Latest Archives

Jeonbuk studies their archers

Written by che Saturday, 27 February 2010 01:49

At the Jeollabukdo provincial offices, the province's professional archers are being studied. They are wearing biometric monitors, like lie detectors, to measure all of their physiological and stress responses while shooting. Concentration, mental clarity, and calm focus are key factors in archery. In a bid to propel their archers to the nation's best, Jeonbuk is pulling out all the stops. Courtesy, Jeonbuk Ilbo.

Upcoming Traditional Events

Written by che Wednesday, 24 February 2010 00:46

Upcoming events featuring traditional Korean dancing and music.
Right-click schedule and choose View image to enlarge. Courtesy, SaeJeonbuk News.

Schoolgirl attacked in elevator

Written by dvm Monday, 22 February 2010 08:50

In an InhuDong apartment elevator, in broad daylight (4pm, 02.12), a twelve-year-old girl who was exiting an elevator was shoved back in and sexually assaulted while the car rode to the top floor. She struggled and struck her assailant, and managed to escape when the doors opened at the top floor. The man, described as being in his early 20s, about 170cm tall, wearing black glasses, with a lot of pimples, is still at large. Residents are upset that this elevator has no CCTV installed. Courtesy, Jeonbuk Ilbo.

Saemangeum: more on that dam city

Written by bbj Friday, 19 February 2010 12:17

(right-click and View Image to enlarge)

Saemangeum is all over the Jeonbuk news. It has been for almost two decades. The seawall is 500 metres longer than the Afsluitdijk in the IJsselmeer, the Netherlands, previously the longest seawall/dyke in the world.(Wiki) It has been fiercely resisted as an environmental holocaust for migratory shore birds, and as an economic money-pit. Despite the bickering and typical infighting, intrigue, and ineptitude of the last few governments, the project has somehow managed to emulate Aesop's tortoise and keep plodding along. Jeonbuk residents are of very differing opinions as to whether the seawall and/or the new city of Ariul are a good idea or not. If all goes well, Jeonbuk--and Jeonju--will experience a rising tide, economically. If not, the province will be stuck in the mud, nay, driven to the brink of extinction. The Jeonju Hub encourages readers to share their opinion in an article for our Back Page.
^{[Thanks: Jeonbuk Ilbo, Bobin Jung, Tori Elliot]}

Is the Jeonju Hub censored in places?

Written by dvm Friday, 19 February 2010 00:45

Reports from Jinan county indicate that on all Jinan Board of education properties, The Jeonju Hub will not load. When questioned, the administrator for Jinan county's board of education network would not comment. Any other site (including some overtly bad ones) would load easily. Just The Jeonju Hub? Is it a technical glitch? Seems a bit far fetched to conjure such a conspiracy theory. Public school workers, can you see this website from your public school's computers?

Jeonju court acquits teacher in a national security case

Written by dvm Thursday, 18 February 2010 23:59

A Sunchan high school teacher who was teaching about reunification and North-South relations, took 180 students and their parents to meet the communists at a local youth training center in Sunchang, North Jeolla, in May 2005. He was charged with 'violating national security laws' and 'creating and distributing pro-North Korea materials.'  What he did was take them on a class tip to a memorial event for North and South Korean martyrs for unification. Finally, after five years, Wednesday's ruling clears the name of Mr. HyeongCheol Ki. Read more at JoongAng Daily.

Follow-up: 3 Educational Unionists Fined for Political Activity

Written by dvm Wednesday, 17 February 2010 09:07

The ruling by an Incheon court runs counter to that of a Jeonju court Jan. 19 clearing four members of the union who had been indicted on the same charge. The two conflicting rulings were each the decisions of single judges. Judge Kwon Seong-su of the Incheon District Court fined the head of the union’s Incheon branch one million won (867 U.S. dollars). He also handed a suspended fine of 500,000 won (433 dollars) to the two other members. Read more at Donga Ilbo.

Jeonju's Chung and Shin readmitted to Democratic Party

Written by dvm Wednesday, 17 February 2010 08:44

The Democratic Party readmitted Representatives Chung Dong-young (Jeonju-Dukjin) and Shin Kuhn (Jeonju-Wansan) to its fold in a strategic move aimed at improving the party’s position in the local elections in June. Read more about their careers and context at Joongang Daily.

Saemangeum: City of Promise

Written by dvm Tuesday, 16 February 2010 09:31

Saemangeum is scheduled to be opened in June 2011. This 'photo' is an artists rendition of an aerial view of "Ariul" the name of the focal city. This promised land, reclaimed from the sea with Netherlandic ambition, boasts eco-tourism, sports facilities, real estate, and ease of access. It is said that the mudflats around Gunsan will be transformed to the logistics hub of Asia, attracting industries from around the globe. (This would also bolster the backwater image of Jeollabukdo, which currently has a status of 'Korea's Mississippi.') The name Sae Man Geum could be loosely translated "New Ten-tousand pieces of Gold." What this emerald city lacks, however, is just that--investment--to speed it along or even facilitate its completion. [Let's hope Ariul does not need to be renamed Khalifa City -Ed.]
Courtesy, Jeonbuk Ilbo.

Mc Delivery

Written by dvm Saturday, 13 February 2010 19:54

McDonalds' new McDelivery service has arrived in Jeonju. If you can say your address, you can place an order. The range is rather limited, however. They will drive as far north as Jeonbuk University, as for the other directions, they serve only SeoshinDong.

Ddok

Written by dvm Friday, 12 February 2010 20:44

Editorial: Happy Solnal! Ddok production is at a fever-pitch just before Solnal. Everyone in Korea will be eating (or at least offered) ddok in the next three days. This flesh-textured processed rice product is as Korean as gimchi. Everyone has a bowl of Ddok-guk on Solnal. It is quite possible that if all the ddok consumed in Korea on Solnal were put end-to-end, the strand would reach to the moon--which, incidentally is made of ddok. When people ask me "Do you like ddok?" I answer with the following picture.

Lotte Hairtail Scandal

Written by ehp Friday, 12 February 2010 20:30

Jeonju's Lotte Department Store opened its doors six years ago. It has been a dominant Jeonju landmark, both geographically, and commercially since its conception. Now it has some egg on its face. Investigators have discovered that store officials had asked the suppliers of its Hairtail fish, produced in China, to add the label "Product of Korea." Jeonju citizens have been unknowingly buying and ingesting these foreign fish for more than half a decade. Courtesy, MJB News.

Slide Suicide

Written by syh Friday, 12 February 2010 20:16

A 44-year-old HyojaDong man chose to leave this world by hanging himself on the slide in a playground for children to find him. Thankfully, he was discovered by an adult woman. He had written a note saying "sorry", and he could no longer deal with his chronic illness. Courtesy, Jeonbuk Ilbo.

Angry Drunk Suicide

Written by syh Friday, 12 February 2010 20:10

A Dukjin man in his 20's was very very violently drunk when he parted with his friends, shouting hateful things at them. He then proceeded to trow a violent fit in his apartment and pour flammable fluid on himself and torch himself. Courtesy Jeonbuk Ilbo.

Forestry Lab Opens in Jinan

Written by dvm Friday, 12 February 2010 20:04

A lab committed to forestry research opens in Jinan.

Pansori to the world

Written by mrk Tuesday, 09 February 2010 03:16

Sori Festifal director Kim Myung-gon shares his thoughts in an interview with the Korea Times. "In an opera, a group of singers each sing their own roles. In a pansori performance, one performer takes on all the roles in the libretto," Read More.

Vagina Monologues 2010 Opening Night

Written by dvm Saturday, 06 February 2010 22:39

More than doubling the production of last year, twelve courageous woman lined the stage tonight and... exposed themselves. Exposed themselves to 'tssk tssk.' Exposed themselves to 'wow, that took balls.' To shed tears. To reserved silent judgments. And, to take the cake, even patiently bore "I was expecting more."
It's Saturday night, and while we sat there in that comfy cinema house, other things were happening that will never make the news: Across Jeollabukdo, this very Saturday night, many more than twelve women will enter hospital. Maybe, just maybe, province-wide, twelve will call the women's hotline or the police, after their husband came home stanking of soju and beat the hell out of his foreign wife for not being Korean enough--or rapes her--or even invites his friends to do so.  This estimate is based merely on the women who tell someone. For every one who makes a call or goes to the hospital, there must be at least twelve more who don't. They suffer in silence. As they bleed in a corner, trying to sob as quietly as possible. It is unlikely that any of these woman commented through their numb, swollen lips, "I was expecting more."
Here is an evaluation from someone with some familiarity with the social issues, the horror, the stage production, and the script: Opening night of the Jeonju 2010 Vagina Monologues was a smashing success, both in how it was done, and what it did.

Jeonju's Tim Dalby grapples with robots in the classroom

Written by dvm Thursday, 04 February 2010 02:58

Are robot's a viable option in a language class? Isn't this question a tad early? A few familiar voices speak on the issue, including Tim Dalby, professor at Jeonju University, and president of Jeonbuk's KOTESOL branch.
Read more at the Korea Times.

Brian in Jeollanamdo set to go

Written by mrk Thursday, 04 February 2010 02:15

Brian Deutsch, whose "Brian in Jeollanam-do" blog put Korea's south-western province on the map for many "expatizens," is moving to America this month. He leaves behind a popular blog, which was noted for its news and insights into the southwest region, and which was occasionally quoted in mainstream Korean media.
Read more at the Korea Times.
Brian's prolific posts will be missed. Take care, sorry to see you go. -mrk, dvm

Healthy Choice Menu in the Ju

Written by ehp Wednesday, 03 February 2010 00:22

The City of Jeonju and fifteen leading municipally endorsed restaurants will soon be rolling out a special healthy menu of popular Korean foods, low in salt, sodium, and fat.  The project has been underway for several months, and should hit menus by summer.  Courtesy, Jeonbuk Daily.