witch Hunter (February 2nd) and British spy adventure Spooks: The Greater Good (February 9th), based on the popular MI5 TV show and starring Game Of Thrones’ Kit Harington (John Snow). Also available is 99 Homes (February 9th), starring Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon, about a man who struggles to get back his foreclosed home by working for the man who evicted him. With all these February films, there are many new releases to satisfy any filmgoer.
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The Beer Bang:
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Establishments Raise to the Top of Gwangju’s Destinations Written by Matthew Endacott Photographed by Joe Wabe
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eer: it holds a special place in the hearts of many. Why do we drink it? Some say for its refreshing taste, the social stimulus and its mind-altering properties, but most likely not for the “never again” agony it causes after a few too many.
residents getting along in bars and wanted to bring that culture to Gwangju. He worked at the Magpie microbrewery in Seoul where he learned some tricks of the trade and now wants to create his own beer to sell.
Those of us living in Gwangju who enjoy a wide variety of 맥주 (beer) usually have to scour the city in hopes of unearthing a new watering hole that provides a quality menu of diverse beer. However, I have had the privilege of searching out and locating establishments worth mentioning for their stock of draught, craft and import beers so you do not have to.
Currently Timi is researching and developing different recipes. He hopes to have full-scale production and sale of his beer in two years’ time. According to Timi, the taps at his bar are unique to Gwangju because Gwangju does not have many taps other than basic Korean beers.
Downtown Area Timi Triangle: Sandwich and Craft Beer This new restaurant and pub opened five months ago and has by far the largest and most impressive selection of beer in Gwangju. It boasts nine draught beers, three of which are brewed in Seoul - the Saudi Red Ale, Combat Zone IPA and (a mixture of the two) the DMZ Ale - by a microbrewery in Itaewon: Maloney’s Brewing Co. If that was not impressive enough, Timi Triangle offers 25-plus bottled import brews to enjoy. From the familiar Blue Moon to a more obscure Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale, this place has a beer for everyone to try. The Korean owner calls himself Timi, having formerly lived in Itaewon and is a huge fan of beer. There he took note of the scores of Koreans and international
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When his Korean customers come in, he explains as much as possible to them about foreign beers and the flavors involved because Korean beers generally taste the same. So he suggests they try a hoppy Inda Pale Ale (I.P.A.) or a thick and smooth dark stout. He says they are extremely satisfied with their experience. I highly recommend checking this place out. It is a gem and should be cherished. With great quality and solid prices, order a beer and a sandwich, their Philly Cheesesteak being my favorite and watch as you come back again and again. Another wrinkle that speaks to this establishment’s ingenuity for Gwangju is that Timi will introduce guest taps soon! Different beers for different seasons such as summer or Oktoberfest. Also find Timi Triangle on Instagram: timi_triangle Address: 광주광역시 동구 장동로 15 / 15 Jangdong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju Directions: From the Dong-gu Office Bus Stop, walk straight
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three blocks with the Asian Culture Complex across the street on your left. Turn right onto Jangdong-ro and walk until you see the bright blue awning. Phone: 062-222-4474 Hours: Every Day, 5 p.m. - 12 a.m. Buses: 37, 49, 52, 54, 150, 152, 518, 1187, 1187-1 (Dong-gu Office Bus Stop)
Amble Located at the heart of the bustling downtown night-life district, this pub is a solid place for finding draught and import beers. It is ideal for any time of night: an early start, the intermission stop or the late night stumbling, this bar stands as long as you do (5 a.m. is a safe bet). The Amble Draught, a creation of the owner, is the most popular and also the most dangerous drink available. It is a Dutch Draught, a shot of coffee mixed with (in this case) Max beer. So be wary, you may be up for the long haul with this one. Their second most popular beer is the Green Grape draught. My favorite was the Kirin Ichiban draught. Amble has a notable stock of 17 import and 3 Korean beers. Amble is almost two years old. The owner wanted to bring more unique draught beers to Gwangju, since as Timi said, not many places around Gwangju have a diverse selection of draught beer. He wanted “special” draughts like Stella Artois. His vision for Amble was to create a place for all visitors to enjoy
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because the downtown area is specifically catered to young people. He succeeded. This tavern has a good, warm atmosphere with nice beer and good service. Even though the staff lacks English skills, they are kind and happy to help. The vinyl records lining the walls may just be for display, but the beer is not. This pub is worth frequenting. Address: 광주광역시 동구 문화전당로 35번길8 (광산동 100)/ 8 beon-gil 35 Munhwajeondang-ro, Gwangju Directions: From Tequilaz, continue to the large square where the yellow structure stands. Turn left and walk down the street for 20 meters. Amble will be on the street’s left side. Phone: 010-7164-3535 Hours: Sundays - Thursdays, 4 p.m. - 4 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays 5 p.m. – 5 a.m.
Chonnam National University Back Gate Corona A long-standing staple for beer and Mexican-style food for residents of Gwangju, this restaurant and pub is familiar to many; however I felt it necessary to include because there are not many places to find import beers in this Back Gate area, and the service and atmosphere of Corona is second to none. Corona has a smaller selection of brew than the previous two taverns: six import bottles, Guinness draught and the Korean-made Red Rock draught
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but has distinguishing drink specials to make a night-out more fun. The Happy-Bomber quickly enhances the evening by pairing a draught of Red Rock with a shot of tequila for 6,900 won. If you prefer cocktails, enjoy the Coronarita, a margarita with a Corona Extra turned upside-down in it; there are lime, grapefruit and mango flavors. Corona also has the makings of another fun party drink, the Irish Car-bomb. If you have not had the pleasure of experiencing this wonderful restaurant and bar, I definitely suggest making your way there in the near future with a group of friends. You will not be disappointed with your experience. Address: 광주광역시 북구 호동로15번길 9 / 9, Hodong-ro 15 beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju Directions: Travel to Chonnam National University Back Gate (전대후문) and walk up the street where Dunkin’ Donuts sits on the corner. Continue along this road until you reach the fork in the road. Stop, turn left and on the second floor is Corona. Phone: 062-251-7221 Hours: Mondays - Thursdays, 4 p.m. - 12 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 4 p.m. - 2 a.m., Sundays - Closed
Suwon-jigu Kozel Residing in the newest part of Gwangju is the pub Kozel. With two types of its namesake Czech beer, Kozel, on draught for great prices and a classic style that emanates luxury and relaxation, this is a must stop for beer enthusiasts. The Kozel beers on tap are the dark stout and pale lager. A half pint sells for 3,000 won and a near pint (500 ml) is only 4,000 won. There are five other import bottles to choose from but it is difficult to shy away from those two delicious and affordable draughts. Suwon is far for many people to visit, but it is worth the trip. Address: 광주광역시 광산구 수완로 52번길 1-4, 102 / 102, 1-4, 52 beon-gil, Suwan-ro, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Directions: Take Buses 10, 12 or 72 to the Eunbit Village Bus Stop (은빛마을). The establishment is located on the south side of the street in a commercial area tucked behind a Noraebang and chicken place. Phone: 062-962-7743 Hours: Everyday, 4 p.m. - 4 a.m.
There are many “beer and chicken” restaurants in Gwangju that can appease some, but for those looking to find a more diverse selection of beer, the establishments recorded above are great places to indulge yourself. Alone or with a group of friends, there is plenty of beer to try and enjoy around the city.
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A Korean Oasis for the Weekday Downtowners Written and photographed by Cho Nam-hee
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oreans often say “Have you eaten?” as a greeting. This expression originates from the generations who experienced “the Barley Hump,” the spring famine where their food stock was the lowest and barley had yet to ripen. As a result, elderly Koreans emphasize how important it is to have rice for three meals a day, and some even say the origin of Korea’s phenomenal growth is the energy from rice. That is why a pure Korean term such as “Bap-sim,” meaning “energy from having a meal-rice as a staple,” exists. Those who work on Geumnamno-ro in downtown Gwangju, where many branches of investment com-
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panies and banks still remain, want to secure their lunch-time for their daily performances. The restaurant “Han Gyeore” is like an oasis in the desert for the elderly, white collar workers on the main street. During lunch-time, it is fully packed with older Koreans. The restaurant’s signature dish, bangye-tang, a chicken soup with ginseng but half the size of its original, samgye-tang, sells like hot cakes. Since the restaurant’s opening in December 2009, it has accumulated hundreds of regular customers, mainly among the workers and the frequent visitors to the organizations and institutions in the downtown area.
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“We serve not only quality foods but also elegance through frames of pictures, music and the plates and the silverware,” said Mrs. Jeongrye Chung, the owner of Han Gyeore. She is an experienced businesswoman in the food industry who has a philosophy aiming to constantly run her restaurant as “mine and ours not others’.” Once she ran a Korean snack bar targeting Gwangju youth. However, the decline of independent small snack bars urged her to open a Korean restaurant in the heart of the city. “Seventy percent of our customers are over 50 years old. They are the ones who are not used to Westernized food and prefer rice for their meals,” she insisted. Typical Korean dishes like bibimbap in a stone bowl, hot pot bulgogi, samgyeopsal, duck soup and the most popular, bangye-tang, are offered. “It is really clean and affordable,” said Youngho Yoon, a coordinator of the Gwangju International Center (GIC) and a regular customer. “Not only is the restaurant close to my workplace but also they serve the foods that I do not get tired of. I can make different choices there and not a single choice is disappointing. Moreover, the place is warm and comfortable, just right for this chilly weather.”
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“On the three ‘Dog Days,’ Chobok, Jungbok and Malbok, we do not take any reservations and have people in line to have bangye-tang,” said Chung. ‘Boknal,’ the Three Dog Days is an event of the third seasonal subdivision, which falls between June and July of the lunar calendar, remain as traditional days for Koreans to have samgye-tang to relieve warmth during such hot summer days. “On that day, not only the elderly but also the young workers in their twenties and thirties visit our restaurant and order bangye-tang for the summer-beating benefit,” Chung explained. It implies that some young Koreans are still following the conventions of the earlier generation. Except Sundays and all other “red” days on the calendar, Han Gyeore is open for anyone who seeks a decent Korean dish at a reasonable price. Chung will continue to provide the best bangye-tang and other mouthwatering dishes for as long as her differentiated service strategy lasts. Why not have a hot bowl of chicken soup to warm yourself up?
Whether the Korean restaurant is good or bad can often hinge on what banchan – side dishes – they serve. Mainly the taste of kimchi decides the quality of the restaurant, and Han Gyeore’s kimchi is friendly enough for everyone, even for the people who are afraid of the strong fishy taste of the dish. Stir-fried fish cakes, jeotgal (salted seafood), jellied food, spring greens, beans and anchovies are the main side dishes cooked by the two chefs of the restaurant, and more than six side dishes are served on every table. Some are rotated daily and seasonally.
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Keeping up Tradition in Modern Korea
– Meeting Choi Yeong-Ja Written by Tim Snell Translation provided by by Choi Shin-ae Photos contributed by Gwangju Cultural Foundation Tradtional Culture Center
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racticing a tradition gets us hands-on close to history. We are not in a museum or reading a book, keeping history at a relative distance. It is there, in front of us, as we practice a tradition like our ancestors did. Perhaps (inevitably), because of this strong relationship with history, correct or not, tradition has always been challenged by modernity. The wind changes as tradition braces itself against it, struggling to carry on in a new age.
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Korea’s latest 80-year chapter is exceptional. Having escaped Japan’s colonial claw and withstanding another war and a dictatorship, the country has progressed to achieve remarkable economic successes. The Miracle of the Han brought with it drastic changes the like of which the Western world has not seen for centuries but a special generation of Korean people have. Cho Yeong-Ja saw it, as she was born in 1936 and has
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seen a lot. For her, urban life now dominates like it did not use to. People are wealthier and better educated. Hanok have now been dispensed for high-rise apartments, pansori outdone by the soap opera and the tea ceremony difficult to see in a coffee shop. So is tradition losing in this post-boom, skyscraping Korea? Cho is not any ordinary 84-year-old woman. Having grown up in a noble family, she was one of the few privileged enough to afford the food necessary to observe the Rites of Passage in their complete form. These circumstances exposed her to unique methods and a rare education. In 2002 the city of Gwangju recognized both her background and her lifelong efforts as a chef, as she has become an Intangible Cultural Asset. To put that recognition in perspective, in the history of Gwangju there have only ever been 21 individuals awarded - among whom she is the only chef. Along with her daughter Lee Eun-Gyeong, she cooks food for Rites of Passage ceremonies and teaches at their school, The Jeollanamdo Traditional Food Research Centre.
“Nowadays people are less interested in traditional things [but] many couples choose traditional food for their wedding.” Although many of the couples now and in the past revert to simplified and cheaper versions of traditional food, Cho and Lee are by no means losing business. The weekend before the interview was their most recent wedding appointment. Such an event for them takes one week to prepare and will cost roughly 800,000 won– which is not an unseemly price.
One suspects that wearing hanbok daily is not an everyday occurrence for the average Korean and that even the most basic hanbok is for special occasions. Yet past Koreans wore it without outstanding statement; they did not insist themselves to wear hanbok, they just wore it. After only knowing them for a minute, I knew Cho and Lee were preserving the tradition.
While Cho’s status as an Intangible Cultural Asset proves a line of instruction, do her grandchildren want to be chefs of traditional Korean food? “No – but that does not mean the tradition is dying.” Increasingly many people want to teach their children traditional methods of food preparation and seek an education at the Research Centre to remember these past practices. In fact the signs seem to be that instead of tradition, in this instance, losing momentum, is as popular than it ever was.
We were in a professional kitchen. There were stations for eight students. Bean paste (in the drying stage) and pairs of decorative chickens were hanging from a clotheshorse. As we sat down, biscuits – that could have been mistaken for flowers - were laid on the table. Rice cakes, similarly colorful, were within tantalizing reach as well. “A Rite of Passage marks a stage of life,” they both explained. “In one life, a person has eight ceremonies.” Some of these ceremonies mark birth, anniversaries of birth, adulthood, a wedding, old age and death. Each ceremony food is important and loaded with meaning. After a wedding, for example, a ceremony, paebaek, celebrates the joining together of two families. Dates and chestnuts (representing a girl and boy, respectively) are thrown. Each one successfully caught in the bride’s dress is an indication of how fertile the marriage will be. But, 80 years ago, white dress weddings were strictly a foreign affair. Today the white dress is in vogue. Sad to ask, but is traditional food on its way out of the Korean wedding like hanbok?
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If a tradition is to withstand the challenge of modernity, it has to move its nest in response to new winds. Privileged as Cho’s circumstances may have begun, thanks to her and her daughter’s cooking school, the lessons she learned and now teaches reaches waves of Koreans and even international residents for exploring their culture more deeply. In Korea, as anywhere else, if a tradition is to survive the whirlwinds of economic change, it seems best done by dedicated people, with a meaningful background in the subject, who, moving from nest to nest, see the changes as provisions for the next generations rather than homage only to the old. The way Cho and Lee see it: traditional Korean food is never history. If you would like to learn more about ceremonial food and the Jeollanam-do Traditional Food Research Centre, please call 062-417-0107.
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The Rebellion of Independent Bakeries: Somac Bakery and others in Downtown Gwangju Written and photographed by Cho Namhee
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rench is a far cry from the language you usually hear walking down the streets in Korea. But there are three French words and phrases frequently used in Korea: tous les jour, baguette and croissant. Although they are common in Korea because of stores using French, they are always mispronounced. Two of Korea’s bakery giants are Paris Baguette and Tous les Jour, and they have monopolized the bakery industry here in the peninsula. These franchises are the brands created by the mega food corporations SPC Group and CJ (part of Samsung family), respectively. In the late 1990s, these franchises started to expand in the whole country and with the overflowing funds from their success, they have dominated every single neighborhood. Thus, independent bakeries gradually lost their strength and barely maintained their business.
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Of course, those mega companies enormously contributed to the phasing out of the independent bakeries, but it does not mean that all independent bakeries disappeared. The only strength of the independent bakeries in the past was the freshness of the bread. All they had on their stands were loaves of plain sandwich bread, Soboro (a bread looking like barren grounds on the top), and red bean bread. At the time when bakeries were not so common, small business owners were not even aware of the necessity in investing in product research and development due to the fact that their bread sold like hotcakes every day. When the franchises emerged with a variety of daily fresh baked bread, the majority of the independent bakeries started to toss the white flag into the air.
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Only a few years ago independent bakeries returned, this time with skilled bakers. They had strengthened the weaknesses of the previous independent bakeries and were ready to challenge the dominators. The forerunner was a Gwangju-owned bakery, called Verviers (also in French). The bakery specialized in organic baking and it was a huge sensation since it coincided with the rise of health awareness in Korea. The story of success quickly spread and it summoned a lot of skilled bakers into town in the Dongmyeong area, near the Asian Culture Center. In the cafeé area of Dongmyeong-dong, there are bakeries emerging like Artisan Hong and Yoon Seul Bakery. They certainly serve delectable bread but Somac Bakery right next to the ACC provides something more than just the delicious taste of bread. Somac means “wheat” in Korean, and as a co-owner and baker of the store, Byung Oh Kang, who has been baking bread since high school, insists on using only 100 percent Korean wheat for his bread. “There are no other bakeries that use pure Korean wheat in the neighborhood. Some use organic ingredients but they are all imports. I am proud to introduce my bread as full Korean bread,” Kang said with confidence. “My whole family is involved in the bakery industry. My brother and I run this store, and my father owned a bakery since 1982 in Hwasun until he passed away. My uncle owns a patisserie. Somac is not my first bakery. I once ran a bakery in Ssangchon-dong for about a year but it was a huge fail-
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ure. I think I learned a lot from the experience”, said Kang. He believed that he lacked the passion in the first place. There were competitions with other franchises around the area but he was not desperate enough to beat them. Through this experience, he vigorously studied and analyzed bakeries and the areas in Gwangju. This time, he and his brother did everything from tiling to interior design of the store. Everything had to pass through their hands. Somac Bakery opened up in March 2014. Since then, there are more than 150 people visiting every day and countless regulars wait for their favorite bread to come out fresh. It opens from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week and closes on the last Sunday of each month. About 150 kinds of bread are freshly baked every day between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. “Our bestselling product is the chocolate bread called the bushman’s bread. It went viral and quickly gained fame. I am glad that my customers are satisfied with my bread. I hope all the independent bakeries in Gwangju continue to thrive and I will do my best to provide the best bread in town.” The competition between the independent bakeries certainly elevated the standards of the bakery industry in Gwangju. We are only a few years away from being able to taste a true French baguette and croissant in town. SOMAC BAKERY Address: 광주광역시 동구 문화전당로26번길 10-2 1층 10-2, Munhwajeondang-ro 26beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju Phone: 070-4806-0845
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Whose History? The Issues behind the Demonstrations: Criticism of the “New Right” Written by Ana Traynin and Jonathan Chiarella Photographed by Joe Wabe
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he modern textbook controversy ignited with Kyohaksa Publishing Company’s pro-Japan, pro-dictatorship books in 2013. The Hankyoreh daily newspaper did an audit of right-wing textbooks and found such gems as descriptions of rice “exports” to Japan during the occupation. In the 1930s, looting forcibly took half of all Korean rice cultivation to Japan. The police leadership cannot claim to be neutral arbiters of the peace. Police chiefs led chants such as “Protect the glorious history of our country!” as though history could be corrected through sheer dedication and denial. A public school history teacher in Gwangju said the fact that the government sought to ban the December 5 demonstrations due to alleged violence on November 14 “gives an impression of the government putting significance on the history textbook issues.” Six hundred and fifty-six retired teachers in Korea have protested the decision, and 92 in South Jeolla Province have called it a return to the Yusin
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Era, referring to the 1972 coup d’etat in which Park Chung-Hee came to power, and called President Park Geun-Hye “the daughter of Yusin.” On October 16, Kyunghyang Newspaper opinion polls on textbook plans showed a 45/45 split, and on October 29 polls showed opposition to the textbook plans ahead at 50/35. The Prime Minister came up with some suspect numbers of his own, saying that “99 percent of all textbooks in use are biased.” A local history teacher countered: “Withdrawing the textbook publication opposed by the majority of professionals, historians, history educators, and the public is the appropriate way to serve the nation and be a democratic country. It teaches us a lesson that democracy may fall back if the government ignores the will of the public in order to benefit a certain group and it can become corrupted into a dictatorship. It is evident that hundreds of people could be hurt and aggrieved by a leader’s stubbornness.” A Gwangju history teacher explained that, while Ko-
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rean high schools do not readily accommodate discussion in the classroom, mentioning the issue of state-issued books triggers reaction. “When I have told them about the drawbacks of the government publication, a lot of students have disagreed and some were in rage.” The teacher stated that Gwangju and South Jeolla educators vowed to continue the fight, forming plans for alternative textbooks published locally as well as formal announcement of opposition on April 12. “The fact that the superintendent of schools is a former history teacher [combined with] the democratic identity of Gwangju will work very positively. Furthermore, since an absolute majority of Gwangju history teachers are opposed to the textbook, it would be very easy to participate.” On November 3, the local head of education confirmed plans for an alternative textbook and plans to allocate 80 million won for its research and compilation. Currently, 74 percent of funding for Gwangju education comes from the central government. Office representatives were unsure about the future, but did not believe the money would all be held as political blackmail. They seemed not to be worried about the central government prosecuting individual teachers, despite many precedents in the past six years—signing petitions, for example, is held as proof a teacher is biased and misleading children. The representatives believed the superintendent would shoulder any backlash from central government. However, Saenuri leadership had already called for ex-UPP members and individual teachers to be investigated for “inciting student discontent.” FTAs have several contentious issues, such as the “race to the bottom,” in which unions back down and self-sacrifice in the face of businesses outsourcing, and deregulation, which affects consumers and the economic environment. There is also the danger of dumping, in which a major producer floods a market with goods priced below cost so as to bankrupt local smaller producers, and attendant price crashes. This year saw a domestic rice surplus, inciting rage over importation of Chinese and American rice. Over 90 percent of restaurants use imported kimchi, and unless consumers research in advance of purchasing, they will end up with imported rice, too. The Gwangju chapter of the consumer co-op “Food Sovereignty” attended Gwanghwamun. Banners from various counties featured 1890s Donghak leader Jeon Bong-Jun of Jeolla Province. For the Honam region, agriculture is important. In early December, the national government planned one trillion won in aid for FTA-related losses across 10 years, but
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a study cited by Mudeung Ilbo showed that South Jeolla alone would incur over two trillion in damages over 15 years. Local government is looking to help via consumer activism with certifications for organic and local foodstuffs. Many members from South Jeolla chapters of the All-National Peasants’ Association were present and participation was a family undertaking. Trade policies are not abstract individual voting choices, but life and death for many people. The Part-Timers’ Union, with many student members, also participated at Gwanghwamun. A local member and club organizer for progressives at Chonnam University explained that neither the electoral system nor the chief opposition party gives a voice to the common people. The demonstrations are an important way to be heard and to not fall into the useless despair of writing off all political participation as pointless. On November 14, the Labor Party, in the midst of re-basing itself, had the largest presence among parties in the march. Following the merger of some progressive groups, the new Justice Party made an even bigger appearance on December 5 as protests continued to mobilize the left. A new group made an appearance on December 5, having formed on November 15. Solidarity in Gwangju for Innovative Politics is one of several new proto-parties in the wake of the forced dissolution of the UPP. They aim to make their own party, but are open to candidate unification since district seats are based on simple plurality and are prone to vote-splitting. At the protest were also new progressive groups from North Gyeongsang Province, the most politically conservative region in Korea. When asked if spreading their message was hard in their home province, women at the protest claimed that much of the conservatism in the region is from the older generation. Their peers do not truly “support” most Saenuri policies, but they lack political knowledge and do not follow up to hold those they elect accountable. The textbook revisions, Gwanghwamun protests, and local demonstrations across the country have brought into sharp focus the issues many citizens have with the New Right’s policies.
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Lee Sang-hong, An Interview with the Chosun University Hospital Director Written and photographed by Chosun University Hospital Translated by Cho Nam-hee
“W
e will build an education and researchoriented hospital for the future”
“As a local-based university hospital, Chosun University Hospital will enhance the stature of the hospital by placing an emphasis on promoting the areas of severe illnesses and external injuries, providing differentiated services for local patients and with specialized marketing strategies for overseas patients.” Inaugural Address from SangHong Lee, Professor of Orthopedics and the 21st Director of Chosun University Hospital (CUH)
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The new director of the hospital believes that since the hospital exists only if customers exist, we will do our utmost to make this hospital the best provider of medical services with emotional fulfillment. Future plans and directions while celebrating CUH’s 45th-year Anniversary We are planning to improve the entire hospital treatment system by being patient-centered. Through the One-Stop service system, the center’s main operation system will be reinforced, and we will focus on promoting the satisfaction of all hospital visitors by assisting them to know how to receive treatment and their waiting time.
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Furthermore, we will advance our program’s cancer, cardiovascular, apoplexy, transplantation and joint pathology, to enhance the university hospital’s stature for quality services and clinical research. Thus, by improving the medical teams’ environment stages, treatment can be enthusiastically improved as a training and research-centered hospital. In addition, we will endeavor to provide a more pleasant quality of medical services through our new outpatient treatment center, which will be completed by August 2016. Specialized and differentiated strategies of Chosun University Hospital, when compared to other general hospitals and university hospitals Our strategies include the following. First, we focus on promoting apoplexy and cardiovascular at the cancer center, the transplantation center and the joint center. With accumulated know-hows from operations within the Specialist Emergency Medical Center for External Injuries, and with the designation as a regional emergency center by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2005, we will provide prompt medical services to severe emergency patients and provide specialists for treating and performing surgeries at night. We are also planning to expand beds for special illnesses and general isolated wards, along with offering general sickbeds and specially isolated wards on the center’s fourth floor to prevent viral diseases like MERS from spreading.
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We have conducted medical services at the welfare centers for the differently-abled in Gwangju, Haenam, Yeongam, Hwasun and Yeosu in December 2014, and in May 2015, we helped treat victims of the Nepal earthquake by dispatching an emergency medical support group as the second Korean group to Nepal. In February and August 2015, we conducted overseas voluntary medical services to Cambodia and Mongolia, respectively. Furthermore, by cooperating with related regional organizations and incorporations, we will continue to provide free medical treatment for underprivileged residents, along with aid for surgeries and medical services for those who live in medicallyvulnerable areas. Thoughts on overseas patients marketing and the future plans CUH is now a part of global health care. Recently, the number of overseas patients treated continues to grow and overseas expansion to health and medical markets of the Middle Eastern countries and China are on the trend. Notwithstanding, the top-notch medical services are provided by the Korean medical team. Chosun University Hospital has opened a care center for overseas residents. We are not only preparing to work with more overseas patients but also we are making efforts to eliminate all difficulties that international residents face, such as facing an unfamiliar environment and system and language barriers.
Second, we promote ourselves to be a differentiated research-centered hospital. We will bring in a regional dementia center in 2016 by facilitating our neurology and dementia center as a university’s national dementia research project group. We will establish a foundation for prevention, detection, treatment and protection for dementia. Third, we plan to benchmark our medical institution’s management and medical system operation strategies, by improving our medical services’ quality and reinforce our competitiveness. Endeavors to become a cooperative hospital among local residents By becoming a cooperative hospital, we will communicate and create bonds with residents through customized community services, which are voluntary works for the differently-abled and medical services in the agricultural and fishing fields.
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Decisions, Decisions, Decisions... Written by Jonathan Chiarella
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lections for the ROK’s National Assembly are in April. It could be the most contested election in the 6th Republic; several parties have formed with little time for attrition or unification. A tome of Korean parties by Sim Ji-yeon catalogs the constant cycle of party splits and reunifications (due to the unstable nature of parties across coups, wars and a domination of “celebrities.”) Currently, there is the increasingly-divided conservative party, Saenuri, as well as the chief opposition,
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“Deo Democratic Party” (center-left), along with the smaller Justice Party (leftist hodge-podge against domineering leaders of old UPP) and Labor Party (with no national seats at the moment, also arguably ultra-leftist: for example, is against national liberation and popular fronts). However, many have left the “Deo Democrats” to form new parties. The splintering of the “Democratic” parties and re-unification under new leadership has been a recurring phenomenon, but less likely this time.
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Jump back to the 2012 presidential election. Millionaire newcomer Ahn Cheol-su did not have a nice settlement with Moon Jae-in when both men tried running as the sole anti-Saenuri candidate. Ahn dropped out of the race and was reluctant to try to transfer his support base to Moon. The UPP candidate (the majority of the anti-imperialist left, forcibly disbanded December 2014) participated in official debates, but later withdrew to not split the vote. Korea has no run-offs in any of its public elections. In 1987, the successor to retiring dictator Chun, Roh Tae-woo, won with 37 percent of the vote due to a 4-way split. Had there been a run-off, Kim Young Sam would surely have won. The lesson was quickly learned, splitting the vote means very unpopular candidates can win. Ahn started his “New Politics” alliance in February 2014, which merged with the Democrats in 2014. Ahn won an Assembly seat in Seoul in by-elections and directed the newly merged party but bungled local elections and receded, only to dramatically leave and prepare another “new” party in December 2015. Still little word of concrete policy—just vague reforms and a conservative stance on the ROK-U.S. alliance.
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resenting both a microcosm of society and various locales. The number of PR seats would have to grow. Also, a party that wins “too many” seats in districts (due to vote-splitting or strategic concentration of support) would have these “excess” seats count against its PR seat allotment. The parallel vote for one’s local representative in the Assembly would be unchanged and opened to independents. There is then no need for vote-ranking or arranging secondround elections for scores of districts. Such reforms would be applauded by political scholar Duverger, who studied proven methods to ensure party plurality. Also, Western democracies post-WW2 have greater voter participation when there are party and policy diversity and few “dead votes” (votes to a candidate/party who is a sure winner/loser). Korea’s political field is more dynamic than that of several others. No “catch-all” party exist, as trends and the system preclude entrenched duopoly. Campaign contributions are regulated. Party members pay dues. But we need more to encourage diversity while removing penalties for not voting strategically.
Before Ahn left, though, a rump party had emerged from the Democrats who did not merge with Ahn. Additionally, several Honam-centred groupings appeared late last year: Cheon Jeogn-bae, Park Juseon (centrist) and Park Jun-yeong all have new parties forming. Diversity is great, but how does it translate into electoral results? If the vote is split across multiple candidates in many places, you could have conservatives win in most districts, with 40 percent vs. 32 percent and 28 percent, yielding it total control. Winning 60 percent of the local vote in over half of the districts (but nowhere else) would give control to a party that only has the support of 30 percent voters nationally. We should expect or hope for competition in Honam province, but for opposition candidate unification elsewhere, as experts advocate. Is diversity only practical in Honam? What is to be done? In countries with larger populations and distinct regions like Germany, the United Kingdom and America, people want representatives from their communities. Pure proportional representation and at-large voting may fly in some local governments, but never nationally. A “mixed-member” system could help ensure party diversity and provide an assembly rep-
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local I gwangju cooks
Dotorimuk Seasoned Acorn Jelly Written and Photographed by Joe Wabe
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orea’s culinary culture has been shaped with by its natural environment. Although mountains account for 70 percent of the entire country over 40 percent of them are just 200 to 300 meters high, and this factor has contributed to a vast variety of recipes based on roots, plants and fruit collected from the mountains. “Dotorimuk” or acorn jelly is part of this long list of Korean culinary culture originated in the mountainous areas of ancient Korea, where oak tress produced enough acorns during the autumn season. This smooth oval oak fruit rapidly became a good source of food, and has maintained its strong reputation, unique tastes and texture for centuries. After the acorns are opened, their insides are grounded into a fine orange-brown paste. This paste is later stirred with water in order to separate the acorn’s fiber from the starch. The starch-water mixture is collected, then allowed to sit so that the natural organic tannin – a type of biomolecule - diffuses into the water.
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After the water has been changed a couple of times, the starch settles at the bottom and the water is drained away and the final paste is collected and dry. The dried starch is then pulverized and as any other starch when mixed with boiled water and chilled will become a pudding-like dish known as “Dotorimuk.” “Dotorimuk” is commonly eaten as a side dish seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, red chili pepper powder and sesame seeds among others, and this combination is also known as “Dotorimuk-muchim.” Given the distinct climatic changes in Korea, the menu of the traditional Korea varies season to seaso; however due to the popularity of some seasonal food and the modern technology to preserve it, dishes like “Dotorimuk” are available in restaurants all year around. This silky jelly dish with a pinch of chestnut taste really captures the spirit of the Korean autumn.
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photo of the month I photography
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Photo of the Month Photograph by Joshua Herrin
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he month of February features a wonderful photograph taken at the Seryangje pond in Gwangju. Joshua was able to capture a magnificent moment when a blanket of fog embraced the surrounding hills and hung low over the misty pond, creating a fantastic mood worthy of being photographed. The overall result of this composition makes this portrait have a painting-like feel. His post-processing and use of empty space makes the photograph even stronger. Joshua Herrin is a photographer based in Geoje, South Korea, specializing in family and portrait photography. He enjoys landscape photography in his spare time. Nikon D750 50mm 1.2
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photography I photo essay
A Collision
Words and photographed by Lorryn Smit
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recently took a quick trip to South Africa to visit my family for a couple of days. Although I love life in South Korea, I do wish the distance between my family and I was a bit shorter. My siblings are growing up at the speed of light and it is tough missing out on their childhoods. My sister especially is now entering her teenage years and has been blessed to find her passion at a very early age: horses.
Charisma who was retired from track racing and on her way to the meat market.
Since she was a very young child, she has always loved horses and we have gone horse-riding for fun at one of the local farms near our home. As time passed she developed a deep love for the sport and took her lessons very seriously. Her trainer said that she “was a natural” and that the horse that she was training on at that point was “the one.” A few months later, she was the proud owner of Falcon and later she rescued
Going into this photo shoot, I did not think that it was going to be much different from what I usually do from a photographic point of view. I have never really taken portraits of animals before, apart from some photos of my dog, and none of them were exceptional works of art because he does not particularly enjoy sitting in one place.
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I wanted to document this very special part of her life for her to keep and look back on in years to come. So on a summer afternoon, we went out to the barn and I followed her, watching how she spent quality time with her two animal friends.
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photo essay I photography
However, even with these past moments in the back of my mind, I never really thought that the same rule would apply to a horse. In my mind they like standing tall and looking majestic. Oh, how wrong I was. These lovely creatures are only interested in the yummy grass at their feet. Keeping these two busy while trying to make beautiful keepsakes of them proved to be quite the challenge. In the days leading up to the shoot, I was thinking about how special this experience is. Every shoot is on some level. However, I did not expect just how overwhelming the sentiment would be. As I watched her, I saw myself. I saw that when she was with these two beautiful creatures she was at peace. With every stroke of the brush on the horse’s
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back, the outside world became more and more distant. I watched her face. Her eyes were filled with love and happiness. Her mouth boasted a beautiful, content smile. You always wish the best for your loved ones, but we cannot really do anything about their inner happiness or peace. It has to come from them. Seeing the joy on her face left me feeling joyous too. She found her world! She has found her passion! I identified with her emotions on every level because when I pick up my camera, I feel the same way too: the fulfillment, the accomplishment, the tranquility and the pure delight. This overwhelming connection with her was complete and a perfect memory for us to keep.
of Two Passions
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places to see I departing korea
Passage to Peace Written and photographed by Joey Nunez Special Thanks to Maria Lisak s
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ittersweet peace best summarizes my December 2015 visit to the first city inflicted by an atomic bomb, but despite that fact, this city has further blossomed with such advanced, present-day peace.
rum’s focus, all presenters defined their techniques in education, technology and other fields that have brought people together towards accomplishing living more peaceful lives.
Entering Hiroshima, Japan on a bus feels like coming late to an ongoing meeting, except without any negativity. The city was already busy with its Sunday afternoon routine. But an unexpected and gentle stillness accompanied me on the 50-minute trek from the beautiful countryside airport to downtown Hiroshima.
After the Conference, I joined Professor Maria Lisak and a fellow Indonesian EQUIS participant to Itsukushima (or known as Miyajima), an island off Hiroshima’s coast. At high tide, the Itsukushima Shrine appears to float on water. While we visited during low tide and saw the structure’s sandy beams, this Shrine and the Itsukushima Temple, a Shinto religious landmark, were memorable, serene and quiet.
The Second Asian Symposium on Education, Equity and Social Justice (better known as EQUIS), which was held on December 20 to 22, 2015, hosted my first business and personal visit to Japan, where I presented on the topic of “How Can Any City Community Appreciate And Advance Human Rights?” During May 2014 and May 2015, I managed the World Human Rights Cities Forum Discussion Groups, where over 200 Gwangju residents have so far learned and advocated for human rights’ advancement around the world. Those interested in involvement with such peace initiatives, the 2016 WHRCF is coming, so stay tuned. For this trip, both professionally and personally, I learned so much about peace. With peace as the Fo-
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Another amazing Itsukushima Island feature were how wild deer congregated both quietly and unashamedly around natives and visitors. These and other creatures are definitely entertaining to see, but eat around and pet wildlife at your own risk. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a must-see, regardless of your nationality. We need to educate ourselves, in order to prevent such a tragic atrocity to be committed ever again. For me as an American, apologetic tears fell immediately once I saw the first images of the atomic bomb and as I read the matter-of-fact descriptions of how
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victims’ belongings were left behind. With the Park’s current renovations finishing in 2018, future visitors will later learn how Hiroshima peace activities are advancing the conversation and initiatives in building a world of peace.
With the holiday break just before Christmas, I know I hit the jackpot with my hostel’s great accommodations, an amazing amount of privacy (I only saw two Japanese men and talked with one Romanian man) and proximity to both work and leisure activities.
I did not spend as nearly as much time as I wanted and even as I should have there, but the recommended sites are the Atomic Bomb Site, the Children’s Peace Monument and, for Gwangju residents, the Cenotaph for Korean Victims, a memorial for at least 20,000 Korean victims. At least a half-day sufficiently gives visitors the full scope.
When visiting Hiroshima, I recommend avoiding taxis, after the first two times. The starting rate for most taxis are 550 Yen (which is over 5,000 won), and racking up 10,000 won in five minutes is possible with heavy traffic.
I ventured alone the next day to Hiroshima Castle. Despite the rain, the cloudy beauty and park’s proximity was a joyful sight to enjoy. On the fifth floor of this tower, I could spot the EQUIS Conference hotel and could almost see the Yokogawa Train Station, where my hostel was located. The Hiroshima Peace Hotel-Hostel offers excellent bunk-bed accommodations at cheap rates with wonderful customer service. The Hostel even had an incredible bakery. Mao, one of the employees during day-times, greeted me always in Japanese and continued the conversation easily in English. She is studying English currently at a city university.
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Also, the proximity of most hotels (both cheap and medium-rate prices) with close proximity to these great Hiroshima sites are possible. Just like when I visited Colombo, Sri Lanka (interested? See “Savoring Sri Lanka” in the April 2015 edition of Gwangju News), Hiroshima is possible to navigate on foot. Back to being bittersweet, Hiroshima’s history is quite bitter. Yet, no city or person is ever defined by its/his/ her past, so knowing that transformations happen, Hiroshima’s peace speaks so beautifully and profoundly. Planning your next visit out of Gwangju soon? Visit Hiroshima and you too will experience such beautiful peace as I did.
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local I gwangju biz
* Gwangju Biz highlights innovative small to mid-sized businesses in Jeolla Province that are bringing the entrepreneurial spirit to the marketplace.
Business to Watch
Chung Man Chicken Written by Jessica Schultz Interview Interpretation and photographed by Cho Nam-hee
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n every corner in Gwangju, you will find enticing food of all sorts. Among the top contenders are bibimbap, samgyeopsal, bulgogi, and tteokgalbi, but few own the hearts of Koreans like fried chicken. Fried chicken is arguably one of the most in-demand foods in Korea, and its popularity is only growing. Chung Man Chicken is a testament to this. The franchise chain was born in 2009 from a love of experimentation and a desire to create a business with integrity. Fast forward to today and Chung Man Chicken already ranks 44th out of thousands of franchises in Korea. Gwangju News had the pleasure to hear this story from the CEO himself, Mr. Chung Man Park.
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GWANGJU NEWS (GN): Tell us about Chung Man Chicken. Chung Man Park (CM): Chung Man Chicken opened in Gwangju in 2009 and to date there are over 100 locations around the country. In 2011 I invented a unique recipe called “티꾸(ti-ggu),” which involves both frying and baking the chicken. The unique process of frying the chicken in oil, then baking it in the oven, reduces the oiliness. This patented cooking method for the company’s most popular item has helped diversify Chung Man Chicken from other franchises. With a different offering than most, Chung Man Chicken strives to live by its slogan, “We do not
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copy, we only create” to serve chicken that leaves a lasting impression. GN: Why did you choose foodservice? What was your prior experience? CM: Growing up, I always cooked for my family and received glowing reviews, which spurred my interest in creating recipes that produce emotion. After high school I moved to the United States to become a doctor. To support myself, I spent most days working in various jobs, including foodservice. After five years I moved back and became a franchisee for a chicken company. I learned tremendously from the process of opening and running a chicken franchise location, but wanted to provide more value for my customers and employees. Using what I learned from my previous chicken business, I created a chicken business with integrity. GN: How does Chung Man Chicken test recipes for new menu items? CM: As the main product developer, I take feedback from both the franchisees and our young customers. I spend each day experimenting for better products, which I believe has helped make Chung Man Chicken so successful. My employees help with research and development through tasting my recipes. They must enjoy my chicken because many are gaining weight. I have built a gym in the building for them, but to no avail. They simply love eating chicken!
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hopes, but could not have imagined the rapid expansion I have been fortunate enough to enjoy. Clients continue to request new locations throughout Korea and I anticipate expanding globally after we have fully established ourselves in Korea. While we are grateful and plan to continue opening new locations, we are in no rush. Currently we are focused on making sure all locations have the support they need and incoming franchisees share our vision and mission. The priority for the near future is hiring a bigger support team for better communication and frequent visits to the franchisees. We will also begin advertising this year and continue working with our local headquarters to provide training and meetings on our brand offerings.
CEO Mr. Chung Man Park won the 2015 Best Devotion award for a franchise in Minju Newspaper’s competition for “Koreans who have brought honor to Korea.”
As I work with my employees to try new menu items and cooking methods, I obtain patents. Our company owns a multitude of patents in America, Australia and Korea at present. GN: What does Chung Man Chicken expect for the future? CM: When Chung Man Chicken opened I had high
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local I rights to the city
Talking for Change Written by Laura Becker Photos courtesy of www.equalityclinicaugusta.com, Yonhap News and Ohmynews
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n the evening of December 18, 2015, several dozen Korean and international Gwangju residents crowded into the Youth Center Archives for the second event in the Real Talk series. Hosted by the program Hello Korea on Gwangju Foreign Network (GFN), “Rainbow Youth: Talking for Change” addressed the challenges faced by LGBT+ youth in Korea and the culture, issues and organizations that affect them.
supported by government funds but by civilians, peoples’ groups and their own fundraising efforts.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual identifying people (henceforth referred to as LGBT) have higher rates of depression and 4-6 times the suicide rates of heterosexual people, according to a November 2015 study. The plight of Korean LGBT is perhaps highlighted by the fact that even Gwangju, a city with an emphasis on human rights, does not have a single organization geared toward LGBT issues.
Kim sees LGBT rights as a natural progression of Gwangju’s human rights history. In the 1970s and 1980s, Gwangju citizens fought for democratization; around 1983, democratization allowed minority groups recognition and a voice.
The Jeolla province tends to be more socially conservative than the Seoul metropolitan area. But, even LGBT organizations in Seoul are currently not
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Incheon’s Diversity Korea facilitates diversity training and human rights education. Jihak Kim of Diversity Korea made the journey from Incheon to lead the discussion, knowing Gwangju LGBT youth face a more hostile environment than their counterparts in and around Seoul.
It is difficult to pinpoint the beginning of the LGBT movement in Korea because there was no single historical moment. People typically do not publicly “come out of the closet” and same-sex relationships have thus remained under the surface. LGBT issues are sometimes seen as foreign issues
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An official LGBT couple in Korea, Kimjo Gwang-soo and Kim Seung-hwan.
Korea Queer Festival 2015
in Korea. Kim said that international residents can contribute by expressing their thoughts on everyday incidents relating to LGBT issues. Both international residents and Koreans can be allies by stopping hate speech when they hear it and offering emotional support should someone choose to share his or her sexual orientation. Kim emphasized the importance of listening before responding and looking for similarities, not differences.
ous to come to the event for fear that he might be recognized. Coming from Seoul, he is acutely aware of the lack of diversity in Gwangju, where there are no city-wide programs and the only LGBT organizations are student clubs at universities.
While the conversation can be complicated by religious beliefs, sexual orientation and religion are both part of the diversity of human experience. “Accepting others is something we can all do, regardless of religion,” Kim stated. In Korea, the word “multi-cultural” is usually used to refer to foreigners or mixed-race families, but Kim explained that every person exists within and interacts with multiple cultures, according to age, gender, sexual orientation, income, geographic location and more. To introduce terms commonly used in discussions about LGBT issues, Kim showed the “Genderbread Person,” a cartoon explaining the differences between gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, and sexual and romantic attraction. Before taking questions from the audience, Kim introduced the guest speaker, a member of the LGBT student club at Chonnam National University (CNU). For his safety, the young man used a pseudonym and requested no photos be taken of him at the event. Through a translator, he said that he had been nerv-
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The CNU group is only a year old and does not receive university funding as a formally recognized student club. In order to attain that status, the group would have to list its members’ identities, so the students do their own fundraising by collecting fees from its 30-40 members to keep the club operating. This club is a safe space where LGBT people can be free and comfortable expressing themselves. Prejudices and stereotypes against gay people discourage them from ever coming out, the guest speaker admitted. Coming out carries a very real threat of violence or termination from a company. Laws against same-sex conduct in the military mean that a gay man serving in the military can be jailed for expressing his sexuality. Some youth are kicked out of their homes after coming out, and while there are support centers, there are no actual shelters for LGBT youth in the entire country. “Coming out could destroy everything I have,” the guest speaker said. “Coming out can be a poison.” During the question and answer time, more questions came from the audience than time permitted. Before the conversation continued in smaller groups over refreshments, an audience member asked the guest speaker if he thought it was too soon to pursue LGBT rights in Korea. The young man responded, “It is not even right to ask that question. Time does not matter when there is injustice. We need to fix it, not wait, and there is no such thing as too early.”
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local I rights to the city lture I gwangju writes
Sewol Update
The 9th Graduation Ceremony of Danwon High School was Held in Private Written by Kim Singsing Photo courtesy of www.Vop.co.kr Ryu Gyungguen, chairman of the 4.16 Families of the Sewol Victims:
“Your graduation is not a sad one. We used to think we were just average parents who would see our own children finish their 12year school lives and become adults with both the pride and the worries that this entails. However, we all became the parents who envy this graduation.
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he graduation ceremony for the 83 Danwon High School student survivors of the Sewol Ferry Disaster was held on January 12, 2016 – but it was held in private, at the request of the survivors’ parents. The school had originally offered honorary graduation certificates for the 250 student victims of the disaster. However, the parents of the students who lost their lives in the disaster rejected this offer, claiming that the 250 student victims could not legitimately graduate, while some of the victims remained missing. Meanwhile, a congratulatory message to the Danwon High School graduates, written by the parents of the victims, was disclosed to the public via a Facebook page entitled 4.16 Families of the Sewol Victims. This Facebook disclosure said that when they had asked the school whether they could deliver a congratulatory message at the graduation ceremony, the school had rejected this request, saying that the parents of the student survivors were against the idea.
Nevertheless, we have all started to wish - from some time ago - that all of you, all the 83 graduates that survived the disaster, will grow like our own children. Thank you all for hanging in so bravely on such a sad and harsh path for these last 637 days. We all, mothers and fathers, are aware of what this society has done to you – you who barely escaped from the disaster that the adults themselves created. We know that all of you have been doing just fine and hope you will carry on with your own lives and never become discouraged. Face your own lives proudly, honorably and confidently. We will seek to find the truth behind this disaster – the disaster that claimed the lives of your friends, teachers and neighbors. Please keep in your memory the need to support these mothers and fathers. Congratulations on your graduation and may God bless all of you.”
Here is a translation of a portion of that congratulatory message from the Facebook page of Mr.
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Cold Out Written by Leb Mofsky
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nother workweek done, I take the bus
to McDonald’s. Ahead of me in line, three deaf-mutes? They seem to silently fuss about their order, gesturing in sign language. The cashier has placed a menu on the counter, with pictures to point at. Finished, they pay. One man looks up, then two head upstairs, while the third, a woman that seems to be their leader, waits. She waves me forward, as if I, too, need leading. Ten minutes later, I am upstairs and we are all eating, me at my table, and them at theirs. On their tray, a pile of fries. Warm at first, they quickly turn cold and dry.
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places to see I lost in gwangju
U-Square
More than a Terminal Written and photographed by Marley Heckner
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am sure that everyone who lives in Gwangju has at least heard of the U-Square Gwancheon Bus Terminal. I would even hazard a guess that everyone has been there at least once.
Take a moment to look at all the locations on the board and pick one. If I can do a decent day trip to Seoul, you are sure to find somewhere to explore as well.
The bus terminal itself is a great way to explore Korea. Every major location in Korea, as well as many minor locations, are just a bus ride away. I have never seen the ticket price to any destination exceed 30,000 won.
Grab a ticket and get on the bus. You can also stop at the restaurants or cafes that sit in front of the various gates if you have some time to wait. I feel that this is an experience that many of us already have. But this is not all that the location has. There is so much more than meets the eye.
I know many who like to take the KTX when traveling, but I prefer the ease of the bus, for example, to Seoul. If you have a weekend with no plans, money to spare and feet itching to move; visit the bus terminal.
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First, while the food court and restaurants near the gates are delicious, the second floor has many more restaurants for you to enjoy. There are various styles of food present. I have read many recommendations
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for the buffet-style restaurant named Ashley. But even this is only scratching the surface. U-Square can easily turn into a day trip of its own. I am particularly surprised at the lack of information available about U-Square and its attraction. In fact, while writing this article, I was looking at what had been previously written. I found a stunning 100 or so words. The various activities presented here are hardly talked about on online forums. Food is easy. That can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the person, how much they like to talk and how much time they have. You can even double it if you go for lunch and dinner. But the time between meals? You can easily do a time-consumer and go see a movie. U-Square has a CGV and IMAX movie theatres. Even better, they have a 4DX movie theatre. I personally experienced 4DX for the first time with the new Star Wars movie. The seats move in ways that are reminiscent of a rollercoaster and a massage chair. You are sprayed with water, scents are released and you are shaken and stirred, all playing along with the 3D movie in front of you. I would highly recommend trying it, if you are not prone to motion sickness.
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sometimes you can slowly stroll through. I know that nothing is permanent here, so it is all about timing. There is still more to be found. If you want to get your shopping on, U-Square has one of the largest book-stores in Gwangju, easily found near the bus gates. The bookstore even has a decent selection of English books. U-Square is also located right next to an E-Mart, a Shinsaegae Department Store and the Kumho World Electronics Market. After all of your activities, while heavily laden with bags, you eat a big dinner. You still do not want to go home, so you feel like treating yourself to relaxation. U-Square can provide! U-Square has its own jimjilbang, which has good reviews. I love jimjilbangs and I certainly cannot wait to try this one. I have not explored everything there is to offer, and I have heard whispers of things I cannot find, such as the History Hall. When I return from vacation, perhaps I will get lost in the building and find it then.
After the movie is finished, you can wander into the arcade. I am an arcade soul at heart. I hardly ever resist the call to spend all of my spare change on racing games, air hockey and DDR. This arcade is one of the largest I have seen in Gwangju and even has private Norebang rooms many of us secretly eye. Arcades are not for everyone, so for those with a more “refined� soul can make their way to one of the two different art exhibits, Kumho Art Hall or Dongsan Art Hall. Both are remarkable in their own ways. Sometimes the art is of a performance variety, and
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local I my korea
To Gwangju University, in Gratitude Written and photographed by Carol Smith
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alking to school for the first time was a bit scary and at the same time quite exciting. The buildings seem towering, while the roads are endless and exhilarating. I would end up in the midst of Hogwarts-inspired structures that seemed to pop up in every corner of my limited surrounding. The toughest part for me was riding the elevator, which enabled me to reach my classrooms and gave me a quick view of the whole campus. I used to hold on to the iron bars until I forgot to do so in my preoccupation with the new faces, new smells, new hair colors and new fashion. Now every time I enter the fully packed elevator I simply assume my space and wait for the doors to come alive. I then realize that my fear of heights had been diffused by my eagerness to explore the university.
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Despite the awe and wonder, I had times when I just wanted to curl up in bed and think of my own country, the Philippines. But my love of books brought me to a new level of eagerness, the way I felt in my elementary school years. My mom and I would compete to read books that I would borrow from the library. I wanted the feeling of the rough pages, the smell of the ink and paper, though these gave me terrible allergic rhinitis attacks. I felt free when I read books that were not my own, books that did not make me financially rich but wisdom wealthy. The students and mentors are also people I will not simply forget. Some would have me thinking for days because of their obsessions with different
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Holiday Inn Gwangju presents the most glamorous dining promotion. Join our adorable event and get benefits for a limited time only.
SEAFOOD SENSATION_ HOURGLASS (1F) things. Some are so much into coffee; some with sleep, so that every time I see them they are in dozing mode. Some are obsessed with noodles and they would smell like noodles. Some are obsessed with hair styles, and every day they would be sporting a new hair style or color. But the others I will definitely miss because of their amiable personalities and their positive dispositions. Some situations gave me the funny feeling of being a foreigner. Sometimes I would convince myself that the people are real and are just being true to themselves. Sometimes I found it cute and entertaining, and at times educational. The short stay in Korea enabled me to understand better the Korean psyche, Korean atmosphere and Korean pace of life. Kindness never runs out on campus and I felt blessed that my minute existence was nourished with love and affection. The people with whom I was able to mingle gave me so much love, which I would not barter for any experience. I am so grateful to the whole university for the wonderful memories and the love it has shared. I will not forget how the warmth of many kept me safe during the winter months. I will not discount the words of wisdom each person gave, either intentionally or incidentally. The selflessness that many exhibited is not something that I can easily find, no matter how hard I would look. Wherever my steps bring me, I will always be thankful to Gwangju University, which I proudly call my alma mater.
Holiday Inn Gwangju proudly presents our winter season signature promotion, seafood buffet. This glamorous buffet includes a wide array of seafood like king crab, shrimp, live raw fish and gourmet bakery, various kinds of hot food will certainly tantalize your taste buds. Feel the privileged at 5 star hotel and enjoy the big and valuable dinner. Period : 30th Dec 2015 ~ 27th Feb 2016 Price : Dinner KRW 49,000 (VAT included) per person / 1 adult 1 kids Free (under 12 years old) Operation hours : 17:30 – 22:00 (L.O 21:00) Reservation : 062-610-7061,2 *Reservation is necessary
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Our team is committed to producing the greatest Korean and most authentic Western food A Unique Lifetime Experience at Holiday Inn Gwangju For more information: 062-610-7000 www.holidayinngwangju.com
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general I health
How Cerebral Palsy Helped Star Wars Help Life Science Written by Kristal Lee Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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he Force has awakened more than an unassuming scavenger from Jakku and a lot of budding acting careers. It has shifted applied health technology into hyperdrive. Characters, like Maz Kanata, played by Lupita Nyong’o, and the Supreme Leader Snoke, played by Andy Serkis, were created using motion capture, whereby an actor’s movements were recorded to animate 2D or 3D models. Avatar, King Kong, Jurassic World, Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes and Barbie in the Nutcracker, in addition to Star Wars, are all Hollywood productions distinguished by their use of motion capture, some more acclaimed than others. What most people don’t
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know is that the art of motion capture began in life sciences. Motion studies, used to measure bio-mechanical movement in animals and humans, in a more formal sense has been around since the 19th century, predating the history of film. Through the next century it evolved into what we commonly envision as the pingpong-balls-glued-to-some-dude-in–a-lycra-onesie thing. This “motion capture” as we know it was originally purposed for the clinical assessments of individuals suffering from cerebral palsy and other severe
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health I general
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Since being picked-up by Hollywood, the rapid evolution of motion capture technology has sent shockwaves back to its roots in life sciences. Cameras have become smaller and more powerful, algorithms used to interpret data have become more exact and the need for a large physical area, prolonged training, technical expertise and analytical skill have all decreased. These factors have improved motion capture quality, expanded its functions and made it more efficient, affordable and accessible.
motion-impairing disorders. By capturing data from markers (a.k.a. “ping-pong balls”) placed on the patient, algorithms construct an accurate 3D skeleton of the individual in motion. Clinicians can more accurately analyze walking patterns, limb movements and joint rotations. This added layer of detail, when combined with data gathered from physical examinations, allows health care providers to make more informed diagnoses and therapy recommendations. It was not long before animators in the movie industry recognized the creative potential of motion capture. In fact, animation pioneer Max Fleischer, the man who brought Betty Boop, Popeye and Superman to life, conceived Rotoscoping in 1915. The animation technique was based on motion capture principles and entailed animators tracing over frames of live-action films to bring noticeably more fluid and life-like motion to their characters. Walt Disney embraced the innovation and used it to produce his first full-length feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The smooth, human-like movements were met with fanfare and evolved its way through other well-known classics: from Peter Pan to Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings, to American Pop, to Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists, to The Mummy, to Gladiator, to Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, to Happy Feet, to Avatar, to The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and recently, to Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. We as cinema-goers have seen motion capture advance so much in such a short amount of time. The speed at which the film industry has propelled motion capture has had a tremendous impact in the field of health.
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Whereas health-based motion capture use had predominantly been confined to large research institutions or universities, it is now breaking free of these limitations. Motion capture is pushing its way into local clinics, surgery centers and local communities, thanks to lowered costs, simplified usage and breadth of application. In addition to its use in aiding physically impaired patients, motion capture is now being used to track migrations of hip replacements, select and adjust prostheses, assess shoulder alignment in stroke victims, rehabilitate wounded soldiers, improve the form of world-class athletes, assess risk of re-injury and increase range of motion. Motion capture is currently being applied by physicians and psychologists to understand brain control who attempt to 3D model thought processes to see why certain emotions occur. As the technology expands, it has great potential in preventative health. Routine assessments could be given to people that could predict the likelihood of needing a hip replacement later in life, for example, or indicate previously undetected issues that, with correction, would prevent further physical damage. Thus, motion capture has come full circle in a bolder and more beautiful form and we are all better off for it. Trivia Bonus: Which Star Wars film had the first fully digital major character, and who? Answer: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Jar-Jar Binks*, played by Ahmed Best. *Not bored? Look up Supreme Leader Snoke/Jar Jar Binks fan theory.
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culture I behind the myth
* Behind the Myth – Exploring Korean traditions, mythology, superstitions and folklore.
Here Come the Dokkaebi! Written and photo contributed by Stephen Redeker
into dokkaebi to terrorize unlucky (or perhaps deserving) victims. Thus Koreans know to avoid graveyards, dark forests and abandoned buildings unless they welcome the chance to bump into dokkaebi. Some would consider dokkaebi to be harmless little demons. Their nature is to play jokes and pull pranks on people. They especially love partaking in ssireum (씨름), which is traditional Korean wrestling. It is said that the dokkaebi like to reward those who do good deeds and punish those who cause harm to others. They can be seen as Robin Hood type characters. Using their magical items, they steal from the rich and greedy, while giving to the poor and worthy.
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e have covered mythological creatures and ghosts before in previous Behind the Myth articles. Now is the time to tell the tale of a particular mischievous monster known as dokkaebi (도깨비). These little beasts strike fear in the hearts of young Korean children, worried that they will be visited by the dokkaebi if they misbehave. Dokkaebi have been depicted in various ways over time. They can resemble the Western-style of a goblin or a troll: human-like but very ugly and menacing, carrying a club and challenging passersby for the right to enter or to pass by their space. They may have horns on their heads, big eyes and large, curved and protruding fangs like a vampire. Their magic hats can grant them invisibility, and they carry the aforementioned club to strike fear in their opponents. This magical club can also transform objects into anything the dokkaebi desires. Different from ghosts and spirits, the dokkaebi do not come from the dead. Rather, they arise from nature, as inanimate objects may magically transform
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There are several types of dokkaebi with various appearances and agendas. Cham dokkaebi are very mischievous, while gae dokkaebi are evil. Gim seobang dokkaebi are considered to be dumb farmers, nat dokkaebi are the only ones to appear in daylight and go dokkaebi are skilled warriors with weapons. Also, Gaksi and chonggak dokkaebi are attractive looking to humans, oenun dokkaebi have only one eye and oedari dokkaebi have only one leg and are the most fond of wrestling. Although the dokkaebi are strictly Korean folklore characters, their appearances have indeed been influenced by similar monsters from Chinese and Japanese mythology. The modern similarities between the Korean dokkaebi and Japanese “oni” may originate from the colonial period in Korea (1910-1945). Today, these little fiends can be seen in movies, children’s cartoons, story books and games. Dokkaebi art can also be seen in various museums in Korea. The fans of the Korean national soccer team call themselves the “Red Devils” and use an image of a dokkaebi face as their mascot. It is nice to see that such a symbol for mischief can be used in a way to unite people and invoke a sense of national pride. Keep your eyes peeled and you might see a dokkaebi along your path. Do not be scared though, for if you are a good person, you have nothing to worry about. (Photo Credit: www.theasian.asia)
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The Nosa School and the Opposition against Western Influences Written by Hea-ran Won
place, or barbarians taking China’s place as the greatest troubles of the world. His writings fascinated many Confucian scholars to the extent that he gathered as many as 600 students who learned his beliefs. This was the beginning of the Nosa School in the early 1840s.
Kosan Seowon (Confucian academy) in Jangseong where Ghi Jeong-jin studied.
K
orea has ostracized other ideologies since the beginning of the Joseon dynasty. Joseon’s politics and social structure was largely based on NeoConfucianism, which criticized other beliefs and religions. Following this logic, Joseon ostracized Buddhism and Taoism and used Neo-Confucianism to maintain and strengthen the authority of the ruling class. In the late 1800s, these beliefs were emphasized due to the advancement of Christianity, which had challenged the traditional values, and along with people’s distrust of European explorers and imperialists, were contributing factors that led to the birth of Nosa School. The Nosa School followed this logic of Neo-Confucianism. Ghi Jeong-jin was the founder of the Nosa school and was a well-known Confucian scholar. He was born in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province, and later worked actively in Jangseong of South Jeolla Province. In his 40s, he published writings that emphasized the acting of Yi. He believed that Yi, which was the reasoning of heaven, provided to all of creation and that every creation has its own place. Therefore, he saw incidents, like a wife taking her husband’s place, a subject taking his sovereign’s
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In politics, Ghi Jeong-jin mainly argued for centralization of the government and Korean solidarity. He claimed that in order to correct the cultural disorder and defend the country against imperialism, a strong monarch should rule the country. Further, he argued that this strong monarch should take care for his citizens as a nanny cares for his charges and demanded a fast implementation of reforms that would benefit the farmers. However, he also made some radical arguments such as the Human-Beast Theory, which compared the West and Christians to barbarians and beasts. He argued that only Confucian scholars were humans, and communicating with the West would make Confucian scholars barbarians, as well. Ghi Jeong-jin’s arguments were supported by Heungseon Daewongun, who was the father of King Gojong and the center of Korean power, and because of this, Korea became more defensive and skeptical of Western influences. The effectiveness of the Nosa School’s policies is debatable. While the Nosa School contributed to the preservation of Korean culture and growth of nationalism, it showed clear limitations in widening global insights. The Nosa School’s beliefs deepened the conflict against Western imperial powers and formulated brutal policies that killed thousands of Christians. However, it was also the Nosa School’s belief that became the base of struggles against invasion. It formed Korea’s strong nationalism and inspired the commoner’s army who fought against invaders.
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KOTESOL
KOTESOL promotes scholarship, disseminates information, and facilitates cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with teaching and learning English in Korea.
Consider Task Demand to Ensure Lesson Success Written and graphic provided by Lindsay Herron
H
ave you ever been struck by an amazing lesson concept that you are sure your students will love? Then you spend hours – or even days! – fretting over the details and preparing the materials. It is hard work, but you are sure it will be worth the effort. Your students’ smiles are all the reward you need! Then the big day arrives . . . And the lesson flops. Fails. No smiles. Total chaos. We as teachers have all had this kind of experience. It can be very frustrating but also provide fertile ground for growth. A well-prepared teacher can begin to anticipate these kinds of problems during the lesson-planning process. While you might already perform an anticipatory analysis of potential problem areas, it could be useful to look systematically at each activity or task and assess the amount of task demand it entails. “Task demand” is, at its heart, the amount of effort an activity requires from learners. A few types of task demand are discussed below.
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Language Task Demands This type of task demand is related to the language itself and thus is probably already on your mental checklist. Can your students understand the meaning and nuances of the target expressions, vocabulary and grammar? Is it appropriate to their level? For example, if you are playing Battleship, are you explaining it in terms of “cruisers,” “destroyers” and “aircraft carriers?” That would definitely add to the level of demand! Also, remember to keep your instructions short and simple, with plenty of demonstrations and modeling at each step. Involvement Task Demands This task demand is related to how engaged your students are. Perhaps you are already thinking of how a topic relates to your students’ interests. But how about the duration of the task? Is it short enough to retain students’ interest, but long enough for depth of involvement and focus? And do not forget about humor, novelty and mystery. Can you introduce the activity in a way that maximizes these elements? For example, I know one teacher who, instead of eliciting clothing vocabulary via pictures, walked into the classroom literally wearing every clothing item she wanted to review. The students’ attentions were
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immediately snagged by the peculiar sight of their clothing-swaddled teacher waddling into the classroom. (In fact, she explained the activity merely by taking off each clothing item and then lifting her eyebrows questioningly, thus also minimizing language task demand!)
Physical Task Demands How long do your students have to sit still for the activity? What motor skills are needed? Are there obstructions in the classroom that students might have to work around? Can everyone reach the game board? Are they writing in tiny boxes? Can they see the words easily? For younger learners, simply shaping letters can be a challenge; but even for university students, the amount and type of movement required (or not) should be a consideration, as should the design of any materials you hand out for the students to use. Metalinguistic Task Demands Are you using technical words (such as “adjective,” “relative clause,” or “dyad”) in your instructions or to explain the target language? Depending on your students, this kind of explanation might be necessary and/or expected, but you should also be aware of the additional demands this practice can create and prepare for it accordingly. Cognitive Task Demands This type of task demand is related to schema and context, background knowledge and experience. Are your students familiar with the activity, itself? For example, do they know how to do a survey, read an analog clock or make a bar graph? Are they familiar with the context and concepts? For instance, my students are unaccustomed to using street names when giving directions, as street names are only a recent development in Korea. And when I first taught a zombie apocalypse lesson nearly a decade ago, it faltered because my students were not familiar with the zombie mythos and kept asking about the efficacy of daylight or religious symbols against such creatures. Getting into the habit of thinking systematically about task demand can help ensure a stream-lined lesson that allows students to focus on what you want them to learn. Careful planning can help students complete the tasks successfully, rather than being diverted by unrelated considerations and unintended complexity; and when students do encounter difficulties, you will be well prepared to deal with those issues individually.
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[References] Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching languages to young learners. Singapore: Cambridge University Press.
Lindsay Herron is Treasurer of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL). On behalf of the Chapter, she invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops at their monthly meetings and special events. Lindsay is a visiting professor at Gwangju National University of Education, where she has taught for the past six years. She is also presently the National President of KOTESOL and an active presenter on topics such as that of this article at chapter and National KOTESOL events.
Upcoming KOTESOL Events Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Monthly Chapter Meeting Date & Time: February 13 (Saturday), 1:45 p.m. Place: Gwangju National University of Education Presentation on “How to Snag That FLT Dream Job” (Nancy Harcar) “Grading Improvement, Rather Than Just Ability” (Daniel Corks) Swap-shop Session: Present your ideas, activities, advice. Morning (11 a.m.) Reflective Practice Session No Admission Charge [For more details] Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Email: gwangju@koreatesol.org
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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.
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 at atdunne@gmail.com GWANGJU INTER FC The Gwangju International Soccer Team (Gwangju Inter FC) plays regularly every weekend. If you are interested in playing, email: gwangju_soccer@yahoo.com or search ‘Gwangju Inter FC’ on Facebook. 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 afternoon 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 throughout the South Jeolla province. The days and locations of the facilities are as follows: 1. UNESCO KONA Volunteers Center (Ssangchon-dong, Seo-gu, 062-434-9887) Every Saturday afternoon / 3-5pm 2. Gwangju Children’s Home (Dongnimdong, Buk-gu, 062-513-0859) 2nd and 4th Saturday afternoons / 2–4pm Every 3rd Sunday afternoon / 3–5pm 3. Grandmother’s Community Children’s Center (Jungheung-dong, Buk-gu, 062-524-0276) 4th Friday afternoons / 4–6pm
COMMUNITY GROUPS IN GWANGJU Gwangju – 광주 Gwangju Freecycle Gwangju Performance Project GFOG (Global Families of Gwangju) Gwangju EPIK Teachers Gwangju Community Builders Gwangju-Jeolla Job Bank Ladies of Gwangju and Vicinity Jeolla Safety Alliance Gwangju Yoga Gwangju Veggies
WE ARE LOOKING FOR WRITERS!
4. Gwangju International Center (Jungang-ro 196 beon-gil (Geumnam-no 3 Ga, Dong-gu) 2nd and 4th Thursday mornings / 10 a.m. –12:00 p.m. 2nd Sunday afternoons / 3–5 p.m.
Get involved and make Gwangju News an outlet for you to express yourself.
For more information, please visit a) http://cafe.daum.net/konavolunteers, b) www.facebook.com (UNESCO KONA Volunteers) or c) contact KONA (Kim Young-Im) at 062-434-9887 or konacenter@gmail.com
Gwangju News is only as great as it is because of the community it serves, and the writers, photographers, layout designers and proofreaders within it who regularly volunteer their services.
For more info: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr
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
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Tel: 062) 222-0011 Fax: 062)222-0013 duckheepark@hanmail.net
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