From the Editor: September 2021

It’s September. Of late, we have been living under the darkened skies of the late-August rains, but much darker is the shadow of the coronavirus that has been hovering over us for the past year and a half. It now appears that there may be light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for the City of Light.

Vaccines have finally become available and are being administered. There doesn’t appear to be the serious vaccine hesitancy here that is occurring is some parts of the West. The citizenry is keeping masked up and social-distancing rules are, for the most part, being adhered to. These are all good signs that indicate we are moving in the right direction. We must remember that we are all in this together and that we need to continue to work together to bring us out of the darkness of the Covid era.

Now, to turn to one of the bright spots that this month brings: the September issue of the Gwangju News! Our cover feature is an exclusive interview with Yoon Yeocheol, Ambassador for International Affairs for Gwangju City, who is organizing a session on Myanmar at the upcoming World Human Rights Cities Forum. The second feature we bring you is an interview with Roger Steffens, one of the major exhibiters at the Gwangju Design Biennale and the authority on all things Bob Marley.

We take a look at Korea’s past through an interview with Master Jung Kwan-chae, a National Intangible Cultural Asset, who has revived the art of indigo dyeing, which was traditionally centered in the Naju area. Men’s hats and hair care were a hallmark of the Joseon Dynasty. Read all about Joseon hats and hair, and the nationwide “Topknot Riots,” which were sparked in Jeolla-do [The Land of Hats]. And where did the people of Jeju Island come from? You will be surprised to learn in this issue’s Blast from the Past.

Read about what SuperBin is doing to save the environment [Opinion]. Read one person’s analysis of Korean yangsim [Gwangju Abroad], and read one expat’s heartfelt and eloquent goodbye to Gwangju [Expat Living]. The above is only a taste of what this issue’s menu has on offer, so please get started.

As always, stay Covid smart, stay Covid safe, get Covid protected, and enjoy the Gwangju News.

David E. Shaffer
Editor-in-Chief
Gwangju News