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Celebrating 20 Years: Gwangju News
By Dr. David Shaffer Editor-in-Chief
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Ican say without reservation that the Gwangju News is iconic. Yes, I know that to be iconic, something must exhibit distinctive excellence. The Gwangju News has the distinction of being the first regular English language publication produced by one of Korea’s international centers. Indeed, it is Korea’s first monthly magazine for the general public to be locally published in English! It is also distinctive in that the magazine is almost totally managed by volunteers – staff and writers. And the excellence, it can be found in the quality of the articles that our contributors write as well as in the editing.
My, how time flies! I remember that when the first issue of the Gwangju News came off the press 20 years ago, it was just a couple folded sheets of paper that has grown and grown until reaching its present 60 pages per issue. It is absolutely amazing how our small staff can generate those 60 pages by the first of each month without a noticeable hiccup; I admire their energy, their creativity, their dedication. Yes, time flies. I recall ten years ago when I was first approached to do a language teaching column for the magazine. At the time, I had no idea that, over 100 articles later, I would still be writing for that column. And I had no idea when I was approached almost five years ago to head the Gwangju News staff that I would still be editor-in-chief today. But the people I work with and the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of our monthly toils make it all worth the while.
David Shaffer, in addition to being editor-in-chief, pens From the Editor, puts together the Blast from the Past column, and writes the long-running column Language Teaching, as well as an occasional article on an assortment of his other interests.
Celebrating 20 Years
A Catalyst for Community Improvement
By William Urbanski Managing Editor
In a day and age when virtually everyone can whip out their phone to check the international headlines about Chinese satellites falling from the sky or vaccine shortages in Timbuktu, we too often forget about all the exciting and important stuff happening right in front of our faces right here in our community. Be they creative initiatives or entrepreneurial endeavors, highlighting these local happenings in the pages of the Gwangju News not only brings them the attention they deserve but also strengthens the Gwangju community as a whole.
“Social contribution” is a term that gets thrown around a lot these days, and for good reason. A better community, and a better reality for that matter, is something that doesn't happen by itself. It is the sum total of all the little contributions people make that perhaps have little monetary value but make us stop and think, and perhaps even shift ever so slightly in our easy chairs. That, in a nutshell, is why I feel it’s important to volunteer for the Gwangju News: It is a catalyst for community improvement.
On a personal level, the magazine is also a platform for my comedy stylings, which are my attempts to rectify one of the greatest problems facing humanity in this day and age: a serious lack of intellectual witticism.
William Urbanski has been managing editor of the Gwangju News for the past two years, making him now the longestserving person in that volunteer position. In addition, William contributes his witticism to many of the magazine’s articles, particularly in the Opinion section.
Celebrating 20 Years
Enhancing the Brand of Gwangju
By Dr. Shin Gyonggu Publisher
The Gwangju News (GN) is of particular value for Gwangju, for the Gwangju International Center (GIC), for our international community, and for me.
GN has enhanced the brand of Gwangju through its high-quality monthly produced by the dedication of the international community since 2001, first published when there was no English monthly in any region of Korea. I have found that many Gwangju citizens feel a sense of pride in our local magazine when finding it available at Incheon and Gimpo Airports. GN’s uniqueness has now been replicated by other cities that are following Gwangju’s lead with their own publications. GN continues to represent Gwangju, both online and offline, in a commendatory way nationally and internationally.
GN has greatly contributed to the rapid growth of the GIC. People instantly acknowledge the value of the GIC through its publication of GN. It has been an attraction to the GIC for many years, along with GIC Talk and the Korean language classes.
GN has been functioning as an effective catalyst for social integration by offering a quality opportunity for the international community to get involved in the magazine’s publication in a meaningful way while at the same time enjoying the full appreciation of the local community. I was happy to see some of the editors and writers using their GN experiences as a stepping stone to later career development.
GN benefits me personally for my English proficiency. As an English professor, I felt utterly embarrassed by my silence at the editorial meetings in GN’s early days. Now I feel comfortable in most international meetings since GN volunteers “trained” me to be comfortable with their many English dialects.
Dr. Shin Gyonggu is director of the GIC as well as publisher of the Gwangju News. He has been associated with the Gwangju Newssince its beginnings. Indeed, Dr. Shin is responsible for the conception of the Gwangju News.
Two Decades of Progress
By Kim Minsu Gwangju International Center Executive Secretary
Congratulations to the Gwangju News on the 20th anniversary of its publication. In 2003, when I first worked with the Gwangju News, it consisted of only 16 pages in black and white with a little color here and there, which is hard to imagine compared to the stylish look of the magazine today. However, the Gwangju News was still very popular among international residents and English-speaking Korean readers because English content and valuable information was not readily available in those days.
The Gwangju News has made a lot of progress over the past 20 years in terms of content as well as appearance and has played a considerable role in contributing to publicizing Gwangju to the world and providing accurate and transparent information to foreigners living in Gwangju. Unfortunately, print magazines throughout the world are experiencing a crisis, as the development of various smartphone-friendly websites such as those of broadcast media and internet newspapers as well as YouTube deliver information and entertainment almost immediately. Over the past several years, I have heard that well-known magazines have decided to stop publishing. The Gwangju News must also prepare for this paradigm change and will have to consider in-depth the future publishing direction for the magazine.
I hope many readers explore the values of Gwangju and Korea through the Gwangju News. Special thanks to Dr. Shin Gyonggu, Gwangju News founder; Dr. David Shaffer, present editor-in-chief; and to a great layout designer, Karina Prananto.
Kim Minsu served on the staff of the Gwangju News for over a decade in positions that included co-editor and layout designer.
Gwangju News, My Pride and Joy!
By Karina Prananto Layout Editor
Although I haven’t been with the Gwangju News since its beginning, I am happy to say that I have been with it for much of its life (since 2007), when it was 48 pages and we used an old Macintosh program.
Of my 15 years of living in Gwangju, 13 of them has been spent with the Gwangju News; it plays a big role in my life. Thanks to it, I have met many wonderful and talented people and have made many beautiful memories with them. Through the magazine, I have met many important figures in the society, from Korea and abroad, even some from Indonesia, whom I would never have had the chance to meet otherwise!
With no background in design, I had to work extra hard on the magazine’s layout. As time goes by, I realize how much I love this work and the people I work with. They are amazing! The Gwangju News team members are committed, responsible individuals. I am so blessed to have met them and work with them. We grow very close together and can pretty much discuss anything in a cordial manner. Otherwise, this volunteer magazine would not have lasted these 20 years!
I hope the Gwangju News continues to serve the community for another 20 years. And I hope I can stay to witness its continual transformation and its impact on our community. Happy birthday, Gwangju News, my pride and joy!
Karina “Nana” Prananto has been for many years the Gwangju News’s layout editor and online editor, as well as the project’s coordinator for the GIC.
Celebrating 20 Years
A Score of Revolutions – Gwangju News at 20
By Isaiah Winters Chief Copy Editor
Our fair magazine has reached its twentieth year. We’re now 232 issues deep, the last 40 of which I’ve been a part of mainly as chief copy editor, though also as the regular writer and photographer for the Lost in Gwangju column. How did I first come to be the magazine’s chief copy editor and writer for said column? When applying for one of three openings back in January 2018, I looked over each – managing editor, online editor, and chief copy editor – and rightly figured the latter would best dovetail with my aloof introversion. Lost in Gwangju was also uniquely tailored to my character, as I’ve got a terminal curiosity for anything weird, obscured, or neglected.
As for volunteering insights, all I can say is that there’s so much thankless toil going into each and every issue that it’s criminally overlooked. Fortunately, over the years I’ve about halved the amount of time it takes to proofread each article, a benefit of experience. The remaining time goes into the monthly lovechild of all my literary and photographic neuroses – Lost in Gwangju. Why do I stay, given all the time sunk into this project? Like with my proofreading position and monthly column, staying has simply suited me. Volunteering with the Gwangju News is a great way to stay connected with the local community, and given my default reclusion, without the magazine I’d feel gravely disconnected. Therefore, if you’re looking to stay involved while living in Gwangju and South Jeolla, pick up one of our issues or, better yet, volunteer.
Isaiah Winters has been our meticulous chief copy editor since 2018 and at the same time pens the column Lost in Gwangju, which reports on the dark, dilapidated, and disappearing destinations within the City of Light.
Celebrating 20 Years
A Goldmine for the Newbie Expat
By Melline Galani Layout Editor 2020
The first time I discovered the Gwangju International Center was in December 2017. At that Adios Party, I also heard about the Gwangju News, and I was so thrilled at being able to get useful information in English that I immediately became a GIC member. Especially for a newbie expat as myself, the Gwangju News was a goldmine.
The Gwangju News was my first guide to life in Korea, helping me to learn about this country’s culture, cuisine, and events. I honestly believe I couldn’t have adjusted the way I did without the help of the magazine. Who would have thought that three years later, I would be the layout editor of the magazine? I was offered the opportunity of helping out while Karina was on maternity leave, and even though I had no experience in publication and design, I accepted at once. Though it was for a short time, I enjoyed every moment of it. I met a great team and made new acquaintances among both Korean and international residents, and I realized I was able to write articles for the magazine.
This year the Gwangju News has reached its 20th anniversary, and I wish it twice as many more in the future. May it bring joy, relief, and help to other people in the same way it has for me. Regardless of whether I am on the staff or not, the magazine’s interesting articles are always a pleasure to read. Long live the Gwangju News!
Melline Galani has contributed many articles for Around Korea, From Abroad, and Restaurant Review in addition to being layout editor during the past year.
By Kim “Hillel” Yunkyoung Photographer
It has been almost two years since I started working with the Gwangju News (GN) as a photographer. So, my two years of life in Gwangju started with GN. As a photographer, it is so important to be exposed to various events and figures. I would like to share two stories that I covered.
The first story was the 18th FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019. I remember I was so excited to have the opportunity to cover such a big sports event. I did not have a telephoto lens at the time, so it was almost impossible to get the right shot. I asked other press photographers if I can borrow their lens, and none of them hesitated to do so. It was such a great experience just to be surrounded by world-class professional photographers.
And for the second, I did a photo essay on tattoos. Luckily, I had been shooting a guy with tattoos all over his body, including his face. However, I also needed to know the stories behind his indelible artwork. The guy with the tattoos introduced me to his tattoo shop. The tattooist there told so many precious backstories, allowing me to write real stories related to tattoos, which are still a taboo here in Korea. Through this, we are now planning future collaboration with my photography and his work.
In addition to these, I have so many other stories to share. I will do so in upcoming articles and photographs. I am appreciative of GN and proud of my name card: “Photographer, Gwangju News.”
Kim Yunkyoung is known as “Hillel” by the GN staff, and in addition to being “Photographer, Gwangju News,” is a priest in the Anglican Church. As a photographer, his specialty is portrait photography.
Celebrating 20 Years
Still Sharing the Celebration
By Julian Warmington Former Editor & Editor-in-Chief
Twenty years ago most of us could not have guessed that we would find ourselves in the second year of a global pandemic. Community is one of those things we might not appreciate until it’s difficult to connect with others. But GN is about more than some simple concept of community. Volunteer staff face the challenge of providing for a dual audience: people “new” to Jeollanam-do and locals who want to read local news in English. GN at its best builds bridges between peoples by sharing issues worth discussing and aspects worth celebrating for both types of readers.
We’re going to need more of this positive “can-do” attitude. The COVID-19 pandemic is a precursor to the rapidly developing worst-case scenario effects of the climate emergency. Our governments are not addressing the climate crisis with anything like an adequate response, so it is up to city- and communitylevel efforts to reduce atmospheric pollution, make crisis preparations, and be friendly faces welcoming waves of immigrants that Germany has just discovered actually do bring so many benefits to the entire country. Whether Yemenis in Mokpo or the nicest Nepalese working hard in the countryside or on factory floors, events like the GIC’s annual Gwangju International Community Day and similar services offer valuable time for making connections. Long may GN continue to celebrate and share such vital events.
Julian Warmington was a Gwangju News editor during its fledgling years, breathing life into a sparsely staffed magazine. As the publication began its second decade of life, Julian returned as editor-in-chief.
A Pillar of the Gwangju Community
By Wilson Melbostad Former Managing Editor
Abig heartfelt congratulations to the Gwangju News (GN) for twenty years of high-quality grassroots journalism! I am so pleased to say that, albeit briefly, I helped contribute to the process of creating this special publication. What I find most impressive about GN is how the magazine seamlessly unites so many diverse parts of Gwangju and the greater Jeollanam-do area. One’s sense of community is this intangible concept, and it is often quite difficult to point to one thing or another as the reason we feel at home in a particular locale. However, over the past twenty years, GN has been a constant presence and undoubtedly has contributed to the coalescence of all peoples united by their ties to the City of Light.
Once again, congratulations to those who have spent tireless hours contributing to keep the lights on and consistently churn out story after story. Here’s to twenty more years!
Wilson Melbostad stepped in as managing editor just when that position needed to be filled and served the Gwangju News energetically for a full year back in 2018–2019. In addition to his editorial duties, Wilson “churned out” stories and interviews on a variety of interesting topics. With his JD degree, he is now pursuing a career in law.
Compiled by David Shaffer.
