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Robert Park Remains Silent on NK

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer Robert Park, the U.S. missionary released by North Korea last month after a Christmas Day border crossing to protest human rights abuses, continues to maintain his silence about what happened to him during his six weeks of incarceration. Associates say Park was slated to make a statement Friday, his first since being released from the communist North, in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. Park was a no-show. On the same day, however, an e-mail surfaced, apparently from Park, which shed some light. The e-mail read, "(I) am very sorry to you. This is my first direct email. I have been tormented and I apologize for my insane behavior lately. A friend has been managing my e-mail account." "I don't call people easily because of my spiritual condition -- I've had bouts of rage and intense temptations to kill myself (because of inner torture) since leaving DPRK (North Korea)." When Park crossed into North Korea on Dec. 25, he was carrying a letter addressed to Kim Jong-il, demanding he "repent" and that he free political pr

Expat Hockey League Season Kicks Off

By Matthew Graveline Contributing Writer Players of Canada Ball Hockey Korea took up their sticks and began another season last weekend. With hype building for hockey in Korea and the popularity of the league, the CBHK was forced to shut down registration for another 120-player season. But new and veteran players have a couple of improvements to look forward to. After playing three seasons without any referees, the league decided to have officials to make sure players are not going back to their offices and schools with casts and scars on Mondays. In addition, the CBHK is starting a Saturday kids' league and afternoon pick-up games. For executive director Kurt deVries, it is important that the league is always growing. "I want to give back to the Korean community that has been so great to our league," he said. "At the very least, I want a pick-up session to seed future growth." The organization started three years ago as a casual pick-up game at Seoul Olympic Park on an inline rink, where they still play. As expats hear about the league through va

Ample Brings Cutting-Edge Music to Seoul

Ample is an entity formed to showcase cutting-edge atmospheric music as well as to be dance floor oriented. It focuses on the spacious deeper-end and accommodates the ``Old Skool'' electronic music lineage, joining like-minded DJs in the Seoul scene. Ample presents its first guest, Jimpster, at Mansion in Hongdae on Saturday. The lineup for the night features Djs 4 Play and S at 11 p.m., Jimpster at 1 a.m. and Lowprofile and Kid-B from 3 a.m. Entry is 20,000 won before 11.30 p.m. and 30,000 won after. Jamie Odell, aka Jimpster, and Audiomontage have been producing, remixing and DJing for the last 17 years and co-running the Freerange Records label for the last 13. Odell's musical upbringing and early introduction to production and DJing have helped him forge a sound that is warm and deep as well as innovative and club-friendly. His seminal LP ``Messages From The Hub'' (1997), as well as his more dance floor orientated ``Audiomontage'' records helped establish Jamie as an artist of merit and he quickly became in regular demand as a remixer and co-producer on a wide r

British Defense Attache Visits War Battlefield

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer British Defence Attache Matthew O' Hanlon, brigadier of the Royal Ulster Rifles, got his first opportunity last Friday to see where, in 1951, his regiment was massacred by attacking Chinese forces. Accompanied by Korean War expert and author, Andrew Salmon, and this reporter, we relived the past in search of the Korean War battlefield "Happy Valley." "I know and have met many of the men who took part in (Happy Valley)," said O' Hanlon, who is in his fourth year in Korea. "It is very meaningful for me to come back and see where many of my older friends fought." Happy Valley, ironically named by the soldiers who fought in it, is known for the bloody retreat made there by the British in January 1951. After being overwhelmed by Chinese forces, all U.N. forces had pulled out, heading south, and the British were the last to go. They had planned a night-time retreat through a valley surrounded by Chinese, near Goyang, 12 miles north of Seoul. On the night, all was going according to plan until U.S. pilots mistakenly dropped fl

Foreignline

Early Spring Kite Flying If you are a fan of kite-flying maybe you want to put your skills to the test, or perhaps you just enjoy a day out on the beach. Next Sunday, March 13 and 14, the International Kite Flying Contest is taking place. The event will be on Dadaepo Beach, Busan. For more information contact 051-888-3475 and for free interpretation BBB-1588- 5644. Discover Traditional Korea in a Tour The latest in a series of ongoing tours by the Royal Asiatic Society includes touring a brewery and scenic countryside. The tour, set for March 13, offers the opportunity to discover how Korea’s traditional liquors, such as makgeolli, are made and maybe even try your hand at making some. As well as this there will be a visit to the Sanjong Lake. An area surrounded by craggy peaks and graceful pine trees, the snow covered lake is the quintessential oriental landscape. For lunch there is the option of either bringing your own or purchasing a Korean lunch from a local restaurant. The Royal Asiatic Society is a non-profit volunteer based organisation that has b

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Rugby Legend Visits Korea

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer Most rugby teams kick off the season with a friendly and some regular training sessions. Local team Seoul Survivors Rugby Football Club has begun its year with something a bit more special. Last Wednesday, rugby legend John Kirwan -- in Korea to speak at the Kiwi Chamber (New Zealand Chamber of Commerce) -- spent an evening at Seoul Foreign School teaching the Survivor's and the Colts, their youth team, a few tips. "(The Kiwi Chamber) asked me to come over and speak tomorrow night at the dinner and they said will I be available to coach kids, and I think it's fantastic, this is the grass roots," Kirwan said last Wednesday. For rugby fans, New Zealander Kirwan is a legend. He was one of the youngest ever players to appear for the national team, the All Blacks, playing his first match at 19. He is a rugby legend, perhaps best remembered for the 1987 world cup, which the All Blacks won, where he ran the entire field to score a try. It may come as a surprise to fans, but throughout his All Black career Kirwan suffered from depression.

Expats Help Orphans in Gwangju

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer For most teenagers in Korea, acceptance into university is payback for years of grueling study. Not everyone gets to enjoy it, though. For the girls of Sung Bin orphanage, Gwangju, higher education is just a dream. Without financial and family support it is one they cannot have. But things are changing, thanks to a group of expatriates. "While they live at Sung Bin, the girls' basic needs are met rather well, but upon graduating from high school the girls are forced to leave and begin supporting themselves," Elton Laclare, treasurer and six-year member of the Sung Bin Volunteers said. "To survive without family support at such a young age is certainly a cause of severe hardship for them." The Sung Bin Volunteers, as they unofficially call themselves, consists of English teachers and Korean university students. Originally established nine years ago to help the girls at the orphanage -- primarily through free English lessons, the group decided to take their efforts to the next stage. Although they collect and distribute donations and