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April 2016 Issue No. 170 Published on March 30, 2016 Cover Photo: Holi Festival Busan Cover Art & Design: Joe Wabe Photographed by: Nathan Chesky Gwangju News is the first local English magazine in Korea, first published in 2001. It covers local and regional issues, with a focus on roles and activities of the international residents and local English-speaking communities. Copyright by Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise — without the written consent of the publisher. Gwangju News is published by Gwangju International Center 5, Jungang-ro 196 beon-gil (Geumnam-no 3 Ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733~34 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date February 22, 2010 Printed by Join Adcom 조인애드컴 (+82)-62-367-7702
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APRIL 2016
THE EDITORIAL TEAM PUBLISHER Shin Gyonggu EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joe Wabe MANAGING EDITOR Katrin Márquez ONLINE EDITOR Callum Holmes COORDINATOR AND LAYOUT EDITOR Minsu Kim & Joe Wabe PHOTO EDITOR Lorryn Smit CHIEF PROOFREADER Bradley Weiss ONLINE EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jacqui Page, Sam Page COPY EDITORS Kelsey Rivers, Victoria Lee, Brian Fitroy, Timm Berg, Robert Hinderliter, Laura Becker PROOFREADERS Carrie Levinson, Stephen Redeker, Jon Olsson, Jannies Le, Teri Venable, Gabrielle Nygaard RESEARCHERS Cho Nam-hee, Choi Shin-ae, Jang Dong-ha, Jung Yun-hee, Kim Dae-yong , Shin Hyerin
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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Letter from the Editor Holiday Inn Gwangju provides the attractive dining experience. Join our seasonal event and get a limited benefit.
HOURGLASS (1F) TRIPLE B PLAN “April hath put a spirit of youth in everything” William Shakespeare Yearly, spring brings about a series of refreshing changes: cold days are replaced with warm sunshine, dreary landscapes are splashed with beautiful colors and there is a renewed excitement about things. People feel re-energized and ready to take on new challenges. Their dreams grow a little much like the blossoms start to bloom. I believe that this change in season was the perfect time for the Gwangju News to undergo some improvements as well. New season, new editor, new team, new dreams and ultimately a new look. This publication’s purpose is to provide the community of Gwangju (expats and Koreans alike) with useful information about life in Gwangju and Korea. Therefore some changes have been made not only to the content but also the design to improve the complete reading experience. Our team has worked around the clock to put together a very practical and useful issue, to help you enjoy our city and life in general in this wonderful city. We hope you enjoy reading as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Enjoy Spring! Enjoy Gwangju News, Joe Wabe Editor-In-Chief Gwangju News
Enjoy a wide selection of freshly grilled meat and seafood prepared daily to order on the open charcoal-fired grill with unlimited draft beer. You can feel soft summer breeze on the outdoor terrace and savor the dining experience of selecting food from the full buffet spread with great BBQ items. Period : 8th Apr. ~ 27th Aug. Price : 45,000 won (VAT included) per person Reservation : 062- 610-7061,2
LA PLACE (10F) LOBSTER FESTIVAL La Place, grill & bar presents lobster promotion. Lobster salad is made with blue cheese dressing. Two Lobster tail is served with mashed garlic. Premium lobster tail with Tenderloin is prepared at a reasonable price. Enjoy the fine dining with the amazing view at La Place. Period : 8th Apr. ~ 31st May. Opeation hours : 18:00 – 24:00 (Sun-Thu) 18:00 – 02:00 (Fri-Sat)
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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APRIL 2016
GWANGJU NEWs
Gwangju City
News
Compiled and Edited by Cho Nam-hee, Choi Shin-ae, Jung Yun-hee , & Kim Dae-yong
City Hall Announces Gwangju to be Children and Adolescent Friendly.
Gwangju Metropolitan City plans to come up with a general plan by next month for a project to make Gwangju a friendly city for children and adolescents, where they can claim their rights. Gwangju is implementing enforcement regulations by revising the Ordinance of Friendly-City for Children and Adolescents and holds the conference to endorse their participation and to reflect on their opinions of the policies by December 2016. In addition, Gwangju will secure five culture cafés as exclusive spaces for children and adolescents to support and encourage them to actively participate in community activities in leisure, culture, education and experience. In April, Gwangju will conduct a survey of criteria about the local environment, rights, space, health, education, quality of life and more to draw out a friendly policy through investigation and analysis. In the latter half of the year, Gwangju plans to open the Youth Employment Training Center where teenagers can find out about their aptitude and potential through diverse careers and job experiences.
Gwangju Fringe Festival
Gwangju is planning to organize a traditional Culture Square around the Asia Culture Center (ACC). According to Gwangju Metropolitan office, Gwangju will held the Gwangju Fringe Festival periodically. This festival will include both culture heritage activities and other festivals, and will happen around the ACC. Gwangju Metropolitan office will host the Gwangju Fringe Festival at the May 18 Democracy Square every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, starting from 23rd April 2016 to November 2016, from 2 to 7 p.m. Every Gwangju citizen is invited to take part in the Gwangju Fringe Festival, which supports their community and enriches their local cultural activity. During the festival period, you will be able to attend the marching performances organized by community performers and private institutions which will take place in the area around May 18 Democracy Square and Geumnam-ro street.
For more information on Gwangju, please scan the QR code
Hwasun Red Cliff Bus Tour Program Resumed on 26th The Hwasun Jeokbyeok or Hwasun Red Cliff, Tour Bus program, which had been suspended over the winter season, resumed service on March 26th. Hwasun County has changed the departure area for the tour from the Red Cliff Entrance to the town’s Cultural Sports Center for visitors’ convenience. Furthermore, the county has also improved road conditions and installed guardrails for safer travel. Reservations for the program can be made up to two weeks in advance on the official webpage of the Hwasun Bus Tour, tour.hwasun.go.kr. Tour operation hours are set for 9:30 A.M. and 1:30 P.M. every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Foreigners in Gwangju and Jeonnam Tallied at 70,000 The Korea Immigration Service has announced that the number of foreign residents in the Gwangju and Jeonnam region tallied over 70,000 this year. This number is up about 10% from last year’s figure and accounts for almost 2% of the entire population of Gwangju and Jeonnam. Among registered foreigners in Gwangju, a majority of up to 20,000 foreign residents in the city do not possess Korean citizenship. The total number of international students reached 3,200 and that of marriage immigrants was just over 3,100 while ethnic Koreans with overseas citizenship stood at 1,700.
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April Schedule This GIC Talk Monthly Theme will showcase GIC Talks from Speakers who would like to share their areas of expertise to GIC Talk audience. Time & Location: Saturdays from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., GIC Auditorium (1st Floor) For more information, contact gictalk@gic.or.kr
April 2
April 23
The Vagina Monologues is an award-winning play based on interviews with more than 200 women. It celebrates women’s sexuality and strength through humor and grace. The play is part of the global V-Day movement which aims to end violence against women and girls, increase awareness, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. The Vagina Monologues has been performed here in Gwangju since 2012. This presentation will share information about the play itself as well as the international V-Day movement and the impact they have made here in Gwangju, and around the world.
A journalist travels to Korea to better understand the varied and significant ways his U.S. city is linked to Korea. The city is Columbus, Georgia. Though the city’s Korean population is small – just 2,700 people – they touch many aspects of Columbus life. Columbus is an Army town, home to Fort Benning, and is responsible for many Korean connections: ROK soldiers train there. U.S. soldiers serve in Korea. Korean women marry U.S. soldiers and move to Columbus. Korean orphans grew up there. Academics, physicians, pastors there are from Korea. And, the city’s residents listen to K-Pop. So, Mr. Greenma wishes to track these connections back to Korea, the purpose of his trip.
Speakers: Ynell Lumantao & Dana Han Topic: The Vagina Monologues 2016
April 9
Speaker: John F. Greenman Topic: Finding Korea in a Small American City
Speaker: Vanessa Reid Topic: The Need for Evidence-based Care in Pregnancy and Birth
More information about this GIC Talk is included in the GIC Talk Preview.
Essential oils are naturally occurring compounds that protect plants and give them distinct fragrances. They can certainly make a room smell wonderful, but their uses don’t stop there. For centuries, people have used essential oils in food preparation, beauty treatments, and health care practices. The Talk will focus mainly on how you can use doTERRA essential oils as a natural approach to common health concerns such as allergies, colds, flus, headaches, joint/muscle pain, digestive issues, burns, scars, acne, sleeplessness, and much more. Come discover and explore the powerful uses of essential oils with an experienced representative of doTERRA International.
In this funny and honest presentation, award-winning comic artist Jen Lee will detail the process she went through to realize her dream of printing the first book of her “Dear Korea” comics. She will explain the truth behind the “glamorous” image of being a comic artist, and all the hard work and struggles that go along with the life. Lee will share her adventures, and help you learn from the successes and failures she experienced along the way. Copies of the “Dear Korea Volume One” book will be available for purchase and signing by the author.
Speaker: Jen Lee Topic: From Pixels to Paper: A Webcomic Artist’s Journey
APRIL 2016
April 30
Speaker: Katie Williams Topic: doTERRA Essential Oils
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Contents April 2016 30
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GWANGJU NEWS 4. Gwangju City News 5. GIC Talk 8. GIC Tour 10. Upcoming Events
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
APRIL 2016
COMMUNITY 7. New in Tow: Nahia Antoranz 12. Gwangju Support Center for Foreign Workers 14. Kumbucha 15. Mukul Basu 16. How to Obtain an International Driver’s License 17. Small Steps for Better Sleep
FEATURE 18. Holi Festival 20. Jinhae Festival 22. Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival
TRAVEL 24. How to Chase The Cherry Blossoms 29. Lost in Gwangju: Kia Champions Field
FOOD & DRINKS 26. Indy Indian Restaurant 28. Bibimbap
ARTS & CULTURE 30. Photo Esssay: Martin Miller 32. Photo of the Month 34. Big Day South 36. Gwangju Vagina Monologues 38. The Voice of “Han” 44. Legal Marijuana in North Korea
SPORTS 40. Gate Ball
EDUCATION 42. The Role of the Second Language Teacher 48. Talk to me in Korean
OPINION 46. Dong-Sang-I-Mong: Same Party, Different Dreams
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Interview and photo by Joe Wabe
Nahia Antoranz
The
New In Town
Here is a short interview to get to know her a little bit. Welcome to Gwangju, Nahia!
What do you do now? Right now I work at the GIC (Gwangju International Center) as an intern; therefore, most of my days are spent at the office. I do a variety of different jobs: I teach Spanish Beginner 3, English conversation, and I give a hand anywhere that is needed. My day also involves meeting new people that walk into the office. At the same time I’m a student at a university in Seoul (I take online classes) and I’m writing my undergrad thesis with my hometown university in the Basque Country. What do you like best about our city? What I like the most about Gwangju is how diverse and vibrant it is. Gwangju is a city where the old and the new meet and live in harmony, and also where busy Korean society and art hold hands. Let’s take as a clear example the Daein Market
downtown. During the day you can see a more traditional way of selling goods as well as amazing restaurants at this market, but on weekend nights this place completely transforms into what in my mind is the best example of what living in Gwangju is all about. You can find live music, jam sessions, art workshops, art galleries, handmade crafts, different community projects and the most heterogeneous group of people getting together under the same roof. What kind of activities are you interested in? Gwangju and Jeolla province are well known for their high food quality, so one of my favorite activities is to go out with friends to a new restaurant and try new food. I like to be gastronomically challenged, and the feeling of not knowing what to expect. I also enjoy going for drinks, hiking, discovering new places and I recently started to go to the Animal Shelter on the weekends to walk dogs. Besides this I am really interested in any project that aims to change society for the better, and I get chills every time I see a group of people protesting for social change or taking action to create a better community.
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How did you decide to come to Korea? For my last year of university, I wanted to study in a different country, so I started to look through the possible places that I could go to. My options were mostly in Europe and South America, and those weren’t really
places I wanted to go since I wanted a complete change in culture and language. When I saw that South Korea was a possibility, I applied, and after a lot of paperwork, exams and interviews, I was accepted! And it was at that point that I really started to learn about Korean culture and language (even though I’m still so bad at it).
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city of Gwangju is blessed every year with the presence of thousands of visitors from abroad. Nahia Antoranz, a 23-year-old student from Bilbao, in the Basque Country, an autonomous community of northern Spain, is one such new visitor to Gwangju, as well as a new GIC intern. Nahia’s major is Social Education, which she studied at the University of the Basque Country, and she considers herself to be happy and adventurous, but a bit temperamental at times. She fancies the color yellow, and although her Korean is still a work in progress, she has a special taste for Korean cuisine, especially kimchi jjigae. Her dream is to one day live in Costa Rica and complete a masters program at the United Nations University.
GWANGJU NEWs
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GIC Tour
Buan, North Jeolla by Bradley Weiss Photos courtesy of GIC tour Team
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
APRIL 2016
Date&Time: Saturday, April 23 09:00-18:30 Registartion: By Sunday, April 17 Participation fee: 45,000 won (GIC members) 55,000 won (Non-members) / 30,000 won (Pre-schoolers) More Info: Jeongmin Lee 062.226.2733 / gictour@gic.or.kr
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height of spring provides the perfect time to head to the coastal region of Buan in South Jeolla’s sister province of North Jeolla. This destination provides both the unique natural beauty and regional specialties that serve as a lure for us to make the trip north for the second tour of the 2016 season. Our first stop, Chaeseokgang Cliffs, is a marine playground crafted by nature herself. People journey from all over the peninsula just to enjoy the craggy vistas here. Our arrival, however, will coincide with one of the twice-daily low tides, when the receded waters will allow us to clamber down and along the stratified layers of rock to observe the tidal sea life and wave-carved caverns. After such an up-close-and-personal experience with the coast, we will move on for a more sumptuous and filling taste of what the sea has to offer beyond the tang of salt air. Our lunch destination is a restaurant a short distance from Chaeseokgang, and one that is equally as sea-side as the cliffs themselves. A peak down from the windows next to the tables offers no view of the shore, but rather a look straight down into the waters of the Yellow Sea. The crashing waves spray the windows as participants will enjoy a few dishes made fresh from the local catch. The first of which will be maeuntang, a spicy soup made by boiling large pieces of saltwater fish along with various vegetables in a broth seasoned both by gochujang, or red pepper paste, and gochukaru, or chili powder. The local, freshlycaught fish will help make this a memorable maeuntang, a dish that can be found with relative ease in other regions. The other dish sharing the table, however, will allow participants to enjoy a true representative food of the Buan region. The baekhap clam is a species that has long been prized by the inhabitants for its ability to survive dry conditions for long periods of time. Due to its scarcity, though, today only a relatively small number of the clams can be harvested each season. The locals make a little go a long, tasty way by incorporating the clams into baekhap juk, a rice porridge seasoned with sesame oil and salt. After having our fill of seaside dining, we will journey inland to Naeso Temple for a sample of the history and culture Buan has to offer. The temple was founded at the base
Like many coastal areas, the sea helps to set the table for the people of Buan not only with the edible haul pulled from the water but also with the seasoning via salt, harvested by various salt farms in the area. Our next stop will be to the Gomso salt farm for a demonstration of exactly how the locals make use of the sun and flat tidal plains to evaporate the seawater, leaving behind the natural minerals and salt, which in turn are processed and shipped all over the country. Participants will take away their own share of sea salt harvested at this very facility. What has put Buan on the map historically has been its production of high-quality celadon pottery. Dating back to the Goryeo dynasty, roughly from the 10th to the end of the 14th century, Buan was one of the most important centers for creating these popular ceramics with their characteristic jade green glaze. Our final stop will be the Buan Celadon Museum, a modern facility featuring diverse, interactive displays and more than 200 pieces of fine celadon. Visitors can explore the history and entire process of making celadon pottery in the region, including an experience program that will allow participants to create their very own pot to keep. Rocky sea cliffs, freshly-caught seafood, a temple steeped in history, and an exploration of the region’s characteristic production of fine art – all of this and more awaits the participants of the April GIC tour!
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of Naebyeong Mountain in 633 C.E. Much of the temple was rebuilt in the 17th century, however, including one of several national treasures, the Main Buddha Hall, which was constructed entirely without the use of iron nails. The most distinctive feature of the Main Buddha Hall, though, and one of the temple’s hallmarks, is the conspicuous absence of the traditional five-color design seen on the buildings of most other Korean temples. Naeso Temple is also home to a pair of less man-made relics. Two ancient zelkova trees stand at the entrance of the park and of the temple itself, known as Grandfather and Grandmother, respectively. In former times, these trees were considered village guardians, and Grandfather boasts an age of over 500 years, while Grandmother nearly doubles that, having seen more than a millennium pass by under her watch.
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Upcoming Events
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YOLO (You Only Live Once) Night--Milk and Cookies Stories
Flowering Yudalsan Festival
The GIC is hosting its first monthly open-mic storytelling event! Come with the stories of the adventures you’ve lived in Korea or elsewhere, as our first theme will be “Things I learnt when travelling”! We will also host a Best Cake Competition, so bring your homemade cakes or cookies and have them tasted and judged during the event!
Come and have a spring picnic at Yudalsan, the symbol of Mokpo. Spring came here filling the mountain with forsythia, cherry blossom, magnolia, and more. The various trekking routes and cultural events are held here to enjoy.
Date: April 8 Time: 7:00-9:00p.m. Venue: GIC Gallery,
Gwangju International Center Admission Fee: Free, but donations are welcome Contact: solene@gic.or.kr
Shinan Tulip Festival 신안 튤립 축제
The nation’s biggest Tulip festival is held in Daegwang Beach, Shinan. More than three million tulips on the beach give you a feeling as if you are in the Netherlands. A variety of sculptures, a lookout, and a windmill for you to take selfies of the season!
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APRIL 2016
Dates: April 7 ~ 18 Venue: Daegwang Beach, Shinangun, Jeollanamdo
Admission Fees: Unannounced.
(Adult: 5,000 won, Child: 3,000 (2015)) Directions: Take the intercity bus at Gwangju Bus Terminal and get off at Jido Jeomam Dock (2 hours), then take a passenger ferry from Jeomam Dock to Imja Dock. Transfer to a shuttle bus to arrive at the festival venue (Ferry schedule: 7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (every 20 mins.) / 8 – 10 p.m. (every hour)
Website: http://tour.shinan.go.kr/ home/tour/theme_tour/festival Telephone: 061)240-4041~3
목포 꽃피는 유달산 축제
Dates: April 9 ~ 10 Venue: Yudal Mountain area, Rodeo Plaza, Goha-daero, Mokpo, Jeollanamdo Admission Fees: Free Directions: Take the intercity bus at Gwangju Bus Terminal and get off at Mokpo Bus Terminal (1 hour), then take the local bus No. 1 or 200 from Mokpo Bus Terminal and get off at Honam-dong 119 Safety Center. Transfer to bus No. 13 and get off at Bukgyo-dong Church (30 minutes).
Website: http://tour.mokpo.go.kr/ festival
Telephone: 061)270-8442
Kim Young Jung Parade of Peace Through this exhibition, we may know about the artwork of Kim Young Jung and the characteristics of the work. Also, we can think about the value and meanings of Korean art culture.
Dates: March. 5. 2016 ~ May. 1. 2016
Times: 10:00 am ~ 5:00 pm Venue: Gwangju City Art Museum Admission Fees: Free GIC Board Games Night Come with your friends and favorite board games for a night of playful fun.
Date: Friday, April 15 Time: 6:30-9:00p.m. Venue: GIC Gallery, Gwangju International Center Contact: solene@gic.or.kr
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GWANGJU THEATHER
Chungjang-no 5-ga 62, Dong-gu, Gwangju (two blocks behind NC WAVE) TICKETS: 8,000 062-224-5858 http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju
17th Hampyeong Butterfly Festival 함평 나비 대축제 It is Korea’s unique and most renowned butterfly festival. Exhibitions and cultural experiences of flowers, butterflies and insects are held here.
Dates: April 29 ~ May 8 Venue: Hampyeong Expo Park, Gonjea-ro 27, Hampyeo-
ng-gun, Jeollanamdo Admission Fees: Adult: 7,000 won, Student: 5,000 won, Child: 3,000 won Directions: Take the intercity bus to Hampyeong at Gwangju Bus Terminal and get off at Hampyeong Bus Terminal (30min), then take a taxi or walk to Hampyeong Expo Park. Website: www.hampyeong.go.kr/2008_hpm/hpm16/ m1index.php Telephone: 061)320-3349
April 1 High-Rise <2015> (Drama, Action, SF) (Ben Wheatley) 119 min Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans Life for the residents of a high-rise building begins to run out of control. Microbe & Gasoline <2015> (Comedy, Drama) (Michel Gondry) 103 min Théophile Baquet, Ange Dargent, Audrey Tautou Microbe is the introvert and Gasoline, the one in the red jacket, is the outgoing new kid in school. They form a fast friendship and avoid their families over the summer by building their own car. April 7 Steel Flower <2015> (Drama) (Park Suk-young) 83 min Jeong Hadam A homeless teenage girl leaves Seoul and travels south for Busan, finding lodging in an abandoned house and trying each day to find some kind of employment. But, reticent by nature and easily duped by adults, her fight for survival becomes a perilous one. One evening, she strolls by a dance studio and then dreams of being able to buy her own tap shoes to join the other students.
APRIL 2016
April 14 Chronic <2015> (Drama) (Michel Franco) 94 min Tim Roth, Nailea Norvind, Sarah Sutherland David, a meticulous and efficient home care nurse working with terminally ill people, develops close relationships with his patients. In his private life, David is awkward and reserved, which leads to him needing his patients as much as they need him.
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Seymour: An Introduction <2014> (Documentary) (Ethan Hawke) 84 min Seymour Bernstein Meet Seymour Bernstein: a virtuoso pianist, veteran New Yorker and true original who gave up a successful concert career to teach music. In this wonderfully warm, witty and intimate tribute from his friend, Ethan Hawke, Seymour shares unforgettable stories from his remarkable life and eye-opening words of wisdom, as well as insightful reflections on art, creativity and the search for fulfillment.
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A Place of Refuge:
Gwangju Support Center for Foreign Workers
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APRIL 2016
COMMUNITY
By Laura Becker
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W
hen Americans, Canadians, and other Anglophonic nationals think of foreigners in Korea, they might naturally picture English teachers. E-2 visa holders are predominantly, though not exclusively, white and occuping white-collar English teaching jobs that, by global standards, offer good working conditions and a comfortable lifestyle. In reality, most foreigners in Korea are neither native English speakers nor white-collar workers. November 2013 data from the Ministry of Justice Immigration Office showed that 92.2 percent of the 620,967 immigrant workers with work permits were nonprofessional laborers. Migrant workers’ jobs are concentrated in the “3D” category: dirty, dangerous, and difficult. Starting in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the government began accommodating the demands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by allowing an influx of migrant laborers. As a result, Korea is an increasingly multiethnic society, with the foreigner population now at 3.4 percent. Far from creating a multicultural utopia, however, this has given rise to a new underclass in Korean society.
Samsung subcontractors and small assembly, injection, molding, or construction companies employ many migrant workers in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province. A number of support centers are working to advance the human rights of migrant workers in Gwangju and other South Jeolla Province communities such as Jangseong, Naju, and Hwasun.
“The most common reason for workers to seek out the center is wage theft,” Go explained. If a worker is not being paid, the GJFC acts as a liaison with the employer, first notifying the employer of the wages owed. If the employer does not pay, the next step is for the center to report the business to the Ministry of Labor, at which point the boss faces arrest. Migrant workers’ situation is gaining visibility across the peninsula. On August 20, 2015, the Korean Ministry of Labor granted the Migrants’ Trade Union (MTU) official legal registration following a Supreme Court ruling that ended a ten-year legal battle. Korean unions, labor activists, and NGOs have supported the MTU. In Gwangju, the GJFC has classrooms, an auditorium, and a spacious lobby where clients often sit and catch up with friends. Aside from Korean language, other offerings at the GJFC include computer classes, legal education, free haircuts, and cultural activities such as taekwondo and traditional music. The center also holds special events to celebrate holidays of its clients’ home countries, such as Mongolia’s Naadam festival. The GJFC not only advocates for migrant workers’ rights and provides vital services to the community, but also serves as a place of refuge and a home away from home.
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The Gwangju Support Center for Foreign Workers (GJFC) in Gwangsan district was founded in November 2014 and is funded by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Gwang-ju Go, Operation of Education Manager, referred
In addition to the initial language barrier, Go said that the most common obstacles faced by migrant workers are health problems and wage theft. Because most of the clients work in factories, they perform repetitive motions that cause overuse and stress injuries, but continue working through chronic pain because their long hours leave no time to visit a hospital during the week. On Sundays, the GJFC becomes a makeshift medical clinic, with doctors and nurses providing treatment, traditional medicine, and dental care at no cost.
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The migrant workers’ situation is strikingly similar to that of working-class Koreans in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Like the ethnic Korean workers before them, migrant laborers occupy positions in agricultural industries and in urban SMEs. Without these workers, many industries in Korea would be paralyzed; they are nonetheless often treated as “transparent people,” made to endure long working hours, low wages and poor working conditions. Under the Employment Permit System (EPS), migrant workers must obtain permission from their employers in order to change jobs, which benefits SMEs and leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation.
to the center’s clients as “friends” and emphasized respect for their diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. According to Go, most of the center’s clients come from Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as the Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, East Timor, Nepal, and others. Twelve full-time staff members include counselors who are bilingual in Korean and clients’ native languages. Go explained that it takes an average of three years for a client to become fluent in Korean. Every Sunday, the lobby is crowded with workers who use their day off to take Korean language classes at the center.
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Local Entreprenours
Kombu-what?
COMMUNITY
story By Sean D’Angelo Photos by Joe Wabe
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
APRIL 2016
K
ombucha. It sounds Korean, but if you ask a Korean what the word means they probably will not have an answer. The truth is no one is really sure where or when this strange beverage originated. If it was ever popular in Korea, it has long since been forgotten. Dan Fransham is here to give us all a little reminder. A tall and personable New Zealander with a lively spark of mad genius in his eyes and a sensibility for managing start-ups, Fransham lifts a small sparkling bottle of micro-brewed hibiscus kombucha and pops the top. The sensuous red liquid lets out a satisfying report like good champagne. “I’m not sure it’s very sparkly so let me have a try,” he says with a smile as he pours himself a glass. A likely excuse after the sound it just made! The kombucha is effervescent, sweet and refreshing – a perfect summer drink. Fransham, a web designer and photographer, came to Korea with his wife of thirteen years and founded the company nFuze Tea, a hand-blended herbal tea company right here in Gwangju. His company philosophy is all about intentional community and environmental integrity. “Humans as a species have to take a step back and say, hey there’s something wrong with what we’re doing here.
Everybody’s health has gone to [you-know-what] and it’s because of a lack of nutrition as well as toxins in the environment.” While many fermented foods have a probiotic effect, bolstering our digestion and strengthening the immune system, Fransham explains kombucha is something special. The acid produced by bacteria during fermentation actually inhibits the growth of harmful pathogens that make their home in the human gut, making a product so pure the FDA barely bothers with it. It is chock full of vitamins too! Fransham brews with all organic produce and currently offers two awesome flavors, Sparkling Hibiscus Plum and Sparkling Ginger Plum. Even on its own, the kombucha tastes amazing, and Fransham imagines marketing it plain in the future. After learning about the detoxifying effects of kombucha, Fransham turned his curiosity into a full-fledged local business. Bottles of “Mount Mudeung Kombucha” are already on sale at two locations in Gwangju, Pedro’s Voyager Travel Café in Sangmu, and the Happy Days Café in Jisandong near the entrance to Mudeung Mountain. Of course, there have been some bumps along the way for Fransham and nFuze Tea. Red tape and invisible hoops abound for anyone brave enough to run a start-up in Korea. But, all of the trials and tribulations he has faced only seem to have strengthened his resolve and faith in his dream. “It’s been incredibly frustrating and really rewarding at the same time,” Fransham says about his business, but thanks to the awesome community in Gwangju things are coming together quickly, “That’s really the only reason this business is going, people like Pedro Kim, Tim Whitman over at First Alleyway, everybody who I speak to is really supportive, everybody helps each other out”. Hooray, another reason Gwangju is one of the best cities in Korea. Fransham is planning to start retailing in Daein Market near downtown, hopefully sometime in the next few weeks. Be sure to stay on the lookout next time you are wandering the area and give his kombucha a try. If you are interested in contacting Fransham or learning more about the business, visit his website at facebook. com/nfuzetea. He is looking for business partners. If you are fluent in Korean/English and love marketing for a good cause, Fransham would especially love to hear from you.
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Community Leaders
Mukul Basu M by Jonathan Chiarella
Various nationalities are, generally, in different positions and situations. When asked about nonWestern, non–English-teaching foreigner groups, Basu advocated for uniting within one’s own community or home region, then connecting with other large groups. “In order to bring the voice of the migrants … each country should be united by themselves first.” When they do this “half of their problems get solved.” As each country’s migrants face different kinds of problems, they need a united voice to address them. Basu’s work in Gwangju has helped to create the Bangladesh and the Nepali student unions, and Mongolian and Vietnamese communities. He provides advice on everything from finances to how the groups can organize their own festivals. He even advocated for the GIC to move its International Day events to Sunday to accommodate groups who work on Saturdays. He was a student at Seoul National University and studied exactly what he needed to know for the citizenship tests, which, while easier now, can still be challenging. The program allows immigrants and foreigners to learn about the Korean language and Korean society—all for free, online or in person. Even the textbooks
alone are a great way to learn about the immigration system and to master the multitude of familial titles and ins and outs of every holiday. The Koreans’ understanding of history and its importance to them is clearer in the course. With insight gained from both studying about and interacting within Korean society, he has the following recommendation: “[If] you stay for six months or even one year, you need to live here peacefully and friendly with Korean people. The moment you know just one or two things then immediately you get more appreciation from them and when you make any mistake [it] is all excused because you become friendly with them.”
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According to Basu, Japan, where he lived previously before Korea, is ahead in its acceptance and official treatment of foreigners whose “live[s] [are] much better” there. He is currently helping foreign workers who are owed weeks of back pay, something he says would not happen in Japan. For decades, South Korea’s development owes much to foreigners taking on so-called 3D jobs (dirty, dangerous, difficult). “Concern [for] the foreigner is very, very poor,” says Basu. Undocumented workers are often dis-empowered. In Basu’s experience, “They can’t even think
about getting their salary. [In Japan] at least they always make sure everyone gets their salaries [before] they’re deported. Such kinds of things need to be improved.” Foreign workers and students’ contributions are often overlooked. According to Basu, 70% of GIST research projects “are by [foreign] students and [foreign] post-doctoral researchers.”
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ukul Basu became naturalized in 2000. Having first visited Korea in 1989, he started planting roots in 1994. He sees a great many changes and improvements in the acceptance of foreigners in Korea, though the road ahead is still long. He is originally a Bengali from India, a very diverse state, and has not forgotten his roots. He teaches Yoga at Gwangju Catholic University and is a leading advocate for foreign residents since he settled in Gwangju. In addition to being vice president of the local UNESCO chapter, he is president and founder of the Universal Cultural Center (NGO registered with city in 2008) which seeks to “solve problems for all the migrated people living in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do” while raising awareness of foreign Gwangju and counseling foreign workers. His ambitious goal is to change society at large. “In the age of globalization, Gwangju citizens and Korean citizens should have a global mind where they can accommodate all ways and all kinds of people” says Basu.
Expat Living
Drive Abroad
COMMUNITY
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How to Obtain a Korean International Driving Permit
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O
btaining a driver’s license is much easier in Korea than in many other countries. Furthermore, once you have a Korean license, you are only a few steps away from being able to drive in more than 130 countries. First, visit one of the regional KoROAD offices. Bring your passport or a copy of your passport, Korean driver’s license, one passport-size photo (3.5 x 4.5cm or 3 x 4cm), and a credit or debit card for government revenue stamps; the offices do not accept cash. If none of the KoROAD offices are near you, it is also possible to apply at the nearest police station; however, you will need to drop by the post office in order to get a government revenue stamp prior to visiting the police station.
Second, fill out the application form and pay the 8,500KRW fee. After just a few minutes, you will receive your brand-new Korean international driving permit, which allows you to drive abroad for 365 days. Before you drive outside of Korea, you need to make sure that your travel destination is the member country of the Geneva or Vienna Conventions. These are international treaties for diplomatic relations between independent countries; the member countries have agreed to recognize the certification and make it valid. Note that you cannot drive in China with the Korean international driving permit, but you can in Hong Kong and Macau. There are three things to keep in mind when you drive. You must be
able to identify yourself with your passport, Korean driver’s license and the International driving permit together at all times. Second, be aware of your expiry dates. Lastly, double check that your international driving permit and your passport share the exact same name in the correct order. For more information, check the Korean Road Traffic Authority (RTA) website at: http://dl.koroad.or.kr/license/en/sub/ interLic.jsp.
Health
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By Katrin Márquez Photo by Joe Wabe
Small Steps to Better Sleep: Dr. Kyong Youl Bae
concerns regarding foreign patients is that their usual self-diagnosis of insomnia is frequently incorrect. He has had multiple foreign patients whose “insomnia” was actually a “secondary [symptom] of anxiety or depressive moods.” Foreigners may be especially susceptible to these problems due to the lack of a support system that many experience, particularly at the beginning of their time in Korea when they face culture difference, for instance.
Sleep
is the body’s main means of restoration. Research findings have repeatedly proved that sleep deprivation puts one at risk for a number of health problems—everything from memory retention issues to a weakened immune system, high blood pressure and so forth. In fact, according to a study by Harvard Medical School, sustained sleep deprivation—consistently sleeping less than five hours per night—increases the chances of death by as much as fifteen percent. As such, it is imperative that sleep disorders be addressed in order to maintain a sound body and mind.
“I meet patients with all sleep-related problems—with difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or early morning awakening, or occasions when they are awake and do not feel refreshed,” says Dr. Bae who has experience in treating foreigners with these issues. One of his biggest
Sleep disorder is a significant health concern due not only to the discomfort they bring, but also to the conditions they may aggravate over the long term. It is critical to seek medical attention when it is warranted, but those who suffer from sleep disorders should not forget that small changes still make a big difference in sleep quality and thus overall health.
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Dr. Bae, a psychiatrist at Chonnam National University Hospital who specializes in sleep disorders and is a soonto-be researcher at Sleep Sciences and Medicine Center, Stanford University, emphasizes the importance of sleep to one’s well-being.
Lifestyle changes can fix many sleep-related issues; however, some circumstances require professional help. Situations in which Dr. Bae believes one should absolutely visit a doctor include: when those trials mentioned above fail, when there are associated symptoms like depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, when one suffers from functional impairment in work and study, and when the condition is chronic, lasting more than one month. Additionally, he wishes to remind foreigners that most university hospitals have a specialized foreigner clinic where patients may receive assistance in English. Chonnam National University Hospital’s foreigner clinic, for instance, is located on the first floor of the main building.
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The term sleep disorder refers to any one of more than a hundred issues related to insufficient or low-quality sleep. Some sleep disorders include snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia and subconscious behaviors during sleep such as sleep walking or talking. Although the health consequences of these disorders range in severity, those concerned about their sleep quality usually do not consider seeking professional medical help.
Although the repercussions of sleep disorders can be significant, small changes like refraining from exposure to blue lights (or Blue LED) before bed and napping during the day can alleviate some of those sleep issues. “For most people with insomnia, lifestyle modification is effective [as a treatment],” says Dr. Bae. One tip he gives for those suffering from sleep disorders is easy to follow: Go outside. According to Dr. Bae, getting at least an hour of sun exposure before noon every day can “stimulate the optic nerves and reset one’s biorhythm.” He adds that about fifteen hours after the sunlight exposure, the body naturally prepares for sleep.
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By Tayani van Eeden photos by nathan Chesky
Holi Festival
A Celebration of Love, Colors & Spring
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This
April, the city of Busan will live up to its “Dynamic” reputation by hosting its sixth annual Holi Hai festival. This epic, spring-themed beach party draws well over a thousand people out of their winter hibernation each year. But this is much more than merely a day of paint smears, color bombs and free samosas. Holi Hai is an ancient Hindu festival dating as far back as the 4th century C.E. While there are many theories around the origins of Holi, most of its mythology is grounded in the ideals of love and honor – thus earning it the name ‘the festival of sharing love’ in addition to ‘the festival of colors’. In the Braj region of Northern India, for example, Holi Hai is celebrated for a mind-blowing 16 days in honor of the love shared between the Hindu goddess Radha, and the Braj-born deity, Krishna. Poisoned by the shedemon Putana as a baby, Krishna was cursed to live his life with a most unfortunate shade of blue skin. Worn down by Krishna’s laments over his
condition, his mother tells him to go to fair-skinned Radha and color her face in any color he wants. Radha was apparently pleased with her new face and the two lived happily ever after. A more popularly held Holi Hai belief comes from another northern region, Punjab, and tells the story of the demon king Hiranyakashipu and his evil sister Holika. Legend goes that King Hiranyakashipu was blessed with immortality but was consumed by its power and turned evil. The king’s son, Prahlada, was upset and tried to overthrow his father’s despotic rule. To stop Prahlada’s plan, Holika convinced him to sit with her on a pyre whilst she secretly wore a fireproof cloak. But as the fire roared to life, the cloak was blown from Holika’s shoulders and Prahlada was saved instead. The following day, people applied ash from the extinguished fire to their foreheads, and so Holi
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Hai was born. Over time the festival evolved to include colored powder and took on cultural significance by celebrating the blooming flowers of spring, good harvests and reconciliation.
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Typically held the day after the last full moon of the Hindu calendar year, many parts of Asia also light bonfires on the eve of Holi in a practice known as ‘Chhoti Holi’ or ‘Small Holi’ in celebration of the triumph of good over evil. As with the upcom-
ing festival on Haeundae beach, most Holi celebrations end mid-day, followed by adults and children cleaning up, putting on fresh clothes and spending the rest of the day relaxing with family and friends. They share candy in symbolic forgiveness and adults are encouraged to settle old debts or scores. It is a time for new beginnings, combining the best aspects of Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day into something vibrant that everyone can enjoy. Amit Gupta, one of the “Indians In Korea” organizers for the
event, emphasizes that people of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. As someone who attended the festival last year, I can definitely attest to its inclusive atmosphere. Many passersby were shocked by what they saw at first, only to join in with the fun later. I saw quite a few barefooted businessmen in fancy (if not increasingly disheveled) suits being happily pelted by colorful powders and paints. If you are interested in attending the event this year, make sure to visit www.holihai.org. The 10,000 won registration fee buys you entrance, a cap and a starter kit of dry powders and face paints. The dress code is white, and if you are brave enough to face the last of winter’s chill, you can pack a swimsuit and join the courageous few who take a dip in the ocean. Beer and other drinks will be available for sale in a parking lot adjacent to the beach. The festival’s official end time is 3:30 p.m. – leaving plenty of time to change and make it back to Gwangju before the start of the new week. Then again, who needs to waste time changing? Amuse the public by walking around as a moving art piece and get home even sooner!
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Jinhae Festival Timeless Everlasting Memories Story By Jason Willis
Jin www.gwangjunewsgic.com
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hae, South Korea hosts the largest annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Korea. The festival lasts ten days, and during that time, up to two million people visit the city. Last year, my wife and I decided to go and add two more to the mix. Jinhae is currently home to the only U.S. naval base in South Korea. In the past it was home to the Imperial Navy throughout the Japanese occupation. It was during that time that numerous cherry trees were planted across the city. It is estimated that there are roughly 340,000 trees lining city streets and surrounding mountains. Although the trees were widely planted by the Japanese, they were later traced back to Jeju Island. Luckily, we planned ahead and purchased bus tickets in advance. We heard, after the fact, that buses were full, and people were turned away without seats. From Gwangju, we first traveled to Masan and then caught another bus into Jinhae. The trip should have taken four and a half hours, but with the heavy festival traffic, it took over five.
As we entered Jinhae, we instantly saw the festivities taking place. We knew with the forecasted rain that we had limited time to see as much as possible. We made the right call to immediately visit the hilltop Jaehwangsan Park. At the center of the park sits the nine-story Jinhae Tower. Since that is the best view of the city and the sea, we wanted to make it there before the clouds rolled in. There are exactly 365 steps leading to the base of the tower. The stairs allow people time to reflect on the past year, take selfies or pose with the decorations set-up along the way. For those unable to tackle the stairs, there is also a monorail leading to the top of the park. Once you make it to the tower, there are nine more flights of stairs to ascend. Or, again, if you are not up for walking the stairs, you can wait in line for the elevator. After the 365 steps to the tower, we opted for the time-saving, additional short climb to the top. What a beautiful view! It is
of urtesy aphs co photogr illis jason w
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photo by aaron Choi
hard to beat a city scene that includes the sea, mountains and cherry blossoms at their peak.
The clouds darkened the sky, and it continued to rain. We decided we had seen enough and made our way to the bus station. We did not make it to Gyeonghwa Station or Anmin Hill, but we had a great time. My advice is to go at least once. Plan ahead, map a route, but be prepared to adapt and brave the unexpected. We made it home with a bundle of memories. The only thing I would do differently, if we made a return trip, would be to take a snorkel and floaties.
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Then it was on to the famous Gyeonghwa Station. That is when the monsoon rolled in. It started pouring cats and dogs! During full bloom, small gusts of wind made petals rain down and swirl in the streets like swirling
We opted to skip the station and head back to the festival center. There, we found shelter at a food vendor and enjoyed some delicious pork barbecue. Just moments before, the pig had been roasting on a spit over an open flame.
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We had a route mapped out, but we changed it due to the impending weather. We decided to visit our next mustsee location, the Yeojwacheon Stream. The Yeojwacheon Stream is lined with cherry trees and boardwalks on both sides with little footbridges crossing every hundred meters or so. Vendors line the boardwalks selling different types of food and art. These areas were very crowded and full of tourists, so we took stairs downward to the stream. There were still plenty of festival goers, but we did not have to fight our way through hordes of people. There were different decorations along the length of the stream. Our favorite was the umbrella display.
snowflakes. Or, in our case â&#x20AC;&#x201D; during heavy rain â&#x20AC;&#x201D; falling raindrops made the petals plunge rapidly and cover everything in sight!
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photograph by Douglas MacDonald
Jeju
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cherry blossom, one of the most beautiful images of spring, is said to have originated in the Himalayas and is also considered to be the national flower of Japan. In fact, Yoshino cherry blossom trees were first planted in Korea by the Japanese during their rule (1910-1945) and have historically been an object of controversy as they are a painful reminder of the Japanese occupation for some. Other, more positive symbolic associations of the cherry blossom include morality, grace, and brevity of life. These trees, which bloom with thousands of stunning pink, white and sometimes yellow flowers, can be found in Europe, Asia, and even the United States. Despite the fact that many varieties of cherry blossom trees do not produce any actual edible fruit, the beautiful colors and peaceful ambiance that the blooming trees bring to the spring season more than make up for this. With favorable weather, cherry blossom trees typically stay in bloom for only about two weeks. You will want to make plans to enjoy the sights and scents of this special season while you can.
blossom photo contest, a photo zone, flower viewing, and a light display. In addition, a Jeju Cherry Blossom seminar will be taking place to raise academic awareness of the blossom as a habitat. On April 9-10 (Saturday - Sunday), tourists can enjoy a cherry blossom street event, photo contest, flea market, and more. Of course, being in Jeju, one of Korea’s most well-known tourist locations, there will always be the usual yearround activities available such as visiting one of Jeju’s many parks and museums, walking the coastline, or exploring Manjanggul Cave. Jeju is Korea’s largest island and smallest province. It is also home to Hallasan the tallest mountain in South Korea and a dormant volcano. With its unique landscape and endless options for enjoying nature, Jeju Island has come to be considered one of the ‘new seven natures of wonder’ in the world. What better time to enjoy the island than during this 10-day celebration of the majestic cherry blossom season which is so beautiful, yet ephemeral. Transportation [Bus] From Jeju International Airport, take bus 500 and get off at New Jeju Rotary (신제주로터리). -Cross the road, and go to the bus stop. -Take Bus 20, and get off at Public Health Center 1 (보건소1). (Directions and festival schedule http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/
from
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On April 1 (Friday), an opening ceremony will kick off the festival, followed by cultural events happening on Jeonnong-ro Street along with a Cherry Blossom Music concert.
taken
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Luckily, the annual Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival is right around the corner. This year, the event is scheduled to take place between April 1-10. These dates depend on weather and blooming times, so check the web for schedule changes as the festival approaches. According to the Jeju Tourism Organization, tourists will be able to enjoy a walking contest, various performances, and a fireworks show, all while enjoying the exquisiteness of Jeju’s King Cherry Tree blossoms. Unlike the Japanese Yoshi blossom, the King Cherry Tree is indigenous to South Korea and has some of the largest and most beautiful petals of all the varieties. Every year, the event planners have worked hard to make the festival more interesting and better than the year before with a full schedule of events for tourists to enjoy.
By Eden J. Jones
FEATURE
cherry blossom festival The
On April 2-3 (Saturday - Sunday), there will be a Seosara Cultural Street Festival at Samdo 1-dong. On April 4-8 (Monday -Friday), Jeju National University will make its entrance. The festival will also have a cherry
photo by Lorryn Smit
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The
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advent of spring in Korea brings with it one of the most soothingly beautiful sights in nature: a nation wide sea of pale pink and white cherry blossoms. Though Japan is more famous internationally for its cherry blossoms, Korea offers an equally spectacular range of opportunities to fully appreciate this spring-time gift. Those of us lucky enough to be in Korea during cherry blossom season should not miss out. In addition to the Jinhae Gunhanje Festival and Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival discussed in this issue, this spring season offers multiple cherry blossom viewing opportunities for those seeking to immerse themselves in the spectacle. Each year the Korea Meteorological Administration publishes its forecast for the cherry blossom season. Released in early March, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forecast informs us that peak cherry blossom time will begin on March 20 and last through April 10, meaning that a cherry-blossom enthusiast willing to travel the length of South Korea from south to north could theoretically spend three weeks appreciating the blooms. As to be expected, cherry blossoms bloom in the warmer regions of the country first before spreading north. As such, Seogwipo in the southern part of Jeju Island is expected to have the earliest blossoms around March 20. Following closely behind are Busan and South Gyeongsan Province, which are expected to see their first blos-
soms around March 24 or 25. According to the Busan Metropolitan City website, visitors to Busan will have a plethora of cherry viewing options including at Haeundae Dalmaji Road, Igidae Coastal Promenade, and Namcheon-dong Cherry Blossom Road. For those seeking to have their breath taken away not only by the view but also by an athletic challenge, on April 9 Gyeongju will hold its annual Cherry Marathon along the lovely Bomunho Lake.
How
Closer to home, the blossoms should start to appear in Gwangju, South Jeolla and southern North Jeolla around March 29. For those Gwangju residents unable to travel during cherry blossom time, going to Sangnok Hall near Nongseong in Seo-gu is a wonderful option. The forecast predicts that cherry blossoms will hit the Jeonju, Daejeon, and Cheongju areas around March 31, April 1 and April 3 respectively. Those who cannot spend too much time away from the capital city should know that the forecast predicts blooms to start in Seoul on
April 7. In addition to being able to view cherry blossoms in many of the palaces in Seoul (and the many other gorgeous flowers in their gardens), there are many other places to see
photo by debbie collins
the Cherry Blossoms By Katrin Márquez
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the blossoms. The Korea Tourism Organization has a number of recommendation of cherry blossom viewing in Seoul. It recommends Yeouido’s Yunjungro Cherry Blossom Tunnel behind the National Assembly Building and notes that it is a popular tourist destination during spring. Namsan Circular Road is also recommended as it also has an abundance of forsythias and azaleas in addition to cherry blossoms. Kyunghee University is a great option as the road connecting the front gate of the university to the main building has about 200 cherry blossom trees. Lastly, as Ilsan Lake Park’s nickname of Flower Park suggests, it has over 1,800 cherry blossom trees in addition to many other flowering plants. The meteorological administration believes the cherry blossoms will reach the most northern parts of Korea around April 9 (Chuncheon) or 10 (Incheon). Those wishing to make the most of cherry blossom season should start planning their trips now. That said, it is important to note that meteorology is not an exact science and, as such, there is no guarantee that the blossoms will come in exactly as predicted. Even so, the Korea Meteorological Association’s forecast provides some useful information so go forth into the floral sea of pink.
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FEATURE
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photo by Lorryn Smit
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photos by joe wabe
Indy
An Indian Feast in Downtown Sangmu by sean dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;angelo
yards outside the door and it already smells like Hindu paradise, a heady musk of cumin, cardamom, coriander, and turmeric beckoning the senses. These chefs are not kidding around. Nestled alongside the 518 Memorial Park in metropolitan Sangmu stands “Indy”, a lavish culinary experience that has been one of Gwangju’s exotic staples since the Daejeon-based restaurant chain opened a branch here in late 2012.
for the evening, but prawn and lamb rib were also on the menu. In contrast, our appetizer, a puffy fried onion and vegetable dumpling medley reminiscent of pakora, but much larger, was redolent with ginger and subtle spices that teased the palate. The drinks list is unfortunately a bit sparse with few imported beers and a mediocre selection of over-priced wine. I found myself wishing for a Kingfisher, but settled on a two-for-one yogurt mango lassi special that was almost stunning.
As a self-proclaimed “Authentic Indian” experience, Indy has the heart of rich and savory home-style Indian cooking with all the trappings of a fine-dining establishment. Silken drapes, mosaic tapestries, and delicate paintings cover the walls while whimsical dioramas grace the space between tables. About the only things missing are the cushions and hookahs. It seems the owners want this restaurant to be considered a high-class establishment. If Michelin reviewed restaurants in Korea, Indy would be vying for a place at the top. To that end, the waiters are neatly dressed, conversant in English, and work hard to make guests feel comfortable and welcome. Our reservations, made by phone, were unnecessary as it turned out and we were promptly seated at one of the ample tables for two.
Flowery rhetoric aside, the atmosphere at Indy is fun and the food overall tastes fantastic. For a romantic night out or a business meeting over lunch, Indy makes a fine venue. In an attempt to stay family friendly, Indy also offers a recommended children’s menu featuring some of their milder dishes. Though, the prices and atmosphere are not kid-friendly.
Open daily for lunch 11:30-3:00, and dinner 5:3010:00 (11:30-10:00 on weekends and holidays.) Reservations available 062-376-7052, and menus online at www.indyfood.co.kr
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The curries, all halal friendly as the manager informed us, are ubiquitously thick and sensuous; more spice than sauce in most cases. With few good lamb restaurants in Korea, we ordered the Ghost Kadai, a chili curry with a solid punch of spice that had us frequently seeking refuge in our naan. The tandoori is smoky, fresh, grilled to a satisfying charcoal crisp, served with a fennel-lemon cream side that turned away my date, but had me hanging on the uncertain edge of distaste and addiction. The flavors all matched but the taste was so unique it is difficult to characterize. Chicken tandoori was our choice
Address 광주 광역시 서구 치평동 135 번지 1층
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The chefs, trained in their native cuisine at home before moving to Korea, admirably represent the diversity of Indian culinary culture with the variety of dishes offered. Their menu is a hefty ten-page, full-color beast, with options for all tastes and diets. Prices are a bit steep compared to other Indian restaurants in town with sides averaging about 4,000 won and curries starting at 19,000 won. However, when it comes to the food, Indy is unapologetic. Besides the complimentary side of pickles served at so many foreign restaurants in place of kimchi, and a curry pasta menu so cursory it barely merits mention, no attempt is made to satisfy standards imposed by Korean gastronomy.
Getting there is easy, if you can find the 518 Memorial Park. If you go early enough, you can even enjoy a sunset stroll through the forest or the quaint little temple nearby if only to feel less guilty about all the weight you just put on.
FOOD & DRINKS
Five
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Bibimbap
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Stir it for Spring By Cho Namhee photo by Joe Wabe
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Vi
brant colors of various ingredients garnish a bowl of steamed rice - this is bibimbap, the first traditional Korean food to be served on every inbound flight to Incheon airport. Its original name, goldongban (骨董飯) meaning “mixed rice”, derives from the Ming Dynasty and was first mentioned in a cooking recipe written anonymously in the latter era of the Chosun Dynasty. However, it does not seem to have a short history. The current Korean bibimbap is different from the very first goldongban from China. They both share a similar appearance, however, goldongban is a dish with rice and ingredients entirely steamed together, while, bibimbap is simply a mixture of steamed rice with the ingredients (cooked or otherwise) on top. There are a few convincing hypotheses behind the origin of bibimbap. First, it is believed to have arisen from the religious ceremonies that
Koreans have traditionally held. In the past, they believed in mountain gods and thus, they had to travel far from town to hold ceremonies. As part of the rituals, they needed to prepare sacrificial food on appropriate dishes but it was too burdensome for them to carry a vast array of such dishes. Moreover, they may have also used a single bowl to consume all the food to signify it as an interaction completely between the god and themselves. Therefore, a single bowl was satisfactory for both their convenience and their reverence for god. Also, in the Korean agrarian society, bibimbap would have easily become a normal custom for meals. In the 18th and 19th centuries, having spent a lot of time at the rice paddies, the farmers would often have had to have meals outdoors. It was easy for them to carry a basket full of vegetables and rice, and mix them for their meal. Furthermore, they did not want to waste the food at the end
of the year, so they would have mixed all the leftovers on the eve of the Lunar New Year. Depending on the region’s specialties, different variations of bibimbap have been created. There are four main types of bibimbap – with the original including beef, herbs and vegetables, sliced raw fish, and in a special stone bowl - and bibimbap in Jeonju is well-known as the best dish served in the Korean peninsula. It is composed of thirty different ingredients and they vary depending on the season. Spring makes for the best opportunity to taste the wisdom of the Korean forbearers. Savor the breathtaking combination of spring herbs and sprouts, stir-fried red chili paste with ground beef and a hint of sesame oil. You will see why Koreans love to mix and stir!
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Champions Field By Calen Cygan
photo by joe wabe
When you enter the gorgeous new stadium, your senses will be assaulted with many delightful sights, sounds, and smells. Fans in their red-and-black apparel in support of the home team yell loudly and smack their inflated yellow cheer sticks together to add to the roar of the stadium initiated by dancing cheerleaders. For most of these fans, the game will not be complete without the traditional baseball snacks of chicken and beer or dried squid. Unlike western sports arenas, fans can bring in their own snacks and drinks, allowing for endless consumption possibilities. One inning into the game, it will be easy to see how baseball is such an adored part of Gwangju culture.
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The stadium can seat up to 27,000 fans. Tickets for a regular season home game range from 7,000 to 14,000 won in the grandstands, with box and specialty seats costing
between 20,000 and 100,000 won.
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Most
major cities have at least one sports team around which the citizens can come together to support and celebrate, and for Gwangju, that team is the beloved Kia Tigers baseball team. One of ten professional teams in the country, the Kia Tigers play in Kia Champions Field, opened at the start of the 2014 season. The stadium is located close to the river, complete with grassy picnic areas and sand pits almost always full of playing children.
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Photo Essay
What
Hinduism in his 1985 bestseller, Cosmos: the more quickly we are pulled into the fiery, divine dance taking place around us. Such a dance seems dreamlike, eternal, or nearly so. It is an experience which Carl Sagen put best when describing Hinduism in his 1985 bestseller, Cosmos:w
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can one say about India? There are few places on earth which engage, or often manhandle, the senses as thoroughly as this subcontinent. The more energy spent trying to verbally express the cacophony of colors, sounds, and scents, which she exudes, the less available to engage with her, in the moment. If nothing else, a place like this demands our open presence. Indeed, there may be little choice in the matter. For the more we attempt to remain distant, comfortably aloof and safe in our judgments, the more quickly we are pulled into the fiery, divine dance taking place around us. Such a dance seems dreamlike, eternal, or nearly so. It is an experience which Carl Sagen put best when describing
When Senses Speak Capturing India
Story and photos by Martin
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“
There is the deep and appealing notion that the universe is but the dream of the god who, after a hundred Brahma years [8.64 billion, X 100], dissolves himself into a dreamless sleep. The universe dissolves with him - until, after another Brahma century, he stirs, recomposes himself and begins again to dream the great cosmic dream. Meanwhile, elsewhere, there are an infinite number of other universes, each with its own god dreaming the cosmic dream. These great ideas are tempered by another, perhaps still greater. It is said that men may not be the dreams of the gods, but rather that the gods are the dreams of men.”
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Miller
Practicing photography amid such a scene might seem antithetical to such a premise. For, how can a tool which relies on capturing a snippet of ‘time’ ever hope to express the ‘timelessness’ of a place like India? Such a conundrum can at best serve to quiet the mind, open the heart, and let the photos speak for themselves.
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Photo of TheBy Month Marco Devon
L
iving in South Korea has taught me about the value and need for solitude from time to time. I love Korea and it has a lot of beauty to offer. My favorite place to retreat to is Nami Island. It is true that Nami Island can be absolutely crowded with tourists who wish to visit the filming location of the drama Winter Sonata, but fortunately very few people ever explore the back of the island which is where this image was taken. I was able to watch the girl cycle on her bicycle for at least ten minutes before timing her and placing her in the frame exactly where I wanted. I wanted to capture exactly what I was experiencing at the time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; stillness and beauty.
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34
h t u o S y a D g i B
azine ngle mag esy of a t r u o c s n photo Ana Trayni terview by
In
Big
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Day South will take place on April 30th at Barim Art Space from 11-3pm and Club Nevermind from 4-10 pm.
What is Big Day South? Big Day South is an annual audio-visual festival created by Angle Magazine, a bilingual audio-visual webzine covering the southern regions of South Korea. The festival is a showcase of the best creative talent that the southern half of the country has to offer. Having grown over the last two years in Daegu and Ulsan, it is coming to Gwangju for the first time this year. What is the goal of the festival? Big Day South showcases and celebrates the wonderful talent we have in the south. We hope to create an immersive, interactive event that helps bring communities to-
gether. Performers from different cities link up with a diverse audience, not defined by nationality or language but by a love of the arts. Big Day South, like Angle Magazine, is entirely bilingual, to be welcoming and easily enjoyed by all those who enjoy art. You mention that the event is interactive. How can festival attendees get involved? There will be a number of art performances at Barim between 11:00am and 3:00pm. During that time we will have a variety of interactive art stations with which the audience can experiment. Anyone can participate as much or as little as he or she likes. Check out the event page on Facebook or the Angle website for more details. We are also welcoming â&#x20AC;&#x153;GACHIâ&#x20AC;? (Gwangju Animal Care Humane Institute), which will fundraise through another participatory event. We encourage active response to performances, be that physical involvement as requested
35 at the main music stage summed up what the festival is all about. The band was lost to a total stage invasion when the crowd and members of other bands spontaneously flooded the stage to dance, sing and celebrate together. How do you expect Big Day South to change and develop by being in Gwangju? Why did you choose to move it there this year? Angle Magazine has long been aware of many artists and musicians in Gwangju, but it has taken us time to make our way across to the west coast of Korea. With the recent growth and all-too-sudden loss of Salt Art Gallery, and new releases by bands like Summer Never Comes or Amazing Visual, we felt we had to take the leap. On top of that, the city is already home to some great media like PIK, Gwangju News and Keun Soli, and we are grateful for the amount of support we have received from media and musicians. Moving from Daegu and Ulsan to the other side of the country challenges us to build new relationships and highlight artists that we have not had the opportunity to work with yet. Audiences traveling to Gwangju for the festival will find a city that supports the arts and culture and is home to great food and friendly people. What are you most excited about this year? I am excited about the number of new performers at this year’s festival. For the third year in a row we have kept a minimal number of repeat offenders. We have invited some back because they have had a wonderful year worth celebrating, but overall the majority are performing for the first time at any Angle event.
What are some of the highlights of the previous two years’ festivals?
For more information, visit anglekorea.org
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Personally, the highlight for me was not any particular performance, as I knew every performer would be great. That the event truly was a celebration was a wonderful thing to experience. Seeing people who connected through the festivals go on to work and create together was also immensely rewarding. From the first festival in Daegu, the emotional performance by Kim Yi-Hwa as a reaction to the Sewol tragedy was a perfect example of art’s ability to connect witnesses in a shared experience. In Ulsan, the crowd’s reaction to the final set by Genius
Two free tickets to be won by a Gwangju News reader: Help us build a post-it note art wall at Barim. Doodle on a post-it and add it to others on the wall. To take part in the competition, create your drawing in advance. Take a photo and share it on Instagram under the hashtag #bigdaysouth. Gwangju News will choose a winner to receive the tickets. Bring your drawing along on the day of the festival to receive a free drink of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey at Club Nevermind.
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by performers, or just dancing—it really is the best way to show a band that you like what they are doing! Also, share your photos from the event under the #bigdaysouth hashtag to create a collective documentation of the festival.
ARTS & CULTURE
36
Gwangju Vagina Monologues:
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V
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Five Years Strong
As part of Ensler’s V-Day and One Billion Rising campaign, performers also stage a flash mob to raise awareness about ending violence against women. The proceeds from fundraisers and ticket sales have been donated to local charities that help Korean and foreign women and children in Gwangju.
-Day, a global project to raise awareness and bring attention to women’s issues, is entering its fifth performance year in Gwangju.
In April 2012, American performer, writer and women’s rights activist Eve Ensler’s 1996 play The Vagina Monologues had its first Gwangju performance at the now-defunct Kunsthall Theater in downtown. Since then, members of the foreigner-run Gwangju Performance Project have worked with local theaters to continue staging an annual performance.
By Vagina Monologues Gwangju
The 2015 performance, ‘A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer,’ a longer offshoot of the first play, was the first production to include male performers. This year, the Gwangju Vagina Monologues reverts back to the original script and an all-female cast. It brings together its largest production team yet, with five organizers and twenty cast members, each performing a monologue piece. Ynell Lumantao, who has performed in the play since 2013 and made her directorial debut for last year’s performance, returns as director this year. “This is my fourth year, so imagine how empowered I am now,” Lumantao said. “Imagine if we have a lot of women like us, feeling the way we feel right now.” Co-organizers echoed her sentiment in hoping the performance would inspire others to join the production.
37 Liaison Stel Deianne, who joins for her second consecutive V-Day production, believes that, “As long as anyone is willing to pass the torch, it will be here.” Stage manager Monique Dean Onyema, who was particularly moved to perform the piece “Respect” in last year’s play, sees the Vagina Monologues production as a way for foreigners to give back to the Korean community. While previously, Gwangju V-Day has partnered with several charities, this year’s production focuses on raising money for My House 우리 집, a shelter for teenage single mothers and their children. “Being a single mother is pretty much stigmatized here in Korea,” Onyema said. “It’s something that is so taboo and people are not really aware of it because it is so hidden and so sometimes they do not get the support that they need.” Deianne said that by choosing this particular charity, the V-Day team will “be able to open at least a little bit of that closed-mindedness.” During a visit, assistant director Dana Han observed the young women at the shelter.
“The title is this taboo word, screaming at you,” she said. “It’s more about my sexuality. What is it to learn to be a woman? To be proud and comfortable with myself, my body. I’m a wife and a mother and I have a daughter and I have to talk to her about those things. If I don’t have answers, then how am I going to talk to her about that? It’s a personal journey.” Sound director Paolo Mondragon, the sole male member of the production team, referred to the name as a “double-edged sword” for those such as himself, who first heard about the Vagina Monologues last year. “The title can turn you off, but it also grabs your attention so your curiosity is activated. You realize it’s an important issue.” This year’s monologues include a transgender woman’s story, reflecting more awareness of the particular challenges faced by this part of the LGBTQ community. Dongmyeong-dong’s Yunbaram Theater is hosting the performance for the second year in a row. While organizers agree about the language and cultural challenges of working with Korean theater companies, theater director Lee Dang Geum has been a strong support of the project.
“Most of them are high school students, some are middle school students so they have to continue studying. The teachers come and teach them right there. They have psychologists who come, art classes, where they draw themselves.”
Among other fundraisers, the V-Day Team will have a GIC Talk and bake sale on April 2 and an upcoming flashmob that will invite all members of the community to participate.
For Han, the Vagina Monologues performance is also a means to explore personal issues.
The Vagina Monologues performance happens at Yunbaram Theater on Saturday, April 23 at 3 pm, 7 pm and Sunday, April 24 at 3 pm.
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38
The Voice of
“Han”
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ARTS & CULTURE
by Jonathan Chiarella
W
hile South Jeolla has produced baduk (aka weiqi, igo) legends seen in the news so much lately, North and South Jeolla have also been the birthplace or adopted home of the legends of pansori, a traditional Korean performance that can be thought of an emotional somber musical play performed by singer (traditionally female) and percussionist (traditionally male). Jindo, specifically, is the birthplace of Lee Im-rye a pansori singer. While the drums and singers are tangible, the practice of pansori itself is listed as Korea’s 5th Important Intangible Cultural Asset and Lee became Gwangju’s Important Cultural Property #15 in 1987. Her story even formed the basis for a TV drama in 1994.
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After a few years in Seoul, Lee adopted Gwangju as her home, where she performs at the Gwangju Traditional Culture Hall at the foot of Mt. Mudeung, in addition to performances abroad, usually in the USA. She specializes in the Gangsanje style, a branch of the Seopyeonje school born in South Jeolla, the softer and smoother school, as compared to North Jeolla’s Dongpyeonje school, known for is staccato and sharp crescendo. It is the especially lyrical and poetic content and clear enunciation of Gangsanje that drew Lee.
Much like Western operas, all the music is performed live and the songs are long and narrative. Key differences in the performance are that while the drummer or drum may switch out in a single pansori, the singer continues in a long solo single act. Qualitatively, the songs are somber and tragic, unlike the classical Greek division of comedies and tragedies, and the music is far different, of course. The theme of sorrow (“han”) is a hallmark of the most distinctive Korean arts. Wiith pansori being no exception, Jeolla has produced the most performers and the four main schools. Lee believes the reason is due to Jeolla’s history as a site of national neglect and repression; the area also has a long history as the destination for exiles, willing and unwilling.
What is the best environment, I asked, to hear pansori? Lee recommended not the austere or even majestic and quiet performance halls. The real spirit of pansori is best enjoyed outdoors. Not only the mountainous surroundings of the semi-secluded cultural hall where she works, but also the outdoor festival scene, a large crowd or gathering around a circle. Her reason for choosing pansori is the same as th reason she recommends hearing pansori for non-Koreans, it captures the essence of the Korean spirit in a very distinctive manner. Lee actively performs and she has also taught classes at Gwangju Performing Arts High School and the provincial university, today conducting traditional one-on-one instruction. While in her own performances she sings as a partner plays the instrument (typically a janggu), she is versatile and will play the opposite role when training pupils.
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She began her pansori journey at the age of 15 in the 1950s, studying under Lee Byeong-gi in Sunchang for seven years, but the initiative was on her own. Local schools were not promoting pansori as cultural revival nor was pansori a family legacy. In fact, like several musical and sports masters, it was her dedication and passion that drove her, despite the fierce opposition of her parents to her career choice. In addition to her status as Gwangju cultural asset she has won in industry awards ceremonies locally (1969, 1990) and nationally (1984, 1993) and a presidential award (1991). In her experience, the sound of pansori has stayed traditional; the changes have been
in the lives of pansori players, owing largely to differences in Korean society at large over. Players had to perform and practice all day, everyday to eke out a living. People ended school much younger and set down a certain path in life. Contrasting with her own childhood, everyone learning pansori now enjoys a full high school education.
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40
Gate Ball The Hidden Pastime of the Elderly
by Namhee Cho Researched by YoungJu Cho
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SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
Ten
men and women are on a field of dirt standing beside the sidelines waiting for their number to be called. When it is time, they enter the playing field and crouch and gaze at the target using their metal stick as a guide. They are playing neither golf nor lawn bowl. They are in fact playing a game of gate ball. Gate ball is similar to croquet which is played with balls and a stick on a field of grass, artificial turf or dirt. There are no records of the official introduction of croquet to Korea however, it was introduced to Japan in 1880s. Not until post WWII was the sports known to the public. In 1947, Suzuki Kazunobu from Hokkaido created the game by adopting and modifying croquet considering the environmental condition of the island in woods. The game became popular soon after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, when there was the “sports for all” boom throughout the Japanese archipelago. Not only the phenomenon but also the game’s easy and simple rules requiring a relatively small amount of energy to play have attracted the elderly to the neighborhood fields. It was first introduced to Korea in 1980s. Attempts to host the Asian Games and the Olympic Games in the 80s led to the development of the infrastructure of sports throughout Korea. At first, the gate ball clubs were established to provide more leisure for the elderly in the community. Since the establishment of the Union of Gate Ball Korea, the number of clubs around the country was dramatically increased and by 1998, gate ball was played regardless of age. The players have 30 minutes to play and they are divided into two groups of five with own designated numbers in order. There are three gates worth a point each and a goal pole worth two points in the middle of the field of 20~25m (65~82in) by 15~20m (49~65in). The two teams have five white and five red balls weighed 230g (0.5 lb) in a diameter of 7.5cm (3 in) – the first attacking team nor-
mally takes the red - respectively for them to penetrate their balls into those gates and hit the pole to earn points. The ‘T’ sticks used for gate ball are not restricted in weight and material. However, the size of the head of the hammer-like stick should be between 18~24cm (7~9.5in). The beauty of the game is the ‘Spark.’ Spark is a turn given to the player when he/she hits the other player’s ball. During the Spark, the player puts his/her ball right next to the opposition’s ball and steps on both balls to put the opposition’s away with an impact by hitting his/her ball. Due to the special rule, it allows the players to come up with
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Other than strolling around the park, spending time in district senior welfare centers and meeting new people in public baths, gate ball can also fit into the elderly’s weekly schedule. Senior citizens in Gwangju definitely have limitations upon their choice of leisure. Hence, this gentle sport surely contributes to the improvement of the welfare of the aged.
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You may have wondered where all the elderly were in town but here they are, enjoying their new bonds of friendship created on the playing field. There are more than ten gate
ball fields in the city and they are open to everyone every day from morning till night.
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various strategies interrupting other players for their win. Crowds of the elderly in their 60s and 70s visit Gwangju All-weather Gate Ball Field located right beside Sangmu Citizen’s Park in Seo-gu. “They come here for their wellbeing. Both mental and physical,” said Lee Gyejeong, Secretary General of Gwangju Gate Ball Union. Currently, there are 800 members in five sub-associations in each districts of Gwangju Metropolitan City. “Not only the elderly come here and play, but also they meet and make friends on the field. We also have formed good teams to compete in national level” Lee said with confidence. “We have won more than nine national competitions so far including the National Gate Ball Union’s Competition, Competitions hosted by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Council of Sport for All.”
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EDUCATION
The “Role” of the Second Language Teacher
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hen we think of the role that a teacher plays in the Englisha s - a - f ore i g n - l a n guage classroom, we often visualize an authority figure standing at the front of the class, spewing out knowledge for the students to retain. This is a quite traditional view of teaching, transmission teaching, where the teacher is viewed as the source of knowledge and transmits it to empty vessels (students’ minds). The more recent view of learning, however, is that more efficient learning comes through experiencing – through the learning trying to discover solutions to what they do not yet know, through inquiry-based learning. This type of learning is especially applicable to the learning of skills, and learning a foreign language is best viewed as learning a skill. The Teacher is a Facilitator. Viewing language learning as learning a skill, and viewing it as best being attained through student discovery, the role of the teacher becomes multi-faceted. The teacher becomes a facilitator, someone who facilitates the student
in their learning process. The facilitator must do all that they can to create the best environment for language learning to take place for the student. As such, the teacher takes on a variety of roles within the language learning classroom, regularly morphing from one role into another and often taking on more than one role at a time, not so different from the work of an acrobat. The Teacher as Controller. Without control of the class, whether clearly visible or not, effective learning would be hindered. As controller, the teacher creates daily routines and sticks to them: calling role, starting with a warm-up activity, ending with review. This can give the student a sense of familiarity with what to expect next, thus reducing learner anxiety. Having a set of class rules – rules that the students have been informed of, or even helped create – aids in more effortless class control. Raise your hand to answer a question; no chewing gum in class; turn off your cell phone before class do not jump on the teacher’s desk. Set the rules that best suit your teaching situation.
The Teacher as Organizer. English class time often consists in large part of activities. To work well these activities need to be organized well not just in pre-class preparation but also in in-class execution. The good organizer arouses student interest in the task before the activity even begins. The good organizer gives clear instructions on how to do the activity, demonstrating how it is to be done before starting the activity. The good organizer gives language feedback to the students during and following the activity. [A dialogue on corrective feedback appeared in the last issue of this column.] The Teacher as Evidence Gatherer. While students are engaged in smallgroup activities it is the task of the teacher to monitor the students and make notes (i.e., gather evidence) of what the students say and do (and what they neglect to say or do). This can later be given as feedback to the individual student, to the group, or to the whole class, depending on the content or the situation. Evidence gathering occurs before and after the activity - before to ascertain if
43 the students understand the instructions, and after, to ascertain whether the students have retained the target language of a previous lesson. The Teacher as Prompter. In highly guided and relatively free activities, it is often the case that the student will lack the word, expression, or language structure they want or need to complete their communication successfully. This is where the teacher takes on the role of prompter. This can be done by providing the student with the entire sentence in its correct form, but often more effective is to the student just a bit of information for them to work out their sentence themselves. This could be a key word, the initial sound of the desired word (e.g., sss…), a structural form (e.g., as…as, verb + ing), or even a simple gesture or mime. The Teacher as Resource. Students always have questions, and especially for the student engaged in inquirybased learning, it is essential that the teacher act as a resource for the inquiring student – not necessarily giving the student the correct answer or
solution, but providing information that will help guide the student to the solution. The teacher must of course be a source of linguistic information for the student (e.g., grammatical information, pronunciation, vocabulary), but in addition, the teacher must be a source of cultural information that helps to make the language make sense, and a resource on language etiquette so that the learner does not inadvertantly make social gaffes (e.g., asking a person’s age). The Teacher as Comprehensible Input Provider. It is important to provide the student with lots of classroom time for speaking practice, especially in an EFL environment, but it is also very important to provide the student with large amounts of comprehensible input. The teacher can achieve this through the use of “classroom English” whenever possible, limiting the use of L1 to situations where it is absolutely necessary. The teacher should always be mindful of the speed of their speech, be careful to enunciate, and to refrain from dialectical delicacies.
Presentation by Kristy Dolson on classroom activities. Presentation by Brian Burgoyne on ELT.
David E. Shaffer is President of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL). On behalf of the Chapter, he invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops at their monthly meetings (2nd Saturday of the month). For many years, Dr. Shaffer has been a professor of English Language at Chosun University, where he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses. He is a long-time member of KOTESOL and a holder of various KOTESOL positions, including First Vice-President and Publications Committee Chair. He credits KOTESOL for much of his professional development in English language teaching.
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For more details: Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL
The teacher-facilitator has many roles to juggle throughout the course of a lesson – the roles of controller, organizer, evidence gather, prompter, resource, comprehensible input provider, and tutor. A teacher’s roles in relation to a student are not limited to these. Both in and out of the classroom, the teacher is placed in important roles such as role model and councilor, and often as care-giver. It takes a very special creature to take on the role of teacher.
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Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Monthly Meeting Date & Time: April 9 (Saturday) Place: Gwangju National University of Education
The Teacher as Tutor. It is not uncommon the advice that a teacher has to give is student-specific. If the advice or information is related to written work, it is often easy to give the information in written form on the student’s work and returning it. However, teacher help may be better given orally in the classroom, as with spoken classroom work. Tutoring sessions can often be given while the rest of the class is busy with an activity. With younger learners, a tutoring desk can be set up at the side of the room for individual tutoring sessions.
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Inside Korean Culture
Legal Marijuana In North Korea?
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by Stephen Redeker
In
North America, thousands of people will celebrate April 20 by partaking in the cannabis plant. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Four Twentyâ&#x20AC;? is an unofficial holiday for members of the marijuana subculture to smoke and advocate for the legalization of marijuana. Although the herb is illegal at the federal level in the United States, its recreational use has been legalized in two states, Colorado and Washington. What about the status and view of marijuana in both Koreas? In South Korea, it is well known that marijuana possession is illegal; in fact, it is considered a hardcore drug alongside heroin and crystal methamphetamines. Violators face prison terms of up to five years and fines of
up to 50 million won. Furthermore, police can search for drugs and administer urine or hair follicle testing at any time. Testing positive for THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis, constitutes a violation of the law. Therefore, a culture of marijuana smoking is all but absent in South Korea. Can the same be said about North Korea? There is a myth that marijuana is widely accepted in North Korea. Although it is surprising that a highly conservative nation-state would allow the use of a widely banned substance, there are numerous accounts and rumors of its cultivation and regular use. According to the Huffington Post, multiple defectors and visitors have claimed that
45 marijuana use is permitted or at least tolerated in North Korea. While on a tour, a blogger from England reported buying a large amount of the herb at a market and publicly smoking it without any problem. Even the tour guide partook in the smoking and explained that marijuana is not criminalized in North Korea as it is in other countries. An anonymous North Korean source cited in a report by the Seoul-based Open Radio for North Korea stated that Kim Jong-unâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regime does not consider marijuana or opium to be a drug. Tourists even claim to have seen cannabis plants growing freely along the roadside, by railroad tracks and in gardens of private residences. The Huffington Post and Vice have both reported that the use of marijuana is more common amongst the working class North Korean people. It is cultivated privately or bought cheaply at the market and smoked to relieve the aches and pains of daily hard work. It is also reportedly popular for military youth during their downtime to smoke marijuana, referred to as ip dambae (leaf tobacco). Matthew Reichel, a frequent traveler to North Korea as the Director of the Pyongyang Project, told the Guardian that these rumors are false. Firstly, ip dambae may not be the same as marijuana; although it looks very similar, it is actually a combination of dried herbs and tobacco that does not have the same psychoactive effect as smoking the â&#x20AC;&#x153;real thing.â&#x20AC;? It is more of an alternative to cigarettes. Furthermore, government-approved cannabis plants are
grown for their oils and other uses but do not contain high levels of THC. According to Reichel, some farmers may have amassed private stashes of marijuana, but it would not be smoked in public. Reichel claims that possession of marijuana would probably not lead to execution or banishment to a labor camp. The myth about marijuana legalization in North Korea may only be verifiable by venturing north of the border. Traveling to North Korea for the purpose of enjoying cannabis would be a foolish risk. Testing the laws can lead to serious consequences, as seen in the case of a recently detained American tourist. The last thing anyone wants to face is a firing squad for firing one up.
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46
Dong-sang-i-mong: Same Party, Different Dreams
OPINION
by Jonathan Chiarella
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G
eneral elections are on April 13. To simplify things, there is the president’s conservative party (whose leadership has become quite reactionary this past year), the major centre-left party (whose name is usually some variation on “democracy”/minju), the big tent of the left (currently the Justice Party), and the new People’s Party, running on populist rhetoric and sporting notables from the center-left to reform-minded centrists. The situation is mostly similar to elections in 2012 with the conservatives placed well and unified in key battleground districts, and with the main opposition party and socialists entering an electoral alliance (to get districts behind one candidate or the other in key areas). The difference now is the People’s Party, which has resonated most strongly in the Honam area, as of writing, may not enter into an electoral alliance, despite some party leaders like Cheon Jeong-bae (party co-chair and Gwangju representative) fearing the consequences of Saenuri picking up 200 seats and amending the constitution. Cheon is not alone, but others in the party are against an alliance. Some, it seems, are willing to risk Saenuri’s overwhelming victory due to a desire to remain pure and independent, or, more likely, to try to win at least 20 seats, guaranteeing public funding and secure “negotiating” ti-
tles in the National Assembly. Launching a party, growing it, keeping the energy after elections, and maintaining cohesion post-victory are all difficult, but cracks are showing already. The platform is sometimes vague; the original military platform mirrored the NPAD (now: Deobuleo) under Ahn Cheol-su, i.e., an America-leaning strategic ambiguity little different from President Park until late last year. Some, like Lee Sangjin, are almost like the classic South Korean conservative, calling Syngman Rhee “the father of the nation”. A more progressive type, Cheon, said it is okay if not everyone in the party agrees on everything. High profile progressive leaders of the Sunshine era have called the old party (now: “Deobuleo Minju”) and its leader Kim Jong-in a “betrayal of Sunshine”. Meanwhile, Kim has fired back that the People’s Party’s new economic platform is too market fundamentalist. It has also become clear that many party members have different motivations and dreams for the party. Ahn has been making rumblings about reform and “new” politics since 2012. Cheon and others criticize Deobuleo’s hegemonic tendencies. The party leadership elections are winner-take-all. A regular adviser of Ahn is Chonnam professor Cho Jung-kwan, now head of the Gwangju chapter
47 of the People’s Party. He spoke of the need for competition. Honam voting for the lesser evil does not incentivize the party to improve. Voting for Saenuri is demonstrably against Honam’s interest, but reflexive support for the Democrats has also killed enthusiasm. It reminds one of European party politics. Voting rates have fallen and party participation is merely passive, party systems stultified. On the other hand, Kim Han-gil, former co-chair of NPAD with Ahn, was called out by Cho. He criticized Kim’s recent overtures to Deobureo. Kim seemingly wants to re-merge with the old party pending certain concessions are made. This is the historic pattern. The constant splits and mergers and renegotiated party charters are a regular feature of liberal ROK parties. Pushed to the sidelines? Organize your faction and hold out until there is compromise. Cho wants an independent organization— he is not interested in the drama and power plays between elites over who or which faction gets which concession. The elections, party alignments, and parties themselves will change greatly soon. What will it look like? Return to the same-old? A descent into the void à la Europe? Populist revitalization like Spain and Greece? We will have to wait and see.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Gwangju News.
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Talk to Me In Korean Restaurant
Common Phrases (item) 빼 주세요. [(item) +ppae ju-se-yo.] : Please take out (item)./ Please do not put in (item). (고기) 안 먹어요. [(go-gi) an meo-geo-yo.]: I don’t eat (meat). (우유) 못 먹어요. [(u-yu) mon meo-geo-yo.] : I can’t drink (milk). (해물) 알레르기 있어요. [(hae-mul) al-le-reu-gi i-sseo-yo.]: I have allergy (to seafood). For those with allergies or aversions to certain foods, these are very useful phrases. Simply change out the words at the beginning to fit your dietary needs so that your orders are made to your liking. According to the dictionary, 안 refers to something you choose not to do, while 못 [mot] denotes something you area unable to do. When it comes to not eating something, most people use 못 (can’t) because: 1) choosing not to eat a certain food may causes others inconvenience, 2) choosing not to eat something (especially if you have no allergy) is a relatively new concept in Korea. Vegetarianism and veganism are on the rise in Korea, so you may find people saying “안 먹어요” [an meogeo-yo] (I don’t eat) more often in the future.
하나 더 주세요. [ha na deo ju-se-yo] : Give me more of this.
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If you really liked something and want to order one more, you can say this phrase. To be even clearer, you can add the name of the dish or 이거 [i-geo] (this) at the beginning of the phrase. This is an extract from the book, Survival Korean, available at MyKoreanStore.com
Talk To Me In Korean and Seoulistic are proud to present to you: Survival Korean! Survival Korean includes the most essential Korean phrases you need to know while traveling or living in Korea. The expressions come with detailed explanations as well as fun and useful information about the situation where they are used.
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2016 GWANGJU INTERNATIONAL CENTER KOREAN CLASS
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