Korea(2015.3.) by Korean culture and information service

MARCH 2015

태 극 기 The Taegeukgi

The national flag of the Republic of Korea, symbol of Korea’s modern history Travel Land of Mystery, Jinan Special Issue The Jangchung Gymnasium

contents

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March 2015

Cover Story

Current Korea

MY KOREA

The Taegeukgi, the Spirit of the Korean Nation

Mullae-dong: A New Artist Village

The Do-It-Yourself Craze

PEOPLE

BILATERAL TALKS

MULTICULTURAL KOREA

Reviving Long-Forgotten Golden Glow, Koo Young-kook A True Act of Heroism, Lee Seung-seon

Chinese Minister of Defense Visits South Korea

Helping Migrants Settle, Li Haiying

TRAVEL

Policy Review

Nature

Land of Mystery, Jinan

Preparing for a Unified Korea

Jirisan Mountain

SPORTS

CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

FLAVOR

Footballer Cha Du-ri

How Healthy Is Your Brain

Spring Greens: Healthy Taste Sprouts From the Earth

Entertainment

GLOBAL KOREA

Catching Up Fast

From Recipient to Donor

Special Issue

GREAT KOREAN

A Storied Sports Arena, The Jangchung Gymnasium

Dr. Hyun Bong-hak, an Unsung War Hero

Publisher Kim Jae-won, Korean Culture and Information Service Executive Producer Han Seong-rae E-mail webmaster @ korea.net Magazine Production the book company Editor-in-Chief Lee Min-jeong Production Supervisor Kim Min-kyung Copy Editors Gregory C. Eaves Creative Director Oh Seong-min Head Designer Kim Se-ryeong Photographers Moon Duk-gwan, Hong Ha-yan Printing Kumkang Printing Co,.Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from KOREA and the Korean Culture and Information Service. If you want to receive a free copy of KOREA or wish to cancel a subscription, please e-mail us. A downloadable PDF file of KOREA and a map and glossary with common Korean words appearing in our magazine are available by clicking on the thumbnail of KOREA on the website of www.korea.net . 발간등록번호 11-1110073-000016-06

Cover Story

The Taegeukgi, the Spirit of the Korean Nation A national flag is a countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s noble symbol that represents its history, traditions and ideals. The national flag of the Republic of Korea is the Taegeukgi. An early version of the Taegeukgi became modern Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first national flag in the 1880s.

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Written by Kim Myeong-Jin (head of Culture and Science, News Room, SBS) photographed by hong ha-yan References: “Symbol of Korea, Taegeukgi,” a workbook for the National Museum of Korea’s special exhibition in celebration of the 60 th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Korea in 2008; “Everything We Should Know About the Taegeukgi -- the Yesterday & Today of the Taegeukgi,” Hyungseul Publishing Networks, 2008.

he Taegeukgi is the national flag of the Republic of Korea. It bears at its center a symbol called a taegeuk. King Gojong (r. 1863-1907) proclaimed the Taegeukgi as Joseon’s national flag on January 27, 1883. Later during colonial times, the exiled Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (1919-1948) set standards for the production of the Taegeukgi and adopted it as its flag. The country was liberated in August 1945 and three years later, the Republic of Korea was officially founded. The government declared the Taegeukgi to be the budding government’s national flag on October 15, 1949. The Taegeukgi has five symbols on a white background. The round taegeuk symbol at the center is in red and blue, and at the four corners are four trigrams in black: geon, gon, gam and ri(refer to p8). Across Northeast Asia, these symbols have

long expressed the basic principles of the universe and ever ything in it and are believed to signify vitality, bring good fortune and expel evil. THE EARLIEST VERSION OF THE TAEGEUKGI

The taegeuk symbol has long been important in East Asian philosophy. How, then, was this symbol adopted as the flag of modern-day Korea? Before answering this question, let us look at the history of the flags of Joseon (1392-1910). In 1875, a Japanese warship intruded into Korean territorial waters off Ganghwado Island, at the mouth of the Hangang River, near the capital, Seoul.The defenders opened fire and a battle began. Afterward, the two countries signed the Treaty of Ganghwa in February 1876. At the negotiation table, the Japanese delegation

Taegeukgi flags from the late Joseon period are displayed by the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History.

blamed Joseon for the incident, stating, “Our warship was flying the Japanese national flag and the Joseon forts opened fire on it. Why?” Joseon was still tightly closed to the outside world at the time and had no interest in Western civilization, so the Koreans were unfamiliar with the concept of a national flag: what a national flag is and what it means. The Koreans knew only the royal standard, which symbolized the king, and military banners. After the battle, Joseon finally began to forge diplomatic ties with other countries and open up to the outside world, especially to Western nations, and naturally felt the need for a national flag. Six years later, Joseon entered into a treaty of amity and commerce with the United States. Before the 1882 Korea-U.S. Treaty was signed, Kim Hong-jip and Sin Heon, the heads of the Korean delegation,

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left Fourteen postage stamps from 1884 to 1905 bear the taegeuk symbol as their primary motif. © The Postal Museum right The gate to the Hall of Eternal Peace (the Yeongnyeongjeon) at the Jongmyo Shrine bears the taegeuk symbol. Across Northeast Asia, the taegeuk pattern has long been believed to represent the basic elements of the universe and everything in it.

and their translator, Lee Eung-jun, visited the USS Swatara on which the U.S. representative, Robert W. Shufeldt, was staying. Commodore Shufeldt recommended that the Koreans create a national flag which could symbolize the independence of Joseon. Kim Hong-jip ordered Lee Eungjun to immediately make one right there aboard the ship. Lee Eung-jun’s creation on the USS Swatara is the prototype of the Taegeukgi. In the same year, Park Yeong-hyo also made one of the first versions of the Taegeukgi to be used as a Joseon national flag. However, according to an article, “The Oldest Taegeukgi,” run by the Chosun Ilbo on January 27, 2004, Lee Eung-jun’s Taegeukgi precedes Park Yeong-hyo’s by a few months. KING GOJONG ORDERS THE MAKING OF A NATIONAL FLAG

In June 1882, some military units mutinied. In the wake of the mutiny, Park Yeong-hyo initiated many reforms. He was the son-in-

law to King Cheoljong (r. 1849-1863) and advocated Joseon opening up to the world. In the process, Park stayed in Japan from August to November 1882 as a representative of a diplomatic delegation. Before embarking on his mission to Japan, Park was entrusted with the promulgation of a national flag by King Gojong (r. 18631907). Park and his entourage reportedly sailed on the ironclad ship Meiji Maru, and it was aboard that ship that Joseon’s national flag, bearing the taegeuk symbol and the four trigrams, was created. Park wrote an account of the episode in his collection of diaries and memoirs entitled “Sahwagiryak.” “We tied the national flag we had just created to a flagpole and set it up on the roof of our lodging.The flag is rectangular, and its height is less than two-fifths of its width. At the center is a taegeuk symbol, colored in blue and red, and in the four corners were drawn the four trigrams of geon, gon, gam and ri, as commanded by His Majesty.” Park hoisted the flag at various events

THE SAMIL MOVEMENT

in Japan and it became internationally recognized as the Joseon national flag. On January 27, 1883, King Gojong proclaimed Park’s Taegeukgi as Joseon’s national flag. THE NAME TAEGEUKGI

For years, the national flag was not called the Taegeukgi. The chapter in the “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty” (Joseon Wangjo Sillok) about King Gojong makes mention of the national flag created by Park Yeonghyo, but does not refer to the flag as the Taegeukgi. “Taegeukgi” became the well-known name for the flag during the March 1st Independence Movement during which people rose up against Japanese colonial rule on March 1, 1919. King Gojong’s funeral was slated for that day, as the former king had lived 12 years after his abdication in 1907. People yearning for independence gathered together in Tapgol Park in Seoul at noon. A declaration of independence was read aloud. People started shouting for independence. It was planned that people would take to the streets with flags bearing the taegeuk symbol. In order to prevent the colonial rulers from learning what was going on, the people decided not to call it the “national flag,” but the “Taegeukgi.” Thus, it came to pass that thirty-seven years after King Gojong’s proclamation, the flag, designed by Lee Eung-jun and first used as Joseon’s national flag by Park Yeong-hyo, was finally called the Taegeukgi by people yearning for freedom and independence. The Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan exhibits a Taegeukgi tainted with the blood of an independence activist, showing the relationship between the independence movement and the Taegeukgi. The Joseon government designed and promulgated the Taegeukgi as a national flag for diplomatic and political purposes, but it was the independence movement that made it widely known among the people, rendering it an authentic symbol of Korea.

1 1 - T he Korean flag is being hoisted by two marines at the Capitol Hall on Sept. 27, 1950 after the reclamation of Seoul. © Yonhap News 2 - P resident Park Geun-hye walks up the ramp to a plane that bears the Taegeukgi on official presidential trips overseas. © Yonhap News 3 - P eople in red T-shirts cheer for the men’s national football team with a gigantic Taegeukgi during the 2002 World Cup. © Yonhap News 4 - T oday, people consider the Taegeukgi to be exciting and friendly, and they are quick to rally behind it.

The independence movement—the March 1st Independence Movement or Samil Movement—is very important in the history of the Republic of Korea. It was the largest movement during colonial times. For months, people stood up for independence across the country. The independence movement was the first of its kind in any colony in the post-World War I world. Behind the movement was a complex interworking of many external and internal factors. Two of them were the principle of self-determination that U.S. President Wilson espoused at the 1918 Paris Peace Conference, and secondly was the February 8 Declaration of Independence that Korean students studying in Japan proclaimed in Tokyo on February 8, 1919. The Samil Movement spread rapidly from Tapgol Park in Jongno to the rest of the country and beyond. The Japanese colonial rulers responded by swiftly and brutally quelling the demonstrations. According to Japanese statistics recorded at the time, in the first three months, more than 7,500 people were killed in the process of suppressing the movement. Those injured numbered almost 16,000.The riot

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police burned 47 churches, two schools and 715 homes, and they detained nearly 47,000 people. Months later, the independence movement seemed to end without any positive results, but, in fact, the movement exerted enormous influence on both the Korean people and on neighbor ing countr ies. Through the movement, the nation demonstrated its determination for independence. More people became involved in the effort for national independence, and they became more organized. The public became more aware of their national identity and more interested in politics. All these developments laid the foundation for numerous social movements and organizations in the 1920s. The Samil Movement also had far-reaching impact abroad. It even helped spark off the May Fourth Movement in China in the same year, and it influenced the nonviolent civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi in India, the anti-British Egyptian Revolution in 1919 and national movements in Turkey. The Samil Movement is also significant in that it offered a new direction for the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s independence movement and gave it renewed impetus. Nationalists, including independence activists, had over

March

FIFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2002 World Cup was a watershed in the history of the Taegeukgi. Through this event, the Taegeukgi assumed a friendlier and more dynamic image, a symbol of a great party.

many years assumed a compromising stance. They generally pleaded with the international community for assistance in winning independence.They pinned their hopes on the principle of national selfdetermination as advocated by U.S. President Wilson and attempted to obtain independence through the application of foreign pressure rather than via the people themselves. Many in the independence movement firmly believed that upholding the ideal of nonviolence would help them gain sympathy from Western countries. They resorted to peaceful means, such as petitioning the Japanese government for independence. In contrast to this, however, the Samil

The Meaning of the Taegeukgi Patterns The Taegeukgi has five symbols on a white, rectangular background: one circular taegeuk symbol in the middle and four black trigrams called geon, gon, gam and ri in the four corners. The white background signifies brightness, purity and peace. In the trigrams, a bar broken in the middle signifies yin, and an unbroken bar signifies yang. The taegeuk symbol means harmony between the yin (blue) and the yang (red). It embodies the belief that the universe and everything in it form and develop through interactions between the yin and the yang. In the upper left corner is the geon, a set of three parallel yang bars that represents the sky. In the right lower corner is the gon, a set of three parallel yin bars that represents the earth. In the gam trigram, which means water, there is one yang bar between two yin bars. In the ri trigram, which means fire, there is one yin bar between two yang bars. The taegeuk pattern has been loved for centuries and has been used to decorate everyday items, such as handheld fans. The Taegeukgi, with the taegeuk symbol at its center, embodies the people’s aspirations for endless creativity and prosperity as part of the universe.

Dimensions and Elements of the Taegeukgi Width (W)

Geon

Gam

(건)

(감) CD /2

Yang

/12

/3 Height (H)

(양)

Yin

(음)

Gon

(리)

(곤)

W:H=3:2

Circle diameter (CD) CD = H/2

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Last year, the Independence Hall of Korea hosted the “Taegeukgi Trees” exhibition, yearning for national unity and reunification. © Yonhap News

The Taegeukgi Throughout the Years 1) The Prototype (1882) The national flag of Joseon had a taegeuk symbol and the four trigrams of the geon, gon, gam and ri on a white background. This is the earliest version of the Taegeukgi. 2) First-Ever Directive on Dimensions (1900) The flag was officially recognized as the nation’s first national flag in 1883, but there were no official dimensions. In December 1900, the government issued a directive on the dimensions of the national flag. According to a news article dated December 8, 1900, the directive stated that the flag should be a white rectangle of approximately 61 centimeters in length and 55 centimeters in width, and that the taegeuk should be a red and blue circle of about 21 centimeters in diameter.

King Gojong (r. 1863-1907) gave this early Taegeukgi to Owen N. Denny, his diplomatic advisor. Denny returned to the U.S. with this flag and handed it down to his relatives. This so-called “Denny Taegeukgi” is in the collection of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. Dongnimmun Gate built in 1896-1897 bears two Taegeukgi carvings. In those times, there were no fixed dimensions for the Taegeukgi, and many different versions were made.

3) Dimensions During Japanese Colonial Times (1910-1945) In June 1942, the Provisional Government set new rules on the national flag, but the rules were almost entirely ignored. People made the Taegeukgi in any dimensions they pleased. 4) The Taegeukgi of the Republic of Korea (1945-present) A law on the production of the national flag was enacted in 1949, and other laws have been passed and amended regarding the Taegeukgi since. Today, the Act on the Flag of the Republic of Korea, promulgated in 2007, and its enforcement decree, are in place for the comprehensive management of the Taegeukgi.

CURRENT KOREA

After winning the 2009 ISU Grand Prix Final in Tokyo, figure skater Kim Yuna gazes upon the Taegeukgi from the podium. The symbolism in this photo touched the hearts of many Koreans. © Yonhap News

Movement of 1919 imbued more people with the idea that the countr y could achieve independence on its own. Independence activists opted for arms over petitions, and they started to invest in education to raise national consciousness. To establish leadership to guide the independence movement in this new direction, they founded the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai in 1919. They abandoned their dream of restoring the monarchy and instead began to march forward with the new aim of founding an independent, democratic republic.

independence!” at the top of their lungs. This was a prelude to the birth of the Republic of Korea. On September 28, 1950, the South Korean Army hoisted the Taegeukgi over the Capitol Building when they recaptured Seoul from the North Korean army, three months after losing it within the first three days of the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953).When students rose up indignantly against dictatorship on April 19, 1960, the Taegeukgi was waving in their hands. When students and the public took to the streets demanding direct presidential elections in June 1987,

THE TAEGEUKGI: A WITNESS TO THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Since the Samil Movement, the Taegeukgi has been present at every decisive event in the history of the Republic of Korea. The flag has served not only as a national flag but also as a social, cultural and political symbol in different places at different moments. World War II finally came to an end in August 1945, and people poured out onto the streets with the Taegeukgi in their hands. They shouted, “Long live Korean

Students are drawing the Taegeukgi.

the Taegeukgi was there as a symbol of democratization and freedom. In 2002, the Taegeukgi hit a watershed in its history. Each and every major square and street across the country was filled with people waving the Taegeukgi and rooting for the Korean men’s national football team during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The country was a sea of Taegeukgis.The public had for decades rallied around the flag over political or social issues. In 2002, the flag raised the public’s expectations again. The street-cheering gave the Taegeukgi a new face as it took on a younger, friendlier and more exciting aura. The government took action to build on the public’s rekindled love for the Taegeukg i by amending the law on the national flag so that people could use the flag and its symbols in various designs and patterns. Now, even further discussion and agreement are called for on how to use the Taegeukgi and on educating students on it including its history.There can be no doubt that the Taegeukgi will forever be with the Korean people, whether they are in sorrow or in joy, and it will fly with vigor at every important juncture in the future of Korea.

interview

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Love Your Nation, Love Your Flag An exhibition on the Taegeukgi, the Korean national flag, was held in the city of Daegu last January. Let us meet the person who made the exhibition possible, Choe Ju-won, a man who loves the Taegeukgi and his country. Written by Kim Hyeon-tae

Written by Kim Hyeon-tae

t started with a simple idea.Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Taegeukgi flew at every home on any given day, not just on national holidays? Wouldn’t it be g reat if the national flag became part of daily life? In June 2011, Choe Ju-won retired as head of the Agricultural Industry Division of Daegu city government after several decades as a civil servant. He had always been interested in “patriotism in action” rather than simply paying lip service to patriotism.While working for the city government, a pine tree in Pyeonggwangdong caught his attention. It had been planted in 1945 by a citizen in celebration of national liberation and is now a national monument. It has great meaning to the nation and is also a sight to behold in and of itself. However, few people seemed to give it the respect that it deserves, he felt, so Choe himself gave the tree a name: Liberation Pine (Gwangboksong). In retirement, he has joined forces with like-minded nationalists to publicize and protect the Gwangboksong.Two years ago, they launched the Gwangsamo, a group of people passionate about the Gwangboksong. In the belief that patriotism starts with love for the national flag, in August 2014 members also gave out the Taegeukgi free to more than 200 homes in Pyeonggwang-dong. They went to the Daegu Volunteer Expo in October 2014 to promote

their activities, including their production and provision of free national flags. UNTIL THE TAEGEUKGI FLIES NATIONWIDE

“We felt a sense of mission, to tell the story of the Taegeukgi,” says Choe. The Gwangsamo held an exhibition on the Taegeukgi from January 2 to 7. “We sent letters to various organizations, including the Cultural Heritage Administration, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and to the Independence Hall of Korea,” says this patriotic retired civil servant. “It required a lot of preparation. We studied the history of the Taegeukgi and had frames made for Taegeukgi flags. Our love of country became even greater in the process.” The members funded the exhibition out-of-pocket. The head of the Dong-gu District Office, Choe’s most recent workplace, gladly permitted them to use their lobby for the exhibition. The exhibition didn’t just include a

few trivial artifacts or casually-written paragraphs of information. Some 20 Taegeukgi flags registered as cultural assets since 1983 were on display, including the so-called “Denny Taegeukgi,” which King Gojong (r. 1863-1907) gave his U.S. diplomatic advisor, Owen N. Denny (18381900), and a Taegeukgi bearing notes and signatures of student-soldiers fighting in the Korean War (1950-1953) that testifies to their determination. In addition to the history and meaning of the Taegeukgi, the exhibition meticulously demonstrated the proper way to hoist the flag and how to use it in everyday life. “We’ve just taken the very first steps,” says Choe.“Another exhibition is slated for March 1 at the Daegu Culture & Arts Center, where a ceremony will take place in commemoration of the March 1st Independence Movement. We plan more Taegeukgi exhibitions for Children’s Day, National Liberation Day and other special holidays that may create synergies with our flag exhibition.”

PEOPLE

Reviving a Long-Forgotten Golden Glow Master Koo Young-kook breathes new life into hwangchil. Written by Hong Hea-won Photographed by Hong Ha-yan

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olden lacquer, hwangchil in Korean, is paint from a natural source with a mysterious golden hue. It has been used since the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.–A.D. 660).The skills to make the lacquer and apply it to craftwork have long been forgotten. Mr. Koo Young-kook is one of a few masters who are reviving these skills and bringing the lacquer back into daily life. Koo’s studio is filled with shimmering golden jars, cups and other works of art.

small cup. Then, the sap must be refined. This species of tree nearly went extinct during the Joseon period (1392–1910) as it was over-exploited to meet the demand for tribute offerings to China during the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as to the king and the royal family of Joseon. After the Second Manchu Invasion (1636-1639), the use of the lacquer was banned, even by the royal family. It was only allowed for emperors in the Forbidden City, the imperial

HANDICRAFT WITH PRECIOUS MATERIAL

“I visited the School of Engineering at Kyushu University in Japan in 1990. I was astonished at the thorough research on hwangchil that had been done by a Japanese professor. Hwangchil was a unique traditional handicraft of Korea, and the Japanese professor had researched it more deeply than anyone in Korea.” At that time, Koo had been making lacquer handicraft and lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl since graduating from high school in 1978, but he decided at that moment in 1990 to begin exploring it much more extensively. Golden lacquer has an impressive elegance, is remarkably resistant to heat and water and is very durable. This is why it was widely used in ancient times to decorate the surfaces of craftworks. The oldest known record of it is in the “History of the Three Kingdoms” (1145) or Samguksagi in Korean. Baekje was one of three kingdoms on the Korean Peninsula at the time, and the Samguksagi states that Baekje sent armor bearing the golden lacquer as tribute to the king of Goguryeo (37 B.C.–A.D. 668). Golden lacquer is made from the sap of the hwangchil tree (Dendropanax morbifera Lev.).The sap is milky-white upon extraction and gradually turns yellowish-amber in color when exposed to air. The sap has long been considered precious because it can only be extracted from a tree that is at least 15 years old and one tree can yield only 8.6 at a time, just enough to fill a

Koo Young-kook is the first Korean who was designated as World Intangible Cultural Heritage.

March

palace of Ming and Qing dynasties in Beijing. “The best aspect of hwangchil is its golden color with an elegantly subdued glow. Its golden hue has a noble and elegant shimmer, unlike the glittering glare of metals.That is why it has been treasured. It even has a delicate scent of wood,” says Koo. When the native hwangchil tree nearly went extinct, the craft of lacquerwork almost disappeared. After nearly 200 years, the traditional craft has been recently revived thanks to the discovery of several wild hwangchil trees.The Natural habitat of the tree is along the southeastern coast of the Korea Peninsula and on Jeju Island. “Lacquer is said to last 1,000 years, but hwangchil lasts 10,000 years. It is regrettable that such a sophisticated craft had nearly fallen into total oblivion while lacquer painting was still so widely recognized. During the Japanese occupation (19101945), any Korean who even tried to pull the leaves off of a hwangchil tree was arrested. I suspect that the artistry would have been taken to Japan at that time,” added the master. BRINING hwANGCHIL INTO DAILY LIFE

Koo Young-kook has dedicated himself to making and researching the golden lacquer.

Koo has been working hard to create works decorated with the golden lacquer for several decades. He even earned a doctorate in it for extensive research and experimentation. His efforts to resurrect the skill of making and painting with lacquer has been recognized by international art lovers. Golden-lacquered artworks have been displayed at various international exhibitions and are found in the first lady’s reception room at Cheong Wa Dae. Koo is endeavoring to bring hwangchil closer to the public by applying it to items such as dishware and even golf putters. “Crafts are not just for display and appreciation. They are for daily use. Works of art that can be part of our daily lives can be loved and appreciated for a long time.”

PEOPLE

A True Act of Heroism Common man rescues 10 people from burning apartment. Written by Hong Hea-won Photographed by Moon Duk-kwan

anuary 10, 2015 was just another Saturday for the residents of Daebong Green Apartments in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do (Gyeongg i Province). Like any other weekend, some were sleeping in and others were doing household chores. Peace soon gave way to chaos when a spark from a motorcycle in the parking lot started a fire at 9:15 a.m.The fire claimed four lives and injured 124. In the chaos of the fatal accident, a middle-aged man managed to save 10 people with his bare hands. A sign-maker, Lee Seung-seon was driving by the area when he noticed thick, black smoke emanating from an apartment building. He turned his car around and went to see if he could do anything to help. An Uijeongbu local, Lee at first simply helped firemen extinguish the fire, which was spreading to nearby buildings, because he knew the area well. Lee heard people trapped inside their apartments crying for help and decided to try to rescue them himself. He took a 30-meter rope he kept handy in his car and climbed up a gas pipe outside the apartment building to get to the third floor. He tied one end of the rope to the pipe and made a loop with the other so that a person could put it around his or her body. Balancing his body on the pipe with his feet on a windowsill in front of him, Lee rescued three people from the

third floor by slowly lowering them one at a time to the ground with the rope. He then went onto the rooftop, tied the rope around a railing and similarly lowered seven more people to the ground from the upper floors of the ten-story building. By the time everything was over, he had multiple cuts and abrasions on his hands. “I think it was fate that brought me there, and I’m grateful that people followed my directions even in the dire situation,” said Lee. Scars testify to his struggle

I met Lee Seung-seon at a small restaurant in Uijeongbu. He has worked as a signmaker for the past 20 years, so he is practiced at climbing a building and handling rope. He showed his scarred hands and humbly shared his experiences of January 10.

He seemed to assume a noble aura when he said he would not have regretted dying that day rescuing people. 14

“Some people were urging me not to go in, but I had a different idea. I was confident that I could save people with my rope because I knew it was long enough to reach the first floor from the rooftop. When I bought the rope, I actually asked for 27 meters, but the owner of the store was feeling generous and gave me three extra meters. It was just the right length to reach the ground from the rooftop.” After bringing 10 people to safety, Lee himself had to be rescued by helicopter because he had succumbed to toxic gases.“I wish I could have helped more people. Nonetheless, I did everything I could, and I have no regrets.” Turning down a large donation

Lee’s act of heroism made headlines, and the public dubbed him the Uijeongbu Fire Hero. Five days after the fire, an anonymous philanthropist offered him KRW 30 million (approximately USD 27,000). Lee politely turned it down, and this was also reported in the news. “He told me he was the president of a well-known company. He promised to never publicly reveal himself, but I could not accept his money when so many people lost their loved ones and their homes in the fire. My motto is to never take any money for nothing. My paycheck is enough for me. I still would have turned

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the money down even if he had offered KRW 300 million.” “I would do the same thing again”

Lee was initially overwhelmed by the attention he received, but said he is now grateful for it. “I had never taken an interest in social media, but I started reading what people were saying about me on the internet. Many people wrote encouraging comments for me, and I shed a few tears when I read them. The comments made me feel that I was not alone. Helping other people in an emergency is nothing special.” Lee said he would do the same thing again in a similar situation. He seemed to assume a noble aura when he said he would not have regretted dying that day rescuing people. “I have always believed that it is better to live a day doing the right thing than to live a long life making a fool of myself. Many people worry about national or global issues, but I am more concerned about smaller things that are closer to me. I will continue to do what I can to help others.” People like Lee Seung-seon show us that there is hope in this world. By rescuing 10 people from fire, he may have ultimately saved the lives of many more.

March

TRAVEL

Land of Mystery, Jinan Jinan County in North Jeolla Province is home to some of the most amazing scenery in the country. Written by Kim Nae-on Photographed by Moon Duk-gwan

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left Stone pagodas add to the feeling of mystery of Tapsa Temple. right Maisan Mountain is cloaked in colorful blossom. © Jinan County Government

very year, the last of the cherry blossoms finally bloom on the slopes of Maisan Mountain in Jinan-gun (Jinan County) in Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province), making it an ideal location for those who wish to enjoy the warmth of spring a while longer. In the springtime, cherry blossoms festoon the 1.9 km-trail that runs from the parking at the southern foot of the mountain to Tapsa Temple. The spring scenery along the trail is glorious. Jinan gives off a surreal, myster ious vibe that oscillates between both natural and man-made beauty. Jinan’s authentic heritage was created over hundreds of years. The twinpeaked Maisan Mountain boasts distinct rocky peaks, the nearby Gubongsan Mountain displays the grandeur of its nine beautiful peaks, there is Yongdamho Lake that offers some beautiful scenery and then there is Tapsa Temple that welcomes visitors with its 80-odd stone pagodas. Photo enthusiasts won’t know where to start. Maisan Mountain

Maisan Mountain means “Horse Ear Mountain.” It was named by King Taejo (r. 1392-1398), the founder and first king of

Joseon (1392-1910). He beheld the mountain’s two rocky peaks separated by 20 meters, and penned a poem of which one line reads, “How have eunuchs only taken the horse’s body and left the ears?” The pointy twin peaks of Maisan Mountain were formed by eons of weathering and erosion, but they suggest an inexplicable energy that is greater than Mother Nature. Maisan Mountain’s peaks are referred to by different names each season. In the spring, they are called Dotdaebong, meaning “Mast Peaks,” because they seem to stand like the masts of a sailing ship when surrounded by fog. Their summer name is Yonggakbong, or “Dragon Horn Peaks.” In autumn, the peaks are called Maibong, or “Horse Ear Peaks,” like the name of the mountain. In winter, they are called Munpilbong, meaning “Ink Brush Peaks,” because they resemble writing brushes dipped in black ink. Maisan Mountain is home to Korea’s one and only cheongsilbae tree, an extremely rare species of pear tree endemic to Korea.The tree was planted as a seed by King Taejo at Eunsusa Temple to commemorate the place where he prayed for 100 days. On calm days, the Tabyeongje

Reservoir has a spectacular reflection of the mountain and should not be missed. Tapsa Temple

Maisan Mountain’s otherworldly aura is accentuated by Tapsa Temple. Some 80 hand-stacked stone pagodas scattered around the temple grounds were erected in the late 1800s or the early 1900s by retired scholar Lee Gap-yong. He had moved to the temple and spent several decades there to cultivate himself. One can only wonder how a single person could build so many pagodas of loose stones which have stood tall all through the years, even against howling winds and storms. Behind the temple’s main sanctuary building stand Cheonjitap, twin pagodas three times the size of a human. The view over Tapsa Temple from the entrance of the main sanctuary is breathtaking. Baegundong Valley

If Maisan Mountain and Tapsa Temple are a place to be in the spring, the Baegundong Valley is a great destination for the summer. Meaning “White Cloud,” Baegundong is an entirely appropriate name because white

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clouds often cover the valley, adding to the mystical atmosphere. One of the most magnificent views is offered by the Jeomjin Waterfall. It is satisfying, both visually and aurally, as water cascades down over stair steps of wide rocks. To find relief from the summer heat, visitors enjoy hiking up the valley to enjoy the water’s cool breeze. There is also a bathing spot in the forest near Baegundong, an ideal place for spiritual renewal and relaxation.

one cannot help but ask,“How did Mother Nature create such a thing?”The mountain has nine peaks and is notoriously unyielding to hikers. The rocky crags of Gubongsan Mountain make hiking a challenge, but the steep, zigzagging trail offers an impressive view at each peak. At the summit, hikers can take in a sweeping panorama of the nearby Deongnyusan and Jir isan mountains. Medicinal Herb Town

Gubongsan Mountain

Upon arriving at Gubongsan Mountain,

Jinan sits on a plateau between the Sobaek Mountains and the Noryeong Mountains.

In the springtime, cherry blossoms festoon the 1.9 km-trail that runs from the parking at the southern foot of the mountain to Tapsa Temple.

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At 200 to 400 meters above sea level, it is suitable for growing medicinal plants because the temperature remains relatively low, even during the summer. Jinan specialties include ginseng and red ginseng; peppermint, purple bracted plantain lily, daylilies and thistle are also commonly found. Jinan’s Medicinal Herb Town, located on the northern side of Maisan Mountain, sells some 150 plants that grow naturally across the region. It is an excellent place to learn about the benefits of medicinal plants, the best plants for each body type, and how to distinguish them from poisonous plants.

What to Eat When in Jinan, one must not miss out on a local delicacy called aejeojjim, or steamed baby pork. Aejeo means baby pork, and the dish is made by steaming two to four-week old pork legs for many hours in a broth. The meat is incredibly soft and tender, and the soup is rich and mild. The restauarant Jinangwan (T. 063-433-2629; 282-5, Gunsang-ri, Jinan-eup, Jinangun, Jeollabuk-do) has been in business for over 50 years and is known far and wide for excellent aejeojjim. A two-person serving costs KRW 40,000.

Aejeojjim is served with an array of side dishes.

Where to Stay There are a number of great bed & breakfasts near Maisan Mountain Provincial Park and Demisem Natural Forest, surrounded by beautiful places to walk. The Jinan Red Ginseng Spa & Villa is both an excellent hotel and a red ginsengthemed spa. Visitors can enjoy spa treatments designed specifically for their body types, based on a yin-yang analysis and on the five elements of Oriental medicine.

A scenic view over a lake. © Jinan County Government

Getting There Jinan is a three-hour bus ride from the Seoul Express Bus Terminal. Make sure to check the departure time because there are only two buses a day connecting Seoul and Jinan. Local buses operate between the Jinan Bus Terminal and Maisan Mountain. Hikers can take buses bound for the southern side of Maisan Mountain, and others can take those bound for the northern side.

SPORTS

Footballer Cha Du-ri Much of the credit for Korea’s second-place finish in the 2015 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup on January 31 goes to retiring defender Cha Du-ri. Written by Kim Hyeon-tae

une 2002 is unforgettable in Korean football. During the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan, the entire nation joined the “Red Devils,” the nickname for Korean football fans, in cheering for the national team. With throngs of people dressed in red T-shirts passionately rooting them on, the men’s national football team made it to the semi-finals, Korea’s

best result in any World Cup. Cha Du-ri was the youngest player on the national team in 2002. Most people in Korea, and football fans in Europe, only knew Cha as the son of a famous former footballer. Cha Du-ri’s father is Cha Bumkun, the legendary forward who played in Germany’s Bundesliga from 1979 to 1989. During his career in the Bundesliga, Cha

Bum-kun ear ned the nickname “Cha Boom” for his remarkable striking ability. He was one of the world’s best players at the time, winning the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup for both teams he played on in Germany, Eintracht Frankfurt (1980) and Bayer 04 Laverkusen (1988). As the son of this wellknown figure, Cha Du-ri naturally attracted

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a great deal of interest when he joined the national team. Cha Du-ri’s career, however, has not been as stellar as his father’s. Following in his father’s footsteps, Cha moved to Germany to play in the Bundesliga immediately after the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In 2010, Cha signed with Glasgow’s Celtic and has played on the team for two years. Though he was a talented athlete, Cha Du-ri always found himself in his father’s shadow. Some even said he was only able to play in Germany because of his father’s reputation. Cha left Europe after an undistinguished career of over a decade and joined FC Seoul to play in the Korean football league in 2013.

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1 - S on Heung-min scores after receiving the ball from Cha Du-ri in the quarterfinal of the AFC Asian Cup against Uzbekistan on Jan. 22, 2015. © Yonhap News

An Energizer bunny

If this were the end of Cha Du-ri’s story, people would only remember him as merely another athlete whose father was a sports legend. Although football fans do not chant his name across the stadium as they did for his father, Cha Du-ri genuinely enjoys football. Even when his team loses, he never fails to congratulate the winning team. Giving his best in the match is enough for him. Of course, this does not mean that he is not competitive. After a defeat, he simply trains harder in preparation for the next match. Cha also knows how to be grateful in every situation. “There was a time when I did not like my father’s name following me around. Now, I know that I would not be here if it were not for my father,” says Cha Du-ri. In May 2014, Cha was left off the final roster for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil despite people’s high expectations. Instead of dwelling on this, he decided to participate in the games as a commentator for a TV network. Any other athlete would have been dispirited for not being able to play, but Cha maintained his positive energy and poured it into the broadcasting booth. During his match comments, he encouraged fans to continue cheering for the national team even when they were not doing well.

2 - Cha Du-ri waves to the fans after a game in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. © Yonhap News 3 - A fter retiring from the national team, Cha Du-ri will continue to play for FC Seoul. © Yonhap News

Persistence is key

When Cha Du-ri became a TV commentator, people thought he would soon retire. Instead, he went back to the field after the 2014 World Cup and became one of the best defenders in the Korean football league. In December 2014, he was called up to the national team by the new German manager, Uli Stielike, to play in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup tournament in Australia.The national team at the time was facing public opprobrium for its poor performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Moreover, many athletes were injured, and the new manager had only been with the

team for four months.The team was under even greater pressure because Korean football fans were intent on seeing the nation win its first AFC Asian Cup in 55 years. The fans’ worries quickly dissipated when the national team performed brilliantly, winning every match before the final without giving up a single goal. In the final match against host Australia, Korea was defeated 2-1 in overtime. Although the team missed the opportunity to win, no one criticized them for the loss. Instead, the people gave a rousing applause to Cha Du-ri, who is retiring from the national team. Cha’s smile never left his f ace throughout the Asian Cup games. He was relishing every moment in his last international event. On the field, he was surprisingly agile and strong for a 35-year-old athlete. His man-to-man marking was well executed, and his crosses were sharp. Cha’s overall performance was nothing short of amazing. Thanks to Cha Du-ri, January 2015 was equally as memorable and as happy as June 2002.

Entertainment

Catching Up Fast The entertainment industry widens its spectrum as latecomers challenge SM, YG and JYP. Written by nah ji-un

orean pop is increasingly popular around the world and is dominated by the three big entertainment companies:SM, YG and JYP. Girls’ Generation, EXO, Big Bang, 2NE1 and Wonder Girls are products of strategic planning and thorough execution by these nose-to-the-grindstone talent agencies.They put idol groups at the forefront of the entertainment industry, making waves in the broader Korean music industry.They are quick to set new trends and to bring to the market the pop stars that are part of it.

However, important new players have recently emerged in the industry.A number of late movers have jumped on the idol group bandwagon. They are not only following in the footsteps of the major players, but are trying hard to catch up with them. These new players are diversifying the mainstream entertainment industry. CUBE AND STARSHIP

One of the late movers is Cube Entertainment. It was founded by Hong Seung-sung and has produced 4Minute, a girl group,

and Beast, a boy group. Hong previously co-founded JYP Entertainment and served as a director at Daeyoung AV, which played an important role in Korean pop music in the 1990s. Cube Entertainment started working with new and trendy songwriters such as Shinsadong Tiger, who wrote “Hot Issue, ” sung by 4Mintute, and “Trouble Maker, ” sung by Trouble Maker, the duo made up of Hyuna, a member of 4Minute, and Jang Hyun-seung, a member of Beast. Another songwriter who recently joined hands with Cube is Brave Brothers. He

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w r o t e “ W h a t ’s Yo u r N a m e ? ” a n d “WhatchaDoin’ Today,” both sung by 4Minute. The five-member girl group 4Minute, Cube’s best-known idol group, is trendier, more freewheeling and unhindered compared to their counterparts at SM and JYP. Starship Entertainment is another newcomer to the entertainment market. It produced girl group Sistar and boy group Boyfriend, and is firmly establishing itself in the market. Sistar garnered a huge following because the members are considered to be more vocally and musically talented than members of other groups. The group has effectively set itself apart from its peers. Its soulful songs have attracted people in their 30s who generally do not favor idol groups’ songs. Sistar has also done a series of collaborations with other artists, appealing to a wider demographic. A third management agency, LOEN Entertainment, is famous for its singer songwriter IU. Then under DREAMT Entertainment, girl group Girl’s Day successfully built a favorable and popular image of young idol singers growing into adults. Finally, FNC Entertainment built up boy bands CNBLUE and FT Island. These new entertainment companies have fresh, new ideas and plan things in innovative manners. They’ve made the most of their niche in the entertainment market. Now, they are challenging the big three big players SM, YG and JYP to explore new possibilities and to help makepop music more diverse.

1 - P roduced by Cube Entertainment, 4Minute is one of the most popular idol groups around these days. © Yonhap News 2 - C NBLUE recently completed a successful tour of Asia. © Yonhap News 3 - I U, a pop star signed to LOEN Entertainment, acts in soap operas and sings & writes songs.

LATE MOVERS CHALLENGING THEMSELVES

These late movers do more than just discover talent and manage glittering idol groups.They participate in the production of soap operas, since idol group singers are now acting in TV dramas.They can secure a steady stream of revenue by selling the soap opera licenses to broadcasters in Japan, China and across East Asia. By having their idol groups sing the songs played on TV

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programs, they can even further broaden their revenue streams. With Korean pop music enjoying such huge popularity across East Asia, investing in movies and television dramas starring these idols is not very risky. The companies can sell licenses to air their content even during the initial production phase. The companies are going all out to establish themselves as content businesses that offer more than just saccharine pop music. LOEN Entertainment is deeply involved in the music industry. It owns Korea’s largest digital music service platform, Melon, and produces albums, too. Cube Entertainment is known for its socalled “Music Cube, ” a group of more than 700 musicians, including producers, songwr iters and lyr icists. What is more, it recently went public, laying the foundation for yet another leap forward.

Special Issue

A Storied Sports Arena The Jangchung Gymnasium was built in 1963 and later became Korea’s first domed arena. It was recently reopened to the public after more than two years of renovations. The arena could easily have been demolished, but it has been given a new life. Written by Kim Nae-on Photographed by Seoul metropolitan facilities management corporation

n the Jung-gu district at the center of Seoul, the Jangchung Gymnasium has again become a center of activity since January 19, 2015. On that day, it hosted a professional women's volleyball game between the GS Caltex and Korea Expressway Corporation teams. This was the first sports event held at the stadium since March 14, 2012, when the old arena was closed for two years and eight months for badly needed renovation and remodeling. A second basement level was added and the floor of the main arena was lengthened from 36 to 46 meters, enough to accommodate most indoor ball games.The dome, the signature feature of the gymnasium, was remodeled. It was designed with motifs from traditional dance performances such as the fan dance (buchaechum), the circle dance (ganggangsullae) and the mask

dance (talchum). The helical pattern of the dome, for example, symbolizes the slanted circular formation of fans presented in the fan dance. The windows at the base of the dome represent the circle dance and the pattern on the wall embodies the dynamism of the mask dance. A new underground passageway connecting to Dongguk University Station on Seoul's Subway Line No. 3 allows easier access to the facility, too. RETAINING THE PAST

The stadium could have been pulled down. It was the country's first indoor arena, opened in February 1963. The second, Jamsil Gymnasium, was built in southern Seoul in 1979. The Jamsil Gymnasium became an even more popular sports venue after 2000. In that year, the city of Seoul

announced its plans to demolish the Dongdaemun Baseball Stadium, built in 1925, and erect the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in its place. Some people suggested that the Jangchung Gymnasium should also be demolished. Others argued that it should be preserved for its historical and cultural value. It was eventually decided that the arena would be renovated in a way that could integrate the old with the new.That is why artist Kim Shin-il used the sculptures from the old gymnasium to create his work of art, “History,” outside in the stadium's front plaza. Some of the old flooring and seating were preserved, as well. Photographs of the old arena hang on the walls that run from the second basement level to the subway station. They include pictures of professional wrestling legend Kim Il and of Korea’s first world

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boxing champion Kim Ki-soo in some of their most-famous matches. PART OF SPORTS AND ARCHITECTURE HISTORY

The Jangchung Gymnasium hosted numerous sensational sporting events throughout the years. In 1966, Kim Ki-soo, Korea's first professional boxing champion, won by decision over Nino Benvenuti, the welterweight gold medalist at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. The gymnasium was overcrowded when Kim Il, master of the head-butt knockout, defeated Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in 1975. The gymnasium hosted basketball and volleyball games, boxing matches, weightlifting competitions, wrestling matches, Korean traditional wrestling matches (ssireum) and other such events. Countless athletes became heroes here, and people came to revel in the excitement and forget about the worries of life. This was where the judo and taekwondo matches were held during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. In the 1980s, basketball fans flocked to see star players such as Lee Chung-hee and Kim Hyun-jun go head-to-head. In 1983, professional ssireum wrestler Lee Man-ki,

1 - The Jangchung Gymnasium was renovated after 50 years. 2 - T he TongilSsireum Competition was held at the Jangchung Gymnasium in 1991. ÂŠ Yonhap News 3 - A professional league all-star volleyball game is held at the renovated Jangchung Gymnasium.

barely 20 years old, won the Cheonha Jangsa Ssireum Competition and rose to stardom. The gymnasium is an important architectural example, too. It had originally been built as a gymnasium for soldiers. It later came under the management of the city of Seoul, which decided to build a dome on top of it for night games. Newspapers reported that the remodeled stadium could host games day or night. It was designed by the late Kim Joung-su, who also designed the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) building in Jong-ro, St. Mary`s Hospital in Myeongdong (now in Yeouido) and the Korea National Assembly Building in Yeouido. The dome is an assemblage of steel trusses 80 meters long and was a great technical challenge to build at the time. The late architect Choi Jong-wan designed the dome. People cheered, laughed and enjoyed themselves at the Jangchung Gymnasium for 50 years.The renovation has given new life to the historic gymnasium, transforming it into a multi-purpose complex for sports and performances alike. It is now ready once again to bring people great excitement and laughter.

CURRENT KOREA

Mullae-dong: A New Artist Village The neighborhood of Mullae-dong in Seoul, once bustling with iron workshops, was nearly abandoned after industrialization swept across the nation. It has risen again, however, as a thriving district for artists. Written by Kim Nae-on Photographed by mullae art space

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he intersection of Dangsan-ro and Dorim-ro boulevards, near Mullae Station on Seoul’s Subway Line No. 2, might seem a bit odd. There are art studios here and there scattered between old iron and steel plants and shops. Far-out murals in vivid colors create an interesting contrast with the dark, deteriorating walls of the old metal shops and sawmills. You can find something artistic in places you least expect, including the neighborhood’s narrow alleyways. Take a second glance at the bench that you just passed, and you will see that it is actually a work of art. Numerous works of art in the neighborhood are made of iron and steel.

ARTISTS MOVE INTO IRONMASTERS’ NEIBORHOOD

The area was nothing like this even a few years ago. Nearly a century ago, the area was home to textile factories.The Gyeongseong Spinning and Weaving Company opened there in 1919. Soon after, other textile makers also established themselves in the area. There is some speculation that the name “Mullae-dong” itself derives from mulle, a traditional spinning machine. In the 1960s, the area became the center of the iron and steel industry. It played an important role in the nation’s industrialization process, and there were a significant number of iron and steel workshops and

Small iron workshops coexist with artists’ studios.

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factories up until the 1980s. The neighborhood of Mullae-dong began to fade in the 1980s and 1990s. It suffered during a transition period when industrialization was no longer considered the country’s highest priority, and was widely blamed as a major source of air pollution in Seoul. The city of Seoul eventually decided to move the workshops and factories to the outskirts of the city. Many actually did move, and others simply shut down. Mullae-dong was left largely abandoned, but the deserted buildings testify to the thriving place it had once been, and to how far such a place could decline. After 2000, a group of artists settled in

The Seoul Art Space Mullae hosts performances for many artists based in the neighborhood.

the old houses and buildings in the area. They had had studios or residences near Hongik University, a hip and artsy area popularly known as Hongdae. Mullaedong was close to Hongdae and offered much lower rent. Soon afterward, cafés and art galleries started to pop up. Now, more than 250 painters, installation artists, sculptors, musicians and other artists call Mullae-dong home.

Artists revitalize the neighborhood of Mullae-dong and give a boost to its economy.

ART MAKES COMMUNITY STRONGER

The revival of Mullae-dong began entirely with the artists. It is likened to East Berlin or Detroit, where poor artists moved in and established a community in the factory and department store buildings that had survived.They breathed new life into the area by working together with the residents and completely changed its ambiance. East Berlin could easily have been left to deteriorate into a slum after its failure to keep up with the new world, but artists brought it back. Now that more artists are moving to Mullae-dong, grassroots organizations have sprung up to help them integrate into the community. They support artists’ work by helping host art festivals on the streets and at community hangouts for artists and the public.They have established walking tours along the alleys and other places in the neighborhood.The city government joined

Murals make the neighborhood more beautiful.

the efforts and built the “Seoul Art Space Mullae” in 2010 on a site where metal shops once stood. The center financially supports the art village and coordinates programs where artists can exchange ideas with international colleagues. In 2012, the center held the “Common Ground Project” exhibition, which presented iron and steel sculptures made by artists who learned metalworking from ironmasters in the neighborhood. It was the low cost of rent that first attracted artists to the neighborhood. Now, they have become an important part of its economic ecosystem. In November 2014, the artists in Mullae-dong took part in Creative Korea 2014, an exposition on bringing innovation to different areas of the economy, at COEX a convention center in Seoul. They held an exhibition titled “Mullae-dong Creative Art Village.” There, the artists reproduced the alleyways of Mullae-dong that are packed with old, deserted steel shops and welders’ shops. 1 They used steel products and scrap from the ironmasters’ work in addition to pieces of fabric, wood and posters that can be found easily in the area.The artists participating in the exhibit,Yoo Ji-yeon, Kwon Jeong-jun,Yun,Yeong-pil, Park, Dong-ju and Park Mu-rim, said that they wanted to show how art can change a backwater neighborhood. These kinds of activities will help Mullae-dong revive, and without outside support. The more the artists get involved, the more likely they can truly become part of the neighborhood.That, of course, is another way of protecting their homes and studios over the long term. WHERE INNOVATAION BRINGS CHANGE

Artists have not only brought newfound vitality to Mullae-dong but have boosted the neighborhood economy.A case in point is the Mullae Small Business Support Center that opened in November 2014. Seoul city government saw the potential of the area with its specialty in dealing with

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iron and steel products and the great positive change artists brought to the neighborhood.The support center helps small businesses by passing on expertise and by training owners and workers. It also helps finance purchases of expensive equipment that small businesses would otherwise be unable to afford. The city government expects both ironmasters and artists to bring tremendous innovation to Mullae-dong. President Park Geun-hye visited Mullae-dong in November 2014. She likened the industry of making parts and materials with steel to a root, a backbone helping uphold other industries. Recognizing the area as an important “root,” she emphasized the neighborhood’s singular character.The president said that applying information technology to the area’s manufacturing and fusing it with cultural industries would bring even more creativity and innovation

The artists’ village in the neighborhood of Mullae-dong is unique in many ways.

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to Mullae-dong. The government plans to do its part by helping nurture talented young people, improve the manufacturing environment, explore new business models and support artists’ collaboration. President Park, in a session with artists and those who are working in steel manufacturing, said, “With you, I would like to revive the economy of Mullae-dong so that it can give dreams and jobs to the young, as it did in the past. I will strive to help the neighborhood come back to the forefront of the national economy with creative and innovative ideas.” Manufacturing and art are converging in the alleyways of the steel and welders’ shops that once made everything needed to fuel the nation’s industrialization. In Mullae-dong, laborers and artists live and work in a community, making the neighborhood of traditional manufacturing ready for the 21st Century.

Artists in the neighborhood of Mullae-dong show off their iron and steel sculptures.

BILATERAL TALKS

Chinese Minister of Defense Visits South Korea* On February 3, Chinese Minister of Defense Chang Wanquan visited South Korea to discuss bilateral relations. Excerpted from korea.kr

Minister Chang meets President Park

South Korean President Park Geun-hye met with Minister Chang at the Office of the President at Cheong Wa Dae on February 4. President Park welcomed the visit by an outstanding field commander and an expert in mainland Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s space development program, and expressed her hope that the first visit in nine years by a Chinese minister of defense would strengthen strategic communication between the defense author ities of the two countr ies and enhance defense exchange and cooperation. Minister Chang delivered warm greetings and best wishes to President Park from Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said his visit is part of an effort to further substantialize the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, as agreed upon by the two heads of state, and to strengthen communication and mutual trust between their defense authorities.The Chinese Defense Minister said that the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership between South Korea and China has deepened through frequent exchanges between senior officials, clearing the way for the two countries to maintain a close partnership and exchange their views about issues of mutual interest. The minister added that the two countries saw bilateral travel flows

Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan (left) shakes hands with South Korean President Park Geun-hye during their meeting on Feb. 4, 2015. ÂŠ Yonhap News

* Although Korea's official name is the Republic of Korea, it is referred to as South Korea in this article with respect to North Korea and the unification on the Korean peninsula.

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of 10 million people in 2014, a goal the two leaders did not plan to accomplish until 2016, and are working closely together to increase trade volume to USD 300 billion. President Park emphasized the importance of close bilateral cooperation by firmly declaring that South Korea will strive to establish a substantive and concrete basis for the unification the Korean Peninsula in 2015 and asserting that unification will enable cutbacks in defense spending and further the development of Northeast Asia. Regarding her remarks, Minister Chang gave a positive evaluation of the offers made by the two Koreas toward each other and vowed to help the South realize peaceful unification. In addition, he expressed hope for the six-party talks to resume as soon as possible in the interests of peace on the peninsula and for a resolution to the North’s nuclear weapons situation. Strengthening defense communication

Earlier that day, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan visited Seoul’s Defense Minister Han Min-koo for the countries’ first top-level defense talks since 2011. They agreed to bolster working-level discussions to establish a military hotline between the two ministries during the first half of this year, emphasizing the importance of mutual trust and closer strategic cooperation. The direct communication channel between Seoul and Beijing would allow the two countries to respond quickly to any serious threat from the North and other security issues regarding the Korean Peninsula. Both defense ministers Han and Chang reaffirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and agreed to cooperate in dealing with the North’s nuclear weapons issue. With regard to improving regional peace and security, Minister Han briefed Minister Chang on South Korea’s Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative, a plat-

Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan shakes hands with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo during their meeting on Feb. 4, 2015. © Yonhap News

South Korea and China agreed to set up a military hotline between their defense ministries in the near future.

form to foster regional cooperation, and the two ministers recognized that close relations between South Korea and China are crucial. Ministers Han and Chang also agreed to develop the two countries’ strategic cooperative defense partnership, acknowledging that the development of bilateral defense relations, in addition to political, economic and cultural ties, has brought South Korea and China closer together since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992. In this regard, they discussed cooperation in cyber defense and peacekeeping missions, including United Nations peacekeeping operations and combating piracy.

Policy Review

Preparing for a Unified Korea The government commits to unification Excerpted from Weekly Gonggam illustrated by ministry of unification

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he year 2015 marks 70 years since Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s liberation from Japanese occupation and the division of Korea into south and north. The government considers this year an important time to increase the scope and depth of the discussion on unification and to improve inter-Korean relations. It declared 2015 as the beginning of the era of a unified Korea and is determined to prepare for unification. On January 19, the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs br iefed President Park Geun-hye at Cheong Wa Dae on their annual plans to prepare for unification. Preparing for unification could mean hastening its realization and devising a better strategy. The goal of reuniting the two Koreas is to propel Korea substantially forward in its development by a grand vision and sound strategy.The preparations are crucial for several reasons: to truly alleviate the suffering caused by national division, to create new opportunities for economic growth for both sides, and to bring the communities of the two Koreas together. PREPARATION FOR UNIFICATION THROUGH COOPERATION

The government will bolster the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national defense to ensure security and peace on the Korean Peninsula. It will advance its defense capabilities and inspire patriotism and a sense of security through education, and it will offer a vision of reunification that will inspire the people. The Park administration will come up with a concrete blueprint for a reunified Korea

cess. Second, North Korea should take part in the process.Third, collaboration with the inter national community should be expanded. To execute these strategies, it came up with six tasks: build a wider public consensus on unification; develop skilled people who will play important roles in a unified Korea; explore the channels to work together with the North in such areas as public welfare, environment and culture; push ahead with inter-Korean economic cooperation; making substantial progress in North Korea’s denuclearization and human rights issues; and, Finally, increase cooperation with the international community.

including a Unification Charter. In the process, it will work closely with the Unification Preparatory Committee and listen to the voice of the people. It will work to resolve such humanitarian issues as the separation of families between South and North, the continued detention of prisoners of war detained in North Korea, and abductees. The government plans to host an event with the North and pave the way for an inter-Korean economic community to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the nation’s independence. It will seek to build trust and support for peaceful unification with assistance from countries involved and to expand its diplomatic network for unification. This would help convince the international community of the benefits of a united Korea.

College students pose after a flash mob devoted to peace and unification on the Korean peninsula. © Yonhap News

ESTABLISHING TRUST-BASED DIPLOMACY

In its presentation to the president, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated that it would do everything in its power to implement diplomacy based on trust. It presented three policy goals; to actively engage the international community and to improve inter-Korean relations; to build trust for the peaceful unification on the peninsula; and to strengthen relations with

A topographic map of the Korean Peninsula at the Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju. © Yonhap News

LEADING PREPARATIONS

The Ministry of Unification will manage the government-wide preparations for unification in a way that enables effective cooperation among all involved agencies. The ministry put forward three strategies for the preparations. First, the people should participate in the preparation pro-

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Preparation for Unification Through Cooperation Preparation for Unification with the People’s Participation A Wider Consensus on Unification Present a “blueprint for a unified Korean Peninsula where people’s opinions are reflected”

Nurture Talents for the Era of Unification

Raise public interest in unification

rovide education P on unification for the unified generation

ut in place a P system to develop human resources for the preparation

Preparation for Unification with the North’s Participation Welfare, Environmental and Cultural Channels Explore the “welfare channels” to improve the lives of the North Korean people

Explore the “cultural channels” for the people in both South and North Korea to reconcile differences

Explore the “environmental channels” to realize a “green détente.”

Mutual Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation

Develop the Gaeseong Industrial Complex into a hub for mutual cooperation

Hold a joint event to commemorate the 70 years of liberation Hold inter-Korean dialogues

Lay the foundation for an inter-Korean economic community

Preparatory Process for Unification with the Support of the International Community Progress in Denuclearization and Human Rights Make progress in denuclearization and align the output for the betterment of inter-Korean relations.

Step up the efforts to improve the protection of human rights of North Koreans

More Engagement by the International Community Cooperate with the U.N. and neighboring countries Establish an ecological park in the Demilitarized Zone

Work for multilateral cooperation among South and North Korea, and international organizations

Put in place a governance structure for international cooperation

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allied nations. Its nine tasks under these goals include; strategically cooperating with neighboring countries to make progress on North Korea’s denuclearization and other issues; implement the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative and the Eurasia Initiative; enhance international cooperation to heal the old wounds caused by the division; push for humanitarian diplomacy; expand the international network for unification; and, finally, extend public diplomacy.The MOFA emphasized that a creative approach is important in resolving the division of the Korean Peninsula.To this end, it plans to put into practice the lessons gleaned from Germany’s unification. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR PEACEFUL UNIFICATION

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) reiterated that advanced military capabilities for a strong and forward-looking national defense are essential for the government’s unification efforts. For a strong national defense, the MND will ensure utmost military readiness, effective practical training and drills, and improved welfare for military service members. For forwardlooking defense, it will strengthen its defense capabilities in preparation for unification. These efforts should maintain security, enabling a peaceful unification. HONORING PATRIOTS AND VETERANS

The Ministry of Patr iots and Veterans Affairs will push ahead with policies aimed at inspiring patriotism and bringing the people together to support the government’s unification efforts. Economic strength and a strong alliance with the United States are crucial to this process. It proposed tasks, such as offering better support to patriots and veterans, inspiring patriotism, and will run a campaign to resolve the division. The ministry will also honor those who sacrificed themselves for the country and make a serious effort to realize peaceful unification.

CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

How Healthy Is Your Brain?

The Word’s First-Ever Standardized Measure of Brain Health and Age. Written by Yoon Se-eun Source The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS)

ccording to Statistics Korea (KO STAT), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) was the second most common cause of death, following cancer, in Korea in 2013. Most CVD victims ultimately lost their battles to ischemic strokes. CVD involves problematic blood circulation in the brain due to a blockage or narrowing of a cerebral blood vessel, resulting in paralysis, speech disorder and other symptoms. Every passing year sees more and more people robbed of life by CVD. In December last year, the National Center for Standard Reference Data

(NCSRD) under the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) announced that it had compiled a set of reference data to which anyone can refer in order to objectively determine how serious one’s chronic cerebral circulation problem is. In order to compile this library of reference data, which they call “maps of ischemic brains,” the NCSRD joined forces with 11 university hospitals, including Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.The statistical maps on ischemic brains are attracting international interest since

they show both your current cerebral condition and how likely you are in the future to develop cerebrovascular disease. BRAIN MAPS AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

For the development of the ischemic brain maps, the NCSRD collected data on 2,699 patients who each had one ischemic stroke and were hospitalized in one of the 11 university hospitals at some point between May 2011 and February 2012. The data included about 60,000 magnetic resonance (MR) images.The researchers analyzed the data to establish the risk factors of cerebro-

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A healthy brain (ranked in the 1st percentile), an average brain (ranked in the 50thpercentile) and an unhealthy brain (ranked in the 100thpercentile), for people aged 65-74.

The world’s first ischemic brain maps help not only to diagnose, treat and prevent cerebrovascular disease, but they also inform you of how healthy or how old your brain is.

vascular disease in each individual and spent roughly five years assembling the ischemic brain maps as an effective means of diagnosing the cerebrovascular status of the patients. Until very recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings on a CVD patient merely graded the severity of a patient’s condition into four stages: none, mild, serious or very serious.Since there were no detailed criteria, doctors could not understand their patients’ conditions indepth and were unable, therefore, to provide precise diagnoses and focused treatment. With the ischemic brain maps in hand, they can now rate one’s brain damage in terms of a percentile, depending on its extent and location. The doctor simply needs to compare the patient’s MR images with the ischemic brain maps to know how

1 - The world’s first set of ischemic brain maps. 2 - Professor Kim Dong-eog of Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital uses the ischemic brain maps to explain a patient’s condition.

the patient’s brain damage has progressed and also estimate the health (the age) of the brain of anybody. In the past, doctors could only remark on a patient’s condition by stating vaguely, for example, that,“You have moderate abnormality.” Now, in more precise language they can state, “You are at about the 50th per centile among ischemic stroke patients.” This will help patients better understand their own condition. BEYOND DIAGNOSIS TO TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

“An ischemic stroke poses a high risk of mortality and disability,” says Professor Kim Dong-eog of the Department of Neurology at Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital. “Prevention is extremely important.” He expressed his expectation that the ischemic brain maps will help neurologists more objectively and precisely assess their patients’ brain damage and determine the risk of an ischemic stroke. He hopes that many hospitals and clinics will use this novel set of brain maps. “These ischemic brain maps are the first of their kind in the world,” says Dr. Chae Kyun-shik, director at the NCSRD. “They can serve as a customized reference in diagnosing, treating and preventing ischemic strokes and will help improve public welfare.” The ischemic brain maps are available to all at http://brainmr.com. Hard copies of the maps will be provided to hospitals and clinics across the country.The findings of the project were reported in the December 2014 issue of Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association.

GLOBAL KOREA

From Recipient to Donor Korea’s official development assistance grew at highest rate among OECD from 2008 to 2012. Written by Yoon Se-eun

rmed conflict, famine, poverty and natural disasters pose great dangers to the lives of many people around the world today. The international community has the responsibility to provide humanitarian aid when necessary to the people of the developing world because tackling challenges together leads to more sustainable development and prosperity for all. This is where official development assistance (ODA) comes into play.The term refers to the aid that a country’s national or local government, or public agency, offers to developing countries or to international organizations for economic development and social welfare. ODA is commonly pro-

vided as grants in the form of cash, goods and services, technology transfers, food aid or as emergency relief. History of ODA in Korea

Korea is the only donor country in the world that was once itself a recipient of ODA. As a recipient countr y, Korea received ODA of USD 12 billion over the course of many years. The Korean War (1950-1953) left the country’s economy devastated, and ODA was for many years the only source of capital. Much of the assistance was for military support and emergency humanitarian relief. Food and daily necessities were also provided to meet

basic human needs.The primary donor was the United States. T h e Ko re a n e c o n o my b e g a n t o develop in the 1960s, and ODA in various forms allowed it to build social infrastructure and to develop industry. In the 1970s and 80s, project financing was introduced to heavy and chemical industries, which increasingly gave way to sector-wide loans or readjustment programs aiming to reform the country’s overall economic and industrial structure. The proportion of grants declined significantly and the sources of assistance diversified. Korea ended its dependence on World Bank assistance in 1995 and was removed

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from the list of ODA recipients in 2000. In 2010, Korea joined the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), the international donor’s club in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and has since offered assistance to developing nations. Korea as a donor

1 - Korea’s Seongnam City government holds a conference on renewable energy projects in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam, on April 19, 2013.© Yonhap News 2 - Korea’s Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan builds a mosque.© Yonhap News 3 - The Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan teaches arts & crafts to children. © Yonhap News

Korea actually began to provide aid back in the 1960s, when it hosted training programs for public officials from developing countries and dispatched experts overseas. In the 1970s, the country’s ODA steadily increased when the government funded more of its assistance projects with its own budget. Total ODA rose sharply in the 1980s, facilitated by Seoul’s hosting of the Asian Games in 1986 and the Olympic Games in 1988. The Korean government established the Korean Inter national Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in 1991 to effectively implement its aid and technical cooperation programs overseas and began sending international cooperation personnel to developing countries. In 1996, Korea became the 29 th countr y to join the OECD.

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In the 2000s, Korea’s ODA spiked when it provided humanitarian assistance for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq after the war and offered relief aid to South Asian countries hit by natural disasters. The aid is used to improve social and economic infrastructure, including financial, healthcare, education, transportation, and communication. About 66% of the recipients are in Asia, but aid to Africa has risen significantly over the past five years. Highest ODA growth

According to Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Korea offered approximately USD 1.6 billion in ODA in 2012, making it the 16 th -largest donor among the 27 members of the DAC. Korea’s ODA rose by 18.8% between 2008 and 2012, the highest rate in the OECD.The average growth rate among all the members over the same period was only 0.8%. Korea gradually increased its ODA while many donors across the world actually cut their assistance back after the global financial crisis of 2008. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance plans to continue increasing its ODA and improving the effectiveness of its aid.

GREAT KOREAN

Dr. Hyun Bong-hak, an Unsung War Hero The Heungnam Evacuation, widely considered a Christmas miracle for saving some 98,000 civilians in December 1950 during the Korean War, is attributable to Dr. Hyun Bong-hak. Written by Kim Hyeon-tae

he film “Ode to My Father” has already sold over 10 million tickets nationwide, making it Korea’s latest box office hit. It pays homage to a generation that achieved an astounding economic growth, mythologized as “The Miracle on the Han River,” after surviving the Korean War in the early 1950s.The film’s depiction of the Heungnam Evacuation is directing attention to Dr. Hyun Bong-hak, who played an important role in rescuing refugees at the height of war. In one scene, a young Korean man pleads with an American general, saying, “General, please help our people! We cannot just leave them here when the enemy is closing in from all directions.The Chinese will massacre them.”

The Korean War began when some 75,000 North Korean troops poured across the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950.The United Nations hurr iedly sent troops in support of South Korea. After a successful landing in South Korea, the United Nations forces managed to advance up to Pyeongyang and the Amnokgang River in North Korea. By October, hundreds of thousands of mainland Chinese troops advanced into North Korea in support of the communist regime and quickly began pushing south. With their backs against the icy waters of the East

The SS Meredith Victory

Born in 1922 in Seongjin, Hamgyeongbuk-do (North Hamgyeong Province), North Korea, Hyun Bong-hak studied at Severance Union Medical College in Seoul and at the Medical College at Richmond University in Virginia. During the Korean War (1950-1953), Hyun served as an interpreter for the U.S. 25th Army Division. Later, he was asked to be civil affairs adviser to Major General Edward Almond of the U.S. 10th Army Corps. While working for Maj. Gen. Almond, Hyun faced the decision of a lifetime.

Sea in Heungnam, Hamgyeongnam-do (South Hamgyeong Province), United Nations forces decided to evacuate. The U.S.-led troops were surrounded by the communist forces at the nearby Changjin Reservoir (also known as Chosin in Japanese) and fought desperately to stop the Chinese juggernaut. To this day, the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir is remembered as one of the most intense battles in U.S. military history. Soldiers and civilians alike began evacuating via Heungnam Port on December 15. The U.S. commanders in charge of the

Dr. Hyun Bong-hak persuaded Maj. Gen. Almond to take about 98,000 refugees instead of weapons and military supplies. Some 14,000 of them were aboard a single vessel, the SS Meredith Victory.

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1 - D r. Hyun Bong-hak is considered to be Korea’s Oskar Schindler.© Yonhap News 2 - T he Heungnam Evacuation commemorative monument is at the Geoje-do POW Museum. © Yonhap News

retreat, including Maj. Gen. Almond, had not initially thought of taking refugees with them. They only considered saving their own troops. After receiving constant encouragements from U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Edward Forney, Hyun Bong-hak convinced them otherwise with his strong determination to save the refugees. On December 23, scores of soldiers and civilians were still to be evacuated, and the only ship remaining in the port was the SS Meredith Victory, a U.S. merchant ship designed to carry 12 passengers with a 47-person crew. Thanks to the conviction and courage of Hyun Bong-hak, the captain of the SS Meredith Victory decided to unload nearly all of the weapons and supplies it had onboard and to instead take on some 14,000 refugees. It sailed slowly down the East Sea for three days, and despite being overloaded, it stayed afloat and safely landed at Geoje-do Island in South Korea on Chr istmas Day. Not a single life was lost. In fact, five babies were born onboard. This is why the Heungnam Evacuation is remembered as a Christmas miracle. The Guinness Book of World Records later certified it as the greatest rescue achieved with a single ship.

Contribution to medicine

Before the Korean War, Hyun Bong-hak worked at Severance Hospital in Seoul. After the war, Hyun went to the United States, completed his residency at the Pennsylvania Medical Center at Presbyterian University and received his doctorate in science from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Medicine in 1959. He practiced and taught medicine at the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center

in New Jersey, at the University ofVirginia’s School of Medicine, at Columbia University, and elsewhere. Outside of academia, Hyun served as an advisor to the Korean minister of health and held offices at the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and at the Korean American Medical Association. He published dozens of articles and received numerous awards for his outstanding leadership in the medical community in both Korea and the U.S.

MY KOREA

The Do-It-Yourself Craze The newest trend for the wise and frugal Written by Derek Stelma Illustrated by Kim Si-hoon

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he selfie stick was arguably one of the biggest hit products of 2014.The craze quickly spread like a virus across Korea, East Asia and other parts of the world, and still continues today. More people than not seem to now own a selfie stick. Just take a stroll near any tourist destination and you are sure to encounter someone taking a selfie with a selfie stick. It’s hard for consumers not to purchase one when you consider the benefits and convenience of owing one. No longer do you have to feel bad or embarrassed to ask someone to take a picture of you. At restaurants and other businesses, employees are no longer pulled away from their normal duties at work to take a picture for a person or group. People can capture a picture from various angles, avoiding the boring and bland look of pictures taken at a normal eye level. Furthermore, most selfie sticks can be purchased for around KRW 5,000, making it a very cheap yet convenient purchase. Perhaps the biggest reason why the selfie stick has become so popular lies within the name itself. According to Merriam-Webster’s website, the word “selfie” is defined as, “An image of oneself taken by oneself using a digital camera or smartphone, especially for posting on social networks.” The key word in that definition is “oneself ”: doing something oneself without the aid of another person.

ists, homeowners can now do on their own those home improvements that they’ve so eagerly wanted to try. Furthermore, they can experience the joy of self-accomplishment after completing thework all by themselves. It also gives you bragging rights to show off to your family and friends just how good you are with your hands.Of course, the biggest benefit of all this is the money that you will save by doing it yourself. The “self craze” doesn’t stop with just selfies and home improvements. “Self nail art” has also gained popularity. Blogs and private academies are now available to teach you how to paint just about any design or image your heart desires right onto the tips of your fingers and toes.

Having pride and bragging rights along with the added benefit of saving money by going the “self way” is truly killing two birds with one stone.

DIY BRAGGING RIGHTS

Nowadays, taking a selfie is not the only thing that you can do by yourself. A quick online search for the word “self ” in Korean will give you numerous results of peoples’ do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. The pidgin Korean-English phrase “self interior,” means making some home improvements yourself. Homeowners no longer have to find a carpenter or handyman to make those overdue home improve ments: putting up new wall paper, painting, making some new shelves or perhaps even building some furniture or cabinets. With the aid of websites, blogs and some special-

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THE ‘SELF CRAZE’ CONTINUES

One of the biggest expenses young people face is the cost of a wedding. “Self weddings” are now a much cheaper alternative to hiring a wedding coordinator. Moreover, it gives the bride and groom complete freedom to plan their special day. Rather than purchasing a wedding gown or a Hanbok dress, brides can rent their clothes instead.Taking wedding photos yourself can also greatly reduce the cost of a wedding, eliminating the need to hire a photographer. In fact, a friend of mine got married several months ago and decided to go the “self photo” route. The photos turned out great and, had she not mentioned anything, no one would ever have known the difference between the photos they shot and ones shot by a professional. Saving money on your wedding day is truly icing on the cake. Saving money on a wedding doesn’t just stop at “self weddings”, “selfd resses”, and “selfphotos”. Women, and in some cases even men, can spend an extravagant amount of money on getting their hair done at a salon. Depending on the location, the length of hair and your hair stylist, customers can spend nearly KRW 100,000 on getting their hair done. A much cheaper alternative has become the “self dye” trend. When coloring their hair, people can get the same, if not close to the same, results at a fraction of the price by dying their hair themselves. This “self craze”that started with selfies last year is sure to only get bigger in 2015. No longer do you have to rely upon someone else and spend a ton of money to get what you want. However, before taking the plunge into the “self craze”, be sure to do plenty of research and preparation first. Having pride and bragging rights along with the added benefit of saving money by going the “self way” is truly killing two birds with one stone.What’s going to be the next “self craze” to pop up? Only time will tell, but you can count on their being plenty more.

MULTICULTURAL KOREA

Helping Migrants Settle Li Haiying, honorary vice mayor of Seoul, does everything she can to help migrant women settle in Korea. Written by Yoon Se-eun Photographed by Hong Ha-Yan

i Haiying comes from the city of Jian, Jilin Province, in northeastern China. Until the year 427, the city was the capital of the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D. 668) and the city environs remain redolent of the ancient kingdomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. Much can still be seen today, including the memorial stone for King Gwanggaeto(r. 391-413) and the Tomb of the General. Li herself is a descendant of Goguryeo and is a member of the ethnic Korean community in mainland China. She came to Korea 14 years ago and now wears many different hats. She is teaching students at EwhaWomans University, where she earned her doctorate in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studies, and helps protect the human r ights of mig rant women through the Women Migrants Human Rights Center (WMHRC). She is the honorary vice mayor of Seoul and is co-director of the Thinking Tree Bilingual Bicultural Center, which was established to help Mandarinspeaking migrant women. One common thread running through all of her different roles is a desire to help migrant women settle in Korea.

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WOMEN’S STUDIES AND MIGRANT WOMEN

Li first visited Korea as an exchange researcher at the Korean Women’s Institute of EwhaWomans University after graduating from university in China.“I audited a class on women’s studies and found feminist studies in Korea to be very interesting. So I decided to study at Ewha to further delve into the subject.” Some people wondered why she decided to study such a subject because China, as a nominally socialist state, claims to stand for equality between the sexes. As for why she chose Korea and women’s studies, she continues, “Korea is extremely patriarchal, and yet the women’s movement is very dynamic. Korean women are passionately raising issues and striving to address them in legislation. There are also numerous active civic women’s organizations. That’s why I was attracted to Korea.”

Women’s studies stoked her interest in migrant women. Being one herself, she was well aware of the hardships that they experience in Korea. There were some programs in place to help multicultural families in the 1990s, but migrants still experienced great difficulty. This changed with the passage of the Support for Multicultural Families Act in 2008. Now, there are 217 Multicultural Family Support Centers (MFSC) across the country and an increasing number of programs to help multicultural families. “The MFSCs are a great help to migrant women, in particular. These women used to be confined to their homes because they could not speak Korean very well,” said Li. “Now, the centers are reaching out to them and providing Korean language classes and counseling services.These women understand the culture better now and deal with difficulties more effectively as a result. The centers are empowering them to become responsible, productive members of the community.” SELF-RELIANCE IS THE KEY

Li is helping migrant women make their voices heard, and finding and organizing useful information for them.

Li came to realize that migrant women need financial independence if they expect to lead satisfying lives in Korea. Most of them are to some degree bilingual. They speak limited Korean and of course fluently speak their mother tongues, be it Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian or Vietnamese. They also have experience living in a different country. For these reasons, Li advocates the idea of training them in trades. These women could sell abroad the products made by small- and medium-sized companies in Korea. In fact, the city of Seoul plans to start a trade-training program for multicultural families this year. The Thinking Tree Bilingual Bicultural Center was established to help migrant women become self-reliant. It is intended to help them take the initiative in their family finances and in their children’s education. Li said, “Migrant women who cannot speak Korean tend to be slighted by

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their children.Traditionally, mothers are supposed to educate and take care of their children, but their own children often ignore them due to language barriers.That is a serious problem.” She added, “I thought a lot about how to enhance their self-esteem and help their kids take pride in their mothers. It dawned on me that their mothers’ native language could be a key to this problem.”When one mother became a Mandarin and simplified Chinese teacher with the help of the center, her kids beamed with pride. Bilingual education changed the lives of both the women and their offspring.The center concentrates on bilingual education and the training of native-born Koreans as teachers of multiculturalism. BECOMING A TRUE SEOUL CITIZEN

In her one-year term as honorary vice mayor of Seoul, Li has been engaged in many social initiatives to support multicultural families. She is helping migrant women make their voice sheard, and finding and organizing useful information for them. She said, “The more information you have about the country you live in, the easier and the more comfortable you feel. This is all the more true for those who live in a foreign country. I believe that migrants should have adequate knowledge about the country and the city in which they reside. I hope that migrants make an even greater effort to learn about the places where they live.” Li said that she would like to be a part of Seoul rather than live as an international student or as a migrant woman.At this point, she has spent more of her life in Seoul than in Jian.“I feel closer to Seoul than to Jian, and have a growing attachment to the metropolis,” added Li. She will remain committed to the issues that migrant women faceand to helping them even after her term as honorary vice mayor of Seoul ends.

Nature

A Mountain Cloaked in Pink Azaleas burst into bloom on Jirisan Mountain and herald the coming of spring. Written by Kim Nae-on

esignated Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first national park in 1967, Jirisan Mountain is located on the boundar ies of three provinces: Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province), Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province), and Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province). It is the second highest mountain after Hallasan Mountain on Jeju Island, and is the southern end of the Baekdudaegan, a mountain range that runs across the Korean Peninsula.The mountain was named â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jiriâ&#x20AC;? because it was believed to be a place that turns the innocent into the wise. Against the backdrop of relatively mild terrain, Jirisan Mountain has three main peaks:

Cheonwangbong Peak (1,915 meters), Nogodan Peak (1,507 meters) and Banyabong (1,751 meters). The big, deep, and wide mountain has many valleys and waterfalls, and there are over 20 hiking trails. Jirisan Mountain has attracted many people throughout its history. In 1592, after the Japanese inventions of Korea between 1592 and 1598, believers in the Jeonggamrok, a book of prophecy, moved near the mountain because the prophetic writings claimed it was one of the safe havens from hunger and wars. The rebels of the 1894 Donghak Peasant Revolution came to the

mountain to devise their future plans after being put down by the Japanese. During the Korean War (1950-1953), Nor th Korean guerrilla forces were caught or killed while hiding on Jirisan Mountain. Great hiking trails for beginners

Jirisan Mountain is beautiful all year round, but it is especially impressive when covered with blossoms and the vibrant colors of spring. In March, yellow apricot blossoms cover the mountain to announce the ar r ival of the season. The mountain changes its color to pink in April with aza-

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leas. A Korean folktale tells a tragic, yet beautiful story behind the Korean name for azaleas, jindallae. There once was a woodcutter who marr ied a fairy from the heavens after treating her injured leg. They soon had a daughter and named her Dallae. After a few years, the fairy had to return to the heavens, and the woodcutter raised their daughter by himself. Dallae grew to become a beautiful woman, but she was killed by a district mag istrate when he became enraged because she refused to be his concubine. The dead body of Dallae went up to the heavens, and the woodcutter wept incon-

solably for a long time and also died. Pink flowers then snowed down from the sky and covered the woodcutter’s body. Every year since, the flowers bloomed at the woodcutter’s grave, and people started call-

ing the flower jindallae after the surname of the woodcutter, Jin, and the name of his daughter, Dallae. Hiking trails weave in and out across the foothills of Jirisan Mountain and are loved by outdoor enthusiasts.There are six shelters which offer lodging, and springs are scattered across the mountain. Each section of the trails is marked by sign posts to show the starting and end points, and the sign posts help even the least experienced hikers find their way across the mountain. Jirisan Mountain is home to numerous Buddhist temples, including Hwaeomsa Temple and Ssanggyesa Temple.

FLAVOR

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Spring Greens A Healthy Taste Sprouts From the Earth.

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Written by Yoon Se-eun Photographed by Kim Jin-hee Cooked and Styled by Kim Ga-young

1 - stonecrop 4-

2 - bangpung (Saposhnikoviae radix) 3 - fatsia shoots 4 - sseumbagwi (Ixeris dentata) -5

5 - daylilies 6 - wild chives

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eople have long eaten fresh greens as they sprout from the thawing earth in spring to replenish nutrients lost duringwinter. Fresh greens are slightly bitter, but tasty and fragrant, and, of course, they taste best in spring. The most popular spring herbs include shepherd’s purse, stonecrop,

wild chives, daylilies, fatsia shoots, sseum bagwi (Ixeris dentata) and bangpung (Saposh nikoviae radix). Here is a simple way to cook spring greens. Pick some fresh greens. Blanch and mix them with pepper paste (gochujang) or soybean paste (doenjang) and sesame oil.You

can have them as a side dish or use them as a topping for a large bowl of rice. Spring greens grow in the thawing, but still cold, earth and are a precious source of vitamins, minerals and protein. You need spr ing greens to reinvigorate your body after the long winter.

Do you want to grab a movie tonight?

오늘 같이 영화 볼까요? Oneul gachi yeonghwa bolkkayo? Do you have plans this weekend? Minsu wants to make some plans with her friend, Mina. Let’s talk about making plans in Korean.

-(으)ㅂ시다

미나 씨, 오늘 같이 영화 볼까요? Mina ssi, oneul gachi yeonghwa bolkkayo? 민수

오늘은 약속이 있어요. 내일 같이 봅시다. oneureun yaksogi isseoyo. naeil gachi bopsida.

You can use this form when you propose or suggest something to the listener. ‘-읍시다’ is attached to the verb stem ending in a consonant, and ‘-ㅂ시다’ is attached to the verb stem ending in a vowel.

-(으)ㄹ까요? 미나

좋아요. 명동역에서 만날까요? joayo. Myeong-dongyeogeseo mannalkkayo? 민수

명동역은 복잡하니까 영화관 앞에서 만납시다. Myeong-dongyeogeun bokjapanikka yeonghwagwan apeseo mannapsida.

In spoken Korean, ‘-(으)ㄹ까요?’ is used to make a suggestion or inquire about someone’s inclination. The subject of the sentence ‘우리 (we)’ is often omitted. Since ‘-(으)ㄹ까요?’ takes the form of the question, it sounds softer or politer than ‘-(으)ㅂ시 다’ when making a suggestion. ‘-을까요?’ is attached to the verb stem ending in consonant, and ‘-ㄹ까요?’ is attached to the verb stem ending in a vowel.

미나

Pronunciation

Let’s practice! basic form 영화를 보다 younghwareul boda

-(으)ㅂ시다 form suggestion

-(으)ㄹ까요 form more softer

영화를 봅시다 younghwareul bopsida

영화를 볼까요 younghwareul bolkkayo

명동역에서 만납시다 Myeong-dongyeogeseo mannapsida

명동역에서 만날까요 Myeong-dongyeogeseo mannalkkayo

점심을 먹읍시다 jeomsimeul meogeupsida

점심을 먹을까요 jeomsimeul meogeulkkayo

watch a movie

명동역에서 만나다 Myeong-dongyeogeseo Mannada meet at Myeong-dong station

점심을 먹다 jeomsimeul meokda eat lunch

받침 ㅌ + [ㅣ] → [치] • 오늘 같이 [가치] 영화 볼까요? oneul gachi yeonghwa bolkkayo? • 한국어 공부는 끝이 [끄치] 없어요. hangugeo gongbuneun kkeuchi eopseoyo.