ISSUE 06 April 2014
facebook.com/platformdaegu
April 2014 INSIGHT 2 – 3 – 5 –
Women in Korean Politics The Skater Formally Known as Ahn Hyun-Soo Then and Now: No Country for Young Men
ON LOCATION 7 – #manduonmandu
MUSIC & ARTS 9 – Genius 11 – Big Day South: Audio & Visual Festival 15 – Old School: 태국기 16 – Old School: Lady Vengeance
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Interview: Genius
FOOD & DRINK 17 – Food: 양꼬치 19 – Drink: 남전여전
COMMUNITY 23 – Expat Diaries: Hitting the Slopes 25 – Living in Korea: There's an App for that! 27 – Colorful Gay구
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CULTURE 29 – Daegu in March
PLATFORM 31 – Directory 32 – Staff & Contributors
Cover photo by Tania Vincent
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Big Day South: Audio & Visual Festival
INSIGHT
Women in Korean Politics Story by Kieran Duffy
O
n February 25th 2013, I set foot in Korea for the first time. While my arrival in Daegu may no doubt seem like the most important thing to occur on this day, it seems that it was not. While I was frantically trying to locate a bus from Incheon to Dongdaegu station, a new President of Korea was being sworn into office. Park Geun-Hye has now occupied this role for just over one year and while her presidency has been very controversial at times, there is one aspect of her election victory which all forwardthinking people could support - it was the first time a woman had become president of Korea. In fact, it was the first instance of any nation in north-east Asia having a female head of state in modern times. This is a very progressive step and one which many nations have yet to witness, with such countries as the United States and France never having had a female president. Despite this development, women’s representation in Korean politics is still rather lacking. Only 15.7% of members of the National Assembly are women, a severe under-representation of half the nation’s people (coincidentally the exact same percentage of female deputies in Ireland’s lower house of parliament, giving me little right
to be smug). While this is a cause for concern, the figures for local government are even more worrying. No woman has been elected chief of a province or major city in Korea. In 2010, 228 people were elected to positions in charge of smaller cities, counties, and wards yet only six were female. June will see another series of local elections and only one woman has put herself forward for election as chief of a province or major city. Lawmaker Lee Hye-Hoon is seeking the nomination of Park Geun- Hye’s Saenuri Party to run for office as the mayor of Seoul. She is facing many challenges however, as there are two experienced rival candidates within her own party, one of them former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik. Even if she secures the nomination she will still face an election against the popular incumbent Park Won-Soon. Such unlikely odds may make the future of women in Korean politics seem a cause for despair. However, the election of a female president was a huge development in Korean society, one which may open up enormous opportunities for other candidates in the future. The ‘glass ceiling’ in politics may become a thing of a past.
INSIGHT
The Skater Formally Known as
Ahn Hyun-Soo Story by Nathan Ouriach
I
approach the Winter Olympics like I approach tteokbokki. I know it exists, I know where I can get it, and there is a large disparity between what I think it is like and what it really is like. For the first time in my life I found myself watching the Winter Olympics and trying to support “Team GB” as well as learn the rules of the biathlon. Both of these endeavors failed. Nevertheless, I did develop an interest in a name that was previously unknown to me, as well as being unknown to the man himself just a few years ago: Viktor Ahn. In Sochi 2014, Viktor Ahn equaled retired short track racer Apolo Anton Ohno by winning two gold medals for Russia and taking his total Olympic medals to eight. What makes this story so newsworthy is the fact that Viktor Ahn was born in Seoul and won two gold medals for South Korea in the Turin Winter Olympics of 2006. The story of Viktor Ahn is a curious case of contradiction and contrition. Ahn’s narrative reached its apex during a midnight press conference shortly after winning his medals in Sochi. Sitting alongside the President of Russian Speed Skating, Aleksei Kravtsov, Ahn was candidly asked whether Russia had “bought” him, and what followed read like something by Samuel Beckett. Relayed through layers of translation, Ahn and Kravtsov began to diverge from one another’s stories. Ahn began by saying “When I came to Russia, at the start I did not have any intention of changing nationality,” which preced-
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ed Kravtsov’s “From the very beginning when he came to Russia, it was with the intention to perform for Russia at the Sochi Games.” Kravtsov continued to detail that Ahn’s tryst with Russia began in March 2011 with a letter, written in English, from Ahn’s uncle saying that Ahn would like to train in Russia. Ahn and Kravtsov’s moonlight debate is probably continuing today, yet the when is a question that pales in significance to why Ahn moved to Russia. Rather than turning on Ahn himself, Korea seems to have turned on The South Korean Skating Union instead. President Park Geun-Hye guided the country into self-reflection about what may have driven him away, questioning whether it was "impropriety or systemic problems.” Jang Kwon-Ok, a former skating coach for South Korea, Australia, and the U.S. entered the debate by saying that Ahn was batting eyelids at the American skating team but subsequently chose Russia and particularly the Russian ruble. The media have reported that as a result of his success in Sochi, Ahn will be rewarded with the equivalent of 516 million won from the Russian Federation. For that reason alone, Viktor Ahn must be happy he didn’t choose to become Mikey Ahn. Ahn’s case is reminiscent of a similar situation in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Another Korean Olympian won gold under the guise of a different nationality but due to very different circumstances. Sohn Kee-Chung won the marathon for Korea at a time when the country was un-
INSIGHT
der colonial rule. The 24-year-old stood on the podium with the Japanese flag on his tunic and became a Korean symbol of strength against the loss of their national sovereignty. Although Sohn and Ahn share this very specific piece of Olympic trivia, their agendas could not have been more different. Ahn Hyun-Soo has entered Olympic history and will be remembered for his eight medals
before he is remembered for which colors were on his skating suit. Koreans will lament the loss of a potential sporting hero over some bureaucratic error within its federations, whilst the Russians will celebrate and welcome the man who they also call ‘Koryo-in’. The issue alludes to a growing confusion in all forms of sport as they struggle with the fluid notion of nationality. Ahn certainly will not be the last.
INSIGHT
Then and Now:
No Country for Young Men I was on a harmless jaunt last semester, teaching the use of adjectives, when I turned a corner and suddenly collided with history. It was standing there quite alone, in the shadows, withering, and collecting dust. Story by Stephen Schuit
T
he drill focused on the correct use of adjectives (blue, red, black, white, beautiful) to describe the Korean flag. Then I asked my students to explain the meaning of the black lines that lie in the corners of the flag. In one class, not a single student could explain the lines. My casual curiosity led to more serious research. Partnering with a Korean professor of history, we found that an overwhelming majority of students, even when asked in Korean, couldn’t explain that aspect of their national flag. I shared my observations with colleagues. The protestations of skeptics were loud and numerous, ranging from “No kids anywhere know the details of their native flags,” to “So what?” Other individuals, however, are far less sanguine. What with the pressure to learn math, science, and English, Korean society has relegated their history to the dung heap. Like the old buildings in Singapore, Korea’s past has been swept away by the bulldozers of “progress.” Recently a number of concerned Korean leaders have taken a stand. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, putting the weight of her office behind the issue, said, “The history of a country is like the soul of the people.” President Park and her administration want to return Korean history to the list of required subjects students must study. Kim Tae-Won, a professor of history at
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Seoul National University, also weighed in on the issue. He noted that students, in general, lack knowledge of Korean history due to the current design of school curricula. A recent editorial in The Korea Times declared “We can’t over-emphasize the importance of history education.” Further buttressing the issue, the Chosun Ilbo reported that a recent survey found that most Korean teens didn't know when the Korean War started (1950-1953). I find this troubling. Six decades ago the entire Korean peninsula lay in rubble. Nothing short of one of the world’s most amazing economic miracles brought South Korea back from the abyss to where it is today. That story and how it happened, starting with when the war began and why, should be emblazoned on every Korean student’s awareness. Philosopher George Santayana famously noted, “Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.” Alas, only one Korean institution of higher learning (and there are hundreds) requires applicants to take a Korean history test as part of the nationwide state administered test -Seoul National University. I think the next time I do my adjective drill, I’ll throw in a little history lesson, just for good measure.
INSIGHT
NAME IN KOREAN
NATURE
SEASONS
CARDINAL DIRECTIONS
FOUR VIRTUES
FAMILY
FOUR ELEMENTS
MEANINGS
geon
sky
spring
east
humanity
father
heaven
justice
ri
sun
autumn
south
justice
daughter
fire
fruition
gam
moon
winter
north
intelligence
son
water
wisdom
gon
earth
summer
west
courtesy
mother
earth
vitality
Information courtesy of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ON LOCATION
#manduonmandu Story and Photography by Winnie Ku
I
t’s 4:29 p.m., you’ve already shut down your computer, changed from your indoor slippers to your outdoor shoes, and are sitting on the edge of your chair, ready to bolt and say your last “annyeong-he-gye-say-yoooooo” as soon as the clock strikes half-past. If you’re like me, the reason you’re ready to leave as fast as humanly possible is primarily because your stomach is growling from the dissatisfying school lunch you probably didn’t manage to eat four hours earlier. You might also be looking for the first opportunity to gorge on something tasty and edible – that isn’t served on a metal tray – after your day at work is over. Look no further, as I present to you…Mandu Street! In typical Korean fashion, for reasons unbeknownst to us, Korea has yet again gathered a large group of the same type of stores together in one “convenient-if-you’re-there, but inconvenient-if-you’re-not” street. We’re all familiar with Cell Phone Street, Wedding Dress Street, Pet Shop Street, and Wig Street – or maybe that last one is just me, to name a few, but now we have the pleasure of adding a “Mandu Street” to our repertoire of randomly categorized streets in Daegu! Yay!
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First off, for those of us who are newbies to the deliciousness that is mandu, what exactly is mandu? It’s one of my favorite foods in Korea, and is essentially a dumpling often filled with minced meat, tofu, green onions, garlic, and ginger. It is a cooked ball of dough, with a savory meat and/or vegetable filling, then pinched together at the top to create a little point in the dough; picture Bulbasaur’s bulb, only filled with meat. Delicious, right? Mandu is a safe choice to eat for those of you who are a bit wary about trying unfamiliar dishes, as it isn’t super spicy, it’s easy on the stomach, and is always guaranteed to be good! Now that we’ve covered the basics of what mandu is, where exactly is this Mandu Street I speak of? Well, it’s located near Herb Hillz and Spa Valley, Mandu Street exists in Gachang Town (Gachang Myeon), south of central Daegu. A quick Google Maps search of “가창찐빵손만 두” should successfully get you there. Upon arrival at the bus stop named Gachang Town Office, you can immediately see plenty of mandu shops lining the street, all looking warm and inviting with fresh steam billowing from their many mandu pots at the front entrances, and the smell
ON LOCATION
of cooking mandu wafting in the air. Most mandu shops offer a very affordable menu where you might be able to buy the lot for a measly 12,000 won. Varieties such as 찐만 두 (steamed mandu), 김치만두 (kimchi mandu), and 왕만두 (king mandu – supersized mandu) are amongst the most popular choices and are available in every shop, as well as 찐빵 (steamed bread with red beans inside) which makes for a nice dessert after all the dumplings. For about 3,000 won a dish, you can get anywhere from 10 pieces of regular-sized mandu to five pieces of 왕만두 or 찐빵. In addition to the ridiculous por-
tions of food for such an affordable price, you can expect to be treated with excellent customer service at all of the shops in this quaint little town. this was my experience when I went, along with a few of the kind women running the shops even offering free mandu while I waited for my order! Free mandu? I’ll never say no to that! So, the next time you’re in the mood to expand your foodie horizon, look beyond the McDonald’s and Burger King by the stage downtown, and head over to Gachang Town for some freshly made mandu! It’s man-DO, not man-DON’T!
MUSIC & ARTS
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MUSIC & ARTS
Genius Story by Ali Safavi, image provided by Soo Hwan Swan Park
To some it may seem that Busan-based punkrock band Genius has been around forever. You’ve probably heard the name around the Korean-music Internet sites a few times and maybe seen their name on the wall of your favorite weekend hangout and with good reason. Without a doubt, it is one of Korea’s hardest working and busiest bands playing in many venues often. It sometimes even seems like they don’t know how to say ‘no’ to show offers, which is a wonderful thing for us. They’ve not only toured Korea extensively, but also taken America and Japan by storm a few times, too. In addition, they have been shown love from GQ Korea and EBS Space, a sort of Top of the Pops for good Korean music. The members of Genius obviously don’t take themselves too seriously; most of their songs touch on the standard punk themes of girls, drinking and sex. Occasionally, however, they’ll pull a few heart strings with songs such as the tissue grabber Catch A Job, showing to all listeners that they aren’t just a one-trick band. Their live shows are rarely a dull affair, and the chance of fisticuffs mid-set is pretty high. Currently hitting the gigs to promote their new album Beaches, which is the band’s third release, the chaotic fun of Genius will be hitting Jeng-iY Bar on Saturday April 12th with support from PlasticKiz, Colours, and also grind core band Dead Gakkahs from Seoul. We stepped on a tail to keep Steve C (bass) and Casey McKeever (drums) in place for more than two seconds to ask them a few questions. We've seen your stickers all around Daegu venues, but when was the last time you actually played here? Casey: We played not long ago because March Kings asked us to. Steve C: Those boys are solid people.
Playing shows to promote a new album…. isn't that kind of selling out? Punk bands don't promote anything. Right? Steve C: I think punk promotes the questioning of unjust authority, of fascism, asshole-ism, ignorance, and blind hate. Noam Chomsky is punk. Bruce Lee is punk. Tim Wise is punk. So we’re not really punk. We’re just noisy old men with no money. Casey: I don't know. I'm not in a punk band. You all share the vocal duties more on this latest album. Is there any particular reason for this? Casey: That's how it worked out. We all wrote songs. I apologize. Steve C: I didn’t want to sing my songs, but nobody else did either... so I HAD to. Someone once told me that Genius is kind of like the cooler older brother of the Busan punk scene. Does it feel like that to you? Steve C: I don’t know who said that, but I’m not buying him a beer. Casey: Older, yes. Any good bands in Busan we should check out? Casey: Say Sue Me and 3 Volt. Steve C: Say Sue Me is probably my favorite in Busan. If Three Summer ever plays again, they’d be a band to checkout too. Lastly, is there anything people should bring to your Daegu show? Steve C: Their heretofore unsatisfied women. Casey: Lots of cash. We're selling out. *For more information on the show, check out the I Like Many Records Facebook page.
MUSIC & ARTS
Big Day South: Audio & Visual Festival Story by Ali Safavi, translation by 이규진 Images provided by Ken Robinson, Leon Choi, Min Kim, and Phillip Brett
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n the last year or so there has been a noticeable push in Daegu to support and encourage not yet established local art, music, and other creative ventures, from within the city itself. Some, who have found themselves in Daegu for more than a minute, have decided that one does not have to live in South Korea as a tourist, a simple observer, but that you can follow your passions and get involved with your surroundings without any boundaries of nationality or language. On Saturday April 26th, [b]racket Magazine, I Like Many Records, and Angle Magazine, are coming together to throw a festival that will showcase some of the best talent that we have in the south. The ‘Big Day South’ festival will bring together artists, musicians, dancers, and spoken word from Ulsan, Daegu, and Busan to play at two important venues in Daegu: Social Market is a shop full of handmade crafts from artists throughout Korea. The shop will play host to live art and demonstrations of art from Leon Choi, William Joseph Leitzman, and Moke. As well as live screen printing and an ‘exquisite corpse’: wherein people collectively contribute to a piece of art. There will also be some lovely music from Andrew Blad and Mine Lee/ 이민혜. Social Market is a unique shop, offering guests a chance to experience the creative process and listen to music while at the same
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Mine Lee
time providing the opportunity to discover wonderful handmade goods. Club Urban has long been an iconic venue for live music in downtown Daegu. Their stage is often graced by the presence of many local and international acts, as well as also being a popular drinking hole for foreigners and Koreans alike. During the Big Day South festival, Club Urban will play host to an assortment of acts, including music and spoken word from Ulsan, a DJ, a dancer and an indie band from Busan, as well as Daegu acts Dogstar/도그스타, November On Earth, Colours, The Curses (ex. Lady Winchester), and the legendary Yamagata Tweakster. To finish things off, we will have some of our city’s hardworking charities raising awareness and selling some delicious cakes. With the Big Day South festival, we want to showcase the creativity, talent, and beauty outside of Seoul, to challenge the notion that in Korea if something cannot be found in the capital then it probably doesn’t exist anywhere else in the country. Whilst it is true that for now Seoul is the heart of many interesting cultural happening in South Korea, the belief that we are left barren in the southern cities is a false one. [b]racket Magazine, I Like Many Records, and Angle Magazine feel that a festival would be a great way to disprove that assumption.
MUSIC & ARTS
Colours
We also did not want to exclude any nationality from this event but rather try, as we do in our daily ventures, to bridge the gap between Korean and foreigners. Both groups have an immense amount of talent and a language barrier need not hold us back from enjoying or engaging in the creative endeavors of either group. I hope you will join us! When: Saturday April 26th Where: Social Market (12-4pm) & Club Urban (5pm-late). Price: 15,000 won for a day ticket. Concessions will be available for those wanting to enjoy just one of the venues. PLUS: The first 70 people to buy all-day tickets at Social Market will receive a wonderful screen-printed poster from [b]racket magazine’s very talented Jess Hinshaw. Event link: www.facebook.com/events/1390542644552142
MUSIC & ARTS
Yamagata Tweakster
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최
근들어 대구 자체적으 로 아직 기반이 쌓이지 않은 지역 예술인, 뮤지 션, 그리고 기타 창의적인 활동 을 지원하는 움직임이 시작되었 다. 만약 당신이 대구에 잠시라 도 머물면서 단지 여행자, 혹 방 관자에 머물지 않길 원한다면, 당신의 국적이나 언어에 상관없 이 주위의 행사에 적극적으로 참 여하며 당신이 가지고 있는 열정 을 표현할 수 있다. 4월26일 토요일, [b]racket Magazine, I Like Many Records, 그리고 Angle Magazine 이 세 잡지 팀이 영남지역의 잠재된 재 능을 보여주기 위한 축제를 개최 할 예정이다. “Big Day South” 축 제에서는, 대구에 있는 두 곳의 의미 있는 장소에서 울산, 대구, 부산에서 오는 예술인, 뮤지션, 그리고 스포큰워드(시를 공연형 식으로 보여주는 무대)를 한자 리에서 볼 수 있을 것이다. Social Market은 한국 곳곳에 있는 예술가들이 만은 수제공예 품으로 이루어진 가게다. 이 곳 에서 Leon Choi, William Joseph Leitzman, 그리고 Moke의 라이
MUSIC & ARTS 브 아트와 설명을 감상 할 수 있 다. 또한 라이브 스크린 페인팅 과 ‘우아한 시체’도 상영한다 (이 곳에서 사람들은 예술품 각각에 기부할 수도 있다). 그리고 Andrew Blad, Mine Lee(이민혜)씨 가 사랑스러운 음악들을 연주해 줄 것이다. Social Market에서 창의적인 과정, 음악을 경험하는 동시에, 훌륭한 수제품들을 발견 하는 기회를 제공받게 될것이다. Club Urban은 예전부터 대구 시내에서 음악을 즐기는 아이콘 같은 장소다. 그곳의 무대는 많 은 국내외 연주자들의 잦은 방문 으로 유명세를 탔으며, 내외국인 모두에게 매력적인 술자리로 자 리 잡았다 .”Big Day South” 축 제 기간 동안 Club Urban은 울 산출신 스포큰워드, DJ, 댄서, 그 리고 부산출신 인디밴드, 더불어 Dogstar(도그스타), November On Earth, Colours , The Curses (예: Lady Winchester) , 전설적 인 Yamagata Tweakster와 같 은 대구 인디밴드 들까지 공연 할 예정이다. 공연 후, 대구 자선 단체에 관한 정보공유 및 맛있는 케익도 즐길 수 있다.
Big Day South축제를 통해, 한국에서 일반적으로 당신이 원 하는 그 무언가를 서울에서 찾 지 못한다면 아마 다른 지방 어 느 곳에서도 존재하지 않을 거라 는 편견에 도전하기 위해 여러분 의 독창성, 재능, 그리고 서울 그 이상의 아름다움을 공개적으로 보여주길 원한다. 현재로서는 서 울이 한국의 여러 문화행사의 중 심이라는 것은 사실이지만, 대구 가 문화의 불모지라는 편견은 분 명 틀린 것 임을 증명해 보였으 면 한다. [b]racket Magazine, I Like Many Records, and Angle Magazine, 세 잡지 팀들은 이번 축제를 통해 사람들의 편견이 틀 렸음을 증명하는 장이 되기를 고 대하고 있다. 우리는 또한 이번 축제 동안 어떤 국적도 배제하는 것을 원하 지 않으며, 한국인과 외국인 사 이의 소통의 기회가 되도록 항상 그렇듯 많은 노력을 할 것이다. 두 그룹 모두 뛰어난 재능이 있 음을 믿으며 언어장벽 때문에 이 멋진 축제를 즐길 기회를 포기할 필요는 절대 없다. 당신이 우리 와 함께하길 진심으로 바란다!!!
언제: 4월26일 토요일 어디서: Social Market (12-4pm) & Club Urban (5pm-late) 가격: 종일권은 15,000원. 행사 장소 중 한곳만 즐기기를 원하는 사람 들은 할인권 제공 추가사항: Social Market에서 종일권을 사는 사람들 중 선착순70명은 [b]racket Magazine의 재능 있는 Jess Hinshaw가 만든 멋진 그림이 그 려진 포스터를 받을 수 있을 것이다.
이벤트 링크: www.facebook.com/events/1390542644552142
Say Sue Me
Leon Choi
MUSIC & ARTS
Old School 태국기: Tae Guk Gi Story by Matthew Caracciolo
M
y introduction to South Korean cinema was Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War. This Korean War drama, directed by the popular Kang Je-Gyu, is at once both a potent action film and disappointing character study. An unnecessary frame story notwithstanding, Tae Guk Gi rolls out with some slow-paced scenes depicting the relationship between the two main characters, brothers Jin-Tae and JinSeok. Jin-Seok’s scholarly aptitude is a gleaming ray of hope for their family, at least according to older brother Jin-Tae, whose rougher edges relegate him to a life of shoe shining. Not much time is lost, though, before the North Koreans invade and the brothers are forced to join the South Korean army. Eager to send his younger brother home and save his life, Jin-Tae strikes a deal with an officer: if he volunteers for dangerous missions and proves himself courageously on the battlefield, Jin-Seok will be granted an early dismissal. But at what cost will Jin-Tae earn his brother’s freedom? The brothers soon realize that pride, revenge, and the cruelty of war are just as powerful nemeses as the North Koreans. Tae Guk Gi rightfully receives comparisons to Saving Private Ryan, the quintessential WWII movie that ponders the oft-explored theme: what is one man’s life worth? The key difference, though, is that there is far less pondering in Tae Guk Gi. Kang seems preoccupied with including every turning point in the Korean War. An exhausting number of minutes is devoted to explosions, dead bodies, and chaotic carnage, rather than exploring the depths of our two main characters’ evolution. Too often, the audience is
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told rather than shown how the characters have changed with too many information dumps to keep the story moving. In the end, a promising idea falls short. This isn’t to say the film doesn’t have its merits. The war scenes, overlong to the point of saturation as they are, brim with exciting editing and brutal special effects. The audience gets a small, terrifying taste of what soldiers faced in the trenches, battlefields, and backyards of the Korean War. The film also does a commendable job of offering a balanced perspective on the atrocities committed during the war, portraying both sides as willing to do just about anything to win. Jin-Tae becomes the spirit of South Korea incarnate as he fights with increasing tenacity and disregard for human life: what is he willing to do to keep his family and his home safe? It’s this self-reflection that is the film’s redeeming quality, placing it above the mindless, chest-thumping war movies that more often invade movie theaters. Recommended for: History buffs, fans of Saving Private Ryan. Skip: if you’re skittish about war-violence, or less than thrilled about sentimentality. Available on Youtube with English subtitles. Grade: B
MUSIC & ARTS
Lady Vengeance Story by Jasetyn Hatcher
P
ark Chan-Wook began as a film critic and promptly moved on to a successful directing career. After the success of films such as ‘Joint Security Area’ he was given the license to create a trilogy based around the theme of revenge. The first film in the trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) wasn’t a great success within Korea, but won international recognition. The second film in the trilogy is the infamous Oldboy, which won national and international acclaim, giving the third and last film in the trilogy, Lady Vengeance, a lot to live up to. As most expats have seen the second installation Oldboy, it makes it difficult for Lady Vengeance to follow the intensity and mystery of that film. In all honesty, it doesn’t. The casting and acting in Oldboy really distinguish it as the best film of the three. But, these films aren’t meant to mirror each other, or finish where the other left off. Each film has its own separate charm. Although there are some similarities: all 3 movies in the Vengeance series begin in school days, where a terrible situation or a poor decision begins to unfold the linearity of the plot; and many of the same actors are used although their characters are rarely if ever repeated. Like some of his other films (Stoker, Oldboy) Lady Vengeance is a highly stylized film with no intensely moral or philosophical ‘point’ to revenge. You aren’t left with a feeling that the characters demonstrated an important life lesson. One would be forgiven for turning the movie off after the first half, as Park did an excellent job of making the watcher work out the purpose of events. If one is flexible in working out how and why all of these separate scenes go together,
then what seems disjointed will eventually become more linear. Our story centers on Geum-Ja, who is finally released into the world after 13 years in prison for the kidnap and murder of 5 year old WonMo. Known as a witch, able to invoke her ‘special angel’ to get things done, she does give us a glimpse of good-hearted behavior: poisoning the prison bully, and sending her to hospital by making her slip in the public bath are among other activities highly praised by the inmates. In the development of this detailed plot, these activities help to solidify her relationships with the inmates when they are all finally released from prison. With her active criminal network connections she begins to put a plan in place that slowly comes together, revealing her true motives. I am a personal fan of leading ladies, but the awkward mixture of the script and actress Lee Yeong-Ae’s portrayal of Lee Geum-Ja make watching the violent and underground themes of the film a very uncomfortable experience, for all the wrong reasons. As dark and dramatic as the story sometimes is, it is considerably more comedic than the first 2 films. I don’t recall laughing or giggling to myself in watching both Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy, yet in the third film Park has managed to mix some dark humor into our heroine’s activities. This adds a different dimension to the trilogy, and it poses the question of whether vengeance, no matter how sweet or deserved, is merely a part of life.
양꼬치 Story by Maxwell Shellabarger, translation by 김성민 Photography by Tom Rogers
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espite the bevy of options that await potential diners in Daegu, it is easy to get tired of the same old flavors. Thus, whenever I find a new restaurant that is not some form of 삼겹살 or 닭갈비, I am very excited. From the outside, my most recent restaurant discovery appears just like any other nearby Korean joint. Despite this outward appearance, the fare served here is unique. The sign merely reads “ 양꼬치" which literally translates to “lamb skewers” and succinctly describes most of the menu. Upon doing more research on this style of food, I came to realize that it is apparently of Chinese origin. Having been to this restaurant a handful of times, my friends and I have sampled a variety of the menu choices. Our go-to order is always just the basic “양꼬치” (yang go chi). We have tried the 양길비살 (yang gal bi sal) which is apparently some sort of lamb rib meat; it’s also a good choice but does not quite compare to the dish on the front sign. All the meat served here is marinated in some sort of spicy red paste and then ostensibly dry rubbed with additional spices. The resulting flavor is unlike other meat options I have experienced here in Korea. All the meat is served, true to its name, on skewers that automatically spin over the charcoal in the middle of your table. In addition to these options, this restaurant has the best 탕수육 (tang soo yook) I have ever
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had. 탕수육 is, for those of you who have yet to try it, deep fried pork typically drenched in gooey sweet and sour sauce. Most restaurants’ offerings of this dish leave something to be desired, in my opinion. This place, on the other hand, serves up crispy, tangy bits of pork with none of the gloopy mess that I have had elsewhere. I would definitely recommend giving it a try. There are other restaurants around town that serve the same kind of lamb, spicily marinated on thin metal skewers. In my mind, what sets this place apart from the others is the friendly old woman who runs it. Evidently there are few foreigners who frequent her restaurant (my friends who introduced me to this place were apparently the first foreigners to EVER go there and were thus photographed to memorialize the event). When you come in, you are greeted with a big smile and I have yet to not have received some sort of “service” in the form of free skewers of meat or prawns. Sometimes we have even been given free dumplings. The only possible downside to this place is that it is a bit more expensive than your typical barbecue place. Finding it might sound a bit tricky but it is pretty straightforward. From downtown, take the 425 bus to 신평리네거리. Exit the bus and walk to your right back towards KB bank. Cross the street and turn left. Walk straight past Paris Baguette and it will be a red sign on your right not far after that.
FOOD & DRINK 대구에서 맛볼 수 있는 다양한 음식에도 불구하고, 때로는 이미 익숙해진 음식에 질리기 쉽다. 그래서 삼겹살이나 닭갈비와는 다른 종류의 음식점을 찾게 될 때마다 나는 신이 난다. 최근 찾아낸 새로운 식 당은 늘 그렇듯 여느 골목에 위치해 있다. 다른 식 당들과 비슷한 외형에도 불구하고 이곳의 음식은 이 식당을 특별하게 해준다. 간판은 단순히 ‘양꼬치’ 라 고 쓰여 있는데, 그것은 글자 그대로 “양고기 꼬치” 이고 대부분의 메뉴에서도 볼 수 있다. 양고기 꼬 치는 중국에서 유래 되었음을 리서치를 통하여 알 게 되었다. 이 식당에 몇 번 오면서 나와 친구들은 다양한 메뉴를 맛보았다. 우리가 주문 하는 요리는 주로 “ 기본-양꼬치” 이다. 우리는 양 갈비 살도 먹어보았 고 그 역시 좋은 선택이었지만, 이곳의 대표격인 양 꼬치 와는 비교가 되지 않았다. 이곳의 모든 고기는 맵고 빨간 소스에 절여지고, 겉 부분은 건조가 되어 추가양념이 발라진다. 이 조리과정을 걸친 후의 맛 은 지금껏 한국에서 먹어봤던 다른 고기의 맛들과는 다르다. 이곳에서의 모든 고기들은, 메뉴의 이름 그 대로 꼬챙이에 꽂혀진 채 나오는데, 그 꼬챙이는 각 테이블 중앙에 있는 숯 위에서 자동으로 돌아간다. 이러한 메뉴들과 더불어, 이 곳에서는 탕수육을 파는데 내가 먹어본 탕수육 중 최고이다. 혹시 아직 탕수육을 먹어보지 않은 이을 위하여, 탕수육은 기 름에 튀긴 돼지고기를 부드럽고 끈적끈적 거리며 새 콤한 맛이 나는 소스에 곁들인 요리이다. 이것이 대 부분의 탕수육을 파는 식당에서 예상할 수 있는 탕 수육의 모습이다. 하지만 이 식당에선 내가 다른 곳 에서 먹어봤던 끈적끈적한 소스를 곁들인 탕수육과 는 달리 바삭바삭하고 달콤한 탕수육을 맛 볼 수 있 다. 꼭 먹어보기를 권한다. 물론 시내 주변에는 이 식당과 같이 매운 양념을 해서 가느다란 금속 꼬챙이에 끼워 양고기 요리를
파는 다른 식당들이 있다. 하지만 이 식당을 다른 비 슷한 식당보다 돋보이게 하는 것은 식당을 운영하시 는 친절한 아주머니 덕분 인 것 같다. 이 식당에 자 주 들리는 외국인은 거의 없다. (나에게 이곳을 소 개시켜 준 친구들이 분명히 이 식당의 첫 번째 외국 인들이었고, 그래서 그 ‘처음’을 기념하기 위해 사진 을 찍었다.) 이곳에 가게 되면 분명 환한 미소와 함 께 인사를 받게 될 것이며, 나의 경우 지금껏 이곳에 서 받는 이런 멋진 서비스를 여느 비슷한 종류의 식 당에서 받아 본 적이 없다. 심지어 가끔 공짜로 만 두를 서비스 해주시기도 한다. 단 한가지 단점은 이 곳의 가격이 다른 보통의 고깃집보다는 다소 비싸 다는 점이다. 식당을 찾아가는 길은 약간 복잡하게 들리지만 꽤 나 간단하다. 시내에서 425번 버스를 타고 신평리 네거리에서 내려 바로 오른쪽 뒤 국민은행 방향으로 걷는다. 횡단보도를 건너 왼쪽으로 돌아 파리바게뜨 를 지나 걷다 보면, 머지않아 오른쪽에 빨간색 간판 이 보일 것이다.
Namjeon Yeojeon 남전여전 Story by Courtney Vendramin, translation by Gwiwon Nam Images provided by 남전여전
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n my 19 months of living in Daegu I have become quite familiar with the downtown scene. One of my favorite things about our city is that it seems to be ever changing. The moment you start getting bored with downtown they a new restaurant, café, club or bar is opening up. So, if you are becoming bored of the regular haunts on ‘bar street’ or new to Daegu, fret not, there is so much for you to explore downtown! Thankfully, I am here to lend a helping hand to find and test all these places. With April fast approaching, I was ready to step out of my sweatpants, switch off the endless HBO reruns streaming on my laptop, and put my heels on for a night downtown. This month’s issue brought my two makgeolli loving friends and I to one of the best tasting makgeolli bars we have found so far! Located downtown close to
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the Jungangno subway station is the new bar 남 전여전 (Namjeon Yeojeon). This unique makge-
olli bar will not leave you disappointed. It offers something to the Daegu residents that I don’t see too often, delicious makgeolli for a very reasonable price paired with live music. When we first entered 남전여전 I wasn’t quite sure what to think: the two-story bar has an intriguing set up. The bottom floor offers live music and a larger seating area, while the top floor is a quieter retreat to chat and enjoy yourself with friends, whilst still being in earshot of the music. When we gave our order we were told they were sold out of the salad pizza. What is a girl to do when there is no pizza, even if it is covered in salad? Order a bulgogi salad, obviously. We were not disappointed with our second choice. The portions were huge (Western huge,
FOOD & DRINK not Korean huge) and easily shared between three hungry women. Besides salad, pizza and chicken, 남전여전 offers a variety of Korean foods including: soups, stir-fries, and pancakes. The real joy however, and let’s face it: the real reason we were there, was in the wide variety of makgeolli available to choose from. 남전여전 offers every type of makgeolli I could dream of, including a new discovery: makgeolli fruit cocktails. While we were there we sampled the honey, pineapple, mango and blueberry flavors. All equally sensational, they were served in a large jug for only 6,000 won each. Delicious and a bargain! On top of the scrumptious makgeolli we were entertained by different musical acts from the small stage area the bar
has set up in the center of the lower floor. Not only were the performers talented they also played a variety of Korean and Western songs, and were extremely friendly. Likewise, the staff was very welcoming, and their unique style will keep you entertained. I had a great night at 남전 여전 and I highly recommend it for anyone who is a makgeolli lover or trying it for the first
time. In my opinion, makgeolli paired with great live music is the perfect combination for any great night out, and I’m really glad we stumbled upon this bar. Make sure to follow us on twitter: @PlatformDaegu and on instagram: platform_daegu for updates on the places I will be reviewing all over Daegu, or tag us when you visit our recommendations!
제
가 대구에서 살게 된지도 1년 7개월(19개 월)이 되었습니다. 그래서일까요, 이제는 대구 다운타운의 모습이 꽤나 익숙합니다. 그런 저에게 이 도시의 매력적인 점 중에 하나는, 도 시가 언제나 변하고 있다는 것입니다. 다운타운이 슬슬 지루해지기 시작하는 순간, 새로운 음식점, 카 페, 클럽 혹은 바가 당신을 즐겁게 해줄 것입니다. 만 일 당신이 자주 가서 시간을 보내는 ‘길거리 바’에 지 루해 지고 있다면, 걱정하지 마세요. 다운타운엔 당
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신이 탐험 할 곳이 넘쳐 나요. 운 좋게도, 제가 이 모 든 곳을 찾고 경험해 볼 수 있도록 도움의 손길을 빌 려 드리기 위해 와있습니다. 4월이 빠르게 다가 오면서, 저는 운동복을 벗 어 던지고, 노트북에서 끊임없이 반복해서 나오는 HBO방송을 꺼버렸습니다. 제 하이힐 굽과 함께, 다 운타운의 밤을 즐길 준비가 된 것이지요. 이 달 호 에서는 막걸리를 사랑하는 제 두 친구들과 함께, 우 리가 발견한 엄청 맛있는 막걸리 집을 소개 할까 합 니다. 막걸리 집 이름은 “남전여전”(Namjeon Yeojeon)인데 다운타운의 중앙로 지하철역 근처에 있 습니다. 이 독특한 막걸리 집은 당신을 절 때 실망시 키진 않을 것입니다. 이 막걸리 집에서는 대구 시민 들에게, 내가 흔히 보지 못했던 막걸리를 라이브 음 악과 함께 합리적인 가격으로 제공 합니다. 우리가 처음 남전여전에 들어 갔을 때, 이 2층의 가게가 불러 일으키는 흥미로운 구조에 대해 어떻게 생각할지 몰랐습니다. 아래층은 라이브 음악과 함께 넓은 좌석을 제공하 는 반면, 위층은 음악을 들으면서 당신과 친구들이 이야기 하고 즐길 수 있는 조용한 공간으로 이루어 져 있습니다. 우리가 주문을 했을 때, salad pizza가 품절 되었다는 소릴 들었습니다. 피자에 salad가 어 우러진 pizza salad가 없을 때, 여자들이 하는 것이 무엇이겠습니까? 당연히, 불고기 salad를 주문하는
것입니다. 우리의 차선책은 전혀 실망스럽지 않았습니다. 그 양이 거대해서(여기서 거대한 양이란 한국에서 말하는 많은 양이 아니 라 Western에서 많다는 의미입 니다.) 배고픈 여자 3명에서 쉽 게 나누어 먹었습니다. 이곳에서 는 salad, 피자, 그리고 치킨 뿐 만 아니라 스프 볶음요리, 그리 고 팬케이크를 포함한 다양한 한 국음식들을 제공 합니다. 그런데 진짜 즐거움을 맞이할 시간은 지금부터 입니다. 우리가 이 가게에 온 진짜 이유는, 엄청 나게 다양한 종류의 막걸리를 선 택 할 수 있기 때문입니다. 이곳 에서는 새로 발견한 ‘막걸리 과 일 칵테일’을 포함해서 내가 꿈
꿀 수 있는 모든 종류의 막걸리 를 제공 합니다. 우리가 그곳에 서 노는 동안, 우리는 꿀막, 파 인애플 맛, 망고 맛, 그리고 블 루베리 맛 막걸리를 맛보았다. 다 맛있는데, 그들은 이 맛있는 막걸리를 큰 주전자 한 병에 단 돈 6000원에 판매 하고 있습니 다. 맛있는데 저렴하기 까지 합 니다! 엄청 맛있는 막걸리 외에 우리는 바 아래층 중앙에 설치된 작은 무대에서 나오는 여러 음악 활동 덕분에 즐거웠습니다. 연주 자들의 연주가 좋았을 뿐만 아 니라, 다양한 한국 노래와 popsongs을 연주해 주었습니다. 더 구나 엄청 친절 하기까지 했습니 다. 종업원들도 마찬가지로 따뜻
하게 맞이해 주웠고, 그들의 독 특한 스타일이 당신을 즐겁게 할 것입니다. 저는 이곳 남전여전에서 엄청 즐거운 밤을 보냈습니다. 그래서 저는 막걸리를 사랑하거나 혹은 막걸리를 처음 먹으려는 모든 사 람들에게 이곳 남전여전을 추천 합니다. 제 생각에, 좋은 라이브 음악과 막걸리는 환상적인 밤을 위한 완벽한 조합입니다. 우리가 이곳을 발견한 것에 대해서 정말 감사할 따름 입니다.
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Hitting the Slopes Story and photography by Kaleena Quarles, from the blog www. kaleenaskaleidoscope.com
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veryone raves about the ski trips in Korea. Having lived in California my whole life, I don’t even know how to walk in snow, much less strap large boards to my feet and propel myself forward in snow. However, I let my friends persuade me to give it a try, and I figured after teaching myself some moves on the bunny slopes, I’d be shreddin’ the gnar - to ski or snowboard enthusiastically - in no time, since I obviously already had the lingo down. Somebody told me skiing might be easier than snowboarding for my first time, so I strapped on the skis and waddled outside. Due to a series of miscommunications, cough – my friends totally ditched me – cough, I found myself alone on the snow, while the bitterly cold wind blasted snowfall horizontally into my face. I looked down at my feet. “Umm, go,” I told them. I suddenly realized that I didn’t have a single clue what to do. Was I supposed to move my legs one at a time, like skating? Or just leave them straight under me and push myself forward with the poles? But, for that matter, how did I even use these dang poles? I kept running over them and then tripping, followed by inadvertently whacking a nearby stranger. And how did I stop?! For the time being, I used a fence and innocent bystanders as brakes. The only thing anyone had told me about skiing was “pizza”
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and that turned out to be of very little use without context. I was a mess. In the midst of my antics, my friends called to say they’d taken the lift up the mountain and that I should come up, too. “Absolutely not,” I declared. “I have no idea how to do this. If I go up the mountain then I’ll have to ski down, and that would be a disaster.” They assured me there would be an easy way down, and thirty minutes later I stood on top of the mountain, grumbling obscenities. A couple of people attempted to teach me the basics, but I’m sure teaching a newbie was the last thing they wanted to be doing so, I felt bad using their valuable slope time. For some reason, I could not master turning or stopping, which just so happen to be the two main components of skiing. Each time I started moving too fast, the only way to stop myself was by falling. I would tumble forward, skis flying wildly over my head in a somersault, until I lay on the ground flailing around like a turtle on its shell, unable to get up. I was getting nowhere, and eventually I’d had enough. I wanted to go back to the lodge and lose myself in a spiked hot chocolate by the warm fire, but due to inclement weather – it was a blizzard as far as I was concerned – the gondolas weren’t operating. I’d seen the snow patrol workers taking people down on snowmobiles,
life experience list, I’ll tell you that it’s every bit as fun as it sounds. It was so fun that my tears of joy froze into little icicles on my sunglasses. It was such a party that I had to chug two beers before I could feel my hands and face again. I think it’s just one of those things that everyone should try at least once. The next day, another girl and I said “screw skiing,” and we spent the day taking photos that made it look like we were skiing. With the sun shining we took the reopened gondolas to the top to enjoy the scenery. Then we returned down the mountain in the comfort and safety of our glass enclosed lift and agreed that this was our favorite part of skiing.
xpat Diaries
so I figured I could get a ride with them, but when I went to the office, a group of six other foreigners in the same predicament were already there. The officer’s eyes widened at the sight of us, and he immediately cried, “No!” We begged and pleaded, but the employees were not to be cajoled. “You must walk down the mountain,” they said. “Walk?!” we sputtered. They looked at us serenely and nodded without an ounce of pity in their eyes, and unceremoniously closed the door in our faces. Accepting our fate, we hoisted our skis over our shoulders and began our descent along the side of the slope, hoping not to be mowed down by rogue skiers. Have you ever carried skis down a snow-covered mountain in a blizzard? No? Well, now that I can check it off my
Expat Diaries
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Living in Korea: There’s an App for that!
Story by Adam Fletcher
K
orea: the land of ancient temples, thousand-year-old traditions, super-fast Internet, and wonderful cyber convenience. Many of you have just arrived in Korea and are finding your feet or are looking to make your lives a little easier - Who isn’t? So, let me provide you with a quick rundown of some helpful mobile apps, websites, and tips that can benefit you along the way. Transport: Korail – If you can read Hangeul and have a basic knowledge of Korean, or are very good at remembering which buttons to press, the Korail app is great for booking intercity or KTX trains. With just a few clicks and after inputting your Koran bank card number, you’ll receive a virtual train ticket on your phone instantly, without having to visit the ticket office or wait in line. Tip: Take a screenshot of the ticket for safe keeping. There’s a handy video on YouTube of how to go through the process step by step. Search for how to purchase tickets by using the Korail app. Subway – Download Subway Korea, the app formally called Jihachul, and you can access subway maps in English for cities throughout Korea such as Deagu, Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, and Gwangju. This app allows you to search for subway stops, routes, and also gives you ap-
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proximate transit times. The third line in Daegu, which will also be known as the blue or monorail line, is planned to be operational in October. Daegu Buses – You can access bus schedules online from your phone in real-time if you have a QR code reader on your phone. If you don’t, you can download one for free. When I discovered this, I was blown away. You can access the schedules by scanning the code at your chosen bus stop to find out when the next bus will arrive for the route you need take. You can also check bus arrival times and routes from your home by visiting http://m.businfo.go.kr/bp/m/index. do, clicking on the button labeled ‘Bus Arrival Info’ and type in the bus stop number. I recommend bookmarking that page! Additionally, if you know where you are and where you want to go, Google Maps is a great resource for getting around from place to place. It will give you very accurate bus routes and travel times. Simple! Inter-city Buses - Inter-city buses depart from various terminals throughout Daegu. Perhaps the most common location is Dongdaegu Station. It connects our lovely city with Gimhae Airport in Busan and the massive Incheon Airport in Seoul. Visit www.kobus.co.kr/web/eng, click ‘Schedule Service Information’ and then select ‘Daegu 801’ for a schedule which includes routes and times up to two weeks prior to scheduled travel dates.
COMMUNITY If you have mastered the Korail app, then you will also be able to use the Kobus app. No more visiting the bus station days in advance to buy a ticket. Similarly to the Korail app, you simply choose where you wish to depart and arrive, choose the time you’d like to travel and desired seat number, input your personal details, and you are ready to get your ticket! Unlike the Korail app, you still have to collect a paper ticket, but the process is easy. Simply show your bank card to the agent at the ticket window before your bus departs and you will be provided with a ticket. Note that with this app your bank card is not charged until you collect the ticket. Taxis – Most taxis will accept cards, but better to ask to be sure. It’s good to memorize the name of a prominent place close to your apartment, rather than memorizing your address as most taxi drivers will not know an address when you tell them, and some have reading difficulties if you present it to them on your phone or in written form. I tell them the nearest high school, and then walk one minute from there, so choose a school, hotel, market, or subway station for best results. Beware of deluxe taxis. They are black with a yellow sign on the roof, more spacious, considered high-end, and will cost a lot more than the average taxi. Transport cards – There are many types of cards you can get to use for transportation such as Daegu, TMoney, and TopPass, but the best I’ve found is the CashBee card. It’s used in the same way as the others, so when the balance left on the card is less than a certain amount, usually 5,000 won, the card balance will automatically increase by an instant deposit from your bank account that was originally associated with the card at the time of sign up. This process is also known as topping-up. You can get a CB card at 7-11 or any place you see a CashBee sign. This card not only allows you to top-up at subway stations like other transportation cards, but you can also do this at CU, 7-11, or GS25, which is great if you don’t live near a station and need to catch a bus but have a zero balance. CashBee can also be used in Busan, Seoul, and other places, unlike most of the others, which restrict their use to Daegu only.
Food Yogiyo – Yogiyo is an app that uses GPS to find where you are, then gives you a categorized list of the registered restaurants in your area that use the service. From there you can browse menus in Korean and order food to be delivered to your door. Go to checkout, input your address and phone number, then away you go. If there are any problems, Yogiyo has an English speaking customer service line that will call you to help you. NB – restaurants have a minimum purchase amount before they deliver. iHerb – iHerb is an online food shopping site where lots of your favorite brands and ingredients can be found and delivered to your door. Be on the lookout for promotion codes, and I advise you to have ALL things delivered to your school or place of work, not just iHerb. Dine-in Korea – No more pointing and hoping with this app. Dine-in Korea is specifically for iPhone users that will to help you learn about typical Korean dishes. You can search for items on the menu, and it’ll tell you what it is. Shopping and Entertainment G-Market – If you can’t find what you’re looking for, G-Market has just about everything you can imagine for reasonable prices most of the time. It’s a great way to find things that you need, but don’t know where to look. If you go to www. global.gmarket.co.kr everything is in English, and payments can be made via online transfer, credit card, or can even be added to your phone bill. The site also has an app you can download for free. CGV – If movies are on your list of enjoyed activities, there’s even an app for CGV Cinema that allows you to search, browse, and book tickets for movies showing at the various CGV cinemas in Daegu. As you can probably guess, there’s an app for almost anything here, and there will certainly be more that I’ve not mentioned. There might even be one that will allow you to arrange for an ajumma to stop by to collect your cardboard, but I’ve not managed to find that one yet! Let us know if you have any more useful apps on your phone that we should know about!
COMMUNITY
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COMMUNITY
Colorful Gay구: Queer in Korea Story by Nina O'Reilly
I
n some respects Korea has it all: excellent employment opportunities, a thriving expat community, and more soju and samgyeopsal than you can handle. However, an open attitude towards the LGBT community is one thing it is sadly lacking. You may have heard about Seoul’s gay hot spot Homo Hill, but what does our conservative city of Daegu have to offer?
er. Pleasure Parties never disappoint, with great music from the best DJs, raffles, hilarious competitions (think twerking), and of course lovely people. There isn’t long to go until the next event either, with Pleasure Party 6 Colors kicking off on Saturday April 26th in club JEEEP. For further details on the event please see facebook.com/ gaygu123 or contact gaygu123@gmail.com
Gay구 Gay구 is a foreigner led LGBT group that aims to build a strong gay community in Daegu. While it may feel necessary to be private about one’s sexuality in the professional sphere, Gay구 wants to create a more visible gay social scene and they encourage people to “get off the apps and really join forces to make a difference in Colorful Daegu.” The group has five key aims: to build a strong LGBT community in Daegu, to support local gay establishments, to host gay events, to strengthen gay pride, and to paint a truly colorful Daegu. By liking their Facebook page, you will have access to LGBT news and upcoming events in Daegu and will also lend your support to their cause. With more support Gay구 can further develop and promote the current gay community here and facilitate its growth by hosting a variety of different events.
Gay/Lesbian Bars in Daegu Of course you don’t have to wait until the next Pleasure Party to get your social fix, as there are some gay and lesbian bars in Daegu that could greatly benefit from the support of the expat community to flourish. Dongdaegu is the focal point of the gay scene here, with numerous gay bars such as Tombo and noraebang style bars like Zeus and Cross close to the subway station. For the ladies, lesbian bar Pink Chef has recently reopened in the Keimyung University area. While Daegu’s Korean LGBT scene may seem quieter than others, it is still most definitely there, so it’s important to get out there and support it and meet the people that make it.
Pleasure Parties “Pleasure Parties” are LGBT nights organized by Gay구 and hosted across a variety of different venues. To date, there have been five fantastic pleasure parties and they are luckily becoming more and more frequent. The last event, Pleasure Party V: Black Attire, hosted in Hauzee, was - as with all pleasure parties - an absolute stomp-
Whatever your sexual identity, checking out GAY구 events is totally worthwhile, not least for the fact that you’re guaranteed a great night out, but you’ll also be supporting a great community. All are welcome and we are really looking forward to seeing some new faces at the upcoming events.
CULTURE Bike ride in Daegu - Winnie Ku
DAEGU IN Daegu - Lia Berezka
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Park Life - Bridgett Hernandez
CULTURE Cherry Blossoms - Stephen Schuit
MARCH Subway Station - Namwon Cho
Beomeo - Lauren Jarman
DIRECTORY ON LOCATION Mandu Street
대구달성군 가창면 용계리 9-3
MUSIC & ARTS Urban
대구 중구 삼덕동1가 18-1
053-423-2283
Social Market
대구 중구 화전동 33-5번지
Jeng-iy
대구 중구 동성로3가 8-8 010-8594-5011 facebook.com/Jengiy
FOOD & DRINK 칭따오 양꼬치
대구 서구 국채보상로 175 (평리5동)
010-2381-7518 남전여전
대구 중구 동성로3가 16-10
010-4521-0031
COMMUNITY Jeeep
대구시 중구 23-22번지 지하1층
010-7527-4879
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STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS Editor Korean Language Editor Copy Editors Designers Writers
Translators Photographers
Laura Reynolds 강지은
Katherine Kirk, Kim Williams, Leanne Jessops Karen Melton & Lauren Jarman Adam Fletcher, Ali Safavi, Courtney Vendramin, Jasetyn Hatcher, Kaleena Quarles, Kieran Duffy, Matthew Caracciolo, Maxwell Shellabarger, Nathan Ouriach, Nina O'Reilly, Stephen Schuit, Winnie Ku 이규진, 김성민, Gwiwon Nam
Bridgett Hernandez, Kaleena Quarles, Ken Robinson, Lia Berezka, Lauren Jarman, Min Kim, Namwon Cho, Phillip Brett, Soo Hwan Swan Park, Stephen Schuit, Tania Vincent, Tom Rogers, Winnie Ku
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
T
hank you for reading our sixth issue of Platform Daegu! We've come a long way over the past six months, and are continuing to look to the future. Recently we launched our instagram (platform_daegu) and twitter (@platformdaegu) accounts in the hopes that will we be able to reach more and more people in Daegu and the surrounding areas. Be sure to follow them for all the latest updates from the magazine, and feel free to send any submissions to us for use on these. Not only this, but we have also welcomed many new members to our team who I am very much looking forward to working with over the next few issues! April has arrived, the streets are full of beautiful cherry blossom trees, the evenings have a sun speckled glow about them, and getting up in the morning is becoming that little bit easier now it's not so cold outside. Spring in Korea is a beautiful experience that you shouldn't miss out on. Make sure you get out there and enjoy our city before the heat hits and we all resort to standing in front of our fridges to keep cool! Let us know what you are getting up to! Laura Reynolds facebook.com/platformdaegu platformdaegu@gmail.com