Gwangju and South Jeolla International Magazine I April 2019 #206 I Gwangju Foreign Language Network: 10 Years of Making Wave
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[의료광고심의필 제160113-중-81058호]
We will become your spring! Spring comes, piercing through fierce coldness, melting the frozen solid ice. Warm spring, beautiful spring, fragrant spring, Chosun University Hospital will become your spring. 365, Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City Homepage http://hosp.chosun.ac.kr Information 062-220-3114 Appointments 062-220-3006, 3009 Health Promotion Center 062-220-3030 Emergency Center 062-220-3119 International Health Care Center 062-220-3770
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From the Editor
Gwangju & South Jeolla Intern ational Magazine
“A
pril showers bring May flowers…” It is our hope that the April issue of the Gwangju News may shower you with an assortment of informative and enjoyable reading.
April 2019, Issue No. 206
Published: April 1, 2019 Cover Photo Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN) By Sarah Pittman
THE EDITORIAL TEAM Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Production Editor Layout Editor Photo Editor Proofreaders Online Editorial Team Researcher
Dr. Shin Gyonggu Dr. David E. Shaffer Karina Prananto Isaiah Winters Karina Prananto Sarah Pittman Ynell Lumantao, Stephen Redeker, Elisabeth Loeck, Di Foster, David Foster, David Shaffer Karina Prananto, Shahed Kayes Baek Ji-yeon
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 © 2019 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.
Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315) Registration Date: February 22, 2010 Printed by Join Adcom 조인애드컴 (+82)-62-367-7702 GwangjuNews
gwangjunews
GwangjuNewsGIC
For advertising and subscription inquiries, please contact karina@gic.or.kr or 062-226-2733. Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.
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Our info-tour of the month introduces the emerging skateboarding scene in Gwangju and splashes us with tidbits on the upcoming FINA World Championships, with more tantalizing tidbits to come in the months ahead. We update you on academic and cultural opportunities for expats in Gwangju and surrounding areas, and we provide you with a tasty recipe for beef short rib soup. Then, we tell you all about the trending sensation, the air fryer, and why it isn’t a fryer (Opinion). On our eye-tour, we treat you to the photo of the month: cherry blossoms at the Uncheon Reservoir. Our photo essay is of the Gwangju Performance Project preparing for this year’s Cabaret. Listen to how the 1960’s Kim Sisters struck a chord on the music scene in the U.S., and read about Viet Than Nguyen’s The Refugees in this month’s book review. And of course you will want to check out our regular news sections: April 2019 Happenings, Gwangju City News, and Community Board. We try our best to bring you the best. We hope you enjoy the shower of April articles that this month’s Gwangju News has to offer.
David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News
April 2019
For volunteering and article submission inquiries, please contact the editor at gwangjunews@gic.or.kr.
Our April tour around the City of Light starts at the Jeonil Building in downtown Gwangju with a look at the scars left from the May 18 Uprising. The next stop is Registan Avenue, where you can fill up on Uzbek cuisine. Then it’s on to Loft 28 for good music and cocktails the Jamaican way. The tour continues outside of Gwangju with a day trip to see the marine life at Aqua Planet in Yeosu. Our travels continue on the longest bridge in the world, from Macau to Hong Kong (Gwangju Writes). From there, it’s across the Pacific for a picturesque tour of landlocked Bolivia.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
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
We start this month’s pleasurereading journey with our cover story of an establishment that has been “making waves” around the city for a decade – radio waves, that is – GFN, the Gwangju Foreign Language Network. Next we sail to Jeju Island to inform you of the waves of human rights activism that Kaia Vereide is making there. Next we cruise back to Gwangju for the Dark Tour in search of the “Gwangju Spirit.” Our fourth feature and retro-article of the month takes us back over choppy waters to the April 1960 student revolution (4.19).
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CONTENTS
April 2019. Issue No. 206
22 Jeonil Building
26 Sea Life of Yeosu 36 The Kim Sisters
GWANGJU NEWS 03. April 2019 Happenings 06. Gwangju City News 56. Community Board FEATURE 08. 10 Years of Making Waves 12. Kaia Vereide: Activism Beyond Bases and Borders 16. In Search of the Spirit of Gwangju 18. Blast from the Past: The 4.19 Student Revolution COMMUNITY 20. Home Away from Home: The Jamaican Way 38. Academic and Cultural Opportunities for Foreigners in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province TRAVEL 22. Lost in Gwangju: The Jeonil Building – Icon of an Uprising 26. Around Korea: Sea Life of Yeosu – A Day at Aqua Planet 28. From Abroad: Bolivia – A Dreamers’ Gift SPORTS & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES 33. On Your Mark, Get Set, and Dive into Gwangju 34. Gwangju’s Emerging Skateboarding Scene FOOD & DRINKS 40. Galbi-tang: Beef Short Rib Soup 42. Where to Eat: Registan Avenue – Comfort Food from Uzbekistan
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EDUCATION 44. Korea TESOL: The Fastest Way to English Conversation 46. Everyday Korean: Episode 16 – 벚꽃축제 (Cherry Blossom Festival) ARTS & CULTURE 36. The Original K-Pop Sensation: The Kim Sisters 47. Photo of the Month 48. Photo Essay: GPP Cabaret 52. Book Review: The Refugees by Viet Than Nguyen 53. Gwangju Writes: The World’s Longest Bridge OPINION 54. Air Fryer: The Fryer That’s Not a Fryer
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Gwangju Happenings Compiled by Baek Ji-yeon
Gwangju Theater
* Synopses excerpted from Wikipedia, IMDb, and Hancinema. All English language films are presented with Korean subtitles; non-English international films are presented with Korean subtitles only.
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SUSPIRIA 서스페리아 Genre: Drama Director: Luca Guadagnino Film Length: 152 minutes Languages: English, German, French (Korean subtitles) Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Tilda Swinton, Doris Hick Summary: A darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up. RBG 루스 베이더 긴즈버그:나는 반대한다 Genre: Documentary Directors: Julie Cohen, Betsy West Film Length: 98 minutes Language: English (Korean subtitles)
Starring: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bill Clinton, Sharron Frontiero Summary: The film presents the exceptional life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. APRIL 5–20 MOVIE SERIES BY ANDREI TARKOVSKY Movies to be screened: • My Name Is Ivan (drama, 95 min.) • The Passion According To Saint Andrew (drama, 209 min.) • Solaris (sci-fi, drama, 165 min.) • The Sacrifice (drama, 143 min.) • The Mirror (108 min.) • Stalker (sci-fi, drama, 163 min.)
April 2019
THE LAND ON THE WAVES 파도치는 땅 Genre: Drama Director: Lim Tae-gue Film Length: 82 minutes Language: Korean (no subtitles) Starring: Park Jung-hak, Lee Taekyoung, Maeng Se-chang Summary: Mun-seong goes to his hometown of Gunsan for the first time in 30 years upon hearing his father is dying. The trip brings Munseong and his son Dijon together,
but history is repeated in their father–son relationship.
▲ Suspiria
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
HOTEL BY THE RIVER 강변 호텔 Genre: Drama Director: Hong Sang-soo Film Length: 95 minutes Language: Korean (no subtitles) Starring: Ki Joo-bong, Kim Minhee, Song Sun-mi Summary: The story begins when a middle-aged man has a chance encounter with his child and two young women at a hotel by the Han River.
▲ RBG
GWANGJU NEWS
62 Chungjang-ro 5-ga, Dong-gu, Gwangju (Two blocks behind NC Wave) TICKETS: 8,000 won CONTACT: 062-224-5858 For more information, please visit http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju (Korean)
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Exhibitions Photo Exhibition: 2019 Republic of Korea 100 years – 10 Scenes that Changed History
Cosmos, A Walk Through the Cosmos 코스모스, 우주의 시공간을 거닐다
2019 대한민국 100년, 역사를 바꾼 10장면 사진 전시회 This special exhibition is being held jointly with the Korean History Museum and will run from February through December. The museum has selected ten events that have changed the history of the Republic of Korea. They are as follows: the March 1 Movement (3.1 운동), the establishment of the provisional Korean government (대한민국 임시정부 수립), the Independence Movement (독립운동), the Gwangju Student Independence Movement (광주학생독립운동), liberation (광복), the establishment of the constitution and government (헌법 제정과 정부 수립), the Korean War (6.25 전쟁), the April 19 Revolution (4.19 혁명), the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement (5.18 광주민주화운동), and the June Democratic Uprising (6월 민주항쟁).
The Asian Culture Complex (ACC) has prepared a program to experience the virtual world of space as if walking through the movie through walk-through cinema (WTC), the world’s first moving and space-time experience platform. Visitors can experience virtual reality by walking through a large space without a separate device, starting with video contents based on National Geographic’s Cosmos documentary. You are invited to a new adventure to explore the space and time of the universe in virtual reality.
Date: Location:
Dates: Location:
February 28 – December 15 110 Haseo-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju National Museum, Lobby) 광주 북구 하서로 110 국립광주박물관 로비
Admission: Telephone: Website:
Free 062-570-7000 https://gwangju.museum.go.kr/kor/index. do
March 6 – April 28 (Tue., Thur., Fri., & Sun. 10:00–18:00 / Wed. & Sat. 10:00~19:00 / closed on Mon.) 38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju (Asia Culture Center, ACC Creation Space 1)
광주 동구 문화전당로 38 국립아시아문화전당 문화창조원 복합1관
Admission: Telephone: Website:
Free 1899-5566 https://www.acc.go.kr/board/schedule/ exhibition/2655
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
Walking Tours ACC Walking Tour ACC 산책
City Sightseeing Trail 도심관광 트레일
This seasonal tour special course, the ACC Walking Tour, organized by the National Asian Cultural Complex (ACC) will start every Saturday from March through May at 2:30 p.m.. It is a tour program that explains the characteristics of each stop along with the natural scenery. The park where you can look at locust trees (회화나무) with memories of historical sites next to the Democratic Peace Exchange Center (민주평화교류원), and media parks and cultural parks are representative. This year’s tour will focus on the rooftop gardens (옥상정원) of the ACC Children’s Council (ACC어린이문화원). Enjoy the warm spring sunshine with the scenery of the center of culture and arts.
Gwangju City will run a City Sightseeing Trail, a walk from Dongmyeong-dong to the Asian Culture Complex. This tour is a storytelling tourism program that has developed a themed walking-tour course that takes advantage of Gwangju people, urban history, cultural arts, and tourist attractions. During the Gwangju World Swimming Championships, there is also a plan to offer the Gung-dong Art Tour (궁동 아트투어), which is a tour of an art gallery in the streets for foreigners. Encouraged to participate are those who want to experience the hidden history and culture of Gwangju at the closest distance and with a professional commentator (in Korean).
Dates: Location:
Dates:
Admission: Telephone: Website:
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March 2 – May 25 (every Sat. 2:30 p.m.) 38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju (Asia Culture Center, Library Park)
광주 동구 문화전당로 38 국립아시아문화전당 라이브러리파크
Free 1899-5566 https://www.acc.go.kr/board/schedule/ event/2631
Location:
April–December (every Sat. & Sun., 2:00 p.m.) 38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju (Asia Culture Center, meeting in front of the 5.18 Clock Tower) 광주 동구 문화전당로 38 국립아시아문화전당 5.18시계탑 앞 모임
Admission: Free Telephone: 062-401-9926 http://www.gjmiin.com/bbs/content. Website: php?co_id=downtown00
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Performance Gwangju City Ballet Performance “La Sylphide” 광주시립발레단 제124회 정기공연 [라 실피드] La Sylphide is a romantic ballet and one of the world’s oldest surviving ballets. The story goes that a Scottish farmer falls in love with a vision of a magical sylph, or a spirit, on the morning of his wedding day. An old witch appears before him, predicting that he will betray his bride. The performance tells the story of a relationship between a human and a spirit.
Dates: Location: Admission: Telephone: Website:
April 5–7 Grand Theater, Gwangju Culture and Art Center, 60 Bukmundae-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 광주 북구 북문대로 60 광주문화예술회관 대극장
R seats 30,000 won, S seats 20,000 won, A seats 10,000 won 1588-7890, 062-522-8716 http://gjart.gwangju.go.kr/
Festival
South Jeolla Happenings Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival 영암왕인문화축제 Dates: April 4–7 Location: 440 Wangin-ro, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do 전라남도 영암군 군서면 왕인로 440 Admission: Free Telephone: 061-470-2347 Website: www.wangin.kr
2019 Mokpo Yudalsan Spring Festival 2019 목포 유달산 봄 축제 Dates: April 6–20 Location: 27-3 San, Jukgyeo-dong, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do (Yudalsan) 전라남도 목포시 죽교동 산27-3 (유달산) Admission: Free (paid programs are optional) Telephone: 061-272-2171 Website: https://blog.naver.com/ mptour123/221469814096
Hampyeong Butterfly Festival 제21회 함평 나비축제
2019 광주 프린지 페스티벌 The Fringe Festival, a cultural festival that Gwangju, the city of cultural and arts, has been holding every year since 2016, will start again this April. The event, hosted by Gwangju City and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation, will be held every Saturday from April to December. It is an open-air cultural festival where amateur and professional artists as well as citizens participate freely without being bound by genre, format, or fixed frame, and stage various presentations such as performances, mimes, dance, and K-pop.
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April–December (every Sat.) Along Geumnam-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju Free (paid programs are optional) 062-223-0410 http://fringefestival.kr/
청산도 슬로걷기 축제 Dates: April 7 – May 7 Location: Cheongsan-myeon, Cheongsan-do, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do 전라남도 완도군 청산면 Admission: Free (paid programs are optional) Telephone: 061-550-5432 Website: http://www.slowcitywando.com/
April 2019
Dates: Location: Admission: Telephone: Website:
Cheongsan-do Slow City Walking Festival
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
2019 Gwangju Fringe Festival
Dates: April 26 – May 6 Location: Hampyeong Expo Park, 27 Gonjearo, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do 전라남도 함평군 함평읍 곤재로 27 함평엑스포공원 Admission: Adults 7,000 won, Students 5,000 won, Children & Seniors 3,000 won Telephone: 061-320-1784 Website: http://www.hampyeong.go.kr/ butterfly/
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Gwangju City News Reprinted with permission from Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall Photographs courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall
GWANGJU NEWS
Gwangju Creates a Healthy Environment for Raising Children
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
T
he population statistics of the Korea National Statistical Office (KNSO) indicate that the total fertility rate in Korea dropped below one child last year. To counter this problem, Gwangju City is expanding the provision of customized childcare services by increasing the number of national daycare centers and increasing childcare subsidies for government-funded facilities as childcare services are currently a burden on parents. Gwangju City has increased its daycare facilities to accommodate 128 children from the present 84 beginning in March on this year. The mayor visited the City Hall Daycare Center on March 4, inspected the expanded facilities and encouraged the staff and children. The mayor stated, “In order to fundamentally solve the problem of low fertility, it is important that the operation of daycare centers, where parents can leave their children in peace is important. … The expansion of the City Hall Daycare Center has become a leading model, I hope it will be a good opportunity to expand the operation of quality childcare facilities.” Gwangju City is currently expanding the program “Healthy Environment for Raising Children” with the vision “Happy Children and Parents for a Childcare City, Gwangju,” by
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carrying out a total of 41 childcare policy projects at public daycare centers. Gwangju City has decided to expand the number of public daycare centers by 120 by 2022 to achieve 40% utilization rate of national public daycares and plans to invest 8.8 billion won over four years to reduce the burden on Gwangju’s districts’ budgets. In addition, by the end of 2018, 4,736 units of air purifiers were distributed to daycare centers around the city, and 994 units of sleepingchild checkers have been installed in all daycare buses. Since last year, Gwangju City has been supporting all daycare centers with monthly heating expenses of 100,000 won per month for four months. This year, the period will be extended to six months. In addition, the government will extend this year the subsidy for non-governmentfunded facilities for parents of three-year-old children from 20,000 won to 30,000 won per month and 20,000 won for kids of 4 and 5 years old. For more information, please contact the Women’s Family Policy Office (여성가족정책관). Phone: 062-613-2300
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Gwangju Folk Museum Holds Culture Classes
T
he Gwangju Folk Museum will hold “Happy Saturday Culture Class” for children to enjoy museum programs with their families from March through May on every other Saturday. The program has proven to be popular since it was begun in 2008. It consists of a Folk Craft Class, a Plant Life Class, and a Folk Ecological Village Trip, which will each be conducted six times throughout the three-month period of the program. The Folk Craft Class is designed to experience folk culture and making traditional household goods. Participants will make a piggy bank with traditional Korean paper, hanji, to commemorate the Year of the Pig, and visit the remains of “Gwangju Eupseong” (stone wall fortification). Participants can also enjoy many traditional folk games. Plant Life Class is a course in which participants learn about the trees and wildflowers that grow around the museum. There are about 200 kinds of herbaceous plants and various native trees such as zelkova, pine, and Indian lilac. Together with a forestry expert, the participants can observe the trees and flowers around the museum and explore the origin and characteristics of the plants, the stories behind them, and their cultural impact. The Folk Ecological Village Trip is where the participants explore the traditional lifestyles of Korea’s ancestors who lived with nature around Gokseong’s Seomjin River by
taking a steam locomotive ride, walking around the rose park, and observing the ecological life around the area. To apply, one needs to register online at least two weeks before the class is to start on the Gwangju City website (only 40 seats available for each class). Participation fee varies from 3000 to 10,000 won depending on the program one is registering for. Schedule April 13 (Sat.), 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Plant Life Class: Free April 27 (Sat.), 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Trip to Gwangju Eupseong: 3,000 won May 11 (Sat.), 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Trip to Seomjin River, Gokseong, and Gokseong Train Village: 10,000 won May 25 (Sat.), 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Plant Life Class: Free For more information, please contact the Gwangju Folk Museum (광주시립민속박물관). Phone: 062-613-5363
G
wangju’s Dong-gu District representative announced that the Chungjang Festival has received the grand prize at the 2019 Korea Festival Contents Awards. The awards, organized by the Korea Festival Contents Association, recognize festivals dedicated to the local economy and that shows future growth potential.
Photograph courtesy of Dong-gu District.
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April 2019
With the win, the Chungjang Festival has won the title four consecutive years since 2015. The 2018 Chungjang Festival ran for three days attracting some 282,000 people. This year, it will be held October 2–6. For more information, please visit http://www.donggu.kr/index.es?sid=c9
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
Chungjang Festival Wins Korea Festival Contents Grand Prize
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10 Years of
Making Waves
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
FEATURE
Written by Arlo Matisz
The GFN Staff Photo in 2013.
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B
efore I begin, let me be clear that this is not an impartial historical record. I am currently a radio host at GFN, and for that alone, I cannot be considered impartial. As you’ll later learn, GFN holds a special place in my heart. Rather than push aside feelings for the sake of a bland and neutral account, I will embrace them, though you may expect some degree of romanticizing the tale. In late 2008 and early 2009, there was some curious gossip flowing through the foreign community. Any word of a job that didn’t have to do with teaching English drew the attention of veteran expat teachers who were looking for something different. A dear friend of mine was among those early explorers who took this chance to sail for a new crew. The new ship was GFN, and it was setting sail on the airwaves of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do. Ten years later, though there are many new faces among the crew, that voyage continues.
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April 2019
Efforts to meet the needs and preferences of these two markets led to the development of a diverse catalogue of programming that continues to evolve each season. However, it has always been difficult to entirely satisfy both markets. Some of the
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The tides that brought that ship had been pushing for some time. In June of 2008, the Gwangju municipal government announced a plan to establish a Gwangju English language broadcasting system. This mandate was the first in a series of administrative steps that would lead to the launch on April 1, 2009, of GFN, the Gwangju Foreign Language Network. The target market of this public radio station was divided into two distinct segments. The first target market was the foreign population, who would be able to become familiar with national and local issues being presented in a format they could understand more easily, as well as being entertained by the various programs available. The second and larger market was the Korean population interested in English programming, both to improve English ability and to be exposed to various topics outside of the Korean mainstream media already available.
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▲ Original GFN DJs.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
content for Korean listeners is not of interest to those for whom English is a first language. Resolving this market difference, as well as breaking down the cultural and communication barriers between the Korean producers and the foreign community, are ever-present challenges for the station. Community feedback is crucial for improving the product. A radio staff consists of various positions, each with distinct sets of skills. Administrators, program directors and developers, journalists, writers, engineers, and hosts are necessary positions in the station. The majority of these jobs were filled by Korean professionals with education and training in their respective areas. However, when it came to hosting, the local English speakers did not all bring experience to the table. While the initial group of hosts did include one with radio experience, most of the hosts were exploring new professional territory. Many in the foreign community felt this lent to the station’s charm. There was a distinct difference between the polished DJs from our home countries’ stations and those working at GFN. It was not an easy gig to get. One of GFN’s starting hosts, Pete Ross, who worked there for two and a half years, describes his experience: “I hosted the local pub quiz at that time. And a couple of folks who enjoyed that show told me they’d seen a job ad for a new English radio station advertised and that I should go along and audition. So I went along to audition. I wasn’t successful. I went back the next day. They were surprised
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to see me. This time, I had prepared my own script. I auditioned again. They didn’t like me. Again. But they liked my script. So they offered me a job as a script writer. This was about three or four weeks before the launch on April 1. By the time the station launched, I’d convinced them to give me my own show, the 8–10 p.m. slot. One of the best times of my life.”
This former host is now a broadcast journalist for BBC World Service. While the broadcasting began in English, along with some obligatory Korean language as well, over the years, programming in other languages has also been added to the station’s repertoire. After all, it is the Gwangju Foreign Language Network, not just English. In October 2013, GFN began to broadcast programming in Chinese, and in March 2017, Vietnamese programming was added as well. To those surprised that we offer programming in these languages, it should be pointed out that native Chinese and Vietnamese speakers outnumber native English speakers in Gwangju. In addition to adding different languages to its programming, GFN has extended its range of broadcast. In October 2011, broadcasting was extended to Yeosu. For special occasions, such as the 2015 Gwangju Universiade, GFN has broadcast nationally. Beyond just radio programming, GFN was also involved with community events from the beginning. In January of 2010, the GFN Choir was founded. In November of
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11 the same year, GFN held the first Gwangju Youth Debating Championship, and in the following month, the first Gwangju Junior English Interpreters Competition. All of these programs followed GFN’s mandate of providing English services to the public, in these cases, by engaging with youth through education and culture. Another consistently popular event has been GFN’s Amazing Race, a culture-themed scavenger hunt held at festival locations in Jeollanamdo. A foreigner K-pop song contest is another favorite. Of the original Korean staff, only four remain. Just one of the original foreign hosts is still on air at GFN. We wish more were with us, but time is not always kind. When one of the original hosts, Michael Simning, was diagnosed with leukemia, GFN held a national blood drive to bring in the donations he required. When that host passed away, a hole was left, a hole I was asked to try to help fill. That was five years ago. In that time, I have had the privilege to work with an incredible group of talented and hardworking professionals whom I call colleagues and friends. I have avoided giving names in this article with two obvious exceptions because too many good people have worked and do work at GFN to name them all. ▲ Meeting of the Programming Department.
I hope you have enjoyed our waves. We’ll keep making them. Photographs courtesy of GFN
The Author Arlo Matisz is the host of GFN’s City of Light as well as being an economics professor. Gwangju is his inspiration and home.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
The GFN K-Pop Song Contest.
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FEATURE
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▲ When the first cruise ship arrived at the “Jeju Civilian Military Complex Port” (navy base) on March 2, 2019, Kaia tried to bring attention to the navy base problem with picket signs and flyers. (Photo by Lee Ki Cheol)
Kaia Vereide Activism Beyond Bases and Borders
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
Written by Gianna Francesca Catolico
E
very year, thousands of travelers and so-called “honeymooners” are drawn to the pristine island of Jeju. Yet Jeju’s touristic bravado has been periled by three controversial issues confronting Jeju today: the existence of the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port, the unforeseen arrival of Yemeni refugees, and the mapping out of a second international airport in the area. Among the locals standing up against displacement and environmental destruction, a young foreign activist is making waves with her peace activism. Kaia Vereide, an American, has been at the forefront in campaigning against the construction and operation of her country’s military bases in Asia, chiefly in Jeju. At 31 years of age, Kaia’s blazing experience for human rights and peace activism became entrenched in her
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college years. Born and raised in Maryland and taking up international relations and French language at the American University in Washington, Kaia volunteered for faith-based groups before voyaging into the Land of the Morning Calm. The Gwangju News sat down with Kaia for a brief conversation about the human rights situation in Jeju.
Gwangju News (GN): When did you move to Korea? When did you first learn about human rights and peace issues on the Korean peninsula? Kaia: While studying, I was looking for volunteering opportunities, and I found Jubilee Partners, a religious organization that works for refugees near Atlanta. It made me want to do more in peace organizations, so I went back to Jubilee after graduation. I was mainly welcoming
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13 refugees from Myanmar. Moreover, my five-month study in France made me more curious and interested in living overseas. I made multiple connections from Korea in my university. I came to Korea in March 2013 with the Northeast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute (NARPI). Then, I moved to Jeju in 2016. I read the book by Bruce Cumings about the Korean War, so I was familiar with the Jeju Uprising. Rather than listening to the people of Jeju, the government listened only to the U.S. military. The people who experienced the Jeju Uprising have trauma left from that tragedy, which is one reason to oppose the building of the naval base. GN: What motivated or inspired you to become a peace activist in Korea? Kaia: I have been interested in learning about human rights. When I learned about the Darfur genocide in Sudan during high school, I became more interested in international issues. When I came to Korea, I worked for two years with NARPI, then two years with the Frontiers. I left the Frontiers in December 2018, and I currently work with St. Francis Peace Center. I am helping with peace education and international solidarity, sharing the news of the locals, and trying to stop negative influences from outside. GN: What are the environmental impacts of the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port? How did this facility
affect the livelihood of locals living nearby? Kaia: Gureombi Rock (구럼비 바위) is a 1.2 kilometer-long rock that the Jeju Naval Base was built on top of. The rock itself was used by the locals for fishing, swimming, relaxing, and hiking. The trail and the coast were famous. There was fresh water coming from the rock that locals believe had healing properties, so it’s a sacred place for them. But the government blasted the rock and covered it in concrete, destroying the habitat of the endangered animals living there. Many soft corals died because the breakwater at the navy base blocks the flow of oxygen. The ocean from Seogwipo to Gangjeong is the world’s largest soft coral habitat. Gureombi Rock was supposed to be an absolute preservation area (절대보전지역), but the government canceled the absolute preservation status of the area in order to build the naval base. The tangerine orchards near the coast were also destroyed to construct the base. I know some farmers who protested because they lost their orchards. GN: Do you think that the construction of the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port was because of the activities of the Chinese navy along Tsushima strait? Why or why not? Kaia: Some fishermen who support the Jeju Naval Base have said that they saw Chinese fishing boats. Hence, they felt safer because of the existence of the base. But I think the coast guard is enough to deal with the Chinese
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April 2019
▲ On October 11, 2018, the Jeju Navy Base hosted foreign warships for a massive “fleet review,” but kayakers lined up to protect the ocean with hand held signs reading “No Warships.” (Photo by Hantol)
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▲ Everyday at 7 a.m. in front of the Jeju Naval Base, Kaia joins “100 Bows for Life and Peace.” (Photo by Pang Eun Mi)
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April 2019
fishermen. It’s true that China is increasing its military ships, but the U.S. has also increased its military presence all around China. If the U.S. wants to be respected, it should use negotiations and not military escalation. I think that is a more effective solution. GN: What are your organization’s programs or campaigns for fighting the presence of American bases in Jeju? Is this situation similar to that of the Okinawa base? Kaia: The Jeju Naval Base is like other Korean bases: U.S. ships can visit there anytime. In 2017, the U.S. sent seven warships, and in 2018, there was a fleet review where countries sent their warships and used the opportunity to sell their products. Jeju is faced with a huge trash problem, not just from the tourists but now also from the naval ships. I work to oppose the visits by foreign warships to the naval base. We share the opposition of the locals with the government, but they ignore us. Similarly, Okinawa is discriminated against by mainland Japan. Anti-base activists there have been struggling for 70 years. The Korean government also likes to cover up the news, trying to make people think that there is no more opposition to the navy base, that all issues are finished. GN: How should the Jeju local government deal with the influx of refugees from Yemen? Do you support Korea’s cancelation of its visa-free policy?
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Kaia: I was involved with Hope School, which organized programs with Yemeni refugees. We shared personal experiences such as cultural exchange between Koreans and Yemenis. We shared our understanding on work expectations. So far, the Korean government has handed refugee status to only one or two people while others have been granted humanitarian visas. The visa-free policy is supposed to bring more tourists, but the reception of refugees is a bigger issue. The Korean government needs to expand its infrastructure, understanding, and overall awareness about refugees. GN: How do you rate the current efforts of the Korean government in providing humanitarian assistance, employment, or granting refugee status to the Yemeni refugees? Kaia: The sudden arrival of hundreds of Yemeni refugees in Jeju exposed the lack of preparedness of Korea to live up to its ratification of the U.N. Refugee Convention. This seems to include both a lack of resources dedicated to processing refugee or humanitarian status applications and a relative lack of understanding about refugees and Islam. This was made clear by the reaction of many Koreans against the Yemenis who arrived in Jeju last year. GN: What are your daily activities in Jeju? Kaia: From Monday to Saturday, I join the 100 Bows for Life and Peace at 7 a.m. outside the naval base. It is a good way to start the day with some exercise, prayer,
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15 meditation, and talk with the friends who join. It creates a space and a presence for peace that weakens the power of militarism in subtle symbolic ways. Although I am not Catholic, I sometimes join the Street Mass that is held at 11 am in a tent across the street from the old construction entrance to the base. At 12 noon, we form a human chain. In the human chain, everyone is welcome to share songs, poems, and short speeches, and then we dance in the street in front of the base. The experience is a good way for visitors to practice stepping out of their comfort zones, and it is a good exercise and community-building activity for us regulars. After the human chain, everyone joins a community meal at Halmangmul (할망물, also called Samgeori 삼거리) Community Kitchen. Like the sharing of rice in the Gwangju Uprising, this meal is the heart of the peace movement in Gangjeong. People from all over Korea donate food, and “Uncle Jonghwan” has been cooking community meals since the beginning of the struggle against the naval base. This is an important space to meet, share ideas, and support one another.
GN: Any message to our readers? Kaia: I didn’t mention yet about the new plans for a second airport in Jeju. It is like the Jeju naval base issue all over again. The local people who are most affected are opposed, the environmental destruction is being ignored by the government, and it will even be used by the military as well. Jeju is supposed to be the “Island of World Peace,” but it will take a huge effort to stop the militarization and over-development of Jeju, and save the pristine environment for future generations. I may have a pretty different set of experiences compared to what is “normal,” but my path has been small gradual steps following and joining along with people who have modeled dedication to peace, justice, love, and community. Maybe I’ll see you on the journey. Don’t forget to check out savejejunow.org and “No Naval Base on Jeju” on Facebook.
The Author
Gianna Francesca Catolico is an intern from the Philippines at the May 18 Memorial Foundation. She recently finished her master’s degree in human rights and democratization from Mahidol University in Thailand. She has been sojourning around Asia over the past three years.
These are the constant parts of my schedule. Other time is spent writing, editing or translating articles, sharing about Gangjeong on social media, attending meetings, gardening, giving tours to visitors, organizing or attending educational and solidarity events, cooking, drinking coffee, reading, hiking, etc. And now and then, we also have kayak protests.
Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine
Join us as we hold an open meeting to meet new faces, recruit new volunteers, and brainstorm for our future issues! Anyone is welcome! * Light refreshments will be provided.
WHERE
May 4, 2019 (Sat.) 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
GIC Global Lounge 1st Floor
Info and Inquiry: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr
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April 2019
WHEN
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
Meet & Greet 2019
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16
In Search of the Gwangju Spirit Written by Lee Suk Pei
FEATURE
T
he Project: Gwangju Dark Tour After completing our very first project on the Goryeo-in Village in the Gwangsan District, for our second project our team decided to focus on the dark histories of Gwangju’s past. The new project, a walking tour, will cover a range of incidents, including the 3.1 Independence Movement, the 4.19 Revolution, the 5.18 Democratic Uprising, the 11.3 Student Movement, and others to show how these incidents unfolded and shaped the Gwangju we live in today. In the process, we would also like to understand how the spirit of Gwangju developed by asking questions such as “What makes the Gwangju spirit uniquely Gwangju’s?” “Why is this spirit so pronounced in this region relative to others?” and “What is this spirit’s effect on people’s participation in all these movements?”
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April 2019
Through this project, we would like to highlight the importance of several values, including the freedom of expression, the freedom of thought, the protection of human rights, and the communal spirit. In doing so, we hope to argue that it is the spirit of Gwangju, particular to this region, that drives people out onto the street to fight for these intangible yet essential values. The Spirit of Gwangju Throughout the year, apart from the dates of different flower and other festivals held around the country, the calendar is dotted with dates commemorating the nation’s past: 3.1, 4.19, 5.18, 6.10, 6.25, and so on. On March 1, we observed the 100th anniversary celebration of the 3.1 Independence Movement against Japanese colonialization, which dates back to 1919. Looking back at photos of people chanting “Manse! Manse!” (만세, 만세; Long live [Korea]!) with great spirit, I recently started to wonder what kind of spirit gave Koreans a level of patriotism strengthening to where they did not bat an eye when fighting for independence, even when they were faced with the guns and rifles of the Japanese. Were they not afraid of death? Did they not care about the consequences? The cooperation and community spirit observed among them were strong enough that they would protect each other – even if that meant great danger – and provide food and daily necessities for each other. I am not sure about other areas of Korea, but the one thing that the people of Gwangju always talk about is the “spirit of Gwangju.”
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The Lesser-Known Darkness: The 4.19 Struggle in Gwangju In the process of learning about this nationwide movement that toppled the government in 1960, our team visited the 4.19 Memorial Hall located in Gyerim-dong. We saw that the memorial hall was well equipped but that the amount of visitors was nevertheless quite low. The pamphlets were also well made, though they did not come in English or in any language other than Korean. This seemed like a missed opportunity for helping people understand such an important struggle in Korea’s history. Interestingly, our interview with the head of the memorial hall revealed that the protest actually arose around three hours earlier in Gwangju when compared to other places in Korea. But without Korean language skills, this important tidbit would remain unknown to many visitors. Furthermore, if one were to take the time to search for relevant information online on how the struggle unfolded in Gwangju, I could almost guarantee that you would not find much. So we decided to do our own research… The Better-Known Darkness: The 5.18 Uprising in Gwangju One incident that needs no introduction would be the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising that took place in 1980. This year will mark the 39th anniversary of the incident, and I believe there will be many activities organized to commemorate its 40th anniversary in 2020. Given all the evidence that exists confirming the true nature of this democratic uprising, one would think that recognition of the event would be a non-issue; however, the recent case of some conservative members of the Assembly labeling participants of the uprising “monsters” is shocking. Their comments indicate that some segments of society have not changed much compared to 39 years ago. Even with popular films showing realistic accounts of how the people of Gwangju participated in the uprising, there are still people on the other side who attempt to deride their efforts and diminish their spirit. Jong-hwan’s Take on the Project As the project is a group effort, it would not be fair if only one voice were presented. Hence, I decided to invite our fellow members to give their take on the project. One of our project members, Jong-hwan, is currently
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1717
The May 18 National Cemetery. (Photo by Mark Eaton)
studying geography at Chonnam National University. According to him, being in the project allows him to hone his geographical skills. He said, “I want to understand Gwangju, the place I’m staying in, and to make this happen for people who are interested in the story of Gwangju. We want to reveal the sense of community and the spirit of Gwangju.” He also added that participants in the walking tour of Gwangju’s dark days will be able to learn how the liberties and rights we are enjoying in 2019 could be better safeguarded. Participants will also be able to appreciate the people who entrusted these important values to us so that we can prevent these values from eroding.
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GWANGJU DARK TOUR Date: April 27, 2019 Time: 10:30 a.m. Duration: 3 hours (Tour starts from 4.19 Memorial Hall to 5.18 Democratic Plaza.) Venue: The 4.19 Memorial Hall Fee: 4,000 won
The Author
Suk Pei is currently studying for her master’s degree at Chonnam National University. Having been in Gwangju for almost one year, she is starting to extend her tentacles to meet different people and participate in various activities here in Gwangju. Gwangju is definitely more than what meets the eye.
April 2019
People who are interested in knowing more about the project are welcome to visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GwangjuINMUN/ or simply search Facebook for “GwangjuINMUN.”
▲ The Gwangju Spirit board with messages collected from Gwangju International Center (GIC) visitors. (Photo by Lee Suk Pei)
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Hyun-seok’s Take on the Project Hyun-seok’s participation in the project has provided valuable input due to her being a Gwangju citizen herself. She shared her story about how, while she was an elementary school student, she witnessed some of these May 18 incidents happening right across from her house. She always mentions that it is important that our project highlights the spirit of Gwangju and that, without this spirit unique to the people here, these struggles would not have happened. As an artist herself, she also added that the unique historical background and economic situation of the people here have contributed much to the artistic impulses of this region, the birthplace of a traditional form of Korean narrative singing called chang (창).
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18 Blast from the Past
The 4.19 Student Revolution Originally written by Shin Sang-soon
(Originally appearing in the April 2006 issue of the Gwangju News.)
FEATURE
As April 19 is the annual observance of Korea’s 4.19 Student Revolution, we thought it fitting and educational to remember the occasion by running this 2006 article by Prof. Shin Sang-soon, longtime contributor to the Gwangju News on a multitude of things Korean. — Ed.
K
oreans remember major historical events in the modern history of Korea by naming them with the month and day (in numbers) as part of the event name, for example, the 3.1 Independence Movement, the 4.19 Student Revolution, and the 5.16 Military Revolution.
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April 2019
The Non-Immediate Causes of the Student Revolution The seven-year period after the end of the actual fighting of the Korean War on July 27, 1953, up to 1960, was a period of political and social turbulence in Korea. After the devastation of the country during the three-year war (1950–1953), South Korea was dependent on foreign aid for survival. Through the mismanagement of foreign aid, the Syngman Rhee government and his Liberal Party lost the people’s support. In addition, a series of political and legislative maneuvers by Rhee, revealing an ever-increasing tilt towards despotism, played a decisive role in his loss of popularity. In 1952, while the war was still raging, Rhee forced through the legislature a constitutional amendment to elect the president popularly, rather than by the legislators. This was accomplished by proclaiming martial law around the wartime capital of Busan and arresting and intimidating opposition legislators. In 1954, in anticipation of the termination of his twoterm presidency in 1956, Rhee again forced through the legislature another constitutional amendment that nullified the two-term limitation clause on the presidency so that he could run for president indefinitely. The presidential/vice-presidential election of May 1956, with the opposition Democratic candidate Shin Ik-hee’s sudden death on a campaign trip, ended in Rhee’s election as president and Chang Myon of the opposition Democratic
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Party as vice-president. This resulted in a strange political cohabitation of rival parties. The fact that the dead candidate garnered twenty percent of the votes cast and the election of the opposite party’s candidate for the vice-presidency was indicative of the ruling Liberal Party’s unpopularity – and Syngman Rhee’s, as well. Ensuing abnormal legislative measures such as the amendment of the security law and the suppression of the press added to the government’s unpopularity. The Immediate Cause of the Student Revolution Analyzing the 1956 presidential/vice-presidential election, the ruling Liberal Party realized that the forthcoming 1960 presidential election could not be won through a normal process. They contrived a series of blatant and shameless devices that defy description. One example will suffice: the forming of three-man or five-man bands to show one’s ballot to one another, showing one’s choice of the progovernment candidate. Home Affairs Minister Choi Inkyu sent out the infamous directives to be carried out by all lower administrative units. In addition, the government advanced the scheduled election date by two months to March 15th for fear that the opposition Democratic Party candidate Cho Byong-ok might return from the U.S. after medical treatment there. Unfortunately, Cho died in the U.S. just before the election. Two days after the election, the government announced their victory with over 80 percent support of the vote, but most people were skeptical of the election results with rumors of fraudulent schemes by the government swirling about. The government’s scheme did not go uncovered. The secret scheme was exposed by a righteous policeman aglow with a sense of justice by handing the directives over to the opposition Democratic Party. The people’s reaction to the fraudulent March 15 election was immediate. On the same day, Masan students took to the streets demanding that a new election be held. This was met with a ruthless attack by the riot police, armed with teargas guns and clubs, and allied with political thugs. Many students were wounded and some went missing. Prior to this, on February 28, all Daegu students were
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19 shed. This was the climax that dealt the final blow to the government. On April 26 at 10 a.m., President Rhee announced his resignation from the presidency “if the people want.” Thus ended the twelve-year Rhee regime, with Rhee going into exile in Hawaii and the family suicide of his running mate, Lee Ki-poong.
ordered to attend school, in spite of it being a Sunday, to prevent them from attending an opposition party political rally. This angered the students, and they took to the streets, demanding that the political use of students be discontinued. Thus, student demonstrations spread all over the country in early March. On April 11, the body of a missing student, Kim Ju-yeol of Masan Commercial High School, was found floating in Masan Harbor with a teargas cartridge stuck in his eye. This was apparently the work of the riot police. This news was enough to make the people’s anger and indignation boil over. They demanded punishment of the murderous police and a new election. On April 18, after a peaceful and orderly demonstration demanding a new election was held in front of the National Assembly building, Korea University students, returning to their campus in an orderly manner, were attacked by scores of thugs. Many were seriously injured, and the news of the incident added fuel to the fire.
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The chaotic internal situation after the collapse of the Rhee regime in April 1960 paved the way to a military takeover in May 1961.
The Author
Shin Sang-soon (1922–2011) was a longtime professor of English education at Chonnam National University. After his retirement, he authored “The Korean Way” under the penname “2Ys,” a column in the Gwangju News that ran from 2002 to 2010. Prof. Shin was also a senior advisor to the Gwangju International Center.
April 2019
On April 25 at 5 p.m., some 300 college professors from 27 universities and colleges ventured to demonstrate under the stringent emergency martial law, demanding that the government recompense the students for their blood
The students’ genuine sense of social justice drove them to mass action to remedy the injustice incurred at the hands of the established generation.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
On the fateful day of April 19, almost all students in Seoul, as well as the public, turned out in front of the government administrative building demanding the president’s resignation and marched towards the presidential mansion against the police order to stop and disperse. Martial law was declared over Seoul at 1 p.m. and troops were called in. At 4 p.m., martial law was extended to Busan, Daegu, and Gwangju. At 5 p.m., martial law was raised to the emergency level, and the police guarding the presidential mansion started firing at the advancing demonstrators, killing 183 and wounding 6,259. Fortunately, the martial law troops kept a neutral stance and showed a rather sympathetic attitude towards the demonstrators.
The Significance of the 4.19 Student Revolution From the beginning, it was not a struggle to take over a regime nor was the purpose to change the social system in order to realize a certain political ideology. There was no intervention by any political power, nor was there any systematic campaign strategy or objective. The students’ genuine sense of social justice drove them to mass action to remedy the injustice incurred at the hands of the established generation. Their initial slogan after the March 15 presidential election was “Hold the election again!” It is said that bringing down a legitimate government by the power of empty-handed students was the first in history. Thus, the 4.19 Student Revolution, at the threshold of the 1960s, opened a decade of youth uproar in many countries: in Japan in 1962; in France in 1968; and in the U.S. on issues of civil rights, the Bay of Pigs, military intervention in Vietnam, the military draft of young men, etc.
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20 Local Enterpreneur
Home Away from Home
TRAVEL COMMUNITY
The Jamaican Way
Writ ten by Gian na Fran cesc a Cato lico
G
wangju is home to a colossal number of restaurants, pubs, and shops wielding a growing influx of Asian and Western cuisine and culture. Among these places surrounding Chonnam National University, one restobar offers a mouth-watering assemblage of Jamaicaninspired dishes at student-friendly prices: Loft 28. Since it opened its doors back in 2014, Loft 28 shines as a popular hangout among students and partygoers.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
There are two cultural icons that pop into mind when one hears about Jamaica: Bob Marley and Reggae music (which was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as an international cultural treasure in 2018). However, Jamaican culture is more than just the dynamic beat of reggae – and Loft 28 is there to prove it. I had a quick conversation with Ronald Harford, one of the co-owners of Loft 28. A Canadian-Venezuelan with Jamaican roots, he also works as an English and Spanish language instructor at Chosun University. Since arriving in Korea last 2009, he has been observing and immersing himself in Gwangju nightlife, which prompted him and his cousin, Craig Cha-Fong, to open a restaurant and offer their succulent must-try dishes. “I started looking at bars and hanging out with friends,” Ronald responded when I asked how Loft 28 was blueprinted. “Nine years ago, I made friends with the owner of Bubble Club downtown. I told them that my cousin was a DJ and that he can play music here. My cousin started playing music there, and did so for many years. Then, we
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started learning about the business of Korean bars. We were curious and interested, and that’s when we started the idea of maybe one day opening our own bar.” A bookshelf door greeted me upon entering Loft 28. I feasted my eyes on the restobar’s warm and homey interior design akin to that of a Western-style home. It’s furnished with a mini-bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, bathroom, and a dining area. An ornate letter wall displaying “Home Away from Home” also caught my attention. “Our whole idea was to make this [Loft 28] a friendly kind of establishment. ... It feels like it’s very comfortable and like it’s a house party in America or in Canada, where people are talking over there, people are sitting over here, and maybe they would talk to each other [later],” Ronald explained while we toured through his restobar. Because of Loft 28’s warm and homey concept, Ronald admitted that some Korean customers were bewildered as to what, exactly, Loft 28 is. “A lot of people have never seen a place like ours. So, a lot of Koreans were confused as to whether Loft 28 was a bar, a restaurant, or a club – there are people who are singing and dancing, but there are people eating and drinking, plus there’s coffee. But now, a lot of people are starting to know about our food a little bit more.” During our chitchat, I was served one of their bestsellers, the Jamaican Jerk Chicken. While I was taking a bite of it, Ronald muttered, “Do you know the secret of our chicken [recipe]? We put a pinch of adobo in it” (Filipino and Spanish word for marinade or seasoning), which, to my
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21 awe, manifests our respective countries’ “salty” colonial history under Spanish conquest and tutelage. Interestingly, most of their dishes are either fusion dishes or are served with Korean side dishes to bring mouth-watering Jamaican staples closer to Korean taste buds. They also serve a variety of wines and cocktails priced at 5,000 won. EVENTS AND GIGS Ronald, Craig, and their team members ensure that Loft 28 will never run out of gimmicks and events. In fact, on the same night as my interview, Ronald and his team were hosting a “Latin Party,” an event where they blast Latin music. Every Friday night, Loft 28 dazzles with live jazz music, a new addition to their roster of activities. Ronald is planning to invite musicians to perform jazz and reggae. Meanwhile, Wednesdays are reserved as an open mic gig for aspiring singers. Through promoting local artistry at Loft 28, Ronald hopes that more artists would showcase their talents. As a token of appreciation to their female customers, Loft 28 organizes a “Ladies Night” on one Saturday each month. A group of three or four women comes together, and we give them a bottle of their choice of rum, gin, vodka, or Loft 28 Special. They need a cover the service and tip, which is 10,000 won. Due to an overwhelming number of customers, one must make a reservation days in advance for Ladies Night.
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with each other. For Ronald and his team, they always make sure that their customers are given nothing but the best service. “Craig, I, and our team put in a lot of our time here. They [customers] may be shy, but we want to treat them with something they never felt before,” he said. “So later, I might buy a drink and talk to them. ... If they are comfortable with me, they may come back and enjoy the experience again.” He also bared his future plans for Loft 28, including opening a second branch in the downtown area. Perhaps, their Jamaican Jerk Chicken can be the next sought-after chicken in the city. “Who knows? Maybe I could start delivering chicken, too!” he quipped before capping off our interview. LOFT 28 로프트28
Location: 79 Myeonang-ro 6-beongil, Buk-gu, Gwangju 광주 북구 면앙로6번길 79 지하1층
Phone: 010-8470-1221 (Craig) Website: http://www.facebook.com/28loft28 Hours: 5:00 p.m. onwards Photographs courtesy of Loft 28
The Author
Gianna Francesca Catolico is an intern from the Philippines at the May 18 Memorial Foundation. She recently finished her master’s degree in human rights and democratization from Mahidol University in Thailand. She has been sojourning around Asia over the past three years.
April 2019
LOFT 28 IN THE FUTURE Loft 28 is indeed a loft that brings together Koreans and foreigners to interact and mingle
Jamaican Jerk Chicken ▶
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Lastly, the hardworking crew of Loft 28, with the help of the foreign community, organizes charity fundraisers for orphanages in Gwangju. Ronald explained, “We’ll host a party with a fee, and all the proceeds and part of our sales will be for the foundation we’re trying to help. We’ve worked Sungbin Girls Orphanage, we had a couple of parties for them and raised a million or a million and a half for them.” Last year, they raised funds for an NGO helping women who were victims of domestic abuse. This year, they will hold a similar fundraiser for Mudeung Dream Garden Children’s Home, located near Mt. Mudeung.
▲ A cozy corner of the restaurant.
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TRAVEL TRAVEL
22 Lost in Gwangju
The Jeonil Building Icon of an Uprising
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April 2019
Written and photographed by Isaiah Winters
The paint-chipped exterior of the Jeonil Building just as the scaffolding began to go up.
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he Jeonil Building in downtown Gwangju represents many things to many different people. To casual passersby, it’s the paintchipped eyescraper* that dominates much of the city center. To English-speaking foreigners of a certain vintage, it’s the former home of the Gwangju International Center (GIC), a social capital hub for many in the City of Light. To those with an interest in history, the Jeonil Building is a reminder of the days when local residents dared to take up arms against a military junta, which resulted in nearly 250 rounds being fired into the building from a helicopter-mounted machine gun. Recently, a few friends and I were able to tour the building and examine firsthand the well-preserved evidence of over 100 of those rounds. Our impromptu tour was arranged by the Gwangju News’ publisher, Dr. Shin Gyonggu, who’s also the executive director of the GIC, as well as professor emeritus at Chonnam National University. Dr. Shin got in touch with representatives of the construction company currently in charge of the Jeonil Building’s renovation, and they quickly approved our visit. During the tour, our guides were remarkably transparent and amiable, granting us total access to the building and answering all of our questions to the best of their knowledge. Together we took the building’s 40-year-old elevator straight up to the tenth floor to a long, empty room overlooking Geumnam-ro. At first, much of the room was cordoned off behind red belts, but our guides let us through to get a closer look at the bullet holes. As we approached the window, a scattershot constellation of nicks and holes emerged across the floor. Each had been marked with a number and a neon pink sticker by analysts from Korea’s National Forensic Service, who conducted two investigations of the building, one in late 2016 and another in early 2017. The primary investigation revealed evidence of 185 shots (150 inside, 35 outside), while the secondary investigation yielded evidence of an additional 60 shots (43 inside, 17 outside).
*eyescraper (noun): a large structure that assaults the eyes, typically due to its lack of completion, maintenance, or general comeliness. [Coined by Isaiah Winters.]
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April 2019
Today, the most staggering visual evidence of the shooting is etched on one of the office’s main columns. On the side facing the window,
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The highest concentration of shots was found in the ceiling of the tenth floor, and even though the shootings took place some 39 years ago, a few of the ceiling tiles still bear the scars of the attack, as well as the clearly discernable trajectory of the volleys: downward from the sky. The high concentration of shots suggests not only that the helicopter had been hovering at the time of the shooting, allowing for more accurate firing, but that this part of the building had been specifically targeted. At the time, the room contained the offices of Jeonil Broadcasting (전일방송), which was then a part of the Jeonnam Ilbo (전남일보), so the shooting seems to have been a reckless threat to any journalists in the building.
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An external shot of the Jeonil Building with construction workers on the roof.
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April 2019
GIC executive director, Dr. Shin Gyonggu holds up a piece of the past.
One of the bullet holes in the floor marked by the National Forensic Service.
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25 the concrete column is pockmarked with dozens of bullet holes that cluster near the ceiling. As we looked the evidence over, our guides remarked that it was exactly in this spot by the column where President Moon Jae-in stood and saw for himself the irrefutable evidence of 5.18’s (May 18, 1980) suppression – a fact that some still doubt today. Chief among those who dispute the veracity of the helicopter attack is none other than Chun Doo-hwan, the 88-year-old former army general who took control of the country in a coup following the 1979 assassination of President Park Chunghee. Chun, who would go on to rule the country for nearly a decade, is now on trial for libel after allegedly defaming victims of 5.18, including the late pastor Cho Bioh, whom Chun called a “masked Satan” and “shameless liar” for claiming to have witnessed the helicopter attack during 5.18. As defamation of the deceased is a punishable offense in South Korea, Chun faces up to two years in jail if found guilty.
he past.
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As we worked our way back down to the foyer, I had one more question for our guides about the Jeonil Building. Given that the building will be repainted, I wanted to know what they planned to do with the “LOVE LIFE” graffiti seen along the external stairwell. Although they said they weren’t yet sure what would be done with it, I could tell that the topic piqued their interest because they then turned the tables and asked me if I knew the artist(s) behind the city’s most iconic exhortation. I admitted that I didn’t, but that I still liked the message and wished it could remain. They responded warmly, “We hope so, too.” Reference [1] Newsis. (2019, February 17). 5·18 역사 간직한 전일빌딩 시민문화시설로 새 단장. Retrieved from the Jeonnam Ilbo website: https://jnilbo. com/2019/02/17/2019021713000378276/]
The Author
Originally from Southern California, Isaiah 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.
April 2019
Unfortunately, the Jeonil Building fell into an accelerated state of neglect over time. Despite being centrally located and playing a critical role during 5.18, the number of tenants in the building decreased over the last few decades to the point where it was pretty much abandoned, save for the old GIC, the Korea Exchange Bank, and a stalwart tearoom (Jeonil Dabang, 전일다방) located in the basement. It was as if the
Today, the Jeonil Building is undergoing a metamorphosis that will not only link it to the thriving Asia Culture Center (ACC) across the street, but will also reconnect it to the public, as well as to the city’s future ambitions. The renovation is expected to be completed by spring of next year, just in time for the 40th anniversary of 5.18. The first four floors will be open to the public and will include a digital library, lounge, culture center, and regional tourist center. Floors five to seven will be a space for cultural content companies and future ventures in conjunction with the ACC. The eighth floor will be set aside as a multipurpose hall and sky lounge, while the ninth and tenth floors will be memorial spaces for the distortions, evidence, and truth about 5.18.[1]
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After seeing the old Jeonil Broadcasting room, our party headed up to the rooftop where we enjoyed an impressive view of downtown and peppered our guides with more questions. We asked if we could see what was left of the old GIC down on the fifth floor, and our guides freely obliged. To our surprise, there were still many fragments of old GIC signs lying about, so we wasted no time in getting Dr. Shin to pick one of them up and pose for our cameras. I admit that I’m still quite sentimental about the old GIC, which made the Jeonil Building its home from 2002 to 2013. It’s where I had my first Korean language class and first got involved with hosting the GIC Talk years ago, so I think a little schmaltz is warranted.
management had given up on the place, and so, to prevent further deterioration, the city government took over the building in 2011.
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26 Around Korea
Sea Life of Yeosu A Day at Aqua Planet Written by Katy Ryan
I fell in love with this city’s views, people, and abundance of Korean culture. Compared to some areas of Korea, which are being slowly influence by Western culture, Yeosu seems set apart. It is a charming and captivating place to visit all year round. From its beautiful beaches to its ever-fascinating cable car ride, Yeosu has much to offer. For me the aquarium, which is the second biggest in all of Korea, was the main attraction. The aquarium was built as part of the Yeosu Expo, which opened on May
12, 2012. Currently, there are four floors and five marine exhibit areas. When you first arrive, you will have the option to buy a combination ticket. With this, you can see the aquarium and take part in one of two additional events: the It’s Alive! Photo Museum or the 4D Theater. I chose the former, and luckily, the ticket lines shrank quickly. To the left of the ticket counter, you will take an escalator up to where the animal exhibits are. The first sights that I recall seeing are part of the Marine Life exhibit, where harbor seals and beluga whales swam merrily. The belugas, adopted from Russia, were definitely the main attraction. Their tank was wide and spacious, and they even had small toys that they played with. The harbor seals were equally interesting. They swam quickly through tubes that were laced throughout the exhibit. On the same floor, there were two more exhibits: Ocean Life and Aqua Forest. The Ocean Life exhibit housed the animals in tanks that seemed to be crafted so that visitors could feel immersed while the creatures had maximum space. The
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April 2019
TRAVEL
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veryone, from old to young, has always been captivated by the daily life of aquatic animals. Whether it is a waddling penguin navigating the icy polar regions or a beaver steadily building its lodge, animals who call the water their home have never ceased to amaze. If you are not able to observe these creatures in their natural habitats, then your next best bet is to visit an aquarium. Since my tenure began in South Korea, I have made it a personal goal to visit all of the peninsula’s aquariums. I have been to four thus far, but my favorite, as of yet, is Hanwha Aqua Planet in Yeosu.
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27 hallway leading to the main tank was dotted with portholes that allowed the spectators to feel as if they were part of the animals’ world. In the main tank, I was enthralled by the vast array of stingrays, exotic fish, and sand sharks. The Aqua Forest exhibit was set up to resemble a rainforest and featured mainly freshwater life. It was interesting to see how small children revered the piranha, pointing and gasping as if they were animals of legend. This area also featured an electric eel with a readout stating the voltage that the eel was producing. Lastly, I walked through the Aqua Dome exhibit. The dome consisted of rows of glass tunnels that met in the middle to form a circle. There I was able to watch the animals swim all around. I was amazed at the beauty and care that had been put into the design. On the next floor, there was a beluga stand where you could either sit or stand nearby to watch the beluga whales play, though I do not recommend standing too close to the splash zone. The whales had endless amounts of energy. They dove deep and then emerged to propel beach balls off the tips of their noses. Next door, there is a seal stand where you can watch the seals, the ones that are not shooting through their tunnels, sunbathing, or playing. I had the honor of getting to see a staff member feed the animals fresh fish. It was a delight to see the fat seals lumber up for their treat. Some would try to leap up with all their might, trying to impress the staff member.
When you are finished with your visit, you can exit through the gift shop or go back through the aquarium a second time. Once you do exit, however, you cannot return unless you purchase another ticket. The gift shop itself is abundant in plush animals, toys, and accessories, all featuring animals of the aquarium. If you bought a joint ticket to the It’s Alive! Photo Museum, then you will find it on your right as you exit. Recently, they have updated the attraction, and you will be required to download an app so that you can experience the portraits in the museum coming to life.
Photographs by Sarah Pittman
Katy Ryan is from Tennessee in the U.S. She majored in criminology and sociology. She currently is a hagwon teacher who lives in Mokpo.
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April 2019
The Author
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
I would highly recommend visiting Hanhwa Aqua Planet in Yeosu. I felt that the habitats were appropriate and built with the comfort of the animals in mind. I plan on visiting again this year, and I hope to see new things! The price of admittance was not too steep, being only 34,000 won for an adult ticket. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.aquaplanet.co.kr/yeosu/eng/ index.jsp
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28 From Abroad
Bolivia A Dreamers’ Gift
Written by Park Tae-sang and Kaitlyn Wachter
TRAVEL
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ive years ago, I met two French brothers while traveling across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. One night, I wandered in the desert, far from the group. The brothers found me watching the sky and taking pictures of the galaxy. We admired the beautiful night sky together and talked about where in the rest of the world we could so clearly see the vastness of space with the naked eye. They recommended Bolivia. The pair had been traveling the world for two years at that point and said there was no place better in the world than Uyuni, Bolivia, to see the Milky Way. I had dreamed of traveling to Bolivia since then.
Unbeknownst to me, one Dreamers member and dear friend of mine remembered this story from when I had told it to him a few years ago. He secretly organized a surprise gift for me last spring along with other Dreamers friends. And they made my dream a reality. It made me cry. They had bought me tickets to South America and prepared some travel money for me. That is how I was able to travel and take these photos of Bolivia. Thank you so much, dear Dreamers!
The Author
Park Tae-sang is a freelance photographer and community organizer in Gwangju. He started Dreamers, a music and culture space at Daein Art Market in 2015. Dreamers’ goal is to build a harmonious and unbiased world.
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April 2019
Unfortunately, I had to put off my plan until the distant future because I started the most important thing in my life five years ago: the music and culture space, Dreamers.
Photographs by Park Tae-sang
Flamingos basking at midday on the Uyuni Salt Flats at Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.
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High on the Andes’ Altiplano Plateau at more than 3,500 meters above sea level, the city of La Paz is a dizzying feast of color and texture.
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Endless sky: We woke at 4:00 a.m. to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way on the border with Chile. Shooting stars passed ceaselessly overhead, and the depth of the universe left us feeling both small and infinite.
April 2019 Face the sun: Our fellow tourists align themselves with the horizon as the sun rises.
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April 2019
Cementerio de Trenes, Uyuni, Bolivia: Abandoned trains, once used to haul minerals across the deserts of Chile and Bolivia, stand alone with no purpose other than to cast a strange mechanical beauty over an otherwise barren area.
A laguna under snowy mountains: Pink flamingos freckle the many lakes throughout southern Bolivia.
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Morning in La Paz: A woman watches daybreak upon the capital city of Bolivia. ▶
At the border of darkness and light: The sun rises, pushing back the darkness of night to illuminate the clouds over the salt flats.
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April 2019
◀ Rock formations give way to snow-capped peaks on a twisting road though the deserts of southern Bolivia.
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▲ Mother Earth: The structure of La Paz echoes the peaks and crags of the surrounding terrain.
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April 2019
▲ Escape the storm: The rainy season in Bolivia is from December to March. On several of our January evenings, as the warmth of daytime ebbed away, powerful storms rolled in.
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Signature _ Vertical Combination
Signature _ Horizontal Combination
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On Your Mark, Get Set, and Dive into Gwangju Written by Cho Namhee
T
The upcoming FINA World Championships and World Masters Championships will be a great chance to showcase the city of Gwangju. The city had proven its competence through its hosting of the Summer Universiade Games in 2015, and the legacy left behind created another opportunity to step forward as the leading sports city in Korea. But most importantly, great public support is needed for the success of the event, and this support can only come from the avid interest of people like you.
The Author
Cho Namhee, an over-zealous sports fan, is a free spirit who calls Gwangju home. He studies communications at Chonnam National University and works for the 18th FINA World Championships, Gwangju 2019.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation), the world governing body for aquatics, is one of the biggest sports federations and claims the second largest number of gold medals among all categories in the Summer Olympic Games (after athletics). Among the dozens of competitions and tournaments held under the auspices of FINA, the World Championships is their flagship event and, at the same time, the competition often serves as a qualification event for the Summer Olympic Games. In other words, with the Summer Olympic Games being just one year away, many of the top finishers at the Gwangju championships (and open water swimmers in Yeosu) will have their spots at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games secured more than 365 days before the Games. Though aquatics is not the most endeared sports category in Korea, there are plenty of reasons why it should get our attention.
Speaking of the popularity of this sports category, a majority of the aquatics disciplines in elite competitions is dominated by Western countries (except diving), and the event will therefore garner more TV viewers from Europe and North America. However, in general, it is evident that aquatics is enjoyed and loved by many as a sports category for all. According to Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the estimated number of swimming athletes in Korea reaches nearly a hundred thousand, and thousands of swimmers participate at local Masters swimming competitions held around the country. One of the benefits of staging the World Championships here is that just a week after this event finishes, the World Masters Championships will be held at the same competition venues over 14 days in both Gwangju and Yeosu. Hundreds of Masters fans from around the world will visit Gwangju and get to compete with other aquatics enthusiasts from different communities. The swimmers from abroad will get to mingle with the local swimmers and experience not only Gwangju but also Korea.
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
he world’s biggest aquatics sports event will take place this year from July 12 to 28 in Gwangju, and now it is only a few months away. Featuring six aquatic disciplines or sports – swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving – the FINA World Championships is one of the five major sports events of the world in terms of size and the number of participating countries. Ever since it was first held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1973, the competition has gotten bigger and better, gathering more athletes from a variety of nations and seeking more cosmopolitan metropolises to become the next host city of this biennial event. While there were a few bumps along the way, in 2013 the city of Gwangju finally won the privilege to host the 18th edition of the FINA World Championships after the host cities of Barcelona, Spain; Kazan, Russia; and Budapest, Hungary.
April 2019
Nambu University, one of the venues for the FINA World Swimming Championships.
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Gwangju’s Emerging Skateboarding Scene Written by William Urbanski
That being said, skateboarding has firmly planted roots in Korea, including Gwangju, and is slowly but surely growing every year. In the past few years, Korea has even become a destination for major international skateboard teams. Major board and shoe brands regularly fly some of the biggest and most-recognized pros in the world to Korea for demos, signings, movie premieres, and filming trips. So, while there’s without question an entrenched skate scene in Korea, considering the overwhelmingly positive aspects of skating here, it seems like there are fewer people doing it than there should be. Before we get any further, I think it’s necessary to clarify exactly what we’re talking about here. To the untrained eye, it may be difficult to distinguish between skateboarding and longboarding, so I created a helpful infographic (at the bottom of the page), a “litmus test” if you will, to help differentiate the two. Now that that’s out of the way, we can move on to the
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April 2019
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
M
ore people in Korea should skateboard. It puzzles, even perplexes me that so few people take up skateboarding in a place that’s so ideal for it. There’s smooth marble everywhere. The climate is good. People don’t even harass you (that much) for doing it. Maybe it’s the combination of a demanding school system and a preoccupation with staring into glowing rectangles that act as a barrier to more people learning to ollie.
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Is the board longer than one meter?
YES
question at hand: Why don’t more Koreans skateboard, particularly in Gwangju? Could it be that in an age of quick fixes, easy answers, and instant gratification, skateboarding offers little to those who aren’t willing to make a substantial sacrifice in terms of time and physical effort? Is it just too difficult? Or could it have something to do with the “skateparks” in Gwangju being inexplicably covered with a rubber surface, thereby rendering skateboarding impossible? Wanting to know more, I spoke with three local Gwangju skateboarders: Park In-ho (who goes by Wam C) and brothers Kim Nam-gil and Kim Mun-seong. Asking them about their experiences and motivations to skateboard in Gwangju provided some counter-intuitive insights. While there was the implicit suggestion that one intimidating aspect of skateboarding was the rigorous physicality demanded, they also asserted unequivocally that skateboarding was, to them, as Thomas Hobbes postulated, a symptom of the universal human need to create an identity in the face of an omnipresent and overwhelmingly authoritarian corporate Leviathan. Just joking! Here’s what they actually had to say. (Korean responses translated into English.) William (Will): Why did you start skateboarding? Mun-seong (MS): I saw a lot of videos and became friends with some of the older guys who were doing it.
YES Are the wheels bigger than 80 centimeters in diameter?
Do any of the “tricks” involve moving along the board, not unlike a prisoner on a pirate ship walking the plank? If yes, one can reasonably conclude that it’s a longboard.
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35 Nam-gil (NG): I got inspired by seeing people doing it on the street. Wam C (WC): It was always interesting to me, then I saw people actually skating and started myself. Will: What are some difficulties that have come up while skating in Korea? MS: We’re limited and people sometimes view us negatively. NG: When security comes, we have to leave. It’s because there are no real facilities, like a public skatepark, around here. WC: Here at the Asia Culture Center (ACC), security doesn’t really bother us, but before it was built, security at other places used to give us problems. Will: How do you think these problems could be overcome? MS: We have to try to spread skating culture to other people so that they can like it, too. NG: The government should invest in some more facilities. WC: Because it’s not a mainstream activity in Korea, there are no facilities in Gwangju (like free, quality skateparks). So, there has to be more people doing it.
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Some of the difficulties faced by skateboarders in Gwangju, like dealing with security, are universal. But as Munseong, Nam-gil, and Wam C pointed out, some of the barriers to growth that skateboarding faces in Gwangju are endemic to, or at the very least, highly pronounced in Korea, such as regionalism and the pressure to participate in more collectivist endeavours. So, the struggle of skateboarders, a story as old as time itself, continues to play out in the City of Light. If there’s a boom following the Olympics, it’s likely that Gwangju will have to adopt some sort of official stance on skateboarding that could very well be the impetus to invest in a professionally designed skatepark. Or better yet, Gwangju could follow the examples of Copenhagen and Paris, which have incorporated skateable architecture throughout the city. Is the future of skateboarding in Gwangju as bright as the city’s namesake? Only time will tell. Photograph courtesy of Pho_to_Hyeon
The Author
William Urbanski is from Canada and has lived in Korea for about seven years. He’s married to a wonderful Korean woman and can eat spicy food.
April 2019
Will: Skateboarding will be included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Do you think that’ll influence skateboard culture here? MS: Of course! Because it’s an official game, many people will take an interest in it. NG: I don’t have any big expectations. If people here see the broadcast, though, there may be an influence. WC: For sure. In other cultures, I don’t think that skateboarding will be further incorporated into the mainstream culture. But in Korea, the skate scene is so small that the Olympics will have a positive effect.
▲ Jonas Palussek, 180 over the rail.
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Will: Why do you think more people in Gwangju don’t skateboard? MS: At this point, skateboarding culture is just so small – much smaller than in Seoul. NG: Compared to the capital, Gwangju has a much smaller population. Also, because we’re in a provincial area, people are less open-minded. WC: We could talk about this all night, but I’ll try to keep my answer short. Koreans in general care quite a bit about what others think. For example, Koreans really try to keep up with fashion. As well, Korea has a collectivist culture. Skateboarding emphasizes individuality, which conflicts with this collectivist culture. From what I see, longboarding is preferable to Korean society at large because it’s more fashionable and more aligned with Korea’s cultural values.
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The Original K-Pop Sensation The Kim Sisters
ARTS & CULTURE COMMUNITY
Written by Ryan Berkebile
The Kim Sisters performing on stage in Chicago in 1960. (Photo by Robert W. Kelley)
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April 2019
I
n recent times, Korea has successfully exported its culture to larger audiences around the world through pop idol groups, K-dramas, and critically acclaimed movies. As a result, more people are aware of Korea as a country these days. These forms of media have inspired many around the world to learn the language and have brought more tourists each year. However, the soft power successes of today haven’t always been the case. They’re a vast contrast from the 1950–1960s Cold War-era South Korea, a time when the country was still recovering from colonialism and civil war. In this context, it’s fascinating to hear the story of how the Kim Sisters become a success in 1960s America. The Kim Sisters were the first Korean musical export from Asia to make it big in America. They dazzled audiences with their choreography, songs, and ability to play multiple instruments. While the girls performed out of economic necessity, the biggest reason for their success was Lee Nan-young (이난영), the mother of group members Sook-ja (김숙자) and Ae-ja (김애자), and aunt to Min-ja (김민자). Lee, a well-known performer at the time, instilled a strong work ethic into her family. Her
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vision aided the Kim Sisters in standing out among the other groups performing on the Las Vegas strip at the time. On the surface, it seems their story has been lost in a contemporary culture that focuses on the newest sensation and discards anything out-of-date. However, thanks to the dedicated artists inspired by their career and archivists who’ve uploaded Kim Sisters media to YouTube, we can always remember what made the group special. While this article will focus on the career of the Kim Sisters, their story couldn’t be told without reference to their family. The Kim Sisters came from an impressive musical tree, and performing was in their bones. Lee, the driving force behind the group, was the original singer of “Mokpo’s Tears” (목포의 눈물) a song that’s still revered and covered by singers today in Korea. Sook-ja and Ae-ja’s father was Kim Hae-song (김해송), an acclaimed musician, singer, and composer in his own right who wrote the song “Welcoming the Spring” (봄맞이), a song that would later appear as “Korean Spring Song” on the Kim Sisters’ 1960 debut album for Monument Records in the U.S. Min-ja’s father was Lee Bong-ryong (이봉룡), Lee Nan-young’s
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37 brother who was also a famous musician at the time. He was asked to write songs for the girls to perform. One notable song he composed was “Kimchi Ggakddugi” (김치 깍뚜기), a song the Kim Sisters would perform on their big homecoming to Korea in 1970. Before their rise to success in America, the singing trio of young girls performed for U.S. soldiers on army bases to earn food to support their family. Soldiers would reward the act with beer and chocolate, which they’d barter for real food. Although the Kims came from a famous musical family, the war had taken a toll on their lives, as the family had lost their house during the war. Kim Hae-song was abducted by North Korea and later executed, requiring the entire Kim family to work for their livelihood. Lee Nan-young taught the girls to sing popular American songs of the day despite not speaking any English. The trio learned to sing the songs phonetically. Lee Nan-young pushed them to learn as many instruments as they could. Sook-ja remembers her mother assigning her to learn tenor sax, Ae-ja the alto sax, and Min-ja the drums.[1] Lee also directed them to learn Korean instruments such as the stringed gayageum (가야금) and traditional drums like the janggu (장구). She also advised Sook-ja to perform under the name Sue, and Min-ja to use the name Mia. It was a taxing and stressful time for the young girls, but Min-ja remembers her aunt motivating them to practice by bribing them with bananas, a rare treat in Korea back in the day.[2] The hard work and persistence paid off, as U.S. soldiers spread the word about this talented trio. Word spread to entertainment producer Tom Ball, who flew to Korea in 1958 to scout them. Ball was enamored by their performance and signed them immediately.
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A modern trio called The Barberettes has spread the word about the Kim Sisters, inspiring others to discover their music and their history. The retro doo-wop act has covered the Kim Sisters’ songs in concert, having the honor to perform with Sook-ja and Min-ja on stage. 2017 saw the release of a Kim Dae-hyun (김대현) directed documentary called Try to Remember (다방의 푸른 꿈), which chronicles the lives of Min-ja and the Kim Sisters. Finally, their tale lives on YouTube, where you can watch old performances and listen to their out-of-print albums and 45-rpm singles. The story of the Kim Sisters lives on and is available with but a few clicks of the mouse for those curious to investigate. References
Lee Kwon, Myoung-Ja. (1997). An interview with Sook-Ja Kim. Retrieved from https://www.library.unlv.edu/sites/default/files/ documents/blogs/kim_sisters_transcript.pdf 2 Yim, Seung-hee. (2017, January 31). The Kim Sisters, pioneering K-pop stars, recall their journey: New documentary “Try to Remember” tells the story of the trio who dominated Vegas Strip. Retrieved from the Korea JoongAng Daily website: http://koreajoongangdaily.joins. com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3029196 1
The Author
Ryan Berkebile recently packed his bags and left Gwangju for big city life in Gyeonggi-do. He has left a piece of his heart in the City of Light and solemnly vows to make regular visits back to the Gwangju International Center and The First Alleyway.
April 2019
It was during their stay at the Stardust that American talk show host Ed Sullivan caught wind of their electric
After the trio went their separate ways, Ae-ja would pass away from lung cancer in 1987. Sook-ja semi-retired from performing and pursued a career in real estate. Min-ja moved to Hungary with her musician husband Tommy Vig and is still actively performing throughout the world. Both Sook-ja and Min-ja have come back to Korea numerous times to perform. Sook-ja has returned to perform festivals with her brothers, while Min-ja does solo shows. While it seems the memory of the Kim Sisters has faded in the public eye, contemporary artists are paying homage to the group.
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After a year-long wait, the Kim Sisters arrived in America in 1959. The mother would have to wait another three years until the girls were famous before she could gain entry into the U.S. In the meantime, the girls continued to heed her instructions. For example, Lee forbade them to date until they were 23.[1] Sook-ja, Ae-ja, and Minja continued to lean new instruments like the banjo, bagpipes, and marimba. As America already had famous singing sibling trios like the Andrew Sisters and the Maguire Sisters, the Kim Sisters needed to make a strong impression on audiences in order to make it through their month-long run of shows at the Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas. The excitement the Kim Sisters stirred during these shows led to an opportunity to perform at the Stardust Hotel.
performances. Sullivan liked to have performers from all over the world on his show and offered them a spot. The Kim Sisters became an overnight success. Their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (the first of 22 total appearances on the show!) led to invitations to perform on other American variety shows like The Dean Martin Show and The Dinah Shore Show. Top labels like Monument Records, Epic Records, and Mercury Records offered the Kim Sisters recording contracts. The trio would perform together until the mid-70s, when life changes such as marriage and family would take priority.
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38 Expat Living
Academic and Cultural Opportunities for Foreigners in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province Written by Baha Komilov
COMMUNITY
G
wangju is a hub of culture, art, and democracy. The city offers experiences that many never thought they could have. I came to Gwangju three years ago as a student and wanted to get involved with the community. During my time here, I have participated in various academic and cultural activities that everyone can do. In this article, I will share academic and cultural opportunities that foreigners can take advantage of in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, along with some of the application processes, tips, and benefits of these programs.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
ASIA CULTURE CENTER The Asia Culture Center (ACC), located downtown, offers various art exhibits, seasonal festivals, a library, and much more for visitors. For example, expats and students who live in or around Gwangju may apply to become an ACC reporter. I had this job in 2017 and was mostly involved in covering ACC events, festivals, and art exhibits by writing articles in English. The job is paid, and you are given an ID card to use at some facilities of the ACC. Applicants are accepted each February. Please check out the ACC website or social media for more information. Website: www.acc.go.kr Address: 38 Munhwa-jeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju GWANGJU FOREIGN NETWORK (GFN) The Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN), the only English language radio station in town, is always looking for people to be a part of its shows or to even become a host. I was part of the GFN family for almost one and a half years, and it was one of my greatest experiences. I joined the show Hello Korea at first and later became a regular guest for six months on various shows. I was even a Viva DJ host for a month! There is also a student organization associated with the GFN called GFN Glocal Supporters that you might consider joining. Please check the GFN website regularly! They always need
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people for fun shows. Participants are always paid and are usually given a certificate. No experience is needed, but you should be fluent in English. Website: www.gfn.or.kr Address: 177-39 Sa-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju UNESCO CCAP Gwangju is the home of many people from all over the world, and many of these people have made their own communities. But unfortunately, many Korean people are not familiar with residents from other countries and their traditions. If you want to teach your own culture or language and spend time with Korean kids or adults, UNESCO in Gwangju needs you. The Cross-Cultural Awareness Program (CCAP) is a part of UNESCO in Korea and organizes cultural exchanges between schools and volunteers. You can apply to become a Cultural Exchange Volunteer (CEV) twice each year. They look for volunteers in February and March and again in August and September. The volunteer period is for three months, with the first semester being from April to June, and the second semester lasting from September until November. Contact the UNESCO staff in Gwangju for more information. Email: unescogj@hanmail.net Phone number: 062-223-2840 UNESCO KONA VOLUNTEERS (유네스코 코나 자원봉사단) Do you love telling stories or reading books with adorable kids when you fave free time? If so, there is a great opportunity for you to volunteer in town. The UNESCO KONA Volunteers organizes a Saturday program where volunteers read stories in English from their own country or tell fairy tales to young kids at the KONA Storybook Center, located at one of the small branches of UNESCO in gwangju. The staff who works at the center are awesome and very friendly. For more information, please visit:
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39
The Global Culture Class organized by the GIC.
Volunteering with the Gwangju Foreign Network.
Websites: http://cafe.daum.net/konavolunteers or http://cafe.daum.net/storybookcenter (유네스코 코나 자원봉사단-영어전문지역사회봉사단) Facebook: UNESCO KONA Volunteers (코나스토리북센터-영어독서교육연구소) Contact: Kim Young-im: 062-434-9887 or konacenter@ gmail.com
•
UNESCO cultural program mentioned above. Volunteers spend two hours with kids, first during an hour-long presentation followed by an activity hour. The program is held on weekends and takes place at the GIC. Gwangju News magazine: The Gwangju News welcomes individuals to volunteer for the magazine. It was the very first English language monthly magazine in Korea for the general public, and you can contribute to making it an even better magazine by sharing your talents, time, and stories.
For more information, please visit the GIC’s website, contact its representatives, and follow its social media accounts for updates. Website: http://eng.gic.or.kr/ Phone: 062-226-2732~34 Email: gic@gic.or.kr Facebook & Instagram: Gwangju International Center Photographs courtesy of the ACC, GFN, GIC and CCAP
The Author
Baha is originally from Uzbekistan, but he considers himself a global citizen. He has been in Gwangju for three years and is a student at Chonnam National University, majoring in international relations and diplomacy. He’s a passionate language learner and is fluent in five foreign languages, with German being his sixth language.
April 2019
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The writer volunteers with the UNESCO CCAP.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
GWANGJU INTERNATIONAL CENTER (GIC) Last but not least, the GIC unites locals and internationals in myriad ways. Currently, I am volunteering for the GIC Talk, which takes place on Saturdays in the GIC Hall at 4 p.m. The GIC offers numerous programs to people of all ages. Here are some GIC programs that you might be interested in: • Gwangju International Internship Program (GIIP): This is a 16 weeks internship in which you are assigned to one of the organizations in Gwangju. They recruit people who are either currently in Korea or overseas twice a year in January and July. • GIC Talk: Through this program, Koreans and international residents gather each week for a lecture and discussion session. Presenters cover a variety of social, cultural, and historical topics. We always need new faces, ideas, and experiences that our audience will want to listen to. It is easy and exciting to be a GIC Talk speaker, so why not volunteer to share your own story? • Global Culture Class: This is very similar to the
The writer (second from right) at the ACC.
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www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
FOOD &&& DRINKS DRINKS FOOD DRINKS FOOD
40 Korean Food 40
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41
Galbi-tang Beef Short Ribs Soup Written and photographed by Joe Wabe
I
n the culinary world, the word “ribs,” or galbi (갈비) in Korean, is a synonym of deliciousness. There is not a dish in Korean cuisine with the name galbi in it that is neither delightful nor popular. Whether pork or beef, galbi is an important part of the Korean food tradition, and a very popular one at that.
Galbi-tang (갈비탕), or beef short rib soup, was originally a royal dish assumed to have been eaten since the end of the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392). It is clean in taste and production, but rich in flavor and body. Although it is not a seasonal dish, I prefer having it in spring or fall when the weather is just right. Served with a simple bowl of rice and some fresh banchan (sidedishes), galbi-tang can provide you
Ingredients
Joe Wabe is an established photographer and Gwangju local business entrepreneur. He has been contributing to the GIC and the Gwangju News for more than eight years.
Preparation Wash and rinse the ribs with cold water. Put them in a bowl with mirin and let them sit for ten minutes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add short ribs and blanch them for another 15 minutes. Drain and rinse the ribs with cold water. In a clean pot, put the ribs and all the chopped vegetables, and bring it to a boil with about 15 cups of water, skimming the scum and fat. Reduce the heat to medium, and let it simmer for two hours. After two hours, remove all vegetables except the radish, leaving only the broth and ribs. Season with soy sauce, salt, pepper, and anchovy stock. Add the noodles, and continue cooking until the noodles are cooked and soft. Serve and garnish with more green onions.
April 2019
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The Author
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
(4–5 servings) • 1 kilogram of beef short ribs • ½ of a small Korean radish • 1 head of garlic • 1 medium-sized onion • ½ teaspoon of light soy sauce • 3 tablespoons of mirin • ½ teaspoon of anchovy stock • 1 thumb-sized piece ginger root • 4 green onions • about 150 grams of dangmyeon (glass noodles) • ½ to 1 tablespoon of sea salt • extra salt and pepper (if desired)
with the energy and happiness that most “tangs” in Korea are capable of. The original recipe, and how grandmothers used to make it, included submerging the bones in water for over five hours before cooking, thereby removing some of the meat’s smell and taste. However in modern times, when most people are usually in a rush and cooking has become more practical, we can achieve the same quality and taste in less time, with a guaranteed character to match that of galbi served in royal times.
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FOOD & DRINKS
42 Where to Eat
Registan Avenue Comfort Food from Uzbekistan
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
Written and photographed by Sarah Pittman
I
am very excited to introduce this month’s featured restaurant because I have never before had the opportunity to try cuisine from Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is a country that has had many different cultural influences over the centuries. From Russia to Afghanistan, Mongolia, and China, many different nations have passed through the region, and as a result, their traditional foods are exceptionally colorful and varied. Registan Avenue is tucked away in a quirky neighborhood behind Chonnam National University. Although the shop appears quite small from the outside, on the inside it is large enough to accommodate 50–60 people, including a room for private parties towards the back of the restaurant. After I found a table near a window so that I could enjoy the sun on a chilly spring day, I took a look at their menu.
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Many of the dishes will look familiar to anyone that has tried Middle Eastern food before, although they will have a different name here. The prices for the dishes range from 4,000 to 11,000 won, so it’s perfect for an affordable lunch or a nice dinner out with friends. First, I ordered an appetizer: I chose their orama shashlik. This dish is very similar to a kebab and was made of minced meatballs of lamb covered with thinly sliced onions and a half of a tomato. The meatballs were seasoned with a tasty spice mix, and at only 4000 won, it was well worth the cost. The two dishes I enjoyed the most though were the chuchvara and the samsa. Chuchvara is a soup filled with stewed lamb, vegetables, and bite-sized dumplings similar in size and texture to wontons. I almost started crying in the restaurant because of how amazing the soup was! It reminded me of the soup I like to eat on cold winters days back in California, and the combination of the sweet vinegar and lamb was nothing short of perfect.
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▲ Traditional costumes and decorative plates adorn the walls.
The orama shashlik. Definitely a fun name for a tasty dish.
Their samsa is a delicious, flaky pastry filled with stewed onions and lamb or beef, and it was an amazing balance of sweet and savory. It had so much mouth-watering, buttery flavor packed into every bite. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to order a second one, despite being stuffed. Another wonderful thing about Registan Avenue is that they provide you with a large teapot filled with hot black tea. The black tea was very mild and wasn’t bitter, so I kept my cup filled throughout the meal. It offered a charming balance to some of the fattiness of the samsa and the chuchvara and complimented their rich fare quite nicely. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my culinary trip to Uzbekistan, and I can’t wait to go back with some friends.
The Author
REGISTAN AVENUE 중앙아시아요리
Address: 79 Seoljuk-ro, 202-beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju 광주 북구 설죽로202번길 79 (용봉동)
A bowl of chuchvara; absolutely a must-try.
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April 2019
Phone: 010-2389-7469
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
A hot pot of black tea that comes free with your meal.
Sarah Pittman is an English teacher with a degree in psychology from California State University, Fullerton. She discovered her love for photography while working at Disneyland and has been honing her craft with practice and YouTube videos every since.
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44 Korea TESOL
The Fastest Way to English Conversation Written by Dr. David E. Shaffer
W
I was recently asked to be part of a poster session at the Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL conference. The conference theme was related to assessing how well we are doing at arriving at our goals in language teaching and learning. We thought that a poster session showing how far we have come would help one form an answer to the conference theme: “Are We There Yet?” The plan was to exhibit several examples of teaching materials, conference books, and teacher development materials from each of the past four decades. In selecting items for the exhibit, I came across a tattered and well-used copy of a coursebook that I used with freshman English majors back in the 1970s here in Gwangju. Its title was The Fastest Way to English Conversation. THE COURSEBOOK The title suggests that, apart from the slow language learning methods of the times, there is a much better, much faster, more efficient way to learn English. The existence of a silver language-learning bullet, a magical method, a miracle drug for learning, however, is but a
fantasy that many language learners have clung to. This 1970s North American coursebook title caters to that myth. And the myth persists. A quick internet search produced these English course enticements: “How to learn English in 3 months,” “Fluent in 3 months,” “Learn English in 3 hours”! Alluring, yep; reality, nope. What is real, however, is that outdated methods that impede and protract the language learning process are still used and taught in Korea. This frustration fosters the futile search for a secret solution to language learning. So why did I use The Fastest Way? The book centered on several characters from cover to cover (Eva and Peter, and Mr. and Mrs. Baker). This created student interest in their lives and their likes. In addition, rather than present a twoperson dialogue for the learner to repeat and memorize, it presented questions to a short, situational text for which the learner was expected to create and produce an oral response – a concept considered quite innovative back in the day. But it was no miracle method: While the format may have piqued student interest and fostered creative oral production, sustained practice was still required. PRACTICE Practice remains a major requisite for language learning today, and will be tomorrow. In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell posited the 10,000-Hour Rule: that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice in any skill to become
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April 2019
EDUCATION
ARNING: This article’s title may have more appeal than the content that follows. But it is the credible information contained herein that may be most helpful in snuffing out the myths of language learning and replacing them with a more effective understanding.
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45 an expert in that skill. Though the global nature of the rule has been challenged, it still holds that many hours of practice are necessary to master a foreign language. The classroom methods that the teacher selects and the outof-class techniques that the student chooses for language study and practice will determine the number of hours that it takes to reach a certain level of proficiency – the more efficient the method, the fewer the hours it will take. EFFECTIVE METHODS In Korea, students spend far too much of their English study time memorizing grammar rules and vocabulary as well as prepping for discrete-item English tests (e.g., multiple-choice questions). To learn to play baseball, you need to practice rather than memorize the game rules and take a test on them. The same is true of learning a language: You need to practice the four skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening to learn them. So, what are some effective practice methods? Reading. Much about a language can be learned through reading, especially through extensive reading. This is pleasure reading on topics that interest the reader and of material that is at the reader’s proficiency level. Through enjoyable, almost effortless reading in a meaningful context, grammatical structures and vocabulary will be painlessly learned without the need for memorization. Listening. Along with reading, the other receptive skill is listening. If one is learning English in an Englishspeaking community, receiving enough listening input is not difficult. But in an environment such as Korea, one must seek out English speakers and listen to English movies, TV, radio, and material on the internet to get the required massive dose of input. As with reading, listening to material at one’s proficiency level, or just slightly above, aids greatly in the acquisition of grammar and vocabulary. And it also benefits pronunciation considerably.
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Reference Gladwell, M. (2008). Outliers: The story of success. New York, NY: Little, Brown, & Co.
The Author
David Shaffer is vice-president of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL). On behalf of the chapter, he invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops at their monthly meetings (always on a Saturday). For many years, Dr. Shaffer has been a professor of English Language at Chosun University. He is a long-time member of KOTESOL and a holder of various KOTESOL positions; he is presently national president. Dr. Shaffer credits KOTESOL for much of his professional development in English language teaching, scholarship, and leadership. He encourages you to get involved. He is board chair at the GIC and also editor-in-chief of the Gwangju News.
GWANGJU-JEONNAM KOTESOL MONTHLY MEETING Date: April 13 (Saturday) Place: Gwangju National University of Education • Session (75 min.): Refining Writing Skills for You and Your Students By Holly Harper (Gyeonggi-do Institute for Language Education) • SwapShop: Share with the group your activity, teaching idea, etc. For full event details: Website: koreatesol.org/gwangju Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL
April 2019
Writing. The second productive skill is writing. For the longest time, I did very little writing in Korean (though the Korean alphabet is easy to master). Then, I was put in a situation where I needed to communicate via email
In learning English, or any language for that matter, practice is critical, and lots of it. One cannot become fluent in a foreign language in three months (just think how long it took you to learn your first language). The fastest way to learning a language is not fast; it takes years of practice. But the time that it takes becomes faster when the teacher chooses effective teaching methods and the student selects effective methods of practice.
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Speaking. While the stereotypical image of a Korean learner of English is of a sweating student pouring over English textbooks, the applied linguist Stephen Krashen has long claimed that being in an English-speaking environment is all that is necessary to learn a second language. Interaction in the language is considered paramount. Speaking is a productive (creating) skill; pouring over books does not give one the creative practice in putting language together to convey meaningful messages. The learner must actively seek out opportunities to carry on meaningful interactions in English – and many of them.
with a layout designer who did not know English. I found that my writing quickly improved through the practice that I was getting through this email writing. The advantage that writing has over speaking is that, while both are productive skills, writing affords one the time to contemplate on the best word to select, the best structure to construct, and the best order to present one’s ideas in. Writing, too, is great language learning practice; every language learner should do some, even to oneself, daily.
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46 46
TOPIK Guide (topikguide.com) is the most comprehensive website devoted to the TOPIK exam. It’s been helping Korean language learners pass the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) for more than seven years. On this website, you can get all the TOPIK updates, grammar and vocabulary material, and study tips.
Everyday Korean Episode 16: 벚꽃축제 EDUCATION EDUCATION
Cherry Blossom Festival Written by Harsh Kumar Mishra Illustration by Han Lee
정민:
아나, 벚꽃축제에 가 본 적이 있어?
[Ana, beot-kkot-chuk-che-e ga bon jeo-gi is-seo?] Jeong-min: Ana, have you ever been to a cherry blossom festival?
아나: Ana:
정민:
네, 진해 군항제에 가 본 적이 있어요. [Ne, jin-hae gun-hang-je-e ga bon jeo-gi is-seoyo.] Yeah, I’ve been to the Jinhae [Port] Cherry Blossom Festival.
우와! 진해도 가 봤구나. 어땠어?
[Uwa! Jinhae-do ga bwa-kkuna. Eottae-sseo?] Jeong-min: Wow! So I guess you’ve also been to [the city of] Jinhae. How was it?
아나:
April 2019
정민:
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
Ana:
Ana:
너무 아름다웠어요. 이번에도 가려고 해요. [Neo-mu a-reum-da-wo-sseoyo. I-beone-do ga-ryeo-go hae-yo.] It was very beautiful. I’m planning to go this time [year] as well.
그래? 나도 같이 갈래. 언제부터 시작해?
[Geu-rae? Nado ga-chi gal-lae. Eonje-bu-teo sijak-hae?] Jeong-min: Really? I’ll come along, too. When does it start?
아나: 정민:
4월 1일부터 10일까지 한대요. [Sa-wol ir-il-buteo shib-il-kkaji han-daeyo.] I heard it’s from April 1st to the 10th.
그럼 우리 6일에 보러 갈까?
[Geu-reom uri yug-ire bo-reo gal-kka?] Jeong-min: Shall we go on the 6th, then?
아나: Ana:
Grammar ~은/ㄴ 적 있다: Add this to verb stems to express having experienced something, e.g. “have done something.” Ex: 대한민국 대통령을 만난 적이 있어요. I have met the president of South Korea.
~도: Attach this to nouns/pronouns/prepositions to express the meaning of “also” or “too.” Ex: 포도를 좋아해요. 망고도 좋아해요. I like grapes. I also like mangos.
Vocabulary 진해
아름답다 시작하다 언제 주말 대한민국 대통령 포도 벚꽃
#Korean slang/Fad words 1.
2.
네, 저도 주말에만 시간이 돼서 6일이 좋아요. [Ne, jeo-do ju-mare-man shi-gani dwae-seo yug-iri jo-ayo.] Great. I also only have free time on the weekends, so April 6th works fine for me.
Jinhae area in Changwon, Gyeonsangnam-do beautiful to start when weekend Republic of Korea president grapes cherry blossom(s)
3.
꿀잼: Combining 꿀 (“honey”) and 잼 (“fun,” short for 재미있다), gives the meaning of “funny” or “interesting.” 노잼: Combining 노 (from the English word “no”) and 잼 (same as above) is used to give the opposite meaning of number one, i.e. “not funny” or “not interesting.” 심쿵: This is the throbbing of the heart one feels when you see someone gorgeous.
Visit the TOPIK Guide website or our YouTube channel to improve your Korean and reach your goal on the TOPIK test.
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4747
Photo of the Month By Sarah Pittman
ARTS & CULTURE
The Author
April 2019
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Sarah Pittman is an English teacher with a degree in psychology from California State University, Fullerton. She discovered her love for photography while working at Disneyland and has been honing her craft by watching YouTube videos ever since.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
W
atching the sun set on the lake at Uncheon Reservoir is one of my favorite things to do during cherry blossom season. I love listening to the music playing across the water and watching families talk and spend time together.
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ARTS ARTS && CULTURE CULTURE
48
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
From L to R: Shelby, Ashley, Katie, and Evelyn practicing their parts.
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The Gwangju Performance Project
Cabaret Written by Dave St. John
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49
T
he Gwangju Performance Project (GPP) is in its eighth year of making community theater accessible to foreigners and Koreans. The GPP prides itself on its diversity and on being inclusive: Since its inception, most of its productions have included veteran and first time actors from all over the globe. Currently, the GPP is in rehearsals for its fifth Cabaret Night. This year’s theme is Ballroom Blitz. The show will contain songs ranging from musical theater to rock’n’roll from the glam rock and hair band eras of the 1970s and 80s.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
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50
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
Iman is teaching the steps to one of the big dance numbers.
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From L to R: Derek, Colin, Iman, Justina, Shelby, and the rest of the cast practicing the music.
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51 Cabaret will be performed for one night only on April 20 at Partytown 57 in downtown Gwangju (314 Chungjang-ro 1(il)-ga, Dong-gu, Gwangju). Tickets are priced at 25,000 won and will go on sale on April 1. The GPP is also offering VIP tables for Cabaret this year, and they will be available on a first-come, firstserve basis. Proceeds from the VIP tables will benefit the Ndwara Library in Africa and also help fund future GPP productions. Later this year, The GPP will also begin work on its next project: William Shakespeare’s play The Winter’s Tale. This performance will be the latest installment in the “Shakespeare Every Other Year” schedule. It’s following the well-received A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Photographs by Tobias Hills
▲ From L to R: Chantel, Ryan, Jay, and Derek singing during rehearsals.
The Author
Dave St. John has been involved in theater since 2014 when he appeared in the GPP production of Proof. Since then, he has taken on many behind the scenes roles for the organization: sound engineer, assistant director, and director. He’s been a Gwangju resident since 2014 and has lived in South Korea since 2006.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
April 2019
▲ Jordan (left), the choreographer, teaching the cast a new dance.
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52 Book Review
“What Are You Doing Here?” Viet Thanh Nguyen Explores Belonging and Self-Fulfillment in New Short-Story Collection
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April 2019
ARTS & CULTURE
Written by Kristy Dolson
I
picked up The Refugees by Viet Than Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American novelist, because I wanted to expand my horizons regarding people fleeing war and political upheaval. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking collection of short stories – as one would expect from a Pulitzer Prize winner – crossing boundaries of race, nationality, language, and sexuality to lay bare the foundation of humanity: our love for one another. I enjoyed the reading experience, and the themes of belonging and self-fulfillment in the face of prejudice, fear, and loss were profoundly touching. Nguyen wrote this collection not just to activate empathy in the reader but also to explore questions of home and belonging – and how the effects of immigration complicate those questions. The two countries involved, Vietnam and the U.S.A., are placed in sharp relief throughout the book as the characters travel back and forth between them, both figuratively and literally. What I found surprising was the diversity of characters and breadth of experience on display here: from a young homosexual man discovering his desires in a new country to a young woman pursuing a humanitarian compulsion in an old country – with neither of them able to find self-fulfillment in the countries of their birth. It is this opposition and duality that make this book so intriguing and engaging to read and consider. The cast of protagonists is neither exclusively Vietnamese nor immigrant, thus expanding the opportunities for connection. The book consists of eight short stories. Some are written in first person and others in third person. The writing is not overly flowery, as Nguyen does an excellent job of unpacking each story, getting to the heart of the protagonists’ dilemmas without wasting words. There are no breathtaking passages here, but it is shocking and memorable nonetheless in its
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simplicity. There were several characters and situations that resonated with me as I read, particularly the young woman who ghostwrites because she is afraid to live her own life and the older woman whose husband has lost himself to dementia. Despite their losses, each of these characters carried a strength within them that gave me hope. It is the nature of a short story to leave the reader wondering, hoping for a positive outcome to the protagonist’s struggle. At the end of this book, I felt uplifted by the thought that love can outlast tragedy and hate. Viet Nguyen and his family came to the U.S. as refugees in the 1970s, and his work has been driven by their lived experiences. When President Trump signed an executive order effectively banning immigrants from Muslim countries and capping refugee resettlement, Nguyen called on his fellow refugee writers to speak up. The result of that was The Displaced, a book of essays from writers around the world urging readers to witness the reality of the refugee experience. Refugees and immigration will always exist, and there will always be those in opposition to both. But these books ask the reader to root out prejudice and fear. If we take the time to seek out their voices and listen to their stories, it is possible for understanding to grow. It is 2019: Should not human beings, regardless of race, nationality, language, or sexual orientation feel that they can belong anywhere?
The Author
Photo by Cheyenne Taylor
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 now lives in Yeosu, 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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The World’s Longest Bridge Written and photographed by Saul Latham
W
e’re traveling on a man-made island, along a new road fenced off from huge parcels of barren, muddy, puddle-strewn land – it seems lifeless. On the horizon behind, the old and new, battered and gleaming, are juxtaposed in the apartments, casinos, and business towers of Macau. Their lights are beginning to twinkle in the fading light of a dreary, wet day.
This was to be our exit from Macau, a place that made quite an impression on me in the handful of hours we spent there. The streets there are graced with seahorses, starfish, and other patterns made with pebbles and tiles. In the rain, this kept us as weary of slipping as we were of dodging the multitudes of umbrellas. Chinese New Year decorations adorned the old-world European buildings with a sophisticated unity and precise aesthetic. The place seemed a little more wild than Hong Kong; it showed contrast, vibrancy, and tang.
It’s wet, dark, and now getting cold. The bus passes under green arrows and eases onto the bridge. Fifteen lanes or more, turn into three on each side. There are shipping boats on the horizon and fishing vessels much closer. Five minutes into the ride and we’re heading nowhere but straight ahead. A display at the front of the bus says “Welcome aboard rdHZM Bus – Speed is 52 kph.” The water beside the bridge is brown and choppy – perhaps shallow. Macau shrinks behind us. We check the GPS map and see a little blue dot wandering about in the South China Sea. In total, this bridge spans 55 km, connecting the populations of the Pearl River Delta and shortcutting traveling times substantially in the process. On this occasion, the infrastructure seemed as empty as it was vast. Later, I was reminded that, over the Chinese New Year, billions of people travel in this region, and of course, many did and would via this new way. Still, I wondered about the level of
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At Macau Port, we enter a huge box-of-a-building. Inside, it’s like a gymnasium. The air doesn’t smell of anything. We walk over to the ticket counter and purchase three tickets (each about 60 HKD) from helpful and good-looking staff. “China Security” whistle sojourners through two security checkpoints, and then round the corner into a long corridor where large security cameras hang from the high ceiling in rows. Other than a large tour group, there are barely any
After immigration, there’s a couple of soft-drink dispensing machines in the corner of the room. A huge screen shows a promotional video of Macau Police as they help find a woman’s handbag and reunite a lost little girl with her family. There are rooms with one-way mirrors. I go to the soft drinks and choose an apple juice. We walk through more corridors and eventually step outside into a huge parking lot. Only a few buses are docked. Our tickets are scanned, and at 5:25 p.m., we’re departing aboard a brandnew double-decker Scalia Marco Polo.
ARTS ARTS && CULTURE CULTURE
On the bus, Cantonese and Portuguese announcements are made over the loudspeaker, as two girls opposite me have their eyes closed, mouths wide open, and heads rolling to the sway of the bus. The bus pulls up. The sleeping girls instantly wake up, and the bus is vacated by all passengers. We’ve arrived at Macau Port. From here, we plan to travel across the recently opened Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge – the world’s longest bridge.
other people around. At an intersection, a right turn takes us to a huge, 50-by-50-meter immigration space. Signs say “no photos” and “no waiting.” The place is clean, bright, and empty. There seems to be about 50 immigration isles and gates. Three of them are in use, the rest beam circled, red dashes in bright LED lights.
April 2019
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54 use of this mega-structure and weather it could justify the loss of workers who had “passed to the other side” during construction or the legacy that it has left on the environment. And while there is magnificence in this bridge, in its mind-blowing engineering, in its steely testament of human ambition and will, there is also, in my mind, a protest, a wish to protect the “natural” otherness of our distorting world – a desire for us to see the oncoming train at the end of progress tunnel and perhaps pirouette into adaptive and sustainable thinking and living. Fifteen minutes in, at 5:35, the browned water has turned to a regular seagreen, and out of it, appears another man-made island in the middle of nowhere. I can’t see any land on the horizon, only the bridge remerging in the hazy distance, like a sea dragon, and numerous wooden fishing vessels surrounding the chunk of moved earth. Our speed increases to 90 kph as we descend into a three-lane tunnel. A handful of vehicles pass us every minute. At 5:50, we resurface onto another island, where young palm trees stand in well-manicured green grass. There’s a monument of some kind. Slowly, the road begins to bend and rises up onto the back of the Loch Ness monster. Now, we have a view of Hong Kong’s jungly hills. On the left is the airport, and to the right is a cable car. We’re still on the right side of the road and descend into another tunnel at 5:58. As China cements its spot in this world of nations, we notice that we’re still living in the industrial age. Progress is still built with flame, wood, steel, and grit. Nothing says progress more than a giant highway, and few ideas have taken to the human brain like the bridge – but where are these industrial roads leading us to, and why do we need to be there? Will there be a time when all islandness is lost to the bridges we build? Perhaps, as Goethe says, we should “burn that bridge when we come to it.”
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April 2019
Forgive my wayward and mediocre philosophizing, but riding on a bus heading straight for 40 minutes, on a colorless day, comparing just the two tones of brown water and grey sky with the sugary fuel of my apple juice at hand and in mind, I find myself thinking in these ways, dressed in mass-produced clothing, jotting it down in my industrious smart-object – and it is fun. It is exciting. We’ve reached the Hong Kong end of the bridge, where fantastic road systems are entangled like giant slinkies. The bus pulls up to the curb at 6:03, and we’ve arrived at the immigration building. I’m gently told to take my cap off as soon as I step in. Again, there are plenty of immigration lanes and buses, but only a few in use. I have still not seen or heard a “Westerner” at this point. We board a third bus. This one takes us off Lantau Island and over more impressive bridging to Hong Kong Island. On this course, one can see the enormity of the Hong Kong port, the huge cranes that dwarf hundreds of rows of shipping containers into stacks of Lego blocks. Is there life on earth? Yes.
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The Author
Saul is a Tasmanian living in Gwangju. He doesn’t always like writing, but he feels it’s the right thing for him to do. Same for exercise, he thinks. Saul is looking to getting into writing and walking at the same time, p’haps there’s an app for that...
M
ost of my friends and people around me know that I have a passion for cooking, so usually, during special days like Christmas or my birthday, I receive a lot of kitchen utensils and appliances that have turned my home kitchen into what looks like a restaurant cookery. This past Christmas, I received a big box from my friend Claire. The box was not wrapped, so I could see printed on it a picture of what looked like a very fancy and modern kitchen appliance. Upon closer inspection, I could read “Air Fryer” on the label. I remember seeing or hearing about this somewhere and got really excited about my new toy, so I headed home to unpack it and begin experimenting. My first stop was YouTube, where I checked out a few recipes, chopped some sweet potatoes, got some herbs and spices, and kind of went from there. My first try was a success! I managed to put together some crunchy chips that tasted pretty good. I later moved on to some meat, first trying pork and chicken, and it all worked pretty well. I thought, “Wow!” This UFO-looking appliance kept me busy, so I just kept on trying different things, and they worked just as well. “The sky is the limit,” I thought. After substantial playing around with my new toy, I suddenly came to realize something that was actually pretty obvious. This wasn’t a fryer; it was an oven! WHAT IS AN AIR FRYER? I hadn’t realized that the “air fryer wave” was so huge in Korea. Many people around me were buying one or thinking about buying one, hoping to master the ultimate quick meal and dreaming of possessing one of the latest and most productive kitchen appliances that has ever existed. When I first got mine, I thought, “What a great invention, frying with no oil!” For those who have tried deep-frying at home and know the inconveniences and difficulties of this task, this seemed to be a dream come true. But the real “true” is that this wonderful machine is not a fryer! The dictionary defines the verb fry as “to cook in a pan or on a griddle over direct heat,
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Opinion
55
Air Fryer
The Fryer That’s Not a Fryer Written by Joe Wabe
The air fryer is just an oven with a fan! What makes it different from a conventional oven is that, with an oven, heat is applied mostly in the upper and lower parts; this concentration of heat inside allows other parts on the sides of the food to cook well, assuming the proper time and temperature are applied. Now, with the air fryer, heat is applied only to the upper part, but because of the fan inside, hot air flows in a spiral wave evenly inside the appliance, allowing things to cook faster and uniformly – or almost uniformly – since we still need to turn over the food at least once; otherwise, the extra heat from the top could burn the food being cooked.
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As with most ovens, the health benefits of cooking with less fat or oil are also rewarding. The airflow makes things cook evenly and, if used properly, we can achieve some level of crunchiness that is sometimes hard to get in a normal oven. Finally, your Instagram will look a lot cooler if you post pictures of food made in an air fryer rather than in a regular oven. There are days when I feel like making fried chicken and days when I feel like doing baked chicken. I am glad I now have both options.
The Author
Joe Wabe is an established photographer and Gwangju local business entrepreneur. He has been contributing to the GIC and the Gwangju News for more than eight years.
April 2019
SHOULD YOU BUY ONE? If you already have an oven at home, I would not recommend that you buy an air fryer. They take up a lot of space in the house and can be a pain to get clean after cooking. In many of the
BENEFITS OF HAVING ONE Do not get me wrong – I am not an anti-air fryer, I just wish people would stop thinking that this is the invention of the century. What I think is most amazing, ingenious actually, is the fancy name – air fryer – which makes people crazy about buying these machines. Probably the same people who created the concept of selling bottled water might be behind this promotional scheme. One of the benefits is that it is portable, and since it is light, I can easily take it places and cook at ease outside my kitchen.
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THE MYTH OF THE AIR FRYER As I mentioned before, the air fryer does not fry food, and you will not be able to achieve the same texture or flavor as you would when you fry food with oil in a pan. So most pictures that come with the recipe book in the box are probably not real. A friend of mine called me once because her chicken recipe did not turn out the way she had wanted, and when I asked how she had made it, she told me that according to the recipe she followed, you could cook raw chicken in 15 minutes. I was a little shocked by how misleading this information was. Even in a deep fryer at a high temperature, a 15-minute fry for chicken is nearly impossible to achieve. So if you are considering getting an air fryer, please keep in mind that you will be buying a faster, more efficient oven than the one you probably have, but that you also will not be buying a real fryer.
OPINION
usually in fat or oil,” which is far from what the air fryer does. So what is it exactly?
recipes I have seen, chefs recommend putting cooking paper at the bottom of the tray, thereby making it easy to clean. But the problem with this is that by adding paper inside, you are covering some of the tray holes that are in fact needed for the proper flow of hot air. Many people want to get on board with the trend because they believe things can be cooked at a faster speed. Although it will cook a bit faster than a normal oven, the difference will not be that much. Good food requires patience and time. You will only be gaining somewhere between five to ten extra minutes, so the cooking time difference will not be that much.
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Community Board
Have something you want to share with the community? The Community Board provides a space for the community to announce activities and special events. Please contact gwangjunews@gic.or.kr for more information. UNESCO KONA VOLUNTEERS KONA Storybook Center (KSC) is a registered small public library supported by UNESCO KONA Volunteers (UKV). UKV is a registered organization that helps disadvantaged children learn English independently through storybooks and story-maps. We guide families and children to develop a love of reading storybooks in English. We also give guidance to volunteers in using storybooks. We are looking for long-term volunteers who desire to enrich their lives. We are asking volunteers to commit to helping at least once a month. For more information, please visit http://cafe.daum. net/konavolunteers or our Facebook pages for KONA Storybook Center and UNESCO KONA Volunteers. Also, you can contact Kim Young-im at 062-434-9887 or email konacenter@gmail.com.
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April 2019
VOLUNTEER TEACHERS NEEDED for the Gwangju UCC (Universal Cultural Center). English teachers in the Gwangju area for 2019 with any level of experience are welcome to participate. UCC has a Facebook profile if you would like to see what kind of other services are available. To participate in the international cultural exchange programs, you may email peter.j.gallo@gmail.com, or phone or text 010-9490-4258. GWANGJU FILIPINO ENGLISH TEACHERS (GFET) Every 3rd Tuesday of the month 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., GIC Room 3 (2nd floor) We are a group of Filipino English teachers in Gwangju who conduct regular lectures and accent training to help fellow English teachers to become better educators. GWANGJU INTER FC The Gwangju International Soccer Team (Gwangju Inter FC) plays regularly every weekend. If you are interested in playing, email seehand@naver.com, phone or text 0107126-1207, or search “Gwangju Inter FC” on Facebook. POEMS WANTED! Professor Marcy Tanter teaches American, English, and Korean literature at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. To mark the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising and to help spread knowledge of the event beyond Korea, she is editing an anthology of poems written by Koreans and translated into English; she is
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working with the GIC on this project. She has found about 20 poems online, but she is seeking more. If you know of any poems that should be included, please contact her. If you are a poet whose work has been translated or if you have poems you would like to have translated, please get in touch. Her email is tanter@tarleton.edu. SUNDAY YOGA WITH EMILY Every Sunday (unless otherwise stated on the Facebook page) from March 10 11 a.m. – 12 noon, GIC Hall (1st floor) Facebook: Gwangju Yoga with Emily Appropriate for all levels. Classes are taught in English. Donation is encouraged. GIC LANGUAGE EXCHANGE Korean – English Language Exchange Every Wednesday 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. , GIC Hall 1st Floor Facebook: GIC Language Exchange SPANISH LANGUAGE EXCHANGE Spanish–English–Korean Language Exchange Every two weeks on Saturdays from April 6 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. , GIC Global Lounge (1st floor) No importa tu nivel de español. ¡Únetenos! More details: http://eng.gic.or.kr/ → Community Story GWANGJU KNITTING CLUB Every Thursday (unless otherwise stated on the Facebook page) From 7:00 p.m. Ember Cocktail Bar, 2nd floor 154-230 Dongmyeong-dong Facebook: Gwangju Knitting Club Bring your own supplies!
through Kakao Talk Plus Friend “AskGwangju.” Add us now! :) H
Mon. – Sat. Lunch hours
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
2019-03-27 �� 10:03:44
Attorney Attorney Park’s Park’s Law Law Firm Firm We're ready to serve your best interests in legal disputes. We provide affordable consultation & representation.
▶ Areas of Specialty contracts, torts, family law, immigration, labor ▶ Civil & Criminal Attorney Park, Duckhee
former judge, GIC board member Services available in Korean, English & Chinese
#402 Simsan Bldg, 342-13 Jisan-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju Location: next to Gwangju District Court
Tel: 062) 222-0011 Fax: 062)222-0013 duckheepark@hanmail.net
GWANGJU IMMIGRATION Online Reservation Service What is the Online Reservation Service? In order to reduce waiting times and make the visa application process more convenient, we are now introducing the Online Reservation Service, taking effect as of May 1, 2019. Applicants can make an online appointment date and time reservation before visiting the immigration office. Eligible Applicants: All Applicants No online reservation is required, however, to pick up an alien registration card (ARC), to report or apply for confirmation of visa issuance, or to apply for the issuance of any type of immigration certificate.
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How to make an online reservation? 1. Visit our HiKorea website (www.hikorea.go.kr) → Log in → Click reserve appointment → Click online reservation → Select appointment date and time → Print out the online reservation confirmation → Bring this confirmation when visiting the Immigration Office on your reserved date and time. (With this, you will not need to draw a waiting number on arrival.) 2. Because the application processing time for visitors is limited to ten minutes, please prepare any required documents before your visit. Effective date : May 1, 2019 (Wednesday)
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