How Can the Government Reduce the Number of Smokers?

Did you hear about the increase in the price of cigarettes? A month ago, the Korean government decided to increase the price of cigarettes. The national assembly was concerned about the health of the nation’s people. In this country cigarette prices are very affordable compared to other countries. Korean smokers strongly protested the decision of the government. It is difficult for the two sides to come to an agreement.

The smokers say that “It is difficult to live without smoking, although they also know that cigarettes are harmful for their health. If we have no money, does that mean we have to stop smoking? We are also your nation’s people. Don’t we have a say in decision making?” The smokers don't understand the decision of the government. In my opinion, I agree both with the government and the smokers, but the increase in the price of cigarettes is not the best way to reduce the number of smokers.

Most nonsmokers hate the smell of cigarette smoke, so they avoid smokers and want people to stop smoking. But smokers can now smoke on the street, park and any other public spaces. How about making more areas especially for smokers? The government should build more smoking areas and make smokers smoke only in those areas. If they smoke in another place which is not a smoking area, they will have to pay a fine. Let's say you are in the park, the man next to you is smoking and you are about to go out of your mind. Then you call a police officer and that guy has to pay a fine. I think it is good for both smokers and nonsmokers, because everyone knows the rules then at least, and nonsmokers will not have to breathe in second-hand smoke.

What do you think about my suggestion? Someone could say that my idea is impossible in reality and the government can make better proposals. The increase in the price of cigarettes is most certainly not the best option for everyone. I hope the government will make another suitable option for all of Korean people.

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Staff writer Park Eun Bi.

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“Casting pearls before the swine?” An Editorial about the Relations between South and North Korea

Due to the reorganization of South Korea by other powerful countries, and because of South Korea’s international situation, the provocation by North Korea has been more severe than ever.

The current situation started with the ‘Cheonan-Ham’ and ‘Yeonpyung-do’ in 2010, and has since become exasperated. The joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S. is their excuse for launching a missile which North Korea claimed is a “satellite”. They even decided to close the Gae Sung Industrial Complex, a symbol of cooperation and hope for all Koreans, on their own initiative.

Because of the peace accord between South and North Korea, for approximately a decade, Kim Daejung and No moohyun’s governments were dedicated to adhering to the provisions of the treaty which prohibits the development and testing of nuclear bombs and long range missiles. The treaty provided economic aid to North Korea in a variety of ways. Despite an internal economic crisis, including the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.), North Korea began to develop nuclear and missile technologies.

Even though it is not related to the military, the unilateral closing and the evacuation of the workforce at the Gae Sung Industrial Complex, and strange rumors that Kim Kwan-jin was slurred as a warmonger (likened to Hitler) by North Korea’s media, shows us that Kim Jeongeun has no political proficiency and North Korea is up to its old tricks, like so many times before.

Hopefully Kim Joengeun thinks carefully about this situation because in the end, his actions are not going to foster reunification and are more likely going to create a loss from both sides. In circumstances like this, Kim Jeongeun’s provocation of the United States seems like a fly trying to bite a tortoise.

It is apparent to us now that the closing of the Gae Sung Industrial Complex, a symbol of the future reconciliation between the South and North, which was founded 50 years ago, is more painful to the South. But of course the world wants peace, and if Kim Jeongeun and North Korea should adopt a cautious attitude, the rest of the world might be more flexible and willing to negotiate.

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Staff writer Park Hyung Jun.

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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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Interview with President Endicott

We had an interview with President Endicott, on February 26, 2013. We wanted know his opinions on Woosong and Korea. We wanted to know why he planned to make a four semester system and his future plans for Woosong and his life.

Woosong Herald Staff: Opinion about four semesters for a year system.

President John E. Endicott: The four terms per year comes out to maximize efficiency as much as possible. If you have a long break after studying a language, you can forget much of what you learned. To bridge the gap, the four semester system was introduced. Woosong students can now graduate 6 months earlier than the other universities. This can help you to become a graduate student faster. Also, if you don’t want to get a job immediately, you can stay on to improve your language skills as well as completion of professional certifications.

WHS: Your opinions about Woosong University and how it will manage in the future?

Endicott: Woosong is doing fine, and I can’t be any more happy. We are globalizing and establishing alliances with businesses and foreign universities that can be of help. We have a plan in 2020 to include many more foreign campuses but I wish to concentrate on continual globalization and want to establish continual globalization with universities that can be useful for our students. I want to make sure we can place our graduates in rewarding positions for all concerned.

WHS: What do you think of Korea?

Endicott: The Korean myth is never finished as in the ‘Miracle on the Han River’ and Daejeon’s location is central in all things. Korean youth have earned an impressive status by nurturing their minds. Universities and the government must continue to work together. The American President, Obama, refers to Korea whenever he talks about education. He highly appreciates it as a model of success.

I admire a culture rich in history. I admire Korean examples in education, and I am thrilled to have a chance to be a part of these stories.

WHS: Do you have any plans after retiring?

Endicott: Living as long as possible! Why? I have several books to write and movies to produce. My Air Force career let me take part in some of the Cold War. I had served from May 1958 to June 1986, and then served an additional three years as a senior civilian Director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C. So I served from the height of the Cold War and 31 years of the Soviet Union. I was in the Air Force from the Taiwan Straits Crisis of '58 to 1989 and actually participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the Korean events of 1968-1969 -- the Blue House Raid, the USS Pueblo seizure, the EC-121 shoot down, the KAK 007 shoot down, etc.

I would also like to write about my life and my wife of 53 years, and I would like to produce movies of important moments about history in the 20th century when the Soviet Union and Mongolia defeated Japan’s attempted invasion that could have changed history.

So, you see, lots to do, but let's do Woosong first and think of retirement later, after all, I am only 77 this year.

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Staff writers Shin TaeHee and Cho Wonha.

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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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A Supporter’s Good Experiences of the Model UN Conference

The 18th National Model United Nations Conference (MUN) was held at Woosong University under the auspices of the United Nations Association of the Republic of Korea (UNAROK) on July 4th through the 7th, in 2012. When I first came to Woosong University, I heard this news and wanted to participate in the conference. However, I did not know much about it because I am a freshman. Besides, only Honors students (students of score above 600 on TOEIC) may enroll in the MUN class, so I decided to take part in it next year.

First, I wanted to know what this contest was about and how it would be run. In mid-May, I happened to come across a public notice about recruiting observers and supporters for the conference and the application deadline was May 18th. Unfortunately, the deadline had already passed by a couple of days but I applied anyway because I really wanted to participate. I wanted to be an observer, but the only open positions were for supporters.

The supporters gathered for a meeting at the end of June to receive training. Then for the conference, we got to miss all of our classes and went to the office early on the morning of July 2nd to the 7th. As a supporter, I ushered the participants and carried luggage. I was so disappointed with this work because it was very difficult and different from what I expected. I thought that I would get to attend the conference with the others and watch like the observers; and, I would get to learn about this contest despite being a supporter. Of course among the supporters, there were members who did get to attend the conference. However, these duties were not given to me. In the end, I hardly gained any experience to use while attending the contest next year.

Although I was let down at first, I began to think positively. I knew that the benefits to me were greater than the disappointments to me. I want to gain a variety experiences at college. If I always sit in a chair, staring at books, it is possible get much better grades than before; however, that life is incomplete and I hope to have a fulfilling life while at university. l made many friends with the seniors while I was a supporter and I also quickly became very close to them and contact them frequently. I realized I could make more personal connections through this activity. In my opinion, it has been a great experience too because I get to work on things I haven’t been able to do till now. This was a nice experience for me.

When I think about it now, it is not that I didn’t learn anything from the contest. I met with a number of participants from different universities and learned about their languages and cultures; and, I also learned when and how to interview for writing articles. This conference will be held at Korea Army Academy at Yeong-cheon (KAAY) next year. Whether I will be an observer or participator is not yet decided. I want to be a part of this big event and I really need to do a good job; therefore, I first have to learn more about it and need to prepare more. Maybe I will apply for an observer position. Now, I am imagining how I will look when I participate in the event, and I am just thinking, “How much I will change?”

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Staff writer Cho WonHa.

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Unforgettable China

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.

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 students 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.

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Guest writer Kim HyeIn.

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How to Enjoy a Baseball Game

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.

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

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Finding Something to Believe in, in Korea

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.)

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

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

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Guest writers Jenny Oh and Amy Kang.

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

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.

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Staff writer Lee JuWon is currently a SolBridge University student.

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Movie Review: 500 Days of Summer

“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.

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

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Are Social Networking Sites Having a Bad Effect on Society?

“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.

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.

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Guest contributors Tina Park and Jasmin Woo.

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What is Real Beauty? (Web Exclusive)

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.

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Staff writer Cha Suji.

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Yeosu EXPO 2012 (Part 3)

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. 

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

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4th Annual Together Day Festival

On a beautiful, sunny day-- May 5^th, 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.

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

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How Sexism Affects Me as a Woman

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.

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

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TianJin Harmony: The Old and the New

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.

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Staff writer Lee InSeong is currently a Woosong University student.

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