Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine
November 2015 Issue No. 165 Published on October 28, 2015 Cover Photo: The Asia Traditional Orchestra Cover Art & Design: Joe Wabe Photographed by: Asia Culture Center Gwangju News is the first local English magazine in Korea, first published in 2001. It covers local and regional issues, with a focus on roles and activities of the international residents and local English-speaking communities. Copyright by Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise — without the written consent of the publisher. Gwangju News is published by Gwangju International Center 5, Jungang-ro 196 beon-gil (Geumnam-no 3 Ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-023, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733~34 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date February 22, 2010 Printed by Join Adcom 조인애드컴 (062-367-7702)
THE EDITORIAL TEAM PUBLISHER Shin Gyonggu MANAGING EDITOR Karly Pierre ONLINE EDITOR Ana Traynin, Callum Holmes COORDINATOR AND LAYOUT EDITOR Minsu Kim PHOTO EDITOR Joe Wabe CHIEF PROOFREADER Bradley Weiss ONLINE EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jacqui Page, Sam Page COPY EDITORS Laura Becker, Tim Berg, Robert Hinderliter, Joey Nunez, Jon Ozelton, Kelsey Rivers PROOFREADERS Jannies Le, Joey Nunez, Carrie Levinson, Gabriella Nygaard, David Foster, Stephen Redeker, Chelsea Thompson, Teri Venable, Fellin Kinanti, Christie Farher, Pete Schandall, Don Gariepy RESEARCHERS Cho Nam-hee, Choi Shin-ae, Jang Dong-ha, Jung Yun-hee, Kim Dae-yong,
Volunteering Inquiry and Feedback: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr Advertising and Subscription Inquiry: minsu@gic.or.kr or 062-226-2733~34 Special thanks to the City of Gwangju and all of our sponsors. gwangjunewsgic.com
GwangjuNews
@GwangjuNewsGIC
Join Our Team! Gwangju News always needs volunteers who want to share their expertise or gain some. Feel free to contact us with your interests and ideas to get involved!
The Gwangju News Print Team needs copy editors, proofreaders, and writers. Please contact the print editor at gwangjunews@gic.or.kr. The Gwangju News Online Team needs webmaster and online editorial assistants. Please contact the online editor at gnonline@gic.or.kr. Email us today and start getting involved!
Gwangju City News
news
5
Compiled by Choi Shin-ae, Cho Nam-hee and Jung Yun-hee Photos courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City
MORE THAN 200,000 VISIT ACC SINCE UNOFFICIAL OPENING Gwangju’s Asia Culture Center (ACC) continues to attract visitors from across the nation and the world a month after its unofficial opening on September 4. According to ACC officials, over 200,000 people have visited the ACC since it first opened its doors, with the Asian Arts Theater and Children’s Art-Culture Museum recording opening performance attendance numbers of 86% and 91% of capacity respectively. Meanwhile, the ACC has also gained recognition from the international press. Influential German daily newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung called the ACC the ”cultural and artistic hub of Asia” on September 24. Officials state preparations for official opening celebrations in November are proceeding as planned due to overwhelming support from local citizens. RAIL PASSENGERS INCREASE BY 44% AFTER HONAM KTX OPENING The Honam KTX Line, which began high-speed rail service on April 2, has proven it is contributing to a revitalization of the Jeollanamdo tourist industry, new numbers reveal. According to recently released figures, more than 3.5 million tickets have been purchased for the KTX route from Osong to Gwangju Songjeong Station since the line opened six months ago, up 44% from local KTX purchases in the same time period last year. Furthermore, tourist sites across the region have also seen a jump in numbers, with an additional 750,000 visitors per month travelling to attractions throughout Jeonnam. However, sales of express bus and air tickets have dropped since the opening of the new high-speed service, by 21% and 44% respectively over the same time period.
GWANGJU TO CONSTRUCT “ECO-FRIENDLY ENERGY TOWN” NURI-GIL Gwangju City was selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism to construct a new site blending urban greenspace with renewable energy facilities. The “Eco-Friendly Energy Town Nuri-Gil” will involve nature trails and pathways spread amidst a green energy model facility site near the Gwangju Sanitation Landfill, Woonjeong-Dong, Buk-gu District. The project aims to harmonize low-impact renewable energy generation with the natural ecology and develop the tourism potential of the areas surrounding the landfill. Visitors will be able to enjoy 3.2 km in pathways, along with public art and renewable energy experience centers. The two-year project was selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism in the “2016 Cultural Environmental Business Contest” to receive 800 million won in subsidies from the national government, which will be supplemented by 200 million won in local financing.
For more information on Gwangju, please scan the QR code
Content s November 2015 Issue No. 165
10
News and info 5 Gwangju City News
14
17
Feature 14 A Shared Language
12 Upcoming Events
17 Eastern Movements
58 Community board
20 Visual Aid 22 Study Break
GIC
24 Torture to Treasure
8 Ace Your Interview
26 From NFL To ESL
9 GIC Talk November Schedule
28 Foreign Teachers Going Home
10 Exploring Yeonggwang
20
Local 7 Gwangju Talks 30 Portrait of a Muslim in Korea 32 Timi Triangle 33 Spicy Seafood Noddles: Jjamppong 34 Myung Shin Medical 36 Three Snails 44 How I Lost it 57 Sewol Update
Photography 37 Sharp Dresser
26
Culture 48 Thanksgiving 3:00 AM, End of the World
38 A Celebration of Colors, Culture and Happiness
49 The Winter Sky
40 Going Home
50 Kimchi Power!
41 Preserving Traditon
51 The Origin of Jangxi
Place to see
22
General
42 A Look at Songjeong
52 Take Action: Social Justice in ELT
46 An Awakening in Japan
54 Wasting Away
24
55 Stomach Cancer in Korea 56 On The Download November DVD Releases
gwangju talks l local
Q: Do You Think the Asian Culture Complex Will Affect Gwangju? Translated and Complied by Cho Nam-hee and Joey Nunez
JEONG Yoon-hee (21, F) I witnessed the construction process of Asian Culture Complex (ACC) for a long time. As a student at Chosun University located near ACC, I am very interested in ACC’s success. I think that ACC will give a sparkle to Gwangju. Also, the greatest advantage of having ACC is citizens can experience it firsthand. Since its opening, many people have visited the Center. I think an outdoor stage makes streets more festive. I hope ACC helps citizens to enjoy a variety of cultures.
KIM Dae-yong (30, M) Most people know that Gwangju is well known as a city of culture. Are there any places where Gwangju citizens could enjoy and experience culture? My answer before now was no. But, ACC has changed Gwangju into a real cultural city. I participated in the ACC festival twice. One of the activities was held by ACC was for children. During the festival, there were some performing arts composed by Asian dancers and a lot of Gwangju citizens could enjoy the festival. To conclude, ACC will change many things better than beforehand.
CHOI Shinae (29, F) The Asia Culture Center became the best symbol of Gwangju as a city of culture and art in both Korea and Asia. I guess that many centers and organizations related with cultural arts will be made and moved to Gwangju. The phenomenon will bring positive results with increases in employment and other economic effects. As well as cultural arts, the historical spirit from 5.18 Democratization Movement will be known firmly around the world.
JANG Dong-ha (23, M) I think that the Asia Culture Complex will change Gwangju. Many people anticipate that this city will be the representative of Cultural City, which will be leading the Asian Culture. Especially a diverse collection of Culture Complex could help make profits. Also, unemployment issues will be resolved through the Culture Complex since this institution will create jobs for 35,000 people. So I think that Gwangju will be a Cultural Hub City of Asia soon enough.
YANG Hyunsung (24, F) ACC will change Gwangju, but I doubt that there are going to be many changes if ACC continues to exist as it does. Although ACC is still in its early stages, Gwangju citizens have no idea what the ACC is there for. The outcome of it is due to the lack of public relations from the Center. Moreover, since Gwangju needs more basic infrastructure for developing its culture industry, more time and effort is needed in order to be successful.
7
8 gic I gic talk preview
Ace Your Interview Words and portrait photograph contributed by Kristen Alice
Use your story as the starting point to explain your educational or career trajectory, how you landed in the interview for this specific job, and why you are the ideal candidate. People remember stories more readily than statistics, so rather than rattling off a list of qualifications, infuse them with your own unique narrative. You can connect your story to your interests and achievements and build a rapport with the interviewer.
D
oes the thought of facing another job interview make you want to curl up in a ball and hide? Then this GIC Talk is for you! Together, we will explore some of the most common interview questions, strategies for answering them effectively, and secrets for leaving a lasting impression.
In addition to the Talk, I invite you to join me for an interactive workshop in which you can practice crafting your own personal story for a successful job interview at 4 p.m. The GIC Talk will be held as usual from 3 to 4 p.m., but I will hold the workshop at 4 p.m. after the talk. I look forward to meeting and seeing you at the GIC on Saturday, November 14th at 3 p.m. for this special GIC Talk!
One of the most important parts of your interview is your selfintroduction, or “elevator pitch.” This means that in the time it takes for an elevator to travel to its destination, you should be able to pique the employer’s interest in you as a viable candidate. Elevator pitches are not only used in job interviews, but also in sales, business meetings, and even online dating. This is known as “getting your foot in the door.” It is a good idea to have a general pitch prepared before you begin job hunting, so that you can tweak it slightly to fit each job description. One strategy is to connect your own unique story to your strengths related to the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for an environmental engineering job, you could start by talking about a trip to a national park, or watching the changes in the environment in which you grew. If you are applying for a teaching position, you could mention a teacher who inspired you and made you, in turn, want to inspire others.
A speaker, Kristen Alice
gic talk schedule I gic
9
GIC Talk November Schedule
Theme of the Month:
aDVANCING OURSELVES Time & Location: Saturdays from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., GIC Auditorium (Samho Center, 1st Floor) For more information, contact gictalk@gic.or.kr
NOVEMBER 7 Speaker: Jonathan Dason Topic: Stepping Out: The Battle Against Education Inequity There is increasing evidence that one’s socio-economic background can often have a profound impact on a person’s level of educational attainment and future economic success in life. This concept is called education inequity. This GIC Talk will briefly touch on this issue before Jonathan dives into his experiences as an intern at Teach For Malaysia, an organization playing its part in addressing this issue in his country of Malaysia.
growth in Vietnam and what young people in both countries think about their countries’ direction. In addition, the speaker hopes to show the relationships between Korea and Vietnam from the perspective of a Vietnamese person who has lived in both countries and been influenced by both, all during this GIC Talk.
NOVEMBER 28
NOVEMBER 14 Speaker: Kristen Alice Topic: Ace Your Interview! More information about this GIC Talk is included in the GIC Talk Preview.
NOVEMBER 21 Speaker: Sen Nguyen Topic: Vietnamese and Korean Together – When Two Cultures Meet! During the speaker’s presentation, she will compare the great characteristics of the Vietnamese and Korean people, the most important cultural values of both countries, the rapid development of Korea and comparing that growth with the
Speaker: Jinsil Choi Topic: Why Apply for an Internship? The speaker will talk about her experiences and what she has learned from the three internship programs she has completed at different organizations. The reasons why she went and completed internship programs so many times, in addition to the difficulties and obstacles she overcame during these internships, will also be discussed. The speaker has learned important lessons for her life through these experiences. The speaker will also give several tips for how to apply for these internships based on her experiences.
10
gic tour preview I gic
Exploring Yeonggwang Written by Bradley Weiss and Seongyeol Park Photographed by Seongyeol Park
Start
9:00 am
The Birhplace of Baekje Buddhism
Lunch Yeollow Gulbi Jeongshik
Yeonggwang Baeksu Costal Road
A
s autumn makes room for winter, GIC Tour turns its course toward Yeonggwang for a special, overnight temple stay tour. Yeonggwang is located in the northwest portion of South Jeolla Province and is perhaps most famous for its large production of “gulbi,” or dried yellow corvina fish, which is highly prized by people all over the Korean peninsula. Another point of notoriety in Yeonggwang will provide the starting point for the tour – Beopsong-po, the birthplace of Baekje Buddhism. During the Three Kingdoms period, Indian monk Marananta landed at this port, after first journeying to China, to bring
Bulgap Tembple (Temple Stay / 1 night)
Arrive 1 :30 pm
Buddhism to the Baekje kingdom in 384 CE. His subsequent preaching and construction of Bulgap Temple, which mark Beopseong-po as the birthplace of Baekje Buddhism, are commemorated in a complex featuring unique Indian styles of architecture that might make one feel they have been transported to India in the middle of Korea. Participants can visit the shrine containing a statue of Marananta, as well as the modest but thorough museum, or simply enjoy the beautiful surrounding nature. Lunch will be “jeongshik,” or Korean table d’hote, prominently featuring the number one local special-
gic tour preview I gic
11
Infomation Date: From Saturday, November 21 to Sunday, November 22 Price: GIC Members 110,000 won/ Non-Members 130,000 won Itinerary: The birthplace of Baekje Buddhism → Lunch (Yellow gulbi jeongshik) → Yeonggwang Baeksu costal road → Bulgap Temple → Templestay Contact: 062-226-2733 or gictour@gic.or.kr (Lee Jeongmin)
ty, gulbi. The delicacy is produced locally, as Yeonggwang provides the perfect humidity and sunshine for the drying process. The yellow corvina fish is first dried in the salty sea breeze before being fermented in barley grain. The end result is a simple but delicious food which is sure to whet your appetite! After lunch the tour continues on to the Yeonggwang Baeksu coastal road, which has been often cited as one of the most beautiful, scenic stretches of road in Korea. The famed spectacular sunsets frequently draw couples and families to take in the view. The relaxing vista will provide the perfect natural setting for participants to clear their minds before the overnight temple stay experience. Among the many temples dotting the Korean landscape, Bulgap Temple is one that possesses considerable renown. Situated on Bulgap Mountain, its foundation is connected to the very origins of
Buddhism in the region, with its construction by the Indian monk Marananta beginning in 384 CE. Relics reflecting this deep history can be found throughout Bulgap Temple, including the main hall which has been designated as a national treasure. The temple is also famed for a “magic lily” with leaves and bloom that never coincide, providing a bittersweet metaphor of forbidden love. Participants can soak in all the rich historical surroundings during the overnight temple stay program, which will also allow them to experience the daily life of the resident monks, side-by-side with the monks themselves. As 2015 draws to a close, come join GIC Tour and open yourself to the richness of history, culture and cuisine that this coastal area of Jeolla Province has to offer!
12
info
Upcoming Events The 17th Suncheon Bay Reeds Festival 순천만 갈대축제
Korean Tradtional Music Troupe of Gwangju - Korean Tradtional Opera, Heungbuga November12~13 19:30 Grand Theater, Gwangju Culture & Art Center 60 Bukmundae-ro Buk-gu Gwangju ￦ Price: R Seats 20,000 won, S Seats 10,000 won 062-526-0363 http://www.gjart.net
In recognition for the first designated national garden of Korea, Suncheon is inviting everyone to the gardens of Suncheon Bay and the fields of reeds. The Autumn Suncheon Bay creates a magnificent landscape, which must be seen. A variety of events are held in Suncheon City to celebrate the festival with the slogan: “Delicious Gardens and Dancing Reeds.” November 6-8 Suncheon Bay & Dongcheon Stream Area (162-2, Daedae-dong, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do) Take the intercity bus from Gwangju Bus Terminal to Suncheon Bus Terminal (1 hour, 10 minutes). Take Bus 67 from the Gwangju Bus Terminal to Suncheon Bay. 061-749-4007 http://reeds.suncheon.go.kr/reeds/
The 22nd Namdo Food Festival 남도음식문화큰잔치 Come and fall in love with the foods of the Jeolla province. A variety of Namdo foods are available for you to enjoy and experience. Special ceremonies including Sangdal Parade, Sangdalje (praying ceremony) and performances are held to celebrate the 22nd anniversary. Exclusive cooking contests for international visitors will also be held for their participation. November13-15 Juknokwon (Bamboo Garden) and Jeonnam Provincial College (130, Jungnogwon-ro, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do) Take the intercity bus bound to Damyang from USquare (Gwangju Bus Terminal). 061-286-5262 http://www.namdofood.or.kr
Exhibition Our Masters – Tim Etchells Dirty Work The Last Adventures November 27~29 The Last Adventures: 11.27-11.28, 19:00 – 20:15 Dirty Work: 11.28 – 11.29, 17:00 – 18:15 Venue: Asia Culture Center (Theater 1 & Atelier 1) 38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju ￦ Price: 50,000 won 062-601-4660 http://www.acc.go.kr/
Gwangju Symphony Orchestra – Masterwork Series VIII Germany Tour November 27, 19:30 Grand Theater, Gwangju Culture & Art Center 60 Bukmundae-ro Buk-gu Gwangju ￦ Price: R Seats: 30,000, S Seats: 20,000, A Seats: 10,000 Contact: 062-524-5086 http://www.gjart.net
October Science 시월의 사이언스 데이트 Various exhibitions, experiences and events are held to celebrate the second anniversary of the national museum October 15 ~ November 22, 09:30 – 17:30 Venue: Gwangju National Science Museum Price: Free 062-960-6121 Bus 20 to Amkor Technology Korea Co. Bus 09, 30, 46, 51 or 193, to Gwangju National Science Museum http://www.sciencecenter.or.kr/
info
@ GWANGJU THEATER
Women’s film festival in Gwangju (WFFIG) 광주여성영화제 The 6th Women’s film festival will be held under the theme “Flowers, bloom.” The flower represents the youth and the value of its existence, and the hope of the youth blooms just as the it arises from various hardships. The theme reflects current women’s status over the world. Based on the theme of the festival, numerous movies are to be shown. November 11-15 G Cinema, Gwangju Visual Content Center (47-1, Seoseok-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju) Take the subway to Asia Culture Center. 5 minutes walk from the exit no.1. Take the city buses 36,37,55,80 to East District Office. ￦ Admissions: Free 062-515-6560 http://cafe.daum.net/wffig/
Chungjang-no 5-ga 62, Dong-gu, Gwangju (two blocks behind NC WAVE), 8,000 won per person per film, 062-224-5858, http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju November 1
The Lobster (118 minutes) Genre: Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi Director: Yorgos Kanthimos Starring: Jacqueline Abrahams, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Jessica Barden In a dystopian near future and according to the laws of The City, single people are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in 45 days, or they are transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods.
Cruel State (117 minutes) Genre: Documentary Director: Kim Jin-yeol In April 2014, the live feed of the Sewol Ferry that sunk in the waters of Jindo resulted in 304 casualties and hurt the families of the deceased who did not even have the time to mourn over the deaths of their children. They spent many nights on the streets in front of the Parliament, Gwanghwa-mun and the Blue House.
November 5
The 4th Swedish Film Festival (제4회 스웨덴 영화제) Period: November 7 (Saturday) – 12 (Thursday) Opening: November 7th, 7 p.m. Venue: Gwangju Theather Admission fee: Free STOCKHOLM STORIES HOTEL SHED NO TEARS THE REUNION EGO TRESPASSING BERGMAN BELLEVILLE BABY A SEPARATION * Korean and English Subtitle
Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind (108 minutes) Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi Director: Michel Gondry 108 minutes Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a procedure to have each other erased from their memories, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with.
November 13
The Second Mother (112 minutes) Genre: Drama Director: Anna Muylaert Starring: Regina Casé , Helena Albergaria, Michel Joelsas When the estranged daughter of a hard-working, live-in housekeeper suddenly appears, the unspoken class barriers that exist within the home are thrown into disarray.
13
14
feature
A Shared Language
The Asia Traditional Orchestra Finds Common Ground Through Music Written by Katrin Marquez Photos courtesy of Asia Culture Center
R
evered American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” Longfellow recognized the unique ability of music to bring together people of various cultures, in spite of linguistic barriers. It is the recognition of this power that has led to an ongoing collaboration between the newly-opened Asian Culture Center and the Asia Traditional Orchestra.
The opening of the Asian Culture Complex is part of a much larger government program meant to encourage international cooperation through the arts. The Hub City of Asian Culture Project—as the larger government program which includes the establishment of the ACC is called—is the biggest culture program in Korean history and has a grand vision. According to Asian Traditional Orchestra coordinator, Hong Jun-seo, “the construction of
feature
the Hub City of Asian Culture in Gwangju creates cultural collaboration and a venue for communication between countries within Asia.” The official mission of the project includes the exchange of cultural assets between the countries of the Asian continent. As such, the coordinators of the ACC are working to bring acts to Gwangju which highlight traditional art forms from different Asian countries. The Asia Traditional Orchestra resulted from the 2009 Republic of Korea-ASEAN Summit, a 20th anniversary celebration of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Relationship. ASEAN—Association of Southeast Asian Nations—is a partnership among the nations of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The orchestra was developed as a means “to promote and invigorate Asian traditional music.” After the ten ASEAN members agreed to create the orchestra, the Asia Traditional Music Committee developed the project. The committee is in charge of its continued expansion. Since its creation, the orchestra has performed at numerous prestigious events including the 2010
UNESCO World Conference on Art Education, the 2012 Cambodian ASEAN Art Festival, and the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. The orchestra is run independently from the ACC, but the collaboration is intended to be long-term. Every year the Asian Traditional Music Committee—which is composed of one professional and one government official from each of the member nations—holds a conference to discuss the orchestra’s operational plan, cooperative projects and compositional direction. The annual conference is held in collaboration with the ACC. The importance of the conference—and thus ACC’s inclusion—is not just logistical but also artistic since it is during the conference that artists are chosen to create and perform pieces for international events. An important goal of the conference is to ensure the continued quality of the orchestra’s performances since it is vital for their mission that exceptional works be highlighted. The collaboration between the ACC and the orchestra works well because of the similarities between their missions. Hong says, the ACC is intended to
15
16
feature
“play [a function] as a hub facility, serving as a cultural research center for exchanges and creations, education, and research projects through systematic collaborations to achieve simultaneous growth for all Asian countries.” Similarly, the orchestra intends to create new cross-cultural artifacts by “harmoniz[ing] different traditional instruments” in an attempt to “grow together and globally promote various Asian cultures through national and international performances.” In order reach these aims, the Asia Traditional Orchestra does not use customary orchestra instruments but instead uses traditional instruments from each of the participating countries: Korea’s haegeum, sogeum, and ajaeng, Brunei’s gulintangan, Cambodia’s tror so tauch, Indonesia’s gambang, Laos’s khene, Malaysia’s gambus, Myanmar’s shawm, Philippines’s bandurria, Singapore’s erhu, Thailand’s ranat ek, and Vietnam’s dà n bầ u. Hong anticipates that, along with other ACC programs, the orchestra “will enhance not only Gwangju but also Korea, as an open community consisting of all Asian countries.” Though the ACC was designed as a means to improve Korea’s artistic output, some are not as optimistic as Hong. Media outlets covering the opening of the ACC, have been somewhat critical of the Hub City program, expressing concerns that the ACC will not have enough pull to draw Korean tourists.
A Korea Times article titled “Gwangju’s Asia Culture Complex lacks contents” published last year highlighted that though the ACC was planned to draw 1.67 million tourists annually, only 26.5 percent of Koreans were even aware of the project. The article also highlighted that while many of the artists promoted by the ACC are internationally renowned, they lack name recognition among Korean citizens. Asked about these concerns, Hong emphasized the importance of recognizing the long-term mission of the ACC to create audiences by improving artistic awareness. Hong was confident in the orchestra’s ability to “create opportunities for audiences to experience different countries’ traditional musical instruments by composing and presenting new beautiful musical pieces in front of all sorts of backgrounds.” It is likely that the ACC may face challenges during its first few years due to the scale of the project and its grand vision. But that should not deter the ACC from bringing unique cross-cultural and international artists to what is now Korea’s largest arts center. The Asia Traditional Orchestra is an excellent example of the types of international collaborations that can foster communication in the way only the arts, and perhaps only music, can.
feature
17
Eastern Movement
The Asia Superposition Collaboration Project Written by Meg C Photos courtesy of Asia Culture Center
T
he Asian Culture Center (ACC) is Gwangju’s newest cultural and artistic hub, showcasing artists and performers from around Asia and adding a new feather to the city’s already artistic beret. Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been working on the ACC project since 2004, and, since its opening this fall, has carried out various internationally cooperative projects to establish Gwangju as the Hub City of Asian Culture.
The ACC’s goal, according to its website, is to “establish...Gwangju [as] a city where the cultural resources of Asia are exchanged, created, trained and shared, built upon the vast diversity and creative prowess of participating countries.” One of many programs being implemented in this largescale project is the Asia Dance Company, bringing together international experts and representatives to foster cultural exchange among Asian countries in the field of dance.
18
feature
Home to almost 50 different countries and the largest continent in the world, Asia has long been renowned for its complex cultural diversity. Though unified by a shared name, the countries, customs and traditions that span from Taiwan to Turkey are strikingly different from each other. Asian dance is similarly hard to define or categorize. Despite the collective term used to describe the art form, the dance styles of Asian countries are eclectic and varied. With as many dances as its cultures, is there an underlying common cultural identity to be found in Asian dance, and can it be explored in movement? Asia Dance Company’s inaugural performance in Gwangju questions what Asian contemporary dance is today, and whether a shared identity exists inside the multifarious art form. As part of the International Exchange Network Project, Asia Dance Company’s Asia Superposition Collaboration Project sought to create the basis
of an international network of art communities in Asia. Dancers from 13 Asian countries (Korea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh and Hong Kong) performed the company’s debut show on October 13, celebrating the opening of the Culture and Art Center with the idea to strengthen cooperative relations and cultural exchange among Asian countries. The Asia Superposition Collaboration Project, choreographed by artists from Japan and Korea, took the form of contemporary dance while embracing the traditional background of each dancer. In a double-bill of performances, choreographers Hiroaki Umeda of Japan and Hwang Soohyun of Korea attempted to explore the wide realm of Asian dances. Umeda’s “Consistency Over Constancy” used choreography as language, “uniting diverse times while sustaining individualities,” while Soohyun’s “A Real Approach” questioned the nature and the classification of Asian dance.
feature
“This work, starting from the grand discourse of Asian dance, is a series of questions: What is Asian dance? How many categories could we unify or classify it into? How could a contemporary and not traditional approach be possible?” said Soohyun. “Well before Asian dance, I seek to start from the universal emotions of humans that can be communicated, with the thinking that the individual emotion revealed after being stripped of trained dance form could be the key to examining contemporary Asian dance.” Throughout the performance, the audience was encouraged to reflect on how the various dances of the Asian performers were not as precisely divided into either ethnic, traditional, modern, contemporary, Eastern or Western dance as they may have thought. Artistic director Ahn Aesoon pointed out that Asian dance is “unable to be classified by the existing cognitive frame,” and explained that “what the performance revealed was Asian dance in its superposed state, is unable to be defined in one word.” The Asia Superposition Collaboration Project sought “to realize and systemize the beauty of identity from and with individuality, diversity, complexity and symbiosis that Asia has.”
19
20
feature
Visual Aid
The Gwangju Design Center Gives Small Business Product Design a Boost Written by Karly Pierre Interview Interpretation by Cho Nam-hee Photos courtesy of the Gwangju Design Center
part of a business plan and a critical part of that business’s success. In 2006, the Gwangju Design Center opened with the vision of providing the resources for such success to businesses in the southwestern provinces of South Korea. “We started with the goal of supporting companies through industrial design,” said Jang Sang-gun, president of Gwangju Design Center. “Now we are expanding that goal to enable us to provide services in a variety of design fields such as urban design. We want to develop designs that not only provide a service, but also are socially conscious.” The central government, along with the provincial offices of South Jeolla, South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong and Jeju fund the bulk of the Gwangju Design Center budget. The Center connects small to mid-sized businesses with innovative design companies and independent designers and facilitates the product design from beginning to end.
Jang Sang-gun, President of Gwangju Design Center
W
here business goes, design surely follows.
In today’s competitive markets, consumers place a higher value on products that express a lifestyle over functionality. Design has become an integral
“The Design Center takes care of the entire process,” said Kim Gyeong Seon, director of the future strategies department. “Any problems or challenges along the way are solved through the Center. Although the Center is relatively small compared to other design centers, we have helped many companies in the area develop products that can be successfully exported. Their sales increased significantly due to their collaboration with us.” The Center has helped develop packaging for local health and beauty products, such as Aqua Sol, branding for the Asia Content and Entertainment
feature
with a variety of books, as well as a computer lab with technical design programs to help young designers and small business owners realize their vision. There are also a number of conference rooms and a kids’ zone to spark a curiosity in design at a young age. “We have a unique membership program for young people and students,” explained Kim. “This program gives design students the opportunity to get hands-on experience with people in the industry. We had projects with universities from the U.K. and Finland. It was an Eastern-Western integrated collaboration. This program gives students in the area an opportunity to know renowned designers from around the world.”
1
2
3
Jang said that the Center, which has worked with almost 700 companies, has received a positive response from the community. Jang, who graduated from Chosun University with a degree in architecture, also noted that the presence of the Center has helped to decrease the “brain drain” in the southern provinces that would result when talented, young local designers left the area for Seoul. “In the past, 90 percent of the students graduating in design were going to Seoul,” said Jang. “Now around half of the students are staying because this is a place that can use their talents.”
4 1. The Design Center in Buk-gu 2,3,4 Product designs developed through the Design Center
Fair, product design for toy company Kidro, and public spaces such as the World Cup Stadium. Most businesses collaborating with the Center will encounter a similar design process. After an initial consultation to create a product strategy, businesses and designers engage in the much longer planning phase, when they shuffle ideas back and forth. Then a product sample is made, and once approved, the final product is ready to be manufactured. The Center also acts as an educational resource for the community. It houses a design library stocked
The Center hosts a number of international design events, including the Gwangju Design Biennale and the Asian Design Forum, where industry innovators can connect and present new ideas. The 2nd annual Asian Design Forum, held Oct. 18-19, featured presentations by Lin Shin-Bou, CEO of Taiwan Design Center, as well as Yoshie Ota and Tsutomu Okada, directors and curators for Spiral/Wacoal Art Center in Tokyo. Forum attendees participated in panel discussions about a variety of design issues and a workshop on vulnerable areas in landscaping. When the Center celebrates its 10th anniversary in April 2016, it will not only recognize the Center’s past achievements, but also future partnerships, which are expected to bring culturally-focused organizations to the forefront. “Culture, art and industry are the necessities of human life,” said Jang. “So many things correlate with design. Nowadays it is all integrated together in order to sustain human life in a community.”
21
22
feature
Study Break
Gwangju Anti-Hakbul Society Focuses on Forced Study Interview and Story by Ana Traynin Interview Interpretation by Cho Nam-hee Forced study picketing photos courtesy of Gwangju Anti-Hakbul Society
O
n any given weeknight around 10 p.m., many Gwangju city bus stops are the scene of a sudden rush of teenagers in school uniforms, chatting with their classmates, checking their smartphones, and scrambling onto the bus to go home. These high school students are finishing their regular nighttime self-study sessions. If they attend private academies, hagwons, their evening hours may stretch even later. Hours of sleep are few and far between. This is just one slice of life in a “hakbeol” society. Hakbeol, sometimes spelled hakbul, is a distinctly Korean term, which can be loosely defined as “educational background” or “credentials.” In a highly
competitive atmosphere, credentials have come to be the biggest mark of status. Though this system has been in place for many years, there are those who believe that a credentials-based society maintains inequality and must be phased out. Anyone passing by or going to the Gwangju Office of Education in Seo-gu this year, particularly during summer vacation, may have noticed the daily picketing campaigns against enforced nighttime self-study. While officially considered voluntary selfstudy time, the campaign organizers maintain that Gwangju high school students are forced to stay past regular school hours.
feature
23
donate and are even actively vocal about the issue, many find themselves unable to escape the credentials phenomenon. Park Go says that hakbeol stems directly from Seoul National University, the numberone school in the country. “Just to say ‘student of SNU,’ they get all the wealth, power and benefits of graduating from that university. Unlike other countries, Korea has put a lot of power into universities.”
Protesters campaign against forced studying
Gwangju Anti-Hakbeol Society local citizens’ group leads this campaign. Since its founding in 2011, the group has worked to raise awareness and solve the problems of hakbeol, with a particular focus on discrimination and students’ rights, from grade school to university. During their annual conference, the group decided on the “forced study” issue as the priority of this year’s campaigning. The organization’s founder, 31-year-old Gwangju native Park Go Hyung Jun, said: “We don’t need many researchers, since we have gone through the education system. If you have gone to high school in Korea, you know the problem by heart.”
This drive to attend prestigious universities is fueled by the desires of students, their parents, and ultimately, the whole society, leading to an increase in nighttime self-study and in cost of afterschool academies. Although official study time is defined as study during daylight hours, competition puts emphasis on prerequisites and English from an early age, leaving students with little choice but to attend extra study sessions. “The students at the tertiary education level are studying material for university,” Park Go says. “It works like a pyramid, where to get into a good high school, middle school students are studying in advance, elementary school students are studying in advance. One example is, since Koreans are quite obsessed with English, they want to start it as early as possible.” We will continue to explore student rights in Korea in the second part of our series, which will appear in next month’s issue.
Park Go uses both his father’s and his mother’s surname to show his support of gender equality. Over the years, he has worked to grow Gwangju Anti-Hakbeol Society from a five-person team of likeminded friends and colleagues, to an official organization of 100 people and finally the current membership-based organization of 300 citizens. While a group with the same name operates in Seoul, each local chapter works within its own region. Though the group receives local media attention and member support, Park Go explains that since the concept of hakbeol is not easily transparent and requires complicated case studies, it remains a minor campaign. Though some parents
Park Go Hyung Jun, Gwangju Anti-Hakbeol Society founder
24
feature
Torture to Treasure The May 18th Liberty Park Written by Joey Nunez Photographed by Joey Nunez and the May 18th Liberty Park Archives Interview Interpretation by Choi Shin-ae Special Thanks to Lee Mi-ae
T
oday the grass at May 18th Liberty Park covers ground that in the 1980s was only sand and pebbles. This Gwangju landmark, which now recognizes human rights, used to represent something else.
Unlike its name, a park tour leaves you with a feeling not of liberty, but with honest and haunting reminders of what happened on land less than a football field in size.
A sign written in Korean and English states that the current grounds remain preserved “as a symbol of the heroic pro-independence struggle of Gwangju citizens and the tragic human rights violations that resulted in the death or near death of innocent citizens who loved democracy.”
Countless prisoners were brought in trucks, and soon afterwards, they were herded into the Military Police Headquarters, being severely interrogated and tortured before being pushed into their new homes, the prison chambers.
Lee Mi Ae has worked for seven years as a May 18th Liberty Park officer, believing in her work’s impact. “This is the real story of the movement. Most young people now do not know about May 18th exactly, so they should know the truth and purpose of this park.”
Military government officials lived in the barracks, kept their supplies in a storehouse, used bathrooms with privacy, enjoyed meals in a mess hall and worked in interview rooms. Just a short distance away from these buildings stood the guardhouse, housing the prison and the
feature
prisoners’ screams, a horror now visibly depicted by mannequins. Inside the prison, six chambers sit side-by-side. Inside a single chamber, guards also sliced, beat and harassed as many as 150 prisoners. In fear of being clubbed to death, prisoners listened to the guards’ instructions by standing, sitting or kneeling as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 10 p.m. everyday. Lee also explained that waterboarding was commonly practiced as a torture technique for the military dictatorial government to obtain new information of the civilian government’s uprising. Waterboarding occurred within earshot and eyesight of other soldiers enjoying their meals in the mess hall. Prisoners rarely slept, due to close proximity with other prisoners, fear of rashes and skin diseases and malnourishment from limited food, usually three spoonfuls of rice. Some prisoners received breaks by attending their own trials at the next-door courthouse. Without representation, prisoners always received a life or death sentence. On one occasion, 421 people were sentenced at the same time by the military court — four to death and the rest to life. However, the total numbers of dead and captured prisoners, along with other statistics, are sadly unknown, as those records were destroyed. Lee believes that Korean and international residents should still visit this park. “Nowadays, na-
tional dictatorships in other countries still exist. The universe has to know our historical case with May 18th. They should be given the chance to consider how their country can develop peacefully with freedom.” Another park sign perfectly proclaims what has been accomplished: “Yet the prisoners never caved in to such atrocities, having the firm belief that truth always prevails in the end.” Ultimately, what exhibits this park’s beauty is the story’s conclusion. “I want the universe to know of peaceful places and communities, and this story is the model leading us towards this reality,” continued Lee. To reach the May 18th Liberty Park by bus, take bus #1, 2, 22, 63, 64, 518 or 1000, all of which drop off visitors at the park’s entrance. By subway, the Kimdaejung Convention Center (Mareuk) Station is the closest stop. Take Exit #5, walk 5 minutes, walk around the Convention Center and cross the street behind it.
25
26
feature
From NFL to ESL
Former Player Fulfills a Brother’s Dream Written by Bradley Weiss Photos courtesy of Kerry Meier and atlantafalcons.com
Following an outstanding collegiate career, in which he set several school records and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, Kerry Meier was set to begin his professional career in the NFL. After three years of playing football professionally overseas, his brother Dylan was also ready for the next stage in his life. “Dylan was under contract with a hagwon in Seoul. He was set to come,” Meier explained. “It was the week before he was supposed to depart and come to Korea that he left us in a different way.” Five days before the Atlanta Falcons selected Kerry in the 2010 NFL Draft, Dylan slipped and fell to his death during a family hiking trip in Arkansas.
Kerry Meier playing for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL in 2011. Photo courtesy of atlantafalcons.com
T
he paths that lead to English teaching jobs in Korea are almost as varied as the individuals who choose to pursue them. However, there are likely very few personal journeys among English teachers here that include the experience of playing America’s most popular sport professionally or with motivations as inspiring as that of Kerry Meier. Raised in the small town of Pittsburg, Kansas, Meier was the youngest of four athletically gifted brothers. He would follow in his brothers’ footsteps to play football for one of the home state universities, ending up at the University of Kansas, rival to Kansas State University, where his brother Dylan was playing. Dylan would ultimately serve as Kerry’s inspiration to teach English in Korea, albeit resulting from tragedy.
After committing himself to fulfilling the dream his brother never got to live, Meier pressed on with his NFL career. However, after three injury-hampered seasons, he was ready to walk away from the game and find the next stage. Along with girlfriend Alexandria Martinez, he spent 10 days in China over the 2014 New Year holiday. This experience opened them to the possibility of living in East Asia. “Part of what warmed us to coming to Korea was that we had such a good time in China,” said Meier. He started to think about fulfilling another dream of Dylan’s, teaching in Korea. After going through the job-seeking process, Meier and Martinez ended up signing a contract running from August 2014 through July 2015 with the International Language School in Jeonju, a hagwon where they taught kindergartners in the mornings and elementary school students in the afternoons. It proved to be a dramatic change in work environment for Meier: “My previous profession was trying to impose my will upon a physical being opposite of me. It was so taxing physically, so aggressive. Going from my work environment being 75,000 people,
feature
1
2
1. The four Meier brothers. From left: Adam, Shad, Kerry, Dylan 2. Kerry Meier and Alexandria Martinez in Jeonju Hanok Village
fresh grass, to a small, confined area with colorful pictures on the wall, singing and dancing little jingles every morning, it was so different.” However, Meier was able to apply the discipline he had learned on the field in the classroom. “Football includes committing yourself to something and working hard. I found myself wanting to do that with these students. But I was working hard in a different way to give these kids the best chance to flourish and grow.” The couple attempted to mentally prepare themselves for the larger adjustment to life in a foreign country. “We came here with the mindset of [being] completely open,” Meier stated. “Whatever Korea has to offer, bring it on.” Still, they both admit that the first few months were not easy, particularly with adapting to Korean cuisine. Martinez explained: “With the food we had a rough start. But now, we find there are [Korean foods] we crave.” The food was not the only aspect of Korean culture they came to appreciate. In addition was the security Korea offers. “There is nowhere in this world where you’ll find seven- or eight-year-old kids running around at night by his or herself,” Meier added. “The other thing I love is the fact that the kids we teach are so driven from an educational standpoint, it’s refreshing.” The new-found anonymity has also been welcome for Meier. “They know me as the Kerry Meier they met the first day. They’ve come to understand that I played football, seen pictures, but they don’t know
anything about American football. But it’s good, because they know me for me. They appreciate and understand that I’m there for them, to take care of them, not for them to take pictures or whatever. That’s awesome.” A laughing Martinez put it further into perspective: “They appreciate the apples and the peanut butter you give them. They don’t care what you did last year.” Fulfilling his brother’s plan to teach English in Korea is not the only way Meier is honoring his brother’s memory. He helped to organize the “Get Busy Livin’ Foundation,” a non-profit organization that provides scholarship support to individuals and groups that embody values Dylan pursued. “Dylan was a big proponent of helping others,” Meier explained, “We want to be able to touch the greatest amount of people in this world.” Meier and Martinez returned to America at the end of July, where she is pursuing a graduate degree in international studies at NYU. He is preparing for his own graduate studies in nutrition, with an eye on eventually becoming a registered dietician. Meier’s long-range goal is a return to collegiate athletics as an athletics program nutritionist. As the couple’s time in Korea drew to a close, a journey that had its origins in honoring and fulfilling the dreams of the beloved life cut tragically short, Meier reflected on what they gained from the experience. “It puts you in a humbled state very, very quickly and it makes you feel how small you are in the world, in the big realm of everything. That was really neat and we loved it.”
27
28
feature
Written by Jackie Bolen
I
have been teaching English in Korean universities for the past ten years and have recently decided to return to Canada. Part of me is very, very excited to reconnect with family members and old friends, and to be in a place where everyone speaks English, while the other part of me is somewhat terrified. Dealing with reverse culture shock, finding housing, and moving my belongings and two cats as well as myself across the Pacific is going to be difficult and time-consuming. The biggest question mark, though, is what I am going to do for work. In order to alleviate some of my fears and learn from the experiences of those who have gone before me, I decided to survey my old friends, see what trends I could uncover, and hopefully learn from their mistakes. I designed a survey and hoped that at least 20 people would participate, but actually 55 of them responded, which resulted in more useable data. I asked questions about mistakes they had made when returning home, tips they could offer, and most importantly, what they are currently doing for work. Here are some of the survey results.
feature
Teaching in Public Schools Clearly, it is easiest to make the transition into a job related to education than to something completely different. Many people returned to university immediately after returning home in order to obtain a teaching certification which allowed them to teach in public schools. The key is to apply for these educational programs while still abroad so that you do not have too much time just waiting to enter a program and spending your hard-earned money. Others respondents, especially Americans, were able to do the application process mostly online while still in Korea. This benefited them greatly because they could hit the ground running and not have a lot of down time looking for work. In many cases, people found jobs in their home countries while still abroad. Teaching ESL/EFL Something that surprised me was the high number of people teaching ESL/EFL in their home countries. However, people mentioned that many of the jobs teaching English are not excellent in terms of pay and benefits, and that they often require serious qualifications (experience teaching adults + CELTA). At first, you may have to take these less-than-stellar jobs or piece together part-time teaching jobs until you can get more experience and network your way into something full-
time. A reasonably lucrative gig that some respondents mentioned is to get qualified to administer and grade exams like the TOEFL or IELTS tests. While this is usually not steady work, you can make a significant amount of money in a short period of time and the experience can give you a leg up on the competition when applying to some of the better-paying, full-time jobs. Other Jobs: Humility and a Willingness to Start at the Bottom Respondents who obtained jobs in business, customer service, or government mentioned the need for humility and a willingness to take entry-level positions. The good news is that it is possible to advance through the ranks if you work hard and take your job seriously. Hiring managers may not look favorably upon your time abroad, and they might wonder what exactly you were doing and why. Survey respondents used words like “confusion” and “bewilderment,” and mentioned the need to prepare a well thought-out response for how time spent teaching abroad developed skills that will be assets for the company. Jackie lives in Busan but is preparing to return to Canada in March of 2016. She wrote a book, “Life after ESL: Foreign Teachers Returning Home” based on the survey results, which you can find on Amazon in both physical book and E-book formats. To see all her projects, go to www.jackiebolen.com.
Attorney Attorney Park’s Park’s Law Law Firm Firm We're ready to serve your best interests in legal disputes. We provide affordable consultation & representation.
▶ Areas of Specialty contracts, torts, family law, immigration, labor ▶ Civil & Criminal Attorney Park, Duckhee
former judge, GIC board member Services available in Korean, English & Chinese
#402 Simsan Bldg, 342-13 Jisan-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju Location: next to Gwangju District Court
Tel: 062) 222-0011 Fax: 062)222-0013 duckheepark@hanmail.net
29
30
local I international community
Eid Day gathering with other Muslim students
Portrait of a Muslim in Korea Written by Laura Becker Photographed by Farah Amin
I
slam is the second-largest religion in the world, with 1.57 billion adherents and 50 Muslim-majority countries throughout the world. In Korea, however, Muslims make up less than 1 percent of the population. The majority of Muslims in Korea are both ethnic and religious minorities: only about 45,000 of the more than 120,000 Muslims are of Korean descent. Other Muslims consider Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and others as home, coming to Korea to study or work.
prayers; they also serve as the centers for those who want to learn and revert to Islam, host religious lectures, hold wedding solemnizations, sell halal food, arrange Quranic lessons and organize Islamic festivals.
Mosques play an integral role in community organization. Mosques do much more than perform mass
Farah has experienced numerous reactions from Koreans based on her ethnicity and religion. Farah
Anie Farahida “Farah� Omar is a PhD student at Chosun University, studying human rights law. Originally from Malaysia, she came to Gwangju in 2014, having spent a year studying Korean in Incheon.
international community I local
on organizing religious functions, but also manage to penetrate the economic region,” she said. “For instance, with the involvement of the Korean government, the first Halal Expo Korea was held this year. From one big Muslim society, they also have smaller groups divided according to the county. For example, Amir Korea is a group consisting of Malaysian students. Earlier they organized Islam Sarangheyo’s campaign and promoted the experience of hijabi women by giving non-Muslim ladies [the chance] to wear the same.” Being able to wear a hijab, even briefly, could be an eye-opening experience for a non-Muslim in Korea. Rather than letting other students wonder about the hijab, Amir Korea took the initiative to teach others about their culture and customs. For the Gwangju Muslim community, Farah said, “I wish we can do the same here too, even better.” Farah is now used to life in Korea
states she is unfazed though because she is used to discussing religion more openly and deeply. “Malaysia is a true religious melting pot,” she said. “In fact, religions have very important roles in our daily lives and are part of legislations too.” As far as halal products, Farah said that the choices are fewer and more expensive, but she makes it work. “Since I enjoy cooking and baking, I sell halal cakes and bread to my friends. There were complaints that it is difficult to find halal bread or cakes here.” Discrimination, however, can be more serious than lack of food options or street evangelism attempts. Farah recalled an incident in which she had a serious toothache and needed a root canal that was not covered by her health insurance. She told the dentist that she could pay the bill herself, but instead of restoring her tooth with a crown, he gave her a filling and told her to go to another clinic, because he was worried that she could not pay the bill in cash. Instead of addressing how Gwangju could be a more inclusive city for Muslims, Farah chooses to focus on how the Muslim community can make itself more significant to the people of Gwangju. According to her views, the obligation is with the Muslim community to put itself on the map. “I was lucky that I had a chance to live in Incheon before, where the Muslim community is always on the go, providing services and helping people. The Muslims there do not just focus
Farah’s decision to come to Korea was not an easy one. She had received a scholarship offer in Turkey. However, Farah wondered how it felt to be a minority, where her opinions and beliefs would be heard less and even challenged. “I’m a Malay Muslim living in Malaysia,” she explained. “As an Islamic country where Malays are the majority, we have a lot of privileges in our favor. Our voices are heard and are taken into serious consideration.” After two years of living in Korea, she admits that it has not been easy at all. “I am doing my best to stick with my belief practices and at the same time blend myself in with the Korean lifestyle,” she said. “I consider myself as lucky because Korea is generally a safe country.” Farah has clearly noted that no one has ever prevented or disturbed her from performing her daily prayers, or forced her to have something when she had to refuse due to her religious beliefs. She appreciates that Korean people are often helpful and do not pry into her beliefs, even when they do not understand them. Farah’s experience shines hope for the growing Muslim community in Gwangju. By taking the initiative to engage Korean society, learning from successful communities in other cities and making do with available products, Farah has created an Islamic-Korean fusion life with purpose: “By bringing myself to Korea, it has strengthened my faith in Islam and I cannot express how grateful I am to be a Muslim.”
31
32
local I gwangju eats
Timi Triangle Written and photographed by Cody Jarrett
S
ometimes the simplest things are the hardest to find. While the foreign food options in Gwangju continue to grow, something as simple as a good sandwich and a pint remains hard to find. Timi Triangle makes three promises, and they deliver on all three: there will be sandwiches; there will be beer; and they will be good. ATMOSPHERE AND SERVICE Timi Triangle has plenty of small tables, although the layout would not seem to work with large groups. Also, it has a small table with a few chairs outside for those who want to enjoy their meal in the afternoon sun. The close proximity of the kitchen means you will be tantalized by the scents and sounds of your meal cooking before it arrives. FOOD The menu at Timi Triangle is just three sandwiches and a few other dishes like pizza and nachos. For those looking to satisfy some carnivorous cravings, the philly cheese is a good choice ─ with beef and cheese threatening to spill out of the sandwich with every bite ─ accompanied by a generous amount
of grilled peppers and onions to add a little crunch. The only complaint was that the cheese used on the sandwich was run-of-the-mill Korean mozzarella, rather than something with a little more flavor. The cubano is another strong entry. Consisting of a grilled pork cutlet, ham, pickles, jalapenos and mustard, toasted in a panini press before serving. The pickles were unfortunately sweet rather than dill, but they gave the sandwich a welcome bit of texture. The mustard, however, was not sweet, and finished the sandwich with a nice tanginess. While Timi Triangle serves Paulaner, Pilsner Urquell and Kozel Dark on tap, their bottle selection is even more impressive. It seems to change based on availability, but you should be able to enjoy your sandwich with anything ranging from a hoppy IPA to a darker porter or stout. The sandwiches are all reasonably priced at 9,000 won, while the other dishes range from 6,000 to 12,000 won. The beer prices run a little higher, but are still worth it for an occasional splurge, with most ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 won per bottle. If those are too pricy, the usual domestics are always an option. Address: 광주 동구 장동로 85-4 (85-4 Jangdong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju) From the Dong-gu Office bus stop, walk straight three blocks with the Asian Culture Complex across the street on your left. Turn right onto Jangdong Street and walk until you see the bright blue awning. Tel: 062-222-4474 Hours: 4:00 p.m. ~ 12:00 a.m. Monday - Saturday (Closed Sundays) Bus: 37, 49, 52, 54, 150, 152, 518, 1187, 1187-1 (Dong-gu Office Stop) Subway: Asian Culture Center
gwangju cooks I local
Spicy Seafood Noddles: Jjamppong Recipe and photography by Joe Wabe
INGREDIENTS (1 SERVING) 2 oz shrimp 2 oz squid 2 oz clams 2 oz mussels (optional) ¼ zucchini 2 oz cabbage 1 yellow onion ½ dried wood ears mushrooms 1 green onion 3 tbs red hot pepper powder 1 tbs red hot pepper oil ½ cup vegetable oil 8 cups chicken broth 1 tsp salt pinch black pepper 1 1/2 tsp of minced garlic 1 ½ tsp minced ginger 1 lb udon noodles
J
jamppong is one of the most enjoyed Chinese-Korean fusion foods in Korea. The word “jjamppong” comes from the Japanese word for “mix”, and the Chinese immigrants in Japan supposedly created the dish. However, it has become well-renowned in Korean-Chinese cuisine. Here is an easy to make recipe.
PREPARATION Soak the mushrooms in cold water for about 20 minutes. Wash and cut into smaller pieces along with the vegetables. In a pre-heated pot sauté the ginger, seafood, vegetables and mushrooms with oil and 2 tbs of red pepper powder for about eight minutes. Add the chicken broth, minced garlic, another tbs of red pepper powder, red pepper oil and then season with salt and black pepper gradually. Let it boil on medium heat for about ten minutes. Cook and rinse the noodles in cold water. Strain well. Place them in a bowl and pour the spicy soup over the noodles. Garnish with chopped green onions. Enjoy!
33
34
local I gwangju biz
*Gwangju Biz highlights innovative small to mid-sized businesses in Jeolla Province that are bringing the entrepreneurial spirit to the marketplace.
Business to Watch
Myung Shin Medical Written by Jessica Shultz Interview Interpretation by Cho Nam-hee
T
he way medical treatment is approached is changing rapidly. As medical treatment shifts focus from healing to prevention, advancements in biotechnology continue to be important. Infrared ray heating treatment devices are just one of many products in demand for health and cosmetic use. Gwangju News recently met Son Jong-gi, the owner and CEO of Myung Shin Medical based in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Myun Shin Medical opened in 1999 as one of the first far-infrared ray heating treatment devices for medical use.
GWANGJU NEWS (GN): How did Myun Shin Medical begin and what is its place in the medical industry? Son Jong-gi: Myun Shin Medical manufactures thermal machines for health and cosmetic use. The company was co-founded in 1999 and was the first of this type of technology. In the 17 years since it was founded, Myun Shin Medical has remained competitive and continues to be a leader in the thermal machine market. Being one of the first companies to create a thermal therapeutic machine has been very positive for our company.
gwangju biz I local
GN: How has the technology evolved since 1999? Son Jong-gi: When the company was founded, we used an infrared thermal therapeutic machine called the rainbow that heated using sand. This machine would use light to penetrate the human body and quickly dominated the market. Through customer feedback on health and cosmetic uses and exposure to new innovations, our company discovered a new way to apply our technology across products. Our body-length capsule is no longer fully enclosed and now heats with light instead of sand.
Son Jong-gi, Myung Shin Medical CEO
GN: It seems like timing had a lot to do with your company’s continued success. Are there other factors that have contributed to your leadership in the market? Son Jong-gi: We are very glad we began with this technology early on because we were able to get a head start and take a large portion of the market. We have maintained market leadership through technological innovation and implementing customer feedback [ahead of] our competition. Myun Shin Medical strives to become a world leader through continued breakthroughs in medical technology. Technological innovation to deliver the highest quality product has always been our primary focus. GN: You mentioned Myun Shin Medical is focused on being a world-leader. Can you tell me more about the international markets you are focused on? Son Jong-gi: Yes, we are heavily invested in international markets. Currently we are focused on marketing efforts in Japan, Europe and the United States. We’re also focused on areas of Korea, such as Seoul and Busan. GN: Given regulations, I imagine it is difficult to sell within such different areas. Could you give our readers an idea of the process that is involved? Son Jong-gi: Product certification has been the most difficult part of international product implementation. Certain countries are harder than others to certify products in. Scandinavian countries take longer to certify products, due to strict environmental regulations. To comply with these certification regulations in Scandinavian and other European Union countries, we have modified our product offering. [Despite] added costs, selling to these markets is a large opportunity for our company. Countries in the Middle East are also difficult because of strict certification requirements for medical devices. GN: Are there other processes outside of certifica-
tion that Myun Shin Medical has been focused on? Son Jong-gi: In 2013 our product obtained certification status as a certified product of Korea. This is something our company is very proud of. Our company has also invested much time and money into securing international patents for our panel heating technology. GN: Do you have prior experience running a business? If not, what made you decide to start? Son Jong-gi: Before founding this company I worked in marketing roles and my co-founding partner worked in electronics. We both had some experience with medical products and saw the growth of the field as a large opportunity for this type of equipment. GN: For our readers who want to see this technology, where can they learn more? Son Jong-gi: Our company has an experience center in downtown Gwangju at the Chonnam Girls High School. For anyone interested in seeing the technology, you can visit us at the experience center. Information about Myun Shin Medical is also available online at http://msmedi.com/engver/pdg.html.
35
36
local I now trending
Three Snails by Kim Dae-yong and Jang Dong-ha
T
hree Snails is a popular boutique known for its sleek minimalist looks. The boutique’s owner spoke with Gwangju News about fashion trends in Gwangju this fall and winter season. 1. Which items have you recommended to customers this fall? Now we recommend wide slacks. I advise my customers to buy turtlenecks or one of our originally designed coats. 2. Which colors are popular this fall? Burgundy and navy blue are popular, but most of our customers like grey-black.
3. How are fashion trends in Gwangju changing? In the past, more customers would often carry Louis Vuitton handbags. But, nowadays, it is changed. A lot of customers carry stylish bags by unknown designers. 4. What do you predict will be a popular clothing trend this winter? Each of our clothing stores carries handmade original coats. Even though they are expensive, they will be popular because they are unique.
fashion on the street I photography
Sharp Dresser Photographed by Karly Pierre Translated by Kim Dae-yong and Jang Dong-ha
This fall men are standing out in the crowd with edgy jackets and well-cut blazers.
37
38
photography I photo essay
A Celebration of Colors, Culture & Happiness Story and photos by Joe Wabe
F
or 21 years Gwangju has celebrated its diversity of cultures with the Gwangju International Center Day. A once-a-year get together of all the cultures living in this wonderful city, to cel ebrate, share and cherish one of their most precious treasures: their heritage. A day that reminds us how multicultural the city of light is. For the past 10 years I have been part of this wonderful and unique festival. Many years as a spectator, other years as a contributor with food and photography, two of my passions. But for the past two events I’ve had the privilege of recording this event as a photographer. The immensity and variety of colors and patterns that every cultural booth had to offer, was overwhelming. I had the opportunity in just one day to travel to most of the Asian continent, with a few stops in the west as well. As a photographer, to be surrounded with this vast quantity of happy facial expressions and colors it is more like a dream come true. So much to capture in such a small time and space. The best part was the
willingness of everyone to have their photo taken, a burden most photographers have to deal with when it comes to photographing strangers at an outdoor setting. The festival is over, and even though another 365 days await for the next one, I have recorded in digital film, memories that are timeless, and that are now part of the wonderful history of GIC Day.
photo essay I photography
39
40
photography I photo of the month
Going Home By Jaypee Capiral
L
ate one afternoon, I was roaming around the city of Gwangju, heading to Songjeong Station. I was captivated by the rays of the sunset beaming through the glass windows at the station, making shadows of the frames, as one man passed by who seemed to be going home. I suddenly felt the solitude of traveling alone. As I captured this image, I came to a realization that we often travel with company, but while walking and talking at the same time, we tend to ignore the beauty of the place where we are traveling. We seem to lose the peace that we should have to rejuvenate our mind and spirit. I once read the saying “I am never less alone than when alone.� Nature itself is good company. But then, no matter how far we travel alone, at the end of the day, we always cannot wait to go home, and find comfort in the place where we used to rest.
photography
Preserving Tradition By Ben Robbins On October 11 at the Gwangju Civic Culture Center, traditional Korean dancers from across Korea gathered for a fall performance.
41
42
places to see I lost in gwangju
A Look at Songjeong Written and photographed by Lucy Kent
G
wangju is such a large and diverse area that some places can get lost in the shuffle. One such location is the Songjeong area. Located at the west end of Gwangju, it is what many Koreans consider “countryside,� but there are still many things that make it worth a visit. The best view with the least effort can be found in Songjeong Park. Getting to the park is fairly simple. Arrive at Songjeong Park Station by bus, taxi, or subway. Between subway exits three and four is a small street. Follow the street for a few meters, walk over the train tracks, walk just a bit more and you will see stairs on your right. The stairs may give the impression of a small, forgotten park, but this is not the case. After climbing the stairs you will see a large green
park. As you wander through you can see a temple or two, benches that face the city, and a few miniature parks hidden in alcoves around the area. These miniature parks contain exercise equipment, small flower beds, and places to relax and talk. At various points, the path will split and you must choose a direction. If you choose the direction that has you walking up a hill, you will soon find yourself climbing a 20-30 percent incline. This only lasts for a few minutes before you reach the top. There is a wonderful raised pavilion here for rest, as well as a beautiful view. Gwangju is considered to have the best food and chefs in the country, and Songjeong is proud to be the home of Tteokgalbi Street. From subway exit one of Songjeong Station, walk straight for three blocks and turn right. You should see the Gwang-
lost in gwangju I places to see
walls are adorned with photos of famous visitors who have stopped by throughout the years. Songjeong Market is another highlight of the area. Some parts of the market are permanent, but the full five-day market opens on the 3rd, 8th, 13th, 18th, 23rd, and 28th day of each month. The area seems to explode with vendors that sell anything your heart could desire. Best of all, items are typically a fraction of the price that they would be elsewhere. Shoppers can purchase anything from fish to socks, dumplings to perfume, fresh radish to dried ginger. Try to keep track of where you are, because the market seems to go on forever. Like many other traditional markets in Korea, this one has its history. The Songjeong Market has been going on for over 100 years. Stand off to the side, close you eyes, and you can almost hear the history dancing around you.
san-gu office on your right. The opposite side of the street has a large circular sign that marks the end of the street. Tteokgalbi is a distant cousin of Galbi and Samgyeopsal. It is a “patty� mix of beef and pork. You can eat it ssam style (wrapped in lettuce) or just eat it with rice. The origins of tteokgalbi are debated, but some consider it to have originated in Songjeong. Because of this, there are a quite a few restaurants that serve it throughout the street. The most recommended restaurant is Songjeong Tteokgalbi, whose
43
44
local I my korea
How I Lost It Traditional Chinese Medicine Helps an Expat Lose Weight Written and photographed by Sally Ann Arkley
Years before, in Gwangju, I watched my friend Victoria lose weight using what seemed to be a responsible diet plan. She told me she had joined the Bak Dal Na Mu Oriental Medicine Clinic in Sangmu Jigu (behind Sejeong Outlet Mall). She consumed a sachet of oriental medicine to supplement each breakfast and lunch and for dinner, she could eat what she wanted as long as it was a small quantity. I was amazed and skeptical. Could such a plan work? Well, in the end she lost something around seventeen kilos. Yes, kilograms! Dr. Kang Chae Mi practices Oriental medicine and designed the writer’s diet regime.
I
have lived in Gwangju for many years and have always envied how Korean women seemed to maintain an effortless slimness. In the past few years though, I had been hearing about diets and how many Korean women actually used diet techniques to either lose weight or keep the weight off. I have never dieted and was adamantly opposed to dieting as I felt it was unhealthy for the mind and body. I have had three children. I adore them, but not the weight I gained while pregnant. My mum always said that the hardest weight to lose after a baby was the last five pounds (two kilos). After my first child, I lost more than I had gained and after the second I lost most of the pregnancy weight but not all. It was the third pregnancy that did me in. Five years and three kids later, I found I was uncomfortable with my weight.
For three years, I toyed with the idea of joining the same clinic, then one day, when I had hit the wall on a research project, I was re-reading the book “How to Research”. I was down in the dumps about the project and felt like giving up. The book recommended focusing on a new project to take one’s mind off of difficulties and in the list of twenty recommended projects, number 12 was “go on a diet.” So, I did. I went to the very same clinic my friend Victoria had been to and I registered for one month. When I first arrived at the clinic, a friendly front desk attendant greeted me and made me comfortable. She asked me to stand barefoot on a computerized scale and hold a handle in each hand for about a minute. It was a mechanized scale that measured: weight, body mass index, body fat level, waist-tohip ratio and ideal weight for age and height. Once every two weeks, I was re-assessed on the scale and then advised by the doctor. Kang Chae Mi, doctor of Oriental medicine, and the owner and director of the clinic, was lovely and pro-
my korea I local
fessional. We discussed my weight whilst referring to the computerized scale information and how much I wanted to lose. We then decided on a plan best suited for my life-style. The treatment consisted of three sachets of oriental medicine a day, two to replace breakfast and dinner and a lunch sachet to be taken thirty minutes before a small lunch. While on the plan I rarely felt hungry; actually I found a renewed energy. In an interview conducted in the clinic on the fourth floor of S-Tower on October 2, 2015, Dr. Kang states: “There are no chemicals in the medicine. It is made mostly of herbs─especially mugwort, minerals, and sometimes animal horn/antler may be used ─but only after consultation with the patient.” She says that Oriental medicine is “absolutely healthy” and can be an effective method of weight reduction. The doctor speaks English, and said in the interview that the reasons why she opened the clinic were to
help children with growth issues, people with weight issues and those with pain problems. She uses acupuncture, herbal medicines and counselling to help her patients. She recommends that, “people who gained weight quickly can probably lose weight by themselves but those who have gained weight and kept it on for a long time need some help.” She maintains that counselling is an important part of a diet plan. The cost of a three-month oriental medicine diet plan at the Gwangju branch of the Bak Dal Na Mu Han Eui Wuon (Silver Birch Oriental Medicine Clinic) is 1.5 million won, about 500,000 won a month. Three months down the line I had lost thirteen kilograms, or roughly 28 pounds. I felt better physically, and I was much happier getting dressed every morning. The main thing I learned was to keep an eye on how much I was eating. This type of diet plan may not be good for everyone, but you may want to give it a go. Why not? Maybe, you will be able to reinvigorate your life like I did.
45
46
places to see I departing gwangju
drinks and made new acquaintances. Time ran out before we knew it and we headed out on our separate vacations. And I got lost one more time going back to the hostel.
An Awakening in Japan Written and photographed by Lucy Kent
My plans had to go through an overhaul the next morning. I had no money for a side trip to Kyoto and so I was set to remain in Tokyo. I decided it was a window shopping day. I explored Shibuya, Omotesando, and Harajuku. With no plan but to look, I never got lost. That is, until I tried to find a particular shop. Since I can only say about four words in Japanese, it was necessary to look for an English-speaking person. Luckily, I quickly located my new friend and we spent the rest of the afternoon window shopping. I once again had to rearrange my plans in the morning, and made another friend at the hostel. We decided to tackle Akihabara together. We arrived with no problem, then got a bit lost for about 25 minutes. In our aimless wandering we found an Owl Cafe, a Ninja Maid Cafe, and figurines galore. My friend had another commitment, so we eventually parted ways. I started to explore on my own, and got lost. Again. But because of
T
here is a beauty in making plans. There is also a beauty in losing those plans. For my summer vacation I planned an eight day, seven night trip to Japan. I had four pieces of paper covered with places to go. On the day of my departure, I woke up, I picked up my single backpack, kissed my cat, and set off. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a tendency to get a bit lost, so it is no surprise that I started off this trip a bit turned around. Luckily, I made it to my boarding gate about three minutes before they began to board. I got lost two more times before I finally made it to my hostel in Tokyo. I said a quick hello before I was back out the door. One more incident of going the wrong direction finally led me to my friend. We happily explored the Shinjuku area and went into a few themed minibars. Time flew as we tried new
Holiday Inn Gwangju presents the most glamorous dining promotion. Join our adorable event and get a limited benefit.
A MONTH OF LIVE COOKING_ HOURGLASS (1F)
that I found another cute maid cafe and stopped for dinner. I asked for directions and found my way back. In the constant shuffle of my plans, I failed to find a place to sleep on the third night of my trip. So the nice, comfy floor of a Manga Cafe it was. I lost a good night’s sleep but was rewarded with an early trip to the Meiji Shrine. This ended up being the highlight of my entire trip. Peace curls around you as you walk down the path to the shrine. I closed my eyes and could almost hear the horses of young noblemen coming to pay respects to the emperor and empress buried there. The shrine itself was filled with the sound of clapping, bird songs, and one lonely male voice singing out his respect. I approached the shrine and paid my own respects. The rest of my vacation would seem insignificant to anyone other than myself and my new friends. I spent three days in the hostel, but despite not exploring more of Japan, this remains the other highlight of my vacation. While I may have lost my plans, lost a ton of money (no matter how well spent), and lost a few opportunities, I still ended up gaining many friends and memories that I will treasure forever.
From Tuesday to Saturday, the Hourglass Restaurant presents 3 kinds of live cooking stations at the dinner buffet. You can have various kinds of choices, such as lamb, salmon, beef and shrimp from the Grilled Corner and also you can enjoy warm dishes and salads made a la minute by our chef. Take your time to discover the culinary delights prepared at this 5-Star Hotel. Period : 6th Nov ~ 17th Dec 2015 (Thu-Sat) Price : KRW 45,000 (VAT included) per person Operation hours : 17:30-22:00 Reservation : 062-610-7061,2
FRENCH BISTO _ LA PLACE(10F) La place, our trendy spot presents autumn promotion. Based on La place’s original menu of authentic French, new casual dishes and fondue set menu are added. Cheese fondue will be served with tender loin, sea food, and vegetables on boiled cheese plate. Enjoy romatic dinner and amazing view with your friends and lover. Price : Cheese Fondue Set KRW 43,000 Escargot with Basil Sauce KRW 14,500 Opening hours : 18:00 – 24:00 (Mon-Thu) 18:00 – 02:00 (Fri-Sat) Reservation : 062-610-7095
Our team is committed to producing the greatest Korean and most authentic Western food A Unique Lifetime Experience at Holiday Inn Gwangju For more information: 062-610-7000 www.holidayinngwangju.com
48
culture I gwangju writes
Thanksgiving, 3:00 AM, End of the World Written by Robert Hinderliter
S
ix months later our city is still burning, dark beasts still shuffling through the streets, and last week you came home with a forked tongue. Bifurcation, you called it, your voice husky with painkillers, your mouth struggling to form sounds with its new mangled occupant. You stuck it out for me to admire: ragged stitches down each side of the newly peninsula’d flesh, blood beads slowly forming. Soon, you told me, you’d be able to move both sides independently, watch them curl around each other, dart out to taste the air like a serpent. I turned away.
with the beasts came a poison wind, a deathly exhalation from deep in the earth that erupts into flames in the lungs, burning its victims from the inside out.
“You’re as bad as the creatures,” I said. “Oh,” you said, “I’m much worse.”
During the day, when you’re gone, I sit by the window in the living room and look out over the ruined city. Smoke in the distance, pick-up trucks with beds piled with bodies passing on the street below. Sometimes a black shadow stalks across the sidewalk, claws clicking on the cement, head twisting from side to side, sniffing the air. In the evenings you come home always drunk, often high, occasion-
This is the life that is left for us. Six months ago the earth split open with a terrible roar, and the horrors from below spilled to the surface. Savage creatures as big as cars, black-furred, razor-clawed, mouths packed with teeth made for sawing and piercing. And
The weak and indecisive died quickly. You were neither. You loaded your shotgun, strapped on a gas mask, and joined the Hunters. When the goal of fighting the beasts proved hopeless, the gang turned to pillaging and robbery. The old laws, you told me, were for the old world. You bring home food, and I cook it silently. I don’t ask where it’s from.
korean poetry I culture
ally with a new tattoo, red and raw, on your back or arm. And finally your tongue. Your voice, now wet and lisping, is hideous to me. Today is Thanksgiving. Or rather, yesterday. It’s 3:00 AM, and you haven’t come home. It’s raining. The only light in the city is a fire in the window of a distant building. A cat is screaming wildly, as if it’s being pulled apart. I remember our first Thanksgiving, eight years ago, when your parents flew in from Maine and your dad kept spilling rum on the reclining chair and making comments about my weight. I suppose I was a little heavy then, but you told me I was carrying it in all the right places. Your mom had picked up some sort of virus on the plane and was blowing her nose every ten seconds and stuffing the tissues between the couch cushions. It was the first time I’d met them. In the kitchen, I had a terrible time getting the turkey into the oven. I’d bought a new pan to accommodate a large bird, and it turned out to be an inch too wide. I had to tilt it to make it fit, but then the turkey started to slide, and in my panicked overcorrection I burned my arm on the oven door. I cried out, and you stopped mashing the sweet potatoes and rushed over to help. Together, we managed to cram the pan into a stable position and slam the door shut. It took you a minute to realize I was crying. You took me by the hand then and led me past your belching dad, past your sniffling mom, past the window where I am now, and into the bedroom. You shut the door behind us. From outside, we could hear your dad grumbling over the sound of football on the TV. You lowered me onto the bed and lay down beside me. You pulled me close against you, pressed your cheek to mine. I was sobbing by that point, great silent heaves. You stroked my hair and whispered in my ear. “It’s okay,” you said. Your voice was so gentle then. It was a sound I longed for. “I love you,” you whispered. Again and again. “I love you, I love you. I’ll love you till the end of the world.”
This short story was previously published in Night Train Magazine.
The Winter Sky
Written by Seo Jung-ju Translated by Chae-pyong Song and Anne Rashid
With the dream of long nights, I wash clean the beautiful eyebrow of my love in my heart and transplanted the crescent to the sky. The fierce bird of dead winter recognizes its worth and swerves aside.
동천 서정주
내 마음 속 우리님의 고운눈썹을 즈믄밤의 꿈으로 맑게 씻어서 하늘에다 옮기어 심어 놨더니 동지 섣달 나르는 매서운 새가 그걸 알고 시늉하며 비끼어 가네
Seo Jeong-ju (1915 – 2000) was born in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do. He is considered the founding father of modern Korean poetry. Under the pen name Midang, he published at least 15 collections of poetry. He taught Korean literature at Chosun University, among others. He was also nominated five times for the Nobel Prize in literature. His grandmother’s stories and his interest in Buddhism had a strong influence upon his writing. His works have been translated into a number of languages, including English, French, Spanish and German.
49
50
culture I behind the myth
Kimchi Power! Demystifying Kimchi’s Health Claims Written by Stephen Redeker
N
ear the end of November brings the annual tradition of making kimchi. For centuries, different forms of kimchi have been a part of the Korean diet. The most common type, which consists of Chinese cabbage covered in a mix of red pepper paste and other spices, has been a staple since the 18th century. There have been numerous health claims made about kimchi, and some doctors even prescribe it to their patients (Got a stomach ache? You are not eating enough kimchi). Some have even claimed its ability to ward off bird flu and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). While these examples may seem farfetched to many, let us take a look at the scientifically proven health benefits of Korea’s most cherished side dish. Kimchi contributes to improved digestion in a few ways. The main ingredient, cabbage, is already known to contain fiber which helps clear out the intestines. The fermentation of kimchi creates the healthy bacterium lactobacillus, which, also found in yogurt, enhances the digestion process. The effects of the lactobacilli extend beyond just digestion. It fights against dermatitis and promotes healthy skin and hair. It also assists in weight loss by suppressing appetite and stabilizing blood sugar levels (which is very helpful to diabetics). Tests have also shown that kimchi contains allicin, which is found in garlic. This helps the body reduce cholesterol levels and prevents the buildup of unhealthy plaque in the artery walls, thus reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Garlic, ginger, and pepper are used to make kimchi,
and these provide phenolics and flavenoids, which are compounds that enrich the blood circulation system, as well as boost the immune system. The antioxidants contained in kimchi help reduce the dangers of free radicals, which can lead to cancer. That is a big reason why kimchi is recognized for its anti-aging properties; it helps slow down the aging process at the cellular level due the high concentration of these healthy components. Also, the large presence of vitamins A, B and C in the ingredients play a big part in keeping the body strong. Eating massive amounts of kimchi does come with a risk, however. Stomach (gastric) cancer deaths in Korea are very high compared to the rest of the world. Doctors have said that too much salt, combined with red pepper especially, could form dangerous carcinogens. Fermented foods may highly increase the risk of cancer in many people, so doctors recommend a controlled intake. We may not know for certain the exact effects kimchi has on preventing certain diseases and conditions in the body, but what experts have discovered is very encouraging. There are so many healthy components that combine in kimchi, which is why numerous health benefits exist. So, go enjoy some kimchi today! References: organicfacts.net livestrong.com health.com webmd.com
jeolla history I culture
The Origin of Jangxi Written by Won Hea-ran
M
r. Kim lives in 15th-century Naju, South Jeolla Province. As his mother gets older, he wants to serve her while they still have time together. For her 60th birthday he decides to buy her ginseng, an expensive herb that will replenish her energy. But where can he buy ginseng? It is produced in a town called Gaesong in the northern part of the country, far from where Mr. Kim lives. It will take at least a month just to get there. He tries the local market but finds no ginseng there. Depressed, he walks back to his home. On the way, he hears people talking about jangxi, and he finds hope again. “Jangxi� is a five-day market that brings in products from other regions. The first jangxi was called jang-mun and took place in 15th-century Naju and Muan. The Jeolla area started holding jangxi before other regions. One reason for this was the famine that hit the region, but it was mainly because Jeolla had a rich supply of local products. The first jangxi lasted 15 to 30 days, during which farmers exchanged different commodities produced inside and outside of the province. As time passed, jangxi became a five-day market and extended its influence even to the peripheral countryside areas. By
the 18th century, there were more than a thousand jangxi in the nation. Local economies prospered, and merchants had to adopt different strategies to sell their products. But problems followed the appearance of this new opportunity. With their enormous funds and connections, big merchants monopolized particular products and made it extremely hard for small merchants to compete. Political problems arose as well. Because high market taxes amounted to a lot of money, governmental officers and wealthy politicians engaged in conflicts to take control of this money supply. Some stores also engaged in illegal activities. Some sold alcohol and beef, which was banned at the time, and others dealt in illegal services like gambling and prostitution. Today jangxi is called jang. The appearance of modern department stores and supermarkets greatly decreased the influence of these sprawling markets, but many Koreans still use jang because they often have fresher, cheaper foods than modern stores. In addition, the local street foods continue to bring in hungry customers.
51
52
general I kotesol
KOTESOL
KOTESOL promotes scholarship, disseminates information, and facilitates cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with teaching and learning English in Korea.
Take Action: Social Justice in ELT Written and images provided by Jocelyn Wright
I
f the title of this article has caught your eye, my guess is that it is not only language, culture, and teaching that interest you as an educator. Possibly you are also concerned or at least curious about social issues related to race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, age, religion, size, and (dis)ability as well. If so, you may belong to a growing community of professionals interested in social justice or critical education in English Language Teaching (ELT).
• What methods can I use to stimulate reflection and encourage critique? • How can I get students to engage in communitybuilding, social decision-making processes, and action? • What methods can I use to teach for social justice? • What political, social, ethical, or moral obstacles stand in my way? • What are some consequences of inaction?
At different points in our careers as teachers, we often have very different preoccupations. Preservice and beginning teachers tend to be concerned with technical aspects of practice such as conventional classroom management and lesson planning. With quality training, time and experience, or professional development, however, we might start asking ourselves questions such as the following:
In posing these questions, we may begin to adopt a more critical stance, involving reflection on issues of oppression, inequality, and injustice that are omnipresent in curricula design, materials, and evaluation, our classroom practices and discourse, and the educational settings we serve in.
• Who am I as a teacher? • What are my philosophy, principles, and theories of teaching? • How well do I understand my actual teaching context? • What do I really know about my students’ inequitable backgrounds? • What social justice issues are at hand in my classroom (and workplace)? • How can I help develop capacity in my diverse students? • What can I do to better support disadvantaged students? • How can I cultivate a milieu of multicultural sensitivity? • How can I promote values, such as acceptance, respect, affirmation, and solidarity?
More than that, however, we may start to recognize opportunities for transforming our world attempt if only in small ways to make a positive difference. This is the crux of social justice, not at all easy to define and never neutral, a main goal of which is to provide students with equal opportunities for academic success compatible with the aspiration of human dignity for all.
kotesol I general
Yet, research reported in Miller and Kirkland (2010) indicates that without training, teachers may perpetuate social and educational inequalities because of a lack of awareness of the power they hold and their role in developing student identities. According to Crookes’ (2013) Critical ELT in Action: Foundations, Promises, Praxis ─ a great place to start reading on this topic ─ key components of critical language pedagogy include: structured, cooperative learning and democratic classroom management techniques; teachers taking oppositional stances; critical needs analysis; negotiated syllabi; use of Freirian codes to generate course themes; critical dialogue; critical content and participation in material development; participatory and democratic assessment; and pedagogy with an action orientation. Crookes suggests that teachers gradually incorporate critical elements into their pedagogy and engage in ongoing cyclic reflection (good advice for most things!). There are a number of models that may guide you. One such model, called the 6 “re-s” (Miller & Kirkland, 2010) might provide direction. The action steps in this process model for dealing with social justice issues that arise have teachers first reflect, then reconsider, refuse, reconceptualize, rejuvenate, and finally reengage. Do you think you can make a difference with your teaching? Are you ready to commit to the promise of social justice? If you’re interested in the theme of critical education, would like to engage in dialogue, or have collaborative project ideas, please do not hesitate to get in touch! Send me a motivated message to join our new Social Justice SIG (Critical Educators in Korea) special interest group on Facebook or contact me by email at jocelynmnu@yahoo.com. [References] Crookes, G.V. (2013). Critical ELT in action: Foundations, promises, praxis. New York, NY: Routledge. Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. London, UK: Continuum. Miller, s. j., & Kirkland, D. E. [Eds.]. (2010). Change matters: Critical essays on moving social justice research from theory to policy. New York: Peter Lang Publishing.
Jeolla Safety Alliance is a group of Koreans and international residents alike to create awareness of crimes. This safety card is for you to cut out and keep handy! FB group: Jeolla Safety Alliance
Jocelyn Wright is Assistant Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at Mokpo National University. She coordinates the local Reflective Practice Special Interest Group (RP-SIG) and is actively involved in the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL). As a representative of the Chapter, she invites you to join in the various professional development activities on offer in our area.
Upcoming KOTESOL Events Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL “Teachers helping teachers.” Reflective Practice Meeting Date & Time: Saturday, 21 November, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Place: Aldersgate Cafeé Monthly Chapter Meeting Date & Time: Saturday, November 21, 1:45 pm – 5:00 pm Place: Gwangju National University of Education EFL Presentations and Discussions Admission: No charge For more event details Website: https://koreatesol.org/content/ calendar-events-1-gj-chapter Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Email: gwangju@koreatesol.org Twitter: @GwangjuKOTESOL
53
54
general I green korea
Wasting Away The Korean Food Waste System Written by Karly Pierre
K
orea’s food disposal system can be a bit daunting for newcomers to the country. A mistake can lead to a firm scolding from neighbors and landlords or a bag of rotting food that never gets picked up by trash collectors. In 1993, Korea implemented an urban food waste program in response to the substantial increase in waste in its rapidly growing and prosperous cities. Over the years, the program has been modified several times. According to Korea Times, garbage disposals in sinks were the original solution until 1995 when they were banned after shredded food habitually clogged drainage pipes. Now a volumebased payment system (similar to trash disposal) is in place. Residents can buy prepaid food waste bags or plastic food waste buckets. Barcodes are placed on the food waste bucket so that a bill can be sent to the registered resident’s address. Or the bucket’s barcode can be linked to a Hanpay card that is charged when the resident disposes of food waste. In some neighborhoods in Korea, apartments have installed food processing machines to compact and dry collected waste in order to reduce the size and weight of waste. While the government campaign to reign in waste has been robust, problems remain. According to Asia Today, “between 2008 and 2012 the country’s food waste output increased by 3 percent annually” and in 2013 Koreans “generated 17,000 tons of waste per day...three times as much as Taiwan, although South Korea has only twice the population.” Also, illegal dumping of food waste remains a problem. Despite the threat of fines ranging from 100,000 to 1,000,000 won for illegal dumping, residents seeking to avoid weighted food waste costs dump food waste in undesignated trash bags or dis-
card food waste in their neighbors’ food waste bags. These practices often lead to eyesores in neighborhoods with spoiled food waste spilling from bags rummaged by both animals and people. The Ministry of Environment has even considered lifting the ban on garbage disposals installed in sinks to remedy this issue. Below is a helpful guide to foods that should not be included in your disposed waste. Like New Zealand, Japan and China, the majority of collected food waste in Korea is used to feed pigs, which has a lot to do with the reasoning behind the sorting rules.
[Banned foods] Fruits: seeds of peaches, apricots, persimmons, etc. as well as hard shells such as those of acorns, chestnuts, peanuts, walnuts, coconuts, pineapples, etc. Meats: bones and feathers Fish/Seafood: shells of clams, abalone, sea squirt, crabs, lobsters, etc. Others: tea bags, herb medicine residues, etc.
health I general
Stomach Cancer in Korea The Flipside of Eating Your Kimchi Written by Jessica Keralis
W
hen my in-laws came to visit in 2013, one of the events they found most entertaining was the annual Kimchi Festival. Though my mother-in-law is not gastronomically adventurous, my father-in-law enthusiastically tried dozens of types of kimchi while the exhibitors explained its powers to fight aging and cure cancer. Indeed, most Koreans are proud of their traditional cuisine and will cheerfully rattle off the many (actual and perceived) benefits of the foods they love. There are certainly many positive aspects of the typical Korean diet besides simply being delicious (particularly for those who love spicy foods). Korea has some of the lowest rates of obesity and cardiovascular disease in the OECD. The traditional Korean diet has a higher ratio of vegetables to meat or fish, as well as more complex carbohydrates, than the typical Western diet, and it includes many omega fatty acids and vitamins (particularly in fermented foods). However, one caveat has emerged from recent research: higher rates of stomach cancer among Koreans may be linked to their diet. Cancer etiology is highly complex, so establishing causal links between lifestyle factors and various types of cancer is usually impossible (and bad statistical practice besides). Risk factors for gastric (stomach) cancer are diverse and include certain environmental risks, dietary factors, smoking, alcohol consumption, genetics, and infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. However, stomach cancer has been the most common cancer diagnosed in Korea since 1999, and the country has also led the world in high rates of gastric cancer by country for years ─ and this discrepancy persists in Korean-Americans as well. This has led to some
interesting research on what lifestyle factors unique to Koreans might be contributing to higher rates. Several large research studies have indicated the Korean diet as one possible risk factor. Many experts believe that the diet’s high sodium content, in addition to nitrate and nitrite preservatives, might explain the rates, especially considering the pickled foods, e.g., kimchi, that so many Koreans love. A large cohort study based on cancer registry data published in 2010 showed that preference for a salty diet was associated with cancer risk, and an older case-control study comparing different foods and methods of preparation had similar results. This is, of course, no reason to stop enjoying your favorite Korean foods. The many vitamins, vegetables, and flavors along with the lower proportions of fats and sugars are reason enough to dig into that bowl of kimchi jjigae with gusto. Stomach cancer rates tend to be much higher among men, and most studies acknowledge that widespread prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption probably contribute to the risk as well. The best way to take charge of your health is to discuss your diet and any health concerns with your doctor. Also, regular screenings are by far the best way to prevent cancer, and to find it early.
Jessica Keralis has a Master of Public Health and four years of experience in the field of public health. She is currently working as an epidemiologist. Feel free to suggest future health article topics by contacting her at jmkeralis@gmail.com. All views expressed here are her own and not those of any employer.
55
56
general I movie review
On The Download November DVD Releases Written by Kyle Chandler
Inside Out (2015)
Q
uite a few films for the whole family to enjoy are being released on DVD in the month of November. “Minions” (Nov. 16), the spinoff/prequel to the hugely successful animated “Despicable Me” films, will be a hit with younger audiences. Claymation “Shaun the Sheep: The Movie” (Nov. 24) will appeal to audiences of all ages with its creative use of nonverbal physical comedy in the same vein as “Wallace and Gromit.” However, this month’s biggest animated release is “Inside Out” (Nov. 3), the latest animated feature from Pixar, set primarily inside the mind of a young teen girl, Riley, who is uprooted from her life in Minnesota and moved to San Francisco. The main protagonists come in the form of Riley’s primary emotions: Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Sadness (Phyllis Smith), who steals the show. As “Inside Out” puts itself literally inside the mind of its target audience, it deftly portrays the confusion and loneliness that accompany adolescence. “Inside Out” is one of the best in Pixar’s already superb catalogue. November also sees the DVD release of “Spy” (Nov. 10), for audiences wanting more adult-themed humor. Melissa McCarthy stars as mild-mannered Susan Cooper, a deskbound CIA analyst who goes undercover to infiltrate and bring down a deadly global arms organization. Once again, director Paul Feig and McCarthy, who collaborated on “Bridesmaids” (2011) and “The Heat” (2013), have produced a modern female-lead comedy that is both hilarious
Spy (2015)
and feminist. As with their previous work, Feig utilizes McCarthy’s talents effectively, namely her great sense of comic timing, charm, and insult-fueled rants. Another highlight is Jason Statham as a loudmouthed, moronic secret agent, whose attempts to aid McCarthy constantly thwart her efforts. His role here serves as a hilarious piece of self-deprecation, subverting his own well-known star persona. Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Rose Byrne, and Peter Serafinowicz round out this superb cast. “Trainwreck” (Nov. 10), written by and starring Amy Schumer (from Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer”), follows the life of magazine writer Amy, who does not believe in monogamy and lives her romantic life accordingly. Her life seems fulfilled until she meets Aaron (Bill Hader), a sports doctor she has to interview for her magazine. “Trainwreck” matches Schumer’s comedic skills with director Judd
right to the city I local
Apatow’s flair for sentimentality. Together, they create a number of standout moments, with Schumer’s comic sensibility a driving force of the film. Other notable films coming out this month include “The End of the Tour” (Nov. 3), a biography set during a five-day interview between reporter David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace (Jason Segel). “Stanford Prison Experiment” (Nov. 17) is a dramatic retelling
of the infamous psychological experiments in 1971 that went disastrously wrong. “Far From Men” (Nov. 10), featured at this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), stars Viggo Mortensen as Daru, a reclusive teacher in 1950s Algeria who has to escort a villager accused of murder. As the days get shorter and the nights colder, these films and many others available will keep you entertained this month.
Sewol Update Written by Kim Singsing
F
undraising For Sewol Protesters Facing Legal Battle
More than 700 people have been taken to police stations because they participated in Sewol rallies. Following protests, they were questioned and fined. Ten people have been placed under arrest, and the court is still issuing subpoenas. Police have come unexpectedly to people’s work places. Requests for attendance (summons) in court have been sent to people’s homes. Penalties and fines have amounted to millions of won. We are fundraising to establish a legal fund to support those people who have been mistreated by the legal system. Please support us. The fundraising goal is 9,990,000 won. So far, we have raised 4,217,222 won, or 42% of the total goal. Fundraising will end on November 8. For more information and how to join this funding, please visit the website http://www.socialfunch.org/416act. Sincerely, People’s Alliance for April 16 Sewol Promise The article above is a translation of the 416 Alliance website notice of September 25. Please refer to the original notice http://416act.net
Crucial Video Footage of Sewol Missing From Salvage There were 64 cameras operating on the Sewol ferry. These took footage from the ferry looking out across the sea. However, crucial visual images are missing from these video recordings. Some recording channels were stopped at 9:50 p.m. on the day before the disaster, and other channels, which can check the ferry speed, were stopped at 7:02 a.m. on April 16. At that time, there was a rapid change in the ferry’s speed. Most importantly, the Sewol Ferry’s CCTV videos were not recording after 8:46 a.m. on April 16. According to the crews’ testimony, however, there is a possibility that the CCTV cameras were operating. There were volumes of questions about the lifting of the video recording device (DVR) from the Sewol following the sinking. The DVR had been submerged for two months, but it was found to be in excellent condition. There are though, certain doubtful aspects of the testimony of the naval person who salvaged the DVR from the ferry. There was nothing on videotape from the camera specifically set up to monitor the DVR salvage.
57
58
info
Community Board Have something you want to share with the community? Gwangju News community board provides a space for the community to announce clubs’ activities and special events. Please contact gwangjunews@gic.or.kr for more information.
UNESCO KONA VOLUNTEERS UNESCO KONA Volunteers is a registered organization that helps underprivileged kids to learn English independently through storybooks and story-maps. We are looking for long-term volunteers who desire to enrich their lives. We are asking volunteers to commit to helping at least once a month (please check the days and locations below). Foreign volunteers who are interested in practicing their Korean and learning more about Korean culture with Korean children are welcome to stay at the center on any Saturday morning or Saturday evening for a short cultural exchange. If you have any picture books, storybooks, puppets and any educational items, we accept all donations in order to distribute them to the local children’s homes or community children’s centers in Gwangju and South Jeolla province. The days and locations of the facilities are as follows: Every Saturday mornings / 10 a.m.12 p.m. or every Saturday afternoons (evenings) 5-7 p.m. Location: UNESCO KONA Volunteers Center (Ssangchong-dong, Seo-gu, 062-4349887) 3rd Sunday afternoons / 3-5 p.m. Location: Youngjin Children’s Home (Imgok-dong, Gwangsangu, 062-9528040) or Gwangju Children’s Home (Dongrim-dong, Buk-gu, 062-513-0859) 4th Friday afternoons 3-5 p.m. Location: Grandmother’s Community Children’s Center (Punghyang-dong, Buk-gu, 062-524-2076) 3rd Sunday mornings and afternoons/ 9 a.m.–2 p.m. (Lunch is provided)
Location: Haein Temple (Jangseong, South Jeolla, 061-393-5135) For more infomation, please visit: 1. http://cafe.daum.net/konavolunteers 2. www.facebook.com (UNESCO KONA Volunteers) 3. contact KONA (Kim Young-im) at 062-434-9887 or at konacenter@ gmail.com GWANGJU ICE HOCKEY TEAM Looking for men and women of all ages to join us every Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Yeomju Ice Rink near World Cup Stadium. If you are interested, contact Andrew Dunne at atdunne@gmail.com GWANGJU INTER FC The Gwangju International Soccer Team (Gwangju Inter FC) plays regularly every weekend. If you are interested in playing, email: gwangju_soccer@yahoo.com or search ‘Gwangju Inter FC’ on Facebook.
COMMNUNITY CLASSES AT GIC Weekdays Free Meditation in November at GIC – Room5, 2F 7:00 ~ 8:00 p.m. Mondays (Nov 2 ~ Nov 30) FB page: Free Meditation in November at GIC Zumba Class – GIC Hall, 1F 7:00 ~ 8:00 p.m. Wednesdays 5,000 won / each session FB page: Zumba with Cailin in Gwangju Yoga Gwangju - Room5, 2F 7:00 ~ 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays 12,000 won / each session FB page: Shudda Shakti Yoga Gwangju Weekends Art Club – Room5, 2F 12:30 ~ 3:00 p.m. Saturdays Participation fee varies depending on Class theme and material FB page: Gwangju Art Class GWANGJU Petit à Petit 쁘띠 따 쁘띠 프랑스 그룹 – Room5, 2F 4:00 ~ 6:00 Saturday, November 21 FB page: GWANGJU Petit à Petit 쁘띠 따 쁘띠 프랑스 그룹 GIC Book Club – Room3, 2F 4:00 ~ 6:00 p.m. Saturdays FB page: GIC Book Club
COMMUNITY GROUPS IN GWANGJU Gwangju – 광주 Gwangju Freecycle Gwangju Performance Project GFOG (Global Families of Gwangju) Gwangju EPIK Teachers Gwangju Community Builders Gwangju-Jeolla Job Bank Ladies of Gwangju and Vicinity Jeolla Safety Alliance Gwangju Yoga Gwangju Veggies
WE ARE LOOKING FOR WRITERS! Get involved and make Gwangju News an outlet for you to express yourself. For more info: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr
Gwangju News is only as great as it is because of the community it serves, and the writers, photographers, editors and proofreaders within it who regularly volunteer their services.