From the Editor

It’salready July! We are officially moving over the hump into the second half of the year. This July issue of the Gwangju News is already our seventh issue of 2023, and we hope that you enjoy it as much as this year’s previous issues. With July comes summer to Gwangju and its environs; the ending of the school semester; the beginning of vacations, travel, and sightseeing; and the final days of the 2023 Gwangju Biennale!

Remember last year’s first-ever Gwangju Buskers World Cup? Well, it’s returning and will be building on the successes of last year. The Gwangju News has connected with one of the competition’s organizers to give us inside information on what we will be listening to on the city streets this fall at the Gwangju Buskers World Cup 2023.

This issue, we introduce a new column, Political Focus, penned by Dr. Jonathan J. Chiarella, who will be giving us his analyses on current affairs related to Honam or international relations from his perch right here in Gwangju. This issue: air bases that everyone wants, just not anywhere near them.

Have you heard about the autobahn-like racetrack planned to link Gwangju to Yeongam? Yes, a no-speed-limit expressway with mortal implications. Read our managing editor’s take on this deadly project [Opinion].

We bring you two [Environment] articles this issue: one about the benefits of using solar energy in Korea, and the other about Japan’s plans to dump a million tons of radioactive wastewater into the Pacific (and no, that is not a typo!).

You’ll be surprised at the amount of history you can read in wallpaper [Lost in Honam]. And, oh yes, after 25 “episodes,” Alan and Me have a baby boy [Comic Corner]!

Waste not our water, stay Covid cautious, savor the summer, and enjoy the Gwangju News!

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News

Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.