On Velcro Parents and Garbled Google Translations

Just saw an article from the JoongAng Daily about Velcro parents. Former Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan has had to step down after a nepotism scandal broke out. The article concluded with an extract from a  poem by Jeong Chae-bong:

“The child you send into the wilderness becomes a bean tree,
but the child you keep in the greenhouse becomes a bean sprout.”

광야로
내보낸 자식은
콩나무가 되었고
온실로/들여보낸 자식은
콩나물이 되었고

(정채봉, ‘콩씨네 자녀교육’)

Out of curiosity, I tried out the Google translator on this piece of verse and got this garbled version:

"Into the wilderness / exported child is / was a samurai kongna / conservatory / sent in the child is / has become overcrowded "

I guess this could be paraphrased as:  " The text you translate  with a dictionary and your own common sense/ becomes a bean tree / but the text you send to Google Translator/ becomes a bean sprout."

My apologies to Google Translator, but I can't resist the dig. Human translators, rest easy - your day job is still intact. BTW,  what IS a " samurai kongna"?


sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2925640
http://picsicio.us/keyword/bean%20sprouting/

Beware Of Chuseok Crowds!

Chuseok or the Korean Thanksgiving  ( or the Harvest Moon Festival ) falls on the 22nd of September this year and it looks like the race for train tickets back to the hometown has started once again. This is a reminder then for tourists planning to travel around the third week to make their reservations a.s.a.p. and for those staying in Seoul to brace themselves for many closed shops and restaurants during this period.

This photo was taken at Seoul Station on Wednesday. These people in the queue lines are certainly taking no chances as they are booking seats one month ahead of one of the most important festivals in the country.

To see other pics of Chuseok crowds and jams of yesteryear, click here.
For what to do in Seoul during Chuseok, click here.
For what goes on during Chuseok, click here.
For Chuseok - The Worst of Times, click here.
For Chuseok - The Best of Times, click here.
sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/08/19/2010081900368.html

Andre Kim's Lessons On Personal Branding

Call him  weird-looking, eccentric or that odd man obsessed with "white spacesuits" or as Le Figaro put it, "the magician from fairyland"; call his clothes over-the top flights of fantasy or  romantic expressions of the Korean aesthetic- however you choose to label the late Andre Kim and his creations, there's one thing you gotta give the man.

R.I.P. Andre Kim ( 12th August, 2010)

He knew how to brand himself. He cut an indelible, if somewhat ridiculous figure,  on the runway with his mascara-lined scalp and white clothes; apparently Korean comedians love to mimic his dramatic flourishes and he knew how to leverage on his social network.



There's not much info on his own "rags to riches" story or in his case, how he rose from obscurity and  transformed himself from Kim Bong Nam, son of a farmer to become Andre Kim, Korea's first male designer.

Andre Kim in the 1960s - before he redesigned his own image.

His brand name soon became associated with " luxury and romanticism" and he was the first designer to have a fashion show in front of the pyramids of Egypt and the man who turned down Michael Jackson's invitation to be his personal designer.  ( For a list of other 'firsts' and feathers in his cap, click here)



He was open to the suggestion of a diplomat from the French Embassy to adopt  an “easy foreign name” as the first step towards becoming a world-class designer. He seemed to have done a fair bit of networking with the expat community and the diplomatic corps, learning more about the world through his contacts as well as taking the opportunity to share with foreigners his pride in his own culture.

For Hallyuwood stars, like Choi Ji-woo and Lee Young-ae, invitations to appear in his fashion shows became a yardstick of their own popularity. His commercial savvy prompted him to let his name be linked to other products like Samsung washing machines, Hankook Chinaware and wallpaper. It would be interesting to know how well his company has been doing actually, in terms of domestic and international sales,  who his main customers are and more importantly, what direction his company will take after his demise.



Here's what Andre Kim once said in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo:

" During the Japanese colonization and right after the Korean War, my village in the countryside was very poor. Yet a new bride wore new clothes for a year. Though it was economically difficult, people were always clean, neat and beautiful. The kitchen was gleaming, and my mother always wiped the floor clean. When I see today's well-off people with their dirty houses, I get really annoyed. Even when we were poor, our food, clothes, and houses were clean and aesthetic. We are people with a high taste for culture."


I very much doubt I'll ever wear any of his creations but here's what I will remember the man for:

• his incredible work ethic - did you know he taught himself English and took pride in his ability to use Queen's English? He woke up at 5:30 a.m. every day and read 17 newspapers to keep himself updated and in touch with events.
• He personally made Christmas trees and had them delivered in style to his  friends. That puts me to shame when I'm so bad at even sending out Christmas cards.

sources:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hEawusZ9yZM_kQZS8okDk6odMkrA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Kim
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/08/113_71362.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VydypYHRtRE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZanqu27kWI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlk2SRcoqvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAHV6VzOj4M&feature=related
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/08/113_71362.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/08/13/2010081300532.html
http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?sec=8&id=4459
http://en.akihabaranews.com/9568/misc/samsung-does-tuning-for-washing-machines
http://www.korea4expats.com/news-Andre-Kim.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/07/13/2007071361019.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/11/20/2009112000316.html

Humanizing the City Landscape?

 It may not be an original idea but the fact that this is an undertaking by the Seoul Metropolitan Government suggests that some civil servants at least aren't being complacent. It's a good way to involve the urban community and instead of passing by empty walls around the construction site for a section of City Hall, pedestrians can now enjoy looking out familiar faces as many Seoulites have contributed photos of themselves by Twitter or the Internet.

Wish more of our city councils could be as creative with our tax money! The unveiling of the finished work of art which take place on Independence Day ( 15th August, 2010).

However, does the marketing gimmick below ie. a model dispensing drinks in place of the usual vending machines count as another instance of creativity or exploitation?

 

sources:

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=15261

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2923694

Keeping Cool, K-style

How do Koreans keep cool in summertime? Here are TEN ways ( not in any particular order of effectiveness.)

1. You could join the beachgoers   who have opted to don their swimsuits and head for the sea at places such as  Haeundae, Busan but you're more likely to suffer heat-stroke or sun-burn and feel stifled as you compete with 700,000 others for your tiny bit of space on the sand. As temperatures rise, tempers are more likely to flare with long queues for ice-creams, beach brollies and public toilets. IMHO, it might be better to head for the beach at the tail-end of summer once the students head back home to get ready for school.

2. Those stuck in the capital will probably gravitate towards Cheonggyecheon in the heart of Seoul. Go early to book prime spots under the bridges for more shade.

3. Traditional wisdom dictates that you "fight fire with fire" and so older Koreans prefer to deal with the dog days of summer by indulging in samgyetang ( chicken stuffed with rice, dates and ginseng in  soup) Chobok, one of the hottest days on the Korean calendar,  is a good time as any to have this dish. (NEWSIS)

4. These children from Daegu may enjoy a water gun fight but how cool can you get while perspiring under raincoats? Isn't the point to get wet? Over-protective ajummas, take note.

5. It seems paradoxical but it makes sense to don winter clothes and  sign up for indoor ski lessons to escape the summer heat. (Taken  in Bucheon - Yonhap News)

6. Not just sand, sea, surf and sunblock at the Busan Sea Festival at Haeundae Beach. You're less likely to wilt from the summer heat if you get lost happily in this ice maze.

7. Cool off by soaking your feet in foot baths while sitting still in the shade, complete with the coolest sunglasses and summer hat. (Taken in Boseong, South Jeolla Province - Newsis)

8. Take shelter under gourd vines  at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. If gourds aren't available, head for any bower or tree with widespread branches.

9. Decorate your own summer cooling devices -Visitors pose with their own hand-painted fans at the Seoul Museum of History  (Yonhap). See earlier posting on hand-made fans. My guess is they're keeping cool because of the air-conditioning so head for museums, art galleries or cinemas which provide better, though not green,  relief from soaring temperatures.

10. This Korean at a commando unit camp in Damyang, puts the army helmet to good use.

 sources:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/08/06/2010080600306.html

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/08/06/2010080600304.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/08/03/2010080300287.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/08/03/2010080300286.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/30/2010073000355.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/23/2010072300273.html
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2923704
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2923417
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=15225

How Many Ways Can You Use A Hand Fan?

Doing this piece on Korean fans - no, not the kind who go after Kpop stars, but the hand-crafted ones as some Korean friends gave me a few beautiful ones recently. Plus,  summer seems the appropriate season to feature them.

Started drawing up a list of the ways in which Koreans have used fans and guess what? The number of  functions have now hit twenty! Let me count the ways, beginning with the traditional uses in terms of personal comfort as indicated in description of the “eight virtues” of the hand-held  fans :

1. Naturally they kept people cool in the summer heat. But how many people, in these days of battery-powered mini-fans, still use such eco-friendly devices?

2. The fan was also handy, not so much as a fly swatter, but to discourage insects from hovering around. Again, it was much greener than spraying insecticide.

3. Koreans working outdoors could also block off the sun rays by holding the fan to shade their eyes.

4. Instead of dirtying their hanbok when they had to sit on the ground to watch an outdoor performance, they sat on the open fan as a cushion.

5. It  protected the hair when the rustic folk had to bear large burdens of firewood etc on their heads.

The remaining three 'virtues' revolve around the domestic scene:

6. The fan acted as an  improvised cover for an open container
7. It was employed to fan hearth or kitchen fires
8. It could serve as a replacement for  a dustpan ?!

9. Sometimes, housewives used the fans to help them to sort out grains. ( though this wasn't included among the 8 virtues. )

However, fans served other important functions during the Joseon Dynasty.

10.  They were status symbols. Members of the royal family had the privilege of owning large fans which had 50 spokes. Fans flaunted by the yangban or aristocratic class were made of the finest quality paper and bamboo and decorated with precious metals or gemstones like amber or jade but they couldn't carry fans with more than 40 spokes. Ordinary folks had to be satisfied with poorer quality fans with much fewer spokes.

11.Fans were also significant to shamans ( mudang). The Shaman's Fan Painting (Songsubuchae) below has a fan within a fan. The female shaman on the right is holding a fan used for rituals as it has a "picture of the Sambul trinity who govern childbirth, life, and agriculture".  In one Korean dance, the performer who takes on the role of the mudang "captures the awakened souls with bu chae (fans) so they can rejoice with her and ease their suffering".

12. Pansori singers used the fan for dramatic effect while court performers entertained with the graceful fan dance or the buchaechum.

13. Artists would elevated the prestige of some fans when they showcased their skills in painting, calligraphy or composing poems. Such fans then were displayed as decorationns in the home.

14. Fans, of course, have long  been used as fashion accessories by ladies.

15. But they could also hide heir faces in genuine modesty or embarrassment or coyness. No doubt the kisaengs of the past practised the art of seduction by fluttering their lashes behind their fans.

16.  Fans were also bestowed as state gifts on foreign dignitaries.

17.  Ironically, some fans were used for far less diplomatic purposes - steel fans were once weapons  of stealth when the people were not allowed to bear swords in public. The art of making secret compartments which held razor blades or poisons must be a dying or dead art by now.

18 At the same time, a person skilled in martial arts could deflect knives and defend himself with a sturdy fan.

19. In these more commercial times, fans are curiosities recalling the past, reduced mostly to tourist souvenirs.

20. Finally, it has been adopted as a city symbol for Jeonju which still has a number of craftsmen who maintain this

sources:
http://alittlebirdietoldmeso.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.htmlhttp://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6668206
http://www.koreanartandantiques.com/items/803314/item803314store.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Korean.Dance-Buchaechum-01.jpg
http://www.worldartswest.org/main/edf_performer.asp?i=2
http://www.koreanpress.net/news/view.asp?idx=2171&msection=1&ssection=3
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2923236

http://www.antiquealive.com/masters/Hand_Fans/Korean_Paper_Bamboo_Fan.html
 http://www.koreana.or.kr/months/news_view.asp?b_idx=703&lang=en&page_type=list
 http://weaponhouse.blogspot.com/2009/10/mu-puche-korean-fan.html
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SH/whatToBuy/whatToBuy.jsp?action=item&cid=996013
http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?menu=c10400&no=220218&rel_no=1
http://www.mfms2010.org/sub0903.php

Will The Real Patbingsu Please Stand Up?

It's so confusing - google this summertime treat and one finds a wide array of patbingsu in various shapes, concoctions and colours ( some can rival the psychedelic hues of a 1970s go-go garment). Patbingsu seems to grow more complex with each summer so it got me wondering about the traditional, authentic version which the halmeonis still regard with fondness.

An interesting article in the Korean Times  reminds me that:
"...modern refrigeration was still a rarity (in Korea) until as late as the 1960s...Blocks of ice from the frozen Han River would be stored in piles of sawdust until the hot summer months arrived. Ice was even once managed by official government offices....Tubs filled with salt water ( were used)  to keep the ice ( treats) from melting and street cart vendors would shave the blocks by hand and sell their goods to neighborhood children directly from the stand."

Ingredients like red beans were considered luxuries in the past so the original recipes were regarded as real treats generations earlier. In the poor old days, young Korean children could only look forward to shaved ice topped with red beans, rice cakes and ground nut powders. These days, though, they would look like poor country cousins next to the fancilful Haagen-Daaz or Lotte mart versions.

Some of the toppings now include: fresh or/ and  canned fruits, ice-cream, sweet corn, chocolate chips, cereal flakes, chewy jelly bits, yoghurt, condensed milk, green tea powder and so on.  I've even seen one webpage mention red wine! Wonder when the Koreans will globalise this seasonal dleight or be influenced  by other cultures and start putting durian puree on their patbingsu.

One writer from the JoongAng Daily claims to have "sampled the most authentic patbingsu" at Wallpaper, a Pan-European cafe in Samcheong-dong, northern Seoul. So what makes one patbingsu "more authentic" than another? Obviously, much ado is made of the freshness and texture of the main ingredients.

The reporter points out, "Often bakeries and dessert shops make the culinary faux-pas of using special rice cakes for patbingsu that come in frozen packets. Here, the rice cake is fresh and moist as if it had just come out of a steamer. But most importantly, the ice is ground to perfection. The particles are smooth with a slight milky flavor, and the bowl gets emptied so quickly, the ice hasn’t even melted."

Perhaps the most sublime version of patbingsu can be found or made several thousand kilometres outside Korea. Much to my surprise, the Korean researchers at the King Sejong Station, a research base in the Antarctic still have a liking for this cold dessert despite living daily with sub-zero temperatures. The chef attached to the base uses icebergs for the shavings. But if you prefer some real down-to-earth patbingsu, take the cue from some researchers who like to spread the red beans on the pristine snow and eat the mixture with their hands.

Chef Lee Sang-hoon with his "refrigerator"  in the background.

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2893988
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2890518
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:600patbingsoo.2jpg.jpg
http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/patbingsu
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/05/203_66980.html
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:Korean_shaved_ice-Patbingsu-Nokcha_bingsu-Cherry_tomatoes.jpg
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/08/how-to-make-patbingsu-korean-shaved-ice-recipe.html

Seven Commandments For Cittaslow Visitors

Came across this article from the JoongAng Daily which reported how the Cittaslow Movement wasn't really working out for the local population. Hordes of tourists who descend on such villages create jammed roads and piles of rubbish, amongst other problems.

So here are unfriendly but necessary rules I'd recommend to protect the slow lifestyle of Jeungdo under threat:

1. Thou shalt forsake thy private transport. ( leave your car at home; walk or hire a bike instead).

2. Thou shalt not covet the fruit of thy Cittaslow neighbour's labour. ( in short, don't pinch the farmers' produce!)

3. Thou shalt not be led into temptation and submit to your nicotine addiction.( Please don't stink up the air with your ciggies!)

4. Thou shalt bear the burden of any rubbish you have and carry it home. ( the limited resources of these places can't cope with the litter left by visitors)

5. Honour the privacy and respect the property of those who dwell in the Cittaslow homes. ( please don't turn them into prisoners in their own home).

6. Thou shalt practise forbearance and suffer patiently the slower service. ( after all, you did come for a slower pace of life, right? )

7. Remember the commandments for the National Parks and keep these places holy and inviolate as well ( ie. take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints).

BTW, If anyone can suggest three more rules  to make a complete set of commandments, I'd be grateful!

UPDATE: Comment from Aaron McKenzie ( thanks!)

I saw this article, too. I had to laugh, though, because in the very same issue of the Joong Ang, was an article about the new "slow lifestyle" movement which containted this quote:



"Businesses that aim to enrich living spaces also stand to gain from this trend. The recently designated “slow city” of Jeung Island boasts large expanses of mud flats, salt fields and wetlands."

So, on the same day, the Joong Ang reports on how folks on Jeungdo are complaining about too many damned tourists...and then the paper essentially recommends that folks go have a look at the place.

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2923048
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_4_12_15_4.jsp
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=815540

Summer Time and the Livin' Ain't So Easy....

Perhaps these are just my own preconceptions but my idea of summertime in Korea isn't so idyllic as the Gershwin standard apparently makes it out to be. First of all, there are the monsoon rains to contend with and I'm more likely to see umbrellas keeping people dry instead of decorating some summertime festival.

In fact, the brollies can do double duty as shields from the scorching sun. So if you're dripping and turning redder than a bowl of kimchi tchigae, you may be hard pressed to find ways to cool off  so here are some suggestions.  First, hanji fans aren't merely quaint decorations. They can be pretty handy when you're caught in a place without any air-conditioning or if you're a greenie and haven't the heart to switch on the air-con or even fans.

OR you can run the risk of looking juvenile and face the outwardly-disdainful but inwardly envious stares of adults as you take the plunge alongside these kids into Seongnae Stream in Songpa District, Seoul.

If the water isn't enough, treat yourself to a cooling full-body mudpack at the Boryeong Mud Festival ( held between 17th and 25th July this year) OR volunteer to be covered in sand to protect your fair complexion from being sun-toasted in sand sculpture contests for festivals like the Busan Beach Festival.

Emulate the lifestyle of vampires, even though you're not a fan of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries or True Blood and only venture outdoors when the sun goes down. Lots of  open-air concerts to take advantage of during this season such as the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival or if you are won-pinching, check out the free performances in front of City Hall every evening at 8 pm until October.

Better still, join former g.o.d. member, Sohn Ho-young in special performances entitled "Ho young 2 Ocean" Concerts ( 8th - 25th July, at the KT& G Sangsang Art Hall). The thoughtful entertainer is planning to help his fans cool off with a sprinkler system and he'll even play bartender to make cocktails for some lucky fans. On second thought, THAT is more likely to create more steam and sizzle.

Spectacular fireworks display are an additional bonus for summertime night-owls. Good luck finding a spot along the Hangang far from the madding crowds, though,  that threaten to add to the sweltering stuffiness. Otherwise head downsouth for the Pohang Fireworks Art Competition from the 24th to the 29th of July at the Pohang Cultural Art Hall.

Alternatively, you may brave the outdoor sun, heat and humidity and trail school-groups as they go on nature walks or take part in harvesting activities. The kids here look as if  reaping barley is lots of fun but I'd rather be indoors sipping glasses of sikhye. For a recipe and video demo on how to make this delicious and refreshing drink made from barley malt powder, check this out.

For something with a little more kick, I'd indulge in bottles of maesilju ( Korean plum wine). Click here for the recipe. Also, see previous posting on almost everything plummy.

Then I'd sober up with a virtuous bowl of samgyetang ( generously laced with ginseng wine, of course!) like the ones served to the senior citizens below.

Happy surviving summer, everyone!

Sources:

1. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/02/2010070200422.html

2. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/01/2010070100411.html

3. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/06/18/2010061800401.html
4. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=15001¤t_page=
5. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=13027¤t_page=20
6. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11117¤t_page=37
7. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11119¤t_page=37
8. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11148¤t_page=37
9. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11064¤t_page=37
10.http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11357¤t_page=35
11. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=8625¤t_page=63
12. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=8387¤t_page=65
13. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=8342¤t_page=65

Park Yong-ha, Why Add To The Sad Statistics?

It's a sad thing when I'm not so much shocked as just startled to hear about Park Yong-ha's apparent suicide.  This hasn't been the first time I've heard about suicides by Koreans, whether they were celebrities or ordinary people. After reading about the suicides of  Kim Kwang Seok, Choi Jin-shil and Choi Jin -yeong, Reverend Munsu and the part-time lecturer, and President  Roh Moo-hyun, I'm wondering if this social trend is getting worse.

Rest in peace, Park Yong-ha

The topic has been covered already by notable bloggers but it's worth revisiting time and again especially in the light of recent studies and statistics - South Korea has the highest number of suicides among the countries in the OECD; an average of 24 people out of 100,000 in ROK kill themselves each year ( in contrast to 21 per 100,000 in Hungary and 19 per 100,000 in Japan).

Other statistics gleaned from a KBS World Radio discussion indicate that it didn't use to be like this. Thirty years ago, the suicide rate was only 6.8, comparable to the figures of countries like Spain and Italy but now suicide is the fourth most common cause of death in the country.  Click here for the link to the video interview ( you need to click on the TV icon for the segment ) dated 9th April, 2010 entitled " Rising Suicide Rate in Korea and Methods of Prevention".

The findings from actress Park Jin-hee 's Masters thesis entitled "Studies on Depression and Suicidal Urges Among Actors" are also alarming. After interviewing 260 actors, she concluded that  "four out of every 10 actors here have been suffering from depression and have had suicidal urges from time to time....About 20 percent have actually purchased toxic agents or "devices" for suicide."

The usual suspects blamed for this disturbing trend  include:

• too much stress in an overly-competitive and achievement-oriented society
• the breakdown of family ties
• the over-reliance on anti-depressants to cope with one's mental illness instead of getting treatment from professional psychologists or psychiatrists
• the shortage of professional counsellors trained and employed in schools, colleges, civil and private institutions

 There's also the fear that there may be something like donor fatigue developing to the extent that this problem is ignored. One becomes so used to hearing such sorry tales that we lose our ability to be shocked enough and then we stop addressing  the problem. It's not just a problem for people in one country but it's particularly marked in this one so I'm interested to know how the trend can be reversed.

Some may think the initiative rests with the government but surely different parties and even individuals can do something as well. Couldn't English language teachers in Korea who come from cultures which are more open about depression consider this topic for discussion in class? Is not possible for  church groups or those in the Buddhist temples and mosques in the country to offer some kind of avenue to discuss these issues?

 The media can do a lot more;  for instance, one Australian paper which carried the report of Park's death put up  a helpline number for those who were suffering depression and feeling suicidal) so why can't the Korean media do the same?  Bloggers and even Twitterers can also open up discussions, not so much idle speculation about why Park chose to take his own life but what can be done to discourage similar actions in the future.

That's why I applaud Rain who dared to talk in public about his own struggle with depression . ( I didn't really see the interview but only read about it in another blog, though). We need more celebrities and ordinary people sharing their stories so that the stigma attached to depression can be removed.

sources:
1. http://www.allkpop.com/2010/04/park-jin-hees-suicide-thesis-paper-generates-interest
2. http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100630000044
3. http://popseoul.com/2010/06/30/park-yong-ha-found-dead/
4. http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/06/park-yong-ha-discovered-dead-at-home/
5. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/1066628/1/.html
6. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_focus.htm?lang=e¤t_page=2
7. http://k-popped.com/2010/04/rains-depression-story.html
8. http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/24/coping-with-depression-and-mental-illness/
9. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1847437,00.htm
10.  http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/04/117_64133.html
11. http://2sao.vietnamnet.vn/p1001c1011n20090804140117052/park-yong-ha-ky-niem-5-nam-hoat-dong-nghe-thuat-tai-nhat-ban.vnn
12. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/asia-stunned-as-south-korean-tv-star-and-singer-park-yong-ha-kills-himself/story-e6frg6so-1225886591214

Munsu's Suicide To Protest Against The Four-River Project

The last time I heard of a Buddhist practising self-immolation to protest against something was actually the first modern or at least the most-publicised suicide by fire committed by a Vietnamese monk protesting against the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem on 11 June, 1963. Now Venerable Munsu who died on Monday, 31st May, joins a list of those who have chosen to fight various causes, political or non-political, by setting themselves aflame. Ven. Munsu ( and here I hesitate to use a pronoun because one website identifies Munsu as female while others assume the opposite) may well be the third South Korean in modern times to do this after Jeon Tae-il in 1970 who was protesting against unfair labour laws and Heo Se-uk, more recently in 2007, who was against the Free Trade Agreement signed between South Korea and the USA.

My feelings of dismay and revulsion are mixed with curiosity. What drives a person to do such things? How would the President respond to the suicide note which apparently reads: “The Lee Myung-bak administration must stop its four rivers restoration project immediately, eradicate corruption and do its best for poor and underprivileged people instead of the rich”? What will be the long-term impact, if any, of her/his suicide?

I have typed the word "sacrifice" but have backtracked and deleted it in this text because I'm not sure if using that word connotes something positive that would glamourise self-immolation,even though some Buddhists may have a different perspective on the value of life. In a society which already has a high suicide rate, one more death is one too many, even though it's not motivated by financial woes or personal despair. Today, reading the news about Ven. Munsu, I feel diminished.

 Lee Myung-bak, a.k.a. The Bulldozer, forges ahead, deaf to the calls of the self-immolating nun/ priest to stop the Four Rivers Restoration Project.

 Rest in Peace, Ven. Munsu. I hope your death is not in vain.

sources:
http://www.ucanews.com/2010/06/01/buddhist-monk-burns-to-death-in-river-protest/
http://koreawetlands.blogspot.com/
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Dm_detail.htm?No=73015&id=Dm
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2921282
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/423695.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/06/117_66840.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_self-immolations

Tripitaka Koreana Goes To Seoul

Oh, to be in Seoul now that the Tripitaka Koreana ( a.k.a. Goryeo Tripitaka or Palman Daejanggyeong ("Eighty-Thousand Tripitaka") is making a brief appearance at  the 2010 International Archival Culture Exhibition. The theme for this year's exhibition is "기록으로 만나는 세계" - "A World Re-discovered in Archives" .

Monk checking on the condition of the woodblocks for the Tripitaka Koreana in Haeinsa

What's so special about the Tripitaka Koreana, aside from the way the name trips on the tongue?

It is...

1. National Treasure No. 32
2. one of the most comprehensive and oldest examples of Buddhist scripture; "Because of the accuracy of the Tripitaka Koreana, the Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese versions of the Tripitaka are based on this Korean version." ( from wikipedia)
3. listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register
4. an artefact from Goryeo Dynasty and has survived Mongol attacks and remained well-preserved over 1000 years
5. "...not only (historically) invaluable, it is also aesthetically valuable and shows a high quality of workmanship.( from wikipedia)

An excerpt from the Chosun Ilbo shows how important the TK is:

"To make its second public debut the scriptural work was transported from Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple in South Gyeongsang Province. Monks carefully moved the treasure onto a palanquin and held a special ceremony with over 400 followers. The blocks were delicately wrapped in Korean mulberry paper and placed in a special box before starting the four-hour journey to Seoul."

In addition, you can also see some uigwe featured at this exhibition.So, hurry! IACE 2010 will be held for less than a week between the 1st and 6th of June at COEX A hall, National Archives (Nara repository). Hope some blogger in Seoul will be interested enough to cover this event.  It would help if that person can read Hanja and translate! Ok -I'm half-kidding about the translating but please take lots of pics and check out the hands-on activities.

Sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/06/02/2010060200791.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripitaka_Koreana
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/737
http://www.iace.or.kr/eng/exhibition/writing_invitation.html?Fnum=70&Fnum2=71

Part-Time Lecturers Get Raw Deal

45 –year-old Seo was one of 58,000 “hourly lecturers” or part-time employees responsible for 55% of all the lectures conducted in universities across South Korea. (Another source puts the total number of these part-time lecturers at 85,000.) As his status was simply a “miscellaneous daily worker”, he could only expect to be paid between 30,000 and 40,000 won per hour with no fringe benefits like insurance. His monthly income was no more than 1.4 million won.

Although he had worked for 10 years in the same university, he still couldn’t get a full-time position. He had worked his way up the academic ladder to get his doctorate only to find himself acting as a part-time lecturer and ghostwriter. Seo said: “I wrote about 25 papers with this professor, one doctoral dissertation for the professor’s student, one Korea Research Foundation paper, four master’s theses, and four Korea Research Foundation presentation papers….. For all of the roughly 54 papers we wrote together, I wrote the papers and this professor just put his name on them.”

He also revealed, “I was asked to pay 60 million won by a university in South Jeolla two years ago and 100 million won by a university in Gyeonggi two months ago if I wanted to become a full-time professor.” Over eight years, he applied for a professorship and was rejected 20 times. When the years of frustration turned into despair, he wrote a five-page suicide note  last Tuesday to his wife, who worked more than 10 hours a day at restaurant to help support their two children.

According to The Korea Times, Kim Dong-ay, 61, a former full-time lecturer at a Seoul university and an executive of a temporary educators' union said, ``More than 70,000 part-time lecturers nationwide are being exploited without official labor contracts. Most of them earn less then 10 million won ($10,000) a year.'' They teach 40 % of classes at universities. Since their status was downgraded 34 years ago under the Park Chung-hee regime, they have been unable to enjoy basic benefits such as pensions and medical insurance.'' Since 2000, at least SIX part-time lecturers have killed themselves, driven to despair by the injustices and corruption in the education system.

Although the Supreme Court ruled in April 2007 that part-time lecturers must be accorded the same status as full-time professors, there has been little change as no-one dares to report instances of discrimination as the threat of summary dismissals is a real concern. To make matters worse, the Irregular Worker Protection Law, enacted in July 2007 stipulated that a "part-time lecturer is not part of the list of jobs that should be switched to permanent positions after two years of employment because they are regarded as a special group."  Elsewhere it was reported that Education Ministry statistics showed that  more than 1,000 part-time lecturers at 112 universities nationwide were dismissed in the autumn of 2009,  seemingly as a result of the Irregular Worker Law that requires employers to move irregular workers into regular positions after two years.

What I've culled from articles on the Net and summarised above is nothing new to many though it's something that I've only become aware of more recently. Perhaps it also explains in part why Seoul National University, the top tertiary institution in the country was only ranked  51st in the world by the Times Higher Education -QS World Universities Rankings for 2007. I can only hope that the situation will improve sooner than later, for part-time lecturers in Korea, for their sakes as well as for the sake of the students and the whole country.

Sources:

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2921114
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/05/117_66639.html
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/422981.html
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2010052805728
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2921146
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/113_21620.html
http://www.amrc.org.hk/node/1256/print
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/03/15/korea-part-time-lecturers-and-suicide/
http://stip.or.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=Solidarity&wr_id=10
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_opinion/284754.html
http://www.academicleadership.org/emprical_research/606.shtml
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/05/113_65182.html

Lotus Lanterns

Buddha's birthday is celebrated in Korea this year on May 21st. The main image associated with this occasion would be lotus lanterns. Koreans have been lighting these since the Shilla Dynasty (B.C. 57-935 A.D.). What is surprising is that lotus lanterns don't seem to be so prominent in other Asian countries where there are Buddhist devotees even though the flower has long been a symbol of purity, the aspiration to rise above the dirt and dust of worldly cares or above "the mud of delusion" and enlightenment. One source claims that "The lotus lanterns are unique to Korean culture; they cannot be found in Chinese or Japanese Buddhism." What about in India?

According to Ven. Hye-Kyeong, "Athough the blossom remains clean,  it doesn't force its surroundings to get cleaner. Buddha also teaches that everything has a purpose -  even dirt. If there is no dirt, there is no need for lotus blossoms as well." Hmmm.

All I know is it's not easy work making these lanterns.  Each paper petal and leaf is stuck by hand onto a wire frame with sticky starch and usually each temple or hermitage is decked out with hundreds or even thousands of these each year. I'm guessing from one visit in spring that an army of ajumma volunteers prepare the 연등  or yeondeung or lotus lantern weeks before the celebrations begin. Question is: what happens to them afterwards? Are they relegated to some bonfire as a some symbolic gesture or are they recycled or used again the following year? Surely Buddha wouldn't object to the latter in these environmentally-critical  times?

      Love this photo of lanterns at Jogyesa. Credit: Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

sources:

http://www.buddhism.org/board/read.cgi?board=WhatsNew&y_number=4

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=45,6287,0,0,1,0
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/05/203_65815.html