The Cafe as a Public Space

The countless cafes near Woosong University show that there is a huge demand for cafes. In recent years, cafes have become important public places that are integral to the lives of modern people. How many college students go to cafes and what are their reasons for going?

Nowadays, coffee is more popular than ever. Anyone who wants to can visit a coffee shop and coffee shops are public spaces where everyone with enough money to buy a cup of coffee is welcome. People visit coffee shops for many different reasons. Some go to study, others go to chat with their friends and some people just want a rest from their busy lives. Also, there are many different kinds of coffee shop these days.

Close to Woosong, there are a number of takeaway coffee shops. The majority of student coffee shop customers actually go to these takeaway coffee shops. Students like to buy coffee from these shops to stay awake during their long hours of study or job seeking. The problem for the coffee shops is that there are few student customers during the vacation times.

But the cafe has also transformed into a public space that the public’s diverse needs. What are the public needs that are met by all of these coffee shops?

I investigated the frequency and reasons people visit coffee shops. Please click the pie chart below.

89% of respondents (111 people) answered that they go to one or more coffee shops each month and 51% of respondents (64 people) reached said they visit a coffee shop twice or more each week. 65% of respondents (72 people) said that their main reason for visiting coffee shops was to chat with friends. Only 22% of respondents (24 people) answered that they visit coffee shops to drink coffee.

In the end, the key for coffee shops to stay in business is to understand and meet the needs of their customers.

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Staff writer (Alicia) Yun Yeo-hui.

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The Importance of Film Soundtracks

“Over the Rainbow,” “Edelweiss,” “Going on Seventeen,” “Let it Go,” and “Coming Up Roses.” Do you know any of these songs? They are well-known film scores that led to the success of their respective films. Music plays an important role in movies, evoking a range of different emotions and conveying their central messages. Music is central to many of our lives as well as to the film making process. It is quite difficult to imagine a movie without music.
Different music illustrates the feelings and thoughts of the characters in films. Many well-known movies these days have become especially famous and recognized for their soundtracks. A great example is the recent movie, “Begin Again.” Some people who have watched the film say that they listen to the songs almost every day. Music expresses different emotions and sentiments of the characters, and having appealing music can make a movie successful in the film industry. Soundtrack has a significant impact on the films as it enables people to picture each scene and remember it for a long time.
Background music also guides people as to how they should feel and react to the films; it presents viewers a greater understanding of the movies. For instance, creepy music from a horror film makes people feel much more scared and frightened. A romantic love song creates feelings of sentimentality.
Music not only delivers emotions and messages, but also helps people better understand the movies; it is not simply the background music. Thus, we could sometimes make the effort to listen and think about how it tries to benefit us.

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Staff writer Sue Yeon Cho.

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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 and work in an office. You need to consider your outfits depending on different situations such as when you interview and when you’re on the job or hosting or attending professional events. You need to give your best impression because what you wear can determine how people view you. In order to know how to dress professionally, it is necessary to understand three types of business attire.

     1) Business Professional

This is the most conservative type of attire and what you will wear to the office most days. These types of suits do not mean that you need to buy the best suits and shoes. Women can wear a business suit, a blazer with pants or skirt, or a dress with heels. Men can wear a business suit or a blazer with pants and a tie.

• Career examples: Finance, accounting, and organizations with strict dress code policies will usually require business professional.

 

     2) Business Casual

Compared to “Business Professional,” this is a more relaxed type of attire. You don’t need to wear a suit at work, but this doesn't mean that you can dress casually. “Business casual” is suitable for working in a semi-conservative office and for certain events. Women can wear a collared shirt or sweater, khakis with dress pants and dress shoes or boots. Woman may also wear a knee-length dress or skirt. For men, this category includes a polo shirt, collared shirt or sweater, khakis or dress pants and dress shoes. Neckties are not required.

     3) Campus Casual

You will not usually wear clothes in this category at work. It includes clothes you wear every day such as T-shirts, jeans and sneakers. Sometimes you can wear “Campus Casual” to informal interviews, career days, and casual events. Generally, however, you would not wear in the workplace and for workplace related functions.

There will be times that you just don’t know what to wear. The best thing to do in these cases is to ask the person who is hosting an event. If you really can’t ask, it is better to dress too formally than too informally.

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Staff writer Bo-Yeon Cho.

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Popularity of Korean Baseball

The 2014 Korean baseball season opened on March 29th. Millions of baseball fans awaited the opening of the season. And now, spectators of the Korean Baseball League are reaching 1 million strong. This is a record for the shortest period of time to exceed 1 million fans and get third in the ratings. Also, this record was achieved after 83 games. In recent years, the popularity of the Korean Baseball League has been getting higher. How did this happen?

First of all, the Korean National Baseball team’s outstanding performance at the Beijing Olympic Games contributed to the baseball fever sweeping Korea. There are many famous players on this team. After the season is over, some players who showed good performances during the season are chosen by the national team coach. The players included from the last Olympic Games were Yong-Kyu Lee, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Dae-Ho Lee. When the National Baseball team got the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, the number of Korean baseball fans increased rapidly. After that, the national team won second place at the World Baseball Classic, and won the championship title at the Guangzhou Asian Game. Once the Korean National team achieved global fame through their performance at international baseball events, many spectators wanted to see their local players gain acceptance to the National team.

Another reason is that there are many unique cheers when Korea fans are watching a ball game. Some baseball clubs have their own cheering culture. Many fans are charmed by this. For example, the Hanhwa Eagles’ fans show their support by standing up and shouting after the 8th inning. When asked why, one Eagles fan claimed, “I don’t know. We just do.” Lotte Giants fans encourage their players by shaking newspapers. Their fans use newspapers because clapping and shouting is just not enough for these fans and the club does not provide them with anything else.

They also wear orange vinyl after the 7th inning because decades ago, their home stadium, Busan Sajik stadium, was not clean. The newspapers provided Giants fans with a clean place to sit. Eventually some fans starting shaking the newspapers while singing the player’s a cheering song when their players were up at bat. There are many cheering cultures with each team. Also, there are many songs for each team. Baseball fans even have songs for each player. The singing is another way for fans to enjoy the game.

Third, there are also many areas from which to enjoy a baseball match. At Incheon’s Munhak Stadium, for example, there is the “Barbecue zone.” People can go there and roast pork while they are watching the baseball match. Usually, people buy pork and some supplies at a market and bring them into the stadium. Fans in this zone say it is the best way to see a game. They recommend this zone as a great way to enjoy the game with family and friends.

In our hometown of Daejeon, spectators can see the “Glamping zone” at Hanbat Stadium. If you go there, you can see people who have pitched tents in the stadium. This zone is unique to Daejeon. Good luck reserving a place to pitch there, however, these places are reserved well in advanced.

Another factor contributing to the success of baseball in Korea, is the foreign players that come to the KBO league. Among foreign players, there are some players who played in the MLB in America. For example, Jorge Cantu, who played for the Tampa Bay Rays and Florida Marines, is now playing for the Doosan Bears. Before his debut, he was known for the 104 homeruns he scored when he played in the MLB. Also, Luke Scott, who played for the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles, is now playing for the SK Wyverns. Like Jorge Cantu, Scott is known for hitting 138 homeruns while he played in the MLB. There are many foreign players throughout the KBO. This year, the KBO rules about foreign players have changed. Many fans are looking forward to seeing these foreign players in action.

The Korean Baseball League has increased the number of annual games to 99 games a season. The KBO announced on March 25th that their goal is to attract 7 million spectators. They are making an effort to do this in conjunction with club officials. There are many sporting events in Korea, so competing with well-established sports like soccer is a challenge facing the KBO. But, as one fan put it, “once baseball sinks its teeth in you, you’re hooked.”

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Staff writer Park Hui-Je.

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Chinese Food Culture

China is 45 times the area of Korea. Because of this and the differences of climate, soil, and the natural environment, there are many food ingredients to seek out. In earlier times, it wasn't easy for humans to find ingredients from other places, so they ate only what they produced themselves. On account of this, foods from across China have developed in a unique way.

There are a multitude of food ingredients available in China. Most animals and plants are used in Chinese cuisine. In particular, the Chinese also use an abundance of dried ingredients through the year.

Chinese cooking also requires a lot of cooking oil. This creates the characteristic flavor of Chinese food. When the oil starts to smoke, a host of other condiments, like soy sauce, ginger, scallions, garlic, and spicy pepper are added to create the special taste of Chinese food. Generally, Chinese food takes a longer time to prepare than the foods of other nations.

Using lots of oil causes acidic metabolic waste to linger inside the body leading to unbalanced PH levels inside the body. To counter this, Chinese people drink tea to neutralize their systems.

The standard cooking methods are to use fire or water to cook food. The tradition that food must be cooked is handed down to the Chinese from the past. Fresh meat and produce is also healthier than processed food, which is one reason why Chinese food, despite being cooked in vats of oil, has a reputation for being healthier than Western food.

Chinese seasonings and spices are many and varied. Chinese cooking is judged by three essential factors, known as "color, aroma, and taste". Chinese people always have a great time at rich dinners with their families around a round table which fosters unity and happiness. On a final note, Chinese dishes are always beautifully garnished.

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Staff writer Kim Won Gyun.

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“Eco-friendly, Human-Centered” Seoul Motor Show 2013

The 2013 Seoul Motor Show was held from March 29th to April 7th at ILSAN KINTEX exhibition center. It was the biggest show of its kind in Korea this year. Its aim was to improve and develop the auto industry through a comparative exhibition of local and foreign cars. The show’s “With nature, for the people” theme captivated audiences. People also could see what trends and directions future vehicles will experience. The organizing committee for Seoul Motor Show said that the number of spectators (about 1.2 million) was much more than was expected. Meanwhile, more than 14,000 overseas buyers from 41 countries flocked to the event where they discussed export deals worth US $1.4 billion, according to the organizers.

There were a number of exhibits in the KINTEX. What stood out during the show were the ‘eco-friendly’ cars. 36 eco-friendly cars were displayed. The display, called 'Cherish Nature’ included cars manufactured by companies such as Renault, Samsung, Korea GM, BMW, Nissan and Honda.

This show also contributed to popularizing environment-friendly vehicles. There were eco-friendly car test drives at one of the exhibition’s events. The Organizing Committee for Seoul Motor Show said "Through this event, you can watch a hybrid, the electric car and the fuel cell electric vehicle. You get a good opportunity to experience the performance of eco-friendly cars, the product of advanced automobile technology and mileage capability.”

Colorful, unusual events such as “Best Car of the Show”, “Photo Contest,” “Prize Drawing Event,” and “Collegian Car Design Contest,” captured the audience at the motor show. However, this show also was lacking one thing- the world’s latest released new car.

Finally, this show demonstrated that the future of the eco-friendly car industry will depend on technological advancements. Through shows like this, car lovers can see how the automobile is improving and correcting past mistakes. "The Seoul Motor Show has become an international event in terms of quality and quantity. We plan to make it one of the world's four major motor shows by 2015," an official said.

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Staff writer Seo Won Deok.

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The Process to Success: Psy

Recently, as we all know, Psy has never been more popular or more attractive. Now it has opened a high wave of Korean sentiment around the world because of his songs and dances. So I think we need to know about the process to success for him.

A rookie singer stirred up the Korean pop music scene with very explicit lyrics, peculiar dance moves and his unconventional appearance in 2001. The rookie singer was Psy, also nicknamed the “Bizarre Singer” with “Bird,” the title song of his first album. Psy showed off his own style, fashion and confidence successfully breaking the stereotype among k-pop music lovers that male singers have to be good-looking and be able to dance well.

His in-your-face lyrics especially appealed to the younger generation of Korean music fans. But, just 5 months after his album was released, Psy’s album was not allowed to be sold to juveniles after complaints that it was a negative influence for the younger generation. Several months later, Psy was arrested by the police on charges of smoking marijuana. In January 2002, Psy was punished with a fine.

But he didn’t want to give up what he has loved and believed. His second album entitled “For Adults” was released in the same month but was also banned from being sold to those under the age of 18. In September of 2002, Psy released his 3rd album by launching his new music on an Internet music site. Being released just a few months after the World Cup games held in Seoul, the title song of Psy’s 3rd album, “Champion”, saw great success for its crowd-pumping vibe. And that gave him more confidence.

So he continued to hold his spot as an artist that fans loved for his unique ways. Certainly the inevitable came, and he went in to serve his mandatory military sentence from 2003 to 2005. However, evidence came to light that suggested Psy didn’t properly serve his full sentence. He was re-drafted to serve a second term in August of 2007. After being released the summer of 2009, Psy voiced how he had learned a lot through his experience. He said he also felt the weight of his responsibility to his wife and two daughters that were born two months before he started his second term.

After that Psy switched entertainment agencies in 2010 to YG Entertainment where CEO Yang Hyun-suk expressed his old time ties with the singer. However, he has been embracing the fact that he’s nowhere close to idol status. Although Psy's actions did not receive any significant international media coverage at that time, this changed after the media reported about it in early December 2012. On December 7, 2012, Psy issued an apology directed towards members of the U.S. military and to the American people for his "inflammatory and inappropriate" language, and expressed hope that the American public will accept his apology.

The man behind the hit, the 34-year-old South Korean artist known as Psy (short for psycho; he was born Park Jae-Sang), has been a star for years in Korea: “Gangnam Style,” named for an expensive neighborhood in Seoul, appears on his sixth album, YG Entertainment But even Psy was unprepared for the worldwide response to his latest single.

“I’ve only done this for 12 years, only for Korea, not for overseas at all,” he said by phone from Seoul. “I didn’t expect anything like this. So what can I say? Everything moves way too fast.”

It is apparent that chance always around us and if you stick to your purpose and persuasion and never says give up, then finally we can achieve our goals and even we were not prepared.

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Staff writer Yan Yunyun.

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Same-sex Marriage: The Global Debate of Today

The controversy surrounding same-sex marriage seems endless. People’s view is clearly divided into two, with some in-between. With the trend of homosexuality gaining more support, the proponents of homosexual marriage consistently advocate abolishing discrimination, claiming that homosexual couples have their rights to have families. According to them, it is imperative to legalize same-sex marriage in order to overcome the unfair situation in which the homosexual population is placed. The opponents confront them, arguing that the essential meaning of marriage is going to be damaged. By referring to the essential meaning of marriage, they mean two people giving birth to a child to form a family, by extension, forming the society. These opponents largely consisted of believers in religions including Catholicism, and Islam, and they protest against homosexual marriages.

Starting with the Netherlands legalizing homosexual marriage in 2000, many other countries have been following suit. Currently there are ten countries in which same-sex marriage is allowed officially. Some of these countries where gay marriage is legal are Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Portugal, and Denmark. In the U.S.A., there are currently ten states that allow same-sex marriage including Washington DC. England, which recently passed the homosexual marriage law, is going to expand the law which will allow same-sex couples to conduct religious ceremonies (only under the conditions that the churches approve of them), and acknowledge them as legitimately married, previously only referred to as a “partnership.” In the case of Israel, the same-sex marriage is tolerated outside its national border and in all of South America, Argentina is the only country that the law has passed. The trend of legalization of homosexuality is accelerating and the number of countries which will pass the law is likely to increase.

Today, it is hard for us to believe that there once was a time when women could not vote for their leader, and white and black people had to eat and drink at separate locations. With today’s fast changing times, people will soon find it strange that there was the time in which same-sex marriage was not tolerated.

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Staff writer Kim San Ok.

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Woosong University 2013 Freshman Talent Festival

The 2013 Freshman Talent Festival was held on April 3 at the Woosong Art Center. It was a time for freshmen to express their individuality and passion through performances of singing and dancing. The event proved to be a precious memory for participants and the cheering audience. The first prize went to Son Kyouchan and Lee Gowoon, in the Culinary Arts Department, for their dance performance.

Participation in the Talent Festival is voluntary. Son Kyouchan leapt at the chance to strut his stuff in front of his friends and classmates, he then talked Lee Gowoon into joining him. Their impressive performance was the result of a month of practice in their dorm room and locker room. They also had to pass through a preliminary round judged by the Student Council of the Culinary Arts Department.

Lee Gowoon admits, despite all of their practice, feeling very nervous which lead to them making a mistake during their big performance. “But I plucked up my courage thanks to Kyouchan,” she said.

Son Kyouchan said that they were embarrassed when the first prize was announced, but also “glorified and happy”. 

Lee Gowoon adds that while they felt their performance was far from perfect, it was still an unforgettable experience and one they would recommend to incoming freshmen next year. Along with the acclaim of their classmates, the dancing duo won a trophy and a cash prize. They said that they plan on spending the money on a nice dinner for their senior student and friends who helped them with the performance. Lee Gowoon said while their dancing may have looked romantic, their actual relationship is strictly platonic – only friends.

Student head representatives for each department also performed at the Freshman Talent Festival. These upper classmen performed in multi-department teams. Their shows were to promote the spirit of Woosong student solidarity. A team consisting of Kim Jun of Global Korean Culinary Arts, Lee Gyeonghyeong of Culinary Arts, Lee Yangwoo of Hotel and Tourism Management, Jeon Saeheem of Culinary Nutrition and Food Science, and Choi Yangho of Foodservice Management brought down the house with their self-choreographed dance routine. Choi Yango said, “It was my first time to dance like that. I knew I was clumsy, but we were not. If there is another chance to dance together, I would do it again.”

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Staff writer Jin Hee.

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Seoul Fashion Week: Spring/Summer 2013 Preview

Korea's leading designers and celebrities introduced their collection for Seoul Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013. This show started on October 22, drawing an increased number of foreign buyers, and introduced a lineup of 48 collections. Although the weather was bad on its first day, many people filled in the two venues, the War Memorial of Korea and Seogyo Xi Gallery. Now let’s see special things about Seoul Fashion Week 2013.

For men

This year, many sports events took place, such as Summer Olympics 2012 in London, so it influenced the imagination of designers. Some designers were influenced by various things like travel, color, and moderation.

One of the famous designers Ko TaeYong presented different themes of his collection each season. This year, impressed by 'travel', he featured sailors with stylish backpacks. Also the veteran designer Lee JuYoung's military-themed collection was definitely more toned-down in relation to her past 'rebellious men' clothes, showing black and white modern, chic outfits. This sexy and chic look received attention during Seoul runways.

For women

Designers created different images of city woman. To represent that image, they took a structural and practical approach, adding color and soft details to prevent the looks of harshness or pedestrian. Most of Seoul Fashion Week's designers presented soft femininity beneath clean, simple looks for the next season.

Lie Sang Bong created fantastical images using soft colors and butterfly prints shown on trench coats and dresses. With Sheen JeHee's total yellow looks, blue and beige, she preferred a color palette consisting of bright colors. As with women’s wear last season, the summer coat was introduced as the new must-have item of the season. Keep an eye out this season for coats ranging from demure classic raincoats to military style jackets.

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Staff writer Cha SuJi.

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2012 Daejeon International Food & Wine Festival

The 2012 Daejeon International Food & Wine Festival, “A New World of Taste and Style”, was held from Oct 12th to the 15th at Kotrex (Kotra Exhibition Center, Daejeon). This is the first time this event has been held in Daejeon as a local festival. A number of Wine companies swarming from all over the world competed to introduce their goods at the exhibition hall. There were 52 exhibitors from wineries, companies, and associations coming from 18 countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, and South Korea. This festival provided various programs like exhibitions, experiences, events, and performances. The exhibit halls were focused on different topics such as, 'Traditional Alcohol and Korean Food' & 'Wine and Food', and 'Food and Wine Academic Seminar'. Visitors had the opportunity to make a special personal wine, and experience wine beauty and wine art. There were also performances by Paul Potts and Kamwosung! The event was well organized.

There were a wide range of wines encompassing flavors and styles from the East and the West. In order to enter this exhibition, we had to show identification to check that we are old enough to buy alcohol. After buying a wine glass, visitors could get a sample and experience the color, smell, and taste of the different wines. The age of the main group of visitors was from forty to fifty years old. Unexpectedly, many of the visitors were younger at this festival. One visitor stated, “I usually have an interest in wine. I like the smell of it. So I used to visit the event in Seoul, but it’s so far to come and go from my home in Daejeon. I wish events like this one can be held more often in Daejeon.”

There were also well-matched foods with the wines. It was enjoyable to get to see the foods of various countries. Foods made by students of the culinary department at Woosong University were also exhibited in main hall. Ms. Han, who was in charge of the booth, stated, “We had some difficulty in decorating the food to prepare this festival for a week. But after finishing the preparation, I feel really great about having completed this job successfully. I hope many people can enjoy our pieces in here.”

In the 'Traditional Alcohol and Korean Food' exhibit hall, there were many replicas of foods from all over the world and the traditional Korean alcohol which made from gelatin. Some of audience members said, "The decoration is very pretty", but others said "It's not good." Some of the booths showed how to make traditional Korean alcohol and others sold some alcohols, and some showed cities which set up a sisterhood relationship with Daejeon. Several of the volunteers gave prizes to people who guessed the correct answers to questions. I interviewed one of audience who received a prize. She said that she is getting 'KKotbbang(Chinese food)' so she is very happy because she doesn’t enjoy wine. But she came to this festival because this is the first time this festival has been held in Daejeon. She says she will come to other festivals like this if they will be held in Daejeon.

At the exhibit hall, 'Wine and Food', people were selling or showing their wines. There were an especially large number of people and wines in this hall. There were many foreign companies but also some Korean companies. The Japanese companies showed various 'Sake' products to the audience. But they didn’t sell their products because they use a dealer to sell their wines.

On Saturday, October 13th, a volunteer at the festival gave us an interview. Here is some of what he said:

-Why did you apply for this festival as a volunteer who is not paid by the festival’s operating committee?

“I have two sons who are studying at a university and I work for an international commercial company. I do not have a routine schedule in daily life. My hobby is to travel to the world’s popular tourist attractions. I was traveling from the English-speaking world, where I can learn some daily English-speaking skills, and […] I saw this festival’s advertisement which was seeking volunteers, I applied for this.”

-Good answer, then, how many people are going to the festival? According to my observations, it is very crowded during the busy hours.

“Umm… I thought it is so crowded with tourists, but minors can’t taste some wines and alcoholic drinks[…]. Alcoholic tasting is approved when you hold a wine glass, but if you want to get this, you must confirm your adult identification.”

-Anything else you would like to add?

“In this opportunity, I could service in English that were included the translation and English-talking. It is good experience for me and I hope this festival finishes with great success.”

The festival gave us a taste of various country’s cultures and wines from around the world. The festival is finished, but from now on we hope Daejeon will hold a lot of festivals like this one and invigorate people to try new wines and foods.

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Staff writers Lee In Seong, Haung Ha Na, Park  Hyung Jun, and Park Hee Jea.

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A Review of Gyeongbokgung

There are many reasons why people are drawn to Gyeongbokgung Palace. I have been hearing about Gyeongbokgung for a long time. I know that Gyeongbokgung, in Korea, is like Tiananmen in China. So I felt very glad to have the opportunity to go to Gyeongbokgung with so many friends from the Woosong Herald.

We divided into three groups to visit Gyeongbokgung. When our group visited, tourists and primary school students attentively listened to their guides, learning about the history of the palace. Also, the elderly and other local Seoul-ites experienced the quietness of the impressive environs on leisurely strolls. Gyeongbokgung offers a different experience for different people. Originally constructed in 1395 under the reign of King Taejo, the architectural plans were supervised by Korean architect Jeong Do-jeun and his assistant, Sim Dokpu, and the site itself occupies approximately 410,000 square meters. Also called Northern Palace because of its location, Gyeongbokgung is Seoul's most prominent palace. Although situated in the middle of the city, once inside the gates of the palace, you quickly forget the hustle and bustle of city life. What is particularly appealing about walking through the site is that there is lots of greenery, a sight becoming an increasing rarity in downtown Seoul.

What left me with a deep impression is the National Palace Museum. The National Palace Museum is located south of the Heungnyemun (gate), and the National Folk Museum is located on the east side, within Hyangwonjeong. Entry to the palace includes admission to the museums as well. The National Folk Museum is well worth a visit, especially if you want some insights into Korean culture and the daily lives of Koreans throughout the country's long and turbulent history. I especially liked exploring the complex of dioramas, pagodas, and model homes on display in the museum's outdoor court. The museum itself is made up of three interconnected buildings -- there are maps available to help you explore. The National Palace Museum was created in 1992 and is filled with relics collected from archaeological digs at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Jongmyo. Focusing on the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), it's the perfect place to learn about Confucianism (once Korea's main religion) and ancestral rites that were passed on through the royal line. The displays give insight into the lives of Joseon royalty and palace architecture as well.

Gyeongbokgung is a beautiful place I want to visit again. This time, we only visited it for two hours. I feel that I have not gotten to know its beauty at all. If you have the time, go there and experience this historical site!

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Guest writer Gao Hai Yan.

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Campus Fashion: What’s Hot this Winter?

If you have stopped to look at students walking by on campus recently, you may see many fashionable men and women expressing their individuality through the clothes they wear. This winter, look for a new trend in men’s fashion: quiet colors contrasting with an eye-catching color, like khaki-colored military looks with a splash of bright orange.

Anyway, we wanted to know more about what new winter styles will be popular on campus this season, so we interviewed a beauty design major at Woosong University to get the scoop.

＊What is your favorite new clothing item for Winter 2012?

－My most favorite fashion is padding jumper. The reason is it’s easy; it’s warm, isn’t it?

＊Which is the trendiest country?

－I don’t know because each country has different cultures and we all have a different sense of style.

＊Where can we find trendy fashion in Korea?

－I think we can find great new styles in Myong-dong and Hongdae. Many people go there because these places are really fast to get new fashion.

＊What kind of fashions do you want to try on this winter?

－I really want to try on leather jacket, but I haven’t been able to find the kind I want yet. I want to buy a black leather jacket which has wool inside.

What about you? What kind of fashions do you want to try on this winter? Trying many fashions is really fun. You can try new styles and new colors this winter and meet the new you. Express your individuality!

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Staff writers Tanaka Saki and Seo Inho.

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Audio Books!

Are you carrying around a thick textbook everyday and you don’t have an I-pad or tablet PC of some kind, but you really want to read a book? So, if you only have a smart phone, the game is over… Well not anymore!

You can also use an Audio-book which is a recording of a text being read. It can be used not only on a Smart phone but also a PC or mp3 player.

There was an event, “Invitation to the Library” in the Woosong library on October 23th~25th. At the event, they introduced the “Audio book”. One of the students who was interested in it said,

“I didn’t know that the sound of an audio book was really clear and good sounding like this so much!! I hope Woosong continuously provides more content like this.” (22, Ju Eun Song)

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN AUDIO BOOK?

Audio books have special features compared to text books including Dramatic features, Convenience, and Effective language. .

Dramatic Features

Audio books have audionman PD which participates with the audio actor and makes the sound effects. It processes a sort of “striking display” effect. It‘s different from reading a text book because it is more active and helpful for concentration.

Convenience

For the Audio book, you can enjoy a book wherever, or whatever time is good for you regardless of the time or place. You can use it especially, during the times when most people are wasting time. For example, time at school or home, walking around, and driving. You can use these times wisely.

Effective Language

When you study a foreign language, it is important to listen many times. Using Audio books, you could listen anytime or several times. In addition, you get accustomed to hearing original pronunciation and learning adequate situational sounds. Moreover, it influences your memory for remembering efficiently.

HOW TO USE THE ADUIO-BOOK?

1. Go to the Woosong Library Homepage (PC)

You can find the Audio book banner on the Woosong library homepage. It classifies  the sections such as literature, history & humanity, self development, economy & business management, health, and language etc. With the PC, you can transfer a book through mp3 or pmp files.

2. Use your smart phone

①Go tothe Woosong Library homepage

②Enroll as a smartphone user

③Download the app “오디언도서관” (HANSOL C&M CORP.)

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Staff writer Shin Hye Kyung.

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Model UN held at Woosong University!

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.

The 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.’’

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Staff writer Cho Wonha.

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Busan International MOTOR SHOW 2012

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.”

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

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Countdown to the London Olympics

  The 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.

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

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

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.

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Guest writers Cora Shin and Carla Kang.

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

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).

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Staff writer Park Mi Na.

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Music Spotlight: April’s at Brickhouse

On May 16^th, 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.

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

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