August 2015 #162

Gw

angju

and S

outh

Jeolla

Inte

rnatio

nal M

agazin

e I A

ugust 2015 Issu

e N

o. 162

August 2015_��.indd 1 2015-07-24 �� 4:26:56

Do you want to experience Korea?Then this program is for you!Experience Korean culture at Hyanggyo, a traditional Confucian school.

Experience Programs (2 hours, at least 10 people)Basic Programs (2 Hours)- Experience wearing Hanbok (Traditional Costumes)- Learn the etiquette of hand gestures, greetings, and bowing- Drink green tea- Explore Hyanggyo and watch movies

Optional Programs (additional cost)- Experience a Korean traditional wedding ceremony- Experience a coming of age celebration- Watch a performance of Korean classical music and Fan Dance- Make kimchi, traditional confections, and rice cake.- Play traditional Korean games such as Tuho, Yut, etc

7-8, 95 Angil, Jungan-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju 503-818, South KoreaE-mail: [email protected] Website: www.swk2013.comTel: 062-431-6501

August 2015_��.indd 2 2015-07-24 �� 4:26:59

August 2015.indd 1 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:15

August 2015 Issue No. 162 Published on July 27, 2015Cover Photo: Swedish Ambassador Lars Danielsson Cover Art & Design: Joe Wabe

Gwangju News is the first local English magazine in Korea, first published in 2001. It covers local and regional issues, with a focus on roles and activities of the international residents and local English-speaking communities.

Copyright by Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be repro-duced in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic, mechani-cal, photocopying, recording or otherwise — without the written consent of the publisher.

Gwangju News is published by Gwangju International Center5, Jungang-ro 196 beon-gil (Geumnam-no 3 Ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-023, South KoreaTel: (+82)-62-226-2733~34 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731

Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315)Registration Date February 22, 2010

Printed by Join Adcom 조인애드컴 (062-367-7702)

THE EDITORIAL TEAM

PUBLISHER Shin Gyonggu MANAGING EDITOR Karly Pierre ASSISTANT EDITORS Kate Blessing, Joey NunezONLINE EDITOR Ana Traynin COORDINATOR AND LAYOUT EDITOR Karina Prananto PHOTO EDITOR Joe Wabe CHIEF PROOFREADER Bradley Weiss ONLINE EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jacqui Page, Sam Page COPY EDITORS Laura Becker, Timm Berg, Kate Blessing, Elizabeth Butler, Robert Hinderliter, Brian Kelly, Joey Nunez, Kelsey RiversPROOFREADERS Lianne Bronzo, Don Gariepy, Fellin Kinanti, Carrie Levinson, Joey Nunez, Gabrielle Nygaard, Stephen Redeker, Pete Schandall, Teri VenableRESEARCHERS Ki Su-yeon, Kim Ji-heon, Lee So-eun

Volunteering Inquiry and Feedback: [email protected] and Subscription Inquiry: [email protected] or 062-226-2733~34

Special thanks to the City of Gwangju and all of our sponsors.

GwangjuNews @GwangjuNewsGICgwangjunewsgic.com

Gwangju & South Jeolla International Magazine

Gwangju News always needs volunteers who want to share their expertise or gain some.

Feel free to contact us with your interests and ideas to get involved!

The Gwangju News Print Team needs copy editors,

proofreaders, and writers.Please contact the print editor

at [email protected].

The Gwangju News Online Team needs webmaster and online

editorial assistants.Please contact the online

editor at [email protected].

Email us today and start getting involved!

Join Our Team!

August 2015.indd 2 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:16

CONTENTSGwangju City NewsUpcoming EventsSwedish Ambassador: Strengthening The Current Korean Society2015 Gwangju Universiade Review:Korean Children Meet American AthletesAthlete in Focus: Roger RaoAthlete in Focus: Nick HoughAthlete in Focus: Angus PedersonAthlete in Focus: Helen LundWomen in the WorkforceAl BarnumYoung Fashion DesignersThe Awakening of Social Enterprise in South Korea: Part 2 Fly In Jazz: A Local BandGwangju Talks: “What Do You Think About the Government Handling MERS?”Gwangju Citizens “Clean Gwangju” TogetherSewol Update August 2015Gwangju Plays: Just Around the River Bend… Gwangju Eats: EstrellaGwangju Cooks: Korean Style Salad DressingPhoto Essay: Pedro’s VoyagersPhoto Essay: 2015 Gwangju UniversiadePhoto of the MonthGwangju Writes: GenesisBehind the Myth: The Hills are Alive with the Sound of…Spirits?Jeolla History: Yun Seon-Do Memorial Hall and Nogudang My Korea: Zipping Around: Eco-adventures in KoreaDeparting Gwangju: Saipan - An Amazing Place for Leisure!Green Korea: Let’s #CleanGwangju TogetherKOTESOL: Summer Reading for Stupendous TeachingHealth: Catch those Zs – before Sleep Deprivation Catches up with YouGIC Tour Preview: GoheungGIC Talk Preview: Data Driven Growth: Application of Current Opin-ions to GIC ProgramGIC Talk August ScheduleCommunity Board

newsnewsfeaturefeature

featurefeaturefeaturefeaturefeaturefeaturefeaturefeaturefeaturelocal

locallocallocallocallocalphotographyphotographyphotographyculturecultureculturelocalplaces to seeplaces to seegeneralgeneral

gicgic

gicinfo

06081013

14151617182022252628

30313234353639424344454648505254

5556

5758

August 2015.indd 3 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:16

6 news

GWANGJU CITY NEWSCompiled by Ki Su-yeon, Kim Ji-heon and Lee So-eun

Photos courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City

GWANGJU FOREST CAMPING GROUND OPENS

Gwangju citizens’ forest camping ground opened on June 1. It is located in Cheomdan, Buk-gu. This camp-ing ground has 13 auto-camping sites and 14 general camping sites, including cookhouses, toilets and an observatory to see migratory birds. It is poised to be a popular leisure activity location. Gwangju began building this camping ground last year, costing nearly 30 billion won. It was scheduled to open in March, but was delayed due to Gangwha Island fires. Peak season is from July to August. The fee for general use is 15,000 won, and car camping is 20,000 won. Off-season car camping will cost 15,000 won, and general use will cost 10,000 won. Electricity will be available for an added fee of 3,000 won. Reservations can be made at http://greencity.gwangju.go.kr.

GWANGJU BECOMES WORLD CLASS CITY BY HOSTING UNIVERSIADE

By hosting the 2015 Summer Universiade, Gwangju has come out to the world as a cultural and modern city. According to the Gwangju Development Institute, 34,000 posts about the Gwangju Universiade were uploaded on social media, including Twitter, Facebook and blogs, from July 2 to July 8. Posts have increased tenfold compared to June, which included roughly 3,300 posts per day. As people have volun-tarily posted comments about Gwangju, others have become more interested in the city. Most news reports are covered throughout vari-ous media, however, many students all over the world have uploaded posts on their Social Networking Services (SNS) to cheer for friends and teams. A median of 420 posts related to “Universiade,” including some negative comments, were uploaded prior to the opening of the Gwangju Universiade. The number of posts increased to 19,000, while negative words decreased by 5.4% to 5,431 posts.

After the opening ceremony, 94.2% with 87,689 posts of positive words have been mentioned on SNS. Most frequently posted words on SNS were “enjoy” with 28,711, “happy” with 22,631, and 11,590 posts of “thank you.” These statistics indicate that the Universiade has contributed to the improved image of Gwangju on the world stage.

August 2015.indd 4 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:18

news 7GWANGJU BICYCLE TOUR “SING SING GO GWANGJU!”

Gwangju Metropolitan City began running a bicycle tour program, “Sing Sing Go Gwangju!” on July 9. Via rickshaw, the tour introduces various tourist at-tractions in Gwangju near the National Asia Culture Complex, including the Yanglim-dong historical and cultural village, Art Street downtown, Dae-in Mar-ket, the Blue Street Part and Dongmyeong-dong caf street.

“Sing Sing Go Gwangju!” is an emotional journey accompanied by stories behind every corner of the city. Various events are also offered in each course.Huni Oppa, a travel guide wearing a rickshaw run-ner’s uniform, will provide in-depth guidance and tourism information for each course.

Kim In-cheon, an official at the Tourism Promotion Department, said “‘Sing Sing Go Gwangju!’ is a crea-tive sightseeing policy that organically combined the bicycle and tourism. We are going to operate it in connection with various programs.”

The bicycle tour program will be run on weekends and the price ranges from 10,000 won to 20,000 won, depending on the time and course.

Reservations are available at Gwangju Eco Bike (062-374-2245), Huni Oppa’s Daum blog (http://blog.daum.net/hunioppa1004/), and the National Asia Culture Complex Square.

GWANGJU CITY ADOPTS LIVING WAGE SYSTEM

Gwangju City has adopted a living wage system for the first time this year. A living wage is one that can meet the basic needs to maintain a safe, de-cent standard of living within the community. This year, the living wage is 7,254 won per hour, which is higher than the minimum wage (5,580 won per hour) by 1,674 won (30%).

The city announced its plan to adopt the living wage system last December. Based on the findings from Gwangju Job Center, they have sought the way to better reflect consumer prices and overall spending among citizens in Gwangju.

The living wage system has been applied to the la-borers working at the local government and gov-ernment-funded companies first. The estimated 474 workers have been paid a living wage since July 1.

Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyeon said he will active-ly support workers in vulnerable positions to ease income inequality and social disparity, as well as to revitalize the local economy damaged by MERS by encouraging consumer spending.

REGISTER YOUR PETS, IF YOU LOVE THEM

During summer vacation, which began on July 1, the number of abandoned animals rises to a yearly high. Gwangju has publicized the animal registration policy to reduce unregistered animals. The registry stores the animal’s and owner’s information to prevent ani-mals from being abandoned and to find lost animals more efficiently. In the name of Gwangju City, the animal hospitals surgically insert microchips into the animal, which costs 10,000 won, and the animal tag, which costs 3,000 won. As of June, the city has seen 42% completion. For owners refusing to register, the first violation comes as a warning; the second includes a fee of 200,000 won; and the third costs 400,000 won.

DISPOSE OF TOILET PAPER INSIDE THE TOILET

Starting June 26, the city of Gwangju will implement a policy to remove wastebaskets from restrooms to increase hygiene and decrease the amount of waste and undesirable smells. About 1,500 public restrooms and 10,000 private restaurants will no longer utilize wastebaskets. The city plans to put up stickers that say, “Please deposit waste in toilet,” in Korean and English.

For more information on Gwangju, please scan the QR code

August 2015.indd 5 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:18

8 info

Upcoming Events

Help Me Little Tarzan 도와줘, 꼬마타잔

Gwangju Museum of Art Children’s Gal-lery10 a.m. – 6 p.m. / Closed on Mondays500 wonGwangju Biennale bus stop or Gwangju Biennale Entrance bus stop062-613-7100http://www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr/

Musical “Let It Go” 겨울왕국 – 광주

May 18 Culture Center – Democracy Hall1 p.m., 3:30 p.m.All Seats 30,000 wonMay 18th Culture Center or Jungheung Apartment 4-way bus stop02-555-0822~3http://ticket.interpark.com/

Hoesan White Lotus Grounds and Illo-eup (Bongnyong-ri, Illo-eup, Muan-gun, South Jeolla)Take the intercity bus at the Gwangju bus terminal and get off at Mokpo Bus Terminal (50 minutes). From there, take Bus 800 (30 minutes). Get off at Illo-eup Office and transfer to a local bus bound for Hoesan White Lotus Grounds. (회산 백련지; Hoe-san Baengnyeonji) * During the festival, shuttle buses are available from Illo-eup Office to the venue.061-450-5473 eng.muan.go.kr

AUGUST 13-16

Muan White Lotus Festival 무안연꽃축제

until

AUG16

AUG23

Landscape More Beautiful than Land-scape: Maejung_Lee Chang-Ju산수보다 아름다운 산수 梅汀 이창주

Gwangju Museum of Art – the third and fourth exhibition hall10 a.m. – 6 p.m. / Closed on Mondays500 wonGwangju Biennale bus stop or Gwangju Biennale Entrance bus stop062-613-7100http://www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr/

until

AUG9

￦

Hello Art 헬로우 아트Gwangju Museum of Art – the first and second exhibition hall10a.m.–6 p.m. / Closed on Mondays500 wonGwangju Biennale bus stop or Gwangju Biennale Entrance bus stop062-613-7100http://www.artmuse.gwangju.go.kr/

until

AUG16

￦

￦

￦

Goryeo Celadon Porcelain Kiln Area (33, Cheongjachon-gil, Daegu-myeon, Gangjin-gun, South Jeolla)Take the intercity bus at the Gwangju bus terminal and get off at Gangjin bus terminal(80 minutes). From the Gangjin bus terminal, take a local bus (강진-마량) bound for the Goryeo Celadon Porce-lain Kiln. (고려청자도요지, Goryeo Cheongja Doyoji)/(60 min.)061-430-3191http://eng.gangjinfes.or.kr/

AUGUST 1-9

Gangjin Celadon Festival강진청자축제

August 2015.indd 6 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:20

info 9

Muju-gun area (Jinam Park, Bandi Land)/(326-17 Hanpungnu-ro, Muju-eup, Muju-gun, North Jeolla)Take the intercity bus at Gwangju bus terminal and get off at Muju terminal (3 and a half hours). From Muju bus terminal, turn right and go straight. From there, turn left at the CVS intersection.063-324-2440http://english.firefly.or.kr/index.html

AUGUST 29-SEPT 6

Muju Firefly Festival무주 반딧불축제

KIA Champions Field, Weekdays: Adults 8,000 won/ Children 3,000 won, Weekends: Adults 9,000 won/Children 4,000 won, Mudeung Baseball Stadium or Gwangju KIA Cham-pions Field Bus Stopwww.tigers.co.kr

August Home Match ScheduleDate Match team Time

6-7 KT Wizards 6:30 p.m.

11-12 Doosan Bears 6:30 p.m.

13-14 Samsung Lions 6:30 p.m.

18-19 SK Wyverns 6:30 p.m.

22-23 Hanhwa Eagles 6 p.m.

29-30 Nexen Heroes 6 p.m.

MOVIES@ GWANGJU THEATER

Chungjang-no 5-ga 62, Dong-gu, Gwangju (two

blocks behind NC WAVE), 8,000 won per person per

film, 062-224-5858,

http://cafe.naver.com/cinemagwangju

Selma 셀마 [Drama/ PG-13]David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Oprah WinfreyDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. receives the Nobel Peace Prize, four African American girls are killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church, and Selma, Alabama becomes a hotspot of racial tensions.

Diary of a Chambermaid 어느 하녀의 일기[Drama]Lea Seydoux, Vincent Lindon, Clotilde MolletA young and ambitious woman works as a cham-bermaid for a wealthy couple in France during the early 20th century.

Love & Mercy 러브 앤 머시 [Drama/PG-13]John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth BanksA young songwriter finds himself in the midst of extraordinary success but soon breaks downdue to psychological challenges.

Dior and I 디올 앤 아이[Documentary/ R]Grace Coddington, Marion Cotillard, Isabelle Hup-pertThis story looks behind the scenes at the Chris-tian Dior fashion house and its haute couture collection.

La Famille Belier 미라클 벨리에 [Drama/ 12]Karin Viard, Francois Damiens, Eric ElmosninoA sixteen-year-old daughter of the Belier fam-ily must decide to leave her family to pursue her dreams of singing and education, or stay and become the helper of her deaf parents.

Inside Llewyn Davis 인사이드 르윈 [Drama/ R]Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John GoodmanLlewyn Davis is a folk singer struggling to achieve his career while keeping his life in order.

until

AUG30

The 6th Gwangju World Music Festival2015 광주월드뮤직페스티벌

The Asian Culture Complex May 18th Square6 p.m. FreeNational Asian Culture Complex bus stop or Culture Complex subway stop062-226-8918~9www.facebook.com/GJWMF

￦

￦

August 2015.indd 7 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:21

10 feature

Swedish AmbassadorStrengthening The Current Korean Society

Written by Katrin MarquezPhotos by Joey Nunez and courtesy of the Swedish Embassy

August 2015.indd 8 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:22

feature 11

Swedish Ambassador Lars Danielsson is a man with undeniable intelligence and the ability to make one feel like the most important person in the room. His profession of choice is obvious; diplomacy suits him well. Sweden’s Ambassador to Korea since Sep-tember 2011, Mr. Danielson spoke at the GIC on May 30, and Gwangju News was privileged to speak with the Ambassador one-on-one about the lessons he has learned and what he thinks is next for Korea. Informed by years of dedicated work, he had much to say.

Prior to serving in Korea, Ambassador Danielsson had acquired an impressive résumé. He had worked in three continents: serving in China, Switzerland, the United States, Hong Kong and Macau. Domes-tically, he worked as a foreign policy advisor un-der two prime ministers and as secretary of state for over a decade. Speaking of his experience, he emphasized that lessons can be learned from any country one serves in, thus highlighting two of his assets as a diplomat: his ability to understand others and his desire to learn.

“There is always something you could improve in your own country [by] listening and learning from others. But you also need to start to learn your own platform — what is possible and what is not possible [within your context],” he said. He speoke about is-sues by punctuating each argument with a relevant historical example. Especially when speaking about how globalization facilitates collaboration between countries, he emphasized the enduring importance of history. “It is still amazing to me sometimes that history means more than you would think.” The Ambassador added that, though he ponders ways to improve the countries he serves in, he is “not in the process of selling the Swedish system very much, because you cannot sell it. It is Swedish and it is based on Swedish realities and Swedish circum-stances, and those realities and circumstances are different in Korea, different in the United States, different all over the world.”

Ambassador Danielsson claims that his more than 35 years of experience have made him “become more humble in terms of what you can export from one country to another when it comes to systems.” Dur-ing his GIC Talk, he joked about how Koreans tend to ask how to replicate Sweden’s so-called welfare state — a term he thinks wrongly underemphasizes Sweden’s commitment to the market economy — in Korea. He continued that he does not think Swe-den’s system should be replicated in Korea because

trying to do so would ignore the complex historical and political realities that lead to Sweden’s current system, which is partially a consequence of the 1930s Grand Bargain between labor unions and employers that shaped Swedish economic development. In-stead, he suggests for leaders and the public to rec-ognize “certain principles that are extremely useful and that can be [implemented] virtually anywhere.” The principles he identified seemed to orbit an idea from his GIC Talk: the importance of the individual.

Ambassador Danielsson conveyed the benefits of democracy and free-markets for society. Comment-ing on what these ideas mean for Korea, he recog-nized Gwangju’s role in asking necessary questions of what human rights means today through the World Human Rights Cities Forum and other com-memorations of the May 18th Movement. He added that “Gwangju has shown that [if] you have people in one place who believe that fundamental [rights] are very important, that will have a significant influ-ence in the rest of the country.” Danielsson also spoke about the importance societies should put on reevaluating their successes and challenges, partic-ularly in terms of the public’s perception of govern-ment.

1

2

August 2015.indd 9 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:23

some of the current policies stem from a time when Korea’s “focus [was] on the economic aspect, to get through, to get people out of poverty, [to en-able] them to have a better life,” but that some of those approaches now need reconsideration. One example is the education system which Danielsson suggests might benefit from increased emphasis on “creativity, innovation [and] doing things jointly.” He also spoke that even though the Korean peo-ple are welcoming and kind, some particularities of Korean culture make it difficult for international residents to fully integrate in society, which should be addressed to maintain the labor market and the falling birthrates. Though these issues represent real challenges, Danielsson remains positive.

Ambassador Danielsson’s perspective on Korea can best be described as informed optimism. He is real-istic about the challenges, yet enthusiastic that the Korean people can overcome them. A theme during his GIC Talk was the potential of the teenagers and young adults whom he strongly encouraged to make positive changes in Korea.

12 feature

For Ambassador Danielsson, trust is “absolutely es-sential” to maintaining a society, particularly one similar to Sweden’s. He thinks, however, that the “gradual building of trust in [Korea] will be in a dif-ferent way than in [Sweden]. It will not start in the labor market [as it did with the Grand Bargain].” He hopes that this “will start more in trust-building lines between people and government.” He recognizes, however, that, especially now after the Sewol dis-aster, there are new added challenges since some question the government’s commitment of protect-ing citizens. He suggests that the anger resulting from the Sewol incident actually “illustrates [how] people would like to be able to trust their govern-ment” and he hopes authorities have learned from the disaster. Though Ambassador Danielsson speaks with affection about his time in Korea, he recog-nizes that Korea faces many challenges beyond the consequences of Sewol and of MERS.

Korea is a country in transition, following decades of extraordinarily rapid development. When com-bined with the unique political issues that arise from the division of the two Koreas, this necessitates that Korea develops unique methods of dealing with emerging issues. Ambassador Danielsson noted that

3

1, 2, 3. Swedish Ambassador Lars Danielsson is very active in promoting the relationships between the Korean and Swedish gov-ernments

August 2015.indd 10 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:25

Walking around together, the children and athletes met someone new whenever the music stopped. Af-ter teams of children and athletes were created, five large groups played team games that included stack-ing wheels stuffing Oreo cookies into their mouths.

Working in pairs, no duo was able to stack the 10 wheels successfully. But on their own, many chil-dren and athletes successfully moved a single cookie from forehead to mouth by only moving their faces.

Such entertaining games were followed by testimo-nies given by two Christian athletes, sharing how it is possible to incorporate their faith in their sports. Afterward, all athletes introduced themselves, their educational pursuits and what sports competitions they were involved in. The event concluded with group and personal pictures.

Hoyt expressed how much he loved the experience at MDream, especially what he witnessed. “It was rewarding for me to watch the athletes pay so much attention to the children and watch the children warm up.”

Lam appreciated that the athletes showed an ex-ample worth following. “[The children] should not be overwhelmed by their aspirations, because these athletes weren’t, and their accomplishments have shown just how far individuals can go if they set their minds to it.”

feature 13

Members of the 2015 Universiade American Track and Field Team enjoyed Sunday, July 5, as they met, played with and befriendedchildren from Gwangju at the MDream Orphanage that afternoon.

Jack Hoyt, Team USA Coach, appreciated the chance to give back to the Gwangju community and see his team come together. “It gave our team an opportu-nity to do something together that was meaningful and off the field of competition,” he said.

Angel Lam, MDream Mentor, appreciated their visit. “They act as an inspiration and mentor to the kids at MDream in chasing their own dreams.”

Written and photographed by Joey NunezSpecial thanks to Nancy Harcar

Reports from 2015 Gwangju Universiade

Korean Children Meet American Athletes

August 2015.indd 11 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:26

14 feature

Written by Laura BeckerPhoto courtesy of Roger Rao

By the time Roger Rao realized he was injured it was too late to back out of the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Despite severe inflammation in his right shoulder where he needed painkillers just to lift his arm, he competed and reached the final. “I wasn’t really sad that I lost, rather I was sad that I was not able to play at my best,” Rao remembered.

No stranger to the highest level of competition, Auckland native Rao was the youngest-ever New Zealand Open champion at 13-years-old. Now at

18-year-old, he represented New Zealand in table tennis at the 2015 Gwangju Universiade.

Another obstacle was the criteria needed to send delegates. New Zealand needed at least three play-ers, two of whom had to be ranked nationally in the top 10. Roger was one of them, but it was unclear whether there would be others to form a team.

“I was actually just really happy knowing we could send a team,” said Roger, who came to the Gwangju Universiade with teammates Daniel Lowe, Zhiyang Cheng and Jonathan Wang. The New Zealand team entered the Universiade as a definite underdog. Rao speculated that his team would have to play at their best to come in just below the heavy-hitting teams of Korea, Japan and China. Rao found that it was actually easier to play all-out when his opponent was better than he was. Mentality, of course, is key, as Roger has learned to focus and control his emo-tions through years of experience. In his opinion, the ability to handle different situations and adapt to opponents’ playing styles are what separates the great players from the rest.

The ability to perform under pressure is important in both athletics and academics, and Roger strives for a high level in both. This August, he will head to the United States to study engineering at Duke Univer-sity. Though he has determined to keep playing, he is prepared to play at a less competitive level as he balances the demands of his studies and his sport.

Rao describes himself as both an athlete and a stu-dent, but at the Gwangju Universiade he was pure athlete. The competition hall in Jangseong had no schedule for practice hours, so the athletes crowd-ed four or six at one table to practice. “We always do it, so we are used to balls flying everywhere,” Rao said. Though candid off the court, he plays with the tight focus required of a top athlete.

Competing in Men’s Doubles, Rao and teammate Daniel Lowe defeated Lebanon, but lost to Hong Kong. In Mixed Doubles, with teammate Natalie Pat-erson, Rao won against Sri Lanka and ultimately lost to South Korea. In Men’s Teams, New Zealand came in well behind the top teams, beating Mongolia, but losing to Sweden and Hong Kong.

To Rao, however, the competition results are of secondary importance: “Winning and losing do not matter too much; it is more knowing that I have been able to reach my full potential.”

Athlete in Focus

Mindset and Motivation at the 2015 Gwangju Universiade

Roger Rao:

August 2015.indd 12 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:28

feature 15

Athlete in Focus

Australian Athlete Inspires All

Nick Hough’s main event is the 110 meters hur-dle. “There is not much time to focus, as there are huge hurdles and high jumps, with a second be-tween to jump.” If anything while running, Hough recalls how he has been trained and guided, and then, sprints as fast as he can.

During last month’s Universiade, the Athletes’ Vil-lage provided for this Australian’s needs and wants so that he could train, rest and prepare to perform at his best. Hough loved what he saw of South Ko-rea. “The volunteers here are so loving and welcom-ing. And the events were fantastic, with multiple sports and [diversity].”

Off the field, Hough considers himself to be an en-trepreneur, having launched GradeProof while stud-ying for combined undergraduate Bachelor degrees in Information Technology and Laws at the Universi-ty of Sydney. Hough’s mobile application allows us-ers to submit writing so the program can ensure no information has been plagiarized. It also improves grammar, provides writing suggestions and more.

The program is now also available in South Korea, and Hough’s business is becoming globally available at a finger’s touch. “For a few years I have been working on this program every night to have com-puters read the text. I did the coding, and it fits in my schedule with athletics, because I can do the work while traveling.”

Back on the track, Hough considers injuries his greatest challenge, but optimism pushes him on-ward. “I have managed to keep training through the injuries, because there is a bigger picture for me to do the best.” The upcoming 2016 Rio de Janiero Summer Olympics has kept Hough both motivated and driven.

Hough’s greatest lesson has been to not consider world rankings. “I was ranked 15th and I came in 4th, and no one expected that. I have conquered the pressure and I have used it to my benefit.” Hough is referring to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, his third-highest ac-complishment in competition.

His best accomplishment was winning gold at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore. Hough also cur-rently holds the second-fastest 110 meter hurdles time in Australian history, with a time of 13.42 sec-onds.

Through it all, Hough wants to inspire people both back home in Australia and here in Gwangju. “Noth-ing is impossible. I push myself to the limits and keep myself busy. I get out there and get things done. I try something and I give things a go with no regrets.”

Want to have help by using Hough’s application? Visit www.gradeproof.com for more information.

Nick HoughWritten by Joey NunezPhotos courtesy of the Australian Delegation for 2015 Gwangju Universiade

August 2015.indd 13 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:29

16 feature

A young badminton player and chemical engi-neering student from Bath University in the United Kingdom was informed of an opportunity to play in the Universiade games earlier this year. He consid-ered it and ultimately agreed. Never having heard of these games, he researched and learned how big the Universiade really is.

His excitement began to mount for the upcoming event. He imagined all the best university athletes from around the world coming together to com-pete in Gwangju, South Korea. He met his fel-low U.K. badminton teammates, and their talk of the games brought even more anticipation to this young man from London. The team received their gear and boarded their flight to South Korea. His name is Angus Pederson and he arrived in Korea ready to play.

Badminton competitions and conditions were fiercer than Pederson envisioned. Playing inside does not prevent the environment from affecting play. He said the draft from the air conditioners in these big arenas plays a huge role in a badminton match.

“The air-conditioner changes the direction of the

birdie dramatically. In one section of the court, the wind will take it one way and then immedi-ately the current will direct it another. It’s really difficult to anticipate because badminton is so fast that we don’t have time to do anything but react.”

Pederson then described the level of competi-tion his team had to face. “It’s like playing ten-nis against Roger Federer. We can’t be mad, just happy to have the opportunity to play against the best.” He additionally said as difficult as it was to lose in such a big way, it was a great experience playing a globally-ranked top team.

He had nothing but praise for his participation in the Universiade: “It’s overwhelming. Unbelieva-ble, [how] 11,000 athletes from around the world are packed into gigantic apartments together,” he said. “It’s astounding to have us all come to-gether and be a part of it. When we were at the opening ceremonies with the stadium full of 45,000 to 50,000 spectators, it all hit me at once how big a deal these games are. It’s the biggest thing I’ve been a part of and probably ever will, and I am thankful to [have been] a part of it.”

Written and photographed by Matthew Endacott

Left: Angus (top, third from left) with his badminton teammates from the U.K.Top: The U.K. team at the welcoming ceremony of the 2015 Gwangju Universiade

Athlete in Focus

Angus Pederson

August 2015.indd 14 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:30

feature 17

Heather Lund is the captain of the women’s Ca-nadian soccer team which has advanced farther than any other Canadian team in the history of the World University Games. Lund is currently enrolled in the Master’s degree program of Speech Language Pathology at the University of Montreal and plans to become a clinician. When she is not busy studying, Lund mentioned that she typically hangs out with friends, kicks the soccer ball around, exercises to stay in game-shape or plays soccer with the boys for a good challenge. Lund is from Red Deer, Alber-ta, Canada, and attended the University of Alberta for her undergraduate degree, where she holds her school’s all-time goals scored record.

Lund’s first collegiate soccer experience at Alberta was frustrating and difficult. She had a poor try-out and sprained her ankle, which left few opportunities for her to play and grow with her team. Following Lund’s first year she had serious doubts whether or not to compete at the collegiate level. It was the biggest obstacle she had to overcome in her career to date. “I drove those thoughts from my mind and ended up achieving more than I imagined. I came back stronger and better and continued to get bet-ter every season,” she said. “If you want something

bad enough, never give up.”

Along with three teammates, Lund is thankful and excited to be at her second Universiade games. “It’s an amazing experience: a great idea to bring people together and interact in this environment. The at-mosphere is wonderful. The people are wonderful.”

The team played a familiar opponent, Japan, for the Bronze medal match on Sunday. Their only practice together as a team was during a week that both teams were in Japan, where they twice scrimmaged and lost to the Japanese Universiade team. For Lund and her teammates, Canada sadly lost the Bronze medal match against Japan in a rough de-feat. Still Lund did not let that get her down. She remains very grateful and happy to even have had the opportunity to play atthis event.

Lund also had a message to share for the people of Gwangju: “Thank you for being welcoming and gracious hosts,” she said. “Everyone is so happy to help and greets us with warm smiles. Also, support Canada!”

Athlete in Focus

Written by Matthew Endacott Photographed by Mathieu Belanger

Heather Lund

August 2015.indd 15 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:31

18 feature

n the beginning, my older brother was against me climbing, but when I won first place in a competi-tion, he realized I was doing well and became proud of me. My whole family continues to be proud of me.”

When Kim Mi-gyeong started rock climbing 28 years ago, there were no indoor climbing gyms in Ko-rea. A post high-school winter trip to Jiri Mountain with friends led her up the rocks, and she has not stopped since. Now the owner of Duam-dong’s Ex-treme Climbing Center (ECC), Kim, 47, has turned a hobby into a lifelong passion and more than a job.

In the beginning, there were very few women par-ticipating in climbing and little opportunity available to them.

“These days, there are many women, even those who overtake men in climbing,” Kim said. “Regard-less of age, gender, status, everyone can do it.”

Kim also met her husband while hiking. Now that their son is seven years old, he can also be seen at her gym and on the mountains. However, Kim says she is lucky to have her mother-in-law, who, from the beginning, has helped watch her son while she and her husband go out on climbs and expeditions.

The ECC has been open since 2006, with Kim tak-ing over in 2011. She has become friends with sev-eral Gwangju native English teachers who have fre-quented the center over the years. While many of her international climbing teammates have left Ko-rea, Kim took the opportunity to meet a group of them in Bishop, California last year.

“It was my first trip abroad to meet foreigner friends, and I made another promise to do it again this year,” Kim said.

Besides rock climbing, Kim is also an alpine rescue

“I

Written by Ana TrayninPhotos courtesy of Park So-yeon and Ana Traynin

Women in the Workforce

Kim Mi-gyeongIndoor Climber

August 2015.indd 16 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:32

feature 19teacher and has travelled to Japan and, recently, Chi-na for a conference.

“Climbing is very good exercise, more interesting than others,” Kim said. “You need to have a good mind, and it is a full-body sport. I want to continue this until I’m a grandmother.”

Kim hopes that besides other regular climbers,

Park So-yeonSubway Train Pilot

Since riding trains as a young girl, Suncheon na-tive Park So-yeon dreamed of becoming a driver. To achieve her dream, she graduated Korea Nation-al Railroad College University in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, the country’s only railroad university.

In 2013, Park applied to join the Gwangju Metro to be closer to her hometown. She was accepted as a train operator. Out of the 72 operators in the sys-tem, Park is one of only two women. At 27, she is also one of the youngest.

Park works nine hours per day, morning through afternoon. Her regular schedule is to work two full days, then one night and one day off. Although the trains are mostly automated, the drivers must stay alert. Park’s total driving time is 2.5 hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.

“Because I work 4.5 hours in a closed area, I try to continue some exercise during the daytime to keep myself healthy. What I like as a pilot is [that] I am given a lot of flexibility in managing my time.”

One issue that comes up for Park is driving alone.

“The difficulty I have is that there is only [one] pilot for each train, so I feel [its] burdensome. If there

is an accident, I have to take care of it by myself.”

While the Gwangju Metro is not currently a big part of the city’s transportation system, Park says the addition of Line 2 will greatly expand its presence alongside buses and taxis. She noted the recent addition of the Honam KTX line at Songjeong Station, where the Met-ro is already connected, as another important development for the subway.

Although female taxi drivers are prevalent, and there has been an increase in female bus drivers, for those riding the trains, a female driver is still a novelty.

“The train piloting is mostly for males, not females,” Park said. “Passengers show strong interest in the fact that I am a rare female pilot. It is a closed area, so they can’t talk to me, but sometimes I can see them pointing and talking. Because I have a clear definition of my job, I don’t have any burden. In the be-ginning, I got a lot of help from my colleagues and supervisors.”

According to Park, less women work in man-agerial and technical positions, but they are working in civil engineering and signal man-agement. She expects women’s roles to ex-pand in the transportation field and elsewhere.“The barrier is being broken between males and females. With more equality, more wom-en are active in different areas of society.”

more university students and other foreigners in Gwangju will join her at her center and for outdoor climbing expeditions.

EXTREME CLIMBING CENTERMonday – Friday 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.Gwangju, Buk-gu, Duam-dong 568-2 5F(Owner) Kim Mi-gyeong 010-8542-8611Bae Hoon-hee 010-9056-6355

August 2015.indd 17 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:33

20 feature

volunteer work in the city of Gwangju. This award is to recognize those who carry on his legacy of doing work for the public good, and to encourage others to get involved in the Gwangju community and continue Mike’s legacy.

The award selection committee chose Al Barnum as the recipient because of the long lasting and far-reaching impact of the Adopt a Child for Christmas program. Al had been a volunteer at Sungbin with Mike Simning for a variety of events and English tutoring sessions. When the Christmas season was approaching, he thought it would be a nice idea for the girls at Sungbin to have some presents to open at Christmastime. With the help of friends, he

On Saturday, June 13, Gwangju honored Al Barnum, the first recipient of the Michael Simning Community Builder Award, during the GIC Talk at the Gwangju International Center downtown. Al was nominated for his work in establishing the Adopt a Child for Christmas program, which he started several years ago to benefit the girls at Sungbin Orphanage.

Michael Simning was a Canadian expat who became a business owner, a volunteer, a community builder, a husband, a father and a friend to many in Gwangju. His loss in 2014 left a big hole in the hearts of many, and big shoes to fill. The award was created to remember him for his community and

Written by Nancy HarcarPhotographed by Martin Miller and Joey Nunez

Al Barnum

Michael Simning Award Ceremony

August 2015.indd 18 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:34

feature 21

was able to create a Facebook group to help other foreigners sign up to get names of orphans to buy presents for, and the program took off from there. Although in later years Al would hand over administration of the program to others, the program has continued to grow. In the first year of the program, 55 children at Sungbin received presents. Last Christmas, over 700 children in multiple orphanages around Gwangju benefitted from the program. It truly has become a long-lasting organization with a community-wide impact.

One need only look at the names of several of the other nominees for the award to see the impact of the program. Finalists Jordan VanHartingsveldt, Calen Cygan, and Choi Sunjin were all nominated because of their work for the Adopt a Child for Christmas program. They expanded the program to include more children at more orphanages

around the city, and also directed many different fundraisers to make it happen. Finalist Lianne Bronzo has participated in several volunteer organizations in Gwangju, and says she was inspired to create her own organization, Gwangju Freecycle and its swap events, by the creativity and activism she saw modeled in our community.

Other nominees included Brian Burgoyne, for his volunteer work for various charity fundraisers over the years; Kim Young-im, for her work with the UNESCO KONA Storybook Center; Jen Lee, for her work on the Gwangju Blog and volunteerism for various charity organizations throughout the years; and David Shaffer, for his work with the KOTESOL organization.

All the nominees were honored at the ceremony with certificates for their work for the Gwangju community. In addition, the finalists were given handmade Hawaiian shirts, in honor of one of Mike’s Simning’s favorite fashion choices. The recipient, Al Barnum, was also presented with an appreciation gift of 200,000 won, and a matching gift of 200,000 won was presented to the Gwangju charity of his choice, Haein Temple.

1. Al Barnum (back far right) among the other nominees and award winners of the Michael Simning Community Builder Award2. Al Barnum received a special certificate presented by Dr. Shin Gyonggu, Gwangju International Center Director

1

2

Al Barnum

August 2015.indd 19 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:36

22 feature

Hi, my name is Kang In-hye, and my dream is to become a fashion designer. When I was a senior in high school, my keen interest was

fashion. One day, I heard the news of Alexander McQueen’s death, so I searched for his works. His fascinating works led me to my dream to be a designer, and I entered Chonnam National University.

I majored in the department of clothing. At first I was interested in Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood’s work where sensibility was both exaggerated and expressed directly. However, I am more interested in body shapes (lines) than exaggerated beauty.

I think that it is fun to understand designer’s values also. Franco Moschino, called a “Rogue of Fashion,” is a surprise to me because Moschino is a brand that expresses wit and sense of humor in works. The head designer for Moschino, Jeremy Scott, made trendy images like “pop style.”

Last June, I did my graduate work with five student-designers (co-workers). We focused on modern lines and unique sensibility, so we launched “WHY” as a casual brand, successfully. WHY expresses social issues humorously by designing character and tag styles. The most important

feature is where motivation comes from, and questioning, can I wear my clothes as a customer.

Definite motivation can make brands that have unity and create various designs in a collection. I learned about customers’ satisfaction, as well. When I enjoy designing clothes, customers can be satisfied with my clothes. Therefore, I hope to be a fashion designer. I want to achieve my goal by keeping in touch with diverse styles.

Thus, you can expect to see a “characterful” designer, Kang In-hye, who can embrace both the commercial design of America and the emotional design of Europe!

Interviewed by Lee So-eunTranslated by Lee So-eun, Ki Su-yeon and Karina Prananto

Photos courtesy of Kang In-hye, Yoo Hee-jeong and Lee Yu-jeong

Young Fashion Designers

Kang In-hyeChonnam National University Clothing Department

August 2015.indd 20 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:39

Chosun University Design Department

Why did you choose to study fashion?I am very interested in fashion. I think that fashion shows the identity of people wearing clothes, and I think that is the most important attraction. I felt a lot of passion for fashion, so I picked my major for “Design.”

Which fashion designer inspires you? Why?My favorite fashion designer is Tom Brown. He did not learn about design formally, and his career was only as a salesman at Giorgio Armani and an assistant designer at Club Monaco. Although he had a simple career life beforehand, Brown had a firm motto to make clothes which he wants to wear. Furthermore, he really enjoys his job, and these things are similar to my motto too.

Describe your design philosophy or style.I seek remarkable works that are unique, unlike popular styles. There were some works that people found difficult to understand in my graduate work because some of the clothes were grotesque. However, I am now satisfied with my work, because I could convey my purpose to the audience.

What are your future plans after graduating? What is your dream job?Because I am a student graduating soon, and due to the fashion industry being so expansive, I just want to know and learn about a lot of things. I am going to build my career with the sportswear brand, Apple Leiden, as an intern. I want to participate in fashion week and become a successful fashion designer.

Yoo Hee-jeong

feature 23

August 2015.indd 21 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:40

Why did you choose to study fashion?Frankly it has been my dream since I was a child. I like creating and drawing. One day in middle school I watched a fashion show on TV where models walked down the runway with amazing clothes. I thought “Wow, I want to make amazing clothes as well!” I think after that day, I wanted to become a fashion designer.

Which fashion designer inspires you? Why?It is difficult to choose just one person as I have changed my preferences over time. But if I can really just choose one person, it would have to be Phoebe Philo. She is currently the designer for the Celine brand. I think her designs look simple yet modern and perfect. I think she makes clothes that are a perfect fit for anyone. I think she gives me a lot of inspiration and a lot of good examples.

Describe your design philosophy or style.To me, all my clothes have to be comfortable. I do not want clothes to be troublesome for the wearer. So I like basic, minimal styles. For many people, minimal styles may look boring, but from that simplicity there is something that gives energy. Although it is of simple design, from the right pattern to cut out sewing, it will be a perfect and neat cloth. Sometimes it still gives me goose bumps when I see such a design.

What are your future plans after graduating? What is your dream job?First my purpose after graduating is to find a job. I want to work with a design team. While working in a company I want to gain hands-on experience.

My final goal is to design my own brand. I think it is my wish to accomplish this feat before I die. Whenever I see a collection book I always feel: “Ah, this is the design from this designer.” I always thought that this is amazing. From it people will recognize and know instantly about that designer. I want to be that kind of person!

Lee Yu-jeongChosun University Design Department

24 feature

August 2015.indd 22 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:41

Written by Park Ho-yeon

This second installment gives more information from the original article printed in July’s edition of Gwangju News

The Awakening of Social Enterprise in South Korea

Part 2

In 2007, the Korean government enacted the so-cial “Enterprise Promotion Act” for the creation of employment as an alternative toward prevent-ing higher unemployment. When it came to Korea’s social enterprise, an economic mutation was born out of failures of the Korean government and the markets that failed to upkeep. A social enterprise is an organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements and environmental well-being, rather than maximizing profits for external shareholders. This organization is engaged in busi-ness activities by producing and selling goods and services while pursuing a social purpose of enhanc-ing the quality of life for local residents by providing social services, such as creating jobs for the disad-vantaged who have difficulties in getting necessities needed for survival, due to education, healthcare, and social welfare market prices being too high to achieve.

In contrast with a social enterprise, many commer-cial enterprises consider themselves to have social objectives, but commitment to these objectives is motivated by the perception that such commit-ments will ultimately make the enterprise more fi-nancially valuable. In short, commercial enterprises can operate only for their own profits, but social enterprises can also share their profits by investing in the society that helps them thrive.

The most successful social enterprise in Gwangju is the “Beautiful Store.” The shop sells back recycled items donated by residents to local poor residents at a very cheap price. All of the profits are given back to the local people or groups in need, and the remaining items are then sold to other devel-

oping countries. This efficient economic cycle and productive use is possible with many people par-ticipating, with aid for the disadvantaged, sales of recycled items and redistribution of recycled items. Nothing is wasted in this social enterprise, and social responsibility is directly pursued to raise funds for charitable projects.

Moreover, the fact that many volunteers partici-pate in its business activities shows a real example of how a mass campaign for change can encourage all people to improve their regions and the world, by making commitments of participating in economic activities.

The large gaps in wealth between the rich and the poor is largely due to economic rules which cannot control the markets or the economy. These rules require various, flexible and complementary eco-nomic activities that can cope with the failures of the government. However, the market economy for creating jobs and improving the social well-being of the people can be directly altered by the utiliz-ing social enterprises as the most efficient economic system to deal with imminent economic and social problems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Park Ho-yeon is a high school student volunteer at the GIC.

feature 25

August 2015.indd 23 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:41

26 feature

all students from Honam Theological College in Gwangju. The band’s lineup has changed over the years as members graduate and move on to other pursuits; however, the music has never stopped. The band’s founder and original piano player, Sun Lee, was a music professor at Honam. She created the project in order to provide her students with an op-portunity to play jazz in an authentic atmosphere in Gwangju. Speakeasy provided the stage where she and her students could do their thing without feeling too much pressure. Fly In Jazz provides a

We both did a search on Google for “jazz bars Korea” and 99 percent of the results talk about jazz venues in Seoul, with a few mentions in Busan. But did you know that you can see high-quality jazz right here in Gwangju? That’s right, every Friday night you can head into Chungjang-ro neighborhood and stop in the Speakeasy pub, a local hot spot for for-eigners and natives alike, seeking out a light social atmosphere combined with live music. The owner supports local live music and one of the frequent players is Fly In Jazz, a band whose members are

Fly In Jazz: A Local Band Written by Lisa Crone and Douglas Baumwoll

Photographed by Lisa Crone

August 2015.indd 24 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:42

ing and after the Korean War, members of the U.S. Army stayed in Korea and brought their culture with them, including jazz music. Many American musi-cians played in Korea but started to change their style for Korean audiences.”

As for modern-day listeners in Korea, she assert-ed, “Nowadays, jazz is still an unfamiliar genre for Korean people. It is hard to find places to play so there are not many opportunities for musicians to practice. However, recently there have been more jazz musicians, jazz bars and festivals occurring in Korea. This shows that jazz is becoming more popu-lar in Korea.” As a professor, Lee thinks Korea still has a long way to go in developing its own style of jazz. “In America,” she said, “the jazz programs are very developed and students can learn any in-strument they want to, but Korean programs are biased toward learning piano.” Due to this bias, mu-sic program curricula lack the diversity and richness of American programs. This is, however, starting to change.

Embodying this changing face of Korean jazz are the young musicians of Fly In Jazz. The lead drum-mer, Ju Young, is studying vocals but decided to play drums in the band to work on his rhythm, which he considers his weakness. “My dream is to be a singer and song writer,” he said.

Jazz is a genre of music that, generally speaking, does not enjoy a relatively wide fan base; so, many bar owners avoid letting jazz musicians play. Speak-easy, however, is not one of those places. If you would like to support local jazz musicians, pop in on a Friday night at 10:30 p.m. and tap your foot to a jazzy tune of guitar, bass, piano and even trom-bone, played by the musicians of Fly In Jazz.

feature 27

relaxed, yet polished, musical experience for folks to enjoy alongside a beverage, enjoying life and de-compressing from their work week.

Sun Lee, who earned both her B.A. (University of North Florida) and M.A. (Florida State University) in the United States, has a unique Korean perspec-tive on the brand of jazz disseminated here in Ko-rea. How did she end up studying there? Well, she has got a made-for-the-movies anecdote on that count. She first became interested in jazz when, as a high school student, she “accidently” heard some music being played in a record shop. Although she had been playing piano her entire life, she did not recognize the musician or genre of the music. She queried the owner about it, and he told her that the player was Marcus Roberts, a blind jazz pianist from America, and that the music was called “jazz.” She was so impressed by the tunes she heard, indeed “yearning for a new style of music,” that she decided to go to America to study jazz, seeking out Roberts, a professor at Florida State University, and studying under him. The rest is history for her, as she has at-tained her dream and is now an accomplished jazz pianist and professor in Korea. About Roberts, she said, “Even though he was blind, the way he played and his thoughts towards jazz were enough to make me love jazz and push me to practice.”

I asked Lee about her perception of the jazz scene in Korea compared to that of America. “In America, jazz is part of the culture, history and social life,” she said. “For jazz musicians, there are lots of op-portunities to play even though it is still hard to make a decent living. Jazz is everywhere and I think jazz is more than music for musicians in America. They are also respected as musicians. In Korea, the history of jazz is actually a lot longer than what peo-ple think. It has more than 50 years of history. Dur-

Fly In Jazz performing at Speakeasy

August 2015.indd 25 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:42

28 local I gwangju talks

Written and interviewed by Ki Su-yeon and Lee So-eun

When I first heard about MERS, I did not care much about it. I thought it was a kind of flu that is a little bit more serious than the common cold. But it became the biggest catastrophe of South Korea nowadays. It was so fast, almost less than one month that MERS spread through the whole country. Then I realized it was a very serious matter that I needed to care and worry about.

Of course, it was my carelessness that made me so dull to the most dangerous prob-lem. But it was not only me who underestimated the problem of MERS. The South Ko-rean government, including President Park, has been telling people to let the situation settle itself and calm down, saying it is no big deal at a time when people who got the virus were dying from it. Even if it is only deadly to old and weak people, it is still a huge threat to social immunity.

Without people having a healthy social immune system, the disease can easily spread through the population, and eventually to the people who are vulnerable to the disease, like the elderly and babies. Unlike the time we prevented SARS from spreading, we missed the golden time and opportunity to prevent the disease from spreading. I do not know how to manage this problem, but I know the government is responsible for this chaos, and they have to solve this problem to keep people safe from the dis-ease, not thinking about tourism and money so much.

What do you think about the government handling MERS?

HAN SEA-BYEOL (MALE/25/

UNIVERSITY STUDENT)

I do not know whether MERS is a critical disease or not. As far as I know no one around me was infected by MERS, which is very fortunate. The local government did their job very well. Thanks to them, I could go about my daily routine. But I cannot deny that the disease has strongly influenced Korean society and economics in undesirable ways. After the outbreak of MERS, people lost faith in the [federal] government. They saw how the government acted when faced with a crisis.

The government tried to hide information, which only promoted the spreading of ru-mors. They boasted their achievements over broadcasting systems, even before taking any proper actions, and they even blamed a few citizens for their lack of sensibility, who turned out to be innocent.

The whole situation worried people so much that they avoided social activities, and it hurt the Korean economy so deeply. As fears over MERS escalated, the number of customers visiting tourist attractions, shopping centers and other local retailers sharply decreased.

The government’s inept response to MERS also had a negative impact on households. Even my father lost his job due to the financial damages the outbreak of MERS has caused. Even though my brother and I are working, our family still needs his financial support, because my youngest sister just entered university this year.

LEE JI-YEON (FEMALE/ 27/

MIDDLE SCHOOL

TEACHER)

August 2015.indd 26 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:44

international community I local 29

More than 30 people have died because of MERS. It is a big problem because it impacts the nation’s economy and image. The number of tourists visiting Korea has been falling. So, I think MERS is a fatal contagious disease, like the Black Death.

The initial reaction was not good. The Korean gov-ernment did not inform the public about hospitals that were the route of infection. I cannot under-stand the government’s attitude. However, closing schools for some time was great.

Still, the health authorities revealed a big hole in MERS handling, so the Korean government must in-crease presidential trustworthy from now on.

LEE DA-EUN (FEMALE/ 22/ STUDENT)

One of my friends is a nurse working at a hospital in Boseong, where South Jeolla’s first MERS patient was confirmed. Fortunately, the patient fully re-covered and people who were directly or indirectly in contact showed no symptoms and could be re-moved from isolation. Thank goodness.

I think highly of my friend’s efforts and commit-ment, as well as those of her colleagues. I wanted to hear how things happened in Boseong, but she was really afraid of leaking information and did not say much. However, she carefully pointed out a few mistakes that the government has made.

They were too reluctant to disclose specific informa-tion to the public in the dilemma between personal information protection and public interest. And their earliest responses to MERS were improper, in that they easily concluded the transmission paths of MERS would be similar to those in the Middle East. No one can predict how the new epidemic would spread. The health authorities might have followed the existing instructions because of restricted finan-cial resources. However, when it comes to preemp-tive measures, health authorities always have to think of the worst case scenarios.

KIM EUN-JEONG (FEMALE/ 32/

NUTRITIONIST)

A Unique Lifetime Experience at Holiday Inn GwangjuFor more information:

062-610-7063~4www.holidayinngwangju.com

La Place, grill & bar presents new summer promotion for your

holiday. Mixed big grill plate with T- bone steak, tiger shrimp,

pineapple with fresh salad. You also can combine beautiful

blue punch with it. Enjoy summer atmosphere and feel the

passion of the summer at La Place.

Period: 1 Aug 2015 ~

Price: Hawaian Mixed Plate 49,500 won (VAT included)/person

Opening hours: 18:00 – 24:00 (Sun-Thu)/ 18:00 – 02:00 (Fri-Sat)

Reservation: 10F La place 062- 610-7095

HOURGLASS (1F) TRIPLE B PLAN (Unlimited Buffet, BBQ, and Beer)

LA PLACE (10F)

Holiday Inn Gwangju provides an inviting dining experience.

Join our seasonal event special for a limited time.

Enjoy a wide selection of freshly grilled meat and seafood pre-

pared daily to order on the open charcoal-fired grill with unlimited

draft beer. You can feel soft summer breeze on the outdoor ter-

race and savor the dining experience of selecting food from the

full buffet spread with great BBQ items.

Period : 22 May ~ 25 Sep (Tue-Sat)

Price : 45,000 won (VAT included) per person/ 1 adult 1 kids Free

(under 12 years old) *Reservation is necessary

HAWAIAN FESTIVAL

August 2015.indd 27 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:46

30 local I right to the city

Gwangju Residents “Clean Gwangju” TogetherWritten by Joey NunezImage courtesy of Adam Greenberg

This month’s Rights to the City showcases “Clean Gwangju,” an initiative that uses social media to challenge international residents to clean up litter around the city.

Taking part in the Clean Gwangju campaign is easy. Participants are encouraged to take the “10-Minute Challenge,” which involves picking up all the trash they can find in 10 minutes, disposing of it, and posting a photo to social media with the label #CleanGwangju.

Lianne Bronzo works alongside Clean Gwangju cre-ator Adam Greenberg armed with bags, gloves and a camera. “I love being outside, so it is a great way for me to soak up the sun and make my area a nicer place to be. It takes a few weeks for all of that litter to accumulate, but only a few minutes to pick it all up,” she said.

Amy Badenhorst shares Bronzo’s love of being out-doors. She reports, “Every Saturday morning when I take my dog out for a walk, I buy a 100L trash bag and pick up the trash in Pungam-dong. I have also incorporated this project into practical English les-sons by having my students help me pick up trash.”

Some participants were surprised at how much trash they picked up. “In the end, my large gar-bage bag was filled up before I had even walked 200 meters,” said James Sharp. “I had walked that route [many] times before and noticed the litter, but I never noticed just how much of it there was.”

Calen Cygan was also alarmed by the amount of lit-ter. “I have about a 20-minute walk between home and work, so I decided one day just to grab a bag and see what I could pick up on my walk home. It was ridiculous how quickly I was able to fill it — five minutes!” she said.

International residents are not the only ones to recognize the problem of littering. “I have told a lot of my Korean friends about this project and everyone thinks it is a step in the right direction,” said Jennifer Mae Terry. “Young Koreans are often embarrassed about the trash problem, so people need to start making an effort to make a differ-ence.”

Peizhi Lee agrees, knowing how much of a differ-ence 10 minutes can make to our everyday envi-ronment. “This movement certainly made people pause in their footsteps to think about litter or re-minded people to think twice about littering,” she noted.

Doaa Ghareeb appreciates what Greenberg has created and wants to ensure that this project will continue. “How awesome to find more than just one person who cares about the environment and

August 2015.indd 28 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:46

right to the city I sewol update I local 31takes more than a few people, [as] it requires the entire community to act together, by stopping from littering and throwing away our trash responsibly.”

Ultimately, Greenburg and Bronzo’s love for Gwangju motivates them to care for the local en-vironment. “Cleaning up around my neighborhood a few minutes a week is a very easy task,” Bronzo said. “I have actually found it to be therapeutic and addicting. If everyone did this, imagine what Gwangju would look like.”

making the community better and build awareness about a problem that many of us ignore,” Ghareeb said. “I am glad to be a part of it and to be a useful addition to the group.”

Cygan additionally stated the project’s importance to her. “We only have one earth and we have to do whatever we can to take care of it, not only for future generations but also for us now!”

Lee emphasizes the need for a common effort: “It

Researched and translated by Kim Singsing and Jung JiminPhoto courtesy of Kim Ju-hyeong

Sewol Update August 2015

4/16 SEWOL FAMILIES REJECT GOVERNMENT COMPEN-

SATION, WILL BRING A CIVIL SUIT

‘4/16 Sewol Families,’ composed of the families of victims

of the Sewol ferry disaster rejected the offer of govern-

mental compensation and decided to bring civil action.

4/16 Sewol Families said, “In the meantime, we sent the

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries our stance (the salvage

of the ship and a truth investigation is the first priority)

but they didn’t respond yet.”

The government tried to persuade the victims’ families

to accept the proceeding of governmental compensa-

tion, however we denied it and are preparing to bring a

civil suit around the middle of August.” And, “The civil

suit is for the investigation of truth through trial. It’s

not for receiving compensation. We won’t accept the

government’s policies that cover up the disaster while

mentioning the amount of money.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries noticed that they’ll

give compensation of an average 420 million won for the

victims of the Sewol disaster and an average of 760 mil-

lion won for teachers.

However, a criticism has come with the opinion, “The

government highballed the amount of compensation. It

includes an insurance that is unrelated to the govern-

ment as well as the estimated amount of national dona-

tion.”

SEWOL FLASH MOB HELD DURING WATER GUN FESTI-

VAL

Gwangju Citizens’ Mourners Group for the Sewol Ferry

Disaster Victims organized a flash mob performance dur-

ing the Water Gun Festival held on July 11th on Geum-

nam-ro. About 200 people joined in the performance,

including the group members and a few international

residents. The flash mob was organized to remind citi-

zens, travelers and athletes about the Sewol tragedy.

These visitors to Gwangju for the Summer Universiade

learned about the ongoing struggle to uncover the truth.

The flash mob performed to the song: “The Truth Won’t

Sink,” with lyrics that include as below:

Darkness can’t defeat the light, lies can’t defeat the truth. The truth won’t sink and we won’t give up

어둠은 빛을 이길 수 없다 거짓은 참을 이길 수 없다. 진실은 침몰하지 않는다 우리는 포기하지 않는다

August 2015.indd 29 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:47

With Gwangju still rocking in the wake of the Universiade 2015 and with a hot and humid August ahead of us, this summer is the season to try your hand at a new sporting hobby that is often over-looked by us city dwellers.

Before you say “it is far too hot to move” and sink back into the comfort of your air-conditioned apart-ment, you should know that this sport is about as cool and refreshing as they come, and an exhilarat-ing adrenaline rush that will rouse you from that summer siesta in a second. To do this, all you need is a small plastic boat, some open water, and a sense of adventure: welcome to the world of kayaking.

In a city of high-rise buildings and beautifully main-tained local parks, it is easy to forget that there

is a sprawling wilderness out there. Hop on a bus, however, and you will be quickly reminded that Ko-rea has some astounding areas of untouched natu-ral beauty that are perfect for kayaking and other water sports.

Hidden in the gullies of Gangwon-do, Inje is herald-ed as one of the best kayaking spots in Korea, and well worth the journey for those seeking out a river adventure. The Naerincheon stream, with its mixture of rough, choppy rapids interspersed with smooth gentle currents, hosts over a million water sports enthusiasts every year – from the absolute begin-ner to the kayaking pro. Tour companies frequently organize expeditions to this site and offer fun, no-pressure rafting and kayaking trips in groups, in ad-dition to other adrenaline-fuelled activities for the

Written by Meg CoastPhotos courtesy of Kang Ho (Jirisan Kayak School)

Just Around the River Bend…

32 local I gwangju plays

1

August 2015.indd 30 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:50

others. I want to help other people experience their own adventures and, in doing so, find themselves and find purpose.”

His advice for kayaking newcomers? “Just do it. Every outdoor sport requires courage and a sense of adventure, so just get out there and give it a go. The only way to truly know something is to ex-perience it firsthand. Now is the time to open your door and start your journey. Without adventures we don’t experience real life.” Jirisan Kayak School offers programs for differing levels, from beginner to advanced. By the end of the course, Kang Ho assures that you will notice your kayaking skills improve, step by step. The school also offers customized training programs based on cus-tomer request — so if you don’t see something for you, just ask. “Our instructors will safely guide you through the beautiful rivers of Jirisan”, says Kang Ho. “Before you know it, you will love kayaking as much as I do.”

brave-hearted among us. Simon, a tour participant, shared his experience of kayaking in Inje for the first time: “We were on the water for a few hours, and the instructors were really helpful for the first-timers. We went with a group of mixed experienced levels and had a great time — I can’t wait to go again next year.”

For rapids a little closer to home, meet Kang Ho, head instructor of Jirisan Kayak School since 2012. Located just a stone’s throw from the slopes of Jirisan, Korea’s oldest and biggest national park, the school is a two hour journey from Gwangju. Owner, founder and head instructor, Kang Ho, is the defini-tion of a pro kayaker: with 10 years of experience behind him, and an average of 100 days per year on the water, his school is a labor of love. “When I go kayaking I feel truly alive,” said Kang Ho, “I find self-growth through adventure.”

When asked why he started a kayaking school, Kang Ho explained, “I wanted to share this feeling with

1. The school instructors guiding participants through Jirisan’s twists and turns 2. Going on the road to a kayaking adventure3. The Omchon River in Jirisan offering great currents and breathtaking views4. Jirisan Kayak School offering a range of beginning to advanced courses

gwangju plays I local 33

2

3 4

August 2015.indd 31 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:52

34 local I gwangju eats

The only dish to rival the shrimp cazuela was the jamon croquetas. These deep-fried balls of ham and cheese were the perfect combination of crunchy and creamy textures and had a ton of flavor. Con-sider the croquetas a must-order item.

The final dish to come out was the seafood paella. While the paella came with an abundance of clams, shrimp and squid, the texture of the rice was a lit-tle disappointing. Paella is typically cooked in a wide, shallow pan, which gives the rice at the bottom a nice, crunchy texture. However, this crunchiness was simply not present. On the other hand, the flavors were good, and the seafood itself was well done.

All of this food, aside from the croquetas, is includ-ed in the Estrella Set, which is available for 35,000 won and easily feeds two people. Most individual dishes range from 10,000 to 16,000 won. Sangria and Spanish beer are also available.

DIRECTIONSAddress: 광주광역시 동구 장동로 43-1/

43-1 Jangdong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju

Tel: 070-4102-3990

Opening Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.(Last order 2 p.m.), 5:30

p.m. – 12 midnight (Last order 10 p.m.) Closed Sundays

Bus: Salesio Girl’s High School Stop

On the street across from the Mini-Stop, turn right on the

side street with Pizza School on the corner. Estrella is a short

walk from here on the right.

New foreign restaurants in Gwangju can often bring a mixture of anticipation with skepticism. The newly-opened Estrella passes the test with a menu that offers wonderful Spanish food that makes few compromises.

ATMOSPHERE AND SERVICEThe most important thing to know about Estrella is that seating is very limited. As the kitchen is very small, dishes tend to come out sporadically, pos-sibly causing problems for groups. The restaurant recommends calling ahead for reservations.

FOODThe first dishes to arrive were the tapas of the day and the jamon salad. The tapas of the day were two pieces of toasted baguette topped with toma-toes, some greens and thin slices of jamon (Spanish ham). The jamon salad came topped with more of the delicious ham and a runny egg. While the egg white was a bit undercooked, the runny yolk made a perfect dressing for the salad. Both were delicious and made for a great start to the meal.

Up next was the spicy shrimp cazuela, which consist-ed of several large shrimp in a small pool of spicy oil and surrounded by rounds of bread. This was one of the most impressive dishes of the meal if only for its simplicity. The shrimp were tender and cooked per-fectly. While the spiced oil around the shrimp was a bit mild, the bread was perfect for soaking up flavors.

Written and photographed by Cody Jarrett

Estrella

August 2015.indd 32 2015-07-24 �� 1:11:56

gwangju cooks I local 35

Spring and summer are the best seasons to get creative with salads. The earth easily provides the best greens and vegetables at an amazingly low cost. Though supermarkets have expanded their selection of western-style salad dressings, they offer few Asian varieties. If you want to keep your salad Korean style, this dressing will not disappoint.

½ cup soy sauce½ cup sesame oil¼ cup rice vinegar¼ cup water1 tablespoon garlic powder1 teaspoon brown sugar1 teaspoon red chili pepper1 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon red pepper oil½ tablespoon ginger powder

A bowl, a whisk, and a glass container

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl and whisk well. 2. Let it sit for at least ten (10) minutes before add-

ing to the salad. 3. Refrigerate the rest in the glass container.

INGREDIENTS (1 SERVING) MATERIALS

PREPARATION

Recipe written and photographed by Joe Wabe

Korean Style Salad Dressing

Do you have an original recipe you would like to share? Share it with us and let Gwangju know how good it is!

Email: [email protected]

August 2015.indd 33 2015-07-24 �� 1:12:00

36 photography I photo essay

Pedro’s VoyagersWritten and photographed by Joe Wabe

For most international residents traveling through or living in Gwangju, the name Pedro Kim has be-come a synonym of hospitality and guidance. With a little over four years into the business, the name “Pedro” has become an icon in the city, and a name people will call upon when in need for a place to stay or a fun tour in or out of the City of Light.

Pedro, his Catholic name, or Kim Hyon-seok, started his venture as a tour guide after graduating from Tourism and Culinary Arts and traveling abroad. “My original dream was to start a coffee or tea chain, but later on I realized this wasn’t my cup of tea.”

Pedro further explained what he wanted instead. “I realized that what I really wanted to do was to meet and help people casually, and not to be limited to enclosed spaces and a daily time tables, like any supervisor would’ve done.”

After traveling abroad and having experienced living and working outside his mother country, he found a new dream and new hope for his life, which he was not really satisfied with at that time. “I didn’t want to follow the crowd and work for a big conglomer-ate like most people my age were dreaming off,” he said. “I wanted to live my own way and feel happy about my life and myself, so I began with small trav-

August 2015.indd 34 2015-07-24 �� 1:12:03

photo essay I photography 37

August 2015.indd 35 2015-07-24 �� 1:12:11


el tours in and out of Gwangju, translation services and just helping people in general — a freelance experience.”

After two years the idea evolved into a homestay business, and the amazing success he accomplished during the first two years led to his newest venture and one that has become already in a very short time a very successful establishment: Voyagers.

Voyagers is a bohemian café, with an unique style that gives visitors the sensation that they are pass-ing through an airport terminal — but not just any airport. This unique place, decorated with a unique and warm human touch, will wrap your imagination and give you wings to fly en route to a faraway land.

The concept has been in the back of Pedro’s mind for a long time, as he wanted to connect visiting travelers with locals and give both groups involved unique timeless experiences within Gwangju.

Part of his plan is to be able to help local artists by selling and displaying their crafts and souvenirs in his café: photographs, paintings, calligraphy and anything else made in Gwangju. He dreams on mak-ing his place into an international hub, not just for excellent coffee and drinks, but also for informa-tion, arts and culture.

“People tend to underestimate the amount of tour-

PEDRO’S HOUSEAddress: 960-6 Ssangchon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju 502-260Directions: by bus get off at Honam University Entrance (호남대입구) or by subway: Ssangchon Station Exit 3Phone: 010-9592-9993E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.pedroshouse.com/

ism that comes into Gwangju, but with my experi-ence, I know thousands of tourists come every year because of the many different events hosted here — from conferences to festivals and sports,” he said. Pedro further estimated that over 5,000 visi-tors and backpackers have visited his homestay dur-ing the past two years.

Pedro’s motto is: “The world is to come together as one in the City of Light.” Truly, the atmosphere at Voyagers makes visitors feel in a world, where all borders have disappeared and the only rulers and rules have all agreed that the consensus of this place is to feel at peace and in global harmony.

If you want to escape from the ordinary daily life and feel that you have traveled abroad for a day, you know that there is such a place in town, where visas or passports are not required.

August 2015.indd 36 2015-07-24 �� 1:12:32

2015 Gwangju Universiade The Game of Their Lives

Photographed by Relja Kojic


1

2 3

1. Son Yon-jae (KOR) performing in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Ribbon Final2. Viktoriia Mazur (UKR) performing in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Ribbon Final3. The Japanese team performing in the 6 clubs, 2 hoops Rhythmic Gymnastics Final

August 2015.indd 37 2015-07-24 �� 1:12:53


4. Raivydas Stanys (AUS) taking part in the Men’s High Jump Final5. From left to right: Chun-Han Yang (TPE), Kolesnichenko Vi acheslav (RUS), Kotaro Taniguchi (JPN), and Hua Wilfried Serge Koffi (CIV) ) taking part in the Men’s 200m Semi-Final6. Athletes from Poland using a selfie stick during the Universiade Opening Ceremony7. Cheerleader rousing the crowd during the Universiade Opening Ceremony

4

5

6 7

August 2015.indd 38 2015-07-24 �� 1:13:34


8. Choi Chinhui celebrating with her teammates Choi Sooyeon (left) and Kim Ha Eun, right after Korea won the Women’s Sabre Team gold medal9. Drasko Gogov (SRB #7) trying to take the ball from Adel Giniia tov (RUS #7) during a preliminary match10. Virgile Michel Louis Marchal (FRA) rests during the Men’s Final Epee Individual match against Yannick Philippe Andre Borel (FRA)

8

9 10

August 2015.indd 39 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:12

42 photography

[Photo of the Month]

“I am a princess and he’s my Superman. He will protect me.”

By Park Kyeong-cheol

he little girl pointed to her brother before my lens.

This photograph is part of my documentary photog-raphy project in Gwangju, Voice of the Voiceless.

This project realistically documents simple, everyday people and occasions. I like to write the everyday stories of the working class, the young, the poor and the old. For me, every individual is unique and

equal before my lens. Sometimes, the most ordi-nary people in the most difficult situations display the most remarkable traits. Through photography, I want to empower the voiceless members of Korean society.

To look at my work, please visithttp://cargocollective.com/cheolphotography

T

August 2015.indd 40 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:14

gwangju writes I culture 43

GenesisA short poem written by Leb MofskyPhotographed by Peng Bo

instrumentalsanything to drown out the river.They wore loud clothingwith bright splotches of pink, purple, red, yellow and blueas if to mock the sunor compete with it.God saw it, and was distressed. He wanted to nudgethe man and woman back into righteousness.He sent two of his cherubimdown to Gwangju Riverbearing spray cans and stencilsto mark the path with great white arrowsand the word 우측보행WALK ON THE RIGHT.God was subtle.But they ignored his gentle admonitionwalking left, right and centerand even rode their bikes and scooterswherever it suited them bestin great defiance. God clenched his fists.He began to brew two great stormsone in the east, and one in the westto collide above Gwangju Riverand wash it away, along with the man and woman. Before he could release the great floodit happened that an angel came on urgent business.God was detained for two hoursand he forgot about Gwangju River.So it remains to this day, as it was. Strangely doing.

God dragged his finger along the earthand said, Let there beGwangju River. And so it was.And it was good. The water flowed, but the land was bare.God said, Let there beplants and animals. He madethe sharp-beaked heronshimmering fishand the snake. God saw itand was pleased. He leaned in the shade of the willowand said, Let this bea place of healing.He brought a manand a womanto rest beside the softly flowing river. And so it was. And it was good. But soon there were strange doings at Gwangju River.For the man hid himselfbehind a large black net, and playedmysterious games.The woman hid herselfin pants, long-sleeved shirts, masks, visors and hatsand walked vigorouslyas if the river were something to get past. God saw it, and was perplexed. They installed a PA systemand played The Godfather Theme or James Bond

August 2015.indd 41 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:16

old men with flowing white beards, seated under a gnarled tree next to a tiger, holding a walking staff, a fan or both. The most famous San-shin of all is Dan-gun, credited as being the first human king of Korea, he became a mountain spirit upon his death.Surprisingly, not much is written or widely known about the San-shin. One reason could be that Korea does not promote this cultural aspect. In a modern-ized society, many Koreans may think this ancient belief is all but dead. Surprisingly, one can see this is not the case. Currently there are about 10,000 shrines scattered all over Korea, many of which are new or being renovated, with beautiful statues and paintings.

Korean national pride is ever-present, and the San-shin represent something uniquely Korean. Korea’s origins, religious history and traditional values are closely connected to the San-shin. For more infor-mation about the San-shin, visit san-shin.org

44 culture I behind the myth

[My Korea] My Korea allows readers the opportunity to explain why particular locations in Korea are special to them. To submit your own recollection, email: [email protected]

Written and image provided by Stephen Redeker

The Hills are Alive with the Sound of…Spirits?

Mountains in Korea are believed to hold special powers and a vital energy for the people who live nearby. 70 percent of the country is covered by mountains, which the people have historically had to travel through and live on. The mountains also affected wa-ter supply and local weather patterns, and obviously were a big visual aspect of the area. Therefore, it is not surprising that throughout Korea’s long history, worshipping mountain spirits has been a prominent reli-gious practice for many.

Enter shamanism, an ancient system of be-liefs in spirits who live in the natural world, which has existed in Korea for thousands of years. There is still a large number of Koreans (well over 30,000) that still act as shamans, interme-diaries between people and the gods of nature. It is believed that prominent mountains are homes to a particular spirit, the San-shin, which grants blessings and protection to those who worship. Many have erected, and frequently visit, sacred shrines to wor-ship this mountain spirit.

Mountain spirits are revered in many parts of the world, but arguably in none other so much as in Korea. It is the most central deity amongst all the country’s prevalent religions. Over time, as Bud-dhism, Taoism and Neo-Confucianism entered Ko-rean consciousness, belief in the San-shin has never been repressed. In fact, the belief has bonded with other religions and remains common even today. For example, Buddhist temples often have an image of the San-shin where people pray and leave gifts.

What does a San-shin look like? They can take the form of man or woman, but since the Joseon dy-nasty era, San-shin have typically been depicted as

Typical image of the Shan-shin sitting beside a tiger and be-neath a tree.

August 2015.indd 42 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:16

jeolla history I culture 45

King Hyojong as his pupil, but Yun spent most of his life in exile due to his involvement with factional strife. However, his love for knowledge and talent was praised because he excelled in poetry, music, astronomy and topography. The Memorial Hall in Haenam exhibits his poems, self-made instruments and stories of his excellent topography skills. Kore-ans believe right topography brings good luck.

Yun’s Owugacompares five natural objects — water, rock, pine, bamboo and the moon — to the qualifi-cations of a Confucian scholar. Water is clean and flowing, so a scholar must have integrity. The rock does not change, and neither does a true scholar. The pine tree has straight roots and its leaves sur-vive through the winter, so a scholar should likewise maintain his constancy. Bamboo is straight, empty and evergreen, saying a scholar must stay humble and possess self-control. Finally, the moon is bright and wordless, meaning a scholar should be silent without slandering others.

THE GREAT ARTIST Although Yun passed the state examination to be-come a government officer, his career was limited due to the domination of the opposing political par-ty Seo-yin.

Yun Du-seo’s portrait with a solemn face is a curious subject among art experts. Characterized by glow-ing eyes, deep dark circles and grimly shut thick lips, the man seems to express his anger to the audience, as thereis only a face in the painting. The portrait lacks both body and ears, which makes the long, fearful, tiger-like beard eerie. Experts say the paint-ing expresses the feelings of anger and exhaustion Yun Du-seo faced in his last years when most of his friends were either eliminated or sent into exile by factional strife.

Haenam Gosan Yun Seon-do Memorial Hall was built to commemorate an honorable family line, the Haenam Yun. The first part to explore is the an-tique exhibitions produced by Yun family members, commonly great scholars and artists. The other is the family house “Nogudang” (House of Green Rain) that stands behind the exhibition building. The house was a present given by King Hyojong to his teacher and advisor Yun Seon-do. Some say Nogudang is purely a depiction of fluttering nut-meg trees in the wind. Others say it is a metaphor for unchanging integrity and discipline of Confu-cian scholars. Whatever the truth, the name of the house expresses the bright, rightful minds of the Yun ancestors.

THE GREAT SCHOLARThe Yun family has produced Yun Seon-do and Yun Du-seo. Yun Seon-do earned the honor of teaching

Yun Seon-Do Memorial Hall and Nogudang Written and image provided by Won Hea-ran

August 2015.indd 43 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:16

46 places to see I my korea

Enduring winters that leave people cooped up for months encourage many people to take advan-tage of Korea’s outdoor activities when it warms up. There are limitless ways to enjoy a nice day, from hiking mountains to lounging at the beach. One of the lesser-known activities is completing an obstacle course with ziplines. And indeed, there are a few places with eco-adventures sprinkled around the country. This article will focus on the adventures that Herb Hillz offers in the southern tip of Daegu.

Herb Hillz is an eco-park that provides entertain-ment for visitors of all ages and can be enjoyed at any time of the year. The attractive park stimu-lates all of your senses. As you walk around, inhale deep breaths of the fresh herbal scents lingering throughout outdoors, but watch out for the not-so-fresh zoo animal smells. Let your taste buds dance as you devour foods like pizza and cookies made by your very hands in on-site cooking classes. Some of the ingredients are grown locally, right in the park. Then, wash it down with teas like peppermint and

jasmine from leaves also picked in the area.

Besides cooking classes, Herb Hillz offers craft classes to learn how to make products from herbs like soap and candles. If you do not wish to spend the extra money, visitors can simply enjoy a sce-nic stroll around the large park. There are gardens, both herbs and flowers, planted all throughout the area. It is a lovely way to spend a leisurely afternoon outside of the city, and this location is especially ap-pealing to children.

The main attraction for adult visitors, however, is the eco-adventure. There are six options available, ranging from the Monkey course (for children) to King Kong (advanced), with medium-leveled courses aptly named Chimpanzee, Gorilla and Orangutan. The courses wrap around the park so you can ex-plore the area by walking, crawling and flying above it.

If you would like to participate in an obstacle course,

Zipping Around: Eco-adventures in KoreaWritten and photographed by Lianne Bronzo

1

August 2015.indd 44 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:17

my korea I places to see 47simply pay the fee at the ticket box. Admission costs 20,000 won for both entrance to the park and the obstacle course. When you arrive at the eco-ad-venture area, you will first try on the equipment: a harness, helmet, gloves and some carabineers. A safety guide will provide instructions on how to use the gear and facilitate brief practice rounds. After that, you are on your own and left to complete the entire obstacle course around the park as you wish.

Our group opted for the King Kong course because it is the longest one with the most diverse obstacles. The 470 meter-long course takes about 40 minutes to complete and consists of 15 different obstacles, four of them being speedy ziplines.

The first task is to pull yourself up a rock climbing wall. If you are afraid of heights, do not look down! Next, carefully hook yourself in and zipline over to another station. Peer at the tiny crowds below as you briskly traverse a zipline that consumes your senses. Later, you must travel from tree to tree with only two taut wires — one for carefully walk-ing and one for your hands. Another task has you walk across thin ladder rungs while supporting your-self with hanging ropes. One of my favorite tasks brought back childhood memories of fast food play-grounds. It includes a big net that you must crawl through to reach the next station.

The variety of tasks in the obstacle course kept us entertained for over an hour as we took our time to enjoy the views. Sometimes activities like these can be underwhelming for me, but I was highly satisfied with the adventure.

Even though our group felt safe and confident with our fitness levels, we were a little surprised to be allowed to complete the entire course by ourselves. Be sure to exercise caution at each station and re-member the safety procedures taught at the begin-ning.

Each course varies based on your fitness level (and your guts), so I would highly recommend giving Herb Hillz eco-adventure a try for an invigorating challenge or just to do something new!

For more information, visit HerbHillz.com.

1. Liz Holloway carefully traversing the ladder2. Adam Greenberg hanging out in the net3. Lianne Bronzo (center) and friends walking across the line

2

3

August 2015.indd 45 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:19

48 places to see I departing gwangju

Scuba diving, hiking and windsurfing: these are all tempting words for anyone who loves adven-ture. These words were favorites for me too, at least before marriage. However, this year, with an eight-month-old baby, my style of travel needed to change. But no matter what your situation is, Saipan is a haven where anyone can enjoy the clear blue sky, transparent water and lazy sea turtles.

SAIPAN’S HISTORYSome readers may be surprised to know that Saipan belongs to America. Saipan is the capital and larg-est island of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which has been a part of the United States since 1978. This beautiful island has its own sad history. During World War Ⅱ, the nearby island of Tinian was used to stage air raids on Japan for the atomic bomb drops on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Despite having a complicated history, today Saipan is well known as a growing tourist destination for events such as honeymoons, prenatal trips, golf-

SaipanAn Amazing Place for Leisure!

Written and photographed by Ryu Hye-jung

ing or simple leisure, due to its equable year-round temperatures and amazing natural heritage. Even though the humidity is high, the fresh sea breeze and nice view of the sky offset such an inconven-ience.

LODGINGIf you are with your family, it is best to stay in either a resort or hotel. Saipan’s western shore is lined with decent resorts that are equipped with restaurants, barbeque grills, pools, adventure activities and even private beaches. Do not shy away from open-ing your wallet for comfortable and cozy facilities. However, be aware that there are many guests in the resorts and hotels from Korea, China and Japan. You might even see people wearing the same sun-glasses, swimsuits and bags throughout your resort. Hopefully seeing other guests in full makeup taking selfies will not bother you too much. Of course, the Island also has nice guesthouses and hostels as well.

August 2015.indd 46 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:19

are famous hiking destinations. Other options like golfing, a jungle tour, ATV riding and rock-climbing will keep you from getting bored. Personally, the most memorable part for me was to lay down by myself in the shade at the beach, watching over the calm sunset. From my perspective, people look so peaceful and seem to enjoy their lives more com-pared to the busy life back in Korea.

In conclusion, I think the natural beauty of Saipan has a huge influence on people’s characters. All the people I met had beautiful smiles on their faces and good manners. I think Saipan is blessed with perfect weather and stunning nature views. I am envious of the Saipan people. If I ever get the chance, I would definitely return to the island.

Work CitedSaipan Travel Guide<http://saipanexplorer.com/about-saipan/>

departing gwangju I places to see 49

ATTRACTIONSThe Island is ten times smaller than Jeju Island of Korea, and in a car, you can travel around the whole territory within three hours. On the way to Suicide Cliff, we saw the memorial spot that honors Korean War veterans. Suddenly, the entire exciting mood stopped as we neared Suicide Cliff. The Cliff is apt-ly named because Japanese civilians and soldiers jumped off of the cliff to their deaths in 1944 rather than be captured by American troops. The lookout at the cliffs gave us breathless views of the crashing waves below. Many stones and flowers were there to honor the deceased.

ACTIVITIESAside from admiring the beauty of the island, you can also enjoy a wildlife adventure by bringing snor-keling gear anywhere you go. Rich dive sites, such as Grotto and Managaha Island, can also be reached by a short boat ride. Bird Island and Forbidden Island

August 2015.indd 47 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:22

50 general I green korea

Let’s #CleanGwangjuTogether

Take a photo of the reclaimed litter and tag it with #CleanGwangju on social media. If you use Insta-gram, your photo will be added to our digital landfill at http://CleanGwangju.org, which displays all the litter that NO LONGER blots our beautiful streets. We invite you to join the discussion in our Facebook group at http://facebook.CleanGwangju.org.

WHY?Well, why not? WE LIVE HERE.

And no matter for how long or short that time might be, as foreigners and Koreans together, we respect

With summer here, my girlfriend, Lianne, and I have taken up strolling through our neighborhood. The cool night sky is a welcome respite from the sweaty humidity of an afternoon in the classroom.

A walk around the block is nice — but the litter… we could not NOT notice all the litter in our neighbor-hood. We found ourselves glaring down at wayward trash rather than taking in the last of the evening sun’s red-orange glare.

We did not intend to start picking up litter, but as we walked, it became impossible not to.

So we turned around, went back inside, up five flights of stairs, got two plastic bags and only one pair of gloves — sharing one opposite hand each — and went back outside.

AND SO WE STARTED TO #CLEANGWANGJU#CleanGwangju is a volunteer campaign encourag-ing all Gwangju residents (you, dear reader) to indi-vidually serve a small, though collectively important, role in respecting our city.

JOIN USDon your favorite pair of garbage collecting gloves, grab a bag and your trusty tongs (if you have them), and head out on a leisurely walk to pick up some litter around your block. Please use discretion and dispose of all trash appropriately. (See Gwangju’s guidelines for waste disposal at http://guidelines.CleanGwangju.org.)

You might be surprised with how quickly you fill a bag and how good you feel afterward. Even if it is only for 10 minutes, your example can be one for others.

Written by Adam GreenbergPhotos courtesy of Amy Badenhorst, Calen Cygan, Adam Greenberg, Jenny Mae and James Sharp

August 2015.indd 48 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:22

simply bend down, pick up some litter too, and be part of a solution. They can be just like YOU.

I cannot speak great Korean, but one night a woman stopped to say “Go-ma-wo-yo” to us. She said some other things that I did not understand, but “thank you” was enough.

More often than not, however, people will not say “thank you.” They probably will not even acknowl-edge you. So allow me to acknowledge you right now, thank you.

TAKE THE PLEDGESign on at http://CleanGwangju.org.Instagram: #CleanGwangju

What would Gwangju look like if every one of us took just 10 minutes to pick up some litter?

green korea I general 51

our city. Gwangju is no place for litter.

Drawing attention to our trash problem is one small thing we each can do, to not simply complain nor cast our City of Light in a negative one, but, in fact, do the complete opposite: to support and rekindle that light burning in the torch we hold high, called Gwangju. Sometimes we all just need a gentle re-minder and nudge forward from our friends.

Still, recognizing a multitude of factors, economic and political among them, waste management is clearly a complicated issue here. We are not going to clean all the litter from every street. But may-be someone will think twice the next time he or she considers littering, a blank stare clearly asking, “Why is this guy picking up trash?”

It seems some people never consider that they could

James Sharp Lianne Bronzo

Calen Cygan Amy Badenhorst Adam Greenberg

Jenny Mae

August 2015.indd 49 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:25

52 general I kotesol

What are your plans for the summer? Are you traveling? Studying? Working? For many teachers, the summer months are a perfect time for refresh-ment and reflection. This is a great opportunity to step back, critically evaluate your teaching over the past semester, and think about what you want to do — and how you want to improve — in the fall term. It’s also a chance to expand your teaching knowledge. Whatever you’re doing this month, why not toss a book into your backpack? Here are three of my favorite teaching books, all guaranteed to inspire new ideas, give you new perspectives and improve your teaching.

LEARNING TEACHING By James Scrivener (Macmillan, ISBN: 978-1-4050-1399-4)

This is an excellent book for new teachers, teachers with little formal training, or teachers who would like to hone their skills or get new ideas in specific areas. Scrivener explores in detail the

nitty-gritty of teaching. From making a lesson plan to reflecting on your teaching, to arranging stu-dent seating and integrating drama, every aspect is meticulously presented and thoughtfully discussed. The author assigns thinking tasks to the readers, giving them opportunities to ponder the possibilities before guiding them to logical answers. The focus is on the practical, with real-world examples and concrete tips.

New teachers will especially appreciate the first few chapters, which can serve as a crash course in Eng-

Summer Reading for Stupendous TeachingWritten and images provided by Lindsay Herron

lish language teaching. If you’ve been thrown into the deep end and need a survival manual, this is it. There are tips on how to learn students’ names, structure an activity, plan a lesson, and tips on how to give instructions so your students can under-stand you. You can also learn more about common approaches to teaching English, so the next time an experienced teacher starts throwing letters at you — CLT, TBL, TPR — you’ll have a good idea of what they’re talking about!

Later chapters delve into scaffolding techniques, steps for teaching each of the four skills, activities for pronunciation practice, observation tasks and more, making this a solid choice for more experi-enced teachers, too. The book is logically organized and easy to understand, and the recommendations and activity suggestions are well- considered and relevant. (Note: This book is huge. It will not actually fit comfortably into your backpack. Recommended for home use only!)

TEACHING ENGLISH TO CHIL-DREN IN ASIA By David Paul (Pearson, ISBN: 978-962-00-5251-4).

This is definitely one of my fa-vorite books about teaching —and not just because it has 100 activity ideas in the appendix. Paul presents an insightful and

persuasive perspective on child-centered learning and how it can easily be incorporated into our class-rooms in Korea. The mission of teachers, he says, is to help students become active, engaged learners.

KOTESOLKOTESOL promotes scholarship, disseminates information, and facilitates cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with teaching and learning English in Korea.

August 2015.indd 50 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:25

kotesol I general 53riculum Development, ISBN: 978-1416615064).

Role Reversal is another book that addresses overarching ideas relat-ed to education. In it, the author, a middle school teacher, describes the process of transforming his traditional, test-focused classroom into what he calls a “Results-Only

Learning Environment,” or ROLE. The basic idea of a ROLE is that, instead of doing worksheets and receiv-ing grades, students do projects in a workshop-style setting and receive narrative feedback. Instead of teaching in units, the teacher offers students a variety of choices that lead to the desired learning outcomes. Learning becomes a recursive process. Students cre-ate a project and the teacher offers feedback, high-lighting areas where students seem confused and di-recting students to the resources that can help them. Students independently review the appropriate materi-als and revise their projects accordingly. This approach integrates three key tenets of motivation: autonomy (found in the range of choices offered to students); purpose (the creation of projects for an audience, i.e. their classmates); and mastery (seen in students’ quest to improve their knowledge so they can create the best projects possible).

While few teachers in Korea have the time, resources, or freedom to create a full ROLE, Barnes’ tips and strategies for integrating ROLE elements into the classroom are clearly described, allowing teachers to reflect on which aspects they might be able to adapt for their own classrooms. Barnes also includes anec-dotal examples of his successes, as well as his failures, making for engaging reading. Inspiring at best, en-tertaining at worst, this book is great beach reading for jaded teachers wishing to create more meaningful, student-centered experiences for their classes.

Please check the upcoming schedule for KOTESOL Chapter Meeting in the Community Board section.

We do this by giving them interesting, challenging, achievable tasks and allowing them space to make their own connections, fitting the new information into their mental model of English. He breaks down the learning process into six stages he calls the Ques-tioning Cycle, which forms the basis for the rest of the book. Using the six stages as a springboard, he offers detailed examples and suggestions for how to practically implement a child-centered approach. It is surprisingly easy to do, and I guarantee you’ll find new ways to enliven your lessons and structure your classes so they are more child-centered. This book is also available in Korean, making it a good choice for co-teacher bonding and discussion.

WHAT VIDEO GAMES HAVE TO TEACH US ABOUT LEARNING AND LITERACY By James Paul Gee (Macmillan, Revised & Updated Ed., ISBN: 978-1-4039-8453-1).

In David Paul’s book, Paul com-pares the Questioning Cycle to the process a child goes through

when learning how to play a computer game. James Paul Gee takes this notion much further, analyz-ing the cognitive processes underlying video games and extracting thirty-six learning principles. To be clear, this book does not necessarily advocate play-ing games in the classroom; rather, Gee asks, “Vid-eo games are hard, so why do people keep playing them?” Indeed, our students happily spend hours learning how to play and succeed at computer games, and that, too, is a learning process. We have to wonder, then, what video games offer that our classrooms do not.

Gee’s exploration of this question not only gave me newfound respect for video games, but also prompted me to reconsider everything I thought I knew about education and literacy. Gee’s learning principles — from identity play and “on-demand and just-in-time” information, to the learner as insider/producer — are relevant to every teacher, and they can inform the structure and educational philoso-phy underpinning classes in any environment. This is a great read for all teachers, even if you don’t enjoy video games!

ROLE REVERSAL: ACHIEVING UNCOMMONLY EX-CELLENT RESULTS IN THE STUDENT-CENTERED CLASSROOM By Mark Barnes (Association for Supervision & Cur-

ABOUT THE AUTHORLindsay Herron is Treasurer of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chap-ter of Korea TESOL (KOTESOL). On behalf of the Chapter, she invites you to participate in the teacher development workshops at their monthly meetings and special events. Lindsay is a visiting professor at Gwangju National Univer-sity of Education, where she has taught for the past six years. She is also presently the National First Vice-President of KOTESOL, Membership Committee Chair, a chair on the International Conference Committee, and an avid reader.

August 2015.indd 51 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:26

54 general I health

Catch those Zs Before Sleep Deprivation Catches up with YouWritten by Jessica Keralis

Long nights and sleepiness are a rite of passage for students, business professionals and diplomats alike. My father once told me that after he turned in his very last final exam before earning his engi-neering degree, he “went back home and slept for three days.”

Most of us joke that sleep is “overrated” at one point or another; just about everyone will admit to pulling at least one all-nighter at some point in his or her life.

South Koreans, it seems, do it more often than most. In 2013, the OECD issued a report finding that South Koreans got the least amount of sleep, on av-erage, of 18 highly-developed nations. Health Min-istry experts are concerned that this issue may be contributing to the nation’s growing rate of obesity.

Any Korean middle or high school student (not to mention their teachers) will tell you that the prob-lem is not restricted to adults. A study by Boston College researchers found that Korean secondary school students also have had some of the highest rates of sleeplessness among countries studied.

Chronic sleep deprivation affects both short- and long-term memory, which is particularly important for students’ abilities to learn and retain new mate-rial. It also impacts focus and reflex speeds, making drowsy driving particularly dangerous — one in eve-ry five serious motor vehicle injuries is estimated to be related to driver fatigue in both the U.S. and the U.K. Several studies have also linked a lack of sleep to hormonal and endocrine imbalances, suggesting links between sleep deprivation and obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression.

For its part, the Korean government seems to be

Jessica Keralis has a Master of Public Health and four years of

experience in the field of public health. She is currently working

as an epidemiologist. All views expressed here are her own and

not those of any employer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

catching onto the problem. Last year, the city of Seoul began encouraging its employees to take a “siesta” (that is, an afternoon nap) of up to an hour each day if they are feeling fatigued, and the Health Ministry says it is taking steps to counter the trend. An entrepreneur in Seoul has even capitalized on the trend with the opening of a “nap caf ” earlier this year. While this is certainly a charming idea, this national problem will not be solved, until Koreans collectively value sleep as integral to their health.

August 2015.indd 52 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:27

Sinan & Imja IslandWritten by Bradley Weiss

Photographed by Lee Jeongmin

Date: August 22 - 23, 2015 (2 days 1 night)Price: GIC Members 95,000 won/ Non-Members 115,000 wonContact: 062-226-2733 or [email protected] (Lee Jeongmin)

august 22Ecosystem Experience &

Cooking Experience with marine products

august 23imja island

august 22barbeque dinner party!

august 22muan ecological tidal flat center

august 23Gwangju

august 22Gwangju

gic tour preview I gic 55

August’s heat offers the perfect conditions for an overnight get-away to a remote island beach, replete with an evening barbeque. The GIC Tour heads to Imja Island, one of 111 inhabited islands that make up Sinan County off the southwestern coast of South Jeolla Province. Our first stop along the way will be the Muan Ecological Tidal Flat Cent-er, where participants will have the opportunity to walk out along the sprawling mud flats and catch glimpses of, and learn all about, the various creepy crawlies that inhabit this unique ecosystem. Back at the Center facility awaits an opportunity for a more intimate interaction with the wildlife, as each participant will have the chance to cook up his or her own nakji, or long-legged octopus, the perfect snack before traveling off the mainland.

Our arrival on Sinan Island will coincide with the height of fresh shrimp season. The plethora of road-side stands that pop up at this time will provide par-ticipants with the opportunity to supplement their upcoming evening’s barbeque with an in-season seafood flair.

Before hopping on the ferry to our final island des-

tination, participants will be treated to a lunch of maeuntang, or spicy fish soup, at a sea-side seafood restaurant overlooking the very waters we mean to cross once our appetites are sated.

The penultimate stop after the 10-minute ferry ride to our final island destination, Imja Island, will be at a local market to procure provisions for our even-ing samgyeopsal barbeque. After checking-in at our spacious, recently-renovated pension, it is just a three-minute walk through a rise of sea wind-block-ing trees to the ocean, where participants can enjoy the expansive, sandy beach for relaxation or play.

As the ocean whets our appetites once again, the salty air blowing through the pine trees that sur-round the backyard fire pits back at the pension will provide the perfect seasoning for a beach island evening barbeque.

Before the return trip to Gwangju the following morning, a light breakfast will be provided to partic-ipants, hopefully as they find themselves refreshed and reinvigorated from an island retreat.

August 2015.indd 53 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:28

56 gic I gic talk preview

Data Driven Growth: Application of Current Opinions to GIC ProgramWritten by Joel Keralis

In its 16-year history, the GIC has grown spectacu-larly. With new programs, new staff members and new facilities, the GIC looks completely different than when I first encountered it three years ago after moving to Korea. As the GIC has grown and changed, the city of Gwangju has done the same.

Since the GIC’s founding, Gwangju has experienced a 10 percent growth in population, seen innumer-able new buildings built, co-hosted the 2002 World Cup and hosted last month’s Universiade 2015. Migrant and ex-pat worker populations have in-creased, and E-2 visa holders have tripled, result-ing in ever-increasing needs for community building and dialogue between the international population of Gwangju and the citizens who welcome us into their lives and city.

Thus, in order for the GIC to continue to grow into the future and to ensure that it is adequately fulfill-ing its mission as a community building organiza-tion, the GIC must maintain deep connections with the needs of the community that it serves.

To make sure that the GIC programs are meeting those needs, accurate information about the needs of the community, as well as timely feedback about existing programs, is needed. While financial records are available and the GIC tracks membership data, I realized when I was a GIC Member that the GIC lacked a way of tracking these needs and opinions of the community and of its members. Therefore, this summer, I created a repeatable online survey that the GIC can use to track the needs of the com-munity as its programming grows and the commu-nity changes into the future.

This year’s survey concentrates on the GIC’s core programming. These questions investigate the

knowledge of, and past participation in, GIC pro-grams, as well as weighted ratings of the importance of each program to compare across GIC Staff Mem-bers, GIC Korean Members and GIC International Members. With a representative sample of both GIC Members and the community at large, we can un-derstand the relative importance of each program and how to target marketing and resources within the community and GIC Members. Using different methods to advertise the survey generates data on communication, as well. Across demographics there are different levels of exposure on the GIC Website, Facebook, SMS texting, Twitter and other programs.The long-term goal of this survey is to create an easily repeatable source of feedback that can be administered at regular intervals in order to track changes in community composition and interest. This will ensure that efficiency in program man-agement and advertising can be successfully main-tained.

August 2015.indd 54 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:30

gic talk schedule I gic 57

GIC Talk August ScheduleTheme of the Month: Evaluating the Past

AUGUST 1 and AUGUST 8There will be no GIC Talk, due to the GIC Talk’s Summer Break. Enjoy the sun and fun with the summer’s hottest weeks!

AUGUST 29: Evaluating Travels Speaker: Calen CyganTopic: Responsible TourismWhen traveling through the world, there are a number of “can’t miss” spots with incredible photo opportunities or

awesome souvenirs that you know your family and friends back home would just love! From pictures with baby tigers

to buying collectable knick-knacks from children on the street, it is easy to fall into these tourist traps without realizing

the negative effects these actions have. This GIC Talk will inform you of some methods to spot negative travel habits

and give you tips on how to avoid them, thus breaking the cycle and making traveling a more sustainable industry.

AUGUST 15There will be no GIC Talk, due to National Liberation Day. The GIC will

likewise be closed, so enjoy this day remembering the victories that Ko-

rea has achieved with gaining its independence and thriving on its own.

AUGUST 22: Evaluating Surveys Speaker: Joel KeralisTopic: Data Driven Growth: Application of Current Opinions to GIC Programming.Data on community needs and opinions on current GIC programs are essential for the GIC’s growth as a community

organization. This GIC Talk will discuss a recent survey project designed to evaluate both GIC Member and public

opinions of GIC programs. A recap of the survey results, as well as statistical comparisons between the international,

Korean and staff member groups surveyed will be followed by a discussion about how this information can help the

GIC continue to grow and mature in the future.

Time & Location: Saturdays from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., GIC Auditorium (Samho Center, 1st Floor)For more information, contact [email protected]

Jeolla Safety Allianceis a group of Koreans and international residents alike to create awareness of crimes.

This safety card is for you to cut out and keep handy!

FB group: Jeolla Safety Alliance

August 2015.indd 55 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:30

58 info

Have something you want to share with the community?Gwangju News community board provides a space for the community to announce clubs’ activities and

special events. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

UNESCO KONA VOLUN-TEERSUNESCO KONA Volunteers is a registered organization that helps underprivileged kids to learn English independently through storybooks and story-maps. We are looking for long-term vol-unteers who desire to enrich their lives. We are asking volunteers to commit to helping at least once a month (please check the days and locations below).

Foreign volunteers who are inter-ested in practicing their Korean and learning more about Korean culture with Korean children are welcome to stay at the center on any Saturday morning or Satur-day evening for a short cultural exchange.

If you have any picture books, storybooks, puppets and any educational items, we accept all donations in order to distrib-ute them to the local children’s homes or community children’s centers in Gwangju and South Jeolla province.

The days and locations of the facilities are as follows:Every Saturday mornings / 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or every Saturday afternoons (evenings) 5-7 p.m. Location: UNESCO KONA Volun-teers Center (Ssangchong-dong, Seo-gu, 062-434-9887)

3rd Sunday afternoons / 3-5 p.m. Location: Youngjin Children’s

Community Board

Home (Imgok-dong, Gwang-sangu, 062-952-8040) or Gwangju Children’s Home (Dongrim-dong, Buk-gu, 062-513-0859)

4th Friday afternoons 3-5 p.m.Location: Grandmother’s Com-munity Children’s Center (Pun-ghyang-dong, Buk-gu, 062-524-2076)

3rd Sunday mornings and after-noons/ 9 a.m.–2 p.m. (Lunch is provided)Location: Haein Temple (Jang-seong, South Jeolla, 061-393-5135)

For more infomation, please visit:1. http://cafe.daum.net/kona-

volunteers2. www.facebook.com (UNESCO

KONA Volunteers)3. contact KONA (Kim Young-

im) at 062-434-9887 or at [email protected]

GWANGJU ICE HOCKEY TEAMLooking for men and women of all ages to join us every Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Yeomju Ice Rink near World Cup Stadium. If you are interest-ed, contact Andrew Dunne at [email protected]

GWANGJU INTER FCThe Gwangju International Soc-cer Team (Gwangju Inter FC) plays regularly every weekend. If you are interested in playing, email: gwangju_soccer@yahoo.

com or search ‘Gwangju Inter FC’ on Facebook.

JOIN THE GWANGJU PERFORMANCE PROJECT CHOIRNo experience is necessary and all are welcome. The choir will be learning and singing a wide variety of material, including pop, jazz, choral, and musical theater! The GPP Choir meets every Saturday from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Gwangju International Center.

For more information, visit our Facebook page or e-mail at [email protected]

KOTESOL MONTHLY CHAPTER MEETINGDate & Time: August 8 (Saturday), 1:45 – 5:00 p.m.Place: Chosun University, Main Building, Left Wing, Room 4211

Two Presentations on ELT TopicsSwap-Shop Session: Bring your ideas, activities, advice to share with the group.

For more details:Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOLWebsite: http://koreatesol.org/gwangjuEmail: [email protected] Twitter: @GwangjuKOTESOL

August 2015.indd 56 2015-07-24 �� 1:14:30

Tel: 062) 222-0011

▶ Areas of Specialty contracts, torts, family law, immigration, labor

▶ Civil & Criminal

#402 Simsan Bldg, 342-13 Jisan-dong, Dong-gu, GwangjuLocation: next to Gwangju District Court

Fax: 062)[email protected]

Tel: 062) 222-0011

Attorney Park’s Law FirmAttorney Park’s Law Firm

Services available in Korean, English & Chinese

Attorney Park, Duckheeformer judge, GIC board member

We're ready to serve your best interests in legal disputes.

We provide affordable consultation & representation.

August 2015_��.indd 3 2015-07-24 �� 4:26:59

August 2015_��.indd 4 2015-07-24 �� 4:27:01

Documents

August 2015 #162