From the Editor

September 2021, Issue 235 Published: September 1, 2021

Cover Photo

Yoon Yeocheol

Ambassador for International Relations at Gwangju Metropolitan City

THE EDITORIAL TEAM

Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Chief Copy Editor Layout Editor Photographer Copy Editing Online Editor Content Support

Dr. Shin Gyonggu Dr. David E. Shaffer William Urbanski Isaiah Winters Karina Prananto Kim Hillel Yunkyoung Di Foster, David Foster, Thomas DeVore Karina Prananto Melline Galani

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.

Copyright ©2021 by the Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the written consent of the publisher.

The Gwangju News is published by the Gwangju International Center: Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5 (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733~34 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com Email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr gwangjunews gwangju_news

Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date: February 22, 2010 Printed by Jieum 지음 (+82)-62-672-2566

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

Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.

It’s September. Of late, we have been living under the darkened skies of the late-August rains, but much darker is the shadow of the coronavirus that has been hovering over us for the past year and a half. It now appears that there may be light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for the City of Light.

Vaccines have finally become available and are being administered. There doesn’t appear to be the serious vaccine hesitancy here that is occurring is some parts of the West. The citizenry is keeping masked up and social-distancing rules are, for the most part, being adhered to. These are all good signs that indicate we are moving in the right direction. We must remember that we are all in this together and that we need to continue to work together to bring us out of the darkness of the Covid era.

Now, to turn to one of the bright spots that this month brings: the September issue of the Gwangju News! Our cover feature is an exclusive interview with Yoon Yeocheol, Ambassador for International Affairs for Gwangju City, who is organizing a session on Myanmar at the upcoming World Human Rights Cities Forum. The second feature we bring you is an interview with Roger Steffens, one of the major exhibiters at the Gwangju Design Biennale and the authority on all things Bob Marley.

We take a look at Korea’s past through an interview with Master Jung Kwan-chae, a National Intangible Cultural Asset, who has revived the art of indigo dyeing, which was traditionally centered in the Naju area. Men’s hats and hair care were a hallmark of the Joseon Dynasty. Read all about Joseon hats and hair, and the nationwide “Topknot Riots,” which were sparked in Jeolla-do [The Land of Hats]. And where did the people of Jeju Island come from? You will be surprised to learn in this issue’s Blast from the Past.

Read about what SuperBin is doing to save the environment [Opinion]. Read one person’s analysis of Korean yangsim [Gwangju Abroad], and read one expat’s heartfelt and eloquent goodbye to Gwangju [Expat Living]. The above is only a taste of what this issue’s menu has on offer, so please get started.

As always, stay Covid smart, stay Covid safe, get Covid protected, and enjoy the Gwangju News.

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News