ISSUE 08 June 2014
facebook.com/platformdaegu
June 2014 INSIGHT 2 – Sewol Ferry 5 – Daegu's Artful Scribe
ON LOCATION 7 – Our Cultural Playground: Mint Whale
MUSIC & ARTS 11 – LIFE Photo Exhibition 13 – Old School: The Host
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Daegu's Artful Scribe
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Food: Boogie Burger
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Hollaback! Korea
HEALTHY LIVING 14 – Rice Burgers
FOOD & DRINK 15 – Food: Boogie Burger 17 – Drink: The Alaskan Solution to Daegu's Patio Season Dilemma
COMMUNITY 19 – Hollaback! Korea 23 – Young Artists' Market
PLATFORM 25 – Directory 26 – Staff & Contributors
Cover photo by Christina Davies
INSIGHT
SEWOL FERRY
INSIGHT
Story by Stephen Schuit, photography by Kat Griffin
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ecently the Sewol Ferry disaster has been the talk of the country. The tragedy has squeezed every ounce of spirit out of Korea, even now almost two months later. At the time of publishing this article, 288 bodies, mainly young students, have been pulled from the remnants of the ferry in the cold, murky waters off Korea's southwest coast. What will the fallout of this deeply troubling saga be in the long term? The ship sank on an April morning as it was making its way from Incheon to Jeju Island. Writers, analysts, citizens, casual observers, and the parents and families of young victims, are all
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searching for someone to blame for the ship's sinking. Some blame the captain and the crew for telling the passengers to stay in their seats while valuable time was lost. The crew, it seems, lost no time exiting the ship and saving their own lives. Many blame the president and governmental leaders for their questionable handling of the rescue. The prime minister has resigned and leaders of various maritime agencies have been prevented from leaving the country. Still, others blame the ferry company owners for recklessly altering the ship, overloading cargo, and failing to train employees to the minimum standards.
INSIGHT Far and wide from the site of this disaster, makeshift memorials dot the landscape of this grieving country. In parks here in Daegu, yellow ribbons hang on lines in the sun. Teenage girls, the same age as the victims of the Sewol, write messages expressing their sorrow. For now, sadness still fills every nook and cranny of this country. A Korean friend shared her perspective on the disaster; "Korea may lead the world in technology and manufacturing," she said, "but in terms of safety, we still behave like a developing country." Moments earlier, as I was about to cross a major thoroughfare to meet her, I watched half a dozen cars run the red light as pedestrians stood nearby. It is common, routine in fact, to see Korean drivers run red lights here. As for stop signs, many are hidden from view, obstructed by poles, trees, and overgrown shrubbery. Otherwise, they are totally ignored. The campus at Yeungnam University has numerous stop signs, located at various crossings and intersections. In a period of 2 years, I have never seen a single Korean driver stop at any of these signs - not once. It is not surprising then, that Korea's per driver fatality rate is twice as high as that of the U.S. In Korea, it seems that stopping at a stop sign is optional - more of a
guideline than a law. Disregard for safety, it appears, was a key contributor to the Sewol disaster. The ship had been dangerously overloaded nearly every time it left port since the inception of its service in Korea. Maritime and government officials at all levels seem to have either colluded with fleet owners, or overlooked freight safety regulations. Many Koreans are expressing dismay and embarrassment about the state of safety in their country. Others wonder if their cultural tendency to rush from one thing to another, a dynamic known as ‘빨리 빨리’, is causing them to cut corners and to put people at risk. As I ponder this situation, an iconic bumper sticker comes to mind; "Think globally, act locally." Koreans have ridden the wave of success generated by their global icons such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai, KIA, and even K-Pop. Yet, when it comes to safety, more importantly safety close to home, many people turn a blind eye. As I was about to leave the park in Daegu on that bright and sunny day, I watched hundreds of people, mostly young children, having fun biking in designated riding areas. Everyone was enjoying themselves. Only one child was wearing a safety helmet. Safety in Korea, it appears, is someone else's problem.
INSIGHT
Daegu’s Artful Scribe Story by Jake Weingarten, photography by Stephen Elliot
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ome of us unearth our hidden talents through many years of careful prodding. Athletes hone their abilities after decades of training: throwing a ball around, dunking, shooting, catching, or kicking. Writers contour their thoughts on the page over many years; ideally veering away from an academic-style prose and finding an almost lyrical rhythm on the page. Others, like Brandon Inman, get hit in the face with their talents. “My mother threw a pen and some paper at me,” he laughs. “I was an excited two-year-old boy and it was a way to keep me occupied in church.” Some thirty years later, he’s still drawing. He continued illustrating through high school, where he took classes to provide formal training after realizing he had a talent of some sort. He then followed his passion throughout college, where he studied Illustration at Indiana Wesleyan University. His current work explores many themes, most of which are rooted in Christianity. Some are subtle nods, while others are more explicit. The Good Way, for example, delineates a contemporary take on Noah’s Ark, if such a thing could ever exist. His wife, a Korean whom he met during his time teaching here, describes much of his work as “scary.” In fact, he explains, many Koreans
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are troubled by his style: “It’s true that many Koreans don’t really get what it is I’m trying to say in my work, but I know that what I’m doing is really for me, not for anyone else.” In fact, the general response is “can’t you make it cuter?” Another jarring illustration, Hair Web, created in 2013, is a passion piece in which he explores a desire to try out some comic book style pieces. The concept is certainly not a “cute” one. Sorry, Korea. Human trafficking was the impetus, he explains, as it’s a cause he’s particularly engaged in. It’s a daunting piece of work; a black-andwhite illustration of a woman imprisoned in a sea of grubby hands. Her eyes, bright and beady, ache for support. His work is a nice blend of explicit and implicit; of pious presentations and social justice works that aim to articulate an uncomfortable message. For those interested in viewing some more of Mr. Inman’s work, head down to Project B Gallery at Beomeo Art Street (Exit 8 of Beomeo Station). His latest show, Vagabond Adventures in Wanderland, begins June 14th and runs through the 29th. Sponsored by the Daegu Cultural Foundation, all are invited and you can catch the exhibition from 6-9PM for free. I’ll see you there!
INSIGHT
ON LOCATION
Our Cultural Playground: Mint Whale Story by 박빛나, photography provided by Mint Whale
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int Whale, located in Daemyeong-dong, is a café known among locals and patrons as a ‘cultural playground.’ This is largely due to the café’s determination to be a pioneer for culture and art in Daegu and its wishes to introduce as many different cultural experiences as possible. Taking up a large basement area, Mint Whale is the regular host of many events, including music and drama performances, art showings, and flea markets. At Mint Whale, a professional team is in charge of the different culture events and activities that are held there. Local broadcasters from TBC, MBC, and KBS news channels have their own production team named MW, which offers its services to aid independent film-makers. As a
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result of this there is always something new happening in the café, and every time you turn up you are sure to experience something different. Every Friday at 8p.m. you can enjoy a performance of some sort for free and on the last week of each month a public performance can be enjoyed for a small entrance fee. During the week other events are often held on smaller scales that you can keep up to date with by following their facebook page. The walls of the café are used as a free gallery, and though the collection is not big, many of the independent artists’ works are worth a look. For those who are more literary, Mint Whale also has a second hand bookstore, affectionately named the ‘sharing and thinking bookstore’. All
ON LOCATION the books were donated in the hopes they would go on to a new reader who would love them as much as their original owner and the profits from any of these books are then contributed to a charitable organization. If you need to get your head down and study before enjoying the rest of what Mint Whale has to offer then you can use their special study room. With a capacity of ten people the room is a great place to get your creative juices flowing and, upon request, you can also use the café’s projector and screen. While I was there I spoke with the team leader Cha Dong-Suck to find out more about the café. How long has Mint Whale been in business? I started it around three years ago. Why did you start this kind of business? A few years ago, I used to run a café called Good Feeling Place in downtown. Then I had a chance to be part of the TBC broadcasting program so I changed into that profession. One of my colleagues there suggested running a café that incorporated a form of broadcast production, I took his advice and Mint Whale was born! Would you consider making it a chain? We don’t have another Mint Whale location right now, but due to our popularity I’m planning on opening another in the future. What do visitors love the most about the café? These days we are famous, particularly amongst bloggers, for our macaroons. We make special whale shaped macaroons to sell in the café. We also make our own lemonade, and our home make whipped cream has lower calories than other cafes, so not many people complain about that!! Right now we are working on developing some great strawberry beverages for summer. For more information about Mint Whale, their events, or menu you can take a look at their website or facebook page. mintwhale.co.kr facebook.com/mintwhalee
ON LOCATION
우리들의 문화놀이터: 민트고래
이
번 호에 소개할 대구 속 문화공간은 바로 카 페 ‘민트고래’이다. 필자가 지하도를 내려가 민트고래의 문을 여니 70여평 되는 넓은 카페공간이 펼쳐졌다. 왼쪽 편에는 형형색색의 고 래모양 마카롱과 예쁜 조각케이크들이 진열되어 있 고 여러 테이블 저 멀리는 공연 무대가 있었다. 지하 세계에 펼쳐진 매혹적인 공간, 민트고래! 여러분은 궁금할 것이다. 카페 이름이 하필 왜 고래인지. 고래 는 설화에 따르면 여러 생물을 배에 품고 미지의 세 계를 탐험 한다고 한다. 설화의 고래처럼 다양한 사 람들이 모여 문화의 새로운 길을 개척 하자는 의미 로 민트고래라는 이름이 붙여졌다고 한다. 민트고래 의 단골들은 이 곳을 ‘문화놀이터’라고 칭한다. 정기 공연, 기획공연, 아트갤러리, 플리마켓 및 다양한 이 벤트 등이 그곳에서 열리는 것을 고려한다면 과언이 아닌 것을 알 수 있다. 그럼 지금부터 우리들의 문화 놀이터가 될 민트고래를 소개해보고자 한다. 민트고래는 각기 다른 분야의 전문가들이 모여 문 화를 기획, 제작에서 유통까지 책임지고 양질의 컨 텐츠를 제작하는 곳이다. 방송쪽으로는 TBC, MBC, KBS 사업파트너 방송 외 다양한 영역에서 활동 중 인 지역방송국의 일꾼들이 활동중인 프로덕션팀이 구성되어 있다. Mint Whale의 첫 활자를 따서 프로 덕션 MW로 불리운다. 사진 영상쪽 으로도 사업이
진행되고 있는데, 기록을 전문으로 하는 사진영상팀 이 있다. 웨딩, 돌잔치, 프로포즈, 영상 자서전까지 다양한 장르 제작 능력을 가진 감독과 1:1 면담을 통해 양질의 컨텐츠를 제작해주고 있다. 기획부터 콘텐츠 제작까지 담당하고 있다. 외식사업면에서 민 트고래는 카페로써 활발한 활동을 하고 있다. 첫째, 매주 금요일 오후 8시부터 정기공연이 무료로 이루 어지고 있다. 매달 마지막 주에는 기획공연이 있으 며 저렴한 비용에 양질의 공연을 즐길 수 있다. 공 연을 관람하고 나면 공연자에게 하고픈 말을 민트고 래 종이에 쓸 수도 있다. 둘째, 무료로 대관할 수 있 는 갤러리가 있다. 갤러리가 대규모는 아니지만 카 페 방문자는 벽면에 펼쳐진 미술작품을 관람할 수 있다. 작품은 사전에 심사를 거친다고 한다. 셋째, 플리마켓 및 다양한 이벤트가 있다. 이 외에 ‘생각나 눔 북 스토어’라고 해서 기증 받은 책으로 감성과 생 각을 공유할 수 있는 북스토어를 지행한다. 기증 받 은 책은 판매되며, 판매금은 어려운 이웃을 위한 자 선단체에 쓰여진다. 민트고래는 다른 카페처럼 스터디룸 공간을 마련 하고 있으며 10인까지 수용 가능하다. 빔프로젝트, 스크린이 대여 가능하다. 필자는 민트고래에 대해서 좀 더 자세히 알아보고자 외식사업팀 팀장인 차동석 님과 간단한 인터뷰를 했다.
민트고래 홈페이지와 팜플렛에서 사업이 소개 되어 있었는데 그 외에 추가적으로 말해 줄 부 분이 있나?
매주 수요일 9시가 되면 ‘음악다방’이라고 라디오 DJ같이 카페에서 생방송 DJ를 한다. 카페지기로 신 청음악을 틀어주고, 가능한 부분은 직접 불러주기도 한다. 그 상황을 영상으로 아프리카 TV나 on stage 에 동시 상영할 계획도 가지고 있다. 문화 컨텐츠의 경우, 다른 회사와도 제휴협정을 맺어서 더욱 넓은 의미로의 문화접목을 시도할 계 획이다. 락페스티벌이 있을 때 함께 행사 진행을 할 계획이다.
왜 이런 사업을 시작했나?
원래는 기분 좋은 공간이라고 중앙로에서 공연 하는 카페를 운영했었다. 그러던 중 TBC 피아노 휴 먼다큐 ‘네 남자 커피 이야기’를 찍게 되었다. 그때
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ON LOCATION
TBC PD와의 연이 닿았다. PD가 방송 프로덕션을 기획해서 함께 카페부문을 운영해보지 않겠냐고 제 안을 해서 이렇게 하게 되었다.
한 공간에서 여러 사업이 있는데 그렇다면 이 사업의 담당자는 누구인가?
미디어 쪽은 총 대표로 진동주 전 TBC PD이고 카 페 쪽은 내가 담당한다. 민트고래가 카페이긴 하지 만 기존의 카페와 다른 성격으로 계속 운영하려는 목적으로 사업명도 외식산업으로 등록한 상태이다. 대표를 따로 나눈 이유는 각자 전문성을 최대한 발 휘하기 위한 방편이다.
사람들은 어떤 부분을 좋아하나?
블로거에 의해서 마카롱이 인기가 많아졌다. 민 트고래라는 상호명답게 하나의 마스코트로 마카롱 을 고래모양으로 제작했다. 우리는 레몬을 직접 절 이기 때문에 레몬에이드를 추천한다. 휘핑크림의 경 우에도 우리가 직접 만들기 때문에 시중의 휘핑크림 보다 훨씬 칼로리가 낮다. 지금 딸기음료 메뉴도 개 발하는 중이다.
사업은 언제 구상해서 시작했나?
3년 전 구상했고 구체적인 건 1년 전부터 구상 했다.
혹시 다른 지역에도 민트고래가 있나?
지금 대구에만 독자적으로 있다. 나중에 분점을 내는 것도 계획 중이다. 이상이 차 대표와 나눈 인터뷰 내용이다. 아무래 도 민트고래를 더 자세히 직접 알고 싶다면 민트고 래를 직접 방문하는 것이 좋을 듯 하다. 민트고래의 이벤트나 신메뉴에 대한 자세한 정보는 인터넷 홈페 이지(www.mintwhale.co.kr)와 페이스북(www. facebook.com/mintwhalee)을 통해서 알 수 있다.
MUSIC & ARTS
LIFE Photo Exhibition Story and photography by Gwiwon Nam
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aegu National Museum presents the LIFE photography exhibition running until June 28th. Many of us are familiar with the world famous LIFE magazine, so you will probably see a few of the photographs you know and love throughout this exhibition. Subtitled “One history: Memory of 7 billion�, you will discover the most memorable moments of human history since the creation of the magazine. Part of the success of LIFE was in aiming to create a connection to a situation simply through a single image, and to reflect the atmosphere of that period in time. The move away from news and lengthy articles towards photojournalism was significant, and its contribution to the history and progress of this is immense. Even today, the images taken before our lifetime still resonate with us on a personal level; such is the vast impact a photograph can have.
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Within the Daegu exhibition, there are three key themes to represent this: People, Moments, and Life. People In this section, images of historical celebrators such as politicians, writers, and movie stars are featured. One interesting element of this part of the exhibition is the comparison method. We can see images of Hitler and Churchill, both influential politicians during the same time period, but men with entirely different ideologies. The exhibition allows us to understand them more personally by showing images of their daily life and routine. Moments The moments section deals with significant events that have taken place during the pub-
MUSIC & ARTS
“To see life; to see the world…”
LIFE magazine publisher, Henry Luce
lishing of LIFE. The photography displayed here represents the wars, disasters, conflicts, and people involved during the 20th century. Recorded and audio media are also used to involve visitors within this part of the exhibition. In particular, the Korean War section may be of interest to many of the exhibition visitors; it reminds us of the ongoing struggle we face and the impact the war has had on our country still in living memory. Not only wars, but photography of great turning points in human history can be seen here. Look out for images of the first human footprint on the moon, or scenes from the African-American civil rights movement.
Life Here we meet the universal experiences we all have. Visitors will experience humanism and emotion that is a core part of our everyday lives and existence. If this sounds interesting to you and you would like to experience the exhibition for yourself, be sure to catch it over the next few weeks before it ends! The museum provides an audio guide service in both Korean and English for a 3,000 won rental fee.
Dates: Ends June 28th, 2014 (closed on Mondays) Time: Weekdays: 10:00-18:00 Saturdays: 10:00-21:00 Sundays & Bank holidays: 10:00-19:00 Admission Fee: 12,000 won (adults) / 10,000 won (youths) / 8,000won (children)
MUSIC & ARTS
Old School
The Host (괴물) Story by Matthew Caracciolo
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mutant monster is wreaking havoc along Seoul’s Han River. What’s the response? In Bong Joon-Ho’s The Host (Gwoemul), a little bit of everything. The movie starts simply enough. Gang-Doo is a ne’er-do-well who runs a simple snack shack with his father on the banks of the Han. His family is ashamed of him because of his track record of laziness and absenteeism in his pre-teen daughter Hyun-Seo’s life. Lest we get prematurely mired in melodrama, the feature’s creature arises from the murky depths of the Han and pulls Hyun-Seo to a hidden nest. The family must band together to save her from certain doom. The Host is hard to put your finger on, but this much is certain: you’ve never seen anything like it. The movie changes genres frequently; perhaps unintentionally - the shifts aren’t always seamless. One minute it’s a B-movie monster bash with cheesy CGI effects and terror among the masses. In another five minutes it’s a biting political satire on South Korea’s disaster responsiveness or lack thereof (particularly unsettling given the recent Sewol tragedy). Give it ten more minutes and the film is a dysfunctional family dramedy. Toss Alien with a dash of Little Miss Sunshine in a blender for a minute and you have something that resembles The Host. With a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, some
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critics might applaud the film’s refusal to follow genre norms. I found the constant tonal shift dissonant and off-putting. I often had no idea where the story was going - for some, this is a positive thing - and was unsure how I was supposed to react to certain scenes. Should I be laughing at the family? Crying with them? Is this scene supposed to be as satirical as the last? Perhaps this uncertainty was Bong’s intention, but to me the film’s structure was more confusing than provoking. Despite the confusion, there is plenty to recommend. The performances are all very engaging, particularly those of Byeon Hee-Bong as the father and Ko Ah-Sung in her first role as Hyun-Seo. Individual scenes are especially funny, creepy, or poignant, and the movie runs at a steady pace. I would prefer the blend to be smoother, but if you’re not turned off by unusual narrative arcs bridging across genres, then The Host should be a rollicking good time. Recommended for: Monster movie lovers, people who like films because they’re “different” Skip: if you prefer your movies to stick to a formula. Grade: B Available for instant streaming on Netflix.
HEALTHY LIVING
Rice Burgers Story and photography by Stephen Elliott and Seo-Yeon Kim
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orea is a place that enjoys trends and fads. It seems every time Seo-Yeon and I go downtown, there’s some new kind of food that everyone's got to try, and a dozen new popup shops that will sell it for a few weeks until the next big thing comes around. I've been seeing rice burger shops around downtown for the last few weeks but, given how much I love bread, I hadn’t been interested in tying them out. It was only recently, when Seo-Yeon made me one for dinner, that I became a convert to the quirky fusion sandwich. Simple and inexpensive to make, they are the perfect addition to a packed lunch or a quick meal on the go.
Ingredients: 1 can of tuna - drained 1 egg 1 medium bell pepper - sliced 2-3 cloves of garlic 1 carrot - finely sliced 1-2 lettuce leaves Around 300mg (1 1/2 cups) of prepared rice Instructions: 1. While the rice is still hot, separate it in half. Form each half into ball shapes and then flatten them. Wrap both pieces in plastic wrap and set them aside to cool. 2. Mix the tuna with the carrot, garlic, and egg. Drain off any excess liquid. If needed, add a bit of flour to help it hold together. Shape the tuna into a patty. Grill it over medium heat in a saucepan with a bit of oil for around two to three minutes on each side. It should hold together like a hamburger patty (if not, they can be grilled in more oil, though this is a less healthy option). 3. Add the lettuce, bell pepper, ketchup, mustard, and other additions on top of the rice patty to suit your taste. 4. I recommend wrapping the patty in foil as in the picture, in order to make them easier to eat. This is a great basic recipe that can be customized in any way you like. Happy eating!
FOOD & DRINK
Boogie Burger Story by Stephen Elliot and Matthew Stroud, photography by Matthew Stroud
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he recent strain of hot Daegu weather is the perfect accent for a good old fashioned burger, fries, and an ice cold coke. But where can such a thing be found? It's no secret that burger joints in downtown Daegu have a reputation of disappearing overnight, and while there have been a few reliable burger joints over the years, if you grow tired of the same menu in the same restaurant, why not give Boogie Burger a try? Boogie Burger, conveniently located on a side street just a couple of blocks down from Travelers, is the most recent incarnation of a popular burger joint of the same name in Seoul. In fact, some of their signage still lists the Seoul location, though the friendly staff will gladly give you a business card with the correct address and even a little map to guide you easily to your next visit. We here at Platform were told that magic could be found at Boogie. I was rather skeptical; I try not to allow myself to be easily impressed. By being almost unnecessarily critical, I can avoid being overwhelmed by something that is actually rather underwhelming, and then I do not have to lie to my friends about whether I am enjoying myself or not. On a warm Thursday evening after a long day at school, the editor and I made our way to the lesser-known burger establishment. I did not know what to expect, so I lowered my expecta-
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tions. Searching for a good burger in Korea can often lead to disappointment - massive disappointment. Boogie Burger seems to be operated by just two men. We did not get their names as they were busy getting the orders out, and for the sake of this review they might as well have been hooded burger monk wizards. The location itself is small, but packed with dĂŠcor right in line with an American style burger shack. Indeed, the size of the place could even be seen as a throwback to the casual environment of a burger shack. With the number of staff being two, you might wait a little longer for your food. In fact, you should not really care about the wait, and once you have been there you will know what I mean. I ordered the Meat Lovers burger. Three beef patties, cheese, and bacon. Literally all a burger should ever need. Our food arrived and my decision to lower my standards earlier now seemed to have been the right one. With reports of this burger being one of the better ones being served in Daegu, I was definitely not left breathless at the sight of it - the portions are on the smaller side. The burger is wrapped in a paper burger wrap thing that there may or may not be a word for. Part of the burger is exposed, like a woman of the night showing off some of the goods in an effort to lure you in. I was really hungry so I de-
FOOD & DRINK cided to forego thinking of adjectives and take my first bite. Now is the time for you to pause reading and start playing Ludwig Van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in D Minor, Movement 4 on YouTube, as this calls for a crescendo. The first bite is a revelation. The flavor is perfect. The cheese, bacon, and beef melt in your mouth. Your worries fade. You are here. There is no past, no present, only this moment. It is a great burger. It works well. It does not fall apart. It is not too greasy. It tastes good. It does not need improvement. It is just right. Get the picture yet? I don’t want to harp on but really, that entire restaurant could be a crack den and I would still keep going there because there is no other burger like it in Daegu. Sure, there are other good burgers in the city, but I will not be eating any of them from now on. There is just no point in going anywhere else. I am even going to say that the Boogie Burger is the best burger I have ever had in Daegu. It is also deceptively filling; you do not just leave full, you leave satisfied and deeply satiated. It is a glorious experience and I will be going back this restaurant for as long as they make their burgers that good. The price is nice too, with most of the burgers in the 8-10 thousand won range. For a few extra thousand, they'll throw in fries and a drink. You can choose either regular or cajun style fries for the same price, and Americans will have to hold back a squeal of excitement when they see that Dr. Pepper is on the drink menu. Go and enjoy it. I went twice in twenty four hours.
The Alaskan Solution to Daegu’s Patio Season Dilemma Story by Courtney Vendramin, translation by 피경화 Photography by Matthew Stroud
A
s the warm weather arrived there was only one thing on my mind: take me to the nearest beer garden or outdoor deck, right now! It is sad to admit, but our great city has seemingly missed the memo about ‘patio season’, and the cute outfits that I had spent countless hours online shopping for could not be neglected! So I went on a mission: find the coolest bar with a patio and have a beer as soon as possible. I’m sure I will repeat this quest through the summer, but for now my dresses and I have succeeded. I stumbled upon a gem not far from downtown in the Hyeonchungno area (on the red line, 4 stops south of Banwoldang). Located on the well known Apsan Café Street is a pub called Alaska Bar and Lounge. It truly is one of the coolest pubs I have been to in Daegu, (yes, I know I say that every month). Its small patio may seat only 8 or so patrons, but this small outdoor area changes the entire dynamic of the bar, opening up the interior and making it feel more alfresco. Alaska has an atmosphere that reminded me of home and of summer. It‘s both cool and cozy, with candles on every table and lights strung up around the pub, perfect for a weeknight patio
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session. The bartender is friendly and they play great music - mostly classic rock and everyone’s old favorites. Alaska offers a large variety of drinks, everything from bottled beers, cocktails, shooters, and wine. Prices reflect the location and drinks are around 7-8,000 won each. They also offer a variety of pub food including nachos, pizza, salad, and chicken. The price of the food was a little expensive for me, but it was nice to indulge in a treat on a warm spring night. Decks are hard to come by in Daegu, but I would definitely add Alaska to the patio rotation. It’s a short subway ride from downtown and worth the trip. We spent a good few hours there and whilst the bar was always busy it never felt overcrowded or loud. Having a relaxing drink outside in the spring weather with friends was something I hadn’t done in a while, and it put me in a great mood to finish the rest of the work week. I will, however, continue the search for the more patios in Daegu. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and twitter as I might just upload the next location I find! If you have any great patio season shout outs lets us know on our Facebook page! Happy patio season!
FOOD & DRINK
날
씨가 따뜻해짐과 동시 에 오직 한 가지 생각 만이 자리 잡았다. 야외 테라스가 있는 곳이나 비어가든 에 가야겠다는 것! 그래. 지금! ( 비어가든은 야외에서 맥주를 즐 기는 맥주 문화 혹은 식당을 말 함 : 역주) 슬프게도 대구는 '파 티오 시즌'을 모른 채 지나치고 있는 것 같지만, 이 날을 기다리 며 오랜 시간 온라인 쇼핑몰을 서핑하며 찾아냈던 예쁜 옷을 버 려 두기 아쉬어 미션을 정했다. 야외 테라스가 있고, 또한 맥주 를 즐길 수 있는 멋진 바를 찾아 보자고! 이 미션은 8월까지 계속 수행해 갈 테지만, 일단은 버려 질 위기에 처했던 옷과 난 해피 엔딩을 맞게 되었다. 좋은 곳을 한 곳 소개해드릴게요!! 현충로(반월당 1호선이용, 대 곡 방향으로 지하철 4정거장) 역 번화가에서 그리 멀지 않은 곳에 야외 테라스를 가진, 멋진 바를 발견했다. 앞산 카페 거 리 근처에 있는 'Alaska Bar and Lounge'라는 곳으로, 지금까지 대구에서 가 본 술집 중 가장 멋 진 곳이다. (사실 매달 이 얘기 를 한 것 같지만...) 이곳은 야외 테라스도 갖추고 있는데 사실 8 명 정도가 앉을 수 있는 규모의 정말 작은 야외 테라스이지만 이 작은 테라스가 바 전체에 더 개 방적인 느낌과 야외에 있는 것 같은 기분을 전해준다. 'Alaska'는 우리가 살던 곳의 친숙한 여름, 집, 그리고 공기를 생각나게 했다. 테이블마다 올려 진 양초와 실내 전체의 조명들 은 멋지고 아늑해서, 평일 저녁 의 파티오 시간을 즐기기에 완벽 했다. 바텐더도 친절하셨고, 음 악은 주로 클래식, 록이나, 모두 가 알만한 명곡들을 연주해주셨 는데 모두 훌륭했다. 'Alaska'는 병맥주부터 칵테일, 슈터, 와인 에 이르기까지 다양한 음료와 주 류를 판매한다. 가격은 주변 가
게들과 비슷하게 7-8,000원 정 도이며 주류 외에도 나초, 피자, 샐러드 그리고 치킨을 포함한 다 양한 안주거리도 판다. 음식 가 격이 조금 비싸다고 느껴지긴 했 지만 따듯한 봄날을 만끽하기엔 부족함이 없었다. 대구에서 테라스가 있는 장소 를 찾기는 힘들지만 ‘Alaska’는 즐겨찾기에 추가해도 될 것 같 다. 시내에서 지하철 타고 금방 갈 수도 있고, 좋은 곳이라 가볼 만한 충분한 가치가 있다고 생각 한다. 우리는 그곳에서 즐거운
시간을 보냈고, 사람들은 많았지 만 혼잡하거나 시끄럽지는 않았 다. 생각해보니 한동안 봄 날씨 에 야외에서 친구들과 잔을 맞 대며 편안히 있었던 적이 없었 는데, 이곳의 멋진 분위기에 묻 혀 평일을 마무리하였다. 앞으로 도 대구의 멋진 '테라스'를 계속 찾아 소개할 계획이니 꾸준히 관 심 갖길 바란다. 혹시 '멋진 테라 스'가 있는 곳을 알고 계시다면 우리에게 알려주세요! 행복한 파 티오 시즌!
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Hollaback! Korea Photography provided by Hollaback! Korea
W
hether it is based upon gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other instigators, street harassment is a regular occurrence not just overseas, but here in Korea, too. We spoke to members of the Hollaback! Korea team about street harassment, its prevalence in Korea, and what we can do to prevent it in the future. What is street harassment? It is loosely defined as any uninvited behavior in the street, including: whistling, leering, catcalling, sexual comments, vulgar gestures, or assault. Most of these actions are meant as a joke, rather than being harmful, but street harassment can also be used to disempower a victim in a vulnerable situation. Although women are the most common victims, men also experience street harassment. We are constantly reminded by our Korean friends and colleagues that Korea is a very safe country, but that doesn’t mean harassment and assault is non-existent here. A simple search of the keyword ‘harassment’ on any of the national newspapers brings up dozens of articles about sexual harassment and violence, not only experienced on the street, but workplaces, restaurants, and even reports from hospital patients. A particular problem that many of us here face in these situations is knowing what to do. Should we seek out others who can intervene? Should we try and explain to the harasser that they are being inappropriate? Should we leave it alone and carry on with our day? What can we do about it? Luckily a few like-minded individuals living in
Korea saw that this problem needed addressing and went about setting up a Korean factor of the Hollaback! organization. Originally established in New York City in 2005, Hollaback! now has sites in 24 countries around the world. The Korean branch was founded to try and create more open spaces to talk about occurrences of street harassment, not just for foreigners or women, but to anyone across the country that had something they wanted to share. Emma Kalka, Hollaback! Korea press team member, spoke to us about the struggle to find safe spaces for harassment victims: “If you try having conversations in public forums like websites for foreigners and such, at times it feels as though you are trying to go upstream without a paddle. While there can be support found there, the amount of added harassment it ends up attracting almost defeats the purpose. There have been some safe places created in the online and offline realms in Korea, however, Disruptive Voices in Seoul is a great avenue to discuss issues of harassment and abuse, but it is really important to have more of these spaces and to have these spaces visible so that people know where to go.” How does Hollaback! Korea work? One of the most effective ways the Hollaback! Korea team is reaching out to the Korean public is to remind them that this isn’t something that only happens to foreigners. They try to make as much of their content as possible in Korean, and aim to provide all their aids and resources in both languages to make them more accessible. Many Koreans still hold extremely traditional values and believe that they should just 'put up' with sexual harassment if it occurs, so it is
COMMUNITY of particular importance that there is as much bilingual information out there as we can to try and debunk this way of thinking. Recently, there has been an upsurge in Korean society taking a stand against sexual or domestic violence and street harassment. There is still a long way to go of course, but Hollaback! Korea has come at the perfect time to help the country on its way to understanding how to combat these issues. Team Leader Chelle B Mille shared her thoughts about Hollaback! Korea and how they combat education limitations about the topic of harassment: “Our project is a very intersectional and inclusive one, which means we work with our supporters and educate ourselves to consider this issue of street harassment from many perspectives. For example, we try to promote awareness of language and behavior that is racist, classist, sexist, gender discriminatory and homophobic. Street harassment is an issue that affects a lot of people and they may be targeted based on, for example, their gender, sexual orientation, race but most understandings of sexual harassment are very limited - to the workplace and only to a scenario of a boss harassing a female subordinate. We have to keep spreading the word and informing people about street harassment.” What is Hollaback! Korea doing to raise awareness about this issue? The Hollaback! Korea team is currently working on holding public forums across the coun-
try to further raise awareness, and is hoping to create projects in high schools to educate the young people of Korea about their social responsibilities towards topics like sexual and street harassment. We asked Emma why she felt street harassment was such an important issue, and ultimately what she hoped the Hollaback! Korea website would achieve: “Street harassment is something universal. As it is so prevalent, it’s going to take a lot of time and hard work to educate people on it, and hopefully to eventually eradicate it. Do I hope that someday we won’t need programs like Hollaback! Korea? Yes, I do. Do I think that will happen in the next year or so? No. I do think it can be a first step to other discussions since it is linked to so many other issues. It’s very easy to broaden the scope and talk about other equally important issues, such as racism, homophobia, sexual assault, sexism, and so on. But, our focus with Hollaback! Korea is street harassment. However, we will partner with other related organizations for projects and events. We hope that the website will get harassment out there in the public forum to be discussed, that people will learn about it and what constitutes as harassment. We hope that those affected by it will find a safe place to talk and get support, and that everyone can learn how to handle a harasser, whether they are a bystander or the harassed.” How can I share my experience and find support? If you’ve ever experienced street harassment, been put in a humiliating or violating situation, or been told to hide or lie about what happened to you, Hollaback! Korea is there to support you. Go to their website and share your story and join the conversation with other members. If you are worried about sharing your identity, don’t worry; you can post anonymously and still receive advice. One of the best things about Hollaback! Korea’s website is an interactive map. With this you can upload the location of where the incident took place, and see where other people ex-
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perienced street harassment. Not only can Hollaback! Korea offer online support, but they are connected to victims’ centers around the country that can offer assistance and counseling if it is needed. So, if there is something they cannot help you with directly, they can point you in the right direction towards someone who can. The most important thing is not to remain silent. What can I do to help as a bystander? Bystander intervention is one of the best ways to stop street harassment in its tracks. Assess the situation and, if you feel safe doing so, approach the harasser and try to diffuse the situation. Emma gave us this advice about how to support Hollaback! and victims of street harassment both online and in real life: “Definitely learn how to be a 'bad-ass bystander.' Learn to recognize incidents of harassment and how to step in and help without endangering themselves or anyone else involved. Be
aware that just because you haven’t personally experience harassment or seen it, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. So when someone is talking about their experience, listen to them rather than just immediately writing them off or immediately stepping in to add your two cents on what a victim could have done differently or should have done. While well-meaning, it can sometimes just make the situation worse. Don’t hesitate to call out your friends or people around you that you might witness harassing someone. This is something everyone can do, not just men.” Remember that more often than not witnesses of street harassment remain silent: often your silence can give the harasser the idea that this is your way of approving their actions, so make sure that your thoughts against what is happening are heard! For more information on Hollaback! Korea, visit their website: korea.ihollaback.org
COMMUNITY
젊은 예술가들의 마켓 Young Artists’ Market Story by 안성호 & 피경화, translation by 피경화 Photography provided by Daegu Free Market
김
광석 거리는 대구 주 요 관광 명소 중 하나 로 자리 잡아왔다. 이 곳은 1964년 대구에서 태어나 어린 시절을 보낸 김광석을 기리 기 위해 2010년에 조성된 문화 거리이다. (김광석은 90년대를 대표하는 포크가수였다. ‘이등병 의 편지’, ‘서른 즈음에’ 등의 대 표곡이 있다.) 이런 김광석 거리에 쌈지공원 이라는 곳이 있는데 여기서는 매
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주 프리마켓이 열리기 시작했다. 하지만 평범한 프리마켓과는 조 금 다르게 예술창작 프리마켓이 다. 단순한 마켓이 아닌 문화예 술을 공유하는 예술시장이다. 캐 리커처를 그려주는 사람들도 있 고 직접 만든 액세서리나 양초, 엽서 등 그 밖에도 신기하고 재 밌고 예쁜 물품들을 파는 사람들 도 있었다. 마음 같아서는 하나 씩 다 사와서 내 방을 꾸미고 싶 었지만 예쁜 그림이 그려져 있는
엽서 한 장으로 만족했다. 예술마켓답게 공연을 하는 사 람들도 있었고 배가 고프거나 목 이 마르면 언제든지 거리에 있는 가게나 바로 옆 시장에서 배를 채울 수 있어서 더욱 좋았다. 지 친 일상 속에서 시원한 음료 한 잔에 무료 공연을 보면서 마음을 달랠 수 있는 날이었다. 예술프 리마켓이 자칫 심심할 수 있는 김광석 거리에 활기를 불어 넣은 것 같다. 만약 김광석 거리에 가 려는 계획이 있다면 개인적으로 예술마켓이 열리는 날에 가는 것 을 추천해주고 싶다. (예술마켓은 매주 토요일 1시 에서 8시에 열리는 것으로 공지 되어 있는데 여름이라 해가 길어 져 8월까지는 2시에서 7시에 열 리는 걸로 바뀌었다고 한다. 비 가 오면 마켓은 열리지 않고 어 떠한 예술이나 재능이든 공유하 고 싶다면 당신도 홈페이지 신청 후 참가할 수 있다고 한다. 프리 공연이나 프리마켓, 작사 작곡하 는 사람들의 저작권 등록도 예정 중이라고 한다.
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K
im Kwang-Seok Street is one of the main tourist attractions in Daegu. The street was opened in 2010 to honor the famous 90’s folk singer, Kim Kwang-Seok, who was born and spent his childhood in Daegu. The street is famous among locals for the beautiful art that adorns the walls, and now also because of a weekly flea market! This is not just your average flea market though; it’s purpose is to create an art market, with the sharing of culture and arts. Vendors here can draw caricatures, or sell homemade accessories, candles, or postcards. You may stumble upon some strange and interesting things you can’t find anywhere else, too! If you’re anything like me, you will find it hard to restrain yourself from buying everything there!! In addition to the market stalls, there are also buskers to entertain you with their enjoyable music performances, and also food and drinks stalls. The market is open to the public every Saturday from 1pm to 8pm during the summer season. During the rest of the year it is open from
2pm until 7pm. Also to note is that as this is an outdoor market, if it is raining the market will be cancelled for that day. If you wish to be a vendor you can apply on their website! So, why not branch out from downtown a little this weekend and enjoy an afternoon here? 대구 예술창작 프리마켓:
www.dgfreemarket.com
DIRECTORY ON LOCATION Mint Whale
대구 남구 대명5동 37-1 지하1층
053 622 1019
FOOD & DRINK Boogie Burger 23-22, Bongsan-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu 053 214 8869 The Alaska 509-1 Daemyeong-dong 9, Nam-gu, Daegu 053 628 1957
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STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS Editor Korean Language Editor Copy Editors Team Coordinator Designers Writers
Translators Photographers
Laura Reynolds 강지은
Kat Griffin & Katherine Kirk 안성호
Karen Melton & Lauren Jarman Courtney Vendramin, Gwiwon Nam, Jake Weingarten, Kim Seo-Yeon, Matthew Caraciollo, Matthew Stroud, Stephen Elliot, Stephen Schuit, 박빛나, 안성호, 피경화 박빛나 & 피경화
Christina Davies, Gwiwon Nam, Kat Griffin, Kim Seo-Yeon, Matthew Stroud. Stephen Elliot
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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latform is eagerly anticipating the arrival of summer and a chance to explore our local area, while basking in the sun - ok, looking out the window at the sun while we refuse to leave our AC equipped apartments - once July and August come around! With that in mind, if you have any areas within or around the city that could make good day trips, please let us know! Like the weather, Platform will be undergoing big changes over the next few months. If you are interested in joining our team in any capacity, then get in touch! Our internet doors are always open so feel free to contact us on Facebook or via email! Laura Reynolds
facebook.com/platformdaegu platformdaegu@gmail.com