(EN) Gwangju News January 2013 #131

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January 2013 Issue No. 131

On The Cover:

A Gwangju Beauty

Meet Lee Jung-bin

Talk to Me in Korea A Chat with Sun Hyunwoo

New Exhibits Gwangju Museum of Art

www.gwangjunewsgic.com

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January 2013 www.gwangjunewsgic.com

ON THE COVER

THE EDITORIAL TEAM Publisher: Shin Gyonggu GWANGJU NEWS PRINT Editors: Kathleen Villadiego, Kim Minsu Assistant Editor: Stephen Redeker Creative Consultant: Warren Parsons Copy Editors: Darren Bean, Jon Ozelton, Michael Moak, Vanessa Cisneros Coordinators: Karina Prananto, Jeong Jayeon, Kim Minsu Layout Designer: Karina Prananto Photo Editor: Matt Furlane Proofreaders: Andrew Sweeney, Bradley Weiss, Erin Hamayda, Heather Douglas, Heinrich Hattingh, Megan Batal, Pete Schandall, Samantha Richter. Special thanks to Jessica Keralis Researchers: Kang Heera, Choi Minyoung, Jo Ara, Park Soyoung

Cover Photo: Miss Korea Lee Jung-bin Photograph: Courtesy of the Miss Korea Organizing Committee

features

GWANGJU NEWS ONLINE Editor: Maeve Storey Technical Manager: Carl Hedinger Assistant Site Administrator: Nathan Fulkerson Arts Editor: Andrea Edwards Features Editors: BreeAnn Cowger, C. Adam Volle Media Editor: David Cowger Food Editor: Rani Cheema Travel Editor: BreeAnn Cowger Gwangju News is published by Gwangju International Center Address: Jeon-il Building 5F, Geumnam-no 1-1, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-758, South Korea Phone: +82-62-226-2733~4 Fax: +82-62-226-2731 Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com E-mail: gwangjunews@gmail.com Registration No.: 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date: February 22, 2010 Printed by Logos (Phone +82-62-444-8800)

Publication Date: December 27, 2012 Gwangju News is a monthly English magazine written and edited by volunteers. We welcome your contributions for proofreading, copy editing, administration, layout/design and distribution. Please write to gwangjunews@gmail.com and tell us your area of interest.

Special thanks to the City of Gwangju and all of our sponsors.

Copyright 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 publishers.

Gwangju News welcomes letters to the editor (gwangjunews@gmail.com) regarding articles and issues. Articles and submissions may be edited for reasons of clarity or space.

12 A Gwangju Beauty, Lee Jung-bin By jjdp Gwangju’s very own Lee Jung-bin shone a spotlight on this city when she competed in the Miss Korea 2012 pageant. Read about her hopes and inspirations.

16 Sun Hyunwoo: Breaking Korean Down into ‘Byte-sized’ Pieces

By Kristal Lee Gwangju News had the privilige of interviewing this man of many talents, currently famous for his Talk to Me in Korean website and videos. Read the story of this young innovator.

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Contributors of the month Vanessa Cisneros (Copy Editor) was born and raised in the Wolverine State of Michigan – GO BLUE! Shortly after high school she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to work in urban education development. Upon completing junior college Vanessa transferred to the University of California, Berkeley. Throughout her undergraduate education she worked with youth and education in addition to community organizing. Vanessa is currently working at a private academy in Geumho-dong where she indulges in the local delicatessen daily.

Michael Moak (Copy Editor) was born and raised in sunny San Diego, California. He attended San Diego State University as a transfer student and received his degree in sociology. Prior to teaching in Korea Michael worked in business management and administration. After deciding he wanted more than the 9-to-5 grind he moved across the Pacific to begin teaching English.

Michael currently works at a private academy in Geumho-dong. After 6 months of teaching, tons of kimchi and countless adventures, Michael is loving Korea.

Heather Douglas (Copy Editor/ Proofreader): “I'm excited to be contributing to Gwangju News.

Although I love being a full-time teacher, freelance writing has always been a passion and a lifelong interest of mine. I also enjoy traveling, photography and delicious food!”

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contents health

news

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16

more...

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Upcoming Events

26 Community Athletic Supporters in Gwangju

By Jannies Le

32 Gamgi Season is Here: Eat Your Way for Better Immunity/ Kristal Lee

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This Month in Gwangju/ Carl Hedinger

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The Presidential Election/ Michael Bielawski

food and drink

art & literature

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28 Photo Essay My First Snow

By Ganes Aji Laksono 30 Travel Charmed in Ecuador

By Kerri Strothard 36 Language Study Professional Development in ELT

By Dr. David Shaffer

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The First Alleyway: Pizzas, Burgers and Poutine, Oh My!/ Rani Cheema

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Mick Jone’s Pizza/ Gabriel Ward

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Gwangju Museum of Art/ Adam Hogue

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SOAR Art Gallery/ Song Jihee

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Selected Korean Winter Poems/ Translated by Song Chae-Pyong and Anne Rashid

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Poems by Doug Stuber/ Doug Stuber

Hot and Spicy Chicken in Squash/ Park Soyoung

42 Fashion Fash-on with xxl jjdp: Bright and Blue-tiful By jjdp 46 Community Board

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This Month in Gwangju A brief roundup of news stories from in and around Gwangju

By Carl Hedinger and have come back with many stories hoping to entertain readers. The group met three times every week in 2012 to discuss and research information that they planned to include in the book. This second edition includes seven chapters and results from what the Cultural Foundation's manager said were many requests for more information. The manager also mentioned, “We want this book to help first-time visitors and foreigners who are looking for the best guidebook that Gwangju has to offer."

Aung San Suu Kyi Photo from Wikipedia

Coming to Gwangju: Aung San Suu Kyi This month's News Roundup begins with a huge event to start off Gwangju's 2013 with a bang! The city will receive a visit from the world-renowned leader of Myanmar's movement towards democracy, Dr. Aung San Suu Kyi. This will be the first visit to Korea for Suu Kyi and there are widely anticipated plans for a stop in Gwangju as part of a nationwide tour. A very busy schedule has been planned to fill her time spent here and the media will definitely be following her travels throughout Korea. After attending a 2013 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics special event, Suu Kyi will visit Gwangju on January 30 for a two-night visit. Dr. Suu Kyi will first accept the 2004 Gwangju Human Rights prize that she was originally unable to receive while under house-arrest. On the second and final day, Suu Kyi plans to visit and pay respects at the National 5.18 Democracy Cemetery. A lecture at Chonnam National University will culminate Aung San Suu Kyi's visit to Gwangju as she plans to see as much of the country as possible.

Gwangju Travelog II Released The second volume of the Gwangju Travelog has been published to continue the story of the city's hidden attractions. Contributions from the Gwangju Cultural Foundation's volunteers make up the over 260-page book. They have searched throughout Gwangju, met with local celebrities, scoped out famous restaurants,

City wins 2012 Korea Disability Rights Award On December 3 in Seoul, Gwangju won the 2012 Korea Disability Rights Award. The award is a result of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons and the Korea Charter for the Rights of Disabled Persons. Eligible winners include individuals and organizations that take the initiative in promoting disability rights and prohibiting discrimination since 1999. The competition measures five sections, including policy-making, action plans, media, local government and public institutions. First-place winners usually receive three congratulatory plaques and a cash prize while second and third places take a prize from the national chairman. The city garnered praise for establishing itself as a definitive ”city of human rights” after declaring a Charter of Gwangju Human Rights and establishing a “human rights index”.

Gwangju City also received a high score for social welfare, through creating customized jobs for the disabled.

Second Convention Center coming soon A completion date has been set for Gwangju's second convention center. The new site will give the city another setting aside from the Kimdaejung Convention Center to hold large events. Following its opening, the new venue is set to host many large events in Gwangju next year.

Noteworthy future events such as the 2013 World Korean Business Convention, and 2014's World Hydrogen Energy Conference along with the 2015 Summer Universiade are already set to take place at the new building. According to a report, this convention center stands to help Gwangju become a more powerful MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Convention, Events and Exhibition) Industrial center. The City hopes to benefit from the many advantages that come with having an additional convention center. This includes having the ability to hold more international events while also giving citizens yet another cultural venue to get out and visit.

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Upcoming Events Contributors: Kang Heera, Choi Minyoung, Jo Ara, Park Soyoung (GIC Gwangju News Team)

Movie @ Gwangju Theater Address: Chungjang-no 5-ga (two blocks back behind Migliore) Phone: 062-224-5858 Films change weekly to bi-weekly Fee: 8,000 won per person per film Check online for calendar and prices: http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju (in Korean)

Anne of Green Gables 빨간머리 앤 Genre: Drama, Adventure Director: Isao Takahata Language: Korean Synopsis: Anne, an orphan girl, is sent to live with the siblings of Green Gables, Matthew and Marilla, by mistake. Anne is a talkative and cheerful girl and she gradually becomes a member of the family.

En kongelig affære (A Royal Affair) 로얄 어페어 Genre: Drama Director: Nikolaj Arcel Starring: Alicia Vikander, Mads Mikkelsen and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard Language: Danish, English Synopsis: Set in the 18th century, Johann is a royal physician at the court of the insane King Christian VII of Denmark. Johann wins Caroline the Queen's heart and starts a revolution.

La Graine Et Le Mulet (The Secret Of The Grain) 생선 쿠스쿠스 Genre: Drama Director: Abdellatif Kechiche Starring: Habib Boufares, Hafsia Herzi Language: French, Arabic Synopsis: Slimane is a divorced father who is being forced out of his job. He plans to open a restaurant on an abandoned boat as an inheritance for his large family. When the French bureaucracy is skeptical about his plan, his ex-wife helps him make his dream come true. But at a gala dinner hosted to woo investors, the main dish, fish couscous, disappears.

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Gwangju News January 2013

Like Someone in Love 사랑에 빠진 것처럼 Genre: Drama Director: Abbas Kiarostami Starring: Ryo Kase, Rin Takanashi Language: Japanese Synopsis: Akiko is a young woman who funds her studies by prostitution. She meets an old retired professor, Takashi, and they make conversation. The next day Takashi drives her to her school and comes across her boyfriend, Noriaki.

Takashi wants to protect her from Noriaki who is obsessed with her.

Nostalgie De La Lumiere (Nostalgia For The Light) 빛을 향한 노스탤지어 Genre: Documentary, Drama Director: Patricio Guzmán Starring: Gaspar Galaz, Lautaro Núñez Language: Spanish, English Synopsis: Chile's Atacama Desert is the best place to conduct astronomical observations. Astronomers gather there to observe the stars and to search for the origins of human beings.

Atacama Desert is also the place where the dead bodies of the victims of Pinochet's regime are buried.

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advertisement

This Month at Holiday Inn Gwangju Welcome to the January Edition of what's happening and new at Holiday Inn Gwangju.

Festival

Great Shellfish Platter Small platters from 22,600 won and large platters from 38,000 won when purchasing our buffet.

Wonderful Winter Coffee's (1st Floor Lobby Lounge)

2013 Archipelago Sunrise Park New Year Festival 다도해 일출공원 해맞이축제 Date: Jan. 1 Venue: Sunrise Park, Gunnae-ri, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do Program: Year-end concert, hanging wish paper, Korean folk band performance, Sharing Tteokguk and words of blessing.

Direction: Take the bus to Wando from U-square (Interval Time: 30-50 minutes). From the Wando bus terminal, take the bus “Jangyoung-Wando” or “Wando-Namchang” and get off at Jungang-ri bus stop. Walk to Sunrise Park, which takes about 13 minutes.

For more information: 061-550-5412 Namwon Baraebong Snow Festival 남원 바래봉 눈꽃축제 Date: Dec. 24 - Feb. 11 Venue: Unbong-eup, Yongsan-ri, Jirisan Herb valley, Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do Programs: Sledding on snow and ice, climbing an ice wall, snow sculpture exhibition, snowball fight.

Direction: Take the bus to Namwon from U-square (Interval Time: 20-40 minutes). From the Haenam bus terminal, take bus 134 and get off at Resident Rest Area bus stop. Walk to Sunrise Park, which takes about 21 minutes For more information: 063-620-3802

As winter is on our doorstep we again offer a range of winter coffees that include, Jameson Irish Coffee, Gluehwein, Kahlua Coffee and Baileys Coffee.

10th Floor Cloud Lounge

Above Gwangju create your own wine and food pairing from our menu, which i n c l u d e s authentic Italian dishes such as Carpaccio, Scampi Fra Diavolo, Spaghetti alle Vongole, Lasanga etc.

Open at 5:30 p.m. every day.

Best wishes, Michael Wilson General Manager Holiday Inn Gwangju Michael.Wilson@ihg.com

Gwangju News January 2013

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Exhibition

2013 KBC Wedding Fair – 2013 KBC 웨딩 박람회 Venue: Kimdaejung Convention Center Date: Jan. 17 - 20 Time: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Admission fee: free Phone: 062-650-3048 For more information: www.kbcwedding.co.kr

World of Jan Saudek Photo Exhibition 얀 샤우덱 사진展 Venue: U-Square Culture Center (Kumho Gallery) Date: Jan.19 - Feb. 24 Time: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Age restrictions: Over 15s only Admission Fee: 6,000 won/ 4,000 won for those in a party of ten or more, seniors, and disabled.

For more information: www.saudek.co.kr

Wild-eyed Friends 엉뚱한 친구들 Venue: Gwangju Museum of Art(Children Gallery) Date: Oct. 25 - Feb.10 Time: Tue - Sun 10 a.m. - 6 p.m./ Mon closed Admission Fee: Adult 500 won/ Youth 300 won/ Children 200 won Phone: 062-613-7182 For more information: www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr

Designation as Historical Site 20 Years Commemoration Special Exhibition Sinchangdong RemainsTime Capsule of 2,000 Years Ago 사적지정 20주년 기념 특별전 신창동유 적-2천년 전의 타임캡슐 Venue: Gwangju National Museum Date: Dec. 25 - March 3 Time: Tue - Fri 9 a.m. - 6 p.m./ Sat, Sun, holidays 9 a.m. - 7 p.m./ Mon closed Admission Fee: Free Phone: 062-570-7050 For more information: http://gwangju.museum.go.kr

PAEK YOUNGSU: 70 Years in Paintings 백영수 회화 70년 Venue: Gwangju Museum of Art Date: Dec. 4 - Feb. 24 Time: Tue - Sun 10 a.m. - 6 p.m./ Mon closed Admission Fee: Adult 500 won/ Youth 300 won/ Children 200 won Phone: 062-613-7182 For more information: www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr

Ha Jeong Ung The Young Artists Invitation Exhibition “Light2012” 하정웅청년작가초대전“빛2012” Venue: Gwangju Museum of Art Date: Dec. 7 - Feb 17 Time: Tue - Sun 10 a.m. - 6 p.m./ Mon closed Admission Fee: Adult 500 won/ Youth 300 won/ Children 200 won Phone: 062-613-7182 For more information: www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr

Media Special Exhibition 미디어 특별전 Venue: Gwangju Museum of Art Date: Dec. 21 - Feb. 17 Time: Tue - Sun 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. /Mon closed Admission Fee: Adult 500 won/Youth 300 won/Children 200 won Phone: 062-613-7182 For more information: www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr 10

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Performance

Play – Dramatic Single Night 극적인 하룻밤 Venue: Postal Insurance Gwangju Building 16th floor, Chipyeongdong, Seo-gu, Gwangju Date: Jan. 3 - Feb. 3 Performance Times: 7:30 p.m.

Weekdays, 4 p.m. and 7p.m.

Saturdays, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Sundays Admission: 30,000 won Phone: 1600-6689

Musical – Mamma Mia! 맘마미아!

Venue: Yeulmaru Grand Theater, Yeosu City Date: Jan. 19 - 20 Time: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Sunday Admission: VIP seat 100,000 won / R seat 80,000 won/ S seat 50,000 won Phone: 061-808-7000

Concert – Gag Plus 개그 플러스 Venue: Kimdaejung Convention Center Date: Jan. 13 Times: 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Admission: VIP seat 77,000 won / R seat 55,000 won / S seat 33,000 won Phone: 062-220-0541

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feature

A Gwangju Beauty: Lee Jung-bin By jjdp Interview translated by Jeong Jayeon and Michael Kang Photos courtesy of the Miss Korea Organizing Committee Special thanks to Joseph Pollari for oganizing the interview

I

n the era of reality television it is quite easy to become disillusioned by the various depictions of beauty pageants and the glitz and glamour that go along with it. Take for instance “America's Next Top Model” and “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo”, where one little girl has taken the media by storm with all of her crazy antics. It is hard reconcile the crazy overt showiness often represented in the media with the world of international beauty pageants.

In today's modern society, being a beauty queen is more than just being the most beautiful face.

Many if not all the contestants these days are well educated and accomplished and are ready to take on the world and make a real difference. So after virtually being addicted to the first season of Miss Honey Boo Boo, how does one respond to a brief interview of one of the most beautiful ladies in Korea? With a gleeful, yes, yes, yes! Will she also be an overly enthusiastic diva running around screaming and pretending like she is the center of the universe? I kind of hope so…

Lee Jung-bin, the first runner-up in the 2012 Miss Korea Beauty Pageant, also known as the “Seon” started as the ultimate winner of the Miss GwangjuJeonnam Beauty Pageant 2012. A multi-talented lady who is also currently a student at Gwangju Women's University majoring in Airline Services graces us with her presence and tells us her story.

There is a welcome sense of calm from the worlds of Jung-bin who has coped rather well with the various demands on her personal and professional life. Just plain honesty and no-frills answers reveals a young, talented woman with a passion who is

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making the most of her newfound popularity to propel herself forward in a positive way.

This girl is busier than and mini mogul, and if you think that being pretty is all she has, you have another think coming. Her diary is jam packed and even scheduling an interview with her was hard to arrange because of her various commitments. This was complicated even more by the fact that she is currently residing in Seoul to keep up with her official duties. But even that is no feat for Jung Bin who through great difficulty of relocating is doing well with her Lee, third from left, among other winners academic and work life at person to intentionally draw attention from others, I the same time. Through much support from her never really thought of participating in beauty friends, professors and family she is a shining pageants. But because of my initial goal of working example of a modern beauty queen. inflight which involves engaging with others and showing confidence, I was able to overcome my Coming from a small community and sharing a reluctance and I eventually decided to enter the province with such beauties and talents like Suzy Miss Gwangju Pageant”. from Miss A, Yubin of the Wondergirls, Minji of 2NE1 as well as super talented actress Moon Geun Her local win eventually took her to the Miss Korea Young, Jung-bin is now also stamping her mark. contest where she became the first runner-up who Also, she is a firmly grounded modern woman who is also then the representative for the Miss values her parents as the most influential people in International pageant, one of the three largest her life. “I think my parents are great influences on beauty pageants in the world. The 2012 Miss my life, and they are the biggest supporters of International beauty pageant took place from what I do. I trust my parents the most and like to October 1-21, 2012, in Okinawa, Japan. After follow their guidance,” she says. And with that weeks of training she represented Korea to the great advice she is where she is today. best of her ability and enjoyed every moment and whilst there she was able to take time out to When asked what the reaction from her parents appreciate the recent popularity Korea is enjoying and family were she replies: “They were really on the world stage through the spread of the happy for me at first but after a while, they started Hallyu movement. She is also not one to shy away to worry. They were worried that should I start my from being proud of her hometown as well as her official pageant activities, it would be difficult for province and cites Boseong as one of the best me to carry out both work and continue studying. parts of our province. Part of her official duties But they encouraged me nevertheless. Even include being an ambassador for the region and though it has not quite sunk in that much, she has been studying and learning all about the something that I feel has changed is how my beauty of Jeollanam-do in order to be able to family members treat me. Now they want to take represent it well to any audience. pictures with me during holidays and so on, although they never bothered taking pictures Even with all the newfound fame she is receiving, before. These moments really make me think ‘I one can tell that she has her head firmly atop her really am a Miss Korea’ ”. shoulders and is just a girl next door who knows how to do things for herself. And this is where I However being a beauty queen was not always at discover another of her hidden talents. the top of her agenda. Graceful and humble as ever Jung-bin says: “Since I am not the type of Gwangju News January 2013 13

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Besides having to strike the perfect pose and smile like her life depended on it, the stress of the Miss Korea Pageant is multiplied even more due to the fact that contestants have to do their own hair and makeup. This is because the organizers wish to cultivate true beauties who know how to groom themselves to enhance their own natural beauty.

This being so, she spent more than 20 hours practicing hair and makeup techniques during the training camp before the pageant. This is too surprising for me, but Jung-bin replies “I was never too concerned about my hair makeup until I had to participate in the pageant”. And we can see that her hard work and dedication paid off.

Leading from there I was keen to find out what some of her beauty secrets were and what she always carried with her. She replies: “I always have lipstick, my mirror, cell phone, wallet, and face mist with me. I consider face cleansing more important than make up, so I take a long time meticulously cleansing my face.” Pretty simple right?

I am also always curious after watching so many movies such as Miss Congeniality and my recent addiction to one reality show about, what it is really like behind the scenes at such high profile events and thus proceed to ask what the hardest thing was about being in a pageant.

Jung-bin replies: “What you see on TV or imagine seems so easy, but in actual fact being able to withstand the long hours and rehearsals takes quite the toll on contestants. Having to hit your mark and stand in fixed positions for a long period is what hinders contestants most. It was especially hard to pose in heels with your hands on your hips and be stationary. I remember how I clapped as hard as I could for a long time so that I can get rid of the cramps whenever I had a chance”. Having worked in television before, I know exactly what she is talking about. Hurry up and wait and always be in your first position.

But how do the participants stay mentally and physically strong for such a demanding contest? I know at the first sign of any stress I head for snacks and comfort food. How do beauty queens handle all the pressure and remain so slim. According to Jung-bin: “People think that participants of the pageant don't eat properly because they have to stay in shape and diet. I don't think that is exactly the case. I ate a lot during mealtimes and even ate snacks in between to keep my energy up during the rigorously choreographed routines”.

At this point I ask what her favorite snack is and without hesitation she replies, “I really like tteokbokki”. For those not familiar with this delicious 14

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snack, it is a spicy rice cake stew which often includes fish cake, boiled egg and vegetables.

The perfect spicy anytime snack which is one of my favorites and with that answer I am beginning to be more and more in awe of her as one would expect the generic celery stick or fruit slices answer. Surprisingly the more I get to know this Gwangju beauty, I begin to realize another reason why she is also a winner. She is someone who is relatable and genuine, something which is very hard to find these days.

For someone as young as Jung-bin who is just starting her adult life, she still has many things that she still wishes to achieve. My next question is of course what else can we expect from her in the future and what is the one dream that she would really like to fulfill. After some pondering she replies: “My dream is still progressing. I am at a stage in life where I am still molding and planning for my future. My goals are to become a respectable peer for the 2013 Miss Korea contestants and to garner a great reputation for my name 'Lee Jung-bin' that I would not be ashamed of. Also for anyone out there I would say

rather than chase a vague goal thoughtlessly, I wish and encourage more people to actively pursue reachable goals which will bring them much success and happiness.”

Her parting words for all of her supporters, fans and family are nothing but gratitude: “Thank you to everyone for staying with me all the way. I want to be able to live up to what I have said today and not be ashamed of myself in the future should I look back. I am planning to remain active in modeling for cosmetics, commercials, and volunteering to give back to the society with my fellow Miss Korea's. Please follow my progress with ongoing support and attention.”

With those words Miss Korea International Lee Jungbin truly lives up to the ideals of a beauty queen that many can look up to and respect which is one of the fundamentals of a role model in any field. I am left speechless and surprised by such a dynamic young lady with so much ahead of her and a clear goal in mind to be able to live well and inspire others.

Advertise with Gwangju News Target Your Customers!

Gwangju News is the longest-running English magazine in Korea and is the representative English magazine in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do area. Its print and online versions bring Gwangju to the world.

Does your business caters to the international community?

Target your customers by advertising with us. Gwangju News Print and Online receive more than 30,000 readership in just six months!

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news

The Presidential Election

By Michael Bielawski

O

n this past 19th of December Korea held their 18th presidential election. The two candidates were the victorious conservative Saenuri Party's Park Geun-hye and her liberal challenger Democratic United Party's Moon Jae-in.

A record 75 percent of the 40 plus million eligible voters turned out to vote, up from about 60 percent from the previous election. Park Geun-hye will be the first woman president of South Korea.

Regarding Park's policies, her social programs are less ambitious (but maybe more realistic) than Moon's. Primarily she wants to raise the middle class to 70 percent of the total population, in part through selective financial aid focused on healthcare and education. Her Saenuri Party is known to be tougher on North Korea and national security in general, while critics argue that their policies are less likely to achieve unification of the Koreas.

Park has actually lived in the Blue House before as First Lady after her mother was killed during a failed assassination attempt on her father, Korean dictator Park Chung-hee in 1974. Park Chung-hee took over by military coup in 1961 and ruled until his assassination in 1979 by his own intelligence chief.

He is credited by Korea's elder generation for rapidly building up the economy into what is today's 11th largest economy. However the younger generation sees him largely as a dictator guilty of many human rights violations.

Moon Jae-in was a human rights lawyer and aide to the late Rah Moo-hyun, the liberal president prior to Lee Myung-bak. Moon Jae-in appealed to the younger generation, his social programs are more ambitious (and likely more expensive) and his party is generally considered more open minded when dealing with North Korea and international relations.

Both Park and Moon have stated that they essentially want Korea to become a welfare state.

Moon even went as far as to say that it's the responsibility of the state to take care of children. It's 16

Gwangju News January 2013

worth looking at both their welfare plans closely.

Park wants selective welfare tailored for each age and income group. She wants 30 percent more state run daycare for children, one month leave for fathers of newborns, full medical coverage for the four prominent diseases including cancer and heart disease by 2016 and full dental care for seniors. And she wants lower college tuition for low income families. This is all estimated to cost about 130 billion US dollars and will be paid for with value added taxes (VAT) and by reducing unspecified “inefficient government spending”.

Moon also wanted 30 percent more day care centers, a roughly one thousand dollar ceiling on any individual household's annual medical bills and expanded federal support for caregivers and lowincome families. He also wanted 100 thousand won monthly aid to all families with children under 12 years old and to halve college tuition for all students. All this would have cost roughly 190 billion dollars to be paid for by abolishing tax breaks for the rich and increasing the corporate income tax rate to 25 percent.

According to PSPD, (People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy) among the key issues for both candidates this election was what to do about the prominence of chaebols. Chaebols are business conglomerates, but not just of single industries but spanning over often several industries. For example, as Time magazine put it, “South Koreans can easily wake up in an apartment built by a Samsung subsidiary, check their schedules on a Samsung phone or tablet, throw on a Samsung jacket and drive a Renault Samsung car to the Samsung Medical Center.”

Regarding the controversial Jeju-do military base currently under construction, it appears both candidates ultimately support it, but Moon has been more critical of its environmental implications.

PSPD added that leaked communications between the US and Korea indicate that the US is dictating

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the exact specifications of the base's construction, which would vindicate allegations that the base is largely being built for the US military.

This election was historically close; when polling closed a week before Election Day Park led Moon by just a percent or two. Political Science Professor Lee Jun-han of the University of Incheon, suggested that Moon's last debate performance and the withdrawal of Unified Progressive Party candidate Lee Jung-hee should have tipped the odds in Moon's favor. It's also possible the latest North Korean missile launch scared some voters over to Park.

Another point worth noting is that while the initial voting was paper ballot, the vote counting was with electronic machines. According to Beth Harris of BlackBoxVoting.org, any electronic voting or electronic counting is an easy opportunity for manipulation of the results.

In conclusion, as Park Geun-hye won, she will be the first Korean president for a country known to be very male dominated. That's something, but firsts aside, it's the economic programs, foreign policy and so on that actually matters. In any case, it's up the citizens to stay politically aware and active after the election if people really expect any president to implement real policies of progress and peace.

Issues notably missing from this election include the lack of any proposals for a Yeodo (Wall Street) tax on financial speculation (that could presumably help fund all the social welfare programs). Some may remember Minerva, the internet journalist briefly jailed for his blogging on economics. He talked about derivatives (speculation) playing a critical role in the 2008 financial crisis. And there was not much discussion about carbon taxes set to take effect in Korea, which may raise energy and commodity costs.

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feature

Sun Hyunwoo: Breaking Korean down into ‘byte-sized’ pieces

By Kristal Lee Photos by Park Minwoo

H

e's been all around the world but the GIC has beckoned this well-traveled boy back home.

Sun Hyun-woo, a Gwangju-bred linguistic hero, master of the dance floor, bloggerextraordinaire has become somewhat of an online celebrity. His website, Talk to Me in Korean, has emerged as a forerunner in web-based language learning.

Founded in 2009 as a solution to having to answer repeated questions about common Korean expressions, TTMK has since morphed into an interactive platform where users can listen to audio lessons, download worksheets and test what they've learned. The free service allows students to set their own pace as they work through the curriculum.

User-friendly lessons are organized into byte-sized audio clips with content ranging from learning Hangul (the Korean alphabet) to understanding dialogue spoken completely in Korean. The highly entertaining instructors present more like radio clips, making even the most unpalatable lessons on grammar and syntax easily digestible.

Sun has made his way down from Seoul to speak to us about his journey through the English lexicon and how that inspired the creation of his company, Talk to Me in Korean. If you spoke to him you'd think he 18

Gwangju News January 2013

had lived in America for most of his life but not only has Sun never lived in a foreign country, this young linguistic prodigy began learning English at the relatively late age of 17.

Though he had taken the required English classes in elementary and middle school it was never of any particular interest to him until high school. What sparked his dramatic pivot towards language learning was his first exchange with his school's Canadian native English speaking teacher. Sun found himself at a literal loss for words upon being greeted by the new teacher; all that came out of his mouth were a few Korean utterances.

Embarrassment at the inability to communicate is what ultimately sparked the flame for language acquisition that would soon spread like wildfire.

“I felt ashamed," Sun said. "I wanted to prove to her that I'm better than this. That's how it all started. I wanted to avenge this failure. I wanted to prove myself better”. He did exactly that. Sun challenged himself to always have a greeting or response for his native-English teacher. Once he felt comfortable using simple phrases, he moved on to making longer sentences, then to being able to hold a conversation.

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“It was like a game,” he said. This self-motivated desire to learn English is what he inherently attributes to the rapid improvement of his speaking ability. It took him only two years to go from speaking barely any English to speaking quite fluently.

In college, Sun took up a new challenge, French. As sensible as this progression may seem, Sun confessed, “I didn't want to major in French. I majored in French because I was fed up with English. I didn't feel like contributing to the development of English literature and had enough English, so there was no reason to study any more English. I wanted to look at another language.”

After acquiring French, Sun proceeded to learn Japanese and Spanish. Adding to his ever expanding linguistic repertoire, Sun is currently studying Italian, Indonesian and Tagalog.

When asked what has been the hardest language to learn, Sun's response was “I don't believe there is a hard language and an easy language to learn.

Whatever language is out there, there are millions of speakers speaking it every day.” German, for example has been somewhat of a slow coursework for Sun but that is only because he says he has no reason to learn it.

Motivation, Sun firmly asserted, is the sole key to language learning. The common conception is that living abroad and being able to fully immerse oneself in the language is the key to learning a foreign language, but Sun dispelled this myth as well: “I believe immersion is really key to learning a language, but I don't believe it has to happen in that country. I've seen literally thousands of people who spend five years or ten years [in the United States], come back to Korea and realize they didn't immerse themselves in the situations that they needed to speak English.” His best advice is to create situations for yourself where you have to force yourself to form comprehensible sentences.

This same confidence foddered the creation of Talk to Me in Korean. At the time, Sun was a popular blogger who wrote about life in Korea. “People kept asking me the same questions, such as how to get a cheap hotel or how to ask common questions in Korean. I was sick of answering the same questions over and over again. I wanted to create a website where everything was answered. I realized I should make a Korean website run by Korean people for the purpose of helping people learn Korean – that was Talk to Me in Korean.” The fear that Talk to Me in Korean would not stand out amongst the myriad of e-learning sites was never a concern. The strong readership of his individual blog taught Sun that people will always seek out and find

Sun Hyunwoo shares his story of success to Gwangju youth

good content. About 300,000 to 400,000 unique visitors log into TTMK, most visiting from countries where English is the primary language such as the US, UK and Australia.

Sun's website can be seen as a kind of e-Robin Hood with its philosophy of free use and promise to keep content available without charge. This mantra makes learning Korean accessible to young learners, the curious, language dabblers and…well the just plain broke (yes, you, undergrad/grad students). Because the website hosts a wide range of visitors, including people who are older and have careers, it is able to subsist on profit generated from their online store allowing the site to be maintained as a free service.

For those wanting a bit more personal instruction, Talk to Me in Korean has a sister site, Haru Korean.

Haru Korean spawned from the desire to help site users improve in an interactive manner. “We noted that so many listeners of our show practice Korean but make mistakes. We wanted to grab them and correct their mistakes,” Sun explained. The only difference between the two sites is that Haru Korean allows students to get feedback on their writing samples. Since this program is more individualized the site does charge a monthly fee of $5.99. Free or fee, both sites provide a sense of community in addition to a host of language learning resources.

If contemporary psycholinguist Frank Smith is correct in writing, “One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way,” then Sun is the locksmith, and he is handing out keys to everyone with access to the internet.

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food and drink

The First Alleyway:

Pizza, Burgers, and Poutine, Oh My! Words and photos by Rani Cheema

G

uess who's back? The First Alleyway, among the most celebrated debuts of the past years, brought Canadian gluttony to Gwangju, turning a remote alleyway in the downtown area into a happening, hot food destination.

A few months ago, Michael Simning and Tim Whitman who are the visionary “couple” behind the place and co-owners of the beloved and late Underground Grocer's, finally revealed The First Alleyway's brand new location and opened its doors. They've moved from their small, two-story madhouse to a much more spacious and quite sophisticated space just on the other side of the original locations' alleyway wall. Gone are the long waits for a table and the manic kitchen's short-order quarters. The atmosphere is vibrant, casual, and happy. The menu is smaller these days, and the food is excellent.

“The Alleyway,” as people usually call it, has become a much more friendly and relaxed place.

“The first First Alleyway was never intended to be a busy place, more of a hang-out place," said Simning. "The second floor was intended to be a pub only. It was also really uncomfortable for everyone. This place is way better. We've became kid-friendlier and I think it's great!”

“Plus side is, I don't have to run up and down those stairs anymore, downside that was my only form of exercise,” said Whitman.

The food! Yes, the menu is smaller, but it is growing.

“We want to make comfort food that we know we make really well, we will start building from there,” said Simning. This is a model all restaurants should go by but don't. Make what you love, make what you know, then take your time building from there.

The Alleyway kicked off its grand opening with their pizzas - savory, flavorful, crunchy, with perfectlyplaced meats that are usually sandwiched between good quality mozzarella cheese and zesty sauce. Then it introduced beautifully seasoned, 20

Gwangju News January 2013

Tim Whitman, co-owner of the First Alleyway

juicy burgers which are never overcooked and feature the most magical cured pork cuts, bacon and good ol' American yellow cheese between two sesame seed buns. Then the Alleyway unleashed Canada's beloved “fat kid” food, Poutine. While original Poutine is made with French fries that are topped with gravy and cheese curds, the Alleyway has added ham into the mix, creating Montreal Poutine.

For now, while the menu is small, the crew is taking requests and suggestions as long as they don't have to climb over mountains to find one particular ingredient. They have heard the cries of the Gwangjuians for lighter and healthier options, including vegetarian options. They are also serving

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their breakfast menu on Sundays. Most recently, they have introduced "Moons Over my Hammy," which is a grilled ham, egg, American cheese and Swiss cheese sandwich served with fries and a bottomless cup of coffee. The menu does change and they do have specials every now and then.

Along with the comforting food comes a comforting cold glass of craft beer. The Alleyway has been introducing new brews into the mix. One in particular that made a strong impression was the Jirisan Moonbear IPA. After it came Halla Mountain Golden Ale and Geumgang Mountain Dark Ale, all made in South Korea. However, there is one drink that many people in Great Britain, North America, and South Africa crave and that is proper cider.

The Alleyway has welcomed not one, not two, but three delicious South African Ciders: Hunter's Dry, Hunter's Gold, and Savanna Dry. Simning and Whitman's love and passion for food is evident in what they produce. The customer can taste this in the food and feel it in the atmosphere.

Everything they have created came from this passion for food. This is how one creates a successful business: by doing the things you want, you love, and hoping people will follow. The benefits are not limited to the patrons: “This place .... doesn't make me sad," said Simning.

"The other one did. This new space has actually helped improve my mental health, greatly! It's all new for everybody.”

The First Alleyway Address: 37-2 Chungjang-no 3-ga 1st Floor (충장로3 가 37-2번지 1층) Directions: Stand with your back towards Migliore.

Across the street from Migliore, there is a road with shops for pedestrians to the left. Walk down that road, The First Alleyway is just after Atrium.

Public Transport: Geumnam-no 4-ga subway and bus stop Open: Wednesday - Thursday 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Friday 5 p.m. - 12 p.m.

Saturday 12 p.m. - 12 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. (breakfast from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

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art

Gwangju Museum of Art Words and photos by Adam Hogue

T

here is always a balance between the young and old, between innovation and experience.

For the next two months, the Gwangju Museum of Art (GMA) will be exploring this dynamic as they try and push the viewer to recognize that despite remaining years apart, nothing ever really changes. We are victims (or champions) of the human condition and even as time passes on, everything turns out to be nothing really new.

Inherently, we have all been there before.

Last week marked the opening of two new exhibits at the Gwangju Museum of Art that find the balance between the old and the new with a life retrospective and an emerging artist exhibition.

The retrospective Paek Youngsu: 70 Years in Paintings (백영수 회화 70년) features 70 years of artwork by the legendary Korean artist, Paek Youngsu (백영수). His simple, abstract portraits center around themes of home and family in a style that has become included in the definition of “new realism.”

On the other side of the fence, or rather in the case of the GMA, on the floor below, is the 12th Ha Jung-woong Young Artists Invitation Exhibition (하정 웅청년작가초대전¸ "빛2012") which features the work of seven contemporary, emerging artists from all over Korea. The pieces all have a sense of urgency and self-reflection as they echo the world we live in. While Paek shows us the world he lived through, the contemporary exhibition shows us a reflection of our world and the many ways to see it.

was there that he refined his craft before moving to Mokpo in 1945.

For a short time he worked to help found an art department at Chosun University here in Gwangju, but he soon left to live as a recluse at the Ninestoried Monastery of Hwaeomsa in Gurye, near Jirisan. It is this time of self-reflection that one can see reflected in the works of Paek Youngsu. His paintings feature the reoccurring face of contentment present on each of his subjects. They tilt their heads to the side, possibly mimicking the reclining Buddha, calm, collected and content in their present moment, in the simplest places, doing the simplest of tasks.

Paek was in Seoul when the Japanese occupation ended in Korea, and the artists began taking to the tea-houses to interact, create and respond freely.

Paek describes Seoul's recapture in the 1950s as a changed world: “Once all the hiding, running, being taken and being shot went away, new freedom, new movements and new activities unfolded as high and blue as the autumn sky.”

Together, the pieces show the then and now; but more importantly, they show that the then and now are not so different after all. The human experience never changes; the world the human experience creates does.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Paek continued to refine and redefine his direction as an artist and he eventually settled in France to live and work in 1977. The majority of the pieces on display at the GMA are taken from this period in Paek's life. While some sketches and early works from the 1950s and 1960s can be seen, we are mostly met by that one, content, tilted face that dominates all of Paek's art throughout his time in France. His paintings are simple impressions of family life. Often his subjects, a mother and child, are simply resting in each other's presence. The child is often wearing nothing at all or the clothes are simply omitted from the drawings all together.

Walking through the Paek exhibition traces one man's 70-year cultivation of humanity. This exhibition is Paek's first solo exhibition since returning to Korea in 2011. For the past 35 years he has been living and making art in Paris and Italy.

Paek studied art at the Pacific College of Art in Tokyo and the Osaka College of Art in Japan. It

We see Paek's content face staring back at us in each painting with slightly different props and settings to give it context, but it is the face alone that stands out. This is the essence of Paek's work. It is simple, and it delicately pushes us to remember and recall what family is to us. Who is the mother or the child in whom we find this comfort? The

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Opening of the Paek Youngsu exhibition paintings show a simple life that Paek Youngsu never seems to have had. It is as if his paintings are love and contentment personified more than personal images from his life. They are moments of love he remembers not as photographs, but rather, as the essence of what true happiness is.

As the paintings progress into the contemporary, we see Paek simplify his art more and more. The pieces on display from 2011 and 2012 are little more than shapes and empty space. In fact, an interesting comparison can be made between Paek's contemporary works and the works of Lee Ufan still on display on the third floor of the GMA. The series Nude by Paek Youngsu that came out in 2011, pictures parts of his subjects that are simplified to shapes resembling little more than fruit.

It is so fascinating to see the life's work of one man (who's still creating) in one room. You can really see a return to simplicity that Paek, now in his 90s, is in the process of. We all grow old and we all die.

The works of Paek shows that all we really have in the end is our moments of happiness. We are

simple creatures at our core that need each other more than anything else.

The works of Lee Ufan on the third floor of the GMA are part of the tremendous amount of works donated to the museum by Ha Jung-woong. The museum currently holds 2,302 pieces of art in the Ha Jung-woong Collection (the third floor gallery).

In recognition of the generosity of Ha, the GMA, along with Ha, choose six or seven artists each year to take part in an exhibition to display emerging contemporary talents from all over Korea. This year marks the 12th annual show.

The pieces in the exhibition range from paintings, to mixed media, to installation, to sculpture. While the works of Paek represent a study of a life, the contemporary art works convey a sense of urgency and restlessness that can only be found in youth.

Each of the seven artists featured takes a very different approach to addressing what the human condition means in the 21st century. There is a boat sinking in a pool of red, an homage to the glory of simple hand tools and works devoted to the ominous, pessimistic message: “Life is so long, but Gwangju News January 2013 23

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human beings Lim shares her life with.

The subjects of Lim's paintings are detailed renderings of the people who make up modern society at their best and their worst. She comments on what it means to be a modern Korean, carefully interplaying her subjects with ancient images and celestial entities. Her painting "Genre Painting III" establishes this connection with a spirit dominating the middle of the painting while life happens all around him. Children eat kimbap, a woman pictures herself as slender and beautiful, and a boy steps off of a roof blindfolded. She does not disown, judge or correct life as she sees it; rather she celebrates it as a beautiful, colorful tapestry that is simply trying.

“Family” by Paek Youngsu there is nothing to do. The world is so big, but there is nowhere to go.” One of the curators at the museum, Lim Jong-young (임종영) was quick to add “… except Gwangju Museum of Art” to the end of that last one.

For me personally, the works of two artists really stood out: a series of paintings by Lim Nam-jin (임남 진) and a series of sculptures by Song Sung-jin (송성 진). The paintings by Lim are subject paintings that seek to take a picture of something without forcing any sort of intention upon the subject. The majority of the paintings on display feature subjects painted in a style inspired by Goryo Buddhist paintings that can be seen on the sides of the temples throughout Korea. The works show love, compassion and empathy for all the sentient

In the spirit of Lim's celebration of life, Song brings two beautifully detailed landscapes to the exhibition. Both of his works center on the way we physically live. His sculpture "Tower and Palace" shows the rush of people to live the same as everyone else. The subject of his sculpture shows people living wall to wall in houses underneath a cloud city of high-rises up above. Surrounding the houses is a spattering of farm houses filled with plants and seeds. In a final corner before exiting the galleries is a piece called "Urban Development." It is one piece that should not be missed: a picture of a certain beauty that comes out of so much destruction.

The two exhibits are on display now at the GMA. Paek Youngsu: 70 Years in Paintings is on display until February 24th and the 12th Ha Jung-woong Young Artists Invitation Exhibition is on display until February 17th. The museum is located in Jungoe Park across from the Biennalle Exhibition Hall. It is a beautiful museum and the two exhibitions together take about two hours to see thoroughly. Spend a cold Saturday embracing the wonderful artwork available in Gwangju and don't forget, the more things change, the more things stay the same.

The author would like to thank Lim Jong-young (임종영) and Park Kye-yeon (박계연) for their insight, company and tour through the exhibitions.

GWANGJU GUIDEBOOK Do you need to find information on art galleries, museums and cultural centers?

Pick up a Gwangju Guidebook today. Available at the GIC for 1,000 won donation or check online (www.gwangjuguide.or.kr) for free!

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community

My Korea My Korea is a new column which represents the voice of young Korean University students eager to share their stories and experiences.

SOAR Art Gallery Words and photos by Song Jihee

L

et me introduce you to my Korea! I went to the Soar Gallery this past autumn. Soar is an abbreviation. It means Space of Art Research.

The Soar Gallery is located in Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam. This place is special to me because I was able to meet Professor Jo Ui-hyeon. Nature and art co-exist in this place; it makes me feel so refreshed and happy.

The Soar Gallery was made by the artist Jo Uihyeon. Jo Uihyeon is a professor of fine art at C h o s u n University.

Professor Jo wanted to show that an artist can come to any space and turn it into art if the artist's hand touches it. He employed workmen for the architecture and landscaping and he directly purchased the land and then planned the design of the buildings. The gallery exhibits only the works of artists under the age of 40, which is considered a young artist. I had the pleasure of meeting Artist Jo. He gave me a tour of the gallery and explained things along the way. He is very kind.

The cafe's name is Box coffee. The cafe has two floors. There are a variety of menu items like coffee, pasta and toast. You can order on the first floor.

Also, there are many works in the cafe and you can get refreshed by the decorative plants inside. I drank an Americano. The barista directly roasted the premium grade coffee beans, so the coffee flavor was delicious.

Through this tour, I felt really amazed! I live in Hwasun and here I can find a wonderful gallery about nature and harmony. The impression that I received I hope to deliver to others and I hope a lot of people will visit this place.

Soar Galley is composed of the gallery, Box coffee, an art shop and an office. Also, many sculptures are in harmony with nature outside the buildings.

To go to the Soar Gallery, take a bus from Gwangju to Hwasun. You should get off at the Neoritjae Park.

If you do, you will be right in front of the gallery.

The Gallery is open every day except Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission is free. When I visited Seojeongbong's work was being exhibited. It was cool. The scent in the gallery makes you feel better.

Address: 601-12 Isipgok-ri, Hwasun-eup, Hwasungun, Hwasun, Jeollanam-do (전남 화순군 화순읍 이십곡리 601-12) Gwangju News January 2013

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community

The organizers, volunteers, players and spectators shouting, “Athletic Supporters for Mdream,� at the basketball event!

Athletic Supporters in Gwangju

By Jannies Le Photos by Rachel Arbing Graphics provided by Athletics Supporters

O

ne thing most people might find that they took for granted back in their home country is the ability to volunteer easily. There were endless opportunities available for various different causes that reach out to many groups of people.

As long as you had the time, good could be done.

In Korea, especially Gwangju, it can be extremely difficult because of the language barrier and lack of information. Luckily, there are a number of awesome people in Gwangju who have helped establish a steady flow of charity events. These include long-term residents, newcomers and people born in Korea, all working together. There aren't as many chances supplied here, but keen good- doers are definitely able to provide their own.

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Gwangju News January 2013

Maybe some of you have heard the buzz about an organization called Athletics Supporters in Gwangju, either from the founder himself, Shay Meinecke, or by attending its first event, a 3-on-3 basketball fundraiser benefiting Mdream Children's Home. I recently did an interview with Shay and we talked about what his aspirations for AS are. He tells us a little about his brain child and what to look forward to.

Athletics Supporters holds sporting events to gather donations for local environmental and humanitarian organizations. Also, these events give people the chance to be involved in their communities and environment, while staying active. It is all about becoming healthier on the inside and out.

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Left: Shay Meinecke (left), founder of the community club Right: Athletic Supporters logo

Shay says what separates AS from most non-profit organizations is that its events are constantly changing and offering different activities. AS's events benefit their participants, and you don't only give but you also get. You get to challenge yourself through athletics and help the community at the same time.

Shay grew up around competitive sports which fed his passion for athleticism. He also had parents who were extremely active in their community. His family and environment has shaped him to become quite a people person with a drive to be involved.

His idea has been growing over the last couple years. It started out as a way to just get people together to help others, then expanded into helping people through fun events. From there, it developed to what it is today, sporting events for a cause. He is excited with the direction that AS is heading in.

At the fundraiser there were an overwhelming amount of donations, and people also had a great time with a sweet bake sale. There was an amazing response from volunteers, donors and players from in and around town. One of the best things about Gwangju is the tight-knit expat community. There have been countless stories of people needing help and receiving it from others they hardly know. As a community, we were able to donate 500,000 won to Mdream.

Shay wasn't expecting Athletics Supporters to take off as quickly as it did. His original plan was to get started in California upon his return after a few years in Korea. However, the people of Gwangju have, with open arms, gone above and beyond to help

make the first event a big success. Local establishments, such as Tequilaz, German Bar 2, Kinos and Mdream Confectionary all graciously provided their assistance through donations of venue, cupcakes, gift certificates and even pulled pork sandwiches. Shay is grateful to everyone for their involvement, and he looks forward to working with these establishments again in the near future.

There were a variety of positions in the last event: ticket vendors, bake sale coordinator, bakers, referees, scorekeepers, donations collector, food preparation and many others. We have some pretty skilled, giving people in Gwangju. If baking tickles your fancy you can take part in the bake sale at the events. Pre-arranged pick up is available if you can't attend the event.

AS is busy planning a few events at the moment and wants to continue getting the Gwangju community involved. It is organizing a 10-kilometer run in Suwon on January 13, 2013. You can check out the event at: http://www.facebook.com/events/302266553217890.

There is also a volleyball tournament in February 2013 and a soccer (football) tourney in the works. If anyone is interested in volunteering for the next event they are invited to become an Athletics Supporter. For more information about volunteering or participating in the events, go to www.athleticssupporters.com or email athleticsupporters@live.com. AS also has a Twitter account: @AthlticSupprtrs for up to date information on current events.

Gwangju News January 2013

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photo essay

My First Snow

By Ganes Aji Laksono

The photos on this page were shot on location at Chonnam National University, Gwangju and those on the following page on location at Gwanghallu Garden and Chunhyang Theme Park in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do am an exchange student at Chonnam National University for this fall semester. During my stay here, I spent my days not only studying, but also on my passions which are travelling and taking photos. I like taking photos because whenever I travel I see beauty in the places I have visited. I want to capture these moments and their beauty by taking photos to share with my friends.

I

Winter is the moment I have been waiting for during my stay in South Korea. Experiencing the first winter, snowfall that pours from the sky is a moment in my life that I will not forget. I was born and grew up in a tropical area; therefore I have never experienced winter in my life up until my stay in South Korea. During the winter I visited some places in South Korea, seeing its beauty while snow covers it up and gives another beautiful side to see.

Sidewalk

Mother Earth says Good Morning 28

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Hop on

Winter Trees

Crossing over

Droplet

Pavilion

Uphill Path

Got old by the snow

Taken by the snow

Stand out

Riverside

Mini snowman

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travel

Charmed in Ecuador Words and photos by Kerri Strothard

L

eaving Colombia was hard. After over 5 weeks enjoying the beaches and mountains while drinking beautiful Colombian coffee, I thought Ecuador couldn't compare.

That was until we arrived in Otavalo. This little city surrounded by mountains looked to be straight out of a storybook, with palm trees next to fruit stalls where indigenous women sold oranges by the kilo.

The city is famous for the textile market, where you can see all the colors of the rainbow woven into scarves, blankets, pillowcases, bags and ponchos.

My heart exploded when we walked into the market, knowing I would have to mail home a box full of treasures.

It was strange to use US dollars in Ecuador. We hadn't used dollars since Panama, and even then it was strange to pay in dollars and receive back change in balboas. Unlike using Colombian pesos, where approximately 2000 pesos is a dollar, there was no calculation or conversion required in Ecuador. I found a cozy brightly colored blanket which I loved, and when I asked the price, she said it was $12. My only task then, was to bargain. I knew I wanted to buy the blanket for my mom, so after a simple Spanish exchange with a smile, I got the blanket for $8. After I broke the seal, I ended up spending the next 3 hours in the market strolling from stall to stall, filling my arms with goodies for friends and family.

Our next stop in Ecuador was the second highest capital city in the world, Quito. We stayed in a

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hostel in the old town surrounded by steep winding streets and bright yellow and white buildings. After getting settled, we took a ride out into the countryside surrounding Quito and visited the Condor Park. The park rescues and rehabilitates Andean condors, owls, and birds of prey, while helping to prepare the birds for release back into the wild. We saw huge condors as well as tiny ones flying right before our eyes. Perhaps the strangest moment of all was when live chicks were put into the cages of the birds, allowing the birds to "hunt" for their food at feeding time. Despite being hard to watch, this is a necessary step in preparing the birds for release into the wild. Upon returning to the city, we dined on Chinese food and rested up for our final stop in Ecuador: the incredible Galapagos Islands!

I wasn't sure that I would be able to visit the islands on this trip, but as we got closer and closer to Ecuador, we began to cross paths with travellers who had spent a week visiting the islands. We heard stories of marine iguanas and blue footed birds in the sky, and knew we had to see it for ourselves. We flew roundtrip from Quito for $450, and visited 3 of the 4 islands. Many people take cruises from island to island, but as I am prone to seasickness, and since the cruises tend to be at least $600 for very minimal quality boats, we decided to island hop on our own. Call it DIY Galapagos.

Starting on Santa Cruz, the first order of business was scuba diving. We had heard amazing things about

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Giant cactus in Galapagos

the aquatic life around the islands, and wanted to see it for ourselves. We were lucky enough to dive with the best company on the island, Scuba Iguana, and they took great care of us. The water was really cold, and it was my first time wearing a 7mm wetsuit. I forgot all about the temperature of the water once we were under though, since just a few minutes into the dive I was face-to-face with a shark. As I regained my composure, another shark appeared, and before I knew it, 4 sharks were within my view. They seemed very calm, moved lightly, and one even rested on the ocean floor under a small ledge next to us. We all just clung onto the rocks surrounding it, gazing into the eyes of the misunderstood beauty. Sometimes when you have a moment so amazing in your life, you realize you're living a memory you'll have forever.

After a few more dives, we took a boat to the widely unpopulated Isabela Island. This ended up being my favorite island of all. On our first morning, we hiked up to an active volcano, Sierra Negra, and got a breathtaking view of the volcano's 7km wide crater, which is one of the largest in the world.

The next day, we observed penguin families in the sun, and snorkeled in the bay. The water was cold here as well, so after about 10 minutes of shivering without seeing anything, I was ready to throw in my flippers. Right at that moment, we spotted a giant sea turtle right below us. Moving gracefully through the water like a spaceship, we followed behind the gentle giant for 20 minutes. This interaction with the turtle is another memory I will cherish forever. When we returned to Santa Cruz to fly back to Quito, our hearts were full. I felt so grateful to see the animals and nature of the Galapagos with my own eyes.

Like many countries in South America, Ecuador surprised me, in the most brilliant and wonderful way. I entered not knowing what to expect, but I left dreaming of returning someday.

Condor show

Dolls for sale in Otavalo Market

Diving with the sharks in Galapagos

Otavalo mountains

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health

Gamgi Season is here: Eat your way to a stronger immunity

By Kristal Lee Images from www.cafe24.com

O

ld man winter is here and he's brought along his nefarious friend, the Jack Frost of holiday merriment, influenza, who does a lot more than just nip at your nose. Yes, along with snowball fights, powder-dusted trees and snowcapped mountains, Korea's winter wonderland spells trouble – it's flu season.

Contrary to popular belief (and every parent's rationale behind commanding children to “bring a jacket”) cold weather itself does not beget the flu, or as its name implies, the cold. You can only get the flu if you are in contact with the influenza virus.

However, the cold weather can put stress on your immune system by increasing the likelihood that people spend time indoors, person-to-person contact in close quarters, and inactivity. These factors weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to illnesses.

To make matters worse, virologists have found that colder temperatures allow for easier transmission of the flu virus. Cold dry air extracts moisture, meaning viruses dispelled by sneezes and coughs are able to linger in air longer. Low humidity in the crisp winter air also wreaks havoc on our nasal passages, drying them out and leaving us with little protection from airborne pathogens.

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Let's not throw in the towel just yet. Here are 4 quick tips to protect yourself from getting sick.

1. Get up and get out – winter weather conditions drive us to stay indoors, where air quality is significantly poorer with dirty ventilation and a circulation of germs. Pry yourself from under the blankets this winter season and get some fresh air.

No, that does not mean huddling closer to the humidifier; it means getting up and going outside.

The extra exercise and lungs full of clean O2 will go a long way in keeping you healthy and flu-free.

2. Take a chill pill – this might be your best medication, and guess what! You didn't even need to drive to the pharmacy to get it. “Relax.”

It's a piece of advice we should lap up willingly but is more often than not a point of consternation.

Stress weakens your immune system. Over time it leads to the ongoing release of happy-busting hormones such as glucocorticoids and decreases your body's ability to manufacture cytokines, molecules that fight disease and prevent inflammation.

3. Reach for the soap – wash your hands. Every cough, every handshake and borrowed pencil makes you susceptible. Think you are being a good citizen by picking up the wadded up tissue

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on the floor and tossing it in the trash? Well, you are. But you will be a very sick good citizen if you don't lather up in the bathroom afterwards and disinfect those hands.

4. Catch some Zzz's – a lot for that matter. Your body needs sleep to recoup from the day's energy expenditure. Results from a 2009 Carnegie Mellon study on sleep and the immune system suggests that anything short of seven (consecutive) hours nearly triples your odds of catching a cold.

If you've already bought into the Korean bbalibbali (rush-rush) culture or feel like such a “drastic” lifestyle change is impossible, here is a bit of more savory advice: Eat. You can't underestimate the importance of good nutrition when it comes to your immune system.

Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants buttress your body against infection. The popular saying “feed a cold, starve a fever” makes its rounds every winter but is baloney. Being sick is often accompanied by the loss of taste and smell, taking all the enjoyment out of the gastronomic process, but if you are sick or if you want to keep from being sick, you do need to stay hydrated and consume enough calories. Mice exposed to the flu suffered more symptomatically and recovered more slowly when they were on a low-calorie diet.

Our advice? Save the dieting for bikini season, stay flu-free now. No one can see under that parka anyway.

Now that you've got the green light to indulge in the healing properties of liquids and food, it's time to bundle up with a warm bowl of nanna's homemade chicken soup or string some garlic around your neck you say? Please abstain, or abstain sparingly. Those are just two old wives tales that won't get you much more than a few spoonfuls of nostalgia and the death to any chances of meeting your future soul mate on the public transit.

So what can you do to keep from getting sick?

acids. Omega-3s combat chronic inflammation, contribute to a clean plaque-free artery, are great for joint health (arthritis is another problem that flares up in cold weather), and keeps your nerves and mind at ease by insulating nerve cells, allowing them to better communicate with each other.

As the Declaration of Independence does not apply to fish, it can be freely said that not all fish are created equal. Mackerel, trout, herring, tuna and salmon have the highest levels of omega-3s.

Getting enough omega-3s should be no problem in Korea as mackerel seems to be the nation's fish of choice, popping up in stews, entrees and side dishes. High five Korea!

If only then for purely aesthetic reasons, omega-3's keep your skin and hair smooth and glowing.

Oysters Instead of going to the drug store and buying zinc lozenges slurp down some oysters. They are high in zinc, an essential mineral that has a strong track record for fighting the common cold.

Common side effects of zinc supplements include nausea and headache so your best bet is to consume the product naturally in your diet, and oysters contain more zinc than any other food.

Chili Peppers Speaking of oysters, go ahead and splash a tongue-tingling helping of Tabasco on your halfshells on the rocks because chilies are third on our list. Chili peppers are packed with vitamin C. In fact, they contain more vitamin C than any citrus fruit. To put this in perspective, one pepper contains 150 milligrams of vitamin C (twice the recommended daily allowance for women) whereas a very large orange only has 100 milligrams. Don't worry about vitamin C overload; your body will pass out the excess once it has had its fill of the nutrient.

The better question is, “What should you eat?”

Here are some immune-boosting “superfoods” that will help you bite back.

Fish Fish is your best natural source of omega-3 fatty

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Garlic After a nice feasting of samgyupsal (grilled pork strips) it's hard not to have garlic on our mind or on our breath, but that's ok!

These piquant cloves do more than just flavor your meat and keep office mates away, they contain Allicin, an organo-sulfuric compound that produces powerful antioxidants when digested.

So the next time you're offended by someone's garlicky odor just remember, they're just trying to keep healthy.

Yogurt Bacteria are often pinned as a bad thing, but many of these microorganisms are essential for good health. Eating probiotic (healthy bacteria) rich foods such as yogurt will aid your digestive system, keeping populations of good bacteria high while pushing out the bad ones.

Milk Vitamin D is essential for building strong bones, protecting against heart disease and revving up our immune systems, but the amount of vitamin D produced by our skin in response to natural sunlight might not be enough. Luckily, this necessary nutrient can also be found in milk, orange juice, cereal and other commonly D-fortified foods.

Mushrooms Used for centuries for is curative properties, mushrooms are no stranger to the Asian world.

Whether it be Portobello, Cremini, Oyster, Shiitake, Maitake or Reishi (the list can really go on) mushrooms are incredibly diverse in their nutritional content, a few of which include antioxidants, potassium, B-vitamins and fiber.

Lean meats Lean proteins such as skinless turkey breast, chicken, and lean beef not only give our bodies the protein needed to build and maintain muscle

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but help us produce antibodies needed to fight infection.

Leafy greens It's believed that the darker the greens the higher the nutritional value. So, if you feel like you might be coming down with a cold, opt for the mustard greens and kale over the iceberg lettuce. Some studies suggest that spicy and bitter greens such as arugula may even sooth chest congestion and coughs by increasing the number of phagocytic (bad bacteria-eating) white blood cells in the intestine.

Dark chocolate Yes ladies‌and gentlemen, to a lesser extent, the big hoorah! Pound-for-pound cocoa contains more zinc and antioxidants than most berries, but don't be fooled, the power of cacao can only pack this strong a punch in its darkest form. Milk chocolates are too diluted with sugar and cream, and white chocolate is not even chocolate at all.

Carrots and sweet potatoes Orange-fleshed fruits and vegetables are high in beta-carotene, essential for producing vitamin A. Getting enough vitamin A will ensure that your immune system stays strong and more specifically that your mucous membranes, such as those that line your nose and throat, stay functional. These membranes are your body's first line of defense at trapping bacteria, dirt and allergens.

So it turns out Korean fare fairs pretty well at deterring the pesky viral-blues. Eat up, keep up and keep out of the doctor's office this winter with these immune-boosting “superfoods�.

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[ GIC Talk ] Time & Place: Every Saturday, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., GIC office (Jeon-il Bldg 5th Fl.) For more information visit www.gic.or.kr or contact gic@gic.or.kr Check out pictures from previous GIC Talks at http://picasaweb.google.com/gictalk Watch highlight clips of previous GIC Talks at www.youtube.com/GICTALK

January 5 Speaker: Monirul Islam

January 19 Speaker: Joey Nunez

Monirul Islam is going to complete his doctorate in business administration from Chonnam National University. He also serves as a faculty member of business administration at Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, a prestigious public university in Bangladesh. His research areas are Counterfeit Marketing, CSR, Consumer Behavior and Social Media Marketing. Aside from his academic studies, he is also engaged in various volunteer activities.

Joey Nunez is an American citizen who claims six states as his own. When not teaching Kindergartners at Brighton Junior English School in Gwangju, he can be caught reading, writing, singing, acting, sight-seeing, playing cards and games, helping others, and spending time in person and online with family and friends. Joey is still searching for a country to call home, while enjoying his time in Korea.

Topic: Beautiful Bangladesh Bangladesh is an infant in age compared to many countries such as the United States and England.

Bangladesh officially became a country in 1971 after a bloody civil war with Pakistan. Bangladesh is a small and beautiful Asian country bordered by India and Burma and by the Bay of Bengal to the south. The capital is Dhaka, located in central Bangladesh. Bangladesh is small in area but quite rich in heritage with numerous historical and archeological sites.

Topic: Thai Thriving "Yes." For Joey, this response triggered a year's residence of teaching English to university students in Bangkok, Thailand that transformed his life and rocked his world. Come listen to hear his adventures in the classroom, swinging away from manic monkeys in Kanchanaburi, stumping along with enormous elephants in Chiang Mai, and catching sight of other satisfying sites around Thailand, both in narrative and photographic form. Joey's journey of overseas living is just starting, so you are invited to hear and experience for yourself how it all began!

January 12 Speaker: Basil W. Keilani

January 26 Speaker: Ynell Lumantao

Basil Keilani is the son of parents who were denied residency to their place of birth in Nablus, the West Bank. He has extensive knowledge when it comes to the history of the region in general and more specifically the history behind the Arab-Israeli conflict and the struggles of the Palestinian people. He is founder of the student group called Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) in Canada.

Additionally, he was the last president of the Concordia Collective for Palestinian Human Rights until it became part of SPHR. He also for a time served as a moderator for a peace group called mepeace.org.

Topic: How to come to an understanding of what seems to be a very complex conflict The Jewish people have suffered many tragedies, the worst being the Shoah or Nazi Holocaust. After the Holocaust many people sympathized with the project to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine, where it was already inhabited by an Arabic speaking people. Despite conflict, Israel became a state in 1948. This talk will introduce listeners to relevant history of Palestinian and Jewish peoples and will bring us to the root of the current problems and possible solutions.

Ynell Lumantao has an MBA and a master's degree in linguistics. She is currently a Ph.D. student at Chonnam National University and the Vice President of Chonnam KOTESOL.

Topic: Beautiful Bohol: the hidden gem of the Philippines The Philippines has much to offer tourists looking for an ideal, relaxing vacation. While most visitors opt for more popular destinations like Cebu, Boracay, and Palawan, Bohol is a prime locale that is sure to become a traveler's favorite. This presentation will offer up key insights to life in Bohol, including its economy, social and historic diversity, and of course ideal places to see and things to do on this idyllic island.

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language study

Professional Development in ELT

By Dr. David Shaffer Photo courtesy of KOTESOL

I

t is often the case here in the Gwangju area that the English-language teacher thinks about professional development but isn't aware of what is available or doesn't know how to go about obtaining it. Discussed here are a number of professional development options that are available to the average English teacher.

Reflective Journaling One option that is available to anyone with a pencil and paper is reflective journal writing. This is more than merely jotting down where you stopped in your textbook at the end of class. It is a written description of what happened and/or didn't happen in class or elsewhere at work followed by reflection on the reason why the result was what it was. Regardless of whether the result was favorable or disappointing, one can always ask, “What can I do to improve on the results?”

Reflective journal writing does not need to be daily, but it should be regular. “Is it really effective?” you may ask. Well, I don't know of a reflective journal writer who isn't an outstanding teacher.

Peer Observation Teachers are a rare lot in that most of their work is done in isolation from their peers, i.e., in the classroom with students. Observing another teacher teach and having other teachers observe you teach can be a very educational experience although it is one that many teachers are hesitant, or even frightened, to do. Begin by inviting another teacher to sit in on one of your classes and observe one particular technique that you think you may not be doing as well as you should (e.g., regulating teacher talk or calling on students equally). With frank and helpful feedback, the two of you may reciprocate by observing each other's classes and observing various techniques. You may be surprised at some of the things that you commonly do but were never aware of. If you don't have another teacher available for peer observation, an alternative is to set up a 36 Gwangju News January 2013

Henry Gerlits' breakout session during his presentation "Good Teachers and Bad Coursebooks: Adapting Materials to Fit Your Class" at the December 8th Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter KOTESOL meeting. camcorder and record yourself teaching a class.

Again, be prepared to be surprised at yourself.

Mentoring “Teaching is learning,” the maxim goes. When a new and inexperienced teacher comes into your teaching environment, you have the opportunity not only to help the new teacher get acquainted with the new teaching situation, but also to hone your own skills in the information-exchange process.

Alternatively, if you are the new teacher on the block, you may wish to ask a veteran teacher to be your mentor - another opportunity for you to improve professionally.

Attending Workshops, Conferences If you're a public school teacher in Korea, you will have numerous opportunities for in-service training at government expense. If you're not, there are still options available. EPIK has some workshops for its employees, but in my admittedly biased opinion, Korea TESOL (KOTESOL) can be a real help in

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professional development. It is an organization of teachers helping other teachers to be better teachers. The language of the association is English and two thirds of the members are non-Korean.

Unlike the other ELT associations in Korea, KOTESOL has regional chapters that have monthly meetings.

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter, for example, has two presentations at each meeting and an additional “swap-shop” session where any of the attendees can share a teaching idea or activity that works well for them. The meetings also provide an opportunity for networking, which can be quite conducive to professional development.

Select Bibliography Farrell, T. S. C. (2007). Reflective language teaching: From research to practice. London: Continuum.

Farrell, T. S. C. (2012). Reflecting on teaching: The four skills – 60 strategies for professional development. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

Richards, J. C., & Farrell, T. S. C. (2005). Professional development for language teachers: Strategies for teacher learning. New York: Cambridge University Press.

In addition, some chapters organize annual conferences, symposia, and outreach programs.

Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter, for example, will be holding its annual chapter conference on March 9 this year. It will have more than a dozen presentations spread out over the afternoon and is sure to have something for everyone. I can say this confidently because this year's chapter conference is in cooperation with KOTESOL's Reflective Practice SIG (special interest group). The conference will feature a strand of presentations on Reflective Practice (RP) as well as a plenary session by the RP SIG's co-facilitators. And there may be an RP workshop in the morning. The Chapter is doing this in the hopes of getting an RP teacher development group started that can meet regularly to serve the EFL teachers in the area.

David E. Shaffer is the current President of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL).

On behalf of the Chapter, he invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops at their monthly meetings and special events.

Dr. Shaffer is a professor of English at Chosun University, where he has taught graduate, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses for many years. He is a long-time member of KOTESOL and holder of various positions. He is also the recipient of the KOTESOL Lifetime Achievement Award.

There are a dozen ELT associations in Korea that have annual conferences, but they are all research oriented, except for KOTESOL's. KOTESOL has a national conference each spring featuring workshops, demonstrations, and some research presentations. And in the autumn, it puts on the big show - the KOTESOL International Conference, a two-day conference with more than twice as many attendees as any other ELT conference in Korea. It's a weekend of professional development that you will not want to miss (Oct. 12-13), with a plenary session by Dr. Thomas S. C. Farrell, a worldrenowned authority on Reflective Practice.

Courses, Certificates, Degrees, Etc. Thanks to the Internet, there is now the option of online courses in TESOL that can be taken while one is teaching - foundation courses, advanced courses, and MA TESOL courses leading to certificates and degrees. Or you may wish to take it more slowly and just read up on the subject. In addition to the books mentioned in last month's article, you may be interested in the books listed after this article.

Upcoming Gwangju KOTESOL Events Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL January Chapter Meeting Date & Time: January 19 (Sat.), 1:30 p.m.

Place: Chosun University, Main Building (Bon-gwan) Featured Workshops 1. “Drawing Blanks: 5 Paper Activities When You Have Nothing or Technology Fails” Julien McNulty (Chosun University) 2. “That's NEAT: 5 Communicative Activities for Teaching NEAT Speaking Preparation” Nico Lorenzutti (Chonnam Natl. University) Swap-Shop: Share your teaching ideas and activities.

Admission: Free Next Meeting: February 16 (Sat.) Annual Chapter Conference: March 9 (Sat.) Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju E-mail: gwangju@koreatesol.org Twitter: @GwangjuKOTESOL

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literature

Selected Korean Winter Poems Translated by Song Chae-Pyong and Anne Rashid

The Snow Path by Ko Un (1933- ) Now I am gazing at the snow path that covers up what has passed.

After wandering through the whole winter, I am gazing at this foreign territory.

The scene of snow falls in my heart for the first time.

The world is at the edge of meditation, a world covered with exuberant peace no country that I have traveled has ever seen.

I am gazing at the invisible movements of all things.

What is the sky where the snow is falling?

Listening closely, through the falling snow, I hear the grand earth's confession.

I can hear for the first time.

My heart is the snow path outside, and darkness within.

After wandering though this world of winter, I have come now to guard the great quiet, and, in front of the piling snow, my heart is darkness.

A Winter Love

By Moon Jung-hee (1947- ) Like snowflakes, I long to come to you.

Without wavering, without rambling, without concealing, I long to plunge into your white life and become a warm winter.

I long to snow for a thousand years.

겨울 사랑/문정희 눈송이처럼 너에게 가고 싶다. 머뭇거리지 말고 서성대지 말고 숨기지 말고 그냥 네 하얀 생애 속에 뛰어들어 따스한 겨울이 되고 싶다. 천년 백설이 되고 싶다.

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눈길/고은 이제 바라보노라. 지난 것이 다 덮여 있는 눈길을. 온 겨울을 떠돌고 와 여기 있는 낯선 지역을 바라보노라. 나의 마음속에 처음으로 눈 내리는 풍경. 세상은 지금 묵념의 가장자리 지나온 어느 나라에도 없었던 설레이는 평화로서 덮이노라. 바라보노라. 온갖 것의 보이지 않는 움직임을. 눈 내리는 하늘은 무엇인가. 내리는 눈 사이로 귀 귀울여 들리나니 대지의 고백. 나는 처음으로 귀를 가졌노라. 나의 마음은 밖에서는 눈길 안에서는 어둠이노라. 온 겨울의 누리를 떠돌다가 이제 와 위대한 적막을 지킴으로써 쌓이는 눈더미 앞에 나의 마음은 어둠이노라. 출전:“현대문학”(1958)

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Winter's Dance

by Kwak Je-gu (1954- )

겨울의 춤/ 곽재구

Before the first snow falls, I must mend the memory window.

Brushing off the dust of despair and sorrow piled up during the past seasons, I must drive a new nail of waiting into the edge of the creaking window frame.

I must take down the old curtain hung without meaning, light a small kerosene lamp that won't go out even in below-zero cutting wind, and learn winter's cold and shining dance.

The world is a lovely place depending on how you look at it– a place that dreams of the progress of a new world where passionate love, labor, revolution and touch go together.

Winter is rather warm if you embrace it.

첫눈이 오기 전에 추억의 창문을 손질해야겠다. 지난 계절 쌓인 허무와 슬픔 먼지처럼 훌훌 털어내고 삐걱이는 창틀 가장자리에 기다림의 새 못을 쳐야겠다. 무의미하게 드리워진 낡은 커튼을 걷어내고 영하의 칼바람에도 스러지지 않는 작은 호롱불 하나 밝혀두어야겠다. 그리고… 차갑고도 빛나는 겨울의 춤을 익혀야겠다. 바라보면 세상은 아름다운 곳 뜨거운 사랑과 노동과 혁명과 감동이 함께 어울려 새 세상의 진보를 꿈꾸는 곳 끌어안으면 겨울은 오히려 따뜻한 것

The Snow Day

by Kim Nam-jo (1927- ) The Winter tree and the wind– the wind's long tress of hair hangs all day long on the edge of the branches like transparent laundry, making the tree and the wind become one, no longer isolated from one another.

Not alone.

Nobody is alone.

Neither am I. In fact, even when I stood alone under the sky, hasn't the sky at least stood with me?

Life always stands somewhere on the stone stairs of grace.

Love always stands somewhere on the gravel road of Providence.

Soothing the complaints with words, I will live, becoming more generous.

Knowing life is a grateful festival, I will enjoy this life.

The tears that have ascended, pure icy flowers around my eyes this new year, descend again, carrying white snow.

설일(雪日)/김남조 겨울 나무와 바람 머리채 긴 바람들은 투명한 빨래처럼 진종일 가지 끝에 걸려 나무도 바람도 혼자가 아닌 게 된다. 혼자는 아니다 누구도 혼자는 아니다 나도 아니다 실상 하늘 아래 외톨이로 서 보는 날도 하늘만은 함께 있어 주지 않던가 삶은 언제나 은총(恩寵)의 돌층계의 어디쯤이다 사랑도 매양 섭리(攝理)의 자갈밭의 어디쯤이다 이적진 말로써 풀던 마음 말로써 삭이고 얼마 더 너그러워져서 이 생명을 살자 황송한 축연이라 알고 한 세상을 누리자 새해의 눈시울이 순수의 얼음꽃, 승천한 눈물들이 다시 땅 위에 떨구이는

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literature

Poetry by Doug Stuber Christmas Love Christmas love spreads joyfully to friends, new and old, as natural as mountain streams flow under ice and snow still moving, to join.

Harmony comes from sharing a round table. Buddha Mohammad, Jesus, Confucius, Abraham, Gandhi and Luther invite a pope to break bread under one God that all pray to here in Gwangju, there in Amsterdam, and Davao, where the hunt for food and water reverts to old ways, not the usual Christmas, but children scramble for goodies like coconuts, fruit, rare meat while we feast on turkey, baked so well, spring rolls folded and rolled by hands so delicate you can't imagine what they've done. Merry Christmas everyone.

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Now or Never A turtle flies through the universe.

We ride on the back of the turtle.

The Undergods dwell in Canandaigua, The Overgods look down from clouds.

Even if we're 300 moons away from When this mattered, most of our lives Are touched by one holy inspiration: nature.

Cosmic coincidence should not amaze here.

You are in the middle of the new awareness.

Black rocks spin and dive in deep water.

A four-year-old runs then swims.

Relaxed willow provides humid shelter.

You peek under the giant grass skirt And see four tangled feet. You don't peek further.

Gray locusts send twirling twigs to hair.

You swim out to a cooler spot of deep water.

The white snake, awake again, Leaves Bare Hill, not reeking havoc But cutting new creeks to hike along, Full of crawdads and water spiders.

You retrace ancient steps. You sneak Through the old neighborhood, now trespassing.

Four tangled feet, a few skipping stones And the spirit within you.

Now awareness reigns. Corn presents A raw treat for passing minstrels. Nothing Talked about or noticed matters.

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Large Peach Large peach from discovered tree makes a new friend on the bus down to Jeollanam-do.

The first offering, banana, five years ago, floods back, then he offers tissue, and a bag to dispose the pit.

Fruit gifts by strangers hardly prove cultural softness or similar spirit, but in these days of war, floods, heat and famine, a kind act by a stranger shows humanity has survived intact beyond cruelty to each other. Oh why must it go on?

When will communal cooperation surpass our ability to extend greed for yet another morose generation, when?

Ode to Horace Mann Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.

- Horace Mann Be aware that energy is life, save some for your kids.

Be afraid that our minds are bent by news, not books.

Be awed by the healing power of the simple purple cone flower.

Be awake before the bombs drop, before the money rules.

Be agile: live in a town that walks and bikes to work and play.

Be amused by ants and birds, goats and potato fields, lilacs and sycamores.

Be angry only long enough to solve the problem, then move on.

Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.

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fashion

Fash-On with xxl jjdp

Bright and Blue-tiful

By jjdp Photos by Kim Young-bin

Shot on location at Bienalle Park - Unamdong, Gwangju

F

rom amazing fall foliage a couple of weeks ago to a white blanket of iciness, the weather has fast turned and it is time to go go go and embrace the snow.

With the new year upon us, it is of course time to plan what you want to see happening in the next 12 months. Do you have anything in mind? What is it that you want to achieve this year? Does it involve color? Will it make you stand out? Or will you just do what you have always done and merely blend into the background?

Still can't decide? I have a few plans up my sleeve and you can rest assured I will look like a million bucks while doing it. How about instead of making rigid resolutions you just follow the example set by fashion; invest in classics and upgrade and evolve according to the weather and seasons? Or better yet, resolve to always try something new? With 12 months or 525,600 minutes at your disposal, trying something new is the least of your worries. So, buck up and take the bull by the horns and start with your wardrobe.

This edition will focus on things bright and beautiful.

I find it a bit tedious and sad to just wrap up in dark winter colors because they are easier to wear. Try something new and with a little effort you can be a little stylish chameleon that will snap up fashion kudos for your brave use of color to make the world a more beautiful place.

Here is how to do it, start with a solid base. You cannot go wrong with something skinny and black.

Every wardrobe needs at least one pair of skinny black jeans. Dress it up with a shirt, cardigan and blazer for a more sophisticated look or just pair it down. These looks work for both male and female.

I have gone for a more casual but bright look to welcome in the New Year, pairing a multi-colored training jacket with a black denim shirt and skinny jeans. Ensure your jacket is padded on the inside to keep you extra warm and toasty. Since it is quite a busy eye catcher, black jeans are the perfect combo.

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Jan 2013_48 2012.12.27 9:55 AM Page 43

I then also layered it with an equally bright, electric blue short trench. Electric blue is one of this season's hottest colors and you will also start seeing various other shades of blue popping up in the coming months as the trickle-down effect from the runways inspires the new commercial in-store trends for spring 2013. We are quite fortunate that Korea loves to keep an avid eye on the new styles, quickly manufacturing and putting trendy items on the shelves after their runway debut.

Now it is time for footwear which is all shiny and new for January. I love these studded canvas sneakers which add an extra dimension of cool to your look. These glistening masterpieces are a statement which will get you the right kind of attention. Not too sure about spending too much money on them? Don't worry though; there are many versions out there at affordable prices. Just try them out they might be the perfect style addition. Mine are a muted burgundy and go well with most colors; however they can also be worn as the sole eye-catcher with skinny black jeans and a black denim jacket.

As the canvas is quite thin take care and wear thick wooly winter socks to keep your feet warm and dry. Uniqlo is a great all-round store for socks. I will never forget the winter of 2011 when I was visiting Seoul and the temperature dropped to -17 degrees and after an hour my feet went numb because I was wearing summer socks. Beware!

Complete the look with some great accessories by adding a black beanie or wooly hat, which is a staple for any winter wardrobe as it can be added to virtually any outfit. It will keep you warm, happy and away from hypothermia as the highest percentage of heat is lost through the head. To go with the 80's inspired jacket make the outfit a little more retro and add some oversized nerdy glasses to the mix for an interesting twist.

Don't shy away from your new mantra and embrace new things starting with color.

Remember to stand tall and be seen in a new year filled with promise to try something new and achieve whatever you want.

Season's Greetings and Happy 2013 peace, xxl jjdp

Clothing Electric blue trench - Asos.com Jeans - 8seconds, downtown Sports top - Asics Shoes - Boy London at gmarket.com Black beanie - Timezone, downtown Gwangju Retro Glasses - Timezone Socks - Uniqlo

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food and drink

Mick Jone's Pizza Words and photos by Gabriel Ward

I

n need of a wee pizza hit I went to Mick Jones's Pizza one recent Sunday. Mick Jones is one of two places I know where you can get individual slices. They also sell whole pizzas.

The selection of pizza wasn't fantastic, but one of my favorite variations was there: pepperoni pizza. I should mention that when I say slice, they are probably about twice the size of what you'd expect a slice of pizza from a large pizza to be.

I ate my slice of pizza quickly, which is definitely a sign that I enjoyed it. The pizza base was thin, there were a decent number of pepperonis, and I liked the amount of cheese too.

The other place I know that sells individual slices, as well as large, relatively cheap pizzas, is E-mart. I had never tried E-mart pizza, having assumed it'd be rubbish, until I was staying with some friends out of town and they said we were going to get some for dinner. My initial reaction was, "Really?" But they said it was really good and so we got it.

From that first taste, I have been a fan of E-mart pizza. Everyone I tell about it, who has not tried it, has the same reaction that I did, but trust me, it's good. The individual slices that you can buy there are larger than at Mick Jones and their whole pizzas are also bigger. My personal preference at Emart is the combination but there are a few others you can get, including bulgogi and potato pizzas.

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So short of the First Alleyway, which I put in a category of its own, the best cheaper options of pizza are from Mick Jones and E-mart. I'd recommend E-mart pizza more, but if you're downtown, then Mick Jones is your best bet for pizza on the cheaper side. They are both better than the likes of Pizza School and you can get a large one for around 13,000 won. I know that the Emart large will be enough for three people, while Mick Jones might only be enough for two.

Individual slices at Mick Jones are 3,000 to 4,000 won but only 2,500 won at E-mart.

To get to Mick Jones, start at the main intersection downtown by the mini-stop, facing the river. Turn right and then take your first left, Mick Jones is at the end of this street.

Mick Jone’s Pizza 믹존스피자 Address: 37-1 Bulro-dong 1st floor, Dong-gu, Gwangju Phone: 062-222-5211 Directions: Buses no. 6, 7, 9, 12, 55, 59, 70, 80, 98, 150, 151 and get off at Culture Complex (문화전당역)

Jan 2013_48 2012.12.27 9:56 AM Page 45

Hot and Spicy Chicken in Squash 단호박 치즈 불닭 Words and photos by Park Soyoung

S

quash is a food loved by Koreans especially in winter just like sweet potato. While it can be eaten alone after being steamed, it can also be used to make porridge, rice cake, and other kinds of side dishes in the Korean meal. Squash is a nutrient-rich food, high in fiber, beta-carotene and amino acids while being low in fat. High fiber and low fat means that it is perfect for diet plan meals and to relieve constipation. Beta-carotene is important for eye-sight. Hot and spicy chicken in squash is found in some local pubs and served with alcoholic beverages. It is great as a dish to share when you have guests around as it looks amazing.

Moreover, it is easy to make. If you find it hard to make the sauce, by all means you can easily replace it with tomato sauce found in grocery shops.

Ingredients (serves 3)

Preparation

200 grams chicken (any parts, breast and drumstick preferred), 150 grams milk, 1 squash, 1/2 onion, 1 bell peper, 5 florets of broccoli, 5 mushrooms,

1. Soak the chicken in milk for 10 minutes to take away bad smell of the meat.

2. Cut a lid of the squash and scoop the filling out from it with a spoon.

3. Steam the squash for about 10 minutes upside down so it doesn't get watery.

4. While steaming the squash, chop all the vegetables.

5. Mix all the above sauce ingredients to make sauce.

Sauce ingredients 2 tablespoons chili pepper paste (gochujang), 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon chili powder , 1 tablespoon sugar, 70 grams mozzarella cheese

Cooking 1. Stir fry chicken for 3 minutes or until no longer pink in center.

2. Add vegetables and stir-fry until tender.

3. Pour the sauce prepared earlier or you can replace the sauce with tomato sauce and stir-fry for 1 minute.

4. Stuff the squash with the stir-fried chicken and vegetables placing mozzarella cheese in between.

5. Place the extra cheese on top of the stir fry in squash.

6. Put squash in the oven and cook at 180°C for around 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.

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Community Board Have something you want to share with the community?

Gwangju News’ community board provides a space for the community to announce club’s activity, special events and so on.

Please send us the information to gwangjunews@gmail.com.

The Vagina Monologues 2013 Auditions Feb 3 Contact the Director via Facebook GJ TVM 2013 For V-Season 2013, V-Day Gwangju will be joining "One Billion Rising" by performing The Vagina Monologues in 2013.

The Monologues raise awareness about stopping violence against women.

Auditions for actresses delivering these fun and tragic dialogues about women will be held February 3 by Director Leigh Hellman.

Can't make the auditions that day? No worries. Contact Leigh via the Facebook Group: The Vagina Monologues in 2013 or message her.

Rehearsal and other fundraising events begin in March. TVM's final performance will also be in spring - end of April is a tentative date.

Stand up, speak out! Give your voice to those who need your support. Get involved in The Gwangju Vagina Monologues 2013.

Kittens to have They are free, but you need to vacinate them. They are Korean short hairs. The kittens are 10 months old.

Contact Lynne at 010-8692-9101 or e-mail lelie0072003@yahoo.com

Gwangju Inter FC The Gwangju international soccer team (Gwangju Inter FC) plays regularly most weekends.

If you are interested in playing, e-mail: gwangju_soccer@yahoo.com or search ‘Gwangju Inter FC’ on Facebook.

Sung Bin Home for Girls Sung Bin Home for Girls is looking for creative/ active/ energetic/ outgoing/ enthusiastic long-term volunteers to join in our regular Saturday program.

We would like you to give at least two Saturdays per month. Meet every Saturday at 1p.m. in front of downtown Starbucks. All are welcome. For more volunteering information please contact Daniel Lister at: daniellister7@hotmail.com.

Dance Workshop in GIC Come Try Yoga!

Vinyasa/Ashtanga style yoga class (either continuous flow or set series of postures).

Email meghan.paugh@facebook.com for more information and updates!

All levels welcome.

Yoga has many benefits including soothing the immune system and strengthening/toning the body inside and out. Connect to your breath. Set time in your schedule to take good care of yourself!

5,000 suggested donation if you have it.

Money is donated to charity Sunday Evening Class: 5:30-7:00 p.m. in GIC. Facebook page: Gwangju Yoga 46

Gwangju News January 2013

The dance workshop will be held every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. by Angie Harley at the GIC. If you are interested in joining, please contact Angie at angiehartley1@gmail.com.

You will learn basic dance and create dance performance with specific theme in this workshop.

The Gwangju Photography Club The Gwangju Photography Club is a place where many different people can meet, share advice, give ideas, and practice photography. Every month, the Photography Club goes on a photo outing to different places around the city and country to capture the moment and practice new techniques.

Anyone is welcome to join the photography group and help share in the experience. To join the group, search Gwangju Photography Club on Facebook.

Jan2013_48 2012.12.2710:18AM Page47

Gwangju News Volunteers Wish List We welcome your views on the magazine, both print and online! Gwangju News contributors are all volunteers.

We welcome you to volunteer your time with the team on a temporary, part-time, or regular and ongoing basis.

Feel free to contact us with any ideas you have for how you want to get involved!

Gwangju News Print Team Wish List: E-mail: gwangjunews@gmail.com Assistant Editor Chief Proofreaders Proofreaders Copy-editors In-house Photographers: participate in events and interviews, taking pictures for articles.

GNO Support Team Wish List:

Midway between Kunsthalle and the Grand Hotel, across the main street at the traffic lights from the Crown Bakery.

On the 3rd floor of the T World building.

E-mail: gwangjunewsonline@gmail.com Food Editor: Gwangju News Online is looking for a sub/associate editor for our food section (linked below).

We run regular recipes and restaurant reviews that are also run in the print edition, but we'd love to expand our offerings a little bit. If you're passionate about the food scene in Gwangju, you've got a good eye for quality writing, and you're comfortable recruiting others to contribute, get in touch!

Puzzles and Continuing Education Editor: We want to continue helping our readers, both Korean- and Englishspeaking, with their English-language education, be they students, teachers, or casual learners. Can you help create puzzles based on key articles each week or month? Can you write comprehension questions for those articles? Do you have other ideas? Email us!

Classifieds Manager: We are considering adding a Classifieds section. The manager would recruit posters and manage the content on a regular and ongoing basis.

We invite

you to join us!

Have any questions about living in Gwangju?

Let us help you! Simply write us an e-mail with your inquiry to giccounseling@gmail.com and our volunteers will help you solve your problems about anything related to Gwangju (legal, medical, accommodation, education, culture, and many others!)

Gwangju News January 2013

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