Global Community

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Angriest Blogger Leaving Korea

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer The man once dubbed the angriest blogger in Korea is hanging up his gloves. Brian Deutsch, whose "Brian in Jeollanam-do" blog put Korea's south-western province on the map for many "expatizens," is moving to America this month. He leaves behind a popular blog, which was noted for its news and insights into the southwest region, and which was occasionally quoted in mainstream Korean media. "I think I've helped put Jeollanam-do on the map," he said. "Before I started there really wasn't any good English information about the area." The 29-year-old came to the country to teach English four years ago. He was in Bundang for the first year and then received an offer from a school in Gangjin County, South Jeolla. "I had no idea about where I was going," he said. "I had no idea about how many people lived there, no information whatsoever. I was surprised. I figured it would be a couple houses and some cows." Deutsch, always a keen writer, says that it was after he wrote for a Web site compiling encyclopaedia entries about Korea, that

Super Bowl Monday Morning

One of the biggest sporting events of the year, the Super Bowl is upon us and a few spots in Itaewon will be open bright and early to bring you the big game, breakfast and ― for those who want it ― beer this Monday morning. The bars showing the game will open their doors at 7 a.m. and although the game is not scheduled to start until 8:25 a.m. (local time), the best seats will go quickly. 3 Alley Pub boasts the longest-running Super Bowl party in Korea and will have the game on five screens. Breakfast will be available for 12,500 won with all the usual items and includes a cup of coffee. For those who want an alternative to breakfast, Sam Ryan's Tailgate Party is serving up hot dogs, burgers and chili from the grill on their terrace. They will be screening the game on eight large screens. Rocky Mountain Tavern is opening up both levels to house the early morning gridiron fans and big screens on both levels and TVs around the main bar make this another popular venue to watch the Super Bowl. For the hungry, the Truck Stop Breakfast is 9,000 won and a ham or a mushroom-an

Haiti Fundraisers

The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 13 has spurred acts of charity across the globe, to donate aid to the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. The events below are just a few of the many that are being organized here through the local and foreign community coming together, in a massive effort to help the Caribbean nation recover from this tragedy. Tomatillo Local Mexican food chain Tomatillo is partnering with UNICEF to donate 100 percent of all sales on Thursday to help the survivors of the devastating Haiti earthquake. Tomatillo hopes to raise money to support UNICEF's relief efforts for the children and families affected by the disaster. On Feb. 4, you can help donate to UNICEF's Haitian relief efforts by going to either of Tomatillo's two locations and ordering food. "By eating, you can help other people eat," said Peter Chun, owner of the local Mexican restaurant chain. "We wanted to do something for the victims of the earthquake, especially the children. When watching all the TV coverage of the kids out on the street with nothing t

Ambassadors Book Offers Rare Perspective of Korea

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer "Koreans are childlike... constitutionally lazy... densely ignorant." On the other hand the place is "a country of students." Such were the perceptions of some of the first Western travelers to Korea, recorded in 19th century magazines and newspapers such as Living Age and Missionary Review. The articles they came from, hidden away in libraries, collections and old book stores, have been republished by British Ambassador Martin Uden who published them in a book, ``Times Past in Korea,'' which recently went into its paperback edition. The book is a collection of 366 excerpts from Uden's personal collection. The books, magazine and newspaper articles provide an insight into the encounters, customs and daily life recorded by foreigners, from the 17th century to the Japanese colonial era in the first half of the 20th century. "The book is a way for me to show some of my collection to people," Uden said last week at the Royal Asiatic Society, Seoul. He has also written an introduction for the book ``Korea: Caught in Time,'' by Terry

Robot English Teachers Might Face Trouble in Practice

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer ``As far as I understand, computers still have difficulty distinguishing 'time flies like an arrow' from 'fruit flies like a banana,''' said Tim Dalby, a professor of Jeonju University. He was responding to a recent claim by an economist that within a decade robots may replace native English teachers in Korea. At a robotics forum in Seoul last month, Kim Shin-hwan of Hyundai Research Institute stated, ``By around 2015, robots should be able to help teachers in English classes. By 2018, they should be able to teach on their own while communicating with students,'' adding that they will eventually replace the need for native English teachers. Those in the firing line mostly hail from Canada, America, the United Kingdom and Australia. Some 30,000 are estimated to be in Korea. Dalby, who is the president of the Jeonju, North Jeolla chapter of Kotesol (Korea Teachers of English to Speakers of other Languages) doesn't rule out robotic English teachers, but he believes there is still a long way to go and many questions to be figured out.

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