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Opinion

Tue, October 22, 2019 | 10:15

Blogs

No shoo-in: Ponies put bite on 19th century blacksmiths

In the late 19th century, ponies and oxen were often the subject of letters sent home by Westerners living in Korea. The ponies were noted for their ferociousness and demonized for their seemingly determined need to bite and kick any living creature that came within their reach.

Jipsin: These shoes are made for walking

The simplest of things are often forgotten until they are needed and then they become one of the most important - such as jipsin. These were straw shoes worn by most of the population. They were made for walking - not for status - and because of their construction and use, whit...

Trapping tigers

In 1910, Korean tiger stories were very popular in American newspapers. One newspaper reported, “It appears that since the Japanese occupation of Korea, [Koreans] have been forbidden to carry firearms, and as a consequence, tigers have multiplied to an extraordinary extent.

Modern to hypermodern: The theater as a fantastic space

I've just finished the final stage of a book with professor of sociology Ikki Kim that compares Beijing and Seoul at different stages of their development, titled, “Beijing to Seoul, Modern to Hypermodern,” which visually documents the former city's journey through modernity, a...

On the importance of space and social empathy

I'm in the middle of the final crunch leading up to the publishing of a book with Professor of Sociology Ikki Kim that compares Beijing and Seoul at different stages of their development, with the former as an example of that city's journey through Modernity and the latter as a...

Flashed flesh, 'pay models' and entrepreneurial femininity in the creative economy of Korean Instagram

The more I do work as a visual sociologist and ethnographer in Korea, the more I am fascinated by the many rabbit holes I am pulled down. The hypermodern Korea I live in - and Korea's hypermodernity has permeated through society to differing extents and in different ways - is m...

Don't solve the crisis in Northeast Asia - transform it

The United States faces an unmitigated catastrophe in Northeast Asia today that is the result of a thoughtless trade war with China, companion tariff battles with Japan and South Korea, and an effort to promote China as a military threat that have undercut a broad range of coop...

How to establish a smart strategy for South Korea in Washington

The arrival of the new Korean Ambassador Lee Soo-hycuk in Washington D.C. will be an invaluable opportunity for Seoul to upgrade its game in diplomacy and in lobbying and to sharpen its message so that lawmakers understand the vital importance of South Korea. The stakes are hig...

Watching smartphones and their children in Seoul

The young people walking in the streets in Seoul retain their vitality in the midst of an increasingly gloomy economy. I see them smiling as they talk excitedly at cafes, and I am impressed by the aesthetic sensibility they show in their dress. They have their unique expression...

Me Cook? No, You Cook!

Years ago, I saw a birthday party ruined in spectacular fashion. An American friend, an advanced Korean language learner, was chatting with two Korean women who began ridiculing his pronunciation, repeating to each other “Mikuk” (not “Miguk,” which means American) several times...

14-year-old j.knife surprises Korean indie fans with folk-pop album 'Familiar Sounds'

When most Koreans are 14 years old, or 15 Korean age, they're studying hard in preparation for high school, and already readying themselves for the college entrance exam that will decide their entire futures. Jennifer Kim may not be much different, but she also somehow makes th...

Is it copyright Infringement if you introduce a movie on YouTube?

'Boramtube', which has 17 million subscribers on YouTube, is a hot topic these days. The six-year-old creator's advertising revenue is comparable to MBC, one of the top three Korean broadcast networks. The development of broadband internet and cheap video camera enabled anyone ...

'Crunch mode' for overtime in games industry

Since Moon Jae-in was elected President in 2017, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have enacted and amended many labor laws. Accordingly, a lot of labor issues have arisen in various industries, and their biggest impact was felt by th...

There is such a thing as Bitcoin

Once there was a boy who learned that there was a dragon living in his house. He told his mother, “Mom, there's a dragon in the house!” But his mother told him “Son, there's no such thing as dragons.” Little by little the dragon got bigger and bigger until it took up half of th...

Part 52: The big C

In March 2012, while working at the Dragon Hill Lodge's Discover Seoul Desk I took a bathroom break. It required much more effort and strain to relieve myself than normal. Having heard that a reduced stream could be caused by a prostate problem, I resolved to see a urologist as...

Part 51: Too many bosses spoil the tourism business

If it was difficult working for three companies at once, it was downright confusing and stressful to have three direct bosses every day, often singing from different hymn sheets, and sometimes working at odds with each other. It could have been worse, I suppose. Thankfully Mr. ...

My life at a Korean law firm (part 50)

Recently, while going through old papers at home, I came across a document that I received at the beginning of my stint at the Dragon Hill Lodge Hotel. I had not looked at it for at least six years. It was a three-page list in Korean of all the things that I was responsible for...

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience' (7)

Hanawon was fun. After a difficult escape, Hanawon was a relaxing and calm time. It was the most comfortable and enjoyable time I have had in Korea.

Taking photos with North Korean refugees (Part 3)

My English is so bad. Please don’t let people know I am studying English now. After I arrived in South Korea I had surgery done on my eyes to fix a problem, so it is possible that I won’t be as recognizable as before. Anyway, my mother is still in North Korea so I am sensitive ...

Taking photos with North Korean refugees (Part 2)

I was on TV in the past so I am actually okay with photos. When I first arrived here I would run from cameras and refused to let anyone take my photo, even close friends. My brother is still in North Korea in an influential position, so I don’t want him to have any trouble. The...

When color can be too much

I love color - sometimes too much. But there are times when color simply gets in the way of a good photograph. Bright colors can enhance, but they can distract. Often the better photograph focuses on tone and patterns. In such cases, monotone (black and white) photographs are t...

Finding your kind of street photography

If you ask serious photographers just what is “street photography,” you are likely to find many definitions. At times, street photography can resemble travel photography. But travel photography tends to be less artistic and more about personal documentation of one's experiences...

Festivals make great photos

Jongro-3ga, Lantern Parade. All photos by Tom CoynerTom CoynerWith the warming temperatures, come festivals and similar events. These colorful events are both challenging and rewarding. They can be confusing as a three-ring circus in determining what to photograph, and it can b...

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