volume X X XVII
J a n ua r y 2 0 1 2
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Tiger Times s e o u l i n t e r nat i o na l s c h o o l itigertimes.com
College Board reacts to SAT cheating scandals By Helen Song
Confusion recently arose when students who had prepared fully for the SAT essays received low scores of 6 out of 12. These students were suspected of cheating because their essays contained similar content. This problem of cheating most likely came about as a result of students going to the same SAT hagwons, where they received similar sample essays and examples. This use of common resources resulted in overlapping content, causing suspicion of cheating. “College Board knows that Korean students go to [SAT] hagwons, and if many of the students use the exact same voice or writing patterns, they’re definitely alerted,” said Victor Cho, counselor. “It is a way they’re punishing students, but it’s deserved because it should be impossible for students to interpret the question the exact same way.” South Korea has been under worldwide scrutiny since January 2010, when a hagwon teacher was arrested for circulating copies of the SAT before the official testing date. As a result, College Board, the SAT administrators, heightened measures against cheating in Korea. Such methods include distributing the tests on the day of the exam, and sending a testing security guard to monitor activities on the testing day. “Due to the [2010] scandal, Korea was put in the ‘group of cheaters’ with China, Vietnam and Thailand by College Board, meaning that they changed the testing system for Koreans,” said Mr. Cho. “Indirectly it’s causing colleges and universities that receive applications from Korea to scrutinize the supporting material that we send for each application.” Students at SIS and other international schools were subject to these new measures when they received low essay scores. However, rumors that SIS will shut down as a SAT testing center are false. Other students who are taking the SAT later in the year have expressed worries about being penalized for cheating even though they formulate their own examples. “I took a great amount of time to prepare my own examples and tried to avoid any examples that would cause suspicion of cheating,” said Shelby Kim (11). “It’s kind of funny because some of my friends compete to use certain examples.”
UNICEF provides resources to aid Cambodians By Jessica Song
By donating 50 dollars to fix a broken water pump, Shanna Hurt, UNICEF adviser, was able to save the children and parents of six families who drank water from a polluted lake. This was the highlight of the UNICEF Cambodia trip from Dec. 18-22. For eight years, UNICEF members have visited Cambodia to provide school, medical and other useful resources. In addition, they were able to go to few local students’ houses to learn more about their living conditions. Within the three days of the trip, UNICEF visited two schools. At Lake School, they taught students Christmas carols such as “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” “This year some of [the Cambodian kids] remembered me so I was so shocked and touched,” said Euna Sun (11). “Also, the house we visited was very fragile. We had to be careful because too many people in the house at once could drown the house.” The next school UNICEF visited was Tteuksulai. This school consisted mostly of kindergarten and elementary school children, so UNICEF members played soccer, made paper chain origami, danced to Kpop songs and taught Christmas carols. On his first trip to Cambodia, member David Cho (10) noticed that some children did not have
Photo by Stephanie Song
During a visit to the Tteuksulai School in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Rachael Lee (10) helps preschool students with their coloring pages. These students had the opportunity to color for the first time through SIS UNICEF. shoes. They were excited to receive shoes and clothes donations from UNICEF, but David noticed that one was not because he had lost theConverse shoes he had received from the donations. Feeling sympathetic, David took off his own Nike Air Force shoes and gave them to the child as a gift. “I made a promise with the kid that I would find the missing shoe,” said David. “But when I couldn’t
find it after searching everywhere [at the school], he looked so disappointed. I didn’t want to let him down so I gave him my shoes. I had to walk bare foot for a while, but I was very satisfied because the kid looked so happy.” After three days of community service, some members went swimming while others visited temples, including Angkor Wat and various otherjungle temples surrounded by
gigantic trees and broken walls. “This Cambodia experience was really eye opening, especially seeing the difficult lives of the students who live there in comparison to the lives of SIS students,” said Philip Kim (11). “I saw that many of the things we take for granted, such as shoes, many of the Cambodian students don’t have. So it was a change of perspective to go to some place different.”
Blogger targets SIS, instigates another libelous case By Alison Chang
When rapper Tablo’s diploma from Stanford was called into question, Korean netizens were split on the issue, unsure of which side to take. Just a year after the controversy, the man behind the accusations, an internet café operator known by his username “whatbecomes,” has struck again, this time targeting SIS. In December 2011, “whatbecomes” began uploading posts doubting Jasmine Park’s (12) early action acceptance to Stanford University, claiming that all US college acceptances are released in May and that early acceptances do not exist. Though such accusations have been quelled due to confirmation emails sent by the university, some students still feel indignant that SIS is gaining a negative reputation. “I feel angry whenever I see
Class of 2012: What distinguishes it from the others? Page 3
those comments because ‘whatbecomes’ doesn’t really know anything about our school,” said Jean Koo (11). “Everyone works so hard at this school but he’s making things up and neglecting all our hard work.” In one of his more recent updates, he expanded his criticisms to target the entire school, stating that SIS claims to send numerous students to prestigious Ivy League schools without any proof and demanding that students show evidence of their acceptances to such schools. He even attacked the student body as well, labeling SIS students as unmotivated and spoiled.
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Mercy Jesduass, counselor, however, believes that students should not preoccupy themselves with rumors on the Internet. “When people take an anonymous avenue when doing something like this, they’re just harboring bitterness,” said Ms. Jesudass. “Even with that said, this incident won’t affect the credibility of SIS, nor will colleges question the credibility of our school. SIS is evaluated by [the Western Association of Schools and Colleges], which evaluates the school and lets colleges know our credibility is not just based on what [SIS] saying.” Though several of his claims have been proven to be unfounded, outsiders in general have not viewed international schools in a positive
When people take an anonymous avenue when doing something like this, they’re just harboring bitterness,” said Ms. Jesudass.
iFuture: CEO Tim Cook leads Apple into a new era. Page 2
light even before the controversy broke out last year. “A lot of wealthy students go to our school and maybe it is because they are jealous or don’t approve of certain behavior such as speaking English in public, but something must be giving [outsiders] a bad impression of international schools,” said Younghwan Sim (12). “Also, people tend to group all international schools together, but since our school is the most well known, people may direct their criticism towards SIS.” After Tablo filed a libel suit against “whatbecomes,” a trial has been scheduled to take place in March. “I just hope this trial will allow him to realize that he can’t just make things up,” said Jean. “I think an appropriate punishment is necessary so that these issues don’t come up again.”
Winter warm-ups: Athletes stay in shape over the break. Page 7
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january 2012
Editorial
Irresponsible student behavior puts school reputation at stake Since it was founded in 1973, Seoul International School has been called many names—the hagwon school, the party school, the elitist school. Together, these names have created an image that may not be completely grounded in truth but originates in student behavior. For example, other international schools have adopted “the hagwon school” as one of their monikers for SIS, referring to students’ over-dependence on hagwons for schoolwork. Though the name itself is lighthearted at most, it reflects SIS students’ reputation amongst international school circles as spoiled individuals who spend their parents’ money lavishly, including their education and leisure activities. Speaking of leisure, it has also been rumored that SIS students excessively indulge in illicit activities, including but not limited to underage drinking and clubbing. Such
perceptions are not localized to the international school community, but have been publicized to the broader Korean society. According to “whatbecomes,” an online blogger who has repeatedly accused individuals for falsifying college diplomas, SIS is “not even fit to be a school.” Additionally, it has been said that fellow Korean students from other high schools come to college already having formed unfavorable opinions of SIS students. While “whatbecomes”’s claims have proven to be damaging and untrue, they have been fueled by the aforementioned reputation that SIS students have created for themselves. Students frequently publicize their illegal behavior by uploading and “tagging” photos of themselves at clubs or bars on popular networking sites; some even make it a point to explicitly discuss their plans to drink or go clubbing. Not only should students avoid be-
ing so ostentatious about engaging in such activities, but it should be a given for them to avoid immoral, illegal behavior entirely. This, however, is not to say that SIS has an entirely negative reputation. While some may criticize students for immoral behavior, there is a list of students waiting for spots in the high school program every year because of SIS’ long history of matriculating its students to prestigious universities. Nevertheless, students should keep in mind that they represent SIS even outside of school, and behave with caution—because it is human nature to criticize, not compliment and to remember the bad, not the good.
Looking back, one of the great tragedies of 2011 was the death of the beloved, former chief executive officer (CEO) of Apple, Steve Jobs. However, with a new year comes a new face, specifically that of Timothy D. “Tim” Cook, who was named CEO of Apple a month before Jobs’ death in October 2011. Despite concerns, Cook has proved to be a capable and successful leader in the few months he has served in his new position. Cook was recruited by Jobs in 1998 from Compaq Computer, a personal computer company established in 1982, to run Apple’s operations. Before he was named CEO, Cook was a sales and operations master, helping to increase Apple’s profit and power overseas—for example, he is credited with creating the tightly knit network of suppliers in Asia. Concerns about whether or not
Cartoon by Christine Lee
By Min Ji Suh
Tim Cook would be able to live up to Steve Jobs were grounded in speculations that Cook lacked Jobs’ enthusiasm. Steve Jobs was highly involved in the process of making the iPhone, creating designs and programs himself for users to enjoy. Without Apple’s most important figurehead to lead the creation of new products, many were worried that important values that products were built on, such as simplicity, would disappear and turn Apple into a completely new company. However, companies do not always fall when their founders disappear. The world should know that even without Jobs, Apple will continue to grow exponentially under the leadership of Cook. Tim Cook is a tireless worker and marketing genius who has been with the company for 14 years. His competitive nature also makes him a great businessman, willing to make sacrifices in order to gain the greatest profit. He also has had experience being CEO of Apple prior to Steve Job’s
death. While Jobs was gone in 2004 and 2009 due to health reasons, Cook served as CEO in his place. Also, the one million units of the iPhone 4S that were sold in the first 24 hours of its release compared to the 600,000 units of the iPhone 4 immediately sold show that Apple fans are willing to accept Tim Cook’s leadership. The Apple stock also rose by 4.3 percent in the first 100 days under Cook’s guidance. With 14 years of experience with Apple, it is highly unlikely that Cook will change the values that Apple is based upon. According to Michael King, analyst at the research firm Gartner, Jobs’ “magic touch” will wear off by 2013. So, instead of comparing a living man to the legacy of a deceased one, the world should have high hopes for the new leader. He has proven himself capable and nobody ever will win against the ghost of Jobs. All we can do is wish Tim Cook the best of luck on expanding Apple’s technological empire.
A bullied student from Daegu Deokwon Middle School committed suicide on Dec. 20 by jumping off from the twentieth floor of an apartment. His death was just one of many recent cases that revealed the reality of student violence now evident in many Korean schools. School bullying in Korea is drawing more attention with an increased number of cases. The underlying cause of bullying is social hierarchy, as seen in Korean schools where many upperclassmen take advantage of their seniority to bully underclassmen. Yet what is even more alarming is that teachers and administrators, who have the responsibility to protect and educate students, hardly intervene and are apathetic towards the issue. Teachers at Korean schools simply fail to show concern for their students. According to Chosun News, last year, the Korean Ministry of Education issued surveys to police departments in 16 different cities regarding the issue of school bullying. The police officials replied “nonexistent” to its actuality, a sign of the apathy that exists in Korea among those responsible for tackling the issue. The fact that teachers, too, are unconcerned about bullying occurring in the school environment deepens the problem, as many cases go unrecognized and often remain unsolved. The Daegu school where the suicide occurred fired its principal last December, but only af-
This issue has been present for a few years, and the school board must clarify this contradiction immediately. Throughout the first semester, students in these afterschool classes have been confused as to how their grades in the classes would affect their Grade Percentage Averages (GPA). There has always been speculation as to whether or not these classes would affect their GPAs. According to the Student Handbook, GPAs are calculated by taking
the average of all classes, excluding afterschool courses. Despite this, the administration said that students’ GPAs will in fact be affected by these afterschool courses, which are considered half credit. Thus they will count as half the value of a normal class in calculating one’s GPA. Students eventually were informed of this fact, but not through their instructors; they based their knowledge on rumors and confirmed it with the administration later. Many students were indignant
at the fact that the school was being inconsistent with what is explicitly stated in the handbook. Students have been confused as to whether or not they should listen to the administration or abide by the rules stated in the handbook. The handbook should be an accessible guideline for students, parents and teachers but instead it has caused discontent amongst students who are still not fully aware of how the grading system works. If afterschool classes are to be
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Tim Cook likely to continue Apple’s legacy By Christine Lee
Korean teachers show apathy toward bullying
ter the event had occurred, further highlighting how this could have been avoided if the teachers had intervened to stop the violence. Following SIS’ example, Korean teachers and the administration should show more attention to their students’ welfare and protect victims from bullying. Counselors at SIS have taken up more active roles by listening to students and have made themselves more aware of problems in the school environment. Counselors like Gray Macklin have learned to deal delicately with both the school bullies and the bullied, bringing the problem up in private conferences that have made many perpetrators realize that it is unjustified. For the first time last year, SIS hosted the Bullying Awareness Week in an attempt to raise more awareness to the problem and foster self-realization among both perpetrators and victims. Holding the event was significant, as it was a sign that the school had taken the initiative to educate students and help them become wary of the impact their actions had upon others. Although Korean schools will not be able to model themselves exactly on SIS, they can tackle bullying by emulating SIS’ example. For example, Korean schools should step up to punish those accountable for bullying while protecting victims from further harm. Yet if Korean schools continue to turn a blind eye to the social hierarchy system in Korea and to the issue of bullying, it is unlikely that the problem will be resolved anytime soon.
recognized as actual courses, teachers must inform students about how their performance will be evaluated. Administrators and teachers always emphasize how important it is to follow the handbook rules when it comes to school absences, yet they are the ones who do not uphold those same standards concerning the matter of afterschool courses. Whether the administration decides to have afterschool class grades affect GPAs or not, they must update the handbook to correspond with
Afterschool class grading system needs progression By Milton Yoon
Due to hectic class schedules during regular school hours, students often participate in after school courses such as Ladies’ Choir, Men’s Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band to express their musical talents. However, these four classes have caused confusion among students because the administration’s stance is inconsistent with what is stated in the Student Handbook. Editors-in-Chief Stella Kim Eunice Lee Managing Editor Lydia Kim Production Editor Jasmine Park Graphics Editor Stephanie Song
Copy Editors Alison Chang Angela Cho Elizabeth Song Layout Artists Yong Gun Choe Jason Huh Joanne Lee Milton Yoon Jonathan Yun
Marketing/Website Director Jeffrey Chun Cartoonist Christine Lee Photographers Joshua Kim Linda Heeyoung Park Jessica Song
Reporters Mark Kim Michelle Kim Marcus Lee Helen Song Min Ji Suh Adviser Ms. Carolyn Brown
Tiger Times seoul international school Songpa P.O. Box 47 Seoul, South Korea 138-600
The Tiger Times exercises the right to report on and editorialize all topics, events or issues, including those unpopular or controversial, insofar as they affect or interest the school, community, nation and world. We refrain from publishing material that advertises illegal products or services, is obscene, libelous or invades privacy. We refrain from publishing material that creates a clear and present danger or the immediate material and substantial physical disruption of the school.
JANUARY 2012
Students prepare for NHD competition
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nEWS
NEWS BRIEFS
By Joshua Kim
South Korea will become the “52nd state,” following Shanghai, to compete in National History Day (NHD) on Feb. 18, an international competition run in all 50 states in America that is recognized by most US colleges and universities. A number of students who showed interest in the competition dropped out after break, citing commitment issues and a lack of adequate time to work on the project. “Even though I was excited at first, I ended up dropping out because I had no idea how much time this required,” said Bryan Cheun (10). “I’ve never done a project as big as NHD before, and especially because it is collaborative, it was too much work for me with my school work and extracurricular activities.” This nearly four-month project has caused participants to commit time outside of class to investigate a historical topic, with the help of at least two teachers per project. “[The level of commitment] depends on what category you’re in,” said Shanna Hurt, history teacher and organizer of the tournament. “It takes a lot of time editing documentaries but writing a research paper may not take as much time because students have written one before. The research and actually getting primary sources takes about
Graphic by Joshua Kim
Photo by Jessica Song
During activity period on Jan. 13, Shanna Hurt, social studies teacher, outlines what students should do to prepare for National History Day. a month or two.” NHD will allow students to submit a project on the theme “Revolution, Reaction and Reform.” Students can make a documentary film, write a research paper or perform a dramatic interpretation of a historic event in a group or alone. “It’s a rewarding experience,” said Andrew Jeong (11). “You end up learning a lot about both your subject and doing research. In addition, it lets you take advantage of outside hobbies. I’m making a documentary on the hippie revolution because I enjoy videography.” Currently, the most important issues on the day of the tournament are logistical. Judges and partici-
Zeitgeist: Designated by the United Nations as the country with the second highest tobacco consumption, Korea reports more than 40,000 smoking-related deaths every year. To reduce this rate and protect smokers from the effects of cigarettes, the government plans to enforce more stringent regulations. Currently, cigarette companies must make public amounts of nicotine and tar in their products. The revised law will also force them to release a list of all harmful additives contained in the cigarettes. “Honestly, it won’t work because even if they [disclose] the harmful additives, no one really pays attention,” said Jason Park (11). “I think raising the prices of cigarettes will be more effective.
pants must pass multiple rounds of questioning, all the documentaries and all of the other student entries by the end of the competition date. A few parents are also volunteering to judge student entries on the day of the tournament. The top entries chosen in Korea will then proceed to Shanghai, where another competition will decide which Asian team will participate in another National History Day held in the US. “I think it’s a great opportunity,” said Mrs. Hurt. “On a college [application], or just going through that process since it is research, people will look at that and know what you did. I don’t think students realize how prestigious this event is.”
“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” attracts large audience in South Korea
School club proposal forms available to returning and prospective club leaders
The highly anticipated action film of the “Mission Impossible” series, starring Tom Cruise and Paula Patton, was very successful in South Korea in the movie’s foreign ticket sales. As of Jan. 8, “Mission: Impossible–Ghost Protocol” grossed $42 million in Korea—the second highest among all the foreign countries it was released in. Avid fans greeted Tom Cruise at Incheon International Airport on Nov. 31 when he came to promote the movie in Korea. “[The movie] was pretty good,” said Gary Kim (10). “Most ‘Mission Impossible’ movies required a lot of thinking, but this one was focused on the action. The action [scenes] were very interesting. I liked the part at the tower of Dubai because Tom Cruise actually climbed the tower. His dedication for new challenges contributed to making a great movie.”
Students interested in creating or renewing a club for next year must fill out and hand in the school club proposal form to Ivan Atanaskovic, activities director, by Feb. 3. Once applications are handed in, the school administration will decide the clubs that will be formed next year. Prospective club leaders must also present at the student activity fair that will be held next year in early August for freshmen and new students. “We need to have clubs that are meaningful, [and have] a purpose and a clear goal,” said Mr. Atanaskovic. “We need to make sure that what they’re doing is relevant to our school and learning environment, and that everything the club does is under the school’s umbrella. The main thing is first, have a club that is very well run and organize a schedule that works for everybody.”
Government to tackle smoking issue with stricter approach
In the US, for example, one box is much more expensive [than in Korea], so a lot of people who quit.” Similar to the US’ Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, the new law will also mandate firms to print warning photos that show the hazards of smoking on cigarette boxes. The Ministry of Health and Welfare hopes that this policy will not only raise awareness about the negative effects of tobacco but also make it more difficult for tobacco firms to promote their products. In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Council will submit a proposal in February to ban smoking on sidewalks and footpaths. According to The Korea Times, the government added 314 bus stops
to the list of non-smoking areas and plans to add more than 9,000 public places by 2014, including 1,910 neighborhood parks, 5,715 bus stops and 1,305 school zones— more than one-fifth of Seoul. According to Gray Macklin, counselor, the government needs to enforce these rules more strongly to make a significant change. “The rule for making a rule is to never make a rule that you are unable to enforce,” he said. “All it does is highlight your lack of power. The Korean government is both unwilling and unable to ban smoking on sidewalks. It will further erode the perception of law in this country. Here there’s a fearlessness but with that fearlessness there’s a lower respect for the rule of law.”
By Elizabeth Song
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By Mark Kim
Senior Class faces intensified early admissions competition By Lydia Kim
The Class of 2012 is made up of 79 students, 14 fewer than the Class of 2013. Though this class is relatively smaller than others, a comparatively larger number of students applied early. Competition for early admissions increased, according to Fred Schneider, Director of Pupil Personnel Services. Stanford and most Ivy League schools—with the exception of Yale and Columbia—received greater numbers, if not record numbers, of applicants. “I thought that when Princeton and Harvard renewed their early application [system], the number of applicants to other Ivies would decrease,” said Mr. Schneider. “However, all schools are reaching record number of applicants. It must be viciously competitive.” Despite the intensified competition, the number of early decision acceptances from the Class of 2012 has been consistent with those of previous years. “Colleges talk about how every class is different,” he said. “Each has a different personality. To be frank, there were a couple of people last year who muddied the water for the senior class. There are no negative shadows in this class. They’re a good class to work with. It only takes three or four to make it bad. But in this class, even the guys perceived as
radicals are just puppies.” Though a continued trend from previous years was that many students applied to the same schools, there were a few exceptions. James Choi, for example, will be taking a year off to prepare for the Korean college entrance exam. Kyong Tae Kim, on the other hand, was the first student to apply to British schools through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. He plans to study geology at Kings College in London. “I lived in England for eight years so it’s natural for me to go back,” said Kyong Tae. “I don’t need a visa, so [it’s] more comfortable for me to live there, since I’m not limited in work opportunities. I plan to live and work in the UK, so it will be very different. The UK system is more specialized to focus on one major, and that is what I like about it. Another distinguishing feature of the Class of 2012 is that the academically highest-achieving students are mostly girls. “It is very satisfying to see that we might be witnessing a younger generation of female students who are breaking the barrier between the inequities between the two sexes,” said Victor Cho, counselor. “It traditionally used to be that male students took the top spots in each class. That changed dramatically. I hope that this year’s class serves as a model for all classes to come.”
NORTH KOREA: INSIGHT I Kim Jong-il’s death stirs question of reunification between two Koreas Efforts by both sides of the world’s most heavily fortified border to re-establish a single, unified Korea have remained fruitless for the last six decades. With former North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il’s death last December, eyes are now on his third son and successor, Kim Jong-un, in establishing the course of North and South Korea relations. Despite hopes for reunification, any sudden progress is unrealistic. As soon as Kim Jong-un ascended to leadership, he consolidated his newfound military power by test-firing a missile. Yonhap News Agency reported that North Korea fired a short-range missile into the sea off its east coast just hours after the announcement of Kim’s death, demonstrating its military vigilance despite the death of the man whose iron rule lasted for the last 17 years. However, such acts of aggression did not put the two countries on the brink of war. “Right now, the only thing holding up North Korea is its nuclear weapons,” said Damon Six, Asian Studies teacher. “They even have to import all their food. North Korea knows that if it starts a war, then there’s no way it could survive. The United States, South Korea and countries all over the world would destroy [its] government. Not even China would back them up.” North-South relations had significantly cooled under South Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s administration, particularly with the end of the Sunshine Policy in 2010. During Kim Jong-il’s funeral, however, South Korea sent a delegation to Pyongyang to pay their condolences and meet with Kim Jong-un. Later in January at a news briefing, South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan said, “We are open to dialogue with North Korea. The ball is now in North Korea’s court.” Though South Korea appears to be reaching out, discussions between both parties on reunification have yet to continue. “Reunification is a complicated issue,” said Philip Lee (11). “There are economic barriers blocking the path of reunification. It seems much too burdensome on way too many people to consider reunification as a realistic possibility in the near future, even just on economical levels. The current North Korean regime also refuses to give up power, and the South Korean government would rather crumble to the ground than give into totalitarian communism. Sudden reunification is a hope and a dream of many but not a realistic goal for the near future due to economical hurdles and ideological conflicts.” Like Philip, a majority of South Koreans support the idea of eventual reunification but are wary of the huge costs. According to the New York Times, a poll conducted in South Korea just before Kim’s death showed just over half of those interviewed believed they would eventu-
ally be better off after reunification, although more than two-thirds said the costs are bigger than the benefits. Here at SIS, a survey conducted after Kim’s death revealed that 68.97% of students were not in support of reunification. “There should definitely be some sort of reconciliation before reunification,” said Eunice Kim (12), North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) president. “World leaders first need to help North Korea’s economy grow to at least the level where East Germany was when it [was absorbed] by the West and then slowly think about reunification. For now, the economic gap is way too wide.” A hurried reunification, or even the collapse of the North Korean government, could dissolve Pyongyang’s upper class and flood Seoul with refugees. Such consequences would mean huge financial burdens for South Koreans who have only recently gotten used to their country’s emergence as a global economic power. According to the South Korean government, the cost could run up to 240 billion dollars after a year—and 2.4 trillion dollars after a decade. Aware of these enormous costs, the South Korean government has already begun preparing for the fiscal shock by setting aside a separate fund with a goal of 50 billion dollars for eventual reunification. Individual Koreans at home and abroad will be able to make donations to the fund, and the government in Seoul may earmark money including budget surpluses, according to Unification Minister Yu Woo Ik. However, economic disparities are not the only obstacles that need to be addressed before reunification is seen as a valid option. The cultural differences between the two countries have expanded over the decades of separation. Juche ideology, the political thesis of North Korea’s founder Kim Il-sung, superseded Marxism-Leninism in North Korea decades ago and emphasizes political and ideological independence, economic self-reliance and a viable national defense system. The philosophy deifies Kim as a god and conveys him as an essential figure in the struggle of the working masses against the oppressive middle class. Completely isolated from the outside world, the North Korean population holds such beliefs fixedly and sees South Korea instead as a puppet of the Western powers. “There’s this myth of one Korea, which started the Korean War in the first place,” said Mr. Six. “After nearly sixty years of isolation, there are really two separate Koreas now. We still talk about Korea as one and united, but the cultures have gone on such different tangents. Reunification is inevitable, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon.”
By Joanne Lee
Dear Leader remembered for both atrocious acts and personality cult If there was ever a leader who dressed in khaki safari suits, owned more than 20,000 video tapes, isolated his country from the outside world and reigned over a period of famine and oppression, it was Kim Jong-il of North Korea. Having held power for more than 15 years, this “Dear Leader” had a reputation for ruling in a Stalinist fashion and having a cult of personality. To say that Kim Jong-il was just another dictator would be an understatement, since he was not an ordinary tyrant. The media often dubs him as the most bizarre leader to have been on the planet. According to a study done by former Central Intelligence Agency psychologist, Dr. Jerold Post, Kim was once the world’s biggest Hennessy drinker. In addition to his extraordinary personality, Kim was also known for his autocratic and self-centered nature. “I find his dictatorial nature blended with his iconic personality completely fascinating,” said Shanna Hurt, history teacher. “Visiting other leaders in a pajama outfit while doing exactly what Stalin and Lenin did, separating the elite from the common, is just extraordinary.” Similar to other ruthless dictators such as Saddam Hussein, Kim suffered from “big six” personality disorders. Also regarded as schizotypal personality disorder, the term is usually associated with political dictators. Parts of the psychological issues characterized in the disorder include sadism, odd behavior and thinking and the need for social isolation. According to psychologists Frederick Coolidge and Daniel Segal, Kim is three standard deviations above the normal population for sadistic personality disorder. Kim’s disorder correlates with North Korea being a secretive country with one of the lowest ranking human rights record. Kim’s personality led to reckless behaviors that caused various controversies around the world. For example, in 2011, Amnesty International, a human rights organization, urged Kim to close down the country’s infamous concentration camps. Described by the media as “Hell
on Earth”, the death camps hold more than 200,000 people who are imprisoned for political crimes rather than actual misdemeanors. For example, a citizen could be put to these camps for criticizing the government’s policies or mourning insincerely during Kim Jong-il’s funeral. “I think it is fair to say that Kim Jong-il was the Hitler of North Korea and his influence extended to the world,” said Jun Ryu (11). “For example, former US President Bush once declared North Korea as [a part of the Axis of Evil]. This shows that Kim influenced not only the military and political atmosphere of East Asia but also the rest of the world.” Mrs. Hurt believes that it was also under Kim Jong-il that North Korea started to receive much attention from the international world. “Kim Il Sung seemed to be revered by the North Koreans whereas Kim Jong-il seemed to be feared,” said Mrs. Hurt. “Kim Il Sung was still picking up the pieces after the Korean War but it was Kim Jong-il who started this whole nuclear war threat. I think after President Bush labeled North Korea as one of the axis of evils, people really started to become quite curious about North Korea.” With his eccentric personality, there is no denying that Kim Jong-il had a profound effect on the two Koreas. His personality can be viewed as an enigma but his dictatorship over North Korea drastically altered the relations between South Korea and the rest of the world. For example, North Korea’s nuclear bomb test in 2006 received unanimous condemnations from international governments, including that of the Chinese. And his total communist rule alienated North Korea from western, democratic countries. “Kim was certainly a terrible leader but an intriguing one as well,” said Hyun Jea Kim (12). “It is hard to judge someone so despotic but so weird at the same time. However, he left a grave impression on the world that dictators still exist and atrocities are still committed, even in the 21st century. His legacy is something that we unfortunately cannot forget.”
By Yong Gun Choe
INTO PAST AND FUTURE
Artwork by Giwon Lee Graphics by Jeffrey Chun Layout by Jasmine Park and Jason Huh
lifesTYLE 6
January 2012
The World at the Tip of My Tongue A Tale of Two Dishes
By Marcus Lee
At the heart of Gangnam lies a small piece of Turkey, 20 years in the making. Ever since Pasha was founded it has served authentic Turkish dishes to Korean diners. From the outset, walking up the numerous flights of stairs, some may begin to question whether the food will live up to their expectations. No fear. On entry, all these doubts are put to rest. Colorful, patterned plates hang on gold-plated pillars that line the walls. The scent of garlic, herbs and spices thickens the air. Evenly spread kerosene lamps the size of a watermelon cast a dim light throughout the interior, evoking a
mysterious, exotic feeling. But diners don’t care about style; they only care about the food, don’t they? Well, while the popular beef kofte enhances the authentic Turkish experience, the lonesome duckling, the seafood pilaf, fall far short of the goal line. A traditionally cooked mix of minced meat, spices and onions, the kofte is placed in a rather light delight of garlic and tomato sauce. Contrary to its tender look, the salted steak is chewy yet brittle enough to savor without trouble. Add that to the uncanny yet perfect balance of flavor in the tomato sauce and texture on the meat. One begins to understand why the
Aromatherapy may assist students to sleep deeper By Jasmine Park
While some must fight sleepiness while annotating their literature textbooks or studying for their Calculus tests, some suffer from the opposite: the inability to fall asleep or fall into a deep sleep. Besides taking sleeping pills or over-the-counter drugs, students can use aromatherapy to feel some relief from insomnia or a lack of continuous sleep. Aromatherapy is the application of soothing oils to help one fall into a deep sleep more quickly. According to Aromaweb.com, although aromatherapy cannot cure insomnia, it can help one enter a relaxed state that is more favorable for sleeping. Two of the most popular aroma oils are lavender and chamomile oils. These soothing oils can be applied in several ways: massaging them into the neck, shoulders and other areas; putting a few drops of oil on one’s pillow; or dropping some aroma oil in the bath. It also can be placed around the house through candles, soaps and liquid aromas. “There’s this candle and when it melts it brings out the smell of aroma,” said Bason Park (9). My mom likes lavender aroma oil and she
says it helps me sleep and relax. So sometimes I light it during the night. It’s placed all around the house.” On the other hand, Cathy Wong, naturopathic doctor and nutritionist, says that some may experience irritation as a result of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is not meant for everyone, as it may cause rashes, headaches or stomachaches for some. Such cases occur because of the misuse of oils or allergies. Currently, rather than utilizing aromatherapy, more students choose other methods such as sleeping pills or exercise. “I had insomnia for a while so I tried melatonin pills,” said Junsoo Shin (12). “It worked once or twice but became ineffective. A better way to fight [insomnia] was simply to exercise. I go to the gym and box, which helps me sleep.” Others, who have a more continuous form of insomnia, take prescribed medicine. “I slept about an average of maybe two hours to none per night,” said Shawn Kim (10). “I would stare into blank space or daydream. I went to a doctor and explained symptoms of insomnia. He told me the best way to cure it was to take prescribed medication. I take it when I need it.”
kofte makes Turkish cuisine one of the best. Though the meat itself is served in sparing portions, it definitely leaves a strong enough impression for diners to enjoy. Unfortunately the pilaf, another pillar of Turkish cuisine, is just as terrible as the kofte is terrific. Think of it as a ballooned kimchi bokkuembab covered with thick toasted bread, lined with melted cheese, filled with mini clams and shrimplings. For a critic, this is golden material, but for diners, a word of advice: try to avoid the dish on the bottom of the last page on Pasha’s menu. For more information, contact Pasha at 02-593-8484.
Graphics by Jeffrey Chun
What is the “real world” like? By Linda Heeyoung Park
Alexandra Brender, Class of ’04, shares her experience as the first female pilot from SIS. She graduated Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and now works for Universal Weather and Aviation, a flight operation company.
When did you decide on becoming a pilot? Since I was four, I wanted to become a pilot. I knew that in order to become a pilot, you have to be good at studies, especially math, and keep up with the extracurricular activities. I knew I had to be serious about this [goal]. So when I was in 10th grade, Fred Schneider [Director of Pupil Personnel Services] suggested the university [that I later attended]. He said, “This university is actually the Harvard of aviation!” ß Since you chose your profession so early in your life, have you ever felt regret for your job? I also applied to Notre Dame, and I got in. If I had chosen to go to Notre Dame, I would have been majoring in political science and working for the United Nations. The interesting thing is that I had [already been accepted] to Embry-Riddle when I got the acceptance letter from Notre Dame. When I had those two letters in my hands, I had [my] inspiration guide me, and chose Embry-Riddle University. Until this moment, I do not regret it at all. I love my job—it is very catholic and spiritual. When did you first fly? I first flew in [the fall of] 2004. I did not expect the whole experience to be so rocky. You train in these really small planes. You go in there, and every single move you make, the plane responds. You can feel it. You become one with the airplane when you fly. What was your biggest failure so far? I failed my first solo test. In order to land, there are steps. And for each step, there is a feeling. You have to know the feeling. But I failed the first solo check. Then, I had to deeply reconsider—is [piloting] what I really want to do with my life, if I failed this solo test? But then there was a fire in my gut that said, “No, you can do this and you will do it.” So I got the extra lessons to later pass the solo test. Then, I got my private license—it was the most amazing feeling in the world. Do you have any words for SIS students? Anyone can get an A in a subject. But that doesn’t tell you who you are. The question you should be asking is: what makes you different? Einstein never graduated college—he failed physics. But he had that extra spark to offer. He chased after that spark, and eventually succeeded. Everyone is different. Some people are crazy. But then it is the crazy people who spark the world. Colleges do not want people who just get straight As. They want people who deal with diversity and who can fight back—the tested people.
As temperatures fall, concern for blackout increases By Stephanie Song
Recent temperature drops into the subzero range have increased the demand for electricity and concern for a power failure. According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, demand reached a record high of 74.5 million kilowatts on Jan. 4, when temperatures in Seoul reached as low as negative 10 degrees Celsius. Last September, Korea experienced a nationwide blackout caused by a soaring electricity demand due to high daytime temperatures ex-
ceeding 30 degrees Celsius. This power outage occurred when the Korea Power Exchange shut off electricity to major cities because the demand surpassed the supply capacity. “I was in an elevator right before the power went out,” said Caroline Kim (10). “As soon as we came into the office the power shut down. Later when I watched the news, I heard that the shutdown was unannounced. Because of this power outage some people were held back in their schedules, others had to wait hours in inoperative elevators and
stores that needed electricity to operate lost profit.” In order to prevent future blackouts, the government has implemented several energy conservation policies. For example, major plants and buildings are required to reduce their electricity use by 10 percent from 5-7 p.m., the peak hours of demand. To conserve energy during the holiday season, Christmas displays throughout the city were also less extravagant. Furthermore, major buildings must keep temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius until
the end of February. “Normally when I enter Hyundai Department Store in the winter, I have to take my coat off because the indoor temperature is warm enough to just walk around with a sweater on,” said Michelle Chun (10). “Nowadays I don’t take off my coat because it’s not as warm inside.” According to Bum Soo Chang, Deputy Supervisor of the Facility Department, SIS also follows the general guideline of keeping temperatures close to 20 degrees Celsius. Individuals have also taken
measures such as purchasing blankets, long underwear and portable heating devices to conserve energy and cope with the cold weather. GS Shop sold almost triple the amount of portable heating devices than it did last year. Buildings can also make longterm efforts to conserve energy. According to James Ham (12), who is part of a student project to improve the school’s energy efficiency, because most heaters were installed in 1999, replacing these units may be another way to conserve energy.
JANUARY2012
Sports Photo of the Month
7
sPORTS
Vacation practices prepare basketball players for stronger performance in remaining season By Michelle Kim
While students awaited overseas trips, ice-skating, Christmas and the New Year during winter break, varsity and junior varsity (JV) basketball players, boys and girls alike, also held extra practice sessions in Tiger Gym 2. The varsity and JV girls basketball players practiced for two hours on Jan. 3 and 5, respectively. Likewise, the varsity and JV boys basketball players met four times before school resumed to practice. “With downweek, exams and one or two weeks without touching a ball, players lose their touch,” said Tim Munro, varsity boys basketball
coach. “With these practices, when we come back after break on Monday, we don’t start at square one.” During each of the optional practices, players spent the first half honing their individual skills and the second half playing a game. By the end of the practices, the players felt that the sessions were beneficial because they could develop their techniques and stay fit. “I think the practices helped a lot,” said Jihoon An (9), JV boys basketball player. “We worked on our skills and teamwork, and the practices helped us get in shape for our upcoming games.” Looking back at the practices, the coaches and players hoped to
increase cooperation between team members and improve individual skills. “We can play better than we did in the first half,” said Coach Munro. “I see more personal skills in each player than when we are put together as a team. I hope that we can work together and show our talent.” In addition to improving teamwork and skills, the players expected a surge in their motivation to win in the second half of the season. “The practices helped,” said Justin Lee (11), varsity boys basketball player. “I had trouble at first playing well [in the first half of the season], but I got better. Now we just really want to win our games.”
Yet, the sports world is not entirely free from racism, even today. There have been numerous incidents of racist behavior since then— from Tiger Woods’ reference to being lynched in the 2008 Professional Golf Association Tour to the firing of numerous coaches from the National Football League such as Mike Tice for their racist actions. Furthermore, Chelsea captain and defender John Terry was criminally charged for his racist remarks and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was suspended for eight matches after racially abusing Patrice Evra, left back of Manchester United. “Racism was a big problem a
few years ago and it seems to have reared its ugly head again,” said Tony Hurt, history teacher. “I think that the English Premiership however is dealing with it, but it is [still] disappointing.” Yet, these events have not dented the reputation of sports in general. People have adjusted to the fact that racism exists and are continuing to enjoy watching sports for entertainment. “Even though racism has not gone away, I personally do not allow it from discouraging me from watching sports.” said John. “You cannot allow actions of couple individuals to speak for the collective.”
Legacy of racism extends from past to present By Jason Huh
Photo by Linda Heeyoung Park
While intercepting David Lim (12), Daniel Lee (10) takes possession of the ball. In preparation for the upcoming soccer season, 23 students met on Jan. 12 to practice after school.
Racism became a big issue in popular sports in 1945 in the US. Immediately after Jackie Robinson made his debut for the baseball team the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was bombarded with hate mail and death threats. “When Robinson made his debut, he was abused really badly,” said John Kim (12). “While he was playing baseball, he was booed; while he was practicing, he was isolated. Although there was nothing wrong with that behavior during that time, when we look back, we can certainly say that racism plagued the sport.”
Varsity coach hopes student body recognizes cheerleaders more By Milton Yoon
Tiana Nelson, Spanish teacher, looked over to the corner of the gym, where the cheerleaders rallied the crowd up during the final moments of the basketball game against Gyeonggi-Suwon International School on Dec. 2. Coach Nelson, who moved to Korea from Washington, brought a new perspective on how to coach the team after seven years of experience as head cheerleading coach at Bonney Lake High School. “For me, cheerleading is more than just cheering for teams during games,” said Coach Nelson. “I see it as a way to increase school spirit, and I think school spirit goes beyond just attending sports matches.
I want it to mean more to the students and I want them to realize that they should be proud to be attending a school like SIS.” Despite her current knowledge on cheerleading, Coach Nelson did not have any previous experiences in the sport when she first began coaching at her previous school. Rather, she took the job abruptly when the newly constructed Bonney Lake High School was recruiting new staff from the middle school. Activites she enjoyed, such as dancing and music, along with leadership qualities developed over a seven-year career and proved that she was a talented cheerleading coach. Members of the team also acknowledge her help and contribution to the team.
Photo by Stephanie Song
During halftime at an away game at Korea International School (KIS), the varsity cheerleaders perform their routine for the crowd. “We are able to execute the fundamental stunts more easily than
last year because Mrs. Nelson provided us with constructive feedback
by walking us through the process,” said Grace Song (10). “For example, instead of just telling us what to fix, she offered countless demonstrations and cooperated with each individual cheerleader in order to help every member of the stunt group successfully carry out the stunt.” Coach Nelson believes that cheerleaders are an important addition to the school and that other students outside of the cheerleading squad should begin to acknowledge this. “The cheerleaders really care a lot about supporting the kids at this school,” said Coach Nelson. “I want people to know that the girls are putting so much effort in and I want them to respect the cheerleaders because they really do deserve respect.”
브라운 스튜디오는 ‘편안함’을 드립니다. 브라운 스튜디오는 ‘즐거움’을 드립니다. 브라운 스튜디오는 고객의 ‘친구’가 되어드립니다. See you everyday at 9:25 in the Atrium
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Small Talk
8
January 2012
Internet user lionized as savior for worldwide witch hunt
Photo of the Month
By Angela Cho
An Internet user received the Nobel Peace Prize in January for saving the world from the hands of those who he claimed had forged their academic records. Starting with casting doubt on an Ethiopian rapper’s academic credentials three years ago, “whatmaybecome” resumed his witch hunt and added one million more Ivy League graduates to his blacklist. Anyone accused of forging academic records was immediately laid off and ostracized without being proven guilty. Meanwhile, the defamed rapper, despite having verified his academic credentials, fled from his country. “What a catch!” said “whatmaybecome,” referring to the rapper. “So many people forge their academic records these days that legit Ivy League graduates have become an endangered species. I don’t care what it takes to rid the imposters. If it means ending their lives, go ahead. It’s better to have less competition from a decreased population anyways.” Impressed by the user’s commendable conduct, one monarch issued the Order of What May Become to weed out those guilty of forging their academic credentials. Un-
der the motto “What becomes of the imposters shall be damned,” the order consists of “whatmaybecome” and his 500 followers who will be using aliases and false academic credentials to carry out their secret mission. “The Nobel Peace Prize is simply not enough to recognize the man’s brave attempt to save the world,” said the monarch under the condition of anonymity. “The new order will empower him to work harder towards the betterment of society and show that the world is in full support of his activities.” In consideration of “whatmaybecome,” the media courteously blotted out his face in photographs taken at the award ceremony and protected his identity to allow him to accuse more people of diploma fabrication. “Before the witch hunt, the world was swayed by swindlers who fabricated their academic records,” he said. “I virtually freed the world from the grasp of such imposters and paved the way for legit Ivy League graduates like my sons to triumph. My hounds and I will continue to sniff out the swindlers and save the world.”
Cartoon by Angela Cho
Photo by Christine Lee
Concentrating to keep his balance, Jiho Kim (10) perfects the tripod in Life Sports. Gymnastics tested students’ flexibility and strength.