Global Community

Center Provides Interactive Setting for Expats, Natives

By Ines Min Contributing Writer The door gives way to a warmly-lit room filled with wooden tables and chairs, sofas, a bar, and small groups of students huddled around open textbooks. Music plays in the background and various artworks ― ranging from Van Gogh's "Starry Night" to Johannes Vermeer's "Girl With a Pearl Earring" ― decorate the walls. This is the scene inside Hyehwa-dong's Culture Complex, a center for language exchange. The English-language cafe serves as a setting for people to learn either Korean or English, as well as interact in a non-stressful, culturally-friendly way. "I don't want this to be like a hagwon," said CEO and co-founder Kim Young-jin. "We let people hang out here, so they can speak Korean and English naturally." The 35-year-old wanted to make a "creative place," an alternative to the boozy night culture of bars, where it can be difficult for natives and foreigners to penetrate cultural barriers in a lasting or meaningful manner. The Culture Complex, called CulCom for short, doesn't cater to only one side. Foreigners are able to lea

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Finding Sangha Within the Bustling City’s Heart

By Young Jin Kim Contributing Writer On a Saturday afternoon, I cut through the crowd milling near Insa-dong and headed toward Anguk Station, late for class. I tried to quell my impatience with the pedestrian light that seemed to stay red forever and my annoyance with myself for not being punctual ― after all, it was a class on Zen Buddhism. Chastising myself, while rushing to get there, didn't quite seem the embodiment of Buddhist nature. But as I enter the Ahnkook Zen Center and climb its bright, sunlit stairwell, those emotions seem to fade into the quietude of the modern, four-story building. I slip quietly into the Buddha Hall, bow to the prominent statues of Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas and settle on a cushion amongst the other participants. I've been attending the class for a few weeks so I know the schedule ― a half-hour period of meditation followed by a discussion held in English on Zen, or in Korean, ``Seon.'' Held on Saturday afternoons, this class designed for foreigners welcomes everyone from those curious about Zen to experienced practitioners. Th

Group to Hold US Political Discussions

The Democrats Abroad Republic of Korea will mark their 45th anniversary Dec.12. The country committee will host “living room discussions” on U.S. healthcare reform from 3 pm to 6 pm at the DA-ROK Counsel’s House in Yongsan, Seoul. The purpose of the event is to inform people about the current healthcare bill, provide a platform for discussion and questions, and to provide an opportunity to contact their congressional representatives to encourage them to pass effective health care reform. This event is free and open to the public. Map and directions provided by e-mail. Please RSVP to darok.secretary@gmail.com or call 010-669-8323. Democrats Abroad is a nonprofit association and the official U.S. Democratic Party organization for Americans living outside the states. Democrats Abroad has committees throughout Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, keeping citizens informed of their rights and helping them participate in the U.S. political process.

A Retrospective on Uzbekistan on Its Constitution Day

Ambassador Vitali Fen of Uzbekistan contributed the following article on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of their Constitution Day, which was Tuesday. ― ED. Eighteen years ago, Uzbekistan gained its political sovereignty, and has followed a path of democratic development, a market economy, creation of a humane, lawful state, a fair civil society and a revival of traditional culture based on the idea of national independence. In order to achieve these goals, President Islam Karimov has developed the so-called Uzbek model of revival and progress, which is widely recognized by the international community. The core of this model is to take into account all the specifics and features of the evolution of Uzbekistan. This concept of democratization and renovation of the society ― reforming and modernizing the country targeting all spheres of the state's function ― is directed at maintaining the well-being of each citizen of Uzbekistan. As a result, an effective bicameral parliament has been established in the country. It has solved fundamental problems, such as b

Expat Awarded by Native Gov’t

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter A Filipino factory worker was recently honored by the Philippine government for his selfless efforts in helping his countrymen working in Korea. Rebenson B. Recana recently received the 2009 Bagong Bayani (New Hero) award for community and social service from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a ceremony at Malacanang Palace, Manila last week. The award pays tribute to outstanding overseas Filipino workers ``for their significant efforts in fostering goodwill among peoples of the world, enhancing and promoting the image of the Filipino as a competent, responsible and dignified worker.'' Recana founded the Filipino EPS Workers Association (FEWA), an organization for workers under the employment permit system (EPS). These workers usually hold jobs that are commonly referred to as the 3Ds ― dirty, dangerous and difficult. Seoul-based Catholic priest Fr. Alvin B. Parantar nominated Recana for the Bagong Bayani award. ``If there is someone who will stand for migrant workers' rights in South Korea, that person undoubte

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