Taekwondo Classes in English

Taekwondo Classes Taught in English The Hi Roll skating area. Foreign students learn Taekwondo at Master Kim’s gym location.

Written and photographed by Erin Heath Kim H ave you ever thought about learning a martial Maybe you don’t know where to start, or you worry about the language barrier. If you’ve ever wanted to find out more about taekwondo (태권도) or taekkyeon (택견) you should consider Jikimi Taekwondo (지킴이 태권도). In English, jikimi translates to “protector.” The martial arts master of Jikimi is Kim Jae-min. He’s been teaching taekwondo in English to foreign students in Gwangju for over ten years and has a 6th-degree black belt (yukdan, 육단) in taekwondo. He loves meeting people from all over the world and teaching them the martial arts of Korea. In the past, Master Kim and his foreign students have participated in Gwangju International Center (GIC) events by performing taekwondo. Through his international students, he’s also picked up the hobby of collecting paper money and coins from around the world. I’ve been adding to his American quarter collection through the years. (I should also mention that he’s my husband, so of course, I’m very proud of his accomplishments and his gym). English taekwondo classes are taught three times per week in the evening on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Along with the basic moves, poomsae (품새) patterns, kicking, and sparing techniques of taekwondo, he also places a strong focus on physical exercise and incorporates self-defense and other martial arts skills into the class. It’s a great way to work out. Most students who join the class have never taken taekwondo before, so beginners are welcome. But any level can join the class at any time. Belt level tests are given at regular intervals. Students can advance to new belt levels every two to three months. A beginner student can advance to a black belt within 1.5–2 years. There is a one-time uniform fee of 50,000 won and a monthly tuition fee of 110,000 won. If you’re not sure whether taekwondo is for you, you’re welcome to come experience your first class free of charge with no obligation to join. If you like it, sign up and bring a friend! Master Kim also teaches taekkyeon, which is a separate, more traditional martial art. He’s the 72nd master of taekkyeon in Korea, which he achieved after almost 20 years of study and practice. It’s a unique opportunity in The martial arts master of Jikimi is Kim Jae-min. He’s been teaching taekwondo ... for over ten years and has a 6th-degree blackbelt. “

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High kick demonstration by Master Kim.

Master Kim, in taekkyeon referee’s uniform, with action star Wesley Sipes (left).

Gwanjgu to have a taekkyeon master able to teach in English. He teaches taekkyeon on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 8:20 to 9:30 p.m.

Taekkyeon has a long history and is the only purely Korean martial art. In 2011, taekkyeon became the first martial art in the world to be listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Asset. Last October, Master Kim attended the annual martial arts festival of Chungju (충주시) as a taekkyeon referee where he had the pleasure of meeting the American action star Wesley Snipes who was in Korea to attend the festival and learn about taekkyeon.

JIKIMI TAEKWONDO

Location: In Hyocheon-chigu, past Gwangju University in the Nam-gu area. Address: 870 Imam-dong, Nam-gu, Huimang Tower 6th floor (광주광역시 남구 임암동 870/효천2로가길 19, 희망타워 6층). Closest Bus Stops: Gwangju Hyocheon City Paladium (광주효천시티프라디움), Bus 76; Imam (임암), Buses 03, 76, 78; Songam-dong (송암동), Buses 68, 70, 75, 78, 79, 99. Facebook and Instagram: @jikimitaekwondo. (Contact via Messenger) Phone: 062-675-2200.

The Author

Erin Heath Kim is a university English teacher with a master’s in education. She’s originally from Jackson, Mississippi, and has lived in Gwangju since 2010. She’s married to Master Kim, and they have a son who is five. They love traveling around Korea together

Married in Saipan A Dream Come True

Written and photographed by Katy Clements

A popular sign near Ladder Beach.

When I first started on my journey to teach abroad in Korea, romance was the furthest thing from my mind, but life luckily had other plans for me. I met a Canadian man and fell in love. We dated for two and half years before we decided to make it official. However, to me the marriage process seemed to be daunting.

We had to each visit our separate embassies, acquire the necessary paperwork, and then have them translated to Korean before we could apply for our marriage license. I found myself researching destination weddings that were both affordable and logical at the same time; as teachers, most of us are not hoarding massive amounts of wealth. It was not until a friend of mine talked about taking her children to the Mariana Islands that my fiancé and I researched the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Saipan caught our attention most of all because of the variety of locations and beaches. Saipan is an American territory that is considered the largest of the Mariana Islands (the second largest is Guam). It is famous for having gorgeous tropical beaches and moderate temperatures. It was considered part of Japanese territory during World Wars I and II but was recognized as a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands after World War II. In the 1970s, the CNMI became a U.S. territory. Getting married far from home was a scary, yet exciting idea. The thought of taking this step together, among beaches and waves, was appealing. At the same time, arranging a legal marriage from abroad was intimidating. Quickly, I emailed a lady named Barbara Yamada whom I found via a Saipan News article. In the article, Yamada mentions that the rate of foreign weddings in Saipan has risen because the requirements have been lowered, allowing people from abroad to legally wed. Typically, both parties would have to submit proof of singleness, but in the CNMI, this requirement has been waived.

According to the mayor’s office, 619 marriages were performed in 2019 alone. Being an American territory, the thought of not having to go through a translation hurdle was appealing – not to mention I would not need to register with my embassy. Yamada was quick to reply and within a week, I was conversing with the CNMI courthouse to reserve a judge to officiate.

While a judge was being arranged, my fiancé and I discussed wanting to capture the moment in photographs. I did a quick Google search for reputable photographers on the island, and that is when I connected with Myla Deets, owner of Mycaptures Photography. Myla, who has been a photographer for almost three years, focuses her work mainly on student portraits and families, but during the peak season she takes wedding photos as well. In

When the time came for our portraits, we felt at home with her. She acted as our chauffeur as we traveled to our photoshoot destinations. One location was a house amongst a junglelike terrain, and the second was a beach with rocksand. The stones and cliffs amongst the water was breathtaking, and as the sun set, I knew it was a sight I would never forget. If you are in Saipan and are looking for a photographer, I highly recommend Myla.

When I arrived in Saipan I was greeted with warmth and generosity. The staff at the airport was kind, helpful, and accommodating to my fiancé and me. We were greeted at the airport by a gentleman from our resort who was smiling and kind. From then on, life was surreal for me. The weather was warm the entire honeymoon, and luckily for us, we did not experience a drop of rain. The staff at our resort was also accommodating and welcoming.

On the day of our wedding, a staff member at the resort drove us to where we needed to go. Since we had scanned and sent everything via email, our paperwork was ready. The only thing that needed to be taken care of was the payment. We met our witnesses, Myla and Ashley Pulani, the latter creating a gorgeous flower crown for my photoshoot, and the next few minutes were a whirlwind to me. Though our

families were not there, we did not feel alone. We felt the love from our new friends, and the judge’s words were profound and intimate. I felt I had done something that not many people can say they have done – get married on a tropical island.

If you are looking for a tropical, affordable destination while in this part of the world, I want to recommend Saipan. The people were so kind to us from the moment we landed until we departed. During our honeymoon, we swam with stingray, gorged ourselves on food, and fed an array of tropical fish. We also enjoyed ourselves at the bar, and even won at gambling. If I had a choice, I would return to Saipan’s Kanoa Resort for more unforgettable experiences. I will never forget my time there, and will treasure my memories forever. If you are interested in learning more about getting married on the island of Saipan, contact Barbara Yamada at bayamada@mos.gov. gp.

The Author Katy Clements is an ESL teacher in Mokpo. She has been living in Korea for four years.

Attaining Nirvana

A Jigsaw Puzzle and a Treasure Hunt

Written and photographed by William Urbanski

Nirvana

Any expat who has been in Korea for any length of time has surely noticed that the vast majority of expats from Western countries work in the education industry, almost exclusively as teachers and instructors. Personally, I can count on one hand the number of foreigners I have come across from all of Canada, the States, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa who do not teach.

One of those expats lacks a degree and works in an ice factory (but would teach if he could, no doubt), and another one worked in a bakery. While there are certainly many good and valid reasons why most expats from the above-mentioned countries here are teachers, Korea also has its fair share of foreigners from APAC countries who work in other industries. Among all the people that come to Korea, something that is exceedingly rare are those who start a business.

Caleb Sekeres lived in Korea for eight years, during which time he taught, got married, and had two children. After returning to the States for a few years so that his children could become better acquainted with his side of the family, he came back to Korea with a new agenda: to use his background in theater and the performing arts to create a creative and comfortable space – an environment that lends itself to artistic endeavors. Nirvana, which opened its doors on January 24th, is the product of that

vision. Making the leap from employee to business owner is daunting and fraught with difficulties, even more so when one is a foreigner. Crossing the entrepreneurial chasm successfully confers a number of advantages. As well, it is well understood (but perhaps underappreciated in Korea) that entrepreneurs and small businesses are the backbone of many a successful economy.

Among the many challenges facing a foreign entrepreneur in Korea, Sekeres mentioned that the linguistic hurdles were among the most difficult to overcome and basically fully require the assistance of a native speaker. Sekeres has achieved a Level 4 on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), the notoriously difficult test that has caused even the most dedicated language learners to throw up their hands in frustration. But even Level 4, which means a person has little difficulty living life completely in Korean, is simply not enough for the highly specialized legalese and business terminology required to get a business off the ground. For these matters of acquiring and sorting out documents and licenses, Sekeres largely had to rely on the assistance of his wife, Kim Yun-oo. Kim had to take the lead when determining exactly what documents were needed and then figuring out what procedures and steps had to be followed.

Mr. Sekeres and Mrs. Kim also got a lot of help from an unexpected source. The small business association in Gwangju called the Oesikeop-chungang-hoe (외식업중앙회) was indispensable and facilitated the entire process of opening the business. The small business association works on a membership basis and requires a monthly fee that is well worth it, according to Sekeres. The association helped make arrangements for virtually everything that was required, from the paperwork up to the physical inspections of the space.

One of the reasons I have never really considered opening up a business in Korea (besides my complete lack of business acumen, that is) is the daunting, tangled web of regulations and approvals that stand between an idea and a brick-and-mortar enterprise – or so I thought. Surprisingly, Sekeres explained that the process of obtaining the proper paperwork (i.e. a business licence) was actually quite streamlined and efficient. This was completely counter-intuitive to me and made the dense jurisdiction surrounding opening a business in Canada seem virtually draconian (e.g., you cannot open a hot dog stand without a slew of inspections and stamps of approval).

Opening a business is no joke and requires copious amounts of work, but speaking to Sekeres made me realize that in Korea, it is not the buck-wild undertaking I thought it was.

The Author William Urbanski, managing editor of the Gwangju News, has an MA in international relations and cultural diplomacy. He is married to a wonderful Korean woman and has myriad interests, but his true passion is eating pizza.

Nirvana is now a licensed establishment, and one of the interesting things I found out is how the liquor distribution companies (which run the pickup trucks full of booze you have surely seen on the roads) try to force businesses into agreements that, while meeting most of their needs, allow little room for negotiation or customization of the product choices. This means that when looking for certain cocktail ingredients, Sekeres had to do a little more digging than expected, as his vision would not have fit into the “one size fits all” contract proposed by the companies.

For those who wish to open a business in Korea, Sekeres offers some additional advice: Try not to compromise on your vision of what is possible. Building owners, leasing agents, food and liquor supply companies, and other people you will have to rely on will all have their own ideas of what they would like you to do. Their cookie-cutter contracts as well as their terms and conditions will try to Photographs courtesy of Nirvana.

NIRVANA 너바나

13 Jiho-ro, Jisan-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju 광주광역시 동구 지호로 13 Tue.–Thu., 6 p.m. – 1 a.m. Fri.–Sat., 6 p.m. – 2 a.m. 010-4699-2040

Centre des arts d’Enghien-les-Bains

Written and photographed by Lee Jeongmin

GIC staff and Marie Lesage (center).

Due to the new project cooperation with France, GIC coordinators went on a business trip to the new organization last month. They met with the coordinator of the International and European Project corporations, Miss Marie Lesage, and discussed aspects related to the new collaboration project related to commitment and specificities of the GIIP program (Gwangju International Internship Program). The CDA will conduct orientation and training for the new intern and evaluate his/her performance monthly through reports also sent to GIC, assist the intern in finding accommodation, and help with adaptation to the working environment. On the other hand, the GIC will provide a monthly stipend for the work, travel insurance, and all direct costs related to intern placement at the CDA. The prospective intern will work with the preparation team for the International Media Arts Biennial, Bains numériques, which will take place from June 11 to 14 this year in Enghien-les-Bains. The Biennial is organized all around the city and attracts about 35,000 visitors. This free-access event is composed of an urban path of artistic installations, a series of shows, performances, and concerts as well as a Digital Factory. After visiting the venue, our center’s staff conclusions were that the CDA’s work environment is a very pleasant one, and the surrounding area is also very clean and safe, and also the collaboration with Marie Lesage was great and fruitful. The Author Born is Gwangju, Lee Jeongmin is, since 2015, one of the coordinators at Gwangju International Center. She likes reading books, swimming and hiking. Centres Des Arts, Enghien-les-Bains. Working time. T he Gwangju International Center (GIC) is providing global internship opportunities to the Korean youth of our city with financial support from Gwangju City Hall. Participating organizations have their areas of interest in culture, business, social welfare, and human rights among others. Since Gwangju is designated as UNESCO Media Arts Creative City and known nationwide as a city of arts and culture, we would like to give opportunities to Korean youth to have internship experience in cultural fields abroad. This year, a new organization from France has joined the project. France’s Enghien-les-Bains has been a member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network since 2013 and is a Media Arts City. It is also the home of Centres Des Arts (CDA), Enghien’s state-funded digital arts center. Being at the junction of art, science, and technology, the CDA is an innovative hub and an expertise and consulting platform. For over twelve years, the spa town located at the gateway to Paris has developed a cultural program with ambition and conviction. The CDA has always pursued a bold arts strategy and has established itself at the heart of the artistic landscape, notably since 2005 with the arrival of Bains numériques, the international digital arts biennial (Media Arts Biennale). Multidisciplinary by vocation, the CDA specializes in production (live performances, exhibitions, installations, audiovisual), distribution, and art initiatives for and with the general public, and it also runs a program of arts residencies to support contemporary artists. International cooperation has also become an important component of Enghien’s digital activity supported by the CDA, which acts as the lead partner on digital innovation projects in the areas of visual art, performance art, and cinema.

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.

Everyday Korean

Episode 27: 취업 (Employment)

By Harsh Kumar Mishra

Grammar

~에 다니다: Use this to express the meaning “to attend a place.” Ex: 전남대학교에 다녀요. I go to (attend) Chonnam National University.

~기 전에: Use this to express “before doing something.” Ex: 일하기 전에 스펙을 쌓아야 해요. I have to build my resume before starting to work.

Vocabulary 졸업 graduation 준비 preparation 쌓다 pile up, build up 입사하다 join a company 회사 생활 office life 지원하다 apply 경험하다 experience 연습하다 practice 소개하다 introduce

Vocabulary Terms Related to Hobbies

스펙을 쌓다 build up one’s resume 신입사원 new employee 동료 colleague 업무 business, work, task 부서 department 담당자 the person in charge 직위 position 월급 salary

정민: 졸업하고 뭐 하고 싶어요?? [Jo-reop-hago m-wo ha-go shi-peo-yo?] Jeongmin: What do you want to do after graduation?

데지: 저도 정민 씨처럼 회사에 다니고 싶어요. [Jeo-do jeong-min sshi-cheo-reom hwe-sa-e da-ni-go shi-peo-yo] Daisy: I too want to work at a company like you.

정민: 좋은 생각이에요. 취업 준비를 잘하고 있어요? [Jo-eun saen-ga-gi-eyo. Chwi-eop jun-bi-reul jar-hago is-seo-yo?] Jeongmin: Good thought. Are you preparing well for the job?

데지: 네. 스펙을 쌓기 위해서 인턴십 등을 찾고 있어요. [Ne. Seu-pe-geul ssa-khi wi-hae-seo in-teon-ship deun-geul chak-ko is-seo-yo.] Daisy: Yeah. I’m looking for an internship and all to build up my resume.

정민: 그래요? 그럼 GIC에서 하는 국제인턴프로그램(GIIP) 지원해도 좋겠네요. 입사하기 전에 회사 생활도 경험하고 한국어 연습도 할 수 있어서요. [Geu-raeyo? Geu-reom GIC-e-seo ha-neun guk-je-in-teon-peu-ro-geuraem ji-weon-hae-do jo-ken-neyo. Ipsa-hagi jeo-ne hwe-sa saeng-hwaldo gyeong-heom-hago hangu-geo yeon-seup-to hal su is-seo-seo-yo.] Jeongmin: Really? Then it’ll be good if you apply to GIIP. You can experience office culture before working. Also, it’ll help you practice your Korean.

데지: 좋네요. 소개해 주셔서 정말 고마워요. 이번에 꼭 지원할게요. [Jon-neyo. So-gae-hae ju-shyeo-seo jeong-mal goma-weoyo. Ibeone kko-k ji-weon-hal-keyo.] Daisy: Nice. Thank you so much for introducing it. I will apply this time for sure.