Gwangju News December 2023 #262

Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine

Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine December 2023 #262

December 2023 #262

The Holiday Season Around the World

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1 Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine

From the Editor

I

THE EDITORIAL TEAM

flip the page on my desk calendar, realizing that I’ve reached the final sheet: December.

The year 2023 is quickly drawing to a close.

Some may remember the year favorably; others less positively. End-of-year parties were once dubbed mangnyeon-hoe (forget-the-year party), but in more recent times, the nomenclature has changed to songnyeon-hoe (send-off-the-year party). Though during the recent pandemic years, “mangnyeon” (forgetting the suffering that took place,) may have seemed more appropriate, the positive connotation of songnyeon parties will be the norm again this year.

Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Chief Copy Editor Layout Editor Online Editor

I trust that the passing year has treated you well. At the Gwangju News, we regret that 2023 is coming to an end, but at the same time, we take pride in the belief that we have provided our readers with twelve robust issues of reading enjoyment. Our year-end festivities will be aptly characterized as songnyeon-hoe!

December 2023, Issue 262 Published: December 1, 2023 Cover Photo

Lighting of the Christmas tree in Democracy Square Photo courtesy of Gwangju City

Dr. Shin Gyonggu Dr. David E. Shaffer William Urbanski Isaiah Winters Kim Sukang Kim Sukang

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

Copyright ©2023 by the Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the written consent of the publisher.

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

Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.

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This time of year is referred to as the “holiday season.” Our second feature, “Christmas Across the Globe,” is a compilation of brief articles

by Gwangju residents on how Christmas and other end-of-the-year holidays are observed in their home countries literally spread across the globe.

Arguably the preeminent annual international event that Gwangju hosts is the World Human Rights Cities Forum. Following the event’s recent closing, our third feature provides reflections on this year’s WHRCF by key speakers at the Forum.

There are always things happening in the City of Light. Recently held was the intoxicating 2023 Gwangju Liquor Tourism Festa, which featured everything from Korean soju to Mexican tequila. We also provide a report on the Global Citizens Culture Festival organized by the Gwangsan District. And much, much more!

As the year winds down, and year-end songnyeon celebrations get under way, we, the staff of the Gwangju News, would like to thank all of our readers for their devotion, all of our contributors for their superlative writing, and I would like to thank all of our staff for their awesomeness. Happy holidays, everyone!

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

The Gwangju News is published by the Gwangju International Center: Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5 (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com Email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr gwangjunews gwangju_news Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date: February 22, 2010 Printed by Jieum 지음 (+82)-62-672-2566

To round out the year with our December issue, we bring you “Best of the Best,” featuring what the editors have selected as the most outstanding articles within the pages of the Gwangju News this year.

Reviewing the totality of this year’s articles allowed me to re-realize the quality of our writers and the content that they provide.

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CULTURE AND THE ARTS

Photo of the Month

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Kim daejung Convention Center

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A picture of Kim Daejung Convention Center. The center bears the name of Kim Daejung, who received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for restoring democracy in South Korea and improving relations with North Korea. It is a state-of-the-art facility in Gwangju City to promote Gwangju’s trade and commerce. The center is the main venue for various conferences, international meetings, exhibitions, and industrial expos for products, culture, and technologies organized by the local government.

The Photographer A native of India, Neha Bisht is pursuing her PhD research at Chonnam National University’s Department of Material Science and Engineering. She loves to meet new people and make new friends. She wants to explore the whole world and learn more about the traditional and cultural differences across the globe. She always likes to contribute to the well-being of society in whatever way she can.

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December 2023

Contents

ISSUE 262

GWANGJU NEWS 01 From the Editor 04 Gwangju City News FEATURES 06 Best of the Best in 2023 10 Christmas Across the Globe – And Other Holidays Too! 18 The 13th World Human Rights Cities Forum: Interview with Key Speakers TRAVEL 22 Lost in Gwangju: Hidden Shrines of Gwangsan-gu ESSAYS 25 Contemplations and Ponderings: No Player Is Bigger Than the Team!

28 Political Focus: Refugees, Immigration, and Integration 30 Opinion: Life Is a Beach, and That’s Where Sand Belongs 32 Photographs COMMUNITY 34 Around Gwangju: The 2023 Gwangju Liquor Tourism Festa 36 Hosting the World: Gwangsan-gu’s Global Citizens Culture Festival 38 Your Nightly Resting Corner 40 Diwali – Festival of Lights 51 Upcoming Events CULTURE AND THE ARTS 02 Photo of the Month 42 People in the Arts: Painting a Landscape of the Mind – Artist Lee In-sung 46 Book Review: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 48 Music: Top of The Drop ENTERTAINMENT 52 Crossword Puzzle

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Gwangju City News Gwangju Signs Agreement Point System Established with Samarkand, Uzbekistan for Skilled Worker Visas

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

On October 6, Gwangju solidified a friendship and cooperation agreement with Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking the city’s first sisterhood tie with a Central Asian counterpart. Notably, among Gwangju’s 4,900 ethnic Korean compatriots (Koryeo-in), half are from Uzbekistan, making it a significant demographic.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan represents the largest share of immigrants from Central Asia residing in Gwangju.

Given this demographic connection, the friendship and cooperation agreement between Gwangju and Samarkand was both encouraged and finalized. The agreement spans diverse areas such as economy, culture, tourism, MICE industry, education, and the environment.

Gwangju anticipates fruitful exchanges in various fields with Samarkand, paving the way for strengthened ties and collaboration.

Source

Ha, B. (2023, October 9). 광주시, 우즈벡 사마르칸트시와 우호협력 협정 체결 [Gwangju signs friendship and cooperation agreement with Samarkand, Uzbekistan].

Sky Daily. https://www.skyedaily.com/news/news_view. html?ID=207912.

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Starting November 1, Gwangju has implemented a recommendation system aimed at enhancing stable employment and fostering long-term settlement for foreign workers. This initiative allows foreign workers to accumulate 30 points, contributing towards their eligibility for acquiring a skilled worker visa (E-7-4). Enforced by the Ministry of Justice, this system seeks to bolster the number of skilled workers in Korea.

The system primarily targets individuals possessing skilled expertise and social integration but may fall short in terms of meeting the minimum points criteria for income and age for the E-7-4 visa. The specific qualifications for the target group include the following: (a) foreigners registered for four years or more, eligible for an E-9 (non-professional) or H-2 visa (visit and work) for a decade, and currently working regularly in their present workplace; (b) foreigners with an E-7-4 visa employment contract, demonstrating an annual income exceeding 26 million won and maintaining regular workdays for over two years; (c) foreigners with a work history of more than one year and endorsed by an employer; and (d) foreigners amassing 200 points, including additional points, for a total of 300 points while meeting the aforementioned criteria.

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Individuals seeking the mayor’s recommendation can submit the requisite documents to the Department of Foreign Residents in Gwangju.

Source

Newsis. (2023, November 1). 광주시, 외국인 숙련기능인력 비자 가점 추천제도 시행 [Gwangju implements visa additional point recommendation system for foreign skilled workers]. https://www.newsis.com/view/?id= NISX20231101_0002504913&cID=10809&pID=10800.

Gwangju Holds OASIS Training The Start-up Immigration Education Initiative is a component of the OASIS (Overall Assistance for the Start-up Immigration System) programs designed to facilitate the acquisition of a start-up visa. Recently conducted from October 10 to 12 at Chosun University in Gwangju, this training program is integral to the process of establishing a corporation for a start-up through OASIS. During the education period, foreign students were equipped with basic knowledge pertaining to presentation realization for investors, comprehension of business taxation, and the laws associated with start-ups. OASIS encompasses

nine key areas, including intellectual property rights, start-ups, inventions, and incorporation.

Successful completion of the education program opens avenues for obtaining a technology startup visa (D-8-4), a trade visa (D-9-1), or a start-up prep visa (D-10-2).

Moreover, individuals who fulfill OASIS training requirements and accumulate the necessary OASIS points for visa acquisition are eligible for priority participation in post-OASIS programs.

These programs encompass mentoring, incorporation assistance, and the provision of a workplace for nascent start-ups. Ju Jae-hee, the economic start-up director, affirmed that OASIS education will again be held next year, catering to both native and non-native students aspiring to establish start-ups in the Honam region.

Individuals seeking the mayor’s recommendation can submit the requisite documents to the Department of Foreign Residents in Gwangju.

Source

Gwangju Metropolitan City. (2023, November 10). 광주시, 기술창업이민교육 실시 [Gwangju conducts technology start-up immigration training]. https://www.gwangju. go.kr/boardView.do?pageId=www789&boardId=BD_ 0000000027&seq=16626&movePage=1 Summaries and translations by Kook Hyuna.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

OASIS training was held at Chosun University in October. (Photo by Gwangju City)

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FEATURE

Best of the Best in 2023 By the Gwangju News Staff

To wrap up the year, members of the intrepid editing division of the Gwangju News, comprised of David Shaffer, William Urbanski, and Isaiah Winters, share their favorite articles of the year.

WHAT? RELEASE THE FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR WASTEWATER?!

(July, Chung Hyunhwa)

Mr. Won Sunseok, chairperson of the May 18 Foundation.

David’s Picks

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

MAY 18 FOUNDATION: BRINGING THE TRUTH OF MAY 18 TO LIGHT (May, Gwangju News Staff)

This environmental article was chosen because the proposal was so shocking and so irrational.

The idea that Japan – a country that understands the devastating effects of radiation like no other – would hatch a plan to release 1.32 million tons of radioactive water into the ocean is just mindboggling! That amounts to 120 tons daily for thirty years! Unbelievable, and dangerous – to the environment, marine life, and the human life that this radioactive nuclear wastewater will eventually touch. Writer Chung Hyunhwa is to be commended for her relentless efforts to improve the environment of Planet Earth.

I selected this interview article because its topic is close to my heart; I was living very near the central downtown area of Gwangju at the time of the Gwangju Uprising. For too long, government administrations and political parties have denied and concealed the uprising’s causes and the atrocities inflicted upon the people of Gwangju.

The May 18 Foundation and its chairperson, Mr. Won Sun-seok, are to be commended for their tireless work to uncover and document the truth about the Gwangju Uprising and make it widely know both domestically and internationally.

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PEELING THROUGH THE PAST (July, Isaiah Winters) The history buff in me selected this article as one of my favorites. This single article about one old, collapsing hanok house contained so many artifacts to pique the reader’s interest. Some parts of the structure dated back to Korea’s colonial period, others may have dated back to the Joseon era, and still others to turn-of-the-20th-century Christian missionary influence. The kitchen contained a wooden panel from an American petroleum company, and the walls contained layer upon layer of wallpaper, each revealing older designs and Chinese character-filled newspapers. Intriguing! Writer Isaiah Winters is to be applauded for his investigatory work in this and other articles in his column.

Hanok restorer Kang Dong-su.

William’s Picks BUS MART: GWANGJU’S EXPAT-FRIENDLY MARKET ON WHEELS (August, Neha Bisht)

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This article highlighted the filmmaking exploits of Attila Korosi, an American who has been working in Korea and who also created a fulllength feature film called Live and Die in East L.A., which is a pretty intense movie. This interview resonates with me for a couple of reasons. First of all, Korosi’s backstory, which involved growing up in a war zone and attaining an athletic scholarship in order to study in the United States, is nothing short of inspirational.

This piece also makes me think about the interesting people who are in Gwangju but who you would normally never cross paths with.

Finally, his story is a reminder that if you have a dream or a goal, you cannot take “no” for an answer.

Filmmaker Attila Korosi.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Bus Mart is a mobile food store that carries specialty products and caters to the foreign community in Gwangju. It carries food items from Southeast Asia (and other places) that are generally difficult to procure in the city. In addition, it drives to universities and other areas so that members of the foreign community can purchase these items easily and at a reasonable cost. To me, this article represents everything the Gwangju News should be doing: informing people about a useful and little-known service and highlighting an innovative business model.

CITY OF LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: FILMMAKER ATILLA KOROSI IN GWANGJU (February, Jana Milosavljevic)

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me, this article, which is a kind of follow-up to my previous pieces about driving and parking in Gwangju, symbolizes that I will not go quietly into the night. I will not shut up, and I certainly will not let a bunch of holier-than-thou members of the foreign community tell me what to do and say.

ALAN AND ME (All episodes, Yun Hyoju) Alan and Me tells the story of Hyoju and her Irish husband Alan. It is a lighthearted and funny comic with unique and enjoyable illustrations.

While I enjoy the individual episodes – they are very relatable – I also feel that the comic adds a lot of variety to the magazine while highlighting a local artist. In addition to these attributes, and from an editing standpoint, I think having a series like this adds a sense of continuity to the magazine, melding our regular articles into an overarching narrative.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

***Bonus*** ORANGE PARKING CONES: THE HEROES GWANGJU NEEDS BUT DOES NOT DESERVE (February, William Urbanski) Yeah, yeah, I know it is in poor taste to nominate my own article, but stick with me for a moment.

A few years ago, an article I wrote about driving habits received quite a bit of negative blowback on Facebook, particularly from the Westernforeigner-community-social-justice-warrior brigade. Apparently, they held the sentiment that because I am not Korean, I am not allowed (or should not) express my opinions about the generally dangerous way people in Gwangju tend to drive and park their automobiles. To

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Isaiah’s Picks CRY OF THE TIGER: GWANGJU WELCOMES HOSOONI FOLLOWING YEARS OF NEGLECT (April, Gwangju News Staff) This article on the abandoned tiger Hosooni stands out among this year’s features for being both national and local, heartrending and heartwarming, and incredibly niche all at the same time. What’s more, the article even ticks the urban exploring box, something I’m particularly fond of. To see the full-grown Bengal tiger transition from three years of solitude in the shuttered Tongdo Fantasia Amusement Park in Yangsan to Family Land’s bustling Uchi Park Zoo here in Gwangju is nothing short of a massive win for those with a conscience. Ultimately, it’s one of those feel-good stories that really sticks with me.

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at a time. They loved the experience but also realized in the process that this powerful AI tool still falls short of omniscience. As many Gwangju News readers are English teachers, I thought this article was extremely timely and informative.

THE ALLEYWAY: A SOMEWHAT BIASED REVIEW (June, William Urbanski)

CHATTING ABOUT AND CHATTING WITH CHATGPT: EVALUATING A CHATBOT AS A LANGUAGE LEARNING TOOL (April, David Shaffer)

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GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

As a recovering Luddite who’s prone to relapses, I often need a firm kick in the right direction when it comes to adopting new technology. Our editorin-chief ’s article on what ChatGPT is, how it can be used in the classroom, and how it sometimes sucks was the abrupt reorienting I desperately needed. When in the same month as it was published students asked me if I could make a lesson on how to use ChatGPT to improve their English, I found myself returning to this article frequently for ideas. The online lesson I developed began with a simple “Chat, tell us a dad joke” warm-up, followed by the prompt, “Now Chat, give us a list of irregular verbs, and we’ll make present perfect sentences for you to check.” Later, I had my students engage ChatGPT in a game of story-writing ping pong, where they went back and forth with Chat writing a story one sentence

When I first arrived in Gwangju back in 2010, The First Alleyway was in its earliest iteration in the narrow alley across from Zara. I’d head there on Saturdays after Korean classes at the GIC to fatten my paunch and pound my liver into submission, after which I’d go on vertiginous shopping sprees at the Underground Grocers for tortillas, cheese, Dr. Pepper, and sour cream – all of which were hard to come by back then. (I still don’t know where to find good-sized tubs of sour cream to this day.) After later expanding to the alley near Lotte Cinema, The First Alleyway became the closest thing I had to church, as I visited almost weekly to break bread with all the other sinners.

Following its Last Supper in August 2021, I became lost. That’s why the June issue’s review of The Alleyway’s resurrection was so meaningful to me, and I suspect, so many other lost sheep.

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FEATURE

Christmas Across the Globe And Other Holidays Too! Christmas is observed around the world and not only by Christians – not always on December 25 and not always with the same customs. Not all cultures observe Christmas, of course, but so many have some type of holiday celebration in December. Because of this worldwide holiday season, the Gwangju News has invited Gwangju residents to share with us how the holiday season is observed in their home countries. Join us in this journey across the globe, with country stop-offs from west to east. — Ed.

■ Lindsay Herron is from Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the American Southwest. She has been teaching at Gwangju National University of Education since 2008.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

It’s Christmas Eve in New Mexico; step outside with me and take a deep breath of the crisp, dry air. Over the typical tang of juniper trees and the sultry scent of piñon-scented smoke

Luminarias on graves at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Albuquerque.

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from fireplaces, you might detect the tantalizing aromas of posole (pork and hominy stew), tamales (dough made from masa and steamed in a corn husk), and carne adovada (red chile pork stew), as well as the comforting cinnamon-and-anise scent of biscochitos (traditional New Mexican cookies). The neighborhood around us gleams silver in the light of the moon – there’s not a cloud in the sky – and while a few houses have their holiday lights turned on, the real stars of the show are the warm, glowing lights of luminarias, open paper bags with a few centimeters of sand filling their bottom, illuminated from the inside by a small candle nestled safely in the sand.

We’ve just returned home from some of the city’s Christmas Eve highlights: wandering through Old Town, where hundreds of luminarias adorn the stores, walls, and walkways; cheering for a handful of hot air balloons tethered tightly to the ground at a local park, cheekily greeting passers-by with a roar of their flames; and silently contemplating the breathtaking beauty of a local cemetery, where countless luminarias reverently placed on graves by loved ones dot

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the darkness, nearly uncontaminated by other light sources. Tomorrow, we’ll exclaim over our stockings and enjoy a boisterous breakfast as a family; we’ll laugh and unwrap the gifts under the tree; and we’ll close the day with a traditional turkey dinner. Tonight, though... Tonight is about peace and serenity, gratitude and affection, contemplation and connection. ¡Feliz Navidad!

■ Caleb Sekeres is from Providence, Rhode Island, in the northeastern United States. He is the coowner of the bar Nirvana, near the Asia Culture Center, and has lived in Gwangju for fourteen years.

I was raised in a conservative Jewish household in Rhode Island, which is approximately one percent Jewish overall. My grandparents came to the U.S. from Eastern Europe when they were children, and they were, like most immigrants, poor. My parents moved to Rhode Island from New York City in order to raise a family with a better quality of life. My early memory of the eight nights of Hanukkah (Chanukah), our end-of-year holiday, is of receiving few presents.

We always lit the menorah (a candelabra with eight lower candles and one higher one) and said a prayer during Hanukkah. As my parents worked their way up the economic ladder, my brother and I received more and better presents during Hanukkah. It became more celebratory!

On Hanukkah, we celebrate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C.E., a celebration of a victory over oppression. According to the Talmud, one of Judaism’s most central texts, Judah Maccabee and the other Jews who took part in the rededication of the Second Temple after defeating their religious oppressors, witnessed what they believed to be a miracle. Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights. This wondrous event inspired the Jewish sages to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival. Hanukkah was born.

For me and my family, and for my Jewish friends, Hanukkah was not a major religious holiday, rather an important social one, when special food (latkes – potato pancakes) was eaten, traditional games (dreidel – a sort of top) were played, and gelt (money and gifts) was given.

Even in Gwangju, where I have no temple to pray in, my sons and I wear yarmulkes (religious head coverings), light the menorah, say a prayer, and give gifts. It is one of the few Jewish traditions I am proud to say I keep alive for my KoreanAmerican sons.

■ Íde O’Connell is an English teacher from Ireland. She recently moved to Gwangju from Hong Kong but has previously lived in Seoul for many years.

Potato latkes - a Hanukkah tradition.

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One tradition unique to Ireland is “Nollaig na mBan” on January 6 which means “Women’s

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

In Ireland, as in many countries, we decorate Christmas trees, exchange gifts, sing carols, and of course, eat a delicious meal, usually roast turkey on Christmas Day itself. However, as Ireland has traditionally been a Catholic country, some of our Christmas customs are based on that, such as putting up a crib, attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve, and leaving a candle in the window at night to symbolize lighting the way for Mary and Joseph.

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Christmas” or also called “Little Christmas.” This is supposed to be the day when men take over the housework and women get to relax after all their hard work over Christmas. This custom had almost died out but thankfully is enjoying a resurgence!

square of the city. There, visitors can discover traditional winter delights, such as vin chaud à la cannelle (hot wine with cinnamon); tartiflette, a gratin composed of potatoes, reblochon cheese, lardons, and onions; and bretzel (pretzels). It is commonly believed that the Marché de Noël is the last chance to consider if you’re on a diet.

The Wren Procession.

But perhaps the most unusual tradition is the Wren Boys Procession, which stems from ancient times when young men would hunt a wren and parade colorfully and loudly through the streets with it on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26). The custom is so old nobody can agree on how it started, but even today, the wren boys still wear straw costumes and sing traditional songs. But they use a fake wren and raise money for charity.

As this Christmas will be my first with my inlaws in Gwangju, it will be a chance to introduce some Irish traditions to them!

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

■ Julien Laheurte is a literary translator from France who has been residing in South Korea for the past two years.

In France, Christmas is called Noël. Celebrations kick-off with the Marché de Noël (Christmas Market). The Christmas Market season typically begins around the end of November, reaching its peak a few days before Christmas Eve. Markets located in the north and northeastern regions of the country, in cities like Strasbourg (near the German border), Metz, Amiens, and Lille are often regarded as the best ones. A typical market consists of multiple small wooden stalls arranged around the main

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Christmas Market at Strasbourg, Alsace.

Noël takes place on December 24 and 25. On the evening of the 24th, close relatives come together to partake in a lavish meal. On the menu are oysters, snails, foie gras, and smoked salmon. For dessert, the traditional Yule log is a must. As the clock strikes midnight, with everyone satiated and perhaps slightly drunk, we hug each other and shout “Joyeux noël!” (Happy Christmas!) while exchanging presents. Churches also organize midnight mass for those seeking a more traditional touch. The 25th is a national day off, allowing families to celebrate Christmas in their own unique way. In my family, we simply gather around the Christmas tree watching movies and relishing quality time together.

■ Jana Milosavljevic is from Serbia. She is a coordinator at Gwangju International Center and has lived in Korea for six years.

In Serbia, Christmas (called Božić) is thought to be the greatest and happiest of all holidays, celebrated in family circles and preserving numerous traditions. As the dominant religion in Serbia is Orthodox Christianity, we celebrate

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Christmas on January 7 (which is December 25 of the Julian Calendar).

Interestingly, in Serbia, what the world knows as the “Christmas” tree is decorated for the New Year’s celebration, and is not the centerpiece of Christmas. That role belongs to badnjak: a young oak tree covered in golden leaves. Traditionally, on January 6 (called Badnji dan), the men of the house would go to cut an oak tree to be turned into a badnjak before sunrise. Although in some rural areas this is still practiced, most city dwellers only buy a couple of small branches at the market or at church. These are brought into the home in the evening, followed by the greeting: “Srećno Badnje Veče!” (“Happy Christmas Eve!”).

family: If a good and kind person comes, the year will also be such. Christmas is celebrated with the greeting “Hristos se rodi!” (“Christ was born!”), to which “Vaistinu se rodi!” (“He really was born!”) is the reply.

■ Yousra Feriel Drioua is from Algeria. She’s a graduate student under the Global Korea Scholarship and has lived in Gwangju for a year.

In Algeria, we do not celebrate Christmas as we’re a Muslim country; however, a popular official winter holiday is Yennayer, known as the Amazigh New Year! It is celebrated every January 12th according to the Julian calendar, and next January will mark its 2974th year. The word Yennayer is thought to be a combination of the words yenn (one) and ayur (month) in Amazigh. The holiday dates back to antiquity, is rooted in North African folktale, and is celebrated across the Maghreb region. It is a festival of nature, agrarian life, and generosity.

It’s about creating harmony with nature, and it represents the bond between the Berber people and their land.

Yennayer customs differ from one area to another.

Most families would opt for couscous (steamed semolina served with various broths/sauces) as their main dish. Back in my family home in Oran, however, we enjoyed rustic and country-style meals such as cherchem, which is a soup made up

On Christmas morning, the traditional Christmas bread (called česnica) is eaten and the family member who finds the coin baked into it will be the luckiest one in the following year. The first guest who steps into one’s house on Christmas is called položajnik, and it is believed that they predict what the whole year will be like for the

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Woman in a traditional Amazigh outfit preparing couscous.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Serbian Christmas badnyak branches.

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of boiled chickpeas, red fava beans, and wheat, in addition to everyone’s favorite dry fruits and assorted nuts, chocolates, and seasonal fruits. The family usually dresses up in traditional clothes, have cherchem for dinner together, and then sit in a circle on the ground to break the nuts out of their shells. As a kid, all I cared about was getting the biggest portion of dry nuts and sweets, but as I grew older, I grew to appreciate those simple flavors and ponder on how they were brought to my plate. In a way, being grateful towards one’s land and what it brings forth, and being with one’s family is the core of this celebration.

■ Elvis Muhunzu is from Kenya. He is a GIST graduate student, and he has been in Gwangju for the past six years.

In Kenya, Christmas isn’t just about a snowy landscape or Santa’s sleigh. It’s a bit like Chuseok or Seollal in Korea – a time when the whole nation gets into the spirit of the season. A whopping 80 percent of Kenyans are Christians, so when December rolls around, it’s time to party! Nairobi, the bustling capital, nearly turns into a ghost town as buses and cars are loaded with people and presents, and are bound for the countryside to reunite with their far-flung family members.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Upon arrival, everyone eats, celebrates, and catches up on all the juicy gossip! Adults dote on the elderly and swap stories; the kids have a blast,

Christmas church service. (Compassion UK)

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playing with long-lost cousins and practicing drama skits and choir performances for church.

The culmination of this festive fervor is a religious celebration like no other. On Christmas Eve, everyone gathers for songs and dance. Come Christmas Day, churches hold services, and the birth of Jesus is reenacted with meticulous drama skits. Church usually wraps up around midday because the real feasting is just getting started.

Expect a sheep, goat, or even a cow to meet its culinary destiny. The celebrations continue well into the night, and if you happen to wander into a neighbor’s home, you'll be treated to some delightful treats.

The party goes on until New Year’s Eve, where staying up all night is the norm. Oh, and don’t forget, December 26 is a holiday too – Boxing Day! It’s a merry, magical, and memorable time that Kenyans cherish, bringing family and friends together in the true spirit of Christmas.

■ Thalita Shongwe is from South Africa. She is an English teacher at Dogok Middle School and has lived in Gwangju for one year.

Christmas in South Africa is not a Christmas one sees on TV when you watch a heart-warming Christmas movie. Christmas caroling, drinking hot chocolate, and building snowmen – South Africans do none of these because at Christmastime, South Africa is at the peak of its summer season. Instead, we’re eating ice cream and trying to cool ourselves down with a swim in the pool.

After slaving away all night in the kitchen on Christmas Eve making a great quantity of my mom’s famous chakalaka, my family wakes up early in the morning to attend a short church service, then we drive to my grandmother’s house. After getting smothered with kisses from my grandmother, aunts, and uncles, it’s time for the main event: Christmas lunch. Food is the

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Chakalaka, a South African side dish made with carrots, beans, onions, and chilli peppers. (TheFeedFeed)

highlight of Christmas in my family. People dish up for themselves buffet style, and we sit outside – the adults on chairs and the children on mats – under the big tree in the front yard, eating and chatting, as ’80s and ’90s R&B hits play in the background.

When we have all had dessert, we bring out the board games. In the late evening, everybody gets ready to leave, washing dishes and taking some leftovers with them. We say our goodbyes with a “see you tomorrow” because the following day is also a holiday!

■ Neha Bisht from India. She is a PhD student at Chonnam National University and has lived in Gwangju for one and a half years.

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Neha with colleagues at Christmastime in India.

Since I moved to Gwangju, I want to make the upcoming Christmas festival memorable. I am thinking of decorating my room and making a Christmas tree. Then in the evening, I will go out with friends to a marketplace where a Christmas celebration is to take place. Later, we will cook together and enjoy the food with good Bollywood music and dancing. I hope this Christmas will bring much prosperity and happiness to everyone’s life.

■ Qurratu is from Sarawak, Malaysia. She is a university student at Chonnam National University and this is her ninth month in Gwangju, South Korea.

Malaysia is one of the countries with the most public holidays, around 23 to 25 days in a year. Malaysia is multireligious and multicultural, so all celebrations are taken into account.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

India is predominantly a Hindu country and known for its cultural and religious diversity. While Christmas is a Christian festival, it has widespread appeal in India, transcending religious boundaries. In India, Christmas is a public holiday. The Christmas celebration includes religious ceremonies, traditional midnight mass, carol singing, and decoration of churches with lights and flowers.

Shopping malls, marketplaces, hotels, education institutes, and various organizations are often elaborately decorated. In metropolitan cities, public gatherings, cultural programs, plays, concerts, and fun events are organized.

At Christmastime, my family and I used to decorate the home with lights, balloons, and a Christmas tree. Family and friends would organize a small party at home, where everyone wore a Santa cap and one person become Santa Claus to distribute the children’s gifts. The small party ended with good music, dance, and delicious food. Two years ago, my last Christmas in my home country, I spent Christmas Eve with my work colleagues. We put up decorations, ate delicious foods, played games, and exchanged gifts. Then on Christmas Day, I went to church with my friends and later went shopping for Christmas gifts.

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You guessed right! Christmas is also one of them!

As a Muslim, I do not celebrate Christmas, but it doesn’t mean I don’t do anything on December 25. How do I, and probably most Muslims in Malaysia, spend this public holiday?

Firstly, we can play tourist at home in the Sematan area or go on a short getaway to Sabah spending our leisure time with family and friends. Next, there are open houses happening everywhere in all 14 states. Malaysians love to invite others to their home and eat delicious foods together, chat a lot, and play board games. Lastly, December 25 is a shopping and eating out time. My childhood was full of malls and restaurants during this time.

Thanks to the year-end sales, my brother and I got to buy things like toys and comics that we wanted at half price. Also, it is a holiday, so no housework!

Above all, although we Malaysians have different religious practices and cultural backgrounds, it does not stop us from spending this public holiday together. We respect each other’s beliefs and know our boundaries to ensure our wellbeing. Thus, to all who celebrate Christmas, “Merry Christmas!”

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

■ Karina Prananto is from Jakarta, Indonesia, and she has been living in Gwangju since 2006.

Although Protestants and Catholics make up only about 10 percent of the 277 million population, they are the second and third largest official religions in Indonesia, so Christmas, or Natal in Indonesian, is a big holiday. If you live in regions where most of the population is Christian, which is mostly in the eastern part of the archipelago, Christmas preparation may start weeks before. There will be parades and festivals rooted in local culture and customs. Meanwhile in big cities, the Christmas atmosphere usually comes to shopping centers (where most urban Indonesians spend their free time) with huge Christmas trees and decorations.

Families usually spend their Christmas morning at church and then have lunch with the extended

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Papua. (TNI Angkatan Darat)

family. School holidays are for about two weeks until New Year’s, so people use this time to go back to their hometowns or travel. My sister and I used to decorate our Christmas tree together; then we went to my parents’ hometown in Central Java and met all our relatives. We rented a villa in the highlands and stayed there for two days or so, while traveling to surrounding areas, sometimes to volcanoes (yes, Indonesians hike up volcanoes for leisure!). My last Christmas back home was in 2008, so I haven’t celebrated Christmas with my family for a very long time. Here, my Christmas is very simple, but I try to recreate the tradition by letting our sons decorate our Christmas tree. Then we will go to church services in our neighborhood. But still, my wish is to be able to spend Christmas again back home.

■ Lee Mikyoung is from Yeosu (in Jeollanam-do, Korea) and has lived in Gwangju for six years. She also has lived in Germany, Canada, and the USA, experiencing different Christmas atmospheres.

She is an assistant professor at Kwangju Women’s University, Gwangju.

In Korea, Christmas holds profound significance, especially within the Christian community. The celebration is characterized by a strong focus on attending church services and participating in meaningful religious activities.

Families unite to honor the birth of Jesus Christ through special services featuring hymns and sermons, accompanied by shared joy during meals and gift exchanges.

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the community. As Christmas approaches, my plans include preparing Christmas Eve events with junior high school students at church and enjoying festive meals with my husband, immersing ourselves in this unique holiday atmosphere.

■ Kim Sunhong (Sunny) is a native of Gwangju. He is the owner and operator of the 1st Recipe, a pasta and pizza restaurant in downtown Gwangju.

Christmas tree at the Asia Culture Center in downtown Gwangju.

While growing up in a Christian family, Christmas always held a special place in my heart. In our small countryside church, I was led to assume various Christmas roles each year: student moderator, musician, pianist, and group singer. Surprisingly, the month-long rehearsal period with teachers and friends every evening turned out to be more enjoyable than the actual Christmas Eve performance!

In essence, Christmas in Korea blends religious devotion, cultural practices, and family values. It serves as a reminder of Jesus Christ’s teachings and promotes love, compassion, and unity within

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Christmas decorations at the First Recipe.

Compiled by David Shaffer.

All photographs courtesy of the author unless otherwise credited.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Apart from family traditions, one particular custom involves couples sharing romantic moments, akin to Valentine’s Day, as Christmas is considered a day for couples to celebrate their love. However, the religious aspect remains crucial, with many attending special church services. Many churches organize events such as musicals, plays, and cantatas, fostering community spirit and celebrating faith.

The end of 2023 is approaching.

For most Koreans, Christmas is celebrated as a holiday to end the year regardless of religion. Restaurants are one of the places that people especially frequent during the holiday season.

As soon as Halloween is over, the Christmas decorations start going up at the 1st Recipe: the two-meter Christmas tree with its accompanying train set, Santa Claus, reindeer, figurines, candles, lanterns, holly, pine cones… Along with the sparkling decorations and the complementing Christmas music, the carefully prepared dishes allow those who visit the restaurant to feel the special warmth of Christmas regardless of how cold it may be outside. At the end of the year, you can make happy and special memories in a space full of the Christmas spirit and holiday warmth.

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FEATURE

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The 13th World Human Rights Cities Forum: Interview with Key Speakers Complied by the WHRCF Secretariat

in-depth ways to address them at the local level through a human rights-based approach.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

T

he 13th World Human Rights Cities Forum was held on October 4–7, 2023, at the Kim Daejung Convention Center in Gwangju. Under this year’s theme, “Human Rights Cities Responding to Poverty and Inequalities,” a total of 32 programs were held, attracting more than 2,000 online and offline participants from 168 cities in 63 countries.

The World Human Rights Cities Forum Secretariat asked the Forum’s key speakers various questions on their thoughts about the relevance and importance of this year’s theme, the focus of their presentations, good practices, and their impressions of the Forum. We have selected a few of the interviews to share with Gwangju News readers. Below are parts of some of the interviews with the speakers, while the full versions of all interviews will be available on the World Human Rights Cities Forum website (www.whrcf.org).

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Ms. Jaleswari Pramodhawardani Deputy Chief of Staff, Executive The Forum recognized that issues of poverty and Office of the President, Indonesia inequality, which have been exacerbated since the Covid-19 pandemic’s outburst, go beyond mere economic issues and are serious violations of human rights that are not protected in the social, cultural, and political spheres, noting as well as that they are structural problems, rather than natural phenomena. These among other issues were discussed, and the agenda focused on

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WHRCF: Could you introduce Indonesia’s human rights policies implemented both by central and local governments?

Ms. Pramodhawardani: Indonesia’s human rights policies encompass various spectrums of human rights and descend directly from the

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regularly attending the World Human Rights Cities Forum. What are the specific measures that we can take?

Ms. Jaleswari Pramodhawardani participated in the Plenary Session of the 13th WHRCF as a speaker.

mandate within the 1945 Constitution to inter alia promote and protect human rights. From a policy standpoint, at the central government level, just to name a few, in 2021, we launched our National Action Plan on Human Rights, which is a comprehensive guideline for all stakeholders, including regional governments, to mainstream human rights. Recently, we also launched our National Strategy on Business and Human Rights, which serves as a guideline for business entities and governments to heed human rights within business activities. While at the regional government level, countless vibrant and diverse initiatives consistently emerge. In Bali, for instance, the regional governmentbuilt community housing for vulnerable people serves as an empowerment hub for them to obtain productive training and skill upgrading and consequently advance the fulfillment of their economic, social, and cultural rights.

WHRCF: What was your motivation to participate in this year’s Forum?

Ms. Pramodhawardani: Mutual understanding is the key ingredient. I am certain that by replicating the success in the WHRCF through more exchange forums in other areas, we can establish more catalysts for both parts to interact with each other and eventually pave the way for more collaborations in the future.

Mr. Sumastro Mayor, Singkawang, Indonesia WHRCF: What was the most important message that you wished to convey during your intervention in the roundtable?

Mr. Sumastro: For the session, I tried to give some ideas on how to look at tolerance in every situation. Tolerance is related to how we harmonize our lives within different backgrounds and different ethnicities. Based on my experience in my city, Singkawang, which has been named the most tolerant city in Indonesia four times over the past six years, if a city is tolerant, it is easy to attract tourism and investment. It is what helped my city to develop economic and social welfare in Singkawang.

WHRCF: What was your impression of visiting Gwangju for the Forum?

WHRCF: Gwangju is anticipating the increase in cultural and economic interaction with Indonesia since the Indonesian delegation is

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Mr. Sumastro participated in the Roundtable at the 13th WHRCF as a speaker.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Ms. Pramodhawardani: I am convinced that the WHRCF is a strategic forum to showcase Indonesia’s tireless commitment to promote and protect human rights. Conversely, the WHRCF also provides us with a unique opportunity to observe best practices from across the globe in promoting human rights, which could serve as a reference point when the government formulates human rights-related policies in the future.

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Mr. Sumastro: It is my first time visiting Korea, and it is an honor to be here as a speaker. Also, it is an honor to have a conversation with mayors from different countries. I think Gwangju Metropolitan City is a very beautiful, clean city, and everyone here is very nice. Also, it seems they respect each other, and also, of course, human rights.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Ms. Stamatia Stavrinaki Vice Chairperson, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination WHRCF: Could you let us know a bit about the importance and timeliness of the contents you presented with regards to this year’s Forum theme?

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Ms. Stavrinaki: My presentation was about migrants’ rights to health in international human rights law. I think this is a very important aspect of the Forum theme – inequalities. Migrants are exposed and are subject to many forms of discrimination due to their migratory status and other characteristics. They suffered human rights violations on many occasions, probably already in their home countries to begin with, and during the whole migrant cycle they took. They think that their life will be improved when they reach their destination country. However, sometimes, in practice, things are very different. First of all, they experience interpersonal bias and prejudice.

Ms. Stamatia Stavrinaki participated in the Migration II session of the 13th WHRCF as a speaker.

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It may even mean having lower standards of health services due to this interpersonal bias.

Also, they experience institutional racial discrimination because the laws and policies in the new country do not include migrants. They do not know their needs. They do not include them in how to provide better health care. There is also structural discrimination. The lack, for instance, of information in their languages, resulting sometimes in very severe forms of discrimination and negative outcomes in their health. Inequalities in many cases lead to poverty, and also, poverty affects health as such. It is these multiple human rights violations that we need to consider seriously and combat as a human rightsbased issue.

WHRCF: Do you have any advice for youth people on how to act and what mindset to have to “respond to poverty and inequalities?”

Ms. Stavrinaki: Youth people should act by identifying inequalities, having awareness about the issue, and understanding that it is not the people’s fault when they become the subject of these inequalities – knowing that it is much more complex and structural. As this leads to many human rights violations, having and raising awareness of these inequalities in youth's environment is important.

The first act is to inform people around you about why these inequalities exist and teach them how to identify them as well as how they also can change their mind about these issues.

Apart from raising awareness, discussing inequalities with your fellow students, your parents, your family, your friends, or anyone else and having access to data are important.

Nowadays, youth people have access to a lot of data online. However, it is important to distinguish between fake news and reliable news.

This will help them to open their horizons and to change their minds about situations.

I think youth people can also be the agents of change in their environments. Try not to be just a bystander, but actively try to integrate those who might be suffering from inequalities within

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your group. Try to prevent any bias against them, and also actively try to change things at your level. You can actually speak up for them and also show practically that you accept them despite these inequalities. This combats bias and empowers these people. Most of all, it also empowers you because it shows that you are not just an observer of inequalities, but that you have become a very active citizens fighting for a better future.

Ms. Garance Sarlat Gender Associate Project Officer, UNESCO WHRCF: Could you let us know how your presentation was related to this year’s Forum theme?

This Forum was a fantastic opportunity to discuss those ways thanks to the work of local governments. We have discussed very different topics, like discrimination against sets of ethnicities, women, and persons with disabilities, and how we should address those. The concept that was discussed a lot and that is very important is the human rights-based economies that we need to create. This could sound weird because how can you connect economies and the terrible

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WHRCF: Could you share what left the greatest impression on you during this year’s Forum, for example, the most impressive presentation or event?

Ms. Sarlat: It is very difficult to pick one single moment from this fantastic forum, but what left the greatest impression on me were the presentations of the UNESCO Master Class Gwangju Series participants. Because those young people are in middle school, in junior high school, they are very young – just 15 years old – and they delivered presentations that were incredibly professional, with research that you sometimes see at a master’s degree level. They were researching about inequalities, doing surveys with their peers and the elderly, and even met with the representatives of institutes and centers, and one team even went to a parliamentarian.

Ms. Garance Sarlat participated in the Gender Inequality in Housework Session of the 13th WHRCF as a discussant.

This is the work that we want to do. This is exactly what the UNESCO Master Classes were created for, and to see the result of those young people being empowered by the tools we gave them and actually taking it so much further beyond our hopes – this is so impressive. I was also very happy with the presentations – all of them were great. I mean, it is not as if just one was absolutely amazing – every single group delivered beautifully, and that is what touched me the most!

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Ms. Sarlat: With the Covid-19 pandemic, discrimination has increased dramatically, and we are suffering from the consequences of the pandemic. Why my presentation, I think, was related to the Forum’s theme is because women’s poverty and the inequalities that women have to face are actually much more important due to the pandemic, where they were at the frontlines as healthcare workers.

They were essential workers, having to do double or triple shifts while at home taking care of home-schooled children, taking care of sick relatives, and taking care of domestic work.

The presentation I gave was on the importance of making sure that men and boys also did their fair share of the unpaid care work, which is one of the targets of SDG5 that we are not close to achieving, unfortunately. And so, it is something that we need to step up about.

impact that they have had on those vulnerable groups and human rights together, but this is something that we need to strive for, and that is why this Forum is so important.

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TRAVEL

Hidden Shrines of Gwangsan-gu

By Isaiah Winters

The lone shrine of Sarang Mountain.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

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long the hillocky western edge of Gwangju is the sadang archipelago. These sadang (사당), or ancestral shrines, pock the forests of pine and bamboo that every year inch toward reclamation. Dispersed along the hills’ narrow hollows, each sadang cuts a singular figure of idyllic isolation and semi-abandoned tradition that makes for poignant photography. While they may seem like islands unto themselves, the fact that there are no fewer than a dozen in this sleepy corner of Gwangju suggests they’re part of a network of sorts, not unlike an archipelago. So, in this rendering of “Lost,” we’ll peruse the hidden shrines of Gwangsan-gu to see what secrets they hold.

THE LONE SHRINE OF SARANG-SAN Believe it or not, Gwangju has a Sarang Mountain. It’s the penultimate peak just shy of the city’s western fringe and comes pitted with innumerable mudeom (무덤, burial

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mounds) connected by a wellmaintained webwork of gently rolling trails. Surprisingly, there’s nothing “lovely” about its name, as its Chinese characters translate to “Lion Wolf Mountain” (獅狼山), which is also pretty cool. According to one source,1 the mountain’s shape was said to resemble a lion, and if you squint really hard – nope, it looks nothing like a lion. The same source said that this mountain was once where rain prayers took place during times of drought and that, consequently, no burial mounds could be put on the mountain or else a drought would ensue. Any graves had to be dug up by the local women, who sang and danced as they disinterred the corpses. These days, Sarang Mountain is covered with burial mounds and, interestingly, we’ve also been having prolonged droughts.

Along the southern edge of Sarang Mountain, where a long, single-lane concrete road weaves through tiered rice fields before dead-ending at the treeline, a secluded sadang sits nestled in a divot hewed from a thick patch of bamboo. I made my way there recently after finding it online and was pleased to see that it was in decent shape,

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meaning the family maintaining it still visits often enough. The thick perimeter walls were intact and offered a sturdy deterrent against trespassers, while the main gate was sealed with a hefty padlock. The wooden pillars all seemed to be in great shape, the roof showed no signs of collapse, and the white walls lacked any signs of water damage.

Only its papered doors had become perforated with time, allowing in dust and bugs little by little. Still, this one is safe for now. As much as I like to enter places like this, seeing it well guarded and respected gave me hope that it’ll last a long time.

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The front gate to Oh Hyo-seok’s residence.

Spirit tablet in Oh Hyo-seok’s shrine.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

SWEEPING A STRANGER’S HOME Just north of Sarang Mountain is one particularly secluded building complex at the most attenuated top end of a long, winding hollow. This site is quite historically significant for being the home of Oh Hyo-seok (1620–1697), a mid-Joseon-era scholar who, in addition to deftly wielding an inkbrush, also wielded weapons of war against the Qing during their invasion of Joseon in 1636. Though the war resulted in a Qing victory that reduced Joseon to a tributary state, Oh survived and withdrew to this solitary hillside to live out the rest of his life in peace.

According to one source,2 Oh built this residence along with a school in 1637 and spent the remainder of his life educating the local youth.

Hundreds of years later, due to the site’s concealed location deep in the forest, soldiers from Korea’s “Righteous Army” (의병) garrisoned in the area and manufactured weapons there in their fight against invading Japanese forces until the end of the Joseon era.

I’d known of the site for some time but never bothered to visit until researching for this article, assuming until then that it was off limits for irregular visitors like me. To my surprise, the side gate was wide open and there weren’t any “No Entry” signs, so I wiped my boots and let myself in. I got another surprise when I saw that two of the main building’s doors had been left open, allowing in lots of dust and bugs. With nobody around to stop me, I removed my boots, picked up a broom and dustpan, and began sweeping the place out. Once that was all done, I arranged things inside so they didn’t look so disheveled and then continued to the porch to sweep that as well, filming a very satisfying timelapse of the entire process. In back of this main house is a shrine fully stocked with spirit tablets, candles, bowls, and stands ready for the next jesa (제사, ancestral rite). It was a

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really rewarding experience that connected me to the late Oh, though I’d probably have been better off just staying home and vacuuming my own place for the living who still inhabit it.

BEYOND THE SHRINES In addition to shrines, this entire western rim of Gwangju has other structures worth mentioning, like forlorn hanok and pavilions.

One hanok that I got to see inside was incredibly picturesque despite (or maybe thanks to) its state of slow decay. An eight-paneled folding screen along one wall had the most vivid coloring I’ve ever seen, almost looking like it was made with bright acrylic paint rather than the usual muted tones seen on most folding screens. This screen led to a cupboard ornately trimmed with mother of pearl that stood beside a large vanity trimmed in the same fashion. The vanity came stacked with dusty old books that I couldn’t make heads or tails of, as they were

all written in Chinese characters. The hanok’s exposed wooden beams above and crumbling mortar in between suggested this home wouldn’t stand much longer. I’m glad I got to capture its raw beauty before it inevitably collapses.

Besides structures, this area of Gwangju also has a uniquely rural charm that feels alien to the everexpanding city restrained by Eodeung-san. One thing that’s salient about this rustic periphery is how local landowners are transforming fallow rice paddies into perfect grass fields once farming ceases. With an aging population and too few youths going into farming, something inevitably has to be done with these fields, lest they become nothing more than eternal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Given the narrowness of all these little valleys and complex patchwork of land ownership, it’s hard to see the feasibility of a blanket buyout that results in more efficient, industrial-scale farming. Instead, many locals are filling them in and planting short, thick grass that practically begs you to organize a soccer match, play a game of tag, or even put up a tent and camp out for the night. I imagine many of Korea’s rice terraces will get the same treatment as the farming population continues to decline, and I think it’s going to be a beautiful transformation.

Source

Regional Cultural Exchange Honam Foundation. (n.d.). 역사문화자원 1000 [History and Culture Resources 1000]. http://gjstory.or.kr/sub.html?pid=48&formtype =view&code=81 2 Digital Gwangju Cultural Encyclopedia. (n.d.). 영사재 (명도동) [Yeongsa Home (Myeongdo-dong)]. http:// www.grandculture.net/gwangju/gwangsangu/toc/ GC60001631 1

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Beautiful folding screen inside an abandoned hanok.

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The Author

Former rice fields now covered with turf.

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

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ESSAYS

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No Player Is Bigger Than the Team!

By Park Nahm-Sheik

N

o matter how high-performing individual players may be, they can never outdo the team. Let’s take baseball, for example. Even a star pitcher cannot hope to deliver his team from the jaws of defeat all by himself. The catcher, fielders, and batters must get his back if the team is to score a win.

Running other organized activities is no different. Managing a school, for one, is a lot like administering an athletic team. A good school calls for a competent faculty, an industrious staff, a supportive community and a well-motivated student body working in unison.

“The blood of the soldier makes the glory of the general” speaks volumes about the equal importance of rank and file in all combat situations. It is quite clear here that what the team does is way more consequential than what the individual players do. Therefore, individual team members should watch out never to commit the silly, egregious arrogance of regarding themselves as superior to anyone else on the team.

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Let’s take a glimpse of some humanitarian projects of the United Nations. The UNDP (United Nations Development Program) works to eradicate poverty, especially in the developing regions of the world. The UN Refugee Agency is dedicated to saving the lives of refugees in dire straits (and protecting their human rights). UNICEF (UN International Children’s Emergency Fund) works to save children’s lives and help them fulfill their potential from childhood through adolescence.

UN Peacekeeping contingents help war-ravaged regions to navigate the path from conflict to peace. The UN Human Rights Council makes sure that human rights are properly protected all over the globe.

The same goes for numerous charitable NGOs operating outside the United Nations.

I personally adore Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF; Doctors Without Borders) most of all.

Like MSF are Green Peace, Feed the Hungry, Feed the Children, End Poverty, numerous community chests/trusts. Habitat for Humanity

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

A military outfit is run along essentially identical lines. A combat operation relies on (wo)men and officers in different MOSs working closely together. The infantry, the artillery, the signal corps, the engineering corps, and the ambulance corps all work in close association, each with the other. Indeed, a frontline engagement requires extremely sophisticated teamwork.

All organized programs of any significance thrive and survive on input originating in their multiple participants. UN programs, for example, would be neither effective nor efficient if not for the dedicated participation of its multiple member countries. WHO, WLO, WTO, WFP, etc., etc. can only come to the help of the world thanks entirely to what is put in by all the UN member nations.

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In fact, all human groups of any significance move forward on an essentially identical power train.

A village, for example, is unthinkable without all the devoted villagers pitching in. The same is true of the family, which feeds off the input from its various members. The parents provide for the family as breadwinners and homemakers, so that the children can grow up healthy and happy into trustworthy future assets for family and community.

At this point, we may as well take a look at some historical examples of the team counting for a great deal more than any one of its members. Founded about a millennium ago by northern German towns and German merchant communities outside of Germany, the Hanseatic League worked to protect their mutual trading interests. AKA Hansa, the League dominated cross-border commercial activity in northern Europe from the 13th century through the 15th century.

(Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash)

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

is especially well-known the world over thanks largely to former US President Jimmy Carter’s exemplary engagement over several decades.

Also deserving high praise is the Heartstrings Walk of the Republic of Singapore.

Korea too has a community chest of its own known as Sarang-ui Yeolmae (사랑의 열매), founded in 1998 as a community-impact welfare and charity organization with a network of sixteen local offices all across the country. None of the priceless contributions made by these charitable projects could have come to fruition but for the selfless work of numerous players working hand in hand to create a better community, whether global or local.

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Of relative recent vintage, NATO came into being during the Cold War era with a view to providing Europe with a collective security umbrella. It has since evolved into a center for pan-European cultural and commercial interchange as well.

ASEAN happens to be the Southeast Asian equivalent of NATO operating along the same fundamental lines.

Lots of things around us also point to the team mattering far and away more than any of its individual members. A living being, plant or animal, would be inconceivable without its body parts, either internal or external. The parts here are admittedly indispensable, and yet they can’t outweigh the whole plant or animal itself ever.

The whole is indeed way more consequential than even the sum of its parts.

In this connection, we may as well think of the saying that it takes a village to raise a child.

What it means is that it is not just parents alone that bring up a child. Implicit in this famous African proverb is that child rearing is the joint responsibility of the entire community. In other

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words, nurturing children calls for a village-wide team effort, not just a parental endeavor. The spirit of UBUNTU is in play here.

To get something or anything worthwhile done, the whole team needs to pitch in with all players doing their best to turn in their respective shares. That a dwarf on the shoulders of a giant sees further of the two eloquently attests to the power of the team, as opposed to that of any of the individual players.

“No player is bigger than the team” embodies the power of symbiotic collaboration in attaining things of value we aim at as a society. Incidentally, we must remember here that as soon as the team leader somehow spirals out of control and takes all things into his or her own hands, for instance, the entire team gets dumped into a dark and damp abyss. The human body offers an interesting analogy here. Should something go wrong with the brain, which is the leader of the body, the rest of the body cannot function normally at all.

We are reminded here once again that no humans are islands unto themselves. We are all part of humankind in particular and of nature in general. None of us can ever do without the rest of the world, can we? Therefore, it is no accident that all living things thrive and survive in bunches or groups, rather than in isolation.

Interestingly, “Birds of a feather flock together” is of direct and immediate relevance to the story of “No player being bigger than the team. It aptly implies the human hunger for security through company. It is beyond dispute that couples are stronger and thus securer than singles.

Union is strength, which gives rise to peaceful

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Seen in this light, the age-old institution of matrimony can be justified in terms of our quest for this collective security. Similarly rationalizable are the majority clan villages that have studded Korea until rather recently and that still does in many rural parts of the country.

And so are ghettos and even clusters of houses of ill fame on the periphery of a town.

Herd mentality, AKA mob or crowd instinct, must be deeply and indelibly engrained in our subconscious minds. We thus are apparently born to seek and build up our fortune in tandem with the rest of our kind. It is thus arguably in our DNA to constantly search for better (read “securer”) company throughout our planetary journey.

“The company makes the feast” aptly celebrates this gregarious nature of ours. Also evidencing the value of company for us all is “Companionship upon the road is the shortest cut.” It seems to be always best to be in company with somebody you are comfortable with, especially when you feel the need to be calm, safe, and secure. The lone sheep is in danger of the wolf, as they say.

“Woe to him that is alone,” according to The Ecclesiastes (4:10). “United we stand, divided we fall” was the way Aesop put it long, long ago, circa the 5th century B.C.

The Author

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

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Wolves hunt in packs. Dogs, hounds, dingoes, coyotes, etc. loiter in packs too. Lions navigate their habitat in prides. Fish swim in schools.

Dolphins and whales crisscross the seas in pods.

Ants, bees, and penguins live in colonies. Cattle, horses, and donkeys travel in droves or herds.

surroundings for all involved. Not even Hercules could contend against two, could he?

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ESSAYS

Refugees, Immigration, and Integration

By Jonathan Joseph Chiarella

H

uman displacement rose noticeably this century. In addition to ongoing civil wars, we witnessed upheavals in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Gaza. Consequently, the acceptance of refugees and migrants is a hot-button issue.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

THE MORAL DILEMMA On the one hand, humanitarian ideals compel us to welcome refugees. For most of history, polities were laissez-faire about migration. However, in the late 1800s, many states began exclusion policies – and even intensified them in the 20th century. Then the United Nations and the bastions of Western liberalism recoiled with horror after World War II. They vowed to provide the refuge that those fleeing genocide were seeking. Germany today exemplifies the spirit and hosts 2.2 million refugees.

On the other hand, the specter of social discontent gives us pause. Even before migrants arrive – or in spite of whatever they do – some natives will be livid.

That is a problem for a democracy. And even if the state ignores the angry subset, serious issues arise in every migrant’s transition. The host and target countries usually have sharply different languages, food, and customs. Also, there will be a non-zero rise in violent crime from (1) sharp population increases, (2) inter-ethnic fights, and (3) failed integration creating unemployed and disconnected youths.

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Is a state’s sole duty to its own citizens? Should it reflect its society’s humane morals? Can utilitarianism work? Has Germany taken too many Syrians, Turks, and Ukrainians? Hungary too few?

Should all countries share the high costs of mass migration so that Germany does not become a martyr in this multiplayer game of prisoner’s dilemma?

Let’s leave these paradigms and examine the impact of migrants outside of the major ports and capital cities.

WIN-WIN IN THE COUNTRYSIDE A fall in the working-age population wreaks havoc on communities, and this is acute in small, rural villages. More workers means more services in the town, more products made and sold inside and outside the town, more customers, and most importantly, more tax revenue. Empty houses do not pay property taxes.

Data in Europe from Professor Lahdelma shows that rural communities often oppose taking migrants, as they feel the sheer numbers will overwhelm them, that the proportional increase is too much.

However, the towns that do receive migrants switch to being the most supportive. Contact and camaraderie dispel fears and animosity. The townspeople appreciate the economic and social rejuvenation that migrants bring. We also see a

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distinct re-conceptualization of the migrants. Big cities see migrants as a financial cost – even if they strongly feel that they should accept migrants. Rural areas see migrants as assets with tangible benefits.

for a mayor or governor to be feted abroad (see last month’s interview with San Antonio’s mayor). There is no reason to keep international relations limited to one-to-one interactions between presidents.

What is preferable to the migrant: to be seen as a charity case that everyone feels duty-bound to accept or as a member of the community for most people after a rough beginning? Certain people will prefer one over the other. However, any program that settles poor (i.e., car-less) and lonely refugees should distinguish between true rural towns and isolating, low-density “bed towns.”

Because North America is so suburbanized, it should not be surprising that some war refugees returned to Ukraine after months of walking on shoulders along interminable and desolate roads, mere inches from speeding, faceless metal boxes, working jobs or applying for benefits to barely make rent money.

Korea could market itself as an alterna tive, and one where the cost of living (especially food and rent) in Yeonggwang, for example, ranks far below that of Toronto. And for everywhere, investments in accessibility help migrants and natives alike.

Coordinated resettlement of migrants would be more cosmopolitan than a one-off “world” festival.

It would even assist with direct diplomacy. Such a local government would also build lasting crossnational ties, just as the Irish diaspora links Boston to the Emerald Isle. Nowadays, it is not unusual

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NEXT STEPS The demographic outlook for the Jeolla Provinces and Gwangju – and almost anywhere in Korea outside of a couple cities and Gyeonggi – is not great. Aging and shrinking populations mean less political power on the national stage, less money for upkeep and improvement, fewer municipal services, and a cycle of brain drain.

Things could look different. Caution is warranted for certain towns that need to become more accessible, but places like Gokseong, northern Suncheon, and Namwon could benefit from taking a lead in accepting and integrating migrants. We can already see how immigrants sparked a wave of foreign food markets all over Gwangsan District in Gwangju or in Wando. The worries about social upheaval and the controversies over what amount of assimilation the natives can (or should) demand of newcomers – these issues remain – but avoiding the discussion carries opportunity costs.

The Author

Jonathan J. Chiarella grew up in New York. He holds a BA in history (Rochester) as well as two MAs (Chonnam, Florida) and a PhD in politics (Florida). You can spot him riding the river trails or read his analysis of current affairs related to Honam or international relations.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

INTER-NATIONAL AT THE SUB-NATIONAL Immigration and integration present a unique opportunity for sub-national governments to flex their international muscles in a substantial way.

National governments control the border, yes, but sub-national governments can agree to sponsor stays of refugee immigrants and even push some acculturation like required (free) language classes as Quebec had done in Canada with the French language. This also does not have to be an all-ornothing decision about one massive nation of refugees. An active approach to resettlement of foreigners can allow true diversity. The myriad nationalities (from Cuban to Congolese) who moved to Alaska have worked the Grow North Farm and revitalized the food economy in Anchorage.

Abandoned hanok in rural North Jeolla Province.

(Photo by Isaiah Winters)

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ESSAYS

Life’s a Beach and That’s Where Sand Belongs

By William Urbanski

Dumping sand on the ground at the ACC is not financially responsible.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

T

he city of Gwangju has endured a number of difficult challenges and near catastrophes over the past couple of years. Covid-19 had a notable impact on the city, bringing most major gatherings and events to a near halt. It was only due to citizens’ acceptance of and compliance with government-mandated measures that the pandemic was not much worse. Then, in 2022, Gwangju fell victim to a dramatic water shortage, which almost resulted in water restrictions.

Luckily, that calamity was narrowly avoided, much more because of freakish rainfall last July, and not by, you know, addressing the underlying issues that caused the problem in the first place. In any case, a win is a win and once again, Gwangju avoided disaster by the skin of its teeth.

But alas, it would not be a calendar year if the city did not have to deal with at least one major

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crisis, and this time the pickle Gwangju has found itself in has nothing to do with viruses or weather anomalies but rather dollars and cents.

Yes, Gwangju is facing a big-time budget crunch, meaning a lot of programs across the city are poised to be slashed. While the reasons for this financial fiasco are myriad and complex, one of the simplest and most actionable steps the city can take to correct its monetary position is to stop paying performance artists to dump piles of sand in the middle of the ACC. DUMPING PILES OF SAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACC IS NOT ART Full disclaimer: I do not hold a doctorate in art history. But what I can say is that, beyond any shadow of a doubt, pouring a bunch of sand all over the ground at the ACC has zero artistic value, is a waste of sand, and is also a waste of money.

Before I say anything further, I want to address the haters who are no doubt going to come after me with baseless and exaggerated claims that I am somehow “anti-sand” or that I do not like sand.

In reality, nothing can be further from the truth!

It turns out sand is a valuable resource and has a great many uses. In construction projects, for example, sand can be used in many ways, such as when laying bricks on the ground. Of course, this requires careful preparation of the sand, but that is a story for another day. Perhaps an even more common use of sand is in cold and icy places

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like Canada. Sand can be spread out over an icy road to increase traction and generally reduce its slipperiness quotient. In fact, there are entire fleets of specially designed trucks in Canada that exist for no purpose but to stay spread sand over icy roads and highways during the winter months! It stands to reason that to use sand properly, it should either be packed down tightly and evenly or spread thin over an icy surface (which is usually achieved by throwing it with a shovel or one of the above-mentioned sandthrowing trucks). One way sand is not meant to be used is to dump it in piles in the middle of the ACC for no reason.

mind would want to dump a bunch of sand there, another group of artists caught my eye. It was confirmed that they were making giant circles and shapes on the ground by dumping bags of flour, which is food, on the ground. Generally speaking, after any food product touches the ground, it is no longer good to eat. While dumping sand on the ground for no reason is ridiculous, purposefully wasting food by dumping it on the ground and calling it art is completely asinine.

Apparently, a couple of artists who participated in recent Fringe Festival activities did not get the memo about sand and decided that it would be a good idea to dump a great deal of the stuff right in the middle of the ACC Plaza on a Saturday. In addition, they made at least one big trail of sand that extended out to the pagoda / bell tower.

Dumping a bunch of sand in the middle of the ACC is rife with problems. For one, sand is actually quite heavy, so a big, smoky truck of some sort was probably needed to bring it there.

Second, sand has this nasty characteristic of being small and sand-like, so it also probably took a great deal of effort to clean it up. All of this hard work could have been avoided by not dumping a bunch of sand on the ground at the ACC.

While I was walking around the Fringe Festival, trying to comprehend why anyone in their right

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WON WOES Everyone in the city is going to be affected by the financial belt-tightening that is going to play out in 2024. Fiduciary problems are complex, and the city will have to do some serious soul searching about what programs and services it wants to spend the big bucks funding. Hopefully, everyone can agree that money spent dumping sand and flour on the ground at the ACC is money better spent elsewhere.

The Author

William Urbanski is the managing editor of the Gwangju News. He likes his kimchi spicy and his beaches sandy.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

If the artists really wanted the citizens of Gwangju to experience the wonders of sand, it turns out there are places where sand exists naturally, and those places are called beaches. Perhaps filling a bus with people and driving them to a beach would have been a better use of taxpayer money.

This would also have the benefit of allowing the people to spend a day at the beach and actually play with the sand instead of just looking at the big pile of sand dumped on the ground at the ACC.

Could someone with an advanced degree in fine arts explain to me what the heck is going on here?

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ESSAYS

Photographs

By Francesca Duong

We had just finished filling our stomachs with BHC Chicken in celebration of my students’ participation in an English competition. Within a few steps out of the restaurant, we spotted a photobooth studio just down the street. It was unquestionable – we had to do it. The five of us shuffled to the Photo Signature building and packed into a booth. With our matching accessories and Sailor Moon-esque wands, we posed in organized chaos as the timer counted down. Our laughter echoed throughout the studio in our attempt to capture the wonderful memories of this day.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Snap.

I

carefully balanced my phone against an object a few feet away from us. After clicking the button to start the tensecond self-timer, I quickly scurried back to my friends around the table. The four of us had gathered for Chuseok, with a layout of delicious homemade foods in front of us. The host had his TV playing in the background as we chatted and ate together. Even though we were all thousands of miles away from home, it felt like a family celebration.

Snap.

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The fall colors at the peak of Mudeung Mountain were beautiful. I stood there, at the top of Seoseokdae (서석대), wide-eyed at the national park surrounding me. The curves of the mountains were softened by trees and resembled stagnant green and yellow waves. Crystal blue bodies of water and rock formations interspersed the rolling hills.

My hand reached into my pocket to grab my iPhone and take a picture.

Snap. Snap… Snap?

I stared hard at my phone screen before shifting my focus to the horizon. It was as if I was staring at two different sceneries. The vibrant colors were muted, and the trees blurred together into a blob. Instead of a pale blue sky dotted with

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clouds, the camera turned it gray. With a sigh, I put my phone back into my pocket in defeat.

This memory could not be digitized.

I lingered at the peak for a few more minutes.

As if I was cramming for a test the night before, I urged my mind to soak in the information and process it as accurately as possible. I seared the feeling of my tired muscles into my brain. I memorized the relief of breathing in clean, crisp air. The synergy of joy, accomplishment, and peace were all downloaded and filed away in my head. This moment, as well as countless other special moments this year, was one I wanted to keep forever. I did not want to forget this. I refused to forget this. ***** My year in Gwangju has been filled with precious memories and experiences. Every day was a new adventure. Every day was a new chance to learn.

can be on top of the world while also knowing that I might never reach this same level again.

As a result, I try to fill my camera with pictures.

Pictures freeze time – even just for a second.

We can be caught in mid-laughter or in random poses making silly faces. They can remind us of the happiness we shared with people or the beauty that we experienced.

Yet, just like my phone camera was unable to capture the true beauty of Mudeung Mountain, the pictures are no substitute. They are a ghost of what was. They lack the emotional contexts surrounding each moment, and only serve as a flat, one-dimensional depiction of an experience.

Emotions, instead, live in our memories. But memories are fleeting and fading. As much as I try to force a one-hundred percent accurate imprint on my mind, it slowly disappears. Like sand, each detail falls from my hands until I am left with a fraction of what once was.

Yet, as a native English teacher, my time in Gwangju is limited. There is no guarantee how long I can spend here. In retrospect, I imagine that the first time I stepped into the city, a yearlong timer was set above my head. This constant reminder of my temporary presence has forced me to treat time like a precious commodity.

There are only so many seconds in a day, and I need to ration the best way to spend my time.

This desperation guides me. This desperation also pains me. As I slowly await my fate to arrive in a jarring, random email, I try to succumb to the turmoil of running out of time.

As I start to see bungeo-ppang (붕어빵) and eomukguk (어묵국) carts line the streets of Chungjang-ro (충장로), I know the time I have left in my wallet is short. Each day feels more and more urgent. Each day feels as if I have more to lose.

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

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The Author

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Will I still be in Korea next year? Will I still see my students? Am I going to be moved?

Although I urge myself to live in the moment and appreciate the present, it feels as if someone is constantly whispering these questions in my ear. Their curse laces each wonderful experience with a bitterness that cannot be ignored. Every fleeting moment is both happy and unhappy. I

Change is coming, and there is nothing I can do to stop it.

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COMMUNITY

The 2023 Gwangju Liquor Tourism Festa

By Olivia Laurel

Located at the Kim Daejung Convention Center (김대중컨벤션센터) in the west of Gwangju, this three-day event on October 27–29 pulled out all the stops to bring the best-quality alcohol available to the public. There were over 120 companies represented in displaying a wide variety of beverages including traditional makgeolli, wines, handmade beers, soju, and hard liquor.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Because of the numerous selections, I ended up going on two of the three days to see everything.

Every booth had its own advertisements and tasting areas, and I noticed that some booths had much longer lines than others. But all in all, it was an enlightening experience to try so many different types of alcohol.

growth of the grapes. All the wineries in Korea are in the central and northern parts of the country.

I really enjoyed tasting the wines from the Mirasil Wolf Winery located in North Chungcheong Province (충청북도). Owned by a friendly retired couple, they decided to learn the art of winemaking and made a successful business out of it. They had a few varieties of fruit wines infused with blueberries, apricots, and apples, which are locally sourced. My absolute favorite from their collection was called the Century Gold White Wine. The grape flavor was very straightforward and clean, and not overpowered by the alcohol. This wine would pair perfectly with a medium-rare steak.

Several of the booths offered many varieties of alcohol within the same companies. When it came to trying the makgeolli, I was most impressed with what the Moonlight Brewery from Gwangju had to offer. Their Dalmak blend had a fresh, crisp flavor across the board. They used a mixture of vanilla, green apple, and melon to achieve this lovely combination. They have also created a soju called Wolgwangu that had similar notes of vanilla along with a grain aroma.

I was even able to get into the holiday season because there was one booth that everyone seemed to gravitate to that served up mulled wine. Gluhwein Korea is based out of Seoul and has perfected the art of mixing the best spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom to create a beautifully blended drink. It is best when served warm, and it instantly reminded me of Christmas – a celebration in a cup! Glühwein originated in Germany, and it is commonly enjoyed throughout the Christmas season.

When exploring through the wine territory, I was surprised to find that there were not any wineries within the Jeolla provinces. I spoke with a wine representative for Korea, and he mentioned that the southern climate is not suitable for the best

As I wandered over to the land of beer, I could see there were several booths offering imported beers in their selections. Many of the European countries were represented. The Wychwood Brewery from Whitney, England, had a choice of craft beers

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(Photos by Olivia Laurel and the Gwangju Liquor Tourism Festa.)

called Hobgoblin that came in either a smooth dark English ale or a citrusy golden English ale depending on your preference.

And lastly, the event would not be complete without a giant array of liquor to try out. Whether you are a whiskey lover, gin lover, or soju lover, you could find your favorite choice there. Busker Korea had four different types of Irish whiskey that ranged from fruity to spicy finishes. Guja Gin Seoul was voted to be the best sipping gin, and as a gin lover, I wholeheartedly agreed! With nine varieties made in their distillery, you have plenty

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Along with the alcohol booths, there were some food options as well. Many people flocked to the charcuterie spreads with premium hams and sausages, as well as traditional snacky foods like rice cakes and nuts.

Overall, this was such a great chance to explore the world of alcohol all under one roof. Many people turned out for this event, which made it a huge success. I could see many people enjoying their time, and I believe it opened their minds to see lots of new ways to enjoy alcohol with family and friends.

The Author

Olivia Laurel is an English professor at Gwangju University and has been residing in South Korea since 2009. When she is not teaching, she enjoys creating art and has participated in several different art shows across the country. Her favorite medium to work with is painting with mixed media designs.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

There was a brewery from Anyang near Seoul that especially caught my interest. They were called Art Monster, and their story began when a famous journalist made the comment that Korean beer was not as delicious as other beers around the world. That sparked the motivation for the company to become the best craft beer they could be! Established in 2017, they have risen to fame, receiving many awards across Asia. They have a collection of six microbrews to choose from, and my favorite one to try was called Itaewon Freedom.

It was very smooth while giving off notes of wheat, banana, and cloves.

of options depending on your mood. I also loved the Rainbow liquor, which is local to Gwangju, and they offered one signature flavor that consists of the perfect concoction of fruit and sweetness together. This liquor is bought with a set of glasses to enjoy over ice.

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COMMUNITY

Hosting the World Gwangsan-gu’s Global Citizens Culture Festival

By Julien Laheur te

Community Parade of Uzbekistan Nationals.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

O

n November 4 between 12–6 p.m., the Gwangsan-gu Global Citizens Culture Festival unfolded at Hwangryong Chinsu Park, in the vibrant heart of west Gwangju. Under the banner of “Meeting the World in Gwangsan,” this event provided a platform to delve into the rich tapestry of cultures comprising Gwangsan, the most multicultural district in Gwangju. The festival was collaboratively planned and organized by residents from 25 nationalities, with the support of the National Central Asian Cultural Center and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation. With a twofold mission, it sought to recognize the residents of this district, whether Korean or non-Korean, as integral components of a “global world.” It did so

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by championing values of respect, exchange, and empathy for each other’s customs and traditions.

Moreover, the festival marked the inauguration of the novel Foreign Residents and Multicultural Affairs Department. This milestone signifies Gwangsan’s commitment to providing systemic support and governance for the approximately 22,000 foreign residents and multicultural families living in Gwangsan-gu. The department’s responsibilities encompass comprehensive support plans for foreign residents, pioneering new public infrastructure development, steering the network of foreign residents organizations, and spearheading collaborative projects with other nations.

The festivities kicked-off with the musical theater production titled “Story in Asia,” a creation by the National Central Asian Culture Center. This performance harmonized the traditional pansori from Korea with content inspired by Asian folk tales from Myanmar and Indonesia. Following this captivating overture, an array of performances, as part of the “Our Neighborhood Fringe Festival” displayed a diverse range of shows, from mask dances to jazz performances, and even traditional plays, all brought to life by the citizens of Gwangju.

Among these, a folk play vividly depicting a fearsome Mudeung-san tiger stood out, capturing the attention of the audience. For those seeking a brief respite from the shows, food booths awaited

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Community Parade of Indonesian Nationals.

at the park’s entrance. Personally, I had a soft spot for the Venezuelan arepa, a delicacy crafted from ground maize dough and generously filled with chicken, creamy avocado, or spicy beef. As for dessert, I indulged in a piece of red bean cake prepared by two Korean ajummas. The pinnacle of the festival undoubtedly arrived with the National Community Parade, where representatives from ten different countries, led by Korean tambour players, paraded in unison across the park.

Bedecked in their national costumes and robes, this parade showcased the diversity and unity valued by Gwangsan-gu.

In Gwangju, a group of around 20 individuals established their inaugural community, gathering in the Wolgok-dong area. Over time, a church was founded in 2009, followed by a kindergarten in 2012, to assist in the community’s resettlement efforts. As more Koryo-saram families relocated to Wolgok-dong, the Metropolitan Government of Gwangju took a proactive step by establishing a non-profit organization known as the “Korean Village.” This organization was dedicated to supporting the resettlement and integration of this community into the neighborhood. Notably, Gwangju holds the distinction of being the first city in South Korea to enact specific ordinances aimed at bolstering assistance for the Koryo-saram community. Today, the village has around 40 facilities including a museum, a medical center, a newspaper, and even a radio station serving the needs of the approximately 7,000 people living there.

Photos Courtesy of Gwangsan-gu District Office.

The Global Citizens Culture Festival also paid tribute to outstanding citizens with the prestigious Gwangsan-gu Mayor’s Award for their significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of the foreign community within the district. Among the recipients, Director Jeon Seong-hyun of the Wolgot Goryeo Clinic was recognized as a devoted “guardian of health” for the Koryo-saram community living in Wolgok-dong.

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Community Parade of Philippine Nationals.

The Author

Julien Laheurte is a French literary translator who has been residing in South Korea for the past two years. After the completion of his master’s degree in Seoul, he moved to Gwangju with the intention of delving deeper into the history of the May 1980 democracy movement. His goal is to translate literary works that shed light on this pivotal moment in Korean history.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

“Koryo-saram” or “Koryoin” refer to ethnic Koreans who emigrated to present-day Russia from around 1860 driven by agricultural opportunities, the independence movement against Japanese colonial rule, or coerced labor. In 1937, a significant portion of this community was deported to Central Asian countries, primarily Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, by order of Stalin. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, an increasing number of families began returning to the Korean Peninsula, settling in major urban areas of South Korea.

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COMMUNITY

Your Nightly Resting Corner

By Yousra Feriel Drioua

I

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

f you’ve brushed across some of my writings in this magazine, you’d not only be familiar with my hopelessly idealistic approach to life but also my endearment for Gwangju and how grateful I am to have spent a season of my life there. I’m a little rusty since I haven’t sat behind the keyboard in a while, but I’ll be sharing yet another anecdote from the City of Light. I tend to refer to Gwangju as a global hub within Korea, and I stand by that statement. As a pretty autonomous city, not only does it have its own International Center, but it is relatively full of opportunities for expats to take part in the community. The Asia Culture Center (ACC), public libraries, local welfare institutes, university clubs, and even broadcast stations are some of just a few entities providing such integration opportunities.

For today’s episode, I must play my scratched CD, which concerns switching majors after five years of biology in Algeria to media communication and journalism in Korea overnight, emphasizing my new, self-imposed lack of experience in the field. All I knew was that I needed to start from scratch, and the fifteen-hour flight to Korea was the easiest step. Now that that’s out of the way, amid that mini-inner turmoil, fate smiled at me as I crossed a banner on the main gate of Chonnam National University. Gwangju Shimin Bangsong (광주시민방송, Gwangju Citizen Broadcasting

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Station) was recruiting DJs and producers. Since no notion of experience was cited, as terrified as I was, I went for it. Honestly, what did I have to lose? Sentimentalists like myself share in common blind faith and brave folly.

I received a call about a week later, and little did I know, the radio had a multicultural program specifically for international students and citizens residing in Gwangju. The most infamous one is Channel Woori-Noori (채널 우리누리), where the aforementioned are given creative liberty over their entire broadcasts. It is the fruit of collaboration between the Gwangju Citizen Broadcasting Station and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation. You can think of Channel WooriNoori as a tree from which many branches stem, and each stem represents a show. It aims to promote global exchange within Gwangju society and encourage multiculturalism.

The radio station offers mentoring and training for beginners in terms of recording, editing, and whatever else is needed to make the shows come to life. This was extremely helpful to me at the start, as I had no clue what any of the equipment at the studio or its functions was for. However, what I appreciate most is that the radio station does not interfere with our production direction so long as we abide by some regulation guidelines, such as using profanity, discussing controversial

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politics, and the like. We’re also encouraged to speak in Korean but can use English or our mother tongues on occasion and invite guests.

That is why each show under the multicultural program has a distinct color and story to tell.

It ranges from self-development, Gwangju’s cultural society, human rights, global warming, cultural and ethnic differences, migration, and life in Korea to music discussions and daily life stories. Additionally, the international hosts are allowed to participate in other programs on the station, such as the mobile studio. Alas, my first show was called Your Nightly Resting Corner (쉴때 밤 코너), which ran from February to August 2022. I’ve been fortunate to run it a second time since August 2023 under the name Your Nightly Resting Corner 2.0 Black & White (쉴때 밤 코너 2.0 흑백).

somewhere shared an aspect or an experience from their life. I may never know if I have achieved these goals or if anyone ever listens, but if someone ever did and the show managed to comfort that tired soul by taking away 0.75% of their 100% exhaustion, that’s enough for me.

Working at the station has not only given me a chance to conceive a necessary skillset for my professional life, but it opened up a window to do something my younger self would’ve been proud of. It was not a matter of the number of people listening but a matter of growing a passion and blind faith, finding purpose in something, giving it meaning, and choosing to stay consistent with it. A pretty helpless idealism, wouldn’t you say?

The concept of my broadcast was born out of a very melancholic place. As I reminisced over my time in Algeria, I recalled leaving my part-time job in the late evenings. Carrying a wandering mind, I sought healing music, authentic discussion, and sometimes company. But I had no interest in taking any part in it. I’d be knocked out by the end of the day with no energy left, simply wanting to feel understood, connected, or heard without saying a thing. This might sound conflicting or even sad to some, but I believe it’s a state most humans can relate to. Eventually, I learned to find that solace I was seeking. And the show gave me the chance to share that same sentiment.

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The Author

Yousra is a 24-year-old Algerian living in South Korea. She’s a scholar with the Global Korea Scholarship majoring in mass communication and journalism. She enjoys intriguing conversations, going on adventures, interacting with people, and being an active community member. As she figures out her calling in life, she’s mostly interested in writing and broadcasting.

Instagram: @myyilgi

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Your Nightly Resting Corner’s main theme is for people to “rest” emotionally after long days. To keep them company, provide a distraction from a needlessly spiraling mind, and hopefully, give them a pat on the back for making it through another day. Season one of the show consisted of mainly sharing music I believed to be healing, my personal daily shenanigans, and life lessons that could be inspiring. But for season two, I invited international friends to interview them.

By sharing their own stories and music that held meaning to them, I believed the listeners could find common ground with the guests and, again, feel comforted by the sheer fact that a stranger

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COMMUNITY

Diwali – Festival of Lights

By Neha Bisht

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GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

iwali (or Deepavali), the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. It is a Hindu festival that is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Ram with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after spending 14 years in exile. To welcome them, people decorate their homes and streets with flowers and lighting lamps. The festival mainly signifies the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Diwali usually lasts for five days, and each day has its own significance, rituals, and customs. The dates of Diwali may vary each year as it is based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it typically falls between October and November.

Here is an overview of the five-day Diwali celebration:

Diwali celebration in Mumbai.

Day 1: The beginning of the Diwali celebration starts with Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi). It is associated with the worship of wealth and prosperity. On this day, people clean and decorate

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their homes and offer prayers to the Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera, the deity of wealth.

Buying gold, silver, or other valuable items is considered auspicious on this day.

Day 2: This day is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali. This day commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the Demon Narakasura. On this day, people take oil baths to cleanse themselves. Temples and homes are decorated with colorful rangoli, and evenings are marked by the lighting of lamps and bursting of firecrackers.

Day 3: This is the main day of the Diwali festival, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. On this day homes are cleaned, decorated, and illuminated with oil lamps, candles, and decorative lights. The Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh are worshipped in the evening to seek the blessings of prosperity, happiness, and wealth. Firecrackers are lit to celebrate the triumph of light.

Day 4: This day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja (Padwa). Govardhan Puja commemorates the lifting of the Govardhan Hill by Lord Krishna to protect the people of Vrindavan. On this day, the Devotees create an annakut (a mountain of food) as an offering to Lord Krishna. Cow worship is an integral part of this day. In some regions, this day is also celebrated as Padwa, symbolizing the love between spouses.

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Day 5: This day, known as Bhai Dooj, is celebrated to signify the bond between brothers and sisters.

On this day, sisters perform aarti (rituals of worship) for their brothers, applying a tilak, or marking on their foreheads. Brothers give gifts to their sisters as a token of love and protection.

Families come together for a festive meal.

Besides these customs, Diwali is also considered a time for new beginnings and a fresh start. It is a time to let go of negativity and embrace positivity. It is also celebrated as a harvest festival in some regions of India. Farmers express gratitude for the bountiful harvest and seek the blessings of deities for future prosperity. Overall, the Diwali celebration is a time of joy, socializing, strengthening familial bonds, feasting, and religious observances. The exchange of gifts and sweets symbolizes the spirit of giving and sharing happiness with others. It reflects the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of India, emphasizing the values of light, prosperity, and the victory of good over evil.

Here, the Diwali festival was celebrated in quite a different way. The celebration included dance, songs, and fashion shows exhibiting

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Diwali celebration in Gwangju.

Personally, I also performed some rituals at my home by putting up home decorations with lights and illuminating candles, worshipping the Goddess Lakshmi, and making some traditional food. I hope the Indian community in the future will organize more such events. I really thank all the committee members for their constant hard work to make this event joyous and successful.

The Author

A native of India, Neha Bisht is pursuing her PhD research at Chonnam National University’s Department of Material Science and Engineering. She loves to meet new people and make new friends. She wants to explore the whole world and learn more about the traditional and cultural differences across the globe. She always likes to contribute to the wellbeing of society in whatever way she can.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Diwali Celebration in Gwangju: Since Diwali is a five-day festival, we cannot perform all the rituals here. However, the Indian community in Gwangju did its best to celebrate the biggest festival of India, Deepawali, at Chonnam National University (CNU). The celebration here was organized as a means to compensate for family separation experienced by folks who are far away from their loved ones, making it similar to Chuseok. The event aimed to foster social gatherings for people from different countries, showcasing the ideology of universal inclusion.

The event was attended by more than 150 people, including Indian students from CNU, GIST, and Chosun University, in addition to local working professionals from India, plus Korean and other foreign students. The event was managed by CNU Indian students with the help of CNU’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), the CNU Graduate School, and the Gwangju International Center (GIC).

performances from different regions of India followed by intermittent fun activities. The decoration team beautifully decorated the place with colors using lamps and rangoli to display the aura of Diwali. The celebration was concluded by presenting gifts to all participants, snapping group pictures, and providing delicious Indian food packages. The Indian sweet laddu was hand prepared by CNU students. The event was amazing, cheerful, and memorable, all thanks to the hard work of the organizing committee. I, on behalf of the Indian community, would like to thank CNU-OIA for providing the venue for the event. I would like to say thanks to the Universal Cultural Centre (UCC) for providing internal support to organize the event. I would also like to say thanks to the CNU Graduate School and the GIC for providing funding.

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CULTURE AND THE ARTS

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Painting a Landscape of the Mind Artist Lee In-sung

By Kang Jennis Hyunsuk

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

The Young Man and the Sea (2023). Acrylic on canvas, 130 x 162 cm.

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pon encountering Lee In-sung’s paintings, my eyes focused on scenes featuring rolling waves on the sea, graceful seagulls, and the captivating presence of a young man. Learning that his hometown was Haenam, nestled close to the sea, I couldn’t help but speculate that in each stroke of his brush, the artist engaged in a personal dialogue with himself. Being from Haenam, the most distant corner of the peninsula from the vortex of Seoul, Lee’s artistic journey unfolded organically.

Remarkably, he never underwent formal training in a professional art academy. Instead, his early artistic expression took the form of graffiti-like sketches on paper, a fondness cultivated in his youth. His path led him to Haenam High School, where he delved into diverse genres of painting, founded a cartoon club with his friends, and ultimately enrolled in the College of Fine Arts at Chosun University. Intrigued by his artistic style, I recently paid a visit to Lee’s studio, eager to unravel the narrative behind his creations and to share the story of his art with the readers of the Gwangju News. Here is our conversation: Jennis: Thank you so much for granting me this interview. A few years back, I attended your exhibition at the Gwangju Ha Jung-woong Museum of Art, and your artworks sparked my curiosity.

Lee In-sung: Thank you. The Gwangju Museum of Art selects one young artist annually and holds an exhibition spotlighting their works. I am honored to have been chosen as the Gwangju Young Artist in 2021, leading to a three-month invitational exhibition starting in December of that year.

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Jennis: Your paintings often feature the sea. Does this inclination stem from your upbringing near the coast?

Lee In-sung: While its proximity to the sea might play a role, the primary motivation behind portraying the sea in my paintings is to capture the ever-changing facets of life through the sea’s diverse expressions.

Jennis: I’ve noticed orange dots, and sometimes squares, in your paintings. What do they represent?

Lee In-sung: The orange dots could serve as directional markers to overcome life’s challenges or symbolize the value in our lives that we seek.

They encapsulate dreams or hopes and originated as an experiment driven by my curiosity – questioning why abstraction and conception couldn’t coexist on a single canvas. The orange dots, small figurative elements, aim to capture the reality I navigate.

Two Men on a Raft (2017). Acrylic on canvas, 162 x 260 cm.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Jennis: The exhibition was titled “I Am Ground.”

Could you explain its significance?

Lee In-sung: Certainly. The title draws inspiration from a game called “I’m Ground, I’ll Introduce Myself,” where ground symbolizes basic soil. I aimed to introduce myself, Lee In-sung, through my fundamental colors, signifying that painting fundamentally begins with self-exploration.

Additionally, “I Am Ground” carries another layer of meaning, representing the grounds

where sporting events are held. While staying at the Beijing Residency – I was recommended by the Gwangju Museum of Art – I witnessed a man practicing with a tennis ball tied to his racket.

Initially amusing, I suddenly realized I wasn’t so different: I was holding a metaphorical tennis ball called “painting.” Perhaps we’re all vigorously pursuing personal goals in our respective grounds.

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Jennis: Your exhibition at the Woo Je-gil Museum of Art was titled Querencia. What does it signify?

Lee In-sung: “Querencia” alludes to a place where bulls catch their breath during a bullfight. Amid the unexpected isolation of the Covid-19 era, people experienced ambivalence, oscillating between the fear of infection and the guilt associated with that fear. I envisioned those navigating emotional instability during uncertain times as being akin to a bull or a bullfighter in a bullring. Like them, we could either be the bull or the bullfighter – ultimately, we are not separate entities. Querencia serves as a sanctuary for modern-day individuals in the midst of uncertainty. This is what I explored in my Querencia series.

friends, striving for improvement. I practiced like a vocalist trying to have the finest voice. Professor Kim Jong-su, who specialized in portrait painting, compared my work to Fauvism art, acknowledging its unique charm. This recognition prompted me to focus on my individual expression, concentrating on psychological situations rather than intricate details, and no longer comparing my work with that of my classmates.

Jennis: Most of your paintings are acrylic, yet they exude an oil paint aesthetic rather than the brightness of acrylic. How do you achieve this color palette?

Lee In-sung: Before painting on canvas, like many artists, I sketch on a small paper called esquisse.

Once the outline is ready, I quickly transfer it to a larger canvas. Acrylic paints, drying faster than oil paints, prompt me to work rapidly before drying occurs. I aspire to be an artist unbound by specific colors or themes, creating a diverse range of feelings.

Jennis: I heard you’re married to a fellow artist, Sung Hye-rim. Do you believe being an artist couple has advantages?

Lee In-sung: Absolutely. Sharing the same artistic field broadens our understanding of each other.

As fellow artists on parallel journeys, we mutually support one another.

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Illusion 2 (2021). Acrylic on canvas, 27 x 35 cm.

Jennis: Your artwork at Art Gwangju caught my attention, particularly the one featuring a boy on the beach. The absence of detailed descriptions leaves room for imagination. You didn’t reveal the characters in the picture in detail, but the harmony of the colors that split the screen was so appealing that I felt that the artist purposely painted with restraint. When do you believe you developed your distinctive painting style?

Lee In-sung: During my time at Chosun University’s College of Arts, I constantly compared my paintings with those of talented

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Jennis: Considering your experiences as a resident artist in various Asian cities, including Beijing and Yokohama as well as Gwangju, and your current role lecturing at Chosun University, I wonder what your future plans are.

Lee In-sung: The Gwangju Museum of Art is actively promoting Gwangju artists internationally. In early November, there will be an exhibition at the Hanoi National Museum of Art, which includes several Gwangju artists, and another in Jakarta, Indonesia. Additionally, in mid-November, I just finished working on artworks at the Gana Art Studio in Yangju.

Jennis: Your schedule seems packed with artwork activities and exhibitions. I wish you success, and I look forward to seeing you at one of your upcoming exhibitions. Thank you for this extensive interview.

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LEE IN-SUNG’S PROFILE 2007 BFA from the College of Fine Arts, Chosun University 2010 MFA from the Department of Art, Chosun University

17 SOLO Exhibitions Selected Group Exhibitions

A Wonderful Summer Day (2020). Acrylic on canvas, 162 x 130 cm.

The Interviewer

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

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Residencies

2014 Koganecho Bazaar Residency, Yokohama, Japan 2013 Mite-Ugro Residency, Gwangju, Korea 2011 Gwangju Museum of Art Residency – Beijing, China 2010 Gwangju Museum of Art Residency – Yangsan-dong, Gwangju, Korea Email: hisdy@naver.com

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

AFTER THE INTERVIEW...

Lee In-sung skillfully reconstructs the ironic social phenomena he encounters and captures memorable moments from his daily life through metaphors and symbolic elements. His artworks serve as poignant reminders of the oftenoverlooked, invisible facets of our existence, prompting the audience to reflect on the deeper meaning of life.

2022 What’s in My Bag. De Young Art Museum, Gwangju 2021 Korean Young Artists’ Series.

Korean Culture Center, Hong Kong 2021 May 18 Uprising Special Exhibition.

Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju 2020 With Strong Roots. Po Kim and Sylvia Wald Museum, Gwangju 2019 Dive into You. Eunam Art Gallery, Gwangju 2019 In Your View. Asia Culture Center, Gwangju 2018 Night Hiking. Art Space Hue, Paju, Korea 2017 Arena. Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei 2017 Lotus Land. Asia Culture Center, Gwangju 2016 Gwangju Biennale Portfolio Review.

Lotus Culture Center, Gwangju 2015 Ignition (点火). Lazy Dragon Studio, Beijing 2015 Gwangju Young Artist Exhibition: Question. GMA Gallery, Seoul 2014 Flower Project. Koganecho Bazaar, Yokohama, Japan 2012 I Love You. Korean Cultural Center in Shanghai, Shanghai 2011 Beijing Residency of Gwangju Museum of Art. Beijing

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CULTURE AND THE ARTS

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Reviewed by Michael Attard

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he children are living in what appears to be a private boarding school for a select few, but something is amiss.

There is no mention of family visits, going home for the holidays, or from where the children come. The main character and narrator, Kathy, tells us, “We knew a few things about ourselves – about who we were, how we were different from our guardians, from the people outside – but hadn’t yet understood what it meant.” And it is clear that the dissimilarity is not perceived as a good thing for the children. There are people who “shudder at the very thought of you.”

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their personalities and emotions. They often disagree and can be quite mean to each other, but having each other is all that they possess.

The three main characters are students and have grown up together. In addition to Kathy, there are Ruth and Tommy. The author, Kazuo Ishiguro, through their conversations gives us an in-depth view of

At times, there are wide discrepancies in memories. With respect to an imagination game that Kathy and Ruth used to play, Ruth claimed that they had only played the game for two or three weeks. Kathy says, “My guess

The story is told through Kathy’s memory. At times, her recollections go back many years, and in other instances not as far, but even then, the subject of conversation may revolve around an older memory. The accuracy of memory, for all the characters, is often brought into question. Kathy, as narrator, regularly admits to not being quite so sure of events, and she realizes that her levels of understanding were subject to maturation.

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is that it went on for nine months, a year even.” This recurring theme of memory and forgetfulness is employed by the author to cast doubt upon the readers’ mind about the veracity of our own perceptions – as if all of us are in a world different from what it seems.

Early in the story, we learn that the title of the book is taken from the song “Never Let Me Go.” Kathy had the song on a tape but would only play it when no one else was around. She was eleven years old at the time, and even though she suspected that she misunderstood what the song was about, she says, “That wasn’t an issue for me. The song was about what I said.” This falls in line with the author’s questioning of memory and the subsequent chosen beliefs by which we live our lives. As the characters become older, they are sometimes able to objectively fill in the blanks as to who they are. This is not to imply that they understand the “why” of their situation. In addition, there is the question “Are they good enough?” This is mainly expressed through the character Tommy.

There are several minor but significant characters such as Miss Lucy, one of their teachers, or guardians, as they were called, and it is she who tries to break through the illusion of a free life in the future. Relatively early in the book, it becomes clear to the reader that the birth, lives, preordained purpose, and early death of the children is part of a macabre master plan created by a power elite. Yet mystifyingly, there is never talk of revolt.

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But if you are interested in reading a book delving behind the prosaic scenes of life, you may find that this book opens a few new doors.

I will venture to say that Ishiguro has an existential view of life. How else to explain the suffering and the absurdity of life? But even in negativity, he poses important questions pertaining to the existence of the human soul. These questions override the mundane details of what we mistakenly interpret as our essence.

In conclusion, I have tried to interpret Ishiguro’s message, which transcends his story. I am not saying that I agree or disagree with his perspective. But if you are interested in reading a book delving behind the prosaic scenes of life, you may find that this book opens a few new doors.

The Reviewer

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

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

There are a few sub-plots such as a mysterious gallery where the students’ artwork supposedly goes. There is rumor of a deferral plan, which would delay the inevitable. There are side trips, taken with the hope of shedding light onto their situation, and there is even romance. But while the conversations and activity progress at a quick pace, I was left wondering about the purpose of the sub-plots. Perhaps it is to create a hope, even if in the end, there is no chance of escaping the unavoidable.

It strikes me, however, that even the story’s main plot line is secondary to the author’s purpose. The actions, friendships, arguments, unknowns, revelations, and fluctuating emotions seem simply to be a façade for an unnerving and gloomy existence. No matter what they do or what happens, there will not be a positive result. The meager attempts at hope only reinforce the sense of failure.

Toward the end, Kathy tried to keep out the feeling “that we were doing all this too late; that there’d once been a time for it, but we’d let that go by, and there was something ridiculous, reprehensible even, about the way we were thinking and planning.”

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CULTURE AND THE ARTS

Top of The Drop

By Daniel J. Springer This is our latest monthly installment by Daniel Springer of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN), where “Danno” picks his favorite newly released tunes that you may have missed, along with some upcoming albums and EPs that you might want to keep on your radar. — Ed.

JUNG KOOK – “STANDING NEXT TO YOU”

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

As always in this space, we start with the heavy hitters, and nothing drops quite as simultaneously radioactive and viral as anything from BTS. Enter this banger on Jung Kook’s solo debut LP Golden, and just pre-push your wig back and get ready to throw everything in the air, as things are about to go up for grabs. If you’re like me, the expectation with BTS is for everything to be turned up to 11 and compressed to the point of near oblivion, but this song and the arrangement defy the norm, leaving what is simply the best get-down funk track of the year.

TV GIRL & MONSTER RALLY – “AVERAGE GUY (BLAME)” For most people here in Gwangju, the cold snap just before the middle of November really set us into winter mode, with seemingly everybody that weekend staying home like some kind of Planet Hoth-like blizzard system had set in. That very same weekend of November 10 saw this perfectly timed track

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drop with the rain and the cold, as Cleveland’s Monster Rally and the LA-based indie trio TV Girl teamed up for a trip to the tropical dream spa and an outstanding audio massage. Do note that if you want to find out more about TV Girl, their website is americasfavoriteindieband.com, which obviously deserves both ad nauseum mention and enthusiastic appreciation.

BLACK PUMAS – “ROCK AND ROLL” Sophomore albums are hard. It’s as simple as that.

The degree of difficulty is ratcheted up even further when your debut album gets Grammy nominations and endless praise from the critterati. Thus, it was with both trepidation and skepticism that the Austin duo of Adrian Quesada and Eric Burton recently dropped their sophomore LP Chronicles of a Diamond, and it is a sure shot album-of-the-year candidate. The record flows with such elan and gospel-fueled grace that it almost beggars belief, but the final song “Rock and Roll” wraps everything up with a psychedelic, triumphant flourish that is stunning. A diamond of most luminescent shine, no doubt.

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YAEJI – “EASY BREEZY” Earlier in the year, we saw the Brooklyn-based Korean electronica adventurer in glasses drop her debut album, With A Hammer, which was a nostalgic look back at some of Yaeji’s youth and family in the early years growing up in Seoul. This tune is another look into the past, with the artist delving into vintage pop sounds from Korea and Japan in the arrangement and lyrical concepts that are so deftly done. The video of Yaeji riding a bike around Brooklyn with her dog Jiji is a very fun treat as well.

BUSTY AND THE BASS (FEAT. KATIE TUPPER) – “NEVER GET ENOUGH” This is a band out of Montreal who’ve seemingly been making ins with the right kind of people in the jazz, funk, and soul scenes.

November 17 saw the group drop their latest album Forever Never Cares with a tracklist featuring the likes of Son Little and LA-based jazz and soul colossus Terrace Martin. This group is going places, no matter how obscure they might be right now.

RAHMANIA ASTRINI – “SOMEDAY SOMEWHERE SOMEPLACE SOMEHOW”

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One of our favorite dance music makers out of Europe, Kraak & Smaak have been dropping originals and remixes for years now, sewing chaos and confusion everywhere they go since they’re not even a duo! Huh? This is a remix of a Kraak & Smaak original from their 2019 album Pleasure Centre, with the honors going to the Brooklyn-based Jitwam. Originally from Assam in Northeast India, Jitwam has a high-quality and growing discography of his own originals, most notably 2019’s Honeycomb. Here, we’re talking some proper minor key electronic gospel inspiration, with the vocal carries and easy bounce creating an unstoppable antigravitational effect.

FIGHTMASTER – “VIOLENCE” This is a non-binary artist out of LA who states their true name as ER Fightmaster. If that’s on their birth certificate, there’s a hat somewhere for me to consume. The song itself is a languid, easy-going arrangement centered on a hypnotic and exceedingly simple acoustic guitar riff that just eases the listener into a state of ease, all while Fightmaster is throwing down the anvil of oath, choosing violence every single time. The song is about the power dynamics in relationships and is just expressed to an absolute tee.

PEGGY GOU & LENNY KRAVITZ – “I BELIEVE IN LOVE AGAIN” Since somehow going into supernova from relative obscurity back in 2018 and 2019 with songs like “It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)” and “Han Jan,” Peggy Gou has simply become one

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

This is a standalone single that dropped on November 10, and the 22-year-old artist impresses immensely with the vocal range delivered therein. Astrini was born in the US on the east coast to Indonesian parents and now calls their native country home. This is an artist to watch out for who has the looks and the chops to go far, even though to most in the music world she is far, far away.

KRAAK & SMAAK (FEAT. IVAR & BERENICE VAN LEER) – “NAKED” (JITWAM REMIX)

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of the most famous DJs in the world. The more tasteful and underground version of Psy, one thing that sets Gou apart from other DJs and producers is her application of vintage sounds like acid house, minimal tech, and especially 90s audio and techniques. Enter this tune, which dropped November 8 with a release party up in Seoul, and you have another sensation, with none other than Lenny Kravitz doing the lyrical heavy lifting and holding Gou’s hand (literally) for the final gallop on the runway.

GLASS BEACH – “RARE ANIMAL” This is the lead single to this LA-based band’s upcoming 2024 album Plastic Death, which would be their sophomore effort. If ever a song title described the band playing it in a nutshell, this would be it, as Glass Beach are truly a rare breed, combining elements of punk, math rock, and jazz into a menacing and quite unpredictable brew. Their innovatively titled The First Glass Beach Album from 2019 is a wild ride of switches, screwballs, and psycheouts throughout, and while there might be some changes to the bonkers wildcat gameplan on the next record, it’s going to be an absolute trip. Guaranteed.

November Release Bar Italia – The Twits (November 3) The Struts – Pretty Vicious (November 3) Beirut – Hadsel (November 10) Scream – DC Special (November 10) Dolly Parton – Rockstar (November 17) Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday 2 (November 17) The Polyphonic Spree – Salvage Enterprise (November 17) Spector – Here Come the Early Nights (November 24)

December Incoming

(Watch Out! …But Not Really) Love Minus Zero – L’Ecstacy 2xLP (December 1) Peter Gabriel – i/o (December 1) Neil Young – Before and After (December 8) Atreyu – The Beautiful Dark of Life (December 8)

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

The Author

Daniel J. Springer (aka “Danno”) is the creator, host, writer, editor, producer, troublemaker, and Mr. Fix It of “The Drop with Danno,” broadcasting seven nights a week on GFN 98.7 FM in Gwangju and 93.7 FM in Yeosu between 8 and 10 p.m.

Prior to this, he was a contributor to several shows on TBS eFM in Seoul, along with being the creator and co-host of “Spacious” and “White Label Radio” on WNUR in Chicago.

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @gfnthedrop Show RSS Feed: https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-dropwith-danno

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COMMUNITY

December 2023 Upcoming Events Compiled by Kook Hyuna MUSIC CONCERT HARMONY CHORUS FESTIVAL 대화합 합창 축제 Date: December 7, 2023 Time: 19:30 | 110 minutes Location: Gwangju Arts Center, Grand Theater 광주예술의전당 대극장

Admission: 10,000 won Telephone: : 062-613-8245 Website: gjart.gwangju.go.kr (KOR)

THE 2023 YEAR-END MUSIC CONCERT 2023 송년음악회 Date: December 8, 2023 Time: 19:30 | 110 minutes Location: Gwangju Arts Center, Grand Theater 광주예술의전당 대극장

Admission: 20,000 won Telephone: 062-613-8245 Website: gjart.gwangju.go.kr (KOR)

OPERA WORLD CLASSIC OPERA SERIES III 월드 클래식 오페라 시리즈Ⅲ Date: December 2–3, 2023 Time: 17:00 | 90 minutes Location: Asia Culture Center, Art Theater (Theater 1) 국립아시아문화전당 예술극장 극장1

MADAMA BUTTERFLY 2023 달빛동맹 교류공연 ‘푸치니, 오페라 <나비부인>’ Date: December 2–3, 2023 Time: 19:30 December 15 | 70 minutes & 15:00 December 16 | 70 minutes Location: Gwangju Arts Center, Grand Theater 광주예술의전당 대극장

Admission: 20,000 won Telephone: 062-412-2502 Website: gjart.gwangju.go.kr (KOR)

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FAMILY MUSICAL GRANDFATHER OF SHOE REPAIR HOUSE AND FAIRIES 가족뮤지컬 구둣방 할아버지와 요정들 Dates: November 29, 2023 – December 25, 2023 Times: 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 (*Every 2nd and 4th Sunday) Location: Lotte Mart Suwan Rom Musical Theater 롯데마트 수완점 레미어린이극장

Admission: 30,000 won Telephone: 062-975-2860 Website: geniemusical.modoo.at (KOR)

DANCE THE NUTCRACKER 호두까기인형 Dates: December 21–23, 2023 Time: 19:30 December 21 / 15:00, 19:30 December 22/ 15:00 December 23 | 125 minutes Location: Gwangju Arts Center, Grand Theater 광주예술의전당 대극장

Admission: R 30,000won | S 20,000won | A 10,000won Telephone: 062-522-5502 / 522-8716 Website: gjart.gwangju.go.kr (KOR)

FRANKLY 솔직히 Dates: December 15–16, 2023 Time: 19:30 December 15 / 15:00 December 16 | 60 minutes Location: Asia Culture Center, Art Theater (Theater 1) 국립아시아문화전당 예술극장 극장1

Admission: Free Telephone: 1899-5566 Website: gjart.gwangju.go.kr (KOR)

LANGUAGE TEACHING WORKSHOPS GWANGJU-JEONNAM KOTESOL WORKSHOPS & DINNER

Workshop 1: AI in Class: Moving Beyond ChatGPT Workshop 2: Communicative Activities & Drama Dates: December 9, 2023 Location: Gwangju National University of Education Admission: Free Website: koreatesol.org/gwangju (ENG)

GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

Admission: 20,000 won Telephone: 062-412-2502 Website: gjart.gwangju.go.kr (KOR)

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ENTERTAINMENT

CROSSWORDPUZZLE Created by Jon Dunbar 1

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GWANGJU NEWS, DECEMBER 2023

ACROSS 1 Chinese characters 6 Star Trek ship registry letters 9 Mouth, often gaping 12 “To no ___” 13 Sound of relaxation or shock 14 All your base ___ belong to us 15 Stop and No Parking, e.g.

16 Bridge support 18 An off-limits reservoir seen

by Isaiah Winters 20 Firestarter 23 Sierra ___ 24 Honeymaking insect 25 Not quite on the short side 28 Latin dance 31 Floor heating system 33 Talk to Me in Korean’s Sun

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Look for the answers to this crossword puzzle to appear in January 2024 in Gwangju News Online (www.gwangjunewsgic.com).

37 Day-___ 38 Jjigae, gumbo, and beef bourguignon 39 Air base in Pyeongtaek 40 Newly opened garden-themed place in Nam-gu 43 Wrestler Johnson and basketball player Wade 44 Approximately, in dates 48 Taiwan 49 Bank statement abbr.

50 Mnet owner 51 Deer’s larger cousin 52 Indigenous Oklahoman 53 Domestic worker

1 “To boldly go where no man ___ gone before” 2 Alternative to mp4 3 Complain incessantly 4 Korea’s third-largest island 5 “___ Sprach Zarathustra” 6 Explorers’ channel 7 Go ___ neutral 8 “____, Ma-bi” 9 Arithmetic 10 GFN’s Matisz 11 Tiny 17 Coil of yarn 19 Border near Yeonpyeong Island 20 US public TV station 21 Opposite of nah 22 Martin or Ma 26 UN’s 17 targets 27 Spanish greeting 29 “Outdaughtered” family 30 Gwangju’s San sister city 32 Actor Chaney 34 Failed to be 35 Must pay (2 words) 36 Movie music 39 Magnolia berry 40 Missing soldier 41 You can do it to a pool table or your brains 42 UNESCO organization for cities 43 Hip-hop doctor 45 Stimpy’s friend 46 Major global news cable channel 47 Winehouse or Poehler

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community

culture

exchange

communication

sharing

GIC

GWANGJU INTERNATIONAL CENTER

For only 50,000 won/year, you help the GIC provide a space for exchanges for the local and international communities to learn and experience various cultures from around the world and to promote respect for diversity and inclusivity.

Bene�its as a GIC member: Receive the Gwangju News every month by email.

Priority for participation in programs.

Get discounts on paid programs and space rentals.

Borrow books and materials from the GIC Library.

Get receipts for contributions provided for year-end tax settlement.

(61475) 5 Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju, Korea Tel. 062-226-2732 Email. gic@gic.or.kr Web. www.gic.or.kr

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GIC Counseling Get the latest info on GIC programs through

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