Gwangju News International Magazine for Gwangju and Jeollanam-do
November 2009 Volume 9, Issue 11
Editorial
A
s I write this, the Korean Series baseball playoff is in full swing, and it seems that the whole of Gwangju has caught baseball fever. Every home, restaurant and bar has the game on TV, every bus and taxi driver is tuned into the commentary, and everyone else is glued to their cell phone trying to follow the action on the small screen. Unfortunately, our publishing deadlines mean that we aren’t able to feature it in this issue, but rest assured we’ll have a full report on the series’ outcome next month. Nonetheless November is a bumper issue, with the magazine running to an extended 48 pages. We’ve an eclectic mix of articles covering a diverse range of topics, so hopefully there’ll be something for everyone.
Featured this month is Korea’s premier film event, the Pusan International Film Festival. Jon Reesor and his fellow movie buffs joined the throngs in the nation’s second city, and report back with a detailed run-down of all that went on, and review of some of their favourite movies from the event. Closer to home, October is also the month when Gwangju hosts its two biggest annual festivals, the 7080 Chungjang Recollection Festival, and the Kimchi Culture Festival. We’ve coverage of both, with reports from the all-Korean writing team of Park Min-ji and Park Su-ji, and Anna J. Martinez, respectively. Elsewhere, Doug Stuber discusses human rights’ issues with May 18th Foundation intern Chloe Simons, whilst Ahn Hong-pyo and No In-woo take a look at the ‘Saeteomin’ – North Korean refugees who live in South Korea – and the issues and challenges they face living here. For foodies, Maria Lisak lifts the lid on one of Gwangju’s best kept secrets, Italian restaurant Siete Belli, and also tells us where to find Thai food in the city. And on the arts scene, Sarah Helen Epp tells us about the foundation of the Gwangju Artist Collective, and introduces us to its work, activities and members, whilst Mark Hayden is impressed with a slice of the local punk-rock scene. Jake Melville introduces us to a side of the city rarely seen, Adam Bourque goes stargazing at the Gokseong Seomjingang Astronomical Observatory, and I follow the fortunes of Gwangju Inter football team, as they compete in Korea’s only nationwide expat football tournament, the Ulsan Cup. Finally, I’d like to express our great thanks and gratitude to Doug Stuber, for his tremendous efforts and untiring commitment to the magazine working as editor for the previous ten months. Doug’s new role as Editor in Chief will of course mean he remains heavily involved with Gwangju News, and will continue to write his excellent articles. If you’d also like to see your own name in print and be a part of the December issue, please send your ideas and submissions to the usual e-mail address: gwangjunews@gmail.com. Jon Ozelton, Editor
2009 GIC 6th Korean Language Class Weekday Classes - Period: November 9th – December 24th (Twice a week for 7 weeks) - Class hours: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (2 hours) - Tuition fee: 80,000 won (GIC membership fee: 10,000 won/6 months and textbooks excluded)
Days
Textbook
Beginner 1-1
Monday & Wednesday
Beginner 1-2
Monday & Wednesday
Seogang Hankookei 1A
Intermediate 1-1
Monday & Thursday
Intermediate 2-1
Tuesday & Thursday
Level
Saturday Classes - Period: : November 14th – December 26th (Twice a week for 7 weeks) - Class hours: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (2 hours) - Tuition fee: 50,000 won (GIC membership fee: 10,000 won/6 months and textbooks excluded)
Level Beginner 1 Beginner 2 Advanced
Seogang Hankookei 2A Seogang Hankookei 2B
Textbook Seogang Hankookei 1A Easy Korean 2
Not*eThe tuition fee is non-refundable after the first week. ** A class may be canceled if less than 5 people sign up. GIC is located on the 5th floor of the Jeon-il building, the same building as the Korean Exchange Bank, downtown. The entrance is located immediately to the north of the bank. Contact GIC office for more information. Phone: 062-226-2733/4 E-mail: gwangjuic@gmail.com Website: www.gic.or.kr
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Gwangju News November 2009
Contributors
Contents 4
The Korean Way No. 81: Farmers’ Woe with Bumper Rice Crop By 2Ys
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Useful Korean Phrases
November 2009, Volume 9, Issue 11 Publisher: Prof. Shin Gyong-gu
By Kim Hyeon-jeong
Editor in Chief: Doug Stuber
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Editor: Jon Ozelton
The Gwangju Artist Collective By Sarah Helen Epp
Copy Editor: Dan Lister
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Coordinator: Kim Minsu
Gokseong Seomjingang Astronomical Observatory By Adam Bourque
Layout and Design: Kim Hye-young Proofreaders: Adam Bourque, Pete Schandall, Rob Smith, Dan Lister, Stewart Wallace, Hughie Samson, Miriam Ho, Laura Sparley, Michael Begin Printed by: Saenal
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What I Have that Paris Hilton Doesn’t: Personal Reflections on Social Inequality By Lim Ji-young
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The Growing Issue of Saeteomin in South Korea By Ahn Hong-pyo and No In-woo
Photographer: Kim Yong-dae Cover Photo: Chilseon Valley in Jiri Mountain
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Pusan International Film Festival By Jon Reesor
17 Gwangju News uses 100% E-PLUS recycled paper provided by Daehan Paper in Seoul. www.daehanpaper.co.kr
Ahn Joong-Geun, a Timeless Emblem of Peace By Choi Young-hoon
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Ulsan Cup 2009 By Jon Ozelton
Special thanks to the City of Gwangju and all of our sponsors.
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Over the Hill: The Secret Side of Gwangju By Jake Melville
Copyright by the Gwangju International Center.All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without the written consent of the publishers. Gwangju News welcomes letters to the editor (gwangjunews@gmail.com) regarding articles and issues. All correspondence may be edited for reasons of clarity or space.
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Free and Equal? Human Rights in Korea, Asia and the World
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Photo Contest
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Earth, Dying Friend
By Doug Stuber
By Ko Nam-il 28
The Sixth 7080 Chungjang Recollection Festival By Park Min-ji and Park Su-ji
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Thai Food By Maria Lisak
k i m ’s Dental Clinic
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Siete Belli Italian Restaurant
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Gwangju Kimchi Cultural Festival 2009
By Maria Lisak
By Anna J. Martinez 36
Digby
37
Bettyass
By Leroy Kucia
By Mark Hayden 38
Events Compiled by Ahn Hong-pyo, Park Su-ji,Park Min-ji, Ko Nam-il
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Community Board
Gwangju News November 2009
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The Korean Way No. 81
Farmers’ Woe with Bumper Rice Crop D
riving south on the Honam Expressway for two and a half hours from Seoul, you will come to the heart of the Honam Plain which is the bread basket of Korea. The plain appears boundless as far as your eyes can see. It appears brimming over with golden ripe rice. Farmers should be happy with such a bountiful crop this year. But, to the contrary, their hearts are as heavy as the drooping ears of their ripe rice because of the drooping of the rice price. This notorious phenomenon, that is, famine in a bumper year, repeats itself every bumper year.
ordinary situation, less supply brings about a price hike. But this year’s yield is in excess of the expected total national consumption of 4,370,000 tons, that is, 312,000 tons more than the total consumption. Besides, Korea has to import 300,000 tons of rice obligatorily under the Uruguay Round Agreement. This, together with the domestic surplus, adds pressure on the demand-supply scale, bringing the rice price further down. The price of a 40kg-bag of rice this year is 40,000 won, 20% less than last year’s 50,000 won. This is unacceptable for the farmers.
“Famine in a bumper year” seems antinomic, that is, mutually contradictory. The bumper crop should bring in more income to the farmer, theoretically. But in practice a bumper crop provides oversupply and according to supply-and-demand market theory and practice, oversupply of rice brings down the price of rice. This is what happened this year in Korea.
They claim that the cost of production including farm labor, fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, etc. has risen and the current market price is far below their expected price. Some of them are so infuriated at this turn of events that they have put a plowing tractor into the unharvested rice field and plowed it up in protest against the government’s failed price policy.
Thanks to favorable weather conditions this year, that is, no drought and not too much rain, this year’s rice yield is estimated at 4,682,000 tons and last year’s yield was 4,840,000 tons. Thus this year’s yield is 158,000 tons (3.37%) less than last year’s. In an
Until sometime ago, when Korea was not yet fully industrialized, people thought, and still think, farming is the grand base of the country 農者天下之大本也. It is true that adequate and self-sufficient farm products form a good stabilizer for a country.
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Gwangju News November 2009
Useful Korean Phrases 민수: 톰 씨는 취미가 뭐예요? [Tom ssineun chwimiga mwoyeyo?] Min-su: What are your hobbies? Tom: 저는 컴퓨터 게임을 좋아해요. 민수씨는 취미가 뭐예요? [Jeoneun keomputeo geilmeul joahaeyo. Minsussineun chwimiga mwoyeyo?] Tom: I like computer games. What are your hobbies? 민수: 전 게임을 안 좋아해요. 가끔 영화를 봐요. [Jeon geilmeul an josahaeyo. Jaggeum yeonghwageul bwayo.] Min-su: I don’t like computer games. Sometimes I watch a movie. What happened to the rice policy for the last ten years under the two left-leaning Korean governments since 2000? There was a summit meeting of the two Koreas in June 2000 and in October 2007. The summits resulted in economic cooperation between South and North Korea, and because of North Korea’s frequent crop failures the cooperation has usually ended up in the form of a loan of rice and fertilizer from South to North Korea. Usually the amount of rice thus shipped to the North was 400,000-500,000 tons, enough to offset the surplus rice of the South, thus stabilizing the rice price. The opposition party complained of the lack of reciprocity on the part of North Korea for the shipment of rice and fertilizer from South Korea, calling it dumping of goods. Then, what about the shipment of rice to North to stabilize the price? Since the rightist government took over the office in January 2008, the relations between South and North are not as they used to be during the last ten years when the leftists prevailed. A large amount of donated rice, such as several hundred thousand tons, is out of the question for the present administration. Unless some reciprocity is sought from North Korea, such as denuclearization, such large amount of rice shipments will not be considered. Instead, 10,000-30,000 tons will be sent for humanitarian purposes, but this amount will not greatly contribute to price stabilization. By 2Ys
Tom: 저도 영화를 정말 좋아해요. 일요일에 같이 영화 봐요. [Jeodo yeonghwareul jeongmal joahaeyo. Ilyoile gatchi yeonghwa bwayo.] Tom: I really enjoy movies too. Let’s go see a movie together this Sunday. 민수: 좋아요. [Joayo.] Min-su: That's good.
<Vocabulary> 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
취미 컴퓨터 영화 가끔 일요일
Hobby 게임 - Computer game movie often - Sunday
1. 저는 N을/를 좋아해요. ( I like N ) 2. 저는 N을/를 안 좋아해요. (I don’t like N) Place‘안’directly before the verb (directly before 하다 in the case of 하다 verb) to make a negative. “좋아하다”is not actually a“하다” verb, it is a combination verb of 좋다 and 하다. 공부 안 해요. I don’t study./ I’m not studying. 안 가요. I don’t go./ I am not going.
By Kim Hyeon-jeong She teaches Korean at the GIC.
(An audacious pen name standing for Too Wise, whose real name acronym is S. S. S.)
Gwangju News November 2009
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Local Scene
The Gwangju Artist Collective
T
he Gwangju Artist Collective (GAC) is a collection of Korean and international artists living, working and creating in and around the Gwangju area. The group is made up of mainly English speaking individuals from Korea, Canada, The United States of America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Britain. The collective gathers recent graduates, seasoned professionals and art enthusiasts to make, share and discuss their work. Their interests and backgrounds include drawing, painting, illustration, photography, sculpture, architecture, performance, animation, textiles and community art. The artist collective is based in the Gwangju International Centre (GIC). The GIC has generously provided the collective with access to funding, a meeting space, invitations to cultural festivals as well as formal access to public space for our individual art pursuits. The staff and the broad vision of the GIC, has enabled unique English speaking groups like ours to find support and community backing. The concept for the group was put on paper in the spring of 2009 by community artist Victoria Jung and me, Sarah Helen Epp. In the spring Victoria and I, along with our close friend and creative collaborator Na Young-kim, met with Professor Shin Gyong-gu and Kim Ji-hyun to propose our idea for a creative arts group for adults. Our concept was to create a place where artists could meet, discuss and share their work. All members would be encouraged to take up leadership roles as they see fit, be it organizing an art tour, hosting a skills sharing workshop, or leading a community arts activity or artist talk. There would be no formal leadership and membership would be open to all, allowing artists to come and go as they please
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thus reflecting the transient nature of the international community. The Artist Collective has three main goals: first, to create a place for artist to meet, second to encourage creative expression and finally fostering cross-cultural communication. At the same time that we were in the beginning stages of creating the artist collective, Doug Stuber was in the process of creating and proposing a new gallery space at the GIC. In addition to being Editor in Chief of the Gwangju News, Stuber is an experienced painter and art critic; Stuber added a lot of energy, experience and ability to our collective dreams. With the committed support of Kim Ji-hyun, both projects were able to secure a Global Villages Grant from the Ministry of Arts and Culture thus enabling the Gwangju Artist Collective and Gwangju Association of International Artists (GAIA) Gallery to be formed. The GAIA gallery is open to all selected local and international artists to show their work. So far the gallery has hosted two shows, including “East Meets West” a group show by the artist collective which brings together the works of seven Korean and seven international artists. The artist collective’s second group show will be opening on November 8th. All are welcome to check out the work at the GAIA Gallery, located in the wide open space which also houses the GIC talk and a variety of educational classes. In addition to showing work, one of the collective’s major goals is to encourage art making within the community. Through participation in city festivals the members of the collective have created two short-term community arts events for local and international citizens. This year the GAC participated in “Together Day” as well as the “Asian Youth and Cultural Festival”.
Both events were sponsored by UNESCO and carried out by the GIC staff, interns and volunteers. During Together Day participants were asked “Do you belong in Gwangju?” Tracing their hands on paper participants wrote their four favorite aspects of living in Gwangju on their fingers, and on their thumbs they identified one aspect of Gwanjgu which they would like to see change. This process of identifying and questioning aspects of the community invited dialogue between participants and the GAC members. Throughout the day the colorful images were gathered together, hands touching hands celebrating the positive and acknowledging the negative aspects of life in Gwangju. At the UNESCO Asian Youth Conference dialogues about peace were one of the central focuses. Members of the artist collective sought to further the discussion through creative expression. International participants were given a blank postcard and were asked to draw or write a message reflecting their understanding of peace. The postcards quickly filled up with words and images illustrating feelings of hope and frustration in regards to global peace. Hung between vertical clotheslines behind the work table, the cards created a vibrant reflection on peace. Brief moments like these allow people to come together making their individual notions of peace a public statement. The cards were later featured in the “East Meets West” group show. Workshops are another way in which the collective encourages creative expression and communication within the community. This past summer GAC members Caroline Huf and Tamlyn Young led an introduction to animation workshop with members of the Junior GIC. In a two-hour workshop they introduced the basics of clay animation to a group of 10 children. The children created characters using yellow, blue and red clay. The characters where photographed and manipulated incrementally thus producing a sequence of photographs that could later be edited into stop-motion animation. The animation was edited by Tamlyn Young, producing a playful three-minute animation. The final animation was fun, creative and very colorful. Workshops like these encourage creativity, teamwork and cross-cultural communication. In a test-oriented education system, workshops like these allow children the opportunity to create, learn and express themselves through the arts. Their piece can be viewed on YouTube: just search “GIC KIDS Animation Workshop”. In addition to accessing public space the GIC has enabled artists to access private spaces otherwise offlimits to foreign artists. This past August former artist collective member Caroline Huf created three short stop-
motion animation pieces in the Gwangju subway system. Contacting the Gwangju Rapid Transport Corporation, the GIC was able to get formal permission for Huf to document and perform in the subway space. The subway station served as both a metaphor and a performance site. Using black and white tape Huf physically connected herself to the subway platform. In the film it appears as though she was growing roots while curious Gwangju citizens stopped and stared; toward the end of the piece Huf stands up and walks on. This piece visualizes the foreigner’s experience of temporarily stopping, living and growing in one place before leaving it behind. Thanks to the help of the GIC staff Huf was able to spend three days riding the Gwangju rails making art. The artist collective is open to everyone, and no creative experience is needed. On average we meet about twice a month at the GIC. To learn about our next meeting please send a request to gic-artistscollective@googlegroups.com. The group uses Google groups as a means of sharing documents and staying connected. Simply send us an e-mail and we’ll send you an invitation to join the group. Once the group receives the e-mail any member can send out an invitation to host a meeting, lead a workshop or suggest an art trip. It’s that simple to get connected and access the group. The Gwangju Artist Collective has only been around for a few short months, but thanks to the support of the GIC and commitment from numerous individuals, the collective has been able to flourish. That said, as a new group, there are still many areas in which we can grow, develop, and evolve – new creative energies, leadership and direction are always welcome. Please e-mail the Google group for more information to help shape, share and create the Gwangju Artist Collective. Our members include: Gabrielle Berube, Tamara Croxall, Sarah Helen Epp, Becca Gibson, Miriam Ho, Caroline Huf, Victoria Jung, Jihyun Kim, Na Young Kim, Leroy Kucia,. Maria Lisak, Ian Thomas McNair, Nicole Kirkpatrick, Tamara Rose, Hughie Samson, Jocelyn Stokes, Doug Stuber, Lauren White, Jo Whitham, Tamlyn Young. By Sarah Helen Epp
Gwangju News November 2009
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Travel
Gokseong Seomjingang Astronomical Observatory
T
he night is clear. Not a cloud in the sky. The smell of crisp cool air flows through the window as my scooter beckons for somewhere to go. I wonder and it occurs to me that my scooter has not been to the Gokseong Observatory in a long time. Time to go. Helmet? Check. Keys? Check. Camera? Check. Gatorade drink? Not today. Gloves? Check. Fall has come and with the beautiful colours of the leaves the temperature at night nearby my home has dropped a lot, so I have to bundle up like a big kimbab just to stay warm while traveling at night on the scooter. Driving at night is a very different experience on the way to the observatory. In towns and cities there are lots of lights, but when driving in the valleys the darkness of the night surrounds me and my little headlight is the only beacon to show me the way. I endure the cold wind and the fresh air and will be rewarded. The stars in the sky are about to get a lot
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Gwangju News November 2009
closer. Going to the observatory offers each person the opportunity to gaze at the stars. You don’t have to really know anything about constellations, galaxy names or celestial bodies to enjoy a visit there. The staff are very accommodating at educating everyone. I arrive close to my destination and I cross a bridge and make my way slowly to the structure. I approach it and I see a huge domed structure with a building attached. Eager to see what’s inside I hurry in. I am greeted warmly by the man at the counter and he is very worried I will not fully enjoy the experience as the show is in Korean. I told him not to worry, as he had a full house of 35 other Koreans to take care of. Myself being the only foreigner there I didn’t want to be a bother. I was ushered into the domed structure and then the lights went out and I reclined my seat. I expected it to only go back a little bit. I was wrong. These seats
reclined almost to the point where you are lying down! You could see everything above you, namely, a big white dome. Curious what is to come next I wished I had some popcorn. The lights go out. Some instructions from the speakers come on and the show starts. Stars appear above me, somehow being projected onto the roof. I am so amazed I don’t really bother to understand how the technology works. The next 20 minutes is a journey through the stars. We are shown certain constellations and also the development of telescopes and how they work. Galileo is mentioned and historical dramas are pictured to demonstrate his discoveries about stars and the universe. The show ends but my experience at the observatory does not. We are ushered up some stairs and into a room of telescopes. There are three, each of a different style, with different strengths of magnification. The thinner one sees only a short distance and the thicker one sees a very long distance. But I don’t understand. Why keep three telescopes inside, pointing to the ceiling? Is it a demonstration of how to use a telescope? I am utterly wrong. The man looks around to make sure everyone is present and thanks everyone for being here. At least I think he does – my Korean is still shaky. Then he hits a button and a sound emerges, low at first then louder, followed by a huge groan of steel being moved. I look around. Nothing is happening. I look up and am astonished. The sky is not falling. The roof is moving! It slowly opens up to reveal the beautiful night sky above.
have been given a name. Some of the more common constellations are Pegasus, named after the mythological winged horse, and Hercules, the mythological hero. These are both mentioned and pointed out in the clear sky. The stars are clear and bright. The beautiful sky is charted bit by bit and I am hypnotized as I gaze into the infinite number of dots that paint the sky. As the man finishes, people begin to line up to eagerly look into the telescopes that are pointed at specific bodies mentioned in the talk. One such body is the planet Jupiter which has the nice big red spot on it. Watching it through the telescope makes a person on Earth feel very small. There is another part of the experience that has yet to be revealed and I find the best part of the observatory. On a clear night, they use the very big telescope – and by very big I mean just that. They say the lens size is 100mm, and the whole machine is almost 2 meters long. Getting to look through it and see Saturn was a special treat. The rings of Saturn are very beautiful and when you see them direct through a telescope it feels different. It’s a neat feeling when you think about how far away planets like Saturn and Jupiter are, and we can see them from our planet. As my experience drew to a close I noticed a newly built room with chairs and a big screen. I asked what that was for and was told that on poor-visibility nights when there are clouds or it’s raining, people can still learn about the planets and stars using an interactive
The stars are beautiful and the sky is clear. I have a sneaky feeling we are about to be treated to a viewing of certain constellations. I found out later that the man is explaining to others that these constellations are visible in the Gokseong area and surrounding Gwangju. However, due to all the light pollution in Gwangju you have to travel out to the darkness to see the natural beauty above in space. As the man is explaining each constellation, he pulls something out of his pocket which looks like a pen. All of a sudden a very bright and clear beam of green light shoots into the sky. This device allows him to point to the constellations as he explains the history behind them. Constellations are groups of stars that
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star-watching program. It portrays the whole sky and all known stars. They have set the location to Gokseong so that people can see what is really above them, even if the sky is cloudy. While I imagine it’s not the same experience, I like to think that it would be a good starting point to learn what stars are in the sky. One thing remained though and that was the language barrier, since all of these presentations are done in Korean. I spoke to the English Speaking contact Hyung Kyu and he assured me that if a group of stargazing English speakers wished to grace the Gokseong Observatory with their presence, he would be happy to switch the soundtrack into English. He did stress that while he would enjoy catering to the needs of the
English speaking community, he asked me kindly to please write or call in advance and make a reservation. I said I’m sure people would love to. I walked out of the observatory with a wonderful sense that I had boldly gone somewhere and seen something that no one had seen before, with the wonderful sense that I had seen something beautiful and felt very tiny in the grand scheme of the universe. Maybe there is life out there on other planets...who knows? And with that thought in my mind, I directed my little red scooter into the darkness, and toward my warm apartment, where I would enjoy some tea. By Adam Bourque
Gokseong Seomjingang Observatory (곡성섬진강천문대) Phone Number: 061-363-8528 English Speaking Contact: Hyung Kyu Jang Website (Korean only): http://star.gokseong.go.kr/ Directions: From Gwangju, take expressway 25 towards Suncheon. Turn off at Gokseong IC, and drive into the centre of town. Just past Gokseong train station, turn right onto national road 17. After almost 8 kilometres, take the small bridge to cross the river, and keep going along the narrow road for another 1km to reach the observatory. Hours of operation: 2 p.m.-10 p.m. Tours start around 7:30 p.m.
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Perspective
What I Have that Paris Hilton Doesn’t: Personal Reflections on Social Inequality
M
y early middle school days were spent at the expense of my studies: I was always caring for my appearance, chasing cute boys, and writing love letters. And yet, my parents never told me to study. Parental intuition told them that their nagging would push me away from, rather than draw me toward, my schoolwork. Instead, they allowed me to glimpse two future scenarios. One day they took me to a fancy, expensive restaurant; the next day, to a poor, shabby cafeteria. While eating dinner at the latter, my father said, “Remember, it is you who can decide your way of life – you decide whether you want to have dinners in luxurious restaurants, or in small, ratty cafeterias like this.” His message was simple and clear: a good life often follows a good education. I was motivated to study hard, especially when learning English, a language whose growing global p r e e m i n e n c e underscored its importance. Fascinated by Backstreet Boys songs and Hollywood movies, I enjoyed studying English everywhere: in my room, in the bathtub, at the dining table, on the street, or even during dates with my first boyfriend. I read American gossip magazines to learn slang and street-talk; through them, I came to know about Paris Hilton, heiress to the Hilton Hotel chain. One of her dubious claims to fame is that, once she wears an outfit, she never wears it again. Looking at Ms. Hilton, I thought life was very unfair. She was born into obscene wealth and endless opportunity. She released an album, wrote a book, and ran various kinds of businesses without any fear of failure because she was exempt from financial repercussions. I felt jealous of her as she attained social and cultural capital with little to no effort, while most people struggle for a fraction of the recognition that she receives. There is an old Korean saying, “a dragon grows up in a brook,” which means that great oaks come from little acorns. At its full size, a dragon cannot actually live in a
brook; thus, it represents success despite a humble background. My parents’ personal success perfectly illustrates the saying. They were born right after the war and could not attend university but instead had to be satisfied with finishing high school, which proved difficult enough for them. Both my grandparents were so poor that they could not afford to pay tuition fees for their children. They were part of the labor class, working all day long for meager pay. They and their children were hungry all the time; a full bowl of rice was considered a blessing. Now, my parents belong to the middle class of Korean society. Both became government officials and their positions afforded them a level of financial stability they had never before known. For my parents’ generation, this achievement is regarded as the result of effort because before the 1980s, there was tremendous opportunity for social mobility as class distinctions were more malleable. Now, it is more difficult to find someone who can be described as a dragon in a brook. These days, class distinctions are more rigidly defined so that if one is poor, he or she has less opportunity to learn; this entails a corresponding smaller opportunity to succeed. According to a recent study by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, 5.8% of elementary school students who belong to low-income brackets and live in the poorest area (Yangchen district) showed slowed learning rates, but no students who belong to high-income brackets and live in the richest area (Gangnam district) showed slowed learning rates. Poor students are not only beset by slowed learning rates; they also have no chance to do things like study abroad. In that sense, I am lucky. Even though I received a scholarship to study abroad, I had to show my father’s bankbook to prove that he is not poor, or at least that he could afford to pay money for my stay in America. The trip was admittedly expensive, but it was well worth the investment. The moral lessons I learned there will stay with me for the rest of my life. America is often called the land of opportunity, where men and women can, through hard work and sacrifice, achieve whatever goals they desire. And so it was that in America, my father's message was reinforced: I truly do make every difference in my life from my efforts. Now when I look at Paris Hilton I am no longer jealous of her. In fact, I pity her as I realize that her efforts make little difference in her wealth; she can never genuinely claim or feel, as I can, that she is a self-made woman. By Lim Ji-young Illustration by Leroy Kucia
Gwangju News November 2009
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Current Issue
The Growing Issue of Saeteomin in South Korea
O
n October 1st, 11 refugees from North Korea fled to the South on the East coast. Pyongyang immediately requested a repatriation of all; however, Seoul decided to refuse it, as the refugees had expressed their wish to remain in South Korea. Some anxiety had arisen as to whether the denial of the repatriation request would worsen the current intercountry relationship or not, which had already has been suffering in recent times. But at the same time, some others think this issue will not seriously affect the North-South relationship, considering similar cases in the past did not result in huge conflicts. The issue of those who try to settle in the South has reached a level where members of this society can neither neglect nor underestimate it. More and more migrations take place as the years go by, since living conditions in the impoverished North have greatly
Poster from the movie “Crossing”, which featured saeteomin.
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worsened. According to the CIA World Fact Book, GDP per capita of North Korea records only US$1,800 dollars as of 2008, ranking 189th worldwide. The official data reads that more than 16,000 refugees from the North have settled in the South after the 1953 armistice in the Korean War. In Korean, those people who come from the North and try to settle in the South are called ‘ 새 터 민 ’ [Saeteomin], which literally translates as “new foundation”, and phonetically goes well with an English word that comprises its definition, to ‘settle’. As the number of saeteomin increases, some government organizations started to respond the issue. For example, Gyeonggi-do launched its ‘Project in Support of Settlement of North Korean Refugees’ with the aim of embracing some 3,700 of them in the area. The call for the project arose with various issues such as human rights, North-South reunification and welfare. Some tangible and also intangible outcomes of the project are observed in the related centers and education programs. The project has laid out a set of procedures to empower saeteomin, ranging from an accommodation program to several employment programs. The accommodation program targets saeteomin still in their first year of living in the South. The employment program consists of a counseling service, employment possibilities in the public sector and education courses to provide opportunities to earn certifications, such as a cook, or technician in the fields of cutting-edge machinery, energy, special welding, computer systems, automobile repair and so on. Gyeonggi-do also plans to open courses in the field of social welfare such as childhood education. Especially, Gyeonggi-do hired six North Korean settlers as public servants in the jurisdiction to support the saeteomin administration by working on observing their accommodation to the South and residence matters and issuing certificates for them. But, for the saeteomin, there are issues of identity: where they feel they belong to. Especially, those in adolescence feel it is tough to attend a school or a university, due to the high competition that pervades every corner of education in South Korea. And on top of that, they can suffer discrimination from other students, which is often so harsh that they instead
pretend to be international students from China or having lived in rural areas of Gangwon-do. Saetnet school, an alternative school, opened in September of 2004 to embrace 21 of them, aged between 16 and 24. Some 60 voluntary teachers help them by offering opportunities to experience South Korean culture, which helps them to self-adjust. Park, the principal of Saetnet school, said that the key component of the school is “communication” and continued: “All of those saeteomin students make concerted efforts to become more and more familiar with South Korean culture and prefer to seek and take steps by themselves in the process, than to simply follow established steps that teachers try to provide.” Such issues emerged when they travelled to places in South Korea and heard different dialects spoken. At first, they thought that they should speak the standard Korean like people in and around Seoul do; however, after talking to people from all around the nation, they started to feel it is natural and there’s nothing wrong with speaking Korean in the Northern style. Getting closer to home, Gwangju and Jeollanam-do areas have some 600 saeteomin. Two of them, Joo Miyeong and Kim Chun-hwa, wanted to relieve their
nostalgia and to promote the culture of the North here, and so opened a restaurant in Gwangju which serves a variety of North Korean foods and liquors. Moreover, they gathered some other saeteomin to make a culture group to introduce songs and dances passed down in the North. The restaurant and the cultural facility were established with the help of Asia Cultural Exchange Foundation, with monk Hyeon-jang at the helm. Joo, the chef, worked at one of the three most distinguished naengmyeon [cold noodles] restaurants for 12 years in the North. Joo and Kim plan to donate 10% of their profit for the children of saeteomin families as scholarships, and hold cultural activities in the performance room in the basement floor of the restaurant. Called Baekdoosan, after the highest peak in North Korea, their restaurant is located just northeast of downtown, and specializes in naengmyeon, as well as offering many other North Korean tastes. See boxedtext for details.
By Ahn Hong-pyo and No In-woo Ahn Hong-pyo (senior) and No In-woo (freshman) are students at Chonnam National University
Baekdoosan Restaurant Location Dongmyeong-dong, Dong-gu Main menu Hamheung Naengmyeon (Cold noodles, made from potato starch): 6,000 won Pyeong-yang Mandoo (Dumpling, meat included): 6,000 won Others are red and spicy soups and soondae (a Korean style sausage) Various liquor products from the North are also available. Phone (062) 233-5676 How to get there Walk down the sidestreet next to GIC. At the end of the street, cross the street and turn right. Take a left at the large junction, and walk till you find a Nonghyup. On your left, you can find the restaurant. It takes about 10 minutes on foot from GIC. Bus 74, 81, 1187
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Feature
P usan International Film Festival T
he 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) took place last month and was bigger than it’s ever been. Running from October 8th through the 16th, a record total of 355 movies from 70 countries were shown at six different theaters throughout Busan. Four theaters, including one outdoor theater, are located in or around the Haeundae area and two are located in Nampo Dong. As Haeundae is the most famous beach in Korea, it provides an excellent backdrop for all the happenings and goings-on during the festival. For the nine days of the festival, movies run through a total of five separate time blocks. The earliest movies start around ten in the morning, with the last block of movies falling into the category of “Midnight Passion”: a triple feature starting at 11:59 p.m., for those who far prefer movies to sleep, at only 10,000 won. Each year, the organizers choose to highlight different directors, genres or nations for the festival. This year, Italian director Dario Argento, Indian director and producer Yash Chopra (Asian Filmmaker of the Year) and a variety of Filipino independent movies were all among those selected for a special focus. Other emphases of the festival include Korean and international short film, classic and modern Korean film, and films from international directors both fresh and experienced. In addition, a record 143 of the 355 movies screened were either international or world premiers. Ticketing for the festival has caused difficulties in the past, especially for non-Koreans. Previously, foreigners have been unable to purchase tickets in advance through traditional methods. While a portion of the tickets for each film were sold ahead of time, some are held in reserve for same-day sales which could require waiting in lineups for four or more hours just to get tickets.
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This year, the morning lineups seemed to be significantly shorter than in the past and many of the theaters seemed to have had a large number of seats empty. Whether this is due to the highest number of movies ever screened at the festival or a decline in interest and attendance will be determined once the final attendance numbers are published. Many of the ticketing problems present in years past have been dealt with this year, the most significant being that foreigners in Korea and abroad can now purchase advance tickets online. Purchasing online doesn’t guarantee you will see your movie, however. You have to work quickly since many of the more popular films sell out within 20 minutes of the online box office opening. The opening and closing films (this year a Korean and Chinese film, respectively) have sold out in as little as 90 seconds in the past. Ticket prices are very reasonable at only 5,000 won. If you buy five tickets you get one free and if you buy ten tickets you get three free. Once you have your tickets, the rest of the festival is easy enough to navigate. Four of the theaters are within ten minutes of Haeundae subway station, either by subway, walking or taxi and the other two theaters are nearly an hour away by subway and likely longer by taxi. As such, it’s important to leave enough time between movies should you have to change theaters. A free shuttle bus runs every twenty minutes between the four Haeundae-area theaters, the PIFF Village and a hotel or two. At the PIFF Village, there are a few exhibitions and stands set up as well as a few of the typical photo op places. As Asia’s biggest film festival, there are also a few special appearances by famous and semi-famous people. At the Yachting Center, a special Warehouse
Club was hosting performances by DJ Ryoo Seungbum, Mondo Grosso and, perhaps most notably, Big Bang. Attending the festival to promote screenings, or perhaps for personal reasons, were actor Josh Hartnett, director Bryan Singer, hip-hop star Tiger JK, singer BoA, and Japanese pop singer Amuro Namie. It was never too difficult to tell when a star was, or would soon be nearby: simply look for the white van with the heavily tinted windows and the screaming crowd of girls still in their school uniforms. While some people may be content soaking up the atmosphere and taking in the exhibitions, the main point of the film festival is the movies. Whether you’re a die-hard buff, or maybe just enjoy the occasional flick, the festival has something for you, and perhaps even something to broaden your taste. Here are a few reviews from people who attended the festival this year ... “Backyard” (Mexico) Although violent and sometimes difficult to watch, Backyard provides a glimpse into the stories of a city and its people that we often hear about in the news but find ourselves detached and unaffected. Ciudad Juarez is a city with good intentions spoiled by corruption from the governor down to a newly appointed police chief. This corruption makes finding and prosecuting those who commit
horrendous crimes against women nearly impossible. Based on real events, and highlighting actual numbers of violent crimes against women, this movie connects each of us to the lives of our neighbor’s right across the border. (Reviewed by Sara Fladmo)
“Cole” (Canada) Cole Chambers is from a small town called Lytton. A town so small that it is Coles only dream to escape and create a better life for himself. When given the opportunity to attend a creative writing class in the city, he battles between his small town relationships and pursuing his dream to become a writer. Cole finds difficulty balancing school, friends, rivals, taking care of his dependant mother and helping his sister manage the family gas station. When his new love interest, a girl he met in his writing class, comes to visit a dramatic course of events unfold that Cole nor anyone could have predicted. (Reviewed by Christina Wolfe)
여행자/ A Brand New Life” (Korea) “여 A Brand New Life is a beautiful look into the life of young Jin-hee, unexpectedly left by the father she adores to a Catholic girls’ orphanage on the outskirts of Seoul. Though set in 1975, the story is a timeless
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experience that many Korean children sadly have shared. The directorial debut of Ounie Lecomte, the film is a loose autobiography of Lecomte’s own experience. The story follows Jin-hee as she learns to deal with abandonment and settles into her new life. Viewed from the perspective of Jin-hee, the film becomes poignant and personal. Though the pacing is slow, it provides opportunity to follow the girls’ emotional maturing. With superb acting, particularly that of Kim Sae-ron (Jin-hee) and Park Do-yeon (Sookee, Jin-hee’s best friend), the story flows skillfully as the girls bring the audience into a superb drama of emotions. (Reviewed by Rebekah Hastey)
“Paranormal Activity” (USA) Although Paranormal Activity is not entirely unique nor does it have star power, it gets back to the basics in hairraising fashion. The film is set in San Diego, California in 2006. A young couple decides to videotape the strange paranormal activity they’ve been experiencing at night. The camera is set up in their bedroom and captures increasingly disturbing phenomena as time goes on. The boyfriend obsesses about abolishing their tormentor but in the process of investigating the haunting he only manages to anger it more. The paranormal activity increases throughout the movie testing the couple and their sanity. The film only has four characters and is entirely presented through the footage of the couple’s own camera (Blair witch style). If you enjoy scary movies this is one you don’t want to miss. The audience was screaming and squirming in their seats at PIFF and it concluded with a huge applause. This movie cracked my, very exclusive, top 5 scary movie list. (Reviewed by Shawn Green)
“Five Minutes of Heaven” (UK / Ireland) Starring Liam Neeson, Five Minutes of Heaven is a story set in the context of the conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland. Neeson plays Allistair, a man who at the age of seventeen murdered 19-year-old James Griffin because of rumours that James (a Protestant) was making trouble for some
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Catholic co-workers. James’ brother Jim witnessed the murder and the movie centres on the relationship between Allistair and Jim. The movie tells the story of these two men thirty-three years after the murder, when they are brought together by a television show for an onscreen process of reconciliation. This was one of my favourite movies at this year’s film festival as it examined some tough themes very poignantly. I always appreciate a movie that challenges my presuppositions about issues and I left this movie considering the efficacy of reconciliation, as well as humankind’s desire for vengeance. The acting was stellar and the story was stark yet touching, handling the issue with sensitivity without being trite. I heartily recommend this movie to others. (Reviewed by Emily Reesor)
선 화 또 하 나 의 나 / Sona, the Other Myself” “선 (Korea / Japan) In her second film examining life in Pyongyang through the eyes of her family, director Yang Yong-hi focuses on the life of her niece, Sona. In a series of home video recordings dating from 1995 to 2008, Yang chronicles her visits to her family in Pyongyang. Only three years old in the first scenes of the movie, bright and naturally inquisitive Sona quickly becomes the focal point of Yang’s observations during her family visits and the two share several candid conversations contrasting life inside and outside the secretive state. Yang’s portrait of her family manages to simultaneously convey the warmth and intimacy of their reunions, her own misgivings regarding the repressive state in which her family lives, and Sona’s growing interest and curiosity about her aunt’s world. Expect “Sona, the Other Myself” to be released to the general public in fall 2010. Constantly thought-provoking and often emotionally charged, this film is a must-see. (Reviewed by Josh Hastey)
Main article and photos by Jon Reesor
Opinion
Ahn Joong-Geun, a Timeless Emblem of Peace M any achievements and images symbolically represent Ahn Joong-Geun: his assassination of the general-in-residence of the Japanese colonial government, Ito Hirobumi, and the black hand-print which shows his ring finger cut off above the knuckle. He is dubbed ‘the patriot’ by these symbols, yet, they seem to be focused on a deviated aspect of his true greatness. If a patriot is all he was, he is no more than one of many Korean independence activists who worked to reestablish the sovereignty of Korea during the Japanese colonial period. Dedication to his nation per se is surely honorable but is not the entirety of Ahn’s prominence in East Asia’s history.
Ahn assassinated Ito Hirobumi, who was visiting China, on October 26, 1909. In the late nineteenth century, Korea became vulnerable to Japan's expansionism and China was not free from its sinister ambition, either. Ito was a key figure of the Meiji Restoration and served as a prime minister of Japan several times before he masterminded Japan's colonization of the Korean Peninsula. Later, Japan advanced into northern Chinese territory. As a matter of course, Ahn’s act created a sensation in China as well. A Chinese newspaper in Beijing carried an article with the title, “Don't Say Korea Doesn't Have People with Talent,” calling on its people to learn from Ahn’s patriotic act against the Japanese aggressors that was conducted in its land. Many Chinese newspapers praised Ahn’s patriotic spirit and the philosophy of peace he conveyed to East Asian people. As the Chinese newspaper correctly pointed out, the core of why Ahn shines like a star even today is the fact that he tried to convince people that peace can be achieved through harmony and coexistence. Assassinating the key figure of imperialism was an inevitable step toward the ultimate goal in the period of colonialism. If Ahn’s act was merely revenge, he would be a terrorist, not a martyr. His actions would be deemed as ethnocentric, not patriotic. As he described in his unfinished essay, “A Treatise on Peace in the East,” his motive was for harmony and peace in East Asia. His actions before the assassination indicated that he was not against the Japanese, but against their imperialism. When many Korean young men were forced to sacrifice their lives in the Russo-Japanese war, which was absolutely an action that took advantage of Koreans, people’s unswerving hatred toward the Japanese grew, but Ahn was different. He repeatedly pointed out the fraud of Japan using the slogan “working for the sake of Asian peace” to enlist Koreans. Yet his opinion about Japanese individuals was rather nice. He managed to see that the sin of imperialism was neither solely Japan’s nor a Japanese attribute. It is a somewhat astonishing perspective but possible because of his mind-set that distinguishes sin from sinner. His in-depth understanding
was that imperialism should be overcome in pursuance of peace in East Asia. His suggestion was drastic under the circumstances and even too ideal. However, he dreamed a lofty but neither impractical nor superficial dream. Instead of simply saying that peace should be attained, he listed the possible ways to actually reach the goal such as a joint army and periodic peace conferences. He also elaborated upon his plan.
Ahn’s philosophy of peace, which also carries practical values, is said to have given rise to Sunwenism, or the Three Principles of the People of China in 1911 – namely, the People’s Relation, Power, and Welfare. Unfortunately, Ito’s death resulted in the acceleration of the final stage of the colonization process. In 1910, Ahn was executed at the age of 31 after one year in prison. Japan annexed Korea the same year. Nevertheless, Japan’s imperialism couldn’t suppress Ahn’s spirit, emblazoned and alive in the minds of those who witnessed his acts and death. Ahn’s vision of an “Asian United Nations” introduced in “A Treatise on Peace in the East” gave substance to the statements of American President Woodrow Wilson about national selfdetermination at the Paris Peace Conference in January 1919. In turn, this ideal fuelled a Korean independence movement that culminated in the Korean Declaration of Independence in the March 1 Movement. “Hate the sin but not the sinner” is easier said than done because it is difficult to discern between either. Among the many things that Ahn Jung-Geun is revered for, not attaching imperialism to Japan is the one thing that he should be most praised for. This seemingly simple practice was the basis of his lifelong mission: the promotion of coexistence, harmony and peace. He deserves to be an emblem of peace, transcending the limits of time and place. A narrow focus on just the historical event misses the motivation and importance of Ahn’s philosophy. This is why we need to remember Ahn’s spirit and legacy more than just his assassination of Ito Hirobumi. His priceless passion for peace in East Asia is what makes him distinctive, making Koreans and others worldwide treasure and pay tribute to him – a guiding star to a better future that we all look forward to. By Choi Young-hoon Young-hoon is a freshman in the College of Social Science at Seoul National University.
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Sports
Ulsan Cup 2009 A
s the early sun dispersed the last of the dawn mist on a mild September morning, twenty-two men were standing in a field by a river, waiting. Moments later, a whistle sounded, and so set the ball rolling in the 2009 Ulsan Cup. Expat football is currently flourishing in Korea. Only a few years ago there were barely a dozen ‘foreigner’ teams in existence, but these days there are some thirty-plus teams playing across the country, with leagues in place in Seoul and its surrounding area, and in Gyeongsan-do (the SSFL and KFFL respectively). Gwangju's own expat team, Gwangju Inter FC, is one of the oldest in Korea, founded in 2002. Like so many good things, it began in a bar, when a few English teachers committed to start playing football regularly together. It’s grown ever since. Inter lost in the Plate final of last year's Ulsan tournament, but this year went one place better. The Ulsan Cup is currently the only foreigner soccer tournament in the country, and this was its second incarnation, following a successful debut in 2008. This year thirteen teams from eight different cities made the journey to the east coast to take part. Teams were divided into four groups, with the top two from the
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round-robin games advancing to the quarterfinals of the main Cup competition, and the remaining teams dropping into the Plate contest. The four losing Cup quarterfinalists were then handed a second chance, as they also transferred to the Plate. The format meant a busy schedule, with thirty-three games crammed into the weekend, but ensured each team was guaranteed at least four games over the two days, so no one had to go home early. Gwangju Inter took a squad of seventeen players on the four hour trip to Ulsan, but were unable to find a recognised goalkeeper, meaning outfield players had to share the keeper’s shirt. The draw for the group stages placed Inter together with both of last year's Cup finalists, and scheduled a 9 a.m. kickoff for the opening game, despite the long distance to travel. The team lost the first match to Daegu Devils, but then responded well with an excellent 3-1 victory over defending champions Busan United, which saw Gwangju qualify for the knock-out stages of the Cup event. The tournament was hosted by Ulsan's local expat team, the Wonshot Wanderers FC, in partnership with the Ulsan Amateur Football League. The whole event was well planned and organised, with games played
simultaneously on two artificial turf pitches by the banks of the river. Food and drink were available pitchside, as well as souvenir T-shirts. Shuttle buses ran between the main hotel, the fields, and the World Cup Convention Centre, where all teams were required to attend an official buffet function on the Saturday evening. Additionally, the tournament organizers had managed to agree a deal with a local broadcasting company, UTV News (www.utvnews.co.kr), who streamed games live on the Internet. TV cameras, crew and commentators were present by the main field, so friends and family at home and abroad could also follow the action. Gwangju’s Cup quarterfinal was against SBFC, from Seoul. The match was Inter’s third that day, and proved to be a game too far, with a tired performance resulting in defeat. Seoul-based teams clearly benefitted from the wider pool of footballing talent available in the larger metropolis, and it was no surprise that two teams from the capital, SBFC and Seoul Celtic, went on to contest the Cup final together, which Celtic won to become overall Cup champions. The Cup defeat saw Gwangju drop into the Plate competition the following day, but thereafter they were undefeated, first getting past neighbours Suncheon IFC in the Plate quarterfinal, and then gaining revenge for
the group-stage loss to Daegu Devils by eliminating them in the Plate semifinal. This set up an all-Jeolla final against local rivals Jeonju. A hard-fought, tightly-contested game saw Gwangju come from behind to win 2-1, with Matt French and Jaime Cruz scoring for Inter, to become 2009 Plate champions. Joe Madden and Jaime Cruz were voted Gwangju's MVPs for the tournament, while Pete Maddox was the team’s top scorer. Every team member played a part though in contributing to a memorable weekend. “The tournament was good last year, and it’s been a great success this year too. It’s well organized, and everyone gets to play lots of football. We’ve done well to win the Plate this year, and next time we’ll be aiming for the Cup,” said Inter midfielder, Chris Lashwood, after the final game. And so at the end of it all, as the sun slowly set behind the river, exhausted and sun-burned footballers were shaking hands, sharing photos and enjoying a hardearned beer or two. And after the presentation of trophies to the winners, a few speeches and official photos, it was time to set off on the long journey back home … with the promise to meet again next year. By Jon Ozelton Photos by Michael Dunne
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Out and About
Over the Hill: The Secret Side of Gwangju
F
or the past four months, my friend Prairie and I have woken up early, laced our shoes, and run through the streets of Gwangju. We’re training for the Seoul Marathon which takes place at the beginning of November. Some days we run on the bike path along the river downtown, some days we run around the World Cup Stadium. On Saturdays though, we have to hit our long runs – 10 to 20 miles. Instead of running into town for two hours (the river can be beautiful, but after an hour or so it all starts to look the same), Prairie and I have to get creative with our routes. Often it involves using equal parts luck, a fuzzy understanding of geography, and a dimly recollected map of Gwangju, to decide which way to turn at an intersection. This method often leads to some surprising destinations. One Saturday, Prairie and I decided to head away from the city, hoping for a change of scenery. We ran out over a hill and found ourselves not in the middle of a bustling modern city, but in the middle of a beautiful emerald-green rice field.
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Not ten minutes earlier, we were running past towering apartment blocks, a university building that looked like an amusement park castle, and a senior center. Then, the city just ended, and gave way to an idyllic rural scene. We ran along a concrete path that snaked its way through the rice fields past lettuce growing in a big plastic greenhouse. We ran underneath a clearing on a hill with granite dragons marking graves looking over a calm, still reservoir. We passed a handful of old men who were lounging under umbrellas drinking, and fishing languidly in the reservoir. They didn’t look like they were catching much of anything, but catching fish didn’t look to be the point. The men eyed us suspiciously as we ran past them. We had intruded on a lazy Saturday morning ritual, and our eager-beaver marathon-training was ruining the carefully constructed sense of indolence. No matter, we still had another two hours of running ahead of us, no time for fishing.
We pressed onwards, past the reservoir and into some more farmland. Candy-sweet grapes ripened in the sun as a flock of chickens and ducks pecked at the shade underneath. A pair of dogs in a cage barked at us like over-excited teenagers as we passed. Running past a shed, a guard dog no bigger than a soccer ball barked at us, warning us not to stop, or else. We crossed under a highway and continued on a concrete path through more rice fields in a small valley. To our right on the other side of the fields, we saw a cluster of a dozen or so houses, each with a huge solar panel on its roof. To our left stood a big warehouse. A sign told us it housed a film studio. Rice dried on a long black cloth in the quiet road in front. We ran along the road for a bit, avoiding the rice drying until we rounded a bend and came to a shrine. Pochungsa was a bit of a strange site – plopped as it was on the side of a mountain in the middle of the rice fields. But the traditional Korean arches and roofs fit the country scene perfectly. Prairie and I stopped, ostensibly for a water break, but really to just take it all in. “This reminds me of home,” Prairie said. “It’s so quiet,” I replied. “Hard to believe that over that hill somewhere there’s a bustling city.”
When we returned one Sunday afternoon when the rice fields had changed from green to golden yellow, we found dozens of Korean families out enjoying the sun. Small children rode bikes or rollerblades on the paths through the yard, while fathers pitched tennis balls to their children. Boys ran from their brothers, hiding behind the shrine. On a small hill, a group of teenagers sat listening while someone played Radiohead on a guitar. Prairie and I were surprised that so many families spent their Sunday afternoon at the temple. In our minds, temples and shrines were for quiet worship, not for baseball and sing-alongs. But the families were there just the same, enjoying the afternoon sun before it dipped below the horizon. By Jake Melville
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Interview
Free and Equal? Human Rights in Korea, Asia and the World
A
t a time when most university graduates are rightfully consumed by finding a high-paying job, or gainful employment of any kind, it is an inspiration to meet someone who is completely dedicated to human rights, and is making a career out of that love of fellow humans. The May 18th Foundation intern Chloe Simons graduated from Sussex University (England) and then took a job at a hagwon in Seoul. Simons taught in the afternoons and evenings, but also volunteered for the Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human Rights on weekday mornings and weekends. “Before that work I had a vague idea about conditions in North Korea, but then I met teenage defectors and heard directly from them. The Alliance crossreferenced testimony trying to find patterns. When a lot of people came to us with the same story, it adds validity of the details we know about the labor camps and re-education camps,” Simons said in an interview before her presentation at the October 17th GIC Saturday Talk. She learned enough to head home for Christmas last year with a desire to come back and do more. “I was home for three months, and applied to the May 18th Foundation, and was very happy to get an internship,” Simons said. “While I was home I spoke to church groups about what I had learned about the condition of human rights in Asia. Since moving to Gwangju, I’ve been able to help prepare the May 18th Foundation’s ‘Gwangju Prize Human Rights,’ which this year went to Min Ko Naing, who is serving 64 years in prison in Burma,” Simons said. It is Naing’s third time in jail. He was in jail in 1988 after the 8-8-88 student uprising, and then released, where he used his freedom to use traditional Burmese performing arts productions to promote democracy, and satirize the ineffective Burmese military dictators. When the monks joined the cause in the 2007 ‘Saffron Revolution’, Naing was arrested again. According to Wikipedia, Naing has been tortured in jail, and won freedom after a lot of pressure by letter-writing campaigns spearheaded by Amnesty International. The U.S. government also protested the Burmese
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government’s arrest of political prisoners, but this could not prevent Naing’s latest imprisonment. “I was amazed about how much responsibility I was given at the May 18th Foundation. I also organized the Asian Peace Forum, which included getting visas for participants, which was hard in the case of Bangladesh and Pakistan,” Simons said. Simons used her time to speak about how human rights violations are sometimes committed for all to see, and other times not well known. “Human rights need to be equal for everyone, people we agree with, and people we don’t agree with. We need to promote the universality of human rights, and protect the ideas in the United Nations Declarations of
Human Rights. Everyone has the right to survive, to eat, to work and to rest,” she said. “There are two types of foreigners in South Korea: the professional class, like teachers, diplomats and journalists, and migrant workers who work the 3-D jobs, jobs that are dangerous, dirty and difficult,” Simons said. “Migrant workers are treated differently than professional foreign workers. Because the GIC has a goal of integrating foreigners into Gwangju, we should show solidarity with the migrant workers who suffer hardships. Their children have a hard time in schools, they have a hard time voicing labor issues, and the public does not know a lot about these conditions.” “While human rights violations can often be used as an excuse for one country to berate another, some governments get away with human rights abuses without the rest of the world knowing about it. North Korea and Burma are well-known problem areas, but few realize the number of people who have ‘disappeared’ in the Philippines,” Simons added.
“We can raise awareness though the media when human rights are violated; we can also do our best to find out more about human rights abuses and be very educated about specific cases; we can start e-mail campaigns, or write letters for groups like Amnesty International; we can provide financial support to Non-Government Organizations that foster human rights and provide basic human essentials like food; we can support more political power for democratic growth,” Simons said. She ended the talk with a 20-minute breakdown session in which six groups of six to ten people each talked about human rights in their own countries. This segment was particularly effective, as people got a variety of perspectives about human rights issues, depending on which cultures were represented in their groups. In our group, all agreed that it is a good goal to spend some part of each week working to encourage basic human rights around the world.
“By 2006, 860 people in opposition to the Philippine government had disappeared,” Simons said. “It’s not just activist leaders, but lawyers, labor unionists, and even farmers. Most in the West do not know about this.” In other Asian countries, sometimes major weather tragedies, like Cyclone Nargis that hit Burma in 2008 remind people why there has been so much unrest among Burmese students and monks: the government did not do a good job trying to save its own people, and stopped counting the dead in order to save face. Likewise, much of the tragic starvation in North Korea can be blamed on bad weather causing failed crops, including flood, and the government’s own human rights abuses are comparatively well known. “Human Rights groups list North Korea as one of the worst human rights offenders in the world,” Simons said. “There are over 200,000 people in re-education and labor camps there, and any time a ‘free market’ opens up that is not controlled by the government, it is suppressed. North Koreans also suffer from individuals that work in human trafficking that enslave people by tricking them into believing they have good jobs waiting in China, but often end up abused or used as slaves.” When governments participate in human rights abuses it is often better known than when individuals abuse human rights outside the law. Simons had some good tips for how people can help work to strengthen human rights in the world.
One group member pointed out that we have to protect freedom of speech, because without that, human rights are easier to take away. Others pointed out that the right to food, shelter and health care is also due to financial inequality just as much as human rights abuses. Finally, we agreed with Chloe that changes in the human rights and living conditions in North Korea are best made from within rather than forced by outside groups. Hughie Samson made a comment during the question and answer period that wrapped up the realities of human rights well. “In North Korea, all attempts to make changes are cracked down on so quickly and completely. As a closed society, it is hard to know how to help them since the system is set up to prevent change. Hunger leads to thinking about where to get food, with little time to think about other changes,” Samson said. By Doug Stuber
Gwangju News November 2009
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PHOTO
CONTEST
Photo by Danny Saura
Photo by Alva French
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Gwangju News November 2009
Photo by Jessica Saura
Photo by David Little
Gwangju News November 2009
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Environment
Earth, dying friend n August 28th, 2009, a group of students from various universities got together to pick up marine waste along the coastline of Yeosu. Students went to Yeosu to take part in a United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) marine wastecleaning initiative. They cleaned up a beach which most people did not care about.
O
Not only did the university students pick up marine trash: they also attended a lecture presented by the South Sea Fisheries Research Institute about “Where trash comes from and where it goes.” Surprisingly, most marine waste – almost 80% – is from the mainland. Most of the trash we throw on the ground winds up in the rivers when it starts to rain. The trash then travels through the rivers to the ocean. Its final destination, near Hawaii, is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), and it is seven times as big as the Korean peninsula. As a developing country – not a developed country – Korea dumps trash into three designated areas: one in the West Sea and two in the East Sea. This is unacceptable. The London Convention (Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter) points out that amongst countries concerned, Korea, Japan and the Philippines are the only three countries which dump waste directly into the ocean. Korea in particular dumps enormous amounts of sewage, compost, heavy metals and so on into the water, arguing that it lessens the burden imposed on landfills as well as preserves the shorelines. The negative effects of this process far
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Gwangju News November 2009
surpass its merits, however, as the dumping of waste causes red tide, results in toxic substances being condensed in water, threatens various species, and contributes to the destruction of oceans worldwide. We should not only be concerned about the effects this has upon Korea – we should be concerned about the effects this has on the rest of the world. Mr. Kang, a graduate of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, came to Yeosu as a coordinator of UNEP Angel, the university students’ environmental group. He feels very strongly about environmental issues. Ko : Could you introduce yourself to us, the GIC readers? Kang : I am in charge of the university students’ environmental group called UNEP Angel. Before I served in the military I was able to work with them as
an intern for a while and I’ve kept in contact with them ever since. As soon as I was discharged from the military they asked me to work for them. Ko : What is UNEP and what does it do? Kang : UNEP stands for United Nations Environment Program. UNEP is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. Gwangju International Center and UNEP Korea worked together last year for the Asian Youth Culture Camp. Ko : Today we were informed about marine waste. What are some other issues that we should be concerned about? Kang : The world’s situation concerning greenhouse gases is getting worse. Have you ever seen Al Gore’s documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’? If you have, you will strongly agree that this is a serious problem we must deal with. Most significantly, Korea has long exempted itself from efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Kyoto Protocol we have to set a target, but Korea is one of the countries which hasn’t done so. Amongst countries which don’t have targets, Korea is one of the countries with the fastest rising rate of gas emissions.
Ko : Can you illustrate one practical thing that we are doing now? Kang : In Korea the majority of people live in urban areas. In urban areas most people live in apartment complexes which are managed by security guards. Many times these security guards sort trash into groups, such as paper, soju or beer bottles, plastic bottles, old clothing, and so on. It is one good opportunity to save the earth. Ko : Which place do you think can make an impact? Kang : I think university is one of the most dissipating place. There is a saying: ‘Everybody's business is nobody's business.’ Each member of a university should be aware of wasting energy. With student participants at the head of the list, universities have to take actions on how to save energy. I am personally waiting for the verdict from Copenhagen this year on Korea’s target. By Ko Nam-il
Ko : I know that greenhouse gas emissions are a significant problem. Without restrictions, however, it will be harder to diminish emissions. Kang : That’s true. That’s why the upcoming COP15 is important. The United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009 is its full name. During this conference Korea is expected to choose a 2020 target, and will choose from the following three options: an eight-percent increase from 2005 levels, levels unchanged since 2005, or a four-percent decrease from 2005 levels. Ko : What are some of the things we can do to help to save the Earth? Kang : There are hundreds of ways you can save the Earth. Try to use rechargeable batteries; avoid keeping your refrigerator or freezer too cold; buy a fuelefficient car; buy recycled paper; start a recycling program where you work; don’t litter and pick up anything you see; share rides to work or use public transportation; be sure to return your recyclable cans and bottles to claim your deposit; and most importantly, learn about global climate change.
Gwangju News November 2009
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Festival Review
The Sixth 7080 Chungjang R ecollection Festival M e m o ries of Passion
O
ne cool late-summer night, the sky of Chungjang-ro was lit extraordinarily bright with neon signs and flash lights. When we visited Chungjang-ro, the streets were crowded with people who came to enjoy the night at the festival in downtown. Soon, we found ourselves at the heart of the festival where exotic performances such as Andes music performers in traditional costume played their traditional instruments. Upon meandering to the outskirts of the festival, we encountered booths lining the streets. The glorious smell emitted from the concession stands were enough to lure hungry men and women. If you happened to wander into Chungjang-ro, this is what you would have seen at ‘The Sixth 7080 Recollection Festival Korea’.
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Gwangju News November 2009
‘The 6th 7080 Recollection Festival Korea' was held from 13th to 18th of October, on the streets of Gwangju Metropolitan City's downtown as planned and despite the public's fear of the H1N1 virus (also known as S.I., Influenza A and Swine Flu) many people came and filled the street of Chungjang to soak themselves in the atmosphere of the final moments of waning fall. To promote the culture, reunification, and economy, the government of Gwangju holds this festival annually. The city’s government uses the image of the 70s and 80s to remind Gwangju citizens of the good old days, full of passion. The festival allows its participants to relive the moments of the 70s and the 80s through a variety of small events on stages and in replica buildings throughout Chungjang Street, regardless of
age, job, and gender. Such events included a picture exhibition, street flea market, world souvenir shops, rice cake batter hammering, dancing and all kinds of musical acts.
attires that were fashionable during the time, paraded along Chungjang-ro. Street sales and folk song festivals peppered through the streets resonated the spirit of ‘going through the present’.
This year’s 7080 Recollection Festival consisted of various sub-themes – looking back on the past, living and experiencing the present, and embracing the future. Several street performances reflected the theme ‘looking back on the past’: Songs that were popular in the 70s and the 80s filled the streets, and performances, with actors and actresses dressed in
According to chief director of the festival, Jeong Hyeong-gyun, one may enjoy intangible cultural assets of not just Gwangju, but also of all parts of Korea through exhibitions throughout the festival based on the theme ‘feeling the present’. The theme ‘embracing the future’ attempted to delineate the realities of growing number of multicultural families in Gwangju
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that, in Mr. Jeongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;will be the future of all families of the worldâ&#x20AC;? Of course, the 7080 Festival is not exclusively for those who lived through the 70s and the 80s. As a matter of fact, the very intention of the festival is to allow people of younger generations to connect with the older generation. In such an aspect, the festival was a big success. Furthermore, the festival was a hit on many different aspects including advertising Gwangju to the world as a city of festival and art. However, not everyone was a festival fan. One of the stated intents of the festival was to support the local economy. However, we found that some of the shop owners of Chungjang-ro do not welcome the festival at
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Gwangju News November 2009
all, because it does not attract any more customers than usual, and can even hinder their business. Although there might be more people in Chungjang-ro during the festival, the increased number of people does not translate to an increased number of customers, since people prefer the new concession stands over pre-existing shops. Plus, the increased crowd slows delivery. We hope that over time, the city may be able to attract a more wide range of people to the festival so that both the owners of the concession stands and shops can benefit.
By Park Min-ji and Park Su-ji Photos by Bae Sang-don and Doug Stuber
KoreaMaria: Food Critic
Thai Food OK
THAI FOOD Set meals: 5,000-10,000 won Near Songjeongni Station, Gwangju www.wikimapia.org/#lat=35.1380809&lo n=126.7938942&z=18&l=0&m=b&v=1&sho w=/14153247/Thai-Food Phone: 062-944-1370 Subway stop: Songjeongri Station.
This place is hopping with the local Thai factory workers letting loose on Sundays: lots of camaraderie and laughter. It’s a restaurant and grocery store, similar to that of Thali and Al-Arab. The restaurant sports Thai souvenirs on the walls, and tables to transform sikdang into a taste of Thailand. An English, Korean, Chinese, Thai menu with pictures helps you navigate and decide what you would like to try. There was one curry on the menu. We ordered fried rice (like any fried rice), a spicy salad with cashews, and pad thai. The salad had two types of finely cut hot peppers, celery leaves, shrimp and squid. Now, I don’t usually like squid but this was cooked properly – soft and flavorful, not rubbery or stinky. The pad thai was delicious, allowing you to add bean sprouts and chopped peanuts to your taste. I just wish I had gotten a larger portion for the 5,000 won. Just a subway ride to Songjeongni, or for any Mokpo people returning from Seoul via the Songjeongni station and haven’t had enough of the fine international fare in Seoul, seeking out Thai Food is just a fun adventure. The loud liveliness of the restaurant and the tamarind spiciness of the food is a great way to break the monotony of your eating pattern of kimchi and Paris Baguette sandwiches. You can also pick up some groceries there or at the two Chinese food sellers directly across from Songjeongni Station. The Chinese food stores have halal meat, Indonesian goodies, loads of unique dried fruits and walls full of alcohol.
By Maria Lisak at Gwangju University
Gwangju News November 2009
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Food
Siete Belli
Italian Restaurant
P
asta. What is life without noodles, I ask you?
Serving the Gwangju community for nearly 10 years, Siete Belli, located in Bongseondong’s high-end residential area on the south side of Gwangju, is a lovely restaurant transforming natural, organic ingredients into a bit of Italian heaven. This is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Gwangju. Whether partaking for lunch or dinner, I eat here once a week. And so should you. If you haven’t been to check this Italian restaurant out, it should be a regular haunt after you taste their organic, handmade pasta. Owner and chef Kim Dong-wook, trained in the late 1980s in Italy. Studying in Torino, he then worked in both Pesaro and Sienna before returning to his hometown, Gwangju, and opening his own restaurant in 2000. Originally in Bulodong across from the now defunct Grand Hotel (downtown), Siete Belli has provided rustic comfort food in Italian form for the Namgu area for several years. Now Chef Kim is
building his own restaurant in Gisandong near Mudeung Tourist Hotel. He is expecting a March 2010 opening. While I will be devastated that the Bongseondong ristorante will close, I can’t wait to visit his swank new location in the Gisan neighborhood. What I enjoy so much about Siete Belli is the love put into the restaurant and the food. Chef Kim and his talented, gracious wife, Kim Eun-sung, won’t pop out to buy something nonorganic, just to fulfill a menu listing. They care for their customers by making sure the ingredients are natural and practice their art of cooking by complementing and bringing out those natural flavors. On the Friday night of my most recent visit, my amazing chicken salad had grape tomatoes on it that I had noticed in the window of the organic market down the street as I was walking there that night. Those tomatoes, so flavorful and juicy, totally beat out the under-ripe tomato in the capresse at The Firenze in Chondae Humun any day. When you are ready to dine at Siete Belli, I suggest a party of 2-3 so you can enjoy the Amici Set. You get to choose which salad, pasta and pizza you will enjoy, which is pretty typical for Italian restaurants here in Korea. The set comes with crispy pencil-thin, foot-long bread sticks, freshly made and sliced baguettes, an amazing mushroom soup, a beverage, and a dessert. I suggest the sorbetto for dessert. Coming in either mango or strawberry, the presentation makes it almost too good to eat. I also recommend getting a glass of the red house wine. I was served a robust Shiraz Merlot; showing how the owners even believe their choice of house wine effects the food experience. This is really important to me and should be to any Italian food lover as well. I’ve been to so many really good Italian restaurants
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in Gwangju, like Grissini, but their house wine selections always reflect the Korean palate trend of sweet red wine. Siete Belli doesn’t compromise just to soothe Korean taste buds and expectations. Chef Kim chooses a house wine that will gracefully complement the natural simplicity of Siete Belli’s organic ingredients. The salads are amazing, tossing everything from walnuts to beet greens, red onions and red lettuce, shredded chicken and iceberg lettuce, as well as raisins and romaine together with two different sauces. The chicken gets dressed in a fruity dressing with a hint of mustard and the larger salad is painted in a simple yogurt dressing. The menu lists three different ways to try the handmade pasta. Noodles can marry a tomato sauce, cream sauce, or an olive sauce. While I love the puttanesca with a great mix of tomatoes and other veggies as well as the chicken penne with cream sauce, Chef Kim is most keen to share his olive oil based pastas. Spaghetti noodles tossed in olive oil with garlic and clams is simplicity itself for the vongole. The vongole in olive oil sauce is the essence of Italian dining – simple, natural and organic – true Italian. The pizza always has a thin crust and is never too
heavy. While all the pizzas I’ve tried have been delicious, my favorites are the caper-laden, pizza de capperi, or the anchovy pizza. The sour capers work so well with the puffiness of the crust, mellowness of the cheese and the sweet tanginess of the tomato-based sauce. I didn’t expect to enjoy the anchovy pizza, but with the red onion sweetened by the baking process, it was a great taste sensation. Korea always puzzles me about restaurant success. I’ve been to several places serving authentic international foods, but they always seem to close. Why? Siete Belli has evaded this dark cloud. How has Siete Belli stayed open? Word of mouth is key. And, I think Chef Kim’s love for what he does is apparent to all who dine there, making return visits as natural as his ingredients. Or maybe it’s all in a name. Translating into English as “Everyone is Beautiful” Siete Belli always sends me out the door thinking: “Yes! Everyone is beautiful.” By Maria Lisak
Bus Bus
www.sietebelli.co.kr Taxi Directions: 봉선동, 쌍용스위트 아파트 앞 [Bong-seon-dong Ssang-yong-a-pa-teu ap] Buses: 27,37,59,98 get off at the Bongseon 2(i)-dong Jumin Center bus stop
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Review
S
et in the ‘agricultural heartland’ of South Korea, the Gwangju Kimchi Cultural Festival is an exciting display of national pride for the famous fermented fare, which rocketed into its 16th year of celebration with an unrivaled energy on Friday, October 23rd. The opening ceremony included a medley of cultural performances: dancing and singing, both modern and traditional, with a backdrop of pyrotechnics adding a particular, starry brilliance to the chilly Gwangju morning. The new setting at the Yeomju Stadium, near the World Cup Stadium, had plenty of room for the 600-700 people who filled the seats and stood on the sidelines. Three musical performances acted as an overture to the opening ceremony. After singer/actress Oh Jeong-hae opened the morning, Jang Sa-ik implored local ajummas to sing along with his strong renditions of harvest-time folks songs, and soprano Kim Seon-hee proved she did not need a microphone as her well-trained voice perked up ears all over the grounds. Honorary ambassadors and guests to the Kimchi Festival included agricultural experts and foreign diplomats hailing from Angola, Chile, Spain, Australia and the United States, to name a few, as well as some local heroes such as movie stars, Jin Gu, Wang Ji-hae and Kim Jungeun, and the Mayor of Gwangju, Park Kwang-tae, who ushered in the festival with an enthusiastic welcoming speech.
Jin Gu and friends
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Shortly after the foreign guests were honored, the music crescendoed into a cacophonous pumping, as the crowd was introduced to a menacing character who took the stage, flocked by a band of cloaked demons. Though he was named “Halloween flu” in the event’s program, this ghostly creature made his way across the grandstand, wielding a sign that depicted a monstrous hog, making his true ‘flu identity’ unmistakable. In a vibrant spectacle, the ‘flu demon’ was vanquished by an army of warriors-inwhite, accompanied by the celebrated festival mascots – the true stars of the event – the costumed cabbage, red pepper and garlic. This intricately choreographed battle represented not only the honor and admiration for kimchi, but also the indisputable health benefits of this miracle food. After all, Koreans owe a great deal to kimchi, as they believe the thousand-year-old tradition has helped them fend off many grave illnesses, not least of all, the “SARS” epidemic a few years back. Health was certainly on the agenda, as an electrifying drum performance led to the ribbon-cutting ceremony outside the doors of the Bitgoeul Gymnasium, which held an exhibition of foods concentrated on wellness from across the globe. Schoolgirls in uniform were in a frenzy over Jin Gu, who had a hard time pushing through the young ladies while walking from the main stage to the “Kimchi Pavilion.”
One of many interviews
Kimchi-making class
As autumn sets into Gwangju, this mouthwatering tour was a welcome, gastronomic tutorial on fending off illness and the winter doldrums with one of the world’s healthiest foods. Naturally, kimchi took center stage, educating visitors on its powers against osteoporosis and colon cancer, along with its promotion of hearty blood circulation and sound digestion. Patrons were invited to “meet kimchi from all over Korea” as the exhibit recognized the “Eight Provincial Kimchis” and their singular, noteworthy ingredients. Though ample respect was given to the diverse kimchi dished-up throughout Korea, the festival paid close attention to the particular tastes of Gwangju, set in the Jeollanam-do province and known for its rich cuisine. Unique ingredients to the Gwangju recipe include juices drawn from fermented seafood, taking advantage of the region’s coastal locations. Universal ingredients to the kimchi recipe include: red peppers, garlic and the metabolism-boosting ginger. Adding particular excitement to the festival, the annual kimchi-making competition was a busy affair. Inside the great hall, women clad in the classic red kerchief and apron hurriedly showcased the art of dressing the fermented cabbage in the spicy paste. As local politicians, eager foreigners and the Mayor himself took part in this whirlwind production, these practiced women kept a watchful eye and offered tips to the newbies, as the press shutter-bugged wildly. For the excited Koreans, nothing could epitomize the power of kimchi more than a group of foreigners learning the craft and enjoying the spoils.
Kimchi sneaks up on flu goblin
Mayor Park holds a flu-beating club
North Korean kimchi
Kimchi-making contest
Later, at an outdoor booth labeled “Foreigners Making Kimchi” the group of over 20 foreigners gathered by the GIC, were given a formal kimchi lesson, and after making one head of cabbage each, packed them up in familiar plastic jars to take home and enjoy. It’s true that, upon arriving in South Korea, most foreigners are introduced to the local’s naturally inquisitive demeanor. The questions asked to many newcomers are usually a trifecta: “Where are you from?” “Are you an English teacher?” and, perhaps, most importantly – “Do you like kimchi?” These questions represent the openness of the Korean people, as well as the unpretentious pride they have in their country, and more specifically, in their illustrious kimchi. The Gwangju Kimchi Cultural Festival is surely commemorative of this fact, as the event seeks to educate as well as celebrate this healthful, flavorful dish. By Anna J. Martinez Photos by Doug Stuber and Anna J. Martinez
Kimchi master and students
Kimchi experts at work
Gwangju News November 2009
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Cartoon
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Gwangju News November 2009
Concert Review
Bettyass I
f my eyes would have been closed at Bettyass' punk show at Speakeasy on Friday, Oct. 9, I would have thought I was in a legitimate punk rock club in Los Angeles. This was not your dime-a-dozen, pansy, fruity K-pop band. They rocked out. They got down to the bottoms of things and put on a great show. They had the crowd singing the tunes of the Offspring, NOFX and Blink 182, along with their own solid material. The quartet is made up of Yong Woo on bass and vocals, Dan Lloyd on drums, Travis on guitar and vocals, and Boojin on guitar. “This is our favorite place to play in Gwangju,” Travis told the crowd. Bettyass is composed of four band members. Three of them are Korean and the fourth member, Dan Lloyd, is from Leeds, England. Travis recently got back from a 6-month trip to Canada, so this marked their first show since reuniting. This is how Travis described his band’s music when I spoke with him before the show. "We are pretty much a skate-punk band. I'm influenced by a lot of the bands I listen to. I like a lot of NOFX, Pennywise, No Use For A Name, and others," he said. Travis started the band with his mate, Yong Woo, in 2002. They went to high school and always talked about starting a band. Finally, they both picked up their respective instruments and started Bettyass. Ass is the first swear word that Travis learned and he derived the name Betty from the comic strip, Betty Boop. She was an American sexual cartoon character from the 1930s. Bettyass got a record contract in 2004, after which they released 2 albums and one EP. It was then that they went on a tour of Korea and played multiple shows. The bands most memorable concert was that year and they played in front of about 3,000 people in Seoul and were featured on national television.
for a punk band, but the punk vibe just came so natural to these Korean guys. The microphones were even set up in a way that made it feel like a real punk show. Most bands keep their microphones on the stage, but they stood them a little farther down on the floor, maybe to give themselves extra room to rock out? Only they know the answer to that. It was definitely a punk-show move. The crowd of about 150 on hand in Speakeasy does not sound huge, but the bar was packed and people could barely find a place to stand. Not to mention all the moshing that was going on. There was a prominent Korean fan base on hand that night, and that coupled with all the huge foreign guys throwing their bodies around, made this night even more special. It was kind of refreshing.
They were quick to refer to Seoul as a great place to hear punk music. Gwangju does not have much of a punk scene, so they have played many shows in Seoul, along with Busan and Daegu.
Maybe this shows that it does not matter where you are from in the world. The music speaks for itself, whether it's Koreans, Americans, Europeans, etc, playing the music for people. At least we all have one thing in common. Even if we might not be able to talk to each other, we can definitely have a good time and share a good punk song together.
It is understandable to hear an English guy drumming
By Mark Hayden
“We were really excited to play in front of that many people,” Yang Woo said.
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Events
Festival 2009 Sihwa-ho Reeds Swamp Environment Festival – Dream, Hope and Life Through Nov. 6th, 2009 Sihwa-ho Reeds Swamp Park: Ansan, Gyeonggi-do Buses: An express bus runs from Gwangju’s U-Square to Sihwa four times a day. https://sihwa.kwater.or.kr/ Twelfth Seopyonje Boseong Sori Festival Nov. 7th – 8th, 2009 S e o p y o n j e Boseong Sori Inheritance Hall, Boseong Indoor Stadium Stage: B o s e o n g , Jeollanam-do www.boseong.go.kr/sorifastival/index.html 2009 Seoulland Halloween GhostHunter Festival
Through Nov. 8th, 2009 Seoulland: Gwachoen, Gyeonggi-do Subway: Line No. 4 stops at the venue. You can take it at Yongsan station, Myeong-dong. www.seoulland.co.kr/ (English, Japanese, Chinese) 2009 Gunsan International Migratory Bird Festival Nov. 11th – 15th, 2009 Geumgang Migratory Bird Observatory and Eunpa Ecology Park: Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do Buses: A direct bus runs from
Gwangju’s U-Square to Gunsan every 30-40 minnutes. www.gmbo.kr/festivalinfo/festival_su mmary.htm (English, Japanese, Chinese) Gwangju International Food Fair 2009
Hampyeong EXPO Site: Hampyeong, Jeollanam-do Buses: A direct bus runs from Gwangju’s U-Square to Hampyeong every 20-30 minutes, or take route No. 500 from various locations in Gwangju (for example, Lotte Department Store). http://hampyeong.jeonnam.kr/2008_h pm/hpm02/m2index.php 2009 Yeong-am Chrysanthemum Festival
Nov. 12th – Nov. 15th Kim Daejung Convention Center (First Exhibition Hall) Buses: 1, 38, 64, 518, 1000, get off at the KDJ Bus Stop; 2, 19, 20, 39, 62, 69, 73, get off at Jeonnam High School Bus Stop; Subway: Kim Daejung Convention Center Station (Mireuk Station), Exit 5 www.foodshow.kr/eng/ Food, Food Additives, Raw Material, Fruit & Juice, Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Frozen & Dry Food, Delicatessen & Instant Dishes, Processed Food, Baby Food, Cereal, Canned & Bottled food, Health & Functional Food, Specialpurpose Nutrient Food, Spices, Seasonings, Cooking Oils, Confectionaries, etc. 2009 Hi-Seoul World Walking Festival Nov. 14th – 15th, 2009 Seoul City Hall: Seoul www.hiseoulwalking.co.kr/asp/07_en g/eng_01.asp (English)
Wang-in
Through Nov. 22nd, 2009 In the Vicinity of Wang-in Heritage Site: Yeong-am, Jeollanam-do Buses: A direct bus runs from Gwangju’s U-Square to Yeong-am every 20 minutes. http://mum.yeongam.go.kr/home/mum/ Second Yeosu World Fireworks Contest
Nov. 27th, 2009 Yeosu Soho Yacht Stadium http://blog.naver.com/yeosufire Fifth Gochang Chrysanthemum Festival
2009 Mum Scent of Late Fall Festival Through Nov. 22nd, 2009
Through Nov. 29th, 2009 Seokjeong-ri: Gochang, Jeollabuk-do Buses: A direct bus runs from Gwangju’s U-Square to Gochang every 30-40 minutes. www.gcfestival.com/
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2009 LotteWorld Christmas Festival Through Dec. 25th, 2009 LotteWorld: Seoul www.lotteworld.com/02_ent/festival05 .asp?mn=2150 (English, Japanese, Chinese)
Performances Mini-Concert with Gwangju Citizens Nov. 4th, 2009 at 7 p.m. Gwangju Museum of Art (First Floor) Admission: Free Traditional Korean musical, performances, folk songs, dances, etc. The 26th Regular Performance of the Gwangju Metropolitan Dance Theatre: ‘Sylvia’ Nov. 6th, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Gwangju Culture & Art Centre (Grand Theatre) Admission: 5,000~20,000 won Contact: 062-510-9339 This dance performance is based on a story from Greek mythology. The 250th Regular Concert of the Gwangju Symphonic Orchestra (with C. Bass Seong Minje) Nov. 7th, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Gwangju Culture & Art Center (Grand Theatre) Admission: 10,000~30,000 won G. Verdi, Overture to ‘Nabucco’, G. Bizet, Carmen Fantasy (arr. Stuart Sankey), P. Sarasate, Zigeunerweisen Op.20, P.I.Tchaikovsky, Symphony No.5 in e minor, Op.64. I Love You (Musical) Nov. 14th – 15th, 2009 Gwangju Culture & Art Center (Grand Theatre) Admission: 55,000~66,000 won Omnibus episodes about romance, love, and marriage interspersed with music and dance. Performed by Nam Gyung-ju, Yang Kkot-nim, Seon-Woo. Children beneath the age of 14 are not permitted to attend. Regular Performance of the Seoul Metropolitan Opera ‘The Force of Destiny’ (La Forza del Destino) Nov. 19th and 20th (7:30 p.m.), 21st (3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.), 22nd (5 p.m.), 2009
Sejong Center Grand Theatre: Seoul Subway: City Hall Station, Line 1, Exit 3; Gyeongbokgung Station, Line 3, Exits 6, 7; Gwanghwamun Station, Line 5, Exits 1,8 Admission: 20,000~120,000 won Contact: 02-399-1784 Soprano Jeong Ae-ryeon Recital Nov. 19th, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. U-Square (Keumho Art Hall) Admission: 30,000~50,000 won Performance by Soprano Sumi Jo: ‘Beautiful Challenge’ Dec. 6th, 2009 at 6 p.m. Gwangju Culture & Art Center (Grand Theatre) Admission: 77,000~165,000 won
At Speakeasy
will be bringing. We don’t want to have 6 tins of stuffing and no potatoes. Although this is American Thanksgiving anyone is welcome as long as you bring food! The Thanksgiving Day football games will be played as well as Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving special. Start time will be around 2 p.m. at Speakeasy and will end when everyone has fallen asleep from eating too much Turkey! RSVP to Tony at warreng_99@hotmail.com
Art Exhibitions
Chili Cook-off "November 14th will be Speakeasy's 2nd annual chili cook-off/American flag football day. Last year we had 7 different chilis and Jimmy Denfield won 1st place. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. If you would like to be a judge and try all of the chili in the contest you must pay $5. There will also be a prize for the winning team of the flag football tournament. This is a coed event and should be an awesome time. If you would like to register for the tournament/cook-off please Facebook the Speakeasy page or email Tony at warreng_99@hotmail.com. If you are interested in the chili cook-off you should be able to buy all of your ingredients at the underground grocers behind Migliore. Location is yet to be decided, so check out the Facebook page nearer the time, or ask at the bar.
Hommage to Vietnam and Korean Art Worlds Through Nov. 4th, 2009 D-Gallery Located in downtown Gwangju.
American Thanksgiving Party November 28th will be our 2nd annual American Thanksgiving Day party. Last year everyone who participated brought amazing dishes and had a wonderful time. Speakeasy will take care of cooking the turkeys (yes, more than one) and will provide the utensils, and some extra food. We would like people to RSVP for this event and tell us what type of dish you
Yeongsan River to Mudeung Mountain Nov. 13th – 22nd, 2009 Gwangju Museum of Art (Sangrok Gallery)
‘Hometown’ Through Nov. 15th, 2009 Gwangju Museum of Art (Geumnamno Gallery) Works by the Gwangju and Chonnam Watercolorists’ Association. Childrens’ Gallery 3 Nov. 5th, 2009 - Jan. 31st, 2010 Gwangju Museum of Art (Childrens’ Gallery) Stand Between Dream and Reality Nov. 12th – Nov. 22nd, 2009 Hub City of Asian Culture Information Center (Fourth Floor) The Art Route Team exhibits paintings.
Tokyo Contemporary Art Fair Nov. 21st – 23rd, 2009 Nine Gallery Contact: 062-232-2328 www.ninegallery.co.kr
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POP Nov. 21st, 2009 – Feb. 28th, 2010 Gwangju Museum of Art (Geumnamno Gallery) Pop art exhibition. Light: Light Up Nov. 26th – Dec. 6th, 2009 Hub City of Asian Culture Information Center (Fourth Floor) Hye-Yum exhibits painting, fashion and plastic arts. Water and Fire Nov. 27th, 2009 – Jan. 31st, 2010 Gwangju Museum of Art (Sangrok Gallery) Modern art exhibition.
Producers: Roland Emmerich, Larry J. Franco, Harald Kloser Music Director: Harald Kloser John Cusack as Jackson Curtis Thandie Newton as Laura Wilson Amanda Peet as Kate Danny Glover as President Wilson Chiwetel Ejiofor as Adrian Helmsley Morgan Lily as Lilly
SAW VI
Producers: Mark Burg, Oren Koules Music Director: Charlie Clouser Cast: Tobin Bell as Jigsaw / John Costas Mandylor as Mark Hoffman Mark Rolston as Erickson
NINJA ASSASSIN Release Date: 25 Nov 2009 Genre: Action Language: English
Release Date: 19 Nov 2009 Genre: Horror Language: English
Mountain Bakdu Picture Festival (백두 영상제) Nov. 27th, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. U-Square Outdoor Stage
Movies 2012 Release Date: 12 Nov 2009 Genre: Action - Thriller Language: English
Saw VI SYNOPSIS Saw VI is the sixth installment in the Saw film series. The story continues after the events of "Saw V", where detective Mark Hoffman walks out of the glass box and leaves no trails leading to him as Agent Strahm's murderer. Forensics have yet to discover Strahm and his missing body when a young teenager is found to be the latest survivor of the Jigsaw games. To Hoffman's surprize, he claims that Jigsaw could not have tested the boy, since he knows he did not test him himself. The survivor, known as Garett, reveals the circumatances of his trap to Hoffman, who interrogates him.
2012 SYNOPSIS 2012 tells the story of natural disasters foretold by ancient calendar angle. Sun storms are affecting Earth, culminating in tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes. The story itself appears to be standard for disaster movies - short on science, long on stories of numerous individuals, and high on amazing special effects, with a small dose of conspiracy. It’s highly likely a pet dog survives.¶
At this point, Hoffman is shocked to find Garett was targeted, even though Garett did nothing wrong in his life to make him a candidate for being "tested". Fearing that he may make himself too obvious or that Garett could soon discover his secret, Hoffman throws him into a vast game in which hopefully his secret will die with Garett. However, we have yet to realize that Garett's role in the games may lead to an unexpected turn of events in the “Saw” franchise...
2012 Cast & Crew Director: Roland Emmerich
Saw VI Cast & Crew Director: Kevin Greutert
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NINJA ASSASSIN SYNOPSIS Ninja Assassin is an upcoming martial arts film directed by James McTeigue and starring Rain. Raizo (Rain) is one of the world's deadliest assassins, having been kidnapped as a child and raised by the Ozunu Clan, believed by the world to be a myth. When Raizo's friend is executed by the clan, Raizo flees into hiding. He later reemerges, seeking revenge. Meanwhile, Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) is a Europol agent who investigates money linked to political murders and finds that it is linked to the Ozunu Clan. She defies her superior, Ryan Maslow (Ben Miles), and retrieves secret agency files to find out more. The clan, finding out about the investigation, attempts to assassinate her, but she is rescued by Raizo. Hiding in Europe, Raizo and Mika must find a way to take down the Ozunu Clan. NINJA ASSASSIN Cast & Crew Director: James McTeigue Producers: Joel Silver, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski, Grant Hill Music Director: Ilan Eshkeri Cast: Rain as Raizo Naomie Harris as Mika Coretti Sung Kang as Hollywood Compiled by Ahn Hong-pyo, Park Su-ji,Park Min-ji, Ko Nam-il
GIC TALK
Every Saturday 2:30 p.m.
November 7th Speaker: Warren Parsons (ESL Instructor, Dongshin University) Topic: Living with Tea The speaker will be talking about tea focusing on the tea plant, production, and types of tea. He will also cover some history of tea, trade relations, and tea producing regions. Finally, he will discuss tea production in Korea. November 14th Speaker: J. Scott Burgeson (Writer and editor of “더 발칙한 한국학 - More Nasty Korean Studies” and “Korea Bug”) Topic: Multiculturalism in the ROK: Myth vs. Reality In both the national South Korean media and from the South Korean government itself, we often hear these days that South Korea has entered “a new era of multiculturalism.” However, such rhetoric is often belied by actual reality, and in terms of allowing n a t i o n a l discussions on such issues, the South Korean media remain overtly nationalistic, and reluctant to allow nonKoreans space in national conversations to express themselves as autonomous individuals. In other words, it can be said that more often than
not, non-Koreans are only allowed to exist in the national Korean media as a reflection of the Korean identity, rather than as autonomous subjects in their own right. Using the media reception of his new Korean-language book “더 발칙한 한국학” as a kind of case study, J. Scott Burgeson will offer a deconstruction of the myth of “multiculturalism” in today's South Korea, and offer his own suggestions on how Koreans and non-Koreans alike can better understand one another, thereby helping lead to a truly multicultural Korean society of the future. * Scott’s Web site: www.kingbaeksu.com November 21st Speaker: TBA Topic: TBA November 28th Speaker: Do Duy Tho (MA student, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology) Topic: Vietnamese and Korean Culture: Similarities and Differences through a Young Person’s Eyes In recent days, the Korean president has been visiting Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia, to tighten the close friendship between the two nations. However, Vietnam and Korea began their relationship a long time ago in the past. Being on the east side of Asia and having been affected more or less by China, India and other countries, Vietnam and Korea have many similarities but also differences in culture and tradition. As a brief presentation by a young Vietnamese student in Korea, this talk will introduce Viet Nam’s culture in comparison to Korea’s with the hope of knowing each other better and for a better friendship in the future.
All talks take place at the GIC office. For more information, contact Kim Ji-hyun at: gwangjuic@gmail.com
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Gwangju News A Monthly International Magazine The most informative and up-to-date English life and entertainment magazine focusing exclusively on events and updates in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do! Would you like to give your family and friends a glimpse of your exciting experiences in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do? Have you ever thought of sending Gwangju News to your home country? Gwangju News remains the best English magazine in the greater Jeollanam-do area and there are monthly articles focusing on festivals, live entertainment, restaurant reviews and much more! Gwangju International Center now offers the option of shipping Gwangju News to various destinations around the world, delivering your adventures to the doorstep of your loved ones back home!
How to Subscribe Send an e-mail to gwangjunews@gmail.com including the following information: 1. Sender name: 2. Receiver name: 3. Shipping address (including zip code): 4. E-mail address: 5. Telephone/mobile phone number: 6. The starting month:
Subscription Rates (monthly issues for 1 year): Domestic: 10,000 won Asia : 25,000 won Australia and Europe: 40,000 won The Americas and Africa: 50,000 won Payment can be sent to our bank account using the information below. Please include the name that corresponds to the subscription name. You are responsible for any bank charges incurred. Kwangju Bank 134-107-000999 User name: Gwangju International Center (광주국제교류센터) For further information on magazine subscriptions, please contact Kim Min-su at gwangjunews@gmail.com or call (062) 226-2734.
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Community Board Gwangju News Needs You Due to the rapid expansion of our community, we need more volunteers to help with the running of the magazine. Help the community and gain new skills. You can help in a variety of roles: - proofreading - photography - writing - layout - administration - website or any other way YOU can think of. Contact: gwangjunews@gmail.com
Help Gwangju News Magazine! Volunteer one day a month GIC needs volunteers to mail out Gwangju News. Gwangju News, published monthly, is sent to nearly 700 addresses. Join our Gwangju News mail-out volunteers at GIC. Volunteers are called 48 hours before the mail-out day (during the first week of each month). GIC needs 6-8 people who can help. GIC and Gwangju News are only as good as the volunteers who bring it to life! Contact GIC at 062-226-2733/4, or e-mail us at: gwangjuic@gmail.com.
Are you looking for a translation service? Translation Service is available at GIC. Korean to English, English to Korean - Certificates; Criminal History, Family relation certificate, Marital Statement, Medical Record, etc - Webpages & catalogues - abstracts, literature, etc Contact GIC information 062-226-2733/4
for
more
Gwangju Expat Parents Association
Apostolate Center
Raising interracial or foreign children in Gwangju? Want to meet other expatriates who are doing the same thing?
969-10 Wolgok-dong, Gwangsan-gu Phone: 062-954-8004 Buses: 18, 20, 29, 37, 40, 98, 196, 700, 720 get off at Wolgok market bus stop. Mass: Sundays 3 p.m. at Wolgokdong Catholic Church
A new web forum has been set up for expat parents in Gwangju, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hoping that we can organize to discuss issues that are relevant to our somewhat unique situation in Gwangju. The web forum is open to people of all nationalities, not just westerners. Our main focus right now is on discussing alternative educational options for school-age children. Please join our facebook: gwangju parents
to
Migrants
GIC Counseling Team Do you need some help or question about living in Gwangju? Contact GIC Counseling Volunteers at giccounseling@gmail.com We will try to provide best information and services for you.
The Gwangju Book Club Sung Bin Orphanage is looking for long-term volunteers. We would like you to give at least two Saturdays per month. As well as being a friend, you will be asked to teach basic English to girls aged 7 to 14. For more information please contact Mike at: sungbinvolunteers@gmail.com.
Meets every Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. in front of the downtown YMCA before moving nearby for a discussion over coffee. Welcoming new members! Look up 'Gwangju Book Club' on Facebook for more details, or email cherrycoke52@hotmail.com for more information.
Gwangju Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Soccer
The Gwangju Women's FC
Sung Bin Orphanage
The Gwangju international soccer team plays regularly most weekends. If you are interested in playing, e-mail: gwangju_soccer@yahoo.com.
Free Health Foreigners
Clinic
for
Venue: Gwangju Joongang Presbyterian Church. Time: Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Offers: Internal medicine, Oriental medicine and Dental service. You could take some medicine after treatment. How to get to there: Buses - 19, 26, 39, 59, 61, 74 (around Hwajeong crossroads) Subway - Exit 2 Hwajeong Station.
Meets every Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Pungam-dong Welcoming new members! Check out 'Gwangu Women's FC' on Facebook for more details, or email cherrycoke52@hotmail.com for more information.
Moving Sale 1996 Kia Avella around 77,000KM good condition and very reliable 1,000,000 won Table and 2 chairs 20,000 won All appliances less than 6 months old Oven large enough to cook a full sized turkey 100,000 won microwave 40,000 won cable box and tv stand 40,000 won
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Community Board large kitchen cabinet 20,000 won slow cooker 30,000 won old speakers 15,000 won old fan 10,000 won old rice cooker 10,000 won hair dryer 5,000 won nightstand 20,000 won queen sized bed 250,000 won small computer desk 15,000 won large voltage converter 30,000 won scale 5,000 won water heater 5,000 won hula hoop 15,000 won iron and board 30,000 won
If you would like pictures or more details please contact Todd at Phone: 010 5148 1113 or 070 8198 5148 email: toddd12345@yahoo.com
The 3 Messengers Club Invitation Callng all people who are interested in learning about God, the Bible, the future and also improving their English. Venue: Sangmu SDA Language Institute
Time: 2:00-3:30 p.m. Every Saturday Topics: Prophecy Revealed, Solving the Mystery of Death, Simple faith, etc. How to get there: Buses 46, 62, 63, 64, 518 (Across from 518 Memorial Park) Contact: Moises Tablang, Jr 0102930-0867 or mion_81@hotmail.com Join us for our English worship service!
A close pre-examination is an essential step before LASIK surgery. Tailored specifically for individual patients, Da Vinci LASIK surgery is the most popular method.
T
he year of 2009 is the 20th year landmark of LASIK surgery. To meet the ever growing customers’expectations of full eyesight recovery, the number of methods of LASIK surgery has recently skyrocketed. Perhaps because of this sudden increase, many customers remain uneasy about the results of surgery and any possible negative side effects. Meticulous pre-examination is the key to safe and successful LASIK surgery, and approximately 40 thorough examinations are needed. If you have decided to undergo LASIK surgery, it is best to visit an experienced and qualified hospital for diagnosis. To determine the right type of LASIK surgery for you, various examinations are required. Modern day equipment allows the ophthalmologist to study eyes in extreme detail, and examinations include ones to test for abnormalities in cornea and optic nerves, cornea CT to determine the precise eyesight, and OCT. An ophthalmologist may mitigate a patient’s uneasiness towards possible negative side effects by reexamining the thickness of the cornea three or four times instead of the usual one. DNA examinations allow the ophthalmologist to diagnose possible disorders that may not be easily found with machines, and determine the most appropriate LASIK procedure. In addition to taking these precautionary extra steps, a
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patient’s occupation, disorder, and personal status are taken into consideration in determining whether the patient should or should not receive LASIK surgery and its procedure. Such ‘Patient Specific’ procedures are the best. Previously, one of the most common possible side effects resulted from improper hygiene when using a steel knife during the process. However, such procedures are today conducted using a laser, such as eye LASIK, VISU LASIK, and Da Vinci LASIK. The Da Vinci LASIK procedure has emerged as the safest procedure available. Whereas eye LASIK operates at 60 kilohertz, Da Vinci procedure can function at 1 megahertz. Plus, allegretto laser cuts the cornea using a beam as narrow as 0.68 millimeters at 400 Hertz in a very safe manner. The use of the laser improves night sight and quality of vision. There is no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to eye surgery. Procedures involving eyes are one of the procedures requiring the most delicacy, so only meticulous tests can determine which procedure is the best for you. By Dr. Ju Jong-dae, Balgeun Eye Clinic Director
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Advertise in Gwangju News Target Your Customers! Does your business cater to the foreign community? Advertising in Gwangju News is the best way to reach your target market. 3,000 copies are printed and distributed every month. News about your services will spread like wildfire! For advertising information contact Kim Min-su at (062) 226-2734 or e-mail: gwangjunews@gmail.com
Worship at Dongmyung English Service Sunday 11:30 am, Education Bld.
Pastor : Dan Hornbostel (010-5188-8940)
Bus: 15, 27, 28, 55, 74, 80, 1000, 1187 get off at Nongjang Dari or at Court Office Entrance
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GIC was established by the Gwangju City Government and Gwangju Citizens Solidarity in 1999 as a model of government and NGO collaboration. Gwangju City provides financial assistance to help GIC to carry out its missions of - providing foreigners with information and services - promoting international exchange programs in the fields of culture and economy - fostering international awareness among Korean youth
GIC has administered a number of programs in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do. Its activites of note include the following: - A Monthly Magazine Gwangju News - GIC Talk on Saturdays - Korean Language Classes - Gwangju International Community Day - GIC Library
- GIC Concert - Additional Activities: Translation Service Counseling and conflict resolution services Information Service through phone and e-mail
Membership Fees
International Residents: 10,000 won/6 months Students: 10,000 won/year Korean Adults: 5,000 won/month Please remit membership fee to: Gwangju Bank 134-107-000999 / Kookmin Bank 551-01-1475-439 / Nonghyup 605-01-355643 Account name: 광주국제교류센터 *Your contribution to the Nonghyup account is used to provide assistance to the Third World countries.
The Benefits for the Center Members The Center members are privileged to - receive the Gwangju News and the GIC newsletter every month - participate in all events sponsored by the GIC - have opportunity to develop international friendship
5th Floor, Jeon-il Bldg, Geumnam-no 1-ga, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-758, Korea Phone: 062-226-2733/4 Fax: 062-226-2732 Website: www.gic.or.kr E-mail:gwangjuic@gmail.com Directions: The GIC office is located in the same building as the Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) in downtown Gwangju. The entrance is immediately north of the KEB on Geumnam-no street, across from the YMCA. Subway stop: Culture Complex 문화전당역 Bus No.: 7, 9, 36, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 74, 80, 95, 150, 151, 518, 1000, 1187