Jeonju News Apr-May 2009

Written by admin Thursday, 16 April 2009 16:17

Jeonju Dano Festival 2009

{May 9, 2009}

The 51st Jeonju Dano Festival will take place at Deokjin Park, May 28~30. The major functions include the opening ritual of shaman dance (Yeollim Gut) followed by hair-washing event with sweet flag water, decorating the city with Dano lanterns, Korean traditional wrestling (ssireum)and more. .

« from mrk »           Courtesy Korea.net

You Gotta Know When
to Hold'em...

{May 9, 2009}

A gambler jitters out of a PC gambling room in Gunsan, just having lost hard. In a nearby parking lot he sees a Siberian Husky tied up (presumably while the owner is in a store). The pedigreed Husky, worth about three million won ($2,400US), is a friendly dog, and allows even a strung-out loser with bad intent to pet him, untie him, and take him for a very brisk walk. The man was apprehended a while later (thanks to CCTV), having tried to sell the dog for 140,000 won($110).
Many addiction counsellors are of the opinion that gambling tops the list (e.g. alcohol, sex, crack, meth) on the havok it wreaks. One can gamble away money faster than any vice can draw it. While it is true that Korea seems to be relatively free of overt drug problems, there are many people suffering around us because of other vices, like gambling. It begs the question: Are there any relevant help centers, rehabs, public education efforts in place here for gambling addicts and their families? -Ed

« from che »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Freak Ad-Balloon Accident

{Apr 6, 2009}

One of those particularly bouyant ad balloons went down near EuGyun Park, Imsil on Children's Day. It must have had a slow-leak, because soon kids were using it as a trampoline. However, the particular bouyancy of these balloons comes from a hydrogen-helium mix. Yes, that's like the sun, and about as volatile. Perhaps it was a spark, or more likely the compression of jumping kids... The balloon exploded, and four kids are in hospital with 2nd and 3rd degree burns to hands faces, throats. Police are investigating the legality and liability of the advertising company and their gas mix ratio.

« from che »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Election Results

{May 2, 2009}

Jeonju is divided in two jurisdictions: Wansan and Dukjin. Both winners were independants. For Dukjin, it was DongYoung Jong, who ran for president against the current incumbent in 2007. Mr. Jong suggested that Wansan voters elect Sin Kuhn, which they did. Mr. Kuhn was director of the NIS (South Korea's CIA) from 2001-2003. These newly elected members of the National Assembly both left the Democratic party to excel as independants. Both have talked about re-entering the party after election (a rather common practice these days). They are united on many fronts, especially opposition to the government of President Lee.

« Info supplied by GyungAh Kim, News Announcer, Jeonju MBC

Gunsan-Jeju Ferry
Launches

{May 2, 2009}

There is now a car/passenger ferry running from Gunsan to Jeju island. The prices start at 34,000won (adult economy). Ship sails every M-W-F at 10pm, and arrives in Korea's little paradise at 7am. Beds are available at a premium, but there is a spacious indoor deck area for passemgers to camp out on the floor.

« from gak, Courtesy Jeonju MBC News »
          Original map courtesy of Korea's tourism site (which does not yet display additional route).

English Teachers
Stereotyped

{May 2, 2009}

This is a compelling article. It would be great to have it translated into Korean and sent to Korean papers. The Jeonju Hub encourages local English-speaking people to share their opinions with Jeonju. (Stay tuned for the Hub's new Back Page coming soon).

« from mrk »           Read "Teachers Wrongly Portrayed in Korea" courtesy Korea Times

Gunsan Police Officer
Shoots Hairdresser, Self

{May 1, 2009}

Officer Cho (46), shot Ms. Lee (37), a hairdresser, in her salon, then shot himself. A passerby Mr. Mun (59) found the shop open and the two bodies bleeding from the head. The woman was dead, the officer later died in hospital. Lt. Cho had investigated a robbery in Lee's hairshop last year. Since then, he has been sending gifts, meal deliveries, and other tokens of affection to Ms. Lee. Her (coworker?), another Ms. Lee (34) says that officer Cho would not take 'it's over' for an answer, and stalked her with rising intensity. At 10:20am on the 29th, he entered the store, off-duty, but with a gun, and shot the woman down. Then he turned the gun on himself.

« from che, yck »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Motel Owners Get Owned

{Apr 29, 2009}

A quartet of smooth criminals have been preying on motel owners of late. The 4 ladies convinced an Iksan motel owner that they would work for him, and make his business prosper. ALSO, they somehow convinced him to pay in advance: 2500 man won (that's about 19 grand US). Upon receiving payment, they "checked out." They were caught Monday, having netted about 3 ok won (224K US) from 20 motel owners nationwide over the last year.

« from yck »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Editorial:
Tired of the Noise?

{Apr 26, 2009}

It seems that every street corner is a chorus line lately. As I went past a corner and had my eardrums offended by a very loud speaker. I gave the election-'wavers' a ditry look, muttering about noise pollution and a few other less-than-upbuilding ideas. As I drove away, it struck me again how different our host culture is. It also struck me that for all these street-corner 'wavers', this is a chance at some extra pocket money during a very difficult economic period. Most of the people around us are not making an English teachers' salary--not even close. Sometimes I pick up on resentment directed at foreigners, isn't it perhaps understandable? The polititians are blaring promises of economic relief from every major street corner; the 'wavers' are making a bit of money doing a very humble job; and a 'rich' foreigner goes by, wishing they would shut up.      Maybe I'll try smiling.    -dvm
The elections will take place April 29th.

« from dvm »           Previous Hub Article (March)

For Miss Korea,
Jeonbuk's Finest Finalists

{Apr 25, 2009}

On the 23rd, at Jeollabukdo Culture and Education Center, these eight girls were selected as Jeollabukdo's beauty queens to vie for the coveted title of Miss Korea 2009. (Click the Jeonbuk Daily source link for their names.)

« from dvm »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Jeonju Dreams
of Becoming a Forest

{Apr 25, 2009}

The City of Jeonju plans to spend 200ok man won(14.9M USD) to plant 3 million trees in 222 different locations in Jeonju. Planting is slated to begin in 2010.

« from yck »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Roadside Cleanup Grandmas
Killed in Gunsan

{Apr 25, 2009}

A Seoul man (26) lost control of his car in Gunsan and ploughed into 4 roadside clean-up ladies, all in their 70's. Two were killed, and two are in hospital. Their last conversation working together was tragically interrupted at 9:50am on the 22nd. Horns blared as paramedics delayed traffic in order to clean up.

« from che »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Body Found in Reservoir

{Apr 25, 2009}

The body of a Mr.Choi (36) was found in the Ajungli reservoir on the 15th. He had recieved treatment for depression for the last six years, and had disappeared from home a few times. However, his family insists that suicide attempts or vocabulary were never manifest, so police are continuing to investigate.

« from che »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Graffiti: double-shot

{Apr 10, 2009}

Two cases of graffiti-vandalism made the news this week: both were done in English. 
1st image: On the walkway near Hammy-Yummy at Jeonbuk University's 'old gate,' someone wrote 'SUCK MA BAL--' in white and red spraypaint.    [The 'A's look a bit like the Anarchy symbol.]  
2nd image: using a stencil, someone spraypainted 'hide tomb' on the Catholic Center's stone -- [hmmm, right after Easter (West)]. The 'hide tomb' vandal was caught on tape on a CCTV camera. The 'strange-looking male' was obviously not a native English speaker, and likely not a devout believer in the resurrection. [Sadly, it will be too easy for Koreans to assume the English graffiti was the work of foreigners.]

« from che »           Source 1: Jeonbuk Daily
Source 2: Jeonbuk Daily

Ju's Big Boom was an F-16

{Apr 23, 2009}

The boom heard a while back in Jeonju was confirmed to have been an F-16 breaking the sound barrier high above the penninsula. The plane, stationed at Gunsan Airbase, was said to have been engaged in a training exercise.

« from che »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Imshil Integrity

{Apr 23, 2009}

In this (English) article, the Imshil education situation is cast in a redeeming light.

« from mrk »           Courtesy JoongAng Daily

Man Arrested for Bowing to Gangsters

{Apr 21, 2009}

Some gangsters were hanging out at DaeChon beach last summer (July 25th), strutting, showing their strength, gathering publicly, but not engaging in any criminal behaviour. This infuriated police. After much pressure and a winter's wait, a new law was passed forbidding being in the company of known felons. The following spring, on the 13th of April, a round-up was conducted, based on the attendance of last year's beach gathering. Over 20 arrests were made. One of the men arrested has no criminal record, but was photographed giving a formal bow (90 degrees) on the beach--guilty by association.

« from che »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Saudi Group Invests In SaeManGeum Dam Project

{Apr 21, 2009}

A Saudi Arabian investment firm apparently believes in the SaeManGeum idea, to the tune of 'sam-chon-ok-man-wan.' This converts to about 230 million US dollars.

« from yck »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Vagina Monologues in the Ju!

{Apr 18, 2009}

The Vagina Monologues is a Tony Award-winning theatrical piece. The troupe of Jeonju women who purchased the rights to perform it here have been working tirelessly over the last few months to stage this production. All three shows are sold out. Their debut perormance will be tonight in JRs Saloon, followed by a matinee Sunday at 2B1, with the final show at 7pm (also at 2B1). The entire production is to raise awareness and funds for the Jeollabukdo Women's Association (whose hotlines are posted on this site). The show is unsettling, deeply moving, and uproariously funny all rolled into one. The host establishments will be very packed: they request that ticketholders will honor a no smoking, no noise, no late entry courtesy. --and bring a hankerchief!

« from dvm

Cops 'on the take' in Iksan

{Apr 18, 2009}

Two seargents and a constable are suspected of being in cohoots with an online gambling house. Alledgedly, they have aquired a cruiser-load of cash and gold articles over the last couple of years from their clientele of jittery gambling addicts. One seargent has been dismissed; all three officers and the proprietor of the establishment are under criminal investigation. [Unheard is the deafening roar of bitter pain that has been endured by a host of spouses and children.]

« from che »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Koh Bong-Ihn Does Jeonju Proud

{April 16, 2009}

Cellist/Scientist from Jeonju works magic with both horsehair and DNA strands.

« from mrk »  Courtesy Korea Times

More on the Education Scandal

{April 14, 2009}

This article mentions the Imsil scandal and tries to put it in a national perspective.

« from dvm »           Courtesy Korea Times

Fires Beset the Province

{April 14, 2009}

Fire teams are working hard this spring. The weather is unseasonably dry. Brush and forest fires are popping up more than usual. 90% are caused by human carelessness.

« from che »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Jeonju Film Festival in its 10th year

{April 13, 2009}

Here is another writeup about the JIFF. Read more from The Korea Times.

« from mrk »   Courtesy Korea Times

Drunk Driving Police Officer

{April 7, 2009}

The hammer fell yesterday on an Iksan cop who was driving hammered Dec 3rd. He hit a car (while off-duty), and refused to give a sample for three fellow-ossifers. They took him into the station for questioning. Worried he would lose his badge, he then claimed that his friend has been driving and had fled the scene. After four months of investigations and court proceedings, Iksan has one less to serve and protect.

« from yck »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Drilling for Oil in Imsil

{April 6, 2009}

Someone drilled for oil in Imsil. INTO an oil pipieline, to steal some! A leak was caused, and authorities are investigating, and trying to dam off the flow of leakage. The mess could take up to 3 months to clean up.

« from che »           Courtesy Jeonbuk Daily

Jeonju Film Festival Launches Indie Projects Market

{April 4, 2009}

"South Korea's Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) is celebrating its tenth edition with a number of events including the launch of a Korean indie projects market and anniversary screenings of JIFF previous awardees and first films." Read more from Screen Daily.

« from mrk »   Courtesy www.screendaily.com

Blooms to the south

{April 4, 2009}

Mokpo, in South Jeolla province is ablaze with vibrant blooms. Spring is upon us. Expect immanent occular ecstacy here in North Jeolla. If you were to take a drive from Samchondong (Southwest Jeonju) up to Geumsansa (on the other side of Mt. Moak), you would probably find it a worthwhile local sightseeing trip. The road that winds up and over the mountain will be lined with blossoming cherry trees right about now.

« from mrk »           Courtesy Joongang Dail

A Prosaic Portrait of Jeonju

{April 4, 2009}

Excerpt from Bart Schaneman's blog: "On average, 15 people are born and eight people die; 10 are married and 3 divorced every day in Jeonju.... Don't go to Jeonju for the bibimbap. Stay away from Lotte Department Store and the turtle ship and the paper museum and all the other ways the city tries to sell itself. No, go to Jeonju because it is KOREA in a city. It is workaday and busy; it is hard-drinking and relaxed. It is modern and historical; it is ugly and beautiful..."read more.

Bart is a copy editor for the Korea Herald (which, incidentally, is no longer getting red flags from Google's malware alert service. Green light!)

« from dvm » Courtesy bartschaneman.wordpress.com

BOOM

{April 1, 2009}

"Hey, does anyone who does your news reporting at the Hub know what that huge BOOM was this morning... heard in every single part of Jeonju, but nobody knows what it was... lots of rumors... Thanks, --Anjee."
[4.2]"My guess is a plane breaking the sound barrier. Anyone?" -dvm
[4.3]"The Korean newspapers in Jeonju said it was an American airplane from Gunsan airbase." -mrk
[4.4]"Booya! Radiating with immature pride, on my birfday, no less." -dvm ;-D