Global Community

(315) G20 ― Seoul Summit (I)

(314) Geography ― cities

(313) Social issues ― public rallies (III)

Reconnecting with Mother Nature!

By Christopher Jay What could be more exciting than plunging into a hidden waterfall in the mountains? A century ago Britain had hundreds of outdoor swimming clubs where young and old regarded jumping into tidal waters or a gushing river part and parcel of a lido culture that was almost wiped out after World War II, especially with the establishment of the municipal pool and the pollution of our rivers and seas. However, today, 80 percent of Britain’s waterways are in good or excellent condition again, and in the last decade there has been a sharp rise in the number of people wanting to reconnect with Mother Nature and embrace the freedom that a swim in the great outdoors delivers. On this side of the globe, with Korea’s new found love for swimming, this writer wonders if any of his Korean friends would be willing to join him for a dip in the rivers, lakes and seas of the Korean Peninsula. Korea is full of beautiful mountains and valleys many of which bubble with glorious little rivers and streams that narrow and deepen to form perfect places to strip off and jump i

Seoul Writers Workshop publication goes on sale

By Conor O’Reilly Over the past few years, English language media has been increasing its visibility in Korea with English newspapers and magazines available in all major cities. Of course, the majority is concentrated in Seoul. As each has had its own scope, new readerships have opened up and allowed for more diverse publications. One of the people involved in many of these is Chris Sanders. As well as writing for a number of magazines and websites, Sanders and fellow members of the Seoul Writers Workshop have independently published three successful collections of creative writing called Every Second Sunday. Sanders has gained valuable experience as editor of Seoulstyle.com, an online guide to lifestyle and entertainment in Seoul. Elaborating on the increased visibility of English media, Sanders said, “A few years ago, there was essentially one magazine for the expats. That idyllic time is long past, with the entrance of every bar in Itaewon piled high with ‘em.’ However, “If you don't live in Itaewon,” Sanders explained, “you're probably not going to see any of the expat

Haebangchon Festival will kick off Saturday

By John Redmond The Haebangchon Music Festival kicks off this year’s fall edition Saturday at 1 p.m. at venues located in Haebangchon and Itaewon. With the weather turning noticeably chillier, organizers, performers and audiences are gearing up for an indoor only festival. Comprising of over 50 acts that range from comedy and rock bands to folk musicians and traditional Korean performing arts, the twice-a-year festival has over the past five years grown to embrace both local and expat artists. Always expanding, the festival is a local neighborhood initiative guided by Lance Reegan-Diehl, an internationally acclaimed musician who has been the central organizer since day one. One noticeable change to this festival is that no performances will be held outdoors. All performers and spectators are asked to remain in designated venues as the main street is a major bus route. “This year we’re trying to keep people off the streets as we are trying to keep noise levels down,” he said. There are also traffic concerns. So far no serious incidents regarding traffic have bee

(312) Social issues ― public rallies (II)

(311) Social issues ― public rallies (I)

(310) Kitchen supplies

Foreignline

Korea-Japan Festival due Oct. 2 and 3 Beginning as part of the 2005 Korea-Japan Friendship Year event, the Korea-Japan Festival was successfully hosted in both Tokyo and Seoul in 2009. Focusing on the theme of “Ancient History and Bright Future,” the 6th Korea-Japan Festival this year will be held in Seoul Square and Cheonggye Square for two days, Oct. 2-3, while it is hosted in Roppongi Hill, Tokyo on Oct. 2. The festival is one of the largest cultural exchanges between the two countries, prepared by thousands of Korean and Japanese people; the festival brings cultural exchanges among citizens, students, and local governments between Korea and Japan. Subtitled “Understanding Each Other and Sharing the Future,” the festival offers an exquisite opening ceremony showcasing colorful performances; performances include ``samulnori” (Korean percussion music), traditional Korean dance, bongsan mask dance, “Ganggang Sullae” (a circle dance), “Nebuta Matsuri” (a fire festival in Japan), a Sumo Contest, J-Pop, and other traditional performances. During the festival, visitors ca