(EN) Gwangju News June 2015 #160

Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine I June 2015 Issue No. 160

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Class Hospital

for treatment of children's acute otitis media three years running

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

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Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine

June 2015 Issue No. 160 Published on May 26, 2015 Cover Photo: Cha Sanggu Cover Art: Joe Wabe 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.

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Cha Sanggu

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, Adriano Salamone COPY EDITORS Jon Ozelton, 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 CREATIVE CONSULTANT Warren Parsons RESEARCHERS Ki Suyeon, Kim Ji-heon, Lee So-eun

Volunteering Inquiry and Feedback: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr Advertising and Subscription Inquiry: karina@gic.or.kr or 062-226-2733~34 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 10 14 16 18

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local local local local local local local local photography photography photography places to see places to see places to see culture culture culture general general general gic gic

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Gwangju City News Upcoming Events Cha Sanggu: Artistry and Authenticity as a “Synthetic Korean” A Sound Evolution: The History of K-Pop Can You Hear Me Now? Bridging the Gap: Korea Bridge Initiative Is Helping Disadvantaged Youth Asia and High Speed Rail Gwangju Talks: “Do you like K-Pop? Why?” Gwangju is Ready to Welcome the World!

Away Game: Coach Bill Self Prepares for Universiade Gwangju Universiade Countdown Right to the City: How Gwangju Visitors Said “Yes” to Human Rights This Year Sewol Update June 2015 May Concert Gwangju African Community Gwangju Plays: Alternate Speed Gwangju Cooks: Quick Kimchi Gwangju Eats: Ramen Manddang Fashion on the Street: Pounding the Pavement Now Trending: Wediann Photo Essay: Uncoupled Culture Photo of the Month Vidacorea My Korea: Pedaling the Yeongsan River Bike Trail Departing Gwangju: Chasing Adventure in Borneo Korean Poetry: Sŏmjin River by Kim Yong-taek Gwangju Writes: Carpets like Grass Behind the Myth: The Jikji Jeolla History: Jang Bo Go and the Sea Kingdom Part 1 KOTESOL: Providing Instructions: A Minimalist Perspective Health: Your Health: There’s an App for That Green Korea: A Growing Future: Waeg Farms GIC Tour Preview: Namwon GIC Talk Preview: The Michael Simning Community Builder Award Presentation Ceremony GIC Talk June Schedule Community Board

CORRECTION The author for April issue of My Korea was printed incorrectly. It should be by Victoria Lee. We apologize for the error.

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GWANGJU CITY NEWS Compiled by Ki Su-yeon, Kim Ji-heon, and Lee So-eun Photos courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City

GWANGJU MUNICIPAL LIBRARY 2015 READING IN HUMANITIES CLASS The 2015 Reading in Humanities Class is now open for enrollment at the Gwangju Municipal Library.

This year’s theme is “Meeting Humanities in Everyday Life though Cinema” from the perspectives of philosophy, literature, history and natural science. A class schedule is below. Classes are conducted in Korean All the courses are free and held in the seminar room on the first floor. Registration is required in advance. For more information contact 062-613-7751 or go to http://www.citylib.gwangju.kr/ Themes

Time

MUDEUNG PROMOTED AS A HEALTHY MOUNTAIN Health and Environmental Research Institute (HERI) in Gwangju carried out an experiment measuring the effects of phytoncide, a natural antibacterial, on the physiological and mental change of mountain climbers, focused on 19 sites at coniferous forests on Mudeung Mountain.

According to the research, the level of phytoncide was higher at lower altitudes from May to August.

The anion level was highest at the retinispora and Japanese Cedar forest at the first catchment area. Anions, or negatively charged ions, are believed to be good for enhancing metabolism and alertness, as well as strengthening immunity.

Along with the findings, Gwangju produced a “Mountain Trail Map For Health,” which recommends four trail sections: “A Fresh Forest” at the first catchment area, suitable for the elderly with gentle slopes and the highest healing effect; “Royal Azalea Hill” at Deok-san, a stony slope where hikers can enjoy beautiful flowers and autumn leaves in May and early November respectively; “A Breezy Valley” passes through Won-hyo Valley, which is good for trekking; and “A Fresh Sound of Water” combines Jeungsim-sa Temple for both meditation and trekking.

Philosophy and Life in Cinema

4 p.m. every Wednesday

Novels Meet Humanities

5 p.m. every other Thursday

Historical Figures in Cinema

10 a.m. every Friday from June 12

GWANGJU GETS COMMENDATION FOR FOOD POISONING PREVENTION

Finding Science Facts in Cinema

10 a.m. every Saturday from July 3

Gwangju is scheduled to receive the best commendation from the Korea Food and Drug Administration’s food poisoning preventive management evaluation. This assessment measured food safety administration, prevention education, noro virus food poisoning rate, etc.

Since 2013, the city has carried out food poisoning preventive diagnostic services, which coach progressive sanitation services. The city manages an emergency center for food poisoning with related public organizations. A city officer said:“It’s a great pleasure for Gwangju before Gwangju Summer Universiade in 2015, and Gwangju will organize Prevention of Food-borne Disease business methodically.”

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Kim Eun-seon, Director of HERI, said: “I hope our findings will help promote the health of Gwangju citizens and preserve Mount Mudeung.”

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GWANGJU FIREFIGHTER SPECIALISTS IN NEPAL From May 8 to 15, Gwangju Fire Headquarters dispatched a specialist team to a local fire station in Nepal, which suffered earthquake damage. Mayor Yoon gave special orders to organize this team after dispatching a private rescue team from Gwangju. The team was created to realize the spirit of fellowship with Gwangju and the international community. This team focused on emergency medical services, which is lacking, rather than rescue tasks, which are almost finished. The veteran team has a lot of experience, certifications and awards. Gwangju has offered safety and rescue equipment as well.

“This dispatch is more than rescue support in the view of seeding the spirit of Gwangju to the Asians,” said Mayor Yoon. “Cheer the Nepalese and assure the safety of another rescue team to finish their task without trouble.” Gwangju is also planning to support Nepal by raising private and public funds.

GWANGJU SELECTED FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Gwangju Metropolitan City announced that two enterprises in Gwangju were selected at a contest sponsored by Korea Creative Content Agency and will be provided financial support to the sum of 700 million won from the government, and 200 million won from private sectors.

The project supports the development of localized cultural content, aiming to create added value to local cultural assets and promote local content for people all around the world to enjoy.

The first of two selected projects is “Dong Gae Bi; A Story Deliverer,” which will animate the 400-year-old tale of a faithful dog in Yangrim-dong, Gwangju. The other is “Bitgoeul Heroes Saga,” a game that characterized General Kim Deok Ryeong and other historical figures in order to fight off enemies invading Bitgoeul.

“We will try hard to promote global contents and develop cultural content industry,” said Kim Il-yung, the head of the cultural enterprise section.

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COMPLETION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTION CENTER On April 16, Gwangju Horticultural Cooperative held the opening ceremony for the Agricultural Products Distribution Center in Jiya-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. It has a storehouse, selection office and education office. The lack of mid-distribution process between producers and consumers ensures goods are provided at an average of a 20 percent discount. Because the collected products in this center are washed, sterilized and packed directly, the distribution time is shortened and fresher products are provided. Gwangju Horticultural Cooperative is planning to start with leaf vegetables, radishes, carrots and potatoes, then expand to various vegetables to provide for large customers, including schools and restaurants.

OVERHAUL OF UNIVERSIADE PREPARATION On April 29, Mayor Yoon hosted a meeting for cooperation amongst organizations related to the 2015 Gwangju Universiade, which begins in July. Police are to make security, transportation and traffic control plans in advance. Gwangju is scheduled to complete construction of facilities and environmental maintenance, as well as announce the traffic control plan and support selling advance tickets. “Please consider that safety is very important, especially during the opening and closing ceremony,” he stressed. “All components are made by cooperation among various organizations.”

GWANGJU DONATES TO GREEN UMBRELLA CHILDREN’S FUND On May 4, Gwangju announced it had donated 65,600,000 won to a support fund to help vulnerable families with health care, in one-parent families, and families living in the care of grandparents. The campaign, managed by Green Umbrella Children’s Fund (초록우산어린이재단), was from April 6 to 28.

Public officials, executives and civilians donated money.

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Upcoming

Events

Muju Film Festival 무주산골영화제

JUNE 4-8

JUN 14

until

JUN 14 Outdoor screen with the Muju Deungnamu Playground Main Stage, Deogyusan National Park – Deogyudae Campground, Muju firefly market Indoor screen with the Muju Sangol Theater Take the intercity bus at the Gwangju Bus Terminal and get off at the Muju Terminal (3.5 hours). From Muju Bus Terminal, turn right and go straight. From there, turn left at the CNU intersection.

063-220-8253 http://www.mjff.or.kr/board/html_2015/index.html

until

JUN 7

until

JUN 14

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2015 Democracy, Human Rights, and Peace Exhibition: Dad’s Best Years 2015 민주인권평화전 ‘아빠의 청춘’ Gwangju Museum of Art, 10 a.m.–6 p.m./ Closed on Mondays, 500 won, Gwangju Biennale/ Gwangju Biennale Entrance bus stops, 062-613-7100, http://www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr/ Tell Me Your Wish (Musical) 소원을말해봐 Chungjang Art Hall (a.k.a. Chungjangro Good Feel Theater), 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays/ 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays/ 4 p.m. on Sundays (No performances on Monday), All seats 30,000 won, Asian Culture Complex bus stop, 062-5118848, http://ticket. Interpark.com

Maksim Mrvica Solo Classical Concerts 막심 므라비차 솔로 클래식 콘서트 – 광주 Gwangju Culture & Art Center, 5 p.m., Vip seats 110,000 won, R seats 90,000 won, S seats 70,000 won, Gwangju Culture & Art Center bus stop, 1600-4534, http://ticket.interpark.com Bravo My Life (Play) 브라보 마이 라이프 - 광주 Postal Insurance Gwangju Building, Good Feel Theater, 8 p.m. weekdays/ 4, 7 p.m. Saturday / 2, 5 p.m. Sunday (Monday is day off), All seats 30,000 won, Jijeokgonsa(Korean Cadastral Corporation) bus stop, 1600-6689, http://ticket.interpark.com

Jeonju Dan-o Traditional Festival 2015 2015 전주단오

JUNE 20-21

Deokjin Park, Jeonju, North Jeolla Province Take the intercity bus at the Gwangju Bus Terminal and get off at the Jeonju Terminal (90 minutes).

From Jeonju Bus Terminal, go 300 meters towards the Geum-am Neighborhood 1 Office (금암 1동사무소). From there, take the bus no.1 for Girin-daero Deokjin Park (기린대로덕진공원). Walk 200 meters to Deokjin Park (3 minutes).

063-277-2151 ext. 7 http://www.pncc.or.kr/do.htm

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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 until

JUN 21

until

AUG 23

until

JUN 28

Bae Bien-u’s Exhibition: Between Island and Forest 배병우_섬과 숲 사이 Gwangju Museum of Art, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. / Closed on Mondays, Free, Gwangju Biennale/ Gwangju Biennale Entrance bus stops, 062-613-7100. http://www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr/ Park ByeongHee’s Exhibition: A Circle of Life 박병희_생명의 순환 Gwangju Museum of Art, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. / Closed on Mondays, Free, Gwangju Biennale or Gwangju Biennale Entrance bus stops, 062-613-7100, http://www.artmuse.gwangju. go.kr/ Kim Jin Hwa’s Exhibition; A dreaming Window 김진화 꿈꾸는 창 Gwangju Museum of Art – Sangnok annex, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. / Closed on Mondays, Free, Sangrok Hall bus stop, 062-613-5401, http://www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr/ June Home Match Schedule

The Trip to Italy 트립 투 이탈리아 [Comedy, Drama// 15] Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon Two friends take a journey in Italy, eating meals in six different cities.

A Midsummer’s Fantasia 한 여름의 판타지아 [Drama] Kim Sae-byeok, Ryo Iwase A Korean filmmaker journeys to a small rural town in Japan with his assistant director, who interprets for him.

Elephant’s Song 엘리펀트 송 [Drama] Bruce Greenwood, Xavier Dolan A psychiatrist is drawn into a complex mind game when he questions a disturbed patient about the disappearance of a colleague.

Her 그녀 [Drama / R] Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson A lonely writer who spends his time playing video games finds himself drawn to a newly purchased operating system.

Date

Match team

Time

9~11

Nexen Heroes

6:30 p.m.

* After screening a literature review will follow

12

Samsung Lions

6:30 p.m.

13~14

Samsung Lions

5 p.m.

19

KT Wiz

6:30 p.m.

20~21

KT Wiz

5 p.m

Midnight Diner 映画 深夜食堂 [Drama / 12] Kaoru Kobayashi, Joe Odagiri Midnight Diner, in the back of a main street in Tokyo, opens from midnight to 7 a.m. Customers come in and enjoy what the mysterious “master” prepares.

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Doosan Bears

6:30 p.m.

27~28

Doosan Bears

5 p.m

30

Hanwha Eagles

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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My Fair Wedding 마이 페어 웨딩 [Documentary] Kim Jho Gwangsu, Kim Seung-hwan Two men are married in front of Seoul citizens in September 2013. Although many people are against their marriage, both men say they deserve a happy ending.

June 18 – 21: Special screening of Charlie Chaplin movies June 25 – 28: Special screening of [Director’s Characters] Please inquire to Gwangju Theater for more info.

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Cha Sanggu

Artistry and Authenticity as a “Synthetic Korean�

Written by Laura Becker Photos courtesy of Cha Sanggu

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t first glance, Cha Sanggu looks more like a Kpop idol’s bodyguard than an actual artist. As a sixfoot-four non-Korean, he does not fit the mold of a K-pop artist in looks, age or nationality. Having fallen in love with the Korean spirit, taken a new name, and thrown off any trace of doubt, Canadian-born Sanggu is currently recording an original album for release in Korea and is in talks with a Korean television network for a reality show based on his unique situation.

Despite having worked with some of the greatest talents in the North American music scene, Sanggu never felt that his music was honestly expressing his point of view. Moving from genre to genre he found success, but felt unsatisfied as an artist. His entry into Korean music is a rebirth of sorts. He took a Korean name and refers to himself as a “synthetic Korean,” an identity still under construction. Being a synthetic Korean means that he shares the pride that Koreans feel for their country, but he knows that he can never claim to be Korean. “I am just a musician and singer who is inspired by Korea and her history, language, and culture,” he said. “I am not a K-pop artist.” He hopes that his Korean audience will feel his passion and sincerity as they watch him progress, both artistically and linguistically, in the months to come.

Sanggu has been studying Korean for just over a year. When he first started to learn the Hangeul alphabet, he was searching for Korean poetry and came across the work of Sangrim, a poet from Ulsan. He was captivated by the English translations of her poems, and upon trying to learn more about the poet, he discovered that Sangrim has family in his hometown of Vancouver. He reached out to them to explain his situation. Having the hunger to record songs, but no ability to read, write, or speak Korean, he asked Sangrim if she would consider writing lyrics for him until he became more proficient. He knew it was a long shot, but to his surprise, Sangrim loved the idea and began writing for one of his songs right away. The partnership between the singer and the poet is vital at this stage in Sanggu’s career.

“Even though the idea was for it to be a temporary thing, I think Sangrim is enjoying the process,” he said. “I also know that no matter how good my Korean gets, writing my own lyrics is going to be a million mile drop from the beautiful poems she’s writing now in our collaborations. As long as Sangrim is willing, I’m hoping to never take that fall.”

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Sangrim forms the third part of Team Sanggu along with producer Ronnie King, who has sold millions of records and received nominations for Grammy and Oscar awards. When Sanggu introduced him to K-pop, he fell in love with it, too. “It’s actually right up his alley,” said Sanggu. “The K-pop sound reminds me a lot of hip-hop and R&B influences I grew up with, many of which Ronnie produced.”

The combination of Sanggu’s vocals, Sangrim’s lyrics and Ronnie’s expertise creates an exciting recipe that Sanggu hopes will be a fresh take on K-pop. “It could be something fresh and unique, and it could be a total disaster. Only time will tell,” he admitted.

Sanggu learned fearlessness from Ronnie King.

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“From Ronnie, I learned how to let go,” he said.

“Ronnie taught me how to truly express myself. As a growing artist, a lot of dangerous barriers can build around you — walls that criticism, fear and loathing can create. Ronnie operates without any of these barriers and the result is obvious from his work and talent.”

Working for two years with Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes of TLC has also been instrumental in Sanggu’s artistic growth. “From Left-Eye I learned what it meant to be an artist and performer, and how humility and being down-to-earth are so important to longevity,” he said. “She taught me how to focus on what’s important over the superficial things that are out of your control. It’s not about fame and money, it’s about creativity and connecting with people. No one understood better than Lisa that even a single fan was a blessing, and an opportunity to nurture love and build a connection that supersedes anything physical and tangible.”

From Ed Roland of Collective Soul, Sanggu learned how to write songs and how to be a professional. “I learned that just having a skill set was not enough to be successful. You need drive, organization and a relentless work ethic to even have a chance to be heard,” he noted.

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Already, Sanggu has not only gotten the chance to be heard, but has received positive reactions to his new project. At the very beginning of the journey, he e-mailed a song he had recorded to the executive producer of a major Korean television network.

“He responded in minutes with a reaction that blew me away. He absolutely loved it to a degree that was probably surprising for both of us,” Sanggu remembers. It was a key moment that gave him confidence moving forward. “Thinking about that still makes me smile and gives me hope that I’m on the right track.”

Another key development is that Team Sanggu is in concept talks for a reality show that would introduce Sanggu to Korean audiences. While unable to share much at this stage of planning, Sanggu said: “I’m super excited that it’s even a thought…I think what I’m doing is pretty amazing, comical, and hopefully inspiring.”

As a non-Korean, Sanggu knows that his role in Korean music will be different from that of other artists. He hopes to use his art to provide a foreigner’s point of view on Korean social issues and connect with audiences on a deeper level. “Everything I’m doing musically will touch on important events in Korean history and the human condition,” he said.

“I want to share my perspective on what I’ve learned and show the deep compassion I feel for things that

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have occurred, past and ongoing. I want to deliver my interpretation of the pain and suffering of those who stood, fought, witnessed, and lost against the evils of their times.”

As Sangrim educated Sanggu about Korean poetry styles, he was particularly moved by Gasa poetry, which was realized in Gwangju. He learned about the Gwangju Uprising and became more determined to honor the pain, loss, and sacrifice of previous generations. “I want to speak without fear or reservation to show that at least here in my heart, these events are neither forgotten nor lost,” he said. Sanggu dreams of performing at Gwangju’s World Cup Stadium and plans on having at least two nights of performance in Gwangju in his first week in Korea, hopefully by the end of 2015.

Another of Sanggu’s dreams is to collaborate with the artists he looks up to, especially Psy, the “virtual father” who gave him his first taste of K-pop.

“I’d love to work with him, G-Dragon, 4-Minute and Primary for starters,” he said. “Korea is so rich with musical talent, and it would be amazing to collaborate with any of them.”

While it remains to be seen how Sanggu will be received in Korea, he already considers the journey a great success. “Because of this journey and transformation, I’ve already made great friends, had great times, and been both overwhelmed and thoroughly enriched by what I’ve learned,” he reflected.

“What comes next is out of my hands, but whatever it is I’ll do my best to enjoy it.”

www.holidayinngwangju.com Holiday Inn Gwangju provides the attractive dining experience. Join our seasonal event and get a limited benefit.

HOURGLASS (1F) TRIPLE B PLAN (Unlimited Buffet, BBQ, and Beer)

Enjoy a wide selection of freshly grilled meat and seafood prepared daily to order on the open charcoal-fired grill with unlimited draft beer. You can feel 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 - 20 Sep Price: 45,000 won (VAT included) per person/ 1 adult 1 kids Free (under 11 years old) *Reservation is necessary

LA PLACE (10F)

SPECIAL SUMMER PROMOTION SEAFOOD PLATTER WITH SPARKLING WINE

Connect with Sanggu on social media: Website: www.mawheyo.com YouTube: ku1thousand Facebook: @mawheyo Twitter: @mawheyo Instagram: @mawheyo La Place, grill & bar presents new seafood promotion for summer season. You can experience fantastic ensemble of seafood platter with chill sparkling wine. Each seafood menu is refillable as you want. Enjoy the fine dining with the amazing view at La Place.

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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A Sound Evolution The History of K-pop Written by Karly Pierre

Considered the first Korean pop, trot music arose in the early 20th century during Japanese occupation. Evolving from Japanese enka music, trot songs were originally translations of popular Western or Japanese songs. The name trot comes from the 1-2 beat rhythm employed in the foxtrot, a ballroom dance. There are usually seven five-syllable stanzas in a trot song, and singers perform in a trembling vocal style called gagok. Though popularity of the genre began to dwindle among youth during the 1990s, recently young performers such as Daesung and 2NE1 have released trot-inspired songs.

On September 20, 1959, the Kim Sisters debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show, the most popular American variety show on TV at the time. Hailed as the original Korean girl group, sisters Ai-ja and Sook-ja, along with their cousin Min-ja, gained substantial popularity in the U.S., performing in prominent nightclubs and venues across the country as well as on nationally broadcast TV shows. The trio boasted proficiency in 20 different instruments and performed covers of Western rock ’n roll and pop songs. They possessed so much crossover appeal that they sang with legendary singers Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. At the height of their popularity, the group made $13,000 a week. Though they were able to achieve enormous success, their beginnings were humble. Ai-ja and Sook-ja’s father, a musician, was killed during the Korean War, so the impoverished family began performing for American G.I.s for money until discovered by manager Bob McMackin.

During the 1980s there was a surge in the popularity of ballads. Notable balladeers were Lee Moon-se and Byun Jinseob. Lee Young-hoon was that period’s most popular composer.

1920s

1950-1960s

1980s

The Kim Sisters (L to R: Min-ja, Ai-ja, Sook-ja) Photo by Chick Sponder

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The Kim Sisters

Lee Moon-se Photo by Acrofan

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1990s

The Birth of Modern K-pop Seo Taiji and Boys stunned an MBC TV audience in 1992 as they sang to Western hip-hop and pop-inspired beats while undulating to B-boy dance moves during a musical competition. While the judges were not impressed — they received the lowest score — Korean youth were, so the trio launched a musical movement that would birth the Korean Wave — K pop. Seo Taiji and Boys set the standard formula for a successful K-pop boy band that to this day still works. The 1990s also saw the launch of prominent record companies, the first being SM Entertainment (founder Lee Soo-man) followed by YG Entertainment (Founder Yang Hyunsuk), DSP Entertainment (founder Lee Ho-yeon) and JYP Entertainment (founder Park Jin-young).

2000s

today- Expansion

Psy performing Gangnam Style in Malaysia Photo: Firdaus Latif

K-pop has successfully infiltrated markets across Asia and is upheld as the gold standard of pop music in the East. It is Korea’s top cultural export. In 2012, PSY released “Gangnam Style,” which went on to become a global phenomenon, cracking the 2 billion views mark on YouTube. In 2011, Billboard debuted its K-Pop Top 100 Chart.

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The K-pop Training System: The Process and Controversy The K-pop idol training system has been widely criticized as overwhelmingly rigorous and controlling. Entertainment companies are constantly seeking new talent and hold open auditions throughout the year. According to a 2014 Paris Review article, “The Lean, Mean, Star-Making K-Pop Machine,” four percent of Korea’s population (2.08 million contestants) auditioned for the television singing competition Superstar K, compared to 80,000 contestants for American Idol in the U.S. With such an easily accessible large pool of talent, companies are able to train and churn out a steady stream of new pop acts, which often makes performers disposable. After being selected to join a talent company, preferably at a young age, performers are trained for at least two years before debuting. While training, performers also attend school and live in dormitories together provided by the company. According to a 2012 Spin article, “Seoul Trained,” SM Entertainment spent about $100,000 a year for 20 to 30 trainees for three to seven years. Trainees practice late into the night and their image is meticulously manufactured, causing many critics to decry the overuse of cosmetic surgery in the industry.

Trainees are encouraged to be fiercely competitive with each other in order to be chosen to “debut” in a boy or girl group. After years of training, not every trainee makes the cut. Following their debut, they are offered a longterm contract or “partnership,” which can last for up to 15 years. Many equate these extended binding agreements to “slave contracts.” Idols are not allowed to date while under contract and have grueling tour schedules. Several lawsuits have arisen by former idols accusing their music labels of exploitative labor practices including overwork. While Kpop is now an industry that brings in billions of dollars, artists see very little of the profit compared to executives.

According to a 2015 Billboard report, the average yearly salary for a K-pop singer was 23 million won (or $21,000) in 2010 and 46.74 million won (about $43,000) in 2013.

New Regulations The Korean government has not completely turned a blind eye to problems in the music industry. According to Billboard, in 2014 a law was passed stating that children in the entertainment industry under 15 years of age cannot work more than 35 hours a week, and those between 15-18 may work up to 40 hours. The law also prohibits the sexualization of minors. Minor performers cannot be coerced into wearing revealing clothing or dancing sexually provocative choreography. Violators of the law face a $10,000 fine.

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Can You Hear Me Now? Radio DJs Speak on K-pop Traveling West, Trends and Controversy Written by Karly Pierre Photos courtesy of Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN)

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hen I came to Korea I didn’t know anything about K-pop, and within four months I was obsessed with it,” explained JD. This obsession eventually landed him a job.

“We were looking for a new host and when our producer saw his K-pop video clip, that’s when we knew we had the right person,” said Han Soo. “We wanted a host who had a passion and love for K-Pop.” Han and JD host K-Popular, a daily lunchtime radio show on Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN) featuring K-pop music. The duo is playful and re-

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freshingly bold on the air as they offer commentary about new music and emerging trends in the Korean music industry. The pairing of JD, an American, and Han, a Korean, represents in a way the new multiculturally engaged audience that K-pop hopes to attract.

“K-pop fandom started in Asia,” said Han. “It became popular in the 90’s, but Westerners didn’t know anything about K-pop. That changed with ‘Gangnam Style.’ Because of the repetition of the song and rhythm, it was catchy even though Westerners didn’t know what PSY was talking about. They

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just liked it. I was very proud when PSY became a world star, and I think he opened the door for K-pop exports…These days people are living in different countries and learning to accept new cultures. Multiculturalism is making it easier for K-pop to grow.

The timing is right.”

Even though JD is not a fan of “Gangnam Style,” he acknowledges that PSY made a significant contribution to drawing new Western consumers to K-Pop. JD was first introduced to K-Pop through his students.

“I was teaching and trying to relate to my students by playing Britney Spears or Christiana Aguilera,” said JD. “But my students didn’t know who they were. So I asked them who they listened to and they said Big Bang, Beast, 21, Girl’s Generation.”

He searched for these groups on You Tube and enjoyed them so much that he eventually started his own K-pop blog. He explained that many Westerners become instant K-pop fans after watching videos on You Tube and then create their own blogs or reaction videos.

“I traveled to London in January and interviewed reaction video internet stars, and K-pop dance groups and fans,” said JD. “The fandom there is crazy…A lot of fans are creating their own unique content.

The Korean government has done a lot to promote K-pop, but the content fans create has it’s own energy. People get deeply involved. You get sucked into it.”

Han noted that record companies are forming groups of mixed nationalities, strategically including Chinese members in a group and re-recording songs in Chinese.

“Usually a group is promoted in Korea first and once they are big here they try to get big in Japan and China,” said Na Lindis, a K-Popular writer. “Once they are big in Japan and China other Asian countries take notice, and once you are big in Asia the West takes notice.”

Labels hold auditions in North America and Europe hoping of find new crossover talent. However, JD remarked that the Korean language barrier often limits potential talent pools in the West to ethnic Koreans.

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have helped this relatively new genre continue to evolve. All of these groups were assisted by the formidable weight of a handful of major record companies. Otherwise known as the Big Three, SM, JYP and YG Entertainment have produced most of the major stars to emerge from K-Pop. However, new independent labels, such as Antenna, are breaking away from the formulaic pop that the industry prefers, and are galvanizing new movements in K-pop.

“Hip hop is now being recognized in Korean music,” said JD. “New labels want artists that write their own stuff, produce their own stuff and play instruments…The tide is turning where you are not just a singer or performer. You are an artist.”

No stranger to controversy, K-pop is often accused of being over-sexualized and exploitative of both genders. Grinding girls and boys flashing abs are packaged to appeal to young audiences. Han and JD agreed that considering the body image pressures faced by Korean youth, it is difficult to dismiss K-pop as just entertainment.

“People dislike us on YouTube when we say that a video is too sexualized,” said Na. ”I think this objectification is degrading to all women in this country…

For example the girl group EXID were such good singers with good songs, but they got famous by dancing sexy and are continuing to do that. I think this hides their true musical talent.”

Bridging the Western market seems within the grasp of K-pop, but will it ever be able to bridge the generational gap?

“When I was young my parents said I shouldn’t listen to K-pop because it was devilish,” recalls Han with a laugh. “I was banned from TV too. But I first heard about Seo Taiji and Boys from my friends. I would try to hum [Seo Taiji and Boys] songs with my friends even though I never heard or saw them.”

Though Han’s mother still doesn’t care for the loud electronic sound of K-pop, a few of her mother’s friends have become fans of K-pop idols.

“My mom’s friends watch a program where they remake old songs and the singers are K-pop stars,” said Han. “Since that program came out, they are starting to enjoy K-pop stars singing old songs for them.”

Groups like HOT, Girls Generation and Big Bang

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The Gwangju KBI class of Spring 2015.

Bridging the Gap Korea Bridge Initiative Is Helping Disadvantaged Youth Written and photographed by Katrin Marquez

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n 2012, Jessica Zucker was a Fulbright English teaching assistant working at a vocational girls’ high school in Gwangju when she noticed her students’ lack of educational opportunities. Out of the 600 seniors at her school, only 12 were preparing for the suneung — Korea’s college admissions exam — and those that wanted to pursue higher education were often discouraged from doing so. She recalls walking home from school and complaining to Thomas “Taxi” Wilson about how one of her hardest working students was upset because she wanted to apply for university, but the school principal had urged her not to. Though Zucker’s students were smart, they lacked the resources to compete with wealthier peers. Being upset by her “own inability to help,” her students inspired Zucker to do something. She partnered with Wilson, a fellow Fulbright ETA, to

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found the first branch of the Korea Bridge Initiative, also known as KBI, in Gwangju. According to Zucker: “What started as a vision to help disadvantaged Korean students at [her school] ended up becoming a much larger program.” The following year they expanded KBI to Jeju province.

Three years later, KBI continues to grow in its Gwangju and Jeju locations with the current coordinators establishing frameworks for expansion into other cities. Gwangju KBI currently serves 30 students from Gwangju, Naju and Mokpo — the largest cohort of students to date. Jeju KBI, which rotates each semester between Jeju City and Seogwipo, recruits students from every high school administered by the Provincial Education Office and each semester serves students from between six to 10 schools.

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ior — a version of KBI aimed at middle school students. Morgan says they recognized the “real need to reach under-served students before they reach high school and at a time when [KBI] could make a large impact on their educational needs.” On May 9th, the KBI Junior pilot program was successfully completed, thus opening the door for permanent implementation.

Volunteer teacher and Fulbright ETA Jemarley McFarlane leads a class analyzing Tupac lyrics.

The first class of KBI Jeju’s new KBI Junior initiative.

According to Erin Slocum, one of two current codirectors of the Gwangju branch, KBI is a program “committed to bridging the educational gap in Korea.” The program attempts to do this by providing weekly English classes which emphasize English as a communicative tool as well as creativity and cultural exchange. “KBI’s mission is to provide free educational opportunities for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to practice conversational English,” Slocum says. Korey Morgan, who co-directs the Jeju branch along with Amanda Tse, emphasizes that though the Gwangju and Jeju KBI are very different administratively, both branches “coordinate [the volunteers] many talents [and] resources to better the KBI program and ensure it is here serving our communities for many years to come, long after the current leadership has moved on.”

To ensure that KBI continues to successfully serve its communities, this year the coordinators worked together to introduce two new initiatives targeted at providing even more English learning opportunities.

Due to its successful partnership with the education office, the Jeju branch has attained widespread interest among English teachers and Jeju National University students interested in volunteering with KBI. This allowed the organization to create KBI Jun-

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In Gwangju, co-director Mathew Goldberg is spearheading a new scholarship program. Among the various other programs that Fulbright Korea runs is the Fulbright English Immersion Program — a twoweek immersive English camp which incorporates American cultural education through the inclusion of American junior counselors. Having noticed how many of his own economically underprivileged students wanted to study English in an immersive environment, Goldberg was inspired to create the KBI Scholarship. It awards two KBI students from each of the branches who have perfect attendance with tuition to attend the Fulbright English Immersion Program. The scholarship is funded through various fundraising efforts, the most notable of which is a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $5,000 — enough money to provide four $1,000 scholarships and establish an expansion fund to open KBI branches in other Korean cities. When asked what she thought of the scholarship program, Zucker expressed excitement that “such an incredible opportunity” was being made available to those students who can’t afford it but “would benefit the most from [a] specialized learning environment.”

At its core, KBI is a program that seeks to improve the lives of Korean students by expanding their educational opportunities in an exciting environment.

KBI has succeeded in reaching out to the Gwangju and Jeju communities because it challenges students through fun lesson topics like dream boarding, hip-hop lyrics analysis, and poetry writing. Woo Chang, a second year student at Kukje High School in Gwangju who participated in KBI for two semesters, described the experience as “useful and fun” while adding that he was happy to have participated. One thing has not changed since Zucker and Wilson first had the conversation that inspired KBI’s founding: KBI participants’ dedication to providing engaging English educational opportunities to Korea’s students.

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Asia and High Speed Rail Written and photographed by Matt Furlane

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n our modern era of jet travel and automobiles, it is easy to overlook other important modes of transportation and their development in Asia, especially the train. In the 1800s, Englishman Richard Trevithick built the first viable steam locomotive, and the first commercially successful rail line in England soon followed in 1812. Later, train transportation spread to Asian countries such as Japan, China, and India via the British Empire. In the 1830s, the United States established its own rail line on the East Coast, the Baltimore and Ohio line, and later imported some of its steam engines from England. At the behest of Abraham Lincoln, America connected its distant coasts by rail beginning in the 1860s, a construction feat only made possible by the labor of thousands of Chinese immigrants.

By the late 1800s, Japan, China, and Korea all had their own steam train lines imported from western nations. Japan received its first steam locomotive in 1968 from Scottish trader Thomas Blake Glover, and in 1872 Japan’s first line opened between Shidome and Yokohama. China was next, with its first rail line opening in 1876, connecting Woosung and Shanghai. Korea followed in 1899 when American businessmen Henry Collbran and Harry R. Bostwick helped construct a railway connecting Jemulpo to the south of the Han River near Yeongdeungpo.

Later railroads established by the French helped to connect present-day South Korea through North Korea to Manchuria and later the Trans-Siberian railway. But with the 20th century advent of diesel electric engines and modern jet travel, steam locomotives saw a period of decline, while faster train technologies from Germany and France pushed railway speeds up to 320 kph (199 mph).

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It was Japan, in its run up to the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, that established the now-famous high speed Shinkansen “bullet trains” that still carry millions of passengers each year. With new engineering techniques, Japan went on to surpass all other commercial rail lines and set the stage for commercially viable high speed trains in all of Asia. South Korea followed suit with its own faster train lines in the 1980s, linking Seoul and Busan, but did not have true “high speed” rail systems until 2004. Due to politics and lack of financial support, it was only this year that the southwestern corridor linking Seoul and Gwangju was finally completed.

The Honam High Speed Rail, which opened in April 2015, runs at a top speed of 300 kmh (186 mph) and can reach Yongsan station in Seoul in about 90 minutes. It allows residents of Gwangju to reach Incheon Airport entirely by rail if they take Line 1 from Yongsan to Seoul Station and then take the Incheon express rail directly to the airport.

Surprisingly, though, it is no longer Japan leading in all categories of high speed rail systems. After a decade of nonstop development, China is the leader both in terms of total passengers per year (2.3 billion) and total distance (projected to reach 40,000 kilometers this year). For a short period, China was able to claim the fastest Magnetic Levitation (maglev) train in Asia, which runs from Pudong Airport in Shanghai to Line 1 at Longyang station. A joint project with Germany, it was able to reach speeds of 431 kmh (268 mph), though in commercial operation it runs closer to 310 kmh. However, regular high speed trains have proved more economical, and the current Shanghai maglev train is more for tourism than everyday transportation. As of April 2015, a Japanese SCMaglev train attained a speed of 603

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4 1. A China high speed train 2, 3 and 4. Maglev, China high speed train 5. KTX (photo courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City)

kmh (375 mph), hinting that Japan is poised to be the leader in maglev technology for the 21st century. South Korea has a maglev project in development, but its completion date is unknown.

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In the future, if the two Koreas are united and other Asian countries complete their train networks, it may be possible to take a high speed sleeper train from Gwangju all the way to Singapore, Moscow, or London. Currently valued for sightseeing, a relaxing boarding process, and spacious seating, “bullet� trains in China, Japan, and Korea will likely continue to be the choice for millions of travelers well into the 21st century.

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local I gwangju talks

“Do you like K-Pop? Why?” Interviewed and compiled by Ki Su-yeon, Kim Ji-heon, and Lee So-eun

HIGH SCHOOLERS: 108 RESPONDENTS; 20-30S: 21 RESPONDENTS

“

K-pop can make Korea famous all over the world.

The singers are pretty.

I am Korean, so it is easy for me to understand the lyrics.

It represents Korea. It also works as a medium to connect people around the world.

It is one way to introduce Korea to world. It can motivate others to take further interest in Korea It influences foreign countries. But the Korean government overemphasizes it too much. It could hide the other strong points of K-pop.

It is addictive (in a good way).

It is very energetic and lively. It makes people sing or dance along with music.

”

Female singers wear opulent clothes and they have clear voices.

It entertains not only our ears but also our eyes.

HIGH SCHOOLERS: 18 RESPONDENTS; 20-30S: 11 RESPONDENTS

“

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K-pop does not represent real, traditional Korean culture. It is just a mimicry of Western culture.

K-pop is too fast and simple, so most of it sounds similar.

The style is too similar. Korean songs just aim to appeal in the entertainment industry.

Most of them (the singers) sound similar. And singers usually focus more on dancing, not singing.

Singers focus too much on their appearance rather than their music.

It changed from being full of emotion and spirit to being noisy with electronic sounds.

The market is idol-centered.

They concentrate too much on sensationalism rather than the completeness of music.

The music proficiency is uncomplicated.

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There are too many idol singers out there that we do not even notice. Moreover, while K-pop is Korean music, it has lot of English words in its lyrics.

”

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Gwangju is Ready to Welcome the World!

Venues are on schedule and preparations for the Universiade are on track

SPECIAL COVERAGE

Written and photographed by The Universiade Gwangju 2015

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he Gwangju Universiade 2015 is on its final stretch towards the opening ceremony on July 3.

After five years of planning and preparation, the Gwangju 2015 Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) has established an operational system, prepared and developed necessary facilities, and recruited and trained the workforce in order be prepared to welcome the world for the 28th Summer Universiade.

Gwangju will be in the spotlight in a month when student athletes around the world gather in the Korean “City of Light” for the Universiade. The Gwangju Universiade will kick off its 12-day run onJuly 3. More than 12,000 athletes from 170 countries are expected to compete in 21 sports for 272 gold medals.

A range of events has been planned to highlight the final stage of preparations. The Heads of Delegation (HOD) Meeting will be an opportunity for the organizing committee to showcase Gwangju Universiade to the world. In addition, construction for the new venues was scheduled to be completed by the end of March in order for a variety of test events to take place from April to June.

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL STADIUMS The 2015 Gwangju Universiade is also proudly known as “Ecoversiade” by minimizing new construction and its carbon footprint. The GUOC has been one of the frontrunners to be in line with global initiatives to rein in the snowballing costs of

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hosting mega-sporting events.

Only four out of 69 facilities that will be used during the games are newly constructed while the other 65 existing venues have been renovated.

The newly-constructed Nambu University International Aquatics Center has a pool with movable floors which transforms from a standard depth pool into a multifunctional pool, allowing a greater number of aquatic activities to take place in a single day. The newly-built aquatics center will receive a Green Building Certification for using geothermal heat as the main source of energy for heating and air-conditioning. After the Universiade is over, the Nambu Aquatics Center will be used as the main venue for the 18th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju 2019.

The Kwangju Women’s University Universiade Gymnasium will consume 26% of its energy from renewable energy, such as solar power and geothermal heat. As a result, the state-run energy auditing organization, Korea Energy Management Corporation (KEMCO), is planning to rate the new multipurpose gymnasium with the highest energy-efficiency level. In addition, the venue was designed to make sure the facilities cater to everyone’s needs (e.g., pool ramps, special seats for the disabled). As a certified “barrier-free” venue, the GUOC hopes the services and systems can be used by as many people as possible without the need of adaptation.

The Jinwol International Tennis Court is under con-

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Kwangju Women’s University Universiade Gymnasium

Nambu University International Aquatics Center

struction for extension. The stadium, like the other nine courts in the facility, has a Rebound Ace cushioned surface for high performance and durability.

TEAM DRAWS AND TEST EVENTS In the lead-up to the Universiade, the draws for team sports took place from April 11 to April 15 at the HOD Meeting. The draws for basketball, volleyball, water polo, football, baseball, and handball took place on Monday, April 13. The HOD Meeting, hosted by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and organized by the GUOC, was attended by representatives from the participating nations, along with their counterparts from FISU and the organizing committee.

The Universiade is widely considered a stage offering a glimpse of future stars for the next Olympic Games. In the 2012 Olympics, 154 athletes who claimed medals in the Universiade won 174 medals in London. The 2015 Gwangju Universiade will likely have similar results, featuring many who have bright prospects for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The GUOC is planning to host trial events in order to test a variety of functional areas, such as medical services, field of play, timing and scoring, etc.

Sixteen sports including swimming, athletics, tennis, archery, basketball and fencing will take place in the newly-built and renovated venues from April to June.

GWANGJU UNIVERSIADE UNIFORMS SHOWCASED AS ‘CARNIVAL OF LIGHT’ The Gwangju Universiade uniforms were inspired

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100-Day Countdown Celebration - Official uniform fashion show

by the wings of light and expressed as the ‘Carnival of Light’. As 2015 Universiade Official Sponsors, Blackyak and LF Corp showcased 84 items of sportswear and formal attire for the volunteers, competition operation staff, torch bearers, medal bearers, judges and referees, FISU Executive Committee members and GUOC staff.

Each uniform is fit for different roles and occasions. The sportswear is made out of COOLMAX fabric which improves “breathability” compared to natural fibers. The formal wear comes in pastel and solid colors which look stylish and professional as well as being comfortable.

GWANGJU, READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD As Gwangju prepares for the opening ceremony, venues are on schedule within budget, preparations for the test events are on track, and the people of Gwangju are ready to show Korea’s southern hospitality to the world.

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SPECIAL COVERAGE

Away Game

Coach Bill Self Prepares for Universiade

Written by Bradley Weiss Photos courtesy of University of Kansas

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he United States will be represented at the upcoming Universiade games in men’s basketball by a team led by current University of Kansas (KU) coach Bill Self and a squad composed of players from his collegiate team. Self boasts an impressive résumé, with an eye-popping 352-78 record (81.9 win percent) in 12 seasons at KU, including a national championship in 2008, a return to the title game in 2012, and multiple National Coach of the Year awards — all making him significantly qualified to lead the US team. “We did pursue [the opportunity],” says Self, describing how he came to lead the team. “We submitted the information [the selection committee] requested, and they selected us.

Of course, we were ecstatic.” Self and his players are eager for international competition: “You know you’ve got to win because you’re representing your country.”

Self detailed the benefits of taking on such a chal-

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lenge. “Team bonding and seeing another part of the world. I’m also actually excited about studying and experimenting with the [international] rules.” He went on to describe some of the ways in which international basketball rules differ from those of the US collegiate game and the specific challenges that might present for both him and the players. “There will be an adjustment period. I’m going to call a timeout when you can’t call a timeout and players are going to want to sub in when they can’t sub in. There are going to be a lot of things like that.”

However, Self did mention that one of the biggest differences in the international rules could actually prove to be a boon for his team. “To me, the biggest adjustment is being able to handle a 24-second clock [as opposed to the 35 seconds in US college games for the team possessing the basketball to put up a shot]. I think anything to force pace is good for us, though, because the college game is moving toward a quicker pace.”

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Self discussed the prospect of facing international competition, and the growth of the sport worldwide. “I do think that the popularity [of basketball] is spreading like wildfire. Kids are beginning to play at an earlier age. Instruction is getting better and better all the time.” Self’s current university squad at KU includes at least one such member of the international basketball community, rising sophomore Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, who will not be able to play with his teammates representing the US due to being a Ukrainian national. Self expressed his admiration for how international players who choose to play college basketball in the US handle the adversity.

“The biggest issue is there is a little bit of a language barrier. What we forget in the States is how bright these kids are. We speak one language, but the majority of the kids that come [to the US] from another country speak two or three languages fluently. So, sometimes when we think they don’t understand — the bottom line is that we don’t understand. They’ve done such a great job of adapting.”

In comparing the current state of basketball with the rest of the world, Self added: “I think international basketball is growing and growing. Everybody says the world is catching up, which they are, but it’s not because [the] USA is going backwards — it’s because there is so much room for growth.” At the Olympic level, the US men’s basketball team has seen a resurgence to the top after falling below expectations in the early 2000s. This was accomplished under the tutelage of another highly successful US

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collegiate head coach, Mike Krzyzewski of Duke University. Considering that Krzyzewski is currently 68 years old, Self was asked if he might consider being a possible successor for the leadership of USA basketball, as he makes his first foray into international competition at the Universiade at the age of 52. He denied any such intentions, saying: “No, and I’m not in a position to be considered for anything like that. Certainly, USA Basketball is on very solid footing and has made great improvements over the last decade or so.”

The 2015 Universiade will mark another first experience for Self and his team — the trip will be the first time in Korea, or Asia as a whole, for the entire group. As to his current knowledge of Korea, Self remarked: “The first thing that comes to mind is the city of Seoul, which is obviously one of the greatest cities in the world.” As for the city of Gwangju more specifically, he added “Something that really comes to mind is population. If I’m not mistaken, Gwangju is not a city that’s well known across the world, but you have in the neighborhood of two million people living there, which would be the equivalent of a major, major city in the United States.” Coach Self expressed hope of gaining more than on-court success at the Universiade, but hopes to also take away a greater appreciation for Gwangju and Korea as a whole. When asked if he had had a chance to learn more about the history or culture he admitted, “We haven’t yet, but we will.”

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SPECIAL COVERAGE

Gwangju Universiade Countdown Written and photographed by The Universiade Gwangju 2015

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he Gwangju Universiade has begun its preparation efforts in earnest with a series of test events and the opening of the Main Operation Center (MOC).

With the games only days away, the Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) is conducting the final-stage inspections while preparing to impress Gwangju’s rich cultural heritage onto the hearts of visitors.

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.

prisoners who were mostly scholarly bureaucrats.

Examples include Joseon Dynasty’s Jeong Do-jeon 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 culture as represented well with their metrical literatures, Goryeo celadon, Chinese paintings of the Southern School, pansori and traditional cuisine. Gwangju is often called “the artists’ town” as it nurtured such wellknown 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 May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement in 1980 against the military dictatorship, sought after human rights and endeavored to come by a prosperous community.

CULTUREVERSIADE TO DISPLAY STYLE AND FLAVOR OF GWANGJU Gwangju will have a great opportunity to showcase its artistic, cultural and historic legacy through “Cultureversiade.” The GUOC hopes that Gwangju will become the hub of Asian culture through successfully hosting the games.

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 in September.

Gwangju is widely known for valuing art, democracy, human rights and peace, and history. In the past, Korea’s southern provinces housed political

The Gwangju Universiade is expected to promote cultural exchange between students and athletes through art and sports.

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).

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Gwangju Universiade D-50 Countdown celebration at Pungam Park

Universiade’s opening and closing ceremonies in the Athletes’ Village and at global youth festivals will offer a great opportunity for the participants to experience and enjoy global culture.

INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES AND VISITORS TO BECOME ONE THROUGH GWANGJU CULTURE The Gwangju Universiade will be a place where students from all over the world can share their passion and energy. They will enjoy all the events to be held for two weeks regardless of their win or loss in the games. The GUOC plans to hold various cultural events, which will unite visitors and local citizens together.

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.

The GUOC will host the Eve Festival on July 2 as a pre-Universiade celebration.

On the same day, FISU and the organizing com-

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mittee will hold the FISU Gala at the Asian Culture Complex where officials from FISU and GUOC will gather together to celebrate the men and women who have dedicated their time and efforts in developing FISU values. The gala will also promote Korean culture and introduce future hosts of FISU Events.

From July 3 to 14, the Universiade Park event will take place around the main competition venues.

Participating athletes, officials, locals as well as tourists will enjoy and experience various cultural events and activities. Traditional craftwork, foods, performances, eateries and events will greet people there.

From July 4 to 13, the Nanjang Festival will be held at the ACC’s Democracy Square which is located on Geumnam-ro. The event is aimed at drumming up support for Universiade among youth at home and abroad, sharing Gwangju’s special culture while fulfilling the vision for the Cultureversiade. The festival will be linked to the 2015 World Youth Festival, which will be hosted by Gwangju City. Various music performances and celebration events will take place

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feature

for global music lovers.

will be able to breakthrough.

ATHELETES VILLAGE EVENTS TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND FRIENDSHIP The Gwangju Univrersiade’s Athletes Village located on Hwaun-ro, Seo-gu, is a small global village where young people from over 150 countries will stay together for 12 days. A total of 12,600 athletes and officials will be accommodated in 22 buildings of 2,445 units.

OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES Both opening and closing ceremonies of any international sports event are not to be missed as they usually showcase the city to the visitors.

A variety of cultural events to promote Gwangju and Korea in general will take place in the Athletes Village. They will be roughly divided into three categories of exhibitions, performances and experience activities.

From July 4 at the Flag Plaza of the Athletes Village International Zone, experience events including traditional mask making, traditional fan making, caricature drawing and face painting will be offered, to be followed by cultural performances held in two different parts. The first part will feature a cappella, cheer dance and ocarina performances. The second will be filled with such themed performances as an indie band show and a disk jockey show.

Inside the Athletes Village Residential Zone will be the Universiade Museum where the Universiade’s history and information will be presented, and the Korean athletes participating in the Gwangju Universiade will be briefly introduced.

A different exhibition hall will also be placed where visitors will get a glimpse of the cultural beauty of Gwangju and Korea and relax in between the competitions.

SOUTH AND NORTH JEOLLA PROVINCES CO-HOST UNIVERSIADE The Gwangju Univerisiade will be held at 37 competition venues and 32 training venues, and related culture events will take place at 32 competition venues and another 24 facilities. A total of 21 self-governing bodies and universities will take part in the regional culture events.

The GUOC plans to differentiate each and every culture festival, considering different characteristics of each venue.

The organizing committee hopes that the southern provinces’ culture will be well-received by foreign visitors and that South and North Jeolla Provinces

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The year 2015 is particularly designated as “The Year of Light” by the United Nations, and the GUOC plans to show the link to the past, the present and future with a story of light.

The Opening Ceremony will start at 7 p.m. at the Universiade Main Stadium (Gwangju World Cup Stadium) on July 3 with the theme “U are Shinning.”

The Closing Ceremony will be titled “Sharing the Light” and will take place at 7 p.m. on July 15 at the same venue.

The director-nominee of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies Park Myung-sung is now in talks with experts to create quality content that highlight Gwangju’s history.

The task left for both ceremonies is to integrate Korean history and culture with Gwangju’s tradition and culture gracefully. The GUOC seeks to put global youths’ passion and dynamic soul into the ceremonies while manifesting the Universiade’s vision for EPIC. GLOBAL YOUTH FESTIVAL Gwangju plans to host the “2015 Global Youth Festival,” which will both be planned and implemented by young people from Gwangju.

Under the slogan of “Let’s Cheer for the Future of Youths,” five different events will take place — main events, theme events, accompanied events, exhibitions and finale events.

Main events will be held for 25 hours from the evening of July 4 to July 5 at the Democracy Square of the Asian Culture Complex, featuring music, traditional arts, theatre and DJ performances.

Theme events will invite celebrities from various fields and proceed in the style of the TED Conference. The lecturers and the spectators at the conference will unite for networking, and the events will be broadcast live.

Accompanied events include Youths Park, a multifaceted cultural performance, University Culture

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Asian Culture Complex (ACC) is near its completion

Festival, an expansion of the discontinued university song festival, Youths Market, where products made by young people at home and abroad will be exchanged, and Youths City Camping, a 24-hour program open for global youth to meet new people and make new friends.

Exhibition events will offer opportunities for young people to share and experience different cultures while the finale events will consolidate the friendship the participants had made during the Universiade.

The GUOC will also conduct Youths Cheering Squad, which will hold spontaneous cheering events at local university areas and on the streets.

ACC PRE-OPENING EVENTS TO BRING SYNERGY The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is also preparing various events to widely promote the Universiade.

The ministry is linking its nationwide performance programs to Gwangju and South Jeolla Province during the June-August period. It also plans to expand its performance programs for the underprivileged in the southern regions. National museums in Gwangju, Naju and Jeonju have set up their respective schedules for exhibitions and cultural events around the time of Universiade.

The ministry is to hold events before the opening of the Asian Culture Complex. An Asian sports festival will be held at the ACC’s Agency of Culture for Children building from July 3 to 12. On July 4 and 5, special performances will be held in conjunction with these events.

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SPECIAL PROGRAMS READY TO BOOST THE U-SPIRIT A series of cultural events including the torch relay, starting ceremonies for volunteer groups and other music concerts will promote the Universiade.

On June 3, two flames lit at Sorbonne University in Paris and Jangbuljae of Mudeung Mountain, will be carried and combined at the Universiade Torch Relay. From June 4 until Universiade’s opening, the torch will travel 3,700 kilometers through 17 cities across the country.

Many concerts are to be held during Universiade.

From July 8 to 13, the tentatively named “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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local I right to the city

2015

How Gwangju Visitors Said “Yes” to Human Rights This Year 2015

Written by Joey Nunez Photographed by Peter Thommesen

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uman rights brought together global specialists, analysts and experts for the World Human Rights Cities Forum 2015 at the Kimdaejung Convention Center from May 15 to 18. With the Forum adding to the theme: “Towards a Global Alliance of Human Rights Cities for All, Part 2,”new visitors joined together to learn from each other.

Dr. Lee Seunghae, an Associate Professor from Oregon State University who has lived in America for nearly 20 years, returned to her home country of Korea, making her second trip ever to Gwangju for this Forum.

At school, her teaching and research specialties of designing elderly care facilities helps the older generations thrive during their retirement within safe and comfortable accommodations. At the Forum, Lee was a speaker during “The Elderly and Human Rights” Thematic Workshop.

Discussion Group participants queueing to register for the World Human Rights Cities Forum

Lee appreciated what she learned about Gwangju’s past. But what made the circumstances more tragic for her were both Gwangju’s victims and villains.

“They are all Koreans. Why do we need to be in this situation: killing your family, friends and neighbors?”

Practicality is what Hj. Baderul Amin bin Abdul Hamid emphasized as key to his work as a Malaysian civil engineer. Having worked with the Pulau Pinang Municipal Council since 1981, Amin has assisted with construction projects honoring human rights, specifically for children. “Education is a human right, also for poorer and disabled children. We have to give support to these schools.”

Thus, while acknowledging the pain Gwangju endured, Lee expressed how this journey has established and strengthened human rights. “If you really honor and respect the fact that everyone is equal, then it will be the same human rights. To respect human rights, you will respect the human rights for the elderly, for the disabled, for women and for many others,” Lee said.

Amin served as a speaker during the “Human Rights Cities Policy Session 1,” where his company’s construction efforts are making places accessible for both genders, those with disabilities and the elderly.

“There used to be a lack of accessibility. With this [negative] exposure, it is a part of the learning process, so we put in extra features. And now, we need a larger budget, but we cannot sacrifice the acces-

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Human Rights Cities Policy Session II

Opening Roundtable

sibility and equality for all residents.”

That [concept is] something very powerful, not only to prepare children for the future, but to also prepare children to change the future.”

Also according for Mr. Yaacov Hecht, equality starts in the classroom. “For example, if the main idea of human rights is the freedom to think and the freedom to talk, this freedom has disappeared in schools, so we cannot teach students [well] in the traditional system.”

Hecht is the CEO for Education Cities, an organization with an alternative approach to education, where students’ excellence is achieved through creating personal learning plans. “In human rights, there are rights to education and they are to find the full potential of every child. So, we are to find the excellent parts of every child, and not to say: ‘Who is excellent, who is mediocre and who is weak?’”

Hecht stressed that younger generations’ education should also not be limited within classroom walls. “If we use all the sources that exist in the city, and when I say sources, I say talent, people, libraries, factories and hospitals, every place becomes a learning place.

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Hecht shared what his organization has so far accomplished as one of the speakers during the “City and Child/Youth” Thematic Workshop.

All three speakers were very grateful to the Gwangju International Center for the invitations and they all enjoyed the Forum to the fullest. Amin specifically added, “The moment that I came here, I learned a lot, and then, I learned some of the best practices from other countries in terms of human rights.”

Interested to read more of what happened at this year’s Forum? More information about these three speakers and about their thematic workshops can be found by visiting the Forum’s website at: whrcf. org, and by finding the Forum on Facebook: World Human Rights Cities Forum – 세계인권도시포럼.

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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local I right to the city

SEWOL update Written by Kim Singsing Translated by Kim Dong-hun

SEWOL FAMILIES APPEAL TO THE UN AGAINST EXCESSIVE POLICE CRACKDOWN The “April 16 Solidarity,” movement that consists of the bereaved families of the Sewol Ferry disaster and the relevant civic organizations, submitted an urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur of the UN because the protesters’ human rights were infringed upon by the police’s excessive crackdown.

During protests calling for a thorough and independent investigation of the Sewol ferry tragedy and the raising of the ferry, a number of human rights defenders including victims’ family members were arrested, detained and severely injured. The police used water cannons with harmful tear liquid on human rights defenders and used a bus barricade to block all the roads near the protest sites.

On April 16, 2015, 10 human rights defenders were arrested. On April 18, 2015, 100 human rights defenders were arrested including lawyers, journalists and religious leaders. On May 1, 2015, 42 people were arrested. On April 18, 2015, tens of thousands of people marched to Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul where a group memorial altar was created to offer flowers. However, they were stopped by a bus barricade of police. The police sealed off the Gyeongbok Palace, the Gwanghawmun Square, and the Sejong-ro Intersection with security cordons by dispensing approximately 470 police buses including 18 specially designed trucks, and security fences. In addition, a large police force of about 13,700 personnel from 172 units was mobilized for the crackdown.

251 OVERSEAS SCHOLARS REACT TO NEW GOVERNMENT ACTIONS ON SEWOL On May 12, overseas scholars demanded that the Korean government abandon its Draft Enforcement Decree (DED) of the Sewol Special Act and adopt the Special Investigation Committee’s.

1. The Park administration must immediately abandon its Draft Enforcement Decree of the Sewol Special Act because a: Its DED violates the Sewol Special Act, the higher law it is designed to implement, by restricting the scope of the Special Investigative Committee’s investigative power, and b: Its draft decree violates Constitutional principles that guarantee the independence

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June 2015

and autonomy of the Special Committee created by the National Assembly, by delegating the committee’s investigative power to administration officials who are potential targets of the investigation.

2. The administration must immediately adopt the decree proposed by the Special Investigative Committee because the committee’s draft guarantees the special investigative committee’s independence that will ensure its thorough investigative activities.

3. The administration must expedite the recovery of the sunken vessel without damage so that the nine missing bodies may be retrieved and the causes of the tragedy revealed.

4. The administration must immediately stop its use of violence against the Sewol victims’ families, and guarantee the rights to assembly and demonstration.

SEWOL FAMILIES INVITED TO 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAY 18 DEMOCRATIC UPRISING The April 16 Solidarity’s meeting to pledge to seek out the truth of the Sewol Ferry disaster was held under the slogan of “Seeking Out the Truth of April 16, 2014 through the May Spirit” at the old Mangwoldong National Cemetery on May 17, 2015 to mark the 35th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

May 18-related organizations in Gwangju said after the sinking of the Sewol Ferry that there is a striking similarity between the May 18 Democratic Uprising and the Sewol Ferry disaster because Gwangju citizens in May 1980 were mass-murdered by the paratroopers and the victims of the Sewol Ferry disaster were killed by incompetent bureaucrats and Cheongwadae (the Blue House). They have provided support for the bereaved families saying that the May 18 Democratic Uprising would help to salvage the truth of the Sewol Ferry disaster.

THE “GWANGJU CITIZENS’ SANGJU (CHIEF MOURNERS) GROUP” SELLS WRISTLETS TO REMEMBER SEWOL VICTIMS The Gwangju Citizens’ Sangju Group is selling wristlets to commemorate Sewol victims. Profits will be used to support continued awareness of the Sewol tragedy and bereaved families. Each wristlet, either in white or in black, costs 5,000 won. For more information on purchasing wristlets, please send an email to ilovegimchi@gmail.com.

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May Concert

Written and photographed by Joey Nunez

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he 13th May Concert, entitled “Love for the Country through Music,” brought all nations together through music on May 10, while also raising support for a country in need.

Musicians, singers and ensembles performed 20 pieces for a crowd numbering over 600 Gwangju residents. Audience members enjoyed Korean pieces, while also globe-trekking to France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain and Switzerland.

The concert concluded with a stirring encore of “Marching for our Beloved.” This arrangement, first performed during the 2014 May Concert, proved that the victims of the May 18th Democratic Uprising will always be remembered and appreciated.

While the concert was free, Dr. Shin Gyonggu, GIC Director, speaking in both Korean and English, encouraged attendees to remember and financially give to those affected by the April 25 earthquake in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

This earthquake, which registered at a 7.8 magnitude, shook the nation physically and economically.

Early estimates state over 8,000 lives have been lost. According to an International Business Times online article, early estimates claim economic expenses may cost over 10 billion U.S. dollars with reconstruction.

And with another 7.3 earthquake hitting Kathmandu, Nepal on May 12, the tragic damages and deaths are expected to only increase.

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Sabin Bhandari and Ramesh Kumar Lama, Chosun University students from Nepal, confirmed the damages done and the people lost back home.

“The destruction is everywhere and it is still hard for emergency responders to reach many injured people at this point,” stated Lama. “Countless children and families need safe places to stay as well as basic household items to help them meet their immediate needs.”

Bhandari also shared: “In such a situation where our families and country are suffering, it is very important for us to gather together to act for the country.”

Thus during the May Concert, a group of Nepalese volunteers prepared samosas and served chai tea, for sale to raise funds to send back home. The GIC also partnered, providing a donation box to collect these funds. Thus, the May Concert raised 1,040,500 won to support Nepal.

“With this support, we have been able to provide relief packages to some of the affected areas in Nepal,” expressed a grateful Lama. “Our special thanks go to the entire Gwangju community for being with us and praying for us during such a difficult time.”

“The entire donations will be used to help the affected people in every form possible, from providing food and shelter to their restoration,” said Bhandari.

“You have helped bring smiles to thousands of faces.”

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local I international community

Gwangju African Community Spirited Unity Relaunched Written by Joey Nunez Photographed by Chris Doekpar

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here is a uniqueness in this community and its potential,” remarked Pastor Chris Doekpar, referring to the Gwangju African Community (GAC), previously known as the African Association of Gwangju. “We have had a wonderful time gathering as international people.”

encountered a very different Korea when he first arrived and has seen several changes this country.

“I was lonely and I encountered culture shock, but I felt it was more important to help bring myself and others together to keep our African identity while living in Korea.”

Being the founder while Lawrence Kerkulah is serving as acting chairman pending general elections, Doekparleads this group, which was re-launched in September 2014 to join citizens from various African countries together as one.

While away from his home, Doekpar has helped set the foundation and continue the progress that GAC now is achieving. In addition to helping lead GAC’s efforts, Doekpar currently serves as the lead pastor for the Pure Gospel International Fellowship, located a few minutes away from Chonnam University.

The group has established an official and original preamble and constitution, with one of its goals being “we exist to serve the community.”

Doekpar stated that GAC has already established itself with multiple activities. “We have already gathered, having different nations represented. We have had meetings, weddings, retreats, graduations, funerals and helped different members of this community.”

One of the GAC’s visions, which is to build a “home away from home” for families along with strengthening and supporting Africanism, aligns with Doekpar’s first experiences in Korea.

Originally from Liberia, Doekpar was motivated to come to Korea by a personal friend. Doekpar also recognized that there were many opportunities for Christian missionary experiences. “I learned that if I could get a missions education, it would give me a better purpose to help those affected in my country for the past 14 years and to empower me to return to my country.”

Unlike other current international residents, Doekpar

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Also originally from Liberia, Kerkulah stated that he believes that God has brought him to Korea to evangelize and also to strengthen the spiritual work of Christian believers. As another pastor of Pure Gospel, Kerkulah is blessed to serve other nationalities. “There is a growing culture, but sometimes we are limited. The nature of work and school schedules prevent people from coming.

Therefore, I want to bring spiritual transformation in Gwangju.”

One of GAC’s goals is to establish its image as a cooperative community in Gwangju. From its preamble, GAC states that the non-profit organization strives to be a “community that embodies all Africans and their local groups or organizations in Gwangju, as well as promoting peace, unity and social understanding amongst civic and social organizations.” While promoting this goal, another GAC goal is to “protect and promote the interests of Africans in Gwangju City.”

Thus, a motivating GAC passion, which helps direct this organization’s progress, is “to initiate, encourage and facilitate the active participation of Africans in

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The Gwangju African Community meets for a faith gathering

community development programs that enhance smooth integration in Korean society.”

Both Doekpar and Kerkulah understand that preserving their Liberian culture and being culturally sensitive in Korea can be accomplished with success.

Doekpar noted some cultural observations. “There are similarities, such as a respect for the elderly, in both Korea and in Liberia. But, for these things that are opposite from our culture, I like to use bi-cultural tactics. For me, that means balancing what we as Africans learn and also to keep our cultural identity.”

Kerkulah made some spiritual observations. “As a part of the uniqueness of the ministers of Gospel, we are able to have members maintain their same cultures. As part of this achievement, we had one of the best retreats during this past Seollal. We received testimonies that really motivated us to see the brotherhood develop in this city, and thus it gave us an opportunity to be in contact with all nationalities, which was difficult to do beforehand.”

As GAC continues to advance with its image and future programming, leaders of GAC are moving forward with showing how this special community can play a significant role in the Gwangju community.

“We want Koreans to experience the African uniqueness, as they can contribute to the multi-cultural community in Korea,” said Doekpar. “Our goal and mission is that regardless of where we come from, we have our own uniqueness in our culture, and Africa is not just a country but a continent.

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We can contribute to Korean society, for multi-culturalism, and we look forward to having the platform to contribute.”

The GAC will be hosting an upcoming African festival this summer, with dates and location to be announced. Gwangju News will keep readers updated about GAC events and opportunities.

Any individual of African origin residing in the city of Gwangju is welcome to become a member of G.A.C., while friends of Africa are also welcome to become associate members.

For more information, please contact Chris Doekpar at chrisgdoekpar@gmail.com.

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local I gwangju plays

Alternate Speed Written by Matthew Endacott Photographed by Matthew Endacott, Lianne Bronzo and Craig Batson

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he sun is shining. White clouds roll across the bright blue sky. There is a slight breeze to add to this flawless day. It is spring and the new blossoms have given way to the lush green vegetation we see today. The green peaks plotted about the landscape display the splendor of nature within the city. This is the place many of us call home, Gwangju, and it is calling to be explored. There are not many better ways to appreciate these conditions than to hop on a bike and cycle around town. The benefits of cycling are limitless: it saves time and money, is magnificent exercise, unlocks previously unchartered territory, and produces sheer enjoyment, among many other advantages. “Bicycling in Gwangju is amazing. There is everything you could ever want here. My favorite

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is riding the roads,” said Craig Batson, an avid cyclist.

If you have been considering a bike, but continue to fret about the initial cost, it will come back to you ten fold monetarily and also lend to additional experiences you would not have otherwise had the opportunity to appreciate. Lianne Bronzo revealed her biking habits and said she does not ride taxis or the bus anymore for good reasons. “I wonder how much I save on bus and taxi fares,” said Bronzo.

“I probably refill my bus card with 5,000 won once every other month. I also use a bike to commute everywhere in Gwangju. It has been a wonderful way to really get to know the city as you navigate the

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smaller roads where buses do not travel. I can stop and explore anywhere I want with a bike. My mental map of Gwangju has greatly improved since I started riding instead of taking a bus and I realized how small the city is. For example, it would take an hour and a half to ride a bus from Ilgok-dong to Mudeung Mountain, but it only takes 30 minutes by bicycle. I save time, get exercise, and save money — it is a win-win-win!”

There are great areas in Gwangju specifically made for the enjoyment of cycling, particularly the paths next to the river. These trails are designed so that you do not have to worry about traffic or lights, just how fast you want to “push the pedal.” If you are in the mood to go on a long and pleasurable journey there are paths that lead to Damyang, Naju, and other surrounding towns. “I love to ride along the river bike paths. The trail to Naju is particularly well laid out with beautiful views of the green grass, flowing river, and interesting bridges,” said Bronzo.

Riding a bike has its numerous advantages, but there is also a big concern: safety. If you are considering commuting via bicycle, it is important to learn what to be aware of and how to cycle in each situation.

Drivers here do not pay attention when pulling out from a side street into the bike lane, which is a huge problem. “It is almost always going to be cars turning into you. There is so many side streets here that I feel like cars can pop out of anywhere. One of the main reasons I moved to riding in the road was I felt like cars were not looking for a bicycle on the sidewalk when turning so I feel much safer in the road.

At least this way I know they see me,” described Batson. Always wear a helmet, have a light for night cycling, lock-up the frame of your bike (not just the tires), use your bike bell to make pedestrians aware of you, look both ways when crossing the street, and be wary of “dooring” (parked cars suddenly opening their door), instructed Bronzo.

Cycling is a great way to improve your finances, time-schedule, fitness, happiness, and experiences, in addition to helping the environment. It just so happens that Gwangju is a spectacular city to bike through. Add the two together and you should be cycling in Gwangju. When asked why he loves cycling, Batson answered: “It is the fastest way to get around the city and sometimes you will be going down a hill with a breeze in your face and I think that is about as close to a perfect moment as anything.”

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Writer at Pungam-dong biking trail

Biking trai to Naju

Rest area

Cycling companions

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local I gwangju cooks

Quick Kimchi Recipe written and photographed by Joe Wabe

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lthough a bit of prep work is required, you can have your very own homemade kimchi with very little effort. This is a variation of the most popular variety, the traditional “baechu” (Chinese cabbage) kimchi.

INGREDIENTS ½ carrot ½ green onion 1 spoon of sesame oil 2 tsp red pepper powder (gochugaru) KIMCHI BASE: 1 Chinese cabbage ½ cup sea salt 6 garlic cloves ¼ of root of ginger ½ peeled apple 10 dried red peppers ½ cup of cooked white rice 2 tsp of jeotgal (salted fermented shrimp) ½ white onion

PREPARATION

Do you have an original kimchi 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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1. Rinse the cabbage and cut the cabbage leaves crosswise into about 2-inch (5 cm) lengths. Put the cabbage in a large bowl and pour the salt over it. Let it sit for about one hour.

2. Separate the sesame oil, red pepper powder, carrot and green onion from the rest of the ingredients. Slice the carrot into strips and chop the green onion into bite-size pieces. Set these four ingredients aside for now.

3. Put the rest of the ingredients in and puree.

4. Rinse the cabbage with cold water and squeeze the water from them. Put it back in the bowl and pour the kimchi base to cover the cabbage. Add the sesame oil and red pepper powder and mix well by hand till the cabbage is thoroughly coated.

5. Store in the fridge and enjoy!

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Ramen Manddang Written and photographed by Cody Jarrett

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he cup-of-noodle is undoubtedly one of the greatest inventions of the last hundred years. When Momofuku Ando perfected the instant noodle, he made fast, hot and cheap meals available not only to the people of postwar Japan, but also to millions of picky children and broke college students across the world. Unfortunately for many people, the bottom of a cup of Shin Ramyeon is the furthest that they will dig into the world of ramen. While cupof-noodles certainly have their place in the world, a hot bowl of fresh ramen achieves a rare kind of perfection unattainable by a packet of dehydrated vegetables and spices. Although good ramen can be hard to find in Gwangju, Ramen Manddang in Bongseong-dong proves to be worth the trip.

ATMOSPHERE AND SERVICE Ramen Manddang has a small dining room, with booths and tables that take up every available space. While the small booths make for a comfortable atmosphere, they may make seating difficult for groups of more than four people.

The menu is all in Korean, but if you do not know your way around Hangeul or the various ramen styles of Japan, the owner is happy to explain everything in perfect English.

FOOD Ramen is the kind of dish that can vary wildly depending on what region of Japan it comes from.

Rather than focus on one specific kind of ramen, Ramen Manddang offers a variety of different styles.

One of the trendier styles on the menu is tonkatsu ramen, which is based on a broth made by boiling pork bones for nearly sixteen hours. This long cooking time creates a thick, milky broth that is very heavy and incredibly satisfying. The tonkatsu here was nice and creamy, with little orbs of fat floating on the top, but the broth was perhaps a little lighter than a normal tonkatsu. That said, it was still a delicious take on the style. The noodles had a good texture and the chashu, the slice of roasted pork on top, was tender with a good char.

The miso ramen was another highlight. This broth

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gets most of its flavor from miso, a paste made from fermented soybeans that gives the broth a slightly funky, salty taste. The miso broth was lighter than the tonkatsu and topped with plenty of bean sprouts and cabbage, along with the usual chashu and green onions. A nice little touch was that the cabbage was roasted a little before going into the bowl, which gave it a much more interesting flavor than simply cooking it in the broth.

In addition to ramen, Ramen Manddang also serves plenty of other Japanese dishes, ranging from takoyaki, or octopus balls, to okonomiyaki, a sort of savory pancake topped with a barbecue-like sauce, a little mayonnaise and dried tuna flakes. While it would be hard to recommend any of these over the ramen, one dish that provides a welcome accompaniment to any meal is gyoza. These little dumplings are filled with pork and spices and then fried until brown and crunchy.

Prices for ramen range from 7,000 to 9,000 won per bowl, while dishes like takoyaki and okonomiyaki cost 10,000 to 15,000. Japanese sake is also available; starting at 8,000 won a glass.

DIRECTIONS Take a bus to Line Hyochin Apartments. Exit the bus; go left to walk up the street; and turn right onto Yongdae Street. Or Exit the bus; take a right back up the street; and turn right at Yondgdae Street. Walk about two blocks and Ramen Manddang is on the corner between a phone store and a Kwangju Bank.

Address: 광주광역시 남구 봉선2동 144-8 144-8 Bongseon 2-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju Tel: 062-430-7757 Opening Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m.– 9 p.m.

Bus: 28, 37, 48, 50, 76 (Line Hyochin Apartment Stop)

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photography I fashion on the street

POUNDING THE PAVEMENT Interviewed and translated by Lee So-eun and Jeong Seo-eun Photographed by Karly Pierre

Jung Da-young Blue velvet and white saddle shoes My Style: Quirky

Ko Il-ran Custom-made green platform sandals My Style: Eclectic

Lee Ji-hyeon Black thong sandals My Style: Unisex

Kim Sang-kyu Men’s black leather sandals My Style: Bohemian

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now trending I local

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Wediann

Interviewed and translated by Lee So-eun and Jeong Seo-eun Photographed by Karly Pierre

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ocated on Wedding Street in downtown Gwangju, Wediann Wedding Shop has been helping local brides chose the perfect dress for their special day for 18 years. Store manager, Cheon Myeong talked about trends among brides in the area.

Gwangju News (GN): What kinds of dress styles are popular now with brides?

Many of our brides prefer dresses with slim lines.

They often choose mermaid style dresses over Aline or other dress shapes. They also like slightly textured fabric.

GN: How much do wedding dresses cost?

Unlike Western brides, Korean brides don’t buy their wedding dresses. They rent because of course brides also have to wear a traditional Korean hanbok at their wedding. A wedding dress rental fee is about 1-1.5 million won ($900-950 US). However, the price varies according to the dress’ quality, texture and design.

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GN: What kind of dress looks good on most women?

That’s a difficult question. Every bride has a different body shape, skin tone and fashion preference. However, mermaid or A-line dresses suit most brides.

GN: Which accessories are popular with brides now?

Many brides prefer crystal tiaras or hairpins and lace veils.

GN: What brands do you sell?

Many of our dresses are imported from the US and Spain. We carry Vera Wang, Pronovias and Lasposa.

Most of our brides favor Spanish dresses.

Wediann Wedding Shop 웨딩그룹 웨디안웨딩 Address: 98-1, Bullo-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju Tel: 062-224-5655 Opening Hours: Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Weekends: 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Website: http://www.wediann.com/

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photography I photo essay

Uncoupled Culture Written and photographed by Marty Miller

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here is a term, coined gleefully by some, and looked upon with disdain by others, called “couples culture.” While certainly trans-cultural in biological or psychological necessities, this term carries with it visual representations unique to this culture, as we readers find ourselves living within.

From pre-fabricated wedding halls physically dominating their geographic peers to coffee shops celebrating the feelings of twosome-ness that they hope to instill in their patrons, images in text, graphics and even sounds (think of your average K-pop ballad) easily materialize within your average street walker. What feelings of need, longing, desire or dread are fed or internalized as we navigate this inter-sensory stream of experience that constitutes a life lived with relative ease in Gwangju?

When thinking over these questions by simply documenting couples with their actions or habits, their faces presented to the world and their inner truths seemed simply inadequate. The quality of being together within a term coined couples culture necessitates its opposite — namely that alone-ness is possible and is therefore a reaction against this assumption. When taking pictures, it soon became clear that couples culture is indeed also a singles culture — the act of being with another seemed to spur attention to those in waiting.

At times, the camera showed this waiting as a reaction to the desire to lock in mind and step with another being, with cultural mores or with an identity lying in wait, forged over millennia — the more photos taken, the more similar seemed the emotions between those in either state. The pictures suggested that to be coupled is to equally be alone, for one not only implies its counter but also necessitates the

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inevitable return of that which is considered lacking in the present.

These photos were taken with older medium format film cameras and as such necessitate a slower, monotonous, yet intentional working process, often punctuated with brief moments of relative truth.

As such, finding the rhythm of light and tone takes time and means a working process spent largely without others.

When taking these photos, I could not help but feel simultaneously alone, yet integrated within the experiences of those passing by in the lens, and those beyond. As such, the moods reflected from these images reveal not only a small slice of the pictured’s emotional spectrum experienced when engaging such a term but also my own subjectively real experience. I felt this with painful glee.

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photography

[Photo of the Month]

By Sebastian Von Szuts

This was just a quick snapshot I took as I was trying to catch up with my wife and son. As I was “jogging� by this place, I knew I had to take the shot because two things came up into mind at that moment. First, how amazing was it that humanity, even in this age, can respectfully co-exist, and secondly I knew that this spot would be a great place for an IR shot (infrared photography) due to the contrast between the trees and the bridge, so I went for it!

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VIDACOREA Written by Paul Kerry Photographed by Joe Wabe

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hile South Korea’s promoters push images of tourist landmarks and tech masterpieces, one expat artist is looking at the smaller things in his representation of Korea.

From an order bell from a bar or restaurant to a cup of instant coffee stirred with the “stick” packaging, the subjects of Joe Wabe’s photo exhibition explore the smaller things that make Korea unique.

“This subculture of popular manners and traditions, which are not mass promoted or well known among newcomers and are sometimes overlooked, are the ones that I personally believe combine to form the pure core of a cultural identity,” Wabe said.

The photos themselves are minimalist in their composition, with a focus on the objects in question and empty backgrounds, allowing the viewer to imagine their own contexts.

“I want to invite the viewer to make a connection with their own experiences and memories and invite them to travel to the source of hidden treasures of the Korean experience,” Wabe said. “There are probably millions of these underground traditions that represent so much, and I’m sure that by looking at some of these, more will emerge from people’s minds, thus stretching the experience even further.”

The “VIDACOREA” exhibition was run at Salt Art Gallery in Gwangju from Friday until May 21.

Reprinted from the Korea Herald

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places to see I my korea

Pedaling the Yeongsan River Bike Trail Written and photographed by Erica Ravi

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pon moving to South Korea’s sixth largest metropolitan area, I adapted quickly to commuting on buses, the somewhat useful subway line, and by bicycle. What Gwangju lacks in dedicated bike lanes, they have made up for with wide sidewalks and the beautiful Gwangju Stream path. However, I found myself homesick when thinking about the 29km stretch of lakefront that I biked on every day to bypass the hustle and bustle of Chicago. I sought an equivalent to Chicago’s Lakefront Trail here in Gwangju. After some research and riding, I found myself on a seemingly new bike trail. I only pedaled 5km south when the horizon of monolithic buildings was replaced by mountains and farms, and on my right, the Yeongsan River.

Whether you are an avid cyclist or enjoy a recreational ride, the Yeongsan River Trail is a great getaway to see the countryside and a number of other attractions. It is easily accessible from the Gwangju Stream — just head west and the stream empties into the Yeongsan River, leading you to the 133km trail. From the point where the stream and river meet, following the Yeongsan north about 40km will lead you to Damyang. Heading south about 90km takes you to Mokpo.

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The trail is part of the Four Rivers Project, an effort that has created a country-wide system of bike trails. Pedaling along the Yeongsan River Trail, I have spotted numerous rest areas, clear signage and plenty of places to sit and rest in the shade.

There are also parks, soccer fields and baseball diamonds situated closer to cities.

If you want to take a long distance ride on the Yeongsan, try to leave early if biking on the weekend. There are parts of the stream and river trails that get pretty crowded with families. I accidentally biked into a kite string and ruined a kid’s day, so I try to avoid the crowds now. That way, there is less stop-and-go traffic. Here are some Korean phrases (spelled in haphazard phonetics) to use if you want to pass pedestrians or other bikers politely: 잠시만요 = “Jam-si-man-yo” (“Just a moment.”) 죄송합니다 = “Joe-song-ham-ni-da ” (“I am sorry.”) 실례합니다 = “Sil-rye-ham-ni-da ” (“Excuse me.”)

TIPS AND SAFETY If this is your first foray into long distance biking, here are some tips: • Helmet. It is necessary, even if the locals do not always wear one.

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Stream meets the river

Signage around Yeongsan River Trail

Bike path

Vantage point from Yeongsan River Trail

• Make sure your bike fits! Everyone stresses the importance of seat height, but neglects arm reach. Your stand-over height may be correct, but are you reaching too far or scrunching up your shoulders? That is not a good position to be in for both your shoulders and back. Get properly fitted.

• Bring (and drink!) plenty of water. Also, pack high-protein, nutritious snacks like nuts, even if you think you will not need them. A threehour bike trip can turn into a six hours if you get a flat and have to walk back to civilization.

• Speaking of flats, learning how to fix one will not hurt if you are out for a multi-day bike tour. A spare tube and a hand pump will put you back about 20,000 won. That is less than most inter-city bus tickets and it could save your trip.

• When biking at dusk, dawn, or night in the warmer months, wear a removable thin layer to avoid getting bit by bugs, or just bring bug spray if it is too hot. A buff over your mouth

and nose will keep you from ingesting a swarm of gnats. Do not forget eyewear to shield your eyeballs from those nasty bugs, too! You may think this is overzealous, but when biking on the trail, you will certainly not be the only one covered from head to toe.

• If you are contemplating a bike tour, you may also want to invest in a bike rack and some panniers. Being on a bike with a heavy backpack can wreak havoc on your shoulders.

Check out GMarket. For gear or any bike-related issues, check out my favorite bike shop, MTB in Wolsan-Dong.

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Now get on a bike and go see South Korea!

For more information, here are a couple of links to the Four Rivers Project and cross-country system that detail all the attractions along the paths: http://www.riverguide.go.kr/eng/index.do http://www.bike.go.kr/en

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places to see I departing gwangju

Chasing Adventure in Borneo Written and photographed by Lianne Bronzo

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rom dense rainforests housing endangered animals to thousands of species of fish surrounding Sipadan Island, Sabah, the easternmost part Malaysia, is a paradise for those seeking adventure, nature and wildlife on Borneo, the third largest non-continental island in the world.

ADVENTURE Adrenaline chasers can satisfy their cravings in Sabah. Adventurers from around the world travel to Borneo to hike Mount Kinabalu, just two hours outside the city of Kota Kinabalu. Proudly towering at 4,095 meters, this World Heritage site is the tallest in Southeast Asia. About 5,000 types of plants inhabit the national park including orchids, pitcher plants, and the rare rafflesia, the world’s biggest flower. Most people opt to do a two-day trek to reward their labor with an incredible sunrise. Surprisingly, no special equipment is needed to trek to the top, but it is recommended that the hikers are in decent physical shape. The two-day trek to Low’s Peak comes with a hefty cost including park fees, permits, guides, and the mandatory hostel.

Expect to shell out at least 200,000 Korean won for the challenging, yet rewarding, hike. To sooth your guaranteed sore muscles, soak in the natural hot springs at Poring, a short trip away from the mountain.

For those who like their calves but still want to

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get their blood rushing, there are more adventure options such as paragliding, kayaking and mountain biking. Whitewater rafting is also popular. With warm weather year round, Borneo is a great place for outdoor adventures.

NATURE To be immersed in a true rainforest, a few days at the Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) is a must. This relatively undisturbed lowland forest spans 438 square kilometers and is recognized as one of the most complex ecosystems in the world.

Scientists working at the research center have revealed a tremendous variety of plants, 120 species of mammals, over 300 species of birds, and a seemingly infinite number of insects. With hired guides, visitors can go jungle trekking to waterfalls and caves, spotting wildlife along the way. For those on a budget, it is recommended to stay at the Danum Valley Field Centre, a world renowned research center focused on research, education, and training. This center mainly houses scientists and students, but there are beds available for tourists.

As an island in a tropical climate, there is plenty of water to be explored. Perhaps the most famous place is Sipadan, renowned for its world class SCUBA diving. The island is surrounded by vibrant coral reefs and abundant wildlife not far from the shore.

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The nutrient-rich currents attract fish, which bring other animals like turtles and sharks, making this area an exciting dive spot. Just imagine yourself in a vortex of barracudas or massive parrotfish while hovering over lively coral gardens. Many dive sites are recommended for experienced divers, but beginners and those without certifications can still enjoy snorkeling by simply stepping into the water from the white sand beaches.

WILDLIFE One of the best ways to observe some of Borneo’s incredible biodiversity is by taking a river safari boat along the Kinabatangan River. This difficultname-to-remember river is the longest in Sabah, stretching 560 kilometers. While spotting wildlife is never guaranteed, the river guides tend to be knowledgeable and have an impressive eye when it comes to spotting animals. Our guide pointed out crocodiles, owls and other native birds, gibbons, macaques, and even a gigantic adult orangutan, which was a very special moment. Birdwatchers in Borneo can tick off their sighting lists by spotting some of the 420 kinds of birds that inhabit Borneo (37 of them can only be found there). With some luck, one can spot wild cats, sea otters, elephants, and rhinoceroses. Along the river, there are options to stay with a host family, a bed and breakfast, or even a wildlife camp to really be immersed in the rainforest — mosquitoes and leeches included.

The rainforest is not like a zoo; wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Sightings depend on the weather, your guide, and luck. However, it is pretty much guaranteed to see orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. The non-profit organization raises orphaned baby orangutans until they are ready to be released back into the wild. I would highly recommend a visit to see the “Man of the Jungle” during feeding time, not only to marvel at the striking similarity to humans, but to support the center’s mission and learn more about the status of this endangered species.

Writer (fifth from left) on white water rafting

Spotting orangutans in Borneo’s rainforest

Clearly, there is an abundance of beautiful things to see in Sabah. Tourism is not especially high there, so one can easily escape crowds and be surrounded by nature. Any time of year is good for a visit despite the unpredictability of the weather, but the odds are in your favor by traveling during dry season from February to August. Do not forget mosquito repellent, a rain jacket, a camera, a small flashlight, and a positive attitude!

Huts deep in the forest

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To submit your own recollection, email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr

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culture I korean poetry

Somjin River

by Kim Yong-Taek Translated by Brother Anthony of Taize

Look as you follow the Sŏmjin River in drought.

Though people draw and draw from it, Chŏlla’s vein-like streams keep flowing into it unceasingly and on its twilit banks, as the sun is setting, white clover flowers blossom like balls of rice and vetch flowers like glowing charcoal bow their heads.

On river banks no map ever mentions, on plants no book of flora mentions, it draws and sets darkness, then hangs floral lamps brightening sunburned brows.

Look as you follow the Sŏmjin River that, after flowing and flowing, if it thirsts, summons the streams on their way to Yŏngsan River, takes them longingly in a bone-crunching embrace, as it twists its way round Chiri Mountain’s stubby waist.

How could the Sŏmjin River ever dry up, even if a few louts come rushing to draw from it?

Once Chiri Mountain has washed its face in the twilit river, risen again and laughed aloud, it looks toward Mudŭng Mountain and asks: Is that not true?

Then Mount Mudŭng, bathed in the glow of twilight, replies: Of course it is, and nods its bright brow. Just watch it, as you follow the Sŏmjin River, look.

How could the Sŏmjin River ever dry up even if a few ignorant bastards draw from it?

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가문 섬진강을 따라가며 보라 퍼가도 퍼가도 전라도 실핏줄 같은 개울물들이 끊기지 않고 모여 흐르며 해 저물면 저무는 강변에 쌀밥 같은 토끼풀꽃, 숯불 같은 자운영꽃 머리에 이어주며 지도에도 없는 동네 강변 식물도감에도 없는 풀에 어둠을 끌어다 주이며 그을린 이마 훤하게 꽃등도 달아준다 흐르다 흐르다 목메이면 영산강으로 가는 물줄기를 불러 뼈 으스러지게 그리워 얼싸안고 지리산 뭉툭한 허리를 감고 돌아가는 섬진강을 따라가며 보라 섬진강물이 어디 몇 놈이 달려들어 퍼낸다고 마를 강물이더냐고, 지리산이 저문 강물에 얼굴을 씻고 일어서서 껄껄 웃으며 무등산을 보며 그렇지 않느냐고 물어보면 노을 띤 무등산이 그렇다고 훤한 이마 끄덕이는 고갯짓을 바라보며 저무는 섬진강을 따라가며 보라 어디 몇몇 애비 없는 후레자식들이 퍼간다고 마를 강물인가를

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Carpets like Grass A short story written by Boipelo Seswane

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used to have this dream where I’m on a bus with a bunch of dead Korean high school students. These students’ eyes are open and blinking, their hair parts with the wind passing through the windows, and their ties follow the movements of their breathing patterns. A stale, cigarette smell overtakes the bus’s interior. The sky outside is gray and somber, yet cloudless, and carries a pulse with it — more like a ripple as if it were a small pond in a gutter with a child mechanically dropping pebbles into it. The students make no sound aside from the shuffling of their legs.

It was always the same thing. I get on the bus, look for an open seat, end up standing somewhere, awkwardly, and realize that they’re all dead. Even though they’re moving and their eyes are open, and sometimes their lips part and a sliver of saliva may get stuck in the space between, I know they’re dead.

They know it too. And they look at me in this depressed, annoyed, get-over-yourself kind of way. Like I shouldn’t be surprised.

I absentmindedly stand there and shuffle through my phone, feigning normality. This goes on for some time, and then it gets cold, and I can see the wind blow through and this kind of animation takes form of the wind that gives it this old, Disney Christmas Carol-looking feel. The wind swirls around in circles throughout the bus, passing the students’ faces. They look cold and miserable and ice starts to cling onto their lips and eyebrows, but I never sense fear. How could they be afraid when they’re already dead? I didn’t think this in my dream.

Eventually I get off the bus and take a seat on the nearest bench, at which point I’m met by an old woman with her back bent like a boomerang. She offers me some rice-cake and when I refuse she shoves it into my mouth and it slides down to my belly. She walks away and I think that’s the end of it, but then the rice-cake starts talking to me. It starts telling me that I just watched those kids suffering and did nothing

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culture I gwangju writes

about it. I try to answer but I can’t talk. The cake swells up and I get a feeling of what should be pain inflating into my stomach. I eventually wake up out of panic, feeling like an awful teacher, and get into the shower to start my day.

I was nearly late to work the first time I had the dream. My co-worker agreed that it all sounded pretty strange. She’s good at this dream thing — thinks they’re mad-important — and watches the moon patterns and all that stuff. I once asked her about new ideas for our kindergarten’s event day. She told me to “take a walk some place.”

“Somewhere quiet and inspiring. Or try meditating to open your second chakra point.”

“My second what?”

“Your second chakra point.” She then proceeded to point to her vagina. “It might not work entirely, but it should help get your creative juices flowing.”

She went on to talk about how these different chakra points, seven or eight total, govern the range of our physical, emotional, and spiritual capabilities. Any given chakra point, she said, is like a spinning vortex that allows energy — white light — to run through it. White light is a universal force, she said, like God. If the chakra point is blocked, then no white light gets in, and our potential becomes thwarted.

Whenever she’s feeling unimaginative she gets naked, sparks some candles, spreads this oil over herself, and meditates for as long as she needs — all the while focusing all her energy on the center of the second chakra point (a.k.a. her vagina).

So when I told her about this dream, she had plenty to talk about. It’s about a change in beliefs or new ideas, a sudden shift in life. A new adventure, a new crush, a getting over something, a forgetting, a remembering, a learning to remember, a manifestation, an entry into something unexpected, something different. I sat back and nodded my head as she got weirdly into it, her eyes growing wider and body language becoming more and more animated... as if she were talking about a delicious meal or a vacation or a [insert hedonistic indulgence].

But none of what she said really made sense, at least not in any immediate kind of way. The more I tried to mold her response to match my feelings, the more I realized how little the exchange was going to help.

I brushed off the conversation as best I could and went upstairs, into the madness. Kids were building cities with blocks, rolling their cars in the grass-looking carpet, jumping on, and hanging on and torturing stuffed animals, and were generally doing whatever they wanted with little regard to the effects and consequences of their actions.

Some of them read or aimlessly walked around with their tongues sticking out of their mouths. Some clung on to the hands of teachers they trusted. The ones who they latched onto that very first day, when mom and dad left them at the door.

There are kids who manage as if they were meant, all along, to be in school. They get along with their peers, organize games, are enthusiastic about pleasing the teacher, and generally act like they run the place. It’s almost intimidating.

And then there are the criers — the ones who’d never be in class and took naps when they wanted. It had been like that for at least two weeks — their first two weeks in what would become a long, sometimes treacherous road that is education.

There are the criers who are naturally criers. They cried as they came out of the womb, they cried on

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the way home from the hospital, they cried in the crib, the park, the movie theater, the restaurant, on grandpa’s lap, at the grocery store and, at that time, in the kindergarten. Among this group of criers, however, there is a very small sub-set of criers. The ones who do well in school and social settings and are somewhat independent... but have somehow internalized the transition in a more acute fashion.

There was this kid. He was really young, maybe three years old, and I hadn’t seen him in my class at all since the beginning of the new semester. Reason being that, if he wasn’t asleep or crying, he was calmly sitting at his “spot.” His spot was this green couch that he’d established as his second home.

When I walked up to him, he gave me a short glance before looking away. He’d focus in on this wall beside him as if there were something holy about it. Regardless of how many times I said his name or jingled toys in his face, he wouldn’t turn my way. He sat there, red and glossy-eyed, cheeks glaring, lips quivering, his face twisted like thin ice ready to crack, and kept his eyes to the wall.

When I saw him sitting there it reminded me of a stool near a sandbox that my dad left me on years ago. I remembered the feeling. The rage, confusion, hatred, sadness and contempt for the world. The stool, for whatever reason, did me justice. It was something that I had a say in, a way to exercise my will. Something tangible I could hold onto when everything around me was crumbling. As if the only thing we can do to remember our autonomy, when most powerless, is crystallized into an act of defiance.

When I saw this kid, sitting there, alone, confused, potentially hurt (albeit naturally), I wanted to think of it as a moment of development. One of his first transitions into the world, a growing pain. But all I could see, if I’m being honest, was his graduation, and the hours he was going to put into the after school programs, and the tests, and the lack of sleep, until he was old enough to take the bus, and sit there in his coat and tie, glazing at his phone, zombie-eyed, at 10 p.m., knowing he has to go home, study, wake up in six hours (if he’s lucky) and do it all over again.

I felt some kids come up to me and jump on my back. They reminded me that there were other students aside from this quiet, intuitive little man. I played with them, and they laughed, and I laughed, and they’re just kids, like the kids back home. I got a hint of the truth that we’re all the same deep down. Just before I gaffed and used an improper conjugation with my director. Before I buggered off and stood in front of a whiteboard for a few hours, and eventually got on a bus where no one was dead but were, on the contrary, all quite alive. Some were even happy, laughing, holding hands with their affectionate other.

Tired, sure, but surviving. I finally got home and tried to hone my inner white-light before realizing that I was sitting alone, naked, concentrating all my energy on my genitals, and with a sigh rolled into bed, switched off the lights and fell asleep.

If I was lucky enough, I didn’t remember my dreams. But when I did, I wouldn’t know how to validate them or brush them off as some signifying-nothing-metaphor, or an over-exaggeration, but would, nonetheless, keep wondering.

I’d keep wondering, every day, what it all meant.

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general I behind the myth

The Jikji Written by Karly Pierre Photo courtesy of Jikji Festival

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he printing press is generally regarded as one of the most important inventions in history. It has enabled people to communicate and gain access to knowledge once reserved for the highest social classes.

Johannes Gutenberg is known as the father of metal moveable types in the West. His machine set the stage for enlightenment and revolution in Europe that forever shaped the continent. In the West, students are commonly taught that the Gutenberg Bibles printed in 1452-1455 are the oldest extant printed books. However, there is a metal moveable type book that precedes the Gutenberg Bibles by 78 years — the Jikji.

The Jikji was printed in 1377 at Heungdeok Temple in Korea, the product of innovative monks residing there. Jikji is an abbreviation of the title “The Monk Baegun’s Anthology of the Great Priests’ Teachings on Identification of the Buddha Spirit by the Practice of Seon.” The book was written by Baegun, the chief priest of Anguk and Shingwang temple, as a guide for Buddhist monks training students in Zen Buddhism, the dominant religion during the Goryeo Dynasty when it was printed.

The first edition of the Jikji printed in 1372 used wood block printing. The Chinese inventor Bi Sheng developed both ceramic and wooden moveable type systems around 1040 A.D. and bronze movable type presses appeared in China during the 12th century. However, for years following these innovations, wood block printing remained the prevailing printing style. It was a painstaking process in which the entire image or text was carved into a

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single block. Following Baegun’s death, his disciples, priests Seoksan and Daldam and priestess Myodeok, printed a second edition of the Jikji using a metal moveable type system. The Jikji consisted of two volumes with 307 chapters total and its dimensions were 24.6 x 17.0 c.m.

Today, the location of the Jikji’s first volume is unknown. However, the second volume can be found in the Manuscrits Orientaux Department of the National Library of France. The book was taken to France during the early 1900s by Victor Collin de Plancy, Korea’s first French Consul. During his service in Korea, Plancy was an avid collector and by unknown means came into possession of the book.

The National Library of France acquired the book in an auction, and the importance of its existence was little acknowledged until the book was displayed at the “International Book Year” hosted by the National Library of France in 1972. Many Koreans have asked for the book to be returned to Korea, and France’s reluctance has sparked controversy. Dr. Park Byeong-seon, a Korean historian who resided in France, had been one of the most vocal advocates for the book’s homecoming until her death in 2011.

UNESCO has formally recognized the Jikji on its Memory of the World Register and created a world prize in its honor. The UNESCO Memory of the World program seeks to “preserve and promote documentary heritage.” The Jikji Prize awards $30,000 to organizations promoting documentary preservation.

The Jikji is triumphant evidence that though Korea is a small country, its presence has already been felt in the annals of global history.

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jeolla history I general

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Jang Bo Go and the Sea Kingdom Part1

Written by Won Hea-ran Photo courtesy of Okdang Museum

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n ancient times, it was very unlikely for a commoner to obtain the power and status of a general. Jang Bo Go went much further than that. As a general, he eliminated Chinese pirates and made his own country rich with active trade. Ultimately, Jang rose to be an important political figure in Silla.

In what historical era was Jang born? General Jang was born in the late 700s AD. It was about a century after Silla had won its fight among rivaling states and finally united Korea. The United Silla still had many problems. The Chinese pirates plundered coastline villages and trade ships. They captured people and sold them as slaves in Tang China. Jang was born in a hard time to be alive.

Jang did not have a last name. Historical records reveal his original name to be Goong Bok or Goong Pa. Although there is not much known about his family or birth, Jang must have been from a commoner family because only noblemen could possess last names. Historians assume that he changed his name into Jang Bo Go when he moved to live in Tang China for a few years. Everyone in China had a last name, so it must have been easier for him to work in China with his last name. During his stay, Jang proved his talent as an able soldier and commander. He worked as a military officer in a coastline region called Seoju and reached the status of high commander in his 30s.

Jang Bo Go was a very righteous man. While working as an officer in China, he witnessed how many Silla slaves were captured and sold in Tang China. He returned to Silla in an outrage. In 836 B.C.E., Jang met King Heung Deok of Silla and created a military base named Cheonghaejin. The base was located in Wando, a southwestern island and the hometown of

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Jang Bo Go

General Jang. In a couple of years, the pirates were completely eliminated from the sea, and Jang created safe trade routes for Silla merchants.

It was the beginning of the great “Sea Kingdom.�

General Jang had not only eliminated pirates, but he also united Silla merchants to work together. He and the Silla merchants dominated trade among Tang China, Silla and Japan. Thanks to General Jang’s efforts, Silla became rich and influential, enough to be recognized as a major power in the region.

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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.

Providing Instructions A Minimalist Perspective Written and images provided by Tyson Vieira

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magine that you plan an activity for your lesson.

Perhaps you are really excited about it and have spent a lot of time making it fun, contextual, and appealing. Your co-teacher approves. Class begins.

You provide the lesson objectives, dive into the textbook, and then into the grammatical explanation. Finally, it is time to present the activity to your students. You do so…but the immediate response is a blank stare followed by an occasional “What?” or the Korean equivalent. If you are co-teaching with a Korean speaker, often they will just translate exactly what you said. If a “rock star” student understood, then they could translate. There are, however, better ways to deal with this issue than with mere translations. Either way, valuable time is lost and often the smooth flow of the lesson, as well as the student motivation, has diminished some.

Explaining activities is a common issue for all levels of ESL/EFL lessons. Many teachers plan each phase of their lessons with great detail, but not many plan how they will introduce each phase, activity, game, or exercise. Since communicating instructions is an essential element in every lesson, it is important to develop a possible philosophy and routine when providing instructions to L2 learners.

WAYS TO IMPROVE Communicative activities, student-centered teaching, and task-based language learning have been growing in influence in the TEFL community for years, even in the more traditional, teacher-centered education countries. As a result, the presentation phase in EFL classrooms has decreased.

However, this shouldn’t mean that items in the pres-

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entation phase, such as giving instructions, should be less focused on or ignored. Quite the opposite!

In fact, language teachers need to place a greater focus on the presentation phase and on communicating instructions to make them as precise, effective, and tactical as possible in a shorter amount of time. This is crucial because instructional time is the “transition period” between phases, such as lectureto-activity or activity-to-review game. These transitional periods are crucial for the flow of the entire lesson. If the transitions fail or are weak, then the following phase could easily be affected negatively as well.

There are two challenging elements that often elude teachers when giving instructions: time and words.

The common problem is density,and teachers need to minimalize in order to improve.

THE MINIMALIST PERSPECTIVE One might have heard the term minimalism, but the word is not commonly heard in relation to teaching.

One possible definition of minimalism is “a style or

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technique (as in design, literature, or music) that is characterized by extreme sparseness and simplicity.” This technique can also be applied as a lifestyle or even a philosophy. A self-proclaimed minimalist is usually someone who practices simplicity in every aspect of their life, such as material possessions or their schedule, so that every single thing has immense value to that individual. For example, this watch is of minimalism design. There are no numbers, no background color, no extra parts or features Yet, it serves its purpose and is still visually appealing. One can tell what time it is regardless of the lack of detail. How does this apply to our classroom instructions? As teachers, we should examine every detail of our lesson and ask ourselves, “Does this hold value? Will the message still be understood without it?” The goal is to say more with less.

MINIMALIST APPLICATION In the language classroom, there is a lot of information entering the learner’s mind; adding too much detail can make it overwhelming. Simplicity can be our most powerful element in our instructions. When communicating instructions verbally to our students, we should try to apply the target language and vocabulary the students should already know. The instruction segment is the transition in our lesson activities; therefore, easy understanding is crucial.

We can communicate with our body and facial expressions, not just our words. Instead of describing what the students are to do, model it. Instead of saying, “I’m going to give you these cards,” just give them to them. The fewer words a teacher uses, the less traffic entering the student’s mind, and the less likelihood of congestion. A way to check the suitability of the presentation of an activity’s instructions is to set a word limit of 15 or less (excluding target language). This might seem extreme to many instructors, but if you try cutting down the number of words through modeling the activity, showing visuals, and using simple and short expressions and questions; it certainly is not impossible. Once the new instructional style becomes routine, timing will improve and students will not feel overwhelmed with teacher talk.

MINIMALIZING PRESENTATIONS PowerPoint Presentations (or Google Slides or Apple Keynote) is probably the most popular tool to deliver a lesson and activities to our students. Using visuals is an effective way to communicate instructions. However, if not prepared well, it can also serve as a hindrance by becoming too distracting and overwhelming to L2 learners.

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Tips for minimalizing a PowerPoint presentation: • Use fewer words. If your PowerPoint contains a lot of words, you are asking your students to split their attention between what they are hearing and what they are reading; and in English classes, chances are that they will choose the slide over the teacher. With some slides, you cannot avoid having a lot of text, so show bullet points one by one.

• Be consistent throughout the PowerPoint presentation. If you change the typography, imagery, and colors often, it can become too distracting.

Also, do not use too many effects and transitions.

• Use photos that are not too complex or distracting. This should go without saying, but remember to question every visual you use by asking, “Does this hold value? Will it serve its purpose?” If you want to highlight a specific area of a picture, highlight it with an arrow or circle it so that the students will not need to search.

CONCLUSION A minimalist approach to our instructions and presentations is a perspective to help to increase efficiency and clarity. As with every tool or method in a teacher’s journey, its effectiveness will depend on how it is used by the teacher. It will not be productive if the teacher’s instructions are so sparse that the student cannot understand what the instructions mean. However, due to the traffic in our learner’s minds and delicacy of misinterpretation, it is not a bad idea to question the value in every word, graphic, and detail. When lesson planning, take a few moments to examine your instructions throughout the lesson. If providing instructions feels like a weak point in a lesson, oftentimes it is because they are lacking the essential and powerful element of simplicity. * Find the information of the upcoming Chapter Meeting on the Community Board (Page 66).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tyson Vieira works for the Jeollanamdo Language Program (JLP) under the Provincial Office of Education. Prior to his present position as a teacher at Muan Englishtown, Tyson taught for two years at five different elementary schools in Haenam. He earned his M.A. degree in TESOL from Azusa Pacific University in California. He has been involved with the National English Ability Test (NEAT) as an item writer and with various JLP projects, such as coordinating the Jeollanamdo Provincial English Camps and teaching in JLP’s distant learning program. He is an active member of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of KOTESOL, serves as the co-facilitator of the local Reflective Practice Special Interest Group and a chapter officer. He has also written articles for JLP’s Bibimbap and for Gwangju News.

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Your Health

There’s an App for That Written by Jessica Keralis

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espite the insistence of some celebrities and “crunchy” moms educated at “the University of Google,” the internet should never be your doctor.

However, while technology should never replace advice from your physician, mobile apps give users the opportunity to take charge of their health and care in an unprecedented way. This field, referred to as “mHealth,” is a way for the public health community to disseminate health messages to consumers while empowering them to make better choices about their own well-being. This article features a selection of apps targeting specific health categories that have been vetted and recommended by public health agencies and/or physicians. All apps listed here are available for both iOS and Android and, unless otherwise noted, are free.

By far, the largest app category with the widest variety of apps to choose from is diet and exercise. For example, FitBit and Fitocracy allow users to track both diet and exercise, while diet-focused apps like Food Journal and Calorie Counter give users control of what and how much they eat. There are countless apps on all platforms for specific activities and goals, including weight loss, weight training, running, and yoga. One of the most exciting things for health professionals is the growing number of health promotion and disease prevention apps. Several national health agencies offer vaccine schedule apps (e.g., ImmunizeCA or Vaccine Schedules), and apps such as Smoke Free can help smokers quit.

slowly growing. MoodTools, for example, helps users to track and manage their moods, while more specific tools like Just in Case and StopSelfHarm are designed for specific mental health issues. Additionally, the discretion of smartphones is a fantastic benefit to sexual health apps, allowing users to access information and help make decisions that they might not be comfortable discussing with others.

SexPositive and My Sex Doctor provide a variety of sexual health and STD information, while Ovuview allows women to track their menstrual cycles and fertility.

Finally, getting health information when traveling abroad can be challenging, but there are now several apps that allow travelers to get information about food safety (Can I Eat This?), and general health (Yellow Book), and disease information (Outbreaks Near Me) while they indulge their wanderlust.

For more information: UK’s NHS Health Apps Library: http://apps.nhs.uk/ US CDC Mobile Activities: http://www.cdc.gov/mobile/mobileapp.html 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. All views expressed here are her own and not those of any employer.

Pregnancy and child health apps can ease common anxieties among expecting and new parents by providing them with lots of useful information and health tracking tools. BabyBump and Pregnancy Tracker are specifically targeted for pregnancy, while My Baby Today and Kid’s Wellness Tracker provide tools for parents to manage their children’s health.

Often an overlooked area of health and wellness, the number of apps for mental health is

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A Growing Future

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Waeg Farms Written by Karly Pierre Photographed by Doug Huffer

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orea’s lush, mountainous countryside is undeniably beautiful. However, most of the occupants of this idyllic land are elderly farmers. Younger generations tend to seek their fortunes in Korea’s crowded cities, rejecting the hardships of farm life. Nevertheless, a few foreigners have found refuge in the Korean countryside. Doug Huffer, owner of Waeg Farms, is one of them.

“Around me, a young farmer is anyone under 50,” said Huffer, a 45-year-old American from Kansas.

“And there are very few of those around here. I do not think many young people are going to be interested in farming, as land here is very expensive, it is very labor intensive work, and it does not pay very much.”

Huffer first visited Korea in 1998, and he returned to teach English in 2005. He taught at hagwons for a couple of years, then at public schools and universities for a few more years.

His inspiration for starting a farm came after hearing foreigners pine for a taste of home.

“When I first came here, there was very little cheese available in the stores,” said Huffer. “Pretty much just sliced cheese and pizza cheese. A lot of the foreigners wanted more cheese, so I thought it would be a good idea to make it myself.”

Before Huffer married his wife, Song Bonghwa, he bought a house in the countryside. A number of people mentioned that it was particularly difficult to find goat cheese, and after a little research Huffer realized that goats were easier to raise than cows.

In 2012, soon after returning from their honeymoon in India, the couple bought their first goats.

“Raising dairy goats in Korea is very difficult,” said Huffer. “It is a very small industry, so the supplies and knowledge are very limited. I have to get almost all of my equipment from the US, and seek advice

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from veteran farmers in the US and Australia.”

The farm is located in Gyeongju, near Manbul Mountain. Huffer rents 2,000 pyeong (approximately 1.5 acres) of land on a hill just outside their village. On one side of the hill are his goats and on the other side are fields.

“We were trying to grow a variety of stuff that is not common in Korea — things like heirloom tomatoes, tomatillos, green beans, peas, okra, radishes,” said Huffer. “We also have 500 asparagus plants that we planted last year, so we can start harvesting them next year.”

Huffer loves the goats on his farm and is particularly attached to a few.

“They are all pretty special, with their own unique personalities,” said Huffer. “Right now, we have one little girl, Serena, who lost her mother, so she is staying at our house. She will follow us around and likes to lie down next to us.”

If you are interested in learning more about Waeg Farms, contact https://www.facebook.com/waegfarm. Fresh goat cheese is now available for 10,000 won for a 200 gram container. Shipping is free with four or more orders. Waeg Farms will soon begin selling yogurt. Vegetables are seasonal, so check the webpage for availability.

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NAMWON Written by Warren Parsons Photographed by Park Seong-yeol and Lee Jeongmin Date: June 27, 2015 Price: GIC Members 55,000 won/ Non-Members 65,000 won/ Children 35,000 won Contact: 062-226-2733 (Lee Jeongmin) or gic@gic.or.kr/ gictour@gic.or.kr

Guryong Valley

Namwon Lacquerware Exhibition Hall

Lacquer Woodcraft Experience

Yukmojeong Pavillion

Gwangju

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Namwon Lacquerware Exhibition Hall

Lunch @ Unbong Village

Jirisan National Park

Guryong Valley & Waterfall

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une jumps into another summer season with the spirit of vacation and expectations of long days full of carefree adventure. This month the GIC Tour escapes to the foothills of Namwon for an artistic lacquerware experience followed by a jaunt into the cooler climes of Jirisan National Park to search for dragons among the emerald cascades and pools tucked inside the cliffs of a deep gorge.

Long a crossroads between provinces and through the expansive Jirisan massif, Namwon has served a pivotal role as a market town, trading goods and raw materials used to produce a variety of traditional crafts. Particularly lacquer and the products which use this special material are well known in the county. Made from the sap of a sumac tree and applied to wood traditionally sourced from the local mountains, Namwon lacquerware is famous nationwide. Besides being exceptional for everyday use it is also considered an art form as natural lacquer coats furniture and housewares with a long-lasting deep luster that is not only beautiful, but is antibacterial, odor and chemical free, and can withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius! At the Namwon Lacquerware Exhibition Hall, the works of master craftsmen are on display for visitors to appreciate and to purchase. Following an introduction to this time-honored craft, participants transfer to the Lacquer Woodcraft Experience Center to try their hand at applying mother-of-pearl designs to their own lacquered pendants. The center operates out of an abandoned train station and serves as an artisans’ collective where local crafts are maintained, promoted, and developed.

After this immersive arts and crafts experience the tour transfers by bus into the high plains of Jirisan for lunch at Unbong village. The restaurant is rustic and serves a classic countryside lunch centered around one of the region’s signature ingredients: black pig. Unlike normal pork, the taste is richer as if infused with the flavors of the nearby hills.

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their imagination is piqued, the pansori sounds from Korea’s most famous love story, Chunhyang.

Please come out this month for an artistically inspired trip through the nature and history of Korea’s mountain landscape with the GIC Tour!

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!

Leaving Unbong village the bus cruises higher into Jirisan where participants disembark on a boulderhopping trek down Guryong Gorge to see its namesake waterfall before following the water’s course down several cataracts to the base of the valley.

Named for the “Nine Dragons” that inhabit the large pools within the valley, the scenery has long attracted scholars, poets, and musicians who have sung and played above the falling water. The course ends at Yukmojeong, at a lovely pavilion set above the “Dragon’s Pond” where participants can hear, if

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The Michael Simning Community Builder Award Presentation Ceremony Written by Nancy Harcar, Arlo Matisz and Tim Whitman Photo courtesy of Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN)

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ichael Simning meant a lot to the people and city of Gwangju.

the Gwangju community and to help us continue to build something great here.

He was a Canadian expatriate who became a business owner, a volunteer, a community builder, a husband, a father and a friend to so many people in Gwangju. Mike made this city a better place for everyone.

So, all are welcome to come to this GIC Talk to help us honor the award nominees, finalists and the award recipient whom the people of this community have chosen as those who exemplify Mike’s spirit of doing good works to strengthen the community of Gwangju. Come also to celebrate Mike’s life.

Those who knew him can all agree that the loss of him last year left a big hole in the hearts of many, and big shoes to fill. This is the inspiration for the Michael Simning Community Builder Award.

This award is to remember him for who he was and what he did for this city. This award is to also recognize the people in this city who carry on his legacy of doing good works for the public. And this award is to encourage new folks to get involved in

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Thus, in the spirit of fun and celebration for Mike’s life and work, if you attend the ceremony, please wear your loudest Hawaiian shirt — one of Mike’s favorite fashion statements.

Thank you for remembering Michael Simning. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, June 13 at the GIC’s first floor auditorium with this special GIC Talk and ceremony starting at 3 p.m.!

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GIC Talk June Schedule

Theme of the Month: Celebrating Cultures Time & Location: Saturdays from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., GIC Auditorium (Samho Center, 1st Floor) For more information, contact gictalk@gic.or.kr

JUNE 6: Celebrating by Remembering There will be no GIC Talk, due to Memorial Day. The GIC will also be closed this day. Please enjoy the weekend by remembering the men and women who have given their lives while serving in Korea during the Korean War as well as other armed conflicts.

JUNE 13 Celebrating Service Speakers: Nancy Harcar, Arlo Matisz and Tim Whitman Topic: The Michael Simning Community Builder Award Presentation Ceremony More information about this GIC Talk is included in the GIC Talk Preview.

JUNE 20 Celebrating Art Speakers: Heather Aitken, Calen Cygan and Caitlin O’Neill Topic: The Last Five Years — Bringing a Musical to Gwangju The Last Five Years, a musical written and composed by Jason Robert Brown, tells the story of a five-year relationship between a thriving novelist, Jamie, and a struggling actress, Cathy. Audience members will hear from both the production crew and cast of this production. Join us for a preview to hear about the process of putting on an English-only musical in South Korea.

JUNE 27 Celebrating Fun Speaker: Anthony Cheston Topic: Bringing Learning and Fun Together!

According to the Korean Times, in January 2015, 70 percent of middle and high school students think their English lessons are useless.

Korean students are under a lot of stress due to high expectations from their families and society. They study many long and hard hours at school, and then visit many subject-specific hagwons afterwards.

As an English teacher, the speaker feels we should include games in lesson planning. Children are the same the world over and they love to play games. Sadly though, games are still a rarity to find in Korea. The speaker’s motto is to “make every child smile at least once in each lesson.” Playing games engages the students to maxmize the learning input and output of every class. Come to hear how a business that produces educational games is growing in Korea.

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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

GWANGJU-JEONNAM KOTESOL MOKPO-MUAN OUTREACH WORKSHOPS Date & Time: June 6 (Saturday), 1 – 5 p.m.

Place: Mokpo National University, Building A10, Rm 204 Five Don’t-wanna-Miss Presentations (Admission: Free) KOTESOL MONTHLY CHAPTER MEETING Date & Time: June 20 (Saturday), 10:30 a.m.– 5 p.m.

Place: Chosun University, Main Building, Left Wing, Room 4211 Morning (11 a.m.) Reflective Practice Session (Levels of Reflection) Afternoon Presentations: 1. Using Alternate Reality Games in the Classroom – Paul Starr 2. Panel Discussion: Online Professional Development Options

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For more details: Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju Email: gwangju@koreatesol.org Twitter: @GwangjuKOTESOL

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

We provide affordable consultation & representation.

▶ Areas of Specialty contracts, torts, family law, immigration, labor ▶ Civil & Criminal Attorney Park, Duckhee former judge, GIC board member Services available in Korean, English & Chinese

#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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