(EN) Gwangju News December 2017 #190

Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine I December 2017 Issue #190 I 2017 Gwangju Urban Design Forum

1

Healing you and your family away from your daily routine!

What is the Gwangju Medi Tour Center?

1. We support online/offline consultation and reservation services regarding medical tourism.

2. We provide medical examination programs tailored to individual conditions and needs.

3. We introduce medical tourism products and courses.

4. We provide various services, including support for interpretation, immigration, and accommodation.

5. We take full responsibility for providing further services for our international patients after medical treatment.

25 Korea’s rTop traction t A ou T s es Welln

nter Asia Culture Ce

Gwangju Lake Ecological Park

Songjeong Mar ket

December 2017

Gwangju Wo rld Kimchi Festi val

Templestay

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

gung Cypress Hyoso

Gwangju Medi Tour Center Photo Source : KTO(김치축제)

Tel: +82-62-714-1730 Web: http://mediwellgj.kr mediwellgwangju

2

Letter From the Editor

T

December 2017, Issue No. 190 Published: December 1, 2017 Cover Photo: Dr. Tom Borrup, Gwangju Urban Design Forum 2017.

Photo courtesy of Nick Lethert.

Cover Art & Design: Karina Prananto

THE EDITORIAL TEAM Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editors Online Editorial Team Layout Editor Photo Editor Creative Advisor Copy Editors

Dr. Shin Gyonggu Dr. David E. Shaffer Eden Jones, Anastasia Traynin Nguyen Huong, Karina Prananto Karina Prananto Lorryn Smit Joe Wabe Alvina Joanna, Andrew Vlasblom, Brian Fitzroy, Gabrielle Nygaard, Lauren Reyes

Gwangju News is the first public English monthly magazine in Korea, first published in 2001. Each monthly issue covers local and regional issues, with a focus on the roles and activities of the international residents and local English-speaking communities.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

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 Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5 (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733~34 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com E-mail: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date: February 22, 2010 Printed by Join Adcom 조인애드컴 (+82)-62-367-7702 GwangjuNews

gwangjunews

GwangjuNewsGIC

For volunteering and article submission inquiries, please contact the Editor at: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr For advertising and subscription inquiries, please contact karina@gic.or.kr Special thanks to the City of Gwangju and all of our sponsors.

rees dropping their colorful coats, sidewalks covered in gingko leaves, swirls of wind laced with a detectable chill, the occasional snowflake in the air, thermometers dipping below 0, and thickening attire – all signs of the arrival of the winter season. And what everyone seeks in winter is warmth. We hope that this is what the December issue of the Gwangju News will bring you: that comfy feeling radiating from within, triggered by the text and photography within the pages of your favorite Gwangju newsmagazine open in front of you.

December brings with it joyous holidays, fluffy snowflakes, chubby snowmen, and yes, the Gwangju Urban Design Forum. Don’t miss our features on this international forum, which include an interview with Dr. Tom Borrup and a complementary feature on big city planning. Our other feature is with Roslyn Russell, a UNESCO committee chair revealing the importance of archiving historic events. Closer to home, see what Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun has been doing on the international scene.

Bringing us holiday cheer are our list of must-see Christmas films in our movie review section, a transformative holiday novel in our book review section, and a touching piece of fiction in Gwangju Writes: “Mary Christmas.”

For the restless, who prefer the outdoors to the fireside warmth, check out our piece on ice skating, take the trek to Gwangju’s Balsan Village, travel to Suncheon’s hidden treasures, and journey with Gwangju’s Dreamers to the deserts of Mongolia.

Food and good dining are of heightened significance during the holiday season. Discover the hidden secrets of U Thai for Thailand cuisine, learn how to create delicious dak-galbi, and travel back to rediscover one of Korea’s wintery treats: dalgona toffee. Yum. “Appreciate a quiet walk...under the beautiful colors” of 2017’s autumn in our Photo of the Month and in our photo essay, Colorful Mindfulness.

And there’s much more: a review of GPP’s fabulous production of The Taming of the Shrew, a close-up on animator Raqib Hasan Apu, and a follow-up on Josh Garcia. Living in the age of solitude (op-ed), quick classroom assessment (English teaching), and learning Korean (careers) wrap up our December issue.

Happy holidays! And join us in January for our first installment of 2018!

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News

3

Contents December 2017 #190

GWANGJU NEWS 04. Gwangju City News 06. Upcoming Events: December 08. Gwangju Theater Schedule 56. Community Board FEATURES 10. Dr. Tom Borrup and the Upcoming Gwangju Urban Design Forum 13. Bright Lights, Big City 15. Building Memory Through Archives: Roslyn Russell, Chair of the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Committee, Visits Gwangju

TRAVEL 26. Lost in Gwangju: Balsan Village 28. Around Korea: Suncheon’s Hidden Treasure 30. From Abroad: The Dreamers Tour Mongolia

FOOD & DRINKS 36. Where to Eat: U Thai 38. Kitchen Stories: Dak-Galbi 40. Korea Culture: Dalgona – An Entertaining, Wintery Snack from the Past EDUCATION 41. Talk to Me in Korean: Career 42. KOTESOL: “Class, Do You Understand?”

ARTS & CULTURE 42. Photo Essay: Colorful Mindfulness 48. Photo of the Month 50. Book Review: Transformative Novel for the Holidays: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 51. Gwangju Writes: Mary Christmas 52. Holiday Movie Review OPINION 54. Age of Solitude: Care to Join Us?

Wishing our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

December 2017

We at the Gwangju News would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. David E. Shaffer, our Editor-in-Chief, as the new KOTESOL National President!

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

COMMUNITY 18. In Town: Raqib Hasan Apu – Animator and World Commentator 22. Gwangju Live: GPP’s The Taming of the Shrew – A Silly, Naughty, Hilarious Show 24. Community Leaders: Josh Garcia – Voyaging Onward

SPORTS & ACTIVITIES 34. Sports: Ice, Ice, Baby!

4

GWANGJU NEWS

GWANGJU CITY NEWS Provided by Smart Administration Department, Gwangju City Hall Photographs courtesy of Gwangju City

▲ Mayor Yoon (far left), giving a presentation at the International Vehicle Symposium an

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

Gwangju Recognized by World as Model City for Electric Cars Gwangju has cemented its position as a model city for electric cars, while declaring a close solidarity with other cities in the world for a sustainable future. At the closing ceremony of the International Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition (EVS30) held in Stuttgart, Germany on October 11, 2017, Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun received an E-Visionary Award. This award has been given annually since 2003 by the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA) to cities, regions, and communities contributing to technical developments of electric vehicles and relevant investments. Gwangju has become the third city in Korea to receive this award, following Seoul (2012) and Jeju (2015).

Gwangju has been highly praised for developing electric vehicle-related technology and establishing research infrastructure. WEVA also noted that Gwangju has not only rapidly expanded the electric vehicle agenda in Korea, but it has also collaborated with various Asian countries, including China and India, for the development of environment-friendly vehicles.

After receiving the award, Mayor Yoon said that electric cars in our age are not a choice but a necessity and that he

will actively work in solidarity for an environment where no more cars will emit carbon dioxide. He also found it quite meaningful to visit Germany, the country of the late Jürgen Hinzpeter, who risked his life to disseminate the truth of the May 18th Democratic Uprising.

The sixth local administration of Gwangju has focused on fostering an environment-friendly automotive industry to develop stable, lucrative industries and generate more jobs through the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The “Environment-Friendly Automotive Parts Cluster Establishment Project,” which is a crucial project that fosters an environment-friendly automotive industry, has passed the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance in July 2016. This project is also included among the Moon administration’s major government projects. A total of 303 million U.S. dollars will be invested in this project to build relevant infrastructure, including a leading technology support center and a global business center at the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex, which is currently under construction. The complex is ultimately aimed at attracting completed vehicle manufacturers to the industrial compound.

Gwangju will develop the environment-friendly automotive industry and a new energy industry as a dual axis of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, planning to ultimately create a people-oriented “Smart Energy People’s City.”

5

um and Exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany.

▶ Top: Mayor Yoon (left) receiving the E-Visionary Award from the World Electric Vehicle Association.

Bottom: Mayor Yoon (middle) at the APPG AI Conference in the United Kingdom.

The U.K. Takes a Shine to Gwangju!

Yoon introduced Gwangju’s major future industries, including an environment-friendly automotive industry, energy valley, and culture content convergence industry.

The Mayor said that we should consider the impact of the development of artificial intelligence industries on human jobs. He added that Gwangju’s emphasis on job creation is to protect human rights through the sanctity of labor, along with economic aspects.

Gwangju’s mayor has officially invited the APPG on Human Rights to the 2018 World Human Rights Cities Forum to be held in Gwangju. The two parties have established a direct dialogue channel among working staff, and both parties have promised continual exchange activities for establishing cooperation measures necessary for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

December 2017

On October 30, Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun attended a conference hosted by the APPG AI (All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence) of the U.K. Parliament and made a presentation on “Gwangju, Smart Human City.”

Nicole Piche, the coordinator and legal adviser for the APPG on Human Rights, said that Yoon’s personal history and the value of human rights sought by Gwangju previously will greatly help the U.K. find future directions apart from artificial intelligence. She also stated that it will be an opportunity to seek peace and co-existence in the international community by maintaining continuous relations between the two parties.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

The Parliament of the United Kingdom has shown keen interest in the vision and policies of Gwangju, a city leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and has taken its first steps towards establishing themselves as future strategic partners.

Yoon clarified the difference between artificial intelligence and humans by mentioning “Can a machine think?” as a topic. He also stressed that a new history starts with changes, and it is the people who lead such changes. Also, Yoon requested that the U.K. government, too, be sure to add human-oriented value to their undertakings.

6

GWANGJU NEWS

Upcoming Events

▲ Yeosu Hyangiram Temple Sunrise Festival

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

▲ Boseong Tea Plantation Light Festival

▲ Ttangkeut Sunrise Festival

▲ Mudeungsan (by Bae Dong-shin, GMA)

7 Boseong Tea Plantation Light Festival 보성차밭 빛축제 The Boseong Green Tea Plantation comes to life with this Boseong Green Tea Light Festival! A large Christmas tree, wish trees, themed streets, a galaxy tunnel and hanging wish cards are planned as well as various performances and hands-on experiences for all visitors to enjoy.

Date: Lighting Time: Location: Admission: Telephone: Website:

December 15, 2017 – January 14, 2018 6–10 p.m.

775 Nokcha-ro, Boseong-eup, Boseonggun, Jeollanam-do Free 061-850-5211~5214 http://festival.boseong.go.kr/light/index. boseong

Yeosu Hyangilam Temple Sunrise Festival 여수 향일암 일출제 Hyangilam Temple in Yeosu is probably the most famous spot to greet the new year in Jeollanam-do! Visitors can end 2017 and welcome 2018 by watching the new sunrise while making New Year’s resolutions. The event kicks off with a Wish Parade, followed by traditional dance and singing performances. At midnight, the bell will ring in the New Year, followed by fireworks and many more activities. Before sunrise, a variety of drums will be played to welcome the dawn.

Date: Location: Admission: Telephone: Website:

Ttangkeut Sunrise Festival 땅끝 해넘이해맞이축제 2018

Date: Location: Admission: Telephone: Website:

December 31, 2017 – January 1, 2018 42 Ttangkeutmaeul-gil, Songji-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do Free 061-530-5309 http://tour.haenam.go.kr

This exhibition, Artists Who Came into Being by Namdo, highlights the Gwangju Museum of Art’s collection of art works that feature pieces by artists who were born in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region in the early 20th century and spearheaded modern and contemporary Korean art.

“Namdo,” a term widely used to refer to the southwestern area, particularly South Jeolla Province, gave birth to a multitude of eminent artists by virtue of its traditional art and culture forms.

Date: Location: Admission: Telephone: Website:

Until January 28, 2018 Exhibition Hall 5–6, Gwangju Museum of Art, 52 Haseo-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju Free 062-613-7100 http://artmuse.gwangju.go.kr

e brat Cele d of n e the year the e GIC! th with

7 1 0 2 의날 년 송 GIC

017 2 S O I AD December 16, 2017 (Sat.) 1-5 p.m.

2017.12.16 (토) 오후 1~5시 Gwangju International Center 1F 광주국제교류센터 1층 Cultural Experience I Community Gathering I Snacks & Drinks 문화체험 I 커뮤니티 모임 I 다과회

December 2017

Watch the first sunrise of 2018 from the Ttangkkeut (Land’s End) Observatory deck, at the southernmost tip of the Korean Peninsula! Make a wish for the new year at sunrise and watch performances during the day by the local people. You can also join in folk dances such as Ganggangsullae, the torchlight game, and experience additional festivities.

전라도 정도 천년 기념 광주시립미술관 소장작품전 “남도가 낳은 예술가들”

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 31, 2017 – January 1, 2018 Hyangilam, Yulim-ri, Dolsan-eup, Yeosusi, Jeollanam-do Free 061-659-4743~4745 http://tour.yeosu.go.kr/tour/culture_ festa/hyangilam

Artists Who Came into Being by Namdo Gwangju Museum of Art’s Collection Exhibition

8

Gwangju Theater

GWANGJU NEWS

62 Chungjang-no 5-ga, Dong-gu, Gwangju (two blocks behind NC WAVE) TICKETS: 8,000 won INFORMATION: 062-224-5858 For more information, please visit: http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju * Synopses excerpted from Wikipedia, IMDb and Hancinema

MYSTERIOUS SKIN 미스테리어스 스킨 Genre: Drama Director: Gregg Araki Film Length: 105 minutes Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brady Corbet, Michelle Trachtenberg

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

Summary: Mysterious Skin tells the story of two preadolescent boys who are sexually abused by their baseball coach and how it affects their lives in different ways into their young adulthood. One boy becomes a reckless, sexually adventurous male prostitute, while the other retreats into a reclusive fantasy of alien abduction.

ON BODY AND SOUL 우리는 같은 꿈을 꾼다 Genre: Drama Director: Ildikó Enyedi Film Length: 116 minutes Starring: Géza Morcsányi Summary: Endre and Mária work together in a slaughterhouse and have the same dream every night.

They meet as deer in the forest. They realize their joint dreams during an investigation when a psychologist interrogates everybody at the company where they work.

Endre is the CFO and Mária is a quality inspector who has autistic behavior. They are searching for the love that they have found in their dreams as deer, but it is more difficult in real life.

THE FIRST LAP 초행 Genre: Documentary Director: Jin Mo-young Film Length: 85 minutes Starring: Park Myeong-ho, Kim Soon-hee

Summary: Soo-hyeon, a teacher at a private art institute, and Ji-yeong, a contract worker at a small network enterprise, have been living together for six years. One day to his surprise, Soo-hyeon finds out that Ji-yeong is late on her period. The couple then heads to the new home of Ji-yeong’s parents in Incheon. The housewarming party dissolves in ill humor when Ji-yeong’s mother strongly urges the couple to get married.

THE THIRD MURDER 세 번째 살인 Genre: Drama, Suspense Director: Hirokazu Koreeda Film Length: 124 minutes Starring: Masaharu Fukuyama, Suzu Hirose, Shinnosuke Mitsushima Summary: Misumi has a criminal record dating back many years and is now under the spotlight again. It looks like an open and shut case, as Misumi has confessed to the new charges. Shigemori, a prominent lawyer who harbors others ideas, could mean the difference between life and death in this case.

EADWEARD 에드워드 Genre: Drama Director: Kyle Rideout Film Length: 106 minutes Starring: Michael Eklund, Sara Canning, Torrance Coombs Summary: A psychological drama centered around worldfamous, turn-of-the-century photographer Eadweard Muybridge, who photographed nude and deformed subjects. The main character, who became the godfather of cinema, also murdered his wife’s lover and was the last American to receive the justifiable homicide verdict.

9

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

FEATURE

10

11

국제도시디자인포럼 Gwangju Urban Design Forum 2017

Dr. Tom Borrup and the Upcoming Gwangju Urban Design Forum Written by E. J. Jones Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Borrup

I

n my opinion, Gwangju is a wonderful, creative, and unique city. I tell people all the time that I wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else in Korea. For me, the size is perfect: with a population of just over 1.51 million, it isn’t as overwhelmingly large as Seoul, yet it has the vibes of a big city while still allowing one to enjoy a close connection with the community. Aside from its size, I also love Gwangju because of its cosmetic beauty, which displays a blend of history and modernity. Walking around the streets downtown, you can find modern shopping spots, traditional Korean houses or temples, and handcrafted sculptures all in the same block. I’m constantly delighted by new findings as I explore the city, from the blooming neighborhood of Dongmyeong-dong with its independent shops and restaurants to the charm of Yangrim-dong where Penguin Street lies.

Borrup was kind enough to give us a brief preview of what he’ll be discussing during his keynote speech at the forum.

He says, “I hope I bring to the conversation a unique blend of experiences and interests related to culture, creativity, and urban environment that inform how we approach urban design and the never-ending process of building cities. I am interested in how our cities and different districts in them take on distinct and complex personalities – much like people – and how we go about engaging collectively to contribute to that personality. Winston Churchill said, ‘We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.’ The same goes for our relationship with our cities. This backand-forth shaping happens on a continuous basis. Each of us adds a drop to the bucket, and then we drink from that bucket. Can we see the difference our drop makes, and can we identify the unique taste when we drink from it? Does everyone have a right, responsibility, and equal opportunity to add their drop?”

December 2017

First, a little about Dr. Borrup. He worked for 25 years in arts and cultural management at the foundational level with artists and neighborhoods who were both ethnically and culturally diverse. He also has experience in political

As far as Borrup’s history with Korea, he says he has visited Seoul twice as a symposium speaker on future trends in the arts and creative place-making. The journey to Gwangju for the Urban Design Forum will be Borrup’s first visit to our area, and he says he looks forward to familiarizing himself here and is especially interested in exploring the Asia Culture Center.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Thankfully, as Gwangju, along with other parts of Korea, has rapidly been modernized over the past couple of decades, gems such as the ones I have mentioned can still be found. This, however, is only due to a rising new awareness of the damaging effects that poor planning in urbanization can have. In fact, many of Gwangju’s citizens have raised concerns about the loss of culture and history that has already occurred through recent additions to the city. In a partial response to these concerns comes the Gwangju Urban Design Forum (GUDF), which will take place this month (December 5–7). The forum is honored to host urban design expert Dr. Tom Borrup, who will be delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony addressing the forum’s theme, “Reflecting Culture and Humanity in Urban Design.” I was able to get in contact with Dr. Borrup to find out more about what the forum will entail.

organizing and has traveled internationally, consulting hundreds of cities around the world about urban planning, arts, and culture. Borrup says he is especially interested in “bringing artists into collaborative roles in designing and building communities and cities.” The urban design expert also wrote a book in 2006 entitled The Community Builder’s Handbook, which has been called the leading text in its field. When it comes to Borrup’s area of expertise, it seems that Gwangju will be well covered at this year’s urban design forum.

12 Based on his statements, it sure sounds like Borrup knows exactly what he’s talking about, and also a little bit about what Gwangju might need to know moving forward. And speaking of opportunity and responsibility, he makes a great point. The forum is our chance as citizens and residents to share our opinions, concerns and ideas, as well as be more informed about the place we call home. Borrup adds, “Shaping our cities in a way that make them reflect who we are, what we care about, and what makes us (and our visitors) comfortable is something we all need to take part in.”

I asked Borrup what he hoped the forum would accomplish, as well as his opinion on what changes should be made to improve urban design in Gwangju and other cities around the world. In his response, he stressed again the importance of bringing people together from diverse areas, disciplines, sectors, and cultures in order for fresh thinking and innovation to take place. He believes that asking questions such as, “How can we create more opportunity to build culture and humanity into the personality of our cities?” is key to finding answers to many of the problems cities face in urban design.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

Borrup’s keynote speech is scheduled to take place at the GUDF opening ceremony on Wednesday, December 6 (10:00–11:00 a.m.), and is sure to be a great kick-start to the three-day event. Aside from Borrup’s keynote speech, there

will be three major sessions taking place during the event with the topics of “Reflecting Culture in Urban Landscape,” “Valuing a Pedestrian Culture in Urban Setting,” and “Urban Design of Gwangju – Now and Future.” Major parts of these discussions will include: the Asia Culture Center pedestrian network establishment project as one of Gwangju’s major urban plans, the direction of Mudeung Mountain Namdopia establishment project, landscape of modern cultural heritage sites in Yangrim-dong, cases of neighborhood regeneration around Songjeong Station, and cases of the Saetteul Neighborhood Project around Yang-dong.

We at the Gwangju News are excited about this year’s Urban Design Forum and hope our readers will take interest as well. So come on out and, as Dr. Borrup suggests, “add your drop to the bucket.”

THE AUTHOR

Eden has been living in Korea since 2014 and enjoys reading, writing, snowboarding, and enchanting the locals with her violin when she can manage to find a spare minute away from her editing responsibilities at the Gwangju News. Eden became Managing Editor in September 2017.

13

Bright Lights, Big City Written by Douglas Baumwoll Photo courtesy of Inhabitat.com

I

grew up in rural Pennsylvania, a town of maybe 10,000 people: lots of cornfields, two bars, a dozen restaurants, and a 6:1 Republican to Democrat registration ratio.

My dad had grown up in the Bronx, and I knew as a middle school student that I would move to New York City as soon as I was old enough.

Within minutes of looking online, I found 21 “urban design” conferences in November 2017 alone. Host countries run from Chile to Mexico to Slovenia to the Ivory Coast. My go-to source for narrative nonfiction, The Atlantic, has published seven articles on this topic since 2014. So, what does urban design mean to you? Take a moment and think about it before reading on.

Ok, ready? The Urban Design Group (UK) states one of its aims as promoting “high standards of performance and inter-professional co-operation in planning, urban design and architecture, landscape design, and all other aspects of the built environment.” So, urban design clearly involves many interdisciplinary fields, and the end result, the built environment, must be evaluated from

FEATURE FEATURE

But why? Why did “the big city” hold such allure for me?

Well, as for many young people, it offered me what smalltown America did not: countless singles and future friends, energy and opportunity, international foods and people, world-class sporting events and concerts, museums and art galleries, and a diversity of jobs crossing all fields and countries. Way down on the list of reasons to move to Manhattan for me was its actual urban design. I mean, I knew the subway system was far-reaching and convenient and that Central Park offered lots of open space and events, but I wasn’t overly concerned with whether the skyscrapers generated their own power or whether the buses were

driverless and ran on electric power provided wirelessly from the pavement rather than on gasoline. And that brings us to the topic of urban design in the 2010s.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

▲ Santalaia Vertical Garden, Bogota, Colombia.

14 perspectives including aesthetics, sociology, economics, and environmentalism. Worryingly, however, this group asserts that in the UK, some 75% of urban development and planning is done by someone with no training in its principles. This is problematic, as the World Bank puts the current global urban population at 54%, or roughly 3.5 billion humans who are living, working, eating, traveling, interacting, consuming, and producing wastes of all kinds.

Furthermore, when you consider “urban agglomerations” and “metropolitan areas” the numbers tend to swell. The United Nations says that there are 512 cities worldwide having a population of 1 million or greater. There is hope for improvement, however, as evidenced by all those urban design conferences I mentioned earlier. But we must all take the proverbial grain of salt here because improving existing and expanding cities (think subway systems, parks, and surface transportation) is costly. Extremely so. This cost is much higher than if those systems had been built into the original urban design; nevertheless, these improvements are needed to improve quality of life in cities and promote sustainability and environmental responsibility.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

So, what are some of today’s urban innovations? Take transportation, for instance. Driverless vehicles seem to be an obvious improvement. This technology is already in commercial use at shipyards (Rotterdam, Sydney) and on the highways in Europe (vehicle companies such as Iveco, Scania, and Volvo). Imagine a city with a constant stream of driverless cars (electric ones!) that you simply queue up and grab at designated spots as need be. In-ground electrics provide 24-hour charges wirelessly (already being used in Korea). Traffic accidents, caused almost exclusively by human error, will be reduced, as will traffic jams and wasted fuel, which in turn reduces car emissions and air pollution. Drop-off bicycle stations are also popular in many cities, reducing driving time. Drop-off car stations is yet another possibility.

What about urban housing? What’s new in that arena?

Well, first off, we have roof gardens and “vertical” gardens, which run upward along the entire height of the building.

Chicago’s City Hall famously boasts a roof garden of 20,000 plants. Roof gardens can lower the indoor temperature of the building, and reduce “urban heat island” effects of combined buildings’ reflected heat into the city atmosphere. Other benefits include aesthetic beauty, carbon dioxide cleansing, oxygen production, and food grown and harvested. Search “Santalia vertical garden” on YouTube for an amazing example of a vertical garden.

Another rooftop innovation, more for individual homes in the suburbs, comes from Tesla in the form of glass solar electric roof tiles. The numbers vary, but you can save up to $40,000 over 30 years on electric bills. Building windows offer a chance to lower AC bills in the summer time and

heating bills in winter. How? Simple. Apply “solar control film” and prevent 55 percent of the sunlight from entering during the summer while still trapping some of the sun’s heat indoors during the winter.

Now, consider electricity generation. Dubai has a proposed 80-floor building, the Dynamic Tower, which is designed to have wind turbines between each floor capable of generating ten times the electricity used by the building.

Another concept, being marketed as “Solar Squared,” uses glass building blocks that generate solar electricity.

Finally, let’s talk building wastewater. Not a dinner topic, agreed. Yet traditional thinking is inefficient. Today, instead of sink, shower, and toilet water being piped out of a building to a treatment plant located far away, highrise apartment buildings now treat such wastewater onsite.

Water usage has been reduced by 25 percent, using the recycled water to flush toilets, cool central air-conditioning units, and water plants on building grounds. On the city-wide scale, many urban sewer systems are outdated because storm drains mix rainwater with human sewage in the same underground pipe system. During a storm, the comingled system can overflow and send untreated human sewage (millions of gallons) directly into rivers, lakes, and oceans. And I am not talking about developing nations here; I mean cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and San Francisco. These systems must be rebuilt.

Many other aspects of urban life must be addressed and improved as well. All influence the quality of life of residents in terms of aesthetics, stress, public health, time, crime, and happiness. The United Nations estimates that by 2050 an additional 2.5 billion people will populate the world’s cities, particularly in Asia and Africa. Urban design goes hand-in-hand with sustainability and climate change. We must all participate in a public discussion of humanity’s future urban habitancy. There is huge economic opportunity for the companies that provide the services in the interdisciplinary fields involved. As long as the built environment grows with decision-makers keeping the well-being of all socioeconomic classes and the local and global environments in mind, then the world’s cities, and its environment, have a bright future.

THE AUTHOR

Doug Baumwoll, a professional writer and editor for 25 years, trains in-service teachers in writing skills and methodology. His personal writing interests include visionary and speculative fiction, climate change, energy, and social justice. He is the founder of SavetheHumanz.com.

15

Building Memory Through Archives Chair of the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Committee Visits Gwangju Written by Anastasia Traynin Photographs courtesy of Roslyn Russell

FEATURE www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

16

T

he Universal Declaration of Human Rights was put forth in Paris on December 10, 1948, following the disastrous Second World War that saw one of the worst genocides in modern history. Despite the presence of this historical document, the second half of the 20th century continued a streak of human rights violations around the world, not least of which was the massacre that happened during Gwangju’s May 18th Democratic Uprising. In response to a desperate need for reconciliation and learning from history, human rights archives have become a key focus for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in this century.

Korea has a long, rich archival history, with a total of thirteen entries listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. In 2017 alone, the register designated three records: the Royal Seal Investiture Book Collection of the Joseon Dynasty, the 17th-19th century Joseon Tongsinsa of peacebuilding and cultural exchange between Korea and Japan, and the National Debt Redemption Movement that started at the turn of the 20th century and continued through the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

Gwangju’s May 18th Archives was listed in 2011, under the full title Human Rights Documentary Heritage 1980 Archives for the May 18th Democratic Uprising Against Military Regime in Gwangju. Following the 2017 World Human Rights Cities Forum, on September 21 and 22, the Asia Culture Center (ACC) hosted the UNESCO-organized International Seminar on Human Rights Archives: Agents of Accountability and Justice.

Besides Korea, the seminar discussed several archival projects around the world, including sobering stories by Nisay Hang, director of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Cambodia, and Jorge Rolón Luna, director general of the Office of Truth and Justice of the Ombudsman’s Office in Paraguay. Speaking on the international scope of human rights archives, Roslyn Russell, chair of the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Committee, delivered a presentation that highlighted the original human rights

blueprint, the Magna Carta, through to the UN Charter, Mexico’s writ of amparo, and the recent Eleanor Roosevelt Papers project.

The morning following the seminar, the Gwangju News sat down with Russell in a downtown Gwangju coffee shop.

We covered many topics, always staying focused on the pressing issue of human rights archives as a preservation of the most tragic parts of human history that teach us to never allow these atrocities to reoccur.

The seminar was Russell’s sixth visit to Korea, with the first being the 2005 inauguration of the Jikji Memory of the World award for preservation, created by Cheongju City and named after the Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests’ Zen Teachings, the world’s oldest remaining book printed with movable metal type, which remains in the French National Library. The National Archives of Australia won that prize in 2011.

“Coming to Korea is becoming quite a familiar experience,” Russell said.

As a historian and long-time observer of the worldwide efforts to record human history, Russell had many favorable things to say regarding Korea’s own archival journey.

“I think that the resources put into Korea are unbelievable.

It really is an eye-opener, especially to see the resources for commemorating 5.18 with the Archives of the May 1980 Uprising. I’ve always been impressed by the fervor around that commemoration for Gwangju but also other aspects of Korea. You see really good exhibitions everywhere.

High-level interpretation, mixed media, story, excellent throughout. I’ve been to Daejeon and Seoul, and see what they’ve done there. And the new Asia Culture Center.”

Russell mentioned her visits to older Korean UNESCO heritage sites, including the famous Haeinsa Temple Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks and records from the Joseon Dynasty documents, crediting Korea’s heritage for its balanced mix of ancient and contemporary documents.

She also gave insight into the current picture for the Australian national archival project. For many people, any mention of human rights in Australia would certainly bring up the issue of Aboriginal history. This writer happened to have read Bruce Chatwin’s The Songlines, a well-known ◀ Display of the May 18 Uprising inscription in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

17 mixed fiction and non-fiction book from 1987 that traces the Australian Indigenous people’s creation of their stories through song. Though Russell could not name an archive in the country that is solely focused on human rights, she said that, among a variety of other stories, the Indigenous aspect is one of the strongest parts.

“If we don’t have a record, we don’t have memory.” “[The Songlines] is now the title of an exhibition at the National Museum. The dreaming stories, the mythological concept. In my view, the Indigenous stories are the best offering that we have. The National Archives had an exhibition some years ago, Between Two Worlds, about the forced removal of Aboriginal children over generations.

Native history, workers’ rights, women’s rights. Those are big drivers of human rights dedication in Australia, and then we have the issue at the moment of how we treat the refugees. Then we have exhibitions around what happened to the people who came as migrants and some of the things that they experienced when they came to Australia. So it’s a lot of different dimensions that we can call human rights or social justice that are explored in our exhibitions.”

While Australia’s archives at the government level have a lot of backing, the picture changes when going down the order.

Another challenge is the presence of oral rather than written history that is passed down through the generations, something particularly prominent in Aboriginal culture.

When it comes to the implementation of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the principles within, Russell had some important advice.

“Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. We do have a standard that people should be held to. There’s a rule of moral law, an internationally agreed norm. So you can say ‘what you are doing is violating human rights.’ Whether the government listens is another thing but at least it is there.

At the end of the day, it can be appealed to. When people are killed or tortured or starved or whatever, at least there should be some kind of justice for their families. At least we do have something.”

Archives were around long before the modern recordkeeping approach, and they remain crucial to preserving human history. Russell’s parting words: “If we don’t have a record, we don’t have memory. Building memory will help understand and not make mistakes that we made in the past. I think that’s what UNESCO stands for.”

THE AUTHOR

Anastasia (Ana) Traynin is the comanaging editor of Gwangju News. She has been a contributor to the magazine since fall 2013 and has been living in Gwangju since spring of that year. After teaching for three years at Hanbitt High School, she became a GIC coordinator in May 2016. She has passions for Korean social movements, alternative education, live music, languages, and writing.

December 2017

As a native of Russia and a citizen of the United States, where war history is prominent, this writer related to the fact that Australia’s historical resources are also heavily focused on commemorating wartime, in this case, April 25’s Anzac Day that remembers World War I’s joint Gallipoli campaign with New Zealand and other British forces. Russell explained the enormous level of funding afforded to war commemoration, which poses somewhat of a challenge to maintaining resources for preserving human rights history.

“[Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information at UNESCO] Frank La Rue’s video was very good and, he made very good points about the truth. It was quite inspirational. And that set the tone for the day, I think. Frank’s speech really gave the message that we need to keep a record, and when we do need to look at them, we can find the answers, and we can start building those bridges. I think people are building good networks and beginning to understand the problems that other people are having. There’s got to be some mechanism in place to give these documents a home. Make sure we don’t lose the history. We have to think in these really catastrophic terms.

It’s what it is. With other countries, like Australia, like Korea, we are aware of the problems that have happened.

The more information that is out there, the more we can help to avert some of these problems that arise.”

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

“When it comes down to universities and other kinds of non-governmental bodies, the story is a bit tragic, actually.

We are concerned about the fate of our archives. One that was threatened with closure some years ago was the Noel Butlin Archive of Business and Labor at the Australia National University. Fortunately, one of their major collections was listed on our Australian Memory of the World Register, and this helped to save the Archive.”

Finally, the discussion turned to the significance of the UNESCO seminar and the lessons of memory and preservation.

18 In Town

Raqib Hasan Apu Animator and World Commentator

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY

Written by Doug Baumwoll Image courtesy of Raqib Hasan Apu Photographs courtesy of Park Jaibam and Abu Shahed Emon

“P

lease, have a seat,” Raqib politely offers, a boyish charm instantly perceivable. I can’t put an age on him; he could be anywhere from his early twenties to his late thirties.

“Thanks.” I sit down and join Raqib Hasan Apu from Dhaka, Bangladesh in a local public house. “Actually, I was sitting at the bar over there.”

“Ah,” he chuckles easily at our crossed signals. “I sat down here without checking there.”

“Right. Well, great to see you again.” I’d met Raqib socially a few times over the last six months, but this is the first time we’ve sat down together and chatted at length oneon-one. I had jumped at the chance to interview him, as I love all things Indian, having lived there for over a year during three separate visits. Of course, Raqib is not Indian, but I knew Bangladesh’s identity had been intertwined with India’s for a long time. And I had wanted to know more.

Normally, before I interview someone, I do extensive research, depending on the subject and how familiar I am with their background, up to four or five hours. Before this interview, however, I purposely did not do any research, wanting to try a new approach that I thought might be more free-flowing and organic.

“So,” I begin, “let’s start with Bangladesh. What is the population there, about 10 or 15 million, right?”

Raqib looks at me, wearing his black frame glasses, bushy, thick, jet-black curls piled on top of his head, and absolutely nonjudgmentally responds, “Yeah. About 160 million.”

I feel like an idiot.

“It’s eighth.”

Phew. I feel a bit better now, having been at least in the ballpark on that one.

“Your family name, Apu, is it Indian?”

“And your first and middle names?”

“They are Arabic.” Raqib’s family, along with 91 percent of Bangladesh, is Muslim. Four generations ago, his family was Hindu. He describes himself as atheist.

“And can I ask you about the historic floods? This is what I remember in my general knowledge of Bangladesh.”

“Sure. There were two major ones, in 1988 and 1998. These affected tens of millions of people. I remember the second one well, as I was a teenager then. I’m 33 now.”

“And what was your family like?”

“We lived in Dhaka. My father owned a transport business of trucks and passenger buses. My mother was a housewife raising two kids. We grew up middle middle-class, you know? There are so many levels of middle class there.”

“Like in India, yes?”

“Yes.” “Public schools?”

“Yes, public schools.”

I knew that Raqib worked in animation, and had seen many of his caricatures and comics on his Facebook wall.

“Have you always loved drawing?”

“Yes, in middle school I actually loved drawing realistic human figures. A bit stylistically. I loved reading Marvel and DC comics like Asterix. Spiderman was my favorite, actually.”

“And did you have lots of art classes in school? Did your parents actively support your interest in art?”

“No, I did not have many classes in school. No art teacher that inspired me. I remember my high school art teacher showed us how to draw a mango,” he laughs goodnaturedly. “I wasn’t really interested in that.”

“And your parents?”

“Well, my parents never said ‘don’t do art,’ but they never encouraged me either. Actually, at about 17, we had a family fight, involving not only my parents but also my aunts and uncles who lived very nearby, when I announced

December 2017

“Yes. It’s Bengali.” Raqib proceeds to tell me the story of Bangladesh and how its sometimes tragic fate has been interwoven with that of Pakistan and India over the last 70 years. When India and Pakistan became separate countries in 1947, western Bengal remained part of Hindu India, and eastern Bengal became part of East Pakistan, a Muslim majority country. Bangladesh then fought for and gained independence in 1971, following a genocide [which was

perpetrated by Punjabi-dominated West Pakistan, and was an ethnic cleansing of Bengalis ending with some 3,000,000 deaths].

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

“Wow. I had no idea. That must put Bangladesh at about the fifth or sixth most populous country in the world.”

19

20 20

that I wanted to pursue art in university, like figure drawing and painting. We argued about money and lack of jobs in art and some religious issues. In the end, I went to a prestigious university in Dhaka and majored in art and sculpture. So the prestige helped calm things down with my parents. Also, I began actually earning money during university, so that eased tensions with my parents, too.”

“Oh, how did you earn money?”

“Well, a new animation studio opened near the university, so I applied for a job, and got hired and began earning money while also going to school.”

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

“Were you a good student?”

“I wasn’t especially studious, I would say, but I was productive – drawings, paintings, and sculpture.”

“Do you remember any professors who really spoke to you?”

“Yes. Two professors were prominent sculptors, I was privileged to have them. They guided me well in the creative process and techniques. Their personal lives inspired me a lot.”

UNICEF account through an earlier connection I had.”

“Interesting. I had no idea there was a market for animation in Bangladesh. So, how did you end up in Korea?”

“I had a Bangladeshi friend who had done some film work connected to the Busan Film Festival. He learned about a scholarship available to the Korea National University of Art (KART) in Seoul and told me to apply. I won the Major Asian Art Scholarship, a full scholarship to the film school, and I majored in animation beginning in 2012. They also provided a living stipend.”

“What were your notable achievements there? I mean, what did you produce?”

“During those two years I produced two short films, about seven minutes each. It was a lot of work, because I just do drawings on my tablet and don’t really use computer graphics. One of the films screened in the Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival in 2014 as a student production. It was a great experience because there were many international students there for one or two semesters as exchange students. I finished in June 2015 with a Master of Fine Arts.”

“What else can you tell me about university?”

“And then were you worried about your visa running out?

Did you want to return to Bangladesh?”

“Well, during university, due to political upheaval, I went to India for a year. It took me seven years to finish university.

One year, there were no classes given at all. We formed an animation studio and had clients such as advertising companies selling TVs, cell phones, and then we got a

“Actually, even before the graduation ceremony, I went to another art school to talk with a professor there about enrolling as a PhD student. ChungAng University [private] had a professional-quality animation studio. As we chatted and I showed him my portfolio, one thing led to another

21 and the next day I started working for him, and he got me a new E-7 visa. After a few months working there, he sent me to Gwangju, where the university also has a stopmotion studio. I was tired of the hustle and bustle of Seoul life. Though I do miss Seoul sometimes, of course, as I lived there for three years.”

“I don’t feel I need to go back, to return, there for any reason.

Actually, I cannot do my cartoon work there. I would be at high risk publishing drawings there. Bloggers are killed on the street there. That drawing of Mecca I just showed you?

It is not criticizing Mecca but just including Mecca in the drawing could be dangerous.”

“What projects have you done there?”

“And economically, can you earn a solid middle-class wage there as an animation artist?”

“I completed two seasons of an animation show called Galaxy Kids, where I was one of eight animators; we would each do one sequence of the show. Currently, I’m working on a project called Big Five, which will come out on KBS-1 next year, also for kids.”

“What is your true personal interest? Your calling?”

“Well, now I consider animation and film-making as a hobby, not as a profession. I want to become an independent artist, like doing paintings. But I am really interested in the world political situation, and wonder how I can contribute my personal opinion to the discussion. And I believe now that I can make a significant contribution to the discussion regarding politics, economics, religion, overuse of SNS and the virtual world, and social justice issues through my drawings and caricatures.”

This next question was really a personal one for me because, as a writer, it is frustrating to not find outlets for your work.

“Where will you post your drawings, where is the outlet?”

“Good question,” he says, with that boyish smile again. “For now, just on my Facebook wall. But I hope to start a blog.”

“And is your content specifically about Bangladesh, or more global issues?”

“How long did this one take you?”

“Maybe 15 minutes.”

“Wow.” I’d have guessed much longer.

“Will you return to Bangladesh some day?”

Gwangju hosts hundreds of foreigners from scores of countries. Check out the international events here. Go to the Saturday afternoon talks at the Gwangju International Center. Look for international groups based at the universities and elsewhere.

I have always preferred to get my information about a country directly from a person who has lived there as opposed to a news outlet, be it TV or print. In my experience, if you strike up a conversation with someone about their country, heritage, and national identity, they will happily talk about it, knowing you are genuinely interested in it and nonjudgmental of what they tell you.

They sense you simply want to learn about the world and its people from primary sources. Give it a try sometime.

You can view Raqib’s work in the Photos section on his Facebook page, which is public. You can also find “Apu’s Cartoons” as a separate page on Facebook.

THE AUTHOR

Doug Baumwoll, a professional writer and editor for 25 years, trains in-service teachers in writing skills and methodology.

His personal writing interests include visionary and speculative fiction, climate change, energy, and social justice. He is the founder of SavetheHumanz.com.

December 2017

“Good art challenges beliefs, norms, and society. My upbringing was conservative, and I wanted to fight that.

Bangladesh still has some prejudice between the Muslim majority and Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities.”

And that’s it. Two pints (me) and two rum and cokes (Raqib) later, it was time to go. I immensely enjoyed speaking with Raqib – an incredibly friendly, open, and honest person – and I think he enjoyed speaking with me, if not because I am an insanely interesting guy and impeccable conversationalist, then because he got to tell his story to someone.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

“My drawings are more global, and not about specific issues in Bangladesh.” He shows me a brilliant satire cartoon lampooning various issues (Trump, Saudi dress code, and Saudi ownership of Mecca).

“Economically speaking, I could return there and earn a good middle-class living. My friends are doing that in many different fields. We have an improving social economy there.”

22 New in Town

GPP’s The Taming of the Shrew

COMMUNITY

A Silly, Naughty, Hilarious Show

Written by Andrew Vlasblom Photographs courtesy of Ben Robins

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

“C

ome on, and kiss me, Cato!” In the context of an ordinary play, a Shakespeare aficionado might think that the actor had a slip of the tongue and messed up a line. But Gwangju Performance Project’s (GPP) recent adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew – in which gender roles were essentially flipped for all the characters – could hardly be called “ordinary.” Performed at Yunbaram Theater in Dongmyeong-dong with six shows spread over two weekends, the GPP’s adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew felt funny and fresh.

The idea of reversing gender roles was conceived by the show’s director, Ender Waters. This idea incited many participants to become involved, and the fun-loving cast and crew worked steadily to bring the show to the stage.

The script was altered just enough to swap the gender roles; character names were altered, but that’s about it. This, then, left the cast with an abundance of material to mine for comedic moments. Inverting the genders lent the play slapstick and somewhat sitcom-esque qualities, in which women were dominant, and men were submissive and rather weak. This proved thought-provoking, as I realized that while the show’s adaptation of swapped gender roles was pretty funny to watch this way, a direct reversal in the original 1600s’ version written by Shakespeare would likely be somewhat disturbing and disempowering to today’s women. To Waters’ and the cast’s credit, they kept the play’s

tone light and humorous rather than becoming overtly political, allowing the audience to take from the play what they would with regard to gender roles.

I was fortunate enough to watch the production twice – both the first and last show – and while I enjoyed both in equal measures, it was nice to see the progression of the actors becoming more comfortable with their lines and their characters by the final show. Rachel St. John capably owned the swapped gender role of the dominant Petruchia, lending her character a charming physical comedic force that had me laughing consistently. As Petruchia’s servant, Grumia (played by Shelby Brinkemeyer), gave a likewise hilarious performance with a sheer amount of bumbling and drunken physical comedic moments. The two made a great pair, and I would welcome the chance to see them together on stage again in the future.

Jacob Tripp, as the other lead character, Cato, excelled in taking abuse from his overbearing wife Petruchia in a way that brought many a chuckle and giggle from audience members. Tripp seemed truly well-suited for this role, giving his character timid and feminine qualities, but not to the point where he over-acted or became completely unbelievable. He was completely ridiculous, but that was kind of the point.

23

▲ From left to right: Shelby Brinkmeyer as “Grumia,” Daniel Wallace as “Biondello,” Elizabeth O’Sullinecki as “Gremia,” and Nora McCormick as “Hortensia.”

▲ Jacob Tripp as “Cato” (left) and Rachel St. John as “Petruchia” (right).

▲ Elizabeth O’Sullinecki as “Gremia” (left), Boipelo Seswane “Baptistina” (middle) and Kaitllyn Wachter as “Trania” (right).

In my lifetime, I have had the opportunity to watch The Taming of the Shrew four times: twice put on by professional theater teams, and twice this past month by the GPP. I can say without hesitation that I enjoyed the GPP’s adaptation the most. With a unique twist on the entire play by inverting gender roles of the characters, and an endearing cast who were clearly having fun but also conscious of not over-acting, the GPP once again brought to Gwangju a thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking effort in The Taming of the Shrew. The cast and crew can be proud of their show, a success that serves as a reminder of how special Gwangju’s artistic community is, and how fortunate we all are to be part of it.

THE AUTHOR Hailing from Canada, Andrew Vlasblom has lived in Gwangju since August 2009. He enjoys playing the accordion and hitchhiking.

December 2017

While I could go on about the cast – all of the actors did a fantastic job – there wouldn’t be a show without the crew behind the scenes. Jonty Trelfer, who has been with the GPP since 2011, did a great job with the lighting. It is clear that Waters and the stage manager, Sarah Hale, knew what they were doing when it came to time efficiency on set and making sure that the finished product ran smoothly. They were colorful and efficient, including props such as rotating

pictures that allowed for speedy transitions between scenes.

The costumes could have been any casual clothes; but not on Stel Diane’s watch. As the costume designer, Diane did a great job upping the comedic vibe in different scenes with different costumes, which accentuated the fact that this play was purposely not set in any particular era in history: for example, there was a scene where Petruchia walks in, wearing Elmo pajama pants while reciting her monologue. www.gwangjunewsgic.com

There were several other standouts for me in the play, one of which included Boipelo Seswane, who played the character of Baptistina, the wealthy, no-nonsense mother of two sons, Cato and Bianco. While her character did not call for much in the way of physical comedy, her deadpan reactions and lines caught me off guard multiple times and had me chuckling.

Elizabeth O’Sullinecki’s and Kaitlyn Wachter’s characters shared perhaps my favorite scene. Both O’Sullinecki (Gremia) and Wachter (Trania) were hilarious sparring together while plotting to ensnare their dream man, Bianco (played by Jack George). The physical comedy in tandem with the lines normally spoken by men as they compared the assets they would use to seduce Bianco worked to great effect. With a simple facial expression, James Roundy stole a scene that in the context of the goings-on couldn’t have been more fitting, darting his eyes to and fro confusedly from the time he entered until he exited the stage. Likewise, Jo Park hilariously stole a scene with her head – and only her head – as the rest of her hid behind a door.

24 Community Leaders

COMMUNITY

▲ Garcia performs at a temple in Jeju for a special Dreamers concert.

(Photo by Eden Jones)

▲ Garcia performs at a festival at the ACC, Gwangju. (Photo by Paul Quay)

▲ Garcia performs at the Open Space Dreamers in Daein Night Market, Gwangju. (Photo by Park Tae-sang)

Josh Garcia Voyaging Onward

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

Written by Andrew Vlasblom Photographed by Paul Quay, Eden Jones, and Park Tae-sang

U

nless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you’ve probably heard Josh Garcia’s name mentioned more than a few times. The Texas native lived in Gwangju from September 2016 to September of this year and during that time rocked the live music stages around the city as a singer-songwriter, both as a solo artist and with two bands, Galaxy Hotel and CCTV. He also contributed to the Gwangju Blog, writing pieces focused primarily on artists’ work throughout the city. Additionally, he was a strong and regular writer for the Gwangju News.

Before he left to travel Asia, I had the opportunity to chat with Josh about his experience living in Gwangju and his parting thoughts on a community he deems “truly special.”

Gwangju News (GN): How did it come about that you, Josh Garcia, came to Gwangju?

I had always wanted the experience of traveling abroad but never really got too far outside of the States. A lot of people recommended Korea as a great country to live and teach in, so after putting it off for about six years, I decided to take

the plunge.

GN: You were involved in a number of projects and bands before coming to Gwangju. Can you tell us a bit about those or some notable projects you’ve been or still are involved with?

I don’t think I really seriously played in a band until about 2012, but I’ve kept pretty busy since then. I was collaborating a lot with my close friend, Donnie Simmons, for several projects ranging from indie, funk, pop, and hip hop, our most notable being Stereo Control. I played guitar and sang in another group around that same time that was more of a country-fried Beatles vibe, called Coyote Cyanide. That was another band that formed from a longtime friendship with folk-rock master, Neal McAlister.

Also, I was drumming in a band called Chingalotus that was sort of a musical obstacle course. The songs were respectively written by my friends, Denver Williams and Charles Marchbanks, who could jump from psychedelic punk to country to math rock. I really learned a lot from

25 playing and learning their material. Those three bands were constantly writing, gigging, and recording through 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Carleen and I set out to tour the states as Galaxy Hotel and live in an old Econoline van. We had formed over the course of busking for a few months, while learning covers and writing originals. I felt totally naked at the time, playing as an acoustic duo after I had been in bands for so long.

GN: Galaxy Hotel made quite a splash here in Gwangju.

What inspired the name? You’ve played a bunch of gigs around the world. Do you hope to make it big with Galaxy Hotel?

We’ve had a blast here in Gwangju and will definitely continue to perform as we travel. We actually borrowed the name from this seedy hotel that was near my old apartment in Dallas. We thought it had a nice, cosmic ring to it and feel it acknowledges the temporary stay we all have as beings here in the universe. The band is really about embracing the present and making peace. Our biggest goal is to have fun.

GN: What are a couple of things that you’re really going to miss about Gwangju? Would you consider coming back?

The artistic community in Gwangju is truly special. Mainly, because it is very active for a good range of mediums: theater, music, visual art, writing, etc., I really appreciated being a part of it and the fact that it was so accessible. In general, the expat community in Gwangju made a big difference in dayto-day survival and spontaneous friendships. Dreamers and Speakeasy were weekly beacons for me. Also, all of the fun events put on by the GIC and ACC. In general, it was a very friendly and safe place. I’ve lost track of how many times random Koreans went out of their way to help me out, even if they didn’t know any English. The surrounding mountains were always very comforting and beautiful, too.

It will always have a place in my heart, but I’m not sure when I’ll be back. It’s opened up my desire to explore even more places that I’ve never heard of!

GN: What’s next for Josh Garcia?

Currently, I’m traveling around to Japan, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand for the next few months, then back to Austin, Texas with my girlfriend. I think we will use that as a home base for a while to create more art/music and gorge ourselves on Tex-Mex, but like I mentioned earlier, we want to keep traveling and opening up ourselves to new experiences. As Joe Dirt once said, “Life’s a garden. Dig it!”

THE AUTHOR Hailing from Canada, Andrew Vlasblom has lived in Gwangju since August 2009. He enjoys playing the accordion and hitchhiking.

December 2017

GN: You’ve enjoyed success with local band CCTV as the front man and lead singer-songwriter. Most of those original songs you had already written and recorded before. Have they evolved in a five-piece band setting?

Definitely! These songs have all evolved in ways that I could have never done on my own. The influence of each musician in the group really shines through and brings my basic arrangements to life. Jon was very hands-on with arrangements of the songs and instrumentation. Especially when I look back to my demo of “Pachinko Machine,” in comparison to the live album version with CCTV, there’s a whole new element there that adds weight and power.

Ryne’s bass line in “Voyager’s Dream” is another example, where he employs this special low-end funk that is totally

GN: You have a knack for clever, colorful wording in both your songs and your journalistic writing. Writing is a major passion of yours, and you’ve done great work interviewing some of the people here in Gwangju. Is writing or journalism something you do purely for pleasure or something you’d consider pursuing as a career?

I love writing, and it always seems to come out much better when I’m really enjoying it. I’ve recently started to look more into certain types of storytelling techniques and always enjoy learning about different literary devices, but ultimately, I just try to open my head and let it all fall out. If someone is ever willing to pay for me that, I’d happily take the pay, but if not, I just plan to enjoy it for what it is.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

GN: You’re a multi-talented musician. Can you compare and contrast the experience and energy you feel when playing, say, drums vs. guitar?

That’s a really interesting question. I started out taking piano lessons from a little old lady down the street for about four years when I was in elementary school. That really helped give me a good foundation and taught me the basics of theory. Then in sixth grade, I joined the school band as a percussionist, and had a great experience with orchestral music, jazz band, drum line, and everything else I could get my hands on. I probably should have majored in music in college, but I was (am?) really clueless. I still played in a few Afro-Cuban ensembles and even did a year of steel pans while at university, but it was so tough to have my drum set in living situations, so I started playing guitar and writing songs. I think I end up trying to fuse the two mind sets by playing drum parts that are melodic and complementary, and guitar parts that are groove-based and rhythmic. I’m not sure if that answers your question, but I love them both as an opportunity to simply create.

his own creation. Dan was instrumental in giving “Lil Chula” that crisp, sexy Mark Ronson feel. And of course, the layering from your piano, on songs like “Catch 88” and “Under the Gun,” brings so many new colors to the chords.

The solos were very inventive too.

TRAVEL TRAVEL

26 Lost in Gwangju 26

Balsan Village Written and photographed by Allison Tim

▲ People are encouraged to leave messages on the community blackboard in Balsan Village.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

W

hen I crossed the bridge on my way to Balsan Village, I was struck by the eerie feeling that I’d been there before. Walking around Gwangju can often feel like déjà vu, with each neighborhood possessing the same collection of coffee shops, fast-food chains, and makeup stores, but this time felt different, more familiar. It wasn’t the path I took that made me think twice either. The half-hour route from downtown took me past the usual assortment of phone stores, banks, and repair shops where spare parts spilled out onto the sidewalk. Nothing was out of the ordinary, but I still felt like I was retracing my steps on my way to the village.

As I arrived at the base of Balsan Village and turned onto one of its small side streets, it all came together. I’d passed by the village many times before, while running along the river or taking a bus across town, each time completely unaware that one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods was just around the corner. Although Balsan Village sits between two popular landmarks, Yangdong Market and U-square, it’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it.

There’s a bus stop (Balsangyo North (발산교 (북)) a couple blocks from the main entrance, but few, if any, signs direct you to the village.

I was surprised to find that the village isn’t that popular with locals. When I asked my friends and coworkers about it, showing them pictures I found online, I received either vague acknowledgements or blank faces. While some had heard about the village, few had visited. So, on my first trip to Balsan Village I wanted to find out why a neighborhood overflowing with pastel-painted walls, quirky gardens, and works of art was still a hidden gem for so many.

To walk through Balsan Village is to take a journey through its history, where each step encompasses the village’s past, present, and future. In the 1970s, the Jeonnam Textile Factory, located across the Gwangju-cheon river, was one of a few large-scale industries operating in the region. As the economy shifted from agriculture to manufacturing, people relocated to cities to find work. Young people from across the country arrived in Gwangju to work at the Jeonnam Textile Factory, and for these workers, who were mostly women, Balsan Village was the only place they could afford to live. Every day, they would cross the river in the morning for work, and then climb back up the hill at night. However, when business slowed down and the factory eventually closed, these workers moved away from the village, leaving behind empty houses for years to come.

27

▲ Left: The “guardians of the village” warding off evil spirits. Right: Sculptures commemorate the village’s history and working-class residents.

From its humble beginnings as a working-class neighborhood, Balsan Village has undergone an immense transformation that continues to this day. Studios and galleries invite visitors to admire the work of the village’s artists, and before-and-after pictures appear on building fronts to highlight the revitalization of the community as a whole. There were signs of further development during my visit, as construction started on a new apartment building, and stacks of bricks and 2x4s showed that more renovations were underway. In the future, the city hopes that these additions and programs like the Public Art Residency Project will bring more people to the area.

There are plenty of opportunities for people to engage with the Balsan’s community by taking a tour, visiting an art exhibition, or even sitting down for a meal cooked by one of its residents. So, if you’re looking to take a stroll, appreciate some art, or plot your next garden, Balsan Village is the perfect place to go.

During my trip, I dropped into a few places that had recently opened, and like the rest of the neighborhood,

Wandering around Balsan Village was a memorable experience not only for its art and nature, but also the community that supports it. As families and couples posed for pictures beside the village’s colorful houses, local kids rode around on scooters, while a group of older men sat around a table drinking coffee. Clothes hung out to dry on rooftops, and the sounds of a concert at a neighboring school could be heard in the distance.

THE AUTHOR Allison Tim is a writer, teacher, and proud pedestrian living in Gwangju. After obtaining her B.A. in International Studies, she spent the following years between the Midwest and Far East, taking photographs, enjoying window seats and indulging in gratuitous coffee breaks.

December 2017

they each had their own unique style. I recommend stopping by 발산 상회 (Balsan Market), where you can choose from a variety of snacks, hang out in the market’s retro lounge, or take a seat on the rooftop patio and enjoy a view of the city. If you go down the main set of stairs and turn left, you will find the Aura Factory, a small restaurant serving an assortment of street foods, and 여기는오아시스야 (This Is An Oasis), a cafe/studio that has a nice selection of drinks as well as live music performances. At the end of your visit, you can even leave a message on the community blackboard, which is just across the street from the cafe.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Yet, Balsan Village wouldn’t remain vacant for too long. A group of artists arrived in the decades that followed, bringing a new sense of life and aesthetic to the neighborhood that are visible today. In Balsan Village, “more is more,” and this can be seen in its approach to public art and urban agriculture. There is always space for something green, which adds to the village’s bright and whimsical nature. The number of gardens gives the neighborhood an almost park-like atmosphere, with persimmon trees growing behind broken-down shacks and vegetables sprouting up around every corner. While it’s an easy climb to the top, part of the village’s magic lies in the many ways it will make you stop and marvel at its charms. Soft baby blues, lemon yellows, and bubblegum pinks coat the village’s houses, while murals and flower pots decorate the streets, rooftops, and vacant lots.

Following the main entrance takes you to the village’s most photographed spot where a set of stairs painted with every color in a box of crayons leads you up the hill, past a series of faces stuffed into slippers, and on to three large sculptures placed at the top of the village.

28 Around Korea

Suncheon’s Hidden Treasure TRAVEL TRAVEL

Written and photographed by Kristyna Zaharek

R

aise your hand if you are the type of person to visit only major attractions – the places where tourists frequent, where there’s hardly enough breathing space to go ’round, where you have to keep a hand on your pocket or your purse because it’s so crowded that you aren’t sure who might try to steal something from you.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

OK. Now raise your hand if you are the type of person who skips out on those attractions and heads for the hidden gems – the places where crowds only come around for particularly special occasions, but for the most part, remain a secret to most foreign tourists.

I am the latter. When friends say they come to Korea to just visit Seoul, I always smile sadly and ask if they’re planning to visit anywhere else in this beautiful country.

They’re usually too excited about this wildly vivacious hub of tourism to think about anything else. Besides, foreigners don’t hear about other towns in South Korea.

It’s Seoul or bust.

But to those who enjoy the true beauty and nature of South Korea; to those who enjoy delicious, natural, and homemade foods; to those who enjoy stepping back in time for a day or two; this article is for you.

Allow me to introduce you to the beauty that is hidden in Suncheon, South Korea. Within this area is the hidden Suncheon Bay Ecological Park, Nagan Eupseong Folk Village (낙안읍성), and temples aplenty.

Upon entering the city, it won’t seem to be all that spectacular. Yet, hop on the bus, and you’ll find yourself a world away.

Though you could definitely spend a lot of time at the Suncheon Bay – which I highly recommend for sunsets – I had only one place in mind: Nagan Eupseong Folk Village.

I’m going to back up for just a second. When I first visited, I really wanted to say that I spent the whole day in this awesome town, but I unfortunately made the wrong decision to leave the apartment too late, and then to get a bus to the wrong location. Instead of buying a ticket for Suncheon, I picked up one for Sunchang. It’s a pretty easy mistake, I think. It’s a mistake that cost me dearly. I lost hours in a place I intended to spend a whole day.

By the time I got to Suncheon, it was already 3 p.m. No restaurant was open for lunch. I was hoping for some fantastic food (Suncheon is the food capital of Jeolla Provence!), but there was no time to eat.

Though you can take the 63 or the 68 to Nagan Fortress, the bus only comes once every 80 minutes – plus the

29 50-minute ride. I had just missed the bus, and I wasn’t going to sit around in the heat and wait. Instead, I grabbed a taxi. It set me back around 25,000 won, but it got me to the village in 30 minutes.

Biting my lip in anticipation, I looked up at the high walls surrounding the village. This castle town has existed since the first millennia and has been fully flourished since the 1300s. I even knew that many of the buildings were the originals! My heart beat so wildly I thought others around me could hear it. As a writer and lover of fantasy and histories, I knew that I would find my muse here.

After buying my ticket, I entered through the Eastern Gate. Only a few stores lined the inside of the walls; but walk a little further, and there are so many things to do!

I followed the path, winding around lush, mini-gardens and between narrow alleyways surrounded by the clay houses with thatched roofing.

In this village, you can have many cultural experiences such as natural indigo dyeing, listening to traditional music, visiting a carpenter or a blacksmith, and even learning about a traditional Korean wedding! When I arrived, many of the activities were closed. (Maybe it was off-season?) Still, I took a walk around the houses, smiling ear-to-ear. This village was exactly what my writer’s mind needed.

But what really saddened me was my inability to eat in the village. The one restaurant at which I wanted to eat was closed down for a K-drama shooting (I didn’t get the name).

I wasn’t able to eat there. Hungry and a bit put down, I took the bus back into town and looked for another place to get some famous Nagan paljinmi (팔진미), or “eight precious tastes.”

Instead, I found an awesome restaurant serving sogogi bibimbap (쇠고기 비빔밥). Though it wasn’t what I’d been hoping to eat in Suncheon, it was still a stellar meal with a bunch of side dishes to choose from.

Tickets from the Gwangju Bus Terminal are 4,000 for adults, 2,500 for teens, and 1,500 for children.

Operating Hours December–January: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

February–April: November, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

May–October: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

THE AUTHOR

Kristyna lived in Gwangju, South Korea, for two years. She is a hopeful novelist with a heart for travel. She also really likes dark chocolate.

December 2017

Unfortunately for me, the dish is only served in Nagan – go figure.

Even so, I fell in love with this village, and I think you will, too.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

My favorite moment, though, was taking a short trek up the wall for some beautiful photographs. The spread of the valley, mountains, and thatched roofs was enough to make a grown woman cry. (No – seriously!) I even remembered passing by some cottages with “stay-over” signs in the windows. One could spend the night in this village if he or she wanted. It made me wish I hadn’t been so involved during the weekends. That I had discovered this place a year ago and stayed over for a night or two and worked in the gardens or dyed cloths.

Had I had a full day in Suncheon, I probably would have started at the Folk Village, eaten lunch, and then moved on to Suncheon Bay Ecological Park for dinner and a sunset. But, as I mentioned earlier, I’d lost time because I hadn’t bought the correct bus ticket.

30 From Abroad

The Dreamers Tour Mongolia

TRAVEL

Written by E. J. Jones Photographs courtesy of Park Tae-sang

Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world... You...

You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will live as one

— John Lennon, “Imagine”

C

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

an music change the world? Tucked away in Daein Night Market a few blocks from NC Wave in downtown Gwangju is a special nook called Open Space Dreamers. This place was founded by Gwangju local, Park Tae-sang, in 2015 after he became inspired during a solo journey through Mongolia. Taesang is perhaps one of the biggest dreamers I’ve met.

One of his dreams, which he is now accomplishing

through the weekly running of his market space, is to break down cultural barriers through music and crosscultural interaction. On a given Saturday night between the hours of seven and ten, you can find a mix of native Koreans and foreigners at Dreamers, performing and enjoying music together as they sit in camping chairs and plastic stools around tables of the market’s local cuisine and drinks. Some visitors only go to the Dreamers space occasionally, while others have found a home there. These regulars, made up of musicians, artists, and volunteers, have come to be known as “The Dreamers,” so called for their creative spirits and ambitions of inspiring the world to be a better place.

At some point last year, Tae-sang began talking of a return trip to Mongolia, but this time he wanted to bring his Dreamer friends with him to share their music with the nomadic people, while also having the opportunity to experience and understand the poverty and environmental issues that are rife within the country. To be honest, I don’t think anyone – not even Tae-sang – was

31 really sure that this dream could actually become a reality.

Yet, despite doubts, the details of the trip eventually came together, and in late September, the Dreamers assembled and headed for Mongolia for their first music tour. I was lucky enough to be invited to join them as the violinist.

adventurous eater, I was starving, and so I stuffed a slab of the dark, thinly sliced meat into my mouth along with a bite of bread and tried not to think about what it was. To my surprise the meat tasted delicious and was reminiscent of beef.

Our team consisted of twelve members: one part foreigner and one part Korean. We arrived in Ulaanbaatar to the rude awakening that winter had arrived in Mongolia early. Immediately, we layered up and made our way through the biting wind to our first performance venue, a community center in Zuunmod, where Tae-sang had arranged for us to play a children’s concert.

The next day, unfortunately, only about 40 of the expected 200 children showed up at the community center to hear us play, but by the time the concert ended, nobody really cared about that. I have rarely performed for a more appreciative audience. The show kicked off with a small ensemble of Mongolian girls playing traditional music, followed by our teams. The special repertoire we had prepared for the trip included traditional Irish music, a selection of Disney songs, both traditional and nontraditional Korean pieces, originals, and also some classics.

I think everyone felt the power and beauty of music at that concert, and I hope that through it, the children could sense our hearts for them. The performance turned out to be a promising start to our trip, and it was only the beginning.

After everyone had completed their sound checks at the venue, we were driven to the home of a family that would be hosting us during our time in Zuunmod. It was dark when we arrived, and cold. Half of the group unloaded their things into the yurt they were to stay in (if you don’t know what a yurt is, it is a circular tent made of felt or skins used as housing by Mongol nomads) while a few of the girls and I were invited into the house to sleep where it was warmer.

Inside the house, we were greeted warmly by the family who lived there: a beautiful young woman with short, pink hair and big brown eyes, who looked to me like she came straight out of an anime film; her father and mother; two middle-aged boys; a young girl; and a toddler (who had the most irresistible tuft of baby hair on his head I had ever seen). Byamba was the name of the lady with the pink hair. She made us feel welcome and offered us our first taste of Mongolian cuisine: a plate with sliced bread and horse meat. Although I am not much of an

The following morning, we woke up to Narnia outside our window: Mongolia had been suddenly transformed into a magical wonderland of snow. I only wished I had brought my fur-lined winter boots as I was definitely feeling illprepared, stepping into the harsh elements in my anklehigh leather lace-ups, as were several other members of the team. However, that morning we were headed for the desert, and so we had the hope that it might be warmer there as we hopped into the artillery-like desert vans we’d rented for the next five days.

At first, the van ride was not that interesting. But then,

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

32

▲ This page, left: Members of the Dreamers team inside of a yurt. Right: Dreamers performing a sunset concert at the Tsagaan Suvarga canyon.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

something wonderful happened: as the snow began to disappear, our driver suddenly turned off-road, and we began bumping across the sand. Now, this was more like it! With a simple turn of the wheel, it felt like we were on an excursion through the final frontier, rather than a boring van ride on a road through the desert. As we got further and further away from the populated areas, we began to encounter an array of the Gobi’s inhabitants: giant Mongolian hawks, goats, rabbits, yaks, deer, and yes – even herds of the rare two-humped camel!

Eventually, we came to our first major sightseeing stop of the trip: a famous canyon called Tsagaan Suvarga.

Our vans pulled up to the canyon with just enough time to explore before sunset. Now, I’ve been to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and that was an experience, but to me, this canyon was more beautiful and exotic. It’s truly difficult to even try to describe the place other than to say it was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The other Dreamers and I, charged with adrenaline as we lay eyes on this new and beautiful place, began to run about as though we were kids again, sliding down ravines, walking out to the edges of cliffs, and running up and down sand dunes. After all of it, we were exhausted, but we couldn’t pack up without first playing music in a place so deserving.

I grabbed my violin from the van, freed it from its case, and walked out to one of the ledges of the canyon. As you can imagine, simply by doing this, I drew the curiosity of many of the tourists who were there. I started with “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas, which seemed fitting to the surroundings. Before long, I was joined by other members of the team, and we were performing

an impromptu concert for those who happened to be standing nearby with appreciative smiles and nods. We played until the sun slowly slipped behind the horizon, and the Gobi night air was filled with our song.

That night, I finally got to sleep in a yurt. It was surprisingly cozy, and I have to say, it is one aspect of the trip I look back on and miss. The inside of the circular “house” was lined with beds and had a wood stove in the center for heating. Here, we cooked our dinners and breakfasts using the supplies we’d brought. There were no showers for the five days we were in the desert and this was as close to “roughing it” as I have ever come. We did our best to keep up hygiene using water tissue, dry shampoo, and body sprays. After dinner was cleaned up, most nights those of us who weren’t too tired sat around singing and playing music under the desert stars.

On one of our days driving through the desert, our group took a pit stop in what was seemingly the middle of nowhere. There, in the ditch beside the road, we decided to record a few songs amongst the trash that littered the sands, hoping to use the footage later to help raise awareness of pollution problems, even out in the desert.

When our two drivers – who had previously been cold to us – saw what we were doing, they exited the vans and came walking toward us with our Dreamers banner stretched between them. Even though they did not speak our language, they understood what we were doing and were evidently moved to be a part of it. From that moment until the end of the trip, the drivers accepted us as their friends, and we had many laughs together through our

33

▲ A Dreamer member, Geun-seop Guk (국근섭), dances in the Gobi Desert sands.

interactions. This is a moment, Tae-sang says, that he can never erase from his mind.

The same afternoon, the sizeable hall within the grim, cinder-block military base was filled with young soldiers who sat, rigidly at first, in their seats as they waited for

THE AUTHOR

Eden has been living in Korea since 2014 and enjoys reading, writing, snowboarding, and enchanting the locals with her violin when she can manage to find a spare minute away from her editing responsibilities at the Gwangju News. Eden became Managing Editor in September 2017.

December 2017

Days later as our group left the Gobi and returned, covered in sand, to our headquarters in Zuunmod, we found that word had spread about our music, and we were asked to perform a special concert at a nearby military base. At first, we were reluctant to agree to this as we did not want to support the communistic military of Mongolia, but when we learned that many of the soldiers were only in that position out of poverty and necessity, and that many of them had never had the chance to see live music in all their lives, we had to reconsider.

All in all, I think the Dreamers left Mongolia feeling that we had fulfilled the mission we had set out to accomplish, and hopefully we were able to touch others with the message of our music while we were there. I cannot speak for what the Mongolian people felt in their hearts, only for what I saw in their smiles and in their eyes.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

For me, the most memorable night of our trip was on our second day in the desert. At the end of the day, we pulled up to a camp of yurts, where we were met by an enthusiastic group of Mongolian youth who were traveling together.

Our now-enthusiastic drivers suggested that we play a concert for our young audience, and the opportunity to play music is, of course, something we rarely refuse.

So, out came the instruments once again, and we were met with an unexpected level of cheers and excitement.

As we played, the youth and yurt camp owners formed a circle around us. Together we sang and we danced on the platform our music was creating; in an instant, strangers became family. In that circle, social class or cultural differences or even language barriers become obsolete.

our show to begin – but it didn’t take long for the music to change all that. Soon, the soldiers were clapping along, and dormant smiles awoke on their faces. By the end of the concert, we once again had several of our audience members on stage with us, and others were standing and singing along in the crowd. For a brief moment in time, men became boys again as they eagerly performed one of their own Mongolian pop songs for us, and we could see that the opportunity to not only hear live music but perform themselves for an audience was truly a special experience for them. I couldn’t help but wonder if any of them had ever dreamed of becoming musicians. Though this concert was an unplanned part of our itinerary, it may have turned out to be one of our most meaningful performances of the whole trip.

34

Ice, Ice, Baby!

Written and photographed by Madeline Miller

The only place to ice skate year-round in Gwangju is Yeomju Sports Center (염주체육관). Unfortunately, there’s not much information available online in English, but luckily for you, I’m here to be your guide! Located in Seogu, it is a full-sized rink tucked behind the main event hall – between the indoor tennis court, horse stables, and geom-do (swordsmanship) hall – and is primarily utilized for speed and figure skating lessons. There are many classes available, as well as private coaching if that’s what you’re into. If you’re like me, though, you just want to strap ’em on and go on your own. Public skating is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends, with a nice little lunch break from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. There’s a snack shop, bathrooms, skate sharpening (costs 10,000 won a pop and takes about 10 minutes) and some very friendly and helpful staff.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

I

f you know me, you know I like hockey. If you know me well, you know that I talk about my experiences with it very passionately, play it very lazily, and know absolutely nothing about the actual stats. That being said, I like to spend my free time doing lazy laps around a rink and want to share with you the places in Gwangju you can do that, too.

▲ The Yeomju Gymnasium ice rink.

Recently, the center installed an automated payment system – when you walk in the front door, directly to the left is where you should pick your poison. 7,000 won gets you the full experience; 4,000 if you only want an entrance (i.e., if you brought your own skates or if you’re too chicken to step on the slippery surface at all). While I have my own skates (you know, being lazily into hockey and all), the ones provided by the facility are not too rotten. Keep in mind you are required to wear a helmet and gloves; helmets are provided, but gloves are not. If you don’t have any or happen to forget them, thankfully they’re only 3,000 won to buy in the skate shop to the right of the main entrance. There’s also a “warm room” alongside the ice, and the skate shop has warm clothes to rent, so if you don’t feel like freezing your butt off the entire day, that’s a good chance to bring life into your dead fingers once more.

The rink also has locker rental available – the day-lockers are located near the restrooms and are your standard “I’m going to just leave the penny I found outside and my extra socks here” size. A fuller size locker costs 5,000 won per month and is the perfect size for ice skaters.

Additionally, there’s a small gym with treadmills and

35 indoor rink. Here, too, you can purchase gloves if you neglected to bring them, but you will not be allowed to enter without them and a helmet (provided).

▲ Gwangju Ice Tigers after a Wednesday night practice (author second from right in the back row).

One benefit to skating at City Hall, rather than Yeomju, is the availability of food. I’m nearly always hungry, and the proximity of food to the Yeomju rink is a little frustrating. Other than the two nearby snack shops, the only options within a 10-minute walk are a coffee shop near the back entrance and the Lotte Mart next to the World Cup Stadium. As far as food goes, City Hall does hold the trump card as it is in the middle of Sangmu where there are food options everywhere.

some weights equipment, but it’s only accessible if you pay for the Whether it be at the indoor Yeomju rink or City rink membership at about 80,000 won per month.

Hall’s outdoor center, get out there and skate this If there were one thing I could change about the Yeomju rink, it winter season! would be shower facilities. If you’re just going for a romantic – or maybe frustrating, if the fool just drags you down while you’re THE AUTHOR trying to channel your inner Yuna Kim – date, obviously that’s unnecessary. But after a two-hour game, personally, I would love to take a quick rinse.

Aside from Yeomju, there is (at least) one other rink in Gwangju.

Every winter, City Hall hosts an open-air rink on its front yard that costs only 1,000 won for a two-hour block. Last year, this was open from mid-December to early February; this year will likely be the same. Admittedly, the quality of the ice is significantly lower than that of Yeomju, and there are swarms of children getting in the way, but if you’re in the area and don’t feel committed enough for the full-blown 7,000 for Yeomju, this is a good option. It’s also nice to feel the crisp air and know it’s fresh(er) than that of the

Maddy lives a grandma’s lifestyle in a 23-year-old’s body. She has too many hobbies, most prevalent of which are reading, exploring, and chasing the children off her lawn (if only she had one). Her favorite food is anything that isn’t spicy or olives.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

36 Where to Eat

U THAI

Written and photographed by Justin Ramsay

FOOD & DRINKS

W

inter is upon us, and in Korea that means heaters, jackets, thermal underwear, and hot soup recipes are being pulled out of storage and put into use. This is also the time of year when those lucky enough to have lengthy vacations start to think about where to jet off to in order to escape the icy claws of winter. Some may choose to take the adventurous route and head to equally cold or even colder parts of the world like Russia or Mongolia, but the majority will opt to head to the warmer climates of Indonesia, Thailand, and the like. Apart from the ideal weather, beautiful beaches, and landmarks that these countries have, one of the things that always sticks with travelers is the cuisine. After a trip to Southeast Asia, they often find themselves craving a particular dish, only to find that it is non-existent in their home neighborhood. With that in mind, this month’s Where to Eat section takes us to Dongmyeong-dong once again wherein lies a cozy little Thai restaurant called “U Thai.”

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

The restaurant is located on a side alley next to McLeod, which was covered in a previous issue of the Gwangju News, and so could easily be overlooked by those who just stick to the main strip of restaurants and cafes. The storefront is easily identified as a Thai restaurant partly

▲ Left: Pork Kao Pad (fried rice). Right: Tom Yum Goong.

due to the name written in English and the distinct Thai text emblazoned on the sign above the entrance. U Thai has large windows that give a clear view of the small, wellthemed interior of the restaurant. Upon entering, one immediately notices the décor. There is something to see in every direction, and the restaurant is full of pictures, decorations, and products that are distinctly Thai. The walls are painted in a rustic fashion with various colored paints, sections are wallpapered with pages of Thai newspapers, and another section of the restaurant is covered in gold-framed photos and paintings of the Thai royal family, which are a staple in Thai restaurants all over the world. Elephant decorations, a Thai welcome sign, posters advertising Thai beers like Chang and Singha, palm leaves, metal tables, and coolers in the restaurant really do a fantastic job of bringing a little slice of Thailand into Gwangju.

There were quite a few diners already in the restaurant when my wife and I arrived, so we made our way to an empty table and grabbed a menu as quickly as possible.

The simple three-page menu on a clipboard did not have English names for the dishes – instead, the Thai name was written in Hangul with a brief explanation (also in Hangul) – but they were still easy to decipher as every dish

37 had an accompanying color photo that showed exactly what you are able to order. After a quick look at the menu, we settled on Tom Yum Goong, U Thai egg noodles, Pork Kao Pat, Thai spring rolls, and a few Thai beers. While we waited for our food to arrive, I really enjoyed the fact that the lighting in the restaurant was very subtle and the Thai background music was toned down. This allowed diners to engage in pleasant conversation and feel relaxed, which can sometimes be difficult in many other restaurants with their bright fluorescent lights and K-pop blasting from the speakers. Since it was a Saturday night, we were expecting to have quite a lengthy wait for our food but were pleasantly surprised when the dishes started being delivered to the table quite efficiently.

Tom Yum Goong is one of my favorite soups. I love the slightly spicy, citrusy taste, and I was very happy to see it arrive in its heated serving bowl. The soup was tasty with a good balance of sourness and spices. The prawns in the soup were not chewy, and there was a fair amount included in the dish. The Tom Yum Goong was one of the more expensive items on the menu at 16,000 won, but it was very tasty and good for sharing between 2 -3 people along with some other dishes. The Thai egg noodles also contained shrimp, and the noodles had quite a pleasant texture, but the broth was a bit bland for my taste. This was easily remedied by adding some of the spices that are included at the table so diners can season to their liking.

them, which combined with the soft contents very well.

On our way out of the restaurant, we thanked the owner and asked him why he decided to open a Thai restaurant in Gwangju. He said that he used to work at a company, but used to travel to Thailand a couple of times a year as he really enjoyed it. This led him to opening the restaurant in order to practice and apply what he had learned during his time in Thailand. He also added that he personally had brought all of the utensils, decorations, pictures, and more back to Korea with him over the years of traveling back and forth.

We left the restaurant feeling thoroughly satisfied and very full. If, like me, you enjoy a bit of Thai food from time to time or just want some delicious, warm soup to stave off the winter chill, then pay U Thai a visit and give the Tom Yum Goong and other scrumptious dishes a try.

THE AUTHOR

Justin is an English teacher from South Africa who has lived in Gwangju since 2013. He is a big fan of food and the arts and generally goes where something good can be eaten, seen or heard. He is often involved in GPP performances and writes monthly food articles for the Gwangju News. In his free times he’s usually playing boardgames, videogames or just enjoying a nice stroll around Gwangju.

광주 동구 동명로20번길 6

￦

010-9509-6010 11:30–24:00 (Break time: 15:00–17:00).

Closed on Mondays.

8,000–20,000 won Instagram: u__thai

December 2017

U THAI 유타이 Dongmyeong-ro 20-beongil 6, Dong-gu, Gwangju

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Usually I am not a huge fan of rice dishes, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Pork Kao Pat. The Thai rice made for a nice change from the Korean sticky rice that I eat daily as it had a slightly drier, almost crunchy texture to it that was complemented and flavored perfectly by the lightly seasoned pork and vegetables. When we ordered the spring rolls we expected two or three to be served on a plate, which is what generally happens at other Thai restaurants that I’ve tried in Korea. U Thai, however, had quite a generous portion size of six spring rolls.

Granted, they were a bit on the smaller side, but the larger amount made up for it and, more importantly, they were good. The outside of the spring rolls were crispy and had a good crunch to

▲ A section at U Thai where Thai royal family portraits decorate the walls.

38 Kitchen Stories

Dak-Galbi [닭갈비] Written and photographed by Karly Pierre Translation by Karina Prananto

FOOD & DRINKS

M

y chipper hello and quick bow in the doorway of Kim Min-kyeong’s apartment are met with a panicked “Shhh!” Kim presses a finger to her lips and waves me and my Korean teacher into her apartment, then ducks into her kitchen.

She bites into a chunk of radish with a crunch and my teacher chuckles.

“Her neighbor,” my teacher explains as she closes the door behind us, “she can hear us. She’s an older lady.”

As a child, Kim remembers eating her mother’s sujebi (수제비) and duck soup (oritang, 오리탕). “We’d have oritang twice a month,” she says. “On holidays, my mother would make honey cookies. That has to be my favorite childhood food memory.”

Kim is at the stove sautéing chunks of chicken coated in red sauce. Her slight frame is lost in an oversized sweatshirt. Steam rises from the pan and she adjusts her glasses. My teacher carefully observes Kim for a moment, then tilts her head skeptically. She whispers to Kim; they laugh and my teacher rolls up her sleeves. She tosses in a plate of chopped carrots and cabbage, and soon she is manning the stove. Kim stands behind her, looking over her shoulder.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

“Maesil,” my teacher says.

Kim shuffles off to the refrigerator and returns with a jug of plum syrup, which she then pours over the chicken, and my teacher tests the dish again. She furrows her brow, then nods in approval. While the chicken simmers, Kim offers me a mug of tea. As I sip the lukewarm black tea, Kim sets the table: steamed broccoli, cabbage salad (baechu geotjeori, 배추 겉절이) and radish kimchi (kkakdugi, 깍두기).

“These are from my family’s field,” she says, pointing to the vegetables. “My mother wakes up at 5:00 in the morning every day to work in the garden.”

Today’s lunch is a bit unusual for Kim. She doesn’t cook much these days. “I’ve been studying for my real estate agent exam, so my mother brings meals for me and my husband,” she says. “I took the test last week, and I did okay.” She plucks a broccoli floret from the bowl. “I’m a government worker. But now I’m taking a break, and I’ve never been happier.”

Kim, 37, grew up in Gwangju. Her father worked at a bank and her mother was a real estate agent. Though as a child she was mostly timid, she also recalls being a bit of a tomboy and beating up her little brother. P.E. was her favorite class.

“Why are you laughing?” asks Kim. “You chew so loudly,” my teacher replies, amused.

Though Kim enjoys her mother’s cooking, she has never asked her for a recipe. “I’d rather just eat it,” she says.

When I begin asking Kim questions about her cooking skills, my teacher interrupts. “You saw her today,” she says. We all laugh.

“I don’t know how to cook,” Kim admits. “I took a few cooking classes at HomePlus. I only went there three times. There were usually two to five women in class, a mix of young housewives and students…It was pretty easy. I learned how to make tteok-galbi (떡갈비), kimchi jjigae (김치찌개), and doenjang jjigae (된장찌개), but dakgalbi (닭갈비)—I still can’t make that.”

Eventually during the interview, the tables are turned and Kim begins a comprehensive interrogation of my life: How long have you been married? How is life in Korea?

I slowly string together a few Korean phrases while being corrected by my teacher. I come to the conclusion that my interview with her is over and turn off my recorder. We settle in for girl talk.

Suddenly, my teacher gasps. Something Kim said has shocked her, but Kim remains blasé and even chuckles.

“She was in the hospital,” my teacher explains. “She had stomach cancer.”

I learn that Kim had surgery in April. She attributes the cause of the cancer to the stress of her job. She playfully mimes being poked and prodded during her chemotherapy sessions. In a few months, she’ll return for a reevaluation.

39

▲ Kim Min-kyeong

“I don’t mind going to the hospital,” she says with a smile. “I can rest there. It sounds strange, but it’s true.”

There is something behind her nonchalance – like she’s had an awakening.

“From now on, I want to have an exciting life,” she says.

Before I leave, we take a picture together. She quickly runs her fingers through her bobbed hair and shrugs indifferently. My teacher snaps the photo. As I pack up, Kim asks me if we can be friends. We are the same age, after all.

When the elevator door opens, an old woman is already inside.

She’s bent over a cart of freshly harvested radishes, the thick white roots still speckled with dirt. Their sharp, earthy aroma fills the elevator.

“Those are beautiful,” my teacher says.

THE AUTHOR Karly Pierre has an MA in Mass Communication and has worked as an editor and writer for several publications. She is currently an assistant professor in the ESL department at Chosun University.

chicken thighs shredded cabbage carrot (large slices) thickly sliced yellow onion chopped large green onion sliced sesame leaves cheese tteok (떡, rice cake)

Sauce 2 tablespoons red pepper powder 3 tablespoons gochu-jang (고추장, red pepper paste) 2 tablespoons cheongju (청주, refined rice wine) 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon curry powder 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon ginger concentrate or juice black pepper as desired Method 1. Wash the chicken thighs, and then cut into bitesized chunks. Mix the sauce ingredients and marinade chicken.

2. Wash and cut the vegetables.

3. Add cooking oil to a heated pan and stir-fry chicken.

4. When the meat is nearly cooked through, add cabbage, onion, tteok, green onion, and sesame leaves, and stir-fry. Simmer until fully cooked and then serve.

December 2017

The old lady smiles with pride and nods. When the elevator doors open again, she pushes the cart into the lobby, her back bowed from a life of hard work, and walks out into the amber glow of the fall afternoon.

Ingredients 300 grams 1/2 head 1/2 1 1 5 1 packet

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

The fact that we’re the same age resonates with me as I press the elevator button. As I get older, I’ve become more aware of the passage of time. Like Kim, I’m learning to cherish life more.

DAK-GALBI [닭갈비]

40 Korean Culture

Dalgona

An Entertaining, Wintery Snack from the Past

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

FOOD & DRINKS

Written by Cho Namhee

W

inter is finally here. The cold breeze summons street vendors of hot foods to the streets, and they become a warm winter shelter. Hot foods such as fish sticks, hotteok (호떡, sugar-filled pancakes), and bungeo-ppang (붕어빵, fish-shaped pastries) are the most popular street foods sought by passers-by, and they are easily recognizable. However, dalgona (달고나), Korean-style honeycomb toffees, are perhaps less known to the expats in Korea. The unique vendors of dalgona present not only an eye-catching scene but also give you entertainment.

The origin of this Korean sweet is uncertain; however, it is presumed to have originated in Busan in the 1960s.

Unlike the original toffees from the United Kingdom and the West, the recipe of the Korean confectionery is very simple. Put either a spoonful of sugar or a block of glucose on a metal ladle, and melt and stir. When the liquid turns sticky and yellow, a pinch of baking soda or sodium bicarbonate makes it rise. Then put the puffed up sugar and soda on a plate to let it cool. It can then be flattened to stamp out different shapes. This quick, simple recipe makes it easy to make dalgona at home, and it provides entertainment when bought from vendors.

Back in the 1970s to 1990s, there were dalgona vendors who sold pieces of the sweet with a fun challenge for 50 to 100 won. Heart shapes, star shapes, and many other shapes were impressed on the round, flat toffee cakes with a cookie-cutter-like utensil. Vendors challenged their young customers to trim away the toffee outside the impressed image using only a pin in the depression – without damaging the image! As a reward for successful trimming, the consumer received a free candy or other reward such as prize money or a gift, depending on the region. In addition to the rewards, the fun part was that you got to eat the trimmed-away parts as you went. At first, the task may not sound too challenging; however, cold hands and cold weather rapidly cooling the toffee

could make the task quite difficult. This fun challenge has traditionally gathered people under beach umbrellas as they shared joy and competition together around this special treat.

In the past, when gas stoves were still uncommon, vendors had to heat their ladles over coal briquettes. From the 1980s, dalgona slowly faded away for such reasons as low quality and unsanitary production. Of course, the candy is also a far cry from a healthy snack as it contains 99 percent sugar. These days, vendors still sometimes appear around parks and tourist attractions, using the retro aspect of the snack as a selling point. The advancement of technology has made automated dalgona-making machines possible, and these can also be found in front of stationery stores. You may also find the sweet treat on the streets of Chungjang-ro and Geumnam-ro. Visit one of these vendors (now becoming fewer and fewer) this winter to experience the treat with which Koreans entertained themselves in those leaner days of yesteryear.

THE AUTHOR Cho Namhee currently studies communication at Chonnam National University.

41

Career

Talk to Me In Korean

(School & Hagwon)

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 situations in which they are used. Whether you are just traveling or living in Korea, this book, the perfect size that can fit right in your purse, will come in handy whenever you want something.

(name) + - 선생님. [(name) + - seon-saeng-nim.]

Teacher (name).

In school or academic environments, teachers are referred to by their job title, 선생님 [seon-saeng-nim, teacher]. As with most work environments in Korea, a person’s job title is typically how someone is addressed or referred to. Adding a person’s family name in front of the title is optional, as simply calling someone 선생님 is sufficient. Also, for certain work environments, 선생님 can be shorted to 쌤 [ssaem]. This is usually used in more casual and intimate relationships.

When it comes to taking sick days, some teaching situations are more flexible than others. At some institutions, it may be difficult to call in sick as substitute teachers may not be available.

I’m (name). 원장님 [won-jang-nim] principal/director of a private academy (ha-gwon)

EDUCATION

몸이 아파서 오늘은 학교에/학원에 못 갈 것 같아요. [mo-mi a-pa-seo o-neu-reun hak-kkyo-e/ha-gwo-ne mot gal ggeot ga-ta-yo.]

I’m not feeling well, so I don’t think I can come to work today.

The second term refers to teachers who are native speakers of English.

For many English classes in schools and academies, there is usually a twoteacher system: one native English teacher to help with pronunciation and conversation, and one Korean teacher to help with grammar. 원어민 선생님 [wo-neo-min seon-saeng-nim] native teacher

숙제 했어요? [suk-jje hae-sseo-yo?]

Did you do your homework?

질문 있어요? [jil-mu ni-sseo-yo?] Do you have any questions? (number) + - 쪽 펴세요. [(number) + - jjok pyeo-se-yo.]

Please open to page (number).

School classes in Korea are numbered using this system. The school grade and year are stated, followed by the class number.

More Words 수업 [su-eop] class 쉬는 시간 [swi-neun si-gan] recess 학생 [hak-ssaeng] student 교실 [gyo-sil] classroom

교무실 [gyo-mu-sil] teacher’s room 영어 [yeong-eo] the English language 교과서 [gyo-gwa-seo] textbook 칠판 [chil-pan] chalkboard 분필 [bun-pil] chalk

This book extract from Survival Korean is available at MyKoreanStore.com

December 2017

(number) + -학년 (number) + -반 [(number) + -hang-nyeon (number) + -ban)] class (number) in (number) th grade

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

The first word, 숙제 [suk-jje], means “homework”, and 했어요? [haesseo-yo?] on its own simply means “did you do it?” You can use this phrase in a more general way by removing 숙제 [suk-jje] from the phrase and using it to refer to any in-class assignments or projects.

42 KOTESOL

“Class, Do You Understand?”

Written by Dr. David Shaffer

The trouble with this prized teaching technique is that when the students come to the next class or take the next test, many of them have retained nothing, and the teacher realizes the need for a better method of checking understanding. The problem is that the “Do you understand” technique bypasses practice, processing time, and pluck. Merely explaining a word’s meaning, its pronunciation, or its grammatical usage and then asking the students if they understand will generate an automated “yes” response, but little more.

Explanations of new material are helpful, but they need to be accompanied by practice that incorporates the new material.

Practice in more than one way is often more helpful than relying on a single activity. The more different associations that one can make with a new item, the more likely it is to be retained and learned. Practice allows for processing time – time for the student to get acquainted with the new item, to consciously figure out how it is to be properly used, and for the brain to do this subconsciously.

And pluck. The student needs the courage to speak up. This takes time for many students to build up, but if the teacher does not provide that time when the question is asked, that pluck is plucked. We need a better way of checking understanding – and here we will offer several techniques for assisting the teacher in determining how well their students are understanding the new material.

EXIT TICKETS Exit tickets (aka “exit slip” and “ticket to leave”) are a simple and effective method of formative assessment that informs the teacher of how well the individual student understands the class material. It can be used daily, weekly, or whenever, depending on the material covered and the class schedule. An exit ticket is not a quiz; it is a form of written feedback to determine how well lesson material has been understood, or liked, or not understood at all. With the information gained from the students’ exit tickets, teachers can determine what information needs to be reinforced in a future lesson and which students many need different types of reinforcement (i.e., differentiated instruction).

The contents of an exit ticket may take different forms, depending on what type of feedback the teacher is looking for. However, because this is an end-of-class task, the exit

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

EDUCATION

A

n indispensable element of any lesson taught is checking understanding. How do you, as a teacher, execute this? The convention here in Korea is to ask “Do you understand?” and get the programmed response “YES!” seemingly indicating that you can move on to the next lesson. “Great!

We’ll stop here for today, class. See you next time!”

▲ Hinge Point in a Lesson.

▲ Figure 2. One version of a 3–2–1 exit ticket.

43 There is no longer any reason for a teacher to walk blindly through their lessons and course. The above formative assessment techniques can easily be applied to receive critical student feedback. No need to rely on “Class, do you understand?” ▲ Figure 1. Emoji can be used as multiple-choice responses.

ticket should contain no more than 3–5 items, and the responses should be expected to be short. The items inquired about may be in question form (e.g., “What did you like about today’s lesson?”), or they may ask for a list of responses (e.g., “Write down 3 words you learned”). It is often best to not ask yes/no-questions because of the limited feedback they contain. Questions and answers may be in English or the students’ L1, depending on their proficiency level.

For young learners, you may wish to have them respond by selecting one of three emoji images: happy, sad, and straight-faced (Figure 1).

GOING TO THE POLLS If the teacher is looking for a quick method of getting feedback from the class, a “digital” method may be used.

Students may respond to the teachers questions, oral or written, with a physical rating system (showing 1–5 fingers), or the teacher may employ a risk-free, electronic response system such as Socrative or Poll Everywhere to poll the class on their devices. These digital response systems can also be effectively employed for hinge-point questions and exit tickets.

David E. Shaffer is Vice-President of the GwangjuJeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL).

On behalf of the Chapter, he invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops at their monthly meetings (always on a Saturday). 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; at present he is national president. Dr. Shaffer credits KOTESOL for much of his professional development in English language teaching, scholarship, and leadership. He is also the editor-in-chief of the Gwangju News.

GWANGJU-JEONNAM KOTESOL MONTHLY MEETING Date: December 9 (Saturday) Place: Gwangju National University of Education Two Presentations on ELT topics Role-play for the Classroom What Color Is Your Personality: Short Activities That Work!

SwapShop – Share with the group an activity or teaching idea that you have.

For full event details: Website: koreatesol.org/gwangju Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL

December 2017

HINGE-POINT QUESTIONS One should not think of an end-ofclass assessment as being the only assessment necessary for gauging the teacher’s effectiveness and the students’ understanding. If the teacher waits until the end of the lesson to assess, a large chunk of valuable class time may have slipped away with the majority of the students in “I have no idea what she’s talking

A hinge-point question is designed to produce informative feedback in a minimal amount of time. It should be formulated in such a way that all the students will be able to respond within two minutes, and the teacher will be able to collect and interpret the responses in about half a minute.

Hinge questions should be created before class when preparing the lesson, and the percentage of right answers required for the teacher to proceed should be determined then also. These questions are most often multiple-choice in type, but for the EFL/ESL classroom, more openended questions are also appropriate.

THE AUTHOR

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

A very common type of ticket is the 3–2–1 exit ticket. It asks for three of one thing, two of another, and one of a third. For example, it may ask for three new things learned, two words or phrases learned, and one question that the learner still has (Figure 2). However, like with any exit ticket, the contents of the 3–2–1 exit ticket depend entirely upon what the teacher wants to know about the effectiveness of the lesson. Exit tickets rely on reading and writing skills, and may be collected as the students go out the door.

about” mode. Hinge-point questions to the rescue! A hinge-point question is based on a concept in the lesson that is critical for students to understand before moving on to a closely related concept (i.e., what comes next in the lesson “hinges” on a grasp of what has just been presented). It should occur somewhere in the middle part of the lesson, giving time to both present a concept thoroughly and go over it again if needed.

44

Colorful Mindfulness

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

ARTS & CULTURE

Written and photographed by Joe Wabe

45

F

or one growing up in a tropical climate, autumn was only something you would see on television. Back then, it looked like one of the most romantic seasons of the year, with all the fallen leaves, the big pumpkins, and beautiful colors painted all over the trees. This beautiful season was actually called “harvest” a couple of hundred years ago, and the beautiful bright moon that commonly smiled during autumn was essential for farmers harvesting their late-year crops.

For the past six, maybe seven, years, my friends and I have traveled to enjoy the foliage of Baegyangsa in Jeollanamdo

This year, out of the blue, my friend Abe asked if we were going to make the trip, and I agreed without hesitation.

I didn’t really put much thought into it like we had in previous years, when we planned it a bit more thoroughly.

The day came; I woke up late, picked up Abe, and drove up to Mudeung Mountain sometime after lunch.

On the way up, we made our first stop to enjoy the beautiful view of the city landscape from above and the amazing range of colors that were scattered all over the

December 2017

What a nice treat autumn is, in particular, after all our juices have been drained by the heat and humidity of the cruel Korean summer.

Last year, because of my work, I wasn’t able to team up with anyone for the yearly photo trip and ended up just glimpsing at the foliage through the glass of my car while commuting. I didn’t think I missed a lot; “after all, I’ve seen it over and over for many years,” I told myself. But I was wrong…

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

I moved to Korea many (many) harvest moons ago, but no matter how many there have been, every year I’ve enjoyed this season to the fullest, especially during the years of my journey through photography. This transitional season – from extreme summer heat to extreme winter cold – is a wonderful time to meditate and reflect about our marvelous world, not only because of the colors of the leaves but also because the afternoons are full of amazing intensity and nightly walks are accompanied by a brighter than usual aura.

as a photographer’s one-day field trip. Due to global warming, the color shift has become a bit unstable and usually comes later than it did in years before. Although we have never been able to arrive in time to see the full foliage, we have managed to arrive to enjoy enough of it.

The abundance of reds, oranges, and yellows are a delicacy for our cameras, and the playground is filled with millions of leaves to have fun with.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017 46

47

No matter how many autumns have passed and how many are to come, there definitely will never be one like any other, and they all come to create a very special place in our memory.

THE AUTHOR

December 2017

Joe Wabe is an established photographer and Gwangju local business entrepreneur.

He has been contributing to GIC and Gwangju News for more than eight years.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

mountains. At this point, I realized how much I’d missed being in direct contact with the foliage, with the colors, and with autumn in its full spectrum.

After the breathtaking view, we made it to the park half an hour later; the wind was blowing hard and a world of leaves dancing in the air made me appreciate the moment even greater. We spent the rest of the afternoon doing what we have loved doing for many years: capturing the color of the moment with our cameras while being mindful of its preciousness.

48

Photo of the Month

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

ARTS & CULTURE

Written and photographed by Karina Prananto

I

took this photo during the last couple of weeks of autumn in Damyang. The place is called Damyang Gwanbangjerim Forest (담양관방제림), which is located just across from the Damyang Bamboo Forest. While most people go to Mudeungsan, Baekyangsa or Naejangsan for viewing autumn leaves, I prefer going to much less famous places so I can appreciate the quiet walk. The trees are around 200 to 300 years old, so they provide a relaxing shade and one can easily forget the time while walking under the beautiful colors of red, yellow and golden. It is flat ground so anyone of any age can enjoy walking around the area. I am glad I found this place and I will surely go back there to see the autumn next year!

49

Damyang Gwanbangjerim Forest 담양관방제림

￦

Do you have any photos that you would like to show to Gwangju (and the world)? Gwangju News features a photo of the month to create more opportunities to promote more photographers based in the Jeollanam-do region and to show off our beautiful province from different areas and angles. Submissions can be posted in the “Photography in the South” Facebook group throughout the preceding month.

Alternatively, you can also send your submissions to the editor by email: photos@gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

Karina is from Jakarta, Indonesia, and has been calling Gwangju home for 11 years. She loves mystery books, is obsessed with cleanliness, and always reads horror books before going to sleep.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

THE AUTHOR

Damyang Gwanbangjerim, 37 Gaeksa 7-gil, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do 전남 담양군 담양읍 객사7길 37 Free 061-380-2812 From Gwangju, take bus no. 311 to Bamboo Forest (죽녹원)

50 50 Book Review

Transformative Novel for the Holidays: A Man Called Ove

by Fredrik Backman

ARTS && CULTURE CULTURE ARTS

Reviewed by Kristy Dolson

H

urray for the holidays. It is a time for peace, love, and joy to all. Unless you’re a holiday-hating curmudgeon. But who among us doesn’t love the literary Christmas curmudgeon? From Scrooge to the Grinch, many classic Christmas stories have delighted us with the saintly transformations of these miserly, miserable individuals into caring souls and community leaders.

Allow me to introduce you to a new one: Ove.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

Ove Lindahl is the main protagonist of Fredrik Backman’s debut novel A Man Called Ove. Although it is not a Christmas story, it is definitely a transformative one. I started reading this book as one person on Monday, and I finished it as a different person on Tuesday. This is one of those books that will make you reflect deeply on life and stay with you for a very long time.

The novel takes place in modern-day Sweden and follows the daily life of Ove, an old man who never was any good at relating to others. After being forced into retirement, he decides to end his life. However, each of his attempts are thwarted by his overbearing neighbors who begin badgering him back into leadership as they band together to save their community from the interference of outside forces. Just when he thought all the love and purpose had gone out of his life, he finds both in the most unexpected places.

The author, Fredrik Backman, has a way with words and a distinct way of writing that is a rare treat. Sweden is known for its noir fiction, and while this novel has a definite Scandinavian flavor, it is more whimsical, oddball, and humorous. Backman writes the world and supporting characters from Ove’s point of view in third-person

limited. It’s a pleasure to see the world through the eyes of this grumpy old man in this funny and gripping pageturner. And Backman effortlessly takes the reader between the past and present, seamlessly revealing Ove’s hidden sorrows as we get to know him.

I must point out that this book was translated into English from the original Swedish. The translation lovingly preserves Backman’s magical style, but there are some terms or expressions that could leave a non-Swedish reader confused, and sometimes the dialogue can seem a bit clunky. However, these occasional bumps do not take away from the novel’s overall charm.

This is the universal story of a man rediscovering his place in an ever-changing world. Just as Scrooge and the Grinch do in their respective stories, Ove comes to appreciate the needs of others and to share in their joys. And that is something we should all remember to do, both during the holidays and all year long. I highly recommend this book and predict that it will enjoy the status of “a classic.” Perfect for book clubs.

Happy holidays and happy reading!

THE AUTHOR

Kristy Dolson lived in South Korea for five years before taking a year off to travel, read, and spend time with her family in Canada and Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Education and has just returned to Gwangju where she splits her time between teaching Korean teachers at JETI and reading as much as she can. (Photo by Lisa Crone)

Movie Review

51

Holiday Movie Review Written by Natale Ryan

C

hristmas is one of the most nostalgic holidays for many. The most comforting thing, for me, is curling up with a family film and sipping hot-chocolate.

For many people who are abroad, it can be a lonely time.

Being apart from loved ones can be difficult, so I wanted to provide a list of my top-seven, favorite Christmas films that can hopefully bring some holiday cheer. There isn’t one set genre in this list. These films can inspire thrills, humor, and feelings of joy. When I see most of these films, I reminisce about eating with my family, touring my neighborhood and admiring Christmas lights, and enjoying singing popular Christmas tunes. I can’t include everything on this list that I want to, but here are the top films I plan to revisit this year.

THE SANTA CLAUSE (1994) – For some reason, I didn’t get the pun in the title until recently in my life. I would watch this film constantly as a child, even during the summer months! The movie tells the story of a divorced man, played

by Tim Allen, who is a workaholic and trying to enjoy Christmas Eve with his son. He ends up accidentally killing Santa Claus, but then dons the suit to finish delivering the gifts in order to appease his son. When the night is finished, the sleigh returns to the North Pole, and we are treated with the most fantastic version of Santa’s workshop that I’ve ever seen. It is then that we learn that once a man puts on Santa’s suit, he is entrapped in a mysterious Santa Claus body, making him the new Santa! This movie is a mixture of comedy and drama, but also deals with serious struggles that a child of divorced parents faces. I related to it totally. This movie is sweet and endearing. If you haven’t seen it, check it out!

GREMLINS (1984) – Yet another scary Christmas film, but unlike The Nightmare Before Christmas, this is a legit Christmas movie. This movie features one of the most

December 2017

HOME ALONE (1990) – Home Alone has been a family favorite since I can remember. If you aren’t familiar with the story, it centers around eight-year-old Kevin McCallister who, after being accidentally left at home during Christmas vacation, is faced with the task of protecting his family home from two burglars. This movie features a wonderful holiday soundtrack, hilarious comedy, and a heartwarming ending. Every child I knew growing up envied Kevin’s cleverness as he set traps around his home in order to protect his home. My favorite scene is the one that involves him carefully positioning Micro-Machines,

A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993) – This is a great Halloween/Christmas film that can be enjoyed twice a year! This movie tells the story of Jack, the pumpkin king, who longs for a deeper meaning to his life. While wandering through the woods in his depression one day, he mistakenly finds the door to Christmas Land. After seeing all the wonders there, and Santa Claus, Jack decides he wants to celebrate Christmas in Halloween Town. Though his heart may be in a decent place, his actions are not, and it leads to him hiring three tricksters to kidnap Santa Claus.

This movies features characters known nearly world-wide!

Children in schools here are familiar with many songs featured in the film as well. The target audience isn’t very clear, as the movie can be a little scary, but in a way that kids can laugh about it. This will be a film that I will most definitely watch again this year!

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

ELF (2003) – My number-one film was hard to choose.

When I factored in all the details, I had to give the award to Elf. This movie stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, and Zooey Deschanel. There are so many reasons why this is my all-time favorite, go-to Christmas film. It features a fantastic Christmas soundtrack, includes Santa Claus and his elves, and highlights the true reason for celebration, all the while being hilarious. The film tells the story of a human adopted by an elf. While growing up, this human (Buddy) is oblivious to his differences between him and the elves he lives with. However, when the truth comes out, Buddy travels to New York City to find his blood father, who happens to be a workaholic man on the “naughty list.”

This movie encapsulates everything holiday for me. There are many quotes from this film that I often share with my personal friends and family members. I wholeheartedly recommend this film to anyone who hasn’t seen it. And if you have seen it, then I recommend that you re-watch it this Christmas!

tiny toy cars popular in the early 1990’s, on the floor where the two crooks end up slipping and falling on their backs!

Though Macaulay Culkin was a good actor, the movie was made perfect by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the robbers.

They were brilliant! Once again, this is a movie I highly recommend!

52 adorable creatures in the cinematic world, Gizmo! Gizmo is a mogwai who is bought illegally by a salesman for his son’s Christmas gift. He comes with three rules: no sunlight, no water, and no eating after midnight. However, after accidently coming in contact with water, the creature multiplies. His offspring, though, are not as gentle as he is. They trick the main character into feeding them after midnight, resulting in their transformation into hideous little monsters! This movie was a classic while I was growing up. It is hilarious, spooky, and often times gross! I recommend it, but advise parental discretion for young viewers.

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (1966) – This was a Christmas staple when I was young, and it still is to me! How the Grinch Stole Christmas is the ultimate tale of unselfishness and giving. The story is based on the children’s book by Dr. Seuss and is narrated by Boris Karloff. It tells the story of a creature called “The Grinch,” who lives above a town called Whoville. The Grinch hates Christmas because, based on the story, his heart was three sizes too small. To squash the Who’s holiday spirit, he plans to steal their decorations and toys. However, things do not turn out as planned, and we get another story that details the reason for the season!

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) – This movie is a picture of what Christmas was like in North America in the 1940’s. It is just one story from a book called In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash and tells the story of a boy named Ralphie, who wants a BB gun for Christmas. Every time Ralphie states his desire to an adult, they crush his dreams by stating “You’ll shoot your eye out.” The movie portrays boyhood perfectly and includes a few of Ralphie’s daydreams, in which he saved the day with his coveted BB gun. Nostalgia radiates through this film and nods to classic American pop-culture of the past.

These are my top-seven films that I highly recommend watching this holiday season. Whether you are abroad, a native Korean, or someone looking to get a taste of Westernized Christmas films, these movies are a must-see.

THE AUTHOR

Natale is an English teacher in Mokpo.

She is from Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States. She attended college in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and majored in criminology and sociology. In her free time, she enjoys watching scary movies and writing short stories. Her favorite movies are To Kill a Mockingbird, E.T., and Memento. Her heroes are Snoopy and Audrey Hepburn.

Written by Stephen Schelling

“D

addy, why is my name ‘Mary’?” six-yearold Mary asked her father, Christopher.

They were sitting on a sofa together, Mary resting in her father’s warm arms, a warmth that was accentuated by a blithely dancing fire.

She was in her pajamas. Her father was wearing a thick cardigan over his undershirt as he tended to do in winter when he returned home from work and took his work shirt off. He was still wearing his work pants and work socks even though Mary often complained how stinky the latter were. He was holding a mug of hot lemonade that he let Mary sip from as long as she was careful not to burn her lips or tongue. Chris pushed up his large-lens glasses so that the wireframes rested comfortably on the bridge of his nose until they would inevitably slip down again later. A record played Bing Crosby through scratches and the hum of the wood-cased speakers.

“Where the treetops glisten, and children listen,” the immortal crooner sang.

“You never got to know your grandparents on my side, did you, dear?” Christopher said looking down at his daughter.

“No, Daddy,” Mary replied, looking at him and then back to the fire. “Who are they?”

Christopher smiled.

“Well, believe it or not, I had a mommy and daddy, too, just like you.”

“Really?” Mary asked, amazed.

“Really. Just like Grandma and Grandpa Kaye are your mom’s mommy and daddy.”

“Oh,” Mary acknowledged.

Gwangju Writes “Would you like to hear a story, dear?”

Mary popped up and down on the sofa.

“Yes! Yes! Yes I do, Daddy!”

“Whoa!” Christopher exclaimed with a smile. “Be careful or you’re going to spill this wonderful hot lemonade your mother made for us all over your pajamas and the sofa.”

Mary stopped her bouncing and looked up attentively at her father. Her eyes sparkled from the flames of the fireplace and her heart.

“Please, Daddy, tell me the story,” she said, her anticipation surging within.

Christopher began the story of his parents.

“What kind was it?” Mary prodded.

“It was a magical farm. It was a…Christmas tree farm!”

“Oh, good! That’s the best kind of farm I’ve ever dreamed of!” Mary smiled, the light from the fire reflecting from her white teeth.

“Two magnificent evergreen trees taller than the sky had appeared overnight. One stood above your grandmother’s grave, and the other stood next to it. At the base of the second tree, I found my father’s glasses.”

The record had stopped playing. There was only silence.

Christopher continued.

“Your grandpa’s name was the same as my name, and your grandma’s name was the same as yours: Christopher and Mary Christmas. Now, what do you think about that?”

Christopher asked, looking down at his daughter. But Mary didn’t reply because she was fast asleep. Christopher smiled at his daughter, whom he loved with his entire being. He set the mug down on the floor and carefully picked up Mary as he wrapped her in her blanket. He gently carried Mary to her bedroom and laid his daughter in her bed. Christopher kissed her on her forehead and softly closed the door.

At that moment, he remembered he had left his wallet and keys in the office. He walked back down the hallway, past the fireplace, and to the front door where his shoes and coat were. He put both on and quickly ducked outside into the cold. There were already four or five inches of snow on the ground and light flurries blithely danced through the air until they joined their snow brothers and sisters below.

Christopher’s office wasn’t far – it was a trailer about 100 yards from the house. That was one of the perks of working on a farm. He patted the chilled, wooden sign his dad had made over 40 years ago: “Christmas’s Christmas Trees.”

About twenty yards before he got to his office trailer, he paused. He looked over toward the western side, where a pair of giant evergreens soared more than a dozen feet above all the others. One was slightly taller than the other, but both treetops glistened in the moonlight. Christopher smiled at them. The treetops swayed back and forth amid the dancing flurries and he listened to their hushed sound.

“Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad.” THE AUTHOR

Stephen Schelling is a writer and teacher, a pickler, and an Eagle Scout from America with a B.A. in journalism from Marshall University.

December 2017

“But one day, your grandmother started to not feel well. She got worse until, sadly, she passed away. Your grandfather was heartbroken. With resolve he told me, ‘Son, now it’s your turn to spread joy to the world.’ That day we buried your grandmother on the western side of the farm. I went to bed that night and when I awoke, something had happened. My father was gone. I frantically searched all around, but I couldn’t find any trace of him. I finally

Christopher exhaled, reliving the memory.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

“Well, they worked hard on their farm for many years. They eventually had a son – that’s me – who grew up on the farm and learned everything his parents taught him. Their trees were amazing, almost as if they were infused with magic.

Your grandfather had a special touch, some say. People came from far and wide to buy your grandparents’ trees.

They sold thousands upon thousands of trees throughout the years, and everyone who came and went from their farm was always happy. Your grandparents were the happiest of all because they got to see the joy they were spreading throughout their town and the world around them.

went outside. I walked around to the western side of the farmhouse, and what I saw made me stop in amazement.”

ARTS & CULTURE

“What might seem like a long time ago to you – but actually isn’t very long at all – my parents decided to buy a farm.

This was a time when you could do that sort of thing. They worked really hard and saved everything they earned and bought a farm with it. Only, it wasn’t any ordinary kind of farm. No, it wasn’t the kind of farm that had cows and pigs, or corn and wheat. Oh no, it was nothing of the sort.”

53

54 Op-Ed

Age of Solitude Care to Join Us?

OPINION

Written by Kim Dong-hun (8ball)

I

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

have not sinned, but I have a confession to make: I’ve lived alone for a long time, which means I feel quite accustomed to eating, traveling, and doing other things alone, although I did not expect to do so. Honestly, I enjoy my alone time.

However, there was a time when I was sarcastically referred to as “Mr. Solitary Old Man” or “Mr. Old Bachelor” by some Koreans. By the way, don’t get me wrong. I do not shut myself up in a dungeon, avoiding human contact and interaction. Anyway, there are some people who dare to pry into my personal life by asking me why I am still single, even though my parents have never tried to force me or talk me into marriage, at least as far as I recall. When it comes to this question, I really prefer to be left alone and not be expected to provide an answer.

Nowadays, if you turn on your TV and flip through the channels, watch some videos on YouTube, or check out some blogs or vlogs, you will easily find yourself inundated with popular TV shows about a single person’s monotonous daily routines, his or her solo domestic and overseas trips, and even solitary meokbang (먹방 or eating broadcasts).

There are also a lot of small-sized apartments and one-room studios resided in by singles, as well as shopping malls and supermarkets offering single-person meals and fruits, and even electronic goods such as small electric rice cookers

for singles. Therefore, many companies and markets are targeting singles as potential customers.

However, it has been long believed among many people in Korea that if someone stays single showing reluctance to marriage, he or she is considered a pathetic failure and is destined to die miserably. Too harsh or dramatic? Okay then, here’s another example. In Korea, if someone is spotted eating or drinking alone in public, he or she is often considered a loner, an outcast, or even a social misfit, who has difficulties in interacting with people or fitting into society due to his or her personality flaws.

For that reason, being single in Korea has been frequently associated with negativity as collectivism and familism have dominated the neo-Confucian-based Korean society.

In other words, it has long been a “we-oriented” society, where collective thoughts, opinions, and values are more emphasized than those of the individual. Some even define Korean society as a society in defiance of solitude, meaning people should never be allowed to be alone.

Anyway, now the so-called “solo culture” (혼자 문화, honja munhwa), including honbap (혼밥, solo dining), honsul (혼술, solo drinking), honbang (혼방, going to a karaoke alone), and honhaeng (혼행, solo travel), has swept the country, particularly among the younger generation. Solo

55 diners and solo drinkers used to attract the stares of others, which led them to quickly finish and leave. But now, the number of people eating, drinking, and traveling alone is on the rise as people start to feel less reluctant to do these things.

Now, why is this “solo culture” catching on in Korea? Some people say this phenomenon resulted from the economic recession, the long-standing unemployment crisis and individualism, but I beg to differ. Of course, the abovementioned factors have inevitably played a partial role in it. However, I believe that it is mainly because our mindset has changed over the years. These days many people tend to choose their personal lives, values, and freedoms over interpersonal relationships or social norms.

Although they are not necessarily singles, YOLO (an acronym for “You only live once”), a group of people actively engaged in personally preferable hobbies or areas of interest, is a good example. Without worrying about what others may think, they indulge in whatever they desire. It also applies to other young individuals who do not really mind eating or drinking alone, because by doing so, they think they can save money, time, and effort.

We often say what has happened or is happening in Japan is highly likely to happen in Korea – things such as the latest

fad or fashion, an aging society, bullying, otaku (people with obsessive interests, commonly the anime and manga fandom), and the hikikomori (reclusive adolescents or adults who withdraw from social life) phenomena, and solo weddings. I am not saying we always follow in Japan’s footsteps or that people just tend to thoughtlessly jump on the bandwagon, but apparently more and more people are becoming “I-oriented,” placing a high value on themselves.

I do not want to discuss the pros and cons of solo dining, drinking, or traveling, but one thing I want to point out is that there is no need to feel pressured or burdened to eat, drink or travel with others unless it is necessary. There is nothing wrong with eating, drinking, or traveling alone. If you feel like doing so, just go for it. Being judged or labeled as a “weirdo” won’t affect you as long as you feel comfortable and confident doing it. Let’s try to have some alone time, shall we?

THE AUTHOR Kim Dong-hun (8ball) is a free spirit working at the GIC. His major hobby is visiting different countries in the world and of all the 30-ish countries he has visited so far, his favorite country is Taiwan.

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the perspective of the Gwangju News.

Since 2000

(former Body&Soul Clinic)

The International Clinic in Gwangju

Phone: 062-525-0606 www.geomedclinic.com ** The best landmark for our clinic is “Buk-gu District Office” ** On the 1st Floor of our building, there is a “Paris Baguette”. Our clinic is located on the 5th Floor.

December 2017

For More Info:

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Family Medicine, Health Screening, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Minor Surgery, Travel Medicine, Vaccination, Complementary Medicine, Pre-employment Health Screening, Laboratory Test (Blood, Urine, Pap, STD), X-ray & Ultrasound, Prescription Refill, Nutrition (Intravenous Vitamins & Minerals), Detox (Chelation & Fasting), Anti Aging, Immune Booster, Weight Management.

56

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

Gwangju News Community Board provides a space for the community to announce club activities and special events.

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

UNESCO KONA VOLUNTEERS KONA Storybook Center (KSC) is a registered small public library supported by UNESCO KONA Volunteers (UKV). UKV is a registered organization that helps disadvantaged children to learn English independently through storybooks and story-maps. We guide the family and children to develop a love of reading storybooks in English. We also give guidance to volunteers in using storybooks. We are looking for long-term volunteers who desire to enrich their lives. We are asking volunteers to commit to helping at least once a month.

GIC ZUMBA WITH THANDO GIC Hall, 1st Floor, GIC 7:00–8:00 pm, Thursdays Facebook: GIC Zumba with Thando Zumba is BACK at the GIC! This is a fun-filled cardio class that fits all levels, no experience needed. Come get the body back to where you want it and have fun while you are at it. Midweek fitness party. Dress comfortably and be ready to sweat. Also, bring along water and a towel.

For more information, please visit http://cafe.daum. net/konavolunteers or our Facebook pages for KONA Storybook Center and UNESCO KONA Volunteers, or contact Kim Young-Im 062-434-9887, or email konacenter@gmail.com.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2017

VOLUNTEER TEACHERS NEEDED for the Gwangju UCC (Universal Cultural Center). Any levels of experience, English teachers here in the Gwangju area during 2017 can participate. UCC has a Facebook profile if you would like to see what kind of other services are available.

To participate in the international cultural exchange programs, you may email peter.j.gallo@gmail.com, or phone or text 010-9490-4258.

GWANGJU FILIPINO ENGLISH TEACHERS (GFET) Every 3rd Tuesday of the month 10 am – 12 noon, GIC, Room 3 (2F) We are a group of Filipino English teachers in Gwangju who conduct regular accent training and lectures to help fellow English teachers to become better educators.

GWANGJU INTER FC The Gwangju International Soccer Team (Gwangju Inter FC) plays regularly every weekend. If you are interested in playing, email gwangju_soccer@yahoo.com or search “Gwangju Inter FC” on Facebook.

GWANGJU ANIMAL SHELTER VOLUNTEERING Every Sunday. Meet at The First Alleyway at 12 for brunch and carpool to the shelter.

Walk dogs between 1–4 pm.

Please wear comfortable clothing.

See you there!

Facebook: Gwangju Animal Shelter Volunteering

Han Ok-hee in April 1969 (left) and present (right).

I WANT TO FIND MY PARENTS & RELATIVES

I want to find my parents or any living relatives. I was abandoned outside Gwangju City Hall, on March 23, 1969. On the same day, I was taken to the Social Welfare Society (대한사회복지회) in Gwangju.

My Korean name, Han Ok-Hee, was given to me by a social worker in Gwangju. I was adopted and went to Sweden on September 20, 1969 and am now 49 years old.

If anyone has any information, please contact me, in Korean or English. Your information can perhaps fill the missing parts of my sometimes wounded heart.

All answers will be replied to.

Contact info: Malin Bergström Jordgränd 16 19247 Sollentuna Sweden E-mail: malin.m.bergstrom@outlook.com

Attorney Attorney Park’s Park’s Law Law Firm Firm We're ready to serve your best interests in legal disputes.

We provide affordable consultation & representation.

▶ Areas of Specialty contracts, torts, family law, immigration, labor ▶ Civil & Criminal Attorney Park, Duckhee

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

#402 Simsan Bldg, 342-13 Jisan-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju Location: next to Gwangju District Court

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

www.gudf.or.kr

믧 뛷 냺 릮 좭 낡 샖 듂 떵 뷃 뗰 샚 샎 Reflecting Culture and Humanity in Urban Design

광주국제교류센터, 대한건축학회 광주전남지회, 한국도시설계학회 광주전남지회, 한국건축가협회 광주전남건축가회, 대한건축사협회 광주광역시건축사회, 한국도시경관디자인학회