How to Dress Professionally at Work.

Dress code based on T.P.O (time, place, and occasion) is very important, especially when you start to enter the business world.

The Importance of Film Soundtracks

Music plays an important role in movies, evoking a range of different emotions and conveying their central messages.

Korean Billiards Culture

Billiards can easily be one the most exciting leisure sports for everyone to enjoy no matter gender, age or career.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Baseball Legend Lectures at Woosong

park chan ho Students lined all the way outside the library auditorium to see one of Korea’s all-time baseball stars. Park Chan Ho, current Hanwha Eagles and former Major League Baseball pitcher gave a special lecture in front of a packed-house October 25th. As seats filled, students stood and sat in aisles to get a glimpse this very successful athlete and businessman.

Park summed up his coveted baseball career as it began with the LA Dodgers at just 21 years old. He had spent his glory days in Los Angeles, setting a Korean record, winning 124 games in Major League Baseball. Chanho Park is the envy of many baseball players in Korea.

The lecture went on with his life story. He gave the Woosong students helpful advice for their future while sharing the tools that made him successful, such as time management- crucial to students.

With ten minutes left in the lecture, he started to accept various questions from the students. Some of questions were pretty hard to answer for Chanho Park and he commented on how these students were just as professional as journalists he has faced here and in North America. Park fielded questions dealing with his future plans, what he might have done if he didn’t turn pro baseball player and advice for teammate and Korean baseball sensation, Ryu Hyun Jin, who appears headed to play at the highest level- MLB. To the surprise of many, the crowd learned that Park thought he “might have worked as a judge, gangster or something else.”

Woosong students with varying degrees of interest in Park and baseball, walked away with new opinions and admiration after the lecture. Park impacted his audience. “Honestly, I was surprised to see Chanho Park who was really famous in MLB. And he was more well-built than I thought. He told students of his experiences,” explained Dongjun Seo.

Park may have also helped ticket sales for his team while inspiring some too. “I was not a huge fan of baseball. However, he gave me confidence and courage.

So I thought I’m going to see a baseball game next year. I didn’t know what he did before coming back to Korea. baseballBut I realized he was such a fabulous baseball player in the past. So I started respecting him,” said Jungah Kim, Woosong student.

As the lecture ended, Park buttoned his jacket and hurried out, after a swarm of students approached the tall athlete. He signed a few autographs and stood for a few photos. Nobody knows where his baseball future will lead. At 39, he walked out of the Woosong Library in the twilight of his career; students may have seen the last of Chanho Park the player. However, his words have just begun to impact some new followers.


Staff writer Seunghwan Jung.

Model UN held at Woosong University!

modelun The 18th National Model United Nations Conference (MUN) was held at Woosong University on July 4th through the 7th, in 2012. This contest began in 1995. The United Nations Association of the Republic of Korea (UNROK) hosts it and it is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). The conference has provided university students with direct experience for international cooperation and diplomacy negotiation.

This year’s contest had 459 participants from 66 universities. It was comprised of 4 committees: participants on committees 1 and 2 had to speak in English whereas participants on committees 3 and 4 could speak in Korean. Competitors, representing different nations, on each committee were selected by a random draw. The topics for MUN were divided into the four committees in the following way:

  • Committee 1: “Global Efforts to Counter Nuclear Terrorism and Strengthen Nuclear Security”
  • Committee 2: “Global Efforts to Protect the Basic Human Rights of Migrant Workers”
  • Committee 3: “Global Efforts to Address the Challenges and Threats in Cyber-space”
  • Committee 4: “New International Development Goals and Framework Beyond MDGs and Post-2015”

Each committee announced a resolution after thorough discussion and argument.

United_NationsThe judges of the contest were comprised of former ambassadors and MOFAT officials. They inspected all formal conferences and evaluated the work of each committee. Then they awarded the highest first prize (MOFAT Minister’s Award), a grand prize (KOICA Director’s Award), an excellence prize (UNA president’s Award), a participation prize (UNA president’s Award), and an encouragement prize (WSU president’s Award). The highest first prize winners were granted a visit to a conference about the United Nations as a supplementary prize.

Woosong University president John E. Endicott said, “WSU went one step further to become a specialized university of Asia due to the 18th National MUN” and that, “contestants protected the welfare of their states and progressed to an intense debate with negotiation for achieving the universal goals of the UN. So, they’re going to reconsider the importance of international cooperation.” President Endicott also said, “I want all of the participants to do their best to remember this well.’’


Staff writer Cho Wonha.

Unforgettable China

Flag_of_Chinese About 30 students who received good grades on the TOEIC Test Contest held twice a year at Woosong went to China on July 30th. We stayed there for a week and we had a good time.

On the first full day of the trip, we went to the Gate of Heavenly Peace and the Forbidden City. The Gate and The Forbidden City are both symbols of China, so they were very crowded.

“They remind me of a Chinese movie called Curse of the Golden Flower, said John, one of the lucky Woosong students on this special trip. “I was really surprised at the huge, massive historical gate.”

We also went to big, amazing Shanghai Qufu where we learned about Confucius's life.

In the day, we visited a market for foreign people and a famous beer factory located in Tsingtao. At the factory, we directly saw the process of beer-making, and Mr. Wang, head of our travel company, instructed us about the drinking etiquette of China. Then, we got to drink a sample of the freshly brewed beer.

“The taste of the beer was incredibly cool,” said one of the students.

30 lucky Woosong contest winners visited China this past summer- The atmosphere in Tsingtao was different from the rest of China. It was comfortable and beautiful. We went to a beautiful park and the sea. There were a lot of Chinese people and foreigners like us. Once again despite the rain, we enjoyed being at the beach, and we played some games.

“The most precious thing about this trip was to be given the chance to get along with chinese_architecturestudents from other departments and to learn first-hand about the life and culture of the Chinese people,” said one student, reflecting on the last night of the trip.

Even through the schedule of the journey was a little bit tight, we fully enjoyed the trip. It's been about three months now since we returned, but I think the memory will remain in our minds for a long time.


Guest writer Kim HyeIn.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Busan International MOTOR SHOW 2012

(By Lee Sang-sub) On May 25, the 2012 Busan International Motor show kicked off at BEXCO in Busan. This was a great opportunity for Korean people to experience a motor show and to learn about more than 170 cars and 22 automobile brands, coming from all around the world.

This year’s theme was The Voyage of the Green Car Across the Ocean. The majority of the countries all around the world have studied how to protect the environment from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and so on. Now more than ever, it has become essential for companies in many fields to pay attention to such global issues.

The show’s organizers anticipated that more than 750,000 people would visit the motor show on Saturday, May 26.

The event was a showcase for lots of cars made by BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai, KIA, GM and others. The world-leading car companies showed not only their new cars but also eco-friendly cars which included hybrid and electric vehicles. They also displayed passenger cars, commercial cars, specially equipped vehicles, motorcycles, and automobile parts and accessories.

Other special events included business meetings, a new car giveaway, a car audio festival and an R-C car contest.

One BEXCO attendee and car enthusiast, Kim KyungMok, said, “This is the most amazing show ever in my life. There were a variety of cars and beautiful racing models.

The best part,” said KyungMok, “is that I can take photos with all of the cars such as popular concept cars I haven’t seen before and electric vehicles I have always been interested in.”

“This is the most amazing show ever in my life,” said Kim KyungMok. (By Kim ByeongJu)


Staff writer Kim ByeongJu is currently a Woosong University student majoring in English.

How to Enjoy a Baseball Game

Old-timey baseball. We tied onions to our belts. Do you like baseball? After Korean Baseball League's opening game in April, lots of baseball fans are heading for baseball stadiums. If you have time, visit the Hanbat Baseball Stadium and see a Hanhwa Eagles game. I'll tell you how to enjoy a baseball game.

Step 1. Enjoy with your friends or family.

Usually, you go to a baseball game with friends or family. You probably wouldn't go by yourself or with strangers to a game that you're not interested in. It is always best to enjoy the time you're spending with your friends or family.

Step 2. Stroll around the baseball stadium.

Baseball stadiums often have plenty of exhibitions. Hanbat Baseball Stadium has a team history exhibition which can provide you with the opportunity to learn about the Hanhwa Eagles club's past. This can turn out to be so interesting and instructive that you might even warm to the game considerably more.

If you come to the stadium with a bit of extra money on you, explore the shopping options. There are a variety of team T-shirts, caps, or game programs. Baseball clubs will have a greater variety of stores to explore, with a wide selection of team-branded apparel to purchase.

Step 3. Eat!

There are a variety of food and drink choices, including hot dogs, beer, peanuts, and snacks. Nowadays, it's not unusual for a stadium to offer things ranging from chicken to beer. Eating at a stadium can be quite enjoyable.

Step 4. Enjoy the atmosphere.

If you are outside on a nice day, you feel so good. The Hanbat Baseball Stadium has a nice scenic view of Mt. Bomun. It's a much better option than sitting home in bed. So enjoy the feeling of excitement among a crowd in a stadium.


Staff writer Park Se Il is currently a Woosong University student majoring in English.

Finding Something to Believe in, in Korea

gods? One of the most frequently asked questions by Chinese international students who are new in Korea is: “How can Korean people be so religious?” To those who are puzzled, the biggest surprise would be that a few Chinese people become Christians or Catholics after staying in Korea for years.

When Korean people are questioned about their religious views, they, on the other hand, are the ones who are puzzled. They think these questions are simply as silly as questioning the existence of human civilization.

As a matter of fact, religious culture has dominated society, including China, for a long time throughout human civilization. However, the reason for Chinese students’ wonderment is that the current Chinese government is not supportive of any religious activity and even forbids any member of the Communist Party from participating in religious activities.

What makes this phenomenon stranger to Chinese individuals is that it seems like highly-educated people tend to participate in religious activities more enthusiastically.

“It was really unexpected when I found out that a dean at Woosong University spends all his weekends in church,” said Huang Shen, a senior student from Railway Electrical Engineering. “A person with decent education, not to mention someone with a Ph.D, should be aware of how this world works and consequently not believe in any kind of theism.”

This kind of perspective towards religion is very common among Chinese students. They believe that theism is not supported by scientific proof and that believing in religion is not a right attitude towards life.

Wang Shen, another Chinese international student from Hotel Management is almost indignant on this issue. “Can you imagine how astonishing it is that a neuroscientist believes in God! She knows better than anyone else that there is no moral mind separate from the physical body and all the mental activities are just some delusions made by your neurons in your body.”

Scientifically, they are not wrong. Although it is a dangerous hypothesis, it is well believed in academia that almost all mental activity happens in the cortex. But does it matter, believing in something you cannot see through your whole life?

Here is how the previously-mentioned neuroscientist, Li Yan, who works at KAIST, responded. “It is ok if someone wants to embrace either of the ideas: theism or atheism. For me, I have been seeking a balance between science and religion. After all, I don’t want to admit that all our free will, nobleness and integrity are complicated delusions while what we have been doing now is totally determined 14 billion years ago. Rather, I would say human life is a gift from God and we exist because of all of the elaborate creation made by our god during an amazingly long journey from the big bang to today.”

Indeed, religion can be a wonderful part of culture to make us appreciate and enjoy our lives even more. There is no reason to degrade ourselves, is there?

(Editor’s note: Religion can be a delicate topic to discuss. The Woosong Herald welcomes comments, but expects all individuals to be respectful and courteous.)


Staff writer Ying Cheng Hao is currently a Woosong University student majoring in Railway Electrical Engineering.

Friday, July 27, 2012

A Clean Campus:The Face of Woosong

trash As I walk around the Woosong campus as of late, I have found that the litter on the street is disgusting, unpleasant to look at and, what’s more, smells terrible. The situation on campus is a little better (given the endeavors of the Sol Police), but not by much. On the other hand, all kinds of dirty things like cigarettes, spit, and even vomit litter the streets surrounding campus. In particular, student residential areas are being blighted by trash and stink. On the threshold of summer, I am seriously concerned about the horrendous smell of hot trash that can only become worse than it is now.

The area around Jayang-dong is, strictly speaking, not a part of the Woosong campus. To consider Jayang-dong a community separate from Woosong is difficult, however, because college facilities, dorms, and apartments where students reside dominate the neighborhood. It would, in fact, be ridiculous to consider Jayang-dong as anything other than a part of the Woosong community.

Knowing that, how will the image of Woosong University not suffer if the surrounding areas are unkempt and dirty? There is a man, for instance, who cleans up around my apartment every day. He always says the same thing while performing his duties; “What on Earth do students learn from the University…and [sic] what is the use of studying in a University if you don’t have a conscience”? He has a point. It is shameful for college students, who are supposed to be educated people, to conduct themselves in such a disrespectful and thoughtless manner.

For the image of students and Woosong University, as well as for the residents of Jayang-dong, community pollution is a real and serious issue. When I first arrived in Jayang-dong, I asked one of my friends whom already lived alone here about the procedure for dealing with food waste. Her answer was ridiculous. “Just put it in a plastic bag and throw it out of window.” The idea that somebody would dispose of trash in that fashion is, in my opinion, irresponsible and inconsiderate. We need to take care of our campus, living space, and community.

Dirty streets can also be dangerous, especially for kids. Every alley in Jayang-dong is a playground for little children. There are too many dangerous things littering the streets like sharp pieces of glass, broken bottles, cigarette butts, and human waste. What do you think local children learn from watching college students throwing garbage everywhere and spitting on the street?

Every year, Woosong University makes a considerable effort to ameliorate its reputation as an institute of higher learning in both local and international realms of consideration. For Woosong to become noted as a quality university, the academic performance of its students and condition of its facilities need to be stellar. Therefore, it is the students’ responsibility to be diligent not only in their studies but also, and perhaps more importantly, in their public conduct. Such an advanced consciousness is based on cherishing and respecting the reputation and image of our university.

litter_disposal Woosong’s campus and the area surrounding it are the face of Woosong University. As students, it is our duty to keep it clean and try to improve it whenever and wherever we can. In so doing, we will not only fulfill our civic responsibility as members of the community, but also (and more importantly) contribute to the success, accreditation, and image of the school from which we will graduate.


Staff writer Lee Kyung Min is currently a Woosong University student majoring in English.

Countdown to the London Olympics

  olympicsThe 30th Summer Olympic Games starts on July 27th and lasts for 17 days. It is the biggest sporting event on the planet with 10,500 athletes and millions of spectators. As is tradition, 8,000 inspirational people will carry the Olympic Flame as it journeys across the globe, ending on July 29th in this year’s host city, London.

The scheduled 2012 Summer Olympics will make London the first city to have hosted the modern Olympiad Games three times. London has hosted the Olympic Games on two past occasions, in 1908 and 1948, with the third planned for 2012.

Last summer in the Beijing Olympic Games, Korea placed 7th overall. Korea hopes to win 10 gold medals and place in the top 10 for these Olympics.

In the Summer Olympics, the regular events are: swimming, judo, archery, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, and so on. There are 26 regular events.

This is the first time the Korean women's volleyball team reached the Olympics in nearly eight years. Korea's medal favorites are: Park Tae-hwan (swimming), Jang Mi Ran (weightlifting), and Lee Yong Dae (badminton).

The medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games will be awarded during a total of 302 Victory Ceremonies, taking place at venues across the UK.

Sustainability and ecology are an important part of this Olympics. Polluted ground near London Olympic Park was purified by water. Stadiums were built using 90% recycled resources. All tourists use only public transportation or walk.

The official 2012 London Olympics’ slogan is, "Live as one," and the motto is "Inspire a Generation.”

The Opening Ceremony will be held on Friday, July 27, 2012 at 9 PM. Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games are now on sale on a first come, first served basis. Ticket prices start at just £20, with special prices for young people and seniors.


Staff writers Lee Na Kyung and Jeong Min Ju are currently Woosong University students majoring in Nursing.

The Lady with the Lamp Lights up Woosong University

Florence On 31th of May 2012, the 2nd Florence Nightingale Pledge ceremony was held in Solbridge for incoming undergraduate students, in Woosong’s nursing department.

The Nightingale Ceremony, named after nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, embodies Nightingale’s noble spirit, respect for life and her love of humanity.

To acknowledge this special occasion the following dignitaries attended the ceremony: President John Endicott, Seongkyung kim (chairman of Woosong Foundation) Kang-Yi lee (the chair of Daejon nurses Association), Rchard T. Knowlton (Deputy commander for nursing at 121St Combat support Hospital) and Dr. Sharon Boni (Dean, School of Nursing and Allied Health Administration) at Fairmont State University (Uni.). In addition, many honorable guests attended to demonstrate their support for the nursing students. Notably, Dr. Sharon Boni, who signed an MOU between Woosong University and Fairmont State University, delivered a congratulatory speech.

“I believe all of you will become special and prominent medical professionals. We are provided the opportunity to make a difference, maybe more than any other profession. I’m looking forward to working and cooperating with Woosong University to provide all kinds of opportunities for these wonderful students” (Dr.Sharon Boni)

For one of the special performances, each student walked onto the stage with a candle, ignited the light and wore the badge which was led by the nursing professors. The candle light performance symbolizes Nightingale as the lady with the lamp. She was known as this because she used carry a lamp with her to the darkest corners of military wards to tend to the injured soldiers. Nightingale not only cared for each patient individually but she lived for them.

After that, along with Sunhee Kwon, 47 junior students recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge, dedicating themselves to the nursing profession and declaring their commitment to patient care.

“As the descendant of Nightingale's vision who revolutionized modern nursing, I decided to be a person who tries hard to provide with people equal medical opportunities and shine the light for health promotion”(Sunhee Kwon, 21)

nurse_lamp At the end of ceremony, freshmen and sophomore students gave an impressive stage performance by singing touching songs to celebrate the day. And herald the spirit of nightingale that will live on through the work of these students.


Staff writer Shin Hye Kyung is currently a Woosong University student majoring in Nursing Science.

Most Teenagers are Affected Negatively by Skinny Teen Pop Idols in Korea

Korean Singers The bad effects of skinny idol groups have been growing recently. Teen pop idols are increasing in popularity at a fast pace in Korea. Moreover, most of them are composed of teenagers who are respected by their peers. One problem is the bad effect on teenagers who see the idols with skinny bodies and beautiful faces on the TV screen. Teenagers always struggle to shape their body to be slimmer and go on harsh diets to be like a doll. Furthermore, they depend on medical treatment as well. However, most teenagers will judge the idols by the way they look, not by the tough course which they‘ve been through.

As a result of this atmosphere, a number of teenage students who should be full of energy to grow in playground settings, go hungry themselves to be like idols. Besides, many teenage girls use too much makeup, which is not age-appropriate.

The other problem is the title of ‘idol’. Because most groups of teen pop idols have a pretty face, the image of ‘idols’ is regarded by teenagers as a girl or boy who has a good looking face and skinny body.

“Everyday new singer groups have appeared. There are so many that I can't recognize them. Because geeks are crazy about handsome and pretty idols, the singer’s popularity has ups and downs," said high school student, Sin JeaHyup.

"There are many students who are skinny or very fat. I have seen a lot of tall, skinny models and unhealthy students hooked on those idols’ appearances. So they wear lots of makeup on their faces even if they are only teenagers,” said JeaHyup. Most teens know well how they are affected by an idols’ appearance.

"Today there are so many idols that appear for just a moment, and if they debut as a singer, they are using their appearance to make money with commercial entertainment,” said Yang SoonWha, a woman in her forties. “Also, these days, idols all appear the same kind of handsome or pretty. I think idols’ appearances can cause children to try hard diets and make them focus on appearance when they meet people at first."

Through these interviews we can know: age isn’t a matter to know how people recognized the negative influence of idol's appearance. Judging a person by his or her appearance is today's trend, but popularity does not last long in life. Actually, people prefer a singer of ability more than one with nice appearance alone. Pretty and beautiful idols’ real fans are few and they move their affections from here to there with every new trend. It’s not a love for the singers, but praise of their appearance.

Should we stand by and watch the negative effects of teen’s affection for idols? Or is it already too late? As Korea is growing and the world of singers is growing, idol's popularity abroad is getting bigger and bigger. If success is based on looks, various problems in Korea will increase. As Korean idols enter the overseas market, it seems we have a homework problem past due to be solved.


Guest writers Cora Shin and Carla Kang.

Young People React to 20-year-old Making Trouble on the Subway

subway Nowadays, the unsavory actions of young people have come to induce equally immoral actions from certain elderly characters such as a woman who bombards others with rough words, a smoking woman, and a woman who takes stimulants. They are doing wrong to one another, damaging each other. One such recent case happened on a subway.

This incident happened on Feb 27th, 2012. A young woman crossed her legs, but it upset the person sitting next to her. An older woman nearby said, "Don't cross your legs because you do damage to others." After the older woman spoke, a younger woman was infuriated and shouted at the old woman. The old woman was embarrassed, but the younger woman kept shouting and becoming angrier.

Although there were many people in the same place, nobody stopped the quarrel.

The day after this incident, a YouTube video was posted on the Internet. Most netizens (net-citizens) watched the video and blamed the younger woman's action. Her personal information was found and spread on the Internet.

People have various views on this affair. “I think it was strange,” said Emily Youn, a 20-year-old Korean-native. “They were on public transportation. So we should practice good manners towards others. But she [the older woman] didn't practice good manners. This action deserved swearing.”

Emily sympathizes with the younger woman. “I think it was sad. The old woman should have told the younger woman to uncross her legs in a more polite attitude. If someone suddenly advises you to do this, it can make you feel embarrassed.”

"If I were there,” said Chanika, a 26-year-old American citizen, “I would tell the younger woman, ‘Don't yell at the old woman,’ because her action was not polite and rude."

In conclusion, it is never the fault of one side; it takes two. The younger woman should have observed proprieties, and the older woman should have told her more politely.

Emily and Chanika had opposite views about this accident, but they both took the same view about spreading personal information on internet. "I think that spreading the young woman’s personal information on the internet was bad because her behavior was only a minor offense,” said Emily. “Therefore, she should be punished in a small way.”

“Although she acted rude to the old woman, she did it wrong once. Afterward, she might have bitterly regretted her actions and apologized to the old woman,” said Chanika. “But someone disseminated her personal information publicly on the internet and blamed her. Though she did wrong, she has a right to protect her privacy."

Observing public order is becoming a social issue once again. Netizens are hotly debating this issue online and biting back at both women, especially the young one. Ever since the information was announced to the public, many ordinary citizens have been weighing in with their judgment, shedding new light on how our society would solve this timeless generational gap conflict. Overall, the online community seems to recommend that there are many ‘other’ people to consider in society, so we need to be more considerate of each other.


Guest writers Jenny Oh and Amy Kang.

Friday, July 13, 2012

The Jisan Rock Festival is coming soon! (Web Exclusive)

2012JisanRockFestival The weather is getting hotter and hotter these days. Looking for somewhere to cool off? Then, How about going to enjoy some awesome music? I recommend you go to the Jisan Rock Festival.

At the Jisan Rock Festival, you can feel free from the city’s busy schedules and noises. And you can also enjoy camping at the Jisan Rock Festival, if you choose a three-Day ticket with camping included.

This year, they have a fantastic line up! Coming on Friday, July 27th: RADIOHEAD, THE BLACK SKIRTS, KIM CHANGWAN BAND, LOWDOWN30, BUSKER BUSKER, BLACK BAG, ACHIME, ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE IMPOSTERS, M.WARD, JAMES IHA, COMMON GROUND, and PETERPAN COMPLEX.

On Saturday the 28th: JAMES BLAKE, LUCID FALL WITH CHO YOON SEUNG SEMI-SYMPHONIC ENSEMBLE, UNDERWEARS BAND, THE STRIKERS, SPYAIR, OWL CITY, APOLLO 18, EAEON, LEE JUCK, TARU, PEPPERTONES, HOLLOW JAN, and HARRY BIG BUTTON.

THE STONE ROSES, NELL, LOS LONELY BOYS, MONNI, BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, BEADY EYE, SEKAI NO OWARI, YELLOW MONSTERS, JANG PHIL SOON, and HANUMPA are coming on Sunday the 29th.

There is one thing you should think about. That is, the Jisan Rock Festival is an outdoor festival. So, it requires some preparation. For example, if it rains, you can’t avoid not being wet in the sticky rain. So, take your raincoat just in case! And the festival site doesn’t have many bathrooms and amenities, so you might have to wait in line a long time.

The 2012 Jisan Rock Festival is held at the Jisan Forest Resort from July 27th to 29th. The Jisan Forest Resort is in Icheon Gyeonggi Province. You can get there by bus or by car.

You can book your tickets online. There are three kinds of tickets: a 1-Day ticket, a 3-Day ticket, and a 3-Day ticket with camping.

For more information, go to the website of the Jisan Rock Festival (www.valleyrockfestival.com).


Staff writer Park Mi Na.

Music Spotlight: April’s at Brickhouse

On May 16th, 2012, an up-and-coming new rock band performed for an audience of about 50 people at a local Eunhangdong bar called Brickhouse. Herald staff writer, Kim JiPil was lucky enough to catch up with the band before the show and talk to the band. The following is an interview with Kim JinSeok, leader of the band.

Q: What is the purpose of your performance here?

A: We’re here to meet the visitors’ satisfaction, but the most important thing is that we are here to enjoy playing, and I hope you guys enjoy. This time is the last performance for me, because I am going to quit the band to study more.

Q: When and how did you form this band?

A: The band’s age is one year old, and we were all Woosong students but with different kinds of departments. We are all into music, so we decided to make a band.

Q: What is your band's name, and what does it mean?

A: The name is April's; it means Woosong University is beautiful especially in April. So we had in mind that our band would also be like the great beauty of Woosong University.

Q: What has been your most impressive performance?

A: We went to the Social Welfare Center before for a benefit performance. When we were there, we were proud to be a participating band.

The Brickhouse, a foreigner bar, seemed like Times Square to me. I went there to interview bands, but I saw impressive images of Koreans and foreigners communicating openly. I felt that, though we are different in appearances and nationality, we can become one through music.


Staff writer Kim JiPil is currently a Woosong University student majoring in English.

21st Century Witch Hunting: Lady Gaga’s Concert and a Religious Group’s Reaction

Lady Gaga Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” surely triggered the fanaticism of 45,000 people. On April 27th of 2012 in her very first world tour concert, Lady Gaga made sure that her watching fans left satisfied with her exceptional performances in Jamsil Olympic Stadium Complex. The number of people who bought tickets to this event marked the second highest after Michael Jackson, and this clearly reflects her influence in South Korea.

However, not all people were welcoming her arrival. Soon after she arrived, the South Korean government suddenly raised the rating of the concert to "above 18." Right before the concert started, many Christian groups including The Christian Council of Korea severely castigated Lady Gaga, her concert, and the host company for allowing "a bad influence" to take place on the Peninsula. These people even went in front of the concert hall trying to ‘save’ people in the line from Satan. Some of the Christians held up banners presenting things that severely criticized Lady Gaga’s stance on bisexuality and the blatancy of her performance in front of her many fans. Neither these Christians nor the fans were happy.

This so-called anti-Gaga movement from various religious sects is still taking place in other countries. The second destination of Lady Gaga’s world tour is one of the biggest Muslim countries in the world, Indonesia. Already various Muslim protesters are holding up banners, reprimanding the concert venue itself and Lady Gaga. People of the Philippines, one of the strongest Roman Catholic countries, are against the coming of Lady Gaga. Her tour, it seems, will be experiencing many more bumps along the road.

With respect to many other religious believers, their theories notwithstanding, the actions and assertions made by these religious groups are not valid. Most of all, these people are not respectful of others with dissenting viewpoints. The evaluation on the performer or the concert can be different depending on what kind of perspectives you take. Although many of her fans were not affiliated with certain religions, their musical preference should be respected just like how the religions are respected. Yet the religious sector failed to be flexible with people holding different opinions.

Moreover, the conflict-provoking censuring of the bisexuality or homosexuality of the performer clearly shows that the religious sector is intervening beyond their given scope of business. The often raised issue of agreeing or disagreeing with homosexuality is actually a debate that does not make sense. Sexual preference is a matter of personal choice instead of debate. Fervent uprising of religious fundamentalists is therefore against the value of freedom of choice.

With the reverence for the devotion which these religious groups made in our society notwithstanding, the radical dichotomy of evil versus angel triggers the conflict between the factions of dissenting opinion within the society. Just as The Bible or the Koran is sacred among their respected group members, counterpart values of the public should also be appreciated.


Staff writer Lee JuWon is currently a SolBridge University student.

Movie Review: 500 Days of Summer

Scene_Slate “It’s not a love story.” This is the warning shown at the very beginning of the movie. It’s not a movie that makes you want to cry or makes you feel romantic. The only thing important was that love does not come with rules. 500 Days of Summer represents a simple love story in a totally different way.

Here is the normal part of this movie. Tom (Joseph Gordon) met a girl who did not believe in love, Summer (Zooey Deschanel). The poor boy who always believed in the purity of love believed that this girl was there only for him. Without any surprise, they started a relationship in the usual manner. Starting with excitement, their relationship became sweet and they started to trust each other. In the end, however, as the girl said at the very beginning, a commitment was not what she wanted. Therefore, without any surprise, they broke up in a typical way. The question remains, what makes this movie unique?

First of all, as an independent movie, it can take the risk to try new cinematography methods because the investment is not as high as those commercial movies. As 500 Days of Summer did, it didn’t tell the story in chronological order. After watching this movie for 5 minutes, you can tell where the plot would go eventually. It was not mysterious at all. Also, it wasn’t ordered in a typical fashion; it seemed like the scenes were simply chosen randomly. But the most amazing part is that, by watching this movie, the audience gets the chance to revisit their own stories and hopefully develop a deep understanding about what love is.

Secondly, super-attractive actors and actresses surely could not have made the audience feel as strong as neighbor-like characters. The directors certainly knew this marketing tact and chose Joseph Gordon and Zooey Deschanel as the main characters. This was not the first time the two actors worked together. They had a tacit understanding and made the characters and the story so home-like that the resonance was almost guaranteed.

Even two years after its premiere, 500 Days of Summer is still a good movie to watch. Want a love story with a different taste? Spend two hours on a quiet night and enjoy this movie.


Staff writer Ying ChengHao is currently a Woosong University student majoring in Railway Electrical Engineering.

Are Social Networking Sites Having a Bad Effect on Society?

clip_image002“Do you want to enhance your language skills? Why don’t you join the social networking world? There are lots of people from other countries,” Cora, a Woosong University student, said.

Cora’s daily routine includes logging onto social networking sites, like Facebook, every day. In the morning, she checks her messages as soon as she gets up. When she comes to school, she connects to her Facebook account and posts comments on her friends’ pages or visits other peoples’ blogs. Cora usually sits in front of her computer networking with her friends or updating her pictures and other information. She is a typical young person in Korean society.

She said, “When I use social network sites, I feel more comfortable communicating, and I’ve made a lot of friends on Facebook.” Social network sites give us a virtual community where we can make friends and chat with others.

In the “Pew Interview Project Data Memo,” Amanda Lenhart and Mary Madden reported that more than 90% of teenagers used social networking websites and also had online profiles, and around 75% of them said that they used the sites to get in touch with their friends.

However, in spite of the possible benefits such as improving self-esteem, the rise in popularity of social networking sites among young people has had negative effects on society because of the risk of health problems and the violation of personal privacy.

The first negative effect is that physical problems will happen among many young people using social networking sites. Connecting to websites for a long time while sitting leads to health problems like weight gain. For example, one Woosong University student I interviewed began using the social networking sites after entering university. Thus, he was sitting in front of the computer too much because it was possible to meet various friends at the same time. In addition, he didn’t need to spend time taking a bus or walking outside to meet his friends, so he became overweight. If he hadn't become overweight, it would not be a problem to society. The key here is that it is not only him, but many young people that have become overweight owing to the amount of time spent in front of the computer. Then it is possible for them to get various diseases, having harmful effects on many young people’s lives. A huge number of young people will go to the hospital in the future.

Social Networking App Usage Up 30%.

Nielsen: THE SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT Q3 2011

However, it could be argued that some social networking sites could help students improve their self-esteem. It is said that many students build up their self-confidence by showing their personal profiles. Most people agree that social networking site use has definite side effects on society. Although some people say that youth having their own social website is a positive experience, I would argue that the negative effects outweigh the positive.

Not only do social networking sites have health-related side effects, but they also expose lots of young peoples’ information, which means that some predators can use private personal information unlawfully. Violators steal personal information from social networking sites via individual public profiles and use that information for the purpose of their own business. For instance, when Arvin was a high school student, joining the networking sites, he had to fill out forms which included his address, phone number, email, and social security number. After that, some companies began to send him text messages or emails to advertise their products even though he didn’t permit them to use his personal information. He said, “I felt annoyed and scared. I just want more privacy than I’ve had before. It is an infringement of my privacy.” In this way, many companies have unwittingly allowed the abuse of people’s personal information on their website. In other words, only social networking could so readily expose young people to online criminals.

Joining and using social networking sites looks very convenient and useful, but it can cause many young people to get health problems. Moreover, thieves can abuse illegally-obtained personal information from sites which are not monitored by a security system.

Therefore, using social networking sites should be restricted by parents for young people, and websites should try to protect many young people from violators trying to steal their private information.


Guest contributors Tina Park and Jasmin Woo.

Friday, June 29, 2012

What is Real Beauty? (Web Exclusive)

Cosmetic surgery Everyone wants to be a beautiful person, even me. Today, I think about “What is real beauty?” because people I know say, “Nowadays you look fat. You have to lose weight.” So, I wear clothes every day trying to look nice. This is stressful for me. My mom says, “You are always beautiful. Don't lose courage.” But, my older sister says, “You have to lose weight and have plastic surgery like me.” My sister said it as a joke. Suddenly, I had some questions: What is real beauty? Why must everyone be beautiful? Does real beauty mean using diets or having plastic surgery? Is inner beauty real beauty?

Today, I think there are some real social issues of concern around our perceptions of beauty. As a woman, it seems like it is more important for me to be beautiful than capable. In Korea, a person's appearance is all-important. For example, when I heard 2NE1’s song, “Ugly,” I felt very bitter. The song “Ugly” tries to describe contemporary people who prefer appearances to substance or quality of character. The lyrics “I think I’m ugly / and nobody wants to love me/ Just like her I want to be pretty / … / Don’t lie to my face telling me I’m pretty” are particularly problematic. They can cause real feelings of inadequacy that have lasting psychological effects on their audience, who are primarily teenage girls. The song has very exciting music, but the lyrics suggest we live in a world where people are judged solely by their appearances!

Many Koreans think that in order to succeed, we have to have plastic surgery or be constantly dieting. University students undergo plastic surgery and diet excessively hoping to get a better job. Society is putting so much focus on our appearance that many young people lose sight of things that are truly important, such as education and morality.

We live in the Republic of Plastic Surgery!

Many people are discriminated against in the Republic of Plastic Surgery, and the plastic surgeries themselves can cause serious physical and psychological damage. For example, everyone knows the tragic tale of Michael Jackson. The UK magazine, The Sun, says he was infected by a super bacteria during one of his many cosmetic surgeries and suffered horribly from the infection. I personally know someone who had plastic surgery on her eyes and nose. She sometimes experiences a prickly feeling and, at other times, feels no pain or sensation at all. It is good to want be beautiful, but at what cost? People should avoid unnecessary invasive surgeries their bodies do not need.

In conclusion, while thinking about beauty I felt many things. To be honest, I still do not know what real beauty is, but I do know our society is far too obsessed with achieving it. We should all think carefully about what real beauty means to us and try not to judge a person by their appearance. It is good to have outer beauty, but goodness, kindness, and intelligence can often be more attractive than double eyelids or high nose bones. We must always remember to take care of our inner beauty and look for it in others, as well.


Staff writer Cha Suji.

Yeosu EXPO 2012 (Part 3)

expo4 The Yeosu Expo was an issue before its opening because of Korea’s desire, the Kim Yu Na effect, and many people’s help.

We looked forward to holding the Yeosu Expo for a long time. This year was the result of many years of preparation; it was time to show the world. I, personally, eagerly looked forward to it because I mostly have lived on the land. Therefore, the ocean is an interesting topic to me.

When I visited the Yeosu Expo, I got three impressions. First, the Yeosu Expo was very informative and unique. They introduced the world’s best knowledge and technology related to the Expo’s theme-- “The Living Ocean and Coast;” and proposed ways to utilize them to develop and advance the global community, economy, and science. Also, there are individual company pavilions and international pavilions. Furthermore, the Yeosu Expo had enjoyable events, cultural performances and a variety of shows with the open sea. It provided a bunch of information about various themes.

Second, the Yeosu Expo organizers were creative. Their exhibitions used high quality technology, such as 4D imaging, screening, or simulation. Therefore I could experience and understand things more easily than I expected. Also, they made interactive facilities that everybody from the young to the old could enjoy together. Most of the pavilions made people experience or see things in three dimensions and used machines and high technology. They did not just have us look at pictures. Every time when I went to a different pavilion, I got a shock because of the unimaginable high technology. It was a totally different exhibition than what I am used to seeing. This style made me concentrate and participate more.

Lastly, the Yeosu Expo included nature. There were 3 distinct aspects of nature: the mountains, the ocean and the land. The smell of the ocean and the fresh, clean air of the mountains were awesome. In addition, the sightseeing was fantastic. I think the people who live in the city and have a busy life can relax well in that kind of natural environment. The nature is harmonious, so we can feel nature's friendliness.

However, there were some points that I was disappointed with. Even though I reserved the pavilions, I failed to get in on time because of the many people and long lines. Also I found one thing during interviewing people from other nations: they said this expo is unknown to other countries compared to the Shanghai Expo. I want to make up for these parts so that we finish the Yeosu Expo more successfully than we started. I hope that Korea is developing and stepping ahead of the rest of the world through this good change with the Yeosu Expo. 


Staff writer Shin Hye Kyung is currently a Woosong University student majoring in Nursing Science.

4th Annual Together Day Festival

Together Day performance. On a beautiful, sunny day-- May 5th, 2012, from 11AM to 5PM, there was an international event called the “4th Together Day Festival,” which took place at Daejeon’s Expo Park. The purpose of this event was to bring together local citizens and foreigners.

There were a number of booths for each of the countries. Each booth provided amusing and creative activities for visitors. In the Korean booth, people could try pounding rice cake dough with a traditional giant hammer-like tool. In the USA booth, there were many beautiful pictures that portrayed nature in the United States, which were quite different from that of Korean ones. In the Indonesian booth, we could play the angklung, a traditional musical instrument made out of bamboo.

In addition, there were many varieties of foods that could make anybody salivate. A desire to eat some international delicacies such as Turkish ice cream, lamb chops, French crepes, Vietnamese coconut, or even spicy ttokbokki, was easily served at this event. The most popular food was bratwurst from the Germany booth. There was a very long line, not only due to the price being cheap (only 3,000KRW), but the taste of well-roasted sausage covered with mustard, was just beyond expectation! Yum!

Furthermore, you could also make a free phone call to your family and send them postcards-- as many as you wanted. This service was offered by the Daejeon Municipal Government to facilitate foreigners who wanted to share news with their friends and family.

The official event started when the Governor of Daejeon, Hong Cherl Yum, gave a special award, which was called the “Daejeon City Government Award,” for foreigner and local citizens who lived in and dedicated their life to Daejeon. One of the awardees was one of Woosong’s family members, Mr. Ony Avrianto Jamhari, International Relations Regional Manager at the Global Center, Woosong Educational Foundation. He was conferred the “Outstanding Foreigner in Daejeon” award.

Following the award-granting, the event program continued with a fashion show, a K-Pop performance, and flower dancing (inspired by the movement of blossom flowers).

The main event was a performance competition between the representatives of the different countries. Some countries performed traditional dancing, while others performed singing or modern art related performances. The competition was really intense because all performing groups were doing really well. In the end, India came in as the first place winner, followed by China and Mongolia.

Last but not least, the most awaited things were the door prizes. The first winner got the big prize: 5 airplane tickets to Jeju Island. Other prizes included bicycles, 5 kilogram bags of rice, and boxes of instant noodles. I was lucky enough to win one of the door prizes, but it was just two dozen rolls of toilet paper.

It was a fun time with Daejeon citizens and fellow foreigners. I hope there will be another event like this soon.


Staff writer Alexandra Hana is currently a SolBridge University student majoring in Accounting.

How Sexism Affects Me as a Woman

Men_and_women What is sexism? Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is defined as prejudice or discrimination based on sex; or conditions or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex (Wikipedia). Sexism is always an issue.

As Korean society has changed, people’s perceptions have improved. However, sexism still remains a problem. For example, Korea public institutions such as government, schools and companies have high-ranking positions filled mostly by men. Also, in the mass media, especially in movies, women are often described as a temptress, using their beauty or sexuality not their intelligence or ability. We can find those situations in our real life.

When women have a job interview, they are judged by appearance more so than men. For instance, even though a woman has a high ability and advanced potential, if she is ugly or fat, then usually employers do not hire her. Or even if she was hired, it is difficult for her to receive a promotion. Naturally, this kind of discrimination happens more to women than it is does to men.

Recently, I found when seeking for a job as a convenience store employee working the night shift, an employer wanted only men. Do you know why? Because they think that women are placed in a dangerous situation to work at night. But night shift does not require only strength. Instead of strength, women have strong minds and wisdom to solve any situations. Likewise, men have their abilities and women have their strong points.

As a woman who lives in Korea, I am worried about these discriminative circumstances continuing. I am also sorry that people do not look on women’s real values. In Korea, we have many successful women in different professions, but it is hard to see and hear their information because mass media is not announcing it very much. I hope that popularizing the idea of both men and women more equally could change people’s perceptions and make it so that discrimination does not happen anymore.


Staff writer Shin Hye Kyung is currently a Woosong University student majoring in Nursing Science.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

International Gathering of Chefs in Daejeon

Chef Gathering 1 The World Association of Chefs Societies’ (WACS) Biannual Congress in May put Daejeon on the international stage this year by bringing chefs, future chefs, and the public together to experience cooking as both an art and a science. The event also gave Korean culinary students a chance to showcase their national cuisine to visitors from over 20 countries.

WACS Vice President Hilmar Jonsson described WACS as an “excellent opportunity to promote Korean cuisine.” He also admitted that Korean food was “too spicy for me.”

Woosong student Son Jung-min, who visited WACS, said the event was a great opportunity for everyone. “I saw a variety of food and cuisine,” he said, “I also met Woosong University students who are working at WACS as volunteer translators.”

Visitors had the opportunity to sample and try cooking traditional foods from twelve countries and to get expert tips from star chefs. Visitors were treated to cultural programs, including folk music from around the world, Samulnori, magic shows, and juggling chefs. An event at this year’s WACS also entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the most chefs in uniform in one place- 2,012 people participated.


Staff writers Jung SeungHwan and Park SeIl are currently Woosong University students majoring in English.

TianJin Harmony: The Old and the New

China travel Have you ever heard about one of the thousands of cities in China called “TianJin?” For Koreans, this is not as familiar as other cities. Although we may not have heard about the city in high school textbooks, lectures in history class, or TV documentary programs, Tianjin is a central and historic trade city--one of four major harbor cities in China.

In 1858, China entered into a treaty with four countries (Russia, U.S.A., U.K., and France). Since the treaty took effect, the city has changed its lifestyle to a new way of living, and it showed quick economic success. Moreover, there are many Korean residents who have established their businesses in the city. For this reason, Korean products have been produced in great amounts in their factories.

When I was in Beijing, I found out something new about China by traveling to several places, which many people find popular. It was an especially wonderful experience, and I cannot forget the memories with my friends. Fortunately there was a national ten-day. During this time, my friends and I planned to go to Tianjin on an overnight trip.

First of all, we took a train in the morning. Getting to the city took 30 minutes by train. While train was moving, I could see that China is no longer a poor country, as we misunderstand likewise described scenes in many movies.

Arriving at the station in Tianjin, I was surprised at so many exotic sights I’d never seen before. There were buildings established using a style of western construction materials. The more I saw, the more I was fascinated by the city that what was such an interesting mixture between eastern and western architectural styles.

When we had lunch at one of the Korean restaurants, I noticed there were many Korean businesses near the restaurant to service the Korean community living there. They were also very popular among Chinese.

Another thing that impressed me was “the old street.” In that district, the ancient and modern buildings were coexisting peacefully. In looking around the street, I could imagine many generations of Chinese walking on the same street.

At the end of our visit, we took some pictures on “Italian street.” This street was literally decorated in a completely Italian style. On my way back home, I thought that I will never forget these precious memories in my whole life. I especially recommend visiting Tianjin-- to everybody, any age.


Staff writer Lee InSeong is currently a Woosong University student.

Our “Fast Food” Culture or This is Too Long to Read

Burger by SteFou! Have you found that you get used to reading information which is getting shorter and shorter, whether it be a blog, Twitter or Facebook? Is long information becoming increasingly unbearable to you? We grow bored reading long and serious articles which in fact provide food for thought; on the contrary, we prefer those short articles which can easily amuse us.

That’s the impatient atmosphere the Internet world brings us. Maybe we can call it “fast food” culture. It represents the phenomenon that people want everything faster and faster but pay less attention to the value inside. Just like fast food… it is yummy and can make us full in a short time, but we cannot rely on it in the long run as it doesn’t have much nutrition.

Certainly we have to admit the huge benefits the Internet has brought us. Thanks to SNS like Facebook and Twitter, we can keep up to date with our friends whenever and wherever. However, in the process of using these twenty-first century modes of communication, the way we deal with information is also unobtrusively being changed. Although those short and brief sentences give us necessary information, they reduce the depth of our thoughts and we have less chance to enjoy the process of reading long and classic materials. What’s more, we abandon deep thoughts, and we are becoming more and more “shallow.”

Now let us list three kinds of “shallow” traits caused by “fast food” culture.

Firstly, “more pictures, less words.” Nowadays we prefer watching to reading things. Rage comic’s popularity can be a good example. It is created from a character or rage face, which expresses rage or some other simple emotion. We can be easily amused by these simple pictures without thinking too much. But when we are reading something, we have to calm down and think. So too in “fast food” culture, just “more pictures, less words!”

Secondly, “easily influenced,” Using Google, Wiki or Naver we can easily find the answer to the question or other persons’ opinions to certain issues. And social network sites make us love sharing the same opinion with others. As a result, we tend to think “what others think,” rather than, “I think” independently.

Third, “Internet attention disorder.” Have you found you are capable of “multi-tasking?” Increasingly we tend to seek information with brief glimpses at the Yahoo headlines or Facebook while juggling other tasks. Giving it a second thought, actually we are not able to concentrate on simply one single thing. We can call it “Internet attention disorder.” Facing a computer, we are so interested in today’s hot news that we cannot calm down and concentrate on work.

When we create watches, we become slavers of time. When we create the Internet, we are surfed by the net instead of surfing the net. Will we wake up from the Internet? Can we get rid of the fast food culture’s bad effect and restart our slow and thankful life?


Staff writer Gu ChengQiang is currently a Woosong University student majoring in Railroad Management.

Restaurant Review: IL Mare

imagebot Let me introduce an Italian restaurant named Il Mare. It’s located behind Time bookstore in Dunsan-dong. The food there is delicious, the interior is modern and tidy, and the servers, including all the staff of the restaurant, are very nice.

When I went to the restaurant the first time, there were too many people, because my guest and I were there on the weekend. So we had to wait to be seated, but the line alone proved this restaurant had great food and service. On my second time to go to the restaurant, my guest and I went to the restaurant on a weekday, so we didn’t have to wait to eat our meal.

When you get into the restaurant, the first thing you can see is the restaurant’s principle:

At Il Mare…
we use the freshest vegetables, fruits and ingredients;
we use natural seasoning;
we don’t use instant products;
we always cook food right after we get an order;
we never use leftovers.”

Here, the special order is named” Il Mare Sea.” It consists of two soups, one salad, a crawfish dish and your choice of one type of pasta from the menu. At first, I thought it seemed expensive, but actually it was not too expensive for the value. We took in the delicious food, great service, as well as the romantic atmosphere. And we saw an option.

Only two people can order the entire course menu. It costs 58,000 won. We passed the counter and got a table inside. Several tables were filled with people who seem like businessmen. The good atmosphere and nice service made us satisfied even though we didn’t eat many of the dishes.

We looked through the menu, and then we ordered a set menu which consisted of one plate of salad, two beverages, one pizza and two pastas. We chose lemonade, blueberry-ade, margherita pizza and spaghetti alglio olio and alla vongole. Both of them were olive oil spaghetti dishes. Alglio olio, which I ate, is cooked with baked garlic and olive oil; while alla vongole is cooked with white wine and some short-neck clams.

As soon as the waiter took the order, we were served some pieces of bread with a sauce. The bread was slightly warm and the sauce was fresh. I thought that eating the bread would make me less hungry for eating the main dishes, but when the two spaghettis and margherita pizza came out, they were so delicious that I had no trouble finishing the entire meal.

After we ate the food, we ordered coffee for dessert. It was too hard to drink the cup of coffee because I was full, so we slowly finished the dessert. Although my dinner guest and I ate pastas this time, next time we will eat one of the steaks, which is another of the restaurant’s specialties. After our positive experience, I am eager to dine at this restaurant again soon.


Staff writer Jung JaeHyun is currently a Woosong University student majoring in English.

Woosong Culinary Takes Top Awards in World Chef’s Competition

Winners Group Photo Woosong culinary students won 27 medals at a major international culinary competition held in Daejeon in May. The awards included one gold medal won by third year university student Lim Jae Hoon, and 13 silver and 13 bronze medals won by 20 university and college students collectively. The competition was part of the World Association of Chefs Societies’ (WACS) Biannual Congress, which has an 82-year history. In addition to the awards, the five-day event gave Woosong students the opportunity to meet and share ideas with professional chefs and other culinary students from over a dozen countries and all over Korea.

Food1 Woosong students began training for the contest well in advance. “I was in a club to prepare for the competition for five months,” silver medal winner Kim Jina (21) said. Kim and some other students admitted that they did not exactly volunteer for the extra work on their schedules. “I was forced by my professor,” said Kim. However, she appreciates the effort and resources Woosong put into her training. “I didn’t regret joining at all,” she said, “All the fresh materials that I needed were already prepared and enough to use.”

Food2 Some students did not receive the same kind of support that Kim did when preparing for the competition. Gold medal winner Lim Jae Hoon said that after working at SolBan each day, he would practice at home with materials and tools he bought himself. Likewise, graduate student Lim Hyeon Woo (26), who won silver and bronze medals, said that getting ready for WACS was very expensive. “I even had to travel to another city to buy materials,” he said.

According to Lim, he owes his success, in no small part, to the people in his life who helped him in many ways. Lim said that the manager of the restaurant where he works let him use the kitchen to practice, his colleagues assisted in the kitchen, and his parents lent him the money to buy the tools and materials he needed.

Food3 Lim was not the only one to get a little help from his friends. Lee Geon Huae, a double silver medal winner, confesses to stacking the deck in his favor with a little interior decorating advice. “Actually, my girlfriend’s major is design and she designed the wallpaper,” he said, “I heard from someone that I got extra points for the wallpaper.”

Many of the students who won medals have mixed feelings about their experience at WACS. Silver medal winner Lee Mijin (21) said that the event left her feeling “empty.” “WACS made me feel that I have to prepare for other competitions.”

Joo Miran (21) summed up her silver medal win as “the result of a lot of hard work.”

Food4 Sin Joon Cheol, who also won bronze, described the competition as exhausting. “You had to divide your strength day by day strategically,” he said. “Actually we couldn’t sleep for five days.”

Kim Jina said, “I was embarrassed…approximately two hours before starting the competition, the cuisine that I was supposed to make had been changed all of a sudden. So I messed up.”

On the other hand, most students agreed that their medal announcement was a strong emotional experience. “I felt like on cloud 9, and lots of my friends texted me to celebrate,” said Lee Mijin. “It was like a dream,” said Joo Miran. “I didn’t even think that I’d get a bronze, but I made more than bronze.” Lim Hyeon Woo said that after winning his medals he mostly felt really grateful to his parents for their monetary support.

Food6 Students also said that, in the end, they were glad they had participated. “Preparing for this competition was pretty hard,” said Kim Jina, “but looking back on it, I learned a lot, and my cooking skill is much improved.”

Lee Geon Huae said, “As an international competition, the awards could be advantageous to me for getting jobs and promotions.”

“The purpose of the competition was not the medals,” said Sin JoonCheol, “but the experience is really important. I felt it was hard work, but I got many things from it. When I make my resume I will be proud of myself that I got a good score in an international competition.”Food5


Staff writers Jung Seunghwan and Park Seil are currently  Woosong University students majoring in English.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Yeosu EXPO 2012 (Part 2)

expo Most Koreans are filled with anticipation of the Yeosu EXPO 2012. The Yeosu Expo provides an opportunity to enhance the international community’s awareness of the function and value of the ocean, share knowledge on the proper use of the ocean and recognize the need for cooperation in the marine sector.

The Yeosu EXPO has a good purpose, but there are some problems. One problem is the International Pavilion, which is one of the most popular attractions. The International Pavilion is comprised of exhibitions from countries in individual national pavilions and booths. However, some countries did not prepare well and some pavilions only want to earn money by using the EXPO. Not only in the Saudi Arabian pavilion, but also in the Peruvian pavilion, there are no exhibitions about the ocean. They are only selling Peruvian seafood in the Peruvian pavilion.

“I think, the International Pavilion is the best but some pavilions did not look good. I don’t know why they only recommend buying their food or souvenirs. Also their souvenirs are so expensive! When foreigners see that, it is very shameful,” said Lee Su young, a visitor from Seoul.

Jason Park, a tourist from Australia, mentioned, “I study abroad in Australia and I came here to see the Yeosu EXPO. The EXPO has a lot to see. There are many performances like the Water bike show. I love it, but the Aquarium and some of the International Pavilion did not meet my expectations. When I went to some pavilion, I said ‘That’s it? Oh, I was really disappointed’ The EXPO seems to only focus on appearance.”

The EXPO organizing committee determined only their sections and they do not care about the individual international pavilions. Many visitors who want to understand the importance of the ocean are disappointed. If the EXPO wants to be considered a great success, the committee has to solve these problems.


Staff writer Cha SuJi.

Woosong Sports Day Festival: Bringing Departments Together

DSCF0374 Woosong Sports Day Festival was held May 10th through the 11th on the west campus track and field. The Woosong Sports Day Festival is an annual competition held in the spring. Representatives from each department compete in the events.

There are nine events that consist of tug-of-war, ssireum (a kind of wrestling), group rope jumping, soccer, basketball, kickball, dodge ball, the six-legged race, and the relay.

A few weeks before the Sports Day Festival, many teams had the preliminary games about some events. Even though it is the preliminary games, it was too intense.

The opening ceremony was held on a grand scale. After opening ceremony, the Solbridge cheerleading team worked the crowd up before the match.

There was also a speech by John E. Endicott, chairman of Woosong University, to celebrate holding an athletic meeting. The chairman kicked the first ball, signaling the games to begin.

The grass fields were shaking with all the cheering. The students passionately cheered their team with beating drums and wild yells.

Sports Day Festival’s goal is to reinforce bonds among its members, especially for the freshman. By participating in the competition and cheering, all the freshman become intimately acquainted with each other.

“I’m so excited. And opening ceremony is really great, but the sun is so hot. It would be so much better if there were sunshades,” said Chloe, a freshman in the nursing department.

Students participated in special events. On the first day afternoon, club “Julju” and “Bacus” hosted sample non-alcoholic cocktails in front of the international dormitory. The purpose of sample non-alcoholic cocktail is to promote to students a correct drinking culture. Some students sold snacks like breads and beverages to benefit the University Development Fund.

The next day, there was the awards ceremony. This year’s athletic meeting ended successfully.


Staff writer Lee NaKyung is currently a Woosong University student majoring in Nursing.

SolBridge Model UN

DSCF0529 SolBridge International School of Business is currently participating in an organization named Model United Nations (MUN), run by Professor Joe Iesue and Joshua Park. The objective of this Model UN is to seek, through discussion, negotiation and debate, solutions to the various problems of the world. And the goal of Model UN is to develop that global consciousness to the ‘next level’ through a simulation of the international multilateral diplomacy of the United Nations. Participants learn to adopt views and attitudes other than their own, and break away from narrow national self-interest and develop international cooperation. SolBridge students at MUN can get an insight into the world’s problems and understand the causes of conflict between nations.

Students in MUN adopt the role of delegates to the United Nations, and represent their chosen countries as a diplomat from the United Nations (UN) would. Since my fellow Solbridge MUN representatives and I are all international students from different countries, we need to do research and speak as a diplomat for the country we chose instead of our original one. Delegates need to play the role with integrity and authenticity. Role playing is a good way to help us learn more in order to improve ourselves. Cooperation is the primary goal of the delegate meetings and sessions but not always the norm, nor the most fun way of doing things. Belligerence, arrogance, irrationality, and even open hostility are openly encouraged during debate sessions, as long as these emotions and behaviors are within character for the country that the delegate represents.

Luckily, I`m taking an International Business Relations course lectured by Professor Joe Iesue this semester. We students chose countries which we want to represent at the beginning of the semester. Agendas are given before classes so that we can do some research and see how the countries would react towards the important global issues on the agenda. Every time in class, we sit as a “U” shape, like the real UN structure. Instead of being a delegate, we can also volunteer to be the “chair” for one class session. The Chair will go through each of the steps exactly based on the real UN system. Delegates can also learn about the flow path while they are presenting. It`s really good to actually experience the whole process rather than just listen to the lectures.

Besides, I`m also one of the MUN researchers currently assisting our honorable delegates prepare more effectively for the coming conference.

SolBridge MUN is a place where we will need to look up the updated news and frequently refresh ourselves. Also, we need to look through anything related with the United Nations like resolutions, threats, and White Papers, and then have a basic understanding of each strategy. Personal opinions after the research are also appreciated so that we can truly explain ourselves.

Having this kind of experience is really useful not only for resume-building, but-- the most important part of the Model UN experience-- for improving our own ability. I`d like to invite more and more students, not only those who are in SolBridge but also more Woosong students, to be involved in this program so that we can go ahead together.


Guest writer Jing Zhang is currently a SolBridge University student majoring in International Business and Finance.

UNIPEACE: Making Steps Toward a Peaceful Society

UNIPEACE2 In May students from Woosong and other Korean universities took time off from their busy schedules to promote peace and understanding. The members of UNIPEACE, an intercollegiate peace-making club, presented a poster exhibition which was touring more than 100 Universities in Korea during the month. The Daejeon chapter of the club went to KAIST, Chungnam, Hanbat, and Daejeon Universities.

For 15 years, UNIPEACE has involved students in promoting a peaceful society through poster exhibition and presentation campaigns. The theme of May's exhibition was Empathy, or 'Dong-go' in Korean. The exhibition consisted of 7 large-size posters and a message board for visitors to share their responses. The posters were educational. According to one, the root of empathy lies in part of the brain called Mirror Neurons. Another presented methods for reducing school violence.

A translation of one anonymous message on the visitor’s board read, “This is a good exhibition for people living in a society like ours with so little sympathy.”


Staff writer Kim HyoJun is currently a Woosong University student majoring in English.

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