Author: Jana Milosavljevic

Sports and Activities

Maruna Jiu-Jitsu: Interview with Coach You Taebin

Jana Milosavljevic

While BJJ is believed to have originated in 1925 in Japan, it was not until 1999 that it was first brought to Korea by John Frankl, a professor at Seoul’s Yonsei University, who came from the United States as a researcher and brown belt at the time. Nevertheless, it seems it has been just around the last decade that BJJ has been gaining real popularity in Korea, with more opportunities for both locals and foreign visitors to practice the martial art. Our Gwangju News team had the pleasure to talk to the owner and main coach of one of the recently opened gyms in Gwangju, Maruna Jiu-Jitsu.

Profile

City of Lights, Camera, Action: Filmmaker Attila Korosi in Gwangju

Jana Milosavljevic

Attila Korosi was born in Yugoslavia and is the director, writer, and producer of the feature film Maze of Fate. Maze of Fate is a crime drama, filmed in one of America’s most dangerous neighborhoods. The film is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2023, and Mr. Korosi is currently working on his new projects while based in Gwangju. Upon coming to Korea, he created a short documentary about the May 18 Democratization Movement and received a special award for it. Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Korosi took the time to meet our team in person and shared his interesting story.

Human Rights

The 2022 Human Rights Education Training Program for Sustainable and Inclusive Communities

Jana Milosavljevic

Following the successful completion of the 2021 Online Human Rights Education Training Program for Sustainable and Inclusive Communities in November last year, this year Gwangju Metropolitan City, represented through the Gwangju International Center (GIC), conducted another KOICA Fellowship Program: the CIAT (Capacity Improvement and Advancement for Tomorrow).

Human Rights Profile

Climate Crisis, Displacement, and Human Rights à la Special Rapporteur Ian Fry: Featured Speaker at WHRCF 2022

Jana Milosavljevic

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) established the mandate of the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change at its forty-eighth session in October 2021 (RES/48/14), following which Dr. Fry was appointed as the first to fill the role in March 2022 and began his duty in May 2022. Among others, the roles of the special rapporteur include studying and identifying the ways in which the adverse effects of climate change affect the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and make recommendations on how to address and prevent these adverse effects, as well as promoting and exchanging views on lessons learned and best practices related to the adoption of human rights-based, gender-responsive, age-sensitive, disability-inclusive, and risk-informed approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, all of which lead to making Dr. Fry a distinguished speaker at the 12th WHRCF.

Local Enterpreneur Sports and Activities

Getting Familiar with CrossFit at YongBong Training Center: An Interview with Owner and Head Coach Yang In-sung

Jana Milosavljevic

Following the recent article about Korea gyms in the May issue of Gwangju News and a brief introduction to CrossFit some six years ago in Gwangju News issue no. 167, I hoped to unveil some CrossFit mysteries and share more information with anyone who might still be wondering what CrossFit is and whether it is something for them. Mr. Yang In-sung, the owner and head coach of YongBong Training Center where I began my CrossFit adventure, was so kind to agree to talk to me about CrossFit in general, CrossFit in Korea, and CrossFit in Gwangju.

Human Rights

May 18 Education Forum 2022: An Interview with the Speakers 

Jana Milosavljevic

The month of May in Gwangju is for remembering thousands of Gwangju citizens who rose up against the military junta oppression in May 1980, those who survived, and those who did not, and as such, is marked by various events and vigils. Among the many events keeping the spirit of the Gwangju Democratization Movement alive, the May 18 Education Forum took place last May 27 under the title “May 18 Democratic Uprising Meets Swedish Civic Education.”  The Forum focused on exchange in the area of democratic civic education through a conversation with the invited educators from Sweden, where political participation through civic education has already become commonplace.

Local Enterpreneur

Min Cook Barbeque: An Interview with Kang Woong-min

Jana Milosavljevic

Southern-style American barbeque lovers – fear not! Min Cook Barbeque can be found in two locations in Gwangju: Kumho-dong and recently also in a new location in downtown on Chungjang-ro.

Profile

Making Filmmaking Personal: An Interview with Roberto Santaguida

Jana Milosavljevic

Roberto Santaguida is a Canadian filmmaker working extensively in the field of documentary and experimental films. He completed his studies in film production at Concordia University, and his work has been screened at more than 400 international festivals, some of which are the Tampere Film Festival in Finland, the CPH:DOX in Denmark, the Contemporary Art Festival Sesc_Videobrasil in Brazil, Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival in the United States, and Message to Man in Russia.