Published by the Gwangju International Center since 2001
One of the things that surprised me most about Okinawa was the serious lack of spontaneous karate demonstrations as well as the virtual dearth of enigmatic old men who were willing to use unconventional training techniques to turn me into a karate-fighting machine in mere days. But apart from this, Okinawa is by far one of the most beautiful places I have visited in Asia.
To mark my fifth year stewarding the “Lost” column, I’d like to return to Gwangju proper, specifically Yang-dong. This month, I’ll scribble the pages of the Gwangju News with a tale involving hostess bars, North Korean collages, menacing graffiti, courteous cult invites, and a tenacious cat I call Achilles who, like Yang-dong itself, refuses to die despite all odds.
Chungjang Street, named after the posthumous title of General Kim Deok-ryeong, was the site of the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement. Today it is Gwangju’s major downtown area. The streets are lined with shopping malls, clothing stores, restaurants, cafes, movie theaters, banks, and hotels, providing the ultimate experience of modern culture in Gwangju. It is the city’s hub of fashion, both trendy and traditional.
By Yousra Feriel Drioua “Let go of your pre-existing prejudices and beliefs concerning the discussions we’ll be having during the summit.” These words are quoted from the welcoming speech of … Read More
The neighborhood of Songjeong is wonderful and provides a serene environment as well as a safe and secure atmosphere where the international residents can lead happy and joyful lives.
Sensing faint pangs of discontent across social media, the ever-perceptive Gwangju News dispatched its crack team of reporters to pursue a bevy of disparate leads, all of which culminated at the Cheetos-strewn bedside of a gaunt, woebegone loner for further elucidation. What follows is our earth-sundering report.
To kick off the new year, we’ll unshelve our trusty Farmers’ Almanac and put its sage guidance and folksy humor to good use in the pursuit of understanding Korea’s modern agricultural craze: sowing apartment complexes in the middle of nowhere. What could possibly go wrong? So, without further ado, let’s hop in the car and head to the countryside – oh, and feel free to ask any questions along the way…….
In fact, arguably the first mountain you’d think of when South Korea comes to mind is Bukhansan, nestled in its eponymous national park spread out over 30.86 square miles along the northern periphery of Seoul. Unsurprisingly, it tops most peoples’ to-do list and would likely be your first port of call as a hungry hiker newly moved here. But there are many more mountains to be explored beyond Bukhansan.
