COVID-19 Teaches a Pro-Nature Lesson to Humanity

Written by Cami Ismanova

The novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, has created an ongoing pandemic that has been affecting almost all of us in a variety of ways. It has been reported in 187 countries and territories around the world, leaving hundreds of thousands people unemployed and stuck in quarantines for an uncertain period of time. While some countries are handling it well, others have not been so lucky. At the beginning of April 2020, approximately 3.9 billion people worldwide were under some kind of lockdown amid concerns of COVID19’s spread. One does not have to be an economist to imagine what kind of economic recessions countries will face based on the recent figures.

Although economies are partially shut down, consequently limiting industrial manufacturing, production, and touristic transportation, some environmentally positive news has been circulating on the internet and in the media. Among them are a drop in carbon dioxide emissions due to limited transportation use, the clearing of canal waters in Venice, the Himalayan peaks in India becoming visible, the healing of the ozone layer, and more. It seems like nature is recovering and even thriving, whereas humanity is forced to remain indoors. It is hard to see a silver lining in situations like the current pandemic, but the fact that nature is regenerating itself is indeed a silver lining.

The turquoise waters of Venice, replenished with colorful marine life in a currently tourist-free city, and the majestic Himalayan peaks are sights worth seeing, without a doubt! But for how long will they remain in this condition? The day will come when the world will resume its usual busy life and the never-ending race to increase GDP by producing more and more. In the era of slogans like “the consumer is always right” and liberal economic concepts such as “the more a country produces, the richer it is,” there is a high probability that we will quickly go back to the way we were. And the way we were was not a sustainable normal. If it were, we would not face ozone-layer depletion, widespread pollution, freshwater withdrawals, land conversion, increasing magnitudes of natural disasters, and rapidly disappearing species in flora and fauna. Moreover, human activities like deforestation, the booming meat business, and animal hunting increase the risk that viruses originating in the animal population might jump from animals to humans as a result of closer contacts in the future. ▲ Chinese air quality before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. (NASA Satellite)

Therefore, I would like to share with you a couple of notable policies implemented by different countries in order to prevent the looming climate crisis. One of them is in the process of partial implementation, while the other is in the stage of active realization. The first agenda is called “Sustainable Amsterdam,” supervised by the administration of Amsterdam. “Sustainable Amsterdam” is a good example of relevant responses to climate issues

▲ The “10 Billion Trees Initiative” by the Pakistani Government. (Junaid Ali)

that have been stressed by scientists over and over. Briefly, it is a grandiose plan to make Amsterdam electric, and by that I mean to shift all types of vehicles from diesel-based to electric engines by offering companies low-interestrate loans. Recently, the administration of Amsterdam has announced that it is preparing to transition from a classical liberal economy to a “doughnut economy,” which is a more eco-centered type of economy.

The second major initiative is an ongoing “10 Billion Trees Initiative” by the Pakistani government. This green agenda was initially started to deal with frequent floods, prevent deforestation in the long term, and contribute to balancing out the climate of the world. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Pakistan has been under lockdown. To help out its unemployed laborers in this time of crisis, Pakistan partially reactivated the “10 Billion Trees Initiative” and hired thousands of workers to carry on with the agenda while wearing masks and following rules of social distancing. It is evident that the government is planting the trees mostly in rural, low-income areas so these people will benefit from the project the most. It is impressive how the government of Pakistan is managing to keep its people safe and employed, while contributing to the recovery of our planet.

The last, but not least, green initiative is the International Climate and Environment Center (ICEC) funded by our very own Gwangju Metropolitan City government. The organization plans to change Gwangju into a “lowcarbon green city” via regular policy research and the “green education” of its citizens. The center consists of a triumvirate of Management and Cooperation, Policy and Research, and Education Project teams. All three teams work hard to collect data, identify environmental issues, and respond accordingly. The ICEC leads field activities such as the adaptation of cities to climate change; research on energy, air, and climate quality; and cooperating with citizens to create a balanced, environmentally friendly green city.

Building an economically developed city without compromising its environment is a key goal of the center. At the latest ICEC “Plastic Waste Management” workshop,

▲ The launch of Car2Go in Dam Square, Amsterdam. (Alphons Nieuwenhuis)

a set of new innovative solutions was presented to the public in 2019. South Korea will rely on its advanced technological potential to address expected increases in plastic waste production. According to the statistics provided by Kim Young-yul, the representative director of BASF Company Ltd. (a participant in the workshop), by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean. As one of the possible solutions, he mentions the “circular economy.” In contrast to a “linear economy,” which mainly focuses on “take-make-waste,” a “circular economy” offers to use and then reuse, and maybe reuse again if possible.

As Harvard scientist Avi Loeb concluded in his interview with the BBC, “The human species will likely destroy itself long before the sun kills everyone on earth.” The ongoing pandemic is like a splash of icy water on the face of humankind. But if we could continue to see a significant drop in the percentage of greenhouse gas emissions in countries that most significantly pollute, like China, India, the USA, and others, improvements in air and water quality like the world has seen over just the last few months are some of the benefits humanity can expect to reap. There is hope, but there are no excuses left. It is no longer “us” versus “them.” COVID-19 evidently does not have any borders, and neither does climate change.

A South American proverb says, “We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our children.” And unless you are Elon Musk planning to take off to Mars or somewhere farther in the near future, you should always keep in mind that you are part of a global society that is responsible for taking a stand and leading humanity towards a greener future. The Author Cami Ismanova is a student at Chonnam National University majoring in economics. She enjoys listening to jazz, reading popular science, writing, and traveling around (when it is safe...). Cami wishes everyone to stay healthy. Instagram: @camidisman.

Bedjo Untung 2020 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Awardee

Bedjo Untung testifying before the International People’s Tribunal at The Hague.

The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights is an award given by the May 18 Memorial Foundation to an individual, group, or institution – domestic or international – for their work in furthering human rights, democracy, and peace. The award has been given annually since 2000 to commemorate the Gwangju Democratization Movement of May 1980. It has been announced that this year’s award goes to Bedjo Untung of Indonesia. While planning his May 18 visit to Gwangju to receive the award, the Gwangju News was fortunate to have the opportunity to do this interview with Mr. Bedjo. (Due to the pandemic, Mr. Bedjo’s visit to Gwangju has been set back to October, the occasion of the World Human Rights Cities Forum.) — Ed.

Gwangju News (GN): Congratulations, Mr. Bedjo, on being the 2020 recipient of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. Though I am sure this is not your first accolade, how does receiving this prize for human rights make you feel? Mr. Bedjo Untung: Of course, I am happy to receive the 2020 Gwangju 5.18 Award for Democracy and Human Rights. In fact, I do not feel worthy of this award because the research, truth-telling, and recording of victims killed and detained, and their mass graves, are the work of victims and volunteers. Without the support of the victims, this great work would not have been successful. So, this award is an award for all victims of human rights violations, especially the victims of 1965–1966. Therefore, this award is dedicated to the victims and volunteers of the YPKP 65 [1965 Murder Victims Research Foundation] who have worked hard to search for and record mass graves throughout Indonesia.

For me, this award is a form of recognition from the international community, especially the people of Gwangju, for the YPKP 65’s efforts to obtain justice

for victims of the Indonesian tragedy of 1965. It is my hope that this award from the Gwangju 5.18 Memorial Foundation will inspire and motivate nations throughout the world, especially in Asia, Korea, and Indonesia.

GN: You were jailed for the entire decade of the 1970s in Indonesia. Can you tell us what lead to this imprisonment and what conditions you had to deal with during that time? Bedjo Untung: When the 1965 tragedy occurred, I was 17 years old and a third-year student in the High Teacher Education School. At the time, I was arrested for being a member of the IPPI (Indonesian Student Youth Association), an independent student organization, not affiliated with any political party, focusing its activities on arts, culture, sports, and joint learning. But the Suharto regime considered it as an affiliated leftist organization of the Indonesian Communist Party (IPPI). The IPPI was indeed a student organization that supported President Sukarno’s government policies to build a just and prosperous Indonesia, create social welfare for all people, and respect human rights and democratic values as well.

At the time, my father was also arrested, detained, and finally exiled to Buru Island for 14 years for supporting President Sukarno. My uncle was killed and buried in an unknown place. Suharto’s military regime, in an effort to overthrow President Sukarno and strengthen Suharto’s military rule, carried out acts of destruction to root out all forces that supported President Sukarno and members of the Indonesian Communist Party. According to Suharto’s right-hand man, 500,000–3,000,000 people were killed in the 1965–1966 genocide. It was the most brutal massacre in the 20th century, following World War II.

I was tortured, forced to be naked, and then received electrical shocks to force a confession from me for things that I did not do. I was put in a narrow cell. Every night many prisoners were tortured until they were covered in blood, and they were not given proper food. I suffered from malnutrition due to lack of food and could not walk. I was moved to a larger prison, Salemba Prison in Jakarta, and later, I was moved to a forced labor camp in Tangerang, 26 kilometers from Jakarta. We were forced to work from 5 a.m. until sunset. Due to lack of food, we prisoners had to find our own food by consuming any animals found in the forced labor area, including lizards, snakes, mice, snails, crickets, insects, caterpillars, and leaves that grew in the camp. I was detained for nine years from 1970 until my release in 1979.

GN: You are one of the founders of the 1965 Murder Victims Research Foundation (or YPKP 65). Please tell us what the mission of this foundation is and about the 1965–1966 events in Indonesian history that have led to the creation of the foundation.

15 Bedjo Untung: The YPKP 65’s vision and mission is to reveal the truth, uphold justice, strengthen human rights and democracy, and fight for justice for victims of human rights violations, especially victims of the 1965 tragedy. The humanitarian tragedy of 1965–1966 began with a planned coup by a group of right-wing army generals against President Sukarno to coincide with the celebration of Indonesia’s Armed Forces Day on October 5, 1965. The threat of a coup by the Council of Generals was met with opposition from a group of progressiveminded officers who formed the Revolutionary Council.

In the early hours of the morning of October 1, 1965, the abduction and arrest of six high-ranking officers took place by President Sukarno’s elite guard with the intention of protecting President Sukarno from the threat of a coup by the Council of Generals. Military authorities then spread hate propaganda and false news claiming that the arrested generals were killed in the early hours of October 1 by the PKI and their bodies mutilated by members of a women’s organization that fought for the emancipation of women. This ignited the emotions of the masses to carry out retaliatory killings of those accused of being communists.

The military used the fabricated story of the killing of generals as a pretext for mass murders. It is not surprising that Bertrand Russell, a liberal figure from England, in 1966 said that “in four months, five times as many people died in Indonesia as in Vietnam in twelve years.”

Based on the historical background of the 1965–1966 tragedy, which is still dark and full of mystery, the YPKP 65 was born to expose the lies made by Suharto’s fascist dictatorial regime so that the dark, painful, crimes against humanity that killed millions of innocent people would be clearly revealed. Let the younger generation, the next generation, learn the true history so as not to repeat the same crimes in the future.

GN: What do you consider to be the greatest accomplishments of the YPKP 65? Bedjo Untung: I cannot say this is a major achievement of the YPKP 65 because the achievement desired by the victims is the restoration of the good names of victims and the immediate legal proceedings against human rights criminals. However, since the fall of the Suharto dictatorial regime, there has been some important progress: (a) the 1999 law concerning human rights and the 2000 law concerning the ad hoc human rights court, which requires the state to provide protection and respect for victims of human rights violations and justice for victims; (b) also, the 2006 law and its revision in 2014 concerning protection of witnesses and victims in which victims of gross human rights violations are entitled to protection and to medical and psychosocial

Bedjo Untung in a rally urging the punishment of Suharto for the 1965 genocide. ▲

services from the state; and (c) a very special achievement of the struggle by the victims, the YPKP 65 activists, and civil society in Indonesia has been the announcement of the findings of the investigation team on the 1965–1966 tragedy that the violence was a crime against humanity and recommended that the attorney general of Indonesia immediately conduct an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

GN: I have heard that you traveled to The Hague in 2015 to testify at the International People’s Tribunal. Would you tell us what testimony you made and what the outcome of that tribunal has been? Bedjo Untung: In front of the panel of judges of the International People’s Tribunal at The Hague, who heard the case of the Indonesian government’s alleged involvement in the crimes of the 1965–1966 tragedy, I testified based on what I had experienced as a student who was detained, tortured, and forced into hard labor in a prison camp for nine years without legal proceedings. of 356 mass graves have now been discovered. I also reported of the excavation of one of the mass graves and the collection of victims’ testimonies.

An important result of the tribunal was proof of involvement of the military chain of command in the 1965–1966 tragedy. The tribunal finally recommended that the government of the Republic of Indonesia should express its apologies to the victims of the human rights violations and immediately hold a human rights court to bring the human rights criminals to justice to avoid recurrence of the same type of crimes in the future.

GN: How has the human rights situation in Indonesia changed since the three decades of authoritarian rule by Suharto (1967–1998)? What do you foresee for the future of human rights in Indonesia? Bedjo Untung: The fall of the Suharto dictatorship was greeted with euphoria by the people, as it was thought to have ended the repressive Suharto era. New legislation in favor of civil society began to be formed. An important advance when Abdurrahman (Gus Dur) became president was the freedom to embrace religion and faith. Gus Dur even apologized to the victims of the 1965 human rights

tragedy. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act of 2004 was also established. However, after the replacement of President Abdurrahman by Megawati, Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Joko Widodo, human rights enforcement became almost stagnant.

The keywords are “political will” and “the ability to execute it.” The legal umbrella, the law, already exists; it is only courage that is required. The investigation of human rights crimes by the National Human Rights Commission is to be carried out by the attorney general. Human rights activists, researchers, and historians have provided sufficient evidence and facts about the existence of crimes against humanity committed by the state.

The younger generation has begun to open its eyes to the true history that has been covered up by the dictatorship of Suharto. Even though we are aware of how difficult it may be to uphold human rights and democracy in the future, we remain optimistic because the legal instruments for law enforcement are in place. There is still a glimmer of hope that the condition of human rights will be better in the future.

GN: The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights was formed to commemorate the May 18 Gwangju Uprising, a pro-democracy struggle in our city. Can you draw any parallels or striking differences between this struggle and those that you have been involved in? Bedjo Untung: South Korea and Indonesia have a similar historical background. South Korea had the dictatorships of Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan, while Indonesia had General Suharto, who ruled authoritatively for three decades. I can say that the Korean people, especially the residents of Gwangju, who have fought bravely and sacrificed their lives against the dictatorial regime of Chun Doo-hwan, are also our best friends. We together have the same passion and spirit to fight against dictatorial The difference is that, in Korea after the 5.18 Gwangju Movement, national leadership emerged that upheld the values of human rights and democracy, and continued to promote never again returning to authoritarian rule. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, none of the human rights criminals have appeared in court; even now many generals involved at the time of Suharto’s dictatorship are still holding strategic positions in the palace circle. In Indonesia, none of the human rights violations of the 1965–1966 genocide have been legally resolved.

GN: Is there anything else you would like to say to the citizens of Gwangju and the people of South Korea? Bedjo Untung: At this opportunity, on behalf of the 1965 victims, volunteers, and the YPKP 65 Foundation, I would like to express my gratitude for the solidarity and support of the people of Gwangju and South Korea so that we can continue our research and truth-telling as well as continue the struggle for justice for human rights victims, to whom I dedicate this award.

Interviewed by David Shaffer. Photographs courtesy ofBedjo Untung.

Memorial at the mass graves in Widuri, Central Java, for victims of the 1965–1966 genocide. ▲

Underground Romania Salt Mines

Written by Melline Galani

Praid: Underground Church. (Photo by Dukat Laszlo)

Wars were fought over it, borders of empires were pushed toward it, world maps were drawn according to it, and the Romans also came for it… salt. The largest deposit that Romania has is salt. For Greeks, Jews, Arabs, and Romanians, salt is also a symbol of hospitality and friendship, with the added value of a brotherly bond. In Romania, for instance, guests are often greeted with salt and bread. Salt is also considered a primary element because the amniotic fluid in which embryos are immersed is salty, like the sea from which life on the planet appeared.

Romania used to have dozens of large salt mines, as well as many other places where deposits were taken from the surface. However, many of these have collapsed, forming salt lakes on the surface near which treatment bases have been developed. Presently, only seven are being used for extracting salt, while ten have been transformed into underground amusement parks.

Nowadays, many tourists from home and abroad visit Romania’s salt mines, not only for the amusement they provide, but also for therapy. The constant air temperature in a salt mine is rather low and ranges from 10–16 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity has minimal variation with values of 78–82 percent at the entrance of the mine and average values of 73–80 percent in different rooms. The concentration of allergens is zero, and there are no pathogens or germs, resulting in extremely fresh air. Salt therapy (halotherapy) is an alternative treatment practiced dating back to ancient times, which even today ensures the best results. Inhalation of saline aerosols has curative properties, a natural adjuvant for various chronic health issues such as asthma, bronchitis, coughing, respiratory infection, respiratory failure, pulmonary emphysema, pharyngeal polyps, rhinitis, chronic tonsillitis, and sinusitis.

A visit to a salt mine can be helpful not only for people with low immunity and neurological problems such as paralysis or muscular dystrophy but also for people who are prone to allergies. Saline treatments can also aid those with allergic dermatitis, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, or other chronic joint diseases. For efficient treatment of respiratory problems, one should spend two to four hours daily, for at least ten days, in a salt mine. When my daughter was four years old, she had a weak immune system due to repeated colds, so we went to Praid Salt Mine for two weeks and did the inhalation of saline aerosols treatment. Her condition and immune system improved considerably afterward, so the therapy really worked for us. Though I visited many salt mines back home, I have chosen the two that I love most to write about in more detail: Praid Salt Mine and Turda Salt Mine.

Turda Salt Mine

Turda Salt Mine is located near a town of the same name in the northeast of Romania and is one of the oldest salt mines in the world. It was dug during medieval times for salt exploitation, with the first documented reference of the mine dating all the way back to 1271. From the 13th century until 1932, the mine was active. Between 1932 and 1992 it was closed, and when it was reopened, it was for tourists and people with medical problems, as the air in the salt mine is recognized as being the best remedy for those with respiratory problems. In 2010, it was reopened after extensive modernization that cost around 5,800,000 euros (approximately 6,500,000 US dollars). It took two years to complete, becoming the most ecological salt mine in Romania, with no pollution source around it and a unique shape aboveground.

At 120 meters below the surface, there are several parts to the mine, arranged with different purposes in mind: There is an 80-seat amphitheater for concerts and musical auditions, a golf course, an underground lake with paddle boats for hire, a treatment base and a medical office, a church, a sports area (for bowling, soccer, table tennis), and a Ferris wheel. Considering all the available attractions, it is easy to see why Business Insider placed the mine at the top of their list of “coolest underground places in the world.” 1

Today, Turda Salt Mine is a genuine history museum for salt exploitation. The excellent condition of the mining compartments and equipment used for salt transportation, as well as the care with which the mine was prepared for touristic use, have turned it into a place fusing both history and legend. The high number of tourists going there from many parts of the world is but a confirmation of its historical and touristic value.

The visiting hours are from Monday to Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (last entrance is at 4 p.m.). The entry fee is 9 US dollars per day per person, but pensioners, children, and students benefit from discounts (there are also weekly packages available at discounted prices). For more information, visit: https://salinaturda.eu/ (English version available).

Praid Salt Mine

Praid Salt Mine (Parajdi Sóbánya in Hungarian) is located in the eastern Transylvanian county of Harghita (home to one of the biggest Hungarian minority populations in Romania), in a village of the same name (Praid). Praid Salt Mine is popular both among people seeking treatment for various respiratory ailments and among tourists looking to relax and spend some quality time with friends and family for a few hours. Large-scale extraction of salt began at Praid in 1762 when Transylvania formed part of the Habsburg Empire. It was supervised by the imperial mining officer Johann Frendl, and in 1787, the mines became the property of the Habsburg government in Vienna. Extraction continued during the nineteenth century, but new technology employed from the late 1940s enabled production to be increased substantially. From the 1960s, following the example of the mine in Wieliczka, Poland, the therapeutic qualities of the atmosphere in the mine were recognized. Therefore, facilities were provided for people with respiratory conditions to spend several hours a day underground, during which they could take part in varied activities and, if necessary, receive treatment.

Access to the mine is available by bus through a 1,500-meter-long tunnel and then descending 300 steep steps, making it a real underground city at about 120 meters below the surface. The mine offers a wide variety of convenient and fun services and facilities, such as WiFi, playgrounds for children, a church, a 3D cinema, a coffee shop, and a restaurant, among other things. The average annual temperature in the underground area is 16 degrees Celsius, so dress warm. There is also an underground adventure park where children and adults alike can walk down trails of various difficulty. Also, in the mine, there is an inflatable playground for children as well as workshops tailored for them where they can work on their creativity. There is also an underground wine cellar where tourists can taste and buy different types of wine and Romanian liquors.

In the mine, you can also visit a museum on the history of salt mining in Romania. A variety of documents, tools, and work items dating from the 18th century are on display. The documents mention that the mine dates back to the Roman Empire, especially since bricks with the inscription “Legio Quinta Macedonica” (the Fifth Macedonian Legion 2 ) have been found.

Nowadays, salt is being mined 400 meters deeper than the treatment area. Also, on the exit route, there is a panorama

from where visitors can see how salt mining used to be carried out. Praid Salt Mine also welcomes guests to the largest outdoor saltwater pool in Romania. It was opened in the summer of 2014 and covers 5,200 square meters, out of which around 2,000 make up the pool. The salinity of the swimming pool is high, around 220 milligrams of salt per liter of water, and is recommended for the treatment of rheumatic disorders. The best part of the saltwater pools is that you do not need to know how to swim because you will float no matter what. But pay attention not to get water into your eyes because it stings badly. For more information, visit the Facebook page: Parajdi Sóbánya - Salina Praid - Salt mine Praid.

If you happen to be in Romania for traveling or any other purpose, a salt mine is a must-see for both its uniqueness and amusement. And since we have many spread all across the country, it is not difficult to choose one.

Footnotes

1 https://www.businessinsider.com/world-underground- attractions-2014-2 2 Legio Quinta Macedonica (the Fifth Macedonian Legion) was a Roman legion. In the year 101, the legion moved to Dacia (today’s Romania) to fight in Emperor Trajan’s campaign against King Decebalus. (https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Legio_V_Macedonica) Turda Salt Mine. ▲

▲ Praid Salt Mine. (Adrian Moise, Unsplash) ▼ Praid Salt Mine: Underground wine cellar.

The author

Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, who is currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges, learning interesting things, and is incurably optimistic. Instagram: @melligalanis.

The Mother of Puppets Ms. Um Jeong-ae

Interviewed by by Jennis Kang

Ms. Um making a big paper puppet in memory of May 18.

Iwas sitting in a cafe waiting for a friend, when I noticed a woman in a black fedora walking past the window. She looked familiar to me; I tried to remember where I’d met her. I suddenly realized she was my Facebook friend, Ms. Um Jung-ae, known as the “Mother of Puppets.” “What’s going on?” I thought, “She should be in the States!” I popped out to say hello, as I was a big fan of hers. Our first chance encounter was last spring, and this spring, she came to Gwangju again to undertake a big project. So, to introduce Ms. Um, the Mother of Puppets, to the readers of the Gwangju News, I arranged with Ms. Um the following interview.

Jennis Kang: Hi, Ms. Um. I’m glad to see you here again. Can I ask what brought you to Gwangju to do volunteer work? Um Jeong-ae: Hello, I’m happy to be in Gwangju again. Actually, for decades, I’ve felt that I owe something to the citizens of Gwangju. When the Gwangju Uprising broke out, I was abroad. One day, one of my coworkers showed me an article in a newspaper and said, “This tragic news is about your country. I’m really sorry.” When I read the newspaper article, I couldn’t believe it. The photos in the paper were so shocking and horrific that I even thought this had to be fake news. The heartbreaking news and the photos were indelibly imprinted on my mind. I was so sad.

When I came back to Seoul later that year, the people of Seoul didn’t know what had really happened in Gwangju. They didn’t believe me when I told them what I’d read in the newspaper because the military government had suppressed all the news about the May 18 uprising. We were kept in the dark for years. Gwangju had been isolated from the rest of the people of Korea for decades. I felt really sorry for Gwangju citizens, and I wished I could give something as a consolation and to share their sorrows.

Kang: As a Gwangju citizen, I appreciate your kindness. I heard that you’ve come to Gwangju to do a project to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising. Would you tell me about it? Um: Yes, this year was the 40th anniversary of May 18. So, some of the artists of Gwangju, the youth of the YMCA, and the Mothers of May Victims (the victims included many young people in their teens and twenties, so their mothers are still alive) are making big paper puppets in memory of May 18 victims and to preserve their spirit of democracy. Actually, we planned to parade down the historic Geumnam-ro wearing these puppets. But because of the COVID-19 situation, the ceremony was canceled. But fortunately, it has been rescheduled for May 16.

Kang: I’m glad to hear that the parade of puppets will still be taking place. I heard that people call you the “Mother of Puppets.” How did that come about? Um: I ran a business in Seoul when I was in my forties, and I sponsored a few artists at that time. One of those artists made paper puppets. Sometimes I dropped by her place and learned how to make puppets from her. Actually, I’d once put on a puppet show with my friends when I was an undergraduate. Going further back, I loved to talk with my dolls as a child, since I was often alone, as my mother was a working mom.

Kang: So that means your life with puppets started quite a long time ago. But we don’t usually call people who love puppets the “Mother of Puppets.” There must be more to your story of puppets than that. Um: Yes, one day a friend of mine asked me to lend some space for young women to stay. They were adopted as Korean children to live in other countries, and they were visiting their motherland in search of their birth mothers. I had a space for them to stay. They were five girls from Europe and the U.S. Their stories had been in the newspapers. Luckily, four of them found their birth mothers. But one girl from the States was adopted so young that she had no memories of her birth mother. When the girl was going back to the states, I felt so sorry for her. So, I made her some paper dolls and told her, “Don’t forget there’s someone in your motherland who

▼ Ms. Um and young artists of Gwangju provide a workshop giving families of May 18 victims an opportunity to make puppets of their lost relatives.

▲ Larger-than-life-sized puppets ready for the parade.

wishes your well.” I think that it was from that time that people began to call me the “Mother of Puppets.”

Kang: Wow, what a sad but heartwarming story! You said that you’d lived in Seoul, but now you live in the States. Would you tell me how you came to move to the United States? Um: When the adopted girl went back to the U.S. with my dolls, people around her – especially one who worked at a museum – asked her how she’d gotten the dolls. They loved the dolls with Korean facial features. She told her story to the art director, and the fascinated director contacted me to exhibit my dolls in his museum. At the time, my business had just been struck by the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997. So, it was easy to fly to the States, where I ended up exhibiting my dolls at several museums. There I met some puppet actors that I associated with and my husband, too.

Kang: I love the saying “When God closes a door, He opens a window.” Your story reminds me of that saying. So, you changed your life from that of a business person to an activist. I heard you’ve been working as a green and human rights activist with your large paper puppets. I saw a photo of the big puppet parade for the Sewol ferry victims in Minneapolis. I think that these puppets have the power to allow people to deal with serious issues in a non-confrontational manner. And for yourself, what do you think a puppet is?

Um: I think making puppets is like doing Zen for me. That Zen is letting us feel free from distraction or weariness. By attaching little pieces of glued paper over and over and over to each other, making paper puppets leads me into a world of vacancy. I feel free from endless thought. It provides me with the opportunity to take an objective view of myself. And I think the puppets I make are another me. Playing and talking with the puppets makes us meet ourselves and reconcile the two, I think.

Kang: So that’s why you call it “paper Zen.” I hope many people can have the “paper Zen” experience with you while you’re staying in Gwangju. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I hope you feel at home during your stay in Gwangju.

Kang: [After the May 16 puppet parade] The parade, with its huge national flag and giant puppets, was amazing as it wound through the streets of Gwangju. What was the most impressive moment for you during this two-month puppet project? Um: There are many: the young artists of Gwangju, students, fathers and children, husbands and wives, who all volunteered their time to make the puppets. But the most impressive was a call after the parade from a mother of May, who lost her husband in the May 18 Uprising. She said that I gave her a chance to walk with her husband again. She felt like her husband came alive during the parade. I hope it helped her relieve some of her pain.

Kang: Thank you, Ms. Um. You gave us the opportunity to look back and overcome our painful sadness through the making of puppets and the parade. The parade reminds us that we are still on the way to fully healing from May 18.

Photographs byChoo Hyun Kyung, Jennis Kang, and

David Shaffer.

The interviewer

Jennis Kang is a freelance English tutor and once-in-a-decade interpreter. She worked for the Asia Culture Center during its opening season. She likes to grow greens and walk her dog. And sometimes she reads; Roald Dahl’s works are her favorites.

The Asia Theater, Once a Battleground in the “Trot War,” Is No More

Written and photographed by Isaiah Winters

Now reduced to little more than a stack of exposed beams and buttresses, the old Asia Theater (아세아 극장) in Yu-dong doesn’t impress; however, after having done a little online sleuthing, I hope to bring the condemned theater back to life for one final show. Basically, the single-screen cinema dates back to 1966 and included a shopping mall on the first floor, a wedding hall on the second, and, at some point, a “cabaret” dance hall somewhere within. At its peak, the venue screened two films regularly, hosted popular singers every few months, and married people off in style. [1] As it turns out, it was also a battleground in one of the greatest music rivalries in Korean history – what I call the great “Trot War.”

Built in 1966, the Asia Theater was enormous for the time. ▲

The Belligerents

The Asia Theater was unique in that it had an unusually high ceiling that allowed it to double as a concert hall. Among the biggest acts to perform there was the Busanborn “emperor of trot” Na Hoon-a, whose music career debuted the same year as the theater. The son of a sailor, trot’s “emperor” is probably best remembered for dropping trou on live TV back in 2008 to prove to the press that a yakuza member did not in fact castrate him for having a dalliance with one of said gangster’s favorite actresses. [2] To set the stage for our great “Trot War,” let’s put Na in the red corner.

Mokpo native Nam Jin is another famous trot singer who performed at the Asia Theater during its crescendo. Debuting just a year earlier, Nam, the well-off son of a national assembly member who also owned the Mokpo Ilbo, had a flashier Elvis vibe compared to the “emperor’s” low-key masculine vibe. In our battle of the port city crooners, we’ll put Nam in the electric blue corner. Nam and Na’s intense rivalry would begin in the late 1960s, span the 1970s, [3] and then forever linger in the annals of music infamy once things died out. When the great “Trot War” was at its apex, bedlam between fan factions, a deranged bottle attack, and a case of arson made it arguably the most interesting conflict in Korean music history, though set to the worst music.

The Battles

Apart from the two performers’ cutthroat musical competition, their fans were also known to brawl and hurl insults at each other based on the opposing singer’s appearance. To the tan, bold-featured Na and his supporters, rival fans would shout “Cattle thief, get out!” (소도둑놈 저리가라!) [4] Apparently, Na earned the nickname “cattle thief ” by looking like the more nefarious of the two singers, like a hardened rustler. In retaliation, Na’s supporters launched verbal salvos of their own targeting Nam’s visage. Considered the paler, softer, more porcine-looking soloist, Nam got stuck with the curt sobriquet dwaeji (돼지, pig). Not lacking in imagination, Nam’s detractors fleshed this insult out into a chant akin to “Stop that slit-throated pig squeal!” (돼지 멱따는 소리 그만해라!) [5]

In 1973, the spat reached a fever pitch when Na was attacked on stage while singing “Solitude of a Teahouse.” Wielding a broken cider bottle, the attacker managed to gash Na’s left cheek so badly that over 70 stiches were required to close the wound. A maelstrom of press speculation ensued, including accusations that rival performer Nam put the attacker up to the assault. The assailant, Kim Ung-cheol, claimed to know Nam during the subsequent police interrogation, but police were doubtful and placed Kim under arrest.

The “cattle thief ” Na Hoon-a (left) grins all the way to the bank with his “pig” rival Nam Jin (right). [Source: topstarnews] ▲

Kim had indeed met Nam before, but the encounter was anything but cordial. Recalling the incident, Nam said he woke up one day to the sight of Kim at his home holding a weapon and asking for money not to attack his rival Na. Although Nam later admitted to being afraid at that moment, he’d also recently served in the Vietnam War and so wasn’t the kind of guy to back down to extortionists. Ultimately, he refused, berated Kim, and that was the end of it. It turns out that Kim’s threat wasn’t idle, as he would indeed go on to attack Na a few days later. In response to the fracas, the prosecutor’s office in Seoul interviewed Nam but soon cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Unfortunately, Kim would darken Nam’s door once again in 1980, setting fire to the performer’s hometown residence in Mokpo and incinerating the only pictures the singer had of his late grandparents. Although clearly mentally unstable, Kim was nevertheless capable. A former member of the Special Forces, Kim was the kind of soldier who was sent on covert missions into North Korea, so he must have been a pretty tough guy. Apparently, threatening entertainers for money was one of his regular hustles as a civilian, as he would eventually do this to at least three famous performers. Despite all this, Nam, a devout Christian, seemed to forgive Kim in later interviews. [6]

The Aftermath

As trot music gave way to newer genres like pop, the great “Trot War” seemed to fizzle out. Both Na Hoon-a and Nam Jin went on to have long, successful careers and are still active today; whether or not their rivalry came from any real animosity between them is doubtful. It was

▲ The Asia Theater’s scale is impressive even in skeletal form. ▲

more likely a manufactured feud egged on by the media and record labels, which is common across the music industry worldwide. In this regard, both singers and their promoters came out on top by war’s end. Whatever fate befell Kim Ung-cheol is a bit of a mystery, though Nam once mentioned in an interview that after prison, Kim went on to marry a lady from church and become a father.

The only clear loser of the great “Trot War” appears to be the Asia Theater, which is currently undergoing demolition along with the rest of its surroundings in Yudong. Despite its zenith hosting entertainers like Na and Nam, not to mention other big names like Ha Chun-hwa and the “Bunny Girls,” once the nearby bus terminals moved to where the Gwangcheon Terminal is today, with major wedding halls following suit, the Asia Theater’s wedding hall business took a dive. The deathblow seems to have come around the year 2000 when Gwangju got its first multiplex theater, Enter Cinema, which set up shop just a few blocks away. (See issue #212 of the Gwangju News for more on that.)

By the time I arrived in Gwangju ten years later, the Asia Theater had long been gutted for a renovation effort that never materialized. A lien was placed on the property and then nothing much happened in the area until evictions began in the last year ahead of redevelopment. Now it sits hidden behind sheet metal, tarp, and scaffolding awaiting the wrecking crew. It’s a sad curtain call for one of the entertainment bedrocks of bygone Gwangju and battlegrounds in the great “Trot War.”

Sources

Lee, G. (2008, July 25). [영화가 흐르던 자리] <5> 아세아극장, 광주드림 [Gwangju Dream]. http://www.gjdream.com/v2/news/ view.html?uid=388094&news_type=207&page=2&paper_ day=20080725&code_M=2&list_type=2 Kim, J., & Lee, J. (2008, January 25). South Korea holds breath as singer drops trousers. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/ us-korea-singer-pants/south-korea-holds-breath-as-singer-dropstrousers-idUSSEO9854720080125 Ko, D. (2016, April 28). Divorcing singer reappears after 8-year hiatus. The Korea Times. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/ people/2016/04/178_203620.html Hong, J. (no date). 나훈아, ‘말년의 아픔’ 안고 가기 … ‘두문불출’ 언제까지 이어질까, 익산중앙뉴스 [Iksan Central News].http://www. iksanja-news.co.kr/quick/show.asp?idx=5813 으캬캬캬캬. (2018, July 29). 나훈아 vs 남진, 70년대 최고 라이벌. Brunch. https://brunch.co.kr/@johnnybluessy/9 Kim, D. (2019, March 8). 역경의 열매] 남진 (17) ‘나훈아 피습’ 배후로 지목당해 검찰 조사받아. 국민일보 [Kookmin Daily]. http://news. kmib.co.kr/article/view. asp?arcid=0924066041&code=23111513 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

The Author

Originally from Southern California, Isaiah Winters is a Gwangju-based urban explorer who enjoys writing about the City of Light’s lesser-known quarters. When he’s not roaming the streets and writing about his experiences, he’s usually working or fulfilling his duties as the Gwangju News’ heavily caffeinated chief proofreader.

Episode 30 공항 (Airport)

By Harsh Kumar Mishra

Grammar

~는/ㄴ/은데(요): Use this ending to express your surprise after discovering something unexpected. It can also be used in some situations to express the speaker’s disagreement with what was said previously. Ex: : A: 저녁 먹으러 가요. Let’s go for dinner. B: 5시인데요. But it’s 5 o’clock.

~을/ㄹ게(요): This is used with a first person subject to express “I/We will …”. Ex: 내가 먼저 갈게요. I will go first.

Vocabulary Dialogue Expressions

승객 항공편 탑승 게이트 이륙하다 지연되다 검색대 환전 이따가 목적지 passenger flight boarding gate to take off to be delayed security checkpoint money/currency exchange a little later destination

인천공항 착륙하다 아직 도착시간 내리다 면세점 들르다 심사 수하물 다시 챙기다 탑승권 여권 입국

Incheon Airport to land (an aircraft) yet arrival time to get off duty-free shop to drop by screening bagagge again to take/pack boarding pass/air ticket passport to enter a country

데지: 언니, 일어나요. 인천공항에 착륙했어요. [Eon-ni, ireo-nayo. In-cheon-gong-hang-e chang-nyuk-haes-seoyo.] Daisy: Eonni (lit. “Big Sister”), wake up. We’ve landed at Incheon Airport.

정민: 벌써? 아직 도착시간도 안됐는데. [Beol-sseo? A-jik do-chak-shi-gan-do an-dwae-nneun-de.] Jeongmin: Already? But it’s not even arrival time yet.

데지: 네, 저는 내려서 면세점 좀 들를게요. [Ne, Jeo-neun nae-ryeo-seo myeon-se-jeom jom deul-leul-kkeyo.] Daisy: Yeah. I’ll drop by the duty-free shop first after getting off.

정민: 그래. 나 먼저 입국 심사를 받으러 갈게. [Geu-rae. Na meon-jeo ip-kkuk shim-sa-reul ba-deu-reo gal-kke.] Jeongmin: Okay. I’ll go through immigration first.

데지: 그럼 수하물 찾는 곳에서 다시 만날까요? [Geu-reom su-ha-mul chan-neun gose-seo da-shi man-nal-kkayo?] Daisy: Then, shall we meet again at the baggage claim area?

정민: 좋아. 탑승권과 여권을 챙겼지? [Jo-a. Tap-seung-gwon-gwa yeo-kkwo-neul chaeng-gyeot-ji?] Jeongmin: Sure. Do you have your boarding pass and passport ready?

데지: 네, 이따가 봐요. [Ne, It-ta-ga bwa-yo.] Daisy: Yeah. See you later.

TOPIK GUIDE (topikguide.com) is the most comprehensive website devoted to the TOPIK exam. It has been helping Korean language learners pass the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) for more than eight years. On our website, you can get all the TOPIK updates, grammar and vocabulary material, and study tips.

COVID-19: An Australian Perspective

Written by David Foster

In the In 2015, after being invited to be a visiting professor at Chonnam National University, my wife and I spent the summer in Gwangju. This was when the MERS virus was starting to come under control. Although initially wary about going to South Korea during a virus outbreak, we decided to go ahead. This gave us a great opportunity to see how a country handles an epidemic (given that we had never experienced such a thing before). We must say how impressed we were. All over Gwangju, there were information tents with staff providing guidance about what to do and distributing free hand sanitizer and tissues. The whole community seemed to engage with the problem. It was handled so well that the scheduled Universiade Games, with thousands of athletes arriving from all over the world, were able to go ahead as planned.

This year, we all face an even more widespread virus, indeed a pandemic. While I only know a little about what South Korea is doing to control this outbreak, I thought that it would be of interest to readers of the Gwangju News to learn what the situation is like in other parts of the world. This is what is happening in Australia where we live.

Perhaps the one thing that you may have heard in the media was that initially there was panic buying of toilet paper! For some reason, this was the first public reaction, despite that it is manufactured here in Australia and there was no real possibility of a shortage. Handling this, and panic buying of a few other items, at least got the government moving. The strategy adopted has been to mix legislated controls with public persuasion. Given that we are a nation of seven states and territories, each with different legislative powers to those of the national government, the first step was to establish a special “national cabinet” made up of the leaders of each state and the national government. We did not want to have individual parts of the country doing their own thing. In this interconnected world, one of the first actions was to manage our borders by implementing a ban on nationals leaving the country (to stop the possibility of bringing back the virus when they returned), followed closely by the cancellation of flights from China. The latter was gradually extended to arrivals from all countries. At the present time, only Australian citizens can arrive (although there are very few flights anyway), and they are forcibly quarantined in a hotel for 14 days. This latter control was initiated following one of the biggest mistakes, when arrivals on cruise ships were simply allowed to disembark and meld into the community. We now know that approximately half the known cases of COVID-19 can be traced back to this poor decision.

While international travel was being curtailed, the national cabinet’s attention was also focused on limiting the way residents mixed with each other to avoid community transmission. Initially, instead of using regulations to change behavior, the strategy was to persuade the population to do the right thing and stay at home. Only those with employment in essential services were advised to go to work. Employers in other sectors were asked to create the opportunity for their staff to work from home. This has been taken up almost universally, creating one of the greatest changes in the way people work since World War II. Everyone has been encouraged to stay at home

The community has been constantly reminded that this action is the only way to “flatten the curve.” It has been explained that this means slowing the growth in the number of people catching the virus. We were shown what would happen if we did not do this and the virus spread rapidly through the community. It would mean that our health system could not cope with the numbers, people would not get access to ventilators, and there would be huge numbers of deaths, not because of the virus itself but because those with it could not be treated in a health system that is overwhelmed. Hearing this and seeing what was happening in Italy, Spain, and the United States has convinced most people to comply. Unfortunately, there were some who flaunted these requests, particularly on popular beaches. This led the government to introduce more regulations involving closing beaches and limiting outside activity to groups of only two people (except if they are a family that lives together). In addition, all restaurants, bars, gymnasiums, cinemas, swimming pools, and schools were forced to close. Gradually, we have moved from persuasion to regulation but not to total “lockdown.”

The impact on the way we all live has been amazing. Communication via telephone and video conferencing has spread from the work environment to the personal space. Rather than the usual visit, families and friends are now using technology to maintain connections. We are ordering much more of our basic requirements (food, etc.) online, and are even having consultations with our doctors via video link. It shows that as a community, we are resilient and able to adapt to our changed circumstances. The interesting question is whether this will become the new norm, even after the pandemic has been controlled.

Like most countries, Australia is fighting the virus on two fronts. Firstly, there is the health issue. Secondly, there is the economic impact of the measures to manage this health challenge. Within a very short period of time, thousands of businesses closed down and over one million people lost their jobs. These are mainly in services where close contact is required, an extremely important part of a modern economy. Workers in cafes, travel agencies, airline companies, gymnasiums, and so many other leisure-oriented services were the first to lose their jobs. In an attempt to ensure that the Australian economy survives the pandemic, the national government has provided all sorts of financial support for businesses and the unemployed. This involves mind-boggling amounts of money that will certainly take generations to pay off.

These are certainly challenging times for all nations. When this is all over, we will be able to review the actions we all took and establish what we did right and what we could have done better. Given that (as of May 17) Australia has only had 99 deaths and 7,056 confirmed cases following 1,042,000 tests, we are in a very good position. We seem to have “flattened the curve”! Where we go from here will depend on how long we need to maintain these measures and how our community accepts them in the longer term.

The Author

David Foster is a retired professor of management who has worked in various universities around Australia and as a visiting professor in Germany, France, Vietnam, and South Korea. The latter included three appointments at Chonnam National University in Gwangju, where he taught leadership and management in the MBA program. He and his wife loved their experiences in South Korea, especially the strong connection that they have made with the Gwangju International Center.