Photo Essay: Incheon City

Photo Essay
Incheon City
Winter 2010


Just an hour or so away from Seoul is Incheon city.
Incheon is where the new international airport is.
Incheon is one of the closest city to North Korea.
Incheon is a harbor city that many may not realize..

And Incheon is where my home town is.


To cherish the warmth of this city
here are a few photos that I have taken.

In the middle of field

Incheon city harbour

Incheon city harbour

Incheon China Town

China Town must try food "Ja-Jang Mun (짜장면)"

A Lesson from a Beggar in Geneva

Do you know the difference between a beggar in Washington, D.C. and in Geneva?

In Washington, D.C., they are the biggest symbol of un-welcomed group of people because in a capitalist society, they represent the poverty and the unfortunate ones with no money and no power. The concept is no different when you step into London, Seoul, or any other society that you consider money centered, which is the world that I was used to seeing. So when I saw one smelly beggar enjoying his morning black coffee peacefully at a nice outdoor cafe in Geneva I was surprised. In fact, for the locals this was a common scene. Him sitting among a grand parent couple and two business people sharing morning coffee was not a problem to the locals, which only surprised me more. Was I the odd one to feel this unusual?

In Geneva, and most other cities in Europe, as a socialist society money is secondary to human well-being. So even though a penniless beggar asks for some cash in the street to have a coffee, people say 'why not, they are human too who also have the right to enjoy their morning coffee.' I began to see how people here did not obsess over money, work, or power the same way they do in other capitalist societies. Because though money is an important measure of wealth, it is just one single part of life and is believed not to be the goal of life for many people.


That is probably the same reason why you rarely see (or actually I never saw any during my time at Geneva for eight months) any store that opens 24hours. The grocery stores close sharp around 6:00 and does not open on Sunday's. Other than the restaurants that open to serve lunches, the post office, banks and pharmacies are mostly closed during the two hour lunch break most people take. In fact, restaurants and cafes are open only for certain hours so you might make a trip by mistake forgetting that its a day they do not open.

At first, being someone who was used to taking the 24 grocery market to kill time at midnight, these living conditions was troublesome. Especially, having lived my first few months with a local Swiss landlady, I witnessed the visible difference in the meaning of consumption. At first, I just thought it was a few things she wanted to keep the old style. But soon I realized the reason why all her furniture, products were old was because the mentality of Swiss people was that 'you fix and reuse the item you own until it breaks down, but you rarely would go exchange it out for a complete new version.'

The lesson was important for me as someone who grew up all her life in two capitalist cities, Korea and the United States. In the US or Korea, it was the complete opposite. In Korea, for instance, following the most popular fashion, the most well paid job, and the most recognized title was a big-must-trend. Thus, at one point, you realize that the majority of people become identical. But people can't stop avoid doing because they don't want to be considered the 'old fashion.' Plus, it's much easier to buy the big new version that is not only cheap with a discount but also convenient at the 24 hour store across the street. But no, in Geneva, you reuse the old kitchen facility that you had since the 1980s because this is how it has been.

Now being back home in Korea working and witnessing the dynamic city run around money and these title again, I remember what I had felt while observing that beggar few months ago in Geneva. And just as this beggar, my time in Geneva taught me not only how to enjoy life as it is and follow your true passion, but also how to appreciate taking rest and all ups and downs as an experience. Big dreams are good, but it is not necessary to stress out on the competition or become the ultimate workaholic to hurt your health. Beggars in Geneva not only get morning coffee and pensions but are also full of smiles. At Geneva, I had promised myself to live a happy life of my own not influenced by money or society.

So far, I think I am keeping up with that promise, and will be in this new year too.

Change in Korea Media

In Chosun Newspaper
Seoul, Korea
January, 2011

I was lucky. The timing was perfect for me. The year 2010 was a tipping point for Korea in a number of ways, and especially the fall that I decided to return: the G20 Summit in Seoul, North Korea's attack at Yeonpyeong Island, the rise of Kim regime's dictatorship in North Korea, and the rising conflict between China-US politics over the Korean peninsula. But on top of all those events, Korean media was about to go into a new revolution.

In the United States, both public and private companies can request the right to have a full comprehensive broadcasting licences. A comprehensive broadcasting channel means that its comprised of all different program such as news, drama, sports, entertainment, children's, movie, and education. In Korea, such right is not granted to private channels and only the government sponsored channels such as SBS, KBS, MBC can create such a TV schedule. The biggest reason why the Korean government has prevent such liberal action was because consider how small our country such regulation may allow certain groups to monopolize the entire media. The biggest fear, in fact, was the domination of newspaper industry into the broadcasting section. Thus, for the past centuries Korea has placed a set law that a company can do either broadcasting or newspaper but not both. And even as a broadcaster the company was allowed to focus on only one topic, such as music, film, entertainment, education, language, or religion as a cable channel.

As a result, the December 1st deadline was a big moment in the media world in 2010. After years of debating, the government had finally announced in 2009 that those who are interested they may submit their proposal and plan for a broadcasting channel to the government by December 1, 2010. Thus for the past year and a half, major newspaper industries such as Chosun, JongAng, Dongah, and Mekyeong newspaper has dedicated their time and effort to prepare this big chance to win a licence into the new world. There were both excitment and hesitation throughout the process. Even till the final day of the annoucement of December 31st there were constant rumors of how this will only give those major newspaper more rights to monopolize Korean's media.

I joined the team in the last two months in which they needed to deal with foreign media representatives. About six major newspaper and three smaller groups planned to submit the proposal. So all the work and details that we were working on had to stay confidential to prevent it from being leaked to the other team. The final selection, the government said, would be based on those who record over 80 points out of 100 points. The score will not be comparison but done by case by case. Still there were concerns that no matter how much each groups has prepared the government will permit no groups to do such monopoly in the media.

Well, surprise, surprise. Despite everyone's concern, on the last day of 2010 the government officially annouced that four newspapers have won the right to create their own comprehensive broadcasting liscence. Chosun Newspaper, of course, is one of them. I was thrilled of the news. Yet, excitment cannot last that long. The plan is big and time is ticking already. According to the plan, which has been annouced on the Chosun newspaper, Chosun plans to open their broadcasting channel by Fall 2011 and start their 24 hour channel as soon as possible. Few things to keep in mind is: a building, the staff, the supporting elements, and the time to mature. Since I have been in the process, I am pretty confident that it may all be possible. But it would be no lie to admit that this is not a easy task.

In fact, opening a new broadcasting channel brings new implication not only in the media world, to see how newspaper conquer and expand their media power in the field of broadcasting but also in society. More jobs would be created, and more spaces would be given for media development and other industries related to this field such as PR or advertisements. Yet, at the same time, you have to ask "what would this mean in Korea media?" How much investment and power are they hoping to put in the broadcasting channel compared to their newspaper? Are they planning to balance out both or just heavily on one end? If all the major Korean newspaper are doing this, how are the other smaller newspaper or media groups expected to survive? Would Korea have just four dominated opinions and lose all the smaller opinions?

It has been only three days since the announcement. There are many parts yet to be discovered. But its not too far away that such questions will be dealt. Time will tell. And hard workers will be rewarded.

(To respect the company's confidentiality, the details of the projects will not be discussed.)

[Introducing my office. Behind the piled papers is my spot where I sat hours and hours.]

[Seeing the impact of North Korean incident. It's not everyday how one news could take over the entire newspaper's front page. Here it was the day after the bombing incident this was on the newspaper for days and days.

Yeongpyeong Island was haveily destroyed due to this incident and is still in recovery since this day. North Korea still argues that the South has attacked first, whiel the truth relies that they have fired two times and directed their missiles at the island where civilians live. The attack was unprepared and many were hurt and lost. What is to be expected the next day now, that is unknown. ]

Seoul: Night Beauty

December, 2010

Eight years has passed since the last time I walked in Korea every day. Since I went abroad for my education and work I realized how much I have missed out of my home country, South Korea. The year 2010 was a good year. Not only for me but also for the country. This was the year we opened up more widely to the global society for meetings such as the G20 and took a more active lead in international affairs and economy.

The change was visible. Everywhere I went there was change, change, and CHANGE. Eco-friendly drive-way, newly designed architecture, and more traditional preserved places written in English for tourist to travel comfortable without a single word in Korean. More nice cafes and more foreigners who have made themselves comfortable in a land they knew no one before they arrived. But most importantly the dynamic vibration could be felt every block I walked. Yes, the city was clearly ALIVE.

[Guang Hwa Moon (광화문) is the entrance to the ancient Palace. Behind this building lies Korea's historical past, but also its present in the Blue House that lies behind the Palace.]

Maybe it was because I have been hibernating in quite Heidie's little Alps house for the past few months that this non-stopping city seemed like a volcano erupting madly with excitement. Does that make sense to you? Well it sure did to me, after few weeks being back at home. Especially now going to Seoul for work everyday from Incheon -my home city is about a 2 hour bus distance from the city of Seoul - I could feel fully how big and energetic this community was. A simple comparison. When I was in Geneva I used to jog along the entire lake and even further down the city to make a full hour run. Now in Korea, I do the same hour jog by walking around my apartment complex three times. Yes, only three times. So imagine if I did that entire root in Seoul from one river across the other, that would have taken me already more than 2 hours by bus so you can imagine how much longer it must be on foot.

[The busy night street of Seoul city. People, light, cars, building, all says I am here: ALIVE.]

If this is how excited I felt as a Korean being back home to Korea, I can't imagine how it must feel to my foreign friends. You don't have to speak the language or know the culture to feel this vibe. It's as if you can feel the never-ending heat in Berlin when you step in the city even when you don't speak a word of German. Now having spent the past four months back at home and working full time at a hard core Korean newspaper industry, I'm learning a lot more of this country that I left behind. And I am excited to say that there is a lot more to be discovered. I will share some parts of my journey here because they are just too good to be kept in my cell phone all day.

[Tourist or local, Myong Dong (명동) is the place to be. Here is one of the most crowdest street in Seoul. Full of food, shops, entertainment, and people all night light, all you get is FUN all night.]