South Korea - The Korea Times

Gwangju Philippine community comes together for Filipino Day

Children from multicultural families participate in a parade to celebrate Gwangju Jeonnam Philippine Community Filipino Day, May 29. / Courtesy of Arlo Matisz By Arlo MatiszThere's excitement in the crisp morning air at Woljeon Park. On the far west side of Gwangju, just north of the end of the subway line, this small tree-lined park is an oasis in a desert of industrial parks. At an early 8:30 a.m. last Sunday morning, the park is already a bustle of colorful activity. Rainbow tents have been set up, and dozens of people are changing into brilliant gowns and traditional costumes. The sweet smell of baked desserts and the sweet sound of laughter fill the air as food booths set up their wares and friends call to each other. From every direction of the park and every direction of South Jeolla Province, hundreds of people stream to the growing event, for today is the Gwangju Jeonnam Philippine Community Filipino Day!

May 31, 2022By Jon Dunbar

Gwangju Philippine community comes together for Filipino Day

Foreign-born voters feel invisible in local elections

Foreign residents participate in a mock poll held at a multicultural family support center in Daejeon, May 24, ahead of the June 1 local elections. YonhapOver 120,000 foreign residents eligible to vote, but lack of institutional support makes it difficult to exercise their right By Lee Hyo-jin A record-high number of over 120,000 immigrants will be eligible to vote in the local elections slated for Wednesday, reflecting the rapidly growing foreign population in Korea. While the local elections are the only chance for residents of foreign nationality to express their opinions through voting, many of them are left feeling helpless due to limited access to information about the candidates and their campaign pledges.Following a revision to the Public Official Election Act in August 2005, foreign nationals who have resided in Korea for three years or longer after obtaining permanent residency are given the right to vote in the quadrennial local elections.According to the National Election Commission (NEC), a total of 127,623 foreign residents are eligible to vote in this year's elections,

May 31, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Foreign-born voters feel invisible in local elections

Long way to go for inclusive politics in Korea

SPECIAL REPORT Asylum-seekers create Myanmartown from scratch in Bupyeong

A photo of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is hung on the window of a Burmese restaurant in Bupyeong District, Incheon, May 23. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukThis is the second in a series of articles to shed light on various ethnic groups living in Korea and have more of their voices heard. ― ED.Myanmarese who fled political turmoil in homeland, settle in Incheon's manufacturing district By Lee Hyo-jin Bupyeong, INCHEON ― Bupyeong District in Incheon, west of Seoul, may be best known for its huge underground shopping center and vibrant nightlife. But off the main street near exit 5 of Bupyeong Station are hidden several restaurants and grocery stores with colorful signs written in Burmese.In this small yet bustling “Myanmartown,” it is common to see groups of Southeast Asian people heading to restaurants looking for a taste of home.Among the restaurants is Mingalarpar, which means “hello” in Burmese, run by Win Lay, 50. “Any Myanmarese person would feel at home here in Bupyeong,” he said. “Burmese workers who live across the countr

May 27, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

[SPECIAL REPORT] Asylum-seekers create Myanmartown from scratch in Bupyeong

Will government establish new immigration agency?

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon delivers his congratulatory remarks at a Together Day ceremony held at the ministry office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, May 20. Together Day was designated by the government as a day of national celebration in 2008, aiming to create a society where Korean and foreign national residents live harmoniously, respecting each other's cultures. YonhapExperts call for swift launch of immigration agencyBy Lee Hyo-jin Discussions over the possible launch of a new government agency encompassing migrant-related policies are expected to pick up speed under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, as newly-appointed Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon vowed to carry out advanced immigration policies.Migrant experts welcomed the ministry's plan and called for the swift establishment of the immigration agency, pointing out that Korea's migration policies have already fallen behind those of other Asian countries.During his inauguration speech on May 17, Han said, “We will establish a system to carry out advanced immigration policies, including reviewing the launch of an im

May 25, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Will government establish new immigration agency?

Koryoin restaurant owner receives immigrant award

By Lee Hyo-jin Jeon Olga, a restaurant owner in the “Koryoin Village”neighborhood of the southwestern city of Gwangju, will be honored with the Prime Minister's Commendation, recognized for her yearslong dedication to supporting fellow ethnic Koreans from former Soviet Union states as they adapt to Korean society.Jeon, 36, who owns a restaurant serving Russian and Central Asian dishes in Gwangsan District, has been making numerous donations to help Koryoin immigrants settle there, according to the “Korean Cooperative,” a support center for Koryoin residents in Gwangju.“Koryoin” refers to approximately 500,000 ethnic Koreans who reside in the post-Soviet states, including descendants of those who immigrated to Russia in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as of those who were forcibly deported from the Russian Far East to Central Asia by former Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in the late 1930s.Jeon Olga/ Courtesy of the Korean Cooperative, a support center for Koryoin residents in GwangjuJeon, who came to Korea in 2011, settled in Wolgok-dong,

May 19, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Koryoin restaurant owner receives immigrant award

Aspiring urban planners showcase innovative smart city solutions

From left, Park Jung-sook, secretary general of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), Paik Ji-ah, ambassador for international relations of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Cho Eun-byul, head of the program department at WeGO, gesture during the closing ceremony of the organization's assembly held in October 2021. By Kang Hyun-kyungYann Shaw, a student of Technical University of Munich in Germany, was confident all throughout her virtual presentation of her team's project on providing a virtual space for psychological healing, by employing metaverse and blockchain technology.“Life is a circle,” she said on May 13 at an event hosted by the Seoul-based international association of city and other local governments, World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), explaining her team's concept of a smart city project. “It will change the traditional funeral industry… We are creating a more futuristic and peaceful way for people to acknowledge

May 18, 2022By Kang Hyun-kyung

Aspiring urban planners showcase innovative smart city solutions

Immigrant voter turnout declines in local elections

Residents in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, hold a campaign in front of a support center for foreign residents, May 15, encouraging immigrant voters to participate in the June 1 local elections. NewsisExperts call for measures to encourage foreigners to voteBy Lee Hyo-jinA record-high 120,000 foreign residents are expected to be eligible to vote in the upcoming June 1 local elections. As a result, the turnout of these voters has drawn the attention of both political parties and candidates.The local elections are the only chance for non-Korean nationals to express their opinions on issues by voting, but previous turnouts show that such voters are becoming less enthusiastic about casting their ballots, according to government data.Following the revision to the Public Official Election Act in August 2005, foreign nationals who have resided in Korea for three or more years after obtaining permanent residency were given the right to vote in local elections. As a result, Korea became the first country in Asia to grant voting rights to non-citizen residents.Foreign nationals, however, are not al

May 17, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin

Immigrant voter turnout declines in local elections

Ex-Peace Corps volunteer Dolinger recalls horrors of 1980 massacre in Gwangju

David Lee Dolinger, right, and Matt VanVolkenburg, co-authors of Dolinger's Gwangju Uprising memoir, "Called by Another Name: A Memoir of the Gwangju Uprising" / Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarBy Arlo Matisz“Called by Another Name,” the title of David Lee Dolinger's memoir released this month, refers to Im Dae-oon, the Korean name the author was given when the Peace Corps sent him to South Korea in 1978, where he was stationed in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, on tuberculosis control duty. “While I lived in Korea, I was always called by that other name. Really it sort of symbolizes that also, I started almost a new chapter in my life because of 5.18,” Dolinger said in an interview with The Korea Times at GFN Radio's studio in Gwangju.He uses the name “5.18” to refer to the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement in 1980, when citizens protested against a coup d'etat led by army general Chun Doo-hwan and were met with violence, a nine-day siege followed by a massacre, in which anywhere between 600 and 2,300 were killed. After four decades, Dolinger fina

May 17, 2022

Ex-Peace Corps volunteer Dolinger recalls horrors of 1980 massacre in Gwangju

Daegu scene has its 'Big Day South'

Greenvilla from Changwon / Courtesy of GreenvillaBy Jon DunbarAfter skipping a year during the pandemic and coming back in 2021 in a limited capacity, Big Day South is back in full force. The somewhat nomadic arts and music festival is being held this year once again in Daegu, from Friday to Saturday. “People are pretty excited to be back to standing shows and ready to dance,” Philip Brett, one of the festival operators, told The Korea Times. “Personally, this is the first opportunity I've had to gather a number of people who haven't been able to spend enough time together lately.”Over the last couple of years, pandemic restrictions have been especially tough on the live music scene, with concertgoers forced into seats and forbidden from dancing, as well as caps on the number of people. Shows have still been happening but have just been less fun. But Brett said last year's event was also “a great success.” “We sold out all of the tickets that we were allowed to sell,” he said. “While everything was seated at Club Heavy, all our mu

May 17, 2022By Jon Dunbar

The Collective brings 'Bootycandy' to Korea

Actors Alameen and Terris Brown perform in "Bootycandy" / Courtesy of Mallory DowdBy Jon DunbarExpat theater group The Collective is hitting the stage again this weekend and next, presenting its latest production, “Bootycandy” by U.S. playwright Robert O'Hara. “Bootycandy” is a satirical take on growing up gay and Black, presented in a complex narrative of scenes, sermons, sketches and daring meta-theatrics. This production will be directed by Ray Salcedo, co-founder of The Collective, who is an award-winning director and playwright. He has previously directed “A Midsummer Night's Dream” and “Titus Andronicus” for Seoul Shakespeare Company and has written a few plays for Seoul Players. About “Bootycandy,” Salcedo told The Korea Times that some readers can guess what the play's title means, but also mentioned it does get addressed in a couple of scenes. “I will just say that I think it reflects the complex relationship one can have with some parts of our bodies that can be the cause of both joy and shame, of both gratif