Casualties of the “Crust Belt”

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…….

Odds and (Dead) Ends: Four Years of Getting Lost

My involvement with the “Lost” column began this month back in 2018, and as much as I’d like to have a single, significant topic to cover, this fourth anniversary has fallen during a creative slump. As per tradition, whenever this happens, I’m left to cobble together a few half-baked ideas with little rhyme or reason to them. And so, here it is – an underwhelming medley of odds and (dead) ends that have been crowding my workspace these past few months.

The Quarantined Future

Imagine an enterprising visionary who integrated roadside dining and the carefree frenzy of a waterpark with the grace and formality of a wedding/banquet hall.

The Great Leap Backward: A Look Inside the Old Gwangju Prison

“What they were also surprisingly keen on was decorating, as many rooms had unique wallpaper not seen in other cells.”

And on the Seventh Day, the Economy Rested

From the rubble of old neighborhoods that struggled to pay their tithes, god resurrects new taxes, consumption, and debt. This redevelopment process is hard, relentless work that requires a break now and then – every Sunday, in fact.

The Region’s Ripped Backsides

In a departure from the usual Lost in Gwangju column, this month we’ll go beyond the city limits and share the best of the region’s ripped backsides, along with a few tangents about why we sink so much time into finding them.

Amusement’s Watery Grave: Songsan Amusement Park Limps Back to Life

By Isaiah Winters. As we near the upcoming rainy season, many of Gwangju’s riverside residents and businesses are eyeing the calendar with a sense of foreboding. Last year’s torrents, swelled … Read More

Odds and (Dead) Ends: Whistling Past the Graveyard

By Isaiah Winters. Every six months to a year, I cobble together an assortment of misfit findings from my many odd experiences in the City of Light. Though each would … Read More