Opinion - The Korea Times

A country within a country

By Kim Ji-myung With luck, as one of the 28 final candidates Jeju could be selected as one of the New7Wonders of Nature in November. UNESCO already designated Jeju as a Biosphere Reserve in 2002, a World Natural Heritage site in 2007 and a Global Geopark in 2010. Obviously, Jeju has exceptional and unique natural conditions. I have not yet voted for the New7Wonders, as somehow the methodology does not seem quite valid to me. It seems more like a popularity contest, rather than an objective evaluation of the place. I have no relative or friend living on Jeju, except an American friend doing research. I do not own any land there although I was offered lots for sale several times. Why didn’t I buy? Because limited access to Jeju is a big barrier. On numerous occasions, bad weather has prevented me from taking a return flight back to Seoul on schedule. My multiple experiences of sitting at the airport as a standby passenger discouraged me from becoming a stakeholder of Jeju. However, I am deeply interested in the unique spiritual and family traditions of Jeju. Jeju has

Sep 2, 2011By Kim Ji-myung

Kim Ji-myung

Serene cities and safe homes

By Kim Ji-myung It is like meeting an old lover again when a tourist revisits places like Paris, Rome or Interlaken after many years. People usually have vivid memories of their first visits ― the serene streets bathed in sunshine, the brisk early morning air of that season, the warm aroma of fresh bread and coffee, the murmuring noises of the market, the mixed sounds from local peoples’ daily living. Almost without exception, these places are now somewhat disappointing, flooded by people from all over the world. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in particular, Europe is no longer a slowly-changing peaceful part of the world where ancient buildings and fountains abound. This is quite natural as even the Chinese with 1.3 billion people have begun to flow overseas, moving around in group tours. Taking a picture alone at the Trevi Fountain seems almost impossible as flocks of tourists stay at the small plaza all day long. Meanwhile, pickpockets and thieves prey upon tourists every minute in London and Barcelona. Paris was already notorious in the 1970s for gypsies with all sort

Aug 5, 2011By Kim Ji-myung

Kim Ji-myung

Rediscovering Jeong-dong

By Kim Ji-myung Few people know that central Seoul’s Jeong-dong neighborhood was called the “Foreign Settlement” or “European Settlement” in the late 1880s by its English-speaking residents. Today, this charming area is garnering attention as the public rediscovers its political and cultural significance. Prior to becoming Seoul’s foreign enclave, most of Jeong-dong was occupied by Gyeongun Palace (Gyeongungung), which we know today as Deoksu Palace (Deoksugung). In fact, before 1880, foreigners could not live within the Seoul Fortress walls. But eventually a road was built through the royal campus, and in 1884, the first American envoy to Korea, Lucius H. Foote, was granted two pieces of land for $2,200. The opening of the U.S. legation brought a rush of foreign settlement to the area. In fact, the two red brick buildings constructed for the British embassy in 1892 remain home to the U.K.’s head of mission. Schools and churches were also established in Jeong-dong. Pai Chai, the first secondary school for boys, and Ehwa Hakdang, the first for girls, were founded by Am

Jul 8, 2011By Kim Ji-myung

Kim Ji-myung

A village of 100 museums

By Kim Ji-myung The small town of Yeongwol in Gangwon Province held an unusual international meeting of more than 130 scholars and experts from 20 countries on Korean studies, environment, design and museums in May. The former coal mining town hopes to change its identity. The county government renamed the town to “Young World” in English, so it is similar sounding to its original Korean name. Its dream is to become a cultural place with a clean environment and many spots to visit, full of stories, historic sites, and mainly museums. To most Koreans, the region reminds them of the clean and beautiful Donggang (East River). People over 65 remember the good old days of the mining town when it was a bustling economic center, rich with coal money. The shopkeepers of the relatively calm town still have a certain ambiance, and proudly claim that things are not cheaper there than in Seoul. Most people of the younger generation have no particular image of the county. Donggang is probably the best and only renowned symbol associated with the area because it is the best river fo

Jun 10, 2011By Kim Ji-myung

Kim Ji-myung

Owner of cultural heritage

By Kim Ji-myung Until 1995 diplomatic corps stationed in Seoul sat through national ceremonies without understanding much of what was going on around them. During speeches by dignitaries, the singing of commemorative songs, and the shouting of three hurrahs, these diplomats just followed what the Koreans did. But then it must have dawned on the government that this was neither diplomatic nor polite. Thus, simultaneous interpretation services began for those non-Koreans at major ceremonies, such as on March 1 Independence Movement Day and National Liberation Day on Aug. 15. When former president Roh Moo-hyun passed away in 2009, interpreters in charge of national events had to prepare themselves for the funeral held on May 29. They had to learn new processes and vocabulary to deal with the funeral of a VIP. Designing the whole procedure must have been a new experience for those in charge. A good reference for the interpreters came from the BBC footage of the funeral service of Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales. On YouTube the whole process is presented in 36 vid

May 13, 2011By Kim Ji-myung

Kim Ji-myung

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A country within a country

Serene cities and safe homes

Rediscovering Jeong-dong

A village of 100 museums

Owner of cultural heritage

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