Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine
Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine I October 2020 #224 World Human Rights Cities Forum 2020
October 2020 #224
World Human Rights Cities Forum 2020
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Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine
October 2020, Issue 224 Published: October 1, 2020 Cover Photo
World Human Rights Cities Forum (Photo courtesy of WHRCF)
THE EDITORIAL TEAM Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Production Editor Layout Editor Photographer Communications Proofreaders Online Editor Researchers
Dr. Shin Gyonggu Dr. David E. Shaffer William Urbanski Isaiah Winters Melline Galani Kim Hillel Yunkyoung Jeong Jiyeon David Foster, Di Foster, Elisabeth Loeck, Jonathan Moffett, Timothy Berg Melline Galani Jana Milosavljevic, Emmanuela Sabatini
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 English-speaking communities. Copyright © 2020 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.
For volunteering and article submission inquiries, please contact the editor at gwangjunews@gic.or.kr. Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.
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It’s October, and the seasons are a-changing. We can sense it in the cooler evenings and the longer nights. And we change by wearing warmer clothes and spending more time indoors. But one thing that has remained disturbingly constant throughout most of this exceptional year is the persistent threat caused by the coronavirus. In this respect, we must not change but must remain vigilant. As the weather cools and we spend more time indoors where air circulation is poorer, the virus thrives. We must accordingly continue to be guided in our actions by the preventative measures set forth by the government regarding masking, social distancing, and gathering. Together, we shall overcome. Yes, it is October! And our October issue of the Gwangju News is here to welcome it. The biggest event this month in Gwangju, and arguably the nation, is the 2020 World Human Rights Cities Forum. Unknown to many is that the Forum has an important co-organizer: the UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy, and Human Rights. Learn more about who the UCLG-CSIPDHR is and what they do in our cover feature. Who hasn’t heard it: “There’s nothing to do in Gwangju.” Don’t allow yourself to fall victim to such pessimism; read our feature on the urban trails project creating walking tours throughout the city. Our other feature this month describes in clear detail how the corona crisis creates an economic chain reaction and what can be done about it (“Don’t Waste a Crisis”). Our travel stories this month take you from Gwangju’s disappearing Singa-dong (“Lost in Gwangju”) on to a road trip up the extent of Korea’s east coast, then all the way down to the islands of Jeju, before tempting you with all there is to lure you to the islands of the Philippines. And read how the travel bug and the desire to serve persuaded one Gwangju resident to volunteer to work in the scorching deserts of Inner Mongolia. This October issue, of course, offers much more: What are the new E-2 visa requirements? How can pizza be a secondary thought at a pizzeria? Do you have access to the light? All these questions are answered in our Community section. Our Arts and Culture section is packed with an artist interview, a forgotten Gwangju composer, the Bibim Film Fest, and more. And we bring you all our regulars for you to enjoy. Keep safe and thank you for keeping with the Gwangju News! David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News
October 2020
Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date: February 22, 2010 Printed by Join Adcom 조인애드컴 (+82)-62-367-7702
From the Editor
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The Gwangju News is published by Gwangju International Center: Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5 (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733~34 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731 Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com Email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr GwangjuNews gwangjunews
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Photo of the Month The Photographer
Originally from Belgium, Aline Verduyn has lived abroad for 20 years and is currently earning a master’s in Korean language education at Chonnam National University. In Korea, she has previously lived in Busan, Suwon, and Daegu, and has just crossed the one-year mark in Gwangju. She is very happy living here. Instagram: @gwangjumiin
Crossing the Sangmu Bridge
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CONTENTS October 2020
Issue 224
MONTHLY NEWS 04. Gwangju City News 56. GSAF – Gwangju Social Arts Festival
FOOD & DRINKS 46. Cafe & Bakery Review: A Sweet Tour 55. Recipe: Hobak-juk – Pumpkin Porridge
FEATURES 06. Gwangju’s Human Rights Forum 09. Gwangju’s Urban Tourism Trail Project 12. Don’t Waste a Crisis
EDUCATION 27. Everyday Korean: Episode 34 – 직업 (Occupations) 50. Language Teaching: The Joys of Teaching
BLAST FROM THE PAST 16. It’s in the Blood
OPINION 48. No News Is Good News
TRAVEL 18. Lost in Gwangju: Singa-dong Gives Up the Ghost 20. From Abroad: The Philippines at Its Best! 22. Around Korea: Summer Road Tripping in 2020 24. Around Korea: Failing to Reach the Summit
ARTS & CULTURE 02. Photo of the Month 21. Crossword Puzzle 30. Forgotten at Home, Famous Abroad 32. Artist Talk in Gwangju: Jayi Kim 35. The Gwangju Bibim Film Fest 37. Photo Essay: Temple in the Snow 54. Book Review: Sing, Unburied, Sing
GWANGJU ABROAD 28. Volunteering in the Kubuqi Desert
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COMMUNITY 40. Local Entrepreneurs: The Sense of Sound – Monday Off Please 42. Expat Living: E-2 Visa Requirements and Changes 44. Expat Living: You Always Have Access to the Light
October 2020
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Gwangju City News
MONTHLY NEWS
Reprinted with permission from Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
Big-Data Analysis on the Appearance of Wasps
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ouble-killer wasps, the Asian hornets... There are many types of wasps. On September 4, the Gwangju Fire Department issued a warning on wasp and bee stings. Be careful during outdoor activities.
wasps, in 20 cases (1%) they were common bees, and 264 cases (16%) were those of other bees and red-banded sand wasps.
In order to prevent the annual increase in wasp and bee sting incidents, the Gwangju Fire and Safety Headquarters analyzed big data on the period of different types of wasp and bee appearance, and asked the public to be cautious. The results of the analysis show that they are most active in mating, nurturing queen bees, and raising caterpillars when the weekly average maximum temperature is around 27–28 degrees Celsius.
The big-data analysis showed that the number of doublekiller wasps increased from April to 53 in June, 139 in July, and jumped dramatically to 537 in August, while the number of black wasps and hornets started appearing in May, and gradually increased to 43 in June, 231 in July, and climbed to 336 in August with a continued increase forecast until October. The Asian giant hornets began to appear in July and are predicted to appear regularly around the September–October period.
So far this year, the total number of hive-removal dispatches in Gwangju has been 1,665, with most of them belonging to wasp’s species (1,381). Among these, 749 were double-killer wasps (45%), 344 were exotic Asian hornets or black wasps (20.7%), 281 were hornets (17%), and 7 were Asian giant hornets (0.4%). In addition to
The most frequently reported double-killer wasps are the most common in Korea, while the exotic species of Asian hornets (black wasps) that are usually seen in urban areas pose a great danger to citizens due to the fact that they build their hives on roadside trees or apartment roofs. In particular, Asian giant hornets are the most poisonous,
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and they build their nests in the ground or around graves, so incidents caused by their stings often occur during the fall season due to individuals accidentally disturbing the nests while tending graves in preparation for the Chuseok holiday. The Fire Department Office has also issued a warning on bee stings. The alert is issued when 370 or more bee sting cases per week are reported and when 10,000 or more honeycomb removal cases occur or are expected to occur for two consecutive weeks, as special caution during outdoor activities is necessitated.
Choi Min-cheol, head of the city’s Fire and Safety Division, said, “As wasps become more active in the fall period and many wasp sting incidents occur, special attention is required during the upcoming fall holidays when citizens visit their ancestor’s graves.”
Gwangju Swimming Competition Postponed
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In addition, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, the 15th Halla-bae National Swimming Competition (March), the 34th Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s National Sports High School Athletics Competition (April), the 2020 Korean National Sports Festival (April), the 49th National Youth Sports Competition (June), and the 2020 MBC National Swimming Competition (September) have all been canceled this year.
October 2020
In order to discuss whether the event should be held, 11 people, including officials from Gwangju City, the Korea Swimming Federation, Nambu University, and the Gwangju Swimming Federation held a meeting on September 11 at Nambu University, the venue where last year’s FINA World Championships were held. At the meeting, the opinion that the competition should be held this year was expressed. It was mentioned that doing so is necessary for the future careers and entrance exams
Shin Dongha, the head of the city’s Sports Promotion Division, stated, “It is a very unfortunate situation for all of those who have worked hard to prepare for the competition, but at the moment when the safety of participants and citizens is of utmost importance, we ask for your understanding in the postponement of the event,” and added, “We promise we will do our best to host an even better event that swimmers and swimming enthusiasts from all over the country, as well as Gwangju’s 1.5 million citizens, will be able to enjoy together next year.”
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
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t has been announced that Gwangju Metropolitan City’s final decision is to postpone the “1st Gwangju Swimming Competition and Masters Championship” until next year as a means to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Especially taking into consideration the continuance of the social distancing mandate that began in July this year, when the social distancing level rose to Level 2, and afterwards when the level was elevated to Level 2.5, between August 27 and September 14, it was decided to hold the event next year due to the fact that many citizens are complaining of extreme living difficulties since that time. MONTHLY NEWS
Accordingly, it is advised that one wear clothes of bright colors with long sleeves and pant legs, and wide-brimmed hats when doing outdoor activities such as tending to graves and mountain climbing. Furthermore, before tending a grave, one should observe their surroundings well and carefully look for any dark holes around the grave, since Asian giant hornet nests might be found there. In case of a wasp attack, one must quickly evacuate the area, and in case symptoms of allergy or anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis) appear, immediately call 119 to seek first aid and hospital treatment.
of athletes and students, even though it would require implementing thorough prevention measures and postponement of the competition schedule. Due to the continuous spread of COVID-19, however, a consensus developed that in order to ensure the safety of both the participants and citizens, holding the event this year was not appropriate.
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Gwangju’s Human Rights Forum Co-organized by UCLG Contributed by the UCLG-CSIPDHR Secretariat
FEATURE
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he UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy, and Human Rights (UCLG-CSIPDHR) is a global platform to advance local government networking on human rights and the right to the city. It has been a proud co-organizer of Gwangju’s World Human Rights Cities Forum (WHRCF) throughout almost all of the Forum’s ten editions. This partnership made it possible to connect the meaningful discussions held in Gwangju’s Forum to the global movement of human rights cities as well as to the work plan of the world organization of local and regional governments: United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). This article aims to inform the Gwangju News’ audience on the work of this historical partner of the WHRCF and the city of Gwangju (indeed, its metropolitan government
is one of the Committee’s co-chairs and a leading city for its human rights agenda and action plan). To this aim, the article summarizes the UCLG-CSIPDHR’s background and current priorities, and what makes its action plan quite unique: its thematic focus and diverse environment of partners.
Two decades promoting transformative local and global agendas
The origins of the UCLG-CSIPDHR can be traced to the early 2000s, within the framework of various city networking initiatives launched during the World Social Forums (WSF) held in Brazil. This initial group of cities, known as FAL (Forum of Local Authorities), was created with a view to foster debates on social inclusion and participatory democracy policies with global civil society in the context of the WSF process – a landmark in the
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
▼ The UCLG-CSIPDHR Executive Secretariat team with partners from the GPR2C Platform (Bangalore, 2020).
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7 history of alter-globalization to which local governments contributed in their own way, emphasizing how “another world was possible and it starts in the city” (one of the FAL’s mottos). In 2004, two of the largest city networks came together to found the new, global organization of local governments, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), to which FAL member cities soon adhered by creating their own dedicated committee: the UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion and Participatory Democracy. In 2011, the Committee would be instrumental in achieving UCLG’s final adoption of the Global Charter-Agenda for Human Rights in the City, a key document that greatly contributed to the consolidation of the human rights cities movement and added the “human rights” theme to the UCLG-CSIPDHR official title. The UCLG-CSIPDHR expanded its membership and contributed to develop UCLG’s agenda on other emerging priorities like the “right to the city.” A similar guiding vision has permeated the work of the Committee over all this time: to rally local governments’ leadership, expertise, and solidarity to promote transformative policies at both the local and global levels.
Since 2011, human rights have increasingly become
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▼ Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong Sup delivered an opening statement at the 2019 Geveva Human Rights Dialogue.
October 2020
An ever-evolving action plan focused on thematic exchange
Through its “right to the city” strategy, the Committee focuses on more specific challenges faced by local governments in terms of social inclusion and participation, such as the scarcity of adequate housing, the promotion of inclusive cities towards migrants, the promotion of local policies that advance women’s rights www.gwangjunewsgic.com
To do this, the Committee works in cooperation with the UCLG and its rich ecosystem of partners. It has also developed natural alliances with international partners like the Global Platform for the Right to the City, the OHCHR, and UN Special Rapporteurs.
one of UCLG-CSIPDHR’s main priorities. Naturally, the WHRCF in Gwangju has become a cornerstone of this strategy, as it provides an annual meeting point for cities and other local and global stakeholders to consolidate and continue to expand the global movement of human rights cities.
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8 which gathered a large delegation of local governments and United Nations representatives, including the former OHCHR’s Deputy High Commissioner Kate Gilmore. A delegation from Gwangju was also present in the UCLG World Congress held in 2019 in Durban, South Africa, where it contributed to key debates shaping the agenda and priorities of the Committee and the whole UCLG organization for the 2019–2022 period.
▲ The UCLG-CSIPDHR organizes field visits among members to foster learning and practical exchange (Barcelona, 2018)
FEATURE
and the fight against gender violence, the building of socio-spatial equality, and participatory democracy at a metropolitan level. It is worth noting how, in 2020, the UCLG-CSIPDHR re-oriented its action plan to better support members’ needs and priorities regarding their struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic. It notably worked in cooperation with the UCLG to offer a meaningful, online-based learning agenda regarding local policies addressing the COVID-19 pandemic (#BeyondTheOutbreak).
Gwangju is well-known across the UCLG-CSIPDHR network for its leadership on human rights issues and has actively cooperated with other local governments on this matter by exchanging good practices. In recent months, Gwangju has also participated in various learning events organized by the Committee and UCLG focusing on how local governments were addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (#BeyondTheOutbreak). In a 2018 visit to the city of Barcelona, a delegation from Gwangju also visited the UCLG-CSIPDHR and the UCLG World Secretariat headquarters. This visit included several working meetings with the Learning, Research, Participatory Democracy, and Culture Departments, as well as with UCLG’s Secretary General Emilia Sáiz, who took this opportunity to appreciate Gwangju’s longstanding commitment to the global municipal movement.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
A network with a global reach led by local governments
The UCLG-CSIPDHR brings together more than onehundred member local governments, to which many other cities and local practitioners should be included even though they are not formally registered as members. The Committee’s co-presidency is formed by five local governments of which Gwangju is one. The Committee has a global reach and its membership is extended across the four corners of the world. In order to support the development of their action plan, member local governments have put in place an executive secretariat. This structure is currently included in the World Secretariat of UCLG, based in Barcelona. Its purpose is to support and drive forward the priorities, political mandate, and action plan agreed upon by its members.
Gwangju’s participation in the Committee
Gwangju’s participation in the Committee goes far beyond cooperation around the World Human Rights Cities Forum. It is fostering friendship and leadership with human rights cities across the world. Indeed, its metropolitan government is part of the co-presidency and has represented the Committee in various international events. A good example of this can be found in Mayor Lee Yong Sup’s opening statement and participation in the 2019 landmark Geneva Human Rights Dialogue,
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Photographs courtesy of the UCLG-CSIPDHR Secretariat.
The 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum Theme: The Future of Human Rights Cities: Local Memories and Global Sharing
Dates: October 7–10, 2020 Location: Kim Daejung Convention Center and Online. (See the October issue of the Gwangju News for more information on the 10th WHRCF.)
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Gwangju’s Urban Tourism Trail Project Interview with Hyunhee Cho Interview by Jeong Jiyeon In an effort to expand Gwangju’s tourism options, Gwangju City, through the Gwangju Urban Tourism Agency, has embarked on a remarkable project of creating short tours within the city limits to pique interest in the city, its history, and its culture and arts. To bring you the details of the tourism trail project, the Gwangju News met up with the head of the Gwangju Urban Tour Agency, Cho Hyunhee, for the following interview. — Ed.
GN: Could you tell us something about the main projects of the agency? Cho Hyunhee: Certainly. Currently, our main project is the Urban Tourism Trails, which allows tourists to walk around the old downtown area surrounding the Asia Culture Center. Also, this year we are conducting a K-pop dance-cover experience tour where visitors can try and learn K-pop dance routines in the K-pop Idol Alley set up in the backstreet area of the former Student Memorial Hall just off Chungjang-ro [Gwangju’s “walking street”]. GN: What was the idea behind creating the K-pop Idol Alley, and what plans do you have in store for its future?
Cho Hyunhee: As you know, Gwangju has not been known for an abundance of tourist attractions. Nevertheless, people from outside still believe that Gwangju is a great city. When we thought about why this might be so, we realized that Gwangju is a city of amazing people. There are many K-pop stars who were born in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do, so we figured that even if only their fans visited the city, Gwangju could live on as a tourist city. Therefore, we have come up with the idea to create the K-pop Idol Alley, inspired by the paths taken by K-pop stars who came from Gwangju, and proposed it to Gwangju City. That is how the K-pop Idol Alley was created in the Gwangju Student Memorial Hall area. These backstreets have been the creative center of student culture for decades and are also known as the place of origin for the well-known lettuce-wrapped fries. Due to the fact that there are many students among K-pop enthusiasts, setting up the K-pop Idol Alley is bound to bring out synergy with the surrounding commercial area of Chungjang-ro. As for the future, we are planning to
October 2020
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GN: You mentioned that the Urban Tourism Trail project has seven different courses. Could you tell us more about what each of the courses includes and how Gwangju citizens can take part in them?
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include K-pop idols’ handprints, a K-pop Stars’ Memorial Hall, and murals of K-pop stars. I believe our visitors will be able to see these from around the beginning of November this year. We would also like to attract many K-pop fans from overseas to come to Gwangju through this project.
The Gwangju Urban Tourism Agency’s office.
FEATURE
Gwangju News (GN): To begin with, please briefly introduce yourself and the Gwangju Urban Tour Agency. Cho Hyunhee: My name is Cho Hyunhee, and I am the representative of the Gwangju Urban Tour Agency. The Gwangju Urban Tour Agency creates and operates seven tours inspired by hidden touristic treasures in the city of Gwangju. The contents our agency creates are mainly made for tourists and Gwangju citizens.
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Cho Hyunhee: Sure. As you mentioned, the Urban Tourism Trails is a set of downtown walking tours that consists of a total of seven courses. The courses were designed so that the participants can hear the stories of brilliant Gwangju residents, of flowers and trees in Gwangju, and of the exotic hidden beauties of Dongmyeong-dong. Course 1 is the Kim Hyunseung’s Platanus Tour. On this tour, visitors will follow in the footsteps of Kim Huynseung, a poet born in Gwangju. This course allows visitors to see the scenery of Gwangju as described in Kim Hyunseung’s poems. Course 2 is the Gwangju Artists’ Trail Tour, which follows most notable Gwangju artists and presents the city’s cultural and artistic sites.
FEATURE
Course 3 is called the Music Walkway of Jeong Yulseong Tour, and it retraces the childhood movements of Jeong Yulseong, a Gwangju-born musical genius adored today by 1.3 billion Chinese. Course 4 is the aforementioned K-pop Idol Alley Tour that visits the places along Chungjang-ro that the K-pop idols born in Gwangju frequented during their student days and allows visitors to learn some K-pop dance moves. Course 5, the 5.18 Patriotic Martyr for Democracy Tour, is the centerpiece of Gwangju’s tours, and it travels to the historically sacred sites of Gwangju’s May 18 Democratic Uprising.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
Course 6 is the ecotourism trek called the “Story of Gwangju’s Flowers and Trees,” which takes participants on strolls through nature hubs within the city. Course 7 is the Dongnidan-gil Stamp Tour, organized as a mission experience taking participants to the exotic cafes and unique places in Gwangju’s Dongmyeong-dong. Those who wish to participate in the Urban Tourism Trail’s offerings should contact the Gwangju Urban Tour Agency in advance (see below) and apply for a preferred tour date and time. Tour durations are two to three hours per course, with all of them being free of charge. GN: Besides the courses you have just introduced, are there any other courses or projects currently in preparation or planned for the future? Cho Hyunhee: Famous tourist cities usually have night courses as well, presenting the beautiful night views of the city. However, Gwangju still does not have one of its own. Therefore, what we are currently in the process of preparing in collaboration with a professional photojournalist is a night tour of downtown Gwangju
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Cho Hyunhee
named “Night Gwangju.” Nowadays, taking beautiful photos and posting them on Instagram and Facebook is a huge trend. Still, there is something special about photos taken by a professional photographer. So, later this year, we are thinking of opening a Gwangju night tour program in which participants will tour together with the professional photographer and take the best shots at places around Gwangju of its beautiful night scenery – places such as View Folly, the rooftop of the Jeonil Building, and the Asia Culture Center crepe myrtle forest trail. Visitors can apply for this on our homepage. We hope many people will participate. GN: There are many foreigners among the Gwangju News’ readership. Do you have a way to attract foreign tourists? Cho Hyunhee: Among our programs, the one that is most popular with foreign visitors is the K-pop Idol Alley tour described above. As it is set to open on Chungjang-ro at the beginning of November, K-pop fans from all over the world will be able to enjoy learning to dance like K-pop stars on that tour. Another program that is excellent for foreign participants is our Korean Cooking Class, so be sure to check that out as well. Participants can apply through our English language homepage (www.egjmiin. com), and those in need of more information can visit the Gwangju Urban Tour Agency office (see below), where we will provide them with more details about the tours that suit their interests [including the availability of tour guides who are native speakers of the language of the tour group]. Photographs courtesy of Cho Hyunhee.
GWANGJU URBAN TOUR AGENCY Location: 24 Seoseok-ro 85-beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju (1st Floor; in front of Gwangju Jungang Elementary School) 광주 동구 서석로 85번길 24 (1광주중앙초등학교 앞) Admission: Free (Reservation required) Phone: 062-401-9926 Website: www.gjmiin.com Tour Durations: 2–3 hours per course.
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Gwangju’s Urban Tourism Trail Project Interview with Phi Phi Le Interview by William Urbanski As a way to promote international tourism and familiarize denizens with the complex and diverse history of the city, the city of Gwangju has recently implemented the Gwangju Downtown Trail program (as described in the previous article). This program trains foreign residents to give tours of culturally important parts of the city in their native languages. The Gwangju News has recently had the chance to speak with one of the program participants, Phi Phi Le, who shone some light on what the program is all about. — Ed.
GN: What is the Gwangju Downtown Trail program all about? How does the program work? Phi Phi Le: This is a very interesting program for foreigners living and studying in Gwangju. Via education in history, culture, and people, participants can later become local tour guides and contribute to attracting foreign visitors to the city.
GN: Why did you decide to join the program? What exactly is your role?
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GN: Is there anything you would like to add about the program? Phi Phi Le: I came to Gwangju three years ago. Apart from going to school, my time is spent taking care of my two little sons. So, I have few opportunities to go out to many places or take part in volunteer programs. Thanks to this program, I have had many profound experiences and have learned interesting things about the culture and history of the city. These are things I can tell my sons when they grow older. If I have a chance later to become a tour guide for foreigners coming to the city, I would be proud!
The Author
William Urbanski is the managing editor of the Gwangju News and has an MA in international relations and cultural diplomacy. He is married to a wonderful Korean woman, always pays cash, and keeps all his receipts. Instagram: @will_il_gatto
October 2020
GN: I understand that there are several different trails people can follow. Where do these trails go? Phi Phi Le: There are five different trails at present. They include the life of the famous poet Kim Hyun-seung, K-pop culture, Art Street, the Democratic Uprising of 1980 (5.18), and the life of the famous music composer Cheong Yul-Seong.
GN: This is a volunteer program. As a foreigner in Korea, why do you think it is important to volunteer in Gwangju? Phi Phi Le: I think not only I but also all other students want to join volunteer programs. Through such programs, we get more experience, make new friendships, and become more mature.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
GN: The program has participants from many countries. Where are some of the other participants from? Phi Phi Le: There are four Vietnamese, and the others are mostly Chinese, Uzbek, Spanish, with one Kazakh. Though coming from many countries, we were divided into three groups. During this orientation experience, we talked to each other and gradually became closer to each other.
Phi Phi Le: I was made aware of the program via my university friend (we both have a second major in tourism management). Via this program, I would like to get more experience and understand more about the city I am living in. Through this, I can obtain real experience that can be advantageous for my future career.
FEATURE
Gwangju News (GN): Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Could you please give a little background about yourself? Where are you from, and what brought you to Gwangju? Phi Phi Le: Hello! My name is Phi Phi Le. I am from Vietnam and came to Korea twelve years ago. Before I came to Gwangju, I lived in the city of Osan to work, and after that I came to Gwangju to study. Now I am studying Korean at Gwangju University.
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www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in Teheran,1943. (commons.wikimedia)
Don’t Waste a Crisis Written by Arlo Matisz
T
he COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant events in modern economic history. It is so significant that I feel I should use capital letters to describe it, as I would for other major events such as the Great Recession, the Asian Financial Crisis (or “IMF Crisis” as it’s referred to in South Korea), or the Great Depression. Though still ongoing, the pandemic’s impact has already been so large that the effects will be felt for years to come. This is the nature of economic events: They evolve over time. By taking a closer look at what is happening here in South Korea, by examining households, small businesses, larger firms, and the government, one can see the interconnectedness of the
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economy, why the effects are so large, and what good can come from how the crisis is managed. Let’s start with an average Korean household. Of course, it’s hard to imagine an average, so I’ll flesh it out a bit: Mr. and Mrs. Kim, with their two children. Mr. Kim works at a large car factory that produces goods for the domestic and international markets. Mrs. Kim owns and operates a small hair salon. Their children, ten and four, attend school and preschool. How is their household affected by the pandemic? Mr. Kim’s job is in trouble. The pandemic has disrupted global transportation networks that move goods from country to country. It has also reduced
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13 incomes across the globe. Demand has dropped in the international market, and not just for cars! Demand is decreasing for washing machines, refrigerators, and all sorts of consumer goods, as people delay big purchases as their incomes decrease. Of course, a lot of these goods are manufactured in South Korea, which means not only the car factory is in trouble. All sorts of export-driven businesses across the country have less global demand for their products. As they reduce worker hours, engage in partial shutdowns, and even lay workers off, domestic incomes fall as well. If domestic incomes decrease, domestic demand for all these goods decreases as well, hurting the businesses even more. They are selling less in every market.
What about the kids? If the kids have to stay home, that means someone has to take care of them. Maybe Mr. Kim has fewer shifts and can watch the kids half the week, and the other half Mrs. Kim is at home since she’s giving fewer haircuts. Hopefully, they can manage this without
What about their consumption patterns? Both adults have decreased income, as well as uncertainty about when their incomes will return to normal. This means reducing spending on big consumer goods as mentioned above. It also means buying lower quality goods, called “inferior goods.” For example, when consumer incomes decrease, they buy less fresh food and more ramyeon noodles. In addition, they have to buy masks and hand sanitizer, new additions to their shopping lists. They might be spending more on fuel for their cars as they avoid public transit out of fear of the virus. In short, lower incomes and increased spending on goods made necessary by the pandemic are decreasing the quality of life in the household. Notice how the Kims’ decrease in income will have rippling effects in their local economy. They’re spending less on goods and services, and that means lower income for other families. When incomes decrease, the effect is larger than the initial decrease in income. This is because the money you spend on goods and services is used to buy other goods and services by the sellers you purchase from. Spending moves through the local economy in a positive feedback loop, and therefore, decreases in spending are experienced in a positive feedback loop as well. There is less money in most households right now. Also, since this is happening in most other markets for Korea’s products, global demand is drying up for so many of Korea’s exports. Almost everyone has less to spend.
FEATURE
What about Mrs. Kim? She probably doesn’t export goods, not unless a foreign tourist comes for a haircut, but of course there are no tourists now. Falling domestic incomes mean that households cut back on their spending, and that means consumption changes like getting haircuts less often and buying fewer luxuries like hair coloring and perms. In addition, Mrs. Kim may have to close her shop now and then if the government mandates it. Even if the government never orders her to close shop, demand has also decreased for haircuts because of a change in consumer tastes. People are less interested in being around other people in a salon, for fear of contracting COVID-19. Mrs. Kim’s job is also in trouble.
any further loss of income, but not everyone is so lucky. Giving up work to look after kids would mean still lower income.
Local businesses are in big trouble. Much like Mrs. Kim’s salon, many businesses are facing reduced demand and
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October 2020
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FEATURE
14
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
Photo by Joshua Rawson Harris, Unsplash.
possible closure orders. In a way, businesses forced to close are lucky because the government will be responsible for helping the owners and employees. Struggling businesses that are permitted to stay open but see few customers have to face the decision in the short run to shut down, or in the long run to permanently close. Most landlords are still asking for the same rent, which means that customers or not, businesses have to come up with that money each month. Small businesses may have a harder time moving to an online retail model or offering delivery services, both more important in this crisis. Most large firms aren’t doing great either. As mentioned earlier, global demand is drying up. Exports are down. Some firms have versatile production processes and can switch to producing products that are in demand now. For example, several Korean soju manufacturers pivoted to producing hand sanitizer in response to the new market conditions. However, most producers don’t have such opportunities. Firms are also hesitant to expand at this time, leading to decreases in investment in new factories and other physical capital. Again, decreases in spending will spread outwards, dragging the economy further into recession. Of course, there are some firms that are doing alright. Manufacturers of health products in higher demand,
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from personal products like masks and hand sanitizer to medical equipment like respirators and treatment beds, are doing fine. South Korea’s testing kits are being exported all over the world, and their manufacturer is expanding production. Pharmaceutical companies are pouring money into research in hopes of cashing in on a vaccine. Firms that manufacture inferior goods are also seeing higher sales, as consumers have higher demand for these goods when their incomes decrease. Delivery companies and online shopping businesses are going through a boom in sales. However, these firms are outnumbered by those that are facing decreased sales and uncertain futures. Where is the government in all of this? Government spending is an enormous part of the economy, and in times like this, that spending is more important than ever. Fiscal stimulus becomes enormously important as money slows its circulation in the economy. Like a doctor giving blood to a patient in need of a transfusion, the government can launch projects to inject cash into the ailing economy. Of course, the money has to come from somewhere. Normally, governments finance their spending through tax revenue. Unfortunately, during an economic crisis, falling personal incomes and business revenues mean that tax revenues fall as well. This is part of why restrictions that force a government to run
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15 a balanced budget are fundamentally flawed. If the government reduced spending as tax revenues fell, that would deepen the economic crisis as the decrease rippled out through firms and households.
South Korea is a country that was forged by response to crisis. Its rich history of overcoming adversity and adapting to new conditions prepared it to weather the pandemic. Though the pandemic may have been unavoidable, Korea’s response is to not waste it.
Arlo Matisz is an economics professor and the radio host of GFN’s City of Light. Gwangju is his inspiration and home.
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October 2020
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While working on forming the United Nations, Winston Churchill famously said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” While the crisis he was referring to was World War II, this expression perfectly captures a popular sentiment regarding economic policy. An economic crisis presents an opportunity to institute policies that would normally be difficult to implement. The pivot towards environmentally friendly energy production in Korea’s aptly named Green New Deal is using the crisis as an opportunity to phase out the country’s heaviest polluting energy sources. At the same time, incentives for certain types of research and development can alter the directions of corporate innovation. Meanwhile, transfers can be used to bolster the socially vulnerable and ease income inequality. Universal basic income has even been discussed at the policy level. These massive infrastructure projects are designed to mop up unemployment and idle capital, while expanding welfare programs can address some of the deeper structural inequality that troubles this nation.
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blast the past FOOD from & DRINKS
Fortunately, there is no such restriction on Korea’s government. The taps are wide open, and all sorts of government programs are being implemented. Some are simply transfers, such as the support money that so many of us have received from the city and country. Other programs include the “New Deal,” which by no accident takes its name from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous program designed to lift the United States from the Great Depression in the 1930s. Creating government jobs during a time of high unemployment and creating massive public works projects during a time of stalled private investment are both ways to inject money into the economy in a way that produces something of value. What should be produced?
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9/23/2020 11:04:41 AM
16
Blast from the Past
It’s in the Blood From Ethnic Nationalism to Personality Predictor Bloodlines are of utmost importance to Koreans. It is not uncommon for family registers to trace the family line back half a millennium, and Koreans tend to pride themselves on having a “pure,” homogeneous lineage. Stephen Redeker explored the topic of Korean bloodlines in a Gwangju News article originally published in September 2012. In a tangentially related article, Redeker offered his take on Koreans’ fascination with blood type being an indicator of a person’s personality traits (Gwangju News; May 2012.) With Korea’s longstanding infatuation with fortune-telling of myriad types, including the oriental zodiac, it is easy to imagine how blood-type personality profiling would be enthusiastically espoused. Both articles are compiled here for your reading pleasure. — Ed.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
blast from the past
“Pure Bloodlines”
Most people love their country. You hear many reasons why people think their country is the best in the world. Maybe it is the delicious and healthy food. It could be the beautiful landscape or architecture of the buildings. Perhaps it is the friendliness of the people. Koreans possess such beliefs about their country as well. There is a strong nationalistic feeling in Korea. One of these particular beliefs is about their heritage and ethnic identity. Some Koreans think that as a nation and as a race of people, they are a “pure-blooded” population, and that Korea has descended from a unified group of ancestors with no racial mixing. Studies have revealed that the earliest settlers on the Korean Peninsula may have arrived some 500,000 years ago. Much more recently, migrations have come from the Siberian plains, then Mongolia, and later from the Manchurian area of eastern China. (One will recall that the common birthmark on Korean babies’ backside is called a mongol-cheom [몽골점, Mongolian mark].) DNAsample studies also show strong similarities in physical traits between southern Koreans and the Japanese. To truly understand this Korean myth, you need to recall history spanning the past century. In the very early 20th century, the “pure bloodline” belief came about when historian Shin Chae-ho wrote about the Korean minjok (민족, people, ethnic group), which he described as a warrior group who fought off invaders to preserve the Korean ethnic identity hundreds of years prior. He declared that since the minjok movement had been in decline, it was necessary to reinvigorate the cause, especially due to Japanese colonization and assimilation at that time. This belief was a strong way for the Korean people to resist Japanese rule and unite the people during a time of serious national crisis. As time continued, the “pure bloodline” myth remained a steadfast ideology. Despite the fact that the beliefs in a pure race declined after the World War II defeat of
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Germany and Japan, Korea (both North and South) continued teaching this ideology of racial purity. It was used as a political tool by former presidents Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee as a means to make the citizens more obedient and support an anti-Communist agenda. North Korean propaganda declared Koreans as “the cleanest race.” The common bloodline belief continues on today and helps shape political and foreign relations. It also provides Koreans motivation for national pride and further fuels hope for a reunified Korea. Times are changing and Koreans are forced to re-assess their beliefs in a single-blood population of people. Korea is increasingly becoming more multicultural, with many foreign workers calling Korea their home and an increase in international marriages. Multiculturalism was highly publicized in Korea by Hines Ward, the American football player and Super Bowl MVP. Ward’s father is African American and his mother is South Korean. After traveling to Korea, he preached acceptance of mixedraced children and donated one million USD to found the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation for assisting mixed-race children in Korea. But not all Koreans have accepted an international and multicultural presence in Korea. Many migrant workers and other immigrants still face discrimination and prejudice. Xenophobic concerns arise from many Koreans when foreigners (including United Nations committee members) attempt to refute these claims about a pure race. Some Koreans believe a challenge to this ethnic nationalism may dilute the strong national pride of the people and weaken the desire for Korean reunification. All things considered, believing in single, pure-blooded ethnicity was an integral ideology during the past century, given the many challenges that Koreans faced. Maintaining a sense of nationalistic pride was essential during times of invasion by other forces (the Mongols, the Manchus, the Japanese), which threatened the well-being and culture of Korea. Now in the modern era, Korea must deal with
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17 the increasing number of multicultural families living here, as many Koreans are building families with partners from foreign nations. The number of people moving to Korea and raising multicultural children is continually increasing as well. In fact, 5.2 percent of children born in Korea in 2017 were from mixed marriages. Love and acceptance for non-Koreans living in Korea is something that will hopefully become a widespread reality and, despite those with conservative beliefs, will strengthen the Korean nation both in the eyes of its people and in those of the rest of the world.
Blood Type: More Than Just a Letter
The belief that blood type influences personality and temperament is something like the Western thought that zodiac signs (determined by one’s birth date) have a direct correlation to fortune/misfortune, life, personality, and compatibility with others. There is a small minority who make decisions based on what the horoscope dictates, and those people are most likely the ones who would ask the clichéd question “What’s your sign?” on a blind date. Inversely, in Korea, “What’s your blood type?” is not such an uncommon blind date question!
Type B The Good: Active, optimistic, adventurous, creative, passionate, headstrong. The Bad: Irresponsible, selfish, careless, impatient, forgetful. Type B individuals tend
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Do you believe your blood type matches the profile of the above personality traits? Do you even know what your blood type is? Koreans may very well be surprised at foreigners who do not know their own blood type. This myth about blood type and personalities has been disproven over time, but it still makes for good conversation fodder when a blind date develops into a lackluster affair! Written by Stephen Redeker. Compiled by David Shaffer.
October 2020
Type A The Good: Patient, punctual, perfectionist, conservative, creative, sensible, trustworthy. The Bad: Self-conscious, obsessive, uptight, stubborn, over-earnest. These people are considered to be mild-mannered, very loyal, and considerate of others. They may also be very secretive, reserved, and passive-aggressive, yet also shy and sensitive. Compatibility: A and AB.
Type O The Good: Sociable, optimistic, popular, agreeable, confident, inspired, ambitious, athletic. The Bad: Arrogant, insensitive, vain, rude, intolerant. The Type O individual is seen as the ultimate go-getter, the natural leader who is expressive, passionate, and obsessive in their pursuits. They tend to take risks and can cause rifts with those who dislike their strong, outgoing personalities and center-of-attention tendencies. Type O people are eager to initiate, but sometimes they do not finish what they start. Compatibility: O and AB.
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The blood type myth dates back almost a hundred years, with its origins in Japan. After 1970, it regained popularity when Japanese journalist Masahiko Nomi published books on the subject. Some companies even grouped workers by blood type, thinking that they would work better together. Blood type plays much less of a role these days, but it is still in the back of many people’s mind here in Korea. Here is a look at the personality traits associated with each of the four blood types: A, B, AB, and O.
Type AB The Good: Calm, cool, calculating, rational, introverted. The Bad: Critical, indecisive, fickle, aloof, unforgiving, distant. This blood type is thought to be more about the brain than the heart. People with this blood type can be unpredictable but are usually well-organized and good with handling money. Some say this blood type often has a split personality. They may be shy but can also enjoy helping others and be outgoing to an extent. Compatibility: AB, B, A, and O. blast from the past
Whether you are a native Korean or a fresh-faced foreigner here for only a short while, you have likely heard people talking about “blood type.” It could simply have been in reference to a standard medical exam or blood donation, but to Koreans it has another meaning. Many believe that one’s blood type is directly related to one’s personality traits. This belief does not originate in Korea, but it has been embraced here and often comes up in casual conversation.
to be very independent and go off on their own, caring not what everyone around them thinks. Strong-willed and goal-oriented, they may also be seen as shallow and selfish. Some Korean women tend to avoid Type B men, considering them to be “players” and not very reliable in the long run. Compatibility: B and AB.
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18
Lost in Gwangju
TRAVEL
Singa-dong Gives Up the Ghost
The entrance to a home not yet vacated.
Written and photographed by Isaiah Winters
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October 2020
F
or Gwangju’s up-and-coming striver class, buying a new apartment in the affluent Suwan District is the quintessence of “making it.” This monied district is young, modern, and lacking in little – save character. That’s why those who “make it” to Suwan immediately flee to trendier neighborhoods whenever they have leisure time. Having lived out there myself for a few years, I know how real the weekend exodus to anywhere-butSuwan is. The only redeeming neighborhood in the area is just south in Singa-dong. The neighborhood is a patchwork of commercial and residential units organized into grids with low, two- or three-story businesses lining the main arteries and jutaek houses hemming the tight back alleys. Quaint and quiet, these long, narrow alleyways are great to wander, especially where gentle bends splay out into little three- or four-way junctures bracketed by small corner stores. The community fits together so well that it feels both planned and organic – like a humble village in lattice formation. What strikes me about this part of Singa-dong is its overlooked potential. Here you have scores of charming
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backstreets with row after row of affordable units, each with its own eclectic allure, all just a stone’s throw from a surfeit of young, suburban, upper-middle-class café addicts who are obliged to take 40-minute bus rides downtown to Dongmyeong-dong and Yangnim-dong for their latte and selfie fix. Meanwhile, Singa-dong is just a 15-minute walk from Suwan’s main drag – the same time it takes to walk from The First Alleyway to Dongmyeongdong. But now that Singa-dong is in the throes of eviction ahead of demolition, I guess neighboring Suwan is doomed to forever hemorrhage its hipsters on weekends. A smattering of hipster joints might well have helped to revitalize the now condemned parts of Singa-dong, thereby keeping the wrecking crews at bay. This alternative to demolition – the boutique lobotomy – would of course come with problems of its own, though it would surely be better than bulldozing everything and salting the earth with more high-rise apartments. The latter will only result in more people moving to Suwan just to flee its marrowdeep inauthenticity at first chance. Unfortunately, only after another decade of breakneck redevelopment will we likely realize how quickly we gave up scruffy, endearing vestiges like Singa-dong.
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19 And scruffy it is. On my last visit, the doors to about half the units had already been wrapped in saltires of caution tape that acted as seals. In this way, any suspicious break in a seal could later be investigated via the nearest CCTV camera, of which there’s an ungodly number in the area. Echoing an Orwellian dystopia, it’s as if a camera stares you in the face at every other street corner, light post, and dead end. This network of livestreams creates an all-seeing panopticon intended to keep burglaries and littering down. I assume the property redevelopers meticulously set each camera up, though I can’t say for sure. Nevertheless, on my many visits, seals were frequently rebroken and garbage seemed to mount by the day, so whoever’s tasked with tracking down malefactors has his work cut out for him.
In short, could Singa-dong have been another Dongmyeong-dong? To some extent, I think yes. It’s got
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what hipsters crave, including the hipsters themselves; however, redevelopers got to it long before many noticed its value. I must admit, I only know of the area because I used to live across the street and would frequently roam its alleys on late-night walks, so it’s been on my radar for a long time. I’m sad to see it go and wish the locals the best, but Suwan – you just lost your soul. The Author
Originally from Southern California, Isaiah Winters is a Gwangju-based urban explorer who enjoys writing about the City of Light’s lesser-known quarters. When he’s not roaming the streets and writing about his experiences, he’s usually working or fulfilling his duties as the Gwangju News’ heavily caffeinated chief proofreader.
October 2020
Despite going on repeated photo shoots in the area, I’m disappointed with how my pictures turned out. Some places are just more impressive in person, and Singadong may be one of them. Fortunately, where photos fail, there are words. Over the course of my repeat visits, I observed many details that were far more interesting as subjects of writing than photography. One that sticks out is an advertisement for the removal of yupum (유품), or articles left behind, often by the deceased. The ad showed four exemplary photos of disheveled home interiors left in the wake of the former residents. Now that’s a haunting job I’d like to tag along for.
▲ Artwork and alleyways crisscross Singa-dong’s condemned ▼ neighborhood.
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Beyond these portents of Big Brother, there’s another, more traditional type of monitoring in the area that helps clamp down on sketchy activity: local senior citizens. Though I behaved myself on my many recent visits, I was often shadowed – and sometimes sharply questioned – by locals of a certain vintage for my photography. It must have looked highly suspicious: an oversized foreigner snapping photos of myriad alleys and abandoned entryways. The elderly who still have a stake in the community would sometimes stick around and make a little noise, thinking that would scare me off; others studiously ignored me and gave me a wide berth, like we were two repelling magnets. With a hobby like this, you get used to it.
TRAVEL
Lest you think the cameras are just for show, posters bearing CCTV stills of litterers in the area are almost as commonplace as the cameras themselves. According to the posters, those caught littering on foot face a 200,000–300,000 won fine, while those caught littering from vehicles face a steeper 500,000–1,000,000 won fine. The message throughout Singa-dong is clear: These people are serious – far more serious than any I’ve seen in redevelopment zones elsewhere in our city.
▲ Caution tape in the form of St. Andrew’s Cross seals homes of evicted residents.
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From Abroad
The Philippines at Its Best! Written by Carlota Smith
T
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
TRAVEL
he Philippines is a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. The Philippines’ 7,641 islands provide the best possible, if not simply downright perfect, experiences for an entire lifetime. Being home to almost 110,000,000 people from all walks of life, every location in the Philippines provides one with many choices of both fun and excitement. From the sunny beaches to the steep hills and historical sites, one may be overwhelmed with nature’s generosity and abundance presented in the Philippines. Many foreign visitors and Filipinos themselves have already gone to see these famous and beautiful places. However, there are always many more exquisite, untouched, and enchanting places to explore. One of the most frequented destinations is Palawan. Palawan offers tourists a wide array of choices for both aquatic adventures and relaxation. Other frequently visited destinations include Boracay, El Nido, and Coron – but this is just to name a few of the breathtaking places people can enjoy in the Philippines. Those who thirst for various kinds of aquatic thrills will surely have their thirst quenched by any of the locations just mentioned. Mountain trekking and hiking enthusiasts will be amazed by the mountainous terrain that will provide them with a guaranteed exhilarating experience. From the gentle hills of Mt. Ulap in Benguet to the steep terrain of Mt. Pulag, hikers can simultaneously enjoy their scenic views and the relaxing breeze. Of course, Bohol in the Visayan region should not be missed, especially if you want to have a peek at the tarsiers, the nearly extinct primates you can find there. Beyond just the raw beauty of the Philippines’ natural scenery, you can also get a glimpse of the many Spanish influences on architecture through structures dotting the region, such as the baroque Bantay Church, built in 1591. The Philippines is also famous for having many different festivities. Filipinos must have obtained this attribute from their Spanish forefathers, who were renowned for their merrymaking. Other than the church-related
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festivities, which are celebrations in honor of the saints, other festivities are in times of harvest and for other farming-related occasions, such as the famous Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City. The Panagbenga Festival is a feast in celebration of the blooming of the flowers in the city and is also a symbolic feast of healing and recovery for the city of Baguio, which was almost completely ruined by the infamous 1990 earthquake. One thing is certain: Every province and city in the Philippines hosts a number of celebrations that any foreigner, tourist, or visitor would surely remember. One such celebration, the Sinulog Festival, is a festival celebrated through street dancing. It is done to honor the conversion of the Philippines’ pagan forefathers to Christianity. Another nearly unforgettable celebration, the Ati-atihan Festival, is celebrated in honor of Santo Nino, or Baby Jesus, and is held in January. It was originally celebrated to commemorate the barter of Panay, when it was believed that the chieftains from Borneo, called Datu, presented the Aetas indigenous group with gifts for them to be allowed to stay in Panay. Later, the festival became more known as a celebration held in honor of Santo Nino. While sunny beaches and warm seas may not be easily enjoyed by the people in the northern parts of the Philippines, there are many resorts and hot springs for one to visit in these mountainous regions. Most visitors find it relaxing to experience the natural steam baths that seem almost unlimited in number. Taking all of this in, you should consider coming to the country of smiles and adventure for your next vacation! The Author
Carlota Smith lived in Gwangju for five years while completing her MA in TESOL at Gwangju University. She hopes to visit again in the future when the pandemic is a distant memory. She is thankful to both the city of Gwangju and the Gwangju International Center for allowing her to share a bit about her beautiful country.
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21
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Look for the answers to this crossword puzzle to appear in November in Gwangju News Online (www.gwangjunewsgic.com)
Created by Jon Dunbar
DOWN 1 “On the Case with Paula ___” 2 Air base in Pyeongtaek 3 Greases 4 Eyelash makeup 5 Vilify 6 Reenact (2 words) 7 Goes with Teenie or Beanie 8 Jessica Parker or Pittman 9 Immediately 10 Roof edge 11 Expert’s operating system 22 South Jeolla Province 23 Transition 24 Gwangju News publisher
ACROSS
25 Payment to citizens 31 Island off Busan
26 Canal linking Han River, Yellow Sea
5 Gaping mouth
33 US spy agency
27 Shinhan banking app
8 Kkanpung ___ seafood dish
34 Traditional Korean food project
28 Chinese drone producer
12 Largest continent
38 Concerned
29 Jewel
13 Skilled fighter pilot
39 Money
32 Senior citizen
14 Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung’s pen name
42 Fool-pitying A-Team member
35 Deodorant site
15 Steinbrenner, Sparks, and 9000
43 Food ministry agency supporting 34 across
36 Printed mistake
16 5G predecessor
47 Back
17 Musician ___ Shankar
48 Flat piece of butter
18 Czechoslovakia, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland
49 Leaves remover
20 Peak
51 Suffix for social or Seoul
38 OHCHR, UNESCO-cohosted event in Oct 39 Personnel on a ship 40 Prefix for space, dynamic 41 Boat travel method
21 Agony
52 Author and religious leader Hubbard (2 words)
24 COVID-19 Special Small Business ___
53 Goes with dire or Air
45 YG boy band
27 UN global goal
54 Not as bad as a sunburn
46 Hang ___ Index
30 “How to Be an Antiracist” author X. Kendi
55 Counterpart of yin
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44 Prefix with glider, military
October 2020
19 Charged particle
50 Nam or Garner
37 Fingerless glove
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1 Popular app for 2020
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22
Around Korea
Summer Road Tripping in 2020 Written and photographed by Maria Moschini
E
TRAVEL
ver since we arrived in South Korea last April, my friend has said that one of the things she wants to do before she leaves is get a summertime road tripworthy car, and in March this year, she did just that. I knew she was eagerly awaiting the chance for an adventure, and when she mentioned the possibility of an east coast road trip to me a couple of weeks before the semester ended, I was immediately on board. We recruited another friend and, armed with snacks, a specially made playlist, and our camping gear, we set off! We were originally headed for Chilpo Beach, north of Pohang, to set up camp for the night. But as we drove, the continued rain and reports of flooding from the days before were not putting our minds at ease, so the beach would have to wait. We decided instead to ditch our camping plans, and after a quick midway stop for some dinner, we went on and stopped in Gyeongju, the “City of Ancient Tombs,” and checked ourselves into Dahyun Hostel for the evening.
of tourists patiently awaiting photo opportunities, so while we waited our turn, we Googled some quick facts and discussed the various intricacies of its design. After a few pictures, we spotted a nearby map and, since we had limited time, decided that we wanted to see Gyerim Forest, Donggung Palace, and Wolji Pond. After the forest, on our way to the pond, we came across Royal tombs of the United Silla Period.
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October 2020
Following a good night’s sleep, we woke to find the rain had finally stopped. After some breakfast at our hostel and a good cup of coffee, we were excited to get going and explore this beautiful, historically significant city that has many things to see and do. We headed straight for the Bomun Tourist Complex to see Bomun Lake, which is at its center. Once there, we took a stroll down a pathway alongside the lake, snapped a few pictures, and crossed a bridge to double back to the car. With the afternoon sun beating down on us, we decided that a few moments in an air-conditioned café would be appreciated by all of us. After some coffee and a snack, we were off to our next location: Cheomseongdae. In my first few weeks in Korea, Cheomseongdae was mentioned in one of my classes. My students had told me that it means “star-gazing tower” in Korean, and that it is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, so I was keen to see it. When we arrived there, we realized that there were many other sites nearby, all part of the Gyeongju National Park. So, we parked the car and set off on foot again. As we strolled towards the observatory, we caught sight of a few of the ancient tombs that Gyeongju is so well known for. The area around the observatory was full
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Seokbinggo. This site was also mentioned by my students and is an ancient icehouse surrounded by many interesting trees as well as excavation sites. One of the things we appreciated about the area is that there are many signboards in English explaining the history of each site that we visited. One such board told us that the icehouse is a rectangular shape, has been there since the 18th century, and is made of about a thousand stones. To my delight, I now had more information and photos of both sites to show my students when I got back to school.
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23 Sokcho Beach
Wolji Pond
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The Author
Maria Moschini is a high school English teacher living in Gangjin. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Maria moved to South Korea in April 2019. She has a degree in English literature and a postgraduate in teaching. Maria loves the opportunity that South Korea gives her to pursue her passions for teaching and traveling. Instagram: @mariamoschini
October 2020
The beach has a clean and spacious campsite with ample parking and restrooms nearby. We paid 20,000 won per tent and set up camp for the night with some snacks and drinks. After a while, we walked down to the beach. With its white sand and clear water, it is one of the more beautiful beaches I have been to in Korea. We strolled to the end of the beach and found stairs that had a Koreanstyle pavilion at the top overlooking the ocean, so we settled down there to watch the moon rise.
It was so great to see a few places along the eastern coast of this beautiful country, but I really wish that we had had more time to stop at more of the beaches and tourist attractions that the east coast has to offer. I would recommend at least a week to take in all there is to see and do. The best part is that there are loads of camping sites along the way, so you can stop almost anywhere and set up camp for the night. There are some things that we missed out on this time around, but I am hoping to get the chance to go back sometime soon and see the rest.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
It turned out that we had spent a lot more time in Gyeongju than we had originally intended, so we hurried back to the car and stopped off in Pohang for a quick bite to eat. Then we set off further up the coast and stopped off at a beach called Jumunjin Beach in Gangneung, where the well-known bus stop is located that is on the cover of BTS’s You’ll Never Walk Alone album.
In the morning, after a quick dip in the ocean and a bite to eat, we packed up our tents and headed to Sokcho. At this stage, we were all craving some delicious Korean cuisine, so we headed straight for the downtown area and found ourselves some haejang-guk. After lunch, it was time to hit the beach. We made our way to Sokcho Beach, which was overcrowded and slightly underwhelming, but nevertheless, we spent the afternoon in the sun and sea. After much banter, laughs, and spans of pictures, our adventure had unfortunately come to an end.
TRAVEL
Once we reached Donggung Palace, we paid a 3,000 won entrance fee and another sign told us that it was one of the main palaces of the United Silla Kingdom and that Wolji Pond, which was uncovered during excavation and dredging during 1975, was part of it. We strolled around the site and saw many artifacts with a lot of information that we found very interesting.
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24
Around Korea
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
TRAVEL
Failing to Reach the Summit
Mt. Halla Dampens Fulfillment Written and photographed by Fatemeh Khalili
M
y friend and I visited Jeju Island during our one-week school break. It was a very lastminute decision for us. As it was Korea’s monsoon season, it was difficult to visit many places in the country. Yet, it was our last vacation before moving to Seoul, so we chose to go to Jeju Island in the end. We were looking for a place by the sea and as close as possible to many attractions. Finally, we found a great, reasonably priced guesthouse around Aewol where our window faced the blue sea surrounded by lava cliffs. We did not want to miss the opportunity of seeing the sunrise over the ocean. We
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woke up every day at 5:00 a.m. and made our morning coffee. We held our warm cups and waited for the sun to slowly rise. I had the dreamiest four mornings of my life and am not exactly sure when I will experience such serenity again. We arrived at the guesthouse at 5:00 p.m. on the first day. Although we were a little tired, we headed to Handam Park and Gwakji Beach as soon as we changed. These two spots were 30 minutes away on foot from the guesthouse. I am so obsessed with watching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, and luckily we had the chance to see the sunset over Handam Park that peaceful evening. Watching the
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25 We started hiking at 8:40 a.m. and were fast enough to reach the Jindalle-bat shelter by 1:00 p.m. There we had kimbap for lunch, which we had already bought from a small restaurant before starting to hike. From Jindallebat shelter to the peak, it only takes an hour and a half, but as we hiked higher, the weather got worse. Soon it got windy and the rain poured heavily. Despite the fact that we had brought umbrellas, they were useless and we got soaked from head to toe. As well, my friend is so tiny that she felt the storm would whisk her away. With only 300 meters left to the summit, we begrudgingly decided to turn around and start our descent. We could not risk it.
TRAVEL TRAVEL
At that point, we thought that was the end of our troubles and that we were safe. We were wrong. Worse was awaiting us! As we had gotten soaked, we were shaking from the wet and the cold. Our teeth chattered so hard that we were unable to talk. We got to the first shelter to get warm, though to no avail. We were running out of time and could not get any warmer, so we started down again. Just after getting restarted, my friend slipped and sprained her ankle on the slippery rocks. We could not have felt more miserable than at that moment. The trail seemed longer and longer, and we did not have the energy to go further. A young couple who were ahead us had been checking on us every few minutes. We met them in the next shelter, and they gave us some chewy candy and started a conversation. The woman said she had gotten worried and was curious about us since she had seen the desperation in our eyes and our tightly clutched hands earlier. Seongpanak trail at Mt.Halla.
▲ A lava rock at Udo Island’s Seobin-baeksa Beach.
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October 2020
The next day, we woke up early to hike up to Mt. Halla’s peak, which was actually the first and most important reason for this trip. There are four trails – Gwaneum-sa, Seongpan-ak, Eorimok, and Yeongshil – and only two of these lead to the volcano’s crater lip: Gwaneum-sa and Seongpan-ak. We chose Seongpan-ak, the easier of the two. The trail is 9.6 kilometers long and takes seven hours for experienced hikers to reach the summit and return, whereas it takes approximately nine hours for beginners. We had checked the weather, and it was supposed to be a sunny day.
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sun set from that spot is so magnificent that they even made a special spot there for taking pictures when the sun goes down. We ended this brilliant day by eating beef short rib soup.
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26 Around Korea The biking road on Udo Island.
TRAVEL
Haeangil 472, restaurant of stone.
I am the type to believe in destiny, so after they had found out that we were also staying in Aewol, they kindly offered us a ride. We could not have been more thankful for their kindness. We finally reached the foot of the mountain at 7:30 p.m., after struggling with the cold, rainy weather and sore muscles. Seven minutes away from the mountain, the weather was as clear as if it had never rained. We did not get to the peak, but thanks to this incident, we were able to make new friends.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
On the third day, we visited Yongdu-am, which is a rock shaped like a dragon’s head set in a peaceful place with picturesque views. On the final day of our trip, we went to Udo, a small island 15 minutes off the eastern coast of Jeju Island. Udo is only 6.8 square kilometers in size, but it has so much beauty to offer. We had the best part of our trip there cycling the whole island with rented bikes. The seafood we had at Haeangil-472, a unique restaurant made of stone boulders, was awesome, and the photo spots were unforgettable.
The women divers of Udo Island.
Udo Island and shore as seen from Udo Peak.
Granted, the intent of the trip to reach the top of Mt. Halla was not achieved, but the experience was far from a complete loss. We gazed at beautiful sunrises and sunsets, made new friends, and biked around the scenic island of Udo, sampling its delectable seafood. And I will be back, better prepared to make reaching the summit my next trip’s highlight. The Author
Fatemeh Khalili is an Iranian GKS (Global Korea Scholarship) student studying Korean at Chonnam National University. She will start her master’s program in Korean literature in Seoul this autumn. She loves literature because she believes each country’s emotions and culture are included in its literature. Therefore, she wants to act as a bridge between Korea and Iran by translating each country’s literary works. Instagram: @koreanicles
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9/23/2020 11:05:06 AM
27
Everyday Korean Episode 34 직업 (Occupations) By Harsh Kumar Mishra
Grammar ~ 에 다니다: This grammatical phrase is used to
~ 네요: This grammar point is used with verbs and adjectives to express surprise or wonder upon learning something. Ex: 한국어를 잘하네요. Wow! Your Korean is good. (Said after hearing that person speak).
Vocabulary 직업 회사원 교사 화장품 일하다 고등학교 국어 가르치다
occupation office worker teacher (of primary, secondary school) cosmetics to work high school Korean (language) to teach
Additional Occupations doctor nurse lawyer driver housewife businessman chef news anchor writer interpreter
미라 씨는 직업이 뭐예요?
[Mira sshi-neun ji-geo-bi mwo-yeyo?] Jeongmin: What is your occupation, Mira?
미라:
저는 회사원이에요. 정민 씨는요? ?
[Jeo-neun hwe-sa-woni-eyo. Jeong-min sshi-neun-yo?] Mira: I’m an office worker. How about you, Jeongmin?
정민:
저는 교사예요. 미라 씨는 어디 회사에 다니세요?
[Jeo-neun gyo-sa-yeyo. Mira sshi-neun eo-di hwe-sa-e da-ni-seyo?] Jeongmin: I’m a teacher. What company do you work for, Mira?
미라:
화장품 회사 이니스프리에서 일해요. [Hwa-jang-pum hwe-sa i-niseu-peuri-eseo ir-haeyo.]
Mira:
I work at a cosmetics company called Innisfree.
정민:
좋은 데에서 일하시네요. [Joe-un de-eseo ir-hashi-neyo.]
Jeongmin:
Wow! You work at a good place.
미라:
아니에요. 정민 씨는 어디 학교 교사세요? [Ani-eyo. Jeong-min sshi-neun eo-di hak-kyo gyo-sa-seyo?
Mira:
It’s nothing. What school do you teach at, Jeongmin?
정민:
광주 고등학교에서 국어를 가르쳐요. [Gwangju go-deung-hak-kyo-eseo gu-geo-reul ga-reu-chyeo-yo.]
Jeongmin:
I teach Korean at the Gwangju High School.
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October 2020
TOPIK GUIDE (topikguide.com) is the most comprehensive website devoted to the TOPIK exam. It has been helping Korean language learners pass the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) for more than eight years. On our website, you can get all the TOPIK updates, grammar and vocabulary material, and study tips. You can also visit our TOPIK Guide YouTube channel.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
의사 간호사 변호사 운전기사 주부 사업가 요리사 아나운서 작가 통역사
정민:
EDUCATION
express the place one attends (or is affiliated with), whether for work or study. Ex: 전남대학교에 다녀요. I’m a Chonnam National University student. (I attend CNU).
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28
Gwangju Abroad
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
GWANGJU ABROAD
Volunteering in the Kubuqi Desert
Caring for the Environment Written and photographed by Kim Da Jeong
W
hen I was in the second year of university, I started searching for extracurricular activities and became interested in volunteering abroad. Through this interest, I got the chance to go to the Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of northern China. Full of anticipation, I left for the Kubuqi Desert curious about the environment in which other people live and wanting to both get away from the familiarity of home and help others while exploring a corner of our global world.
I had always thought that planting trees was hard work, but I found it to be several times harder than I had imagined. We were told that it was necessary to dig at least 130 centimeters into the ground to increase the chances of the plants surviving. Of the planted trees, less than half would make it. It was so painful to think that the vegetation I had planted would die. Until the last day of my volunteering there, I gave tender-loving care to the young trees I had transplanted so that they would be able to survive.
I spent the first day in Beijing. Our volunteer activities were related to preserving the environment. To do this, we had to know what environmental conservation is and what role it plays. We were divided into teams and had to pretend to be at a UN meeting representing our team’s interests. At the time, I thought I was caring about the environment and was familiar with its preservation and issues. However, while preparing for the simulated UN meeting, environmental problems that I did not know about were hidden everywhere. The preparation process was difficult, and I was not used to discussions in a group, but I think it was a good experience for me.
In the desert, the sunlight is really strong during the daytime. We had to plant the trees in that direct, strong sunlight. As you can imagine, it was extremely hot with no place to chill. We had to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, but the water we had was warm – even beyond lukewarm. In a normal environment, I would have complained, but in that situation, being able to drink water was something that I was grateful for. We also had to bring our own lunch and eat it all so that no food waste would be generated. In this way, I learned how precious our daily life is. Since leaving food is a part of environmental pollution, I now try as much as possible not to produce food waste.
Our volunteer activity mainly consisted of planting trees in the desert to prevent desertification, which is progressing rapidly. Even if trees are planted in the desert every year, desertification will still proceed, but we were trying to slow it down as much as possible.
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We had a bonfire late at night to rest after a day of hard work and to enjoy our time there. The campfire was really fascinating, not to mention the endless sky with countless stars shining brightly in the night. It was the first time
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29 in my life that I had experienced such a clear sky full of shining stars. That memory is still present in my mind, and I am almost convinced I will never see such a pretty night sky again in my life. We would share stories near the fire over cans of beer. We spoke of various worries, funny things, sad things, and family stories, filling the night with voices and emotions. I still have all those memories that I recall so vividly when I am feeling blue. Anyhow, that bonfire remains a precious memory for me. Looking back now on my volunteer experience, I am so grateful for the people I met and for the experiences I gained. Even if we were different, somehow by working together, we got to know each other better and become a real team. We exchanged experiences from our daily lives and, as we learned from each other, became alike. Watching them motivated me too, and again made me think more about the meaning of life.
Kim Da Jeong is a 22-year-old college student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Chonnam National University. She loves drawing and meeting people. Instagram: @ jeong_e2a
GWANGJU ABROAD
The Author
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
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9/23/2020 11:05:10 AM
30
Forgotten at Home, Famous Abroad Gwangju’s Jeong Chu
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
ARTS & CULTURE
Interview by Jeong Jiyeon This article is the first in a series of articles designed to shed light on the life of a musician born in Gwangju, who has been forgotten in his hometown – a Korean who migrated abroad and got caught up in the turbulent history of post-WWII Korea. — Ed.
J
eong Chu, who came to be known as the “Tchaikovsky with black hair,” was born in Gwangju in 1923, when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule. As a student, he was expelled from Gwangju West Middle School in 1938 for using the Korean language. After a number of twists and turns, he finally transferred to Yangjeong High School in Seoul and graduated from there. The Gwangju News has been fortunate to be able to meet with Jeong Heon-ki, a relative of the late Jeong Chu for an interview. Here we present the first part of that interview. Gwangju News (GN): Thank you, Mr. Jeong, for granting us this interview. First, please introduce yourself to our readers.
Jeong Heon-ki: All right. My name is Jeong Heon-ki. I work as a culture and arts planner, and also operate the Horanggasi-namu Hill Guesthouse (호랑가시나무언덕 게스트하우스) in Yangnim-dong. As a local planner, I have created a platform aiming to transform Yangrim-dong into a cultural village. Six years ago, I founded Art Zoo, a culture and arts corporation, that manages the houses in the former Yangnim-dong missionary compound, and I opened another cultural center to support local artists – Horanggasi-namu Creation Center.
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Jeong Chu at the piano.
GN: We would like to ask you about the composer Jeong Chu (정추). What is your relationship with him? Jeong Heon-ki: Jeong Chu was my grandfather’s cousin. Since I was young, I have heard stories about our relative who lived in Russia, a man who I had never met. My family did not know that he had become such a famous person. Then, in 2008, when a TV station made a documentary about Jeong Chu, we learned a little more about him. GN: Please tell our readers more about Jeong Chu, the composer.
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31 while running the Chosun Film Studio, and Jeong Chu served as dean at Pyongyang Music Academy. Then, at the end of the Korean War in 1953, he was selected as a state scholarship student by the North Korean government and went to the Moscow Conservatory of Music in Russia (then the Soviet Union). At that time there was a movement against the idolization of Stalin (who had led the Soviet Union to victory in World War II) that led to a de-Stalinization process taking place in Russia after Stalin’s death.
Jeong Heon-ki: First, Jeong Chu studied music at the Moscow Conservatory in Russia in the 1950s as the fourth student to study directly under Tchaikovsky. He was also the first person to get a perfect score for his graduation work, “The Motherland,” and since then he has been called “The Black-Haired Tchaikovsky.”
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The Interviewer
Jeong Jiyeon studied piano in university and is now working as a coordinator at the Gwangju International Center. She spends her free time in bed with her best friends, Netflix and YouTube.
October 2020
GN: What happened in Pyeongyang? Jeong Heon-ki: Jeong Jun-chae continued to film movies
Photographs courtesy of Jeong Heon-ki.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
GN: At that time, it was unusual to study abroad. How did he go to Russia to study? Jeong Heon-ki: For a better understanding of the life history of Jeong Chu, we cannot leave out the story of his elder brother Jeong Jun-chae, formerly known as the father of the North Korean cinema. Jun-chae first went to study abroad in 1939 in the cinema department at Nihon University in Japan, and then in 1941, his younger brother Chu went to study in the composition department at the same university. Both were actively working as film directors and composers, and after liberation in 1945, they received an offer to shoot a documentary in Pyeongyang. At that time, Pyeongyang had an advanced performing arts system with five grand theaters, so not only the two of them, but also other outstanding artists from today’s South Korea went there. Jun-chae was the first to go to North Korea, in 1945, followed by his brother Chu in 1946. Neither of them ever returned to their hometown again.
ARTS & CULTURE
▲ Jeong Heon-ki
Inspired by the movement in Russia, Jeong Chu, along with his friends also demonstrated against the idolization of North Korea’s founder, Kim Il-sung, thereby giving up any hope of returning to Pyeongyang. They instead sought political asylum in the Soviet Union. Upon learning of the situation, North Korea issued an order to summon the ten artists they had dispatched, including the Jeong brothers. Among the artists who were sent back to Pyeongyang was the older brother, Jeong Jun-chae, and upon arrival all of them were purged or killed. Jeong Chu applied for asylum to the Soviet authorities and was deported to Almaty, Kazakhstan. (To be continued next issue.)
9/23/2020 11:05:11 AM
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
ARTS & CULTURE
32
Artist Talk in Gwangju
Jayi Kim
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A
rtist Jayi Kim, based in Gwangju, has become known for her artwork, the latest iteration of which is a relaxing space decorated with artificial greenery. However, the message in her art is more complicated than rest and relaxation. Her works reflect her acute awareness of how essential it is for us to look after ourselves and notice the signs our subconscious sends to us.
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33
Interview by Aekyeong Lee
▲ Skill of R&R (Rest & Relaxation) 2 (2018).
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▲ Research paper and seeds, Skill of R&R extra episode ver. 3 (2019).
October 2020
Pursuing the idea of her subconscious being connected to her past experience with cancer, her current work about rest and relaxation is grounded in her intention to stay healthy. As a method of looking after herself,
What is more interesting about her work is that she asks her audiences what they usually do to rest. She gives them plant seeds so that they can experience the artist’s way of rest at home. This exchange between the artist and the audience makes it possible for her art to shape people’s lives directly. In the interest of fostering more of these exchanges, I was fortunate to have a discussion with the artist herself. What follows is our exchange.
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Her interest in the subconscious increased when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer while studying for a master’s in art and space at Kingston University in London. She wondered why she had not noticed any symptoms before the disease progressed so far. She thought it might have been because she had not focused enough on her inner self. This made her come to realize that she should have concentrated more on her subconscious. This is the reason why she started trying different methods of introspection, such as keeping a dream journal, thematically analyzing the words she used every day, and rearranging and exhibiting her collections in different themes.
she turned her research focus to rest. She learned of two different types of rest: active and inactive, as well as the therapeutic impact of artificially designed nature on our mind. Based on these findings, she installed an artificial forest in a gallery space with videos and photos of greenery, including artificial stems that she knitted herself. In this room created by the artist’s active rest, the audience experiences inactive rest such as listening to recorded nature sounds and observing scenes from a forest projected on the wall while lying on beanbags.
ARTS & CULTURE
Jayi Kim in her studio.
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34
AL: You’ve been studying the importance of relaxation and various styles of rest. With the knowledge you’ve accumulated, you’ve created the series “Skill of Rest and Relaxation.” Among the works, my favorite is the one where I can lie on a reclining chair, listen to the sounds of nature, and watch moving images of nature. Indeed, this work has drawn great attention from both the public and art museums. Why do you think people love your work? Jayi Kim: Even before COVID-19, people started thinking about the environment, their well-being, and work–life balance. The public interest in nature and both physical and mental health has increased far more in recent times due to the pandemic. However, it’s still hard for people to find a place in which they can take a break and relax. It seems like my work provides them with what they need. AL: Your art always requests the audience’s participation. What I love the most about your work is the seed kit that you give the participants to thank them. Through this exchange of how you rest, have you learned any new styles of relaxing? More importantly, what messages do you want to tell the audience? Jayi Kim: The kits were designed for a group exhibition held in Yeulmaru in Yeosu last month1. I’ve become aware of the fact that there are so many different ways to rest through the exchange. On top of that, I hope the participants try out diverse activities for resting rather than stick to a fixed one. You might find a new activity
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
ARTS & CULTURE
Aekyeong Lee (AL): You’ve participated in residency programs in different organizations every year since 2014. How have the experiences in different cities and countries affected your work? Jayi Kim: I’ve learned that the styles of rest can vary depending on cultural and geographical differences. This is what I’ve been interested in and want to research further in the future.
that’s more suitable for you. For example, a friend of mine told me she’d thought online shopping after work helped refresh her, but realized that she got tired afterwards. She said my work gave her a chance to reflect and re-evaluate the way she rested. She was finally able to have a better, more relaxing journey by sharing her way with the other audience members through my work. AL: In the interview with the Gwangju Museum of Art2 you said you were preparing for your solo exhibition at the museum, where you are an artist-in-residence at the moment. Could you introduce this upcoming exhibition and your work? Jayi Kim: The studio provided by the Gwangju Museum of Art is located in the center of a large public park, Gwangju’s Jungoe Park. This park is full of trees and flowers, yet people aren’t free to rest on their own there since it’s an open, public area. Thus, for my solo exhibition, I decided to install a private space filled with natural scenes and sounds for people seeking a space to rest with privacy in nature. They should book their time slot before arrival via my website3. AL: Is there any other project you’re planning to do? Jayi Kim: In November, there’s going to be a group exhibition held at the Lee Kang Ha Art Museum. It’s a collaborative project with the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. The information about this exhibition will be updated on the website of the Lee Kang Ha Art Museum later4. In addition to that, I’d like to compile the responses on the exchange project I’ve been doing and publish a book if I have a chance. Footnotes
Photographs courtesy of Jayi Kim.
Yeulmaru (예울마루), a culture and arts park in Yeosu, provides an online tour of this exhibition in which Jayi Kim participated in September. Check the video link and find out more about her art. https://tv.naver.com/v/15362269 2 A video of the interview (in Korean): https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=0fRlhySTErg 3 Jayi Kim’s website: http://www.jayikim.com 4 The website of the Lee Kang Ha Art Museum: http://www.lkhartmuseum.com/ 1
The Interviewer
▲ The seed kit for Skill R&R ver. Yeosu (2020).
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Aekyeong Lee is an international residency manager and curatorial assistant at the Gwangju Museum of Art. After earning an MA in art museum studies in the U.K., she started earning an MA in psychology and neuroscience at King’s College London for interdisciplinary research in the museum sphere. With a great interest in hearing from different perspectives, she interviews local artists and art enthusiasts with multidisciplinary viewpoints. Instagram: @evevievy
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35
The Gwangju Bibim Film Fest Coming Soon Written by Chloe Chan
From many foreigners’ perspectives, South Korea’s cultural image is always associated with monocultural conservatism and a culturally homogenous “woori” (우리, “us”) culture. Even though South Korea’s cultural policy is sometimes criticized for its insufficiency in accommodating an ethnoculturally diverse community, the cultural organizations in Gwangju are currently putting a lot of effort into reaching a breakthrough, in an attempt to change the “culturally conservative” label. For instance, the Global Community Support Project run by the Gwangju International Center (GIC) and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation (GCF) focus on cultural diversity projects that are designed to foster community culture through sponsoring local Gwangju and international citizens to take part in cooperating over cultural activities.
Because this year is the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Democratization Movement, the event organizers have selected “Human Rights” as the main theme. The
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Ten Years (Hong Kong, 2015): An anthology film comprised of five short vignettes that imagine what Hong Kong will look like in the year 2025 under dictatorial political control. In one of the vignettes, “Dialect,” the story depicts a taxi driver who is unable to find customers due to government legislation that displaces Cantonese as Hong Kong’s official language. To make a comparison relevant to South Korea, critics suggest that certain dialects are misused by the media to negatively portray rural, lower-class people, with one result being that the Jeju dialect has been named an endangered language by UNESCO. Regardless of whether a dialect is dying out due to the authorities’ prohibition or because of the growing value of urbanization, this story of change ▼ Hong Kong film Ten Years (2015).
October 2020
The Gwangju Bibim Film Fest aims to offer an opportunity for the public to experience various cultures from a multinational perspective. The “Bibim” Film Fest is named after the Korean dish bibimbap (비빔밥, rice dish with vegetables etc.) in the hopes that various cultures can co-exist, just as the assorted ingredients that are perfectly mixed in bibimbap do.
Below is a brief introduction of the highlighted screenings.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
Last year, a group of youths from different national backgrounds launched an outdoor film festival on the Chonnam National University campus with sponsorship from the GIC. This year, the film fest has evolved into a higher-quality, annual event with funding support from the GCF.
catchphrase “Alright? All-Right!” is a play on words that has been adopted to question whether our rights (allright) are safeguarded (alright). In line with globalization, the two-day film festival will feature screenings that correspond to global human rights, with dual Korean and English subtitles. Independent filmmakers and citizens will be able to enjoy the films at an artistic outdoor space, and so far, the venue is set to be held in the open area of Art Street’s Miro Center.
ARTS & CULTURE
G
wangju, designated a “Hub City of Asian Culture” by Roh Moo-hyun in 2002, is widely known for its cultural vibrancy.
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36 unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic, further updates will be posted on the film festival’s official Facebook and Instagram pages. For the audience’s safety, the organizer will follow the city government’s health restrictions and social distancing policies by strictly controlling the number of participants and by distributing free face masks and sanitizers. The screening site is also required to reduce the scale and seating capacity in order to prevent close physical contact between individuals. Additional onsite healthcare services such as body temperature checks are expected to be provided as well. ▲ Pakistani film Ramchand Pakistani (2008).
ARTS & CULTURE
is definitely going to offer some profound insights around the dialect debate and its correlation to cultural identities. Ramchand Pakistani (Pakistan, 2008): A seven-yearold Pakistani boy and his father who belong to the untouchable Hindu caste accidentally cross the border and end up spending years in an Indian jail while the mother on the other side does not know what has happened to them. This movie is based on a true story in a border district of Pakistan. Single Ladies 3 (Mongolia, 2017): Three single ladies drive to the countryside in Mongolia in order to console one of their best friends who just experienced an overwhelming breakup. The healing trip begins in the beautiful countryside of Mongolia, but unfortunately, they soon lose their way to their destination. Later, the ladies arrive at Naiman Lake and meet some interesting people there. During the trip, they experience struggles in terms of love and dignity, but by upholding women power, they
This event is offered to the public 100 percent free of charge. While the world is suffering a global depression amid the pandemic, this is a great chance for us to contemplate humanity and to restore our positive vibes. No matter how defective and disappointing the current situation is, at least we are all in this together, deeply connected.
▲ Gwangju MBC introduced the community-based film festival in 2019.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
GWANGJU BIBIM FILM FEST
▲ Mongolian film Single Ladies 3 (2017).
are able to work things out. It is a heart-warming comedy about female empowerment, and a beautiful depiction of the lives of Mongolian indigenous tribes. Participating in a Gwangju film festival is a unique opportunity to learn about different cultures and get to know other film enthusiasts in Gwangju. Although the screening schedule is not yet confirmed due to the
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Dates: To be announced. (Check Facebook) Organizer: Gwangju Cultural Foundation Location: 7, Cheonbyeonjwa-ro, 338-beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju 광주 남구 천변좌로338번길 7 Admission: Free (Reservation required.) Phone: 062-670-7400 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gwangjubibimfilmfest/ Instagram: @gwangjubibim
The Author
Originally from Hong Kong, Chloe Chan is currently pursuing a master’s degree in NGOs at Chonnam National University. She is also working on a collaborative cultural project with Gwangju Cultural Foundation. Instagram: @hoi0305
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Photo Essay 37
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October 2020
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www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
ARTS & CULTURE
38
M
y mum and I always dreamt of seeing a temple in the snow and wondered if this would ever happen. We’ d seen the idyllic pictures of temples in the snowy mountains of Korea and Japan but had never seen a snowy temple for ourselves – until that one day in February of this year. The forecast predicted one day of snowfall in Gwangju on the 17th, and I couldn’t have been more excited! I got out all my winter gear and headed out to one of my favorite buildings in Gwangju – the Traditional Arts and Culture Center near Mt. Mudeung. The scenery was just like in paintings and postcards. There was hardly anyone on the road, so the snow was pristine white, and only my footprints left a mark. It was still snowing heavily at the time. I took pictures of all angles of the traditional arts center, a beautiful hanok (한옥) structure enveloped in cotton-white snow with icicles dangling from its traditional-style eaves. Further up the road were two temples: Munbinjeong-sa (문빈정사) and Jeungsim-sa (증심사). I couldn’t stop taking pictures, trying to capture this magical moment, and only wishing my mother were with me to see what I was seeing. A monk came out to greet me and invited me in for a cup of tea. The tea and kind conversation were heartwarming. The experience was unforgettable. I might not see a temple in the snow again, but the memory will last forever.
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39
ARTS & CULTURE
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October 2020
Originally from Belgium, Aline Verduyn has lived abroad for 20 years and is currently earning a master’s in Korean language education at Chonnam National University. In Korea, she has previously lived in Busan, Suwon, and Daegu, and has just crossed the one-year mark in Gwangju. She is very happy living here. Instagram: @gwangjumiin
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
The Photographer
9/23/2020 11:05:27 AM
COMMUNITY
40 Local Entrepreneurs
The Sense of Sound Monday Off Please
Written and photographed by Viktoryia Shylkouskaya
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
F
or a long time, people have enjoyed combining food with music. Musicians performed during dinner parties in Roman times, and minstrels entertained dining guests at medieval banquets. Today, musical accompaniment during meals is much more common, and the music played is more varied than ever before. If you run a hospitality business – no matter whether it is a fine dining restaurant, a hip bar, or a cozy café – you know it: Music plays a fundamental part in the retail mix and enhances the atmosphere. This is exactly what Park Jaeman (a.k.a. Diego), the owner of Monday Off Please, says: “Music is a key element when it comes to setting the mood.” Pizza restaurants may be commonplace in South Korea, but this one is no ordinary pizzeria – it is a venue that combines café, restaurant, club, and LP bar. Apart from pizza restaurants, it is a place where one can listen to thousands of Diego’s “Comme Ci Comme Ça Records” collected LPs. A music school graduate with a passion for pizza, street culture, and everything chill, Diego opened the doors to his hip music bar restaurant in 2015. “With an open kitchen, open walls, and a massive open patio, you get to see every move Diego makes no matter where you sit.
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About the only thing more open than his kitchen is the ever-jovial Diego himself,” one of my Gwangju friends told me, and I would be hard-pressed to disagree. Alternating between spinning sizzling pizzas behind the counter and spinning cool tracks during “Sofa Sessions” on the weekends, Diego and his helpmate Shin Piljun work double-time to bring their own affable rhyme and rhythm to the table with every meal, fostering an environment conducive to fun, laughter, and perhaps even friendship. But how, or at what point, do we get to know that a person is our friend? As the saying goes, “It takes time to become good friends with someone.” I think I became friends with Diego and Piljun from the first time I visited Monday Off Please. I do not know how this happened, but I am almost sure it has something to do with the culture that Diego creates in his restaurant. Diego likes collaborations. This is how Monday Off Please became a space not only for listening to but also for sharing music. Famous musicians such as June One from Seoul-based indie band “Glen Check”; resident Gwangju DJs Seop, Goat The Funky, and others; Seoulbased DJ Conan (from the Itaewon “Discoexperience”
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41 project); Seoul Community Radio DJs; Cheonan-based DJ Slowmouth; and many other friends of Diego have set foot in his Monday Off Please venue. This enhances Monday Off Please as a cultural hub, and that is all part of Diego’s grand vision, which goes with the slogan of the space: “We make noise, not pizza.” Once I asked Diego what the recipe for a successful business is, and he answered, “Just do what you truly love.” Five years ago, when Diego had just opened Monday Off Please, he did not dream about making lots of money, accomplishing much, or achieving fame. At that time, Dongmyeong-dong was not as hip an area as it is now. Instead, Diego just pursued the things he loved
COMMUNITY
doing: making music and pizza. He told me that you can only become truly accomplished at something you love, and that is totally true. A job that you love gives you extra motivation to meet your goals, and when this happens, the sense of accomplishment is outstanding. Monday Off Please is all about outstanding accomplishment: delicious food, great music, lasting friendships, and priceless memories.
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Monday Off Please (먼데이오프플리즈) Address: Gwangju, Dong-gu, Jang-dong 67-14 광주 동구 장동 67-14 (문화전당역4번 출구) Operating hours: 3:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Closed on Mondays (of course). Instagram: @mondayoffplease
The Author
Viktoryia Shylkouskaya is a 26-year-old Belarusian who moved to South Korea in 2016 without any knowledge of the country or language. What she thought would only be one year has since turned into many more. Instagram: @shylk.vick
October 2020
If you are in the mood for some old-timey vinyl tunes, good pizza, and perhaps even new friendship, head to the back of the Asia Culture Complex near the huge array
of solar panels to find my favorite place in Gwangju – Monday Off Please.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
But what about the food? Yes, yes, I mean pizza. Monday Off Please serves Neapolitan-style pizza that goes well with its menu of generic beers served in clear party cups (or a bottle of wine if you prefer). Diego has been perfecting his version of the Neapolitan pizza for close to ten years now and has honed his menu to the essentials. Cheese, margherita, and pepperoni pizzas hearken their classical roots. Meanwhile, his Hawaiian, truffle mushroom, and chikorita pizzas are the international crowd-pleasers. The staff ’s attention to culinary excellence – from the daily ritual of making fresh dough, to the crisp, fresh ingredients – is a cut above professional, and extras like fries are pure deliciousness with sour cream mayonnaise dip on the side. Mmmmm.
▲ Park Jaeman (a.k.a. Diego) and his helpmate Shin Piljun (right).
9/23/2020 11:05:34 AM
42
Expat Living
E-2 Visa Requirements and Changes COMMUNITY
Written by Katy Clements
I
live in Mokpo, which is a port city located southwest of Gwangju. It is a smaller city, and for me, renewing my visa has always been seamless. Though updating a visa is an easy process for most, some may struggle or be first-timers. In light of the COVID-19 situation, a lot of requirements have been added or changed. I have compiled a list of questions and answers that I believe will assist people in renewing an E-2 visa.
1. Can I renew online?
Yes, you can file an e-application via the HiKorea website. But before you file, you must make an account. You will be asked to give details about your alien registration card (ARC). Make sure you select “Registered Foreigner” as you sign up. There is a fee, and this fee is not the same as the revenue stamp (suip-inji, 수입 인지) you must purchase. You can also check your status via the HiKorea website. You need your passport, your original contract, your ARC, proof of residency (e.g., your housing application), your school’s business certificate, tax documents, and a teaching schedule. You also need to purchase a revenue stamp, which you can get at a post office or at most immigration offices. If you work for an academy, you need to provide a business license number as well.
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October 2020
2. What do I need to renew my visa?
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43 If you are confused, call ahead. The hotline for foreign residents is 1345.
3. Do I need to make an appointment if I go in person?
In some places, you do. In my city, my husband and I did not. However, in 2018 Gwangju made it a requirement to set an appointment (same-day appointments cannot be scheduled). Furthermore, when I lived in Seoul, you were also required to make an appointment. If you are confused, ask your co-workers or call ahead.
4. Is my visa multiple entry?
5. I moved to a new apartment; do I need to report this change?
Yes! You must report any change to your passport or residence within 14 days. If you fail to do so, you are liable to be hit with a fine (up to one million won). If you are confused, please reach out to your immigration office or your local Facebook group.
Did you get married in Korea? If so, then you need to notify your embassy. Each embassy has different
In Korea, people usually do not change their surname. So, if you get married in Korea, it is unlikely that this can happen. I was married abroad and had my name changed on my marriage certificate. When I came back to Korea, I made an appointment with the American Embassy to change my passport. After I received my passport, I was legally obligated to update my ARC card within a two-week period. From there, I was able to open a new bank account.
8. I am having a baby. What do I do next?
9. What happens if I do not renew my visa and I neglect to inform the office of changes?
Pay attention to your expiration date. If you are on an E-2 visa and your
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I hope that these questions and answers have been helpful for you. I want to encourage all foreign readers to make sure they are up to date on all procedures. If you are unsure, please call the immigration contact center hotline for foreign residents at 1345. If you want to access any documents, you can find them at hikorea.go.kr. The website is in Korean, and it may ask you to download an add-on for translation.
The Author
Katy Clements is a criminology major from Memphis, Tennessee. She lives in Mokpo with her husband and has worked in South Korea for years.
October 2020
If you are having a baby with a Korean national in Korea, then your baby will be a Korean citizen. However, if the parents are both foreign, you must apply for your newborn’s passport as soon as you can. When you have the passport, you must go to your local immigration office to register your baby as a foreign resident. At the immigration office, they will help you register as a family, and you can put a spouse or newborn on your healthcare plan.
ARC expires, you are automatically switched to a tourist visa, which is a 90-day sojourn. After those 90 days, you may be fined for every day afterwards. If your fine is too hefty, you may be detained or blacklisted from the country.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
6. I got married while abroad. What do I do next?
7. I got married and I want to change my / my spouse’s surname. What can I do?
COMMUNITY
As of this year, it is not. Since COVID-19 is still in its early stages, the Republic of Korea thought that safety should be a priority. If you want to go abroad, you need to visit the HiKorea website to apply for a reentry permit. You will also be asked to submit to a medical exam after you arrive back. In addition, it seems you can only apply for the permit from the immigration office at the airport.
procedures. For me, my husband and I went abroad and got married. We traveled to Saipan, which is American territory. We were not required to notify our embassies because I am American and he is Canadian. However, we did need to register as a family in case of an accident. This will allow you to make medical decisions or access your spouse’s bank records. This cannot be done online. You need to contact your immigration office to take care of this. You may need to have your marriage certificate translated.
9/23/2020 11:05:35 AM
44 Expat Living
COMMUNITY
You Always Have Access to the Light
Strategies for Peace and Well-Being Written by Cristina Murano
E
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
ach of us has our own story, a story that contains our fears, joys, challenges, and memories. We carry this story with us wherever we are, regardless of our geography, but our geography also shapes and influences how we feel at any given moment. This interplay between who we are and where we are is constant, and it requires energy, adaptability, and resilience. As I have evolved, I have acquired new ways of maintaining balance and inner well-being. All this is not to suggest that balance and well-being are permanent states of being; on the contrary, they are like constant goals to achieve. Sometimes I am successful at arriving at balance and well-being, and sometimes I am not. Ultimately, the point is that I, and all of us, strive to find that sweet spot where we feel our feelings embrace ourselves with compassion and use self-reflection and self-awareness as a means to get a little better and a little braver every day. Here are the things that have helped me:
Books
Books have been a constant in my life. They are gifts with immeasurable value. I could name so many, but the following are the ones that are recommended as a starting
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point, no matter where you are in your journey of healing and love: When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, by Pema Chödrön. This book was suggested to me over fifteen years ago, and it changed my life. Chödrön, born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown, is an American Buddhist nun. Before becoming ordained in her thirties, she graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and taught as an elementary school teacher. She lives in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, at Gampo Abbey, an establishment for Western monks and nuns. She has written many books, including The Wisdom of No Escape, Start Where You Are, The Places That Scare You, and Smile at Fear. When Things Fall Apart is by far her most famous and revered1. The title speaks volumes about the content and guidance found within. It truly is good heart advice. For instance, on our relationship to others and ourselves she writes: “The only reason that we don’t open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don’t feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at
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45 ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes.” Another book that is simple but profound is Ashley Neese’s How to Breathe: 25 Simple Practices for Finding Connection, Calm, Joy, and Resilience. Neese is a breathwork teacher and author. She is trained in yoga, meditation, medical intuition, and somatic therapy. Her work is about helping people fully inhabit their bodies and “cultivate resilience, develop relational intelligence, and trust the wisdom held within2.” How to Breathe takes readers through a series of breathwork exercises that are tailored to a specific feeling that aids in being more at home with oneself. Neese describes breathwork as part of a long, international history of self-care and enlightenment:
This is part of how a compassionate, understanding, and generous world is cultivated: through small, individual steps toward radical self-love that touches us first and then extends out to all of humanity and the Earth. Given all that is happening in the world and the dire circumstances of our planet, we need this collective commitment towards peace more than ever. Sources 1
2
Pema Chodron Foundation. (n.d.). Perma Chodon. https:// pemachodronfoundation.org/about/pema-chodron/ Ashley Neese. (n.d.). Bio. https://ashleyneese.com/about/#ashleybio
The Author
Cristina Murano’s work is in the areas of education, equity, public governance, and sport, with a focus on youth, women, and 2SLGBTQ+ people. She is originally from Toronto, Canada. Instagram: @profondoluce
COMMUNITY
“There are Tai Chi breathing practices specifically designed to strengthen the diaphragm and acupuncture points in Chinese medicine to open the flow of qi (life force) in the body. In some African and South American traditions, the breath is used to release spirits from the body, thus aiding in the healing of the individual and the community.”
then longer if you choose. Meditation, like books, breathwork, and nature, creates the same conditions for us: more peace, less suffering. In turn, we as individuals feel more in tune and at peace with others.
Neese also says, “The places in the body that are emotionally or energetically backlogged are likely to become areas of chronic pain and tension if they are not addressed on a consistent basis.”
Nature
Meditation
By starting small, you build your practice over time, increasing it to ten minutes, then fifteen minutes, and
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October 2020
Finally, there is meditation, which is challenging. Our minds are crafted to think, so to calm this requires effort, discipline, and commitment. Meditation teachers recommend starting small with five-minute sittings each day or every other day. Ideally, you should be in a comfortable, quiet, and safe space. Your posture is firm but relaxed. You can be sitting on a cushion or in a chair. You breathe in through your nose, focus on emptying your mind, and notice the length and softness of your breath as it goes in and then out. You let the sounds of your thoughts float and become quiet, like white noise.
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In conjunction with books, spending time in nature has proven rejuvenating. The simplicity of it, the wonder, and the sounds are peaceful. Have you ever let yourself get lost in the conversations of birds? I highly recommend it. Have you ever noticed the movement patterns of bugs? They are fascinating. There is a lot to revere and learn from nature. It can heal us if we let it.
9/23/2020 11:05:40 AM
FOOD & DRINKS
46 Cafe & Bakery Review
A Sweet Tour Café Illda & Dokyo 990 Bakery
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
I
Reviewed and photographed by Cami Ismanova
n the era of social isolation, masks, and hand sanitizers, an impromptu tour of a new café nearby can make our daily life a little more entertaining. Luckily, we have a full spectrum of choice starting from popular franchises to small cafés on street corners. The latter are growing into a new trend that attracts “caféholics” all around the City of Light. Nowadays, people are interested in cozy cafés that do not have a lot of visitors, yet have a lot to offer in terms of menu and interior design. Therefore, I am here introducing two recently discovered gems at the well-known humun (후문, back gate) of Chonnam National University (CNU). Café Illda was opened in December 2017 by Youngseo Kim. Since Youngseo was a young girl in high school, she always dreamt of opening her own café or bakery. After studying and gaining more experience, she finally decided that it was time to open her own place. One thing she knew for sure was that she wanted her café to have a special atmosphere created by authentic design. Youngseo says, “The world keeps changing and the modern generation is actively pursuing change,” meaning that trends appear quickly and disappear even faster. She wanted her café to be comfortable just like grandma’s house where people from the neighborhood could come over to enjoy hot coffee with mouthwatering cakes.
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The vintage interior design of Café Illada brings back vibes of the 20th century. The café is full of pages from magazines and newspapers on the walls and ceiling. Also, decorated mirrors, old posters, a sophisticated china collection, and inspirational quotes can be seen around the café. The interior gives off a warm, old-fashioned impression. The café is located in a two-story building with the café on the first floor and a living space on the second floor. The exterior is vibrant and flamboyant. It clearly stands out among the gray buildings nearby due to its colorful decorations. What makes Café Illda noticeable is a harmonious mix of details that immediately catches the eye. While the design is definitely something that we consider when making up our minds on where to go, the menu is what might truly steal our hearts. Café Illda has a lot to offer, including scones, tarts, tons of cookies and candies, and most importantly, delicious cakes. It is basically a dessert paradise where you can fill your stomach with heavenly sweet treats. My favorites are the strawberry and blueberry cakes that go along perfectly with a hot cup of Americano. Those two are totally a hit! They do not have this commercialized plastic taste with two strawberries floating on a cloud of whipped cream from the refrigerator. Quite the opposite, I would say! They
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47
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Address: 43, Uchi-ro110-beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju 광주 북구 우치로 110 번길 43
Dokyo 990 Bakery
Address: 410-6 Hodong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 광주 북구 호동로 10-6
The Reviewer
Cami Ismanova is a student at Chonnam National University majoring in economics. Writing has always been her passion. She writes about the environment and traveling around Korea and abroad. She has dozens of hobbies that keep her happy and busy all year long. Instagram: @camidisman
October 2020
Unlike the café I mentioned earlier, this bakery is not much about looks and fancy interior. It is a small bakery in an alleyway, but the quality and quantity of its baked goods are above average. One of the special features of the bakery is that you can order a personalized cake that suits your taste in advance. Designs vary from typical “Happy Birthday!” messages to face caricatures and character drawings. Their business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to around 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. The staff
Café Illda
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
Now, on to the next spot on the list. It is time to let you know about the best bakery in the back-gate area, the notso-widely-known Dokyo 990 Bakery. I heard about this place several times from an acquaintance, so I decided to check it out. As a cheesecake lover, I am sure I discovered the most amazing cheesecake! Dokyo 990 Bakery has a great variety of goods including bread, cookies, cakes, scones, tarts, croissants, scones, cupcakes, macaroons, and just about everything else! Their seasonal cheesecakes change flavors, from cherry and strawberry in the spring to blueberry in the hot summer. The cheesecakes are always a treat, so they are usually sold out in a matter of two to three hours from the time of opening.
FOOD & DRINKS
are instead fresh out of the oven, home-baked goodies. The desserts are served on delicate porcelain, which contributes to the atmosphere. You can expect a regular beverage menu that consists of coffee and tea served either hot or cold. Overall, the staff is nice and foreignerfriendly, and the price matches the quality. The business hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday (and half an hour later on weekends). Prices start at 3,700 won for a cup of Americano.
is friendly and welcoming. I recommend that you check this bakery out anytime you are around. If you work or study nearby CNU, I suggest you stop by this bakery in the morning to grab something for breakfast with your morning coffee. It is sure to be an amazing start of the day!
9/23/2020 11:05:41 AM
48 Opinion
Written by William Urbanski
OPINION
F
or many years, an integral part of my morning routine involved checking the various new sites in Korea, Canada, and internationally. In no particular order, I checked CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), the Guardian, the Toronto Star and at least two different Korean news sites. Having been abroad for so many years, I felt that I had a personal responsibility to “keep informed” about what was going on around me in Asia, and checking the multiple news sites in Canada made me feel like I was maintaining a connection to home. But about eight months ago, when all the news agencies in the world collectively agreed that the only thing worth reporting about was the coronavirus, I quit my internet news habit cold turkey and in disgust. I mean, seriously, how many times can I hear about the same thing before losing interest in it completely? Somewhere among the myriad doom-and-gloom headlines and the 20-plus “URGENT”(!) corona-related emergency notifications I was receiving on my phone, it was clear that old Willy Boy needed to make a conscious effort to tune out this monsoon of media. This was not about reducing my exposure to “fake news” or anything like that, but it was definitely time to re-evaluate my relationship with the high-octane, up-to-the-minute, maximum-impact style of news that has unfortunately become the accepted norm.
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October 2020
The Urge to Be Informed
There is all sorts of pressure to “stay informed,” which presumably means to follow developments that go on around the world. The question is: How much of this actually affects you? For example, is there really a point in knowing exactly what measures Timbuktu is taking to contain the spread of COVID-19 or how many people in Papua New Guinea cannot get masks? Here is another example that I only know about because a former teacher of mine has been posting about it on Facebook (a medium which, by the way, should not be anyone’s primary source of information about the world): The government of my home province of Ontario, Canada, decided that in September, schools and classes will open as normal with about 35 kids to a class. Naturally, teachers, students, and health professionals are up in arms about this and are all predicting catastrophe. As a grown-up who lives in Korea, all this does is make my blood boil, and for what? It does not affect me, and I do not actually give a hoot about the trials, tribulations, and woes of the education system in
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Ontario. Furthermore, having unevaluated information about why school teachers are cryin’ the blues does not mean I am actually informed about the issue.
Mugabe in the Mornings
Do you know who Robert Mugabe was? He was the president of Zimbabwe and was basically the worst person ever. My brother told me about how he developed a bit of a morning routine of browsing the news sites to catch up on Mugabe’s wild and unfortunate antics. This so-called “Mugabe in the Mornings” habit clearly exemplifies how knowing about something so removed from our daily reality can end up having basically nothing but comedic value. Furthermore, while knowing how much money some far-away bureaucrat stole may make us seethe with righteous indignation, it basically serves no purpose.
Doomscrolling
“Doomscrolling” is the sweet new word to describe the tendency to keep reading and clicking on internet articles even though they contain nothing but bad or worrying news. The way it works could be best illustrated through an imaginary, but I feel accurate, monologue by a man we shall call Johnny McJohnson. The scene takes place in the morning while Johnny is checking the news headlines on his phone and drinking a coffee: “What do we have here? Looks like corona cases went up. Hmmm, there’s a link below this article. Oh my! It says Trump pulled funding for scientific research to companies with links to China! A-ha! Wait a minute, there’s another link. It says that China is responsible for all this! I’m outraged! 2020 is the worst year ever!”
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49 The end result of all this doomscrolling is, inevitably, watching an Instagram video of a bearded man in a dark room explaining that COVID-19 is a pretense for AI facial recognition systems’ beta testing. The video will explain that forcing people to wear masks is a way to better improve the capabilities of such systems that at the present time, have trouble identifying covered or partially concealed faces. A dubious theory, of course, and one that lacks any sort of proof, but one that kinda-sorta makes sense if you do not think too deeply and allow yourself to get carried away through the doomscrolling wormhole. The reason why doomscrolling has become so commonplace is actually pretty understandable. It makes a person feel like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, a supersleuth of the internet and rogue genius who has the unique ability to sift through the deluge of online information, uncovering hidden truths, and figuring out what is “really going on.” “Quitting” or “being a quitter” sometimes and unfairly gets a bad rap. We think it is good to stick with something when the going gets tough, and this is certainly true in many respects, but there are some cases where quitting something or just walking away is in your best interests. The classic example is smoking, which is pretty much the most terrible thing to do to your body. Most reasonable people would congratulate someone who quits that dag-nasty habit. So, what do smoking and compulsively checking the internet headline news have in common? They are both things with no benefit.
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but news sources are rarely objective. The most basic classification would be to lump them into “left-wing” or “right-wing” (whatever those words mean). Whatever their agendas, most
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I am not rallying against all news, of course. After all, this article is appearing in the Gwangju News. Vis-àvis other news agencies, the Gwangju News has several distinguishing characteristics: It is a volunteer magazine that is not for profit. As well, it has a mandate to report on matters that interest and directly affect the people of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do. In addition, it is a printed magazine, and although we have a demanding production schedule, we are not under the same time pressure to be constantly producing content at the expense of factchecking and objectivity.
Final Thoughts
Doomscrolling, or just straight-up compulsively checking the online news, is actually a pretty logical thing to do for most people, as it satisfies a certain intellectual curiosity. It is possible to have too much of anything though, and consuming high-intensity, up-to-the-minute content could be compared to gorging yourself at an all-youcan-eat buffet just because you can. So, there has to be a balance between satisfying the urge to be up-to-theminute and being comfortable with ambiguity. Not checking the internet news all the time does not mean that Facebook or the Joe Rogan Podcast should become your sole sources of information about the world. It means reevaluating your relationship with information and coming to terms with the fact that sometimes, just sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
The Author
William Urbanski is the managing editor of the Gwangju News and has an MA in international relations and cultural diplomacy. He is married to a wonderful Korean woman, always pays cash, and keeps all his receipts. Instagram: @will_il_gatto
October 2020
Newsmakers’ Agendas and the Limitations of Media
Slow News
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
Alright, stop. I can hear you already: “But William, there are a lot of benefits to reading the online news: I am more informed about the world around me.” However, this represents a misunderstanding of what the word “benefit” means. It refers to an activity in which there is a net gain after all the losses are considered. When you read about coronavirus spreading in some far-off country because some corrupt official sold medical supplies, there is the perceived benefit of acquiring information, but this has to be weighed against the negative emotions it evokes (particularly the feelings of helplessness and anger this creates), plus the time spent reading that could have been put to better use. In the end, you are worse off, not better, for hearing about this gossip.
Instead of spending time doomscrolling, here is an idea: Choose something you would like to know more about; then read a book about it. Even the most well-written and objective news sources are limited by space and time, and the truth about many matters is much more subtle and nuanced than can be effectively communicated in fifteen hundred words. The news, especially online news, at the end of the day is a median: It is a way to summarize ideas and not the “be-all end-all” on matters.
OPINION
Things with No Benefit
newsmakers have to write attention-grabbing headlines with provocative content if for no other reason than to justify their existence.
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50
Language Teaching
The Joys of Teaching Expat Educators Explain Compiled by Dr. David E. Shaffer
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
EDUCATION
M
any of the English teachers coming to Korea to teach do so with the intention of staying for a year, maybe two, and then moving on. But there are also a considerable number of expat teachers here for whom that one or two years has turned into one or two more, and even into one or two decades more. What is it about teaching in Korea that keeps teachers here for extended periods of time? Four educators in our area have been asked exactly what it is that they enjoy about being an expat teacher in Korea. The following are their accounts.
A GIFT I GET TO WITNESS
Maria Lisak has been teaching for nearly 24 years, and for much of that time, she has been teaching in Korea, including 15 years in Gwangju. She is presently teaching mainly content courses in the Department of Administrative Welfare at Chosun University, where she has worked since 2012. Maria holds a master’s degree in education and a second master’s in business administration. She is currently completing her doctorate of education and is a past president of Korea TESOL’s Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter. Here is Maria’s account of the joys she gets out of teaching in Korea. I love teaching. It’s not the job I expected to have when I was young, but when I came to South Korea and started teaching, I felt more at home in my life and career than I ever had before. What always keeps me going through any hardship is seeing the lightbulb go off for a student. When they’re struggling to make themselves understood or to understand, and suddenly that light in their eyes just pops – this is a gift that I get to witness, and I’m so grateful. Teaching motivated students is always the easiest kind of teaching. When students are motivated and invested in their own learning, as a teacher I get to be a true guide on the side instead of feeling like a dentist pulling teeth.
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I’m always very grateful for motivated students, as I get to learn a lot about them and their ways of seeing the world. So really, it’s my learning, not just theirs. Another thing that makes me happy is when students show initiative. I don’t expect students to always follow along; I expect them to ask for what they need and want to learn. Showing that kind of guts is tough. I respect students who have the courage to speak up for themselves, especially within South Korean culture, where the teacher–student relationship is so hierarchical. Passive students are always harder to teach because it’s more about a teacher-centered classroom than a studentcentered classroom. While motivated and invested students, as well as those who take initiative, bring me a lot of enjoyment, still some of my best memories are the struggling students who don’t give up and continue to show up. I always await that light in their eyes that something had meaning for them. A pure moment of joy! It’s my hope that my university keeps renewing my contract so that I, too, can keep living my dream here in South Korea!
IMMERSION: THE COOLEST EXPERIENCE
Jonathan Moffett came to Korea in 2016. After teaching for two years at the elementary school level, he now teaches at three different middle schools in Gwangju. Jonathan has a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri and is a member of Korea TESOL. Here is his account of the satisfaction he gets out of teaching in Korea.
Since my arrival in Korea four years ago, I’ve had innumerable positive and simply unforgettable experiences. For my present purpose, however, I’ll focus only on those related to teaching itself. For my first two years in Korea, I worked in various public elementary schools, four different ones to be exact. Without a doubt,
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51 the fondest memories I have of those times were the simple enthusiasm of the students, and the absolute pure and unbridled joy shown to me. I was especially happy when, during my weekly class, students would all rise from their seats and cheer as I entered the classroom. They really enjoyed learning with games, such as running dictation, a real staple for my classes when things around the world were more normal. Students really seemed to enjoy interacting with English, not just learning about it through textbooks. Seeing this evidenced through their eagerness for class each week was really satisfying.
▼ Jonathan in the classroom emphasizing a point.
SOUL-SATISFYING CONNECTIONS
Lindsay Herron came to Korea in 2005. After teaching at the high school level for three years, she moved to Gwangju National University of Education, where she teaches English and teaching methodology. Lindsay has master’s degrees in language education and cinema studies, and is completing her doctorate in education. She is the president of Korea TESOL and an officer of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter. Here is her account of the gratification she gets out of teaching in Korea.
There are many perks more specific to teaching, as well. I love the widespread appreciation for education and the attendant general respect for educators. I adore my students’ vocal responses when they’re amazed or impressed; few things warm my inner-showman’s heart
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October 2020
There’s a lot I love about living and teaching in Korea enough to keep me here for more than fifteen years, certainly! Life here boasts many amenities that were lacking from my life in the United States, such as universal health care and easily accessible clinics, convenient and affordable transportation options, reasonably priced restaurants (serving amazing food!), a low crime rate, and a community-minded willingness to make small sacrifices for the greater good (e.g., by wearing masks not only now, during COVID-19, but more generally when one is ill). At the same time, I also appreciate being outside many Korean norms. I’m not subject to the same social pressure to get married, for example, and while the ajummas (middle-aged women) at my gym might comment curiously about the slippers I wear in the shower, my unusual behavior is usually tolerated, chalked up to cultural differences.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
After about two years of teaching at elementary school, I was invited to teach at an English immersion camp for middle school students for a week with three other teachers. This program is no longer running, but I can say without a doubt that it was the coolest experience of my teaching life. The students who attended were all very good at English, and everyone stayed overnight at the camp for an entire week. The week was filled with various activities and games in which English usage was the central purpose; it wasn’t traditional teaching, but more immersion in the true sense of the word. By the end of the
The feeling that remained after the immersion camp was that English wasn’t just about cultural education and fun, like I’d felt when teaching elementary school, but also about useful, important, and sincere communication. After this experience, I decided to transfer to teaching at the middle school level, where I strive every day to combine the lessons I’ve learned from both levels of teaching to provide the best and most beneficial experience possible for my students. It’s this continual pursuit of delivering the greatest lessons I can for my students that continues to keep me here in Korea for the foreseeable future.
EDUCATION
I was also really pleased when students would ask me questions about America, and what life was like for me back at my home. They seemed genuinely interested. Talking about various cultural differences, such as Americans not usually sleeping on the floor, not using chopsticks, and not eating rice with every meal, always filled my students’ eyes with wonder. It made me feel not only important but privileged to be the one who got to show them about cultures outside of Korea. In this regard, they were really insatiable for their desire to know more. For higher grades, teaching English related to making purchases often came up, and for this I always had some American money in my wallet to let the students interact with – they really loved this, though sometimes certain students were reluctant to give up the coveted dollar bill they clutched so defiantly.
week, I’d gotten to know so many unforgettable students, and had a great time with many friendly teachers.
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52 more than a collective “Whoa!” in response to a video clip or story. And I love that I can relate to my students as a person rather than just as a teacher. In contrast to my own youthful conviction that teachers probably didn’t exist outside the classroom walls, my students here are curious about my life, and we take great delight in introducing each other to new music, movies, TV shows, and trends. I love discovering my students’ passions and talents; I love attending their performances; I love being able to hang out with them and cultivate a more social relationship than I had with most of my own teachers. I also love many aspects of being, in particular, a foreign teacher at my university. I love the housing provided for me in the university dormitory, a perk I believe is unique ▼ Lindsay and her class’s Halloween party.
for me; these soul-satisfying connections are one of the primary reasons I stay in Korea year after year!
A CLASSROOM CULTURE OF WARMTH AND PLAYFULNESS
Bryan Hale has been teaching English in Korea since 2012 and has experience in both academies and public schools. He is now in his third year of teaching at Yeongam High School. Bryan has been active in Korea TESOL for most of his time in Korea and is currently the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter’s president. His master’s degree in applied linguistics (TESOL) is from the University of New England (Australia). Here is Bryan’s account of what he enjoys about teaching English in Korea.
EDUCATION
Korea can be a really vibrant and rewarding place to work as a foreign English teacher. I think we sometimes overlook exactly how central English is truly becoming here. During my time teaching in Korea, exports like pop culture, gaming, tourism, and international education have only gotten bigger and bigger, and English is vital to all of them. It’s exciting to connect classroom teaching to social changes going on around us, and foreign teachers are often well-placed to make the most of this.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
This vitality extends to the English language teaching (ELT) profession and professional development. Korea’s interconnectedness, both internally and with other to the foreign instructors. After spending thousands of hours commuting to and from my old jobs in New York City via a sweltering, stifling, rather malodorous subway, being a mere six-minute walk from my classroom is breathtakingly refreshing – literally, as my path takes me through the lovely campus that serves as my front yard. I love not being required to attend (all-Korean) faculty meetings, but also cultivating new friendships with university staff who want to practice their English. Finally, I love playing a role that few others at my workplace can play, offering a perspective that’s both inside and outside Korea. This, in turn, can give students space to discuss concerns that might otherwise be frowned upon, challenge dominant discourses about foreigners, and provide students with a chance not only to use English in an authentic way, but also to encounter, explore, and value diverse ways of being in the world.
▼ Bryan (left) conducting a conference workshop.
Ultimately, it’s the relationships I’ve formed – with my students, the staff at my workplaces, other educators, and people in the community – that are most gratifying
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53 countries, and its position in the world really make it an ELT hotspot. Of course, as Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL chapter president, I’m going to plug KOTESOL opportunities – I really do think KOTESOL’s conferences are some of the most engaging and accessible in Asia. As well, I have had great experiences being able to connect with other teachers (both in Korea and in other parts of Asia) for support with study and to collaborate on all kinds of ELT-related projects. Although I undertook my master’s degree through an Australian university, I think I greatly benefitted from being in Korea while I did it.
Professional opportunities and connections, life in a vibrantly interconnected society, and a sometimes underappreciated classroom culture of warmth and playfulness have all kept me teaching English in Korea.
IN CONCLUSION
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GWANGJU-JEONNAM KOTESOL UPCOMING EVENTS Check the chapter’s webpages and Facebook group periodically for updates on chapter events and online activities. For full event details: Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL
The Editor
David Shaffer is an expat educator who has spent two score and seven years in the field of English education in Korea. He has experienced many joys of teaching and living in Korea, but he has also dealt with the challenges they present. As vice-president of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of KOTESOL, Dr. Shaffer invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops and their regular meetings (in-person and online). He is a past president of KOTESOL, and is currently the chairman of the board at the Gwangju International Center as well as editor-in-chief of the Gwangju News.
October 2020
On top of this, they are concerned about improving their own teaching skills and the teaching profession in general. This they need not attempt to do solely on their own, as professional development can be achieved through a
Photographs courtesy of Maria Lisak, Jonathan Moffett, Lindsay Herron, and Bryan Hale.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
The accounts presented above are from four expat educators teaching in Korea for different lengths of time and in varying teaching situations. The enjoyments that they have recounted here are numerous and diverse, but there are several evident commonalities in their accounts. They all express a deep-seated love for teaching, and especially for teaching in the Korean context. They thrive on interaction with their colleagues and students. Though Korea is so different in many ways from the English-speaking countries from which these educators have come, from what I know about these individuals, I feel confident in saying that they also have an affinity for Korea, Korean society, and Korean culture.
The above accounts may give the impression that the individuals giving them are looking through rose-colored glasses. That however is not the case; in an upcoming issue, these same four teachers will have their glasses off in describing the challenges that expat English teachers face in their profession in Korea.
EDUCATION
The Korean education system, of course, has some problems, but I think there are positive aspects that we may neglect to appreciate. Although I do sometimes find the hierarchy of Korean schools stifling, I think there is a positive flipside. Compared to Western teaching contexts, here teachers and students are more distant hierarchically, but also kind of socially closer and more familiar. During experiences teaching in the West, I was disappointed to sense a gulf between teachers and students, and I really missed the sparkle of Korean classrooms. I think that here, when things are going well with a particular class, we’re developing our own discourse of playfulness, gentle teasing, affection, and community within the traditional institutional structures around us. Korean classrooms can nurture surprising, maybe paradoxical, authenticity. I think I have definitely become quite attached to these aspects of my work here!
local community of practice within which Korea TESOL plays a significant role.
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54 Book Review
Sing, Unburied, Sing By Jesmyn Ward Reviewed by Kristy Dolson
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
October 2020
ARTS & CULTURE
I
n my last review, I vowed to amplify historically marginalized voices, so this month I would like to bring Jesmyn Ward’s phenomenal novel Sing, Unburied, Sing to your attention. It is a narrative driven by ghosts, and it filled me with an increasing sense of horror. As such, this timely take on the road-trip novel is a perfect recommendation for October. The novel opens on the thirteenth birthday of Jojo, the main protagonist. He lives with his black maternal grandparents on their Mississippi Gulf Coast farm. The family is poor, but their love for each other is evident in the acts they carry out together to survive. JoJo’s white father, a man named Michael, is about to be released from the state penitentiary. So, Leonie, his drug-addicted and mostly absent mother, decides to take him and his threeyear-old sister Kayla on a journey across the state to bring Michael home. Along the way, Ward’s characters confront the power and limitations of the bonds of family while grappling with the oppressive racial and class history of America. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of three principal characters: JoJo, his mother Leonie, and the ghost Ritchie. Alone, these characters are unable to deliver the full story. By providing multiple perspectives of this family’s history, Ward invites readers to consider how complex family ties can bind and alienate simultaneously. It is a beautifully layered book that keeps readers engaged. However, that engagement comes with a price. My feelings for this novel are complicated, and I am still actively sifting through my thoughts. Ward’s writing is intimate and powerful, sure to leave readers devastated. The more I reflect on the book, the more I can identify distinct elements of the horror genre at work here. The horror genre has historically been used to portray evil aspects of humanity with the intention of invoking fear and disgust. Readers are meant to reflect on these aspects and feelings in order to confront social ills and make efforts to reduce or eliminate them. Think of such
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classics as Frankenstein, Dracula, or The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But historically, whiteness, and the systems that promote the privilege of whiteness have never been positioned as inherently evil. In Sing, Unburied, Sing, white people and the systems they represent are positioned as the monster. A climactic incident – the family pulled over by a white police officer – reverberates through the remainder of the novel. As witnesses to this life-threatening event, we cannot look away. We must not. At this moment in time, black lives continue to be devalued and dismissed. It is critical for white readers to see themselves through the eyes of those they have enslaved and oppressed. Otherwise, we will never understand the pain and fear of people who are systemically othered. Nor will we feel compelled to change the systems responsible for this continued oppression. The novel is an exhausting experience and not for the faint of heart. The ghosts in our collective psyche are real. Ward’s novel deserves a place in the canon of American literature and a broad readership. Together we must confront them with the hope of creating a better future.
The Reviewer
Kristy Dolson lived in South Korea for five years before taking a year off to travel, read, and spend time with her family in Canada and Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Education and has now returned to Gwangju, where she splits her time between teaching at the new Jeollanamdo International Education Institute and reading as much as she can.
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Korean Recipe 55
Hobak-juk: Pumpkin Porridge Written by Joe Wabe
F
or many cultures in the northwestern hemisphere, pumpkins are a symbol of the fall season. Their symbolism of fertility and rebirth, along with their orange color and sweetness, fit the season’s mood. In Korean, the word hobak (호박) is a general term not only for pumpkin but also for squash and zucchini. Hobak-juk (호박죽) is a traditional porridge usually made with danhobak (단호박) or Japanese pumpkin, which is a winter squash that is round with a flattened bottom and is sweet and dark green in color. Although the porridge is simple in appearance, its flavor is extraordinary with a combination of nutty and sweet character. The majority of Koreans enjoy this dish from time to time as a morning meal, but it is also very common as a takeout meal for people feeling under the weather or unable to eat heavy meals. A few other times it is served as an appetizer or even dessert. During fall, when the nights become gradually longer, the heavy downpours are gone, and the humidity drops, a fine, sweet, and warm bowl of hobak-juk will remind you how lovely fall can be in Korea. It is the perfect comfort food to celebrate this colorful season.
Ingredients (Serves 6)
•
The Author
Joe Wabe is a Gwangju expat, who has been contributing to the GIC and the Gwangju News for more than 10 years with his work in photography and writing.
Preparation
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October 2020
Place the chopped pumpkin in a pot with water, and let it boil at medium heat until it is soft. Turn off the stove and let it cool down. Next, put it in a blender. Once blended, put it back in the pot, and let it cook for about five minutes. In a separate bowl, mix the rice flour with some water, pouring it in carefully until the texture is thick, and then add it to the blended pumpkin. Stir consistently to avoid lumps. After stirring, add the sugar and salt, and heat for an extra three minutes. Finally, let it cool off until it is ready to serve.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
• • • •
1 mid-sized pumpkin (seeded, peeled, and chopped) 2½ cups of water 1 cup of rice flower 3 tablespoons of sugar ½ teaspoon of salt
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and motivate local young artists and inspire creativity through multifaceted publicity and the presentation of new types of creative works, thereby strengthening the individual ability of the artists and discovering their potential for growth. Through the social media platforms, both participating artists and the public are offered an expanded arts festival that allows real-time exchanges anytime and anywhere, regardless of the traditional boundaries of time and space, aiming to increase Gwangju citizens’ interest in local arts and improve civic cultural awareness.
Event Overview
Opening Ceremony: October 10 (Sat) 12:00 noon. •
12 hours of real-time broadcast of “All-Night Relay Arts Talk Show” (SNS, Online).
Gwangju Social Arts Festival: 1st Edition
O
rganized by the KYARK Culture and Arts Exchange and held at Gwangju Citizen’s Hall, the Gwangju Social Arts Festival is the world’s first “social arts festival” that combines the 21st century’s largest social platforms and communities, such as YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, with an arts festival. It is a premiere event globally, never before done, and aims to reshape the image of Gwangju, which leads in the promotion of contemporary art and culture at home and abroad. The purpose of this project is to promote
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Opening Ceremony: “All-Night Art Camping” art performance by 24 artists during 12 hours (SNS, Exhibition Hall). “Social Art Festival Results Exhibition” October 10–13 (Sat.–Tue.): Art Camping Performance Results Exhibition (Exhibition Hall). Fourth “All-Night Mini Arts Talk Show” (SNS, Online). “Let’s Go Together, Let’s Know, Let’s Ask, Let’s Listen” Four-section program (SNS, Exhibition Hall). “It’s Not the End Here.” A new format for a results report exhibition (SNS, Online).
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KONA English Center
KONA Storybook Center The KONA English Center (KEC) is an educational center for English reading and culture exchanges. The KEC will guide any family and their children to develop a love for reading and to explore foreign cultures.
KONA English Center 코나영어센터 KONA Storybook Center 영어독서교육연구소 UNESCO KONA Volunteers 유네스코 코나 자원봉사단
The KONA Storybook Center (KSC) is a non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged children to learn English independently through storybooks and storymaps with UNESCO KONA Volunteers (UKV).
Programs: 1. 영어독서멘토링 (Mentoring in English Reading) 2. 영어로 배우는 과학 (Science in English) 3. 영어로 배우는 위인전 (Biography in English) 4. 코나비전특강 (KONA Vision Talk) 5. 외국인과 함께하는 문화교실 (UNESCO CCAP)
Tel: 062-434-9887 광주광역시 서구 상일로 37 37 Sangil-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju
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