South Korea - The Korea Times

Gongpyeong museum reveals struggle with preservation

Gongpyeong Historic Sites Museum in the basement of a new highrise in downtown Seoul places history under glass. / Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarBy Jon Dunbar The demolition of Euljiro's hardware shop alleys is getting a surprising amount of attention. Surprising because it's the same old story, and many of the characters are nobody new; all that's changed are the specifics. Originally the plan was to tear down all the low-rise industrial districts along both sides of the Seun Sangga megacomplex, but now that voices are being heard, the city government is making vague promises of preservation, even as excavators continue to bring down old buildings. Sadly, we can see how this is likely to play out in a previously redeveloped area, not far from Euljiro: Pimatgol, where redevelopment wiped away centuries of living history, except for a number of curious exhibits memorializing the 1910-45 Joseon era. Pimatgol was formed without much planning during mid-Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) when land previously for drainage became a back-alley shortcut for commoners. Originally, the alley stretche

Mar 5, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Foreign line

Artist needs helpFrench-Canadian interdisciplinary artist Pierre Tremblay is visiting Seoul as part of his collective video art walk project. He will walk with a group through Seoul's downtown this Thursday, covering the Euljiro area that is threatened with demolition as well as Seun Sangga, a megastructure measuring 1 kilometer long and only 50 meters wide. Participants will record videos on their own devices, and then transfer the files to him. The final product will be a multidimensional video collage showing everyone's perspective in real time. The result will resemble a Cubist representation of the area. To participate, meet the group at Euljiro 4-ga Station exit 1 at noon Thursday. The event will take up to an hour. Dresden Wolves in SeoulThe Mexican post-punk duo Dresden Wolves is in Seoul this Saturday for a concert at Club SHARP in Mangwon-dong, western Seoul. They'll play with local bands including Dead Buttons, Hellivision, DTSQ, Thee Mojo and Octopoulpe. The show costs 25,000 won. Visit fb.com/dresdenwolvesband for more information about the show or dresdenwolves.bandcamp

Mar 5, 2019By Jon Dunbar

INTERVIEW Korean-American singer calls attention to tragic history of national anthem

Korean-American singer-songwriter Zoe Yungmi Blank.By Dong Sun-hwa“I hope people do not forget the tragedy behind national anthem,” said Zoe Yungmi Blank, a Korean-American singer-songwriter. She will sing Korea's national anthem “Aegukga” on the 100th Anniversary of Korean Independence Movement Day at the Seodaemun Prison in Seoul.“When I sing Aegukga, I will bear in mind the background of its composer Ahn Eak-tai (1906-1965),” Blank told The Korea Times, Thursday. “I learnt he was not yet pro-Japanese and did not work for the Nazi Party when he composed the song in 1935, but later, he seemed to have succumbed to colonial power after losing hope to stand against it.” She began digging into Ahn's background after being invited by Funday Korea Networks, an organization that promotes Korean culture, to sing the anthem for the upcoming March 1 event. She referred to the research of Lee Hae-young, a professor of international relations at Hanshin University, who published a book on Ahn titled, “The Ahn Eak-tai Case: A Study of the Sym

Feb 28, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa

[INTERVIEW] Korean-American singer calls attention to tragic history of national anthem

Rights watchdog calls for discussion on gay marriage

Korea's human rights watchdog said Wednesday it was time for the country to discuss policy on same-sex marriage and come up with a social consensus on the issue. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-keeBy Kim Jae-heunKorea's human rights watchdog said Wednesday it was time for the country to discuss policy on same-sex marriage and come up with a social consensus on the issue. The stance is likely to bring fresh debate to the issue in Korea which is still conservative with regard to homosexualityThe National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) said that it had to dismiss a petition filed by a gay couple who were married in the U.K. and had requested the commission acknowledge their marital status here.The NHRCK emphasized it dismissed the petition because of the limitations of the current law, saying the move didn't mean the commission opposed same-sex marriage. “We dismissed it after concluding the nation needs a policy review on the issue,” the commission said. “Korean courts do not recognize the marital status of same-sex couples under civil law. Thus, to give the

Feb 27, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Rights watchdog calls for discussion on gay marriage

North Korean refugee speech contest takes challenging looks at 'freedom'

TNKR volunteers, speech contest participants, judges, and audience members pose for a group photo after the speech contest on Feb. 23. Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarBy Jon DunbarEight North Koreans now living in South Korea each gave 10-minute speeches for an English speech contest held by Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center (TNKR).The 9th English Speech Contest, held at the new location of Shin and Kim law office on Jongno, offered the theme “My Future TED Talk About North Korea.” Hosted by TNKR co-founders Casey Lartigue, Jr., and Lee Eun-koo, numerous warnings were given to the 130 in attendance to respect the contestants' privacy and not make recordings or take photos. The eight contestants spoke ― sometimes drained of emotion, sometimes fighting tears ― on their life experiences in North Korea, their escapes and resettlement in South Korea. While each gave a unique perspective, most speeches highlighted three highly telling key themes: North Korean black market culture, their parents, and the struggles in adapting to South Korean society.The grand pr

Feb 26, 2019By Jon Dunbar

North Korean refugee speech contest takes challenging looks at 'freedom'

Royal Asiatic Society-Korea Branch's brush with Japanese imperialism

Samuel H. Moffett, eldest son of Rev. S. A. Moffett, who was president of Soongsil College in Pyongyang during the March 1 Independence Movement in 1919, returns the Korean national flag to Soongsil University in this 1974 file photo. / Korea Times file pBy Steven L. ShieldsPerhaps it was unavoidable. After all, foreigners residing in Korea were subject to the prevailing legal and government authorities, just as was everyone else. But the excitement was simply too much for three-year-old Samuel H. Moffett, whose father, Rev. S. A. Moffett, was president of Soongsil College in Pyongyang. When Japanese troops burst into their home, located next to the college, little Samuel burst out with “manse.” He did not understand the cheer was a forbidden expression of the independence movement. The troops were looking for documents and demonstrators hiding from the law. The well-known missionary family was suspect.In the college playing field, a ruckus ensued as Japanese soldiers were trying to take down the then-forbidden Korean flag. Thousands had gathered for a demonstration and h

Feb 26, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Royal Asiatic Society-Korea Branch's brush with Japanese imperialism

Korea lowers bar for 85 professions in E-7 work visa revamp

The updated visa policies provide more opportunities for foreign chefs. NewsisBy Ko Dong-hwanThe Korean government has lowered the bar for migrants interested in “specially designated profession” work visas to boost the nation's foreign workforce.The Ministry of Justice announced the revised conditions on Feb. 22 for visas under the E-7 classification that authorizes work in 85 professions. The new policies become effective Mar. 1.The latest revision eases “rigidity in Korean visa policies” that domestic startups claimed made hiring foreigners difficult. Small and medium companies have also demanded expanding the quota for migrant workers in the sectors of casting, plastic working, metal molding, welding, surface treatment and heat treatment ― the country's “root industries.”“We have thoroughly taken into account opinions and demands from those in the industries and related government bureaus like the Ministry of Employment and Labor,” the justice ministry said. The authority said the latest revision will support the domestic economy by

Feb 24, 2019By Ko Dong-hwan

Korea lowers bar for 85 professions in E-7 work visa revamp

Electronic odyssey brings cyclist musicians to Korea

The members of Total Bike Forever / Courtesy of Total Bike Forever By Jon SteinMarathon cross-continental cycle tours, while unusual, aren't exactly unheard of; many adventurous individuals have sought to challenge themselves by crossing vast distances on their trusty bikes. And world musical tours are dime-a-dozen ― in this day and age, an artist going from country to country making music and playing shows hardly raises any eyebrows. Doing both at the same time, however, is definitely something you don't hear of every day. Yet that's exactly what Total Bike Forever ― a musical duo comprised of Londoners Tim Stephens and Adam Faulkner ― have set out to do. The two spent the better part of the last year on an epic bicycle journey from London to Tokyo, making music along the way. “We were part of an electronica quartet, Bear Muda, before, but it was getting really difficult to get together and work on music regularly, what with all of us having our own jobs and obliga

Feb 20, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Experience women's retreat on Jeju Island

Cho Haein, former therapist and yoga teacher of 14 years is the facilitator of the Goddess Yoga Retreat on Jeju Island, which will take place March 1 to 3. / Courtesy of Cho HaeinBy Celeste KrielCho Haein, a yoga and spiritual teacher, will be hosting a Goddess Yoga Retreat, a women's retreat from March 1 to 3 on Jeju Island. A former therapist and a yoga teacher of 14 years, Cho will provide an intimate space for women to come together to experience healing and community through yoga, movement, various healing arts and ceremonies on the beautiful resort island.With a mantra of three powerful words, “evoke, empower, embody” Cho invites women to the retreat to explore themselves and the power of movement and expression.“Through our retreats, I am devoted to hold a sacred space where we will be deeply nourished, celebrated and honored for who we are. We will sleep under the starry sky, nourish ourselves with organic meals from the garden, sing around the fire and dance under the moonlight,” she said.Born in South Korea and growing up in a spiritual community in

Feb 19, 2019

Experience women's retreat on Jeju Island

One-month crackdown on undocumented foreign workers, employers begins

By Park Si-soo Police and the justice ministry have launched a rare joint crackdown on undocumented foreign workers and their Korean employers. The crackdown will last for one month during which officials will scrutinize workplaces known for having many illegal foreign workers. Primary targets include construction sites, massage parlors, bars and other night entertainment facilities. Illegal foreign workers will be subject to deportation and banned from entering Korea for 10 years. Employers caught hiring them will be prosecuted. The justice ministry plans to work with other government agencies to bolster the crackdown's efficiency.“The crackdown will be conducted according to laws and regulations and with various safety measures in place to ensure no one will be injured during the operation,” a justice ministry official said.