Gwangju News May 2023 #255

May 18 Foundation Bringing the Truth of May 18 to Light

From the Editor

May 2023, Issue 255

Published: May 1, 2023

Won Sun-seok

Photo courtesy of May 18 Foundation

THE EDITORIAL TEAM

Publisher Dr. Shin Gyonggu

Editor-in-Chief Dr. David E. Shaffer

Managing Editor William Urbanski

Chief Copy Editor Isaiah Winters

Layout Editors Karina Prananto, Kim Sukang

Photographer Kim Hillel Yunkyoung

Online Editor Karina Prananto

The Gwangju News is the first English monthly magazine for the general public in Korea, first published in 2001. Each monthly issue covers local and regional issues, with a focus on the roles and activities of the international residents and local English-speaking communities.

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Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731

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For volunteering and article submission inquiries, please contact the editor at gwangjunews@gic.or.kr

It’sMay again. For many people, May brings forth pleasant thoughts of spring – warm breezes, short sleeves, blossoming flowers, budding trees, outdoor activities, and traveling. This issue of the Gwangju News brings you articles related to these topics. But for many of the residents of Gwangju, and especially for those of us who were living in the city in 1980, May also brings forth extraordinarily unpleasant thoughts – memories of protests, gunfire, blood in the streets, burning buildings, helicopter gunship attack, and death, many deaths. The ten days (May 18–27) of the “Gwangju Incident,” as it was labeled at the time, created wounds that have yet to heal. The injuries have regularly been irritated by truth deniers and those who attempt to switch the blame for the May 18 uprising onto the residents of Gwangju!

The four-plus decades since May 18 have been a long and arduous journey of defending and uncovering the truths of the May 18 Democratization Movement. But meticulous fact-finding continues. The recent visit to Gwangju by Chun Woo-won, grandson of Chun Doo-hwan, and his apology to the bereaved families and residents of Gwangju was a welcomed event – and the tragedy of May was something that he personally had nothing to do with.

A major institution for disseminating the truth of the Gwangju uprising and the spirit of May is the May 18 Memorial Foundation. Our cover feature this month spotlights the chairperson of the Foundation, Won Sun-seok, who tells of his personal participation in May 18, the work of the Foundation, and his hopes for the future.

Our second feature is of another individual with involvement with the May 18 movement, artist Kim Kyung-joo, who was instrumental in spreading the spirit of May through minjung genre woodblock prints and ink paintings [People in the Arts]. Prof. Park discusses May 18 from the viewpoint of dignity [Contemplations & Ponderings]. Also, take a gaze upwards at our Photo of the Month, the May 18 Memorial Monument, photographed by Karina Prananto. Feel the spirit of May well up within.

Karina is a member of the staff at the Gwangju News and has been for over a decade. If you have noticed the improvements in layout over the years, they can be attributed mainly to Karina (though advances in technology may also deserve a bit of credit). Sadly, we will be losing Karina (or “Nana,” as she is affectionately called) at the Gwangju News, as she will be returning to her native Indonesia due to family matters there. Her absence will be greatly felt, but we wish her the best.

Stay Covid safe, remember May, and enjoy the Gwangju News!

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju

Cover Photo

Gwangju

Photo of the Month

By Karina Prananto

The May 18 Democratic Uprising is the torchbearer for Korea's democracy.

May 18 Memorial Monument at the May 18 National Cemetery.

The Photographer Karina Prananto is from Jakarta, Indonesia, and is a proud citizen of Gwangju since 2006.

News

01 From the Editor

04 Gwangju City News

features

06 May 18 Foundation: Bringing the Truth of May 18 to Light

12 People in the Arts: Singing of the Abode of the Wind – Artist Kim Kyung-joo

16 The 2023 Gwangju Together Day: Together We Celebrate Multiculturalism and Inclusion!

travel

18 Lost in Honam: The Shortcut to Knife Rock

22 Around Gwangju: A Return to the Past – Penguin Village, Yangnim-dong

teaching & learning

36 Language Teaching: Traits That Very Good English Teachers Exhibit

40 Everyday Korean: Episode 65. 사람

No Person Is Above or Below Another

41 Montessori Education: Stimulation and Recognition community

25 Sports and Activities: Maruna Jiu-Jitsu – Interview with Coach You Taebin

28 Environment: Chasing Two Rabbits in Agriculture – Food Production and Carbon Reduction

30 Opinion: Jisan IC – A Masterclass in Flushing Money Down the Toilet

32 Expat Living: Love That Makes You Feel at Ease

34 Rad Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Power Pasta

48 Contemplations & Ponderings: Dignity Is Front and Center

culture & art

02 Photo of the Month

42 Book Review: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

44 Gwangju Writes: Up the Mountain and into the Fog

46 Music: Top of The Drop

50 Comic Corner: Alan and Me – Episode 24. Tae-Mong: Part 1

52 Crossword Puzzle

Gwangju City News

Gwangju Provides Subsidies for 400 Electric TwoWheeled Vehicles

Gwangju Metropolitan City is investing 600 million won as subsidies for the purchase of electric motorcycles to make for a cleaner environment.

This year, the amount of electric two-wheeled vehicle support is 400 units, a 44-percent increase from the previous year’s support (277 units). Among them, 196 units are planned for the first half of the year.

Eligible applicants are citizens who have been registered as residents in Gwangju for more than 90 days as of the date of application and corporations and organizations whose business sites are located in the Gwangju area. Applications and approvals are handled by manufacturers and importers of electric two-wheeled vehicles through the Emission-Free Vehicle Subsidy Support System of the Ministry of Environment (www.ev.or.kr), and applications have been received from April 13.

Inquiries: 062-120

“We Deliver Books to Your Home”

The Gwangju Metropolitan City Library (Mudeung, Sajik, Sansu branches) operates a book-delivery service so that users who have difficulty visiting the library can continue to borrow and read books from the library.

The target audience is senior citizens aged 65 or older residing in Gwangju, pregnant women, parents with infants and toddlers under 36 months old, and multicultural families.

This service is designed to bridge the gap in the use of library materials in the region and support reading activities. The existing “Chaeknarae”* service for the disabled will also be operated.

In order to use the service, you must submit supporting documents to confirm eligibility. Required documents are: 1) for seniors aged 65 or older (documents confirming year of birth such as resident registration card or other ID card), 2) for pregnant women (pregnancy confirmation certificate or maternity handbook), 3) for parents of infants and toddlers under 36 months old (resident registration certificate, family relation certificate, etc.), 4) for multicultural families (resident registration certificate, foreigner registration certificate, etc.).

Chaeknarae: disability welfare card, certificate of disability, certificate of merit, long-term care certificate, etc.

Once eligibility is confirmed, you can freely apply for borrowing and returning books on the city library website. The period of use is limited to 10 books per person for 21 days.

More information can be found on the Gwangju Metropolitan City Library website, and inquiries can be made via the City Library (062-613-7754).

Wolgok-ro in Gwangsan-gu Implements Odd/Even Number Parking System

Gwangsan-gu District Office announced that from April 10, it will implement an odd and even number parking system (variable parking permit) at Wolgokdong 640, Gwangsan-gu.

It is a system that allows parking in one lane by distinguishing odd and even days. Based on the access road from Wolgok-ro 640 to the Hanam Nonghyup head office, parking is permitted in the left lane on odd days and in the right lane on even days.

Parking on the opposite side of the permitted area is subject to enforcement. If you park on the opposite side of the permitted zone from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., enforcement will begin after 15 minutes.

However, Gwangsan-gu plans to carry out these crackdowns from May 1 after a guidance period of up to 30 days.

Earlier, in order to improve the transportation system around Wolgok-ro, Gwangsan-gu decided to go through the process of collecting residents’ opinions in various ways, such as a resident general meeting, a resident survey, and a resident briefing session, and implement an odd/even parking system by reflecting residents’ demands as much as possible.

Gwangju Expands the Nation’s First “Grandchild Caregiver Support Project”

From April, Gwangju Metropolitan City will expand and promote the “Grandchild Caregiver Support Project,” which is the first of its kind in the country.

The project is a system that provides care allowances to grandparents taking care of grandchildren under the age of eight in dual-income families with either twins or three or more children.

This project is the first in the country to be implemented and is evaluated as a niche care policy unique to Gwangju.

To expand the project, the city consulted with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to expand the social security system and budgeted 600 million won for the project so that more grandparents who care for grandchildren can benefit from this year. The expansion includes an increase of 3 billion won

from last year.

For more information on the project, you can visit the Gwangju Ai-kium platform (www.Gwangju Aikium.kr) or the Gwangju City Council of Women’s Organizations (062-363-9401~2).

Things to Enjoy Besides Baseball at GwangjuKia Champions Field

Gone are the days of only going to the ballpark to watch baseball. The Gwangju-Kia Champions Field is evolving into a complex cultural space filled with various things to see, enjoy, and eat aside from baseball.

Ahead of this season, Kia is concentrating on catching fans heading to the baseball field by adding various contents to the Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.

The most notable change is the transformation of the Tigers Shop, a team store in the baseball field. Kia completely changed the Tigers Shop after the end of last season through extensive remodeling work.

The wall next to the team store was demolished to create a larger space, and the walls were plastered in bright colors to give visitors a fresh image. In addition, Kia has set up a photo booth that has recently become popular near gate 5 of the baseball field. In the booth, a special frame of Kia players is prepared, so visitors can take photos as if with the players.

In addition, near the baseball field, the Gwangju-Kia District Museum, where you can see the history of the Tigers from the predecessor Haetae team in 1982 to the current Kia one, is also waiting for fans to come and enjoy. The records of legends such as Lee Jong-beom, Seon Dong-yeol, Kim Seong-han, and Lee Soon-chul, along with past club championship trophies and club uniforms, were displayed so that fans could view them, remember the past, and make young fans feel proud. The Tigers History Museum is open from three hours before the start of each game until the starting time.

May 18 Foundation Bringing the Truth of May 18 to Light

By the Gwangju News

The May 18 Foundation was founded in 1994 in order to help develop Korea through the spirit of struggle and solidarity of the May 18 Democratization Movement or Gwangju Uprising. Through various projects, the Foundation is committed to sharing the history of the May 18 Movement and its impact as the “foundation of democracy in Korea” at a national level, though it also promotes democracy and human rights at a global level. We meet Mr. Won Sun-seok, the chairperson of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, where he shares his personal account of the May 18 Democratization Movement, the Foundation, and his hope for the future.

Gwangju News (GN): Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Could you please describe the May 18 Democratization Movement or Gwangju Uprising to our readers?

Won Sun-seok: On April 9, 1980, before the Gwangju Uprising, the Chonnam National University Student Council was launched by electing a student council president along with student presidents from each college through a direct system for the first time in the country. The Chonnam National University Student Council held a grand gathering for democratization and the people for three days from May 14–16 of that year. University professors, high school teachers, students, and citizens in Gwangju participated in this democratization rally.

On May 16, they decided to conclude the gathering with a torchlight procession and to observe the development of the government ’s measures. However, the military government trampled on our wishes, expanding martial law nationwide, and began to kill people in Gwangju, which led to the outbreak of the uprising.

GN: What have you been doing personally (or with others) to promote the spirit of the Gwangju Uprising since the 1980 incident?

Won Sun-seok: After the Gwangju Uprising, I was arrested, taken to the security forces, and tortured for three days. As for the degree of torture, as many others have described, everyone, including

me, suffered similar tortures. Afterwards, I was transferred to the Sangmudae Military Prison, where I was investigated and treated in an extremely inhuman way. I was released on October 26, 1980, four months after the Uprising, though I was sentenced to two years in prison and three years’ probation by a military tribunal. Many other participants in the Uprising were also released with me. We decided not to stay silent. For example, the Chonnam National University student council formed a group called “People’s Wave” (minjung pado, 민중 파도) to fight against the military government. Two years later Park Gwan - hyeon, the student council president at the time of the Uprising, passed away after fasting a long time in prison. I established the Park Gwanhyeon Memorial Group to continue his legacy and relocate his tomb to the May 18 Cemetery. To this day, I am restraining myself to live my life in a proper way while maintaining and promoting the spirit of Gwangju.

GN: Please tell us how the May 18 Memorial Foundation was established.

Won Sun-seok: In 1993, the government began to carry out compensation for the victims of the Gwangju Uprising for the second time. The May 18 Uprising Participants’ Association initiated the movement to establish an official organization with a part of the compensation money and contributions of regular citizens and overseas Koreans. We had

our first meeting on November 18, 1993, and started a fundraising movement: more than 1 million won from many victims who got directly involved in the May 18th movement and more than 100,000 won from other citizens or overseas Koreans. The following year, on August 30, 1994, an inaugural general meeting was held for the establishment of the May 18 Memorial Foundation with about 350 million won based on the contribution of one million won. The participants of the movement unanimously elected Father Cho Pius (Cho Cheolhyeon) as the first chairperson. On December 22, 1994, we received the certificate of the Ministry of Home Affairs affirming us as the May 18 Memorial Foundation (No. 94-3).

GN: Could you briefly explain the May 18 Memorial Foundation and its function?

Won Sun-seok: Since its establishment in 1994, the Foundation has inherited and developed the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement and steadily and firmly grown in size. We currently have 30 staff members. As of January 2023, the Foundation is comprised of six offices: the Administrative Support Office, the Planning and Public Relations Office, the May 18 Glocal Center, the May 18 School, the May 18 Cultural Project Group, and the Truth Records Department, in addition to the May 18 International Research Institute under the board of directors.

▲ Won Sun-seok (right) with Paul Coutright, author of Witnessing Gwangju

▲ Gwangju Democracy Forum

We currently run diverse projects. For example, we provide counseling services to those who have suffered from illness or disease. We also have scholarships for democracy and human rights activists. We carry out the May 18 Awareness Survey, the May 18 Marathon, and other public relations projects. Our projects go beyond the national level with diverse international projects, such as the Gwangju Democracy Forum, the May 18 Academy, and our responses to global human rights issues, such as the political situation in Myanmar, while promoting international solidarity. We also promote democracy and human rights around the world with our award projects such as the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, the May 18 Press Award, the May 18 Literature Award, and the Hinzpeter International Press Award. Educational projects are also important, which include training for youth, citizens, and teachers, the production of textbooks and other educational contents, the May 18 Exhibition, and the operation of May 18 Road. We are also engaged in academic projects such as the establishment of the May 18 School, academic conferences, the May Memory Forum, a research paper contest, and exchanges for young researchers. Our archives project handles the collection and

management of May 18 records and the production of new contents. We also carry out May 18 distortion monitoring and legal response through our truth sharing project. The members of the May 18 Foundation are proud of our role as a civil society organization representing the May 18 Movement, while doing our best in furthering the spirit of May 18 and commemorating projects, and in responding to the interests of the people through all the knowhow accumulated over the past 30 years.

GN: Would you please introduce the projects of the Foundation to our readers – those that are local, national, and also international in nature? Please also explain the meaning and effect of the projects. Won Sun-seok: Although the Foundation is based in Gwangju, it aims to share the value of the May 18 Democratization Movement with people at local, national, and international levels. The success of the spirit of May 18 has been a foundation and driving force for people’s movements to improve democracy and human rights in Korean society. Recently, the May 18 Democratization Movement has become known to the people of the world. The movement of the people was considered as a failure originally at

▲ Academics visit the May 18 National Cemetery.

the time of the Uprising in 1980, but it has become a model for successful civilian revolutions since. Based on our experiences, we are hosting diverse events and projects to share the experiences in Gwangju with the people around the world with the hope that they can get inspired and encouraged while carrying out their missions, some which may seem to be impossible to accomplish at the moment. In other words, I strongly believe that the May 18 Democratization Movement is sending a message of encouragement to the people of countries that have gone through similar experiences of militarism and authoritarianism: Their courageous movements will eventually change the world. In the midst of a global crisis of democracy, we are obliged to show more solidarity with the world based on our experiences of May 18. In order to fulfill this role, we are actively carrying out monitoring activities and solidarity activities for democracy and human rights around the world.

GN: Could you introduce a couple of the most successful achievements in promoting the spirit of May 18?

Won Sun-seok: The May 18 Foundation is conducting many successful projects. All of them are equally important, but we would like to introduce two of them that have been going on for a long time. The Gwangju Democracy Forum (GDF, formerly the Gwangju Asia Forum, renamed in 2021), which started in 1999, is an annual international forum held every year on May 18. It is a forum for democracy and human rights advocates, activists, and researchers who continue to discuss the current state and challenges of democracy

and human rights at the regional, national, and global levels to come together in solidarity. The Gwangju Democracy Forum is cooperating with the international community by setting a practical agenda for realizing countermeasures through sharing various experiences and opinions in the context of deepening challenges to democracy worldwide. The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights was established in 2000 to commemorate and inherit the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement, awarding individuals or organizations who have devoted themselves to democracy and human rights. The Special Award added in 2011 aims to recognize the people (and organizations) that have contributed to the promotion of democracy and human rights in the fields of culture, art, media, and academia every two years. The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Ceremony is held annually on May 18. The Foundation is also responding quickly to international human rights issues by sharing

▲ Gwangju Supporting Myanmar.

▲ May 18 records collection.

information through solidarity activities with awardees and their organizations.

GN: Do you also carry out projects to support overseas human rights activities?

Won Sun-seok: The experience of the May 18 Democratization Movement should serve as a valuable source of nourishment for promoting democracy and human rights at a global level. The people were isolated from the outside world by the military regime during the period of the Gwangju Uprising. Our fight for democracy, truth, and people’s honor would have failed but for the solidarity of those outside Korea who showed their solidarity with the May 18 Movement, Gwangju, and the Republic of Korea. Those of us who have received such help should not overlook the various requests from likeminded people around the world who want to join hands with us. Since the beginning of the Foundation, it has promoted direct and indirect support and solidarity projects through various events. Depending on the circumstances, there have been times when direct support projects have been promoted, though we often failed to continue our support due to financial limitations. Starting this year, however, we are planning to establish the Gwangju Democracy Fund to play more active roles in globalizing, forming solidarity, and promoting

democracy and human rights by supporting democracy and human rights movements at the global level. The Fund will carry out fundraising from May this year, and it will manage the May 18 Glocal Project to support international projects based on the spirit of May 18, the May 18 Grassroots Project to support the projects of overseas democracy and human rights organizations, and the Gwangju Democracy Fund Emergency Support for urgent international relief. These three projects will support our efforts to enhance our solidarity with the world.

GN: How are you responding to cases that distort the truth of the Gwangju Uprising? Do you work with other organizations at home and abroad on historical distortions?

Won Sun-seok: Forty-three years have passed since the May 18 Democratization Movement took place. However, cases of distorting the truth with malicious intent continue to occur in ridiculous ways. For example, some people disseminate the disinformation online, in books, and on TV that the Gwangju Uprising was instigated and spread by North Korean military intervention despite the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement, which prohibits the distortion of the May 18 Movement. In particular, the Foundation is taking strict measures against distortions of May

18 by celebrities for political use, which produce a large-scale negative impact. For example, the Foundation successfully applied for a provisional injunction to prohibit publication and distribution for Chun Doo-hwan’s memoirs. Recently, we also successfully filed and concluded a lawsuit against Jee Man-won for defamation based on his allegation of the involvement of “North Korean Special Forces.” We are also requesting public libraries across the country not to keep or lend books that distort the truth. We are also requesting the Korea Communications Commission to delete posts in which we find distortions through our online monitoring. The Foundation has carried out these activities in close cooperation with Gwangju Metropolitan City, which continuously supports the activities of the Foundation.

GN: Chun Woo-won, the grandson of late Chun Doo-hwan, called his grandfather a slaughterer on his Instagram account. He also visited the May 18 National Cemetery and apologized to the bereaved families on March 31. Why do you consider this incident significant?

Won Sun-seok: Among Chun Doo-hwan’s family, Chun Woo-won was the first to apologize for the May 18 massacre and visit the May 18 Cemetery. Chun Doo-hwan has already passed away, so he can no longer be held accountable for his crimes. His grandson helped to confirm the fact that history would not forget the crimes of state violence. The Foundation has some reservations about this incident, which can be an expression of transient emotion. However, his apology can be so much more meaningful if he continues to show the will to apologize with his actions. In this regard, we plan to watch and help him in diverse ways. Everyone knows that historical scars cannot be healed easily with just one person’s apology. However, I really wish that he can continue his sincerity through continuous actions, which will also help the investigation of May 18. I hope that Chun Woo-won’s apology will be followed by a confession of conscience from numerous others, including soldiers who committed wrongdoings in Gwangju in 1980, especially those who were in higher positions. I also hope that the actions of this young man named Chun Woo-won will serve as an opportunity for other young people living in this era to accept the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement into their hearts.

GN: Finally, could you share the future plans of the May 18 Foundation with our readers?

Won Sun-seok: The May 18 Memorial Foundation plans to expand its contribution at a global level. The Foundation was registered as an NGO at the UN Economic and Social Council in 2021. The May 18 Memorial Foundation has been enjoying a significantly higher amount of recognition along with the May 18 Democratization Movement in the Asian region, unlike in the past. Now we are ready to play more active roles in the wider international community in connection with the United Nations. The Foundation will utilize its International Research Center and Glocal Center to share the May 18 model in overcoming the past legacy of authoritarianism while further deepening and expanding the May 18 spirit as a core value of democracy in the Republic of Korea. At the national level, one of the most important roles of the Foundation is to sublimate the May 18 spirit into a sustainable energy by including it in the preamble of the Constitution through a constitutional amendment.

▲ May 18 Foundation legal response to truth distortion.

Photographs courtesy of the May 18 Foundation. Translated by Dr. Shin Gyonggu.

“As a child, I thought that all the wind on this earth was lurking in its bamboo forests. How could I not think of the bamboo forest as the abode of the wind when I heard the snowstorm rattle the leaves of the bamboo so harshly in winter or when I heard the soft rustling of bamboo leaves in summer? I remember that I used to enter a nearby bamboo grove that I believed harbored something mysterious. And the cave near the bamboo grove, which three or four men could fit into, was also an object of curiosity and fear for me. People said that the blooming of the bamboo foretells of a surprising disaster. But they also believed that the divine protection of the bamboo forest would protect those who hid in it. Ever since I heard grown-ups talking in whispers about several people who saved their lives from rifle bullets by hiding among the bamboo, I have been keeping this story of the mysterious bamboo forest in my mind.” — Kim Kyungjoo

Singing of the Abode of the Wind Artist Kim Kyung-joo

By Kang “Jennis” Hyunsuk

In this installment of People in the Arts, we meet artist Kim Kyung-joo, who founded the Gwangju-Jeonnam Art Community and was a participant in the minjung art movement with woodblock prints and ink paintings. What follows is the interview that I recently had with Mr. Kim.

Jennis: Thank you for allowing me to do this interview. I would like to hear about your history in painting – how you came into the world of art when you were young.

Kim Kyung-joo: I was born in Gangjin and spent my childhood in nature. My aunt, who lived in Gwangju, gave me painting materials as a gift when she visited us. So, painting became my hobby. When I went to middle school in Gwangju, the art teacher suggested that I join the art club when he saw my drawings. On his recommendation, I also joined the art club in high school.

Jennis: You must have naturally majored in painting in college. Kim Kyung-joo: I did not get the score I wanted on the college entrance exam, so I entered a design school instead of an art college. There was a professor there who often gave us essay writing homework. She recommended that I take the reporter’s test for a newspaper company, saying that I had a talent for writing. Thanks to that professor, I became a reporter for the Chonnam Daily newspaper. After working as a journalist for about two years, I went to the army. However, in the late 1970s, reporters had a military exemption, requiring only four weeks of

simple military training. But I wanted to do the full period of military service like other young men.

Jennis: So, you declined that exemption and volunteered for the military?

Kim Kyung-joo: Yes, and when I was serving in the army, the May 18 Uprising occurred in Gwangju in 1980. The news said that the protesters in Gwangju were rioting, but all the phone lines in Gwangju were cut off, so I had no idea how all my family and friends were doing. My senior officer’s hometown was also Gwangju, so we were worried as we listened to the radio. When people said that the Gwangju rioting was suppressed, my senior officer gave me leave to find out how my and some of my fellow soldiers’ families were doing.

When I got there, I was surprised to see quiet streets and quiet people in Gwangju – as if nothing had happened. The combat police, standing at every street corner and wearing thick armor, were the only remnants of the May 18 Uprising. At the time, media consolidation was carried out by the Chun Doo-hwan regime. This was done to make the journalists who were resistant conform to his system.

“We saw, we clearly saw, with our own eyes that people were being dragged and dying like dogs. But we are not allowed to write a single line about this in the newspaper. Therefore, we are ashamed, and

we put down our pens.” The senior journalists of the Chonnam Daily read this statement and submitted their resignations. It was impressive that senior journalists, who had young children to support, made such a decision.

Jennis: Then you also had no job to go back to after your military service.

Kim Kyung-joo: Right. I joined a group to make a collection of poems about May 18. At that time, it was not easy to say the word “May” (오월) under the military regime. Nevertheless, I joined in the work

▲ Abode of the Wind, 2001. Oil on canvas, 110 x 110 cm.

▲ Wild Fire, 1990. Ink and wash on hanji paper, 75 x 155 cm.

of making poems of May into woodblock prints. The engravings might be considered my first work as an artist. The book of poetry and accompanying woodblock prints spread to universities across the country, and an agent from the National Security Department came from Seoul to keep an eye on me and my daily life.

Jennis: Could you tell me why you chose the medium of woodcuts?

Kim Kyung-joo: Because there were so many things that I wanted to say to the world. But painting is only a single item. Paintings in a gallery can only be seen by the gallery visitors. However, the woodcut prints could be spread widely, and my prints were used in some universities as book cover designs or as hanging wall prints.

In 1983, I had my first exhibition of May 18 woodblock prints. At the time, Prof. Yu Hong-jun, an art critic who wrote the book Exploration of My Cultural Heritage, came to Gwangju to interview me. Even though I said I did not have anything to show him, he wrote for a magazine my story about engraving on the theme of May 18. At the time, it was difficult for people to talk about May 18, so that is probably why he wanted to write on the topic. Due to that relationship, when I held my second exhibition in 1985, Prof. Lee Tae-ho and Prof. Yu both came and gave special lectures.

Jennis: I also learned Korean art history from Prof. Lee, and he helped me open my eyes to the art of this land where I live, not the art of some distant country. I heard his name several times from the artists in Gwangju that I have interviewed.

Kim Kyung-joo: Prof. Lee has done a lot of work in the Gwangju and Jeollanam-do world of art. He is the one who has been with me for an unforgettable period of time. I think Prof. Lee, who has always been happy to do lectures, is the most influential person in the Gwangju art scene.

At that time, many people who wanted to go forward with a cultural movement founded the People’s Culture Research. This cultural movement was to promote the May 18 Uprising to the world with songs, plays, and paintings. One day, I was reading the poem Song by the activist poet Kim Nam-ju (1946–1994), who “sang” of the uprising of the Donghak Peasants in the late Joseon Dynasty. I thought that the poem might want to actually be sung, so I wrote the score for Jukchang-ga (죽창가, Song of the Bamboo Spear) for the guitar.

Jennis: A few years ago, there was a scene in a TV drama of people singing Jukchang-ga. It is amazing that you are the composer of that famous song. Getting back to your artworks, you have changed your medium from woodblock prints to ink and wash paintings. What is the reason for your change in media?

Kim Kyung-joo: Prof. Lee, who sometimes stopped by my small studio, recommended that I do ink and wash paintings. Oil paintings can be modified through the process of overlaying, but ink and wash painting done on thin paper is not easy to modify. Nevertheless, I thought that ink and wash painting was a better medium for expressing our emotions.

Jennis: What is the most memorable work among your ink paintings?

Kim Kyung-joo: The artists in Gwangju who were interested in promoting the social role of art formed

▲ Stand Together, 1990. Ink on hanji paper, 260 x 194 cm.

the Gwangju-Jeonnam Art Community. On the tenth anniversary of May 18, we held an exhibition under the theme “10 Days of Uprising, 10 Years of History.” It caused a great wave at the time.

could raise my children as a painter, I applied for the professorship. However, I was most sorry to my colleagues who I had worked with in the GwangjuJeonnam Art Community.

At Dongshin University, I opened a museum and lectured in art courses; I even did relentless promotional planning, which took its toll on my health.

Jennis: You have gone through several changes of medium – from oil paintings and woodblock prints to ink and wash paintings, and you even composed music. I heard that many artists have synesthesia, and I think you must have it also. Can I ask what future direction your art might take?

Jennis: Among your artworks, there is one that is titled If It’s a Mountain, It’s Mudeung. There are many paintings of Mudeung Mountain by other artists, but when I saw your painting of Mudeung Mountain, I felt as if I were looking down from above. It was grand and pleasing to the eye. How did that work come about?

Kim Kyung-joo: Not long after I started ink and wash painting on my own, I read the poem Song by Kim Nam-ju. It included the words “Behold, Mt. Mudeung / If you sit down, all other mountains sit with you. / Behold, Mt. Mudeung / When you stand up, all others stand up in waves.” I felt a stirring sensation overtaking my entire body from reading those words. And I completed the painting in just an hour.

Jennis: I heard that you have worked as a professor at Dongshin University and did a lot of work there. How was your time at the university?

Kim Kyung-joo: One day, President Lee Sangseop of Dongshin University came to my studio. In his hand, he had a book entitled The Artists of Our Time: 22 People. Then he asked me if I was the Kim Kyung-joo in 22 People. He often stopped by to see my works. That day, he suggested that I work with him, but I immediately declined to work as a professor. After some thought, though, as to how I

Kim Kyung-joo: I want to paint through the feeling of the five senses. But I want to filter out the extraneous things that come to me and do minimalist painting – simple synesthesia.

Jennis: Thank you for this extensive and quite interesting interview.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Artist Kim Kyung-joo has constantly been practicing the mission of his first job, as a journalist, but in a different way. He has consistently carried out his mission as a messenger in a wide range of fields: as a painter, poet, composer, social activist, educator, and exhibition planner. And they all have art as their common denominator. Kim says that he wants to create a simple but emotional resonance in his paintings. After the interview, I have thought deeply about the message he strives to tell us. And now it is May once again.

The Interviewer

Jennis Kang is a lifelong resident of Gwangju. She has been doing oil painting for almost a decade, and she has learned that there are a lot of fabulous artists in this City of Art. As a freelance interpreter and translator, her desire is to introduce these wonderful artists to the world. Instagram: @jenniskang

▲ If It’s a Mountain, It’s Mudeung. 1990. Ink on hanji paper, 168 x 99 cm.

The 2023 Gwangju Together Day

Together We Celebrate Multiculturalism and Inclusion!

By Karina Prananto

May is an important month in Korea, with holidays like Children’s Day, Parents’ Day, Teachers’ Day, and Buddha’s Birthday. But there is another celebration that we should not miss. Together Day (or in Korean, 세계인의 날, literally “International People’s Day”) is an event celebrated nationwide on May 20. It was designated in 2007 throu gh the Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea by the Ministry of Justice. As the name suggests, it is an event for Korean and international communities alike to learn about diversity and multiculturalism in Korea. The week celebrating this event is called “Together Week” (May 21–27).

Gwangju is also home to about 41,000 migrants coming from various countries around the world. The city has been celebrating this event since the year of its designation, and this year it will take place on May 21. The Gwangju International Center (GIC) is proud to organize this event along with the Gwangju Immigration Service as its host. This year, it will be held in Jungoe Park, a family-friendly park in the Buk-gu area near Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall, Gwangju Culture and Art Center, Gwangju Art Museum, and Gwangju Folk Museum. It has easy access and spacious areas for all your family and friends to enjoy. Like in previous years, it is expected that we will see a lot of turnout, especially now that

the mask rules have been lifted, making it easier to spend time and celebrate events outdoors.

There are many programs catering to every interest: The Global Food Booth, its representative program, offers food from various countries around the world, some of which are Canada, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Ethiopia. The Global Culture Booth, our next most important program, is a favorite for families with children who want to learn about different cultures from natives themselves. It is not every day that we can see so much of the international community gathered like this in one place! And although we have smaller foreign communities compared to Seoul, ours are very strong, close-knit communities, and they sure do know how to cook and have a good time!

How many events are there that support both local Koreans and foreigners? Not many! So, how do you get involved? Find out which communities will come and participate in our event by joining yourself. Bridging the gap with their communities will help you find new friends and make your time in Gwangju as memorable as possible.

GO GREEN! (AGAIN)

Although we had doubts at first whether running an eco-friendly event would be successful – after all, there are not many events here where you can find absolutely no use of disposable cutlery or food containers – we were pretty successful at holding one last year, so we are going green again this year. If you are planning to come and buy food, please bring your own food containers from home. Otherwise, you can borrow plates and cups at our eco booth.

We hope by now you have marked your calendar on May 21 to make sure that you do not miss any of this once-in-a-year event. And although it is a great moment to get together, it is also a great opportunity to learn how lucky we are to live in such an inclusive city where everyone lives together in harmony. We hope to see you there!

EVENTS, EVENTS, AND MORE EVENTS!

This year’s celebration is extra special, as we will hold International Students’ Day at the same time and place. Together with Gwangju Biennale, expats from countries which also hold the Biennale Pavilion will join forces to introduce their artworks to Gwangju residents. What is more, there will also be the Fringe Festival, Vietnam Day, Citizens’ Day, and the Art Picnic. It will be festivals galore. We are sure you will not want to miss this!

Date & Time: May 21 (Sunday), 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Venue: Jungoe Park 중외공원

광주광역시 북구 하서로 52(운암동)

52 Haseo-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju

Programs: Global Food Booth, Global Culture Booth, Global Flea Market, Global Community Booth.

Kakao: @GIC광주국제교류센터

Website: https://gic.or.kr/eng

Inquiries: 062-226-2733

Karina Prananto is from Jakarta, Indonesia, and has been involved with the Gwangju News since 2007. She is a special-needs mother and loves Harry Potter, dinosaurs, watching true crime documentaries, and traveling with her family.

The Author

The 2023 Gwangju Together Day

The Shortcut to Knife Rock

By Isaiah Winters

Few natural landscapes in Honam inspire me enough to visit twice in a single week, but Boseong County certainly boasts one. Located about an hour and change southeast of Gwangju, Obong-san (literally “five-peak mountain”) has left me smitten for its topographical variety, bucolic bayside views, and one of the most unique rock formations I’ve ever seen: Knife Rock (칼바위). In this edition of “Lost,” I’ll carve out a few paragraphs on what puts this mountain in my top 10.

GRADUALLY THEN SUDDENLY

The main ridge to Obong-san’s 343-meter summit forms a left-facing crescent, with the upper half progressing along a low, gradual incline and the

lower half jutting up and down along the mountain’s steep, rocky peaks. Thinking the gentle upper trail would make it easier for the missus, we parked by an abandoned hanok near Deukryangnam Elementary School (득량남 초등학교) with the idea to saunter the entire crescent and back on easy mode. But by the time we got to Knife Rock, which isn’t even the main peak, we realized we’d greatly underestimated the time and length of the trek and so had to cut it short. On our detour back to the elementary school, we descended into the valley beneath Knife Rock and took the boardwalk overlooking the pristine reservoir below.

It was here that we realized we could have just parked

▲ Knife Rock as seen from the front looking up.

by the reservoir, had a short hike up to the best parts of the mountain, and then returned in style. Walking back through the valley’s broad grass fields and scattered cattle farms, we had plenty of time to ruminate on our mistake. So, for anyone thinking to hike the entire crescent and then return through the valley, my advice is to set aside five or six hours for the whole thing and be sure not to bring along shutterbugs who cause delays or anyone who’s prone to gradual (and then sudden) pangs of debilitating hunger. We had one of each between the two of us – enough said.

On my second visit a few days later, I was sure to park as close to the summit as possible just above the reservoir. If you want a huge payoff with the least amount of time and effort, this is the way to go, especially if you’re prone to wasting a lot of time fiddling with cameras. I was able to get my shots and sound recordings all around Knife Rock and then return to the car in under two hours. This gave me time to enjoy the gentle twists and turns of Highway 29 as I drove back to Gwangju through Hwasun –that is, until the rush-hour bottleneck between the

two cities triggered an abrasive return to reality. Such is life.

VIEWS ALL AROUND

Though admittedly long, one major benefit of taking the gradual trail from the elementary school is the series of stunning views east. As we hiked southeast towards the bay, we got a better and better view of the grasslands in the floodplain below, in addition to an earful of local villagers wailing to trot music over loudspeakers. Though their singing was a bit tone deaf and cranked up to 11, we were happy they could blow off some steam in a healthy way, just like us. When not singing their hearts out, the local farmers tend to their vast grassland grids spread out across the coastal area below, where a few streams flow into Boseong Bay.

Boseong Bay is the massive stretch of water separating most of Goheung County to the east from Boseong and Jangheung Counties to the west. If you’ve ever been to Yulpo Beach, that’s the area I’m referring to. From the ridge, the view out over Goheung Peninsula is stunning and provided

▲ The grass fields leading to Boseong Bay.

▲ A peek at the reservoir from Knife Rock.

▲ A surfer’s-eye view of Knife Rock’s crest.

us a great vantage point to see all the beaches we dreamed of buying land at a year ago. We’d always seen the bay from the Goheung side, so seeing things from the flipside was fun and brought back lots of memories of the naïve old days when we planned to buy a second home in Goheung before buying a first home anywhere else. Slowly realizing that order made no sense was another firm smack of reality. But I digress.

Obong-san offers many other impressive views both near and afar. We were able to see beyond the narrow stretch of land connecting Goheung to the mainland all the way to the Yeosu Peninsula. Turn around and you’re treated to the surprisingly bright-blue waters of the reservoir down in the valley below. At various points along the way, massive stupas meticulously made of slate fragments guide you along the ridge as you draw ever nearer to the mountain’s main attraction: Knife Rock.

THE BLADE OF BOSEONG

Though it only tops out at 310 meters, the Knife Rock formation is simply amazing to behold. There are numerous vantage points from which to view it, and from each angle, it looks like something different. From a distance, it looks a bit like Half Dome at California’s Yosemite National Park, only with a far sharper and more prominent hood extending out over the rockface. Some compare it to a bird’s beak or even a toad, while to me, at least from the bottom looking up, it resembles a surfer’s-eye view of a cresting wave. The fact that it’s quite asymmetrical gives it an eerily precarious look unlike anything else I’ve seen.

There’s a lot more to this natural marvel than just its shape. It also comes with a series of tunnels, caves, and deep crevices that you can explore at your own risk. So, feel free to jump down and spelunk its many voids; just let someone know where to find your corpse beforehand. For a safer experience, at

the entrance to Knife Rock, a large, angular tunnel guides you right to the foot of the formation, where a park signboard explains the rock’s significance. If you look up from there and squint a bit, you can just make out a stone carving at the base of the rock’s hood that must have been terrifying to sculpt. There’s debate about whether it depicts Buddha or Wonhyo, on of Korea’s greatest Buddhist thinkers. The way I see it, the carving was such a hazardous feat that whoever did it should have just made a selfportrait. What a legend.

One other detail about Knife Rock that makes it worth visiting is that it offers many shaded areas and dark caverns to cool down in after a sweaty hike. For a summer daytrip, I imagine this hike would pair nicely with a swim at Yulpo Beach, just a 25-minute

drive away. Anyway, enough salesmanship on my part. Just go visit, or if you want to see it in detail first before deciding, check the Lost in Honam YouTube channel for more.

The Author

Hailing from Chino, California, Isaiah Winters is a pixel-stained wretch who loves writing about Gwangju and Honam, warts and all. He’s grateful to have written for the Gwangju News all these years. More of his unique finds can be seen on Instagram @d.p.r.kwangju and YouTube at Lost in Honam.

The tunnel entrance to Knife Rock. ▲

A Return to the Past Penguin Village,

By Ophélie Papier

Yangnim-dong

2

023, 2013, 1980, 1970… As soon as you enter Penguin Village, the clock begins to turn backwards. From the beginning to the end of your visit, it feels that the present and the past blend together. If you have ever dreamed of having a time machine, you can always come here. Although there is no time machine, all you need is a camera for fun photos. Penguin Village in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju, is a lovely and amusing place to visit for all ages, with friends, family, or alone.

The Village is located in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, between two subway stations, the Culture Complex and Namgwangju.

It is in the region of the outer wall of the former Gwangju Town Castle and was once called the “Western Village.” At the beginning of the 20th century, missionaries came to settle in the area, such as Eugene Bell (1868–1925), who was a missionary sent by the Southern Presbyterian Church to spread Christianity. That is why there are many missionary houses there. Also, traditional and Western culture are fused, producing many cultural artists. Penguin Village is an attraction of the area that has become a popular spot in Gwangju.

WHY IS THE NAME “PENGUIN VILLAGE” ?

The Village has no penguins, but the name was

▲ Painting mural in Penguin Village.

conferred after a fire broke out in 2013. Because of the damage caused by the fire, the neighborhood fell into disarray due to the accumulation of rubbish. Kim Dong-gyun, the neighborhood head, took the initiative to clean up the neighborhood with the help of locals. He began to decorate the area as a hobby with all sorts of old objects and odd debris found piled up in a vacant neighborhood. It is said that he cultivated a vegetable garden with the villagers, and the different crops were shared with them. From here, they gave him the nickname “Penguin” because he was short, cute, and curvy like a penguin. This is why the neighborhood residents affectionately named it “Penguin Village.”

A VILLAGE FULL OF SYMBOLS

At the entrance to the Village, it is impossible to miss the beautiful statue of Lee Ok-seon. Born in Busan, she is a symbolic figure representing the “comfort women” victims of the imperial Japanese Army. Madame Lee had been forcibly taken to a brothel in Manchuria, China, when she was just 16. Returning to her native country after the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonization, she worked to increase awareness of her sad past and to ask for an official apology from Japan. The statue symbolizes Lee at both the age of 16 and 92. Unfortunately, she passed away on December 26, 2022, aged 94. Her funeral took place in Gwangju.

Right next to the statue, there is a large, old weeping willow tree. Since the middle of the Joseon Dynasty (1550–1700), there have been many weeping willows in Yangnim-dong, however, over time, they have all disappeared due to heavy construction work. This one was planted in 1943 but was uprooted due to a typhoon on October 3, 2015. It was moved to its present location on October 7, 2015, and symbolizes the origin of Yangnim-dong.

AN ARTISTIC VILLAGE FULL OF COLOR AND POETRY

Once we step into the Village, we sense a riot of color through its vintage arts center that attracts a lot of tourists. There is a collection of old watches, clocks, cameras, radios, CDs, tools, plushies and many other items from the 70s and 80s. Naturally, there are cute penguins everywhere, but also an accumulation of recycled objects and other paraphernalia. A second life is given to these objects, which transform the alleys of this district into an open-air museum.

We can appreciate the rather nice murals and drawings, not only of penguins but also the following: a painting of the “Little Prince” from the popular French fairy tale, drawings of our favorite characters, and at the end of the village, there is a giant mural of J-Hope from the BTS boy group. It was created and

▲ J-Hope mural made by Adonis Hoseok.

sponsored by J-Hope’s Chinese fans to commemorate J-Hope’s birthday, who is himself from Gwangju.

If you like poetry and can understand Korean, the village is full of poems written all over the walls to cheer you up.

WHAT NOT TO MISS IN THE VILLAGE

There may be nothing better than taking a walk with a snack or a drink, right? Here there is everything you need. Right next to J-Hope’s mural, there is a takeaway café. You can find adorable manjoo (만주), a typical Korean choux bun with cream in the shape of a penguin. They also provide a wide range of beverages in a cute penguin cup.

At the exit, there is a large stand with a selection of candies and snacks. Here you can find multicolored lollipops and other sweets that reminded me so much of my childhood.

Also, in the middle of the Penguin Village, there is a moon on a roof that creates an illusion of standing next to the moon. It is a perfect place to take photos and enjoy the view of Gwangju. When we look at the view, we notice in the distance a large, reddish building which is the Yangnim Church, built in 1954 in the style of an old European church complete with church bells.

Finally, the last place you should visit is the “Penguin Tavern” located in the center, where all the neighborhood residents meet up to discuss events and the future of the Village. If you are lucky, you will see some of them there.

Sources

Korea Herald. (2012, November 30). Linton family has centuryold history of service to Korea. https://www.koreaherald.com/ view.php?ud=20121130000825

Calpo, L. (2023, January 6). Exploring Korea’s past in Gwangju’s Penguin Village. Korea.net. https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/ HonoraryReporters/view?articleId=227976

KBS World. (2022, December 27). Victim of Japan’s wartime atrocities, Lee Ok-Sun, dies aged 94. http://world.kbs.co.kr/ service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=174766

Kim, D. (2022, November 5). The rooms of the surviving “comfort women” – Lee Ok-sun’s room. Kyeol. https://kyeol.kr/ en/node/221

The Author

Ophélie Papier is a final-year master’s degree student majoring in languages, cultures, and societies of Asia at Aix-Marseille University, France, and is currently an exchange student at Chonnam University. She loves traveling and to learn about Korean culture, history, art, and cuisine. Instagram: @Hutopia_Planet

▲ Statue of Lee Ok-seon.

Maruna Jiu-Jitsu Interview with Coach You Taebin

By Jana Milosavljevic

Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) or simply jiu-jitsu is a grappling-based martial art focusing on the skill of controlling a resisting opponent in ways that force him to submit. Due to the fact that controlling and overcoming an opponent of greater size and strength with lesser size and strength can be seen as the keynote of the sport, those who practice it are thought to have a deep understanding of the workings and limits of the human body, many even referring to jiu-jitsu as “playing chess with your body.”

While BJJ is believed to have originated in 1925 in Japan, it was not until 1999 that it was first brought to Korea by John Frankl, a professor at Seoul’s Yonsei University, who came from the United States as a researcher and brown belt at the time. Nevertheless, it seems it has been just around the last decade that BJJ has been gaining real popularity in Korea, with more opportunities for both locals and foreign visitors to practice the martial art. Our Gwangju News team had the pleasure to talk to the owner and main coach of one of the recently opened gyms in Gwangju, Maruna Jiu-Jitsu.

Jana Milosavljevic: Thank you for letting us join the class and for taking the time for this interview. To begin with, could you please briefly introduce Marunaw Jiu-Jitsu?

You Taebin: Hello, and thank you for coming. Maruna Jiu-Jitsu is newly opened in Geumho-dong in Seo-gu. We offer jiu-jitsu classes and MMA classes – whether you want to learn some self-defense or are interested in the sports aspect of martial arts, we try to cover both during training.

Jana Milosavljevic: Now could you tell us a bit about yourself – what got you into BJJ, and where was your first time training?

You Taebin: Actually, I got into jiu-jitsu while I was in the US. I started with Muay Thai (Thai boxing) training, and then the next one was not even jiujitsu; it was something called CSW that I first tried along with Muay Thai, as they offered some classes. CSW is short for combat submission wrestling, a modern form of submission wrestling. At first, I thought I would not really be good at it, but at least I would not be incompetent. However, as time went

by, I realized it was way more fun, and through it, it slowly led me to BJJ, which I find most fun.

Jana Milosavljevic: What is the biggest lesson that BJJ has taught you, and what inspired you to become a coach?

You Taebin: I would say the biggest lesson for me was that there is always a better way to do a certain task. Also, this is an overall idea in any kind of combat sports – you have to put yourself in an advantageous position to have an unfair fight in each exchange. So, I feel, to put it simply, you need to follow the path of least resistance. I think that would be the biggest lesson. As for what inspired me to become a coach, I felt like I was training for quite a while, and then I felt like I wanted to maintain my own style and share it with other like-minded jiu-jitsu enthusiasts, especially by bringing some new “BJJ trends” and movements that are popular in Western countries and not yet so widely spread here in Korea.

It was shown on TV recently also. Some celebrities train regularly, and they talked about it on TV, too. I think that helped a lot.

Jana Milosavljevic: Speaking about BJJ in Korea, it seems it has gained a lot of popularity among people of all ages over the past several years. Still, could you please introduce BJJ briefly and how it got to Korea for those who might not be familiar with the sport yet?

You Taebin: Basically, jiu-jitsu is a martial art that primarily emphasized making your opponent submit. You want to get them into a position where they cannot do anything else but submit. In training, also, we do not do any strikes – it is all grappling. We want to use our body weight and structure to make the opponent unable to move. Now, in terms of popularity, it is definitely growing here in Korea.

Jana Milosavljevic: Could you now let us know a bit more about Maruna Jiu-Jitsu lessons, and what you can get at Maruna Jiu-Jitsu that you cannot get in other gyms?

You Taebin: Well, you can get me! (laughs) Just joking, but, yes – mostly I focus on having coherent lessons as much as possible. Obviously, these are group lessons, so they are not tailored for each individual personally, but assuming you come every day, you will be able to see the structure and learn techniques in a logical way. It seems to me most coaches, especially in Gwangju, are trained locally, so I believe what makes Maruna Jiu-Jitsu stand out is being able to learn from someone trained outside of Korea, which brings greater variety in style.

Jana Milosavljevic: Personally, I learned a lot of Korean and made many Korean friends thanks to joining a BJJ after-school club at university. I hear you speak perfect English, so I am curious, are the classes conducted in Korean or English? And to what extent do you think the language the coach speaks is important when training?

You Taebin: Right now, I am open to teaching classes in English if non-Korean speakers join. Currently there are none, but if someone joins, I will for sure use both languages to explain. To answer your other question, I think it is very important to learn in a language that you can actually understand. Can you imagine watching a video with instructions without understanding what they are saying? You

can see their movement, yes, but you do not actually know what they are thinking and why they are moving in a certain way. So, because I think the most important aspect is understanding the technique, I also believe the language of teaching is definitely super important.

members. I think most of them are just interested in exercising in a fun way. Although they might start training to maybe obtain some physical benefits or as a hobby, eventually, I think everyone ends up sticking to it because it is fun.

Jana Milosavljevic: Why would you recommend anyone to start with BJJ, and is there any group of people in particular you think might benefit the most from doing BJJ?

You Taebin: Actually, the affiliation I am coming from is Kowloon Jiu-Jitsu from Hong Kong, and their slogan is actually “Grappling for all.” I agree with that, and I think anyone can benefit.

Jana Milosavljevic: Among our Gwangju News readers, there might be some people wanting to try out BBJ but are too shy to make the first step. Do you have any words of advice or encouragement to somebody thinking about starting BJJ?

You Taebin: There is a common saying that it is better late than never. So, why not just start right now if you are interested? You need not worry about being inexperienced or feeling a bit clumsy at the beginning – that is natural, as doing jiu-jitsu is pretty foreign to most people, unless they have done wrestling before. (laughs) So, just give it a go! Here at Maruna JiuJitsu, the first lesson is free, so it literally costs nothing to try!

Jana Milosavljevic: Please share with us a bit about your team at Maruna JiuJitsu. Who are the members that join, and what do they aim to achieve? Do you compete at tournaments? You Taebin: It has been only six months since we opened up, so we do not have a huge team right now, but some members compete quite regularly. I try to compete myself, too, but there are not many who compete as brown and black belts in Korea, so sometimes it is not easy to find opponents. Also, I have become somewhat busier after opening the gym (laughs) so, it has become more difficult to travel. About the members –the ages vary from primary school students to those in their 40s, but I would say those in their 20s and 30s make up most of our

Jana Milosavljevic was born and raised in Serbia. She currently lives and works in Gwangju as one of the GIC’s coordinators. She loves exploring new places, learning about new cultures, and meeting new people. If you are up for a chat, she can talk to you in Serbian, English, Korean, Japanese, or German.

Photographs courtesy of Maruna Jiu-jitsu.

“Here at Maruna Jiu-Jitsu, the first lesson is free, so it literally costs nothing to try!”

The Author

Chasing Two Rabbits in Agriculture

Food Production and Carbon Reduction

By Chung Hyunhwa

As the global population is predicted to become 10 billion by 2057 according to UN, securing and managing food has become a matter of urgency. However, there should be some changes in agriculture so as to control the amount of carwbon release. We need wisdom to chase the two rabbits of food production and carbon reduction.

The climate is much more capricious these days. Last winter was very harsh in North America, Russia, and Northeast Asia, not to mention Korea. As in the movie The Day After Tomorrow, the freezing air from the North Pole was the cause of the cold wave. Scientists explained that Artic warming slowed down the jet stream that is keeping the freezing air mass over the North Pole, and as a result, the freezing air slipped down to affect those countries. The temperature in Naju, located just near Gwangju, recorded -20℃. At the same time, it was between -13℃ and -17℃ in Gwangju. This March, cherry blossoms bloomed two weeks earlier than usual, but the temperature the following week was below zero around Seoul. There was a bad flood in Seoul last summer, but Gwangju is experiencing drought. The weather is much harder to predict, and we experience more bipolar weather nowadays. Food production is a concern naturally. While working in the agriculture sector now, I have come to think of solutions, which may include the following.

BREEDING

Breeding new plant varieties is like upgrading plants. The goal of breeding nowadays is to find or discover plants which need less energy, less pesticide and less fertilizer, while still producing more. It is true that food production tripled in the past decades thanks

to technological developments including pesticides and fertilizers, and this enabled us to feed the fastgrowing world population. However, overuse of fertilizers and pesticides has left too much nitrogen and chemicals in the soil, and a lot of plants cannot be grown without them. The population is still growing rapidly. Plant breeding must play a role. While conventional plant breeding is still the mainstream, genetic scissors and PCR tests are being introduced to breeding to shorten the time needed to half. The market also looks forward to hardier, healthier, and more productive plants in times of inflation. I hope that this will show us a breakthrough.

USING BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS

It is harder for us to maintain good health when we are exposed to an environment that is not ideal, and it is the same for our plants. If the temperature goes up, the activities of hazardous microorganisms will increase to harm plants. Pesticides were a fast solution. However, just as antibiotics kill good germs in our bodies, chemical pesticides kill the friendly microorganisms in the soil. More people know this, so more biological disease-control methods are being developed. It takes longer for the bio-methods to work, and they may not work fast in chemically contaminated soil, but in the long run, this is a way

“However, just as antibiotics kill good germs in our bodies, chemical pesticides kill the friendly microorganisms in the soil. ”

to keep the soil and plants healthy. I was happy to find out that agriculture technology centers in Korea provide some beneficial microorganisms for free. In Gwangju, there is one in Pyeong-dong, Gwangsangu.

Plants growing in the soil rich with microorganisms will have better resistance against diseases. Microorganisms also transform the organic matter in the soil to forms that are easier for the plants to absorb, and this cuts down on the use of fertilizers, too. Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are derived from fossil fuels, so they will create a vicious circle of warmer temperatures, more diseases, more pesticides, and more greenhouse gasses to increase the temperature. We need to cut these links to deal with climate challenges and produce healthy food.

BEING FRIENDS WITH WEEDS

Most farmers think weeds are enemies, but there are successful lazy farmers who have weed friends. The idea is that weeds can keep the soil soft. When a plowing machine passes, the surface seems soft and readier, but down deeper a hard layer forms, and plants cannot penetrate it easily, leading to poor root development and, as a result, poor nutrition absorption. Weed roots, in contrast, are much more vigorous and effective in penetrating this layer, and this helps keep the soil soft all the way down. With the cooperation of weeds, plants can use the water and nutrients from deep under. Also, the microorganisms that associate with weed roots are beneficial to the soil environment and the

plants we grow. The loose, soft soil provides better drainage and better access to oxygen, too. Therefore, weeds should be kept there with the plants. (Maybe growers can cut them once in a while, so the plants will receive sunlight for photosynthesis, but the weed roots should not be removed.) Plowing is also known to release carbon back into the air, so instead of plowing, we should let the weeds do the job. Weeds are our friends.

LESS PLASTIC USE

The agriculture sector uses a lot of plastic, too. Little baby plants are all sold in little plastic trays and plugs. Plastic films are used to keep in the moisture of the soil. They eventually become trash that remains for 500 years or become nanoplastics in the soil, rivers, and oceans. Now, more farmers who are aware of this are trying to replace them with non-plastics or biodegradable plastics. It costs more, but while plastic goods need to be removed when getting old, biodegradable goods do not, so labor cost is saved, not to mention that it releases less gas into the atmosphere. Local governments also collect plastic from farms for recycling.

WHAT TO DO

Global warming is speeding up, and a 1.5-degree increase was predicted to happen by 2050, but according to IPCC this March, 2040 is the new predicted date, which is 10 years earlier. We need to find ways to feed all people using more sustainable methods. While breeders, farmers, and scientists do their jobs, we food consumers should support the more ethical farmers and businesses in food production. To orchestrate all these, we need the right policies, systems, technologies, and our own awareness in making choices. We also need global cooperation to help each other in emergencies.

The Author

Chung Hyunhwa is from Gwangju and currently working for a horticultural company. She is the former leader of Gwangju Hikers, an international eco-hike group at the GIC. Previously, she taught English in different settings, including Yantai American School and Yantai Korean School in China, and has worked for the Jeju school administration at Branksome Hall Asia in recent years. She holds a master’s degree in TESOL from The College of New Jersey in the U.S. and a license to teach the Korean language. She loves plants, birds, and making useful items out of things that lose their purposes.

Jisan IC

A Masterclass in Flushing Money Down the Toilet

By William Urbanski

What would you do with seven million dollars? Retire early? Buy a few houses? Set aside enough money to put your great grandchildren through university? How about build a deathtrap offramp against the express advice of experts that ends up being so dangerous that it can never be used?

Well, the powers that be in Gwangju decided that the last option would be the best way to completely squander a massive amount of taxpayer money. And that, in a nutshell is the legacy of the Jisan IC; An ill-advised boondoggle that was doomed from the start.

DOOMED FROM DAY ONE

Every day in the southeast side of Gwangju, there is a huge amount of commuter traffic that needs to access the gargantuan ring road that encircles the

city. Around this part of Gwangju, the ring road basically only has two access points: one called Sotae (소태) at the extreme southeastern tip and the other at Duam-dong (두암동) in the east. As anyone who has driven around Gwangju can attest to, each of these access points is a complete and utter gong show at the best of times and virtual parking lots during rush hour. The Jisan IC was initially conceived as a way to alleviate this traffic congestion area by creating a third set of exit ramps roughly in the middle of the two existing ones. While this sounds great on paper, cars are actually driven on roads, and pesky notions such as “physics,” “safety,” and “civil engineering” meant that this grand scheme was never, ever going to work. But that did not stop the thing from being built anyway.

Let us look at the two main reasons why the Jisan IC was doomed to fail.

▲ Build it and they will come. But only if by “they” you mean warning signs informing people that this ramp is unsafe to use.

SAFETY LAST

The location of the Jisan IC is dangerously close to a couple of tunnels, meaning there was never enough space to safely build any sort of on- or offramp. Disregarding the fact that the Jisan IC exit ramps were built on the left side of the highway (aka the place where people drive the fastest), in the southbound lane, the distance from the tunnel exit to the ramp was ten times shorter than the mandated safe distance. This meant that instead of drivers having 675 meters to go from the tunnel to the ramp, they would only have about 70.¹ No big deal, right? Wrong. A recent assessment found that having a tenth of the required space to slow down and exit the highway (with a tunnel blocking the drivers’ vision) meant that the accident rate was expected to be fourteen times the normal rate!

You might be thinking how anyone could have known this ahead of time, but it turns out that police and transportation experts explicitly warned against building the interchange for the exact reasons outlined above. Their advice and their appeals to common sense were summarily ignored and construction pushed ahead.

I cruised up to the brand-spanking-new Jisan IC offramps to see them for myself, and what was immediately striking was how short they are. Since there is not enough space after the tunnel to slow down, any car driving at even 90 kilometers per hour would have to slam on the brakes to navigate the road properly. As well, the southbound off ramp only looks long enough for five to six cars, meaning it would almost certainly result in cars being backed up on the highway. That is, if it were to ever open.

INDUCED DEMAND

The second reason that Jisan IC was never going to be an effective solution to traffic congestion is due to a counter-intuitive concept called “induced demand.” Induced demand means that in the long run, building more roads actually leads to more traffic, not less. This happens because when a road is built or expanded, more people decide to drive. It is a vicious cycle for which it is not hard to find plenty of evidence. Think for a moment of the humongous road that runs in front of the U-Square Bus Terminal: It is nearly twenty lanes wide and yet is almost always jammed up. In short, more road equals more traffic and not the opposite.

People will only stop driving when it becomes so inconvenient that they search out other options. It follows that the real solution to traffic congestion is to improve other transportation options to the point that it makes no sense to drive. The long-awaited Gwangju subway expansion is a step in the right direction, but there are other things to be done. Buses can be given their own lanes so as to not be caught up in car traffic. A system of bike lanes and trails would also do wonders to get cars off the road.

BIG SEXY PROJECTS

All of this can really make a person wonder why the Jisan IC even actually got built at all. Ultimately, what I think it boils down to is that politicians (who control the city’s purse strings) want to look like big shots for their constituents. And if this means pushing through big, sexy, high-impact projects while ignoring common sense, reason, and the crystal-clear warnings of experts, so be it.

TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT

Lately, Gwangju has not had a stellar reputation when it comes to construction projects, and when things go wrong (like in the Hak-dong and Hwajeong I-Park disasters), it costs lives. That is why Mayor Kang’s administration should be commended for putting an end to the Jisan IC before its completely unsafe design caused massive casualties. Seven billion won is a lot of money to write off on a boondoggle construction project, but if it saves a single life, it is the right decision.

While Jisan IC sits there built and never to be used, the story is not quite over. Hearings and investigations will try to find out exactly whom to blame for this enormous blunder and waste of money. Perhaps some metaphorical heads will roll, and maybe someone might even go to jail. As for the Jisan IC itself? I say just bulldoze the thing and forget it ever existed.

Source

1 Jeong, S. (2023. March 20). 광주 지산IC 부실, 누구 탓인가 [Gwangju Jisan IC’s faultiness, whose fault is it?]. BBS News. http://news.bbsi.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=3103536

The Author

While an avid fan of the Fast and Furious franchise, William Urbanski actually does not like the realities of automobile-centric cities. He owns a car but rides his sweet electric bike to work. Instagram: @will_il_gatto

Love That Makes You Feel at Ease

By Nahida Islam

It has been two months since I came to South Korea. In Gwangju, I am a PhD student at the Environmental Fusion Energy Technology Laboratory in the Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering at Chonnam National University. This is my first time out of my country. I am from an overpopulated and small but loving and caring country called Bangladesh. Since I had never been to another country, at first, all I felt was anxiety about this place and its people and culture. Could I be a part of the society or culture? That is the question I asked myself all the time.

One day, I landed in an uncertain world with a trembling walk. I started my journey from Incheon airport with a missing heart I left at home. We have a very different lifestyle and culture back in my country. We are completely different, from the way we look to our food habits. Here, they use chopsticks, and we use our hands. Fun fact: I once even embarrassed myself holding chopsticks.

The adjustment to the new surroundings, meeting new people, settling down at a new home, and cooking were all a hassle. Also, the advanced technology they

have here is among the best on the planet. Maybe, I was just drowning in darkness and wanted to touch the light and feel warmth in the cold weather at that time. One day, I was randomly walking around the streets of Gwangju without any destination, which is a habit of mine from back in my country. A destination always pressures you to go forward and gives you a deadline to reach, so without one you can look around, feel the street, and see the life around.

On that particular occasion, a family was walking in front of me. I saw parents with two kids, possibly going to a restaurant, park, or shopping mall. What I saw from them was the universal language of love. The care, warmth, guidance, gossip, happiness, and smiles – all these forms of love are known to me. This was the first time I felt included. My heart was shouting, “Ah, me and my family! We are also like them.” Maybe we are not that different.

As I was walking through the street, I could feel the life of Gwangju. A group of school kids were playing games, some people were relaxing at a coffee shop, a few boys were heading towards a basketball court, and two ladies were talking about where to eat. A mother was making sure her daughter wore a seatbelt properly, and a few grandmothers were gossiping at a park. I could see, smell, and feel the love and warmth around me.

Love is a universal language. Now, I can feel love in my lab also, like when my lab mates help me with different kinds of stuff, when they smile, and when they gossip – even if it is in Korean, it does not matter. I felt it even when my professor told me to “Take your time, I know the struggle of a foreigner.” I feel the warmth, all I ever wanted to feel was such warmth. Love, the four-letter word, made me feel at ease. The uncertain is not that bad; we just need to perceive our surroundings for elements that make us feel at home,

like the sky that belongs to everyone. We see the same sky, moon, and sun regardless our country, ethnicity, and class.

The walk through Gwangju changed my gloomy heart with a ray of sunshine. Only love can change the course of life. Love of mankind is all it takes to make a better world. And it already makes my life better.

All photos by www.openai.com

Nahida Islam is a PhD student at Chonnam National University, Gwangju. She is an introvert who always dreams of a world full of love and care. She does not think about achievement and cherishes the way to the destination. A country girl from Bangladesh, she should not be here, but she is.

The Author

Creamy Mushroom Power Pasta

By Julian Warmington

Does comfort food have to cost us our health? What’s the most important similarity between those two classic comfort food dishes: macaroni and cheese, and lasagne?

If the baking of pasta is the key common ingredient, how could we do this to retain all the most satisfying taste and texture, but without the greasy, bloodvessel clogging, artery-blocking cholesterol within animal fat-based foods?

After considering, contemplating, minor meditation and then some strict and rigorous research, I’m pleased to present this thick and creamy mushroomrich pasta. It is probably the most deeply satisfying dish ever created since that choco chip cookie crumble over triple chocolate ice cream with choco sauce.

Unlike that particular dish though, I can’t figure out the most important active ingredient in this one: Is it really the creamy mushrooms, or is it actually the texture of the walnuts, the protein of the lentils, or the secret-ish mix of herbs and spices? If you try it out and figure it out, please share your findings in a letter to the editor.

INGREDIENTS - TO MAKE FOUR LARGE SERVINGS

• Whole-grain pasta twists: four large handsful

• Mushrooms: two large handsful

• Walnuts: one large handful

• Red or brown lentils: two large handsful

• Split peas or small beans: one large handful

• Onion: one, large

• Garlic & ginger: to taste

• Black pepper, turmeric, red pepper, thyme,

garam masala

• Nutritional yeast, vegan cheese, parmesan flavor if possible

• Soy sauce if vegan parmesan cheese not available

• Soy milk

• Any vegetables still hiding near the back of your

• fridge: Diced carrot is great for a crunchy texture; zucchini is brilliant for a chewier texture and more succulent flavor; a small tomato or two are okay, but this is a mushroom-based dish –not a tomato takeover!

PREPARATION

1. If you’re using brown lentils, they take a little longer to cook, so put them on to boil first and then simmer on a low heat.

2. Put the pasta in a pot with boiling water and a lid. It needs no more heat: It’ll finish cooking in the oven soon enough.

3. If you’re using red lentils, add them to the dried peas or beans and put them in a separate pot, but treat them the same as the pasta: Cover them in boiling water and put a lid on immediately, then leave them to soak in the hot water.

4. Dice the onion, garlic, and ginger. Put them in a pan to sauté in a very little of your favorite vegetable oil, and as they start to heat up, add in the herbs and spices to flavor. If you like a hot, peppery flavor, add more black and red pepper. Then turn down the heat on the pan and turn on the oven to 175 degrees Celsius, with a fan option if available.

5. Dice the mushrooms and other vegetables and add them to the mix in the pan just for a very short while; let them finish cooking in the oven soon.

6. If you’re not adding tomatoes or something with a lot of juice, perhaps add a little soy sauce if you like a stronger salty flavor, or soy milk for a heartier texture and flavor to match, but the main purpose of adding somein is mostly to stop the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

7. Tip out any excess water from the pasta, and tip the pasta itself into your baking dish. Pour the sauteed veggie mix on top of the pasta.

8. Tip out excess water from the lentils and spread them evenly across the top of the vegetable mixture.

9. Put the walnuts on a chopping block and, with the flat or side part of a sturdy mug or cup, crush them into a rough mixture of differentsized pieces. A few larger-sized chunks are great to add variety and more texture. Spread them

around on top of the food already in the baking tray.

10. Spread the nutritional yeast and vegan cheese across the top of the dish last, and then slide it on into the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, keeping an eye on the top of the dish after 15 minutes or so. Wen it’s deep golden brown on top, it’s ready to share, or gobble as much as you can enjoy!

The Author

Julian Warmington taught for twenty years at the university level in South Korea, half of which he spent in Gwangju. He has been cooking fine plant-based cuisine for three decades, races in triathlons in his spare time, and misses doenjangguk in winter and a traditional vegan patbingsu in summer.

▲ Ready to bake

▲ Baked pasta

Traits That Very Good English Teachers Exhibit

By David Shaffer

Have you ever sat back in your most comfortable chair and reflected on yourself as a teacher? Have you thought about what the most important traits are for an English teacher to possess and then considered how strong you were in each of those characteristics? This is something that we all should do, and do regularly, to improve ourselves as teachers. I think it is safe to say that no teacher is equally strong in all good teacher traits –if such a person were to exist, they would probably have moved into the business field, where they could rake in an income that would place them in a much higher tax bracket than that of teachers.

Let’s consider the following (short and by no means exhaustive) list of teacher characteristics and, as we do, reflect on how strong (or how weak) we may personally be in each of the characteristics, and consider what we can or should do to strengthen ourselves in that teacher trait. As you are reflecting, you need not stop with the items listed below; add your own items and reflect on them also.

These are some of the traits of good English teachers:

UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUBJECT MATTER

It is obvious that any teacher should be well versed in the subject that they are teaching. And of course, an English teacher should be skilled at and have an excellent understanding of the English language. The trap that it is so easy to fall into as an English

as a foreign language teacher whose first language (L1) is English is to falsely assume that “because I am a native English speaker, I have expert skills in English.” Think back on your English classes and consider how many times you answered a student’s grammar question with “Well, we just say it that way” or with “Hmm, I really don’t know.” And how many times, after giving an answer to a student’s question, have we thought to ourselves, “I didn’t give a very satisfactory answer to that question.” Our students deserve better than this. It is not enough to just know instinctively whether something is grammatical, idiomatic, or the correct pronunciation. We need to be able to clearly explain to our students the “why” of their questions about English. This can be done in many ways: through self-study, short courses, or more formal degree work.

USING CURRENT TEACHING METHODOLOGY AND TECHNIQUES

In addition to having a foundation in how English works, anyone involved in English teaching needs to have a firm foundation in teaching pedagogy. It is so easy as a teacher to just fall back on teaching the way we were taught. But doing that merely perpetuates the use of old and often outdated methodology. As a case in point, when I began my university teaching in Korea, the grammar-translation method with textbooks of short stories was used throughout the freshman English courses. Relying on the teaching methodology and techniques that you were taught in your TESOL certificate or TESOL

degree program is only sufficient for a short period of time. New and innovative teaching methods, approaches, techniques, and strategies are constantly being developed that are more efficient and more appealing. It is incumbent upon us as teachers to keep abreast of these developments, try them out, and incorporate into our teaching those that suit our teaching contexts.

USING A WELL-BALANCED APPROACH

One of the reasons for the downfall of the audiolingual method was that it was very limited in the type of activities that it employed. Likewise, a major liability of the grammar-translation method was that it focused only on written translation and grammaticality (listening and speaking skills were not developed). And a handicap of both was that they were strongly teacher-centered. More recent and more widely accepted approaches to language teaching, such as communicative language teaching (CLT) also have their drawbacks due to being limited in scope. CLT, for example, in its original strong version, did not allow for the overt teaching of grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation!

Many ESL/EFL teachers found themselves straitjacketed. They saw a need for teaching all of the four macroskills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) and also microskills (such as pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and summarizing). What many decided upon was a “pick-and-choose approach”: the selection of effective activities from different teaching methodologies, new or not-so-new, for teaching their students in their current contexts. What many language teachers now use is what is referred to as the eclectic approach. Incorporated into such a syllabus or the lesson plan are techniques and methods

from a variety of methodologies. For example, a teacher may employ drills (the mainstay of the audio-lingual method) for pronunciation practice, may occasionally incorporate written translation work for grammar practice, and may also use taskbased language teaching (TBLT) and project-based learning (PBL) at other times. We must select the methods and techniques that best meet the needs of our students and the courses we teach. There is no single “best method.” Contexts vary so much in student characteristics, curriculum characteristics, and even teacher characteristics that teachers may even need to vary their lesson plans for different cohorts of students taking the same course.

BEING A LIFELONG LEARNER

Being a teacher does not exclude the possibility of being a learner at the same time. Indeed, one of the traits of a good teacher is continuing to learn new things throughout their teaching career. This learning can be formal, informal, or a combination of the two. Formal learning most often refers to degrees, diplomas, and certificates beyond one’s

bachelor’s degree (e.g., MA in TESOL, MA in applied linguistics, a PGDE, and a CELTA). More and more EFL teachers in Korea are getting advanced degrees and teaching certificates due to the convenient availability and high quality of partially and fully online programs.

Informal learning for EFL teachers comes in a wide variety of forms: reading teachers’ handbooks, such as the excellent Cambridge Language Teaching Library series; reading ELT magazines (e.g., EFL Magazine and The English Connection); reading the latest research in scholarly journals, such as TESOL Quarterly and the Korea TESOL Journal; and going to the internet for convenient reading materials, such as ELT blogs, and teaching resources of all kinds.

I don’t mean to suggest that reading is the only form of informal learning nor that it is something that must be done alone. Many teachers find great reward in keeping a reflective teaching journal. Sharing your teaching successes as well as your teaching concerns with a colleague can lead to valuable insights. Having a more experienced colleague as a mentor can lead to new and improved skills and procedures. Rather than a mentor–mentee relationship, or in addition to it, pairs of teachers can form what Thomas Farrell terms “critical friendships” in which they collaboratively and comfortably give each other support as well as frank suggestions and advice on how to solve problems and improve their teaching. These critical friendships may even include peer classroom observations.

Additional things that a teacher may do as a learner are attending webinars, seminars, workshops symposia, and conferences. These are but a few of the continued learning activities that you may take part in during your career as a teacher. The point is that the good English teacher is also a person who seeks out learning opportunities throughout their teaching career – being a lifelong learner.

BELONGING TO A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

When you think of it, the language teacher, in many ways, is a loner. When they are in the classroom, they are often the only teacher there. When not having class, they are often at their lone desk in

their dedicated classroom, or in their enclosed cubicle in their teachers’ room, or alone in their university office. It is a life of much isolation from one’s peers; there is little opportunity for interaction with colleagues, and we know that interaction is advantageous, if not crucial, to self-development.

Teachers, like other humans, are social creatures; they thrive on interaction with others. What teachers can do to overcome the inherent occupational disconnect with their peers is participate in professional groups. Professional learning communities (PLCs) may vary greatly in size and formality. One type of professional learning community is a book club of sorts, where the group selects a TESOL-related book and gathers regularly to discuss its contents. If you don’t know of one, create one! Another form of PLC is the group of EFL teachers in the same workplace who meet regularly to discuss lesson-planning strategies for their textbooks, materials development, student disciplinary problems, administrative directives, and much more. These PLCs may include periodic workshops organized by and for the members of the PLC. If your workplace doesn’t have a PLC, create one!

PLCs need not be centered within a single institution. EFL teachers in neighboring schools may come together to form a PLC similar in function to the workplace PLC described above. Such a PLC would be exceptionally valuable and easy to form if the group members belong to the same organization, such as the Jeollanamdo Language Program (JLP) or Gwangju’s English Program in Korea (EPIK).

As I mentioned earlier, PLCs come in all sizes; some are nationwide associations. In fact, Korea has about a dozen nationwide English teaching organizations

▲ Some of the many ELT organizations in Korea.

(ETOs) of which Korea TESOL, or “KOTESOL” for short, is one. There are also various other related associations focusing on English language and literature and on linguistics. There is sure to be at least one of these organizations that will meet your needs and desires. I have personally belonged to many of Korea’s ETOs simultaneously and found it very rewarding. Korea’s ETOs are quite similar in that they each have a regularly published academic journal and an annual conference, while some do differentiate themselves in their main focus (e.g., multimedia, elementary education, testing, or applied linguistics). [For more on Korea’s ETOs, see Language Teaching in the August 2019 issue of the Gwangju News.]

While KOTESOL also has an academic journal and an international conference – one that is well known throughout Asia and beyond – there are several things that set this organization apart from other ETOs in Korea. A majority of KOTESOL’s members are expats, and the language of its events and publications is English. While it has annual national and international conferences, it also has regional chapters that organize their own events. For example, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter holds monthly workshops on ELT topics, organizes an annual conference, and enjoys aftermeeting dinners. KOTESOL also has an array of special interest groups (SIGs) – from classroom management to reflective practice to research to social justice to Christian teachers – something for everybody! And any member can belong to as many SIGs as they wish.

I started out in KOTESOL as an attendee at workshops and conferences and as a reader of its publications. Later, I became involved in giving presentations at KOTESOL events and submitting articles to KOTESOL publications. While I still do these things, I am now also involved in organizing our conferences and editing our publications. I have learned a lot professionally through KOTESOL. While, as a PLC, KOTESOL is strong on the P (professional) and strong on the L (learning), I feel confident in saying that it is stronger than Korea’s other ETOs on its C (community). Learning thrives on social interaction, and it is KOTESOL’s sense of community that makes it so valuable as a professional learning community – and as a

huge source of lifelong learning. (Check it out at koreatesol.org.)

Here we have discussed only five traits of good language teachers: (a) understanding one’s subject matter, (b) using current teaching methodology and techniques, (c) using a well-balanced approach, (d) being a lifelong learner, and (e) belonging to a professional learning community. There are others that are equally important, and we will discuss them in future articles in this column. In the meantime, sit back, prop your feet up on your footstool, and reflect on what you might do to make yourself an even better teacher – and learner.

The Author

David Shaffer, PhD, has been involved in TEFL, teacher training, writing, and research in Gwangju for many years, as a professor at Chosun University. As vice-president of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of KOTESOL, he invites you to participate in the chapter’s teacher development workshops and events (in person and online) and in KOTESOL activities in general. Dr. Shaffer is a past president of KOTESOL and is the editor-in-chief of the Gwangju News.

GWANGJU-JEONNAM KOTESOL UPCOMING EVENTS

Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter Workshop

• Topic 1: Multicultural Learners – by Elspeth

Tanguay-Ko

• Topic 2: Navigating Korean Workplace Culture in Educational Settings – by David Kim

• Date: May 13, 2023

• Venue: Gwangju National University of Education

Check the Chapter’s webpages and Facebook group periodically for updates on chapter events and other online and in-person KOTESOL activities.

For full event details:

• Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju

• Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL

Everyday Korean

Episode 65

사람 위에 사람 없고 사람 밑에 사람 없다

No Person Is Above or Below Another

By Harsh Kumar Mishra

The Conversation

정민: 사라는 5월이 광주에서 아주 중요한 달인 것을

알지?

Jeongmin: Sarah, you know that May is a very important month in Gwangju, right?

사라: 네, 알아요. 학교에서 5.18 (오일팔) 민주화운동에

대해서 배웠어요.

Sarah: Yes, I know. I learned about the 5.18 (o-ilpal) Democratic Movement in school.

정민: 그럼 잘 알겠네. 광주는 커다란 희생을 하고

민주주의를 살린 도시야.

Jeongmin: Then you must know it well. Gwangju is the city that has saved democracy by making great sacrifices.

사라: 네. 저는 5.18 운동을 소재로 한 ‘화려한 휴가’를

보면서 많이 울었어요.

Sarah: True. I cried a lot while watching the “May 18” movie based on the movement.

정민: 나도 그랬어. 광주는 나에게 사람 위에 사람 없고 사람 밑에 사람 없다고 가르쳐 줬어.

Jeongmin: Me, too. Gwangju taught me that no person is above or below another.

사라: 그 말이 무슨 의미예요?

Sarah: What would be the exact meaning of that?

정민: 사람 누구나 태어날 때부터 평등하고 똑같다는 의미야.

Jeongmin: It means that everyone is equal and the same from the time they are born.

Grammar

~을/를 소재로 한: This is not a grammar point but more like an expression that is used with an object to describe something that serves as a basis for creating another thing, such as artwork. Use ~ 을 소재로 한 when a verb ends in a final consonant (받침, patchim) and ~를 소재로 한 when one ends in a vowel.

Ex: - 어제 이주민을 소재로 한 기사를 읽고 눈물이 났어요.

Yesterday, I cried after reading an article on immigrants.

사람 위에 사람 없고 사람 밑에 사람 없다: This proverb talks about equality among people. Its literal meaning is “there is no person above a person and no person below a person,” and it simply expresses that all human beings are born with equal rights and duties, and no one is better or worse than anyone else.

Ex:

가: 사람 위에 사람 없고 사람 밑에 사람 없다고 한 것처럼 남녀노소 모두가 똑같아요.

As the saying goes, “No person is above or below another” –everyone is the same and equal.

Vocabulary

사람: person, 위: above, 밑: below, 중요하다: to be important, 월: month, 민주화운동: democratic movement, 커다란: huge, 희생: sacrifice, 민주주의: democracy, 살리다: to save, 도시: city, 보다: to watch, 울다: to cry, 가르치다: to teach, 의미: meaning, 태어나다: to be born, 평등하다: to be equal, 똑같다: to be the same

The Author

Harsh Kumar Mishra is a linguist and Korean language educator. He volunteers with TOPIKGUIDE. com and Learnkorean.in. He has also co-authored the book Korean Language for Indian Learners.

Stimulation and Recognition Expanding Children’s Sensorial Experience in the Classroom

By Kim Yul

Maria Montessori says in her book The Discovery of the Child (1967), “the training and sharpening of the senses have the obvious advantage of enlarging the field of perception and of offering an ever more solid foundation for intellectual growth” (p. 101). This quote rings true because everything we experience and know is communicated to our body and mind through sight, sound, touch, taste, and hearing. So, an important part of helping and supporting our children’s exploration journeys is starting with strengthening the senses, the greatest gift of children.

To this end, Montessori has developed a very specific and deliberate methodology to take advantage of the formations of development that exist in children from three to six years old. Until this point, children tirelessly absorb the sights, sounds, and messages of their environment and those around them. At the age of three, a child’s heightened sensitivity to order can be used to guide the fascinating task of learning to organize and decipher existing knowledge. In addition, by adding deliberate movement, you can improve the use of your senses while enhancing your awareness of mathematical principles and patterns that exist in the world around you.

In the Montessori classroom, this basic task is carried out through a didactic tool known as sensory material. Each series of exercises separates one sense, leads the child to the completion of observational skills, and helps the child absorb all the concepts through tactile means. Maria Montessori found, “The education of this sense leads to the recognition of objects through feeling, that is, through the simultaneous help of the tactile and muscular senses” (p. 188). Sensory work is done one-on-one between the teacher and the child

and proceeds in a deliberate sequence from simple to complex, concrete to abstract.

To get started, learn to identify an object or concept. Often objects are very similar to each other, and a great deal of focus is required to identify the differences. Many sensory materials developed by Montessori have their own control over errors, which helps the child to work independently, as the tool selfcorrects. For example, in a knobbed cylinder exercise, there are four wooden crate blocks containing ten cylinders with handles, each of which is mounted on a respective holder and has different dimensions, slight changes in height, and slight changes in diameter. During this activity, if a child misplaces a cylinder, it is sent to another cylinder without a home. Through this process, as children develop and improve their skills, they begin to rely solely on their own senses to determine the right sequence and know if they correctly identified each cylinder’s respective place.

As Montessori points out in her book, “the mistake is so obvious that it immediately destroys the child’s earlier illusion. The attention is brought sharply to bear upon the obvious problem” (p. 124). Stimulation and recognition of this type are what the Montessori classroom seeks to develop.

Source

Montessori, M. (1967). The Discovery of the Child. Ballantine Books.

The Author

Kim Yul is originally from Gwangju and has taught in Cincinnati, Ohio, for many years. He is a Montessori elementary school teacher who believes education can change the world.

Love in the Time of Cholera

By Gabriel García Márquez

Reviewed by Michael Attard

Gabriel García Márquez was born in Colombia in 1927. He wrote sixteen novels during his lifetime and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. His novel, Love in the Time of Cholera, was published in 1985. It is not generally considered to be his best work, but it has been acclaimed as his most romantic novel.

The setting is a coastal city in Colombia, and the timeframe covers about sixty years from the later 19th century to the early 20th century. The premise involves the question, “What happens when a young man’s unrequited love is unable to break his spirit?”

The protagonist, Florentino Ariza, has an air of heroism about him. Similar to Don Quixote, he will wait patiently and honorably to serve his lady at her bidding. And in this case, since the woman of his dreams, Fermina Daza, has married the young, rich, and respectable Dr. Urbino and wants nothing to do with our protagonist, Florentino has a long time to wait. And it is not as if Florentino had no other options. “When he met Fermina Daza he was the most sought-after young man in his social circle.” He was very thin and needed glasses for his myopia, but this only “added to his forlorn appearance.”

Florentino had a strong basis for his sincerely professed love. While delivering a telegram to her father, the two youths exchanged a “casual glance,” beginning the flow of love letters from Florentino to Fermina, enchanting her so much that she would ultimately succumb to the power of his poetic compositions. But without her father’s approval, their relationship was doomed and Dr. Urbino became the more acceptable match.

conflict

is

protagonistantagonist struggle. Dr. Urbino, the husband of Florentino’s passion, is not the antagonist. Florentino himself did not realize this until after a particular conversation with the doctor.

He realized that he and “this man, whom he had always considered his personal enemy, were victims of the same fate and shared the hazards of a common passion.” The antagonist is actually Fermina Daza herself. Florentino must somehow penetrate the steel encasing her heart, a shield that has not weakened over fifty years, in the same way as her physical health, beauty, and hopes have diminished into the mist of time.

With the doctor’s death early in the story, but fifty years later than Florentino had wished, he wastes no time and, as the last remaining guest at the funeral, speaks directly to Fermina Daza. “I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love.”

The

in the story

not the typical

Her response was not a surprise. “Get out of here.”

For the next 220 pages, the author fills in the details of the last half century. We are also given some insight into the role of cholera in the story, as fully suggested by the book’s title. Early in the romance, Florentino “became disoriented… his mother was terrified… his condition did not resemble the turmoil of love so much as the devastation of cholera.” There are other instances where cholera creeps into the story, but it is more in the background rather than leading the story. I cannot say for sure on this point, but perhaps cholera is a metaphor for the fever of love.

As we wait for the death of Dr. Urbino, it becomes evident that Florentino has no compulsion to remain celibate. A great deal of the book is about his sexual exploits with all sorts of women, including the amusing story of how he lost his virginity. And it is not only in regard to these episodes, but with equal respect to other events, that the author’s master of language and writing skills make the read exceptionally enjoyable. In one scene referring to Fermina Daza, the author, through Florentino, captures all that changes us and everything that keeps us as we are. He saw her “more polished and intense, her beauty purified by the restraint of maturity.”

the opportunity, and even recognized his right, to respond.”

Time passes, and in that flow, we learn that Fermina Daza has been carefully reading Florentino’s letters, and she saw them as more than missives. “They were a meditation on life, love, old age, death…. In this way an unknown Florentino was revealed to her.” From this point on, there are another sixty pages. And what is the conclusion of this love story? “It is life, more than death, that has no limits.”

The Reviewer

Michael Attard is a Canadian who has lived in Gwangju since 2004. Though officially retired, he still teaches a few private English classes. He enjoys reading all kinds of books and writes for fun. When the weather is nice, you may find him on a hiking trail.

Fermina Daza is not free of demons, but most of these are creations of her own temperament. And the author succinctly narrates the inner machinations of her mind: “free at last of illusions, when she began to detect the disillusionment of never having been what she had dreamed of being.”

As in most love stories, the path was never easy for our intrepid romantic, and he was a textbook case of when love is blind: “It was in fact the insulting letter he had expected to receive.” But “All that interested him was that the letter, in and of itself, gave him

“… perhaps cholera is a metaphor for the fever of love.”

Up the Mountain and into the Fog

By Francesca Duong

Iwas assured by my friend that hiking through the Mudeungsan National Park (무등산국립공원) would be a gradual incline.

“It will be perfect for your first time hiking,” she said. “We will take it slow.”

I was lied to.

With my friend serving as my guide and motivator, I carefully trudged behind on the path littered with stones sloping in obscure angles. My ankles worked overtime to stabilize myself, and my thighs screamed with each step.

It felt mechanical, our motion. Left, right. Left, right. In a single file line, we marched onwards with other strangers. Our brains were shut off as we focused on pushing forward and not toppling like dominos. The sounds of our feet hitting the ground echoed into the distance, as if asserting our presence on the mountain.

After a certain point, after a certain altitude, turning back would be a slap in the face to all the hard work already accomplished. I climbed onwards, captivated by the allure of what lied ahead. I wanted to understand what about hiking intoxicated people into coming back. Maybe it was the peaceful songs of nature that hypnotized hobby hikers, or the feeling of physical accomplishment after one’s conquest. And so we continued, one foot in front of the other, forcing ourselves to forget about the tiredness. Left, right. Left, right.

Each checkpoint we reached signified not just our accomplishments, but also denoted a change in weather. At the 617-meter marker – the halfway point – the harsh sunlight beat down on the rest area. I squinted, trying to talk to my friend, but

forcibly kept my eyes open to take in the scenery. The checkpoint was basked in a crisp, warm glow; however, there were ominous gray clouds looming in the distance. It almost seemed like a warning of what was to come.

After another 30 minutes of hiking, I felt goosebumps start to appear. A thin mist appeared, covering everything in a gray sheen. I enjoyed the cool breeze, though, and it was much more soothing compared to hiking under the piercing sun. However, at 917 meters, the warmth produced from hiking no longer sufficed. I put my gray sweatshirt back on. It was the only layer I brought.

In hindsight, the temperature changes should have been expected. Even with my inexperience, I should have packed gloves and more layers.

Yet, the differences between the sunbathed view at the first checkpoint and the current struggle for visibility was shocking. It felt as if the fog was slowly creeping up, following us and slowly suffocating our view. We were at the mercy of the magician called nature, only allowed to see what it wants the audience to see. The ice patches crawled forward with the dipping temperature, forcing us to tread carefully in this unknown land.

My friend would point into the void. “Over there is actually a gorgeous rock formation… you just can’t really see it right now.”

We continued on, without much visible representative information of how high we had already climbed and how much we had left. The thick cloak of fog told no secrets.

Left, right. Left, right.

Where did everyone go?

As a city with a population of over 1.5 million people, being completely alone is uncommon in Gwangju.

My early morning bus ride to the park was packed. Within moments of reaching our final destination, everyone from my bus dispersed into their own separate paths and molded with the larger crowd. The crowd swelled up to the mountain.

There was kinship between me and my friend and a group of high school boys as we took turns passing each other. We could hear them cajole their friends into going higher and giving each other support.

Yet, in the last few moments before we reached the peak, only our ragged breaths could be heard. It seemed like people disappeared along the way. Maybe they took a different path. Maybe they took a longer break at the rest stop. Maybe they turned back.

We were alone.

How could such an enormous group of people vanish in a matter of a few hours? Are they okay?

Did they escape the assembly line?

If it was not for the stone marker at 1,100 meters , I would not have realized we reached the peak.

The sun had fully been suffocated by the fog, only leaving the world in a semblance of black and white. It was impossible to see the boasted scenic views, which were replaced with a thick, gray wall. The biting wind froze my face, and my hands were curled into fists underneath my sleeves, seeking any type of warmth.

There was a small line for photos with the marker. I watched as people took their celebratory photo, glanced around, and then began their descent down the mountain.

For a fleeting second, we all shared the same memory of robotically hiking up Mudeung-san and pretending to be in a black and white movie. For a fleeting second, all of us shared the same space. The same time.

And then they were gone. The Author

As a writer, Francesca Duong, strongly believes in the power of narrative as a platform for truth and discussion. She loves lengthy conversations, being involved in the community, and discovering delicious foods.

Top of The Drop

By Daniel J. Springer

Each month, Daniel Springer of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN) picks his favorite newly released tunes that you may not have heard yet, along with some upcoming albums and EPs that you might want to keep on your radar. — Ed.

TYLER, THE CREATOR – “DOGTOOTH”

For those who read this article regularly, you’ll know 2021’s Call Me If You Get Lost was one of our albums of the year, and March 31 saw the rather sudden drop of the deluxe edition, with the aforementioned title now tagged with The Estate Sale as the subtitle. The expanded edish of this LP done executed in old school beat tape format only solidifies its status as a cultural landmark, with the new-to-you tunes featured therein being expansive lyrical gems.

WEDNESDAY – “FORMULA ONE”

This is a band hailing from Asheville, NC who just dropped their debut album via Dead Oceans titled Rat Saw God. The record itself feels like a secret corner of nowhere, a place where a young couple would regularly sneak away to for a make-out session only to discover months later that a bunch of homeless drunks had found and befouled it, making it their home.

LES IMPRIMÉS – “I’LL NEVER LEAVE”

Like something transported from the very heights of the doowop era 60 years ago blasted into the future and right onto your comforter, this is a fantastic cut and one we admittedly slept on, having been released in late January. Don’t let the

moniker en Francais fool you, as this is the solo project of multi-everything Morten Martens, who hails from Kristiansand, Sweden. This debut 7” single features with another gem called “If I,” which will both be on this long-awaited record, slated for release later this year.

ALTIN GÜN – “ÇIT ÇIT ÇEDENE”

If one had to pick a band that would get the gold at some kind of Olympics-style battle of the bands, this crew based in The Netherlands would not be a bad bet. While hailing from the Dutch realms, Altin Gün are rooted firmly in the psychedelic funk of Turkey’s past, and have released their latest laser cannon from funky Istanbul titled Aşk (or “love”) as of April 7. Do check for something different because this record does, as the song title above translates, SNAP SNAP.

BUZZY LEE – “WHEN CAN I”

This is a solo indie project from Sasha Spielberg that has been turning heads, and no, it’s not because she’s the famed director’s daughter (which must help a little but also be extra tiresome for the artist). Late March saw Spielberg release her sophomore album via FUTURE CLASSIC called Internal Affairs, which is well worth a front to back treatment for your ears.

MISS GRIT – “사이보그를 따라와”

This is the work of KoreanAmerican artist Margaret Sohn, and is quite a surprising addition to the Follow The Cyborg LP, which is Sohn’s & company’s debut full-length released back in February. Whereas the English title track was a feature single released in the run-up, this one adds a fascinating layer to the Korean-American artist’s repertoire and the album as a whole, with Sohn delivering spoken word Korean through a lot of interference and filtering as the dreamy track layers over it, ending with what feels like a dark vedic chant of the song’s title (“follow the cyborg” in Korean).

EL MICHELS AFFAIR & BLACK THOUGHT –“GLORIOUS GAME”

April 14 saw this album drop in full, and the above would be the titular track on this incredible album. The tracks therein feature Leon Michels and his band composing their trademark hiphop inspired funky licks behind what is probably Roots front man Black Thought’s most personal and reflective lyrics to date. From the videos to the actual tunes therein, this is a record to put on the headset right now if you haven’t already.

GEORGIA – “IT’S EUPHORIC”

For those who pay attention to such things, this artist has been working some dance floor magic over the past several years. Showing that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Georgia is the daughter of one of the founding members of Leftfield, and with the release of this tune, Georgia announced the upcoming Euphoric LP, which drops July 28 and was co-produced by Rostam with the artist, the former having producing credits with the likes of Haim, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Clairo, amongst others.

SURPRISE CHEF – “FRIENDSHIP THEME”

This is a band out of Melbourne which, aside from being a hotbed for almost every type of music imaginable, has always featured a cinematic funk

and soul underbelly, a scene which Surprise Chef have been a big part for years. Last year the band took their game to NYC and signed with Big Crown, releasing their debut on the label late in the year called Education & Recreation. This would be the title track to the Friendship EP, due out June 2 and announced with this single’s release.

THE BETHS – “WATCHING THE CREDITS”

After releasing one of our top albums of 2022, this Kiwi band are back with this single, showcasing their deep application of classically trained chops to indie rock. While obviously “just” a tune left off their Expert in a Dying Field LP, this is a tune that is just as strong as that spectacular record, and comes from the lead singer learning that one could learn everything about a movie without actually watching it, which felt like an escape from music which had become her job.

HOTEL UGLY – “TO BE, OR NOT TO BE UGLY”

Back in 2020, this duo out of Houston released the viral “Shut Up My Mom’s Calling,” which to indie heads everywhere put them squarely on the map of consciousness. Now, the two have released the Ugly Duck LP as of March 24, and is a perfectly chill and summery addition to your playlists for the warmer months coming up.

The Author

Daniel J. Springer (aka “Danno”) is the creator, host, writer, editor, and producer of “The Drop with Danno,” broadcasting nightly on GFN 98.7 FM in Gwangju and 93.7 FM in Yeosu from 8 to10 p.m. Prior to this, he was a contributor to several shows on TBS eFM in Seoul, along with being the creator and co-host of “Spacious” and “White Label Radio” on WNUR in Chicago. You can find “The Damyang Drop,” his monthly collaborative playlist with The Damyang House, on YouTube and Spotify. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @gfnthedrop

April Releases

Wednesday – Rat Saw God (Apr 7)

Altin Gün – Aşk (Apr 7)

Heather Woods-Broderick – Labyrinth (Apr 7)

Blondshell – s/t (Apr 7)

Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven (Apr 7)

El Michels Affair & Black Thought – Glorious Game (Apr 14)

Dinner Party – Enigmatic Society (Apr 14)

Feist – Multitudes (Apr 14)

Metallica – 72 Seasons (Apr 14)

Temples – Exotico (Apr 14)

Dave Okumu & The 7 Generations – I Came From Love (Apr 14)

Rodrigo y Gabriella – In Between Thoughts…A New World (Apr 21)

The Mars Volta – Safe To Run (Apr 21)

Gabriels – Angles & Queens (Apr 28)

The National – First Two Pages of Frankenstein (Apr 28)

Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good! (Apr 28)

Indigo De Souza – All Of This Will End (Apr 28)

Matt Maltese – Driving Just to Drive (Apr 28)

May Upcoming (Watch Out!)

Atmosphere – So Many Realities Exist Simultaneously (May 5)

Jonas Brothers – The Album (May 5)

LA Priest – Fase Luna (May 5)

Westerman – An Inbuilt Fault (May 5)

SBTRKT – The Rat Road (May 5)

Fatoumata Diawara – LONDON KO (May 12)

Kaytraminé – s/t (May 12)

Hannah Jagadu – Aperture (May 19)

Tinariwen – Amatssou (May 19)

Alex Lahey – The Answer Is Always Yes (May 19)

Dave Matthews Band – Walk Around The Moon (May 19)

Arlo Parks – My Soft Machine (May 26)

Sparks – The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte (May 26)

Dignity Is Front and Center

By Park Nahm-Sheik

Dignity is an inviolable birthright which makes all creation tick. That is especially true for humans. This message happens to be shared by May’s four holidays: Workers’ Day, Children’s Day, May 18th Gwangju Civil Uprising Day, and Buddha’s Birthday.

The first of these holidays falls on May 1 in Korea. Dedicated to all working people of Korea, it honors the sweat, tears, and blood they pour into the making of Korean society. Our national economy simply cannot do without a robust labor force. Thus, we must serve our workers, not the other way around. That is basically why we must needs treat our workers with adequate respect. Respect a man, he will do the more. Right?

Now then, are Korean workers getting their due, such as decent pay, enough benefits, and safe working conditions? Maybe not. Should that actually turn out to be the case, then we must all put on our collective thinking cap right away. We must realize from the getgo here that any heavy-handed approach to labor just won’t do.

On the heels of Workers’ Day comes 어린이날 (Children’s Day). Let’s begin here by paying attention to the suffix ‘이’ in 어린이날, which is an honorific meant to pay tribute to the dignity of the child. The history of Korea’s Children’s Day dates back to early-1920s Tokyo. A group of young Korean students there got together to contemplate ways

of doing something for their homeland when it regained its independence. In the course of their deliberations, they dreamed of fostering a childfriendly milieu in their motherland, one in which children could grow up con brio and in good health into productive citizens their country could always count on in any situation.

Led by 방정환, the noted children’s rights advocate, the Tokyo ‘coterie’ took its cue from Children’s Day already observed elsewhere in the world. Thanks largely to their pioneering efforts, Korea was able to adopt May 5 as Children’s Day for the bornagain Republic less than one year after liberation. It is interesting to note in retrospect that the Tokyo group’s early-on slogan was: “Keeping hopes alive and kicking is keeping the nation’s future alive and kicking.”

Much in debt though we are to this courageous civil resistance campaign, quite a few amongst us openly badmouth the citizen warriors of Gwangju to this day. Shouldn’t we stop this senseless act of ingratitude immediately once and for all?

The May holiday we get to celebrate last is Buddha’s Birthday (May 27 this year in Korea). It marks the birth of the Buddha circa 500 B.C. in Lumbini, Nepal. Also known as Siddhartha or Sakkiamuni, he is a beacon of obeisance to nature. The quintessential Buddhist commandment “Thou shalt not kill” speaks volumes about this obeisance.

What impresses me most about the Buddha, though, is that he was a living exemplar of minimalism. He lived minimally all his awakened life, shunning anything even remotely resembling luxury. Presentday vegetarianism, for one, may well be an offshoot of the ascetic lifestyle that he embodied to the end of his life.

He was indeed the ultimate environmentalist, adoring nature in its entirety. Sure enough, he spent much of his life in the bosom of nature, lost in contemplation about the nature of nature. Hence, meditation is part and parcel of the Buddhist worldview. Everything about him shines a shaft of light on what Buddhism is all about, including the path to Nirvana or Enlightenment.

The Author

Thirteen days after Children’s Day comes May 18th Gwangju Civil Uprising Day. Citizens of Gwangju rose up in the much-storied civil resistance to the archfoes of human rights and civil liberties in Korea. They carried it all the way through, fighting to the bitter end – from May 18 through May 27 in 1980, to be more exact. They bluntly refused to succumb to naked force. And their heroism bore witness to the refrain: Freedom is not free! Something like “Over my dead body” must have inspired each and every one of the resistance fighters. They ended up demonstrating to the world that right can prevail over might.

Park Nahm-sheik has a BA in English from Chonnam National University, an MA in linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A., and a PhD in applied linguistics from Georgetown University. He is now a Professor Emeritus after a long and illustrious career at Seoul National University as well as President Emeritus of the International Graduate School of English.

▲ Korea’s Children’s Day

The Author

Yun Hyoju was born and raised in Gwangju and somehow ended up married to an Irish guy named Alan. She has been working on her short comic, “Alan and Me,” which is about their daily life. She publishes a new comic every week on Instagram. It can be found here: @alan_andme.

C R O S S W O R D P U Z Z L E

DOWN

1 Paul LaCamera commands this

2 Wyoming neighbor

3 Owl sound

4 Held back

5 Photographer Teale

6 Australian crane

7 UEFA competition

8 Korean house

9 Air base in Pyeongtaek

10 Single-character Korean name

11 Kakao’s web portal

19 Japanese model (2 words)

20 Name of 23 Across

22 Horses champ at this 23 Maxx and Miller

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