Korea Connection
WELCOME TO KKONNECT! by Jini Shim
Stories, updates, news, and events brought to you by a young group of aspiring journalists whose mission is to bring together all the Korean culture enthusiasts in San Diego. We go by the name of K-KONNECT: connecting all things Korean. We publish our stories as a part of the Korea Daily San Diego’s monthly magazine that is freely distributed and available for pick up at the following locations: Kearny Mesa: Zion Market, Jae-il Market, Korea House, Pangea Bakery, and more Otay Ranch: Melt Gelato and Crepe Cafe We always welcome team members! Anyone who is interested in being a contributing writer, graphic designer, or event planner, please contact us! 요즘 한류에 대한 기사와 소식이 참 많습니다. 어떻게 보면 이제 흔해서 흥미없는 소재가 아닐까 싶지만, 몇몇의 외국인들이 가지고 있는 한국문화 지식은 참 놀라고 또 놀라지 않을수가 없습니다. 제시카라는 친구는 사극드라마를 보며 거기에 나오는 왕의 예복을 보고 어떤 시대인지 알아맞춥니다. 또, 단 이라는 친구는, “This is a drama by the Hong sisters!”라고 하며 “홍자매”로 불리는 드 라마 작가까지 알고있습니다. 에드워드는 한국 버라이티쇼 “런닝맨”에 나오는 소장품 카드를 구입해 파 티할 때 쓰고있고, ‘유재석을 존경한다’ 라고 말하며 쇼의 제작진까지 알고있습니다. 그리고 수요일 저 녁 만나는 Korean language exchange 모임은 한번 모이면 3-40명이 모여 카페를 꽉 채운답니다. 한국문화에 대한 열정을 가지고 있는 사람들의 글을 모았습니다. 문의사항이나 알리고 싶은 소식이 있다 면 이메일로 연락을 주세요. 많은 관심 부탁드립니다!
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KKONNECT.net @ Events and Behind the scenes...
Letter from a reader 독자의 글
(after purchasing our KKONNECT t-shirt...) Thank you for the email, and the haute couture and very boastful “I’m so cool” KKonnect Tee Shirt. However, now I’m getting the unwanted attention of affectionate elderly Korean lady folk at shopping malls and rolling eyes from associates in Zion Market. - F.Khan a.k.a Quantum McAwesome. Or my Korean alternate name “Saranghae McKoroke” (I love Koroke).
We want to hear from our readers. Send us your comments, feedback, suggestions for stories, or if you want to participate as a contributing writer, graphic designer, photographer… please do so! Email us at kkonnectmedia@gmail.com
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Korea Connection
SDSU 한국학 프로그램을 위한 ‘파이팅!’ ! g n i t h Fig for SDSU Korean Studies Program How SDSU’s faculty, students, and supporters are working together to establish an official Korean Studies Program
By Vong Phonsiri Jr.
What is it about Korean culture that has so many non-heritage people curious and captivated? Could it be the charm of those sweet yet corny dramas? Perhaps it’s the flashy and catchy wonders of K-pop. Or maybe it is Korea’s people and history. Whatever that attractive aspect is, Korea’s culture and language definitely have experienced a significant rise in popularity and interest in the last few years among non-Koreans here in the States. However popular it may be though, Korean culture is much more than just dramas, movies, and k-pop music. And those with the interest have looked into local cultural organizations and universities to satisfy their need to learn more. Let’s take San Diego State University, for instance, which has had incredible growth in its Korean Program in the last few years. But despite its successes as a program, SDSU still lacks its own minor in Korean Studies. SDSU has enough courses for a Korean Studies minor at the very least, so why not? I’ve 98 | SAN DIEGO KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY MAGAZINE . July 2012
taken Korean classes at SDSU and many of my peers also seem to be hopeful for a Korean minor. I had the opportunity to chat with Professor Soonja Choi, the program director and professor of linguistics. From my conversation with her, I learned that there are two major reasons for SDSU’s lack of Korean minor: funding and tenure approval from the University. “There is a strong relationship among funding, enrollment and the growth of the Korean program,” says Professor Choi. Believe it or not, the current program at SDSU is only partially funded by the university or the state. Much of the Korean program has been graciously funded by outside private funding and private donors. Thanks to the help of private funding, the Korean program at SDSU has steadily grown. Just the fact alone that much of the growth has come about from private funding offers some idea of the desire and need for a Korean program at SDSU.
Receiving approval from the University is of another great importance. For any program to be approved as a Minor, at least one tenure-track faculty is required for the program. Despite its growth, the duration of its existence too has played a role in why there is no minor today. Actually, the department has made clear its importance for a Korean program and has been quite supportive. With 10 different courses and about 100 students expected to enroll in the fall semester, the department has acknowledged the successful growth of the Korean program. Support from the school and community can also be a factor in determining how fast a program needs to be approved. Despite the wait, the near future still looks very bright for SDSU’s Korean program. “ We’ve proposed a Korean Studies Certificate, which could be approved in about a year’s time,” says Professor Choi. “A Korean Studies Certificate would require a total of 12 units with 6 units in advanced Korean language cours-
es, and 6 units in Korean culture. A student seeking out a Korean Studies Certificate would have to demonstrate an understanding of language and culture in upper division levels. The certificate could potentially lead to better opportunities. For example, if you wanted to go to Korea to teach English, a Korean Studies Certificate would look much more appealing to employers, which would give the student many more options.” In the long term, Professor Choi hopes to create an integrated and interdisciplinary Korean Studies program which teaches students Korean culture and language. As the program grows and develops, the program plans to open up Korean internships, where students could receive credit for their internship work in Korea-related companies and organizations in the San Diego region. “I feel touched by non-heritage students interested in learning about Korea. As a Korean, it makes me feel proud. As a researcher, I want to investigate what is it about Korean Culture that excites students to
want to learn about Korea. It is the students that keep me excited and inspired me to make an even better Korean program in the future,” says Choi.
If you would like to show you support for the Korean program at SDSU, I highly recommend voicing your opinions to Dean Paul Wong at pwong@mail.sdsu.edu or Director Soonja Choi at schoi@mail.sdsu.edu. If anyone is interested in interning for SD Korea Daily, please email KKonnectmedia@gmail.com.
Vong Phonsiri Jr. is a senior at SDSU and serves as President of SDSU’s Korean Student Association.
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Korea Connection
케이팝의 모든것: 메인보컬? 리드보컬? 막내? 케이팝 "전문가" 일라이가 분석한 아이돌 그룹들의 재미있는 구성 시스템
"When it comes to K-POP, it gets confusing enough trying to learn new names and faces. When positions come into play, we can sometimes find ourselves lost in the terminology. This is where I come in to make your job much easier, starting off by breaking down the group dynamic." by Eli Shand
In a K-POP group, you will most likely hear idols use terms such as Main Singer, Lead Rapper, or Visual to describe their duties as a member. But what does this all mean to us when we see our favorites in action? This is what I’m here to talk about in this article, so let’s start off with one of the most important bits of information to know: the difference between a Main and a Lead. To make it short and sweet, the Main is always the asset while the Lead follows and directly supports. The main vocalists are usually in charge of singing in the chorus and the more difficult parts of the song; therefore they are usually the strongest and most prominent singers. A couple examples of Main Vocalists include Taeyeon and Jessica of SNSD. Lead vocalists, in turn, are the other strong singers who tend to have specific verses allotted to them. There isn’t a huge difference, but these members often sing a larger portion of the song in comparison to the Main Vocalists. This can be seen in Sunny, Seohyun and Tiffany’s cases. The main vocals are also known for having the best range and control, while the lead vocals come in second. Lead Vocalists are used as the support for the main, and act as the go-to when the Main isn’t able to perform.. These positions are often determined after training for a period of time and experimentation, due to the fact that the Main and Lead Vocalists should have voices that blend well together. 100 | SAN DIEGO KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY MAGAZINE . July 2012
The same “Main versus Lead” concept applies when it comes to dance. There are Main Dancers and Lead Dancers, but it’s a bit easier to visually see the separation. The Lead Dancers are seen towards the front, especially in the chorus, and basically “lead” the dances. The Main Dancers are usually the people who get a specific part in the choreography and dance breaks, while the Leads act almost as backup dancers for the Main. Another interesting fact is that some dance formations sometimes set a few members towards the middle to make the group as a whole seem taller than average. A prime example of this concept is Hyoyeon versus Yoona, both from SNSD. As most fans know, Hyoyeon is praised as the dancing queen; however, she is usually placed towards the back. This is where taller members like Sooyoung come up front; these members act as Visuals and by doing so, this creates the illusion that the other members are more similar in height.
The final distinction between Main versus Lead is shown in the rapping positions, but doesn’t follow the same guidelines as the previous two descriptions; I’ll use Big Bang’s GD and TOP as the examples of this here. GD is the Main Rapper, and he usually gets more lines. On the other hand, TOP gets a few less lines and is the Lead, his raps following GD’s. This separation to me isn’t as difficult, but it’s not exactly the same concept; this is because there are Lead Rappers who have skills on par with the main, but they work more as a tag-team partner rather than a support. Therefore, they work together to come up with their own lyrics to fit the songs that they will be featured on. So moving from the roles that have a Main versus a Lead; I’ll cover 3 other roles: the Leader, the Visual, and the Maknae. These roles aren’t as difficult to understand, but there can be confusion surrounding their contributions to the groups. I’m sure that there are plenty of people who wonder, “Where do they play in the grand scheme of things?”. Therefore, I shall begin with the pivotal role of being a Leader within the K-POP world. In most teams, or groups in general, there is a Leader or representative of some sort. These people often demonstrate and give off an air of maturity, and take on responsibility for their fellow group mates. When talking K-POP, people such as GD and CL, come to mind when we imagine a Leader. Most of the time, these people tend to be one of the older members, however this isn’t always the case due to things such as experience levels and attitude. The Leader acts as a spokesperson, whether it be talking in interviews or to higher-ups in their companies, which means that they have to know how to handle themselves in a reserved manner that will always leave a wonderful impression of the other members as well. Leaders are charismatic and kind people who will do their best to uphold the reputation and spirits of fans and fellow members alike.
The term “Visual” usually means an image that we can use to illustrate or accompany something; so the Visual in a K-POP group is usually someone with the face that we can relate to a said group. The aspects that make a person the perfect fit for the Visual role are dependent on the concept that the group would like to hold, but often times means that the person is quite attractive or has a distinct feature that sticks out in the best way possible. Siwon of Super Junior is an example of a Visual who is known for his body; which is apparent during the Mr. Simple era. There are also Visuals that stick out due to the “concept” , which can be seen through 2NE1 as a whole. There’s also the instance where a member is known for a “trademark”, such as Dara’s palm tree hair during “Lollipop” promotions. In summary, the Visuals are the members who act as the “face” or “eye candy” of a given group. The final position that I’d like to teach about today would be the “Maknae”, or youngest member. It’s quite selfexplanatory, but members in this position are usually expected to be youthful in appearance and in personality. Nonetheless, there can be an exception made here for the “Visual Maknaes”, or members who one would think are the youngest but aren’t exactly. Using Super Junior, most know that Kyuhyun is truly the youngest, but member Ryeowook is known as the “Visual Maknae”. In a way, the Maknae position is relative to that of a Visual member, and I’ll keep it short and sweet through this. In closing, I’d like to leave a note by saying that things don’t always follow this model. Then again, when do things truly stick to a singular, universal pattern? I feel that this topic is something that has puzzled many fans though the years and I can say that it isn’t all too easy to grasp at all. My hopes with this article is that you as the reader are now able to see where these numerous positions and terms come into place when you’re watching your favorite groups perform. Eli is a high school student in Chula Vista. She has also interned at Anime Conji and at Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego.
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Let’s Wine
A review of the Dokdo Wine by Toni 샌디에고의 바다와 요리하기를 좋아하는 평범하지만 와인만큼에서는 민감하다! 귀여운 CPA, 토니씨가 맛본 독도와인
What is Dokdo? Dokdo is a group of small islets in the East Sea whose sovereignty is disputed between Japan and South Korea. South Korea currently has its Coast Guard stationed there.
by Antoinette Majka
The aroma of Dokdo Winery’s 2008 Merlot was earthy with an enchanting crispness of espresso that drew me in. My swirl presented a gorgeous presentation with highlighted edges and a vibrant cranberry glow. My first sip was delightful. As typically not gravitating toward Merlot, I had to have another taste quickly. It possessed just the right amount of acidity to allow for a fine accompaniment with various culinary treats, and, in my case, a wonderful pairing with my Cambozola cheese. Perhaps the slight zing that was present in the wine pairs nicely with the zing in the cheese, and, I would suspect, also pair nicely with a spicy dish of sorts. The caramel undertones gently framed the slight black cherry sweetness. A winner in my book!
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Dokdo wine is produced at a winery in Napa Valley and is named ‘799-805’, the postal code for Dokdo Island. According to Dokdo Wine’s website, the new wine was created to draw people away from the controversial debate over which country (South Korea or Japan) owns the rocky islets, and to bring people back to the original delicacy and beauty of the island itself: “Instead of appreciating the beauty of Dokdo, the world has been too busy fighting over it . . . The island should not be fought over, it should be shared. We were inspired by this ideal while creating the wine. We wanted to create something that represented Dokdo and our passion towards it.” Dokdo wine is currently sold out but visit their website and be added to the mailing list for updates! dokdowine.com Antoinette Majka is a CPA and wine enthusiast living in southern California. She enjoys exploring many culinary delights as well as delightful beverages throughout the state.
An-nyung America! Two students from Korea spend their last year at UCSD’s I-House. They share their most memorable moments. UCSD의 글로벌빌리지 I-House에서 지난 일년을 보낸 한국 유학생들의 유학후기
by Jacklin Lee
I-House at UCSD is home to hundreds of international students every year. Being an ambassador here, I was able to meet incoming and outgoing international Sunny and Inae’s travel photos. students from more than 30 Can you guess where they are? countries. Here is an interview with two Yonsei University students who spent the last year at I-House. Jacklin: What did you like about San Diego or the United States? Sunny: I liked a lot of things! People are laid back here – I think people in La Jolla even more so. They like to relax and enjoy their time. In Korea, it is the opposite most of the time. They are constantly preoccupied worrying about money, success, children, and the future. I like how here, parents and adults have their own lives and are not consumed by taking care and babysitting their children twenty-four hours a day. Plus, unlike Korea, people are not constantly rushing each other! Inae: I don’t think I could ever forget the huge burritos and the delicious baby back ribs. I think these messy finger foods really suited me because I love to get down and simply enjoy food like a child! J: What would you like to take away from here? S: I want to tell people in Korea about how much Americans show their respect to soldiers. It really moved me. J: Were there any things that you thought Americans could learn from Koreans? S: I think Koreans know how to complete things more quickly and effectively. It may sometimes be good or bad, but I noticed that there is a lot of waiting here in America. It really tested my patience! Oh, and the public transportation in Korea is undeniably faster and more accessible. Since I lived in Korea for 24 years though, and only am staying for a brief time here in San Diego, I can only say so much! (Read the full interview on Kkonnect.net) Sunny is a Psychology major student who hopes to retain her surf skills, and Inae is a East Asian Studies major who fell in love with Disneyland. Thank you Sunny and Inae for your feedback and comments! Jacklin Lee is a board member of Korean American Literature Club (KALC). It was founded several years ago with the purpose of discussing Korean books and connecting with other Korean events such operas and film festivals. KALC holds regular book meetings and movie nights apart from the special events such as attending film festivals and other Korean cultural events.
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Korea Connection
ASCENSION IN SOREN A Short Story by Clark Rhodes
Author’s note: Earlier this spring I wrote my first short story about a man who struggles with faith, family, and solitude. The story takes place in a world where those who submit to their faith ascend into the unknown, or maybe heaven. The existential questions man has lingering in the back of his mind come to fruition, testing the will power of the individual in Ascension in Soren.
작가의 글: 지난 봄, 나는 처음으로 믿음, 가족, 그리고 고독과 싸우는 한 남자에 대한 단편을 썼다. 이 글에서의 세상은 자신의 믿음에 굴복하는 자들이 알수없는 곳, 아마 천국으로 오르는 세상이다. 주인공 남자의 머리속에서 계속 머무는 ‘존재’에관한 의문이 결실을 맺고, 한사람의 의지력을 시험해본다.
To Whom it may concern, The consensus as of late appears to be that you are “perfect”. Have you always been perfect? I am having trouble understanding this term and its application to You. Perhaps it is beyond human comprehension. But if You have always been, even before the heavens and earth were created, then what drove You to use Your magnificent power to create us? Were You bored? Lonely? Naive? Of course not, You were and still are “perfect”, or so says the consensus. However, if something or someone is perfect, one cannot add or take anything away from it - that would tarnish its perfection. This is the first of my divine rejections. Either You were not “perfect” before us, or You are not “perfect” now. And so, I see Your limitation, Your flaw. I still find it quite difficult to acknowledge Your existence. I am aware that this may appear foolish, after all I do read the papers and presently I am writing you. Regardless, I believe that this life, my existence, would be much more meaningful without You. Please understand. Lee Yong-Gi ***************************************** In the beginning I was shaken. Apparently, I had been wrong about God, Christ, Allah, or whatever the Deity’s name was. But I wasn’t the only one. No book, priest, or shaman predicted the events of the past few months. People had been disappearing, or ascending into heaven I suppose, every day by the millions. Christians, Jews, Muslims, even Hindus. Most of what little family and acquaintances I had disappeared within the first couple of days. Just this morning I awoke to discover my elder brother Jin-Seok gone. I imagined he was overwhelmed, like myself, by the chaos and missed our mother. I didn’t blame him for leaving me, for ascending. But that left me in solitude. I thought he would say goodbye, but he didn’t. We were all fairly new to Soren. Jin-Seok had been my only company. Despite what was going on, despite the inevitable loneliness, I had a freckle of hope. Besides, there was always whiskey to calm my anxiety. I decided to open a bible that was given to me for Christmas by my mother a decade ago. I began to meditate on the Book of Job and why I turned away from Christianity. On my desk there was a single candle lit, I fixed my eyes on the pages but I looked past the words. I stood up and walked to my window, lying Job next to my 104 | SAN DIEGO KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY MAGAZINE . July 2012
other fiction. Outside, it was dark, but the sun would rise within the hour. With billions of people on the planet, there had to be at least a few thousand like me. At least a couple hundred who came to the same conclusion. I missed my family and found it difficult to accept the past. All I wanted was for the sun to rise and to refill my glass. How could anyone have found peace in something so absurd? Then I thought about my mother. It didn’t matter to me if she was Christian or Jewish, or what denomination she belonged to, as long as she was happy and had Jin-Seok to look after her. I would never know where they were, but I knew they were together. The thought made me smile. I poured myself another drink and waited for the sunrise. ***************************************** Dear Absoluteness, I hope this letter finds You, as I have yet to hear back from You. I don’t imagine that You are upset with me. If that were the case, it should be in Your power to punish me. My mother, brother, and many others should be with You by now. I have found it hard to adjust to an empty world, but without so many people around, I find it easier to appreciate the minor things. Although, I can’t help but return to the same questions every night when I lie in bed. You waited so long before letting mankind ascend. So many have suffered before now. How is it that You have let Your work destroy itself with war and poverty and so on? Did we finally reach some threshold? Man praised You for Your omniscience. You will be, You are, and You were all-knowing. You knew my grandfather would be captured in the Korean War. You knew I would grow up to be a skeptic. You knew everything. You knew our fate before You created us, before You threw us into this world. And yet, You sat back and watched us, Your children, wilt away. This is the second of my divine rejections. Until I understand, until You make it clear, I will persevere in this lonely but meaningful existence. Lee Yong-Gi ***************************************** The Spring had passed and Soren was quieter than ever. In the beginning I rarely left my home. Shortly after the ascension began, a group of evangelicals stayed behind to spread the Word via soapbox. They said it was
the end, that Christ would somehow come back for us. But I never saw Him. I never saw Buddha, or any blue gods with extra limbs. It didn’t take long for the talking heads to grow impatient and disappear. The panic that once filled the streets eventually dwindled, making the outside world more inviting to me. The sun was hot and kissed my skin when I would go for drinks or lie in the park. After a few more weeks, I didn’t see anyone anymore. I didn’t have to pay for anything because the shops were empty. There were no sirens, no crying mothers. Not a single plane flew over my head. I began to wonder if I was alone. The thought held my hand into the Fall but I would drown it with wine or some kind of meditation. Without any sort of address I wrote many letters; to God, to earth, to my mother, each with intimacy and honesty. I told my mother that I wished I could have witnessed her ascent, but I didn’t think there was ever anything to see. I imagined it happened in my sleep, or while blinking, when my eyes were closed. She was sick before she left. I knew she was in a great amount of pain. She could only lie in bed, reading the bible. I assumed there was no pain in heaven or wherever. I wished I had a photo of her and my brother. ***************************************** My Dear Son, I remember so clearly when you were growing up, your first day of school with your brother. Your father and I bought you both matching bikes. We watched you follow close behind your brother in the early morning. We even drove behind you to make sure you made it to school okay. These are the kinds of days I think about when I am in the condition I am in now. Son, the pain is unbearable. The only amount of will I have comes from my memories of the whole family, together. I miss your father more than I miss my mobility. Every night I lie alone. I don’t know where my faith will take me, but I believe your father will be waiting. A mother’s love goes beyond this world and into the next. I will be waiting for you and your brother. Love each other. Umma ***************************************** My hands were dirty in a neighbor’s house. I needed a photograph. Of anyone. I dug up my mother’s belongings from our backyard but found no faces, only a letter. I needed something to quench my thirst for some kind of tangible nostalgia. I knew there had once been pictures in my house, framed, but I couldn’t find any. None of Jin-Seok, none of my mother, none of myself. My keen sense of reason was gone in a panic. I needed my family. Without company, without the warm caress of a girl’s palm on my cheek, or the drunken rhetoric of Jin-Seok, I felt terribly alone. More than whiskey, more than wine, or water turned into wine, I wanted to be with people. I searched the streets, the stores, and the homes
of strangers. I opened car doors and bathroom stalls. I sped around town sustaining the song of my horn. Soren had ascended without me. I cried out to God, but had no response. I cried for my mother, but had no response. I cried for my brother too. I spray-painted my address on billboards and concrete walls and waited without sleeping much. Nights turned into weeks, weeks into months, and Soren into hell. I knew from the first day of ascension that I would be alone. Everyone else was willing to take the leap into ten-thousand fathoms of nothingness. Everyone except for me. I became a prisoner in my own home, in a town where I barely knew anyone in the first place. Bitterness filled me to the brim. I waited for God to take a sip but instead I lay flat on the sticky linoleum flooring. After a brief sleep I awoke to the smell of candles dying. I stared at the ceiling, empty, plain, white. I couldn’t picture my mother or Jin-Seok anymore. I decided to lift myself from the floor. I stood at my window peering into the dawn, waiting for no one, only nothingness to consume me. I decided it was time to leave the town of Soren. ***************************************** Yong-Gi, Mother left me a note before she left us. If you found this letter then I am sure you have found hers. I am adhering to her last words and doing what will be the best for both of us in the end. I am leaving you and Soren. After Umma left, I couldn’t help but cling to her memory. Like many things, I was so used to having the two of you around. There is no greater pain than what you feel when you lose something that is a part of you. All desire comes with attachment, thirst, and Yong-Gi, I am parched. The longer I stay, the greater the suffering will become for the both of us. But do not be scared. There is at least some wisdom I can share before I go. Everything before the ascension was a lie. Everyday we lived was a day we fooled each other and ourselves. We didn’t choose how we began, but now it seems we can choose how we end. Once, I was angry with God, but now I realize that we were right all along. God has no say in how we fill our essence, how we illustrate our existence. Maybe He provided the choice, maybe there is more to ascending than we know. Regardless, I am thankful that I am here now. I am thankful for Umma. I am thankful that you are my brother. Maybe for those few but magnificent things I should thank God. I am taking my own path, just as you should. Do not follow me, find your own way. Live well brother. I hope to never see you again. With Authentic Love, Lee Jin-Seok Clark Rhodes (용기) is a senior at SDSU studying philosophy and creative writing. He also serves as the treasurer of SDSU’s Korean Student Association.
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Chan-Sung Jung: The Korean Zombie
‘코리안 좀비’라는 별명을 가진 UFC 종합격투기 선수 정찬성
by Francis Bautista
These days it’s common for people to have some sort of “Zombie Apocalypse” readiness plan. The plans usually involve stockpiling food, ammunition, and holing up in a Wal-Mart. As well thoughtout these plans are, they’ve never factored in this zombie. THE KOREAN ZOMBIE. Chan-Sung Jung (13-3-0 W-L-D), affectionately nicknamed the “Korean Zombie”, has made headlines since his debut in the UFC. He earned the “Korean Zombie” nickname from his fighting style and his granite-like jaw, where no matter what punishment is sent his way, he continues to push forward toward his opponent. Like a zombie. Except this zombie isn’t trying to eat your face off. He’s trying to make you tap out or knock you out. Growing up, he was the subject of bullying and ridicule from his classmates simply because of his small-town origins. His aunt later enrolled him in Hapkido classes as a means of self-defense and confidence building. In high school he later started Kickboxing and MMA training, and continued training by majoring in “Mixed Martial Arts” at Gyung-Buk Sci-
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ence University. Once Chan-Sung Jung went pro, he won his first 9 fights. His first loss, against Leonard Garcia in the WEC, won “Fight of the Night” honors. He would later avenge that loss in a rematch with a submission move not yet seen in the UFC, the “Twister”--a submission move where the neck and body are twisted in opposite directions. Chan Sung-Jung was the first to do this, and that submission earned him a “Submission of the Night” accolade and a hefty bonus as well. Chan-Sung Jung is riding a wave of momentum and popularity not seen in Asian Mixed Martial Artists ever. Only time will tell what the future holds for Chan-Sung Jung, but he’ll face it the only way he knows how. He’ll continue to move forward, unflinching, and ready to strike as soon as the opportunity arises.
Francis is a twenty-something mixed martial artist, anime fan, video game nut, webcomic writer, and all around geek. Hailing from San Ysidro Norte, Francis enjoys doing all the stuff mentioned in the previous sentence. Check out more of his stuff at http:// strawberryscentedburnout.wordpress.com
매주 수요일 저녁만 되면 나타나는 “한국어 수다쟁이” 모임! 한국어 배우기 동호회를 이끌어온 로버트 셜츠씨와의 인터뷰
San Diego Korean Language Exchange Organizer
Robert Schultz How this Baek-in-saram (“white” person) became a promoter of Korean language learning in San Diego
An interview by Jini Shim
Jini: When did you first start this Korean language exchange Meetup group? Robert: The group was founded in May 2006 and I joined in March 2007. I became organizer in December 2009 after the previous organizer left for Korea.
J: How much growth has it had? R: I haven’t tracked growth per se, but as of today, we have over 450 members on our original meetup. com group and over 200 members on our younger Facebook group. There’s some overlap between the two groups, but we certainly have over 500 members between the two sites. The more important measure is participation in our flagship weekly event, which has been so strong recently that we’re adding space from this week, and expecting to expand to two evenings per week from this autumn. J: What does this group mean to you? R: Something magical happens when hearts and minds are opened to new cultures and people see things through another’s eyes for the first time. I had this experience as an exchange student in Japan, and a major motivation for learning Korean was to again enjoy the wonder of opening up a new culture and all the great friendships and discoveries that follow. For our non-Korean members, friends or family may think we’re crazy for watching Korean dramas or going to K-Pop concerts, but within the group, we share our thoughts on the best and latest hits, and it’s a matter of pride to have seen the most.
J: What is your opinion of the Korean language? R: Coming from a Japanese language background as I mentioned above, and with the elegant Hangeul writing system, my first impression was that Korean would be relatively easy to pick up. Formal Korean language is pretty straightforward as expected, but in more casual, spoken Korean, there is so much meaning and nuance and so much variation in verb endings and related structures that any kind of natural sounding fluency has remained an elusive goal. J: Goals for the group? R: As more of a dream than a concrete goal, I would like to see San Diego have a Korea-focused organization for like The Japan Society of San Diego (where I used to be a board member), which creates and promotes things like sister city exchanges, visits by Korean officials, and Korean culture and language events.
Read the full interview on Kkonnect.net The San Diego Korean Language Exchange currently meets every Wednesdays at 7pm at a café in Kearny Mesa. For updates visit www.meetup.com/sdkorean
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Korea Connection
The World of Korean Hip Hop and Tiger JK, the Pioneer of Korea Hip Hop by Ivan Li
There are many genres in the world of music. Each genre is loved by many people and hated by others. This is true for all genres, especially hip hop. All over the world, hip hop has had to face a lot of hardships before it could be placed with mainstream music. In the United States, hip hop faced a lot of hardship, with many media outlets labeling hip hop as a bad influence to kids. It didn’t help of course, that artists were coming out with songs that pretty much lived up to the labels put on them. Even though rap finally started breaking through to the masses in the early 90’s in the United States, many countries still held strong to the labels and stereotypes given to rap. That takes us to South Korea, where these days, hip hop music is becoming huge as many artists are creating hit after hit and many of the K-pop groups are starting to incorporate hip hop into their music. Before all of this though, Korea kept hip hop underground, as many of the people stereotyped the music negatively. There were many hip hop artists that had some success, but it wasn’t until Tiger JK came into the scene that the world of hip hop changed in Korea. Tiger JK, whose real name is Seo Jung Kwon, was raised in Korea until he was 12 years, when he moved to Los Angeles. As he lived in Los Angeles, he witnessed firsthand the 1992 Los Angeles riots where a lot of racial hate between Korean Americans and African Americans reached a boiling point. After witnessing the riots, Tiger JK, who was already an avid hip hop fan, decided to use his music to bring both races closer together. At the age of 16, he was able to release a solo album but it received little publicity as it was censored due to content. Tiger JK went on to form ‘Drunken Tiger’. Even though members of the group kept changing, ‘Drunken Tiger’ continually succeeded with multiple albums. Even though there were many negative labels given to Tiger JK, such as a bad influence on Korean youth, he managed to not only succeed, but change the public’s view, as his music and lyrics showed that rap and hip hop is more than just about violence and gang life. Rap and hip hop can be much deeper. Korean rap has come a long way from what it used to be, Tiger JK brought a Western hip hop style which was different from what Korean hip hop was before, when it 108 | SAN DIEGO KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY MAGAZINE . July 2012
used a lot of traditional Korean music. After bringing rap to the masses, many artists have started popping up and becoming successful, such as ‘Leessang’, ‘Dynamic Duo’, and many more. Unfortunately though, with the rise of hip hop and rap, many Kpop idols have started using hip hop in their songs. Though this may sound like a good thing, many people are starting to group hip hop with sugar coated lyrics that usually come with K-pop songs. Many of the fans of hip hop believe that rap and hip hop should be tools used to create a message and should be sung from your soul with passion. Even though hip hop is showing up everywhere, “true” hip hop will still be produced by people like Tiger JK and many more under the label ‘Jungle Entertainment’, which was founded by Tiger JK himself. Hip hop in Korea still has a way to go, but it’s quickly rising in fame. There is already a lot of talent, but with more people listening to the music now, who knows how big hip hop can get in Korea, there is still a lot to see from the industry. 5 Korean Hip Hop Artists You Should Know About! 1. Yoon Mi Rae 윤미래 (aka T) – Female rapper married to Tiger JK. Recommended song to listen to first: ‘Black Happiness’ 2. Leessang 리쌍 – Hip hop duo that have achieved huge mainstream success, comprised of Gary and Gil. Recommended song to listen to first: ‘Girl Who Can’t Break Up, Boy Who Can’t Leave’ 3. Epik High 에픽하이 – Hip hop trio comprised of Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz. Recommended song to listen to first: ‘Fly’ 4. Dynamic Duo 다이나믹 듀오 – Hip hop duo that were part of CB Mass originally, comprised of Choiza and Gaeko. Recommended song to listen to first: ‘Solo’ 5. Supreme Team 슈프림 팀 – A hip hop duo that is still quite new, comprised of Simon Dominic and E-Sens. Recommended song to listen to first: Then ‘Then Then’
Ivan Li is a Film major at Mesa college aspiring to work in the media industry.
Oh So Hot, Kimchi Jjigae
김치찌개
K-Pop 포스터에 끌려 들어갔다가 우연히 만난 그 뜨거운… Rhema 가 처음으로 김치찌개를 맛 본날
by Rhema Williams
Today is the momentous day that I tried Korean food for the first time. Since I have no previous Korean food knowledge, where other to look than Convoy Street, a famous street for Asian cuisine in San Diego? I had done some previous research and found two Korean dishes that looked especially appetizing to me: Kimchi soup or jjigae (김치찌개) and pork bulgogi or marinated barbecued meat (불고기). Based on previous experience, Kimchi soup looked like chicken tortilla soup, which is famous at most Mexican restaurants, and pork bulgogi looked like bacon, which I’ve always been a fan of since I was a kid. I was walking near Tapioca Express because I had just seen a friend and got some bubble tea, and I came across a place called Old Village or Yet Gol. To be honest, what attracted me at first was the korean pop posters they had on their windows, but when I went inside and looked at their menu, I saw that they had lots of Korean food for great prices! It was a quiet place but also lively. They had Korean game shows playing on the TVs, which were funny to me . Even though I couldn’t understand a word they were saying, their facial expressions were humorous. They even played korean pop music on their speakers like “Run, Devil, Run”, a very popular song by a korean pop group called Girls Generation (소녀시대) and “Shock”, another popular korean pop song by a boy band called Beast (비스트). I was not starving, so I decided to go for something lighter, like the Kimchi soup. I was excited because everything was
going well so far and I had nothing to lose! I had no idea what I was in for! I hadn’t done extensive research, so when the waiter brought six side dishes on six little plates, I was completely thrown aback. I was thinking “What did she just put in front of me and what do I do with it?” I figured it was something you could add to the soup, figuring out later that they are called banchan (반찬) which is served along with rice to go along with the main meal you are having. I only knew what two out of the six side dishes were, which was humorous to me, but also exciting to try new things. I had heard once before that kimchi was spicy, and I had forgotten that helpful piece of information until I started eating. I didn’t mind though! The broth was especially great, and I really liked the variety of different foods they put in the soup.
The other great thing was that I got to experience this for only six dollars! Saving money was part of the joy! The next time I go for Korean food, by myself or with friends, I’ll definitely try the marinated meat (bulgogi) or perhaps bibimbap (비 빔밥), which I’ve seen is another famous Korean dish. I want to discover what is truly delicious in Korean cuisine! I am proud to tell my friends that I have finally tasted a traditional Korean dish and I’m ready to try more!
Rhema is a Biology major at San Diego Mesa College who has a great love and passion for korean pop music. She also hopes to learn more about Korean culture and hopes to visit Korea someday.
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