Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine
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July 2015 Issue No. 161
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Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine
July 2015 Issue No. 161 Published on June 29, 2015 Cover Photo: Universiade Gwangju 2015 Cover Art: Joe Wabe
SPECIAL COVERAGE
Gwangju News is the first local English magazine in Korea, first published in 2001. It covers local and regional issues, with a focus on roles and activities of the international residents and local English-speaking communities. Copyright by Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise — without the written consent of the publisher. Gwangju News is published by Gwangju International Center 5, Jungang-ro 196 beon-gil (Geumnam-no 3 Ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-023, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733~34 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date February 22, 2010 Printed by Join Adcom 조인애드컴 (062-367-7702)
THE EDITORIAL TEAM PUBLISHER Shin Gyonggu MANAGING EDITOR Karly Pierre ONLINE EDITOR Ana Traynin COORDINATOR AND LAYOUT EDITOR Karina Prananto PHOTO EDITOR Joe Wabe CHIEF PROOFREADER Bradley Weiss ONLINE EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jacqui Page, Sam Page COPY EDITORS Robert Hinderliter, Kate Blessing, Joey Nunez, Kelsey Rivers, Timm Berg, Elizabeth Butler, Brian Kelly, Laura Becker PROOFREADERS Lianne Bronzo, Don Gariepy, Gabrielle Nygaard, Teri Venable, Pete Schandall, Fellin Kinanti, Carri Levinson, Stephen Redeker, Joey Nunez RESEARCHERS Ki Suyeon, Kim Dae-yong, Kim Ji-heon, Kim So-i, Lee So-eun
Volunteering Inquiry and Feedback: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr Advertising and Subscription Inquiry: karina@gic.or.kr or 062-226-2733~34
10 Meet the Athletes!
20
Universiade to Promote Gwangju’s Cultural Heritage
22
Eco Edge: How An Eco-Friendly Strategy Is Winning for Gwangju Universiade
24
University Students of the World Seeking Peace and Prosperity Through Sports
26
Athletes Village: Where Diversity and Friendship Shine
28
High-tech, High-efficiency Universiade Is Applauded
Special thanks to the City of Gwangju and all of our sponsors. gwangjunewsgic.com
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GwangjuNews
@GwangjuNewsGIC
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CONTENTS 06 08 30 32
news news feature feature
Gwangju City News Upcoming Events Man on First: KIA Tigers Star Brett Pill’s Baseball Journey The Nature of Healing: How CNUHH Is Moving Premium Healthcare Out of the City 34 feature Long-Time Volunteer Remembers GIC 36 feature The Awakening of Social Enterprise in South Korea: Part 1 38 feature Five Things to Know about “The Last Five Years” 40 local Gwangju Talks: “Do You Think Universiade Will Benefit Gwangju?” 42 local A Human Rights Mini-Forum Report: Marieke Duchatteau 44 local Gwangju Plays: Hit the Ground Running 46 local Gwangju Cooks: Blueberry Makgeolli Smoothie 47 local Gwangju Eats: Phuong’s Vietnamese Food 48 local Gwangju Works: Chop Chop: Expats’ Favorite Hairstylist Michael Lee 50 local Fashion on the Street: Out and About 51 local Now Trending: Three Snails 52 local Photo Essay: Beautiful Jeollanamdo 54 local Photo of the Month 55 local Christmas in July: Adopt-a-Child for Christmas Initiative 56 places to see My Korea: Gunsan & Seonyu Island 58 places to see Departing Gwangju: Not to be Missed Taiwan Is a Beautiful, Yet Often Overlooked Destination 60 culture Behind the Myth: Ham and Squid: Traditional Korean Wedding Rituals 61 culture Jeolla History: Zen Buddhism in United Silla Part 2 62 culture Korean Poetry: Seagull 63 culture Gwangju Writes: Ways of Looking at a Choco Pie 64 general Green Korea: Focus on Conservation: Korean Federation for Environmental Movements in Gwangju 66 general KOTESOL: What Every EFL Teacher Should Tell Their Students About Learning English 68 general Health: United Nations Declares South Korea’s Mandatory HIV Testing for Foreigners Is Racial Discrimination 70 news Sewol Update July 2015 71 gic GIC Tour Preview: Goheung 72 gic GIC Talk Preview: Alleycon: A Waygeek Event 73 gic GIC Talk July Schedule 74 info Community Board CORRECTION The author of “Carpets Like Grass,” in the June issue of Gwangju Writes, is Ali Saleh. We apologize for the error.
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news
GWANGJU CITY NEWS Compiled by Ki Su-yeon, Kim Ji-heon, and Lee So-eun and Gwangju City Respresentatives Photos courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City
GWANGJU CONDUCTS MASSIVE EFFORT TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MERS (MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME)
GWANGJU PROMOTES HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN PILOT PROJECT
Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall announced that it started taking preventive measures on local public transit systems to prevent the spread of MERS.
Gwangju Metropolitan City will promote a pilot project of human-centered design focused on the improvement of facilities for the disabled as a part of its policy of “making [a] happy Gwangju where everyone is living together.”
The City will send out staff members and volunteers to disinfect the commonly-touched areas, like in-vehicle pillars, handles, backs of chairs and fare boxes whenever bus and subway operations are finished each day. Also, drivers have been asked to wear masks while driving.
The human-centered design is a unique concept for Gwangju, which aims to be a human rights city.
The City will also install hand sanitizers and post flyers on how to prevent MERS to ease the worries and concerns of passengers and help increase personal hygiene. A City official said, “The sanitation of public transportation is quite important to prevent the spread of MERS. We are taking preventive measures as a preemptive action so that citizens can use the public transport without worries.”
LUXURY HOTEL TO BE BUILT IN GWANGJU On May 11, Gwangju announced that Yoon Jang-hyeon, Gwangju mayor, and Jang Jae-young, representative director for Shinsegae, concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to bulid complex facilities, including hotels, duty-free shops and other stores. This MOU was initiated by the mayor’s suggestion to build a luxury hotel and duty-free shop. Shinsegae Corporation will invest about 600 billion won in Shinsegae, E-mart and parking lot sites for the hotels, duty-free shops, cultural and sales facilities and rest areas. The aim is to complete development of this project before the World Swimming Championships will be held in July 2019. The building will be 20 stories high, as well as 7 underground levels. This MOU aims to benefit Gwangju’s economy and create around 2,000 jobs.
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The human-centered concept includes barrier-free and universal architectural designs, which will contribute to the cultural expressions of humanity and living, as well as the creation of urban vitality, allowing interactive human exchanges and free activities for citizens. The City designated the corporation Making the Equal World for the Disabled as an assistant operator. It will also decide which facilities will be appropriate at particular businesses and officially carry out these plans. Through the project, the City will increase the accessibility of facilities, installing curb cuts, sidewalk ramps and wheelchair-accessible restrooms. The City is also planning to expand the project to address the concerns and considerations of social minorities through human-centered design education, disability experience activities and special lectures. An authority said, “We will try our best to make [a] happy Gwangju where everyone is living together, consistently promoting the pilot project of human-centered design and publishing a book of success-stories.”
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2015 GWANGJU UNIVERSIADE COUNTDOWN The Gwangju Universiade will host students from all over the world to enjoy special cultural events as well as sports competitions. The Gwangju Universiade is providing various cultural events to let young people around the world communicate with each other and experience the culture of Gwangju.
OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES TO HIGHLIGHT GWANGJU’S HERITAGE The opening and closing ceremonies of any international sports events are essential. The opening ceremony will start at 7 p.m. at the Universiade Main Stadium on July 3 with the theme of ”U Are Shining,” which meshes with Universiade’s official slogan “Light Up Tomorrow.” The closing ceremony will be titled “Sharing the Light” and will take place at 7 p.m. on July 15 at the same venue.
GLOBAL YOUTH FESTIVAL TO FEATURE YOUNG HEARTS AND TALENTS From July 4 to 13, the Nanjang Festival will be held across Gwangju. Under the slogan of “Let’s Cheer for the Future of Youth,” five different events will take place. Main events will be held for 25 hours from the evening of July 4 into July 5 at the Democracy Square of the Asian Culture Complex, featuring music, traditional arts, theatre and DJ performances, and will be attended by young people from home and abroad.
ATHLETES VILLAGE EVENTS EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND FRIENDSHIP The Athletes Village is a small global village where 12,600 athletes and officials from 150 countries will stay together for 12 days. From July 4 at the Flag Plaza of the Athletes Village International Zone, experiences like traditional mask-making, traditional fan-making, caricature drawings and face paintings will be offered, followed by cultural performances.
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SOUTH AND NORTH JEOLLA PROVINCES CO-HOST THE UNIVERSIADE The Gwangju Universiade will have 37 competitive venues and 32 training venues. Related cultural events will take place at 32 competitive venues and another 24 facilities. A total of 21 self-governing bodies and universities will take part in the regional culture events.
THE EVE FESTIVAL FISU GALA The GUOC will host the Eve Festival on July 2 to wish for a successful Universiade and promote the start of the games. On the same day, FISU and the organizing committee will hold the FISU Gala at the Asian Culture Complex where officials from FISU and GUOC gather together to celebrate the men and women who have dedicated their time and effort in developing FISU values. The gala will also promote Korean culture and introduce future hosts of FISU events.
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info
Upcoming until
JUL 7
JUL 10
Events
The 7th International Classical Music Festival 제7회 광주국제음악제 – 광주 Gwangju Culture & Art Center 7:30 p.m. Monday & Tuesday ￦ R seats 120,000 won, S seats 70,000 won, A seats 50,000 won Gwangju Culture & Art Center bus stop 062-953-3987 http://www.gnpo.net The 1st Seoam Music Concert 제 1회 서암음악회 – 광주 Gwangju Culture & Art Center 7:30 p.m. Friday ￦ R seats 10,000 won, S seats 5,000 won Gwangju Culture & Art Center bus stop 02-3446-9654 http://ticket.interpark.com
until
JUL 19
Le Gai Marriage Wedding Scandal (Play) 웨딩스캔들 - 광주 U-Square Dongsan Art Hall 7:30 p.m. weekdays / 3, 7 p.m. Saturday / 3 p.m. Sunday (Monday is day off ) ￦ All seats 30,000 won U-Square Gwangcheon Bus Terminal bus stop 062-360-8437 http://ticket.interpark.com
Mokpo Port Festival 목포항구축제
JULY 24-28
World Taekwondo Culture Expo 세계 태권도 문화 엑스포
JULY 10-15
Various taekwondo seminars and competitions with 2,000 athletes from 31 different countries Muju Dome Stadium and Muju Resort (326-17, Hanpungnu Street, Muju Township, Muju County, North Jeolla Province) Take the intercity bus at Gwangju bus terminal and get off at Muju terminal (2.5 hours). From Muju Bus Terminal, walk 538 meters towards the Bandibul Museum. www.wtcexpo.net
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Samhak Island (88-56, Samhak Street, Mokpo, South Jeolla Province) Take the intercity bus at Gwangju bus terminal and get off at Mokpo terminal (50 min). From Mokpo Intercity Bus Terminal, take bus 200 and get off at Dongmyeong neighborhood intersection (동명동사거 리) bus stop (15 stops, 22 minutes). Walk for about 500m along Samhak Street (삼학로) until you reach Samhak Island (삼학도). 061-270-8440 ext. 8443 http://www.mokpofestival.com/ until
AUG 2
Buddhist Art in Asia – India, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Tibet 아시아의 불교 미술 – 인도, 동남아시아, 중 앙아시아 그리고 티베트 Gwangju National Museum 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. / Closed on Mondays ￦ Free Gwangju Museum station or to Gwangju Museum Entrance station 062-570-000 http://gwangju.museum.go.kr/
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MOVIES
@ GWANGJU THEATER Chungjang-no 5-ga 62, Dong-gu, Gwangju (two blocks behind NC WAVE), 8,000 won per person per film, 062-224-5858, http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju
Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival 정남진장흥물축제
CHARLIE CHAPLIN MOVIE SPECIALS: JULY 2 - 22 City Lights 시티 오브 라이트 [Comedy] Modern Times 모던 타임즈 [Comedy] The Great Dictator 위대한 독재자 [Comedy, Drama]
JULY 31-AUGUST 6
Selma 셀마 [Drama/ PG-13] David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Oprah Winfrey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. receives the Nobel Peace Prize, four African American girls are killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church, and Selma, Alabama becomes a hotspot of racial tensions.
“The biggest water fight,” natural medicinal herb healing pool, hand fishing, performances, participation programs for foreign residents and tourists Jangheung Tamjingang River and Pyeonbaek Forest Woodland (21, Jangheung Street, Jangheung Township, Jangheung County, South Jeolla Province) Take the intercity bus at Gwangju bus terminal and get off at Jangheung terminal (2 hours). From Jangheung bus terminal, take the bus bound for Jangheung-Woodland (장흥-우드랜드). Get off at the Woodland (우드랜드) bus stop (2 stops, approx. 10 minutes). Walk five minutes from the bus stop to Pyeonbaek Forest Woodland (편백숲 우드랜드). 061-863-7071 http://www.jhwater.kr/ July Home Match Schedule Date
Match team
Time
1~2
Hanwha Eagles
6:30 p.m.
14~16
LG Twins
6:30 p.m.
24
Lotte Giants
6:30 p.m.
25~26
Lotte Giants
6 p.m.
28~30
SK Wyverns
6:30 p.m.
KIA Champions Field, Weekdays: Adults 8,000 won/ Children 3,000 won, Weekends: Adults 9,000 won/Children 4,000 won, Mudeung Baseball Stadium Bus Stop, www.tigers.co.kr
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A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night 밤을 걷는 뱀파이어 소녀 [Horror/ 15] Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Marshall Manesh Dubbed “the first Iranian vampire western,” the movie is set in Bad City, an Iranian ghost town plagued by a lonesome vampire. Rudderless 러덜리스 [Comedy, Drama] Billy Crudup, Felicity Huffman, Anton Yelchin With actor William H. Macy directing, Billy Crudup plays Sam, a heartbroken father dealing with the death of his son who gets a second chance with his wife, Emily, and at his old life. 밀양아리랑 Miryang Arirang – Legend of Miryang 2 [Documentary] Kim Yeong-ja, Park Eun-sook, Kim Mal-hae People hear that electrical towers are going to be built next to their farm, so they stop working and do their best to prevent its construction for three years. Short Term 12 숏텀12 [Drama/ R] Brie Larson, John Gallagher, Jr., Keith Stanfield Grace, a supervisor at a group home for troubled teenagers, deals with problems of her own alongside her boyfriend and colleague, Mason.
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SPECIAL COVERAGE
MEET THE ATHLETES!
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KANG TAE-YOON
KIM SEONG-YEON
According to Kang Tae-yoon, he was a nobody when he was a student at Pungsung Middle School. He was not interested in studying and had no vision. However, his English teacher, Lee Jung-hee, took him under her wing. One day, he had a conference with his English teacher because of skipping class. Afterward, his life changed completely. He wanted to change his life through sports, so he entered Seoul Physical Education High School. In fact, his English teacher previously worked at Seoul Physical Education High School and knew that he had great athletic potential. She told him that his height and long arms and legs were suitable for rowing. After entering high school, he got a bronze medal in the Presidential Cup Championship (light weightsingle category). He got a gold medal for the first time during his senior year. After entering university, he placed first at a 2014 indoor rowing competition. He also won a gold medal at the Asian Indoor Rowing Championship in Qatar. He became a national athlete in 2014, and will enter the 2015 Universiade Games as a lightweight single scull rower. Kang says that the vital elements needed to become the best athlete are mental focus, respect, and a competitive spirit.
Judo athlete Kim Seong-yeon is a 23-year old native of Gwangju. She was an Asian Games gold medalist in the women’s 70kg category. She won a gold against her rival, Arai Chizuru, who is a Japanese athlete ranked 11th in the world. This year, Kim graduated from Yongin University, a university famous for its judo instruction. After graduating, she joined Gwangju Metropolitan Transit Corporation.
(South Korea) Rowing
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(South Korea) Judo
She participated in the Incheon Asian Games, beating out Hwang Ye-seul who is a Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist. Kim’s specialty is a shoulder throw technique. When she was 9 years old, she wore judogi (a judo uniform) all of the time at her parents’ suggestion. She discovered her talent for judo, and entered Chonnam Physical Education Middle and High School. In 2013, she finally became a national athlete and exercises at the Korean National Training Center. Last year, she won a bronze medal at the world championships. She came in third at the Russian Grand Slam, and got the gold medal in her first Asian Games debut.
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EDWARD DINGLI (Malta)
Swimming Edward Caruana Dingli is a 23-year old Maltese swimmer and law student who will be representing Malta at the 2015 Universiade in Gwangju. Caruana Dingli has been swimming since the age of seven and has been a member of the Maltese National Swimming Team since 2008. He is a middle distance swimmer who currently holds national records in the 200m and 400m individual medley, the 400m freestyle and multiple relay events and has represented Malta at numerous editions of the FINA World Championships, as well as at the 2013 Universiade. Edward is also a law student in his fifth year of studies at the University of Malta. He received his Bachelor of Laws in 2013 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Laws with the aim of becoming a lawyer. At the games, Caruana Dingli will be participating in the individual medley events and will also be part of the relay teams in the 4x100m freestyle and medley. This edition of the games will be his last opportunity to participate in the Universiade, so he hopes to return from Gwangju with two fresh national records to finish his Universiade participation on a high note.
FABIAN NAVA (Mexico) Basketball
Fabian Misael Jaimes Nava was born in Mexico City, Mexico, on September 22, 1992. Here in South Korea he represents the National University Team of Mexico. He has played basketball since he was seven years old. His parents were also very passionate about the sport, and they met playing basketball. Therefore, it was logical that Fabian and his brother would also start playing. He decided to attend UDLAP in Puebla, Mexico, on a scholarship when he was 17. With the UDLAP team, he won two national championships in 2013 and 2015. He was awarded MVP and selected three times for the first team of the tournament. In 2013, he went with the National University Team to the Universiade in Kazan, Russia. They finished in eleventh place. That had been the second best result ever for Mexico. His stats were third place in rebounds with an average of nine per game, first in steals with an average of three per game, fourth in field goals scoring 60 percent and an average of 29 minutes played per game. From this summer on he has decided to no longer play for his university, but to play basketball professionally.
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RENÉ ALBERTO CHÁVEZ MENDOZA (Mexico) Baseball
Born: February 2, 1988 Place of birth: Cuauhté moc Chihuahua, Mexico International Tournaments • Representing Mexico in the World Championship U12 in Ibiuna, Brazil in 2000. • Representing Mexico in the Pan American Championship U12 in Caracas, Venezuela in 2000. Winning the bronze medal. • Representing Mexico in the Pan American Championship U14 in Vargas, Venezuela in 2002. • Representing Mexico in the Pan American Championship U16 in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco in 2004 winning the bronze medal. • Representing Mexico in the Pan American Championship U18 in Tabasco, Mexico in 2005.
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ALICIA PERRIN (Canada) Volleyball
Alicia Perrin has just completed her fifth year of eligibility with the Trintiy Western University Spartans. She completed studies with a specialization in Education with a minor in Spanish and Special Education at Trinity Western University located in Langley, British Columbia. Alicia achieved First Team All-Canadian status and helped lead her team to a Canada West and CIS National Championships in 2015. The 2015 FISU games will be Alicia’s third time representing Canada at the Universiade competition. Alicia competed in the 2011 games in China and the 2013 games in Russia. High-level volleyball runs in the family as Alicia’s elder brother Gordon Perrin is a current member of the Canadian Men’s National Team and competes with Arkas Volleyball Club in Turkey. Off the court, Alicia has participated in mission trips to Haiti, Paraguay and Peru. Each trip offered a variety of experiences where the athletes had a direct impact servicing and contributing to the well being of the communities.
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ROGER RAO
LAURA QUILTER
Table Tennis
Swimming
(New Zealand)
From very early in his table tennis career, Roger was marked as a player with something special to offer the game. In 2010, at a little over 13 years old, he became the New Zealand Open Men’s Singles champion. At the beginning of the event Roger’s prospects of qualifying for the main draw looked bleak as he had drawn the second ranked male in New Zealand as well as the second ranked under 18 boy in New Zealand, not to mention an experienced senior player from Canterbury in hi group. Roger went through his group unbeaten in a surprise upset. He carried this momentum into the main draw, winning the tournament and breaking the record as the youngest ever New Zealand Open Champion by more than three years. There is a lot more to Roger than just table tennis. He is an excellent scholar with multiple academic achievements in both New Zealand and international educational programs. Maintaining the balance between high level academic and sporting demands is extremely challenging in a country like New Zealand which is without the resources to have full time sports/ academic academies, but Roger has managed this with great distinction.
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(New Zealand)
Twenty-two year old Laura Quilter will head to her second Universiade in Korea. She is a senior on the 19-strong New Zealand team, the biggest in their history. Laura is one of only three swimmers from New Zealand to return from the 2013 Universiade games held in Kazan, Russia along with Matthew Hutchins and Kate Godfrey. She also competed in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Pan Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast last year. She has the perfect frame for swimming at 184cm, and has used it to great effect to win three titles at the New Zealand Open Championships this year — the 50m freestyle (26.12), 100m freestyle (56.64) and 50m butterfly (27.38), to build on the two titles she won in 2014. Laura won selection to the Commonwealth Games as part of the women’s 4x100m relay combination that earned their spot in the final qualifying event of the national championships. She rates this her proudest moment in her swimming career to date.
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CHOI SUT IAN
EDINA KOTSIS
Diving
Taekwondo
Bonnie Choi Sut Ian works diligently at the Univesity of Macaus while pursuing her graduate degree in Physical Education and Sport Studies; yet, she is still a competitor. Once again, she will participate in the one meter and three meter springboard events at her third Summer Universiade. Inspired at an early age by the elegant genius of China’s springboard royalty, Guo Jingjing, Bonnie decided to pursue the sport of diving. Standing along with greats like Guo Jingjing and Ting Lei on the medal podium at the 2006 FINA Grand Prix Sydney, Bonnie and Carolina Choi, her sister and partner, gained their first bronze in synchronized springboard. This past November, at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, she managed to sneak away with the bronze because of two clean dives right at the end to give Macau their first ever medal in diving. Until the 2014 FINA Grand Prix in Singapore, she has won a series of bronze medals, most memorably at the 2009 and 2013 East Asian Games. Though her work, school and training schedule have been more hectic recently, she believes strongly in her success at the 2015 Summer Universiade.
Edina Kotsis is a Hungarian taekwondo full contact fighter who came into view for the first time in 2007, winning the silver medal in 55kg at the youth European Championship organized in Baku, Azerbaijan. Three years later, the young athlete returned home to Hungary as a U21 European Champion from the event organized in Kharkov, Ukraine. At her first appearance on the field of international university sports, the 2011 Shenzhen Summer Universiade, she stepped on the podium to accept the bronze medal. One year later, in 2012, she finished second at the senior European Championship organized in Manchester, UK. In 2014 she took part at the World University Championship organized in Hohhot, China, where she also brought home the bronze.
(Macau)
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(Hungary)
The senior EC silver medalist, U21 European Champion fighter proved to be in good form this year by winning her first medal, bronze, at the senior World Championship in Chelyabinsk, Russia. The only person able to defeat her was the current world rank leader, Eva Calvo Gomez of Spain. Just weeks before the start of the European Games in Baku, this historical moment marked the first medal ever won by a Hungarian female fighter at the WTF Taekwondo World Championship.
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ZARCK VISSER
RESHMIE OOGINK
Long Jump
Taekwondo
(South Africa)
Zarck Visser became the premier longjumper of South Africa to surpass the Olympic silver medallist and his long-time training partner, Khotso Mokoena. Visser, 25-year-old management student from the University of Johannesburg, made his first mark in 2011 in Shenzen. He continued his success in 2012 by medalling at the African Championships and the Commonwealth Games respectively, as well as, achieving his personal best of 8.32 m in Zurich before finally attaining the gold at the 2013 African Championships in Marakech. Though he had a setback last year with hip surgery, he still jumped 8.18 m in a local South African meet earlier this year in 2015. He looks forward to the upcoming games and is determined to medal.
(Netherlands)
Reshmie Oogink is a 25-year old female Dutch taekwondo athlete, currently ranked fifth in the world in the 73-kg division. In December of last year, Oogink impressed the athletic world by winning the Grand Prix Final in Queretaro, Mexico. She defeated Mexican taekwondo fighter, Maria Espinoza, in the finals of that tournament. Espinoza was the Olympic champion in 2008. Just missing the London Olympics, Oogink worked hard to take the last steps to attaining a top world ranking. 2014 was a very successful year for her. She won five international tournaments, including the Grand Prix Final where the top eight in the world came together, and she came second in four other international tournaments. Oogink started 2015 by winning the gold at the US Open, where she beat Milica Mandic, the Serbian Olympic champion, in the final. This will be her fifth time in Korea and her second Universiade. Reshmie won a bronze medal in 2009 at the Universiade in Belgrade. After this tournament, Reshmie will stay in Korea and travel to Suwon to participate in a tournament in Chuncheon.
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DIARRA MARIAM (Mali)
Taekwondo Born: September 28, 1996 Place of Birth: Bamako Awards • Champion’s — 62kg category from 2010 to 2012 • Gold Medal of Amadou Baiba Kouma Cup 2000 A2011 Bamako • Gold Medal of the 2011 Sotelma cut in Bamako • Silver medal in the 2010 and 2011 Cup Onatel Ouagadougou
17
GANKHUYAG NANDINZAYA (Mongolia) Shooting
Gankhuyag Nandinzaya was born June 27, 1994 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and began shooting competitively in high school. It was then that she really started winning at competitive shooting, taking the National Championship three times running (2007-2010) in addition to earlier wins. Nandinzaya started out as a successful junior and has been a holder of the national record in 50-meter rifle and 10-meter air rifle.
Achievements • Bronze Medal World Cup Francophonie June 2012 in Abidjan • Good service at the World Team Cup in 2013 in Abidjan • Bronze medal at the African Championship in Tunis in 2014 • Good performance at the open 4th of Carthage in Tunis in 2014
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NICK HOUGH
RHEA GAYLE
Hurdles
Diving
(Australia)
Nick Hough hopes to be an Olympian in 2016, and will attend his second World University Games in July as part of the Australia University Sport team (Uniroos) . But like many athletes at their peak, it is often hard to see Hough past his impressive sporting resume: a gold medal at the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010; fourth place at the 2014 Commonwealth Games; and the second fastest 110m hurdles time in Australian history. In addition to being a successful ahtlete, Nick developed the successful app, GradeProof. “I get asked whether I’m an athlete, a student or an app developer, and all my life I’ve never restricted myself to one thing. Luckily I’ve managed to do lots of things well and I’m planning to continue that trend, and who knows where I’ll be in a year’s time.” Korea and the 2015 Universiade await as Hough follows in the footsteps of his mother, Sue, who herself reached the semifinals of both the 100m and 200m at the 1987 Universiade in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. He’ll join a strong athletics contingent for the Uniroos, all whilst juggling the growth of GradeProof from afar.
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(United Kingdom)
“To go out there and compete [in Universiade] is an amazing opportunity and I was so grateful to be picked for it,”said University of St. Mark and St. John student, Rhea Gayle. “When I ‘m out there I’m looking to sort of enjoy the competition. It will be my first time competing on a world stage.” “So far in my diving career I’ve sort of been more successful on the one meter springboard. But from this season and prior to, I’ve been looking to really improve my performances on the three meter. So going out there and seeing how I do will be a nice judgment of where I am.” “[My goal is] to compete at the Commonwealth Games. That was my goal when I was a gymnast as well, and if I could make it as a diver I would be really happy.” Achievements • 1st place 1m springboard at British Championships in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015 • 4th place 3m springboard at British Championships in 2014 • 3rd place 3m springboard at British Championships in 2015
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Gwangju Universiade Overview DURATION: July 3 - 14, 2015 (12 days)
TATUM SOUZA
(United States of America) Heptathlon
Tatum Souza will represent the USA in the heptathlon at Universiade. In high school, she was a two-time Napa Valley Register Athlete of the Year, setting school records in the long jump and hurdles and breaking the Pacific Association heptathlon record with a total of 4,641 points. In 2012, as a sophomore at UCLA, Souza won the Cal Invite heptathlon crown with a lifetime-best total of 5,350 points. In 2013, she earned her second team All-American honors in the heptathlon by finishing ninth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Her 5,691 points at the NCAA championships placed her sixth of all-time at UCLA. The year 2014, however, was a difficult time for Tatum Souza. Her father, who had been a driving force in her athletic career, was diagnosed with cancer. In December, she suffered an injury. When she started running again in March, Souza found herself far behind her training partners. A few days later, her father passed away — eight months after his diagnosis. One month later, Souza competed in the MT Sac relays heptathlon and put in a career-best effort and a score that would place her in the top four at the NCAA Championships and put her in second all-time at UCLA, behind world record holder Jackie Joyner. One thing is for sure: nobody is training harder or with more heart than Tatum Souza.
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VENUES: Gwangju Universiade Main Stadium (World Cup Stadium) and other stadiums in Gwangju, across South and North Jeolla and North Chungcheong province SPORTS: 21 (13 compulsory sports/ 8 optional sports) - Compulsory: Artistic Gymnastics/ Athletics/ Basketball/ Diving/ Fencing/ Football/ Judo/ Rhythmic Gymnastics/ Swimming/ Table Tennis/ Tennis/ Volleyball/ Water Polo - Optional: Archery/ Badminton/ Baseball/ Golf/ Handball/ Rowing/ Shooting/ Taekwondo PARTICIPATION: Some 20,000 participants from 170 countries (including athletes and officials) EVENT SCHEDULE: www.gwangju2015.com 1670-2015 TICKET PRICING: http://www.gwangju2015.com/ticket/
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SPECIAL COVERAGE
Universiade to Promote Gwangju’s Cultural Heritage Written and photographed by The Universiade Gwangju 2015
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he Gwangju Universiade began its preparation efforts in earnest with a series of test events and the opening of the Main Operation Center (MOC). The Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) conducted the final stage inspections while getting ready to imprint the cultural aspects of Gwangju onto the hearts of the visitors. This is to further brand Gwangju as a cultural city and to fulfill the city’s goal of boosting cultural synergy.
ticipants.
The GUOC is preparing various cultural events to let young people around the world communicate with one another and experience cultural aspects of Gwangju through Gwangju Universiade’s EPIC initiative (Ecoversiade, Peaceversiade, ITversiade and Cultureversiade).
Gwangju is widely known as having the spiritual values of art, democracy, human rights and peace, and it is all related to the history of the city. In the distant past, Korea’s southern provinces housed political prisoners who were mostly scholarly bureaucrats. Examples include Joseon Dynasty’s Jeong Dojeon who mapped out the structure of the dynasty while living in exile, and Jeong Yak-yong who wrote 154 books on the dynasty’s political and economic reform during an 18-year period. Those people nurtured the cultural and artistic base of the city while writing poems and drawing landscapes against the beautiful natural background of the city. The southern provinces are rich in traditional cultures as represented in its metrical literature, Goryeo celadon, Chinese paintings of the Southern School, pansori, and traditional cuisine. Gwangju is often called “the artists’ town” as it nurtured such well-known figures as Heo Baek-ryeon (Korean painting), Oh Chi-ho (Western painting), Im Bang-ul (pansori) and Park Yong-chul (poetry). The city also promoted democracy through the May 18th Gwangju Democratic Movement in 1980 against Korea’s military dictator-
With the backing of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Gwangju City, the GUOC has so far been trying to make Universiade a nationwide event where people from all cities and provinces can easily take part. The committee is devoting all of its energies into making Universiade a grand cultural festival filled with energy and passion, which is symbolized in Universiade’s official emblem of “Wings of Light.” CULTUREVERSIADE TO DISPLAY THE STYLE AND FLAVOR OF GWANGJU Various culture and art programs that proceed on the sidelines of the Olympic Games and the World Cup provide added fun and pleasure for the par-
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Gwangju will also have a great opportunity to show its artistic heritage through the “Cultureversiade.” The term Cultuversiade has its roots in Gwangju’s cultural, artistic and historical legacies. The GUOC hopes that Gwangju will become the hub of Asian culture through successfully hosting the games.
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ship and fought for human rights and a prosperous community. The rich cultural city of Gwangju, which has hosted world-class events, including Gwangju Biennale, Design Biennale, Festival O! Gwangju, and Gwangju World Kimchi Culture Festival, is ready to take a leap forward to become a global culture-hub city with the imminent establishment of the Asian Culture Complex (ACC) due to open in September. The Gwangju Universiade is expected to be a foundation for cultural exchange for the student athletes where they will share their arts, youth, and sports. INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES AND VISITORS TO BECOME ONE THROUGH GWANGJU’S CULTURE The Gwangju Universiade will be a place where students from all over the world can share their passion and energy. The GUOC plans to hold various cultural events, which will unite visitors and local citizens. The cultural events are divided into six categories: the Eve Festival, the Universiade Park event, the FISU Gala, Athletes Village events, competition venue events and the Youth Festival. SPECIAL PROGRAMS READY TO BOOST THE U-SPIRIT A series of cultural events are ready to promote Universiade. Such preliminary events include the torch
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Traditional dance performance to mark the countdown of Gwangju Universiade D-50
relay, starting ceremonies for volunteer groups, and other music concerts. On June 3, the two flames, lit from Sorbonne University in Paris and from Jangbuljae of Mudeung Mountain, were carried and combined at the Universiade Torch Relay. From June 4 to Universiade’s opening, the torch will travel 3,700 kilometers through 17 cities across Korea. Many concerts will be held during Universiade. From July 8 to 13, the “Gwangju Picnic Festival” will take place. K-pop, rock, and dance music will attract young people from all over the world. Exhibitions introducing artwork from different countries will take place and other flea market and exhibition events will also follow. The GUOC Secretary General Kim Yoon-suk said, “The Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee has been trying to offer as many cultural programs as possible adding to the joy of the Universiade’s sports events.” He added that the organizing committee would try its best to secure sufficient accommodations for visitors and increase the public transportation service during the summer games.
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SPECIAL COVERAGE
Eco Edge
How An Eco-Friendly Strategy Is Winning for Gwangju Universiade Written by Katrin Marquez Translated by Kim Ji-heon Photos courtesy of The Universiade Gwangju 2015
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ix years ago, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) announced that Gwangju would host the 2015 Universiade. Having come in second place in its 2013 Universiade bid, Gwangju had been collaborating with other cities in the Jeolla Province to ensure that if Gwangju’s bid succeeded, the City would be able to host with minimal cost and maximum benefit. Aiming to make the 2015 Gwangju Universiade a memorable event, the Gwangju Summer Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) chose the concept EPIC: Ecoversiade, Peace-versiade, IT-versiade and Culture-versiade. The first of these ideas, Ecoversiade, has been central in planning for the Universiade facilities. Major international sports competitions are notorious for wastefulness: facilities are built at high costs, only to be underused after the event. After last year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the costliest of the newly-built stadiums has hosted no competitive matches this year. GUOC decided early on to limit new construction projects, minimize waste and leave small carbon footprints. Of the 69 facilities that will be used during the Universiade, only four are newly built. The rest are renovated facilities in Gwangju and neighboring cities. Universiade events will be held throughout the Jeolla Province. According to Chung Dae-kyung, the
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department head for the Physical Promotion Team at Gwangju City Hall, prior to the announcement that Gwangju would be hosting the Universiade, GUOC knew that Gwangju did not have all of the necessary facilities and approached neighboring cities about using theirs. Mr. Chung said that facilities outside of Gwangju were chosen in accordance with FISU regulations, which require that venues be within a one-hour drive from athletes’ housing. Rowing events will be held in Chungju; during the rowing competitions, athletes will stay at the Chungju Village rather than at the Athletes Village. In keeping with the Ecoversiade theme, the planning committee did not build new housing for athletes and chose not to utilize temporary construction to prevent material waste. The state-of-the-art Athletes Village was built by renovating dilapidated 30-year-old apartment complexes near the World Cup Stadium, which will be the primary venue. After the Universiade, the apartments will be returned to private hands and utilized by Gwangju residents. Decisions regarding new construction were informed by sustainability concerns. The newly-built venues are those for which there was no sufficient alternative: the Nambu University International Aquatics Center, the Gwangju Women’s University Universiade Gymnasium, the Gwangju International Archery Center and the Gwangju Jinwol International Tennis Court. In the case of the Aquatics Center, there
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Top: The Head of Delegations (HOD) visited seven venues including the newly built Nambu University International Aquatics Center (inset). Right: The HODs also visited the Athletes Village to inspect the facitlities there
are two other pools of sufficient depth, but they will be used as training venues. For the other venues, available alternatives did not comply with FISU regulations. For example, Mr. Chung explained that the tennis venue needed to have at least 10 courts, which no available venue previously had. Another major consideration was the potential future use of facilities. The Aquatics Center and the Universiade Gymnasium are both affiliated with universities and will be managed by the universities’ sports programs following the Universiade. The Aquatics Center will also serve as the primary venue for the 18th FINA World Aquatics Championship in 2019. The Universiade Gymnasium and Aquatics Center are eco-friendly. According to official press releases, the Aquatics Center will receive a Green Building Certification for using geothermal heat to control temperature. The Universiade Gymnasium will consume 26 percent of its energy from renewable sources. The gymnasium is also certified as a
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barrier-free venue since it is designed to be accessible. As for the accessibility of renovated venues, Mr. Chung said renovating older venues to obtain barrier-free certification would have been costly and inefficient, but existing accessibility structures will be used. The Korea Times reports that the Universiade budget is 685.7 billion won, far more modest than the budgets of other Korean mega-sports events. Chung is proud that Gwangju avoided costly projects like the ones for previous games hosted by Korea. This is the result of emphasizing sustainability rather than opulence. As Pyeongchang prepares to host the 2018 Olympics, the effective planning of the Universiade facilities could serve as a model.
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SPECIAL COVERAGE
University Students of the World Seeking Peace and Prosperity Through Sports Written and photographed by The Universiade Gwangju 2015
GWANGJU UNIVERSIADE TO BE HELD FROM JULY 3 TO 14 IN GWANGJU, JEOLLA PROVINCES AND CHUNGJU The Universiade is an international sporting and cultural festival that is staged every two years and is only second to the Olympic Games by number of sports and participation. From July 3 to 14, Gwangju will take the center stage and welcome athletes and students from around the world. The competitions will take place in Gwangju, South and North Jeolla Provinces, and Chungju. Organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and managed by the Korean University Sports Board (KUSB) and Gwangju 2015 Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC), the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade will invite
future leaders of the world to a festival of sports and culture. With the Gwangju Universiade’s EPIC initiative, as in Eco, Peace, IT, and Culture, the participants will aspire to promote education and culture while developing true friendship and sportsmanship through sports. The athletes will be competing for 272 gold medals over 21 categories of sports events during a 12-day period. Only the Olympic Games and the Universiade have more than 100 countries and 10,000 athletes competing for over 20 disciplines. The Gwangju Universiade is also considered a stepping stone for future Olympians in the 2016 Rio Olympics. ECOVERSIADE: MINIMIZING MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY
COST
WHILE
The Gwangju Universiade is aiming to become an economical, yet efficient mega-sporting event. Meanwhile, the safety and livelihood of the athletes and participants will not be compromised throughout the process. In order to host an event that focuses on the athletes and participants, the GUOC is preparing the facilities to provide a fun and meaningful experience.
motion ersiade pro iv n U ju g n a Gw
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in Seoul
Gwangju Universiade will strive to be an Ecoversiade. Aside from the venues assigned for swimming, archery, gymnastics and tennis, there will be 65 training and competition venues that have been refurbished from pre-existing facilities. One of the main goals of the Gwangju Universiade is to minimize the cost while maximizing efficiency for an economical and environmentally friendly event.
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right to the city I local info
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Holiday Inn Gwangju provides an inviting dining experience. Join our seasonal event special for a limited time.
HOURGLASS (1F) TRIPLE B PLAN
Gwangju Universi ade brings the wo rld together
(Unlimited Buffet, BBQ, and Beer)
For the first time in the history of international sporting events, an eco-friendly reconstruction of a 30-year old apartment complex has been made possible through private capital investments. The apartments will be returned to the previous residents after the games, which solves the problem of postutilization. The green village, full of eco-friendly technology, is expected to revitalize the city after the Universiade, and it will be in line with the worldly trend of sustainable growth. TEAM ENTRIES FINISHED, SCHEDULED FINALIZED
PARTICIPANTS
LIST
As of May 14, there have been 13,838 athletes and officials from 152 countries registered to attend the Gwangju Universiade. On June 3, a month before the start of the games, the individual entries completed and the list of matches and competitors will be finalized . The officials of 51 delegations had the opportunity to visit the host city and be involved in the preparations since early April, after the Spring Heads of Delegation Meeting where the team draw for team sports had also taken place. GWANGJU UNIVERSIADE, A FESTIVAL OF WORLD YOUTHS Since the 100 days-to-go mark, the GUOC started a cross-country campaign. On May 18, the Universiade Torch was ignited in Paris, France at Sorbonne University. After the Universiade Torch Lighting Ceremony, the torch will stop by Taiwan before traveling throughout the host country. The GUOC is planning to host spectacular opening and closing ceremonies with memorable cultural events. The events are focused on expressing the unique culture of Gwangju while awakening historical and cultural values.
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Enjoy a wide selection of grilled meat and seafood prepared daily to order on the open charcoal-fired grill with unlimited draft beer. You can feel a soft summer breeze on the outdoor terrace and savor the dining experience of selecting food from the full buffet spread with great BBQ items. Period: 22 May ~ 25 September (Tue-Sat) Price: 45,000 won (VAT included) per person 1 adult 1 kids Free (under 12 years old) *Reservation is necessary
LA PLACE (10F) LOBSTER FESTIVAL
La Place, bar and grill has begun a new lobster promotion. Our lobster salad is made with creamy blue cheese dressing. Two lobster tails are served with mashed garlic. Premium lobster tails with beef tenderloin are prepared at a reasonable price. Enjoy fine dining with an amazing view. Our team is committed to cooking the best authentic Korean and Western food possible. Price: 49,500 won (VAT included) per person Opening hours: 18:00 – 24:00 (Sun-Thu) 18:00 – 02:00 (Fri-Sat) Reservation: 062- 610-7095 A Unique Lifetime Experience at Holiday Inn Gwangju For more information: 062-610-7063~4 www.holidayinngwangju.com
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he Gwangju Universiade’s Athletes Village has been reconstructed into an environment-friendly complex within the city center. Through private capital investments, it will contribute to regenerating the city after utilization as Athletes Village and ITO Village.
SPECIAL COVERAGE
Athletes Village Where Diversity and Friendship Shine Reconstructed Athletes Village Invigorates the City 5 Designated Hospitals, Quality Meals, and Prayer Rooms To Open June 26 for 12,600 Residents Written and photographed by The Universiade Gwangju 2015
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ATHLETES VILLAGE, A RECONSTRUCTED APARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY, WILL OPERATE IN THREE ZONES The Athletes Village nested in Hwaun-ro (previously Hwajeong-dong), Seo-gu, Gwangju has already completed its lease to the general public. The residence will go through a partial repair process at its completion in March 2016 after the Gwangju Universiade and then be returned to its tenants. The Athletes Village is five minutes away from the Universiade Main Stadium, achieving superb accessibility. At the Athletes Village, a total of 12,600 athletes, officials and ITOs will reside in 2,445 units of 22 buildings. Construction began in November 2012 and was completed mid-May this year. The Athletes Village is divided into the International Zone, the Residential Zone, and the ITO Zone. The registration center, Athletes Village hospital and other special facilities for visitors and athletes will be set up in the International Zone. At the visitors’ information center within the International Zone, various promotional items and souvenirs, information guides, maps, etc. will be provided to the athletes. The Residential Zone is composed of the athletes’ accommodations, bank, post office, convenience store, laundromat, playroom, lounge, exhibition hall, souvenir shop, etc.A cafeteria that accommodates 3,500 people and provides meals to 12,000 athletes and officials is available at the Residential Zone. Five different types of cuisine, including Western cuisine, Korean cuisine, and halal food, will be prepared for the athletes.
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1 1. 2.
Bird’s eye view of Athletes Village Athletes Village officially open to the public
The ITO Zone will include the ITO dormitory, cafeteria, and amenities. Amenities such as banks, convenience stores, hair salons, and dry cleaning centers will be available at the Athletes Village. Recreational facilities including lounges, playrooms , a table tennis center, a nail salon as well as health sports facilities such as fitness centers, will be available. Various religious facilities such as a Protestant prayer room, a Catholic prayer room, an Islamic prayer room, and a Buddhist prayer room will be installed. In order to visit the Athletes Village, an entrance pass must be issued at the Guest Pass Center, and access is limited to certain zones. The athletes will collectively reside in a space provided with a kitchen and other amenities. Allocation will be four to six people per 59㎡, seven people per 84㎡, seven people per 101㎡, and one to three people in a single room. 2
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High-tech, High-efficiency Universiade Is Applauded Written and photographed by The Universiade Gwangju 2015 SPECIAL COVERAGE
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niversiade Gwangju 2015 will be drawing attention in regards to its major facilities being hightech, highly efficient and eco-friendly.
The Gwangju Universiade is aiming to host an Ecoversiade — aside from a handful of facilities that had to be newly constructed under international standards, 65 facilities were refurbished. For the first time in the history of international sports events, the Athletes Village is a group of renovated urban apartments, which will be turned over to residents after the games to aid with revitalizing the city. Gwangju Universiade aims for minimizing costs while maximizing efficiency. ECOVERSIADE — ECO-FRIENDLY, LOW EXPENDITURE, HIGH EFFICIENCY Ecoversiade aims to protect the environment and sustain economic efficiency through low expenditures by having as few new construction projects as possible. A total of 69 facilities will be in use for the athletes to train and compete. 45 facilities will be in Gwangju areas, 23 in both Jeolla Provinces, and one in North Chungchung Province. The Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee GUOC aims to make the best use of these facilities already in existence. Only in cases where the facilities already in use could not match international standards were the new ones constructed for the purpose of expanding public infrastructure. The construction projects include Nambu University International Aquatics Center, Kwangju Women’s University Universiade Gymnasium and Jinwol International Tennis Court. The Nambu University Aquatics Center and the Kwangju Women’s University Universiade Gymnasium are eco-friendly facilities that will be making use of renewable energy to
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reduce energy consumption. FIRST IN KOREA TO MEET LATEST INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS: THE NAMBU UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL Taking on the image of a water drop and the sun rising from Mudeung Mountain, the Nambu University International Aquatics Center is also the first in Korea for many reasons. The Nambu University International Aquatics Center has a pool with movable floors that transforms a standard depth pool into a multi-functional pool, allowing a greater number of aquatic activities to take place in a single day. The multi-purpose depth controller can actively adjust the depths of the pool. Through this device, the 3 m. pool can be adjusted between 0 m. - 3 m. Conventional pools, however, use depth adjustment slabs, which are essentially large blocks used to adjust the depths of the pool. Public pools are 1.2 m. in depth, and when competitions are held, the water is pumped out and the depth adjustment slabs are removed in quantities according to how deep the pool needs to be. This action usually takes around 15~20 days and lacks costefficiency. By installing a multi-purpose depth controller, the depths of the pool may be adjusted on demand, without the need to pump out water. The highly-efficient stainless pool will be the largest in Korea. Compared to conventional pools, stainless pools are highly waterproof and are easier to manage water quality. The swimming pool will be 26 m. in width with 10 lanes. Conventional pools are usually 25 m. in width, using 8 lanes. The facility has a total floor area of 19,398 ㎡., a basement floor and three floors above ground with 3,290 seats. The facility also uses renewable
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energy sources including geothermal energy. Geothermal energy accounts for 21.8 percent of the facility’s use, which is used for heating/cooling purposes according to the seasons. The facility makes better use of renewable energy than conventional buildings, which usually use 12 percent of renewable energy. After Unviersiade, the facility will be used for the 2019 Federation Internationale de Natation FINA Aquatics Championships. ECO-FRIENDLY KWANGJU WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY UNIVERSIADE GYMNASIUM The design of the Kwangju Women’s University Universiade Gymnasium is a U-dome. Drawing upon the image of the Mudeung Mountain with graceful curves and dynamic designs, the facility is an energy conservation facility. In order to reduce expenditures on electricity, recyclable energy sources will be used, such as geothermal and solar energy, of up to 26 percent. The facility also holds paired seats and inclined surfaces for the disabled and is about to receive official approval for barrier-free spaces. It is also a women-friendly facility, paying special attention to services such as restrooms and internal security. The facility has met the International University Sports Federation FISU standards and will be used for gymnastics events during the Gwangju Universiade. With a floor area of 27,731㎡, two basement floors and three ground floors, it holds a total of 8,337 seats: 6,503 fixed and 1,834 movable. The movable seats will allow the gymnasium to be used
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Kwangju Women’s University Gymnasium “U-dome” which portrays the elegant curves of Mudeung Mountain
for multiple purposes like concerts and conventions once the Universiade is over. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR JINWOL INTERNATIONAL TENNIS COURT, GWANGJU INTERNATIONAL ARCHERY RANGE The Jinwol International Tennis Court has been built following international standards. The single main court has 3,200 seats, a short court has 650 seats and there are eight sub-courts, for a total of 10 courts. The facility has made use of rebound ace surfacing technology. Athletes on courts with a rebound ace surface are known to receive less injuries to their knees than athletes who played on grass or clay courts. Thus, rebound ace surfaces are currently the favored surfacing method for tennis courts. The Gwangju International Archery Range follows the international standard of 45,109㎡ site area and 32 shooting ranges. A total of 64 contestants are able to compete. The motif of the exterior design is a bow. It is an eco-friendly facility, using geothermal energy for heating and cooling. The facility has a basement floor and two ground floors, 1,085 seats. After Universiade, two football fields will be formed from its premises and made open to the public.
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Man on First
KIA Tigers Star Brett Pill’s Baseball Journey Written by Bradley Weiss Photographed by KIA Tigers and Joey Nunez
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IA Tigers first baseman Brett Pill has talent enough to tie for the team lead in home runs both last season and through the first 60 games of 2015. However, while growing up in San Dimas, California, the game of baseball was more about having a good time than a career aspiration. “[Becoming a professional player] wasn’t necessarily a goal,” explained Pill. “We just had a lot of fun with it.” Even his father, with his own professional experience in the minor leagues, provided more guidance than pressure for Pill along his path. “He coached me throughout the way, but it was never to try to make it, just to have a good time and enjoy [baseball]. [I] just kept at it through high school, and was lucky enough to make it to college, and just kept going with it.” Pill’s fortune continued during his first year of playing at California State Fullerton, when his team won the College World Series in 2004. His play the following year gave him his first chance at a professional contract, being drafted in the 45th round (the 1,362nd player chosen) by the New York Yankees. It was an opportunity he wisely declined, as the improvement in his on-field performance the next year parlayed into being selected in the seventh round
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(206th) of the 2006 draft by the San Francisco Giants. Pill explained the decision not to turn professional at the first chance, saying, “Really it was kind of a no-brainer. We had a good team in college. I was lucky to have a pretty good year and jump up.” Unlike in the other major American professional sports leagues, even players selected early in the amateur draft have to spend time paying their dues in baseball’s minor leagues before making the big leagues. Pill explained the less-than-glamorous life of a minor-leaguer: “It’s tough. I think a lot of people hear you play professional baseball and think it’s all sunshine and rainbows. But you don’t get paid much, it’s a lot of travel — like 16 hour bus rides.” Nevertheless, Pill looks back at the time appreciatively: “It made me the player and person I am today.” That hard work and attitude paid off when Pill was brought up to the majors in August 2011, and his very first major league at-bat resulted in a home run. “I was just up there swinging as hard as I could and I got lucky to run into one. It’s something I’ll never forget,” Pill recalled. He explained that the
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tional decision to seek stability for their family half the world away, with Pill signing a contract to play for the KIA Tigers here in Gwangju. He explained how his drive to be a more-present father steered his baseball career in this direction: “It was kind of a weird concept but, instead of being back home, bouncing around and flying all over the place, I knew being here, you get every Monday off and short travel, like 3-hour bus rides. So, we decided this would be a better place. I’d be around more.” The decision, however, was made with family and career concerns in mind, not due to the lure of Gwangju or Korea in general. Explaining his prior knowledge of Korea, Pill admitted, “I’ll be honest — I didn’t know much. I knew Gwangju was far away from Seoul. But I didn’t know what to expect.” Despite this, Pill and his wife have found the transition “pretty easy,” saying life in Gwangju has “far exceeded” their prior, indefinite expectations. “We love it here,” said Pill. The move has required some on-field adjustments for Pill as a player. “As far as baseball, the games are different. The fans are screaming all the time and singing. You got to get used to that.” After finding this Korean-style of fandom “weird at first,” Pill admitted that now he actually looks forward to it, saying, “It does pump you up.” The cheering fans in the stands are not the only ones at the stadium making Pill feel at home. “As far as on this team, everybody has welcomed me like I’m a Korean player. They’ve more than accommodated for me. So, I appreciate it.” moment was extra special since the game was in San Diego, not too distant from his hometown, so a lot of his family was able to be in attendance. The hot start to his major league career continued with another home run in the next game, but it was unfortunately not to last. “It started off good and kind of went downhill from there,” Pill explained about his time in the majors. The result was that he spent much of the next few seasons “bouncing” between the major and minor leagues. Following the 2013 season, Pill found himself at a crossroads in his career: “I was at the point where I either had to make the major league team and stay or… it was looking like I could be all over the place.” That kind of instability would soon be unacceptable, as Pill and his wife learned they were expecting their first child. This led them to make the unconven-
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Pill indicated that the current upbeat environment on the team stems from first year manager Kim Kitae. “He’s very positive, very personal — he really cares. He’s just a really good person and I think everybody wants to play really hard for him.” He also added that Kim had a plan for Pill’s father, in town during the timing of this interview, to participate in on-field, pre-game activities during the following game. When asked if it there was any added meaning to playing in front of his parents again, Pill laughingly admitted, “They’ve seen me play forever. They mostly came to see their granddaughter.” As for how they support him as a player, he said little has changed in their attitude since those childhood days in San Dimas: “They just want me to have fun. They hope I get a hit, but at the end of the day, they’re just happy I can still play and do something I love.”
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The Nature of Healing How CNUHH Is Moving Premium Healthcare Out of the City
Written by Karly Pierre Photos courtesy of Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Karly Pierre
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any tourists visiting South Jeolla include a brief trip to Hwasun in their travel plans. Despite being a relatively small town of only 100,000 residents, Hwasun’s rolling hills, lush forests and historical attractions intrigue travelers. Hikers can make their way to Mudeung Mountain National Park. Curious visitors can photograph the dozens of ancient stone Buddha statues at Unjusa Temple or the megaliths at Hwasun Dolmen Park. However, recently visitors have been making their way to Hwasun for another reason — medical care. Since opening its doors in 2004, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital (CNUHH) has excelled to become the first national Korean hospital awarded Joint Commission International (JCI) certification, one of the most respected international hospital accreditations. This is no small feat considering the skepticism the ambitious facility faced upon announcing plans to locate in a small rural town. Most of Korea’s top hospitals are located in Seoul. However, CNUHH Director Dr. Cho Yong-beom, feels that the hospital’s location is a key part of its growing reputation.
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“As you see, there are many mountains, flowers and fresh air and water,“ said Dr. Cho. “This is particularly important for our cancer patients. This environment with good nutrition and good medical care is important for recovery.” While the hospital is a full-service medical facility, it specializes in cancer treatment. South Korea has the highest rate of stomach cancer in the world, with one in four deaths due to cancer. According to a study in Cancer Research and Treatment, a total of 280,556 new cancer cases and 76,698 cancer deaths are expected to occur in Korea in 2015. CNUHH Cancer Center is making significant strides in cancer treatment and research. According to Chosun Ilbo, CNUHH was the only national hospital to receive perfect scores for two years from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service for treatment and operation of colorectal cancer and has an 83.5 percent five-year survival rate — 8.1 percent better than the average hospital in Seoul. The mortality rate for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT) is 1.16 percent while the average among top Korean hospitals is 5.46 percent.
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1. Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital in spring; 2. Laparoscopic Colon Cancer Surgery; 3. CNUHH exterior; 4. Dr. Cho Yong-beom; 5. Patient enjoys fresh air at the hospital park
A graduate of Chonnam National University and Gwangju native, Dr. Cho practiced otolaryngology for 35 years before being named CNUHH hospital director in 2014. “As director, my goal for the hospital is to provide efficient and safe service,” said Dr. Cho. “It’s important to care for patients as soon as possible and provide good communication between doctors and patients ... Here our departments communicate very well, so patients can stay in one place and doctors go to them. In the United States, patients pay a lot of money for this kind of service, but here they don’t.” Compared to Seoul National University, the cost of care and length of hospital stay is less at CNUHH. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, thyroid cancer patients on average spend 1,170,000 won (1,060 USD) at CNUHH for treatment compared to 1,650,000 won (1,459 USD) at Seoul National University. Stomach cancer patients have a hospital stay of 14.5 days at CNUHH compared to 16.1 days at Seoul National University. While CNUHH is earning a name in Korea, it is not shying away from the global market. The hospital has been able to draw patients from both Asia and the West, responding to the increasing demand for medical tourism. Many of its international patients come from Russia, but others have come from Vietnam, China, Myanmar, El Salvador, Uzbekistan, and the United States. Many of the hospital’s top doctors and specialists have trained abroad and bring diverse experiences to CNUHH. Partnerships with international hospitals and institutes have also been a key strategy in its push to become a leading institution. Its most notable collaboration with German
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medical research group Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology is currently working to develop stem cell research, vaccine and cancer therapy. A joint laboratory recently opened on the CNUHH campus. The hospital is also equipped with cutting-edge cancer treatment and surgical equipment with the goal of providing minimally invasive procedures with quick recovery times. Gamma knife radio surgery, positron emission tomography (PET), the DaVinci surgical system, Novalis Tx and linear accelerator are among the advanced procedures available. Gamma knife radio surgery treats intracranial diseases using gamma rays instead of making incisions in the head. The advantage is a painless surgery and discharge the following day. Of the 2,000 patients receiving this surgery at CNUHH by 2012, there was a 90% success rate. With the new KTX line able to whisk patients from Seoul in two hours, a new highway cutting driving time between Gwangju to 15 minutes and hourly shuttle service from downtown Gwangju Chonnam Hospital to CNUHH, the hospital is increasing the popularity of this small town and ultimately reshaping its identity. But realizing its greatest asset, CNUHH secured 49,000 square meters of forest lined with quiet meandering trails as a retreat for its patients. “Our hospital is a national hospital, so we have some responsibility to the government as well as people in Gwangju,” said Dr. Cho. “The doctors here understand that responsibility. We are always trying to do our best.“
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Long-Time Volunteer Remembers GIC Written by Joey Nunez Photos by Lee Jeong-min
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arren Parsons has been easily recognizable to people in Gwangju restaurants, temples, cafes and bars over the past six years. “They’ll come up to me and say, ‘You’re Warren from TV, and I have heard about the Gwangju International Center. Where is it? How do I go there?’ So it’s an opportunity for me to talk with them and to introduce them to the Center and tell them where it is.” Parsons himself first heard of the GIC through a combination of word-of-mouth conversations and reading Gwangju News. His interest was piqued, so he attended some GIC Talks at its former location in the Jeon-il Building across from the YMCA. Parsons began his volunteering with the GIC Talks program, giving a fall 2009 GIC Talk entitled “Living With Tea” on November 7, 2009. But, he wanted his second GIC Talk on April 17, 2010 to be different. “I suggested having the participants come outside and do a GIC Talk, rather than me lecturing inside with the fluorescent-lit rooms on a beautiful Saturday.” That all-day GIC Talk included a walking tour of downtown Naju, where participants savored the city’s local foods, witnessed the city’s historical sites, enjoyed tea prepared by a local master, and
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saw bamboo-roasted salt and traditional sauces on a soy bean farm. This elaborate talk later became the working template for the GIC Tour program, which officially started in 2011. Parsons enjoyed the full experience of planning, scouting and guiding the GIC Tour. “There’s the interaction that is necessary, so wherever we go, there is always that human connection. … We go there and find the people who are offering the best and to work with us cooperatively, and who we feel should be shared with a larger Gwangju community.” While creating tours with GIC coordinators and interns, the program’s three features have been food, history/culture and trekking. Participants’ varying preferences helped Parsons “push the envelope every month” for what attendees experienced, learned and even took home. “It has been a challenge, trying to keep it fresh and new. And of course, revisiting places and revisiting the Koreans who live in those places has been exciting. It’s been fun to foster those relationships, learning more about language for me too and learning more about the history and culture were always
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parts of the draw.” Parsons’ desire to explore through trekking has also helped create the GIC Trek Program for hiking enthusiasts, which started in February 2015. While volunteering for GIC Tours, Parsons also served as a writer, photographer and creative consultant for Gwangju News. Parsons has witnessed this now “robust ” publication blossom thanks to numerous volunteers’ and editors’ contributions. “It has become one of the better, more insightful, more diverse English magazines.” Despite the rapid incoming and outgoing talent, Parsons is proud of what Gwangju News has accomplished. “Throughout the years we have made transitions and we have had people on board who have made the magazine better, more colorful, with higher quality pictures and with higher quality paper stock.” As a GIC volunteer, Parsons gave his third GIC Talk entitled “Shamanism and Traditional Religion in Korea” on May 21, 2011, attended conferences to represent the GIC, served as a guide for past Chonnam National University Summer Sessions, managed the U.S.A. Pavilion as manager and coordinator during past GIC Days and assisted with multiple freelance projects. Before returning to his home country, the United States, this summer with Jinju, his wife since April of this year, Parsons recalled what he has learned during his time in Gwangju. “I have been learning how to live well, how to live effectively and how to live happily. I think coming to a foreign country changes your perspective, [and] it allows you to re-
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assess, to see how things are and to see how people live in different places in the world.” While working at Dongshin University in Naju, Warren stated that he had the ideal job of teaching students and talking with others. “When I first started working at the university, my students were not all that young compared to me, so that was an interesting experience to be in a position to guide, to be a voice of reason or an adult voice, that people look up to.” Through his work at Dongshin, Warren enjoyed extensive GIC volunteering. “The GIC gave me a forum to share what I have picked up along the way, and to get involved with the community, and to help other people be aware that there is a community here in Gwangju.” Warren’s final desire is for Korean and international residents alike to remember how the Korean proverb “directly below the lantern is the darkest point where the light does not shine” illuminates profoundly. “I’ve been fortunate to have a job as a tour guide, so that obviously gets me out there more than the average person. But essentially there is a lot more to the world than what people are convinced there is.” “There’s a lot more that you can do and a lot more ways that you can be happy with the community, with the people around you, enjoying the nature, enjoying the local food and enjoying the history, and not to take things for granted.”
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The Awakening of Social Enterprise in South Korea Part 1 Written and photographed by Park Ho-yeon
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hile taking part in the KEYS Economy Club at school and being a volunteer at GIC, these experiences have led me to carefully think about the hot issues surrounding Korean Air’s former vice president. If you have not heard about this incident, a key Korean Air executive was upset about nuts served to her in a bag on a departing plane and projected her rage on an innocent flight attendant. This story was even published in Bloomberg Business. The story was reported as follows: The daughter of the chairman of Korea Air Lines Co, Heather Cho, was in a first class seat on a flight leaving from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport bound for Incheon International Airport when she took issue with a flight attendant who handed her macadamia
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nuts in a bag and not on a dish. Cho, the vice president of the airline, summoned the cabin crew chief to ask whether the flight attendant was following the in-flight service manual. When the crew chief could not answer the question promptly, Cho ordered the crew chief to disembark, prompting the pilot to return the plane to the gate. However, the aircraft had already left the gate at John F. Kennedy International Airport for takeoff. It took no more than 2 minutes to return to the gate to deplane the crew member. The flight finally arrived at Incheon 11 minutes behind schedule.¹ I came to be interested in this article, by seriously thinking about this issue from an economic perspective. It reminded me of the ideals of entrepre-
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neurship by way of noblesse oblige, not to mention touching upon social issues. Many companies have transferred ownership from public to private because the ownership of these companies has been divided due to allocation of stocks. One person can be a representative of a company, but not its sole owner. As a result, his or her behavior can have a great influence on the company’s image. It is important to improve the company’s image through advertising, but more importantly its executives should keep in mind that they play a leading role in the company’s image to the public through exemplary leadership. Of course, the major goal of all enterprises is to make profits for shareholders. However, to keep the best image possible, I believe these corporations should consider the consumers as the most important asset in their business activities. Simultaneously, entrepreneurs should practice ethical entrepreneurship to create more jobs for people, activate their demographic market, and maximize profits, some of which should be returned to the public sector for social improvements. In short, entrepreneurs should be ethical. Also, ethical entrepreneurship should be accompanied by noblesse oblige. Noblesse oblige is a French phrase literally meaning “Obligation of Nobility.” It is the concept that nobility extends beyond mere entitlements and requires the person with such status to fulfill social responsibilities, particularly in leadership roles. It is sometimes used to summarize a moral economy wherein privilege must be balanced by duty towards those who lack such privilege or who cannot perform such duty. It has been used recently primarily to refer to public responsibilities of the rich, famous and powerful, notably to provide a good example of behavior or to exceed minimal standards of decency. It has also been used to describe a person taking responsibility for something in order to solve an issue or save someone else.² In South Korea, a typical example of ethical entrepreneurship is Yu-Han Pharmaceutical Company. Its president, Yu Il-Han, is one of the most respected entrepreneurs. Yu returned almost all his wealth to society, which he thought made his company become even more successful. He became a symbol for the realization for noblesse oblige and practiced admirable entrepreneur ideologies. At first, his company sold medical products to Korean peo-
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ple, which were only imported from America. However, in 1933, the company produced a domestic antibiotic ointment, antiphlamine. On its own, the drug became very successful. In those days, most pharmaceutical companies advertised their medical products as a panacea for every disease. They mostly used newspapers to attract consumers. However Yu’s company tried to gain its credibility by making the public know why medical products were being made and who invented and manufactured them. With his evolutionary transparent business policies, Yu surprised many people in those days. For the first time in a Korean business, Yu created an employee stock option plan as a part of sharing the business’ profits with his workers. In addition, he introduced a system using management experts to run the company right before he died. Without giving it to his sons, Yu returned almost all of his wealth to the society he loved so much. As someone once said, the thing which he left for society was not money but a great conscience which will never be forgotten.³ Now society, as a whole, needs to realize the ideals of noblesse oblige and beyond that of the privileged class. The Giving Pledge, organized by Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, is a campaign to encourage the wealthiest in the world to make a commitment to give most of their wealth to philanthropic causes. It focuses on the idea that generosity will spread.⁴ However, the campaign’s problem is its limitation to only billionaires. As a part of the solution to this problem, the roles of social enterprises are considerably important and should extend to any and every one. ¹ ² ³ ⁴
Bloomberg Business Week “Korean Air’s Cho Quits” Wikipedia: Noblese Oblige Critical Biography of Yu Il-Han, by Cho Sung-Ki ‘The Giving Pledge’ Huffington Post
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Park Ho-yeon is a high school student volunteer at the GIC.
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Five Things to Know about “The Last Five Years” Written by Eddie Hackworthy Photographed by Heather Aitken
1. “THE LAST FIVE YEARS” IS A MUSICAL, BUT AN UNUSUAL ONE: “The Last Five Years” (TL5Y) is a very different experience from “Cats” or “Into the Woods.” The cast is traditionally comprised of only two people: one woman to portray Cathy Hiatt, an aspiring actress, and a man to perform as Jamie Wellerstein, a writer with whom she has a five-year romance. The show also has little spoken dialogue, telling its tale wholly through song. Most strikingly, the story unfolds in a unique way: the play alternates between Jamie’s
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point-of-view and Cathy’s — but Jamie’s experience is followed chronologically, from the relationship’s beginning to its end, while Cathy’s story is viewed in reverse. Their two perspectives merge only once, in the middle of the play. 2. TL5Y DEPICTS REAL LIFE: Despite its time-warping tendencies, the show hits home for anyone who has been in a relationship. Chris Bleeker, stage manager, says her appreciation for the musical is twofold: “It expresses that
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1. Left to right: Adam Volle, Danielle Page, Calen Cygan; 2. Director Heather Aitken; 3. Caitlin O’Neill; 4. Caitlin O’Neill and Adam Volle; 5. The Last Five Years poster and time schedule
relationships take work [and that] fairy tale endings aren’t required.” Elizabeth Benecki, GPP groups coordinator, believes there is a musical out there for everyone, even those who may not typically like musicals. That is definitely the case for Adam Volle, the male actor for Jamie, who says TL5Y has been his favorite musical for well over five years. “Jamie is my theatrical avatar — another writer usually in his own world, addicted to love, who both loathes and adores his heritage.” Caitlin O’Neill feels similarly connected to Cathy: “As someone who has also endured rejection and failed auditions, I find Cathy’s struggle is written very authentically.” 3. TL5Y HAS SOMETHING FOR (ALMOST) EVERYONE. But O’Neill adds, “You don’t have to be a writer or an actor to empathize with the characters and themes of TL5Y. We can all learn something from the mistakes Cathy and Jamie make.” And according to the show’s director, Heather Aitken, “On a scale from ‘Book of Mormon’ to ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘The Last Five Years’ is right in the middle. If ever there was a ‘dramedy’ it would be this show.” Aspects of this particular show have even been designed with non-fluent speakers of English in mind: programs will include song summaries in Korean and English,
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and Aitken has announced that cast members will dance in several numbers “to interpret the lyrics and music without the need for fluency in English.” 4. THE MUSICAL SCORE IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER. “Unlike many classic musicals that use one theme and its variations, ‘The Last Five Years’ is quite complex,” explains Aitken. “A range of genres are covered. The timing swings from waltzes to common time to the just plain weird, and the key [alternates] between major and minor, mirroring the violent changes in emotional states from one song to the next.” 5. YOU WILL LOVE IT. Volle thinks so: “It’s funny as hell, but also authentic and tragic.” Aitken seconds, “The music is amazing! Everyone will find a song or scene that they relate to.” With a diverse and talented cast, spellbinding music and real-life issues, all you really need to know about “The Last Five Years” is that you do not want to miss it. The show will be staged at Gwangju Art Hall, near the Megabox movie theater downtown. Performances are July 17 at 7 p.m., July 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and July 19 at 2 p.m. Email gpptickets@gmail. com to reserve tickets or for more information.
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Do You Think Universiade Will Benefit Gwangju? Interviewed and compiled by Ki Su-yeon, Kim Ji-heon, and Lee So-eun
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LEE KI-CHUL (MALE/28)
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I think Universiade won’t benefit Gwangju in many ways. The reason is MERS. It is the biggest problem in South Korea now. Under the present conditions, I think that it will be difficult for Universiade to be successful.
DAVID AKUT PATRONA (MALE/39/TEACHER) I definitely think that Universiade benefits Gwangju because it is an international competition and people from all over the world will come and participate. It will be good for introducing traditional Korean culture and a developed city, which gives people a chance to consider dwelling here in Korea like me. Because of all the people who will need a place to stay and eat, hotels are going to get a lot of benefit. KIM MI-YOUNG (FEMALE/34/HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER) After the outbreak of MERS I’m not sure whether Universiade will benefit Gwangju. People all over the country are worried about the spread of MERS. Every day, news reports the increased number of infected people, careless hospitals and patients, and the irresponsible government. People from other countries also canceled their plans to visit Korea, including Chinese tourists. In this situation, how many people would want to visit Gwangju and watch the games in a crowded stadium? I guess not many people would. Another thing I’m worried about is people will resent the Universiade games. These days, people are very sensitive to anything that might promote the spreading of MERS. Because of these concerns, many major and minor events have already been canceled. If people know that many athletes are from the Middle East and are coming to Gwangju to participate in the games, Universiade will face a strong opposition. I know tremendous effort, time, and resources were put into the Universiade games. As a citizen of Gwangju, I’m eager to see it succeed. But without any improvement in the health situation, it will be difficult to attract people to Universiade. I really hope this situation will be settled as soon as possible.
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KIM JI-EUN (FEMALE/21) I’m sure that Summer Universiade will benefit Gwangju and its citizens. Universiade is an international event, so Gwangju’s economy will grow. The most important thing is that many citizens including students will have a great opportunity to enjoy the games.
KIM SEONG-SIK (MALE/23/UNIVERSITY STUDENT) I think Universiade will benefit Gwangju. It will increase international interaction and international fellowship. The games will leave a lasting impression on Korean students, which will make them go out and explore the world, not just stay in Korea. Also, it would relieve stress and pressure especially for students.
MIN HYEON-JU (FEMALE/35/VIOLINIST) Some people say that because of Universiade and other factors, the price of apartment buildings and other real estate has increased a lot. I don’t believe Universiade has increased the price. But many people around me partly believe the rumor and don’t like it. Some are married and others are not, but most of them cannot afford to buy an apartment due to high prices. Even though the rate of interest is quite low, still it’s difficult to buy one. Recently, one of my friends bought an apartment with a mortgage of one hundred million won on her house. Now, she and her husband have to pay three million won per month for at least three years. I don’t know whether Universiade played a role in the increase of real estate prices. But I can’t buy my own house yet, so I hope the price could settle down before it goes too far.
Jeolla Safety Alliance is a group of Koreans and international residents alike to create awareness of crimes. This safety card is for you to cut out and keep handy! FB group: Jeolla Safety Alliance
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A Human Rights Mini-Forum Report: Marieke Duchatteau Written by Joey Nunez Photographed by Joel Keralis and Yang Rayun
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uman rights conversations happen everywhere. Marieke Duchatteau, a human rights graduate student from Utrecht, the Netherlands, shared her thoughts during the final full day of the World Human Rights Cities Forum 2015 at the Kim Daejung Convention Center, on Sunday, May 17. What made the conversation extraordinary was Marieke’s desire to include young Korean adults. Through arrangements of Kim Tae-hyeong, GIC coordinator, six volunteers joined, listened and shared their thoughts. Summarizing her thesis work, Marieke stated, “I am more or less mapping the different courses in the city of Utrecht concerning human rights, so I am doing research … so we can create alliances between or-
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ganizations to work together in human rights.” While clashing ideology often keeps these human rights groups from coming together, Marieke still sees opportunities for the groups to “create a stronger humans rights network that has more ‘cohesion,’ as a sentiment for local human rights.” Marieke emphasized that human rights should be found locally. “If you were to ask someone from Utrecht: ‘What do you think about with the term local human rights?’, they would say that they are for Latin America, Asia, not something for them. But actually with us is where human rights starts, and I think it is important to raise this consciousness, that it is you who can do something about human rights, and … for your neighbor, for your friends and for your family.”
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the importance of rising up for those human rights. People will not [speak] up for the rights if they don’t realize they are important.” Second, Park Jiwon asked for her opinion of the debate over free lunch distribution to children living below the poverty line. “It is an investment for the general public, because it is a public right to everyone to have food, right?” She further explained that choices have to be made, because “unfortunately, it is not enough money to help everybody at the same time.” Then, Kim Jiheon asked for Marieke’s thoughts on the Forum.
Yang Rayun (right) collecting signatures from mayors during World Human Rights Cities Forum
Marieke agreed that the beginning stages of advocating for human rights in homes, classes, schools and cities is difficult, but she also realized that “if everyone is taking care of such small things, in their near environment, this would really create a better world.”
“I would like to express my respect to all of the organizers, both young and old. I am here now with the young, because they really impress me, but I also know that older people are working really hard, so I just hope that this right to happiness … will be [made available] for people of all ages and it would be [for] all colors, cultures, sexual minorities and religious groups, all of them together.”
Then, the interview shifted in new directions, steered by questions from the Korean volunteers assisting at the Forum. First, Yang Rayun asked if the history of Gwangju and Utrecht resembled each other. Marieke said no, because in her home citizens are less likely to go out into the streets to fight and to share “collective memories.” “In the Netherlands, it is more individualistic, so we don’t really like sharing emotions with the collective [people]. We [see], for example, that this collective trauma of emotions is more present here than it is at home.” Marieke additionally stated that while Korea and the Netherlands’ histories differ, the two countries both know poverty. “It is a great issue, because it is a lot of stress … and we are talking about this without realizing that it is about [not having] human rights.” Now seeing how other human rights representatives struggle to battle poverty, Marieke is eager to speak out more. “I realize
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Hit the Ground Running Written and photographed by Meg Coast
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fter almost two years of living in Korea, I can hardly say that it is the alien country that it was when I first arrived — but, as a “waygook” in foreign territory, there are still times when I feel displaced and miss the effortless ease of living back home and the familiar things left behind. Unlike my unpredictable globe-hopping, running has been a constant in an otherwise changeable life. Starting with Sports Day races as a teenager and later developing into a regular hobby, running is a habit that has stuck. Regardless of where I am — whether it is the Costa Rican rainforest, swelteringly hot Thai beaches, or along the river in Gwangju — running is a familiar companion that I can take with me. In Korea, it has become more important to me than it ever was back home, possibly because it is one part of my identity
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that remains consistent and links two totally different worlds that are otherwise thousands of miles apart. Korea is a wonderfully varied country to run in, with four very distinct seasons — for better or for worse, depending on what kind of weather you like. I think most runners would agree that spring and autumn, offering a nice mixture of sunshine with refreshing breezes and mercifully few kamikaze bugs flying into your face, are the best times to dust off your running shoes and get outside in Korea. Unfortunately, like most good things, they are also the most shortlived of the Korean seasons, so enjoy them while you can!
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That is not to say that the more extreme seasons are out of the equation. As a Brit who revels in low temperatures, I love running in the bracing Korean winter and found that, with enough layers, I was perfectly comfortable. When the height of summer sets in and we see temperatures soaring to 34-35 degrees Celsius and humidity rise to a hair-frizzing 100%, most sane runners say enough is enough and either take to nocturnal runs, the treadmill, or give in completely and eat nachos on the couch for a season. In spite of the increasing temperatures as summer descended in a humid cloud on Korea, I decided it was about time to tackle my first ever half-marathon and, as luck would have it, a historic event was coming up: the 5.18 race to commemorate the Gwangju Uprising of 1980. I am very much a lone wolf when it comes to running, and my past self would be horrified at the thought of taking part in a sporting event where there were other people, let alone in a country as bustling as Korea. However, I have been told that any committed runner should take part in an event at least once or twice in their lives, just for the experience — so I did just that and
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hoped for the best. On the day of the 5.18 race, sure enough, there were crowds of people milling around, including the usual hordes of ajummas in lurid tracksuits and golf visors and the uber-fit, seasoned runners whom you somehow never see running outside until events like this. I prepared myself for the familiar feelings of crowdinduced rage, except it never happened; in fact, it was replaced instead with a serious adrenaline high and excitement to be part of a collective event. For those who have not experienced this, Koreans are wonderful at motivating and spurring each other on, be it on a mountain, a game, or a sports event, and I found this to be the same during the half marathon. Everyone, no matter whether they were first, last, old, young, running, walking, Korean, or foreign, was cheered on by both spectators and other runners, and there was a tangible sense of intimacy with those who ran by me throughout the different stages of the race. It must have worked: I somehow managed to be the 8th woman to cross the finishing line and was rewarded for my efforts with a 10kg bag of rice as a prize. What better reason could you need to start running in Korea?
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local I gwangju cooks
Blueberry Makgeolli Smoothie Recipe written and photographed by Joe Wabe
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akgeolli has been considered a healthy form of alcohol with almost 10% of it composed of lactic acid and dietary fiber. Let us put this bit of good news into a blender, and throw in some happiness to honor those who have been soldiering through these long hot summer days.
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
1½ cup of makgeolli ¼ cup of plain yogurt ½ cup of blueberries (or any lowacidic fruit of your choice) 1 cup of ice 2 tbsp of honey (or brown sugar) ½ tsp of cinnamon
1. Place all ingredients in the blender and blend for about 1½ minutes. 2. Serve in transparent glasses and sit somewhere with a great view. Enjoy summer with many smoothies and many smiles. After all, you will still have half of bottle of makgeolli left.
Do you have an original recipe you would like to share? Share it with us and let Gwangju know how good it is! Email: recipies@kimchitales.com
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Phuong’s Vietnamese Food Written and photographed by Cody Jarrett
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s the stifling heat and humidity of summer quickly approaches, certain foods become less appealing. That cheesy pork cutlet no longer seems like a good idea when simply walking out your front door brings on a tidal wave of sweat. Instead, tastes turn to lighter, fresher food. One restaurant serving up the perfect blend of freshness and flavor is Phuong’s Vietnamese Food. Having opened just two months ago, Phuong’s serves several Vietnamese staples that make the summer heat a little easier to deal with. ATMOSPHERE AND SERVICE Although the restaurant is small and seating space is limited, Phuong’s dining area is bright and clean. The owners are extremely helpful and eager to answer any questions. Everything on the menu is described in Vietnamese and Korean, but there are plenty of pictures if neither of those languages speak to you. The kitchen area is quite small, so expect dishes to come out one at a time, almost like a course meal. While this ensures that all of the food comes out fresh, it could be a problem for diners who are in a rush.
FOOD The first thing that stood out on the menu was the bánh mì. As everyone in Korea knows, a good sandwich is hard to find, but Phuong’s bánh mì is a solid entry into the field. This version was perhaps a little lighter than other bánh mìs, but still had a decent amount of pork and Vietnamese sausage topped off with crunchy pickled carrots and fresh cucumbers all on a soft, fresh baguette. While there was unfortunately no cilantro, the sandwich was delicious. For diners tired of crunching into rock-hard baguettes, the light and airy bread at Phuong’s will come as a relief. One of the most interesting things on the menu was the bánh xèo, a rice flour pancake made bright yellow with turmeric and filled with bean sprouts and slices of pork and shrimp. The dish comes out looking like an overstuffed omelet and is served with lettuce leaves and a dish of fish sauce with garlic and peppers. Anyone familiar with Korean barbecue will know
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Vietnamese bánh mì
what to do next: just stuff a bit of the pancake into a lettuce leaf, wrap it up and dip it in the fish sauce. A great way to end the meal is with a few bì cuon, or summer rolls. Unlike spring rolls, which are fried, the summer rolls are light and fresh, the perfect accompaniment to a hot, humid day. The rolls are made with rice paper wrapped around vermicelli noodles, lettuce, steamed shrimp, a strip of fatty pork and a bit of lemongrass. Dip the roll into the garlicky fish sauce and enjoy. Prices for most dishes average around 5,000 to 7,000 won, with some of the bigger meat dishes commanding a higher price. Iced Vietnamese coffee is also available for 2,500 to 3,500 won. DIRECTIONS Take a bus to the Suwan Jungheung S-Class 1st Apartment stop. With Wow Bar on your left, walk straight and continue across one small intersection. Turn left at the next intersection. Phuong’s is just around the corner from the Kwangju Bank branch. Address: 광주광역시 광산구 한남대로 227번지 103호/ Hanam-daero 227beonji No. 103, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Tel: 070-7533-1740 Opening Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Bus: 46, 196, 700 (Suwan Jungheung S-Class 1st Apartment)
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local I gwangju works
Chop Chop
Expats’ Favorite Hairstylist Michael Lee Written and photographed by Karly Pierre
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ichael Lee’s hair is tousled and lightly moussed.
Appearance is an important part of Korea’s hypercompetitive society, explained Lee. As a hairstylist, he enjoys being able to help people navigate those difficult waters. “Ever since I was young, I’ve loved making people’s hair beautiful. I’m so happy I get to live my dream.” Lee has been a hairstylist in the Gwangju area for more than 20 years and has successfully tapped into the expat market. On busy days, up to 40 percent
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of Lee’s clientele are foreigners. “I like working with international clients because I get to practice a variety of new techniques and learn new skills,” said Lee. “Foreigners have more of a variety of hair types than Koreans, but I’ve had so many years of experience styling foreigners, I know what to expect.” Lee is a slight man, with hands almost as delicate as his voice. But when a client takes a seat in his salon chair, he is confident, focused, and precise.
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1 1. Michael Lee’s beauty salon: clean, spacious and bright, ready to welcome clients 2. The diverse range of Michael Lee’s salon hair products
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“Unlike skin, hair is not alive, so you must be especially careful when caring for it, particularly after shampooing,” said Lee. “You’re washing out the products that keep your hair looking good. Make sure to immediately treat your hair with quality products after shampooing.” Lee now works for Ra Beauty Core Beauty Salons, which officially opened in downtown Gwangju this June. The four-story high-end salon also includes a day spa and training facility for its stylists and technicians. This salon is one of four Ra Beauty Core Beauty Salons in South Jeolla, including a salon in the Sangmu district of Gwangju. Though the services at Ra Beauty Core are more expensive than the average salon, foreigners can enjoy discounts on certain services. Basic shampoo and styling for women is around 30,000 won. “My foreign clients usually want simple hairstyles,” said Lee. “But I always try to give my clients a unique, personal look. I don’t like boring styles. I like being creative.”
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Lee keeps up with trends in hairstyles by talking to friends and fellow hairstylists who live abroad. He says that expat hair is usually frizzier and lighter than Korean hair, so it requires heavier hair products. Many of his female expat clients request highlights. “I like using balayage because it is a more graduated highlight and looks very natural, but I also do ombre coloring,” said Lee. “Foreigners also ask for their hair to be straightened.” Lee does not work on Wednesdays, but is available other days until 9 p.m. To schedule an appointment, you can reach him though Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/hair.gwangju1. Before arriving to your appointment, however, think about the look you want. “Whenever you go to a stylist, it’s important to bring lots of pictures,” said Lee. RA BEAUTY CORE BEAUTY SALON (라뷰티코아) Address: 2-4Fl, Gwangsan-dong 76beonji, Dong-gu, Gwangju (광주 동구 광산동 76번지 2-4층) Tel: 010-3625-5355 Appointment and Reservation: www.facebook.com/hair.gwangju1
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photography I fashion on the street
OUT AND ABOUT
Interviewed and translated by Kim Dae-yong, Kim Ji-heon and Kim So-i Photographed by Karly Pierre
Son Da-som Q. What brands did you usually wear in the past? A. ZARA was popular, so I shopped there. Q. What do you think about current trends? A. I think most people wear crop-tops and skinny jeans to draw attention to their slim figures.
Byun So-jin
Kim Da-un
Park Ga-hyun
Q. What brands did you usually wear in the past? A. I used to wear some brands such as Polo or Hollister. Boot cut pants were also popular.
Q. What brands did you usually wear in the past? A. I didn’t follow trends and didn’t wear any brand name clothes. Instead, I preferred to wear unique clothes, so that I could wear those clothes for a long time. Actually, I’ve been wearing this skirt for 5 years. I think I usually wear puffy style blouses.
Q. What did you usually wear in the past? A. I usually wore jean skirts and collared T-shirts. Plus, I used to wear Superstar and Adidas sneakers.
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now trending I local
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Beautiful Jeollanamdo Written and photographed by Nathaniel Merz
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his year, I decided to give myself an easy New Year’s resolution. Losing weight, getting to bed earlier or exercising more are definitely difficult to do in Korea. For a resolution to travel more, however, I cannot think of a better place to live. In planning my first trip to make this resolution a reality, I set my sights on South Jeolla Province. As a photographer with a primary interest in nature and landscapes, this area has a lot to offer, and unlike Gangwon Province to the north, getting to some of the best spots is easier by bus thanks to the major transportation hub located in Gwangju. For my first trip, I decided to head to one of the
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most popular landscapes in the country, Seryangje. Every spring and fall, this man-made reservoir is swarmed by a literal wall of photographers lined up along the water’s edge in hopes of capturing its famed crystal reflection and soft fog radiating off the water as the sun rises behind the surrounding mountains. The thought of wedging myself into such a crowd was definitely not attractive, but I knew it was a scene I had to see for myself. My enthusiasm was further dampened when I learned that in order to get a decent spot along the lake I would likely have to line up as early as 2 a.m. Seeing as the last bus heading there was in the evening, my photographer
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photography I photo essay
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photo essay I photography
friend and I decided to head there at 6 p.m. the following day, scout the location and simply wait 12 hours until sunrise. Well, turns out waiting 12 hours in the cold early spring air is not as simple as it sounded in my head before I left. After a sleepless night spent sitting along the water’s edge, the first signs of light brought me back to life and the sight of the hundred or so other photographers along the lake filled me with more inspiration than annoyance. As for the sunrise that morning? Well, the sky slowly brightened but I do not recall seeing the sun, and the famed steam only teased for a few moments, well before the sun ever made it over the mountains. Not to be deterred after all our efforts, my friend and I got shooting while those around us mostly waited for a more representative scene that never showed itself. My second trip back to this beautiful province was unexpected and quite a different experience. After chatting with a small group of photographers while waiting for sunset at another location closer to home, they invited me on a trip the following week back down to the southern part of South Jeolla Province to explore Jeung-do’s expansive salt farms and the flowers that bloom in the surrounding mud flats.
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After a midnight bus ride all the way down to Suncheon, I met up with my travel buddies at 4 a.m. and we carpooled our way for the more than two hour drive to Jeung-do. Much like my morning in Seryang-je, the sky was “high overcast”, but luckily the first spot on our trip was an overlook of the field filled with blooming flowers and red plants sprouting right out of the mud flats. It was clear to me that not only was the landscape of this area beautiful, but even a short walk along the boardwalk provided a variety of photo opportunities for any photographer. Some photographers were using the beautiful scenery as a backdrop for portraits, some were focusing on the macro opportunities at every turn and still others brought out their long lenses to capture the Mud Hopper fish and crabs that call the mud flats home. As evening rolled around, the heavy cloud cover rapidly broke up and we were treated to some of the best light I have seen in my time in Korea. The variety of the area provided a challenge with deciding what to shoot, but the fact that everything was within a few minutes walk meant that I did not really have to. After leaving the overlook, I walked down to the boardwalk and got a shot just as the clouds opened up, illuminating the flowers that this field is known for. Within the next hour, I quickly filled up my memory card and burned out my battery shooting the dramatic sky reflected in one of the pools and also of a farmer demonstrating how salt is collected in another pool. For those like me who are looking for a change of pace and fresh scenery, I definitely recommend giving South Jeolla a serious look. Much like many places in Korea, just about anywhere you want to go is a bus ride or two away and there really is a little bit of something for everyone. Whether you want to spend a few hours in the morning checking out Seryang-je or a whole weekend exploring the beaches, fields and salt farms around Jeung-do, you will not go home disappointed. If you are interested in seeing more of my work, follow me on Facebook or check out my 500px portfolio.
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photography
[Photo of the Month] By Abhishek Sahu
Mugaksa is a Buddhist temple right in the middle of the Gwangju. Every year and in every other temple in Korea, they decorate the temple with these colorful lanterns for the celebration of Buddha’s birthday. Over the years, I have felt that many people come to the temple on that day just to enjoy these beautiful lights. This time, I was looking to capture a photo which would show some interaction between the people and these beautiful lights.
SHARE YOUR PHOTO WITH GWANGJU! Interested in having one of your pictures as Gwangju News’ Photo Of The Month? Send your picture of Korea to our photo editor at info@photographersinkorea.com. We look forward to sharing your work.
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event preview I local
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Christmas in July
An Adopt-a-Child for Christmas Initiative Written by Calen Cygan and Sarah Hale Photographed by Relja Kojic
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lthough the holidays are still six months away, it is beginning to feel a bit like Christmas to this year’s Adopt-a-Child for Christmas organizational team as they gear up for another exciting year. With the campaign’s rapid growth and expansion over the years, the team aims to put on more year-round events, increase visibility and awareness, and encourage more members of the community to sponsor a child (or children!). The team hopes that achieving these goals will help to bring the organization back to the grassroots, personal feel that it had at its origin. The Adopt-a-Child for Christmas initiative began in 2010 with the hopes of providing each of the girls at Sungbin Home for Girls with a present for the holidays. Al Barnum, the founder, became involved with Sungbin through Michael Simning’s work with the orphanage. Simning’s legacy at Sungbin continues today with the help of many kindhearted volunteers and supporters year-round. The program has grown and changed in many ways since its inception. In its first year, it far exceeded its goal of providing a gift for each of the 56 girls at Sungbin; each girl ended up getting four gifts. The overwhelming success can be attributed to the power of social media and the generosity of the community. The campaign was equally successful in 2011, and it subsequently grew in 2012 and 2013, providing gifts for 250 and 450 orphans, respectively. Through assistance from local churches and the amazing support of
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the Gwangju community, the project further expanded and over 550 orphans received a present this past Christmas. This year, to kick off the Adopt-a-Child for Christmas campaign, a “Christmas in July” event will be held at Geumnam Park downtown on Saturday, July 25 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a wide variety of activities, including face painting, snowflake making, Christmas card making, a photo booth with Santa, and a “melted snowball” water balloon fight. There will be activities geared towards all ages, so bring out the family or join your friends for a fun afternoon supporting an amazing cause! For anyone looking to get involved in the program, whether through volunteering at any of the events or sponsoring a child of your own, find “Adopt-a-Child for Christmas-Gwangju” on Facebook or email accgwangju@gmail.com to learn how you can help.
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places to see I my korea
Gunsan & Seonyu Island Written and photographed by Ryu Hye-jung
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ave you ever flipped a coin to decide a weekend vacation? A spontaneous trip is sometimes better than a planned trip. For those who want to enjoy the outdoor season, get away from the crowds and traffic without looking up travel blogs or magazines, I suggest a little-known, but marvelous location in Korea. Going to Gunsan and Seonyu Island was a spontaneous vacation for my friend, Cobi, and me. We made up our minds to leave Gwangju over one weekend two summers ago, in 2013. We had a list of ten beautiful places in Korea, but we kept talking back and forth about where to go. Finally, we reached a compromise that we would decide the place by drawing a name out of a hat. Abracadabra, as easy as that! Cobi drew the winning ticket, which was revealed to be Gunsan and Seonyu Island. Gunsan is located in North Jeolla Province, a two-hour bus ride from Gwangju. Seonyu Island is one of 47 in the Gogunsan (Old Gunsan Islands) group and has one of the best sunsets in Korea. Gunsan and Seonyu Island were our favorite places in Korea; these places will never leave our memory. ISUNGDANG BAKERY Gunsan is famous for having the oldest bakery in Korea. It is not too much to say that tourists must visit this bakery and get stamped proving that
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they were actually in Gunsan. In 1899, Japan coerced Gunsan to open its ports to trade due to a geographic proximity to China and other west coast countries. Therefore, it would be natural that bread, an iconic Western food, first came in to Gunsan in Korean history. When you taste its red-bean paste bread and vegetable-salad pastries, you can understand why people line up early in the morning for these treats. OLD AND NEW (HIROTH OLD HOUSE AND GYEONGAM RAILROAD) Once you satisfy your hunger, pick up your backpack again and prepare to time travel. In 1899, during the Japanese colonial era, Gunsan port became the main path of exploitation for rice and land in the Honam region. Honam refers to the North and South Jeolla provinces. Gunsan still has an old Japanese-style main building, Modern Art Museum (the Former Japanese 18th Bank), and temples. The traditional Japanese-style house, owned by Hiroth, who was a Japanese fabric dealer, still has a great architectural value as its garden, floor, and roof have all been kept as they were first constructed. Let’s move to another part of the past. The Gyeongam neighborhood railroad is a short track, which used to load newspapers and raw materials. The train narrowly ran between houses. Even though the
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my korea I places to see
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Previous page: sunset in Seonyu Island This page: 1. Hiroth Old House’s Japanese-style garden; 2. Rail Village; 3. Isungdang Bakery; 4. Writer (left) on Seonyu Island
train has stopped operating, the old houses facing each other across the rusty railroad look much the way they did in the 1970s and 1980s. It seems like time in this village has stopped. However, clothes hung out on a clothesline signify that residents still live here. Now, the railroad exhibits a desolate but attractive landscape, so it has become a photographer’s dream. SEONYUDO (SEONYU ISLAND) A one-hour ferry ride takes you to the island from the passenger terminal. Seonyu Island was named after the Chinese phrase, 仙遊島, meaning “an island where the king leisurely enjoys himself, surrounded by scenic nature.” The island is a romantic spot where travelers can ride bikes, as there are few motorized vehicles. Additionally, visitors can view pebbles and sand dunes while walking along the fine
July 2015.indd 55
beach. The sunset at Mangjubong Peak is one of the best scenes in Korea while the sea breeze and children’s laughter surrounds you. Seonyu Island is such a peaceful getaway; you may understand why I want to keep this island as a secret place of my own. My friend, Cobi, describes the island as “magic” because it has everything you need for just the best weekend jaunt: a beautiful beach for swimming and watching the sunset, cozy places to stay, and few crowds to deal with. If you are still looking at travel blogs, just stop. Prepare a backpack and depart for Gunsan and Seonyu Island. You will fall in love with this place. Visit the Gunsan City Hall official homepage at http://eng.gunsan.go.kr/
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places to see I departing gwangju
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Not to Be Missed Taiwan Is a Beautiful, Yet Often Overlooked Destination Written and photographed by Victoria Lee
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aiwan is a diverse country and although most people believe it to be a smaller version of China, it has its own unique culture. This beautiful island is filled with a variety of cultures, from its strong native community of Taiwanese aborigines, to the Chinese and Japanese settlers bringing with them a rich source of mixed heritage. The variety of people, sounds and smells can be compared to a spice rack filled with a colorful array of beautifully blended colors, textures and flavors that define the essence of Taiwan. Just like Taiwanese culture, the city of Taipei is full of wonderful surprises where one can walk through
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the markets and get a taste of both the country’s agriculture and its local businesses. The smell of the fresh fish market is just one of many sensations arising from the markets where different shops sell beautiful jade rings and necklaces. One can shop for hours at the different night markets and buy everything from a late night snack to underwear. The metro system was easy to use and many of the most famous sites such as Taipei 101, the night markets, the Taipei Zoo and many temples were easily accessible by public transportation. You could spend a week alone just discovering the city as it is very affordable and the shops were one-third the
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price of the Korean markets in Seoul. Many of the shops were also promoting Korean clothing brands, so if you missed Korea, you could purchase some Korean delights for around the same price. When you are tired of the city and seek the natural world, Taiwan has some beautiful hot springs to enjoy. Similar to Korea, the hot springs have separate female and male spas in which you are expected to be fully naked. These natural hot spring spas are located partly outdoors with a view of the surrounding mountains and so provide a refreshing view of nature while you soak in the rejuvenating waters. My favorite part of my trip was visiting Hualien County. I took the fast train, which followed an inspirational coastal route, so every once in a while you got a glimpse of the bright blue ocean hitting the stony shorelines. Hualien County is not to be missed. The natural beauty will overwhelm you as its majestic views of the foggy mountain tops seem to come out of a painting and are reminiscent of the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, with the rocks being shaped by nature. So although Taiwan simply looks like a rather small island south of Korea and one could easily overlook it as a vacation destination, this island definitely has more to offer than just a view from Taipei 101. While most people spend their winter vacations going to some island paradise with sandy beaches, I
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8 1, 2. 3, 4,
5. walking around Taipei Taipei’s 101 Tower 7. Longshan Temple in Taipei 6, 8. Hualien County
picked Taiwan instead, because in Taiwan, one can truly experience the delicate yin and yang balance between the urban and the natural worlds.
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To submit your own recollection, email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr
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culture I behind the myth
Ham and Squid
Traditional Korean Wedding Rituals Written by Karly Pierre
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odern Korean weddings are big business. According to a Reuters article, in 2012 the average cost of a wedding was $200,000 USD, or more than four times the average annual income in the country. The same report compared the cost of Korean weddings in 1999 and 2011 and showed costs rose by 270 percent in a little more than a decade. Wedding halls that dot city streets across Korea offer quick assembly line style ceremonies that shuffle wedding parties in and out of banquet halls like clockwork. The bride wears a white Western style wedding dress and families exchange luxury gifts. But today’s weddings do not resemble what until about 15 years ago was a common wedding. In fact, traditional Korean wedding rituals were intimate, festive affairs stretched over a few hours instead of minutes and they were fun. One of those rituals involved a ham and squid.
the box to someone else. First, he offered money in an envelope to the groom’s party. Then, the father would offer food and alcohol. Afterwards, the bride’s friends would join the groom’s party. With each new offering, the groom’s party shuffled closer to the door of the bride’s home until the groom entered the home. Upon entering, the groom broke a wooden bowl and placed the wedding box on a plate of rice cakes topped with red beans to ward off evil spirits. Finally, the groom and bridal parties as well as neighbors gathered for a party. While quaint wedding traditions such as this are no longer fashionable in Korea’s high-tech, fast-paced society, there is hope that future generations will eschew the growing extravagance of modern weddings and look back to past generations for a more culturally rich experience.
A few days before the wedding ceremony, the groom along with his friends would carry a wedding box (in Korean ham) from his house to the bride’s house. Three essential items were included in the wedding box: marriage papers wrapped in black silk, gifts for the bride’s family and five colored satchels containing beans, millet and cotton seeds for luck. The wedding box itself was covered in yards of red and blue silk representing ying and yang. Later, the fabric would be used to make clothes. During the groom’s journey, he wore a mask made from dried squid to ward off evil spirits. The groom and his friends cried out, “Buy a box! A box for sale!” By the time the groom’s party arrived at the bride’s house in the evening, all the lights around her house would be turned on. The group continued to chant that they were selling a box and the bride’s father pretended to try his best to keep the group from selling
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jeolla history I culture
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Zen Buddhism in United Silla Part 2
Written by Won Hea-ran
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fter Jang Bogo’s assassination, Silla dynasty lost power over time. Political chaos and corruption led to local rebellions and oppositions. The central government became so powerless that local nobilities started to build their own military forces and rule their region without any interference. Local families who gained freedom from interference like this gradually spread their influence over the spiritual realm of ideology and culture. This led to the introduction of Zen Buddhism. Before the central government started to lose power, United Silla was mostly ruled by Non-Zen Buddhism such as Hwaom Buddhism. Non-Zen Buddhism emphasized interpretations of Buddhist scriptures and doctrine. Non-Zen Buddhism factions were named after the scriptures they mainly followed. For example, Hwaom Buddhism had the book of Hwaom and Yeolban Buddhism had the book of Daeban Yeolban as their basic scriptures. The emphasis on scriptures is conspicuous in their temples’ architecture. For instance, Hwaom temple has the book of Hwaom written on the sides of three floors of its tower. Because Non-Zen Buddhism considered the ability to interpret difficult characters more important than asceticism, it could only become the religion of the central government. In contrast, Zen Buddhism put emphasis on spiritual fulfillment by performance. Zen Buddhists believed anyone could be a Buddha with absolutely no knowledge of the scriptures if they performed asceticism and perfectly understood the Buddhist nature. While Non-Zen Buddhists claimed that “The king is the Buddha and the country is the Pure Land of Buddhism”, Zen Buddhists said, “I (who found enlightenment) am the Buddha and where I stand is the Pure Land of Buddhism.” Zen Buddhism supported local families. While previous Non-Zen Bud-
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The Zen circle, the Zen Buddhism logo, represents the entire universe in a single, perfect stroke
dhism gave the central government the right to rule, Zen Buddhism supported local families, providing self-confidence that they themselves can rise to “Buddha equals power.” Zen Buddhism was most influential in the Jeolla region. Out of the nine most famous Zen temples, the Jeolla region had four of them in the late United Silla period. This was because the monks who studied abroad in Southern China usually returned to the Southwestern coast of Korea. The support of local nobles such as Wang Geon also helped Zen Buddhism to spread in the Jeolla region. Zen Buddhism was more than a simple religion. The public saw hope; the local families saw ambition; the central dynasty and nobles saw Zen as a threat to their original system. Ultimately, Zen contributed to the fall of the 1000-year Silla kingdom and the birth of a new dynasty.
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culture I korean poetry
Seagull
by Cheon Sang-byeong Translated by Brother Anthony of Taizé and Kim Young-Moo
Sheer yearning transformed the seagull into a cloud.
그대로의 그리움이 갈매기로 하여금 구름이 되게 하였다.
In the blue sea’s name it dyed its white wings in the sky, evidently joyful;
기꺼운 듯 푸른 바다의 이름으로 흰 날개를 하늘에 묻어 보내어
then the sea, with its so bright breast flowed after the cloud to distant lands.
이제 파도도 빛나는 가슴도 구름을 따라 먼 나라로 흘렀다.
Many times many times it was splendor flying high.
그리하여 몇 번이고 몇 번이고 날아 오르는 자랑이었다.
It was a beautiful heart.
아름다운 마음이었다.
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gwangju writes I culture
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Ways of Looking at a Choco Pie Written by Leb Mofsky
Fog, above a sloping hill of rice sheared off at the sides by its plastic container. And beside it, against the yellow checkered wall a crisp red box of choco pies. I was of two minds, whether to eat just one, or two. The choco pie, dessert’s best dessert. On the grey lacquered plate crumbs of choco pie mix with shards of dry carrot. The last remains of lunch. A man seeking to be one with a woman would do well to bring a choco pie. Just one. A box would be desperate.
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I wonder which is better sleeping undisturbed or waking up, then realizing it is early yet and slowly falling back to sleep, eating all of a choco pie or taking two bites, then realizing there is still some left to be eaten. In the icy wastes of the barbaric north, fifty large balloons full of ten thousand choco pies slowly descend to earth, in defiance of the dictator’s ban. Thin men of the North, enjoy the bounty of your brethren in the South. See, it lies in piles at your feet. Throw down your arms and reap
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Focus on Conservation
Korean Federation for Environmental Movements in Gwangju Written and photographed by Laura Becker
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ince 1989, the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements Gwangju (KFEM Gwangju) has been working to advance environmental awareness and protect public health. As Secretary General Choi Ji-Hyun explained, these usually go hand-inhand, effectively making environmental problems everybody’s business. Located near downtown, employee bicycles, leafy plants overflowing their pots, and posters from campaigns and demonstrations long past fill the KFEM Gwangju offices. Ms. Choi explained that KFEM Gwangju has six full-time staff and about 2,000 members, whose donations cover operating expenses. Most members volunteer their time and talents by joining campaigns and demonstrations, but many also hold lectures and conduct research projects. According to Ms. Choi, the most important issue that the organization is currently working on is the effort to protect green spaces. Ten years ago, KFEM Gwangju succeeded in creating a park green space from an unused piece of land. The project was realized through the hard work and dedication of the many Gwangju citizens who cleaned up the land and planted grass and trees. Now, the city plans to develop this valuable piece of property with the construction of a second metro line over the existing park originally created by Gwangju citizens.
this invaluable green space for its continued use and enjoyment.
“For ten years, Gwangju citizens have been able to walk, go on dates, play, and exercise in the park they built together,” said Ms. Choi. “Now, we are seeing a crisis!” KFEM Gwangju is working tenaciously to block the plan so that they can protect
KFEM Gwangju is one of 52 local KFEM branches nationwide. The largest non-governmental environmental organization in Korea, KFEM has achieved many important victories for environmental rights and an ecologically sustainable economy. In 2002,
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KFEM Secretary General Choi Ji-Hyun
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Participants in a human rights workshop at KFEM
KFEM joined the Friends of the Earth International to further its policy goal of strengthening international cooperation to protect the global environment. Along with this global network of environmental organizations from more than 70 countries, KFEM is also connected with the East Asia Climate Network and Greenpeace in Seoul, allowing members of like-minded environmental organizations to share their expertise and best practices across the vast network. At the national scale, KFEM is currently developing a project to reverse the damage wrought by the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, a multi-purpose project on the Han, Nakdong, Geum, and Yeongsan rivers in Korea. Introduced and championed by former president Lee Myung-bak, the project was declared complete in 2011. Environmental organizations, however, refer to it as the “Four Major Rivers Destruction Project.” The project was intended to construct dams and canals in order to prevent floods and drought, improve water quality, and generate jobs. Yet, according to KFEM Chief Director, Park Chang-Jae , who presented at the World Human Rights Cities Forum held in Gwangju this past May, the enormous budget of 20 billion USD used for this project has devastated the four major rivers in Korea. River bottoms were dug up and dams hastily constructed, triggering hydro-ecological changes including the collapse of tributaries, drainage problems, stagnant water, fish kill, and flooding of farmlands and wetlands near the rivers. KFEM
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would like to see the end of dam construction, arguing that dams are unnecessary. Mr. Park pointed out that the “Dam Mafia,” composed of development corporations, construction bureaucrats, and politicians, benefit from the construction of dams, so it is fighting an uphill battle to stop dam construction and the environmental damage from it. Ms. Choi has been engaged in the environmental movement with KFEM Gwangju for 14 years, serving as an office administrator and managing the overall operations of the organization. She sees education as a crucial component of building environmental awareness, citing the education that Korean elementary school students receive about recycling, global warming and energy conservation. Children made aware of environmental issues have the potential to grow into adults who take initiative and join campaigns to protect the environment. “People power is very important in Korea,” Ms. Choi concluded. She appeals to Gwangju residents interested in environmental issues to not only provide “people power” but also educate themselves on domestic and foreign environmental issues. “Think globally, act locally.” The environmental movement in Korea has gained in strength and in number recently with KFEM Gwangju fighting to save all green spaces from any further environmental damage. Every time we enjoy our day at the park we benefit from the hard work of KFEM Gwangju to save this invaluable land that creates a green Korea.
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KOTESOL
KOTESOL promotes scholarship, disseminates information, and facilitates cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with teaching and learning English in Korea.
What Every EFL Teacher Should Tell Their Students About Learning English Written by Dr. David Shaffer Photographed by Thomas Yau
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s educators in Korea, we often assume that our students are aware of the basic concepts and strategies related to learning English, but the truth is that they often are not. It is our duty to teach our students effective and enjoyable ways of learning English.
ENGLISH LEARNING VS. ENGLISH STUDY Let us begin by considering the difference between English “study” and “learning.” The term most often used in Korea is “English study,” which mainly refers to studying the words and grammar of English. Rote memorization is most commonly used for this study. Vocabulary items are associated with Korean words (friend = 친구), and grammar is formulaic (present perfect = subject + have/has + verb [participle]). The goal of this memorization is to do well on the soon-to-follow test. With rote memorization, however, little attention is paid to comprehension, and forgetting occurs almost as quickly as the original memorization did. Learning English is much more than “book learning” and memorization for testing. Learning vocabulary comes from making as many different associations with a word as possible (reading it, writing it, hearing it, saying it, and using it, alone and in different contexts). The same is true of grammar: it is learned by understanding the meaning of structures in different contexts.
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A teacher leads an English class with methods that encourage students’ participation.
INVESTMENT OF QUALITY PRACTICE TIME It must be realized that English is a “skill” that needs to be acquired, rather than another academic subject such as history or social studies. Just as learning to ride a bicycle requires one to get on the bicycle and practice, learning English requires one to use the language, to practice listening, speaking, reading and writing, not just study textbooks and memorize. The 10,000-hour rule states that approximately 10,000 hours of deliberate practice are required to attain a high level of proficiency in English as a second language. That comes out to about 20 hours of deliberate practice per week for 10 years! “De-
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liberate practice” refers to using the language for communication purposes and using effective learning methods, not mindless repetition and memorization. Many hours of practice and learning outside the classroom are required, and in order to plan and organize this out-of-class practice, a self-guided language-learning program is needed.
lems may be and how to solve them, and executing the solutions. Learner goals need regular reflection too, as the major uses of English in our students’ careers may be very different in 15 years. Our students need teacher guidance in creating self-guided language learning programs that will work effectively for them.
A SELF-GUIDED LANGUAGE-LEARNING PROGRAM To set up an effective self-guided language-learning program, students need to first realize that vocabulary and grammar rule memorization are not enough, a good test score is not enough, and classroom-style study is not enough. In addition to the kinds of structured study that regularly occur in a public school English class, they also need to have unstructured learning practice.
KOTESOL MONTHLY CHAPTER MEETING Date & Time: July 11(Saturday), 1:45 p.m. Place: Chosun University, Main Building, Left Wing, Room 4211
WHAT AND WHEN TO PRACTICE Having at least two learning methods for each of the four macro-skills, as well as for micro-skills such as pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar, is a lot for anyone to manage. The learner must determine which skills to spend more time on. Learners will often select the skills they like and are good at to spend the most time on, when the opposite is necessary. Students need to set language learning goals for themselves: long-term goals, medium-term goals, and short-term goals. Too many learners decide to “study TOEIC” because that is what their shortsighted, goal-less classmates are doing. Once the learner has decided on the learning methods to use and the amount of time to allocate to each, they need to make a realistic schedule. They must remember that “self-guided” does not necessarily mean “selfstudy.” While extensive reading (i.e., pleasure reading at one’s proficiency level) is a great activity to do alone to strengthen vocabulary, grammar, and general English skills, interaction in English with others is also essential for language learning to progress naturally. Speaking with others in English needs to be a part of any learner’s self-guided program. This interaction could be with another learner interested in improving his or her English, or it could be with a study group.
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Morning (11 a.m.) Reflective Practice Session ELT Presentation; 1 Collaborative Discussion Session; Swap-shop Session: Present your ideas, activities, advice. For more details: Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju Email: gwangju@koreatesol.org Twitter: @GwangjuKOTESOL
ABOUT THE AUTHOR David E. Shaffer is the President of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL). On behalf of the Chapter, he invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops at their monthly meetings, their March 14 chapter conference, and special events. Dr. Shaffer is a professor of English Language at Chosun University, where he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses for many years. He is a long-time member of KOTESOL and a holder of various KOTESOL positions, including Publications Committee Chair. He is also a multiple recipient of the KOTESOL President’s Award and an honoree at the recent Michael Simning Gwangju Community Building Award ceremony.
SELF-REFLECTION ON LANGUAGE LEARNING It is necessary for the language learner to reflect on learning methods and goals at regular intervals and make adjustments. This can be achieved by keeping a reflective language learning journal: evaluating individual methods or skills, analyzing what the prob-
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United Nations Declares South Korea’s Mandatory HIV Testing for Foreigners Is Racial Discrimination Written by Jessica Keralis
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outh Korea has come under fire in recent years for its treatment of immigrants, migrant workers and non-ethnic Koreans. Last fall, Bitter Harvest, Amnesty International’s report on the country’s treatment of agricultural migrant laborers, highlighted how South-east Asian migrants went unpaid, were subjected to harsh treatments and squalid living conditions and were deprived of medical care. In some cases, the migrants were forced to take (and pay for) an HIV test, with employers requiring a negative test result. In the case of migrant workers, this is clearly illegal — currently, the only visa category for which the South Korean government requires an HIV test is an E-2 (native-speaking English teachers from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the U.K. and the U.S.). However, even this requirement has been determined to be discriminatory and racially motivated, according to a ruling from the UN’s Committee to End all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) handed down last week. The ruling was issued in response to a case filed by a New Zealand woman who lost her job in 2009 after refusing to take an HIV test to renew her contract. The case was brought to CERD in 2012 by Benjamin Wagner, an international human rights attorney who co-authored a legal paper on the issue of South Korea’s use of HIV testing as a proxy for racial discrimination with Matt van Volkenburg, who has been covering this issue at the long-running expat blog Gusts of Popular Feeling since it all began. The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education (UMOE)
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— the defendants in this case — argued that, rather than serving as a(n albeit bad) public health measure, the HIV tests were viewed as a “means to check the values and morality of foreign English teachers.” The CERD not only recommended that the UMOE pay back wages to the teacher that was fired, but that the Korean government strike down the law and “counter any manifestations of xenophobia, through stereotyping or stigmatizing, of foreigners by public officials, the media and the public at large.” Whether the government will remove the testing requirement or implement any of the recommendations remains to be seen. HIV tests for foreign nationals applying for certain classes of work visas have been in place since 2007; the government dropped them for all classifications except the E-2 visa in 2010. Last year, the Ministry of Education dropped the requirement for visa renewal but still required the test for new visa applicants. Any foreigner who tests positive for HIV is immediately detained and deported; in 2008, the Korean CDC reported that it had deported 521 out of 647 HIV-positive foreigners. Non-nationals of Korean ethnicity have been able to successfully challenge such deportations, but the Korean judicial system explicitly differentiates between the legal rights of citizens versus foreign nationals. Interestingly, South Korea’s treaty with CERD gives it “the same authority as domestic law” regarding foreign nationals. According to Wagner, “Unfortunately, however, the treaty remains relatively unknown in Korea and neither the government nor the courts have done enough to change that.
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It will be interesting to see how the Korean government will respond to the CERD’s ruling — whether it will in fact change the law in accordance with its treaty obligations. Based on South Korea’s history of human rights protections, it does not look promising. Even when human rights principles are codified into law, employers (and often police officers) who violate workers’ legal rights do so with widespread impunity and are rarely prosecuted or held accountable — as demonstrated by the cases of the migrant workers in Bitter Harvest and the workers enslaved on salt farms on the islands of South Jeolla. The admission that HIV tests were seen as a way to “check the values and morality” of Visa applicants is a slap in the face — doubly so considering that only foreigners are required to have “upright values” in order to get jobs. Nonetheless, the CERD ruling is a major victory — a solid foundation on which to pressure the South Korean government, which has demonstrated that it wants to be taken seriously in the international community. Additional Information: • A summary of the UN CERD ruling can be found at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15981&LangID=E. • HIV/AIDS Tests as a Proxy for Racial Discrimination? A Preliminary Investigation of South Korea’s Policy of Mandatory In-Country HIV/ AIDS Tests for its Foreign English Teachers (Journal of Korean Law): This paper is available by visiting: http://s-space.snu.ac.kr/ bitstream/10371/85184/1/03_BK%20Wagner_ OK.pdf
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Join Our Team! Gwangju News always needs volunteers who want to share their expertise or gain some. Feel free to contact us with your interest and your idea to get involved! The Gwangju News Print Team needs copy editors, proofreaders, and writers. Please contact the print editor at gwangjunews@gic.or.kr. The Gwangju News Online Team needs webmaster and online editorial assistants. Please contact the online editor at gnonline@gic.or.kr. Email us today and start getting involved!
• Gusts of Popular Feeling: This long-running Korean expat blog can be accessed at: http:// populargusts.blogspot.com/ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jessica Keralis has a Master of Public Health and four years of experience in the field of public health. She is currently working as an epidemiologist in HIV prevention. All views expressed here are her own and not those of any employer.
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SEWOL July 2015 Translated by Lee Harim, Kim Myeongjun and Jeong Jimin Photos courtesy of Chosun.com and Danzzi Daily
A SEWOL HERO SUFFERS WITH CANCER Fourteen months ago, Mr. Kim Hong-gyung who saved Danwon High School students during the Sewol Ferry disaster, was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer. He has been fighting this disease since last December. At the time of the MV Sewol accident, Mr. Kim boarded the ferry going to Jeju Island with a vehicle that carrying plumbing equipment. When the ship entered the Maenggol Channel in Jeonnam Jindo and began sinking, Mr. Kim was on the right top floor deck and could have easily escaped. Instead, he went back to help save dozens of Danwon High School students. Due to Kim’s bravery, the Construction Worker Association awarded him with a prize, which he then refused. According to Kim, it was meaningless in light of the many that died in the accident. Kim lost his livelihood, van and equipment on the Sewol Ferry. After being diagnosed, he believed the South Korean government would compensate him for the loss of his life’s work. The government promised to compensate him for damages up 5.3 million won, but has still not paid him. In the meantime, his hospital debts have grown to 15 million won.
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REFLOATING THE SEWOL FERRY On May 22, The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries issued a public announcement for an international bid on the Sewol Ferry refloating contract. The budget target is within 100 billion Korean won and will be awarded through a weighted bidding process. The bids will be evaluated with a weighted maximum skill score of ninety points, and price score of ten points, out of a hundred points. Essential conditions for bidding included three terms: salvage of the entire vessel without cutting, minimizing the loss of human remains, and collection of all accessible remaining oil. Items to be evaluated in the technical proposal include best efforts to minimize danger and uncertainty through salvage, preventative measures protecting against the loss of human remains, and comprehensiveness of refloating plans. After proposal evaluation, The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to finalize a contract in July through negotiations with the best bidding company, and to start marine refloating operations in September.
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GOHEUNG Written by Warren Parsons Photographed by Lee Jeongmin
Date: July 25, 2015 Price: GIC Members 40,000 won/ Non-Members 50,000 won/ Children 20,000 won Contact: 062-226-2733 (Lee Jeongmin) or gic@gic.or.kr/ gictour@gic.or.kr
Gwangju
Dadohae Marine National Park
Palyeong-san
Neungga Temple
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EE the beautiful landscapes within the Dadohae Marine National Park, starting at the majestic Palyeong-san, a mountain with eight distinct rocky peaks whose fame reached the ears of China’s ancient kings. As such, settled below this backdrop is one of Korea’s oldest temples, Neungga-sa, founded in the 5th century. Besides being a pleasant place to have a stroll and enjoy the scenery, the temple houses an important set of wooden guardian kings from the 17th century. On a volcanic outcrop set behind Palyeong-san is Yongbawi, a unique lava flow that pours into the sea and has created legends of dragons ascending to heaven via its steep cliff faces. EAT what the locals eat at Yeongnam Village. This sleepy town offers the freshest ingredients straight from the sea and fields in the area, especially fish
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Yongbawi
Lunch @ Yeongnam Village
Namyeol-ri Beach
Gwangju
brought in by the town’s fishermen. DO all the things that make summer great: walk along a sandy beach, swim in the cool waters of the South Sea or just watch the waves from the shade of pine trees. Namyeol-ri Beach is a rare treat in South Jeolla, with unobstructed views out to sea, broad sand banks and clear swimmable water; it is sure to please the most discerning beach go-er. There is also a walking trail up to an observation deck where the views of the horizon are even grander. *** The afternoon will be spent playing at the beach, so please bring along summer essentials: swimwear, sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, towels, a change of clothing, snacks and bottled water. There will also be well-appointed restrooms, changing rooms and showers nearby.
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Alleycon: A Waygeek Event Written by Jordan VanHartingsveldt and J.J. Billett Photo courtesy of Alleycon
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f you have not already heard of Alleycon, you are in the minority. Founded by members of the Gwangju community in 2013, Alleycon is Korea’s first Western-style geek convention. The event is run primarily in English and differs from similar Korean events with regards to scope. Rather than just focusing on illustration and costume play, known as “cosplay,” Alleycon has a little of everything — from video games to musical entertainment. As this event was founded by philanthropic individuals in conjunction with the owners of The First Alleyway, Alleycon seeks to help members in the nationwide geek community. It also seeks to bring a slice of home to international residents, think San Diego Comic Con, and, in so doing, bring a little Western flavor to the Korean convention scene. It also acts as an outlet for artists to showcase their work. Furthermore, Alleycon 2014 was the birthplace of J.J. Billett’s P2PRPG, a charitable organization that leverages tabletop gaming for charitable causes. Visitors to Alleycon can expect to see a variety of events and activities related to geek interests. Many guests at past events decided to cosplay as a favorite character; this year is no exception, though dressing up is certainly not mandatory. There will be several tournaments on various media platforms: Dominion and Settlers of Catan in board gaming, Super Smash Brothers and Halo in video gaming, several Magic: the Gathering drafts, and casual games for those of a less competitive character. Alleycon has also invited Korea-based speakers to share their work and experiences in this country in a series of casual talks. Included in 2015’s roster are cartoonist Ryan Estrada, author Robert Bevan and professional cosplayer Lauren Homer. The Gwangju Performance Project will be hosting the final products of their 48-Hour Film Festival at Alleycon and a gathering of artists will be selling their work to guests.
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A portion of all proceeds from Alleycon will be redirected into the community. The two recipient organizations near to the hearts of Alleycon’s organizing body are the Michael Simning Ndwara Scholarship Fund and the Adopt-a-Child for Christmas — Gwangju program. Alleycon 2015 will be happening Sept. 19 and 20 at the Gwangju Design Center in Cheomdan. People interested in joining this year’s event can follow the latest news on the Alleycon Facebook page. They can also stay updated by visiting www.alleycon.com and www.waygeek.net for affiliated material.
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GIC Talk July Schedule
Theme of the Month: Global Knowledge Time & Location: Saturdays from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., GIC Auditorium (Samho Center, 1st Floor) For more information, contact gictalk@gic.or.kr
JULY 4: Knowing Safety
JULY 11: Knowing Education
Speaker: Hyun Kang Topic: Safety Culture in Our Lives and Workplaces
Speaker: Ana Traynin Topic: Alternative Education in Korea
Korea has experienced several unforgettable catastrophes just this last year. However, many of those catastrophes had already been happening in developed countries for several decades.
What images are conjured with the words “Korean public school?” Korean education has earned a worldwide reputation for rigorous studying and testing of students and a de-emphasis on clubs, sports and hands-on learning. However, another side of the story exists.
Accidents in the workplace have occurred frequently, where 1,800 people are killed in the Korean workplace every year while several thousands are injured. Most of injuries are due to absence of a workplace safety-culture. Hyun Kang would like to address safety and health issues in and out of the workplace and discuss how to implement and promote a safety culture for colleagues, friends and family.
Since the late 1990s, a number of alternative schools (대안 학교 daean hakyo) have opened around Korea, serving students and families seeking a different education than the one offered in the state school system. One of these schools is Hanbit High School in Damyang County, a boarding school with a unique, progressive curriculum that brings together students from around the country. This GIC Talk will introduce Hanbit High School and discuss the prospects for the alternative school movement, both in Korea and abroad.
JULY 18: Knowing Alleycon
JULY 25: Knowing Music
Speakers: J.J. Billett & Jordan VanHartingsveldt Topic: Alleycon: A Waygeek Event
Speaker: Eden Jones Topic: Music Without Notes
More information about this GIC Talk is included in the GIC Talk Preview.
Eden Jones will share how she has learned to play the violin by ear, following the Suzuki method, a technique that teaches through listening repeatedly to internalize the music and then reproduce it on an instrument. This technique is different from the more traditional music education of learning to read and play notes. Eden will begin by giving a short performance. This will lead into the story of her musical career which began at just four years old. Following this, she will lead the audience through the Suzuki method. She will then conclude her talk with the value of learning music at a young age and with a final performance.
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info
Community Board
Have something you want to share with the community? Gwangju News community board provides a space for the community to announce clubs’ activities and special events. Please contact gwangjunews@gic.or.kr for more information. UNESCO KONA VOLUNTEERS UNESCO KONA Volunteers is a registered organization that helps underprivileged kids to learn English independently through storybooks and story-maps. We are looking for long-term volunteers who desire to enrich their lives. We are asking volunteers to commit to helping at least once a month (please check the days and locations below).
(evenings) 5-7 p.m. Location: UNESCO KONA Volunteers Center (Ssangchong-dong, Seo-gu, 062434-9887)
Foreign volunteers who are interested in practicing their Korean and learning more about Korean culture with Korean children are welcome to stay at the center on any Saturday morning or Saturday evening for a short cultural exchange.
4th Friday afternoons 3-5 p.m. Location: Grandmother’s Community Children’s Center (Punghyang-dong, Buk-gu, 062-524-2076)
If you have any picture books, storybooks, puppets and any educational items, we accept all donations in order to distribute them to the local children’s homes or community children’s centers in Gwangju and South Jeolla province. The days and locations of the facilities are as follows: Every Saturday mornings / 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or every Saturday afternoons
3rd Sunday afternoons / 3-5 p.m. Location: Youngjin Children’s Home (Imgok-dong, Gwangsangu, 062-9528040) or Gwangju Children’s Home (Dongrim-dong, Buk-gu, 062-5130859)
3rd Sunday mornings and afternoons/ 9 a.m.–2 p.m. (Lunch is provided) Location: Haein Temple (Jangseong, South Jeolla, 061-393-5135) For more infomation, 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
GWANGJU ICE HOCKEY TEAM Looking for men and women of all ages to join us every Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Yeomju Ice Rink near World Cup Stadium. If you are interested, contact Andrew Dunne at atdunne@gmail.com GWANGJU INTER FC The Gwangju International Soccer Team (Gwangju Inter FC) plays regularly every weekend. If you are interested in playing, email: gwangju_soccer@yahoo.com or search ‘Gwangju Inter FC’ on Facebook. JOIN THE GWANGJU PERFORMANCE PROJECT CHOIR No experience is necessary and all are welcome. The choir will be learning and singing a wide variety of material, including pop, jazz, choral, and musical theater! The GPP Choir meets every Saturday from 12:30 2:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Gwangju International Center. For more information, visit our Facebook page or e-mail at gwangjuplayers@gmail.com
NEW POSTCODE SYSTEM EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2015 How It is Changed • The 5-digit district number assigned based on the geographic features (roads, rivers, railroads, etc.) and assigned to each State Basic District. It will replace the existing 6-digit postal code created based on the administrative units (Eup, Myeon and Dong) and the districts assigned to each postman. • The first 3 digits out of 5 represent Special (Metropolitan) City/ Province and Si (city) / Gun / Jachigu (“Autonomous Gu”) • The last 2 digits are composed of serial numbers given to the districts inside the corresponding Si, Gun and Autonomous Gu, from the northwest corner of the district to the southeast.
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Do you want to experience Korea? Then this program is for you! Experience Korean culture at Hyanggyo, a traditional Confucian school. Experience Programs (2 hours, at least 10 people)
Basic Programs (2 Hours) - Experience wearing Hanbok (Traditional Costumes) - Learn the etiquette of hand gestures, greetings, and bowing - Drink green tea - Explore Hyanggyo and watch movies Optional Programs (additional cost) - Experience a Korean traditional wedding ceremony - Experience a coming of age celebration - Watch a performance of Korean classical music and Fan Dance - Make kimchi, traditional confections, and rice cake. - Play traditional Korean games such as Tuho, Yut, etc 7-8, 95 Angil, Jungan-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju 503-818, South Korea E-mail: swk2013@daum.net Website: www.swk2013.com Tel: 062-431-6501
Attorney Attorney Park’s Park’s Law Law Firm Firm We're ready to serve your best interests in legal disputes. We provide affordable consultation & representation.
▶ Areas of Specialty contracts, torts, family law, immigration, labor ▶ Civil & Criminal Attorney Park, Duckhee former judge, GIC board member Services available in Korean, English & Chinese
#402 Simsan Bldg, 342-13 Jisan-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju Location: next to Gwangju District Court
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Tel: 062) 222-0011 Fax: 062)222-0013 duckheepark@hanmail.net
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