(EN) Gwangju News February 2014 #144 by Gwangju International Center

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www.gwangjunewsgic.com

February 2014

Issue No. 144

On The Cover:

Wang Xianmin Gwangjuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Chinese Consul-General

Hollaback! Korea Ending public harassment in Korea

Plastic Surgery All sides of the issue

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Solidifying Established Bonds:

New Consul-General Strengthens Chinese-Korean Relations Words by Joey Nunez Photos by Joe Wabe, Oh Won-seok and courtesy of Chinese Consulate in Gwangju Special Thanks to Park Jong-sin

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“A

mity between people holds the key to the sound relations between states. Friendship between people is the foundation of the relationship between the countries.” This Chinese saying expresses the intentions and vision of Wang Xianmin, the new Consul General for the Chinese Consulate-General in Gwangju. On January 5th, 2014, Gwangju News met Wang inside the Chinese Consulate-General to conduct his very first interview with any Korean news source. At the time, Wang was 14 days into his journey in Gwangju and thrilled for the new experiences he knew would come. “I pleasantly find that Gwangju is a very livable city with a beautiful environment, having a deeper cultural breadth and a unique diet culture.” The similarities Wang has found between China and Korea provide him with a certain sense of home. “There are similar manners and customs here. People respect the aged and love the young. Civility, diligence and thriftiness: they are the same as with the Chinese.” Wang is from China's Shandong province, deemed as the birthplace of Confucian philosophy and a province “facing” the Bohai Sea, across from Korea. Wang stated that Shandong's legacy as a famous port for foreign exchanges is still utilized by Korea. “Thousands of Korean businesses are investing in Shandong, which reflects and confirms the enormous potential for a Sino-Korea friendship and cooperation,” he further explained. Wang's previous background speaks for itself. “I have worked at the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong SAR of China, the Chinese mission to the United Nations in New York City and served as the Chinese Vice Consul General in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.” Among his favorite experiences were those while serving at the United Nations in New York City. Wang said that at a younger age, he enjoyed the interaction with individuals representing different countries, finding both the work and urban lifestyle quite attractive. His past posts and numerous official visits to other countries are all what he considers being “rich,” as he now will “enjoy this rare opportunity to enjoy different cultures and lifestyles” in Gwangju. Wang's main responsibility is supervising the Chinese Consulate-General's operations that serve both the Chinese and international communities. For the Chinese citizens, Wang will help the

Consulate still provide consular protection, travel documents and other relevant services for those living in this Korean district. The Chinese ConsulateGeneral also provides Visa services for Koreans and international members to visit China for business purposes, sight-seeing excursions and cultural exchanges. According to Wang, Sino-Korea relations were firmly established in 1992, as bilateral relations strengthened through their past and current cooperative partnership. Wang highlighted the health of the relationship. “Especially after President Park Geun-hye's highly successful state visit with Chinese leaders in July 2013, the leaders of our two countries have outlined a blueprint for bilateral relations from strategic heights and highlevel programs.” Wang supported his statements with released statistics. “In 2012, our bilateral trade volume amounted to 256.3 billion dollars, the total investment amounted to more than 55.9 billion dollars, personnel exchanges notched up 7.3 million 'person-times' and 830 regular civil-aviation flights have shuttled passengers between our two countries. Even in Gwangju, we have two to four flights to China every week.” According to Wang, those statistics affirm a friendly, cooperative and win-win relationship between China and Korea. Wang predicted the to-be-released numbers for 2013 will have a higher growth than what is on record for 2012. Wang already appreciates the solidarity and cooperation he has found among the Korean people. “Korea is a nation state with a strong sense of national and cultural identity. Unity is the national characteristic of Korea which supported this country in surviving the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and 1998,” he said. According to a CRS Report for Congress written by Dick K. Nanto published soon after the economic events, multiple Asian countries defending their currencies by raising interest rates led the value of the Korean won to drop so dramatically that investors quickly sold Korean stock, beginning on October 28, 1997. While Korea took out loans, elected Kim Dae-jung as President and took measures to have the stock market return to normality, Wang was working in Hong Kong, aware of the meltdown occurring in Korea, as well as in his own city. Still during this time, Wang recalled his interactions and observations of Koreans as being friendly while overcoming these financial challenges.

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3 through further communication is one of Wang's major objectives while working in Korea.

2 1. Wang meets Gwangju Mayor Kang Un-tae 2. Wang and Lee Sang-deok, the Director of Northeast Asian Affairs Bureau of the Republic of Korea 3. Wang at his appointment ceremony’s reception in Gwangju on January 21, 2014.

Korea's Gwangju and China's Guangzhou share more than the same pronunciation. Sister cities since 1996, Wang stated that the two cities have maintained effective communication with each other. “Both sides send municipal administrative delegations to visit each other at their convenience every year. Guangzhou is one of the economic centers for Southeastern China and Gwangju is the central city of Southwest Korea, so there is still a great potential for more cooperation in economic, cultural and education exchanges between these two cities.”

Wang has also pinpointed areas for improvement, starting with those who are not from China. A Visa service center has been established. Also, China and Korea intend to work together during March's Cultural City of East Asia 2014, held in Gwangju. Wang additionally expects that the 2015 Universiade (World University Games) in Gwangju will be an opportunity for Korean and Chinese athletes and fans to unite through competitive sports. After these events have passed, Wang will still aspire to enhance the relations between the Chinese and Koreans by hosting the introduction of each other's cultures, through existing organizations and various initiatives. Wang was first introduced to the Gwangju International Center (GIC) through Gwangju News. Wang values and looks forward to supporting the GIC. “We are very happy to see that the GIC has done highly effective work to promote understanding by communicating with people from different countries. We also can say that the GIC is a stage or a window for introducing China and Korea to each other.”

Wang has even suggested plans for having Gwangju and Guangzhou increase their cooperation on multiple levels and further develop their already-existing economic, trade and cultural exchanges. Wang knows these Asian sister cities will continue strengthening their bond with the full support of the cities' two central governments.

GIC and Gwangju News staff members attended Wang’s appointment ceremony reception on January 21. Wang also plans to help organize both exhibitions and host performances to further contribute to cultural exchanges between China and Korea. Wang wished the GIC continued success in its future endeavors, especially with the GIC’s move to its new location on January 16 and with all its planned activities in 2014.

Wang's emphasis in promoting the relations of the two sides follows this principle: “There is no best, only better.” In addition to Guangzhou, Wang listed China's cities of Luoyang and Changzhi as having established friendly relations with Gwangju. Supporting what has already been established

Wang has said his mission's purpose is to “carry out a set of methods to make a comfortable, convenient environment for the Chinese people living and studying in Gwangju.” With the interests of the Chinese first, Wang plans to help Chinese citizens see more of Korea through the best means possible.

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Wang is ready to start the new year and hopes to serve the Chinese community in Gwangju with spirit and happiness.

First and foremost, Wang expressed the hope of having Chinese citizens know that their consulate services exist to protect their legitimate interests. Second, Wang sees the need for more precautionary advertising to be made available for Chinese citizens, in order for there to be understanding and respect for the local Korean habits and customs. Third and finally, by acknowledging and following the first two means, Wang knows Chinese citizens will be enlightened “to make cooperation and be happy together with the local people.” While working and living in a Korean city, Wang also desires to uphold and apply another philosophy from his country. “Gentlemen seek harmony, but not uniformity, that is to say, seeking common points while reserving differences,” he paraphrased. Wang wishes his new friends from around the globe to learn and respect other nations' cultures while living in Gwangju. Mutual similarities have bridged what differences separate China from Korea, including this year's Chinese New Year for the Chinese, and Lunar New Year for Koreans. Wang mentioned that the Year

of the Horse ushers in power, speed, success, health and goodwill, as “the Horse that achieves immediate victory. We wish that the Year of the Horse brings good wishes, happiness, and health to the people of the Gwangju.” With a hearty laugh, Wang emphasized his giving spirit by expressing the hope that the New Year will also bring those from Gwangju, those from China and those from around the world, a lot of money. Wang joyfully desires all Korean and international residents living in Gwangju to experience harmony, peace and happiness in their lives. To Gwangju News readers, Wang expressed his greetings and appreciation to now having so many friends. Looking towards the future, Wang also hoped that all goes well with the preparations and the competitions at the 2015 Universiade. Without hesitance during this interview, Wang also stated his peace and contentment with his stay in Gwangju. “I am sure that I will adapt easily to living here and savor the inner magic of the city as soon as possible.”

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Hollaback! : Against Street Harassment Words by Kaley LaQuea Photos provided by Hollaback! Korea and Will Hopkinson Logo courtesy of Hollaback! New York

“I

t made me feel completely powerless.”

“But their staring made me feel vulnerable and exposed. And I hated every second of it.” “No one intervened, even though they could clearly see him doing these things, and the discomfort and shock he caused me was obvious. I was truly horrified.”

These are excerpts from some of the stories that have been shared in a new online community, Hollaback! Korea. Hollaback! began ten years ago when Thao Nguyen experienced sexual harassment in New York City on a subway; a man stared at her and began to masturbate. Nguyen snapped a photo and took it to the police, where she received no assistance. After posting the picture on Flickr, the image went viral and hit the front page of the New York Post, sparking dialogue about street harassment. Thus, Hollaback! was born. Since then, the community has grown internationally to include 71 cities in 25 countries. It aims to educate people and end street harassment through education, research and the implementation of its core values. “Building an intersectional space requires recruitment effort and trust-building among our members,” site founder Chelle B. Mille explained.

“Our community works hard to make sure everyone feels welcome to the project and to keep educating ourselves. Our message requires dialogue. We learn from each other about how gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, class and employment can relate to harassment. Self-education leads to more effective work to address harassment and helps us support one another.” A survey conducted in 2010 by the online job portal Career found that out of 828 Korean workers questioned, four out of 10 had experienced harassment during their daily commute. Of the 42.5 percent who were harassed, 79 percent were women. Since its site launched on December 3, Hollaback! Korea has garnered interest and support throughout the country, with founding members in Gwangju, Busan, Jeju, Seoul, Daejeon, and Seosan. The group is composed of male and female volunteers, both Korean and foreign. The Hollaback! Korea website provides a platform for individuals to share their experiences of harassment. The stories range from first-hand accounts of those who have experienced harassment to those who witnessed it and/or intervened. Users can anonymously submit their story to the site in both Korean and English, where others can read it and express their support via a

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green button labeled “I've got your back.” Once the story has been posted on the site, a country map places a pin on the location of the harassment incident. Pink pins mark stories of harassment, while green pins label instances of harassment where the individual received bystander intervention during harassment or intervened in harassment that was witnessed. “Hollaback! is a project that promotes public education about how we can all take action to address street harassment. I want to see more green dots on our map to indicate bystander intervention,” Mille said. Other chapters of Hollaback! have compiled data with these stories, mapping out street harassment in cities and countries in order to target problem areas and focus on how best to promote education and prevention. The data can also serve as a useful tool to implement legislative changes. For example, currently no law in Korea exists specifically stating street harassment is illegal. It is also illegal in Korea to publicly post photos online or through other channels of an individual's face as Nguyen did in New York. Despite higher reported instances of experienced harassment among women, the Hollaback! Korea team aims to put emphasis on the fact that it is not a gender-specific issue. One of the main Hollaback! Korea core values is understanding the negative impacts and repercussions everyone experiences due to street harassment and how it can take many different forms. “Men and women from all walks of life start internalizing catcalling, gestures and comments,” social media contributor Reshma Kamath

explained. “Often times this process of internalization makes them feel weak and powerless, like mere sexual objects, when they are so much more than that. Once, twice, thrice and so on, as it keeps happening, it chips off a part of the person's self-esteem and self-worth. Street harassment can also be a powerful trigger to many men and women who have gone through sexual violence and other forms of abuse.” Another cornerstone of the Hollaback! movement is creating a safe space for all individuals – one that is free from criticism. As defined by Hollaback!'s core values, harassment is “defined by the person who experiences it.” Hollaback! Korea aims to promote a community where individuals can seek support and the necessary tools to help educate others on this persistent issue. “For anyone who has never experienced street harassment,” Kamath said, “I'd just like to say one thing: please don't take that away from someone else's experience. Be open to listening with a nonjudgmental attitude and don't try to make the victim feel like it was their fault or that they could have done something to prevent it.” Hollaback! Korea plans to hold informational discussions, camps and movie screenings throughout 2014 in Gwangju as well as other cities. For more information about the organization and upcoming events visit korea.ihollaback.org or facebook.com/HollabackKorea. To learn more and get involved, please contact Hollaback! Korea at korea@hollaback.org. 더 알고 싶은 내용이 있거나 참여하고 싶은 분들은 할라백! 코리아(korea@hollaback.org)로 연락주시기 바랍니다.

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The Vagina Monologues – Gwangju Words by Jenn Tinoco and Kaley LaQuea Photos by Jenn Tinoco

hat does the word V-A-G-I-N-A mean to you? For those who are familiar with Eve Ensler's “The Vagina Monologues” (TVM), the word itself can mean bliss, destruction, love and hate all at the same time. Ensler is an American performer, writer and women's rights activist. Her internationallyacclaimed play has been translated into 48 different languages and performed in over 180 countries. Residents of Gwangju will have the extraordinary chance to watch the play for its third consecutive year next month. Performers from both the Korean and international community are excited to share the touching stories from the original script. The monologues depict real-life tales by the women who were willing to share about their private lives and parts 18 years ago for Ensler's research. Performing this play back in 1998 inspired Ensler to create a special annual event known as “V-Day,” with the “V” meaning: Victory, Valentine and Vagina. This year's director, Amanda Serrano, joined the previous Gwangju cast in 2013 via an overseas

Left and above: Practicing for the stage performance

video audition, since she had not yet moved to Korea. “It was definitely jumping in head first, but it was a great way to connect with my new community, make friends and keep busy! It gave me a sense of home and place before I even stepped foot in Korea,” she said. Being this year's leader of the play's performers, the most important thing for Serrano is communitybuilding and having the local and expat population come together out of shared interest and desire to affect positive changes. There is also an element of fun to it for Serrano and for all the ladies involved. February 14 is V-Day's One Billion Rising event. As a global activist movement, Serrano shared that the event will “unite us with several sister events taking place around the world. It allows all genders to reflect on how humanity may bring about a positive change within their own communities and, contributing to a global group in which everyone can live safely and free of violence.” One Billion Rising began in 2012 in conjunction with V-Day efforts and events, with individuals in more than 190

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Cast and crew of this year’s The Vagina Monologues

countries holding thousands of events to raise awareness. TVM brings awareness about sexual violence that is vital for Korea, where only one in nine rapes that occur are reported and more than 15 percent of married women experience domestic violence and abuse. Participants like Jo Eun-ju, a Gwangju resident, hope to shift societal attitudes about gender and the issues of violence surrounding many women throughout the world. Jo explained: “TVM is important [because] people really don't recognize how badly women are treated in our society. I think we should bring the awareness on women who are always at the weak sides in our system. I don't want to be protected. I just want to be respected as a member of society.” The play itself is an emotional rollercoaster, bringing audiences to laughter and tears in the same evening. Although the play's script remains consistent internationally from year to year, new spotlight pieces are occasionally added. This year's performance has something new to offer to

everyone, even those familiar with the play. The 2014 performances will include two new monologues for Gwangju audiences, including “One Billion Will Rise for Justice” which was highlighted by the One Billion Rising campaign. Gwangju residents are welcome to join the fundraising events taking place all month long, with proceeds going towards the venue and associated production fees. On Saturday, February 8, German Bar will host a “V-Word Open MicNight,” where performers will share music, poetry and more. A “Hash Run” will be announced via Facebook and will take place at the end of February. The run will include several pit stops for bar service from the ladies who are participating in the play. They will be creating their own alcoholic concoctions such as the ever-popular “Coochie Snorcher” and “The Angry Vagina!”. Proceeds from ticket sales after the March performances will be donated to women's organizations. Dates and locations for the upcoming 2014 Vagina Monologues productions will be announced in early February via social media and local news sources.

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Home Away from Home: An Indonesian’s Experience with GIC Homestay Program Words and photos by Senna Saraswati Senna is from Indonesia, an exchange student who has studied at Chonnam National University. Senna wanted to share her experience with Homestay, a program of the GIC. For more information, please contact Kim Mira at gichomestay@gic.or.kr.

he most interesting part of staying in or visiting a new place is meeting the locals. Since the time I first arrived, I really wanted to experience living with a Korean family. I always wondered how I would feel if I was involved in local society, ate homemade dishes, learned the language through conversation, and gained a deeper understanding of the culture. I thought I would never have that kind of experience, until one day I heard from my friend that the GIC offered a program called “Living with a Real Korean Family.” Shortly after applying, I received a response from the GIC and got the chance to join the program. My host family, the Lees, have five family members. I was so excited when I knew that my host family would be a big family because I came from a small family. Mr. Lee has two beautiful daughters and one super-talented son; the older sister, Seul-gi, is two years older than me, while the younger sister, Seul-ji, is the same age as me. The older brother does not live in Gwangju. He studies in Seoul and comes home only once a month, so I did not have a chance to meet him.

I met my host family for the very first time at the welcome party held at the GIC. My host family had previously hosted another foreign student. We had a really good time at the welcome party. Only Mr. Lee and Seul-ji came to the party because Mrs. Lee was still at work and Seul-gi was still at school. Mr. Lee still showed a picture of his family while introducing the rest of the family one by one to me. After that, I knew that it was going to be an exciting experience. One week after the welcome party, I stayed the night with the Lees. Mr. Lee and Seul-ji picked me up from the dormitory. When I arrived, Mrs. Lee and Seul-gi warmly welcomed me. After showing me the room where I would stay, Mrs. Lee, Seul-gi, Seulji and I prepared for dinner. They taught me how to make Korean pancakes. The experience was so much fun! When we had dinner, we shared many stories, especially food differences. I showed them pictures of Indonesian food that are similar to Korean dishes. While eating, I learned how to eat bulgogi properly. I learned how to use chopsticks properly, too (I had never done it correctly before). After dinner, we played the Korean traditional

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This page and previous page: Senna enjoys her visit to Jeonju Hanok Village with her host family

board game called Yut Nori (윷놀이). We were divided into two groups and I was in one group with Mrs. Lee. The game was really interesting and intense. We laughed a lot while playing it because I always forgot the rules. Before bedtime, Mrs. Lee, Seul-gi, Seul-ji and I hung out in the older brother's room. We had a really fun girls' talk.

favorite restaurant and had a delicious dinner there. They introduced me to another meal that I had never tried before: massissoseoyo. While we were eating, Mr. and Mrs. Lee asked me if I would like to go for another trip to Jeonju because they knew I was curious about Korean traditional houses. Without much thought, I quickly responded “Yes!”

The next morning, the Lees and I had a short trip to visit Unju Temple nearby their home. Even though the weather was not too friendly, we still enjoyed our trip. It was a truly beautiful temple. Mr. Lee explained the story behind that temple and the statues one by one in detail. Mrs. Lee taught me how to bow, too. After a while, we moved to the next temple, Daewon Temple, which is located not far from Unju. It was another beautiful temple with a different style of statue, Mr. Lee explained.

Two weeks after my temple trip, I went to Jeonju with the Lees. We had so much fun in Jeonju. We played Tuho (투호), a Korean traditional game, walked around and joined a tour there. We also tried to make handcrafts, Seul-gi and I got our face painted and we ate a lot of food that day.

After visiting temples, the Lees took me to a Korean traditional market. They took me so I could feel the atmosphere of Korea. I really liked how people interacted in the traditional market; it shows who they really are. After that, we went to Mr. Lee's

I had an amazing experience through this program. Despite the language barrier, they still treated me very well. I was so lucky because I had the coolest, warmest and nicest host family ever. Furthermore, they welcomed me as a part of their family. I will never forget the moments I spent with the Lees. Thank you, GIC for making my dream of staying with a Korean family a reality!

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community [This Month’s GIC Talk]

SPECIAL TALK: The Difference Between Korean and Foreign Universities Words by Jeremy Azurin Photos provided by Jeong Jisu

wouldn't have believed you if you had told me in March of 2012 that I would still be in South Korea a year later. What originally was supposed to be a one-semester exchange quickly turned into not one, but two more semesters, a total of 18 months here in Gwangju by the time I head back to the United States this August. Studying abroad, much less in South Korea, was never a part of the plan when I entered university, but I am now drawn to the close-knit community, ease of travel and, of course, the people that have made my study abroad program better each day. While my experience at Chonnam National University differs from my culture back home, I obsess over this city the way I do over my home in Washington, D.C., as I constantly brag about my adventures in Korea to my friends. CNU student Yang Areum shares her sentiments as a Korean exchange student at the University of Missouri-Columbia from the Fall 2012 to Spring 2013 semesters. “Just going abroad is a big experience. I was lucky enough to study in a different environment. There surely were hard times but I still think it was worth it,” she said. “Americans are talkative, have strong opinions and are more outspoken, whereas Koreans do not want to disagree. Also, students' cultural backgrounds are much more diverse in the U.S.A.” As an American abroad, one thing I really wish I could take back from my experience in South Korea is the comfort of delaying my graduation date by taking semesters off for study abroad, internships, travel or to simply learn something intensively, such as English. Yang mentioned that some Korean university students will even take more classes if they have completed their requirements, just to keep their status as students. I have found that once you begin college stateside, however, there is a certain pressure in

Clockwise from top left: Jeremy; Yang Areum; Members of MALSSAM (English Speaking Club in Chosun University); logo of BBC and LPG (both English Speaking Clubs at Chonnam National University

finishing as soon as possible because of the painfully high costs of tuition. I have learned so much more, both in and out of the classroom as an exchange student. If you'd like to learn more about student exchanges, feel free to join us for our Special GIC Talk and debate, featuring both Jeremy and Areum, as well as student leaders from English Clubs representing Chonnam and Chosun University on February 8!

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[ GIC Upcoming Talks ] Schedule for February Time & Place: Every Saturday, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., New GIC office (Samho Center 2nd Floor) For more information visit www.gic.or.kr or contact gic@gic.or.kr Watch highlight clips of previous GIC Talks at www.youtube.com/GICTALK Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/GICTALK GIC Talks welcome your proposals for presentations on topics, such as society, culture, politics, science, education or any topic of your interest. If you would like to be a presenter, please contact us at gictalk@gic.or.kr / +82-(0)62-226-2734.

February 1 No GIC Talk, due to the Seollal (New Year) holiday February 8 Speakers: Jeremy Azurin and Yang Areum Guests: BBC(Building Better Community), LPG(Language Peace Group), English Speaking Clubs in Chonnam National University, and MALSSAM (English Speaking Club in Chosun University)

Topic: The Difference Between Korean and Foreign Universities On February 8, GIC Talk will host a Special Talk, providing volunteers an opportunity to actively participate by giving lectures and discussing topics of interest.

February 15 Speaker: Shin Gyongggu M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Texas Professor Emeritus, Chonnam National University Director, Gwangju International Center

Topic: March 1 Independence Movement and its Impact to Modern Korean History Few are aware that the student movements of the 1960s around the world were greatly influenced by the success of the April 19 Student Revolution in Korea, which expelled civilian dictator Syngman Rhee. This student involvement was preceded by the Gwangju Student Independence Movement in 1929, which was itself preceded by the March 1st Independence Movement in 1918. Most Korean historians believe the Gwangju Democratization Movement inherited this protest tradition. This talk will discuss the student protester tradition's origins in the atrocities of Japanese colonialists.

February 22 Speaker: Angela Jeannette Director of Goethe-Institut Deutschkurse und Prufungen in Gwangju

Topic: The Goethe-Institut Serving as the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Goethe-Institut brings a multifaceted image of Germany to Gwangju. The organization provides access for those interested in learning the German language, culture and society and promotes international cultural cooperation. Opening doors between the arts, education, science and development, Angela trusts in the power of art and its ability to ask questions and unsettle. Our speaker will search for answers to the future questions of a globalised world. Related to these issues, the presentation will give insight into the work of Goethe-Institut's larger network in Korea (including Seoul, Daejeon and Daegu) and possible areas of cooperation and development in Gwangju.

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photography

Photo of the Month

Prettier than Pink By Jaypee Capiral

I am Jaypee Capiral from the Philippines. I came to Korea through the Employment Permit System (EPS). I consider myself a hobbyist photographer, and shooting portraits is my favorite type of photography. I started this hobby two years ago. One of the exciting parts of being a hobbyist portrait photographer has been meeting other people in order to take their pictures, along with making friends among them. One of my new friends is Jee-ann, a Filipina living here in Gwangju. I already took her pictures several times. But I asked her once again to try a different theme and go to the Pung-am Reservoir to take this picture. Gladly, I am able to produce this kind of picture.

Share your photography in Gwangju News! Interested in having the spot for Gwangju News' Photo Of The Month? Send your pictures of Korea and background information to gwangjunewsphotos@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing what you have captured on film!

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Bokeh

Words and photos by Simon Bond

Simon Bond is a professional photographer living in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do. He has traveled throughout Asia, and his work has been published in multiple publications. This article and others are available online by visiting Simon's website: www.simonbondphotography.com. Simple scene, sensational shot was written by Simon Bond and is available on Amazon, both as an e-book and as a paperback

n last month's photo column, I explained the way aperture could be used to control the way a photo looked. This month, I will show how utilizing bokeh in your images is easy to do. What is bokeh? Bokeh is a Japanese word, but it has become a widely-used term among photographers. Bokeh refers to the out-of-focus portion of the photo, and how this can be used in an artistic way to make a pleasing image. How do you create bokeh? Using a shallow depth of field and having a large distance between the picture's subject and the background creates bokeh. The easiest way to achieve the effect is by using a prime lens with a large aperture. The most affordable lens is the 50mm f1.8. Focus on the foreground and use the large aperture to blur out the background. The other way to achieve bokeh is by using a long telephoto lens and zooming in on the subject. To create bokeh in this way, the background should be at least 100m behind the subject. When should you use bokeh? Just because something is out of focus does not mean it will look good, of course, as knowing when and where to use bokeh is important. Even though the background is blurred, it should be neither too busy nor completely empty. One application of bokeh is to tell a story; for instance, kimbap may be in the focus in the foreground, and then a person making it could be out of focus in the background. Using bokeh is also great when shooting cherry blossoms in the spring, or colorful leaves during autumn, as you can focus on your subject and then use the natural color for the background. The final method I will mention is the most popular: using lights in the background to create â&#x20AC;&#x153;balls of lightâ&#x20AC;?. The light in the background most often used is from street or car lights, but the light can also sometimes be sunlight glittering on a river during a windy day. When using lights in the background, having a friend pose for the shot works well, and the bokeh lights in the background will make for a beautiful shot.

Left: The background of a photo can sometimes be used to tell a story.

Right: The use of a telephoto lens, when the background is far in the distance, can create bokeh.

Left: Cherry Blossom photos are an ideal choice for using bokeh.

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photography

Chunhye Home for Seniors Words and photos by Joe Wabe

ot everyone will have the luxury of spending their last days with their family at the end of their life journey. However, places like Chunhye Home for Seniors in Gwangju have been making sure that all senior citizens spend their last days in a cozy environment where they can feel safe and at home. The center was established in 1952 by Rev. Kang Soon-myung with the purpose of giving rest to older adults who were weary and homeless as a result of the Korean War. It is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, nursing homes in Gwangju. Since 1959 the center has been managed by the founder's son Mr. Kang Eun-soo and his wife Park Young-suk. The facilities have a limit of about 95 patients and have a staff of 60 people, including an in-house doctor, nurses, nutritionist and drivers. Volunteers are also abundant, and according to Mr. Kang this is one of the most visited places to volunteer in Gwangju. The goal of Chunhye Home for Seniors is not just to provide shelter and care for these people but to make sure they spend their last days enjoying happiness, fellowship, and most important of all: feeling loved.

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photography

If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact Mr. Kang at: Chunhye Home for Seniors 천계경로원 720 Nammun-ro Hak-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju www.chunhye.or.kr Tel: 062-222-4013 Directions: Buses no. 09, 12, 15, 25, 35, 45, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54, 150, 151, 152, get off at Hak-dong Jeungsim-sa Entrance Station

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culture

[KOREA: In the World]

India

Words and photo contributed by Kang Jung-mi In this segment, we examine how Koreans live in other countries, and how Korean culture is making a global impact. This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s writer, Kang Jung-mi is a Gwangju native who is married to an Indian and lives in New Delhi when not in Gwangju. If you know a Korean in another country, or if you yourself are that person, please e-mail gwangjunews@gic.or.kr.

eing a pianist, I tried my luck in the United Kingdom and other countries to find ways to play for my love of music, but also to do church and social services.

In 2004, my dreams came true: I got the opportunity to go and work in India. My parents, who are devout Christians, readily agreed with my wish to visit India, though some of my friends were apprehensive of me visiting such a country. Nevertheless, one fine morning in January 2004, I found myself landing at the Delhi International Airport, then searching for a house and a vehicle. Initially I had a big problem communicating with people, as I had only a little knowledge of English and none of Hindi. Koreans are known for systematic working practices and not shying away from hard work, so I took it upon myself to learn the local language immediately. The subcontinent of India has 12 official languages and many more dialects. In India, it is said that every 30 kilometers, the language changes. However, besides Hindi, English is also one of the national languages and is now widely spoken due to British rule for nearly two centuries. I admit that initially I had culture shock, seeing so much poverty, lack of discipline and the easy-going life. But I was confident that God would guide me, as just a few decades ago even Korea was like that. Gradually, I started venturing out and mixing with the locals. I found out that a great number of Koreans (more than 12,000) inhabited New Delhi, for work and to learn about Indian art and culture. I started to notice Korea in India. With the Indian economy improved, Koreans have made headway

in every field of life, ranging from construction, beauty parlors, heavy industries and even Korean cuisine restaurants. Indian markets are now flooded with Korean goods, like electronics from Samsung and LG and Hyundai cars. People are even seen donning Korean-brand clothes in great numbers. Korean giants like Samsung and LG also sponsor India's national sport, cricket. With the opening of the Korean Cultural Center in New Delhi, interest in Korean culture, especially in the Korean language, has increased significantly. Both the Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru Universities have Korean language classes (up to Ph.D. level) and the classes are packed. Korean academics in these universities have found the need to write textbooks in the Korean language to provide easy assimilation of a foreign language for native Koreans. Koreans are keen to learn the mother tongue, Hindi, and join enmasse to Hindi Sansthan, the official institute for teaching Hindi to foreigners. Korean restaurants, albeit with higher prices because of imported ingredients, are quite popular among Indian youth, who appreciate the health-conscious food habits of Koreans. However, some Koreans still do not use Indian dishes, except the tandoori (roasted) chicken and naan (bread made in a local oven from a drum, with firewood as kindle). I have, on the other hand, developed a taste for Indian dishes (daal, subji, roti and paratha), as I am married to an Indian. In India, the Korean community is well-linked, with many individuals meeting on Sundays at church or bumping into one another at one of the many luxurious malls in the capital. The most popular and the cheapest means of transportation is the metro (subway), a product of Korean engineering to India, along with Daewoo cars. The relationship of India and Korea dates back to

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culture Gwangju's Chonnam National University has drawn MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) with many Indian universities for student exchange programs, specifically in engineering programs. In return, Korean troupes frequently visit India to give presentations, as there is a tremendous boost towards tourism in both countries.

the 6th century, when Buddhism (Gautama Buddha was born in India) entered Korea. There have always been cordial relations between our two countries, and the Indian Armed Forces came to the aid of Korea in the Korean War (it is an important topic taught in military strategy classes at the Indian Army Academies). The huge market of India offers a great scope for Korea in the trade and commerce sectors.

Though I have made India my home, I still do not wish to lose contact with my own country, especially my home in Gwangju. I do miss the homemade food of my eomeoni (mother) and thus frequently visit my parents to satisfy my craving for kimchi. I have brought my husband along to undergo regular courses in Korean. He seems to be enjoying his studentship, along with being a good help to my parents. My husband has also been associated with Korean Mountaineers for the last two decades. I sincerely believe intermixing of cultures is a healthy thing, in which both parties mutually benefit. Good things can always be picked up from one another and bad ones dropped. I am happy that many Indians are coming to Korea, appreciating the job opportunities and good life there. I feel lucky to have two homes and have found them both inviting and satisfying.

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sports

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Words by Shay Meinecke Photos by Ralf Roletschek (Shim Suk-hee) and Bjarte Hetland (Mo Tae-bum)/ Wikimedia Commons Mascot courtesy of Sochi 2014 Olympics

he excitement is rising near Sochi as people from around the world are getting ready for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Athletes are preparing themselves for competition, while fans are eagerly waiting for February 7th â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the official start of the Games. South Korea is especially excited this year, as the country won 14 total medals in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Korea's men and women excelled in short track and speed skating, with a combined total of five gold, six silver and two bronze medals. Mo Tae-bum and Lee Sang-hwa won gold medals in speed skating in the men's and the women's 500 meters, respectively. Kim Yun-a won the gold in figure skating. All three athletes will aim to defend their gold in their respective competitions. In addition, South Korea will also be participating in Biathlon, Curling, Figure Skating, Luge, Short Track Speed Skating and Speed Skating.

For those of you keeping track, Korea will be sending one man and one woman to the Biathlon, and one five-woman team, which is ranked seventh in the world, will compete for the gold in Curling. Kim Hye-jin and Park So-youn will join Kim Yun-a in the quest for the gold in Figure Skating. The Luge team has filled their quota with participants in men's, women's and team competitions. In addition, Korea has qualified a full team of five women and five men for short track speed skating and the maximum of 10 women and 10 men in speed skating. All in all, there will be 65 South Korean athletes participating in the Games. Each and every athlete is preparing for the Winter Games and is ready to show off his or her skills for South Korea to the world. The Luge athletes, who do not have a specialized Luge track in Korea, have been competing internationally to earn their right to race. After record-setting performances in Norway and Germany in the Luge World Cup, the Korean athletes traveled to Utah in America for preparation. All of the travel and work has paid off. For the first time in Korean history, Luge athletes will join the race and will be able to compete in each and every Luge discipline. In addition, the men speed skaters are preparing themselves every day with workouts and practices that start at five in the morning and finish around eight at night. With high expectations for success and low expectations from their critics, the male speed skaters are putting everything they have into trying to win.

Mo Tae-bum, Korea representative athlete for short track speed skating

In women's short track speed skating, the 16-yearold sensation Shim Suk-hee has stunned her opposition during the past two seasons, and she should be competing for gold medals in the individual race and the 3,000 meter relay. She has

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sports environment." While she wants the competitors to have a fun time, she also wants them to work hard, give all and leave without regrets. In addition, Park advised the athletes with a saying used at the National Training Center in Seoul: “The sweat of athletes makes steel rust and then becomes a gold medal.”

Shim Suk-hee (right), also a Korean athlete who will compete this year at Sochi 2014 Olympic’s short track speed skating.

worked incredibly hard over the seasons and has her eye on the prize. While the athletes are doing all that they can to prepare, Korean celebrities and people of importance have also been helping by publically addressing their care and admiration for the winter competitors. In particular, South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who visited the athletes at the National Training Center to mark the 30-day countdown, has said: "The Government will provide support to allow our athletes to compete in a more comfortable and fun

The expectations are high. The fans want an even better finish than the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. Many of the athletes and fans have expressed the expectation of a Top 10 finish in the total medal count. South Korea's stated goal is to get at least four gold medals and to finish in the Top 10 to place seventh.

Sure, there are plenty of people in Korea wanting individual athletes to win. However, Korean citizens overall want the entire group of winter athletes to contribute to the total medal count. South Korea has been in the Top 10 for five of the past six Winter Olympics. With 98 total medals to be had, South Koreans are filled with excitement. The Games are almost here. The fans are eager. The athletes are ready. With its largest ever Winter Games delegation in the nation's history and a ninth place total medal count finish in 2010, South Korea is on the right road to success. South Korea is ready to win.

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culture

[Gwangju Talks]

Why Is Cosmetic Surgery So Popular in Korea? Contributed by An Se-in, Jeon Se-na, Kim I-seul and Park Seong-yeop (GIC’s Gwangju News Team) Each month, a selext panel of Gwangju residents gather to dscuss a topic of interest. What topics would you like to see discussed, and from what viewpoint? E-mail your requests to gwangjunews@gic.or.kr.

ccording to statistics from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, South Korea has more cosmetic surgeries per capita than any other country in the world. A group of Gwangju News volunteers met in January at the GIC to discuss why so many Koreans get plastic surgery. Kim I-seul (IS), Jeon Se-na (SN), An Se-in (SI), and Choi Jinsil (JS), who are all female students at Chonnam University, and one young man, Park Seong-yeob (SY), who plans to study in the U.S., participated on the panel.

Why do people want plastic surgery? IS: If I asked my friends why they got plastic surgery, maybe they would say they wanted to become pretty. That sounds like they do it for their own satisfaction, but I think it is also because men prefer pretty women. SN: I think having plastic surgery has become an extension of the desire for self-improvement. We try to make up for our shortcomings, and some people have a complex about their looks. One of my close friends had double-eyelid surgery. Because she thought her eyes were too small, she had such a complex. After her surgery, she gained confidence, so she wanted to get a nose job as well, and finally, she did it. She said that the prettier she became, the prettier she wanted to be. At first, she just wanted to feel better about her eyes, but not anymore. Now she just wants to become prettier and prettier. SI: Everyone would agree that a good-looking person makes a favorable impression. I think it is natural to want to look better, especially when we see pretty celebrities who used to not look that good before they had surgery. SN: You know “Let Me In?” It is a famous TV program that helps people with such big [troubling] complexes about their appearances by providing them with free plastic surgery. Some people are so worried about their appearances that they don't have any confidence at all. Some women even have trouble with their husbands over their appearances. After having a baby, one woman's body and appearance changed, and her husband was disappointed and seemed not to love her anymore. I don't think that is an unusual case. What I want to say is that becoming prettier is not the only reason for surgery. It can also help people get rid of an inferiority complex.

Is plastic surgery’s popularity a problem in Korea? SY: Why do some people think it is a problem to have cosmetic surgery? IS: A problem? I don't think so. It is not a problem. SI: I think the surgery itself is not a problem. But at least we have to think about whether it is really necessary to just follow a single standard of beauty and deny our natural appearances.

SI SN

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culture Why are some features considered more beautiful than others? JS: It seems there is some specific criterion for deciding what is “pretty” and “not pretty.” In my opinion, the mass media have influenced people's thinking. When I asked people why they thought people want to get plastic surgery, I found that their criterion for a pretty face came from entertainers, from what they saw through mass media. IS: Yes, I think that's true. We are brainwashed to think of entertainers as the standard of beauty. Kim Taehee, for instance. Women will have plastic surgery because they want to look like her. JS: No one says, “Please, lower the bridge of my nose,” or “I want a rounder face.” We have been conditioned to recognize a v-shaped face with big eyes and a high nose as beautiful.

Why do Koreans have surgery done more than other people? IS: I think “lookism” is rampant in our society. So if I become a little prettier, people's attitudes toward me become more positive, and that makes me cheerful. But why are we Koreans so conscious of being watched? Maybe Koreans are excessively conscious of the perceptions of others. SI: Yes, Koreans are extra self-conscious, compared to other countries' people. I think there are cultural and historical reasons. SN: In Korea, it is necessary to attach a photograph to a job application. And you know what they say, “Other things being equal, choose the better-looking one.” SI: Korea's economy has developed a lot in recent years, and people can afford to invest money in their health and beauty. Because Korean society is so competitive, people must care about the way they look, and through plastic surgery, people can be more confident and happy. If they can afford it, why wouldn't people take the chance to become beautiful? SY: I agree. Korea used to be a poor country, so people didn't have the time or money to have plastic surgery. They were just living hand-to-mouth. IS: At that time, there was a different kind of lookism. Plump men were preferred because they seemed rich. Only rich men could afford to eat enough to be chubby. SY: Yes, but nowadays Korea has overcome poverty. SN: These days many people think that body shape is also related to self-improvement. They think being slim is a kind of self-improvement, and someone who is plump is lazy. But that's not entirely true. Our DNA is just as important as our lifestyle for our body shape.

How does the rest of the world feel about plastic surgery?

SI: When I was in Hong Kong as an exchange student, a lot of the local students would say things like, “I heard that plastic surgery is very popular in Korea. Really? How about you?” “I haven't had surgery,” I would tell them, “But, yes, plastic surgery is popular in Korea.” It seems almost like a natural phenomenon, since celebrities do not hide the fact of their plastic surgery anymore, and a lot of people around us also get it. IS: When I went to Canada, I met people from Columbia. They asked, “Is it true almost all Koreans have plastic surgery?” I said, "That is the general phenomenon," They thought Koreans want to look like Westerners. But I don't agree. If we really hoped to look like Westerners, we would use blue lenses and dye our hair blonde. SI: But generally, when we think about the most popular plastic surgery in Korea, sometimes it seems like we want to look like Westerners. Instead of the small eyes common to Asians, people prefer to have big eyes with double eyelids. Also, people want to make their noses higher, get rid of their big cheekbones, lengthen their eyelashes and even make their skin whiter. Ever since Korea has modernized, a Westerner-like appearance has become the standard of beauty.

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health

Healing Human Minds: A Plastic Surgeon Speaks Words by Kristal Lee

espite double-eyelid surgery not being the centerpiece of last issue's health article “Seeing Straight”, it triggered a surprising amount of debate, so much so that Dr. Kwak Seung-ho of the Black Cheongdam Plastic Clinic chimed in.

I was hesitant to cover the topic of cosmetic surgery in Korea because the subject has been discussed ad nauseam. Given the opportunity, however, I thought that the perspective of a cosmetic surgeon would allow us to examine the issue in a new light. So for anyone who has already grabbed a soapbox, have a seat; you are tired, and we are not here to argue the ethical issues surrounding cosmetic surgery. There is no one, Korean or otherwise, who has not already been told that Korean women are selling out to Caucasian ethnocentrism or being brainwashed by the media. Ironically, these are common reasons cited by both critics and cosmetic surgeons alike, but to say that Asians want white aesthetics is only a partial truth and one that hardly can be applied to the full spectrum of cosmetic modification-seekers. The charge neglects the truth that people want to look “better” even when racial favoritism is removed as a factor. “What is the unique beauty of Korean ethnic features?” Dr. Ho asks. “A wide malar? Long, torn and narrow eye fissures without a fold? A short, lowprofiled nose with wide nasal alae? Small breasts?” These are all common “Korean” physical features his patients are dissatisfied with, some even to the point of distress. As a cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Ho sees first-hand the personal fulfilment his work brings patients. This is an important part of plastic surgery he says critics rarely try to understand. “Criticism is only for spectators.” Eye-related modifications are by far the most popular, but most other demands are “beyond reality.” Clients bring pictures of idols and actresses they want to resemble, but Dr. Ho disagrees with the exaggerated cosmetic effects celebrity clinics

use. The unrealistic surgical fantasies created by such clinics and those hyped by the media simply function to boost surgical demand. Not all surgeries are without physical benefit. In Korea, one of the most popular procedures for men is functional eyelid surgery to correct for blepharoptosis (droopy or abnormal sagging of the eyelid), which may distort vision or cause eyelashes to scratch the cornea. Male demand for non-functional procedures such as nasal augmentation, eye widening, and hair transplants have also increased. This has been in large part an unexpected response to the nation's economic situation. Following Korea's recent economic crisis, clinics have seen an upsurge of young men wanting to enhance their outward appearance in order to improve job prospects. Here is another curveball. One would expect older generations to have increasingly conservative views towards plastic surgery; however, Dr. Ho has never met an old man who did not want their wrinkles removed so as to have a younger face. “I watch many people who are cynical toward plastic surgery on media like TV talk shows. They repress a cold smile, but if that were their own problem, would they talk about people's decision to get cosmetic surgery with such scorn?” “Plastic surgery aims to heal human minds by reestablishing their self-esteem,” Dr. Ho summarizes. Whether you agree or disagree with surgery as a means of increasing self-esteem, Dr. Ho underscores something we should all be able to agree on: that for critics, surgeons, and proponents alike, it is important to understand patients' feelings. Motives may not always be apparent and people need not be antagonized for making personal decisions about their own appearances. Let us close with some much-needed levity and with some words of reflection by America's Royal Highness of Plastic Surgery, Miss Joan Rivers: “I've had so much plastic surgery, when I die they will donate my body to Tupperware. I wish I had a twin, so I could know what I'd look like without plastic surgery.”

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community

What's in a Word?

Words by Dr. Nial Moores Photos by Andreas Kim

ome words inspire, others leave us unmoved, their importance hidden. Take the word “love” for example. The mere mention of it provokes a thousand memories, some deeply personal, others collectively shared through songs, movies and great literature. Love: it helps to nurture and define us. But talk of “biodiversity” (the shorthand for “biological diversity”) and who has much sense of its meaning and true value? Wikipedia states coldly, “Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life.” This is an extremely dull definition, especially when describing the totality of everything that lives and has ever lived! Biodiversity is life as tiny and brief as a virus, and as huge and ancient as the Amazon Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. It includes all of the fish in the sea and all of the birds in the sky. It includes rice and wheat, fruits and vegetables. Biodiversity includes the species we eat and it includes us. It even includes the genes and cells we are made of. Biodiversity, even more than love, nurtures us all individually and as a species. And yet it is a word and concept that somehow remains stubbornly distant, in spite of our dependence on it every day for food and for a breathable atmosphere. Who even knew that this is the “United Nations Decade of Biodiversity”? And that the Republic of Korea will host the next intergovernmental Convention on Biological Diversity conference in October this year? Our collective lack of passion for biodiversity is deeply worrying. As individuals we love and we

mourn those both close and far from us. And yet as a species, we are unwittingly driving the loss of global biodiversity at ever faster rates – potentially threatening the long-term survival of every body and of almost every living thing. We are now living within one of the worst extinction periods in our planet's history. And we are the cause. In the past decade alone, here in the Republic of Korea we have witnessed the closing of the sea-gates at Saemangeum, leading to the deaths of millions of small animals, in turn pushing several bird species towards extinction. We have seen the damming and dredging of the nation's four main rivers – leading to the extinction, locally and nationally, of many fish and plant species. And we have seen countless small quiet corners bulldozed and concreted and buried. And the rate of change and biodiversity loss we see here is not unique to any one nation. It is a global phenomenon. Now is the time to conserve biodiversity. It is our web of life. As such, even small changes made in our own lives can help the whole, while actions taken collectively by organizations and communities can have an even greater positive impact. We in Birds Korea, like many others, will be doing what we can throughout 2014 and beyond to help celebrate and conserve biodiversity. Would you like to join us? For more on biodiversity conservation in Korea, please see: birdskorea.org.

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culture

Behind the Myth: Exploring Korean Tradition “Behind the Myth” explains the origins of Korean myths and traditions.

Are Gay Koreans Products of Western Culture? Words and photos provided by Adam Volle

ince gay culture has not been a public issue in Korea for very long, some people believe same-sex relationships are a cultural import of the West. This fallacy is seemingly supported by the fact that Seoul's “foreigner district” of Itaewon is the only place where Koreans are openly gay. However, if Koreans had no gay culture before the 1800s, then they are a very unique people in East Asia. All of Korea's neighboring countries have had gay cultures for a very long time. To the West, the upper classes of ancient China painted (detailed) pictures and wrote poetry about love between men, which they called “the passion of the cut sleeve.” Eastward, Japanese society looked benignly on “the beautiful way” until the Meiji Restoration (1868), especially when the lovers were monks, soldiers or other men who could not easily find women. And yes, Korea's northern neighbor, Russia, was once gayfriendly too: the historian Solovyov wrote in the 1600s that “nowhere in the East or West was [homosexuality] looked upon so lightly as in Russia.” But the truth is that Korean history does not lack early examples of homosexuality either. At least three Korean kings are known to have had male lovers: King Hyegong of Silla (who reigned 765-780), King Mokjong (r. 997-1009), and King Gongmin (r. 1351-1374). King Sejong (r. 1418-1450) supposedly learned in 1436 that his daughter-in-law Pong was sleeping with her maid. As in Japan, same-sex relations also occurred among Korea's religious and warrior classes. The famous soldiers of the Silla Dynasty known as the hwarang, or “Flower Boys,” are particular examples. Originally recruited by King Jinheung to wear dresses and serve in his court as hwanang (“flower girls”), the Flower Boys evolved into an order of fighting men known for their cosmetic-enhanced beauty. Historical records about the lower classes are more difficult to find, since peasants did not write recreationally. We do know that Korea's underclass of actors, the namsadang, often brought “beautiful boys” to openly inflame the passions of rural

Movies “Frozen Flower” (top) and “The King and the Clown” (above) portray same-sex lovers in ancient Korea.

noblemen, even during the conservative Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910). So why did Korea's gay culture become less visible as Korea modernized? Ironically, some scholars think it was Western influence. In Russia and Japan, same-sex love only became socially shameful after Christian missionaries arrived. The slow transmission of Christian and Muslim attitudes across Asian trade routes may also explain why the Chinese philosophies shared by the Korean people eventually became more negative toward samesex relations. Regardless, what supports the debate in Korea in favor of gay relationships is the knowledge that one way or another, the issue is about Korean values, not foreign ones. Korea has had dongseongaejadul, or “same-sex lovers”, much longer than it has had Itaewon.

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culture

Korean Sayings

“Korean Sayings” expresses the meaning behind traditional Korean phrases.

선무당이 사람 잡는다

A Novice Shaman Kills a Man Words by Won Hea-ran Photo courtesy of ilbe.com

udangs (Korean shamans) like to wear colorful clothes while performing gut, a spiritual ceremony. It helps shamans to attract the attention of the dead spirits and to make them happy. Mudangs then shake bells or a sword and dance in front of a fancy ancestral rites table. In a particular ritual called jak-du gut (작두굿), he or she stands and moves on the blades of a straw cutter without hurting himself or herself. Dating back to pre-historical times, Korean shamanism, also called Musok, has existed for more than 3,000 years. Mudangs have served as priests, magicians and, in some ways, even as psychological doctors. Mudangs perform services to gain good fortune for clients, cure illnesses by exorcising bad spirits and guide the spirits of the deceased to the next world. Musok thrived in the Silla, Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, together with Buddhism and Confucianism, but it was threatened by the expansion of Christianity in the 1960s. Between 1960 and 1990, Musok was severely criticized by Christians as a demonic ritual. However, the acknowledgement of Musok as a valuable cultural asset brought about its resurgence in 2007. Currently, eight percent of South Korea's population believe in Musok. In North Korea, the number is 16 percent. There are two large types of mudang: gangshinmu (강신무) and seseummu (세습무). Gangshinmu initiate their mudang careers through a ceremony called naerim gut (내림굿), where they become one with a god. (The god differs from ancestral spirits to Buddhist gods.) These mudangs usually experience

shinbyeong (신병), or “spirit sickness.” People with shinbyeong show symptoms, such as: loss of appetite, insomnia and visual and auditory hallucinations. Shinbyeong can only be cured by performing naerim gut (commonly known as accepting the god in one's body) and becoming a mudang. Unlike gangshinmu, seseummu is a hereditary position. This type of mudang does not become one with a god, but contacts a god through a medium. Both gangshinmu and seseummu start as sun-mudang, or as novice shamans, and learn from kun-mudang, an experienced shaman. The saying, “A novice shaman kills men” comes from these sun-mudang who have been said to cure ill people but ended up killing them. Mudangs perform a ceremony called gut (굿). The gut differs depending on its purpose. Dodang gut (도당굿) is a yearly ceremony performed to wish well being for the village. Ssitgim gut (씻김굿) cleanses the spirits of deceased people and washes away their impurities (Koreans traditionally believed that the dead cannot enter the next world until their spirits are purified). However, the most dangerous and notable gut is jak-du gut, which literally means “climbing on a straw cutter.” A mudang who accepts the sword god does not get cut from the blades. This particular shaman rubs his or her face and even licks the jak-du blade with his or her tongue. Then, he or she dances on the blades of jak-du, which symbolizes the warrior's sword, and this gut cheers the warrior's soul and prays for the country's peace.

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fashion

Fash-On with xxl jjdp

Winter Warmers Words by jjdp Photos by Alex Hong Shot on location at Gwangju Stream

he great part of living in Korea is that we are able to have two New Years â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Solar and Lunar, and the latter started this month, so first, Happy New Year. The start of February this year also marks the start of The Year of the Horse; fast, hardworking and noble. Are you ready? Therefore, taking all of these new beginnings into consideration, I decided to go with a relaxed and casual country theme this month to kick off a year, which is sure to heat up as we gallop toward the finish line. One of my favorite things to do in Gwangju is to walk along the Gwangju Cheon or stream which runs from Mudeung Mountain all the way through the city and past Sangmu. Sometimes, if I just want to clear my mind or hear flowing water, I know just where to go to get a refreshing perspective on things. For many who are new to Gwangju, just walk down Wedding Street away from the Culture Complex, and you should find it. But as it is chilly at the moment, wrap up warm and enjoy the somber straw palette that nature has prepared. I, for one, love embracing these color cues from nature, and the amazing classic tones and shades can also be applied to your wardrobe in a few easy steps. Just look outside and be inspired â&#x20AC;&#x201C; browns, greens, beiges and dark hunter greens are all ready to take their spot on your daily fashion adventure. That being said, a really hot look at the moment is the knee-length beige or caramel coat. Long and luxurious, it is a staple for many international designers this season, including Louis Vuitton and Gucci. So try it out and instantly double up on the bets in the fashion stakes. But before you get to the finishing touch, which is the coat, be aware that it is very cold out there and that the wind chills are going to be at their worst this month. So layer up and start from the inside out with some great heat tech underwear from Uniqlo. These are my winter staples and I never dare leave my home without them. I am from a warmer climate, so having my bones chilled is not exactly how I wish to start my day or year. Although it might seem old fashioned, I love the

February20142014.1.2711:41AMPage41

heat protection long johns and long v-neck vests provide. The heat-tech range is available in neutrals, such as black, white or grey, and the ladies section has a larger variety of patterns and cuts to best suit your outfit needs. Now that underwear has been taken care of, we can start by individualizing your look. For our first outfit for ladies, we start off with a pair of light oatmeal skinny jeans from 8 Seconds. To the jeans, add a deep mustard knit sweater and finish up with the must-have beige coat and scarf in an accent color, and finally add a pair of suede tassel half boots. Remember that choosing a skinnier leg is great if you are going for a more bulky top. Proportions are important as chunkier jeans and a heavy cable knitted jersey are not the best pairing. For the ladies' second look, keep the oatmeal skinny jeans and layer on top a chunky cable knit for warmth and comfort and which also has a luxurious feel. The multi-textured knit on the top wonderfully balances out with skinny jeans. To complete the look, finish with a chocolate brown scarf and a plaid poor boy hat. For the men's look, start with skinny jeans in a deep honeycomb brown and layer on top a rustic and faded denim shirt. Then, add a lambskin coat with a large chocolate brown and beige print. This thick plaid will instantly evoke memories of a visit to the

countryside or hanging out in front of a fire place keeping warm. Finish off with a pair of utility boots in dark chocolate brown and with a grey snapback hat. For the second look that will be a bit more preppy and inspired by Pharrel Williams, musician, fashion designer and producer, add a cable knit cardigan with vertical stripes in blue to the jeans and shirt combo. Top off with pair of caramel lambskin leather gloves and dark blue silver metallic aviators to ward off the super sharp light: super easy and super fast style. Finally don't forget your sunscreen, lip balm and hand cream to stay supple and moisturized. Happy New Year peace, xxl jjdp [CLOTHING] Belinda Shoes - encore52, Jeans - 8 Seconds, Beige Coat - Vin Prime , Hat - H&M, Cable Sweater - Tokyo Juice , Beanie and Scarf - The Gam Jarrod Jacket - Vinprime , Cardigan - Tokyo Juice , Shoes Caterpillar , Gloves - H&M , Sunglasses - H&M, Jeans H&M

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poetry

Late Winter Poems Translated by Song Chae-Pyong and Anne Rashid

This series is the final contribution of Song Chae-Pyong and Anne M. Rashid. Anne thanks everyone for reading and supporting the pair’s translated work.

Photos by Simon Bond Translator Biographies Song Chae-Pyong was an associate professor of English at Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan, where he taught from 2001 to 2012. He published articles on modern fiction, as well as translations of Korean poetry and fiction. His translations of Korean literature have appeared in Gwangju News, The Korea Times, New Writing from Korea, Illuminations, Metamorphoses: Journal of Literary Translation and Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature and Culture. Along with Anne Rashid, he won the Grand Prize in the Poetry Category of the 40th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards for translating Kim Hyesoon's poems. His fields of interest included twentieth-century English literature, postcolonial literature, translation studies and globalization of culture. He sadly passed away in February of 2013. Gwangju News is proud to publish Chae-Pyong’s translated work posthumously. Anne M. Rashid is an assistant professor of English at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She and Chae-Pyong Song received the 40th Korean Literature Translation Award in Poetry Translation given by The Korea Times. Rashid and Song have published translations in New Writing from Korea, list, Gwangju News, Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature, Women's Studies Quarterly and Illuminations.

Snow by Kim Soo-young

눈/김수영

Snow is alive. The fallen snow is alive. The fallen snow on the yard is alive.

눈은 살아 있다 떨어진 눈은 살아 있다 마당 위에 떨어진 눈은 살아 있다

Let us cough hard. Young poet, let us cough. Let us cough with our faces turned toward the snow. Let us cough hard so the snow will notice us.

기침을 하자 젊은 시인이여 기침을 하자 눈 위에 대고 기침을 하자 눈더러 보라고 마음놓고 마음놓고 기침을 하자

Snow is alive. For the body and soul that have forgotten death, snow is alive beyond the dawn.

눈은 살아 있다 죽음을 잊어버린 영혼과 육체를 위하여 눈은 새벽이 지나도록 살아 있다

Let us cough. Young poet, let us cough. Facing the snow, let us cough hard, spitting out the phlegm which collected in our hearts during the night.

기침을 하자 젊은 시인이여 기침을 하자 눈을 바라보며 밤새도록 고인 가슴의 가래라도 마음껏 뱉자 출전:“문학예술”(1957)

Kim Soo-young was born in Seoul in 1921. He graduated from Seonlin High School and entered Dokyo College of Commerce. After that he moved to Man-ju to avoid conscription. He returned to Korea after Independence Day and started writing poetry. He began his literary career in 1947 with his poem “Myojeong's Song” and attracted public attention with his new collection of poems “Chorus of New City and Citizens” written in collaboration with Kim Kyung-Lin and Park In Hwan. After that he worked as a translator and concentrated on creating poems and translating. In 1959, he was awarded the Poem Association's Prize for his poem “Tricks of Lunar World”. He carried out his duty as a poet before he died in a car accident.

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poetry

Cottony Snowflakes by Choi Don-sun

함박눈 -최돈선

It would be wonderful to have cottony snowflakes all the time. Puppy-like, I would like to be a child again. It would be wonderful to leave without any purpose, passing through the long winter trees. It would be wonderful to become white footsteps, alone, like that.

아무 때나 함박눈이 왔음 좋겠다. 그래서 강아지처럼 철부지가 되었음 좋겠다. 아무 뜻 없이 긴 겨울나무 사이로 떠났으면 좋겠다. 그렇게 홀로 하얀 발자국이었으면 좋겠다.

It would be wonderful to have a loved one-the one everybody loves– standing at the far end of the winter, to greet me. It would be wonderful to laugh hearty laughs, patting one another's lean backs. It would be wonderful to laugh hearty laughs like these cottony snowflakes. Wonderful– it would be wonderful. I once felt so painful, I once felt so sorrowful, I once felt so poor. It would be wonderful to have the cottony snowflakes, pouring down endlessly, erasing all of this into white. So foolish,

사랑하는 사람 모두 사랑하는 사람 저 먼 겨울 끝에 서서 나를 반겨주었으면 좋겠다. 서로 서로 야윈 등 두드리며 함빡 웃어봤음 좋겠다. 펑펑 함박눈처럼 웃어봤음 좋겠다. 그래 그랬으면 좋겠다. 너무 아파 너무 슬퍼 너무 가난해 이 모든 것 함박눈 펑펑 내려 하얗게 하얗게 지워졌음 좋겠다. 천치같이 그런, 하얀 눈사람이었으면 좋겠다.

but how wonderful it would be to become a white snowman.

Choi Don-sun was born in Hongcheon-gun in Gangwon-do. He graduated from Inchang High School. In 1970, he was awarded the 5th New Writer's Prize at the monthly literature awards for his poem “Time”. The following year he won the Dong-a Newspaper's annual spring literary contest for his poem “The Day of Cheol-Yi and Nam-Yi”. “River of White Scales”, “Lost”, “Dreams”, “Shadow”, “Autumn Dreams” and “Time” are his representative poems.

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poetry Sleet by Ki Hyung-do (1960-1989) Sleet flutters around. Frozen hands are tucked inside overcoat pockets. This snow may tramp over streets that I don't know and wander around offices and buildings I have never seen. A rectangular, document envelope falls on the snow-covered road. As I stoop down, I think back to when I graduated from college and made many resolutions. The sleet falls. Don't be afraid, you capricious feet. I have read about such a route home in a novel. Underneath these shoe soles, my recollected memories have often been trampled. In a dark alley an empty truck stops, with its light on. Drunken young men fall over. It occurs to me: in my youth, when the sleet fell, I rode the bus all day long. Gathering around the old white wall, people shake off the sleet. The sleet pours down. Suddenly, tears run. It isn't because I am unfortunate. I have finished all the experiences one would experience in life. Sleet.

진눈깨비/기형도 때마침 진눈깨비 흩날린다 코트 주머니 속에는 딱딱한 손이 들어 있다 저 눈발은 내가 모르는 거리를 저벅거리며 여태껏 내가 한번도 본 적이 없는 사내들과 건물들 사이를 헤맬 것이다 눈길 위로 사각의 서류 봉투가 떨어진다, 허리를 나는 굽히다말고 생각한다, 대학을 졸업하면서 참 많은 각오를 했었다 내린다 진눈깨비, 놀랄 것 없다, 변덕이 심한 다리여 이런 귀가길은 어떤 소설에선가 읽은 적이 있다 구두 밑창으로 여러 번 불러낸 추억들이 밟히고 어두운 골목길엔 불켜진 빈 트럭이 정거해 있다 취한 사내들이 쓰러진다, 생각난다 진눈깨비 뿌리던 날 하루종일 버스를 탔던 어린 시절이 있었다 낡고 흰 담벼락 근처에 모여 사람들이 눈을 턴다 진눈깨비 쏟아진다, 갑자기 눈물이 흐른다, 나는 불행하다 이런 것이 아니었다, 나는 일생 몫의 경험을 다했다, 진눈깨비 출처: 시집 ”입속의 검은 잎”(문학과지성사, 1994년)

Ki Hyung-do was born in Incheon in 1960 and died in 1989. He started his literary career through an annual spring literary contest held by Dong-a Newspaper. He was a reporter of Joogang Ilbo. He won the Yoon Dong-Ju literary award. “Black Leaf in My Mouth” is one of his poetical works.

Correction In the previous issue of Gwangju News, the photo of Shin Gyeong-lim should have been the picture shown here. Our sincere apologies for the error.

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poetry

Postcard Poetry Words by Kim Ji-eun Photo by Simon Bond

(1,3,2014)

(6,25,2013)

In life,

There will be times in life, When it seems No one is there: No one and Nothing confirms your Existence

We are not seeking a new road Nor a different one We are not seeking Yet it is laid before us: This narrow road Never thought of Even in the deepest and wildest Imagination There is nothing Good to our eyes Pleasing to our hearts Thus many turn away But those who walk the narrow road See the Real: The invisible treasure Beyond the visible.

If you have moments like this, You are blessed: You are given the chance to think: Who am I? Regardless of Race, Culture, Talent, Position, Possession, And all the external things that describe you I hope that quest will continue on â&#x20AC;Ś

Ji Eun is a tall Korean girl who studied Theater and Literature at Seattle University. She is now back in her hometown of Gwangju: teaching, translating and writing. A good friend encouraged her to submit some of the poems that she writes at times of epiphany. She is very happy to do so!

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language teaching

Upgrading Your Teaching Skills Words by Lindsay Herron Photos courtesy of KOTESOL

hether you are a new teacher or just following up on a New Year's resolution, there is no better time than now to improve your teaching! An impressive variety of professional development options are available, with a wide range of time and financial commitment levels. Below are just a few possibilities, organized from least to most time-intensive; it should be easy to find one that meets your needs. 1. Create an online Personal Learning Network (PLN) PLNs are certainly not new; they are an informal collection of people learning from each other. PLNs have radically changed with the introduction of the Internet, however. Today, you do not even need to meet your PLN in person. There are hundreds of websites, blogs, curated sites and social networking options available to the savvy educator. Just go on Twitter, Pinterest, ScoopIt or a similar site; search for terms that interest you (e.g., TEFL, edtech, etc.); and skim the results to see whom you would like to follow and who might have blogs you would like to peruse. These results will lead to more results, and soon you will be immersed in an amazing network of online educational resources. Then you can start sharing your own experiences and expertise by retweeting, blogging and curating sites yourself! Tips for newcomers: It is easy to get overwhelmed and find yourself losing entire days to the online rabbit hole. You might want to consider limiting yourself to just an hour a day; and when you find yourself with 20 links open at a time, you might want to start compiling them into a single site, such as Pinterest or ScoopIt, so you do not feel you have to read all of them at once. Feedly or a similar news aggregator/reader site can help you keep up with your favorite blogs, while sites like Readability can compile online articles into a single e-book that you can later read on your favorite e-reader. 2. Attend a KOTESOL meeting Korea TESOL, commonly called KOTESOL, is a national professional organization for teachers of English to speakers of other languages. This organization holds annual national and international conferences, and its 11 regional chapters host local workshops and/or regional conferences. The local workshops are free for everyone.

The opening ceremony at a recent KOTESOL Conference.

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter meets once a month, usually on the second Saturday, at Chosun University. Meetings start at 2 p.m., and they typically include two presentations and a â&#x20AC;&#x153;swapshop,â&#x20AC;? as well as prize drawings. More information can be found at: http:// koreatesol.org/gwangju or at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/Gwangju KOTESOL. Tips for newcomers: If you come to a Gwangju Chapter meeting, be sure to introduce yourself to people! Informal networking and socializing occurs during the breaks, and meetings are generally followed by a casual dinner in downtown Gwangju, to which all are invited. Meetings are free; but after sampling a few, you might wish to become a member. Membership dues support your local chapter and entitle you to discounts at KOTESOL events; a subscription to The English Connection, a quarterly publication; and access to a variety of members-only professional development opportunities. For more details, visit http://koreatesol.org. 3. Observe a colleague Watching a friend or colleague at work in the classroom can be beneficial for teachers at all levels of experience! What did you like? What did you dislike? Classroom observation is a great way to pick up tips and tricks of the trade, and it can inspire spinoff ideas and adaptations for your own classroom.

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language teaching

ELT materials displays at a recent KOTESOL Conference.

Group activity as part of a recent Chapter workshop presentation.

Tips for newcomers: If you are visiting a friend's school, make sure your friend has obtained permission for you to be there. You might also consider taking a small gift for the principal, vice principal and/or co-teachers; even a box of bottled juice or Vita-C would be a thoughtful gesture.

Tips for newcomers: What do you want to do with your certificate/diploma/degree? A program such as CELTA is great for practical teaching skills; if you are serious about language education as a career path, you might want to try some graduate courses online and then decide whether you want to invest the time and money in a master's degree. Investigate the reputation of your program before you enroll!

4. Go to a conference KOTESOL has a regional conference in Gwangju on March 15, a national conference in Daegu on May 31 and an international conference in Seoul in October. In addition, there are a variety of other language-education organizations in Korea that have upcoming events; a handy reference list can be found on the KOTESOL website: http://koreatesol.org/content/Domestic-ELT-Events. 5. Take a class In this day of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and distance learning, it is easier than ever to continue your education in your free time. One online option worth considering is TESOL's Electronic Village Online (EVO), which offers free five-week courses each winter. For more information, visit: http://evosessions.pbworks.com/w/page/10708567 /FrontPage. 6. Get a certificate, diploma or master's degree If you have the time and money, a TEFL certificate program, especially one with a practicum component and a minimum of 100 hours, can be a very rewarding experience. If you are looking for a course that can fit into your summer or winter vacation, the intensive certificate courses run by Cambridge (CELTA) or Trinity (TESOL) are highly regarded and can transform your teaching. The longer diploma courses (e.g., DELTA, DipTESOL) are worth investigating, as are master's level courses offered through distance learning or at Korean universities.

Gwangju-Jeonnam Monthly Chapter Meeting Date & Time: February 15 (Saturday), 1:30 p.m. Place: Chosun University, Main Building, Left Wing, Rm 4211 Two Featured Workshops: o Stand Up and Read: Adding Movement and Excitement to Reading Activities. By Henry Gerlits (JETI). o Games and Activities for Young Learners. By Jacob Boers (Gwangju EPIK). Swap-Shop: Share your teaching ideas and activities with the group. Admission: No Charge Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Website : http://koreatesol.org/gwangju Email : gwangju@koreatesol.org Twitter : @GwangjuKOTESOL Lindsay Herron is Treasurer of the GwangjuJeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL). On behalf of the Chapter, she invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops at their monthly meetings and special events. Lindsay is a visiting professor at Gwangju National University of Education, where she has taught for the past six years. She is also presently the National Membership Committee Chair of KOTESOL and a chair on the International Conference Committee.

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language study

Making a Phone Call Words by Karina Prananto and Hong Song-i Photo courtesy of stockimages/freedigitalphotos.net [When Someone is In] 집에 있을때 Michelle

여보세요. (Yeoboseyo.) Hello?

Minji

안녕하세요? 마이클 씨 댁인가요? (annyeonghaseyo? Maikeulssi daek ingayo?) Hello? Is this Michael's house?

Other Possible Answers 전화 잘못 거셨어요. (Jeonhwa jal mot geosyeosseoyo.) Wrong number.. 통화중이에요. (tonghwajung iyeyo.) Currently on the phone.

Michelle

네, 그런데요, 실례지만 누구세요?. (Ne, geureondeyo. Silryejiman nuguseyo?) Yes, that is right. Who is calling, please?

Minji

민지예요, 마이클 씨의 한국어 선생님이에요. 마이클 씨 계세요? (Minjiyeyo, Maikeul ssi hangukeo seonsaengnim iyeyo. Maikeul ssi gyeseyo?) This is Minji, his Korean teacher. Is he home?

Michelle

네, 잠시만 기다려 주세요. (Ne, jamsiman gidareyo juseyo.) Please wait for a minute. I will call him.

Michael

전화 바꿨습니다. / 마이클입니다. (Jeonhwa bakkwosseumnida.) Michael here.

[When Someone Was Out] 집에 없을때

Useful Vocabulary

Minji

여보세요? 마이클 씨 댁인가요? (Yeoboseyo? Maikeul ssi daekingayo?) Hello? Is this Michael's house?

Michelle

네, 그런데요, 실례지만 누구세요?. (Ne, geureondeyo. Silryejiman nuguseyo.) Yes, that is right. Who is calling, please?

Minji

Michelle

아, 잠깐 밖에 나갔어요. 메모를 남겨 드릴까요? (A, jamkkan bakke nagasseoyo. Memoreul namgyeo deurilkkayo?) He's out for a while. Would you like to leave a message?

Minji

아, 네, 김민지에게서 전화 왔다고 전해 주세요. (A, ne, Kim Minji-egeseo jeonhwa wattago jeonhae juseyo.) Ah, yes please. Please tell him that Kim Minji called.

댁 바꾸다 밖에 나가다 메모 전하다 남기다

(daek): House (honorific) (bakkuda): To change (bakke nagada): To go out (memo): Memo/note/ message (jeonhada): To convey (a message) (namgida): To leave (a message)

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travel

My Korea My Korea is a column representing anyone who is eager to share his/her stories and experiences within Korea.

Jeonju: A Spot on My Map Words and photos provided by Sarah Tollackson

eciding I needed an escape from Gwangju, I headed to Jeonju, what I thought was a smaller, less diverse counterpart to Gwangju. My first impression was mistaken, as Jeonju proved upon closer inspection to be an unanticipated treasure. What the city lacks in nightlife and foreign food joints it makes up for in its culturally abundant and welcoming atmosphere. The numerous parks and hills interspersed throughout the city lend to a greener, less congested urban feel, while Moak Mountain – the highest mountain peak in the area – is only a 15minute bus ride away if you're craving fresh air. Besides a hike up Jeonju's tallest mountain, a stop by the traditional Hanok Village is a must for any first-time visitor. Home to over 800 traditional hanok style buildings, the year-round tourist hub for Koreans supplies a sample of Korea's history. In the Hanok Village, visitors can experience aspects of early Korean village life by staying in a hanok-style guesthouse, taking part in a tea ceremony or eating at any of the numerous authentic Korean restaurants. The sheer number of restaurants that offer bibimbap (Jeonju's famous dish) is slightly overwhelming, but choose any one and you are sure to leave satisfied.

Take a step directly across the road from Gyeonggi Palace in the Hanok Village and you will run into Zisu:M, a recently-opened photography studio which specializes in printing photographs on Hanji paper, “the paper of Korea”, which is handmade out of mulberry trees. Zisu:M not only offers visitors a chance to purchase stunning photographs by Mr. Hwang, a renowned Korean photographer, but also for visitors to print and buy photographs of their own on the handcrafted paper. Jeonju does not only offer a glimpse into Korea's vast history. The city threads together an eclectic mixture of progressive art with timehonored customs. There are so many facets of Jeonju that a casual passerby may miss. The city is filled with sights outwardly present in other portions of Korea; however, once you submerge yourself into this city's culture, you will come to find that Jeonju offers exceedingly more than initial glances suggest. Drawing me in with its subtle way of mixing the old with the new – the cultural heritage with the present – Jeonju will continue to be a spot on my map worth visiting.

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food

PANS Words by Jenn Tinoco Photos by Mason Robinson

orget about your local diner or super expensive club experience, you need to go to PANS, a two-story, open kitchen fusion restaurant in the heart of downtown. Led by Lee Kyoung-mi and Kim Yong-soo, both Jeonju natives, PANS offers Korean style cuisine with a Western flare. Fish & Grill, in downtown Gwangju, was their first purchase. Kim and Lee later bought and re-invented new restaurants on the same strip. Owners who are both big fans of food, authentic flavors and music, PANS was born. Along the back streets near the old Grand Hotel lies a thriving Korean nightlife. About seven months old, this place cannot be missed from the outside, considering it is two stories high with large windows and a substantial crowd of the young and hip occupying every free table. A DJ on the first floor plays music from the evening hours until Midnight and also speaks English, so ask away for him to play a favorite song. Directions Walking away from the river and straight into the downtown shopping area, pass the wedding shops and into the heart of the nightlife. Club PANFIC will be on the right side, then turn right on that first alleyway with the Mini Stop on the corner. Go straight, passing Tequilaz, but do not go too far. Before the four-way intersection on the left side, there will be large windows with the white lit sign of “PANS.” Food The dishes are quite exquisite. Mostly Korean-based cuisine is served with style and flavor that some expats may desire, drawing from Western influences. The infamous pork belly, samgyupsal, is served on a bed of thinly sliced potatoes in a white sauce, topped with jalapeños with sprinkled cheese. The steak salad is not shy on quantity, coming grilled and tossed on a bed of romaine lettuce with light vinegar dressing. Some plates are served on pans straight from the kitchen, including the spicy chicken with chives, onions and small bits of rice cake mixed in the sauce. Be careful, you might want to order ice cream or milk for the super spicy plates. Atmosphere PANS is one of the spots that caters to those who

enjoy good food and live music. The live DJ is happy to play the popular Korean birthday anthem for its patrons. The DJ keeps it cool with American throwbacks, classics and some house. A nice wooden bench is located at the front entrance, for those who may have to wait for a seat. Do not panic though, the open kitchen is viewable and a drink may be ordered as your nose guides your eyes to the aromatic pans of food flying by on servers' hands. Service The entire staff is attentive, proper and friendly, with some speaking English. They are always willing to accommodate, adding extra chairs and fast at attending to all needs. Patrons can lose track of how many times they get service appetizers, steak salads and honey fries. It is too good to be true for a downtown establishment. Store hours vary every day, but the usual Friday, Saturday and Sunday hours are 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. Prices These plates can easily be shared, thus the prices can be a bit higher than your usual restaurant, but of course, worth it! The pork belly, described above, is 18,000 won, with chicken dishes ranging from 16,000 - 20,000 won each. Sides like fried rice, soups and fries are no more than 10,000 won. Pajeon (Korean pancakes) and other salads are also available to order. Soju Tonic, the current drink hit, as well as other liquors, imported bottle beers and Korean draft are in stock from assorted prices of 4,000 won and up. PANS 판스 Address: 광주 동구 광산동 88-5 (88-5 Gwangsan-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju) Hours: Daily 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. Buses: 09, 12, 36, 45, 51, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 80, 95, 98, 151, 419, 518, 1187 get off at Culture Complex (문화전당역 (남)) Bus Stop Phone Number: 062-233-9284

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food

Eating Army-Style Words and photos by Jeon Se-na

lmost all Korean men have military service duty, but in the army there are not enough cooking materials and soldiers are not even allowed to cook using a fire. So soldiers have discovered a couple of tricks for cooking – a convenient cooking method, if you will. After finishing military service, sometimes they miss this way of cooking and use it again while recalling memories of their military service. Let me introduce two examples.

Plastic bag noodles

Dry Bread (Gun-flake)

The first dish is plastic bag noodles. Ramyeon is a favorite among Koreans, and a necessity for all walks of life. With this recipe, you can make ramyeon in a short time very easily without boiling water or using a fire.

Gun-flake involves mixing milk and geonbbang (건 빵), or hard biscuits. The compound word “gunflake” is formed from geonbbang and corn flakes. Military servicemen have found a simple way to eat this delicious dish. “Real Man” (진짜 사나이, a show which exhibits the typical Korean military serviceman's life) first introduced this dish as a very simple and good breakfast choice.

Cooking Steps Things to prepare (serves 1 person) instant noodles (ramyeon) 550ml hot water

1. Divide the noodles into three or four parts.

2. Put the flake soup and powder seasoning (후레이 크 스프, 분말스프)) into a mixture in and shake. 3. Pour in 550ml of hot water and wait for about four minutes and 30 seconds.

4. Complete!

Cooking Steps Things to prepare (serves 1 person) A bag of geonbbang (건빵) star shape sugar (별사탕) or a teaspoon of sugar 500ml milk

1. Crack the geonbbang into pieces.

2. Mix the milk and put in a teaspoon of sugar.

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crossword

CROSSWORD By Mike Schroeder

[Down]

[Across] 1. Caresses a foot 3. Coffee's home 6. Car goo 9. Exciting experience 11. Big shot in office 12. Opposite of down 13. Disgusting 15. Love in french 17. Joke 18. Bizzare 20. Rich 22. Add this to scotch 24. Gwangju baseball team 25. Phobia 26. Tiny 28. Where oranges grow 32. Scheme 33. Benched Yankee 34. C.Clay, later 35. Football throw 38. Daniel Quinn Novel, 1992 41. Gwangju's Poutine haven 42. Moby Dick captain 43. Essential to bread 44. 'Who's on first' performers 48. Adam's family cousin 50. Ashtray reminant

51. 53. 56. 58. 59.

Norwegian currency 'Ruby Tuesday" artist Garfield's enemy 'Honest' president Spoken

2. Actor who played Ted 'Theodore' Logan 4. 2nd highest selling single, 2013 5. Dirk Gently series novel 7. Kings of ______ 8. One or another 10. D&D, etc 11. Gear component 14. A really bad habit 16. For tired travelers 19. Bell Biv _____ 21. Swiss currency 23. Pork 27. Popular outdoor clothing co. 29. Prohibit 30. Place for a guard 31. Select on a smartphone 36. GJ hangout 37. Spanish for cheese 39. Mermaids home 40. Polands capitol 44. Utah ski resort 45. World's largest predator 46. Not old info 47. St. Louis summer team 49. The magic number 52. Golden Glode best annimation winner 54. Green Energy source 55. Latest craze 57. Anglers need

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crossword

[CROSSWORD] Last Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Answers

Gwangju Guidebook Want to do, see and experience more in Gwangju? Find out what to do, what sights to see and what fun to be had through Gwangju Guidebook. The Gwangju Guidebook is now available through its mobile version. Easy to read and navigate, now you can have all the information about Gwangju, in your hands on your phone! For accessing the Guide, please visit: www.gwangjuguide.or.kr

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community board

Community Board Have something you want to share with the community? Gwangju News’ community board provides a space for the community to announce club’s activity, special events and so on. Please send us the information to gwangjunews@gic.or.kr

VOLUNTEERING

Sungbin Home for Girls Sungbin Home for Girls is looking for creative/ active/ energetic/ outgoing/ enthusiastic longterm volunteers to join in our regular Saturday program. We would like you to give at least two Saturdays per month. Meet every Saturday at 1p.m. in front of downtown Starbucks, opposite Outback Steakhouse. All are welcome. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please find the “Sungbin Volunteers” group on Facebook.

UNESCO KONA Volunteers UNESCO KONA Volunteers is a registered organization that helps underprivileged kids by teaching English through storybooks. We are looking for long-term volunteers who desire to enrich their lives. We are asking volunteering to commit to helping at least once a month: one Friday afternoon, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon per month. Foreign volunteers who are interested in practicing their Korean and learning more about Korean culture are welcome to stay at the center on any Saturday afternoon for a short cultural exchange. If you have any picture books, storybooks, puppets or any educational items, we accept all donations in order to distribute them to the local children's homes or community children's centers in Gwangju. We also accept any used storybooks and educational items For more information, please visit: 1) http://cafe.daum.net/konavolunteers, 2) www.facebook.com (UNESCO KONA Volunteers) 3) contact Kona (Kim Young-Im) at 062-434-9887 or at konacenter@gmail.com.

For you to cut out and keep handy!

Gwangju Ice Hockey Team Looking for men and women of all ages to join us every Saturday night from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Yeomju Ice Rink near World Cup Stadium. If you are interested, contact Andrew Dunne at atdunne@gmail.com

COMMUNITY CLUBS Photo Gwangju Plus For photographers, Google+ has become a tool and part of their overall social media strategy. There is a lot to love. If you are an aspiring photographer that is looking for inspiration, education and other individuals to connect with and share your passion for photography, we have an opportunity for you. If you are serious about photography and want to walk a couple steps higher, there is a community that shares pictures that you are more than welcome to join. For more information, please visit “Photo Gwangju Plus” at #photogwangjuplus

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community board