Gwangju News March 2024 #265

KIA TIGERS SET TO ROAR!

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Attorney Park Duckhee

Former judge, member of GIC board

March 2024, Issue 265

Published: March 2, 2024

Centerfielder, Sócrates Brito

Photo courtesy of Kia Tigers

THE EDITORIAL TEAM

Publisher Dr. Shin Gyonggu

Editor-in-Chief Dr. David E. Shaffer

Managing Editor Lee Boram

Chief Copy Editor Dr. David E. Shaffer

Layout Editor Kim Minsu

Online Editor Lee Boram

The Gwangju News is the first English monthly magazine for the general public in Korea, first published in 2001. Each monthly issue covers local and regional issues, with a focus on the roles and activities of the international residents and local Englishspeaking communities.

Copyright ©2024 by the Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the written consent of the publisher.

The Gwangju News is published by the Gwangju International Center: Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5 (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea

Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731

Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com

From the Editor

As I was growing up, I would invariably hear from those around me that March “comes in like a lion but goes out like a lamb.” At the time, that pretty much held true. But with the onslaught of climate change and all, such weather predictions have, to a considerable degree, been turned on their head. As the weather strides into March, temperatures are slowly creeping upward, cold winds are merely cool, and snow has turned to rain. To where has that lion gone?

The fate of the lion may not be known, but here in Gwangju, we are aware that it is the roar of the tiger that announces spring –the roar of the Kia Tigers heralding the start of the 2024 baseball season. Our March issue’s double feature is all about the Tigers: The first, “The Kia Tigers Start Their 2024 Season Campaign,” summarizes the Tigers’ 2023 accomplishments and gives us a look at this year's roster. The second, “Go Wild! Roar, Tigers!” spotlights several of the roaring Tigers.

After those anticipated Tiger wins, fans will be looking for a place to celebrate. In addition to the regular standbys, there is a new kid in town: Friends, sporting live music and a DJ to go with its long list of drinks. Read all about it in this month’s installment of Lost in Gwangju.

What to do on days when the Tigers aren’t playing? There are always movies. Released barely three months ago but still becoming the highest grossing film of 2023 is 12.12: The Day. You won’t want to miss it, and you won’t want to miss our movie review of it.

Or maybe you are an art lover. You will enjoy this month’s article in People in the Arts introducing artist Jeong Jeong-Ha. In addition to painting on canvas, she does massive installations of viles of paint. Read about what goes into the viles along with each customer’s selection of paint.

Email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr gwangjunews gwangju_news

Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315)

Registration Date: February 22, 2010

Printed by Jieum 지음 (+82)-62-672-2566

For

What else to do? Have a comfy meal at Kkini-kkuni, listen to the newest in music [Top of the Drop], attend an ELT conference [Teaching and Learning], and peruse our list of concerts, exhibitions, and performances [Upcoming Events]. ...And of course, there is much, much more.

Enjoy March’s roar of the Tiger, and enjoy the Gwangju News!

David E. Shaffer Editor-in-Chief Gwangju News

Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.

Cover Photo

Gwangju

Gurye Hwaeomsa Red Plum Blossoms

in early to mid March,

as a national monument.

The Photographer

Choi Youngtae graduated with a master's degree on photography from Gwangju University. He is the 35th president of the Gwangju Branch of the Korean Photographers' Association.

The Hwaeomsa Red Plum Blossoms, with their deep red blooms appearing

are the only plum blossoms among the four major plum blossoms to be designated

22

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12

Downtown

27

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36

KIIP:

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Gwangju City News

Buk-gu Supports for Nationality Acquisition Costs for Marriage Immigrants

Gwangju Buk-gu announced that the district will begin full-scale implementation of the Nationality Acquisition Cost Support Project for marriage immigrants starting in February. The Nationality Acquisition Cost Support Project is a new 2024 policy of Buk-gu designed to promote stable family life for multicultural families and increase local population by supporting the nationality acquisition fee for marriage immigrants. The criteria for support are marriage immigrants who have acquired Korean nationality after January 1, 2024, whose household income is less than 150 percent of the standard median income, and who have lived in Buk-gu for more than 6 months. The total number of applicants is limited to 50, and the application process is open until the project budget (15 million KRW) is exhausted.

Marriage immigrants must submit an application form and required documents to the Administrative Welfare Center in their dong or the Buk-gu Women and Childcare Department by visiting or by mail. If a candidate is selected through the application criteria screening process, the support fund will be paid on the 20th of the following month.

- More Information: Buk-gu Office, Women and Childcare Department (Phone: 062-410-6422).

Gwangsan-gu Provides 2024 Emergency Support for Foreign Residents

For foreign residents in crisis situations, Gwangsan-gu is promoting the 2024 Emergency Support Project for Foreign Residents.

• Support Target

- Foreign residents who have difficulty making a living due to a crisis that occurred within one year (loss of income, sudden illness/injury, etc.)

- Foreign residents living in Gwangsan-gu who have reported their place of stay (registered residence) for more than 90 days

• Application Period: Until December 15, 2024.

- It may end earlier if the budget is exhausted.

• How to Apply: By individual visit by foreign residents at the Gwangsan-gu Office

• Income criteria: Those with less than 75 percent of the standard median income

• Asset Criteria: Persons with less than 241,000,000 KRW per household.

• Financial Assets: Less than 6,000,000 KRW.

• Types of Support: Livelihood support, medical support, dissolution support, funeral support.

• Application Inquiries: Gwangsan-gu Office Foreign Residents Department (Phone: 062-960-4134).

Summaries and translations by Lee Boram.

Photographs

The Kia Tigers Start Their 2024 Season Campaign

By David Jona Richter

1. Opposing teams' high-five routine after a game ends at Champions Field.

2. Kia Tigers starting pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong.

3. Third baseman Kim Do-yeong at bat.

4. Right fielder Na Sung-bum high-fives the first base coach as he gets on first base.

courtesy of Kia Tigers.

The Kia Tigers, Gwangju’s professional baseball team playing in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), is getting ready to start their 2024 regular season campaign on March 23 with a two-game series against the Kiwoon Heroes here in Gwangju, followed by a three-game home series against the Lotte Giants, before they have to make their way to Seoul to play the Doosan Bears at Jamsil (Doosan being the only team of the three that finished last year better than the Tigers did, 1 place ahead of them).

After a premature end to last year’s season, in which the Tigers missed out on the post season by a single win (in a 144-game season, one might add), they continued on their six-year streak of not winning a playoff game, ever since they last won the KBO championship in 2017.

Poised to turn over a new leaf, the Tigers have made changes to their roster as well as to their coaching staff, some more voluntary than others. Things did not get off to a good start with Kia firing Manager Kim Jong-kook on January 29 after an arrest warrant was filed (but since denied) against him over bribery charges, leaving the team without a manager with little time to spare until the start of the new season. The team has designated Jin Kab-yong, the team’s bench coach to be the interim manager throughout spring training and has since, on February 13, appointed Lee Bum-ho (Kia’s hitting coach) to be the new full-time manager.

Joining the Tigers are two new international acquisitions, namely American pitchers Wil Crowe and James Naile. Crowe has previously played in the MLB (and their minor league systems) since 2020 for the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates before now making the move overseas. The Naile move is one that is a bit more curious due to the fact of how it came to be. Nailee got traded from the MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals to the Tigers, a type of move that rarely ever happens, but also a move that for the Tigers’ side makes little to no difference as opposed to the “normal” signings that happen every year.

Joining the two is Socrates Brito, the only international player retained from last year, who should already be well known to Kia Tigers fans for his heavy slugging as well as his catchy entry song. With these signings the Tigers are hoping for stability out of their international players, something they failed to attain last year, after they made multiple in-season changes to the two international pitcher positions. Kia has also made domestic additions, signing Seo Geonchang, former KBO MVP, while also retaining the likes of Kim Sun-bin, Choi Hyoung-woo, and Ko Jong-wook in free agency.

For anyone who cannot wait to see the Tigers back in action, the pre-season will already kick into action on March 9, with the first home game being scheduled for Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. here in Gwangju. To get everyone ready for the new league year, we have compiled a list of the current players on the roster (subject to change), including their numbers. Some basic information for first-time goers is also provided.

Here is to hoping that the Tigers can turn the tide and start making deeper post-season runs again, and hopefully, sooner rather than later!

This is the current roster of the Kia Tigers

• Manager: 71 Lee Bum-ho

• Pitchers: 0 Kwak Do-gyu, 4 Yoo Ji-seong, 10 Yoo Seung-cheol, 12 Will Crow, 13 Yoon Young-cheol, 17 Im Ki-young, 19 Yoon Jung-hyeon, 20 Lee Junyoung, 21 Kim Sa-yoon, 24 Kim Seung-hyun, 31 Park Jun-pyo, 32 Kim Hyun-soo, 33 Lee Hyeongbeom, 36 Kang Yi-jun, 38 Kim Chan-min, 39 Choi Ji-min, 40 James Naile, 41 Hwang Dong-ha, 43 Kim Geon-guk, 45 Kim Min-ju, 46 Jang Min-ki, 48 Lee Ui-ri, 49 Kim Yu-shin, 50 Jang Hyun-sik, 51 Jeon Sang-hyeon, 53 Kim Ki-hoon, 54 Yang Hyeonjong, 62 Jeong Hae-young, 67 Cho Dae-hyun, 69 Kim Dae-yu.

• Catchers: 22 Joo Hyo-sang, 26 Han Seung-taek, 42 Kim Tae-gun, 44 Lee Sang-jun, 55 Han Jun-su.

• Infielders: 1 Park Chan-ho, 2 Go Myeong-seong, 3 Kim Sun-bin, 5 Kim Do-young, 6 Hong Jong-pyo, 11 Yoon Do-hyeon, 14 Kim Gyu-seong, 23 Choi Jeong-yong, 28 Lim Seok-jin, 29 Byun Woo-hyuk, 37 Park Min, 52 Hwang Dae-in, 56 Oh Seon-woo, 58 Seo Geon-chang, 59 Jeong Hae-won.

• Outfielders: 8 Lee Chang-jin, 15 Park Jeong-woo, 16 Choi Won-jun, 25 Lee Woo-seong, 27 Kim Horyeong, 30 Sócrates Brito, 34 Choi Hyeong-woo, 35 Kim Seok-hwan, 47 Na Seong-beom, 57 Go Jongwook.

Here are Kia’s home games to start off the year:

• The best place to go with family, or if you prefer a more quiet and picnic-like experience, is in the outfield section. If you plan to come here, bring a picnic mat as you will not find any actual seating there. You will also not be assigned a specific seat, so it is pretty much first come, first serve.

• There are various food and drink options within the arena (and in front of it), but fans can also bring their own food if they wish to do so. Drinks are also allowed in, but only in PET bottles no larger than 500 ml (bags will be checked as you enter).

• Games can last three-plus hours, so be prepared for varying weather conditions and check the forecast. You might need a lot of sunscreen for the first few innings but then warm clothes for the last few.

• The fan shop, where you can buy jerseys and other merchandise, is located on the south side of the stadium.

For a full English schedule please visit the KBO’s official English website at: http://eng.koreabaseball.com/Schedule/ DailySchedule.aspx

Information for First-Time Ballgame Goers

• Ticket pricing depends on where you plan to sit. Behind home plate is the most expensive, with the upper ranks coming in as the cheapest. Pricing seems to not yet have been announced for this season, but expect lower rank seats for adults to be around 15,000 won.

• For most games, tickets can be purchased on game day at the stadium’s ticket offices, but if you want to make extra sure, want to have specific seats, or if you are going to a more popular game (holidays, sometimes on the weekends, special events, and if Kia is doing really well), then pre-ordering tickets is advised (available on the Tigers’ website).

• The Kia cheering sections are located in the lower bowl at 3rd base, where you can sing and dance with the other fans.

• The stadium has bus stops right next to the entrances, but these will be rather crowded on game days. The stadium also has an underground parking lot, where fans who prefer to drive can park their cars. But the stadium is also within walking distance (about 30 min. NE) from the bus terminal, which would most likely be the less crowded and wait-intensive option.

• To make the most of the game, I would recommend arriving about 30 minutes before the first pitch. You will get to see some of the warm up, pre-game routine, and fanfare, and you will be assured to not miss out on any of the action.

The Author

David Jona Richter, born and raised in the very south of Germany, is a current graduate student at Chonnam National University. Before coming to Korea in late 2022, he spent about 3 years in the U.S. midwest in Chicago. Besides his studies, he tries to engage in local communities in Gwangju and Korea.

“Go Wild! Roar, Tigers !”

By Park Yeonju

The intensity. The rising energy of the tiger. The power to overwhelm anyone.

Among professional baseball teams, the Kia Tigers have the most fans. Gwangju residents’ love for baseball is huge. Despite the large number of games – 144 games in the regular season – we are with the Kia Tigers everywhere, whether it is at home or away. Jamsil Stadium in Seoul is said to have its away seats filled for every Kia game; it is even called the second home stadium for Kia.

Even if people are not from Gwangju, the popularity of the Kia Tigers is great all over the region. Unfortunately, in 2023, the Kia Tigers failed to advance to the post-season by one game. But in 2023, the Tigers had such a hot year. It was the first time in ten years that they had won nine consecutive games. The players gave their best regardless of whether they were a batter or a pitcher with home runs and strikeouts every game. Their explosive batting line-up and their strikes to overpower their opponents, these provided moments when they showed the best teamwork. In the game against SSG on September 3, 2023, they showed the thrill of “reversal” and swept all three away games with SSG. It was exhilarating for Kia fans.

Each Kia Tigers player also has excellent capabilities. At last year's Hangzhou Asian Games, pitcher Choi Ji-min and batter Choi Won-jun were selected as national team players. They were able to come back to Gwangju with gold medals around their necks.

The Tigers’ performances in the ABPC (Asian Baseball Pro Championship) were also notable. Pitchers Choi Ji-min, Jeong Hae-young, and Lee Ui-ri, and batter Kim Do-young wore Korea’s taegeuk mark as the four Kia players on the team. I can’t believe that the baseball players representing Gwangju can shine so bright wearing the taegeuk mark.

Next up is the legendary left-hander Yang Hyeon-jong. There are three syllables on the back of my uniform: Yang – Hyeon – Jong! Born in Gwangju and playing for the Kia Tigers for 15 years, he is a strong starting pitcher for the Tigers.

He made his debut with the Kia Tigers in 2007 and won two combined titles in 2009 and 2017. He holds the record for most wins, most strikeouts, and most starts in the Tigers franchise. He was the No. 1 KBO league pitcher in the 2010s, and he is the only Korean player in the 21st century to achieve an ERA in the 2-point range. He has 20 wins and has pitched 200 innings in a single season. Also, he has won the Golden Glove award for a regular season as well as the Korean Series MVP and Choi Dongwon awards.

Next, our designated hitter is Kim Do-young. A rookie in 2022, he is currently an irreplaceable third baseman. Among Kia batters, his fast feet and timely hits are his trademark. With his outstanding base-stealing skills, he always presents Kia fans with a thrill. Actually, Kim was ranked No. 1 in uniform sales in 2023. With the wave of Kim Do-young uniforms, I look forward to his performance in 2024.

Powerful players and powerful fans supporting them, these are the Kia Tigers. Let’s look forward to the Kia Tigers’ roar in 2024!

The Author

Park Yeonju is an undergraduate at Chonnam National University, majoring in political science and diplomacy as well as Chinese language and literature. She was born and raised in Gwangju and wants to promote the colorfulness of the city that she has been with for a long time. Also, she wants to deliver various voices of the world. It is her dream to become a true journalist by inheriting the spirit of May 18.

FRIENDS

Downtown Gwangju’s

Newest Bar and Live Music Venue Strikes a Chord

By Isaiah Winters

With Gwangju’s post-pandemic music scene sputtering back to life, the recent opening of Friends downtown has been a godsend for booking, playing, and seeing live gigs on the regular. In this issue of “Lost,” booking director and resident DJ Daniel Springer (aka Danno – author of our monthly “Top of the Drop” column) took some time to riff off a few of my questions on what Friends is all about.

Isaiah Winters (IW): I recently bellied up to the bar at Friends and was pleasantly surprised to find my conversations punctuated by you DJing Leenalchi’s pansori-inspired “Tiger Is Coming,” followed by a live performance by the Najubased band Limbs (림스, @limbs_home), plus an extemporaneous acoustic performance by a solo guitarist strumming The Cranberries, and then a bevy of song requests by guests at the bar. It’s quite a balanced venue for musicians, sots, and

audiophiles to mingle. Was that the concept behind Friends?

Daniel Springer (Danno): Well, I cannot take credit for putting this together, obviously. The vision of our owner, Dr. Choi (최관준), is what made the real magic happen, but both myself as booking director and resident DJ in consultation with our hospitality manager and ownership are coming up with a lot of little touches that are adding to a fun, diverse, and cozy vibe in the place any night of the week.

Obviously, the music and cocktails are the main focus, and even in that regard, I can’t say I’ve been instrumental or anything. My colleagues are the ones who made the top-class cocktail menu, and I’m still a total novice behind the bar, as I’m sure you, God, and anyone else who’s been in can attest if they’ve seen my Tom Cruise antihero displays.

But in answer to your question, yes. We not only wanted to create a balanced venue, but one that’s different in several ways. The first is that most live music venues are more shot-and-beer-type joints, and I’ve got nothing against such a style, so

don’t get me wrong. I love a sweaty get-down at a hole-in-the-wall basement joint almost as much as I love music itself.

However, that’s usually the mode with live performance venues. We’re trying to have topclass Korean and expat musicians performing live while at the same time serving high-quality cocktails that are very appealing to the eye and even better on the palette. But we’ve got some space to get down and have a dance too, so hopefully we can balance things there.

The other huge difference is our diversity of offerings in performances. Just in our first few weeks of bookings, we’ve had lofibeats offerings, alt rock, wild electronica, DJs rocking all sorts of different sounds – jazz, soul, country, punk – and even a musician who does a little magic as well. We also have plans for solo concerts and singer-songwriter performances, which is truly different outside of art halls, big concerts for the heavy hitters, and art galleries that aren’t really the most open type of places. We want to expose the public to new sounds and find new

"Local bands that are known to us, like our house band Malarkey and a few others so far, can also come in and practice if they want to during off hours. "

things ourselves in the process. Honestly, things have to be this way with the Spotify generation, and we don’t want to get stuck in a single genre rut either.

There are a lot of other things that make us unique, surely. We only offer little snacks and such, but if you want to order delivery or run to the convenience store to grab something and get your munch on, go ahead and do it. No worries from us. We also have a full suite of instruments on stage ready to go (on a sound system that can really bump, might I add). Thus, the bands don’t have to lug around their heavy and expensive instruments all night tipsy if they don’t want to. Local bands that are known to us, like our house band Malarkey and a few others so far, can also come in and practice if they want to during off hours. These are all part of it, and there’s plenty more to come that we’re working on currently, but I can’t tell you about them juuuust yet.

IW: With live music events tending to pop up only sporadically at a few venues in Gwangju, one might get the impression that the local music scene isn’t really there. How has it been attracting bands to Friends so far, and what does that suggest to you about the true state of local music in Gwangju?

Danno: True enough on the sporadic live performances on offer here in Gwangju over the past several years and even beyond that, really. This has been especially notable downtown where we’re based now, which as most will know, suffered greatly from Covid-19 and its languishing hangover.

The feedback I’ve gotten with very few but notable exceptions has been fantastic from everyone, but most notably from the bands I’ve approached thus far. The local bands are thrilled to have a new spot to play gigs and get rewarded for their immense talents, and the bands farther afield (many of whom haven’t played in Gwangju ever) are looking to get booked even in tight windows (shout outs to Fat Hamster and Kang New along with local jazz drummer Hwang Ui-seok while I was in a pinch getting this thing going). So, it’s been extremely positive, and we’re really looking to have a massive program of high-quality local and national bands coming into the place moving forward.

In answer to your question, it basically tells me that art, as ever, is thriving in Gwangju, but we haven’t had a place for the artists to showcase and the punters to explore new stuff for a good number of years. Hopefully we can change that and add to the circulation for all the venues downtown in the process.

IW: With the bar being so new, now’s a good time for experimenting, adapting, and growing. What are some of the short-, mid-, and long-term directions Friends hopes to expand in? Also, with St. Patty’s Day conveniently falling on a weekend this year, are there any particular March events you’d like to promote?

Danno: Well, as a man the people still in Ireland would call a “Plastic Paddy” (Irish-American), I can say for certain that we’re gonna have it on that Saturday, and we’ll have custom drinks and specials galore on the night along with some raucous live entertainment. Hopefully we won’t have any dustups, but if there’s a punch or two, it’s all part of the craic. LOL.

Short-term we’re just looking to add those little touches that make the experience special. One simple thing I just thought of over the Lunar New Year that’s been a bit of a sly hit has been taking the music request sheets and taping all of them to our menu chalkboard. People just love it, and it creates a simple connection. Little touches like this are what we’re going for, along with the main program.

Mid- and long-term are very similar to one another, at least for me, though I’m sure my colleagues would have plenty to add from their perspectives. For me, it’s mainly building relationships with the artists and their representatives and getting a positive couple of steps. If that develops and we continue to tighten our game, then the word will spread and everything will flow forward easily, but until then, it’s obviously a lot of hard work and specifically placed gentle touches we need to add. However, with our staff and ownership working together like we have thus far, I think anything is possible.

IW: Is there anything else you’d like to add before we close this tab?

Danno: Obviously, both myself and everyone at Friends are extremely thankful to have the opportunity to talk with you and all of the Gwangju News readership directly. Anyone interested can follow us on Instagram or other socials as @friends_gwangju if they do so wish. We’re looking forward to building a positive thing here with the artists, the punters, and the other venues that make downtown amazing and unique.

Friends (프렌즈)

Address: Munhwa-jeondang-ro 35-beon-gil 2 (2 Floor), Dong-gu, Gwangju

광주 동구 문화전당로35번길 2 2층

Hours: 6:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (weekdays) / 6:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. (weekends) / (closed Mondays)

Instagram: @friends_gwangju

The Author

Hailing from Chino, California, Isaiah Winters is a pixel-stained wretch who loves writing about Gwangju and Honam, warts and all. He’s grateful to have written for the Gwangju News for over six years. More of his unique finds can be seen on Instagram @d.p.r.kwangju and YouTube at Lost in Honam.

Myung Shin Medical

Interviewed by Moon Jung-ah

Efforts are being made in Gwangju to facilitate overseas market expansion of small and medium-sized exporting companies aiming to promote exports but experiencing difficulties with translation and interpretation. A translation and interpretation network utilizing foreign residents is also being established to support overseas market development and marketing activities for local small and medium-sized exporting companies.

This initiative also aims to support the stable

settlement of foreign residents in the local community by creating job opportunities and promoting economic activities. In this interview, we introduce a small and medium-sized exporting company in Gwangju actively utilizing translation and interpretation support services: Myung Shin Medical Co., Ltd.

Gwangju News (GN): Hello, and thank you for participating in this interview. To begin with, I’m curious about the kind of company Myung Shin Medical is. Could you please introduce the

company to readers of the Gwangju News?

Myung Shin Medical: Our company has been specializing in manufacturing medical far-infrared dome heaters using unique photosynthetic materials since the 2000s. For over 20 years, we have conducted research and production exclusively in this field within Gwangju’s advanced optical electronics industry. We are recognized for our medical device technology and supply hospitals, public institutions, and specialized cosmetic centers.

GN: I heard that Myung Shin Medical holds the number one position in the domestic market for dome-shaped infrared heaters. Could you please describe the features and advantages of this company’s signature product?

Myung Shin Medical: Our products are broadly categorized into three types based on their applications: We produce a full-body infrared heater for overall body use, an abdominal heater for abdominal or both-leg use, and a facial device for facial care. The main effects observed upon using our products include improvement in blood circulation, inflammation relief, pain management, and enhancement of lymphatic circulation. Clinical trials have been completed at universities and hospitals to validate these effects.

GN: I’m curious as to whether any health management programs are currently utilizing your products and whether you are targeting any businesses for using them.

Myung Shin Medical: In particular, we have a lymphatic circulation program utilizing the excellent effects of our products. The lymphatic system, distributed throughout the body like blood vessels, contributes to a clearer facial complexion and enhanced immune function when its circulation is optimized. We are promoting this program primarily in Asia, and we plan to actively explore education and distribution channels utilizing our products starting this year.

GN: It seems that you have put much effort into entering the global market. Throughout this process, you must have had various experiences,

such as meetings with buyers and participation in overseas exhibitions. Are there any particularly memorable episodes that stand out to you?

Myung Shin Medical: When visiting Vietnam, Singapore, and Hong Kong in 2013, the Gangnam Style trend peaked. It was around the time when K-culture was emerging. I remember a buyer purchasing our product samples while dancing and singing “Gangnam Style” upon hearing that our products were 100% made in Korea.

GN: I’d like to know what efforts are being made in Gwangju to contribute to the development of the local medical sector, such as medical exhibitions and fairs.

Myung Shin Medical: We plan to actively participate in medical exhibitions held in Gwangju to focus on promoting our products. Additionally, we aim to explore distribution channels in hospitals and medical institutions, introducing our specialized products for pain, inflammation, and immune management. We also intend to focus on establishing a technical center called the “Immune Factory” for diseaseresistance management, which can be utilized domestically and internationally. Accordingly, we are planning to develop long-term regional businesses that can be derived from this initiative.

GN: What would you say your company’s ultimate goal is? Could you please share that with us?

Myung Shin Medical: In alignment with our company’s vision and goal of promoting happiness and health, we aspire to become a globally recognized company in the medical device sector and the health industry.

GN: Thank you for enlightening us on what Myun Shin Medical is and what it does. And thank you for your time.

The Interviewer

Moon Jung-ah has been working at the Gwangju International Center since 2019. She is responsible for the Global Cultural and Language Class, youth education, CNU ISS, global community support, translation support for exporting companies, and Gwangju International Student Supporters.

Eat as If You’re at Home

ABy Yousra Feriel Drioua

fter having lived in Korea for a certain period of time, especially as an expat, there will come a few days when you’re just not looking to try anything new. You might’ve had a long week, your supervisor might’ve nagged you at work, or you’re simply in the midst of midterms. During these specific times, we often seek familiarity, homeyness, and comfort – even more so during mealtime. One simply wants to have a quick bite and get on with the rest of their day. A place where one doesn’t need to spend too much energy explaining their order due to the language barrier for example. That is why, today, we’ll be sharing a little cozy corner near the Chonnam National University campus.

Kkini-kkuni (끼니꾸니) is a tiny cute bistro, located outside the Language Education Center of CNU, making it the perfect spot for an afterschool meal alone or with friends. A little corner to sit in without needing to pay attention to anyone’s curious gaze. It’s a place that allows you to breath slowly while enjoying your meal, as if you were in the comfort of your own home. It is owned and run by a most generous Korean lady who will ask you to call her eemo (이모, auntie) if she likes you enough, or how Gen Z likes to put it: “pass her vibe check.” She will almost always hand out something additional for the students to enjoy: a side they didn’t order, soda, or fruit. Almost every international student that I know who’s frequented this place has a heartwarming interaction to share.

The restaurant is square-shaped with Korean diner-style stools and tables spread around its

“Almost every international student that I know who’s frequented this place has a heartwarming interaction to share.”

cooking station. Despite the tiny space, it manages to offer quite a variety of dishes on its menu. The dishes range from bunshik (분식, local snack bar) classics such as fresh ggoma-kimbap (꼬마김밥, baby kimbap) and spicy tteokbokki (떡볶이, stirfried rice cake) to sizzling ramyeon (라면) and delicious varieties of mandu (만두, dumplings).

It also has street food options like the winter favorite eomuk (어묵, fish cake) and my personal

all-time favorite yachae-jeon (야채전, fried veggie pancake). It is not only the cheapest I’ve found around the CNU campus area but also the tastiest, with just the perfect addictive combination of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. There’s also a range of savory Korean dishes ranging from hearty stews like kimchi-jjigae (김치찌개, kimchi stew), ddeokguk (떡국, rice cake soup), jjolmyeon (쫄면, spicy chewy noodles) and the controversial mul-naengmyeon (물냉면, cold noodles). I also really appreciate the effort they put into their side dishes! You get the danmuji (단무지, yellow pickled radish) and kimchi as in most other restaurants. But these latter two fluctuate almost daily. So it’s never dull, and you get to grow your taste palette by trying them out! Overall, not only will you find an option to enjoy, whatever dietary restrictions you follow, you also won’t go bankrupt if you drop by daily, as it is very affordable.

Their pancake is tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and very savory. The combination of that taste with the tanginess of the soy sauce marinade is a must-try for any foodie!

All in all, I highly recommend this place not only for Korean soul food but to get to meet the lovely owner. She’s listened to me nag many times about my bad days with a warm smile on her face despite my broken Korean. I will also never forget the day I went to see her before leaving Gwangju and the heartbroken look she had on her face when she realized yet another one of the “kids” she’d

gotten close to was leaving. From 2021 to 2022, many of the Korean Global Scholarship bunch who studied Korean at CNU were her customers. Some she knew by name, others simply by face, but she surely made all feel welcomed and cared for.

Kkini-kkuni (끼니꾸니)

Address: 광주 북구 우치로 181 용봉동1197-3

Phone: 062-263-0570

Open: Daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., except Sundays.

The Author

Yousra Feriel Drioua is a 24-yearold Algerian living in South Korea. She’s a Global Korea Scholarship graduate student, majoring in mass communication and journalism. She enjoys writing, intriguing conversations, and going on adventures. She refers to herself as a global citizen and is an active community member. She has dozens of hobbies yet is still figuring out her true calling in life. Instagram: @myyilgi

12.12: The Day

Review by Julien Laheurt, Synopsis by Park Yeonju

ABattle Between Right and Wrong

There are two categories of historical films: first, those that immerse us in the past by authentically recreating its complexities. In these movies, the focus on accurately depicting a specific period often overshadows the portrayal of powerful characters. In short, there is no good and no evil, nor heroes or villains. Instead, the emphasis lies on encountering morally ambiguous characters, much like ourselves, as they navigate their lives according to their own values and principles. The second type of movie utilizes historical materials as a backdrop to convey a message or a moral lesson, akin to 12.12: The Day, which effectively combines elements of both categories.

On one hand, it meticulously portrays the day when Chun Doo-hwan seized power in South Korea, delving into the intricate plan devised by Chun and his clique, known as Hanahoe, or “One Body,” to orchestrate a coup d’état amid a fragile political landscape following Park Chung-Hee's death. On the other hand, the movie remains accessible for those who may not be history enthusiasts by employing a fairly straightforward approach: opposing two compelling, easily recognizable characters against each other, each embodying values that the audience may either embrace or reject.

Chun Doo-Hwan: You’re Wrong, My Friend

Chun Doo-Hwan serves as the main antagonist of 12.12: The Day. Shameless, sophisticated as a bulldozer, impulsive, and notably bald (hair is really important in Korean culture) with an evil laugh reminiscent of the “Russian bad guys” from the worst Cold War propaganda films, Chun checked all the boxes of an evil figure. Despite being portayed as such, he surprisingly emerges as the “winner” of the plot. In fact, his military coup proved successful, catapulting him to nearly

undisputed dictatorial power for the subsequent eight years. In a more conventional Hollywood narrative, Chun would undoubtedly meet his downfall, as audiences typically abhor seeing evil characters triumph. However, 12.12: The Day subverts this traditional narrative by depicting him as a factual winner albeit a moral failure. While he may achieve military and political success, he fails to win our hearts, remaining a loser in the realm of morality.

Lee Tae-Shin: Yi Sun-sin Would Have Been Proud of You

Lee Tae-shin (played by Jung Woo-sung) epitomizes the archetype of the good soldier. He shows an unwavering loyalty to his country, appears to be a devoted family man, and more importantly, is reluctant to cross the Rubicon that separates army and politics. In stark contrast with Chun, Lee embodies humility and understated heroism. His measured demeanor, unfaltering righteousness, and commitment to justice would have deemed him a perfect civil servant, if not a king during the Joseon era. However, amidst the stormy and lawless period following Park Chunghee’s death, there is no room for such virtuous characters. Lee stands out as a lonely hero, striving to keep the Korean ship navigating while surrounded by a betrayal and chaotic crew. Like

a symbol of steadfastness, Lee casts a last glance at the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin in one of the movie’s final scenes as he confronts his inevitable downfall, paralleling the diminishing hope for Chun’s coup to fail.

A Synopsis: 12.12: The Day

On December 12, 1979, the capital city of Seoul experienced a military revolt. On that day, the fate of the Republic of Korea changed. After the assassination of President Park Chung-hee that shook Korea on October 26, a new wind blew in Seoul for a while. But on December 12, security commander Chun Doo-hwan revolted. By mobilizing all of the military’s private groups, even the front-line troops were pulled back and brought to Seoul.

Nine hours passed between Chun’s blind grab for power and government forces, including Lee Tae-shin, commander of the Capital Security Command. The story covers nine hours that night of December 12, 1979. In the end, the movie concludes with the victory of rebel Chun.

The movie depicts the painful history of Korea, which was not able to find democracy by rebels despite the fall of absolute power. Chun Doohwan (renamed Chun Doo-gwang in the movie, and portrayed by Hwang Jung-min) eventually rose to the presidency with power gained through the 12.12 military coup, and Roh Tae-woo, his partner in power, stood by him (named Roh Taegun in the movie). He also served as the following president of the Republic of Korea.

The 12.12 military coup occurred due to the assassination of President Park. On October 26, 1979, Kim Jae-gyu, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, shot and killed the president, who had created the Yushin Constitution that paved the way for a lifetime president. Also, the economy was not in good condition due to the international oil shock, and there were protests in Busan and Masan. In this situation, President Park is killed and Chun Doo-hwan’s plot begins. The power of Chun, Roh, and the Hanahoe trampled on the movement toward democracy, leaving indelible pain in Gwangju.

The Korean name of the movie translates as “Spring of Seoul.” It refers to the period of the democratization movement that took place between October 26, 1979, when President Park was killed, and May 17, 1980, just before the Gwangju May 18 Democratization Movement. Therefore, the background of the movie is winter, but we can think of “spring” as a metaphor for the democratization movement.

I don’t think the 12.12 military coup was a success that Chun Doo-hwan achieved because of his smartness. It was due to the pressure that Hanahoe put on troops until the end to not fight back. By these troops not fighting for democracy, Korea had to go through a very dark period, all because some people thought their personal safety was more important.

There has been no work in the Korean film industry that has dealt with this military coup in such detail. It is a work that allows you to study Korean history as well as feel the quality of the work.

I recommend you watch 12.12: The Day, a movie that makes you realize the importance of democracy.

The Authors

Julien Laheurte is a French literary translator who has been residing in South Korea for the past two years. After the completion of his master’s degree in Seoul, he moved to Gwangju with the intention of delving deeper into the history of the May 1980 democracy movement. His goal is to translate literary works that shed light on this pivotal moment in Korean history.

The Authors

Park Yeonju is an undergraduate at Chonnam National University, majoring in political science and diplomacy as well as Chinese language and literature. She was born and raised in Gwangju and wants to promote the colorfulness of the city that she has been with for a long time. Also, she wants to deliver various voices of the world. It is her dream to become a true journalist by inheriting the spirit of May 18.

While There’s Life, There’s Hope!

By Park Nahm-Sheik

Hope is a thing of everlasting value and significance. Isn’t it really? In An Essay on Man, the renowned English poetphilosopher Alexander Pope (1688–1744) famously penned, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” We might note in passing here that hope rhymes with Pope, which may or may not be a mere coincidence. Hope is indeed what propels us along throughout our lifelong trek as wandering earthlings. Insofar as we remember that tomorrow is another day, we have something to look forward to. Hope is thus what makes life worth living, no matter what. Hope is this priceless commodity that makes the world go round and round 24/7 until the moment we breathe our very last.

The current month, March, is generally taken to usher in spring in much of the temperate zone north of the equator, including Korea. It is a vibrant seasonal icon of hope, rebirth and resurrection. No wonder we often plan the whole year in the spring. When drawing a blueprint for the entire year, it makes eminent sense to be as ambitious as ambitious can be. “Hope well and have well” goes one popular witticism. In fact, hope often keeps men alive and well as well.

“Great hopes make great men” is a timeworn piece of advice to career planners to hope and dream big. Hope is said to be the poor man’s bread. “Nothing crave, nothing have” says a whole lot about what hope can bring our way. It is a wellworn bit of wisdom that hopeful and optimistic folks with a positive bent of mind are blessed with better health, wealth, and a better overall sense of achievement and satisfaction than negatively oriented pessimists. Longevity is also thought to dwell under the wings of hope and optimism.

“

Hope springs eternal in the human breast: man never is, but always to be blest.

Alexander Pope (1688–1744)

In this context, let’s bear in mind that a contented mind is a continual feast. As they often say, “Enough is as good as a feast.” All in all, hope may well be the long sought-after water of life, a primeval panacea for all our ills and ailments. Having said that, there is ample justification for the popular reference to hope as the elixir vitae, or elixir of life.

It is anything but a stretch to say that hope is the ultimate fountainhead of everything miraculous. As a major de-stressor, it is a wellspring of fun, joy, happiness, and material abundance. When it comes to the creation of wondrous things in life, nothing at all comes close to it. Wherever there’s hope, there’s positive vibes aplenty all around. That’s the super place for every dude in the world to be.

Let’s note at this point that hopeful folks don’t easily give up ever. Above all, they never ever give up hope for or about things coming down the pike. Positive, confident, happy, and healthy are those who consistently get to ride the crest of hope. It should, therefore, be no exaggeration whatsoever to say that hope is the surest messenger of

success and victory for us all, no matter what our aspirations may be.

Should you be able to dare to hope and dream something, you can do it no matter what that may be. That said, let’s always think and dream big, and aspire to high and mighty goals. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) said for all youths of the world to hitch their wagon to a star. Ambition is truly a priceless state of mind, without which none of us would be able to amount to anything substantive, no matter how hard we might try.

Hope and you will fare well. Despair and you won’t fare well at all. Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone. Success will be riding on the coattails of hope and laughter. Sorrow will be nipping at the heels of despair. It appears that hope and despair are at loggerheads, each with the other, except that hope is a powerful antidote to despair. With that in mind, try to be positive about the future every day of the year.

Then everything will turn out perfectly okay, and you will get to stay ahead of the curve and be the master of your life for ever and ever. Enjoy the driver’s seat, lording it over the entire sphere of your life. Let’s also remind ourselves at this moment that hope is instrumental in building up resilience and confidence in ourselves, which contributes to our capacity to stay buoyant throughout our navigation of “Spaceship Earth.”

The streak of hope extends from here to eternity, going way beyond the end of our cis-worldly existence. This is apparently a belief embraced by all the major faiths of the world. Common to Christianity and Islam is the foundational idea that all the people who have ever been born into the world will eventually be raised up from the dead on the day of resurrection and judgment. Upon rebirth, every one of us will sort of be interviewed and evaluated in depth and in person by our maker, the Divine Being himself. This rite of last judgment takes place on the Day of Resurrection in Christianity and on the Day of Yawn al-Qiyamah in Islam. Reincarnation in Buddhism appears to be an especially intriguing

conceptual construct of an event. For followers of the Buddha, Reincarnation is believed to comprise an evolutionary cycle, whereby each of the cycles represents an improvement upon the immediately preceding one.

Hope is by far the most iconic embodiment of eternity or immortality on earth. It’s all but like the Phoenix, which, per legend, lives for five hundred years and then burns itself in a fire and is then born again from its own ashes. “Death alone can kill hope” is what they like to say. In fact, not even death can bring hope to an end for good. He has not lost all that has at least a cast left. Furthermore, in the land of hope, there is never any winter. Never was cat or dog drowned that could but see the shore. Tine heart, lose all.

Let’s be forever grateful to hope. It certainly has made us all the richest of all living beings in the whole wide world. Not even King Midas himself could garner more riches, be it in gold or other precious minerals or any other material assets. Let King Midas go on envying us all for our inexhaustible asset of hope. Let the envious Midas grow lean with the never-stopping hope-fatness of us all, the humblest of his human neighbors. Hope is genuinely a one-of-a-kind performer for the whole human community with the potent magic touch, which is infinitely more potent than the Midas touch itself.

May hope have all her time for us, by us and with us! May the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent let hope rule supreme for all eternities on the throne of the guardian angel for all humankind! That will make the world brim over with love, peace, and prosperity.

The Author

Park Nahm-sheik has a BA in English from Chonnam National University, an MA in linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A., and a PhD in applied linguistics from Georgetown University. He is now a Professor Emeritus after a long and illustrious career at Seoul National University as well as President Emeritus of the International Graduate School of English.

Another Way of Collecting Colors Artist Jeong Jeong-Ha

By Kang "Jennis" Hyunsuk

Acouple of years ago, I visited one of the civic art museums in Gwangju – the Ha Jeong-woong Art Museum. The museum is named after Mr. Ha because he has donated hundreds of artworks to the museum. Every year, the Ha Jeong-woong Art Museum selects a young artist and holds an exhibition of the artist’s works. The year I saw the artworks of young artist Jeong Jeong-Ha exhibited at the museum was 2021. These young artist exhibitions always provide the pleasure of discovering new artistic attempts, and Jeong Jeong-Ha’s artworks were quite memorable ones. For this installment of

People in the Arts, I visited artist Jeong JeongHa at her studio in Gwangju’s Baekun-dong to conduct this interview. Her studio is located in the same building as the paint store that her parents run.

Jennis: Thank you for your precious time. I was impressed by the works that you exhibited in the Gwangju Museum of Art a few years ago. I am curious about your art-related life story.

Jeong Jeong-Ha: Thank you. I’ve loved making things by hand since I was young. First, I wanted to study design at an art school in Seoul. But for

Jeong Jeong-Ha, the artist.

several reasons, I decided to go to the College of Fine Art at Chosun University as a four-year scholarship student. My father took a break from his business selling construction materials in the aftermath of IMF [the Asian financial crisis of 1997]. A few years later, he opened a paint shop and asked me to help him. For me, as someone who majored in dealing with colors, the various needs of the customers visiting the paint shop seemed to be a particular hue that projected the lives of each person.

Jennis: I remember the title of one of your exhibitions was “Another Way for Collecting Lights.” How did you come to think of making your customers’ stories into an artwork containing a wide variety of colors in test tubes?

Jeong Jeong-Ha: One day an elderly lady visited our shop and said that she wanted to paint her old house. She visited us several times to choose the perfect color for her house, which could possibly be the last change she would be making for herself. Finally, she chose her color and painted her own house little by little each day. I was a little

worried that she might come back to our shop for lack of paint. So I put the same color of paint in a small sample bottle and recorded it with a code that only I knew. After that, I collected some other customers’ colors in test tubes. Like an examiner taking blood samples for health checkups, I came to keep the stories of the people who had chosen their colors. I could say that I felt the colors beaming from these people living their lives genuinely. So I gathered these bright colors of many people and featured them in my exhibition.

Jennis: That’s really touching. Your artworks were born out of your daily life. It seems that you looked at your daily life from an artist’s point of view. And I think the materials – epoxy, plastics, rough wood, or thick metal, and the like – that you have used in your works are original. What led you to using these rough materials?

Jeong Jeong-Ha: I have a sister who is a ballerina. Sometimes when she has a ballet performance, she asks me to make the stage set. The characteristic of stage art is to make it quickly, dismantle it quickly,

A Study on Light (2021). Paint, mixed media.

and not create a lot of trash to be discarded. After over a decade of doing stage art, I’ve gotten used to dealing with rough materials. Also, the reason why I make works with building materials is to express the story of the people who visit our paint store, that is, the colors of the people who form my surroundings.

Jennis: What is the story that you express in your work called “Absorption and Reflection”?

Jeong Jeong-Ha: It also takes its motif from the color test tubes, suggesting the absorbing of the energy of the people around me and reflecting it through color. The work “Research on Color” also uses a material called resin that hardens quickly to lock in the “color” of the people I’ve collected. [Author’s note: The artist used the word “bit” (빛), which can mean anything from “color/hue” to “light/ray” to “hope/bright future.”]

Jennis: You have held several exhibitions at the big art galleries. I think you are an artist who gets a lot of attention from galleries.

Jeong Jeong-Ha: I think I benefited from the COVID-19 period. During the pandemic, I held an exhibition at Kumho Gallery. At first, they gave me two exhibition halls in the gallery, but as

another exhibition was cancelled, I was able to fill all three exhibition spaces with my works. With the history of exhibiting at Kumho Gallery, I was also invited to exhibit at other big-name galleries.

Jennis: I will end today’s interview by asking what your future plans are.

Jeong Jeong-Ha: I think my work and I are on the road of a process. I want to capture the positive messages shining from the colors of people who live their lives diligently. Actually, I would love to speak of love, respect, and hope for humanity through my works.

Jennis: A noble task, indeed. I wish you much success. And I thank you for your time for this interview.

The Interviewer

Kang Jennis Hyunsuk is a lifelong resident of Gwangju. She has been doing oil painting for almost a decade, and she has learned that there are a lot of fabulous artists in this City of Art. As a freelance interpreter and translator, her desire is to introduce these wonderful artists to the world. Instagram: @jenniskang

Photographs courtesy of Jeong Jeong-Ha.

Light Pixel (2019–2021). Paint, mixed media, acrylic holder.

Molding Beauty from the Messy

By Nahida Islam

It was the beginning of the new millennia. I am talking about the first decades of the twentyfirst century. The summer days was famous for rains in Bangladesh. People could catch fish at their adjacent fields.

One day, I went to catch some small fish in a muddy field near our house. As a little kid afraid to be scolded by my mother, I was very careful about keeping my cloths clean. I was wearing a long dress. Every time I bent down to catch a fish, I had to catch my dress instead as it was about to touch the mud. In the process I wasn’t able to catch any fish at all. After one hour without any fish, I let go of my fear. I was all in, with focus only on the fish. That day, I took lots of fish home. That day, I first realized that the messy has its own beauty.

I still remember a simple story from my middle school days. Our teacher gave us the task of drawing fish. We all know now that drawing fish is so simple: the easiest way is to start with the head. But I found it too difficult to draw. I was stuck with the head strokes. Every stroke felt like it was not good enough; I erased and redrew, over and over.

Students started submitting their drawings. That emboldened me to go further with my drawing, hoping to somehow complete the task. I finished my drawing within the next five minutes. I looked at it and realized that it was not bad at all. It was a decent drawing. I had been about to give up. I knew my fish wasn’t the best, but at least it was good. If I had given up, how would I have known what I could accomplish? We never know.

Who doesn’t know about the Statue of Liberty?

The famous sculpture, carved by Frédéric Auguste

“If we are afraid of messes, will we be able to enjoy the essence of beauty?”

Bartholdi, has been enlightening the world since the nineteenth century. Before sculpting each piece, the statue was just hard rock, wasn’t it? And the Eiffel Tower, wasn’t it just pieces of metal before Gustava Eiffel molded it.

One night my friend and I were strolling around the CNU Gwangju campus. We heard the loud sound of air blower; it was coming from the sculpture workshop. A sculpture student covered with debris, was blowing the dirt off herself. I could see, little by little, how art is craved, how, little by little, beauty is molded.

We need to find the method to make life simple. Could it be we are already using it but just didn't realize yet. So, it is better to embrace all the chaos, the messy, the crudeness. Maybe we will be able to find our own formula to mold the simple beauty from what appears to be the crudeness, the messiness, in our lives. Maybe we will be able to find our own formula to mold the simple beauty from what appears to be the crudeness, the messiness, in our lives.

The Author

Nahida Islam is a PhD student at Chonnam National University in Gwangju. She is an introvert who always dreams of a world full of love and care. She does not think about achievement and cherishes the way to each destination. A country girl from Bangladesh, she should not be here, but she is.

Maintaining a Sustainable Keto Diet

By Chung Hyunhwa

Three years ago, I was on a ketogenetic diet to control the inflammation on my fingers. A keto diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet, so naturally, people on a keto diet consume more meat. My meat consumption increased as well; soon, I found myself mastering pan-grilled steaks. It was then that I learned about how meat would intensely contribute to greenhouse gas emissions that exacerbate the climate crises. I read that food accounts for 26 percent of total greenhouse emissions. Out of this, 58 percent is from animal-based foods, and half of the animalbased foods are beef and lamb. I had just started my keto diet for my achy fingers, so this was bad news because now there was a dilemma: to eat or not to eat meat.

I started thinking and concluded that I needed to substitute my steaks with something else. My solution was, because what we take from meat is mainly protein and fat, that I needed to find plant-based protein and fats. Here is what I discovered.

“During my keto diet, I lost five kilograms rapidly in the beginning.”

A keto diet was used in ancient Greece 2,500 years ago to cure epilepsy, but now it is known to be good for weight loss, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, inflammation, brain fog, and more. It may be that some people could have these issues because of bad sugar/ carb metabolism. Generalization is something we want to avoid, but a keto diet is worth trying if you suffer from any of these symptoms. Keton, the final product of fat that can be used as an energy source in the body, is produced only when there is no sugar/carb intake. But when you start your keto diet, at first, your body may not be used to producing keton, so it may need a little time to get used to being able to use keton as an energy source, especially if you are dependent on carbs for your energy source.

As for fat sources, I recommend fresh, cold pressed oils from perilla seeds, avocados, coconuts, and olives. Perilla seeds, or deulggae (들깨), are popular in Korea, and are a very good source of omega 3, but they are better when used as a salad dressing because of the low smoking point. The smoking point of avocado oil is much higher, so it is more suitable for cooking. Coconut oil is saturated fat, but it is very stable. It contains lauric acid that increases good cholesterol, aside from some phytochemicals and antioxidants, so it is considered to be good fat. Olive oil is already well known for its benefits. I assume, you can use these in rotation to receive the benefits of each.

To replace the protein in meats, I found the best sources to be soybeans, legumes, lentils, and chickpeas.

During my keto diet, I lost five kilograms rapidly in the beginning, and there was an improvement in my achy fingers, bleeding gums, allergies, bloating, skin inflammation, swollen legs, and brain fog, especially after lunch. Beans and lentils are perfect, since their protein, fat, and carb ratio was about 1:1:1. I also found that there are plantbased complete proteins – quinoa, buckwheat, chia seeds, and soybeans – debunking the common belief that you need meat to avoid essential amino acid deficiency. These always made me feel energetic after eating, and I think I discovered why.

I liked steamed soybeans instead of my bowl of rice, and sometimes I had cold noodles with soybean soup, or kongmul-guksu. I often eat tofu with kimchi for a simple meal. I learned to make dhal and naan dishes in the Indian way, which is a perfectly balanced meal. I also made hummus with chickpeas. I tried buying plant-based burgers, but I stopped because of the additives and sugar in them.

I also changed the ways I cooked. I use a pressure cooker more to save time and energy. I now use a smaller refrigerator and shop more often for fresh foods. I cook and eat as needed only, and try to eat uncooked fresh vegetables because they are good sources of enzymes and use less energy to prepare. To make things easier, I recently started blending all my vegetables, with or without nuts, and sometimes with good oil and a dash of salt for every meal. This saves me time by not cooking, and it is a great way to partake of the great benefits that vegetables have to offer.

There are, however, downsides to a strict keto diet. If you include too much protein to replace the carbs, it may not be good for the kidneys, especially if you have been on a carnivore diet of eating a lot of meat for a long time. Too little or no carbs can reduce male/female hormone production in the body. A keto diet is helpful for people who have problems because of a low

capability in using carbs, but if you are able to digest carbs without too much trouble, it is good to include good carbs that are absorbed slowly or cook them in a way that they can be absorbed slowly.

One of my counterparts in Holland who is a vegan for environmental reasons told me that 50 percent of the animal farms in Holland are going to be closed because of the high nitrogen oxide and ammonium levels that they add to the soil. The European Union is giving subsidies to speed up the shut-down. The Netherlands is a very successful country in terms of agriculture, but the technology used to increase production left the soil polluted. The Dutch are trying to consume less meat, and some are becoming vegans. Nitrogen oxide and ammonium in the soil can eventually enter water sources, kill the fish, and disrupt the ecosystem of the water. They are very harmful to the human respiratory system and are high-impact greenhouse gases. It is high time to think about our foods.

There are many professional athletes who are vegans, and most Indians are vegetarians or vegans, which shows that eating meat is not essential to our health but only a cultural characteristic. Ideally speaking, if everyone would reduce their meat consumption to half of their present consumption, we could cut down a great deal on the 26 percent carbon emissions from food. Reducing meat consumption is an action that we can decide to do without the need to wait for any system changes, benefiting our health as well as the environment.

The Author

Chung Hyunhwa is from Gwangju and currently working for a horticultural company. She is the former leader of Gwangju Hikers, an international eco-hike group at the GIC. Previously, she taught English in different settings, including Yantai American School and Yantai Korean School in China, and in recent years, has worked for the Jeju school administration at Branksome Hall Asia. She holds a master’s degree in TESOL from TCNJ in the U.S. and a license to teach the Korean language. She loves plants, birds, and making useful things out of repurposed items.

Why Attend an ELT Conference?

By David Shaffer

Conferences – more precisely, English language teaching (ELT) conferences –they’ve lured me for years, many years. In addition to attending them, I’ve been involved in organizing well over 50 and presented in over 200 national, international, and regional conferences. What is it that makes ELT conferences so enticing?

On the occasion of the upcoming Korea TESOL International Conference this April, I set out to provide answers to this question. While there are readers who have already formulated their own answers to this question, there are others who have produced their own rhetorical question: Why should I spend hard-earned money to go to a conference? It is mainly the latter who this article targets in the hope that a better understanding of what an ELT conference entails will lead them to take advantage of the benefits that a conference has to offer.

Inspiring Sessions

The bulk of any conference schedule is made up of sessions to attend: dynamic plenary and featured talks as well as concurrent sessions of research reports, workshops, and poster presentations. International conferences in particular invite well-known and passionate speakers to inspire, motivate, and energize their audience through talks that may or may not be directly related to the attendees’ field of expertise. I have been greatly inspired at KOTESOL international conferences by speakers from Stephen Krashen to Scott Thornbury to Anu Gupta.

Networking

One of the obvious reasons to attend an ELT conference is for the networking opportunities

that are so readily available. You can connect with like-minded individuals during hands-on workshops, but now that conferences are back to in-person format, there are many other chances outside of sessions to make new friends. Relax over a cup of coffee, strike up a conversation with a fellow conference-goer, chat with a presenter, or talk with a featured speaker. This mingling with teachers, administrators, and experts in your profession, as well as sitting in a session with a roomful of like-minded teachers, creates and strengthens a sense of community among colleagues. Through KOTESOL, their conferences, and other conferences, my ELT network has strikingly increased from my sameschool colleagues to international movers-andshakers.

Innovation and Trends

The world of ELT is a fast-moving industry, and incrementally more so with the advances in technology and the urgent need created by the pandemic for implementing change. Current conferences are full of sessions on language learning technology: research on learning management systems (LMSs) and language learning apps, and workshops on how to apply them. Conference sessions are also an excellent way to keep up to date with the latest methodology and approaches to ELT: What are the latest developments in task-based learning, project-based learning, and flipped classrooms? How can we best harness the power of AI tools, such as ChatGPT? I am sure answers to these questions can be found at the upcoming KOTESOL International Conference.

Professional Development

Teachers of all ilk should continually be concerned with professional development, and conferences are a great place to go for a powerful dose of PD. I asked Bryon Hale, Jeollanamdo Foreign Language High School instructor and KOTESOL international conference chair, why Gwangju area teachers should consider traveling all the way up to Seoul for the KOTESOL conference. His reply: “I’ve attended KOTESOL’s annual international conference many times, and this has contributed so much to all the parts of my professional development and keeps me motivated. It has helped me to be a more knowledgeable, capable, compassionate, and confident teacher. KOTESOL’s international conference is such a huge and vibrant event, with so many workshops and presentations and opportunities to connect. I always come away inspired and reinvigorated.” In addition, conference attendance may impress your employer, and it adds to one’s CV. Invest in yourself; you are worth it!

Immediately Implementable Takeaways

Most of the presenters at an ELT conference are also classroom teachers. Through workshops and other presentations, they offer tried-andtrue teaching techniques that you can take home from a weekend conference and put into practice the following week. With a dozen or so sessions occurring simultaneously, you are sure to find at least one of interest to you in each time slot: classroom management ideas, teaching resources, and classroom presentation skills. KOTESOL’s slogan is “Teachers Helping Teachers,” and this spirit is operating at its height at ELT conferences.

Challenge Yourself

Conferences provide the opportunity for any teacher to get out of the day-to-day routine of the office and classroom, doing the same-ole sameole. In addition to the teaching techniques and theoretical knowledge that you acquire, you can meet new people; meet new ideas; participate in discussions in and out of conference sessions; revel in the conference excitement; venture outside the conference to enjoy the new surroundings, the food and drinks, and evening activities. There’s no need to stop there: Challenge yourself to give a conference presentation or to be part of a conference organizing committee.

Conference Chair Hale relates, “I never expected to get so involved with the organization! But luckily, when opportunities to help out behind the scenes came up, I was smart enough to say, “Yes.” I’ve done a lot of different things around KOTESOL and got involved with the international conference relatively recently, but it was such a thrill to be a part of KOTESOL’s biggest event that I got excited enough to put my hand up to be chair.”

Don’t Take Just My Word For It

What I have offered above is the opinion of one individual – myself! Though I am confident in what I have presented, you may not be as much so. Therefore, don’t take just my word for it, add to it the results of a study on attending ELT conferences conducted by Simon Borg (2015). In addition to the more obvious benefits of expanding theoretical knowledge, adding to one’s repertoire of teaching techniques, and

A conference plenary session.

A hands-on ELT conference workshop.

networking, Borg also found that the ELT teachers in his study felt that they had benefited from ELT conferences in these five ways: (a) They became more aware of their potential. (b) They felt an enhanced sense of self-worth because they were given the opportunity to compare their teaching experiences with other ELT professionals. (c) They felt that the new knowledge and skills that they had gained elevated their credibility in the minds of their colleagues. (d) They felt that conference attendance helped to mitigate the feeling of professional isolation. (e) And they felt a heightened sense of achievement, especially if they had delivered a conference presentation.

“Borg found that the ELT teachers in his study felt that they had benefited from ELT conferences in five ways.”

What Can You Expect from KOTESOL 2024?

In addition to everything mentioned above, you can hear invited speakers giving talks on the conference theme: “Players on the World Stage: From EFL Classrooms to Global Lives.” Plenary speakers include the eminent TV/radio EFL instructor Dr. Lee Boyoung, the distinguished Dr. Aya Matsuda from the U.S., and Dr. Guy Cook of London, England. At Sookmyung Women’s University on April 27–28, you can expect to meet 500 attendees and have about 200 sessions to choose from, on topics ranging from assessment to zero article, from agency to ZPD.

Reference

Borg, S. (2015). The benefits of attending ELT conferences. ELT Journal, 69(1), 35-46.

The Author

David Shaffer, PhD, has been involved in TEFL, teacher training, writing, and research in Gwangju for many years as a professor at Chosun University. As vice-president of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of KOTESOL, he invites you to participate in the chapter’s monthly teacher development workshops and in KOTESOL activities in general. Dr. Shaffer is a past president of KOTESOL and is the editor-in-chief of the Gwangju News

Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Upcoming Events

Monthly Chapter Workshop

· Date: March 9, 2024 (Saturday)

· Venue: Gwangju National University of Education

Korea TESOL International Conference

· Date: April 27–28, 2024 (Sat.–Sun.)

· Venue: Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul

· Website: https://www.koreatesol.org/IC2024

· #KOTESOL2024

Check the chapter’s webpages and Facebook group periodically for updates on chapter events and additional in-person and online KOTESOL activities.

For full event details:

· Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju

· Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL

Top of The Drop

By Daniel J. Springer

Our monthly installment by Danno, formerly of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN) and now Friends music director and resident DJ, where he picks his sly favorites and audio gems you may have missed. — Ed.

Ghost Funk Orchestra – “Again”

Seth Applebaum and his ever-metastasizing crew of merry musicians and maniacs is back with another new record called A Trip to the Moon! as of February 23rd. Laced with samples from the famed Apollo 8 Moon Landing from 1969, this single is a diminutive affair to start but just might be the most explosive and boombastic the band has put out, with an explosive chorus of vocals and brass that can knock over tables and maybe you as well if you’re not prepared. The band’s trademark reverb and effects accents are there as well to keep you on your toes. Another exceedingly solid album from Ghost Funk Orchestra, and the audio perfection via agressive mixing embodied therein is an audio geek’s wet dream.

Caroline Polachek (feat. Weyes Blood) – “Butterfly Net”

Last year Caroline Polachek released one of 2023’s best albums with Desire, I Want to Turn into You. This new collaborative effort with the equally compelling Weyes Blood is a lovely mixture of the two artists’ sounds, with Weyes Blood’s pensive approach accenting some of Polachek’s signature electronic pop dance sounds.

Brittany Howard – “Power to Undo”

This single is part of the Alabama Shakes lead singer’s sophomore album What Now, released in full as lunar new year came and went February 9. The song is an amazing encapsulation of what has made Howard’s solo work so daring and adventurous, with a defiant fusion of minimal singer-songwriter influences melding with soul

and hard rock sounds that are surprisingly akin to Prince in arrangement tone and vocal delivery. Never a safe moment on this record, and it’s a thrilling experience.

Faye Webster – “But Not Kiss”

This tune admittedly came out a decent bit ago as the lead single to the Atlanta-based singersongwriter’s latest album Underdressed at the Symphony, released March 1. It does indeed always feel a little too easy for Webster, as the breezy manner of delivery and moseying pace of her band do indeed give one an image of the artist sidling up to a black tie and gown event in blown out Chucks and jeans. Of course, somehow, Webster gets through the door without issue.

Dehd – “Mood Ring”

In one of more exciting announcements and releases of the year thus far, Chicago trio Dehd announced their latest album effort with the title track dropped as the lead single. The band have made a name for themselves with two very solid albums the past several years, and with this opening salvo it seems more of the same is on the way with Mood Ring, which drops May 10.

January & February Releases

Teezo Touchdown – How Do You Sleep at Night? (Jan 12)

21 Savage – Pretty Vicious (Jan 12)

Kali Uchis – Orquídeas (Jan 12)

Glass Beach – Plastic Death (Jan 19)

The Smile – Wall of Eyes (Jan 26)

Runnner – Stardust (Feb 2)

Orgone – Chimera (Feb 9)

Brittany Howard – What Now (Feb 9)

Little Simz – Drop 7 (Feb 9)

Idles – Tangk (Feb 16)

Ghost Funk Orchestra – A Trip to the Moon! (Feb 23)

March Incoming

Faye Webster – Underdressed at the Symphony (Mar 1)

Mannequin Pussy – I Got Heaven (Mar 1)

Norah Jones – Visions (Mar 8)

Adrienne Lenker – Bright Future (Mar 22)

Gary Clark, Jr. – JPEG Raw (Mar 22)

Prefuse 73 – New Strategies for Modern Crime Vol. 1 (Mar 22)

Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood (Mar 22)

Sum 41 – Heaven :x: Hell (Mar 29)

March 2024 Upcoming Events

MUSIC CONCERTS

Anne-Sophie Mutter Violin Recital

안네 소피 무터 바이올린 리사이틀

Time & Date: Mar. 12 (Tue.) 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Gwangju Arts Center, Grand Theater

Eligibility: Must be 7 or older

Admission: R seats 180,000 won, S seats 140,000 won, A seats 110,000 won, B seats 80,000 won, C seats 50,000 won

Phone: 062-613-8235

EXHIBITIONS

“The Dawn of a New 30 Years”

광주시립국악관현악단 제137회 정기연주회 「새로운 30년 그 서막을 열다」

Time & Date: Mar. 14 (Thur.), 7:30 p.m.

(Running time: 90 min.)

Venue: Gwangju Arts Center, Grand Theater

Admission: R seats 30,000 won, S seats 20,000 won, A seats 10,000 won.

Phone: 1588-7890

Gwangju City Symphony Orchestra’s 382nd Regular

Concert: “Klimax”

광주시립교향악단 382회 정기연주회 [Klimax]

Time & Date: Mar. 29 (Fri.), 7:30 p.m.

(Running time: 100 min.)

Venue: Minju-maru, Chonnam National University

Admission: R seats 30,000 won, S seats 20,000 won, A seats 10,000 won.

Phone: 062-613-8241

2024 ACC Super Classic

– Novus Quartet: “British Night”

노부스 콰르텟 < British Night >

Time & Date: Mar. 6 (Wed.), 7:30 p.m.

(Running time: 110 min.)

Venue: Asia Culture Center, Theater 2

Admission: R seats 50,000 won, S seats 30,000 won.

Phone: 1899-5566

EXHIBITIONS

Asia Culture Museum Collection Series: Manas

이달의 소장품: 마나스

Period: Feb. 6 (Tue.) – Apr. 28 (Sun.)

Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(Wednesdays & Saturdays: Open until 8 p.m.)

Venue: Asia Culture Center, Asia Culture Museum

Admission: Free

Phone: 1899-5566

Sobin Park: The Myth of Dragons, Infinite Love

박소빈: 용의 신화, 무한한 사랑

Period: Jan. 10 (Wed.) – Mar. 24 (Sun.)

Venue: Gwangju Museum of Art, Exhibition Halls 5 & 6

Admission: Free

PERFORMANCE

Dancing BBRUN

댄싱 비비런

Period: Apr. 4 (Tue.) – Apr. 7 (Sun)

Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(Wednesdays & Saturdays: Open until 8 p.m.)

Venue: Asia Culture Center, Asia Culture Museum

Permanent Exhibition Hall

Admission: Free

Phone: 1899-5566

SPECIAL EVENTS

Asia Museum Walk 4 – Central Asia

아시아 박물관 산책 4 – 중앙아시아

Period: Mar. 6 (Wed.) – Jun. 12 (Wed.)

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Venue: Asia Culture Center, Asian Culture Museum

B4, Cultural Education Room 4

Target: 40 Adults

Fee: Free

Apply: ACC Website

Phone: 1899-5566

Gwangju FC Documentary Yellow Spirit on Coupang Play 광주FC 다큐 ‘옐로 스피릿’ 쿠팡플레이 상영중

A documentary will be aired featuring Gwangju FC players’ fighting spirit for victory and various behind-the-scenes stories inside and outside the stadium. Gwangju Metropolitan City has announced that the documentary series Yellow Spirit, a work with Internet Video Service (OTT) Platform Content Production Support, about the journey of the professional soccer team Gwangju FC to victory was released on Coupang Play last month.

Crossword Puzzle Answers for the February Issue

The documentary Yellow Spirit covers, in five parts, the dramatic 2023 season of professional soccer team Gwangju FC, which was relegated three times, promoted three times, and ranked first in relegation at the same time as promotion.

Gwangju FC produced an overwhelming performance in K-League 1 last year, being the only K-League 1 team to record a new history of winning against all other teams.

In particular, Yellow Spirit, which depicts the fighting spirit of the players of the Gwangju Citizens’ Professional Football Team while using the theme of soccer, is attracting attention as a work that captures the value of humanity and challenge beyond sports.

As K-content is gaining popularity around the world, Yellow Spirit is expected to promote Gwangju’s unique appeal to the world as representative of Gwangju content.

Complied by Lee Boram.

The first three people to complete the crossword puzzle correctly and send us a photo of the completed puzzle will receive a cultural gift certificate for 5,000 won! The prize winners will be announced in the March issue of the Gwangju News, and the gift certificate will be sent online on the 5th of the following month.

- Email to gwangjunews@gic.or.kr or DM to Instagram at Gwangju International Center

KIIP

Korea Immigration & Integration Program

KIIP is an education program designed to systematically cultivate the basic knowledge (Korean language, Korean culture, and understanding of Korean society) necessary for immigrants residing in Korea to adapt and become independent members of Korean society.

Those who may participate are those who are legally residing aliens or naturalized persons holding an alien registration card or residence report* and those for whom three years has not passed since the date of acquisition of nationality through nationality determination or restoration of nationality.

* Naturalized persons for whom three years has passed since the date of nationality acquisition are excluded.

Other Regular Education Programs

•Citizenship Education: To support faster immigrant social adaptation, seven types of education developed by specialized organizations in each field are provided (lifestyle legal education, drug prevention education, consumer education, financial management education, crime prevention education, fire safety education, traffic safety education)

• Local Government-Linked Programs: Each local government designates cultural, educational, and experience programs for immigrants as local government-linked programs and provides opportunities for participation.

•Immigrant Mentor Education: Mutual communication education in the form of lectures where immigrants who have successfully settled in Korea become mentors and share their experiences about adapting to Korean society.

Participation Fee: Free

Completion Benefits

When applying for naturalization:

1. Confirmation of passing the comprehensive evaluation for naturalization.

2. Exemption from naturalization interview screening.

Benefits when applying for permanent residency:

1. Recognized as meeting basic knowledge requirements.

2. Possibility of being exempted from fact-finding survey.

Other benefits when changing residency status or applying for a visa:

1. Additional points awarded, etc.

2. Exemption from proof of Korean language proficiency, etc.

How to Participate

Membership Log-In: Join on the Social Integration Information Network Website (www.socinet.go.kr).

Stage Assignment

• Start from Stage 0

Social Integration Information Network > Stage Assignment > Start from Stage 0

• Stage allocation through the pre-evaluation

Social Integration Information Network > Stage Allocation > Stage allocation through prior evaluation

• Integrated stage assignment for linkage

- Korean Language Proficiency Test-Linked Evaluation

- Linkage to marriage immigration visa

- Linkage with intermediate Korean language education courses from other institutions

Course Application

Select the assigned course level during the course application period and register for the course.

Program Offerings in 2024

1st Term: January 2 – May 12.

2nd Term: May 13 – August 18.

3rd Term: August 19 – December 15.

ACROSS

36

38

39

15

16

49

51

53

DOWN

1 Loft 28 or Nirvana

2 Actress Thurman

3 Space agency in Sacheon

4 Goes with Raggedy or Arbor

5 Muryeong or Yi Seong-gye

6 Student group for Nepalese students

7 Cropped up

8 Bikeshare service

9 Korea’s dominant web portal

10 Juggalos’ band

11 Environmental prefix

19 New display type

20 Applies to

21 Korea Image Awards distributor

22 Count Basie’s “___ Clock Jump” (2 words)

23 “Love ___ Elevator” (2 words)

24 More intrusive

27 Local Mexican restaurant

29 Goes with Scotia or Chevy

30 Sign of things to come

31 The A in KASA

33 School in SoCal

35 Sea between Italy and Greece

37 Actress Witherspoon

39 KCTU counterpart

40 Korean poetic form

41 I in TGIF

42 “Nothing ___ net”

45 Tip of a pen

46 Scrape together

47 Bed attire

48 Reason for overtime

GWANGJU INTERNATIONAL CENTER

For only 50,000 won/year, you help the GIC provide a space for exchanges for the local and international communities to learn and experience various cultures from around the world and to promote respect for diversity and inclusivity.

Bene�its as a GIC member:

Receive the Gwangju News every month by email.

Priority for participation in programs.

Get discounts on paid programs and space rentals.

Borrow books and materials from the GIC Library.

Get receipts for contributions provided for year-end tax settlement.

(61475) 5 Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju, Korea Tel. 062-226-2732 Email. gic@gic.or.kr Web. www.gic.or.kr

GIC