Bibimbap May 2014

Our hearts go out to those affected by the Sewol Ferry tragedy.

May we all find peace.

{bibimbap{ A Healthy Mix of Jeollanamdo Teacher News and Information

EST. 2013 • Volume 1 • Issue 5 • May 2014

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{bibimbap{ EST. 2013 • Volume 1 • Issue 4• March 2014

For questions and comments concerning articles please contact the writer via their emails listed at the end of the their articles

For general inquires please contact: BibimbapNews@gmail.com

production team

Chris Devison chrisofficeofeducation@yahoo.com

Behind the

Cover

Sasha Koegler skoegler@live.ca Lindsay Ross oss6520@gmail.com Dinh Nguyen d11nguye@gmail.com Julia Cheng jucheng86@gmail.com

Justin Ancheta jancheta25@gmail.com

Chris Damdar chris.damdar@gmail.com

copy editor

Sasha Koegler editing contributors

Dinh Nguyen layout and design

Dinh Nguyen

cover photo: Dinh Nguyen

All non-credited photos, courtesy Wikimedia creative commons.

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Sewol 4 A look at South Korea after the ferry tragedy Education 6 Integrated language learning & teaching Geek 8 Tech Talk: Spring cleaning for your computer 14 News Brief: International Tabletop Day 2014

Opinion 10 The good and bad of using sweets as a reward Photo 12 Photos of the Month: Festivals in Jeollanamdo Life & Culture Musings: 15 Healthy An outdoor exercise routine 16

Dining with Dinh: Turn ice cream into muffins

18 19 20

Lost in culture and context Dear Chris: Mould and rent Summer travel and upcoming festivals, holidays, and events 3

After the Death Tolls: South Korea continues

dinh nguyen writer

I

magine yourself standing off the coast of an island and watching a ferry sink as workers do everything they can to rescue survivors.

Your son, daughter, brother, sister, parent — a loved one is on the ship.

There is a good chance that they are alive, but that glimmer of hope diminishes with every second that passes. You are powerless. There’s nothing you can do, but stand helpless while they slowly run out of oxygen or freeze to death.

While the rest of the world moved on, the Sewol ferry tragedy continues to affect all aspects of South Korean society. Public festivals and celebrations throughout the country have been postponed, canceled, or downsized. Schools are forbidden to go on field trips until June.

At least 29,000 concerned parents have signed petitions to urge the board of education to completely remove school trips from the curricu-

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lum. Vigils in memory of those lost to the accident are being held regularly as lanterns and candles light up the streets night after night, while South Korea collectively mourn.

This year’s Buddha’s Birthday has become associated with the ferry tragedy. As temples and parades throughout the country held tributes for the victims of the maritime disaster, a civilian diver lost his life the day before, on Children’s day, in an attempt to locate the still-missing bodies at the sinking site.

During the holiday a rescue team continued to search the waters off the coast of Jindo island, where the ferry sank, while South Korean President, Park Geun-hye once apologized on behalf of her government for the systematic social deficiencies that she believes is responsible for the Sewol’s gloom outcome:

“

People who were blinded by worldly desires and did not follow, and overlooked safety regulations, have caused the deaths of others,” she said during a SewolL tribute in the center of Seoul, held by South

to cope with the Sewol Ferry diaster

Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order. “I ask for your support to correct deep-rooted irregularities and evils, and establish justice in our society, following the teachings of Buddha.”

Park, who’s Government has come under scrutiny by the public for their inefficiencies during the ferry rescue mission has stated a similar apology before. Shortly after the tragedy, her Prime Minister, Chung Hong-won took full responsibly and resigned:

“

Keeping my post is too great a burden on the administration,” he said in a public announcement on April 27. “On behalf of the government, I apologize for many problems from the prevention of the accident to the early handling of the disaster.”

While many are outraged and openly protest and criticize the Korean Government for the Sewol sinking, the country continues to grieve.

Like cancer awareness pins, yellow ribbons in memory of the tragedy and in support for the victim’s loved ones have overrun the Korean wardrobe.

The yellow ribbon is also a common site in posters hung at the entrances of schools all across South Korea to show solidarity. Isles of rope tied onto trees and fences were also constructed throughout the country.

These alters collect larger golden ribbons attached by people who wish to pay their respect. They act as memorial grounds and beacons of support for those affected by the ferry tragedy. The ribbons tied to them carry a hand-printed message or prayer from passersby.

Institutions that are independent of the Korean government have also contributed to the mourning process. Over 130 memorial alters have been constructed throughout South Korea. Like many of its kind, a memorial and candlelight vigil was held in Jongo, Seoul, by the World Peace Freedom United organization (WPF) on April 27.

“

This is a memorial for the Sewol victims, their families and all of Korea,” said WPF CEO, Jaechul Ahn. “[The memorial and the vigil] are not associated with protest, government criticism or any other agenda. We

simply want to unite as people and help each other through this time of great suffering.”

a conversation with me about the ferry accident. Even the children are shaken by it.”

On the same day, a Buddhist festival in Seoul centerpieced a rope alter that was miles long. The festial attendees attached ribbons of loving messages and prayers along it.

The ropes were tied to giant white balloons that floated high in the air to help deliver the messages and prayers into the cosmos. A candlelight vigil with Buddhist lanterns and white lotus flowers followed in the evening.

South Korea is home to thousands of foreigners working aboard, who, like the rest of the country, are still recovering from a mix of emotions caused by catastrophic ferry incident.

Each day hundreds of people from all ethnic backgrounds, and age attend memorial events or vigils to collectively grief. Everyone in Korea is affected.

“

My grade three students have just begun to learn English. Today when I asked one of the classes ‘how are you?’ they all replied with feelings of anger or sadness,” said David Heng, an American English teacher in Busan, South Korea. “Even though their speaking level is very low, they somehow found the words to have

“

Every morning I hear helicopters flying over my home, which is very unusual with my island being so quiet and rural,” said Canadian English teacher Nicole Hemmer. “I saw many foreign people in Jindo, which is very rare. All of a sudden, my island had become world famous for this event, whereas before many of my family and friends had no idea where [it] was.

“

Throughout the 5 days following the ferry sinking, this feeling bleakness and sadness was felt throughout the island. Even the weather even coincided with what people were feeling. People are sad. Many feel guilt and are upset about what happened.”

This article was previously published on Digital Journal.

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{

The ABCs of Integrated

language learning & teaching

chris devison writer

W

e often hear about the importance of actively engaging our students in communicative lessons. However, this concept is rather vague and does not leave educators with much direction on how to do so when planning and teaching their lessons.

1.

I recently read about a model that was designed to help teachers do this.

The authors of this model, Linda Levine and Mary McCloskey, state that language is best learned when it is used in ways that are active, convey meaning, and serve a communicative purpose.

They laid out 9 principles to follow in what they called the Activity-Based Communicative Teaching and Learning Model, or the ABC model.

Active Engagement

Language is best learned while doing something with it rather than just studying its structures and features. Language should be used as tool for creating and sharing meaning in authentic situations with other students and the teacher. As the students progress to more advanced levels they can begin to examine the structures of language.

3.

Collaboration

Language is meant to be shared and the best way to learn it is to use language in collaboration with others. Try to incorporate activities that encourage your students to work together with each other solving problems while offering them opportunities to demonstrate what they have learned.

5.

Differentiation

Put simply, all learners are not the same. They have different learning styles, intelligences, and preferences. They also bring different experiences to the classroom. Teachers need to be aware of this and then differentiate each lesson or activity so it is most suitable to the learner(s) it is directed towards.

6.

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Comprehensible Input with Scaffolding

The principles are pretty straightforward, offering some great tips to consider when lesson planning and teaching. Although they still lack a practical “how to” approach, they are useful for teachers to reflect upon as they pick up the “how to” through experience in the classroom.

The ABC model is divided into four activity-based principles and five com-

2.

{

municative principles. The four activitybased teaching and learning principles focus on the active role learners play in the acquisition process. The authors state that elementary and middle school students are not passive recipients of language learning, but instead, actively construct organizational structures of language, content, and meaning. Because of this, younger students learn best when they are actively involved in their learning.

Cultural Relevance

By being sensitive to students’ social and cultural needs, teachers can help to develop a sense of trust in the classroom. This can be accomplished by respecting the culture of their students and by incorporating students’ culture in the classroom while still introducing the target language’s culture.

4.

Learning Strategies

Let’s face it, we do not have enough time with the students. Therefore, learning strategies need to be taught so students can continue learning outside the classroom. Learning strategies are behaviors, steps, strategies, techniques, or mental practices used by learners to enhance their learning and to develop language competence in and out of the classroom. Learners often use these unconsciously. By bringing them to the forefront of their consciousness, these strategies, and any new ones you teach, can be exploited to help students learn more.

In addition to the four activity–based principles, there are five communicative teaching and learning principles. These focus on the importance of using authentic and comprehensible language which conveys clear meanings for communicative purposes

I’m sure you can all recall a time when somebody rambled to you in Korean and you found yourself lost. You can probably also recall a time when you grasped the bits of Korean you understood, which helped you to pick up more of what someone said. It is easier if the speaker provides you with a little help and encouragement. This is comprehensible input with scaffolding.

When planning lessons, teachers should design them so they are neither too easy, nor too difficult. It should be just above the students’ level. Then with some support t, the teacher can scaffold the students in their learning.

Education continued on page 9

dinh nguyen

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Tech Talk

{

The Heartbleed bug allows hackers to steal small chunks of data from a vulnerable system’s memory. Visit CNET’s running list on the status of the top 100 websites.

{

with Julia Cheng

Safe and Sanitized:

Spring cleaning tips for your computer pring is here and it’s time to clean your computers. With the recent discovery of the shockingly widespread “Heartbleed” security vulnerability, we’ll have a special focus on ways to keep your computer safe and well-maintained.

S

Recommended downloads These are the programs I personally use to keep my computer clean and running smoothly. They are all free to use: Antivirus: Microsoft Security Essentials I cannot recommend MSE enough.

Their website says it all: “Microsoft Security Essentials is free and we designed it to be simple to install and easy to use.

It runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you don’t have to worry about interruptions or making updates.”

Malware Remover: Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware This program can detect and remove malware that even the most wellknown anti-virus and anti-malware programs fail to detect. I use this in conjunction with MSE by running a scan now and then to catch anything MSE might have missed, especially if my computer seems suddenly sluggish.

Software scanner: Secunia Personal Software Inspector

Make alcohol wipes and sanitize your home and school computers.

Secunia PSI scans the programs on your computer in the background and allows you to install updates in one go. Having the latest program updates provides increased security, but I particularly appreciate the convenience factor.

I couldn’t find sanitizing wipes in Korea, but they sell white opaque plastic bottles of rubbing alcohol in the first aid section of pharmacies. I use those with cotton squares. You will be shocked at what ends up on them.

Lightweight internet Slimboat or Midori

browsers:

If you have an older computer or a netbook, your internet browser may be too bloated for your needs.

Chrome, for example, is ideal for using Google products and extensions, but it requires a ton of RAM resources, especially if you open many tabs.

Consider trying Midori or Slimboat, two niche lightweight browsers that may be a good alternative to Chrome/ Firefox/IE. Slimboat is a good compromise between features and speed, while Midori is completely minimalist.

Now is a good time to...

Set-up multiple back-ups.

Junk remover: CCleaner

I use a large-capacity external hard drive to do a master backup of all my files every two weeks. It mostly holds my music and movies.

Ccleaner is a free Registry and junkclearing utility for keeping your system optimized. You can also uninstall programs and change start-up options with it.

I also keep my important documents on a separate USB at home in case the hard drive fails. My lesson materials are stored on Dropbox and another USB.

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Troubleshooting How do I create PDF files?

You can create a PDF file from the print dialog or with an “Export to PDF” or “Save to PDF” option if the program supports it. Google Chrome and Microsoft Office provide these options, but not all do. To print to PDF from any program with a print dialog, install a PDF printer like CutePDF Writer (free).

If you’re using a computer without a PDF printer and you just want to print a web page to a PDF file that you can take with you, you can use a web-based tool like Web2PDF. Simply plug the web page’s address in, and it will create a PDF file for you.

How do I save an image from my screen?

If you have Windows Vista, 7, or 8, you can use the included Snipping Tool to take easy screen captures. Click on the Start button and type “Snipping Tool” in the search bar.

If you don’t have this program: Press the “Print Screen” (PrtScn) button

on your keyboard to copy the image to your computer’s clipboard. Then, open an image-editing program (Paint will do, or see below for my recommendations), and go to Edit > Paste as a New Image.

Finally, save the image file.

The벚꽃 are blooming and I have a million festivals to go to. Can you recommend a free simple imageediting program?

For basic photo touch-ups, I use the desktop version of Picasa. There are many one-click editing features and it’s easy to upload photos into online Picasa albums.

If you’re looking for a separate image-editing program, I’d recommend either Paint.NET, which is easy to use with a faster loading time, or GIMP, which has more power and features.

Bibimbytes Watch Korean drama shows online with subtitles at Good Drama.

Should you be worried about yellow dust in your area? Consult the Korea’s air quality monitoring website with real-time tracking.

Listen to the latest Kpop hits on K2N Blog’s Soundcloud Playlist and find out the name for that Kpop song that’s playing everywhere.

To share tech tips and submit troubleshooting questioncontact: jucheng86@gmail.com

dinh nguyen

Nine principles of effective teaching Continued from page 6

7.

Prior Knowledge

It is important to start where the students are in regards to their English level and knowledge. From there, the teacher can make connections between the students’ first language, their cognitive ability, and the target language. If students already have prior knowledge of a topic in their native tongue, it will be easier and more meaningful for them to discuss it. Do some research to see what it is they are learning in their other classes and what they like, as these are good starting points to think about when lesson planning.

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Clear Appropriate Goals and Feedback

Teachers need to set clear, realistic goals that the students can comprehend. Goals provide direction and a sense of accomplishment. By providing feedback we can motivate, encourage, and remind the students of the goals the teacher set out.

To learn more about this topic you can read Chapter 1 of Principles of Integrated Language Learning and Teaching from Teaching English Language and Content in Mainstream Classes: One Class, Many Paths by Linda Levine and Mary McCloskey.

8.

Content Integration

Language teaching should be meaningful, using age and cognitively appropriate content for the learners. The author recommends that the content be what the students will learn in other classes because it provides purpose and meaning which motivates the learner. Although this seems to be in contradiction with principle 7, the teacher can use prior knowledge the students have along with comprehensible input and scaffolding to introduce new material they have yet to learn in their mother tongue.

Activity-Based Principles

Communicative Principles

1. Active Engagemenr 2. Cultural Relevance 3. Collaboation 4. Learning Strategies

5. Differentiation 6. Comprehensible Input with Scaffolding 7. Prior Knowledge 8. Content Integration 9. clear Appropriate Goals and Feedback

chrisofficeofeducation@yahoo.com

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0pinion

Engaging Students (Part 1 of 2):

The dark side of candy justin ancheta writer

W

hen Yoda tells Luke Skywalker about the differences between the Light and Dark Sides of the Force, Luke asks his mentor a question that I always found interesting: “Is the Dark Side stronger?”

“No,” replies the wise sage, his furrowed nine-century-old brow weaving an expression meant for us as much as it is meant for Skywalker. “Quicker, easier, more seductive.”

In an interesting, almost Manichean way, you could say that there is a light and dark side to all things. Dark and light. Quick and slow. Easy and hard.

At least, that is how they always appear at first glance. There is no place where that is more apparent than teaching. It is especially true with one particular question that always seems to crop up among NETs in South Korea.

“Nothing’s working with these kids, maybe I should bribe them with candy.”

You’ve thought about it, we all have.

Maybe you thought about it after that class that nosedived harder than the Star Wars prequel trilogy. No? Then perhaps it was after that carefully constructed PowerPoint activity you spent hours creating, though fully armed and operational, got destroyed by a couple of kids firing proton torpedoes down its thermal exhaust port.

To someone with little or no experi-

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ence or training in teaching, the idea of using candy as a motivational aid is a forgivable and understandable thought made with the best of intentions. Unfortunately, good intentions can also pave a road leading to a very bad place for teacher and student alike.

“Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”

Candy carries with it a special set of issues that boil down to these points:

It spoils your students, and your lesson Candy conditions students to learn (or worse, to simply say or memorize the right answer) for the sake of getting a reward. Learning, like many things in life, should not be simply seen as a means to an end. It should be made as an end in itself. Education is about more than getting rewards for the right answer. It’s about discovering and trying out new things.

As an educator, you and your materials have value in the classroom. The regular use, or overuse, of candy instantly devalues you, your lesson, and its content. Sure, your students may seem like they’re putting value into your game, or your lesson slides, but the value is really in the candy they know they’re getting at the end.

It escalates Eventually your students will want more candy to ensure good behav-

iour or working habits, and they will quickly normalize themselves to what would usually be a special reward.

To a student, candy is like GoldPressed Latinum (to do a little crossuniverse referencing). It’s something unique, special, exotic, and novel.

That means that it carries a lot of power, especially at school where such things are implicitly forbidden.

But even candy in school can lose its lustre with alarming speed. Soon, ever increasing volumes of it becomes the focus of your lesson, instead of your material.

It sets students up for poor life habits We often underestimate the hidden messages unwittingly communicated in our classrooms — the “Hidden Curriculum.” When we give out candy as a regular motivational tool, we implicitly teach that every positive accomplishment should come with a material reward. Without delving too much into philosophy, the rewards students ought to be chasing aren’t necessarily materialistic ones.

It also sets students up with unreasonable expectations, leaving future teachers to deal with students who demand candy for every success, or worse, who refuse to participate in class without the promise of candy.

The satisfaction of beating a difficult word scramble, getting that fill-in-the blanks question that no one else could answer, or helping a friend nail down

a piece of long dialogue, is a reward in itself. Each of these are powerful moments in teaching that we’ve all celebrated with our students, regardless of their language level. You can’t put a price tag on that, or match that value with a sugary trinket.

candy (or any external motivator) isn’t necessarily a black-and-white issue, and the use of candy can be justified in some cases:

“So what I said was true, from a certain point of view.”

The students are burnt out, their allimportant exams are finished, and the textbook lessons are done, yet the end of the year is still weeks ahead. It can be a major challenge to even get them motivated to do a game, let alone a lesson. In small quantities, candy can be used as an end of year congratulatory prize, perhaps for a job well done on a large and challenging review activity.

It’s the end of the year. You’re watching me from above as I orchestrate the students from a sense of apathy into a state of frenzied, fevered action. Heads lift themselves from desks as if levitated by a primordial Force. Shouts in Korean ring out as table groups form and leaders are appointed. I lay out my challenge: solve my code up to Level 3, and you get a reward ... take on Level 4, you get a little more ... and if you want ultimate bragging rights for decoding my super secret-message, you can try to beat Level 5…

At the end of the class, the students are exhausted. Worksheets litter their desks, codes of numbers and letters all jumbled together like the frenzied mating of a dictionary and a phonebook. Answers are triumphantly proclaimed in scrawled sentences and circles etched in red pen.

I open up my reward bag and I hold out a small sphere of compressed fructose and artificial flavouring, hermetically sealed in polyethylene.

The students scream with exhausted delight.

Some don’t scream at all. They trundle past me, taking the candy from my smiling glance with forced mechanical motions. They’re not glad they earned the candy. They’re just glad its over.

Candy is a powerful tool, and as Lord Acton and our Uncle Ben have told us, power can lead us to a bad end if it is not used responsibly. But the use of

Extraordinary events like the pre-post-exam period.

Extraordinary classroom achievements If you’re using a consistent class or student rewards system, such as earning stars, candy can be used as a way of celebrating marked progress, such as a fifteenth star. An even better idea would be to make the candy part of a wider reward system, where students can choose (or randomly draw) not just candy, but other snacks, stationary prizes, an additional game to play, or an opportunity to see a video of their choosing.

I want to stress that the enemy is not the use of candy, but the use of candy seen as a regular method for class motivation.

As Ben Kenobi tells Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, it’s easy to mistake a nuanced issue for one that can be sim-

ply classified as black and white. One point of view can hold that candy is a terrible tool to use in classroom engagement. Another can state that there isn’t a really significant problem with candy at all. As with many things in life, be it candy, or genocidal fathers in robotic respirator suits, the truth can lie somewhere in the middle. Candy, when used sparingly and at specific, extraordinary moments, is an excellent tool to show students that their hard work is valued, respected, and appreciated.

Without using candy, or other external motivators, as magic tools to solve general classroom management issues, what can we do to build student engagement? The first step is to realize that there is no silver bullet to deal with classroom management.

A classroom is a dynamic, organic entity, whose moods and energies can change even within the course of a class period. Classroom management is not a problem to be solved in one sitting, or with one action. It’s a constant work in progress, where teachers continually adapt to our students, their needs, interests, and styles of learning.

In the second part of this article, which will be featured in the next volume of Bibimbap, I will suggest ways in which we, as EFL teachers, can better integrate those facets students’ lives into teaching, to create more effective and engaging lessons for our classes. jancheta25@gmail.com

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Photos of the month: Adventures in Jeol Elicia Shepard and her husband Tom moved from Madison, Wisconsin, USA to Yeosu in April 2013.

They enjoy hiking and camping in Jeollanamdo and other Korean provinces.

Since coming to Korea, Elicia has picked up a passion for photography, capturing the “cool moments” of wherever life takes her.

See more of the Shepard’s adventures, and photograpy at www.lifesajournee.com.

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Top, from left to right: 1) A road at the Gwangyang Plum Flower Festival lead visitors to a pagoda and a majectic view.

2) Hundreds of people gather off the coast of Jindo Island for the Sea Parting Festival. At 4

p.m. the tides parted allowing people to trek on foot to another island. Some people attempted the journey while others collected shells and other seafood.

3) Lanterns and bulbs light up the river at night at the Jinju Lantern Festival.

4) Clear skies and fluffy clouds at the Suncheon Garden Expo and Festival.

Hundreds of plants, and gardens from all over the world are on display here.

Bottom: An vivid overview of the Jangheung Water Festival

llanamdo which took place in the summer. People from all over Korea gathered to enjoy an outdoors day of everything water-related.

To submit “Photos of the month,� send entires to BibimbapNews@gmail.com

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{ A place for all geeks { Gwangju:

jordan vanhartingsveldt special to bimbimbap

S

everal dozen geeks gathered in Gwangju to participate in the International Tabletop Day (ITD) on April 5th, 2014. The event was set in motion by Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day in 2013. Both widely recognized names in the geek community, Wheaton is known for his role in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Day for her role in The Guild, as well as Doctor Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog. The idea grew from their involvement in the Tabletop broadcast hosted on the Geek & Sundry Youtube channel.

The Grey Council of Gwangju (so called after a group of rebel mages in Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files) thought their city needed an event like this and decided to register it as the first and only official participant in 2013. The attendance was incredible, something close to 40 people strong.

This year saw seven registered ITD events across Korea, Gwangju of course included. The Grey Council again organized the gathering, this time with a couple other brand names: Waygeek.me and Alleycon.

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Waygeek.me is a geek-themed website based out of Gwangju. The name “Waygeek” is a fusion of the words “waygook” (Korean for “foreigner”) and “geek.” The intent of Waygeek is to draw attention to the sci-fi/fantasy enthusiasts residing across the Korean peninsula. It showcases the work of writers, artists, and crafters with the sole purpose of presenting talents within the community, both in Korea and around the world.

Alleycon is a western-style geek convention, the first of its kind in South Korea. It was founded in 2013 by the Grey Council and has garnered attention from expats throughout the peninsula.

International Tabletop Day 2014 saw the participation of roughly 50 people. It was an incredible thing to see so many board game geeks in one space socializing over what was once considered an “out of the public eye” activity.

While one group played Betrayal at the House on the Hill, the one next to it was deep in D&D Next. There was so much geekdom, so much awesome.

Jordan VanHartingsveldt is the creator of Waygook.me and an organizer of Alleycon. Alleycon 2014 will take place on September 26 - September 27

Top left: English teacher, Jordan VanHartingsveldt welcomes geeks to International Tabletop Day 2014 in Gwanju.

All Photos: Games that were played or were available Tabletop Day 2014.

Photos courtesy: Relja Kojic

Outdoor

Routines:

A refreshing change of pace

Healthy Musings with Chris Devison

G

oing to the gym can be a monotonous experience for many, but it is something people struggle through day after day in an attempt to stay physically active and healthy. If you are like me, you often find yourself daydreaming as you stare out the window while running on the treadmill or sitting on a bench between your sets. In the heart of winter this can be most troubling as our thoughts, when not on sunny vacationing spots, are on the upcoming warmer months and enjoying the outdoors again.

With May now upon us, we are eager to be outside enjoying the warm weather and the finer things that nature provides us for free. The gym is now a place we really don’t want to be since every moment spent in the gym is a moment not spent outdoors.

Yet many of us feel conflicted because the gym is the way we know how to be healthy and we find comfort in this routine.

I was experiencing this dilemma, but luckily I discovered a way to help me break the routine. Initially, I started some outdoor training once a week as a way to supplement my regular training. Having completed my regular gym routine, I was free to do whatever I pleased and something outdoors seemed most appealing.

After having a quick look around my neighborhood, I adapted some of my previous endurance and conditioning programs to what was available to me outside. After I got over the initial discomfort from the stares generated by a waygook running and doing “odd” exercises, surprisingly, what I found was an exercise routine that afforded real enjoyment. I decided to incorporate it into my broader routine.

In the warmer months, I now find myself in a position where outdoor training constitutes a main part of my exercise each week, including my runs, yoga sessions, strength training, and even meditation.

landing in front of the middle bar. I jump this and then jump the last one before turning around and doing it again until I complete 10 jumps. Last is the swing set. Here, I put my feet in the swing and start in the pushup position. First, I curl my knees into my mid section to work my core. Then when my legs return back to the pushup position I do a pushup to complete the rep. My goal is to cycle through the 3 exercises 3 times doing 10 reps each time before sprinting to the next station. The sprints can be done at a pace you feel comfortable with when you first begin, but you should strive to push yourself to keep your heart rate accelerated. The distance for me is quite short taking 2 to 3 minutes.

My Outdoor Routine:

Station 2

The idea of this workout is to keep my heart rate high while challenging my strength and endurance. It is difficult at first but will become easier as your endurance improves or can be adapted to fit your current level of physical fitness.

I take advantage of the parallel bars located with the Korean outdoor exercise equipment for all three exercises. I first do a set of dips, followed by inverted rows, and finish with knee raises. I sometimes substitute the inverted rows for one of the outdoor exercise machines, in this case, the shoulder press. After 3 sets of each, I move on.

I use several stations each consisting of 3 or 4 exercises with a short sprint between each station.

To finish I like to do some additional cardio. Don’t worry at first if you cannot do too many reps, sets, or even if you need a small break between stations. As you progress you will be able to do more.

Station 1 I sprint to my first station near my house where I find a set of iron bars, a swing set and what looks like a balance beam. The first thing I do is hit the iron bars and do 1 set of wide grip chins to failure. Next, I move to the balance beam which is 3 beams between knee and waist height in a zigzag. Standing next to the first one with my feet firmly planted, I jump over it brining my knees high and

Station 3 Next, I sprint to the river, again only about 2-3 minutes away, to do my final set which consists of leg work. I start with a set of walking lounges, 15 steps forward and then 15 steps back to where I began. I then do some body squats, followed by one leg squats. I do these near a bench so my butt hits a bench and I can accelerate up to standing position again. I finish by doing one leg hops up stairs. I repeat these until I complete 3 sets each.

I understand that it is unlikely you will have the same neighborhood set up as I do, but what I hope you can do is look at what is available in your neighborhood and find a way to make use of it. Get

outdoors, the weather is great. There is something amazing about the feeling of the morning sun or evening sunset while exercising, doing yoga, or meditating.

I know some of the descriptions may be difficult to understand so I would be happy to clarify things for anyone with further questions. Also, for liability reasons, you should consult your physician before beginning any fitness routine.

Station 1 (3 sets) Wide grip Chins, Jumps, Pushup / Knee-ins

Sprints ( 1 set) 1 to 5 minutes

Station 2 (3 sets) Chest Dips, Inverted Rows, Knee Raises

Sprints (1 set) 1 to 5 minutes

Station 3 (3 sets) Walking lounges, Air Squats, 1 Leg Bench Squats, 1 leg Stair Hops,

Cardio (1 set) Various exercises chrisofficeofeducation@yahoo.com

15

dinh

dining with

An Introduction:

Passion makes the perfect ingredients dinh dguyen columnist

B

efore going to university I was enrolled in culinary school.

While most creative young adults my age were blowing their flutes, or flinging colours with their brushes, I cooked and baked. The kitchen was my messy studio, recipes were my music sheets, and food ingredients were my paint. The culinary art was my creative outlet.

My dream was to become a brilliant food alchemist, fusing cultures through dishes, and turning sandwiches into ambrosia (which would inevitably become gold when the world’s stomachs elevated my art into religion). Unfortunately, dreams are only visions, and a vision is simply a prediction of one possible future outcome.

Telling my father I had enrolled in culinary school was one of the most monstrous things I have ever conscious-

16

ly done. He was a deeply traditional Vietnamese man who had immigrated to Canada from a war-torn home. My father wanted the best for me. He believed that the kitchen belonged to women, and desperately needed his eldest son to become a man. He told me that I was "retarded" (in the most derogatory sense possible), and that I chose cooking because no university would accept me. His viciousness was a grasp at a last breath; I could feel my words weaken his heart. I couldn’t go through with it, not because I was breaking his heart, but out of pride and vengeance and to prove him wrong. I dropped out of culinary school, traded in my knives for a pen, and went to university.

While my story didn’t conclude the way I dreamt it would, it had a different happy ending. As I did exactly what he wanted me to do, I didn't end up getting revenge on my father. Cooking the way that I dreamt of would have allowed me to travel the world, and learn about ethnic foods, ultimately, fusing them into

creations that express diverse culture unity. I gave up that dream out of spite, but found much more. I discovered that when you truly love something, you never have to give it up. Our passions stay with us, and sometimes lets loose when we least expect it. You just have to grab hold and find a different way to adapt it into your life.

After graduating university I became a journalist, hoping to fulfill my need to travel the world. But my job didn't take me far enough. So, I became an English teacher. As an educator in South Korea I am able to visit places foreign to my eyes and taste an abundance of different flavours. I try or create new recipes almost every day. I allow my passion for new experiences, travel, and food to take shape through all aspects of my life. This column is one manifestation of it. It is my attempt to share my love for food with you. I hope you enjoy dining with me. d11nguyen@gmail.com

Trials and Woes: Creative Baking in South Korea

B

aking in South Korea can be a hassle. While the tools and appliances are similar to the ones back home (and they are easy to come by), there are cultural and environmental barriers that make it much more difficult to recreate the oven-cooked deserts we love so much.

I struggled with baking during my first month in Korea. No matter what I baked, something undesirable happened: The bread was always too chewy, the cakes didn’t rise enough; the cookies were too hard. For the longest time I thought my oven was the problem. I learned the tough way that it wasn’t.

Korean-Made Ingredients Affect Texture I’ve discovered that pastries here will come out a bit more chewy and moist than what you will get back home with the same recipe. This is because the flour and baking powder/ soda in Korea is processed to better suit the Korean taste and texture preference (think rice cakes). I don’t mind the difference in most cake and bread recipes, but there are times when I prefer the exact Western results.

Solution: Experiment with making your own all purpose flour (see flour selection). You can always order Western bands online through websites like iherb, but trial and error using store bought ingredients can be adventurous and fun.

Directions (Muffins) 1.Preheat

an oven to 425°.

Line baking trays with greased muffin cups or lining paper.

2.In a bowl, mix the ice cream and flour until the mixture is smooth.

3. With a spoon, transfer the

batter to the muffin trays. Be sure to only fill each slot 3/4 full to give room for rising.

Humidity Affects Your Batches As many of us have experienced, South Korean summers can be agonizingly humid. You leave your air conditioned home for a five minute walk outside and you come back wet, sticky, and in need of a shower. This humidity can result in unwanted moisture in your pastry dough. Added moisture can degrade the effects of rising agents like baking powder. The longer your dough is exposed to humidity, the more likely you will end up with flatter bread and cakes.

Solution: Try to put the dough in the oven as soon as possible, or if you can, store it in the refrigerator. You can also cut your measurements in half and cook smaller batches.

Flour Selection Tips The first time I tried to buy flour for baking I was overwhelmed by the wide selection offered. The language barrier didn’t help. After a journey of research and experimentation I’ve discovered some tricks that make buying flour less hectic.

First off, if you’re ever unsure of what kind of flour to buy, always judge by the picture on the packaging. Use flour with cookie and bread pictures for baking. Their higher gluten content will yield better results in the oven. Never use flour with noodles and dumpling pictures unless you specifically mean to. Your

4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

5.

Let the muffins cool for 10 minutes before eating.

Directions (Breads) 1. Microwave the ice cream for one minute, so that it becomes softened.

cookies will come out chewy and your cakes will not rise and expand as much.

If you don’t want to, or cannot depend on pictures, an old baker’s trick is to check for the protein content on the nutrition chart at back of the flour package.단백질 is what you should look for if there is no English.

All Purpose Flour: If you specifically

want all purpose flour, it’s called 중 력 in Korean. If you cannot find it, check the labels of flours packages to find a protein content of 9 to 12 grams (per cent) of protein per 100 grams.

You can also make all purpose flour by mixing a high protein content flour with a low one.

Self Rising Flour: Korea does not have self-rising available to the general public. You’ll have to make your own.

Combine 1 Cup of flour with 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and a pinch of salt.

Bread Flour: Bread flour needs a high protein content to make it hard. You will want a flour that has at least 12 grams (12 %) of protein per 100 grams. This type of flour is usually packaged with pictures of bread.

Whole Wheat Flour: Like bread flour, whole wheat flour will have at least 12 grams (12per cent) of protein content per 100 gram. The Korean word for it is 통밀가루. It is common to find white whole wheat flour in Korean, while the brown variety is uncommon.

Make Breads and Muffins using Ice Cream Now that I have a better understanding of how to bake in South Korea, it’s a lot easier to have fun doing it.

One of the things I’ve been experimenting with is using ice cream as a main ingredient in my projects. I’ve successfully made muffins and bread simply by adding one ingredient: self rising flour. Since ice cream already contains sugar, fat, and egg, it is perfect for baking. You have endless flavours to experiment with and it comes compact and often doesn’t need to be measured. The downside?

In order to make it work, you need to buy a quality ice cream brand like Häagen-Dazs, Baskin Robins, or Natuur. This will often cost more than buying sugar, egg and milk separately. Low fat/quality ice cream will not be as effective, as they might not contain eggs.

You will need: Ice Cream Bread: 1 pint or 500ml of an ice cream flavour of your choice. You can often get 500ml ice cream boxes at convenience stores like G25 or a supermarket. 1 1/2 Cups of self rising flour.

Ice Cream muffins: 1 pint or 500ml of an ice cream flavour of your choice. 2 Cups of self rising flour.

2. In a small bowl, combine the ice cream, and flour.

3. Pour the mixture into a 5-3/4-in. x 3-in. x 2-in. loaf pan (either non-stick or greased.)

4. Bake in a preheated oven at 350° for 30-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

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{

Cultural Context: When your words lose meaning

chris damdar writer

A

few weeks before my departure for Korea, when I went to pick up my Visa, I asked the clerk at the consulate whether “hack-sing mo-gaw-yo” was the correct way to say “I eat students.”

She just stared at me.

“What is hack-sing?” she said.

“Student, like in a school.”

“Not hack-sing,” she said.

“It is hack-sing.”

“Oh. Um, hack-sing.”

“No, not sing. Sing.”

“Sing.”

“No, sing, sing.”

I noticed she seemed to stretch her lips more when she said it, so I did as well: “Hack-sing.”

“Yes,” she said. “And what is the rest.”

“Yes,” I said smiling. “I want to say, ‘I eat students.’”

“But you can’t eat students.”

Her face expressed a mixture of confusion and shock.

“I know, it’s an expression, in English.”

“Eat students?”

“Yes, you know, like being strict.”

“Like strict teacher?”

“Yes.” “Oh.” She still seemed shocked and confused.

“It’s a joke,” I said.

“Joke?”

“People are going to ask me why I am fat, so I want to have an answer, like a joke.”

“Why you are fat? Oh, so you want to say you eat students and that is why you are fat with a big bum.”

“Um, well, yeah, exactly.”

“Hack-sing mo-gaw-yo.”

“Oh,” she said. “There is no way to say you eat students.”

“Mo-gaw-yo?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.” “Not even as a joke?”

“You mean eat?”

She mimed bringing chopsticks to her lips.

“Yes.”

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“Eat student?”

“It is too long to say, ‘I eat students which give me big bum but I mean I am a strict teacher.’”

And for the first time it hit me that I was going to a foreign country. It had never occurred to me that in Korea there would be no way to express metaphorically that I eat students.

I had practiced these words to diffuse the discomfort I would feel about my body, but now I felt like somebody had cut out my tongue.

So focused had I been on forming the right words that I didn’t consider that those words might not convey my intended meaning.

Although it is now weeks later and I am in Korea now, I still don’t know how I will respond to the blunt questions Koreans will have about my body. I know they are not being rude, that Koreans are just very forward when it comes to appearances, but without humour I have no real way of disarming their scrutiny.

“I eat students” would have been a funny way to handle their questions because it would work on both adults and students, and it would prompt adults to enter into a “you have to change your diet” conversation — Or at least it would have in my native land of Canada. But in Korea, “I eat students” is a nonsense phrase with no grounding in reality. It would be like saying “Wednesday washes glue.” Unless you know the metaphor of washing glue, the phrase makes no sense.

I am so used to my words

{

carrying the weight of my meaning that I wonder how I will survive here. If I always have to explain my words, in English, in a country where few people speak English, then I will not be understood at all.

I will have to confine myself to simple phrases, like “Hello” and “Goodbye’”and “How much is that?’ I had hoped to learn enough Korean to develop a certain level of fluency, but apparently, learning the words is not enough.

I feel the strangeness of Korea. Or rather, I feel the strangeness of my thoughts in Korea.

Language is my anchor, and in Korea I have no anchor.

Even if I can translate my words from English to Korean, the thoughts behind the words do not translate, meaning my thoughts have no anchor. They are free floating in space, without an outlet, and if they get sucked into a vacuum I will feel so utterly alone. But perhaps, if I can chronicle my time here, I will not feel so alone after all.

Only another foreigner living in Korea can understand what it is like to feel disconnected in the land of the morning calm. By reading about my experiences in future issues, perhaps we can help each other understand this new, strange land around us. chris.damdar@gmail.com

dear chris Dear Mouldy:

K

orea’s humid climate, combined with often subpar building materials and craftsmanship in older apartments, creates a breeding ground for mould. People really need to take a proactive approach because, left unattended, mould may come and spread rather quickly.

Have you ever walked by your neighbor’s door and inadvertently caught him in his underwear? I have many times, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. You might ask why this person has his door open if he is in his underwear. Personally, I can’t explain the choice of home attire, but the door being open is something easier to elucidate.

Like my neighbor, you should open your door daily to allow your apartment to air out. Unlike my neighbor, I recommend wearing clothes when you do this, especially while employed as a teacher. I

Dear Rental Request:

T

he apartment situation is rather complex. The rental fees have been steadily going up and the money to cover our accommodations has not risen causing the situation to be e difficult for the schools to manage.

In Korea, there are three main types of rentals: Jeonsae (전세), Wolsae (월세), and a third new hybrid variation, the Jeon Wol Sae (전월세).

Jeonsae apartments involve signing a multiple year lease and paying a huge amount of key money up front. The tenant then pays a small monthly fee, but at a rate much less then the Wolsae apartments.

The landlord has the key money which he earns interest on or invests elsewhere during the period of the tenants lease term. At the end of the term the landlord pays the

Q

I have a problem with mould in my apartment, is there anything I can do? — Mouldy I’m curious, what can you tell us about the apartment in regards to our contracts and renting in Korea in general? — Rental Request

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{

Dear Chris is a monthly advice column written by Chris Devison, the Jeollanamdo Language Program’s Provincial Coordinator and 9 year resident of South Korea. If you have questions to ask Chris you can send them to chrisofficeofeducation@yahoo.com

hang a drape over my door that allows air circulation while providing some much needed and likely appreciated privacy.

Believe it or not, the original design of Korean apartments - one which seems to have really stuck - was done to help keep apartments cooler in summer and warmer in winter. If you open your door and the balcony windows you will have a nice breeze that can be used to air out your apartment. Proper air circulation, sunlight, and dry conditions are key to preventing mould. This might be why the bathroom seems to be the first place susceptible to an outbreak.

In times when humidity is the strongest it is a good idea to turn your heat on periodically to dry out the apartment. I know humid times are also the hottest, but this will help to eliminate unwanted, mould causing moisture. Unless you are into sweating it out jjimjilbang style at home, I suggest turning your heat on for an hour or two and going out for a while. money back to the tenant.

Wolsae apartments resemble the western rental system in which the tenant pays a damage deposit upfront and then a monthly rental fee. These apartments, often one-room or officetels, are the most common for teachers because they do not require an unaffordable amount of key money.

Another issue with the key money is that the schools risk losing the money if the landlord claims bankruptcy or disappears suddenly. This is why those in Jeonsae apartments are all with similar, often trusted companies with longstanding reputations.

Wolsae apartments also offer more flexibility in terms of their lease, eliminating the problem of the school being locked into a long-term lease agreement at a time when they may not need an apartment.

The third type, Jeon Wol Sae, is a newer

You can also buy hippos (물먹 는하마 / 제습제), or if you want to spend a little more money, a dehumidifier. Hippos can be placed in your

chris devison

closets or any where you might store clothing or other things easily damaged by mould. If you are lucky enough to have an air-conditioner, it will help keep the house cooler and drier. Many air-conditioners have dehumidifiers built right in.

If you have mould it is best to clean it immediately before it spreads. You can buy special cleaners at hardware stores apartment option resulting from changing financial times in Korea. It is often used by smaller apartment companies who wish to attract a more modern customer base.

These customers view this hybrid rental system as being more affordable and less risky than the Jeonsae apartments, while offering nicer, more spacious conditions than Wolsae apartments. Although Jeon Wol Sae may sound like a viable rental option, the schools often can’t come up with the key money, still have concerns about losing the key money, and do not wish to be locked into a lease agreement.

The stipend for apartment rentals can vary depending on where the money for your contract comes from. Many believe it is a fixed rate of ₩400,000 per month, but that is only the fixed rate which the school would have to pay you if they chose not to provide you with an apartment. The contract does not state

or make a simple solution of Javex and water. Use this to scrub any mould with a good scrub brush as soon as it begins.

You should also wear gloves and a face mask when cleaning mould.

Hydrogen peroxide or vinegar also might work if you are opposed to using Javex or chemical laden household cleaners. Personally, I use a simple all purpose cleaner made by soaking discarded orange peelings in vinegar for two weeks in a sealed container. After I dilute the mixture with water, I have a nice natural cleaner.

If mould is beyond your control you might want to talk with your school about redoing your apartment or looking into the cause of it. It can sometimes be the result of a leak somewhere, in which case the only option is to fix the leak, or offer you a new apartment. For more serious cases I suggest contacting the office to see if we can help. an amount that the school should pay for an apartment. Money can come from local office of education, the provincial office, city halls, government agencies, or even from the private companies.

From my experience, most apartments have been sufficient for people who are often here short-term. They are far from luxurious, but are certainly livable. However, there have been some issues, namely mould or cockroach infestations, where the apartment was below a livable standard.

The supervisor here at the office has been helpful in trying to have the living conditions improved or the apartment changed.

If you are having issues with your apartment, the first step is to talk to your school via your co-teacher to see if the issue can be resolved. If you have no luck, discuss the issue with me and I’ll offer some advice and, if need be, ask the supervisor to step in.

19

Upcoming festivals and events *** Many festivals/events have been cancelled/postponed due to the Sewol incident, but some of the venues remain open (particularly gardens, etc). When planning to attend a festival, be sure to check the website or call the tourist information hotline (02-1330) for any updates.

Tips and Resources:

Summer vacation Planning in the midst dinh nguyen

Lindsay Ross writer

I

t couldn’t possibly be time to plan for another vacation already, or could it?

After a few short weeks back in our classrooms, spring has crept up on us and summer will soon follow. The first semester of 2014 should wrap up in late July/early August with the rest of the month containing just enough space for camps and vacation time. There are a few things you should keep in mind.

Travelling Abroad?

First: Those elusive vacation dates that always seem just beyond reach.

Have patience if you don’t get an answer upon the first request. Try making a (reasonable) suggestion of dates that work for you and hope that your school can work with you. It’s also not a bad idea to have these dates written down and agreed upon to eliminate any miscommunicatio.

Next: Choosing a destination and a flight. Trying to choose the cheapest flight with less than 10 layovers is a key but difficult step. Some things to keep in mind are that flights tend to be cheaper if you leave during the week. Another trick is to clear your browser cookies because websites can track your search histories and bump their prices accordingly.

Finding flights: Cheapoair (English) Kayak (English) Tour Express (Korean) 20

Lastly, those little things: Exchanging money and getting travel insurance. If you exchange at least $300 US at KEB (Korea Exchange Bank), they offer free travel insurance (if you ask) that covers potential medical expenses as well as trip cancellation. The KEB branch at Incheon Airport, however, does not provide this service. Another option is to get travel insurance online via World Nomads .

Resources for more travel information: Korea’s Tourist Hotline: 02-1330 (English) Expat Facebook Groups

Waygook Forums

Staying in Korea?

If you have no plans to go abroad this summer, keep in mind that there is always something happening somewhere in this quaint, fast-paced country that we live in.

Keep an eye out for the plethora of events coming up or take the opportunity to see more of Korea.

Head to Busan for Haeundae Beach, Gangwondo for Hwanseongul Cave, or Jeju for Jusangjeolli Cliff. If you’re on a really tight budget, explore our backyard of Jeollanamdo.

Have a picnic in a local park or binge on patbingsu (팥빙수;

shaved ice topped with red bean, condensed milk, and fruit) which will soon dominate menu boards in every café. If there’s anything to know about traveling within Korea, it’s that it will not break the bank, so enjoy it before monsoon season hits!

Finding festivals/events: Korea Tourism Organization

(English)

Interpark (English) Gmarket Ticketing (Korean)

Korean Expressions Related to Eating: Please give me _____.

______ 주세요 (ju-sae-yo).

Excuse me (getting the attention of a waiter/waitress). 저기요 (jeo-gi-yo).

Please enjoy your meal. / Help yourself.

맛있게 드세요 (masit-ge deusae-yo).

I will eat very well. /Thank you for preparing food. 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meok-getseum-nida).

I ate very well. /Thank you for the food. 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meo-geotseum-nida).

ross6520@gmail.com

May 17 - 18 Seoul Jazz Festival 25 - June 1 Chuncheon

International Mime Festival 29 - June 2 Ulsan Grand Park Rose Festival 30 - June 1 Yeoju Geumsa Oriental Melon Festival

30 - June 1 Rainbow

Island Music & Camping Festival

June

4 - 7 Tea World Festival 6 Memorial Day 6 - 9 Haeundae Sand Festival 7 - 15 Muju Firefly Festival 7 - 15 Queer Culture Festival 12 - 29 Centum Beer Festival 6 Father’s Day 15 - 15 Hi Seoul Bike Parade 20 - 22 Gwangju Toechon Tomato Festival 21 - 24 Hansan Ramie Fabric Cultural Festival 27 - 30 Damyang Bamboo Festival

July

4 - 9 World Taekwondo Culture Expo 17 Constitution Day