[EN] Gwangju News December 2018 #202

Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine I December 2018 #202 I Adopt-a-Child: The Initiative That Keeps Giving

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From the Editor

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December 2018, Issue No. 202

Published: December 1, 2018 Cover Photo Members of the Adopt-a-Child Initiative team

by Lorryn Smit

THE EDITORIAL TEAM Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Chief Proofreader Layout Editor Photo Editors Proofreaders Online Editorial Team Researchers

Dr. Shin Gyonggu Dr. David E. Shaffer Wilson Melbostad Isaiah Winters Karina Prananto Lorryn Smit, Sarah Pittman Gilda Wilson, Stephen Redeker, Elisabeth Loeck, Ynell Lumantao, Joseph Nunez Karina Prananto, Sen Nguyen Shahed Kayes Baek Ji-yeon, Yoo Yeonwoo

The Gwangju News is the first English monthly magazine for the general public 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.

Copyright © 2018 by the Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the written consent of the publisher.

Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date: February 22, 2010 Printed by Logos Color 로고스칼라 (+82)-62-672-2566 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 or 062-226-2733.

Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.

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Travel with the Gwangju News to a triplet of colonialstyle structures around the City of Light (Lost in Gwangju). Partake of breakfast at the Eniteo Cereal Café, and then head down to the southern coastal island of Namhae for a German touch and some scenic views.

For more scenic views, we take you over to Japan for the Nightscapes of Tokyo and bring you back home for Tteokguk: Rice Cake Soup on New Year’s Day. Do you prefer driving to public transportation? Then you should know What to Do When Involved in a Car Accident.

Honam’s got talent! Amateur talent! Travel with us to see the community Acting Up in Yeosu with Four Corner Productions. Then hurry back to Gwangju to catch one of the early December performances of The Wiz – A Musical by Charlie Small. Enjoy the poetic talent of a former Gwangju expat in his 23 Days in the USA. For photographic talent, check out our Photo of the Month, and learn about our latest staff addition, Sarah Pittman, in Photo Essay: Introducing Gwangju News’ Co-Photo Editor.

Interested in self-improvement? Our opinion piece is on building self-esteem through working out. Our Korean lesson is on talking about final exams. And our Korea TESOL column considers what both teachers and learners can do for Gooder Language Learning.

Enjoy this end-of-year issue to cap off 2018. Our resolution for 2019 is for the Gwangju News to continue to bring you our best, and for our best to get even better.

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News

December 2018

GwangjuNews

To round out 2018, this issue contains three feature stories. The cover feature is about the Adopt-aChild Initiative and how it brings Christmas joy to Gwangju’s less fortunate children through a completely volunteer effort. Our second feature is an interview on Guatemala–Korea ties with Ambassador Herbert Estuardo Meneses Coronada, conducted during his recent visit to Gwangju. Feature three covers history in the making: Gwangju’s first pride event, held this October but not without a bit of controversy.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

The 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 Email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr

ecember is here, the final month of the year, a time when many look back over the twelve months of the calendar to take stock and reflect.

At the Gwangju News, we are quite happy with that reflection: publishing twelve issues chock full of interesting content to our local readership and those beyond, including a 200th issue commemorative publication in October with accompanying brick-and-mortar events.

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Contents

December 2018 #202 GWANGJU NEWS 03. Gwangju City News 05. December 2018 Happenings 07. Gwangju Theater Schedule 56. Community Board FEATURE 08. Adopt-a-Child: The Initiative That Keeps Giving 12. Fostering Ties Across the Pacific 16. Making History in Gwangju: Inside the First Queer Culture Festival TRAVEL 20. Lost in Gwangju: Colonialism in Our Midst 24. Around Korea: Namhae – Not Just the Southern Sea, a Bundle of Joy and Schnitzel 27. From Abroad: Nightscapes in Tokyo FOOD & DRINKS 30. Where to Eat: Eniteo Cereal Café 32. Tteokguk: Rice Cake Soup

COMMUNITY 34. Expat Living: What to Do When Involved in a Car Accident in Korea EDUCATION 36. Korea TESOL: Gooder Language Learning 38. Everyday Korean: Episode 12 – 기말고사 (Final Exams) ARTS & CULTURE 39. The Secrets Behind Red Beans 40. The Wiz – A Musical by Charlie Small 42. Acting Up in Yeosu with Four Corner Productions 44. Book Review: “She Wanted to Be a Bridge-Builder”– Lili: A Portrait of the First Sex Change 45. Gwangju Writes: 23 Days in the USA 48. Photo Essay: Introducing Gwangju News’ Co-Photo Editor 52. Photo of the Month OPINION 54. Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall – Who Is the Fairest of Them All?

The Gwangju News wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Gwangju City News Reprinted with permission from Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall Photographs courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall

GWANGJU NEWS

Chancellor Schröder: No Holding Back on Suggestions for Development ▲ Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop meeting with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who visited Gwangju on October 26 and discussed ways to develop Gwangju.

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ormer German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has just concluded a special relationship with Gwangju. On a recent visit to the City of Light, he said that he would not spare advice on strengthening exchanges and cooperation for the development of German cities and Gwangju.

The former chancellor, who married South Korean Kim Soyeon earlier this month, said he wanted to come to Gwangju, the birthplace of Korean democracy. As he visited the May 18 National Cemetery, he said he was impressed by how so many young people sacrificed their lives for democracy in Gwangju.

He said that as he has now become the son-in-law of a Korean family, he wants to learn a lot about the history and

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Former Chancellor Schröder said that since labor and management are often in sharp contrast to each other, it is necessary for the government to firmly implement reforms based on compromises between labor and management. In addition, he advised that the government’s decision should be accompanied by genuine public opinion and the opinions of experts.

Mayor Lee said that former Chancellor Schröder had given very timely advice to him on issues crucial to Gwangju. He said that he had gained a lot of wisdom from the former chancellor’s innovation policy, which revived Germany, once called “the invalid of Europe,” into one of the world’s most competitive countries.

December 2018

In addition, the former chancellor’s wife, who graduated from Daeseong Girls’ High School and later from Chonnam National University with a major in German language education, has strengthened his connection to Gwangju as well.

In this regard, Mayor Lee said that former Chancellor Schröder’s advice would be a great help for the eco-friendly automobile industry and energy valley. The mayor also said that further cooperation could boost the relationship of German cities and Gwangju to the level of sister cities, and play a role in business investments between German and Gwangju-based companies.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

According to a statement issued by a Gwangju City representative on October 28, former Chancellor Schröder came to Gwangju on October 26 to visit the May 18 National Cemetery and have dinner with Gwangju Mayor Lee Yongseop.

culture of democracy in Korea. He added that he can be consulted at any time for help as he is intimately familiar with the history, culture, and economy of Germany.

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▲ Mayor Lee Yong-seop (right) holding a meeting to discuss the outcome of the public hearing on the construction of Gwangju Subway Line 2.

Gwangju’s Subway Line 2 to Be Constructed, Ending 16 Years of Debate

F December 2018

In a press conference on November 12, Mayor Lee Yongseop said that he would speedily implement Subway Line 2’s construction in response to the recommendation of the Public Opinion Committee. The mayor also said at the public hearing session held on October 9–10 that 78.6 percent of those polled were in favor of the construction project, while 21.4 percent were opposed to it.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

ollowing a recent public hearing, Gwangju’s 16-yearlong debate has finally come to an end. The construction of Subway Line 2 will begin in the first half of 2019 and is expected to be finish by 2025. The total construction cost is expected to be 2.58 trillion won.

The Public Opinion Committee carried out a public opinion survey from September 17 to November 10 to get opinions of Gwangju citizens on the construction of Subway Line 2.

A total of 243 civilians participated in the survey, with an overwhelming majority of 191 (78.6 percent) responding positively to the new subway’s construction, compared to 52 (21.4 percent) who advised against it.

Gwangju City has since resumed construction work, which was temporarily suspended while seeking public

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opinion. Subway Line 2, which will have a total length of 41.9 kilometers, will be divided into three construction stages. The first stage of 17.06 kilometers (to be opened in 2023) will start from the Yudeok-dong base station and go to Gwangju City Hall, Sangmu Station, Ssangchon-dong, Kumho-dong, Pungam-dong, Baekun-dong, Bongseondong, Namgwangju Station, Chosun University, Duamdong, and Gwangju University of Education before ending at Gwangju Station with a total of 20 stations.

The second stage (to be opened in 2024) will extend another 20 kilometers and have 18 stations, starting from Gwangju Station to Chonnam National University, and then on to Uchi-dong, Ilgok-dong, Bonchon Industrial Complex, Cheomdan 2-dong, Cheomdan Science Complex, Suwandong, Unam-dong, and Geukrak-gang Station before arriving at its Yudeuk-dong base station. The first and second stages will eventually connect together and operate as a loop line, with Namgwangju Station and Sangmu Station acting as interchange stations for the two lines.

The third stage (to be opened in 2025) of just 4.84 kilometers and six stations will be called the “Hyocheon Line” and will connect Baekun Square with the Jubak base station.

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December 2018 Gwangju Happenings Compiled by Baek Ji-yeon

Exhibitions Exhibition of the Tombstone of Pilmun, Lee Sun-Jae The 2018 Namdo’s Light and Wind 남도의 빛과 바람

This exhibition introduces the works of 15th century artisan, Lee Sun-Jae (artistic name: Pilmun), which were returned to Korea in September 2017. The works include Lee’s inscribed gravestone, which was illegally exported to Japan by cultural asset traffickers in June 1998. It will be donated to the general public as a cultural asset to promote the spirit of donating.

This exhibition, which displays pieces from the Gwangju Art Museum, focuses on the characteristics and identity of local art, and aims to provide spiritual comfort to the modern individual who lives in today’s civilized society with a high level of naturalistic emotion and humanistic sensibility descending from traditional art.

Dates: Location:

Dates: Location:

Admission: Telephone: Website:

September 10 – December 10 110 Haseo-ro (430 Maegok-dong), Buk-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju National Museum, exhibition room on ground floor, main hall) /

광주광역시 북구 하서로 110 (매곡동 430) (국립광주박물관 전시관 1층 중앙홀)

Free 062-570-7000 http://gwangju.museum.go.kr/

September 7 – January 27, 2019 52 Haseo-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju Museum of Art, Main Building Exhibition Rooms 5 & 6)

GWANGJU NEWS

특별전 필문 이선제 묘지 20년만의 광주 귀향

광주 북구 하서로 52 광주시립미술관 본관 제5,6전시실

Admission: Telephone: Website:

Free 062-613-7100 http://artmuse.gwangju.go.kr/

2018 ACC_R Creators in Lab Showcase Jeonnam Docheong: Time, Place, People, and Memories 전남도청: 시간, 장소, 사람 그리고 기억

Dates:

Admission: Telephone: Website:

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Dates: Location:

December 14–23 (open 10:00–18:00 / Wednesdays and Saturdays 10:00–19:00 / closed Mondays) 38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju (Creation Space 1, 2, Asia Culture Center) 광주 동구 문화전당로38 (아시아문화전당 문화창조원 복합1관 외)

Admission: Telephone: Website:

Free 1899-5566 https://www.acc.go.kr/

December 2018

Location:

October 5 – December 30 (open 10:00–18:00 / Wednesdays and Saturdays 10:00–19:00 / closed Mondays) Former Jeollanam-do Provincial Office 민주평화교류원 (옛 전남도청 별관 2층) Free 1899-5566 https://www.acc.go.kr/

ACC_R Creators in Lab is a platform for multidisciplinary professionals such as artists, designers, researchers, and engineers who are able to develop future-oriented and creative ideas to support experiments on a variety of projects based on knowledge and skills. It consists of four areas: mixed reality, media surface, kinetic art, and audio and visual artificial intelligence.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Even though the Jeollanamdo Provincial Government Building moved from Gwangju to Muan in 2005, Gwangju citizens still call tthe building’s former location the docheong (provincial hall) area. With the project to restore the former Jeollanamdo Provincial Government Building scheduled to be launched, this exhibition charts the changes of the docheong from different perspectives of time, place, people, and memories.

2018 크리에이터스 인 랩 하반기 쇼케이스

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Performances 2018 Philharmonix Performance in Korea 2018 필하모닉스 광주공연 The Philharmonix – The Vienna Berlin Music Club – consists of seven members, including an orchestra leader of the Berlin Philharmonic and an Austrian pianist. The concert will feature authentic classical music, pop music, and jazz.

Date: Location: Admission:

Telephone: Website:

December 17 (starts 19:30) 60 Bukmoondae-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju Culture & Art Center Grand Theater) 광주 북구 북문대로 60 (광주문화예술회관 대극장)

33,000–88,000 won (varies by seat), tickets available on the internet (Ticketlink 1588-7890) 062-220-0541 https://booking.naver.com/booking/12/ bizes/189205?area=bni

ADIOS 2018: GIC Volunteers Reunion 아디오스 2018: GIC 송별의 날 Whether you are a past or current volunteer of the GIC, or simply curious about what we do, come celebrate Christmas and the end of the year with us.

Lots of interesting programs are organized: hands-on experience with global Christmas traditions, flea market, GIC Cafe (bring your own tumbler for a free coffee!), performances, community introductions, GIC final report, and a networking dinner. A guaranteed fun-filled event! Bring friends and family!

Note: Donations to the flea market accepted until December 11. Profits made will be used to buy school supplies for children in Angkor Chom village in Cambodia.

Date: Location:

The Nutcracker by the Gwangju City Ballet

광주 동구 중앙로 196번길 5 (광주국제교류센터)

호두까기 인형 The Gwangju City Ballet proudly presents their special Christmas performance, The Nutcracker. Please note that only children aged 4 and above are allowed to enter.

Dates: Location:

December 22–25 (Starts 19:30 / Running time 120 minutes) 60 Bukmoondae-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju Culture & Art Center Grand Theater)

December 15 (starts 15:00) Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5, Dong-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju International Center)

Admission: Telephone: Website:

Free 062-226-2733 http://gic.or.kr/

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

광주 북구 북문대로 60 (광주문화예술회관 대극장)

Admission: Telephone: Website:

10,000–30,000 won (varies by seat) 062-522-8716, 062-613-8234 http://gjart.gwangju.go.kr

“Wish Your Merry X-mas” Music Performance 한·중·일 뮤지션과 함께하는 갈라콘서트 “Wish Your Merry X-mas” A collaboration of artists from Korea, Japan, and China will bring you an orchestra version of Christmas carols led

by Conductor Liang Zhang from Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra.

Date: Location:

December 24 (starts 19:30) 60 Bukmoondae-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju Culture & Art Center Small Theater) 광주 북구 북문대로 60 (광주문화예술회관 소극장)

Admission: Telephone: Website:

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10,000 won 062-524-5086 http://gjart.gwangju.go.kr

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Gwangju Theater 62 Chungjang-ro 5-ga, Dong-gu, Gwangju (two blocks behind NC Wave) TICKETS: 8,000 won CONTACT: 062-224-5858 For more information, please visit http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju * Synopses excerpted from Wikipedia, IMDb, and Hancinema.

All English language films are presented with Korean subtitles; non-English international films are presented with Korean subtitles only.

BEAUTIFUL DAYS 뷰티풀 데이즈 Genre: Drama Director: Yoon Jae-ho Film Length: 104 minutes Language: Korean (no subtitles) Starring: Lee Na-young, Jang Dongyoon, Oh Kwang-rok Summary: A Chinese student travels to Seoul in search of his mother, whom he has not seen for fourteen years.

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FINDING YOUR FEET 해피 댄싱 Genres: Drama, Comedy Director: Richard Loncraine Film Length: 111 minutes Language: English (Korean subtitles) Starring: Imelda Staunton, Celia Imrie, Timothy Spall Summary: On the eve of retirement, a middle-class, judgmental snob discovers her husband has been having an affair with her best friend and is forced into exile with her bohemian sister who lives on an impoverished inner-city council estate.

December 14 – January 13, 2019 (open 18:00–22:00) 775 Nokcha-ro, Bosung-eup, Bosung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Korea Tea Culture Park) 전남 보성군 보성읍 녹차로 775 (한국차문화공원일원) 3,000 won 061-850-5211~4 http://www.boseong.go.kr/tour/ festivity/light_festival Damyang Santa Festival 제2회 담양 산타 축제 December 15–31 Damyang Meta Provence Gipeunsil-gil 2-17, Damyang 전남 담양군 깊은실길 2-17 담양 메타 프로방스 Free admission 061-383-1710 http://metaprovence.co.kr/ Suncheon Bay Garden Star Festival 순천만정원 별빛축제 December 21 – February 6, 2019 Suncheon Bay Garden Gukgajeongwon 1-ho-gil 162-11, Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do 전남 순천시 국가정원1호길 162-11 4,000 won to 8,000 won 1577-2013 http://www.scgardens.or.kr/ Ttangkkeut Sunrise Festival 땅끝 해넘이해맞이축제 2018 December 31 – January 1, 2019 Land’s End Observatory, Ttangkkeutmaeul-gil 42, Songji-myeon, Haenam 전남 해남군 송지면 땅끝마을길 42 Free admission 061-532-1330 http://www.haenam.go.kr

December 2018

GROWN UP 어른이 되면 Genre: Documentary Director: Jang Hye-yeong Film Length: 98 minutes Language: Korean (no subtitles) Starring: Jang Hye-yeong Summary: The film chronicles Hye-yeong’s struggle to survive in this society with her younger sister, Hye-jeong, who had previously been

MADE IN HUNGARIA 부다페스트 로큰롤 Genres: Comedy, Musical Director: Gergely Fonyó Film Length: 109 minutes Language: Hungarian (Korean subtitles) Starring: Tamás Szabó Kimmel, Tünde Kiss, Iván Fenyő Summary: Made in Hungaria is a 2009 Hungarian comedy-musical film. Adapted from a stage musical with the same title, it follows the life of a group of teens from Hungary in the late 1960s when the country was under Communist rule.

The 2019 Boseong Tea Garden Light Festival 대한민국 국향대전 2018

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

LIFE IS FRUITY 인생 후르츠 Genre: Documentary Director: Kenshi Fushihara Film Length: 90 minutes Language: Japanese (Korean subtitles) Starring: Shûichi Tsubata, Kirin Kiki, Eiko Tsubata Summary: 90-year-old architect Shuichi Tsubata and his 87-year-old wife Hideko live in Aichi Prefecture.

Their garden is bursting with 70 types of vegetables and 50 types of fruits, and they live in harmony with nature.

placed in a care center for disabled people. Just because she was born with a disability, Hye-jeong had no choice but to live in a care center from the ages of 13 to 30, but Hyeyeong starts asking questions about her sister’s life.

December 2018 Jeollanamdo Happenings

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FEATURE

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Adopt-a-Child co-presidents Sarah Hale (left) and Karen Vining.

Adopt-a-Child

The Initiative That Keeps Giving

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

Written by Jennifer Marlton Photographed by Lorryn Smit, Paolo Mondragon and courtesy of Adopt-a-Child

G

wangju has a particularly vibrant and generous community that has long been eager to volunteer and donate to worthy causes. One of these causes is the Gwangju Adopt-a-Child Initiative, which has been running since 2010 and has provided hundreds of presents to children in orphanages in Gwangju. The project has had a huge impact on local orphanages and the community, as it spreads awareness and raises money through its yearly fundraisers. It has an impact not only on Gwangju but spreads awareness throughout Korea, with volunteers coming from Gwangju’s surrounding cities, such as Jeonju and Suncheon, while others from as far away as Seoul have contributed funds to buy gifts for children.

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The initiative’s current co-presidents, Sarah Hale and Karen Vining, have been involved with the initiative for six years and two years, respectively, and are always looking for volunteers to help with various parts of the process. “Each year we get about ten people who are actively involved in organizing, wrapping, gift organizing, gift card-making and gift-buying. We have many more who get involved with fundraising events and who support the organization by buying gifts and donating money,” Vining said.

This year, the initiative will be focusing on two orphanages: Sungbin Girls Orphanage and Ilmaek Boys Orphanage.

Between these two orphanages, approximately 70 children will receive gifts. There is a large range of gifts,

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9 and they are usually things the children would not be able to get by themselves. These can include clothes, face cream, and hair supplies for older children, while younger children often receive toys that they can then pass on to other children as they get older. If you would like to donate a gift, you can contact the initiative via its website or Facebook page (links below) to get pointed in the right direction.

Here is how the process works: There is a Google Doc that anyone can sign up on. Participants indicate whether they want to buy a gift or donate money. One of the coordinators will then send them an email with instructions on how to transfer the money or what gift they need to purchase. No matter what the participants decide, they get the name and age of the child they are providing for. Alternatively, gifts can be dropped off at the Gwangju International Center downtown.

In addition to gift-buying and money donations, the initiative is always looking for volunteers to join in on Saturdays when there is a one-hour session at the Sungbin Girls Orphanage. The group meets up every second Saturday at the Starbucks downtown nearest the YMCA and Aladdin Bookstore. The sessions usually go from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., and no Korean language skills are needed.

“A group of volunteers goes to the home and plays games, does activities, hangs out, and just spends time with them,” Vining said. They have about 30 volunteers each year who volunteer at least once, and there is usually a

break during the holiday periods of August and January.

If you want to get involved, you can also bring your own game or activity to do. There are quite a few people who are involved both with the Saturday volunteering sessions and the Adopt-a-Child Initiative.

In anticipation of Christmas, there were several fundraisers held in November of this year. One of these was the Tequilaz Date Auction, a fun event in which people bid to go on a date with someone. There are two other big fundraisers in December to watch out for – Pay to Play and Sunday Brunch.

Pay to Play is a role-playing game in which the players play traditional tabletop games and onlookers can pay to intervene, similar to the sponsors in The Hunger Games. This could either help the players or work to their detriment. “We also do a Sunday Brunch fundraiser in which men dress up in drag and serve brunch at The First Alleyway. It is a lot of fun and everyone enjoys it,” Vining relayed with a smile. “We are aiming to raise at least 1.5 million won this year without including donators.”

“Some years, fundraisers bring in more money than others. Also, the amount of people we get buying gifts and donating money fluctuates,” Vining continued. “However, we are always able to cover the gifts we need.” Many of the fundraisers are held annually, so if you missed out this year, you can always attend next year! News fundraisers and volunteering opportunities are posted on the websites below.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

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December 2018

The volunteers and children pose for a group photo.

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The volunteers helped spread awareness during the Gwangju International Community Day on October 28.

“The Adopt-a-Child Initiative and Saturday volunteering sessions are especially important to me as a Korean adoptee. The greatest part of volunteering is seeing the happiness on the kids’ faces when they open their presents,” Vining said. “Those in the Gwangju community have shown again and again how much they care. It is because of them that we are able to give so many kids a happy Christmas. We hope that we can continue to rely on the support of the Gwangju community in future years.”

The deadline for donations is December 10th.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

Overall, the initiative is an incredibly worthwhile and rewarding cause to contribute to, and the Gwangju community continues to be generous in its support.

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Website links: Adopt a Child website: www.adoptachildgwangju.org Adopt a Child Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/adoptachildchristmasgwangju Saturday Volunteering Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/groups/252697638741530 Gwangju Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/gwangjugroup Gwangju International Center website: http://eng.gic. or.kr/ Gwangju International Center Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/gwangjuic/ To donate: KEB-Hana Account Number: 620-204731-229

The Author

Jennifer has been living in Korea for just over a year and in that time has experienced many facets of Korean life. She is very interested in culture and traveling and there has been a lot to explore in Gwangju and the surrounding regions. She has majored in journalism and has enjoyed getting back into writing while in Gwangju.

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www.gwangjunewsgic.com

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December 2018

The Adopt-a-Child for Christmas Initiative team has been actively participating in local community events.

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www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

FEATURE FEATURE

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Ambassador Coronado addresses the crowd at the GIC during a special lecture about his home nation of Guatemala.

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Fostering Ties Across the Pacific

Interview with Guatemalan Ambassador to Korea Herbert Estuardo Meneses Coronado Written by Wilson Melbostad Photographed by Sarah Pittman

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Gwangju News (GN): Greetings, Ambassador Coronado!

Please tell us a little about yourself. What is your current position and what types of people are you mandated to serve?

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GN: Tell us about your early life growing up in Guatemala.

Can you talk about what has changed in Guatemala since the end of the civil war and the establishment of the peace agreement in 1996?

Coronado: I thank God and my parents for having a child who was so happy. We were pretty poor growing up, but throughout my childhood, my parents taught me that since I still had the opportunity to study and to have food and toys, it was my duty to give and share with others around me. I learned that lesson from them and have since adopted those concepts for my life. I tried to do my best to study and to be a good football player; I was actually on the Guatemalan national team. I tried to show my parents that all the efforts they made for me were a worthwhile investment and that they did not waste their energy. When I also saw how my parents fought for democracy and peace in my country, as well as how hard they fought for the poor, I also adopted these ideals. It was for these reasons that I wanted to help my government by doing my best for my country.

December 2018

Ambassador Coronado (Coronado): First of all, I want to say I am a free spirit, and I just love meeting people.

The most important thing to me is meeting family and friends. I love arts and culture, sports, and politics as well. I am a lawyer and public notary, and have a master’s in administration and a PhD in political science from Havana University. I serve as a diplomat and have been an ambassador for my country for 25 years. That is my life at

this moment. In the past, I was with my country’s Ministry of Culture, but I am currently the ambassador to Korea and have been for almost two years.

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he nations of South Korea and Guatemala have enjoyed bilateral relations since 1962 and since then have been successful trade partners who have provided a helping hand when needed. Guatemala’s presence in Korea has increased in recent decades largely because of a quickly growing Korean diaspora population in the Central American nation, now one of the largest in all of Latin America. Upon a visit to the Gwangju International Center, the Gwangju News was able to sit down with longtime diplomat and current Guatemalan Ambassador to Korea Herbert Estuardo Meneses Coronado.

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December 2018

▲ Ambassador Coronado with the GIC director, Dr. Shin Gyonggu.

GN: From what I understand, the indigenous Maya make up about half of the population in Guatemala, but rights campaigners say that these groups still need to battle for equality. Can you explain to our readers, who might not have a solid grasp on Guatemalan affairs, about ways in which Guatemala champions the rights of its indigenous communities?

tried to do their best to uphold these standards, but nobody can do it alone. They need broad support from society, including the economic, social, and political sectors, among others. That is the biggest challenge, trying to put this type of change into dialogue and to create a way for all the sectors to get on the same page.

Coronado: Our country is one of the hardest to govern just because we have so many different cultures, interests, and visions within one tiny nation. As you alluded to earlier, we had 36 years of internal conflict, civil war.

Nobody wants war or conflict, but the problem is that we have social and economic problems that we of course are trying to resolve but simply cannot resolve in a short time.

Many countries during their history have tried to resolve these types of problems, but sometimes they take over 200 years to rectify. We in Guatemala have a very complex history because 48 percent of our citizens are descendants of the Maya civilizations, and they coexist with the Latinos, who have traditionally been the ones in power within our administrations. But the presidents are trying to keep control of this situation. For example, the political constitution and peace agreement that the government and guerilla fighters signed in 1996 recognized the different cultures of our country. I understand that our subsequent presidents have

“Our country is one of the hardest to govern just because we have so many different cultures, interests, and visions within one tiny nation.”

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GN: I understand there is a quickly growing Korean diaspora developing in Guatemala. Are these individuals in the country pursuing business opportunities? What does the government do to attract and make life easier for Koreans, as well as for other nations’ diasporas in Guatemala?

Coronado: Indeed, there is a growing Korean diaspora in

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15 Guatemala. At present, we can count up to 8,000 Koreans living within our nation. Most of them work in the textile industry, one of the most important economic sectors within our country as far as exports are concerned. The Guatemalan government assigns great importance to the contributions of Korean investment in the country, which is why our government goes to great lengths to make life easier for the Korean diaspora during their time in Guatemala. One such effort was to designate one of the main roads in Guatemala City as “Seoul Boulevard” in honor of the country’s Korean residents.

“The Guatemalan government assigns great importance to the contributions of Korean investment in the country, which is why our government goes to great lengths to make life easier for the Korean diaspora during their time in Guatemala. “

GN: Can you speak briefly about what accomplishment in your career you are most proud of and why?

Coronado: It would be serving my country with honesty and dignity, and I want to dedicate that to my daughters.

They are my reason for living. I will hopefully finish my career serving my country, and at the same time, I wish to show my daughters that they can do anything they want if they do the right thing and respect other people along the way. This is the best inheritance that I hope to give – education and a good example.

GN: Thank you, Ambassador Coronado, for your time and for this interview. The Gwangju News is most grateful.

The Author

Wilson Melbostad is an international human rights attorney hailing from San Francisco, California. Wilson has returned to Gwangju to undertake his newest project: the Organization for Migrant Legal Aid (OMLA), which operates out of the Gwangju International Center. He has also taken on the position of managing editor of the Gwangju News.

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December 2018

The Ambassador speaks candidly with the managing editor of the Gwangju News.

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FEATURE FEATURE

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A view overlooking the 2018 Queer Culture Festival at 5.18 Democracy Plaza.

Making History in Gwangju: Inside Its First Queer Culture Festival

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December 2018

Written by Kristy Dolson Photographed by Isaiah Winters and Ryan Berkebile

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ou know that expression: “Third time’s a charm”?

Well, this was my third pride event and it was definitely charming. After the uber-party of Toronto Pride and the overwhelming noise and crowds of Seoul, Gwangju’s first Queer Culture Festival was quiet, intimate, and more community-driven. I could feel the links of solidarity between the oftentimes disparate groups under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. A quick primer for the uninitiated: L = lesbian, G = gay, B = bisexual, T = transgender, Q = queer/questioning, I = intersex, A = asexual, and the + ensures that all are welcome in the community, regardless of how they self-identify. When I was at the pride parade in Toronto last summer, I did not feel like I was part of a community. I felt like I was at a big party, with different cliques all vying to be the biggest

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and the best. But here in Gwangju, I was blown away by the simple outpouring of love and support for the Queer Culture Festival.

The organizers and attendees demonstrated remarkable courage. When I rocked up to the festival on October 21, I was overwhelmed by the number of police officers: an unbroken line of neon jackets forming a human barricade against the steel fences already in place around the perimeter of the small ACC festival space. I knew they were there for the attendants’ safety, but it still made me anxious. I had to walk myself all the way around the festival, and then find a quiet spot to sit and message my friends for the courage to push my way through the crowd of antagonized protestors that had blocked the entrance.

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17 To keep people safe, there was only one opening in the fence, which functioned as both entrance and exit, and the flow of people going in and out was tightly regulated by the organizers. It was both impressive and scary when you thought about it.

Once inside, I immediately began searching for earrings and badges, and was not disappointed when I came across the Rainbowstore booth. If you are looking for pride swag in Korea, I encourage you to check out their website at rainbowstore.net, although you may need a Korean to help you navigate the checkout section. There were an impressive number of booths with merchandise, activities, and information. Once I met up with my friends, we made the rounds, and I am proud to say I restrained myself. I picked up business cards and pamphlets to share with Korean teachers and quite a few stickers and badges for myself. My main goal was to acquire a badge or pin that specifically said “Gwangju” on it. I was pointed in the direction of the official Queer Culture Festival pin for Gwangju, which depicts the 5.18 Memorial with a rainbow background. It is certainly Gwangju, but I was a little disappointed that it did not actually say “Gwangju.”

But then my friend pointed out that he had bought a packet of cheaper badges and almost all of them had “Gwangju Queer Festival” written on them. I was elated and could not hand over my 3,000 won fast enough when I finally tracked them down.

The vast majority of festival-goers were teenage students.

Walking among them, I felt my heart expanding; to witness these young people fearless in the face of protests, wearing pride flags as capes, waving handwritten signs – in English and Korean – that told protestors that they would not back down. One of the most popular booths was actually a free sign-writing booth that had a huge line throughout the entire festival. A few choice signs I spotted in English read “F*** off!”, “Love is love,” and “Do whatever you want.” Another friend of mine had a homemade sign that said “Free Hugs,” which she held aloft as we marched down Geumnam Street. It was my first time marching in a pride parade. The third time’s a charm, right?

In Toronto, the annual pride parade is corporate, loud, and frenzied, and you cannot just join in. In Seoul, I had become overwhelmed by the constant music blasting from the loudspeakers, and from the heat and the crowds long before the parade even got started. But in Gwangju, everything came together, and I was swept into the march along with my friends. It was beautiful and uplifting, and words cannot properly describe how it felt to be part of that epic historic moment.

It was a march. There were no floats, no dancers, and no corporate sponsors. Just a few hundred people, the majority of them teenagers, and a contingent from Korea PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians

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December 2018

A Christian protester dressed as Jesus drags a cross bearing a message of repentance.

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December 2018

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A double line of police officers keeps watch over a group of protesters.

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Many freedoms were exercised at the festival, including the freedom to hug.

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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 moved to Yeosu this year, where she splits her time between teacher training at the new Jeollanamdo International Education Institute and reading about feminism so she can write her own stage-play on the subject.

December 2018

Inside the march, it was strength, unity, and dignity.

When the protestors lay down in front of the truck to halt our progress, a chant of “Gwaenchana! Gwaenchana!” (괜찮아! 괜찮아! / It’s okay!) rose up. We were stopped for about ten minutes, but everyone remained calm and peaceful. There were no violent outbursts or feelings of restlessness. In a culture famous for ppalli ppalli (빨리 빨리, hurry hurry), these students had no problem waiting it out. They knew history was on their side. The police were reluctant to arrest or even touch the protestors, so after some time, the parade leaders were forced to simply turn around. This happened twice as we attempted to circle the block. Eventually, we made it back to the festival area, and the feeling of euphoria was palpable.

I had to catch a bus back to Yeosu, so I sadly could not stay for the evening party. People wanting to leave the event grounds after the parade had to wait for the exit to clear, as the protestors had returned to block the entrance once again. They were fiercer than before: It took 15 minutes of patiently lining up before I finally persuaded the gatekeepers to let me out in order to catch my bus.

Coming face to face with an angry mob of Christian protestors after the safety and welcoming atmosphere of the festival was a moment of true terror for me, but it passed quickly as I smiled and sidestepped my way through the crowd to the subway station entrance. I had to duck out early, but in my heart I was celebrating late into the night. I was and still am so proud of Gwangju – my Korean hometown. There is certainly still a long way to go and much work to be done. But we are the City of Light. Let us trust the younger generations to be our beacon and show us the way.

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and Gays) walking down the street, waving flags and signs proclaiming their love, support, and solidarity for marginalized people. The police officers flanked us on all sides, their arms linked together to keep the protestors at bay. The protestors were made up of three different Christian organizations, and many of them were bussed into the province specifically to protest this event. They waved large pink and blue flags with Korean and English messages. One flag read “Come back home” while another had images of same-sex parents with children that read “This is not a family.” It was difficult to see everything from inside the march, but later news articles showed overhead pictures of the protestors surrounding the parade route and pushing against the police. I am glad I was blissfully unaware.

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20 Lost in Gwangju

Colonialism in Our Midst Written and photographed by Isaiah Winters

TRAVEL

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n fast-changing places like Gwangju, old buildings don’t age well. Once in disuse, they usually sit around for a few decades in sorry decay until the day they’re bulldozed to make way for something new. There are some notable exceptions to this, however, such as Chonnam National University’s Yongbong Building and the iconic white gables of Chosun University, both of which date back to the 1950s. But besides these and a handful of mid-20th century restorations, does much remain from the Japanese colonial era of 1910–1945?

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December 2018

Fortunately, more still exists than you might think. In fact, there are a few such elegant relics in the downtown area that are all within easy walking distance of each other. In this article, we’ll look at three of them: Chonnam Girls’ High School, the Old Jeollanamdo Provincial Hall, and “Rich Man” Choi’s House. Though few in number, these and other buildings of the same era continue to leave unique aesthetic and historical marks on the City of Light that are worth recalling. So without further ado, let’s begin our miniature tour of Gwangju’s Japanese colonial era architecture.

CHONNAM GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL (전남여자고등학교) When completed in 1928, this handsome red-brick school must have towered over everything else in Jang-dong, sending strong messages of authority and hierarchy to students and passing adults alike. Despite its modest design, the façade is surprisingly ornate in the places where the hefty brickwork gives way to long, vertical windows trimmed with granite and concrete. Here, the building has flourishes reminiscent of Art Deco, a design style that was the bee’s knees throughout the roaring 20s. This suggests that the architect(s) must have been not only up to date on the architectural trends of the era, but also free to indulge in them to a fair extent.

In terms of the school’s historical relevance, the students of Chonnam Girls’ High School played a significant role in the Gwangju Student Independence Movement, which began on November 3, 1929. The movement was precipitated by a clash that had taken place a few days prior between Korean and Japanese students after the latter harassed a Korean girl. It was at this building, then called Gwangju Girls’ High School, that the female students joined the movement for Korean

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December 2018 The red-brick façade of Chonnam Girls’ High School.

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December 2018

A view of “Rich Man” Choi’s House among autumn foliage.

The Old Jeollanam-do Provincial Hall as part of the Asia Culture Complex today.

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23 independence by singing forbidden patriotic songs, decrying Japanese imperialism, and at times refusing to take exams in protest. The movement, which continued for five months, included 54,000 students nationwide and would even spread well beyond Korea before being suppressed.

THE OLD JEOLLANAM-DO PROVINCIAL HALL (구 전라남도청) Though quite possibly the most iconic building in Gwangju, the city’s centerpiece nevertheless sat abandoned during my first few years here, something which endeared me to Gwangju from early on.

Then a windowless, paint-chipped husk, today it stands as a bright and inviting focal point for visitors in the Gwangsandong area of downtown. Its design is quite formal and unostentatious, with four columns topped with Corinthian capitals and some modest latticework being the façade’s main artistic flourishes. Today the copious layers of white paint do a good job of hiding the fact that it’s actually made of red bricks, though its roots show through from time to time.

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The Author

Originally from Southern California, Isaiah Winters first came to Gwangju in 2010.

He recently returned to South Korea after completing his MA in Eastern Europe and is currently the chief proofreader for the Gwangju News. He enjoys writing, political science, and urban exploring.

December 2018

“RICH MAN” CHOI’S HOUSE (최부자집) This eclectic two-story house in Sa-dong

Unfortunately, the house is in a state of increasing disrepair, as its upkeep poses a heavy burden on current resident Choi Sun (최순), the granddaughter of Choi Sang-hyeon. She’s been trying to get the house registered as a tangible cultural asset so that it can be better preserved, but the process isn’t easy. Complicating things is a longstanding property rights dispute that members of the Choi family have with Chonnam National University, with the former owning the house and the latter owning the land it’s on. Meanwhile, some of the sweeping roof tiles have fallen off, the gable windows have been covered with dark fabric, and some of the timbers are feared to be rotting. The hope is that the house will one day soon be recognized as a tangible cultural asset and that the legal parties involved will come to some agreement that allows for its preservation before it’s too late.

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Designed by architect Kim Sun-ha (김순하) and completed in 1930, the building is historically significant for first having been designed by a Korean at a time when government buildings were usually designed by Japanese architects.

In addition to having functioned as the administrative center of Jeollanam-do for over 70 years, during the Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980, this building is where armed pro-democracy activists made their last stand. Holed up on an upper floor, they courageously fought to the death when their position was attacked by military forces. Fortunately, the sacrifices made within these walls have since been rewarded with the political freedoms South Koreans enjoy today.

Now part of the thriving Asia Culture Center, the old provincial hall stands as a testament to many things, including colonialism, democracy, and the future ambitions of an entire city.

is both the strangest and most beautiful colonial-era abode in Gwangju today. Built between 1936 and 1942, it mixes elements of Japanese and Korean architecture that together look unlike anything else. It was originally the house of Choi Sang-hyeon ( 최상현), the eldest son of landowner Choi Myeong-gu (최명구), who was rumored to be the richest man in Gwangju back during the Japanese colonial era. To demonstrate the Choi family’s vast fortune, the home’s pillars and main lumber were made of pine from the distant Hamgyeong provinces of present-day northeast North Korea, while the roof tiles were brought in from Gangjin in the southwest of Jeollanamdo, making this house a mélange of highquality materials stretching the Korean Peninsula.

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남해

Namhae

Not Just the Southern Sea, a Bundle of Joy and Schnitzel

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pen your minds and let’s use our imaginations for a second. Don’t worry I’m not going to hypnotize you, I don’t have those capabilities. This will only take but a second. Okay, are you ready? Let’s play a word association game. Bratwurst. Ocean. Korea. Stairs. Islands.

South. Geumsan. Pensions. Are you thinking of what I’m thinking? Perhaps not, perhaps you forgot to look at the title of this piece, or perhaps I also should just get on with this article. Essentially, I want to tell you about a recent trip I took out to the island of Namhae and why you and your pals should think about making a jaunt out there, too.

Officially called “Namhaedo Island” (남해도; “Namhae” means South Sea, see word-association-game word 6), it is the fifth biggest island in Korea. Located in Gyeongsangnam-do, it takes a little bit of effort to get out

to the island from Gwangju, but the island is car- and busaccessible thanks to the Namhae Suspension Bridge that looks strikingly similar to the casually infamous Golden Gate Bridge of my home abode of San Francisco. In fact, as I was in the car driving over the bridge, I was able to convince myself, if not but just for a few seconds, that I was back home breathing that fresh California air. Though I could go on about my transfixion with the bridge, I think it much better suits the readers to discuss the other major attractions on the island. How about starting with our first word from the word association game? Bratwurst, one of the most popular German sausages, was selected to represent Namhae’s German Village. The village, made with the support of the Korean government, was built for those Koreans who worked as miners and nurses in Germany during the 1960s. The village is built on a hill overlooking the bay and is surrounded with, as you might

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December 2018

TRAVEL

Written and photographed by Wilson Melbostad

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www.gwangjunewsgic.com (Photo by Carmine)

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December 2018

Enjoy the views from Geumsan Boriam Temple.

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▲ Dusk in Namhae is majestic.

Word 7, “Geumsan,” refers to, well, Geumsan Boriam Temple! The temple, officially part of Hallyeohaesang National Park, offers one of the best views in all of South Korea. Those with interest can either hike the entire mountain (which is indeed a challenging climb) or can park at the temple’s parking lot and stroll up to the viewing platform.

Once there, folks can enjoy a miraculous view of Sangju Silver Sand Beach and the Namhae valley below.

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December 2018

▲ The author enjoying a wonderful sunrise at Gacheon Daraengi Village.

imagine, very European looking homes as well as plenty of pitstops where one can sip on some tasty German beers. The village has become a little touristy in recent years but definitely still worth a peek.

How about word-association-game word number 3 – Stairs?

Well, this word selection was a little bit of a reach, but I was referencing the Gacheon Daraengi Village. With man-made rice paddy fields built into the side of the hill, the site of these stair-like coastal cliffs will take your breath away. This is especially true if you chowed down on an aggressive amount of bratwurst in the German village before deciding to ascend these arduous slopes like I did. If you head down the road a tad, there you will find the Gacheon Jiget-gil Trail that leads directly into the terraced fields as well as a coastal trail that takes you over a suspension bridge giving one a fantastic view of the waves crashing up against the cliffs below.

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Where to stay you ask? Well look no further than word 8. There are plenty of wonderful oceanside pensions to choose from. We chose the Seonguri area, which is closer to the Gacheon Daraengi Village but a little far from the German Village.

However, a quick search online will bring up lots of cool locales for you to choose from. Happy traveling, friends!

The Author

Wilson Melbostad is an international human rights attorney hailing from San Francisco, California. Wilson has returned to Gwangju to undertake his newest project: the Organization for Migrant Legal Aid (OMLA), which operates out of the Gwangju International Center. He has also taken on the position of managing editor of the Gwangju News.

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From Abroad

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TRAVEL

Neon blue and red streets in Tokyo.

Nightscapes in Tokyo Written and photographed by Amy Braff

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There was one night in particular that stayed with me – it is often the short story I tell my friends back home. The beauty sauna I was staying at was explicitly for women, and I had left around 9 p.m. to begin taking my photographs.

The woman behind the counter seemed a bit hesitant to let me outside. She pestered me to come back before 12 midnight because everyone would be sleeping, and she was adamant in her questioning of why I was going out alone. Regardless, I left and walked around, capturing

December 2018

A few days prior, I had been exploring Osaka at night, capturing the neon-lit streets that made me feel as if I was being filmed in a Studio Ghibli film. During the day, I went to coffee shops and roamed the streets trying out takoyaki for the first time. Let me tell you what I love about this crispy delicacy. First of all, you walk up to the stall where the street vendor is flipping over battered balls

of octopus in a metal hot plate, debating whether to order some. With your order in, you can sit and wait for your meal (which immediately triggered my tropophobia).

The moment your order is placed in front of you, you can smell the pickled red ginger and green onion. On top is a squirt of Japanese mayonnaise and aonari, dried seaweed.

Food is what completely captivated me during the day, but later, my mind was blissfully lost in that which comes out at night.

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here is something intriguing about the electricity in Japan – it jolts in small yet spectacular movements through the air, leaving passersby feeling as if they had just ingested two shots of espresso. Perhaps it could have been my interest (or debatably, my obsession) with the ominous nature of German Expressionist films growing up that caused my love affair with the night, or it could have been the unfamiliar feeling of safety I felt there. Nobody followed me, so for once I was safe enough at night to walk alone with my Sony A7sii camera and capture nightscapes of Japan – in this case, of Tokyo.

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▲ Cinematic-looking Tokyo.

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December 2018

lonesome figures walking and couples giggling as they entered restaurants together.

When I decided to head back to the hostel, it was not yet midnight, which I was relieved about – a small part of me feared that the hostel owner would have closed her doors on me. Gazing at me as I entered, she looked at her watch without uttering a word, nodded, and closed the door behind me with a swift movement. Guests were each given lockers to use; number 22 was free for me to use earlier that day. On the floor was a young woman with a glorious head of curly hair that flowed down to her waist.

She beamed up at me – shocked that there was somebody else still awake. Folding her clothes in an orderly fashion, she spoke about how she was studying in an isolated town in Japan, and how she was spending New Year’s Day here with her peers who happened to all be men studying civil engineering. She then invited me to join them for New Year’s Eve the next day to celebrate with hundreds of other people who gathered at Shibuya Crossing. Shibuya Crossing, being one of the most famous streets in the whole of Tokyo, is said to have over 3,000 people crossing the road with every traffic light change. I accepted the invitation and met her the following evening at 6 p.m. We were the only women with six men, who were incredibly

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kind and considerate. We journeyed on the train to go eat Chinese food, and then enjoy the countdown to the new year at Shibuya Crossing. After that, we went to a club in Tokyo, where I had to keep my camera in a locker with a key strapped around my wrist.

By the time we got home, it was 5 a.m., and we were dazzled by the evening we had just experienced. I barely took any photographs that night, but if I had spent the night alone, perhaps my overall experience of Tokyo would not have been so fulfilling. Walking upstairs to my hostel mat on the floor, I scrolled through the memories in my mind, the nightscapes of lonely figures walking alone on the streets of Tokyo – a world that I once was a part of.

The Author

Amy Braaf is a writer, photographer, and teacher currently living in South Korea after having freelanced in Cape Town, South Africa. She has a BA, specializing in film production and English literature. She hopes to open up a cafe in a few years where artists and travelers can connect.

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Nightscape of lonesome figures in a street of Tokyo.

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December 2018

Guest house in Osaka.

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FOOD & DRINKS

30 30 Where to Eat

A display of all the cereals sold at Eniteo Cereal Café. Some sell out faster than others.

Eniteo Cereal Café

Where Life Is Like a Bowl of . . . Cereal!

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December 2018

Written and photographed by Sarah Pittman

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love discovering new places; however, it can be difficult sometimes. That is why I love it when people suggest new places to me! Eniteo is one of those places. Being a quiet little café a block away from Lotte Outlet in the Suwan area, this place would be hard to find organically if someone had not suggested it to me in the first place.

Eniteo opened its doors in May of 2017. The name “Eniteo” is a Latin word that basically means “to shine out of,” and this place is as uniquely bright as its name suggests. It sells something quite welcome in the crowd of Instagramable Korean cafés: foreign cereals! The décor is a mix of light and dark minimalism, perfect for any Instagram photographers.

Now, I must confess: I am one of those people who likes to eat their cereal sans milk. Growing up, I never cared

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for the taste of plain milk. I loved ice cream, cheese, and coffee with extra sugar and some milk, but never plain milk. It just tasted like terrible water to me. However, I decided to take a leap, be an adult, and try something new. I chose the Lucky Charms cereal because I heard the marshmallows dissolved into the milk and made it taste amazing.

A plain bowl of cereal with 600 milliliters of milk costs 4,500 won, and you can also add all sorts of toppings to it.

The toppings range from marshmallows and fresh fruits to ice cream! Also, if you cannot decide which cereal you want to eat, you can also choose a combination of two different cereals. Of course, any extra toppings or combos cost more, but the price increase is not exorbitant: only 1,000–3,000 won more.

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31 In addition to cereal, Eniteo sells coffee, tea, and juice. I went for a basic latte for 2,500 won. The latte was well made, and I mixed what milk I did not use for my cereal into my coffee. The drinks range in price from 2,000 to 4,000 won.

And how did the cereal with milk taste? I think nostalgia played a huge role, but I might try having milk with my breakfast cereal more often in the future, as long as it is Lucky Charms.

Eniteo is open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays, and it operates from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. You can find it @eniteo_cafe on Instagram.

ENITEO 에니테오

Address: 60 Jangsin-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju 광주 광산구 장신로 60

Opening Times: Daily 09:00 - 21:00 (Closed on Sundays)

The Author

Here goes nothing! Pouring milk into the cereal.

Sarah is a southern California native who spent many years wishing to see the leaves change color and snow on the ground. If you have any suggestions for which restaurant she should try next, you can find her on Instagram @hello_ korean_adventure, or drop her a line on Facebook messenger.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

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A great window seat, perfect for natural light photos or enjoying some winter sun.

December 2018

The outside of the café is painted a warm terracotta orange, perfect for standing out against white walls.

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32 Korean Food

FOOD & DRINKS EDUCATION

Tteokguk

Rice Cake Soup

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

Written by Joe Wabe

T

here are many dishes in Korea for special celebrations, and the New Year is no exception.

Tteokguk, a broth with thinly sliced rice cakes, is one of these celebratory dishes, and its history traces back to ancient times. Although the tradition of eating tteokguk is mainly for the Lunar New Year celebration, in contemporary Korean society, many people have it on the 1st of January as well. The white tteok (rice cake) signifies purity and cleanliness, and it is believed to bring good fortune for the following year.

There are quite a few variations of this broth, like saeng tteokguk (생떡국) or nal tteokguk (날떡국), a specialty of Chungcheong Province, where a mixture of different kinds of rice is made into small balls or rolled into long cylinder shapes and then sliced into a boiling broth. Another variation is joraengi tteokguk (조랭이 떡국) from the Kaesong region, which comes with the tteok twisted in small cocoon shapes. Then there is gon tteokguk (곤떡국) from Jeju, which uses sliced

2018�12��.indd 32

jeolpyeon tteok (절편) rather than the usual garaetteok (가래떡). Yet another variety, tteok-mandu-guk, is literally tteokguk served with additional dumplings or mandu (만두). The list of variations goes on and on.

If you are planning to catch the sunrise this January first, do not forget to try a bowl of tteokguk in the early morning using this recipe – it will definitely increase your chances of having a wonderful year!

INGREDIENTS (Serves 3) 230 grams of beef 1 green onion 1 tablespoon of soy sauce 1 tablespoon of anchovy stock 1 tablespoon of sesame oil 1 egg 3 cups of sliced garae tteok (stick rice cake) 1 sheet of roasted kim (dried laver)

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33 INSTRUCTIONS Rinse and soak the tteok for about 15 minutes. Chop the beef into cubes and stir-fry these in a pot with the sesame oil until brown; then add one cup of water, and let it cook for about five minutes. Skim off the scum, and add about six to seven more cups of water. Then add the anchovy stock, soy sauce, and tteok, and let it all cook for about eight minutes. Finally, beat the egg and add it along with the green onion for an extra two to three minutes. Another way of using the egg is to make it into a crepe, and then slice it into short thin strips for garnish at the end. The roasted kim, which should be cut into short strips just as the egg, will be added as garnish when the soup is ready to be served.

This is a very simple recipe but one that is rich in texture and flavor. Hope you are ready to start a new year full of awesomeness!

The Author

Joe Wabe is an established photographer and Gwangju local business entrepreneur. He has been contributing to the GIC and the Gwangju News for more than eight years.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

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2018-11-29 �� 3:34:56

34 Expat Living

What to Do When Involved in a Car Accident in Korea

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

COMMUNITY

Written by Wilson Melbostad Special thanks to Na Seung-pyo and Seo Jin-hyeok

T

hough of course no one ever wishes to get into a car accident, it is always important to know what to do in the off chance that you do happen to get involved in one. To give you a helping hand in this matter, the Gwangju News tracked down a couple of local experts here in Gwangju and asked for the real scoop on hit-andruns, insurance claims, and other important topics.

and-run accident, you should call the police immediately.

This is because the police can arrive at the scene to take quick action such as securing witnesses, checking closedcircuit television (CCTV), and checking black box images. It is helpful to let the police know information such as the fleeing vehicle’s license plate number, type of vehicle (passenger car, SUV, truck, etc.), vehicle color, etc.

Interviewee: Na Seung-pyo – Liaison Officer of Foreign Affairs, Gwangju Dongbu Police Station

GN: In what situations should the police be called (in addition to the driver’s insurance company)?

Gwangju News (GN): How is a “hit-and-run” accident classified here in Korea? What should you do if you get involved in one?

Na: A “hit-and-run” occurs when the driver flees after causing a traffic accident. However, in specific police terminology, a “hit-and-run” occurs when an individual who has caused a traffic accident flees without taking proper action. Proper action must be taken when either (a) a person is killed by a traffic accident, or (b) a vehicle or other object is damaged or destroyed in an accident.

The person at fault must stop immediately to mitigate any further damage and provide his/her personal information (name, phone number, address, etc.).

Na: In Korea, when a person is a possible suspect for a traffic accident, or suspected of damaging an object, that driver is obligated to report himself/herself to the police station. Of course, victims of traffic accidents and witnesses can also report such cases to the police. The contents of the report should include the place where the accident occurred, the number of casualties (if any), as well as damages and their severity. If the proper authorities are not present at the scene, be sure to try to check whether the driver who caused the accident has been identified as well as if he/she was drunk or driving without a license.

If someone is not insured, driving without a license, or driving drunk, be sure to hand over the case to the police or traffic crime team immediately.

The most important thing in all traffic accidents, including hit-and-runs, is to care for those who are injured. You should report to the police (112) or paramedics (119) immediately and remember to not get flustered and remain calm. In hit-and-run accidents, unlike general traffic accidents, there are severe penalties for the perpetrator in a court of law. If you are a victim of a hit-

Accidents involving only physical damage will be terminated without a police investigation if the accident vehicle is insured or if there is a mutual agreement with the victim. “Physical damage” refers to when there is an accident in which all the occupants, including the driver, have no personal injury resulting from the accident. At this time, the insurance company will accept the accident

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2018-11-29 �� 3:34:57

35 and receive instructions on repairing the vehicle or rewarding money for the damages.

GN: If involved in a car accident, is it best to leave the vehicle where it stands or pull it over to the side of the road until the insurance company or police arrive? What precautions should a driver take to ensure there is no manipulation of evidence by the other driver?

Na: If you are a driver in a car accident and are not seriously hurt, you must first turn on the vehicle’s emergency lights so as to inform the other drivers on the road of the traffic accident. While maintaining your own safety, you should take pictures of the scene of the accident from various directions and agree with the other driver(s) involved to move the vehicles to the right side of the road quickly so as not to interfere with other traffic.

Fatal accidents due to secondary accidents on highways are particularly frequent, so take necessary measures, such as taking pictures and moving your vehicle to the shoulder, as quickly as possible. It is a good idea to turn on the emergency lights and install a hazard triangle behind the vehicle and wait until the police or insurance agent arrive. This is because other drivers who are unable to identify the accident could run into the damaged vehicle(s), causing another accident and resulting in death or serious injury to the person with the already damaged vehicle. If the other driver in the accident is drunk or has been driving without a license, he/she may change his/her seat with the passenger or flee the scene altogether. Therefore, it is important to identify who the opposing driver is and inform the authorities accordingly.

We recommend installing black boxes because black box images can serve as crucial evidence in traffic accidents.

Interviewee: Seo Jin-hyeok – Local insurance agent

GN: What does car insurance typically cover in an accident? How much is the deductible?

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GN: Once the insurance company is called, how soon will an agent arrive at the scene? What do you usually tell drivers to do if they get into an accident?

Seo: Depending on the situation, usually it is expected that an agent will come approximately 20 minutes after your call. As for protocol once in an accident, since the driver’s safety is the top priority, it is important to get yourself to a safe place as soon as possible. Next, you need to take pictures of the scene and secure witnesses. If you have a black box, remove it from your vehicle and check if the accident was recorded. If the vehicles interfere with traffic, move the vehicles to a safe space with the consent of the other party.

GN: Will car insurance cover the cost of a rental vehicle while the vehicle is being repaired? What is the maximum amount of time before the driver has to pay out of pocket?

Seo: If the other party is 100 percent at fault, the whole rental cost will be covered for ten days in case of complete destruction and 30 days in case of repairs. If you do not want to rent a vehicle, 30 percent of the rental cost will be provided to you for transport costs. If you are at fault for the accident, there is no compensation for a rental vehicle or other transportation costs while your vehicle is being repaired. The insurance company will usually partner with certain mechanics, and in certain cases, the mechanics will provide a rental vehicle free of charge.

The Author

Wilson Melbostad is an international human rights attorney hailing from San Francisco, California. Wilson has returned to Gwangju to undertake his newest project: the Organization for Migrant Legal Aid (OMLA), which operates out of the Gwangju International Center. He has also taken on the position of managing editor of the Gwangju News.

December 2018

Seo: There are four components to car insurance liability coverage: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, own bodily injury, and own vehicle damage. In Korea, it is compulsory to have car insurance, and the mandatory minimum coverage for an opposing vehicle is 20 million won for the property damage liability and 100 million won for bodily injury liability. For the other components,

Comprehensive insurance holders, as a result of an accident by the insured, pay up to 20 percent (minimum 200,000 won – maximum 500,000 won) of their own vehicle damages as a deductible. For liability insurance, up to 20 million won for property damage and different limited amounts for bodily injury liability will be covered, but you need to pay the rest. Also, you need to pay for damage to your own vehicle according to the degree that you are at fault for the damage.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Note: This information does not constitute legal advice and should only be used as general information. There are simply too many factors that could change a case one way or the other. If you are involved in a car accident, be sure to call your insurance company and talk with your agent accordingly.

the policyholder can decide at his/her own discretion. It is recommended to take out comprehensive insurance for more secure coverage.

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36 Korea TESOL

Gooder Language Learning Written by Dr. David E. Shaffer

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

EDUCATION

W

e often talk about the “good language learner” and the characteristics that make them “good.”

We have done so in this column, you may remember. We’ve talked about student motivation, being organized by setting goals and keeping records, and taking chances and guessing. But the lists of characteristics are usually short and assume that the language learner picks up these characteristics on their own. Here we will consider some of the lesser-discussed, but still very important, characteristics and what the teacher can do to help instill them to make a “gooder” language learner.

CURIOSITY Granted, there is the saying that “Curiosity killed the cat,” but Arnold Edinborough countered with “Curiosity is the very basis of education, and if you tell me that curiosity killed the cat, I say only the cat died nobly.” The greater a learner’s curiosity, the more effective they will be at language learning. Some students are more curious than others, so it is for the language teacher to ensure that their lessons arouse curiosity in all their students. This can be done by supplementing the coursebook material with in-class discovery activities and out-of-class projects.

Rather than spoon-feeding information to the students, making them curious and wanting to discover the answer or solution themselves makes for “gooder” language learning.

INVESTMENT AND INTERACTION Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Learning a second language can of course substantially increase one’s career opportunities. However, Bonnie Norton posits the

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notion of investment to replace that of motivation to capture the complex social history and multiple desires that the learner brings to the language learning situation.

The teacher must be aware of the student’s social history and their desires to effectively sculpt the “goodest” lessons and language learning environment. This will include ample opportunity for interaction in the second language with both the teacher and with other students. This is not saying that individual practice is not effective; it most definitely has its place. But individual practice coupled with abundant interaction is “gooder.” In addition to fostering interaction in the classroom, the teacher can guide students to safe places on the internet to interact with others in the second language as well as to places in the local community outside of the classroom.

AMBIGUITY TOLERANCE

Individuals vary greatly in the degree that they feel comfortable in guessing at things that they are not certain about. This is true of people when listening and reading in their first language, and it can only be truer of students learning a second language.

Language learners need to realize that ambiguity is a builtin part of language learning and that they need to learn to deal with it. Here the teacher can help by introducing a couple of strategies that cope with ambiguity. Students drawing on their own prior knowledge to connect with a gap in their comprehension can make for very educated guesswork. They can also refer to the information

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37 surrounding an unknown word or expression to help them understand the meaning of the message. Having a high tolerance for ambiguity and using strategies to deal with it make for “gooder” language learning.

STUDY TIME AS QUALITY TIME What I mean by “quality study time” is that effective study methods should be used. The problem in many cases, however, is that learners are not aware of many study methods and are aware of even fewer effective methods. Rote memorization of vocabulary items and grammar rules, simply listening to music, and merely watching a movie are often about the only study methods that Korean learners of English are aware of – and as teachers we know that these methods in themselves are not very effective for language learning.

It is very important that, in addition to using effective teaching methods, teachers introduce effective study methods to their students and also train their students on how to reflect on their study methods to determine their effectiveness. To learn a language, students need to spend a lot of out-of-class time learning the language, and as teachers we need to help ensure that our students’ study time is quality time.

CONSISTENCY

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methodology

is

not

very

The Author

David E. Shaffer is vice-president of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL). On behalf of the chapter, he invites you to participate in their 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.

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 board chair at the GIC and also editor-in-chief of the Gwangju News.

GWANGJU-JEONNAM KOTESOL MONTHLY MEETING & DINNER Date: December 8 (Saturday) Place: Gwangju National University of Education (GNUE) • 2-Hour Workshop: Questioning Strategies

By Kristy Dolson (Jeollanamdo International Education Institute, Yeosu) • SwapShop – Share with the group an activity or teaching idea that you have.

• Year-End Turkey Dinner For full event details: Website: koreatesol.org/gwangju Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL

December 2018

REVIEW Korea’s teach-and-test

Your students may already be good language learners, but if they are not yet aware of the information presented above, you can make them “gooder” language learners.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Another very common saying is “Consistency is the key to success.” This is true for language learning as much as it is for anything else. What many students do, however, is put off outof-class language study, practice, and review until right before test time and then binge study. We know from research (and our own anecdotal evidence) that studying a lot one day a week is not as effective as spreading out that same study time over the seven days of the week. Such consistency in out-of-class language is something that teachers need to instill in their students, as few students pick up this habit on their own. Just telling our students to do daily language learning will likely not be very effective; we need to do something “gooder.” Instead of giving a couple of major tests in a course, we can give our students many small projects of various types to do out of class for assessment purposes. This can aid in forming consistency in language study.

conducive to creating the habit of review in language learners. Coursebooks do not have very much review of material built into them.

Vocabulary and structural patterns are introduced in one unit but may not appear again in the coursebook.

Consequently, students see little need to review language material once they have been tested on it. We know, however, that language acquisition comes from meeting the same material over and over again. As teachers, we need to incorporate material from earlier units into our later lessons and assessments. This will hopefully help to create the habit of review in our students. Recycling is not only good for the physical environment, it is good for the language learning environment as well.

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38 38

TOPIK Guide (topikguide.com) is the most comprehensive website devoted to the TOPIK exam. It’s been helping Korean language learners pass the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) for more than seven years. On this website, you can get all the TOPIK updates, grammar and vocabulary material, and study tips.

Everyday Korean

Episode 12: 기말고사 (Final Exams) Written by Harsh Kumar Mishra Korean Language Expert at TOPIKGUIDE.COM

아나:

EDUCATION

Ana:

기말고사 때 선배와 같이 공부하고 싶어요. [gimal-gosa ttae seon-bae-wa gachi gong-bu-hago si-peoyo.]

I want to study with you (senior) for the final exams.

정민:

벌써 기말고사야? 언제부터 시작해?

아나:

17일부터 21일까지예요. [sip-chir-il-buteo i-sip-ir-il-kkaji-yeyo.]

They’re from the 17th to the 21st.

[beol-sseo gimal-gosaya? Eonje-bu-teo sijak-hae?]

Jeong-min: It’s already time for finals? When do they start?

Ana:

정민:

많이 안 남았네. 이번에 몇학점 들어?

[mani an naman-ne. ibeone myeotakjeom deureo?]

Jeong-min: There isn’t much time left.

How many credits are you taking this semester?

아나:

Ana:

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

정민:

18학점을 들어요. 선배는요? [sip-pal-hakjeo-meul deu-reoyo. Seon-bae-neun-yo?]

Eighteen credits. How about you?

난 21학점 듣고 있어.

[nan i-sip-il-hakjeom deut-ko isseo.]

Jeong-min: I’m taking 21 credits.

아나:

많이 듣네요.[mani deun-neyo.]

Ana:

That’s a lot.

정민:

그런데 다음 학기는 휴학하고 싶어.

[geu-reonde da-eum hakki-neun hyu-hak-hago sipeo.]

Jeong-min: But I’m thinking of taking a break next semester.

아나: Ana:

우와! 부럽네요.[uwa! Bureom-neyo.]

Wow! I envy you.

정민:

넌 열심히 해서 빨리 졸업해라.

[neon yeol-simhi hae-seo palli joreop-haera.]

Jeong-min: You study hard and graduate quickly.

Grammar ~고 싶다: Use this with verb stems to express the meaning “to want (to do) something.”

Ex: 한국어를 잘하고 싶어요 I want to speak Korean well.

~ 와/과 같이: Use this with nouns to express the meaning “with (someone).”

Ex: 친구와 같이 서울에 갔어요.

I went to Seoul with my friend.

#KoreaLifeHacks 1.

2.

3.

Right after the final exams end, students begin to travel a lot, so if you’re planning to travel outside Korea in December, you’d better buy the tickets in September to save yourself money.

Many universities in Korea offer volunteer programs for earning credits. So if you enjoy volunteering and want to earn extra credits, consider this.

If you’re planning to register for a Korean language program at a university, it would be better to go for small institutes, as they have comparatively cheaper fees while offering the same education levels.

Vocabulary

기말고사: final exam(s) 선배: senior 학점: credit(s) 남다: remain 학기: semester 부럽다: to envy 졸업: Graduation 휴학: time off from school; a gap year/semester 열심히: hard, diligently 3학점을 듣다: to opt for 3 credits; to take 3 credits

Visit the TOPIK Guide website or our YouTube channel to improve your Korean and reach your goal on the TOPIK test.

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2018-11-29 �� 3:34:59

Korean Culture

Written by Cho Namhee

A

However, the significance of Dongji lies in the red beans rather than in the porridge. When the porridge was prepared, it was first offered on the altar of the ancestral shrine, then sprinkled in the corners of all rooms and other important parts of the house, such as at the jangdokdae (장독대, the storage area for crocks of sauces and condiments) and the barn. It was believed that red beans exorcise maleficent spirits and have the power to dispel other undesirable spirits. Only after red bean porridge was offered at various strategic locations could the family members partake of their bowls of porridge.

The upcoming Dongji is on the 22nd of December. As it is on the weekend just before Christmas, it would be meaningful to combine both Oriental and Western rituals together to round out the year. An idea would be to have a red sock filled with red beans.

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The Author

Cho Namhee, an over-zealous sports fan, is a free spirit who calls Gwangju home. He studies communications at Chonnam National University and works for the 18th FINA World Championships, Gwangju 2019.

December 2018

Traditionally, not only on Dongji but also on other occasions throughout the year, the powers of the red bean were called upon. Red bean rice cakes were offered when someone moved their house or held a shamanistic ritual called gosa (고사). To celebrate joyful moments, such as taking a state exam, holding weddings, or setting out on a trip, rice steamed with red beans was eaten. People strongly believed that red beans helped protect them from epidemics and various infections such as styes. For example, when there was an outbreak of an epidemic in a village, a handful of red beans was placed in the village well and also buried or hung in a location facing north.

Oriental medicine has it that red beans are actually good for treating red skin, fever, and body aches.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

s the mercury dips closer to freezing, it signals that the winter solstice, the time of the year when night is longest and the day is shortest, is nearing.

The twenty-second solar term is called Dongji (동지) and it was often referred to as “Little Lunar New Year” because it was perceived as the day of the sun’s resurrection.

Though Dongji is not celebrated as it was in the past, its customary dish, red bean porridge, is still consumed to this day. Unlike other kinds of red bean porridge made in Korea, the porridge offered on Dongji is different.

Small dough balls of glutinous rice, known as saealsim, or bird egg balls, are plopped into the porridge instead of noodles, and for children, their number in the porridge represent one’s age.

ARTS ARTS && CULTURE CULTURE

The Secrets Behind Red Beans

39

2018-11-29 �� 3:35:01

ARTS & CULTURE

40 40

l a c i s u M A The Wiz - Small

by Charlie

Writte n by Sashai Yhuku twana Photog raphed by Paolo Mondr agon and courte sy of GPP

S

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

ometime in August while talking with a friend…

Friend: “So do you want to try out for the next production?”

Me: “Hm, you know how the theater bug bites, but I’m afraid there are other pressing matters at hand. Anyway... what’s the next production called?”

Friend: “The Wiz!” Me: “The Wiz... as in The Wizard of Oz?”

“Curious,” I thought. “Those images in my mind didn’t quite strike me as translatable to soul.”

Until…

The images had quickly come to mind: adventures along a yellow brick road, a young rural-looking girl in red shoes accompanied by her dog, and a curious company of characters making their way to a mysterious, scary wizard they desperately hope will grant them their respective wishes.

Walking into the GIC (Gwangju International Center) that day, I was immediately arrested by the beautiful sounds of piano music accompanying fun melodies and excited tones. I couldn’t help but stop, rooted to the spot.

I was absolutely overcome by strong nostalgia, completely transported back to my childhood on some happy memory conjured by the melodies floating out from that rehearsal hall. It wasn’t because I knew the title of the song or its words; the best I could do was hum along to one or two songs off the Wizard of Oz soundtrack anyway. It’s hard to describe how I felt. All I can say is, “Everybody, prepare to be dazzled by The Wiz, its soulful twin sister!”

My friend’s voice drifts back into focus: “No, ‘The Wiz,’ just ‘Wiz.’ Yeah, it pretty much follows the story of the original Wizard of Oz, except The Wiz is all SOUL, girl!”

I’d done a little digging before attending the rehearsals that Sunday afternoon and found that The Wiz has its own indelible print, particularly on American theatrical

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2018-11-29 �� 3:35:04

41 history. Reviewed as “an urban fairytale,” “zesty,” and a “well-rounded” musical theater production, The Wiz is an urban musical version of the original performed by an all-black cast that had debuted on Broadway in the mid1970s. Charlie Smalls was the African-American composer and songwriter who wrote the music accompaniment to playwright William F. Brown’s 1975 Broadway musical. It was meant to echo the African-American experience by showcasing a relatable, “fantastical creation” as one blogger described it when writing about her experience watching it as a child. I wondered if this was the case for some of our own community members involved in the upcoming production right here in Gwangju.

Running into the show’s choreographer, the talented Miss Jordan Mathis, I asked about her views on the significance The Wiz presents here in Gwangju: “The production has been a rewarding experience. After seeing what was done with The Wiz Live television special that aired in the U.S. on NBC in 2015, I was really determined to create fun and visually stunning choreography that would complement the amazing music and singing. I’m very excited to do this production within Gwangju. Our cast is wonderfully diverse with representatives of both the Korean and foreign community. I really hope that children watching this show will leave feeling happy and inspired!”

With less than a month left to go by the time I dropped in on rehearsals, it was clear that a lot of heart and hard work had been invested in the creation of what will be a heartwarming, delightful, and fun production that, according to its director, Robyn Bramwell, will hopefully leave the audience feeling “happy and touched.”

As we head full steam towards the end of 2018, a year full of alternate worlds and fantasy (think: Marvel, Star Wars, etc.), I imagine the plot to bring The Wiz to the Gwangju stage is something theater enthusiasts will appreciate wholeheartedly. It brings something we can learn from and be inspired by, something to feel and cherish, and something to warm our souls. Be sure to make a date with the cast; bring friends, family, and foes if you like! I can’t wait to be reminded of the whimsical, carefree parts of my childhood: believing in magic and taking flights of fancy with my imagination!

Dates: December 1 and 8 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (each date) / December 2 and 9 at 3 p.m.

Location: Gwangju National University of Education Email: gpptickets@gmail.com (for ticket reservations)

The Author

Sashai Yhukutwana is an English teacher in Gwangju. She likes taking advantage of open evenings to read, nap, do Bible studies, cook, and sometimes have a nice chat with a friend over a hot drink or go for a weekly sweat at Zumba.

Her students know her as a basketball player, coworkers think she is a fashionista, and yet Sashai truly likes nothing more than seeing others shine their light bright for their absolute pleasure, and the benefit of all.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

“I’ve been a member of GPP [Gwangju Performance Project] for almost four years, and it had been a dream of mine to do a show especially for the children and also

feature some in the play as cast members. Many Gwangju expats are elementary school teachers, so children are quite literally our livelihood here. I just really wanted to give something back to them and hopefully inspire a few to explore the art of theater. Also, the cast has put in so much effort, and I’m blown away by their talent. The vibe of our rehearsals has been very positive, and I love watching them encourage each other. I’m glad I could help put together a project that connects so many different members of the community: students, teachers, expats, and locals.”

December 2018

The cast practicing their songs.

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42

Acting Up in Yeosu with Four Corner Productions

T

he stage lights illuminate eight faces flushed with the euphoria that comes from a successful performance.

The final bow is taken, and eight shot glasses – six of soju and two of water – are uplifted, clinked, and drained to thundering applause. And then it’s all over. The cast disperses to thank friends and colleagues for coming, while the director begins the thankless task of clearing up the stage and gathering props, glowing with pride over her amazing accomplishment – one worth celebrating. After six years in Yeosu, Katie Carriero has finally realized her dream of bringing English language theater to her Korean hometown. It was well worth the wait.

Four Corner Productions (FCP) was founded in March of 2018 with an open call on the Yeosu Wayguks Facebook page for auditions. A small but brave assortment of individuals showed up for a read-through, eager for their share of the spotlight. Hailing from all four corners of the planet, the group’s name was chosen unanimously by the team, and FCP was born. Its inaugural show, the children’s play Little Miss Bossy, written by Carriero herself, was performed in May to a decently sized audience on the boardwalk of Soho-dong. Inspired by this success, Carriero set her sights on the adult foreigner crowd of the tri-city area of Yeosu, Suncheon, and Gwangyang, and began putting together Four Corner Production’s Various Tales:

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

ARTS & CULTURE

Written and photographed by Kristy Dolson

Posing together after curtain call [from left to right]: Kajal, Axel, Katie, Jool, Ryan, Kristy, Nathan, and Malina.

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43 A Cabaret. The show consisted of short thematically related vignettes taken from popular plays, TV shows, and movies.

Another call for actors went out, and the cast grew.

As diverse as they are talented, the current members of FCP include the following (biographies adapted from the program of Various Tales): Katie Carriero (director) – You can take the stage manager out of the theater, but you can’t take the damn stage manager out of the girl. After years and years on the stage or behind it, this is Katie’s premier directing experience.

Kristy Dolson (actress) – As a teacher trainer at Jeollanamdo International Education Institute, Kristy loves to promote drama and dramatic teaching strategies both in and out of the classroom. She’s been involved with many performance groups throughout her life, but she’s most proud of her involvement with FCP. Jool Kang (actress) – Jool is a self-proclaimed “S-holic”: smile, sky, song, sea, style, sul (술, alcohol), Sunhari (her dogs), and Suncheon (her current hometown).

Axel Mackintosh (actor) – Brought to you by the New Zealand Board of Tourism, Axel is a seasoned veteran of the performance industry. His first appearance with FCP was met with critical acclaim in a New York Times review that called him “engaging,” “inspiring,” and “ultimately unnecessary.”

Kajal Ramsunder (actress) – Kajal felt she’d been shrunk, stretched, scratched, and stuffed into a teapot in South Africa! So before she lost her “muchness,” she left on a new adventure to Korea; now she’s here mad as a hatter to be a part of FCP. Ryan Richardson (actor) – An Australian native, Ryan is the self-proclaimed god of the seven kingdoms, savior of grace and aptitude, conqueror of the nations of Andar, and protector of the flowers.

Malina Workman (actress) – Hailing from the distant realm of bears and cowboys, the wildest of the West, this mysterious wanderer has journeyed far and wide in search of honor, glory, love, adventure, a chance to prove her mettle, and theater troupes small enough to take anybody who wants in.

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So if you’ve been looking for more English language theater options, either to enjoy as an evening of cheap entertainment, or to get involved as cast and/or crew member, then get thyself to Yeosu!

FCP, riding high from its first critical success, is now welcoming new members. If you’re a little bit shy or just want to get your feet wet behind the scenes first, then you’re in luck because FCP especially needs crew members – although more actors are always welcome!

Please contact Director Katie Carriero at katiecarriero@ gmail.com for more information.

The Author

(Photo by Jeong Boram)

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 moved to Yeosu this year, where she splits her time between teacher training at the new Jeollanamdo International Education Institute and acting with her newfound theater family.

December 2018

Under the leadership of Carriero, this zany group pulled itself away from Yeosu’s siren song of beer and pastry pizza long enough to memorize the lines, blocking, and intricate prop shuffling required for Various Tales. Not only did its members effortlessly deliver lines, get their blocking cues just right, and shuffle props like seasoned crew-hands, but they also managed to actualize an hour or so of dramatic

magic, transporting an enraptured audience into the seductive realm of the theater – something that’s severely lacking here in Jeollanam-do.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Nathan Siemenski (actor) – Turtlenecks and chains. His great aunt got hit in the head by a homerun hit by Babe Ruth.

Malina and Jool in Bridesmaids.

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44 Book Review

“She Wanted to Be a Bridge-Builder” Lili: A Portrait of the First Sex Change

by Lili Elbe and Edited by Niels Hoyer

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

ARTS & CULTURE

Written by Kristy Dolson

D

o you remember the 2015 movie The Danish Girl? It told the story of Lili Elbe, one of the first documented biological males to undergo a full and successful male to female sex change. Although that movie was a beautiful and moving portrayal, it wasn’t entirely faithful to Lili’s lived experience. Firstly, because it was given that Hollywood touch. Secondly, because it was based on a novel that was itself largely fabricated. If you want the more authentic story, you can read it in Lili’s own words in her memoir Lili: A Portrait of the First Sex Change. Reading this book after seeing the movie filled me with joy for the power of the human spirit and the kindness of people. And isn’t that what December is all about?

The memoir focuses specifically on Lili’s thoughts and feelings throughout her transition surgeries. The book was edited by her friend Niels Hoyer and consists of the diary entries of Lili and her former wife, Grete, along with letters written to and from Lili. Hoyer took these primary sources and turned them into a comprehensive narrative. It’s a rare glimpse into the life and struggle of an LGBTQIA+ pioneer at the beginning of the twentieth century.

It’s a simple memoir, and mostly chronological, although there are a few chapters that go backwards. However, given that the memoir wasn’t written as a true memoir but rather edited together from various documents, it reads very well. The most poignant parts are the letters. These are real and full of vivid emotions: from uplifting optimism to shattering depression. As a result, the reader can feel the pulse of love and hope throughout this book. Even though Lili passed away in 1931, I was able to know her through her diary and letters, and I’m humbled by the strength she possessed to embrace and pursue her true identity.

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If Lili had been born today, perhaps she would’ve struggled less in the pursuit of her authentic self. Perhaps she would’ve survived the surgery that led to her early death. Perhaps she would’ve even realized her dream of having her own child.

But while psychological and medical knowledge have certainly come a long way since the 1930s, fear and hate still run rampant in our society. Although she was accepted by her friends and family, she knew that the greater world viewed people like her with suspicion and disgust. And it’s outrageous that there are still people in power debating whether or not these individuals even deserve to exist.

Lili: A Portrait of the First Sex Change was published posthumously in 1933. I’m sure that back then the story was rather sensational on its own. These days issues surrounding transgender and intersex individuals are a hot-button political and social media topic. With the U.S. government seeking to erase trans, intersex, and nonbinary identifying citizens, it’s vital that we re-examine our values and beliefs. If people identify as one gender – or none at all – and wish to pursue the life that’ll bring them happiness, then who are we to oppose them? Lili Elbe was a brave pioneer. But she never got to finish building her bridge, and now it’s up to us to keep laying the foundation for future generations. It’s my Holiday wish that one day humanity will be able to cross it freely.

The Author

(Photo by Lisa Crone)

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 moved to Yeosu, where she splits her time between teaching at the new Jeollanamdo International Education Institute and reading as much as she can.

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Gwangju Writes

45

23 Days in the USA Written by Doug Stuber

Photos and poems were inspired:

ARTS & CULTURE

M

y family set off from North Carolina and traveled through West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, California (and stayed in Ukiah, right next to the Mendocino Complex fire that was the largest fire in California’s history), Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee. A total of 9,700 miles by jeep.

WILD

From shelters to the Hampton Inn. Eighty-eight multi-colored trucks And hundreds of staging firefighters from eleven countries: Lightning strikes to arson inflame steep Sierra Nevadas, Inferno eternal, smoke drifts to New York, the desert, a fog.

▲ Female Redwood

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Rising maturity comes in the form of expectations ruined, but taken In stride, and the precise skills gained to navigate the entire country.

December 2018

Loops and interfaces of man interlock with ancient coral to form Arches that hang precariously, like 1950s designer Nordic furniture: Shapely, then painted deserts, geysers blasting forth, petrified Wood, canyons (Glenwood was a pleasant surprise) and S-curves.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Gruesome thoughts: a tumble, slip, scream, fall, such a Long fall onto the canopy towering atop Richardson Grove On the Redwood Highway, Route 101, up to Eureka, Arcata, edging The burning Mendocino Beano Complex. Ukiah refugees everywhere

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46

DINER Ever stepped into the Olympic Café, on Geary Street a couple of blocks up from Union Square? For free you can wallow in the back-and-forth of a retirement-aged waitress and the octogenarian cook. Ten seats at the counter, one, a backless stool, and twenty booths welcome a father scolding his 30-year-old child, tourist families, those who collected $10.00 in change on the street and one fat poet, high off the fumes still resonating at City Lights Books.

“What is it, Sweetie” rings from the waitress: half the duo that mans the entirety of potentially 60 customers, as the Jewish father laments, rues, is saddened by his son’s inability to attain autonomy. These hills, unlike Moab or Reno, are dotted with architecture from all movements.

This era’s lot is heavily homeless, reflecting the capitalist disconcern for the unproductive. The ones who meander in at 5 a.m., clearly sad, with coffee warm-up money, get the best treatment, as a hackneyed Greek/English mix spews forth from the open-format kitchen that welcomes all to watch an 80-year-old cook diverse meals rapid-fire, ten hours straight, six days a week. Four Dutch tourists eat.

▲ Arches

COMPLEX

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

Diana Rigg, in the opening credits of the Avengers, then in catquick reactions, the better part of the action, added sensuous to spy characters: a shot of female moxie akin to James Bond. She blasts into my brain while breakfast muffins crumble. This fidgety twenty-six-year-old, with arms of a farmer, or auto mechanic: her eyes focus on eight random things, none of them any of nine fellow humans in the room, gulping coffee, perhaps running behind, or like the loud man in the corner, his home southwest of Ukiah, in the process of burning in the Mendocino Complex fire. A jamboree of fireman gather, a few in RVs that will bed the many who have volunteered for this deadly, impossible task. A charged chorus of agreement bounces back and forth as “Dream a Little Dream of Me” ploughs sultry into the rich, sad soil culled from the Colorado: desert to oranges, almonds. Add the millions of gallons Nestle sucks out, and Pleasant Valley dries up, blows away, goes dust-bowling with the Dude.

Then burning lady swoops in and splatters paint, absorbed; or lands on Mesquite tips or Junipers, invisible to the naked eye-level looker, but visible as a Lily Pulitzer from ten to forty feet above. From fifty feet and up, it’s a black and white portrait of a white cop killing a black man.

The piece Diana titles “Noblesse Oblige,” demonstrations at eleven. ▲ Twin Peaks

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47

COWBOY SOCIAL CLUB, NEAR PRICE, UTAH Perfect nesting holes, eroded dots, line up like train windows ready to pull out, down the canyon to Glenwood Springs, hauling basalt and gypsum, sulfur and copper in trade for Doc Holiday’s guns.

Two hundred train cars worth of ore for one dead slinger’s guns, but that’s what it’s worth to retire weapons, old or new, wild, wild, West, indeed.

Crazy old lady Winchester spent her gun money fixing a haunted house in San Jose over and over, to drive away ghosts from all the guns her

THE LOST VILLAGE OF SCOTUS, WYOMING White freshwater pelicans swim between Tetons, appear to be lost albinos three hundred miles east of the closest coast, Salt Lake refugees seeking fresh fish?

Wyoming: more shepherds than skiers, Cheneys than Denvers, where the legend of Jackson Hole far outreaches the influence of local wildlife art peddlers, or resurgent senior pot hippies.

New Orleans, Disney-fied, and Detroit’s not John Muir-ified. One flooded, one foreclosed. High stakes bank boys gambled, remainders lost. Car owner commands a mid-teen three-pack that wander.

An entire culture vanishes under gentrified propaganda, totalitarian capitalism, racism, nay white supremacy, that fires dragon talons from behind the precipice of foul laws and like-robed Supreme Courters.

It’s the type of “courting” young courters do that’s groping rape.

But will this red Herring effectively hide Brett’s record the way a coke can and legit Hill harassment snuck Clarence in the “back door?”

Wonks, compliant ideologues, sure to be political: not constitutional scholars, but apologists of greed. Deep billed pelican glides, stuns transient visitors who had no idea they migrate up from the Gulf.

Doug Stuber is a retired Chonnam University professor, artist, musician and poet. His twelveth book of poetry Chronic Observer will appear from Finishing Line Press in February. His last major exhibit was at Crypt Gallery, London, last summer.

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December 2018

The Author

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

father made that killed souls, good and evil, buffaloes (not just Springfields) and ushered in our mess.

▲ Grand Canyon

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48 Photo Essay

Introducing Gwangju News’ Co-Photo Editor

ARTS & CULTURE

Written and photographed by Sarah Pittman

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

Steaming hot takoyaki being flipped on a cold winter night.

P

hotography for me was kind of an accident. From a very young age, my grandmother and my father fostered in me a love of art, and I dabbled in everything from painting to sewing. The closest I ever got to a camera, however, was the Canon point-and-shoot my parents used for their eBay listings.

It wasn’t until I started working with the characters at Disneyland that I really got interested in photography as an art medium. Working day in and day out to try to help capture other people’s memories in a special way inspired me to try it for myself. Luckily, I had a whole cast of friends whose entire job was photography, so I learned a lot by asking how they captured the moments.

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I was still new to photography, and since I didn’t have thousands to spare for a hobby, I bought everything secondhand and refurbished. To learn about different techniques, I binge-watched free photography tutorials on YouTube. I’d say this is the fastest way you can learn about different styles if you’re thinking about trying photography for yourself. During this time, I began driving all around Southern California to try my hand at street photography, portraiture, and nature photography. For a while, I even had some paid gigs as a wedding photographer.

A year later, when my boyfriend Colin and I decided to come to Korea to teach English, I thought that I would try my hand at travel blogging and explore photography that way. I wanted to travel to Japan, Malaysia, Thailand,

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49

Some colorful roasted squid being sold at a street cart.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

▲ Felix was kind enough to let me walk all over downtown with him so I could practice my portrait photography.

Temple guard at Wongak-sa, the Buddhist temple near the GIC.

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50

Visiting Nara Park in Japan while it was raining was one of the most magical experiences.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

and Australia, to name a few countries, capturing every beautiful, unique moment. That was the plan at least, until we fostered a cute little fur ball named Cosmo. We couldn’t let him go, and so our travels became a little more local, and I began doing photo shoots with people around Gwangju.

Then, at the beginning of 2018, the GIC posted that it was looking for volunteer photographers for the Gwangju News magazine. I decided to throw my hat into the ring, and I did my first photo essay ever. I fell in love with food photography, and writing the food column every other month pushed me to try new restaurants and new angles, styles, and lighting to try to bring the food from my plate to the page. I hope that as the co-photo editor of the Gwangju News, I can continue improving my craft and, hopefully, inspire others to try their hand at photography as well!

The Author

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Sarah is a southern California native who spent many years wishing to see the leaves change color and snow on the ground. If you have any suggestions for which restaurant she should try next, you can find her on Instagram at @hello_korean_adventure, or drop her a line on Facebook messenger.

A fantastic peanut butter and chocolate soft serve ice cream in Seoul.

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51

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

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December 2018

One of my first photos in Korea at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

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52

Photo of the Month

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

ARTS ARTS && CULTURE CULTURE

By A.P. Tolang

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53

N

aejangsan is a famous mountain in Jeollabuk-do and the best mountain in South Korea for viewing autumn’s crimson leaves. Naejangsan is not only a national park but is one of the most beautiful parts of South Korea. The autumn colors were really amazing. I had been trying to visit Naejangsan for the last few years, but I finally got an opportunity this fall. Words are simply not enough to explain the beauty of Naejangsan.

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December 2018

A.P. Tolang is from Nepal and has been living in Naju since 2014.

He is a traveler who loves spending his time in the mountains either by hiking, trekking, or pursuing travel photography. A.P. tries to expose and promote the beauty of life through his lens. Readers can follow A.P. Tolang on Instagram at @gorkhe1980.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

The Author

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OPINION

54 Opinion

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall Who Is the Fairest of Them All?

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

Written by Elizabeth Kaye A. Corpuz

M

irror, mirror, on the wall – who is the fairest of them all?

Sound familiar?

Who would not know this famous line? I bet everyone does. Though this line is from a fairytale, its significance applies to this day.

We may not utter these words every day, but somehow, we are unconsciously asking ourselves this same question and hoping that what we see in the mirror is our own best image.

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For someone who has low self-confidence, the mirror is the last thing I would want to look at. During adolescence, I felt awkward looking at the mirror because I thought that something was not quite right. Gracefully, I was able to outgrow that phase, but I struggled. One day, I took a jewelry box from the cabinet. I opened it and saw a mirror.

I was alone in the room, so I tried to stare at myself in the mirror. At first, I was uncomfortable. Then, I looked more intently at myself. I did that for over half an hour until I felt comfortable enough. I think that was my first step toward self-acceptance.

Every day, we look at the mirror to check if we are presentable enough, unless we intend to look shabby.

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55 There are also times I do not want to check myself in the mirror because I have no desire or I am not in the mood. A mirror, perhaps, is the unofficial logo of vanity. As a story from Greek mythology tells us, Narcissus became attracted to himself after looking at his own reflection in the water.

The idea of vanity plus my low self-confidence, I think, are the reasons I am not really fascinated by mirrors. But I discovered something.

For me, a mirror became an object to help show me my mistakes and flaws. I came to like looking at myself in the mirror during workouts because I sweat profusely and was like, Oh, that was so hard, but I pulled through it. It made me feel strong somehow. Now a mirror shows the little achievements I make – not in a narcissistic way but in a way that helps me appreciate my milestones. Appreciating those small steps helps me to build up my self-esteem.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall – who is the fairest of them all?

My first step in self-acceptance was to be more comfortable looking at what I was seeing in the mirror. Growing up, I had this love–hate relationship with myself until I became more relaxed and confident as I grew older. Being in the gym has further challenged and assured me with regard to loving myself.

I caught myself asking this to myself. It started when I decided to enroll in a gym session. It was to prepare and condition myself for my first fun run. I wanted to enjoy the event and did not like that my weak heart might be a hindrance. This first fun run would eventually lead to my first foray into the “gym world.” My naive notion of this “gym world” was a place where everyone is competing to show off who has the most well-defined muscles and who is the sexiest while sweating.

When I came for my first session, I noticed that the wall had mirrors end to end. I could not help but be very much self-conscious and uneasy. I was used to seeing myself in a small mirror – a good size that could fit my whole body – but to look at myself in an infinite reflection was daunting.

During the first session, I tried to focus on the exercise routines and tried my best not to look at the mirror; it was as if something was yelling to me, giving me no choice but to look at it. After a few minutes had gone by, I was lucky that I was too exhausted to care, so the mirror did not bother me further until the end of the first session.

For every session, I would give myself a pep talk:

Eventually, I won over myself and was not intimidated by mirrors anymore toward the latter part of my experience.

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The Author

As of the moment, Elizabeth is gaining the strength and endurance to climb a mountain.

She may be daydreaming, but she is still trying to live out her dreams one by one.

Jayeon Saenghwal Vegetarian Restaurant 자연생활채식뷔페

Seoseok-ro 85beongil 12, Dong-gu, Gwangju 062-228-0482, 0485

December 2018

Forget about that flabby fat trying to escape your gym clothes. Forget about sweating and not looking sexy. Forget about those who have toned muscles. Forget about those who are looking at you. Focus on whether you have done the squat properly. Focus on proper breathing. Focus on doing the deadlift. Focus on the thrill of exercising.

In total, I had 50 workout sessions and I saw the changes, both physically and mentally. Now, I can easily give my niece a piggyback ride, and it makes me happy. I can now say that I have an active lifestyle and am healthier than before. What was supposed to be a short session of body conditioning expanded into almost six months of sessions, and I learned to be more accepting of all my imperfections and flaws along the way. The journey is yet to end, but now I have more strength from within.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

As I continued with my gym sessions, my coach would always tell me that I should look at the mirror and not look down because it was giving me bad posture. Also, my coach said I should look at the mirror to see if I was executing the exercise properly. To be as effective an exercise as possible, proper execution is important. Then an aha moment came to me. I realized I should only focus on myself to see if I was doing my exercises properly. If I thought this way, maybe eventually my uneasiness would go away, and I could do the exercises properly and benefit from them.

I am not saying that you should feel too comfortable looking at your flaws and mistakes, but instead to try to correct them and learn from them. From here, something will blossom for you to become a better person. But be wary of the pitfalls of vanity or else you will be doomed like Narcissus. Furthermore, as we are taking good care of ourselves, let us also become more accepting and loving to others.

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56

Community Board

Have something you want to share with the community?

The 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 learn English independently through storybooks and story-maps. We guide families 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.

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

POEMS WANTED! Professor Marcy Tanter teaches American, English, and Korean literature at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. To mark the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising and to help spread knowledge of the event beyond Korea, she is editing an anthology of poems written by Koreans and translated into English; she is working with the GIC on this project. She has found about 20 poems online, but she is seeking more. If you know of any poems that should be included, please contact her. If you are a poet whose work has been translated or if you have poems you would like to have translated, please get in touch. Her email is tanter@tarleton.edu.

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

December 2018

VOLUNTEER TEACHERS NEEDED for the Gwangju UCC (Universal Cultural Center). English teachers in the Gwangju area for 2018 with any level of experience are welcome to 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 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., GIC, Room 3 (2F) We are a group of Filipino English teachers in Gwangju who conduct regular lectures and accent training 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.

SUNDAY YOGA WITH EMILY Every Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., GIC 1F Starts from December 16. Donation is encouraged.

Welcome all levels!

Facebook: Gwangju Yoga with Emily

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A CALL TO UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS: WE URGE YOU TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT CRIMINAL DAMAGE If you are the victim of a crime and report the damage to the police, you can obtain a waiver of inadmissibility to overcome your unlawful status from the Immigration Office.

Are You the Victim of a Crime?

1. Call 112 / Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency Foreign Affairs Section: 062-609-2176, 6092201 2. Visit a nearby police station (Public Service Center, etc.) in person: You can be accompanied by someone of your choice or can designate a third party to report the incident.

3. Visit our website: www.safe182.go.kr

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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

Tel: 062) 222-0011

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

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

Gwangju Guide www.gwangjuguide.com For Information on Living in Gwangju Korean

2018 12

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English

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Chinese

2018-11-29

3:35:23

Adios GIC 송년의 날

2018

You are cordially invited to the GIC’s Year-End Party!

2018.12.15. (Sat.)

3-5 PM 광주국제교류센터

Gwangju International Center

세계 크리스마스 문화체험 · GIC카페 · 벼룩시장 공연 및 활동보고 · 네트워킹 파티 · 부대행사 Experiencing Christmas Traditions Worldwide · GIC Cafe Flea Market · Performances · Networking Party, and more! 문의: 062-226-2733 2018 12

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2018-11-29

3:35:23