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Joseon Images Ice Cream Comes to Korea

New York Journal, Feb. 7, 1897 By Robert NeffIt isn't clear when and how ice cream was first introduced into Korea but Horace N. Allen, an American missionary residing in Seoul, is a good possibility. In February 1885, he served ice cream to a couple of Korean officials at his home and, in the summer, treated Kim Yun-sik, the president of foreign affairs, to a dish or two. Within a decade, the Western residents of the capital often served ice cream to their guests ― including Koreans. Of course, there were no places that sold ice cream in the 1890s and people were forced to make it at home.Obtaining the ingredients ― especially in the summer when it was difficult to acquire clean ice ― was always a problem. There was also the lack of milk. Dairy milk was not a part of the general Korean's diet, so, in the beginning, most people were forced to utilize canned milk.Judging from a letter written in August 1890 by Helen Heard, the daughter of the American minister to Kor

Jul 23, 2019By Jon Dunbar

[Joseon Images] Ice Cream Comes to Korea

Volunteer group bridges Korea's 'English divide'

Beyond the English Divide (BtED) volunteers interact with children at Dolsan Child Community Center on June 22. / Courtesy of Beyond the English Divide By Jon DunbarEnglish language education is far from perfect in Korea, but access to it correlates directly to career opportunities and social mobility.When Bruce J. Lee moved to the affluent Gangnam-gu in southern Seoul, he was surprised how prevalent English was among local residents. He heard about children from privileged families being sent to private English kindergartens costing up to 2 million won per month.He refers to the unequal opportunities for English education as the “English divide,” a social problem that widens the gap between rich and poor.Driven to action, he formed Beyond the English Divide (BtED), registered as a nonprofit organization in September 2017. In February 2018 he also created Beyond Career Mentorship, and merged both in January this year.Now he's the head of Beyond Inc., a nonprofit cor

Jul 16, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Volunteer group bridges Korea's 'English divide'

I Art Seoul promotes community culture

Fabienne Valmond stands in front of I Art Seoul in Gyeongnidan, Seoul, during the grand opening on Jan. 5. / Courtesy of Jennae Lee Photography By Hallie BradleyOne of the best ways to meet people and learn about neighbors is to visit community spaces and the Gyeongnidan area has a new one livening up the scene. I Art Seoul is an art and community space that curates a variety of events each week. Started by Fabienne Valmond, there are an average of 12 events a week with some being curated entirely in house, others a collaboration, and still others a rental of space for private events. Events include film nights, game nights, an open mic night, language exchanges, speed dating, yoga, art soirees and pop-up brunches ― and that is just the in-house events. Other groups have come in to host a Romanian Easter celebration, various concerts, and this summer has seen an increase in markets for children's clothing swaps and sales and crafts, too. Valmond says she is more of

Jul 16, 2019

Yongsan Legacy Former principal's cultural journey at Seoul American Elementary School

John Blom stands next to a dolphin statue in front of Seoul American Elementary School, where he used to be principal. / Courtesy of Yongsan Legacy By Kyung LeeWhen he first came to Korea in 1973 to teach fourth and fifth graders at Pusan (Busan) American School, John Blom wasted no time familiarizing himself with Korea's culture, language and food. Having ventured into “dabang” (tea houses) and tasted “sundubu jjigae” (soft tofu stew) with “makgeolli” (traditional rice wine) as part of his own extracurricular activities, Blom's interest in Korea also meant helping his own students adapt to the country's norms under Pusan American's Host Nation Program.The following year, Blom transferred to Seoul American Elementary School (SAES), another school operated by the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), this one located on U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan. And while a teacher there until 1978, he continued to encourage his student body to experience Ko

Jul 16, 2019By Jon Dunbar

[Yongsan Legacy] Former principal's cultural journey at Seoul American Elementary School

Top court rules in favor of migrant wives

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, rights, shakes hands with Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam during the latter's visit to the Government Complex Seoul, Monday. Lee apologized for the recent case where a Korean husband assaulted his Vietnamese wife,By Kang Seung-wooKorea's top court has issued a ruling easing the requirements for foreign wives to stay in Korea even after they get divorced.The verdict came days after a case where a Korean man was arrested for assaulting his Vietnamese wife, which showed immigrant wives' vulnerability to abusive Korean husbands as they have to endure such violence and abuse to stay here. According to the law, if foreign wives divorce their Korean husbands but still want to receive resident status, they have to prove their Korean husbands weare entirely responsible for the split-up. But if local courts recognize the wives were in any way partly responsible, they are denied residency.But the Supreme Court ruled against this Wednesday. A Vietnamese woman had appealed to the top court to revoke previous lower court rulings that she could no longer st

Jul 10, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Top court rules in favor of migrant wives

Publishing Korea's first English-language academic journal

A copy of Transactions issue 93 / Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarBy Steven L. ShieldsThe Royal Asiatic Society-Korea Branch (RASKB) has published the 93rd volume of its journal, Transactions. The book launch for the annual publication took place on June 1 during the annual Garden Party at the American ambassador's residence in Seoul. Ambassador Harry Harris was presented the first copy by Brother Anthony, president of RASKB. The first Transactions was published shortly after the RASKB formed in 1900. Though comparatively slim, the journal included the first paper presented to the society. James Scarth Gale presented his thesis on Chinese influence on Korean culture at a meeting on Oct. 24, 1900. Gale was a Canadian Presbyterian missionary, as well as an educator and linguist. He was also an ardent student of Korean history and culture, publishing dozens of papers and monographs over his career. He was the first minister of Yondong Church in Seoul (from 1900 to 1927). The church is still operating at its original site on Daehangno. The RASKB office happens to be next door to this hist

Jul 9, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Publishing Korea's first English-language academic journal

Jankura Artspace hosts final drawing event

Artists participate in the “Jankura's Rhapsody” Queen-themed figure-drawing session at Jankura Artspace on July 6 in Seoul. / Courtesy of Jankura ArtspaceBy Jon DunbarJankura Artspace in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood has been winding down its final days since last month, and its closing event this weekend approaches. The studio, best known for its art classes, is going out this Saturday the way it came in: with two model sessions. They even booked the same model who posed at the opening session in 2012. “Jankura was created as a space where artists and art lovers could gather to either practice or learn art in an open and safe environment,” Mike Stewart, owner of Jankura, told The Korea Times. “As an artist I've always found having an outlet to explore my creativity essential and I wanted to help those who couldn't do that within the Korean language system. It was definitely a niche as the people who come in are those with an interest in art or art making who can speak at least minimal English.”Stewart announced the closing of Jankura's doors on soc

Jul 9, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Jankura Artspace hosts final drawing event

Long-term foreign residents must subscribe to national health insurance from July 16

Foreign residents in Korea who default on state health insurance fees will be required to personally pay for all medical costs. GettyimagesbankBy Park Si-sooStarting July 16, foreigners who have lived in South Korea for more than six months will have to subscribe to the national health insurance, which is now optional for expats who don't work for local companies.The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced this on Tuesday after a revised public health law won Cabinet approval. Foreign students will be exempt until March 2021.The minimum monthly premium is 113,050 won, which can go up depending on income, property and other financial conditions.

Jul 9, 2019

Long-term foreign residents must subscribe to national health insurance from July 16

16 local beer breweries join Gangneung beer fest

Gangneung's Budnamu Brewery is one of the 16 brewers participating in this weekend's Gyeongpo Beach Beer Festival. / Courtesy of Budnamu BreweryBy Jon DunbarBeer and the beach makes for a good combination, as those in Gangneung in Gangwon Province may well know. Gangneung's Gyeongpo Beach is playing host to a beer festival this weekend. The Gyeongpo Beach Beer Festival brings together 16 craft breweries from across Korea for three days of boozy festivities. Participating brewers include locals Gangneung Brewery and Budnamu Brewery, as well as Sokcho's Mont Beer Brewery and PyeongChang County's White Crow Brewing. Other well-known names include Gapyeong County's Kabrew, Incheon's Caligari Brewing and Goyang's The Table Brewing Company. The many others also represent more distant cities like Ulsan, Changwon and Daejeon. It is a gathering, one that would have been impossible 10 years ago when the craft brewing scene was far from mainstream. Craft beer has spread to every corner of the Korean Peninsula, rescuing consumers from the mass-produced lagers provided by macrobrewers such as Cas

Jul 9, 2019By Jon Dunbar

16 local beer breweries join Gangneung beer fest

INTERVIEW UNICEF teams up with Korea to tackle gender-based violence

Bo Viktor Nylund, right, deputy director of UNICEF's Eastern and Southern Africa regional office, gives advice to teenagers about self-protection against violence and abuse in the community in Chimanimani, eastern Zimbabwe, March 27. Courtesy of UNICEFBy Kim Hyun-binThe Korean government has shown interest in and support for collaborating with UNICEF in recent years to better tackle gender-based violence (GBV) issues worldwide. However, an official of the U.N. agency wishes for more support from Asia's fourth-largest economy.“We have an ongoing collaboration and partnership (with the Korean government) and obviously we would like to see that grow. It has been growing so we are pleased at the direction it has been taking,” Bo Viktor Nylund, deputy regional director of UNICEF's Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, said during an interview with The Korea Times at the organization's Seoul office, Monday.Bo Viktor NylundNylund was in Seoul to attend the two-day International Conference on Action with Women and Peace, hosted by Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tue

Jul 5, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

Global Community

Global Community

Joseon Images Ice Cream Comes to Korea

Volunteer group bridges Korea's 'English divide'

I Art Seoul promotes community culture

Yongsan Legacy Former principal's cultural journey at Seoul American Elementary School

Top court rules in favor of migrant wives

Publishing Korea's first English-language academic journal

Jankura Artspace hosts final drawing event

Long-term foreign residents must subscribe to national health insurance from July 16

16 local beer breweries join Gangneung beer fest

INTERVIEW UNICEF teams up with Korea to tackle gender-based violence

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