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Vol. IV No. 68
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
White hike A mixture of winter clouds and fog drift across Mt. Halla, just below Baeknokdam crater on Seongpanak Trail. Photo by Douglas MacDonald (Flickr.com/photos/dmacs_photos)
200 days to the world’s largest environmental gathering
A ‘wave’ of K-pop comes to Jeju SBS MTV new weekly TV show ‘Music Island’ starts Feb. 29
Jeju readies for the 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress
By Angela Kim angelakim@jejuweekly.com
By Darryl Coote darrylcoote@jejuweekly.com
On Feb. 19, at the International Convention Center (ICC) Jeju in Seogwipo City, roughly 1,500 spectators filled Tamna Hall for the 2012 Jeju World Conservation Congress (WCC) D-200 Commemoration Ceremony. On hand for this event were Jeju Governor Woo Keun Min, Jeju City Mayor Kim Sang Oh, Seogwipo City Major Kim Jae Bong, 2012 WCC Organizing Chairman Lee Hong Gu, Provincial Assembly Chairman Oh Chung Jin, as well as all Provincial Assembly members. The event marked 200 days until the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) WCC
Jeju 2012 opens on Sept. 6. The WCC, hosted by IUCN, is the world’s largest environmental event and occurs only every four years. Over 15,000 environmental specialists, scientists, students, and locals are expected to attend this 10-day congress. The ceremony kicked off at 2 p.m. with the Jeju provincial government dance troupe performing “The Scent of Jeju,” a set of traditional and fusion Korean songs and dances, followed by Governor Woo’s opening speech. “If we were to say that the last 10 years were a preparation period for Jeju to step out to the world,” he said, “from 2012, the successful hosting of the WCC will lead citizens of the world to visit Jeju.” Woo added that the congress will bring the island international
status and is an opportunity for Jeju to reach its goal of attracting 2 million foreign tourists annually, sell 1 trillion won worth of exports, develop the island’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) industry, and propel Jeju to become a center for eco-tourism. Following the speeches, IUCN Director General Julia MartonLefèvre, in a pre-recorded video message of solidarity, said, “The congress aims to put nature and conservation at the top of the global agenda. It’s unique in that it engages all parts of society to share both responsibilities and the benefits of conservation. We know that the citizens of Jeju, under the leadership of Governor Woo, are doing their utmost to ensure that Continued on page 2
Photo courtesy SBS MTV
On Valentine’s Day, some 1,500 K-pop fans filled the International Convention Center (ICC) Jeju where SBS MTV’s new weekly TV music program “Music Island” was filmed for the first time. It featured various K-pop idol stars like IU, MBLAQ, Jungyup, Rainbow, Block B, Lim Jeong Hee, SunnyHill, and B.A.P. Janice Li, 25, flew from Singapore to the island to see her favorite group, Block B, perform. She endured a long journey from “Singapore to Incheon, and Incheon to Jeju.” She finds Continued on page 15
02 Jeju Now
The Jeju Weekly
INSIDE Discover Jeju
page 4
Jeju’s ‘Glass Castle’
Business
page 5
The Jeju provincial dance troupe perform “The Scent of Jeju,” at the 2012 Jeju WCC D-200 Commemoration Ceremony. Photo by Darryl Coote
Jeju produce under shadow of FTA
Environment
page 5
Continued from page 1 the congress is prepared to receive leaders from government, business, NGOs, scientists, practitioners, and all those people committed to the well-being of our environment.” She continued that the event will give Jeju the opportunity to show the world not only the island’s natural beauty, but the entire country’s commitment to conserve nature.
After congratulatory speeches, Jeju National University President Heo Hyang Jin, Cheju Halla University President Lee Jeong Mu, Jeju Tourism College President Kim Seong Gyu, 2012 WCC Organizing Chairman Lee Hong Gu, and Governor Woo signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) promising that the educational institutions will help with recruiting, organizing, and training volunteers for the
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
upcoming 2012 Jeju WCC. Sopranist Kong Hye Myung then took to the stage, accompanied by a choir of school children and a string orchestra, to reveal the “2012 Jeju WCC Campaign Song,” which was selected through an open competition. Then, she serenaded the crowd with an opera piece. To conclude the event, all provincial assemblymen, Governor Woo, 2012 WCC Organizing Chairman Lee Hong Gu, and others placed pots of the province’s official flower, the Rhododendron weyrichii Maxim (a type of azalea) representing their good wishes for the Jeju WCC, upon a large raised platform in the shape of the island. With all notable attendees on stage Governor Woo cheered, “For the success of the 2012 Jeju WCC!” with his hand raised high, before performance group Nanta ended the ceremony with an energetic excerpt from their show. The two-day event ran until Feb. 20, when another MOU was signed between the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development Corporation (JPDC), the WCC Organizing Committee, and the Jeju government committing that Samdasoo will sponsor the WCC. JPDC will provide Samdasoo bottled water at the ICC Jeju throughout the 10-day congress. (Translation by Angela Kim)
Hawaii signs Smart Grid MOU
Exhibitions
page 6
‘Fairy Tales and Illustrations’
Politics
page 8
Jeju’s 3 incumbents loom large in general election
www.jejuweekly.com
Dr. Moon
page 13
Looking into lower back pain
Music
page 15
Seoul’s Galaxy Express
Sports
pages 16-17
Beware the orange rattlesnake
Mandarin royalties to Japan could cost Jeju farmers 1 billion won By Angela Kim angelakim@jejuweekly.com
This is the first of a two-part report on the royalties certain Korean farmers are facing now, particularly Jeju citrus farmers. In the next issue of The Weekly, reporter Angela Kim will detail some suggestions experts have for farmers and explain how the government plans to minimize any negative impact. — Ed. On Jan. 7, 2002, South Korea became the 50th member of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). Upon joining the union, member countries — which are bound by the Act of 1991 — are asked to register a minimum of 15 plants with UPOV and all applicable plant genera or species within 10 years. From 1998 and the enactment of the Seed Industry Law, Korea gradually extended its application of plant variety protection. By 2009, this left six plants exempt — the strawberry, the raspberry, the mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marcow), the blueberry, the gean (Western cherry), and seaweed as per national requirements. But on Jan. 7, 2012, Korea Seed & Variety Service (KSVS) added these six to plant variety protection, as per the provisions of UPOV conventions. Out of 50,000 farmers on Jeju, about 60 percent grow citrus. About 98 percent of all citrus crops grown here are varieties developed in Japan. Most of these crops (95 percent) are of the Citrus unshiu Marcow variety, commonly known as the mandarin, and the remaining 5 percent fall under the category of citrus hybrids like Hallabong, Redhyang, and others. On Feb. 8, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Agricultural Research and Extension Services held a symposium to discuss
As of Jan. 7, 2012, all plant genera or species will be registered under plant variety protection. This could cause Jeju mandarin farmers to pay royalties upwards of 1 billion won. Photo by Cho Gyewon
strategies for dealing with mandarins being classed under plant variety protection. “Since 2002, only flowers, like roses and orchids, were at the center of the royalty dispute,” said Park Young Chul, a researcher at the Citrus Breeding Center within the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Agricultural Research and Extension Services. “In case of vegetables, there wasn’t much of a dispute, but rather, the price slightly increased.” According to a UPOV document, the purpose of the Seed Industry Law is “to develop seed industry and to contribute to the stability of agriculture, forestry, and fishery by enacting provisions on protection of the breeder’s right, management of variety performance of major crops, seed production, certification, marketing, etc.” UPOV lists five requirements for new plant variety protection: novelty, distinctness, uniformity, stability, and denomination. According to the Rural Development Administration (RDA), about 50 percent of citrus farms on Jeju have trees over 30 years
old, which means they are likely to be soon replaced. The RDA estimates that if 30 percent of the old trees are replaced with ones that are under plant variety protection, Jeju farmers will be required to pay royalties totaling 1 billion won (US$900,000) within the next 10 years. However, Yang Mi Hee, a senior researcher and examiner at KSVS, stressed that the 1 billion won figure was a “pure estimate.” In 2007, for example, she said the RDA estimated Korean rose farmers would have to pay 7.4 billion won in royalties, when in fact only one-fifth of the estimate (1.5 billion won) was eventually due. Yang said that the estimated cost not only includes royalties paid to the holder of the breeder rights, but also for the cost of new trees. “The cost could greatly vary depending on what species farmers choose [to cultivate],” she told The Weekly in an email interview. Contrary to popular belief, no one has to Continued on page 3
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
The Jeju Weekly
In Focus 03
‘I promise to put citizens first and offer hope’ An interview with the new mayor of Seogwipo City Kim Jae Bong By Kim Jung Lim supuleit@jejuweekly.com
On Dec. 30, 2011, Seogwipo City welcomed its newest mayor Kim Jae Bong. Born and raised on the southern half of the island, he held the post of vicepresident of Seogwipo City Council, served as executive director of the International Convention Center (ICC) Jeju, and was a vice-governor without portfolio. On Feb. 16, Mayor Kim spoke with The Weekly in his office at Seogwipo City Hall.
As a Seogwipo native, you have seen Seogwipo change quite a lot. How has it changed and what is in store for the city?
ment a project dubbed a “mandarin food industry cluster,” [that will] introduce subtropical crops, and other preventative measures.
How are things going with World Conservation Congress (WCC) that will be held on Sept. 6 to 15 at ICC Jeju?
This year the WCC will be a unique chance to promote the beautiful nature and culture of Seogwipo. Thus, we are making great efforts to support preparation for a successful WCC. Last Jan. 19, we held a rally [to build grassroots interest in volunteering during the congress] with 500 citizens in attendance, and on Feb. 14, a support committee composed of 398 citizens had its inauguration ceremony. They have now
Photo courtesy Seogwipo City Hall
The FTA is an unavoidable international trend ... If we pour energy into innovation, I believe we can transform this crisis into a chance to strengthen our competitiveness
www.jejuweekly.com
Photo courtesy Seogwipo City Hall
Seogwipo City once had a period of rapid economic development with the introduction of mandarin farming and the Jungmun Tourist Complex. Now, this is stagnant but I believe that Seogwipo has eternal potential, superb resources, and competitiveness. I started the challenge to make Seogwipo the world’s best green resort city. Seogwipo is where primary and tertiary industries co-exist. Of course, the primary industry is necessary and will be continually developed. In addition to that, I will focus on the tourism industry more in the future, too.
As one of the hottest issues affecting Seogwipo, how will your office deal with KORUS FTA?
With this free trade agreement, Seogwipo will face trouble with borderless competition. This is an unavoidable international trend so we are calmly preparing [measures]. If we pour energy into innovation, I believe we can transform this crisis into the chance to strengthen the competitiveness of Jeju mandarin farming. In order to accomplish this, I will push ahead with improvements in the quality and export of our mandarin crops. Specifically, [we have] the four season production system and the Seogwipo EXPO, which puts Jeju mandarins on display and encourages exports. In addition, we are planning to imple-
started their work. We also organized a headquarters for improving cooperation among the related organizations in Seogwipo. In addition, we are providing Englishlanguage training for Seogwipo City officers who will join the WCC promotion [team]. For the success of the 2012 WCC event, the citizens’ positive participation, a strong sense of service to community, and a kind demeanor are important. I have politely requested their support.
This next question is a sensitive one. Our readers are interested in your stance on the Gangjeong naval base issue.
I feel sorry for the villagers and those who suffer so much. I’m always apprehensive that people may be injured in the fierce confrontation between the protesters and the construction companies. I promise I will play the role of a mediator between Gangjeong’s villagers and the central government.
We heard that there’s a new provincial project that is the responsibility of your office.
As one of the main pledges by Governor Woo Keun Min, the province announced the goal of creating 20,000 jobs for the youth in Jeju. The project is not only to support the government’s policy but also to
propel job creation, cultivate human resources, and attract investment, especially for Seogwipo youth. However, the plan is only in the early stages.
What is your resolution for this year?
There are many pending issues in Seogwipo that I should solve this year. [For example,] the City Hall buildings are divided into two buildings. The intercity bus terminals are also in the same situation. They need to be united. This year I hope all the citizens are healthy and make their dreams come true. I will also care for the citizens who [are overlooked by society]. I would like more
Continued from page 2 pay royalties for cultivating the iconic Jeju citrus called Hallabong. Citrus hybrids, which include Hallabong and many other citrus crops that are generally harvested later than mandarins, were included in the plant variety protection list in May of 2009. All domestic seed breeders are supposed to register their products with the KSVS within one year of active distribution or
people to smile brightly and talk to each other about their dreams and hopes for Seogwipo.
How do you want Seogwipo citizens to perceive your work as mayor?
Being born and raised in Seogwipo, I was personally aware of the farmers’ problems in taking their low-quality mandarins to the mandarin manufacturing plant [to sell at a low price]. I’m proud of my understanding of the citizens’ feelings and mind. I won’t forget this and will listen to the citizens’ voices. I promise I will do my best to lead the administration by putting the citizens first and offering them hope.
development. Foreign developers are given a six-year grace period. Among all citrus hybrids being raised on Jeju, only Kampei and Sagakashi 34 gou species were developed less than six years ago in Japan, enabling them to register and request royalties at any time. For Citrus unshiu Marcow and the five other plants mentioned above, breeders have until Jan. 6, 2013, to file the application for breeder rights.
04 Discover Jeju
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
Glass art, inside and out A review of a colorful theme park to the west of Jeju City, Jeju Glass Castle
Colorful scenes await visitors at the Jeju Glass Castle. Photos by Jessica Sicard
By Jessica Sicard
www.jejuweekly.com
contributor@jejuweekly.com
Off the beaten tourist path is a glass wonderland greeting visitors with a glass seabed amongst rocks and a retro-colored building that can only be described as groovy. Upon entering the building, a glass blower works in his workshop to the left, and Jack’s gleaming bean stock catches the attention of all as it reaches for the sky. Welcome to the Jeju Glass Castle. Visitors can expect a variety of colorful and beautiful exhibits providing fun for the entire family. Notable are the glass rooms with mind-boggling perspectives, gigantic glass diamonds, multicolored glass instruments, and a glimmering glass beaded passageway, optimal on sunny days. Even small details are impressive like the glass fish handles on all doors and the countless glass flowers and trees lining the park. The Jeju Glass Castle’s pride and joy is their Italian exhibit, featuring the work of world renowned Italian glass artist Pino Signoretti. Signoretti was present at the grand opening of the glass art theme park on Oct. 23, 2008, and the Italian exhibit showcases one of his glass clowns valued at approximately 100 million won. The tools Signoretti used to make the clown
are also on display. One of the most well-known exhibits features famous orchestra figurines by &]HFK JODVV DUWLVW -LÄœt 0DUHĂŁ WKH VDPH artist that was contracted to create the Jeju Glass Castle’s mascots, Yuri (glass) and Guseul (bead). Due to the popularity RI WKLV H[KLELW 0DUHĂŁÂś ZRUN LV QRZ available in the gift shop. The gift shop at the Jeju Glass Castle includes predominantly Chinese, Korean, Italian (Murano), and Czech glass as well as glass from their resident artists, some of which produce their work right in the store. On a typical day, visitors can observe Chinese artist Si Zhi Jiao doing “inside painting,â€? an ancient Chinese art where the inside of a glass ball is painted. Jiao mentioned that it can take up to two days to paint a single ball depending on the design, and her ancestors have specialized in inside painting for more than 400 years. Hong Ki Taek, resident glass blower, Hallim native, and Tokyo Glass Art Institute graduate, has been with the Jeju Glass Castle since its opening. Originally an industrial designer, Hong became inspired to become a glass artist when he was exposed to glass art for the first time during a trip to Japan. Hong said that he was “shockedâ€? when he first saw glass art. “There is no other material that can
express clearness like glass. It’s also very colorful. Those are the parts that impressed me,� he said. Hong mentioned that Japan and Korea are the same in many ways, but glass making is not widely known here. He hopes that this will gradually change starting with places like the Jeju Glass Castle. Also, one of his favorite moments in his career was when he met Signoretti and received tips from him at the grand opening in 2008.
Since then, the park has periodically added to its collection. For example, several glass trees have been added over the years and this March they anticipate opening a sports themed exhibit. It should be noted that transportation to the theme park is not cheap. As there are no public buses that travel by the castle, the only method of transport is by taxi. While it is a grand journey to reach the Jeju Glass Castle, it will surely dazzle the glass lover in you.
Jeju Glass Castle Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., everyday (ticket office closes at 5 p.m.) Tickets: 9,000 won for adults, 8,000 won for middle and high school students Address: 3135-1 Juhji-ri, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju City Telephone: 064-772-7777
-HRML 2UHXP ‡ Jeju Glass Castle ‡ Spirited Garden
O’sulloc Tea Museum ‡
Mt. S anba ng ->
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
Business / Environment 05
Jeju produce under threat by FTA Mandarin farmers should be worried over KORUS FTA, says JNU professor
JNU Professor Hyun Kong Nam. Photo by The Jeju Weekly
By The Jeju Weekly editor@jejuweekly.com
www.jejuweekly.com
You can find a link to the final KORUS FTA text in the online version of this article. The agreement officially goes into effect at midnight KST on March 15. — Ed. With the new KORUS Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Jeju mandarin and Hallabong may go the way of former fruit that were once grown on the island. The history of mandarins on Jeju goes back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), and even further based on some accounts. Jeju National University Professor Hyun Kong Nam of the department of industrial and applied economics and one of
the authors of “The Development History of the Mandarin Industry” said they were grown here specifically as offerings to be presented to the king. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that Jeju really took to producing mandarins. “At the end of the 1960s, the government wanted farmers to make more profit so they gave them money to grow mandarins,” Hyun told The Weekly from his office on the university campus. And the government initiative worked. Between 1966 to 1967 the amount of land on Jeju devoted to mandarin farming almost doubled to 1,111 ha, and by 1971 mandarin production exploded by 5,778 ha, a huge jump compared to the decade before when mandarin farms only accounted for 63.6 ha.
Around the same time Jeju began to cultivate bananas and pineapples. “There was this custom,” Hyun said, “that [President Park Chung Hee, in power from 1961 to 1979] would come down here and pick a farmer and give him money to raise a certain crop. He picked a Seogwipo farmer and gave him money to raise bananas.” And other farmers followed suit. It was mostly well-off farmers that adopted these crops because of the costly greenhouses needed for the fruits to grow in Jeju’s climate. Before the late 1980s, Korea had strict control over the importation of goods, meaning that native bananas and pineapples had no foreign competition, and business was good. “The banana was the most profitable crop I have ever seen,” said Seogwipo farmer Moon Dae Jin, who began growing mandarins and pineapples in 1984, but his main crop was the banana. “The mandarin was a good crop of large income, too. But banana and pineapple were more profitable. In 1984, it was a hit because it was profitable. Also, the growing period was short. It brings high income for the investment,” Moon said. It was not only farmers who were earning money from bananas but professionals like lawyers and businessmen who invested in the crop. During the late 1980s, Korea’s economy was rapidly growing and because of its quarter import system it had a large export surplus and the international community (primarily the US, Korea’s largest exporting country) requested that it start importing under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which Korea signed in
1967. GATT would later be replaced by the World Trade Organization in 1995. “And the first thing that Korea opened up was bananas and pineapples,” Hyun said. With the more temperate climates of East Asian countries and more land mass devoted to the cultivation of these fruits they were much cheaper and in more abundance than those grown on the island, and Jeju couldn’t compete. “The Jeju banana was three to four times more expensive than the imported ones,” said Moon. “That’s because in Jeju, farmers had to build equipment [like green houses] so the production cost was high. In other countries, people don’t need it.” Within two years there were no more banana or pineapple farms on the island and “a lot of people [went] bankrupt,” Hyun said. “The atmosphere was awful,” said Moon. Many farmers had to sell their land and equipment, which went for one-tenth the original cost. Those who were able to keep their land went back to farming mandarins and, like Moon, used their green houses to grow Hallabong. In 1995, Korea began importing oranges and since 1998 (the year with the most amount of land devoted to mandarins), the farming hectares for mandarins has been on a steady, yet gradual decrease from 25,802 ha to 20,947 ha in 2010. And Hyun predicts that because of the FTA, profits from this ubiquitous Jeju fruit will be severally damaged. Currently, the cost to import fruit is 50 percent of the purchasing price. When the FTA is enacted on a date yet to be decided, that number will drop
to 30 percent within the first three years, and in seven years there will be no taxes at all. “There will be a vast amount of oranges coming in because they are cheap. A lot of economists and farmers believe … if people can buy the oranges for a cheaper price [than mandarins]” they will, Hyun said. To prevent the mandarin going the way of the banana, the FTA states that during its harvest period from September to February, import taxes will go back to 50 percent. For Hyun, this causes more problems than it tries to solve, for the mandarin will have to compete with foreign oranges from March, greatly affecting farmers’ profits. Though mandarins are expected to be hit hard because of the FTA, all fruits that Korea and Jeju produce will lose value, “especially Hallabong and expensive mandarins,” Hyun said. “They will be more influenced because their harvest season is from February to April. Starting in March oranges can come in for cheap.” Hyun says the government suggests that farmers change crops to lessen supply and up the demand, but for him this isn’t enough. Hyun offered three suggestions; increase greenhouse farming research, change to growing green tea or flowers, and “you can quit farming and go get a job somewhere else.” “The farmers should be worried,” Hyun said. “What the government is suggesting, is not necessarily the best option to follow, so the farmers have to be smart.” (Interpretation by Angela Kim and Kim Jung Lim)
Korea and Hawaii join forces in Smart Grid venture By Darryl Coote darrylcoote@jejuweekly.com
Now there is a reason to start calling Hawaii the Jeju of America. On Feb. 3, in Honolulu, Hawaii, State Governor Neil Abercrombie and the director of the Electricity Market and Smart Grid Division at the Korea Ministry of Knowledge Economy Choi Kyu-Chong signed a letter of intent with the purpose
of sharing information about Smart Grid technologies. Korea has been a leader in Smart Grid technology and has been operating a Smart Grid test bed since 2009 on the northeast side of Jeju Island in Gujwaeup, Jeju City. Currently in its second phase, the Jeju Smart Grid has been installed in 6,000 homes in Gujwa-eup and is being expanded to Jeju City. According to the Continued on page 18
Choi Kyu-Chong of the Korea Ministry of Knowledge Economy signs a letter of intent with Hawaii Governor Neil Abercombie to mutually pursue Smart Grid technology and research. Photo by Jordan Atwood. Courtesy Hawaii State Energy Office
06 Exhibitions
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
An afternoon for storytime A new exhibition of illustrative work at Jeju National Museum until April 1
Left, “Moon beams” by Kenneth Kraegel. Above, “House” by Nikoletta Bati. Images courtesy Jeju National Museum
By Stephen Krohn
www.jejuweekly.com
contributor@jejuweekly.com
For the full review of this special exhibition, please go to our Web site. — Ed. Jeju National Museum is paying tribute to the wonderfully expressive and colorful field of children’s illustration with the exhibit “Fairy Tales and illustrations: Into the Dreamland” in the Special Exhibition Gallery. The exhibit is based on the 2010 CJ Picture Book Awards in South Korea that was sponsored by the CJ Cultural Association and Chuncheon National Museum. The 148 pieces of art from 51 various winning illustrators represent 25 different countries from around the world. Jeju is fortunate enough to be the third leg of the exhibition’s journey throughout South Korea. A variety of talent is on exhibit. It ranges from a very classically illustrative point of view where every inch of the paper is filled with exquisite detail to works of art that are expressed with bold and wild brushstrokes as in “Kafka” by Ekaterina Gaurilova. Touches of the modern artist Joan Miro can be seen in the book “Leaf Fall” by Emma Vakarelova. The show contains illustrations comprised of elaborate cities, some made entirely of
tasty snacks including its inhabitants. “Into the Dreamland” lives up to its name. The illustrations take us into strange and yet familiar worlds like in the piece “Moonbeams” by Kenneth Kraegel. In the three paintings, a boy joins a girl stuck in a tree and they watch as the sun disappears over the horizon, radiating highways of sunbeams into the sky. It
reminds me of the book, “Baron of the Trees,” by Italio Calvino, where a boy decides to live in the trees for the rest of his life and pledges never to touch the ground again. In order to make his way around, he devised a system of roads within the trees. In my mind, Kenneth Kraegel’s paintings are an extension of that story. What happens when the path can no longer be continued by the trees? The children continue their journey by walking along the beams of the moon and the sun. Bringing such an event to an audience did present some challenges for the curator of the exhibit, Oh Youn Sook. For instance, the displays are strictly art without the story’s text. Also, the works in her opinion are quite philosophical and profound because of their vague and mysterious nature. And there are only two or three images representing an entire book which makes the story even more of an enigma. To resolve some of these issues, “Into the Dreamland” is divided up thematically: Dream and Fantasy, Adventure and Travel, Finding Love, and Daily Life and Play, which does help artgoers organize the thoughts of the artists. But Oh is relying mainly on the imagination of the audience. I fell in love with the empty spaces of the illustrations as in “Las Sandias” by Nicolai
Troshinsky, the places where you would normally find text. These spaces of nothing were so beautifully handcrafted and thoughtful. They seem to be custommade and reserved only for my imagination. It was here where I could add my text; I can continue the story and see where the hero travels off to next. Sometimes we see white as blank or nothing, but it is here in Far East Asia where the white was regularly exploited and used as an element to tell the story. These magical spaces are places to see the story that lies beyond the paper and ink and the images depicted. They lie as a doorway to our imagination. Another wonderful thing about this whole experience is that it doesn’t end in one day. The gallery space couldn’t show everything at one time, so in a couple of weeks new pieces will be on display. And do not forget, the exhibit is free to all, Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The design of the exhibit is for children, those who have children, or for those with the imagination of a child. The gallery contains hands-on activities like stamping and light boards for kids. There is also a relaxing reading nook where you can sprawl out on the floor, pick up a book, and just read. But you don’t have to be a child to enjoy these pieces. It’s a must see for everyone.
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
The Jeju Weekly
JDC Education Update 07
Be remarkable with Branksome Hall Asia By Darryl Coote
www.jejuweekly.com
darrylcoote@jejuweekly.com
On Valentine’s Day Branksome Hall Asia opening in the ambitious Jeju Global Education City (JGEC), had a special gift for Jeju to show its commitment to the island and its people. During Branksome Hall Asia’s information session on Feb. 14, at the Grand Hotel, Jeju City, the school’s Director Peter Kenny told a room filled with over 100 parents and perspective students that the school had set aside 20 percent of all their scholarships specifically for Jeju students. “The scholarships are for grade 10 this year but will be extended from grade seven to 10 in years to come,” Kenny told The Weekly between fielding questions from parents and hopeful students after the information session. “So if we grant 10 students a scholarship, at least two of them will be for Jeju, if we get 100, obviously 20 of them will be for Jeju.” Kenny continued that, “In the future it will be about 4 percent of the total school population. And, of course, most of that is in the secondary school. It will account for around 60 students.” According to a Branksome Hall Asia brochure, the distinction will be granted to “globally minded students” who are capable of conducting thorough and accurate research; communicating ideas in English as well as in at least one other language; solving complex problems and make good decisions; have integrity, honesty, and a sense of fairness, and justice; and are involved in their community, among other requirements. The evaluation process will consist of an examination of the student’s two most recent school records, reference letters from both the student’s math and English teachers, a character reference from someone other than a family member (teacher, sports coach, community service leader), and a personal statement handwritten in English. “We want students that are globally minded, active, curious, and who are proactive in the community.” He explained that the target audience for this all girls’ school is not necessarily Jeju due to the island’s financial demographic, but that “is why we want to target our scholarship program to Jeju because we are a part of Jeju and I think we need Jeju adults and students to be a part of our school to make it as relevant and make us accepted in the community.” “I do not want to be the rich school on the hill that is an enclave of North America. We really want to be part of the community,” Kenny said. “Branksome Hall Asia has a commitment to service and service learning is a crucial thread running through all we do from kindergarten to grade 12.” It is not only the students that will be reaching out to the Jeju community but the teachers as well. Though plans have yet to be ironed out, students and teachers may provide English lessons to community children and offer their assistance with environmental and other types of projects. In an effort to make the school more inclusive “we will come out to the community but we will also have the opportunity to pick up [disadvantaged] children and bring them out to the campus,” so they can utilize Branksome
Hall Asia’s state of the art facilities like its hockey rink and swimming pool. Another big announcement was the addition of an exchange program with its mother school in Toronto, Canada, which was founded in 1903 and is a preeminent institution. The program, included in the enrollment fee, will see all grade nine girls from Branksome Hall Asia visiting and learning in its Great White North counterpart and vice versa. This will make Jeju’s branch school “world famous,” Kenny said. “My vision, our commitment is to begin it with four weeks to six weeks, but certainly our commitment over the next few years is to make sure that the program goes for at least three months.” The exchange program has to be “substantial,” he said, for it is not just a visit or vacation but an opportunity to be immersed in a different and vibrant culture. With the world becoming smaller, this might just be the stepping stone these girls need. The exchange is part of the curriculum and all students will be engaged in this. Noh Hyun Jeong, a 14-year-old girl and a hopeful Branksome Hall Asia student, attended the seminar with her mother. She said she wants to attend Branksome Hall Asia for its international qualities. “My dream is [to be] international, so when I go to Branksome Hall Asia I think I can learn many communication skills and I can meet many foreigners and I can develop my English skills. I believe that,” she said enthusiastically. Noh’s mother, Lee Shin Suk, said she was impressed with the school and hoped her daughter would attend. “I am looking for personality developed education and now with the world you can’t just stay in Korea anymore, so I hope it will give her a global mind.” Along with reaching out to the local community, the other purpose of the hour-longseminar was to inform parents of the school’s International Baccalaureate program (accepted at prestigious universities worldwide), and to discuss its curriculum from junior kindergarten to grade 12 among other topics like how it will embrace new technologies and new media. But most importantly, how one can apply to attend this exciting new school. Glen Radojkovich, the school’s deputy principal, walked the audience through the twopart “holistic assessment,” consisting of an English comprehension and math test (called the SSAT), and an interview where social skills and independence are looked at. When it comes to younger students, one’s readiness to begin an international school is also weighed. With the SSAT being the first step for students grade six to 10 and a Branksome Hall Asia assessment for kindergarten to grade five students in the application process, contact Branksome Hall Asia to arrange. A special “in house” assessment session is scheduled on March 10. While students six to 10 sit the assessment, parents can attend a Q. and A. session being offered by the Branksome Hall team. The application deadline for scholarships is April 27. Successful applicants will be contacted by May 4 to arrange for an interview. For the application form, go to the online version of this article on The Weeky's Web site or contact Branksome Hall Asia at +82-2645-68405.
Top, Branksome Hall Asia Deputy Principal Glen Radojkovich speaks to an attentive crowd during the school's information session. Middle, Director Peter Kenny discusses the school's scholarships specifically for Jeju students. Above, hopeful parents and perspective students listen to what Branksome Hall Asia has to offer. Photos by Darryl Coote
We want students that are globally minded, active, curious, and who are proactive in the community
08 Opinion / Politics
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
In the race for Jeju’s 3 National Assembly seats, DUP incumbents loom large A Feb. 17~19 survey by 6 media outlets polled 1,000 islanders on the April 11 General Election
Editorial illustrator Stephen Krohn is from Tucson, Arizona where he earned a BFA from the University of Arizona in painting and drawing. After university, he joined the Peace Corps and headed off to Chittagong, Bangladesh for two years. He has been living on Jeju for the past three years pursuing many of his passions, including hiking, the outdoors, and bird watching.
Letters to the Editor
According to a recent survey regarding the upcoming April 11 General Election, candidates from the Democratic United Party (DUP) are leading in all three Jeju electoral districts in both approval ratings and electability. The poll was conducted by six media outlets on Jeju (The Jeju Ilbo, Jemin Ilbo, Halla Ilbo, KBS Jeju, MBC Jeju, and JIBS) from Feb. 17 to Feb. 19 via Mirae Research. The sample consisted of 1,000 randomly selected potential voters from each district over the age of 19. In Jeju City (District A), incumbent Kang Chang-Il (DUP) was in the lead with an approval rating of 30.2 percent, followed by Jang Dong Hoon and Hyun Kyung Dae of the Saenuri Party with 14.3 percent and 12.9 percent, respectively. Some 26.4 percent of those surveyed did not specify their candidate of choice. Regardless of the candidates’ individual approval ratings, Kang Chang-Il had the highest electability with 27.6 percent. This was followed by Hyun Kyung Dae (Saenuri Party) with 8.7 percent, Jang Dong Hoon (Saenuri Party) 8.4 percent, Shin Bang Sik (Saenuri Party) 2.4 percent, Kang Moon Won (Saenuri Party) 1.6 percent, Song Chang Kwon (DUP) 0.6 percent, Ko Dong Soo (independent) 0.5 percent, and Lee Kyung Soo (The Unified Progressive Party) with 0.4 percent. Half of those surveyed replied they are undecided about which candidate they will back. The survey revealed that in District A, competition between incumbent Kang Chang-Il and the eventual Saenuri Party
candidate will heat up and may turn the tables. Saenuri started vetting candidates today. In Jeju City (District B), incumbent Kim Woo Nam (DUP) has the lead with an approval rating of 35.2 percent, followed by Oh Young Hoon (DUP) with 18 percent, and Bu Sang Il (Saenuri Party) with 16.5 percent. Of those surveyed, 25.6 percent did not specify their candidate of choice. The same order was also reflected in electability. Kim Woo Nam was in the lead with 35 percent, and Oh Young Hoon (8.4 percent), and Bu Sang Il (7.6 percent) followed. Within District B, DUP candidates ranked first and second in terms of approval rating. In Seogwipo District, DUP incumbent Kim Jae Yoon scored an approval rating of 27.4 percent, while candidate Moon Dae Rim (DUP) followed at 18.1 percent. Former Seogwipo City Mayor Ko Chang Hu (DUP) followed with an approval rating of 12.2 percent. Since the DUP candidacy for Seogwipo District is a three-way race, the competition for the party’s official nomination will be heated. While 26.1 percent of respondents have not decided on their candidate of choice, 33.8 percent responded that Kim Jae Yoon is most likely to be elected. The poll had a 95 percent confidence level and a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. (By Kim Seung Jong, Jeju Ilbo. Translated by Angela Kim)
Please keep your letters under 600 words and include your full name and contact information.
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National politics in Korea As of Feb. 21 and the end of the 18th National Assembly term, there were 295 seats in the National Assembly of South Korea. One hundred seventy four seats were held by the former Hannara Party (or Grand National Party in English), which recently renamed itself the Saenuri Party. The Democratic United Party held 89 seats. A minimum of 150 seats are required for a majority. In terms of the political spectrum of these main parties, the Saenuri Party is conservative, while the DUP is considered liberal. For the upcoming 19th General Election, four more seats have been added to the Assembly. By law, with every new election cycle, the Assembly must vote on the number of seats to be allotted. This election, it was decided that there would be 299 seats, with 245 held by regional representatives and 54 by proportional representatives. Eligible voters (aged 19 or older) will vote for one representative in their district
Courtesy The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
and for one political party of their choice. In the proportional representation system, each party will receive a certain percentage of these 54 seats depending on the number of votes their parties have received. Prior to the election, each party can nominate up to 100 proportional representation candidates by rank, and as a result the party’s top choices are guaranteed seats. Voting is not mandatory in South Korea. (By Angela Kim)
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Feel the full vitality of Jeju Island in March By Song Jung Hee
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sjhee1222@gmail.com
Only on the top of Mt. Halla, like a hat, white snow remains. Mt. Halla is the highest mountain (1,950 m) in South Korea and it’s a mother to all Jeju people. With spring approaching, Jeju citizens are busy. They believe that Youngdeung, god of the wind and sea, stays on the island for about 10 days in February of the lunar calendar. Youngdeung comes to Jeju on Feb. 1 and sows seeds of shellfish and seaweed. Then she leaves before Feb. 15 of the lunar calendar. Fishermen stop fishing during this period and shamans all around Jeju ask the sea god to keep the diving women (haenyeo) safe and give them bountiful catches. The steely northwestern wind blows and cuts like a knife during this season. It threatens the lives of fishermen and haenyeo. That’s why Jeju ancestors alerted people to the danger of the wind through the myth of Youngdeung. The Jeju people say goodbye to Youngdeung by finishing seeding the seas. After the god leaves Jeju, the wind direction shifts easterly. The soft east wind infuses life into the haenyeo’s “sumbisory� (the sound of the sudden intake of air after resurfacing from a dive). Youngdeung’s farewell party is
the shaman ritual Youngdeung gut (a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage), which announces the start of fishing once again. After three long months of winter, the first sign of spring finally arrives on South Korea’s southern island in March. Jeju is a rich repository of plants. In March, with the outgoing winter flowers, the incoming spring flowers splendidly blossom. Over the fields, fragrant narcissus (daffodil) begin to wither, leaving their delicate scent, and forsythias, the herald of spring, are in full glory. Following the forsythias, yellow yuchae flowers decorate the whole island. The harmony of seas wearing indigo silk dresses, inky black basalt from the volcanic eruptions, and deep-yellow yuchae flowers wow visitors. With yuchae flowers waving in the wind across the island in April, cherry blossoms bloom and the inside of the flowers turn pink. However, spring doesn’t come all at once. With the exiting winter, jealous of the blooming flowers, early spring has a lingering cold. Overcoming piercing cold, camellia flowers blossom in villages and fields. Camellia flowers have scarlet petals and bright yellow stamens. Camellia flowers recall flames. In March, they light a fire on snow-covered dark-green leaves.
Festivals in March and April ‡ 7KH st Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival (April 6 ~ 8, Jeju City) The 21st Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival, the representative tourism spring event in Jeju, will be held for three days from April 6 to 8 in Jeju City. The Jeju indigenous cherry blossom has big flowers. You can see gorgeous cherry blossoms everywhere in Jeju. They come into full bloom for only a couple of days and by the end of March to the beginning of April the trees are bare of flowers. But halfway up Mt. Halla, you can enjoy cherry blossoms until the middle of April. In April, a soft breeze gently rustles the big blooms, and the pink flower petals float about in the wind. Come and enjoy this romantic island. ‡ 7KH th Udo Conch Festival (April 12 ~ 14, Udo island) ‡ 7KH th Jeju Yuchae Flower Festival (April 20 ~ 29, Gasi-ri, Seogwipo City) ‡ 7KH *DSDGR *UHHQ %DUOH\ Festival (April 21 ~ May 20)
That’s why camellia flowers have another name, “The Korean Fire.� (Translated by Yang Young Jae)
Info
Top, cherry blossoms at Jeju National University. Photo by Kim Gyong Ho. Center, a Youngdeung gut ceremony. Photo by Yang Ho Geun. Above, a vista of yuchae flowers. Photo courtesy Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
Jeju International Airport 064-742-8866 Jeju Port 064-758-7181
Free Interpretation Hotline 1588-5644 (Press 1 for English, 2 for Japanese, 3 for Chinese)
Jeju Welcome Center 064-740-6000~2
Jeju Tourism Organization (www.ijto.or.kr) 064-740-6000
Jeju Local Bus Terminal 064-728-3920
Korea Tourism Organization (www.visitkorea.or.kr) 02-1330
Tapdong (Jeju City) 064-728-3919
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Tourism Association (www.hijeju.or.kr) 064-742-8861
Seogwipo City 064-732-1330
Police 112
Hallasan National Park 064-742-3084
Jeju National University Hospital (Jeju City) 064-717-1114 (Press 1)
Jungmun Tourist Resort 064-739-1330
Seogwipo Medical Center 064-730-3106 (English operator available)
Jungbang/Cheonjeyeon Falls (Seogwipo City) 064-732-1393
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Jeju’s tea-themed adventures
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Asians love tea, and Koreans are no exception. With a long history of tea, Jeju’s location as the south coast of the Korean peninsula provides a moderate climate and good quality water for tea cultivation. For this reason, Jeju is one of the country’s most famous regions for producing tea. And building on this strong reputation, a range of tea museums have sprung up on the island.
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O’sulloc Tea Museum The O’sulloc Tea Museum, the first tea-themed museum in Jeju, is located at the Seokwang tea plantation in Seogwipo City. Kim Cheong Hui, better known as Chusa, is a representative calligrapher and scholar of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), grew tea plants here while exiled on Jeju in the mid 1800s. In 1983, Amore Pacific Corporation started cultivating 1 million tea plants. The company opened the O’sulloc Tea Museum at the tea farm and made admission free to everyone. The museum has since gained farreaching fame. The museum building is designed in a remarkable way — shaped like a green tea cup. In the tea culture room, you can witness the history of tea by examining the excavated tea-related artifacts that are on display. From its rooftop, a beautiful vista ranges as far as the eye can see. Jeju tea plants grow mostly along Mt. Halla’s lower slopes where snow lies for a long period of time. In the spring, the tea plantation is awash in a rich yellow-green.
TIP* The tea farm is particularly spectacular on a misty morning. If you get there early enough and take a morning walk through the fields, it will seem like you are walking through a fairy tale.
Blogger’s review O’sulloc’s unique fresh green tea and green tea ice cream are highly recommended. _ by blog.naver.com/tamla58
You can commune with nature here. _ by blog.naver.com/bush0805
tel. 064-794-5312
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Daheeyeon If you step into Daheeyeon, located in the Geomun Oreum area of Jeju City, you can find endless green tea fields. At the green tea farm, there is a museum, a thrilling zip-line ride, electric carts for transportation, and a wonderful cave cafĂŠ. At its entrance, a big teapot that pours water into a large tea cup catches the eyes of all visitors and is only one of the interesting architectural features of this specially designed tea museum. Daheeyeon farm covers 184,546-square meters so there are electric carts to help visitors get around. A one-hour tour through the farm on one of these carts is a refreshing experience. Traveling through the air on the zip-line is exhilarating, and even a great way to see the green fields which stretch out beneath you. The cave cafĂŠ provides homemade healthy snacks and drinks. It is also famous as a natural summer vacation spot because it is always cool inside the cave. Drinking a cup of coffee in the cool cave is a unique experience.
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TIP*
Blogger’s review Take some time to enjoy a cup of tea in the cave. It’s a good way to relax. _ by blog.naver.com/tamla58
Flying through the air on the zip-line is electrifying. _ by shan0602.blog.me
tel. 064-782-0005
It’s cold inside the cave cafÊ. Don’t forget to bring warm clothing.
Jeju International Tea Museum The owner of the Jeju International Tea Museum is a real tea enthusiast. Over the years Woo Jae Min has collected famous teas and tea accessories from around the world to put on display in a three-story building in Shin Jeju. The exhibits are colorful and wide-ranging. Woo’s special view on tea is particularly insightful. In essence, he thinks tea does not have to be boring and bitter. He even developed a delicious green tea ice cream and a brown colored- puer tea. In the first-floor showroom, you can buy special teas and tea accessories. In an adjacent small cafÊ, you can sample a variety of tea ice cream. On the second floor, there are huge pie-shaped packages of puer tea and valuable gold tea. Exquisite tea pots and cups from China, Japan, and Russia are all part of Woo’s own collection. On the third floor, there are three culture rooms, including Korean, Japanese, and Chinese tea rooms. Each room is furnished with the respective countries’ tables and chairs. After visiting this museum, there’s a good chance you will leave with a sense of admiration for the owner’s passion, love, and study of everything related to tea.
TIP* Take your time to appreciate the collection. And do not forget to visit the roof garden.
Blogger’s review It is a place for tea lovers to relax. _ by blog.naver.com/tamla58
The green tea-puer tea ice cream is great. _ by blog.naver.com/pastelblue78
tel. 064-748-9009
(Translated by Yang Young Jae)
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International flights to and from Jeju (February) Destination
Carrier
Departure and Arrival times
Narita (NRT)
Korean Air
Departure: everyday 18:20 / Arrival: everyday 12:35
Nagoya (NGO)
Korean Air
Departure: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun 13:40 Arrival: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun 18:20
Korean Air
Departure: everyday 19:30 / Arrival: everyday 10:50
Jeju Air
Departure: Wed, Fri, Sun 15:00 Arrival: Wed, Fri, Sun 19:00
Asiana
Departure: Tue 19:30, Fri, Sun 11:00 Arrival: Wed 11:05, Fri, Sun 14:05
Japan Osaka (KIX)
Fukuoka (FUK)
Notes
Departure: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun 15:55 Arrival: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun 14:15 Beijing (PEK)
Korean Air
Departure: Tue, Thu 07:05 / Arrival: Tue, Thu 13:15
China Eastern
Departure: everyday 15:40 / Arrival: everyday 14:50
Jin Air
Departure: everyday 22:15 / Arrival: everyday 09:30
Ningbo (NGB)
China Eastern
Departure: Mon, Fri 17:25 Arrival: Mon, Fri 16:35
Dalian (DLC)
China Southern
Departure: Thu, Sun 22:50 / Arrival: Thu, Sun 21:50
Changchun (CGQ)
China Southern
Departure: Thu, Sun 22:30 / Arrival: Thu, Sun 21:00
Departure: Sat 08:05 / Arrival: Sat 14:45 Pudong (PVG) China
Taiwan
In operation from March 1
Shenyang (SHE)
China Southern
Departure: Thu, Sun 20:00 / Arrival: Thu, Sun 19:00
Taipei (TPE)
Transasia Airways
Departure: Wed, Sat 17:40 / Arrival: Wed, Sat 16:40
* 11 routes, 110 flights a week * This schedule is subject to change without notice.
Cruise liners on Jeju (February) Terminal
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No.7 Berth
No.2 Berth
Leaving Returning Departure Arrival Arrival Departure time time time time (Jeju) (Jeju)
Liner
Destination
Capacity
Hanil Express 1
Wando
975
08:20
11:10
16:00
SeaStar Cruise
Mokpo
1935
17:00 Sun 16:30
21:30 21:00
Cozy Island
Busan
723
19:00
Seolbongho
Busan
679
19:10
Ohamana
Incheon
937
Sechang Cordelia
Pyeongtaek
Car ferry Rainbow
Mokpo
Jindo
Hanil Express 3 Namhae Gosok Car Ferry 7
Wando
Chuja
064) 751-5050
Jeju: Sun off Wando: Sat off
09:00
13:30
064) 758-4234
Jeju: Mon off Mokpo: Mon off
06:00
19:00
06:00
064) Jeju: operate on Mon, Wed, Fri 751-0300 Busan: operate on Tue,Thu, Sat
06:00
19:10
06:00
064) Jeju: operate on Tue, Thu, Sat 751-1901 Busan: operate on Mon,Wed,Fri
18:30
08:00
064) 725-2500
08:30
900
18:30
08:00
19:00
08:30
064) 759-3121
Jeju: operate on Tue, Thu, Sat Incheon: operate on Mon, Wed, Fri Jeju: operate on Mon, Wed, Fri Pyeongtaek: operate on Tue, Thu, Sat
642
08:00
12:50
14:30
19:20
064) 758-4234
Jeju: 1st, 3rd Sun off Mokpo: 1st, 3rd Sun off
10:25
16:15
250
09:30
11:45
14:55
17:10
064) 758-4234
Jeju: 4th Wed off Chuja,Jindo, Mokpo: 4th Wed off
12:40
14:00
12:00
13:40
09:00
10:40
17:50
19:30
15:00
16:40
064) 751-5050
Jeju: 2nd Wed off Wando: 2nd Wed off
16:00
11:00
13:00
19:00
08:00
064) 751-5050
Jeju: 3rd Wed off Chuja,Wando: 3rd Wed off
21:00
09:00
13:00
064) 723-9700
-
572
255
14:00
Wando Nokdong
18:50
Sat 19:00
Mokpo Blue Narae
Notes
Tue, Thu 18:30 08:00
Chuja Pink Dolphin
Info
1081
17:10
* Shanghai-Jeju-Moji international cruise is scheduled to start in the summer. * Aewol (Jeju)-Gunsan (mainland) medium-sized WIG ship (WSH-500) is scheduled to start in March. * This schedule is subject to change without notice.
Carrier info Korean Air Asiana Air Busan Jeju Air Eastar Jet
Info +82-1588-2001 +82-1588-8000 +82-1588-8009 +82-1599-1500 +82-1544-0080
Jin Air Tway air China Eastern China Southern Transasia Airways
+82-1600-6200 +82-1688-8686 +82-02-518-0330 +86-20-95539 (Hotline) +82-51-463-0093
- Cruise line info (Korea) : 1544-1114 - Cruise line info (Jeju): 064-720-8520
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FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
Dr. Moon / Olle Trails 13
The Jeju Weekly
Jeju Olle walking Looking into lower back pain courses 8, 9 By Doctor Joon Moon munjun@me.com
Low(er) back pain has many names. Lumbago is a synonym for low back pain, coming from “loin = lumbus.” Sciatica is somewhat different. It is pain not only of the lower back, but hip and the outer side of the back, commonly due to the compression of the spinal root. Radicular pain is similar to sciatica, but differs in that it does not necessarily involve back pain. Lower back pain is believed to be one of the most common causes for people taking sick leave (either those in genuine pain or those faking illness). Moreover, approximately 90 percent of adults will experience some kind of back pain during their lifetimes. So chances are people reading this may well have had some kind of back pain, or will so soon. There are so many causes for back pain, and it does not always have to do with herniated discs (sadly, in Korea, people dub low back pain as “disc — ” and think it is the herniation of the disc that is the most profound cause of back pain). Acute back pain is usually not due to a disc herniation leading to a radiculopathy. (The prevalence tends to be not much more than 1 percent). Because of the rather vast amount of information on this subject, it will be divided into three (or more) parts. 1. The common causes of back pain 2. The treatment methods for back pains
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3. The exercises that tend to be helpful to people with back pain
There are a lot of reasons and causes of back pain, starting from musculoskeletal strain to trauma, psychogenic to neoplastic. The back itself may be problematic in most cases, but pain can also be from other sources like the kidney or appendix. Natural conditions like pregnancy, or not-sonatural protrusion of the abdomen (like a beer gut), may also cause back pain. But, like most pains of the body, the most common cause of back pain is due to muscle strain — too much exercise, or a competitive ultimate Frisbee game, might have been the cause. Another common cause for back pain is a sprain to the ligament (when the ligaments connected to the back area are pulled beyond their means). Herniation of discs in the lumbar region compresses the nerves that go to the back and cause subtle to serious back pain. It can be initiated by a strenuous activity, such as lifting heavy objects, or a simple activity like coughing or emptying your stomach, or — more often than expected — for no
reason at all. These kinds of injuries tend to show radicular nature (sciatica). Pregnant women most likely have back pain — it is something they cannot dodge. Increased size (and upward shift) of the uterus may expand the muscles. Also, a hormonal change may lead to laxity of the joints, which leads to inflammation and discomfort. It may appear in the early phase of pregnancy, and most likely becomes more severe in nature as pregnancy develops. In people older than 50, stenotic changes to the spine, resulting in the thickening of associated structures and generation of bony spurs, coincides with degenerative changes of the spine. The stenotic change may jeopardize the nerve root going through the spine, which can lead to back pain or a cramping of the lower extremities. More often in women, the reason for back pain can be due to osteoarthritis that affects the spine. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that leads to the thinning of the cartilages, resulting in collision and rubbing of the spine. This kind of friction may induce inflammation to the structure, leading to pain. Also in women, after menopause, commonly osteoporosis develops. Because of the fragility and brittle nature of osteoporotic bones, the spine may be prone to injury, from such obvious causes such as a fall, trauma, or a simple sneeze, leading to a painful compression fracture of the vertebra. There are other causes that may be of importance, but would be too much for this column. The best way to find out the cause of your back pain (if you are experiencing it) is to go to a spine specialist and have a thorough examination, an X-ray, for starters. (A CAT scan, MRI or an Electro-myography is not the first diagnostic tool, and should not be, in many cases). In my next article, I will talk about the various treatment methods for back pain.
Doctor Joon Moon. M.D. (Doctor Jay) graduated from Korea University Medical School, and trained at Korea University Medical Center (KUMC). He is currently the chief executive of Everspring Rehabilitation Hospital in Jeju. If you have any questions concerning health matters, ask Dr. Moon at munjun@ me.com
The harbor at Daepyeong village on Olle trail No. 9. Photo by Steve Oberhauser
By Steve Oberhauser contributor@jejuweekly.com
The following is another article in our Hike Jeju series assessing two Jeju Olle walking trails. For an index of the rating system, please consult our Web site (shortened URL: goo.gl/jkxO6). — Ed.
Course No. 8
(Grade: 40.5, 9th overall)
Route: Wolpyeong Village (start, 0.0 km) - Seongetnae, stream (1.6) - Daepo Port (2.7) - Seaes Hotel (5.3) - Baerinae Oreum (6.5) - dolphin show place (8.7) - Jungmun Beach - promenade in Hyatt Hotel - Jonmosal Beach (11.4) - Marine Corps Trail (12.5) - Sakdal sewage disposal - Yoli coastal road - Nonjimul (14) - Dong Nanduru - Mal sonangbat junction - Haye coast - Daepyeong Port 15.2 km, finish — Course takes about six hours to complete A
Natural scenery and landscape
4.0
B
3.5
F
Conditions of the trail Environmental damage / lack of footprint on the area Bilingual opportunities Crowd control / compared to how many people are using trail Facilities around the area
G
Improvements
4.0
H
Park planning / architecture
4.0
I
Short-term impression factor
4.0
J
Long-term impression factor
4.0
C D E
4.0 4.5 4.0 4.5
Strengths: Variety in small doses is apparent on this course. For lovers of the natural night, the Fireflies Reservation is the place to see lightning bugs in all their glory. Before that, Jungmun Beach is always a stronghold on the south coast. Three other spots worth seeing are Baerinae Oreum, Cheonjeyeon Falls, and close to the start of the trail is Yakcheonsa. Weaknesses: The fact The Marine Corps Trail has been beat up by the angry sea, and still dangerously walkable is a bit adventurous for some. However, most would not risk the danger of betraying the detour sign. English learning opportunities: Jusangjeoli, JTO Duty Free Shop, Cheonjeyeon Pokpo - waterfall, The Marine Corps Trail, Mt. Gun-san, Daepyeong Port Quotable: “If you are visiting Jeju as a
resident or a tourist, a trip to Yakcheon Temple is a great way to experience some local culture. The temple is located near the shore, and Olle walking routes 7 and 8 offer a hiking route for before, during or after your stay. If, as a foreigner, you feel a serious lack of “Buddha” in your life, a trip to Yakcheon Temple might be just the ticket.” — Daniel McNamee, The Jeju Weekly For the following links, please consult our Web site: The Jeju Weekly, Hike Jeju, Day 15 The Jeju Weekly, Hike Jeju, Day 16 The Jeju Weekly, Rare geological phenomena in Jungmun’s backyard The Jeju Weekly, A day and night at Yakcheon Temple The Jeju Weekly, Yakcheonsa offers serenity and space to breathe Olle Trail handbook in English Olle, Course No. 8 KTO, Course No. 8
Course No. 9
(Grade: 43.0, 5th overall)
Route: Daepyeong Port (start, 0.0 km) - Moljil (0.4) - Jeongnang - Bolenanggil (2.1) - Bongsudae, signal fire place (2.7) - Hwanggaecheon entrance (3) - prehistoric sites (3.6) - Jinmor Dongsan (5.1) - Andeok Valley (6.9) Gasegi Village - tangerine fields (7.4) - Donghadong Village - Hwasun ship owner’s association office - Hwasun Beach 8.2 km, finish — Course takes about four hours to complete A
Natural scenery and landscape
5.0
B
Conditions of the trail
4.5
C
Environmental damage / lack of footprint on the area
4.5
D
Bilingual opportunities
3.0
E
Crowd control / compared to how many people are using trail
4.5
F
Facilities around the area
3.5
G
Improvements
3.5
H
Park planning / architecture
4.5
I
Short-term impression factor
5.0
J
Long-term impression factor
5.0
Strengths: This course, although short, is almost entirely in highlands nature. This is where Olle turns for a different look into the island’s various terrain. The way is uphill and a bit steep. Weaknesses: Two problems; first, is Continued on page 14
14 Seogwipo Spots
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
Jeju traditional anchovy soup is worth the wait
Waiting for a colorful island spring
A review of Sikdorak Sikdang in Seogwipo
The 6th Hueree Apricot Flower Festival is on from March 1 to 11 in Seogwipo
Anchovy soup, left, and anchovies boiled with soybeans are two specialties at Seogwipo’s Sikdorak restaurant. Photos by Kim Jung Lim
By Kim Jung Lim
www.jejuweekly.com
supuleit@jejuweekly.com
When I first heard that the Sikdorak restaurant in Namwon, Seogwipo City, was famous for its Jeju traditional anchovy soup I called the owner to setup an interview. She said she was sorry but no, because of bad weather it was difficult to buy anchovies on the same day they were caught. Could this be the reason that her restaurant has gained fame status? Supremely fresh anchovies? It was. From that initial contact, I ended up calling the owner almost every other day to check if she was satisfied with the freshness of the anchovies brought to her kitchen that morning. Finally, on my fourth attempt, I heard the magic words. “There’s anchovy soup today.” That very afternoon, I headed for Namwon. On the way to Sikdorak Sikdang, I tried to remember everything I knew about mel (Jeju dialect for the word anchovy). The 10-centimeter-long Jeju anchovy is bigger than those found elsewhere, and is loaded with calcium. With fresh mel, Jeju citizens make all sorts of dishes like guk (soup), jorim (an array of ingredients boiled with seasoning), jeotgal (salted fish), and twigim (a fried dish). The restaurant, which originally specialized in Jeju fish okdom (tile fish) soup, has served mel soup every January to April for the past six years. The warm-smiling owner Ko Hyang Soon, a Jeju native, said, “When I was young, my family frequently ate mel soup. From that [memory] I came up with an idea. Some customers wait for spring expecting to eat mel soup at my restaurant.” Unexpectedly, before the interview began she showed me the process of making anchovy soup, and anchovy doenjang (soy bean paste) jorim. First, she put fresh anchovies in a pan of boiling water on the stove. After a moment, she added cabbage leaves by hand, saying, “To make the Jeju traditional taste of mel soup, we should use this kind of cabbage.” Then she added salt, garlic, and pepper. With common and simple ingredients she made a mouthwatering soup in five minutes. As for jorim, the fish was seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and pepper, and cooked in only 10 minutes in a small earthen pot. So, about 15 minutes after I got there, the two appetizing Jeju traditional foods were served to my table. When I tasted the soup, I felt that the healthy food boosted my energy. The broth
was tasty and somewhat sweet, even though no sugar was added. And chewing the whole headless fish wasn’t so unnerving. When I asked what was her secret, she said first it was the freshness of the fish, then her skill, and lastly by putting heart into the food. “If the fish is not fresh, no matter if the cook is professional, he cannot make good food,” she firmly added. That’s Ko’s motto. Freshness. Since she started the restaurant in 1995, she tries to use anchovies on the same day they have been caught in either Hallim or Seogwipo City. “When there’s no mel in the morning due to high tide or typhoons in the ocean, we don’t get reservations.” It’s the same story with their okdom. In addition to the seasonal anchovy soup, okdom soup is their main and most popular dish. Even though caught throughout the year, okdom from Jeju, especially from Seogwipo, costs a lot. However, according to Ko, the high quality of okdom boiled with radish makes for a refreshing, well-being meal. It is especially popular among those who want to cure a hangover. The restaurant has regular customers — mainly City Hall employees. Recently, wordof-mouth has brought in more tourists to the place. When it comes to Ko’s future plans for the restaurant, the owner said, “I want to develop the menu. Also, if I can make it, I hope to own my own restaurant to welcome my customers in a more clear place with a comfortable atmosphere.” (She is leasing the restaurant space now). Like any other owner, the kind and warm Ko also has troubles like stress caused by competition with other restaurants and the increasing price of fish. However, she finally said, “I really appreciate my customers for coming. I feel sorry when I’m too busy to do my utmost to serve them.” Her husband helping her added, “I’m happy when the people say ‘delicious!’ while eating. I will make an effort to continue to hear it.” Now, if you want to taste this excellent Jeju traditional food at this sincere restaurant, check the weather forecast first. It is worth the wait.
Sikdorak Sikdang Address: Taewi-ro, 689-gil, Seogwipo City (209-7 Namwon-ri, Namwon-eup) Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Closed Sundays) Telephone: 064-764-6004
Photo courtesy Hueree
By Kim Jung Lim supuleit@jejuweekly.com
One of Jeju’s colorful flower festivals is about to start. From March 1 to 11, the 6 th Hueree Apricot Flower Festival will be held in Hueree, an Eco-park in Seogwipo City. With its 12,000 apricot trees on 80,000 pyeong (26.4 ha), throughout the year Hueree offers Jeju culture programs like mandarin orange picking and carrying a heobeok (a Jeju traditional water jar). Feeding rabbits, pigs, and goats is another popular activity. But perhaps the most popular attraction is the park’s apricot trees. Yang Ji Seon, Hueree’s CEO, spent seven years cultivating the trees before opening the park on May 5, 2007. In an interview with The Weekly, Yang said that he organized this festival in the spirit of announcing the arrival of spring to Jeju. He explained that on Jeju, apricot flowers bloom 15 to 20 days earlier than on the Korean peninsula. So a Jeju apricot flower festival would be the first one of the year throughout the nation. This year’s festival will include a
Continued from page 13 the power plant is usually within view of the landscape and second, the natural course does not go on long enough. It is about half the length of an ordinary course. English learning opportunities: Baksugijeong, Moljil, Bolenang path, Bongsudae - signal fire place Quotable: “This route runs through a valley and along the coast. The route has very different scenery compared to other sites
photo contest where visitors take pictures with apricot flowers and upload them on the Hueree Web site (www.hueree.com), a black pig show where pigs run through the apricot trees, an apricot flower photo exhibition, and others. Yang singled out some of the more popular programs like pony rides for children and sampling bingtteok (a Jeju traditional buckwheat pancake) with apricot flower tea. Yang said more people are coming to the festival every year. In 2010, the park welcomed 20,000 people during the festival and he expects 35,000 visitors this year. “As the quality of travel is improving, people tend to use travel as a kind of relaxation,” Yang said. “If you [come to the festival to] look at the flowers and take a walk in March when it is warm, the festival will offer you a place to relax.”
Hueree Address: 256, Sinryedong-ro, Seogwipo City (2014, Sinrye-ri, Namwon-eup) Telephone: 064-732-2114
on Jeju Island. Be sure to explore the amazing bounty including the Baksugijeong (wide cliffs) and Andeok Valley. Mature forests on the cliffs and in the valley allow for a unique hike.” — Jeju Olle For the following links, please consult our Web site: The Jeju Weekly, Hike Jeju, Day 16 Olle Trail handbook in English Olle, Course No. 9 KTO, Course No. 9
Music 15
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
‘People always get excited when we get wild’ Galaxy Express plays a popular mix of garage punk and psychedelic sounds
Photo courtesy Galaxy Express
By Shawn Despres contributor@jejuweekly.com
Seoul’s Galaxy Express is comprised of guitarist Park Jong Hyun, bassist Lee Ju Hyun, and drummer Kim Hee Kwon. Over the last six years the trio’s infectious hybrid of garage punk, psychedelic sounds, and riotous gigs have helped make them one of South Korea’s premier rock ‘n’ roll outfits. While the country’s mandatory military service often causes the death of many Korean bands, it actually led to the birth of Galaxy Express. “Ju Hyun called me after watching me play a show in Seoul,” shares Park. “I covered many old Korean and Ramones’ songs at that gig. He was playing in a punk
band called Ghetto Bombs at the time, but some of the members had to go to the army. He asked me about starting a new band together. He said he wasn’t so worried about the musical style, he just wanted to make something with lots of energy and passion.” The pair started writing material together with a different drummer. An emergency caused them to reach out to Kim for assistance on their 2007 debut EP, “To the Galaxy.” “Our original drummer injured his hands right before we were scheduled to start making our first EP,” explains Park. “I’ve known Hee Kwon since middle school and I asked him to help us for two months while we made the EP. He didn’t know much about rock music when he
started playing with us, but he really enjoyed the raw spirit of the genre. When we finished the EP, we invited him to become a full-time member.” With their lineup solidified, Galaxy Express quickly began climbing the local rock ranks. Fans and critics praised their 2008 “Noise on Fire” full-length, and the disc went on to capture Rock Album of the Year honors at the 2009 Korean Music Awards. “When we started Galaxy Express many indie bands were making music that was influenced by grunge and shoegaze, or making sweet acoustic pop music,” says Park. “I think people were really hungry for rock music, but there weren’t a lot of rock acts. We tried hard to make our performances really energetic and heavy. We love jumping off amps and doing other crazy things when we play. People always get excited when we get wild.” After winning Musician of the Year at the 2011 Korean Music Awards, Galaxy Express embarked on their first North American tour. They played shows at Austin, Texas’ renowned South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival, and at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. They also did gigs in New York, San Diego, and Los Angeles. The latter concert saw the band performing for Korean-American actor C.S. Lee (from the TV series “Dexter”) and Linkin Park DJ Joe Hahn. And while their tour focused on big cities, the Galaxy Express guys unexpectedly got to enjoy a bit of small town American life too. “The day before SXSW started we were
A ‘wave’ of K-pop comes to Jeju www.jejuweekly.com
SBS MTV new weekly TV show ‘Music Island’ starts Feb. 29
Governor Woo Keun Min and SBS Contents Hub Director Hong Sung Chul at the MOU signing ceremony. At right, boy-band MBLAQ on stage at the taping of the first "Music Island" TV program, Feb. 14. Photos courtesy SBS MTV
Continued from page 1 K-pop attractive because, “They treat fans like family.” She had also been to Thailand to see Block B. Earlier that day, SBS Contents Hub and Jeju Special SelfGoverning Province signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) for “Neo-Korean Wave Culture Contents” at the Grand Hotel in Jeju City. The MOU is “to bring Jeju cultural content and Korean wave content closer together and also to make the province a center for ‘Neo-Korean
wave.’” “The foundation of the Korean wave is K-pop. I think the territory of the Korean wave is expanding,” said Jeju Governor Woo Keun Min in a speech at the MOU signing. Provincial government officials are expecting for the program to not only strengthen cultural content in Jeju, but also aid Jeju in the development of Korean wave related cultural content that goes beyond K-pop. Yang Jae Young, the producer of the show, wrote in a
scheduled for an event that we thought was at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel,” laughs Lee. “It turns out we had actually been booked to play at a house party thrown by a man named Rich Carlton. It was in a very rural area 30 minutes outside of Austin. We played in his garage and he had a big barbecue for us. There were around 50 people there and everyone was so kind. It was a lot of fun.” Galaxy Express will be returning to the United States in March for another string of dates from March 9 to 25. They will appear at SXSW again and will also perform at San Antonio’s The Big Spill Festival and The Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas. “As soon as we started last year’s tour, we began talking about coming back to the US again,” says Park. “Getting everything organized for an overseas tour is a lot of work, but it’s a great learning experience. We’ve been encouraging other Korean indie bands to try and tour in the US or other countries too. It’s something any band can do if they really want to.” After their American concerts, Galaxy Express will start crafting their next release. No concrete release date has been set, but they hope to issue the album before year end. The band would love to perform more gigs overseas in the summer or fall as well if possible. “The only thing we really have to do is keep making music,” offers Lee. “If we can do that, everything else will fall into place.” For more information on Galaxy Express, visit About.me/GalaxyExpress or Facebook.com/GalaxyExpressKR.
related press release that he plans to design the weekly show to be “a stage filled with K-pop singers who are at the forefront of Korean wave.” He also expects to bring a “stage they have not seen anywhere else” to audiences all over the world. “I’m super excited to see Korean idol stars on Jeju. It doesn’t happen that often,” said 17-year-old K-pop fan Lee Hae Min. Sunny, a member of Korean group Girl’s Generation, was chosen to be the main MC for the show. “I’m a bit nervous since it’s my first time MC-ing solo, but I’m sure guests will help me out a lot,” she told the audience during taping. On the side of the stage, congratulatory flowers sent from Super Junior, Infinite, Secret, Lyn, and many other groups were on display. The show began with IU, a famous Korean female singer, performing “You and I,” which sent the audience roaring. To create more of a concert-like atmosphere, well-known singer-song writer Eco Bridge joined the team as bandmaster to arrange K-pop songs a little differently. “Glad we had a chance to perform with such a great band,” said Bang Yong Guk, the leader of B.A.P. The leader of Rainbow added, “Performing with a live band was such a unique experience.” For overseas audiences, Rainbow sang “A” in Japanese. And the show ended with IU’s “good day.” Right after the first session, fans came out to the hallway and waited in line for the next recording. “If it continues on Jeju, I’m willing to come next time too,” said Kang Malg Eum, 20, from Jeju. Starting on Feb. 29, “Music Island” will be broadcast by SBS MTV Channel in eight Asian countries (Japan, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Hong Kong and the Philippines) every Wednesday at 8 p.m.
16 Sports
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
Beware the orange rattlesnake Jeju United coach Park Kyung Hoon talks about last season and what to expect from the 2012 squad Which players will surprise the fans this year?
Shim Young Sung, he was an under 20 international and scored lots of goals, but last year he had a traffic accident and sustained a knee injury, he’s now coming back. He is number 37 and he plays second striker. Analysis: Jeju needs another goal supply to avoid becoming too reliant on Santos Junior. Shim could be the guy to do it.
Which team or teams do you really want to beat this season? Do you have a particular rivalry?
FC Seoul. We have beaten every other K-league team in the last two years apart from FC Seoul. Analysis: Losing to FC Seoul in the playoff final two seasons ago still hurts. United face Seoul on April 21.
Coach Park Kyung Hoon. Photo by Angela Kim
By Matt Harris
www.jejuweekly.com
contributor@jejuweekly.com
On March 4, Jeju United takes to the pitch against Incheon United in its franchise’s 30th season. With additions of Adrian Madaschi in center back and Robert de Pinho de Souza as striker, the Orange have been busy in the off season and look to improve from last year’s ninth place finish. In his third season at United’s helm, Head Coach Park Kyung Hoon looks to bring the team back into winning form with his “rattlesnake” philosophy. The Weekly visited their club house on Feb. 18 and sat down with Coach Park to bring you this report.
What are your aims for the upcoming season?
The K-League has a new split system, so after the regular season (the first 30 games) the league will split into two mini leagues, the top eight teams in one and the bottom eight in the other, who will then again play each other home and away (another 14 games). The primary aim is therefore to finish in the top eight so as to have a shot at the league [title] and avoid the possibility of the relegation. Obviously, the aim is to win every game and win the league, however a realistic aim for this season would be a top five finish giving the team a base to push off from and take the title next season. Analysis: A top eight finish is absolutely imperative and is also very achievable.
Tell me about the style and tactics of the team this year?
Rattlesnake — one shot, one kill. The team will play like a rattlesnake, this will be a fast-moving high-tempo style that is very clinical when it creates opportunities. The team will also press the ball hard when they don’t have it to try and win it back early. Analysis: The pressing fast-moving style is in vogue right now, with Barcelona obviously being the best and most famous exponents of it. It’s very effective if played well, but it can also leave space behind the defense, which can be exploited by fast opposition forwards.
Why did Jeju lose form mid-way through last season, and what has changed that will prevent that from happening this time round?
Last season started really well, and the problems came when Park Young Beom moved to Suwon mid-season and the Brazilian Jair returned home after not settling in Jeju, thus creating instability in the squad. This instability was the main reason for the dip in form. This season the squad is much stronger and the difference in standard between the starters and the rest of the squad has been greatly reduced (i.e. the squad players have improved) making it easier to deal with injuries. Analysis: Strong squads are hugely important in modern football, this is especially true this year in which all teams will play an additional 14 games.
How are Shin Young Rok (who collapsed on the field last year and went into a coma which he subsequently came out of) and Koo Ja Cheol (who moved to Wolfsburg in Germany) doing these days? Do you talk to them?
Yes, Young Rok is getting better and is out of hospital, and Koo Ja Cheol is doing fine but perhaps he’s a little lonely sometimes.
The foreign fans have a couple of nicknames for you like Silver Fox and the Korean George Clooney. How do you feel about them? It’s good, I’m very happy!
Do you have a message for the fans?
Come to the matches, because we are nothing without the fans. Analysis: Hear, hear! Jeju has the second lowest attendance in the K-league, however United is a really progressive, exciting team that deserve our support, so stop watching the spoilt millionaires of the Premier League and come and support a team that you can really connect with. Lastly, we asked Coach Park about his three plenties of Jeju football philosophy and this is what he told us: “The three plenties are wind, rock, and women. I want the team to be fast in transition from defense to attack like the wind, I want them to be strong and solid like a rock, and I want to play football that is beautiful like Jeju women.” Analysis: With a combination like that who can resist. It’s going to be a great season. The first home game is at Jeju World Cup Stadium on March 4 at 3 p.m. Jeju fighting! (Darryl Coote contributed to this report. Interpretation by Angela Kim.)
www.jejuweekly.com
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
Photos by Angela Kim
The Jeju Weekly
Sports 17
18 History
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
Part 1
The yoke of Korean women
A Korean woman circa 1905 - 1910. Photos courtesy Robert Neff Collection
By Robert Neff
www.jejuweekly.com
contributor@jejuweekly.com
Just after the opening of Korea to the West in 1882, it was difficult for Westerners to view Korean women — especially those of the upper class. In fact, it was so rare to catch a glimpse of them it prompted one early Canadian visitor in 1890 to write: “It has always been a feature in my skeptical nature to think that the more one sees of women the less one knows them; according to which principle, I should know Corean women very well, for one sees but little of them.” Women were sequestered away from the view of men — especially foreigners. While walking on the streets, if a Korean woman should espy a foreigner she would quickly make her way into a closed courtyard — thus depriving him of even the fleetest glimpse of her. The only real exception to this was the lowest class of
Continued from page 5 Korea Smart Grid Web site, the Jeju Smart Grid will be completed by 2013 and then exported to other countries as well as begin nationwide expansion. Korea has set the goal to implement a nationwide Smart Grid by 2030. Over 170 companies are involved in the project. The Smart Grid is a intuitive infrastructure that gives the consumer more control over the energy they use through real-time communication with energy supplies. The grid informs the consumer when it is cheapest to use energy and how much energy is being consumed among other pertinent information. Houses connected to the grid are also supplied with solar panels and other energy-
women — the ones that drew water at the city’s wells and were “obliged to go back and forth bareheaded to their occupation, but [were] never noticed in any manner by the throng that surges past. To pay them the attention of a glance would be the height of impropriety. To accost one of them would be not only an insult, but so total a want of etiquette as to be looked upon as insanity.” The only time women of the upper class were allowed on the streets of Seoul was at night. At about eight in the evening the toll of the great bell at Jongno announced the beginning of the curfew — a period of some four hours in which men were forced to return to their homes and women were given free reign of the streets. Our ever skeptical Canadian — who seems prone to exaggerate — reported: “Few, however, avail themselves of the privilege, for unfortunately in Corea there are many tigers and leopards, which, disregarding the early closing of the city gates, climb with great ease over the high wall and take nightly peregrinations over the town, eating up all the dogs which they find on their way and occasionally even human beings.” But, for the most part, this changed during the late 1890s when Korean culture began to transform through the introduction of Western technology and religion. Women were allowed to walk the streets during the daytime, ride in streetcars and attend church services and schools. It was an age of social enlightenment except for in one area — their role as wives. In this, change came slowly. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, foreign visitors to Korea often looked upon Korean women — especially the lower class — with pity. Isabella Bird Bishop, an Englishwoman who traveled extensively throughout Korea in the mid-1890s wrote: “Korean women have always borne the yoke. They accept inferiority as their natural lot; they do not look for affection in marriage …” and, “the peasant woman may be said to have no pleasures. She is nothing but a drudge, till she can transfer some of the drudgery to her daughter-in-law. At thirty she looks fifty, and at forty is frequently toothless. Even the love of personal adornment fades out of her life at a very early age.” Judging from Westerners’ accounts, Korean women of the lower classes toiled long hours in the fields and at home while their husbands dallied in the manly excesses of drink, sleep, and carousing with their concubines. Historically, women could be divorced and thrown out of their homes for seven offenses: incurable disease, theft, childlessness, infidelity, jealousy, incompatibility with her parents-in-law, and for
generating devices that the consumer gains energy from. Energy the solar panels generate that the consumer does not use is then sold to the power company. The aim of the letter of intent is to sign a memorandum of understanding similar to what Korea established in July, 2010, with the state of Illinois who plan to install nextgeneration energy-saving devices in at least four buildings in Chicago with investments by LG Electronics, KT Corporation, and others at more than US$ 35 million. The letter of intent also establishes that both parties will work together on Smart Grid research and share best practices for further implementation of a Smart Grid infrastructure. “The Republic of Korea and the State of
possessing a quarrelsome disposition. But divorce was very infrequent and, even Bishop agreed, that the lower classes of women enjoyed happier marriages than their upper-class sisters. The Canadian visitor noted that Korean women lacked identities. “The poor thing has no name, and when she is born she goes by the vague denomination of ‘so-and-so’s’ daughter. When there are several girls in the family, to avoid confusion, surnames are found convenient enough, but they are lost the moment she marries… she then becomes ‘so-and-so’s’ wife” and later, after she bears a child, she accepts the title of so-and-so’s mother. Even after her spouse has died, a Korean woman was not free from her husband’s dominance. It was socially expected for her to remain a widow — no matter how young — for the rest of her life. Of course, in the countryside where women were always in short supply, widows could sometimes be kidnapped from a distant village thus sparing the groom the “expense of ceremony or formality.” Only the women on Quelpart [Jeju] Island (often likened to Amazons — legendary women warriors) were seen as having some degree of equality, if not superiority, with their husbands. In 1901, one Westerner wrote that the Jeju women “were the bread winners and, as such claimed, exceptional privileges. It is said that the island of Quelpart bide fair to become a genuine gynecocracy.” Sadly, he noted that the increasing number of Japanese living on the island was challenging the island’s culture and the women’s role as leaders was threatened. But Korean women didn’t necessarily feel that their lot was so bad. When Isabella Bird Bishop pointed out to Korean women that Western men did not treat their women in such a manner she was curtly informed by an intelligent Korean woman that “We think that your husbands don’t care for you very much!” It wasn’t just Korean women who felt that Western male-female relations were askew. One Korean writer pointed out that people joked about the Western men’s subservient role with their spouses. “They bowed to their wives even on the street … and how they hugged them down from carts just as obscene drunken men might do with gishas …” Through the Korean male’s eyes, his Western counterpart did not respect his wife. In the next article we will examine the lesser known roles that Korean women played in society. They weren’t all subservient farmers’ wives nor were they all meek and mild mannered.
Hawaii both share the common goals of clean energy and energy independence,” said Choi in a press release. “The language that we share is that of green growth, independence, and prosperity. Through the development of advanced energy technologies, including Smart Grid, we can sustain and prosper.” This project is part of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative which, according to its Web site, is the state with the highest dependency on oil and plans to achieve 70 percent clean energy with 40 percent being renewable energy by 2030. Hawaii hopes that this will save the state some of the money spent on importing oil, which currently sits at US$ 4 billion. The letter of intent states that the memo-
randum of understanding is set to be signed on Oct. 31, 2012, which will go into greater detail of each parties responsibilities, the size of the project, and the companies involved. “We are delighted that the Republic of Korea has seen the value of partnering with Hawaii on a mutually beneficial smart grid development project,” Governor Abercrombie also said in a press release. “Partnerships like this show the world just how serious Hawaii is about our commitment to building a leading clean energy economy through clean energy demonstration and implementation. We are building an energy legacy for our state that will benefit the people of Hawaii for generations.”
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
What’s New 19
News Briefs Airport bus gets a Jeju history and culture late night addition on display at Jeju On Feb. 15, the Jeju Special SelfInternational Airport Governing Province announced its new
www.jejuweekly.com
bus schedule leaving from the Jeju International Airport. The last flight to Jeju lands at 10:30 p.m., but due to a lack of public transportation visitors were forced to take a taxi. Jeju Governor Woo Keun Min had expressed his concerns over the bus schedule last week during his beginning of the year visit of Jeju City. “It is very embarrassing that there are no buses running after 10 p.m. from the Jeju International Airport through which 10 million visitors come yearly,” said the governor. Considering the fact that the last flight to Jeju arrives at 10:30 p.m., bus number 500 to Jeju National University, which used to leave the airport at 10:23 p.m., will now leave the airport at 10:50 p.m. The same bus to Cheju Halla University will also leave at 10:50 p.m. The last airport limousine used to leave the airport at 10 p.m., but another line has been added to depart from the airport at 10:50 p.m. The last limousine will also make extra stops at Jeongjon village (near Cheju Halla University entrance), Teddy Valley Golf and Resort, and Changcheon three-way intersection. Government officials emphasized that this change is not only for airport visitors, but also Seogwipo City citizens. The change in the bus schedule is expected to resolve many complaints made by visitors who arrive to Jeju late at night. (By Yoon Chul Soo, Headline Jeju. Translated by Angela Kim)
displayed artifacts at the Jeju National Museum. There are more activities planned and they will change from week to week. This special event will be presented every Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Jeju International Airport. Note that starting in April, the day of the week may change to Thursday. Admittance is free and will be open to the public until Dec. 20, 2012. (By Kang Bo Bae, Headline Jeju. Translated by Song Hannim)
Six local pharmacies now testing late night hours Jeju National Museum is holding a culture experience event at Jeju International Airport titled “The Scent of Jeju from the Airport.” It will feature various fun, hands-on activities to help people get a sense of Korean history and culture. Programs include; a chance to see Korean traditional printing with famous works of Chusa Kim Jeong Hui, known as the greatest calligrapher of the Joseon Dynasty who spent years in exile on Jeju Island in the 1800s; hands-on art activities like painting roof tiles; and making Korean traditional paper fans. In a more modern vein, visitors can decorate their cellphones with designed accessories of hoonminjeongeum (hangeul, the Korean alphabet), face sumaksae (a convex roof-end tile with an image of a face on it), sangpyeong tongbo (Joseon coins), and mapae (a brass seal with the image or images of horses). Some of these hands-on culture experience programs are based on the
Pharmacy hours here may not be as bad as Germany, but with nothing even close to a 24-hour pharmacy on Jeju, those who are ill in the late evening have until now little choice but to wait for morning. According to an announcement by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, a trial program that started on Feb. 15 will allow six pharmacies to remain open until midnight. In Jeju City, there are three: Saeheemang Pharmacy in Hwabukdong, Bubu Pharmacy in Yeon-dong, and Saewoori Pharmacy in Samdodong. In Seogwipo City the Woori Pharmacy in Seohong-dong will be open late, and in Seongsan district the Dongnam Pharmacy is part of the trial. In Hallim village it is the Saechang Pharmacy. (By Todd Thacker)
Jeju has highest ratio of economically-active
women in the nation According to a provincial report entitled “2011 Statistics on Jeju Women,” some 58.2 percent of women (131,000 individuals) were recorded as actively contributing to the economy last year. This is the highest rate in the entire country. Breaking down the percentages by age, 62.4 percent of women in their 20s were working, while 55.4 percent were in their 30s, and for women in their 40s, 65.8 percent were economically active last year. Another noteworthy point in the report was the number of Level 5 or above women civil servants employed on Jeju. Of the 532 women in the entire nation to reach this high rank, Jeju has 50 (or 9.4 percent of the total), which is second only to Gyeonggi province (9.5 percent). (By Todd Thacker)
Get a taste of Japanese cooking from the Japan consulate on Jeju
On Feb. 26, the Consulate-General of Japan in Jeju will provide a free cooking lesson to the public. The lesson will take place on the second floor of Jeju Tourism College at 3 p.m. Former consulate chief Ishii Fumiyosi ( ) will demonstrate how to make tendon (a bowl of rice with shrimp and vegetable tempura covered with sauce) and tsumirejiru (a clear soup with balls of fish seasoned with soy sauce). Anyone who wishes to learn more about Japanese food is invited. Reservations are required. Call the Consulate-General of Japan in Jeju at 064-710-9528. (By Angela Kim)
Editor’s Column
Introducing The Weekly’s new ‘Traveller’s Guide’ By Todd Thacker
toddthacker@jejuweekly.com
Since the beginning of the year you may have noticed that The Weekly had scaled back to 16 pages. The reason for this was to accommodate for a shrinking pool of contributing writers. I am happy to announce that from this issue we are back to our full 20 pages. The Weekly has developed a useful center pull-out that travelers can use to plan their trips to the island as well as conveniently take with them
on their journeys around Jeju. Here’s what makes the Traveller’s Guide special. The first page of the pullout will have a timely or seasonal theme with original reporting from our staff and a list of useful telephone numbers for travellers. For the two-page center spread we’ve enlisted the cooperation of some of Jeju’s biggest Korean-language “power bloggers” to supply up-to-date travel information, photography, and location reviews. We then
curate, translate, and edit this information, and present it in an eye-pleasing design. The fourth page of the section will list up-to-date air and sea routes, schedules, and carrier information. For your convenience, this guide will be available in our Chinese (JejuChina.net) and Japanese (JejuJapan.com) language versions of the paper as well. So, if you have friends in those countries planning a trip to Jeju, please let them know there’s a Jeju travel guide for them!
20 Calendar
The Jeju Weekly
FRIDAY, February 24, 2012
Through the lens
A merry-go-round throws a shadow on freshly fallen snow in Jeju City last week. Photo by Douglas MacDonald
Community Calendar Exhibitions Kim Heung Soo Permanent Exhibition Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art, 38 Jeoji 14-gil, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju City. 064-710-7801
Nanta
Gidang Art Museum, 34 Namseong-ro, Seogwipo City. 064-733-1586
Everyday 5 p.m., 8 p.m. Jeju Media Center, 82 Sinsan-ro, Jeju City. 064-723-8878 Tickets: 50,000 won, VIP seats: 60,000 won (50% discount for Jeju islanders with ID card)
Women Artists Exhibition
Fanta-Stick
Byun Shi Ji Permanent Exhibition
www.jejuweekly.com
dong, Jeju City. 064-749-0550 Tickets: R seats: 50,000 won, S seats: 40,000 won (50% discount for Jeju islanders with ID card)
10th Jeju Youth Flute Ensemble Concert March 11. 7:30 p.m. Culture & Arts Center, 69 Donggwang-ro, Jeju City. 010-5769-0423 Free admission
March 15 to 17. 7:30 p.m. Ara Muse Hall, 102, Jejudaehak-ro, Jeju City. 064-754-4697 Tickets: 5,000 won
March 25. 9 a.m. Hallim Stadium, Hallim-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju City. 064-748-9021, 064-740-2369 Route: Hallim Stadium Ongpo Hyeopjae Beach Geumneung Shinchang Coastal road Chagwido Courses: Full course for people over 18, fee: 30,000 won, 6 hours. Half-course for people over 18, fee: 30,000 won, 3 hours. 10-km course for children over 8 years old, fee: 20,000 won, 1 and a half hours. 5-km course for people of any age, fee: 20,000 won (for those under 15 years of age, 10,000 won), 1 hour.
51st Halla Wind Ensemble Concert
14th Euchae Flower International Walking Festival
2012 Jeju Youth Orchestra Concert March 13. 7:30 p.m. Culture & Arts Center, 69 Donggwang-ro, Jeju City. 064-721-2588 Free admission
ART, the play
March 17. 7 p.m. Culture & Arts Center, 69 Donggwang-ro, Jeju City. 010-6798-1155 Tickets: 5,000 won (youth: 1,000 won)
2012 Lee Mi Ja Concert
Until Feb. 26. Jeju April 3rd Peace Park Memorial Hall, 430 Myeonglim-ro, Jeju City. 064-710-8435
Every Tuesday to Sunday 8 p.m. Jungmun Fanta-Stick Performance Hall in the Sound Island (Soriseom) Museum, 15 Jungmun Gwangwang-ro 110, Seogwipo City. 064-739-7781 Tickets: R seats: 50,000 won, S seats: 40,000 won (50% discount for Jeju islanders with ID card)
Traditional Housing Life of Jeju Exhibition
Nun Sensation, the musical
Until Feb. 28. Folklore and Natural History Museum, 40 Samseong-ro, Jeju City. 064-710-7708
Feb. 24. 8 p.m., Feb. 25. 3 p.m., 7 p.m., Feb. 26. 3 p.m. Jeju Arts Center, 231 Onam-ro, Jeju City. 1599-8879 Tickets: R seats: 80,000 won, S seats: 70,000 won, A seats: 60,000 won
2nd Annual Haiku Death Battle
Until Feb. 26. Jeju Museum of Art, 2894-78 1100-ro, Jeju City. 064-710-4300
Park Soo Young Exhibition
Han Yong Jin Jeju Basalt Sculpture Exhibition Until March 5. Gallery Nori, 115-72 Wollim-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju City. 064-772-1600
The 4th Exhibition of Jo Young Hee’s Collection
2012 Jeju Philharmonic Orchestra Concert, the New Year Concert
March 7 to 12. Culture & Arts Center, 69 Donggwang-ro, Jeju City. 011-696-4098
Feb. 28. 7:30 p.m. Jeju Arts Center, 231 Onam-ro, Jeju City. 064-728-3292 ext.4 Free admission
Jeoji Culture Artist Village Resident Artists’ Exhibition
Lee Ji Hye Flute Concert
Until March 20. Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art, 38 Jeoji 14-gil, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju City. 064-710-7800
Indian Women’s Life Exhibition Until March 24. Sulmundae Women’s Center, 12 Seondeok-ro 8-gil. Jeju City. 064-710-4246
A Realist of the Modern Korean Art Circle Exhibition Until March 25. Jeju Museum of Art, 2894-78 1100-ro, Jeju City. 064-710-4300
Fairy Tales and Illustrations: Into the Dreamland Until April 1. Jeju National Museum, 17 Iljudong-ro, Jeju City. 064-720-8104
Performances Jump Every Tuesday to Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 4 p.m., 8 p.m., Sunday and holidays at 8 p.m. Halla Art Hall, Nohyeong-
Feb. 28. 7:30 p.m. Culture & Arts Center, 69 Donggwang-ro, Jeju City. 064-721-2588 Free admission
CheongChoonSiDae, meaning time of youth A fundraising concert for Habitat for Humanity March 3. 4 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Jeju Arts Center, 231 Onam-ro, Jeju City. 1600-1886 Tickets: R seats: 99,000 won, S seats: 88,000 won, A seats: 77,000 won
Jeju Wind Orchestra Concert March 10. 7:30 p.m. Culture & Arts Center, 69 Donggwang-ro, Jeju City. 010-8215-0717 Tickets: 10,000 won (youth: 3,000 won)
Bboongbboongi Bubble Show March 10. 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., March 11. 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. Jeju Arts Center, 231 Onam-ro, Jeju City. 1544-7579 Tickets: R seats: 30,000 won, S seats: 20,000 won
Festivals 2012 Jeju International Peace Marathon
March 17. 2 p.m., 5 p.m. Jeju Arts Center, 231 Onam-ro, Jeju City. 1688-6675 (As for Culture Love members, 1544-7579) Tickets: R seats: 99,000 won, S seats: 88,000 won, A seats: 77,000 won, B seats: 66,000 won A fundraiser for the Ugidongmul Animal Shelter March 17. 9 p.m. Haebyun Concert Hall, Tap-dong, Jeju City. Admission: 2,000 won
2012 Lee Moon Se Concert March 30. 8 p.m., March 31. 7 p.m. Jeju Arts Center, 231 Onam-ro, Jeju City. 1588-0766, 064-744-0766 Tickets: R seats: 110,000 won, S seats: 99,000 won
Sports and Recreation Free Movies from the Jeju Movie Culture Art Center Jeju Movie Culture Art Center, Ildo 1-dong, Jeju City. 064-756-5757, 064-756-5959 Feb. 24. 3 p.m. “Love and Other Drugs” (2010) Feb. 25. 3 p.m. “Black” (2005) Feb. 26. 3 p.m. “Le Petit Nicolas” (2009)
Citrus Museum Experience Program: Baking mandarin cookies and muffins Everyday 10 a.m., 2 p.m. Citrus Museum, 441 Hyodonsunhwan-ro, Seogwipo City. 064-767-3010 ext.1 Admission fee: 3,000 won for a team of 4 to 5 people.
[K-League] Jeju United vs Incheon March 4. 3 p.m. Jeju World Cup Stadium, 33 Worldcupro, Seogwipo City. 064-760-3611
[K-League] Jeju United vs Suwon March 24. 3 p.m. Jeju World Cup Stadium, 33 Worldcupro, Seogwipo City. 064-760-3611
Near Sanbangsan, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo City March 30. Events on the eve of the festival March 31. Walking on the courses of 5 km, 10 km, or 20 km April 1. Walking the 5 km, 10 km, 20 km, or 30 km courses
Seogwipo City Announcements Culture and Art Market with the Artist’s Walkway Period: Until Dec. 25, every Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Place: Lee Joong Seop Street and other places Programs: A Culture and Art Market at Lee Joong Seop Street and the front of Dongari Creative Space Artist’s Walkway: Starts at the Lee Joong Seop Gallery at 1 p.m. Live performances: Guitar music, magic shows, and pipe music Experience programs: Pottery making, hanji (Korean traditional paper) crafts, rubbing of inscriptions of Soam’s writings and Lee Joong Seop’s paintings, among other activities. For more information, call Seogwipo City Hall. 064-7602482
Seogwipo Lifelong Study Center Program for March Application period: Until Feb. 29 Eligibility: Seogwipo citizens (anyone above elementary school 4th grade) Lifelong study programs: Coffee barista, drawing pictures with fairy tale themes, painter Kim Poom Chang’s class for children, flute for children, ocarina Culture programs for women: Homemade rice cake making, well-being cooking, repairing hanbok (Korean traditional clothing), interior decoration, quilt making, jewelry crafts, yoga, learning guitar, flower pressing, pottery making, social networks and smartphone classes, and other topics How to apply: Visit the center (First-come, first-served) Required documents: ID and the application form. (In case of proxies, one should bring the applicant’s ID.) Fee: 10,000 won a month For more information, call the Seogwipo Lifelong Study Center. 064-760-2261 ext.4, 064-3871 ext. 5.