ISSUE 05 March 2014
facebook.com/platformdaegu
MARCH 2014 INSIGHT
CULTURE
2 – 3 – 5 – 6 – 7 –
21 – Daegu in February: Black History Month Festival
The Double-Wave: Hallyu & the Obsession of Hallyu Love Thy Neighbor KORAIL Strikes Back to School Interview: William Joseph Leitzman
ON LOCATION
PLATFORM 23 – Directory 24 – Staff & Contributors
9 – Nakdong River
MUSIC & ARTS
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Nakdong River
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Swing & People
11 – You've Been Missing...
HEALTHY LIVING 13 – Swing & People
FOOD & DRINK 15 – Food: 저녁 17 – Drink: Café 집
COMMUNITY 19 – Expat Diaries: Would you like milk and sugar with that?
Cover photo by Ali Safavi
INSIGHT
The Double-Wave:
Hallyu and the Obsession of Hallyu Story by Nathan Ouriach
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n the late 90’s whilst I was still maudlin over France '98 and couldn't spell my own surname, journalists in Beijing coined the neologism: Hallyu. It was in this period that China began to acknowledge its insidious appetite for Korean Culture. At the time, I was unaware of both Hallyu's existence as well as its eventual impediment on my life. Hallyu, or to translate it into its literal English, “flow of Korea”, was encroaching on Chinese society with its nascent cultural exports. Fifteen years on from this affirmation, a young fan on Kakao story uploaded a photo of men's underwear with the caption: “Do Gyung Soo’s (D.O.) underwear for sale”. Do Gyung Soo is from a K-pop group called EXO. The young vendor started the bidding at 100,000 won and assured everyone that it was stolen from the singer's dorm, as well as noting that “a few hairs remain on his underwear, so ask for a DNA test”. Although arguably a great deal, the act itself alludes to the corollary “Korean Wave” that has been flowing, suggesting an awkwardly obsessive nature with K-pop. Other examples include a group of fans who invited themselves to the wedding of EXO member Baek Hyun’s brother. As well as an online petition to exempt EXO from Korea's compulsory military service. Despite my indifference to K-pop, it is hopeless to circumvent. With students singing infectious choruses, writing band name's on desks and consistently saying that I am not as handsome as X, Y, or Z, I reluctantly enter the discourse of K-pop. Away from me and my own sensibility, K-pop is now beginning to flex its androgynous muscles globally. The company CJ E&M has delivered a survey that charts K-pop and its effect around the world. The girl group f(x) achieved the highest percentage of votes (16.4%), however they would hold an advantage due to their Chinese fandom. Elsewhere, EXO garnered the most votes from the U.S. and Can-
ada, whilst Kim Hyun Joong took Japan. Henry Lau was a hit in Saudi Arabia, and I would love to know why. These results were based on an online poll for the TV show 'M Countdown' under the title “M Wave”. The show's website asked 5 million people from over 178 nations about their respective penchants for K-pop. The reverence exceeds just tweenies on their smart phones; Girls Generation won the video of the year award at the inaugural YouTube Awards and Big Bang received a generous 4/5 rating by a misguided Guardian journalist for their Wembley show last December. South Korea is swinging fists in the world's cultural arms race without flinching. Moreover from K-pop, exported TV dramas such as Love Rain, Moon Embracing the Sun, and Jewel in the Palace are causing foreign ministries to acknowledge “Hallyu diplomacy” as an existing ideology. Ignoring the West's instinct for global “soft power”, Korea is propelling K-pop and K-drama into the worldwide consciousness as a way to re-draft the Korean stereotype. They are taking the reputation of brute industrialization and remodeling themselves into a more cosmopolitan, youthful, and creative body at an accelerating speed. 'Soft Power' was defined by Harvard University's Joseph Nye as "the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than through coercion". What the “flow of Korea” has done is evolve “soft power” into more of a bloated imperative. South Korea's deluge of indigenous culture obliges its population to subscribe, download, invest, and share over and over without any consideration or sentiment. The currency of K-pop is rising, and its apparent importance has become so blurred that a young fan has found the economic logic in selling an item of used underwear from one of her favorite bands. Perhaps it is time to give the customary "double wave" of goodbye to Korea's obsession with its own monoculture.
INSIGHT
Love Thy Neighbor Story by Adam Fletcher
Around this time in 2013, the world were reporting on a different kind of communication between the North and South. Ever since the ceasefire in 1953, tensions between the two Koreas have been high. It is hoped that the talks that took place in February signify a joint extension of the proverbial olive branch and can provide a foundation for further dialogue in the future.
A
s news channels and internet sites report that surprise high-level talks are being held between North and South Korea, my mind goes back to this time last year. Around this time in 2013, news agencies around the world were reporting on a different kind of communication between the North and South. Ever since the ceasefire in 1953, tensions between the two Koreas have been high. South Koreans are pretty used to hearing threats from the North now and again. As a British expat living in South Korea, the tension of 2013 was something new to me. I found myself reading daily updates online about the situation; within Korea however, there wasn’t the sense of panic and paranoia that the Western media would have had you believe. Reading news from CNN or BBC you’d have been forgiven for thinking that war was imminent. Friends and family would email me asking if I have an escape plan, but as for us living on the peninsula, life was fairly normal. One day during this period of uncertainty, it was reported that Kim Jong Un’s army would launch a missile into South Korea, as a pre-emptive strike. I was asked by some students if I was
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going to leave and return to my own country, in fact, we heard of some expats actually leaving their posts and flying back home. Though some Koreans I knew would admit that ‘this time’ was slightly more worrying than usual, nothing changed in their day to day lives. The meetings to be held on 12th and 14th February reportedly have no set agenda. However it was assumed that the planned reunions, scheduled for 20-25th February for 100 North Koreans and 100 South Koreans separated since 1950, would be discussed. These citizens had planned to meet last September, only for the North to cancel at the last minute. Pyeongyang is also set to be angered again as the annual military exercises are currently set to coincide with the reunions. These procedures, by joint South Korean and U.S. militaries sparked last year’s unrest. North Korea sees these exercises as threatening and provocative, whereas the South and U.S. say they’re just drills. However, this year U.S. officials promised that no aircraft carriers or strategic bombers will be involved. It is hoped that the talks signify a joint extension of the proverbial olive branch and can
INSIGHT provide a foundation for further dialogue in the future. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has called these “a step in the right direction� and it is obvious that small steps need to be made and Pyongyang is to be handled with delicacy and composure, like a negotiator when trying to agree the release of a hostage. We are all aware that the world requires Pyongyang to address its humanitarian crisis and to engage in nuclear disarmament, something that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated to Seoul during his visit last week. However, we would be well advised to show patience before leaping in and making global demands. If these talks continue in a cooperative manner, then maybe this could be the best news in 60 years for the peninsula. We should seek the engagement for the benefit of the two Koreas first, then the world next. However, the Kim regime can be unpredictable and the talks, cooperation, and the scheduled reunions could be cancelled if the wind changes. Both sides have asked for trust, but will it ever be given?
*Since the writing of this article, the reunions between families from North and South Korea went ahead successfully. Up to a total of 750 people were allowed to meet with their relatives over two 3 day periods. North Korea reportedly selects the reunion participants based on loyalty and patriotism, while South Korea uses a computerized lottery system.
INSIGHT
KORAIL Strikes Story by Kieran Duffy
On December 9th 2013, 45% percent of KORAIL employees began a strike in protest of the privatization of rail services. This strike lasted for 22 days and was the longest such stoppage in Korean history. The most controversial issue to arise from the strike however was not this tragedy or any of the difficulties caused for commuters, but the relationship between President Park Geun Hye’s government and trade unions
O
n December 9th 2013, 45% percent of KORAIL employees began a strike in protest of the privatization of rail services. This strike lasted for 22 days and was the longest such stoppage in Korean history. Although the state-owned company was quick to find alternative staff, mainly from their engineer training school, trains ran at only 78% capacity during the strike with many delays and cancellations. More seriously, a 78-year-old woman was killed on December 16th in an accident which was alleged to be a result of the disruption. The most controversial issue to arise from the strike however was not this tragedy or any of the difficulties caused for commuters, but the relationship between President Park Geun Hye’s government and trade unions. She was quick to criticize the strike, saying it was an illegal act which was detrimental to the economy. The courts issued warrants for the arrest of many high profile union leaders resulting in a police raid upon the headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on December 22nd. Some of the strike leaders took refuge in the Jogye Temple in Seoul, which was a com-
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mon hiding place for members of the democracy movement in the 1980’s. Eventually, government pressure proved overwhelming and the strike ended on December 30th with strikers who were wanted by the police handing themselves in. While the KCTU and previous Korean governments have often collided over plans to privatize railway services, this strike lasted longer than any previous industrial dispute. It also saw a fierce determination by the ruling Saenuri Party to defeat the strike, using the full power of the legal system. With several trade union leaders currently awaiting trial for what is alleged to have been an illegal work stoppage and many rank and file members facing other penalties for their actions, it has been claimed that the Korean government has used unreasonable force to quell the strike. The KCTU has not escaped blame, with its opponents alleging that it has long been an overly militant body that is quick to take part in violent or disruptive actions. In any case, the battle is not yet over and with both trade unions and opposition politicians still determined to fight the government’s plans; it may be a long time before a victor is apparent.
INSIGHT
Back to School Story and photography by Stephen Schuit, from the blog koreanbookends.blogspot.com
F
or many expats in the Daegu area, a fresh school year lies just around the corner. Expectations run high for both teachers and students. There are new schools, new relationships, new textbooks – new beginnings. These days in Korea, the competition is keen. Most students navigate their studies under the intense gaze of their parents. For better or for worse, the sacred destination is the infamous national college entrance exam that seems to be in everyone’s crosshairs. Just a snap of the fingers brings one back in time to the 1970’s when, if you were a Korean college student, odds were you were amongst the first in your family to be attending a university. Classrooms were often dark, dreary, and cold places in winter. You were considered lucky if your classroom had some kind of heat – at best a single kerosene heater in the middle of the room. Lighting too was rudimentary, often just one or two light fixtures for an entire classroom. Even in Daegu, many students commuted to school, at least partially, along dirt roads – make that mud roads during rainy weather. Today, the same roads are now paved and neatly lined with curbs and sidewalks. The university students of
the 1970’s are themselves now grandparents of Korea’s 3rd generation of college students. These young students have inherited Korea’s educational legacy: harsh competition, long days of unrelenting study, and near universal aspirations to work in one of Korea’s huge chaebols: Samsung, LG, or Hyundai Motors. In just several decades, Korea has catapulted itself to the highest levels of educational attainment in the world, but the accomplishments have created dilemmas. There are 500,000 university graduates a year for just 100,000 highly coveted job openings. The incessant competition, for the best schools and the best jobs, has had its social costs. Korea now leads the world in categories it cannot possibly be proud of: suicides, unhappiness, and alcohol consumption. Today’s generation of Korean students have thus been given their most challenging assignment: finding solutions to these tough societal problems. Will the attainment of satisfaction and contentment be worthy goals for this next generation? And will the remarkable educational and industrial progress of the past be matched by equally impressive social accomplishments? Hopefully, these too, will be new beginnings for Korea.
INSIGHT
A Comic A Day Keeps The Doctor Away! Interview by Winnie Ku, illustrations by William Joseph Leitzman
I
f you’re anything like me, you’re probably sick and tired of your Facebook News Feed, and its daily barrage of baby photos, selfies, neknominations, cheesy engagement posts, etc. etc. etc. Add some colour to your News Feed by ‘liking’ William Joseph Leitzman’s Facebook page for a new comic everyday. A teacher at Yeungnam University, William posts quirky comics everyday on his page – www.facebook.com/ williamjosephleitzman. Give the page a ‘like’, and I assure you, it’ll save your sanity when you’re scrolling through page after page of the same Buzzfeed article being re-posted by every single friend you have. How long have you been in Korea? I have been in Korea for about 4 and a half years. I came over here originally in July of 2009. What are you teaching at Yeungnam University? I teach English reading, writing, listening, and speaking credit courses in a manner similar to a language class you might have taken in college. I also teach non-credit conversation courses with various topics behind them. Did you study art in school? When I was younger, I always thought art classes were a waste of time (for me). I felt like I could probably learn better by practicing at home. I was briefly an art major in college (briefly many majors in fact) but didn't have the patience for it
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(as you might suppose from my style). I ended up majoring in philosophy. When did you start drawing? I started drawing when I was very young. I remember finger painting in kindergarten, and when I changed to a different school at the age of 8, I was pronounced “good at drawing” by my peers. Where/how do you get ideas for your comics? What do you draw inspiration from? I get ideas from many sources. Either from a conversation with a friend, a walk in the mountain, or right after I turn on my drawing tablet.
INSIGHT In addition to comics, do you do any other kinds of artwork? Not really. I mostly do digital art because it’s not messy. Also, I enjoy the low commitment required for my style of comics. I highly admire the works of talented illustrators, dancers, musicians, etc., but comics suit me. I do consider teaching an art form. A lot of your comics seem to inspire people to have more positive outlooks in their lives. Are the quotes that you use in your comics something that you live by yourself, in your daily life? I try to. I make a lot of these comics for ‘myself’ in the sense that I benefit from them, too. I hope others can benefit from them as well. I think many people have similar thoughts to those brought up in the comics I make, so it’s like an affirmation for them. Also, I enjoy the idea of cheering someone up just for a second. Do you ever get stumped on what to draw some days? Quite often, it’s not easy thinking of a new idea every day, but one always comes. Sometimes I get a really good idea that I mull over and obsess about for a few hours, and sometimes I think of something right on the spot. The trick is to always record these ideas. In my case I use a note app on my phone since it is always with me. I have a big list of comics I may make some day. If I can't think of anything on that day, I go to that. Is comic drawing something that is therapeutic for you? Why do you do it? Definitely. First of all, it is a nice form of medita-
tion. I think all people should have some form of a creative outlet. It’s good for your mental health. If I am dealing with something that is hard to process, it’s a way to help with that. And, sometimes when we are down (or up!) we don't exactly know how to share it, and this is a way for me to do that and find others who feel the same. Also, I appreciate being appreciated; it is especially nice to see others 'like' my work. Was uploading your comics online something you started when you moved to Korea, or something you did from back home? I never uploaded comics before coming here. I drew a lot of comics when I was younger, but only shared them with family. I enjoy being creative and spent much of college trying to find my means of ‘expression’. I sort of thought comics were too... simple. Now I feel comics can be just as expressive and emotive as any other art form (respective to its and their limitations). Last year I started uploading comics here and there, and it wasn't until October that I started doing one comic every day. Do you hope to move from a comic a day to something bigger eventually? Maybe a comic book or something like that? That would be great! I am sort of taking it one day at a time now but I hope to do more in the future. If people continue to like my comics, and they grow in popularity, I am definitely open to releasing a compilation of some sort, or working on other projects. For now, I like the idea of free comics, everyday, for anyone who wants to read them. Thank you for taking the time to ask me these questions!
ON LOCATION
Nakdong River Story and photography by Ali Safavi
I
am never happier than when I am walking along a vast river, taking photos and listening to good music. I am but a simple man. For sure, one of the reasons I miss Ulsan (my true home away from home) so much is the gorgeous Taewha River that slices the city in two and takes you to the sea- whatever that sea is called. Whilst Daegu has a couple of rivers of its own, including the Geumho River that caps Daegu to the north and the Sincheon River, an old but artificial stream to the east connected to the former, its most impressive mass of water is the behemoth Nakdong River (낙동강). Nakdong River is South Korea's largest river, travelling 506 kilometers from its source in the country’s highest city, Taebaek, to its mouth in Busan, where it feeds into the Korean Strait. Nakdong and its offshoots drain most of the south east,and some of the south west, of roughly 23,384 square kilometers of water. It is very possible to bike (or walk) along the Nakdong River from Daegu to Busan or Andong, which should be a life goal for those here longer than a minute. Interestingly, the previous government had proposed connecting Seoul's Han River to Nakdong River via the Grand Korean
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Waterway. This never happened and could have proved disastrous to local environments, but it was logistically interesting nonetheless. The Daegu branch of Nakdong River is reachable via one of it tributaries, the aforementioned Geumho River. Here the river is vast, peaceful, and, thanks to a cash splurge by the previous administration, very pretty. The strange Star Trek object in these pictures is 'The ARC', a landmark tribute to both the cash-hole Four River Clean Up project and the Gangjeong Damn that spans Nakdong River just before it locks arms with Geumho River. Just a jump north of Daegu along the river, at Waegwan marks the site of an important battle between North Korean army and UN forces during the Korean War. In fact, that was the furthest south the North Koreans came, failing to make it across the river into Daegu itself. A fascinating reenactment of the battle was played out three years ago to mark the 60th anniversary of the event. History aside, the Nakdong River, on a good day, is a gorgeous walking spot that begs for an extended jaunt-along. If modern living wasn't an issue, I'd follow it wherever it took me.
ON LOCATION
How to get there: Take the subway to Gangchang Station (Line 2/ Green Line). Take exit 1 or 2, and then make a Uturn. Walk for 5 minutes until you reach a bridge crossing the Geumho River. Cross this bridge and walk along the river towards The ARC until you fall into the water‌
MUSIC & ARTS
You've Been Missing... Story by Ali Safavi, photography by Stephen Elliot
There is an overwhelming feeling that if you can’t find good music in Seoul, it probably doesn’t exist in South Korea. However, the belief that we are left barren in the southern cities is a false one.
I
was recently listening to a radio piece by fellow Daegu good’uns [b]racket, a wonderful monthly art publication, where they mention that as far as good art (or any art) is concerned, there is an overwhelming feeling that if you can’t find it in Seoul, it probably doesn’t exist in South Korea. This hit a major-chord with myself as I have heard similar things said about music in Daegu; claims that there is no good music here or even simply that ‘everything good happens only in Seoul’. Whilst it is true that for now, Seoul is the heart of many interesting cultural happenings in South Korea, the belief that we are left barren in the southern cities is a false one. In my brief time in Daegu, I’ve seen a lot of great events and excellent bands at venues across the city. We’ve had known artists from abroad put on superb shows supported by new and old local acts that have been just as good as the headliners and, in my opinion, sometimes better. For every good local band that returns home at the end of a contract or goes off to do their military service (a must for all Korean males of a certain age), there are always new intakes and young Koreans starting musical ventures to take their place. Here is a quick list of acts to check out whilst you’re in Daegu: The Plastic Kiz: A little indie-garage but mixed with a ton of energy and punk vibes to keep it interesting. They’re a young band gaining praise with both Korean and foreigner communities. Dogstar: The feature of a previous Platform issue, the mostly instrumental trio with tons of
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energy and more hooks than you have coats for. Mine Lee: On the softer side of sound, Daegu has a great coffee shop-core scene. Mine (pronounced ‘min-eh’), Lee’s sweet-sunshiny songs are done with minimal fuss and maximum loveliness. Even if you can’t understand the words. When one first arrives in any new land, it can be difficult to find good new music. Perhaps that’s another reason some conclude that there is no good music in Daegu; shows in Seoul are more ferociously promoted and publicized and require less effort. Local music aside, shows in Seoul can be more comfortable, providing flashin-the-pan bands that had their time years ago. For example, two of the biggest bands to play there in 2013 were Franz Ferdinand and The Killers. Whilst I don’t hold it against anyone who wants to watch those bands, I do wonder why one would pay upwards of 300,000 won to do so when arguably better acts are right on your doorstep for much less. Searching a little deeper is no longer the stress it once was, and you don’t even need a grasp of the local language to do it. Typing in “Daegu Music” or “Daegu Live Music” will bring up a number of videos and other links to check out, as will use of the tags search functions on Soundcloud or Bandcamp (incidentally, this was how I discovered Mine Lee). Checking out the Facebook pages of local venues and promoters is another way to great local events and see said bands in person. Some venues and promoters to search:
MUSIC & ARTS
Club Urban/Daegu Music Garage: Two very close venues in the downtown area, previously under the same management, but now separately owned, both have a history of dedication to the local music scene with regular gigs and events. The Pollack: Located out near Keimyung University’s Daemyeongdong campus, this tiny art-friendly bookstore has been putting on lovely small key shows that you should check out if acoustic or minimal/ambient electronic music is your cup of tea. Art Factory 청춘: If you like your music with a little less spit and sweat and a little more class,
this is the venue for you, right next to Kyungpook University National Hospital it caters in jazz, traditional, blues, easy listening and the like, both international and local. Whatever your age or tastes, there is something happening for you in Daegu. Supporting the local culture here, whether it be art, music, or theatre, will in turn create and foster more great local culture and enrich everyone’s lives! So get started!
Dogstar
HEALTHY LIVING
Swing & People Story by 손민지, translation by Jin H. Chung, Images provided by Swing & People
H
ave you ever heard of ‘swing dance’? Popular in the U.S. during the 30’s and 40’s swing dancing is a fusion of many different music styles and dancing, though nowadays couples mostly dance in tune to jazz music. The style of swing dancing that may have come to your mind first, that of flamboyant tap dancing, was pushed out of the dance scene by the rise of disco by the 50’s, however swing became famous once again among young people with the retro culture that emerged in the 90’s. I went to the biggest swing dance club in Daegu, ‘Swing and People’, to find out more. ‘Swing and People’ was formed in 2002. Now 12 years since its formation, the club has almost 1000 online members, and around 70 people regularly attend the Saturday practice session. Despite this impressive number, its rise to popu-
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larity has been slow, and the club is always on the lookout for new members.– The sign up process is easy. You can either register on their website, or drop them a message on their Facebook page. To learn the fundamentals of swing dancing, it is essential that you go through the 6 week long Jitterbug class. This teaches you the basic steps of swing dancing, and classes run each Saturday from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Anyone can join the class, and a mix of foreigners and Koreans is encouraged. Everyone at the club is extremely welcoming, and will help you in whatever way they can, so don’t be shy! While I was there, I was told about an American member named Benjamin who joined the club 5 years ago. During his time at ‘Swing and People’ he became so passionate about the dance that he is now a founder of his own swing dance club in Bangkok. So, who knows where this new hobby could take you! This studio, located in Dongseong-ro, is also used for salsa and tango clubs. ‘Swing and People’ has its regular meetings every Saturday and Tuesday, and Sundays are used for practice days. It would be wise to visit on the day that training is held, however, you can also get more information about the club at any other time as the owner will be always be available at the office. Let’s challenge ourselves to master swing dancing this spring and bring new vitality to our lives!
‘스윙 댄스’에 대해 들어본 적이 있는가? 1930~40년 대에 미국에서 큰 인기를 끌 었던 이 스윙댄스는 재즈 음 악에 맞춰 추는 커플 댄스이 다. 현란한 탭댄스를 떠오르 게 하는 이 스윙댄스는 50년 대 말 디스코에 밀려 사라졌 다가 90년대 초 복고문화가 유행하며 다시 미국 젊은이 들 사이에서 스윙댄스 붐이 다시 일게 되었고 한다. 이에 좀 더 알아보고자 대구에서 가장 큰 스윙 댄스 동호회로 자리 잡은 ‘스윙과 사람’이라 는 동호회에 찾아가 보았다. 스윙댄스 애호가들로 구성 된 이 모임은 2002년부터 시 작되었다. 올해로 12년에 접어든 동 호회인만큼 온라인 회원수는 1000명에 다다른다. 뿐만 아니라, 매주 토요일 정기모임에 는 70명 정도 참여한다고 한다. 대단한 숫자임에 분명하다. 하지 만, 처음부터 인기가 많은 것은 아니었다. 초기 멤버인 이미애씨 의 말에 따르면, 처음 동호회 정 착의 가장 힘든 점은 바로 참여 자(회원) 수의 부족이었다고 한 다. 지금은 홍보는 따로 하고 있 지 않지만 여전히 많은 사람들의 관심을 받고 있다. 가입 방법은 간단하다. 다음 카페(주소 하단에 위치)에 가입 과 등업신청을 마친후 6주 과정 지터벅(Jitterbug)수업을 들으 면 된다. 지터벅은 스윙댄스의 가장 기초가 되는 과정으로 매
주 토요일 6시 반부터 8시 까지 수업이 진행된다. 몸치나 초보이 더라도 연습만 하면 누구나 즐겁 게 할 수 있으며 외국인의 참여 도 물론 가능하다. 5년전, 이 곳 에 미국인 벤자민이라는 회원이 있었다고 한다. 대구에서 이 동 호회를 통해 스윙 댄스의 매력에 푹 빠진 그는 지금은 방콕에서 스윙 댄스 클럽을 이끄는 회장을 역임하고 있다고 한다. 동성로에 위치한 이 스튜디오 는 스윙 댄스 전용 스튜디오가 아니라 살사, 탱고 동호회와 같 이 쓰인다. 스윙댄스는 이 곳에 서 매주 토요일에 정기모임이 이 루어지고 화요일, 일요일은 연습 날이다. 때문에 스윙 댄스가 열
리는 요일에 주의하여 찾아가는 것이 바람직할 것이다. 하지만, 다른 날에 찾아간다고 해도 스 튜디오 안의 바 사장님이 상주해 계시기 때문에 필요한 정보를 얻 을 수 있을 것이다. 연령대는 20대 중반부터 40 대 후반까지 여러 연령대의 다양 한 사람들의 참여로 활동이 이루 어지고 있다. 다가오는 봄에는 스윙 댄스에 도전해보자. 새로운 활력소가 되어줄것이다.
FOOD & DRINK
저녁 Story and photography by 허유진, translation by 박세은
저
녁에 저녁 먹으러 저녁가자! If you are able
to speak Korean, even at a basic level, you might see the play on words in the name of this place. A trendy new place, popular among the young people of Daegu and located in the heart of downtown, 저녁 is the perfect place to enjoy a dinner with friends. With a simple menu, all you need to know is that this place sells luscious, delicious meat. You just need to pick the size, so don’t worry if you’re the kind of person who has trouble choosing a dish from the menu! At 저녁 the menu is divided into two sections; 저녁한판 (serves 2) and 저녁 큰판 (serves 3). The dish first includes beef tenderloin, pork, and a variety of grilled vegetables. Along with this you can also order 된장찌개, which at 저녁 includes beef, so despite having to pay extra for it (rather than receiving it as service as found in many other restaurants), it is worthwhile ordering it for the satisfying taste alone. My friend and I ordered the smaller 한판, and were full by the end of the meal, but if you have a large appetite you may want to consider ordering the 큰판, as the food served here can leave you wanting more. It’s that good!
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The big difference between 저녁 and any other barbeque-style restaurant is that the meat is already grilled before serving. Whilst still very fresh, customers who don’t like the lingering smell of smoke on their clothes, or those of us who aren’t the best chefs are well-suited for a meal at 저녁. Without the distracting smell and noise of grilling, customers here can enjoy their company and meals surrounded by the minimalistic and modern take on a traditional Hanok style building. As the restaurant is very popular, waiting times can be quite long during peak time. When we visited we had to wait around 40 minutes in line. So, make sure to get there early (or later after everyone has eaten) to ensure that you don’t have to wait, as 저녁 is definitely worth visiting!
오늘 저녁, 저녁 먹으러 ‘저녁’가 자! 식당의 이름 ‘저녁”으로 말장 난을 할 수 있을 것이다. 대구 시 내 한 중간에 위치한 ‘저녁’은 젊 은 층 사이에서 인기 있는 최신 유행의 새로운 식당으로 친구들 과 저녁을 즐기기에 완벽한 장소 이다. 간단한 메뉴를 가진 ‘저녁’에 서 주문하기 위해 알아야 할 유 일한 것은 고기의 사이즈만 선택 하면 된다는 것이다. 그러니 메 뉴를 선택하는데 고민이 많은 분 들도 이곳에선 걱정할 필요가 없 다. ‘저녁’에서의 메뉴는 두 가지 로 나눠진다. 저녁한판(2인분), 그리고 저녁큰판(3인분). 메뉴 에는 소고기 안심, 돼지고기, 그 리고 다양한 종류의 구운 야채들 이 포함되어 있다. 부수적으로 소고기가 포함된 된장찌개도 주 문할 수 있다. 추가 금액을 내야
하지만 그만큼 맛있기 때문에 주 문할 가치가 있다. (된장찌개는 대부분의 다른 식당에서 서비스 로 무료 제공된다). 친구와 나의 경우 작은 한판을 먹고 배가 불 렀지만, 이곳 고기의 맛은 너무 도 훌륭하기 때문에, 만약 당신 이 왕성한 식욕을 가졌다면, ‘저 녁 큰판’을 주문하는 것을 추천 한다. 저녁과 다른 고깃집의 가장 큰 차이점은 이곳에서의 고기는 이 미 구워진 상태로 제공된다는 점 이다. 그렇기 때문에 옷에 고기 냄새가 베이는 것이 싫거나, 고 기를 잘 굽 지 못하는 손님들에게 적절한 장 소이다. 신 경 쓰이게 하는 냄새
와 고기 굽는 소음 없이, 한국 전 통 가옥인 '한옥' 스타일의 외관 에 깔끔하고 모던한 분위기를 가 진 '저녁'에서 친구들과의 시간 과 식사를 온전히 즐길 수 있다. ‘저녁’은 아주 인기가 있기 때 문에 피크타임에는 기다리는 시 간이 꽤 길 수도 있다. 우리가 갔 을 때는 40분 정도 기다려야 했 다. 그러니 기다리지 않도록 일 찍 가는 편이 좋다 (아니면 다른 사람들이 식사를 끝낸 늦은 시 간). ‘저녁’은 한 번쯤 꼭 가볼 만 한 가치가 있는 곳이다.
FOOD & DRINK
Café 집 Story by Courtney Vendramin, Translation by 이규진, Images provided by Café집
A
s the winter weather came along, so did another Friday night where Platform paid for me to go out and unwind from the long week of teaching in a cold, damp school. I was particularly excited to leave my cave of hibernation, The Sopranos, and pizza boxes to go check out bars. A couple of girls from the team and I found the perfect bar to keep our readers warm until spring finally decides to make an appearance. Located downtown is Café 집, extremely close to our well-known haunts, but not spotted until recently. Hidden on the second floor, as you walk up the wine-bottle-decorated steps, Café 집 welcomes you warmly, and everyone knows that any place that welcomes you with that many empty wine bottles is going to be a great experience. Upon entering the Café, the staff was immediately very friendly, showing us to a cozy table and telling us their names for when we needed to order. The décor and atmosphere inside Café 집 was what really made the experience; it reminded me of
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a vintage pawnshop. The Café was decorated with hundreds of old books and magazines, both English and Korean, and many vintage electronics along with pet budgies in a birdcage by the bar. Lit perfectly for a romantic date or girl’s night, the warm atmosphere, and strategic layout didn’t make anyone feel conscious of noise volume or intrusion, despite the next table being very close to ours as the bar is relatively small. Café 집 offers a variety of food and very tempting-looking desserts, although I had to force myself to resist eating cake as apparently there is such a thing as too much cake! But, I happily tested out numerous drinks. Café 집 offers various coffees, teas, non-alcoholic, and alcoholic drinks, as well as specialty whiskey from Scotland, the U.S., and Canada. As it was Friday night, I wisely stuck to alcohol. I was easily enticed by their drinks menu as they offered many intriguing beverages I had never heard of. Among these were a Green Tea Baileys and a Grape Mojito, as well as a Strawberry Crush. My favorite of the three was the Green Tea Baileys. I was quite surprised how delicious it was, despite being wary about the mix with green tea. The unusual combination proved to be the perfect mix for a winter’s night. By the end of the night, I was relaxed and satisfied; we had a really great girl’s night. It was nice to get away from the regular Daegu bar scene, if only for one Friday night. My only criticism towards Café 집 is that the drinks are a tad expensive; they ranged between 6-10,000 won. That being said, I think the cozy vintage atmosphere is something to experience as opposed to the usual “club street” bars. I highly recommend you stopping by Café 집. You won’t be disappointed!
날씨도 추워지고 ‘대구 플랫 폼’취재와 춥고 음습한 학교에 서 주중에 받은 긴장도 풀 겸 색 다른 금요일을 즐기러 갔다. 카 페 취재덕분에 겨울잠을 위한 내 동굴, 소프라노팀, 그리고 피자 상자들로부터 해방될 수 있다 는 사실에 유난히 들떠 있었다. 소프라노팀 출신의 두 명의 여 자들과 나는 우리 독자들을 다 음 두 달 동안 따뜻하게 만들어 줄 완벽한 카페를 찾아냈다. 시 내에 위치한 카페 ‘집’은 우리가 매우 잘 알고 있으며 자주 가는 곳에서 너무나도 가까운 곳에 있 었지만 최근까지 주목 받지 못했 었다. 와인 병들이 장식된 계단 을 따라 올라가다 보니 2층에 숨 어있는 카페 ‘집’은 따뜻한 환영 과 함께 우리를 맞이했으며, 수 많은 빈 와인 병들과 함께 손님 을 맞이하는 이 카페가 멋진 장 소가 될 수 있다는 것을 금방 알 게 되었다. 카페에 들어서니, 직 원이 곧바로 친절하게 우리를 아 늑한 테이블로 안내하였고, 주문 할 때를 위해 우리에게 이름도 알려주었다. 카페 ‘집’ 안의 장식 과 분위기는 유서 깊은 전당포를 연상케 하였다. 카페에는 영어와 한국어로 된 수 백 권의 오래된 책, 잡지들, 그리고 많은 오래된 전자기기들이 새장 안에 있는 애 완용 앵무새와 함께 장식되어 있 었다. 따스한 분위기와 전략적인 테이블 배치덕분에, 카페가 비교 적 작아 옆 테이블과 우리 테이 블이 아주 가까이 있음에도 불구 하고 누구도 소음의 크기나 간섭 을 의식하지 않게 만들었고 그야 말로 낭만적인 데이트나 여자들 의 밤을 위해서는 완벽하였다. 카페 ‘집’은 다양한 음식과 매 우 유혹적으로 보이는 디저트들 을 제공했는데, 나는 게으른 겨 울기간에 돌입한 만큼 내 스스로 케이크를 먹는 것을 제한해야 했 었고, 분명히 그건 너무 많은 케 이크였다! 하지만 난 즐겁게 수 많은 음료들을 맛보았다. 카페 ‘
집’은 여러 종류의 커피, 차, 무알 코올 음료, 그리고 알코올 음료 를 제공하는데, 거기에다 스코틀 랜드, 미국, 그리고 캐나다에서 들여온 특별한 위스키도 제공했 다. 금요일 밤이었기 때문에 난 현명하게도 알코올에 푹 빠져버 렸다. 한번도 들어보지 못한 많 은 흥미로운 음료들이 적혀있는 카페의 메뉴에 유혹당했는데, 그 중에는 베일리스 녹차, 포도 모히토, 게다가 딸 기 크러쉬도 있었다. 이 셋 중 내가 가장 좋아했 던 것은 베일리스 녹차 였다. 나는 녹차가 섞인 것을 걱정 했었는데 정 말 맛있어서 너무도 놀 라웠다. 그 특이한 조합 은 겨울 밤을 위한 완벽 한 조합으로 증명되었 다. 밤이 끝날 때 즈음, 난 편안하고 만족스러 웠으며 우린 너무나도 훌륭한 여자들의 밤을 보냈다. 금요일이었기 에 평범한 대구의 여느 바가 아닌 이곳에서의 밤은 너무도 멋진 시간 이었다. 카페 ‘집’의 단 한가 지 아쉬운 것은 음료 가 격이 6000-10,000원 사이로 조금 비싼 편이 라는 것이다. 하지만 아 늑하고 고풍스러운 분
위기가 평범한 “클럽 거리” 가게 들의 분위기와는 색다른 경험을 선사할 것이라고 생각한다. 여러 분 중 대부분이 열대지방 휴가지 또는 내 경우에는 캐나다에 있는 북극지방으로 멀리 여행가는 것 에 흥분되는 있지만, 여러분이 대구로 돌아왔을 때 카페 ‘집’ 에 들러 보는 것을 꼭 추천한다. 여 러분은 실망하지 않을 것이다!
COMMUNITY
Would you like milk & sugar with that? Story and photography by Kaleena Quarles, from the blog www. kaleenaskaleidoscope.com
D
espite the sweltering summer heat last year, my friend, Allie, and I spent a casual Sunday in June wandering to various sites around Daegu in a half-hearted bid to do something “cultural”. We meandered through the oriental medicine district near downtown, and I suddenly had the bright idea that this would be a good area to find a traditional tea room. A quick bit of Googling later and we were on our way. “Google says this is a really nice place! It’s traditional and very well-known,” I explained enthusiastically. But when we reached the spot, something didn’t seem right. I double-checked and realized I had looked at the wrong place on the map, and this was not the tea house that Google recommended. “This place looks shady,” Allie commented. “Let’s just go to a coffee shop where we know there will be air conditioning.” She was probably right. But I’m not one to give up on an adventure so easily, and I was determined to have a nice traditional tea house experience. We trudged up the creaky wooden stairs of a decrepit old building to the third floor and peeked in. With one look, I realized Allie was right: this was not the kind of place I was going for. But, it was too late to turn back, because an older woman had spotted us and rushed over to beckon us inside. Walking inside was like stepping back in time to a Chinese food restaurant in the 1940s. A large, murky aquarium sat in the middle of the room; various Chinese art pieces with dragons and designs made in mother-of-pearl adorned the walls, except for above the table where she sat us there was a collection of zoo photography
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of some turtles and zebras. The place was nearly empty save for about five old men, each seated individually at his own table reading a newspaper and topped with a fedora hat. We did our best to explain to the woman that we just wanted tea. She jabbered away saying things we didn’t understand, then smiled and nodded as if we were all in agreement. Allie and I looked at each other and shrugged; you can’t go too wrong with tea, right? Beads of sweat dripped down our faces; flies buzzed around our faces and Allie glared at me. “Isn’t this fun?” I exclaimed with false cheerfulness. “Isn’t this just such a great traditional experience? It’s so cultural of us!” With that, the waitress brought out a tray and set our drinks on the table. We stared at the glass, then at each other, then at the woman, then at the glass, then again at each other with looks of mixed puzzlement and disgust. What she had brought out to us was not like any tea I’d ever seen before: it was a thick, dark, muddy-looking liquid with an assortment of floating chopped nuts and topped with a raw egg. What were we to do?! We couldn’t very well walk out without having touched our glassesthat would seem far too rude. So I gingerly dipped a spoon into the thick “tea” and fished out some of the nuts to try. The tea itself was quite sweet, and apart from the raw egg was tolerable. Allie felt otherwise, and attempted to remove the egg from the glass entirely. But eggs are not exactly easy to scoop up and soon her tea dish looked liked an animal had regurgitated on it. We tried to spoon the mess back into the glass, but when that wouldn’t work we gave up
that was popular in the early 20th century, particularly when couples were on dates in a tea house. Not really my idea of a romantic cocktail, but at least I got some “traditional” tea...
xpat Diaries
and covered the disaster with the stale cookies on the table. We quickly paid and made our escape hoping the muck we’d left behind wouldn’t offend the woman too badly. I’ve been unable to find much information about what on earth that concoction was, other than it is a traditional tea
Expat Diaries
COMMUNITY
CULTURE
DAEGU IN
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CULTURE
BLACK HISTORY MONTH FESTIVAL
Photography by 김민아
FEBRUARY
DIRECTORY MUSIC & ARTS Urban
대구 중구 삼덕동1가 18-1
053-423-2283 facebook.com/pages/%EC%96%BC%EB %B0%98Urban/251875941518285 Daegu Music Garage
대구 중구 삼덕동1가 18-1번지 3층
facebook.com/HorusMusicGarage The Pollack
남구 대명3동 2132-8 010-5050-0443 facebook.com/Thepollack5
Art Factory 청춘
대구 중구 대봉동 20-35 지하1층
FOOD & DRINK 저녁
대구광역시 중구 삼덕동1가 28-16
053-425-4988 Café 집
대구광역시 중구 삼덕동1가 17-13
053-252-1116
HEALTHY LIVING Swing and People
대구광역시 중구 삼덕동1가 13-2
facebook.com/groups/swingandpeople cafe.daum.net/swing23
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STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS Editor Korean Language Editor Copy Editor Designer Writers
Laura Reynolds 강지은
Brianne Ketteman Karen Melton Adam Fletcher, Ali Safavi, Courtney Vendramin, Kaleena Quarles, Kieran Duffy, Nathan Ouriach, Stephen Schuit, Winnie Ku, 허유진, 손민지
Translators Photographers & Illustrators
이규진, 박세은, Jin H. Chung
Ali Safavi, Kaleena Quarles, Stephen Elliot, Stephen Schuit, William Joseph Leitzman, 김민아, 허유진
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
M
arch is a strange time for many of us living here in Daegu. Those who are leaving have to say a heartfelt goodbye (hopefully heartfelt, anyway!) to the city they have called their Korean home, and those of us who are staying face new challenges. Just getting out of bed and dragging yourself into school after a very long vacation is hard enough, let alone trying to function as a normal human being! Though the teachers among us may have been dreading the coming of this month for a long time, March also signifies the survival of another winter in Korea, the start of the spring festival season, the arrival of new fresh faced teachers, and the chance to explore many of the amazing things Korea and Daegu has to offer us (without wrapping up in 10 layers and spending 20 minutes convincing yourself that leaving your warm, cosy den of an apartment is a good idea). If you are feeling slightly down about life here, as many people experience this time of year, why not take this chance to reignite your love for Korea? Take up a new hobby and visit the Swing and People dance studio, try a couple of delicious cocktails with new friends at Cafe 집, or simply take a quiet walk along the Nakdong River. Whatever your passion, Korea has it all to offer, and March is a great time to experience it! Laura Reynolds facebook.com/platformdaegu platformdaegu@gmail.com