Gwangju News January 2024 #263

Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine January 2024 #263

January 2024 #263

Gwangju’s Pavilion: Hoegyeongnu Bringing the Past into the Present

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1 Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine

January 2024, Issue 263 Published: January 1, 2024

Cover Photo

Hoegyeongnu Photo by Kim Hillel Yunkyoung

THE EDITORIAL TEAM Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Chief Copy Editor Layout Editor Online Editor

Dr. Shin Gyonggu Dr. David E. Shaffer William Urbanski Isaiah Winters Kim Sukang Kim Sukang

The Gwangju News is the first English monthly magazine for the general public in Korea, first published in 2001. Each monthly issue covers local and regional issues, with a focus on the roles and activities of the international residents and local Englishspeaking communities.

Copyright ©2024 by the Gwangju International Center.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the written consent of the publisher.

D

own from its year-long spot on the wall, I pull my rather drab, old calendar and replace it with a new, brightly colored 2024 edition, hoping that this is a good omen for a bright new year ahead – a year filled with hope, harmony, happiness, and healthfulness for one and all. It is a time for New Year’s wishes and resolutions, and a concerted effort to keep them. This, however, may be a tall order in these times of lingering viruses, climate crises, economic hardship, political divisions, and even armed aggression. The important point is that each and every one of us exhibit resolve to make this a better world.

The Gwangju News is committed to doing its part in serving our community. You may have noticed that this month’s issue is reduced in size. Though this is regrettable, like so many other things, it has fallen victim to necessary budget cuts for 2024. However, smaller does not necessarily entail inferior. The Gwangju News shall redouble its efforts to bring its readers quality content in a more compact format. This is embodied in the Korean saying “A small pepper is the hottest” (작은 고추가 맵다)!

So, what is hot in this January issue? Our main feature is about Hoegyeongnu (희경루), the 15th-century pavilion situated in the heart of Gwangju and once described as the “most splendid structure in the country.” It has been reconstructed to its original splendor and is located in Gwangju Park as a cultural facility for the city’s residents. Our second feature highlights the Gwangju Community Care Service, written from the perspective of one of the individuals who was a member of the competition team that presented the service in an international competition – a competition in which the service took the top prize!

As always, there is much more inside for your reading pleasure in our other sections of the magazine: Essays, Community, Culture and the Arts, and Teaching and Learning. Our essay on the environment, for example, introduces solein, a natural protein made from electricity and thin air!

The mission of the Gwangju News is to serve its English-reading community in the best way possible. We thank you for your patronage in the past year and hope it will continue throughout the new year.

For volunteering and article submission inquiries, please contact the editor at gwangjunews@gic.or.kr.

Happy 2024, everyone!

Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News

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GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

The Gwangju News is published by the Gwangju International Center: Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5 (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com Email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr gwangjunews gwangju_news Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date: February 22, 2010 Printed by Jieum 지음 (+82)-62-672-2566

From the Editor

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CULTURE AND THE ARTS

Photo of the Month

Season’s Greetings

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

A sweeping view of “autumn meeting winter.” In this romantic weather, like every lovebird, the swirling clouds are also eager to meet the earth.

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The Photographer A native of India, Neha Bisht is pursuing her PhD research at Chonnam National University’s Department of Material Science and Engineering. She loves to meet new people and make new friends. She wants to explore the whole world and learn more about the traditional and cultural differences across the globe. She always likes to contribute to the well-being of society in whatever way she can.

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January 2024

Contents

ISSUE 263

GWANGJU NEWS 01 From the Editor 04 Gwangju City News FEATURES 06 Pavilion Hoegyeongnu: Bridging Past and Present 08 Gwangju Cares: Community Care Service Is a Winner!

COMMUNITY 11 Volunteering with KONA During GIC Week 12 Lost in Gwangju: Gwangju’s Obscure Northern Rim 14 Gwangju Art Class: Creating Space 20 From Medan to Gwangju: Sister City Collaboration 35 Upcoming Events ESSAYS 22 Environment: Protein Out of Electricity and Air? 24 Political Focus: Applying International Relations Theory to the Sub-National 26 Opinion: What Is an Automobile Headlight?

28 Ponderings and Contemplations: Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself TEACHING AND LEARNING 30 Misbeliefs About Second Language Learning Methods 34 Everyday Korean: 세 살 적 버릇 여든까지 간다 (Old Habits Die Hard) CULTURE AND THE ARTS 02 Photo of the Month 19 Gwangju Writes: Long-Term Karma 46 Book Review: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann ENTERTAINMENT 36 Crossword Puzzle

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Gwangju City News Book Garden Library Opens in Gwangju

Enjoy Winter with City Hall's LED Rainbow Display

Book Garden Library opened on December 26, 2023, under the themes of “family” and “ecology.”

On the first floor, it has a children’s library made for encouraging kids’ imagination and a childcare center. On the second and third floors, it has a reference room, a multipurpose room, and a club room.

Gwangju City Hall has set up an arch-shaped, rainbow-like LED-light display. It has been prepared by the city for Gwangju citizens to have hope to start another day in the new year. With 1,500 light bulbs in the display, you can enjoy the “Christmas Swing,” which is a swing with a photo zone. The Christmas Swing and light display are on exhibit from 5:00–10:30 p.m. in January in front of Gwangju City Hall.

Book Garden Library is located at 49 Namgye-gil, Dong-gu, and a local trail that leads to the library offers visitors a healing environment.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

On weekdays, the library runs from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except during the lunch hour (12:00– 1:00 p.m.). On weekends, it operates from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed dates are every Monday on the second and fourth weeks of the month and on national holidays.

Source

Gwangju Metropolitan City. (2023, November 30). 광주시청사에 ‘은하수 별빛’이 쏟아진다. [Gwangju City Hall Shines in Milky Way Starlight]. https://www.gwangjugo. kr/boardView.do?pageId=www789&boardId=BD_0000 000027&seq=16755 Summaries and translations by Kook Hyuna.

Phone: 062-608-2332 Website: https://lib.donggu.kr Source

Su, J. (2022, April 3). 광주시 동구, 구립 복합 공공도서관 ‘책정원’ 착공. [Dong-gu begins construction of ‘Book Garden Library,’ a district-operated public library complex]. Sisa Magazine. https://www.sisa magazine.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=437666

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The light display in front of Gwangju City Hall.

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Gwangju-to-Songjeong Shuttle Train Ends The Gwangju Shuttle Train between downtown Gwangju Station and Songjeong Station will be discontinued after seven years of service as of December 17. The shuttle train began operation in December 2016 to afford residents in the North and East Districts of the city easier access to Songjeong Station after Gwangju Station was eliminated as a station on the high-speed KTX tracks. Operated by the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), Gwangju Metropolitan City paid 1.5 billion won in operating costs annually, and with an average of only 18 passengers per trip, KORAIL announced in September that it would end the shuttle train service.

Gwangju City Hall requested an extension of its contract (CDC) or the use of the Nuriro and new EMU-150 trains but was informed that it was

not possible because there were no maintenance facilities or spare parts for Nuriro trains in Gwangju, and that it was expected that operation of the EMU-150 would increase the operating cost burden to 6 billion won even with a fare increase to 4,800 won. The city also said it would consider operating a shuttle bus between Gwangju Station and Gwangju Songjeong Station, but since there are already four city bus routes in that section, it was deemed noncompetitive and ineffective to introduce a new shuttle bus route. Alternative transportation options to the shuttle bus include city buses 02, Songjeong 19, and Songjeong 98, and in addition to the existing Subway Line 1, it will be possible to travel from Gwangju Station to Songjeong Station by subway when the first phase of Subway Line 2 is completed in 2026.

Source

Gwangju Dream. (2023, October 19). 광주셔틀열차 7년 만에 결국 멈춘다 [Gwangju shuttle train finally stops after 7 years]. https://www.gjdream.com/news/articleView. html?idxno=634833 Summary and translation by Bong Heejung Photo courtesy of Gwangju City.

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GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

Gwangju-to-Songjeong shuttle train comes to a stop.

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FEATURE

Pavilion Hoegyeongnu Bridging Past and Present

By Julien Laheur te

Described by Shin Suk-ju, a future prime minister, as the “widest and most splendid structure in our country,” Hoegyeongnu adorned a main road to the east, overlooking a vast field to the west. A pond with lotus flowers graced its northern side, while an archery range in the east served as a place for cultivating virtue. Hoegyeongnu became a haven for both hosts and guests, providing a space for leisure and relaxation.

The beauty of Hoegyeongnu was immortalized in a 1567 painting titled Hoegyeongnu Banghoedo (Gathering at Hoegyeongnu Pavilion).

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

Hoegyeongnu Banghoedo: Gathering at Hoegyeongnu Pavilion.

(Photo by the Gwangju Cultural Foundation Traditional Culture Center)

I

n the year 1451, shortly after assuming the role of governor of Gwangju, the esteemed An Cheol-seok was dismayed to find no suitable venue for official gatherings in the city.

Consulting with local elders, he commissioned the construction of a pavilion named Hoegyeongnu (희경루), meaning “to rejoice together and celebrate with each other.” This architectural gem was designed to host banquets and festivities for provincial officials and esteemed visitors.

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The painting captures a reunion of former classmates who passed the civil service examination together in 1546. Notable figures such as Choi Eung-ryong, governor of Gwangju, Kang Seom, inspector-general of Jeolla Province, and Liu Keug-gong, a military officer in Jeolla Province, gathered after two decades of working in different administrations. The left side of the painting showcases Hoegyeongnu, while the right side depicts the surrounding walls and scenery. Participants, donned in headgear reflecting their status, sit in designated positions based on their ranks. Inside Hoegyeongnu, a vibrant banquet unfolds with musical performances and dance. This masterpiece (a national treasure since 2015) is currently under the care of Dongguk University.

HIGHS AND LOWS The history of Hoegyeongnu, hailed as the “finest pavilion of the east,” has been marked by highs

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and lows. Destroyed in a fire in 1533, it was reconstructed a year later. Further reconstruction occurred in 1686, only to face disappearance in 1866. The colonial period witnessed the demolition of the Gwangju fortress, erasing all traces of Hoegyeongnu’s accurate location.

To revive this historically significant pavilion, Gwangju invested six billion won between 2009 and 2018 in a reconstruction project, faithfully recreating its original shape from 1451.

Identifying the original location as the current site of Chungjang Post Office, Gwangju opted to reconstruct Hoegyeongnu in Gwangju Park for historical context, accessibility, and project feasibility. Positioned to overlook Mt. Mudeung, the symbol of Gwangju as well as the vibrant streets of Chungjang-ro and Geumnam-ro, Hoegyeongnu is poised to connect with nearby facilities such as the Asia Culture Center and Gwangju Park. Officials envision it as a central cultural hub, hosting performances and events related to intangible cultural heritage and promoting Gwangju as a city of historical and cultural significance. The reconstruction’s commemorative ceremony, delayed due to frequent rain, finally took place on October 20, 2023, in Gu-dong, Nam-gu.

Simultaneously, Hoegyeongnu played host to the “Gwangju Woodwind and String Ensemble” (광주목 음풍영월), a month-long festival of traditional art and music organized by the Gwangju Cultural Heritage Foundation’s Traditional Cultural Center (from October to

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November). The festival showcased traditional art performances, including pansori and sanjo.

Looking ahead, Gwangju City has ambitious plans to bolster cultural tourism activities in the wake of Hoegyeongnu’s reconstruction. The pavilion stands as a testament to Gwangju’s rich heritage, serving as a bridge between time and space, connecting the city’s illustrious past with its vibrant present and promising future.

The Author

Julien Laheurte is a French literary translator who has been residing in South Korea for the past two years. After the completion of his master’s degree in Seoul, he moved to Gwangju with the intention of delving deeper into the history of the May 1980 democracy movement. His goal is to translate literary works that shed light on this pivotal moment in Korean history.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

BETWEEN TIME AND SPACE Beyond its historical significance, the new Hoegyeongnu is conceived as an operational cultural facility for Gwangju citizens. Since its opening, it has been integrated into the “Gwangju Forest Stroll” (광주목 나드리), an exploration course running from October to November 2023.

This initiative aims to guide people through the cultural and historical traces of the city, including Hoegyeongnu, Gwangju Park, the five-story stone pagoda at the Seonggeo-sa temple site, and the Gwangju Hyanggyo (former Confucian school).

Hoegyeongnu (Photo by Kim Hillel Yunkyoung)

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FEATURE

Gwangju Cares: The Community Care Service Is a Winner!

By Jessica Lee

Gwangju Community Care Service, which was to compete for the world-renowned 6th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation. Kim asked me to make a presentation in English for the final competition. I hardly knew then that this would lead me to an incredibly amazing experience both personally and professionally.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

The Guangzhou Award is given every two years by the UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments), the WCLC (World Council of Large Cities), and Guangzhou City of China to discover and share environmental, economic, urban, and community innovation cases for the joint development of cities around the world.

I

am a Korean-Canadian living in Gwangju, which boasts of the beauty of Mt. Mudeung.

Here in Gwangju, I am making grateful memories with my family and cherishing every moment. One day, I had a tremendous experience that I want to share.

The story begins with me receiving a phone call on October 13 and meeting Kim Kyeong Myeong, the action officer of the Care Policy Division of Gwangju City Hall. Once we met, she passionately explained about the project that she was working on, and it made me instantly think, “This person is sincere about this project!” The project was

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In the competition, which included the Gwangju Community Care Service project, 274 projects from 54 countries and 193 cities were in the preliminaries, and Gwangju City was already honorably selected as one of the top 15 cities. But it didn’t end there. Gwangju elected to compete further via two English presentations that would be given in the final phase of the competition. It was a truly amazing project, with only five cities competing for awards in a comprehensive final selection process.

That is how I became a part of this project as an English presenter, but in fact, the most important reason why I wanted to be a part of this project was that this Gwangju Community Care Service program touched my heart. As I got to know more about this program, I couldn’t help but think that

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this is something what we really, really need. I believe that human dignity should be respected from the day of birth, throughout life, and until the day of death.

Education, experience, social status, wealth, etc. are all important factors to some people, but the most basic concept is human dignity, and when we meet alienated citizens living today, we often forget what basic human dignity is about. It is not that there were not already any care services or care policies for those in need, but they have not been helpful for those who did not meet the criteria or were alienated and isolated. Services were not for everyone who needed help, but only for those who were selected through an application and screening process.

However, the newly enhanced Gwangju Community Care Service has come as a new care service that provides care to citizens who need help regardless of the reason. There is a Care Call (1660-2642) that anyone can call for help for citizens in need of care, and a care manger for a required visit will be designated to identify whether the person requires immediate help or whether they may plan the type of service

needed according to the situation and provide the necessary help as follow-up.

I think this is a program that plays a key role in many ways in preventing suicide and lonely deaths in a society where the aging population and the number of single-person households is increasing.

It also connects estranged relationships between family members through community care, that is, relational care, and reminds us of the importance of family once again.

Above all, I would like to express my tremendous respect to the people who showed unremitting efforts and dedication in overcoming the many difficulties faced in the process – from initial planning to implementation and development – of this project becoming a sustainable inclusive community care: Gwangju Metropolitan City Mayor Kang Gi-Jung, the heads of Gwangju’s five districts (Dong-gu, Seo-gu, Nam-gu, Buk-gu, and Gwangsan-gu), and each smaller administrative area (dong), the members of City Council, private institutions, civic groups, scholars, and all participating citizens. I felt more sincere than anyone else in making my presentation because of the enthusiasm I had for the project that all these

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GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

Mayor Kang Gi-Jung (front, center) heads the Gwangju team in Guangzhou, where they were awarded the top prize in the international awards for urban innovation.

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people had achieved together, and I had no regrets.

Finally, on December 7, 2023, I headed to Guangzhou, where the International Award for Urban Innovation ceremony was to be held, with the team from Gwangju City. The Yuexiu Convention Center in Guangzhou, the venue for the awards ceremony, displayed its grandeur and greatness, and the majesty of the event could be felt as speakers and mayors of more than 100 cities who were to participate in the award ceremony were present.

The awards ceremony finally began. People were on the stage, looking around at all the competitors and participants. And then the moment came when the final award winner was announced: Gwangju Metropolitan City! Tears of joy had already been forming in my eyes because it was such an important moment, and I wanted to focus with all my heart. But when the mayor received the wonderful shining trophy and gave his acceptance speech, I was overwhelmed with emotion, wondering if I had ever in my life felt so proud and thrilled as a resident of Gwangju. It was so touching to see all of us as a single Gwangju team, regardless of our affiliations and positions, encouraging each other, praising each other, recognizing each other’s efforts, and believing in each other.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

Lastly, I began to wonder what goals Gwangju will set in the future, based on the experience of winning the top prize in the prestigious International Award for Urban Innovation

competition. Like me, everyone who participated in this project must have felt immense pride as citizens of Gwangju, and this was definitely motivation that will help us all to grow further in our respective positions. I would like to share this honor with a grateful heart with all those who work hard and do their best to help citizens who need a helping hand through the Gwangju Community Care Service.

Graphic and photos courtesy of Gwangju City Hall.

The Author

Jessica Lee is a Korean-Canadian who is now living in Gwangju. She has recently been part of the Gwangju Community Care Service project team that participated in the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation competition, where the Gwangju entry won the top prize.

Gwangju Community Care Service “No citizen is left out” is not just a slogan for the city of Gwangju. The previous caregiving system in Korea selected beneficiaries based on age and income, and only supported those who were eligible to make an application. To address this gap, Gwangju has created an innovative care model, Community Care, for anyone who needs care.

Dong-office (smallest administrative unit) care managers visit individuals in their homes, check their situation, and apply for needed services. Gwangju has launched 16 new care services and plans to inject US$7.74 million annually to encourage citizens facing economic hardship to take advantage of these care services. “Care Call” has been launched as a single application channel to increase convenience.

To ensure implementation, Gwangju has established a “dedicated division,” designated 320 care managers, and selected 38 private sector care service providers.

Source Secretariat of Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation.

Community Care Service healthcare provider making a home visit.

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COMMUNITY

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Volunteering with KONA During GIC Week

By Dhanashri Burungale

in flag painting, allowing them to connect with the stories on a deeper level.

One crucial aspect that made this volunteering experience truly exceptional was the guidance and support of our professor Kim Young-Im, who was an invaluable mentor throughout the event. Their expertise and passion for cultural exchange were evident in the way they inspired both the volunteers and the children in attendance.

Dhanashri with a youngster coloring a flag at the KONA booth at GIC Week 2023.

In addition to the story, KONA volunteers presented different flags from around the world, explaining their significance and fostering a sense of global unity. The children actively participated

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The Author

Dhanashri is a former university lecturer who takes an active role as a UNESCO KONA Volunteer, contributing significantly to Together Day and GIC Week, conducting weekly English mentoring, presenting Indian culture at the Children's English Library of Gwangju Educational and Cultural Center for Students, and mentoring at the Seobitmaru Senior Center.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

I am Dhanashri Burungale and I am from India.

During Gwangju International Community (GIC) Week 2023, I had the privilege of volunteering with UNESCO KONA Storybook Center, where I immersed myself in the art of storytelling. I chose to narrate the Indian fairy tale “The Snake and the Frogs,” weaving cultural richness into the narrative. As I shared this enchanting tale, I introduced the children in our audience to India’s vibrant culture. Their eager faces and enthusiasm were infectious, making this cultural exchange an unforgettable experience.

In conclusion, my volunteering experience during GIC Week 2023 with UNESCO KONA was a heartwarming journey of cultural exploration and education. Through the power of storytelling, I had the privilege of introducing young minds to the richness of Indian culture and the beauty of diversity across the globe. This event was a beautiful reminder of the importance of fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation, and I am grateful to have been a part of it.

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COMMUNITY

Gwangju’s Obscure Northern Rim

By Isaiah Winters

mountain that most just tunnel through on their way to more important places. So, join me as I flip through my personal Atlas Obscura of Gwangju’s northern no man’s land.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

Nammyeon’s green tea fields in fall.

Nammyeon’s green tea field in winter.

T

o usher in the cold, northerly winds of the new year, this January we’ll pay tribute to Gwangju’s obscure northern rim, specifically the flatlands, foothills, and jagged ridges just shy of Jangseong. The area contains a little-known green tea field, poignant ruins of an ancestral shrine, and an imposing, saw-toothed

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If you’ve ever traveled from Gwangju to Seoul, chances are you’ve passed through the nowheresville that is Nammyeon, a tiny township of just 3,700 souls where Gwangju’s northernmost suburban sprawl suddenly peters out into farmland. Though officially part of Jangseong County, Nammyeon’s location on the Gwangju side of the mountains makes it seem disconnected and out of place. With their backs against the sleepy foothills, residents of Nammyeon continue life at a slow pace, though likely with one eye on the encroaching metropolis unfolding before them. The other eye is likely on their buoying property values, which I presume are looking pretty good.

One parcel of land in Nammyeon that’s likely worth a lot these days is a massive green tea field bounding up the foothills just west of Highway 25. I was very surprised to find it this fall, and I presume many long-term residents of Gwangju would be surprised to know it’s there, too. Though Boseong’s renowned green tea field is far more impressive, the fact that Gwangju has its own humble version just a few minutes north of Cheomdan is very convenient for anyone wanting to enjoy a walk through a gently rolling yet precisely manicured hillside. Now I plan to visit every season to stroll its meandering, Boseong-esque trails and photograph the changing hillscape.

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Owned by Hankook Tea Company (한국제다), the field dates back to 1965, with the oldest shrub sections now being nearly 60 years old. Apparently, this unassuming hillside is the northernmost large-scale green tea plantation in the country. 1 Grown organically since 2009, the leaves here are harvested three or four times a year from late April to late August, with each harvest producing a different quality of tea. Given the cold snap that brought freezing temperatures and blankets of snow last December, there’s a chance the first yields of 2024 may be affected. We’ll have to wait and see.

When I’m in the area, I enjoy driving the winding roads along the hillside and just spacing out. I recently discovered that one of these unassuming roads is a shortcut over and through the hills to Jangseong, and along the way is a badly damaged ancestral shrine that catches an amazing amount of direct sunlight just before the sun sets over the hills to the west. It would have been great to include in my article on ancestral shrines last month, but I discovered it too late in the magazine’s production process and so had to leave it on the cutting room floor.

When I’m not cruising the area for green tea fields or abandoned sites, I’m usually hiking the nearest mountain, Bultae-san. At a sheer 720 meters, there’s nothing blocking your view of Gwangju once you reach the summit, and the ridge leading to the top on either end offers several vantage points that are as good as the main peak itself, so there’s honestly no real need to visit the highest point except to say that you did. I rarely bother

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with the peak anymore, especially if I’m already satisfied with my photos for the day.

Admittedly, this hike is a hard slog if you approach the mountain from its flanks. Getting to the top ridge takes forever, and when you finally do, you’re greeted with an obstacle course of knotted ropes, nearly vertical staircases, and perpendicular peaks that you’ll have to scale and descend repeatedly as you traverse the saw teeth.

I’ve approached the summit four different ways and found that three of them take too long, so these days, I prefer to park at Hakdong Village (학동마을) and hike straight up from there. If you go, be prepared for a full-body workout.

And there you have it, dear readers – a few of the overlooked sites directly to our city’s north.

They’re easy to find and worth a visit if you’re ever in no man’s land.

Source 1

호남다원 [Honam Tea Estates]. (n.d.). Hankook

Tea Company. http://www.hankooktea.co.kr/sub. php?PID=0103

The Author

Hailing from Chino, California, Isaiah Winters is a pixel-stained wretch who loves writing about Gwangju and Honam, warts and all. He’s grateful to have written for the Gwangju News for over five years. More of his unique finds can be seen on Instagram @d.p.r.kwangju and YouTube at Lost in Honam.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

Though the pillars appear sturdy, and the structure is likely only a few decades old, somehow the back-left corner suffered terrible damage some time ago. If you stand at just the right angle, you can see both its solid, sunlit façade and gaping collapse in the back shadows. The stark contrast is surely symbolic of something, though I’m not quite sure what. On my most recent visit, I slipped in the snow and fell into a deep ravine nearby while trying to get inside, and in that moment, I thought about how quickly our fortunes can change. Maybe that’s the symbolism this place embodies.

Preparing an ancestral rite for my late father.

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COMMUNITY

Gwangju Art Class Creating Space

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

By Lisa Casaus

Olivia Laurel demonstrates decoupage for Connect the Flow in November.

(Photo by Lisa Casaus)

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W

hen was the last time you let loose with some paints or crayons and just created something for the fun of it? When was the last time you did this with friends? For some of you, it might have been as far back as kindergarten. For others in the city, it might have been last Saturday, thanks to the Gwangju Art Class.

The Gwangju Art Class is a community art class that has been held at the Gwangju International Center since 2014. Originally created by Mariya Haponenko (Ukraine), it has been run by numerous volunteers throughout the years, and there have been classes in still life and live figure drawing, watercolor, embroidery, printmaking, and more.

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In 2018 and 2019, Lisa Casaus (USA) and Raquib Hasan Apu (Bangladesh) took over coordination of the classes from Jen Lee (USA) and Ainé Byrne (Ireland), inheriting a well-stocked “Art Press” (closet), filled to bursting with brushes, paper, various paints and other supplies that must be carefully arranged like a puzzle box in order to shut the doors. We are so grateful for the space, but it can be a nightmare to fit in it all the supplies we’ve collected over the years!

In early 2020, Lisa Casaus, Olivia Laurel (USA), Laura Mie (UK), and Maya Galani (Romania) had just done a nice spring cleaning and organization of said closet when the pandemic mandates and meeting restrictions were announced. It was a full three years before we held another class, and during that time, that organization returned to chaos.

At the end of May 2023, after mask mandates had been lifted, it was the right time to do more spring cleaning and use those dusty art supplies!

We also wanted to revive awareness about the Gwangju International Center (GIC) as an amazing resource for foreigners and Koreans alike. So, with the help of GIC staff and the messy art closet, a group of three artists started on a series of three exhibitions for the second half of 2023.

However, the rainbow theme was inspiring for the artists and visitors alike – especially at the end of the long period of Covid isolation – and we pulled together an amazing show. We had visitors from over ten different countries including Australia, Canada, Moldova, Serbia, Spain, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, with the bulk of participants from the United States and Korea.

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We came away from the event with the desire to do more; however, with school, teaching, and other responsibilities, our time was more limited. The following exhibitions were therefore masterminded by Casaus, with collaboration on installations and artwork by Laurel and assistance from Galani.

Red Letter Days, the second exhibition, was held in September to celebrate the Korean holidays of Chuseok (추석), National Foundation Day (개천절), and Hangul Day (한글날) at the end of September and beginning of October.

This year had an especially long Chuseok holiday ending on the last weekend of September.

Foundation Day followed immediately on Tuesday (October 3). Because of this, the Korean government instituted a temporary “bridge” holiday on Monday to fill the gap. A six-day break was certainly cause for celebration!

In addition, the show’s theme played on the importance of individual letters and alphabets, such as Hangul (invented by the much-beloved king Sejong the Great and celebrated on October 9), as well as the English idiom “It’s a red-letter day.” This idiom references the ancient practice (in Rome, China, etc.) of marking special days on calendars in red – a practice which is still used in Korea today. A red-letter day is a memorable or noteworthy day. Our goal was to remind viewers of special days in their home countries as they celebrated the red days (공휴일) in Korea.

Casaus used the old riddle, “What is black and white, and red (read) all over?” to inspire the use of newspapers as a base for all of the art work.

The art was simple and recyclable but large and

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

It’s Gotta Be Rainbows, the first exhibition in June, showcased the artwork of Casaus, Laurel, and Galani after some preliminary meetings and a “paint jam” on the second floor of the GIC. The idea was to use only items we had in the closet to create as much rainbow art as possible in a period of five to six hours. This was much harder than anticipated, and we all needed to use time outside to complete the work.

This event featured rainbow snacks and station activities: rainbow card painting, collaborative art pieces, and an oil pastel demo and workshop.

Participants viewed acrylic paintings by Laurel; were able to make postcards using Galani’s blob illustration technique; and finally, think about their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing on a colorful spectrum chart designed by Casaus.

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in lieu of forks. Wine and cheese encouraged relaxation while painting. The participants from seven different countries, including France, Germany, and Scotland, requested that we do more events like this in the future.

We were eager! However, at this point, our closet was fuller than when we started. To try to solve this problem, we decided to do two events in the month of November and began the concepting process for the next show.

Maya Galani encourages participants with their mandala paintings.(Photo by Lisa Casaus)

impactful, and created collaboratively. Laurel used her envelope-folding skills to create a wall of envelopes (red envelopes) as well as providing her assorted collection of glass bottles to form the basis of installations for all three shows.

Leaving the door ajar is a lesson in keeping an open heart and mind. It was necessary to learn in this case as well, as preparation for this show did anything but flow smoothly. Laurel had a collection of maps of Korea, and specifically Jeollanam-do, which formed the basis of the visuals for the entire show, but due to events in October, it was impossible to schedule a time to hang the artwork in one session. Without the maps on the walls, the other art lacked focus.

Another challenge was preparing the station activities so that they – you guessed it – flowed.

Thankfully, additional brainstorming and set-up help came from digital artist Tayla Botha (South Africa), who searched out and prepared prompts for each activity station.

Laurel’s wine bottles (red wine, of course!), paired nicely with the paint-and-sip event held on September 23. Participants painted monogramstyle letters inspired by illuminated manuscripts of the European Middle Ages, when the use of “red letter day” was first recorded in the Western world (~1385).

The first Connect the Flow event was held on November 11 and consisted of two sessions. The first session focused on mindfulness exercises, which included activities for breath and body awareness, awareness of positive and negative thinking, and connecting the flow of energy between the body and mind.

The response to the event was as positive as that of the June event. Laurel prepared individual place settings, like a sit-down dinner, with paintbrushes

Casaus created infographics and signs to direct participants to stations as well as a series of hand-carved stamps to be used in the wellness

Lisa Casaus demonstrates oil pastel techniques for It’s Gotta Be Rainbows in June. (Photo by Maya Galani)

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

Connecting the Flow: Leave the Door Ajar, the third exhibition, was born out of Casaus’s desire to create a multimodal wellness experience around the flow of mental and physical health, and Laurel’s desire to use her large collection of glass jars. The season’s fall leaves and another riddle formed the tail end of the exhibition’s title: “Q: When is a door not a door? A: When it’s ajar.”

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zines. Participants went to stations to read the prompts and then wrote in their zines at a main table in the center of the room. Finally, they were able to use and collect stamps in the fashion of a passport. Above them, the maps echoed the flow of their journey back and forth between the stations and their zines. (Note: A “zine,” short for “magazine,” is handmade and/or self-published in small editions.)

as examples and gave a painting demonstration of her techniques. Casaus and Galani assisted by walking around to check on guests’ progress.

This second paint-and-sip had guests from nine different countries, including Puerto Rico and Ireland, with the most participants from South Africa. We filled up the GIC lounge and quickly

At the leaf-printing station, participants used freshly fallen leaves to create a monoprint on paper. After completing this, they were encouraged to use their leaves to make one last print on a communal tree, effectively putting the fallen leaves back onto the branches and connecting the flow of seasons and growth.

The last station was focused on letting go.

Participants were provided with red paper and pens. They were tasked to write a short letter to themselves consisting of a negative thought, or someone they needed to forgive – including themselves. After writing, their mission was to tear that letter into the smallest possible pieces and throw the pieces into a large jar of water.

Olivia Laurel checks on painters during Red-Letter Days in September. (Photo by Maya Galani)

During the second session, Laurel demonstrated decoupage of paper onto glass jars to create glowing lanterns. Participants used Korean hanji paper, pressed leaves, and glue to cover the jars. After completion, a temporary installation was formed and the lanterns were lit with candles. The resulting ring of glowing lanterns seemed to connect the living and the dead, and the connections came full circle as breath extinguished the flames.

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Wine and paint, anyone? A place-setting fit for royalty.

(Photo by Olivia Laurel)

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

We held our second paint-and-sip event the following Saturday, November 18. The mandala theme was a way to encourage mindfulness and the flow of organic creativity. A mandala (Sanskrit for “circle” or “central”) is a geometric design that radiates from a central point, using repetition and patterns to (ideally) reach a meditative state.

Mandalas are significant in various spiritual practices around the world, including Buddhism and Hinduism. In preparation for the event, Laurel created mandalas on fabric and canvas

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ran out of wine, much to the disappointment of latecomers. However, everyone was able to create some amazing art. It was a resounding success thanks to the administration of sign-ups and social-media marketing by Laurel.

Now, at the end of 2023, we are proud to say that the Gwangju Art Class provided some muchneeded creative space and community building after the long isolation of the pandemic. We have met new friends from different countries, and they are eager to continue meeting and making art together.

During December, two open-house-style workshops and flea markets were held (to help clean out the closet). Making cards to enjoy the pleasure of the holiday season, we commemorated our experiences in Gwangju during 2023.

However, these may be among the last classes for some time. Casaus and Laurel are both leaving Korea in early 2024 and Galani is still a student.

The Gwangju Art Class needs new volunteers to take up the torch. So, take this as a reminder to reach out and share your talents. You are a source of culture, inspiration, and knowledge.

We hope you, the community of Gwangju, continue to use the Gwangju International Center as a resource for clubs and events, a meeting space, and a source of funding. We hope there is always a space for sharing our collective experiences and creative expression – because, also, we still need to clean out the closet!

THE ARTISTS Olivia Laurel is from Bremerton, Washington.

In March 2022, she organized and participated in the Expressions group exhibition at Gwangju University’s Hosim Gallery. It consisted of art from six female artists to illustrate a collective experience of the then-ongoing pandemic. You can see her art on Instagram @gallerybluespot.

Maya Galani is from Bucharest, Romania. She is currently studying traditional Korean painting in Gwangju, with plans to study art in Europe after graduation. She is skilled in colored pencil techniques, fluorescent animal portraits, and fashion. She has been an active participant and assistant in the Gwangju Art Class since 2019.

You can see her art on Instagram @zzswiftyzz.

From left: Lisa Casaus, Maya Galani, Olivia Laurel.

(Photo by Melline Galani)

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

All the best, Gwangju Art Lovers.

The Gwangju Art Class

The Author

Lisa Casaus is from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has been teaching English in Korean elementary schools since 2016, while developing her portfolio and preparing to apply to artist residencies around the world.

She was the volunteer coordinator of the Gwangju Art Class from 2018 to 2020 and again in 2023.

You can see her art at www.lisacasaus.com.

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CULTURE AND THE ARTS

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Long-Term Karma

By Malarkey: Kevin D’Abramo, Wil Rawlins, Dan Lloyd, Jonathan Amey, Caitlin O’Neill

Seong-hee never came back home

despite her mother’s deep sighs.

Her mother’s wails whipped the streets.

She held her sign “Soldiers get out!”

Dong-hyun got a shiny medal;

with fierce pride in her eyes.

on an oak desk, he kicked up his feet.

You gain or lose your karma

Reborn in the year twenty eighty-four

by the choices that you make.

Seong-hee’s mind shone like a gem.

To your own self be true

She rose up through the political ranks

no matter what it takes.

became a chief at the UN.

Dong-hyun stayed up late to clean his M-16

Strolling down the street one day,

Next day he marched and did pushups.

a rat crept out from the gutter.

Looked up at the May sun, he said,

Seong-hee recognized the mean black eyes,

“Should be an easy mop-up.”

“Pathetic fool” she uttered.

You gain or lose your karma

You gain or lose your karma

by the choices that you make.

by the choices that you make.

To your own self be true

To your own self be true

no matter what it takes.

no matter what it takes.

The crowd amassed at the park Taegeukgi-draped coffins shuffled.

Dong-hyun’s mean black eyes took aim As Seong-hee’s shouts got muffled.

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The Author

Malarkey is a versatile band whose repertoire spans original rock music and a wide variety of covers.

Malarkey have performed in the Jeolla provinces as well as at Seoul’s HBC Festival, Jeonju’s Picnic Forest, and have opened for Crackshot and Walking After U. In 2022, they released their album Propaganda Dogs.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

Seong-hee met the protesters

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COMMUNITY

From Medan to Gwangju

By Medan City

S

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

tudents from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) in Indonesia embarked on a cultural visit to Gwangju, South Korea, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations through cultural exchange and explore potential collaborations in education. This activity is part of the Sister City Program between the City Government of Medan and the City Government of Gwangju.

The Sister City Program is an initiative between two cities from different countries or regions aimed at establishing official relationships to promote cultural, economic, and social exchanges. True to its name, the Sister City Program is grounded in the similarities of two cities despite their geographical differences. The program has gained international recognition, especially in bilateral relations between countries, particularly in non-capital regions.

The members of the Gwangju-Medan Student Exchange Program visit Jang Island in Yeosu. (Photo courtesy of Gwangju International Center)

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Through cultural exchanges, social experiences, and joint projects, students not only strengthen the relationship between Gwangju and Medan but also become ambassadors for peace and cross-cultural understanding.

The City Government of Medan initiated Sister City collaborations in 1997 with several cities in different countries, including Gwangju (South Korea), Ichikawa (Japan), Chengdu (China), and George Town and Ipoh (Malaysia).

Typically involving student exchanges, government official visits, economic collaborations, and joint cultural programs, the program aims to strengthen the relationship between two cities and allows their residents to learn and understand each other’s cultures.

In November 2023, the Medan City Government implemented the Sister City Program with Gwangju, South Korea. The initiative included sending 12 students from four major universities in Medan.

The student exchange activities also included panel discussions addressing relevant global and local issues. This provided an opportunity for

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both Medan and Gwangju students to understand cultural differences and worldviews, ultimately improving cross-cultural communication skills.

In terms of arts and culture, students from FISIP USU and CNU collaborated in organizing art exhibitions, traditional performances, and other cultural activities. This not only enriched the artistic experiences of both groups of students but also broadened the appreciation of arts and culture from each city.

The active involvement of FISIP USU students in this Sister City Program creates opportunities for learning and personal development. Through cultural exchanges, social experiences, and joint projects, students not only strengthen the relationship between Gwangju and Medan but also become ambassadors for peace and crosscultural understanding.

To further strengthen the established relationship, CNU students will visit Medan in February to learn about the local arts and culture. With a collaborative spirit, this program is expected to leave a positive impact in building bridges between two different cities, connected by the spirit of friendship and cooperation.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

During the program, students from Medan were accompanied by students from Gwangju originating from Chonnam National University (CNU) and the Gwangju International Center (GIC), a non-governmental organization in Gwangju.

The members of the Gwangju-Medan Student Exchange Program in Joseon Dynasty attire.

(Photo courtesy of Gwangju International Center)

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ESSAYS

Protein Out of Electricity and Air? Introducing a Tech-Natural Food Called Solein

By Chung Hyunhwa

compares Solein to the discovery of potatoes because the production of it requires only air, electricity, and a single cell organism, which sounds unbelievable. This bioprocess is similar to fermentation, except that the organism eats the elements from air and produces protein as its metabolic residue. Electricity is used to turn air into its feed: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. The end product is turmeric-colored powder that is supposed to enrich the original flavors of foods with its umami taste.

Solein ice cream, made from completely natural and most sustainable protein. (Photo by solarfoods.com)

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

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verybody knows that the livestock industry contributes to the greenhouse gases that speed up climate change, and more attention is being paid to find sustainable meat alternatives. It is not only important for reaching carbon net zero, but also for the rapidly increasing population. More enterprises are interested because that is where the money goes. There are already various plant-based meat products on the market, and cultured meat grown in labs is on its way. Besides these, here is one more addition to such alternatives. It is called Solein.

Solein is a novel protein alternative developed in Finland. Solar Foods, the developer company,

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Solein can be grown anywhere in the world even without light for photosynthesis as needed in plants. There are no ethical or environmental harms, and the cost will drop due to the expected renewable energy price dropping, according to the company’s website. It can be added to alternative meat, noodles, or even ice cream. The website also specifies that “Solein is 65-70% protein, 5-8% fat (primarily unsaturated fats), 10-15% dietary fibres, and 3-5% mineral nutrients,” and that the “macronutrient composition of the cells is very similar to that of dried soy or algae. Solein provides iron, fiber, and B vitamins.” Also claimed on the site is that Solein has all the nine essential amino acids.

Is this going to become a breakthrough for the food shortage problem in times of overpopulation and hostile climate change?

Singapore, which is entirely dependent on imports for food, is trying to increase its self-sufficiency rate to 30 percent by 2030 in preparation for uncertain

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future food risks, and it is the first country to adopt Solein into its food system. There is already a restaurant that has a Solein chocolate ice cream on the menu.

SOLEIN’S EFFICIENCY I think Solein still has a way to go. Its energyto-calorie conversion rate, which indicates a product’s efficiency in producing calories for endconsumers to use, is 20 percent. I searched a little more to find the conversion rates of other protein sources, which are as follows: whole milk (24 percent), eggs (19 percent), poultry (13 percent), pork (8.6 percent), lamb or mutton (4.4 percent), and beef (1.9 percent). In other words, Solein at the moment is about as efficient as eggs and whole milk, but much more efficient than meats, especially beef. However, it may take a while to replace steaks. It may easily replace protein powder on the healthcare market and maybe even eggs and milk if the price goes down. I cannot wait to try this on the market soon.

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I saw statistics on how many calories from meat are consumed in each country per person and per day. I was quite surprised by India because it was only 17 calories, while it was over 500 in some countries. Korea is about 270. Koreans may eat less meat than in some Western countries or China, but they still eat much more than in India.

This proves that eating less meat is totally possible.

We just need to find ways to deal with the food situation, even without new technologies to get new food sources.

BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS, AND HOPE This summer, sadly, I heard the bad news from a counterpart in Holland that the tulip crops this year are historically short – by 1 billion – possibly due to the unusual climate. I also hear about the improvement in the indoor agriculture production system – a system that enables growing plants with only minimal water supply. The systemic changes seem to occur very slowly, but I still would like to be hopeful because of these new technologies that may be breakthroughs. However, setting a personal goal of meat reduction will be as good as a new technology, and anyone can start it right now. I think changing one’s diet is the highest level of action to show care for our future and fellow friends. Being fit and healthy is just a plus that follows.

The Author

Chung Hyunhwa is from Gwangju and currently working for a horticultural company.

She is the former leader of Gwangju Hikers, an international eco-hike group at the GIC. Previously, she taught English in different settings, including Yantai American School and Yantai Korean School in China, and in recent years, has worked for the Jeju school administration at Branksome Hall Asia. She holds a master’s degree in TESOL from TCNJ in the U.S. and a license to teach the Korean language. She loves plants, birds, and making useful things out of repurposed items.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

MY SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT FOOD I would like to share my experiences with food research using this opportunity. I was on a keto diet for a while because of some health issues.

Most people on a keto diet heavily depend on meat. Some “carnivores” may live on only meat for months for health reasons or just for weight control. On a keto diet, fat and protein intake is going to take over the calories of carbs and sugars, so it is important to find suitable protein and fat sources. I consumed more meat than before for a while, but in doing so, I had to think again because I learned meat consumption was speeding up the climate crises. With some experiments, I also concluded that eating a lot of meat could cause other health problems in the long run, so I started replacing meat with beans and lentils. Soybeans are a very balanced source of fat, protein, and carbs, and lentils have more carbohydrates, but still 25 percent is protein, so if you add good oil to the cooked lentils, it can become a perfect balanced meal. I found Indian dal dishes with naan bread are a good balanced meal. I also think Korean cold noodles with soy bean soup (콩물국수) is a balanced plant-based meal. Tofu with kimchi

is a good, easy dish to avoid carbon release. I am not vegan, but my meat consumption is down to 20 percent compared to three years ago, and I can say this is quite possible. I also cook less and eat more fresh vegetables to save energy.

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ESSAYS

Applying International Relations Theory to the Sub-National

By Jonathan Joseph Chiarella

segregated by discipline. It is not as if sociologists abhor regression and only geographers use Poisson distributions.

UN flags: United Nations’ Palace of Nations, Switzerland.

(Photo by Tom Page)

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

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reakanomics authors Dubner and Levitt thought to use research methods from economics to answer puzzles in recent history. Most (in)famously, they showed a statistical link between abortion’s legalization and the drop in violent crime in America. To any other social scientist versed in quantitative methods, these findings were not wrong, but neither were they revolutionary in their methods.

Dubner and Levitt had only done exactly what they themselves had already been doing.

What is far more interesting is how we can apply theory. Quantitative methods in the social sciences and in general statistics are not strictly

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What I advocate is different from Dubner and Levitt: It is the qualitatively distinct application of the debates within international relations (IR) theory because they disrupt assumptions and allow fresh perspectives without being as nebulous or as unprovable as cultural theory.

(Although much of human society is downstream of culture, it is impossible to settle the relevant questions: what is and isn’t culture and how direct the causal links are.) After understanding what IR is, let’s apply it to better understand the issues facing Honam.

WHAT IR IS NOT Defining something by contrast to its opposites, Buddhist philosophy and academia frown upon this, for slightly different reasons, of course. Now permit me to contradict that immediately. No one confuses bureaucratic policy with agriculture.

No one conflates electoral campaign studies with rabbinical studies. However, the term “international relations” conjures the narrowest views of diplomatic practice to some, and others think of comparative politics – albeit in some foreign region. IR theory is neither.

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WHAT IR IS IR is the study of how independent actors compete and/or cooperate and in what conditions. That is it. The easiest units to study are sovereign states.

Traditionally, they have been the most powerful actors by far and the closest to being independent of higher authority. When the British bombarded China’s ports in 1839, the Qing emperor had no world police to call for help. When the world debated the Montreal Protocol, it was uncharted territory. Sovereign states – “nations” – are our “spherical cows.” Hence, the name “international relations.”

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN CONSIDERING THE LOCAL General political and social theory, the collective action problem – these are not the exclusive property of IR. In fact, little is, but IR is a good repository of philosophy, history, and political theory. Let us apply this to Gwangju, or any region in a competitive context. What do we want to maximize, relative or absolute prosperity? Is it in our interests to be richer than we were 20 years ago or to be better off than Gyeongsangbukdo? One can say “a rising tide lifts all boats,” but humans have limited lives. It seems fine if all regions excel, even if some rise more than others, but if too many youths move to greener pastures, you are left with a moribund society. If absolute growth is so great, and everyone in Gwangju or Wando has more access to medicine or the internet than any Korean in 1980, many more goods than centuries ago, then why is regional depopulation a fear now and not in 1580?

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a voter’s political sympathies more greatly than does living in Daegu. If idealism – the power of images and thoughts – is supreme, act fast.

If materialism is supreme, do unpopular things now to ensure a more prosperous tomorrow.

When Jack Snyder edited a volume on civil wars, the chapters expertly showed how an IR lens could apply to seemingly domestic wars. The concerns of security, livelihood, and stability, are just as pressing. It does not matter whether the bombs come from foreign countries or from “irregular” militias. The line between “national” and “international” is blurrier than ever. We can extend this further by accepting that all competition is competition. The grand strategies of economic warfare are similar to traditional warfare. Security dilemmas, whether to prioritize prosperity or dominance, what needs to be “secured” and from what it needs to be “secured” – these are universal questions.

Consider what we are fighting for and what is important. To the credit of economics, the discipline always restates the crux of all social science inquiry: who gets what and why.

The Author

Jonathan J. Chiarella grew up in New York. He holds a BA in history (Rochester) as well as two MAs (Chonnam, Florida) and a PhD in politics (Florida). You can spot him riding the river trails or read his analysis of current affairs related to Honam or international relations.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

We can also ask if ideational or material changes are more effective. If the former, then appeals to a “spirit,” appeals to identity, “power to” and the liberal ideal of individually changing minds en masse makes sense. If the latter, then money and “power over” matter more than hearts, and even mindsets become “downstream” of physical reality. All the promotion in the world may not have the same effect as exchange, and research in Korea has shown that although moving locations will always shift political feelings, living in Gwangju at any age for any period of time changes

Gwangju City Hall (Photo courtesy of Gwangju City)

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ESSAYS

What Is an Automobile Headlight?

By William Urbanski

Artist’s rendition of a vehicle driving around Gwangju at night with the headlights engaged. (Photo via www.openai.com)

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

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ccording to the best scientific knowledge available, the planet on which we live is perpetually flying around in outer space, orbiting a giant star called the “Sun.” In addition to our planet’s regular and roughly circular “orbits” of the Sun, it is also forever spinning around on its axis (an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to Antarctica). The consequences of all this rotating and spinning are many. For starters, it gives us the seasons. It is also responsible for the Coriolis effect, which in turns governs weather patterns. One of the most surprising outcomes is that for roughly half the day (depending on the aforementioned seasons), any given point of the earth’s surface is pointing away from the Sun and shrouded in darkness.

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Artist’s rendition of a vehicle driving around Gwangju at night with no headlights. (Photo by William Urbanski)

To those who enjoy whizzing around Gwangju in an automobile, this poses a humdinger of a conundrum. It is hard enough to drive around during the daylight hours. Just imagine how difficult it must be to cruise around the city streets without the advantage of being able to see what the heck is going on outside! The City of Gwangju has tried to rectify this problem by installing a vast infrastructure of so-called “street lights” that illuminate the roadways. But there is another, oft-forgotten solution to the problem of lighting the roads on which cars travel: the humble automobile headlight.

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HEADLIGHTS: GIANT FLASHLIGHTS FOR YOUR CAR When most of us think of lights, we think of the switches that activate electrically powered bulbs in our homes and schools. Most of the time, these work great, but they have the distinct disadvantage of not being attached to the front of automobiles to light the roadway.

Unbeknownst to a great deal of car enthusiasts in our fair city, virtually all automobiles come equipped with a set of heavy-duty and really bright lights that can be used to light the area in front of the car. But here is the crux: They are only effective if they are actually turned on.

The mysterious and enigmatic turn signal lever is home to your car’s headlight activation switch. (Photo by www.yourmechanic.com)

HOW TO TURN ON AN AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT My personal contention is that the difficulty of finding and activating an automobile’s headlights stems from the fact that in most cars the switch that controls it is located on the same stick-like mechanism that engages the turn signals.

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Do not get too caught up in all this fancy jargon such as “dashboard” and “windshield.” The main thing is to find the switch and twist it. I would strongly encourage any and all drivers to take a few minutes to practice turning the lights on and off. It is easy and fun!!

BE THE LIGHT YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD It is clear that turning on an automobile’s headlights is very beneficial to the person driving the car. It lights up the path in front of the car, making it far safer to drive when the sun is not shining (or if we happen to be driving in abnormally shady places). But there is another very compelling reason to use the headlights: It makes the car more visible to other cars and pedestrians! Truly, when it comes to inventions that make driving safer and better, the automobile headlight is right up there with turn signals and seatbelts. But again, none of these marvelous inventions work by magic, and the driver must take special care to learn how to operate them.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION I know it has become very trendy and a sign of social status to drive around Gwangju at night without turning on the car headlights, but it is worth reflecting on the benefits of using the headlights each and every time the car is in use, even during the day and especially during the night. If you are having trouble deciding on a new year’s resolution, let 2024 be the year you stop driving your car around in complete darkness.

Turn on those headlights! You can do it!

The Author

William Urbanski is a firm believer in the use of car headlights and turn signals to improve society as a whole. He owns a car but rides an electric bike to work.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

To locate the headlight activation switch, one must simply look behind the steering wheel and to the left. There is a rod, measuring approximately 15 cm, protruding from the steering column (the thing the steering wheel is attached to). At the very tip of said rod, there is a twistable part with a picture of a light on it. All you must do is twist it forward and voila, the headlights should come on! If you are unsure if the lights have come on or not, there are two ways to check. The first is to look for an illuminated, crude picture of a

headlight on the dashboard. Second, you can look through the windshield to the front of the car. If the road ahead is lit up, there is an excellent chance the headlights are on!

2023-12-26 �� 4:32:53

ESSAYS

28

Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself!

By Park Nahm-Sheik

A

s phrased above, the headline here is commonly known as the golden rule or the great commandment. What it says in plain English is: Treat me nice, and I’ll treat you nice. The original biblical version of this commandment (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; Luke 10:27; Mark 12:31) is: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Put this way, it sure sounds quite a bit more exalted, doesn’t it?

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

In the name of peace on earth and goodwill to all creation, including humans, it is obligatory for us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Loving our neighbors as ourselves is arguably the royal road to a global neighborhood of brotherly love, where we can all afford to indulge in the bright, warm sun of calm, peace, and justice. Viewed from this perspective, the golden rule sheds plenty of light on what our interpersonal engagement in day-today life should ideally be like.

Don’t you be surprised if I tell you that the Gwangju International Center already has set itself up as a forerunner of a global Philadelphia right here in Gwangju-Jeonnam. The home base of multicultural activism the Center has put together for the region is ready to serve as a model for other localities in Korea as well as elsewhere in the rest of Asia and the Pacific. The Center can take due pride in having midwifed the birth of a flourishing intercultural movement on Korean soil. The region is by now widely

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recognized as the cradle of intercultural activism in Korea. With the Center getting its back, Gwangju-Jeonnam. has set in place a beautiful conglomerate of diverse cultures and ethnicities.

As such, it offers a convenient template for other would-be intercultural communities both within and without Korea.

As near neighbors go, nature happens to be as near as near can possibly be. Further, it is also quite dear to our heart. Which means that it deserves at least as much care and attention as does any of our human neighbors. And the best way to treat nature is to leave it utterly alone.

Interfering or tampering with nature in any way at all is a no-no, amounting to a crime against nature, just as much as a hate crime or ethnic cleansing or genocide is a heinous crime against humanity.

Let’s always keep it in mind at this juncture that we earthlings are not here in this world as anything like the lord of all creation. Us humans are anything but masters or conquerors vis-à-vis nature. Indeed, our status is a rather humble one as mere helpers and protectors for everything and everyone we are companions to. Far be it from us to be greedy seekers of worldly power and wealth, either monopolistic or oligopolistic.

We need to take a cold-eyed view of the world as being out there, not as an object to be conquered,

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29

subjugated, deprived, and/or privatized. Rather, it arguably is out there as what needs to be lovingly cared for and fairly shared with all others, be they animate or not. For that matter, we may as well make the case that neither does outer space itself exist for humankind alone to conquer and exploit. The moon and Mars and all other heavenly bodies in the vast night skies are to be left utterly untouched and untainted. They all should be treated with respect and dignity as entities totally free of any terrestrial manipulation or governance.

In the global Philadelphia we aspire to dwell in, we will all be equal partners. There, the least of our brothers and sisters will be treated with the same regard, love, and decency as everybody else. “Love thy neighbor as thyself ” is the basic building block for the construction of this brotherly neighborhood of the world, which is our holy grail. This idealistic global village is thought to nestle in the embrace of nature itself.

That’s a paradise on earth, where us mere mortals all can imbibe the elixir cum nectar of heavenly love and peace. Where else or how else can we ever experience the amazing grace of pure love?

What’s so out of this world about this kind of beautiful love is that it’s much more blessed to give than to receive. Loving always comes with much bigger dividends than being loved here in this wonderland of love. Like muck or riches, love stinks in a heap but, spread abroad, makes everything and everyone around so much more divine and awesome and so much more wondrous.

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Quite rightly, the point is often made that no man is an island. Let’s not forget here to thank the innumerable Good Samaritans who cross our paths all through our planetary journey constantly lifting us out of an unending quagmire of poverty and disease.

In the brotherly-sisterly global village of our dreams, soft power could fortunately get a great deal more done than could hard power. As they say, love rules his kingdom without a sword. The fact is, love is the noblest weapon to conquer with, as is obedience. Nature, for one, is conquered by obeying her. Apparently, subordination can wield far more power than insubordination. And subtlety is often better than force.

I should now like to close the current story on a positive and optimistic note. I firmly believe that nothing on earth is impossible to a willing heart.

Where there is a will, there is a way! Isn’t there?

And love will find a way for us somehow or other. Let’s thus keep hoping that things will turn out to be A-okay at the end of the day. Having said that, let’s always try and look on the bright side of things. Whoever laughs last laughs best and laughs longest and laughs loudest, anyway!

Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone. (Ella Wheeler Willcox [18501919]).

The Author

Park Nahm-sheik has a BA in English from Chonnam National University, an MA in linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A., and a PhD in applied linguistics from Georgetown University. He is now a Professor Emeritus after a long and illustrious career at Seoul National University as well as President Emeritus of the International Graduate School of English.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

Given this marvelous elixir of love, shouldn’t we begin working straight toward a global community of love, peace, and justice for generations to come as well as for ourselves? That way, we would be relegating all worldly tribulations to the dustbin of history. Even as of this writing, though, the world is full of positive alchemic agents for peace, justice, and charity. Among them are Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres), Save the Children, Oxfam International, Catholic Relief Services, World Vision, Good Neighbors,

and the International Red Cross. These are some of the major humanitarian organizations already hard at work helping turn the world into a big brotherly neighborhood.

2023-12-26 �� 4:32:54

TEACHING AND LEARNING

30

Misbeliefs About Second Language Learning Methods

By David Shaffer

B

eliefs are formed in large part by the experiences that we have. And misconceived beliefs are often construed by not having had the opportunity of experiencing a better method of doing things. So it is with language learning. There are many misbeliefs that learners – as well as their teachers – hold about how to best learn a second language (L2).

Here we present a number of these misbeliefs as well as the truths that deflate them.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

MISBELIEF: LEARNING AN L2 REQUIRES MUCH MISERY Instilled in so many students, particularly in Korea and throughout the Far East, is the idea that to master an L2 such as English, one must endure a multitude of hardships: studying long hours late into the night, not getting enough rest, not having time to hang out with friends or play computer games… The truth is that people learn best when they feel comfortable and happy.

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(AI-generated graphic)

Learning a language should be enjoyable. It should include fun and interesting activities that are at the same time educational and practical.

Instructed learning that mainly involves listening to the teacher talk about English and requiring rote memorization for regurgitation on discreteitem paper tests, rather than interaction and production activities, can be extremely boring, demotivating, and ineffective.

MISBELIEF: LEARNING AN L2 MUST BE CLASSROOM-BASED Instruction that is classroom-centered tends to lack in real-world authenticity. Students get limited exposure to the L2, much less than the amount required for proficiency. Classroom instruction tends to mirror that of academic subjects (e.g., science, history) rather than being taught as a skill (e.g., vocal training, playing soccer), and thus neglects the practical skills of listening and informal spoken communication.

It is often the case that pronunciation, which is integral to language learning, often receives inadequate attention in the L2 classroom. Also of great importance but often overlooked in the classroom learning situation is the culture aspect, which is intricately intertwined with the language being learned but often much neglected in the syllabus. A much more effective approach is to combine in-class instruction with out-of-class learning in the form of enjoyable interactional learning activities, such as project work and extensive reading.

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MISBELIEF: L2 LEARNING SHOULD BE GRAMMAR-DRIVEN While grammar has its place in L2 learning, one must keep in perspective that it is considered to be a micro skill of language learning (the macro skills of course being listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Intense instruction focused on grammar – such as that still found in the Korean secondary school English curriculum – may avail itself to discrete-item testing. However, the accompanying rote memorization of grammar rules that it requires does very little to support the learning of the four macro skills. Memorization of grammar rules leads to a fear of making mistakes, which leads to low fluency, which leads to decreased motivation, boredom, and learner burnout. There is a severe lack of authentic language use, which contributes to a lack of contextual understanding, a lack of cultural understanding, and difficulty in applying the L2 to real-life situations. For a balanced proficiency in the L2 that one is learning, it is important to put the main focus (and ideally a holistic focus) on the four macro skills through interactional activities such as pair, group, and project work as well as through extensive listening and extensive reading practices.

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MISBELIEF: IT IS NECESSARY TO TRAVEL ABROAD TO LEARN AN L2 We did mention above in passing the advantages that immersion may have if one chooses to travel abroad to immerse themselves in the language that they wish to master and at the same time undertake structured L2 study. However, there are additional drawbacks that traveling abroad for L2 study may entail. If an L2 learner travels individually for study abroad, they may find that in their newfound freedom in a new culture, they may fall victim to the afflictions of alcohol, drugs, and/or gambling, which, needless to say, can scuttle their language learning aspirations. With younger or multiple children in a family going abroad for language study, it has been a common Korean practice for the mother and the child or children to all go abroad together, leaving the father alone in Korea to continue at his job and generate funds to support his family abroad. In addition to the financial strain this may place on the family, the separation of the family members may also create a severe strain on the family relationship. These possibilities should also be carefully considered before making a decision on traveling abroad for second language learning.

The Author

David Shaffer, PhD, has been involved in TEFL, teacher training, writing, and research in Gwangju for many years as a professor at Chosun University. As vice-president of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of KOTESOL, he invites you to participate in the chapter’s monthly teacher development workshops and in KOTESOL activities in general. Dr. Shaffer is a past president of KOTESOL and is the editor-in-chief of the Gwangju News.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

MISBELIEF: IMMERSION IS THE FASTEST WAY TO LEARN AN L2 There are two types of total immersion: One is living in a community of first-language (L1) speakers of the learner’s L2; the other is where the student is placed in an educational situation in which classroom instruction is in that student’s L2, while many of the classmates speak the language of instruction as their L1 (such as in Canada, which has large populations with two different mother tongues). While there are benefits to being surrounded by the language one is learning, such as natural acquisition, enhanced pronunciation and listening skills, cultural understanding, quick adaptation, and increased confidence, it has considerable disadvantages. Immersion can be frustrating and overwhelming. Think of how little you may understand when watching a movie that is in your L2. Total immersion lacks the structure provided by classroom instruction

and coursebooks. This may lead to isolation of the learner – especially of the introverted learner – from the interaction required for immersion learning. Added to this may be the lack of access to resources – or the lack of support to inform the L2 learner of where to access resources. A less stressful and arguably more effective approach is gradual and sustained exposure to the L2 balanced with L2 instructional support.

2023-12-26 �� 4:32:55

32

CULTURE AND THE ARTS

Reviewed by Michael Attard

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

T

he Osage Indians have a more than 2000year history in North America, but I will start in 1803. In that year, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson purchased from the French the territory of Louisiana, which was about 828,000 square miles. It included Osage lands.

Jefferson addressed the chiefs as “my children.”

This was the first inauspicious sign of the unequal relationship. Over two decades, the Osage were pushed into a small area of southeastern Kansas. By 1870, they were expelled from there.

Eventually, many Osage walked across the Kansas border into Oklahoma. They settled on land that “most whites regarded as broken, rocky, sterile, and utterly unfit for cultivation.” By 1877, there were virtually no more buffalo to hunt. Smallpox, acquired from pushy white settlers, did not make life any easier. How could things get any worse?

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The Osage had maintained all mineral rights to their land. Suddenly, with the discovery of oil, the Osage were rich. Not everyone was pleased. At one of the oil lease auctions, a reporter summed up what many were thinking: “The Osage Indians are becoming so rich that something will have to be done about it.”

The book has a long list of characters, and the author, David Grann, has endeavored to simplify this very complicated intrigue by centering the story around an Osage woman by the name of Mollie Burkhart. It is May 1921, and Mollie’s sister, Anna, disappears, and is then found murdered, shot in the head. The law authorities were not that interested in investigating Anna’s murder. But people were becoming uneasy. About a week before, another Osage murder victim had

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33

been found. A local newspaper reported that the Osage man was “popular among both the whites and the members of his own tribe.”

Mollie turned to her husband’s uncle, William Hale, for help. Mollie had married Ernest Burkhart, a white man. His uncle William was well-respected and considered “Osage County’s greatest benefactor.” These two men would play important roles as the drama unfolded.

Anna’s ex-husband, Oda Brown, is a suspect in Anna’s murder. Then Mollie and Anna’s mother suddenly dies. Mollie’s brother-in-law, Bill Smith, suspects foul play and that all of the deaths are connected. Yes, the reader needs to pay attention to the names and actions, as there are many more victims and suspects to follow.

Surrounding all the details is the central horror story. A headline in the Washington Post noted what seemed to be increasingly clear: CONSPIRACY BELIEVED TO KILL RICH INDIANS. Authorities, realizing that something was up, did not curtail the killers. In 1923, the Oklahoma state governor sent his top investigator.

The investigator is soon murdered and thrown from a train. Whoever the killers are, they are spread out and well-entrenched.

To be clear, it is all about the Osage oil money.

The white man’s racist and patriarchal views had established a guardian system for the Osage ripe with graft. Often declared incompetent, most Osage had a white man controlling their wealth.

Any white man married to an Osage woman would inherit her wealth upon her death.

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So-called justice only convicted and leniently sentenced the tip of the iceberg. “The jurors were willing to punish the men for killing an American Indian, but they would not hang them for it.” The story left me with a sense of disgust.

For in that time and in that place, “there was a culture of killing.” Officially, there were twentyfour murders during the “Reign of Terror,” but it is believed that the actual death toll was in the scores if not hundreds. There was more than a single conspiracy. All walks of life were involved, even “doctors who falsified death certificates and undertakers who quickly and quietly buried bodies.”

In 2023, the movie Killers of the Flower Moon was released. It is directed by Martin Scorsese. Mollie Burkhart is played by Lily Gladstone, Ernest Burkhart by Leonardo DiCaprio, and William Hale by Robert De Niro.

The Reviewer

Michael Attard is a Canadian who has lived in Gwangju since 2004. Though officially retired, he still teaches a few private English classes.

He enjoys reading all kinds of books and writes for fun. When the weather is nice, you may find him on a hiking trail.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

An additional interesting aspect of the book is that the author provides a lesson on the origins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In fact, it was the Osage murders which were the main impetus for the creation of the F.B.I. We meet Tom White, the F.B.I. agent eventually assigned to the case. His investigation was stymied by “the refusal of witnesses to cooperate because of prejudice, corruption, or, as an agent put it, an almost universal fear of being bumped off.” But this does not preclude White from determining a logical pattern to the deaths.

With white citizens refusing to implicate one of their own, Detective White turned to known outlaws. But this group, generally intent on saving their own skin, would lie or later recant any truth that they had told. The writer creates intense emotion for the reader through the exposition of the details regarding an eventual arrest, the trial proceedings, a hung jury, and much later on, a verdict. The reader is well aware of who the perpetrators of these egregious crimes are and, like the Osage, only partially, or perhaps even only minimally, satisfied with the verdict.

2023-12-26 �� 4:32:57

34

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Everyday Korean Episode 72

세 살 적 버릇 여든까지 간다 Old Habits Die Hard

By Harsh Kumar Mishra

The Conversation

Grammar

네하: 언니, 오랜만이에요. 휴가 다녀오셨어요?

Neha: Eonni, long time no see. Did you go on vacation?

~(으)ㄹ 때: This grammar point is attached to a verb or adjective stem and used to describe the time when an action or condition/state occurs. It can simply be translated to “when...” in English. When verb stems end in a batchim (받침, final consonant), use ~을 때, and when they end in a vowel, use ~ㄹ 때.

정민: 아니, 집에 있었어. 미국에 사는 사촌동생이 한국에 와 있어서 같이 놀았어.

Jeongmin: No, I was at home. My cousin was here from the U.S., so we enjoyed our time together.

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

네하: 언니 사촌 동생이 미국에 살아요?

Neha: Your cousin lives in the U.S.?

Ex: 피곤할 때 옛날 음악을 들어요.

I listen to old music when I’m tired. 만날 때 줄게요.

I’ll give it to you when we meet.

정민: 응, 중학교 때 유학을 갔는데 이제 대학 졸업하고 취직했어.

Jeongmin: Yeah, he went there to study abroad in middle school and now has graduated university and gotten a job.

세 살 적 버릇 여든까지 간다: This proverb, which literally means “a habit from when one was three years old stays till one’s 80s,” is often used to point out a (mostly negative) habit which needs fixing because if it’s not fixed early, it’ll be too difficult to fix later.

네하: 그럼 거의 미국 사람 됐겠네요!

Neha: Then he’s almost become an American!

Ex: 민국이가 8 살인데 거짓말을 자주 해요. 세 살 적 버릇 여든까지 간다는데 많이 걱정되네요.

Minguk is just eight years old but lies a lot. I’m worried about him, as they say old habits die hard.

정민: 맞아. 근데 어릴 때처럼 지금도 햄을 안 먹어.

Jeongmin: Right. But he still doesn’t eat ham, just like when he was a kid. 네하: 하하하! 살 적 버릇 여든까지 간다는 말이 맞네요.

Neha: Haha! I guess it’s right when they say old habits die hard. 정민: 맞아.

Jeongmin: True.

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Vocabulary 버릇: habit, 휴가: vacation, leave, 사촌: cousin, 놀다: to play, 유학을 가다: to study abroad, 대학: university, 졸업하다: to graduate, 취직하다: to get a job, 어리다: to be young, 옛날: old times, old, 음악: music, 거짓말: a lie

The Author

Harsh Kumar Mishra is a linguist and Korean language educator. He volunteers with TOPIKGUIDE.com and Learnkorean.in. He has also co-authored the book Korean Language for Indian Learners.

2023-12-26 �� 4:32:58

COMMUNITY

35

January 2024 Upcoming Events Compiled by Kook Hyuna

STORYTELLING STORIES OF NATURE AND ANIMALS IN CENTRAL ASIA

CONCERT THE ILLUSION - MASTERPIECE 더 일루션 - 마스터피스 Dates: January 5–7, 2024 Times: 19:30 on the 5th; 14:00 & 18:30 on the 6th; 14:00 on the 7th.

Duration: 120 minutes Location: Grand Theater, Gwangju Arts Center 광주예술의전당 대극장

Admission: VIP seats: 99,000 won; R seats: 88,000 won; S seats: 77,000 won; A seats: 66,000 won.

Phone: 1544-6399 Website: gjart.gwangju.go.kr (KOR)

MUSIC FESTIVALS 2024 NEW YEAR MUSIC FESTIVAL 2024 신년음악회 Dates: January 16–17, 2024 Time: 19:30 Location: Minju Maru, Chonnam National University 전남대학교 민주마루

Admission: R seats: 30,000 won; S seats: 20,000 won; A seats: 10,000 won.

Phone: 062-613-8241 Website: gjart.gwangju.go.kr (KOR)

국립아시아문화전당 예술극장 극장1

Admission: R seats: 40,000 won; S seats: 30,000 won.

Phone: 1899-5566 Website: www.acc.go.kr (KOR)

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국립아시아문화전당 어린이문화원 다목적홀

Admission: Free Phone: 1899-5566 Website: www.acc.go.kr (KOR)

EXHIBITION SALAM, HIJAB 살람, 히잡 Dates: December 14, 2023 – March 17, 2024.

Times: 10:00–18:00 every Tuesday through Sunday; 10:00–20:00 every Wednesday & Saturday.

Location: Special Exhibition Room 2, KCISA Asia Culture Museum 문화정보원 아시아문화박물관 기획전시실2

Admission: Free Phone: 1899-5566 Website: www.acc.go.kr (KOR)

PLAY THREE EXCITED GENERATIONS 신바람 삼대 Dates: January 5 – March 3, 2024 Times: 19:30 every Tuesday through Friday; 14:00 & 17:00 on Saturdays.

Duration: 90 minutes Location: Dong-san Art Hall, Gwangju U-Square Culture Theater 광주 유스퀘어 문화극장 동산아트홀

Admission: 21,000–40,000 won. (Some discount ticket options available.)

Phone: 0507-1397-3310 Website: www.usquareculture.co.kr (KOR)

GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

ACC NEW YEAR MUSIC FESTIVAL ACC 신년음악회 Dates: January 17, 2024 Time: 19:30 (Duration: 120 minutes) Location: Arts Theater 1, Asia Culture Center

중앙아시아 자연과 동물 이야기 Dates: December 21, 2023 – February 12, 2024.

Times: 10:00, 13:30, 16:00 (Duration: 90 minutes).

Location: Multipurpose Hall, ACC Children’s Cultural Center

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ENTERTAINMENT

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GWANGJU NEWS, JANUARY 2024

ACROSS 1 Major UN program in pandemic 4 Craze 7 Precursor to marketing 11 Peggy who released “I Believe in Love Again” with Lenny Kravitz 12 Con 14 Arrive ___ understanding (2 words) 15 Nova Scotia hrs.

16 Gwangju’s sister city in Central Asia 18 What KOICA provides 20 Insinuation 21 Childbirth assistant 23 Zodiac creature for this year 24 Dress, to Koreans 27 Gwangju News’ Jana

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Look for the answers to this crossword puzzle to appear in February 2024 in Gwangju News Online (www.gwangjunewsgic.com).

33 US airport monitor (2 words) 34 Korean burial mound 39 Maxim 40 Pohang or Pittsburgh team 43 Hyun-jin or Tai-ji 44 Certain rental arrangements 46 The Catcher in the ___ 48 Hobbits’ first stop after leaving the Shire 49 Early SM Entertainment band 50 FNC Entertainment girl group 51 Cable 52 Bakkers’ televangelist club 53 Korea’s Crying punk band

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They went on strike last year in US Tiger at Uchi Park Zoo Beat one-on-one Lee Bok-hyun’s agency Dark berry rich in antioxidants Condemn “Give him an inch and he will ___ mile” (2 words) 8 Common Korean pizza chain 9 Star Wars’ Calrissian 10 “___ a high note” (2 words) 13 South Africa’s Nelson 17 Karel Capek robot play 19 Dog food brand 21 DeLuise or Perignon 22 Skynet and HAL 9000 25 What carnivores do (2 words) 26 Corner shop 28 Printer problem 29 Swelled heads 30 Soldier who’s seen combat 31 “He’s Just Not That ___” (2 words) 32 Silicon Valley exec 34 Network of Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes 35 Nirvana album In ___ 36 Avert 37 Caught congers 38 Grand ___ Opry 41 Response to invitation 42 Risque message 45 Database programming lang.

47 “Dog ___ dog”

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community

culture

exchange

communication

sharing

GIC

GWANGJU INTERNATIONAL CENTER

For only 50,000 won/year, you help the GIC provide a space for exchanges for the local and international communities to learn and experience various cultures from around the world and to promote respect for diversity and inclusivity.

Bene�its as a GIC member: Receive the Gwangju News every month by email.

Priority for participation in programs.

Get discounts on paid programs and space rentals.

Borrow books and materials from the GIC Library.

Get receipts for contributions provided for year-end tax settlement.

(61475) 5 Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju, Korea Tel. 062-226-2732 Email. gic@gic.or.kr Web. www.gic.or.kr

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